It's the little things

Alright ladies, who enjoys it when you receive a compliment on something you make?! That was a terrible question, we all love it!  :) Joel told me to not let this go to my head, but clearly it has. I received a text after lunch yesterday about how GREAT my soup was; so I thought it was necessary to share so you all could get the same reaction.

I have a couple cooking issues (thanks to my mom); I don't always follow recipes to a T and I don't always measure. So, with that being said, take this all with a "grain of salt!"

Taco Soup
2 cups meat (yesterday I used smoked pork; I have also used turkey)
1 can black beans, drained*
1 can pinto beans, drained*
1 can kidney beans, drained*
1 can diced tomatoes (don't drain!)*
1 bag sweet corn (thanks momma Liz for the yummy farm sweet corn! You could use a can or two of store bought.)
2 cans chicken broth*

Seasonings (season to taste)
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Seasoned salt
Mild chili powder
Cajun seasoning

Pour it all in the crock pot for a few hours on low. Like I said, season to taste, so after a few hrs give it a try and determine what you're missing. If you are a measuring type of girl or don't have those seasonings, use 1-2 packets of taco seasoning*.

*Whenever possible, I use low sodium products. I also use low-fat (fat free typically has other additives you don't want) when available.

Smoking Dog

Miya's personality has definitely started to show through this past week; her tail is wagging more, she is very energetic and she LOVES to give kisses! I am fortunate enough to live pretty close to work where I am able to go home during lunch and take her out to go potty, play and go for a walk! Miya is extremely curious, which most puppies are, but anything she can put in her mouth, she will!

A few months ago, Clint and Joel thought it was necessary to throw their rib bones around the trailer-yard after they had finished eating them. Well, low and behold, Miya has found them! She finds them, runs away and hides under the boat. She places herself under the boat to the point of where I cannot reach her. Oh, and she hasn't gotten down that when I say MIYA COME HERE, that means to "get your butt over here, you are in trouble!" So we are still working on that! And in the meantime, we don't go potty unleashed.

Another item she likes to put in her mouth as we are taking walks is cigarette butts! Our dog must have been a smoker in the past or something; either way it is disgusting! If you know me at all you know that I HATE smoking. So let's hope Miya gets this tobacco kick under control, otherwise her momma is going to be buying her Nicotene patches (haha, JK!).

A BIG day!

Yesterday was a BIG day for this girl! I have been waiting for this day for almost 2 1/2 years. So what is so important about this day?! Yesterday I paid off my car loan! I can officially say I own "Thomas the Terrain!" I look back on the day I purchased my vehicle and think that it wasn't probably the smartest decision to purchase a brand-spanking new vehicle at 22; but it can't go without saying that I am extremely proud of myself. I can think of many shifts at Roadhouse where I took all of my tip money to make additional principal payments to save myself on some interest and I can definitely say that it paid off! I am going to go ahead and pat my back now. :)

Chi-Town!

What a GREAT weekend! It was exactly what I needed after a super busy week! Last week, I believe I told you that I had two tests and a program at work! Well, that has all wrapped up and numbers/scores are in! I surpassed my goal at work by around 16,000 kids! And I got A's on both tests....Score!

I took a half day off on Friday to get an early start to Chicago with Joel's sisters. Kayla had a yummy dinner prepared for us, we went to a haunted house and then we met the man of Sarah's dreams, Joe Cruzo. We somehow wound up telling our names were Samantha, Kara and Asil (of course :)), that we were from Norway and that Sarah, I mean Samantha, is a hair model!

Saturday we went to Michigan Ave to do some shopping and stop at a few parks! We concluded the afternoon by going to a Blue Man Group show. And I am pretty positive there is something about me that the blue men just love about me...must be my innocence they are attracted to! I say this because the last time I went I was pulled on stage and this weekend I was selected to win their painting (it had nothing to do with the front row seats!).

Asil

Thanks to my lovely friends from Hawaii the name "Asil" was given to me. I am really not sure how it all started; something with trying to spell our names backwards and giving fake names to weirdos who bought us drinks. Go ahead, say it out loud...it's pretty funny! :)

Well, it has somehow turned into my "persona" when I have had a few "waters." Asil, is infamously known for her "awesome" dance moves. So imagine my friends' reactions when I tell them that for work this past Wednesday I had signed myself up to dance infront of 1,200 K-5 students! Luckily, for me, this age group of kids does not judge...gotta love 'em. It was a blast!

To add onto the stress of planning the above event; I had two tests this week and also a program at work (one of three that I coordinate all year)! OH and did I mention this was week 1 of having a puppy?! Can't forget Little Miss Miya...yep, that's right! We named her, Miya Waskow!

It is next to impossible to get a picture of her! But I snagged a picture of her with Uncle Clint the other night; she LOVES him. It might have something to do with the fact that she spent the first 6-7 weeks  of her life with Clint's twin brother!

All week (minus last night and Sunday), we have been thinking that we have "super puppy," she is just perfect! She seems to wake up around 1:30 and 3:30/4:00 to be let out. She has been doing really well in her kennel AND "#1 Dad" got her a dog bed Wednesday which she LOVES. Joel says he bought it so when we are watching TV she has a place to sit. Hmmm...guess where I found her sleeping last night? In Joel's arms (as he was asleep too) on the couch! Good thing we got that bed so she has a place to sit!

Last night she thought it was necessary to gnaw on her kennel door and shake it AND howl all night long. Needless to say, she is going to be sleepy today.

Well, I am off to Chicago with Joel's sisters this weekend (and fully excited to get a full night's rest!). Joel and Miya are off to go hunt and farm! I promise, next week's blog will be more interesting as I won't have two tests, an event and a program to manage all in one week!

Peace out girlscouts!

Night 1

I think we need to work on our sleeping schedule a little bit. Our nameless pup does not understand that we are NOT 4:00 A.M. morning people! However, I was quite pleased she slept through the very loud thunder, rain and hail.

What I was not pleased with was the giant turd in her kennel and all over her body as a result. I thought I had her cleaned up pretty well, but I started noticing that she was leaving a trail of "turd dirt." I guess I didn't clean her paws well enough. :)

She peed once on the floor, thankfully it was not carpet! Before Joel left for work he took her outside and she went potty. However, within 10 minutes of her being in the kennel she peed in there again. Joel's response when I told him was "Welcome to parenting!"

I am sure there will be many more accidents; but I can already tell the good outweighs the bad! I never thought I would love a dog so much; but my heart is just melting!

We need some help folks, our nameless dog needs a name! It needs to be one to two syllables, as it will be a hunting dog. Here are some names that we have come up with: Rayna (thanks Aunt Sarah!), Lucy, Macy, Remy

I still love you Barney!!

Meet the pup!

This whole "let's buy a puppy" business started a month ago when I received a Snap Chat.....

Needless to say, I was NOT happy. A.) We hadn't discussed it B.) He picked it out  C.) Subconsciously I knew that I would be the one to take care of it.

So for about a week, Joel kept bugging me about getting a puppy and finally I hit a breaking point. "We are never home, the dog would be in a kennel all day!" Joel's response, "I would sit in a kennel all day if it meant at the end of the day I got to see you!" The next day I was calling our friend to go pick out a surprise puppy for Joel!

Thanks to our friends, Justin and Anja, they brought the sweet puppy back with theirs and helped me surprise Joel. So now Joel has a dog that A.) We hadn't discussed B.) I picked out C.) We both have to take care of!