Breast Cancer Awareness

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month I will be donating $3 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for every $31 you spend with Thirty-One.  To participate in this wonderful cause please visit my website at www.mythirtyone.com/tiffanykstewart.  


Come on ladies, let's open those wallets and help support a worthy cause.  You never know when you or someone you love may need help!  Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks so much in advance!

Kung Pao Chicken

Wesley and I LOVE Chinese food, but believe me Chinese food is not something that you can eat on a diet.  I found a magazine called Clean Eating that I use regularly since we are trying to eat as "clean" as possible these days.  I found this recipe for Kung Pao Chicken in the magazine and "revamped" it in order to make it even more healthy.

KUNG PAO CHICKEN

Ingredients:

• 1 cup long-grain brown rice (I used organic Lundberg Brown Rice)
• 12oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4 inch dice
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 6-10 small red chilies, diced and seeded 
• 1 large red bell pepper, diced
• 6 scallions, white and light green parts, cut into 3/4 inch pieces
• 6 cloves garlic, thinly diced
• 2 tbsp roasted unsalted peanuts
• Asian Gourmet Kung Pao Dipping & Grilling Sauce (you can make your own, but after searching for all the ingredients myself I soon realized it would be much cheaper and healthier to buy a packaged version at Earth Fare)

Instructions:

• Prepare rice according to package directions-Lundberg Rice will take you an hour to cook, so be sure to make this your first step.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine chicken and 1/2 cup Kung Pao sauce and marinate for at least 25 minutes in the refrigerator.
• When the rice is about 10 minutes from being done, heat peanut oil in a large wok or skillet on high (as you can see in the picture I do not have a wok, but I am begging Wes to get me one for Christmas).  Add chilies and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute.  Add chicken mixture, spreading chicken in a single layer in wok, and cook undisturbed for 1 minute.  Then stir chicken constantly until cooked fully.
• Add 1 cup of sauce and simmer for 8-10 minutes.

• Add bell pepper, scallions, peanuts, and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until bell pepper begins to soften, about 1 minute.  

• Serve chicken mixture over rice.  Makes 4 servings.

The finished product...ENJOY!!!

Nutritional Information per serving (1 cup of chicken mixture & 3/4 cup rice):

     Calories:            300

     Fat:                        9

     Saturated Fat:        1.6

     Cholesterol:         32.5

     Sodium:           1191

     Carbs:                  28

     Sugars:                26.5

     Protein:               25

     Fiber:                    1 

My Newest Favorite Things...

I wanted to share with all of you three of my new favorite things...

I am a sucker for anything with Pumpkin Spice-smells, tastes, etc.  I eat a lot of almonds as snacks since they are high in protein and are so good for you.  So why not combine these two wonderful things-Pumpkin Spice and Almonds?

My husband found these at Target and after just a couple of hours I have decided they are one of the best things I have ever ate!!!  I LOVE them!  Check them out!  I'm actually thinking of going out and buying several containers of them since I know they are only around for a limited time.

My second and third favorite things are Chai Tea Latte and Hot Apple Cider.

I bought my husband a Keurig Coffee Maker a couple of weeks ago since he absolutely adores coffee.  Little did I know that I was going to fall in love with this machine almost as much as he has.  It is INCREDIBLE!  They have so many different coffees, teas, and drinks you can make with this handy, dandy machine.  I bought the Chai Tea Latte and Hot Apple Cider on Tuesday and decided that EVERYONE needs a Keurig machine!!!  I am now hooked on having a Hot Apple Cider every night before bed.

Candy Corn Wreath

I L-O-V-E Halloween!  I L-O-V-E crafts!  I L-O-V-E candy corn!

So what can I make that involves all three of my favorite things...a Candy Corn Wreath of course!

Here is a list of the items you need to create this beautiful Halloween wreath:

• Wreath (I got mine from Hobby Lobby for $4)
• Black Electrical Tape (2 rolls)
• Candy Corn (4 bags-I used Brach's b/c it looks the best)
• Halloween Ribbon (I made my own which you will see below)
• Hot Glue Gun (must be hot glue in order to stick properly and quickly without melting the candies)
• Krylon Preserve It!

As you can see from the picture, I tried to use Tacky Glue at first, but realized quickly that it was impossible to use.  It did not dry quickly enough and caused the candies to melt and loose their color, so again make sure you use a hot glue gun to adhere the candy corn. =)

Directions:

• First be sure to let your candy corn sit out on something of your choice for at least 3-7 days to let the candy get stale and lose its stickiness.  This will help the candy corn from melting if you are planning on placing the wreath outside.

• Take wreath and wrap it with the black electrical tape.  I used a grass wreath that I got from Hobby Lobby for $4, but you can use a Styrofoam wreath also.  (I'm all about saving money as much as possible, so find what's cheapest for you).  I also found the black electrical tape 2 for $1 at the Dollar Store.

Here is what the covered wreath should look like.

• Next, take the wreath and begin to hot glue the candy corn on.  I started in the center of the wreath and moved around the ring.  Alternate the directions of the candy corn on each row in order to create an interlocking pattern as seen here:

• Continue gluing candy corn onto the wreath until you cover any visible electrical tape.  This should take between 3-4 bags of candy corn.  I left the back side uncovered so that the wreath would lay flat on the door.  

• After finishing gluing all the candy corn to the wreath you will need to seal the candy.  You will need to use a sealant called Krylon Preserve It! (I found it at Micheal's).  You can choose to seal the candy before gluing or after finishing the wreath.  This sealant will gloss the candy and make it "undesirable" to pests and keep it from melting in the sun outside.

• If you are unable to find any Halloween ribbon to your liking consider creating your own.  I wanted a wide ribbon to hang my wreath from, but was unable to find any at either Hobby Lobby or Michael's.  I took a wide orange ribbon and a small Trick or Treat ribbon and simply hot glued the small ribbon to the middle of the wide orange ribbon.

• Loop the ribbon around the wreath and hang from a wreath hanger on any door of your liking and viola you have your very own Candy Corn Wreath!!! =)

My finished project =)

My front door right now...

BTW did mention that I LOVE Fall & Halloween?!?!

Food Recipe Blogging

I know I haven't been good about keeping this blog updated lately.  The main problem is that I have not had any projects that I have been working on.  Well, this week that has changed...

Everyone is always asking me "What have you been doing to loose 100lbs?"  Well, of course everyone that has read my blog knows that the weight loss is mostly due to Cornerstone Meal Replacement Protein Shakes.  But, I also have changed everything about how Wesley and I eat.  Lately, we have started trying to eat as much organic, non-dairy, gluten free foods.  Because of this I decided that I will start blogging special recipes that I make and create.

So with that in mind...keep an eye out for some of my yummy organic recipes!!!

Thirty-One Offers

Dear Friends & Family,

I wanted to share some exciting news with each of you…I am now a Thirty-One gifts consultant!   For those of you who are not familiar with Thirty-One you are in for a treat.  Thirty-One provides products/gifts that are fun and helpful.  Thirty-One has products for everyone.  We have purses, organizing solutions, a new men’s line, and many more products. 

I know, I know, you are probably thinking why is she placing this letter on her blog?  Well, as a new consultant I need your help in starting my new business off with a “bang”! 

Since many of you live in different areas of the country I knew that having a debut party at my house would not be an option for you  to attend.  Because of this I decided that I would instead host my debut party on the internet.  I mean, what is more conveient than hosting a party where everyone can simply check-out the products online and place an order without having to worry about travel or getting all gussied up?  Simply check out my website at www.mythirtyone.com/tiffanykstewart and view the catalog.  If you have any questions or would like to place an order to help me start my business you can contact me either by phone, email or on facebook at any time! 

For any of you interested in earning your own free products, you may want to consider hosting your own party or catalog party.  As a Thirty-One hostess you can earn free products, ½ items, discounted items, and free shipping.  I would be more than happy to help you organize your own party!  Just contact me for any additional

information.

And guess what?  To sweeten the deal, the first five orders over $30 that I receive will get a small gift of appreciation from me.  Plus if you book a party or catalog party with me in the next 90 days you will receive an additional small gift!!!

Again, thanks to all of you for your support and prayers!  And I look forward to hearing from each of you soon!!!

Tiffany

www.mythirtyone.com/tiffanykstewart

100 Day Photo Challenge

Day 99: A Photo of Anything I Want

How about a photo of my FAVORITE thing?!?!

100 Day Photo Challenge

Day 98: Something That Makes Me Feel Accomplished

My Weight Loss in the past year!!! =)

Before:

89lbs lighter in less than a year:

100 Day Photo Challenge

Day 97: My Favorite Nail Polish Color

Love Bright Pink Nail Polish with Shatter on top

100 Day Photo Challenge

Day 96: Something Heart Shaped

100 Day Photo Challenge

Day 95: A Place I Went Today

How about a place I am going tomorrow?

100 Day Photo Challenge

Day 94: Something Yellow

100 Day Photo Challenge

Day 93: What I am Doing Right Now

Computing of course

100 Day Photo Challenge

Day 92: The View From My Bedroom Window

Lovely, huh?

My Yummy 4th of July Creation

Honestly, this was one of my favorite things that I have ever made.  I have to thank my mom for lots of help with these little creations.  And honestly they were not that hard to make.

They were an ABSOLUTE hit at our family cookout and fireworks show.  Everyone thought they were mini-slider burgers instead of cupcakes.  Wes even took some to work for his fellow staff and they thought not only were they great looking but that they were super tasty.

I decided to take a photo that would make them look even more like Burgers  :)

Our platter of Burgers

**How to make these Slider Burger Cupcakes:**

They are made with white cake or "buns", and dark chocolate cake" or "burger patties" and starburst or "cheese" and condiments made from colored frosting.

• Make a double batch of your favorite white cake recipe and a single batch of dark chocolate cake.
• Roll out several yellow starbursts (we used yellow and orange since only a few of these colors were in our candy bag) using confectioners' sugar to keep from sticking to parchment paper for cheese.
• Color some frosting green and red for the lettuce and ketchup.
• Cut in half the white cupcakes after cooling and remove tops from all of cooled chocolate cupcakes.  (You will have leftovers, but if you have a husband like mine he will enjoy these for days to come)

To Assemble Cupcakes:

• Place a cut chocolate cupcake in the center of the halved white cupcake.  
• Place yellow rolled-out starburst on top of chocolate cupcake.  
• Add red and green frosting to the top of "cheese" for lettuce and ketchup (we let ours run off the sides in different places to give it extra effect)
• Top with the white cupcake topper for top "bun".
• Brush the top "bun" with a small amount of honey and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Place them on a platter to make them look even more like a bunch of mini-slider burgers.  And FINALLY ENJOY!!!

100 Day Photo Challenge

Day 100: A Final Picture of Myself

YAY!!!  Completed the 100 Day Photo Challenge =)

100 Day Photo Challenge

Day 91: Something Weird in My House

**On behalf of the fourth I decided to display photos of our fireworks from the fourth weekend**

100 Day Photo Challenge

Day 90: Something That Made Me Smile Today

My Sweet Bernie Bot-Bot always makes me smile and laugh

I Want to See the RHINOS!!!

Let me just say this: Khade absolutely LOVES the zoo!!!  And I am so glad that he does since it is one of my favorite places and now I have an excuse to go often.  I cannot wait to have my own kid so that I can buy season passes...lol.

Here are a few pics from our week with the one and only Khade-a-roo...

Khade & Uncle Wes in the Tent

In the tunnel

 

 

 

   

Looking for the Gorilla

There he is

And last but not least...The RHINOS =)