Blog Fail



You know you are failing at Blogging when your mother calls you to let you know you haven't been posting enough.

Thanks, Mom.

I have been terrible about blogging lately.
We have been really busy with work and family time, but I don't want to go on and on about it because complaining is something I've been working on lately.  I feel like there is way too much of it in the world, considering that the people who, in my opinion, have reason to complain are usually the ones who don't.  How does that work?  I'm definitely guilty of doing my share of it and have no reason to do it.  Anyway, enough of that. We are blessed beyond measure.
I've gotten into the mind set that I can't post anything without a tutorial. I really like making tutorials, having an excuse to craft a lot, and love finding tutorials for things I want to make online on other blogs. However, it gets expensive. The other day I found myself going to the store to buy something and thought, "Well, I have to get this because I have to blog it". Whaaaaaat?! That'ssodumb. I read a post yesterday and someone said they started thinking, "Well, if I don't blog it, it didn't really happen".  Hilarious, because I am sure there are other people besides this person and myself who feel that way.  I feel like I don't have anything worth saying and people won't read it if I don't show them how to do something when, in reality, my favorite blogs to follow every day are the ones that aren't tutorial-driven at all. Sure, pictures make things more interesting, but my favorite blogs are about life.

So, I've decided I will obviously still craft and make tutorials (it's in ma blood people!), but I will mix in some random posts about our life. So, really no change, just more posts. I hope you are as nosey as I am (I think this is why I like life posts so much. I get to know peoples biz-nas) and like to stalk... I will indulge.

I think part of my problem lies in wanting to aspire to be an super-blogger.  You know, the ones that are pretty much profesh.  Don't get me wrong, I love them, but most of them are written by SAH Moms or professional photographers and bloggers.  I am not at all saying that stay at home moms have all the time in the world.  I am a very firm believer that staying at home with children is a full time/overtime job in itself.  Nonetheless, it seems these people have perfect lives, perfect homes, perfect husbands, perfect kids, and the perfect life (and guess what?  I have none of those things!  My husband is pretty grand, though!).  I know this is not true and hold fast to it, but it sure does seem that way.  My friend Julia sent me an article that I found both true and hilarious:  Why I can't stop reading Mormon housewife blogs by Emily Matchar.

I am guilty (not that there is anything to be guilty of) of the same thing- stalking countless Mormon mommy blogs daily.  What's the deal?  Why are all the spectacular bloggers Mormon?  I love them, and they have wonderful ideas.  I wish I could be that perfect (or at least seem that way).  I wish, with all that is in me, that these people and their families would come to know the true Christ.

Oh well, I guess perfection (or the sense of it!) will never come to this gal. I'm not sure when I had the idea that it might.  This blog of mine will probably always be an outlet for my mom to see our daily lives since she lives so far away, which is what it was supposed to be in the first place.  And you know what, I am totally fine with that.  =)

Fiery Hot Chicken Chili aka Witches Brew

Okay people- if you are a consistent reader, you know I am one for extremes- "BEST EVER" appears in probably 95% of my posts.  =)
However, this recipe really is the best.
Every Halloween at school we have a "Cauldrons and Confections" potluck for United Way for the teachers.
Teams enter into the competition with a chili or soup (or both) and a dessert.  It's a blind taste test, $5 to get in to eat (which goes to United Way), and you vote on the winner.  One dish from each category wins.  The secretaries in the office head it up and decorate the conference room (we even get spooky emails.  Hilarious).  It's a riot.  Last year, someone brought "Boo Bee's" and they were scary bees made from cookies and such.  I didn't get it until I kept saying "WHO BROUGHT THE BOO BEES" and then I got it.  Ya.  Great fun.  =)  We have to make up names for the dishes, so I guess for right now it is "Witch's Brew".  I will come up with something more clever tomorrow.  Thinking of going with "spit" or some sort.

I don't mean to ruin the fun, but this is the recipe I am bringing (Plus, I think the only person from school who reads my blog is the person on my team... and that's because I make her read it.  Baha).  It is delicious.  My husband is a hearty-meal kinda fella (as in "soups aren't a meal"), and he adored it.  I was given the recipe by Susan Libby, a woman from our church (who is also hilarious) who invited us over for dinner a few weeks ago for a double date with her and her hubby.  Love it.  It's low fat and super easy.  The recipe says to saute your chicken, but I left an entire chicken in the crock pot while I was at school and took all the meat off and threw away the skin and bones when I got home.  All I had to do was add the other ingredients.  Also, I am usually a stickler on pricey ingredients and will leave them out.  The chili peppers in adobo sauce is $3.something for 1 can.  You will only use a quarter of it, but do not leave it out.  It makes a huge difference!  It called for bay leaf, but I don't have it and it was expensive.  Oh well!  Not missin' it.

Fiery Hot Chicken Chili

It's not so fiery or hot, don't worry!

Chili

• 1 tablespoon butter (I cut this down from two.  My chicken is already cooked.  You could leave it out!)
• 1 (20-ounce) package boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (I used half a chicken, de-boned and de-skinned)
• 1 medium (1/2 cup) onion, chopped (or 1/4 cup dried, minced onions- Daniel no likey onions)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons lemon pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt (I put in 3 tbsp minced garlic.  We like garlic!)
• 2 (14-ounce) cans chicken broth (I used 4 cups water+4 bullion cubes.  Meh, already had it)
• 2 (15-ounce) cans pinto beans with jalapeños* (I used regular pintos and 1 can green chilis, as noted below)
• 2 (11-ounce) cans white shoepeg corn** (Yep, normal corn, too.  Cheaper and at Aldi!)
• 1 to 2 teaspoons chipotle chile peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Garnish

Finely chopped red bell pepper, if desired

Fresh lime wedges, if desired

Directions

Melt butter in 6-quart saucepan until sizzling; add chicken, onion, cumin, lemon pepper, oregano and garlic salt; cook over medium heat until chicken is no longer pink (6 to 8 minutes). Add chicken broth, pinto beans, shoepeg corn, chipotle chiles and bay leaves. Continue cooking until mixture comes to a boil (8 to 10 minutes). Reduce heat to low; cook, uncovered, 30 minutes.

Just before serving, remove bay leaves; stir in lime juice, sugar and cilantro.

To serve, top each serving with chopped red pepper and lime wedges, if desired.

*Substitute 2 cans pinto beans and 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles.  TIP- buy the little can of green chiles that are whole.  It's cheaper than the chopped and you get more in the long run!

** Substitute 2 (11-ounce) cans yellow whole kernel corn.

Bazinga!  Dinner.  Licious.

Baby Shower Ideas

There came a time in my life when it seemed like every time I logged into Facebook, someone was announcing their engagement.  Posting ring photos.  Sharing links to fun wedding ideas.
Now?
BABIES.
Everytime I check my feed, someone is announcing their awesome, beautiful, miraculous news:  A little one is on the way.
I always think, Man!  There is something in the water!
Then I realize- I am just that age.
All of the people that were getting married are now having their babies and I love it.  Instead of stalking FB for wedding photos, I look forward to seeing baby bump pictures (which you will  be getting weekly from me when that happens for us) and little faces that look remarkably similar to my friends.  So sweet!
My sis-in-law, Becky, is expecting her first in January.

Autumn Nicole will join our family in January (how cute of a name is that?).  We are already a huge family and barely fit in one house on Saturday nights, but it's only starting to get bigger.  Love it!  Can't wait to meet this baby girl.  She is one lucky duck to have Becky and Jacob as parents (and lucky to have one freaking awesome Aunt Katie if I do say so myself-she already has this gorg sweater waiting for her).

Um, hello does this come in mega size for Auntie?

Anyway, baby means shower.  We are planning this partay a little over a month from now and need ideas.  Already purchased invitations (got them on clearance for a cool $1.50 for 15- and bought 3 packages.  So what they are actually wedding invites.  I'm doing a bride a favor somewhere by taking these bubble gum pink invites out of the store.) and blog stalking for decor, food, game, and favor ideas.

I figured with the influx of baby-bearing out there, someone else might benefit from this post.  Here are a few ideas I have seen and love love love!
Hostess with the Mostess is one of my fav blogs for shower ideas.

They have featured:
Elegant and Lush:


Check out those baby shots of Mom and Dad.  So cute!

Chanel Inspired:


Love the Glitter clothesline pins and "notes" to the baby.  So sweet!

Ali's Sweet Treats has these cookie cutters- I am borrowing it from a coworker.  So cute!

To be Charmed has a tutorial for these burlap vase covers.  You could do freezer paper stencils with these and have something baby related- they would be so sweet as decoration with flowers!  AND you could use the 100 vases left over from your wedding.  I knew all those decorations would come in handy one day!

And, of course, what shower would be complete without garland and bunting?  Seriously, obsessed with this stuff!

A Beautiful Mess has tutorials for 10 types of garland.  Awe-some.

Oh, Baby!  Such cute ideas.  I will let you know how the shower goes!  Congrats Becky and Jacob!
Do you have any fun game ideas?