Good Habits- Bed Making Madness

I read in a blog post ages ago titled 10 simple things to make you happier at home. The top tip was to make your bed every morning. While I was working full time I hate to admit it but the bed almost never got made in the morning. Mainly because I'm not a morning person and because I never made a habit of it while growing up (much to mum's dismay) However thought of hoping into an unmade bed atnight was just gross so I always used to make the bed in the evening just before getting into bed, which J used to roll his eyes at as it completely defeated the purpose!

Now that I am at pretty much at home all day and have to walk in and out of my room I've made it a goal to have my bed made every morning, because I cannot bear to walk into my bedroom and see a messy bed. This chore sounds pretty basic BUT housework with a baby is never basic and I have learnt that housework is made simple by simple routines. SO for my enjoyment and her entertainment, we've made making the bed the game we play everyday. And it is awesome because even if she's crying as soon as I pull up the blinds and pop her on my bed, she knows what's coming and starts smiling and giggling. This time with SB has forced me to get into the routine of making my bed every morning and is teaching SB from young that this can be really fun. So yes it does take us about 15 minutes at the moment, but it is so much fun! Plus the more mobility she gains and the stronger she gets the more fun it becomes. 

Things that make her giggle

1. Playing "parachute" while fluffing out the sheets

2. Making a little teepee with the sheets and lying under them with her and looking at the light peer through them

3. Tucking the sheets in really tightly and watching her kick so hard she untucks them

4. When I prop her up against the pillows she has now learnt how to roll forward and onto her tummy so we play peek a boo (photos 2 &3)

I know motherhood is not easy but its all about these special moments and incorporating the things you have to do (making the bed) with the things you love doing (playing with your baby and seeing them smile) 

Here's a few photos from the fun we had this morning

Taco Salad with Deconstructed Guacamole

Right so me and J are huge foodies. We LOVE food! When we were going out I hated looking at my bank statements as they just listed one eatery after another. Now that we have SB and don't quite have the flexibility (or the income) to pop down to the Merchant in Albany for a cheeky cocktail and their amazing sticky hickory pork ribs- yes I know I just mentioned cocktails and ribs in the same sentence, I have been forced to make these amazing meals at home *shock horror face* 

One of my ultimate favourite comfort foods are taco salads from Mexicali Fresh filled with Pork Carnitas. Now I've justified these as being healthy as they have "salad" in the description. But as much salad and vege they put in there, the taco iss till deep fried and the salad usually smothered in sour cream- not that I'm complaining. They are amazing! 

Here is the recipe to my healthy (and cost effective) option, the star of the dish being the deconstructed guacamole

Ingredients

Taco:

4 Tortillas

Olive Oil Cooking spray

Filling:

1/2 Chicken Breast cut into strips and fried with ground pepper, chili flakes and a bit of Moroccan seasoning (I used the other half of the breast for home made pizzas) 

Watties Chili Beans

Mesclun or Baby Spinach (half the bag) 

Deconstructed Guacamole:

1 Avo

4 Sun-dried Tomatos sliced thinly 

1/2 Red Capsicum

1T Olive Oil 

2 Cloves of Garlic chopped

Dried chili flakes

Crispy (but healthy) Taco Shell

I got these awesome taco molds from my friend who does Avon but I'm pretty sure I've seen them at Stevens. They are pretty handy to have around I've made individual quiche's and all sorts of other goodies with them

I just popped the tortilla in there and gave it a tiny spray of olive oil just so they would crisp up beautifully, as if they were deep fried. Bake in the oven at 160 degrees for about 7-10 minutes but keep a close eye on them. 

Filling

Filling is pretty straight forward. This time I used chicken because that's just what I had handy but I have also used braised pork mixed in with 4 bean salad, sweet corn and parsley. Skies the limit with your protein options for this dish. 

I also squeezed a wee bit of lime juice into the Chili beans as J LOVES his limes! 

Deconstructed Guacamole

1. Saute garlic and chili flakes on medium heat in the olive oil until soft and fragrant

2. Add capsicum and avo until slightly softened

3. Add the sundried tomato and then COVER THE Pan- this is the most important bit

4. Lower the heat and let all those flavours blend for a good 4-5 mins

5. Once the sun-dried tomatoes darken in colour remove from the heat. You know it's done when there is a beautiful strong smell 

There you have it. Assemble just before eating and top of with a little bit of thick greek unsweetened yoghurt as a sour cream replacement and to cut through the heat of the chili!

J took the leftover taco for work the next day and said he had a lot of jealous workmates- wifey points scored! xx