Thankful November - Day 8 & a recipe!

Crock Pot

In case you missed the memo, I heart my crock pot. I also heart recipes that don't require measuring, many of which I make in the crock pot. So today, I am thankful for both of those things.

*Chili recipe below*

Chili in the Crock Pot

I don't even know that I'd call this a 'recipe'. It's one of those meals that you can't really screw up, and everytime I make it, it's a little different. Here's what's cookin' today!

Ingredients

1 lbs ground beef (or ground turkey)

diced onion, amount to your liking (I used about 1/2 an onion)

diced green pepper, amount to your liking (I used about 1/2 an gp)

diced jalapenos, to your liking

sliced mushrooms (I use one small can, but fresh would work too)

1 can diced tomatoes

2 cans kidney beans

2 cans mild chili beans

Tomato juice (I use about 3/4 container - and I like the spicy kind!)

Tomato paste (for thickening)

minced garlic

chili powder

cayenne pepper (added spice!)

salt

pepper

In a saucepan, brown ground beef. Add a few dashes of cayenne pepper and chili powder. Add onion, green pepper and mushrooms and saute. Once cooked, put into the crock pot. Add beans, diced tomatoes, minced garlic, cayenne pepper, chili powder, salt and pepper, and tomato juice. Cook on low until you are ready to eat! Towards the end, depending on consistency, add tomato paste to thicken.

*You can also brown the meat the night before and store in the refrigerator over night to make this a quicker process in the morning before work.





I won, I won!!!

Whoo hoo!! I participated in and won my first blog contest!! And it was so easy. Laura solicitated recipe ideas and in return, is giving away a $15 Starbucks card to one lucky winner = me! Starbucks here I come.  :) Perhaps I need to think of a fun giveaway for my readers.....*wheels turning*

7 months already!?!

**Caution: Photo Overload**

19lbs and 27 inches long (rough estimate)

Happy First Fall big guy! Not much new on the development track, but that hasn't stopped us from having a super fun month.

We started off the month with your first cold, and this wasn't fun for anyone. Cough, sniffles and late night wake-ups got the best of us, and while I didn't mind the extra snuggles, I was glad to say goodbye to it.

You  upgraded to the big bathtub this month and have taken a  liking to "swimming".

You visited your first cider mill, went for your first hayride, picked your first pumpkin, and even took your first 'face-in-hole' photo. Mommy and daddy enjoyed warm donuts and cider, and you weren't too thrilled when we wouldn't share with you. The donuts are all you next year, I promise!

Then Daddy and I carved pumpkins while you talked our ears off. We made you a pumpkin twin. :)

We had an Oktoberfest block party with the neighbors this month. While you were a little young to partake in most of the activities, including the bounce house and cookie decorating, you enjoyed Carly's exersaucer and were passed around like a hot potato. I can't wait for future years when you are able to really join in the fun.

And what is October without Halloween? We really made the most of this holiday and you got your full wear out of your giraffe costume. The festivities started with the Boo Bash in downtown Milford. Next up was the Lake Sherwood Halloween Party, again with your cousins, and buddy Cal. And last, but certainly not least, you had your first trick-or-treating experience! Daddy took you around with the neighbors and you were out for the count 2 houses in. No worries, Daddy still collected candy for you!

Silly giraffe at the Boo Bash

Monsters Zain and Cal at the Lake Sherwood party

 All the boys with Grandma and Papa and Nanny and Grandpa Bill

Trick or Treating time with the dads!

Sleepy giraffe

You and Cooper have really grown on each other. You love laying on the floor with him, try to hold his paws, pet him and love when he licks your face.

New on the menu this month are meats. And you love them, go figure! We've introduced you to chicken n' dumplings, chicken n' apples and your favorite, spaghetti (all in puree form of course!) You have also taken a liking to puffs, yogurt bites and wagon wheels. After a little practice, you have managed to get them from the tray into your mouth. And you just can't do it fast enough! Mommy and daddy have to watch you very carefully, or limit the number on your tray, because you'll stuff them in your mouth one after the other without chewing and choke yourself.

7 month likes:
blowing bubbles and wet razz's
belly raspberries
watching tv
baby juda's walker
being tickled
spaghetti
puffs
bathtime

& dislikes:
teething (as do mommy and daddy) - just cut through already!
being tired

7 month photos:

Thankful November - Day 7

My Personal Alarm Clock

Today I am thankful that I get to wake up to this. It is way better than that annoying alarm buzzer, and while there is no snooze button to hit over and over, this face makes getting out of bed in the morning so much easier.

Happy Monday!

Weekend Recap

I hate how quickly the weekends come and go. And even though we had an extra hour this weekend, it still went by too fast. Here's to hoping this time change doesn't mess with Easton's schedule too much! A quick recap of our weekend!

Friday
Work
Pick up dessert for Saturday night
Finish current pinterest project - thanks Kalyn, my final product below :)

Saturday
Pearl Party with Mom
Drop Easton and Cooper off at Grandma and Papa's
Craft night with the ladies - more on this coming soon!
Spend the night at mom and dad's

Sunday
Hang at mom and dad's
Family nap
Meal plan/grocery shop - thank you  hubby!
Laundry/change sheets
Easton's 7 month photos
October/Fall blog update
Relax - blogging/watching tv in bed

Thankful November - Day 6

Friends

If I named them all individually, from wonderful acquaintances to tried and true friends, I'd exceed my list 30 things I'm thankful for here and now. And while I'm thankful for all those people, I have a group of girlfriends who are completely irreplaceable and I am beyond thankful to have them in my life. We go way back, have been through so much together and have so many wonderful memories and I know, day or night, near or far, those girls will be there. They are the people that I can count on for anything and spending time with them is a guarenteed laughfest. 

"As you grow up, you realize it's less important to have more friends, and more important to have real ones."

Me and my girls, circa 2008



Thankful November - Day 5

Saturday

As a full-time working mom, I am thankful for Saturday. I't's my favorite day of the week. It's the beginning of the weekend and after a busy week at work and barley brushing shoulders with my husband each day, I look forward to spending Saturday with my family. While my days of sleeping in are over, I am grateful for Saturday morning snuggles with Easton, breakfast in our pjs and family nap time.
And what better way to start the weekend than like this...