ROXYETTES

I just love this name and am sad that they changed it to the Rockettes. This was the original name way back when, but when they became world known and a huge success, they streamlined their name down to what it is today. My sisters and mom and I went and saw them perform last night at the Maverick Center (which will always be the E center to me) and it was AMAZING! It was such a fun experience to see the talented women dance, sing and do the infamous kick line. This was my second time seeing the show, the first being in New York a couple of years ago, and I can honestly tell you that it won't be my last!

After the show we hit up crown burger for grilled cheeses, oreo shakes and sweet potato fries! It was the perfect ending to a perfect night with the girls! Thanks mom for the good times...YOU ARE THE BEST!

THANKS GIVEN...

We are so incredibly blessed with loving family, awesome friends and life growing experiences and opportunities that make us better people.  

Sweets and I can't complain about our Thanksgiving! This year we spent it it Hawaii with some family. My parents, brother and his family and us enjoyed the holidays in Maui laying on the beach making sandcastles, playing paddle ball, snorkeling, swimming, running, eating TWO thanksgiving dinners, sail boating, magic shows, shopping and sleeping! 

My super amazing Mom arranged a Thanksgiving dinner for us all at our condo. We gobbled down a lot of food and still had some turkey left for sandwiches to take to the beach. It was D-licious! 

(this picture is the actual angle of the sailboat as we soar across the sea)

Andrew took Sweets and I and my Mom on a sail boat ride. He said this boat (the America II (or something)) was the BEST sailboat. Little did we know it was a racing boat. The disclaimer said wear clothes that can possibly get wet. We read "possibly" and figured we would get a spray or two of water, but we were sadly mistaken. We got drenched!! It was super windy out at sea and the waves came crashing up and over the boat and we being the smartest people were sitting in the front and just got soaked. After the first two waves hit we said "screw it" and gave up trying to block the water and just let it come. It was however, such a fun boat and experience. I do believe Andrew is written out of my mom will after practically tossing her overboard. What a trooper...

 Hawaii has such beautiful sunsets. 

 

Sweets and I spent a lot of time reading our books. It was so relaxing to get caught on the things that we don't have time for at home. Our minds are truly replenished! 

Just a fun little pic to remember the beach and our first couple of months of marriage. 

Sweets spent the majority of his time playing the "favorite" uncle with the 3 kids. He built sandcastles, tunnels and towers in the sand, and dug holes and buried the kiddies everyday all day. Jacob is pictured with him but William seriously wouldn't do anything unless Weston did it with him. ie body surfing and going down the slides at the pool. What a great Uncle.

PS- we experienced our first EARTHQUAKE! Yes, a 4.6 earthquake hit maui just south of us and rumbled our house for about 7 seconds. It was pretty loud but totally awesome. I however couldn't sleep that night in fear of a Tsunami even after the weather reports said not to worry.

JUST ADMIT IT

it is one of THOSE days today. you know the kind, we all have them and it is totally warranted sometimes. the kind where every minute seems like a lifetime, and a lifetime is never-ending. where you can look at the ceiling or stare off into space for what seems like eternity and before you know it, a whole 1 minute has passed by. the kind where solace gets you through the day (even when no sadness has occurred). yet tears are awaiting to descend. today is my day to have one of THOSE days. it is my day to walk a little slower, to respond a little quieter, and to sigh a little louder.

i get THOSE days somewhat frequently in the winter months. weird, because i just love winter. i love the cozy feeling of warmth. i love embarking in service towards others. i love holiday decorations, christmas music, smells of cinnamon and spice, lights, and drinking hot chocolate. i love curling up by the fire wrapped in blankets with my sweets and fur watching movies. this is not to say that my summer months are filled with rainbows, doves and unicorns. they aren't. but THOSE days happen too in summer. they just seem to pop up at random. i wonder what causes THOSE days. maybe stress, the weather or lack of sleep. any of you have THOSE days?

they can't stop me. it may hinder my progression but it will not stop me. tomorrow will come and THOSE days will be gone. THOSE days of blank reminders and shuffle stepping will be at my back. when all i see are my loves in front of me i will know that THOSE days are gone. at least until the next one...

STORY OF MY LIFE...

This is just too funny to pass up! I secretly feel like this is my brain under review...

Ever wondered how a woman’s brain works?
It’s finally explained here in one, easy-to-understand illustration:

Every one of those little blue balls is a thought about something that needs to be done, a decision or a problem that needs to be solved.

HAPPY VALLEY!

I went!

My mom and I took an adventure down to P-town on Friday. It was such a fabulous day! We set off first to Alice Lane Home for some fun Christmas decorations and to get a sneak peak at their interior decor. WOW. Our mouths dropped as we stepped foot inside this store. Not only do they sell gadgets and trinkets of plenty, but they also do consulting work for interior design and have tons of great furniture and fabrics. Seriously, I fell in love with this store. This is definitely a MUST on my list to come back!

Next it was off to Cupcake Chic!

Um, need I say more?

This little restaurant was fabulously decorated in cupcake decor with bright colors on the walls, cupcake pans, dishes and stands along the counter and neatly displayed big and small cupcakes. Some yummy sample flavors included Orange Cranberry, Chocolate Coconut, Key Lime, Neopolitan, Pumpkin and Red Velvet! We splurged and had to get some of the deliciousness...

Our last stop was to Soel Boutique. I am such a sucker for clothing, handbags, shoes, accessories and all things fashionable! I loved this cute boutique and found a little something for myself for Christmas, which was not difficult considering I wanted one of everything. They carried all my favorite major brands and had a little local flair as well from designers here. It was amazing!

Thanks Mom for a Fabulous Friday! I had so much fun touring P-town with you and hanging out. You are the best for taking the joyride with me! I will for sure be visiting these places next time I trek down south...

MERRY DESIGN

ALICE LANE HOME

I can't wait to go to this wonderful and beautiful boutique in Orem! They have the best holiday ideas and decorations, and their home decor is Amazing! Christmas might have to come early for me this year...

IT IS THE FIRST OF MANY...

I love hiking with Tahoe in the winter!

Although the snow was just starting out, it was enough for us to hit the shoreline trail!

I can't wait for more snow and more hikes with Tahoe!

Missed you sweets...

AT A LOSS..

It is too painful...

and there are no words to describe the awfulness that happened Saturday!

FOR ALL ETERNITY...

This morning we had the chance to witness the most beautiful and sacred thing...a wedding sealing for our great friends Eric and Kerstin in the sl temple. The ceremony was amazing and they just looked so happy and so in love.

We wish you all the best of luck and Congratulations!!

CITY CREEK CENTER

It is so exciting to watch and hear (from Weston) the rising of downtown at The City Creek Center. He has been selling the condominiums for about 2 years and he absolutely loves it, but like all real-estate development companies, and any business really, it does get slow at times. He is so lucky to be involved first hand in the big and exciting changes that are happening in slc. What a great thing that is taking shape downtown. Never mind the fact that he practically works for the devil (being my families business opponent), I love that he loves the experience that he is getting and seeing his happy smiley face when he gets reservations and sells. It is so neat that he gets to be apart of such a wonderful project and to make slc history!

Here is a little video of what The City Creek Center will look like when it is finished!

Take a look and enjoy...

E L E C T I O N D A Y

Don't you just love Election Day?

Don't you just love how we are able to make a difference in our community, nation and world?

Don't you love the feeling of knowing that our voices are being heard?

Don't you love voting for what you believe in to be true?

Don't you love the self-satisfaction that you get by honoring your country?

Don't you love the internal reward knowing that you are upholding your part of citizenship?

I DO!

We are a blessed people to be living right now in this world, in this nation and in this state! We all have a moral obligation to The United States of America to get out there and vote! All of those lives lost, injured and still battling here and across the seas were and have been fighting for our liberty and rights...and that is the freedom to vote! We must all get informed with politics and government on all levels and do our part as citizens! It is our job to get to the polls today and vote! If you do not know what is going on, go anyway and vote for whatever, but you need to exercise your right to vote. As a human being living in America, there is absolutely NO excuse why you can't vote!

Change lies with us.

A better world lies with us.

VOTE!

happy election day!

(my apologies for those I may have offended...but I do believe that it should be constitutionalized that if you don't vote, you don't get to stay in the U.S.. it is our obligation as citizens to do our part here. thanks)

FUNOWEEN WEEKEND

This year, Weston and I celebrated our Halloween by hitting up

on Friday night! He hadn't been there for years. We strolled around the grounds, shopped a little and ate dinner at Archibald's. It was so fun to see all the cute decoration and witches!!!

On Saturday, my parents held a little halloween party with warm homemade chili, donuts and a costume parade! It was so fun to see most of our nieces and nephews all dressed up in their costumes. Despite the weather, they all went out trick-or-treating!

We ended Halloween on Sunday by eating a scrumptious "Orange Teriyaki Beef Roast" and heading up to Farmington to see the pumpkin extravaganza from the Day family! It was incredible how they carved over 1 hundred pumpkins into different pictures, shapes etc.! I didn't get a picture of all of them because there were too many people looking, but I did manage to take a few of my favorites...

• 1 large-size oven bag
• 2 Tbsp. Pillsbury all-purpose flour
• ½ cup Simply Juice orange juice
• ½ cup teriyaki sauce
• ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. grated orange zest
• ½ tsp. crushed red pepper
• 2 lb. Eye of Round Oven Roast
• ¼ cup sliced green onions

Shake flour in oven bag, place in 13x9 inch baking dish. Add orange juice, teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, garlic, orange zest, and crushed red pepper to oven bag; close and squeeze bag to blend flour. Add roast to bag. Turn bag to coat beef with sauce. Close bag with tie and marinate in refrigerator for 1½ -2 hours.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut 4-6 slits into top of bag and bake 35-45 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 145. To serve, thinly slice beef and pour sauce on top then sprinkle with chopped green onions. This sauce is so delicious and can be used on or with all meats and fish or even as a dipping sauce for wontons.

Overall, it was a great Halloween Holiday! We unfortunately did not dress up, which was the first for us in 6 years, but nonetheless, we had a great time!