KariV | Sunshine in my pocket

About KariV

Author Archive | KariV

Dose of Sunshine Monday — Life is fun

By KariV on September 2, 2013 in Inspiration

Happy Monday! It’s a nice long weekend…and I hope you are having fun. Speaking of fun, sometimes it seems that life is NOT fun. To everything there is a season, right? So if you’re not having fun, just wait for a bit for the fun to come back around.

I’m not going to talk too much about this today; my husband is recuperating from a bicycle accident, my daughter is in the hospital. Things are not very fun right now, BUT I’m hopeful and I know that the time will come back around when we are smiling and laughing again.

Enjoy your days and fill them with gratitude, laughter, smiles and love.

Comments { 0 }

Chocolate Survival Kit

By KariV on August 28, 2013 in DIY, Freebies, Gift Ideas

Last week I participated in a PinChat Live party about desserts in jars. It reminded me that I haven’t yet posted about one of my favorite “Survival Kits” in a jar! Here it is:

This is the perfect little gift for anyone who is up against some tough trials. When I delivered one last night, my neighbor’s daughter said “EVERYONE needs one of these!” (I wish I could make one for everyone!)

I also made one for my husband, who was in a bicycle accident over the weekend. He loved it and keeps it close to his favorite chair to “help in the recuperation process.” He didn’t even mind that it was pink. 😉

I love that this is a great way to recycle those jars, too. This jar started out as a jar filled with peaches:

I just peeled off the label and ran it all through the dishwasher. If there is any sticky residue, a little citrus (or lemon) essential oil should take that right off.
See that lid? Nothing a little gold spray paint can’t fix.

Then just fill it up with some of your favorite chocolate, tie a ribbon, attach the note and deliver. Everyone loves it.

A mason jar works well, too! I like to use a little washi tape on the lid, but fabric looks great, too.

I’m thinking this little note would look good in blue, what do you think?

If you’d like the printable, like my page first here:

Then download the printable here:

8-13 chocolate survival kit pink

8-13 chocolate survival kit blue

Before I go, I just want to thank my neighbors the WHITINGS for bring me an entire giant container of chocolate…and they didn’t even know that it was just what I needed! 🙂 (You guys are the best!)

So you see, you never know who just might need a survival kit filled with chocolate. If you do give out a kit or two, please let me know. I’d love to hear!

Comments { 0 }

Dose of Sunshine: Love the way it is

By KariV on August 27, 2013 in Inspiration

Hello! You may not have noticed, but this “Dose of Sunshine” is usually posted on Monday, and here it is Tuesday! We had a busy weekend. And my husband was in a bicycle accident during a race in Flagstaff this weekend. It was quite the accident: the handlebars on his bike broke right off! This was such a surprise and it happened so fast that he didn’t have time to react and he lost his balance.

He came home with battlewounds, road rash, pain. But the good news is, the doctor said his collarbone is NOT broken (it is quite common for cyclists to break their collarbone). But it’s still going to be a while in recovery and physical therapy for him.

So, I am late in posting this. It is a good reminder for me. I hate to see my husband in pain. I was not meant to be a nurse…I’m not great at changing the bandages, blood makes me queasy and seeing him in pain is not fun.

But I’m sure there is a lesson in all of this.

We will continue down the road to recovery. As we go through tubes of neosporin and boxes of first aid bandages and gauze, we will get closer to learning to love what is, right?

Have a day of blessings!

Comments { 0 }

Back To School Recipe Favorites (a round-up) #BackToSchoolWeek

By KariV on August 25, 2013 in Back to School, Dinner in Minutes, Recipes

Wow! We’ve had an amazing week of all things Back To School, including crafts, crockpot meals, freezer meals, lunch ideas, and organization ideas. I have loved seeing all the creativity, and I am honored to be participating with such talented bloggers.

**The PinChat is today at 3 p.m Arizona Time, (that’s 6 p.m. EST). Click here to read how it works. I hope to “see” you there.

I want to shout out to all the great talent that contributed throughout the week:

Co-Hosted By: { {i love} my disorganized life } and { Miss Information }

{ Heather’s French Press } { Kleinworth & Co.}

{ Growing Up Gabel } { Cook the Story }

{ The Tasty Fork } { Amy’s Cooking Adventures }

{ Dukes and Duchesses } { The Grant Life }

{ Real Housemoms } { The NY Melrose Family }

{ Crazy & Cool With a Side of Crafty }

{ Lemons for Lulu } { Chase the Star }

{ Yesterday on Tuesday } { Sweet Twist of Blogging }

{ A Night Owl Blog } { Organized Island }

{ Setting for Four } { Sunshine In My Pocket }

Now, take a look at some of the amazing recipe ideas from this week. (I want to make ALL of these!!):

How am I ever going to decide which one to try first?

Stuffed Shells from Growing Up Gabel

Crockpot-Chicken-Arichoke-Lasagna-backtoschoolweek-spinach-lasagna-chicken-artichokes-slowcooker_thumb[1]

Crockpot Chicken Artichoke Lasagna from Miss Information

Easy-BackToSchool-Breakfast-Slow-Cooker-Apple-Coffee-Cake-by-Chase-the-Star-chasethestar.net-CrockPot-backtoschoolweek

Slow Cooker Apple Coffee Cake from Chase the Star

Peanut Butter and Jelly Gluten Free Grain Bars from Heather’s French Press

Southwest Chicken Tacos from Sunshine In My Pocket

Crockpot Pizza Soup from Sweet Twist of Fate

Vegetarian Quinoa Fajitas from Cook the Story

Slow Cooker Red Chili from {I love} my disorganized life

Caprese Chicken Bake from Real Housemoms

Don’t these all look so good? There were so many more delicious recipes! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Back To School Week…have a Great school year.

Comments { 0 }

Southwest Chicken Tacos (A Favorite Crockpot Recipe) #BackToSchoolWeek

By KariV on August 23, 2013 in Dinner in Minutes, Recipes

Sometimes life is hectic. Some days require a little dinner help…from your crockpot. I love coming to home to the smell of a delicious dinner that has been cooking away all day!

I first got this recipe from my sister. She loves the spice cumin. I have never been a real big fan of cumin. But when I added a few ingredients and cut down on the cumin, I found this recipe became a FAVORITE quick crock pot dinner with my family. (Thanks, sis! *wink*)

I love that I can take a few cans of ingredients from the pantry and some chicken from the freezer and throw them all together in the crockpot and Voil’a…dinner!

I will post the complete recipe in a bit. But first, a note on that Herdez salsa. The Herdez salsa pictured above is the one I like to use, but I’ve tried the Ranchero salsa, too and it adds a bit more heat. You could use your favorite salsa if this brand is not available in your area.

Put the chicken in the crockpot, then add all the remaining ingredients. Turn the crockpot on High for 4 hours or Low for 8 hours. Beautiful. Then shred up the chicken using a couple forks and stir it all together.

When you are ready to eat, just assemble your toppings (shredded cheese, lettuce, homemade salsa, sour cream, guacamole…whatever you like!) and put your taco together.

Oh…please do use those tortillas that you cook up yourself (find them at most grocery stores and Costco). These tacos taste SO much better on those fresh cooked tortillas.

Easy, delicious crock pot dinner! It has a smoky Southwest flavor from the cumin, and a little added heat from the chiles and salsa. If you like more heat, you can increase the heat in the salsa or add some chipolte chili powder!

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:11]

Enjoy!

Did you enter the giveaway yet? Enter the Back To School giveaway here!
There are some amazing prizes: like a $75 Pick Your Plum prize (I love them!), a Cuisinart 3-in-1 Cooker (perfect for this recipe!), a smoothie maker, cooking supplies, a Pack-It lunchbox cooler…and more! I hope you win!

There’s a whole lot of Back To School Ideas this entire week:

And just a reminder, there is our back to school PinChat coming up:
Join us on Sunday, August 25, 2013 for a PinChat! For more information on how it works, click here

Comments { 6 }