Maple Bacon Chili

It's cold out there! And that means I am in the mood for some tummy warming foods. I made this chili a few years ago actually, and found this recipe in my archives. I would likely use ground turkey and put the chili over brown rice pasta. So good! Here is the recipe! Enjoy and stay warm :)

Maple Bacon Chili

1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)

1 onion, chopped

1 package of bacon, cooked and chopped

1/2 cup of maple syrup

1 can red kidney beans

2 tbsp chili powder 

2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 can crushed tomatoes

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 zucchini, chopped

1 beer

In a large pot, cook the ground beef with the onions until the meat is browned. Remove from heat and drain as much oil as possible from the meat and onions.

Pour the meat and onion mixture into a Crock-Pot set on low. Add chili powder, the chopped bacon, garlic, kidney beans, tomatoes, zucchini and maple syrup. Cook for 4-6 hours on low heat.

Screened Porch - Final Photos

I can't believe it's taken me so long to get these pictures up! This summer I made over the screened porch. Here was my inspiration post: Screened Porch - Moroccan / Bohemian / Fresh Hippie

Here it is! :)

I love how it turned out! We recently packed all the pillows and accessories away in prep for the winter. It's too cold to hang out there now, which is why I've been so focused on the guest room! It's coming along :)

Guest Room & Life Update

Happy Friday all! Lately I have been feeling inspired. This week I made it a point to create, design, paint, write, laugh, sing and stretch as much as possible! I am feeling so fabulous! On Monday I did yoga, on Tuesday I cooked a delicious dinner with my best friend, on Wednesday I checked a few home design books out of the library before yoga. On Thursday morning I painted watercolors after my 2 mile hike with Badger and that night I hung out with Mike for some seriously needed TV & talk time.

Today I woke up feeling fulfilled in so many aspects of my life. I am so grateful! Okay enough life stuff, onto the house talk!

I've been trying to solidify the guest room design. I know I want it to be a practical home office/bedroom, I just have to design and find! I just wanted to post a photo of what the room looks like right now.

Guest room in progress!

Okay that's all for today :) I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I'll be at the shop, stop by and say hi!

Fall Foliage Photos

Happy Saturday all! I just wanted to share some of the photos I have taken over the course of the past week or two. Winter is slowly creeping up on us here in Vermont, and I feel energies shifting! I love taking brisk walks with Badger in the morning, and I know he can't wait for the snow.

Walked out of the Church Thrift Shop and had to snap a pic!

No Filter! The next door neighbor's farm. 

View from the master bedroom bay window.

Beauty  on our morning walk!

Badger peeing on our street sign. Love it!

22 Discovery Road :)

Big Bedroom Dresser Makeover

I recently revamped a large dresser to add to our master bedroom DIY bedroom furniture collection. I love a clean home and I love when everything has a place. Mike has a lot of clothes and not enough space to put it all away. So I quickly decided to find another dresser for the room! I had an idea of the size, so I just waited for it to appear.

Sure enough a few days later a man pulled up to my shop to sell me a dresser. It was the perfect size, but definitely needed some cosmetic changes to fit in with our white and blue decor! We haggled a bit and I got it for $80! I put about $20 into the hardware and paint, and fixed her up.

Here is a picture of the piece before its makeover:

Here it is after!

What do you think? Oh, and here are our adorable animals the other morning when I left for work. They are so cute!

I usually bring Badger to the shop, but sometimes I leave him home on Saturdays to keep Mike company :) Here is Badger making his appearance in my most recent Furniture Consignment Center Facebook cover photo:




YAY! Have a wonderful day :) I'm off to the shop!

Screen Porch - Coming Together!

I am so excited that the weather has been so nice these past few days! I finally got to set up my screened porch and enjoy it last evening :) Aunt Nancy gave me a ton of awesome accessories for the room, including the pillows and those awesome tea light lamps. I just love the way it's looking! Do you?

I still want to make matching cushions for the wicker set, but I'll get to it. It's still super comfy cozy!

Back From a Whirlwind Week... And I LOVED It!

I've just had a whirlwind week, and it was the best week of my life! I saw a lot of people I love in a short amount of time. It really recharged my battery :) This was my week:

Saturday, June 14: I almost missed my 6 am flight to NY. Attended my little brother Johnny's high school graduation at my alma mater and celebrated with my McCabe family. [if you need to revisit the family tree, click here] Then my sister Katie and I drove up to Connecticut to meet up with the Miller family, and stopped at Mike's Aunt Nancy's on the way to pick up some wonderful gifts.

Sunday, June 15: Hung out with my sister Rachel and her husband Nathan and their adorable newborn baby daughter for a wonderful father's day!

Monday, June 16: Drove from Connecticut to my house in Vermont with the Millers.

Tuesday, June 17: Did some much needed summer time Green Mountain State site seeing! Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE VERMONT :)

Wednesday, June 18: Worked at my furniture store and had a ton of fun! Sold my queen size captains bed for $400 on Craigslist, then had dinner with my bestie Devon. 

Thursday, June 19: Worked at the shop till Dan came to cover for me at 4. Mike and I then drove to Rochester to see more Miller family!

Friday & Saturday: Had a wonderful and relaxing getaway vaca with the Millers in a fabulous rental on Lake Ontario. We celebrated a belated father's day for Grandpa and an early birthday for Grandma.

Today, Sunday June 23: Mike and I drove home from Rochester, NY, and made sure to pass through Saratoga to look at the awesome houses!! When we got home we both gave Badger and Biscuit lots of attention. Thanks to Mike's Dad for watching the little fluff balls!!!!!!

Here are a few pictures from the past week.

Johnny Mac graduates Rye High School!

Me and Baby Girl

Sleep baby in my arms.

Sunset over Lake Champlain, Burlington, VT

Badger on the cool concrete floor at the store.

Kitty Biscuit being cute as always.

The drive to Rochester, NY

Awesome rental house on Lake Ontario

I painted some rocks :)

Thanks to everyone for being so awesome! I'm a very lucky lady!