Spicy Bean and Rice Burritos

Funny thing about the Internet. Some things just seem to travel, and travel, and travel. I saw this recipe on Pinterest, and it was love at first sight. I just had.to.have. Like, now. Upon doing a little more research tonight though, I found this recipe at Tasty Kitchen. Where it came from A Bitchin' Kitchen. Where it came from my website of choice, Cooking Light. What a small world the Internet is :)

This is one of the only new recipes I've tried in the last 2 months, mainly because I looked at the recipe and knew there was no way it wouldn't be good. And good it was. I had leftovers for lunch today, I could have had leftovers for dinner tonight, and I will have leftovers for lunch tomorrow. It was perfecto for Meatless Monday.

Ingredients:
1 tbsp canola oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp chili powder
1 whole pepper from a can of chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
1 tbsp liquid from can of chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
1 tsp cumin
2 pinches cayenne
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup water
2 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup fresh salsa
6- whole tortillas, burrito sized, warmed
Shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, sour cream, and more salsa for serving

Directions:
1. Heat canola oil in a large skillet. Add garlic through cayenne to the skillet. Cook briefly, about 30 seconds.
2. Add both cans of beans and water to the skillet. Bring to a simmer, lower heat, and cook for 6-8 minutes. Slightly mash beans as it heats.
3. Add rice and salsa to the skillet. Stir to combine, remove from heat.
4. Divide bean mixture among tortillas down the center. Garnish with cheese, lettuce, sour cream, and more salsa. Roll up tortillas. Serve immediately.
5. There is a step 5 for me, and that would be restraining myself from eating 2 burritos :)

Fantabulous Couponing!

Suave shampoo and conditioner, Crest toothpaste, Hunt's Snack Packs, Quakes, Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats, Olay body wash, Mentos gum, Revlon eyeliner and lipliner, Dove hair stylers, Aussie hair stylers, L'Oreal Everstyle hair stylers, Suave Men's body wash, Olay Daily Facial Cloths

It was a good weekend for couponing. I got some good buys, didn't spend a lot of moola, and added to my ever-growing stockpile. The hubby's aunt suggested that I make baskets for the female family members at Christmas time, stuffed with body products, hair products, makeup, chocolate, etc. I thought that was a good idea. I probably will have more in my stockpile that I will use this year, so why shouldn't everyone enjoy free beauty products? I think it's a go. Here's the breakdown for the week:


CVS
Mentos gum, 2 for $5
-used (3) $1 off coupons, received $2 in ECB's
Aussie styling products, 2 for $6
-used a $1 off 2 CVS store coupon, a $1 off a 2 manufacturer coupon, and received $1 in ECB's
Olay Daily Facial Cloths, $3.74
-used (2) Buy Daily Facial Cloths, Receive A Free Olay Body Wash coupons (priced at $5.99)
L'Oreal Everstyle products, $7.29 (Buy 2, Receive $5 in ECB's)
- used (2) $2 off coupons, received $5 in ECB's

-used (2) $4 off a $20 purchase CVS store coupons, used $13 in ECB's from last week, paid $5.86, and received $8 in ECB's.

Rite Aid
Crest toothpaste, $3
-used a $0.75 off coupon, received $3 in UP's
Revlon eyeliner and lipliner, $7.29 (Buy 1, Get 1 50% off and Spend $10, Get $4 in UP's)
-used (2) $1 off coupons, received $4 in UP's
Dove Styling Products, 2 for $6 (part of Suave deal)
Suave Men's body wash, 2 for $4
Suave Shampoo and Conditioner, 3 for $5 (Spend $15 on Select Products, Get $5 in UP's)
-used a $3 off 2 Dove products coupon, (2) $0.75 off Suave body wash coupons, and (3) $0.25 off Suave shampoo or conditioner coupons

-used $10 in UP's from last week, paid $12.93, and received $12 in UP's.


Kroger
Quakes, $1
Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats, $1.99
-used a $1 off 2 coupon
Hunt's Snack Packs, $1
-used a Buy 3, Get 1 Free coupon

-paid $8.98


Total Spent- $27.77 on $133.80 worth of product. Savings of 79%.


My couponing account is growing by leaps and bounds! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Product Review: Maybelline Volum' Express Mega Plush Mascara and More

I've been picking up lots of new products to try lately. I guess the summer beauty sales have been good to me. There are so many coupon deals going on right now, I can hardly choose which ones I'm going to do. Makes me wish I could do them all! Let's dive right in, shall we? :)

1. Maybelline Volum' Express Mega Plush Mascara

This mascara is being touted as the next big thing, thanks to it's gel-mousse formula. I picked up the waterproof formula to try out (of course!). I've been using this for a couple of weeks now and here's what I think. If you have tried Maybelline's Volum' Express One-By-One mascara, you've tried this one. I love, love, love One-By-One, it's my absolute favorite. I found this formula to look and feel essentially the same. The only difference I can tell is between the two brushes. The Mega Plush has a large brush, with a flexible wand. One-By-One's brush is rubber and is designed to coat every lash. Due to the brush, I also find that the One-By-One goes on more evenly, and with less clumps. Both formula's stay put and don't smudge. Both are not heavy formula's, and really look like my lashes, but better. Both hold curl very well. The verdict? Due to the similarity to my favorite mascara and an unfavorable brush/wand, I won't be buying this one again. I'm sticking with the One-By-One.

2. CoverGirl's NatureLuxe Silk Foundation

I am not a CoverGirl fan. There are very few CoverGirl products that I like and would buy again, especially their foundations. That's why I was so surprised to love this product. It's a lightweight foundation, and in my opinion would be in-between tinted moisturizer and a fuller coverage foundation. The product is very creamy, and easy to blend in to the skin. I always look super-close at my pores after putting on foundation, to make sure it doesn't look like I'm caked in makeup. I was shocked that this covered flaws and evened out my skin, but didn't look like a mask. It also lasted all day, with me only having to do one mid-day touch-up. I think this is an appropriate foundation to wear when you are wanting more of a polished look than tinted moisturizer, like for a lunch date or shopping, but probably not for an evening going-out look. I'm sticking with tinted moisturizer for most of the time this summer, mainly because I don't look like my makeup is melting in this summer heat and humidity. But I'll be using this one on occasion, and probably even more in the fall. The verdict? This one is going in my arsenal, thanks to its light texture and amazing coverage.

3. Garnier Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment

I'm torn on this product. I've been trying it out for a couple of weeks now, and I've tried it with many different hairstyles. Blown out, straightened, wavy, curly, and pulled back. The product works. It makes my hair feel soft and really does add a lot of shine. I especially like it with wavy and curly hairstyles which can stand to use something to help with the frizz. Here's my one downside with this product. I think it clogs my pores. As in, if you touch your face before you wash your hands and if you have acne-prone skin, you better watch out. It may even be this product getting on my pillow, and then getting on my face at night. If there's one thing I hate more than frizz, it's breakouts. Not pretty. I'll take some frizz over a breakout. That being said, John Frieda's Frizz Ease Serum works just as good as this and doesn't clog my pores. The verdict? If you have acne-prone skin, be super careful about getting this anywhere near your face. Due to said skin issues, I will not be purchasing this again.

The Three-Year Mark

It's the hubby and I's 3rd anniversary!

On this day, 3 years ago, I married my best friend. Two crazy kids got married for better, or for worse, during one of the most challenging times our relationship had been through. Now, 3 years later, we are emerging from that difficult time even stronger than when we went into it. We've been through so much together- weight gain and weight loss, many different hair colors, my previous job working 60 hours a week, unemployment, and a cross country move. 3 years feels like forever, and I don't mean that in a bad way.

Pretty soon our house will be done, and we will be moving on to a new chapter in our lives. There will be many more adventures, and I guarantee it will be a crazy ride that's never boring. I think we're up to the challenge :)

Some of our adventures:

The first time we went to Hawaii.

At one of the dozens of Oregon Duck football games we went to. I'm guessing it was one of the first, due to our lack of Duck wear.

Tailgating 

And more tailgating! 

Celebrating with the fam when my brother graduated from college.

The first time we took Haloti to the beach.

Haloti's first trip to Multnomah Falls.

We do a lot of tailgating!

Our New Year's Eve, shortly after we got engaged.

Whistler, Canada

Our toast, 3 years ago today.

Jerame's 33rd birthday.

Mo's in Newport, OR.

My 29th birthday. Fried alligator and all.

4th of July.

Of course, toasting the newest chapter in our lives.

Happy Anniversary Hubby! I'm looking forward to the next 3 years we spend together :)

Home Construction- Day 2

Friday started out pretty much like Thursday. Whilst looking out my window expectantly, trucks and construction workers began arriving at the property at 9:30.

Time for Round 2 peeps!

Friday's work consisted off digging and pouring the footer, setting up a drainage system, and setting up where the vertical support beams will be. I can't believe they dug the whole basement in one day! These people mean serious business! The hubby went out and talked to the private manager, who told him that he digs 200 basements a year for Schumacher. Pretty impressive stats. The hubby is very satisfied with the quality of work and the efficiency with which is was done.

So the big hole in the ground is starting to take shape!

I made the hubby go over and take pictures since it rained all afternoon and the property was a mud pit :)

It's hard to believe that 2 days ago, there was nothing here. I love it!

Onward and upward!

So according to the hubby, they are bringing gravel out on Monday. Later in the week however, they will be putting up the basement walls. I'm definitely looking forward to that, as I think for someone not as construction-minded as me, seeing walls go up will help me out with what I'm picturing everything to end up looking like.

The hubby and I are so pleased with what's happened the last 2 days. I can't believe we went from not knowing when construction was going to start on Wednesday, to all this by Friday.

Things can change in just a minute :)

Home Construction- Day 1

It's. Finally. Happening!

It's about time! The long-awaited construction started yesterday morning. I don't think I've ever been so excited! They got the whole basement dug yesterday, and today they are digging the footer and pouring the footer! There will be concrete out there by the end of today. People were right when they said once it begins, it will go fast. I took lots of pics to document the first day of construction!

Trucks and equipment showing up for the first time.

Hubby's uncle standing at the edge of the "basement"

There's a huge hole in the ground!

More equipment... and lots of mud!

Breakin' out the bubbly

It's finally happening!

My eye was twitching as we tried to toast. 

Haloti LOVES champagne

Gizmo says, "Get that away from me!"

Me and the Giz

Our new sign

A toast at the property

And, toasting in front of the basement

It's been a rough month or so, but things are starting to look up :)

The wall of dirt they built is huge!

Stay tuned for more shenanigans in home construction!

Wednesday- By The Numbers

50- minutes of cardio I've done today
100- amount of crunches done today
25- reps of lunges, squats, and jumping jacks done 3 times today
60- seconds of planks done today
6- lbs I've lost since I started detox
94- the high temperature for the day
82- % the humidity is supposed to be today
21- days since we signed our construction loan with no construction having started on our home (argh!!!)
40- days we have been staying with the hubby's aunt and uncle with no construction having started on the home (double argh!!!)
3- business days after signing our construction loan that construction was supposed to start
2- cups of coffee I've had today
11- new beauty products I've tried this month
7- number of those products I would buy again
5- amount of times the dogs have gone to sit by the door to go outside
45- amount of minutes I will spend vacuuming up dog hair today
7- hours spent slow cooking a pork shoulder yesterday
20- minutes it will take to bake a pizza with yesterday's leftover pork shoulder
1- amount of days until I get my hair done!
0- amount of patience I have left with the home construction situation

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday! Once again, hoping today is that special day that construction starts. Sheesh, I'm breaking out not 1, but 2 bottles of champagne the day that someone actually shows up!

Weekend Recap: 7/14/12

Leaving another weekend in the dust...

The hubby and I were really anxious this weekend, because construction on the home is supposed to start today (Monday). However, it's 9:57 am and there's no one at the property. Grr. I'm not sure I would recommend the building process to anyone that's looking to get it done at an efficient pace. This has been the most drawn out and laborious process. I really think I might scream if they don't show up today.

Besides the hubby's and I's restlessness, we tried to just have a good weekend anyway. Saturday, we went to the mall in Huntington, WV, just to get out of the house for awhile and take our minds off construction frustration. We did some shopping, did some eating, and of course, did some drinking :)

We got a board game called "Wits and Wagers" while we were at the mall, so we busted that baby out on Saturday night for some family fun.

My latest wine obsession. I'm not into red wine, but I'm starting to branch out. I'm hoping this is like tipping my toe into the water, and at some point my immature palette will evolve to the point where I drink red wine by the gallon. Well, maybe not by the gallon... Wine always makes a board game a little more fun.

This is what happens after a few glasses of red wine. The question for the game that was asked had to do with Ferdinand Magellan, and I picked up my iPhone without thinking, and googled Christopher Columbus. Not cool, Jessica, not cool. My iPhone was confiscated until further notice.

I snapped this priceless one of the hubby shortly after the Magellan incident. But before confiscation :)

Rarely do we have a weekend without puppies. This is the only time I can ever capture all the dogs' attention at one time. That special time when they all want chicken jerky at the same time. Suddenly, I'm the most popular person in the house.

Upon making a purchase at the local Victorias Secret whilst we were at the mall, I received a free purple stuffed dog. Haloti became enamored with the stuffed animal and has declared it his property. This photo was kind of blurry, but still kind of cute.

He chose to "bury" his stuffed animal under this blanket. Right buddy, like we all didn't just watch you hide your toy under the blanket!

And finally, it's been hotter than hot! This Southern heatwave feels like a sauna, thanks to the humidity. This has also brought some crazy summer thunderstorms to the area, many of which have knocked out the Internet for a couple of days at a time. I figured I needed to blog today, because who knows how long I have until the Internet is taken out again?

Happy Monday! The hubby and I are sitting on pins and needles, forever waiting for construction to start. Please be today!