Brady and Katy

We love this couple. Background: Brady (aka "Elder Thompson") was a missionary Justin trained in Brasilia. He was Justin's favorite companion. A reformed stoner-hippie, Brady was perfect for Justin. And he's finally getting married! To a cutie... I might add. Though he looks almost identical to Harry Potter, Brady is awesome and we look forward to their hipster wedding.

Goodbye Spyglass, Hello Moringstar

It is finally happening. After living in our precious Spyglass #12 for the past year and 10 months, we are moving. Justin and I have loved living in the avenues. The cute historic homes, the walkable neighborhoods with small private businesses, the proximity to the University and the temple, the lovely trees that grow here so abundantly has made a nice little home for us. Today we were talking about how there have been no downsides to living here. But the time has come for us to move. We have been motivated mostly by the desire to be closer to family that needs us. Justin's parents will only be three blocks away, my grandparents within a 5 minute drive, my aunt within a 5 minute drive and being closer to my family in Highland will be the major perks for moving to Millcreek. This new place fell into our lap. Our landlord and maintenance man who have been such great blessings will remain the same. The only difference will be more space, a newer building and a little bit higher rent.

Here are the quirky characteristics of our apartment here in the avenues.

First we have the window sill tribute to Justin's mother's holiday ceramic gifts. I have never been big on trinkets, so we have been proudly displaying them in our window sill as a somewhat sick joke. Next is our summertime bedroom. Yes, it's in our front living room. The only a/c in the entire apartment is that little white box you see. Rather than suffer in a hot bedroom underneath the ceiling fan with the window open next to the house with the yappy dog, we have created a bedroom out of my Shiatsu mat in the front room that we sleep on from June-September.

And of course there are the bikes. Kimberly, Cammie and Gabrielle. Justin won't allow them to be chained up outside so we have been keeping them inside on the bike rack.
Something I won't miss is the size of the kitchen. I love love love to cook and this tiny thing makes it difficult.

Finally is all the places we have had to store our endless supply of gear. Under the bed, in the linen closet, in an entire bedroom closet and on the bedroom floor. Thank goodness the new place has ginormous closets!!

Donut Falls

A few weeks ago Hilary and Justin and I hiked up to Donut Falls. Short little hike up my favorite canyon, Big Cottonwood. I forgot to upload pictures, but here they are. I love love love love the Rockies in the summatime.

Two Weeks

Today I put in my two weeks notice for the company I have been working for for 2 years. I have had serious ups and downs with that place. Every one of my friends I made working there quit and moved on already. It's time for me to move on as well.

I don't have a job lined up, but Justin is very supportive of me quitting. I guess he's tired of me being an emotional wreck because of that place--particularly because of my inexperienced supervisors. I want to move on to something bigger and better. Actually, I'm excited for the prospect of change and working with new people. I'm focusing my intentions and energy on working for a company that actually has good ethics and creates a supportive, encouraging environment for employees. Actually being business savvy would be good too!

I could rant and rave about all the injustices I put up with, all the crappy ethics, the high school drama from supervisors that played favorites, etc. But instead, I'm doing my best to stay positive and be happy.

We'll see what the Lord has in store for Justin and I.

Joys of Summer

One of the joys of summer is the Olympic fountain at the Gateway mall. Fifty kids running around, soaking wet, while parents sit back and watch with big smiles on their faces.

New Glasses

Hurray! They finally came! My old glasses I broke on the way to Brasil were sagging from the athletic tape we used to put them back together. So with some birthday money I bought some sweet vintage glasses from www.WarbyParker.com. (Check em out, they're the "Belen" model)

By the way, I totally love that company. With taxes, glasses are only $95 and for every pair you buy, they donate a pair to a non-profit organization. Love these!

Our Awesomest Weekend

Fourth of July Weekend!!! Possibly the second best weekend of the year--with the free chicken sandwich weekend at Chik Fillet being the best. (Not.)

Recap:
Thursday I had a kidney stone. Ouch. Haven't had one since 2006 and this one wasn't too bad. I passed it without the aide of serious medication! (Ibuprofen and water is how I survived)

Friday: Kidney stone started to pass. That evening we left for our new annual tradition of backpacking Lake Blanche. Ate huge meals first at Cafe Rio. (BAD idea for someone who hadn't been eating because of kidney pain.) I barely made it up the trail and felt like I wanted to die. But hurray! We made it and the view was outstanding.

Saturday: Came back down from Lake Blanche and took a big long nap while watching soccer.

Sunday: BBQ!!! Dang it. I forgot to take pictures. My parents had a ginormous BBQ with wild boar ribs, chicken legs and everyone brought oodles of side dishes. Guest list: Whitings, Bakers, Limas, Einfeldts, Johnsons, Evelyn and Adrienne T. It was so fun! Afterward Dad let off illegal fireworks and the Lima kids went nuts. So did Evelyn. She kept looking for things to blow up with firecrackers.

Monday: Boring. Did homework.

Tuesday: Went to Lugano's for dinner! Was very disappointed. Food was over-rated. Service sucked big time. My risotto cost $27!!! I can freaking make risotto and grilled chicken at home for $3.00! (Although the wine reduction would be tough because I don't have any wine and buying alcohol in Utah is ridiculous... for the fact that I would get dirty looks from neighbors if they saw cooking wine in my cupboard and I have no idea where liquor stores are around here...)

And here we are.

I have been working on some fun little projects for my nephew, unborn Noah. I started sewing cute shapes on onesies. Here is one of them. It's a pear! (I also started a rain cloud with rain drops going across the front of the tummy.) Also started a tag blankie. Here is the fabric. The lighter blue and green is Minky fabric- so it's soft and cuddly (almost like microfleece). Can't wait for the final product to be finished. It would be a lot easier if I actually owned a sewing machine. Oh man, I'm getting so crafty. (Although I still and will always refuse to scrapbook.)

Also! Funny work story. One Monday my co-worker, Bobbie and I had a couples massage. The husband kept joking around the entire massage. I asked him what he did for a living and he replied with three answers, "I work in a cafeteria. I read the notes doctors leave on their napkins and that's how I learn stuff." "I tried to go to massage school but they wouldn't let me because they said I rubbed people the wrong way." "Actually I dropped out of med school because I wanted to be a breakdancer on SNL. I even made a sequin bandana to wear, but it fell apart." Kind of a bizarre guy, right? So after the massage we were changing the sheets for our next massage and I found these on his side of the table. Yes. Huge women's Victoria's Secret panties. I totally thought it was a joke (which is why I took a picture of them with my phone). We had a good laugh. Then in the middle of our next massage we heard a knock on the door (VERY unusual). Bobbie answered the door. It was his wife! She asked if we had seen some panties because she had left hers there on accident. Bobbie literally had to pull them out of the garbage (because we threw them away, obviously) and give them back to her. So embarrassing!!

Anyway! It feels good to sit in my bedroom with the fan on and the windows open. I love the Rockies in the summer time.