pina colada on the beach

Seven Mile Beach

Georgetown, Cayman Islands

July 9th

A wedding

Amy & Danny's Wedding

::: Louland Falls :::

July 28th 

Beautiful bouquet by Brynn Larsen

Such a perfect day...

P.S. Amy's shower

August Break 2012: A concert

Have you heard about this? I just found out through Kristen's blog, and I think it's pretty much genius. Basically it's just sharing a picture (or few) every day... no rules! Read more here. 

 Here's to celebrating the last month of summer (typing that just made me sick)! 

Twilight Concert Series 

:::  Band of Horses ::: 

July 26th 

weekend up north

// My grandparents' home in Providence - just got put on the National Register of Historic Places! It's also on the Andrea Register of Favorite Places //

// Their fire pit //

// Grandpa's shop, where he spends his time being "retired" //

// my thrifting loot. The jadeite plates = my happiness //

I don't have to work on Fridays during the summer... ahh. While I could get into all the reasons I love this, the biggest is that I basically get a double Saturday to do whatever the heck I want. 

Last Friday was spent in Brigham City & Logan. Everytime I go up there I always feel the need to do everything. This time it was baking (for the shower), impromptu yard sale-ing, eating at the brand new Taco Time (the old one burned down last year - you need to understand the BC Taco Time is the best Taco Time in all the land), helping my mom redo her master bedroom, and visiting my grandparents in Providence (Logan). Oh and we also went to the swimming pool.  It was such a fun day spent in two of my favorite places. Sometimes I want to move to Logan, then I remember there is no Nordstrom. 

// one chocolate cake, hold the candles & the song //

// dinner at Aristo //

// doing the creep at the Arts Festival //

// downtown Salt Lake City //

Last Friday was T-Pain's birthday. He is super anti-attention (what does that mean?) and doesn't want singing (for real he will kill) or candles. But he does want cake. And you know he secretly loves the special attention of dinner & gifts... Otherwise are you a human or an alien?

Anyway we celebrated with Aristo for dinner & the Urban Arts Festival downtown afterward, which is the quintessential summer activity: Superb people watching, perfect weather & live music.


Tyler's pretty cool.

To July:

You are the best. Please don't leave me.

the singles ward. activity.

Since I've been in a singles ward (for the second go-round), I've declared myself as a "back-row" mormon. I go to church, I'm nice to the people that are sitting in my vicinity.... but I rarely go to any activities. like, I think I've been to one in two years. I still get people that ask if I'm one of the new ones! I am very comfortable in my little bubble of "bolt as soon as the last 'Amen' is said".  

So, just try to imagine my excitement, when I was called to the ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE.

(warning: diva moment)

UGH.

go out of my way?

get out of my comfort zone?

attend an activity?

Well, this last weekend was our huge, multi-ward river rafting trip. Camping for 3 days in Wyoming with 168 people I hardly knew.

I registered about... 2 weeks ago. 

I was called as a group leader as well, so that really sealed the deal.

....

SURPRISE!

It was a total blast. I fully enjoyed myself. really. I met a ton of new people. I laughed harder than I have in weeks. I made really good friends who were strangers just 24 hours before. 

I am an idiot.

I am humbled.

I get it, I'm not in charge!

sometimes you don't know why you are where you are,

 until you do what you have been asked to do.

::: p i c n i c ::: p. I :::

a few of the ladies decided to have a BBQ.

dreams of hanging candles from trees, picnic blankets & colorful pillows filled this girl's mind.

mother nature, on the other hand, had other plans in store. 

after a mini-internal pity party, she decided what to do.

the boyfriend had a perfect room with tons of windows and practically zero furniture.

the indoor picnic was born!

homemade candles in lemons. so easy and super festive!

jars filled with shells and tealights 

   hard to see, but there's a picnic basket holding all the plates/utensils

 i have to admit, i love how it turned out.

it was fun to add a few details that transformed it into a real party.

thanks to the ladies that helped me set up at the last possible moment and @ the height of my stress. lifesavers!

i see many parties in my future.

someone declared this to be the "girliest BBQ" they've ever attended. 

mission accomplished!

lagoon

My employers had their annual lagoon day and we all got two free tickets. Tyler wasn't invited because he hates lagoon(it's driving a wedge). I invited my girf cath to live it up with me.

We really really enjoyed our time. Even though I seem to have contracted a mysterious rash from lagoona beach. Also the rides are much more frightening and dangerous than when we were kids.

frozen pink lemondades ya'all!

this ride is completely unsuitable for children! in fact, it is the source of my first nightmare.

BONUS: lagoon is also the source of my first "naked in public" dream. i actually peed on everyone from the paratrooper. why i love lagoon so much is beyond me!



there was his birthday.

tyler turned 30! but... don't make jokes. he's sensitive.

on his actual birthday, i took him to the copper onion & midnight in paris at the broadway theatre downtown.

i also painted these canvases for his walls.

then over the weekend, we had a little b-day BBQ @ tyler's. it was so fun. 

i love having people come to hang out with me(oh and tyler) and eat my food. i really do.

will tyler take a normal picture with me tonight?

danny & hannah

emily, racie & jackson.

ratha, boston & matt

boston is so cute!

cath & jason. check out that dog fight! 

sarah & denis. 

sarah is pregnant with a little boy due this september!

barry & naomi

kenny

some mingling.

you might think the one below is a good one.

look closely at tyler's face.

peanut butter trifle.

i heard it was good, but RICH.

i didn't have any because i hate pb.

there was some paparazzi there.

hannah & me

we were trying to say "prune" instead of "cheese". 

you know, like the olsen twins!

but i can't be serious.

who doesn't love a hammock?

the birthday boy. 

deep in thought for a man in his thirties.