Motivation

I swear to you now. I could run a marathon listening to "I whip my hair back n forth" That song can make me run another 4 minutes + 4 minutes EASY. (Yes I listen to it back to back)

It also helps when cute guys are in the gym. And you've just bought new running shoes that are bomb.com

I look for motivation in many forms. Usually it's supper. Yesterday it happened to be the guy on the bike behind me. Sue me.

For your listening enjoyment.

xo A

Nail polish on nail polish

I love to paint my nails, and it no surprise that I also own a lot of different colors.  Some so old, I remember wearing them in high school, yikes.

So I found this awesome idea on Pinterest to use a picture frame and create a shelf to hold all of them, but also display them.

Like always I consulted Justin if this was something that is possible (mainly because I don't own a saw). I started with an 8x10 frame and after drawing out plans, it would only hold 21 polishes

                                      

So after much deliberating (not) I went with the 11x14 frame. Justin built a "mini bookshelf", I stained it, then I nailed it into the frame.

       

                                            

                                     

Now I just need another necklace holder....

       

xo A

Heartbreaker

Conversation on the telephone with Brody (nephew age 2 1/2)

B-hi lyssa

Me- hi Brody! Are you having fun at papa and grandmas?!

B-yeah, are you coming to papas's?

<heart breaks>

Me- aww Brody, no I'm here in Florida still

B- flor-I-da?

It's moments like these that I wish I was closer to home

xo A

Salt && Peppa here...

I know probably every work to the GEICO commercial (it's not hard, there aren't many)

No I'm not going to be talking about 80's hit songs... I made stuffed peppers tonight. Superb.

Onions and garlic in skillet, brown turkey. Add spices. Add 2 tomatoes. Cook 5 minutes. Add rice and black beans. Smush into your cut out peppers and bake at 375 for 30 minutes. Top with a little cheese and bake another 5 minutes. Violá!

       

If you think those directions suck. Go here: http://www.luvabargain.com/stuffed-red-peppers-brown-rice-ground-turkey.html

       

Always always use parchment paper, makes clean up a breeze.

Some days I love doing dishes. But after I just cooked, is not one of those times. I sometimes think about inviting people over to cook for, so they will do my dishes.

It feels so great to be back to my routine now that the holidays are over.

xo A

It has begun again...

It's snowbird season. Lots of people driving at rush hour that could just stay home one more hour. I have a feeling over the coming months, weeks, days I should have lots of good idiotic stories

When you're following a line of people going 5 under in your car and you finally see the leader and he's driving like a jack wagon and then you get close enough and realize he's the moron that sticks his registration stickers in all four corners. 

 xo Sharpie bumper

Gets in the "left" left turn lane because it's shorter but immediately needs to turn right, right in front of you

xo Proud army dad

Enough complaining. Please make this. Immediately. Cauliflower Mac n Cheese.

                     

It's here: http://selfproclaimedfoodie.com/hidden-cauliflower-macaroni-cheese/

I'm in a food coma and too lazy. I 3/4'd it because I've made the mistake of cooking for 8 before. But now I have leftover cauliflower for a snack!

It started out being healthy...but then it wasn't. I used 1% instead of half&half and sharp cheese, handful of Parmesan and white cheddar, and topped it with parsley/breadcrumbs under the broiler.

Trust me. It's time for me to go waste 3 hours watching the season premiere of the Bachelor

xo A

It's getting CHILI in Florida

But for real, we're talking low 70's, mid 60's people.

Today I donned a sweater and knew it was chili for supper. Raise your hand if you've been making the same chili recipe forever. As in you know the recipe by heart and don't need to look at the card anymore. *me*

So I asked around, looked up some recipes and made the most amazing supper. I almost don't want to write this, and instead get another bowl. But I will not, because it just remembered that the grocery store sells turkey necks (right next to the ground turkey) and it has scarred me a little.

Turkey chili

1 pound ground turkey

1/2 a yellow onion, chopped

1 green pepper, cut up pretty small

1 can diced tomatoes

2 15oz cans tomato sauce

1 can black beans

1 can chili beans/red beans

Chili powder

Salt and pepper

So I did this in the crockpot, but I did it pretty backwards. Naturally I didn't have 4 hours to let it cook so I'm going to tell you how I would have cooked it.

I browned the turkey with 1 teaspoon chili powder. I think it adds more flavor. When that was done, I sautéed the onions and peppers. Everything else went into the crockpot along with 2 tablespoons chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper.

I let it cook for an hour while my CORNBREAD was baking. However I was starving and put it in the microwave for a minute and had to eat. If you have the time, 4 hours on high, 6 hours on low.

Ok but this was the best part. Creamed corn, cornbread.

Uh you heard me right. I've never had it before but the recipe I found said "Best Cornbread Ever" so I believed it, the internet doesn't lie. Or at least bloggers on Pinterest don't ;)

Preheat oven to 350 (this is the only time I preheat, when baking)

2 Jiffy cornbread mix

2 eggs

1 can cream style corn

2 teaspoons sugar

I halved it, what am I going to do with 16 muffins?! (I should not have halved it)(and I forgot the sugar, I don't really think it needed it anyway)

       

I like muffins, easier than bread, and they take less time to cook.

Baked 15 minutes + 2 for some color as muffins

If you don't half it and actually make it in a real pan, takes about 30-40 minutes

        

A beautiful golden brown

        

This is why I don't have a boyfriend. More leftovers for me.

        

xo A

ps. What do you put in your chili that makes it so amazing?

Cranberries

It's been awhile.

I've still been cooking, and doing projects, just have yet to post. These past few weeks have been tough and I just don't feel like writing.

However, today we are celebrating Friendsgiving and I am in charge of cranberries and potatoes (yes I signed myself up for these)

I found a recipe on Pintrest that was super easy for the cranberries (and also on the back of the bag)(lame) and it seemed very similar to what my mom uses.

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

Boil stirring CONSTANTLY

       

Wash these babies (1bag) and pour in once water is boiling. Bring back to a boil then lower heat to simmer.

Don't they look pretty :)

       

About the time I took the last picture. And thought "oh they look so pretty" These (swear word) things started popping, and yes they're hot, and yes they hurt. 

This is also when I added 10 cloves, some cinnamon and allspice. I also juiced 1/2 an orange. Cook on low for 12 minutes.

       

So you're basically done now. Except you have to dig out the cloves. The actual worst part about cranberries (hey mom, did you know cloves came ground up? I bet you don't even have to use whole cloves!) and a job my brother and I hated. It's like Where's Waldo, but Waldo is a sneaky biotch and moves.

However in the sake of being authentic, I used real cloves and am now hovering over this pot digging for cloves, but it smells so amazing. I would consider making these all the time so my apartment smelled this good. Can you find the clove?

(Bottom right)

       

If you've ever done this, there are about 3 stages.

1.) really confident, you've found 3 in a row and think "this year is going to be different!"

2.) you start debating if you ACTUALLY put 10 in...or perhaps it was only 9, that cranberry popped, and maybe you didn't actually throw #7 in....

3.) you start writing a sign to put in front of the bowl "Watch out for the missing Clove"

        

You take breaks. 

You call your mom.

And by some stroke of luck, YAHTZEE! You find the last one and it's over.

Cranberry making is truly an art form and not for the faint of heart. You've stained your favorite wooden spoon, and given up your entire morning, but for the sake of tradition, they're done and they taste pretty good. Now it's time for some football.

        

Thinking of you always,

xo A