6 Months

This little family is so cute! I mean, do you see that little girl's cute cheeks? Adorable! Had so much fun taking their pictures for Baby M's 6 months.

 

 

Recipe: Vegetarian Chili

Hey everyone! This recipe is brought to us by the awesome Meagan Thompson. Ever since I became a vegetarian a couple of months ago, I've had some trouble figuring out what to eat besides salads and carbs. Meagan is super inspiring because she's adapted a lot of her and her family's previous recipes to be vegetarian friendly. When I asked her to do this post and she said she was making vegetarian chili I was all over it. I don't post any recipes on my blog without trying them first and I absolutely love this chili. Plus, it's not too overwhelming and I could actually make it on my own. A big thanks to Meagan for sharing! Enjoy!

Vegetarian Chili

 Ingredients 

• 1 can of black beans 
• 1 can of kidney beans 
• 1 can of white kidney beans 
• 1 large can of crushed tomatoes 
• 2-3 large carrots, peeled and chopped 
• 1 small onion, chopped 
• 1 jalapeño, chopped (keep seeds if you want it spicier) 
• 1 anaheim pepper, chopped 
• 1 bell pepper (red, yellow, or orange), chopped 
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed 
• 4 cloves garlic, minced 
• 3 tbs. olive oil 
• 1 tbs. pepper
• 1 tbs. salt 
• 1 tbs. chili powder 
• 1/2 tbs. garlic powder 
• 1-2 tsp. cayenne powder (depending on how spicy you would like it) 

 Directions 

1. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil to heat up (when you flick some water in and it sizzles, it's ready). 

2. To the oil, add onion, garlic, peppers, and carrots. Sweat the vegetables for 5-7 minutes, until the onions are translucent. Stir occasionally.  

3. While the vegetables cook, open the cans of beans, and rinse and drain them. Add them to the vegetables when the onions are translucent, along with the corn. Stir everything together.

4. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, and stir.

5. Add all the spices, adjusting depending on your tastes. (I like more pepper and less salt, and a heaping tsp. of cayenne.) 

6. Let everything simmer for 20-30 minutes, giving the beans time to cook. Stir occasionally.

Serve with a spoonful of sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and fresh chopped chives. Cornbread is optional.

Adventure: Waynesville, NC

Last week I took sort of a leave of absence from blogging for a vacation to see my boyfriend. We're long distance. Usually he comes to see me, but I decided to go down to North Carolina and visit him. I was there for five short days and we had an amazing time. These are just tiny peaks into our time visiting together. We have a great time just being with each other, but he took me sightseeing because he must have known the photographer and girly-girl inside of me would have a blast.

Starbucks is necessary for long drives of course...

There were so many farmer's markets there! This is just one of the ones we visited.

At the top of a mountain

An old abandoned factory

Okay, I fell in love with this coffee shop called Panacea. Old brick building, roast their own beans, have a cat and stream in their back yard? Perfection...

Handsomest man I know! I love him!

He took me to see TFIOS. I read the book back in the Fall and I've gotta say that they did an amazing job of sticking to the book. Warning: you will cry your eyes out! It was an amazing movie though.

Blue Ridge Parkway...always gorgeous

Looking Glass Falls

Lake Junaluska

Our last breakfast at Panacea

In the back, by the stream at Panacea he gave me this promise ring a couple of hours before I left. He did such a great job! It's gorgeous! (ignore my messed up nails)

Friends Friday: Meagan

Name: Meagan Thompson
Age: 23
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Occupation: Elementary school teacher

What does your average day look like? 
Since I've started my new job, I wake up early, before the sun, and spend 8 hours with twenty 6-9 year olds. Most of it is great, but about 15% of my days is telling kids to get their hands out of their mouths. Then I come home and sleep.

What is your favorite thing about being a teacher? And what is your favorite grade to teach? 
I love how smart kids are, and how excited they can be to learn. I've taught all ages now, and they're all great for different reasons. Middle schoolers get my sarcasm more, but the little ones are just so adorable.

What do you do with your spare time? 
Mostly, I read. Or nap. Or binge-watch Netflix. I also basically collect hobbies so I do a bunch of different things: paint, make jewelry, scrapbook. I go through phases where one hobby will take over all of my time.

You like cooking: what do you like to cook? 
I really love to bake. I would make cupcakes every day if I didn't think I'd eat them all. Since becoming vegetarian, I really like to experiment with making my favorite meat dishes vegetarian friendly.

What inspires you? 
My family. They're always followed their dreams, even when it's scary or a big risk. That inspires me to do the same. In terms of creating art, being outside, experiencing nature, inspires me.

Favorite quote and why? 
"It'll all be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end." When I was 16, I got sick. Then I got cancer (so I got sicker, basically), and this quote reminded me that it wouldn't be forever.

Any weird hobbies or things you can do? 
Um, not weird, really, but I'm just really crafty. I'm that person that actually makes the stuff I pin on Pinterest. Like, I made about 30 felt owl ornaments one Christmas.

What made you want to be a teacher? 
I had a few really fantastic teachers that made such an impact on my life. I knew I wanted to do that for someone else. Plus, I get along better with kids than with adults...

Where do you want to take your passion? What is your "dream" job? 
My dream job is to be a professor. I'd still get to teach, but I'd also get to do research and write-something else I really love to do. It's like my two favorite things rolled into one job.

You can follow Meagan on Pinterest and Instagram.

P.S.-A recipe of Meagan's may be coming soon! ;)