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Chirag Diyora
It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with my Instant Pot. That being said – if you’re new to cooking in one – or have been thinking about getting one – Fall is the perfect time! Make warm, hearty, healthy and family friendly food in a flash! Trust me – you’ll love it!
Sofia had a tummy bug last week which meant bland food for a few days. When she was off crackers and apple sauce, I decided to make her something warm and comforting – chicken noodle soup. I knew the chicken and noodles would be good for her tummy – and I knew Gabe and Dan would love it too.
This recipe is quick and easy – and it makes an amazing batch of soup that smells, looks and tastes like you slaved over it all day! It made the whole house feel so cozy – perfect for a Fall (or Winter) day.
Please note that I used a mirepoix mix (onion, carrot, celery) because Trader Joes had it ready for me! Such a big win and total kitchen hack! You can totally chop your own veggies – which is why I included the amounts below. That being said – if you find fresh mirepoix mix – grab it and use it! Such a fantastic shortcut! I love a good time saver – and this will cut your prep time to basically zero!
Let me know if you give this a try and how it turns out! Enjoy and happy cooking!
Side Note:
I’m working on a vegetarian version (since I don’t eat meat) – that will satisfy the whole family! It’ll have a very similar base, with noodles, veggies, and most likely some kind of white bean for protein without the chicken. Keep an eye out – it should be a good one!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients. I used mirepoix mix from Trader Joes (whole foods, Safeway and most major grocery stores have it now) – but you can dice your own veggies. I’ve included the measurements in the list of ingredients just in case. I didn’t put the chicken and noodles in the image above – but those ingredients are in the title so I figure it is assumed they are included. 😉
- Add olive oil and chicken thighs to the instant pot. Lock lid (making sure to close the valve).
- Pressure cook the chicken on manual for 10 minutes and then quick release. Make sure to pull down your sleeves and use a kitchen towel or other cloth to protect your hand/arm from the steam. It’s hot and comes out fast!
- Turn off your Instant Pot so your chicken doesn’t burn. Add the broth, veggies, spices and uncooked noodles to your Instant Pot.
- Close the lid (making sure to close the valve) and pressure cook on manual for 4 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release after the 4 minutes is done. That will ensure everything in your soup has enough time to cook.
- After the pressure has naturally released, open the lid and scoop out the chicken thighs. Cut into your desired size (I did a small dice) and add back into the soup.
- Enjoy!
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I should point out that I give soup to my kiddos cooled off to just a touch warmer than room temp (they don’t like it hot). It can be hard for them to scoop the broth, so I give them a straw so they can drink the broth and scoop all the yummy soup goodies out with their spoons (noodles and chicken and such). It’s so great because they make less of a mess, have fun eating it, and feel like big kids who don’t need as much help. Mommy win! 🙂 That is why you see spoons in the soup that they are eating. It looks strange but it’s a huge help! Give it a try!
I will definitely be the shoulder for my family and friends to lean on. That being said, I’ll also sport a sassy yet comfy off the shoulder top while I’m at it! 😉 Given the fact that it’s officially Fall, I’m on a mission to find fashionable and affordable attire and accessories for my readers (that’s you)!
This top is all that and more. Say hello to your coziest new friend. This off the shoulder top is sort of a tunic/sweater, is a more lightweight material (perfect for this transitional time of the year), and has a waffle sort of texture to it. It’s super comfy and flattering – and I snagged it for under $30. Yup! I told you it’s a good find! Though it’s listed as red and grey, I would say it’s not a true red and more of a soft red or reddish pink. I ordered it in a size small (I’m usually an XS) and it is perfectly oversized. I would say it is true to size for an oversized fit (if that makes sense).
I paired it with these amazing faux leather leggings (which I’ve linked several times before because I LOVE them), and a bralette. I linked my slippers below for lounging, and booties (similar to those pictured above) which were great for running errands. Some additional accessories are linked as well so that you can complete your look without breaking the bank. Keep scrolling and please comment with any questions. Happy to help!
Ok, this started out as a fashion post, but I had no choice but to add in some of my favorite cosmetics because it is a “shop my look” as well. These are the products I actually use on my face – and how I get my look. I am working on a post to share which brushes and other products I use (and like best) – but these are core when it comes to my look. Please reach out if you have any questions. You can comment on this post and DM me on my Instagram. I hope this is helpful! Enjoy and happy Fall!
This is it! It’s officially Fall! Yay! I’m ready for sweaters, jeans, booties, and TUNICS! The thing about tunics are they are super versatile and perfect from the beginning of Fall through Winter. When I get something new, I want it to be a good deal, and I want to get a TON of use out of it. Tunics work with jeans, leggings, tights, bare legs, booties, OTK boots, mules, and more. There are fancy tunics, off the shoulder tunics, slouchy and ultra cozy tunics, and more.
I found a comfy and super versatile tunic that comes in olive, black and ivory – perfect shades for Fall. It can easily be dressed up or down, thrown on with tights and boots, or layered with a great scarf and jacket. It runs big in my opinion but in a good way. I ordered a small and it has room. I didn’t size down because I want it to be loose and have the extra length to go with tights. It’s also under $16 so you can literally get all 3 colors! Keep scrolling to see this tunic and some other great Fall items to complete your look!
Just a heads up that the colorful mules linked above have a furry inside, so I went a full size up (not a half size). I’m usually a size 7 and went all the up to a size 8. They are so cozy and I don’t even wear socks because of how fuzzy they are inside. The booties are more true to size. I have both and they are very comfortable – and they look a lot more expensive than they are! The infinity scarf is a total deal at under $10 and I have it in several colors because of how cheap it is! I wear them a lot and simply loop it over my head for a polished look. My exact hat is linked above as well and is currently $12.99 from Target. I have worn it 3 times already this week because it looks really nice and hides my unwashed mom hair! Haha! Take a look at the various photos of me in this tunic to get an idea of the fit – and the accessories I put with it. Happy Fall Y’all!
Ingredients
- Eggs
- Water
Instructions
- Put your metal trivet into your Instant Pot.
- Put your steaming basket on top of the trivet.
- Add 1 cup of water to your Instant Pot.
- Put your desired number of eggs into the steaming basket. I usually do a full dozen eggs at once for meal prep, though you can do less and the Instant Pot will simply take less time to pressurize.
- Secure the lid and make sure the steam valve is in the Sealing position (not venting).
- Press EGG and make sure it is set to 5 minutes. I don’t like the egg yolk to be overcooked and “chalky” so I try not to over steam them.
- After the 5 minutes is up, quick release the pressure. If you don’t like the steam to go straight up, look below at the tools I’ve linked so you can redirect the steam and protect your cabinets. Use a dishtowel, cloth or oven mitt to protect your hand/arm from the steam.
- Turn off the Instant Pot or unplug it (it’ll stay on warm if you don’t).
- Let the eggs cool for a few minutes (5-10) until you can easily handle them with your bare hands.
- Peel the eggs and store in an air tight container in the fridge for easy breakfast or high protein snacks. I was able to peel 12 eggs in about 4 minutes, which is amazing! In case you’re wondering, steaming the eggs makes the membrane of the egg stick to the shell, so peeling them is WAY easier! Perfect for those of you who want to meal prep, make egg salad, or even deviled eggs as we get closer to the holiday season!
- Enjoy!
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The leaves are changing and it is stunning! I love this time of the year! Chilly mornings perfect for a hot cup of coffee, and warm afternoons, perfect for an afternoon stroll. To help with this transitional weather, I’m all about layering. As you may have noticed, I’ve been layering cardigans over jeans with tanks or short sleeved tops, dresses, and more. It gives me the option of peeling off layers as the day heats up – and cools back down at night.
My latest love is this floral dress. It’s so comfortable, works with mules, booties, and even flip flops – and it flows beautifully! It’s also under $35 and looks great with so many different accessories! This exact dress is linked below, along with my shoes, bag, cardigan and earrings. I’ve linked to a shorter floral option as well as some similar accessories that I love. All of them are budget friendly and perfect as we enter Autumn. My dress comes in several other colors/patterns as well!
For sizing, I’m in a small. I could easily have gone for this dress in an XS but wanted it to be less fitted and more comfy. I would say it fits pretty true to size. Keep scrolling to shop my look – and snag some great finds for a deal! Muah!
Egg bites are one of my all time favorite things to make in my Instant Pot. They are super easy, I make a couple of batches in a row (while the mess is out), and in the end I’m all set with a healthy and delicious breakfast for my family for a couple of days! Woohoo! #mommywin
Keep scrolling for my veggie sausage egg bite recipe. They are delicious, and you should look at this recipe as simple guidelines that allow you to swap out veggies and cheeses for flavorful fun! You can also skip the veggie sausage and leave the other ingredients/measurements the same. Add some red pepper in place of the sausage for some extra yumminess!
I also got a ton of questions about my Instant Pot and the egg bite molds, so I’ve included those below so you can snag your own.
Enjoy and please let me know what you think! xo
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 1 chopped scallion
- 1/4 cup fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese (mozzarella and jack both work well)
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese (cottage cheese works as well)
- 1 vegetarian sausage (the pre-cooked kind) cut into pieces
- Please note: if you want to use real raw meat sausage, you’ll need to cook it in a pan and let it cool before adding it to your egg mixture in the blender. I don’t eat meat, but I also love that fully cooked veggie sausage doesn’t need to be cooked before adding it to the blender. It’s a big win, adds lots of veggies and flavor to my eggs, and my meat eating hubby can’t tell the difference. Just saying! 🙂
Instructions
- Add 1 cup water to your Instant Pot and put the trivet on top (that metal wire thing that came with your instant pot). Put the silicone egg mold on top of the trivet.
- Add eggs, shredded cheese, and ricotta cheese to a blender. Turn on and blend for about 30 seconds (doesn’t take long to make it smooth and combined).
- Add the chopped green onion and spinach and quickly pulse to combine but not pulverize.
- Add the diced veggie sausage and pulse a couple of times, again to combine but to keep chunky.
- Pour the egg mixture into silicone egg molds, making sure to divide as equally as you can. It comes with a cover, which you can use, though I skipped it.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and check the vent to make sure it’s in the right position to pressurize (not release).
- Push the STEAM button and set timer for 10 minutes.
- After the cooking timer on your Instant Pot goes off, allow the pressure to release naturally for about 10 minutes. Once that is complete, release the remaining pressure (there shouldn’t be much, if any at all) and open the lid of your Instant Pot.
- Use the silicone handles to remove the silicone egg mold from the Instant Pot. Allow the eggs to cool for about 5 minutes before you dive in!
- Repeat the process to make one or two more batches (if you would like) and store in an airtight container in your fridge.
- Enjoy your easy and already prepared breakfast by reheating for about 60-90 minutes in your microwave (depending on how hot you like them).
- Get creative, try new veggie combinations, add spices, and enjoy this new family friendly breakfast! Yay!
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If you love bath bombs, this craft is for you! I love pretty much anything that I can do easily with my kiddos. This is a really fun activity that you can do on your own (perfect to give as gifts), or do with young kids. My children are 3 and 5, and this is really easy to do with them. I made this batch of pumpkin shaped bath bombs with Sofia (3 years old) and she did fantastic! It’s messy (lots of powder) but easy to clean up and super fun! They also smell lovely, and if you make them in the morning, they should be ready to use as part of your bedtime bath routine. Keep scrolling for a lot more photos, the recipe and instructions to make these cute bath bombs! Enjoy and let me know how it goes!
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Baking Soda
- 1/4 Cup Corn Starch
- 1/4 Cup Citric Acid
- 1 Tsp Olive Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil (About 20 drops depending on how strong you want it)
Tools
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing spool or spatula
- Spray water bottle (if you have one)
- Silicone baking molds or other molds to shape your bath bombs
Instructions
- Combine the Baking Soda, Citric Acid, and Corn Starch in a bowl. Mix well with the spoon or spatula.
- Add 1 tsp Olive Oil and about 20 drops of lavender oil to the mixture add more or less depending on your preference). I like to use the spatula to combine it most of the way, and then use my hands to ensure it’s really thoroughly mixed.
- If you have a spray bottle, fill it with water and spritz the mixture 1-2 times, them mix with your hands. Spray 1-2 times more and keep mixing with your hands. It doesn’t take much moisture to make the mixture moldable. If you use too much water at once, it’ll fizz up and won’t be the right texture. We didn’t have a spray bottle, so I used 1-2 tiny drops of water from a cup. It worked well but I went extremely slow with the water. You’ll be surprised at how little you actually need.
- When you can tell the texture it moldable (another reason mixing with your hands is a big win), pack the mixture into the molds as tightly as you can. We used pumpkin molds for Fall, but you can honestly use whatever you have on hand. I like that you can have fun and make different shapes based on the season or holiday.
- Let the bath bombs dry in the molds for 5-6 hours or overnight. Gently pop them out of the molds and store in an airtight container.
- Use 1 bath bomb per bath (warm water) and enjoy! The lavender is so soothing and the fizzing is fun! My kiddos LOVE this activity and the bath time fun once they are done. Yay!
Being busy is not unique these days. We’re all super busy, and we’re all doing our best to hold it all together. Something I’ve been really enjoying is playing with Day to Night outfits by adding accents. Little touches that elevate my outfit without much effort. It keeps things simple, keeps me comfy, and means I can make easy swaps when I have almost no time at all! I threw on some extra gold accessories (chunky ring and bangle), red lipstick, and red shoes to jazz up my outfit for date night!
Keep scrolling to score some ideas and some of my fave items that will punch up any casual day outfit – making it fit for a trendy night! My exact jeans (runs big and has free returns), belt (designer look for a TON less), flats (beyond comfy), shirt (runs big) and sunnies are below. My bag sold out but I linked 2 similar ones, along with other fun accessories. You’ll also find a special red lipstick surprise below – that I’m obsessed with! 🙂 Scroll down, DM me on @mommylexiloves on IG if you have questions, and have a wonderful week! Muah!
We’ve officially reached that time of the year where it’s sweater weather in the morning, but by midday you’re dying from heatstroke! Gotta love it! 😉 We clearly took these photos in the morning while it was still nice and crisp out! I love the crispness of morning as we enter Fall! Jeans, sweaters, flannels, boots…so cozy and comfy and cute! I’ve pulled together some of my faves to add to your wardrobe as the weather is changing!
My new bootcut jeans are on sale for 40% off, have the perfect amount of stretch and are a little long so you can sport your booties with them! I love my skinny jeans, but these bootcut jeans are so cute, comfy and flattering! I’m 5’2″ and went with 25 short (regular would have been too long). I would say they run TTS, but with the stretch you can size down a tiny bit since jeans tend to grow a little throughout the day. My exact lace shirt extender (it’s like a long tank top) is linked below and runs small so size up! I got a medium and am usually an xs. My outfit is linked below, and as you keep scrolling you’ll find additional similar items.
Sofia is in the cutest overalls from Gap. They are sold out, but I’ve linked to some super similar overalls and other denim items perfect for your Fall pumpkin patch photos and more! Kids flannels are adorable – and when you add some cute converse – you’re set! I’ve linked some sweet bows that’ll get you through the holidays, as well as Sofia’s favorite bunny (so many questions about it)! Bitsy is our fave! She is a huggable size, is so cute, and makes the perfect gift!
Be sure to check out the accessories I’ve linked below. My bag is super versatile, the color and size are on point, and it has a cross body strap as well as the best metal handles! You can get amazing deals on jeans, flannels and booties right now with the holiday weekend sales, so keep scrolling to shop our looks and get some deals! Happy shopping! Muah!
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It feels like Fall and I’m all about it ladies! OMG! Sweaters, leggings and boots are exactly what I’m craving right now. The coziness of it all, while still having the option of looking polished! Yup…I’m a fan! This is a quick share because these booties are so cute, they are from Target (so the price is right at under $35), and they are a perfect as we transition into Fall. The triple buckle gives these a little edge, the heel is low so they fulfill the need for comfort, and the cut out details are so fun! I linked these booties below so scroll down and snag ’em before they sell out! They are going fast!
In the pic above I’m sporting my favorite leggings in all the land! My faux leather leggings by Spanx are by far the best! I have 2 pairs that have lasted me for well over a year with regular wear and washing (wash cold/hang dry). I’ve linked the exact ones below and they are well wort it. The waist is high and will hold everything in so that you can sport all your fave tunics and sweaters knowing you look like a lady boss! I feel that these are pretty TTS and purchased them in an XS.
My exact bag and poncho sold out (so bummed) so I linked to some similar ones that will get the job done. You can snag my exact sunnies (the perfect black cat eyes) for 40% off right now with the code READYSETSALE 🙂 Keep scrolling for my finds and to shop my look! I hope you’re getting into the Fall spirit too! Yay!
