This past weekend, I turned 33 years young and I thought it would be a great exercise to challenge myself to do this. Really sit and go through 33 different lessons both from life & motherhood. What would I change? What would I tell my younger self? What new perspectives have I gained? So without further adieu…

1. Finding yourself isn’t a one and done thing. Daily you will have to enter into the hide & seek game. It’s more like “chasing yourself.”
2. For every 1 bad thing, 10 more good are right behind it
3. You’re special but not unique. Everyone shares in love and eventually loss
4. Vulnerability is necessary. It will show you who you’re safe people are.
5. You have the time. It’s up to you to make it.
6. Love what you do. If you dread showing up the next day, it’s not the right fit. Keep looking and trying new things
7. Don’t be afraid of being alone. Let yourself be from time to time.
8. Invest in earplugs to help knock yourself down a notch
9. Gut feelings are a real thing but sometimes it takes time to nail down. You might get it wrong but you need to in order to learn the moments you are right
10. Anyone who makes you feel stupid, doesn’t deserve your time. Friends, family, professionals, doctors, etc.
11. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Remember in the end, we’re all going to die one day. Morbid, I know. But seriously it’s true. What’s it matter?
12. What someone thinks of you is none of your business. It’s not your responsibility to fix the lens through which someone sees you
13. The future is better than the old days. Let yesterday go
14. You’re don’t have to like it all in order to say you’ve loved it in the end.
15. Don’t seek. Attract. The things that belong to you will find you. Focus on the energy you put out into the world and towards others.
16. Go to the dentist every 6 months and don’t skip. Even if you hate it.
17. Everything feels worse when you’re hungry and tired. If you’re having a moment, eat something. Drink water and try increasing your sleep first and then reassess.
18. Family dinners do not make great families.
19. Grief isn’t linear. It comes in waves. In the most unexpected of ways. Time doesn’t heal it but makes it harder to recognize
20. Forget ordering one meal at a restaurant. Order a bunch of appetizers and bring home the left overs. More food, more options, same price.
21. Be choosy about who you follow on social media. Ask yourself “is this a person I would want sitting next to me in a room full of people I know?” If the answer is no, unfollow. Do the same with your in person friends.
22. You’re allowed to ask for help. There is not one person on this planet who has been able to do it all alone.
23. Don’t get rid of a landline. Save it for 911
24. You are smart and capable enough to make your own decisions. You don’t need to get everyone else to weigh in
25. Don’t fucking cut your own bangs. Trust me, it’s not the move. Have a good cry, a glass of wine and PUT THE SCISSORS DOWN
26. You can do hard things. Don’t believe me, you are literally reading this. I doubt every moment that led you to this very day has been a cake walk
27. Numbing yourself doesn’t just take away the bad.
28. Name your anxiety and tell it to “bring it on.”
29. The fear of fear and pain is what will make it worse.
30. Tell him what you like and don’t like. Yes I’m talking about sex. They aren’t mind readers and there is nothing embarrassing about knowing what feels good for you
31. Say 1 kind thing to yourself every day. Even if you don’t believe it at first. Eventually you will
32. You weren’t born to be tolerated. You were born to be celebrated. Find those who will remind you of that daily.
33. You’re enough. You’re enough. You’re enough

If you have been following along on Instagram you know my feelings about dinner. I F*CKING hate it with a passion. I didn’t always feel that. I used to love cooking. Loved zoning out in the kitchen but as many of you with little kids know, it can be bonkers. It’s the witching hour for us and lord have mercy it is a lot.

For that reason, I have been taking the easy route and cooking our 5 staple dinners for months now. Frozen meatballs, pasta, tacos, etc. Nothing wild but I am tired of it. So I’m switching it up and challenging myself to bring new meals into the rotation. Still would like for them to be easy of course, which is exactly what this dinner was.

So with that, take a look below and remember if you want other recipes to try, be sure to sign up for my newsletter here where from time to time, I love including one exclusive recipe for subscribers only. You won’t want to miss out!

What You’ll Need:

• 2 lb fresh salmon- sliced into cubes
• 1 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 1 TBSP honey
• 1TSP Garlic Paste
• 1TSP Ginger Paste
• 1TBSP Brown Sugar
• Sesame Seeds
• Sliced Avocado
• Edamame Beans
• White Rice (I used minute rice but I’d recommend trying going with something stickier the next time)

What to Do:

• Mix together soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, fish sauce, garlic & ginger paste and then add in cubed salmon
• Let salmon marinate in mixture for AT LEAST 30 minutes prior to cooking
• Once ready to cook, add salmon to a skillet with 1tbsp avocado or olive oil and cook on medium heat until all salmon has been cooked through and browned on each side.
• Cook rice according to instructions
• Add rice to a bowl, add salmon, edamame, avocado and garnish with sesame seeds (of course, feel free to add any other topping desired)
• Serve and eat your face off!

Although the holidays made at home meals a bit more challenging this month, I still managed to introduce a few and this one…. A HUGE WINNER! Especially for this pregnant mama. I dont know if you can tell but this growing baby girl of mine loves creamy dinners. I mean who doesn’t? And trust me, I am not complaining one bit!

So with that, take a look below and remember if you want other recipes to try, be sure to sign up for my newsletter here where I always include one exclusive recipe for subscribers only. You won’t want to miss out!

What You’ll Need:

• 1 Rotisserie Chicken with meat off bone OR 2 boneless/skinless chicken breast (shredded)
• 7 oz sour cream
• 8 oz Monterey Jack Cheese
• 12 oz frozen peppers, onions (feel free to add in any other veggies or fresh veggies if you want)
• 7oz Diced Green Chiles
• 8 soft taco size flour tortillas
• 1.2-1 cups chicken broth (you don’t want it to be watery but you do want it to loosen up the sour cream)
• 2 tbsp chilli powder
• 2 tbsp cumin
• mined garlic 2 TBSP (I usually eyeball the amount I put in but you can play around with us depending on how much you love garlic)
• OPTIONAL: Cilantro to garnish. I hate cilantro so I passed on that part but you can totally add that in

What to Do:

• pre heat oven to 400
• on stovetop, sauté chicken, green chilis, frozen peppers, cumin and chili and I along with 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. If your chicken was being stored in the fridge before use and is cold, I like to use a little chicken broth to help it cook down and shred better.
• Add 2-4oz of Monterey Jack cheese to chicken once everything is combined.
• In soft tortillas, place desired amount of chicken mixture. You will want to roll these up so make sure the amount you place it doesn’t overflow. Once rolled up, put in 9×13 baking dish
• Mix together sour cream, remaining cheese, 1 tbsp garlic, chicken broth in separate bowl and then pour over rolled up tortillas
• Place in oven for 25 minutes
• Serve and eat your face off!

NUTRITION: Not putting it this time because I have no clue plus it all depends on how you want to make it. Bring down the carbs by omitting the rice or up the fat by using whole fat cheese. Its all up to you. Just remember, you are allowed to enjoy food and one decadent meal won’t ruin you 🙂 

Anyone else love anything creamy? Well if so, keep reading because this recipe was fast, simple, and oh so yummy!With another month of dinner rut rehab meals behind me, I  managed to make this new favorite for Kev and I. As for the kids, ehh they are picky AF so I tried but nope. One day hopefully but until then, Mac & cheese it is. 

So with that, take a look below and remember if you want other recipes to try, be sure to sign up for my newsletter here where I always include one exclusive recipe for subscribers only. You won’t want to miss out!

What You’ll Need:

• 2 Rotisserie Chickens- meat off bone OR 4 boneless/skinless chicken breast 
• 1 can 98% cream of chicken condensed soup
• 1 can 98% cream of mushroom condensed soup
• 1 jar of pesto sauce
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise 
• Mozzarella Cheese (low fat or whole fat, doesnt matter)
• 2 bunches of asparagus (cleaned and chopped)
• 2.5 Cups of white rice (you can forgo this if wanted)

What to Do:

• Cook rice and place on bottom of 9×13 pan
• Place asparagus onto of rice
• Shred and place desired amount of chicken on top of asparagus 
• Mix together cream of chicken, mushroom pesto and mayo in a bowl and then layer on top of rice, asparagus & chicken
• Top with desired amount of mozzarella 
• Place in oven and cook at 375 for 30 minutes 
• Serve and eat your face off!

NUTRITION: Not putting it this time because I have no clue plus it all depends on how you want to make it. Bring down the carbs by omitting the rice or up the fat by using whole fat cheese. Its all up to you. Just remember, you are allowed to enjoy food and one decadent meal won’t ruin you 🙂