New Recipe: Taco Dip in the Crock Pot

Happy Tasty Tuesday!

Two weeks ago I was looking for a fun appetizer to bring to our holiday party, The Jingle, but I didn't have time to make something elaborate. Luckily I found this awesome recipe for taco dip in the crock pot because it literally took no time to make. Seriously, one of my favorite things about the crock pot is that I just put all the ingredients inside it, and it does all the work for me! I came back a couple hours later and my delicious dip was ready to go!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 (1 1/4 ounce) package of taco seasoning
• 4 ounces (1 can) of diced green chilies
• 10 ounces salsa (I prefer medium or hot but if you don't like spicy go with mild salsa)
• 1 lb. Velveeta cheese
• 1/4 cup onion, chopped
• 1 bag of tortilla chips for dipping

Directions:

• Combine all ingredients (except tortilla chips, obviously) into the crock pot
• Cook on low for 2-3 hours
• Enjoy

xoxo

Ringing in 2014

So New Years Eve is not my favorite holiday, I think it's because in 518 it's normally freezing and the last thing I feel like doing is wearing a dress in the cold. One of these years I'm going to pack up and ring in the new year in a warmer climate so I can enjoy getting dressed up without worrying about getting hypothermia. I picked out six New Year's Eve dresses that I personally love, including 3 with sleeves that will hopefully keep you northerners a little bit warm while watching the ball drop!

What are your plans for NYE?

Motel Gabby Sequin Dress in Black // Topshop Beaded Body Dress //

 Motel Gabby Sequined Dress in Blue // Grey Chiffon Dress // ModCloth Champagne Dress

ModCloth Black and Gold Chevron Dress

xoxo

Sunday Thoughts... Plus a Weekend Recap

First of all I need to apologize, I've been a terrible blogger lately with spotty posts. However, I needed a little vacation from my laptop and have been taking time with friends and family this holiday season. I will be back to my regular scheduled posts tomorrow, which means I need to get my butt in gear today! Anyways, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and weekend, here is a quick recap of mine:

• Plenty of family time, my cousin Josh was in the 518 up until this morning so my cousins and I have basically been inseparable. All I've done in the past 7 days is play board games and eat... really productive.
• Played "Headbandz" for the first time... have you ever played it? If you're a fan of party games I definitely recommend it, very funny.
• Friday night I went out to celebrate Christina and Megan (two of my best girlfriends) birthdays. It was nice to get out and have a little fun with my ladies.
• I finally got a haircut, my hair was seriously looking like something out of an Amish village so it's nice to have it trimmed and manageable again.
• Got organized, I'm preparing for all the holiday decorations to be put away which means I needed to clean out my closet to make way for my new arrivals.

Group shot of the girls on Friday night

How was your weekend?

Are you getting back into the swing of things or have you sworn off being productive until after the New Year?

xoxo

Friday Favorites

TGIF!

Is anyone else in a post holiday food/present coma? I feel like these past couple days flew by however, I'm exhausted from all the holiday cheer. Things are finally starting to die down a little bit despite still having plenty of friend and family get-togethers planned for this weekend!

 Here is what I'm currently loving on this post-Christmas Friday:

 Fair Isle Crew Neck Sweater

Just because we just celebrated Christmas with plenty of gifts doesn't mean I'm willing to take a break from shopping. There are so many awesome sales out there including this amazing Fair Isle sweater thats 50% off! Maybe a belated Christmas present to myself is in order!

Cards Against Humanity

The description on the box of this game is "A game for horrible people" which apparently makes me a horrible person because I laugh so hard whenever I play this game. If you and your family/friends are board game lovers I definitely recommend you add this to your list. It's basically Apples to Apples for those who have no morals.

20 Shoe Rack

Signs I'm getting old... one of my favorite gifts I received was a shoe rack. I needed one desperately because I have shoes all over my bedroom floor. I woke up early this morning and set it up in my room and I couldn't be more excited to get organized!

Just Dance 2014

I'm a huge fan of Just Dance, we play it at almost every family get together and we just played the most recent one last night. It's a great way to get up and move around after eating that huge holiday dinner (I seriously sweat while playing this, it's quite the work out!). Plus who doesn't want to see Grandma doing the YMCA?

Kiehl's Sun Free Self Tanner

Now that Christmas is over I have warmer climates on my mind. I'm already looking into good self tanners that I can use before I head to Costa Rica in April. The thought of being in a bathing suit with pasty white skin is already giving me nightmares.

How was your week?

What are you loving on this post-Christmas Friday?

xoxo

Merry Christmas

Wishing a very Merry Christmas to all my blog readers and friends! 

May your day be merry and bright!

xoxo

New Recipe: Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Bars

Merry Christmas Eve Everyone!

I hope you all have a wonderful next couple days with family and friends! May Santa leave lots of presents under your tree because I can vouch for each and everyone of you that you all belong on the nice list this year. Also Happy Tasty Tuesday, I want to share with you a recipe for Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Bars that is absolutely delicious and super easy to make.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter softened
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup regular sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 package of mini peanut butter cups chopped into even smaller pieces

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• In a large mixing bowl combine butter, peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs, salt, baking soda and vanilla extract to mixture and mix again.
• Slowly add flour until completely combined
• Add chocolate chips and peanut butter cups until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
• Spread into a 9x13 inch pan and bake for 20-25 minutes (do NOT overbake).
• Let cool and eat until your belly hurts!

xoxo

Eat, Drink and Be Merry: A Weekend Recap

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend! 

Heres a quick recap of mine:

• Had a fun blog meet up with the ladies from Quaintrelle, Talkandtalka and Preppy Pink Crocodile at The Confectionary in Troy! It was so fun to meet up with other bloggers in the area and form new friendships! Can't wait for our next get together!
• Wrapped so many Christmas presents. Like a million. I don't want to see another roll of wrapping paper for a long long time. 
• Celebrated The Jingle with my best girlfriends! It was so nice to be reunited with everyone, eat plenty of food, play games and exchange cookies! I honestly don't know what I would do without those girls! Thanks again Dana for hosting!
• Had a cousins day out with all of my cousins. My cousin Josh is home from Chicago so this was the first time we were all together since July. We spent the whole day together playing games and taking photos for our awkward family photo! We are going to surprise all our parents with the finished product on Christmas Eve. I apologize in advance if anyone thinks this photo is offensive, it was done all in good fun. 

Our cousins version of the Nativity Scene, with our very own Santa-Jesus in the manger. 

Our annual Jingle photo by the Christmas tree!

The countdown has begun, what do you have planned for the next couple of days?

xoxo