Runners Gonna Run

I'm going to need you to cue up the theme from Rocky while you read this. Got it?  Good.

Last Saturday, we strapped on our sneakers and hit the pavement for a 5K.  And we ran.  RAN.  Let me just go ahead and tell you that I don't do that.  Don't.  Like, eva. But I did it on Saturday.

And I did it largely (Ok, let's try almost completely) because my sister was right beside me the whole way telling me that we could do it.  Crazy thing: we could.  And did.  Nothing stopped us.

Not the cold.
Who needs to feel their fingers? 

Not the fact that I needed to pee about a quarter mile in.
Really, every tree and overgrown area looked like prime real estate to me. 

Not even all those voices in our own minds telling us to stop, that we couldn't, that it was OK if we didn't.
Because, really, it would have been OK if we didn't.  

But we did.

There is no part of me that liked running.  There is no part of me that thinks running is all that much fun or a good time or something I just can't do without.  But, I will tell you this: when I got to that finish line, and I knew that I had not stopped running from the time I had started until I had reached 3.1 miles, it was the best feeling ever.

Like, eva.

My legs may have felt like they could no longer support my body weight, and I may have had a strong urge to hurl, but I was also enveloped with such euphoria that it's pretty hard to put it into words.  I felt so good.  And I don't think that word is too simple to use here.  It. Felt. Good.

I grinned all day.  That is, until that euphoria wore off and the tops of my legs began to hurt so badly I could barely bend them to sit down.  Getting in and out of the car that night was quite the challenge and the way I backed into all my evening's seating choices looked much like it did when I was extremely pregnant.

But that's how it goes.  Or so I've been told.  Apparently, the way to avoid feeling like that is to run more.  More, they say!  More often.  Longer distances.  More.

Meh, we'll see.

I think I'll give it a go.  Why not?  It seems I've already shown that I can.

-Jess

Baby, It's Cold Outside...so eat chili!

It's crazy cold right now.  And nothing goes with crazy cold like the warm goodness of chili. There are about one million (give or take a thousand) chili recipes readily available via the internet, Pinterest or your mama.

When I went looking for one the other day I got a tad overwhelmed by all the choices.  I'm not really a multiple choice kind of gal. Too many options is not good for me--no matter what I'm trying to choose.  Just ask my husband about my panic at trying to navigate the lengthy Made-to-Order Menu at Sheetz.  

Full.  Mental.  Meltdown.  Seriously, it gets ugly, folks.

But back to chili.  

After spending far too much time looking through too many online recipes and perfectly wonderful blogs about the yummy goodness that is your basic chili recipe, I decided to go rogue and create my own.  I took some things I liked from several I'd seen, some things I already had on hand, and the rest I got from raiding the canned veggie aisle.  Yes, canned.  And preferably pre-seasoned.  I live for ease.  Live. For. It. 

The result was really stinking good.  The only bad thing?  We could have fed a small army.  The recipe below is just as I made it.   If you're don't need a large quantity, or don't do so well with leftovers, just cut it back some.  

*Recipe notes at bottom 

Jessica's Slow Cooker Chili 

(When you make up your own, you name gets to go in the title.  

It's the little things.) 

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground turkey meat, browned & drained
• Medium Onion
• 1.5 Tablespoons Chili powder
• 1/2 Tablespoon Black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 28 Oz. can Mild Rotel, drained
• 15 Oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed 
• 15 Oz. can corn, drained
• 15 Oz. can dark red kidney beans, drained
• 29 Oz. can tomato sauce (I used Hunt's Basil, Garlic & Oregano)
• 14.5 Oz. can diced tomatoes, drained (I used Del Monte Basil, Garlic & Oregano)
• 16 Oz. can chili beans in mild sauce, NOT drained
• 6 Oz. tomato paste (I used Contadina brand with Roasted Garlic) 
• 1/2 a 14.5 can of Beef Broth 

Combine everything into your slow cooker and give it a good stir.  Let it heat on Low for 6-8 hours.  Eat up!!  

Notes:

• This chili is not overly "meaty" and could easily go all-veggie.  In fact, I think that's how I will make it next time.  
• Speaking of the meat, the beef broth gives it a heartier flavor, which is nice seeing as ground turkey can be rather, well, bland.  
• There is absolutely no reason to add salt.  Do not do it.  'Kay?
• Confession:  My spice measurements may be a tad off.  Or I could have lied completely.  Basically, I shake those little containers until I like what I see.  Feel free to do the same.  

I hope you enjoy!! 

Sorry there's no picture.  But I'm pretty sure most of you know what chili looks like.  I will have a post coming up in a few days about stuffed sweet potatoes.  Complete with a picture to make your mouth water.  

-Jessica 

Slow Down In My Neighborhood!!!!!!

For the love of chocholate... Please slow down when driving through neighborhoods especially tonight!!!!!!

I guess it's just part of growing up or maybe it's because I am now a mom but I am super aware of people flying through my neighborhood. And these lunitics scare me!!! An accident can happen in the blink of an eye and your speed can play a major role in the outcome! Tonight there will be kids everywhere in all kinds of costumes and all jacked up on sugar, please watch out for them!!

Halloween Safety Tips:
- Make sure your costume is bright in color! Reflectors are an added perk!
- Bring a flashlight or glow stick to help you see where you are going and to help drivers see you!
- Always look both ways before crossing the street!
- Watch out for cars backing out of driveways.
- Stick to houses/neighborhoods you know.

Have a safe and happy Halloween! 

<3 Rachel

 

Check Out My Curves- It's For A Good Cause;)

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month select Curves locations are offering a $10 punch card that allows you to work out 10 times between now and November 15th! This is a great offer (10 workouts for $10) and a great cause!!!!

• Cards must be bought before 10/31/2014.
• Every dollar collected is donated to breast cancer research or care.
• No enrollment or membership fees required.
• Only one punch card per person
• No it is not just old women that go to Curves!!!!!

I attend the Curves at 40/42 (across from the Snoopy's)!! I really enjoy working out at Curves! It is a women only environment with no judgement! I see women of all shapes and sizes that are just wanting to get fit!

<3 Rachel

Dear, Husband

For the past five years--five years today, actually--I've been blessed to call you Husband.  You've been my friend for much longer.  My Love for what feels like forever.  And my partner in all things until the end.  

Husband, it's been a journey.  There are parts of our story that only you and I know.  Inside jokes.  Secrets.  Things.  And there are things that I hope that everyone else can see.  How much I love you.  How much I like you.  Even on days when I don't.  

Because there are times when it's hard to like even the one I love the most. And I know that I'm not always likable.  But there has never been one minute, since the first second I realized I loved you, that I haven't adored you.

I love that your main goal is to make me smile.  Even when that is the last thing I want to do.  I love how hard you  work for our family even though I sometimes hate it, too.

You are every love song that I've ever heard on country radio.  Every old tune by Alabama.  All the good ones by George Strait. And you are all the ones that haven't been written, because they will all make me think of you.  Like you are why they were created. For me to ride shotgun and sing along to as you drive.

Through town.  Through life.  

You and I are not the same.  Not mirror images.  But we agree where it matters the most. In our faith, our morals and our standards. I mean, come on, we picked each other.  Even if by doing so we picked some hard roads along the way.  And fought some tough battles.  I'd fight them again.  I'd pick you again.  

And again.  

And again.  

And we created something pretty amazing in the form of a boy that calls you Daddy.  I love him in a way that I never thought possible.  But it is different from my love for you.  You, Husband, will always be my favorite. My Number One.  He will one day grow and leave.  Find a love and life all his own. And you will always be Mine.  

When this life is done, I will look back and say that despite all the things I had done wrong--and there were many--I did right by loving you.  And taking your last name when you offered.  And making it mine.  

Blessed.  

Loved.  

Happy.  

To the rest of our lives...

--Your Wife
Jessica

Two Broke Bloggers: Fall Art Project (Butt Painting)

We did some painting here at the Potts' house and  made the cutest dang pumpkin I have ever seen!

This was a project inspired by Pinterest of course and cost under $10 to make (frame not included).

My sister-in-law, Lindsey helped me tackle the craft store to find the perfect non-toxic finger paint and white cardstock paper. On the ride home we plotted our task.... You see these pumpkins were made by using Jett's butt as a stamp:) So we planned that I would hold him while she painted the paint on his bum using a paintbrush. We made 4 pumpkins so we painted and stamped a few times.

We had to mix the red and yellow to make orange as our kit did not come with an orange paint! (My elementary school art teachers would be so proud!!)!

Lindsey painted the stumps and twigs on the pumpkins using a Q-Tip while I bathed Jett. And there you have it- a quick, cheap and sooo precious fall art project!

*Our husbands thought we were crazy and so did the grandparents- but those grandmas were all excited to know we made one for them too!

**The frame came from Wal-Mart and was $10-$12.

<3 Rachel

Smile, it's about Food!

I was crabby yesterday.  Downright irritable even. 

So I started writing this blog post—mostly in my head—about three really simple things that have made me really simply happy lately.  And wouldn't you know?  They were all about food. 

So here you have it. Three food things to make you smile.  Big. 

Siggi's Yogurt 

I love good food and I really love it when it's also good for you.  I eat yogurt at least once a day.  But when I started really thinking about the brand I'd been eating (a store one) and the artificial sweeteners in it, I was getting a bit creeped out.  Look, I'm not a stickler for all things natural, all the time.  However, if I can do better in a certain area, I do.  It's like with my coffee.  I put real cream in it.  Does it have more fat than that non-fat, sugar-free stuff you can buy?  Absolutely.  But do you know what the ingredients are in cream?  Cream.  You know what the ingredients are in that other stuff? Gross.  

Anyway, Siggi's only has a few ingredients and I can pronounce them all.  It has a thicker consistency, more like a Greek yogurt but without that tart taste.  I'm not really a fan of Greek yogurt.  It's fine for mixing into things, but alone, not so much.  

Siggi's main downfall would be the price.  As with most things good for you, it costs too much.  So I get it when it goes on sale.  And then I wait anxiously for my mid-afternoon snack.  

Blueberry Muffin Overnight Oats

Picture by creme de la crumb blog

I eat pretty much the same thing every day for breakfast.  Hey, if it ain't broke, right?  Well, sometimes I need to switch it up a bit.  But finding something I can make that is fast, easy and not terrible for me, can be a challenge.  

I've been eyeing these overnight oatmeal recipes for a while on Pinterest.  This past weekend I finally gave one a shot.  Let me just say, that name says it all.  This stuff really does taste like a blueberry muffin!  

I thought I might be a bit weirded out by eating cold oatmeal, but it was so stinking good.  Check out the original blog post on it at the blog creme de la crumb.  Cute name, right?  

Here's the skinny:

Combine:

1/2 cup almond milk

1/2 cup old fashioned oats (not quick oats)

6 oz blueberry Greek yogurt (one personal container is a little less than this--just use that, it's enough)

A few drops of vanilla extract

1 tablespoon sugar-free dry vanilla pudding mix

Put it in a container with a lid in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.  Eat up!  

The original recipe calls for cinnamon that I did not use, additional blueberries that I did not use and Cornflake-like cereal that I did not use.  You, however, are welcome to do whatever you want.  Enjoy!  

Nancy Jo's Homemade

Clayton, NC

This last one is my favorite.  I've got a bit of a sweet tooth.  Whatever, I just like food.  And Nancy Jo's is a small, hometown bakery in downtown Clayton, NC that offers up all things sweet and yummy to make you smile.  

The goodies they sell are not good for you.  They do not help you lose weight.  They are made with things like butter and sugar and all things fattening and sweet.  

And you know what?  There ain't nothing wrong with that.  Because sometimes a girl just needs a brownie.  Or piece of cake.  Or homemade fudge or toffee. And Nancy Jo's has you covered.

The rum cake is almost too good and the maple fudge is amazing.  And I don't even like fudge!  At all!  The red velvet cake did not disappoint and the 12-layer chocolate cake (pictured on their flyer) is a Cerame Family favorite.  My boys love it!    

I am, however, getting a bit disturbed by the fact that I've taste tested just about everything in the bakery.   Except the chocolate covered cherries.  I'm not a fan of those no matter who makes them so you'll have to take Steven's word for it that those are good.  

There are five locations for you to choose from in North Carolina--Clayton, Clinton, Greensboro, Oak Island and Raleigh.  Go see them at your closest one and get some sweets and treats for your upcoming Christmas party or gifts bags!  

Steven and I have been blessed to meet and become friends with the owners of Nancy Jo's and let me tell you, the desserts are wonderful, but they don't hold a candle to the people that make them. And I'm not just saying that because they've given me free fudge.  It's just true.  

And there really isn't anything sweeter than good friends, now is there?  Well, except maybe that maple fudge.  

--Jessica