Mini's Cupcakes... Photo Op!

Recently at work, we celebrated Annie's birthday and I knew exactly what I wanted to bring; these deluctable little devils from Mini's Cupcakes!

Feast with your eyes- but try not to drool on your keyboard...

Here I am with my new best friend... the PB Fix... Dark Belgium Chocolate Cupcake with Organic Peanut Butter Frosting sprinkled with salty peanuts. Don't I look happy? I was even happier when it was in my belly!
Here's Summer with her hot little cupcake... Breakfast at Tiffany's -Madagascar Vanilla Bean Cupcake with Tiffany Blue Crème Cheese Frosting topped with edible gems. Audrey Hepburn, eat your heart out!
And the birthday girl Annie inhaling The Diva - Dark Belgium Chocolate Cupcake with Pink Crème Cheese Frosting... you go girl- party like it's 1999!

Here's our office mascot- Londyn Marie! She's Annie's new angel! Do you see what she's doing? She's trying to lick my PB Fix! No Londyn- don't you dare!!!

Mouth watering? go to:

http://www.mini-cupcakes.com/cupcakehome.html

Gourmandies Bakery

SLC has so many great little places that I just want to share them with you! The other week, some of my Interior Design friends that I graduated with and I went to a yummy little place to catch up and hang out. We met at the cutest bakery/cafe called Gourmandise. I'd highly recommend you check this place out if your ever in the Salt Lake Area because they've got fantstic food for lunch and dinner and delicious pastries of all kinds!

Check out these cute little fruity tarts... mmmmmmmmm!

Check out these cute little ladies! We totally scarffed down our food- I wish I took a picture of our food before it was in our belly's! Check it all out for yourself at:
http://gourmandies.com/index.html

Our Ward is Cool.

We've really grown to love our ward (incase you don't know what a ward is- it's Mormon speak for a congregation). Sam is a Scout Leader and I'm a CTR teacher for the 7 year-olds. Infact, tomorrow my team teacher Amanda and I are throwing a party for our class because they've been so good and attentive in class! Anyway, besides loving our callings, we've also had some fun at different ward activities.

A lady in our ward is a retired drama Teacher. This darling lady decided to put together a Mystery Dinner Play for the adults in the ward. Sam was hesitant to attend because he was SUPPOSED to be in it and totally never showed up for rehearsals. Anyway, they made do and right before it started, Sam decided he'd like to go. I was glad because I really wanted to and I especially wanted that weekend to be all about ME because Sam had been sick with influenza B for like a whole WEEK (I think the "B" makes it sound much more professional- if a flu can be pofessional...)!

I didn't get a really good picture, but here's the back of someone's head and the stage! Honestly, I think Sam and I both expected the play to be really cheesy; however we were both pleasantly suprised when it turned out HILARIOUS! Seriously, it was so fun to see our friends in our ward in a totally different context. Especially Bonnie (the retired drama teacher) who I just thought was just a sweet lady that played the organ on Sunday... what an understatement! She's certainly sweet- but she's also hilarious and full of so much energy! She played a famous actress who had her precious ruby stolen on a movie set. I think my favorite part of her costume was her bright red feather boa. I don't think I'll ever look at her the same! Also, our friend Natalie proved to be quite the drama diva! She cracked us all up as she was playing the "woefull, wrongfully accused suspect" of the ruby thieving! All in all, it was a great night and it made us love and appreciate our ward even more!

Besides the mystery dinner play, the Primary Presidency held an "awards night" to share their appreciation with all of us Primary Teachers. The decorated the relief society room- yes, that's a red carpet (boy am I easy to please!) and presented us each with an award accompanied by our own "Golden Statue". Can't you tell I'm excited? The award just highlighted each of our strengths as a teacher:
As you can SEE- my award was for "Attention Getting" when I teach my class. Well, if you know me at all, you know I LOVE attention! I think the award was very fitting :)

Oh! And there's our ward Starlett- Natalie and her husband Mike recieving their awards! They're tons of fun and they have the cutest kids in the ward- hands DOWN! I have to admit though, the best part of the night was when the Primary Presidency showed us a tape they put together of the kids in our classes talking about why they liked their teachers. It was so cute to see the kids talk about all of us and made my little heart just MELT and want to give them all hugs when I saw them on Sunday! Man- they're so freakin' cute- it makes it all worth it!

Keep scrolling down for a post I added earlier today- I had to catch up and post a few!

Dance Dance Revolution with the Kinney's!

Our friends Kadie and Jacob invited Sam and I over for a little dining and dancing! Kadie is PREGGERS, but it doesn't stop this dancing diva from when it comes to DDR (Dance Dance Revolution). She is the reigning QUEEN, and as you'll see in the video below- Jacob is reigning KING! Sam, you ask? I think he's the Jester and I'm the laundry girl to them all...

Kadie's a ROCKSTAR and I LOVE her little baby bump! how CUTE! You GO girls (Kadie's having a girl... I'm sure she'll be just as "kickin" as Kadie is)!Can you see the concentration in my face? Yeah, it takes a lot of effort for me... AWKWARD!

This video speaks for itself... SHAKE it Sam!

Hangin' wit da boyz

So. last weekend was all about Sam! We had some of his buddies over on Friday night that he sold pest control with down in San Antonio; Daniel Woodall and Tyler White. We played Settlers of Zarahemla, the card game Golf, and a Ticket to Ride- some of our favorite board games! Anyways, I played the "perfect wife" and made everyone Orange Chicken and Rice for dinner, organic Apple slices and even splurged on Chocolate Covered Pretzles... I know, I'm kind of a big deal. There might have been too much excitement though because Woodall got it planted into Sam's head that he needed to buy "EPIC DUELS"- a Star Wars board game that is no longer made and you have to spend a million dollars to get it on ebay... well, not that much, but SHEESH! Anyway, I'll finish that story later.

Saturday morning we decided we'd head down to watch the BYU vs. UTAH Basketball game in Provo- Sam was stoked! BYU won the game (whoo hoo!) and it was neck to neck the whole time. Of course Sam and I had fun belting our lungs out to the Cougars victory song every 15 minutes- it was good times!

Just when you thought our weekend couldn't get any more FUN, Saturday night we met up with Sam's favorite mission companion, (Elder) Winslow Burton and his wife Heidi. We ate at this DELICIOUS little Chinese grill called Charlie Chow's Dragon Grill in Salt Lake City! We always love finding new spots and this one was definitely a winner! It's kind of like a Mongolian grill style- where you put all of the fresh ingredients you want in a bowl with sauce and have the grill-meister cook it up for you- soooo good- I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a yummy, casual and fun place to eat (nicely designed atmosphere too). http://www.charliechows.com/index.htm

So, it was all about Sam last weekend- but it turned out to be just as much of a blast for me- maybe because I love him soooooooo much!
P.S.- Sam suprised me on Monday with his "by the way... I kind of bought EPIC DUELS on ebay today on my lunch break..." It looks like we'll be seeing a lot more of Daniel Woodall at our place- good times! Well, it's all good I guess, because now I can buy something for myself for the same amount of money he spent- I love how things always work out!

Our California Christmas!

Going home to SLO (San Luis Obispo, CA) is always breath-taking! Pictured above is one of my favorite little Central Coast treasures- looking through the "cave" (it's more like an arch) at Whales Cove and down to the beach. You'll see some more pictures of this little spot further on down!We stayed with my parents- aren't they the cutest?! My mom's been married to Dave for over 11 years now and they still act like newly-weds; I LOVE it!

Merry Christmas Mom and Dave- A bunch of us kids got them digital photo frames! Doesn't she look stoked?! I just think my mom is the cutest and most lovely lady ever! She's super photogenic!

Merry Christmas Sam! A cedar amunition box with some new books to add to our library. Now that he's not in school and can read whatever he wants- he LOVES it! I got him a few books about his favorite subject; the Founding Fathers and early American History- may sound nerdy- but he really loved it! The cedar box has geese carved onto the side, but it's hidden by wrapping paper.

Me with my neices Shmourtney (Courtney), Blabigail (Abigail), and their new little TINY brother- Atticus (I'll figure out a quirky nick-name soon!) McKay and Chris sure now how to make 'em cute!

One of my favorite things during the holidays; singing Christmas carols at my mom's piano- She and Hillary look so happy! I think it's because Haylee and I sound AMAZING!

Another fun thing I got to do during the holiday was come up with an exterior paint scheme for Hillary and Roberts Craftsman-style bungalow. This is the before shot; there will be after shots when they paint it!

My mom and I went shopping at Pacific Coast Home & Garden the day after Christmas and my mom snagged a killer deal on some accessories for her mantel- they would have been like 3 for $180 and she got all three for $20. Too much fun- look at that smile on her face!

This is my other new nephew! Konner is Brigham and Shandells second little boy and isn't he TO DIE FOR CUTE! Look at those thighs- not to be wierd, but I just want to nibble on them!

My nephew Emerson, Sam and I went to another Central Coast Treasure together; the Monarch Butterfly Grove in Oceano! They come through town I think on their way to Mexico and stay on the Central Coast for a few months in the Winter.

Believe it or not- here's a literal "bunch" of butterflies just up in the trees! When we first got there- I didn't even notice these bunches because I just thought they were bunches of leaves!

One tender little butterfly soul on the ground. Don't worry- he was still alive, and I wanted to move him to safety, but some hippy chick told me "I don't think you should touch it- we're supposed to leave it where nature intends it to be!" I thought to myself- "Where- on the bottom of someones birkenstock?!!!" Well, at least I got a good picture!

View from the Butterfly Grove to the Ocean- can you see it?

A lovely little Ice Plant Flower. Thank you Digital Macro!

Me! The town of Pismo Beach is in the background.

Another view from Whales Cave- looking toward the shore of Pirates Cove (it's a nudey beach, but we didn't see any nudeys... just nude seals!)

Sam and Dave prepping the wall for crown moulding at my parents house. Sam had been wanting to help my folks with their moulding since July! He was litteraly SO excited to work with his hands and help out; not to mention he looked pretty hunky showing off his manly carpenter skills!

I LOVE this picture! Sweet baby Atticus in his Grandma's loving arms; she has such a way with babies!

Sam and I walked around downtown SLO and snapped this picture in Bubblegum Alley... yes, an entire alley completely covered with bubblegum... They have stuff like 1940 written in bubblegum! Yes my friends, another true Central Coast Treasure!

Mother Nature displays her best Plate Tectonics at Montana de Oro

Sandpipers "diggin" the sand as much as we did!

Happy Birthday Sammy! Even though he shares a birthday with Old Father Time (New Years Eve) he was a spoiled boy! He got a juicer, (he totally wanted it and we really love it now!) a book (of course) and some Cabela gift cards (insert masculine grunt here); not to mention his other gift below...

Sam went golfing with my brothers and Dave on the morning of his birthday! Thanks Dave and Brigham!

We went to this FABULOUS Teppan style Japanese restaurant in Pismo Beach for New Years Eve called Yanagi. We all just sat around the grill and watched our delicious food be prepared right before our eyes! I ordered salmon and it was some of the best salmon I'd ever had! I don't know what Sam was thinking- he ordered chicken...

Brigham and Shandell had a little get-together at their new house in Templeton for New Years Eve; it was WAY fun because we played Guitar Hero- World Tour! Let's just say I totally rock the Casbah at the drums... seriously.

We ventured up to Santa Rosa to visit my brother Joe and his beautiful family (Joe- you're beautiful too). Little Kate, Ethan and big sister Robyn below!

She always draws me little pictures that say "I LOVE YOU" She's the best!

K- a random end for my entry, but Charles Shulz (the creator of the Peanuts gang) resided for quite a long time in the Santa Rosa area. There are Ode to Snoopie and gang statues everywhere! So, besides almost getting car-jacked in San Francisco, we LOVED our Christmas Holiday!

Dreams can come true!

Sam and I went to the Coldplay- Viva la Vida concert on Saturday night and it was UNBELIEVABLE! Sleepercar opened up for them and I ended up really liking them too- never heard of them before Saturday. But enough about that! Coldplay played about 20 songs and I was screaming the entire time- Sam thought he lost his wife and a stranger was jumping up and down and singing at the top of her lungs next to him- but I couldn't contain myself!

During the song Lovers in Japan, a vast array of paper butterflies were released from the rafters- it was BEAUTIFUL and you better believe I went down after the concert and took two pocket-fulls! The lady guarding the entrance to the main floor said "And where do you think you're going?" I told her I left my purse and had to go find it. She fell for it and this is how I got my pretty concert momentos. We had a blast- even though we were sitting in the nosebleed section- the energy was contagious, the music and visuals were vibrant and unforgettable! They're in the US for a few more days and I told Sam that I want to fly to Anaheim or Phoenix and see them all over again!