Start spreadin' the news...

Shortly after graduation (okay the very next day at 5 am) I headed to New York City with my friends in Divine Comedy for a whole week. You guys, it was heaven. I was kind of expecting to hate all the smoke, smog, and weirdos through out the city, but I absolutely loved every aspect of New York. The energy, the pizza, the bagels, the subway, the theater. It was amazing. I'm so grateful to Divine Comedy for letting me come. The best part was that it was for a whole week, so we had time to work hard performing and play hard seeing shows. By the last few days, I felt like a real New Yorker. I could find my way anywhere on the subway system. The first day I was a little nervous about getting lost, but by the end of the trip I was a pro. I told Alex we have to live, or at least visit often, NYC. I just fell in love with the city. And now, a million pictures to show of my adventures. :)

About half way through the week, Alex flew out and spent my free time days with me. It was amazing. As you can see, we won the Wicked lottery and scored front. row. seats. I had already seen Wicked before, but Alex hadn't. It was a once in a lifetime experience.


Thank you Divine Comedy for taking me to NEW YORK! :)

I'm still alive

Hey friends!

I survived April. And this was the result:

And I got to celebrate with these lovely people:

Then I went to New York, which was heaven. That deserves it's own picturey-post soon.

I have had such mixed feelings with moving on with life after getting a Bachelor's degree. Change is always scary, but always ends up being for the better, doesn't it? I am so, so, so grateful to have gotten the chance to finish school. I think most women who get married at the age of 20 don't get that luxury. I did, thanks to so many people. Especially my sweet parents. Anyone who knows my parents know that they are probably the coolest people on the planet. Truly. Alex and I both agree that our life goal is to be exactly like my parents (or as close as we can get to it). They have helped me so much along the way. I will be thanking them for all of eternity for all they have done for me and my own family unit.

I'm glad that I went through the graduation experience. I attended commencement as well as my specific graduation. I got to do it with my friends, as well as listen to amazing, inspiring speakers. In case you didn't know, a graduation in the arts is the best. Totally. I graduated with Dance and Music majors. There were beautiful performances. It was by far the most entertaining graduation ceremony I have ever been too. It was fun sitting my friends too.

Thinking back on my education, I wish I would have enjoyed it more. Granted, I loved college - most of the time - but I wish I would have enjoyed the hard parts more. I don't regret any decisions I made during college, though. Thinking back on the 18 year old Natalie fresh out a high school, I am such a different woman now. I am a wife, a performer, a teacher, and (hopefully) a better friend and member of the church. I am so grateful for everything I have been blessed with over the last four years.

I have been given countless blessings countless time, and I can not thank my Heavenly Father enough for it. And thank you, significant people in my life, for all of your love and support. I finished. I really did. Who would have thought. :)

xoxo

Nat

Update

Look how cute Alex is in his new blog. Alex is a missionary all the way. I love how mindful he is of the gospel all of the time. It's pretty obvious why I love him :)


Before I get started, here's a really great zucchini bread recipe I used the other day. Yum.

Zucchini Bread

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup grated unpeeled zucchini ( I just chopped some up and put it in the blender)
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips ( if you want. By why wouldn't you want?)
• 
  
• In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour,  salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in the zucchini and chocolate chips.
• 
  
• Spoon into a greased 8-in. x 4-in. x 2-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

• 
  

Things have been getting busy around here. I'll start from recently, and make my way backwards :)


Last night was opening night for Tuesday's with Morrie. Matt from DC is in it and is FANTASTIC. I've been assigned to work as a Stage Hang/Assistant Stage Manager for the show, so I've been going to rehearsals for a while now. Opening night went well, and now I have shows for the next little while. See ya in a month, honey :(.

My dad came is for a short visit this past weekend, to help move my grandparents move back to SLC. He flew in Friday night. We saw him Saturday for lunch - the morning was filled with Alpine Days festivities. Of course, I left my camera, but Alex and Tim ran in the 5k, and then we went to the Fireman's breakfast as per tradition. I'll get pics from Jodie later. I saw Julie B. Beck and got totally star struck. (Alex's) Mom offered to introduce me, but I was too nervous! I just love her! :)


Anywho, my dad came into town to help my grandparents move back to SLC. They are back where the used to live -- in the prophet's ward right by Temple Square! Alex was such a trooper and helped lift heavy things, while I put things away. Cousin Cody was with the men, too, and it was so fun to see him. When we weren't moving boxes and hanging up artwork, we got to spend some time with Dad. He even stayed with us one night, which was so fun. :) I am so grateful for the Dad that I have. He is such an amazing man, and I love getting to see him when he visits! We also visited Trissy and Sam, two of my favorite people. It was a great weekend! I only took one picture while Dad was here. He left all too soon, catching a flight back Sunday so he could be at work on Monday. Seriously, what an amazing man!

When Dad was here, we walked around temple square, went to 

Music and the Spoken Word, and explored around 

downtown for a while. It was so fun!

Brigham Young's grave in downtown SLC.

Speaking of Trissy and Sam, here's an old video on my camera of Neve/Nora playing ring around the rosy. Too cute!

I've been gearing up for my new job! We had teacher training all last week. I will still be working as a secretary on campus, and taking a full load of classes, and doing Divine Comedy one more semester. It will be so fun, and so exhausting. :) But, I feel very blessed to be able to do everything.


 TOMORROW if meet the teacher day! I must say, I'm a little nervous! I'll let you know how it goes. I'm so excited to meet these little one that I'll be able to teach. I'll have 12 3 year olds. Keep me in your prayers! ;)


Alex starts school next week too, and he's already getting into the zone. Because I've had rehearsals/performances so often lately, he's been going to the library and reading his textbooks he'll be using this Fall. What a guy. :) He really is the best.


Two weekend ago was the DC Alumni Show. Man, was that fun! TONS of my dearest friends from my first year in DC came back, and we did a bunch of my favorites. As always, it was crazy preparing for it. Some cast members didn't get there until about 12 on Saturday, and we had two shows at 7 and 9. We totally sold out -- we had to turn people away! Whit did an amazing, amazing job of putting the whole thing together. Since it sold out, it got HOT in that auditorium. August show + 400 people per show + us dancing around in hot costumes = gross. It really was such a fun show, though. We got to spend some quality time with everyone the next day on Sunday, and that was wonderful.

Marriott School Musical. I bet it's really hard to tell who is what character. ;) 

High School Musical finale dance! :)

 I think we cracked everytime. Someday, Brian, someday...

...and then the camera died. So we didn't get any Latter-day Miserable pictures. I'll get the group picture from Jodie soon, too! :)




And of course, I've still been working at the good ol' Math Department. We're gearing up for Fall to start, so it's been really busy. I've been writing this blog post here and there for a while whenever I've had some free time at work. 


Alex is still working at the Dental Lab and still loves it. We're both excited for school to start, but sad to see the summer end. It's been such a fun, relaxed summer just enjoying each other. Highlights for me have been evening bike rides followed by popsicles. And, of course, NC. Only two more years until the next one...


Now you're updated! Hope all is well -- and good luck with the start of school, everyone!


Love you all,


Natalex

Call me Mrs. Madsen...

I got a job. As a TEACHER. 

HERE! Notice how it says Dance, Theatre AND Preschool, all on the same building. Heaven.

I can't believe how incredibly blessed I am. I'll be teaching part-time, teaching once class, as I finish up my degree at BYU, and I'll start working as a full-time teacher once I graduate.


Seriously, who gets so lucky?!


Here's a picture of what my classroom will look like:

Blurry, but it's the actual classroom!

I am very grateful today! :)

Cilantro Lime Quesadillas

I'm sorry that I blog so much. I'm not even too sure that anybody really reads this, but it's what I do when things get slow at work. Like right now. :)


I have exciting news. I took an extended lunch break and interviewed at a Pre-school up in Lehi that's a Theatre Pre-school. Yes, you read correctly, a THEATRE PRE-SCHOOL. It's totally my dream job. The exciting part is that they seemed to think I was qualified, the interview went well, and now they want me back next Tuesday morning to team teach a class and see if I'm good at it. Hooray! That part doesn't make me nervous at all, that's the fun part. :) So, we'll see how it goes. The job would be to teach my own class from mid-August to May, so during my senior year. If I don't get it it's okay, I've got plenty on my plate for next year. :) If I do get it, hooray! I will have gotten my dream job before I even graduate college.


I am one incredibly blessed and lucky girl. :)


So I like to cook. Last night I did my first attempt at Guru's Cilantro Lime Quesadillas -- it's my favorite. It's Alex's favorite. I should probably learn to make this at home right? Well, I basically guessed on it, like most things, and tweak as I go until I get the perfect recipe. I think I got this down...now onto the sweet potato fries. :)


Last night Alex said, as I was telling myself things I could tweak, "Don't change anything. This is better than Guru's. You need to write this down and make it exactly like this every time." No joke. I guess he liked it.


So here it is! I'm always a little vague with recipes, but hopefully this gives you the idea. 

Cilantro Lime Quesadillas

Cilantro Pesto Sauce


Combine in a bowl and whisk together:


about 4 or 5 Tablespoons of pesto ( I love recipes with pesto! )
1/2 to 3/4 of a bundle of fresh cilantro chopped
some chopped red onion ( put in as much as you like)
A dash or two of garlic powder
A few generous squirts of lime juice ( fresh is you have it)
throw in some lime zest if you want too
1/3 cup or less of chicken broth until it gets the consistancy you want


Taste and make any adjustments according to what flavors you like best.


Corn salsa

Boil/heat up/ cook a couple handfuls of sweet corn and onions ( green onions, red, white, whatever you have) and chopped cilantro for inside the Quesadilla and set aside in a bow.


Chicken
For the chicken, I just crock-potted some chicken with a can of cream of chicken and taco seasoning. It would also be yummy with plain old grilled chicken marinaded in something like :


1 cup water
1/8 cup or less of olive oil
4 or 5 tablespoons of taco seasoning
a few dashes of onion powder


and then grilled up! Crock pots make a VERY tender chicken, which I like the best.


Tortillas
I used store bought, but homemade would be yummy too, I just didn't have much time. I brushed each side of the tortilla with a little olive oil and sprinkled it with taco seasoning/garlic powder mixture. Any kind of yummy Mexican spices will do. I toasted them on the stove over medium heat on each side until they were slightly crispy.


Put 'em all together! :)


Now, I used a Quesadilla maker we got for our wedding to melt it all together, but you can also just throw everything on the skillet on the stove top and flip it over. I layered it on as follows:


Cilantro Lime Pesto mixture ( I strained it a little with a fork and then put it on the tortilla)
Taco Chicken
Corn/onion mixture
Shredded mexican blend cheese


..be sure not to put too much for the first few tries, it could be too juicy! But you'll get the hang of it after the first one.


Let it cool for a minute, slice it, and enjoy!

I like to serve it with some fresh salsa and sour cream. YUM!


Happy cooking :) Hopefully sweet potato fries and other Guru's yummies to come!

Hey all! :)

We survived the first Divine Comedy show -- sick, but not dead. We are both feeling better, and getting back into school. This week is midterms, announcements, selling my contract, and trying to sleep in between. Tyler is going through the temple on Saturday, and we're very excited! :)

I got some good news today -- I am officially accepted into the Theatre Education program. Two more year, and I am a theatre teacher! :)

Alex has been so sweet to me while I've been sick. He's a great husband already! We're getting married in 38 days and can't believe where the time has gone. Some days it seems like November 27th will never get here, and then some days it feels like "Woah! It's October 20th already?! "

We're very grateful for all the help that everyone has given us with the wedding. We are so lucky and blessed! :)

-Natalex