New Dinner Blog is Finally up!

So I was finally able to get the dinner blog up and running! Here is the link. If you would like to contribute (and I need everyone to help!!!) please let me know and I will add you as an author! Enjoy!

http://takethatmartha.blogspot.com/

Sick of the same old Dinners?

So Shannon and I were talking the other day about how we are sick of making and eating the same meals. So Nate and I took the time to write down the meals we eat and know how to make. I was suprised to learn it was over 50, but at the same time still dissapointed. Nothing on that list is new or adventerous. I would really like something new, but don't want to have to go through the pain of trying a new cookbook. I also find that most of the recipies from my favorite Food Network Chefs are not exactly budget or hip friendly. Oh I am aware that some are, but the majority use expensive or hard to find ingredients or have so much butter I can feel myself getting bigger! My next thought was using recipies online, but again that makes me nervous because I never know how it will turn out. I'd rather try new meals from people I know and can trust.

Now comes my idea, but before I actually go through with it I want to know what you (my friends) think and if you would be interested. I thought we could create a blog where we can all post our recipies. Not a ton at a time, but as we make them. For example, If I make my apple cranberry pork chops tonight and realize they are yummy and not too expensive, I would take a picture of my dinner, then blog the recipie. Everyone else could do the same. Of course we will all still make tacos and spaghetti that we won't post, but then when we want an idea we can see what our friends are making, and perhaps change things up just a little bit. Just a thought. Not sure if anyone would be interested, but let me know.

Love,
Diane

Summer Update: Beware Long Post!!

Summer Adventures:

Yes, I know, it's been two whole months since I posted last...and I was doing so well. As I'm sure you deduced by now, the lack of posting has not been for lack of things to post; quite the opposite. So here is the best travel log I could muster of our summer adventures.

Trip to Michigan:

Over the 4th of July we drove to visit Nate's Family in Michigan. It was a great trip, albeit quick. We got to meet our two BEAUTIFUL new nieces as well as spend time with the family. I think my favorite part was the fireworks (with the family of course). We all walked over to the local small town fireworks and they were so much fun...they took me right back to when I was a kid watching them. It was great to see everyone.

Girls Camp:

As soon as we got back from Michigan I was off Girls Camp (As Manchester Ward Girls Camp Director). I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Lots of time with the girls, including some cliff hiking with rattle snakes (didn't enjoy those so much)!!! I also enjoyed spending free time on the Archery field with my sisters. They are both WAY better than me, but I'm chalking that up to it being my first real time...yeah, that's what it was. ;) My favorite part was spending Friday night with the Girls and Brother McQuade (in place of the Bishop) talking about all kinds of different things. It was a great spiritual experience, and I didn't know how much I needed it until I got back.

Shelly's Wedding:

The first week in August we trekked out to Utah for Shelly's wedding. After getting stuck overnight in Atlanta (long story) we finally made it to Utah. The first day we went down to Provo to Visit friends and give Courtney Smith a tour of BYU. It was the first time I had been back since we moved and I didn't realize how much I missed it. It totally caught me off guard! Pretty much the rest of the week was devoted to the wedding. We all went up to Logan Wednesday (the temple of choice), checked into the hotel, and then off to the temple for Shelly to take out her endowments. Afterwards we split up from the boys and took Shelly to the local pizza place for her last night as a single lady. Thursday was wedding day. It was a beautiful day and Shelly looked GORGEOUS!!! The only downside was the wind. It was so gusty we could hardly keep our skirts down, literally!!! Then up to Idaho for the reception and back down to Ogden, all in one day. Friday we got to see Nate's brother Richard from Hawaii who flew in to go to Las Vegas. Then the rest of the day we spent with the family. All in all a very good trip.

Shelly's VA Reception:

Once we were back in town it was time to think about Shelly's VA reception. It was really more of a charming little open house at my parents home. My big hurdle for that was making her cake. It turned out just fine, but I still need to learn how to use fondant in humidity. I also helped with some of the cute little appetizers. My mom's friends Lisa Baldwin and Sherry Andelin turned out to be life savers when they showed up to help chop, dice, pour, and stir things the day of. We couldn't have do it without them! My favorite part of the whole open house was the chalk messages on the driveway for the bride and groom (Shelly loves sidewalk chalk, so we thought this would be cute).

Outer Banks, North Carolina:

Right after the reception (and I mean the same night!!!) we headed off to the outer banks for what I have dubbed our real vacation. It was fabulous!!! We went to our wonderful friend's beautiful beach house with the Jury's. Basically it was three days of waves, sand castles, sun, and relaxation. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect ending to our summer!! The weather was perfect!!! It reminded me how much I love the beach...

Cubs Game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:

To finish up our summer Nate and I drove to Pittsburgh over the Labor day weekend to see the Cubs play the Pirates. It was by far my favorite trip of the whole summer! We stayed in the beautiful Hilton Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh! It couldn't have been more perfect! After a nice drive down Sunday night, we checked in, got some pizza, and just watched movies. The next morning we slept in, then had a lovely breakfast at the hotel restaurant, then off to the game. Because we stayed downtown we were able to just walk over to the game. Our seats were great! The only downside was the rain, but with our umbrella's (which we used as blankets since we couldn't put them over our heads) we were able to stay pretty dry. The nice part was that the rain cleared out the people in front of us who were blocking our view!! Oh, and the cotton candy was amazing...we ended up having 2! The Cubs won and it was overall a great game. I did feel kinda bad for the Pirates since there were almost as many Cubs fans in the stadium as Pirates fans but oh well...go Cubbies! Our drive home was great. We took the back roads through West Virginia (and I mean back-roads) and saw some beautiful country! Even though it was a whirlwind trip, it was amazing!!

Now it's back to real life. Nate is back in school taking a full 18 credit hours and work has never been busier for me! But the weather is cooling down and the leaves are starting to turn and that means fall...my favorite time of year!! Hopefully I will be a more faithful blogger this season!

Love,
Diane