Homemade buttered popcorn!

Rid the store bought 'buttered' popcorn & make your own! It is so simple, less expensive & tastes so fresh!

Here are the ingredients I use to make a large bowl of popcorn:

Popcorn kernels
Butter (not margarine! Quit eating that fake stuff! Real butter, in moderation, is a healthy fat!)
Salt (I'm switching to Celtic Salt as soon as I can find it!)
Lawry's



Melt 4 tblsp. butter in microwave for about a minute or so (I do not use all the butter - I should cut my stick to 2 or 3 tblsp.)



Pour about 1/3 cup kernels in bag.



Fold it over & tape it closed. If you don't, popcorn will pop right out of it! I set my microwave for 3 minutes, but typically stop before that. When popping begins to cease, I shut it off promptly to avoid scorched popcorn!



Here it is popped, but contained!



Tada! Nom nom.



I layer mine - pour 1/2 bag of popcorn in bowl, dribble some butter over it & sprinkle with salt & Lawry's. Add remaining popcorn & repeat. Doesn't it look so fresh? None of that fake, orange 'butter' oil all over it!



Yummy!

Happy popping!

Electrasol / Finish leftover residue.

Pulled this out today, from the back of the cabinet, to drink from. This was washed in nothing but Electrasol/Finish dishwasher detergent. Those are toxic chemicals. Wash your baby bottles in the dishwasher? That gets mixed with formula or juice. Wash sippy cups in the dishwasher? That gets mixed with the drink. This is why I use Shaklee & push so much for others to use it, too.

*The only editing I did to this particular photo was lighten it (I didn't use a flash & it was a little dark) & I sized it. That's it! What you see is what you get. Oh, & it's also what you drink.

Change brands. Change to non-toxic products. Do you really want to continue adding these toxic chemicals to your food & drinks? Are you afraid changing is too expensive? It's not. Shaklee's products are concentrated & last a very long time. And with their Dish Washer Automatic Concentrate, there is no more prerinsing dishes - scrape, load, add a scoop & go. It lasts a very long time! And there is no leftover film & no leftover residue.

Here's another example of how far these non-toxic, extremely effective products last & how much money they can save you. Read the bottom:



Do you see that? It's just crazy not to change - it saves money! And health!

It boils down to choice. Make the choice to change & live healthier. I will help you every step of the way!

Get Clean Kits here.

Questions? Email me! adoringthesimple@gmail.com

You can see ALL of my Shaklee posts, including before & after photos, by clicking here!

Follow me on Facebook for lots of other fun stuff, too! www.facebook.com/adoringthesimple

Scrambled eggs with veggies recipe!

I've made this for a while now - it's a recipe I just put together one day. Everyone gobbles it up, so I thought I'd post the recipe!

These are the ingredients I used today (you can add/delete/change veggies to your liking, tonight I forgot to add onion!) -

Eggs
Milk
1 - zucchini
1 - yellow squash
1 - red bell pepper
1 - orange bell pepper
Turkey Sausage (precooked)
Cheddar Cheese
Salt, Pepper, Lawry's (left out of photo)
Butter (not margarine! get rid of that stuff! left this out of photo, too)

I always use Lawry's on my eggs - any & every style! It adds so much flavor!



Wash & chop all the veggies (I only used about 3/4 of each vegetable, because it makes so much!), then saute them in just enough butter to cover the bottom of the pan.



In the meantime, in a large bowl, scramble a dozen eggs (obviously, you can use less), with a dash of milk (the more milk, the fluffier!), & when the veggies are soft, toss in the eggs. I need a much bigger pan! While that's cooking (sorry, didn't think to photograph every step, but next time I will!), heat up 4 little rounds of sausage & cut into bite size pieces. Right before the eggs are done, add the sausage, salt, pepper & Lawry's & complete cooking. My final step, when the eggs are done, is to grate some cheese & mix it in! Tada! That's it!



My husband worked late tonight, so I made it easy for the kids. They ate theirs with grapes. Sometimes, we have toast. Every now & then, I roll them in tortillas & add some salsa!

YUM!

(This is also a great way to sneak in some veggies - because of all the flavors, I seldom have to nag my kids about eating their veggies!)

Project Dream International!

Project Dream International is now live! I'm so excited!



This is what we do & why we do it! Partner with me - I would LOVE to have you on my team!

Click here!!

Spring Break comes to a close.

Spring Break is over. And it makes me so sad. I hate sending my kids to school. But it's the law, so we abide.

We had a lazy spring break this 'round. Didn't really do much of anything. The first few days were very cold, so we hung out here at home. We had beautiful weather the remainder of the week, so we went to the park for hours, went bowling (so much fun!), took the kids to a Nature Center, ate out entirely too much, got hair cuts, messed around, blah, blah. I think they're ready to go back to school!

The more I read, the more of a problem this has become for almost any/everyone with a cell phone - DSLR's are being ignored! I even made a blog post a while back claiming I needed to pull mine out more, but you know what? I still use my dadblasted cell phone! I have an iPhone 5 & it takes amazing photos! Truth, it's just so much more convenient, in every way. But alas, yesterday I took my DSLR to the Nature Center! Everything is pretty much still brown & dead around here, & we saw next to no wildlife/animals, but I did get this one of my kids as we walked down a trail. A real photo! :)



Drumroll!!

Friday night, we went & chose the new tile for our master shower renovation! In case you have forgotten, our shower renovation began TWO years ago!! 25 months ago, to be exact! I think we have the longest shower renovation in history! (Our contractor says we don't, but it sure feels like we do!) Our shower renovation was necessary, & very expensive, & came at a time we just didn't have the extra funds. So, a lot of the reno was done by my husband & my brother, but it's time to have a professional finish it. It's all scheduled out, will start this week & will be completed next week (due to a necessary inspection)! I can't believe it & I can't wait!

I wanted simple yet sophisticated, so I chose 6x6 white tiles that will have dark brown grout in between them. For the floor, I chose brown, recycled glass tiles, that will have white grout between them. We have new hardware, a new door & our contractor is installing a niche for us! When it's done & when I'm not showering, I'll be posting the photos!



This week includes keeping our bedroom & bathroom spotless, since contractors are coming! Ha! That alone will be a chore! It's time for me to get a start on spring cleaning (ok, heck, just cleaning in general - our house has been abused lately!). Back to a normal routine this week, back to dance & all other activities & back to blogging!

Have a great week!

Some healthy lunches you can pack in advance!

Today’s post is a special guest post from Jenny Baptiste, an independent blogger who offers insightful, wonderful tips on living healthy!  Below, she is featuring healthy lunches (great for kids!), that are perfect for packing the night before.  Check out her blog, easyhealthfitness, for more valuable information regarding living healthy!

In my experience the key to a successful packed lunch is making it the night before. I would rather make lunch at 8pm than try and assemble something while my mind is foggy at 8am. Who doesn’t love making the morning routine easier? If you have multiple lunches to pack, then this rule is even more important! With that in mind the simple recipes below will taste just as good after a night in the fridge as they would the same day…



Minestrone Soup and a Breadstick

Most soups are simple to grab and go but minestrone is one of the healthiest choices around. It is also incredibly easy to make! I usually use this Betty Crocker recipe and go really heavy on the vegetables for an extra filling dish. The great thing about minestrone is how flexible it is - if your kids can’t stand mushrooms just swap them out for green beans instead. Minestrone is sure to please kids of all ages! This recipe makes about 12 servings and stays fresh a long time so you can eat it all week. Pair the soup with your favorite bread sticks (either homemade or store bought) and you’ve got a healthy and delicious meal.

Quesadillas and an Apple

What kid doesn’t love quesadillas? Add cheddar cheese and deli ham (sneak some spinach in if you can) to your favorite tortilla. I like corn tortillas because they are a healthier option than flour. Heat in a skillet until golden brown and then slice into wedges for your lunch box. Thrown in an apple to round the whole thing out and voila – another simple healthy lunch.

Granola Yogurt and Fruit Salad

When I was a kid I thought strawberry yogurt was a special dessert. Wow did my mom have me fooled. Today I still enjoy yogurt and hopefully your kids do too! Pick your favorite yogurt and granola. You can mix it together beforehand or let them mix it at school. Chop up your favorite fruits for a fruit salad that can eaten separately or added to the yogurt mix if you’re feeling adventurous.

Hearty Chili

This chili recipe is to die for. I’ve been making it for years and received only the best feedback. For a healthier spin try substituting the ground beef for ground turkey. Honestly I think this chili is a one course meal but if you feel like being supermom add a piece of cornbread. A word of caution on the cornbread - pay attention to the ingredients if you use a mix. Today’s corn bread has so many additives and sugars it is more like corn cake. Try making it from scratch or just use some bread you know and trust. This chili only gets better with time. After a night in the fridge the flavors have a chance to mingle and it tastes even better!

Jenny Baptiste is a Colorado blogger exploring how little changes make for a healthier life. Checkout her blog Easy Health and Fitness at for healthy recipes, health tips, and product reviews. Follow @EasyHealthBlog for all the latest posts!

Thank you Jenny!

Firmoo Online Optical review!

I got new glasses! And I LOVE them!



A few months ago, Firmoo Online Optical contacted me, asking me if I would do a review on their product/services. They would provide me prescripted glasses (that is my compensation), in exchange for an honest review. Well, sure! I love glasses, I love reviews, I love products - so I was more than happy to oblige! And I am so happy I did!



Other than a few weeks of 'user error' (ahem) - the process was pretty effortless! I was amazed! Here's how it works. You browse their hundreds of stylish frames (all different sizes, shapes & colors!), make your selection, fill out all pertinent information & finalize your purchase. That's it! Done! Your glasses will then arrive in about 4-5 business days! Their website provides all tools you need to make sure your prescription is completely accurate - you can even upload a photo of yourself & 'try on' different frames to see how they'd look! The site even explains how to measure your Binocular PD (Pupillary Distance) & recommends certain frames to accomodate your personal PD. I have never ordered glasses online so I'm telling you, I was so impressed with how simple they made the process. And their prices? Ridiculous! So affordable! And you can add as few or as many upgrades as you desire!



Ordering online also prompted me to choose a fun frame, that had I been sitting in an optical store, I never would have chose. Never would I have chosen a boxy frame, let alone, burgundy in color! They are so fun & something different & I'm telling you, I truly just love them!

Included was a soft case, a hard case, a soft cleaning cloth & a tiny little eye glass tool kit.



There were only 2 minor things I was disappointed in: (in now way would these deter me from ordering again!)

1.) The package was small, so when I cut it to open it, I accidentally snipped the corner of the soft case. Bummer.

2.) A copy of my order was not included. I always like to have a copy of my order for easy reference & confirmation.



I took my review one step further. I took my new glasses to my current Optometrist. I've been seeing him now for close to 12 years & I wanted him to test my new glasses, to see just how accurate my prescription was. Can you truly order glasses via the internet & expect the prescription to be precise?

Yes, you can!

Confirmed by my Optician, my glasses from Firmoo are spot on! Spot on perfect! Wow!

I have worn glasses for years. I love glasses (such a fashion statement!) & I have two children who wear glasses. I will be utilizing this site & their services in the very near future. Beats the heck out of sitting in an overwhelming optical store for hours (maybe that's just me who does that), only to be left confused, stressed & not confident with your choice. Oh, & the minute I put these on? Comfortable as all get out. I haven't worn my old glasses since the minute my new ones arrived. Smooth, comfy & fit perfectly.

Go check them out. Not only that, your first pair of glasses is free! Who can pass up free? Why would anyone want to?

Thank you, Firmoo, for this review opportunity! Was my pleasure!

Busy week & breakfast burritos!

It has been one busy week!  Let's see here.  Besides the normal, daily routine consisting of - breakfast, school lunches, school, work, cleaning, errands, laundry, homework, dinner, showers & bed, this week we threw in -

Major colds for a few of us which knocked us (me, included) out for a few days...

Salt dough made for a school project... (that was really cool & fun to make!)

A special band party for my oldest because he is excelling in band...

Dance practice...

School open house for my elementary kids... (band party/dance/open house all on the same night)

Husband working extra hours...

Dentist appointments for all 4 of my children...

Working on & wrapping up a product review for a large, internet company...

Guest post that I will be doing on Monday...

Whew!  I hate when my blogging gets put on the back burner but sometimes, that's just life. Reality happens. :)

So.

Not only am I so honored to have the privilege to guest post on another blog, but I'll be featuring a guest post here on my blog, too!  Both of these are a first for me! So exciting! The guest post I will be featuring on my blog is amazing, so be sure to check back, especially if you have children!  Fun stuff!

I will have my product review post completed this week, too!  If you wear glasses or have a family member who does, do not miss this post!  It will be up this week! Love, love, love!

And then add what I already have scheduled -

What grossness I found in my washing machine... (I'm kind of stalling on that one)

Blah, blah, blah.

I need more time! Don't we all need more time?

In the meantime, here's a super simple 'breakfast' burrito recipe my husband whipped up for us tonight:



(Yes, that is a paper plate. No, we haven't used all of them yet. No, I won't be purchasing any more after this!)

Yummy!

Eggs with milk (we use only Egg-Land's Best eggs & organic milk)

Turkey Sausage

Wheat & Black Bean tortillas

Salsa (we used corn/black bean/roasted pepper salsa)

That's it! Scramble it up, put the salsa on top & roll in a warm tortilla.

So good & so quick!

Happy weekend!