Spring Has Sprung....But, what Does That Mean For Us?!?

Dear Moms,

• Happy Spring! We have made it through to the other side of St. Patrick's Day, Spring Break and Easter. Now, it's on to the Earth Day celebrations and Summertime shenanigans!  My indoor hibernation has come to an end! Although, as I am typing this post; it's 28℉, snowing lightly and there's about a 1/2 inch of accumulation on the ground. Uggghhh..... *checking calendar one more time* Yep, it's says, "Spring." I will admit, this season has some of the most frustrating weather. It will be hot for two days, then back into the deep freeze for four; only to become the surface of the sun on the last day of the week! Pro tip: Layers make it easy to transition from cool mornings, into warm days and back into chilly evenings. Try a nice infinity scarf, accompanying a solid colored long sleeve tee under a blazer with a pair of jeans and a cute chunky heeled, low cut boot. You can swap out after work and spice it up with a sexy stiletto heeled boot; for after five drinks with the girls or date night with your beau! (Couldn't hurt to keep your umbrella and a parka on standby as well, especially if you live in the Midwest!)

Collage created by: Jennifer Batchelder, via picmonkey.com

Boot Courtesy of: zara.com Outfit courtesy of: styledebates.com

Sunglasses Courtesy of: picmonkey.com

This is honestly, my favorite time of year-and not just because I am a May baby, either! Speaking of birthdays...were you born in Spring? Would you like a gift from me?!?! If you would, leave me a comment below- with your birthday and make sure that you follow me on Twitter: @WTFLunacy! I  am going to be testing and reviewing some new products and you just may be able to receive some of those same products as a gift from me. Well, I have been a busy bee combing my favorite sites and periodicals these last couple weeks for ways to welcome the season- y'all, THERE'S A LOT! But, I narrowed them down and I decided to give you all a FIVE (5) part Spring Special! That's right, I am going to be giving you guys ways to salute and celebrate Spring for the next month and a half with your families with trends for: Spring fashion, home décor, food, and of course- COCKTAILS! Lol

Plus, we are going to embark on my budding Spring transition into being more mindful, including: meditation, stress reducing yoga poses and some awesome, QUICK workouts with great results!
Pro Tip: Feeling down with only have a second or so to yourself before your next "to do?" Sniff an orange! Suze Yalof Schwartz, founder and CEO of Los Angeles Meditation studio, Unplug Meditation says in a recent Clean Plates article, "Orange is the essential oil of happiness and works like a charm every time."

Tasty AND Beneficial! The health benefits of orange essential

oil can be attributed to its properties as an anti inflammatory, 

antidepressant, antispasmodic, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, and more! 

Just put about three drops of the essential oil into the palms if your hands and rub them slowly together. Bring those yummy scented hands to your nose and take deep breaths. No oils handy? Just give it a try with a real live orange and "smell it directly," Schwartz adds. Well, Clean Plates has a given up this tip and 6 other ways to boost your mood in a minute with the #AMinuteForMe series!  I'm excited for this feature AND for warmer weather! Make sure you check them out and take #AMinuteForYOU!!


Speaking of taking out a bit of time for yourself and your health... Did You Know: Bird IS the word, for Mamas! Well, bird is a gal's best pal not only because it's packed with lean protein; but it's also a great source of phosphorous and iron. These are two key nutrients that many woman can't seem to get enough of, says Kim Larson, R.D.N., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (Women's Health, May 2017) According to Pinterest- Americans just can't get enough meal ideas for, you guessed it, CHICKEN! (Probably because we eat it SIX times a week!) In my opinion, the best way to do it is to tackle the whole bird, due to the fact the bones and skin provide so much more flavor to the meat than its boneless, skinless counterparts. Plus this way, you have the ability to cook once, and eat for days! You can basically do anything to this versatile white meat but these three ways are sure to make your next bird dish a complete success.

• Stupid Easy Slow Cooking: This is when the need for golden, crispy skin is just not there, and the desire for lots of moist, tender meat and great soup broth or gravy is strong! HOW: Just spread a layer of chopped root veggies (potatoes, carrots, onion, etc) on the bottom of your slow cooker. Rub your desired seasoning blend all over the bird, IN and OUT. Place it breast side up on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker. Cook on low until the meat is fork tender, which is around four hours for a 3-4lb bird.
• Googly Moogly, Let's Get Grillin': This method is for the times you want your meat nice and crispy, with a smoky flavor, and for those times when you don't want to deal with the kitchen clean up task! HOW: Prep your grill for an indirect cooking with a medium-high hot zone. You can cut the backbone out of the chicken (a technique called "spatchcocking" which allows the meat to cook faster and more evenly w/o the dreaded dry out) if you are brave. Rub the desired seasonings on the bird, place the bird breast side up over indirect heat. Close the grill lid and cook until the internal temp is 165℉.
• Toasted and Roasted: This method is when you want to pretend to be a Food Network superstar, but don't want to spend the WHOLE day in the kitchen! HOW: Rub that birdie with oil and your preferred seasoning. You can season the inside with whatever aromatics you would like (halved lemon, rosemary, garlic cloves, etc) to infuse the meat with flavor. Place your chicken in a roasting pan breast side up with a rack. Spread some choice root veggie in the bottom of the pan with the chicken on top, so the heat can circulate and cook the bird evenly on all sides. Roast on 425℉ for fifteen minutes to crisp the skin. Then turn the heat back to 350℉ and continue cooking until the internal temp reaches 165℉ (about an hour for a 3-4lb bird).

Here's a tasty recipe for some of that leftover chicken you will possibly have on hand. (I say possibly, because it's gonna be sooo good, you're probably gonna wanna eat the WHOLE thing!) Anyway, this 10 min prep 25 min total meal is super easy and super yummy. It's a spin on a classic Chicken Caesar Salad, but the salad is PASTA! Pro Tip: Run on over to bettycrocker.com and check it out!👍

Until next time, be good to one another!