2020: The Year You Were Born (2020 Baby Book Facts)

World Leaders:

Donald Trump, President of the United States

Joe Biden, President Elect of the United States

Mike Pompeo, United States Secretary of State

Xi Jinping, President of China

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Emmanuel Macron, President of France

Jean Castex, Prime Minister of France

Michel Temer, President of Brazil

Jair Bolsonaro, President of Mexico

Pope Francis XVI of Vatican City

Cost of things (U.S. Average):

Milk (regular), (1 gallon) - $3.51

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) - $2.72

Eggs (regular) (12) - $2.75

Water bottle - $1.45

Gasoline (1 gallon) - $1.99

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) - $2,730

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) - $59.50

Top Sporting Events:

- Major League Baseball: American League regular season winners: Florida Tampa Bay Rays

National League regular season winners: California Los Angeles Dodgers

- National Basketball Association: NBA Playoffs, The California Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Florida Miami Heat

- National Hockey League Stanley Cup: Florida Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Texas Dallas Stars

Top Songs (Billboard Year end Hot 100 List):

1. Blinding Lights by The Weeknd

2. Circle by Post Malone

3. The Box by Roddy Ricch

4. Don't Start Now by Dua Lipa

5. Rockstar by DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch

6. Adore You by Harry Styles

7. Life is Good by Future feat. Drake

8. Memories by Maroon 5

9. The Bones by Maren Morris

10. Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi

Top Television Shows (IMDb):

1. The Boys

2. Money Heist

3. Dark

4. Ozark

5. The Mandalorian

6. The Queen's Gambit

7. The Umbrella Academy

8. Westworld

9. The Witcher

10. The Crown

Top Books (Amazon):

1. A Promised Land by Barack Obama

2. Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Most Dangerous Man by Mary L. Trump

3. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

4. My First Learn to Write Workbook by Crystal Radke

5. Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer

6. Untamed by Glennon Doyle

7. If Animals Kissed Goodnight by Ann Whitford Paul

8. White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

9. The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir by John Bolton

10. Big Preschool Workbook by School Zone

World Population:

7.8 billion and counting...

Low Carb & Low Sugar Meal Plan, Weeks 1-2

 WEEK 1

MON	Salmon Fillet, Couscous, Green Beans
TUE	Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Spanish Rice, Corn & Bean Salsa
WED	Zuppa Toscano Soup, Salad
THU	Crockpot Spicy Asian Pork Bundles
FRI	Steak & Rice
SAT	Order Out/Leftovers
SUN	Leftovers

WEEK 1 SHOPPING LIST (Does not include spices, common condiments -- check recipes for additional ingredients before shopping)

• Salmon Fillets

• Couscous

• Iceberg (for salad)

• Romaine (for lettuce wraps)

• Green Beans

• Chicken Breasts

• Spanish Rice

• Corn & Bean Salsa

• Tortillas (optional, for kids)

• Taco seasoning

• Bell Peppers (3)

• Onions

• Hot Italian Turkey Sausage

• Cauliflower

• 1 lg. Baked Potato

• Chicken Broth (4 c.)

• Olive Garden Dressing

• Limes

• Lemons

• Shredded Cheese (optional)

• Refried Beans (optional)

• Sour Cream (optional)

• 3# Pork Loin Roast

• Chili Paste or chili garlic sauce

• Ginger Root

• Carrots

• Tomato Sauce

• Round Steak

• Rice

• Kale

WEEK 1 RECIPES

Salmon Fillet, Couscous, Green Beans

Salmon: Combine 2 T parsley, 2-3 pressed garlic cloves, 2 T oil, 2 T lemon juice, ½ T Dijon, ½ t salt, ⅛ t pepper. Spread over each salmon fillet. Bake in tin foil, 450 12-15 min

Couscous: cook to package directions

Green Beans: Trim ends, cook in pot with butter and garlic

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Chicken: Cut chicken in thin strips, cook, add taco seasoning (add water according to package directions)

Spanish Rice: cook according to directions

Serve on Lettuce Wraps or tortillas with toppings (corn & bean salsa, rice, shredded cheese, sour cream, refried beans)

Zuppa Toscano Soup & Salad

Brown Turkey Sausage, add 1 c diced onion, 3 cloves garlic. Add 4 c chicken broth and pureed cauliflower (steam, puree). Add kale (3 c, de-stemmed, bite size). Add diced baked potato, pinch of red pepper flakes, s & p to taste. 195 calories per cup. Serve with iceberg lettuce salad and Olive Garden Dressing.

Crockpot Spicy Asian Pork Bundles

Combine pork, ½ c soy sauce, 1 T chili paste, 2 tsp minced ginger in crockpot and stir. Cover, cook on LOW 8-10 hrs.

Remove Roast, trim and discard fat, shred with 2 forks.

Skim off fat from cooking liquid. Stir 2 T water, 1 T cornstarch, & 2 T dark sesame oil until smooth. Add to cooking liquid and cook on HIGH for 15 min. 

Return pork to pot, stir in 1 c shredded carrots. Cook HIGH 15-30 min. Serve on romaine lettuce leaves.

Steak & Rice

Slice steak into thin strips, coat in flour. Add oil or butter to large skillet, brown steak. Add 1 med onion, chopped. Add 2 green bell peppers (sliced), ¼ c soy sauce, 3 T Worcestershire, 1 T yellow mustard, 32 oz can tomato sauce (then add 1-2 cans of water). Cook for 1-2 hours, serve over rice.

WEEK 2

MON	Curried Chicken & Vegetables
TUE	Pork Loin, Asparagus, Quinoa
WED	Zucchini Noodles w/ Meatballs & Red Sauce
THU	Crockpot Summer Squash w/ Pine Nuts, Chicken
FRI	Hoisin Beef Stir Fry
SAT	Order Out/Leftovers
SUN	Leftovers

WEEK 2 SHOPPING LIST (Does not include spices, common condiments -- check recipes for additional ingredients before shopping)

• Chicken Breasts (3)

• Onions

• Carrots

• Red Skin Potatoes

• Broccoli Florets

• Curry Sauce

• Iceberg Lettuce

• Zucchini (6, 3 for one recipe, 3 for another)

• Red Sauce (can make own or buy jarred sauce)

• Vegetables for salad

• Pork Loin (Buy cut or whole, depending on recipe. I included the recipe I like below)

• Asparagus

• Whole Grain Mustard

• Lemon

• Quinoa

• Egg Noodles

• Red Bell Pepper (2)

• Sirloin Steak

• Snow Peas

• Scallions

• Hoisin Sauce

• 3 yellow squash

• Pine nuts (not from china)

• Romano cheese

• Rice (optional)

• Meatballs (make own or buy)

• Small button mushrooms

WEEK 2 RECIPES

Curried Chicken & Vegetables

Add oil to large skillet and cook 1 onion, thickly sliced, and 4 cloves of garlic, crushed. 

Add 3 carrots, thickly sliced, 1 ¼ lb red-skinned potatoes, cut in 1 in pieces. Add diced chicken and cook through. Add jar of curry sauce and water if needed. Add broccoli florets, cook 5 minutes, and serve. Can serve over rice.

Pork Loin with Asparagus and Quinoa

Cook pork loin however desired (I’ll include my favorite recipe)

MIx 2 T diced garlic, 2 T Italian Herb Seasoning Blend (or 1 t basil, 1 t oregano, 1 t thyme, 1 t parsley, ½ t sage).

Coat loin with herb mixture. Put 4 - 6 tabs of butter over loin. Wrap in foil, transfer to baking sheet. Cook 350 for 25 minutes, or longer (internal temp should be 150 or higher). Slice and serve. 

Roast asparagus or steam (however you desire).

Cook Quinoa according to directions.

Zucchini Noodles with Meatballs and Red Sauce
Use spiralizer or mandoline to make zucchini noodles.
Make meatballs or use store bought. Make our use jarred red sauce.

Crockpot Summer Squash with Pine Nuts and Chicken
Heat oil in large skillet, add ½ c onion, chopped, red bell pepper, chopped, and 1 clove of garlic, minced. Cook for 10 min, put in crockpot. Add 3 zucchini and 3 yellow squash, ½ in slices.
Combine ½ c pine nuts, chopped, ⅓ c grated romano cheese, 1 t Italian seasoning, 1 t salt, and ¼ t black pepper. Fold half of cheese mixture into squash. Sprinkle remaining cheese mixture on top. Dot cheese with butter, Cover, cook LOW 4-6 hrs.
Serve with chicken, cooked however you desire.

Hoisin Beef Stir Fry
Cook egg noodles to directions.
Heat 1 T oil in large skillet, add 2 cloves garlic, finely shredded, and 1 t grated ginger.
Add red pepper, thinly sliced, and ½ c small button mushrooms. Cook 2-3 min.
Add strips of steak, ½ c halved snow peas, 4 scallions, sliced, and cook for 1-2 min.
Add 1 T hoisin sauce, 2 t soy sauce, 2 T water, cook until bubbling. Drizzle with ½ t sesame oil. Serve over egg noodles.

Best Friends 30th Birthday Photoshoot

Well, it all started when my best friend, Aly, asked if I wanted to do a photoshoot for our 30th Birthday -- BUT -- let's wear tutus and get smash cakes (just like you often see for one year olds). Obviously, I agreed with joyful anticipation. 

I asked a friend, Katie, to take the pictures because I knew she wouldn't think it was unusual, it was quite the opposite. She embraced our vision, found the perfect backdrop and blasted 90's pop music during the shoot.

I ordered some bunting, champagne bottle confetti poppers, balloons, and balloon stands from Amazon. I made the flower crowns, pink tulle tutus, and white shirts with the "30" gold vinyl. I picked up two mini cakes from Jewel and we were ready to go!

What a fun day and memorable moment between besties. I love you Aly!!

Kelly Before Sunset

The sun was inching its way down and my beautiful friend and neighbor, Kelly, was graciously posing for me. One hour before sunset I asked her if she could throw on a flowy dress and meet me in the field (yes, those exact words). I am so thankful for her friendship and willingness to do a photoshoot for me. I am still trying to find my style of photography and I am having so much fun figuring it out!

Lucy at Golden Hour

It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining. There was just a spattering of clouds in the sky and a significant wind was blowing through. "Let's do a photoshoot!" I exclaimed to Lucy. She grinned with excitement as I gathered my camera and helped her put her boots on. We went out to the field behind our house and I was able to capture some beautiful pictures of my daughter!

68 Years Young

My mom is the most inspirational, beautiful, and loving woman I know. She finds the silver lining in EVERY situation (I mean it -- at the lowest point in her life, she found something beautiful in it). So when I wanted to hone in on my editing abilities in Lightroom, I requested that she be my model. We had so much fun playing with different outfits, poses, and galloping through the field behind my house. Her pure joy and playfulness are evident in the pictures I captured!