Installing a static fence

Happy Sunday everyone! My husband and I had a great weekend together. On Saturday we decided to install a static fence for our puppy, Maggie. I have never really been a fan of one of these fences before but Maggie is a lot more rambunctious than our other dog. We also live on somewhat of a busy road and it always makes me nervous letting her out without a leash on. I did a lot of research and we decided to go with PetSafe. 

A lot of the reviews for PetSafe said that it would only take about 2 to 3 hours to install. However, we decided to do it on a day when it snowed for 4 to 5 hours and we have lots of roots in our yard. So, it ended up taking about 7 hours. Phew!! Needless to say we were exhausted last night.  We got it completed and we've already started training her!

We have now taken Maggie out three times for approximately 15 to 20 minutes each time. The third time we let her off the leash for about an hour and she only left the yard twice. She seems like she already knows to stop when she hears the warning beep before she gets the static. Scott and I both tested the strength of the static collar and it's more startling than it is a hurtful. 

Here are a few installation videos that I took of Scott during the day yesterday.

This is a video of him at cutting of the driveway so that we could lay the wire across the driveway:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuuddmVVjAY

This is a video of him digging part of the trench in our front yard to lay the wire under the grass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjY4le9nHRw

Here's our sweet girl :)

Crock-pot Potato Soup

I made this for a work event and everyone seemed to love it! I decided to share after several people asked me to post the recipe! This is very quick and great for a cold day!

Ingredients: 

1 30oz. bag of frozen diced hash browns

1 32 oz box of chicken broth

1 can of cream of chicken soup (10 oz)

1 pkg. cream cheese (8 oz, not fat free)

3 oz bacon bits 

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 

salt and pepper to taste 

Directions:

1. Put the hash browns in the crockpot.  

2. Add in the chicken broth, cream of chicken soup and half of the bacon bits.  

3. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.  

4. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or until potatoes are tender.  

5. An hour before serving, cut the cream cheese into small cubes.  Place the cubes in the crock pot.  Mix a few times throughout the hour before serving.  

7. Once the cream cheese is completely mixed in, it's ready to serve.  Top with cheddar cheese and some additional bacon bits. 

Enjoy! 

xo, Mrs. Slem

St. Patty's Day Feast (corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potatoes)

Ingredients: 

3 pounds corned beef brisket with spice packet

10 small red potatoes

5 carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch pieces

1 large head cabbage, cut into small wedges

Directions:

1. Place corned beef in large pot or Dutch oven and cover with water. Add the spice packet that came with the corned beef. Cover pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer approximately 50 minutes per pound or until tender.

2. Add whole potatoes and carrots, and cook until the vegetables are almost tender. Add cabbage and cook for 15 more minutes. Remove meat and let rest 15 minutes.

3. Place vegetables in a bowl and cover. Add as much broth as you want. Slice meat across the grain.

Enjoy!


xo, Mrs. Slem

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend!! Ours was excellent!! Scott got out of work nice and early on Friday since he had put in so many hours traveling in the beginning of the week. When I got home we decided to go to an estate sale in our community, just for fun. We didn't find anything that we wanted/needed. We came home and Scott made us a DELICIOUS dinner!! This one hit it out of the park for our Fish on Friday! He made tilapia breaded with breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, zucchini, and roasted potatoes. 

I mean seriously so good!

Saturday we were celebrating St. Patty's Day with all of our friends. We went to a friends house for a few hours during the day. Then we ended the evening at a local bar listening to some great music and enjoying the night! We got to do a little dancing, we had some yummy food, we drank some green drinks...it was very fun! We were all in bed by 9PM because clearly we're getting old and can't hang anymore.

Here's a picture of how I did my nails before we went out on Saturday. 

New post with a fantastic recipe for a traditional American St. Patrick's Day meal to follow! Wear your green!! 

xo, Mrs. Slem

it's the little things

My husband left for a work trip in Alabama yesterday. It's our first time being apart since we got married! He will only be gone for 2 nights but it seems like forever! I don't know how people with spouses who travel for work or are in the military do it! Just this brief period of time has made me miss him and appreciate him so much. I think I even missed him stealing the covers last night and talking in his sleep. It's the little things that I find comfort in knowing he's right there.

It usually drives me crazy how much of a morning person he is. I'd love to snooze my alarm 4-5 times and stay cozy and in bed for as long as possible. He likes to jump up immediately and get his day started. Since he is up and about he usually takes care of the pups and gets ready for work before me so I have the bathroom to myself once I pull myself from bed. I missed this little routine this morning but especially missed his bubbly self to start out my day. He's usually so chipper and makes me laugh at least once before we leave for work. It's the little things he does that makes me laugh.

Our nightly routine is to cook dinner together with the music on and sometimes dance around, cuddle up on the couch, watch our shows, and talk about life. My night tonight consisted of me chasing after our puppy in our muddy backyard in the rain because she was having way too much fun and refused to come in when I called. Then I spent a couple hundred $ on hotel rooms for the weddings we have this year... 6 so far! I ended these shenanigans with dinner...baked beans and a coke. Needless to say, it's time for my guy to get back home! It's the little moments we share together that I will always cherish.

It's the little things...


xo, Mrs. Slem

Weekend Update

     

our girls missed each other!










I had an amazing 4 day weekend because of all the snow we got. Maggie went in to get spayed on Thursday and her surgery went well. She had to stay over night so we had a very quiet Thursday night with our old girl. Abby was thrilled to have some quiet time. I did nothing all day Thursday but watch the snow fall. We got about 7 inches. I just love how quiet everything gets when it snows. No one is out and about. Everyone is home snuggling loved ones. It's perfect!

 

                                            

I picked up Maggie on Friday. The vet said to keep her calm for 2 weeks. TWO WEEKS with a puppy is near impossible! I rented Mockingjay for us to watch. We made crab cakes for dinner and drank some brews while snuggling on the couch. It was a perfect night. Saturday we went to Mass at 4. Best decision ever. Sunday we got to sleep in, Maggie stayed quiet, we didn't have to be anywhere. I woke up to birds chirping and it felt like Spring! We took Maggie for a long walk in the hopes that she would get some energy out. We went grocery shopping and I stocked up on St. Patrick's Day goodies! I can't wait to make corned beef, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes next week! Because it felt like Spring, Scott and I decided to have a little cook-out for dinner. We made hot dogs and hamburgers! Yum!         

This morning Scott left for a work trip to Alabama. Wahh! It's my first time being alone since we've been married. I'm looking forward to enjoying the quiet but I am SO looking forward to him coming home on Wednesday. 

xo, Mrs. Slem

Beef Enchiladas

We had a snow day today! We got about 8 inches. It snowed all day and it was so nice to snuggle on the couch and watch it fall. I decided to make something yummy for when my husband came in from cleaning off our driveway and our neighbors.

Ingredients: 

1lb of cooked ground beef

2cups of shredded cheese

1 jalapeño pepper, diced

2 10oz cans of enchilada sauce (or you can make homemade! I've done both before)

5-8 flour or corn tortillas (I use less tortillas and fill them more)

1. Heat oven to 375. Spray 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. 

2. Mixed cooked ground beef (or chicken), 3/4cup of sauce, and 1cup of cheese, and diced pepper in a bowl. 

3. Spoon about 3tbsp of the filling mixture into the tortillas, roll and place seam side down on baking dish. 

4. Pour remaining sauce and cheese over tortillas. Bake 20-25min.   

Enjoy! 

xo, Mrs. Slem