Snow in August

Because that's normal....right? To all my sweaty, sticky Southern folk...pray for me this fall and winter! James and I decided to go for an impromptu after-work-hike yesterday. When we looked across the canyon, we could see fresh snow on top of the mountains from the rain we got yesterday. SNOW! Of course, I forgot my camera, but trust me....there was freakin snow!

It rained all morning yesterday. It was in the 50s all day and then mid 40s when I went to the grocery store last night. I guess I need to go unpack all the winter clothes I just packed up. (Yes, mid 40s = winter clothes to me....like I said, pray for me this fall/winter.)

Speaking of cold...James and I went on our first backpacking trip in Utah this weekend. We met another couple that moved here from Charlotte, NC this summer. They were instant friends. The four of us and three dogs went backpacking. The most amazing thing to all of us was that we could go for just one night because it only took us 20 min to get there! How exciting! We are used to having to drive about 4 hours one way to get to the mountains, so we were in the habit of taking off for at least two nights. We were like kids at Christmas being able to cruise up the canyon 20 min for a night of backpacking. We went back to the same place James and I did our first hike. A beautiful 8 mi round trip hike to a lake and back. Check out the cows freely grazing. If I were a cow...this would be the deal!

Also, here are some pics from a hike James took the dogs on a while back. It's a really cool canyon and great for a quick day hike. I think it was a little hot that day...Riley had to cool off somehow. Don't judge...beauty is in the eyes of the beholder....

On a food note...James and I made chicken enchiladas last week...yum! Last night, homemade pizza. No pic, unfortunately, but we made homemade pizza sauce, layered up cheese, onions, mushrooms, bell pepper, pineapple and pepperoni. Salad, few glasses of wine...delicious! Hit the spot, right before I passed out cold.

B

Pretty Cool Backyard, huh?

Spoken by Britanie while Mom and I accompanied her on a four mile hike through the mountains in "her backyard." I must admit, I do agree.



The first day in Utah, Mom and I were whipped. Whether be from traveling starting at 4:30am, exhaustion from the excitement leading up to seeing Brit and James, or me being a needy pain sometimes, we were not much fun to say the least. Oh and Mom and I were prepared and dressed for a warm 85° and were greeted by a cool 50° and rain. No worries though. We still made a few pitstops on our way to Brit and James' house. We stopped by the outlets, Whole Foods, and a delicious tapas restaurant for lunch. (Even though I'm outlet obsessed, I didn't buy one thing. I had to make this note because I am still shocked at myself.) The restaurant was called Eva and every bite we ate was delicious. One dish I can't go without mentioning because it involved Brussels! They "shredded" Brussels and tossed them with hazelnuts. By shredded, I mean they thinly sliced the Brussels but it reminded me of shredded lettuce so I suppose that is why I used the term. I'm pretty sure they just sautéed the shredded Brussels in a little bit of olive oil, salt and pepper, and hazelnuts. Let me know if any of you try this delicious creation. I'm sure pine nuts would be a great alternative as well.

As I sit here and begin to think about writing about everything else, I get overwhelmed because it would be a really long post so forgive me if I am brief. Also, for some reason it feels like ages ago we were out there and my mind is not cooperating. I sound old.

It was so relaxing to get up in the mornings and go outside without swatting bugs and sweating. In fact, we were in longsleeves and pants some mornings. Ah I wish I were back there. To wake up with no agenda for the day and see the sun coming up over the mountains made me long for a more simple life. (Again, I sound old.)

I can't quite put my finger on it, but areas around Brit's house reminded me of Napa. We headed out one morning for a late breakfast and coffee at the restaurant pictured below. Perhaps it was the rock landscaping or the building, but I was instantly brought back to our trip to California this past May.



We headed over to this cute antique shop to check things out and see the goat soap lady. Okay, so she is not part goat. She makes wonderful goodies from goat's milk and has a kitchen in the antique shop so we stopped by to take a peak. How awesome is it to think that Brit's real life is now nestled in these mountains?!



Speaking of real life, have you seen this video of the little boy leaving the dentist? You probably have because it is old news, but I just love it and find myself thinking of it often lately. With all the changes taking place, I often think to myself "Wait, is this real life?" and instantly repeat that question in my head in the little boy's voice. Sorry for the digression. Back to Utah.

Mom and I were pumped to go on a hike with Brit. Unfortunately James was tied up with work/school. Hiking out west is no joke. While it was tough, it was awesome to enjoy it with Mom and Brit. Pictures of the adventure below. I can't remember if we were almost to the top or just coming down when we ran across some fairly fresh (we believe) bear pooh. (Do you spell it like winnie the pooh with an "h" or no "h"?) I think this discovery startled Mom a little and we were constantly checking in every direction to make sure a momma bear was not in sight.











A little note about the weather. FYI It is not always snowing in Utah. While I may not be well cultured/traveled/experienced (use whatever word works for you because I can make up definitions for each that fit well in this sentence for me), I couldn't really imagine 90° being so warm out west, in the mountains. Well it was and it was hot. However, it was so nice in the evening and morning when it cooled down.

On our trip we spent some time helping Brit and James in the yard which included picking/bagging dried lavender and yarrow. I'll let Brit explain yarrow :) Folks, this is not a simple/quick task. Next time you buy dried herbs, know that the price is perfectly reasonable. I always thought you got such a small amount for the price with dried herbs but now I see why. (Well I'm also cheap a penny pincher so that could be another explanation.) The process of picking off the usable part of the dried herb is time consuming. Sweet Brit didn't even keep any lavender for herself. She gave it all to me and Mom. I've already used some of it to bake lavender tea bread.



Speaking of their yard, boy do they have their work cut out for them. They have an enormous yard for growing all kinds of goodies. It was neat to get to see the things Brit has talked about on here like the cherry tree and grapes. While we didn't work in the edible gardens, we helped with the front yard. I think we made some good progress out there. Let me just say that I wish there was video of me using the hedge trimmers on a ladder because I'm sure it could be on America's Funniest Videos. (Do yall remember that show?)

The three of us girls went to see Eat, Pray, Love together. Way back at Brit and James' wedding, a friend (shout out to Mere) was reading the book and highly recommended it. It quickly became one of our favorites. As always, the movie is never as good as the book, but I must say I didn't fall asleep so it was worth seeing in my opinion.

Due to the length of this post, I'm going to save the "what we cooked" part for another post. Apologies for the abrupt ending.

back in a flash,
Ashley

We're Back!

From where you ask. Oh just a little vacation to UTAH! Mom and I headed out last week for a five day trip to see Brit and James. (Thanks Mom!)

Since it takes a day of traveling to get to/from out West and we just got home last night, pictures and detailed posts to come. We shopped (with little success), cooked, ate, hiked, and oh gosh you'll just have to read the upcoming posts. It was so beautiful out there and the company didn't hurt either. I can't wait to share details of our adventures!

Since I can't go without mentioning food, here is an interesting sandwich I tried today. Pear and PB.



Mom is the queen of magazines. She brought her stack on the trip for all of us to share. While flipping through one of them this past week, she ran across the Pear & PB grilled sandwich. Knowing I'm the strange one with strange cravings, she pointed it out to me and I had to try it. Eh, don't waste your time unless you have a very flavorful pear. I was anticipating a nice kick of sweet pear with a nutty PB finish and all I got was the PB. After my first bite, I thought apples would have been better. Just in case any other strange-combination-person (oreos and lemonade or sprite anyone?) was thinking of this delicacy, I thought I would save you the time.

Chat soon,
Ashley

PS don't judge my grammar/punctuation rules. I make them up as I go. Kind of strange since a large part of my job requires me to edit hundreds of pages regularly. Good thing I can separate personal from professional life.

Hello Old Friend...

It seems like it's been a long time since I've contributed....thanks, Ash, for keeping it up!

We had our first visitor! Julie came from NC! She came a few days early to visit me and check out the new homestead. Then, we headed to Vegas on my birthday for work and fun. We had a great time, and time spent with a good friend was muuuuuch needed. Thank you, Julie, for coming to visit!!

When I got home from the Vegas trip, James had finished so many projects around the house! I had a hammock setup, a guest room finished, a new desk built, and so many other little things that made a huge difference.

So, here is a room update. Click here to remember the wood paneling and 40 year old curtains. Here is the new, 21st century bedroom:

James got my desk built and office curtains hung...I looove it. Thanks to Ash's creativity, she gave me the idea to go hunt down an old door and create a DIY desk. Luckily, this house has all kinds of treasures lying around. I found two great, old doors. I picked one to turn into my desk. Still trying to figure out what I want for a desk chair, but here is the desk.

My dried lavender and yarrow is also ready to take down. The lavender can be used in recipes, teas or potpourris. The yarrow, I am learning, can be used medicinally for everything from cough and cold to breakouts and cuts. Sound too good to be true? I will soon find out...yarrow to the rescue! Who knew Utah would bring out the witch doctor in me? HA!

Now, I'm off to clean my house and finish my work for the week! I am on vacation the next two days while two very important guests come to visit the west!!

Brussels Sprouts

You can still google it but I promise there is an "s" on the end of Brussels.

Now that we've cleared that up, let's move on to this delicious veggie. No really, I think they are absolutely delicious. So delicious that I think they taste like popcorn and I crave them...a whole bowl of them. Side note: I get very specific cravings regularly. This is not a new thing, it has been happening for years. For fun, here are a few recent cravings that are so specific it is weird:

fishsticks - I have not had these in so long, so long that I had to google it to see if it is one word or two. I did not give into this one.

Wendy's medium fountain coke - Maybe it is their cup, I don't know but specifically Wendy's.

grilled cheese - Not weird but a regular and very specific to extra sharp cheddar on wheat. Frequently give in.

cucumbers and feta - Refresh your memory here.

Rush's Hot Fudge Sundae - Yes, not just any hot fudge sundae, but Rush's. When in Greenville, this was never satisfied and believe it or not, it has not yet been satisfied in Columbia either.

barely steamed broccoli - Broccoli that is heated but not soggy because that is gross. Oh and no salt and pepper.

brussels sprouts - Roasted in olive oil with a little salt and pepper.

The last one brings me back to what I wanted to post about (before I got completely sidetracked) because it is my current obsession. Brussels sprouts have a bad rap. However, have you ever tried one? Have you tried them roasted with olive oil and a little salt and pepper? If not, don't talk bad about them until you do. They seriously remind me of popcorn. If you don't like popcorn, still try them. They have so many health benefits as most veggies do. These little gems are filled with fiber and Vitamin C.

Here is how the deliciousness is created around here.

Preheat oven to 450°

1. Rinse your Brussels (we like about 1/2 lb for two if that is your only side or 1/4 as a small side for two)

2. Trim the ends off and cut in half. Also, remove any outer leaves that look like they should not be consumed.

3. Place the halves in a bowl and toss with enough olive oil (olive oil to me means EVOO) to coat, salt and pepper. Use a small amount of table salt. I'm talking a dash or two. Use a little more pepper than salt.



4. Arrange Brussels in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes.

There is no picture of the final product because I did not have the patience to take a picture before consuming them.

Enjoy!

BIN112

The big test was taken in Greenville yesterday. After the phenomenal performance, Wes' parents took us out to dinner to celebrate. We tried a new place in Greer called BIN112.

(Of course I didn't think to take pictures so the picture is from their website.)

The atmosphere was just what we were looking for. It was a nice dinner with a semi casual atmosphere. The coolest thing about this place is that mostly all of the food on the menu is offered in appetizer or entrée portion, and Wednesday is 25% off bottles of wine night. All of the food we tried was delicious. We can't think of any place similar to the variety and quality of BIN112. A bonus point in my book is bread without having to ask for it. Shortly after we sat down, they brought us warm bread and delicious chips (you know the thin and crispy potatoes but I refuse to call them potato chips) which had a kick to them.

Here is a rundown of the food we ordered from their menu:

Flaming Kasseri: You can never go wrong with cheese and something fried. It was delicious and one appetizer portion was enough for the four of us as we spread it on our bread.

Candy of the Sea: I didn't try it because I'm not a scallop person but the reviews were great.

Duck, Duck, Not a Goose: If you like duck, go for it. It was good and Wes thought it was great.

Smoky Mountain Beef Tenderloin: Delicious! Yes, this was what I picked and I must say I made a fine choice. I went with the appetizer portion and it was just enough meat for me. It came with asparagus and mashed sweet potatoes. The mashed sweet potatoes were unbelievable. Actually, the whole dish was.

Black n' Blue: I didn't sneak a taste but was told it was delicious as well.

S'mores! We had a little campfire on the table for dessert. It was fun and yummy. What a great idea.

The next time you find yourself in the Upstate, go to BIN112. You will not be disappointed.

You better believe it...

Warning: if you don't like sappy, sweet, lovey-dovey things, skip this post.

I warned you...

Remember how I mentioned here that Wes was doing law school prep while at the beach? Let me rephrase that: Wes was studying from 6am - 6pm each day while we were at the beach. He has been on that schedule every single day since his last day of work and every free weekend since we made the decision to take on this new adventure of going back to school. You are probably wondering why he is studying so much when he hasn't even started school. Well it is because my dedicated and determined husband wants to practice patent law as it is a perfect fit with his engineering background and degrees. In addition to the state bar, you have to take the patent bar to become a patent attorney. Individuals with a technical degree are allowed to take the exam at any time. The pass rate for this exam is 50%. Folks, these are engineers taking this exam and the pass rate is 50%. Needless to say it is tough (so I've heard) and you should expect to take it 2-3 times before passing. Well, not my man! He took it today and passed...on the first try...before starting law school...without any law background!

I'm done, I promise. I just had to brag.

"Forget Years...

If you must count something, count friends. "

I am overdue for writing a new post. There have been so many things to write about lately, friend coming from Raleigh to visit me in Utah!, my birthday, a trip to Vegas, and so much progress on the house. But, I just can't seem to find the time.

Until I find it, I did want to say a BIG, FAT, THANK YOU!!!

Back to my initial quote on this post, I am completely overwhelmed by the people who thought of me on my birthday. The cards, gifts, phone calls and thoughtfulness over the past week has been the best gift. So much s0 that it has actually been truly overwhelming. There are so many things to love about Utah and our new adventure but weeks like this past one really make me miss friends and family we have left in other places.

Thank you so much for all of the big and small things you all did for me. You will never be able to truly understand how much it meant to me.

And I leave you with a picture of my bday present from my sweet husband. This is where I opened up your gifts and cards.....thank you.

A little getaway

Nothing beats a weekend at home with Mom and Dad with no big plans. We packed up and headed to OKI for the weekend for some much needed R&R. While Wes had to spend some time doing law school prep during the day, I got to spend the days with Mom and Dad. We checked out the new house under construction, did some shopping, and a little reading on the beach.

It was one of those trips where the drive home was spent thinking about how wonderful it would be if every weekend was just like that. In fact, while furniture shopping for Mom and Dad's house, the very patient furniture salesman said "I've never seen a family get along so well." We looked at each other and grinned thinking the same thing: Is he serious? If he only knew what the teenage years were like!

Ahh it was just one of those weekends that you will always cherish.

Now today I sit here and stare at this picture below thinking about the next time we go to visit, we will be soaking in this view the whole time at the new house (which is looking pretty awesome).

Pablono, Mango and Bean Quesadillas

We loved the delicious sweetness the mangos added. We served these with steamed broccoli and a side salad. One side would have been plenty. Here is the recipe with our modifications. They really were delicious, quick and easy, and filling.

Source: CookingLight
Ingredients
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups presliced onion
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 poblano chile, seeded and chopped
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup jarred mango(such as Del Monte SunFresh) fresh sliced peeled mango
1/3 cup cubed peeled avocado forgot it and didn't miss it
4 (8-inch) fat-free flour whole wheat tortillas
Cooking spray olive oil
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp extra sharp white cheddar cheese

Preparation

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, oregano, salt, pepper, and poblano, and sauté 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Add beans; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat; stir in mango and avocado.

Place flour tortillas on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray covered with foil. Arrange about 3/4 cup (we couldn't get 3/4 to fit) bean mixture on half of each tortilla, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons cheddar cheese over bean mixture, and fold tortilla in half. Lightly coat tortillas with cooking spray olive oil. Broil 3 minutes or until cheddar cheese melts.

My thoughts on cutting a mango: This was my first attempt at cutting a mango. The mangos were on sale and I prefer fresh to juice-packed fruit. The mango seed is a slight pain because it is not like a round peach pit. It is long and flat. The best way I found to cut the mango was to lie the mango down on one of the flat sides, turn your knife sideways, and cut the top flat side right off. (should have taken pictures) The instructions for the proper way to cut a mango tell you to then cut cross-sections and cut those out. I found it much easier to just peel the mango and then cut it up into bite size pieces.

I think all of the recipes I've posted so far have come from Cooking Light. No, we don't only use their recipes! They just happen to be easy to grab, quick and yummy recipes from online and I got one of their cookbooks for Christmas last year which I love. They are also pretty healthy (four our standards) recipes as well as pretty budget friendly (depending on what's on sale at your grocery which I'll tackle that topic another day). I hope one day to not have to use recipes. I strive to be like people, like Brit, who can just whip something up with whatever they have on hand and it taste delicious. Oh and they don't even measure! Ah one day. I have made a little bit of progress by throwing together this side salad and some creativity with leftovers.

Happy almost weekend!

Happy Birthday Sister

Happy 2xth Birthday to the most creative, thoughtful, generous, selfless, best big-little sister!



Happy Birthday, Brit!