A few things you should know before divulging into this recipe :

one. I'm from Cincinnati, Ohio, and we're like the chili capital of the world. Or something like that. All that being said, I hate, hate, hate Cincinnati style chili. I spent my entire life detesting places like Skyline, Gold Star, and the multitude of other chili joints that are all over town. I only started eating chilli at a grilled cheese place that had the most amazing blue cheese chili. I liked that, but have liked nothing else, hence why I wanted to make my own recipe.

two. I also really dislike beans. Or at least kidney beans and the kinds in chili. Lima beans are okay - I guess. Anyhow, I don't do beans. So this recipe is bean free. I am also afraid of spice. This recipe is for a more sweet/savor chili, not spicy.

three. I am actually still scared of using my slow cooker. Leaving a hot, cooking meal in my apartment with my dog all day? Scary stuff.

So being forewarned, here is a delicious recipe for turkey chili made with lots of sweet onions, red peppers, a dark Porter for taste, and topped with shredded white cheddar and light sour cream. It's delicious and nothing like the frightening chili places I grew up around.

When I was in high school, my mom did this awesome thing when I got broken up with. I would be depressed, stay up all night watching the same episode of Gilmore Girls, and then wake up and go shopping somewhere crazy with my mom. This shirt, along with a pair of ankle cigarette Joe's Jeans and a tunic, were my first purchases from Anthropologie, the products of my last ever break up prior to meeting my husband.

My Fei via Anthropologie break up blouse on top of the Eiffel Tower, September 2006

Many of the things in this outfit are amazing things I have had for a few years. From the blouse to my treasured Marc by Marc Jacobs mouse flats to the vintage dinosaur earrings I bought at an antique store in California.

Now if only the wind had not totally attacked my hair, especially prior to meeting new people!

My husband made fun of me in this photo. It was really, really cold. I was tearing up.

coat : ann taylor outlet

bag : kate spade ny

shirt : fei via anthropologie

skirt : buttons via francesas collections

tights : hue

mouse flats : marc by marc jacobs (mine are a pony hair version from 2007)

watch : swatch

bracelet : market in paris

dice clock necklace : marc by marc jacobs

headband : found

dino earrings : vintage

When I got my first pup Raynor in August of 2009, I was so excited to start buying her chic ribbon collars at stores like Moochie & Co. Raynor was destined to be a fashionista, except one issue. The dog is a tank, and being a basset beagle mix, she has a lot of low to the ground weight. She has broken through every collar we owned. Up until we found the Mod Dog.

Puppy Raynor wearing a leather buckle collar she ripped through

Kyra Vicory, of the Mod Dog, is very talented at making durable and adorable dog collars.  After ripping through yet another buckle on a collar while staying with my dad, I was determined to find a crazy durable collar, but I still wanted something visually pleasing for the princess pup. I began scouring the web for adorable chain martingale collars, and there was the Mod Dog.

One of Raynor's many Mod Dog collars, the Ely Collar

coat : mossimo via target
sweater : banana republic (remixed)
shirt : marc by marc jacobs (remixed)
skirt : buttons via francesa's collections
necklace : modcloth
shoes : mossimo via target
tights : mossimo via target
headband : forever 21
earrings : Loungefly

Today I went shopping (like clothing shopping) in Harrisburg for the first time. And by clothing shopping I mean I drove to the Francesca's Treasures that is two minutes from my house, browsed the sale section, and scored an adorable red skirt. Then I went to Target and bought a 48 pack of AA batteries.

It's been hard lately because Jason has school all the time, and even if I live alone, I usually get to talk to him every night after work, and that hasn't been the case lately. But I do have both of these crazy pups!

  

coat : forever 21 remixed

scarf : old navy

dress : pitaya

flats : j crew

necklace : fossil remixed

bangle : kate spade remixed

earrings : loungefly remixed

raynor and teemo's collars : the mod dog via etsy

Also - yes! My princess bagle hound has an adorable tinkerbell pink ID tag. We just love it!

I am a huge fan of soup, especially in the winter, and I have become really into making my recipes into vegetarian and sometimes vegan options. My close friend, Becki, has been a vegetarian for years now, and I am hoping to share all the yumminess with her.

photo by adamjackson1984

I've never lived in Columbus, but since I lived only 2 hours away AND there happens to be a Jeni's store in Cleveland and they sell it in stores in Cincy, I am quite familiar with Jeni's Ice Creams. And by familiar I mean totally in love.

Her sorbets are amazing, and I highly suggest you go and buy her book, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home. I made this peach lambic sorbet and boy is it amazing! If you can get a hold of a lambic, some fruit, and some sugar and corn syrup - well this is up your alley. (Actually it is REALLY impossible to get my hands on lambic here in PA)

Go buy the book! Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home