Trunk-R-Treat? Trick-R-Treat?

Who doesn't love the trunk-or-treating? It's safer, simpler, and easier than trick-or-treating. I remember when I was 8-9-10 years old and this started getting more popular. As a kid, walking through a gauntlet of heavily decorated car trunks FULL of candy was kind of awesome. The best part for me now is that they are (usually) super family friendly; void of the scary and creepy and gross.

Because we aren't familiar with our own neighbors and we don't want to try and trek through neighborhoods with a toddler and newborn with crazy people everywhere this is our halloween event of choice. So, I've been looking around and googling to see what's going on at some of the local churches and decided I should be nice and share!

Hickory Creek Baptist - Fall Festival - October 29, 5pm

Christian Life Church - Fall Festival - October 30, 12-2:30pm

Cross Pointe Community Church - Trunk or Treat - October 30

Sager Creek Community Church - Fall Festival - October 30, 5:30pm

First Baptist Rogers - Trunk or Treat - October 30, 6-8pm

Cross Church - Blocktober Fest - October 30 and Halloween, 6-10pm *

Grace Point Church - Trunk Or Treat - Halloween, 6-8pm

Please feel free to add any information for any other church or community events in the comments!


* $5 admission per person

It's fall . . . time for some white turkey chili!

     I've tweaked this recipe several times and it's almost perfect. It's been cooler this week so I decided I should welcome in the Harvest season with some tasty crockpot food. First, I pull out all my ingredients because half the time I'll forget something if I don't. My hubby eats it plain. I love it with a glob of shredded colby or pepper jack, a giant spoonful of sour cream, and fritos.

 Refried beans keep it nice and thick. I personally just like the cannellini beans (white kidney) and black beans. I normally use fresh tomato and a small can of chopped green chilies too but oh well. And, the enchilada sauce is new. We'll see how it goes. I'm substituting this for chicken broth.

 And, of course, you have to have meat. I love traditional chili BUT turkey is just as easy but it is leaner and better for you. Yay!

 Yup, that's cocoa. It adds a heavy, robust flavor. I usually mash up one small clove of garlic but I completely forgot. I used plenty of the chili powder and red pepper because I also forgot the jalapeno and pablano peppers (what I'd use normally) and didn't feel like running to walmart to find not-so-great peppers (this is what farmer's markets are for, best produce EVER) . I'd probably still add the powder and pepper anyway. I also use a secret ingredient but unfortunately I ran out.*

 MMM. Fresh bell pepper and chopped tomatillo and a hint of sweet and crunchy! I chop these up, not to fine and not to thick so they still hold their own flavor and crunch but are tender. I actually love bell pepper raw with ranch . . . yum.

Once all the cans are opened and the veggies and fruits are chopped I plop it all in together. No pre-cooking or anything.  It should cook on low for at least 6 hours and I like to put it on high for an hour to make SURE the meat is done. I season to taste. I promise it's better looking cooked. It's smooth, thick, and a warm tan color with specs of bright yellow, red, and green. Yum.

                                    

 *Canadian Whisky

Crohn's and Colitis: MUST SHARE!!

I'm so excited I found this but I just wish I'd found it sooner! This cause is very close to my heart. My mom has Crohn's disease and both my sister and sister-in law have Ulcerative Colitis. This is an awesome cause so please look into it! I'm not sure if we'll go yet because the hubby has to work (BOO!) but if I can I'll be there in a heartbeat and I'll be sure to share here ASAP if our plans can change. Regardless, everyone else should go walk and donate!

Take Steps, Be Heard for Crohn's and Colitis

NWA Children's Museum? PLEASE and THANK YOU!

     I'd heard rumors about something like this floating around. I am SO excited to find an actual feasible bit of information on this possibly coming to fruition. Check it out. Someone is definitely seeing the want/need here in NWA! With the American Art Museum opening in a month and the new Bentonville library flourishing, I think people are really starting to realize the potential this area has to be a metro hub for family-oriented activities and events. The community would benefit so very much from this and I hope to hear more about it soon!

Because I'm awake . . .

Oh my word. It's 5:30 am (ok 5:27 but who doesn't round up?) and of COURSE I am still awake. I have company in my little N for once. She's half asleep on my lap and Ice Age is on. I feel so wide awake. THIS is how I wouldn't mind feeling during the day. Not that I feel exhausted during the day either. I've been managing one long nap and lots of short cat naps or just 10 minute lay-down-breathe-deep-don't-die-time-out times.

I decide to aim for a slightly different route and be a little more personal here. I don't want to make a job out of blogging because that's boring and silly when it's not . . . me? Oh gawsh that's vanity at it's best. I get a pass though because I'm . . . well, I guess not. I'm vain as all heck and so is everyone so suck it (your lollipop that is . . . nom nom nom).

Here's me attempting not to be as snarky as I just was:
((BREATHES))

Nope I think I meant to breathe out. Breathe in good, breathe out bad right? That honestly doesn't make sense. Sounds like looney psycho crap to me . . . but I guess that means it suits me so I'll stick with it.

AnyWAY . . . I'm so out of it and it should be apparent by now. But by golly I am almost caught up on laundry and this blog now looks spectacular compared to it's dreary-blahness-layout before. I did something BESIDES browse pinterest, babycenter, and stumble for once.

I think I'm gonna get N cuddled up with me and try to sleep. TRY.

I'm looking forward to a happy blog tomorrow (err . . . later today). We're going to the pumpkin patch and PAINTING (seeing as how my toddler is much safer throwing paint than throwing knives) pumpkins. It's gonna be fun. We finally settled on going to Farmland Adventures so I'll also be SURE to be critical and nosy and share my effervescent thoughts on the experience here.

GOOD MORNING!