Ham Cheese Sliders w/ Sarah Salad

First off I am guest posting over at my Friend Abby's blog

My Yellow Sandbox today

She has a lot of fun hair ideas and projects

Check out my post and her blog 

Give us some LOVE 

Now I am going to share with you two very yummy recipes
Ham and Cheese Sliders w/ Sarah Salad 

I made this for dinner last week and 

hubby was in heaven he loved them

and so did me and Maddux

The ham and cheese sliders was a new one that I am so glad I decided to try

and it was so easy

Ingredients For Ham and Cheese Sliders:

-12 dinner rolls

-12 pieces of honey ham

-12 slices of Swiss cheese

-1/3 Cup Mayo

-1/3 Cup miracle whip

Poppyseed sauce:

1 Tablespoon poppyseeds

1 Tablespoon yellow mustard

1/2 Cup butter melted 

1 Tablespoon minced onion

1-2 Tablespoon sugar

First cut all of your dinner rolls open

In a small bowl, mix together the mayo and miracle whip

Spread onto both sides of each roll

Place a slice of ham (or two if they are thin)

and a slice of Swiss Cheese inside each roll 

Close rolls and place them into a large baking dish

Place them all very close together

In another small bowl, whisk together all of the poppy seed sauce ingredients

pour evenly over all of the sandwiches

Let sit 10 minutes or until butter sets slightly

Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes

or until cheese is melted

Uncover and cook for an additional 2 minutes 

Serve warm

**Sandwiches can be assembled a day ahead and kept in the fridge ready to bake

I served the sandwiches with a family favorite that we have been making for a long time

The Lion house Sarah Salad 

You have got to try this it is so yummy

and you will be hooked 

it can go with just about every meal

I did half of what this recipe called for, for just Ty, Maddux and I

Ingredients for Sarah Salad 

 -1 head iceberg lettuce

-3-5 strips of bacon

-1/2 package (10oz) frozen peas

-1/4 teaspoon sugar

-1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/2 Cup Swiss Cheese, cut into strips

2/3 cup chopped green onion 

1/4 cup mayo

1/4 cup miracle whip

Wash and drain lettuce

Dice bacon and saute until crisp; drain on paper towel

Run hot water over frozen peas and drain

Into salad bowl, tear lettuce into bite size pieces

Sprinkle with sugar, salt, and pepper

Add peas, Swiss cheese, green onion, mayo, and miracle whip

Chill

Toss when ready to serve and garnish with bacon 

Makes 8 servings

Half makes 4 which was perfect for us

You have got to try this goodness and

it is so quick and easy

I promise it will be a hit 

If you have any questions at all remember you can always email me

or leave a comment I will answer them all

This recipe is linked up here 

and here

Thank you for all of your support, comments and for following 

Make sure to link up your fun projects to the show and share party HERE
And make sure to come check out Motivate me Monday for
health and fitness support and ideas
Link up for this weeks HERE 

Motivate Me Monday- Me and Fitness Link up

This is our first link up party For Motivate Me Monday

I am co-hosting with the lovely Ashley and Amanda

Today's Challenge/ Topic is:

Let's get to know you.

Why fitness is important to you. 

Are you just getting started on your quest to be motivated?

Goals you want to reach.. short or long term.

What areas you struggle with vs. your strengths

Anything you want to share about your fitness journey.

just have fun with it! 

Fitness is a humongous part of my life and has been since I can remember

I am a physical Fitness Major and Health minor college Grad

And am going to be doing my Student Teaching in PE and Health this Spring

I love fitness and am excited to share it with 

the youth

ok ok Lets start from the very beginning shall we....
I am going to be real here no fluff

check it out 

When I was 8 I started into the gymnastics world

Yes it is its own world

As time went on I really started to love it

by the time I was in Jr. High and High school it was pretty much my life

It is a year round sport

It is hard

It is fun

It is addicting
and it was easy to be fit then
I was doing something I loved
 and was healthy because of it

 (Summer 2004)

I was fit

Solid muscle

Could eat anything I wanted

(Man how I miss that gymnast body)

 

I ended up doing it for 10 years

I competed up to a level 9 (out of ten levels)

And was working level ten stuff when....

I got injured

I fractured my back

It wasn't as bad as it sounds it happened over time and the fractures got bigger and bigger 

until I was in enough pain that it was time to go to the doctor and I had to quit my love

or my back would get much worse

I had to wear a hideous brace and quit my life it seemed like

But eventually my back healed and so did my broken heart
and I was stronger because of it all

during the time I had to wear the brace 

And being new to the college life

(freshman fifteen)

I gained weight 

I was the heaviest I had ever been

ick ick ick
(I can't find a pic of me from those days sorry)

I moved back home my sophomore year of college

Did the school thing online, got an amazing job

And worked out

I worked out hard

You could say I got a bit obsessed

(It was at least 2 hours a day-I wasn't married or a mom yet...I had the time)

I got the skinniest I had been in a LONG time and I was loving life
and the best part is I felt soooo good 

(August 31st 2007)

I got Married to this amazing man and felt amazing in my dress

(August 2007)

Being a new wife and a full time student, and coaching gymnastics

I got busy

I wasn't working out as much as I should

Until I realized how much I missed it

 (June 2009)
And I was at it again

This time I tried the whole running thing

I fell in love

I again got addicted to working out

It was my me time, my thinking time and kept me sane

I got up to 9 miles and decided I wanted to train for a half marathon

Then.....I found out I was pregnant with our little peanut

(Jan 2010)

We were ecstatic

I can't even put into words how much we wanted this

I told myself before I got pregnant I was not going to be one of those ladies

You know the ones that get pregnant and just stopped

 working out, stop eating healthy

That was not going to be me

until I got pregnant

I kept running for a while 

but I just got so tired and nauseous

And I just didn't have it in me anymore

I said I would start back up again when I was past that stage

But I didn't

I still tried to do some things and I wasn't a complete coach potato

I would go on walks and stuff

But I didn't push myself and I regret that

Next time I get pregnant things will be very different

 

 (March 2010)

I was pretty lucky I only gained a total of 35 pounds so that wasn't too bad considering

(August 2010)

Then My little Maddux entered this world and all I saw

when I looked in the mirror 

or at pictures was Overweight

I was unhappy

 (I seriously have a hard time looking at the picture above)

 (May 2010)

I feel like the first 25 pounds came off pretty quick and naturally while breastfeeding

But then I plateaued

I couldn't loose the last little bit

So I started at it again

And now we are 18 months after the babe was born and 

I am still striving to get back to being the best Fit 

I can be

It is hard

It is frustrating sometimes

But I just try to stay positive and work hard
And I truely do love it
I feel my best when I have been working out
I have more energy
I am happier
And I just enjoy life so much more

I know my body will never be the same unless I kick it into high gear

So that is what I am trying to do now

I did the whole insanity program of two months
and LOVED it it was so so hard but I made it through
and I felt amazing
and was looking a lot more fit
then on the last day I injured my knee
so bad that I could barely walk on it
that was about 3 months ago and it is just now getting
back to normal
so of course that was another set back for me
But I am trying to push through
I am trying to get back to LOVING it again

I now have a gym membership to Planet Fitness
I really love it
 it is only 2 minutes from my home
and it is only $10 a month
Seriously it is the best!
I have been back at going to the gym for a few months
and am able to do more and more
now that my knee is starting to feel better

I do cardio and abs everytime I go to the gym
and switch off on arms and legs
I just need some more gym workout routines 
so if you have any please share

Some of my Long Term Goals:


1. I still have a goal to run a half marathon
I am just not sure when it is going to happen
I will keep running and training and see where it takes me

 2. I also really want to put a team together for the Ragnar race in Las Vegas
next October 2011

3.  When I am pregnant next to continue to exercise 

Some of my Short Term Goals

 

1. I need and want to drink more water

2. I want to work out 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours at least 4 times a week

I know for us busy mommy's out there it can be really hard to find the time

I know what that is like

I have a baby

I have a hubby busy in law school

My gym doesn't have day care

So sometimes I workout at home

And the other times I go in the morning
before hubby leaves for school
or after the babe goes to bed at night

3. I want to eat healthier

Strengths:
1. I do love to go to the gym as long as I stay consistent
2. I know about fitness through gymnastics and
my physical Education and Health Education
Schooling

Weaknesses:
1. I don't drink enough water
2. I get down on myself a lot
3. I need to eat healthier and more smaller meals throughout the day
4. I love love love sweets and could eat them all day long- NOT GOOD

This was taken in July
 But is about the same as I look today

I don't know exactly how much I weigh but it is about 145 lbs

I would love to be around 135 lbs

I am not yet to my goal

but I am working at it everyday

And hope to be there soon.

  Next weeks Challenge/ Topic
Try a healthy new recipe this week and share it with us next Monday! Let us know how your week went!

Now Link up and tell us about yourself!

Grab the button and follow along with Ashley and Amanda!

Our goal is to help motivate each other! So let's have fun and get motivated!

Share anything you want! Or ask us questions and we'll help find an answer!

Guest Post- For Mamas

 Today we are lucky enough to 
Here from a guest blogger 
Chrissy!
So everyone get excited, sit for a while 
and read this fab tutorial
Your gonna love it
Take it away Chrissy....

I'm Chrissy, the mama in charge @ http://formamas.blogspot.com/.
I've only been married a little over a year, but I've been a mama for 5 amazing years!
I started my blog for the soul purpose to share lessons I've learned, give advice to mamas, or mamas-to-be, and to get advice back. 

I remember when I found my very first tutorial.
It was a total accident
But I was hooked, immediately.
I couldn't get over all of the DIYs I found; that I could actually, probably do!!
And the recipes...I don't even have to explain myself there!


Now, My blog is still about mommy hood, but I've incorporated DIY, recipes, and tons of
tips I have "borrowed" from my fellow bloggers (:
I love blogging. I love hearing from people
Other mamas.
It never gets old.


Here is what I want to share with you today

Wanna make your OWN Kitchen Sink Stand??

What it takes:

     and...
 your choice of stock paper $.49 {Hobby Lobby}

 black spray paint {I already had}

Mod Podge {I already had}

Craft bond glue, or any strong craft glue {I already had}

Spray paint the piece of wood & candlestick holder with primer

Let dry for about 10 minutes & then spray paint them with 2 thin layers of black spray paint {or your color choice}

   After the black spray paint dries, it's time to mod podge your stock paper! 

Put a good coat of Mod Podge on your piece of wood, then place the paper on top, and put another layer of Mod Podge.

{It will dry clear}

Once your Mod Podge is dry,

glue your candlestick holder to the bottom of your wood with craft bond glue, gorilla glue, or any strong glue that works for you 

I let it dry overnight.

The next day, I just found a few things I had next to the sink & put them on the stand.

And added a little fall decor as well (:

VOILA!

And it cost me just $3{our of pocket}!!

 Hi it's Whitney!

Isn't that such a AMAZING idea!

Chrissy Thank you so much for your fun 

unique and fabulous cake stand turned 

sink stand tutorial

I love this idea so much

I think I am going to follow your amazing tutorial 

and make one for myself 
Make sure to go and check out her blog and 
give her some love :)

Guest Posting over at Organize and Decorate Everything

Remember this post

The tutorial on how to make an envelope pillow?

Well today I am guest posting over at 

Organize and Decorate Everything 

come and check out my tutorial over there 

on what I did for the front of that envelope pillow

You are really gonna love it

Oh did I mention that I am lucky enough to be Leanne's daughter

the woman behind Organize and Decorate everything

Yeah I know she is awesome, has a BIG blog, is oh so talented

and has taught me sooooo much including craftiness

And check back this week for some fun Halloween decor tutorials :)

Me and My Boys Guest Post

Today is Day #3 of Disneyland and sadly our last day

We will be driving back home tomorrow

Since it is our last day I

better be making the most of it

enjoying every second, making memories

taking pictures and most of all lovin every second

spent with my family

soooo.....

Adorable Ashley From Me and My boys has a fun post for 

you wonderful, amazing and supportive readers of mine

take it away Ash

...............................................................................................................

Hi all! I'm Ashley:) This is my first guest post...so I am VERY EXCITED!!! My blog is called  Me and My Boys. Its a mommy/crafty blog. Documenting fun things my family and I do, silly pictures of my baby boy, favorite recipes and fun crafts/tutorials. I also throw a Tuesday Linky Party called Tell Me Tuesdays! 

I fell in love with link parties after my first day doing them...The idea of women sharing ideas, tips and life stories is so amazing to me. I love visitors and meeting new fun bloggers! So come on over and say hi!!

Some of my most viewed posts include... 

Quiet Book

push pins

Little girl gifts

But today I wanted to share with you some ways to make hair bands a little more fun.

 First start off with just some scrap felt. Cut into the shapes you want...

I like to burn the edges of the felt that I'm using. I love the look of it so much better! When I burn the edges I go from the bottom, it makes the felt curl up a bit. Also remember that burning it will make the felt shrink up. I like to do it outside or have a cup of water handy..ya never know.

Pile the felt on top of each other and sew them together. I like to sew an X down it. Then hot glue the felt onto a hair band. Then WHA LA! 

Or for a head band....

Trace out three different size circles. I used just whatever I could find close by.

 Cut them out and stack together and you should have something like this!
I didn't really like the look of it, so again I took a lighter to the edges... then it didn't look
like I just got out of the craft room.

This is the look you will get if you burn the edges.

  Take your glue gun and glue all circles together.

Then add your jewel and glue in the midde circle.

Now that all circles are done, glue them to the elastic band. Make sure to overlap them...
I did about a half an inch...if you don't then they separate and stretch apart. 

 and WHA LA AGAIN!!! 

hope you enjoyed:)

...............................................................................................................

Thanks Ashley!

Doesn't she have such adorable ideas

I love her hair accessories 

I never would have thought to make a hair elastic pretty!

Now I have to try that

and of course I naturally NEED that yellow headband

so I will be using her tutorials very shortly for myself

thank you very much! :)

Make sure to visit Ashley

and give her some love and comments

Her Tuesday linky party is rad too