Our Latest Adventures with Food

Life is busy.

Mike basically eats, sleeps, studies & spends his days at St. Mark's hospital.  He is totally rocking nursing school- I am so proud of him!

I've been swamped working full time, doing my interior design program part time, & just got called to serve in the Relief Society Presidency in our church.  

It's been chaotic to say the least.

Despite the crazy schedules, we still manage to find time to spend together.  Mike studies his medical books while I work on design projects- and of course we somehow always find time to try new food! Here are some of our recent food adventures:

 

just had to throw this one in here- Mike's first day of clinicals last month

my mom, stacie and I canned 68 bottles of salsa last month- Mike and I have already gone through 4 bottles in 2 weeks.  It's that incredible!

Cinnamon rolls on a Sunday afternoon

A few weeks ago, we went to the annual celebration that is put on by all of the church's in our neighborhood "A Celebration of Faith"- there are choirs from the LDS, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist,  and Episcopal Churches.  We really appreciate living in such a diverse neighborhood, and love all of the undertones of faith represented in our area.  This is one of our favorite yearly activities.  My siblings and their spouses came along, and afterwards we hit up Gourmandise, a local bakery, for baklava. 

One Saturday afternoon, Mike and I decided to drop everything and found ourselves at The Grand America enjoying an out of this world lunch. 

 

 I highly recommend their tomato melt.  Best in the city by far. 

Such a gorgeous atmosphere too.

 

Mike is a huge fan of their tri-tip grilled cheese.

(I wish I would have taken photos of the food- we gobbled it all up too fast though!)

 The next weekend we found ourselves at the Taco cart on State Street & 8th South.

Holy Cow, this is the best food cart I've ever eaten at!!

Two tacos for $1.50.  Can't beat that price, man!  Everything is so delicious!! (don't let the atmosphere scare you away!)

Lastly, Mike made a HUGE all in one breakfast over General Conference Weekend... I'm still feeling the effects, but it was SO yummy!  Stacie & Bennett brought home-made braided bread french toast with Magleby's syrup and my mom made a frozen peach slush.  I'm still salivating over everything!

Big News!

When I graduated from BYU four years ago, I walked away, content with my bachelors degree, with a firm resolve that I was done with formal education.  I had put in my four years, and that was it.  Period.

Oh how that 22 year old self of mine thought that she knew it all.

Over the past four years, I've learned a few things. 

One of those things, is that life doesn't always turn out the way that you plan.  In fact, usually it doesn't even come close!  I've learned time and time again, that God's plan and vision for my life is a million times better than anything I could ever dream up on my own.  He knows me, loves me, looks past my many weaknesses, and sees me for who and what I have the potential to become.  

Over the past 6 months or so, I've been humbled into learning that part of the 'becoming' process is coming to terms with and accepting the fact that sometimes God's timetable for your life is much different than you had planned, expected or hoped for.  

It can be frustrating.  It can be heartbreaking.  And it can leave you feeling broken.

But God is good. 

Incredibly good. 

And he always presents an alternative plan. 

A couple months ago, on what felt like a "whim", I applied to an Interior Design Program.

And what do you know?  I got in!!

Yesterday I went to my first day of school.

I couldn't stop smiling, even when I paid $130 for a text book. 

I really am that happy.

And most of all, grateful for a loving God, and a supportive husband.  

Jackson Hole Getaway

Mike and I decided super last minute (we're talking late Thursday night before Labor day weekend) that we wanted to get out of town one last time before summer was officially over.  We called Mike's parents, who are always up for an adventure, and with their expert help, planned a little getaway to Jackson Hole (okay, basically Carol planned the whole thing!)  We got to Idaho Falls Friday night, and the fun began..

 

Dinner with Mike's parents

Sealings Saturday morning at the Idaho Falls Temple

Huckleberry pancakes at Smitty's

  

 Saturday morning, on the way to Jackson Hole, we had to stop at the Square Ice Cream place for Huckleberry ice cream- see a theme here?

 Isn't it cute?  I almost didn't want to ruin my perfect square and eat it...

Once we got to Jackson Hole, we went to Teton Village and rode the Tram up the Mountain.  13,000 ft up, up, up.... this time I actually did okay with the whole height phobia thing!

 The view from the top was pretty spectacular (even though it was a pretty muggy day).

Next, we started hiking down the mountain.  The weather was perfect- mid 70's, and the sun was shining- we couldn't have asked for a better day!

Mike's dad, the character

 Mike's parents are really into hiking- they put Mike and I to shame!

 This tree had a huge hole in it.  I almost got in but Mike told me there were probably mice and other animals in there, so I opted for the one leg in picture instead.  You can tell I'm a little nervous my foot is going to get bit off!

 We hiked over 3 miles down, then caught another tram to take us down the rest of the way.  It was a beautiful hike, and we'd totally go do it again!

Afterwards, we spent some time in downtown Jackson hole.  We shopped the cute local stores for a while, and went to dinner at a really good Mexican place.

 I know this picture probably doesn't look it, but this was in fact very creepy to be this close to his face!

 

 

We were about to head home, when Mike took off into a store for a minute.  He came back out and surprised me with Huckleberry chocolate and the Christmas ornament I'd been eying that afternoon!  Can't wait to hang this on our tree this year!

 

We drove home through Rexburg, and swung by to see the Rexburg Temple.

It. is. gorgeous.

The next day we went to church, had dinner, then went to the cemetery to visit Mike's sister, Andrea's grave.  She was 15 when she passed away unexpectedly, and Mike was only 4.  Thanks Carol and Gary for telling us so many stories about her- we are excited to meet her someday.

Gary asked me if it was creepy to see my own name on a grave stone.  I'm not going to lie- it was a little bit (mine will have an H in there so it will look a little different though :)

Next we swung by to see Mike's grandparents before we left town.  

His Grandpa tells some of the funniest jokes I've ever heard.

We had a great Labor Day Weekend!!

On Tuesday, Sept 6th Mike and I decided to make a birthday cake in honor of his sister Andrea (it would have been her 35th birthday that day).  We think this will be a fun tradition especially when we have kids so that we can tell them about their Aunt Andi.

the past two weeks, according to my camera

My Sis-in-law Allie's Graduation from BYU- she's going to be the best Elementary School Teacher!

The day was only complete once I had stopped for chocolate cinnamon bears @ the bookstore.

How is he so much bigger/taller/stronger than me now?

 My cousin Rebecca's Wedding- she and Jake met on their missions in Georgia! (love that)

She looked smashing and her dress was breathtaking.

 

 Date to Park City- we shopped the outlets, ate pizza at Maxwell's, and saw the Help.

 Mike started nursing school!  These are seventeen of his books (he got 8 more).

No, I am not kidding.

 After almost 2 years, Laura Walker (a best friend from college) and I finally got together for lunch!

It was so fun to catch up- I've missed you Laura! (thanks for the pic girl!)

 

Sleepovers on an air mattress directly in front of our air conditioning unit in the living room.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Our bedroom being 88 degrees at 11:30pm is one of those times.

 Gorgeous flowers Mike sent to me at work for no reason at all.  LOVE him!

 

More eating adventures with my mom...

 Pago is definitely the hottest/freshest/coolest restaurant in Salt Lake right now.

GO!  Right now!  I wanted to literally lick my plate up.

P.S.  Dilema.  As you can see, my bangs are heinous right now.  I am trying to decide whether to 

A) Keep them straight.

B) Cut them swoopy

C) Grow them out.

Any thoughts/opinions/advice would be appreciated!