Baby its cold outside...so let's make some stew!

I am a crock pot addict. They make my life so simple when I'm running around working 40/week and going to school fulltime. Stew can be one of the easiest to make because you are throwing in whatever you have on hand. Here's what I used to make todays brew:

2 cans of chicken broth
2 cans of whole peeled tomatoes
1 can of sliced carrots
1 can of corn
1 can of peas
1/4 of a white onion

Throw all of this together then salt, pepper (I also threw in some mrs. dash) and stir. Then take two chicken beats and place them on top. Throw salt and pepper on the breasts then sprinkle some Worcester sauce to finish. I let it sit on low for eight hours, then took the chicken out,  sliced it, then threw it back it. Voila! Happy eating!

Give Thanks to Blogging

One of my favorite reasons I love blogging is because of all the different recipes you can discover. The options are endless. This week is Thanksgiving so I am giving thanks to those worthy food bloggers who have posted the holiday recipes that make my mouth water.

Annie's Eats.com

Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Frosting

A Beautiful Mess

Cranberry Apple Stuffing

Spiced Chai Recipe

How Sweet It Is

Sweet & Sticky Pomegranate Chicken

Lightened Up Fresh Green Bean Casserole

Reading My Tea Leaves

Boiled Apple Cider Syrup

Butternut Squash: Roasted & Mashed

Martha Stewart Everything Thanksgiving (Seriously, how can I not?)

Deep Dish Apple Pie

Roast Turkey with Cornbread Stuffing

Food 52

Magical Marvelous Cookies

Bacon Bird with Turkey Neck Gravy

Cheers! Have a beautiful Thanksgiving. 

Hiking

With fall descending upon us, I have found a new hobby, hiking. I grew up in the country and loved to wander through the woods and walk around the lake close to my home but I had not really put myself in any terrain that would be considered challenging...until last weekend. 

Pretty beautiful huh? I went to the Wichita Mountains and climbed a mountain. Yep, nothing like feeling you've conquered something at the end of the day than getting to experience this view. If you've never been I highly suggest it. Even if you're not into hiking you can drive up to the top of Mount Scott and be way higher than I was. There is also a restaurant in the area called Meers and I have had bookoohs of burgers in my life and I have never had a burger better than theirs, plus I got to wash it down with Meers beer, also delicious. 

Funny story, we went on an easier hike after the first one for a picnic and I decided to lead us around afterwards. We were just wandering off of the trail so it didn't really matter where we went. Turns out I should never lead because I ended up between a huge buffalo and this longhorn.

He was huge! I would have gotten a picture of the buffalo but there was too much shrubbery in between us and I didn't want to stay there for too long. Lesson learned, I am no longer allowed to lead myself or anyone else anywhere lol. 

Another picture for your viewing pleasure. :) 

Moving

I have just moved back to OKC from Stillwater and this has been my bajillionth time to move. Thus, I have decided to share with you all the art of moving, with a little help from other's insights as well. Hopefully, nobody but this guy has to move like this:

So first, no matter what you say, you will need boxes. However, there are an endless amount of ways to get boxes for free!! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Liquor Stores
2. Starbucks
3. Bookstores
4. Any school department that has a copier (This is where I got the boxes for my most recent move).
5. Craigslist

Second, no matter how many boxes you've packed, loading the U-haul takes forever. I recommend a U-haul because it's a one trip load and unload. For me to pack all of my belongings up in Stillwater and drive them back to OKC cost me about 160. Loading the U-haul took about 4 hours and unloading only took one. Can you believe it? That's bringing everything downstairs to load and moving everything upstairs to unload. Silly. Also, when you get a U-haul I suggest moving during the week if you can, this way less people have reservations and if you run late getting the truck back all you have to do is call ahead and no extra charges or grumblings.

Third, Dolly, dolly, get a damn dolly! I had four solid wood bookshelves(That I loaded on my own) and I went ahead and rented the big utility dolly ($10) and it saved me from what would have been some terrible doses of belly aching, back aching headaches. 

I made the mistake of putting most furniture in the truck first. This sounds like a good idea but when you're dragging it in around all the boxes you've unloaded you'll wish you'd done it vice versa. Also, I would recommend throwing some bottled water/beer/insert drink of choice in your new fridge prior to the moving. I was never so thirsty in my life. 

Just. Get. It. Done. Don't tell yourself, "Oh, hey, I'll get that tomorrow." The sooner you move everything the sooner you can unpack/arrange everything and the sooner you can relax in your new home. 

After this past time I may even hire movers because then, I'm not covered in bruises from banging stuff around. The professionals are professionals for a reason :)