[Recipe] Freezer French Toast Sticks

Or as my toddler calls them, French Sticks, are a popular weekend breakfast.

Ingredients

• 1 loaf Texas toast
• 10 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• butter

Instructions

1. Mix together the eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon.
2. Heat griddle to a medium-low temperature and heat butter on top of griddle.
3. Put slices of bread into the egg mixture and place onto the griddle until griddle is full.
4. Cook on each side until browned. Remove and set on a plate. Repeat cooking steps until all are done. 
5. Lay them out on a cutting board & use a pizza cutter to slice them into about 4 sticks.

To freeze: Lay cooked sticks on a greased cookie sheet such that the sticks aren’t touching. Freeze for at least a couple of hours. Then put in a freezer bag. 

To serve: microwave for about 20 seconds or longer if you have a bunch on the plate.

Find Your Essentials

Over the past 5 years I've followed a handful of personal financial bloggers in and around my age group, because I could relate or liked how they approached things. However, as my life changes with having kids and their needs, living in a different location, their tips or ideas become more unrelatable or they have become too outspoken that it's hard to stay focused on what brought you to following them.

So many budgeting apps & tips have become very strong opinions of how to spend your money that it drives me nuts. I love the visual of using budgeting apps. And yes, I have beliefs on setting my budget. But no one's budget is quite the same, their situation is a bit different.

Big ones are:

• Don't go out to eat, buy coffee, etc. (latte factor)
• Pay only with cash.
• Cut out non-essentials.
• Don't get a credit card.

I do budget, but dude my mental health needs to be good too. Coffee is something I find essential, so I am going to get it. Paying with cash only loses out on interest rewards I can get by using my debt & credit cards. I find coffee as an essential & my husband finds cable to watch sporting events as essential (cheaper than going somewhere else to watch them & have to buy food & drinks to be there). Don't get a credit card? Time value of money!! I pay it off when it's due, but during that period I have the money in savings gaining interest & I am also getting credit card rewards. So sorry, going to use it. 

All I'm saying is budget to you & your needs. Know your level & keep your sanity, don't cut yourself down so much you never have fun!

Choosing to Focus

This year, this pregnancy, this infanthood, however I want to put it. I chose to focus more on myself. And my immediate family.

I wanted to find happiness in what I had, less thought on what others thought of me or my parenting, or my kids. I wanted to work to find this calm before the 2nd kid arrived, because I wanted to feel confident in my life & abilities before I had another one come and more opinions thrown my way. I wanted to prevent postpartum anxiety & depression. Knowing I couldn't completely prevent it, but to do my best to help myself.

To get here, I needed to be able to self reflect. Be able to admit when I was overwhelmed or attempting to do too much. Accepting that I can't do everything and that I can't please everyone. Accept that some people will do things differently than you and give you unsolicited advice. Learning how to manage that and being able to shrug it off is key.

I attempted to 'clean' my social media. I cut back on who I am connected to, I don't need to see everything everyone is doing, if it's someone I interact with more closely, I kept them. If not, I removed them. I don't need to see what they're constantly doing & thinking what I am doing is inadequate.

I needed to embrace myself, both a person & a mother, self doubt can be a rough place to be, but I needed to feel confident that I was doing what is right for myself and family. So sometimes that's doing what others are doing while other times it's not. Sometimes I just have to say 'no' to something and give myself time alone or just with my immediate family. This means, days on the weekends where we just play all day, leaving all the chores for another day. Or taking a day off just for myself or spend a random day with my kids. Who cares, it can be completely unplanned & fun!

I'm choosing to focus on me & my life and to have less concern on what others think or do. And it's awesome!

Toddler Breakfast - Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

Mornings can be a little rough in our house, because let's me honest there aren't really any morning people in our house, except maybe my husband. But I've found the best way to combat rough toddler mornings is with food, he's usually hungry right away. And because breakfast is at daycare, I don't like to make him a full breakfast, but this muffin recipe has saved many mornings. It is a quick & simple recipe & is healthier than other options. I love have a bag of mini muffins in the freezer, grabbing one or few & popping them in the microwave & satisfying the morning beast before we head out the door!

Oatmeal Blueberry Applesauce Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 1/4 cups oats
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 tbsp canola oil
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375˚ F.
2. Spray pan with non-stick cooking spray -- we use a mini muffin pan.
3. In a large bowl combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a medium bowl, combine applesauce, yogurt, brown sugar, canola oil and egg.
4. Make a well in dry ingredients and add the applesauce mixture. Stir until just moist. Fold in blueberries.
5. Fill muffin pan about 2/3 or so full.
6. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin from the middle of the tray comes out clean.
7. If you’re freezing them, allow the muffins to cool, then pop them into a ziploc bag & freeze.
8. Microwave them for about 30 seconds out the freezer & their ready to eat.

I am Beyond Grateful

I am beyond grateful that I have 2 happy and healthy children.

I am beyond grateful we are able to support them.

I am beyond grateful I was able to spend 12 weeks home with my 2nd.

I am beyond grateful for the job I have and co-workers I have. 

I am beyond grateful for my family.

I am beyond grateful for the relationships I have with my siblings. 

------------------

This is list could continue, but that's not really information you need to know, but it does lay the groundwork for creating a positive mindset. 

I think far too often we start to focus on the negative and forget what we have. While I could be sad that other pregnancies ended in miscarriage or stressed by the poorer relationships in my life. I have chosen to find the good. 

Mental health is so vital in your life & relationships that you can't just let it go. The longer you neglect it the further you get buried and fighting out of it is hard. I have been in that low spot and I don't want to go back. There are times it rears it's ugly head and I have let it slip back in, but I don't like the feeling afterwards. Being able to see the good in the situation or looking at the other side of a situation will change your mindset. Don't just look for the negatives or what ifs. Think about the positives and look at the future. You can't change your past, you can't focus on your regrets - these do nothing for you. BE PRESENT.

I am not saying this is 100% my mindset these days, because it's not. It's a daily battle, but man, when I can embrace it, my outlook is better & mood is happier. 

If you want to work on your mental health, I will happily support you and join you on your journey. I challenge you to start small - every night before you fall asleep remind yourself of a few things you are grateful for that day. 

Yep, Still Prego!

If the last month of anticipation & the body changes aren't enough, having people asking you if you've had the baby the entire month will do you in. Seriously.

If you are anything like me, you're patience are pretty much toasted because you are uncomfortable, tired & full of asking yourself when you think the baby is coming. Not to mention, you may be dealing with a toddler (or other kids) running around your house demanding your attention.

I know for me, it was definitely easier waiting on the 1st one, I'm not sure why, but probably cause it was more unknown. This time around I remember bits & pieces of how I felt and then I think I am getting close and another week passes & here I am. But I have to remind myself, little man only came 2 days early, so we are just hitting that. Evidently, I need to remind others of that too.

I understand people get excited, as do I. But I don't recall myself texting my cousins or others asking if the baby has come yet. I think to myself 'hmmm, they must be getting close' or 'oh they never opened my snap...I wonder...", but I will in no way ask the mom-to-be if they baby is there. She is uncomfortable, exhausted & full of her own concerns & anticipation, she doesn't need me harassing her too!

So yes, I'm still prego. If you are on the short list for the announcement, please respect the mom-to-be and don't ask on repeat. She or dad will let you know when the day comes, let them enjoy or relax on their final days before it the new addition comes.

Taco Pasta

This quick pasta has been a hit at our house from the youngest to the oldest everyone eats! And it makes me happy cause it doesn't take much time!

Ingredients

• 2 cups or so of pasta shells
• 1 pound of ground beef
• 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning (or 1 packet)
• 3/4 cup of water
• 1 cup of salsa
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Cook pasta shells
2. Brown ground beef & drain fat
3. Add taco season & water to meat & cook until water evaporates
4. Add in pasta, cheese & salsa
5. Stir to mix & cheese melts