giveaway for a great cause!

As an educator (prior to my sahm days) you REALLY become aware of the differences in each and every child.  Regardless of what you are taught, nothing fully prepares you for role as a teacher than first hand experience.  With learning and understanding that each child learns differently, it is a whole new ballgame when you have a student with a special need.  Regardless of that special need, they deserve to learn.  They WANT to learn.  They just learn differently.  Many times that extra attention and teaching comes at a price, that unfortunately some families cannot explore.  When Jordan approached me about an opportunity to help out families, in this case affected with Autism, I was more than happy to help out.  I hope you will too!

I am working with a few other bloggers along with Jordan and Tracy Meehan, Independent Stylist for Stella and Dot, has so graciously donated their “Lucky Charm” necklace for you to enter to win!    All you have to do is enter via Rafflecopter below...and shop the link below as well!

This giveaway will hopefully bring more awareness to Autism and support the Lawyers Autism Awareness Foundation which helps pay for therapy when families can’t afford to pay for it themselves. Tracy is hosting an online Trunk Show to benefit the Lawyers Autism Awareness Foundation as I mentioned above -and you can shop here.

Jordan is also helping to put on an event 9/20 in St. Petersburg, FL that helps families who are not able to afford therapies for the children who are affected by Autism.  If you are local to the area, you can purchase tickets for the event by using this link.

St.Petersburg/Tampa residents: the fundraiser will be at Push Ultra Lounge on September 20th at 5:30pm that you should go too!  Tickets can be purchased here. Great raffles, auctions items and more importantly, a great cause!


*a large majority of the proceeds from Tracy’s show will go to support the Lawyers Autism Awareness Fund. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MN State Fair!

This past Saturday we went to the MN State Fair with my mom and in laws!  It was so much fun!!  We had Kal, and it started to rain about 3.5 hours in, which was a good time to head out.  I could have stayed longer but most (ahem, husband) were itching to go :) 

She is totally people watching.  Totally my child.  And where better than the state fair???

First stop was to see the dogs!  Kal was in heaven.  She loves them all and was not thrilled when we walked out of that building...

Kal and Nana

we walked through this adorable kids area - Sister loved it!

riding the tractor!

sweet girl :)

those chubby arm rolls kill me.  I wish mine were that cute ;)

We went past the Harley area, girl was obsessed and got so excited when she saw the motorcycles, ha ha!

mini donuts.  need I say more...

looking at the 'moo moo's with Mimi! 

kind of hard to see, but we rode the giant slide!  She loved it and wanted to go again and again...

our attempt at a family picture.  J was less than enthused, K was pre melt down and I was waiting on getting cheese curds.  Just keeping it real.

Mimi keeping Kal entertained so mama could shovel down MORE food

annnddd she was done.  Good timing because that was when it started to rain!

one last treat.  Okay thats not true...I also got a salted nut roll on the way out!  It was yummy.  Thank goodness the fair only comes around 1x a year........

Fish Taco's!

If you follow me on twitter or instagram, you know I am a HUGE fan of my hubby's fish taco's.  I could eat them every night if he would be willing to make them ;)  part of it may be that he is cooking Ahem.

Anyways, there are many that asked for the recipe, so here it is!  It might seem a little overwhelming, but it is pretty simple.  And seriously, so good.  And healthy? (I tell myself) And cheap (bonus points!)

The recipe is adapted from a pampered chef cookbook I have - calls for chicken but easily works for fish! 
We use frozen tilapia that are in individual packets - easy and cheap.

 I'm sure you can use other fish and fresh fish, too. 

Here are the ingredients:
Tilapia/chicken breasts - we have done with Chicken, but I LOVE the fish!
2 egg whites
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (we use the Italian seasoned ones)
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp flour
Any other seasoning you'd want to add (Husband adds pepper and other spices for a little kick)

-mix the egg whites with the crushed garlic gloves in one bowl
-mix breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese in another bowl - this is where
we add extra seasoning.  IE - pepper, cajun seasoning, lemon pepper
(or fresh lemon)
- flour will be separate on plate/bowl

Coat the fish (or chicken) with flour (both sides) then dip in egg
mixture and then finally coat with the breadcrumbs and parm cheese
mixture.

We have been cooking it on the grill, 5 minutes on each side on direct
heat (medium low heat).  Put the fish in foil, but you dont have to close it up, you can just flip the actual fish over after 5 mins. 
For chicken - bake on pan for 20-25 mins at 425
We use the small tortilla shells - and also cook them on the grill in foil for extra crispiness which really makes a difference for me.  So good.  Add your favorite taco fixings, and enjoy!

Hopefully I have everything here, let me know if you have any questions and ill ask my husband get back to you ;)  Happy eating!

Another catch up?

well, the title speaks for itself.  I feel like this is all Ill be doing until it gets cold here.  And by cold I mean 30 degrees.  Not the 60-70 degree days Ive been coveting recently.  I will definitely be enjoying those days.  Ahh Fall you need to get here soon!  Okay, back to the catch up....Here's a few things we have been up too:

 enjoying time with Uncle Chris before he goes back to college!  We however cannot wait for football to start, though!  (again, hurry up fall!)

 

 

 enjoying daddy's delicious fish taco's.  Seriously they are A-mazing.  I could eat them every day. 

 Enjoying birthday parties for sweet little girls who turned 2! 

 my sweet girl and I

 enjoying a Lime-A-Rita {or 2} when Kallers finally goes to bed....

 ....Oh wait, she came down after she was already in bed & asleep?  Awesome. Who wants to come sleep train Kal?  Well, its probably me who needs the training.....

Im alive...I am sure you were so worried...

Can you believe it?  A post!  Oh my.  When I logged into my reader the other day I saw that it had been over a month since I posted.  I dont 'write' for others, so Ive always just posted as I go.  With the last month and everything that has came with it, I just wasnt up to write.  Summer has brought so much fun, busy days and weekends.  We love it, but things just get shifted a bit...hence the lack of blogging :)  I'm sure you were so worried....

Anyways, I will attempt a sort of catch up posts maybe.  To start off, we had a wedding for one of my most favorite girls a couple weekends ago and it was SO much fun!  Read: mama had toooo much fun ;)

Ive know Kelsey forever.  At least since she was in Kindergarten, if not before.  She is such a sweet, caring, and just lovely person.  She was my personal attendant in my wedding and I got to return the favor for her's!  I had such a wonderful time and am so happy for her and her hubby!  If you follow me on twitter or instagram...I apologize these will pretty much be the same pictures :)

the beautiful bride and myself at the rehearsal dinner

 Fun fact: The rehearsal dinner was at the hotel we had our wedding reception 4.5 years ago!  It was fun to be there again!!  Old mems. 

Kelsey had so many creative, thoughtful, and memorable touches throughout her wedding!  She had this made for her mom, and had one for her dad as well.  SO sweet. 

The gorgeous flowers were sent to her by her hubby to be, and he had the vase inscribed with a personal note.  We were all crying!

In her dress!  Just beautiful!

The beautiful couple 

one of my most favorite families!! 

 watching the beautiful bride...

 Daddy and Kal at the reception

 Kallen did really well through dinner until nana picked her up!

 

Kal and Great Grandpa 

Kels with my exhausted daughter ;)

 My fabulous hubby and I.  He was basically on Kal duty all day and then took care of me the rest of the night.  His eyes look creepy because of the lights, but its the best one we have!  Thanks, babe!

 Me and my sissy

My sister, cousin {like a sister} Jess, and myself

 Kels and I.  I love her so much and so happy for her!  So wonderful to be with her on her special day!