Who said?

Who said that Arizona can't have a white Christmas?! This may not be the white you are expecting, but it was enough white I needed for a little bit of fun Christmas morning!
So yep, you got it. I am the crazy one in the family (every family has one, and I've discovered mine is me!) because I made everyone go out in the "bitter" cold to get a picture. They were obviously not as excited.

Well folks... proof. Proof that it does get down to some freezing temps to put some AZ whiteness to the ground and cars... not the roads. The best kind. AZ is special. :)

wishing you a

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! May you feel the love of the Savior daily in your life.

a perk...

is the fact is takes me 30 minutes to get to resorts with "the best snow on earth." I headed up to Park City Saturday to get my first ride of the season in... I was way rusty, yet still had fun. ahh the beauties when it's not on the road, yet providing you with fun. a little where's waldo, but santa.

santas were seen everywhere! can you find this one?

Devin wanted me to go down to Provo after to go Christmas shopping. I told him I hadn't planned accordingly in my attire to do so. He said it couldn't be that bad... judge for yourself! If I were shopping in Park City, I'd be normal, but happy valley might not be so accepting.

Christmas Business

The last couple of weeks have flown... probably because there has been so much to do. A little glimpse of what's been goin on:

- I went to Life is Wonderful with a good friend Brady. It was a production by a dance company, Odyssey, that went through the different acts of the well acclaimed movie.
- Festival of Trees is always a must... the trees are extravagent, gingerbread house madness, and don't forget... the delicious cinnamon rolls and scones you eat as you walk around looking. This year, I went with a group of friends from work.

- What's Christmas time without Ugly Sweater Parties? So, I was clever this year, went to the elegant D.I. and went to the BYU section (ah hem... cause they're ugly) and sported it at one of the most BYU condensed crowds there is.

- My works holiday dinner was fun. It was at a lady's house in my department that lives in a charming home.

- A group of my close friends/old roomies came over for a holiday spectacular- dinner, gift exchange, games, and a movie. I just love them and I am glad we live semi-close to be able to do it again and again.

it's been a year.

a little pic from my drive last year

it's officially been a year since I packed up and moved away from ut, gearing up for my city dreams. anniversaries are fun as they allow you to look back and reminisce on all that has gone on. a lot has gone on in this last year. probably one of the most trying, growing experiences of my life.



i am one lucky girl. to see what i have seen, to experience what i've experienced, to have taken away what i no longer needed, and to prove dreams do come true.

christmas cheer

So I got in the Christmas spirit and decided it was about time to have some grown up decorations around... so I headed to Roberts and left a happy girl. Everything was 1/2 off! Maybe I'll get to the upstairs sometime. I have put a centerpiece on the table for now to spice it up a little!

May this season bring everyone love, joy, and peace as we reflect on the Savior and his birth! I'm glad to have these reminders as I walk out of my room this Christmas season.

Thankful

For:

my family

friends

gospel

christ and his atonement

a job that i love

a great place to live

food

sports and entertainment

vacations

being surrounded by love

to live in a free country

a prophet, apostles, leaders

an amazing education
for little prayers being answered every day

a little spotlight...

Nope... it's not their anniversary, just a moment in time I feel the need to tell these two how grateful I am that I was placed into their loving and nurturing care 28 years ago (I guess if you want to get technical, it was long before that.)

These are two people in my life who have never let me down, and even at times when I'm sure I've let them down, they have carried me through with love and compassion.

If I've ever questioned love, I can look to these two and see that it still exists. I know they've never stopped loving me. Their love towards me is definitely unconditional. Life has had it's craziness and they have always been by my side. They've supported me in all my ideas and goals even if it may have not been something they would've voted for.

These two know how to give and give and give and receive little. They are amazing and I love them dearly.

embracing my favorites

-Billy's

-scrabble, dominoes, cards, etc. being played in the parks

-central park and all it entails

-corner flower shops

-walks in the city, vast architecture

-richness of culture

-creperie

-walks on the brooklyn bridge

-sporting events

-street dancers

-uniqueness

i miss you already...

chopped time

Why not go a "little" shorter right?

weekend 'o fun

roadie to Idaho! It was a very quick visit, yet so fun!i met these 2 friends on the cruise i went on. i stopped in Pocatello on the way up to Rigby to say hi to one who's receptions i couldn't make it to a few weeks ago. Then I headed on up to go to Cara's reception which was fun to see her.the highlight of my fast trip was getting to see my dear friend that I haven't seen in at least 3 years. we had such a great time together... i wish we had more time. her little boy was so fun. we kept trying the timer thing but he was so crazy it was distracting and didn't work so well!i drove back to ut the next morning. later in the day, i baked up some delicious pumpkin blondies (or as the people as the bbq renamed them to pumpkin redheads) and a salad for a bbq with some other cruise buddies.heidi came along for the good time.mediterranean cruisers! (minus the bald man)that night... some friends and i went off to a masquerade. the masks we hard to normally see out of, so they didn't last last on our faces.

but, we still rocked out.

Last Wknd = mom and dad

well they came in for a funeral so that's not so fun, but i was happy to see them. since mom wasn't able to eat her cupcake i got for her when she visited, i got them some more!before they headed out to the airport, we were able to go for a drive up the beautiful millcreek canyon and see some fall leaves changing (pics were on their camera) and then got a bite to eat at the delish Normandie cafe. Their dessert choices were decadent and tasted heavenly.

ugh... i thought these days were over

I was wrong... we have now caught 4 in 24 hours. This is sick. What do I do? This house is nice so I thought, but this, this is just too much.

I have diposed of my first 2, and hopefully my last 2 mice ever.

After fun comes, well, not so fun.

Suddenly on Sunday, a cold threw itself on top of me. Usually there is a warning... nope. Not this one! It gave me no time to prep, no time to remedy, nothing! Monday was no bueno (If that's even correct, I don't know). I got off work and went straight home to put on the sweats and snuggle into bed. I did make my way out of bed to make me some dinner. Before the cold was thrust on me, I had gotten ingredients to make roasted asparagus (rosemary, olive oil, shallots, and mushrooms). I pumped it out, sick and all. It was delicious, accompanied with Bear Creek's potato soup. Nice and simple.

There were plenty of leftovers, which I ate today, but had no taste on my palate. Sad. I hate how when I am sick, I crave food, but then it is tasteless in my mouth. No point to eating right?! I know, I know mom, I need to eat to get the nutrients yada yada, but really, I might as well eat mush all day cause it all tastes the same anyway!

The only blessing of being sick... I've been stuck at home=studying majorly for my big certification exam. With all bad, there is always good!

But, I am done being sick!

I heart visitors...

Since I no longer live in the Big Apple, visitors are hard to come by, unless of course, it's general conference time! I was so excited to get to spend time with my cousins Amy and Katie. They were only here a few days, and I was blessed to see them on both of those days! How lucky am I?! We all went to conference together Sunday morning and joined up with more cousins- Sheryl, Steve, Aaron, and his wife Angela. I love family and the strength they bring to me in my life.

Yep...

it's true. Oct. 1 did happen! craziness. yet, besides the dementia, i do still feel 19 (and perhaps dress like it too?). life is the spunk you make of it and i sure had a rockin day.

little b-day presents:
-walking out the door bright and early to work to find a warm cinnamon roll and signs hanging, wishing me a happy b-day.
-there was snow on people's cars and lawns the morning of, just a 1/2 mile up... but none was to be seen on my yard or car! yay!
-light traffic for once! It was rush hour and normally it'll take at least 40 min, but i got there in 20.
-i didn't have to park on the roof. i car pulled out just as i was pulling in.
-a good day at work... despite the fact no one knew it was my bday!
-a nice dinner at a mexican food restraunt downtown slc with some long time friends.
-bowled it up with quite the turnout of friends (i don't know what shells they all came up out of, but hey! they were there and we had a jammin time til 1130 last night... then i had to call it a night cause oldie had to get to bed to be at work at 730 this morn!
-a lovely, lovely day.



(i realized a lot of pics were taken with the same peeps! hopefully others will give me their pics, then i'll have more of a variety to update on here!)

28!

Naughty or Nice Party...

lookin a little nice...

then taking part in the naughty.