With a Side of Hope

Good Morning Everyone!  I feel like I haven’t posted an update in a while.  I took a much-needed day off yesterday.  I don’t think I went on my computer at all yesterday.  It felt nice to be away from it for a while.  So let’s get back to where I left off. 

On Saturday, I didn’t work for as long as I was planning because the snow kept falling and the parking lot here was not getting plowed.  It was not salted either.  So I didn’t feel like getting stuck here.  I ended up working 4.5 hours instead of the 6 that I was planning on.  Once I got home, some airbag warning light appeared on my dashboard in my car!  Just what I need another problem to add to everything else going on with the flood.  I’m hoping it’s okay to drive around with this light on.  I’m going to bring it in this weekend when I bring my car in for an oil change.   I seriously cannot take all of these problems with my car.  It’s one thing after another!  After I stopped freaking out about it, Mike and I went out to run some errands.

Then we picked up Melissa and my mom!  We were going to Las Margaritas, our favorite Mexican restaurant to celebrate our mom’s birthday since she will be away for it this Thursday.

Menu

My mom and I both started off with Margaritas on the rocks.

Margarita

They had chips and salsa on the table.  I love their chips because they are homemade and not greasy or salty!

Chips and Salsa

My mom and I ordered the same thing because it’s our favorite thing on the menu!  It’s a chicken burrito with lettuce, cheese, and some sour cream on top.  Yum!

My dinner

Las Margaritas is seriously the best Mexican restaurant!  They have delicious food there.  I just love the food and the chips and salsa.  Yummy!  Mexican food is the best. 

After dinner, we went back to Melissa and my mom’s house to exchange gifts and eat the beautiful cake that Melissa and I ordered from a local bakery!  They did a beautiful job!!

Happy Birthday Mom Cake!

Side view of cake

Cake with Candles

Inside of cake

My piece of cake

It was a vanilla cake with fresh strawberry filling and buttercream icing.  The cake itself was so light and fluffy!  The filling was delicious and the frosting was perfect.  This was by far one of the best cakes I have ever eaten.  I think our mom really enjoyed it.  I hope our mom liked her gifts.  I couldn’t tell if she liked them or not.  I wish we could have done more for her but with money being tight for all of us, it’s really hard.  I hope she knows how much we love her and appreciate her.  I will do a post dedicated to my mom on her actual birthday. 

After we were stuffed with cake, the four of us watched tv together and just relaxed the rest of the night.  It was so nice to be around my favorite people.  I had a really great night. 

Yesterday, I tried to sleep in but my mind was racing.  I am just really stressed out with everything that happened with the flood.  I already faxed over paperwork for the management company that we rent from.  Now I just need to speak to the woman when she gets into work this morning.  I’m stressed because we are supposed to get a snowstorm tomorrow night.  Then I don’t know when they are going to do construction to fix the house.  Then we have to watch Oliver and I’m nervous about him being in the house and what I am going to do while the construction people are around.  It’s just a stressful week.  I hope everything gets situated.

Anyway, I saw at my work there was a Mighty Tea Leaf packet so I took one and I had it with breakfast yesterday.

Tea in my Lady and the Tramp mug

Egg on a Bagel-thin

Mike and I ran to the supermarket so that we could get the items we needed for dinner that I was making in the crockpot.  The supermarket was nuts!  It was packed in there!  I think it’s because of the impending snow that is supposed to arrive tomorrow night.  It was a mad house!  Milk and bread were flying off the shelves!  It was crazy!

I found a great recipe on Courtney’s blog for Slow Cooker Bean-less Chili.  I knew I had to make this one because we aren’t huge bean fans and I’d rather not have them now especially with my stomach issues going on.

Bean-less Slow Cooker Chili

Ingredients: (my changes are in bold)

• 2 tsp canola oil (cooking spray)
• 1 lb. London Broil or top round steak, trimmed of fat and cut into 1/4-inch cubes
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 tsp paprika
• 2-3 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp all-purpose barbecue spice rub (I used Montreal seasoning) 
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• 1 can (14 1/2 oz) Zesty Style diced tomatoes (regular would be fine too), with liquid
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1 cup light or nonalcoholic beer, or water (I used Corona Light) 

Directions:

1. Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat.  Add the beef, onion, garlic, and pepper and cook until browned, stirring occasionally (about 8 minutes).
2. Spoon the beef mixture into the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Cover the slow cooker and cook, on low, for 8-10 hrs.
3. Serve sprinkled with grated cheese and/or sour cream, if desired.

Ingredients

My chili w/a dollop of Chobani

Plain Chobani

I also made Chi Chi’s cornbread to go along with it.

Corn Cake

My corn cake

The chili tasted great!  It was just what we needed on a cold night.  I’m so glad that we have leftovers for tonight!  It will make coming home easy know that dinner is already prepared.  What a great recipe!

This morning I have a cereal cocktail, with a banana and hot tea.

How was your weekend?  Anything exciting happen?

Alright, time for me to get back to work now.  Have a good morning!

Filed under: Uncategorized