Burrito Casserole [Tasty Tuesday]

When I meal plan, I try to have a category for each day so it makes it easier (and faster) to choose meals.  Tuesdays are Taco Tuesdays.  They should really be called Mexican Tuesdays but that doesn't sound as nice so Taco Tuesdays means any delicious Mexican food!  This burrito casserole recipe makes frequent appearances on my rotation and if you try it, you'll find out why!

Creamy Burrito Cassrole

Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 medium white onion, diced
1 pkt. taco seasoning
3-4 large flour tortillas
2/3 cup water
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (you can also use taco cheese!)
1 can cream of chicken soup
4 oz. of sour cream (I use the light)
*Optional: hot sauce

How to Make It

1. Brown ground turkey along with the diced onion and drain.
2. Add taco seasoning and water, stirring occasionally. 
3. Mix soup and sour cream in a separate bowl.
4. Spread half of the sour cream mixture in the bottom of a greased 8x8 baking dish.
5. Tear up half of your tortillas and cover your sour cream mixture.  
6. Put half of your ground turkey over your tortillas.
7. Add a layer of cheese (and hot sauce if desired).
8. Repeat the layers.
9. Sprinkle cheese over the top and bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

Here's what my layered casserole looks like before baking:

Motherhood Goals

When my husband and I first met, I knew we were meant to be.  (Is that enough mushiness for the first line in my blog post?!)  I spent many hours day dreaming about our future and the family we would create together.  It gave me butterflies and it still does!  I have always wanted to be a Mommy.  When I was younger, I would play with my dolls: pushing them in the stroller, feeding, them, changing them, etc.  I loved doing whatever MY mom was doing.  She was my idol and I wanted to be a loving Mommy like her!  I waited years and years to be given the precious gift of being a Mommy and over those years, I had time to think about what kind of mother I wanted to be to my children.  Like I mentioned before, my mom is an amazing mom and it made me easy to think of some motherhood goals for myself.

As a Mom I want to...

• Have patience.  Being a mom can be a hard job.  Being a mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, etc. can be even more challenging!  I want to always be patient with my children and give them time to be kids.
• Be fair.  When I was little, my mom NEVER showed favoritism between me and my sister and she was always fair.  Everything was equal.  As a teacher, I saw many parents with an obvious favorite child and it made me so sad for the other child.  Seriously, how would you feel if you realized you were not the favorite?!  I know I could never have a favorite child, but just so it's clear, I want to be totally fair in my parenting.  Everything from they get equal pours of milk in their glasses to rules!
• Teach.  Obviously I want to help my children learn and grow academically, but I also want to teach them life skills.  I want to teach respect, honesty, perseverance.  There are so many things I can't wait to teach my children!
• Create memories.  I'm not talking about fancy trips and vacations (although those are nice, too).  I'm talking about memories of blanket forts in the family room, flashlight tag, picnics by the river.  I want to make special memories with my children that will last a lifetime!

As a mother, I have many other goals, but most of all, I want my children to know they are loved.  I plan to tell them way too often.  Carson is already smothered in my love (don't worry, he loves it)!  This is like second nature to me because that is how I was raised BUT I know all too many people who were not told often enough that they were loved.  This is so important to me.  

I'm linking up with Becky today:

Flashback Friday

Now that it's getting to be back to school time, I decided to do a little flashback into my high school years.  This post was totally inspired by Abby's post over at The Inspired Apple!

Let's start out in the early years....when awkward is still considered cute!  The left larger picture is my kindergarten pic.  Awesome outfit, I look like a beer wench!  I also LOVED my glasses, they were red frames with Mickey Mouse on the side.  So cool.
The remaining pictures on the right are 1st-4th grade.  I like how I have oversized collars in 3 of the 5 pictures.  Don't miss my girly Cosby sweater from 3rd grade!  Oh, and my 4th grade crimped hair is pretty amazing too.

Now onto the TRUE awkward years...the years where you can no longer blame your Mom for your clothing or hairstyles!  Here's my Freshman year picture.  Not only do I look cross eyed but I have some AMAZING bangs.  You know I spent lots of time on those with a huge round brush and tons of hair spray.

I finally got things right by the time I was a senior.  Brows are shaped (almost gone, but shaped), bubble bangs are gone and my teeth had been corrected by braces!

I'm linking up (a day late) with Cara over at The First Grade Parade!

What do your school photos look like?  

Did you follow any silly trends like my puffy bangs?!

DIY Bachelorette Bouquet

One of my best friends is getting married in October and we officially started her wedding festivities this past weekend.  We had a wonderful bridal shower and a super fun bachelorette party!

I was in charge of a few of the DIY things for the festivities (which I LOVE) and I was pretty excited about how my crafts turned out.

I'm sure some of you have seen the "Suck for a Buck" t-shirts.  They have little candies glued to them and guys pay a dollar to suck one of the candies off of the bachelorette's shirt.  We love the idea of collecting some extra cash to cover the bride's bar tab BUT we wanted something a bit less raunchy.  :)  Enter the suck for a buck bouquet!

What You Need
Foam cone (in the floral department at craft stores)
Ribbon (the wider the better!)
Suckers (I used 25 blow pops which was about 3 bags)
Hot glue gun

How to Make It
First you will want to cover your cone with ribbon.  Using your hot glue gun, you can wrap your ribbon around the cone or apply it in vertical stripes like I did.
Once your cone is covered, start sticking those suckers in the top!  I started at the center and put them as close together as possible so I could get quite a few in there.  I ended up fitting 25 all together (I used 3 bags and had 2 leftover suckers).

Next, you need a sign so that all of those crazy inebriated men at the bars know what this is all about!  I created my sign using Microsoft Word, but you can use whatever program you're comfortable with.

Next give the wonderful bouquet to your bride-to-be and head out for a night of fun and free drinks!  

Here's a picture of the bride-to-be with her beautiful bouquet!

Breastfeeding Must Haves

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week (which is actually ending today), I'd like to share some of my favorite nursing "gear".  I've been nursing for over 14 months now so I'm obviously an expert!  [Insert saracasm font.]

When I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to try to breastfeed but I was too scared to set any goals for myself.  I read books, read online articles, took breastfeeding classes, and did everything I could to prepare myself.  In the hospital I was able to meet with a lactation consultant (albeit on my last day in the hospital...grrrr) and get some helpful advice and tips.  My nurses were also extremely knowledgeable and helpful.  I also attended a second breastfeeding class while I was in the hospital which was really nice because we could ask questions about problems we were already experiencing!

Once I got home, it was all up to me.  My husband attended the classes with me so he was able to support me and help in some ways, but otherwise, I only had my birth month group of moms (who were a HUGE support system).  My mom was only able to breastfeed me for about 3 weeks due to severe mastitis (and lack of support) so I didn't have anyone in real life to help me.

These were some of my breastfeeding "must haves" when I was in the early stages of nursing:

1. Breast Pump.  Whether or not you're planning on bottle feeding, a breast pump is very helpful.  I was very engorged in the early days and the pump provided some nice relief.  We mostly nursed, but it was nice to pump a few bottles so that Daddy could get in some bonding time and give Mommy a break as well!  I also slowly started building my freezer stash for when I returned to work.  Even if you are planning on staying at home, it's nice to have a little stash of breastmilk in the freezer for times that arise unexpectedly.  I used the Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump (Tote Style Bag) and also the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump.  Read reviews before purchasing because although some pumps look similar, they do not all perform equally!

2. Medela Quick Clean Wipes.  These were great for quickly cleaning my pump parts.  I washed them in warm water with soap between pumping but if I was pumping somewhere other than my house (family's homes, work, etc.) these wipes were great!

3. Lanolin.  Let's be honest, your nipples WILL be sore.  Breastfeeding is hard and isn't comfortable at first.  I would slather on this lanolin cream before every nursing session and it really helped.  I had friends who got dry, cracked nipples (yikes) and luckily I never experienced that.  I thank the cream!

4. Hydrogel Nursing Pads.  Just like I said in #3, your poor nips will be sore.  These little hydrogel pads feel SO amazing.  They give a cooling sensation and really help take away some of the pain that comes with your little bundle of joy trying to perfect his/her latch.

5. Disposable Nursing Pads.  Another fun side effect of nursing is leaky boobs.  This is something you cannot control and it WILL happen when your supply is regulating itself.  When my milk first came in, I was positive my boobs were going to explode.  Even when Carson had just nursed, I would still sometimes leak just minutes later.  These disposable pads slip right inside your bra and save your clothes and also save you from embarrassing moments.  Don't be this lady:

{via}

6. Reuseable Nursing Pads.  I didn't use these on a regular basis, but they were wonderful for trips to the pool!  They pretty much suction (gently) to your breast so they will stay put even without a bra.  Since they are not absorbent, a bit of milk may collect inside the pad but I never had any problems with these coming loose.  The best part is that you can simply wash and re-use!  I used the Lilypadz brand.

7. Boppy Pillow.  This thing was my best friend for the longest time.  Having a pillow to set your baby on while nursing really helps get them into the right position and brings them to the breast.  This is ideal because you don't want to be slouched over them - it will get uncomfortable very quickly!  I've heard great things about different nursing pillows, but I personally had the Boppy and had no problems at all!  I would also suggest getting at least 2 covers for your pillow because it will get covered in breastmilk, spit-up, and other fun bodily fluids faster than you can blink your eyes.  Hey, YOU are the one who chose to be a Mommy, remember?!  ;)

8. Breastmilk Storage Bags.  Just like I mentioned in #1, it is always great to have a stash of breastmilk.  There are a lot of different brands of breastmilk storage bags on the market, but the Lansinoh were my favorite.  I never had a bag break and they hold quite a bit of milk as well.  I would suggest keeping a Sharpie by your bags so you can mark the date and number of ounces.  I also suggest storing your bags FLAT because it will save space in your freezer and it is much easier to organize your milk supply that way!  KellyMom has a great section on storing your breastmilk.

9. Water!  If you get one of those big insulated mugs at the hospital, KEEP IT!  I used mine for almost 9 months.  When you breastfeed you will be SUPER thirsty (and hungry) so always keep water close by!  Not to mention, drinking enough water is what helps to keep (and even boost) your supply so drink away, my friends!

One more thing that I used a ton that I didn't include on my list is a baby tracking app for your phone.  I use Baby Connect and I love it.  For nursing, you can track which side your baby fed from and for how long.  For bottle feeding you can track how many ounces.  You can even track diapers, medicine, sleep, milestones, etc.  I still use this app to keep track of Carson's stats and also medicine intake when he gets sick (which is VERY rare thanks to breastfeeding)!  Here's a screenshot from Google of the app:

Back in February, I guest posted over at Julie's blog for her Breastfeeding Diaries.  If you haven't read it, head over and check it out!

Goals Update!

Here's a look at how I did with my July goals:

1. Read 2 books.  Fail!  I only read one book this month AND it was a book I started back in June.  Oops!  I think this was partly a fail because we found a new show on Netflix that we've been watching before bed so that has replaced my normal reading time.  I'm still reading, just not for as long each night. Someone needs to suggest a book that I can't put down!  I need it to be cheap through my Nook or available at the library!  Library waiting lists are no fun.  Ain't nobody got time for that!  Here's what I'm planning on reading next:

2. Try a new food.  I didn't really do great with this.  I tried a few new recipes, but no actual new foods.  One thing I did do was use pesto in one of my recipes.  I've had it before, but I've never cooked with it!  Carson tried a few new foods though including fish sticks!

3. Organize my crafting supplies.  I'll call this a semi-success.  I went through my craft bins and got rid of old things and things I won't use.  I put similar things together in bins so it would make more sense and be easier to find stuff.  My next step is making some cute labels!

4. Find a new place to go with Carson.  Success!  We went to two new play cafes!  Carson had fun exploring at both places and it gave me a chance to catch up with some friends!  We also went to our local children's museum and Carson had an absolute blast.  I might be looking into getting a membership because I think it'd be great for the winter months when we can't be outside!

Children's Museum

Bounce house at a play cafe with BFF Hallie!

Exploring another new play cafe!

5. Go through our dressers/closets!  SUCCESS!  This has been on my goal list for two months and I finally got around to it!  Nick went through his clothes and I went through my dresser and started on my closet.  We were able to donate 1 large (30 gallon) trash bag + 6 large diaper boxes + 4 shopping bags FULL of clothes.  You guys.  I had 33 pairs of jeans!  Oops!  :)  I still need to go through my work pants and dresses but I've made a ton of progress already!

These are only from our dressers.  Ridic.

Now onto new goals!

August Goals

1. Read 1 book.  I've failed at my "read 2 books" goal for the past couple months so I'm making it easy on myself this month.  I want to read at least one book this month.  I love reading and I hate that I keep putting it on the bottom of my priority list!  

2. De-clutter the basement.  I'm not really sure if it's possible to de-clutter the mess that is our basement BUT I would like to go through some of my things (old decorations, extra school stuff, games, etc.) and get a few things ready to sell and/or donate.  I know there's a lot down there that we aren't using and other people could use!  

3. Find a way to get Carson to eat more veggies!  Carson used to be a GREAT eater and slowly but surely he is trying to become a picky eater on me.  I will NOT let him win!  I was a picky eater when I was little and I don't want him to be that way.  I need to find a way to get him interested in veggies again.  Tips and tricks are welcomed!  :)

4. Go on a date with the hubster.  I'm pretty positive we went on zero dates in July and that makes me a little sad!  We had plenty of family dates (which are super fun), but I need some husband-wife time, too!  We have a whole pile of gift cards so all we need to do is pick a date and call one of the grandmas.  Should be easy, right?!  We'll see....!

5. Travel to another state!  In July we went to Michigan.  In August I'll go to ______.  I actually already have my flight booked but I'll keep you guys in suspense.  I'll have a post about this soon! :)

My Favorite StrollerS. Yes, plural.

Before I get started, if you are in the market for a stroller, PLEASE go check out the amazing deal Zulily is running on Phil & Teds strollers!  This deal only lasts for one week so hurry over to check out what they're offering.  If you aren't in the market for a new stroller, keep reading because you will be by the time you're done with this post.  :)

Click here (or the picture below) to go directly to the sale!

I never thought I'd be one of those moms with more than one stroller.  I used to think, you get ONE good stroller and you won't need any others!  I'm totally biting my tongue now.  Oops!

Back in the day BC (before Carson obviously), I had intentions of getting one excellent stroller and it would work great for all of my stroller needs.  I researched thoroughly and decided on the Britax B-Agile.  I wanted something lightweight since I'm not a body builder and I also wanted the option to use it like a travel system with our infant carrier.  I loved that this stroller had a one-handed fold and was super lightweight.  We decided on this after testing many strollers in stores.  (Note: for those of you wondering why I chose this over the ever popular Baby Jogger City Mini, we liked that our feet didn't hit the rear axle when walking.  We both have long legs and a fairly long stride!)  We ended up getting this stroller as a Christmas gift along with the Britax B-Safe Infant Car Seat.  I still LOVE this stroller and use it on a daily basis.  This is the stroller I keep in my car and use while we're out and about running errands, making trips to the zoo, etc.

When Carson was about 6 months old, we started planning our first family vacation.  This vacation would include a flight, rental car, etc.  THIS is when I realized we needed more than one stroller (remember, tongue is bitten)!  We wanted to get a lightweight umbrella style stroller but I was NOT okay with getting one of those $10 strollers that look like they'll collapse.  For some people, those are fine and work great.  For me, I would be having a panic attack going over any bumps on the sidewalk, ha!  Either way, while we didn't want to spend too little, we also didn't want to spend too much.  We did a lot of research and found out about The First Years Ignite.  For under $60, you get a sturdy 14lb stroller that can hold a child up to 50lbs.  Did I mention the seat can recline and it can hold a child up to 50lbs?  Sold!  We have used this for traveling multiple times now and love it.  It steers very easily, folds up very small, and has a decent size storage basket as well as a parent console with cup holders and a zippered pouch!

For a while, I lived my life with 2 strollers.  Then my friend convinced me that I should sign up for a 5k with her and some of our other friends.  I was not a runner at all so I decided if I wanted to complete this race, I needed to start training.  Long story short, I discovered I absolutely positively needed a jogging stroller.  My husband may have attempted to kill me at this point.  I read tons of reviews and found an affordable jogger with great reviews.  I knew the hubster wouldn't be okay with a third stroller purchase unless I could find a great deal.  I stalked Craigslist for weeks and watched all the local ads.  I finally snagged the Baby Trend Expedition for only $85!  (I purchased through Burlington/Baby Depot during a sale and used a coupon as well.)  If you follow the link I posted, Amazon is currently offering the stroller for $75 in a couple color combinations!  This stroller is great.  The front wheel has the option to be locked or pivot.  The stroller itself is easy to fold (although bulky, but what jogger isn't?) and it has a HUGE storage basket.  The parent console area has 2 cup holders as well as a small plastic bin that snaps shut - great for cell phone, keys, etc.  It even comes with a snack tray for your child with two cup holders!

Who wants to help me convince my husband I need a FOURTH stroller?  Zulily is making me feel like I NEED to score an awesome deal on the infamous Phil & Teds strollers.  Not only are these strollers super snazzy, but they have rave reviews.  Did I mention some of them have options for a second seat?  Hello, baby #2!!  (Note: I am not pregnant...yet!)  ;)