Recipe: Gluten Free Cumin Chicken with Black Beans

My husband recently starting cooking dinner once a week for our family. IT IS WONDERFUL! ;) 

Here is the dish he cooked for us last week. He found the recipe on Real Simple Recipes and tweaked it to fit our dietary needs and tastes. 

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
• 3 cups canned black beans, rinsed and drained (you can sub for dry beans and soak them overnight)
• 1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed (can sub for fresh, organic corn)
• 1 1/4 cups cherry tomato halves
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro
• 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
• kosher salt and black pepper

Directions:

1. Place the chicken between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Pound with a mallet to ½-inch thickness. Combine the cumin with the cayenne and rub over the chicken.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the chicken for 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board.
3. Return the skillet with the pan drippings to medium heat. Add the onion and jalapeño. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
4. Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, and 3 tablespoons water and cook, stirring, 1 or 2 minutes, until just heated through. Remove from heat.
5. Toss with the scallions, cilantro, and vinegar. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Slice the chicken and arrange on top of the beans.

This was such a yummy meal! 

The house smelled amazing and we all enjoyed this dish so much. I hope you try it! 

Happy 4 Year Blog Anniversary

I can not believe it's my four year blog anniversary today. Who would have thought when I started my blog in 2010 that I would still be doing it and would be blogging in such a big way now. 

Indulge me if you will and lets take a look back at what Stilettos and Diaper Bags has done and become. And, more so, what I have done and become in the past four years. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into.

In 2010, I started my blog to not get in the "yoga pants rut" as my son was 20 months old and I was finally at the weight I was prior to having him. 
It was more of a diary back then. A way to motivate me to get dressed everyday and take pride in my appearance. Plus it was something that was just for me. It was my escape from reality. Little did I know that two months later I would find out I was expecting our daughter and would then be blogging my pregnancy style. Have you ever gain 50 pounds and then lost if for the world to see and comment on? It's not fun and so fun all at the same time! 

2010

In 2011 I blogged, baby weight and all with two small children. 
 My son showed delays in speech and development and was in early intervention (through the state) we then transitioned into the school for EC. This was the year my son was diagnosed with autism. You would not have know this reading my blog. I came here for my fashion escape. It took me another year or so to let you in on what was going on at home. 
This was also the year I had my second cervical fusion (spinal surgery) so there were some great lows this year for me at home. There were also some great highs for me in the blogger world. I was on TV four times and landed my first few brand collaborations. 

2011

In 2012 I found my new normal. My daughter showed delays in speech so we also began her in EI through the state. I attended Autism One and met Jenny McCarthy. I was becoming a warrior mom who's mission was to make my children fully functioning adults. This is still a mission I am on. That is my main purpose. 
Meanwhile, myself and my sister-in-law went into business together and launched our first website, Because I Shop too Much. We also started a blog together called Sisters Marie. 
Through all of this the blog was growing beyond what I thought I would be doing! 
And, I chopped off 7 inches of my hair. Why not? It was time for a change. So much had changed over the past few years so I figured my look needed a change too! 

2012

In 2013 our company launched it's second website (Because They Grow Too Fast) and more brand collaborations keep coming in for the blog. I found myself in 2 German magazines this year and also in Cosmopolitan India for street style. I was on TV again and went ombre with my hair, then back to dark. 
My family life finally leveled off a bit. My daughter ended up having a speech delay so she got an IEP, but it was a relief of sort to not have an autism diagnosis for her as well. 
She started EC when she turned three and has been thriving! 
We leveled off on our bio medical path for my son and finally after 2 years no longer needed to give him shots every 3 days! He too was thriving with his stronger immune system due to our bio meds and my consist need to raise the bar in everything I do. I could write a book about the highs and lows we have been through with my son, but this year we came to realize he is so brilliant and mainstream kindergarten was the absolute right choice. He is now testing at a third grade level for math and reading. (insert happy dance) We have a long way to go, but when I look back, we have come so much farther then they said we would. That's my suck it to "the man". lol 
Though all of this I had the support and love (and patience) of my husband. Who, by the way, has taken 70% of all the photos you have ever seen on my blog! So thank you Ryan, I know you didn't sign up as a hubby/photographer, but I love that you are good at it and don't mind. 

2013

As I start blogging in 2014 I find myself baffled as I hit the one million views mark about 2 days into the year. You guys are my source of energy if you will. You make me want to dream bigger and do more in both my family life and in my professional one. 

Thank you to everyone who have ever stopped by, even if it was just to say "what is she wearing, good lord?!" lol 

I hope you continue to grow with me as I blog my day to day as a fashionable mother, business owner, and blogger. xo

WGN Morning News for NYE Fashion

I told you yesterday I was asked by Zahra of Love Zahra to be one of the eight models she styled for a segment on WGN morning news on December 30th. 
All of the outfits were pulled from stores at Woodfield mall. The focus of the segment was last minute NYE looks for under $100. Zahra styled a dressy and casual look for women in their 20's, 30's, 40's, and 50's although I could see myself in at least pieces of each.
 All the clothing information and prices (on all 8 ladies) can be found here.

The other ladies that joined me are Rachel of Chicago Chic Blog, Megan of Stylish and Scatterbrained, Stephanie of The Naked Canvas,  Lauren of Lakeshore Lady, Beth of Chic and Glamorous, Shaheen of Lows to Luxe, and Care, who is not a blogger but could certainly be a model (she did the other "what to wear on NYE in your 20's" with me). 

We were given Bozo's old dressing room to get ready in (yes, THE Bozo!) and had to come hair and make up ready. So I was feeling a bit over done at 6:00am on my ride over to WGN needless to say. To find out how to recreate my fishtail side bun, check out my previous how-to hair post over on the Sisters Marie blog.

Here are some photos from our morning:

Top: Ann Taylor // Jacket: Joe Fresh from JC Penny // Skirt: MNG by Mango from JC Penny // Shoes: c/o Just Fab 

And here is the actual segment:

What do you think?

Would you wear any of these looks (or all of them for that matter)? 

Outfit: WGN Morning News Fitting

Over the weekend we (myself and 7 other Chicago bloggers) met up at Woodfield mall to get fitted by Zahra of Love Zahra. She had styled looks for us all to wear on WGN morning news this past Monday. 

It was an oddly warm day at 46 degrees, so I decided to take full advantage and rock a fur vest over a simple blouse, boyfriend denim, and great shoes. 

Blouse: Macy's // Vest: Nordstrom // Jeans: Express // Bag & Shoes: c/o Just Fab // Necklace, Bow Bracelet, & Rings: T+J Designs // Chain Bracelet: Victoria's Secret // Sunnies: Prada 

The fitting went great. I ended up not wearing what I had thought I was going to be wearing. 

I was supposed to rock "what to wear on NYE in your 50's" but in the end I was put in the "what to wear on NYE in your 20's". 

Yes, I'm a 34 year old mother of two who was put on TV wearing what a 20 something should wear (oh the pressure! lol). If I wasn't nervous before, I got nervous then. ;) 

 Check back tomorrow for the news clip and photos from the day of!