my favorite soup ever

If I could only have one soup for the rest of my life, this would be it. I would be doomed to permanently runny eyes and nose, though, because this baby has a heat factor, but it would be oh so worth it.

I saw Rachael Ray make this a couple years ago, tried it and was hooked.

Here's her original recipe. I made a few changes. Here's my version below.

1 rotisserie chicken, shredded

3 tablespoons EVOO
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
handful jarred jalapeños, chopped (I like the ones from the jar because they are less spicy, so you can get more flavor with less heat)
palm full of chili powder
a few shakes of ground cumin
a few shakes of paprika
1 16-ounce jar tomatillo salsa (salsa verde)
1 quart chicken stock (more or less, depending on how much you need to make and how chunky you like it)
1 handful cilantro leaves
Juice of 2 limes

Heat a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat with the EVOO. Cook onions and garlic until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the spices and jalapeño and cook for another minute. Add the salsa, stock and lime juice. Bring up to a bubble and add in the shredded chicken. Simmer for 25 minutes. Add cilantro just before serving. Serve with tortilla chips.

By the way, this pot is part of Rach's collection I got last year when I moved into my casa. And I love them!

spring cluttering

It's You Capture Day, and the theme is Spring...again! Even though it's felt more like summer around these parts lately. So this post is all about the spring shopping that's been going on. Forget spring cleaning...I'm junking this joint up!

Starting with the patio. I went to Garden Ridge last weekend in search of chaises, but isntead found these chairs for $19 each. Sold.

But I still wanted some chaises. I scoured dozens of websites trying to find what I wanted. But everything either looked cheap or would cost me a kidney. I finally found these with these cushions (the floral) from World Market. They had me with the pull-out tray. Thank you, tax refund check!

I had thought about moving this rug from the living room to the patio (it's an indoor/outdoor), but major clash with the cushions.

So I'm on the hunt for a rug. Possibly this. Thoughts? And I definitely want to add some of these string lights. I have an old marble-top sewing machine table from my grandmother I'll probably use to hold some planters. Then I'll just need to round up a little dining table and a grill. See what I mean about the cluttering? I'm on the fast track to this.

In other junk shopping news, I found these collars on etsy from Coleys Collars. I love that you can get them in a big size with a narrow width. The furballs like em thin. I think Honey's getting the stripes and Sal Pal's getting purple. That pink buckle is my favorite part.

The next two I can get away with on the budget front because I used a gift card I'd been holding onto since Christmas. My overcrowded jewelry holders are not pleased, though. Both from Charlotte Russe:

These came with yellow, too, but they were in my ears. Who you calling lazy?

I swear I'm not a hoarder.

three for your thursday

It's You Capture day! The theme is spring. This post is on the disjointed side, but it's springy enough I think.

1. I know the interwebs are probably way sick of Honey this week. But she is the best model of the four, and I keep finding another shot I like more than the last from the weekend. And I can't keep all that cuteness to myself.

So much fun to shoot them in the pretty spring weather. Can you believe that big girl was this little girl a year and a half ago? I can't. 

2. These are my new favorite shoes. They're just 16 smacks from Old Navy, and I think I'm going to have to get some more. But I can't decide which color. I was thinking that rusty red that's already sold out online. Might have to hunt around this weekend.

3. I'm a little hung up on shooting the sun straight on and out of focus. Feels like summer. Just have to be sure not to expose on the sun. Learned the hard way that creates nothing but a dark mess.

I love Thursdays. Good tv night (Parks and Rec, Office, 30 Rock, Grey's, Private Practice. whew.). And on Thursdays you can see the light at the end of the tunnel that is the weekend! Have a happy one!

target treasures and temptations

Liberty of London has landed, and it's even better than I hoped. They have items in just about every department, and each was cuter than the next.

They had lots of frames.

Kitchen ware. It was a tough call between their prep bowls and this cannister, but my garlic needed a new home.

I have a slight obsession with mini notebooks.

This was Dwell, not L.o.L. All their throw pillows and bedding are so tempting too.

  

Things I will probably not be able resist and go back for this weekend:

• Rain boots that I will wear maybe twice a year. But April showers are on their way.
•  A long satin-y sundress. Perfect for the beach.
• watering can. For my two houseplants that are on death's door. This would encourage me to water them! (can't find this on the target site)
• those prep bowls.
• drum shade in a bright floral (though everything L.o.L. is bright florals).

I need!!!