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Lava Hot Springs

Posted on Tuesday, July 5, 2011

To celebrate the fourth Jason & I went on a last minute trip with our good friends Danny & Aly to our favorite summer camping spot Lava Hot Springs.  We camped with the masses at Smith's Trout Haven, where we slept in our new green tent and braved some of the smelliest port-a-potties one has ever seen.



  We tried a new twist on the roasted mallow and sacrificed little pink peeps over the flames instead.  Very appropriate for July I think.


Besides enjoying the hot springs and the boys floating the cold river, we found an awesome field of purple flowers on the way to visit Jason's Grandma.  It made me wish I had makeup on and a cute summer dress instead of my swimsuit!  Idaho is full of so many great rustic photography sites!




I love lava, hopefully we can make it back soon!

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You're A Grand Old Flag!

Posted on Monday, July 4, 2011

I think if you ask almost anyone they would agree the Fourth of July is one of the best Holidays!
What is there not to love?  Summer, No-work, America, Blowing stuff up....Yeah!!!
We were lucky enough to get to go to the stadium of fire this year.  Every year living in Provo we would sit outside and watch fireworks outside the stadium, usually on the roof of the riv....and they are so much more exciting inside!   Jason was bashing and bashing Utah's fireworks, but now that he saw the whole sheBANG, he thinks Utah is a whole lot cooler.  My  parents were supposed to come with us, but unfortunately my mom wasn't feeling too great, so we got to bring Danny and Aly instead.
And you know, i wasn't all that excited for Brad Paisley, but I actually had a ton of fun listening to him!  Jason looooves Brad!  David Archeleta was also adorably awkward as well.


My favorite part was the parachuters :)

Right  now we just got back from Lava Hot Springs (post to come).  We are exhausted and spending our fourth of July evening on the couch.   Once the sun goes down we will make our way up to the parking lot and watch other people's newly legal fireworks in the valley and maybe a few of our own.

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Cherry Trees & Trash Piles

Posted on Monday, June 27, 2011

We came home from  Lake Powell early Saturday morning and I already miss it...
Here is a little sneak peek photo, but i promised myself i have to write a full post about it!

Jason & I at Rainbow Bridge
I am super sad to be back, it went by way too fast!  At least we came back to two surprises...

Today as I was waiting for Jason in my car, I noticed one of the huge trees in front of our complex is a cherry tree!  I don't know why i haven't noticed this yet, last august when we moved in they must have all been gone.   They are almost ripe, the only problem is 95% of the cherries are only reachable by the birds who seem to really be enjoying them.  I ate 3 :)




 How do you like them freckles?

Surprise #2, it seems that it is some sort of  special trash day and everyone is leaving piles and piles of wood and junk on the side of the road to be picked up.  And that saying one man's trash is another man's treasure is so true!  Jason refused to let me stop and pick up a awesome green chair the first time around, but he eventually creeped around the neighborhood with me and looked at all the piles with me.  The chair was snatched up before I could get back to it, but I did find this cool old green trunk!


I can't decide yet if it is keep-worthy yet or not, even I will admit it is really dirty.  The top has a name, T.S. Bytheway (related to John?), and the address we picked it up from painted on.  The leather is cracked and caked with dirt and rust, but its cool, right?  Kinda almost creepy, but cool?  I will have to work on cleaning it up and see what happens.

There were so many old panels of wood from white-washed picket fences and such, so perfectly antique-y looking... but as badly as I want to I couldn't think of anything to do with it.  Ideas?  Maybe I'm crazy for picking through people's trash piles?

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More Portland Vacation

Posted on Tuesday, May 3, 2011


If you ever visit Portland, Oregon on a Saturday, you must go to Saturday Market!  It is so much fun to wander around the many many tents and look at the art & handmade goods made by local artists.  And if you are into people-watching...Jackpot!!!  Have you seen the Portlandia video "Put a Bird On It"?  About half these vendors are exactly what they are talking about.  I got a handmade journal that I've been looking for forever, and we got some funny t-shirts

My brother Ryan's favorite part of Saturday Market is the elephant ears.  Can you believe Jason has never heard of them!?  So he had his first elephant ear with melty-peanutbuttery-goodness.  From the looks of things I think he enjoyed it!
Next up on our itinerary was OMSI.  I have spent many field trips in that place!  Jason and I went on the submarine tour, then we wandered around with my Grandma & Parents until our feet were about to give out.
From top left; my mom in Egypt, Jason starting the tour, distortion, my dad in front of OMSI, Jason by the submarine.



In the interaction area I was shocked with the biggest shock in my life right in my face!  It felt like a punch!  But look at that static in Jason's hair!








If you want to taste some of the best desserts ever you must visit Papa Haydn's!  Yum!  Another Portland must!




After Easter dinner on Sunday we sadly had to leave on Monday.  Before our teeth-cleaning at my Dad's office, We had one last stroll down the Riverwalk with my Grandma.  We were lucky to have such beautiful and unexpected weather.  We had a fancy picnic of crab salads, leftover ham, pie, and my Grandma's famous potato salad, washed down with coca-cola from the bottle, a great last meal for our Portland trip!

In the we were enjoying our Gustav's fondue, and some last minute magnet-shopping and we almost missed our flight!  Would that have been so bad though?





PS, Ryan and Amy were on the same flight as Fred Armisen, the main actor of Portlandia.  Could there be a more perfect way to end a Portland trip?

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Our Own Deadliest Catch Adventure

Posted on Monday, May 2, 2011

Last Easter Weekend Jason and I were Lucky enough to go to Portland with my family.  We had so much fun and did so much!  I love visiting Portland, there is so many interesting people and so many interesting things to do.


Our first day there we began our adventure to the Coast to go crabbing.  We drove to the coast on winding, narrow roads, passing tall green forests of pine trees and the scenic views of Oregon farmland. My stomach was churning by the time we reached the small dock.  But while my Grandma and Mom waited patiently for us on the dock we made our way out onto the choppy waters of a windy bay, lined with pine trees and sandy shores dotted with sunbathing seals and sun-bleached driftwood.

My sister in law, Amy, and I were the picture-takers in the bow of the small aluminum boat.  My Dad drove while Jason and my brother Ryan set and pulled up the crab traps.  We caught only one crab.  Crabs have to be of a certain size and you can only keep males.  I almost felt bad because we interrupted him having a nice dinner, he was still chomping on some rotting fish guts.


A couple hours on the water was enough for me, and Jason & Ryan were soaking wet with salt water, they were devoted though and kept crabbing off the dock.  Luckily my Dad saved the day and came prepared with plenty of dry clothes!  Our crab along with a couple others we bought were cooked up and the dock and after some seafood at a oyster factory, we were beck to my Grandma's house.


In my past I have not particularly loved crab, but I was brave and tried some, and it's not that bad! I wasn't as brave as Jason who ate the heart, and some of the rotting fish bait, but I like to pretend that didn't happen.  After helping cracking a couple crab I legs I decided crabs are the spiders of the sea and pretty much creep me out.    (Until I found there are real sea-spiders, eek!)  

We had fun!  I think Jason's jeans still smell fishy, but it was worth it.  More blogging of our Portland adventures to come!

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Things to do in SLC; Trolley Square Area

Posted on Sunday, April 17, 2011


It is always so exciting to have to occasional Saturday off, it means me and Jason get a whole day together to do fun things!  This Saturday I decided we should walk around Trolley Square, I hadn't been there in years, and let me tell you, there isn't much to do at Trolley Square besides eat.  Eat great food though!  I think that may have to do with the sad shooting that happened there a few years ago.

Here is what we did at (more like across the street from) Trolley Square

Buy yummy candy at the London Market. 
 (I prefer a Lions bar)  My friend Ashley and I used to come here in Hair School and stock up on chocolate, the prices have gone up since then, but it is a fun little shop to wander around in.  I even match!


Eat At Tucci's Cucina Italiana.
We had a groupon here, I love groupon it is a great way to try new places!  And Tucci's is a winner! I love that all the waiters there were Italian. Great food, and cheap lunch prices.  (But am I the only one who thinks that $3.00 is a bit pricey for a fountain drink?  Without refills?)

City Geocaching 
Jason and I both like geocaching, but have you ever thought to geocache around your city?
Of course I'm not going to tell you where this one is, but download the iPhone app and try to find some close to you!

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What We Ate For Dinner Tonight; Mango and Quinoa Salad

Posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2011

I have made versions of this salad several times, and tonight it was so yummy I decided to share it.
Mangoes are one of my favorite fruits, and they are especially delicious this time of year.
Ever since we got married and Jason was gluten-free, (I have meaning to post more on that 'was'),  I have loved experimenting with different grains other than rice since other carbs were out of the question, and Quinoa remains my favorite.

Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of my salad, but it looked like this minus the black beans, but only because we had none available.



Mango & Quinoa Salad
1 cup Quinoa
13/4 cups Vegetable Stock
Mango, diced
Red Bell Pepper, diced
Fresh Cilantro
Cumin
Half a Lemon
Olive Oil

1. Cook Quinoa according to directions, (or google it like me)
    For best taste substitute vegetable stock in place of water.
2. While Quinoa is simmering, Prepare the mango by dicing it.  If you are anything like me cutting a mango is confusing, so go ahead and laugh,  but i watched this video on youtube and now I feel like a pro.  Dice the red bell pepper (I used about half), and chop the fresh cilantro.
3.  Once the quinoa is done cooking, fluff with a fork and mix in the mango, pepper, and cilantro.
4.  Squeeze the lemon over salad and pour a dash of olive oil in and mix as a dressing.
5.  Season with Cumin, Salt & Pepper to taste.

I love this easy summer salad, it tastes fresh and is so healthy too!




On a side note, me and Jason went to Ben & Jerry's in the Gateway to get our free cones and picked up this little guy in Urban Outfitters...

Maybe someday I can put him in a collage kinda like this?



And then we came home to the cat walking around wearing this bag on like a cape,
....
???