Life Lately

Today while talking to my friend Sara she let me know that I hadn't posted on my blog for a while and she was having a hard time keeping up with my life. I guess I'm not in the habit of blogging, so sometimes I just forget. For Sara's sake here are somethings I've been up to lately...

1. Registered for Spring Semester
2. Got my hair cut
3. Made some really delicious chocolate rolo cookies
4. Watched the election and nearly cried
5. Came in second place in a really close game of five crowns
6. Procrastinated my 12 page paper that is due next week
7. Enjoyed a day off with my hubby
8. Went mini golfing
9. Ate Fajitas (which happens to be my favorite dinner right now)
10. Went to my sweet cousin Rachelle's baby shower
11. Hung out with my cute Grandma Sue
12. Watched the entire series of "Once Upon A Time"
13. Celebrated my first Halloween as an old married woman
14. Took on the challenge of making plans for holidays 
15. Walked around Hobby Lobby and became giddy over all of the Christmas decorations
16. Smiled as my facebook new feed was blown up yesterday by so many of my lovely friends announcing the locations of where they will be serving their LDS Missions
17. Beat up a Pinata (who says that is just for kids) 
18. Put a new wreath on my front door
19. Ordered Christmas cards 
20. Celebrated our eight month anniversary, and I finally made the the trip to the Social Security Office to officially change my name 
21. And made my pinterest board "Pinned it, tried it, loved it" it makes life so much easier when I can quickly jump back to my favorite recipes I've found online. If you would like to check out my growing collection click here.

So there you have it, that is my life lately

P.S. I know it's late but here are a couple of the pictures we took on Halloween :)

 

Home.

Do you ever have days where you just want your mom? I've had a lot of those lately, but fortunately I spent all last weekend being pampered at my parents. Growing up I never appreciated the rockstars that my parents are. Dad-- I promise at some point you will get a lovey dovey post, but on this one my heart goes out to mom. -- My mother is an amazing woman. She has endured things that I can't imagine but has the most positive attitude of anyone I've ever met. She is giving, graceful, and kind. When I was younger everyone told me how grateful I should be to have such a wonderful mother, but in my mind I would chuckle and think "My mom? She's just my mom." Now as I've had sometime to reflect about my childhood I realize that not all moms are as wonderful as she is. Not all are as selfless and would sacrifice anything for their child, but my mom would...will, DOES! She is an angel to me, and helps me through all the changes that continue on in life. My mother is my best friend. Although she may not think so sometimes, I think she is the coolest. Yep, mom I bet you never thought that would come out of my mouth. I honor you, I respect you and I aspire to be like the woman you are. Never let your light be dimmed, you are an example to all that know you, and I will love you forever. Thank you for raising me right! I'll forever be in your debt for that!

Baked French Toast...Mmmm Good!

Earlier this month was Devin's birthday! Growing up my family always did breakfast in bed on the morning of your birthday and I wanted to carry out that tradition. Devin's favorite breakfast food is french toast...but I knew I couldn't make him regular french toast. After all, it is was his special day. I stalked my pinterest breakfast board and finally I found the one. You can find the original post here.

Ingredient Checklist

*1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick)

*1 cup brown sugar

1 loaf Texas toast
4 eggs

1 1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Powdered sugar for sprinkling

Directions

1. Melt butter in microwave & add brown sugar....stir till mixed.
2. Pour butter/sugar mix into bottom of 9 x 13 pan....spread around
3. Beat eggs, milk, & vanilla
4. Lay single layer of Texas Toast in pan
5. Spoon 1/2 of egg mixture on bread layer
6. Add 2nd layer of Texas Toast
7. Spoon on remaining egg mixture
8. Cover & chill in fridge overnight
9. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes (covered for the first 30 minutes)
10. Sprinkle with powdered sugar

*My tips: I felt like the sugar/butter mix was a bit too much for me. I would recommend halving this portion. Second I added a cream cheese mix in the middle of  the two layers of bread. For this I used and 8 oz. package of cream cheese, and then powdered sugar and vanilla extract to taste. Make sure that the spread is softened before you try to put it on the bread, I promise it will make it MUCH easier.  

To go on top I made a caramel syrup and seriously it was amazing. (I also used it as an ice cream topping a few days later :)) Look for that recipe in my next post!! 

Do you have any birthday traditions or breakfast foods you love? If so please enlighten me. I love traditions! 

xoxo Kinzie

Marriage Advice

Good morning! Today some of my marriage advice is featured over on "Love the Grows." It would make me smile if you went and checked it out. Bethany is the writer of the blog and she is flipping cute. So go say hi!! xoxo Kinzie

150 Days

When Devin and I decided that we were going to get married and had set a date, I started something called "150 Days Until I Do." And I am so happy that I did. Each day I would write him a love letter or recount one of my favorite memories that the two of us had shared. Then on our wedding day I presented him with the collection of letters I had written. These letters have been more powerful than I anticipated. Each time we are feeling discouraged or frustrated we pull our the notebook of letters and read one. Every time it affirms our love, and completely turns things around. It is so valuable to us, and was such a sweet gift to us both. If you aren't married I encourage you to do this when you are engaged! It will mean the world to your spouse!

Crepes for Conference

When Devin and I got married back in March i knew that I wanted to come up with some traditions of our own. When we were dating we went to a bridal show and they served crepes and I knew my life was changed. I registered for a crepe makers that night and at one of my showers a few weeks later I got it!! We moved into our house right before April's General Conference, and it hit me that we could have crepes for conference. This weekend we continued the tradition and stuffed our faces with way too many crepes. If you would like to be a crepe connoisseur here is the recipe...

4 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt

Mix the ingredients and then get cooking! I used my crepe maker which was super convenient, but if you do not have one you can make them in a pan. They will come out tasting just as yummy!

I like my breakfast on the sweet side, so we loaded ours up with vanilla pudding, strawberries, homemade hot fudge, caramel syrup, and whipped cream. Truthfully it was more like a dessert, but conference is only twice a year so it can't be that bad!

 

What are some of your traditions?

Autumn Date

One of my favorite dates lately is to go outside and take pictures of nature. It helps me appreciate the beauty that is all around and pushes my creative side. Devin is so artistic and always finds amazing shots. He'll get down in the dirt for that perfect angle...I love that about him! God created beauty in all things and it's a wonderful way to experience it and have quality time with your love. Plus, it's free! Here are a few of the beauties we took this weekend. Enjoy!

A Skillful Sailor

Today I saw this quote on pinterest and I fell in love. We all experience hard things in our lives, but the beautiful thing is that's what makes us stronger. In those difficult moments it can be hard to realize that's what your challenges are doing, but hopefully a quote like this can come to mind. I need hang this EVERYWHERE for those really rotten bad days. I hope you have wonderful day lovelies!

Original Link 

Xoxo Kinzie

FALL in LOVE

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one...BUT I LOVE FALL! I would have to claim that my hometown is one of the most beautiful places to experience the changing leaves. Devin and I headed up to Park City this weekend, to celebrate my wonderful sister Madi's birthday, my Dad's birthday, and an early birthday for Devin! On Sunday we took a gorgeous autumn walk and were fascinated with how beautiful the colors are. If you haven't, take a look outside and enjoy the leaves while they are still here!

 Apparently we thought me flipping my hair was REALLY funny.

 The sweetest parents in the whole world! We love them so much!

 I didn't edit this at all! Look at how vibrant the colors are!

I was trying to be artistic in this one, I shot it through a hole in another leaf.

P.S. I found out Park City had it's first snow of the year today, so I'm especially happy that I caught these pictures! Have a wonderful day lovelies! XOXO Kinzie

Easy Peasy Pizza

This week I've had a meal planned every night. This quite accomplishment for the girl that used to solely live off oreo cookies and chips and salsa. On Tuesday Devin and I made French Bread Pizza. Holy tolito it was freaking delicious. Not to mention super easy and dirt cheap. That's my kind of meal!
Here is the grocery list
1 Loaf of French Bread = $1.59
2 Bags of Shredded Mozzarella =4.28
1 Bottle of Spaghetti Sauce = 1.49
1 Package of Pepperoni = 2.84
Total = 10.20
 But wait there's more. We obviously didn't use all of it the first night. We cut the loaf in four pieces (it was a REALLY big loaf) and used two the first night and two the second. We used about 2/3 of the bag of cheese on day one, a tiny bit of sauce, and like 20 pepperoni's making it about $1.50 a serving. This amount more than filled us up, but if you have a heftier appetite, add a salad and you're golden.

The recipe if you can even call it that is plain and simple. Put on the sauce, cheese, and toppings and bake for about 12 minutes or until the cheese is golden at 350 degrees. Let it cool off for about one minute and devour!

 

P.S. Since you have half a loaf of bread and almost a full bottle of sauce, I recommend making spaghetti with garlic bread the next night to use up some of your ingredients!

XOXO Kinzie

Sweet and Easy Caramel Popcorn

Lately I have become a huge fan of the blog Pretty Providence . So when I was looking for a caramel popcorn recipe and stumbled upon there's which you can find here. I was completely over joyed. The hubs and I have become big movie watchers and I wanted to change it up with our usually butter and salt snack. For this movie night it was going to be sweet...

To make the caramel all you need is

• 1 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1 Cube of Butter
• 1 Cup Light Karo Syrup
• 1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk.

Yep that's it. Melt these four ingredients on medium-high and once it's boiling stir consistently for two minutes and you're done. It's that simple.

For the popcorn aspect Devin and I used our Whirley Pop (which I highly recommend if you love popcorn) We used about  1/2 cup of kernels, popped it and then mixed in the gooey goodness. We had left over caramel so I saved it and we've been eating apples with it for a semi-healthy snack.

 

Doesn't it look so yummy? It was! So go make some! 

XOXO

I love long weekends.

Devin and I had some fun adventures this weekend. Saturday we headed up to my aunt and uncles for a BBQ and the rodeo. I am a rodeo fan. Country music, fire works, cowboy hats. What more could a girl ask for? Unfortunately for the first time in my rodeo attending life we were rained out. We made it maybe a half hour and it started dumping. Oh well. We rushed back home with my parents and stuffed our faces with zucchini bread and hot chocolate.

Sunday after church we decided we wanted to enjoy the cooler weather and changing leaves and took a drive to the top of my parents neighborhood to get a better view. The leaves hadn't really changed as much as I thought but I did get some pretty charismatic pictures of my family!

 

If you haven't notice yet my dad is a goofball.  

Xoxo Kinzie

Easy and Creamy White Chicken Enchiladas

Before I got married I never cooked. And by never I mean I actually did not cook. The few years I lived on my own I survived off of Oreos, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Chips and Salsa. Probably not the healthiest diet but it worked back then. Now I have to cook for two and don't want to submit my husband to my previous eating habits. Here is a new found favorite recipe in our home. Delicious and easy enough for the novice cook!

Ingredients

• 6-8 corn tortillas (enchilada size)
• Two large chicken breasts
• 1 cup sweet corn
• 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1-1/4 cups chicken broth
• 1 – 10oz can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 – 4oz can chopped green chiles
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Fill each tortilla with shredded chicken, a spoonful of corn and a pinch of cheese.
3. Roll and place in the bottom of a baking dish with the seam side down.
4. In a pot over medium heat melt the better. Add flour and whisk into a thick paste.
5. Add chicken broth, cream of chicken, sour cream, chiles, salt and pepper.
6. Whisk gently for 5 minutes until warm and smooth.
7. Pour the sauce over the enchiladas and top with remaining shredded cheese.
8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes and serve warm.

These smelled so good when I pulled them out of the oven, and Devin and I couldn't help but stuff our faces. It definitely has the husband stamp of approval. So give them a try. They are super easy and super delicious!