I've resorted to storing things in my garage, which I once vowed I would never do

So I have been wanting a new bookshelf for my room for the past..um, forever. The bookshelf in my room was the bookshelf my parents bought me when I was probably 8 years old. It was old and falling apart and I half embarrassed it took up any bit of space in my room. Yes, thank you mom and dad for buying me a bookshelf. But I really thank myself for having a job that allowed me the luxury of buying a $89 one at Ikea. Oh, and Agency X - that is my subtle hint that I could use a raise.

I may or may not have completely copied Katelyn with the bookshelf idea. I took the below picture of Katelyn's room when I was in DC.


Putting this bad boy together took about 30 minutes. However, don't think that 30 minutes went by without a few choice words and a "this is man's work" complaint escape my mouth.



I also wanted/needed more storage space for all my junk. It's amazing how much crap I've collected in the 4 years I've lived away from my parents. And so, where better to store all my junk than under my bed. And for such a thing, I had to buy risers to put my bed on. Pretty sure my bed is now 4 feet off the ground. I literally have to jump to get in it.


My next project is to find a new bedspread. I really want a black and white duvet cover that I can mix bright colored pillows with. I don't want something too busy, but I am not against prints or patterns. So, if you have any suggestions as to where I could find this very specific thing I am looking for, let me know. I've already checked Ikea (obviously) and The Company Store - and neither have the duvet I have pictured in my head. Go figure.

Proof that I am too lazy to walk long distances..

When I travel, I want people to think I live in the city that I am traveling to. I don't like acting like a tourist. I don't know why I think this way, but I do. It's probably some whole psychological issue that should be cleared up by hours and hours of counseling.

So, when I went to DC this past weekend, I only wanted to do one big touristy thing. I wanted to see the WWII Memorial. Katelyn was a gracious host, and even though she had seen the monuments more times that I can count, she humored me and went to see it. I was all, "you're coming and you are going to take pictures." She's lucky I didn't make her take a jumping picture. I thought maybe I would want to walk down to the Lincoln, but when we got to the WWII Memorial and I realized how far we would have to walk, I was all, "want to go shopping instead?"



So, here we are seeing the WWII Memorial. I hid my big camera in my purse - which turned out to be more annoying than a 3-year old throwing a temper-tantrum in the grocery store checkout line because it was so heavy. But FOR SURE, I was not going to walk around with my camera hanging around my neck. Oh, the embarrassment.


Kate and I spent the rest of the day shopping Georgetown, going to a movie and just hanging out. We met Erica at a very delicious tapas restaurant, which name has slipped my mind, and they educated me on the awesomeness of big city dining. They had to make reservations for us and and when Kate and I got there 20 minutes early and the hostess wouldn't seat us until our whole party arrived - we plotted plans to take her out.

Saturday morning I met up with my friend Brooke and her hubby at Eastern Market.. one of my favorite places in DC. After Eastern Market, we ditched the husband and got pedicures. Because at one point, every girl needs to have her feet massaged by someone other than her husband.


My trip went by way to fast and before I knew it, Erica was taking me to the airport. However, not before we did some more shopping and made this awesome video at the Newseum. And if you think I just misspelled museum, then you are wrong.


I had a perfect weekend and was so happy to spend time with my friends that I miss so much. My next mission is to get all three of these wonderful friends to move back to Utah.

Thanks ladies for having me and making my trip so fun! Please move back here because hanging out one weekend a year is just not enough.

Something smells fishy

I have been gallivanting in DC for the past 5 days and therefore have not thought about my blog. I will post some pictures later about my adventure.

In the meantime, I give you a brief snippet of a conversation from this weekend:

Girl #1: He likes fishing.
Girl #2: Dump him.

I'm pretty sure a woman intented this so she could divorce her husband

I know most people might find this repulsive, but I love hot dogs. If I could, I would eat one every day. Ok, well maybe not every day - but at least once a week. If I actually knew how to work a bbq grill, I would probably eat them much more often. Alas, I don't have a bbq or the technical smarts to actually work one. Mental note: find a man by summer that can work a bbq. Also, purchase bbq.

Hold the phone. No need to find a man or purchase a bbq, when I can purchase one of these:



Named, The Hot Diggity Dogger, respectably.

This handy contraption only confirms my decision to not keep a man around.

Please do not put me in the 31-45 year old box

Today, I received an email from my ward inviting me to this event:

I'm offended. On many levels.

Dear Ward Communication Specialist:

Last time I checked I was 25+1, so please do not invite me to any more "Mid-Single" activities that include men old enough to be my dad.

Thank you.

95% of the complaining was in my head, the rest was directed at you

I shouldn't have been so bold in my previous post to say that that picture I took was my last smile of the trip. I stand corrected. It was my 1st smile of three. The second smile happened when I reached the Yurt that I had cross-country skiied 4.5 miles up to at the top of Millcreek Canyon. And the third and final smile happened Sunday morning when I was back in my car exiting the canyon.

There is a yurt at the top of Millcreek Canyon that I have never noticed. I'm pretty sure about 90% of Utah's population hasn't noticed it either. The only ones that have are the crazy people that cross country ski or snowshoe 4.5 miles uphill. I became one of those crazy people this weekend. To give you an insight into my thinking, I have transcribed below my thoughts as I made the trek Saturday night.

At the gate: I wish I could magically be transported right now
Mile 0.02: I wonder how far we have gone? For sure 1/2 a mile.
Mile 0.04: I am not going to make it. I am dying!
At this point, I stopped and took of my jacket and fleece. I had been told that I would really only need one of those UnderArmor shirts - but my rational was, "i am always cold, i'll need more". I was wrong. I admit.
Mile 0.05: My back hurts
Mile 0.06: How long have we been skiing? For sure we have gone a mile. I must have missed the mile marker.
Mile 1: (Expressed out loud) WTF? Mile marker 1?? MILE MARKER 1! We've only gone 1 mile!!??
Mile 1-2: This one mile stretch included a variety of emotions and thoughts. Some highlights were; What if I get raped? What if someone is hiding in the snow and tackles me and I can't run away because I have these skis strapped to my feet? My back hurts. My nose is running and my snot is freezing on my face.

I soon adopted the thought of only thinking in mile increments. If I could make it to mile 2, I could make it to mile 3. Then if I made it to mile 3, I could make it to mile 4 and then I was practically there. This thinking miraculous helped me for I soon was in the 'zone". I have always heard about people getting "in the zone", but I have never experienced it myself.

Mile 2 - 3 was awesome. I only stopped to adjust my pack once because it just wasn't fitting me right. I was in the zone and moving.

At Mile 4.something my body stopped. It was done. I had zero energy. Since I am not wise and therefore didn't think, I hadn't eaten one thing since the start of this trek, which meant my body was depleted of all it's energy. Kenzi gave me candy, Sammy took my pack and I somehow made it to the top.

And there it was, a beacon shining in the night. The yurt. I smiled and said, "it's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!"

(photography courtesy of Justin Brown)

My friends tried to give me food but my body rejected it and I ran outside and puked it all up. All I wanted to do is go to bed. All that hiking and all I wanted to do was sleep. How crappy was that? I somehow managed to not bitch too much and just figured if I went to bed I wouldn't bother anyone.

(a reenactment of my puking in the morning when I was feeling much better)

Through the snoring, mice (seriously) and no sleeping pad, I miraculously made it through the night. I had shared a bunk with Steve and in the morning when he got up, I rolled over to his sleeping pad and was all, "OH MY GOSH! So this is what it would have been like to sleep on a pad?" It was at this moment that learned that the boys had taken bets on whether or not I would want to come back to the yurt. They all said I wouldn't. And I agreed. My friends know me so well.

The trip down the mountain was the much easier than going up. But it pretty much was the scariest thing I have ever done. No doubt I biffed it no less than 10 times. I'm surprised I didn't break an arm. And soon, there it was. The parking lot. Happiest day of my life.

I made it. All in one piece. Amazing. No lie this was the hardest thing I have ever done. But surprisingly, I think I would actually do it again. The crazy is back. I promise I will complain less next time. Because really, how could you not want to kill yourself to see this:

The calm before the storm...

I'll write this whole post later, but I just thought I would give you a teaser of my upcoming post.


And I will just put it out there now, this may have been my first and last smile of the trip.