{day FIVE} JIMMY JOHN'S delivery

There have been quite a few times in recent memory that I have totally and utterly craved a Jimmy John's sandwich but had no way of getting to one.

Insert Jimmy John's delivery service.

This was the answer to all of my crazy, pregnant woman needs.  I probably ordered them at least once a week for a month.

Are they over priced sandwiches?  Yes.

Is it stupid you have to pay extra for cheese?  Definitely.

But, hello, they are delish sandwiches and I may just have to order one tomorrow.

O is for OPEN

I try to be very open in my life.

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I think there are several ways to accomplish this.

I try to be open in my mind and be respectful of new ideas or new opinions.

I try to be open with new people by not judging them by the way they look.

I try to be open with trying new things or traveling to new places.

I try to be open in how I spend my time by going outside and enjoying the great outdoors. 

And most recently I'm trying to be open with how I cook by experimenting with new recipes.

I think being open is such a refreshing way to live.  It is very easy to get stuck in our ways which can lead to missed opportunities.

I have found that by trying to remain open, I am able to get along with a lot of different types of people, I find out new things about myself and am overall a more well-rounded person.

INSTAGRAM wednesdays: J is for JUNK food

Easter is still lingering in our household.

To consume or not to consume.  That is the question.

As a side note, I'm happy to announce that Karen will be co-hosting INSTAGRAM wednesdays with me.  This amazing and fun app is now available to Android users.  Check it out and be sure to link up next week!

DINNER. sponsored by PINTEREST

I've been trying really hard not to put my hard earned time on Pinterest to waste by actually making the recipes I have pinned for breakfast, dinner and dessert!  Here's a few that I have made and have really enjoyed.

I made this delightfully fresh orange smoothie this morning.  I did make a few changes to the recipe by adding some freshly squeezed lemon juice.  All in all, I really enjoyed it and the ingredients are all something I have on hand.

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This Cilanto Lime Chicken recipe made me wonder why in the heck I don't use my slow cooker more often.  I absolutely ADORED this meal, but I did have to make a few changes because I decided to make it somewhat at the last minute.  Namely, I cooked it on high for three hours instead of on low for six.  I also served it over rice and added a dollop of sour cream to each serving.  Delish.

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I've actually made these Creamy Chicken Enchiladas twice now, and my family and I love them.  They are so flavorful with a little bit of a kick.  Definitely try them!

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Pinterest has taught me that I love mexican dishes, but I also can't get enough of pasta.  So, when I saw this Mexican Stuffed Shells recipe it was like two of my favorite worlds collided and I just had to try it. This recipe was so simple to make and so, so good!

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And last, I hosted a birthday part for my brother and decided to make this Peach Crisp instead of a cake.  Of course, I got the ok from him and he was all on board.   This delicious dessert lasted, maybe, 15 minutes before it was ALL gone.  It is such a simple recipe and a real crowd pleaser!

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INSTAGRAM wednesday: DINNER

I'm always on the look out for easy dinners, especially the kind that include a lot of veggies.

Potato bar for dinner?  Yes please!

{This photo is linked with iPPP}

my {P}INTERESTS

Who doesn't love Pinterest?  I sure enjoy browsing and repinning every now and then, so I thought I'd share a few of my most recent repins.

On my board {HILARIOUS}

My comment, "On the days you want to look like a pie."

On my board {IF I COULD SEW...}

Pinterest has definitely inspired me to want to sew.  It seems like such a useful skill and my bed is in major need of some decorative pillows.

On my board {WISDOM}

A quote from my favorite comedy TV show 30 Rock.

On my board {ISC, INC.}

I think decorating my daughter's {aka ISC} room with her own drawings is the best idea ever.

On my board {LOVE AT HOME}

I took advantage of these freebies and downloaded the ROLL WITH IT picture in an 8x10 and had it printed at Costco.  It's now in a white frame and hangs above my kitchen sink.

On my board {FOOD}

Made these for dinner and they were delish.

So, there you have it.  A few of my {P}INTERESTS.

HAPPY {RE}PINNING!

...

Enter my GIVEAWAY.  Don't miss out!

Confession Wednesday: Favorite Christmas Traditions

This is an easy confession for me.  All during my childhood years, my family and I would spent Christmas with my grandparents in Idaho Falls.  Every year, my grandma would put together a great Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve.  Besides my family, my grandma's sisters family came to the party too.  It wasn't a large crowd, but we still filled up the house.

The party always began in the basement.  We had hamloaf (like meatloaf only made with ground ham...it's hard to describe), sour cream potatoes, raspberry jello and little sandwiches.  The little sandwiches were always my favorite.  They weren't anything special, just a sandwich platter my grandpa ordered from a grocery store, but considering the fact that I only ever ate little sandwiches on Christmas Eve made them one of my favorite parts of Christmas.

After dinner, we all made our way  upstairs and had a Christmas program.  We sang songs, read from the Bible and my sister and I usually played a musical number on our violins.

Last, we did a fish pond.  This game is one that my grandpa put together.  He called it Grandma's Fish Pond.  He hung a sheet in front of a door frame and each of us took turns "fishing."  Our "fish" were always random, dollar store type things, but we all enjoyed it, even the adults.

At the end of the party, people went home and the kids went to bed trying so hard to fall asleep, but couldn't knowing Santa Claus was on his way.

As my grandparents aged, they were unable to host Christmas at their house.  So, my parents carried on the traditions at their house.  Things were never quite the same, but fortunately, I'll always have my memories of Christmas in Idaho Falls.

To this day, I insist on having little sandwiches every Christmas Eve.  No party is complete without them.

a WEAKNESS of MINE

I've been pretty "thoughtless" lately. It always bothers me when I get this way, but what do ya do?

Today, I Googled "BloG Topics." I came across this website which had all sorts of ideas. Very helpful indeed, and until I get my own thoughts in order, I'm going to borrow these topics.  Today I'm going to tackle #9: I Wish I Spent Less Money on This.  

Without a doubt, I wish I spent less money on going out to eat.  

It all comes down to laziness.  Pure laziness.  I'm not a terrible cook, and once I start cooking I have a good time.  The problem is getting around to cooking.  It's kind of like going to gym.  I love it when I'm there, but getting there is a different story.

On Monday, a new Panda Express opened near my house.  My husband really likes Chinese food.  I used to love it, but lost all interest in it while I was pregnant.  Weird.  Anyway, he had been looking forward to going to trying it, so we decided to check it out the day it opened.  Holy crap!  The place was packed.  The dining area was swarming with people.  The drive-thru had about 20 cars waiting.  I could not believe my eyes.  I couldn't believe people were willing to wait so long for fast food Chinese.  Seriously, people, it's not that good.

My husband and I weren't about to wait, and decided to eat there at a later time.  An A LOT later time.  We've since heard people waited 45 minutes to get their food. Again, seriously, people, 45 minutes for Chinese food?

The craziness at Panda Express really made me think twice about eating out.  Seeing all those people waiting to eat rice and chicken at high prices helped me realize how unnecessary eating out really is.  It's not healthy for one thing and it can be such a waste of money.  The amount of money I spend at the grocery store for two weeks worth of food is maybe the equivalent of four or five take out meals.  The amount of money I spend on food that will provide breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks is about the same as five meals at a restaurant? When I do the math, it just really blows my mind.

The real question is - why do I spend so much money on going out?  Besides being lazy, the fact of the matter is, I like to.  It's fun to go to restaurants.  I've always like it, and probably always will.  Another reason I enjoy it is because I don't have to worry about what to cook.  My husband can get what he wants.  I can get what I want.  It's simple.

Despite my love for eating out, I have a new determination to eat at home and enjoy the company of my family without the loud music, bad service or worrying about my daughter's high pitched screams (which is something she does when she's happy) bothering those around me.  In the end, it will help the budget and allow us to spend quality time together.  Have you seen those Family Dinner Time commercials?  Yeah, that's gonna be my family from now on.  :)

Wish me luck.  This is going to be difficult for me!

Thoughts?