Yummy Pasta & Fall Fun

We have started doing a weekly dinner switch with Jeremy and Kedra (we cook one week and they cook the next.) Last Friday we had delicious sweet potato burritos, and yesterday we made Pasta Fresca. I don't consider myself a top-notch chef, and so I don't usually share recipes, but this one was so good. Steven and I love to eat at Noodle & Company, and this recipe is taken from one of their dishes. It tastes really close too... so if you are looking for a crowd-pleaser, give it a try!

NOODLES & CO. PASTA FRESCA

Sauté Instructions:
In a very hot sauté pan, add:
2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 cups pre-cooked farfalle (bow-tie pasta)
1/4 cup cubed roma tomatoes
1 tbs. diced red onions
2 shakes of kosher salt & cracked pepper

Sear noodles, stirring occasionally until steaming hot

Add:
1 oz. baby fresh spinach
1 oz. fresca sauce (recipe below)
Toss to combine, serve with freshly shaved parmesan cheese

FRESCA SAUCE:
(for 15 servings)
1/4 cup fresh garlic
2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup sweet white wine (we omitted the wine and it turned out just great)
1 cup extra virgin olive oil

On another note, we have really been enjoying Fall again in Provo. We were able to go hiking last weekend and see all of the pretty leaves. Steven also took an impressive picture of the sunrise on his way to work yesterday morning. We have a great view of the mountains from outside of our apartment.

How time flies...

I was just thinking the other day how it has now been five years since Steven and I met. Life is funny. Time can seem so short and so long at the time time. On the one hand, I still feel like the 18-year-old girl I was when we first met. On the other hand, I feel like I have known Steven my whole life. The past five years have brought both challenges and exciting times for us. While I am on a nostalgic note, here are some highlights:

- Meeting at a mutual friends house. He thought I was a big flirt. I was impressed by how smart he was.

- The first time that we went to Las Vegas together with a group of friends. He kissed me for the first time on the hammock outside of his parents house. He said, "I like you" and I said, "you just kissed me, you better."

- Despite both of our best intentions, falling in love when we knew that he would be gone on a mission for the next two years.

- 208 letters. 104 each. We both wrote every single week for two years. But if anybody ever tells me that I "waited" for him, I get grumpy. I did a lot while he was gone. We were just really in love.

- Seeing him again for the first time in two years. This part wasn't perfect. He went to the wrong airport terminal. When I got off my flight and he wasn't there, it took all of my self-control not to burst into tears when the moment I had been waiting for for two years was nothing like I imagined.

- Getting engaged..... and getting married. Life really is better when you spend it with your best friend. I can honestly say that life being married to Steven is even better than I ever thought my life could be. So, I love you Steven. 5 years is nothing.... here's to 50 more....

Viva Bike Vegas

We are in Las Vegas right now. I am up early and Steven (and the rest of the Foote Family) are still sleeping. We are in Las Vegas because yesterday Steven rode in Viva Bike Vegas! Ever since Steven started road biking about 7 years ago, he has wanted to ride in a "century" which is 100 miles in one day. I am so proud of him because he accomplished his goal and then some. Viva Bike Vegas was a 118-mile ride with lots of hills, heat, and hard work.

The race had a 118-mile ride and a 62-mile ride. Steven rode the first 62 miles with his brother, Tyler, and they had a great time riding together. Go team Foote! Dave, Steven's dad, was also able to come ride out the last 30 miles with Steven for moral support. All and all, it was a great day, and something that Steven was grateful he could share with his dad and his brother.I also had a fun time. The Foote family girls made posters for support and we met them at multiple rest stops along the way for encouragement. We also were able to enjoy some of the beautiful weather by hiking out at Red Rock.
I still can't believe that Steven rode so far. 118 miles = a long way. Congrats Steven! We are all so proud of you!

Bonnie

For those of you who don't know my beloved family pet, Bonnie, here is an introduction: Bonnie is a cocker spaniel/American Eskimo cross and she has been in our family since I was 8. Which means that at 15, she is a pretty old dog. However, she still looks like a puppy and she is the cutest dog I have ever seen. Bonnie is definitely a member of the family, and I came across a couple videos of her doing "tricks" about a year ago. For an old dog, she still does pretty well. I sound really annoying, so ignore me, but look at my adorable dog!

Life Lately

Well, as promised, my blogging has been lacking lately. Life has just been crazy. We are getting back into the intense school and work routine, which has been an adjustment after the summer.

This is life right now for Paige....

- I love finally getting paid to work so hard. I miss the flexibility of school, but whenever I start to think about that too much I think, "Oh yeah, now I get paid!" Definitely nice.

- So, another little fun thing about finally being a real "professional" is that my firm gave me business cards. Not just business cards, but probably about 1000 of them. I have been doing recruiting for my firm and so that has been a chance to give away about a 100, but I honestly can't think of what I'll do with the rest. I'm going to start entering all those drawings where you drop your business card into a box. I feel so professional.

- However, I still feel like a student and I will until October 29 when CPA exam #4 takes place. I figure I'll survive somehow until then.

- And, life is not all work and no play. I'm playing intramural soccer, going cycling, finding time for the gym, and I have just realized that I love yoga.

Life for Steven......

- I honestly don't know how Steven handles everything that he does. Currently, he is working 20 hours a week, he is in an intense Master's degree program, he manages a BYU Single student apartment, he is in the Young Men's program, and he still never gets really stressed about anything. I'm hoping some of his laid-back nature will rub off on me.

- Steven is also playing intramural soccer and is training for a 120 mile bike race in Vegas in two weeks.

- Steven is also still the perfect husband. I know that sounds corny, but he cooks, cleans, does dishes, and has even been putting his socks into the laundry lately. I couldn't ask for more.

Even though we haven't had too many exciting things to blog about or take pictures of lately, I missed posting some of the other fun things that we did this summer. Here are some pictures of the rest of our "summer adventures."

Fall is an exciting time of year. I love crunching all the leaves, getting out my sweaters, and getting back into a routine. So, summer may be over, but Happy Fall Y'all!

Books and Computers.....

Well, I am back to work full-time.....
And still trying to do this (aka study for the CPA exam) every spare moment that I have....
Those main things, along with Young Women's, cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, gym, etc. are leaving little time for much else. So, if my blogging suffers, I at least have an excuse....

BYU Vs..... Utah?

Well, tonight is an awesome night. BYU just beat Oklahoma 14-13. I am definitely proud to be a BYU Cougar. I have always been a BYU fan. My parents met at BYU and my dad played on the BYU football team. That is why I was shocked to see this.....
Don't worry, it was only for one night. My parents were here to visit and my dad is good friends with the Utah head coach, Kyle Whittingham. They came up for a game because my dad got to be on the sidelines with Kyle. They had a good time, but my mom said she had to go home and put on her BYU sweatshirt because she felt bad.

Anyways, after the BYU game Steven and I went up to BYU campus and participated in the honking and yelling and general festivities. Go BYU!!!