Meal Plan #24

Be sure and check out the THREE giveaways going on right now on the blog.

Chinet Gift Pack and $100.00 Visa Card   –  Ninja Power Blender  – $500.00 Michaels Gift Card.

What Leigh Anne’s Loving:

One of the things I wished I had done earlier was take better care of my skin.  As a teenager and even in my 20’s and 30’s I would go to bed without washing my face.  It wasn’t until I hit 40 that I started taking this skin thing seriously.  I am lucky that as a teenager and as an adult I have been blessed with good skin.  But even good skin needs to be taken care of.  One of the things I love using on my skin on a daily basis, every evening,  is this: ROC Daily Resurfacing Disks

The disks are two sided – one side is nice and smooth for skin polishing and the other side is for exfoliating.  It removes my makeup and makes my skin feel so soft and smooth!  It is the perfect mild exfoliater for your skin.  If you have really sensitive skin you may just want to use the polishing side.  It also helps diminish fine lines and pores. The other thing I love about them is the price – only about $12.00 for a month’s supply.  Love it!

This Week’s Meal Plan:

Monday:

Tex – Mex Chicken Salad is quickly becoming a favorite at our house, especially for the upcoming warm weather.  Full of flavor and texture.  Serve with chips, guacamole and salsa.

 

Tuesday: 

 Honey Lime Chicken can be done on the grill or in the oven.  Love the honey lime flavor combination. Serve with cashew nut rice.

 

Wednesday:

Mexican Beef in the Crock Pot can be used for all kinds of things  – tacos, enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas. My personal favorite is tacos. Have fun with it!

 

Thursday:

Bruschetta Chicken is delicious! Made with fresh tomatoes and basil.  Serve with a Sweet & Sour Salad.

Friday:

Sweet & Spicy Turkey Burgers – it’s time to pull out the grill for this yummy turkey burger.  Serve with Parmesan Roasted Potatoes.

 

Sunday:

Lemon Hazelnut Pork Chops are my favorite way to eat pork chops.  I love it served with rice pilaf.

 

For a sweet treat this week try this:

Vanilla Malts  – if you haven’t entered the giveaway to win a new Ninja Power Blender to make these at home do so now!

 

Check out last week’s meal plan here.    My friend Kristen over at Capturing Joy also shares a weekly meal plan.

 

Read Full Post »

Meal Plan #23

What Leigh Anne’s Loving:

 

A few weeks ago I spent the weekend in Phoenix with some other women.  One thing I love about sharing a hotel room with other women is getting to see what’s in their  makeup bag. I only look with their permission of course.  One of my friends was raving about Wunderbrow.    It’s a great way to get a natural looking brow.  I am one of those who over plucked as a teenager and my eyebrows are very sparse and light.  I have used lots of different things over the years, mainly pencils but you always have that drawn on look.  Wunderbrow is a brush on gel that clings onto the hair and skin.  It fills, thickens and defines your brows.  It even lasts for days!

My eyebrows are pretty light and I am using the brunette and I’m loving it!

Here’s what’s for dinner this week!

 

Monday:

BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad – a delicious and healthy dinner idea!  If you have never tried quinoa before you should!

 

Tuesday: 

Crock Pot Chicken Teriyaki – we serve this over white rice with a yummy green vegetable.  How about Brussels Sprouts.  Don’t knock them if you haven’t tried them.  These are delicious!

Wednesday:

Crunchy Asian Chicken Salad – I am in the mood for salads this week so you get two!  This is a yummy salad that is a complete meal.  Add in some bread if you’d like.

 

Thursday:

Roasted Chicken – this is so easy and yummy.  Serve with some Fingerling Potatoes.

 

Friday:  

Pork Carnitas – we loved this dish and I even ate it two nights in a row which I usually don’t.  Can’t wait to make it again.  Serve with corn tortillas, avocado and lime cilantro rice.

Sunday:

Flank Steak with Pesto – we love flank steak at our house and love to cook it on the grill.  Use a grill pan on your stove top if you don’t have a grill.  Serve with  Salt & Pepper Potatoes.

For a fun treat this week try:

Lemon Drop Cookies

Read Full Post »

Meal Plan #22

What Leigh Anne’s Loving:

I can tell you one thing I don’t love – facial hair.  Specifically facial hair on women.  Facial hair on men is o.k. having been married to man who had a mustache the first 25 years of our marriage!  I have discovered as I have gotten older that I have more facial hair.  Fortunately for me my facial hair is light but that is not the case for all women.  A few years ago, right before my son’s wedding I had my face waxed.  Yes, it hurt but I loved the results.  My face felt so soft and smooth and my makeup went on so much nicer.  I have had it done a couple of times since until I discovered Tinkle Eyebrow Shapers.  They are actually meant for your eyebrows but they also work great as a facial razor.  Yes,I now shave the hair off my face.  The hair does not grow back in heavier or rougher.  I love these little things. Use them at about a 45 degree angle on your face.  This is the video where I first learned about facial razors.  It is pretty entertaining and will show you how to use it.

The best part is they are super cheap!! They are just slightly over a dollar a piece.  I use them all over my cheek area, my upper lip  and under my chin area.  I only have to do it about once every 3-4 weeks.  To purchase you can use my Amazon Affiliate link if you’d like!  Let me know what you think if you try it.

This Week’s Meal Plan:

 

Monday:

Curried Coconut Chicken  is full of wonderful flavor.  I served it over brown rice with some Naan bread I purchased at the store.

Tuesday:

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad.  We love to serve this with lime cilantro rice and black beans.

Wednesday:

Slow Cooker Cuban Beef is delicious and works great with rice or potatoes.

Thursday:

Asian Chicken Wraps is pretty much a meal in and of itself but a bowl of fresh fruit would be delicious with it.

Friday:  

In ‘N Out Burgers are better than the real thing according to my husband.  Why go out for a burger when you can make a delicious one at home! Serve with garlic fries.

Sunday:
Ginger Sesame Salad is a nice lighter change for dinner.  Full of flavor and texture.  Serve with a yummy Artisan No Knead Bread.

For Meal Plan #21 go here.  For even more dinner ideas check out my friend Kristen’s weekly meal plan too.

 Enjoy!

Leigh Anne

You can also visit me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter or Instagram

 

 

Read Full Post »

Meal Plan #21

What Leigh Anne’s Loving!

So I live in the Pacific Northwest and I love it.  The only downside is sometimes the sun can be a little scarce.  Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing when it comes to your skin! But if you’re looking for a nice tan that can be a bit of an issue.  Especially in the fall, winter and spring!  I had a trip to Arizona last week and I realized my legs may actually be exposed.  Wearing tights and boots when it is 80 degrees just doesn’t work.  I realized my legs were in no shape to be “exposed.”  A year and a half ago when my son got married in Arizona I was facing the same situation – white legs!  I am not a big fan of tanning beds so I set out to find a sunless tanning product.  If you have ever looked for one before you know what a challenge that can be to find one that doesn’t leave you orange and streaky!

Before the wedding I bought some Tan Towels that I had heard good reports on and they worked great.  No streaks, no orange and so easy to apply.  I bought some more before my trip to Phoenix and they worked great again .  I didn’t blind anyone with my white legs and I didn’t look like a streaky orange mess either.  My daughter in law also discovered them this spring before a tropical trip and they worked great for her too!  It is a towelette that you just use to rub all over your arms, legs, wherever you want some color.  Just be sure and exfoliate before using them!

So that’s what I’m loving this week – Tan Towels.  No more white legs!

This Week’s Meal Plan:

Monday:

Overnight Waffles – we love breakfast for dinner at our house.  Serve these with some yummy cinnamon syrup and fresh berries on top!

 

Tuesday:

Grilled Lemon Mustard Chicken – Spring is officially here so grilling season can begin!  Serve this with nutty brown rice and a nice green salad.

Wednesday:

Pasta ala Leigh Anne – this is a yummy concoction I came up with one night for dinner.  Serve a green salad and some cheesy garlic bread.

Thursday:

Chicken Enchilada Soup – the flavor of an enchilada in soup form.  So yummy!  Serve with bread and/or/ Lemon Fruit & Spinach Salad

Friday:

Slow Cooker French Dip – enjoy this easy and yummy sandwich on a nice crusty roll.  Serve with some fruit and some garlic fries.

Sunday:

 Balsamic Pork Tenderloin – this is so delicious and easy!  Everyone will love it.  I promise.  Serve with Patrice’s Potatoes.

 

For a fun sweet treat this week try:

Microwave Caramel Corn

For Meal Plan #20 go here.

Read Full Post »

Meal Plan #20

What Leigh Anne’s Loving!

This week I’m sharing with you what I use as a moisturizer all over my body.

 Coconut Oil

I love it.  I keep a big jar of it in my shower area and as soon as I step out of the shower, after I lightly dry off and my skin is still nice and warm I spread coconut oil all over me.  My body just absorbs it right in and it doesn’t leave any greasy or oily residue on my skin.  It just leaves my skin nice and soft and it smells good too.  I went in to get a pedicure before I left for Arizona and I usually have them use a callous remover on my heels but they were so soft this time they didn’t have to do it – thanks to the coconut oil.  So coconut oil isn’t just great for cooking it is great for your skin too!  Using coconut oil on the skin and hair is pretty much an ancient practice and has been done for years over in Asia.

From the Huffington Post, “Coconut oil provides deep and real moisture. It helps strengthen underlying tissues and helps remove excessive dead cell on the skin’s surface that makes your skin rough and flaky in texture. It also great for shine and as a natural moisturizer for your hair.”

I buy  Nature’s  Way EfaGold  online through Amazon.  It only costs about $17.00 for a 32 oz. jar and lasts a long time.  Coconut Oil comes in a  solid form but as soon as you put it in your warm hand it begins to melt. You want to make sure your coconut oil is organic, non GMO, cold pressed, pure extra virgin, zero trans & hydrogenated fat, unrefined, nonbleached.  The one I use is all of those things.  Give it a try!

Now for this week’s meal plan:

It’s been a little warmer here in Portland so it’s put me in mood for a little more summer like fare so I’ve added in a main dish salad and a chicken recipe to be grilled to the meal plan this week

Monday:

Happy St. Patrick’s Day –  If you are planning a more authentic Irish dinner make Slow Cooker Corned Beef with some yummy Soda Bread.  And of course a green veggie like Roasted Broccoli.

And for dessert serve  up a Lime Sherbet Freeze!

 

Tuesday:

Pull out the BBQ Grill for some yummy Asian BBQ Chicken tonight.  Serve with an Asian Noodle Salad.

Wednesday:

Ginger Steak Salad is delicious!  Serve with some quick & easy breadsticks.

Thursday:

Sweet & Sour Chicken is an easy meal and perfect served over some white jasmine or basmati rice and some Chinese Style green beans.

Friday:

It doesn’t get much easier than Hamburger Soup on a busy Friday night!  Serve with some yummy Herbed Oatmeal Bread.

Sunday:

Cheesy Chicken as been a favorite of our family for years and years.  We love it best served with rice pilaf and how about some yummy Teriyaki Glazed Brussels Sprouts?!  Try them, you’ll like them!!

For last week’s meal plan go here:

Weekly Meal Plan #19

 

Read Full Post »

Meal Plan #19

Happy Weekend!  Hope you have a fun one planned.  Since I was out of town last weekend I’ll probably spend this weekend working on projects that need to get done.

Jim and I cheered on the Blazers this week.  My husband is a HUGE Blazer fan and I am not.  I’m really not any sports team fan but several times a year he talks me into going to a Blazer Game with him.  We usually sit in the nose bleed section but this time he splurged and we sat down where I could actually see what was going on!  We even had a visit from Blaze, the team’s mascot.

A friend and I also hosted a fun Girl’s Night Out Craft Night at my home.  We had fun getting creative as well as talking, visiting and munching on yummy treats. We just don’t do that often enough.  One of our projects were these fun chalk painted mason jars.  Won’t they look cute full of tulips on the Easter table?!

What Leigh Anne’s Loving!

Each Saturday I have decided to share with you one thing I’m loving this week.  This week I’m loving the White Chocolate M & M’s that are out in spring colors.  I may have hidden bag or two away in a special place so I don’t have to share them!!  I found mine at Target.

Here’s this week’s Meal Plan to help make life easier!

Monday:

Hawaiian Haystack has been a favorite at our house for years.  We stopped making it when Cali had to go dairy free and gluten free but now with this DF/GF Cream of Chicken Soup recipe I shared last week it’s back on the family menu!  Serve over rice.

 Tuesday:

Really Good Noodles & Chicken was a recipe shared by one of you – my blog readers.  It is named this because it is REALLY GOOD!  Hope you enjoy it as much as we have over the years.  Serve with a yummy green salad like this one.

Wednesday:

Chicken Parmesan Soup – I love this soup and especially the yummy cheese covered bread that floats on top!  It is pretty much a complete meal for me but you could add in a salad or something if you needed more. Maybe a broccoli salad for some more veggies!

Thursday:

Slow Cooker Pork Chili Verde –  This is a recreation of a favorite restaurant meal and I think it is as good as the real thing, if not better!  Serve it over lime cilantro rice and some homemade tortillas.

Saturday:

Teriyaki Burgers – It’s time to fire up the grill!  If you are still covered in snow you can always cook these on the stove top.  Serve with Roasted Potato Wedges.

Sunday:

Fast Fire Flank Steak – is definitely a favorite of the men at my house.  They ask for it over and over again! Serve with Salt & Pepper Red Potatoes.

Happy Meal Planning.

For Meal Plan #18 go here.

 

Enjoy!

Leigh Anne

You can also visit me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter or Instagram.

 

 

Read Full Post »

Meal Plan #18

It’s been a bit windy and blustery here in the Pacific NW this week. In fact, we had a big 20 year old incense cedar come down in our yard. Fortunately it is in the back of the yard and came down away from the fence, the neighbor’s house and the play structure. Jim and a friend from church got out the chain saw and it was down in a matter of minutes. We’ve got lots of firewood now!

A few favorite things from this week:

I have  quite fallen in love with a BBC series called Born and Bred.  One of you recommended it to me.  The only way I have found to watch it is on You Tube.  I’m on Season Three and loving it – about a small little English village, the town doctor and his family and all the fun characters that live there.  Highly recommend it.  As soon as I’m done with this one I’ll need some more recommendations if you have it.

Another favorite and a way of getting my British fix and is reading the Flavia de Luce murder mystery series – delightful!!

Also, remember my Master Bedroom Redo?  It was featured over at She Knows Home & Garden this week!

So here are this week’s meal plan suggestions!

Monday:

Slow Cooker Roasted Red Pepper Chicken Sandwich – serve on a nice crusty bun with a Spinach Salad

Tuesday:

Sesame Chicken – served over white rice and Lemon Dijon Salad with Apples.

Wednesday:

Steak Bites served with  Patrice’s Potatoes.

Thursday:

Tortilla Soup with  7 Up Biscuits

Friday:

Tuscan Roasted Tomato Pesto Pasta  served with House Salad with Lemon Dressing.

 

Sunday:

Slow Cooker Greek Pork serve with pita bread and cucumber yogurt sauce.

For a special treat this week try:

Key Lime Pie

For Weekly Meal Plan #17 go here.

Enjoy!

Leigh Anne

You can also visit me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram

and Google+

 

Read Full Post »

Meal Plan #17

Happy Weekend!  Any fun plans for the weekend?  We’re in project mode at our house and I’ve been cleaning out trying to at least look like I’m organized!  Jim’s going to finish painting a bedroom and get the roses pruned.  All 35 of them!!! We are having a church event at our house on Sunday so I’ll also be experimenting with some new cookie recipes which hopefully will be blog worthy.  Jim and I went to see Monument Men this week and both really enjoyed it.  I am a big history fan and although I understand it wasn’t totally historically accurate it is a good movie and an amazing story.   Seen any good movies lately?

To help make your life a little easier – here’s a meal plan for this week.  Enjoy!!

Monday:

Beef Fajitas – serve with Mexican Rice  and homemade flour tortillas if you are feeling energetic.  They really are easy to make and so much better than store bought!!

Tuesday:

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken – this is one of the most pinned recipes on my blog.  So easy and delicious.  Serve with some salsa and some homemade guacamole.

Wednesday:

Italian Turkey Soup – a yummy soup.  Serve with Cheese & Garlic Rolls.

Thursday:

Red Pepper Stir Fry Chicken – serve over rice.

Friday:

Slow Cooker Kalua Pork – serve this over rice or on a bun.  So yummy and so incredibly easy!!!  Serve with some yummy chinese style green beans.

Sunday:

Chicken Paprikish – serve over noodles or rice.  Try Celestial Salad with it – it is one of our family’s all time favorites.

For a sweet treat try:

Chocolate Toffee Bars

For Meal Plan #16 go here.

 Enjoy!
Leigh Anne

Please stop by my blog Your Homebased Mom and say hi! You can also visit me onFacebook, Pinterest or Instagram.

Read Full Post »

Meal Plan #16

Last week Portland experience what is being referred to as #snowpocalypse.  Portland got over 10- 12  inches of snow in the course of about 3 days.  That is  ALOT of snow for Portland.  It happens about every twenty years or so and I missed it!  I was in the rain, in Salt Lake City.  Snow in Portland and rain in Salt Lake City.  What’s wrong with this picture???  Despite missing out on all the fun have being snowed in and have the city totally shut down for about 3 days I had a great time in SLC.

As I mentioned last week I attended Roots Tech, the largest family history conference in North America and learned lots. I’ve got the bug and I just need more hours in my day to do family history work.  Family history is so much more than names and dates.  It is about the stories that fill in the space between those dates that I love.  Pioneer Woman was the keynote speaker and it was fun to hear her tell some of her family stories and how she uses her blog to record the history her family is making right now.  I also learned a bit about DNA testing and the value it has in family history research.  Just sent my kit in this week.  If you’d like to have your DNA tested or learn more about it check out AncestryDNA.  I also ran into the oh so cute and creative Rhonna Farrer the amazing creativity behind the amazing Rhonna Designs.

I also attended Build Your Blog Conference put on by Six Sisters which was lots of fun.  Got to meet a lot of bloggers I only know on line and got to know a few ones too. I also got to participate in a fun jean fitting event put on by Anita  Chic on a Shoestring and Macy’s.  I got some great tips for picking out the perfect pair of jeans and after trying on about 20 pairs I found the perfect jeans.  They are by Michael Kors and I’m loving them  Thanks Anita.  I also got to eat at a few of my favorite Utah places – Waffle Luv showed up outside the blog conference and I walked over to Blue Lemon one day for lunch!

Now I’m home though and have to cook for myself! Here is this week’s Meal Plan!!  Happy cooking.

Monday:

Thai Coconut Chicken Soup – I shared this on the blog this past week and I can’t wait to make it again!  Even if you think you don’t like Thai food you need to try it.  Serve it with sticky rice (recipe included with soup recipe.)

Tuesday:  

Ginger Sesame Salad is delicious and with chicken added because a main dish.  Lots of good flavor and crunch in this salad.  We ate it two nights in a row.  Serve with a 30 minute rolls.

Wednesday: 

BBQ Beef in the Crock Pot – An easy dinner and one you can serve a lot of different ways.  I love to serve it on homemade hamburger rolls which are so easy to make and so much better than store bought.

Thursday:

Chicken Paprikish  – My husband loved this one and didn’t mind one bit taking the leftovers for lunch several times.  I like it served over noodles or rice.  Serve with House Salad with Lemon Dressing.

Friday:  

Fresh Tomato & Chicken Pasta – Pasta is a go to, stand by meal at our house and this one is quick and easy to put together.  You can have it ready to go by the time the pasta is done cooking!

Sunday:

Grilled Pork  Tenderloin in Orange Marmalade – Pork tenderloin is one of our favorites. This dish is delicious and looks fancy while being so easy to do.  We like to grill it but you could also cook it in the oven.

For a fun treat this week try:

Chocolate Overload Cookies – a triple chocolate threat!!
For Weekly Meal Plan #15 go here.

 Enjoy!

Leigh Anne

You can also visit me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram

and Google+

 

 

Read Full Post »

Meal Plan # 15

I’m back in Utah this week.  I’ve been attending Roots Tech in Salt Lake and today I’m at the Six Sisters Build Your Blog Conference.  Can’t wait to share more details with you!  Of course I’m also hanging out with my favorite people – my kids!  You can follow along on my adventures of Instagram!

Here’s this week’s Meal Plan!

Monday:

Crock Pot Costa Vida Chicken – I love the versatility of this – use it on a salad or  make a taco or burrito out of it!  I like it best with Lime Cilantro Rice.

Tuesday:

Pasta e Fagioli – I love it served with a nice hearty bread.  My Herbed Oatmeal Bread is one of my favorites.

Wednesday:

Chicken Amandine –  This one is quick and easy and can be made in 15 minutes!  I like it with Rice Pilaf.

Thursday:

Meat & Potato Pies – These were a favorite thing I ate while over in England (other than Fish ‘n Chips) and you can get creative with your fillings.  You can include your own meal in the pie – meat, veggie and potato!

Friday:

Arugula Salad Pizza – Friday is often pizza night at our house with a salad on the side.  This time enjoy your salad on top of your pizza.  You can add meat to it if you’d like or leave it meatless.

Sunday:

Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken – This is one of my favorite things to make in the crock pot.  Serve with white rice and a good Spinach Salad.

 

For a sweet treat this week try these fun Vanilla Cherry and Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream Floats.

For Meal Plan #14 go here.

 Enjoy!

Leigh Anne

You can also visit me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram

and Google+

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »