Fitting Back In: Chili Recipe, New Christmas Pics and 7.5 miles

Hola Amigas! Happy Tuesday! Thanks so much for your kind words about our new pillows, our tree, my new wrap obsession and our fridge!! I’m loving ALL four. As far as the headboard- Austin’s mom knows a guy in Birmingham who makes headboards out of old doors, gates, fireplace mantels and even ceiling tiles. This was made from him out of old French doors. It weighs a ton. Believe me, I got attacked by it right before our move, finding myself pinned between it and the box springs. NOT a pretty sight!

So before I start here is a pic of poodle sleeping taken last night. Kind of. The flash woke him up. hehe.

So... for me today was a Monday. Very much a Monday – blah! Rain again. Lots of meetings/work. Me and Stacy went down to the gym during lunch for 4 miles (burned 200 calories). We got annoyed with this trainer guy for, I kid you not, getting building facilities to TURN THE HEAT ON. Um, seriously? I’m mad at him. He’s over there on his cell phone NOT working out wearing pants, a shirt and a thick pullover. It was 65 degrees dude – calm down. When he turned the heat on it went from 65 to 70 degrees in 12 minutes. Later when we were leaving (after sweating our asses off) he tried to apologize and explain how when people strength train their muscles are competing with the heat blah blah it’s bad for them. I told him I didn’t think a 5-degree increase in 10 minutes was good for people either. He didn’t seem to appreciate my response. Whateva. Afterwards I worked, broke down and stress ate a cookie, then headed straight home after work to…. do more work. Blah! It’s almost not worth taking off on Monday. Almost. Later I made a pie, watched some TV and finished my book: Jill Smolinski’s The Next Thing on My List. I’ll post the review tomorrow! I’m done eating for sure, ending up at 1,812 calories, 200 carbs, 52 fat grams and 102 protein grams. Here’s what I ate. WAY too many sweets today. :( Tomorrow is another day though!

Backing up real quick to the “real” Monday – not much happened. I was off work so I slept in – glorious. Then I hung out with poodle and caught up on TV. Then Austin came home for lunch – then I was off to finish Christmas shopping which meant: Bed, Bath & Beyond; TJ Maxx, Homegoods, Macy’s, DSW, Crate & Barrel, William Sonoma, Target, Pottery Barn, Pier 1, all wrapped up with a 30-minute visit with Lauren at Region’s Bank (her work!) and then a 3.5 mile walk at the gym (burned 172 calories). Nice! I got home, we hung the stockings, put on the tree topper, upwrapped the gifts and had chili! Here’s the simple Chili recipe we’ve been following for years, but with a few tweaks:

1 McCormick Mild Chli Packet
16 oz. 96/4 ground beef
2 8-oz. cans tomato sauce
1 14.5-oz can kidney beans
2 habaneros, finely diced
1 cup onions, finely diced

Spray slowcooker with nonstick spray. Add in all ingredients and cook on high for four hours. Remove from cooker, divide into four servings and serve each with fat free sour cream, fat free cheese and corn chips. We love it – but note that we like our chili a little spicy and a little thick… it’s both. It’s also kind of smoky if that makes sense. I’m a fan! After dinner we called it a night! I ended up at 1,739 calories, 212 carbs, 49 fat grams and 105 protein grams. Here’s what I ate.

So what’s your favorite chili recipe?

What’s your favorite chili topping?

Here our a few of our new Christmas pics... here's the stockings. Please note, I couldn't find ANY stocking holders I liked. I look everywhere. Really. (refer to list above) So these are very plain. I plan to put votives on them or pinecones are something small and festive.