i have the travel bug.

I want to go everywhere. I've always loved traveling and for some reason this past year I've been itching to get out more and take advantage of this time in my life. I have the perfect job to do it and keep thinking my money isn't meant to just sit in my bank account. I need to enjoy it a little right? Of course I'm not going to blow my savings but I'm definitely believing in the philosophy of "work hard, play hard". Life is to be enjoyed, not endured as one wise man said :)

Some highlights from the past couple months:

In April took a lovely trip to DC with a couple of my bff's L & B. We're dorks and loved every minute of our educational trip back east.

 

About a week later took off to Cancun with the fam. Is it pathetic that I still think about this place pretty much everyday and want to be back there? It was quite possibly the best vacation I've been on.  My favs of the trip: spider monkey, snorkeling, Chichen Itza and the beautiful clear blue water!

June brought the yearly trip to Moab...

...and lots of time with these people!

July brings a trip to Seattle, August will be Cali and hopefully Thailand at the end of the year!

My dream list: Tahiti, Thailand, Europe, Egypt (or anywhere in Africa would be sweet), Brazil, back to down under & New Zealand, San Fran, Alaska...pretty much the whole world :)

Anyone wanna be my travel buddy?

conference weekend.

Steph and her little baby bump SJ came into town this past weekend. We had a mini baby shower for her that included dinner at the Dodo, decorating cupcakes baby style, and lots of laughing ('p' game, hey tell, talking tom...these little things keep us entertained :) can't wait for little SJ to come!

then woke up to a mess like this...

 

yay for snow in April...come on Spring! Conference was wonderful as usual. Seriously can it get any better? So grateful for inspired leaders and a prophet of God. 

Here are some of my favorites talks...

 

...and many more great talks.

here it goes again...

 

...hopefully more realistic this time.

        

my goals for the next 3-4 weeks:

                   *p90x lean workouts on my days off ~ 3-4x/week

                   *log my diet/exercise in the 'lose it' app each day

                   *eat only 1,573 calories per/day

                   *cut back on sweets, only 2-3 cheats per week

                   *go climbing at least 2x/week

Just finished day 2. yippee!

I feel pretty good. sore, very sore but I don't feel like such a slug anymore. 

and why am I doing this again?

many reasons. 

but mainly because I came to the realization that in just 4 short weeks I will be here...

...Cancun! 

and I have to look somewhat decent right?

26 good ones.

my loving family. my supportive friends. my health. freedom. my testimony. my job. my warm house. food. water. my clothes. my car. sunshine. knowledge. flowers. kindness. the mountains. humor. memories. books. love. children. sunsets. life experiences. photographs. vacations. beauty.

I have now reached another big one, the 2-6!
crazy, crazy but I feel very blessed for all that is in my life.
spent the day doing girly things with my mama,
met up with the fam for dinner/dessert,
then more dessert at Gourmandise with the slc crew.

one of the best things is having nieces and nephews. this one turned TWELVE today.

Happy Birthday Cade!

viva las vegas...or not.

 

Vegas weekend trip celebrating a friend's b-day.

highlights: 

staying in a suite on the 41st floor of the Vdara.

 pool time. relaxing in the warm sunshine.

dinner at a cute french bistro over looking the Bellagio water fountains.

going to phantom of the opera.

good conversations with good people.

my epiphany:

aside from the highlights, my hatred for Vegas has grown a hundred times more. 

I've never been a huge fan of that place and was quickly reminded why I never 

like going there. 

dirty. nastiness. smoke. porn everywhere.

not my scene at all.

please oh please remind me to never take a trip there again.

...instead give me my mountains, the beach or a much classier city.

winter festivities.

Happy New Year everyone. It's funny how once January hits I am so ready for winter to be over. I have loved the snow for the month of December and actually missed it when I was in Arizona but now i am SO. OVER. IT. The cold is wretched. but welcome 2011. let's hope it's a good year!

some highlights of last month:

 lots of trips here. the fog was amazing.

hangin' with my twin. joy ride in the bus.

my dream came true. 2nd row BEHIND the jazz bench.

it was pretty sweet. 

Archie/mo-tab concert! Okay i know he's not actually in the pic...

let's just say it was mad chaos and we were smart enough to get there super early.

I actually dropped down money for these tickets. 

It was absolutely ridiculous how much they were going for, but it was totally worth it.

Arizona for my niece's baptism.

Christmas was quite different this year. Most of the fam was spread out in various places. My bro Phil and sister-in-law Diana were kind enough to adopt Tyler and I for the Christmas holiday. I happened to get sick a couple days before Christmas and spent most of the holiday weekend in my PJ's curled up in a ball on the couch. I was actually scheduled to work Christmas day and the day after but had to call in with a sick note. Let's just be honest here...being sick, laying around yet still being with family was SO much better than being at work. So I didn't mind too much that I was sick. In fact most everyone was sick or just getting over it.

Poor Noah with his throw up bowl on Christmas Eve. Luckily he felt a ton better the next day.

Diana was thrilled with her new calendar ;)

 And Phil with his new BYU snuggie.

Tyler and I kept the tradition alive and exchanged gifts. I think he was pleased.

And I certainly was with mine. The Hunger Games. A MUST read. I'm hooked.
(The trilogy is only $30 at Cotsco)

The sickies. I was super out of it. My sis-in-law gave me a med called Drixoral that was recently taken off the market and she still had some. Works wonders. My sinuses cleared up and I passed out for 4 hours ha.

Other highlights included seeing my wonderful friends who came into town!
(Brooke, Steph, Shayla, Mikel and Nate)

And not having to work the last week in December. Thank you PTO.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday season!