a girl's gotta eat!

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a great week!  I went back to work on Tuesday.  After two days of grueling professional development, I am home now enjoying the empty apartment - listening to some music, wearing my most comfy sweats, and doing something that I haven't in far too long...cooking.

Now I am no Julia Child.  Hell, I'm not even a Rachel Ray.  But over the years I've experimented with cooking different things and while it's all still a work-in-progress (I am not a natural chef!), I've honed my skills and perfected some recipes (just ask my husband how often he eats tacos...).  Since getting pregnant, my energy level has been a bit low (ok, the lowest ever) and cooking has certainly been last on my list of things to do.  Between the summer heat and my constant exhaustion, my diet has consisted mostly of Luna Bars and fruit.  After leaving work today though I was struck by a sorely missed desire to cook so I'm taking advantage of the empty apartment and blaring some fun music while I cook up one of my favorites - chili.

Chili is one of the easiest things to make and delicious to eat.  While I traditionally only make it for football Sundays or during the winter, I really wanted something hearty and comforting tonight.  I make chili a lot but tend to tweak my recipe every single time I do.  Tonight I referenced this Giada recipe (she's one of my faves!) and put my own spin on it. 


Sometimes it's just really nice to relax and do something you love, whether it be crafting or reading, cooking or blogging, watching tv or doing laundry.  After a long day of listening to people talk at me, of absorbing a ton of information, of organizing my classroom, it feels really nice to relax and just be in the moment.  Hope you're having a wonderful night doing something you love :)