Here is a really great and easy recipe that is a staple in our family. I prefer Chili with more beans than meat,but Grant isn’t a huge lover of Beans so I have to have a higher meat to bean ratio. š The things Grant actually cares about crack me up. Before I met Grant, I didn’t realize that people had texture issues with foods. Oh well, him being particular about foods just makes me laugh inside. I love how certain things makes everyone unique.
Well, our new flash is older now because we have had it for a couple of months,but I haven’t really posted about it yet. We wanted a flash to help take pictures. We have a light box, and I like the pictures it takes,but I don’t always want such a stark white background. I know nothing about good photography,but I know what I like. I would LOVE to use more natural light,but when I a blogging or taking pictures it is normally during the week after work and sometimes on the weekends. I have very little light to work with because of how our apartment is facing and the time of the day. ĆĀ Here are some comparison pictures we took right when we bought our flash to show why we like it.
Here is one of my favorite recipes. There are THOUSANDS of different version of Chicken Salad! There was one that I grew up with that the amazing ladies at my church in Ohio always made, and it had grapes and cashews in it. I have to say that I am partial to a sweeter version of chicken salad. Of the varieties found in restaurants, Panera Bread has the best one hands down in my opinion. Well you can disagree with me and that is fine because little things make a huge difference. My older sister Kira has a great version too. I begged my mother in law, Gail, to ask the amazing ladies at church to give me their recipe. I have to say she did AMAZING!
This is a recipe that I have been making a LOT! I love having a warm breakfast, but it needs to be fast too. I eat at work and so normally it is instant oatmeal or a breakfast sandwich. I love cooked oatmeal better than instant, but as long as it isn’t cereal, I won’t complain. Some mornings I don’t mind cereal either, but something warm is great too. I got a free coupon for the McDonalds maple brown sugar oatmeal. I went and tried it, and of course it was great! The calories aren’t that bad, but it is knowing all of the extra bad stuff that they are putting in that makes me not want to eat it. Also, the price, I can buy everything and make a TON of them at home for much cheaper. So, I was on the hunt forĀ a copy cat recipe and one that was doable at work.
This year for Christmas, I made some of the gifts, not necessarily because they were cheaper but because I had the time and the drive to make them. The break down of gift this year were 10 of our gifts were made, 10 were won, and two were bought. I was pretty happy with this because if I hadn’t won these giveaways, I don’t know if we would have been able to give everyone gifts this year or any at all. For my Dad, Nikolas, Jason, and Daniel, I made the pies in a jar found HERE. For Kira, I made a clutch purse; for Simon, Grant, Andrew, and Wilson I made toiletry bags. Then for my Mom, I made the necklace below.
This year it was the “Grasham” Christmas, we switch off every year, and next year we will probably be in Ohio. I have to say this was probably the best Christmas that we have had as a group since Grant and I have been married! We really missed Kira and Andrew since they weren’t able to come. Also, we forgot to take a group shot which really stinks. Oh well! My sister Julia got engaged, we ate great food, and had a lot of fun just being with family. Obviously by the time the break was over, we were ready to go home even though we did have a great time.