Food for Thought

2012-01-26T18:51:00.000-08:00

Dear Old Navy,

I know I've done some complaining lately about what I perceive to be your high prices. $70 for a dress did seem rather steep to me, based on your history of trendy clotehs at low prices.

But, I've had a change of heart.

Because the butterfly dress and little birdie shirt came in the mail today. And I adore them. The prints are fantastic, the materials drape nicely, and the fit are excellent. I was worried about the length of butterfly dress, and the sleeves. But, it hits right at the knees, and the sleeves are almost perfect! I though I was going to have to add on some longer sleeves, but instead I think I'll just get a nude undershirt to wear with it. And the little birdie shirt is just precious.

Granted, I did have a gift card, free shipping, and a coupon code for 30% off, so I only had to spend $3 on these two beauties, but still. I'm impressed.

So consider this my official apology.

Sincerely,

Marta

entomology

2012-01-21T21:40:00.001-08:00

entomology by mnelsonielsen featuring a mini shoulder bag

Old Navy cap sleeve dress
$35 - oldnavy.gap.com

ASOS ballet shoes
268 NOK - asos.com

Jane Norman mini shoulder bag
£20 - janenorman.co.uk

Wood bangle
$19 - fantasyjewelrybox.com

Wooden earrings
$17 - bardot.com.au

Friis Company brass jewelry
€4,79 - shopfriiscompany.com

new shirt.

2012-01-21T19:05:00.001-08:00

new shirt. by mnelsonielsen featuring metal jewelry

Old Navy balloon sleeve blouse
$37 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old navy
$33 - oldnavy.gap.com

Classified blue shoes
$18 - lulus.com

Scotch Soda metal jewelry
€25 - scotch-soda.com

Floral earrings
$13 - jewelry.hsn.com

Rag bone genuine leather belt
$125 - rag-bone.com

sunday dress.

2012-01-21T18:38:00.001-08:00

sunday dress. by mnelsonielsen featuring a bow belt

Ruffle top
$58 - anthropologie.com

Pink stocking
$7.95 - anthropologie.com

River Island short mini skirt
riverisland.com

D&G patent leather high heels
$193 - my-wardrobe.com

Lanvin south sea pearl necklace
$595 - ssense.com

Banana Republic bow belt
$20 - bananarepublic.gap.com

tie it in a bow.

2012-01-21T18:09:00.000-08:00

I did a hair bow today. It was so easy, and I love the way it turned out! Now I just need to try it with all of my hair, not just half of it. I used this tutorial to figure out how. I also need to remember next time to calm the flyaways on the half-down hair.

my girlfriend's boyfriend

2012-01-20T16:35:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday everyone!

To celebrate this day, I did a little shopping. At Forever 21 I picked up some glitter polish, so I can fulfill one of my Pinterest pins.

this is the polish.

this is the pin.

I also got some jeans, of the $10 variety. They are very dark, and hopefully will stay up and not shrink up.

here are the jeans

I looked at Old Navy, Ross, and TJ Maxx (in addition to Forever 21) for some colored jeans, but they were either more than I wanted to spend, an odd color, or not my size. If any of you know fo a good source, please let me know! I did find a new flat iron at TJ Maxx. My Chi flat iron broke nearly a year ago, and I've been using a cheapo one that is probably ruining my hair. This new one I got today (it is really for my birthday, next month) was a third of the usual price, and looks like this:

it has roses on it!

On another note, tonight A and I are going to see Mike Birbiglia perform his new one-man show, My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, at Kingsbury Hall.

We heard him do a piece on This American Life awhile ago, and loved it. It was a "driveway moment" for us, except in the grocery store parking lot. You can listen to it here.

I'm really excited. We're also going to Rubio's for free fish tacos. If you join their email list, they send you free taco coupons every once-in-awhile, and they are so delicious.

So, here's to Fridays! What are you doing this weekend?

thoughts on pinterest

2012-01-18T19:20:00.000-08:00

image via pinterest

I read into pins way too much. If you've posted a pin of anything article of maternity clothing, or a series of baby photos, announcements, clothes, or nurseries, I probably think you are pregnant.

I pinned the picture above, and no, I'm not pregnant, in case any of you were reading into my pins.

budget

2012-01-15T20:26:00.001-08:00

budget by mnelsonielsen featuring twist jewelry

Old Navy crew neck shirt
$20 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy embroidered pants
$40 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old navy
$27 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy flat heels
$20 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy mini messenger bag
$20 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy twist jewelry
$15 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy jewelry
oldnavy.gap.com

stripe obsession

2012-01-14T21:00:00.001-08:00

stripe obsession by mnelsonielsen featuring beaded jewelry

J Crew striped t shirt
$43 - jcrew.com

J.Crew short pants
$60 - jcrew.com

Ballerina flat
$105 - yoox.com

Mini shoulder bag
$65 - modcloth.com

Pippa Small flower stud earrings
$720 - net-a-porter.com

Juicy Couture beaded jewelry
$47 - couture.zappos.com

Yellow scarve
smallable.com

hawaii 08 and 09

2012-01-13T16:30:00.000-08:00

marta's boat!

my souvenir, and note the tahitian gardenia in my hair

island air prop plane, it was tiny!

Short Version

Day 08: Kapaa, Lihue, Maui

Day 09: San Francisco, Salt Lake City

Wore: thrifted chambray, leggings, TOMS

East tee (gift), thrifted cardi, thrifted linen pants, Born sandals

Dined: picnic on the beach

Activities: Marta's Boat, scenic drive, Lihue Museum, flying home!

Long Version

On our last day in Kauai, we did some last minute souvenir shopping at the ABC store, where I got some freshwater pearls. We packed up and checked out of our condo mid-morning, and hit the road. We stopped off at a shop on the side of the road. The sign said "Marta's Boat," and I assumed it was some kind of a boat rental place, and planned to just take some pictures with the sign. We got out of the car, and there was a guy outside that not only offered to take the picture for us, but invited us inside to see the "Marta's Boat" tee shirts! Turns out he was Ambrose, Marta's husband, and Boat stands for boutique! Inside were racks of clothes that Marta had made herself, with fabrics printed by Ambrose. You can see in the picture above the shirt I chose.

Before we left, Ambrose gave me and my mom each a Tahitian gardenia, and they smelled so good! We ended up leaving them at the Buddhist alter in the sacred forest, a place we stopped along our scenic drive. Then we drove into Lihue and went to the museum, and finally to a beach in Lihue for a picnic lunch.

We got to the airport around three. The Island Air counter didn't open until four thirty, and our flight to Maui didn't leave until after five! The flight itself was short, and the hostess gave a nice narrative about the islands as we flew over them.

Then it was our five our layover in Maui. We had some California Pizza Kitchen food, and chocolate frozen yogurt. A tried to nap, and I read over a copy of Instyle magazine that my dad found abandoned on the plane. I was lucky to be able to sleep most of the way to San Francisco, and with the time change we didn't really have a countdown to midnight.

We nearly ran off the plane through the San Francisco airport, just catching our flight to Salt Lake City. I love flying home, seeing the familiar mountains, trying to identify different parts of the landscape below. And best of all, the Christmas treats that we were sick of when we left were waiting for us. We took a long nap, and went to dinner at A's sister's house, which was fabulous.

I love vacation, but I also love seeing family, eating home-cooked food, and sleeping in my own bed!

hawaii 07

2012-01-12T20:03:00.000-08:00

lunch at pizzetta

historic hanapepe

theater in hanapepe

western-most bookstore in the US

outside an art gallery in hanapepe

having a virgin maitai at the luau kalamaku

luau food

Short Version

Day 07: Poipu, Koloa, Hanapepe, Lihue (for the Luau Kalamaku)

Wore: daytime - thrifted linen pants and J. Crew "york" shirt, Old Navy flip flops, nighttime - Down East tee (gift), thrifted cardi, thrifted linen pants, Born sandals

Dined: Pizzetta, Luau Kalamaku

Activities: snorkeling, gallery stroll in Hanapepe, Luau Kalamaku

Long Version

Only two days of Hawaii left! On day seven we went snorkeling. We rented masks and fins from our hotel, and went to a beach in Poipu. I was kind of terrified, because let's face it: I'm not a swimmer. I was pleasantly surprised to find that snorkeling is actually pretty easy! I just floated on the surface, and most areas were shallow enough I could touch the ground or quickly reach somewhere where I could. I only got a few dings on my legs from rocks on the ocean floor, and my mask only leaked the few times I smiled or squealed when the fish came too close! We brought some cooked rice to entice the fish, which A craftily kept in his pocket, and it really worked! We saw so many cool fish.

After rinsing off at the beach, we had lunch in Koloa at Pizzetta. A had a calzone, the parents split a shrimp pizza, and I had a grilled ono fish sandwich with pasta. It was excellente. Pizzetta also sells gelato, so I got a salt pond caramel sugar cone on the way out, and it was fantastic.

We then headed to Hanapepe, where they have a gallery stroll every Friday. We walked around the galleries and shops, and visited the western-most bookstore in the US. It was sort of heavenly, with books stacked haphazardly on every flat surface but the floor.

We also went to a luau on day seven. To get a good deal, we attended a time share presentation earlier in the week for Shell Properties (or something). We had a pep talk beforehand, about how no one would ask questions, provide excuses, or show interest, so we got out of there pretty fast. The salesman was actually really nice, and we didn't feel pressured at all. They also gave us $40, which was unexpected and really nice.

We went to Luau Kalamaku, which was at the Kilohana Plantation in Lihue. We visited the plantation earlier in the week, I think I forgot to mention it. The old house is still there, now filled with shops and a restaurant. There is a train you can take around, but it is expensive, as are the tours. We thought we could just walk around the plantation, but as we got to the area where they grow papayas, avocados, pineapples, etc., we were promptly asked to leave by a staff member wielding a large knife! He was actually part of a tour that was tasting fruits, hence the knife, but we joked about it the rest of the week anyway.

Back to the Luau. We got there, and there was confusion about our table. First the waiter said that the table they had assigned us wasn't even set, so I mentioned that we would love to sit close to the stage. He made an inquiry, and then took us to the table literally furthest from the circular stage (but close to one of the buffets). We were a little disappointed, but we settled down with our drinks and enjoyed the food. Here's what we had: fresh coconut meat and pineapple, purple sweet potato rolls, fresh papaya, salad, mac salad, thai coconut chicken, chow mein, white rice, khalua pork, that taro stuff, pineapple upside-down cake, chocolate cheesecake, rice pudding, and banana cream pie. The food wasn't great, but I didn't expect it to be. It was adequately good.

After we ate, they had a brief break before the start of the show (during dinner they had live music and some hula dancers). A waiter approached our table, and said he had a seat closer to the stage for us. We ended up really close, at a table for four, between the band stage and the circular stage where the dancers were. It was so cool! I love to watch people dance, probably because I can't do it and so I admire it a lot. The fire dancers were especially cool. Plus, the musicians were excellent, and everything was live. Overall, a great show. Even my Dad liked it, who was perhaps the most skeptical of the luau experience!

It was a great way to spend our last night in Kauai.

As we walked back to our car after the Luau, there were some puddles in the pathway. I was walking out front, and warned the rest of the group of a particularly large puddle. Immediately after my warning, A stepped in the puddle! It wouldn't have been funny if I hadn't just said, don't step in the puddle! I'm mostly posting this story here so I can remember it later.

After the Luau, we went to Walmart and got some Locals flip flops and chocolate covered macadamia nuts. They were cheaper at Walmart than even at the ABC store, fyi. We chose the macnut-toffee-chocolate-powdered sugar ones that A's sister always brings back from visiting her in-laws, and then a new flavor: macnut-coconut-chocolate. Oh, they are so good.

Mary Margaret 2

2012-01-11T20:05:00.001-08:00

Mary Margaret 2 by mnelsonielsen featuring long necklaces

H m cardigan
£9.99 - hm.com

Forever 21 top
$16 - forever21.com

MaxMara pants
£195 - matchesfashion.com

Forever 21 floral flat
$16 - forever21.com

H M long necklace
£3.99 - hm.com

Stud earrings
psyche.co.uk

Diane von Fürstenberg flat belt
$132 - boutique1.com

Lancôme 'La Laque Fever' Lip Shine
$27 - nordstrom.com

Mary Margaret

2012-01-10T20:29:00.001-08:00

Mary Margaret by mnelsonielsen featuring a dot dress

Dot dress
$168 - anthropologie.com

J Crew crew neck top
$90 - jcrew.com

Kate Spade bow shoes
$225 - couture.zappos.com

Becky Kelso filigree jewelry
$760 - maxandchloe.com

Dogeared jewelry
$44 - bloomingdales.com

Rochas leopard belt
$115 - yoox.com

Juicy Tubes - Lip Gloss by Lancome
$18 - lancome-usa.com

hawaii 06

2012-01-10T17:46:00.000-08:00

waimea canyon

sunset on the beach

not another person to be seen

view from the car, driving along the bumpy road

Short Version

Day 06: Waimea Canyon, Koloa, "secret" beach

Wore: thrifted oversized strip shirt and Gap burmudas, Brooks trail runners

Dined: bbq chips and V8 splash, from a convenience store in Koloa

Activities: scenic driving, hiking, beach finding

Long Version

We drove up to the overlook for Waimea Canyon on day six, it is also known as the Grand Canyon of Kauai. It was beautiful! You could see distant waterfalls, which was also neat. We did some hiking around before heading out to Koloa for some snacks and then a bumpy drive to this spectacular beach.

The road was dirt, and the beach is said to be one of the few undeveloped beaches left in Kauai. Unfortunately, they close the road gate at 6:00 pm, and if you're not out by then they tow your car! So we didn't have much time there, but we did get to see some of the sunset, which was a first on this trip since our condo was on the other side of the island.

Note: I think I forgot to post something about day 05... A and I went to Hanalei and a specific beach nearby that has olivine sand (I can't remember its name, A could tell you!). Since A took a Geology class last semester, he's been slightly obsessed with rocks. We went in TWO rock/crystal shops in Kauai, and he managed to find a souvenir piece of basalt, and together we found a nice little bunch of pinhead-sized olivine at the beach. I tried to convince him to buy me a Kauai calcite ring...but for some reason he doesn't care as much for the wearable gems as I do. Anyway, we had a lovely afternoon driving along the coast, walking around Hanalei, and lounging on the beach, combing through the sand. Then we went back to Kapaa, and had shave ice. I think.

once...

2012-01-09T21:36:00.000-08:00

image via

Sorry for the Hawaii post hiatus, I've had a bit of a detour because of a new obsession. Once Upon a Time. By obsession, I mean that I started episode one around 7pm yesterday, and didn't go to bed until I had watched all but the most recent one, which I just finished.

First, the fairytale world is beautiful. Ginnifer Goodwin is beautiful as Snow White, and her feathery gowns are spectacular (pictures to come). Second, Henry is adorable. Third, Ginnifer Goodwin as a Mary Margaret is amazing. I want to be her, minus the whole never have a happy ending thing. Her hair is great. Her makeup is great. Her clothes are great.

I must incorporate some of her into my style. This includes round collars, lace, floral prints, bright cardigans, anything flowing or soft or feminine, skinny accent belts, flats, t-straps, gold studs, and slim slacks. Makeup? Minimal. Dewy. Fresh. I love it. And at the end of the year, after I've reached my hair length goal (around my elbows), I will have her haircut. I'm determined.

Plus, her house is amazing. And the story is so fun.

hawaii 05

2012-01-09T21:03:00.000-08:00

mr. and mrs. at secret falls

so proud of my parents for sticking it out in the kayaks!

it was really freezing cold.

see?

the falls

the plants in kauai are so cool!

walking tree

halo halo, which matched my shirt :)

i call this a shave ice volcano.


ono family restaurant/shave ice stand.

Short Version

Day 05: Wailua, Kapaa

Wore: same old swimwear + water shoes (next time wear chacos!), thrifted JCrew "york" tee and Gap burmudas (I was into monochromatic neutrals on this trip, for some reason)

Dined: Ono Family Shave Ice

Activities: kayaking to Secret Falls, nursing sore shoulders

Long Version

Here are my tips for kayaking. Wear sport sandals, not water shoes. Bug spray is an unnecessary and expensive add on. A light snack would suffice. Going on a tour is a good idea, because coordinating everything is probably a pain (where to rent, how to transport, where to dock, etc.).

The river was beautiful. There were flowers floating in it all along, and it was very peaceful. We went up in the morning, so it was nice and cool. The guide was really nice, and had a lot of interesting information about the plants, animals, and island in general. Those walking trees? They can move around to get to an area with better sunlight by growing more roots on the side of the direction they want to go. So cool!

The waterfall was beautiful. It was very cool there, and we enjoyed a packed lunch on the rocks surrounding it. I contemplated going further into the water, but it was COLD! But at least I got my feet wet.

A says I wasn't doing much with my paddling, so next time I think I'll just bring a magazine along and sit back for the ride. I may not have been helping much, but upper body sure felt sore the next day!

The kayaking may have been a little ambitious for my 60+ year old parents. My dad has really bad knees and one of my mom's hips is only a year old. The way to the falls was a little tough for them (heck, it was tough for me!) but they made it the whole way and didn't complain! They hiked down to the falls, and I think they even enjoyed the kayak trip back to the boat ramp. I am so proud of them.

We were all pretty beat after kayaking, so we just relaxed, ate at the condo, and then walked over to Ono Family Shave Ice, just next door to our condo. The halo halo, which A and I shared, had beans and mixed fruit in the bottom, coconut milk, shave ice, and a scoop of sweet potato ice cream on top. The ice cream was my favorite! I want to try to make some here, it was SO good. My parents shared a more traditional shave ice, with a scoop of coconut ice cream in the middle (yum) and condensed milk on top.

We ended another beautiful day in Kauai chilling in the condo, reading and watching cable. I devoured the book "Poison Study "(thanks to my good friend Trisha, who loaned it to me), and A read "A Long Walk to Water." Reading is one of the best parts of vacations. Along with cable in bed. Don't you agree?

hawaii, 04

2012-01-06T10:57:00.000-08:00

A overlooking Wailua Falls

isn't my mom cute?

we kayaked this river the next day

lizard on a coconut

Short Version

Day 04: Wailua, Poipu, Spouting Horn, Koloa, Kapaa

Wore: thrifted plaid pants, RVCA shirt from Haight, hand-me-down woven leather purse

Dined: Bubba's Burgers, greasy but good!

Activities: driving and sight-seeing, window shopping, general relaxing

Long Version

We started day four intending to go kayaking, but when we got down to the Wailua River, they were all sold out! There is a Shell gas station close by that we heard rented kayaks, so we called them and scheduled a tour for the next day.

Instead, we drove up to see Wailua falls, and then headed down the coast to the South side of the island. The scenery along the drive was spectacular. I especially loved the tree tunnel. We stopped off at the spouting horn, and browsed the row of vendors selling the same old wares as the rest of Kauai.

Then we headed back to Kapaa, where we walked around the old town a bit more and ended at Bubba's Burger for dinner. A and I split a fish sandwich, a burger, and fries. The food was good, but the wall decor was far more entertaining.

hawaii, 03

2012-01-04T20:11:00.000-08:00

the husband, biking along the coast

pineapple drop

at the pineapple drop. not particularly flattering, but for some reason i love this pic.

ignore the posture, look at that bike! so fun.

parents at the end of the road.

chicken in a barrel. yum.

A had the pork.

Kilauea Lighthouse.

we didn't see any whales.

i'm in this picture.

like mi giant hat?

thank you, self timer.

love this guy.

beach feet.

my cute parents.

Short Version

Day 03: Kapaa, Kilauea Lighthouse, Hanalei, the beach.

Wore: Body Glove shirt, swimming suit, thrifted plaid shorts, f21 shades, then Down East embellished tee (gift), thrifted linen pants, born sandals, giant hat (Amazon)

Dined: Chicken in a Barrel

Activities: bike riding, bird and whale watching at the lighthouse, shopping in Hanalei, beach bumming

Long Version

We started day three by renting four bikes for two hours, for only $20. We rode along the parkway that followed the coast in Kapaa, it was beautiful. The bikes were pretty cool, too! I had a bell, which came in handy. None of us had taken watches or other methods of timekeeping, so we just rode to the end of the path and back. Turns out we could have ridden for another hour!

Then we got lunch. Chicken in a Barrel is just along the side of the road, and they often have a guy dressed as a chicken out front "dancing" for cars. The food wasn't terribly cheap, but nothign in Kauai is. It was terribly delicious, though. I had the quarter chicken plate, which came with homemade chili and rice. The chicken was smokey, tender, and delicious.

After lunch we headed to the Kilauea lighthouse. Mom claims to have seen a whale, but I sure didn't see any. The views were spectacular. My fear of dropping things off high places, which usually just includes my glasses and camera, expanded to include my giant floppy hat.

We spent some time walking around Hanalei. I scored a bakelite pin with a mermaid silhouette (or it may just be a naked lady, it's hard to tell) to put on my giant hat, from a vintage store. What I really wanted to buy there was a Hawaiian dress from the 1930s, but it was over $300. Yikes!

On our way home, we pulled over on a whim at a beach that looked beautiful from the road. I loved the contrast of the black rocks, green moss, clear blue water, and sparkling sand.

Kauai was amazing.

break!

2012-01-04T06:55:00.001-08:00

Temporary break from hawaii posts for this breaking news...

A is the best!

I've been a little down about the transition from vacation to work, and some other things.

Last night I got home from city council meeting after ten, and guess what I found?

These pretties. With a long hand written note (my favorite), that is a ” voucher” for new shoes!

Oh, I love that guy.

sometimes.

2012-01-02T20:10:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I wish this were a private blog. So I could post all those things that you can't post (or shouldn't) on public blogs.

But it's not.

So I won't.

hawaii, 02

2012-01-02T11:43:00.000-08:00

Christmas Sunrise

Beach Combing

Mom at the Hukilau

Merry Christmas!

Short Version

Day 02: Kapaa

Wore: J. Crew lobster skirt (thrifted), Born sandals, f21 floral shirt

Dined: Hukilau Lanai, it was fantastic

Activities: church, beach combing, fancy Christmas dinner at the Hukilau, staying awake

Long Version

Christmas Day in Hawaii greeted us with a beautiful sunrise. We got ready and went to church, which was right across the street from our condo. We were a few minutes late, and when we got there, all the seats were full! We all managed to squeeze in, just in time for the Christmas Program. It was lovely. I was amazed to see such a large congregation. The chapel was sort of a separate building, and all the doors were open to the outside, which was a nice change.

After church we went down to the beach, walked barefoot in the sand, listened to the waves crash, and found handfulls of coral.

Our dinner reservation was early, at the Hukilau Lanai (a name that sparked a week of humming a bad song). I had looked on Trip Advisor, and it was rated the best restaurant in Kapaa, so I thought it would be a good choice for our Christmas dinner. And, it was great. A and I had the kahlua turkey with rosemary gravy, purple sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing and mashed potatoes. Mom had the pork roast, and Dad had the New York steak. We were all too full to order dessert, but before they brought our check, they brought each of us a macadamia shortbread and jam sandwich cookie. Yum!

We spent the rest of Christmas night eating pistachios and watching The Christmas Story on cable, the sounds and smells of the ocean filtering through our screen door.

hawaii, 01

2012-01-01T16:29:00.000-08:00

Overlooking Taro farms.

The haggard travelers!

Well, we're home! Happy New Year! I'm going to do a series of posts, covering our trip day-by-day.

Short Version

Day 01: Lihue & Kapaa

Wore: jersey tunic, leggings, TOMS, pashmina (not pictured)

Dined: House of Noodles, wouldn't go there again

Activities: flying, shopping in Kapaa, driving along Kuhio highway, enjoying cable TV, staying awake

Long Version

Day one, we left SLC around 5:30 am, and arrived in Lihue, Kauai around noon. The minute they opened the doors on the plane, I was soaking in the deliciously warm and humid air. It wasn't painfully humid, just enough to make your skin feel fantastic.

We picked up our rental car, stopped by Costco in Lihue for some groceries, and headed for Kapaa to our condo at Pono Kai. Turns out we couldn't check in till four, so we parked and walked around the charming downtown in Kapaa.

There were so many neat shops! Including one called Orchid Alley. It was so cool. We also had lunch at House of Noodles. A and I shared the "healthy bean glass noodles." They were weird. I didn't love it, and didn't think it was a particularly good value. Definitely not picture-worthy.

We then drove along the coast on Kuhio highway. We stopped at the overlook pictured above. It was spectacularly beautiful. Everything was so green and lush, a welcome break from the gray and brown of SLC.

When we could finally check into our condo, we settled down, admired at our ocean view, and struggled to stay awake until 9:00 pm (it gets really dark around 7:00 pm).

Stay tuned for day 02!

to do.

2011-12-29T22:09:00.001-08:00

Snorkel.
Eat fish.
Luau.
Eat shave ice with coconut ice cream.
Find a big sea shell.
Smell the ocean.
Watch the sunrise.
Prepare for a 50 degree temperature drop, and 5 hour layover.
Soak up the last two days of beautiful Kauai.

So long, farewell!

2011-12-24T04:16:00.001-08:00

Well, we're off to Kauai, on Christmas Eve. If feel more sad if it were snowy and white in SLC bit as of now, 4:41 am, it is mostly brown and gray. I might do some blogging while we're gone, I might not. We'll see.

Regardless, I hope you all have a happy holiday, and SLC? See you next year.

(PS, my advice for travel wear? Pashmina, leggings, tunic, and TOMS. Bring along some fuzzy socks for the road.)

all the way home i'll be warm.

2011-12-21T16:30:00.000-08:00

This beauty came in the mail yesterday. I used a gift card in combination with a sale and a 40%-off one item deal, and only paid around $40! It is so warm, and the fleece around the sleeve openings and in the pockets is unbelievably soft. Mine is black. I love it. Does it mean I'm old if I'm starting to love Land's End?

SNOW

2011-12-17T12:13:00.000-08:00

I only saw "White Christmas" for the first time this year (or maybe last), and fell in love with the music. Whether you've seen the movie or not, everyone knows the title song, but this one is less familiar. Enjoy!

*PS, the actual song starts 1 minute in.

lovely

2011-12-17T11:46:00.001-08:00

Yesterday A and I went on a little date. We planned to go to the Salt Lake Temple and then to PF Chang's, where we could use a gift card. Well, traffic was horrid. It took us forever to get downtown, and then parking was a mess because of the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert.

Once we finally made it into the temple, we had missed the 5pm endowment session by minutes, so instead we did sealings. It was very special, probably one of my favorite temple experiences. Another couple shared that they had been married for 48 years. Their sealer (the person who officiated their wedding) was Harold B. Lee. Then they shared some of the advice he gave them. So neat!

Anyway, after the temple, we drove over to PF Chang's, and found an excellent parking spot. When we went inside, they told us the wait for two would be more than an hour! We promptly left, and ended up at Red Rock, where the seated us immediately. A ordered the fish and chips, and I ordered the reuben. This is significant because this is where we went on or first date, and we ordered the exact same thing! And, nearly five years later, it was just as good.

{me, enjoying the last few bites of my grilled reuben}

You can call me Marta Stewart

2011-12-08T08:49:00.001-08:00

Task: make eight beautiful centerpieces for a fancy holiday party.

Budget: $10 per table

How it was done: Found eight identical vases at a thrift store.
Sprayed the inside with mirror paint to create faux mercury glass.
Filled the vase bottoms with pretty glass marbles.
Arranged twigs trimmed from a locust tree in vases, and filled in top of vases with snow-like ”grass.”
Decorated twigs with snowflakes and small silver glass balls from the dollar store, varied sized bells, white birds, tiny silver glass balls, tiny pine cones, and crystals from the craft store

Results: Impressed many! Pictures can't do justice.

well, maybe just a half a drink more...

2011-12-03T14:52:00.001-08:00

I missed yesterday's Christmas song, but I'm here with one today!

This little gem is from the movie "Elf." featuring Zooey Deschanel (who I sort of have a girl crush on) and Leon Redbone. This movie had always really annoyed my dad, but when I had him listen to some of the music like this song, I think he reconsidered. Mostly I just wanted him to hear Zooey. She has this quality to her voice that you don't hear much anymore. Adel has it, Norah Jones has it, Amy Winehouse had it. It is old school, and I love it.

Plus, this is a great song (just ignore the goofy theme music at the end of this version).

Have you heard the story of how Frank Loesser wrote this song? I think it is interesting. According to Wikipedia, "Loesser wrote the duet in 1936 and premiered the song with his wife, Lynn Garland, at their Navarro Hotel housewarming party. Lynn considered it "their song," and was furious when Loesser sold the song to MGM."

it's december!

2011-12-01T18:42:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to blog some more, I thought I'd share some Christmas songs with you this month. I can't promise one everyday, but I promise I'll try!

Some will be old favorites, some new discoveries (thank you, Spotify!). Today is a new one, courtesy Mr. Michael Buble.

He has a new Christmas album out, you see. I always love the Buble, but this album is special. On most of the songs he sticks to the original intros/backups, and it is like an old soul is coming through is silky smooth voice. This version of "Santa Baby," while it has some change-ups on the words which may be off-putting to some, is the only version other than the original recording that I've every really enjoyed.

So, well done, Mr. Buble. And to you all, take a listen to his new album. It is all on Spotify!

Stay tuned for more music....

dream team

2011-11-30T20:28:00.000-08:00

Howdy folks!

Once again, I've abandoned this blog for far too long. A took the above picture two weeks ago, when we walked around Salt Lake identify the rock on different buildings for his geology class. It was fun to see different parts of the city and just hang out with my best friend.

Other updates? Not much. Thanksgiving was wonderful with both families. I made unintentionally lumpy garlic potatoes and Lion House rolls, which were wonderful. We're looking forward to our Hawaii vacation, though I feel completely unprepared. I have a new bathing suit, but that's about it. Also, this week we have a do-or-die meeting with the city about our house building. I really hope we can finally come up with a solution and avoid going before the city council next week (prayers, please!).

Lastly, I have a BIG idea in the works. As in, what I want to do career-wise in the future. When I thought about where I wanted to be in 10 years, this idea really stood out to me. It is one that will take a lot of work, require a lot of help, and likely not payoff for awhile, but I am so excited about it that I'm losing sleep (on both ends). I can hardly think about anything else, and have already filled pages with ideas. I've talked with some of you about this idea, and am thrilled to have your support. You are my dream team.

hairdo

2011-11-13T16:16:00.000-08:00

This is my hair today. Sometimes people ask me how I do things with my hair (usually styles that involve braiding, since apparently french braiding your own hair is a special gift). I'm thinking of posting some video tutorials for a few styles.

Last night I did my hair in three sock buns, in a mohawk down my head. This morning it was ultra-curly and kind of uncontrollable, so I did some creative hair pinning and this is how it turned out, as a sort of to-the-side chignon. Maybe someday someone will pin it onto pinterest...

hello hello

2011-11-08T20:05:00.000-08:00

I was just thinking about how I love it when my friends update their blogs, so I thought I'd do a little update here.

I'm a deputy! They appointed me as the Deputy Recorder at work. I had already pretty much been doing the work, and now I get the title. In another week, I'll have been there for six months.
We're going to Hawaii! I may have already mentioned this, but we're going to Kauai with my parents in December. We leave on Christmas Eve, actually. I'm so excited to go on a week-long vacation!
Our house prospects are not looking very good. We've still been trying to work with the City, but have not had much staff support. It is really hard to not have an answer, to be in limbo, without a yes and without a definite no. Still praying for a solution with the city.
My primary program is this next Sunday. It has been hard to come in new, with a new presidency, in the middle of the year. The kids are so wonderful, so I'm sure it will be fine, but I'm just looking forward to being finished.
I'm doing so-so on my goals. Exercise is hard, but I've been doing better than I have in a very long time. Flossing is going well. Reading time could use some improvement, as could bedtime/waking up. I've been eating a lot of junk lately, mostly at work. I have a really hard time saying no to sweets. Should I go cold-turkey? Would that just make it worse? I literally fell terrible when I eat bad food, so I need to do better.
Speaking of reading time, I'm reading The Night Circus. It is pretty good.

Apple walnut crasin spinach salad

2011-10-20T11:15:00.001-07:00

No green smoothie today, so instead I whipped up a delicious salad, with a surprise ingredient!

I started with spinach, crasins, half an apple, and walnuts, and was about to dress out with some homemade basic balsamic vinaigrette, when I had a brilliant idea. Chia seeds!

I always put them in my smoothies, so I just added a tablespoon or so to my dressing. It turned out really well.

(also notice the cute penguins on my tupperware. That is all.)

bubblegum

2011-10-19T15:08:00.001-07:00

Just got some new shellac colors. This is one I normally never would have chosen, but I love it! And I'm excited to not have to repaint for two weeks. :)

Goals

2011-10-18T08:36:00.001-07:00

Eat oatmeal everyday.
Eat a green smoothie everyday.
Exercise everyday.
Clean some everyday.
Floss everyday.
Read some everyday.

To do this I have to make oatmeal on weekends and smoothies every night. I have to prep my lunch and clothes the night before, and wake up to work out at five. And I have to not let tv govern my time. This is what I need to do to feel good. And to re-lose 10 pounds.

I can do it.

Gelato

2011-10-18T07:51:00.001-07:00

Our favorite gelato place, Bellissimo, closed down awhile back, so this weekend we tried somewhere new. It was that place on soda row in daybreak. The gelato was not house made, and not very good, but it was fun to try new things.

Birthday Boy

2011-10-18T07:49:00.001-07:00

For A's birthday, we went to Setabello. Oh my goodness, I love that place. And arugula. And A, even though he's getting old. ;-)

you've had a birthday

2011-10-05T20:03:00.001-07:00

{Mr. A, on his favorite ride at Disneyworld: Toy Story Mania!}

Today is A's birthday.

Sunday we celebrated with his family, and I made the brownies/cupcakes pictured before. Today I made him french toast and a green smoothie for breakfast, and hopefully we'll go somewhere fun this weekend as a last celebration.

Honey, you are the best. I love you so much, and look forward to celebrating many many more birthdays with you.

killer brownies, the recipe.

2011-10-04T19:44:00.001-07:00

Ingredients:

2 packages refrigerated cookie dough (I used pillsbury brand, with extra big chocolate chips)
2 bags full size reeses cups
1 fudge brownie mix (sub applesauce for oil)
1 bag mini marshmallows

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spread cookie dough evenly in the bottom of an 9 by 13 pan. Unwrap reeses, and arrange on top of cookie dough. You should have a few extra for snacking. Prepare brownie batter as directed. Pour over reeses, being careful to spread it into the corners.Bake for 30 minutes. I only did 20, and it was pretty gooey in the middle. Check it at 20 just to be safe. To be honest, I don't think the marshmallows added much. Instead I'd do frosting I think. If you want to do marshmallows, cover the top of the hot brownies with marshmallows and return to the oven for five minutes, or until slightly toasted.Let them cool completely before cutting.These are super rich, but yummy! I adapted this recipe from one that uses oreos, instead of reeses. I bet a lot of combinations would be good, think ghiradelli caramel squares or heath bars!

cross section

2011-10-04T11:53:00.001-07:00

Bakery

2011-10-01T19:01:00.001-07:00

Here's what I made today.

Cookie dough + reeses + brownie batter + mini marshmallows.

Red velvet cupcakes + cream cheese frosting.

Yum.

In which we get a blendtec...

2011-09-30T19:44:00.001-07:00

We got a blendtec last week. I LOVE it! Yesterday my mom and I made blender cheesecake. Here's what you do. Put 13 graham crackers in the blender, and blend them up. Then add a teaspoon lemon juice and some butter, blend it more, then press it into a springform pan, and bake for five minutes at 350 degrees.

Rinse out the blender, add two packages of cream cheese, a chip of sugar, two eggs, and half a teaspoon lemon juice. Blend, and put onto the cooled crust. Bake for 45 minutes at 350. Refrigerate, then serve. With cherries.

2011-09-26T20:29:00.001-07:00

Well hello there. Long time no blog. Turns out not much is new. I'm still working. A is still in school. We don't see each other much on weekdays, which is rough.

We watched some funny movies this weekend, first ” Run Fat Boy” then ”North.” I vaguely remembered North from my childhood. It is awesome.

I'm also in the middle of ”The Help.” I'm listening to it as I commute, which makes the drive so much more enjoyable. And, it is an amazing story. Listening to it is definitely pacing me.

Perhaps the most exciting new news is that we bought a blend tec! I'm real excited about it. I love my green smoothies.

The end, for now.

Update

2011-09-16T19:42:00.001-07:00

I re-posted the gun cabinet picture, hopefully bigger. My favorite sticker says ”china has gun control.” So bizarre.

Only at the DI...

2011-09-12T20:20:00.001-07:00

Do you find fun cabinets like this
(this is inside).

Chow Truck

2011-09-12T20:15:00.001-07:00

Do we have amazing food tricks in Salt Lake? Why yes, we do. Meet the Chow Truck.

Chels and I went there for tacos and sliders and chips, with an asian twist. The beef tacos were spectacular. Seriously amazing. And Chelsea and I enjoyed our usual lively conversion.

So fun.

Bday Breakfast

2011-09-12T20:08:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to Trisha!

We went to Eggs in the City for breakfast. Trish had crepes with nutella (yum!) and I had brulee, which is steel cut oats with candied pecans and bananas and caramelized brown sugar. It was so good!

We also had a great time reminiscing on old times, and getting our thrift on at the di.

a spectacle

2011-09-12T19:57:00.001-07:00

Loving my new specs, though for now they make me a bit dizzy.

new love.

2011-09-11T20:14:00.000-07:00

First, I found Pinterest. Are you on? It is lovely, so many beautiful things. I spent way too much time on there tonight, but since I don't have homework, I don't feel too bad about it.

So through Pinterest I found this site, the beauty department. I am so in love. The hair tutorials are my favorite. Like this one. I think I will try it tomorrow.

{image via}

no such thing as blue lemons.

2011-09-05T13:11:00.001-07:00

We went to one of the free organ concerts at temple square today. It was lovely. Then we walked around downtown and admired the new City Creek development.

We had lunch at the Blue Lemon. The menu looked very nice, and the restaurant was new and chic. I ordered a roasted beet and arugula salad, A ordered a raspberry chicken salad, and we got sweet potato fries to share.

The presentation was very nice, but the food itself was lacking. The fries were on the cold side. My salad had more radicchio than arugula, and the roasted beets were cold. I don't know that I'd go back.

Hunger Games

2011-08-18T07:20:00.001-07:00

Driving home from our week in Seattle, I finally got A interested in the Hunger Games series. We listened to all of book one, finishing just as we pulled off the freeway. I can't tell you how happy I am about this, because I LOVE those books! Now we're listening to book two, simultaneously, but separately. I'm listening on my way to and from work, which has greatly improved my traveling experience. Just seven months till the movie comes out. Team Peeta, forever.

Paseo

2011-08-12T21:52:00.001-07:00

Friday, we went to paseo, a caribbean did stand near the coast in ballard. I almost died, my cuban sandwich was so flipping good. The baguette, the grilled onion, the jalapeno, the cilantro... Oh my.

Then we went to trophy cupcakes. Now, I'm skeptical of all store-bought cupcakes, because I've only had two that were even comparable to the ones my sister makes (one from bouchon bakery, one from disneyland). But. This snickerdoodle cupcake was phenomenal. The cake was heavy, almost like coffee cake, and somehow the outside was crusted with cinnamon sugar. The frosting was very cinnamonish, and sprinkled with coarse sugar. Is was so good. A had the red velvet, which had one adorable heart shaped sprinkle on top. Plus, the shop itself was so cute, and they sent us home with two cupcakes for free since it was near closing time. Literally, sweet!

Experimental Burgers.

2011-08-12T21:37:00.001-07:00

Thursday we went to a little place called Lunchbox Laboratory. The gps on my phone sent us on a wild goose chase to find it, but when we finally got there, it was well worth the long trip.

It was happy hour there, so I ordered the burger of the gods for a third of the usual price, and a half price boston cream pie shake. A had the new york burger with a vanilla shake. We shared sweet potato fries. A insists it is the best burger he's ever had.

Best Mexican.

2011-08-12T21:18:00.001-07:00

So pretty much, this trip has consisted of entertaining Pickles (the english/french bulldog-boston terrier puppy), watching netflix, and eating amazing food. No running around trying to fit in touristy things, just relaxing. It has been so nice, and the food has seriously been spectacular.

Wednesday we went to Kubota gardens, a beautiful japanese garden, and then to dinner at Carta de Oaxaca. We got a parking spot just across from the restaurant, and when we walked up to the door, we were seated immediately. Apparently that was extremely lucky, because it is a crazy busy and popular restaurant.

Everything was very reasonably priced, so we ordered two tacos al pastor to share, A got the posole, and I got the pork mole tamale. Out was spectacular. The sweet, but not like cafe rio sweet, just perfect and delicious. The posole was good, and spicy!

Daily Log

2011-08-10T11:03:00.001-07:00

Sunday: naps, general lounging, long walks at seward park, eighties movies on netflix.

Monday: discovery park with a hot doggie, smoked gouda grilled cheese, exploring spectacular neighborhoods, pesto pizza (red mill was closed!), old school custard, and "girls just wanna have fun."

Tuesday: good will (amazing!), seward park again, red mill, double chocolate caramel magnum bars, and more eighties movies.

Relax.

2011-08-07T12:13:00.001-07:00

Yesterday wad a chill day. We slept in with a snoring dog, then made oatmeal and omelets with fresh eggs. We went to the burian st. vincent depaul thrift shop, and I got five skeins of wool yarn for two dollars. We ran around in the backyard with the funny dog, and then went to thai tom for dinner. I had pad thai with tofu, A had cashew chicken. It was spectacularly good. Then we watched "the man who knew too little," which A had never seen. It was great.

Seetle

2011-08-05T23:20:00.001-07:00

Monorail, pike's market, chocolate croissant, people watching at the space needle, harry potter 3d imax, snuggling with a sweet doggie, beef brisket sandwich and great company, and my husband arriving. All in all, a great day.

Come fly with me

2011-08-04T20:36:00.001-07:00

Flying by myself today made me feel so adult. Now I'm in Seattle, hanging out with my big brother. We ate blta (bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado) hot dogs. So good.

Tommorow A will drive in, and we'll house and puppy sit for for a whole week, without homework (way to go this semester, honey!).

found.

2011-08-02T07:25:00.001-07:00

Last week, at the di. Fifty cents for the poppy mug, two dollars for the purse. Finding these kinds of purses while thrifting is one of my special talents.

yum.

2011-07-29T10:30:00.001-07:00

This is what dinner looked like last night. Blue cheese sliders on potato rolls, grilled utah corn, and fresh raspberries with whipped cream. Vintage tablecloth and pink dishes. Perfect backyard dinner. Good job, mom.

looking forward...

2011-07-27T12:53:00.001-07:00

Family reunions.
Visiting seattle, hanging out with a fantastic doggie.
Getting my hair done.
Anniversary (4 years already?).
Movies.
A harry potter party.

2011-07-13T18:25:00.001-07:00

Working full time is hard. No matter what you do. Work is work. But here's the thing. There's no homework, meaning I can come home, change into my toms and jeans, east a popsicle on the patio, and settle down to watch seinfeld. Work stays at work.

This is bliss, for now.

Independence Day.

2011-07-12T20:34:00.001-07:00

July fourth weekend felt like the real start of summer for me. We watched babies in the afternoon, and laughed and laughed.

Evening, we got together with our disneyland friends for a picnic in the backyard, a walk through murray park, a run back to the backyard to catch the fireworks, and then a fire to roast giant marshmallows while traffic died down. We were too busy catching up, eating creamies and watermelon, and laughing to take pictures, but seriously, it was the best. Y'all better stay on touch, even when you've moved away or gone to Qatar. That's all I have to say. Love you guys.

summer sunday

2011-07-12T20:22:00.001-07:00

First sunday of july.

Last week teaching sunbeams.

New calling, primary music leader.

Green smoothies.

Family dinner.

Holding babies.

Ice cream pie.

Perfect.

July, so far.

2011-07-04T04:25:00.001-07:00

This year I've really noticed how amazing july is. Its partly because my cousin in new york always has enviable july's (and summers in general), and maybe part of it is because I'm different this year.

July started off with a day off, what with fridays off on the four-trends schedule and everything. I worked at USEE in the morning, catching up with my good friend/boss there.

Then my mom picked me up to go to lunch. We tried to go to the copper onion, at emma's suggestion(s), but it was closed for that day's lunch while the installed a new ac unit (boo). So we walked down Broadway back toward our car, looking for another lunch venue, and who did we run into? Two of my beautiful cousins, one here visiting from Arizona. We joined up with them for lunch and went to a little deli (more like sandwich joint) called Cher's. For $2 I had a blt on wheat. It was loaded with bacon and mayo, aka sinfully delicious.

It was so fun to chat with cousins I rarely see, and after lunch we browsed a few charming antique stores. Then I had to run off to each babies in draper.

The first thing L, the oldest, said to me was "will you do all my barbies' hair?" Since that was always the best part of barbies, how could I refuse? Later, N (the middle child) pointed out that we were both "all red," wearing red pants and shorts. G, the recently-turned-two-year-old, sang happy birthday to herself for a good twenty minutes. So adorable.

After babysitting, A and I had an amazing roasted vegetable dinner with my parents and a student from India who had, at the time, only been in the country for four days. Then it was off to the Eaglewood Festival of Speed in North Salt Lake.

There we saw a Lamborghini, a few Lotuses (Loti?), a Caterham, Camaros, Cobras, and even a vintage Fiat that looked just like Luigi from the movie"Cars."

A and I had a lovely rest of or evening, running around to try to find an open pharmacy, and laughing till it hurt. We ate strawberry shortcake, and it just felt like one of those times week always remember.

Techno.

2011-07-04T03:51:00.001-07:00

Now that I'm a working woman, I rarely get on my laptop. This is for a couple of reasons. First, I'm hardly ever home, giving me fewer opportunities to surf the net. Second, with my new job I have this fancy phone that lets me take the internet with me.

The new phone has turned me into much more of an internet reader than an internet poster, because I'm still not very fast at this touch keyboard thing. It has contributed greatly to the silence on this blog, but that is all about to change, because guess what?

There's an app for that. Today I found a blogger asp, so I can again share many things with you. Aren't you so excited?!

2011-06-28T18:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends.

Stop posting so many amazing things on Pinterest. I'm having a visual overload of pretty things.

Seriously, I'm overwhelmed. I want to repin all of those things. If only my life were as beautiful as all of your pinboards.

Love,

Marta

PS: Here's a little life update.

My family had a super awesome party on Sunday. Good food, good music, good company, I only wish we were dancers.
My hair is getting really long. I enjoy doing it in elaborate-looking braids. This weekend I think I'll do it milkmaid style.
I bought some real makeup last week or something with my amazing Chelsea. I got two Mac eyeshadows, a Smashbox lipstain/seal balm (which is a million times better than the grocery store kind) and Korres lip butter. This is the only real makeup (other than Bare Minerals) that I've ever purchased. Let's be real. it is amazing
I hate to say it, but TOMS shoes are totally worth what they cost. I've worn mine every day for a week and a half (sometimes not all day, but everyday).
I love the smell of summer. And going on walks with my sweetheart.
A good fresh blueberry is the most delicious thing ever. A bad blueberry is the most disgusting.
'80s movies are awesome. Lately we've watched Soap Dish, Peggy Sue Got Married, Romancing the Stone, Jewel of the Nile, and 16 Candles.
I love our Scion. Did I mention we bought a Scion? An XB. It is fantastic.
We're going to Jackson in a little more than a week. I can't wait.
Please pray for us and our future house. We're in the thick of things with the city right now, and at times it feels like it will take a divine intervention to get this project through!

trust me, skip the pepper.

2011-06-12T15:34:00.000-07:00

As I sit here this lovely Sunday afternoon, drinking my disgusting green smoothie, I'm thinking maybe you should know about these concoctions I've been blending up for the past week.

Here's the thing of it. Pretty much all of the women in my office drink green smoothies every day. It all started with this green smoothie girl. Now, I don't have the big bucks to shell out for her cookbook, but I have jumped on the smoothie bandwagon. Essentially, it is a way to pack in a lot more vegetables and fruits, as well as some other little health foods. Initially I was going to buy a Blendtec blender, because they are amazing, but I've just been blending in my mom's Bosch, and it is mostly just fine.

So, it started with foods we had on hand. Grapes, strawberries, frozen blueberries or mixed berries, a little lime juice, carrots, banana, and spinach. Then we tried things like mango, apple, cabbage, a wedge of lemon (with the peel), and added chia seeds. Well, we went grocery shopping yesterday, and I made a delicious smoothie. I put some strawberry kefir in the bottom, half an acai smoothie mix, four strawberries, two servings of carrots, a large leaf of kale, a large leaf of chard, a couple handfulls of spinach, a whole avocado, an apple, an orange, a kiwi, two scoops of flax, one T of chia seeds, a cup of blueberries, a slice of lemon, and a banana. It was good! And I don't mean like Jamba Juice good, but not bad, and for having that much "good stuff" in it, that's saying something.

Today I did orange juice, half an acai smoothie mix, a cup of mixed berries, 8 strawberries, spinach/kale/chard, carrots, avocado, an apple, a banana, a kiwi, lemon wedge, flax/chia, ice, and half a red pepper. Um, big mistake. The whole thing tastes like red pepper! I read something on oprah.com that said that peppers are way super good for you, and figured red bell peppers would be the least offensive, but no. I'm drinking a pepper smoothie. It isn't terrible, just not something I would ever do again. Usually banana is the overpowering flavor, but pepper covers banana.

So, the pepper has been the only gross thing so far. Mostly the smoothies are quite good. I'll keep you posted on how things go as far as weight, energy, etc.

As far as blenders go, my main complaint with the Bosch is that the pitcher is barely big enough (I would love a bigger one), and it doesn't suck the food down like the Blendtec. My blending routine involves a lot of stopping and pushing food down with a spatula. The result is quite smooth though, even with all the seeds. It is also quite thick, and with the limited pitcher size, I don't have the option of adding water.

Prep for smoothies hasn't been too bad. I'm using prewashed spinach, carrots, I rough chop the apple off the core, and just pull off the strawberry leaves. Oranges and kiwis take the most time, and mangos. Last night I froze baggies with a few handfuls of spinach, a leaf each of kale and chard, and a few strawberries (so none of those fresh things will go bad), and that should make things go a bit faster next week.

Oh, and I don't intentionally use this as meal replacement, but sometimes I'm so full afterward that I don't really eat other food. Definitely not eating smoothies for every meal around here.

That's all for now! But I'll keep you posted.

smells like bacon.

2011-06-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

{image via}

I just made bacon wrapped smokies and prosciutto wrapped asparagus (we ran out of bacon) for an Elder's Quorum game night up at my church. It all looks (and smells) so good!

Tips for the smokies:

Line your baking sheet with foil, that goes up the sides (then you can just throw away the mess)
Layer on a wire cooling rack, so the grease all drips down
Cut the bacon into thirds with scissors instead of a knife
Instead of sprinkling with brown sugar, mound some in your hand and "dip" the wrapped smokies

Tips for the asparagus:

Be patient with the prosciutto, it is kind of a pain
Just grill the extra asparagus unwrapped, with salt and pepper
Use long tongs when out on the grill, asparagus takes some careful turning

Disneyworld Advice

2011-05-25T16:05:00.000-07:00

{Fanny packs may look dumb, as pictured here, but they are lifesavers!}

Buy a poncho before you go. Mine was under a dollar from Emergency Essentials.
Carry a poncho with you at all times. You never know when you'll get caught in a Florida rainstorm.
Do more than one park per day. We liked doing one in the morning, breaking around noon for either a nap or a visit to a water park, and then a different one in the evening.
Make sure to do some rides at night, they are way fun that way (like splash mountain, tower of terror, and big thunder mountain railroad).
Don't end up in Magic Kingdom directly after the firework show more than necessary. You will get stuck in a mob, seeing as you have to take a ferry or monorail ride to get from car parking lot to the park.
Fanny packs are the best ever, and can go with you on every ride.
Bring sandwich baggies for electronics to use on the water rides for protection.
Download an app that tells you what the ride wait times are.
GET A TOY STORY MANIA FAST PASS FIRST THING WHEN YOU GO TO HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS! Then go ride the Tower of Terror and Rock'n'Rollercoaster, which will have practically no wait time.

When in Animal Kingdom...

2011-05-24T15:51:00.000-07:00

{This is what I call the "tree of life."}

Do eat the BBQ ribs.

Don't eat the Chinese food.

Do ride Expedition Everest, many times.

Don't wait for an hour for the Kali River Rapids.

Do go on the Dinosaur Ride.

Don't be surprised if your neck hurts afterward.

Do go on the Safari and the train up to the conservation center, hike the trails to see the bats and gorillas and tigers, and definitely go see the Lion King show in Camp Minnie Mickey!

Proof.

2011-05-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

I really did graduate, or at least I think so. Still haven't gotten my diploma in the mail, but I did the whole pomp and circumstance thing.

Graduation day, I skipped the morning commencement. Instead I slept in, and watched all the shows I'd missed from being busy on Hulu. Then I got dressed in this super amazing dress, which wasn't what I thought I wanted for graduation, but when I saw it I knew instantly it was the one:

{Dress: White House Black Market; Shoes: Target; Necklace; F21}

Then I headed to school with A and my mom, where we found the ideal parking spot, and I put on my cap, gown, and honor cord (for getting an honors degree in Urban Planning). We walked up to the Union, where I went off with my graduating classmates, and A and my mom found seats and met up with A's parents too. I was happy to see that I actually knew some of the other graduates, including a good friend Kelsey, who went on the same Germany trip as I did. We sat together, and rolled our eyes at all the speeches. And then I walked, to the tune of a jazz band (no actual pomp and circumstance) and received my empty degree folder from a professor I didn't know.

My dad, who teaches at the University, made it to the end of convocation, where we snapped some pictures. Sadly, the one of me and A is blurry. Then we went to the CA+P building for refreshments, ,and then my dad's college for lunch. I skipped convocation for my second degree, Environmental Studies, which was in the evening.

And then A and I went home, finished packing, and headed off for the airport to catch a plane to Florida!

PS: I graduated Magna Cum Laud! Totally unplanned, but a pleasant surprise.

I love job.

2011-05-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

{In Italy/Epcot.* Roman Holiday, anyone?}

Things I love about my new job, so far:

I get a new phone! It will be super awesome! I know it is silly that I'm so excited about this, but I have never had a "smart" phone or a data plan or anything, so this feels like a real step up for me.
I get to dress up, meaning wear business clothes. I did some thrifting for new stuff last week (picked up a linen chambray banana republic skirt, crisp white shirt, and pretty silk blouse, as well as two new pairs of awesome jeans!) and now I get to go find some new basics, like a pencil skirt and some new pumps. I really want a suit, but can't find that perfect balance between quality and cost. Ideas?
My commute is shorter. Navigating downtown actually takes a long time. Now my drive is almost all freeway, and it goes super fast because I'm going off hours (because of the 4-tens schedule).
I'm actually going to have great health care! With dental and optical!
I get to help people, which makes me feel good.
The people I work with are fun and funny.
Often there is food (maybe last week was unusual, but I love free food at work!).
I have a name badge/key card.
We're shopping for a new car now that I am out of school actually earning something, and driving everyday (I love/hate this part. Hate car shopping, but will love having a new car).

*I'll be sharing random pictures from our trip for the next while!

chachachanges.

2011-05-21T15:06:00.000-07:00

{Our first day in Florida, at Animal Kingdom. I'm wearing my new shades, which I adore.}

Okay, I admit it. I've been avoiding you. Well, not you, but this blog.

A few weeks ago I was offered a new job. I accepted this job, and gave my notice at work. Then I graduated from University, and promptly went to Florida with my best friend and husband A. It was amazing. I had some anxiety that I would regret spending a week+ at Disney World, being a grown up with no kids who has gone to Disneyland every year since 2007, but it really was a great vacation. I'll post more about that later, with pictures.

So anyway, we got back last Saturday, and I started at my new job on Monday. I am the administrative assistant to the city manager of North Salt Lake City, plus I'll be managing all of the social networking for the city. The schedule is 7am-5:30pm Monday through Thursday, plus city council meetings twice a month. The benefits are wonderful, the work (so far) engaging, and the people enormously kind. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity. I may not be working in Urban Planning, but I have a job, and I'm working in city government, and have already had opportunities to be "in" on some cool things. I have extremely high hopes about this.

Meanwhile, I'm still sort of part time at USEE. Since I took off for Florida shortly after giving notice, which seemed a little unfair, I worked out with new and old job to work part time at both until next Friday. Also, I'll continue doing accounting for USEE on Fridays, which is exciting because I'll be able to still be in touch with the people I've grown to love there, and with the important work they do.

So I hadn't blogged about the job because I didn't want to say anything until it was for sure, and then life just got super crazy with graduation, vacations, and new jobs. Plus, with this new schedule I feel like four days a week I wake up, go to work, come home, eat, and go to bed, leaving not much time for blogging or anything else. But there's the scoop! I'm happy!

2011-04-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

Things that keep me going at work (for today):

string cheese (but you have to string it, no chomping)
pandora radio

Take pleasure in the simple things, right?

market st.

2011-04-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

Just realized I never posted pictures of my birthday dinner with A. We went to Market Street, and then to the movies (A doesn't really like going to the movies anymore, so this was a treat!). It was lovely. Above was the view out the window next to our table. Below, us waiting for our food.

give me five.

2011-04-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

Five awesome things I'm thinking about today:

Found out today that I will, indeed, graduate next week. This was up in the air for a bit there, so I am very relieved.
Going to Disneyworld with my best friend (the hubs) in 1 week and 4 days.
Had a super fun weekend with family.
Take my last undegrad final in exactly 1 week.
Get to find some cutie shoes to wear to graduation (since other than the cap and gown, that's all that will show).

good things.

2011-04-14T07:28:00.000-07:00

The last post here was a little negative. Sorry about that, and thank you to those who commented with uplifting words. You are the best.

There are some good things going on over here. For example, living with my parents is the best. My mom cooks amazing food all the time and keeps us very well fed. We love it. Also, I got to go to Baltimore on a business trip last weekend, where I met some amazing wonderful funny smart people. And, my husband is awesome. While I was gone he put new tires on my car and changed my oil. I would probably be carless without him.

I also tried shellac nail polish with my bff. It lasted almost as long as it should have, but the edges weren't sealed very well so now it is all peeled off. I'm excited to try it again though! Plus it stays super shiny and pretty (until it peels off).

Another perk of living with parents, my mom and I do random stuff all the time. Like go thrift shopping. Or to the movies. A few weeks ago we went to Jane Eyre. It was wonderful.

A and I went to the Jazz game a few weeks ago, courtesy his brother. We got to sit pretty darn close, and it was fun! Anything+Red Mango is fun for me. That's what the picture is from. At that point I still had blond extensions. The last one pulled out yesterday. And I'm wearing two of my most favorite outfit items there too: the 1940s vintage scarf I picked up at the antique fair in Ogden, and the buttery soft leather jacket I piked up from Target's Go International clearance for $70. A dressed himself, and got a comment on his Red Bull shirt, which is unusual because not many people here in the US know about Formula One.

And guess what? I'm going to DISNEYWORLD in like, three weeks. Now if i can just finish my thesis/last semester beforehand, it will be a miracle.

PS. This is what happens when I don't blog for too long, a much longer post than anyone really wants to read. So if you made it this far, good job!

Oh, and PPS. I'm trying to get out of wearing glasses. Third brand of contacts hopefully will work, they are dailies. Apparently my eyes aren't quite bad enough for lasik, not that I could afford it anyway! Maybe someday I'll have a picture of me without glasses frames cutting halfway into my eyes.

waxing (un)poetic.

2011-03-29T21:02:00.000-07:00

Ready for a rant?

I've had this ill-conceived notion, up until today, that I'd get a job in my field after college. Wasn't I told that if I didn't go to college, I wouldn't get a job? And so doesn't it follow that if you do go to college, you (I) will get a job?

I mean, I do have a job. I am so blessed to have a job at all, let alone one where I love the people I work with, that has flexible hours, and that genuinely makes the world a better place. But. Let's be honest here, there aren't big bucks to be made in the nonprofit world, and often there are no benefits (not good for a hypochondriac like me).

I've applied for the few planning jobs that have opened recently. I even made it pretty far along in the process on one of them. It would have been perfect, too perfect. When it came down to it, the girl with the Master's degree got the job. I just didn't have enough experience. It seems there are no intro level planning jobs in Utah. I could go to Philidelphia, DC, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Connecticut... a whole myriad of places with jobs I'm qualified for. Why aren't there any in Utah?

Gosh darn you baby boomers, just retire already! And, no thanks to you, students who graduated when the market crashed and decided to go to grad school. You are sucking up all the jobs.

What am I supposed to do? I've decided I'm not ready for grad school, give me a year or two to work and figure my life out, maybe have a kid or two.

What good is it to be in the top of your class, to graduate with honors, to be totally qualified to work, if there are no jobs? How do you find a job, if there are no jobs to be had?

Well, maybe I'm not meant to work, maybe there's a greater plan at work here.

lust.

2011-03-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

My sister bought a super cute house. My mom and I went to see it today. Then we went to look at the house across the street, which my sister considered buying.

It is amazing. Fantastic old wallpaper in almost every room. Electric blue soft cushiony carpet. Two bedrooms and bathroom on main floor. Master suite upstairs with big bedroom (awesome peaked ceiling included), bathroom, and sittingroom/library/possible nursery. Second kitchen downstairs, plus tons of storage and another bedroom, and a separate entrance. Amazing two car garage, giant backyard, pretty bushes, and cool rock foundation.

And it is under $200,000.

I am in love.

We still aren't sure what will happen with building a house. That would be the ultimate. It is so hard for me not to know. I like to have a plan, to have a known future. We can't buy a house without a definite no on building. Plus this one is in Ogden.

But otherwise it is so perfect, and I love it! Here's a link to the online listing. It is both a hundred times more amazing and in a hundred times worse shape in real life. I want it. Bad.

PS it would need a ton of work. New kitchen floor, counters, and sink, new toilets, pull up most carpeting and possibly refinish floor, redo downstairs kitchen and fix random hole in wall, install central air and potentially new furnace/water heater/electrical/plumbing. We have no idea on those last things. It also may have lead paint, and would need new windows because it is fareezing! But oh, I want it. Whoever buys it will probably tear down all the beautiful, beautiful wallpaper. It will be tragic.

grass is greener.

2011-03-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

This pic is from my webcam, I'm working on my honors thesis at the kitchen table, and thought I'd share the little centerpiece I put together for my book club on Tuesday.

I didn't have any fresh flowers, so I pulled two of the wheat grass baskets I planted a couple weeks ago with my sunbeam class, a pretty pink cake stand of my mother's, one of her few Easter decorations (the bunny), and a few candlesticks. And vwalah! On Tuesday there were also some pretty bowls of candy (cadbury mini eggs, and swedish fis to go along with our book).

I love the way it turned out! The baskets came from the DI, and say Edible Arrangements on the bottom. The nice thing is that they came with plastic liners, perfect for growing grass! I just soaked the wheat in water overnight, spread it in a thick layer over some seed starting soil, sprayed with water, sealed it up in a ziploc bag, and left it in a sunny window. After just a few days, we had grass! If you want some for Easter, better get started now. It took 2-3 weeks to get this tall. Also, if using a wicker basket, line it with seran wrap.

PS- I got my instructions for sprouting wheat grass from an awesome site my cousins run, Food Storage Made Easy. Check them out!

kisss kiss

2011-03-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

I got a new chapstick. I'm kind of a chapstick freak, in fact I don't know that my lips produce much natural oil because I'm totally dependent on the stuff. Usually I go for something medicated, like carmex, blistex, or burt's bees. This time I went for something new: EOS lip balm. It comes in a super cool package, and is organic. Here's what it looks like:

{image via}

This is the flavor I got, and it is delish. I do want to try all the others, like medicated tangerine, lemon drop with spf, sweet mint, and honeysuckle honeydew. Anyway, it is super smooth, and not to thick, and has already improved my lips, which have been dry from a few weeks of using lip smackers dr. pepper (I like the red tint).

Also? I picked this up at my local Smith's, of all places!

Apple Baby

2011-03-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

I hosted a book club last night. The book was "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister," a retelling of the Cinderella story. It takes place in Holland, so I thought I'd whip up an apple dutch baby (even though it is really a German food, originally called a deutsch baby) a la the Original Pancake House.

I found this recipe, which is not well written and a bit confusing, but I made a few changes and it worked marvelously.

For two dutch babies:

8 eggs
1 1/2 cup whole milk
1 dash salt
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
4 tablespoons butter
6 Granny Smith Apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
Cinnamon Sugar (maybe 4 T sugar and 2 t cinnamon, I just eyeballed it)
Cooking Spray

(Divide in half for one dutch baby, which should serve 6 generously, or two with leftovers!)

Critical Equipment Needed:
2 regular-sized skillets (easiest with two, but you could get by with just one)
Large Bowl
Hand Mixer

Preheat oven to 425.

In a large bowl, combine eggs and milk. Add salt, flour, and powdered sugar. Mix well, eliminating all lumps. A hand mixer works well for this. Set aside batter.

In one skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over high heat. Add three cut up apples and stir around. Once apples have begun to soften, add a generous amount of cinnamon sugar, and stir to coat all the apples. You want the apples to be gooey, so don't be shy about the cinnamon sugar.

Spread the apples evenly in the skillet, leaving as little empty space as possible. Spray around the edges of the skillet with cooking spray. Pour in 1/2 the batter, and place in oven. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until top begins to brown.

Meanwhile, coat the second skillet with cooking spray. When dutch baby is browned on top, remove it from the oven. Loosen around the edges with a knife or spatula. Turn the dutch baby out of the first skillet into the second skillet, so now the apples that were on the bottom are on the top. If any apples are stuck to the first skillet, just scrape them out onto the dutch baby. Sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar, and return the dutch baby to the oven for another 5 minutes of baking. In that time, the bottom will finish browning, and the top will get even more delicious and beautiful.

(Now that the first skillet is free, repeat the process with the rest of the butter, apples, and batter, if you are making two.)

Finally, using two big spatulas, ease the dutch baby out of the skillet onto a serving dish, like a pretty cake stand. Cut into generous pieces, and encourage people to eat seconds. It is good just plain, or with maple syrup. Enjoy!

Sweet Tooth Fairy

2011-03-19T20:40:00.000-07:00

We finally got around to using the giftcard A's sister gave us for Christmas (thank you!) and picked up 6 yummy cupcakes from Sweet Tooth Fairy tonight. Don't they look delish? Along the top: German chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, and red velvet. Bottom: orange w/cream cheese frosting, grasshopper, and raspberry lemonade.

I've already sampled the German chocolate and raspberry lemonade. Both were pretty good, considering they weren't made by my sister Mary. The German chocolate had nice chocolatey frosting, and the coconut part was even a little salty, in a delicious sort of way. The raspberry lemonade was a little different. The cake part had real raspberries in it, and the frosting was tart lemon. I think I would have liked it better with a lemony cake and a raspberry frosting with a fresh berry on top. But no complaints! It was good.

A is mad at me because he thinks I told him he couldn't get a brownie, but I don't remember saying that... I was pretty mesmerized with the cupcakes though.

Do you think they would hire me? I would promise not to eat too many of the cupcakes...

three, two, one...

2011-03-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed the countdown on the right. Today it says that there is only 1 month, 2 weeks, and 5 days until Disneyworld! Yup, that's right. The hubs and I took the plunge and booked a week-long trip to Florida to visit THE happiest place on earth.

In 2007 I went to Disneyland with some besties for our senior year spring break. 2008 A and I went for our first anniversary. 2009 we went for a spur-of-the-moment Halloween trip. 2010 we went with what I like to call the Winchester crew (two other married couples from our old neighborhood). This year, we're taking it up a level and trekking across the country to Florida to test the waters at Disneyworld. I am so excited!

We've been watching awesome "documentaries" on Netflix all about Disneyworld and reading up online about the parks and rides. We're staying IN the park (eek!) at the Pop Century Resort. This was a huge must for me. Last year we discovered that the parks are WAY more fun at night, and that it can get tiring and hot around 2 pm. It has been my dream to be able to pop back to the hotel for an afternoon nap, or even a swim, so I am SO excited to stay in the park.

And, like I said, we'll be there a full week, so we'll be able to spend a day at each park, including the water parks, without stressing about fitting everything in.

We'll be leaving the night of my college graduation (wahoo!) as a thank-goodness-I'm-done trip. It will be May, and it should be pretty good weather, seventies to eighties, and not rainy yet. Fingers crossed! That being said, I'm already trying to plan some (literally) cool outfits, and here's what I have in mind.

{image via}

Linen Pants: there's just something so tropical summer about linen pants. These ones are from Old Navy, and while they are super cute, their $30+ price tag was a little steep for me. I'm sure you can guess what I did. I headed to the DI with my mom, and found some pretties for $4. Affordable linen pants? Check and check. I also picked up two pairs of burmuda shorts at the DI. Score!

{image via}

Comfortable Sandals: I have my chacos, which I will definitely be taking, but I would love some not-so-sporty sandals to wear around that won't kill my feet. Aren't these adorable? They are Borns. AKA expensive, from Amazon for $40+. Born has so many cute sandals. I wouldn't mind having some crazy black platforms as well, but not for walking around DW.{image via}

Sun Hat: the big floppy kind. One that will keep my ivory skin protected, but also one that can smash up into my bag for safekeeping. I don't know if I'm actually brave enough to wear one of these, but I'm interested. This one is from Sierra Trading Post, and is only $14.

{image via}

Hip Bag: Just realized the big floppy hat won't fit in one of these, but I want to be hands free at DW, so I want a good ol' fanny pack to hold sunscreen, a little electric fan, sunglasses, water, money/tickets, and snacks. Maybe I'm being a little ambitious to think all those things will fit. This one is Dakine, from Amazon for $17, and super cute. Maybe a little bit small.

{image via}

Classy Swimsuit: I have some swimmingsuits. They are kind of old, not so exciting. I'm thinking I'm ready for a grownup upgrade, a classic black suit like this one from Sierra Trading Post. For $55, it also comes in red, which would also be fantastic. I can't decide which I like better. Black screams Jackie O. and Audrey Hepburn, red is Marilyn Monroe or maybe Baywatch.

Okay, that's all for now. I'm also thinking of some prescription sunglasses, performance shirts (for extra coolness), and new running shoes. Yay Disney World!

limbo.

2011-03-06T18:33:00.000-08:00

My life is in limbo, between going to grad school and not, building a house and not, buying a car and not, deciding to start having kids soon and not, working a (relatively) high-paying job and not, traveling the world and not. All these decisions are so interconnected that I feel like I can't do anything. I am a total planner, and like to know exactly where I am going in life. This forced indecisiveness is unnerving for me. I just wish I could CHOOSE. I just kind of feel like my life will end when I graduate, and I won't know what to do with myself.

In other news, I had a lovely birthday week (the big two-two) that involved dinner at Market Street and a movie (The Tourist), A lovely new CD and yummy treats from the hubs, fuzzy boots from my mom, cards from many, lunch at Stoneground with Trish/baby Parker and then shopping, ribs/coleslaw/pulled pork sandwiches/pistachio-marzipan-apricot-ganache cake and tiramisu cake with my family, empanadas/posole/yummy salad/dunford donuts with my in-laws, and overall goodness. Nieces and nephews are so fun, though crazy at times.

I almost bought some boots this week. 75% off at Macy's ($25 for all suede boots)but talked myself out of it. I swear, A has turned me into some sort of monster.

breakfast baking

2011-02-24T17:48:00.001-08:00

As promised, here's a recipe! I made a cake this morning, for a meeting at work today. One of the women who came turned 50 today, and her favorite cake is pound cake, so that is what I made.

Here's the recipe, via the 1966 Better Homes & Gardens Pies and Cakes book:

3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel (I subbed orange)
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream butter; gradually add sugar, creaming till light, about 6 minutes. Beat in vanilla and peel. Add eggs, on at a time, beating well after each. Sift together dry ingredients. Stir in. Grease bottom only of 9x5x3-inch pan; turn in batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or till done. Cool in pan. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

The cake had nice flavor and texture, but I thought it turned out a little dry. Next time I'll mix and bake less, add more orange peel, and maybe make an orange glaze to go on top.

well hello.

2011-02-22T21:52:00.000-08:00

I am a bad blogger. So here's a little update.

School
Still in my last semester, still disliking biology (I really don't think I'll every use my new-found knowledge of mitosis and meiosis). Really liking transportation planning. Supposed to be finished with my Honors Thesis by the end of March, but my adviser hasn't had time to meet yet. I have a feeling I'll be a grumpy girl in March, and not finished on time.

Work
Still working at the Utah Society for Environmental Education. I do a lot of accounting, which is not my favorite, but lately I've been working on a Green Schools project that is very exciting.

Church
We are going to church with my parents (since we live with them now). Still don't have callings.

Food
I noticed today that I haven't posted a recipe in a very long time. I don't cook much here, my mom does most of that, but I help her, and have done some of the meal planning. I'll try to post something here soon.

Fashion
Still loving to thrift shop, but not doing a very good job documenting outfits. I'm also going to try to better on that front. Lately I love square scarves folded into triangles and worn cowboy style.

TV
Sometimes I let TV rule my life. I love "Pretty Little Liars" for the clothes/hair, and also because it is a murder mystery and I'm a child after my mother's heart. Raising Hope, 30 Rock, and Parks & Rec are my other favorites, though I do submit to Glee, The Office, Community, and occasionally Outsourced. I think I have a problem. Oh, and watch The IT Crowd and X Files on Netflix sometimes, and just finished Downton Abbey (Masterpiece Theater via Netflix). So good!

Habitation
This is what A and I call our room. We are all the way moved in. The ceiling is still unfinished, the trim not up, and the windows not framed, but I can live with those things. It is cozy, and takes under an hour to clean, which I like.

Car
I god a ticket for not having stickers the other day. My registration somehow got separated from the stickers, and four months later I finally got caught. I went to the DMV this morning, waited for an hour, spent $5 and 2 minutes getting new stickers. Why didn't I do that in November?
We are also looking at new cars. Long term, we want a four door car for family purposes, and short term we want something to take on road trips so we don't always have to rent. I'm hoping for a Prius.

Vacations
We have yet to plan our yearly vacation. We are supposed to be saving money while we live with parents, a dilemma which has postponed any Italy or Disneyworld plans. I have a premonition that nothing will actually happen, which is sort of a bummer. But we're going to the Tetons in July, and may try to work a visit to Butte in there. I'm also trying to convince A there are lots of fun things to do in New York City.

Oh, and I got a new laptop! No more hours of frustration. Because of this, I have no pictures to share with you (not transferred over yet). Sorry.

Springtime in February

2011-02-15T20:11:00.001-08:00

Sprintime in February
Originally uploaded by the hipster thrifters

I posted some new pictures on my Flickr. This is one of them, the outfit I wore today. It was delightfully warm outside, and I finally got to wear this cute coat I picked up months ago.

Can't it just be springtime already?

best husband ever.

2011-02-14T19:26:00.000-08:00

Morning. We get up and eat oatmeal together. I give A a hot plate (that is seriously what he has wanted for months), an apple sectioner (he's the apple of my eye), and some snacks (beef jerky, pistachios, nerds) because he needs all the food he can get.

He gave me a love song CD, a la Glee.

(image via)

Then I went to school, and work, armed with a GPS with directions to dinner. It ended up being at Lugano, an amazing Italian restaurant that I comment about every time we drive through Holladay. We enjoyed a lovely 5 course menu, talked about what this year will bring, and generally had a wonderful time. Here's what we ate:

Amuse

Bruscetta kind of thing with creamy cheese and roasted red pepper, yum! Plus the amazing bread/butter and olives they serve there. The waiter brought us more olives because I couldn't stop talking about them. And my hubs is so handsome, and such a good sport to wear the purple shirts and such that I buy him.

Antipasti
A had Grappa cured house smoked salmon, caramelized onion pizzetta, mascarpone
I had Lucano Carpaccio (thinly sliced cured beef), arugula, shaved Grana (cheese), mustard aioli
No pictures of this, we ate too fast.

Prima Piatti

A had Cannellini bean soup, basil oil, shaved parmesan, croutons
I had Savory winter vegetable "angnolotti del plin" (tiny ravioli), rosmary pomodoro, brown butter, Fontina

Entree

A had Wood ove roasted Oregon Petrale Sole "Ligurian style," sliced potatoes, capers, black olives, Manilla clmas, thyme
I had Grilled organic Scottish Salmon, feta/spinach whipped potatoes (I must reproduce these), chardonnay butter sauce, roasted pepper/caper tepenade (same stuff that was on the Amuse)

Dolce

A had Flourless chocolate cake, vanilla bean gelato, whipped cream
I had Lugano tiramisu (enough said)

We also got the house lemonade, which was amazing (I have a thing for real lemonade). After dinner we rushed off to class. I was only 10 minutes late. I got home to find these:

(Just ignore my mess of a desk, and notice the Lindt truffles AND the Amano chocolate bar. I'm a happy girl, and Amano is the best chocolate I've ever had. 70% cacao, baby.)

My husband is the awesomest. We're pretty much in love.

***PS- I didn't color correct any of these pictures. We were sitting right by the window, and it was a beautiful sunny day today, so they all look a bit cool. Sorry! Also, I wore a super cute outfit today. We tried to take a picture, but it was windy, and we were in a hurry, and it didn't work. Just imagine it: Cute red high-waisted skirt, liggings with zippers, black booties, it was cute. Promise.

be mine.

2011-02-13T16:13:00.000-08:00

Remember how A made Valentine cookies for me last year? I loved that. This year I made some, using cookie cutters and sprinkles we got for Christmas (thanks!) and an Ikea decorating set. I made sure to incorporate almond extract into the cookies and frosting for extra deliciousness, but forgot to make one that said "hubba hubba." It was implied, honey.

I liked the Ikea set, except the piping bag was bizarre and sugar liquid seeped out of it all over my hands.

I am seriously proud of my piping. I should be a professional, no? Maybe I could get a job on cake boss.

And notice the adorable table? My mom is awesome. We came home from church to find Lindt truffles by our plates, as shown in the last picture. Then we enjoyed a delicious dinner: spinach salad with strawberries, pine nuts, feta, and balsamic dressing; bbq tilapia, green beans with black sesame seeds, brown rice, and ruby red cherry/pellegrino drink. Yum!

Tomorrow A and I both have class at night, ruling out our favorite restaurant, Spark, with its amazing tasters menu, but A has some crazy secret plan that he is super excited about, which makes me excited, so stay tuned! Plus, I got him some awesome gifts that he is going to LOVE, but I can't say here, or it would spoil the surprise, because he reads this sometimes.

What are you doing for Valentine's Day?

confessions of a junkieholic.

2011-02-09T19:18:00.000-08:00

You don't even want to know what I've eaten today. But I'm going to tell you anyway.