Stirring Occasionally

Before all of this Wedding nonsense, Kev and I really wanted to start a Food Blog. We even came up with some catchy titles for it; Stirring Occasionally.com just rolled off the tongue so nicely! Much to our dismay, the url was taken. Not much later, Kev slapped a ring on my finger and here we are kids, She Said reYES! came about. I figure we can post wedding updates, then once the wedding has come and gone, we can keep up the blog with some cooking posts for my Foodies out there =) Kevin and I have been heavily influenced by The Pioneer Woman's Blog, we just love how many pictures she posts of the step by step process so here is our best imitation:

Chicken Tortilla Soup with Kevin and Alexa =)

What you'll need to make this tasty dish:

To begin:

Please chop up yellow onion, red, yellow, and orange bell pepper (or whatever bell pepper combo you have), celery, and the all powerful and delicious GARLIC. Throw all of this into a stock pot with some EVOO coating the bottom and let it cook down.

As you can see above, I chose to buy a rotisserie chicken already cooked and ready to go. We were in a hurry, you can boil a coupla chicken breasts and shred them just the same, but to make it easy, just pick up a whole rotisserie chicken and shred it into the pot

This is also when you season the heck out of the goods in the pot. We used Cumin, Chili Powder, Garlic Powder, Seasoning Salt, Salt and Peppa. Mix it all up and let it cook for a coupla more minutes. Also, toss in a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies to spice it up as well.

Then we pour in the chicken broth:

OHHHHHH YEAHHHHH! Throw a can of black beans in the pot for good measure. Gotta get in that extra protein. Once all the goods are in the pot, bring it to a boil. This infuses the flavors =) Once boiling, reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes to really get down and dirty.

Whilst waiting for the pot to boil, you must prepare the toppings. I like to have a little fun with my food. Here is my rendition of what to top the Chicken Tortilla Soup with.

"Avocado is food's kryptonite... it exposes food's weakness, which is that when you pair any food with it, it instantly becomes the most delicious thing on earth." -Adam Richmond (Man vs. Food)
Let's take it step-by-step, shall we!? (Warning, the following images are what I like to refer to as "Food Porn." Proceed with caution. Brace Yo'selves...)

We start with a bowl'o goodness...
Crunch up some tortilla chips!

Add gobs of avocado. (This makes the whole dish for me, the more avo, the betta!)

Top with black olives

And last but certainly not least, folks, CHEEEEESE.

The final product?

SHUT. UP.  But, does he like it?

YES! Yes, he does! Success! On a gloomy, rainy day. This is the perfect meal paired with a nice salad or cornbread and honey. Very tasty! I suggest to taste the soup periodically throughout the process so as to gauge if it needs more spicing. Here are the details if you would like to try it yourself!

3 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (for bottom of pot)
1 yellow onion minced
1 yellow, red, and orange bell pepper minced
1 stalk of celery chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced (if you have a garlic press, I would use that)
1 whole rotisserie chicken (or 2 big chicken breasts cooked and shredded)
1-2 tablespoons of cumin, chili powder, garlic powder (more to taste)
a coupla dashes of salt and pepper
1 can of diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can black beans
1 32 oz carton of chicken broth

toppings:
avocado
tortilla chips
black olives
cheese
sour cream?

Let me know if you try it and like it!



Our New Home!

Kevin and I finished registering this weekend! WOO-HOO! That was super fun! It is crazy to think that all those things we scanned might end up in our cupboards and cabinets! Kev and I have the same taste in home goods which made it super easy registering.

Not only that, but we received our first gift!

SO AWESOME!! A big thank you to Steve and Frances! It was so fun to open up our first present! It continues to become real, we're gettin htiched and we've got the flatware to prove it! =)

A Tribute to Those Before Us

I would like to take a moment to shout out to those who are already married and going strong! Kevin and I were naming off all of the weddings we've been to as a couple and it is quite the list!

When we first started dating, we attended the Nathan and Lindsay Lambert's wedding. I wish I had a picture, but unfortunately these were the days before digital cameras! Seven years later, this happy couple has two little boys!

Next up, Steven and Becca Boyd's wedding! Kev and I had been dating for six months! Seven years later they now have two beautiful little girls!

After that, Kevin and I attended Natalie and Bryan Davis' wedding at the Victoria Community Church. I remember watching as the stage rotated during the ceremony and I loved snacking on the mashed potato bar and dancing all night!

Next, I had the honor of being in my Grandparents' wedding. Kevin and I are actually sharing our wedding date with my grandparents and great-grandparents. So, it will be special to see them and celebrate with them on our date!

Up next is the wedding of Travis and Amy Cotsenmoyer!

However, this is a picture of Holly and I at Trav and Amy's Wedding!

Michael and Katie Johnson's Wedding was so beautiful! Kevin was an achilles tendon-less Groomsman in this wedding =) Check it out!

Trent and Heather Knapp's wedding was freakin awesome!

Holly and Mike MacNeill tied the knot eight months ago!

Brooke and Jayson Moss's wedding was amazing! I felt like I was in Hawaii!

We didn't get a chance to snag a picture with the Bride and Groom =( But, check out that background!

Andy and Leah Thomson got hitched almost six months ago!

We didn't get a chance to take a pic with the Thomsons either, but isn't she a gorgeous bride?

Just recently, we attended Heather and Jason Davis' wedding!



Check out that view of Laguna Nigel =)

Next up? Ashley Williams is tying the knot, not too long after, it will FINALLY be my turn! And two weeks after me? Lynnea Erwin! Can't wait for the months ahead!

As you can see, I don't have too many pictures with the Bride and Groom. Very rarely was I able to get up close to snap a picture with the guests of honor. I know it is terribly hard to take pictures with everyone, but I do regret not being more aggressive and asking them to smile for the camera with me.

We've been to a lot of weddings together, now Kevin and I are looking forward to walking down the aisle ourselves. Can't wait to put my own white dress on and dance all night with my close friends and family! Thanks for the memories, guys!



Where My Girls At!?

Today, Whitney, Holly, Ashley and I went on a mission to find the perfect Bridesmaid dress for the Stovner/Reyes Wedding. These girls are hilarious and didn't mind sharing a tiny dressing room at the first location. Here are some of the options we found..

I just love the ruffles, Holly! lol Some of the bridesmaid dresses were hideous! But we were able to find a couple of options that fit the bill and that the girls can even wear again after the big day! lol If anyone is in the market for a bridesmaid dress, I would suggest going to Mary Me Bridal in Orange, CA. They have a whole store dedicated to bridesmaid dresses in every shape and color, and you don't need an appointment to try things on!

Here's a winner that Ashley spotted:

HAHA! We had a lot of fun today. Thanks for coming out, ladies! I love you to pieces! I can't wait to see you all up on the altar with me in pretty purple (or aubergine) dresses =) HAWT! I promise not to force you to wear puffy sleeve and hats...this could be you, don't tempt me..

"Meet Me at the Altar in Your White Dress!"

I swear that whenever I am looking at wedding stuff, or if on my way to do something wedding related, this song pops into my head, and I can't help but sing it at the top of my lungs! Please enjoy the magic that is Jagged Edge whilst reading along about my latest Wedding Adventure...

So, about a month ago, I found my Wedding Dress! AH! My grandmother flew into town from Oregon and we had a huge Wedding-Filled Weekend. We went to two dress shops, and found the winner at The Dresser in Fullerton, CA. Seriously, if you are looking for a Wedding Dress, this little boutique is so cute, and has a huge selection! I was down to two dresses that I fell in love with. I had my Momma and my Grandma there with me, but I had to call in reinforcements to truly make up my mind.

Holly and Alex were able to drive over and give me their opinion. It was so cool to have them there, giving me their advice. I've known these girls since I was like 10, and to have them there with me picking out my wedding dress meant the world to me!

My Roommate and Bridesmaid, Chelsea, also came to give me support. She accompanied me to my first fitting, and even teared up when she saw me in a wedding dress! I love you, Chels! It is so cool to be able to experience this time with my closest friends.

Chelsea is making this time even more memorable and special by graphically designing our Save-the-Dates! She is amazing, and I truly appreciate all of the hard work and hours of perfection that have gone into these invites. I had a vision, and she made it happen. Thank you so much, Chels for getting me super-pumped about getting married! You have made me the most excited about it all, and I can't wait to make more wedding memories with you!

I have to say folks, it was surreal to get up on a pedestal in a beautiful white gown, with a veil on my head and my family and friends around me. With each wedding decision made, it is becoming more and more real to me that this is actually going to happen. 

I have purchased a Wedding Dress... Holy Smokes. I'M GETTING MARRIED! BOO-YAH! =) Stay tuned...