Happy Friday!!

This weekend will bring us the last of the 80 degree temperatures that we'll have for a while. At least I *hope* it will. This weather is lovely, but I would love for it to actually feel "fall-like" here in Austin. In the mean time, or at least for the next three days, I'm hoping to:

1) Fit in some outdoor activities (mostly running or walking the dogs). We have a dog park/run in our neighborhood that I've taken a liking to recently. I've found that running at dusk brings me an incredible sense of calm and renews my energy. I *gasp* actually look forward to my evening runs (NEVER thought I would say that).

2) Some furniture refinishing (yes, I am still in the process of finishing the second end table). I would like to finish that before the end of this year.

3) We have a long list of boring/smallish (definitely not fun) projects around the house that need to be taken care of. Like repainting the base boards, fixing the ceiling in one room (the drywall tape is pealing), replacing a toilet (that's broken), replacing a sink (that doesn't match- I need to take photos and post for clarification), winterizing our lawn, trimming the shrubs. Blah, blah, blah.

4) Since my husband is in school right now, most of those projects listed in item #3 will go unattended unless I tackle them. Yuck.

5) Perhaps one evening I'll fit in some outdoor fire time with my favorite person and dogs :)

our new fire pit :)

You can still enter the Tiny Prints Giveaway! Today's prompt: Tell me what you have planned this weekend!

P.S. Did you know you can now view your instagram profiles online? Here is mine.
P.P.S. I'm sure everyone knows, but Pinterest now has secret boards :)

Happy Friday!!

Winter Comfort Food

I think this is the season in which I most look forward to eating. Here are a few of my favorites thus far:

 1. Pork Posole: 

image via Food & Wine

This recipe is pretty similar to how I make mine (my additions/deleted noted):
(1) 3/4 1 lbs pork loin steaks*, trimmed of fat salt, to taste pepper, to taste
(1) (2) (14 1/2 ounce) cans white hominy, drained & rinsed (Bush's is my go-to brand)
(2) (4) cups chicken broth- this kind 
(1) small yellow onion, chopped
(2) (4-6) garlic cloves, minced halved
Fresh Oregano, chopped (to taste- ~2 tsp)
(1) (4 ounce) can diced green chili peppers, drained 
(1) teaspoon chili powder
(3/4) teaspoon ground cumin

Brown onions & garlic. Add to onions, garlic and broth to crock pot. Drain and rinse hominy, add to crock pot. Cut pork loin into small chunks, brown edges and add to crock pot. Add salt & pepper. Cook on "auto" heat for about 4 hours. Serve with cilantro, avocado, tortilla chips, fresh squeezed limes, jalapenos or hot sauce.

Maybe next time I'll get smart and take my own pictures...

*pork can also be substituted with chicken
**completely unrelated, but every time I cook with garlic, I think of Morgan

2. Pot Roast

image via the Pioneer Woman

I use the Pioneer Woman's method of browning the onions and chuck roast (see her recipe). However, I cook mine in a crock pot. I add about 12 oz of water, and then, layer the onions, red potatoes (halved) and carrots on the bottom of the crock pot. The roast sits on top of that. Cook on "auto" for 4-5 hours, turning the roast over a few times during that time so that it cooks evenly.

The crock pot is your friend my dears.

3. Abuelita's Hot Chocolate:

Previously discussed here. Preferably enjoyed with kettle corn or freshly baked cookies. Or s'mores if it's cool enough to make a fire.

Don't forget to enter the Tiny Prints giveaway (you get one entry per day)! Today's prompt is easy- tell me your favorite comfort food  :)

Winter Comfort Food

It's the Holiday {Card} Season

I love sending out holiday cards each year, just as much as I love receiving them. I think I work even harder to get them out now that I'm married so that it can become a tradition for us every year. It's the little things :)
Here is last year's card that I purchased from Tiny Prints:

I was so happy with my order last year, and I'm excited to be ordering from them again!

This year, I would love to send out one of these holiday cards:

**the above cards can be found on the Tiny Prints site**

Tiny prints has so many great options, it's going to be hard narrowing it down to just one. Luckily they make the ordering process pretty easy and stress-free. And they have some pretty great promotional offers now and again... like this one for 20% off your card order (of $149 or more) or 15% off (orders of $75 or more) through November 16: NOV20SW.

I'm also happy to announce that I will be giving away $50 off your total order (expires 12/14/2012 – no extensions, cannot be used with any other offer) to one lucky recipient. The giveaway will end November 11. You can submit one entry per day, by answering that given day's prompt and leaving a comment on this post. For today, visit the Tiny Prints site and tell me your favorite card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The only think I have left to worry about is choosing some good pictures of our family to use. I'm pretty sure this one needs to be included in the card somewhere:

Also, can you believe we only have two weeks until Turkey Day, and only 47 days until Christmas?? Yikes!

**This is a sponsored post by Tiny Prints. I am receiving compensation by posting a review of their products on my blog. However, the thoughts and opinions stated here are my own.

It's the Holiday {Card} Season

October Photo Challenge {Recap}

Like last year, along with many other bloggers/tweeters/instagramers, I participated in the Our Wired Lives October Photography Challenge. This year's prompts were:

I posted my pictures via instagram (all my instagram photos are view-able here):

Days 1-12

Days 15, 16, 20

Days 24, 25, 27

Day 30

I didn't get a picture for every prompt, but I'm pretty happy that I completed almost 3/4 of them...(and they were not all pictures of dogs and coffee). 

The last portion of the month was happily interrupted by a week long adventure in New York (which is captured in a few of the pictures) and my 3rd wedding anniversary with my husband :) Time is flying by- I cannot believe 2012 is almost over!!

October Photo Challenge {Recap}

Zara Home

I'm late on this boat, but have you seen Zara's new site, Zara Home? I'll be honest, I wasn't impressed with a majority of the items (I know I am probably the minority here), but there were a few items that I feel I absolutely need:

Matilde Dinnerware:

Unfortunately, these plates are only sold in sets of 6. Otherwise I would definitely purchase at least one, maybe a few, to hang on my wall.

Horse Tumbler:

Melodia Tumbler:

I'm pretty sure my husband needs to to be drinking his new found affection of scotch in one or both of these glasses. And I'm pretty sure I'm going to make that happen.

What are your thoughts on the new site? Overall, their tableware section was my favorite. I've never ordered from their clothing site, but it seems to appeal to me much more than their home site.

Zara Home