What College Football Means to Me

Now I have to be honest about a few things here…

First, I graduated from a college that does not have sports. So I don’t entirely grasp the concept of college sports. Sure I attended my fair share of flag football games, girls basketball games and the occasional other intramural game, but that was about it. I have found pride in my alma mater for other reasons besides sports.

Second, I am in denial about how old I am. I swear that I am still college aged. I feel like I could walk back onto the BYU-Idaho campus and just fit right in. Then I come in contact with college students and see how young they actually are and I am brought back to reality that I am not as young as I once was. I’m not saying that I am old, just not as young as my mind leads me to believe. I mean my brother is going to be in college in less than a year. Woah! Plus, I have been out of college longer than I was in college. It has been almost 5 years now. Wow!

Why am I sharing this information? Well last Saturday Aaron wanted a live viewing of BYU crushing CSU (which they did 49- 10 final score!) I tagged along to learn more about this college sport culture and for a good reality age check.

We met up with friends. And even though we had to bundle up because of the snow, we still had a blast! I think mostly because by the time the game was over there were more BYU fans then there were CSU fans.

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And Ethan stayed warm and cozy with Grandma and Grandpa Hunt.

Maybe someday I will get this college sports thing down. I mean, who knows? I could have a future BYU quarterback napping in the next room ;)

Fall Favorites

I failed at my non blog book week. I really did have 5 posts in mind to share with you, but I only found time to get 2 of them out of my head. I guess I’m just not motivated enough to blog about this kind of stuff. Oh well.

Somehow the Fall season was completely skipped over in my mind. I feel like we went from Summer to Winter in just one day. I missed the Fall transition. Just because it didn’t feel like Fall outside, I made sure that it felt like it in our home.

Here is what a little of Fall/Thanksgiving looks like inside and outside our home. (And I know I said that I don’t decorate for Thanksgiving, but apparently now I do.) I was at my mom’s last week so I decided to take advantage of her cricut (love that little machine.) I made myself a “give thanks” banner for our dining room. Also, I forgot that I had been collecting pumpkins throughout the year. I made sure to put those out. I sewed some Fall pillows for the front porch . And of course I put out my Thanksgiving mat. And finally our tree decided to shed it’s leaves this week. It looks like we have a lot of raking to do in our future. Until then I get the joy of stepping on the crinkly leaves!

 

 

More importantly then what Fall looks like in our home, I want to tell you about what Fall tastes like at our home. There are a few recipes that are staples or are becoming staples in our home during the Fall. I thought that I would share a few of them with you.

Pumpkin Bread. This is the most delicious thing that I have ever tasted-especially if I add chocolate chips!

Ingredients:

4 1/2 cups flour
4 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
12 eggs
2 1/4 cans(small) pumpkin
2 1/2 cups oil
3 pkgs. instant coconut cream pudding

Directions:

1. mix dry ingredients together(minus the instant pudding)
2. mix wet ingredients together
3. mix wet and dry ingredients together
4. then add 3 packages of instant coconut cream pudding
5. spray bread pan with cooking spray
6. fill bread pans half full
7. bake at 320 degrees for 50 min

Makes 5 loaves.

I have made Pumpkin bread, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, and with the left over pumpkin I made some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

I have the easiest and most delicious pumpkin cookie recipe.

• 1 15 oz. can pumpkin
• 1 spice cake mix
• a whole lot of chocolate chips

Mix together. Plop down on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min. Yum!

 

Another favorite of ours is chili. My mom has the most delicious recipe that we make every year for Halloween. This year I decided to step out of the box a little and instead of the traditional chili I made Chicken Enchilada Chili. So good and easy- I’m all about easy!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds chicken
• 1 1/2 cups prepared enchilada sauce
• 2 chopped celery stalks
• 2 (14.5 oz) cans tomatoes with seasoning
• 2 (15 oz) cans pinto or kidney beans, undrained
• 1 onion, diced 1-2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin

Directions:

1. Pour enchilada sauce and canned tomatoes into the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker.
2. Add beans, celery, onion and spices. Stir to combine. Place chicken on top.
3. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours, or until flavors have combined.
4. Serve with shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream, if desired.

 

Last recipe that I will share is a new favorite of mine. It is broccoli cheddar soup. I have always enjoyed a good broccoli cheddar soup, but not if I make it. I finally found a recipe that I love make and eat!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half-and-half
2 cups  chicken stock or bouillon
1/2 pound fresh broccoli
1 cup carrots, julienned
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
8 ounces grated sharp cheddar

Directions:

1. Sauté onions in butter. Set aside.
2. Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes.
3. Stir constantly and slowly add the half-and-half.
4. Add the chicken stock whisking all the time.
5. Simmer for 20 minutes.
6. Add the broccoli, carrots and onions.
7. Cook over low heat until the veggies are tender for 20-25 minutes. Add salt and pepper.
8. The soup should be thickened by now. Pour in batches into blender and puree.
9. Return to pot and cook over over low heat and add the grated cheese; stir until well blended.
10. Stir in the nutmeg and serve.

Now you have a little insight into Fall at our house!

Inspiration

After Ethan was born and we settled into somewhat of a routine, I realized that I had a lot of time on my hands. The kid naps a lot! (Well napped, teething is no fun!) So I decided to get back into reading what I wanted to read, not what a 6th grader wanted to read. I was so excited! Except there was one problem. Once I start I can’t stop. Of course I could put a book down to take care of my baby. But anytime he was asleep I was reading. My husband soon made it known how much he disliked this hobby. (Outrageous! Right?) Actually, it was because he missed me(Awe!) Can you believe that I was ignoring him for the make believe? I am ashamed. But I can’t help it. I enjoy a good fiction novel.

So I had to find another hobby that wouldn’t consume me so much, but that I still enjoyed. I decided to pick up sewing again. I used to sew when I was a kid. (Who sews when they are a kid? Well, I did.) I had actually started to get back into it right before I got pregnant with Ethan. But then I got pregnant… and well we all know that story. But now I am officially back into it.

Today I thought that I would start out this week of unusual blogging(for me) with  what I have been working on lately. Now I wont throw it all at you at once. I’ll start you off with just a few simple things.

Lately I have been inspired by one particular blogger. The day that I discovered this blog, I came across two things that I wanted to make. I was so excited about them that the second I came across them I went to the store, bought the fabric, and made them all in the same day. 

Take a look:

First is my new Fall skirt:

Inspiration and Tutorial found HERE.

Second are my new fall scarves: (Actually the purple one I didn’t make that day. I made it a few days later, because I was so in love with the first one that I made. )

    

Inspiration and Tutorial found HERE.

Both were so fun and so easy to make!

Family Pictures

Ok my non-blog book week is officially postponed. I know you have all been dying to see what's been cooking in our kitchen or what has been passing through my sewing machine. But this turned into quite the week. A sick baby and that same baby splitting open his forehead on our coffee table. Yea, it has been one of those weeks.

But I wanted to post a few pictures that I received today. A few weeks back we got some family photos taken. I cannot say that I am in love with them. I guess you get what you pay for (we didn’t pay a lot.) Some of them were worth sharing.  And at least we now have some pictures of the three of us.

     

Costumes

I know this is supposed to be a non-blog book week, but it was just Halloween and I have to show off my baby boy. I promise fun non-blog book posts to come! (and I know I promised 4 costumes, but I narrowed it down to 3. He will still have the opportunity to wear his 4th just not for Halloween.)

 

More pictures and details on our fun Halloween can be found here.