Family Home Video: Chase Visits Utah!

I've been on a roll lately making movies! I remembered to take the GoPro to Utah with us a couple weeks ago and I'm so glad I did. Chase has probably already seen this video 10 plus times. He loves watching himself and naming all of his cousins :) 

Utah Trip October 2014 from ashley kirkland on Vimeo.

Wellness Wednesday: Easiest Butternut Squash Soup Ever!

This soup is so easy! and pretty healthy too! My friend Oakley gave me the recipe. It's very forgiving and you can add more spices to your liking. 

Ingredients

-24 oz of pre-cut Butternut Squash

(Here I used two bags from Trader Joes, Costco also has this)

-32 oz Vegetable broth

(you could probably use Chicken Broth too)

-1-2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil

-Nutmeg

-Salt and Pepper

-Pumpkin Cornbread Croutons (Trader Joes) 

Directions

-Bring broth to a boil

-Add Butternut squash

-Season with Nutmeg, S&P to your liking

-Cook until soft

-Transfer to a Blender/Food Processor 

-Add Coconut Oil

-Blend until smooth

-Top with Croutons and Enjoy!

Our First Visit Back To Utah!

A couple of weeks ago we had the chance to get away to UTAH! Casey had a work conference so we decided to make a trip out of it. The weather could not have been more perfect. It was a nice break from  the heat we have been having in San Clemente. Plus we really needed some "Fall" in our lives! It was so fun but also weird just "visiting" Utah. I still can't believe that I lived there for EIGHT YEARS! It totally felt like home the moment we arrived. It made me kind of sad driving down the same streets and seeing things that reminded me of my old routines. I'm glad that we have so much family there so we will also have plenty of reasons to go back and visit! 

Here are some highlights of the trip:

-Hiking Buffalo Peak with all the Kirklands (I sat in the car- no exercise for me)

-Chase just spending lots of time with his cousins

-Visiting a Pumpkin Patch

-Eating lots of good food we have missed- Sugar Cookies, Kneaders Pumpkin bread!

-Drive thrus galore!- Sonic, Swig

-My future sister-in-law Rachel's Bridal Shower

-Watching LDS General Conference with family

-Driving through Provo Canyon

-getting my hair done! It had been 12 weeks!

-Visiting BYU- getting Chase a shirt

Home Video: Chase at 18 MONTHS!

Today I finished up a short home movie of Chase at 18 months. It's crazy how time flies when you have a toddler! As you will see Chase is quite a busy boy. We just got back from Utah and hopefully I can finish up making that movie this week! In the meantime enjoy this one :)

Chase 18 Months from ashley kirkland on Vimeo.

We are kind of missing FALL….California has no seasons :(

Here are some pictures of what we have been up to lately! Since I haven't lived here for eight years I forgot what it was like to have NO SEASONS! I'm pretty sure it's hotter right now than it was in July haha. Since being pregnant I have never in my life looked forward to summer being over more than I do right now. And who knows when it will finally cool down here. I totally miss the Utah Fall right now. It is seriously the best season ever in Utah. However, I can't complain about the California life...

Lately we spend our days…

-going to the beach with friends in the day or evenings (so Casey can get out of the house)

-Mornings at Disneyland

-Indoor playgrounds on hot days! and we finally went to Cafe Rio (it tastes better in Utah)

-finally tried South of Nick's Mexican Restaurant…did not disappoint

-beach trail walks

-last minute Dodger game last weekend with my Mom and Becca

-going to random parks when we don't want to deal with the sand at the beach :)