2011: Not too shabby

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!!!

Mr. Smith and I are officially back in Washington after a fabulous two week rendezvous in Texas.  I can't wait to write the summary tomorrow while I'm curled up on the couch with a bloody mary ;)

We returned to an apartment that resembles a post-apocalyptic movie set {considering we came from from my Christmas party drunk at 2:00 am, packed for a 2 week trip, and left at 5:00 am for our red-eye flight}. I'm just glad we remembered to take the trash out before we left- that could have been bad. 

Oh and thank you to everyone who sent Christmas Cards! It was so fun to come home to a mailbox stuffed full of you {and your babies/dogs} smiling faces. And if you didn't send us one- shame on you. Just kidding. We picked a winner of the "best holiday card 2011"... and it was a tough choice. I mean some of you really do have cute kids and stuff, but one stood out in our minds. I present to you...

Mr. and Mrs. White's 1950's Christmas.
It doesn't get much better than that.

And of course, this was Zeke's response: "Babe! See! I told you I've wanted to do something cool like this instead of the lame 'we're married so here's a picture that you've already seen on facebook' card. Next year, it's on. No excuses". So- Rebecca and Dustin- look our for a doozie next year!

Moving on... While our fridge might be completely empty, I made sure we had a bottle of bubbly saved to pop for tonight's festivities.

From my Twisted Vines Wine Club! Cheers!

The hubby and I are sipping the good stuff and getting ready for a wild night at... wait for it....

P Brennans! Who would have thunk??? ;) They're having a nice 3 course dinner and champagne toast both 7:00 pm {in honor of NYE in Ireland} and at midnight. Plus, we have a special place in our hearts for that pub. Not just because it's way too convenient and is in our building, but because they have our Christmas card displayed on their bar mantle. 

Where's Waldo The Smith's?

Bet they never did that with Norm or Cliff's Christmas card at Cheers

As we clanked our glasses together tonight, we reflected back on the last 12 months. 2011 was pretty damn good, actually! We had the wedding of our dreams, were lucky to be a part of three other fabulous weddings, our niece was born, my best friend is about to have a baby, we hosted a ton of visitors and got to really experience DC, I started my career at LivingSocial, we spent over 2 weeks on the beaches of St. Lucia, the Bahamas, Destin, took trips to New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Cabo San Lucas, met some awesome new friends while still keeping our best friends from home-- I still feel like someone needs to pinch me to wake me up. I know this isn't everyone's situation, and I am genuinely thankful for the blessings we've received. 

And for you, readers: sending blessings and wishes your way from the East Coast! I hope 2012 is full of happiness, love, health, wealth, family, friends, and anything else your heart desires :) 

Mrs. Smith signing off for 2011, need to finish getting ready. See you next year!

LivingSnowcial

In the last 24 hours, I've:
- Packed for a 2 week trip
- Offered 6 people a job
- Rode in 3 different taxis, a bus, a shuttle van, and boarded {and am still on} a train
- Slept 3 hours
- Had a blast at my company Christmas party.

A few censored pics from last night:

















We are en route to Baltimore to catch the 8:05 flight to the great state of Texas :) My sister-in-law Karah is picking us up with our *beautiful* niece riding shotgun. I can't wait to see them!!!!



Can't wait to be home!

the most delicious chicken chili ever. seriously.

I don't brag about my cooking a lot.

Ok, ok... I guess I do ;)

Sometimes a girl {or guy} has to pat themselves on the back. Cooking isn't easy! It's intimidating! And it's really easy to screw things up. There aren't many things I'm good at {besides b.s.'ing, starting projects I don't finish, bonging beers, and Tetris}. But cooking is something I've grown in to over the last few years.... I love that once you get the "basics down", you can really let your imagination run wild.

This particular recipe is a hybrid of two things I found on Pinterest mixed with a little bit of "what the hell, I'll throw that in there, too". If you're in the holiday-comfort-food-mood and want to cook a nice pot'o'goodness that {a} you/your family will love {b} will draw a crowd around your cubicle because it smells so good when you reheat it for lunch {c} is inexpensive to make, and {d} allows you to easily add/remove ingredients to make it your own-- look no further. It's also relatively healthy. Bonus!

Easy ingredients from the canned food aisle

Boil 1.5 lb. chicken thighs in water, reserve 2 cups of the water and season to make broth.
*this was one of my "make up as you go"- I realized I didn't have chicken broth in a can! Crap!*

While the chicken is cooling, saute onions, bell peppers, garlic, and carrots in olive oil. Make sure to season!

Once veggies are softened,  pour in chicken broth, raise heat and boil.

While veggeis are simmering in broth, use a fork to pull the chicken off the bone and shred.
{It looks like my Champagne bottle is peeing on the chicken, sorry for the awkward pic}

Mix in chicken and all of the canned ingredients.
Cover, simmer, and voila!
Serve topped with shredded Colby Jack cheese. Deeeeelish!

Ingredients:

1.5 lb. chicken thighs, boiled and shredded {skin removed}

1 large diced sweet onion

1 diced green bell peppers

3 cloves finely sliced garlic

2 peeled and and diced carrots

1 can crushed tomatoes {I use Furmamo's} 

1 can whole kernel sweet corn

1 can mexicorn

1 can kidney beans

1 can low sodium black beans

1/2 jar of salsa {I use Pace Picante-Mild}

Salt, Pepper, and Cumin to taste {I use a lot!!}

Olive oil

2 cups chicken broth*

Colby jack cheese

*If you don't have chicken broth, season 2 c of the water you boiled the chicken in. I used 2 tbsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, and 2 tbsp olive oil*

Instructions:

1. In a large saucepan set over medium-high heat 4qt. water to a boil. Add chicken thighs, cover, and boil until cooked through, about 15-20 minutes.
2. Transfer the chicken thighs to a plate and allow to cool. Follow instructions above to make broth.
3. While chicken is cooling, return the saucepan to the stovetop and lower heat to medium. Add olive oil.
4. Add onion, bell pepper, and carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is starting to turn brown and peppers/carrots start to caramelize, 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Add minced garlic. Cook, stirring, for 1 additional minute.
6. Stir in reserved chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook 5 minutes.
7. While broth/veggies are cooking, use 2 forks to remove chicken from the bone and shred.
8. To the saucepan, add chicken, tomatoes, salsa, beans, and corn. Do not drain. Stir to combine. 
9. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
10. Serve it up, stir in cheese, and enjoy!

If you try it, let me know! 

Introducing: Cover Letter Mondays

Thanks to inspiration by some fabulous ladies I met at the Blogger Blitz Washington last night, I have a new concept I'm rolling out on MAMSGTW {my new trendy abbreviation for the blog}. It's an extension of my g-chat status updates. If we aren't friends on g-chat, comment on this post with your chat name and I'll add you-- the more the merrier.

Without further adieu, I present to you: Cover letter Mondays.

As you better know, I transferred to the recruiting department for my company. I'm sure you can imagine how many resumes we receive each month... think thousands. Part of my job is to weed through knee high applicants' resumes... AND read the random and sometimes baffling cover letters. While they can be a thorn in my side some days... it does provide consistent entertainment. For any of you readers that are currently searching for jobs, let me give you a few hints.

- Never, under any circumstances, attach a picture to your resume. Unless you're applying for a spot on The Bachelor. If I need to know what you look like, I can always Facebook stalk.
- Speaking of: if you are applying for a job, PLEASE make sure your Facebook profile is private and your picture is something you would be comfortable with your preacher viewing. Not you in a bikini on the 4th of July taking a jello shot off of someone's naval.
- Please do not include your hobbies. You will not get an interview because you love knitting, fishing, pilates, World of Warcraft, collecting bottle caps, hiked the Mayan Ruins, or baked an award winning pie in middle school. Save that info for the awkward happy hour convo once you GET the job.
- If you are going to use a word with 4 or more syllables, please make sure you use it correctly. {Vociferous is not a good word to describe your sales style}
- Do not confuse words like "they're" and "there" and "their"... "you're" and "your"... or "two" and "too". Not smooth.
- One word: Objective. While unnecessary {if you have a cover letter}, please make sure if matches the job you are applying for. Please don't say "Detail oriented accountant seeking challenging job in finance" when you are applying for a Sales job.
- Do not default your font color to hot pink. You are not Elle Woods nor are you applying for an internship on Legally Blonde.
- Last, but not least, please don't use text lingo in cover letter. Actually, don't do anything like this guy... ever:

"Take a chance on greatness. Natural brn slsman. Lives a 5min walk from ur office. Exercise is Awesome. Nothing bttr then freshair...thats where the ideas are. Loves taking nature walks, long bike rides, & seeing a shooting star every now n then is rlly cool. Also enjoys a good happy hour with good friends (strangers, new, & old). Nice to meet you." 

Starting today, I will reserve Mondays for the latest and greatest *All Star* cover letters I come across during my hours spent slaving away in front of a computer.

As an ode to my inspiration, here are a few pics that I snapped from last night's Blogger Blitz!

Guns up!

Julipmade, Bud and Leo, DC Girl In Pearls, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith Go To Washington ;)

*All letters appearing on this blog are fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental* 

Catching Up & Christmas Gift Idea: Wine Club!

Sorry I've been MIA lately. Let's see... Thanksgiving was great... and hilarious. We had a blast despite one of Zeke's aunts being in a walker from a recent hip replacement, his other Aunt cutting her foot open with the carving knife, and Zeke's mom slipping in the kitchen, doing the full splits, resulting in a rush trip to the ER in Mobile, AL. We felt like we were in a Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn movie. I love his family so much though... we were curled over laughing the whole weekend about how much of a mess we are. I wouldn't have it any other way :)

A few of my favorite pics from the weekend...

Aunt Alma's homemade buttermilk biscuits.
You can get much more Southern n' that.

Classic Alabama Fans
1. Woman came out of store with Marlboro Reds
2. She's sitting in the back of the truck white 3 dudes are in the front
3. Not only is she in the back, but she's sitting on a lawn mower
4. The passenger has a mustache like Luigi from Mario Bros
5. That's not a toolbox in the back... it's an ice chest
6. Token "missing hubcap"

Relaxing with hubby, watching football, post-lunch <3

Bored in the car driving from Mobile, AL to Auburn, AL.
I discovered the "Place my face" app.  

the hubster

Tailgating with Simpson and Zack for the Iron Bowl

Never too early for Wild Turkey {Honey Flavored... dangerously good}

War Eagle! 

Cousins 

Roomies

Awkward "hey will you take a pic of us" pic

Last week flew by. We've both been working a lot and getting home pretty late, so we ordered takeout a 8 days in a row. I think that's some kind of record. And it's not one I want to repeat, because it's expensive and I'm pretty sure I gained approximately 3-5 lbs.

Other than working and ordering takeout... there are really only two other exciting things that I have to report. 

1. If you're looking for a gift for that "person who has everything"... I highly suggest checking out the monthly Wine Club memberships from Wine.com.  They have packages starting at $29.99 a month, and you can pick to send reds, whites, or a combo of 2 bottles each month. I mean.. what's better than surprise bottles of wine delivered to your door?? Being the wino I am, I actually am a member of 2 different clubs. One from Wine.com, and the other is for the cute wine bar across the street from us, Twisted Vines. It helps me break out of the "same 'ole, same 'ole" routine. Just a thought!

December Wine Club Goodies

2.  To help burn off calories from the wine club and takeout food, I'm OFFICIALLY registered the DC Rock'N'Roll Half Marathon on March 17th!

Oh. Crap.

I've had this on my bucket list for quite some time. I was registered for the Aramco Houston Half Marathon this past January, but we moved to DC so I couldn't fly home for it. There is a nice $100 bet on the table with a certain gentleman named Joe Hoelzen that I wasn't able to claim, so as long as I finish under 1:59:54 {his time in the Houston Half}, I'll be $100 richer come March 17th. Get ready, Joe... you know I hate to lose!

Need a gift idea to send Mrs. Smith?? Aside from MORE wine, I could definitely use a new pair of running shoes. Happy shopping :)