from Arizona to Texas- Update!

The last two years in Arizona were.....an adventure! There were really good times and really bad times. I think we went through some of the hardest life-stuff you could go through all packed in about two years. We lost loved ones-both friends and family, went through car accidents, hospital visits, and somehow managed to live off of $1800/month in the 6th largest city in the nation!

The second year we were in AZ, we got closer with some amazing friends and made sure to travel around the beautiful states of Arizona and California. Good times for sure! Without these good times, I have no idea how we would have made it through! We were able to see the Grand Canyon, Sedona, The Apache Trail, Flagstaff, and lots of cool stuff in San Diego. We made it a point to do Friday Happy Hours with our ASU friends. It became a highly successful way to get grad students together on a weekly basis :) Gosh we had some great times with the ASU friends!

Summer 2011 was pretty great! We were stressed trying to find jobs, but we were able to spend lots of quality time with good friends and family in Arlington/Houston :)

Now we are living in Salado, TX.....a very small village (that is what they like to call it...) just North of Austin. It has been a fun place so far. We have made friends quickly! The last couple of months have really been amazing....financial stability, a reliable car, no sickness, just pure happiness :) We are beyond thankful. Salado is so beautiful- lots of deer, a golf course, blue lake.....just so nice. I am working a few part time jobs. I teach voice, piano, and guitar lessons. I am a music therapist with 2 clients who are great! I also work part-time at a Bed and Breakfast here in Salado- it is a pretty place that stays pretty busy! Sean is a music minister for the Methodist church here in town. So far, he is building up the choir rapidly! I don't think there have been many Wednesday nights where we haven't gained a new choir member! One of our choir members is Holly Dunn, a country singer that has been nominated for Grammy's and is in the country music hall of fame!

Salado is a fun place to be :) God has blessed us for sure.

We're moving to Salado, TX!

The Hale's are moving to Salado, TX! Salado is about 50 miles North of Austin, 50 miles South of Waco. It is a small town off of I-35 full of Bed and Breakfasts, antique shops, and wild life. 

Sean will be the music minister at the Methodist church (pictured above). He'll be their first full-time music minister. The chapel of the church has been around since the 1850's!

Mary is currently looking to start a private practice with music therapy clients and also teach some music lessons. Her website is: http://musictherapymary.wordpress.com/

Here is a pic of the rental house:

Mary and Sean are excited for their next leap of faith in this charming, small town :)

Sedona

Last weekend, my parents came in town. We decided to take a short one night trip up to Sedona, AZ. It was SO beautiful!!! I definitely recommended visiting if you are in Arizona :)

Early Saturday morning, we drove up to flagstaff on I-17. It is always a beautiful drive, but this time we got to see a few trees that looked like Fall!This is exciting, because we don't really change seasons much in Texas or  Phoenix.

When we got to Flagstaff, we turned to go South on Scenic highway 89A toward Sedona :) Our first stop was Oak Creek Canyon.

We drove through the mountains and past the creek until we got to the red rocks in Sedona!

Everywhere we went had the most fantastic views! Check out a few views from restaurants and shopping:

We stayed at a hotel called: Sky Ranch Lodge. I highly recommended it! It was under $100 which is cheap for Sedona. It had a fireplace and the BEST view!! Here are pictures from the hotel:

Chapel of the Holy Cross was a place we heard about.....take a look! It is definitely worth seeing!

Since the Texas Rangers are in the playoffs for the world series, we made time for them too! Dad sent this picture to Channel 4 news in D/FW and apparently it got aired a few times :)

Finally, the most memorable experience was a helicopter ride over the red rock formations! It was a little bumpy because of the storm in the distance, but it was so FUN!

We had a lot of fun with my parents! Arizona is a beautiful place to live! 

Black Bean and Beer Chili!!!!

It is getting to be the time of year where a lot of us like to cook chili, soup, or stew. Here is one of my favorite recipes that I've adapted from the Women's Club of FW cookbook! We are going to try and make homemade chicken noodle soup for the first time tonight!!! I also make really good tortilla soup and chicken n' dumplings! If you have any favorite soup/stew/chili recipes, send them my way :) Soup is my favorite food, and Sean is learning to love it as well!


1 lb ground turkey or ground beef
2 small onions, chopped
1 medium sized green bell pepper, chopped
28oz. can petite diced tomatoes
1 1/2 c. dark beer
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper
salt and black pepper
------------------------------------------
2c. beef broth
1c. beer
1 or 2 (15oz.) cans black beans, rinsed and drained




Brown ground beef (or turkey) with peppers and onions. Stir in the next 9 ingredients (where line is drawn). Simmer covered 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in broth, beer, and black beans. Simmer 45 minutes. Serve with shredded cheese and Frito's, if you like!

Being Healthy

Sean and I have made a lot of life changes since the Spring of 2008. We finally realized that although we're young, we're not invincible! We have been driven to lead healthy lifestyles through some experiences we've been through. In March of 2008, Sean was at a hospital in Houston for about 5 days with a collapsed lung that happened spontaneously during a day he was student teaching. A few weeks later, his roommate (and one of our best friends), Maura, was diagnosed with Sarcoma. Maura was the healthiest person I knew. She got me started on this health-kick! She battled cancer for over a year and passed away in May 2009. We miss Maura every day.

We try as hard as we can to make the best healthy choices. Here are a few truths we try to live by that are in mostly all of the health books out there:

• It all starts at the Grocery Store
• DUH! If you buy crappy junk food, that is all you will eat!!!
• TIP: Make a dinner menu for the week with healthy options, make your list, and STICK TO IT!
• Water
• We drink at least the "8 cups a day" that are recommended....but we try to drink MORE! On a good day, I will drink a gallon of water
• Fruits, Veggies, and Whole grains
• It is no secret....these are the best foods for your body! Plain and Simple!
• Frozen is a GREAT option because they retain more nutrients than canned or even some fresh!
• Meat
• We try either to not eat much. If we do,  we try to stick to chicken or turkey. Fish is good too, but smelly! haha!
• Fun time for yourself
• be sure to have fun...it keeps the brain happy!
• read about it
• keep yourself informed by reading nutrition labels and trying to understand all the health facts out there....you are worth it!
• exercise
• yep
• sleep well every night
• one of the best cures for anything!
• Eat pure foods in moderation
• Salt and pure sugar are fine....just limit it
• Try Agave Nectar or Honey instead of sugar

I guess that is it for now! I am kind-of enjoying this blogging thing :) 

Salsa

Since college and especially since we've been married, I have become quite comfortable in the kitchen! Sean and I try to cook every night since it is cheaper and healthier than going out to eat! Here is one of my favorite recipes! Try it and you'll NEVER by a jar of salsa again! Sean hasn't always like Mexican food, but partly because of this salsa, it is his favorite! It has been a hit at every party since our Sophomore year of college at SHSU!

 

1-2 jalapeños (start with one and add bits of the second if it isn't spicy enough)

1 can of tomatoes (14.5oz)

Cilantro (handful)

1/4-1/2 onion

¼ clove garlic or spoonful of minced garlic

Lime and lemon juice (about a tablespoon of each)

Salt, garlic salt, possibly onion powder

Blender or food processor

I don’t measure anything, just put some stuff in the blender and keep tasting until ya like it!

1. Pour canned tomatoes into blender

2. Chop up garlic, onion, cilantro, and jalapeño and throw it on in there

3. Squeeze some lemon and/or lime juice in

4. Season it with salt, garlic salt, possibly onion powder

5. BLEND and Taste….just add to it if you wanna.

Lollipop Girls

Nicki, Allison, Pam, and Mary

I grew up with these girls. We've known each other since Kindergarten/early elementary! We met through church and ended up becoming best friends who also sing together :) These girls have been there for me through the good and bad times through the years...they even remember what pre-Sean life was like! haha! One day at a church talent show, we sang the song "Lollipop" with a stupid little dance (pretty much all jazz squares)....and then the older women at church started calling us "The Lollipop Girls"...and it stuck! Now two of us are married! It is so crazy to think back on all we've been through together! I am so thankful to have such a close-knit group of girl friends! Gotta love 'em!

Mary's 16th B-day!

Our last Sunday singing at St. Barnabas before college

The College Years....

Sean and Mary's wedding

Allison and Michael's wedding

Christmas 2009