Home Sweet Home with a Side of Ale

There has not been too much excitement happening for Kyle and I since we arrived home from Illinois.  The few weeks ago Kyle and I went to see the movie Crafting. A Nation at Jester King Brewery.  The land the brewery is located on is absolutely beautiful with its rustic look.  Hmmm maybe a nice spot for a wedding??? J  The movie we watched was right up Kyle’s alley.  I enjoyed it as well but I believe Kyle found more inspiration from it than I did.  It was awesome seeing how much people put their heart and life into running a brewery.  I never associated pure happiness with running a company until I watched this documentary.  There were two true downsides to the night for me though…boooo. 

1.       Most of the beer is made in aged oak barrels.  YUCK!  Kyle doesn’t mind this but it makes it a little too sour for me.  So unfortunately I could not enjoy the beer as much as I would have liked to. 

2.       GIANT.  SPIDER.  Did I make myself clear???   Giant meaning bigger than a silver dollar and its body was thicker than your two thumbs put on top of each other. This spider was so quick on the dark ground that it looked like it was just floating.  This movie was outside in the grass so let’s just say I was paranoid during the whole movie wondering when this huge spider was going to attack.  I probably distracted every single audience member with my constant kicking and shuffling of my feet.  Ugh. 

Last weekend Kyle and his housemates hosted a housewarming party.  It was a ton of fun and surprisingly not awkward.  The reason there was thought that it might become awkward was because it was 4 housemates invited their own separate group of friends, coworkers and family.  This was bound to be a crazy group of randoms, but it turned out being this beautiful mix.  Everyone got to know each and stayed for such a long time.  Beautiful celebration. 

 

A few other highlights of the last few weeks:

1.       I learned how to Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) at my good friend Crystal’s bachelorette party.  Such a fun party! 

2.       Linds and I spent three weeks carrying for an abandoned baby mocking bird.  It seemed to be doing great, then it broke either a foot or a wing and wouldn’t stand up and then the grand finale consisted of a road runner eating our baby bird.  LINDSAY AND I HATE ROAD RUNNERS.  They are vicious….they eat other small birds for pete’s sake!!!!  Jerks. 

3.       Kyle learned how to make some pretty darn delicious lemon bars. 

Other than all that fun stuff, things have been fairly quiet in these parts of the Hill Country.  The summer has not been as hot as most in the past so thank God for that!!!!  We’re just livin and lovin life over here!!! 

 

Xx

 

P.S. Recipe of the week! 

Lemon Squares

Recipe adapted from Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood (c) Clarkson Potter 2010

Total Time:  1 hr 0 min

Prep 15 min

Cook  45 min

Yield:   15 squares

Level:  Easy

 

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, plus more for sprinkling
•  

Filling:

• 4 large eggs
• 5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 2 large lemons)
• 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Mix the flour and confectioners' sugar in a bowl and add the melted butter, mixing until a dough forms. Press the mixture firmly into a 9- by 13- by 2-inch pan. Bake the crust for 25 minutes.

For the filling: While the crust is baking, with an electric mixer, combine the eggs, lemon juice and zest until smooth. Add the granulated sugar, flour, baking powder and salt, and beat until smooth. Pour the mixture over the baked crust. Bake for 20 minutes more.

Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely. Sprinkle the top with confectioners' sugar. Cut into squares and serve.

Sum, Sum, SUMMERTIME!

This summer has been filled with a lot of great times already.   Mentioned in the previous post were the grand visits of my sister and Kyle’s sister.  What wasn’t mentioned was the grand birthday that took place during one of these visits!!  A certain fiancé of mine celebrated his 30^th birthday this past June!  I know, I know baby face Burnside is not as young as you once thought.  Those mutton chops LIE!  His birthday was splendid…or at least I think so J  Not only did he get to celebrate it with Beth and Mark, but later in the evening a bunch of our other friends met us at The Salt Lick Barbeque for some delicious eats.  Even one of our really good friends who is a VEGETARIAN attended this celebration (Thanks Kristi J)!!  What a wonderful start to a great summer!

Soon after Kyle’s birthday he moved into his new home this summer with some of our good friends.  The house they are living in right now is super cute and normal J  Ahhh nothing screams “splendid summer” like moving people into their new home in 100 degree weather!!  Regardless of the work and eat it was a great day none the less.

 

Grandpa, Anna & Molly

 Recently Kyle and I came down to Illinois to spend some time with friends and family.  We also were able to attend our lovely engagement party thrown for us by our families and my niece’s baptism.  Both events were spectacular!!! I was blessed with the opportunity to actually be home for an extra week than Kyle because my job makes it possible for me to work sometimes away from the office.  Having the opportunity to just spend time with my oldest sister, Becky, and her kids was worth it.  My favorite part of the whole trip was having coffee in the mornings with Becky and going for runs with Beth, Theresa and Kyle.   It’s really awesome to see how these little acts of everyday life are what mean the most.  The most moving thing I experienced while at home was seeing my sister Claire and her boyfriend, Bryce.  These two traveled all the way from northern Minnesota just to spend a few days with me and the rest of the family.  It is so overwhelming to see how generous and selfless people are in your life.   These two weeks I spent back home made me feel so loved and lucky to have such wonderful people in my life.  Here are some other highlights of my/our time back home:

Kyle and Anna

·         Kyle became Anna’s (my niece) Godfather

·         Socrates survived 2 plane rides!!!!

·         Surprise visits from Dad

·         Fantastic bike ride with Kyle’s mom, Pat

·         Hot Tubbing J 

·         4^th of July at the Nachman’s (quality time with the Vogts, Ryans and sisters)

·         Lots of sister shots J

·         Wine bar and pizza

·         A few hours spent with Miss Jamie Sanders….love this gal J

 

·         Baby shower for a dear friend, Lambie J 

       
          ·               Owen, Molly and Anna….Duh. 

 

Owen and Socrates...love/hate relationship :)

·         …this list is basically endless!

Thank you to all those I got to catch up with so far this summer.  I’m excited to continue many more wonderful memories this summer!! 

XX

P.S. Recipe!  Watch out all you slow cooker users!!!

Slow Cooker Creamy Macaroni and Cheese (makes a generous 4 servings)

Ingredients:

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

4 tablespoons butter
2 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1 (10.75 oz) can condensed cheddar cheese soup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk (I used 1%)
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
Boil the macaroni in water for six minutes and drain. In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Heat over medium high heat and stir until the cheese melts. Spray your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Combine cheese mixture, sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper in your slow cooker. Add the drained macaroni and stir again. Cook on low for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally (I cooked mine for about 2 hours and stirred it twice and it was perfect).

Recipe source: six sisters stuff blog

"I Wish I was a Little Bit Taller, I Wish I was a Baller..."

Thank you Skee-Lo for such a great one hit wonder :)  This song kept playing in my head for the last few weeks as if it was the temporary soundtrack of my life.  Yes, lots of dreaming happening over here, more particularly about something I am not nor ever will be....hmmmmmm actually, maybe I will be. 

These lovely lyrics originally made their recent debut in my head from a rather entertaining rav-4 series of commercials.  Marketing and advertising really does amaze me!  It's as if those in that industry are magicians who so swiftly brainwash us to buy.  Regardless, those rav-4 magicians waved their wand and I now think of them everytime I hear the "I wish" lyrics. AND every hour something has happened in the last 2 weeks that reminds me of the "I wish" song...so basically what I am saying is that it is only a matter of time until I get a 2nd brand new car :) 

The first encounter of the "I wish" song playing in my head was a couple of weeks ago when my sister, Theresa, and her daughter, Brigid, came to visit me.  First off, let me just tell you all that this was by far one of the best vacations ever!  It was a relaxing week and a low stress week.  There was a lot of playing, swimming and laughing to be had.  One morning we all woke up and planned our day.  It turned out the day we planned involved a lot of sun and the great outdoors.  SO what would any logical person in central Texas do first thing...SUNBLOCK!!!  Somehow during all of the sunblocking a conversation arose about how and why we need to protect our skin. Long story short the conversation ended with Brigid commenting on how she intended to look like a goddess when she gets older.  I mean this wasn't just a haha I want to look like a goddess comment...NO!  This was a serious I need to care for my skin because I am going to grow up looking like a goddess comment.   Theresa, Lindsay and I all looked at each other in astonishment that this was a 10 year-olds mission in life and then we all laughed due to how amusing it was.  OR maybe we all laughed a knowing laugh because the three of us all are all quickly approaching or have approached our thirties and starting to understand the concept of aging.  Yuck.  Either way you'll never guess what song busted out in my head....."I WISH I WAS A LITTLE BIT TALLER, I WISH I WAS A BALLER..." 

I kid you not from this point on this song was playing like a broken record in my head.  Once Theresa and Brigid headed back home on their merry way, Kyle and I were already welcoming with open arms his sister, Beth and her husband, Mark.  Once again I cannot speak enough wonderful words about this week.  Kyle and I were given a great opportunity to show Beth and Mark why Austin is a city so near and dear to our hearts.   This trip entailed some wonderful gluttony (so worth it!), lots of outdoors and relaxation!  During this trip there were some "fancy*" moments for me as well.  Right before one of our nights out, Beth took it upon herself to shower and get ready for the evening.  While she was prepping for this fun night out, I chose to sit like a lump on a log and watch everyone get ready.  Some point during all this I made the comment of..."I wish I wanted to shower more frequently..."  Maybe that wasn't the exact quote but I definitely made it a point to note my laziness.  I suddenly get hit with the "I Wish" lyrics!!  Beth did not even flinch at this comment and just said something along the lines of, "hey, don't worry about it you just do what works for you."  Ahhh how accepting she is of my stanky self :)  And suddenly the lyrics vanish from my psyche. 

Another night comes around and once again things get fancy for me.  Beth puts on high heels for the evening.  What!?!? I spend the majority of the evening just mesmerized by her ability to walk so eloquently in these heels and make high heels look so good.  I'm pretty sure about 50 times throughout the night I made some sort of comment about how I would die to be able to wear high heels and actually pull them off.  I'm not even going to mention what jumps into my head at this point because I am sure you already have the whole song playing in your mind :)   Beth of course accepts me whole heartedly and tells me to just wear what works for me and makes me happy. Once again the song disappears.  Who is this woman??  She's like my own personal life coach suddenly! 

Moral of the story is that we all go about our lives constantly wishing to be something that just doesn't fit exactly who we are.  And nothing is necessarily wrong with that but just don't forget who you are through all that wishing.  I know I am not going to shower twice a day, HECK, maybe not even everyday!  Although I am still thinking that deep inside I really am a high heel wearer...I just haven't figured out the science of it all yet. 

Aside from all the wishing...Kyle and I are doing well.  Other than the awesome 2 weeks of family coming to visit nothing huge has been going on in our lives.  Kyle did get approved to lease out a house with 3 of our other friends for the year.  This is extremely exciting because A. we love these friends and we get to see them all the time now!  B. we will hopefully be able to save a little more for our wedding!  YAY!  Otherwise I guess no news is good news!  SO things are going well here and smooth.  Those of you who had birthdays that Kyle and I missed HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  And to all you father's out there....THANK YOU!

*Madeline's definition of fancy:  If you do more than just putting on deodorant and brushing your teeth to get ready for the day or an event than you are being FANCY :)

xx
Mads

P.S. Recipe of the week (Or several months!) 

Baked Rigatoni with Three Cheeses 

                           

7 PointsPlus Value

Prep time: 15 min

Cook time: 17 min

 

Serves: 6

If you’re making this dish for company, try baking it restaurant-style, in 6 single-serving, 1-cup baking dishes; decrease the baking time to about 5 minutes.

Ingredients 12 oz uncooked pasta, rigatoni variety 3/4 cup(s) canned tomato sauce, reduced-sodium variety 1/2 cup(s) fat-free half-and-half 1/4 cup(s) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese 2 Tbsp part-skim ricotta cheese, (1 ounce) 1 oz gorgonzola cheese, crumbled (2 tablespoons) Instructions Cook the pasta according to the package directions; drain and keep warm. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 500°F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Combine the tomato sauce, half-and-half, mozzarella, ricotta, and Gorgonzola in a medium bowl. Add the hot pasta and toss to coat. Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish and bake until bubbly and browned on top, about 7 minutes. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

Love the Car! Hate the Smell!

I have been told that the smell of a brand new car is the best smell in the whole world!  Really!?  I personally feel this is a loaded statement.  You love the smell of a newly manufactured vehicle, a product which is merely made of chemically pumped plastics, fabrics and metals, more than any other scent this world contains?  Last time I checked I was getting massive headaches in my brand new equinox I just got due to the new car smell.  WHOA!?!? WHAT!?!? Yes folks...it is true, it was finally time and I purchased a new vehicle!! 

Me and my new golf ball.....I mean car!

Other than discovering my hate for the new car smell, I couldn't be happier with my decision.  I was not planning on getting a car until the end of this year so I could save up more money for a USED car.  However, there was a terrible hail storm not too long ago here and the opportunity arose.  I bought a car with some pretty good hail damage and because of that it is technically considered used in the eyes of the dealership.  Long story short I bought a "used" chevy equinox with 55 miles on it. I'm not too self-conscience about the cute dimples on the drive side, so figured why the heck not get a car that is running beautifully? This is one of many good things that has happened since the last post! 

Kyle also received a promotion since the last post!  I've never meant anyone so committed and determined when it comes to their work.  His hard work has certainly paid off and I am so proud of him!   Along those lines, I've also heard some great things for Kyle's sister, Beth, who just switched to a new job!!  Good things are going on work wise for her husband, Mark as well.  And now that I really think about it the same goes for my cousin, Chris.  Golly, and if I keep thinking of people doing well with new jobs or their current ones, Claire just moved up to northern Minnesota for a new job, too! Ahhh and then there is our friend Emily Brake...good things good things. Okay okay I'll stop.  Either way....people in my life are doing pretty darn well in the working world :)

Here are some other great things (in bullet point form) that have been going on as of late for Kyle and I:

• Kyle and I visited the Gallmore's (Lindsay's fam) in Katy, TX for Easter.  They are THE SWEETEST family ever and I am so thankful the let us be a part of their family for the Holiday.  It was a wonderful time.  Lot's of confetti egg craziness!!!  

  

  Easter Fun!

  
    
• We both completed the Cap10K in Austin!  Kyle kicked butt and let's just say I meandered right on over that finish line!  This race was incredible...about 5 bands performing along the route, a giant trampoline in someone's front yard for a "running break", a beer station (duh), a good friend handing out water with coconuts and a hula skirt (duh)...and the list keeps going!!
• Becky and I are doing weight watchers together and by golly we are actually doing it!! WOOT!
• We checked out the bluebonnet festival.  Mind you, we never actually saw legit bluebonnets at the festival...weird.  However, in honer of Mark, Kyle and I made sure to stay for a couple of the weiner dog races.  Yep...that's a thing out here.  Once again, altogether very weird. 
• My good friends Kate and Tyler adopted a baby girl, Olivia Joan!!! She is soooo beautiful in all the pictures I have seen, and I hope I get to meet her sometime in the near future!!  Congrats to you both! 
• Our other good friends, Carolyn and Jack are going to have a baby later this year!! WOOHOO!!  YAY babies!  I am sooo happy for them!
• AND I'M NOT DONE WITH THE BABY THEME YET!!  Our other close friends, Maggie and Nate are going to have a  baby too!!! YAY!!! 
• WAIT I'M STILL NOT DONE.... I don't believe I mentioned in my last blog about my new neice, Anna.  Becky and John had a baby girl, Anna, in mid-february.  I am so exctied to meet her this summer and give her a big ol' hug and kiss!!!
• Moving on from babies....Beth and Mark have booked a trip out to visit Kyle and I this summer!  I'm so excited, but I'm pretty sure with all the planning Kyle has already done for their visit his excitement completely exceeds mine!!  Needless to say...we are counting the days down. 
• A couple days ago...I discovered that Theresa and Brigid are also planning on visiting just a couple of days before Beth and Mark's visit!  Ahhhhh I cannot wait to show those two Austin.  Theresa and I have been talking about this visit ever since I moved here, so this is a pretty big deal to me :) 
• I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to everyone you had birthday's in between my posts!  Some of you are: Pat Burnside, Beth Peluse, Tracy Amoroso, Becky Nachman, Greg Johnston, Brigid Kissane, Becky Ryan...oh goodness I believe I am not mentioning a lot of people....if you had a birthday in the last 2 months....HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

I'm sure I am missing some wonderful things that happened in the last couple of months.  Hopefully, Kyle will fill in the missing pieces with one of his upcoming posts* :) 

Before I end this particular post I did want to take a minute to address the ridiculous week that has just occurred.  My thoughts and prayers are with all in Boston and those connected in any way shape or form to that particular tragedy.  Boston Strong!   My thoughts and prayers also go out to those in West, Texas and once again anyone connected to this tragedy.  I'm so grateful Kyle and I live far enough that we experience no impact from this at all.  My thoughts and prayers go out to those in the Chicago area and all those affected by the flooding.  Some of our loved ones lost precious possessions and I am so sorry and wish I could turn back time for you.  But in the end I am so happy everyone I know is safe and out of harm's way!  Sorry, to make this a little more somber but I really felt like these were important events to acknowledge. 

*I'm sure there are so many fantastic things that have happened to people in my life these past 2 months that I am not mentioning....If I missed something, please feel free to comment and mention it so that we can take the time to celebrate you!



Weiner Dog Pep Talk..Duh.

I apologize for this posting being so disorganized and off the wall, but there are so many thoughts swirling around in my head.  I hope to actually collect my thoughts and organize them next time.  But for today let's just enjoy the madness :)  Hope everyone had a splendid Earth Day and I hope you all have a wonderful week!!! 

xx
Madeline

P.S.
Recipe of the week  (I, personally, omitted the black olives)......

Greek Salad

2 tbs. extra virigin olive oil
2 tsp. red wine vinegar
2 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
salt and black pepper
1 c. grape tomatoes (quatered)
1/2 c. sliced unpeels cucumber (1/2 small)
1/2 c. sliced green bell pepper (1/2 medium)
6 pitted large black olives (about 1 oz)
1/4 feta cheese

Whisk in a small bowl the olive oil, vinegar and lemon juice.  Mix in the oregano and season with salt and black pepper. In a separate bowl combine the tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper and olive oils.  Pour the olive oil/vinegar dressing over the veggies and toss well.  Add the feta cheese and ENJOY!!!  This can be eaten alone as a salad, or with romaine lettuce OR in a wrap.  Yummmm! 

- I got this recipe from my Pink Ribbon Diet recipe book.  Super Healthy! 

Carpe Diem

I feel as if I spend a large chunk of my time anticipating and preparing for experiences.  Once the experience takes place I cannot figure out why it all just flew by like a blur and how I made it possible to spend more time anticipating rather than experiencing. 

                Christmas this past year, for example, started off with two to three weeks of nailing down the details and getting ready for guests. Kyle and I spent Christmas in Texas and decided to invite some of our close friends over for a relaxed holiday. The actual holiday was marvelous. We had several people over and it was just a day full of laughter, food and memories.  Christmas went so well that even though we did not spend it with actual family, it still felt like we were home and sharing the experience with loved ones.  Let’s talk about the time ratio between anticipation and events.  Kyle and I spent about two weeks preparing for this gathering; the actual gathering took a whopping total of 36 hours.  Two weeks compared to thirty-six hours??  That’sabsolutely ridiculous.  I wish instead of spending all my time waiting anxiously for this wonderful party, I used that time to actual spend more time with those friends. 

                Christmas quickly came and went, which soon meant that Kyle’s mom, Pat, was going to bein town soon.  Kyle’s mom decided to spend some time with use over her winter break. She came a couple days after Christmas and stayed a few days after the New Year.  She brought the perfect feel of guest and mother while she visited us. She was the perfect gracious guest but at the same time she did her part making sure Kyle was living a happy successful life in Austin.  I was able to take off a whole week to spend time with Pat* and enjoy Austin together. Once again the amount of time I spent anticipating this visit completely outweighed the experience it’s self. The week went by soooo fast, I blinked and I was already hugging Kyle’s mom at the airport and telling her good-bye.  It was such an incredibly relaxing, enjoyable week and I am sad it flew by.  Why do all the wonderful experiences have to disappear so quickly?  Not that everything else in between is horrific, but I wish so badly I could have savored every minute during that week. 

(*I'm slowly trying to call Kyle's parents by their first names...here goes attempt number 1!)

                No worries though, after Pat left, my dad decided he would come and visit the following week.  Now this is when things begin to get real interesting.  My dad actually did not give Kyle and I much time to anticipate his arrival…he literally called me about a week and some change before his plane landed.  We Kissane’s waste no time.Kyle asked me a day or two before my dad arrived if he could have lunch with my dad.  Immediately I grew suspicious of this lunch date.  What I mean by suspicious was that I knew Kyle was going to ask my dad for my hand in marriage.  GREAT…something new for me to anticipate….a PROPOSAL. Putting that aside, my dad and I had a great time together in Austin.  We stayed at Kyle’s apartment and explored a lot of Austin. Some of the things we did were: State capitol, 5 mile hike on Lady BirdLake bike/run trail, Salt Lick Barbeque and much more.  I had a blast and I hope he is able to bring Joan out here someday soon, I’m pretty sure she would love this city as well!   

                Apparently 2013 is the year of visitors for Kyle and me. Shortly after my dad left Kyle’s cousin, Donnie, visited on a business trip.  I only had the opportunity to spend one day with Donnie, but I am extremely happy I had the chance.  The three of us spent the day playing disc golf.  There was a lot of disc throwing,storytelling and fun to be had!  I had such a blast with those boys.  We then spent the evening at a newly opened pizza brewpub.  This place had some delicious pizza.  We all got to try there mac ‘n’ cheese pizza.  It was the perfect blend of heart attack and deliciousness!  Yummmm!!!  Donnie left somewhat early that night though because he had a very early flight the next day.  I am so happy though that I got to spend some sort of time with Donnie.  This was another one of those moments where I was planning and prepping for Donnie’s visit with Kyle and then after less than 24 hours he is gone!  Where did the time go??  Why can’t the good times just keep on going?  Ugh. 

                February2, 2013 quickly approaches.  Leading up to this day I spent many a weeks anticipating Kyle’s proposal to me.  Lindsay, my roomie, can definitely vouch that I was going a little crazy for a solid three weeks.  I would pluck my brows, shower, put on makeup and paint my nails just in case any pictures needs to happen with an engagement ring on my finger and a new fiancé on my arm. I was even getting so antsy about it to the point that I decided being agood girlfriend and just letting things happen on their own time was totally over rated.  The night Donnie left I decided to jump down Kyle’s throat and mention to him that I wasn’t getting any younger.  Hmmmm I sort of regret doing that now and realize that being the better girlfriend is the way to go! 

Anyways, back to February 2. This was the day that Kyle had to plan a date for us because he had lost a bet and those were the terms.  Well, at 6:30 am I woke up to a terrible sounding phone alarm. I roll back to sleep only to find that Kyle actually woke up and turned every single thing on in his apartment: the shower, the coffee maker, the lights and the television.  You would think he could at least shut the bedroom door if he was planning on being loud. I drag myself out of bed, tell him to knock it off and I head straight back to the bed.  Kyle quickly follows behind and lies down with me.  Heproceeds to tell me that he’d like to start our day.  He planned the date to be a date of choices.  My first choice will be what I would like for breakfast, eggs and bacon or biscuits and gravy.  After I make my decision I ask him if I should shower while he makes breakfast. He says no.  NO!?!?!?  He says no to the girl who has been showeringfor the last 3 weeks anticipating a proposal!!!!!  Is he nuts?????  Without questioning his response I hop out of the bed.  Kyle drops to a knee right as my two feet hit the floor.  OH MY…HE’S PROPOSING!  He starts out by telling me that I now have to make a 2^nd choice of the day.  I am soo shocked I practically miss all the lovey dovey words he is saying to me.  I make it a point to show my disbelief and after realizing how serious he is I respond with a romantic, “yea, okay, I will.” I run to the bathroom afterwards just to check out my sexy look and make sure I looked somewhat decent.  HA!  I think February 2^nd should also be recorded as the first day I became a proud owner of giant bags under my eyes!!!!!  Let’s not even talk about my morning hair-do….woof. 

                Back to the romantic parts of it all….While Kyle was making breakfast we did a champagne toast and he gave me a beautiful menu on card stock.  The menu had about 30 different activities and restaurants we could check out in Austin. Kyle said I got to pick whatever I wanted on that menu and then we would try to get it all in for the day.  He also explained that he wanted to propose early in the day so that we could spend the entire day celebrating our happy news!  I can proudly say that I was, am and will always be the luckiest girl on earth with Kyle as my man!!  Boy do I love that guy!  Here is a quick recap of what we ended up doing that day:

·        Called and texted a lot of loved ones J

·        Went hiking in the greenbelt

·        Checked out the overlook on Pennybacker Bridge

·        Lunched at Frank of a Chicago Dog (Duh, had to honor our home)

·        Enjoyed some beers at Independence Brewery with some good friends

·        Dinner at Rudy’s Barbeque

·        Mini golf at byob Peter Pan with some good friends

·        Fell fast asleep from all the excitement

Needless to say,it was a fantastic day.  Kyle could not have done it any better!  Not to mention how beautiful the ring is.  Kyle got a custom made cladaugh ring made for me.  He used the wedding and engagement rings from his grandparents to make mine, which makes it all the more special to us.  I could not be happier! 

A week later Kyle’s childhood friend, Dan, came to visit. He was here for a quick weekend getaway trip.  I offered up my sweet Designated Drivers kills to the gents for their Saturday outing  I am not sure how many places we hit up on Saturday but we started at 11:30 am and went to a ton of bars.  The boys were amazing at treating the whole day like a marathon and finishing the night at 1 am like champs!  While they're having a jolly ol’ time I took it upon myself to have dinner with good friends I had not seen in a long while. Kristi, Sally and Etzna were the best bar hopping relief a girl could ask for J  All in all though it was great getting to hang out with Dan but at the same time get a little time to see some of my girlfriends. 

Last weekendwas Lindsay’s birthday (Sunday).  A group of us enjoyed some yummy Mexican food at a new little restaurant.  Afterwards, Linds, myself and Kyle all went to a Honky Tonk called Broken Spoke. Broken Spoke is a famous country bar/dance hall in Austin.  Unfortunately, Lindsay came with the two people who are the most uncomfortable when it comes to two-steppin.  Regardless of the lack of dancing, it was still really fun people watching and listening to a good band, the DeRailers(not sure if I spelled that correct).  Other than celebrating Lindsay’s birthday, Kyle and I did a whole lot of nothing.  I spent the majority of Sunday sleeping and it felt amazing.  I cannot remember the last time that Kyle and I literally spent the majority of the weekend doing absolutely nothing.  It felt sooo relaxing!  

One thing that Ihave learned from all these major experiences so far this year is to focus more on the actual experience and spend less time anticipating what’s to come.  A part of me hopes that if I do it this way Iwill be able to savor the good times more. I also hope that if I stop getting so anxious about what’s to come that will free up more time for me to begin creating even more amazing experiences and memories.  So here’s to enjoying the present and the journey of wedding planning !!!! 

Mads

P.S. Recipe of the week!!!  Yippee!!!

Sausage Biscuit Bites

2 (10 count) cans flaky biscuits (Grands Jr)
1 lb sausage (Tennessee Pride)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400.

Mix uncooked sausage and cheese gently until well blended. Shape into 40 balls of equal size.

Remove biscuits from cans and separate each biscuit into two layers, making 40 total biscuit layers. Press one layer of biscuit into cup of lightly greased mini-cupcake pan. Repeat with remaining layers.

Place sausage-cheese ball in each biscuit cup. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until biscuits are browned and sausage balls are bubbly.

“ Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world. ” -Kaiser Wilhelm

....I can not say that I am a true beer lover. However, I believe Kyle is grateful that I do enjoy trying tasty brews with him.  I will have a drink here and there, but if I were to have a 6 pack in my fridge it would sit there for weeks.  Luckily, Kyle and I only go out usually on the weekends, so I get my share of little tasty sips and then I get five days to prep for the next round :)

These last couple of weeks have been no different from that game plan....

Some TOS staff enjoying Independence Brewery festivities

• Strange Brew:  A couple weeks ago it was Austin's Beer Week.  Basically, brewers introduce their new brews around this week and new breweries start presenting themselves to the world.  Well, Kyle and I celebrated Beer Week by going to The Alamo Drafthouse Movie Theater (similar to Hollywood Blvd) and watching the movie "Strange Brew" while drinking strange brews from various brewers &  we got to eat some yummy Canadian food.  One of my favorite beers we tried had some hints of prickly pear cactus fruit in it...I was so skeptical of it but boy did it taste great!  My least favorite was a bourbon beer, YUCK!  I could not stand that one.  The movie was weird, but funny.  The food was delicious: french fries loaded with cheese sauce, brown gravy and other stuff & a canadian version of a BLT. 
• Please note:  Kyle obviously went to other Beer Week events that week.  However, I live a bit far from him and I had already hit my quota of alcohol from that one sitting :) 
• Austin Independence Brewery: The following weekend (2 weekends ago) was the last days of Austin Beer Week.  That weekend every year Independence Brewery celebrates their anniversary.  This was their 8th anniversary.  It was a fun gathering and we got a sweet anniversary glass.  Let's not forget that we also got some of their good ol' beer. 
• Black Star Co-Op: This past weekeend a group of us went to a brew-pub for dinner, which is one of two co-op brew-pubs in the world.  This place has some pretty interesting entres, like Kyle's pork belly blt, and some interesting beers (Like Kyle's nasty sourberry beer).  The night was a ton of fun with friends.  The base of the group was TOS folks (present and former) and their significant others.  It was nice seeing friends who I don't see enough of...which reminds me I should see when another get together should take place :) 

A bunch of you at this point are probably thinking..."My goodness Mads, you are such a lush!"  Not the case.  Trust me, other events do take place in my life.  For instance:

• I have lost about 4 lbs in the last 2 weeks!  I've been spending everyday doing some form of exercise, usually walking or running.  I also took the time to dig deep and find my self control and actually work on my eating habits.  YAY!  Go me! 
• I am building a coffee table.  I took it upon myself to show interest in building something to one of my friends who works with me.  Henry, my co-worker, works in the maintenance department and has built about 1 million things in his lifetime.  Henry kindly offered to teach me a few things and help out.  Right now, we have the table top built and next on the to do list are the legs and the lower shelf level. 
• Kyle and I played disc golf yesterday.  I did decently the first round and blew it the second round.  AND SHOCKER....Kyle was awesome the entire time.  Including the time where he had to help me get my fave disc out of a pond (it was floating right smack in the middle of the body of water..boooo).  What a guy!
• Lindsay and I have been taking the time to make sure we dedicate time to the Holiday movies now playing on the Hallmark Channel.  YEP you read this correctly, Holiday movies are up and running!!
• Lindsay and I are working on a science experiment of finding out what works best for a fruit fly trap.  Our reptile shed has an infestation.  We found that just putting ripe fruit in a jar with a funnel on top works really well...except it doesn't kill the fruit flies.  A mixture of vinegar, water, dish soap with plastic wrap on top with wholes works decently too :) 



What I have built thus far of the coffee table

• I'm sure there are about 100 things I am missing, but I feel like this was a long enough read for folks.  So if I missed something, my apologies. 

Quick Shoutouts to some loved ones who just had their birthdays....

Aunt Terri (Terri Yoksas) - 10/27
Mr. Burnside (Larry Burnside) - 10/31
Sorry Kyle and I couldn't be home to celebrate with you!!

Okay until the next Male Mail, I wish you all a great week and great weather!

xx
Madeline

P.S.  Recipe of the Week:  this is a spicy chili...half a serving and I was feeling the heat.  Please, note if you are someone who doesn't do spicy very well you can easily modify the seasoning or omit some seasoning (This message is more or less written for Mark or Beth if you make it for Mark). 


Hearty Turkey Chili

Larger Image

Weight Watchers Recipe

Ratings (936)                           

6PointsPlus Value

Prep time: 25 min

Cook time: 58 min

Serves: 6

A bowl of hot chili is so satisfying on cold fall days. Ours boasts kidney beans, lean turkey and lots of vegetables, well-seasoned and sprinkled with scallions.

	1 spray(s) cooking spray
	1 tsp canola oil
	1 large uncooked onion(s), chopped
	2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced
	1 pound(s) uncooked 93% lean ground turkey
	2 medium uncooked carrot(s), thinly sliced into rounds
	2 Tbsp chili powder
	1 Tbsp paprika
	1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
	1 tsp ground cumin
	2 medium fresh tomato(es), chopped
	1 cup(s) canned tomato sauce
	1 cup(s) canned chicken broth
	1 1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
	1 1/2 cup(s) cooked kidney beans, rinsed and drained
	1 medium green pepper(s), chopped
	1/2 tsp table salt, or to taste
	1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
	1/4 cup(s) uncooked scallion(s), chopped

Instructions

• Coat a large pot with cooking spray; place over medium heat. Add oil and onion; sauté onion until soft, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and carrots; cook until garlic is softened, about 1 minute. Add turkey; brown meat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks, about 5 minutes. Stir to break up lumps.
• Add chili powder, paprika, red pepper flakes, cumin, tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, vinegar, beans and green pepper; bring mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer until meat and vegetables are tender, about 30 to 45 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper; garnish with scallions. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

Time Just Flies By!

Dearest friends and family,
Wow, I do not even know what has happened with time!  One minute I am anticipating the Texas State Fair and the next I am heading back home from my sister's wedding 2 weeks later!  While I sit here waiting for my plane to board I think back to the busy weekends I just experienced. 

L-R: Lindsay, myself, Kyle & Kristen @ state fair

The last weekend in September was spent up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for the Texas State Fair.  The first phrase that comes to mind when I think of the fair is "rainy day".  I bet ya'll were thinking "fried food" would be my top phrase but......NOPE! I cannot think of one moment at the fair when the rain let up once.  It was a steady down pour the entire time.  Regardless of the rain though it was still such a fun time with my friends and Kyle....and let's not forget the weird fried foods we all tried there.  The weirdest fried food I tried that day was probably fried brownies that Lindsay bought.  Soooo bizarre and yet oh so good! That rainy fair day myself, Lindsay, Kyle & our good friend Kristen found a new love for llamas....actually it was more like Lindsay grew a penchant for the llamas while the rest of us just enjoyed their cuteness :) 

Kyle and I spent the next weekend strolling the festival grounds of Oktoberfest in a German town, Fredericksburg.  We got to try some good German beers and we got to eat at a wonderful brewpub in town.  This weekend was the perfect way to bring in the autumn atmosphere this year!  Cool weather, fall flavors and smells...aah I love this season!

Mrs. Ryan and I with our wedding run medals!

This most recent weekend was spent in North Carolina for my sister's wedding.  It was such a beautiful setting in the Smokey Mountains with the falls colors changing.  I do not think I've ever been to a wedding so beautiful before.  Theresa and Greg got married with a gorgeous waterfall behind them on a lovely trail in Bryson City, NC.  The weekend started off with a fun wedding walk/run.  Myself and Mrs. Ryan (close family friend) got lost with this boy, Jeaner (one of our competitors running in jeans...grrrr).  Luckily a rescue crew was sent out a.k.a Theresa and her running buddies and we found our way back home.  YAY!  I love weddings and all that they offer: love, loved ones, dancing, laughing and just having a good time with everyone.  I wish this weekend didn't go by so quickly; I wish I could have stopped time in that moment of seeing Theresa and Greg just so utterly and completely happy in such a beautiful setting. I also wish Kyle could have made it as well :(  Alas, he needs to save those vacation days for his sister's wedding which is only in a month YAY!!  Another one I am soooo excited for.  Unfortunately in between the 2 sister's weddings are our dear friends' wedding, Karen and JP.  We wish we could be there badly for that one, but we will definitely be there in spirit and think about them nonstop that day!  Ahhh I love weddings!!!!

The new happy family at the wedding ceremony location!  (Greg, T. & Brigid)

Well here's to hoping time stands still...even if it's just for a second so I can put more detail into my blog posts :) 

xx
Madeline

P.S.
No recipe of the week(s)....I can't remember what I ate in the last 3 weeks.