Distance

Elliott turned 26 last week. This is weird for me because him being 26 means that I've known him for over 4 years. Even weirder is that of those 4 years we've been married for 3. That might sound crazy, but I wouldn't want to share those stats with anyone else.

Birthdays have the potential to suck when you're older. When you're young, we all know the magic of the day. If you're lucky, it falls on a weekend but even if it doesn't, you get to come home from school and have a party with your friends. Elliott's was on a Friday. We both work on Friday. I work until 7:00. Knowing the suck-potential (for lack of a better term) of the day, I woke Elliott up with breakfast in bed. Buttermilk pancakes with fresh cream and raspberries with hash browns on the side (cooked just how he likes. He calls them restaurant hash browns). We went our separate ways for the day and met back up after work and went for sushi.

The day was topped off with homemade chocolate cake (this recipe seriously rocks the socks off any other chocolate cake recipe I've tried... If you want a good recipe, I'm handing it out), and presents with my family. Ok, with my parents only.

I've had a slice of the left over cake every day since and I'm not even worried about it.

Elliott lost (or won depending on how you look at it) the war with his beard and washed it down the sink. I'm always surprised how much younger he looks without it. I like it. I think it's because his beard hides his smile lines.

Father's Day was delicious. We ate a lot of good food (including this vegetable dish which I will be posting the recipe for later because I love it) and showered my dad with a copy of Paranormal Activity 3 and a gift card for gelato. Give this guy scary movies and ice cream and he's happy, which makes him the perfect movie partner.

Elliott flew out to DC yesterday morning for his conference and after delayed flights, skipping lunch, and getting ripped off by the taxi driver, he made it safe and sound and is enjoying the beauty of my favorite restaurant back east: Chop't.

I am running away on Friday afternoon to meet him in New York to explore, eat, and visit friends and my brother. Can't wait.

Relief

After 4 months of applying for jobs every few days, I actually got one. What a relief. I am now a physical therapy aide and after two days of training, I'm pretty sure I'm going to love it.

I also turned 24 on Tuesday (the day I got the job offer- what a great present). The weekend was full of hiking, backyard BBQs, s'more experiements (raspberries, implants, and peanutbutter), and delicious dinners.

Great birthday weekend!

We Did Something Right

Three weeks in and look what we have here:

We did something right because everything is growing, and pretty fast! Check out the one red strawberry we have and the other ones on the way.

Elliott's 25th birthday was yesterday. We started with breakfast: ebelskiver with raspberry sauce and fresh cream. The middle of the day was boring because it was totally normal and we both had to work and go to school. Then we went to our probably favorite restaurant Chanon Thai. We had cake and ice cream over at my parent's house and opened presents! 

It's strange to thing that Elliott is already 25 and I met him when he was 21. We've both done some changing, but I still love the things that haven't:

1. Elliott's smile (and smile lines that accompany)

2. Listening to new music albums together

3. Making dinner and breakfast together

4. Taking road trips together and listening to This American Life

5. Planning

6. Being completely ridiculous together (which would be totally embarrassing if anyone else was around).

7. Elliott's artistic side

There are also new things I love too:

1. Elliott's found love for watching and playing soccer 

2. Long bike rides together

3. Climbing

4. New recipes

5. Backpacking/Camping

6. Finding new shows to watch and become addicted to (Dexter, Mad Men, The Walking Dead, Friday             Night Lights, Man vs. Food, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia).

7. Planting gardens

Happy Birthday Elliott. I love you more than Nick loves to say random things that don't make sense, and more than my mom loves HGTV, and more than my dad loves to lay on beaches. I even love you more than Mollie loves walks/treats/belly rubs.

P.U.I

Labor day weekend was awesome..... Three day weekend + birthday + friends + farmers market + mini golf + ice cream + sweet tooth bakery cupcakes + friends + family = love

This weekend was just what we both needed. Some time away from work and school (not so much the school part if you count homework) but we both procrastinated on that anyway. Beth is on a journey to find out how to make the best homemade pizza. And I'm getting closer. I know I will not be able to replicate places such as Settebello or Vinto but I'm willing to settle (a little). I have this insatiable craving lately for authentic pizza (margarita mostly) and can't get enough! I made pizza a few weeks ago and it was a disaster. I used too much dough so it was too thick and it completely stuck to the pizza stone. After a little research I halved the dough and floured the pizza stone before I stick the pizza on. Oh and important info for anyone who has a pizza stone: put it in the oven while it is heating up. I learned this the hard way.

Anyway, craving pizza on Friday I scooted over to whole foods to get things to make margarita pizza. Whole foods has amazing pre-made pizza dough which I decided to try (still working on making my own). I also bought fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and organic tomato sauce (first time trying this. I made my own sauce last time around). That's all I needed for the pizza. I also picked up some things for a salad and made my favorite homemade poppyseed red wine vinegar dressing.

Now the shopping was the hardest part of this meal. The prep/cooking time was maybe 30 minutes and is as follows:

1. Preheat oven as hot as it goes (between 500-550 deg F). Stick in pizza stone WHILE heating up.

2. Take softball sized dough ball (approx) and stretch, throw in air, stretch, throw in air. Repeat until the dough is about as thick as a credit card. Do not roll the dough with a pin (I read it makes it really tough)

3. Get the dough really flowery (made up word?) on the bottom to prevent sticking. Lay out stretched dough on some flat surface you will be able to take over to the oven. Spread pizza sauce over dough (make sure you can still see the dough through the sauce. Too much will make it soggy)

4. Cut mozzarella in slices and place on pizza.

5. Drizzle pizza with olive oil and rub some on the crust. Add some salt as well

6. Put in the oven for about 5-7 minutes (just watch it and you can tell when it's done).

7. Slice and enjoy every bite!

On Labor Day (Beth's 23rd birthday) we did a lot of fun things. Elliott played basketball in the morning while I did homework (had to get it out of the way), then we went to breakfast with friends which was awesome (at the Park Cafe). Next we went mini golfing with the fam (beth's mom, dad, and Nick) at Mulligans in Sandy. I loved this because this is where my parents would always take us as kids so there's some nostalgia attached. My mom took a recent trip to the hospital after some breathing issues and headaches and they sent her home with loratab. Nobody in my family likes Loratab so she didn't take it. Except before we left to go golfing she accidentally took one thinking it was an IBuprofien. Elliott accused her of P.U.I or putting under the influence. She still beat me. Elliott won and I came in last. It never was my strength. I'll stick to things I can kick with my feet.

For dinner Elliott and I went to P.F. Changs. We started with lettuce wraps and the rest doesn't really even matter. It was a great day and nice that my birthday lands on a holiday every couple of years. That way nobody's working and can just focus on my birthday...just kidding...but seriously, it's awesome.

Tonight Elliott is in class and Beth is off to yoga (much needed after a 9 hour day).

24

Elliott's 24 today. It's kind of strange because we only met when he was 21 but I feel like I've known him much longer.



Happy birthday!