INSPO | last minute costume ideas.

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Hi there loveys! 
I was debating on what to post - torn between either a DIY costume post, easy lo mein recipe, or last minute costume ideas for Halloween. 
WELL - luckily I do not have to work on Friday's so I designate my Friday's to running errands, appointments, cleaning the house, etc. Turns out, my best friend (whom decided to move 9 hours away from me) called me so we decided to talk for about 3 hours and I lost track of time and failed to do any of those things. 
You know what, I lied, I DID hang up my laundry (I know, I know, way to go Rach). 
Since I spent so much time talking to her I decided that I was going to just turn today into a lazy day, watch scary movies, blog, and catch up on writing my thank-you notes from the wedding. 
With that being said, 2 of those 3 blog options listed above required me to actually get up and make something, where as one of those options only requires me to brainstorm and put it onto the internet. So, as you can see, the winner is the last minute costume idea's. 
I'm such a good blogger. HA. 
But, if any of you are like me, you need this post.  You need it simply because you had all intentions of coming up with a beautiful, elaborate costume...but then you look at the calendar and you have less than 24 hours before you need your costume. Well this post is for you. Your welcome, and no, no, I don't need your money - keep it and  buy a drink on me ;) I'm doing this simply out of the kindness of my heart because I love you. :)
Without further adieu, here are some ideas. 
A SUPER ADORABLE BAT 

I've been a bat for literally 3 years in a row because this outfit is not only simple, but cute. And if you are like me and tend to walk aimlessly around college towns in the cold on halloween night, it's a good one to stay comfy and warm with. You can do cartwheels, dance without worrying about something slipping out, and you make really good friends with the vampires for some reason.  I posted a couple years ago on this DIY - check it out. 
A PIECE OF SUSHI

This one was on the list of options for me this year. Ultimately the gypsy won out, but that was only because I couldn't find the right scarf and I didn't want to run to the store. Yes, I am lazy, I know. Don't rub it in. 
GYPSY

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Like I said previously, this is what I am going to be this year. I have a gypsy heart so I only find it fitting I am a gypsy this year. All you need is a beautiful off the shoulder shirt, a long beautiful flowing skirt, a head scarf, and minuscule make up skills. Perfect.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN

If you have long hair and are willing to sacrifice the "cute" factor of Halloween, this is a perfect idea. It's hilarious, clever, and SUPER easy. You just need a top hat and a pant's suit. Bonus points if you have a walking stick. Tie your hair in front of your face to make a "beard" and BOOM, sup Abe. (Sorry Ken)
A SEA ANEMONE

Yes, I did have to look up how to spell that. BUT - aside from that, this was another one of my sister's costumes a few years back. She carried around a clown fish and it was adorable. 
BANANA

Or you could just go spend the 20 bucks at Walmart and be a banana. That's always a good go-to. Do the splits and you're a banana split. Man, am I clever or what?

What are you dressing up for this year? Anything clever? I can't wait to see all of the outfits! 
If you like this post, please make sure to follow me via GFC  or Bloglovin' to stay up to date with posts. 
Much love,  Rach

TASTES | garlic thyme chicken noodle soup (with dumplings).

Hi friends! The weather is getting colder so you know what that means. Soup time. 

With that being said, I have really been craving some chicken and dumpling soup lately so I decided to come up with a new recipe that ties in some new, yet classic, flavors to keep my palate interested. 

Let me tell you, it turned out amazing, too. It was simple, quick, and super easy to make as well! 

Read on if you are interested in trying out this new recipe! 

Soup ingredients

48 oz of chicken broth

Egg noodles

2 chicken breasts

1 cup chopped carrots

1 cup chopped celery 

3-4 garlic cloves

2 stems dried thyme 

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

First up - grab a big stock pot and fill 'er up with your chicken broth. Get it nice and boiling, then we can begin to add some ingredients. 

Now here is the key to this recipe, the garlic. Grab 3-4 cloves of garlic, peel them, then take the side of our knife and smash them. (Yes, just smash them.) Thrown 'em into the broth, let it stew.

Take your veggies, give 'em a rough chop. I like them with a little body left to 'em since they will be cooking in the soup for awhile. I like to be able to see the chunks of veggies, and not have to worry about them disintegrating. Add 'em to the soup, let them cook for 5 minutes.

Then add the noods and chopped, cooked chicken. You could go with thick egg noodles, thin, long, short, etc. Your preference entirely. Just make sure the are egg noodles. Cook for about 20 minutes on medium heat or until your noodles are soft but not too soft. El dente as the Italian's say. 

While your soup is stewing away, it's dumpling time. 

Dumpling ingredients

1 cup flour

2  teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon sugar

1 table spoon butter

Salt/pepper to taste

1 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 cup milk

Mix your dry ingredients and butter. Make sure the butter is cold. Cut it in until there are just small little pieces of butter within the dry mix. 

Add your milk. 

Mix until it is combined. It should be a slightly sticky dough.

Add in your thyme. I usually error on the side of more since I like some flava' in my dumplings, but your call. You do you. 

Mix it all together. 

Ball it up. I like the dumplings to be about an inch in circumference, but some people like them smaller, some bigger. Again, your call. 

Drop it into the soup, and make sure the soup is hot, if not boiling.  Put the lid on the pot and simmer the soup with the dumplings for 10 to 15 minutes. Until they are cooked through. They should still taste a little doughy, but not sticky. 

And wah-lah! There is your garlic thyme chicken noodle soup. Let me tell you, this is BOMB. Please try it, and if you like it let me know! I love soup season, so I'm hoping to try making some new soups as the months get colder. 

Hope you all enjoy it as much as this loser did. 

Much love, 

Rach. 

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LOVE | i got hitched, ya'll.

Hi lovelies,  Look at me - posting two days in a row. Let's get this ball rolling, amirite? 
Like I eluded to yesterday, here is a little update on a significant life event that happened about a month ago. 
My man, of about 9 years, and I got hitched. And it was perfect. 

Every aspect of the day went swimmingly, thankfully. I was very worried something dumb was going to happen and I was going to not have much fun at all, but fortunately that was all just an irrational fear. 

The weather was perfect. The food was perfect. The music was perfect. Claude ate a couple of flower petals, but overall it was a perfect day. I couldn't have asked for anything more. 

I was surrounded by my favorite people and was showered in love. Definitely such a weird feeling to be surrounded by literally everyone you know in your life, no matter where you know them from. 

Now, lets talk about the man in the pictures (no not Claude, Drew). He might be super annoying most of the time, but did you see that picture of him crying? I never for the life of me ever fathomed someone would ever love me that much... let alone choose to love me that much. I honestly don't know  why he likes me, but hey, I'll take it. ;)

Like I said, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day, wedding, honeymoon, or man to spend the rest of my life with. 

Much love, 

Rach.

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LIFE | update.

Hi beautiful friends! 
My, oh, my! It's been quite some time hasn't it? For those of you still with me, I'd like to say I'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH - for those of you who are new to my stream of consciousness, I say, BEWARE *HOT MESS ALERT*.
How are ya'll? What's new? What's been happening the last few years? 
My life has been, well, crazy to say the least. The last 3 years have been ridiculously busy, exciting, and overwhelming. 
I will tell you now, though, life has definitely toned down quite a bit. I have a legitimate job now, no school, my dog is potty trained, my husband is *almost* house trained, I'm basically living the life and I hope you are interested in joining me. 
So, with that being said - I will leave you with a little pic eluding to my upcoming post. All about my WEDDING - yes, I know, I am married now! What? Tell me about it... I don't know how it happened either. 
Can't wait to start connecting with you all again. You've been missed. :)  Much love,  Rach
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