Tuesday, December 8, 2009

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.

Baby Reuben's stocking!!

Our new tree topper!
K - off to work. BLAAAAAHHHH. I hate having all of my deliverables in the a.m. I hope you're all having great nights!!

18 comments:

Andrea@WellnessNotes said...

I love the stockings! :)

Favorite chili topping? I like a spicy Greek yogurt sauce with hot sauce, mustard, & herbs.

Anonymous said...

What a cute puppy picture!

I'm sorry to hear about your blah day; I hate days like those! But that chili looks fab!

My favorite chili topping is definitely corn chips and cheddar cheese!

Mica said...

Aw, I like sleepy Reuben!

What a jerk of a trainer. Maybe he'll faint from heat stroke.

I like spicy chili with a cool dollop of sour cream.

Anonymous said...

i loveeeee spicy chili. i haven't had chili in a long time.

as for the heat in the gym, that's happened to me before when i was standing RIGHT under the vent. SOOO annoying.

Nicci said...

I can't resist the cheese but I love the sour cream as well...okay, the cheesiness!

Anonymous said...

That trainer was a jerky. I'm glad you told him your mind!

Love the stockings! I think stockings are one of my favorite parts of Christmas.

Krissa said...

I love the stockings too.

Your doggie is adorable. I do the same to my dog, take pics while he is sleeping and wake him up. :)

I love White Chicken Chili. There are tons of great recipes on Sparkpeople...as if you didnt know but that is where I get most of my recipes.

Anonymous said...

Ugh, I hate it when the gym is too hot. I would have been mad too. What about the people that are doing cardio? Their muscles don't need to be warm!

I like cottage cheese on my chili. Weird, I know.

Sunny said...

mmm, that chili looks good, a perfect dish for winter! i can't eat chili without some cheese melted on top! :)

Big Pissy said...

Look at that sweet, sleepy Reuben! Love him!

That trainer? A total jerk! Grrrr!

You know how we do chili at home: over white rice and with cheese on top. The white rice thing goes way back to when your dad and I lived in Hawaii. That's how they did it there...well, back in the 70's, anyway. ;-)

Pining for Pinterest said...

Cute Christmas pictures! My favorite chili topping is cheese and sour cream :-) Yummy!

Jenn Eats Nutritioulsy Now said...

I actually just made my first chili ever last night. It was a bit more complicated but it really turned out well. I've got the recipe here http://seejenneat.wordpress.com/2009/12/08/trying-new-recipes/

Anonymous said...

I make a Cincinnati chili - the recipe is on my recipe index page - mainly because hubby doesn't like beans, I just add them to my bowl.

Crushed Fritos = best chili topping! Well, except for the cheese, but that's a given!

homecookedem said...

Andrew's "famous" chicken chili is my favorite chili ever! He puts lots of veggies in it!! I love putting cheddar cheese on top and eating it with Fritos Scoops.

Reuben's stocking is so adorable! :) I need to get Cooper and Ripsey stockings!!!!! ;)

Pam said...

Cute stockings! My favorite chili topping is fresh diced onion, sharp cheddar cheese and saltine crackers.

Paige (The Last Doughnut) said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment! I hope your husband enjoys the chicken and dumplings! I love your blog, and I'm adding it to my blogroll!

Unknown said...

I love chopped raw onion on my chili. If I'm feeling super naughty I also like cheese and sour cream on it too. I had chili for dinner tonight! :)

haute.teapot said...

sharp cheddar and a little sour cream!
i do love it over white rice too, maybe a growing up on Guam thing?

i love your home Christmas photos! you're so great with interior decorating.