As the end of Fall approaches I realize I haven't posted anything since June, where has the time gone?? I can't say we haven't done anything between then and now, we have! We've been to Montana, parents have visited, we road-tripped to Michigan, I survived the awful summer humidity, and much more.
However, I think the most important thing I did this summer was just to stop. I stopped wishing I was in a different state, (even though I still want to be) I stopped wanting to live in a different house, I stopped and started to finally enjoy married life, I stopped focusing on the pesky 5 (or 10) pounds I need to lose and focused on life in the present, life that God has given me right now. I tell you, it has done wonders. I'm happier, more content, and so happy in my marriage! The desires of living back west and every other dream I have are still there but I'm more content with letting God handle those and enjoying the journey.
The most shocking part of my new content, less cynical self is I, dare I say it, like Cincinnati. Ugh, that leaves a bad taste in my pessimistic mouth. However, before you think I've lost my edge, let me preface that I still hate the suburbs. The sea of Starbucks, Targets, and sub-divisions still disgust me. But, I really like downtown and the surrounding area.
When you travel through Cincinnati you feel the spirit of what it was and is becoming once again. It is the most "American" city I have ever been to. It was built by industry, blue-collar immigrants, which is the epitome of the American Dream. You can feel the determination and excitement of revival as you drive the cramped streets filled with classic art-deco architecture. Even when traveling through the "not so great" areas you don't feel threatened because the hope is there too. The four short years I've been visiting, and now living here I have seen a huge revival and change through the streets of Cincinnati. It's been amazing to watch and be a part of. I can't wait to see what's in store for this resilient city and while I'm here I will enjoy every minute of it.
While this post was short I think it sums up our summer perfectly. I promise (I mean it this time) I will write more! My encouragement to any who read this is to truly just be present and content in the moment and with the Lord. It's amazing what happens when you let it go....and now you're singing in Idina Menzel's voice. Stop it! I'm trying to be serious here. Truly, let go and let God.
Love ya'll!
Hey Everyone!
Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while, its been a little crazy around here! I thought I'd give you an update on what's been going on the last month or so....
I feel like most of May I was gone, which I loved! The beginning of May I went back home for my dear friend Katie's wedding. Of course being home was sublime and the wedding was perfection. Katie and Mitch have been dating since our freshman year of high school, I think. Basically, tying the knot was long overdue and I couldn't be more happy for them! It was a lovely back yard wedding that just screamed Katie's style and I couldn't get enough of the cuteness. Plus seeing old friends just topped it off. At the end of May Chad and I took our official honeymoon trip. We road tripped it down to Florida and stayed in my Grandma's condo across the street from the beach. I hadn't been to the condo since I was around seven so being back unleashed so many memories. Chad and I lounged on the beach and basically just soaked up everything Panama City Beach had to offer, we absolutely loved it. On the way back we stayed in Nashville for two days and I fell in love fast. I never thought I could see myself living anywhere except the West Coast but I would move there in a heartbeat and be happy as a clam. I loved the people, the city, and the deep roots of country music everywhere. Chad and I had such a great time and came back with amazing memories. At the end of this month we'll be traveling to Montana which will be awesome and I seriously can't wait!!
Chad has been traveling a lot for work but thankfully things are slowing down and I have my fingers crossed I'll be able to spend a full month with him haha. But seriously, he is killing it at work, he got a big promotion and his team members entrust him with many responsibilities that I'm sure other engineers do not receive. I am insanely proud of him and I can't brag on him enough! He is seriously awesome and the best engineer the company has, I'm completely unbiased of course. I see huge success in his future in whatever he decides to do. I actually just received a job offer today and took it. I will be the office manager for Equipping Ministries International. It is a nonprofit that provides learning material for missionaries all over the world. I am very excited to be working in a Christian environment and learning the responsibilities of how a business runs. It definitely isn't the dream job but I'm learning I don't know what the dream job is for me right now. In the mean time it will be a great experience and extra income!
Emotionally I am still adjusting to all the changes. I thought I was doing better but with all the trips and seeing friends and family I remembered how not awesome Ohio is. The only things I like about living here are Chad, Aspen, our church, the greenery, and now lightning bugs....those things are awesome. Living in the burbs is still driving me crazy and the house and I don't get along. I love our backyard but it's completely nonfunctional because of the lack of fence. Now, I've discovered humidity and it is dreadful! Give me 100 degree dry heat any day but this stuff is unbearable. Yes, I am aware other places are worse, you don't need to tell me. Thankfully, I have some blossoming friendships that are keeping me somewhat sane. Thanks for putting up with me ladies. God is definitely revealing His plans to us through all of this though which is comforting and we know this situation is not permanent. It is definitely bonding Chad and I and that is such a blessing.
Little Miss Aspen is awesome! She's six months old now which seems impossible! I can't believe how fast time has flown. Most of her bad habits are gone now and she is turning into a great dog, I hate that I can't say puppy anymore :( She has been having a lot of tummy troubles recently and we are wondering if she has a wheat intolerance. If things continue we will get her tested and take the necessary steps so our little peanut is healthy. At the end of the summer we are going to enroll her in intermediate dog training and are looking into agility training for her. Since she has so much energy it would be perfect for her. We babysat a dog named Jake for some friends a couple weekends ago and fell in love with him and the idea of having two dogs. Aspen and Jake became fast bff's and were so cute playing together. Chad and I knew almost immediately our family would be complete with a second dog. However, right now the timing isn't perfect and we decided to wait until Aspen is at least one and we have a fence. Nevertheless expect a second dog in the Wentling household at some point in the next few years.
I think I've filled you in on all the major things happening in our lives right now. I promise to keep you more in the loop from now on! ;)
Love ya'll!
Maddie
He's smooth, very rich, wonderfully sweet to me, but has a dark side. The moment he touches my lips I'm filled with pure bliss and delicious happiness. That's right, I'm talking about coffee. Coffee, the elixir of life and the best part of any day. My love for this magic potion didn't start until college when my friend Julie introduced me to the French Press. She showed me what quality coffee tasted like and it was love at first taste! Since then our relationship has grown into an amazing love that transcends time.
Now, I'm not going to go on about coffee for 5 paragraphs, that would bore you to tears. Instead I want to tell you why coffee has become a very important part of my life these last few months.
It's been no secret that I've had a rough transition moving here and I'm still fighting with it everyday. I've found myself smack dab in the middle of the burbs in Ohio....the last place I want to be. One of the many downfalls of the burbs is the sea of Starbucks. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Bucks but I came from Bozeman where unique, fun, and awesome coffee shops were a stone throw away at all times. I expressed my anguish to my new and fabulous friend Sophia and she said she was also suffering from a Starbucks overload. We decided to stick it to the burbs and find unique, fun, and awesome coffee shops in the greater Cincinnati area. Since then it has been a weekly pilgrimage to different coffee shops we find on Urban Spoon (such a genius invention). We've been to coffee shops that house libraries, knick-knacks galor, chocolate covered wine bottles, overpriced crossiants, and even a coffee shop that used to be a house. With each trip I get more excited to see new parts of the city and try some new brews. We have even gotten a few more girls (shout out to Paige and Keri!) along for the journey and it really has turned into the best part of my week.
Meeting with these ladies each week has made this whole process a lot easier. They've given me friendship, support, love, spiritual peace, and hope that I will actually survive the burbs! I know this transition is going to be a very long and painful process for me. This has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and I long for the day where I can be back West. But in the mean time all I need is a little coffee and a whole lot of Jesus. Thank you ladies for sharing your love of coffee with me and for welcoming me with open arms! I'm already excited for next week ;)
Maddie
Last night I made a roasted artichoke for dinner and it made me reminisce of summer nights growing up. It was a common occurrence to have grill outs with chicken, steak, corn on the cob, big salads, and of course, artichokes. My love for these weird veggies began early, pulling off leaf after leaf, dipping them into luscious garlic butter and scraping the meat off creating one fresh, garlic-y little bite. It's such a fun way to be interactive with your food!
It wasn't until I moved that I realized how spoiled I was to grow up in Southern California. I didn't realize things could be "seasonal" and that certain fruits and veggies (like artichokes) couldn't grow everywhere. It was clear I didn't take advantage of the situation when I was in it. This wasn't more clear as when my Montana friends came to CA for the wedding. I'm pretty sure most of them got sick from eating so many fresh oranges from our orchard.
In honor of Spring and fresh produce I want to share a few recipes that are iconic California to me, and because I love Montana too I want to share a few heartier dishes that remind me of the Treasure State:
California
Roasted Whole Artichokes
This recipe has a step-by-step picture tutorial of how to roast an artichoke. It's insanely simple and pretty much full proof. If you don't feel like using garlic or lemon juice just use olive oil, salt and pepper. This will allow for a simpler flavor.
http://pinchmysalt.com/how-to-roast-whole-artichokes/
Whole Orange Cake
I made this with my friend Abi over spring break last year. It has an amazing fresh citrus flavor that could be dessert or breakfast if you're feeling a little naughty! My only advice is really beat those oranges to heck in the food processor, we ended up with some chunks of orange peel in it which was no bueno.
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/whole-orange-cake-50400000126573/
Blackened Chicken and Cilantro Lime Quinoa with Avocado Cream Sauce
I'm probably the only Californian that doesn't like raw avocados. Avocados are classic California and have made its way into the trendy food world popping up in ice cream and pasta, personally that makes me want to gag. However, I do like it in sauces and dips such as this one.
http://www.sarcasticcooking.com/2012/03/15/blackened-chicken-and-cilantro-lime-quinoa/
Montana
When I think of Montana I don't think of produce, I think of all things meat. You haven't tasted meat until you've been to Montana. The fact that you can look across the street and see your dinner eating grass confirms the quality and freshness that comes from Montana ranchers and farmers. Do me a favor, go to Montana just once and try a steak, your life will be changed.
Bacon and Blue Cheese Butter
I'm pretty sure no matter where you're from when you think Montana you think cowboys and when you think cowboys you think meat. This butter has two, well three, of my favorite things: butter, bacon, and blue cheese. When placed on top of a perfectly cooked medium-rare steak....oh em gee. Pure heaven.
http://www.steamykitchen.com/5984-bacon-blue-cheese-butter-on-grilled-steak.html
Honey Garlic Pork Chops
I made these the other night for dinner and I'm pretty sure they're one of the simplest and yummiest pork dishes around.
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=59689
Mustard and Cracked Pepper Roast Beef
This dish is hearty yet refined, the way I look at Montana. It has traditional elements with a few surprises.
http://reecenosh.blogspot.com/2009/01/mustard-roast-beef-recipe-courtesy.html
Enjoy!
Maddie
As of today Chad and I have been together for 3 years, 8 months, and 2 days. Isn't that just adorable?! ;P Since we've been married I've discovered so much but I don't feel like 2 months of marriage allots for any advice giving, instead I'd like to share with you what I've learned so far:
1. Everyone that told me I had to look cute while sleeping were jerks. When I was engaged I got new "pj's" as gifts and advice from excited new brides on how wonderful it was to have cute sleepwear and be adorable for your husband. OK, newsflash, he's sleeping too! Why does it matter what I look like if he's asleep as well?? If he's staring at me while I'm asleep that's a whole new set of issues. After a few nights of these "pj's" I had to give them up. I was cold most of the time, things were falling out, and major static cling plagued me night after night. Even though I'm married I still deserve the right to wear mixed matched pj's with my hair pulled up in a pineapple-shaped bun. If he can't handle that then he shouldn't have married me. (thankfully he can!)
2. Gosh I'm selfish! When I was single all I had to think about was myself: my goals, my dreams, what I wanted for dinner, how I wanted my house to look, etc. Now it's not just about me and that's really difficult.
3. I want to be around him all the time. We were long distance for 3 years and went 3 or 4 months without seeing each other. I could handle it but now a normal work day is too long. I can't get enough of him! I seriously love being around him and I hope that never changes.
4. Girlfriends are still necessary. I've learned that my husband is not my girlfriend and he won't want to watch chick flicks with me or go shopping all the time. I'm away from all my girlfriends and gosh I miss them. They are a crucial part of my life and I really wish they were around.
5. Getting a puppy right away was a bad idea. Let's get something straight, I love Aspen like crazy!!! But getting her 2 weeks after we got married has been tough. We missed out on just us time and its really been like having a baby. Before we do anything we have to think about her and it's a huge responsibility. I kind of wished we would have waited or had gotten a puppy before marriage. None-the-less she's our little lovey and I can't imagine life without her.
6. Meshing two lives together is rough. Bringing two different lives, opinions, dreams, and everything else together and making it work smoothly is a job in itself.
7. I really really love him. Let's get serious for a moment, I hate my living situation. I hate being in Ohio, being away from our friends and family, our house, the backyard, the weather, the town, etc. The only things that I like are Chad, Aspen, and our Church. The way our life is right now is so far away from what I imagined and frankly it's miserable however, I'd rather be here with him than in California without him. He's my world and I can't imagine life without him. I love him so much and will always want to be where he is.
8. God is a big deal. I guess this is kind of a no brainer but it's so true. I thought it was hard to follow God's plan when it's just me but now it's even more crucial that we listen to God and grow together because if we don't we'll fall apart.
9. Expectations are huge....huge. OMG! I had no idea how many expectations I had for marriage until I was in one. I found it was so important for me to state my expectations and for him to state his even for the littlest things so that we were on the same page.
10. It's the best thing ever! It's true. I absolutely love it! It's amazing being able to be married to my best friend. It's the biggest blessing and really there are no words for how awesome it is!!
Love you, Chad!
Maddie
My favorite show for as long as I can remember has been The Golden Girls. I love the dynamics between these 4 sassy ladies and their love for one another. They were the first ones to introduce me to the idea of framily (friends+family) and the beauty of roommates. I'd like to take a moment to celebrate the awesomeness of roommates...
Having roommates has been one of the biggest blessing of my life! Obviously I'm married now so I have the coolest roommate of all but let's face it, he's a boy and there is a big difference between boy roommates and girl roommates. My first roommate was the typical college freshman roommate, aka I didn't like her. We never really talked and she would do her homework at 2 am with the desk light shining in my face but enough about her, let's get to the good stuff!
My first roommates were Kayt and Kelsey. We moved in together the summer before my senior year of college. Our apartment was this strange little place that used to be an attic which meant it was hellishly hot during the summer and arctic cold during the winter but the weird quirks of the place were what attracted us to living there. The three of us were the epitome of roommate perfection (besides The Golden Girls, of course). I think all three of us were shocked at how well we got along. I mean, 3 women living under one roof is a recipe for drama but there never was any. We did have spats from time to time but nothing major. In that year we lived together we truly became a family and the day we moved out it was almost like a piece of me was gone (dramatic but true). They were my Golden Girls and I'm determined to live with them again someday!
Moving out led me to moving in with Abi! I only lived with her for a semester but she totally prepared me for marriage, I swear we were a married couple. We'd watch Jeopardy together, confide in each other, and pick up groceries for one another. We lived in Family-Grad housing on campus which was awesome but had its quirks as well. We lived with a lot of exchange students to we'd hear ethnic music and drums at 4 in the morning. We'd hear drills, laughing, yelling, and lots of car alarms as well. The kicker was we lived in the basement apartment so we could hear our upstairs neighbors peeing....lovely. We never complained though, we'd just laugh it off and chalk it up to the college experience. That semester was so amazing and living with her was such a blessing. She is one of my best friends because of it and I seriously miss living with her!!
My next roommates will be one, or all, of the fab 5 (you know who you are). I'm determined for that to happen so get ready ladies.
Living with roommates has given me some of the best experiences and memories of my life! It was filled with midnight frozen yogurt runs, Say Yes to the Dress marathons, and girlfriends who become sisters. All I can say is I hope everyone can experience living with roommates. It's just the best!
Thank you for being a friend,
Maddie
If you have not discovered that magic of the slow cooker, aka the Crock Pot, you need to do so. I find slow cooker meals make large quantities so it's perfect for lots of leftovers or parties. The best part? It cooks the meal for you!
I discovered this soup recipe and OH EMM GEE it's divine! It's creamy, thick, and full of flavor and it's perfect for this cold weather...
Crock Pot Turkey and Wild Rice Soup
8-10 cups turkey or chicken stock, divided
8 oz. uncooked wild rice (I used 4 oz. wild rice and 4 oz. of brown rice just to mix it up)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 celery ribs, diced
2 carrots, diced (when I make this soup again I'd add about 4 carrots)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons chicken soup base (like Better Than Bouillon)
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups half-and-half or cream
2 cups diced cooked turkey (I just used the carving block turkey in the deli section)
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (or one tablespoon dried parsley flakes)
salt and pepper to taste
Add eight cups of stock and the
uncooked wild rice to a crock pot set to high. In a large skillet over
medium heat, add the olive oil and saute onion, celery and carrots until
onion is transparent, about 10 minutes. Season with the black pepper,
and add the sauteed veggies to the crock pot. Stir in the chicken soup
base. Cook on high for 3-4 hours (or on low for 6-8 hours) until the
wild rice and veggies are sufficiently tender.
In the same skillet over medium heat,
melt 1/2 stick of butter. Whisk in the flour, and cook for a minute or
two. Gradually add the half-and-half or cream, whisking constantly. You
may wish to thin this mixture out with an additional cup of stock at
this point. Once thickened and completely smooth, add the white sauce to
the crock pot and stir to combine. Add the turkey and the parsley (and
perhaps another cup of stock if you prefer a thinner soup), and cook on
high for another 15-20 minutes until heated through. Taste to correct
seasonings before serving.
This soup is probably one of my favorite things I've ever made so it's really worth a try. Enjoy!
Maddie
