A Yummy Recipe for a Chilly Day

Today has been the first truly chilly day we have had in Athens this Fall. Days like today make me want to run home, put on my fuzzy slippers, and make a yummy stew or chili. Oh how I love my soups and stews during the Fall and Winter!

My mom makes a fantastic stew that she calls Brunswick Stew. It isn't a true Brunswick Stew, but it is delicious and so easy to make! I thought I would share it with you. Michael and I will be enjoying some tonight! Since it isn't a true Brunswick Stew we will call it, "Not Really Brunswick Stew".

Not Really Brunswick Stew

Ingredients:
1 pound of ground pork sausage (browned)
1 pound of hamburger (browned)
1 can of whole kernel sweet corn
1 can of sweet peas
1 or 2 can(s) of tomatoes
1/2 of a sweet onion (diced)
1/4 cup of ketchup

Directions: Brown your sausage and hamburger meat. Combine in large pot with rest of ingredients and cook! When adding corn, peas, and tomatoes, do not drain.

That's it! How easy it that! It is one of Michael's favorites! I usually serve it with cornbread or a yummy cheese bread. I hope you enjoy!!

P.S.-The training I told you about last week. Well, I worried over it and studied really, really hard, and I passed! Yippeee! Thank goodness it is over!

Training

I just wanted to drop in and leave you a little note. I am at a training for work this entire week. I thought I would be able to keep up my blogging schedule, but the training has been intense. I have a written test and field test on Friday. Eeek! Say a little prayer for me! I will be back soon-like Monday soon or maybe sooner! I promise! Now I am off to study, study, study!

My Favorite Things

Every time I go to the doctor I have to lie. Let's see if you can spot my little white lie in the conversation below.

Dr: Hello Mrs. Pink Chick! It is good to see you today. Are these the current medications you are on?

Pink Chick: Why yes Doctor. Those are currently the medications I am taking.

Dr: And you are taking a multi-vitamin.

Pink Chick: Of course I am taking a multi-vitamin. I mean, what idiot would dare not to take a multivitamin. Only a fool would skip their daily multi-vitamin.

Did you spot it? Can you tell at what point I unleash my tall tale? If you guessed the part where I swear to the doctor that I take a multi-vitamin, then you are correct!

Until recently, I have never taken a multi-vitamin on a regular basis. I know I should. I know it is good for me. However, the thought of swallowing another giant pill with a bad after taste had me skipping my daily vitamin.

Then one day I found these! Adult Gummy Vitamins! When I first saw these in the store, it was like the heavens opened up and a golden ray of sunshine illuminated the bottle while angels sang.

Okay, maybe my flare for the dramatic is a little overboard today, but this discovery has me taking my vitamins every day(which is a major accomplishment)! I even enjoy taking my vitamins! They are actually tasty. If you hate taking vitamins as much I did, definitely give these babies a try. I take the variety shown above, but there are several brands that carry an adult gummy vitamin. Many stores, like Target and Wal-Mart, also carry the generic version.
Making taking vitamins fun again! Try adult gummies!

Let's Catch Up!

I have been away from the blogging world for a month. Boy how I have missed all of you! So I guess I left you wondering where I went. I wish I could say that I was whisked away to some tropical island where I spent a month in complete luxury but unfortunately that is not the case. I have, however, had a busy and exciting past few weeks. Here's a recap in bullet points.

• One night a week I have been attending Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University at our church. I had heard such wonderful things about this class, but I have to admit that I was skeptical. I signed up thinking that I wouldn't attend, but I am so glad that I have been attending. It is, by far, one of the best classes I have ever taken. It has totally changed the way I think about money, and I could not be more thankful. I have to admit that my wardrobe is suffering a little though!

• One night a week I am attending an adult clogging class. I started taking clogging lessons in the summer, and I decided to continue on to the Fall classes. I love it, and it is such a fun way to exercise.
  

• I ditched my routine of going to the gym after work, and I have traded it for working out during my lunch break at our work gym. Now I have more time to cook supper and to take the dogs on a walk! Michael is loving my kitchen creations!! (Or at least he is pretending too. He's a very sweet husband!)
  

• I have been attending a few Georgia games. Our team really stinks this year, but I am still a fan! Plus, I still adore this guy (see picture below)! He is my coach boyfriend. I have thought about adding Aaron Murray (UGA Quarterback) as my new quarterback boyfriend, but I am still deciding.
  

• And best of all, I spent a whole week in my hometown. My mom and sister added an addition to their cute little gift shop, so I spent a week helping them clean and move in. I had so much fun getting to spend the week with my family. They worked me hard, but they also did a great job at spoiling me too! If you want a peek at their gift shop you can it on facebook. It's called Three Chicks a Hen.

I can't wait to catch up with all of you during the coming week! I can't wait to read all of the exciting things you have been doing this Fall!! Have a great weekend!! I'll be back on Monday to share a new favorite thing with you!!

Holy Cow!

Holy Cow! I can't believe I haven't blogged in a month! I have no good excuse except that time just got away from me. I blinked and it was October! Shouldn't it still be August?

I have a work event to get ready for tonight, so I don't have time for a normal post. I promise I will be back tomorrow! I can't wait to catch up with you all! Until then-have a very wonderful day!!

The Grim Reaper of Automobiles

Last week I blogged about adding a little unwanted decoration to my car. Just one day after I blogged about my little scuffle with the garage, my car experienced a major malfunction. I had it towed to the Toyota dealership and quickly found out it needed a new engine-a $7,000 engine. Since my beat up 02 Highlander was not worth $7,000, my husband and I decided it was time to replace it.

I have to admit that I felt like the grim reaper of automobiles. I not only did body damage to that poor vehicle, but I also blew up the engine. I begged for a pony instead of a new car. Ponies are much easier for me to take care of and much less complicated than a car. Michael wouldn't buy me a pony. He insisted that my 4o mile round trip commute to work called for a car.

I sadly accepted the fate of my precious (and a little beat up) Highlander, and I began the hunt for my new car. The hunt was a little stressful because this is the first time I have ever had the opportunity to pick out the vehicle, but I almost immediately fell in love with the cutest 07 Rav 4. We purchased the Rav 4 this weekend, and I am so excited. Well, I'm not excited about having a car payment, but I am excited about having a reliable car again!

I was going to host a car naming contest on my blog. (Yes, I name all my cars.) However, Michael jokingly pointed out that the spare tire on the back of the car looked like a bunny tail, so my new car has been christened "The Bunny Car". Here's a picture of a similar looking car, so you have a visual of what I mean about the bunny tail. Hopefully, "The Bunny Car" will live a long and full life, and I will lose my grim reaper status. :)

I Promise I Wasn't Drinking!

A few weeks ago, I did this to my car.


See all that pretty white paint. It's not supposed to be there. Yikes!

I bet you are wondering how I did it. Well, I scraped my car on the side of my garage. The garage was unharmed, but the car was not. Everyone immediately notices the damage and asks what happened. It is a tiny bit embarrassing to admit the truth, and I have gotten more than one eye roll when I tell people I hit my garage. I tried coming up with a few fun stories like a large white bird flew out of the sky and smacked into my car or my dogs got bored and decided to do an art project.

I am eventually going to get it fixed (probably within the next few weeks), but until then I will have fun inventing imaginative stories about how my car got damaged. Let me know if you think of any good ones! :)