About Me

How I Spent My Summer

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White Pants | Shoes | Purse | Earrings | Bracelet 1 | Bracelet 2 | Lipstick

Good news, guys, I’m still around! My Labor Day weekend has kicked off with a trip to the Minute Clinic to find out my husband has a sinus infection and bronchitis, so I thought it might be a good time to explain my absence while he hopefully sleeps those antibiotics into his system. You may notice a bit of a change of scenery there in the background there, as we’ve started redoing our bedroom this summer! I’m obsessed with the changes so far, but that’s a post for another day.

I said awhile back that I needed to press pause, and at the time, it was because I was just too overwhelmed with work, training for the half-marathon, and just general life stuff. Although my training ended, work didn’t start to slow down until very recently. I was so exhausted by late nights (the kind where your husband asks if he was dreaming or were you actually on the phone with your coworker at 1 a.m. – yikes), deadlines, and everything else we had going on this summer, that the idea of getting back on my computer and blogging was just too much. I missed it and still took lots of pics though; my phone is basically an “I should blog about this” graveyard.

I’m excited to say that things have finally slowed down enough that I think I’m finally able to make my return. I’m ready to share outfits, recipes, and all of the other stuff I’m excited about again. To make up for a complete lack of posting all summer, and in honor of the time-honored tradition of starting the school year by sharing all of the details of your summer break. I figured why not finally share some of my photos, so get ready to scroll!

Run 317 Circle

My cousin and I ran a 5k through downtown Indy less than 2 weeks after the Mini Marathon. The Run 317 series goes through Indianapolis neighborhoods, supports local charities, and comes with two beers at the end from Thr3eWiseMen! This one started and ended on Monument Circle – so fun!

Indy 500

We went to the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. It was an awesome day with our friends and family. It was also HOT, so this one is me in all of my sweaty, unfiltered glory.

Colin-Liza Wedding

We celebrated the wedding of one of our oldest friends (Colin, my chili-adoring bestie)…and thought we were still young enough to close down the bars in Bloomington like college kids (we’re not). If you’re ever in B-town, check out The Big Cheeze! True love is your husband surprising you with a grilled cheese at 2 a.m.

Happy Camper

We spent a weekend in Chicago catching up with old friends and celebrating one of my best friend’s baby shower. The picture is a little blurry, but the look of pure joy on my face is because the Happy Camper is a bar with tire swings. Beers with friends from high school, pizza, and tire swings made it basically the best thing ever.

Run 317 Mass Ave

We did another Run 317 in the Mass Ave area of downtown Indy, and this time my sister joined us for her first ever 5k! It was the kind of ridiculously hot and humid day where you sweat just standing still, so they had to turn it into a non-timed “fun run,” which was just fine for us. We have one more Run 317 left in October, so hopefully my sister will be joining us again!

My very favorite weekend of the year every year is Dave Matthews Band weekend with my husband, brother-in-law, and our friends. Dave plays two shows in Indy, and each night is a totally different show and setlist, so we go both nights. Our first night was up-close and personal in the pit so you can really see the band, and then the second night is on the lawn and dancing barefoot on our blanket (although that part is more just me…). It was SO HOT – are you noticing a theme here for this summer in Indianapolis?

Alyssa Wedding

August kicked off with my cousin’s wedding and an after-party at our house that lasted into the wee hours of the morning. I have a lot of cousins, and I LOVE hanging out with all of them. It was so much fun, and will definitely be a night we remember for a long time.

First Anniversary

Speaking of weddings, we celebrated our first anniversary on August 15th! I cannot believe it’s been a year already, time truly does fly when you’re having fun. I honestly planned to do so many wedding-related posts about how I got ready for our big days (we had two weddings: one on 8/15 at a church with just our family, and one that was a great big party with our family and friends on 8/21), but we’ve already been over my lack of posts. Now that we’re getting ready to ramp up planning my sister’s wedding, I fully plan to share my tips, tricks, lessons, and memories from ours as we go, so stay tuned!

Speaking of our anniversary, Kendra Scott just happened to open a store in Indianapolis the weekend before. My sweet husband knew I’ve been lusting after this necklace forever, so he played detective to find out when exactly they’d be opening, and he even figured out that if we went on opening day, I’d get this (perfectly Colts blue) bracelet for free! Isn’t he the best? Did you know that if you go to Kendra Scott during your birthday month and show your ID, you get 50% off of a piece of jewelry? August just happens to be his birthday month, so it was even more of a bargain. You can guess where I’ll be heading in October!

So that was our summer in a nutshell. Can you believe it’s already September? I love summer, and it’s my favorite season, even when it gets ridiculously hot. I have to say though, I’m ready for the calm that comes with fall. Fall means calmer schedules, bonfire and chili nights with our friends, football Sundays (and the snacks that go with them!), and so many other great things. I love my sundresses, but I also love the fashion that comes with the cooler temperatures.

Thanks for bearing with me while I took some time to re-group, and I promise to be a much better blogger in the weeks and months to come.

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Indianapolis Mini Marathon!

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My cousin and I after the race.

Top | Crops | Headband | Shoes

Although I’ve been MIA for a bit, I had to share an update on my half-marathon experience. We did it! And lived to tell about it!

After 12 weeks of training, lots of miles logged, and sore muscles, we officially crossed the finish line of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon. It was hard, but we ran almost the entire thing (our walking breaks were definitely less than a mile total). Our time was 2 hours and 41 minutes, so only 11 minutes over our goal of 2:30, and still pretty respectable for our first go (and not running at all prior to mid-February). We ran through sun, light sprinkles, and a straight-up downpour at various times, and although my body was aching by the end and my feet were KILLING me, I’ll definitely be back for more.

In case you’re wondering what I wore – because let’s be honest, picking out what to wear for the big day was pretty fun too – I EARNED my Lululemon reward. This mint top is described as “light support,” but I can tell you it was very secure and way better than any other “light support” sports bra I’ve ever worn. I’ve also learned I have to have a (moisture-wicking) headband of some sort, otherwise sweat drips in my eyes and I hate everything. This one from Lululemon was great and never felt like it was about to slip off, plus it’s reversible. My leggings were a find at the Gap outlet on our way back from Garth Brooks. These are similar, but if you want the contrast stitching and don’t mind a different color combo, these are $11. I’m also still completely in love with my Mizunos. You may have also noticed that I matched my outfit to my shoes, because of course. (There was also a jacket from Lululemon in the perfect berry color that would’ve really completed the ensemble, but Husband heard the price and it became a “we’ll think about it.” Sigh.)

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Waiting to start.

IndyMini - Kissing Bricks

Kissing the yard of bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

IndyMini - Finish

About to cross the finish line and finally seeing my husband and sister waiting for me at the end. My cousin was long gone – she decided to end her suffering and took off for the finish line around mile 11. I couldn’t blame her, I totally would’ve too.

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After we crossed the finish line! 

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Toasting our accomplishment and recovering (right before we ate sooo much pizza).

The biggest surprise out of all of this has been that I’ve found myself looking forward to running. When I was growing up, people always asked me if I was a runner, just like my dad was. I remember my mom telling me that he had planned to have me start running with him before he got sick, and I laughed because I’ve NEVER been a runner – it’s always sounded more like torture than anything enjoyable. I won’t miss the “homework”aspect of knowing I have to get a certain number of miles in each week, but I’ve come to enjoy the clearheadedness that comes from putting in a few miles after a stressful day. Plus, I’ve never felt stronger than when I realized I could go 6 miles without having to walk at all, a feeling that’s grown after completing the 13.1 – walking bits and all. I’m not going to lie, that final half mile or so was absolutely brutal. While the encouragement of the other girls helped me when my feet were screaming at me at the end, the thing that really got me through was thinking of my dad running it so many years before, and fighting through to cross the finish line just like he did. I’m not sure I’d ever thought I’d find myself becoming a runner like he’d always hoped, but better late than never, I suppose.

Dad Running

My dad running track in high school. He’s the one with the long, flowing, 1970s hair who’s receiving the baton. 

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M.I.A…

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At this point, it’s no secret that I’ve not only failed at posting more, I’ve gone longer than I have without a post since I started this blogging adventure. I’m still alive and have not abandoned my little corner of the internet, I promise! 

I’m not here to make excuses. I don’t think there’s any glory in being sooo busy all of the time, and “I don’t have time” is one of my least favorite statements ever. But sometimes there’s so much happening at one time, you have to choose to press pause on some things to focus on others. It’s not because you want to, but for the sake of maintaining sanity, it’s gotta happen. 

There are only so many hours in one day, and right now, mine are pretty much dominated by some things that are outside of my control. In the remaining hours I can eke out, I’m squeezing in my final weeks of training runs (16 days to go!) and pretty much just thanking my lucky stars for an amazing husband who’s keeping me going. 

In the meantime, I’m focusing on the little things that get me through the day. I put on this Lilly Pulitzer for Target dress for work yesterday because I couldn’t think of a better cure for being sleep-deprived than a bright yellow dress with flamingos on it. (You know, other than that giant cup of coffee I’m holding. There have been a lot of those too.)   

Does the flower crown Snapchat filter make anyone else feel like they at least look like a serene goddess who has their life totally under control? The warm weather and pretty Lilly Pulitzer patterns don’t hurt either. (And check out that sweet running tanline…time for sunscreen and dreams of evening it back out poolside.) Like I said, it’s the little things that get you through. 

I promise, I’ll be back to the regularly scheduled programming as soon as I possibly can. Until then, deep breaths, happy thoughts, and lots of room for grace.
  

OOTDs: Easter (Weekend) Lillies

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Dress | Clutch

Some weeks are just crazy and busy, but this week was just plain challenging for all sorts of reasons. Needless to say, we were ready for the weekend. It’s no secret I’ve been ready for spring weather and spring clothes, but there’s no better time than Easter to rock all Lilly Pulitzer, all weekend.

On Saturday, we went to a couples wedding shower for an old friend and his awesome fiancee. I knew I wanted to wear this tunic dress I snagged during the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale back in January – it felt like I’d ordered it forever ago and I’ve just been waiting for it to get warm enough. The day started out pretty chilly (it was a rough run that morning), so instead of the sandals I hoped for, I stuck with with booties. Note to self: I really need some closed-toe espadrilles for these in-between days…and just in general. Fun tassel earrings and my monogrammed clutch were all I needed to complete my party outfit.

Wedding Shower 2Wedding Shower 1

The shower was super fun and eventually transitioned from your pretty typical wedding shower to just hanging out with some of our oldest friends. My friend, Amanda, and I have been besties since the first day of first grade when we got lost together before the school day even started (true story). She, Colin (the groom-to-be), and I all went to elementary school together, and then my husband joined the group in middle school. Colin’s house was where we’d all hang out, and Amanda made my husband and I admit we liked each other during a 7th grade field trip, so to say we all go wayyyy back is an understatement. It’s also why we’re apparently incapable of getting through a normal photo together without laughing hysterically (though I’m sure the margaritas didn’t help much either)…this was the best of the bunch. The boys’ antics haven’t changed much since middle school either!

Easter - GroupEaster - JandJEaster - with Mom

Dress (similar) | Cardigan | Shoes | Earrings

The only downside of the Lilly After Party Sale is that you end up waiting so long to get to wear your new treats if you don’t go anywhere warm during the winter. I’ve been waiting since the August sale to wear this Bentley v-neck dress,  and it was totally worth the wait as the perfect Easter dress. (It’s no longer available, but this one is pretty similar.) My heels are favorites from J.Crew Factory – they’re amazingly comfortable and go with literally everything. And yes, my Kendra Scotts again, because they also go with everything and I have no self-control. We were staring directly into the sun for this series of pics, which is why we’re all squinting and the boys were being ridiculous.

EggHunt1EggHunt2EggHunt3

This year, my mom put together an Easter egg hunt for us to do after mass, but it was no ordinary free-for-all egg hunt. Each of our (color-coded by person) eggs was filled with pieces of a poem we had to unscramble. Once the poem was unscrambled, you had to solve your riddle to figure out where your Easter basket was hidden. You can see our intense concentration as we all tried to solve ours (I figured out mine first!), and the whole thing was pretty funny.

Hope you had a gorgeous and happy Easter weekend!

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Half Marathon Training: 4 Weeks

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The picture isn’t my prettiest, but yesterday officially marked the end of week 4 of my half marathon training. While I’m still 8 weeks away from the big day, I’ve also realized how far I’ve come in the month since I started.

The first time I stepped back on the treadmill, I couldn’t even make it through a full mile of running. I suppose that’s what I get for thinking I could do a half marathon when I hadn’t actually worked out in a solid year. There’s still a good amount of walking happening, but yesterday I ran 2 miles straight through, and ended up running 3.75 of my 5 total miles. Even with the walking, I wrapped up my whole 5 miles in just barely under an hour (59 minutes and 38 seconds, to be exact), keeping me nicely on pace for our starting corral time of 2 hours and 30 minutes.

My cousin has decided to take my sister’s spot, and um, I forgot she used to be a real runner. Real runner, like her first training run the other day was “only” 4.5 miles at my best pace per mile on a good day. So this should get interesting.

Luckily, I’ve made another running buddy who’ll be running with us. Like me, she’s just in it for the experience, so our goal is simply to have fun and cross the finish line. Regardless of our pace or our finish time, I know the three of us are going to enjoy the adventure.

My Go-Dry seamless long-sleeve and compression capris are the remaining items I snagged from my trip to Old Navy a couple weeks ago. I’m still just as in love with the performance, and I stepped a bit outside of my comfort zone with the bold pattern of these pants. I also had to break down and get an “expandable waist pack belt” to carry my inhaler and epi with me while running. Let’s be real though, it’s a fanny pack.

The real stars of the wardrobe show are my new running shoes. I was really trying to get through my training using my old shoes, but last weekend’s training left my feet hurting so badly, I had to spend the rest of the weekend in sneakers. I thought I was ok by Monday…until I tried to do my run Monday after work. An abbreviated run and trip to our local running store, The Blue Mile, later, I learned the searing pain in the balls of my feet and the lightning bolts going up my shins to my knees were a sign that my old shoes had had enough. Turns out, even though I hadn’t been putting in this kind of mileage over the past 4 years, the shoes had still aged and broken down. I knew trying to save myself the cost of the shoes could end up costing me a lot of future pain, so I bit the bullet and invested in these babies, and boy am I glad I did. These Mizuno Wave Enigmas are honestly the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn in my life, and running in them feels soooo much better!

Eight weeks and lots of miles still to go!

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Ready to Run…Sort of…

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The month of May in Indianapolis is a pretty big deal. The city spends the whole month celebrating the 500 Festival, which is capped off at the end of the month with “the greatest spectacle in racing,” the Indianapolis 500. Kicking off the 500 Festival at the beginning of the month is the Mini-Marathon, a half marathon that includes a lap around the 2.5 mile track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To commemorate 100th running of the Indy 500, this year, Mini participants will get a medal featuring a mini version of the Borg-Warner trophy, the trophy the winner of the Indy 500 will receive Memorial Day weekend. Hopefully we’ll be at the Speedway for the Indy 500 at the end of the month, but for the first time ever, I’ll be one of the runners kicking off the celebration in the Mini.

mini20medal_2016

Am I a runner? Nope. To be totally honest, until last Monday, the last time I’d laced up my running shoes was last March. Over tapas and beers, a friend convinced me I could totally train for a half marathon and it wouldn’t be that hard (Ha…). After a few beers at Bacon Fest and a cocktail at Hotel Tango, my sister and I agreed we’d take on this adventure together. I figured it’d be a great accomplishment for a milestone year, so why not?….Then, my sister sprained her ankle the night before training was supposed to start. Sooo, it’s just me right now, until I can convince someone to take on her spot.

In all reality, I don’t have to run the whole thing to feel like I accomplished something and I was part of a really cool tradition in my city. I’d like to run as much of it as I possibly can, but let’s be real, I’m not above walking when I need to – I just want to kiss the yard of bricks at the Speedway (yes, really, it’s a thing) and not die.

Week 1 of training has been a challenge, to say the least. My body has been pushed and it’s also let me know it’s pretty shocked about the change. Saturday was a BEAUTIFUL 72 degree day, so I hit the Monon Trail for my first outdoor long run. The Monon is this fantastic path that runs through the city, and there were hundreds of people who had the same idea for the gorgeous day as I did, so the people watching certainly helped the mileage go by. The thing about the Monon, is you have to remember you need to turn around at some point, which doubles your mileage. On Saturday, I forgot. So 8.47 miles later, my legs were feeling pretty strongly about my decision. (No, I did not run the whole thing. I ran a total of 3 miles, but not all together…I’ll get there.) Luckily, my sister and her fiancé were waiting at the end of my trail at Big Lug Canteen, a fun new brewery just off the Monon Trail.

BigLug 02202016

Their Quintana American Wheat Ale was a refreshing treat after my miles, and yes, I drank lots of water afterward too. My sister and I also shared a great salad, but of course we also sniped more than a few fries from Jair too. Today was not so warm and a little more like February in Indiana, and I learned how my asthmatic lungs feel about running in cold air. Spoiler alert: they don’t love it, and I’ll be figuring out a way to take my inhaler with me from now on. Whoops.

Run 02222016

It’s going to be an adventure, but I have 75 days to get myself in gear and ready to cross that finish line. Wish me luck!

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Adventures in Courage

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This may come as a surprise, but dipping my toes into the blogosphere has been, well, pretty scary. It’s that first day at a new school or a new job feeling. Sure, I’m here for my own personal fulfillment, but putting yourself out there to try something new never stops being nerve-wracking, – especially when you’re putting yourself out there for the whole world to see and you’ve never been much of an all-eyes-on-me kind of gal. I mean it when I say starting this took a lot of convincing from my sister and husband telling me I needed a creative outlet. Every time my sister brought it up, I fought back. 

What makes me worth reading compared to the glam fashion bloggers who have their perfectly coordinated closets/lives captured in beautiful pictures? (Not to mention the regular posts/Instagrams I can’t seem to schedule for the life of me.) What makes me so special that I could suddenly become the person saying, “Hey everyone, come see what I think is awesome!” I’m sure you’ve noticed, but the internet can be a pretty viscious place. People are mean, and I’ve never exactly been the queen of confidence. It’s hard to shut up the voice in your head wondering, “What if they hate me?” 

My very wise coworker and mentor told me the key was to think of it like no one was reading, it’s just here for me. But um, suddenly there were a whole bunch of you here too, and I have to admit, that’s pretty awesome.

I’m not writing this post to fish for compliments, believe me. If anything, I’m saying that, for those of you who think the ladies who post selfies and share their lives are all crazy narcissists, we’re not. My first instinct is to hate pretty much any picture of me, and I’m in complete awe when there’s one I like (thrilled if there’s magically more than one). It takes roughly 400 pics before I find one that doesn’t make me feel like a troll, and even then, hellooooo, editing apps. (Don’t worry, I’m not skilled enough to be a complete fraud, but a little filter here and there never hurt anyone.) It takes a lot of effort for me to not go awkward and silent when someone offers a compliment of any sort, even if it’s for something I know I’ve worked hard on. Which may actually be a lesson in itself. Why do we only see our flaws first and refuse to believe those who disagree? When did the mirror or a camera become my enemy? How did confidence in ourselves and our abilities become immediately equated with vanity and ego? And does this fear ever go away? I’m 30, not a teenager, after all.

It may say more about me than I care to share to admit how completely terrified I am to put myself out here, but well, here I am. I’m going to try to have a little more faith in myself and try to embrace my passions and abilities. I’m a people-pleasing Libra who loves pretty things like clothes, crafts, or food (you have to admit, that poached egg was a thing of beauty). I do my best to find them on a bargain…with occasional treats, of course – like I said, I’m a Libra. I try to write well and make this a blog worth reading. I promise I don’t take myself too seriously; my little corner of the Internet is still just my fun little creative outlet. I’d love it if you stuck around, and I hope you find things you like too. 

Now back to the regularly scheduled clothes, food, and pretty things.

  

Girls Weekend and Indy’s Bacon Fest!

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There’s nothing better than a weekend with your besties, am I right? The weekend kicked off at my house on Friday night with wine, cheese, masks, nail painting, and all sorts of other girly fun together.

GirlsNight-Cheese

I love a good spread of meats, cheeses, hummus, fruits, and veggies. They’re easy to pull together, and they never fail to look fancy without too much effort (you know, when you actually bother to put the hummus and salsa in bowls instead of leaving them in their plastic Trader Joe’s containers – whoops). This ended up being our dinner for the evening, paired with a few bottles of wine, of course. Then came face masks, painting our nails, and a Hulu marathon while my husband hid out at let us do our thing.

GirlsNight-Breakfast2

We knew Saturday would be full of food at Indy’s Bacon Fest, but that didn’t stop us from starting it off with a breakfast of toasted bagels, avocado, and a lesson in poaching eggs from my friend Erin. I can’t wait to see how many eggs I ruin trying to recreate this little bit of heaven, but I’m obsessed with a good runny yolk and anything avocado, so it’ll be worth the effort.

The main event for the day was Indy’s Bacon Fest, an event featuring bacon and “pork inspired” products from 20 local restaurants, beer from a local brewery, and so much deliciousness. It was the second year of the event, and I’m SO PROUD of my sister’s best friend, who has organized the whole thing both years. Baconfest-SarahKristiBaconfest-shirtBaconfest-MeSarah2Baconfest-girlsfood

Have I ever mentioned that one of my husband’s favorite things is a photobomb? All. The. Time. The day included samples like BBQ Sorghum Glazed Bacon from Bent Rail Brewery, Bacon Glaze Donuts from Jack’s Donuts, a Potato Bacon Terrine from Union 50 (my favorite of the day), and so many other amazing things. We were absolutely stuffed trying everything, but luckily it was a perfect 60 degree day that allowed us to go sit outside on the patio and enjoy an afternoon in the sun – so rare for Indianapolis in January!

Baconfest-SarahBaconfest-MeJoshBaconfest-ErinEmSarahBaconfest-MeKaitBaconfest-MeSarahBaconfest-girls

Don’t worry, that Indiana Pork tattoo on my sister is temporary…even though we may have tried to tell our mom it wasn’t. Our beers for the day were from Tow Yard Brewing Company, and I was a big fan of the Goldie Hops Golden Ale.

My striped shirt is on sale for less than $15 at Gap, my blanket scarf is probably one of my most-worn accessories, and of course, I think I’ve made my feelings about my Pixie pants pretty clear by now. Kaitlin’s buffalo plaid vest is also on markdown right now at J.Crew with an extra 40% off, and I love it so much I may need one of my own.

After Indy’s Bacon Fest, we took a nice (long) walk in the gorgeous weather to Hotel Tango, a craft distillery that’s one of our favorite places to grab a cocktail. Although we intended to go out to dinner and out on the town Saturday night, we ended up ordering in Thai food and keeping things pretty low key. We did learn that the whole use white wine to get out spilled red wine thing really does work though. Life lessons.

Our weekends together are my favorite, and it felt like forever since our last visit after the summer full of wedding festivities meant lots of play dates. Weekends with your college girlfriends are like food for your soul. Can’t wait for the next one!

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Grandma Lou’s Chili

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Everyone has those recipes they grew up on and were handed down through their family. We think my grandma got this recipe from her mom too, but we aren’t positive. My grandma was hardly known for her cooking – our fond family meal memories pretty much always involve restaurants.  If there’s one thing Louise got right though, it was her chili. So much so, that when my mom and dad were getting married and my mom was moving from Terre Haute to Indianapolis, one of the things she copied down to take with her was Grandma Lou’s chili recipe. She still has that piece of notebook paper from 1983, stained from years of use, and now laminated to preserve it for the years to come.

Chili - recipe

When I moved to my first apartment after college, I copied the recipe onto my own little piece of notebook paper. Whenever either of us makes the chili, we diligently take out our respective pieces of notebook paper, even though I’m pretty sure we both know the ingredients by heart.

This chili is a serious crowd pleaser. I have one good friend in particular who I can count on to finish three bowls every time he comes over and there’s chili on the stove. It’s become a favorite when our friends come over for bonfire nights and football games, and will be the easiest dinner party you ever throw. Simple steps, and it pretty much just hangs out on the stove until you’re ready for it.

Note: The recipe below is for a double batch based on my grandma’s original recipe, with a few tweaks from my mom and I over the years. It’s RARE for us to make anything smaller than a double batch, because you’ll want to have leftovers around. (When people are coming over, I make a triple batch, if not a quadruple – seriously, it’s that big of a hit.) Plus, it freezes beautifully, so you can take some out for a round two on a night you don’t feel like cooking.

Chili - ingredients

You’ll need:

  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 2 small onions
  • 1 quart tomato soup
  • 1 big can/bottle of tomato juice (how much you use is up to your personal preference, see below)
  • 2 cans of chili beans (officially: Brooks Hot Chili Beans)
  • 2 tablespoons Mexene chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • pepper and cayenne pepper to taste
  • your preferred chili fixings

Start by either mincing your onions or throwing them in the food processor. I prefer the food processor, because it makes the onion practically melt into the ground beef. Combine the onion and ground beef in your pot and brown together. Drain the mixture.

Add in your tomato soup. This is where the original recipe calls for one can of water to the one can of soup, but I don’t typically use the canned soup/water method. I like to make up for the missing water with the tomato juice, because it adds more flavor than the water would alone and makes for a heartier chili. If you want to thin things out a bit at this point, splash a little juice in, otherwise it can wait until later.

Now for your spices. Add in the Mexene chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper(s). I usually go for a little bit of black pepper, and then a solid amount of cayenne for the heat. The balance/combo is up to your tastes. For the chili powder, to quote my mother, “If it isn’t Mexene, don’t waste your time.” This is one ingredient my grandma and mom were both serious about, and if it ain’t broke…

Simmer for 15 – 20 minutes.

Add in your chili beans and tomato juice. Officially, a single batch of chili gets half the big can of tomato juice, or the whole can for a double. We grew up on a more “soup-y” chili, which I learned was very different from the thicker chili my Texan husband grew up on when he was in charge of making it one night and I came home to meat sauce. We’ve found our happy medium, so add according to your preference, keeping in mind it’ll thicken up a little over time.

Simmer another 10 minutes.

If you aren’t ready to eat quite yet, turn it to low and just let it hang out. Top/mix with your favorite chili fixings. I prefer it on top of macaroni noodles with some cheese and a little bit of sour cream or plain greek yogurt, depending on what I have around. My husband prefers Fritos, a whole lot of cheese, and ketchup. (Yes, ketchup. No, I don’t get it either.) If you’re making it for a party, set up a toppings bar and let people do their own thing, and I promise you, everyone will be happy.

Chili - final

This chili was made Sunday during the championship football games, and naturally football games and a good Indiana chili call for a good Indiana beer. This one was a Farmer’s Daughter Wheat from People’s Brewing Company in  Lafayette, Indiana. My mom’s dad was a farmer, so it always seems fitting when I have a Farmer’s (grand)Daughter Wheat, especially with my grandma’s chili.

Grandma Lou

This picture was taken at my mom and stepdad’s wedding back in October 2007. I realize I look like a child, but I was 22 and a senior in college. My middle name is Louise for my grandma, and I can’t help but smile whenever I make her chili. She passed away this past March, but her chili will live forever through us. We love you, Grandma Lou, a bushel and a peck.

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Getting to Know You

~ reallifesparkle ~ Leave a comment

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It seems fitting to launch a blog on New Year’s Day. New year, new possibilities, all that jazz. My name is Jessi, and after much encouragement from (and debate with) my younger sister, I’ve decided to create a little corner of the internet to call my own. I’ve been a Tumblr user for a few years, and while I’ll continue to love it as a source of inspiration and escape, I found myself needing and wanting more. So here we are.

I follow a lot of bloggers whose style I adore, whether their home or their fashion, but as much as I aspire to achieve their level of fashion sense, I don’t always have the, ahem, means to back it up. In the past year, my husband and I bought our first home and got married, so let’s just be honest and say it wasn’t the cheapest year of our lives. We have student loans, car payments, a mortgage, and all sort of other bills, and as much as I’d like to outfit myself head-to-toe in J.Crew and other pretty things, well, it just isn’t in the cards. So we make it work.

I’m a communications professional by day, and I like to think I have a decent eye for design, whether in how I dress myself or decorate our home. My husband went to school for furniture design, and while he doesn’t currently work in the industry (gotta pay those aforementioned bills and all), he indulges my at times ambitious project whims.

So that’s me. Newly 30, newlywed, and a new homeowner, just trying to live life a little more sparkly. We spent the past year getting to this place in our lives, now we get to enjoy our progress and keep digging in to make it even better. Real Life Sparkle is my way of chronicling my journey, whether it’s outfit inspiration, tackling a new project, whipping up something delicious, or just sharing some thoughts on life. I hope you’ll join me, and hopefully you’ll like it here.

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