Busy Week!

This week has been pretty busy. As all of you know, Jordan came out on Wednesday to college. I was and am very excited!! We had a blast our first day!!! Lisa was kind enough to let us borrow her car so we got him all situated and in his apartment and with food. Then we spent the whole day together going to the mall, catching a movie, walking, talking and laughing our heads off. I never realized how much I missed him until he was here. He has done really well for himself already here. He opened him own bank account, got his own job, signed himself up for New Student Orientation and registered his bike all by himself. He only needed my occassional help to tell him directions. Now he is looking for service opportunities and ways to make new friends. I wish I could have been more like him when I got out here. Mom and Dad helped me with everything and I cried for my whole first week when I was here alone. He is one strong man.

Well, other then that, Emily and I decided that we were finally tired enough of the lavender kitchen walls that we had, so we painted them!! I always wanted yellow somewhere, so we bought the supplies and did it this Saturday. I really love it!! It brightened up the room and had us clean and reorganize some things, which really needed to get done. If you look at the pictures and think it is really bright, don't be fooled, it isn't that dark. We did leave a little purple above the cabinets for an accent and rememberance. Also it was really hard to paint up there. So we added some lights and I think it looks pretty cool. We like it at least.

Lastly I went with my friend Brett to the Mormon Miracle Pageant. I thought I had never been, but I am pretty sure that we went as a family a long time ago when I was really small. I only remember the angel Moroni coming to Joseph and then sleeping through the rest of it, but I was excited to go this time!! It was really amazing to see the way it is done, and I always love to here of the Restoration and Book of Mormon stories. Isn't the Manti Temple beautiful? I think it is one of the most beautiful!! Anyways, I thought that I would share and forgive the picture for being blurry, but flash photography wasn't allowed.

Orem Summerfest!!

Finally, I have something to write about. Emily and I went to the Orem Summerfest, somewhat like a county fair, and we had a blast!! We went on the rides, had ourselves some BBQ, saw a show, bought some things from the booths, had ice cream while watching the parade, and ended with fireworks. We got these really cool Indian sari type things. They are a skirt, shirt, dress and more all in one. I really love them!! I also got myself an Indian style bag that is bright and lots of fun. Emily, on the more daring side, got a fake tattoo. I never have been into that sort of stuff, but, hey, it's fun. The rides were amazing, well, for fair. We went on the Zipper, man I love that ride, and we laughed so hard that I couldn't breath. Then there was this other ride, it looked all casual and easy, but when you get on the centripical force pushing on you really hurts and makes you sick. We both felt a little queasy, and some other guy actually did get sick. It was disgusting!! My advice, never eat before getting on rides. We we hastily left that one to ride a sling shot one and basically I was crushing Emily and I couldn't stop myself because it was forcing me. In the end, it was fun!! Then we watched a little of the local talent, some kids dancing and singing to High School Musical, wow that brought me back. Then we decided to go to the local grocery store to get some Drumsticks to watch the parade. You know, I have never seen floats like that, not in person, only on TV. I wonder how they do it...? But after that it was time for the fireworks. I LOVE fireworks!!! It just reminds me of summers with the family. Overall, we had a blast that day!!! And now we are needy for this Saturday's the Pleasant Grove Strawberry Days. Fresh strawberries.....hmmmm!!

Memorial Day in the Rain!

For this Memorial Day, Emily and I went to Salt Lake to see Temple Square. We got up really early to catch the 8:30 bus to Sandy. When we got there we decided to go to the Target and get prepared for the rainy day that we knew we would be having. I really wanted some rain boots so I got a pair of black with white polka dots, a new black jacket, a headband, and a striped umbrella. It was so much fun! We stopped for breakfast at a Starbuck's for some hot chocolate and bagels and some pretty cool music. Basically we felt very cultured and cool. Finally we rode the train the rest of the way to Salt Lake. We took some pictures in the rain and we went to visit the Beehive House. Suprisingly, I have never seen Brigham's house, it was so beautiful! We made it to see the Joseph Smith movie, which means we cried like babies. We also went to the Church History museum. After walking, talking and looking at so much stuff we certainly worked up an appetite. And to our horror, EVERYWHERE in Salt Lake was closed for the holiday. So we trucked our way back to Sandy and decided to go to Ruby River Steakhouse. I always feel that Memorial Day needs some barbecue with it. So we had the ribs and some hot wings and a deep fried potatoe (yummy!). We got home at 9:15 and were exhausted, but happy!! Overall, we had an amazing, rain filled day!!

Gloria's Little Italy

Since I don't have anything else to write about in my life, I thought I would mention the amazing little restaurant that Emily and I decided to try on a whim one day. It is called Gloria's Little Italy and is run by the cutest little couple and their family! They are straight from Italy (so you can always hear Italian in the kitchen) where they make all their own food, desserts and gelato. I love Italian food and saw this restaurant mentioned in the Daily Universe, so when Emily and I were bored on a Friday night (sad, I know) I said we should go and try it. Adam, even you would appreciate the food here, I think it could give you a run for your money. Everything that we had was AMAZING!!! They have Italian sodas, no cream (sorry Mom) or carbination, so at first it isn't what you expect, but it is still good. I had the penne pasta with their ragu on one side and quattro formaggio (4 cheeses) on the other, and it was delectable!! Emily had the same cheese sauce with fettucine and she said it was the best she ever had. Since we wanted the experience (and the desserts looked too good to pass up) we tried the....I don't even know how to say it, but it looked like colossus, and it was as big and as good as one too!! Then since we were there we tried their gelato. There are many places in Provo to get "genuine" gelato, but oh my goodness, I don't think you can beat Gloria!! The chocolate tasted like a melted down brownie, except cold, well anyways, it was tres bon (I know that's French, but that's the only other language I know). Basically I would recommend it to anyone, especially those of you who, like me, love Italian food!! I will probably be disappointed by any other Italian restaurant that I go to. Well, maybe not Ottavio's or Johnny's but still, we are talking about real Italy here!! Basically, I LOVE IT!!!

Hockey............who would ever have thought?

I never thought that I would be a girl who liked hockey, but I will admit that lately I have really been into it. Guys around here seem to love it, and so it rubbed off a little, but it hit me hard when I went with friend to a Grizzlies hockey game on saturday!! They are the Utah minor league team and I had a BLAST!! It is so cool to see it live, and the game is so much more intense than a lot of other sports I think. So I spent most of last night, yes a sunday, watching the Stars play their 6th game against the San Jose Sharks in the play-offs. It went into 4 overtimes, but finally we triumphed to win overall and we move on!!! I am so excited for us!! But yes, it is crazy, I never watch sports, but I must admit that I like hockey. Crazy how this world work!!!

For other news, I have started my new job. It's pretty good, although it can get a little boring some of the time. Still I get a free lunch and everyone is really nice, plus I get to be on the internet all day!! Just kidding, I do quite a lot of work actually!! Still the summer is starting off pretty well. I can't wait to make new friends and to have a blast this summer!! It has been kind of weird not having classes and homework though, I will admit. I don't really know what to do with my time at night. Still, I know I will figure out some cool things to do. Already I love going to parks and sitting in the green grass and reading a book in the sunshine...it is glorious!! Overall, I think I am going to like summer in Utah.

Chicago Caper:

A Night of Mystery......and MURDER!!!!!!!!

The Suspects!

*Harrow, The DA

*"Scoop," The Reporter

*"Socks," The Golfer

*Ernie, The Gambler

*Molly, The Flapper

*"Silky," The Brothel Owner

*Billie, The Baseball Pitcher

The Setting: A Speakeasy, 1928, Chicago

The doorway into the dinner parlor

The Lounge with our booze

The Lounge with silk couches and pillows, very luxurious!

Our amazing dinner with our drinks and fun!!!

Jeff and me...........of course!

Everyone's most favorite and least favorite picture-including me!

So yeah, this is the low-down, this was my apartments Mystery Murder Dinner that we hosted. If I say so myself, it turned out amazing!!!! The whole apartment was transformed into a 1928 Chicago Speakeasy complete with Lounge area, Bar, and Parlor. Everyone dressed up and looking stunning, I must admit I was a little suprised at how seriously the guys took this. We definitely found ourselves a good group, they were almost into it more then we were. Well....okay....they weren't, but come on, we are girls so we are always more into, but considering, they were amazing!!! They even made the dinner, which was roast, and it tasted so good that it reminded me of home. But yes, we had so much fun with our fake booze (root beer, Martinelli's, and water) and our champagne glasses!!! Don't you think that the costumes are extraordinary, and we all got so into our characters!!! It was one of the most fun nights I have ever had!! But yes, I can't write everything down, so if you want to know more, you'll just have to call me because it was AMAZING!!!!!!!! Oh, and if you want to know where all the stuff from our living room went, here it is:

Our bathroom hallway!

P.S. It was me!!! I was the murderer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FESTIVAL OF COLORS!!!

FESTIVAL OF COLORS (HOLI)

Hare Krishna Rama Rama

This last weekend was the Festival of Colors at the Indian Temple in Spanish Fork. Adam and Anna set it up like everything else and here we are, my roommates and me, enjoying ourselves in the mass of color. It is a celebration of spring and of unity. The point of the colors is that at the beginning we all start off different but through the celebration of rebirth and unity of different cultures we throw the colors and all become one and the same. It is really cool!! You get REALLY dirty and the powder is so thick that you can't breathe, but you can't help laughing at the same time. I really love this tradition that we have all started here, and I hope to continue it for the rest of the time that I am here!!