Do you ever get in moods where you are super ambitious and think you can conquer the world? I swear I have a few of those episodes daily. My poor husband! Well the latest one today is I really want to adhere to our budget and Alan and I seem to eat out ALL the time because we don't plan or prep and its easy and quite frankly delicious. Unfortunately it is also EXPENSIVE! So in an effort to eat out less I have always wanted to do the frozen crockpot meals. Then it gives me an appearance that I slaved for hours and am a good wife without really having to any work! WIN WIN! I just have never had the guts to try and brave it.
I spent WAAAAAY too much time on pinterest as always and kept trying to find the perfect list of meals (and I am a picky eater) complete with a grocery list and recipes and that obviously didn't happen but I finally settled on 6 freezer meals and have my grocery list in hand and will be going shopping before FHE tomorrow! Wish me luck!
Then it also got me thinking how cool would it be if for my bridesmaid party everyone brought me their favorite freezer meal! Oh my gosh I would have been the best wife ever! Am I the only one that thinks this would be a good idea?
I need your help...comment below or shoot me an email (michellewhitaker11@gmail.com) with your favorite crock pot meal/recipe! My husband and I (especially our bellies)thank you!
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Faux fur
Although I'm not a big fan of the cold it's fun to have an excuse to wear winter pieces like this amazing faux fur coat that I am pretty obsessed with! It was the perfect thing to throw over my maxi dress for my work meeting tonight!
I think my hubs did good, what do you think?
I think my hubs did good, what do you think?
Toast to 2015
I cannot believe 2014 is over. To celebrate the new year we went over to my in-laws. We ate, played, talked and swam and the lit off fireworks to welcome the new year. I am so excited for 2015 and all the surprises in store. Here were a few highlights from tonight:
Happy new year and may all your dreams come true in 2015!
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Beef tenderloin
This has by far been a Whitaker favorite as of late. We love Wincos beef tenderloin steaks smothered in Pappys garlic rub and grill them ALL the time. When they stopped cutting them into steaks we got really sad but discovered that if we buy a full loin (costs about $30) and cut them up we can get about 6-8 steaks out of them. YUM!
Well we had a loin in our fridge and my in laws wanted us to do dinner so we decided we would try something a little different with the tenderloin and boy am I sure glad we did. This recipe is mouthwatering and so easy! I have never been big on recipe following or measurements but will try and give you an idea below:
Take your tenderloin and remove as much fat as possible. After fat is removed, coat the tenderloin generously with freshly ground sea salt on both sides. After salted, take black pepper and COAT (you cannot put too much pepper on this I promise) the tenderloin until covered.
Now that your tenderloin is seasoned its time to sear it. The loin we buy is long and sometimes uneven so we usually cut it in half and sear the pieces of loin separately. I take about a tablespoon of butter and melt it in the pan and then sear both sides of the tenderloin half for 1-2 minutes until it starts to char or butter is gone. Once seared I simply throw it into a cake pan (I like using my 13 x 9 glass one but nearly anything will do) and put some slices of butter on top. There is no wrong way to do it so I typically put more than I should.
Once you have it prepped and in the pan you just stick it in the over at 425 degrees for about 30 minutes or until it reaches your desired doneness. I use a meat thermometer and cook it till its about 150 degrees. You can flip it mid way or even add more butter but its not a necessary step. And you've done it!
I usually serve it with asparagus and creamy mashed potatoes and I am telling you its to die for! Let me know if you try it and what you think in the comments! Nom nom!
Well we had a loin in our fridge and my in laws wanted us to do dinner so we decided we would try something a little different with the tenderloin and boy am I sure glad we did. This recipe is mouthwatering and so easy! I have never been big on recipe following or measurements but will try and give you an idea below:
Peppered Beef Tenderloin
I tenderloin of beef
1 stick of butter-2-4 tbsp for searing; 2-4 for baking
3 tablespoons of salt
1/4 cup of black pepper
Take your tenderloin and remove as much fat as possible. After fat is removed, coat the tenderloin generously with freshly ground sea salt on both sides. After salted, take black pepper and COAT (you cannot put too much pepper on this I promise) the tenderloin until covered.
Now that your tenderloin is seasoned its time to sear it. The loin we buy is long and sometimes uneven so we usually cut it in half and sear the pieces of loin separately. I take about a tablespoon of butter and melt it in the pan and then sear both sides of the tenderloin half for 1-2 minutes until it starts to char or butter is gone. Once seared I simply throw it into a cake pan (I like using my 13 x 9 glass one but nearly anything will do) and put some slices of butter on top. There is no wrong way to do it so I typically put more than I should.
Once you have it prepped and in the pan you just stick it in the over at 425 degrees for about 30 minutes or until it reaches your desired doneness. I use a meat thermometer and cook it till its about 150 degrees. You can flip it mid way or even add more butter but its not a necessary step. And you've done it!
I usually serve it with asparagus and creamy mashed potatoes and I am telling you its to die for! Let me know if you try it and what you think in the comments! Nom nom!
Michelle in the making
I cannot believe that 2014 is almost over. Where did this year go? I have felt this nag for the last couple of weeks to blog and with the holidays and family here I just ignored but with my hubby and brother watching Lord of the Rings (again) I am going for it. I was just looking at my first blog post in 2013 and all of my resolutions and I am not going to lie...I am pretty embarrassed. I spent a good portion of time earlier tonight putting stuff in my new passion planner (which is absolutely friggin awesome btw, you need one you won't regret it, I promise!) and had written down some of my 2015 new year resolutions and I am sad to say many of them of are repeats from not just last year but the year before! YIKES! Gut check.
So despite my embarrassment and shame I sit here and type out some of the lofty goals I have for 2015 in hopes it will hold me accountable! Typically I make goals like reading a specific book or getting in shape but this year although those are still my goals I want to measure it on growth. I want to gain a greater testimony of the gospel and become closer to my Father in Heaven. I want to work on my emotional management and build stronger relationships. I want to make new friends and be a positive influence on all I come in contact with. I want to be a woman of word and follow through on all my endeavors and promises with vigor and integrity. I want to have a happy and fulfilled marriage and work everyday to selflessly serve my husband. I want to treat my body the way it deserves by eating right, exercising, getting adequate sleep and drinking lots of water (or anything other than JUST dr pepper). I want to maintain a clutter free, stress free, less mess home where others feel welcome always. I want to work hard and contribute to the well being of my family both present and future. And I REALLY want to expand our family a struggle we have been having for the last couple of years. But most importantly I want to relish the little moments that 2015 will undoubtable bring and to not let the pains and trials that will likely come overshadow the joy and miracles that are sure to surprise me.
I am SO excited for 2015 and just doing. Life is so short and I want to remember every real minute!
Friday, October 17, 2014
Bringing Blogging Back
Lately I have been hearing myself annoy the pants off my husband and have been continually telling him I just need to talk to my friends more about the things I pester him with. Thats everything from fashion, self improvement, faith, work, hobbies and anything else I have on my mind. Well, I thought if my husband who loves me more than anyone else is tired of listening to me I couldn't possibly bother my friends with my senseless babble. So I decided to bring back the blog! That way when you get sick of me you can stop reading and I am none the wiser! So here goes...
Today being fall break put a little crinkle in my normal "routine" which isn't as solid as it should be to begin with. I woke up and spent way too much time thinking about what I should do instead of just doing it. Don't you hate that? There are so many productive things I very well COULD have done: hot yoga, clean my house, go to my meeting, walk my dogs...heck, even shower! Did I do any of those things? Not really. But I did listen to my body and it told me at about 4:30 that I needed a nap!
So that is what I did and its because of that I am sitting here typing on a blog I haven't touched in over a year!
So that is what I did and its because of that I am sitting here typing on a blog I haven't touched in over a year!
Here is what you can expect from me, I will try to just blog when I feel I have something interesting to say but I think that is open for interpretation so read at your own risk!
So what do I want to share? MY NEW HAIR!
Does anyone else feel like a new person when they get their haircut? I sure do! Now I feel extra motivated to get rid of some stubborn belly fat (and a little fat all over, especially the new chin or two I have developed recently...) and to wear some of the cute things in my closet I haven't in a while!
Like this gem^
Makes me feel like a new woman! Gotta just roll with it so now I am determined to get in shape to look amazing in HAWAII in a few weeks!
Who has some awesome workouts or meal plans they love and have worked for them? I need to step away from the donuts to get rid of my muffin top!
Who has some awesome workouts or meal plans they love and have worked for them? I need to step away from the donuts to get rid of my muffin top!
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Bye Brother Whitaker
Today was the last Sunday Alan and I will be teaching together till after the summer (assuming our ward doesnt split) and it was sad to watch how bummed our kids were that he was leaving. It made it more real that I was losing him this week. I do not want that to become a reality. How will I deal with it???
After church we went over to Alans parents for his birthday dinner and hung out and then went over to my moms to visit. It is weird with Chad not being there. Overall today was just like every other Sunday but it is just so hard to imagine Alan leaving.
So heres to today...to my last Sunday team teaching with my hubby, to missing Chad and to pretending that my hubs is not leaving me this week. Thankful for today.
After church we went over to Alans parents for his birthday dinner and hung out and then went over to my moms to visit. It is weird with Chad not being there. Overall today was just like every other Sunday but it is just so hard to imagine Alan leaving.
So heres to today...to my last Sunday team teaching with my hubby, to missing Chad and to pretending that my hubs is not leaving me this week. Thankful for today.
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