Favorites on Fridays

Favorite Shampoo and Conditioner:

Suave Color Care

I always thought you had to spend a lot of $$ on shampoos and conditioners until my hair designer (thanks, Kirsten!) told me that she uses Suave on herself. I gave it a try and it works just as well (if not better!) than my $14 bottles (each). Suave Color Care is less than $2 a bottle! (at Target, my favorite store, of course!) I love the smell, too!

:)

Project in Progress

There is something pretty exciting going on behind all that plastic . . .

stay tuned to find out what it is!! :)

White Chili Recipe

This is one of my favorite things to make for supper and it is the most requested recipe I have, so I thought I would share it with you!!

White Chili

2 T butter

1 green onion - chopped

1 yellow pepper - chopped

1 jalapeno pepper - chopped (leave the seeds in if you want a little "kick")

1/4 t garlic powder

1 t ground ginger

1/2 t salt

1/2 t sage

1 t cumin

1 1/2 lb. chicken (4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts) - chopped

3 T butter

1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup heavy cream (you can also use fat free half and half) :)

2 cups chicken broth

1 can corn drained

1 large glass jar great northern white beans (undrained)

* * *

Melt 2 T butter in big pot.

Add green onion, pepper, jalapeno, and all spices - cook 5 minutes - low to medium heat

Add chicken to pot (chopped) until cooked - medium heat. Take out and set aside.

Melt 3 T butter and add flour and cream - whisk until smooth.

Add chicken broth, corn, and beans (don't drain the beans).

Pour in chicken mixture. Simmer and stir for 30 minutes or put in a crock pot on low for a few hours. (that's what I do.)

I serve this chili with yummy bread. In the picture, it is tomato basil focaccia. I also like to serve it with cornbread. Shredded cheddar and cut up green onions with a dollop of sour cream also taste very good with it! (especially if you will be having guests for dinner) :)

*** if you like chili HOT, add ground red pepper.

ENJOY!!

Favorites on Fridays

Kids' Favorite TV Show : Minute to Win It

The kids LOVE this show!! It is a game show where the contestants must complete a task in 60 seconds in order to advance to the next level of the game. The "tasks" are hilarious and are things you could do at home with things you have lying around the house already. They are great party game ideas!! (imagine what a youth group could do with these ideas!!) Here are some examples of the tasks:

* get 3 white balls in a row on a 3 x 3 set of cups while bouncing them into the cups, however the contestant must alternate to a different colored ball after every successful landing and avoid getting three in a row of the other color - - - seems impossible!!

*the contestant must inflate a balloon then release the air in a controlled fashion to blow a series of cups off a table

*with an empty tissue box attached to their waist, the contestant must shake 8 ping pong balls out of the box without using their hands . . . this one is hilarious!!

*the contestant must knock over a series of juice bottles with a ball that is in a pair of pantyhose. The pantyhose are worn over the head and the contestant must swing the ball back and forth to knock the bottles over . . . so funny!!

It is on NBC on Sundays and Wednesdays at 7:00.

"Bathematics"

The other day, Caroline and I were studying liquid measurements. What better place to study liquid than in the bath?! She had a great time figuring out how many quarts were in a gallon, how many cups were in a quart, etc. . .

Favorites on Fridays

Favorite Pair of Jeans: Banana Republic Boyfriend Slouch Jeans

I have been searching for a pair of jeans that fit three criteria:
1.) they must cover me up "back there" when I bend or sit
2.) they must be comfortable
3.) they must make me look less fat than I really am :)

These really are a great pair of jeans. I roll them up to be capris. (they are supposed to be rolled up) I wouldn't really wear heels with them, though. (that pic is not me, by the way . . . ha!) I like the worn out look . . . isn't it funny that we pay good money for that look?

Overcoming Fear

Ever since Caroline badly broke her arm riding her bike with training wheels, she has not had any desire to learn how to ride a "two wheeler". (can't say that I blame her) Grandma Koz gave her birthday money last year to buy a new bike, but Caroline would not even talk about getting a new one . . . she was just afraid that she would never be able to learn without falling down and getting hurt. :(

Well, I decided to finally just take her to the store and ask her which one was her favorite and I just bought it (thanks Grandma Koz!!). We went home and Caroline didn't want to try it. The next day, I told her that she would probably learn really quickly and I kept telling her that once she learned how to ride a bike, she would never forget it. She liked that. :)

Well, in perfect Caroline style, she got on that bike and I ran along side and let go and she took off . . . and she's been riding ever since. :) She LOVES it!! I think that what she loves the most is that she really thought she would never learn how to ride a bike and this is just such a major victory for her. She rides and rides almost every day. She has only fallen once and that is because Luke tried to lasso her as she was going by and his lasso got stuck in her wheel.
I'm so proud of her!!

"So do not fear, for I am with you."

Isaiah 41:10a