Capturing Memories on the Verde Canyon Railroad

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #MobileMemories #CollectiveBias

I have written about collecting memories previously.  I have been saving money in my budget so we can really get out and live life.  Going on adventures is definitely much more fun than sitting on the couch or buying shoes (okay... that may be going in a biiiiittt far).  However, it's definitely much more fun to get out of the house and really enjoying what life has to offer.

I have lived in Arizona for 18 years and have never REALLY explored the state.  Nope, I haven't even been to the Grand Canyon.  Crazy, right? 

The state has so many amazing things to offer.  From Tombstone, to the Grand Canyon, to amazing natural wonders, to Ghost Towns (that are rather lively for being dead...), Pre-Columbian era Indian Ruins and many, many more.

Recipe: Chicken Avocado Ranch Wraps

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WhatsYourRanch #CollectiveBias

I love having a winning weekend.  Went out of town for a day, spent time in a really awesome ghost town (Oh yes, I shall be sharing more about it later this week), rode a train, made some AWESOME chicken, and then made some these fabulous chicken avocado ranch wraps.

Because my child loves to torment me...

#Photobombed....
Posted by Jaime Loves Stuff on Monday, May 25, 2015

Recipe: Honey Lime Chili Chicken

Have you ever made something that came out so amazing and you wanted to share it with the world?

This recipe is one of those recipes.

For Memorial Day weekend, my sister, Em and I took a bit of a local adventure in which we went to the mountains. We rode a train into the Verde Canyon, then went to an awesome ghost town and ate. It was a killer day but it was long. I also really felt my age.  I feel like I have been nursing a hangover for two days! Ha. I had to recuperate after such a long day and I just didn't feel like cooking but I wanted grilled chicken.  I wanted grilled chicken but I don't have a grill at my apartment (whenever we grill, I go to my sister's). Also, I didn't want to have to babysit anything on a grill pan.

So.

I made a hybrid recipe.  A hybrid slow cooker/grilled chicken.

Easy Caramel Banana Rice Pudding

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of DairyPure Milk. All opinions are 100% mine.


I absolutely love simple recipes.

I really, REALLY love simple COMFORT recipes.

One of my favorites is rice pudding.  It's so simple, creamy and delicious.  It's one that everybody has essentially the same recipe but yet each is so different.

Maybe you bake it. Maybe you make it on the stove.  Maybe you use cinnamon, raisins or like me, top with bananas.

This is my #BeautyStory. What is yours?

We all have a beauty story.  

Some of us have women in our lives who inspired us.  Maybe mom's morning makeup routine, big sister's hairstyles or an aunt's nightly beauty masks.  

For me, I was surrounded by women who I wanted to be like.  

They weren't supermodels.  They didn't have much money.  They worked hard and worked with their hands. 

My mother was low maintenance.  She wore moisturizer, a light foundation, blush and she always picked the perfect lipstick that really brought out her beauty.

My grandmother who volunteered at the senior center and she was always so polished.  She wore her skin cream, a little rouge, lipstick and pretty earrings.

Weekend In Photos: Just a little bit of pretties

This past weekend, we had quite a bit of running around to do.

Since chores are boring, why not do something fun, right?

Ulta was having a master makeup class with Tarte cosmetics and I was there to get an eyebrow waxing.

Unplug to Connect

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of JOLLY TIME Pop Corn. All opinions are 100% mine.



Do you ever find yourself connected more to technology than to your family? 

I am guilty of it.  I love blogging but there are times where I spend so much time online- social media, writing posts, and networking.  It takes a lot of time.  I have a full time job and juggling it all while being a single mom requires multi-tasking but I am guilty of being just too connected.  

I know I am definitely not alone in this, right? 

One Pot Spinach Tomato Chicken Alfredo is #Saucesome.

I have an obsession.  It's food related. (Obvs.)

I am loving one pot pasta meals more and more.  I have been trying mix and match recipe ideas.  No sauce.  Homemade sauce.  Ragú® Sauce.  Fresh veggies.  Frozen veggies.  Canned veggies.  Meat. No meat.  Penne. Spaghetti. Okay, okay.  You get the picture.

I'm  a sucker for creamy alfredo sauce.  Creamy, cheesy, garlicky and so sinful.  

Totally worth every sinful bite.  Right?

I like Ragú®'s classic alfredo has a delicious taste your whole family will love.   Ragú® is always a good standby to have on hand at the ready!

I used Ragú® Classic Alfredo Sauce to make this super easy dish.  It's wham, bam, thank you ma'am quick and easy and PERFECT for busy weeknight meals.  Easy way to make a SAUCESOME night! 

This recipe is ridiculously easy.  

One-Pot Spinach Tomato Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Ingredients:

1 lbs of chicken, diced. (salt & pepper to taste)

1 bag of frozen spinach, thawed and drained (I used 10 ounce bag)

1 can of fire roasted diced tomatoes (I used 14.5 ounce)

1 jar of alfredo sauce (I used Ragú® Classic Alfredo Sauce)

1 package of penne pasta, 1 lb package.  You can use any of your favorite pasta. 

2 cups of water.

Parmesan reggiano cheese, option. 

Instructions:

1. Oil a pot (I use this chili pot) over medium heat

2. Add chicken (Salt & Pepper to taste)

3. Cook until browned.

4. Add spinach and tomatoes. 

5. Add pasta. 

6. Add alfredo sauce.

7. Add water.

8. Bring to boil, lower heat and cover. 

9. Cook approximately 15 minutes (until pasta is cooked and sauce is absorbed)

10.  Serve with cheese.

So quick.  

So easy.

So delicious.

So #Saucesome.

What are your favorite sauce dishes? 

Ragú® has the Authentic Italian taste American family’s love and a variety of great tasting, quick and easy to make family favorite recipes. 

Visit Facebook for additional delicious recipe ideas! 

Visit Pinterest for additional recipes mash ups and recipe ideas! 

Check out Ragú® on Twitter @RaguSauce and #Saucesome Sauce 

Don’t forget to visit www.RaguSweeps.com for a chance to win a variety of Saucesome prizes, including a grand prize of $12,000 towards a Saucesome kitchen makeover!

*disclaimer: I received free product to help facilitate this post but was not compensated monetarily.  Post may contain affiliate links.

Grilled Jamaican-Style Jerk Ribs

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Weave Made Media®  Smithfield® and Farmland®, but all my opinions are my own. #weavemade #GetUpandGrill #GetFiredUpGrilling http://my-disclosur.es/RgFrEH”

I am a sucker for anything made on the grill.  There's just something that happens when meat has been cooked over the fire until it's beautifully carmelized.  The smokey flavors just make my mouth sing with pleasure.

There's also nothing better than running to Walmart, grabbing some Farmland  St Louis style pork spareribs, letting them marinate all night in a sweet and spicy jerk marinade and then letting them cook over the grill.

*wipes drool off chin*

Whew.  Y'all, I can't even begin to describe how goods these ribs are.  If you like sweet and tangy flavors, you will loooooooove these.  The flavor is out of this world.

I have been addicted to jerk chicken for awhile.  There's a local restaurant here called Chino Bandido that was featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives.  It's an interesting spot with crazy, fusion concoctions.  One of my favorite things to get there is their jerk chicken.  I figured jerk ribs on the grill would be a fun and delicious Mothers Day meal.

Coconut Peanut Chicken Sweet Potato Fries

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SpringIntoFlavor #CollectiveBias

Do you ever come up with crazy food combos while marathoning Cagney & Lacey on Hulu? Like... coconut peanut chicken sweet potato fries?

No?

Is it really just me? It's okay, your secret is safe with me.  *Girl Scout's honor*

GUYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I have been dreaming of this recipe for awhile.  I thought maybe, just maybe, I was thinking weird thoughts and that I was setting myself up for failure.  Think about it, sweet potatoes are AWESOME in peanut coconut sauce, so why wouldn't it work with fries? ESPECIALLY when using the bomb.com Alexia fries?  The first time I ever tried sweet potato fries was when my sister bought Alexia's and I was hooked the first time I tried them.  I mean... I fell head over heels in love with them and I haven't looked back.

My favorite part about them? They are ALL NATURAL!  They are always HIGH QUALITY and very, very VERSATILE!

I don't think I have ever had one of their fries that was ahhhhmmmmazzing.  Amiright?

Happy Mother's Day (Also, Poise Free Samples)

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommas out there! Bringing a child into this world is one of the most beautiful and magical events to happen in our lives and sometimes, we need poise LBL pads for the changes after the miracle happens.  My mother had nine children.

Nine.

8 out of 9 kids

My mother passed away in 2006 after a hard battle against lung cancer.  It wasn't until after I became a mother that I really appreciated her struggles and how she survived them.  My parents struggled financially and my mom did the best she could with what resources she had.  I never really KNEW how hard it was until I looked back.