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.

LBJ Land

I hope everyone found Kyle's post interesting and informative.  It was probably a nice change of pace as well seeing a completely different writing style from that of my own.  A lot of time has passed since I have given anyone an update of what going on's have been taking place for Kyle and I.  Well, let me tell you.....

All the history buffs in my life would be pleased to know that Kyle and I spent a day exploring LBJ's ranch and learning more about our 36th President of the United States.  I am sure everyone but myself was aware already of the many changes LBJ had put forth while he was president.  I did not realize he had interest in so many numerous aspects of our nation.  One thing that impressed me was that LBJ was the one who pushed for the Public Broadcasting System. Ahhhhh to think Masterpiece Mystery would not have been in my life probably if it weren't for this man.  Anyways, the jist of the story is that LBJ went a couple notches up on my "favorite Presidents list" :)

Now interesting tid bits on this beautiful ranch LBJ lived on for most of his life.  First off, all the cattle on the ranch are from the same bloodline as the original cattle LBJ raised.  Keeping it all in the family...hmmm now that I typed that it doesn't sound as awesome and has a more inbred sound to it.  One of the Air Force One's that LBJ used can be found parked right outside his house there.  This particular plane is jokingly referred to as "Air Force 1/2"  because it is small in stature; it is more or less his puddle jumper plane from Austin to his ranch.  One final interesting fact about the ranch is that the house itself is known as the Texas White House. 25% of LBJ's presidency took place at his home in Texas...hence Texas White House. 

Other highlights of the last couple weeks:

• Kyle is getting his butt kicked 3 times a week doing crossfit (some intense workout program)
• I am extremely giddy about Autumn and I cannot stop talking about it
• Kyle and I cannot stop thinking good wishes to all the couples we know getting married this fall/winter....I believe so far we know of 5 couples were close to getting married this upcoming season...We won't make all the weddings, but know each and everyone of you is constantly mentioned in some conversation every 5 minutes :) 
• We did some grocery shopping at the Austin Whole Foods a.k.a the Mother Ship (whole foods headquarters).  Kyle was as smiley as could be because we got beers to go and got to shop while drinking our delicious beverages. 
• Twice in one day we went to 2 different brewpubs....North by Northwest and Black Star Co-Op...Kyle was once again on cloud 9! 
• Coming up next week......TEXAS STATE FAIR IN DALLAS/FORT WORTH!!!!  YAYAY!  

Okay this is all I can really think of at the time.  Hopefully you can tell from this post, but our lives have drastically slowed down now that Kyle is settled.  YAY I love boring versus mass chaos and stress :)  Hope everyone is doing well!  We think of our loved ones all the time and keep you all in our thoughts and prayers!  Please, keep us posted on any updates, we LOVE hearing from you all! 

xx
Madeline

P.S. Recipe of the week! 

Chicken and Broccoli Stir-fry

Serves 4

This quick and easy stirfry is a great choice for a weeknight meal.

Nutrition

Per serving: 440 calories (100 from fat), 11g total fat, 1.5g saturated fat, 65mg cholesterol, 1090mg sodium, 51g total carbohydrate (7g dietary fiber, 4g sugar), 33g protein

Ingredients

8 ounces whole wheat linguine
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons expeller-pressed canola oil, divided
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins, cut into strips
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
3 cups small fresh broccoli florets (from about 1 large crown)
1 carrot, peeled and cut into thin strips

Directions

Cook linguine according to package instructions, drain and keep warm. Meanwhile, combine broth, soy, vinegar, pepper and cornstarch in a bowl. Heat a wok or heavy skillet over high heat. When very hot, add 1 tablespoon oil. Add chicken and stir-fry until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Remove from wok and set aside. Add remaining oil, garlic and ginger; stir-fry 30 seconds. Add broccoli and carrot; stir-fry 2 minutes. Add soy mixture and chicken, stir well, and cover. Lower heat to medium and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 3 minutes. Toss with linguine and serve.

much ado about whatever: Strap in and Feel the B's (urnside)

much ado about whatever: Strap in and Feel the B's (urnside): Family, Friends, Texans, Illinoisans lend me your ear! I AM ALIVE!!!!!! Yes I am writing to you, this is not a hoax! Where do I begin? Let m...

The Power of the Loofah

There has been great demand for another Male Mail posting...which leads me to believe that I am a tad behind.  Thank you to everyone who has nudged me on this week to actually start typing again. 

There has been reason this past week to really celebrate life at least for Kyle and his support system. This past week he was able to get an apartment move in and get his car back in tip-top shape!  It is so insane to see life take such sharp turns from being down in the dumps to suddenly feeling whole again. 

The highlight for me this past week was that I got to spend a little time with Kyle's dad.  Mr. Burnside travelled to Austin to deliver all of Kyle's belongings.  What a wonderful father.  I was lucky enough to get dinner with the two burnside's and catch up on how things were going.  It is crazy how overwhelming it is to see loved ones from home when it has been such a long time.  Every time I get to see loved ones I get the same sensation I get on Christmas Day!  It was sad seeing Mr. Burnside leave (technically I was sleep walking when I hugged him goodbye at about 5am that day) but exciting because it marked a new chapter for Kyle at his new apartment.  sidenote: Mr. Burnside made it safely back home. 

At this point in the post you might be asking yourself what the deal is with the "Loofah" title.  When I finally had the chance to see Kyle's apartment this past weekend I noticed that his brand new Loofah he got in June was not in the bathroom.  Kyle doesn't think loofahs accomplish anything...he reluctantly agreed to use one though this past June when his friend Braden basically talked for about 12 hours straight about their magical powers (rightfully so).  Once I got home there sitting in the shower was Kyle's blue loofah. I have the feeling it will only take a matter of days maybe even minutes for Kyle to realize what he is missing. 

Other quick highlights of this past week(s):

• Lindsay and I hosted a staff dinner 2 Fridays ago....it was a big hit!  The recipe we used is below.
• Kyle got his car back!  WOOHOO!!!!
• Lindsay and I went to Schlitterbahn last week.  Schlitterbahn is one of the world's largest and coolest waterparks!  They aren't kidding, I felt like a kid in the candy store with all the fun rides.
• Kyle and I went to Independence Brewery tasting this past weekend.  Good beer, good company and a lot of fun. 
• Training has ended for my company this past week and now I feel like I can breathe again!  YAY!

xx
Madeline

P.S.  Recipe of the week(s)...Kyle actually never tried this one, he helped with the vegetarian version...but none the less it is worthy of this blog!

Recipe: The Best Lasagna Ever (from Pioneer Woman)

Prep Time: 30 Minutes | Cook Time: 30 Minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Servings: 12

Print Recipe3"x5" Cards4"x6" CardsFull Page

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 pound Ground Beef
• 1 pound Hot Breakfast Sausage
• 2 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 2 cans (14.5 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes
• 2 cans (6 Ounce) Tomato Paste
• 2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
• 2 Tablespoons Dried Basil
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 3 cups Lowfat Cottage Cheese
• 2 whole Beaten Eggs
• 1/2 cup Grated (not Shredded) Parmesan Cheese
• 2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 pound Sliced Mozzarella Cheese
• 1 package (10 Ounce) Lasagna Noodles
• (add 1/2 Teaspoon Salt And 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil To Pasta Water)

Preparation Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet or saucepan, combine ground beef, sausage, and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain half the fat; less if you’re feeling naughty. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil and salt. After adding the tomatoes, the sauce mixture should simmer for 45 minutes while you are working on the other steps.
In a medium bowl, mix cottage cheese, beaten eggs, grated Parmesan, 2 more tablespoons parsley, and 1 more teaspoon salt. Stir together well. Set aside. Cook lasagna until “al dente” (not overly cooked).
To assemble:
Arrange 4 cooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of a baking pan, overlapping if necessary. Spoon half the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles. Spread evenly. Cover cottage cheese with a layer of mozzarella cheese. Spoon a little less than half the meat/sauce mixture over the top.
Repeat, ending with meat/sauce mixture. Sprinkle top generously with extra Parmesan.
Either freeze, refrigerate for up to two days, or bake immediately: 350-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until top is hot and bubbly.

Week #??????

Dearest Family and Friends,

I am quickly realizing that once you decide you want to start posting on a blog regularly that it takes a lot more discipline and determination than you originally thought.  I apologize for probably the 100th time for not writing in a long while.  It has been such a long while that I am no longer able to quickly think right off the top of my head what number week this has been for Kyle and I in Texas together.  Some of you may not have spoken to Kyle recently but there has been a lot of things happening in his crazy Texas life lately.  Some highlights of the last two weeks has been:

1. We saw "The Sound of Music" at Zilker Hillside Theater.  It was an incredible musical to watch and it was neat beacause we watched it picnic style on a hillside.  I loved it because I got to use my picnic accesories Beth, Kyle's sister, has given me for past holidays/birthdays.  YAY!

2. Kyle was told a couple weeks ago that he is no longer welcome to stay as my visitor :(  A. it isn't fair to my roomie and close friend that he has been staying for such a long while.  B. The company I work for owns my home and pays for my rent which means that it isn't cool I have a long term visitor taking advantage of that sweet deal.  Kyle is currently still staying with me but he has hit the ground running looking for an apartment.  Currently, there is no apartment is lined up. Please say a prayer for him so that his awesome girlfriend doesn't have to literally kick him to the curb :(  Sidenote: I love Kyle dearly...don't take this information the wrong way.  We will still be dating when I kick him to the curb :) 

3. KYLE HAS A FULL TIME JOB!!!!!!!!!!!  If you haven't processed that last sentence, I encourage you all to read it over and over and over again....because I am so proud of him!  Starting this upcoming Monday, August 27, Kyle will be employed full time at Amplifier.  I am not exactly certain what this company is.  I know that one of their clients is The Onion.  I believe companies use Amplifier to print their material and what not.  This has been a company Kyle has been eyeing since he heard one of my good friends has been working there.  He thought is sounded awesome and right up his alley; while I still sit here clueless as to what exactly the company does.  So after showing interest in this company over a year ago and looking for other jobs in the meantime, he got an interview with them and VOILA....a job!  I would like to shoot a big thanks to my friend Nicole for helping make this magic happen. 

4. The last couple of weeks has been full of talk about this sausage and beer place called Bangers.  They just recently opened up and it has been coming up in many conversations.  This past weekend we got to try out Bangers.  We went out with my friends Lindsay and Kristi.  First to dinner at a place called Doc's where Kyle was in Heaven eating his stuffed fried avacado.  Afterwards we headed over to Bangers.  We did not try their food but we had beer and a good time out in their beer garden.  Bangers was on this unique street called Rainey Street.  Basically, these restuarant/bar owners bought/leased homes on this everyday neighborhood street.  So basically it is a street of houses but all these houses have been transformed into bars and restuarants.  Pretty neat looking! 

5. There was an awful sound coming from Kyle's car on the way back from Bangers.  I immediately got antsy when I heard the sound.....

6. This past Monday, Kyle left for work.  At 5:40am I receive a phone call that his car died about 30 minutes from my home.  Already I began kicking myself, I meant to tell Kyle that morning that he should just take my gem of a car to work so not to put stress on his car.  Turns out that he blew a gasket on his engine....those of you who have had this work done or know stuff about cars probably know that this is far from a cheap fix-up.  His car is currently getting worked on. 

This is where we are now.  A tad on the stressed out side of things.  If I am stressed out then I cannot even imagine where Kyle is right now with his feelings.  He is currently scurrying to find a place to live before I officially tell him he can't stay with me and he is now trying to figure how to recover both emotionally and finacially from such a terrible blow to his car.  UGH....This all sort of shadows the excitement of finding a full time job.  So please, if you talk to him support him and congratulate him on getting 1 out of 2 (job & apartment) big things completed while he is in Texas. 

xx
Madeline

P.S. Recipe of the week(s)  (this recipe is so easy to do and so delicious...we are definitely adding this to our regularly used recipes!)

Creamy Pesto Chicken and Bow Ties

Rated: Submitted By: Campbell's Kitchen Cook Time: 20 Minutes Ready In: 20 Minutes Servings: 4

"Use Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup, chicken breast, and bow tie pasta to make an easy one-dish meal with a creamy pesto sauce."

Ingredients:

3 cups uncooked bow tie pasta 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cubed 1 (10.75 ounce) can Campbell's®

Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free) 1/2 cup pesto sauce 1/2 cup milk

Directions:

1.	Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
2.	Meanwhile, heat butter in skillet. Add chicken and cook until browned, stirring often.
3.	Add soup, pesto sauce and milk. Bring to a boil. Cook over low heat 5 minutes or until done. Stir in drained pasta and heat through

Week 8

OLYMPICS...'MERICA. Enough said about this week.

xx
Madeline

P.S.
Recipe of the week:
Savory Sausage and Cheddar Breakfast Casserole (see image)

Serves 6 to 8

This recipe is perfect for using up stale bread since its firm texture stands up to overnight soaking. A casserole stretches expensive ingredients by using them to flavor low cost ingredients so this meal is a good value when you need to feed a holiday crowd.

Nutrition
Per serving (about 7oz/206g-wt.): 370 calories (210 from fat), 23g total fat, 10g saturated fat, 285mg cholesterol, 940mg sodium, 18g total carbohydrate (1g dietary fiber, 5g sugar), 22g protein
Ingredients

5 cups (1-inch) cubes sourdough or white bread
1/2 pound loose breakfast sausage, cooked (about 1 cup cooked)
1 cup spinach leaves
8 eggs
2 cups milk
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried sage
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
Directions

Layer bread, sausage and spinach in an 8-inch baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, garlic, salt, pepper and sage then pour over contents in baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese, cover and chill for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Uncover dish and bake until cooked through and golden brown, 50 to 60 minutes. Set aside to let rest for 10 minutes then serve.

Week 6 & Week 7....Two for One Deal!!!!

Hello Again.  I apologize for missing Week 6 entirely.  The 2 past weeks sort of blended together since I came home from summer vacation this past wednesday. 

"What were the highs and lows of your last half of summer vacay, Madeline?" you might find yourself asking this great question....Let me share, starting with my biggest low of vacay:

• Low: As you all know my old cell phone was dealing witha  cracked screen issue...so John, my bro-in-law, offered to help fix it since he has had experience fixing cell phones.  Well, I got a little too excited about this fiscally cheap idea and pressured John into doing much earlier than planned (leading him to be completely unprepared for fixing an Iphone).  Long story short....my Iphone was no more due to neither of us really understanding the inner workings of this complex phone.
• High: I filed an insurance claim on my phone and still got a new Iphone replacement for a somewhat decent price.  BOOM...take that $600 phones directly from Apple!
• High: I enjoyed an amazing extended weekend up in the boundary waters of northern Minnesota with my family.  We cruised the waters in our sweet houseboat rental for a solid 4 days.  The Boundary Waters are absolutely breath taking and I love my family = best vacay ever!
• High: Kyle had an interview with Golf Smith (?? hope that's right) & he was able to make a couple connections this last week for a different job!  Kyle is getting some job action which is always a great sign!!  YAY!
• High: Kyle had a splendid time with our friends Em & Shawn while I was away.  It sounds like they did a ton of stuff and I can't even remember the list of things.  AND apparently Em & Shawn got so used to Kyle, they now expect to find him around the apartment still :)
• Low: I found out once I got back to work that our program is much busier than we thought in the fall....this means that with only 2 weeks left until training starts I need to hire 4 more people.  Ahhhhh.....Under Pressure (sing along if you know the words!) .

(Up in northern Minnesota left - right: Owen, Becky, Theresa & Me)

As always I hope this letter finds everyone in good spirits.  Let me know what memorable event took place during your summer as well, I don't want this to always be about me and Kyle :)  We love and miss you all!!

XX
Madeline

P.S.
There is no recipe for these past 2 weeks since things have been crazy tranistioning from vacation back to texas life, sorry.