Before I got married, I thought I liked to hike. After I got married I realized I like to take scenic walks. Apparently I'm not hard core enough to like hiking (or so Jonathan says, and I'm starting to believe). I realized that part of the reason why I don't like hiking a ton is because I'm so worried that I'm going to trip or something that the only thing I focus on is the dirt and rocks under my feet. (It also doesn't help that I get overheated easily too).
On Saturday, we went up to Hocking Hills Park, with one of his coworkers (Janelle), and we had a lot of fun! The first place we hiked to was "Old Man's Cave". It's a place where a man lived in the late 1800's or something, he made this cave his home. It was really cool! If Ty liked nature more, I could see him living in a place like that. Then we walked to where a waterfall was supposed to be (we are in a drought, and I didn't believe anyone till we went on this hike(it's SO green here)). The rivers were almost non existent, and the waterfalls were small trickles falling from rocks. Regardless of the lack of water it was gorgeous! I had a really good time! The other hike we went on was "Rock House" this was really cool! We hiked around by these huge rock formations, and all of the sudden we hear voices coming out of an opening in the rock. As we peered in, there were people walking around inside! We climbed in, and it was SO COOL! I really enjoyed walking through this rock tunnel. Very cool! We went on a few other scenic walks, and we all had a good time. I'm glad that Jonathan can put up with my non hard-core-ness and find easy walks to take me on.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Nothing New
I wish I had something cool to say... I don't. Not too much has happened this week. I talked to my mom and my sister the other day. They went up to Canada for my cousin Rachel's wedding. I was super bummed that I didn't get to go. This is probably the start of many family events we won't be able to go to (which is a big deal for me).
As I was talking with my mom she mentioned that one of my aunts said I'm a bit long winded. I have always been that way, if you let me, I'll talk your ear off. I find that blogging is worse, I have a captive audience (or so I think) who will listen to my rants. In order to make it easier for people to sit through this blog, I'm going to keep it short (er).
As I was talking with my mom she mentioned that one of my aunts said I'm a bit long winded. I have always been that way, if you let me, I'll talk your ear off. I find that blogging is worse, I have a captive audience (or so I think) who will listen to my rants. In order to make it easier for people to sit through this blog, I'm going to keep it short (er).
Friday, June 15, 2012
Partying Partying YEAH!
This week has been super fun, we started out the week thinking we had four different dinner parties to go to. Turns out we are going to be going to five! YAY DINNER! This week, I have either made a huge meal, or have not had to prepare anything and still eaten an awesome meal! Can this happen more often?
On Monday, I made a meal that I had never made for Jonathan (but made in my foods class), it's cheese manicotti. It was so good!!! We were going to have one of Jonathan's coworkers and his fiance come over. But it turned out (after I had put a good deal of time into making the dish) that his coworker had a family emergency and couldn't make it. Since dinner was halfway done (and we had all the ingredients that wouldn't last too long) I told Jonathan to see if he could round up other people to eat with us. One of the other interns lives in our building, so he stopped over. His name is Jean Paul and he's from Hati. We had him over a week ago and fed him then too. We played Rumikub both last week and again on Monday. He won one of the games and was so excited!
On Tuesday we had plans to go home teaching (Jonathan's companion moved out, so I was his companion) and the family invited us to eat dinner with them too! I made a dessert, and it turned out super yummy! After dinner, we shared a message (Jonathan felt like he was a missionary again) and then asked if there was anything we could do for them, they are moving and heard that I sew. The wife asked if I wanted some fabric, I said I would love it and she brought out two huge garbage bags full! Woah! I wasn't expecting THAT much fabric! I was so excited, but I saw how un-exited Jonathan was. That's two more bags that we have to try to squeeze into our car when we move. I'm going to try to go through it and see how much I'll actually use. Either way, it was awesome, plus I hate buying fabric, so this works out really well for me :).
Wednesday... I honestly can't remember what we did for dinner on Wednesday, I really don't think we ate here...
Then yesterday, I made a cake... all day. I really like working with fondant, but it takes SO LONG! And the last thing I wanted to do when Jonathan got home was stop working on my cake to make dinner. Good thing I didn't, because he came home and asked if I wanted to meet some of the people he works with, over dinner. His boss asked if Jonathan and I wanted to go out to dinner with some of his co workers. We talked it over and I was all for it! That means I didn't have to cook, and I got to talk to people! Plus Jonathan pointed out that these are the people he really should be trying to get to know, since they are the ones that report back to corporate about what they think of Jonathan. ... so... We went, and had a really good time! The food was super yummy, and the best part about it is Jonathan's boss paid for it! It was pretty interesting though, because everyone there had children our age. So, we felt pretty young, but that's ok. I think we held our own in the conversation.
*Side note* I think I need to get used to Jonathan and I being the only ones who don't drink. This is a different experience for me, I'm not used to being the minority. In Missouri, we at least had Jordan and Emily, along with Jonathan's boss who was LDS, so we weren't the only ones who didn't do certain things. It was fun none the less.
Now today... :) We are having the missionaries over, and I'm making Cafe Rio!!! I couldn't be more excited! Even though it's only been two months since I have had Cafe Rio, it seems like it's been too long. Then later tonight, the "young group" of Jonathan's coworkers are having a dinner party. So we get two dinners in one night!!! (That's what I made the cake for, it's super cute, it's a watermelon!) I'm really excited! I don't usually get this much social interaction. It's been so good for me, though, because I was starting to get frustrated with the little amount I got out.
This has been a really good week!
On Monday, I made a meal that I had never made for Jonathan (but made in my foods class), it's cheese manicotti. It was so good!!! We were going to have one of Jonathan's coworkers and his fiance come over. But it turned out (after I had put a good deal of time into making the dish) that his coworker had a family emergency and couldn't make it. Since dinner was halfway done (and we had all the ingredients that wouldn't last too long) I told Jonathan to see if he could round up other people to eat with us. One of the other interns lives in our building, so he stopped over. His name is Jean Paul and he's from Hati. We had him over a week ago and fed him then too. We played Rumikub both last week and again on Monday. He won one of the games and was so excited!
On Tuesday we had plans to go home teaching (Jonathan's companion moved out, so I was his companion) and the family invited us to eat dinner with them too! I made a dessert, and it turned out super yummy! After dinner, we shared a message (Jonathan felt like he was a missionary again) and then asked if there was anything we could do for them, they are moving and heard that I sew. The wife asked if I wanted some fabric, I said I would love it and she brought out two huge garbage bags full! Woah! I wasn't expecting THAT much fabric! I was so excited, but I saw how un-exited Jonathan was. That's two more bags that we have to try to squeeze into our car when we move. I'm going to try to go through it and see how much I'll actually use. Either way, it was awesome, plus I hate buying fabric, so this works out really well for me :).
Wednesday... I honestly can't remember what we did for dinner on Wednesday, I really don't think we ate here...
Then yesterday, I made a cake... all day. I really like working with fondant, but it takes SO LONG! And the last thing I wanted to do when Jonathan got home was stop working on my cake to make dinner. Good thing I didn't, because he came home and asked if I wanted to meet some of the people he works with, over dinner. His boss asked if Jonathan and I wanted to go out to dinner with some of his co workers. We talked it over and I was all for it! That means I didn't have to cook, and I got to talk to people! Plus Jonathan pointed out that these are the people he really should be trying to get to know, since they are the ones that report back to corporate about what they think of Jonathan. ... so... We went, and had a really good time! The food was super yummy, and the best part about it is Jonathan's boss paid for it! It was pretty interesting though, because everyone there had children our age. So, we felt pretty young, but that's ok. I think we held our own in the conversation.
*Side note* I think I need to get used to Jonathan and I being the only ones who don't drink. This is a different experience for me, I'm not used to being the minority. In Missouri, we at least had Jordan and Emily, along with Jonathan's boss who was LDS, so we weren't the only ones who didn't do certain things. It was fun none the less.
Now today... :) We are having the missionaries over, and I'm making Cafe Rio!!! I couldn't be more excited! Even though it's only been two months since I have had Cafe Rio, it seems like it's been too long. Then later tonight, the "young group" of Jonathan's coworkers are having a dinner party. So we get two dinners in one night!!! (That's what I made the cake for, it's super cute, it's a watermelon!) I'm really excited! I don't usually get this much social interaction. It's been so good for me, though, because I was starting to get frustrated with the little amount I got out.
This has been a really good week!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Is it August yet?
Ever since we moved out here we have been planning and preparing things for our move out to Indiana. Both Jonathan and I felt like it should be August already but it's only June. I have slowly been feeling more and more ready for August to come (partially because we get to see the majority of our families) along with get on to our more permanent location, where we can really settle down.
This morning I got an email from a friend who invited me to read her blog (after I invited her to read mine). As I read it, she wrote about a topic I really needed to hear. She talked about how it's so easy at this stage of life to say "I'll be happy when..." or "I can't wait for..." then she talked about how important it is to enjoy the "now" and not to wait, or be so excited for the future that you miss what's happening now. I realized that I really fall into that trap. The entire last month of working at the Bridal Center, all I could think about was how excited I was to be moving on, and to have a break. Now, as I sit here in my jammies at 10:00 am, still not ready for the day (and having that not matter one bit) all I can focus on is how excited I am for August to roll around, and for me to be able to work again, and have social interaction.
This is such an opportune time that I feel like the majority of people I know don't get to experience. I am home all day, and I get to focus on becoming a really good wife, prepare to be a good mother, and good home maker. I don't have any distractions besides ones that I give myself, and if I feel like I need to pamper myself for a day then I can! There's nothing that's stopping me. Who has this kind of relaxation and freedom? So my goal for this week, along with not watching too much TV, is to enjoy this time I have to focus on serving Jonathan, and working on things I need to work on.
This morning I got an email from a friend who invited me to read her blog (after I invited her to read mine). As I read it, she wrote about a topic I really needed to hear. She talked about how it's so easy at this stage of life to say "I'll be happy when..." or "I can't wait for..." then she talked about how important it is to enjoy the "now" and not to wait, or be so excited for the future that you miss what's happening now. I realized that I really fall into that trap. The entire last month of working at the Bridal Center, all I could think about was how excited I was to be moving on, and to have a break. Now, as I sit here in my jammies at 10:00 am, still not ready for the day (and having that not matter one bit) all I can focus on is how excited I am for August to roll around, and for me to be able to work again, and have social interaction.
This is such an opportune time that I feel like the majority of people I know don't get to experience. I am home all day, and I get to focus on becoming a really good wife, prepare to be a good mother, and good home maker. I don't have any distractions besides ones that I give myself, and if I feel like I need to pamper myself for a day then I can! There's nothing that's stopping me. Who has this kind of relaxation and freedom? So my goal for this week, along with not watching too much TV, is to enjoy this time I have to focus on serving Jonathan, and working on things I need to work on.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Pinterest...
My mom called me the other day and we chatted for a bit :) I told her how proud I was that I have made a weekly dinner menu, two weeks in a row. After telling me how awesome that is, she told me that I should get a Pinterest account, because there are amazing recipes on there. I believed her, but I didn't want to get one. Not because I wasn't interested, but because I had a feeling I was too interested. Let me explain; especially for those who don't know what Pinterest is. It is an online pinboard, basically. All you do is you make different "boards" or categories, and then you "pin" or save different files/websites/pictures etc to the "board". Basically, what it sounded like to me, was googling things, but on crack (excuse the expression). I love to google things, and I love to have ideas, I love the idea of having all of my ideas in one place.
A lot of my friends (and co workers) pin a lot of wedding things, home decor things, recipes, sewing projects etc. ... Do you see where I'm going with this? Maybe not, I would be addicted, the moment I started looking at the site. Once I got bored of looking at sewing projects, I would switch to looking at home decor, and once I got sick of that I would start looking at wedding dresses, then crafting projects, then... NOW do you see where I'm going with this? I would never get off! I really didn't want to start something that I knew would suck me in and waste my time, ESPECIALLY right now. I have all the time in the world to waste! I mean come on... what do I do all day really? I sit on my computer and I check my email, then I check my facebook, and after a half hour on there I wonder if anyone has emailed me. So I check my email again... Then I turn on the TV!!! It's horrible! I really didn't want another thing to add on to my time wasting list!
I knew pinterest had the potential to be worse than facebook. Facebook at least gets old after looking at it five times in a row. Pinterest on the other hand... There are thousands and thousands of pins on the site, and I could look at all of them!
Now that you see why I really didn't want one, I'm going to continue my story.
I told all of this to my mom and she eventually understood. But not before some serious lobbying on her part. So I won this discussion... but it was too late; she had planted the seed... the pinterest seed. It was in my head, and I had all of these day dreams of amazing things I could find, and all of the benefits of using pinterest. But I was going to be strong! ... (Famous last words) I found this amazing cute maternity shirt online the next day (I don't even remember how I found it... I was probably googling something... wasting time) it was so easy to make, and cheap too! I really really REALLY wanted to remember it, so that when my someday comes and I need a maternity shirt, I can make this one. I was trying to think of a way that I could save the website, and the only thing that came to mind was Pinterest. GAH! You have got to be kidding me!!! I don't want a pinterest! But, alas, it was the only way I could think about saving this link to a place that I would remember it in the coming months/years when I need it.
So... I set up a pinterest account. I really wasn't excited about it either (I'm serious when I say that, you read my rant about why I didn't want one, so I'm sure you knew I was serious) But, I am proud to say that I haven't spent hours on it yet, and I have had it for several days (ok, maybe only since Friday). We'll see how I do when I have an entire day. Wish me luck.
A lot of my friends (and co workers) pin a lot of wedding things, home decor things, recipes, sewing projects etc. ... Do you see where I'm going with this? Maybe not, I would be addicted, the moment I started looking at the site. Once I got bored of looking at sewing projects, I would switch to looking at home decor, and once I got sick of that I would start looking at wedding dresses, then crafting projects, then... NOW do you see where I'm going with this? I would never get off! I really didn't want to start something that I knew would suck me in and waste my time, ESPECIALLY right now. I have all the time in the world to waste! I mean come on... what do I do all day really? I sit on my computer and I check my email, then I check my facebook, and after a half hour on there I wonder if anyone has emailed me. So I check my email again... Then I turn on the TV!!! It's horrible! I really didn't want another thing to add on to my time wasting list!
I knew pinterest had the potential to be worse than facebook. Facebook at least gets old after looking at it five times in a row. Pinterest on the other hand... There are thousands and thousands of pins on the site, and I could look at all of them!
Now that you see why I really didn't want one, I'm going to continue my story.
I told all of this to my mom and she eventually understood. But not before some serious lobbying on her part. So I won this discussion... but it was too late; she had planted the seed... the pinterest seed. It was in my head, and I had all of these day dreams of amazing things I could find, and all of the benefits of using pinterest. But I was going to be strong! ... (Famous last words) I found this amazing cute maternity shirt online the next day (I don't even remember how I found it... I was probably googling something... wasting time) it was so easy to make, and cheap too! I really really REALLY wanted to remember it, so that when my someday comes and I need a maternity shirt, I can make this one. I was trying to think of a way that I could save the website, and the only thing that came to mind was Pinterest. GAH! You have got to be kidding me!!! I don't want a pinterest! But, alas, it was the only way I could think about saving this link to a place that I would remember it in the coming months/years when I need it.
So... I set up a pinterest account. I really wasn't excited about it either (I'm serious when I say that, you read my rant about why I didn't want one, so I'm sure you knew I was serious) But, I am proud to say that I haven't spent hours on it yet, and I have had it for several days (ok, maybe only since Friday). We'll see how I do when I have an entire day. Wish me luck.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Venturing Out
Since we have moved out to Ohio, I don't get out much, out meaning outside of my apartment. I don't really have a reason to... Jonathan has the car all day (which I mention a lot, I honestly don't mind, it just is a reason I don't have a job, and also makes it harder to go out.) but besides that, I don't have a reason to be couped up all day. I sit inside... all day.
This entire time we have been here, I have never gone out by myself (due to my awesome sense of direction... I am afraid I might get lost, and also because of some experiences in Missouri, which made me not trust walking on the street, unless I'm super familiar with the community) ... Well, today we ran out of quarters to do laundry, and once I set my mind on doing something, it needs to get done, thus... the laundry HAD to get done today. I also failed to grab some tomatoes last night at the store for dinner tonight (see previous post) and I really wanted some tomatoes. These two issues could easily be fixed, I just had to go outside, and do some walking. So I called one of my few friends out here (one of my friends that I feel comfortable asking for food ingredients) who lives just down the street, to ask to borrow some tomatoes. She said yes, and I was on my way. Who knew that the sun shines during the day? Who knew that it's not chokingly humid out here? I sure didn't, because I never go outside! But today I did, and I had fun doing it too.
It's kind of pathetic that getting out of the house is a big deal, but today it was! It was a beautiful day, and I didn't mind the walking. I didn't even get any weird looks, and there was no suspicious incidents. Who know's I may just go on walks more often.
This entire time we have been here, I have never gone out by myself (due to my awesome sense of direction... I am afraid I might get lost, and also because of some experiences in Missouri, which made me not trust walking on the street, unless I'm super familiar with the community) ... Well, today we ran out of quarters to do laundry, and once I set my mind on doing something, it needs to get done, thus... the laundry HAD to get done today. I also failed to grab some tomatoes last night at the store for dinner tonight (see previous post) and I really wanted some tomatoes. These two issues could easily be fixed, I just had to go outside, and do some walking. So I called one of my few friends out here (one of my friends that I feel comfortable asking for food ingredients) who lives just down the street, to ask to borrow some tomatoes. She said yes, and I was on my way. Who knew that the sun shines during the day? Who knew that it's not chokingly humid out here? I sure didn't, because I never go outside! But today I did, and I had fun doing it too.
It's kind of pathetic that getting out of the house is a big deal, but today it was! It was a beautiful day, and I didn't mind the walking. I didn't even get any weird looks, and there was no suspicious incidents. Who know's I may just go on walks more often.
ok... It's been too long (Enchilada Casserole)
I'm really sorry that I haven't updated this in over a year! It was just really easy for me to rationalize not updating this since I was close to everyone that reads this (besides the Chapmans, but Jordan keeps in touch with Jonathan). But now that Jonathan and I have moved away, I'm going to try to update this more often.
What really got me thinking about doing this is I found an amazing recipe that I really really like! I made it today and I have a few tweaks that I will be trying next time, but I like it the way I made it. ... Here it is
... First I'm going to post the original recipe, and then I'll tell you what I did.
Bean Enchilada Casserole
Ingredients
PAM® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 can (10 oz each) red enchilada sauce
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can (16 oz each) Rosarita® No Fat Traditional Refried Beans
12 soft corn tortillas (6 inch)
2 cups Black Beans, drained, rinsed
2 Diced Tomatoes,
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread half of enchilada sauce in bottom of dish. Drain corn
Spread about half of refried beans on 6 tortillas. Place tortillas, bean-side up, over sauce in dish, overlapping to fit. Stir together remaining enchilada sauce, corn, black beans and tomatoes in large bowl. Spread half of corn mixture over tortillas in dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup cheese.
Repeat layering with remaining refried beans and tortillas, corn mixture and remaining 1 cup cheese.
Bake 35 minutes or until hot in center and bubbly around edges. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting into 8 pieces.
Cook's Tip:
Top casserole with your favorite enchilada toppings --- shredded lettuce, sour cream and avocado, if desired. No frozen corn on hand? Use 1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn, drained instead.
Ok, here's what I did:
All the same ingredients with these few added ones
Cooked Rice
Green Bell Peppers
Green Onions
I didn't layer anything... I just mixed it all together. I don't love when casseroles are hard to cut with a spatula, so I cut the tortillas into squares and mixed it all in!
Additional ingredients I will try next time:
Chicken (feel free to add any other meat you like)
Cilantro
Garlic
Salsa
Lime Juice
(and I might saute' the green pepper, garlic and regular onion (if I don't have green onion) and add it to the enchilada sauce before I add it all in. )
I know this looks like I didn't like it at all, I really did! I just think this will make it even better! I also want to try it with the toppings next time, the lettuce, avocado, and sour cream.
I hope you enjoy :)
What really got me thinking about doing this is I found an amazing recipe that I really really like! I made it today and I have a few tweaks that I will be trying next time, but I like it the way I made it. ... Here it is
... First I'm going to post the original recipe, and then I'll tell you what I did.
Bean Enchilada Casserole
Ingredients
PAM® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 can (10 oz each) red enchilada sauce
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can (16 oz each) Rosarita® No Fat Traditional Refried Beans
12 soft corn tortillas (6 inch)
2 cups Black Beans, drained, rinsed
2 Diced Tomatoes,
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread half of enchilada sauce in bottom of dish. Drain corn
Spread about half of refried beans on 6 tortillas. Place tortillas, bean-side up, over sauce in dish, overlapping to fit. Stir together remaining enchilada sauce, corn, black beans and tomatoes in large bowl. Spread half of corn mixture over tortillas in dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup cheese.
Repeat layering with remaining refried beans and tortillas, corn mixture and remaining 1 cup cheese.
Bake 35 minutes or until hot in center and bubbly around edges. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting into 8 pieces.
Cook's Tip:
Top casserole with your favorite enchilada toppings --- shredded lettuce, sour cream and avocado, if desired. No frozen corn on hand? Use 1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn, drained instead.
Ok, here's what I did:
All the same ingredients with these few added ones
Cooked Rice
Green Bell Peppers
Green Onions
I didn't layer anything... I just mixed it all together. I don't love when casseroles are hard to cut with a spatula, so I cut the tortillas into squares and mixed it all in!
Additional ingredients I will try next time:
Chicken (feel free to add any other meat you like)
Cilantro
Garlic
Salsa
Lime Juice
(and I might saute' the green pepper, garlic and regular onion (if I don't have green onion) and add it to the enchilada sauce before I add it all in. )
I know this looks like I didn't like it at all, I really did! I just think this will make it even better! I also want to try it with the toppings next time, the lettuce, avocado, and sour cream.
I hope you enjoy :)
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