I know I’m not alone when I say that pumpkin makes everything better, even chili! Check out this super easy, and somewhat healthy, recipe for pumpkin chili.

My weeks keep getting better and better. Not just in terms of finances, but in general. I think it’s because of fall. I know it’s not officially fall yet, but I’m drinking pumpkin beer, eating pumpkin muffins, and making pumpkin chili. Bring me all the pumpkin. The boys have a had a blast with my urges to bake all the pumpkin muffins.

Can’t stop, won’t stop.

Confession: I hate the PSL. I think pumpkin belongs in food. For some reason the pumpkin spiced latte is too sweet for me. #sorrynotsorry

Anyway, this week has been great. I’ve had a ton of successes, including this delicious pumpkin chili.

I’m trying hard to get back into the Food Waste Friday habit. Because of that, I’m constantly thinking of ways to use up our leftovers. This week I used up roasted vegetables in a quiche, and leftover canned pumpkin in this chili. The pumpkin chili paired oh so well with pumpkin beer.

The best part was that I was able to experiment with a new way to incorporate garlic and herbs. I picked up  Dorot frozen crushed garlic at Trader Joe’s and it made dinner prep so easy. You can find it in the frozen food aisle.

Head here to get your $1 off coupon!

You’re going to need this recipe. Everyone loved it, even my picky little brother and my vegetarian sister. Check out the recipe at the end of this post.

Here are my other successes of the week:

Pineapple Clothing

I’ve discovered a new favorite when it comes to printed leggings. Pineapple Clothing has the cutest clothes. I’m constantly getting compliments when I wear these pants.

Have I told you how much I love the leisure wear fad? It’s awesome to be able to wear these pants out in public and feel fashionable and comfortable.

They even have mommy and me outfits. This makes me want to try for a little girl so bad, but not bad enough to actually have another baby. Maybe I’ll just buy all these outfits for my friends with girls!

InstaMeet with IGers of Fort Myers

If you follow me on Instagram you know that I’ve been attending InstaMeets lately. Y’all, I love doing this! Check out this shot I took during the one over the weekend. Another photographer helped me get the settings on my camera just right. It’s pretty cool to be able to learn from real photographers.

These are free events open to anyone who likes to take pictures and post them on Instagram! All you have to do is search for an IGer group in your area. A quick Google or Instagram search can help you find a group in your area.

I even got to try out the new rum that Island Company is selling. It’s so cool that they sell their own Island Company rum and have a mini bar in the clothing store. I can’t wait to go back and shop!

Cheese at Whole Foods

I discovered that Whole Foods has baskets of cheese remnants super cheap! I was able to get several pieces of cheese that usually cost $24 a pound.

Crazy, right?

Putting $950 towards Tom’s loans

I may not have a full time salary, but I’m still contributing to the household. I love that I was able to put $950 towards Tom’s loans this month. We are down to $5,000. I can almost taste the financial freedom!

Good reads

I have absolutely loved reading It Is Only Money and It Grows on Trees by Cara MacMillan. In it a teacher talks about money, and uses the cultural backgrounds of the students to teach the different views that different cultures have about money.

It’s been fun for me to read because it has me examining my own relationship with money even more that I usually do. I often times think about why I view money a certain way, but I never thought about how religion and nationality play a part.

I definitely recommend it. It’s a fun, quick and easy read. Perfect for a day by the pool or beach! Or with pumpkin beer!

Failures:

Whole Foods

You already know that I scored pretty big with the cheese, but I failed in other ways! I went in to Whole Foods for two things and ended up spending $75. I’m not sure how that happened.

Scratch that, I totally know how that happened. Read below.

Kombucha

Ugh. I’m obsessed. I can’t stop. At $4 a bottle, I’ve got to  start making my own. My sister turned me onto homemade kombucha last year and since then I’ve loved picking up a bottle here and there. Now I can’t stop. I’ve had a bottle every day this week. I don’t even want to think about how much I’ve spent on bucha this week. On the plus side, I’m spending less on beer and wine. At least I’m being healthy, right?

Pumpkin Chili Recipe

Now, onto this recipe. Thanks for reading all the other stuff before getting to this amazingly delicious recipe!

Don’t forget to head here to get your $1.00 off coupon for Dorot products. This is the answer to all my food waste problems. Okay, not all of them, but a lot of them! I’m beyond tired of wasting herbs. This is going to be a game changer for me!