Garlic Lime Flank Steak

Oh man do I have a recipe for you today. Garlic Lime Flank Steak. This is our very favorite crock pot recipe, our go-to week night meal. It takes less than five minutes to prepare, requires things you probably have on hand already, and makes your slow cooker do all the work. 

Flank steak can run a bit on the pricey side. I usually pay around $18 but we always have enough leftovers for a second meal and $9 for two meals isn't bad at all! This recipe is low (no) carb, paleo, and whole 30 friendly. And it's downright delicious. It's the perfect meal to throw together and then forget about while you spend the day at the beach, a baseball tournament, shopping, wherever! 

We usually serve it over cauliflower rice, but it's tasty over any rice. Cauliflower rice is whole 30 and paleo compliant as well as low carb, but pick your favorite rice if you aren't following a special diet! If you are on the whole 30, you can replace the soy sauce with coconut aminos. We also top ours with homemade guacamole. We keep it simple mashing together avocado, salt, fresh lime juice and a little bit of pico de gallo. 

Here's the super simple how to:

1. Mix together in a bowl: 

1/3 cup balsamic vinaigrette

2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

3 TBSP minced garlic

2 TBSP fresh lime juice 

splash of soy sauce
1 TBSP salt

1 TBSP pepper - add more if you like more kick!

2. Place Flank steak in your slow cooker and cover with mixed ingredients

3. Turn your slow cooker to low for 8 hours. 

That's it! By the time 8 hours is up, your meat will be tender and ready to shred and serve!

2.5

Oh the twos. The lovely, lovely, twos. I refuse to call them terrible, because even the worst moments of tantrums and stubbornness are redeemed with sweetness and love. We're really just amazed these days at all the ways he's growing. He laid out on the couch the other day with the iPad and I stared at him for the longest time just marveling at how long he's gotten. Nearly all signs of babyness are gone, which makes me want to weep. He's a little man through and through. 

We get stopped on the regular by people marveling over his speech. He talks. and talks and talks and talks. All day long. He says "Mommy" 25 times in a row even if I answer him the first time. If he wants in on what you're eating/playing/watching/doing he'll say "How about Jacob?" and if he doesn't want to do something he'll say "How about (anyone else)" He frequently says "Come on, Come on" as he drags us up the stairs to play trains for the 100th time. 

He's still picky about food but slowly branching back out. Pizza, PB&J, and chicken nuggets are favorites, but we can also get him to eat chicken, beef, shredded pork, rice, beans, most veggies and fruits. And dip. He'll eat almost everything if he can dip it. Ranch. Ketchup. Butter. He's not picky about dip. He has finally figured out the Munchkin 360 miracle cup (aff link), so goodby every other cup that we've tried because these are the best!

He's a busy little guy with soccer on Mondays and swimming on Tuesdays and Gym class on Wednesdays. Getting out energy is always a good thing, because he seems to have extra stores of it hidden somewhere. Screen time is about the only thing that keeps him still and quiet and we have to seriously limit it because he would watch/play all the livelong day if we let him. 

He love music, especially Taylor Swift, Sia, Lady Gaga, and anything Christmas. It's Christmas 365 days a year at our house. He recently made it all the way through his first movie SING! and I highly credit that to all the music in the movie. I rented a different movie a week ago and he cried when he realized it wasn't SING! 

Sleep is still hit or miss. He naps well for 2 hours in his crib, pack and play or daycare cot. He's become a master negotiator at bedtime. Always taking FOR-EV-ER to go potty or needing just one more drink. Sometimes he sleeps through the night from 7-6:30 and sometimes he wakes up several times a night needing to go potty or have just one more drink. Sometimes he wakes up much earlier at 5:30 or 6. He's really just all over the place with sleep and I"m praying this is just another phase that shall soon pass. 

He 100% believes that kisses instantly cure boo-boos, takes great pleasure in bossing around his pups, happily cuddles in anytime someone has a storybook to share, and gives the BEST hugs and kisses. He's our little dream come true and we love him SO much!

Blue jumper // Adidas track pants // The Rainbow Fish // Hoodie // Scooter // Helmet

Our Winter Michigan Trip

The day after Christmas Jacob and I flew up to Michigan to stay with my parents. We were so excited when we got there to see snow on the ground! It was hazy and drizzling, and by the next morning it was gone, but we loved it the .2 seconds we got to play in it! We spent the rest of the rainy evening inside where Jacob was more than happy to find another train set waiting for him!

We had another "Christmas morning" while we were there with my parents and siblings. We re-did the whole day over again from the beginning: Cinnamon rolls, presents, and ham dinner. Jacob was really excited to help everyone open their presents! 

After presents there was some drone flying before nap and then more presents and dinner with my grandmothers, followed by salted caramel fudge for dessert!

A few days after our arrival Jacob came down with HFM, which meant we didn't really get out and do much, and had numerous sleepless nights as his little body tried to fight off the virus. We spent most of our time being lazy in doors and avoiding contact with everyone. 

 He did get himself on the mend by New Years Eve and we celebrated Noon Year's Eve at the Detroit Historical Museum, followed by lunch at the Detroit Institute of Arts. That night we ordered in pizza, popped some fresh firecracker popcorn, and no one made it to the ball drop at midnight!

We also took little man to see SING! which was his first movie since our disastrous 15 minute attempt last summer. He LOVED it! And he made it all the way through the movie, so that was a win! We had one other day when tiny snowflakes were falling off and on all day. We dressed in our winter gear and raced out everytime it started only to have it stop as soon as we got out there. We tried approximately 20 times before we finally got out in time to see some tiny flakes falling. 

Winter break might be over, but we're already dreaming of all things tropical and looking forward to seeing everyone again at Spring break in 2 months!

Old Fashioned Oats 3 Ways

Goodness gracious, getting back into a routine this week has been HARD. We've been totally beat by the time we roll into bed in the evening! Having to wake up early again followed by long days at work and extra curriculars, ending with an evening of making dinner, bathtime, and bedtime has completely worn us out. In a week or two we'll be back in the swing of things, but in the mean time I'm riding the struggle bus in the morning. I've been trying to eat a good, hot breakfast each morning to help me wake up and give me energy to get through the day and oatmeal has been a favorite because it's just so easy. 

You can make the little packets of instant oatmeal of course, but I prefer old fashioned oats and they don't take much longer to cook on the stove. I usually put them on to cook right after getting out of bed and then shower and get ready while they are cooking. 

Here are the basics of making old fashioned oats:
In a saucepan combine 1 cup water, and 1/8 tsp. salt to a rolling boil. Add 1/2 cup oats and reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook 5 minutes, stirring every so often. Remove from stovetop and let sit 2-3 minutes. Eat plain or add toppings and enjoy!  

The best part of making your own is that you get to decide which toppings to add, and the sky is the limit when it comes to flavor combinations. Here are three of our favorites:

1. Coconut flakes, almond slivers, and dark chocolate chips. Tastes just like an almond joy bar! 

2. Sprinkle of brown sugar and cinnamon, diced apple, and a vanilla yogurt swirl. Apple pie without the extra calories! 

3. Raspberries, Blueberries, and Strawberries with a peanut butter drizzle (heat peanut butter for approx. 15 seconds to thin it out) for a new twist on an old classic. (PB&J!)

Hope you all aren't having as hard a time as I am getting back into routine!! XO

Winter Picture Book Favorites

There's something magical about curling up with a good book when the world outside is white and frozen. Growing up my parents house had a cozy window seat and I loved to sit there wrapped in a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate and read the day away while snowflakes fell outside. We don't get quite that same experience here, but this weekend while the rest of the country got snowed in, it was down in the 40s, which is chilly by Florida standards! It was the perfect time to brew some warm coffee, throw on our softest sweatpants, and curl up in the rocking chair with my favorite little guy. We've put away our Christmas stories but haven't quite pulled out our Valentine's books - January is the perfect in-between time for winter books. These ones are some of my favorites - compelling and sometimes funny story lines, strong characters and beautiful illustrations, they're the ones I return to again and again in the classroom. And now that I've got a little guy at home I get to see the adventure through his eyes, which is really like rediscovering them for the first time! 

The Mitten // The Snowy Day // Snowballs // Tacky the Penguin // Sneezy the Snowman 

 Froggy gets Dressed // Owl Moon // The Little Snowplow // Max and Marla

Stay warm friends! XO

Friday Favorites

I have to be honest and tell you there aren't too many things I like about January. Taking down the tree and putting away the decorations always makes the house feel empty, and there's no more festive baking, music, or Hallmark movies. Valentine's and my Birthday are still a month away, and besides a day off for MLK there just isn't much to get excited about. Here in Florida, we can't even hope for snow! 

One things I do love though, is when people start sharing pictures from their Christmases, with presents they are excited about. It might seem like it's too late to gleam present ideas off others but don't forget about Valentine's and birthdays! Here are some things I'm loving lately!

We got Jacob the cat seen above for Christmas, and I love that every purchase from Cuddle + Kind helps fight childhood hunger by providing 10 meals to kids in need. In addition, each doll is handmade in Peru providing local artisans there with sustainable, fair-trade incomes. A win-win-win! 

I love these casual sneakers. They come in so many different colors but I'm especially loving the white with black accents to match just about everything. 

I'm a sucker for nice kitchen gadgets and these gold measuring cups and spoons are making me swoon. 

Add a gorgeous dish towel and mug in there and I may never leave the kitchen.

Speaking of mugs and kitchens, I love this mug storage for small spaces! I'd love to hang something like this under our cabinets.

I have this peplum top in sky blue and it's the most flattering shirt ever. I'm loving the dark grey/black color for winter. 

Winter is the perfect time for cozy crock pot meals and this Jerk Pork with mango-avocado salsa is one of my go-to meals on busy nights. We serve it over cauliflower rice, but any rice will do!

My dad got the mens version of these slippers for Christmas and I wore them once to grab something from the cold garage and now I'm dying for a pair of my own, they are SO soft and comfy!

Part of my New Years goals is to cook more meals at home. I love my Pioneer Woman cookbook and am hoping to add on with one of her new ones soon.

If you haven't taken your kiddos to see SING! yet, you need to ASAP. It was the cutest movie! We went with my parents and every single one of us loved it. We've been having dance parties to the soundtrack on repeat. 

Happy weekend friends! XO

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Friends! 

The past week has been a smorgasbord of Hand, Foot, & Mouth Disease, packing, travelling, unpacking, and now a sinus infection for yours truly. But New Years was in there somewhere and it brought about it's usual fun and reflection. We spent New Years Eve in Downtown Detroit with little man, celebrating Noon Years Eve at the Detroit Historical Museum, followed by lunch at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Back home we ordered in Pizza, made firework popcorn, and called it a night. No one made it past 10 pm!