i ♥ these kids:

summer soiree

We all need our night with the ladies... and just the ladies. This past weekend my sis and I hosted a "summer soiree" at her house. We started the night with individual french bread pizzas and salad on china (because how often do you get to use your china?!) and then we headed off for a scavenger hunt.

We split into two groups of five and had 60 minutes to complete a list of tasks which included things like:

-fit your entire team under a picnic table and take a picture (minus the prego lady on our team)

-find the number of the pay phone at Sam's Club

-bring back a take-out menu that serves sushi

-pump a stranger's gas a take a picture

-get gas of exactly $0.50 and return with the receipt

-Take a picture of the funniest thing you can find (we thought a stranger rubbing the baby in the belly was pretty darn funny.... especially if you were there because the camera was having difficulties so it took an uncomfortable amount of time to snap the picture....but he was a good sport, and he even guessed it was a boy!)

-collect six pieces of litter

-at the same time, each person of the team call someone and tell them you love them and end the phone call within 30 seconds

-create a work of art with sidewalk chalk in a public parking lot

We were all a little crazy and silly... and had a great time.

We returned home, loaded the pictures to the tv and enjoyed the fun while eating delicious layered lemon bars and chocolate chip molten cakes. ooooh, yum!

I'm a firm believer that we all need a little girl time... just some time to go out and play. This night was much needed and I can't wait until the next!

friday's favorites: pandora

Not only do I love finding new artists, but I hate listening to commercials on the radio... so Pandora is the perfect answer for a gal like me.

I've been typing up a book of memories my grandma sent me to share with the rest of the family, Pandora keeps me company while my fingers are busy clicking away.

I've been pretty much homebound this week because Mr. Blue is still "at the doctor", Pandora makes my house not so lonely.

I've been workin extra hard to clean and organize around the house this week, Pandora gives me extra elbow grease for those tricky little corners.

and for those times I feel like being goofy, and pretend like I can dance, Pandora gives me a beat.

Just thought I'd share a few of the songs I am currently enjoying:

Gravity- Sara Bareilles

Angel- Jack Johnson

Secret Heart- Feist

I'd Rather Be With You- Joshua Radin

The Call- Regina Spektor

Warm Whispers- Missy Higgins

Be Ok- Ingrid Michaelson

Bottle it Up- Sara Bareilles

OK- Holly Conlan

My Time With You- Kina Grannis & David Choi

Throw Me a Rope- KT Tunstall

Bitter Heart- Zee Avi

My Love- The Bird and the Bee

go take a listen and come back and let me know a few of your favorite tunes.

if money grew on trees,

i'd always shop at anthropologie.

I can't walk into this store or browse their website without wanting at least five things. Fortunately, and unfortunately, the price range is usually out of reach so I admire it and move on... and dream about it later and pretend what life would be like if I had my wish list.

I thought I'd share just a few things that have made it into my home in dream land...

top row:Sunflower Shower Tunic, Tie front Cardigan, Reversible Knotted Tank, Buttercup Posts, Minka Tunic, Blissful Days dress middle row:Sandgems Maillot, SeasideTrousers, Lilac Ombre Heels,Tea Rose Belt, AG 10 Year Tomboy, Segovia dress bottom row:Forest Whimsy Cardigan, Alabaster Crackle Bag, Agave Stem Scoopneck

top row: Gran Turismo Donna Bicycle, Corra Mirror, Comfort Food Apron, Fondant Serving Platter

second row: Message in a Bottle, Coqo Floral Rug, Birdcut Sideboard, Tahitian Vine Tablecloth, Measured Time Scale

what's in your home in dream land?

a girl can always dream, right?

the rest of UT

Besides being in Park City the rest of my Utah trip consisted of:

eating- of course. (I'm not sure if it should bother me that the majority of my posts are based around food...)

Taggart's Grill is a hidden little place with yummy food and beautiful scenery. All of the breads and pitas are made by them... and the desserts, which of course are my favorite. I had the cheesecake brownie which was delicious. My mom and dad love the carrot cake, supposedly the best ever.

Mom and I ate at Paradise Bakery in Bountiful with Joni, Barb, Brooke, Kelli and baby Brynn in the belly. (can't wait for her to come and see pictures!) I ordered from "you choose two" and got 1/2 of the Chicken Artichoke Panini and a bowl of the Fire Roasted Garlic Tomato soup. They give you a cookie with this option too- and that was yummy. The food was good, the company was even better. The bathrooms have a little handle on the bottom of the door for your foot, which I think is a great idea.... but I guess I just have weak legs because it wasn't workin for me so much.

awwww- memories. Chrissy and I had a craving for "The Pizza Place" bread sticks that we could not ignore. I think the last time I was there was in high school. When I was in Jr. High Barb, Christy and I would walk there just for their bread sticks. I have to admit, I don't think I've ever actually eaten their pizza.... but the bread sticks are cheap and delicious. Don't ask if they're healthy, I can only guess the answer would be a big fat no. But who cares, they're yummy!

Then at "Me Salon & Fashion" I was pampered by my favorite little sister. again. It's great- she's so good to me. If you're in the market for something new for that hair on your head, give her a jingle- she'll make you happy.

I love being in Utah. I was constantly amazed at the size of the mountains. It's amazing the things you take for granted when you see them everyday. But wow- those things are gargantuan! The past few times I've taken a trip home it's been snowy or still too cold for everything to bloom. But everything was green and full and gorgeous!

I love eating corn on the cob and cherries from the road and the neighbors back yard. I love hanging out at the pool- gosh, that backyard is like their own little paradise. Another thing I took for granted always having it so close. And seeing my family- my grandma, my aunt, my cousins... it's great. So beautiful, so fun, so carefree and relaxing. I can't wait to plan another trip back!

Thanks family for all the fun. Love you! xoxo

sing a song

"Use what talents you possess:

the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there

except those that sang the best!"

-Henry Van Dyke

i am constantly amazed at the level of talent in this world. i see it on blogs i admire, in my family and friends... it's all around me.

and sometimes, it leaves me feeling like i'm seriously lacking in the talent department.

but, then i remember the Lord blessed me with certain talents. not every talent. i might not be able to whip up a gourmet meal from pantry staples, i might not be able to sew a gorgeous sunday dress, or run to the moon and back.

i could get caught up in the things i lack. i could blog stalk for hours or sit and sulk while watching perfect hair and long legs dance and sing on tv. there is so much around us that can make us feel little. and i admit, sometimes i let it.

but that's what i'm going to work on. i can sing and dance... definitely not good. but i can, as long as i'm in the confines of my own little corner of the world. maybe someday i'll be brave enough to venture out and do a little song and dance in the center of town.

but for now, i'm gonna sing the song i know best, the best way i know how.

i admire all of the different talents, individually for what they are.

and i'll continue to work on finding what talents i posses and use them to help those around me and better this world. because if we each did that, just think how great our world could be.

friday's favorites: fluffy friend

the ziggster.

isn't he cute? never mind the fact you can't see his eyes. only one of them is good anyway.

i looked at him the other day and realized he's a mini version of the shaggy dog.

i don't care if he's too shaggy or too stinky. he loves me. he follows me around the house all day from room to room. he's a good buddy to me.

he knows when i'm having a bad day. he sits at my feet, or hops up on my lap and just gives me a face that says "it's ok friend, tomorrow's a new day."

he's silly, always making me laugh. sometimes i laugh because he runs into the wall (remember, only one good eye...) and then i feel bad because he can't help it. but he doesn't get mad at me for laughing.

he's fun. he loves to play fetch. he loves to run and jump and chase.

he can sometimes read my mind. if i'm about to leave the house for errands and i'm done brushing my teeth, he hears the light switch click off in the bathroom and he runs straight to his kennel. because he knows that's what i'm going to tell him.

he's sweet. and obedient. and he's my favorite fluffy friend.

hi ho cherry-o

i'm obsessed.

i can't get enough of their plump, juicy goodness.

yum.

and sam's club loves me... they wanted to give me a sweet present. $5.88 for 3 whole pounds. bargain.

weekend playback

our saturday was full of many undertakings...

we drove. a lot. back and forth and in between for over 5 hours.

we were friendly to our world and a beach and joined some fellow trash picker uppers.

we "hung out" with Mason. Mason Jennings- for those of you who aren't on a first name basis with him. yeah, we're just tight like that.

i ate a yummy (and humongo) banana split. of course it was yummy- it came from a giant ice cream cone. nothing bad could come from such a thing.

we shopped.

i bought some new sandals. and a hat to protect my cheeks from the suns rays.

and a pretty little treasure/new project... i'll share more on that in a bit.

he bought a new rash guard.

we powered up our little blue who's been on the fritz for a quite some time. get well soon mr. honda, we miss you.

we went to the pier.

up to a restaurant on the 5th floor at the edge of the pier. we ate delicious jerk chicken and shrimp overlooking the ocean.

we listened to mason sing us some tunes while enjoying the atmosphere with the ocean breeze. splendid, it was.

we joined forces with surfrider foundation to keep our oceans and beaches clean and beautiful.

i love days full of journeys and new opportunities. here's to a great week....

oven commotion

I mentioned our oven getting zapped by lightning... I thought it would be hard to go without an oven. Truth is, it's been harder than I imagined, and not as hard as I imagined all the same. I know that makes absolutely no sense...

But, it's been harder because:

-I was just starting to get somewhat good at bread baking. And whether or not I was good at it, I really enjoyed my new weekly tradition.

-a lot of the meals I make require an oven for completion.

-when I get a cookie craving I can't whip up a batch and toss 'em in the oven.

It hasn't been as hard as I imagined because:

-when I get a cookie craving I can't whip up a batch and toss 'em in the oven... and for that my waistline is very grateful. It's made it easier for me to choose that orange in the fridge to satisfy the sweet craving.

.... okay, so mostly just because of what's listed above. But that could count for at least 10 reasons.

SO- here's where you come in. I was hoping you wouldn't mind sharing with me some of your favorite recipes that don't require an oven. Our stove works, and I also have a crock pot... just no oven, for the time being. Jeff and I would both be so grateful to you for any yummy recipes you'd like to offer! Thanks for the help friends!

Park City Highlights

I had a great trip to Utah. While I was there we spent some time in Park City for a family reunion. It was great to be able to spend some time with my dad's side of the family- I hadn't seen most of them in at least 5 years!

I love Park City, I always have. I thought I'd give you a little review of some of the places we visited.... which are mostly restaurants because we're really good at eating!

We stayed at the Silver King while we were in town. It's a great hotel, with condo style rooms. Our room was a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, full kitchen, hot tub, dining area, fireplace... awesome room- comfy beds. The hotel has an indoor/outdoor pool which is fun, some arcade games, a workout room (you know that's where I spent the majority of my time... haha ok, or not.) and is walking distance from quite a few things. I'd go back... actually this was me going back, our family has stayed there before- it's great!

We ate lunch at Bandits Grill & Bar. It was a fun, casual, rustic environment. The service was happy and helpful. And the bathrooms were clean- which always gets extra points for me. Food wise, the french fries were awesome. I had a bite of a chicken strip which was juicy and tender and delicious. I ordered a lunch combo- 1/2 a Caesar salad and 1/2 a tri-tip sandwich. The Caesar was good, not the best I've ever had but I enjoyed it. The sandwich was very flavorful. The peppers were a little too much for me but the meat was cooked just right. Many napkins are needed! I would definitely go back.

(and my cousin might just have to one of these days.... hahaha While she was away from the table my sister kindly packaged her leftovers and my uncle "helped" by adding a few things, as you can see in the picture above. She carried her leftovers around with her while we browsed the shops and didn't realize she had stolen a pepper shaker until she was putting the box in the fridge and realized how heavy 1/2 a hamburger seemed. It was definitely a funny moment.)

I always enjoy walking the shops on Main Street. There's a shop that sales my favorite suckers ever. Each time I go I walk into 2 or 3 stores before I walk into the right one- I don't know the name of the store, I just know the giant glass jars they have on their counter top.

You're sure to see some interesting things on Main St.- never to be bored.

We ate dinner Hapa Grill one night. Modern, clean line decor in a smaller restaurant. They too had clean bathrooms. I love sushi and was excited to taste the "krusty krab roll"- it did not disappoint. It was a hit among the non sushi eaters as well. My mom ordered the filet mignon, she gets that every time and eats the entire portion all by herself (which says a lot about the meal considering she usually can only eat about 1/2 of anything she orders) I was lucky enough to try a few bites (I was very surprised she shared, but so grateful) and it was probably the best filet I've ever had. So tender and the sauce was amazing- creamy and flavorful. I had a bite of the chocolate mousse cake for dessert, and it was yummmmmmy. Definitely a dessert to share though if you ate a good meal. This was definitely a place I'd like to visit again... and again... and again.

We spent a day at the Utah Olympic Park. We went on a Saturday and the skiers perform a show so it cost $10 but normally it's free to visit and watch the athletes practice. The show is fun, their talent is incredible!

They have an alpine slide which I didn't ride, but it looked like a great track.We did take a journey on the zipline- that was very fun. You go up the mountain on the ski lift and then ride down.

There are 2 different ziplines- we did the longer/higher of the two. I was more nervous before than during. (and grew like 12 chins waiting in line...haha)

I screamed so loud when the gate opened, Chrissy said the attendant thought I had fallen out. oops. I would do it again- even if it was just for the view, it's beautiful!

My uncle, cousin and his friend felt a little wild and ventured to the bobsled. They put 3 in a sled with a professional driver because you ride the real Olympic bobsled track. You go up to 70mph and can reach 4 G's of force!

Family and friends can stand right by the side of the track and cheer on the riders as they zoom on by. It's a pricey ride at $60.00 per person, but my uncle said it was well worth it.

After spending a day at the Olympic park we ate at Red Rock. They have a pretty wide variety on their menu. I ordered a personal pizza that was the special that day and they should make it a regular menu option, it was that good. It had salsa, corn, chicken, cilantro and I'm not sure what else but I ate it all. (with some help...) I had some of my mom's Warm Shrimp Salad and that was good- a unique combination of shrimp, grapefruit, feta, and walnuts (I think). Surprisingly didn't check these bathrooms out... but the rest of the place was clean. A little loud- tall ceilings and not a lot of fabric to soften the noise. I'd go back to eat here as well.

We had a great trip... lots of fun, lots of visiting with the family and lots of eating yummy food!

friday's favorites: ice cream

(yes, I'm aware of the fact that I look like a major cheese ball... it's okay, because I am. And truth is, that's honest to goodness pure joy on my face.)

It's no secret that I love sweets. Especially ice cream.

The picture above is at Leatherby's in Salt Lake City, featuring the black and tan- oh, so delicious. Also delicious at Fenton's in Oakland. Ben and Jerry are two of my favorite people. I love their "Neapolitan Dynamite", that's probably one of my very favorites.

But then again, I'm never good at choosing favorites.

When I was little my favorite was to hop on the dime-a-ride with my sisters and ride to "Thrifty's" (a local grocery store) and get a giant square (ok, not really square. But their scoop was a cylinder shape- flat top, round sides... i swear the shape itself made it taste better.) scoop of rocky road or mint chocolate chip.

I love home made ice cream too. and ice cream bars. and ice cream sandwiches.

I love all forms of that cold, creamy goodness.

What's your flavor of choice?

yep... we're still here.

We've been a little absent from blog world lately, but we're still here. Just wanted to let all of you that may be questioning our existence rest easy now... I'll be back to my normal, semi-regular ramblings soon enough.