Utes only. Cougs prohibited.

Every year that Utah plays BYU at home, my parents have a party at their home prior to the game. It's the highlight of the football season. And it's pretty much considered a holiday in my family. I fear the day that I marry a BYU fan. It will probably happen. Just because that would be my luck. And so, when we would take a family picture like the one below, I would be the one holding hands with a guy dressed in blue. Oh, the shame!


Since Alex is on his mission this year, we had an extra ticket to the game...and I was privy to invite someone. And believe you me, there were Terms and Conditions to who could be invited. The only Term and Condition was: No BYU fans. Of course, I had no problems with this. Because who really wants to sit next to a BYU fan anyway?

However, this T&C eliminated Mackenzi, 3/4 of my friends, and a boy that I have been going out with. And so naturally, I invited Mackenzi's ex-boyfriend.


Who better than my best friends, ex-boyfriend, really? I knew he would probably yell and curse more than my dad, and so I knew it was a wise choice.


Here is the picture that we took and sent to Mackenzi at the end of the game, with the message, "Thinking of you!":


I'm pretty sure she wants to be a Utah fan now.

Go Utes!

I'll kick you with my moon boots...and I won't feel a thing.

Today I am working from home. It's not because I am sick, it's because my work needed my house for a photo shoot. I'm not complaining - all I had to do to get ready this morning was throw on a shirt and pants. I barely look presentable. Everyday should be like this.

However, I run the risk of accidentally falling asleep. Since I have about 10 people running around my house, moving furniture, setting up lights and doing who else know what - I have decided to hold up in my room. It's not my client that is doing the photo shoot, I'm just here to make sure they don't burn my house down. But every once and awhile my male co-worker will knock my my bedroom door and come in. It's sufficiently awkward.

Anyway, I made friends with the hair and makeup lady and at one point she knocked on my door and said, "you have a delivery!" What up, Christmas morning! I love home deliveries! She presented me with a package I have been waiting for for a week. Yes, I hold up in my room while I make my house guests answer my door and accept packages for me. I'm considering hiring a personal assistant to help me out with lives necessities; answering the door, cleaning my house, raking my leaves, grocery shopping. The list could go on. I'll stop now before I really start considering it.

So, back to my delivery.

I got these suckas for $30. I find that quite a steal when normally they are $80. For years I had vetoed UGGS or any imitation because really, they are ugly. However, my hatred of long winter months and my lack of warm comfortable boots drove me to make a purchase last year that will forever change my life. Last year, I purchased some $30 fake UGGS from Costco. Best $30 I have ever spent. And since I wore those boots every day last year and wore them to the ground, another pair of boots were in order. And yes, I also have these boots in brown.

Bring it on, Mother Nature. My feet will never know it's snowing.

The appearance of evil never tasted so good

My latest addiction.


No, it's not coffee. Although, I wouldn't be apposed if Pres. Monson came out and said, "Coffee is now not against the Word of Wisdom." In fact, I would be cheering and jumping for joy and singing praises. Alas, I don't think that will happen. I'm ok with it.

But Starbucks, my new friend, has the most addicting, yummy, savory drink. The Caramel Apple Spice (cider). It's pretty much pure sugar with a touch of apple juice. Heaven on earth.
You must try it. I guarantee, you won't be disappointed.

Her niece will be well educated..

Last week we had a bridal shower for my friend Brooke. Mackenzi and I were in charge of the favors and instead of doing something lame that people would either say, "cute" and then throw in their purse and forget about it or "cute" and then throw in the garbage, we decided to do something a little more fun.

I was lucky enough to find my favorite flowers at Costco. Then M and I spent the night assembling. I think they turned our pretty great.




A few pictures from the night:





And...the best picture of the night.... B's cute little neice with Brooke's "tassel".

The plan is this: You work. I sit.

My laziness has reached an all time high. Yes, I might be going to the gym now, but that doesn't mean I have become anymore productive. This unproductive state is not a good one to be in. Mainly because I have about 1000 lbs of leaves sitting on my lawn waiting to be raked. I really wanted it to be a snowy Saturday so I could sit in my bed, drink hot chocolate and watch chick flicks all day without feeling guilty about not raking my leaves.

And just like most things in my life, that plan didn't work. I'm not surprised. However, since nothing ever goes as planned, I have become a master at Plan B's. And my Plan B for me raking leaves came in the form of me paying someone to rake my leaves. Yes, I called my friend G who has three little Guatemalan friends* who do work for him. And so, in two short hours all my leaves were raked.


Whew...that was hard work. Glad I didn't have to do it.

*Yes, I assume they are illegal and no I didn't care.

Please answer my question. Because if you don't, I'll blog about you.

Preface: I was told by a reader that he stopped checking my blog each day because I never post. I then told him I didn't have anything to blog about. However, I thought about this post I wrote a week or so ago, but decided not to post it. The following post is about a boy that is still asking me out. So, if he finds my blog and reads it, he might stop calling. It's a risk I am willing to take to entertain my readers.

Until today, I have made the conscious decision not to blog about any of my dating experiences. Well, i take that back, I remember once posting a top 10 of things not to do on a date - and they all stemmed from one date. But that guy was a definite loser and could have actually used that list to help in his quest to find his wife. So i hope he found my blog and read it.

But today, I have changed my mind. I have changed it only because i think the internet needs to know what dating is really like these days. I have accepted the fact that boys now ask out over text message. It's the way the world is now. I don't like it, but I accept it. So, a week or so again, I had the following text conversation with a potential young suitor. To preface, I had only been on one date with this guy and I actually had a very enjoyable time. He was cute, well mannered and funny. Definitely enough for me to go on a second date.

I have included with the conversation my thoughts as the conversation occurred - which I have italicized to make for easy viewing.

Him: Hey Natalie! This Friday night after 8 - up for dinner and carving pumpkins? I have a tennis match until 8..
Me: So we are striking out, i have plans on Friday night. Saturday work?
Him: I have plans Saturday.. come over for dinner Sunday and bring your roommates/friends. I'll round up some guys Wtf? We just went from him asking me out to me bringing friends to his house????
Me: I have family dinner on Sunday. Sorry man. What if you and i just get together later on Sunday for dessert or something? I did not want to round up friends and go to his house. I barely know this guy and his friends could be losers and I don't want to submit anyone to that.
Him:Perfect..your house Sunday. i'll bring raspberries. Just tell me what time works for you He'll bring raspberries? What the???
Me: Lol. Just raspberries? Or do i need to make sure i have stuff to make dessert that goes with raspberries? And probably 830 will work Me trying to figure out if we are just going to be sitting looking at each other eating raspberries.
Him: 830 works. I've got a bunch of berries So apparently we are just eating fruit.

He came over and brought raspberries.... and then asked if I had ice cream to go with the raspberries. Seriously? Seriously? 1) I had already asked him if I needed to have something that went with raspberries and received no answer. 2) if the boy wanted to get together with me, don't you think it is HIS responsibility to bring the dessert?

He has now been given the name "Berry Boy" by many of my friends. The funny thing about this whole thing is that I'll totally go out with him again. I'll just have to teach him how to properly answer questions.