May I take your bird back to camp as my prisoner?

The last few days around here have been freezing. But, no snow. :( I'm super jealous of the people that have gotten even a tiny bit of snow. I have fond memories of snow growing up. It was always a special trip that was made each year. Whether it be just a day trip to go sledding and snowball fighting or to Big Bear, CA where our family has a cabin built by my family. I miss that cabin and family trip dearly. Since moving out to Louisiana I think that is one of the biggest things I miss.

I do love autumn and winter but every year when we get little hints of spring starting to creep in my heart does little flutters. I use autumn and winter as a time to reconnect but by the end of it it seems like I am crawling out of my skin wanting to go outside and bathe in the sun. Summer can just take a hike altogether. ;) That just gets me all sorts of cranky.

I'm not going to lie. It hasn't been particularly happy around these parts the last few days. With having Joey's mom in town for two weeks then Joey home for about a month and going back offshore I've had a hard time readjusting to it just being Leena and I. Give me a few days and I will settle back into this "lifestyle" again. There however has been lots of movie watching the last few days while this readjustment takes place. Leena doesn't mind that but I hate her watching so much. We did go see Tangled for the third time. This is the last week it's in theaters out here. I have it preordered but it was a much needed break from the house (that wasn't somewhere freezing) and I love that Leena wants to sit on my lap and cuddle and of course eat popcorn when we go see movies together.

With settling in again I am getting back to sewing. It's weird how doing it regularly for a month or so and then stopping for just two weeks can really make you feel crazy! Today I sewed myself a dress. I love the way it came out. My inspiration was bunting, using a shirt that was too short to wear as a shirt...at least for MY comfort level and the comfort level of my "Charpie" looking belly, hah and I was definitely inspired by Laura's tshirt dresses.

These fabrics and scarves I instantly fell in love with. And the doilies were a lucky find! I seriously love this new thrift store I've been going to.

Sweater: Ebay-Old Navy Brand
Dress-Me
Belt: Goodwill
Tights: Urban Outfitters
Boots: the commissary in El Paso
Gloves: Target

Lately I've been enjoying soup like no other. Like for lunch today, Garden tomato soup, a slice of Ezekiel bread and green bean casserole. My main soup I've been enjoying is vegetarian tortilla soup. Before going pescatarian I looooooved chicken tortilla soup. I was bummed when I wanted it one day then realized I can make it just as tasty if not more without the chicken. Here's my kind of sort of recipe for you all. The thing is...I don't measure. I cook "to taste". So...God speed. But really, it's so easy you really can't mess it up.

The recipe:
1 can tomato sauce (29 oz)
2 small cans of green enchilada sauce (10 oz cans)
1 small can of veggie broth. I have no idea how much really. I just poured a bit in from the box of veggie broth to thin it out to my preferred consistency.
cumin to taste-I used probably 2 tbsp
garlic powder to taste-probably used 2 tbsp
onion powder to taste-probably used 1 tbsp
ground pepper to taste

Mix and let it heat through, then add as much frozen corn as you want. I did two of the steam fresh single pouches of corn.
Add hot sauce if you want it hotter.
Break up tortilla chips in the bottom of the bowl and serve soup on top.
Top it all with shredded cheddar, chopped avocado and a dollop (I love that word) of sour cream.

It can also be vegan if you leave out my favorite part, the cheese and sour cream.

Let me know how you like it if you try it out. :)

I found this photo of Joey and Leena while going through and editing our photos from our Florida trip. I melted. Plain and simple.

Peace and Love.