Organizing the House!!

I don't know about you but at our house summer wrecks havoc on just about everything. Our schedules are all out of whack, we are constantly busy and going here or there or there or there...and it just seems like there is never enough time to get anything done. And because of this, the house tends to be messier than usual!! 

As I was perusing Pinterest the other day I saw something that caught my eye. I was trying to find a good cleaning schedule {Since I do MUCH BETTER when I have it all mapped out as to what I need to do and when} and I saw a Pin for "14 Weeks to an Organized Home". My first thought was, uh, Yeah Right. But when I looked more into I found that this is something that I could actually do and it wouldn't be overwhelming!!

So...Here it is, Week 1, and I am READY to Tackle the Kitchen!! If anyone of you have ever been to my house then you will know that the kitchen it the heart of our house. We spend a ton of time there and yes, the boys tend to mess up the cabinets, pantry, fridge, etc. And I am guilty of having a junk drawer {or 5} that I throw things in to when I am in a rush to tidy before company. Who knows what I'll find in the cleaning and organizing process. 

I will be sure to take pictures along the way. Feel free to join me!! 

Happy Organizing! 

Weekly Meal Plan 7.29 - 8.3

The dog days of summer are in full swing. It feels like each week we keep getting busier and busier. I have started planning out 2-3 weeks of meals at once to try and keep us on track with our schedules, although I find myself deviating from time to time. It sure is nice to have the skeleton already created though! This week I’m planning the following...and planning on sticking to it!

MONDAY: Dinner out - The running club we meet with offers dinner options afterwards. Score!
TUESDAY: Honey Soy Chicken with Rice and Broccoli
WEDNESDAY: Corn Soup with Queso Fresco and Cilantro. This will also be my cheat meal for the week
THURSDAY: Leftovers
FRIDAY: Garlic Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes and Asparagus
SATURDAY: Grilled Cilantro Shrimp Kebabs over Rice

What are you eating this week?

Gluten Free Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

In the past, I’ve always felt that even the most successful gluten free, vegan baked goods needed to come with a disclaimer. “This is a really good cookie recipe, for being gluten-free and vegan!”

But last week I finally arrived at an adapted cookie recipe that didn’t need a disclaimer. In fact, I think these cookies may have become my favorite cookie recipe. No disclaimer or excuses necessary. These Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are, plain and simple, my favorite oatmeal chocolate chip cookie; they hold their own when pitted against their butter and gluten-laden counterparts. And I’m sure that when you make them (please make them!) you will agree.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (gluten-free and vegan)
Makes 24 cookies
Adapted from the Baby Cakes Bakery recipe on the Bob’s Red Mill package
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups oat bran (make sure it is gluten-free)
1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill)
1/4 cup ground flax
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil or canola oil
5 tablespoons applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips (to make this recipe completely vegan, make sure the chocolate chips are vegan)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray Cookie Sheet with cooking Spray; set aside.
2. In large bowl combine oat bran, all-purpose gluten-free flour, flax, sugar, baking soda, xanthan gum, cinnamon and salt until well combined. In small bowl combine oil, applesauce and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to try ingredients and stir until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Drop mixture by heaping tablespoons onto baking sheet, rolling between your hands into balls if you want the cookies to be uniform and round. Mixture will feel oily and may take a little effort to keep the dough in round balls. Don’t worry, that’s totally normal.
4. Bake 7 minutes. Rotate baking sheet. Bake 7 minutes more or until cookies are golden brown. Cool on pan 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Happy Baking!

Just a typical morning...

What do mornings look like at your house? Are they filled with the smell of homemade waffles, freshly squeezed orange juice and the sound of laughter and the kids playing so nicely together? Yeah, that doesn't sound like my house either!
Usually it is me chasing my 14 month old around trying to wrangle his diaper and clothes on him before he pees on the floor while my 5 year old sits on the couch with his cereal playing Angry Birds on his iPad...completely oblivious to the rest of the world. All while I am attempting to manage to scarf down a lukewarm bowl of oatmeal before we're off to the gym, a playdate, a MRTT Run, the store or one of the many other places we frequent on a day to day basis.
This was a true snapshot of one of our mornings...I think it says it all...

However it is that you get the day started, get it started with a positive attitude. I've found that changes my whole outlook on my crazy, hectic days! 

Free BuluBox!

Have you heard of Bulu Box yet? 

Bulu box is a monthly subscription vitamin and supplement sample pack.  You will receive 4-5 healthy nutritional supplements in your box each month.  Some of the items you may receive are; vitamins, weight loss, energy, protein, digestion, sleep support and more.

There are a lot of monthly subscription boxes popping up everywhere. The thing I like about Bulu Box is that it is only $10 per month and you get access to the newest and best nutritional products on the market. AND they even send out FULL SIZE products sometimes too! 

I know that I have wanted to try several products out there but due to the price tag, I opted not to.  Bulu Box takes that problem away.  You get samples of products and then if you like them, you can go buy a full size version.  That way you know what you are spending your money on.  

HERE IS THE BEST PART!!! 

Bulu Box is giving Running Crazy Mom fans their first box FREE!!!!!  No gimmicks, no tricks.  Just a free box.  Try it out, see if you like it. 

Simply enter code Bulugan691 and click "apply coupon" before entering your information at checkout to receive your free box

Happy Bulu-ing!

30 Before 30

For the longest time, I have spoiled myself with a Birthday Month. Yup, a whole month that's just for me and my birthday. {go ahead and think what you will but I like it and the Hubs goes along with it lol}
As of today there is 1 month until my actual birthday and a little over 2 weeks until birthday month!! And that got me thinking about my actual age and the fact that I'm almost 30!! Well, not really ALMOST my 30th, I still have a few years but still. It will be here before I know it.
There are quite a few things I would like to accomplish in the next 3 years leading up to my 30th birthday. So I've created my 30 before 30 list...
30 before 30 List!

1. Jump out of a plane.
2. Run a Full Marathon - I have my first scheduled for this November!
3. Go a week with absolutely NO TV.
4. Take part in meaningful volunteer work.
5. Go to a karaoke bar and actually get the guts up to sing!!
6. Stick to a budget. Working on this one!
7. Try one new restaurant a month.
8. Create one new recipe a week.
9. Take a self defense class. I think everyone should know what to do just in case!!
10. Take a trip to the mountains and learn how to snow board.
11. Go on a road trip (out of state) with the family.
12. Do a 70.3
13. Join a book club.
14. Cook a five course meal. Maybe I’ll host a dinner party? Or just make an amazing meal for the Hubs? Not sure yet!
15. Stay up and watch the sun rise.
16. Learn to change a tire. I swear I used to know how to do this.
17. Pay it forward in the drive-thru lane
18. See two great museums in NYC (I’ve been to NYC but never done a major museum).
19. Completely rearrange and organize our closet. Like complete overhaul!!
20. Take a trip with my mother. We have such a great time together and I think a mother-daughter trip would be amazing!
21. Do a FULL Ironman.
22. Get my Rock n' Roll Marathon Series Triple Crown.
23. Have a sleepover with the girl friends.
24. Find a church and start going to bible study regularly. I need this badly and just haven't found a good church home yet.
25. Send at least five hand written letters to friends/family.
26. Learn a new language.
27. Run a Disney Race.
28. Go to the Wine Country in California.
29. Compete in a figure competition.
30. Plan an AWESOME 30th birthday party!

Yup, that's my list. Follow me on my journey!

Ahhh Kale!

One of my favorite snacks to get me through the afternoon is a nice bowl of Kale Chips. It seems like lately more and more people are jumping on the Kale Train. Of you're not already on board, you've got to try it. It's so flippin' good!

Here's how I make my Kale Chips:

Ingredients:

1 Bunch of Kale

1 Tbsp olive oil divided for 2 batches

Salt and pepper to taste 

Pre-heat your oven to 350°

Remove the leaves from the stems -- Don't discard the stems! You can make veggie broth with them. 

Wash your leaves thoroughly and pat dry. 

Divide the kale into 2 batches. Drizzle with 1/2 tbsp olive oil. 

Spread kale onto a baking sheet in a single layer. 

Salt and pepper to taste. 

Bake for 15 min. 

Repeat with second batch. 

That's it! Super easy and so good. It's the perfect healthy afternoon snack. 

Feel free to experiment with other seasonings!! 
Happy Baking!