Real life with Lar

Chicken Green Chile Casserole In my opinion, nothing is as comforting as a good chicken casserole. They are easy to prepare and you can in most cases, make it ahead of time. Having some casserole recipes in your recipe arsenal is just the thing to help a busy parent. With the kids going back to school and those school sports games going into full gear we need all the help we can get.  As I mentioned before, baking up a big batch of boneless skinless chicken breasts on the weekend helps SO MUCH. Especially if you want to make a few dishes that require cooked chicken during the week. Just bake, shred, and then separate the shredded chicken into freezer bags (about 2 cups in each bag). You now have chicken for your weekday dinners and a huge time saver during the week.  The casserole I want to share with you today is a hit every time I make it. It's not my own recipe and you can find variations all over the internet. I'm sure it will soon join your weeknight meal s

Cold Summer Side Dishes  Summer is in full swing here. How do I know? The water bill came. 😐  When water bill goes way up then that means it is crazy hot and my grandson has been running through the sprinklers, playing on his splash pad or with his other water toys. Ok, I'll admit we adults join in too but only because of the grandson. 😉 I really don't mind though because we are building memories and that's the good stuff in life.  However, I always get antsy around this time of year. I love fall and it seems to take forever to get here when we are in this long, homestretch of summer.  So during this very hot and humid time, cold side dishes are the way to go. When these are served with a nice piece of grilled steak, chicken, hamburger or hot dog it equals perfection on a hot summer day! I'm going to share two personal favorite recipes of cold and delicious side dishes.  First up is Baba's Carrot Salad .  This has all of my grands

Putting yourself on a time out One of my favorite pics with Mom.  I love that even though I'm a handful, she still has a smile on her face. While raising our two girls I wanted to put it in their thought process that it's ok to take care  of yourself, to spend time pampering yourself.  It's ok to take the time to relax and nourish your body, mind and soul. So many times as women we forget that 'me time' isn't selfish; it's necessary. Just like on an airplane when they say for you to put your oxygen mask on first before someone else's. If you run yourself into the ground then what good are you to the people in your life that need you. Laughing with my baby girls. Love being their mom! 1. Time management Whether you are a single woman, stay at home mom, working mom, or retired grandma time can and will get away from you if you don't manage it well. Planning out your week makes your anxiety and stress levels p

Side Dishes Part 1 I grew up in Encinitas California and there was no place better to grow up, in my opinion. We had beach bon fires, picnics, cookouts, Padres baseball and Chargers football! Gorgeous sunrises and breathtaking sunsets were the norm and I thank God everyday that I had the opportunity to grow up there.  The amazing weather made for lots of picnics and barbecues year round. There were a few side dishes that I always looked forward to. I still love a good picnic or barbecue and with this blog post series I will share with you a few of the sides dishes I LOVE, both past and present.  The first one is a classic. Watergate Salad is on the back of almost every instant pistachio pudding box.   The original recipe calls for marshmallows but I like it without and just add extra cool whip (and this time extra nuts as my grandson threw in the whole bag when my back was turned to grab the camera). My Mom whipped up this 'green stuff' for us all the time. I

A.M. Routine Last week I shared my PM routine. Like I said in that blog post,  a good PM routine sets you up for a great morning.  Today I'm adding  A good AM routine sets you up for a productive day.   How you set your intentions and thoughts for your day starts before you even get out of bed.  I need to wake up before my family so I set an alarm for the same time each weekday and an hour later on weekends. I always start my day making a conscious effort to have gratitude for my life. I thank God for 3 things I consider blessings in my life. I should say 3 things beyond Smokin hot hubby, our children, and our grandson. Before my feet hit the floor I say my gratitude list. This sets my mind on what's right with my life instead of what's wrong.   After gratitude I focus on COFFEE!! In order for my family to be blessed by me I need my coffee. (Can I get an amen from my non-morning coffee drinkers? 😉 )   Quiet time is next even if it's jus

Amazing  Alfredo My grandson loves this mini rigatoni pasta. He loves to put them on his fingers. :) Because I like to include pictures of what I make and share on the blog there is a new saying in our home:  "Do it for the blog"  So this recipe is highly requested from my family. Please thank them for their sacrifice as they eat this. As Smokin says, "We support you honey. We will do whatever it takes to support the blog."   What troopers huh? 😬 I'm not sure when I first found this Alfredo recipe, but like most every recipe I make I've tweaked it a bit to suit our family. Every time I make it the hugs, love, and smiles from my family are HUGE! It's very simple and very delicious; two of my favorite things about a recipe. It's not the least bit healthy but it's ok to splurge once in a while. I beg of you, don't try to make it healthier.  Life is too short to not live it up once in a while. 😉 Alfredo sauce 1

PM  Routine "You'll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine." John C. Maxwell When most people share their am/pm routines they tend to start with the AM. I mean after all the start of the day is a good place to start right? I feel in order to have a successful morning you need to prepare the night before.  I used to think people who had AM/PM routines were over-organized OCD people who obviously were not normal. I've found that I was wrong. They are the smart ones.  Having a bedtime or pm routine is setting you up for a good night's sleep that leads to a good morning, and sets you up for a more productive,  less stressful day.  When we procrastinate doing what needs to be done then add undo stress and anxiety into our lives. Having routines give us the freedom to live a more productive, happier life.  After dinner is when I start my PM routine. I make sure