Easy Chicken Stir-Fry

So the other day I made really easy, really yummy chicken stir-fry. It is easy to multiply the servings for how many people you're cooking for, and you can add more or less veggies and grain to fit your diet needs.  I made quinoa to go with it, and it was surprisingly good.  Next time I think I will cook the quinoa with a little soy sauce to give it a little more built-in flavor.

Dice up chicken breast.

 Cook the chicken for a 2 minutes in sesame oil with a little soy sauce.

Add half a cup of veggies for each chicken breast. Cook for about 6 minutes.

 Toss in your sauce of choice. Pour over a bowl of rice or quinoa and serve.

That's it! One easy, delicious, healthy meal ready to go!

Chicken Stir-Fry
1 Chicken Breast
1/2 cup stir-fry veggies
1/4 cup rice or quinoa
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp sauce of choice (I used teriyaki)

Cook rice or quinoa according to package (this will take the longest).
Heat oil and soy sauce over medium heat
Cut Chicken breast into 1 inch pieces.
Cook in oil and soy sauce for 2 minutes
Add stir-fry veggies and cook 6 more minutes, stirring regularly, or until veggies are tender and chicken is cooked through.
Toss in 2 tbsp sauce
Pour over rice and enjoy!

14 Ways To Sneak In A Workout

With all my travel the past month, and getting very comfy with The Man, I've been neglecting any type of exercise.  I never realized how much running after 2 kids was keeping me in shape!  I've come up with 14 ways start working out without changing your daily routine.  Find what works for you and keep it up!

1. TV walk.  My grandma taught me all about this.  She watches her show (People's Court with Gloria Allred to be exact) and walks around her house for the entire hour.  She'll walk around the upstairs while the show is on, then go up and down the stairs during the commercials.

2. Lunch Walk.  Instead of sitting around on your lunch break, take a walk.

3. Friend Walk. Instead of meeting your friend for coffee, take your coffee to go and walk together.

4. Park farther away. Get those extra steps in!

5. Chair Abs.  So The Man taught me all about working your abs while sitting in a chair and it's so easy! While sitting in a chair, sit up straight and flex your abs. Make sure your back isn't touching the back of the chair and you're good to go.

6. Calf Raises.  Any time you're standing, put your feet about shoulder with apart, and slowly lift your heels off and on the ground.  If you feel it in your calfs you're doing it right.

7. Wall Squats.  While standing at home, go to your nearest wall and hold the squat position for as long as you can. Stand and repeat. This is great while you wait for food to be ready in the kitchen.

8. Isometric Curls. Hold your right forearm with your left hand facing up.  Push down with your arm and up with your hand.  The force will work your arms without them moving.

9. Water Bottle Reps.  Bring a water bottle with you to do most arm workouts wherever you're sitting.  Great for work or watching TV.

10. Commercial Abs.  At commercial breaks in shows get on the floor and do as many crunches or other ab workouts as you can.  Repeat at each commercial break.  If you have a DVR start after every other time you fast forward through commercials.

11. Commercial Arms. Same as Abs, but with push ups, dips, or other arm exercises.

12. Jumping Jacks. Do these any time you're standing around at home for easy cardio.

13. Stretch.  While watching TV sit and stretch.

14. Set Your Alarm.  Wake up 10 minutes earlier than you would and go for a quick run. It will wake you up and jumpstart your metabolism.

I hope these work for you, and let me know any other ideas you have!

XOXO, 

Sarah

I'm Back

So the last month has been crazy busy. I went back to California, Visited my sister and brother-in-law in Colorado, and drove out to North Carolina.  My sister had a baby girl (I will have tons of DIY baby stuff coming shortly).  Oh and the man and I got married!  Well civil ceremony, we'll be having a church deal later.

I've also come up with a lot of quick, easy, and inexpensive meal ideas that will be coming your way all this month! Plus I'm coming up with a way to actually organize when I post and what!  If you have any ideas, please share them with me.

Stay tuned for all the new stuff I have coming!

XOXO
Sarah

Egg Muffins For Under $1

So I originally found a recipe from The Yummy Life for Egg McMuffins and she has the healthy version (with calories and all). They looked magical, but honestly I don't really care about it being healthy.  The other day I made my very own version and they turned out AMAZING!  I also was able to buy all the ingredients on sale to make each sandwich cost less than $1!! You can also buy the ingredients in bulk, make a big batch once you have everything, and freeze them for easy breakfast on the go!

What you'll need:
English Muffins
Eggs
Cheese
Breakfast Meat of your choice
Large Muffin tin or Ramekin (I use the 6oz size from World Market)

Preheat over to 350.  Spray your muffin tin or ramekin with cooking spray.  Crack one egg into each and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.  Bake 20-30 minutes.

When they are done they should look like this:

While the eggs are baking, cook up your breakfast meat.  I used sandwich meat (ham to be exact) and just "fried" it up in a skillet. It tastes as good as canadian bacon, at a fraction of the price.

Once the eggs are done, toast up your English Muffins and assemble.

Recipe:
Eggs
English Muffins
Cheese
Breakfast Meat
Muffin tin or Ramekin

1. Heat oven to 350
2. Spray muffin tin of ramekin with cooking spray
3. Crack 1 egg into each hole, sprinkle with salt and pepper
4. Bake for 20-30 minutes, until the yolk is done in the center (less if you like your egg runny)
5. While eggs are baking cook breakfast meat according to the package (you can also do this ahead of time.
6. Assemble the muffin.  Toast your English muffins if you like, the stack your egg, meat, and cheese.
7. Eat or wrap and freeze
8. Wrap each muffin in parchment paper or aluminum foil.  Place all in a plastic bag and freeze.
Reheat in the microwave for about 50 seconds if thawed, or 90 seconds on 30% power (or until thawed), then 50 seconds.
-If you wrapped your sandwiches in parchment paper they can go straight in the microwave, if you wrapped them in foil, unwrap them and rewrap in a paper towel.

I hope you enjoy!!

XOXO,

Sarah

Inbox Dollars Review

I've decided to start doing a weekly review of different websites and items that I like or don't like (if they are "all the rage") that either help you save money or make money. I hope you enjoy my first one, and give me anything you want me to review!

So I've been using this website called Inbox Dollars for about a month.  Before signing up I scoured the Internet for reviews, but found very few from anyone who actually used it. Well here is my review.  It's definitely worth checking out and seeing for yourself, just don't expect to become rich overnight.

What it is: A website that pays you for referring friends, web searches, reading emails, taking surveys, redeeming grocery coupons, shopping, watching videos, playing games, and completing offers.

What they pay:
Sign up bonus: $5
Refer Friends: You get a percentage of what your friends earn
Web searches: .005/search up to .15 a day (30 searches a day)
Emails: .01-.05 each (usually .02).  You get a few a day
Surveys: .50 each on average.
Coupons: .10 each
Shopping: depends on the store. 1%-10% back
Watching Videos: .01 each (unlimited)
Playing games: About .05 for every dollar you spend
Completing offers: Varies. Some are free some you have to pay.

Inactivity: If you don't log into the website or read the emails in 10 days, you will become inactive.  You can become active again by logging in and requesting reactivation within 6 months of becoming inactive.

How do I get paid? Once you have $30 you can cash out with a $3 processing fee.

Fine Print: Only one person per household (mailing address) can have an account and be paid out.  If you and your partner/roommate/child both want to join, you need to use 2 different addresses.  They still let you sign up with the same one, but will not pay out until there is only 1 user with that address.

My thought:
-Great site for me.  I spend a little time every morning doing a survey, some web searches, and I watch a couple videos.  I print a bunch of grocery coupons from them (they are good ones you can really use) although those take some time to process.  At night while watching TV I do the rest of my searches, try for another survey (if I haven't done one yet).
-Not something to make any serious money on.
-Easily make $1/day just by searching, taking 1 survey, and watching videos.
-Make .20 just by reading emails and doing some searches.

Overall: Great website for anyone with free time.  Hop on while at work or at home and do a few searches or a survey with your free time.  The little bit you make does add up over time.  If you have time and want a little spare money Inbox Dollars is the way to go.

I hope this helps!

XOXO,
Sarah

22 Ways Save Money On Your Wedding

So with my wedding coming in 9 months, I've been compiling ways to save some serious money.  Luckily I have a ton of friends who've given me ideas (and an amazing sister who already paved the way!) and I've come up with a ton of ways to start saving money.  Please give me any ways that worked for you!! I am still working on my own wedding!

1.  Make a budget.  Now take out 20%.  Work with this new budget to help cover any extra costs that may come up.  Many vendors may give you a deal if you come in with a lower ceiling for what you're willing to spend.

2. Hire college students.  Photographer, make-up artists, chefs, DJs, and so many more can be found at your local college at a fraction of the price.  See if you can post an add on campus or through the website or contact the program directly.  These people are going to school for this, and they should work extra hard just for the experience (many can use your wedding as their final project for school).  Make sure you see their portfolio and have a preview of what they will do for you, as you would any other vendor.

3.  NEVER say you're booking for a wedding.  Most vendors jack up the prices for weddings and add in extra costs.  Get your quote first for the date and time, then later tell them it is a wedding.

4. When getting a dress, set your budget at least $500 lower than you want to spend.  You will most likely have alterations, a veil, shoes, etc to make the whole outfit complete.

5.  Check the cheaper bridal stores.  If you find a dress you love, go check David's Bridal or other stores.  Bring them pictures of the dress and see what they have that matches it.  You may find one you love even more. I did for 40% cheaper!

6. DIY.  Try and make sure you can do your centerpieces, decorations, favors, or anything else you may want all by yourself.  You can save some serious money, and have exactly what you want, if you put some effort in.

7.  Get married in your church or friend's large yard.  Both places shouldn't cost you a penny to be at for your ceremony.

8.  Get a good reception site.  If your church has a great hall, or your friend has an amazing house, see if you can use that.  You will also have more time to set up and take down the decorations if you are not in a wedding venue that has multiple people using it a week.

9.  Don't get married Saturday or Sunday.  These are way more expensive than if you were to do a Friday night ceremony.   If you do a mid-week ceremony you are also more likely to have less guests attend (all the really important people will be there for you regardless of what day you have it).

10. BBQ for your rehearsal dinner.  You have to take the wedding party and immediate family out for a rehearsal dinner.  Why not fire up your grill and make a party out of it at your house?

11.  Afternoon wedding.  Serving a meal is much more expensive than appetizers and cake.  If you wedding takes place in the morning or any time after 4, you will be expected to have food.  Think of the timing you would want to eat at when planning.  You also won't have people getting sloppy drunk in the middle of the day.

12. Have signature drinks only.  If you have an open bar, you are opening yourself for a big tab.  Pick 2 or 3 signature drinks (his, hers, theirs) to have available to your guests to drink along with beer and wine.  They won't feel cheated by not having an open bar, and you will only have to pay for specific alcohol.  Plus my friends had their drinks AND an open bar, and very few people got a non-signature drink.

13. Compare buying to renting.  I have heard that the majority of the time, it is much more cost effective to buy and then sell your tables, chairs, glasses, etc than renting.  Check craigslist and ebay for slightly used items as well and then sell them when you're done.

14. Give good, cheap favors.  Candy bars are all the rage, and they can double as part of your dessert (plus they're just fun).  Make your own jam, or other homemade good to send home with people as well.  Hit the dollar store or Oriental Trading to get some fun, cheap gifts (sunglasses, water bottles, anything that fits your theme).

15. Have something other to do than drink.  While you're off taking pictures, your guests will be waiting for you to come back.  This is normally the time they start hitting the bar and eating appetizers.  If your reception is at a venue with an open area, set out some yard games, maybe a snack bar with popcorn, candy, chips and drinks (water, lemonade, beer, wine).  If people are active doing something besides waiting, they will be much less likely to eat and drink.

16.  Easy on the photographer.  Make sure you aren't roped into any big photography packages from the start.  You never know how many photos you will want or NOT want from the photographer.  Also see if you can work a deal to get a digital copy of all the pictures so you can print what you want, when you want.  Make sure they leave once you cut the cake and throw the bouquet  you really don't need them taking pictures of everyone dancing until the end. Also you should...

17.  ...Give your guests a mission.  With everyone having smart phone, set up a picture scavenger hunt for your guests.  We're handing out different tasks for people with the program (get a picture of the kiss, X walking down the isle, when the bride sees the groom, when the groom sees the bride, etc) and another list or two at each table for the reception. I have a great link here from It's a Bride's Life giving tons of ideas.  Give your guests a drop box account or email address to send the pictures to.  Make sure you have plenty of overlap with the lists.

18. Get fake flowers.  Not only can you get the EXACT color you're looking for, the flowers will last forever.  They also are much cheaper than getting real flowers from a florist.  If you don't want fake flowers, get local flowers that are in season.  Bring swatches of your colors to your florist and let them get you the best flowers to match.

19.  Don't have servers for appetizers.  Lay everything out on a table and let guests help themselves.  Have your caterer (or server you hired) on the side to refill anything that goes empty.  Most caterers have the refill included in their cost.

20.  Don't give too many choices.  Having 2 or 3 crowd pleasing appetizers, along with cheese and crackers will go a long way and won't break the bank.  You can pick up bulk cheese and crackers at Costco for less than $1 a guest.

21. Cut out some guests.  Everyone has people they HAVE to invite, and then there is the slippery slope of people that you have to invite because you invited someone else.  Stick to family, close friends, and close coworkers and you'll be set.  If there is someone that causes an avalanche of invites, don't invite them.

22. Ask for help.  Everyone knows somebody who can help you and you'll never know unless you ask.  While talking to people just say you're looking for say someone to do hair and makeup.  Chances are someone will have a sister, cousin, neighbor, etc who does and they could get you a deal.

I hope these help you save some money!

XOXO,
Sarah

Staying Hydrated

With summer here, staying hydrated is more important than ever.  Dehydration can come on without you having a clue until it gets to be too late.  I saw this when my cousin who just felt tired fainted due to dehydration.  Water is one of the easiest liquids to consume, and is great for your body with 17 health benefits including weight loss and healthy skin.  You should be drinking about 64 ounces a day, more if you're active or are out in the heat. This is NOT something you can drink all in one sitting. First I'll give you ways to get the water down (I was a camp counselor and nanny, so I know many), then I'll get you suggestions to make the water more drinkable.  Give me your suggestions!

GET IT DOWN
- Drink 3, 8 ounce glasses of water at each meal.  Do them all before you eat, 1 before, 1 during, and 1 after, or make your own schedule of when you're drinking.
- Drink 1 glass of water before snacks (it helps to fill you up).
- Have a glass ready to go when you wake up.  Jump start your day (and your metabolism) with a nice big glass of water as soon as your alarm goes off.
- Make it a routine.  Once you get in the swing of drinking water, it will just come naturally.
- Bribery.  Yes bribery is not just for kids, it's for you too.  Give yourself a goal (32 ounces and you get a soda or beer with lunch) and stick to it.
- Get a reusable water bottle or cup.  Especially one with a straw.  You never know how much water you can drink until it's right next to you and you keep sipping it all day.  I've gone through a .75L (about 25 ounce) water bottle in 30 minutes, just by going 1 sip at a time.
- Always keep your bottle or cup with you and keep filling it.
- Mark your water bottle.  Water bottles are great, they can be reused and help you gage how much water you're drinking.  I saw this great idea here where she marked her water bottles with how much she should be drinking an hour.
- Make it a competition.  Get some coworkers or roommates together and see who can drink more water in a day.  Put some money down and it will get you drinking faster.
- Make a bet with yourself.  Every day you drink your 64 ounces, put some money away.  Use that to buy yourself a treat.  $1/day can really add up AND you're being healthy.
- Remember, water is free at restaurants.  Most nonalcoholic drinks are now around $3.  If you go out to lunch every day that's $15/week and $780/year!
- While you're at lunch, see if they can leave a pitcher of water at your table (and a bowl of lemons).  Trust me, you'll drink more when it's there and you won't have to wait on your waiter to bring you more water.

DRINK IT
- Try infusing your water with fruit.  I've been doing this for years and it's amazing!  You can buy fruit infusers from the store or just get a pitcher, add your favorite fruits, and let it sit overnight.  Google or search Pinterest for a recipe that inspires you.  I personally just toss a bunch of fruit in (make sure you cut up your fruit first).
- Always have a lemon, lime, and/or orange on hand at work.  Slice it up and stick it in your water when you finish what you have.
- Make sure your water is cold.  Cold water just tastes better for some reason.
- Remember that PURE water (this includes fruit) helps keep your skin looking healthy, along with all the other health benefits.
- You're saving money.  Again when you're thinking about soda, think about what you could do with $780.

SNEAK IT
Most of the things you're drinking already have water in them.  Milk, juice, sports drinks, coffee, and tea all are mostly water.  Why shouldn't you be drinking those for all your water needs?  Well milk, juice, and sports drinks contain a lot of sugar; coffee and most teas contain caffeine which actually dehydrates you (so you're at a wash).  You can count a couple glasses of these towards your water intake if you need to, but why not just make them extra for your day?