Chilly Weather and Chicken Soup

It is finally starting to feel like winter in Denver this week, and I am oh so excited. I have been wearing my North Face parka in protest of the 60 degree weather, and now it has paid off!

We actually got some snow last night, and it is currently a balmy 17 degrees outside.

Yesterday was a busy day of homework, studying, nannying and a final, so I decided to give us something to look forward to at the end of the day. Something that smells and tastes delicious to be precise: Crock pot chicken tortilla soup.

It was so easy to make:

•  Mix up some spices - I used cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and a little salt
• Drizzle a little olive oil and some of your spices over a package of chicken breasts. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes. 
• While the chicken is cooking, prepare the veggies that you want in your soup. It really depends on what you like, I used:
• one can of corn (drained)
• one can of black beans (drained) 
• one green bell pepper (diced)
• one half yellow onion(diced) (I cooked the bell pepper and onion on the stove with some of the spices before adding them to the crock pot)
•  and one can of crushed tomatoes (not drained)
• Once your chicken is done, shred it with two forks.
• Add everything to the crock pot, as well as the rest of your spices (add these to taste)
• Cook on low for really however many hours you would like. Everything is cooked so you don't have to worry about raw chicken or anything like that. I let mine go from noon to about 7:00 and it was so delicious. 
• Top with whatever you would like! I used sour cream, cilantro, a bit of cheese and some tortilla chip pieces. 

The perfect end to a cold and busy day!

Wish Listing...

ONE - Drool-worthy boots from Madewell.

TWO - Christmas in a cookie by The Faux Martha. Making these...

THREE - One Sheepish Girl is one of my new favorite blogs. This is such a cute idea!

FOUR - Still trying to get organized at home a bit... loving this bar cart from Ikea.

FIVE - This would be such a great Christmas dress from Urban. I am always dreaming of holiday outfits...

SIX - Another really great Urban dress. I am in LOVE with this one.

SEVEN - I am in desperate need of a nice winter jacket. This one from Madewell is pretty wonderful.

EIGHT - This jewelry stand (again, from Urban) is so cute!

WINTER.

Hello, I am back! Things seem to have finally calmed down a bit, finally!

There has been a lot going on, but we actually have internet now, and that is just great.

I have been Christmas crafting a little bit lately... and I am loving it!

 Last week I made these snow globes, which I found on Pinterest (of course). Original tutorial found here.

Today I made this Joyeux Noel banner, which was so simple.

I found the template for the letters at OH! Happy Day (I was going to make the marquis sign, but it was a little too ambitions for me, maybe next year...)

 I traced and cut the letters out on brown craft paper, cut out red and green felt flags, glued them all together, and strung them on some yarn. Et voila: Joyeux Noel!

Sleepy Oskar.

TODAY IS THE DAY.

that I turn in my senior thesis and get my life back.

STAY TUNED FOR SOME REALLY GREAT STUFF.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I am about to finish this book, and it is SO GOOD.

It is the first book that I have read in a long time that I cannot stop thinking about.

Gillian Flynn tells a story of disturbing manipulation between Nick and Amy, a young couple approaching their 5 year wedding anniversary.

Every time I put it down, I can't wait to pick it up and start again.

Anything more than that would be giving too much away... just read it! I can't wait to finish.

Thanksgiving Things.

ONE - A really lovely list of different style Thanksgiving dinners. I think I'll just do a little of everything, thank you very much.

TWO - These earrings are pretty great.

THREE - This is one of my favorite colors right now.

FOUR - I really enjoy this watch.

FIVE - Determined to make this my Thanksgiving dress.

SIX - This shirt is a dream.

SEVEN - I have always wanted some Wellington Boots.

BUSY DAYS

Hey! I have been quite busy lately, we saw our new place yesterday! I can't can't can't wait to move! Only one more week.... and I still have to pack up most of my stuff. Yikes!

There are a few things this week that have been really great:

1. Quiches: I made two the other night, and they are so easy to make, and even easier to reheat for a quick dinner or snack. YUM. I made one with spinach asparagus and bacon, and another with zucchini spinach and bacon.

2. Cambrics with Ashlae at the Market downtown. The perfect combination of steamed milk and earl grey tea.

3. Going through old pictures with my mom.

4. Hanging with my guy.

5. And, stickers on my cat. He has been going a little crazy lately. I think he knows something is going on... Oskar is not exactly fond of moving.


I have some fun posts in store, that will come when I have a little more free time... and after we have moved. Life is a little chaotic with half of your things in boxes, and the rest of them are in disarray...

<3

Have you voted yet?

A few things lately.

So... I should really be working on my senior thesis right now, but there are a few things on my mind that are very distracting.

Lately I have been absolutely obsessed with Lil Bub, the cutest cat there ever was. Check out her website if you'd like to waste a good half an hour swooning over her. I do almost daily... oops.

Speaking of swooning, I have been over the Lulu Dress from Nasty Gal.... and dreaming of wearing it to the Colorado Ballet Nutcracker.

Can't wait for the Holidays. Meg is coming home from Paris! I have started knitting holiday gifts, and I just want this beautiful Colorado weather to cool it for a bit. I want to wear scarves and mittens already!

This weekend we had brunch at Steubens here in Denver, which is one of my favorite places. We tried the Bacon Bloody Mary... so delicious.

Anyway... I have stalled for long enough. Off to be studious.

Until Next time!

<3

October has been nice.

Last Tuesday I went up to Boulder and enjoyed some thrifting and Mexican food with the adorable Adrienne. 

This weekend was full of Halloween festivities. On Saturday night Jon and I had a Halloween party, which was so much fun. We had lots of really great friends dressed in lots of really great costumes! I have also eaten more candy than I probably ever should, but that's ok. :)

Sunday night we went to a pumpkin carving party, also so much fun!

I am extremely excited for November. There are a lot of good things coming up. We are moving into a new apartment down town, right off of the 16th St. Mall, which will be so great. Also, Thanksgiving is coming up, and that is always great, I love family time. 

Most of all though, the day after Halloween is the day that I always, always start listening to Christmas music. I know it's a little early, but I am a Christmas fanatic. CAN'T WAIT!

Weekends are Special

Weekends are for making french toast with bacon and sunflowers and sleeping in. 

Happy Friday.

Michigan Dreams.

A couple of months ago we took a road trip across Michigan. We traveled from Detroit to somewhere around Watervliet for a friends wedding.
Along the way, I had the pleasure of visiting both the University of Michigan and Michigan State University where I got the true college experience I have missed out on in my time as an undergrad in Denver. We were at Michigan State the week before welcome week, and it was still more college than I had ever been exposed to. We went to a house party and a Co-op, which is just completely new to me.
It was a very interesting experience!
Don't get me wrong, I have had some crazy times here in Denver, but going to school in a down town urban environment is worlds away from a full blown college town in the midwest...
We also went sailing in Lake Saint Clair and swimming in Lake Michigan, which was my favorite part of the whole trip.

It's that orange, and yellow, and red time of the year again...

And I couldn't be more excited. We are about two weeks into October and Denver is so irresistibly autumnal. One of my favorite places lately has been City park. I recently ventured there with the little girl I nanny, and we had a close encounter of the bird kind. Those geese and seagulls got a little too close for comfort...

I have been looking through some old pictures from this time last year and I realized that I had four, FOUR different Halloween costumes: White Swan, Lumberjack, Lois Lane, and Minnie mouse... geez.

This year will only be better! We are having a Halloween party on the 27th, which will be really great. I am so exited to bake autumn treats and decorate spookily... Woo!