Newport with the Z's

At the end of July, we went to Santa Barbara for the weekend to celebrate Oma & Opa's 60th wedding anniversary, and then we spent a week in Newport. It was a blast as always, and I'm thankful for the memories we get to make with our families. I also married into a very great family, and it's fun to continue to get to know them better.

I made a goal at the beginning of the summer to document every trip we went on, so here is another video of another summer adventure!

Zylstra Family Trip from Rylee Zylstra on Vimeo.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TANNER!

Happy Birthday to my love. 

24 reasons why/things I love about my husband:

1. He's kind to everyone. He even drove a homeless man to the post office once!

2. He takes care of me.

3. He laughs at my jokes.

4. He makes me laugh in return, and usually his jokes are funnier!

5. He's driven.

6. He wants to provide for our future family.

7. We have the same dreams for our future.

8. Pretty soon I'll get free dental for life!

9. He always massages my back.

10. He tells me everyday that I look pretty, even when I don't feel like it.

11. He sacrifices everyday to ride his scooter, instead of the car.

12. He loves his family.

13. He loves my cooking

14. He knows when I want a treat, and knows when I "need it now".

15. He's learned to put the toilet seat down for me! (except for that one time last week I got up in the middle of the night and fell in.....)

16. He always lifts me up.

17. He loves to compliment me.

18. He's not a Debbie Downer, and reminds me not to be.

19. He holds me tight when I wake up from a scary dream.

20. He has a good taste in music, and clothes for that matter.

21. He loves going on adventures with me!

22. He loves trying new food.

23. He always gives me a kiss right when I get home from work.

24. And, last but not least, let's not forget about his good looks!

I'm so thankful you're mine, and that I get to keep you for eternity. Life just wouldn't be the same without you! 

I LOVE YOU.

My Summer Reading List

Now that summer is over, so is my book to book reading! I read a lot of great books during our couple of trips, and I'm here with some reviews and recommendations. 

1. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

This book is on many reading lists, and now I know why. It's a real eye-opener, and I can't believe people actually live in the certain conditions they do. It made me really really thankful for everything I have. 

Highly Recommend 

2. Seriously I'm Kidding by Ellen Degeneres

This book was a little different than I thought it would be. It ended up being stories about her life, but mixed in with her silly humor. Unfortunately, I was looking for more of a read, but it was still good, because I like her. 

Wouldn't recommend unless all you want to do is roll your eyes and laugh.

3. The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

 I finished this book in only a couple days during our trip to Carlsbad. I also posted about it here, because it's one of my favorite books. It took me a second to get into it, because it's about 5 friends, and it's hard at first to keep track of who is who, but after I did, I couldn't put it down. They are 5 women living in San Francisco while their husbands are in grad school, etc, and I couldn't help but hope that I have a sisterhood like this wherever we move for dental school. I loved it, and I really felt like I had made 5 new friends!

Highly Recommend.

4. The One & Only by Emily Griffin

Man...where do I even start with this book. All I can warn you with, is that it may be a little "creepy" at first, but you'll fall in love with it. Emily Griffin is a great writer, and if you know her writing, or if you've seen the movies (ex: Something Borrowed) you know she can write with twists and turns, but make you fall in love with characters. This does just that, and you seriously won't be able to put it down! My friend and I literally read it within 2 days!

Highly Recommend

5. The Wednesday Daughters by Meg Waite Clayton

This is the sequel to The Wednesday Daughters, and because I read a book in between, I had a hard time getting past the first chapter (you know when you're stuck on one page for like a couple days?) but just like the first, it was amazing. This is the story of the daughters of the original "sisters". It was fun to see where everyone went in their lives, because I was missing that when the first book ended!

Highly Recommend, but read The Wednesday Sisters first!

6. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

 I had wanted to read this book all summer, but I couldn't get myself to! I really do not like Shailene Woodley, the actress in the now movie, so I didn't want to picture her the whole time as I was reading! I'm glad I finally did though, because it was finished in only a couple days. I think the book is better than the movie, but that's usually how it goes! Tanner made fun of my excessive bawling with this book, so I took him to see the movie to see what it was about, and he even enjoyed it. 

Highly Recommend

I'm glad I had the opportunity during the DAT studying, and our beach trips that I was able to read so many great books! Tanner keeps calling me a nerd, but I enjoy it! :)

My next book is: Eat, Pray, Love. Has anyone read that?

My Favorite Quick Meal

These Chicken Enchiladas were something my family grew up on, and I aint complainin because they're good. I call these "white girl" chicken enchiladas, because I felt like I had to find some inner Hispanic in me to make these layered ones here. I'm just kidding, I'm the farthest from Hispanic, and it just sounded better. They are just more americanized Mexican food...but you gotta try em.

 I literally don't measure anymore because I've made them so much, and you can never mess up!

Grab 1 can cream of chicken, and 1 can cream of celery:

if I don't have celery on hand, I just use both chicken.

Canned Chicken (2 large):

I have made before with rotisserie, but these are just so simple when using everything from a can & you can't taste the "canned" flavor anyways.

Sour Cream

Salsa or Rotel 

Whatever range of hotness you want

1 cup (or so) Shredded Cheese

1 pkg flour tortillas

If it's just us two eating, I'll get the pack of 10 and it lasts us for dinners and lunches for the next couple days.

Set your oven to 350. Mix all of the ingredients together (besides the tortillas, of course) and add more sour cream if your heart desires. Start with smaller portions of the salsa and sour cream, because you can always add more, and you don't want it too runny. Now, add 2 heaping dallops onto a tortilla, fold in half and roll! Lay all of the rolled enchiladas in a pan, and pour the excess mixture on top, and add cheese. 

Throw them in the oven for 30-40 and you're set! Add some chips and salsa, beans & rice (which aren't pictured because it was taking to long to cook and I was getting HANGRY) and bon appetite! Seriously soooo easy, and makes for great leftovers! 

Tanners Birthday-Almost

Last night we celebrated Tanners birthday early. We first went to dinner at Alamexo, a new authentic Mexican restaurant downtown SLC, and then we headed to the Broadway play, Wicked. I had wanted to take Tanner to see it for the longest time, and when it came to SLC I really wanted to. My mom decided that's what they wanted to give him for his birthday, so that we could go on a fun date. We are so thankful for that, because we aren't doing gifts this year, and we were able to go out to a nice restaurant, which we wouldn't normally! 

Thanks momsie and popsicle! ;)

Let's start with the food. Man, this place was GOOD! 

Your waiter makes guac for you tableside, and it was so fresh, and soo sooo good. The chips were very top notch as well.

I got the Salmon, which I highly recommend. It is a slow cooked salmon filet with crispy bananas, pineapple pico de gallo & mole manchamanteles..no words. It sat on top of a banana mixture and it seriously has to be one of my favorites yet, and I've had a lot of salmon.

Tanner got the Carne Asada tacos, and can you believe their presentation with everything? I love it. Adobo marinated flat iron steak, melted queso Oaxaca, pico de gallo & salsa de arbol. The steak was like butter, it was sooo tender! 

Each table gets a side of rice and beans, and I really liked them! The rice wasn't Tanners favorite though..but don't listen to him! :)

We also got a side of "Mexican corn": Roasted corn with queso fresco, lime & chile molido. Delicious.

We were stuffed after the chips and guac... (we tend to always get that way!) so we didn't get any of their amazing desserts that I've seen, but each table gets complimentary churros with the check! Now that's my kinda meal. ;)

We got out to our car and realized that we never paid for parking, only to find out that we never got a ticket! Holla!

We then parked over by the Capitol Theatre, and took lots and lots of pictures.

This was my first time to the Capitol Theatre, so I didn't know what to expect! It's a beautiful, intimate theatre, and I loveeed it. It has so much charm!

Check out these beautiful chandeliers when you first walk in.

"Emerald City" slushies

We were a little early, so we kept going outside to listen to the harmonica player, and exchange taking pictures with people. I just wanted a specific picture with the theatre name in the background, and I wanted it vertically. It was just so hard for people to understand I wanted it up & down, and for some reason our pictures were on the "square" mode...but with a little editing, this one will suffice.

I love downtown...

And that guy...

We then went to our seats to get ready for the show!

There's some great marketing for wicked! 

...get the car picture?

During intermission we went onto the balcony, and got to see some even more beautiful views.

Then we walked outside and did some stretches (i'm kidding) and tried to take another one of my "dreamed pictures"... well the sign was on, and everything was perfect, except it was in square mode again, and you can't see our faces. We laughed about how many pictures we took later! Then, it started having the biggest rain drops, so we ran inside!

Our cast was amazing. I had heard that Elphaba was absolutely amazing, and she knocked our socks off! I love the chills I always get during "Defying Gravity", and I loved watching Tanner watch in awe! She rocked the house. Glinda was hilarious and played the part perfectly. Tanner leaned over to me and said I could play her...so watch out guys, I'm going to start auditioning next week! I always walk out in complete shock that so many people can have SUCH talent. There's nothing like listening to a live orchestra, listening to amazing vocals, and watching very talented dancers. It's one of my favorites!

It was SUCH a fun date night and birthday celebration, and I'm glad we got to experience that together! We probably won't be going to Alamexo anytime soon, but if you're downtown and celebrating something, or just enjoying life, please go try it! SO YUM!

#didyouthinktopray

Last night I had one of those weird "everything that I'm doing is wrong, this about me sucks, that about me sucks, I wish this, I wish that" moments, and had a good cry laying in bed. Like a good, ugly cry. That's no way to start off the next day, so I'm really thankful I saw this video from the Mormon Channel today. There's no one more I'd rather talk to when I'm hurting, or in need of comfort than My Heavenly Father. #didyouthinktopray

Strawberry Pie

One thing that I had on my "summer bucket list" was to make a strawberry pie. I didn't have time to make it at our pie night the other week, so I decided it would be a perfect bridal shower treat! Morgan hosted an adorable shower for our elementary friend Emma, and it's always fun to get together and celebrate love!

To be honest, I always fail at any "jello" substance. I've always had problem making it, and have now since been embarrassed to try. But, I took it upon myself to get this right, and I was pleased with it! Especially since the recipe is SO easy. I will now be making this every summer!

The lighting is usually horrible in our old house (hence the picture), but I couldn't help but dip strawberries in this cream cheese to "taste test". And then I had a couple more..

Final product. After my cute strawberry design, it got covered! And, the crust was a little skeewampus, and there's sauce on the pan. But I don't care because anything with cream cheese is good, and doesn't matter what it looks like....right!? am i right?!

This is how easy it is:

Homemade Strawberry Pie

recipe found here

Crust: (I did not make my own crust this time... and it turned out great!)

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 Tbs lemon juice
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 Tbs cold water

Filling:

• 4 oz. cream cheese (I doubled this because I wanted a thicker layer of cream cheese...just call me fat kid)
• ¼ cup powdered sugar (doubled as well, and added a pinch of milk-is that even possible?)
• ½ tsp vanilla

• 1 qt. strawberries, washed, hulled, and cut in half, divided
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 Tbs cornstarch
• ¾ cup cold water

(Don't waste your time on making a crust!) Prepare crust: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix flour and salt together. Cut in shortening with a fork or pastry blender until looks like peas. Beat in egg, water, and lemon juice. Pour into flour mixture and stir until blended. Use flour generously to roll out. Using a fork to make a few holes in the bottom of the crust. Then cover with tin foil and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove tin foil and allow to cool.

Makes 2-9″ crusts. So you can use the extra to make another pie or we like to make cinnamon sugar crisps with the extra. {cover with butter, then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake until golden brown.}

Prepare Filling: In a mixing bowl, blend together cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture on bottom of the cooled pie crust. Arrange ¾ of the strawberries into pie crust on top of cream cheese to form an even mound. Mash together the remaining strawberries, either by hand or in a food processor. Mix in sugar. In a sauce pan over medium heat, cook until almost boiling. In a small bowl, mix together water and cornstarch and add to strawberries. Cook until bubbly. Pour mixture over strawberries in crust. Refrigerate until set. Serve with whipped cream {optional}.

And that's it! Now dig in! :)

Crazy, Crazy, Good Life

I swear I haven't forgot about this bloggy. It's because we have been partying all day every day this summer! We are for SURE livin it up, and I'm loving it. In between a full time job for me, and applying for schools & an online class for him-we are pretty busy by the time I get home. But, that hasn't stopped us from having something fun to do every.night. We went on a picnic last week with Brim and Scott to a gorgeous location. We thought we were going to get caught in a storm, and have to camp up their that night, but thankfully we survived and only felt sprinkles. Packed dinners, and homemade ice cream make for a perfect picnic! 

Movie in the Park

Last night, we went on a little date to Rock Canyon Park in Provo. They do free movies on Monday, and this one was Despicable Me. We headed over a little early to catch some food trucks for dinner. By the time we had finished, we were going to wait another 45 minutes until the movie started, but the music was playing, and we were enjoying each others company! We had noticed it was raining near by, and a big burly man ran down the hill informing us that there was "hail and rain in Springville!!". When no one moved, he just said "...okay...". 10 minutes later, lightening and thundering started, and the movie was officially cancelled. I didn't care though, because we were having a good night!

I love going on dates with my best friend, and I'm cherishing all of these moments before life gets beyond crazy!

we were on THE steepest slope, in fact, all he had to do was push me a little and i'd start sliding! he had a good back rest though.

never been so in love

Take me back!

We took a leave of absence from the blogging world, and enjoyed our last 10 days in CA. We celebrated our Oma and Opa's 60th wedding anniversary in Santa Barbara, and then we relaxed by the pool in Newport. I hate coming back to vacation, but I'm excited that we still have a couple more weeks until school starts for Tanner!