Turquoise Tuesday...

City Creek Center.

This mall is AMAZING. 

We first walked in and were greeted by the most gorgeous Nordstrom. It was all new and shiny and wonderful.

I found these little beauties and these. (Hello, my name is Rachel and I am a Sperry addict.)

The weather was perfect. It felt like summer.  We put our names down for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and then walked around the mall. I am such a dork, but I was super excited all day to get up to Salt Lake and walk around the mall. I was like a little kid in a candy shop. 

We sat outside at the Cheesecake Factory and all five of us agreed that we felt like we were on vacation. We even ventured to say we felt like we were in Hawaii! It was so true. There is nothing like good weather, good company and good food.

Me and Jess waiting while the 40 minute wait turned into and HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES! I was about ready to gnaw on my arm by the time I got my food!

All in all, great day.

RE

Kelly Clarkson Concert

I

1. Kelly Clarkson, your lyrics are incredible. Your voice is unbelievable. I love your music and will always play it full blast, with the windows down. I may or may not still cry every time I hear a few of your songs. **Already Gone.
2. Matt Nathanson, you're gorgeous. Thank you for giving empirical evidence to my theory that when a man can play a guitar and sing he automatically becomes 1,000x more sexy.
3. I touched Kelly Clarkson. 
4. Not once did I want to sit down and I didn't care one bit that my screaming/singing would give me a hoarse voice the next day.
5. Going to concerts with people that are there to have just as much fun as you are = awesome.

RE

Parents Come to Town!

My parents made the 12 hour drive out to my brother and I this past weekend. They came so my dad could ordain my brother. It was so fun having them for the weekend, I've got a pretty great family. If I may say so myself.

My dad's birthday is March 14th, so we had a family dinner with all of the family in town. They got to my house and found that we were waiting for them, with dinner, and ready to celebrate my dad's birthday. My dad turned 48! Weird!

 I made him a black forest cake, it's a little messy looking. Don't judge too harshly, it was my first time!

We spent a lot of time playing games, catching up, laughing and running errands.  On Saturday they took my brother and I to Costco and stocked us up with good food. It was so nice of them! We saw a movie, played more games, went out to eat with Wendy and Casey and then went to Chris' ordination Sunday morning.

It was a special experience to be there as my dad ordained my brother. You could tell it meant so much to both of them.

The weekend went by way too fast. After my parents left I just crawled into bed and slept (my extremely healthy coping mechanism) until I woke up to go eat dinner (another great coping mechanism) at the Beres'.

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Snowshoeing.

 Wendy and Brian were kind enough to invite me and some friends to go snow shoeing.

I had never been before and was excited for the opportunity. 

It was a gorgeous day! We all ended up taking off our jackets as we stomped through the gorgeous, often untouched snow.

Note: If you are going snowshoeing and you want to rent your snowshoes from Utah County, reserve them the night before. Those darn Boys Scouts snatch them all up! 

Anyways, it was beautiful. We had snowball fights, built a HUGE snowman, laughed, talked and enjoyed the scenery.

 We had grand plans of going out that night, but after coming home we just wanted to stay home. I made some artichokes and we sat around Spencer as he showed us his bears. Then, of course, we played Ticket to Ride. Amber and I tied, I didn't even know that was possible!

A big thank you to Wendy and Brian for including us, it was a great day. I didn't know I could love an activity that much that involved snow :)

RE

Visiting Lindsay in Houston!

I  was able to go see my cousin/sister/bff Lindsay in Houston a few weekends back. I loved every second of the trip. You know those people in your life that just get you? Even if they don't agree or think that something is weird, they get it? She gets me.

We laughed the whole weekend. Not exaggerating. We would lay in bed at night and laugh until we cried (luckily it was just until we cried, not until someone passed out. I'm still too traumatized for that to happen again).

My trip started in the SLC airport. I was flying standby. Got to the airport at 4:45am. I made a friend while I was there, she's lovely and possibly the most well behaved baby I have ever met. 

The security line was ridiculous, I have never waited that long in SLC before. I watched the sunrise from my gate and the planes taking off were gorgeous against the sunrise.

I missed the first flight that left at 6:45 by TWO seats. Then, I missed the next flight by three seats. Then, I wasn't eligible to be on the next flight because of the merger process. The last flight came around, I had been in the airport for 12 hours at this point and had already talked to Lindsay about what we would do if I didn't make the flight.

Then, the angel of a Continental Airlines lady called my name. When she gave me my boarding pass I almost started crying (weird, I never cry!?) and I told her I could just kiss her. "Please don't ma'am". ....Awkward.

I had been sitting in the airport for 12 hours, made some great friends but didn't have an ounce of makeup left on my face and I'm sure I was smelly. Oh yeah, and I was starving and exhausted. Deadly combo.

I got on the flight and there was an elderly gentleman with his headphones on and singing at the top of his lungs. He was adorable. I sat down next to Rob (my new Houston friend) and fell asleep immediately. I slept for 3/4 of the flight and then Rob and I chatted about his job, his family and what I needed to do in Houston while I was there. He lives in Houston and had no problem letting me know what a great place it was.

Rob was the nicest man. He waited for me to get my carry-on and then walked me to the baggage claim, to make sure I didn't get lost. Then he showed me where to wait for Lindsay and headed home. I already loved Texas/Texans!

Then I saw a white Jetta (what Lindsay used to drive) and ran (in heels, two suitcases rolling behind me and looking suppppper cute) to the car. I started yelling and was so confused when a Hispanic man looked at me and then rolled up his window. Oh yeah...Lindsay got a new car. :)

Then I saw Lindsay! It was a glorious reunion. I told her I needed to eat, immediately. I hadn't eaten all day and was starting to get that nauseating feeling that comes without food.

We headed to Papa's to get some Texas BBQ and the biggest Diet Coke I have ever seen in a restaurant!  As we took pictures in the restaurant everyone that was eating had no problem staring and (I'm sure) wondering why were so animated and loud, even the lady with curlers in her hair took a little gander.

When we were being rung up, the employee asked if we would like a side of bread. Of course! He handed us two slices of Wonderbread in a sandwich bag. I found it hilarious. He didn't think it was so funny.

In addition to laughing all weekend, we ate all weekend. This is no exaggeration. Lindsay showed me how to find the secret word to get a free sprinkles cupcake! One night we got our free cupcakes, our Diet Coke and Coke in old glass bottles and headed out to see "The Artist". If you haven't seen it, go. Now. It is so good. And it was so fun being in an old theatre with our glass bottles and fancy cupcakes. Don't worry, I got some popcorn too.

Throughout the time I wast there we ate at the 59 Diner, The Hobit Cafe, Sprinkles (x7), The Breakfast Klub and more. I just can't remember their names.

We also visited the Guild Shop, where I found this little vase that I love. 

Oh, don't worry. Those are horses in a grocery store parking lot. I wanted to take one and check it on the plane. BEST SOUVENIR EVER.

Lindsay had an Oscar's Party, 5TH ANNUAL!!!! We had a little cable crisis Saturday night. No cable meant no party, and we were not just about going to let that happen.  After a few hours of untangling cords, reading manuals, plugging and unplugging, waiting on hold with Comcast, waiting for a box to magically turn on (thank you Comcast lady) and threatening the cable box, we gave up and went to bed.

My brain just needed some time to think about everything. When I woke up, I put the cable into the cable out on the wall and we were done. Thank you ABC for being a basic cable station.

While I was in Texas I got to spend time with my cousins Matt and KayLa. It was my first time meeting KayLa since her and Matt got married. It was so fun getting to know them better and spending time with them. They took me to lunch at an incredible Greek restaurant. Our waitress had a European accent, but we couldn't figure out where she was from. We asked her and she said we had to figure it out on our own. After guessing extensively, she gave us a hint. "Why did you come here?". We still couldn't get it.  Finally, I pulled out my phone and cheated. Hungary. DUH!

Oh, if I look particularly fat in the picture with my cousins, it is because I am. I wish I could say I got a really big bee sting, or was having some crazy allergic reaction to something. Nope, just fat.

Linds and I also went to the dog shelter. :) I was in heaven. As I was talking to one of the dogs (thinking no one else was in the room) a man turned around the corner and said "Wow, you really love dogs, don't you?"....so embarrassing.

The last night that I was there we headed into Korea town. There were no signs in English. When we pulled up to A+ Foot Massage I'm pretty sure the restaurant next door had a cat roasting on their spit. We were very hesitant. Then, we went inside. Perfectly clean with courteous staff. We were taken into a back room where we could get our massage together (aw presh) and it was INCREDIBLE!

$20 for the best hour long massage of your life. If you're in Houston, look them up. A+ Foot Massage, just don't mind the roasting cat meat next door.

I had so much fun in Houston. I loved the city, but I love Linds the most. No matter where we end up, we will always be able to visit each other and have the best times.

Meow.




RE

Happy International Women's Day

Celebrate today! Celebrate women. Educate yourself. Do something today that will set it apart from other days. 

It will be worth it, I promise.

At the least, express your love to those women that mean the most in your life. 

Do it!

And here is a poem that I love.

Phenomenal Woman

BY MAYA ANGELOU

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size  

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,  

The stride of my step,  

The curl of my lips.  

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,  

That’s me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,  

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.  

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.  

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,  

And the flash of my teeth,  

The swing in my waist,  

And the joy in my feet.  

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered  

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,  

They say they still can’t see.  

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,  

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.  

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.  

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,  

The bend of my hair,  

the palm of my hand,  

The need for my care.  

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

RE

Turquoise Tuesday...