cookie in the microwave

Let me tell you how to make the easiest, quickest, and yummiest cookie ever. It's world famous in my apartment! The only tools you need is a tablespoon.

1 tablespoon of melted butter(last night I didn't have butter, so I used applesauce)

1 tablespoon of flour

1 tablespoon of sugar

1 tablespoon of brown sugar

1 egg yolk

pinch of salt

2 tablespoon of chocolate chips

I'm doing this now by memory, but I think I got it all. ENJOY! 

smoothies

I have been eating great lately. To keep me on track I decided to make a smoothie yesterday for lunch. I was stuck at home having a snow day (IOWA) It was actually really good. The more I drank it the more I liked it. It also filled me up!

1/2 c nonfat greek yogurt
1/2 c unsweetened almond milk
2 tbsp PB2 (powered peanut butter)
2/3 c blueberries 
1 frozen banana

The only thing I would change is less greek yogurt, I really don't like greek yogurt.

merry fatmas

I think it's safe to say that everyone,  everywhere stuffs their faces for the holidays. I have took it to extremes this year, oops! I cannot stress how happy I will be when Christmas is over. I'm so ready to be back on my diet! Good luck, everyone.

homemade pizza

I am about a week behind on blogging. Sorry, let's start with last Tuesday 11-13. I made homemade pizza. My parents gave me a pound of pork sausage, it was the obvious thing to do with it. I did not make my own crust, even though I would like to try it sometime. We ate the whole thing!

chicky chicky tom tom

While I was at my parents Sunday running around with the kids. I left the boyfriend at home to watch the chicken I put in the oven. 

it was baked for about 5 hours on 275 degrees 

He was shredded, put on a hamburger bun, topped with bbq sauce and cole slaw. YUM!

homemade applesauce

Saturday, after running around all day, I came home and tried my hand in homemade applesauce. It was extremely easy and made our apartment smell delicious. 

I used 5 different apples, 8 total

sliced them (I left the peels on, and it makes the applesauce have a little crunch)

throw them in a crock pot

add a 3 inch cinnamon stick

4 tsp of brown sugar

lemon peel

1 tsp lemon juice

cook low for 5 hours. I used my meat masher to mash. stir every hour. 

of course remove the cinnamon sick when it is finished, lemon peel is ok to keep in.

healthy blt pasta salad

The first of November kick started my diet, once again! It was addicting to eat. Only 4 points/serving in weight watchers

1 cup elbow pasta 

4 strips of turkey bacon

2 tomatoes

1 cup spinach

4 tablespoons fat free mayo

pepper

my birthday

Yesterday was my birthday. I decided to take the day off work. It really was a relaxing, beautiful day. I watched Glee all morning and made some coffee.

I wanted to make pancakes, but didn't have syrup, so I saved it in a ketchup container to eat later.

my boyfriend gave me the best birthday present a 25 year old girl could ask for

I also went a fetched my new car

On my way to get my car at my grandparents, I got the call my grandfather had passed away. He had been in a nursing home for sometime now. He is now in a happier, more beautiful place. I will miss him forever

what's for dinner? cheesy potatoes and ham

I finally, got myself a crock pot(a purple one) 

Sunday I woke up, bought one and started cooking. 

Potatoes: I bought and cut 10 small potatoes.

Ham: I bought turkey ham Jennie-O brand.

Cheese: I wanted to make my own cheese sauce. When I was at the store, I could not find Velveeta to save my life. So, I bought cheese soup in a can.

Extra: I had some left over sour cream, about a half a cup that I added. A triangle of laughing cow cheese. And had left over green onions from my stuffed shells

YUM!

chocolate chip cookies

made chocolate chip cookies saturday. they were healthy, but still delicious. 

what's for dinner? buffalo chicken bread

Pizza dough, buffalo sauce, chicken, cheese, ROLL!

I wish I would have used more cheese, so load it up

what's for dinner? taco stuffed shell

How I made it:

• I cooked hamburger meat first. I always use my micro cooker. 

• Then I used my pasta boat to cook my jumbo shells. I made 14.

• While my shells were cooking I added my taco seasoning to my meat. I make my own taco seasoning(TOP SECRET) you can use any store bought kind.

• Next, I added 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese into the meat mix. (healthier than cream cheese)

• I stuffed the shells with the meat mix. I put them in a tiny casserole dish. 7X11?

• I topped them with salsa and taco sauce. Covered it with tin foil and put it in the oven. 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

• Added taco cheese on top, uncovered it and cooked for another 10 minutes.

• Chopped up some green onions and ate it with a little low fat sour cream!

It does take some time to make it. I think next time I will prepare it on the weekend and freeze it for the week!

been gone.

Hello followers, 

I have been MIA from here for some time now. Oops! Well good news. I'm back.I have been in the market for a denim vest and haven't found one that I liked or one in my budget. Then the fashion Gods shined down at Goodwill. I found a jacket that I liked and turned it into a vest. All you do it cut off the sleeves at the seam.

I finally came around to cooking this weekend also, chimichangas and spanish rice. YUM!

 Took this with instagram last night. Had natural curly hair for date night with the boy! We went to Noah's Ark, in Des Moines. It's amazing Italian food. 

(instagram account is missjackib)

I will be crafting some this week so stay tuned.

zZz

Let me just start by me venting about how exhausted I am. I had a very productive/fun weekend, but I did not get enough sleep in the process. Friday was too much fun. I went out for margaritas with a couple girlfriends. We started at 5pm. DO NOT DO THIS! I love these girls, even though one of them is running away from us to another state. WAH!

We also saw fireworks from the minor league baseball field that is close by. I have a love/hate relationship with fireworks. They are pretty to look at, but I don't like the loud booms. I believe Kasey said "you squirmed like a little girl" 

Yes, I did wear this downtown Des Moines and yes I am posing that a real cowgirl. Success!

Saturday was party day again, sadly I did not participate. 

After the graduation party I had to make a run to Hobby Lobby and Walmart. I almost fell asleep in the jewelry section. I did get everything I needed, this usually doesn't happen.

This is what my Saturday night looked like.

 Full of making things and cake in a cup 

Sunday was another fabulous/tired day. I got to hang out with my nephews all day. They were very good boys, but they can wear me out quickly. 

I did get started on my tote designs and finished some necklaces Sunday night.

I'm even more tired writing all this. I'm going to go home and going straight to bed. I'll leave you with this. BONUS! My mother sent me this picture, the fern I got her looks pretty next to her flowers.

Hello, I would like to first say that I hope you weren't expecting DIY things! Oops. (slacker) I have however had a very exciting week(end) First, I was very excited to see a balloon out early last week. The town I live in is very big on balloons, they are a big to do every year. When I was a kid they used to take off in our yard and so it has a corner place in my heart. 

Later last week my co-worker made us all ankle bracelets. Which was perfect because I was in the market for some more. On my right ankle I have had the same ankle bracelet on 2+ years. It does not come off. So, I'm happy to have another one. 

In the same week I had a work visitor, my nephew. He is my little buddy <3

Last Friday I got to see the newest addition to the family. My youngest nephew Dalton. His big sister loves him, until the toy stealing happens.

My best gal and I finally got to make it golfing for the first time this year with our friend Michael. We have a plan to go every other weekend! Hope we can stick with it.

Mother's Day was a blast. Every holiday my family gets together, plus some! We are a close knit family. Our grandmommy and great uncles came to hang out as well. The kids blew bubbles, watched Oliver and Company, and played Buzz & Woody. It was the most adorable thing to watch. When I watched the movie with them some of the songs came back to me. When I started singing my niece said "don't sing that song"... I apologized and stopped.

Yesterday, I finally cooked. I had been slacking for awhile because we have been so busy. My dad gave us some wild turkey that had been marinating in italian dressing. So I covered them in breadcrumbs and fried them up! I also made cheese fries. 

 This is what you need to make them. If it takes you more than 30 seconds to figure out how to cut potatoes into fries, you are not alone. 

• Potatoes, green onion, jalapenos, salt and pepper, oil, cumin, garlic, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, cheese, and bacon. 
• After you cut the fries throw them into a bowl. 
• Mix in a tsp of all the seasonings and oil
• Place on cookie sheet with sprayed foil and bake 400 degrees for 25 minutes.
• After they are to your liking. Top with (I used 3 slices of) cooked bacon
• And as much cheese, japs, and onions as you like

They turned out delish. We ate all of it, and by we I mean ME!

long blog.

hello friends! it has been over a week since my last post. (oops!) 

I have an excuse though, I've been sick... :( Don't worry, I am getting better. 

• First, I would like to share with you a project I am slowly doing. I am converting my recipes from my little box to a binder. I have too many and my box is overflowing. My binder isn't pretty, but it gets the job done!

• Secondly, I got a free tote (Victoria's Secret addict) soo cute! 
• The little town I am from has started their "farmers market" once a week. Which means you can bring any foods you grow, anything you make, or whatever you want to sell. So a few gals from my work are going to buy a table and sell things! I decided to make a few necklaces...

... I ordered material from Hobby Lobby, and these are my goodies. including bubble wrap I had a blast popping. I will let you know how those turn out! 

• Found this little gem on a trip to Goodwill. Not sure what I will do with it, but I couldn't pass it up. Suggestions would be lovely.

• Bonus, everyone kept telling me how long my hair has gotten last week! It's always thrown up in a pony tail during the work week so I haven't noticed how long it has gotten. 

So happy to catch everyone up. I will be HOPEFULLY be doing some gardening and crafting this weekend. 

--Until we meet again! 

whats for dinner? - lasagna rolls

tonight for dinner I tried something I have never made before. I cannot remember where I got this recipe from, but it turned out better than I thought. 

you will need:

1. 3 frozen chicken breasts
2. 1 c. mozzarella cheese
3. 1/2 c. feta cheese
4. 1/4 c. parmesan cheese
5. 1/4 c. milk
6. I could fit 8 lasagna noodles in my pan
7. and as much spaghetti sauce as you like. (I don't like much, my boyfriends like a lo)

how to make it:

I cooked my lasagna noodles in a pasta boat (I'm that person that will buy anything from an infomercial)  and I cooked my chicken in my micro cooker. I actually cooked my chicken first so it gave it a chance to cool down so I can chop it. then in a bowl stir together the mozzy, feta, parm cheese, and milk. lay down a noodle and put your mixture on top. then roll it up! after I made them all and put them in my pan I baked them for 10 minutes on 400 degrees. we topped it with more sauce, red pepper, and parmesan cheese. 

YUM!

what's for dinner? - philly cheese sandwiches

these are one of my favorite things to make. 

1. because they are absolutely delish
2. super easy to make!

a couple months ago I bought the best thing to ever happen to me...

 micro cooker

microwaved hamburger?? YES! I will never go back to cooking meat in a skillet again.

 Anyways back to the recipe. 

Cook the meat (you can use hamburger, or last night I used pork) you can even put the meat in the cooker right out of the freezer, no need for water. microwave for 4 minutes. take it out and chop. 

put it back in the microwave for another 4 minutes. 

next drop in 3 cubes of beef broth and green peppers and chop it up some more, pop it in for another 4 minutes. 

it should be completely cooked through now!

 I like to use Oroweat onion buns for this recipe. 

pull off some of the bread on the bottom bun so the meat can sit in it. 

top it with a slice of provolone cheese. 

cook 350 degrees for 5 minutes, cook the top bun also.

 serve with southwest sauce, or my boyfriend ate his with taco sauce! 

bon apetit