Thanksgiving Feast

This was a monumental Thanksgiving for us. This was the 4th thanksgiving since we got together but only our 2nd together. Our 1st married thanksgiving in the same country. It didn't work out for our family to come out so it was just us and and some of Zack's Army friends. It turned out to be a really nice day! Some of the family asked about our feast so here are some pictures.

Citrus Brine

Letting the flavors spread

Finished Product

Carving our masterpiece

"Pre-Game" Snack

Desserts

Ranch, Bacon Cheddar Pinwheels and spinach, peachy citrus salad.

Jalapeno stuffing and green bean casserole

Homemade cranberry sauce (Recipe below)

Mashed potatoes, gravy and gooey sweet potatoes

The bird

Thanksgiving prep & Cranberry Sauce

So as Thanksgiving is tomorrow and we are expecting a storm I wanted to get as much done as I could today. My kitchen is laid out with each pan and whatever recipe it goes with or a note of what goes in it. I have most everything big done so tomorrow should be the perfect sweater weather and relaxing holiday with my better half.  Zack is very traditional so I decided to make all the "traditional" things he wanted. He never mentioned cranberry sauce but to me that just goes with it. I have never been a big fan of the yucky looking blob of cranberry "stuff" but I found a recipe that defines cranberry sauce in a whole new way. I love it! (Recipe below) With all the cooking I feel so domestic today!! I just love this part of my life now! Although we have been married for over a year and been together over 3 we are only on our 2nd thanksgiving together so this is fun. We both really miss our family but this is going to be a memory of a lifetime! I am SO thankful of everything in my life and I am truly, truly blessed!! We have so many blessings in our life and in the future that we are just ecstatic!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve family. 

We love you all!!!!!!

 ... ________________________________________________________________ ...

Cranberry Sauce

1 cup sugar

1 cup orange juice 

1 (12oz) package fresh cranberries

Directions:

In a medium sauce pan dissolve the sugar in the juice over medium heat. Stir in the cranberries and let cook until the cranberries begin to pop (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and transfer to bowl. Sauce thickens as it cools.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

My parents & I on our wedding day

Today is my daddy's 48th birthday! I am so blessed to have my dad in my life. He has been such a rock throughout all the seasons of my life. He has always loved me through the good and bad and I am SO grateful. He let me "fail forward" and guided me through the growing process. He is a God fearing man that has built our family with my mom on such a strong foundation. My dad always said "us 4 no more" but after I met Zack it is " us 5 will thrive" I love it. I am truly, truly blessed! Happy Birthday Dad!!

Journey to Austin

YesterdayI picked up Julie at the airport in Austin we went straight to feast on Buca di Beppo. The best italian food. I love that place and I haven't had it in so long!! It hit the spot! Then we ventured to the Capitol building. It is such a beautiful building! I was in amazement of the crown molding and pillars and staircases. It is absolutely gorgeous! I will add more photos when I have more time but this is one of my favorites. Hope you enjoy!!!!

Julie is headed to the Lone Star State!

This is at Cracker Barrel when Julie visited in June.

Today my cousin is coming into Texas! I cannot wait to see her. We always have such a good time. We tend to laugh A LOT! We will be celebrating her birthday while she is here and touring the capitol in Austin and who knows what else! Hope you all have an fantastic weekend! Love to you all!

Home Sweet Texas Home (take 2)

I thought I would share some pictures of our Texas home. We have been blessed to have some visitors but unfortunately not everyone can make it out so I thought I would share a little peek into our world! Family & friends are all welcome to head out this way!! We love to show off our part of the lonestar state!

Home Sweet Texas Home

The Juliens

Dining Room

Living Room

Our Room

Guest Room

Office Area in Guest Room

Our Home Sweet Texas Home

Recipes

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies


1pouch Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/4 teaspoon mint extract
6 drops green food coloring
1 egg
1cup creme de menthe baking chips
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chunks


1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix cookie mix, butter, extract, food color and egg in bowl until soft dough forms.
3. Stir in creme de menthe chips and chocolate chunks.
4. Place dough at least 2inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.
6. Cool 3 minutes.


Unless you plan to enjoy immediately I recommend you put them on a wire cooling rack to let them cool before putting them away. Another little trick I learned with cookies is if you put them in a Ziploc with a piece of bread the bread keeps them from getting hard. Makes for nice soft, tasty cookies!

Cold Journey

So basically I woke up today and it went from a slight chill in the air to full on freezing. I realized my car had a nice little frost on the windows and everything! Looks like our fall/winter will be a cold one! Time to bust out the uggs and hot chocolate!

Enjoy the Journey

I have been thinking of the best way to keep all of our family & friends "in the loop" from 1500 miles away so here is to the start of our blog...I have to say it took me a few minutes to come up with the perfect name. However the name "Enjoy the Journey" couldn't be more perfect. Zack and I have had a very eventful couple years with the deployment and move and everything in between. However, the last 6 or so months have taught us probably the most important lessons of all. The only way to describe what we have been through is by labeling it a journey. You must know our journey doesn't have a final destination just a well mapped out expedition we call life. We have adopted "enjoy the journey" as our motto. We have had a very personal journey and although we have had high and low spots our journey has brought us so close together. We are in probably one of the best times of our lives. I have told Zack so many times that I am going to forever hold Texas in my heart because this place saved me. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the daily grind of life and I definitely was in California. I thoroughly enjoy working. It is some kind of sickness I guess but I love the pressure of it all. The downside of it was being so far away from Zack and hardly spending time together. Moving here was such a whirlwind plan we came up with but it has proven to be such a great decision. Texas is filled with conservative, God fearing, Americans. I feel at home! I appreciate their pride of their country, their military and their God. It is a great thing to see, Support Our Troops on everything including Walmart! We have got to see quite a few fun things here and love showing others so come on out and see us! We found the worlds best BBQ place. It was the most amazing tasting BBQ I have ever had. My mouth waters thinking of it!! We have had such a good time here and are continuing to make memories to last forever. I must say I have the best husband in the world and I am happy to report I am enjoying my journey. Hope you enjoy yours.

Love to you all.

M