The little one turned 3 on New Years Eve … and how did she wish to celebrate? With her favorite color, of course – PINK. She specifically requested a PINK PARTY and even chose the dress that the theme was centered around (a multi-pink ruffly number from Gap Kids). We put pink everywhere – pink lemonade, pink cups, pink candy-filled jars with pink rock candy arrangements, pink balloons and pink tissue paper flowers, pink cake, pink dress, pink wand and crown, and even a pink-iced cookie tree. I had pinned a pink ruffly cake a while back on Pinterest, but she saw another pink cake I pinned and decided at the last moment that she wanted it instead. That exact cake. And she got it. The only way it could have gotten any pinker was if I’d painted the walls. She absolutely adored it, as did I, so I wanted to share a few pics with y’all.

I decided that I will not bore everyone with the typical Holiday Gift Guide this year. So, instead I am going to give you a Holiday GIVING Guide. What do I mean by that? Well, the holidays are a great time to remember how blessed we all are and to GIVE to those less fortunate. If you’re reading this, you most likely have a computer or smartphone … which means that you are probably cozy and warm in your house/apartment, in your cute PJs/sweats, nibbling on a snack and drinking a good cup of tea/coffee/wine. This means that you have A LOT more than many. There are children in foster care that will not get gifts for Christmas this year. There are parents who will give up a Christmas meal just to buy their child a small gift. There are people who have no home, no warm coat, nothing compare to what we have. And so I have compiled a list of organizations that, with your help, can assist those in need this year. There are probably lots of local organizations that you can find as well, but these are nationwide.

FEEDING AMERICA - search for your local Food Bank

US DEPT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES – find your local adoption and foster care agency

SALVATION ARMY ANGEL TREE PROGRAM – Salvation Army has also partnered with JC Penney to make buying gifts for your angel easier!

HOMELESS SHELTER DIRECTORY – contact your local homeless shelter to see how you can help

This is a great start for helping someone in need … if you know of any other great resources for Hurried Homemaker readers, please be sure to share them in the comments!

Happy Holidays!

This week is going to be busier than most for us. Yesterday, the oldest and I came up with a plan for the week … which, of course, included our meals. We have 2 days this week where we have to eat on-the-go, and that can complicate things for the woman who likes to cook fresh and serve hot. I’ve grown accustomed to it lately – since the oldest got promoted to the next level ballet class, we don’t have time to go home between school and ballet, but the class falls around dinner time. So, without further ado, here is the plan this week:

MON – Beef Stew with Egg Noodles

TUE – Black Bean Quesadillas

WED – Chicken Curry with Rice

THU – Creamy Grilled Chicken Picata

FRI – Honey Chicken

SAT – Leftovers

Click on the day for a linked recipe. My own recipes will be linked as well.

Hope you all have a fantastic week!

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4c red wine
• 2c beef broth
• 1.5-2lb grass-fed stew beef
• 3-4 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 portobello mushroom, chopped
• 1/2 sweet onion
• 2 shallots
• 1 Tbsp dry mustard (alternative – use grainy mustard from your fridge)
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp dry basil
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• salt and pepper to taste

You may also like to thicken the sauce with more cornstarch if it isn’t to your liking.

This is by far one of my husband’s favorite dishes. I would venture to say that the kids love it almost just as much. It is also pretty quick and easy to make, the majority of time is spent in the prep work. If you don’t have time to prep your veggies, Whole Foods has great prepped veggies for stir-fry, etc in the produce section. Grab those and a rotisserie chicken for a practically no-prep meal.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks
• 1 zucchini, halved and sliced (alternative – handful of green beans, cut unto bite size pieces)
• handful of mushrooms, sliced
• 1 bunch kale (de-ribbed) or bok choy
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1-2 peppers of your choice (I usually use 1 red, 1 yellow)
• 1 can coconut milk
• 2 Tbsp curry paste (red or green – we like both)
• handful of cashew nuts

FAIR WARNING: THIS MAY PISS SOME PEOPLE OFF

If anyone saw the last two episodes of The Rachel Zoe Project, you are distinctly aware of the “push present” that she received from Rodger. And in case you didn’t see either episode, here is what I’m talking about …
It is ONLY a 10 carat cushion cut ring! I mean, seriously Rodge, you couldn’t do better than that? Ugh.

Ok. In all seriousness, I think that this is the most obscene thing I have seen in a while! Who the hell needs a 10 carat “thanks for pushing my baby out” gift? Who needs a “push present” anyway? What happened to the BABY being the gift?

For all you who say “well people have been doing it for hundreds of years” – um, no. ROYALTY has been, but last I checked neither you nor I (nor Rachel Zoe) fit that qualification.

I have lots of friends who have received “push presents” – diamond earrings, a tennis bracelet, an upgraded ring … I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – it is ridiculous. Requesting (nay, demanding) a gift for pushing a baby out of your netherregions seems to go against what God intended. Eve didn’t give birth to Cain or Abel and then ask Adam, “Honey, where is my diamond?” Our original design WAS to give birth – that was it! Why are we now expecting a present for doing what we have been designed to do all along? And, in case anyone forgot it is all Eve’s fault we have pain doing it anyway …

To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” (Genesis 3:16)

In all honesty, it seems to me that the push present is yet another example of entitlement for the rich and wannabes.

I have been craving something pumpkin now that the air is turning crisp. I will be honest, I was a bit scared of making my first gluten-free pumpkin bread, so I decided to start with pancakes. What a cinch these are! And they’re fantastic!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 24oz pkg Pamela’s Pancake mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/4c oil (I prefer flax)
• 1/2 can pumpkin (I like the organic pumpkin pie mix from Whole Foods because it has spices in it – if using plain pumpkin, add nutmeg/cinnamon to taste)
• 1/4c brown sugar