Chicken Salad

Y'all, my husband speaks the language of food. Thankfully, I have learned to speak that same language. One of his F-A-V-O-R-I-T-E foods/snacks is chicken salad, but I always cringe at buying the pre-made, grocery store chicken salad, because it's a little container that costs about $9. With hubs, that whole container may last about 9 minutes. So, whenever I find new recipes for chicken salad that are clean, or at least somewhat clean, I like to give them a try! I'm know I've said this before, but this recipe really is a new favorite! It tastes so refreshing. Here's the recipe:

Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
1 large green apple, diced
1 large red apple, diced
1 1/4 cups red seedless grapes, halved
2 celery stalks, diced
1/2 cup walnut pieces (I used pecans because that's what I had)
2 tablespoons litem mayo
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
2 tablespoons plain greek yogurt
1 teaspoon honey
Salt and pepper to taste
Lettuce leaves for serving

Directions:
Mix all ingredients chicken through the walnuts in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the lite mayo, dijon mustard, greek yogurt, and honey. Pour the mixture into the bowl with the chicken and fruit and toss until evenly coated. Serve on lettuce leaves.

Enjoy!

Summery Chicken Tostadas

Since this recipe was shared with me about a month ago, I have made this dinner twice. It is definitely a hubby-approved fave! A friend of mine over at Fit Foodie Fam blogged this recipe and shared it with one of our 21-Day Fix groups. And let me just tell you, SO yummy, SO colorful, and SO easy to put together. Here's the recipe:

Summery Chicken Tostadas
Ingredients:
-1-2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (my fave crockpot shredded chicken recipe below)
-1 teaspoon EVOO (or other oil of your choice)
-1 zucchini, diced
-1 red onion, diced
-4 whole wheat tortillas (my fave are the Mission Artisan brand)
-1 cup corn kernels (I use frozen, but fresh is fine!)
-1 teaspoon ground cumin
-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
-3-4 tablespoons salsa verde
-3/4 cup shredded cheese (I use Monterrey Jack if I have it, but anything is fine!)

Directions:
Preheat over to 400 degrees.

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini and red onion, stirring often. Continue to sauté these ingredients for about 8 minutes or until the onions are soft.

While the zucchini and onion are cooking, lightly spray both sides of your tortillas with cooking -spray, and lay on a baking sheet. Bake these in the oven for about 8 minutes or until they begin turning a golden color. (Be careful not to burn them.)

After the onion and zucchini are soft, add in the corn and stir. Let the corn heat all the way through, and then add in the spices and salsa. Stir all ingredients together. Then, add in the chicken to the vegetable mixture and stir to combine.

By this time, your tortillas should be done. Take them out of the oven, and top each tortilla with about 1/2 cup of the chicken/veggie mixture. Sprinkle cheese on top and return to oven to allow cheese to melt.

Serve with desired toppings, such as avocado, cilantro, or more salsa verde.
Let me know if you try this recipe! Would love to know how you like it!


Also, here's the shredded chicken recipe I use...

SkinnyTaste Convenient Slow-Cooker Shredded Chicken
Ingredients:
-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of all fat (about 1.5 pounds)
-3 cups Swanson 33% less sodium chicken broth
-1 onion, quartered (optional)
-1 celery stalk (optional)
-1 sprig of fresh parsley (optional)

Directions:
Combine chicken breasts, just enough broth to cover the chicken and onion, celery and parsley (if using) into the slow-cooker. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.

Remove chicken and shred with two forks. Discard the remaining liquid and veggies. You can use the shredded chicken in any recipe that calls for it, or refrigerate it for up to 3 days.

Life Lately

Since we live in Houston and I am a teacher, I pretty much split the year into four main seasons: Fall, Christmas, Spring, and Summer. And maybe I'm the only one who feels like this, but Fall is always so busy with getting back into the routine of school and football season, so I always look forward to Spring with the intent of it being a much slower season, but it NEVER is. Somehow, spring time gets full, too. This year is no different.

I have some fun recipes to post this week that have been shared with me by a fellow BeachBody coach. She's wonderful, and we have been co-hosting a 21-Day Fix group for the last couple of weeks. So be looking for those recipes soon, but for now, here's what's been going on lately...

What I've Been Eating/Drinking LATELY:

[one]

I have recently changed my Shakeology flavor. I had been switching between Chocolate and Strawberry, but I decided to try the Vegan Chocolate, and I L-O-V-E my new flavor! No, I am not vegan, but sometimes it's just good to give your body a break from animal proteins. So yummy!

[two]

I made some Chicken Tostadas that just might make my "Top 5 Favorite Dishes I've Made" list. And, definitely hubby approved! Recipe coming soon!

[three]

We had this Sweet Potato Hash at my parents' house for a family dinner, and YUM! This recipe will also be hitting the blog very soon!

What I've Been Reading LATELY:

[one] 

My family started a book club in 2015. I dropped the ball on the first book of the year. I started reading it, and I just never got into it. However, I very quickly got into the second book that was chosen. The first Harry Potter book. I never read the series when I was a kid. I guess I really wasn't much of a reader at the time. But, after seeing all of the movies when they came out, it has been so fun going back to read the books. I really enjoyed the first one, and I am now onto the second. I also love that my students also have read/are even currently reading them. They are so excited that I am reading them and love talking to me about the books. 

[two]

I have been following a blog called SheReadsTruth and going through the last few of their studies: the book of John and then Esther. This blog is written by some wonderful ladies who very clearly love the Lord and who, I can guarantee, are blessing lots of women every day. 

What I've Been Doing LATELY:

[one] 

                                                 

Hubby and I celebrated another wonderful Valentine's Day together. When I was in high school, I always painted my fingernails black on Valentine's Day being a "rebel" for whatever reason. Well, those days are very over, and I love having this day to celebrate love. We enjoyed a delicious brunch at one of our favorite restaurants, Brennan's. And then spent the day with our sweet puppy (who I am finally coming to realize that at three years old, she's really not a puppy).

[two]

It is spring in our house! As stated earlier, I don't really consider winter a season in Houston. I like to go from Christmas to springtime :) Of course, I decorated for Valentine's Day, but I've now decorated our table for Easter, one of my very favorite holidays! I can't help but smile whenever I walk by the table. 

[three]

It was plane rides, Ubers, and a fabulous wedding for me this weekend. I just got home today from Richmond, Virginia where one of my sweet college roommates got married. Richmond was perfectly covered in a blanket of wintery white, and just look how beautiful that bride is?! And her sweet new hubby photo-bombing. 

Lots of other things have been happening around here, and some fun posts are lined up for the next few weeks, as well as some yummy recipes to share! 

Hope you all have a great week!

No-Bake, Guilt-Free Cookies

If you are like me, you have a major sweet tooth. I try not to bake much, because I know I will just want to eat whatever I bake. It's a vicious cycle, you see, especially trying to eat clean. Here's a recipe that allows guilt-free sweet eating.

No-Bake Shakeology Cookies
Serving Size is 1 cookie

Ingredients:
- 1 cup Chocolate Shakeology
- 1 cup nut butter (I used almond butter)
- 1 cup quick cooking oats
- 1/2 cup agave nectar

Preparation:
- In medium-sized bowl, combine all ingredients, stirring well.
- Roll mixture into 20-24 balls, each about 1-inch in diameter, and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Press a fork into each cookie, creating a criss-cross. (I touched the back of the fork to flour before each press to make this step easier/cleaner.)
-Store in air-tight container, and enjoy!
*If you are doing the 21-Day Fix, one cookie = one yellow container*

If you don't have Shakeology, the healthiest meal of the day, no worries--you can get it here!

2014 in Review

2014 was a big year. So many fun things happened this year, and I loved getting to look back and re-live many of these moments. So here's to bringing 2014 to a close...

January

On the 19th, my mom and I ran the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon. This was my third half-marathon and by far my favorite one I've ever run. I loved sharing this experience with my mom.

February

 Our Family Fitness Challenge ended with a bang and a Brennan's Dinner Celebration. 

Matt and I enjoyed a mini Texas road trip and vacation. We went to my favorite resort, The Hill Country Hyatt and celebrated Valentine's Day there and then in Austin.

March

On the 14th, we celebrated Pi Day at school. Being a 7th Grade math teacher definitely has its fun days! And this was one of them.

 For Spring Break, we took our first trip to the East Coast. We visited Thomas Jefferson's house, Monticello while we were there. 

March also brought Rodeo season! One of my closest friends joined our Mutton Bustin' committee this year which made it even more fun. 

April

We took a little weekend vacation to Boston to celebrate our 2nd Anniversary. It was Matt's first time there, so we did all things Boston tourist- Freedom Trail, cannolis, Red Sox game, etc.

May

Bayhouse trips galore! I feel like we were in Galveston pretty much every weekend in May. Mom's birthday, Mother's Day, Memorial Day...

June

Summer Softball. Matt and my brother, Chase, have been playing in a summer league for at least three years. Avery loves watching her daddy play ball.

July

 We spent the Fourth of July at the bayhouse in Galveston. Matt and I took on a little project to help celebrate the 4th!

We participated in Mission 1:8 with our Sunday School class. We helped put on a small Vacation Bible School for some refugees, most of which had never heard about Jesus before.

My roommates from college and I had a reunion weekend. It is so rare that we are all together, so we took advantage of the time we had together. 

August

 On the 1st, we celebrated the wedding of our friends, the Debayles, and we got to spend time with some of our favorite people.

The weekend before school started, we visited Matt's family in Fort Worth.

On the 26th, I started my third year of teaching middle school.

September

On the 24th, many of our students gathered for See You at the Pole. I will never forget listening to their sweet voices singing songs of praise to our Heavenly Father at the flag pole of our public middle school.

October

 The fall brought Aggie football season, so we traveled to College Station for tailgates quite a bit throughout October and November.

Since I can't post pictures of my sweet athletes, here's a selfie of me before our big volleyball tournament, in which my team won 1st place!

November

 On the 4th, we made our voices heard by voting in the midterm election.

In the week before Thanksgiving, we took advantage of my time off of school, and we traveled to Washington D. C. for the first time. We loved it!

December

 On the 21st, my grandparents got baptized in the same church I grew up in.

We spent Christmas traveling around Texas and visiting all of our family :)

It was such a great year. I cannot believe it is now over. We learned so many things this year, especially me. I am constantly working on trying to be the best wife I can be to Matt. I have learned to be patient with God, that things are perfect in His time. I have been continually reminded of how abundantly blessed we are. God is so good! I know He has really big plans for 2015. I can just feel it. I pray that we continue to keep Him at the center of our marriage and trust Him in all things, and I pray that we cherish time we get to spend with family and friends.

Here's to 2015!

Christmas 2014

This year was the first year I spent Christmas Day somewhere other than home. Everyone knows that once married, holidays are more complicated. You try to see and be with as much family as possible in the little time you have. We did just that. Our Christmas started on Sunday, December 21st--a day I will never forget. The reason this day is so special to me and will always remain special is because my paternal grandparents were baptized in the church that I grew up in. They decided to join the church about 3 months ago, and they chose to be baptized on the 21st, a day when the whole family could be there to witness it. It was amazing. God is amazing. Below is my sweet grandmother right after the service. She was on Cloud 9 all day, as were the rest of us. God's love is overwhelmingly infectious in the best way possible. 

That day, we went to Maggiano's for lunch to continue celebrating my grandparents. Then, we convened at their house afterward for dessert. That night, we had Christmas with my family. We ate great food, drank "Christmas cocktails" as my mom liked to call them, we laughed, and we enjoyed being together, even if not on Christmas Day. 

On the 22nd, I met my mom and sister for lunch and then helped my mom set up her dining room tablescape for Christmas Day lunch. That night, Matt and I had our little Christmas together at home and exchanged gifts. The morning of the 23rd, we finished packing up, and then we headed to Dallas for Christmas with his mom's side of the family. We got in to Dallas in the late evening, and went straight to his aunt and uncle's house for dinner with everyone. I'm so sad I wasn't really great at taking pictures while in Dallas--must of been having too much fun!

On Christmas Eve, we met up with Matt's mom, two younger brothers, Sam and Russell, and Sam's fiancé, Shannon, for lunch at Brewed in Fort Worth. It was such a neat restaurant with delicious food and a great atmosphere. After lunch, the boys wanted to "be boys," so they decided to go to Dave & Buster's, while Shannon and I went to "be girls" and got manicures. After playing for the afternoon, we all went back to get ready for Christmas Eve service at church. In the car on the way to church, my mom sent me a selfie from their car ride to church back in Houston, so we returned the favor. I love technology. And check out those matching earrings...great minds think alike!

        

        

After a wonderful Candlelight Service, we went to dinner with Matt's family and then back home for one more sleep until Christmas! 

We woke up Christmas morning, and went for a run. As you may be able to already tell, we ate WAY too much over the holidays. One of my favorite things to do is run with these two, and it felt very necessary. 

      

      

It was already a very Merry Christmas, indeed. But the fun was only just beginning. After we showered and got cleaned up, we went over to Matt's grandmother's house to have Christmas with his mom's side. Even though Dallas is in Texas and seems so close, it is rare that we get up there, so it made the time there so sweet. 

Our time in Dallas seemed to end too quickly. But when it did, all the kids packed up and caravanned to the middle of Texas where Matt's dad's side of the family lives, New Braunfels. His dad had rented a house right on the river for all of us to stay in together. They had decorated the house before we got there and had a tree full of gifts. 

    

    

The first night we were there, we enjoyed a quiet dinner at home, all nine of us (still missing two). The following morning, Matt and I went on what was intended to be a nice and easy run, and now I understand why they call it the HILLcountry. Also, it rained on us, so we were soaked when we got home. I quickly got over it, obviously. 

Every Christmas, for much longer than I have been in the Bormann family, the extended family has gathered in New Braunfels for a Bormann Bowling Party. I have been fortunate enough to attend the last four.

We always have so much fun, and most years, it is the one time of the year that I bowl, and I always love it and am usually sore the next day. This year was no different. It was our first big event of the weekend. Our team didn't win, but it didn't matter. Getting to see 50+ family members from Matt's side made it completely worth it, even without the bowling. 

     

     

Back at the house that night, we played games (corn hole, Kuub, ping pong, pool, and fetch of course) and stayed up way too late. I swear, I think Matt enjoys playing fetch with Avery just as much as she does.

            

The following day, the 28th, we did a Christmas gift exchange with just Matt's immediate family. And then that afternoon, we did the whole big family Christmas lunch thing again with Matt's dad's side of the family. We did a White Elephant gift exchange and had a big ping-pong tournament going. There was a men's bracket and a women's bracket, and while it was no easy feat, yours truly came out on top.

Game faces... obviously.

I loved every bit of this trip, but my favorite part may have been early in the morning of the day we were leaving, watching these two do their thing and with that view... 

Another really neat thing that happened that morning was that we got to pet a deer that roams around near the house frequently. I believe the family who owns the place actually considers it a pet.

After watching a little bit of the Aggie game, it was time to head home. All three of us were exhausted and still are, but I think that speaks to the good times that were had.

It was nice to use the drive home to reflect on the past week and also the past year. It seems like I blinked and it came and went. And it was a good one.

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas!