Simple, Delicious Chili Recipe

Happy Thursday, Blog Friends! I am currently still trying to catch up from the Blog Hop and follow all of you sweet MilSpouses back and read all of your Blog Hop blog posts!

Lately the weather here at Drum has been heavenly! On average our high is somewhere around 74 on a daily basis! With such great weather, we have been spending a lot of time outside and I've been taking advantage of Aydanator's nap time to look for jobs and catch up on housework. So, that doesn't leave much time to prep and prepare big, elaborate meals. This is why God created Crock Pot's. Seriously.

I love chili, especially on rainy or cold days. While it's not your typical summer meal, it's definitely a good meal on a busy day! Browsing the web for something so simple sure did turn up a few very complicated recipes! So, I'm happy to share my very simple recipe with y'all and I hope you'll enjoy it! Enjoy!

Super Simple Chili


Ingredients:

• 2 - Cans Black Beans (Use what ever combination of beans you like best!)
• 1 - 26.46 oz Box of Pomi Chopped Tomatoes
• 1 - 26.46 oz Box of Pomi Pureed Tomatoes
• 2 - Pouches of McCormick Chili Seasoning (Store brand works just as well!) 
• 1 lb. Ground Beef
• 1 - Medium Onion Diced
• 6 Cloves of Garlic Crushed and finely chopped

Extras:

• Fritos
• Shredded Cheese
• Sour Cream
• Chopped Chives

Brown your ground beef and sautee the onions and garlic until the onions are slightly brown and translucent.

Combine all of the ingredients into the Crock Pot and give it a good stir. Turn the Crock Pot on low for 6-8 hours (4 Hours on High if you're in a rush) and serve! Add any and all toppings that you wish and enjoy!

Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day! Blog Hop!

Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day! In honor of this special day for such a special group of women (and men), Ann Marie from Household 6 Diva and RC from Riding the Roller Coaster are hosting a MilSpouse BlogHop for all MilSpouses to get to know each other! I couldn't be more thrilled! If you're interested head on over! There's even an opportunity to win some really great giveaways! 

I'm Alyssa, I started my blog a little less than a year ago and has been a little bit of an adjustment trying to find my "niche." That said, I think I'm getting there. I absolutely love "catching up" with all of my fellow milspouses via the Blogosphere! I am honored and so blessed to me surrounded my such a fabulous group of women! 

I am the proud wife to a Broadcast Journalist in the U.S. Army and we most recently relocated to Fort Drum, NY. There was a lot of uncertainty involved with getting here, but we are here and it's not so bad! I heard a lot of mixed reviews and maybe I'm just completely oblivious considering I haven't seen a winter just yet, but it really is beautiful here. My Soldier was most recently stationed at Fort Stewart, GA where we soaked up lots of sunshine and I worked for Mrs. Paula Deen herself at The Lady and Sons! Considering I grew up in Central Florida, there was not much of a culture shock when I relocated to Savannah after marrying my sweet husband in March of 2009. 

Savannah brought us many blessings, including our first home and our first child, Aydan! He is the greatest give I have ever been given and I am oh so honored to be his momma. He is now a wild and crazy 1 1/2 year-old! He is finding his voice and boy does he jabber! He is our little ray of sunshine and I'm so glad because Fort Drum sure does offer it's share of dreary days! 

I hope you will follow me as we tackle Fort Drum and find our little place in Upstate New York! I am eager to make the best of what the Army gives us and soak up my soldier and our little ray of sunshine!

Please let me know you've been by so that I can follow you back! I can't wait to see what's going on in your little piece of the blogosphere!

XO

Alyssa

Blown Away

When iTunes suggested that I pre-order Carrie Underwood's newest album a few weeks ago, there wasn't much hesitation for me.

I am a huge country music fan, I love how the songs tell stories. Smooth, sultry stories. Carrie has always blown me away with her beautiful voice and her amazing stories and her new album, Blown Away does not disappoint. In true Carrie Underwood fashion, it is the perfect mix of heart warming ballads and empowering girl power songs. Check out "One Way Ticket" and "Blown Away," I promise you'll be dancing along in no time.

What albums get your boots shakin' these days?

Greetings from New York!

culture shock   — n sociol  the feelings of isolation, rejection, etc, experienced when one culture is brought into sudden contact with another, as when a primitive tribe is confronted by modern civilization What do you get when you throw a born and bred Florida girl into central New York? Culture shock! My family is finally complete again and Bryan is now The proud owner of two MOS'. I'm really proud of him and how hard he worked to get where he's at. We made the beautiful drive to New York recently, we drove through gorgeous vineyards and over some amazing bodies of water. However, New York is just so different than what I'm used to. I love to socialize and chat with strangers and most people are just not down with that in these parts, and if you have a southern twang or say "y'all" they treat you like you're stupid. Gah! Whatever. I'd say that is probably the biggest culture shock so far, I'd say I would get used to it, but I don't really want to. I enjoy being a social butterfly. Fort Drum is beautiful, I can't wait to see what spring looks like. Everything is spread out over the base, whereas Fort Stewart was everything piled on top of each other, so I really like that. We will be living on post at first, which kind of feels like backtracking since we own our home at Stewart, but so many of the houses in Watertown are 100+ years old and as much as we would love to gut a house at some point, now is not the time. I'm appalled by the way some soldiers and their family "care" for the housing on post, yet another episode of culture shock. I am also proud to report than since reuniting with his daddy, our little bug has turned into quite the talker adding blue, yellow and pweeese (please) to his vocabulary! He wants to talk so bad, it's hilarious!

One week!

I feel like a giddy teenager! After three long months of being away from my soldier and 4 long months of AIT for him, I will finally be back in his arms one week from today! This has been a crazy journey for both of us and I truly feel like the distance has strengthened us. I am so proud that Bryan will now be qualified for two MOS' and I hope he truly enjoys his new field. There is still a lot of uncertainty as far as where we will be going to after AIT but no matter what, his report date is not until May 10, so there is lots of family time to be had and hopefully some house hunting too! The Aydanator and I will be flying out next Thursday morning, and while I am nervous about flying, I'm happy to eliminate a very long drive after driving from Florida to Ohio just a few weeks ago. We will be exploring DC and of course taking Aydan to the National Zoo! I think he is at the perfect age and that he will really enjoy seeing all of the amazing animals. Bryan and I have always wanted to see the changing of the guards at Arlington National Cemetery together. I've seen it once before but I'd love to see it again with Bryan, so if I can convince my in-laws to sit with Aydan for a few minutes, that is also on our must- do list. I refuse to bring my very rambunctious toddler to an area where no talking is allowed! Haha! I am planning a shopping drip to buy a new dress for Bryan's graduation ceremony. Where have y'all found some good stuff lately?

Letters to a toddler...

When Aydan was six-months old, I began writing him emails. He has his own email address that we use exclusively for this reason. It has most definitely served as a great opportunity for me to reflect on this journey called motherhood that goes by way too fast. I haven't decided when I will share his emails with him, but I do know that my true, raw emotions will be there for him, in black and white, if he would like to read them.

I often wonder if he will find them way too sappy or if he will truly enjoy them. Either way, they are there. I encourage you to write your child a note, email, letter, whatever. Pour your heart out and embrace your lovey, mommy emotions!


May 14, 2011
Subject: Dear Aydan,

Dear Aydan,

You are six-months old and quite the character. A smile is almost always on your face, you are an incredible, happy baby. I am so blessed to have you in my life and I feel so honored to be your mother. You recently learned how to sit unsupported, although you would rather just roll all over the place. You can make anyone and I mean anyone smile, you also have a laugh that is contagious. You love bananas and Mum-Mum rice snacks. We are coming up on my first Mother's day and I am just so overwhelmed with joy, you are perfect, I could not ask for a better son.

We currently live in Savannah, your dad is stationed here at Fort Stewart, it seems like we may be moving within a year, but the military life is somewhat unpredictable. Our house is quite nice, your room is blue with safari themed animals. You are such a great baby, you sleep so well in your crib! 

I love you more than words can express, your smile melts my heart. Today as I was wiping the banana off of your face, you took the wash cloth from me and proceeded to wipe my face. I can see this loving, caring spirit inside of you already, you are already so admirable. You know no evil and see the good in everyone. I am so in love with you, little man. While I can't wait to see who you become and what you aspire to do, I am enjoying every moment watching you grow. 

All my love,

Momma

Roadtrip!

We are officially Gypsies!

Our Florida stay has been wonderful, I have really loved exploring all the parks and beaches with my little Aydanator. However, I think it is time for us to head north in preparation for our reuniting with Bryan! We still have about a month, but we will be spending some time with my grandmother in Ohio before we reunite. Hopefully being only 8 hours from Bryan will relieve a little bit of chaos in the meantime, considering we are still not entirely sure where we are going. Crazy, I tell you! We are hoping and semi-expecting answers soon! 

Today we visited on of my favorite Florida (redneck) festivities, The Strawberry Festival! Aydan had a blast and loved seeing the animals there. He was so excited to see the "kitties" AKA roosters. He is really blossoming into a little boy and it is very bittersweet for this momma! I can't wait to see his daddy's reaction to all of his new personality traits!

We are leaving for Ohio next week but not until we stop in Tennessee to see Nicole! I can't even express how excited I am to spend some time in beautiful Tennessee with Nicole and her handsome monster! I'm thrilled that Aydan gets to have some toddler time and I get some much needed girl time with one of my favorite girlfriends!