Creole Wisdom

the weekend review: saturday's edition

•It was such a treat to meet Miss Brittany.  She is good people, as I say, good people. 
•A little background- she and I met via the wonderful world of blogging and instantly became blog buddies
•Since Britt works in "da business" (no, not the mob, the other business) we had to crop.
•First stop P.F. Changs for lunch:

•Oh my goodness how cute is she?  I wish you could see the darling little sundress she had on- very southern, a girl after my own heart!

•So um, maybe we ordered the wrong stuff, but we were not really impressed.  But it was about nourishment dear readers, nourishment.  We had lots of scapbooking to do.
•Well, just take a look at Britt's trunk.  She obviously came prepared!  Thank goodness Pebbles has a ramp, I about peed my true religions when I saw this...

•We did not lack for a thing!  I really prefer cropping, it is I think, more economical than buying stuff then going home.  When you're right there you just buy what you need.  I made 4 layouts while spending $20.00 I think that is pretty dang good.  This was my first time cropping at Pebbles, I've done it at Archivers before, and I love all the space they give you. 
•And wouldn't you know it, a nice girl came up and talked to us, and we all exchanged blogs.  It was nice to meet you Erica : )

•We stayed for about four hours, laughing, and making a mess.  It was scrapbooking discord at its best- my favorite kind of cahois!
•Because cropping is akin to a mental/creative/left brain marathon we were hungry
•Back to University Mall, but this time for CPK. Mmm.  She had the white, I had 4-cheese with avocado (it tasted so good!)
•Then, because she is a Bath & Body Works expert we ventured there and picked up goodies- I love their new, mini hand sanitizers, and as usual I picked up a giant tub of sea island cotton cream : )
•Back at the ranch we chanted for another few hours about life, school, jobs, boys, Church, Utah... you name it.
•She's a gem! 

booked!

•I've never booked a hotel... ever.  But I've watched my parents enough times to know the basics
•Claire and I like a little luxury, life rough enough so at least you have to pamper yourself once and a while
•The night she arrives, we'll be spending a night at this posh place- the Hotel Monaco!

•Background story: I've wanted to stay here since dad came into town, but since our plans took us to Park City it became my dream deferred.  So now I finally get to stay here... ooo I cannot wait!
•I went online a few weeks ago and saw a perfect rate, $140 for one queen bed.  Talked to Claire, and then forgot to book it.  Went back this afternoon and the rate, same room, was up to $230.  Saddening. 
•So, I called them- since I'm not easily deterred- and they found me a better rate, $180- how great is that?  And get this- we get two full beds instead of one queen.  Just goes to show: ask and ye shall receive! 
•Claire called me earlier and says, "I saw they have in-room spa treatments.  We should get a couples' massage."  She's a girl after my own heart.  Um, yes please.
•So, for $90/night you and your sorority sister can stay in luxury!

a visit

you know how I just love to have guests.  this lovely lady, my Claire-bear, bear, and fellow Twilight enthusiast is coming to visit in two weeks!

(taken two days before school let out, May '08)

On the agenda:
•Salt Lake City Adventure
•American Idol try-outs (girl can sing!)
•Perhaps staying at a posh hotel
•Boys

Just Fur Doggies

Take, my buddy Jennifer.  She started her own line Just Fur Doggies, of collars and leashes she designs and sews herself.  But... she needed someone to take photos for her-

Take, me- always looking to get publicity for my photography, and also more practice/portfolio building.

The Results:

Is Snoop not the best model?  Could he really be any cuter?  Oh my goodness, made me want a doggy myself.

The best part: Jennifer's brand new website, Just Fur Doggies, with my photos and her products.  Go take a peak, and if you have a doggie get something!

a fortunate friday

I had the perfect Friday, really.  I did.  Can you believe it?  It all started like this:

•I finished a piece at work, it's all ready to air Monday, and that just feels good
•When I got home I threw off my work clothes (yep) and put on my suit
•From 5-7:45 (7:45!!!)  I sat by the pool and basked in the glorious, albeit intense Utah sun while reading:

•After my arms looked like cinnamon and my face was covered in freckles I decided dinner time was in order and went back inside
•Started the evening out right by hanging out with a bunch of my new friends at one of the guy's apartments
•After talking we decided to watch a movie, I expressed an interest in snacks!  You know how I am!  So we went to the Creamery to pick up the necessities: like two jumbo 2-for-4 packs of sour patch kids and homestyle popcorn
•We watched:

•That's a Series of Unfortunate Events, and it was a beautiful film.

cute as pie

One of the "perks" of blogging it getting to know fellow bloggers, and then reading, keeping up with their lives, all via their blog.  I think Emily Kate started talking to me when I posted on a scrapbook site about the church, way back in high school- She was kind, encouraging, and soon we started reading each other's blogs.  It was apparent that when I finally came out here that we plan a little get-together.  We met, along with another buddy at a great place in Provo-

We tasted gelato, and gabbed, gabbed, gabbed.  Favorite topics of convo:
•Filling each other in on the "real stuff," i.e. stuff that has to be vague on blogs- getting the full story!
•Learning about who I need to avoid (boy wise).  I will be wary from now on, guys!
•Just laughing over sharing  "crazy" stories

Emily was so kind to give me a ride home, and I hope  we'll get together before she heads out for exciting adventures  (eek! so thrilling).  Meeting blog friends is sort of like a treat- you kind of "know" them, so it's fun to see it all in the flesh.

first shower

I threw my very first bridal shower for Mrs. Jana (!) Saturday.  I gathered ideas from all around and consulted other people who had btdt.  Here's how it turned out.  Ya, I'm sort of proud.  I love doing this stuff!

•Decorations: MSL luminaries and floral heart

•The menu, oh the menu.  It was divine: fruit & veggie platters + dip, sour cream coffee cake, 3 kinds of quiche, and petit fours.  All homemade.  Lots of work.  Thanks to marvelous mom!

•We played two games: "Guess that Love Song" and "Have you Ever."  For the first one I simply made a CD of love songs, had the guests guess, and the winner won some chocolate.  "Have you Ever" is just a fun party game for any type of shindig- you put 5 fingers up and go around saying "have you ever _____ " if you have done _____ you put a finger down.  The last person with a finger up wins.

•Gift time.  I put an antique shutter I have been carrying around for 2 years up for those who brought cards and not packages.  I just stuck them in between each shutter.  Jana got some great goodies, no lingere though ; P  But I'm pretty sure she doesn't even need it!

•Portrait of each guest + mom.  I wanted to do sort of a photo-booth inspired shoot.  Love how it turned out:

•All in all it was quite the spectacular event.  It would not be complete however without my beverage of choice: perrier served a la lemon slice in a vintage champagne glass.  Ya for parties!

love is in the air

I like a good love story, especially if it involves my friends.

So, without further ado:

•Lindsay (the sister missionary who taught me way back in 2005) is engaged! She'll be married this summer to an awesome guy in the St. George Temple. I'll be there. I cannot wait. She is going to make one gorgeous bride! Really, she is probably one of the most beautiful people I have ever known inside and out. I could not be happier for her, and I am so lucky I get to go.

•Jana and Kevin started dating in the middle of January, got engaged on Valentine's Day, planned a July 5th wedding, but decided they couldn't wait. Wednesday they went down to the courthouse and exchanged vows. Lightening speed. Lightening speed. She is crazy, they both are, good luck to them. Obviously her parents aren't too happy, and because my mom and I felt like she needed a little celebration in light of all the negativity from her family, we are going to be throwing her a bridal party!  They are planning on getting sealed next year obviously, but have already moved into Jana's place near campus. Crazy times.

Can I catch my breath now?

come saturday morning

Erica (old roomie from last spring, new geology buddy)
+ museum trip
= much needed break and new inspiration.

Of course I went to the gift shop, and I saw this and really, really wanted it. But, I resisted the urge to purchase, but- (said in a sad voice) wouldn't that be a great toy for this summer?!?

Erica cracks me up, she's in the arts here, and whenever I gazed at a piece and said "oh that's interesting" or "how bizarre" she would stop me and say, "what is bizarre about this? What is interesting about that?" It's like having your own private museum guide.
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Have a superb weekend. I'm hoping I can have a good one too, despite today's onset of an ugly cold.

I will leave you with a little inspiration and challenge. Do a six word narrative, see what you come up with.

My favorites are:

Saved by women's magazines. How Bazaar.

Finally a mother. Destination China. Exultation.

Horoscopes often lie.....Capricorns are Wealthy

jai

so, yesterday Jana, Kev, and I went to yoga here in the suburbs. It was amazing.

I have done yoga before: at Sarah Lawrence, back in the day @ the Mac Club, at (most recently) Enrichment for Relief Society, and in home with DVDs. Because I have a dancing background (elementary-middle school)it is fun to see how some of these poses translate into classical ballet moves-

But, It was amazing. This studio heats their room, and it is so much easier to get into the more complicated poses when your muscles are more open. Great experience! Mad props to Kev who was the second guy in the class, that is so great- He said before going, "I'll be like the only guy, right?" Yep, just about!

I am hoping to go back again, and once school starts up, to sign up for some cheap yoga at the rec center. We shall see, maybe this is something I can do.

After all, I subscribe to Body + Soul, so I have to do yoga, right?

Oh, and did you know... that you burn about 600 calories/hour doing yoga? Yeah.