It has finally arrived

It is officially Fall!  This is my favorite time of year, sweaters, boots and pumpkin spice latte's.  What is your favorite season?

I am obessed

Are you?

The Anticipation is Killing Me

Just got word that these beauties will be arriving early next week. 

My favorite treat

On a day when I have worked out extra hard, I indulge in this special treat.  A nice glass of red wine, with any fresh in season berries and a couple squares of dark chocolate.  Delish!

Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce

Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce

1 lbs ground beef

2 shallots minced

2 cloves of garlic

32 ounces diced tomatoes

1 cup chicken stock

1 cup vodka

1/2 cup heavy cream

20 basil leaves shredded

1 lbs penne pasta

Brown ground beef with shallots and garlic.  Add vodka and cook until vodka reduces by half(about 2-3 minutes).  Add chicken stock and tomatoes, cook until bubbly and then simmer.  Cook pasta, and toss cooked pasta with shredded basil leaves.  Add cream to sauce, cook until bubbly, remove from heat and toss with pasta.  

Bloomin' Onion Bread

I came across the recipe the other day and gave it a shot, it was delicious.  Can't wait to make it again.

Bloomin' Onion Bread

1 round loaf of sourdough, unsliced

12-16 ounces thinly sliced monterey jack cheese

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup finely diced green onions

1 teaspoon garlic powder

4 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cut bread lengthwise without cutting through the bottom, turn and cut in the other direction.  Place loaf on a foil lined sheet.  Insert cheese slices between the cuts of bread.  Combine melted butter, onions, garlic powder and parmesan and pour evenly over the bread. Wrap bread in foil and bake for 15 minutes.  Unwrap and bake and additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.  

4-Oh-9

4-Oh-9 aka April 9th, 2012 came as a great day for the Mr. and I.  This was the day that our darling little Harper decided to join us.  Her arrival was the perfect end to a very life changing 9 months in so many ways.  I guess it seems when we decide to do something, we just do it, having a baby included.  It didn't take long after deciding it was time for a baby, that the reality of said baby was upon us.  The fact that we thought it would take much longer left us in a bit of time crunch to provide the perfect place to bring baby home to.

Our fun little downtown home was a great place for the two of us, with lots of conveniences, memories, stories and much much more, but it was in no way the place we envisioned bringing our little one home to.  This put us on quite the mission to start our quest for our new home and quickly at that.  We had long thought we would eventually make the trek to the beautiful Heber Valley.  We had actually attempted this a few years prior, but it just wouldn't come together.  I guess this is proof that it always happens when the timing is right.  We promptly listed our little home and started picking out the colors, textiles, and  fixtures for our new home.  We drove up weekly to monitor the process, excited with every new 2x4, wall and shingle.  The reality of selling our little home quickly diminished, and we were forced to make a few unexpected financial decisions, but in the end were able to keep our little city gem.  There was a great part of me that was relieved, I am very nostalgic about that place for many reasons.  It was our first home, we put blood, sweat and tears into that place to make it a home, I just couldn't see selling it.  This is where is our journey as landlords started.

As our new home was nearing completion we packed up the years and memories on Hawthorne, there were so many.  Moving day quickly came and we were blessed to have so many people show up to help us, I am grateful to all the people that came in those couple days.  The final trucks were loaded and headed Heber bound, the Mr. and I took a minute, just us at our first little home.  It was the most bittersweet moment of my life.  I was so sad to leave that little place, yet so excited to move into our new home.  The tears were endless on that drive 45 minute drive "home".

We quickly got moved in, well we got the basics in and the rest was moved into the garage.  To this day the home decor is bleak.  I figure I have the rest of my life to get entirely unpacked and decorate.  We were able to spend the next couple months just us and our first baby.....Dublin the monster dog.  We lunched, hiked, shopped, lunched, hiked, shopped....you get the picture.  We were able to have our last couple months before Miss Harper just to enjoy each other and it was blissful.

Flash forward....4-Oh-9, she is here!  We had 4 whole weeks just the 4 of us(including the monster) to just hang out, again blissful.

We are now adjusting to our new life, with our precious girl, in our new town with all the ups and downs.This is where our new journey starts........

A fresh start.....blogging that is

Since I have embarked on a new chapter in life, I think it is time to start fresh with a new blog.  Call this my little journal of sorts.  This will be my place to tell my stories, share my thoughts and ideas, document, and have a little fun.  I would love to have you join on my this new little journey of mine.