Simple Chicken Tortilla Soup

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You know those recipes that remind you of home? The ones in cookbooks full of notes, scribbles, and handwritten additions? This soup is one of those recipes for me. It was always one of my favorite things my mom made during the fall and winter when I was growing up. When I got married, she passed her recipe on to me, so I could have a piece of home whenever I wanted. It’s relatively simple and super delicious, so I wanted to share it with all of you! 1 2

The “hardest” part of this recipe is all of the chopping. Seriously, everything has to be cut, sliced, diced, minced, chopped….you get it. Once everything is properly chopped, it’s simply a matter of combining it!

The fresh produce you need to cut includes: 2 large carrots, 1 large onion, 6 ribs of celery, 1 jalapeño (seeded…be careful! Don’t get the juice anywhere near your eyes!), and 4 garlic cloves. You also need to slice one pound of chicken into bite size pieces. Any of these ingredients can be adjusted to your liking.

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It’s definitely easiest to measure out all of your ingredients before you start cooking the soup because it makes the process much smoother. Plus, if everything is prepared, you can pretend you’re on a cooking show where everything is neatly laid out just waiting to be grabbed and poured in the pot. I’m sorry though, this recipe doesn’t include a pre-made batch of soup sitting just offscreen. Or a hilarious onscreen persona.

First, heat 1/4 cup of oil and 3 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add your chicken and cook until it is no longer pink. Once the chicken is almost fully cooked, add your carrots, onion, celery, jalapeño, and garlic, and sauté for around 5 minutes.
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It should already be smelling pretty delicious at this point, but it’s time to add in some spices to take it over the top. Pour in (from your pre-measured bowl!) 1 teaspoon of each of the following: Lemon pepper, chili powder, salt, and cumin. (If you’re still pretending you’re on a cooking show, feel free to grab the spices with your fingers and toss them into the pot with a little flourish. No pressure, though.) Add 1/2 cup of flour as well. This will help thicken up the soup a little. Give everything a good stir to make sure the spices are distributed evenly.
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Finally, stir in 42 ounces of chicken broth and 1 14.5 ounce can of petite diced tomatoes. Bring everything to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 1 hour.

After that hour, the scrumptious tortilla soup scent will have filled your house. Well…it fills up our 1-bedroom apartment, but at least the areas surrounding your kitchen should smell like soup? Regardless, get your preferred toppings ready. I love lots of shredded cheese with an abundance of tortilla chips to dip in my soup. My family fills their bowl with chips and pours the soup right on top. Feel free to make it your own! Live your life, you know? This recipe makes 6 to 8 servings depending on how much of a pig hungry you are.
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Whip up a batch next time you’re craving some delicious, simple, homemade tortilla soup, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

DottedSiggy

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3 Free Apps to Save You Money!

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I know there are a million money-saving blogs out there solely dedicated to “couponing,” tips, and tricks. However, a ton of those involve really complex methods, so I wanted to share a few EASY, FREE apps that have helped me save some money.

Cartwheel

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The Cartwheel app is for everyone’s favorite store: Target. It’s probably the most simple app to use, and it has savings for everything in the store from groceries to clothes to electronics. After creating an account, all you have to do is look through their offers to see if any apply to your purchases. If you don’t want to look through the offers, you can also scan the barcode of whatever item you are buying. If there is a coupon available, it will show up, and you can add it to your barcode. Once you have added all of the offers you want to use, simply open your barcode and the cashier will scan it before you pay. Some coupons are small, but I have seen some sizable discounts as well for clothes (basically what we all go to Target for…and home goods…and holiday decor…and…). I have already saved $27.02 with the app, so it is definitely worth checking out!

HEB

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If you don’t live in Texas, you don’t know the joy that is HEB. HEB is the best. If you don’t have an HEB to shop at, you won’t get it, and I’m sorry, but trust me. That said, HEB has released an app making it easier to find and use their coupons. You select which HEB location you are shopping at first. After that, all you do is search for your items in the coupons section, add any you want to use, and redeem them at checkout. To redeem them, you have to link your app to your mobile number, which some may be wary of. However, I did it, and I can assure you that I haven’t received any marketing or promotional text messages from HEB at this point.

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Aside from coupons, this app has some other great features. If you’re looking to maximize your savings, you can peruse the Featured Deals section to see what items are on sale for the week. This is a great section to use if you are meal planning for your week. Another feature I love is that when you search for an item, it will tell you which aisle it is on in the store. This may not sound that useful, but if you are at a location you are unfamiliar with or looking for something you have never purchased, it is quite helpful!

Walmart

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I typically try to avoid shopping at Walmart, but sometimes, it just has to be done. Lately when I have made trips there, I have been using their Savings Catcher to see if I can save any money. This app is different from the other apps because instead of spending less money upfront, you scan your receipt after your trip to see if you can earn any of it back. Once you complete your transaction, open your app, and select “Scan a Receipt.” After your receipt is scanned, the app will search stores in the surrounding area for prices on items you purchased. If it finds any prices lower than what you paid, it will add the amount difference to your Reward Dollars. At any point, you can redeem your Reward Dollars for a gift card to be used in a Walmart store or on Walmart’s website.

As I said, I know there are several more in-depth ways to save money. However, I think these free apps are a great starting point for anyone looking to save a little here and there. Every little bit counts! Let me know if you have any money saving tips! (Easy ones, please!;))

DottedSiggy

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Fall Themed Bridal Brunch

Fall Themed Bridal Brunch

It’s fall! The temperatures are getting cooler, the trees are changing color, and everyone is breaking out their boots and scarves! I mean…I live in Texas, so it’s still over 100 degrees, most of the plants are dead from the summer, and we’ll be wearing shorts for the next couple of months…but…you get the sentiment.

I figured the start of September would be the perfect time to share pictures from a Fall Themed Bridal Brunch my mom hosted a few years ago. I realize “wedding season” is drawing to a close, but there are still plenty of couples that plan weddings in the fall. Bridal showers don’t always have to be full of white tulle, chicken salad sandwiches, and all white flowers (though those are beautiful as well!). If you choose to host a shower that corresponds to the current season, you can not only easily find decor, but you can often use things your home is already decorated with!

Once the hostesses decided “fall” was their theme, colors and inspiration came easily. For a fun twist, they decided to have a brunch instead of a lunch, which allowed them to plan a delicious, simple menu. I’ve posted some pictures and information below to give you ideas if you have an upcoming shower to plan and want to take the same route!

Guests were welcomed with pumpkins tied with raffia bows and a beautiful fall wreath.

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Once inside, they were led into the family room to drop off their presents for the bride-to-be. Her chair for opening gifts was marked with a simple bouquet of white balloons. As you can see, my mom’s fall decor on the mantle and around the house flow into the theme seamlessly.

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Another touch my mom added, was to create some custom pennant banners in corresponding colors. If you have access to a sewing machine (and someone who knows how to sew), these are a fun way to personalize your decor. Since this bride’s wedding was also in the fall, my mom gifted them to her to use as wedding decor as well!

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Also in the living room was a table with pictures of the engaged couple and a recipe box. Recipe cards were sent out with the invitations with a request for guests to provide their favorite recipe.
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I love a good poem, so most of the “signage” around the house rhymed. The sign for the recipe cards said, “The kitchen is where Kim loves to be. Please use this box for your recipe!”

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After dropping off their gift and recipes, guests moved into the kitchen where a juice and coffee bar was set up to go along with the brunch theme.

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Small chalkboard signs like the one below were placed around the drinks and food to guide guests as well as let them know what dishes were being served.

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In the dining room, the buffet had another pennant banner as well as plates, napkins, and forks for guests to load up on the delicious brunch!
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For flowers, the hostesses used natural fall blooms like mums, zinnias, and lantana. Many of them were clipped from their own yards fresh that morning. A good way to keep cost down is to use flowers you have available already or at least ones that are in season.

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The spread for brunch included several assorted muffins, coffee cake, and quiche among other items. It was the perfect spread that included something for everyone whether they wanted a filling meal or simply a light snack.

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Another fun touch was these decorative Bride and Groom food picks that were placed throughout the food.

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Who doesn’t love a good monogram? We enlisted my husband’s help to carve the bride and groom’s initials into this craft pumpkin. It was a great centerpiece for the table, and it was a keepsake the couple can use to decorate with for years to come!

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After enjoying brunch, opening gifts, and socializing, the shower came to an end. On the way out, guests were gifted a small box of Hershey’s Hugs & Kisses. The accompanying poem read, “Love is sweet, like hugs and kisses. Thanks for celebrating the soon-to-be Mrs.!”

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I hope you agree that this is proof that you can throw a bridal shower that is unique, and it will still be successful. The most important thing is that the bride loves it, and in this case, she definitely did!

DottedSiggy

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A Farewell to my Baby Tooth.

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Dear Baby Tooth,

I’m sorry we finally had to part ways. You were so faithful and dutiful. It wasn’t your fault that a permanent tooth never developed to replace you. You just carried on amongst your bigger peers as though you were meant to be there.

I’ve seen you getting grayer over the years. The x-rays showed what I always feared; your roots were dwindling. Some dentists told me I needed to have you pulled. Some dentists said you could last my entire life wedged between my other teeth. I felt like you were in it for the long haul. That was until we met with Dr. Gies. (Pronounced ‘geese’…may or may not be pictured below.)

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He took some glamour shots photos up close that displayed my worst fear. You were decaying. He said over time you would probably spread your decay to my other teeth and then crumble away. I didn’t want to admit it to you, but I knew it was time to say farewell.

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I made the appointment, and the following morning, we had a little photoshoot together before heading into surgery.

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Some numbing gel, oral sedation pills, shots, and nitrous oxide (what? I was nervous!) later, Dr. Gies placed the forceps around you and removed you from me forever. Minutes later, I had an implant screwed into my jawbone and a temporary tooth attached.

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Just know that even once my implant is osseointegrated and I get my new porcelain crown, nothing will ever take your place in my mouth. We smiled together, enjoyed delicious meals together, and made so many memories. You were with me before any of my other permanent teeth, and I’ll never forget you.

Thanks for everything, baby tooth. <3

DottedSiggy

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Beauty Blurbs: Revlon Colorstay Makeup for Normal/Dry Skin

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Hey y’all! First things first, I always have the desire to refer to my readers as “Hooters,” which is totally not okay. Unfortunately, it popped into my head one day, and now every time I start a blog post, I want to say, “Hi Hooters!” Don’t worry, I’ll continue resisting the urge, I just wanted to fill you all in on my creative process. 😉

Today’s post could alternatively be titled “Selfie Overload!” So…I’m sorry in advance for that! I am reviewing Revlon Colorstay Makeup for Normal/Dry Skin and wearing the color “Buff,” which is the next to lightest shade. I have repurchased this foundation multiple times and continue to love it!

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This foundation claims to provide “longwearing coverage with a lightweight formula that won’t cake, fade, or rub off.” I must agree! Don’t let the term ‘lightweight’ make you think it doesn’t offer great coverage! With a light layer, I am able to even out my skin tone and cover minor blemishes easily.

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I have worn this foundation with and without a primer, and it stays on for HOURS each time. On the bottle, it says it can be worn for up to 24 hours, but the maximum amount of time I’ve worn it is around 14 hours. The normal/dry skin formula controls the shine even on my oily areas really well. If I ever have any issues I do a quick swipe with an oil-absorbing sheet, and I’m good to go!

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This foundation works for me from day-to-night and light-to-heavy makeup applications. There is a Combination/Oily skin formula I have tried when my skin gets more oily, and it works great as well! With 20 shades, this foundation covers a pretty wide range of skin tones.

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Another positive aspect of Revlon Colorstay Makeup is that I’ve been able to achieve both dewy and matte looks with it! On the left in the photo above, I used a blush with more shimmer (MAC Peachykeen) and a lighter application. On the right, I used a finishing powder (e.l.f. High Definition Powder), matte blush (MAC Pink Swoon), and heavier application. With simple variations, this foundation can provide quite a range of looks and satisfy several styles.

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If it’s not obvious yet, I’m a huge fan of this foundation, and that has almost nothing to do with the fact that it’s only about $10! If you’re looking for a great, new foundation (that just happens to be inexpensive!), definitely try out Revlon Colorstay Makeup!

DottedSiggy

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