I Can Actually Cook....

This last week I had a goal to cook every night but one (because every night was kind of a stretch!).  This was a pretty hefty goal because I am not a great cook... and usually by the time I get home from work around 6:30 I just want to relax.  If it's up to me to cook dinner I give Nate the options of grilled cheese, soup from a package, or tuna and crackers.  Pretty gourmet.

Two weeks ago Nate cooked most nights (since he's actually a great cook) but it made me feel like I was slacking on my wifely duties so that's why I decided to take matters into my own hands this week!  Last Saturday I got on pinterest (which I basically never do) and looked up some tasty looking, easy, quick meals.  Guys.  I did it!!!  I cooked a real meal every night except for Wednesday when we went and got Mexican with some of my friends.  Here's what I did!

Sunday- Herb and Citrus Oven Roasted Chicken (http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2013/04/herb-and-citrus-oven-roasted-chicken.html)
After making this I learned Nate hates chicken thighs...oops.  I knew he didn't like drumsticks so that's why I chose thighs and he then informed me he hates thighs more than drumsticks haha

Monday- Hobo dinners (http://formulamom.com/grilled-hobo-dinners-recipe/)
I didn't take a picture of this one or use an actual recipe but the above recipe is an example.

Tuesday- Spinach Tomato Tortellini Soup (http://damndelicious.net/2014/09/06/spinach-tomato-tortellini-soup/)
Soup-er easy soup!  Highly recommend for those on the run.  It was ready to eat 20 minutes after I started making it.

Thursday- Zucchini Mushroom Pasta (http://damndelicious.net/2014/06/13/one-pot-zucchini-mushroom-pasta/)
This was my very first one pan pasta.  Not my absolute favorite, but pretty good for how easy it was.

Friday- Taquitos Two Ways- Honey Lime and Green Chili (http://reciperunner.com/baked-green-chile-chicken-taquitos/ and http://therecipecritic.com/2015/03/baked-honey-lime-chicken-taquitos/)
I baked the ones on the left as the recipe suggests but Nate wanted to try frying some so the darker ones on the right are fried.  And people, fried is always better.

Everything was delicious and I did it all for like $45!  That's pretty impressive because we spend way too much money on food each week.  I also did sides with most of these but those aren't pictured.  I'm going to attempt to do this again next week but we shall see.  I'm a little cooked out.....

Utah Weekend

This weekend we headed to Utah for a last minute mini vacation!  Eli managed to acquire some free tickets to an exclusive Imagine Dragons concert and asked Nate to go with him!  (crazy story how he came upon the tickets and after the got these two he actually won two more!!  He gave these to some other friends.)  I didn't have to work on Friday this week and Nate didn't have any tests so it worked perfect for us to go.

We left Friday around 12:30 and headed first to Salt Lake City.  We had a free night at a Marriott (due to our Marriott card) that we needed to use by the end of the month so it worked perfect that we decided to go to Utah.  When we got to SLC we went to our hotel and Nate stayed there for a few hours while I went to visit my best friend, Alexis, who just recently moved to SLC.  It was soooo great to visit with her and her cutie patootie daughter.  Her husband is in dental school and they did shots for the first time that day so when we got home I went with them for celebratory custard :)

Saturday morning Nate and I went to the Salt Lake temple.  He went once before his mission (so like 4 years ago) and I had never been there so it was a real treat.  It was absolutely more beautiful than I could have imagined inside.  It's no wonder it took the early pioneers 40 years to build it!  I really wanted a picture outside but it was a little difficult because there were at least 10-15 weddings (seriously, probably more haha).  We had to sneak onto the picture spot in between newly married couples and since no one else was around, I asked a groom to take our picture.  Is that bad??  Nate was embarrassed.  But I was going to get a picture!

After the temple, we went to the oulets in Lehi.  We stop there every time we go to Utah now.  It's a problem.  Because we always buy things!  I never really shop for clothes otherwise so as long as we don't go to Utah often I guess it's okay.  We continued south to Provo and met up with Eli there.  He wanted us to take him suit shopping so we did that for a bit although he didn't find one he was ready to buy quite yet.

At this point it was a little after 7:00 and Eli wanted to get in line for the concert because doors opened at 8:00 and he wanted a good spot.  When we left the mall there happened to be a random crazy blizzard that started so they had to wait in the cold for an hour before getting into the building.  Both of them loved the concert though!  Nate was a little worried because he loves Imagine Dragons and was worried they wouldn't be as good live and didn't want to be expected to jump up and down the entire concert haha  He said they were even better than on their album and so he was very glad he got to go.  Eli was even interviewed for the local news!  There were only 200-300 people at the concert and they were in about the sixth row so needless to say, the "seats" were fantastic and they will probably never have the opportunity to see a major band perform that close because those seats would normally be hundreds of dollars!  Can't beat free!!

Eli on the news.

This is how close they were...the camera wasn't even zoomed!

The Velour (left) is where the concert was.

While they were at the concert, I went to go visit my friend Sarah Jane!  Its been so long since we'd seen each other and I loved catching up with her and hearing all about her wedding plans.  She went with me to pick the boys up after the concert and we decided to go out to Chili's for dinner.  I seriously can't remember the last time I laughed so hard!  The other people in the restaurant probably thought we were crazy but we didn't even care.  It was a much needed night out with friends :)

Today we slept in again and got home before it got dark and we've just been home chilling ever since then.  I've caught up on blogging (since I never do it anymore) and scrapbooking our life away.

Charlotte Endings

Well ladies and gents, we are back in Rexburg and doing well!  Before I get to that, I have to wrap up our lives in Charlotte.

Oh Charlotte...we love you and miss you!  While our move there was very last minute, we have no regrets.  The experience was wonderful.  Nate was able to do an internship for a month and I was able to just relax and enjoy being with family.  We met so many amazing people and actually made some friends!

This is us with some friends from the ward after Sam's baseball game one evening.  We are eating at La Unica which is an amazing restaurant that we ate at three times in one week...and probably like 10 times while we were there.

IS SHE NOT THE CUTEST THING EVER.




















Eating custard/ ice one lovely afternoon.



















We matched but she was not in a picture taking mood.













She just sits there and smiles and I love it.

Okay enough pictures of that cutie...for now.

We were able to visit with my cousins in Fort Mill, SC twice although I fail on the picture front there.  We went to their house once for dinner and to play games and then a few days before we left, we met up with my Aunt and Uncle in Charlotte for...Mexican!!

One weekend I drove up to Greensboro by myself to visit my grandparents and some other cousins.  Nate stayed behind to work on the yard (which I will blog about eventually...).  It was fantastic to see everyone!  I got to meet my cousin Chris's fiance as well as catch up with everyone I haven't seen since our wedding.  I really enjoyed having everyone in my grandparent's house sitting around talking who-knows-what.

The weekend before we left both Nate and I were able to make the trip up there and spent the night at my grandparent's.  We got in fairly late because Nate had to work that day but they stayed up and fed us and played Five Crowns.  At the end of the game, the person with the lowest score wins.  Here was our scorecard...

I think it is safe to say that Nate CREAMED the rest of us.  I had more points after two rounds than he did at the end!  The next day was General Conference so we watched the first Saturday session at my uncle's house and then everyone went to The Grill for lunch (it's tradition!).  We left after lunch to go back to Huntersville so Nate could work some on the yard that evening.

I almost forgot to mention that Friday was our one year engagement anniversary!  We got engaged the Friday before General Conference.  I think the actual date was April 6th...

Our last week in Huntersville went by quickly.  Nate went to work during the day and I hung out with Chelsea and Sawyer and then Nate would work in the yard in the evenings.  The day before we left we made one more trip to Greensboro to return my grandparent's car they graciously let us borrow while we were there.  Chelsea came with so she could drive me home and it was fun to take her and Sawyer to the dairy farm next door to see the cows and chickens.  Sawyer was skeptical of the cows at first but she warmed up to them.

Aaaaand some more pictures of Sawyer because it was our last day and I couldn't stop taking pictures of her!!!!

Bragging Rights

I don't think I'm too much of a bragger, but I'm taking a post to do it and I don't even care.  And I don't care if you think I'm arrogant.  You don't have to read it.

Today was my last day at the Health Center which means the last day of my internship which means the last requirement for me to finally get my degree is complete.  Yay!!  I finished classes in July and "graduated" but I couldn't get a diploma until I did an internship.  So now I'm officially done.

And let me tell you.  I have 121 earned credits from BYUI and only one solid A- to my name.  ONE.  And not a penny more.  The rest?  All A's.  Some were high A's (A 100% in Anatomy and Physiology is probably one of my proudest moments), and some were just barely A's.  That equals a 3.992 gpa.  Top 5% of my graduating class.  One stupid A- kept me from being top 1%...but I guess I shouldn't be greedy.

And let me tell you.  I busted my butt for them.  I spent so many 12 hour days on campus it's not even funny.  And while I was busting my butt in school, I was also busting my butt at work.  I spent three of my four years also working part-time in the Admissions Office.  And let me tell you, I loved it.  I wouldn't have traded my job for ANYTHING.  It's the best thing that happened to me here.

But I'll be honest.  I know I didn't bust my butt as hard as some people up here who don't get as good of grades.  I've been blessed beyond belief and I recognize that.  I know it wasn't all me these last four years.  I know my Heavenly Father has helped me in so many ways that I can't recognize.  He has supported me in all I've done and blessed me with parents that supported me no matter what.  They encouraged me to work hard and I did not want to disappoint them.  He also gave me stinkin' smart younger siblings to remind me when I think I'm smart that I'm not as smart as them (my sister just got a 35 on her ACT...my brothers got 34s or 32s or something high like that...).

I've been blessed to receive scholarships throughout my four years here that have paid for my tuition.  I am grateful for the university to provide these scholarships to relieve some of the financial burden college can create.

This school provides so many opportunities for students that half the students don't even know about!  And the world should know how great this school is but it's kind of a hidden gem right now.  But it's growing and one day everyone will know BYU-Idaho and the type of students that go here.  And I'll be able to brag that I was one of the graduates of this great university.  I was there when it underwent so many changes and times of growth.  And I succeeded.

One more thing to brag about.  I have an awesome husband.  He is so patient with me when I'm not even patient with myself.  I didn't even realize how crazy I was until I got married.  I'm not sure if I've always been this crazy or if marriage just brings it out of me...but he puts up with it and loves me just the same.  He's also a chef and cooks me fantastic meals.  He decorates our apartment.  He cleans.  He rubs my back.  He kisses me when I need it.  He gives me hugs.  He drops me off and picks me up from work every day.  He takes out the trash.  He...basically everything.  So yeah.  Life is good :)