Tasty Tuesday: Chicken Pot Pie

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Are you guys as shocked as I am that I'm actually posting a recipe??
Geez I was doing soo good with Tasty Tuesday recipes then pregnancy happened and I was sick all the time... haha.
But food actually sounds good again, I have a little more energy, and I've actually missed this!
Sooo I decided to re-start this off with one of my most frequently asked about recipes, Chicken Pot Pie!
I absolutely hated chicken pot pie growing up.
I only ever tried the gross frozen ones that basically have McDonald's chicken in them... gross.
One day after we got married I heard someone say they were making chicken pot pie for dinner and I decided I would take on the challenge of actually making it taste good ;)
And I mean, I think it tastes pretty darn good haha.
Sooo... here it is!


Ingredients:
-Pie Crust. I mean you could make your own but let's get real here... ain't nobody got time for that. I like the store bought pillsbury crust just fine :)
-2 Chicken breasts cooked and shredded
-4 red potatoes cooked and diced
-1 bag of frozen peas and carrots 
-1/2 yellow onion diced
-1 cup whipping cream
-1 can chicken broth
-1/4 cup butter
-5 tbsps flour
- a dash of italian seasoning, salt, and pepper

Directions:
1)Preheat your oven to 400. Then I always start by boiling two pots of water for the chicken and potatoes. Once it's boiling I cook til potatoes are tender (cube before adding to water to cook faster. I do the potatoes in sixths or eighths depending on size) and chicken is no longer pink inside. You could also just do the chicken in your crockpot or instant pot to make it quicker!
2) Set the potatoes aside and now add your frozen peas and carrots (like 3/4 of the bag) plus diced onion to the water to flash cook. (meaning don't overdue it and make them soggy... strain as soon as they are warm) In the meantime shred your chicken. Use a kitchenaid, it'll change your life. Set chicken aside. 
3) In the now empty pot your chicken was in, melt down the butter. Once it's melted down, quickly add your flour to make a roux. Slowly add your whipping cream and broth whisking while doing so.  Add your spices in now as well. I do about a 1/2 tsp of each. Bring to a boil for two minutes to thicken. Then turn the heat to low and add you shredded chicken, potatoes, and veggies. Stir and let simmer.
4) Place your first piece of crust in a pie dish and then pour your mixture on top of it. Add your top crust and pinch the edges to seal the deal. Cut a few slits at the top for ventilation.
5) Bake for 40 minutes or until top crust is golden brown. 


And there you have it!
This meal will feed us for a few days because of how filling it is.
It's perfect for this snowy weather Utah can't seem to get rid of...
I hope you all love it as much as we do!

All my love,
Aleigh Joy



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Moore Party of FOUR!

Sunday, February 26, 2017

The secret is FINALLY out!
And by finally I mean I'm 16 weeks sooo... yeah I've been keeping this a secret for kind of a while now haha.
We found out the first week of December. 
DECEMBER PEOPLE!
We told family and close friends as we saw them, but I really didn't want to announce until after the first trimester.
Once I hit that mark life got even more crazy (as if that's possible, ha!) and we couldn't find a time that we were all together when it wasn't dark outside or sleeping. 
Since we hadn't announced all this time, this pregnancy hasn't exactly felt real.
It's been hard hiding such a big secret... especially since I've been way more sick this time around.
Hunter was gone all day Friday then came home Saturday at 3:30ish. 
I looked at him and said, "Should we just take the picture now? I mean I'm 16 weeks already..."
So on a whim, we just went for it.
I hadn't even brushed my hair, Oaklyn had been throwing fits all day, and Hunter was sick and exhausted, but it feels mighty good to finally be telling the world about our best kept secret ;)


So now on to a bit about this pregnancy...
We're (mostly me) equally as excited as we are terrified to add another little person to our family.
Most of the time, I'm excited and feeling encouraged that I can do this.
Then other times I'm actually having a meltdown because I'm so terrified to have two kids haha.
I know I can do this and I know The Lord has blessed us with this baby and we are thankful beyond words, but I've also got a whole lot of figuring out to do!
This little one is coming before we were planning on moving out, before Hunter graduates, right in the middle of some big projects, right before football season (Hunt's busiest time), and of course I can't stop worrying about PPD that I had pretty severely with Oaklyn.
However, this little peanut has already stolen my heart and I am beyond excited to snuggle him/her!
I always envisioned us having several kids. There isn't really a definition for several, just whatever feels right. 
I've always hoped I'd have a full house, lots of birthdays to celebrate, and plenty of mouths to feed.
It's just thinking about being pregnant several times that's killin me ha.
As I was saying earlier, this time around has been quite a bit different than with Oaks.
I was definitely more sick in the first trimester, but less tired. 
I've had heartburn like nobody's business since I found out whereas it didn't really start til around this time with Oaklyn.
I'm still having food aversions but a whole lot more things sound good to me than they did with Oaklyn, and sometimes I even crave meat... what?!
Not to mention, my body is definitely changing faster this time around.
I wouldn't say I'm showing yet but I definitely feel "more pregnant" than I did with Oaks at this point. 
All around it's just been pretty different!


As far as gender goes, we're planning on finding out at 20 weeks during the anatomy scan. 
I have sooo much more willpower this time around, ha!
We will be perfectly happy with either gender but if I could plan it out, I would definitely want another girl. 
It would make it SO much easier being that we already have everything for a little girl, and duh... matching dresses haha.
I also happen to like our girl name a whole lot but that's also a secret ;)
Anyways, I'm due in August. August 12th to be exact, my sister's birthday!
I'm not exactly excited to be largely pregnant during the summer months but I'm very much excited to have a baby during a month I can go outside!
Gosh I can't believe I'm having another baby haha.
I think that covers the gist of things, but you'll be hearing quite a bit more about this peanut now that I can actually talk about him/her!


Okay lastly, I've gotten the same question asked quite a bit lately.
I've been asked why I've kind of stopped blogging.
People said they were worried and hoped all was well.
Last time I took a bunch of time off from blogging was when Hunt's dad passed away.
Nothing severe has happened like that, but there are several contributing factors I'll be talking about more soon.
I would say though, the biggest factor would be THIS PREGNANCY!
Gosh it has taken a lot out of me including inspiration and motivation.
Plus, how am I supposed to blog when I'm keeping the biggest secret like ever from you guys??
So, thank you so much for the concern and support.
Seriously, it felt good to know someone actually cared haha!
But I'm feeling quite a bit better and with each new sunny day I'm feeling a little more inspired to work on some big projects I have planned!


Alright friends, that is all for now.
I just figured I should pop in and explain life's current happenings haha.
Now hold me to being better about blogging ;)

All my love,
Aleigh Joy (and the tiny peanut in my belly)

My outfit is old but here's a similar skirt | Lipsense is redwood and you can join my group to see other colors here | Oaks outfit also old but Gap still has peter pan collared onesies! | Balloon from North Star Balloons | Similar shirt to Hunter's  
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A Letter To My Forever Valentine

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Hunter Miles,
We've almost been married 3 years and known each other for 8.
That sounds like a pretty long time to me, but I guess I've only known you a third of my life.
The funny thing is, I can't really remember what life was like before I met you.
Since the moment I laid eyes on you, I couldn't get you out of my head.
You know our cheesy little story, how you dove in the pool right as I walked into the backyard and I was completely love struck ;)
I wanted nothing more than to be yours, and I can't believe I somehow fooled you into marrying me, ha!
Falling in love with you was instant. It took hardly any time and absolutely no effort.
I knew I was in love with you when I was only 15 years old, and even though our lives are quite a bit less care free now, I still love you the same way.
Getting married at the ripe ages of 19 and just barely 21 was an easy choice for us to make, but life has sure done it's best to make it harder than we anticpated.
Between you working two jobs and going to school full time, having a vey fussy baby who turned into the cutest needy toddler, and me dealing with post partum depression... I think we can both say it hasn't exactly been a wallk in the park. 
As you put it the other night, "Sometimes life isn't all rainbows and skittles." ha!
But the coolest thing about going through all of this together, is that our love always overcomes each trial we're given.
It takes a real man to love a woman through the hard times and somehow you do it with ease.
I'm always amazed at the love you offer me, how you can literally forget the world just to lean over and kiss me.
I know you have a whole lot on your plate, but even when your plate gets overly full... you take the time out of your day to show me you love me.
Thank you for always forgiving me, for learning with me, and trying your hardest to understand me.
I'm so beyond happy we promised forever together. You're the only one I want to go through it all with.
Remember when we had the world's worst road trip together?
It was the middle of summer and we were in your little jeep going through death valley without air conditioning... ha!
I was newly pregnant, and your contacts dried up from having the windows down the whole time.
Basically, it was rather unpleasant.
I remember a few days after when we could finally laugh about it and our ears stopped ringing, you looked at me and said "yeah that was rough, but I wouldn't want to go through it with anyone else."
There have been so many moments I've thought that to myself, you really are the perfect man for me.
I've written you a whole lot of love letters in our time spent together, but I'll never stop because you deserve to be told how much I love you day in and day out.
So Hunter, you're the best decision I've ever made.
Life has handed us quite a few sour lemons, but with you, it always turns out sweet.
You're my very best friend, my confidant, my forever valentine.
I love you with all that is in me.
Even though I'm tired most days when you come home now, I still look at you with the same lovey dovey eyes I did in my teenage years. 
My heart will never stop beating twice as fast for you Hunter.
I was made for loving you :)

All my love,
Aleigh Joy






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A Letter To My Little Valentine

Sunday, February 12, 2017
I don't have to worry about kissing my babe with my lipsense!

My sweet Oaks, this Valentines Day is the first that I really feel like I have a second little Valentine.
I loved you tons last year, but our relationship together has grown so much in the past year.
You're my best little friend, my favorite shopping buddy, my perfect little girl.
One day, you'll probably find this blog of mine and read a little about what your life was like growing up.
I hope you find that I love you to pieces and that I've never felt like I had more purpose on this earth until I became your mother.
When I woke up that Tuesday morning with a sore chest and slight nausea, I absolutely knew you were there.
I still snuck a test into the second bathroom to make sure it was true.
When those two pink lines appeared, I think I felt every emotion in the book.
I covered my eyes and started bawling.
I was excited and scared all at the same time.
It didn't feel real, but I absolutely knew you were there.
As time went on and I felt your little kicks I began to love you in a way I'd never felt before.
When you entered the world I took one look at you and knew I wanted to give you the world.
I felt inadequate to say the least, but all I wanted was to be the mother you deserved.
We had a rather difficult first year of your life filled with little sleep and lots of crying on both ends.
You were figuring out life and I was figuring out my new life as a mother.
With each runny nose, milestone, and meal thrown on the floor... I realized why this love was a different kind of love.
A mother's love is selfless, and it is never ending.
Even when I fall to the floor after sticking you in time out because I feel like I'm failing you, I couldn't love you any more.
You came up to me the other day, put your hand on my shoulder and said "Mama nice, mama fun, mama yov me."
You didn't see it as you walked away, but I brushed my tears away from my eyes because just those 7 words you said in your tiny toddler voice, made me feel like super woman. 




I want you to know I cherish all the moments I get to spend with you, just me and you.
You've become the best friend I didn't know I was missing.
Sure you yell and scream when you don't get your way... Sure you demand a lot of me and test my patience... but when it comes down to it, you're the only one that doesn't judge me for my imperfections. 
You stand by me with pride because you love me despite my flaws, you forgive when I make mistakes, and you trust me when I have no clue what I'm doing.
You reach for my hand as we walk across the street, look to me when a stranger says hello, and giggle when I do something silly.
Oaklyn Joy, this year and all other years, I want you to know that you are my Valentine too.
Because on a day for Lovers, I can say that I love you with the most selfless and unconditional love out there. 

I love you sweet baby.

All my love,
Mama

Photos taken by Tiel Photography



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Let's Talk Lipsense

Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Wearing the color "nude" on my lips here

Alright guys, I've been so absent on this blog it's scary!
I'm sorry!
December was a crazy busy month and January has been such a funny month.
I'm blaming the "winter blues," cloudy grey skies, and crazy amounts of snow for my lack of inspiration haha.
Anyways, this post is gonna be short and sweet and to the point...
I just wanted to let all you awesome people know that I've taken a little leap of faith and started yet another business venture with Lipsense!
While I'm usually excited for whatever project I start up, I'm particularly excited about this one because it is seriously SO fun!
Lipsense is a lipstick that molecularly bonds to your lips and stays on between 4-18 hours depending on how dry your lips are.
It is waterproof, kiss proof, smudge proof, and hydrates your lips while staying put!
I've loved this product since the moment I tried it and have considered signing up since then, but could never seem to get myself to do it.
Now I'm totally kicking myself!
You guys, this company is seriously awesome.
I have friends making anywhere from an extra $500 a month to $50,000 a month and anywhere in between!
Can you even believe that??
Hunter still has a year left until graduation and can't work a "real" job until then.
He has three jobs currently but when you're going to school full time, those three jobs just don't always cut it.
Needless to say, things can get stressful and I noticed that alters my mood.
I decided I can either sit back and mope around or do something about it, so here I am doing something about it ;)
I'm honestly super excited about this journey and I really hope I can help you all see how awesome this company is!
Here's my Facebook Group that you can join to check out exclusive discounts and offers as well as updates on my stock.
I also created an insta account for anyone wanting updates that way.
I'd also absolutely love to have any of you on my team if you're interested! 
It's $55 to sign up and has literally changed lives for so many women!
Please don't hesitate to email me with any questions!

Okay, now that I got this post up I need to really work on some more content for this blog.
Ugh, can it be Spring yet??
Thanks for all your support as always :)

All my love,
Aleigh Joy
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