Loaded Baked Potato Soup

I am linking up with Allie and Mallorie!

 Olivia and I recently caught a bug, so I made this soup last night for dinner! This soup is filling and also keeps well in the fridge! I have made batches ahead of time to freeze, but is not as great warmed up from frozen. (Just an FYI)

***(THIS RECIPE CAN BE MADE IN A CROCK POT OR A STOCK POT)***

INGREDIENTS:

2 LBS BAKING POTATOES (PEEL, AND CUT INTO 1/2" CUBES)

4 STALKS CARROTS

4 STALKS CELERY

1 WHOLE WHITE ONION

1.5 CUPS OF GREEN ONIONS OR CHIVES

2 CANS (10.5 OZ) CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP

1 CAN CHICKEN BROTH (VEG BROTH WOULD WORK AS WELL)

1 CUP SOUR CREAM

1 CUP OF MILK (ONLY USE IF YOU DON'T WANT SOUP SUPER THICK)

1/4 TEASPOON GARLIC POWDER

1.5 CUPS SHARP CHEDDAR CHEESE

1.5 CUPS CRUMBLED BACON

OLIVE OIL OR BUTTER

SALT & BLACK PEPPER TO TASTE

DIRECTIONS:

DICE CELERY, WHITE ONION, AND CARROTS THEN SAUTEE IN A PAN ON MEDIUM IN OLIVE OIL OR BUTTER AND SALT AND PEPPER.  AFTER VEGETABLES START TO SOFTEN, ADD 1/2 CAN OF BROTH.

ONCE VEGGIES ARE SOFT, ADD POTATOES, 1/2 BACON, 1/2 GREEN ONIONS, REST OF BROTH, MUSHROOM SOUP, GARLIC POWDER AND PEPPER.

(CROCK POT) COVER AND COOK ON LOW 8 HOURS OR HIGH FOR 4 HOURS.

(STOCK POT) COOK ON LOW COVERED 1-1.5 HOURS.

LAST 10 MINUTES ADD SOUR CREAM, MILK (IF SOUP IS TOO THICK) AND CHEESE. STIR UNTIL MELTED AND COOK ON MED-HIGH FOR 10 MINS.

GARNISH WITH REMAINING BACON AND GREEN ONION (AND MORE SHREDDED CHEESE IF YOU LIKE!)

ENJOY!!

Weekend Wrap-up

This weekend was one that was VERY hard. On Friday Olivia & I headed down state until Saturday because my bubbie (grandmother) is currently in the ICU. It was VERY sudden and not expected at ALL. She is a very active and social woman, still gets together with her girlfriends, plays tennis, golf, etc. So we spent lots of time in the hospital waiting room, time with family and Olivia kept spirits up. While it is a horrible situation, it was nice to see family who doesn't live in town and Olivia got to get together with her cousins, which they all LOVED!!

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

We slept at my grandparents house, Olivia LOVED the big bed and as always TOOK over the bed, blankets, etc! haha

Caribou<Starbucks

SUNDAY

Sunday we had Panera breakfast with Jer on the deck. I was so exhausted from driving/traveling and Jer had to work all weekend. In the afternoon I unpacked, cleaned and did lots of laundry. That night we met Jer at an event he had a table at and hung out and then later on we got a babysitter and went out with some of his employees. It was nice to get dressed up, and catch up with my man who I missed. 

I am sure you saw me asking through instagram and twitter, but if you do have a second, please say a prayer for my grandmother. Along with everything else she has going on, she now has pneumonia! I have been thinking of my family constantly as well, my grandfather, mom and aunts are so distraught and my heart just aches. This situation is all too familiar as it was just over a year ago that Olivia was laying in a "bed" in a similar life or death situation. 

Thank you all who sent messages, positive vibes and support. I love having "bloggy friends" who are SO awesome!! :)

Show & Tell Monday; Wedding Bells Ringing

I am linking up with Becky for Show & Tell Monday!

1. Are you married? If so when did you get married, and tell us about your special day. 

 

Jeremy & I have been married a little over 3 years. We were married June 19th, 2009. Our wedding was MORE then I could have hoped for(minus the redic humidity and thunderstorms)! We were married at sundown, outside, on a beautiful golf course and then held our reception in a beautiful room over looking the course. We worked VERY hard to have our dream wedding, paying for it mostly on our own, by choice. We made EVERY decision, but obviously the best part was WHO we were marrying, our best friend! I feel like some people get caught up in the dream of a wedding, but what brides need to remember is what comes AFTER the wedding...a MARRIAGE! 

2. Show us some wedding pictures. Either yours or of some that you love.

3. How about the engagement? Tell us your story. If not engaged, what's your dream proposal?

You can read all about our proposal here

4. Show us your wedding rings or an engagement photo! If not engaged/married ... show us your "dream" ring.

5. Tell us why you think marriage doesn't work out for so many? What can we do to make things last?

I can't speak for everyone, but for Jeremy & I, divorce is NOT an option. If my husband doesn't cheat on me, abuse me (mentally or physically) or treat me badly, I feel then any issues we might have come up we can work out. Marriage is work, it takes 2 people and I feel communication is KEY. If you and your spouse have issues communicating, maybe find a third party who can help, whether it is a friend, family member or even therapy. I don't think there is anything wrong with asking for help if your relationship needs it. Jeremy and I aren't ones to share our personal business with the world. If we are having an argument we don't share it with others or put it out on facebook, like some. I feel that is immature and childish. We are lucky that we both speak our minds and when we FEEL something, we make sure to share it with each other. This is something that works for US. In the end, we love each other, LIKE each other, and want to be together FOREVER which is why we got married. We TRUELY are best friends!

15 months

Today Miss Olivia Adele is 15 months Old!!

(I can't believe I am writing this, it feel like last week I was writing about her being 11 months old!)

Olivia is wearing 12-18 month and 18 month clothes, is wearing size 4.5-5 shoes and size 4 diapers! Has SIX teeth! 4 on bottom and 2 on top! Still hates hats and sunglasses. Starting to take headbands and bows off too. Has been sporting toe nail polish! Her color of choice, Essie "Pink-a-boo"

Has MANY faces! Does the "Mean mug," "Big eyes," raises eyebrows, among many others! (which you can see through out this post!)

Learned to shake head when saying no or being told "no." When Olivia is being told "no" will stop what she is doing MOST of the time and then other times will go back to what she is not supposed to do. Saying a few words: mama, dada, mommy, daddy, no, wow, whoa, yeah, what, and a few others that I haven't written down. She will try to imitate us or copy us too.

LOVES bath time! Sits and plays SO well in the tub!

FIRSTS

We celebrated Olivia's Home coming anniversary on August 11th! Olivia also received her first piece of jewelry, a gift from Jeremy & I that we look forward to adding to through out her life! :)

Olivia ate her first kids meal this month! We went to BWWs and she got naked tenders and mandarin oranges and ate EVERYTHING!!

Went to her first Tigers game!

VERY close to walking. Can stand on her own but when realizes she is standing unassisted, gets scared and falls on her butt. Olivia is crawling FAST and found our stairs and is starting to try/learn to climb them...lovely! Olivia climbs on ANYTHING (or anyone) she can, especially if it is in the way of something she wants like a tv remote, toy, etc.  Also, getting into EVERYTHING. When one mess gets cleaned up, there is always another and another!

Is eating everything! Tried beef hotdogs for first time (she had only had turkey before) and liked them but was more into the bun! haha Also tried chocolate for the first time this month and SHOCKER, LOVED it! Only thing she hasn't tried is peanuts/peanut butter. She did have some chex that had been in chex mix that had peanuts in it and didn't have a reaction so we will see! Also, we don't give her fried foods yet. Still LOVES chicken, cheese and bread.  We give her bread with melted cheese on it and she LOVES it! Also, this month was REALLY into peas! Also, when eating in her high chair she will throw a lot of her food on the floor, even if she is not done. I don't get it. We tell her "no" and she will stop but then she starts back up again. We don't have a dog unless she has an imaginary friend that is a dog! haha

Olivia is doing well with her cups and holding them well too! We finally found cups that she will drink from, that don't leak/spill (unless Olivia turns them upside down and shakes them-because of the spout)! They are the take and toss ones. Of course after all of this time and spending $$ on more expensive cups the cheap cups win! haha

We are MOSTLY weaned off formula and the bottle. We do give her a bottle at night when we are winding Olivia down before bed. Some nights she doens't want it and other nights I count down until bedtime so I can give it to her! haha Bed time for the most part though has been SO sweet! Liv and I are back in the routine of reading books and rocking in the glider before bed. We usually spend an hour or 2 just sitting in her glider together (unless Jer is home). It is seriously SO wonderful and I enjoy it every night because I know this won't last forever! 

Olivia is down to 1 nap, usually in the early afternoon for a couple hours! Olivia is chewing on EVERYTHING! Shoes, hair bows, tv remotes, board books, etc. LOVES her books, very into pulling them off her book shelf and throwing them around her room. Also loves to play with empty water bottles and cups.

Olivia HATES sitting in her car seat! I think it is time to upgrade her anyway! Was looking into Britax or safety first for stage 2...any mamas with suggestions? Olivia LOVES walks! She loves sitting in her stroller and taking in the world! When we go shopping she is pretty good! I always have toys attached to our cart cover and always bring snacks and her cup so that occupies her for a while! :)

Can be whiney or throw a tantrum if I am not holding her every second. She has still been very clingy towards me but when daddy gets home I am old news unless it is bed time, at bed time she usually wants me. Olivia is SO sassy and when she has an attitude...oh boy! If Olivia isn't getting her way or we won't give her something she wants..life is OVER, she things EVERYTHING is hers! For the most part, she is SO sweet! Spends most of the day laughing and smiling and of course making Jeremy and I MELT!! Also, LOVES giving hugs and kisses. She kisses us with her mouth WIDE open! haha

Most of all we LOVE our girl and she is just FULL of life and personality!!

Happy 15 months Miss Olivia Adele!