Boyfriend jeans

Or rather, husband jeans?

It was a bit chilly yesterday and on and off rains, and a pair of comfy jeans is exactly what this kind of weather calls for. My favorite boyfriend style jeans are very well loved and starting to fall apart, so the only thing to do was raid the husbands closet, right?

Thankfully my husband has a rather small waist, so they fit perfectly! A little baggy, but just what I was looking for in a comfy errand running outfit.

Jeans: Drew's Gap

Everything else, Target

Anyone else like to raid their significant other's closet? What's your favorite find?

Oh and these pictures were taken in between crazy thunderstorms. We went between major thunderstorm, to sunny back to rain. Weird day. 

Mamma/Jasper date

On Sunday during Tindra's afternoon nap Jasper and I stole away for an impromptu mamma/Jasper date. My intention was once miss T came into our lives I would make sure to make alone time with Jasper a priority. I promised to myself that I would get away with him biweekly for some us time. Unfortunately life gets in the way, and opportunities for us to get away haven't been very often. Especially with until recently Tindra was nursing frequently, and with Drew's crazy work hours, it just sadly hasn't happened how I had intended.

Instead we make Tindra's afternoon nap our time. By then he has just gotten home from school, so we have an hour to play games, read, play outside, talk about his day just us two.

Anyway getting off track here. Sunday there was a street fair going on just a few blocks away, so we went down to check it out and grab some ice cream. It was going to be a quick hour just the two of us, but instead it turned into 3 hours of ice cream, rock climbing, hamster ball rolling and, Jaspers favorite, bungee jumping.

We waited in line for 90 minutes so Jasper could go bungee jumping, but the five minutes of pure joy and thrill for him was so worth it.

That's Jasper rolling around in that big ball on the left, I couldn't get any closer for a better picture since I was saving our spot in the bungee jump line! If that would have been me rolling around in that ball I'm 100% positive my ice cream would have come back up. 

Jasper made a new friend in line. Listening to their 'mini adult' conversation was just the cutest thing ever. 

I look forward to years and years of mamma/jasper dates with this little man. 

Just write.

I frequently find myself in a blogging rut. Not sure what to blog about. Then why blog, one might ask? Well, because I feel like it. If I don't feel like blogging, I don't do it. End of story. But if I feel like blogging and don't have anything particular to blog about? Well that's a problem!

I was telling Drew last night about my dilemna and  his brilliant solution was ' just write.' Brilliant right? So that's where I'm at. Just going to write whatever pops into my head. Dangerous one might say. What can I say, I like to live on the edge. 

We had one of those great weekends where you really Really don't want them to end. I didn't want Drew to go to work today but even more so, I didn't want Jasper to go to school, I wanted him home with me. Which makes me ridiculously excited to have him home allllll summer starting next Wednesday! I might be regretting those words in a few weeks after 24/7 with that ball of hyperness, but that's how it was for the first 5 years of his life and I loved (mostly) every second of it, so yeah I'm freakin excited! It feels like I get summer break again now that I have a school aged child!

Also, to save my sanity I got a family membership at the Y this summer that comes with free childcare, so hopefully that will motivate me to work out AND having a little alone time daily will be a life saver for sure. I've been spoiled with having a napper at home for the past 5.5 years so I've always gotten a bit of a break during the week during nap time, but this summer I doubt Jasper will be doing a ton of napping (though I Will be implementing daily quiet time during T's nap time) so at least I'll have this!

Speaking of summer, I'm in the process of making a summer to do list- all the things I want to take the kids to do and see this summer, I have a feeling it's going to be an Awesome summer. 5 and 1 are such a fun age!

Anyone have any amazing summer plans? I'd love to hear them!

Wash Park

An afternoon walk in the park, before it gets too hot and our long park walks have to take place in the early morning or late evening. Yesterday was truly one of those beautiful spring days. So grateful to have Denver's best park right at our fingertips.

A very Swedish weekend!

So obviously my favorite kind of weekend!

Saturday was the annual Long Kalsong concert. The Swedish school Jasper goes to and another Swedish organization host it and bring these guys over from Sweden for a kids concert and it's always so much fun. I think Jasper Really enjoyed it this year since it was his 4th time going and each year we buy a CD so he knows a lot of the songs to sing along with!

And Sunday was his Swedish school graduation. This is always one of my favorite days. Watching/listening the kids sing the same Swedish graduation songs I grew up singing is something pretty amazing. And always makes me tear up. Reminds me so much of my child hood in Sweden and makes me even more determined to move there as a family. It will happen. If I say it enough times it's bound to come true right? Thought so.

Anyway. Jasper's class (and all the other classes!) did such an amazing job, singing in another language is Hard! So Hard! But they did fantastic. Pippi Langstrum (or Pippi Longstocking to most of you) came by and sang as well, which was the cutest thing. And all the kids were so 'star struck' around her. Jasper was being super shy (So not like him at all!) and wanted me to hold his hand and go up to her with him. So adorable.

On top of the concerts/plays put on by all the kids, everyone brings in Swedish food for the smorgasbord, and between that and the Swedish Christmas buffet it's probably my favorite meal all year long. Fact- Swedes know their food.

After the concerts and food all the kids headed out to play with Pippi (not actually sure that's what she intended to happen, but those kids stuck to her like glue and she was an amazing sport about it) and some of the adults went around for a 'tipspromenad' sometime they do in Sweden at basically every large event, weddings, picnics, you name it. It's basically a 'walking quiz' where there are different questions and you go on a little scavenger hunt to find the questions and answer them (multiple choice) on a piece of paper. Then you hand in your answers and see who wins. Well all the questions were obviously in Swedish (not a problem) About Sweden (a bit of a problem) Geography, celebrities, landscape, etc. questions- sort of like a who wants to be a millionaire type questions. Super hard for someone who hasn't really lived in Sweden since 4th grade. But I walked with my friend and her mom and dad who were here visiting from.....SWEDEN. So, we figured we would do pretty well with their help.

There were 12 questions, and guess who got 12 right, ME! I won first place! I was pretty excited. There was one questions were her parents had no idea what the right answer was, so my friend guessed one answer and I guessed another and apparently I got it right. Yep, I was pretty excited to pick up my awesome new nalgene bottle!

So that was our very Swedish weekend. We also managed to get some cleaning done in and out And get our pool set up. Too bad it will be July before the water isn't ice cold!

Chipotle Chicken Bowl.

On mothers day Drew went and grabbed us chipotle chicken bowls, and I have been craving them daily ever since. Yesterday, after a particularly intense craving, I decided to try to recreate them at home with ingredients I had here, and let  me tell you. It. Was Amazing. Everyone, including Tindra gave it double thumbs up, and since she's been on a bit of a food strike lately, only wanting fruit, I think it's safe to say it was pretty fantastic.

I took a few pictures along the way, I think I just Knew it was going to turn out amazing, so I thought I'd share with you guys in case you guys are also having a Chipotle craving. 

Ingredients 

Two chicken breasts

Salsa

romaine lettuce

jasmine rice

butter,

olive oil

peppers (whichever color is your favorite)

corn

black beans

cilantro

sour cream

mozzarella

Chicken

I but two frozen chicken breasts in a crock pot with about 2/3 cup of salsa on high for 4 hours, you can do this on low for 6-7 hours as well. When it's cooked all the way, you just take a fork and shred it- super easy if it's been cooking long enough. This is the way I do chicken for tacos, quesadillas, you name it. Easy and delicious.

Sorry for the crappy iphone pictures! 

After the chicken is done, everything else takes about 20 minutes to put together.

While rice is cooking I chopped and sautéd one green and one yellow pepper in some olive oil and sprinkled it with some garlic powder and parsley  (just because I LOVE garlic and parsley, but you could totally leave this part out or add Your favorite spice.) I didn't sauté them very long because I wanted them so still have some crunch. 

Once the rice was done, I added just a table spoon of butter to the whole batch (ended up making 3 cups) and cilantro. I went light on the cilantro for mine, Jasper's and Tindra's but added lots for Drew. 

After the rice I threw on the chopped romaine followed by the peppers

Then I added the chicken, followed by some corn, black beans and a little bit of salsa. The chicken already has salsa mixed in so a lot isn't needed.

Then finally I added the chicken, cheese and a spoon full (or two!) of sour cream. 

Simple, full of veggies and Amazing. Jasper asked last night after dinner if he could have some more when he gets home from school, so needless to say I will be making this a lot over the next few months since I prefer to use the oven as little as possible during the summer!

Let me know if you decide to make it! 

I'm co-hosting this blog hop with some other awesome bloggers, so make sure you link up and find some fun new blogs to read! 

<a href="http://www.peacoatsandplaid.blogspot.com/search/label/the%20collective" target="”_blank”"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a268/bre916/BLOG/thecollective200_zpsb8a6e82b.jpg"/></a>

Welcome to the NEW and IMPROVED weekly blog hop party, THE Collective.

This is a link up for bloggers who want to gain followers and meet awesome people.

Not sure if this is the blog hop for you? Listen to what other bloggers have to say...

"Just to let you know, your blog hop is the best I've participated in for gaining new friends!!! I couldn't believe the results!! Thank you!"

- Danavee, This Vintage Grove

"I'm dropping by to let you know that I love being a part of your blog hop! 

 I have been meeting really nice bloggers.  Bloggers who are actually friendly and want to connect! 

I'm putting the blog hop button on my side bar, like, permanently!  Everyone should know about it. Just thought I'd share with you. Thank you."

-Vickie, Oh Abby Day

"Hi BreAnna, just want to say that your blog is beautiful, creative, and fun. The GFC collective is one of my favorite parts of the blogging week. Love meeting new friends and fellow bloggers. We just started our blog and were amazed at how helpful the GFC collective is! Keep up the amazing work."

-Alea and Rachael, Sparkle Your Life

"This GFC Collective Hop is seriously one of the best link ups out there! Through this hop I have found so many great blogs & friends that I wouldn't have otherwise found! Thank you so much for hosting such a fun link up! Please take the time to link up & join along! You won't be sorry that you did!"

-Amy @ Keepin' Up With the Smith's

Has THE Collective done wonders for your following? Let me know, shoot me an email at peacoatsnplaid(at)gmail(dot)com

Bre @ Peacoats and Plaid

and our lovely co-hosts for the week

Rebecca @ Caravan Sonnet

Darlene @ Tales of a Young Mamma

Lauren @ The Albrechts Blog

Samantha @ Life Style Love

...want to co-host? Email Bre at peacoatsnplaid(at)gmail(dot)com

Randomness.

So I'm starting up the couch to 5k again. For like the 3rd time. It's a 9 week program that's supposed to have you running a 5k by the end of it. If and that's a big IF, it works for me, it will work for anyone I'm sure of it. I'm such an anti- runner. I detest it. Bike riding, walking, hiking- love it. Running? If feels like torture. And I Really don't understand when people say they love it. I have friends who run marathons and they freaking LOVE running. Either they are on crack, (possible, but not likely) or they are just Much better than me at it. Which obviously, they are, I can't run a blog without getting winded. And man I would love to be one of those crazies that love running. That would make me life easier/skinnier I'm pretty sure (okay fine, and healthier too) but I'm just not. BUT I'm going to do my best to complete a 5k without stopping. Seems impossible this week, but maybe in a few weeks it will seem doable. I'm signing up to run a 5k with a friend at the end of june (one of the crazier marathoners) and maybe by then I won't hate it? We shall see. Or maybe I'll give up in a week like I usually do because I hate it That much. Hoping that putting it on here will help hold me accountable. Today I ran early before Drew left for work, and it was my first time without running with the double stroller and 50 pounds worth of babies. And I've got to say, running alone vs. with a double stroller definitely sucked Less.

No school for Jasper today! Pretty excited about that. We had a fun morning out in the sun/pool/water table now T is napping, Jasper is playing and soon we will be heading to the mall for some summer clothes for J and lunch. So much fun having him home during the week! Makes me So excited for summer.

If you are one of the lovely anonymous commenter who came by last night because I commented on a post saying young children have no business drinking pop, well I stand by that. I don't even think adults need it (yes, I do enjoy a glass of pepsi once or twice a week and I wish I Didn't) but there's no reason why a 5, 6, 7, 8 year old etc. should be chugging pop. I didn't grow up drinking it except for occasionally on weekends  or a special occasion (and even that wasn't until I was at least 7-8-9 ish) and such a small amount, not like our society and children drink it these days. An IG friend was saying after her daughters T-ball game all the kids were handed coke cans, I'm shocked and sort of appalled by that.  A 5 year old who just finished a hot t-ball game (in the south, though that part isn't important) should be given water or gatorade or Maybe an apple juice or something, but a carbonated, sugar drink? No. Not necessary. And I completely get that not everyone will agree with me on this. And that's FINE! I don't expect everyone too, and I get that I Might be a little to strict on this, take last summer. We were in Iowa having dinner at my sisters house (who was childless at the time.) I ran to target across the street while they were making dinner, and when I came back Jasper promptly told me " I have ROOT BEER in my cup!" He knew it was a big deal. He even knew I wouldn't approve, which is why he said something I'm sure. I told him he could have one sip then I went and dumped it out. Did my sister think I was being too strict and overreacting? I'm sure she did. Did it matter? Nope. My kid, my rules. Did I say anything the very next day when we got together with my brothers family and his wife's family and her 3 and 5 year old were drinking pop? Nope. Not my children, none of my business.

I'm so excited for this weekend. Jasper has his Swedish class graduation, and trust me when I say this. It is THE cutest thing ever. A bunch of little kids singing in Swedish? Yep, I die from the cuteness. I'm sure I'll have a billion pictures to share on Monday. And maybe a recording if I can figure out how to get it on here. I'm super technology savvy if you hadn't figure that out yet.

I think that's enough of random babbling for now. Have a great Friday!



*If you leave a comment disagreeing with me it will definitely stay up. I have ZERO problem with disagreements and love a good debate (hello, high school mock trial debater here) but if you are going to come to my blog and Lie and use name calling it will be deleted. Don't need that negativity here, thanks!*