Awesome Chili!

Before we get started...I want to tell you a little about the title of this post...(very original, right?)..the truth is, it I titled the post with a real description of this recipe...you might not actually read it...SOOOOO.. I didn't.

The real title should be Pumpkin Turkey Chili (that is Paleo and Whole 30 friendly AND awesome).

So Adam and I started the Whole 30 last Monday...it's Wednesday now and we've officially retired. Whole 30 is great, but not for us, at least not right now. That's another story for another post. However, while embarking on our short-lived Whole 30 experience, we discovered some really good, pretty easy recipes. A friend of ours from college sent me to The Spunky Coconut specifically for this recipe. I tweaked it a little to make it more our style...

Here you go...

Pumpkin Turkey Chili

2 yellow onions, chopped

1 red onion, chopped

1 bell pepper

1 jalapeño, seeds removed from one half

2 Tbsps. minced garlic (I use the kind from the jar)

1 pound of ground turkey

2 (15 oz) cans fire-roasted tomatoes

1 (15oz) can of pumpkin puree

1 cup vegetable broth

4 teaspoons dried oregano

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon of cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

-In a large stock pot, saute the onions, pepper, jalapeño, and garlic in coconut oil until the onions begin to become translucent.

-Add the ground turkey and break it up with a spatula as it cooks. There may be some excess moisture from the vegetables, if so, drain them before adding the turkey.

-Once the turkey has been browned, add the rest of the ingredients, stir and bring to a simmer.

-Simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes.

-Serve with a salad, or if you're not Paleo or Whole 30, a cheese quesadilla or some cornbread! 

This is a great recipe for tailgating and enjoying this great fall weather! I'm already planning to make a big pot for Halloween night to share with our neighbors!

What are some of your favorite fall recipes? What are some of your favorite Paleo or Whole 30 recipes?

Happy Fall, y'all! It's almost Friday!! 

Home Updates

Y'all...this is happening...

We are having our master bedroom and bathroom painted this week!!! And Chandler's bathroom and our playroom/sun room...I am one happy lady! Our house is chaos right now, but I'm so excited for fresh coats of paint! There is nothing like a new paint color to brighten up a room and really get my inner designer heart pumping! 

We're painting in all Benjamin Moore colors. Our bedroom will be Linen White and I'm hoping to throw in some pale blue/green accents in the way of drapes, bedskirt, pillows. I'm also saving my pennies to commission a work for our bedroom from one of my FAVORITE artists, who also happens to be a dear dear sweet friend, Mrs. Angela Zokan! Check out some of her work here.

Our bathroom will be Hollingsworth Green which is the perfect pale green. 

Chandler's bathroom is going to be Potpourri Green..such a fun lime to go with this adorable shower curtain from Target...

And lastly, the sunroom/playroom is going to be Old Glory (Blue). Old Glory is a great deep blue and I'm really excited about adding some color to our downstairs. We painted every room downstairs, except the half bath and the sunroom, Edgecombe Grey (Benjamin Moore...do you sense a trend?) It's a beautiful color, but is very neutral, so I'm loving the idea of warming everything up by painting the sunroom blue! 

I also couldn't pass up this runner that was SUCH a steal on RugsUSA yesterday! It's going to really bring a little life to our second floor hallway! I'm excited to make another decorating stride at our house...only about a million other things to go!!!

What are some of the house projects on your list? What is your favorite decorating project you've completed recently? Do you work with a designer or on your own? What are some projects on your list (drapes, painting, wallpaper)???

I just love to hear about everyone's progress! Happy Monday!

Five on Friday!

It has been forever since I've linked up with April and Christina for Five on Friday, but I am so happy to be back at it today! Here are five very random things...

ONE

We started the Whole 30 this week! It's been great so far...I'd be lying to you if I didn't tell you that there have definitely been times where I could kill for a Starbucks soy latte and a heaping spoonful of Nutella...but otherwise it's been okay! I even baked a cheesecake with out caving...so I'm pretty proud of my will power!

TWO

Y'all...I have a new friend...she makes insane jewelry. My friend Taylor of Layla Charlie Designs makes amazing necklaces! The one pictured below is the first one I purchased...and ya'll, the second one is even more amazing. I'll post a picture of it soon! In the meantime...follow her on instagram @laylacharliedesigns

THREE

This little nugget...OMG we are having so much fun these days! She is talking to us...mainly using a single word, but sometimes stringing a couple together. She is even starting to sing! I love this time! She's also starting to get serious about her accessories...she wants to have a necklace, shoes, and a purse most of the time! Bonus points if anything has a cat or a "weow" on it. Precious angel! Love spending my days with this little bug!

FOUR

Speaking of the little bug, how cute is this UGA shirt? Old Navy has the cutest selection of college team shirts for adults and kids! You should definitely check it out! The t-shirts are soooo soft!

FIVE

I'm obsessed with my new jeans from J. Crew! Y'all know I love the Lookout High-Rise Jean and it comes in grey this season and is sooo cute! I had to add them to my collection! AND they are an additional 30% off today with code YESPLEASE.

What items have you added to your fall wardrobe so far? Happy Fri-YAY! Everyone stay safe during this crazy hurricane weather!

Thai Mussels

So back in July, I promised you an amazing recipe for Thai Mussels...I am finally going to deliver on that promise.

I was watching The Kitchen...which is really a pretty cool show. I like that all of the hosts participate by contributing their own takes on recipes. On this particular episode they were exchanging recipes for a Stove Free Summer and Jeff Mauro did a recipe for Slow Cooker Thai Coconut Mussels.

I thought his recipe sounded great, but that the slow-cooker component was just not something that really made sense for us. Mussels cook very quickly, so they actually make an awesome easy weeknight supper. So I did a little tweaking and here is my version...

Thai Coconut Mussles

Ingredients

2 cups chicken stock

2 tablespoons fish sauce, plus more if you really like fish sauce

1 tablespoon of minced garlic (I used the kind from the jar)

1 jalapeno, chopped

1 tablespoon of pureed lemongrass (I used the kind from the tube)

1 yellow onion, thinly sliced

2 pounds fresh mussels, cleaned, scrubbed and debeareded (I highly recommend Whole Foods mussels, they are already cleaned and debearded and the cost is about the same as other stores)

1 can of coconut milk

1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Zest and juice of one lime

Directions

Saute the garlic, jalapeno, lemongrass and onion until the onion is transparent. Add the chicken stock, fish sauce and coconut milk and bring to a boil. Add the mussels and cover. Cook, occasionally stirring, until the mussels are open, add the juice of one lime and the lime zest and stir. Serve in a large bowl and top with cilantro.

I served ours with roasted potatoes and they were the perfect side! This was a great, easy meal!

What are some of your go-to easy meals?

On another note, Adam and I just started the Whole 30 this week and I've already got some good recipes to share!! Have you do the Whole 30? What are your go-to recipes?