Update

Alright....So I have been a little behind on our blog.  Lots happening at the Miller home!

1. I just finished my 2nd semester in the Elementary Education program at UVU.
2. Blake got accepted to the ISYS (Information Systems) program at BYU and finished his 1st semester.
3. We both ended a successful semester with all A's.
4. Blake quit the MTC to focus more on his studies.
5. I was made Assistant Manager at Color Me Mine.  (I feel truly blessed to have this position.)
6. We went home for Thanksgiving.
7. Blake got a job at BYU working on Web Development the Education building.  (He is so exciteed to start.)
8. We have a niece and a nephew on the way.
9. I got an infection from a glass cut at work.  Went to urgent care.  The doctor cut into my infection to clean it out.  And....I had to get a tetanus shot.  OUCH!
10. We are home for Christmas and New Years!!
11. 7 months of marriage!!

Life is great and busy! We are enjoying spending time with family and friends this vacation.
We hope you all had a fabulous Christmas!!

Miller Favorites

I had a friend ask me if I have any good recipes.  So I came up with some of our favorite recipes that I have made and got off of Pinterest.  

BALSAMIC CHICKEN:

http://www.letsdishrecipes.com/2011/01/balsamic-chicken.html#.UHykADJYuQ0

This is one of our favorite chicken recipes.  So tasty.

CHICKEN TORTILLA BAKE:

http://homemakingchallenged.blogspot.com/2012/01/chicken-tortilla-bake.html

BBQ CHOPPED SALAD:

http://www.greensnchocolate.com/2012/04/southwestern-chopped-chicken-salad.html

I did not use the dressing they gave.  I just use ranch and BBQ sauce.

CRESCENT PEPPERONI ROLL-UPS:

http://www.plainchicken.com/2011/12/crescent-pepperoni-roll-ups.html

These were quick and easy to make. 

HONEY CITRUS CHICKEN ENCHILADAS:

http://mcconkiemenu.blogspot.com/search/label/Chicken?updated-max=2009-07-27T20:09:00-05:00&max-results=20

TACO CHICKEN BOWLS:

http://budgetbytes.blogspot.com/2011/07/taco-chicken-bowls-1066-recipe-133.html

PIZZA CASSEROLE:

http://formamas.blogspot.com/2011/08/pizza-casserole.html

This one is just like lasagna but with pepperonis on top.  Blake loved it.  (I should probably make it again).

EASY ITALIAN PASTA BAKE:

http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/easy-italian-pasta-bake

BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP- CROCKPOT:

http://www.savingmoneylivinglife.com/2011/11/crockpot-broccoli-cheese-soup.html

This is the one I am making for tonight.  I will let you know how it turns out.

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP- CROCKPOT:

http://www.bakedbyrachel.com/2012/09/slow-cooker-chicken-tortilla-soup/

I made this last week.  It was very good, but a tiny spicy.

TACO PASTA BAKE:

http://www.canadianmomscook.com/2012/07/taco-pasta-bake.html

CHICKEN, POTATOES, GREEN BEANS:

http://www.saving-makes-cents.com/2012/07/what-is-for-dinner/

I made this a few weeks ago.  Don't put the amount of butter it asks for.  It was just WAY too much.  Also, I used broccoli in ours.  I might suggest adding it in a little after you have put it in the oven.  It was little too cooked for my taste.  I want to try green beans next time. 

GARLIC CHICKEN:

http://www.food.com/recipe/easy-garlic-chicken-5478

This is one of my absolute favorite chicken recipes.  So easy and tasty.  

SALSA CHICKEN- CROCKPOT:

http://chefmommy-brandao.blogspot.com/2011/03/salsa-chicken-slow-cooker.html

I believe I made this when we had some friends over and they all loved it.  

ITALIAN CHICKEN- CROCKPOT:

http://www.crockadoodledo.blogspot.com/2012/04/italian-chicken.html

I made this for a couple of my sisters.  We all loved it.  It is easy enough and very good.

As you can see I love recipes that are either EASY or a crockpot meal.  

Neither of us have much time to cook or sit down to eat.  So anything that is fast and easy is best.

Send me any of your favorites too :)

Craving Candy?

Blickenstaff's at the Riverwoods has delicious candy.

Chocolate covered pretzels, skittles, jelly bellys, sour gummy worms, chocolate covered cookie dough, and much much more.

So yummy!!

Craving some candy? Go get yourself some at Blickenstaff's

Saturday fun night.

I love having my two older sisters up here in Utah.

We all wish Dana was here with us too though.

On Saturday night we went up to Thanksgiving Point to walk around.

We wanted to go to the pumpkin patch there, but didn't want to pay to get in.

After thanksgiving point we went to get donuts at this new place called

STATION 13.

They have delicious donuts that are humongous.

(Yes, Blake ate his all that night.)

10 reasons why I am blessed to be married to an incredible man.

I know I am blessed to be married to my sweetheart when....

1. he stays up all night to work on a project because he is such a hard worker

2. he makes dinner reservations for us even though he is so busy

3. he does the dishes for me when he knows I really don't want to 

4. he tells me how much he loves me all the time

5. he just wants to take a break and watch an episode of 24 with me

6. he knows exactly how to make me happy and smile

7. he asks if its okay that he has friends over

8. he tells me he can't wait to see me 

9. he always says "this is the best meal i have ever had" (even though it may not be)

10. he lets me know I am valuable

I am truly lucky to have Blake as mine for eternity.

Best Friends.

In August we were able to attend a wedding for some of our good friends.

These guys have all been best friends....forever.

Isn't this just a great picture?

Auntie Em.

I'm going to be an AUNT!!

Erin and Mike are having a little baby.

Baby will arrive April 2013.

We are all so happy and excited for them. :)

Tequila Mockingbird.

I've got my copy.....

what about you?

My brother-in-law has just published his first book.

Go here and buy your own copy.

He is so talented.

Help support his writing.

TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD

Making it Official.

I decided to name today..."Name Change Day."  After 3 1/2 months of marriage I finally received our Marriage License.  So, now I could change my name at the various places needed.  I went to the Social Security office, the DMV, and the bank to take care of all that.  Next is changing it at my University.  I am tired of having to wait in lines. I am quite excited to get all of my official name changes and just have it done with.  

You can officially call me Mrs. Miller.

Birthday Boy!

Last weekend we were able to celebrate Blake's birthday.

He is truly amazing.

I am so blessed to have him in my life.

He makes me laugh every day.

He is handsome, brilliant, and the sweetest.

He works hard and always wants to be learning.

I am lucky to be sealed to this wonderful man for eternity.

 (These are Blake's first pair of Sperry's- that I got him for his birthday.)

I love you Blake!! 

You are the man of my dreams.

iPhone Pictures: V

A family that plays together, stays together.

Heber Creeper.

While my parents were here last weekend, we went for a ride on the Heber Creeper.

There is a reason why it is the Heber Creeper.....slowest train EVER!

But, we had an enjoyable time.

Beautiful scenery.

We truly live in a wonderful place.

 (I just realized how similar my dads and Blakes faces are.)

Like Uncle, Like Daughter

I am in love with this picture.

(And these two.)

Thunderstorms.

There is a HUGE thunderstorm going on right now. With extremely LOUD thunder.
My husband is still on campus. I sure wish he was home.
It's times like these that I like to wrap myself up in a warm blanket and watch a good movie (or more Monk).
And snuggle with my handsome husband.
I love these summer thunderstorms.  They are so neat.

Goodbye air mattress.

We finally did it!!

We are getting rid of our air mattress.

(Well giving it back to Heidi and steven).

It arrives tomorrow morning.

I finally won't have to wake up with bad back pains or a migraine.

Thanks mom and dad for the wedding gift!! 

Now that we have a mattress,

we went and bought a bed frame from IKEA.

Our place is going to be complete now.

I could not be happier to have it almost done.

Pictures to come...

iPhone Pictures: IV

We got to have some fun with these cute girls.

(They are seriously in love with Blake.

They always ask me where Blake is when I come over.)

 While in California......

I got to visit my grandpa.

He is such a funny man.

 Dana and I went to the beach.

It was such a beautiful day.

 We went to Sharkys for lunch with mom.

Delicious BBQ Chicken Pizza.

 Dana and I went to visit Erin and Mike.

Erin gave us a tour of Ladera Ranch.

 Grandma took us girls shopping.

Isn't she just lovely?

We had so much fun together.

Thanks gma!

 We were fortunate enough to make it to our friends Matt and Brittanys wedding.

They both looked so beautiful and happy.

Congrats you two!!

We can't wait for married dates :)

 I just love this man!!

 Friends reunited!!

 Oh.My.Goodness.

Is he handsome or what?!

Miller Meal Favorite

A couple of nights ago I made a meal called Salsa Chicken.
We had some of our new married friends over for dinner and games.
This crock-pot meal was a great crowd pleaser. 


Ingredients:

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts 
1 can cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup (I used the cream of chicken)
1 cup salsa 
1 package taco seasoning
1 cup sour cream 

Directions: 

Put chicken, soup, and salsa in slow cooker. Sprinkle taco seasoning over everything. Cook on low for 6 hours (or high for 4). If shredding the chicken, pull the breasts out and shred; return back to slow cooker. Stir in sour cream and heat just until everything is combined.

The blog for the recipe is here

It was really quite delicious.  We just had it for leftovers.  Try it for yourself.  It is simple and tasty.

iPhone Pictures: III

More pictures from my phone:

Remember how I said we sleep on a blow up mattress?

Well....its true. Here is the proof.

(Props to Aunt Becky who made us this beautiful quilt.

I am absolutely loving it.)

 Maelen gave us a little piece of the beach.  

So I put it on our counter.

(We can hardly wait to go back next week.)

 Oh yeah!! That's my man!

Shopping at IKEA.

He is thrilled to have a new project of putting 

our tv set and coffee table together.

(pictures to come)

We took a break at Seven Peaks for some pictures.

Love this sweet adorable boy.

It was a long day at Seven Peaks....

 Blake took a few pictures of himself.

He was cracking up after he took this one.

 Sophie!! Isn't she just so precious?

We can't get enough of her.

These pictures speak for themselves.

 My adorable girls. I am so lucky to hang out with them.

 One night we played hand puppets on the ceiling.

 Mission Reunion with one of Blake's mission presidents from England.

We had so much fun.  These people are wonderful. So incredibly sweet and funny.

 We got to hang out with these two cute kids.

Counting Our Many Blessings

Blake and I are so blessed.  We are incredibly grateful for everything in our lives.  Some of the things we are incredibly grateful for right now...
1. After much time of searching for an apartment that would fit our needs and price, we finally found one a few days before we had to move.  And signed the contract the day we needed to start moving.  By last Friday, we were all packed up and into our new place.  Yes, we may be sleeping on an air mattress right now, but we don't mind (for the time being).  Hopefully that won't last too long.  Today we bought a coffee table and set for our tv from IKEA.  We are getting everything put away (slowly but surely).  Our place should be looking great by....the end of the month.
2. I am finally teaching piano again!  Ever since I had to say goodbye to all of my piano students back in California, I am happy I am back at it again.  It is such a huge blessing to be teaching again.  Having these four piano students gave me the opportunity to quit my job at the ice cream/yogurt place.  It was a great job, but being able to quit it has given me less stress in my life.  It is such a relief.  I have been given more hours at  my other job and I am loving it so much.  And I am having so much fun babysitting a few of the cutest girls around.
3.  Blake was accepted to the Information Systems program at BYU in the Business School.  It is a blessing for him to be in the program, so that he can be on his way to finishing school.  I knew he would get in!! I have a brilliant husband.
4. We get to go home next weekend!! We are excited to have a small vacation.  And not have to go home and wedding plan.  It will be a time to relax and celebrate two weddings with friends.
5. We are extremely grateful to be sealed to each other.  For time and all eternity.  Being married has been perfect! We are even more in love than yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that.  Things just keep getting better and better.  My husband is amazing in everything he does and so helpful.  I love him!
Life is so peaceful and happy when we count our many blessings.

Wedding Pictures: V

I am in love with how our pictures turned out.

I especially love these pictures at the reception site.