Pinterest Post: Morphing Recipes – Chorizo Meatloaf + Clean Chicken Chili

Pinterest is my favorite way to waste spend time. I get new outfit ideas, recipes, and quotes to live by that I write on my chalkboard wall (now freshly painted in anticipation of selling our condo).

This one stayed up every day as a friendly reminder before I headed out the door:

Every Thursday I’ll be posting tried and true pins along with my favorite quote of the week that I’ll be living by.

Note: all pins can be found on my Quotable board as some have mis-documented source credits so I am not always able to give proper credit to the talented designers who have created these.

Onward and Upward! This week we celebrated the 1st birthday of the son of a dear friend of ours. This momma is amazingly domestic in all the best ways and made this amazing clean chili recipe. And Holy mother of pearl, it was some of the best chili I had ever tasted. That’s saying a lot coming from a Midwestern girl like me!

Now while I was craving it again, I only had ingredients on hand to make my favorite paleo chorizo meatloaf.

So what did I do? RECIPE MORPHING COMMENCE! (Say that in your best transformers voice and it sounds way cooler in your head….judge me.)

Clean(ish?) CrockpotChorizo Chili
Ingredients
– 1 lb. ground mild chorizo, cooked
– 1 lb. lean ground beef or turkey, cooked and drained
– 1 cup crimini mushrooms, chopped
– 3 medium carrots, cubed
– 1 small onion, diced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 can black beans with liquid
– 2 cans fire-roasted tomatoes with liquid
– 1 small can tomato paste
– 2 Tablespoons Chili powder
– salt, and pepper to taste

Directions
1. In your crock pot, combine all ingredients except salt, pepper, and spinach.
2. Mix well and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8.
3. Taste mixture and add salt and pepper to taste. I wait to do this because depending on where you get your chorizo, the flavor will differ. Ohio chorizo bought from the big box grocer tastes nothing like its equivalent in California!
4. If you want, you can add in 2 cups of baby spinach (chopped) to the mix and cook a half hour longer. I think it beefs up the nutrition value even more and you can hardly taste it!
5. Serve with plain Greek yogurt or light sour cream, shredded sharp cheddar, and scallions for a completed dinner!

for those of you on Weight Watchers like me, this recipe is 8PP+ for 1 cup of chili, not counting the toppings. I like to serve it with this cornbread for a well rounded and satisfying meal

Creating an In-Home Spa

Harsh reality: I only have two more months to enjoy my 3 soaking tub-clad bathrooms that have been transformed from “ho-hum” to “oh wow!”

Photo proof? Got it.
Before

After

See what I mean? We DIYed it all; Ripped out the fiberglass surrounds, installed gorgeous porcelain tile, restained cabinets, framed mirrors, installed built in medicine cabinets, got new lights, and painted the rooms light gray. I can feel the calm just describing it!

So now what makes the perfect in-home spa? I think it varies for everyone.

My perfect slice of relaxation heaven? Lots of candles, bath oil or a bath bomb, and spa music (thanks Spa Radio on Pandora!). Follow that with painting my nails and doing my hair and I’d have to say….
You’re dreaming! Who has that much time? 😉

But in all seriousness, take some time to spoil yourself. Enjoy an in-Home spa experience with some of these products and instructables!

Bath Bombs
LUSH – I cannot wait to splurge on some of these bath bombs and bubble bars! I’ve heard amazing things, though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little afraid of the color dying my tub…any of you have experience with LUSH bath products? Ease my worries please!

DIY it! Naturally Martha Stewart knows how! She has great tips on where to find ingredients and a great cocktail of fragrance options!

Bubbles

My favorite way of getting the light layer of bubbles I love is with Neutrogena’s Body Oil. Go easy, as a little of this sesame-based oil goes a loooooong way. If you overdo it, you could climb out of the bath smelling a bit like your fave Chinese take-out.

DIY it! This recipe from Live Laugh Rowe sounds super luxe! With easy ingredients and directions, this would make a perfect gift for others….or yourself!

Burn, Baby, Burn! Candles, that is.

Don’t get me started on my love for all things scented. My home is filled with Glade/Febreeze candles (keeps the rooms smelling neutral and fresh) and it’s a good thing my husband keeps me in check and doesn’t let me roam unattended in the candle section of any store. If you asked, though, my fave brands for spa-time are Voluspa for Anthropologie (whichever scent fits your mood) and my wedding candle (shown above) from World Market that’s submerged in coffee beans that fills my bathroom with a Madagascar Vanilla and Coffee Bean scent that is oh-so-intoxicatingly-subtle.

DIY it! Live Simply has combined my fave scent ever (rosemary, mmmm) and has spa-ed it with the addition of lavender into an amazingly rich soy candle. I think when I make this I might just add in a bit of lemon zest to really make it my own!

Some DIY extras for fun? Why not! Indulge!
Vanilla Rose Body Scrub
Whipped Body Butter
Vanilla Bath Salts
Cocoa Butter Bath Truffles

What products do you love to achieve an in-home spa experience? Leave me a comment below!

Toddler Tips: Learning Colors

Maybe it’s just the little one I spend my days with, but it seems like toddlers get hooked on a color and that is the answer to every “what color is _____?” question.

A cow? It’s blue.

That yellow school bus? Also blue.

How about her favorite food? You guessed it. Blue.
Her favorite food right now is peas, y’all.

Every once in a blue moon (see what I did there? 😉 ) I’ll get an “orange!!!” out of her, but that’s still pretty inaccurate.

So enter winter vacation and I get to pinning (big surprise) and I stumble upon this amazing article about teaching Color Immersion, as I can only think to describe it. This genius momma, Jessie, uses her 11 week program to completely surround her littles in one color each week. She works it into playtime, reading, and even bath time! What a super-star mom!

If you’ve got little ones at home and are looking for creative ways to mix up their learning, check out Jessie’s blog immediately!

Happy New Year!

Hey y’all!

It’s been forever!!!

I missed you.

As I sit in Starbucks with my homemade Green Island Smoothie (recipe below), I feel completely and utterly content. All mornings should start like this: Green smoothie, cup of hot coffee, writing by a sunrise-viewing window.

Taking time off has been a bit therapeutic and was definitely necessary as we’ve started the process of selling our condo in Cali to move back to Florida this spring, but I think I’m finally ready to commit to writing again.

I watch my stats and see how much traffic this labor-of-love has gained in its short two year life. You guys are so awesome!

I want to write stuff that y’all want to read. I want to write about everything I love. In order to do that, however, I need some feedback. What do you love most? DIY projects? Pinterest posts? Printables? Recipes? Fashion focused posts?

let me know!

I am multi-tasking personality which makes me jump from topic to topic quickly, so I need your help to keep me focused. I can’t promise to post every day, but if you could leave me your top 3 fave topics in the comments below, I’d love you even more than I already do 😉

Green Island Smoothie
Ingredients
– 1 ripe banana
– Juice of 1 orange or large tangerine
– 1 handful baby spinach
– 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
-1/2 cup frozen peaches
– 1 cup filtered water or coconut water

Directions
Combine all ingredients in the blender and blend on high until silky smooth.

It looks way cuter in a mug or other container, but the impromptu urge to write in a Starbucks on a random Tuesday results in a messy, half drank shaker bottle…judge me.

Here’s to a brand New Year full of surprises, good news, and growth!

Managing Stress

Do you ever have one of those days/weeks/months where you feel like you have no control over anything? Your fate is entirely in someone else’s hands and you just have to sit and wait to see the outcome? This happens to me a bunch. Between a change of commands (and possibly moving cross-country again), home renovations, and all the little things that build up, I find myself feeling like this.

Do you know what’s the best thing about stress though? It’s purely your choice to feel stressed. Yep. I said it. You’re choosing to be stressed. I’m choosing to be stressed.

And you know what? I’m letting it go today.

Here’s what I’m doing to reduce my stress levels (which may or may not be in the order I plan on completing them…)

1. Crank up iTunes and Shake my money-maker
It’s not going to be pretty, but man is it fun! Here’s my song choice of the day…

2. Make a plan for my day
Something in print. Made by me to fit my lifestyle. Inspired by something like this or this. I’ll post my own printable when I get a chance to make it this week. Girl Scouts honor.

3. Go for a walk. With friends if possible
I’m going to grab a friend who will listen to my crazy ranting and not judge me. Or maybe judge me, but still love me. We all need friends of that caliber in our lives. And we are going to walk until I’m tired of talking, sweaty, and back to my sunshiny, normal self. Friends and exercise do wonders.

4. Count my blessings
The things I stress about are so far out of my league of control it’s not even funny. There’s nothing I can do but think positively and hope for the best. Put my faith in the fact that what’s meant to be, will be. I have a wonderful husband, a loving family, the best friends I could’ve ever asked for, and a roof over my head that’s almost completely tailored to our every desire. I have so much more to be thankful for than the things that stress me out.

5. Sleep it off.
Just saying, dreaming is way better than worrying…unless you get attacked by a rabid animal or something. I suggest not eating at least 2 hours before bed…I always have crazy dreams when I eat late, but that’s off topic.

6. Hug someone
Preferably not a stranger. That might not end well, but maybe it might. I’m going to hug my husband. Hug my friends. Hugs my pups. And really squeeze them. Funnel so much love into them through my hugs that they’ll feel it for days. I got a couple of these hugs yesterday at a friends birthday party and they are still making me smile today. Hugs cure.

So yeah. There is it. Choose happiness. Choose to be stress-free (or at least less-stressed). I’m here for you. I’ll be dancing to T.Swift and trying to teleport my love/hugs your way if you are stressing. Shake it Off, y’all. We’re in this together!

Cotija Deviled Eggs

Hey y’all! It’s been forever since I’ve posted since I’m trying to get my other blog, The Dessert Project, up and off the ground and we have been renovating all three of our bathrooms in the condo, but I had to share this easy, delicious recipe with you all!

We are painting two of our bathrooms now and before and afters will come once we are done, but I hope to be posting intermittently. For now, try this recipe ASAP!

Cotija Deviled Eggs
Ingredients
– 8 eggs, hard-boiled
– 3 Tbsp. Mayo
– 3 Tbsp. Cotija cheese, crumbled (you can use feta if you can’t find Cotija)
– 1/2 tsp. paprika
– extra Cotija and paprika for sprinkling

Directions
1. Halve your eggs and place yolks in a small mixing bowl.
2. Mix egg yolks, mayo, Cotija, and paprika until creamy.
3. Place a tablespoon or two of the mixture back into the empty egg whites.
4. Sprinkle with extra Cotija and dust with paprika.
5. Try not to eat them all in one sitting…

Let me know in the comments below if you want to see more recipes like this in the future!

Back to the old format?

Hey y’all! It’s been awhile since I’ve posted since Jeff has recently had some more time at home, so we have been enjoying our newfound quality time by filling our weekends with fun adventures!

Here’s what we’ve been up to (including, but not limited to:) DIY home decor, trying new recipes, starting another blog, celebrating my 27th birthday and our 2nd Anniversary, Jeff getting promoted, and getting ready to travel to Ohio to see family after over a year of being away. All of that looks something like this:

I have also been toying with the idea of going back to my old daily format, but wanted to get as many opinions as I could before I do anything. Before starting my health journey at the beginning of this year, I had a format that looked like this:

Monday: Fashion Feature
Tuesday: Teaching Tips/Nannying/Tuesday Tester
Wednesday: Around the House – DIY ideas or before&afters of our home
Thursday: Pinterest Post
Friday: Fitness Feature
Saturday: What’s on my mind – random thoughts/weekend fun
Sunday: Recipe of the Week

So I need a little input…
what would you like to see on The Wife Life?
Is there a type of article you love? Could you live without one of the suggestions above? Do you want daily posts or just semi-weekly?

send me your ideas in the comments below!!!

Love you guys!!

Summer Activity Bucket List + Recipe!

Hey guys! Now that all of my family is safely back in Ohio and I’ve done a deep clean of the house to prep for warmer weather, I’ve decided to make a Summer Activity Bucket List.

Now, this list is a little less lofty and morbid as a traditional bucket list, but is going to give me a constant reminder of all of the fun things I want to do to take advantage of perfect weather.

– Kayaking in the ocean – CHECK! 5/3 – pictures to come!
– Kayaking in the bay
– Paddleboarding in the bay – Going tomorrow morning! EEEK!
– Paddleboarding in the ocean
– Hike Potato Chip Rock
– Rent a bicycle and tour a boardwalk
– Ride the Aerial Tram
– Go Sailing – CHECK 4/12 – photos here
– Run a 5K
– Golf 9 holes (walking)
– Whale Watching or Harbor Cruise
– Visit a beach outside of San Diego county
– Walk/Run all of Seaport Village
– Tour Petco Park
– Run stairs at a local attaraction

I’ll add more items as I think of them, but I think that’s a pretty good start.

With all of these physically active tasks on my plate, I’ll need to nutrient-load my system to keep my energy up and my body in tip-top shape. Juicing is a fast, easy way for me to do just that. Here’s a great recipe for my current favorite juice when I get a big sweet tooth.

Watermelon Punch
Yields about 40 ounces

Ingredients
– 1 mini watermelon, chunked and rind removed
– 1 lb. strawberries, hulled
– 1 lb. black grapes, stemmed
– 2 oranges, peeled
Optional: 2 carrots ( I was out 😦 )

Directions
1. Run all ingredients through your juicer.
2. Strain juice to remove any pulp
3. Pop in a large mason jar or wine glass and drink up!

Clean Eating Challenge

Hey guys! The past two weekends have been filled with family and fun, but mostly with food….heavy, fatty, deliciously bad for you food.

It was also filled with great memories like this…

Between taking in a baseball game, kayaking, taking the pups for walks, and eating my favorite deconstructed sushi, my eating needs a BIG overhaul.

For the next two weeks, I will be starting a clean eating challenge.

During this time I can eat as much lean protein and produce as I want. That’s right. No. Counting. Calories. Literally as much as I want. Now obviously, the aim is to pack my tummy full of delicious produce, but the protein will help aid recovery for workouts (which I am good to start back up full force!!) and give me the energy to make it through my day.

Tack in unlimited water (hopefully 8-10 glasses per day, minimum) and just a little low-fat dairy, whole grains, and healthy fats and I should be on my way to kick starting a long-term healthy eating plan!

Simply put, less of this

which will be on The Dessert Project next week!!

And more of this

Want me to share my daily menu? Leave me a comment below!

Nanny Notebook Update & More!

Hey guys! This past weekend and this upcoming weekend I have family in town so you won’t hear from me, but I’ve got a few exciting updates for you all!

1. The Nanny Notebook post is blowing up on Pinterest and the Blogosphere (thank you!!!!) and I have officially gotten around to posting the PDF versions of my Printables on the post. If you check it out here, you can easily download and print them from your home computer!

2. I’ve started a side project just for funsies and hope you’ll check it out. It’s called The Dessert Project and every week I’ll be posting a new splurge-worthy easy dessert to make at home out of box mix or other convenience baked good items you can find in your local supermarket! For all of you who have missed my unhealthy delicious recipes, this is for you!

3. We’ve got almost 11,000 views and 128 followers and I just wanted to say….YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!!! Thank you so much! I know The Wife Life isn’t a well known blog like some others, but, man, do you all make me feel so loved! When I started The Wife Life, I didn’t think I’d ever hit 10 followers, let alone over 100 and views in the ten thousands?!?!!!!!!!, I’m so overwhelmed and grateful! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart! Keep spreading the love and I love hearing from you all!