skinny crockpot chili

not sure if you're in blizzard like conditions where you live, but we haven't had snow like this since i've been alive i don't think.  right now it's as white as my eyes can see and we have about a foot of snow!  that's a lot for us. 

when we are stowed up inside for days and can't leave, what else is there to do besides blog, hang out, and eat, right?!  well i make this a few times a year and this recipe makes for the perfect snowy day supper.  it's pretty low in calories, hearty, and keeps me warm.  i should've posted sooner because i know others are in the same position, but if you have these items on hand, there is still time to make today or even tomorrow.  go ahead, you will be happy you did!

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1 lb lean turkey
1 onion, chopped
1 can kidney beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1 packet organic chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup water 

brown turkey and onion together.  combine everything together in crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours. super simple and tastes great!

five great things from this passing year. . .

so today is the last day of the year.  three hundred and sixty-five days since we last had a new year.  that seems like a long time ago, but then again it seems as though it has flown by, right?! 

time is literally going by so fast that it makes me panic.  this year was a decent year for me.  health wise it was good for myself and family so i cannot complain in that aspect, but for me mentally it was pretty rough.  i am hoping this next year is much better.  people who are very healthy mentally do not realize how mental health affects overall wellbeing and life of someone who struggles.  because i had a lot going on with my emotions and thoughts, it affected every.single.freaking.day.of.spring.summer.fall.and.winter.  whew.

i definitely had awesome days, but there were also lots of other awful days thrown in there that probably affected my family as well.  life isn't easy and i know we all have our issues, but i am one that handles my negativity differently that lot unfortunately.  thank god for medication, but i also need to learn some coping mechanisms and new skills in a few areas.

although i mentioned how dreary the year was, i thought of five great things that did happen.  sure there are many more, but these happened to just pop into my head first!


1 - getaway to jamaica and florida.
2 - parents moving to a new house.
3 - getting a new car.
4 - finding new creative outlets.
5 - chopping off my hair & getting a new tattoo.

enjoy today and be safe if you go out tonite.  remember not to drink and drive (: 

a new favorite mascara, finally!

Rimmel ScandalEyes Retro Glam

since 2009 i have been on the hunt for a mascara to fall in love with, as my favorite had been discontinued.  i have talked about this before and have run across a few that i have liked quite a bit, one that i did fall for, and lots that i have thrown away mid use.

i have used rimmel mascara before and liked it so when i tried this particular one, i had high expectations.  it was actually better than i thought.  for one, i always use black.  in fact, i have to because my lashes are so light that i look like a corpse with naked lashes or any color besides black. this black was like jet black and bold.  killer.  loved it.  also, i loved the formula.  it went on super easy, was not clumpy and i only had to use about two coats.  it never flaked throughout the day and washed off without any makeup remover.

the brush is pretty unique as well because of the hour-glass shape and the way it grabbed all the lashes.  the only thing i didn't like about the shape when i applied to my bottom lashes, but that is just me.  typically i have to use a small brush because i end up touching my skin and i also had to apply lots of coats to achieve the look i was going for.

all in all i would give this 5 out of 5 stars.  

 

 

kinda blurry, sorry. can't really see the brush.

** this was a sponsored post by Influenster, however all thoughts and comments are my own. 

i'll take milk with my coffee, please.

i have never made a pot of coffee in my life, therefore i have no clue how to.  i have had the last several days off and sh has been kind enough to grind the beans and start the coffee for me so it's good to go when i wake up.  i decided that it's time i learn how to do this on my own.

i went to the store and browsed the coffee aisle picking up a bag of ground coffee, knowing that would be the easiest.  i was actually quite impressed with how well i did.  the only hard part is trying to measure the parts out equally because the directions go off 6 oz and not a glass, so i just have to guesstimate. 

for some reason, i have become a coffee fanatic.  before our trip to jamaica, my friend got me hooked on lattes, then i got addicted to the world famous blue mountain jamaican coffee, and since we've run out, i've been using similar stuff around here.  my body is fairly sensitive to caffeine anyway + with the medications i take, but i drink several cups a day and have to now.  it's crazy!  i am now pretty much burned out on lattes and only like my coffee with milk.

now since i know how to make coffee in my pot, i'm afraid that i am going to become a junkie, haha.  good lord, watch out world. 

this post has no pics because . . .

my external hard drive crashed.

i am literally sick to my stomach.  i stayed at my sister's last nite and brought my hard drive and computer with me so i could edit and complete my cousin's senior pics.  i was working at the table when dutch walked by and pulled the cords making everything crash onto the tiled floor.  ugh, what a terrible sound.

so yeah.  my whole life is on that drive.  itunes, every single picture i have taken with my dslr. senior pics, wedding pics, vacations, life. everything for my blog, too.

hopefully something can be done about it. until then, i have to revert back to the old ways i guess of saving things, which i can't remember how, haha!

back to the sick to my stomach feeling . . .

diy like a fool.

for the last year i have been making jewelry, but over the last month or so i have really kicked it up a notch and made a lot more.  i also have started to get into watercolor painting.  i have no idea what i'm doing really, but it is so much fun. here are a few pics of some of the things i have been doing.

the jewelry is fun to make.  the hardest part is trying to come up with designs and patterns to create, but sh helps a lot and he is actually very good at making pieces.  he has made several and honestly, i think they are probably better than any i have done.  some of these are his and some are mine. 

i have to say that i do like the painting more though. i set up a little spot on the counter, turn on my edm, and go to town. i tune out everything else in the world and just paint away.  it really is good for my mind and it is therapy for me.  i just wish i had more time to do it instead of like once a week. there are a couple other pieces i have done that i really love.  i think i may frame them and find a spot on the wall.

i bought myself a watercolor book and know i'm getting a beginner thing for christmas, so i hope to actually learn how to do things instead of just trial and error, but regardless, it's fun and i love it (:

sweater weather.

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not sure about where you all live, but here in the midwest, the weather is ridiculous.  well, i guess i should say the temperature really is, the weather has not been too bad really.  i don't think i have ever disliked the cold as much as i have right now.  

it is definitely sweater weather, but i pretty much refuse to wear anything but tanks and cardigans or jackets, or something of the like.  i just don't like things touching my arms really, especially heavy, scratchy material like wool.  sure a cozy fleece or sweater is nice every now and again, but i get so tired of getting bundled up and having to drag a heavy winter coat with me everywhere i go.  not saying i always dress this way, but i just hate dressing too warm.

who else is with me on this.

i know a lot of bloggers live around arizona and out west where it is still warm enough to wear summer clothes and i am so envious.  the only downfall to that is that i cannot imagine having the winter holidays in that type of environment because it would seem so strange to me, but i am not used to that. 

we were hoping to live in florida this time next year so this was going to be my last cold fall/winter around these parts, but not sure if those plans are still going as planned, so we will see.  all i know is, i better just get used to it because i still have about 4 more months of this!  for some reason i can tolerate the cold temps if there is snow on the ground, but we don't get as much as we used to . . .

anyway, i'm actually planning on wearing a purple long sleeved cardigan on thanksgiving and if not an orange 3/4 length sheer type shirt, with an infinity scarf, maybe - highs are around 35....blech.  food will make that all seem better though (:

     


   

back to the original plan.

back when i started my blog a couple years ago i originally called it, my lively mind, as some of you may remember, because my mind was flooded with way too many thoughts, emotions, and nonsense.  like most bloggers, it was a place i would use for an outlet for all of those things consuming my brain, but rarely did i use it to express those personal feelings.  instead it became a place to document recipes, beauty and hair obsessions, and other lifestyle stuff, which is fine, but not really what i had intended.

i think i'm going to change things up a bit on the ol blog.  i want to use it as way to vent and get those things off my chest when i have something bothering me, need advice, or a thought on my mind.  there are a couple things in mind already, but it's finding time between work and everything else that is going on.  excuses, excuses, i know.

therefore i am holding myself accountable because i have really been slacking on my blog over the last few months and have missed it.  it makes me feel better mentally when i keep up with it and also knowing that people miss the posts and pictures that are published.

happy tuesday and happy week.

late to the game of instagram.

why didn't someone tell me how addicting instagram would be?!  my old phone couldn't get instagram so when i upgraded to the new iphone, you had better bet that was the first app i downloaded.

of course it's just like facebook used to be, checking it every ten minutes to see who has a new picture up, what kind of adventure one may be on, what the latest selfie looks like, or if i have any recent likes or comments.

i love it though, but it really is another social media addiction that i did not need in my life.  i know i'm just like everyone else and get too consumed in everything and i hate that, but i love having a peek into people's lives.

it just amazes me where technology is and i do not even want to imagine where we will be in even five years, wondering what our smartphones will be capable of.  

my profile, if you want a deeper peek into my life, and i'd love to see into yours (:
 lesleydreamer

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weekend inspiration: believe in yourself

a couple of days ago i saw this cute magnet at cracker barrel with a sweet inspirational message on it.  i'm always looking for uplifting messages that speak to me and i liked this one.  here's what it said:

believe in yourself and all you want to be. 

don't let what other people say or do make you frown.  

laugh as much as possible.  

let in the good times and get through the bad.

the longer you practice the habit of working toward your dreams,the easier the journey will become.  

you were meant for great things.  

always follow your dreams. 

memory lane.

last summer i moved away from home (a whopping 45 minutes) and that was a pretty big deal for my family (right, dad?!).  we are super, super close and most people think we're nuts and probably abnormal for how close we really are, but for unmentionable and mentionable reasons, i just had to get away.  i still see everyone all the time so it's like i am not really even gone, however sometimes it feels like i'm a million miles away. 

i moved to a city that has more than quadruple the people as my hometown, so it's a huge change, although where i live now is where i have spent my whole life shopping, eating, and hanging out, as i was growing up

last week while my parents were on vacation, i went back home and went on a ride with my grandma & grandpa.  a ride consists of getting in their truck, driving through mcdonald's to get coffee, and driving through the countryside for an hour looking at wildlife, new happenings, what's going on in the county, and whatnot. 

this particular outing i got really homesick.  i am sure part of it was the fact my parents were gone, but i just missed living so close to my family and everything back home.  below is a list of a few things i jotted down that i missed.  i know there are probably a ton of others, but these came to mind.

i'm sure i'll never move back, but the 30 years i lived there were pretty great.

being around my parents, sisters, and grandparents mostly.

just two minutes from the only grocery store in town.

the local farmers market.

my old walking route.

a hometown pharmacy.

seeing my old house.

knowing my dogs are buried there.

all the old memories.

the special deals you get from people knowing who you are.

five minute drive time to anywhere in town.

our prison looking like a mall.

the twin towers.

just driving around town.

7000 people.

2 stoplights.

seeing people you know, as annoying as it is at the same time.

hair & skin savers from caribbean sunshine

so only one more post on summer, and then i promise i'll move on to the next season.  i'm still not ready to give up my beloved summer and adjust to the chilly temps.  sure, bonfires, boots, scarves, and hoodies are nice, but so is warmth, tanks, and sunshine!

since my hair is so blonde, it's super susceptible to damage from summer and my light skin, as well.  i took some new products on my trip that seriously saved my skin and hair from the summer elements - sunshine, salt water, and paradise.  my hair is used to being washed every few days, but i had to wash it every single day and was a bit worried on how it would work out . . . perfect, really.  i also slather myself with lotion daily, but i knew i was going to have to kick it up a notch.  i never really did get a burn the whole 8 days.

below is a pic of me about halfway through the trip, sunkissed, but hair and skin are still protected and healthy.

this is a rather new line of hair products from arbonne.  since i am a consultant, i am a bit biased, but i fell in love with these.  i was saving them for my trip so hadn't used the product line yet.  they were magnificent.  the shampoo and conditioner left my hair silky soft, the masque was great for when my hair felt like straw, and the mousse gave it bounce for the evening.

these two products were amazing as well.  the first is a prep and protect spray that i had received in one of my beauty boxes a couple of months back.  i took it because it was a small bottle, but i also knew i needed everything i could to help my hair.  i applied after washing and even when i was on the beach.

the paul mitchell after-sun masque has to be one of my new favorite products, ever.  the smell is amazing, like a fresh summery smell, but my hair felt so good after i used it.  luckily i still have some left, so i can use it throughout winter for when my locks get dried out.

this lotion was a godsend.  i saved this for my trip as well and i was so impressed with it.  i just coated my body in it after i came in from the sun and it prevented my skin from drying out while soothing the small amount of redness i got.  i never did get burned on the trip because i applied sunscreen, then reapplied, and reapplied some more throughout the day.

i know summer is virtually over, but these are fantastic products.  if you go on a trip this winter or even want to use some of these during the cold months ahead, i guarantee you will be happy with them.  all are probably still available, however the paul mitchell sun line may not be.

let me know if you've tried any of these and what you thought of them!

goodbye, summer