Thanksgiving Vacation!

Warm weather, sunshine, good food, family.... these are the components of my perfect Thanksgiving, and that's just what we got this year.




Lots of shopping, volleyball, eating, golfing, biking, archery, trampolining, movie-watching (I obviously didn't do all these things... still broken)... a trip down to Mexico... and an all-around good time.

Love. Miss.

Busy weekend!

I always look forward to weekends because:
a) I don't have to wake up at 3:45 am to go to work
and
b) I always somehow convince myself that they will be restful.
Joke's always on me.

Not that I mind toooo much, because I always seem to find something fun to do.

Saturday morning we went on a bike ride to this really fun little fishing pond in Highland. There were these really cute old ladies pushing other really cute old ladies around the pond in wheelchairs. I love riding with my husband, even though he's much faster than I am. He's nice enough to wait for me. Even when bugs fly into my helmet and I freakkk out.

Then I went and saw The Fault in Our Stars. So often, movies don't do the book justice, but I loved this one. Want to see it again ASAP.

After that, we drove and then backpacked our way up to Silver Lake (in American Fork Canyon, one of the prettiest around) for the night.



We got there pretty late, and were pretty sweaty after that hike (big packs make hiking way harder haha), so we set up the tent really quick and then fished. I caught one right away and felt so bad for the poor fishy that I didn't want to fish any more. But this cutie kept at it



We woke up this morning to gorgeous views, wonderful weather, and an appreciation for the beauty that is so near to us!



We hiked around for a bit, and then made our way back down to civilization. I love little things like this that don't take much planning, much work, or much time.... but you still get to have such a great experience :)

A canyon in St. George and the last long bike ride..

So last weekend we took full advantage of the 3-day weekend and went down south... we rock climbed, slacklined, swam/laid out by the pool, ate delicious treats to our hearts' content, and did Birch Hollow - a canyon right outside of Zion.

It was a really beautiful canyon



with really awesome people



and many awesome rappels (and really cool scenery in general).



Fabulous weekend, fabulous experience. And so much fun! People often complain to me about how "boring" exercise is - but I think it's a matter of finding something fun for you. For some people it's running, for some people it's lifting, for some people it's hiking or climbing or surfing or canyoneering or biking or any other fun hobby that gets you moving. Love :)

---

Yesterday, The Husband and I were up in Layton, so we rode out to Antelope Island to get buffalo burgers (sorry guys, but you ain't got nothin on Meers burgers). Although I hate bumpy roads, this was still a really cool (and pretty) ride.



My life is crazy blessed :)




And my final thought for the day:



:)

A Bike Ride

A bike ride that's left me feeling dead, but that's ok. My request for a 30 mile ride turned into 41, but who's counting...



There were lots of highlights though :)


Snowcones + that hott face = awesome. So awesome.



That view. Those mountains. That beautifully paved trail with no cars. Glorious.



Pit stop at Kneader's for sandwiches. Yes, yes, and yes. Mmmmmmmm.


Overall, a great kickoff to the summer (even though I took my first fall... stupid bike shoes) that's left me wanting more... and left me craving snowcones, always! :)

Birthday!

This last week I turned 25 (yikes) and was given a great birthday :)

Woke up to presents (including a GC for laser hair removal - yesssssssss!) and an excited husband

After work we went shopping for workout clothes and visited the Sweet Tooth Fairy (to which my husband responded, "you shouldn't have brought me here," because now that he knows about how delicious those little cake bites are, he won't be able to stay away :))

Then we went to the new aquarium! It's so cool! Penguins, sharks, otters, rays... so much fun!!!

We finished up the day with a crab boil (cooked by my one and only) and cake!

Loving all the birthday love, and I'm feeling as blessed as can be :)

Bringing in the New Year

For our New Year's Eve we kept things pretty low-key - I wanted to make a Thanksgiving Dinner-type feast, since I've never actually had the opportunity to make the whole thing myself.

It turned out pretty delicious, if I do say so myself (and my husband says so too, so that helps, although husbands eat just about anything, amiright?)

Can't wait for all those leftovers!

For New Year's Day we went up skiing and got delicious sushi afterwards! Skiing, sushi, and my sweetheart... can't beat that!



Happy New Year to All!