Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!  I'm so glad it's finally the end of January - it's been the longest month, eh?  We have a few snow flurries in the forecast for this weekend and beyond so I plan on getting all of my errands done on Saturday so I can snuggle up at home, finish my newest book, and maybe bake something yummy.  Peak cozy :)  Have a great one!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Snoqualmie Falls

In an effort to get out of the house and explore a new area, C and I headed up to Snoqualmie Falls last weekend to take in the magnificent waterfall.  I've never been up there {at least, not that I can remember!} and on this sunny yet chilly day we gathered with the other observers to marvel in the beauty of the falls.  We took the scenic route getting there and home, meandering through North Bend and Snoqualmie and coming out through Bellevue & Redmond and it was such a fun day getting out of the city and exploring the beautiful scenery just a quick drive away.

mt. rainier had a little hat on

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Salsa Verde Chicken & Rice Tortilla Soup

Now that there's snow in the forecast {whaaa?!?!} it's definitely time to get out the slow cooker and make some cozy and warm soup.  I love this Salsa Verde Chicken & Rice Tortilla Soup that I whipped up last fall {it is soooooo easy to put together in the morning with no prep except a tiny bit of chopping} and I'm already looking forward to having it again as the temps dip.  With spring a long way off, at least we have soup!

Salsa Verde Chicken & Rice Tortilla Soup

Ingredients

1 yellow onion, diced

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs

2 tsp chili powder

2 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp dried oregano

Salt & Pepper

1-2 poblano peppers, chopped

2 cups salsa verde

6 cups low sodium chicken broth

1 can {14oz} black beans, rinsed & drained

2 Tblsp lime juice

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

3 cups cooked rice

Tortilla chips, Greek yogurt, cheese, avocado, & green onions for serving

Instructions

1. In the bowl of your crockpot, add onion, peppers, chicken, chili powder, paprika, oregano, salt & pepper.  Stir in broth & salsa verde.

2. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

3. Shred chicken using 2 forks and return to soup.  Stir in beans, lime juice, and cilantro and heat until warmed through.

4. Serve soup over rice and top with desired toppings.

Serves 6

adapted from half baked harvest

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Urban Hiking {The Arboretum}

A few weekends ago in an effort to get out and enjoy the {freezing} sunshine we drove over to Montlake to walk around the Arboretum.  The sun was shining and it was a beautiful winter day to wander around this gorgeous city park and grab a pastry and tea over on the Madison side at Belle Epicurean.  Even though it's been so cold I love that it's still sunny so we can get out of the house on the weekends and go on fun adventures!

can you spot the eagle?

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Weekend {In Pictures}

{friday night burgers}

{still working on my latte art}

{cookies}

{deciding what’s for dinner}

{a cold and pretty walk home}

{pastry game is strong}

{a sunny winter walk}

{over to fremont}

{coffee}

{i got tricked into walking up the galer stairs}

{but we were rewarded with these 2 giant eagles just a few blocks from our house}

{juicing}

{trying to be a bills fan}

{sunday soup}

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday! We joke that we have so many variations of this picture on our phones but when the sky is pink and the mountain is out it’s hard not to take another, right? Looking forward to a weekend with no plans - sometimes that’s the best kind! Have a great one :)

xoxo,

stephanie marie 

Christmas Day

Christmas morning I opened a few presents with Mom and Dad, then Mom & I headed over to Grandma's to celebrate with the rest of the family.  We finally got to meet Baby Felix who was the cutest, sweetest baby and spent the morning having our traditional breakfast and chillin' with the fam.  Afterwards it was time for me to head back south to a yummy roast dinner that C made, but since he wasn't feeling well by the end of it he went to bed and I poured myself a glass of wine to watch some Christmas Housewives.  A quiet way to end a lovely little holiday.

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we had a low key morning since C woke up feeling kinda yucky.  We went for a little walk in the afternoon since it was so sunny, but when he started feeling even worse I decided to head up north by myself to spend Christmas Eve with my mom {who was also alone with a sick husband}.  I stopped in at the cemetery to wish Grandpa a Merry Christmas, then headed up to the farmhouse where I watched Christmas movies with Mom & Uncle Mark {The Holiday & Elf} and had a cozy, relaxing Christmas Eve.

xoxo,

stephanie marie