Perfect Rainy Weather Soup

So here we are in 'sunny' California...minus the sunny.  It's been raining all day and it's chilly outside.  The only redeeming thing about this weather (OK, maybe not the only thing now I'm thinking about jumping in puddles & watching for rainbows...) is now I won't get the 'crazy-lady' stares for making soup in 90o weather.  Anyone else ever get this look?  I love soup and I make it all year but now it fits and therefore, I don't have to explain myself.

Apparently, I am not the only one to love soup as evidenced by this post by Centsational Girl.  Kate at CG is all-around a-MAZ-ing.  Maybe it's in the name?  Probably not, as I have yet to find my inner do-it-all-diva.  Anyways, when I saw that she had a fool-proof Chicken Tortilla Soup, I had to give it a try.  I love this soup and the results were fantastic. 

Here's the photo from her blog.  Beautiful and light.

  

I added a can of canellini beans to make it heartier.  One caution, do NOT over do it on spicing the chicken or you will be left with an overwhelmingly chili-esque taste.  Definitely make the chip garnish or use crushed, stale chips- it adds a lot.

Enjoy!

- Kate

Finally, A Breakthrough

Did you notice the new name?

It's taken me weeks to figure out just what I wanted to do with this blog.  It's silly though, because what I've finally decided is really what nearly every person does already- share what you know!  Why did it take me so long to decide that all I wanted was to share what I am passionate about?  Honestly, I've been scared. Putting myself on public display means that I am open to criticism and just open in general.  What if no one likes what I have to share?  Will people only look at how poorly I write?  What if no one reads this?  Does that mean I am a failure?  I think this is the question I've been wrestling with most.  Not to get terribly deep but I sometimes feel judged that I opted to be a mom and not a career woman.  I feel I took what's become 'the road less traveled.'   I worry no one wants to hear from lil' ol' me.  Just to cover my bum, I am in no way saying anything negative about career women.  I do feel the world takes their opinions more seriously than a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom).  Finally, I've decided I have to put the fears on the back-burner.  I need an outlet and just maybe there's someone that can relate or be inspired.

My posts will include (but won't be limited too):

• Home decor
• Photography
• Families
• World events
• Bowel movements (that's not a joke.  it's a mom thing.)
• Mommy life
• Books
• Beauty
• TV
• Bad days
• Good days
• Mediocre days
• Anything else that stirs up emotion in any form

I hope you'll read along and bare with me.

As and update, I've just decided to dive head first back into the world of professional photography.  I want to start slow so please check out the blog from time to time for updates: http://tempestprofessionalphotography.blogspot.com

Lastly, I wanted to add a photo of our new home which we have yet to move into.  It's funny that I feel such a drive to get creative and work on my new blogs but I don't have a home to work on or in.  Typical.  Anyways, here is our future home:

* Please note that I took this on my phone and does not reflect my personal photography ;0)