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Oh, How Pinteresting!
Here we go with round two of “Oh, How Pinteresting!” Here’s my top five:
Chicken Enchilada Soup
This past Friday when I listed my top five Pinterest Picks I showed a picture of Chicken Enchilada Soup. This recipe has quickly become one of our favorites at the house, and it’s too good not to share! Here it is:
Chicken Enchilada Soup
1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes (I used the kind with sweet onion in it)
1 10-ounce package frozen whole kernel corn
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped yellow, green, or red bell pepper (I used red, which is my favorite pepper)
1 10-ounce can enchilada sauce (I used mild)
1 10.75-ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups milk (I used skim)
1 cup shredded Pepper jack cheese (4 ounces)
2 chicken breasts
In a 3 1/2 to 5 quart slow cooker, combine drained beans, tomatoes, corn, onion, and bell pepper. Place 2 chicken breasts on top of mixture. In a large bowl, whisk together enchilada sauce and soup. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth. Pour sauce mixture over ingredients in cooker.Cover; cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours. Remove chicken and cut or shred into bite sized pieces. Add chicken back into soup. Top with pepper jack cheese and serve. Can also be topped with avocado, sour cream, or crushed tortilla chips. Note: if the soup is too thick for you, just add a little more milk after it’s all cooked.
Enjoy! It’s so good! This recipe originally comes from www.realmomkitchen.com
Tale as Old as Time
Belle from Beauty and the Beast has always been my most favorite of the Disney Princess’, I wish I could say that it was because she was sweet and kind to all she met, but the reality is I liked her because of her hair. Yes, her hair. To my knowledge, she was the first brunette princess and since I was a brunette she was my favorite.
I’ve often said it’s the little things in life that amuse me.
I turned six the year Beauty and the Beast was released, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that my sixth birthday party was Beauty and the Beast themed complete with plates, napkins, cups, tablecloth, and plastic figurines of Belle and the Beast (I kept those until I was eleven. The little things, folks. The little things.) In my six year old mind, that was probably the coolest birthday party that had ever been or ever would be, for that matter. Heck, I still think about that party, and I still think it was pretty cool.
I can’t believe I just admitted that…
I suppose that another reason I was so taken with Beauty and the Beast was that my dance company performed a dance/production to “Be Our Guest” and took it to a couple of competitions. I can’t recall with exact clarity what part I played, but I do remember my costume was kelly green with a hot pink tutu and carried a fake hot fudge sundae made out of styrofoam. I loved that routine, and if memory serves, I believe we took home the whole enchilada with that one. Yes, yes we did.
Well, let’s fast forward a few years (about 18 years) and imagine my joy when I found out that Beauty and the Beast was going to be re-released in 3-D in theatres. As soon as I found that out I immediately started making arrangements to take my oldest nieces to see it. I knew that they had seen the movie at home, but never in a theatre. So on Saturday mom and I took four, very excited little girls to the movie theatre for the first time. Once we settled in, I distributed the glasses to help us see in 3D, and ran out to the lobby to buy popcorn to feed six people. Once I made my way back to theatre I was relieved to find that I had only missed the first song, and sat back to watch my most favorite of childhood movies. It was just as beautiful as I remembered, and I still envy Belle with that gold dress. I had such a good time, watching it again. It brought back some really good memories for me; but my most favorite part was watching it through my niece’s eyes. They were mesmerized, and it was such a sweet thing to see.
I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to share this experience with my nieces, it was such a fun time, and I hope they’ll remember it for many years to come. Oh, and someone may or may not have teared up during the ballroom scene… the world may never know.
Oh, how Pinteresting…
So, I’ve decided that since I keep finding such CUTE things on Pinterest (I mean C-U-T-E), I’m going to creat “Oh, how Pinteresting” Fridays! If you stop by here every Friday I’ll show you my top five Pinterest Picks of the week. If you’re not on Pinterest, I highly recommend that you get yourself an account…it’s so fun!
Resolved
Happy 2012! I can’t get over that it’s the year 2012?!? It seems just like yesterday that I was a young 13 year old celebrating the year 2000 and here we are 12 years later. Crazy. Crazy I tell you. Although I’m glad were 12 years away from 2000 as I was still in that awkward, gawky teenager stage and my hair looked as if I had taken garden shears to cut it into some sort of bob. Not very pleasant memories, to be honest. Here’s to the New Year and better hair!
I’ve been thinking a lot about resolutions, and I decided to post mine to help with accountability as well as have them written down. I know you could probably care less about mine, but I thought it would be cool to hear what yours are if you’d like to share. So, without further delay I present my 2012 Resolutions:
Resolved: To spend consistent, daily time with the Lord through His word and prayer.
Resolved: To Memorize more scripture.
Resolved: To choose healthier foods when eating, and exercise 4 times a week to be a better steward of my physical health.
Resolved: To actively be involved in the lives of my friends and family by looking for ways to serve them.
Resolved: To give my all to whatever task I’m doing.
Resolved: To grow in the gifts and talents that God has given me to be better used for His glory.
Alright, there you have it. What are yours?
I Confess
Yesterday, Kelly over at Kelly’s Korner posted five “confessions” about herself. I thought it was a fun idea, and decided to give it a try here…so here goes nothing!
1. I love to wrap presents. I have become the official “present wrapper” at our house, and it’s been so fun to come up with fun bows and ribbon designs 
2. Land ‘O Lakes makes the best hot chocolate mix. I drink it throughout the winter, with a handful of mini marshmallows. My favorite flavor is supreme with hazelnut coming in at a close second.
3. I intensely dislike ironing…this would probably explain why I have a mountain of wrinkled clothes waiting for me at home. Seriously though, who says we have to wear ironed clothes?? Only kidding….sort of 
4. Michael Buble’s new Christmas album is, in the words of my cousin, “delicious”. It’s so fun, and cheerful. Every time I hear it, I’m instantly in the Christmas spirit! I highly recommend his version of “It’s Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas”. SO GOOD!
5. I’m planning on making a special Christmas surprise for my nieces and nephews which is either going to make or break me. Things could get a little tense in my kitchen this week I’ll be sure to let you know how it turns out.
Well, I’m signing off for now. I’ll see y’all tomorrow! Wait, what’s that? Three posts in a week? I think I’m setting a new record…
Christmas Tidings!
I’m sitting here with my father (he says that ever since I moved to our apartment downstairs I never want to spend time with him anymore ) and we’re spending some quality time watching “Christmas with the Kranks” which has led me to start listing my all time favorite Christmas movies. I thought it would be fun to list my top five and share with you!
Alright. Here we go.
5. Season for Miracles
Such a sweet Christmas story that I love to watch every year
4. Miracle on 34th Street
I’ve always loved, loved, loved this story! I’ve never believed in Santa Claus, but I absolutely love this movie, and the little girl who plays Susan is ADORABLE!
3. Charlie Brown Christmas
I’ve watched this movie ever since I was born, and I never get tired of it. I was able to watch it with my nieces and nephews this year, which was so special to me…
3. White Christmas
I fell in love with this movie when I first saw it twelve years ago. The songs, costumes, dancing and acting are just so fun! I’ve heard rumor that my niece, Ruthie, watched this for the first time last year, and fell in love with it too
1. It’s a Wonderful Life
I am not lying when I say that I watch this movie every year. This is the first movie that I saw with Jimmy Stewart, and this quickly solidified him as one of my all time favorite actors. This movie makes me cry. Every. Single. Time. The story is beautiful, and Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without it…
I’ve got lots more that I could share, but these are my top five that I watch just about every Christmas season. What about you? What are your favorites?
Let’s Talk Christmas: Cards!
I’m linking up with Faith over at Walk With Me by Faith (whom I’ve never met, but I LOVE her blog! It’s so encouraging!) and sharing my family’s Christmas card for her Christmas Card Carousel! One of my most favorite things about this season is all of the fun Christmas Cards we receive each day. It’s always so fun to see pictures of these friends and family that we hold dear as well as read their sweet notes and letters.
This year I decided to use the WONDERFUL people at Shutterfly again (seriously, they are the BEST when it comes to customer service), and chose a card that had the option of three photos since I wanted to share a couple of pictures from our family photo shoot this past October, as well as one from an Appstate football game. I also chose fun colors with polka dots! I’m on a big polka dot kick right now so I was thrilled to find this card with the little polka dots Overall, I’m thrilled with how it turned out! I highly recommend Shutterfly for all of your photo printing needs…
Without further delay, here is our card!
Click HERE to see it!
Merry Christmas!
Have Yourself a Merry Little Thanksgiving…
Oh hi. I want to start off by saying that yes, I do know that I completely changed the title to the classic Christmas song in my title, but there are days when I feel like being uncoventional and today is one of those days.
How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was great in which I consumed some of the best turkey I’ve ever eaten as well as some chestnut dressing that was equally delicious. It was a great day spent giving thanks, eating really good food, enjoying family, and watching football…and the Waltons, and The Music Man (don’t judge, I have a special place for musicals in my heart.). I was supremely happy to see the Packers win (11-0!) with a great defensive effort by Mr. DJ Smith (App Alum). I also feel compelled to say that I believe Mr. Suh needs some anger managment/therapy. Breathe, Mr. Suh, breathe.
This is normally where I’d throw a couple of pictures in to make a more “well-rounded” post, but alas, WordPress does not want to cooperate with me. It’s a pity too. I was going to show you how we brined our turkey in a five gallon bucket. Exactly like Martha Stewart would. We are classy with a capital “K”. I was also going to show you how Julee enjoyed her first piece of pumpkin pie. Bless her heart, she was eating it like it was the last piece on earth. She’s a Petrey through and through…
Unlike everyone else in the country, I did not get up to shop on Friday, but slept in. It.Was.Glorious. Glorious! I did hit some of the stores later that morning, and I did score some $5.00 DVDs from Walmart, which is really the only thing I was interested in. Once I finished shopping I came home and started the process of putting up all autumn decorations and bringing down all Christmas decorations. Once that “fun” task was done I settled in on the couch and watched a little football. I was also supremely saddened to see LSU beat Arkansas (not a fan of the Tigers), as I was really hoping for an upset, however I will say that LSU appears to be unstoppable at the moment… I finished my evening cleaning up my apartment and getting ready for a day of Christmas decorating on Saturday. Good times.
I’m happy to report that all decorations but our tree are up! I’ll be showing pictures a bit later as I’ll be joining a blog link up! Well, friends. I must go. Reality’s calling…
