Birthday weekend

My 23rd Birthday was fabulous and I will be the first to admit I was one spoiled girl. Travis surprised me with a weekend away at our favorite hotel in Park City, tickets to Lion King for that evening which was sooo amazing, a beautiful purse, incredible food, shopping and relaxing at the pool. It could not have been more perfect.

  

 I got to take work off for my birthday which always makes me happy and when we came back from Park City, my siblings, Travis and I hit up La Jolla Grove to celebrate because we really needed to eat more food that weekend. FEED ME! It was delicious and Travis would tell you to get the beef tenderloin and I would tell you to get the cheese platter for an appetizer because I think cheese is glorious. I would also tell you to not go there on the weekend if you hate waiting 45 minutes for dinner like I do.

After this delectable meal, we went over to the safe house (also known as our grandparents house) for Janessa's delicious homemade Texas sheet cake and singing with some of our family. It was a perfect birthday full of love, carbs and happiness.

A Sad Story of a Watch

For my birthday, my very wonderful and thoughtful mother in law got me a beautiful Michael Kors watch. I loved it very much. I wore it to work for the first and last time. It was a Monday. The watch was heavy and since I was not used to the weight, I took it off and left it on my desk in my office. I had to go to a meeting, then I went to lunch. I came back from lunch and my watch was gone!
I searched everywhere frantically, hoping I had misplaced it. I called everyone I knew, sent out mass emails to my whole office. Nothing. I waited, I prayed, I hoped, I scoured every inch of my life. Nothing. At this point, I knew my beautiful new watch had been stolen by someone in my office. I thought I had 25 friends at work but now they all seemed suspicious.
I waited for 1,2,3,4,5 days hoping that someone would feel guilty and put it back in my office. Nothing. More emails to coworkers, I scoured EBay, craigslist and KSL thinking some jerk was trying to sell it for quick cash, more searching and then I was no longer sad, at this point I was furious.
I decided to call the police and file a report. I had visions of them coming in and interrogating everyone in the office, finding the culprit and hauling them off to jail. Instead the police officer took my report over the PHONE, told me he doubted they would be able to find it and said he would call me if anything turned up! What?! Is this the same police who pulled me over for turning right while my car blinker was accidentally blinking left and then ARRESTED me because of an unpaid ticket on my record from 5 years earlier which I had FORGOTTEN about because it had been in a MALL parking lot?! (Yes this really happened to me) So that is all they are good for?! Arresting innocent young girls for no apparent reason at 7 o’clock on a Tuesday evening and not actually doing their job with a real crime, albeit a small crime but still? I raged over this for a few days, so happy to see my tax dollars hard at work.
So here we are, 2 weeks later, I am resigned to the fact that my watch was stolen by seemingly good people at work, never to be returned. RIP my Michael Kors beauty. I loved you, even if it was only for three days.

Here is my lesson learned: I no longer have care free trust for strangers or people I think could mean no harm. Gone are my unlocked car, left out purse days. People, although generally good, often time enough, just plain suck.

Johnny Boy's concert

Oh John you are oh sooo talented. We had one fun time at your concert the other night. Your voice is like butter melting into my cinnamon and sugar sweet potato. However, when did you get so vulgar? I took my 15 year old sister to your concert and some of the things you said would have made Kanye blush. I am hoping she was too young and innocent to understand, but here is to hoping you clean up your act for the next concert we go to, because I just dig your tunes.

Florida

      This past week I had the opportunity to go to Orlando, Florida for a convention for my work. It was filled with grueling work hours and sleep deprivation but it was also lots of fun because Travis was able to come out for the weekend and spend time with me, well okay we got to see each other for about 5 hours at night but still that's better than a phone call across the country. We had never been a part since we had been married and I cried when I said goodbye to him and couldn't sleep for the two nights we were apart. I am obviously just a mildly emotional person. I always blame it on birth control. I feel better about myself that way.
       I was nervous about the weather because I had heard how humid it can get in the summer but I actually liked it for the most part. The humidity reminded me of getting a nice facial or taking a steam shower which strangely I enjoyed. The mid-day storms every afternoon were pretty as well, but I am not sure I would love to live in those every day of my life. The only thing no one prepared me for or had ever mentioned to me was the water that comes out of the facets and showers. I stayed at three separate hotels and all the water smells like a swamp. Like I was brushing my teeth in swamp water and showering in a swamp. Swamp shower for 6 days does not smell that good in your hair, trust me. I don't know if that is common every where in Florida or just coincidentally in all three of my hotels, but that alone was enough for me to be dreaming of going home to Provo to my clean smelling water. Maybe its time Florida invests in the Kangen water filtration system or something because it needs help!
     Travis and I got to sneak away a couple of nights to do some touristy things. One night we went to some delightful outlets where I was so excited to find a Burberry outlet! However Burberry Outlet does not translate into cheap Burberry like I was hoping it did, so we didn't get anything there. JCrew however did fill the void.

     Our last night we decided to go to Universal Studios because we had heard that Harry Potter World had just opened and Travis really wanted to go get the butter beer so we went and had a blast! I am not a huge Harry Potter fan, but I do have to say they did an amazing job recreating the HogMeade town and Hogwarts school. I felt like I was in the movie and it was really fun to browse all of the shops and try all of the treats there. Butter beer tastes like a delicious root beer float on crack and I could have had 5 more glasses of that stuff!

To my utter delight, Emeril's Orlando Restaurant was also at the Universal Studios boardwalk and when I saw it on the way into Harry Potter World I made Travis promise to take me there for dinner if it was still open when we got out. Needless to say, we made it to Emeril's for a late dinner and me oh my it was one tasty meal! I just kept saying "Bam!" through out the whole experience!

A California Fourth of July

For the Fourth of July, we made a last minute decision to fly home to California for the weekend. It was a good choice. We had a blast shopping, eating, partying and enjoying our long weekend with the family. We sung "Happy Birthday" to The United States of America, a tradition we started a few years ago, and blasted Lee Greenwood's "I am Proud to be an American" singing at the top of  our lungs every chance we had.

Two Places I recommend trying if you haven't eaten there yet and are in the area:

The Farm for Brunch at The Grove in LA (holy amazing stuffed french toast)

and

Gulfstream in Newport Beach, just order anything on the menu, it is all to. DIE. for.

Tomorrow we leave for Las Vegas for the Easton family house boat trip at Lake Mead. We are very excited to have a nice, long vacation with the family!

See you later Alligator

Birthday Weekend

Travis turned 24 this weekend, so in honor of his birth we took a trip to park city for the weekend. We stayed here at the Waldorf Astoria and it was so relaxing and beautiful I never wanted to leave! 

Travis' favorite meal is a good steak with mashed potatoes so we couldn't pass up a delightful birthday dinner at Ruth Chris in Park City now could we? We also did a temple session in Salt Lake, hung out by the pool, did a little shopping, hit up CPK, saw a sneak peak of Knight and Day and had a wonderful and relaxing weekend! I cannot wait to go back to the hotel, it was one of my all time favorite hotels! And if you ever get the chance to stay there, get the egg's benedict for breakfast, it was a pure taste of heaven and you will not regret one bite!

The sexiest birthday boy I've ever seen!

Our camera died so we only got a couple of good photos off of the iphone! Oh well!

In other news, we are going to California for the third time this month!! So much fun and we love seeing our families and can't wait to move back soon! 

Italian Cooking

Tonight was the first night of my Italian Cooking Class! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and cannot wait for the next four Tuesday evenings as I will be exchanging pilates for pasta on a quest to learn and enjoy Italian cuisine with all of its bold flavors and textures. 


My new diet: No carb left behind!


Buon Appetito!

Did you read this Book?

I LOVED this novel! Such a delicious read! Did you read it? Did you love it like I did? If so guess what?! On December 11, Kathryn Stockett (the author) is coming to the Sundance Tree Room Literary Series!! I am so excited!! Tickets are a little pricey BUT you get brunch in the Tree Room (yes please), a literary discussion by the author, question and answer time and a signed copy of her book. Sold! I am a nerd, but hey if this sounds fun to you too, come with me!


Check out the webiste to order tickets!

If you Love....

• Fashion
• France
• and of course Chanel

Then please rent:

It made me want to:


1. Speak French
2. Live in France
3. Buy vintage Chanel
4. Buy anything Chanel. period.
5. Become a fashion designer
6. Have the elegance and confidence of "Coco" or Audrey Tautou, either will do
7. Buy Chanel. Did I say that already?


A French film, subtitled in English, the perfect "girls night in"(spare your husbands) movie. It is beautiful, tragic and fabulous. 


La fin.

The Sandlot

Happy Memorial Day from the Scera Pool, where the infamous Squince pulled a move on the life guard in "The Sandlot."

Provo is oh so cool.

Diaries of a Foody

Here is a problem: When family of friends come to visit, you consider it a "vacation" to eat whatever you like while they are here. After all, what kind of hostess would you be if you didn't? A boring one that's for sure. So you hit up all the finest Provo has to offer and you do so with no regrets. Feeling so justified in these piggy ways because you have to be the good tour guide. Where is the problem in that you ask? Here it is: Here at the Easton Establishment we seem to be having visitors every other weekend these days. Holy cow... literally.

The recent visitor (AKA Diet Sabatoger) : The Jan Claw. She spent the weekend on our blow up matress in apartment #28 and we partied. Magleby's breakfast, in-n-out, Letter's to Juliet, late night private party for 4 at The Slab ( oh SOOO tasty), Series finale Lost sob fest (To which I spend every night since discussing the show with my husband until the wee hours of the morning. Call me crazy, it was THAT good) Don't let me get off track...and then we ate some more...like A LOT more. This happens every time someone comes into town. I love it. I hate it. But mostly I love it.

We miss you Jan Claw, but my bootie thanks you!

Day Dreaming Wednesday

I love Wednesdays because it means there are only 2 more days till its Friday and Friday means its weekend time, and weekends are simply the bomb. And this weekend Robin Hood comes out and my main squeeze is dying to see it, so you know where we will be Friday night.

I also like this Wednesday in particular because I am wearing yellow, and although, "yellow just isn't in your color wheel dear" as my darling grandma would like to tell me (something to do with my usual vampire complexion or something) today it makes me feel happy, because it reminds me summer is a comin, and I don't really mind that I look like some type of bumble bee.

Today is also nice because in one hour it will be five in the evening and at five in the evening as all us worker bee's know is quiting time, and I get to spend my evenings with my main squeeze, the hubbie. This is the best part of everyday of course! He is after all  as Paul Child put so well, "the butter to my bread and the breath to my life"

Today, on this particular day dreaming Wednesday, I feel grateful for my life and all I have, which is a whole lot of amazingly wonderfulness.

ta ta for now!

Hi Mama Claw and Mama Easton!

We love you and miss you! Happy Mother's Day! We have the best mother's and mother's in law in the whole world! This is an actual fact. We can't wait to visit you soon!

Easter, Family, Too Much FOOD!

My immediate and extended family came up for Easter/Conference and stayed for the whole week long! We had so much fun watching conference, Easter egg hunting with money eggs, eating, eating and did I say eating?! We might have graced the tables of every restuarant in Provo this week and we may or may not have been to 5 Guys Burgers and Fries 3 times in one week. What can I say, we are just a bunch of foodies at heart. Now my body is reminding me what vegetables look like and where the gym is. This week was just too fun! Love you family and miss you!!

Waiting for the egg hunt...

Too cute Pyper and McKenna

It's on like Donkey Kong!

Sassy, sexy and single!

More money more problems

Janessa, Mommy and Aunt Kim

Hope you all had a Happy Easter!

This Weekend...

We had a fun weekend. My very obliging and adoring husband took me to see this:

Which was amazing. The story was so precious and the clothes were To. Die. For.  Travis even liked it, I am sure he would have liked Bounty Hunter better, but he is a sweetheart and enjoyed it all the same. After the movie we decided we needed a little trip to Barnes and Nobles to see if we could find some good biographies on these two lovebirds, Victoria and Albert. Sadly, they were all sold out :( but I did snag a great biography that I am enjoying about Audrey Hepburn.  So far its very interesting, and I would recommend it. (Disclaimer: please do not take my recommendations too liberally, if you hated either of these, I am not a professional and am in no way affiliated with Oprah Winfrey.)

Anybody else have any good book suggestions?

Within the mix of this we ate at our favorite El Ranchito, cannot get enough of their chips and salsa. Had a fun bbq at our house for the BYU game with Travis's mission friends (sorry no pics), ran lots of errands, church, gym, lots more good things which I won't bore you with...BUT I will bore you with this. I got a new job. I start tomorrow (so my week of sleeping in till 10 and hanging out all day with Travis are sadly over) but I am excited and kind of nervous. I am working for a company called ZYTO doing event planning/ executive assisting. The best part is that I won't be driving 2 hours or more to work and back everyday. I think it will better my sanity and my tolerance for Utah drivers.

Also,  we ordered this blue beauty:

10 - 14 days cannot come fast enough.

St. Patrick's Day one day late!

Travis has class late on Wednesdays. I forgot this when I went to the store Monday to buy my ingredients for our First St. Patrick's Day Feast, which happened to fall on a Wednesday. Oops. So I am making it tonight. Corn beef and cabbage, potatoes, carrots, rolls, you know the meal. I LOVE this meal! Travis hasn't ever had it before and he is a little bit scared for tonight, but willing to be a good sport for my sake. Lets be honest just the words corn beef and cabbage do not sound all THAT appetizing.

This will be my first attempt at making this so wish me luck! My cooking skills are set on beginner mode but I am determined to become some version of Julia Childs all the while looking as cool and calm as Giada De Laurentiis and as funny as Paula Dean in the kitchen. You know, just the usual domestic goddess, no big deal right? Right.

Busy Bees

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtkU2ch0sRI
Watch this if you need a little Monday pick me up!

This week has been full of all sorts of crazy. Travis has been doing a ton of school work and writing paper after paper like the brilliant student he is. I have been sick, quit my job, started my adventures in learning how to cook, and am now finally getting to the millions of thank you cards I need to send from the wedding! We bought a bbq last weekend and have used it twice already and thank you for the beautiful weather we will use it much more this week! We love it! Rachael Lynn Rylander now Olsen had a beautiful reception in Salt Lake and she looked just smashing in her sexy retro inspired dress! Natalie and Becca thank you for a wonderful girls dinner and the dear sister Janessa spent some time with us this weekend receptioning, anthropologizing, eating salmon and making cupcakes. We were asked to give talks in our new ward yesterday and after many attempts of telling Travis I was dying and couldn't go to church, he convinced me otherwise and we lived to see another day. This week is all about finding a new job, getting back on the beastly horse called the gym and spending some quality time with my hubbie. Thats it for now my friends! Peace and blessings, peace and blessings!

The Nest

We have a LONG way to go with decorating, but I thought it would be fun to put some pictures up of our little home so far. Some family have been asking. Please excuse the bare walls and other non- accessorized parts of the house, its a work in progress!

Honeymooning

Travis and I had such an amazing time on our honeymoon in Kauai!! We got to stay at a beautiful Condo on the beach,(Thank you Kristy and Kevin) went zip lining, explored beaches and forests, went on a sail boat, got couples massages on the beach, enjoyed an exciting luau and ate out at some delicious restaurants (I love to eat)! It seemed like we just got used to being in Kauai when we had to go back to the airport for our flight home! It was a perfect, relaxing and fun adventure that we will never forget!