Instant Pot-ober : Instant Pot Chili + A GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to the Larson Lingo's annual Instant Pot-ober 

(formerly known as Crocktober since 2011)

Out with the OLD (Crockpots!) in with the NEW (Instant Pots!)

Every October, I post one of my favorite Slow Cooker Recipes & declare it "Crock-tober"
2 years ago I got an Instant Pot & used my Instant Pot for my Crocktober post and I haven't looked back. I have been using my Instant Pot instead of my Crock Pot for the past 2 years and I am in love.

Instant Pot-ober doesn't have a ring to it like Crocktober does, but oh well ;)

As a working mom, an Instant Pot (or Crock Pot) is a staple during the Fall & Winter months.
They make my life & dinner time so much easier!

I am so excited to share this recipe with you. Everyone in my family loves it.
When Kevin and I got married 16 (!!!) years ago and one of my bridal showers, the hostess knew I loved to cook so she sent a blank recipe card with the invitation and asked everyone to fill out the recipe card with a tried & true recipe. The hostess put them in a binder for me & as a young wife of 23 years old, I had a great little collection of recipes!
This chili recipe was one of the recipes that was given to me by our family friend Jenna.
I have tweaked & changed the recipe a little bit (the original doesn't call for diced tomatoes, but we like those added in) and I converted it from a stove top to Instant Pot!

Here is what you need:

• 2.5-3 lbs of Beef Stew Meat (cut in 1 inch cubes)
• 1 T minced garlic
•  1 cup diced onion
•  1 can of beef broth
• 3 cans of chili beans (or pinto beans)
• 1 cans of diced tomatoes with green peppers/onions
• 1 1/2 t cumin
• 1 T Italian Seasoning
• 3 T chili powder
• 1 t salt
• 1 t pepper 
• Splash of Olive Oil

Directions:
Press the SAUTE button on your Instant Pot:

Add a splash of olive oil, the meat, diced onions & minced garlic.

You are going to saute this for a couple minutes to get the meat browned:

Then, add in the spices:

Saute for another minute or so, just to get everything coated:

Then add in the diced tomatoes & beans (drained):

Add in the can of Beef Broth:

Give everything a big stir:

Then put the lid on your Instant Pot turn the knob to SEALING:

Cook on Manuel HIGH PRESSURE for 18 minutes:

After it is done cooking for 18 minutes, When time is up, let it do a natural release for 15 minutes. If there steam left, do a manual release.
When you open the lid, it will look like this:

Give it a big stir & you will be able to see how tender the meat is:

It is ready to serve! We like to garnish it with sour cream, shredded cheese & cilantro:

This Chili is so good...we love having beef chunks rather than ground beef.

I also serve this with Cornbread & whipped honey butter:

To make whipped honey butter, buy whipped butter and let it sit out on counter until soft. Then spoon into a bowl & add honey. Mix together & viola! Whipped Honey Butter!

We hope you love this Chili as much as we do!

It feeds a crowd and is very filling.

Enjoy!

You could make this in a crock pot, you would just add all the ingredients and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. If you wanted to brown the meat, you could do that before hand.

In honor of my 8th Annual Crocktober Post which is now Instant Pot-ober, I am giving away THREE Instant Pots!

THREE lucky people will win THIS Instant Pot....a 7-in-1 Multi-Functional Cooker--Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Saute/Browning, Yogurt Maker, Steamer & Warmer!

You can keep it for yourself, give it as a present....the holiday season is right around the corner!

 

I am OBSESSED with it & I am excited to give one away to 3 lucky readers!

But....that's not all! Those 3 people will ALSO get a $100 Amazon Giftcard!

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter.

Giveaway ends next Monday, November 5th.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Favorites + a $250 Nordstrom Gift Card Giveaway!

It's here!

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale started on Thursday.

I look forward to this sale every year....my birthday is in May & I always ask for Nordstrom gift cards for my birthday and I save them for this amazing sale.

Now, a lot of people (and bloggers) go CRAZY for this sale and buy ALL.THE.THINGS.

I have spent this entire Summer purging and getting rid of things, so my mindset for the sale this year has been different. I only bought things that I actually needed and I only bought things that are staples & classic and that will get a lot of use. 

I passed on so many things that were cute & that were really good deals because honestly? I didn't "need" them. I used self control and only let myself use gift cards that I have been saving. 

I'm going to share with you my favorites. 

These include things I bought this year.
There are also several things that I already own that I bought last year at the sale or that I have previously purchased & they are now part of this year's sale, so I will point those out also! 

Here is what I bought this year:

 I needed a pair of cognac booties & fell in love with these:

Under $100 and they also come in black or gray.

Last year I got this shirt in black/white stripe:

 This year I got it in this color:

Under $20 and comes in several colors. Even if some are sold out, they re-stock throughout the sale, so check back!

Leggings:

 I don't have a pair of long leggings (I have a couple crop leggings) but I needed a pair of long ones for when I go running in the winter. The crop ones didn't keep me warm enough for winter.

I was hoping these would be a part of the sale (they usually are!) and I got the black ones.

They also come in a pretty navy & red.

Moto Jacket:

This one was definitely more of a want than a need, but I had gift cards...one even left over from Christmas...soooooooo I got it :)

The color is a little different in person (I like the color better in person)

I plan on wearing this with a black tee, jeans & booties.

Okay, so that's all I bought this year! I didn't go crazy and was really intentional about what I was buying. 

Here are things I already own that are part of the sale:

These pajamas are everything! 

Modal material is the best...so soft. 

I have these in other patterns, but these are 2 of my favorites that are part of the sale. 

They are only $42 and will last YEARS!
These would make great Christmas presents.

This North Face Vest.
 So much yes!

 I wear mine a lot in the winter, probably 2-3 times a week. Sometimes in California, we don't need a jacket, so these vests are perfect.
Also, on cold ski days, I wear this vest under my Ski Jacket.
Comes in 4 colors.

Love these jeans.

So soft & comfortable.

And, of course...you can't forget about this cardigan....

I've had mine for a couple years & its so cozy.

It comes in ivory as well.

I have these booties in black:

I love the contrast in the heel.
These come in 4 colors.

I also have these booties.

They are waterproof!
They come in 4 colors.

So, there you have it....a few of my favorite finds from the Anniversary Sale.

If you want to see all the items available on sale, you can click HERE and then you can search by category.

 

What are going to buy? What caught your eye? I always love hearing about what other people are getting during the sale (or want to get!)

So....let's have a Giveaway so you can move some items from your wishlist to your shopping cart!

Who wouldn't love a $250 Nordstrom Gift Card

Use the Rafflecopter to enter to win the $250 Nordstrom Gift Card!!!!

Today's giveaway ends next Friday, July 20th.....just in time for when the sale goes public for everyone!

(And you will still have lots of time to shop the sale...It doesn't end until August 5th)

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Friday Favorites + $250 Target Gift Card Giveaway!

Happy Friday!

Today I'm linking up with Friday Favorites!

Hosted by: Andrea, Erika & Narci

Friday...you are finally here!

I have been waiting for you all week!

{ONE}

My group of friends who I watch The Bachelor with had our 2nd annual sock exchange!

This is one of my favorite holiday traditions.

These are the socks I gave.

These are the socks I got: 

Aren't they funny?

{TWO}
Have you heard of the Lost My Name books?

The books are so cute, you customize them with your child's name. Each child’s adventure is totally unique and based on their name

  Last Christmas we got Luke both of these books.

It's an outer space adventure staring your child & their house and they use an actual satellite image of your child's house. You can preview all the books with your customization. Luke loves them!

They now have a Birthday book called the Birthday Thief

I love how you can personalize it!

 I am saving that book for his birthday, but am giving him this one for Christmas:

  They have bigger discounts if you order more than 1.
They are having some discounts this week use the code ADVENT20 for 20% off if you order 2 books. Make sure you order by December 9th for delivery before Christmas.

You can order the books HERE

If you enter your email address, they will send you a $5 off your order code! 

{THREE}

Making Christmas Cookies is my favorite!

Every December my girls and I do a TON of baking. 

We bake cookies for friends, neighbors & teachers.
I have TWO new Christmas cookie/bar recipes I am planning on sharing here in the new couple of weeks, so stay tuned!

In the meantime.......here is a round up of some of my FAVORITE Christmas Cookie Recipes!

Warning......there are a ton that I am posting :)

Candy Cane Kisses {Recipe HERE}

Fudge {Recipe HERE} 

Ultimate Ginger Cookie {Recipe HERE} 

Christmas Monster Cookies {Recipe HERE}

Christmas Tree Brownies {Recipe HERE} 

Cranberry Cookie Bars {Recipe HERE} 

Snickerdoodles {Recipe HERE} 

 Peanut Butter Blossoms {Recipe HERE}

 Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies {Recipe HERE}

We also like to make Donut Snowmen {Recipe HERE}

Donut Reindeer {Recipe HERE}

 Peppermint Ice Cream Cake {Recipe HERE}

Preztel Hugs {Recipe HERE}

 Ritzies {Recipe HERE} 

 Christmas Cookies in a Jar (and free printable) 

Get the instructions & printable {HERE}

Reindeer Food






Get the instructions & printable {HERE}

We love passing out goodies & gifts to our friends during December :)

{FOUR}

Good Earth Sweet & Spicy Tea is my favorite tea.

I have been drinking it by the gallon. I've been sick since we got back from NYC.

I love the quote on the tea bag. Perfect! 

 I had a fever, bronchitis and a terrible cough. UGH.
  I must have caught something on the subway or the plane, or in the crowds of people. But it was WORTH IT!!! Such a fun trip!!
 Seriously...take me back to NYC during Christmas time!!!!
 If you missed my NYC recaps, here are the links:

Day 1 HERE 
Day 2 HERE
Day 3 HERE {Thanksgiving Day Parade!}

Day 4 HERE

{FIVE}

My house at Christmas is my favorite....I love how cozy it feels.

 I also love watching Hallmark Christmas by the glow of Christmas lights.

Hallmark Christmas movies are my favorite.

  So many good  Hallmark Christmas movies...I've been recording them since before Thanksgiving...but you know me, I didn't watch them until after Thanksgiving. I have over 15 Hallmark Christmas movies on there right now. Sorry Kevin. I've taken over the DVR. Hahaha!

Anyone else addicted to cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies? They are the best!
My favorite one that I have seen this year is Switched for Christmas. So cheesy! So cute! 

I love that the girls also love watching them with me! 

{SIX}
Lash Boost....you guys....I am obsessed!!! It is my favorite!!! 
Our Lash Boost Holiday Special is going on right now!

It comes with Lash Boost (will last 3-4 months) & a cute travel bag:

Check out a fellow consultant's results:

CONDITION, MOISTURIZE, and NOURISH YOUR NATURAL lashes with Lash Boost and you will have longer-looking, darker-looking, and thicker-looking lashes! 60-day 100% satisfaction guarantee or your $ back! 

Send me an email if you want to order....I will be placing BULK ORDER of lash boost early next week.

You get the cute travel bag & lash boost for $135.

If you buy TWO of them, you get it for $244....so $122 each! 

 Get one for you & one for your mom, sister, best friend, etc!

This is good for current or new customers! 

Email me to order!
melissa_larson17@yahoo.com

{SEVEN}

This fall I was in a Book Club with some other moms from our kids elementary school.

We are doing the Present over Perfect book & workbook.

We had a PJ exchange party last weekend.

We pulled names a few weeks ago & bought pj's!

These are the Pj's that I gave. I also gave these socks:

If you have read the book, you will understand the significance :)

{EIGHT}

Stitch Fix is my favorite!
My December fix is scheduled to arrive today. I requested Holiday dresses for this fix. We have our a few Christmas parties this year, so I thought it would be fun to wear a new dress for at least one of them. I can't WAIT to see what arrives!
If you haven't done Stitch Fix before, I recommend it. I've been doing it since May 2014...every month it's like Christmas when your box arrives. You don't have to get one every month, you can do every other month, every 3 months, etc.
Did you know you can also give the gift of a Stitch Fix gift card?
Or, you can ASK for a Stitch Fix gift card.
Click the photo below for the gift cards:

 This month until January, your $20 styling fee is waived! 

Click HERE to get started! They have a men's line now, so I just signed Kevin up to get a Stitch Fix (he HATES shopping)

{NINE}

Random Acts of Kindness are my favorite....especially during the Holiday Season.

Last year I posted about Blessing Bags. 

You can read the full post about them {HERE}

Every year when we head to San Francisco during the holidays we bring our blessing bags to hand out to the homeless. This is one of my girls favorite things to do. I am so proud of them & how brave they are when giving the blessing bags to the homeless.

I highly encourage you to make these bags....they truly bless people!

Another Random Act of Kindness that I started doing last year is taping this note to my front door along with Starbucks Gift Cards.

I don't know about you, but I do 99% of my Christmas shopping online. This is what I have taped on our front door as a way to say thank you to our fed ex, ups & usps workers who are working so hard this time of year:

I posted that photo on Instagram & one of my friends texted me asking if I could email her the graphic that I made, so I decided to just make it a printable for all of you as well! 

 You can sign or write in your own last name :)

 

{To download, Click so the image pops up in a new window, Right Click, Then Save & Print!}

{TEN}

Target is my favorite & so are giveaways....so how does a $250 Target Gift Card Giveaway sound?!?!

Guess what?!?!?!  It's your lucky day....I am giving one away!!!

Perfect to get Christmas presents, stocking stuffers, winter clothes, etc!
Giveaway ends next Friday!
To enter, use the Rafflecopter below & comment with what you would buy if you won!

Happy Friday!

a Rafflecopter giveaway