Some people in this world thrive in chaotic situations.  It is almost as if there is some inherent personality trait that drives their everyday life and controls happiness.  I, unfortunately, enjoy this less and less as I get older.  25 to 35 has definitely been a transformation from home girl to homebody for this firecracker… I mean a trip to Target is considered “going out.”  However don’t get me wrong, I can still throw down like a basic white girl when I want to.  I may not be able to twerk, but I will sure as heck try and pull a giggle from a glacier in the process.  I mean a true Southern Lady may know how to charm a sailor, but we also know how to cuss like one and drink them under the table.  Its called balance, bless our hearts, but what am I supposed to do when the chaos takes over my castle?

A little over a year ago, I had a little incident on our golf cart.  By little I mean crushed bones in my left leg and by incident, I mean me going off the side and the cart EZ-going through a fence.  5 surgeries, countless incisions, internal and external erector sets, and hundreds of thousands of dollars filed to insurance later, the chaos remains in our suburban Georgia nest.  Not that we have ever claimed to be a “normal” family (what is that, anyways??) but currently a little bit more “complex.”

In the past year, I have found a few things that have made life a bit more comfortable and I want to share them with you!!!  I often joke that it takes me 437 medications, a visit from Michael Jackson’s Dr., an act of God and a horse tranquilizer to get me to sleep.  While this may be true, if you really want to feel comfortable in your chaos, no matter the flavor or amount, do yourself a favor and get these.  Heck!  Get ’em for you, yo’ momma, and all your frands!  I always get asked for links for stuff so I figured I would put a few favorite creature comforts in one post!

FIRST….Get yourself a LUNA WEIGHTED BLANKET!  I promise this will not be a purchase you will regret!!!  Casey has always said that my back turns into a hibachi table at night.  Not that you could actually cook a sirloin on my spine, but I am a hot sleeper.  This blanket gives perfect pressure and does not get hot!  I know it seems contrary to what you may think, but it is much cooler than a traditional comforter and it feels amazing!!  I am sure there are many amazing brands out there, but this one is a red velvet cupcake with thick cream cheese frosting.  Perfection.  Need further convincing?  It has been washed in our regular, front loading washing machine and still looks brand new!  Still more??   It is on sale!!

Shopping rule #1:  If you like it, it fits, and it is on sale… God meant for you to have it!

NEXT…. BLUETOOTH SLEEP MASK.  I repeat BLUETOOTH SLEEP MASK  Most of us have grown used to falling asleep with a TV on.  Don’t feel guilty, I am a top offender of this!  But picture it, your eyes are gently covered by soft cotton as you are lulled to sleep by the sounds of the ocean or a guided meditation.  You have adjusted the location inside the soft, padded band to get them in just the right spot so there is no crushing small bits in your cranium.  Darkness.  Bliss.

P.S. Mom porn word of the day…..  washable

THIRD… Are your lamps smarter than a 5th grader?  Ok, so mine aren’t since kids are pretty much born knowing how to code an app that can control the minds of squirrels.  However, imagine just being able to say “Alexa, turn on the lamps” and they actually turn on!!  Not only does this keep you from walking around to every single lamp and cursing that annoying dial, but you feel like a total winner when you can make light with your voice.  Get yourself this SINGLED SMART BULB STARTER KIT!!  It comes with a hub that you can add up to 64 bulbs!  We currently have all of the downstairs lamps hooked up and I cannot wait to get the lights upstairs switched out.  Obviously the Streets offspring are the only children that leave lights on, I doubt this is a problem in your home.

Bonus:  all Singled bulbs can be turned on/off via their app or your Alexa/ Google Assistant app.  Out of town?  Make your house look like a Kevin McAllister bash from St. Lucia with the SINGLED LED COLOR CHANGING KIT.  Spouse home alone?  You see where this is going….

Finally, stop worrying about a crazy high cable bill.  This is something so simple that will literally make no difference to your everyday life, but can save you hundreds a month!!  We have outfitted all of our dumb boxes with ROKU STREAMING STICKS  You can still have a voice remote.  You can still watch all the live and local TV your heart desires, we subscribe to YouTube TV and also have unlimited DVR.  We have ROKU ULTRA  in our bedroom because I like to have the option of watching and using headphones if Casey is asleep or on a work call. But honestly, what is more comforting than knowing you aren’t spending an insane amount on cable.  That’s a lotta cocktails- and those mist definitely warm your belly for a good night’s sleep!

Hope this is helpful and you have champagne wishes and caviar dreams!

-C

 

 

 

 

 

So this week’s grocery/ dinner list has a bit of a twist. Casey thought it would be fun to challenge me to get dinners for a week and spend $50. Did I make it? Not exactly…. BUT when I factor out kid lunches, snacks, cereals, and treats I was REALLY close!

$56.78

Now, this isn’t a fancy meal plan. This week is about quick, easy, and cheap. I’m also using a few things that we already have that need to be used such as ground beef for meatloaf, chicken, eggs, and potatoes.

Total for all?? $81.29…. cue happy dance because this total not only includes lunch items but also treats like M&Ms, Kit Kat pack, stuff for homemade rice crispy treats, and coffee pods! Also this will get us through next Sunday (1 week) leaving only Saturday unplanned- it’s football time!!

I will also be turning leftover steak from last night, the rest of the Cabernet we opened, some carrots, mushrooms, and celery from the fridge, a little tomato paste, and beef stock into beef tips for lunches. Served over egg noodles🤘🏻

Dinner last night really sucked:)

Ok! Here is the breakdown!

Meatloaf

-ground beef (freezer)

-dry onion soup (pantry)

-tomato sauce ($0.25)

-2 eggs (fridge)

-dry bread crumbs (pantry)

– worches. Sauce, garlic powder, s&p (pantry)

Mashed Potatoes

–potatoes (pantry)

-milk, butter, sour cream (fridge)

Canned peas- kids won’t eat frozen😂

Hot Dogs and Tots

–weenies ($2.29)

-buns ($0.85)

-frozen tots ($1.65)

Chicken Caesar Salads

-3 bags Caesar Salad Kit ($6.57)

-frozen chicken strips ($4.99)

Spaghetti

–Italian Sausage ($2.49)

-jar sauce ($0.85) we like traditional

-noodles (pantry)

-garlic bread (use leftover buns, butter and garlic)

Burgers and Crinkle Fries

–frozen Black Angus patties-6 ($6.89)

-buns ($0.85)

-frozen crinkles ($1.65)

Vanilla cream French Toast Breakfast

–Vanilla Cream Brioche ($3.49)

-3 eggs (fridge)

-1 c milk (fridge)

-Mexican vanilla, pinch salt (pantry)

-Thick cut Applewood bacon ($3.79)

-Frozen Hash Rounds ($1.65)

Grilled Chicken, Corn on the Cobb, Green Beans

–chicken breasts (freezer)

-4 ears of corn ($2.49)

-2 cans French Green Beans ($0.98)

I cook these in stock with some chopped up onion and they are yummy😂

Ok, fellow babes ballin’ on a budget!! Comment with any questions!! Hope this helps you out this week! Stay strong and try the $50 dinner challenge yourself!! Considering we ate lunch at a Mexican place today and spent $40 on that meal alone- this one definitely a task I was willing to take on!!

Love you all! Cheers!

-C

We are gearing up for our favorite season in the Streets house. We have waited patiently, and I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel… Wait… that’s not just light!! It’s smoke!! It’s a drum line!! It’s adorable cheerleaders that will forever be secretly hated for their smokin’ little bodies!! It’s FOOTBALL in the South, y’all!!

As much as I would love to live where the crisp, cool air was palpable, I don’t. I live in Georgia near a major SEC school (Go Dawgs!). Here we don’t open the door and nuzzle into a scarf with smiling eyes until at least November. Instead, we either choose to bake in the kiln that is a college football stadium (sweating from places we didn’t know could sweat) or we sit in front of a TV and burn our food pipe with the sting of whiskey. Dealers choice. I grew up in an avid Auburn family and had season tickets my entire childhood. I am now in a biSECual marriage with a Georgia Bulldog (family approves because it’s not that other team that cannot be named.)

For me and my house, we choose A/C.

Well, now that I took a solid detour let’s get back to the the real topic- Sunday Supper!! Apparently college boys in tight pants can still distract me😂

This Sunday we sat around the table with some of our family friends for probably the last time of this year. Not because we won’t see each other every weekend, but because of the “f” word. FOOTBALL! I mean could you go that long without seeing this face?

I think not!

Before I ramble any longer about how college kids I don’t know personally, here is what I fed the ones I actually know and love. This meal’s VIP was my mom Julia’s chicken and rice. This dish has been a favorite for Bowles girls and others for many, many years. Easy, cheap, and will make you roll your eyes and make uncomfortable noises with each bite! I served it with Lima Beans cooked in chicken stock, crescent rolls, and we had brookies with ice cream for dessert! Grand cost to feed 10 with leftovers for both families? $31.99 for everything, thank you Aldi! Touchdown, home run, goal, and victory!

Julia’s Chicken and Rice

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 packs dry onion soup mix

2 cans cream of chicken soup

2 cups of rice

1 cup of water

1/3 cup dry sherry

Preheat oven to 350

Place chicken breasts, 1 at a time, into a gallon zipper bag and pound them out to an even thickness. Cut in half and sit aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, stir together soups, rice and water. Pour into a greased 9×13 inch pan. Place chicken breasts on top and season with salt, pepper, and a little paprika. Do not add salt into the rice mix, it is perfect as is. I usually spray a little cooking spray on the chicken to help it not get dry. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour. Check and if the middle still looks really wet, recover and cook a little longer. 20 minutes or so.

Once set, remove from oven and pour the sherry over the casserole. Recover and bake for 30 more minutes.

*I made 2 pans of this and this is how much was left over*

Enjoy!

War Eagle and Go Dawgs!

-C

Hi friends!!!

Many of you are here from Facebook or Instagram, and are looking for my meal plans and recipes. I decided to just utilize my blog I started about 5 years ago- what a blast it has been to read those few posts! If you have a few minutes, they are certainly entertaining. Otherwise, I hope this blog can help you with your endeavors into feeding yourself and/or others.

This week has been a bear for us! The temps in Georgia are extreme, and the air quality has not been much better. What does this mean for a family with asthmatic kids you may ask?? Well let me tell you, it is an all insurance paid few days of nebulizers and no sleep! It means days home from school and your beloved family members looking extra…. punchable. It means quick, comforting meals that are easy and affordable. It also means extra time for our little comedians to shine.

I have said before that life with George, now 6, is like riding a mechanical bull that you don’t realize has a jet plane style ejector saddle. It is a ride like no other and although rough at times, a ride I never want to get off of. Earlier this week Abbey was getting in our shower after George had finished scrubbing the little boy grunge from his little meatball hoagie body. She stood there for a minute as the wheels were spinning in her mind.

“Georgie? Did you pee in the shower”

George ran out of our closet in one of my tank tops, backwards of course, and did his best ninja kick landing in a convincing power stance. With his right tan, chubby, confident fist thrust into the air he proudly yelled….

“Not today, sister!!!”

In that moment, he unknowingly created a chant that has gotten us through the week and is certain to be used for a while.

However, that is not the here. You are here because you want to know what I cooked for dinner. Did you think I would give you dinner without entertainment??

Not today, sister!!!!!!

But here is what we had for dinner tonight, with the grand total of ingredients, purchased from Aldi, coming in at $16.49!!!

Oven Baked “Houston’s” Chicken, corn, Steakhouse seasoned green beans, and cheddar biscuits.

Growing up my mom would make “Houston’s” chicken. I believe it is based on a dish my parents had at one of the restaurants years ago, but it is basically BBQ chicken with ham and Swiss on top. Fancy💁‍♀️

“Houston’s Chicken”

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts ($5.99 for a 3 lb bag- extras!!)

Favorite BBQ sauce (we used Aldi original tonight that was a whopping $0.95 a bottle)

8 oz honey ham ($1.99)

Slices Swiss cheese ($1.79)

Pound thawed chicken breasts out so that they are even in thickness. Place in a Pyrex dish and season as you want. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350. After 30 minutes, check with a knife to be sure the juices run clear. If not, add a few more minutes of cooking time.

Remove the foil and top with BBQ sauce, 3/4 slices of ham, then a slice or two of Swiss to smother it all. Place back into the oven for 10-15- more minutes!

Corn on the cob

Shuck your corn, getting all the little strings out you can, and cut about a 12″x12″ square of foil for each ear. Rub an ear with a stick of butter (just unwrap one end and pretend you are coloring😂) and season with salt and pepper or your favorite blend. Wrap each ear in its own cozy little flavor pack and toss in the oven (350) when the chicken goes in for 30 minutes! Once the 30 is up, remove them and place on a pan or the counter until you are ready to eat!

TIP: Dollar Tree sells little boxes of foil squares that are perfect for this!

Green Beans are frozen and just need to be zapped and the cheddar biscuits are from a box mix ($1.49).

Just remember when you are tired and want to order pizza instead of this super easy meal, just picture me in your face with a cheesy grin chanting….

“Not today, sister!!”

-C

There is a certain beauty about being from the South, one of which is the many metaphors we use in everyday conversation. For instance down here, Momma offering to  “paint your back porch red” is not free labor.  It means you are walking the fine line of feeling the hot sting of a hand on your thigh because you have done something wrong.  Someone asking if you would like to “come sit a spell” is not an offer for an impromptu spelling bee.  It is more of a “come sit down for a bit and let’s talk about that time the girl drove her Daddy’s lawnmower into the swimmin’ pool.”  PS, that girl was me…   

Now here is the kicker, what happens when you have a child that takes everything seriously??  How do you get mad when you ask her to “throw that away” and then she launches a yogurt across the room?  Answer: you don’t.  You learn to explain that she needs to put her treat into the trashcan and until she figures it out, she hears Momma talking to “Deer Lord”….. ALL.THE.TIME!!

What I say, “Oh! Dear Lord help me.  Today might actually be the day I lose it!” I am not referring to a woodland creature. If I trip over one more Lego or mindlessly discarded cup or bowl, I am not asking for help from antlers. However, a little literal mind will certainly have her own ideas..

“DEER LORD!!!! I bet his antlers have glitter!!!”