Happy New Year - 2014!

It's a new year and an opportunity for another chance at old resolutions! :)

First, lets review how I did with my 2013 resolutions:

1. Take More Pictures - Mid-year I dropped and broke the camera I bought on black Friday in 2012 (to take more pictures in 2013), so things slowed down in the summer, but overall I think I well.  Therefore....
SUCCESS!

2. Blog More Often - 20 blog posts in 2012, 18 in 2013, and my last blog post in 2013 was in July!!!
FAIL!

3. New Recipes - (2 each month)  I tried 10 new recipes by July and know I tried more after that, so...
SUCCESS!

4. Purge - I have rocked this resolution.  I still have some stuff to go through, but overall I made some money at a yard sale and donated lots of stuff.  I am also changing my habits and trying not to keep everything "in case" I need it one day.
SUCCESS!

5. Read More - 25 books in 2013??? Who picked that number?!  But I did read more books in 2013 than 2012... by 4 whole books! So I give myself 1/2 point for that.
1/2 SUCCESS!

6. Become Healthy - I started Weight Watchers in June and lost some weight.  Of course with the holidays, I fell off the wagon and the wagon ran over me... but back on the wagon!  I didn't add too much exercise, but did lose some weight the healthy way... so another 1/2 point :)
1/2 SUCCESS!

7. Add Something New - Hmm... new things in 2013: I went to California for the first time, volunteered at the Color Run, took an online photography class (which was "eh"), and threw a surprise party for my dad.
SUCCESS!

Now onto 2014!!

1. Keep Taking More Pictures 

2. Blog More Often (and past July! haha)

3. Read More books in 2014. (Friend me on Goodreads!!)

4. Send out Birthday cards to friends and family.

5. Create a Vision Board... just because I think it'd be fun! :)

6. Step out of my comfort zone and take chances... what will that bring?!

(....and of course lose weight, but that's every year, so why add that to the list?!)

I hope all of your hopes and dreams come true in 2014!!

Crockpot Chicken Tacos

Another recipe already?!  Yes, friends!  Aren't you lucky?

I pinned this recipe a while ago, and finally made it!  It's a two-fer!

First... 
Crockpot Chicken Tacos
Serves ~ 12

1 Envelope Taco Seasoning
6 Pieces Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 16-ounce jar Salsa
Dump everything into a crock pot and give it a little stir to blend the seasoning with the salsa. You do not need to add any water to the taco seasoning.

(I actually mixed the taco seasoning and salsa together before dumping!)

Cook on high for 4 to 6 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours. When done, the chicken should shred easily when stirred with a fork.

This is what it looked like after 7 hours... so I grabbed a spatula (my favorite kitchen gadget!!) to stir it up a bit...

And it shredded so easily!!

The next day I made tacos for dinner... they were YUMMY!!

After eating my my tacos, I dived into making the next recipe with the same chicken!

Second...

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Serves: 6

2 cups of the shredded chicken
One 32oz box of chicken broth
One can corn (drain)
2 handfuls chopped cilantro
One squeezed lime*

One can diced tomatoes
One can diced tomatoes w/ chiles
1/2 large yellow onion
One can black beans
2-3 table spoons of tomato paste
2 teaspoons of cumin
2 teaspoons of chile powder
2 teaspoons of garlic powder

Dump everything in a pot and simmer for ~30 minutes.

* Yup - I squeezed a lime.

First four ingredients...

Next four ingredients...

Finished!

After simmering for about 45 minutes I let it sit for awhile and then refrigerated overnight. This soup will make your house smell amazing!

I ate it the next night for dinner... it was really good!!!  If you like things spicy, it definitely can be kicked up a notch or two :)

I will definitely make this again!  I was able to freeze the soup and some of the chicken.  I used the chicken to make tacos one night, put it on my salad at lunch the next day and in the soup... and still had a lot left over!  So I was able to freeze small portions so I could easily have chicken tacos whenever I wanted. :)

Mexican Dorito Casserole

As part of my 2013 New Year's Resolutions, I am trying 2 new recipes each month.

On January 1st I made Pork & Sauerkraut.  I didn't document it, or take pictures, but I made it!!  And I made homemade mashed potatoes too.  It was yummy!!  You can grab the recipe here.  I added Granny Smith Apple & brown sugar.

So, for my second recipe of the month, I tried Mexican Dorito Casserole.  I had all of the ingredients but Doritos & cheese, so quick stop to the grocery store and I was on my way!!  I found the recipe on Pinterest, which lead me to the Jam Hands Blog.  First, here is the original picture...

Here is the recipe:
Mexican Dorito Casserole 
Serves 4-6


2 c. shredded cooked chicken
1 c. shredded cheese (or more if you are a cheese hound)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can Ro-tel tomatoes (canned tomatoes with jalepenos-mild)
1/2 packet taco seasoning (or more- to taste)
Bag of doritos


1. Pre-heat oven to 350-f degrees.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except Doritos.

3. In a greased 2 qt baking dish, put a layer of crushed Doritos (about 2 cups), then a layer of the chicken mixture. Repeat once more, ending with a layer of chicken mixture. Top with more shredded cheese, cover, and bake for 30-35 minutes, till bubbling hot.

Here's all the ingredients mixed except the chicken.... which was cooking :)

First layer of Doritos.

Ready to bake!  I am a cheese hound, so I added a ton of cheese to the top... yum!!!

All done!  

My after shot...

REVIEW:
I would give this 6.5 - 7 stars out of 10.  Definitely wasn't bad, but I probably would not make it again.  I didn't like the Doritos in there as much as I thought I would.  The leftovers were ok, needed to add some water while microwaving, and it was still a little dry.  But was definitely fun and had a nice taste!

MODIFICATIONS:

• I cubed my chicken.  I'm not a good "shredder" of chicken... 
• I used 1 1/2 to 2 cups cheese 
• I poured 1/2 the juice out of the Rotel tomatoes.  I wasn't sure if I should drain them or not... if I were to make this next time, I would not have drained them!
• I used at least 2/3 of the packet of taco seasoning.
• I did not use the whole bag of Doritos... probably 80% of the bag.

Happy New Year - 2013!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Another new year... another chance to make 'resolutions!'

I did "ok" with my resolutions for 2012...

1. Take More Pictures - My old camera started taking yucky pictures, so I kinda gave up.  But I did take some fun pictures with my iPhone and Instagram, so I think that overall I did take more pictures!
SUCCESS!

2. Get Back to Scrapbooking - I did not scrapbook even one page in 2012!!!  I'm starting to think I should just sell all my stuff and put my pictures in albums.  Seems a little less stressful.  I will think about it.
FAIL.

3. Blog More Often - 39 blog posts in 2011... 20 blog posts in 2012.
FAIL.

4. Add Something New for 2012 - Does beer count?  I think so!  I started attending beer school (or skool as I like to call it) with friends and was able to taste many new years and learn a lot!  (f'real)  Now, I love trying new beer and my tastes are more distinguished... Miller Lite is no longer my "go-to" and I love to try micro-brews from all over!
SUCCESS!

5.  Grow my Thirty-One Business - As the number of Thirty-One consultants grow, I was able to remain active for 2012, which I consider successful!  I even went to Thirty-One's national conference in Atlanta over the summer and had a blast!!  I don't see my business continuing through 2013 as I struggle to book parties and remain active, but I am ok with that and am so glad I had the opportunity!  I don't consider this resolution a success or fail...

Now onto 2013!!!

I'm going to transfer some 2012 resolutions...
1. Take More Pictures - I bought a new camera on black Friday, so no more excuses.  Watch out friends and family... you're going to see a camera in your face a lot more often!!

2. Blog More Often - Watch out blogosphere... you're going to see Something Wonderful more often!!

Now for something new...
3. New Recipes - I am going to try at least 2 new recipes each month!  Most of these I will gather from Pinterest and re-pin to my board "Been There, Done That"

4. Purge - I am going to start getting rid of some of my junk.  I have a bad habit of keeping everything... I have closets, drawers, containers, etc. full of things I haven't touched in months... years even!!  Who needs that?!?!

5.  Read More - I only read 16 books in 2012.  BOO!  My goal is 25 in 2013.  (Friend me on Goodreads!!)

6. Become Healthy - I have been eating so awful the past few months that I really want to start being healthier.  I of course need to loose weight, so that is my main goal, but just to be healthier in general.  Better food & exercise!

7. Add Something New for 2013!

Good Luck with your resolutions!

Happy New Year!!

Well, it's 2012!  Happy New Year!!!!

Time to make some New Year's resolutions!  Obviously, like most people, first I need to loose some weight & be healthier... but that's every year, so what can I do different for this year?

1. Take more pictures. I love looking back at great times and reliving happy memories through photographs.  But, I have become a slacker photographer.  So, 2012... more pictures!

2. Get back to scrapbooking.  Tying into #1, I want to get back into scrapbooking.  I am over 6 years behind.  I was always a little behind, but then started back to school, bought a house and then just was overwhelmed by how far behind I am!  But baby steps back into it.

3. Blog more often.  Obviously. :)

I also want to add a couple new things into 2012... something different & fun.  What will it be?  Maybe learn another language? Take a cooking class?  Take a photography class?

www.mythirtyone.com/agrupp

Lastly I became a Thirty-One consultant last summer.  I had a few great parties thanks to some awesome friends, but would really like to grow my little business in 2012.  I started out to have something fun "to-do" and meet some new people.  Mission accomplished.  Thirty-One is definitely FUN... everything about it!  For instance this past weekend I went to a movie theater to see the new spring catalog released.  What a great time!  And I have met some great people and made lots of new friends.  Now, I will continue to have fun, build relationships, and meet new people.... but also want to make a little extra money to help lower some bills I have accumulated.

So, I see a fun year ahead of me... and I'm ready!!  Good bye 2011!!