No Bean Chili

We host an annual Friendsgiving + Football party on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and invite friends and family over to watch the Florida vs. Florida State game. We had our first real cold front come through so chili sounded perfect to serve our guests. I have always enjoyed the flavor of a good chili, but the beans just do not agree with me, so I searched Pinterest for a no-bean chili and then tweaked the recipe a bit. It turned out SO GOOD! Greg and I have been eating the leftovers for 3 nights with zero complaints!

ingredients

3 pounds ground beef (I use organic)

2 pounds Italian sausage

3 packages of chili seasoning (I use organic/GF)

2 tbsp cocoa powder

6 green peppers, diced

1-12oz package of carrot sticks, diced

2-6oz cans of tomato paste

2-10oz cans of Rotel

3 cups chicken broth

directions

{1}

In a large skillet, brown ground beef and sausage over medium-high heat. Add chili seasoning and cocoa powder and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes. Pour the cooked meat into the crockpot.

{2}

Add the carrots, green peppers, tomato paste and Rotel to the crockpot and mix until all ingredients are combined. Cook for 4-6 hours on high, or 8-10 hours on low.

{3}

When done, stir in 3 cups of chicken broth and set crockpot to warm.

{4}

Serve with your favorite toppings - we like shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, corn chips and some diced onion.

Recently Read

My kindle is pretty much always with me. I love to read during any pocket of downtime - whether it's a few chapters on a quiet Sunday morning with coffee, a couple pages before bed, or a long stretch while on a flight. A few books I've recently read and enjoyed have been a mix of my usual rom-com and thrillers, and some curveballs I wasn't expecting to like as much as I did.

Don't Believe It - Charlie Donlea
 After a documentary film maker successfully exonerated two wrongly-convicted felons, she sets her sights on uncovering the truth from a crime in St. Lucia, which took place ten years prior. So many twists in this thrilling novel up until the very end.

Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt
This one was definitely a different plot than I typically gravitate toward but really enjoyed it! The chapters bounce between the three main characters, including an octopus in captivity's perspective. Well written and kept my interest to see how it plays out.

The Thousandth Floor - Katharine McGee
Set in NYC in 2118, this "Gossip Girl"-esque book was intriguing. It is centered around a high school clique who all live in the Manhattan Tower. Filled with lies, deceit, drugs - and the hierarchy of status, wealth and socioeconomic class dependent on which floor your family lived on.

The Girl Who Was Taken - Charlie Donlea
Page-turner that I flew through on Labor Day Weekend. Thriller about multiple girls going missing in the town and neighboring states. The chapters flip between past and present, with different characters' perspectives. As the sister of one of the missing girl's goes on a hunt for clues, I couldn't put it down as she uncovers the disturbing truth.

This Summer Will Be Different - Carley Fortune
I haven't read a Carley Fortune book I didn't love, and this novel was no exception. A story about friendship, love and timing that spans multiple years and stages of life.

Darling Girls - Sally Hepworth
Three foster sisters are being suspected of murder when a body is found under the foster home they grew up in. It's a thrilling tale of loyalty, love and secrets.

Currently Obsessed

{cowboy boots}

I recently bought these ivory knee-high cowboy boots from Target, and promptly ordered the black color as soon as I tried them on at home. They are trendy, make a statement, and work with everything from shorts to dresses to leggings. Bonus - they are so comfortable, thanks to the memory foam sole! I wore them to my bestie's birthday dinner and danced the night away with zero issues.

Halloween Monster Cookies

How fun are these?! I love a festive spin on desserts, and as soon as I saw these Halloween Monster Cookies on pinterest, I knew Jack and I would be baking them. With black cocoa, creamy white chocolate chips, candy eyeballs, and the m&m ghoul's mix - these are equal parts spooky and delicious!

ingredients

1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups flour (I use gluten free)
1 cup black cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup halloween m&ms, plus more for garnish
edible candy eyeballs, for garnish

directions

{1}
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

{2}
In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat the butter and both sugars together on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla extract and eggs on at a time. 

{3}
In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the stand mixer. Stop halfway to scrape down the side of the bowl and ensure all ingredients are well combined. Beat until a sticky dough forms. Fold in the white chocolate chips and m&ms with a rubber spatula. 

{4}
Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, place dough balls at least 1-2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Add 2 eyeballs to each dough ball, pressing in gently. Repeat with extra m&ms to ensure all colorful elements are represented before baking. 

{5}
Bake for 8-10 minutes, until puffy but still soft - careful not to overbake! Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container, or pop some in a gallon freezer bag for maximum freshness! Enjoy :)

Blue Ridge Girls Trip

I am so grateful to have amazing co-workers that have become some of my best friends. Four of us did a girls trip to Georgia last week and had such a great time! The fall weather and red leaves were a welcome change in season for these FL girls.

We spent three nights at Tiffany's parents' lodge in Mineral Bluff, which was incredible! We could have easily stayed at the lodge the entire trip since it was decked out with three levels, multiple fire pits, a hot tub, movie theatre, pool table, side-by-side and four wheeler. Late night s'mores and espresso martinis while wearing matching sweatshirts and playing card games made for a lot of laughs & memories.

Adventures around Blue Ridge and Dahlonega filled our days - winery hopping, enjoying delicious meals and checking out the pumpkin patch and apple orchard. My favorites were brunch at Monteluce Winery (best bolognese I've ever had!), the Mountain Mama coffee shop was so cute, dinner at Black Sheep and the rose brut at Wolf Mountain Winery were both fabulous.

Katie, Kylie, Tiff and I had so much fun and cannot wait to plan more trips together, and we will definitely be back to Blue Ridge!

{all dressed up in neutrals for our first night}

{the ultimate s'mores kit}

{dinner at Black Sheep}

{enjoying coffee on the balcony overlooking the Toccoa River}

{looked like we were in Tuscany when we pulled up to Montaluce Winery}

{cutest backdrop}

{the BEST filet Bolognese}

{winery + beautiful weather}

{rose at the Wolf Mountain winery}

{we spent hours in the hot tub}

{sunset at Old Toccoa Farms}

{Mountain Mama coffee shop had the cutest aesthetic}

{pumpkin patch}

{loved getting to wear our fall outfits}

{afternoon chardonnay at Bear Claw winery}

{Kylie gave us all matching sweatshirts with our fave cocktails - mine is spicy marg!}

Pumpkin Crisp

I enjoy baking every day of the year, but something about the shift in seasons to autumn really makes me want to throw on an apron and whip something up in the kitchen. I came across a recipe on pinterest for a pumpkin crisp and quickly saved it to make last weekend. I tweaked the original recipe a bit, and have shared my version below.

It came out AMAZING! Rich & flavorful, not too sweet, with a little crunch from the crisp topping. It just tastes like fall in a bowl. I will definitely be baking this again - Thanksgiving anyone?

We served it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream - highly recommend :)

ingredients

{pumpkin pie layer}

1 15-oz can pumpkin puree

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2/3 cup half & half

{cinnamon crumble}

2 cups flour (I use GF)

1 cup oats

1 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

12 tbsp (1 1/2 sticks) of butter, melted

directions

{1}

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat the inside of a medium (9x9) dish with non-stick cooking spray.

{2}

In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, eggs, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, salt and vanilla extract. Add the half & half and cream until smooth. Pour into the prepared dish and set aside.

{3}

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add melted butter and stir with a fork until crumbles form. Spread the crisp topping evenly over the pumpkin pie mixture.

{4}

Bake for 40-45 minutes until the filling is set and crumble is golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool for ~10 minutes. 

{5}

Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 5 days, and either indulge in this treat cold or reheat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.

My Favorite Seasonal Candles

 I have been a long-time fan of Capri Blue candles - the volcano scent has been burning in my home for the last 15+ years! The jars are beautiful, the throw is exceptional, and they are decently priced.

Pro tip: I buy multiples of the x-small volcano candles when they are on sale (~$12) to have on hand for last-minute gifts. Whether you need something for a hostess gift or birthday - just add a bottle and a card, and you've got the perfect present!

{recently gave this combo to a sweet friend for her engagement}

- - -

The seasonal scents at Anthropologie are some of my favorites, and I love to rotate the fragrance each month to tie into my holiday spirit and decor.

October - Pumpkin Clove

The brand describes pumpkin clove as: "the scent of creamy, buttery pumpkin with a touch of orange zest is wrapped within a savory vanilla and cinnamon base." 

I look forward to this one every year, and admittedly start lighting it in September despite the 90 degree temps outside!

November - Spiced Cider

Spiced Cider is my go-to around Thanksgiving. The scent is detailed as "sparkling berries and grapes mix with harvest apple and cinnamon within a soothing vanilla and Canadian fir base." Which is exactly the fragrance I want in autumn!

December - Hearthside // Fir & Firewood

December's candle is usually a toss-up between two holiday scents! 

I LOVE the Hearthside scent - it is soo cozy! Capri Blue presents it as "notes of smoky cedarwood, pine needles, and clove mingle with a warming touch of vanilla, raspberry and amber."

The Fir & Firewood fragrance is a more traditional Christmastime scent: "a fruity, green aroma of apple, clove, fir, pine needle, white birch, cedar, vetiver, and musk."

You can't go wrong with either one, which is why I typically rotate burning each one throughout the season.

Air Fryer Potatoes

Our air fryer has quickly become a highly-used appliance in our kitchen. One of my favorite foods we use it for is potatoes. This side is the perfect compliment to a cheesy omelet when we do breakfast for dinner.

I don't measure anything, but the below are the spices and times/temp I use to get golden brown potatoes.

ingredients

small gold potatoes

extra virgin olive oil

salt

pepper

cumin

chili powder

paprika

directions

{1}

Cut potatoes in quarters so they are bite-sized chunks. Add them to a large mixing bowl.

{2}

Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with seasonings and toss until all potatoes are coated.

{3}

Pour the potatoes into the air fryer basket. I do them at 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. Pause halfway through and shake/stir the basket so they all get browned evenly. Enjoy!

Currently Obsessed

{Nike Air Jordan 1 Low}

I have my fair share of sneakers among my shoe collection, but Jordan's were not one of them until recently. I'm not a big basketball girlie, but I definitely ordered these .02 seconds after I saw them on one of my favorite instagram fashion influencers. They are very comfortable and the color combo is perfection! Can't wait to wear these all fall and winter.

Office

We have an office attached to our master bedroom through double doors, which has been a great bonus room in our home. It has gone through many iterations over the years, but the current one is by far my favorite. 

This room became Greg's pseudo man cave when we moved the xbox out of the living room - now his sometimes violent video games are behind closed doors and hidden from Jack's curious eyes. Greg stays up later than I do, and he has a place for his hobby that does not disturb me reading in bed.

I also love using this room for my morning workouts. Being able to have a space for myself is so nice. I just push the coffee table to the side, and can roll out my yoga mat and grab the weights that we have stored in the closet.

 We have a couple of cozy recliners, a coffee table and tv stand for entertainment. The desk is compact but perfect for storing important documents/mail/Jack's crafts from school that we have yet to decide which are keepers.

The colors are very natural with pops of green, which makes it feel tranquil and a great spot to nestle in with a book and cup of coffee - or light a candle and watch a movie together at night.

It feels like a second living room and has been used so much the last few months since we transitioned it into a fully-functional part of our home, rather than a holding cell of random furniture.

Recently Read

Reading by the pool is one of life's simple pleasures. A few books I've recently read and loved:

Expiration Dates - Rebecca Serle
I really like this author (also loved One Italian Summer). Expiration Dates is an intriguing love story with a unique plot. The main character, Daphne, occasionally receives notes from the universe with a man's name and the length of time they will be together - which makes her question fate vs. free will. 

Kill For Me, Kill For You - Steve Cavanagh

I read this one on our Seattle trip, and it was a great page-turning thriller for a long flight. Lots of unexpected twists!

Twice in a Lifetime - Melissa Baron

A time-traveling love story that had me rooting for the main character from the very beginning. Also a great through line of self love and acceptance, and working to overcoming challenges, especially with mental health, by seeking support.

All Good People Here - Ashley Flowers

I enjoyed this book about a small town plagued by an unsolved crime decades earlier. It kept me on the edge of my seat as the main character puts the puzzle pieces together. I tore through this one in a weekend.

Only If You're Lucky - Stacy Willingham

A novel about friendship, belonging, secrets, manipulation & murder. I was completely engulfed in this book from the first chapter. The author's writing style and story-telling are topnotch. 

My Tips for Buying Second Hand Designer Bags

 As I've mentioned before, I love a designer bag. But since my budget is in the couple hundred, not the couple thousand, I look for gently used pieces at an amazing deal. You can find great styles from contemporary designers (Tory Burch, Coach, etc) and luxury brands (Chanel, Louis Vuitton, etc) for a fraction of the original retail price. I've rounded up my top tips for buying second hand with confidence.

#1 - Authenticity

Some sites are legit and have an expert ensuring each item is authentic: The RealReal, ReBag, Fashionphile, etc. I personally have found great pieces on The Real Real for a steal! 

If you're going the Poshmark or Mercari route, which are consumer-based platforms, check the photos thoroughly. I've found the zoom quality is better on my iphone than on a computer so you can check every square inch. 

Ensure the serial number, hologram sticker, etc. is visible and accurate (google for reference). Look up the bag on the designer's website to compare side-by-side. Check hardware, zippers, seams and stitching. Designer bags are perfectly made so if something looks off, it's probably a dupe.

#2 - Use The Filters

Use the filters to your advantage: if you're looking for a deal under $500, set your budget and stay within that range. Same with quality - I typically only look at "excellent" and "very good" and stay away from "fair" since I know I won't be happy with the condition. 

I'm fine with gently used bags so long as there aren't major flaws - loose stitching, exposed piping, tears, stains, etc. A few tiny scratches on the hardware isn't a deal-breaker for me, but fully tarnished metal is. Find your own personal line in the sand and stick to it.

#3 - Stay True to Your Style & Needs

So you found a killer deal and are about to click "add to cart" - WAIT! Make sure it's exactly what you want and you will get years of wear out of it. 

Is it the right size for your needs? 

Don't get a teeny tiny purse just because of the deal if you really need a bag for work that is big enough to fit your laptop.

Is it a practical color?

If you only wear neutrals, but found a bright yellow Gucci for $600 = pass! You likely won't use it that often. When in doubt, stick to the classic neutrals - black, brown, taupe, cream, etc.

#4 - Negotiate Nicely

There's no wiggle room on sites like The RealReal - although if you heart an item and add it to your obsessions, you can track when there is a price drop! 

If you're combing through Mercari and Poshmark for your dream bag, there is an "offer" function. Similarly, you can "like" a posting and save it. Sometimes the seller will offer you a deal with discounted shipping. If it's *the one* pounce because those offers go to all of the people that liked that item.

If you want to negotiate directly with the sellers, don't low-ball. I've sold a few items on these sites and it's kind of insulting when someone offers $50 for a $500 bag! The platform makes a commission on the sale so the seller's earnings are less than the purchase price. Be fair and reasonable. I think a good range is 10-20% below the listing price. The buyer and seller can counteroffer as well, so keep in mind that you may go back and forth to find a middle ground each party agrees upon.

#5 - Keep Tags, Authenticity Cards, Dust Bags, etc

However you acquire a designer bag, whether directly from the brand or second-hand, keep all of the important documents. Store the box, price tags, authenticity cards, dust bag, etc. so you have them if you ever want to re-sell in the future. 

#6 - Proper Storage

Some people keep their purses tucked away in their respective dust bags, but I prefer to display them in my closet. Before storing a bag on my shelves, I empty it completely (no loose receipts, etc) and stuff it with either tissue paper or plastic air-filled bags to hold its shape. If there is a removable long shoulder strap, I take it off and roll it up to store inside so the strap does not get bent and misshapen. 

Summer Trip to Seattle

In June, our family took a trip to Washington state. My parents, Greg, Jack and I found an airbnb walking distance to my cousin and husband's apartment in Seattle. They showed us the best time, filled with 4 days of adventures. Seeing so many "firsts" through Jack's eyes was so memorable for all of us.

We stayed local the first day and explored the Freemont neighborhood - walking around, visiting the troll, shopping and lunch. After traveling the day prior, we were all pretty tired so afternoon naps and reading by the fireplace were ideal.

On Tuesday, we woke up early and made the drive to Mt. Rainier. They had gotten a snow storm a few days prior so the trail we had planned to hike was under 3 feet of snow! We bundled up and showed Jack snow for the first time! We did a bit of hiking, had a snowball fight, Jack made a snow angel, and saw the most spectacular views.

We did a tourist city day downtown on Wednesday. We started with a trip up the Space Needle, which was super cool! It was a super clear day and the 360 degree views of Seattle including the city and Mt. Rainier that we hiked the day prior were incredible. We took a lap around the top floor, and then went down one level to the rotating floor.

Pike Place Market was the next stop, and a must-see in Seattle. We walked through to see vendors throwing fish, selling the most gorgeous bouquets of fresh flowers, and got Jack a doughnut while we waited for a table for lunch. We ate at Lowell's and had a delicious lunch filled with fresh seafood.

We took a stroll through Post Alley (with a pitstop at the gum wall) on the way to the The Great Wheel. Jack was super excited to go on the ferris wheel for the fist time. The views were great and Jack's awe made it worth the over-priced tickets. Back at the airbnb, we enjoyed an afternoon cocktail and snacks around the outdoor firepit.

On Thursday, we drove to Leavenworth, which is a Bavarian-themed town in Washington. We packed a picnic and stopped by Icicle Creek to set up a little camp. Jack loved exploring and find sticks. We sat by the creek which was so peaceful. After lunch, we stopped by the alpine slide at Leavenworth Adventures. Greg, my dad and I each did a ride with Jack so he could go on the "rollercoaster" a few times. Great views and surprisingly fast! I was hovering the brake the entire ride lol!

We headed back to the airport early Friday to catch our flight home - so bittersweet to leave. We had the best time! Jack was such a trooper with all the travel - his first time on an airplane, lots of drive time, etc and he was AMAZING the entire trip! Looking forward to showing him more of our world.