Hummus Crusted Chicken and Turmeric Veggies

I saw this recipe on Pinterest and thought it looked delicious. I can't ever follow a recipe without changing it (thus why I can't bake... My alterations don't work with the science of baking!) so here is my version. And I have to say, it was DELISH.

Hummus Crusted Chicken and Turmeric Veggies

- 3-4 chicken breasts
- 2 zucchini (is that plural already? Zucchinis sounds funny, but spell check says it's a word...)
- 1/2 of a medium yellow onion
- 1 yellow squash
- 3T hummus per chicken breast
- 1t paprika
- 4T olive oil
- 1t turmeric
- 1 lemon, sliced
salt and pepper

Always cook with wine. It's far more fun!

Preheat oven to 425. Cut up the veggies into bite sized pieces. Place in the baking dish, and coat with the olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and turmeric.

Salt and pepper the chicken breasts and place on top of the veggies. Spread the hummus evenly over them. Sprinkle the tops of the chicken with with paprika, and place lemon slices over them. Place any remaining lemon slices over the uncovered vegetables.

TIP: If you aren't going to use the whole package of hummus, take what you will use out and put it in a separate bowl. This way, you won't dip the spoon/knife you used on the chicken into hummus that you plan to eat later :)

Bake for 30 minutes. Let the chicken "rest" for another 5 to let the juices set in the chicken before serving. Volia! This is easy enough for a week night meal. Prep time: 10 minutes. Bake time: 30 minutes. You'll go from start to eating in 45 minutes or less!

Mommy Monday: Gratefulness

I struggle with how to start this post.

Last week, a friend's husband committed suicide. Out of the blue. Shocked everyone. Their first child, a daughter, is only 12 weeks old.

After I heard the news and picked my jaw up from the floor, it brought back all kinds of feelings. After Henry was born, and I was deep in the fog of hormonal changes and a nasty case of the baby blues, I had griping fear. Fear that something would happen to my husband while he was traveling for work, and I'd be left to not only raise Henry by myself, but I'd also be left without an income.

This wasn't just a typical worry or a passing thought as my husband left for business trips. This was a looming sense of doom that hung over me for days before he left. I would shake in fear for his well-being in bed in the mornings before his flight would take off.

"What on earth will I do if I lose him?! How will I pay the bills? Who will help me with Henry? Who will teach Henry things a mother can't teach a son?"

These questions cycled through my head for the first three or so months of Henry's life.

In my irrational fear of impending doom, I never considered suicide. I only thought about plane crashes and car wrecks. Never once did my hormonal mind venture to consider suicide.

I suppose I thought I'd be able to tell if Kirk wasn't happy, or there was something deeply awry with his mental state. But that isn't always the case. Mental illness is a tricky, complex beast. Some are very private with their emotions, and can lead seemingly normal lives while trapped in the deepest, darkest hell of their own minds.

Learning to manage my fear after Henry was born

Kirk was away on business when I heard the news about my friend's husband. And all those fears of death and the confusion of "what I would do?" came back, full force, with the added element of suicide. "What would I do if my husband killed himself? It wasn't a natural accident, but he actually killed himself and left me and Henry on our own?"

I was saved from having to answer that question. I was spared from having to answer any of my darkest questions, or confront any of my deep-seeded fears. And I am so extremely grateful for that. Hug your loved ones a little tighter and kiss them a little longer tonight.

Friday Five with Stitch Fix

I ditched my Birchbox and moved on to greener pastures!

Greener pastures being Stitch Fix, for starters. I signed up with my style profile and waited for my first shipment. Since I stay home, I opted for as many casual looks as I could get. It came a day early and I was so excited to see what they sent my way!

I was a tad disappointed as I opened the box. Everything was the same color. As in, no color. But I forged ahead and tried everything on anyway.

I thought this could make a fun Fashion Friday post. Linking up with Karli and Amanda to bring you my Friday Five fashion items from Stitch Fix:

1) "Betsy Cotton Jacket" by Andrew Marc $128

Why, yes that's a fussing baby in the corner. Lil H was on a bender, for real. And a makeup free, unshowered Paige. Perhaps I'll make my mark in the fashion blogging world by providing unstaged, real life pics... Oh, denial is a wonderful thing! #SAHMfashionbloggingprobz

Anyway, back to business. Loved this adorable jacket. But it didn't have broad enough shoulders for me, and the fabric didn't give/stretch at all, so I couldn't move in it. But it looked real cute if I stood still. So, it got returned.

Can you see how the jacket pulled across my shoulders through the grainy, low light iPhone pic?

2) "Steval Swing Knit Top" by Dahlya $58

When I pulled out this flowy striped shirt from the box, all I thought was "maternity!" But when I tried it on, I really liked it. The fit is unique to anything I have, and the fabric was so soft. Since I only wear skinny jeans or leggings, this top will work with anything I have. Keeping this one!

3) "Rizzo Skinny Pant" by Liverpool $98.

I believe these are supposed to be a full length pant. Obvi, not on this 5'10 chick. They're not even to my ankles. They're going back, especially for that price! Too bad, because they were super comfy and if they'd have been three or four inches longer, I'd have kept them.

4) "Rochie Hoodie Sweater" by RD Style $68

Nope. Not for me. All I see are weird white pull strings. Sending this one back for sure! Even Henry turned his head away so he didn't have to look at me.

5) "Azaria Circle Bib and Stone Necklace" by Zad $34

This photographed well! But it looked like it was straight off the shelves at K Mart in real life. So I'll pass.

Overall, I think Stitch Fix is a brilliant concept. And could it get more convenient?! I hope to provide some feedback that will get me better fitting clothes, 'cause that "long leg" check box in my style profile isn't cutting it. It will be fun to see what they send me after my comments. Hopefully, it will include some color!

Have you had success with Stitch Fix?