Five On Friday

 Five on Friday

Five of my favorite family friendly Halloween movies:

1. The Addams Family (1991) 

2.  Ghost Busters (1984)

3.  Hotel Transylvania

4.  The Haunted Mansion

5.  Coco

Added because I just can't leave these out:

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Monsters Inc.

Although all of these are mostly family friendly, ages of kids who are comfortable watching these will vary.  I know the Haunted Mansion traumatized my 5-year-old.  Parents, you know what your children are comfortable with.  And movies like the Addams Family and Ghost Busters are really for older kids (tweens/preteens and older).  

Five on Friday: Soups and Stews

 

Now that the weather is getting cooler (it was actually 49 degrees yesterday afternoon), I'm starting to make stews and soups again.  The following are my favorite fall-winter soups/stews/chilis:

1. Italian Wedding Soup

Last year we went to a deli that served Italian Wedding Soup and it was the best I've ever had.  I've to tried to recreate it, but I just can't get it as good as theirs was.  But this soup is really good.  I usually use ground chicken for the meatballs to make it extra healthy.  I love having the leftovers for lunch.

2.  Tomato Soup

This soup is easy, delicious, and comforting.  Tomato soup always pairs well with grilled cheese and the grilled cheese recipe attached to this soup recipe is good too.  But honestly, I'm a grilled cheese purist.  I prefer American cheese even though I know it's processed cheese.  Maybe it's because I'm a child of the 70's/early 80's.

3.  Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Beef stew is so filling and comforting.  I love making it in the slow cooker.  It combines all the flavors so well.  This recipe is a simple and classic beef stew.  I do like browning my stew meat first.  I put it in a plastic bag with flour and salt and shake until the meat is covered in flour.  Then I use the browning feature on my slow cooker/multi cooker and heat up 1 tbs of oil.  Dump the flour covered meat into the cooker and brown on all sides.  Cancel the browning mode, add all the other ingredients and cook on low for 8 hours.  You can do the same exact thing with the pressure cooker, only the stew is done so much quicker (use sauté feature to brown the meat, then set the pressure cooker for 45 minutes and let it naturally vent).

4. Slow Cooker Baked Potato Soup

Baked potato soup is one of my favorites.  I love it so much that I could make it once a week.  Unfortunately, it's not the healthiest of soups, just the yummiest.  The recipe that I share above is my absolute favorite, but there are times I want to try to make it a little more "middle aged mom friendly" and I use this WW friendly potato soup.

5.  Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

We love this soup.  It's so easy and so tasty.  And I love using my slow cooker so it's perfect for an easy, quick weeknight meal.  I usually make this a few times in the summer also.  We love it that much.

The nice thing about soups or stews are that they can be very budget friendly.  The ingredients are usually lower in costs, and leftovers can be used for lunches.  Trying to keep the grocery budget down is especially important now with prices so high.  To make these meals extra filling, serve with bread, rolls, or corn bread.  

Five On Friday

 

5 of my favorite things this week:

1.  Early morning walks outside with the puppy.  
She doesn't do well on the leash yet, so we only walk around our yard.  But we have over 3 acres and much of the yard I don't ever get to explore (especially back by the woods or the pond).  I feel like I'm experiencing my own yard for the first time, and now that the seasons are changing, there's so much new to explore.

2.  My electric tea pot.
I used one when we were on vacation, and I loved it.  It's so easy and so fast.  I found this vintage looking one on Amazon and I'm so glad that I found it. The weather has cooled down to the 50's this week (hello fall!) and I'm making a lot more tea.

3.  Fall decorations.
I put up my fall decorations.  They just make the home seem so cozy and festive.  I put up the outside Halloween decorations last weekend when it was in the 80's.  I hope to get the indoor ones put up this weekend.

4.  The library.
I have always loved the library.  Books and reading are a passion of mine. I'm interested in doing some research on a topic that interests me, and I love how I can look up online the books that I need, then put a hold on them, and have them sent from whatever library in the area they are at.  

5.  Go Clean Co's Fall Cleaning Challenge
I've got a lot of cleaning and organizing to do, and I've gotten even further behind due to the puppy.  But the challenge is motivating me to get my butt in gear and get some stuff done.  I don't expect to get it all done, but whatever I do clean/organize will be a bonus.

Five On Friday

 

Five Catholic Podcasts That I Listen To:

1.  Bible In A Year Podcast

2.  Girlfriends Podcast with Danielle Bean

3.  Catholic Momcast

4.  Catholic Answers Focus Podcast

5. Question of Faith Podcast

What are you listening to?  Share with me any of your favorite podcasts.  

Five On Friday

 5 Favorite workout Items:

1.  Brooks Running: Best Shoes Ever.  I love these shoes and they fit my feet the best.  They have great arch support and they typically don't rub the back of my heel.  

2.  Enell Sports Bra:  As a "full figured" lady, having a sports bra that covers and supports is important, and this one is my favorite.  I bought my first one 20 years ago, and I still have it and still use it, and it's the only one that I have routinely used through the years.  I first heard about it on Oprah.  And if Oprah liked it, I knew I would too.

3.  Fitbit:  I love my Fitbit.  I have a really old Charge 2, but it still works well and covers all the things I need it to.

4.  The Peloton App:  I know I've posted about this before, but it really is my favorite way to work out. I used it at the gym even though they don't have Peloton equipment.  I can use any treadmill or bike and it's still amazing.

5. Under Armour work out shirts :  These shirts fit great and are moisture wicking.  They really are the best.  I'm still working on finding pants that I love, but at least I have the shirts under control.

What are your favorite gym items?? 

Five On Friday

 

5 things I am grateful for this Friday:

1.  Hot Tea:  It's so cold here and winter is starting to drain me.  Hot tea helps

2.  The Bible in a Year Podcast with Father Mike Schmitz:  I LOVE hearing God's word every day.  I'm on year two of this podcast and I'm getting just as much, if not more, out of it as last year.

3. Soul Core's online streaming membership:  I just signed up for this a few weeks ago.  I love being able to stretch/exercise and pray the rosary at the same time.  

4.  Peloton's streaming service:  I used this service (app) during Covid lockdown.  And I really enjoyed it.  There are so many excellent workouts, and the trainers are motivating. So, I kept the subscription going even after things opened back up again. I would love a Peloton machine, but it's not in our budget.  But the streaming service is perfect for me right now.

5.  Grocery Pick Up:  I used the Walmart pick up for several years.  Then our grocery stores starting offering pick up options during Covid.  It's just so quick and convenient.  There are times that I would like to choose my own groceries, but on busy weeks, the pickup saves me so much time and makes my life easier.

What are you thankful for today?