5 Things I’m Loving This Week

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Spring has sprung! Oh wait, just kidding. It’s still pretty cold here in Chicago. We get a glimpse of Spring weather and then it disappears. In fact, we might get snow this weekend. Sigh. I’m just trying to push through a few more weeks until it’s in full swing. Until then, here are 5 things I’m loving this week.

Instant Pot

I got it for Christmas from my Grandma and I used it a few times but I was still intimidated by it. Then she came to visit me last week and told me all the amazing things she made in it: rice pudding, country ribs and steel cut oats. So this week I’m using it every day and it’s been great.

I can cook sweet potatoes in roughly 20 minutes and I don’t have to peel or chop them while they are raw, which is a real PITA. After I pressure cook them, they peel super quick and I dice them up. Then back in the Instant Pot they go and I’ll just sauté them in a butter for a few minutes as a quick side or toss them in a salad the next day for lunch.

I can also cook a frozen chicken breast in about 40 minutes total (15 for it to come to pressure, 12 minutes to cook and 10 minutes to natural release). and that’s clutch for days I forget to thaw meat in the morning.

Benefit Brow Bar at Ulta

We only recently got an Ulta nearby. Not having to drive 30 minutes to get to one has been a dream. The best part being the Benefit brow bar! There’s just something about how all Benefit employees are trained, no matter who does them they turn out great.

Homemade Dressings

I have been on a kick for a while now with making my own ranch dressing. It tastes divine but it’s also super affordable. Then a couple weeks ago I started watching Nikki Philippi on YouTube and she will concoct her own dressing for every salad she makes. It’s damn impressive but also super simple. So I’ve been totally copying her and doing the same. I made a killer Greek vinaigrette with tons of raw garlic and oregano and a deliciously sweet honey vinaigrette that’s great on my Harvest salad. There’s just something about a homemade dressing that brings a salad to the next level.

Mason jars and plastic lids

It’s so much easier to make a dressing if you throw all the ingredients in a jar and shake it up. It seriously takes 10 seconds. I bought some 8oz little guys and lids on Amazon. It’s been life changing. I’m also storing more food in glass by using the larger ones. My next venture is to try and freeze soups in them.

PicMonkey: Making my images for the blog is soooo fun and easy to do with PicMonkey. Being creative in a digital way is new to me but it’s so rewarding. There’s something to be said about learning a new skill as an adult; especially if you are a SAHM. It’s just nice to use your brain in a different way.