Crockpot=Love

I love that I can throw everything in the crock pot in the morning, run errands and get a million things done, and wahla dinner is ready at 6! L-o-v-e it!

One of my new favorite crock pot meals in Chicken Pot Pie-ish. [I add the -ish because my husband says that it is NOT chicken pot pie, but more like chicken stew over biscuits. Whatev. Call it whatever you want! It is easy and yummy in my tummy.]

FYI: This is plenty for the two of us, with lots of leftovers for lunch.

Chicken Pot Pie
2 c. diced red potatoes
1 1/2 C. baby carrots cut in half
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
black pepper to taste
1/2 tsp. Mrs. Dash
1/2 C minced onion or 1 TBS dry onion flakes
1 can of cream of chicken soup
3/4 C frozen peas
Chicken Broth

English muffins or refrigerator biscuits
Shredded cheese, optional

-Fill slow cooker with veggies (potatoes, carrots, onions)
-Place chicken breasts on top of vegetables.
-Sprinkle with garlic salt, black pepper, and Mrs. Dash (and any other seasonings that you want to throw in there :) )
-Spread with condensed cream of chicken soup.
-Add in broth. [About a cup or so...]
-Place lid on cooker and cook on high for 4-5 hours or until veggies are tender.
-Cut chicken into small pieces using 2 knives in scissor action.
-Stir in frozen peas and a little broth if needed.
-Replace lid and allow to heat for 20-30 minutes.

Serve over biscuits and sprinkle with cheese if you wish.

Summer Reads

Great Summer Reads :)

Summer is the time for flip flops, lemonade, and pool/beach side reading. I am ALWAYS on the look out for a good book, so I thought I would share a few of the books I've been reading lately that are worth passing on. 

 Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand

It is about 3 women gong through three very tough, yet very different situations who decide to get away from it all and spend the summer in a cottage on Nantucket. It is the perfect mix of a drama/tragedy and a love story, and is just right for some pool side reading.

*image from Google images

Vision in White and Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts

These are the first 2 in the Bride Quartet (the third book comes out tomorrow!). The story follows 4 best friends who formed an all inclusive wedding business called Vows, but who haven't been so lucky in the love department themselves. The books are all about their friendships, their business and talents, and of course, finding love.

*image from google images

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

Chris Harte, a popular athlete and the artistic Em Gold bonded as infants and remained best friends and next door neighbors for 18 years. When they fall in love, everyone is beyond ecstatic. Well, everyone except for Em, who finds that being with Chris feels almost incestuous. This eventually leads to depression and a deep desire to end her life, and she insists that Chris prove his love by pulling the trigger. It is a little "heavier" than I would normally pick for a summer chick lit book, and a bit of a mystery, but it was a really interesting read.

*image from Google images

Well, its been a while...

I've been neglecting my little blog. Well, here's a quick recap on what's happened since I last posted.

My mom & I made a 12 hour drive to Fort Benning, GA to watch Tim graduate from BCT. It was really exciting to see him for the first time in 2 1/2 months.

Reunited and it feels so good! :)

(MORE PICTURES COMING SOON!)

We spent 4 glorious days together before the Army stole him again for another month & a half. He will graduate Warrant Officer School in January & then we will finally get to act like we're married again and live in the same state. Yay for living with my husband again...BOO for it being so far away from our family!

I've been sick for over a week, so nothing exciting to report here. My life pretty much consisted of sleeping, watching movies, and sleeping some more. Laryngitis and pnuemonia officially SUCK....just in case you were wondering. Thankfully, I am finally feeling human again. Hopefully, I can get in gear and finish Christmas shopping in the next week or two.

Timothy got to call on Thanksgiving & talk for quite a while. It was AMAZING!! :) :) :) Love those phone calls. The Army really makes you appreciate communication. It was the first time he's gotten to call since he's been there.

He will be home for TWO WHOLE WEEKS in 20 days....actually 19 days, 11 hours, and 59 minutes. Not that I'm counting or anything! 

It's the final countdown!

The countdown has finally reached SINGLE DIGITS! I am so beyond ready to see him. We got to talk for an hour & a half last night. It was amazing. He also told me that he snail mailed me a picture of him! :) :) :)

AND

I got it today along with 3 letters!!! He looks so serious & handsome.


Let's face it, I am an organizational junkie and a planner!  Even when I was a little kid I had two boxes of crayons...one alphabetized & one sorted by color. My closet is sorted by type of garment (pants, sweatshirts, long sleeve, short sleeve, dresses) and color (light to dark) Not much has changed...

I love having a plan. I love knowing what I will be doing {or what I want to be doing} in a week, a month, a year, etc. Trips with me? Usually involve folders of information, maps, local restaurants, hotels, etc. My plans are becoming more flexible as I grow up (and with the nice shove from the Army), but there is always at least some sort of plan involved. I have already started packing for the trip to see him and my trip folder is complete.

Riley Turns 1

Our puppy Riley turned 1 today & my parent's schnauzer, Chloe, turned 2 this month so I made them a joint birthday cake. It was a peanut butter & carrot cake with a cream cheese frosting. I tried it, and it actually wasn't bad...just a little bland since it didn't have any sugar in it. It was a big hit with the dogs though.

I put it on a plate on the floor so the puppies could eat it...but Riley wouldn't eat off the plate. She knows she isn't allowed "people food" or to beg, and kept acting like she thought she would get in trouble.  She just sat and looked at it. Silly girl. Finally, we just handed her a little bite. She loved it, but she still wouldn't take any off the plate.  I also made them little party hats, but neither of them would wear them. Oh well....

Here's our happy birthday girl!

Eating cake must have made her tired...

Happy "Non-Birthday!"

Happy "Non-Birthday" to Us!

I had a great "non-birthday." I started off the morning with a surprise delivery from my love. It was a beautiful bouquet of pink & orange flowers that he picked out all by himself BEFORE he left in August. I LOVE them! I also got 2 letters in the mail that day; so my day just got better & better. That night I had dinner at Zapatas with my parents, Elissa, Matt, and Allison. I made a request before we went in that I didn't want to wear any silly hats or be sung to. WELL...my family held up their end of the bargain, but our waiter overheard Elissa call me the "birthday girl" and took it upon himself to bring me the sombrero & a whole gang of waiters to sing their version of "Happy Birthday." But hey, I got free dessert out of it & it was super yummy! When we got home, I had even more dessert-Birthday cake & ice cream! :) All things considered, it was a good day. I only wish I could have shared this day with my husband & that he had a good 24th birthday.

Last night I FINALLY ordered a shirt for Tim's graduation. I was being super indecisive, but I was running out of time so I made a decision. 24 days & counting until Family Day!!

Happy October

Happy October! I love this time of year...it means light jackets, leaves changing colors, and watching It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. :) AND next month, I can start listening to Christmas music. Yes, I know I'm a dork...but that's ok.

My mom ordered me a pretty white peacoat for my birthday. I have been looking for one for a LONG time. I have a really hard time finding anything that fits that I like, but I finally did...Happy Birthday to me! I am not technically celebrating my birthday until November this year....I'm just going to stay 22 for another month. That's allowed, right?

It FINALLY came in today...yay! :) Here's a picture!

I've had a busy day...I got 4 or 5 inches cut off my hair (picture to come), closed an old bank account, went to the post office, shopped a little, and waited for 2 HOURS for my tire to get fixed, and now I'm doing laundry.

One month from tomorrow, I will be on my way to see my hubby! 33 days & counting. :)