Crock Pot Chicken Tacos....

I grew up on eating tacos once a week.  Every Sunday morning my mom would start her process of making homemade refried beans.  My dad would start browning the meat for tacos and fry up the corn tortilla taco shells.    My job was to cut the cheese...ha ha, yeah I really did just shred the cheese, but telling me to "cut the cheese" was always hilarious to my dad.  *MEN*  The smell of our little Sunday family dinner was amazing!! The neighbor kids referred to my dad as "Mr Taco" because it was our little tradition. 

We are such a busy family now, that we don't have traditions like that with the boys, but oh how I wished we did.  But when I do make tacos, I tell my little fellas all the funny stories about when I was little, it brings back such sweet memories.

My fellas love tacos and love my silly stories too!  So I try to make tacos as often as I can, but when it's football season, there isn't much time.  I have come to love my Crock Pot chicken tacos...and my fellas think that they taste better than their most favorite Mexican restaurant in town.  I love that and even love that they are so easy to make! 

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos
6 frozen boneless/skinless chicken breasts
1 package of taco seasoning
1 jar of salsa (My favorite is the Market Pantry found at Target...the one with the corn! YUM)

Toss in the chicken, seasoning and then the salsa on top)  Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours until chicken shreds up really easily.

I like to fry my own taco shells in canola oil if time permits, but serving on a soft warm corn tortilla is just as yummy.  We top our tacos with lettuce, shredded cheese (I cut myself! HA) more salsa and sometimes sour cream, depending on our mood.  Super easy!   I also serve with rice and refried beans purchased from the Mexican store in town during football season, or homemade on any given weekend in the winter!

Hope you enjoy our quick, easy and very inexpensive dinner!! 

My love....

Oh goodness, it's been a year and a half since I've blogged.  That can't be good...I'm not even sure what I've actually been doing in that year and a half.  I do know I spend 10 days of that year in a half in Maui.....but I can't really recall what else I did?  Oh well. :)

I have been inspired to blog again.  Blog about something I love to do...something that I never thought I'd love but I fell in love with it after becoming a mom 9 and a half years ago.  Cooking!!  I absolutely love cooking. I love the hunt of a good recipe either online or the old fashion way.....a cookbook.  I love gathering the ingredients, and mixing my concoction.  But must of all, I love the looks on my fellas faces when they try something new!!  I am very blessed with good eaters.....they'll at least try something once, but normally will eat every last bite.

The past few years my boys have been involved in sports.  Football during the late summer early fall.  Basketball in the winter and of course baseball in the spring time.  We get a small break in the summer....very very small break.  Right now we are in full swing in our football season.  Practice 3 nights a week and game day on Saturday.  Due to the boys ages, they aren't at the same level this year, so we are usually at the football field for 6 hours on any given Saturday!  It takes it's toll....but the boys just love it, and we really love watching them!! But spending so much time out of the house, my love of cooking has been put to the back burner (pun intended of course!).  I've always been the kind of mom that eating a healthy home cooked meal at home is important to me.  I know what my family is eating, it's healthier than the alternative and saves on money too!  So my new inspiration is to blog about my adventures in weeknight cooking.  I have dusted off my crock pot and are planning out my meals a week in advance!  I'll share with you my wonderful finds, and my not so wonderful recipes....you know they can't all be good.

This Real Housewife of the Central Valley is going to share great, quick and healthy meals with you so you can be inspired to have something yummy on the table for your little quarterback!    Stay tuned, I'll share with you my recipe for crock pot chicken tacos tomorrow! 

Home sick...

Oh how I looked forward to this weekend for weeks! Many plans were made, changed and upgraded. Friends were ready...and then BAM! The dreaded cold!! You see, my dear sweet husband took my rambuncious boys on a weekend fishing trip! Oh at the mere mention of this trip, fun girl plans swirled in my head....dinner and movies, drinks and giggles. All those fun things you do with your girlfriends when you get the opportunity to take a night (or two) off. But no....I'm sitting home with a sore throat, drinking hot tea and watching the Lifetime Channel. FAIL.....

American Girl Doll Fashion show models needed!!

Do you have a little girl in your life between the ages of 6-12? Are they fans of the American Girl Doll? Modesto is hosting the only California fashion show and it's coming up soon! This weekend is the model call, so click the link below to get all the details! Model call is this weekend January 15, 2011 so if you are interested be sure to arrive on time with your application and 2 photos (head shot and full body.

The fashion show is an fun event for moms and girls, and there are 3 shows on Saturday March 26, 2011. Showtimes are 10:30, 2:30 and 6:30pm. Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance, this is a fun event that always fills up fast!!

See you there! American Girl Doll Fashion Show -Modesto

Have you heard the news...

...it's not a rumor, I saw it with my own peepers! The pumpkin spice latte's are back at Starbucks! Oh yes, yes it's true, would I lie to you? (don't answer that)

There is also a new addition...they've added the Toffee Mocha, and boy, is that yummy! The adorably sweet barista gave me a sample! And wow, I'll be adding it to my regular drink rotation.

What's your favorite Starbucks drink?

Color the Skies!

If you've never been, this is something you must see at least once in your life! It's amazing. Lucky for us we can wake up and look out our bedroom window bright and early and see the balloons lifting off. But you need to get up close and personal at the Color The Skies Hot Air Balloon Festival in Ripon next weekend. You have to see the beautiful balloons, the kites and the amazing Blue Angels as they fly through the skies of Ripon.

Last year, the boys were so stoked to go, we woke up early (as in 5am...too early) to check out the festivities. We had so much fun, and although it was too windy for the balloons to launch, there was still plenty for us to do and eat! The early morning pancake breakfast is a must!! I hear there are jet rides, balloon rides, a 1 mile and a 5k run, which we didn't partake in, but there are lots of other activities and vendor booths for the whole family. All proceeds go to the Children's Hosptial of Central California, a truly amazing cause.

So do your part, spend the day with your loved ones having fun and supporting the Children's Hospital.

What: Color the Skies
Where: Ripon's Mistlin Park
When: Bright and Early Labor Day weekend

This event gets a two freshly manicured thumbs up from me!!

Start cleaning out your closets!

Alright ladies, if you are anything like me, your closet is in need of a little sprucing up! A little purging and organizing is needed! Well, start pulling out those old prom and bridesmaid dresses that you'll never wear again, and give to those who need them. There's an amazing foundation called Marissa's Closet, it's in Ripon, so you are helping out local girls in need!!

Marissa's Closet was founded by Marissa's mother in her daughters honor. She was a bright, sweet and giving girl who unfortunately took her own life last year. Read her story on her website, and follow them on Facebook.

Share those dresses girls! :)