Fall Anticipation

Guys, I am so ready for it to be fall. It's my favorite season. I love the crisp air, crunchy leaves, and  integration of sweaters and scarves back into my wardrobe. I'm ready to say sayonara to the summer with its oppressive heat. Right around this time of year I start to feel like the fall is coming much sooner than it is. In my head, fall should always start on the first day of September, sadly that's mostly not the case here in Utah. Either way, I've been thinking of back to school shopping. I'll be starting my first semester at the University of Utah next month and would love to step up my wardrobe a bit. As a result, I made a little collage of the things that are inspiring me for the impending fall.

As you can see, I'm feeling a lot of pattern, namely stripes, plaids, and polka dots. I'm also loving structured jackets, layers (as always) slouchy sweaters, and interesting hats. Fall just needs to hurry up and get here!

Are you excited for the fall or holding on to summer as long as possible? What's your favorite fall trend?

A Song for Saturday

A new favorite via Pandora.



Have a good weekend!

Thankful

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Hello friends. I have decided to do a little list every now and then that highlights the things I am thankful for in an effort to notice all the little (and big) blessings in my life and to be able to appreciate them more fully. I added the code for the picture above so if you would like to participate and list the things you're grateful for, just copy the code to you blog. If you do decide to participate, leave a link to your post in the comments and I'll go check it out!  Here goes!

-Today I am grateful that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I love the foundation it gives me and I love lessons like the one I had yesterday on learning how to "Arise and Shine."

-Going along with that, I also love teaching my one little Sunbeam (the Sunbeam class is for the 3 year-olds). He is so sweet and adorable and I never get tired of the funny stories he tells me. Last week he told me that his mom told him that if he hits a butterfly, it will hit back. Awesome.
-I am thankful for my kittens, specifically Ponce. I've been having a pretty rough couple of weeks and Karl pointed out the other day that Ponce follows me everywhere and is always in the same room as me. This makes me happy.

-I am grateful that I only have two weeks left of math and that next month I get to start all my fun English classes.

-I am grateful that I was able to find a minor that suits me and declare it this last week! It's Arts and Technology!

-I am thankful for all the great friends I've made through blogging. All of your comments make blogging so worth it! I am also particularly grateful for Tina and the wonderful pick-me-up she sent me last week. Blogging buddies are the best.

-I am thankful for my husband, Karl, and all the silly moments he's supplying me with lately in an effort to keep my spirits high. He's a keeper.

What are you grateful for today?

Fun in the Kitchen: Chicken Pot Pie

I've really been enjoying learning how to cook some of my family's recipes as I'm learning how to cook in general. Food that I though was solely reserved for trips home to Massachusetts is now accessible to me here, well, except boiled dinner (stupid Utah doesn't have Daisy Ham!). This recipe is one of my favorites. It's chicken pot pie with a cornbread twist. It's amazing. I promise. It makes a full 9x13 cake pan.  

What you'll need:
-3 chicken breasts
-2 cans of Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup
-Frozen carrots and peas
-Salt
-Pepper
-Quaker Oats Corn Meal (2 servings)
-Flour
-Sugar
-Baking powder
-Skim milk
-Vegetable oil
-1 egg

The Directions:

1. Cut the chicken into cubes

2. Boil a large pan of water

3. Add chicken to boiling water and wait until it's cooked through (3-5 minutes)

4. Strain the chicken

5. In a large bowl add the cream of chicken soup and the cooked chicken and mix until the chicken is thoroughly coated.

6. Thaw the carrots and peas a bit by running them under hot water for a few minutes (just until the veggies aren't in a hard block) and add them to the bowl.

7. Add pinch salt, pinch pepper

8. Mix everything together and spread it evenly across the ungreased cake pan.

9. Let it cook on 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.

10. While the chicken mixture is baking, make the corn bread topping according to the instructions on the back of the Quaker Oats Cornmeal container. You will want to do 2 servings to get a nice thick layer of corn bread.

11. Take the baked chicken mixture out of the oven and turn the oven up to 400 degrees.

12. Spread the cornbread mix thickly and evenly across the top.

13. Bake the whole thing in the oven for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Be careful not to stick the toothpick too far down, or you'll get the chicken mixture and think the cornbread isn't done yet. Not that that's what I did or anything...

14. Plate up and enjoy!

Let me know if you try this! I'd love to know how you liked it!

Our Wedding Cumbudsrity!

Two years ago today, I woke up alone. I remember feeling odd, thinking, "These are my last few hours of being single." I was in a sort of daze. I walked to the kitchen to pour myself a bowl of cereal. The second it was in my mouth I spit it out. The milk was spoiled. I thought "This cannot be a good omen." I started to get a little worried. Maybe the spoiled milk was a sign. Maybe I wasn't supposed to get married. But then again, there's probably some old wives tail about spoiled milk bringing good luck on the wedding day. Either way, I was a little unsettled by it. A few minutes later Karl came to see me and brought me a card and a bar of dark chocolate (my favorite). I read all about how much he loved me and how excited he was for that day and I immediately felt relief. I knew I was doing the right thing, marrying the right person.

The rest of the morning was a hazy blur. I got my hair done by my best friend and bridesmaid, Robyn, my mom did my makeup, and I slid into my dress that reminded me of one of my grandmother's dresses we still have in the attic at home. I put on the makeshift bracelet Karl made out of that same grandmother's necklace. I felt like a doll. I'm not sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

A little while later, my dad arrived at my house from the hotel. When he walked through the door, his eyes started to water and he said, "Krisp, you look beautiful." That's still one of my favorite moments in life.

My parents drove me to Murray park where my wedding was being held, all the while trying not to wrinkle my dress. I could see Karl waiting for me at the bottom of the hill at the entrance to the gazebo. I walked down the paved path, linking arms with my dad, with my mom carrying my train.

 Once I saw Karl's face, I felt at home. Nothing else in the world mattered but him. He smiled at me and mouthed "I love you."All of a sudden I got butterflies. Among a very small group of family and friends we got married. Our vows were off the cuff and I wouldn't have changed that for anything. My Uncle Earl married us and injected the perfect amount of humor into the ceremony.

Then we were married! Then we took lots of pictures all by the very talented Dave Brewer.

Typical Forzese Family picture.

On the way home, Karl and I blasted Katy Perry in the car. I have no idea why, but singing and making up ridiculous car dance moves just felt right. It's one of my favorite parts of that day.

 We went to the luncheon later where I was able to change into a cotton dress. I felt so much more myself. We had a barbeque in our back yard and it really was lovely, despite the fact that it was turning into the hottest day of the year.

The reception was great. We had a good turnout and so many family members chipped in and helped us with the dessert buffet. The night was hot, but lovely. It turned out exactly as I had imagined. All of that wedding planning, saving, and stressing was worth it. By 8:30 Karl and I were exhausted. We decided to leave a bit early, and we were greeted with a car covered in shaving cream and Oreos. And were were out of windshield wiper fluid. Haha. We drove to the car wash with Karl's head out the window.

By the end of the day, we were so glad it was over. It was great, but I think every engaged couple just can't wait until the whole wedding thing is over and the marriage part can begin. From that point onward, our goal was to get sealed in the temple that next year. That is why we actually choose to call our anniversary July 30th, the day we were sealed as a family for all eternity in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple.

Well there you have it. Congratulations if you made it this far. Haha.

P.S. The title of this post is derived from the text Karl sent me this morning. It meant to say anniversary. :)

Garden Update

I thought it was time to do a little update on our garden! Last year, Karl planted a little garden in planter boxes while I was visiting my parents in Massachusetts. We ended up with a few tomatoes, a few green peppers, and a ton of zucchini and crookneck squash.

We decided to expand this year and use the whole space in front of our porch, as well as some terracotta pots (see pictures of the beginnings of this year's garden here). We took chances and planted watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, cherry tomatoes, Early Girl Tomatoes, jalapenos, red and green peppers, peas, and beans.

We weren't sure how it was going to work out, especially considering the blisteringly hot summer Utah has been having, but so far so good! Here' a little peak at what we've been seeing so far. We're still anticipating zucchini and squash, so cross your fingers that they start to produce!

Do any of you have gardens this year?

Attn: Utah Friends

Hey Utah friends! I thought this was too cool not to post. I already entered and I really I one of you wins!

On July 19, Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers will bring an evening of bluegrass and laughs to the Red Butte Garden summer concert series. Wumpsee.com’s Facebook page is your place to win FREE tickets to the show.

Martin and his band have exposed new audiences to bluegrass with their impeccable harmonies, off-the-charts pickin' and a hearty dose of comedy. Martin first teamed up with the Rangers in 2009 for a broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion. Although he has played banjo since he was 17 years old, it was with the Rangers that Martin showcased his musical talent.

Martin obviously takes his music very serious, but you can't take the country out of the boy, or in this case, the comedy. Expect to be entertained from start to finish with toe-tapping music and razor sharp wit from Steve and the gang.

To learn more about this great event, check out Wumpsee.com. And for a chance to WIN two tickets to this sold out show go to the Wumpsee Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Wumpsee/app_107727025983833.

Ya, I'm pretty sure that show is going to be amazing. Now go enter!

Our Weekend Adventures

Karl and I have been so busy lately. When we're not working on school things, Karl's working tons and I'm cleaning and cooking. Because of this, we haven't gotten to the Salt Lake City Farmer's Market nearly as much as we've wanted to. Last weekend however, Karl budgeted some time off so we could go. The farmer's market is one of our top reasons for loving Salt Lake. There's so much going on there! Cute dogs weaving in and out of the crowd, local artists performing, small restaurants serving lunch and of course tons of fresh fruit and veggies. It's a really great, eclectic formation of people and services. Anyways, here are some photos:

Don't worry that's just some guy playing a didgeridoo.

Accordion music for the win.

Karl loves him some raspberries!

One of my most favorite things about the farmer's market is fruit pies. Mmm.

Taking a break.

Karl got a chair massage for his aching back. Ya, they have massages there too.

So much goodness all in one place.

As you can see, we had a wicked awesome time at the farmer's market and brought home tons of fresh cherries! Where is your favorite farmer's market?

Fun in the Kitchen: Stuffed Peppers

*Update, I created a new link in the toolbar on the right titled "Fun in the Kitchen." If you're ever looking for a recipe I have featured here like cocoa brownies, chocolate chip cookies, black moons, kebabs, etc. just click that link and you'll be sure to find it!*

One of my favorite Forzese Family recipes from growing up is Stuffed Peppers. My mom and dad would make them, usually on Sundays for our fancy post-church meals. My little sister hated the pepper part and always gave it to me. I relished in taking the tasty extra pepper for myself. Anyways, since I quit my job, I agreed to cook more so our budget would be a little happier. I decided the first meal I would make would be Forzese Family Stuffed Peppers. Now I am passing this recipe onto all of you. While the finished product isn't the prettiest thing in the world, they are super easy to make and even make amazing leftovers. Okay, here goes!

What you'll need:
-2 lbs ground beef
-6 green bell peppers
-1 package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix
-2 handfuls of Italian breadcrumbs
-2 good sized handfuls of brown rice
-1 egg
-A dash of salt
-A dash of pepper
-1 jar spaghetti or marinara sauce (I just used Bertolli Marinara Sauce)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Cut the lids off the green peppers and wash and clean out the middles (you can throw away the lids).

3. Bring a large pan of water to a boil, then add the peppers. Let them boil for 5-10 minutes until they are slightly soft, but still mostly firm. You should be able to stab a fork into them relatively easily.

4. While the peppers are boiling, combine ground beef, Lipton Onion Soup Mix, Italian breadcrumbs, brown rice, egg, salt, pepper, and half of the jar of spaghetti sauce in a large bowl.

5. Mix with your preferred method. I find the most effective way is just mixing it by hand, despite the chill-inducing feeling of touching raw hamburger.

6. Once the peppers are done, line them up in a casserole dish or cake pan covered in tin foil. I didn't use foil, but I really wish I had.

7. Stuff each pepper with a handful of ground beef. Don't be afraid to pack it in. (That's what she said).

8. Pour the remainder of the spaghetti sauce over the peppers.

9. Let them bake for an hour. You can test if they're done by slicing a pepper in half. There shouldn't be any pink inside.

10. Broil the peppers on low for just a couple of minutes to crisp up the tops. Watch them really carefully. Don't leave them alone for even a minute! They WILL burn.

11. Serve your Stuffed Peppers up with some mashed potatoes and enjoy!

My peppers were a little...Special...

It took a lot of courage to mix this all by hand.

Some of the peppers may split while boiling. It's no big deal. They'll still bake perfectly.

Ya. They're really pretty. Haha.

And again, not very attractive, but incredibly delicious! Mmm.

Let me know if you end up making these and how they turned out!

July 4th

Happy Independence Day America! Today's Photo A Day prompt is "Fun" and I thought my nails looked pretty fun! Have a great day!

July 3

The prompt for today's Photo A Day challenge is "Best Part of Your Day." Today was pretty uneventful, though I did go on an old English binge and watched Pride and Prejudice and started North and South. Obviously I'm being really productive in this first week off. Haha. Anyways, the best part of today, and everyday is when Karl comes home from work and leans over the back of the couch to kiss me. :)

Do you participate in Photo a Day? If so, leave a link here and I'll check your photos out!

July Photo a Day, Day 2

Last month I know I wasn't the best about doing Fat Mum Slim's Photo a Day, but I've decided to commit to this month. I missed July 1st, but I figured I'd just start today on a Monday. Today's prompt was "Busy." This was my afternoon. I was busy planning the vacation part of my study abroad trip next summer to the Dominican Republic. The week after classes end, Karl will be joining me for a week full of beaches and relaxation. We're pretty pumped.

Do you participate in Photo a Day? If so, leave a link here and I'll check your photos out!

Cute Kittens Sleeping

I realized the other day that it's been a really long time since I've posted pictures of Ponce and Kitten! You all probably still think of Ponce as a mini kitten I could fit in the palm of my hand! Well, he's gotten pretty big much to my dismay, but he's still adorable, as is Kitten. So behold, several pictures of my kittens sleeping!

Kitten was literally sleeping like this for 15 minutes.

So, not sleeping, but sometimes when Karl gets home from church he throws his pants on the chair and Kitten burrows inside them.

So cute, right?!

Ponce likes to sleep in baskets of clean laundry. We have to rewash it, but it's so cute that we're not mad!

My little Ponce-y all grown up!

I love that bushy tail!

How cute is that face!

Thanks for indulging me in my cat lady tendencies. You have to admit, Kitten and Ponce are particularly cute sleepers. It almost makes the excessive summer shedding/cat hair everywhere bearable. Almost.