Sunday, March 19, 2017

Organization Hack for Puzzles


I loved this idea when I came across it on Pinterest! Bennett is currently loving puzzles and loves to pull them out every day in his playroom. Puzzles are definitely easy to stack (making them easier to store neatly), but when thrown around with other puzzles and trying to organize them with other toys, I'm always nervous to lose pieces. Now, Bennett pulls out the envelope with the puzzle he wants to play with and brings it to you to open so that he can play with it. He has big chunky puzzles that I still leave out on his little table in his playroom... I only used this hack with his smaller pieced puzzles.

Materials
- Puzzles
- Legal Size Poly String Envelopes


I definitely recommend buying clear envelopes (they make a variety of colors) - it's much easier to see the puzzles :) Another tip that I read about this hack is to replace the string/button closures with small circle velcro pieces. It'll be easier for your kids to open the envelope, and you don't have to worry about the button or string pulling off.


When you're done, you can store in a cute basket or container - something you wouldn't have been able to do without them in envelopes :)

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Bacon Wrapped Chicken & Asparagus


I tried this recipe a few months ago and we've had it a few times since then - I love the simplicity! It's been so hard to find the time to document anything on my blog recently, so I'm happy that I can finally take 5 minutes to sit down to write this one (thank you snow day and baby napping on my chest)! :)

Serving Size - 6

Ingredient List:
- Bacon (18 pieces)
- Chicken Breast (3 large pieces)
- Bundle of Asparagus 

Directions:

First, prep your chicken and asparagus. I like to rinse my asparagus, and cut a few cms of the ends off. For my chicken, after washing and trimming, for this recipe I like to cut the chicken breasts in half. When I tried this recipe for the first time, I quickly learned that 1 full chicken breast ended up being way too much for one serving. Next, you're ready to start assembling! 

Lay down 3 pieces of bacon, slightly overlapping each other.


Next, lay 4-5 pieces of asparagus down the middle of your bacon strips.


Top your asparagus with one of your chicken breast halves. Here, you can also choose to add any spices that you'd like. I added a little Old Bay. 


Lastly, take each strip of bacon and tightly wrap your chicken and asparagus, tucking the ends of each strip to the other side. (Note - After telling my sister about this recipe, she tried it and brushed some BBQ sauce over the tops of her bundles before baking and said that it was delicious!)



Once you've created all 6 of your Chicken/Asparagus/Bacon bundles, bake them at 375 degrees for 50 minutes.


When they're done, enjoy! :)