Pages

Friday, February 18, 2022

Kitchen Confessions: Easy Crockpot White Chicken Chili

Happy Friday, everyone!  We've been lucky enough to have some warm-ish weather this week and it has been so nice to be able to get outside without bundling up. Unfortunately, the cold is back today and it has me in the mood for a good crockpot meal.  


A few weeks ago I shared my quest for easy weeknight meals and my love of the crockpot.  I've got another yummy recipe to share today...Easy Crockpot White Chicken Chili! In full disclosure, my kids liked the Easy Crockpot Potato Soup better than this, but I loved this one and thought it was definitely worth sticking around in the dinner rotation. 


At first look this was *almost* too many ingredients and a little more prep time with the dicing and chopping for my liking.  In the end though, it was actually super easy and worth the little extra time. 

Easy Crockpot White Chicken Chili 

Ingredients: 

1 lb. boneless/skinless chicken breast 

1 yellow onion (diced) 

2 cloves garlic (minced) 

2 cans chicken broth 

2 cans great Northern beans (drained and rinsed) 

2 - 4 oz cans diced green chiles 

1 can whole kernel corn (drained) 

1 tsp salt 

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp cumin 

3/4 tsp oregano 

1/2 tsp chili powder 

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper 

small handful fresh cilantro (chopped) 

1 block cream cheese 

1/4 cup half and half 

Toppings: 

shredded cheese 

tortilla strips 

sour cream 

sliced avocados 

Directions: 

1. Add chicken breast to crockpot, sprinkle with salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, chili powder and cayenne pepper. 

2. Top with diced onion, minced garlic, great Northern beans, green chiles, corn, chicken broth and cilantro. 

3. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. 

4. Remove chicken breast and shred using two forks, then return to crockpot and stir. 

5. Cube cream cheese block into 1 inch pieces. Add cream cheese and half and half to crockpot. Stir and cover for an additional 20 minutes. 

6. Stir well and serve with toppings! 


Follow us on Pinterest HERE.
Follow us on Instagram HERE.
Follow us on Facebook HERE.
Follow us on Twitter HERE. 

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Neutral Sandals From Target

Last week I shared some amazing dupes as part of my Friday Favorites and I was so excited when they showed up last weekend!  The braided heels look SO good that I decided to check out some other neutral sandals from Target. I love to get a few new neutral sandals for spring and summer each year. They are great for everyday wear and also to pack for vacation because they match everything from swimsuits to denim shorts to sundresses. 

My Target was pretty limited in-store, but when I checked online I was VERY impressed with the selection. There were lots of great options and I ordered a few more pairs to be prepared for spring and summer.  If there is one thing I have learned from my experience with Target is that the good things don't last long.  If you see something you like it is much better to order now and return later if you change your mind.  

My favorite nine neutral sandals from Target! 

Left - Right and Top - Bottom. 

1. Mulit-Strap Sandal ($14.99) 

2. Padded Knot Slide Sandals ($24.99)

3. Two Band Studded Sandals ($24.99)

4. Platform Wedge Heels ($39.99)

5. Platfrom Footbed Sandals ($24.99)

6. Wedge Heels ($34.99)

7. Stud Embellished Slide Sandals ($24.99)

8. Braided Heels ($34.99)

9. Woven Slide Sandals ($24.99)

Follow us on Pinterest HERE.
Follow us on Instagram HERE.
Follow us on Facebook HERE.
Follow us on Twitter HERE. 

Friday, February 11, 2022

Friday Favorites {And a GIVEAWAY!!!}


Happy Friday, friends!  It's always a good day when it's Friday and today is no different.  I'm excited to share some fun Friday favorites with you today and make sure you read to the very bottom because we have a very exciting giveaway starting today!!! 


My first favorite today is one I thing I have shared before...my favorite mascara! I've actually shared it here before, but I had two people in the past two weeks comment on my eyelashes and ask what kind of mascara I use.  I love the Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect

The best part about this is the price!  It's just about $5 from Amazon and two coats of this makes your lashes look amazing. 


My next favorite are fresh flowers! I love them even more when it's a fun surprise from my sweet neighbor's yard! 
 

She cut and brought these over last weekend and I have loved having them on my kitchen counter this week. Jen and I always joke that when we are old we're going to start gardening and will have all sorts of flowers we can cut from our yard.  Until that day comes, I'll just enjoy the ones my neighbors share! 



Moving on to number three for today a pair of shoes I am SO excited about.  I had been eyeing these braided heels all summer last year, but never pulled the trigger.  

Well, Target to the rescue! They have a great dupe right now. 
I saw the black ones in Target last week and had been stalking the website ever since because I knew they would be stocking the tan color soon.  I ordered them this week and they should arrive over the weekend.  I feel like these are just such a great staple and will match literally everything when I have an occasion to dress up.  A friend of mine has the black ones from Target and said she thinks they are as great as the originals and for the price you cannot beat it.  They actually have several colors in stock right now! I'll report back after they are in, but I already know I'm going to love them. 


My next favorite is my new jacket.  


This is one of those items I didn't know I needed until I had it.  Oh my gosh!!!  Everyone who touches it comments on how soft it is. It sort of feels like wearing a super soft blanket. It matches just about everything, and I have gotten more wear out of it the past few weeks than I ever would have imagined.  


Last, but certainly not least this week are these amazing bags from Lolly Luella!  


We have been loving the neoprene bag trend and when we got introduced to Lolly Luella we were so excited because they are a local company based right here in metro Atlanta.  They have the cutest prints and patterns and offer such a great variety of bags.  Everything from totes to tennis bags and lunchboxes to wine carriers.  We had the chance to met the owner earlier this week and she is THE SWEETEST!!!!  


I got this super fun navy and pink tote which I LOVE.  It is the ultimate mom bag. I have tried carrying smaller bags, but I always get stuck with other people's things so it just is easier for me to have something big that I can fit everything in! Their bags have great interior zippered pockets and even a small matching zippered pouch that comes with it.  


Jen got one of the adorable lunchboxes that her middle immediately snagged for herself!  I mean, just look at how cute both she and that lunchbox are. 


It has a cute little shoulder strap and is the perfect size to put a meal and some snacks in for a long night at the gym or great for taking to work or school. 


Now here is the fun part.  Lolly Luella is so kind that they offered to give away one of their tote bags to one of our lucky readers. Yay!!! Just head on over to Instagram to read all the details and enter to win a tote bag of your choice!   

Follow us on Pinterest HERE.
Follow us on Instagram HERE.
Follow us on Facebook HERE.
Follow us on Twitter HERE. 

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Blue & White Home Decor from Amazon!

 As Southerners, blue and white is a color combo seen in most home decor. It's like using the word y'all and drinking sweet tea. It's a tried and true classic that will never be out of style. While occasionally we've dipped into the farmhouse or bohemian trends, we've realized our true roots will always fall back to this serene duo.  

But we've learned we don't have to raid our grandmother's homes anymore for gorgeous blue and white pieces. This forever trend can even be delivered to our homes in the form of two-day shipping. Ah, Amazon, shall we never doubt you and your magical ways. 

We were astonished at the amount of great (and affordable) blue and white home decor options available on Amazon. Here are just a few of the great items we found...




2. 4-Wick candles (set of four outdoor candles for $13!)
4. Navy Tufted Couch (has great reviews!)


DO YOU LIKE THE CLASSIC BLUE AND WHITE HOME DECOR STYLE? WHAT COLORS DO YOU LEAN TOWARDS IN HOME DECOR? SHARE WITH US! 



Come spend the day with us on:

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Kitchen Confessions: Easy Crockpot Potato Soup

Do any of you struggle with what to cook on a busy weeknight?  Jen and I were talking recently how we need easy meals that can be ready for our families to eat whenever they are home because these days it feels like everyone eats in shifts.  With everyone's practice and sports schedules it is rare that we are all sitting down to eat at the same time during the week. Some of us eat at a normal dinner, some eat a little something before practice and others eat super late after practice.  

Enter my favorite kitchen appliance...the crockpot!  There is nothing I love more than putting everything in it earlier in the day and having your dinner ready that evening.  It keeps food warm so people can eat in shifts and usually means there are less pots and pans to clean up.  

When I'm looking for recipes if it has too many steps or too many ingredients I'll usually avoid them.  Also, too much prep before is usually a no-go for me.  I like the "just pour it all in and let the crockpot do it's magic" kind of recipes. 

In an effort to branch out a little and try some new recipes I found a winner. I've made Potato Soup in the crockpot before, but it has been a while so I took a look at a few different recipes and sort of combined them all to make my own.  

Easy Crockpot Potato Soup 

Ingredients: 

1 32 oz bag frozen cubed hash browns 

1 can cream of chicken soup 

2 cans chicken broth 

1/2 cup chopped onion

ground pepper to taste 

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese 

Optional toppings: 

shredded cheddar cheese 

crumbled bacon 

sour cream 

green onions 

Directions: 

1. Pour frozen hash browns, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, chopped onions and pepper in a crockpot. 

2. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours. 

3. Cube block of cream cheese and add to crockpot for 30 minutes.  Stir occasionally. 

4. Once all cream cheese has melted into the soup, use a potato masher, big spoon or spatula (my utensil of choice because I don't own a potato masher) to smoosh hash brown pieces into a smooth, creamy consistency. 

5. Stir well and serve with desired toppings!  

My kids loved this and my daughter told me I should make it ALL the time.  I'd say that is a dinner winner and is totally going to be added into the dinner rotation at our house. 

Follow us on Pinterest HERE.
Follow us on Instagram HERE.
Follow us on Facebook HERE.
Follow us on Twitter HERE. 

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Everyday Organizing for Busy Moms {To-Do Lists}

It's February!!! A new month means another themed calendar photo.


We'll see if I can keep this up all year long, but so far it's been fun and y'all know I love a good theme. 

This month is all about LOVE!!! 

And all about getting ready for one of the busiest seasons...spring sports. 


Not sure about y'all, but our spring sports are about to start up which means all three kids overlapping, trying to coordinate practice times, carpools, and squeezing in dinner in between all of that.  Throw in some everyday life and it is enough to make your head spin.  

Last month I shared all about my family calendar that helps our family keep our lives in check, but this month is all about to-do lists! Nothing groundbreaking and I'm sure many of you use to-do lists on a daily basis, but thought I would share what I do to stay organized and make sure I get each and everything done that needs to happen. 

A while back I started using the Notes app on my phone to keep a master to-do list running and it has been such a great system for me.  Anytime I need to do ANYTHING it goes on the list.  It could be something that I'm going to end up doing a few weeks from now, something that needs to happen that day, or something I just don't want to forget.  


If I get an email about a birthday party, buying a gift goes on the list.  Have a random thought while I'm brushing my teeth at night, I add it to the list. Remember that I need to text a friend about something, it goes on the list so I don't forget. It doesn't matter what it is, if it is something I need to do or that needs my attention, it goes on the list.  I love using the little bullet point/check it off tool and then usually every night I will go through and delete the completed tasks and update anything for the next day. 


I also usually have a few sticky notes here and there with things I don't want to forget to do. I might ride around with a Target return or a bag of Goodwill donations in the back of my car for over a week unless I remind myself by writing it down.  


My kids aren't safe from to-do lists either!  They have gotten used to me jotting down some to-do's for them a few times a week. I can tell them a long list of things I want them to get done, but it often goes in one ear and out the other.  I used to find myself getting upset with them and constantly nagging because I felt like they weren't listening so this helps everyone out.  Kids get saved from my nagging and I get them to do what I need them to. 


It's also helpful because everyone is home in shifts due to different school dismissals and practice times. If things are written down for them they know what needs to happen in the afternoon before the evening rush without me being there and it sort of holds them accountable.  

Curious if any of you have a great to-do list system you use or how you keep yourselves organized on a daily basis.  If so, share your tips with me! I can't wait to share more about how I do life and all the mom things next month. 

EVERYDAY ORGANIZING FOR BUSY MOMS 

January {Keep a Family Calendar} 

Follow us on Pinterest HERE.
Follow us on Instagram HERE.
Follow us on Facebook HERE.
Follow us on Twitter HERE. 

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Book Club: January 2022

A new year, a fresh start, and a bunch of new books for us to review!  Every time we start a book we wonder if it will make our top three at the end of the year and it is funny that often times we know right away if it will be one of our favorites that year.  So here we go again...January Book Club day. Who knows, maybe one of these will make the top of our lists at the end of the year! 




WHAT WE READ...

CARRIE BETH

It was a good month of good books for me!  


I started with The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and LOVED it.  It was such a cute story of an office romance that started off as an office rivalry.  The back and forth between the two main characters and their quick witted banter was so fun. The hate slowly turned into attraction and then ultimately love. I actually ended up listening to this book and at first I thought the narrator's voice was going to annoy me, but I came to look forward to listening to her. After finishing this I learned it had been turned into a movie and I can't wait to watch it.  I definitely recommend this one! 


Next up for me was No Words by Meg Cabot and y'all won't believe it, but I actually read this one.  I knew I'd be on a few plane rides when I went to Indianapolis last month so asked Jen if she had something I could take with me to read.  This was such a cute and easy read.  It follows a children's author who has a bad case of writer's block as she goes to an author's conference only to find out it is being hosted by one of her rivals.  She takes her experiences from this trip to break through her block and the misunderstanding they had a while back come back into play.  It's fun, light-hearted, and a sweet story if that is what you are looking for. 


I think I have read all of Colleen Hoover's books and she is one of my very favorite authors.  All of her books hook me from the beginning, have great character development and they all make the readers experience a lot of emotion, which I love in a book.  When I found out she had a new title I couldn't wait to listen to it. Reminders of Him did not disappoint. It follows a young woman who has just been released from jail after serving a sentence for a terrible accident she caused.  She finds herself back in the town where it all happened in the hopes of finally being able to meet her daughter. Her daughter who was born while she was in prison and who she has never seen since the day she was born.  This one tugs on your heartstrings and makes you wonder what you would do if you were in some of these character's shoes. If you want to feel all the feels and like emotional books with a little bit of romance, this one is for you! 


JEN

I told myself this year I would read some things outside of my normal go-to genres. Well like most new year's resolutions, I quickly threw that mentality to the wayside and went with old habits. And I'm not mad about it one bit because I enjoyed everything I read in January! 

First up...


 Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins. 

This cover is giving me all the beachy vibes I'm craving right now (I hate winter!). And the story does nothing to curb that desire. Well...except for all the creepy deserted island, missing people and murders. But other than that, sign me up for a yacht vacation to a gorgeous tropical island. 

Reckless Girls is a thriller set on the island of Meroe, a seemingly private tropical paradise in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Six people embark to the island for different reasons, but quickly bond in the intrigue of it all. Things are going well until a lone boater drops anchor, and tries to join the group. Secrets emerge, major dramas unfold and the glamour of the trip quickly fades when the group learns danger lurks around every corner. I wasn't able to put this one down, but at the same time felt like it took a little long to get to the peek of the story. There were very few characters that were likable to me, and as the story unfolded they made decisions that made me like them less. There were several times I thought to myself, "If I was the main character of this book, I would leave all these crazies on the island and take the boat for myself." 

If you enjoy a slow burn thriller/whodunit add this one to your reading list.



Next up was It Happened One Summer. I saw this book everywhere last Summer, and tons of people recommended it to us. For whatever reason I just never grabbed it out of my reading pile. I am so glad I finally did though. It was such a fun read! 

A rich influencer is banished to a small coastal town by her step-father after a party mishap gone wrong. With her supportive sister as her side kick they return to their hometown with little cash and owners of a "no name" bar that was left to them by their late father. The pair have to learn to stand on their own two feet. 

But they aren't without support for long because in walks a handsome sea captain and his good looking first mate, a long lost granny, and a town full of lovable locals. This story followers Piper and the captain, but after reading the steamy pages of this one, I can't wait to follow along with Hannah's story for the second book in the series coming out soon. 

If you enjoy rom-coms then snag this one. You will instantly fall in love.



Right off the bat, I realized The Arc was going to be a quirky, quieter rom-com. Set in New York, the author constantly pokes fun at the trendy health kicks or lengths people will go to be unique in a sea of millions. 

We are introduced to Ursula and Rafael - two individuals looking for love after hearts of heartbreak and loneliness. But not just any love. The love of their life. They both join The Arc (think high end match making service), which promises to match you with your life partner. I appreciated that these characters were complex, experienced and not in their early 20’s. You got a sense that they truly wanted to be in that next phase of life and ready to settle down. 

Ultimately the story follows their relationship journey over the course of the year. Parts of it I loved and parts of it are a little slow, but in the end I loved the message the author was trying to convey. 

If you enjoy romance novels with a little more depth and a sprinkle of satire - snag this one.


Now for my favorite book of the month...


I think out of all the books I've purchased lately, Colleen Hoover's Reminders of Him is the one I was most anticipating. A few friends read it right as it came out and said it was SO GOOD! And like Carrie Beth stated above, we are happy to report it lives up to the hype. When I read the premise behind the story I wasn't sure what to expect. But it gave me all the angsty CoHo feels I've come to enjoy in her novels. 

A mother is doing everything she can to meet the daughter she gave birth to five years ago, but has yet to lay eyes on her. Intriguing right?! Throw in a prison stint, grief, heartbreak, and an unlikely love interest. 

From start to finish I LOVED this story and the characters I followed throughout the pages. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. Kudos to CoHo for all her amazing talent she shares with us!



WHAT'S UP NEXT...

CARRIE BETH

I've been waiting for the 4th book in the Crave series to come out for a few months now.  I named this series in my top three of books I read last year. 
Court was originally scheduled to be released last fall, but got pushed back February 1st...and it has been written on my calendar for months. I've already downloaded this to my Audible app and will probably be done with it VERY soon. 




JEN
Oh this is tough because there are several books I want to read that are coming out right now. Like Carrie Beth, Court is one that tops the list. Also, the second in the Findlay Donovan series. I love love loved the first book in the series last year. 




Follow along with us on Goodreads!

HAPPY READING! 


Come spend the day with us on: