a really long post about a really amazing weekend

Friday, to celebrate our 1 year of together-ness, we went on a date!


first, we headed to Wing Nutz. One of our most favorite places to eat. I think it's safe to classify us as "regulars" at this point.


after we ate, we walked around the mall for awhile to kill some time before our movie started.


we went to Nordstrom and looked at shoes. Found awesome ones for Devin, but didn't get them. Found my next pair of toms (my current ones (first pair) are pretty much goners. even though i still wear them all the time...), we got some hot chocolate from House... it's delicious. and we went to Trade Home. Did you know that's actually a really cool store? it is. I needed some polish for my boots, because I invested too much in them to ruin them in one season. The manager shined them up for free and showed me which water protectant to get that will protect the leather from rain/snow.


We went to Taylor Maid to find some halloween costumes. Found plenty of awesome options for Devin... couldn't find anything for me that wouldn't make me look like I belong on a corner... (any ideas? I need to top Devin's costume!)


then we went to The Sweet Tooth Fairy. Devin got some brownie/bar that I don't remember what it was called, or how to pronounce it, and I got a Nutella Cupcake. Delicious. We were stuffed though. Couldn't finish our treats.


Then we went to see 50/50. It was awesome! Seth Rogan is absolutely hilarious, and I love Joseph Gordon Leavitt. He's awesome. Also? Anna Kendrick is in it. And I am starting to really like her as an actress.


We got home super later and watched some Modern Family before bed, and woke up this morning to take some family photos for Devin's high school buddy. We've done a photo shoot every Saturday for the last 3 weeks! And we're doing another family shoot tomorrow! Crazy. I love that CBD has been busy though. Can't complain about that!


It was so much fun, and I kept feeling like we weren't married. Like we were just on a date. It was weird, but in a fun way, really. The best part was remembering that I get to go home with him, and not just say goodnight and go our separate ways. I love dating my husband.


Yesterday after the photo shoot, and dropping off some discs from a shoot 2 weeks ago, we decided to head over to devin's parents house, to see what the family was up to. We spent a few hours over there with everybody in and out all day long. It was a mad house, but we had a good time. As always. I got to spend some time with Amanda and Chloe. We helped Amanda get some orders ready (Chloe got the orders all boxed up, and I cut out labels/cards).


I am amazed that Amanda runs this business totally by herself. It is a lot of work, and she has a lot of business so it's gotta be insane sometimes! I loved helping her though, and I hope that happens more often. She is so creative and literally makes THE CUTEST hair accessories for big AND little girls I have ever seen. And I'm not just saying that. Amanda has serious talent. Did you know you can buy Addison Renee hair accessories on etsy, at Pebbles In My Pocket in Orem and at The Quilted Bear in Provo! DO IT! (Visit PRETTIES tab for more info).


We came home and watched some TV (I took a nap) before we headed down to the Velour to FINALLY see a band we have been trying to see for MONTHS.


IMAGINE DRAGONS!


They've come out here several times in the last year, but we've never been able to make it to a show, which kills me! But we finally went tonight. We weren't going to let anything stop us! Even though we were tired and I have been sick, we went. But not before we stopped at Coldstone for some Ice Cream! I have deemed Coldstone to have the best mint ice cream in the history of ever. I mixed in 1 oreo, and it was perfect. Devin got oreo creme with brownies, and the guy making it gave him a hard time, but he loved it!


ANYWAY. We got in line around 6:45. Doors didn't open until 8. The crowd lining University Ave. to get into Velour was huge! We were worried about getting a good spot. We wanted to sit, and when the doors finally opened (At least 8:30. typical.) we were able to get on a bench in the back!



waiting in line... forEVER.


The bands that opened, I don't remember what they were called. Mostly because I didn't like them. The music was boring and I was paying more attention to the TV in the back playing Occidental Saloon videos...


When Imagine Dragons came out, you could literally feel the energy in the room rise. And when Dan Reynolds came on stage? The crowd LITERALLY went WILD. Devin said he had never seen Velour so crazy. It was insane!


I can't say enough good things about the band. They were amazing live. AMAZING. Dan seriously knows how to put on a show. He got the crowd SO excited and had so much energy. He is so talented and I can't believe how great that show was.





I was already blown away, but then, Dan started to tell a story. He said there was someone in the crowd named Tyler Robinson who had shared his story with Dan. Dan said he was extremely touched by Tyler's story, which was of him currently fighting cancer. Dan said Tyler had requested a song, and dedicated it to him.


As soon as Dan said Tyler's name, I saw a young (probably in high school) kid in a beanie raise his hand. We were behind and off to the side of him a little, so I didn't see his face, but I can only imagine. I will never forget the image of Tyler raising his hand when he heard Dan say his name and slowly remove the beanie from his head (revealing a totally bald head) in total bewilderment as he worked his way to the stage.


There is no way that this incident didn't touch every single person in that venue. It was so amazing to witness an act of kindness like that.


As Dan started to play one of our favorites, It's Time, a few people at the stage lifted Tyler onto their shoulders until he was eye-level with Dan, and Dan literally sang the entire song right to Tyler. It was one of the sweetest things I have ever seen.


It doesn't happen often that one band, one MAN, has the kind of power to absolutely and completely inspire and humble a large group of people, who were crowd surfing 2 songs earlier. You felt it in the room. It isn't something I will forget and I think it's safe to say I wasn't the only person there that was making a conscious effort not to cry.


When the song was over, Tyler worked his way back to the back of the venue and sat down on the bench by me, and for the next 10 minutes, several people came up to high five, hug, or even shake hands with this kid as the happiest tears streamed down his face.


I can't imagine what that must have meant to him. I feel privileged to have been able to witness that moment.


While the band played the song, I couldn't help by try and relate the lyrics to cancer, like I'm sure Tyler must have, and to me, it is totally relatable. I was totally inspired by this kid I only know the name of. It was obvious that he wasn't going to let the cancer define him or change him, and the song says so much about that! Totally inspiring:


lyrics:


So this is what you meant
When you said that you were spent
And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit, right to the top
Don't hold back
Packing my bags and giving the Academy a rain check

I don't ever want to let you down
I don't ever want to leave this town
Cuz after all
This city never sleeps at night

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
I'm never changing who I am

So this is where you fell
And I am left to sell
The path to heaven runs through miles of clouded hell right to the top
Don't look back
Turning to rags and giving the commodities a rain check

I don't ever want to let you down
I don't ever want to leave this town
Cuz after all
This city never sleeps at night

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
I'm never changing who I am

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
I'm never changing who I am

This road never looked so lonely
This house doesn't burn down slowly
To ashes
To ashes

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
I'm never changing who I am

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
I'm never changing who I am


**I bolded the bridge of the song, because I feel like it totally relates to what I can only imagine Tyler is going through. What an awesome attitude to have while going through something so completely taxing on your body, spirit and mind.


I can't say enough how amazing that was! Seriously. Maybe I will be able to find a video of it on youtube or something, but I did a little facebook stalking of the band, and found some pictures someone else posted of Tyler being lifted by the crowd up to Dan:

recipe overload

Devin and I have been cooking like crazy tonight! Not sure why. I think we just get in this mood sometimes. But I have never once been disappointed with his cooking experiments. Ever. And he experiments probably about once a week.


Tonight? Homemade gnocchi and breaded chicken.


We were talking and I told him that I would never consider making my own breaded chicken, or gnocchi (let alone even know what gnocchi WAS) if it weren't for him!


I decided to make a few different sauces I have found on pinterest (not to go with our dinner. just for fun): homemade j-dawgs sauce and "comeback sauce" (which is a white bbq sauce)


And I also made rice pilaf. Just the rice-a-roni from a box. I love it. I want to eat it with every meal.


next I made some lemon bars. just from a box. i've never made them before, so hopefully they turn out good. and last but not least? why, muddie buddies of course!


so, here you have it: a recipe overload!:


*i'm going to add my own side notes in a different color. feel free to skip over them.


Homemade Gnocchi:


ingredients:
2 potatoes
2 egg yolks
about 2 cups of flour


Bake potatoes in over until tender. Let cool just until you can skin them, right before you make the gnocchi. The potato needs to be warm, or else the gnocchi will not turn out right (the flour and potato will not bind with the egg).


Devin and I have a gas stove and have had a serious issue with baking potatoes. We were just never able to make it work - until tonight! What we did: cleaned potatoes really well, poked lots and lots of deep holes in each potato with a fork. Place directly on oven rack and cooked for 1 hour at 400 degrees. Worked like a charm! Especially for this recipe! It's probably different for you if you don't have a gas stove though.


Scoop out potato flesh and put through a ricer into a bowl. We didn't have a ricer (not sure what that even is) so Devin just mashed them. Add slightly beaten egg yolks. Incorporate about 1.5 cups of the flour and mix until dough is formed. Place on counter. Using some of the rest of the flour, knead lightly until you have a nice dough formed, one that is not too sticky but yet is not super firm.


Cut the dough into three sections with a pastry scraper. (We ironically have one, but if you don't, a knife would work just fine. It won't make any difference. At least, I don't think...? haha). Roll out sections into cords and then, with the pastry scraper, cut the cords into one inch little gnocchi. Set gnocchi on a lightly floured (paper) towel until ready to use.





Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add half the gnocchi and cover. When the water comes back to a boil, remove lid. When the gnocchi float to the top, cook for one minute longer. With a strainer (slotted spoon), remove gnocchi into either your waiting pan with sauce, or into a serving dish. Repeat with remaining gnocchi.


For sauce, we didn't really think to make our own, but we had some left over of our favorite kind which is Bertolli Four Cheese. So good! We also topped it with some freshly grated mozzarella and it was amazing! 


If you know me, you know I do NOT like potatoes. Don't know why. I know, I'm crazy. But I have just never liked them in any form other than french fries and potato chips and now, gnocchi! 


Homemade J-Dawgs Sauce:


*this stuff is incredibly similar to the real thing. I probably wouldn't be able to tell a difference!


ingredients:
3/4 cup ketchup
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp. cider vinegar (also known as apple cider vinegar. but maybe you knew that and i'm the weird one that didn't know they were the same thing)
1 tsp. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. onion powder (we didn't have any, and in a panic, i googled substitutes for it. garlic powder worked just fine. *garlic powder and garlic salt are not the same thing though. Almost made that mistake. again, maybe it's just me. haha)


Combine all in a saucepan over medium heat just to boiling.


I interpreted the instructions to mean "heat up on stove to make it runny". and after awhile over medium heat, it was bubbling and popping a little bit.


I'm not sure how well this refrigerates. We obviously didn't eat it tonight (except for a taste test that it passed with flying colors), so I just put it in a small mason jar in the fridge, and hopefully it will be good. We plan on having hot dogs tomorrow, so I'll try to remember to let you know.


Comeback Sauce (white BBQ sauce):


ingredients:
2 cups mayo
1 1/2 tbsp. salt
2 tbsp. pepper
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/3 cup lemon juice
4 tbsp. sugar


those ingredients seemed a little weird to me. that's a WHOLE LOT of salt and pepper and even a lot of cider vinegar, but it's right. and it's delicious.


Mix well. Mayo won't mix very well at first, but just keep going. I used a wisk. It worked like a charm. Refrigerate at least over night before use. Use like you would normal BBQ sauce!


Breaded Chicken:


This isn't really a recipe. But I'll tell you how Devin did it. I think he just looked up a few different ways online and derived his own process from that.


First: he MADE breadcrumbs. I'm never buying breadcrumbs! All he did was mix 3 pieces of bread (torn up into smaller pieces to fit into the food processor) with some garlic salt and italian seasoning, and combined in a food processor! It was perfect!


SO. He took 2 chicken breasts and pounded them to make them thinner (otherwise they won't cook through all the way without burning the breading). We didn't have one of those meat hammer things, so he just used his fist. I doubt he recommends it, because it hurt... but it worked!?


next, he seasoned them with salt, pepper, and italian seasoning (season however you like) and then tossed them in flour, covering each breast completely.


Then he quickly (so the flour wouldn't dissolve off) dipped them in a mixture of 2 eggs, salt and pepper.


And then into bread crumbs. Covering completely with bread crumbs.


He had 3 bowl lined up side by side for this process, so he could quickly move from one to the next.


He put the breaded chicken into a frying pan with less olive oil then you think you need (about 2 tbsp.)


and cooked them until the chicken was cooked all the way through. (we cut one of the breasts in half to see if it's done usually).





No recipe for Rice or Lemon Bars, but I do have a recommendation: Rice-A-Roni Rice Pilaf is my favorite. It goes with everything you could ever make for dinner (unless you're a "breakfast for dinner" kind of person (which I am).) And it only takes about 20 minutes to make. Honestly? It took me a couple tries to get the hang of making good rice, but it's so much easier than you think. Also? The Lemon Bars were just a box from Krusteaz. Delicious. Super super simple. We for some reasons don't own at 8x8 pan, so we borrowed one, because we learned this morning that it's important to use the size pan a recipe calls for (Devin's cornbread this morning didn't quite work out).


Muddie Buddies:


*I've posted a recipe for muddie buddies on here before, but we have since perfected it to our own personal liking. So this is the revised version I will call "Ashby's Clumpy, Gooey Muddie Buddies". My sister-in-law Chloe share a similar obsession with muddie buddies and has perfected her own version as well. Chloe adds a kind of cereal and mini marshmallows sometimes, and it's DELICIOUS!


Devin and I LOVE the clumps in the muddie buddies, so I tweaked the recipe to make more clumps, and it worked perfectly!


Also? One night at the grocery store, we were on the cereal aisle picking up more Chex (it's a staple in the house for this very reason). and Devin picked up the box of Cinnamon Chex and said "could we use this?" YES. YES WE CAN. And YES. YES WE DID. And YES. YES ITS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Tonight, we only had about 2 cups of Cinnamon Chex left, so I just mixed that with normal chex, and it's soooo good.


1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I love the Ghirardelli. they are sometimes more expensive, but always worth it. it's important that you use really yummy chocolate chips, otherwise, they wont taste as good!)
about 1 cup of peanut butter (I got so sick of using a measuring cup with peanut butter. it was messy and hard and annoying, so I just started eyeballing it, so i'm guessing it's about 1 cup. more or less...)
1 tbps butter


Put chips, peanut butter and butter in microwave for 1 minute in a large bowl.


*sometimes, it doesn't look like it melted, but you just need to stir it, and it will continue melting. if you put it in the microwave too long, the chocolate will just burn and it won't be useable. 


Add 1 tsp (we do a LITTLE less because it can sometimes get a little overpowering) vanilla


pour over 5-6 cups (again, I eyeball it) Chex (like I said earlier, tonight's batch was 2 cups cinnamon chex, about 3 cups regular rice chex, and it was an ideal mixture!)


Stir carefully (as to not crush the cereal) into it is evenly coated in the chocolate mixture.


-- Put 2 cups of powdered sugar in a gallon-sized bag. Add chocolate coated cereal. (This part is sort of hard. I usually have Devin hold open the bag for me)


Shake it like a wild woman (or man).


Eat immediately. Because it's most delicious when it's warm and accompanied by a large glass of milk.


*another thing I did to make this recipe better (in my opinion): I mix the cereal with the chocolate in the same bowl I melted the chocolate in. I used to use a different bowl for everything, but this way, I just melt the mixture in a large bowl, add the cereal, mix it, and then dump it all in a bag. Only dirties one bowl and one rubber spatula!





----------------------------------------------------


I know that was a whole lot of recipes for one post, but trust me, they are all amazing and definitely worth trying! And believe me when I say If we can do it, you definitely can!


Ideal way to end such an eventful night? Washing dishes together, mixed with a combination of dance offs, water fights, and sing-a-longs.


Here's a picture of the final meal:

365

october is a good month. 

earlier this month, marked one year since I first saw Devin at the wedding, and today marks one year since our first date. next week will mark 5 months of being married.

we have seen each other every single day for an entire year. that's 365 days. together. 

the best year to date!

i love my husband. i love that he is my husband. and i love that he has made the effort to see me every single day. no matter what. 

it's going to be this way forever, and i am so happy about that.

it seems like it's been so much longer than a year. we have done so much together. we have learned so much together and learned so much about each other. we have gone through so much together.

i love a reason to celebrate, and this is definitely one of them. 

this is such a small amount of time compared to the big picture.

I think I will stick to stalking you from afar...

I think I've opened the Twitter "join today for free!" page about 6 times in the last month. 

I'm tempted.

But I always talk myself out of it. 

What's the point? 

I don't even get how it works. 

I won't even have any followers. 

I'm not funny enough to tweet. 

Do I really need another life-sucking conniving vortex lulling me out of reality on a daily basis? Removing me further and further form society? (I'm hooked enough as it is).

And I figure... If I can talk myself out of it 6 times in a row? Then it's probably okay that I'm just not going to get one.

Plus also... I already have limited (but still totally useful) access to the twitter accounts of the people I care to read the tweets of when my heart desires to do so (ie: Danica, Chloe, Devin, mormongirlprobs, provoallstar, etc...).

week at a glance

 

aria in a witch hat. twice. 

 

devin masterfully making one of our pinterest recipes for sunday dinner w/ his fam. it was delicious!

 

devin's cheesy chicken pasta. SO good. mmm

things i did with the munchkins this week:

 

built a fort and watched Toy Story 3. (notice aria's sitting in her mini lawn chair)

pumpkin patch today:

we picked out some pumpkins and took them home to paint them. and couldn't help but stop for frosty's on the way home... :)

today certainly got off to a bad start. we woke up this morning to find that our bike rack and cargo rack had been stolen from the mazda. maybe you remember just months ago when we BOUGHT the cargo rack? and the bike rack was pretty new too... major bummer.

and then? devin blows a tire in his work truck. on the FREEWAY. he didn't get hurt, and everything is fine, but still.

also? aria may have had a small accident on my shirt. which was a pleasure. i was certain that would happen eventually. and at this point, i'm not surprised it was today!

tomorrow, i have the day off from nannying because the kids are on UEA break and will be staying with their grandma, but most likely, i will have them at my house tomorrow for a few hours to help her out a little. i think that will be a fun change for them. trying to think of what we can do! devin and i don't have a super kid-friendly house. that should probably change, what with our friends' kids, nieces and nephews and cases like this! oh well. it will be just fine! (i'm thinking we'll make cupcakes? or cookies?)

last night, i had a fun time hanging out with my sister in law Amanda for a few hours. we had dinner with the family, gave addi a bath (hilarious), made a wal-mart run for some ingredients and snacks, made s'mores and watched the Pretty Little Liars Halloween special. i'm so glad she likes the show too. it's so ridiculous and i hate admitting that i watch it (...i love it), so at least we can be embarrassed together! she also convinced me to make devin and i's stockings this year instead of buying some off pinterest. 

the ones i wanted were burlap with a lace trim. the lace wasn't floral though, it was reindeer! amanda said she's seen the lace before, and burlap is everywhere, so it will be way cheaper to just make them ourselves! i'm so excited about it. i don't know if the world (or myself) is ready for another katie sewing challenge though. but hopefully we'll go to a fabric store tomorrow and see what we can find.

once more

today is a day that i am truly grateful for my husband. 

in light of too many different things going on around us, including a schedule too busy to fathom, he has taken the time to remind me when and why he made covenants to me, and to our Heavenly Father to stand by me and with me for time and all eternity. 

i don't think i can say enough how truly lost i would be without him. i wouldn't be half the person i am today if it weren't for his constant example to me. his constant love and support. always making me smile. always reminding me that he loves me unconditionally. it is an incredible feeling. 

i find myself thinking "why me?" when it comes to devin. wondering what i possibly could have done so right to deserve so much from a man so well put together (and i mean that in ever aspect of the phrase). i almost feel inferior, but not necessarily in a bad way. just in a way that makes me feel extremely blessed to deserve his adoration.

last night, he posted a music video on my wall, which i promptly listened to. one of our favorites. the first song he ever showed me (it was followed by at least thousands). i didn't notice until today that he had written above it "take a trip down memory lane, my love"

which i did. remembering our 7 months of dating (3 of which were spent engaged). it was the happiest time of my life, up until our marriage, that is! 

not to mention, it sure helps on a day like this that the song is titled "don't blame yourself"

devin seems to have been made for me. and i mean that literally. nobody else could complete me the way he does. i tell him at least a million times a day, but it never seems to be enough. so i'll say it once more: 

i love you so much devin. 

five things: weekend.

my weekend described in a 5 things post:

On Friday, I didn't have work, so after getting my eyelash extensions refilled by the amazing Baylee Taylor (let me know if you want extensions and I'll give you details! she's awesome!), I had lunch with one of my best friends, Valeri. That night, Devin and I headed down to Velour to see our good friend, Cory Mon play! Devin and Cory have been close friends for several years, and he promptly introduced me to his music when we started dating. He isn't your typical provo hipster artist. not at all. his following is actually a lot more centered around the Salt Lake area, and he's not like anything I've ever heard. As I've gotten to know Cory a little, I have gained so much respect for him. As a person, as a musician, and as a friend. He is one of the most respectful, kind-hearted, hilarious individuals I have ever met, and I am always impressed with him. After watching him play, it is so obvious how much his music means to him, and I feel like that is an aspect of the industry that a lot of artists tend to lose site of. It was refreshing to see someone who is still performing for the sake of the music.

This was the first time I have seen Cory perform live, since the other times he's performed in Utah lately have all been in 21+  venues. I was amazed! He was so good live, and he shared the stage with his good friend, Wes Kirkpatrick, who I am guaranteed to start listening to on a regular basis. So great! A band called Lady and Gent opened for Wes and Cory, and they weren't too bad either! They had won battle of the bands over the summer, and I loved their harmonies. It was such a great show, even though we didn't get home until 12:00, it was totally worth it. (Oh! Plus also, Dustin Christensen played with Wes. And we love Dustin. He does a lot of his own singing and songwriting, and he's also in one of our favorite bands, The Lower Lights, a hymn revival kind of band.)

On Saturday, Devin and I shot a wedding in Draper for a couple we've been working with for a few months now (we did their engagements and bridals as well). It was awesome to finally see everything come together for them. We got to the temple way early and finally got around to shooting (um. the draper temple is SO windy. poor Jill (bride), her veil kept flying out! There were probably about 80 people at the temple, and I thought that getting all the group pictures was going to be impossible. To get 80 people to listen to one person? yeah right. Devin is the man! He got everything done so fast, and it all looked so great. I heard a guy behind me saying "whoa. this guy is business! he knows what he's doing!" -- it's true, it's true.

After the temple pictures, we decided to head to Salt Lake to do a little shopping and get some lunch.

1. We headed to Trifecta, one of our favorite stores. Our good friend Brittany works there, and they sell those Middle Kingdom vases I'm always raving about. We caved and bought 3!

our three new additions.

our ever-growing collection!

2. Brittany recommended we had lunch just a few doors down that The Soup Kitchen, so we did! I had the best creamy tomato soup ever, with a California sandwich. It was delicious!

(photo not taken by me)

3. On our way back to the car, Devin did something I think he will regret. He let us go into Central Book Exchange. I was immediately engrossed in the stacks and piles of books all over the store and ended up leaving with 7, and only paying $32! I would post pictures of books I got, but they will all be gifts, except for an AWESOME copy of To Kill A Mockingbird that I've never seen before (which is weird).

(photo not taken by me)

After all that, we headed back to Draper for the reception, which was in a huge backyard. It was awesome, and Devin got some amazing shots, including family pictures for the groom's family of 24 adults! We didn't shoot any kids, and we still had tons of  people! Again, it would have been a huge challenge for any photographer, but Devin did so great, and handled it all so well. I was even frustrated and I was hardly doing anything! He is just that good I guess.

Other things:

4. My new earrings. I think they're my new favorites.

5. After the reception was over, we drove home but stopped at the grocery store to pick up some last minute things for dinner on Sunday (we are having Devin's family over. It's our turn to cook!), and we stumbled upon THIS. Wild Berry 7-up. It's delicious! Way better than the pomegranate that I thought I loved. I'm nervous it won't be around for very long, so we have plans to go back soon and stock UP.

It was a good weekend.