When in ROME... Wear a HEADLAMP?

Hmmm...iM not entirely sure that is how the quote goes.

In this case, it does the boys were prepared. Because its summer, and you camp in the summer & we live in Utah and thats what you do.


So we did. a few weeks ago {sorry iM losing my real time blogging desire} we CAMPED! It was a little bit of a whirlwind.


We dove up Hobble Creek Canyon. I was towing for the first time the quads. I was pretty proud of myself. Good times as we hit the off road section of the trek.


It was nice for Scott to ask if I thought the trailer could make it.


No one thought to ask Caitlyn/Morgan if they could make it up a few miles off road in the KIA...it was the scream and grinding sound that stopped the truck.



The first fifteen million sites we stopped at were taken. THEN We met a nice camper who gave us his site.so we got set up.and started the tin foil dinners.

YUM ours were teriyaki chicken with onions, bell peppers and pineapple! Pretty freaking good for camping foods. We also downed [Ashie Jacks Snacks/homemade oreos/cookies/pop tarts/diet coke] It was a feast followed up by stuffed apples roasted on the fire. My friends like food what can i say!


We spent time riding the Quads. Talking. Chasing a run away tent. playing with moose.


It was a lot of fun. Minus the rain.mud.slipping off the trailer.freezing in the night part.

I want to GO AGAIN! NOW!!!

Any takers?

♥ Single Girl

See more HERE

Happily Ever After

There was this {ONCE} when my sister Brooke got married. She was a BEAUTIFUL bride. It was a gorgeous setting, a lovely ceremony and a party all night.



except for that middle part (where it was so unbearably hot that my sister in law fainted, we all looked glossy and i about died for lack of water)...it was amazing.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Tyler Schaaf

click to enlarge

♥ Single Girl

iM HOME!

When I say HOME iM not talking woodland hills, iM TALKING CALIFORNIA!!!

iM back in the bay area for my sisters wedding, and its [weird/fun/exciting/cool] to be back home. Since my parents haven't lived here in years, its a bit weird to see how my old home town has completely changed, and at the same time: It's the EXACT same.


On the agenda for this trip:

Wicked, A's V Giants, laying out by the pool, visiting my grandfather at the hospital, Mani/Pedi, My sisters keeper, boccie ball, dinner, dinner, dinner, wedding, reception, brunch, pictures, Nate, friends, dancing and so on.

should be a good few days. I'll have plenty to report when I get back. Unless I stay forever...

♥ Single Girl

It’s been SAID before that

When man plans, God Laughs. iM beginning to think this statement is more true than I would like.

iM a planner. I hate it. At times that I feel completely lost, drowning, spinning out of control in my own life if I don’t have some ridiculous menial goal to be working towards. But it’s a reality for me. It’s who I am. I work on being more go with the flow (yeah i know, working on it negates being laid back). I vacation. I allow myself amounts of time where I can handle no plan. Like [my Asia trip/when we were in Mexico a few years back/Saturday night vegging out]

So I make plans. Arbitrary plans that help me feel [calm/controlled/motivated/empowered]. Plans that I KNOW 99.9% of the time will fail. Plans that 150% of the time are dreams, over sensational and would be amazing, but are next to impossible. Plans that make me live a fantasy life of excitement and adventure, if only in my head.

CURRENTLY I have no grand plan.
I have a job.a place to live. Stability.

This is when I get antsy. This is when I CRAVE a change. Anything.something.

I googled: how to plan your life. There is a cool work book about it here. I printed it (oops 58pages). I started going through it, seemed a little too simple. Dumbed down even. THEN I noticed:

Yep. {ME} and the mentally ill are planning our lives….the rest of the google search seemed pretty fruitless.

So I am OPEN for suggestions… WHAT should I do with my life?

♥ Single Girl

I got myself a JOB

When I think about how much TIME I spend at work, it starts to freak me out a little. I mean historically, through the years, you spend a lot of time working. So if you hate your job- good luck.

iM almost three weeks into my new job and I am enjoying the change. Getting a new job is a weird transition. So many things to learn, skills to master, programs to become familiar with. it’s a little overwhelming at first. I guess I spent so much time doing my last job it just became second nature. I had worked hard, proved myself. That endeavor starts over again and so far so great.

So my job now is the Distributor Support Trainer. I know big cool title huh? I work for a MLM company who has distributors all over the world selling our products. When they have questions about compensation, business building, or new opportunities they call my team! Isn’t that cool? So I train all of our new agents, get them ready for their jobs and supervise them for the their first few months on the job. I am LOVING IT.

I work with some really great people. Some have been with the company for the last 20 years, some for the last 2 months. Each and every one of them is dedicated to their job- which makes mine a lot easier.

Highlights Thus far:

· Getting a GIANT mirror for my desk rear view
· Taking my first escalated call (I was nervous)
· The DS BBQ- it was fun to hang out with my coworkers off the clock and after hours.
· Getting a Jeffie Award
· Helping with the Ruby Trip Amazing Race
· Learning so much!
· Seeing our internal pages being updated {this little project was a few months in the making}
· Getting to know all the agents better

· Giving input on the department.

· Signing time adjustment sheets

· MONITORING calls

· Learning about DEXTER and becoming OBSESSED

· Singing the Range Rover Song

· Seeing my name on applications as "Most Recent Supervisor"

· Getting to work one on one with the agents

Since the supervisors are in and out a lot we started a status board, that was renamed the Sup Twitter Board. That way when people need to find us, they know where we are. Today someone updated my status for me, HOW lovely!

Last week my team had to help conduct tours. They all wore black and white so they looked sharp and professional. I dressed accordingly in case I needed to step in. I couldn't resist taking a picture with these lovely ladies.

So as much as sometimes I wish (no YA don’t <- For Ashie): I was independently wealthy and could spend my days lounging by a pool, drinking Pina Coladas (virgin of course) , and reading books/Gossip Mags; My Job (since most of us HAVE to have them) Is pretty freaking great.

Though we miss Caitlyn.

♥ Single Girl

I wish i was a STAY at home Single

These are thing I would do if I was a stay at home single:

• complete my 26 for 26 list
• read the GIANT stack of books I have been collecting
• finish watching Dexter
• ride my bike more
• finish my sewing projects
• cook dinner for anyone who wanted to eat
• enjoy summer weather
• explore part of Utah I have never been to.
• Thrift shop
• finish my Ethiopia projects
• get my hair done
• go to graduate school
• volunteer at the mental hospital
• spend time with my nieces
• take a photo class
• swim
• float the Provo River
• garden
• blog stalk
• make plans
• be friendlier... maybe

♥ Single Girl

This place is so LOADED

With Memories.

I drove the canyon this weekend. With all the rain it’s lush and green and beautiful, in a way I have never seen it. It reminded me of you. I drove fast.recklessly around the curves, across the lanes in the hope that I could escape you.

Past the curve that still reminds me of the car wreck. The night I went out with friends to sit in the hot pots and never expected we’d see a drunk girl slam into the canyon wall. I called you that morning, early when we finally got home. I was shaken. I couldn’t get the image on her car lights bouncing across the road out of my mind. You weren’t mad I woke you. You listened to me try to explain how socked I was. You told me stories until I fell asleep. Your voice calmed me. Your presence, though distant comforted me.

The park where you held my by the river. Our shoes were off and my feet were cold. I told you secrets I have told no other. We laughed so long my sides ached and my cheeks burned. When we were flashed by the cops I got so scared, until he asked me: "Miss, are you all right? Do you need any help?"

Past the road where we talked after you broke my {heart}. the tears.pain. You apologized. Begging for understanding. Trying desperatly to make me see. I could not resist you.

You pulled me in kissed me softly. at first.

Gentle.Kind sweet kisses.

Then more fervently. Desperate to forget.

I missed this touch, this connection.

silently we ragged on.

Lips pleading earnestly for forgiveness I could never give you.

Time goes on and makes me forget. It lessens the sensation of the memories I have of you. Mostly I forget that you were such a part of my life. I don’t think about you much anymore. I don’t pray for you. I don’t rationalize what happened. Or second guess my life without you in it.

Every now and again I remember. How deeply I loved you. How sad I was to have lost you.

And for a moment I let myself wonder if you ever think about me.

♥ Single Girl

VIVA LAS VEGAS!

Sooooo I like to be as elusive as possible. In order to you know avoid my roommates, maintain my mysterious allure to my neighbors, I took off again for a few days. There was this one time, when some of my friends went on a trip to Mexico, then we went again with just girls, then we wanted to do it again.

And like life usually goes, you can’t always get what you want. So there are times when you have to make a new plan. This year we planned Las Vegas. Which was actually surprisingly a lot fun- Seeing as we are LDS aka {don’t drink, smoke, gamble (usually), see strippers or get WILD at clubs}. So we planned some down time: I love to:[swim/read/layout/shop/eat] and we also planned a little entertainment. Here are some highlights of the trip:

• Kristen had a head ache on the way down, so Ashley drove. Kristen took some pills that were in a Tylenol container.
• She was REALLY funny/high. Everything was hilarious to her, everything she said was hilarious to us. She was woozy and out of it, which made the drive go quite a bit faster. Thank you Melatonin.


• Upon our arrival, none of our keys worked. AWESOME.
  
• That night we decided to buy some groceries to you know “Save money on breakfast and lunch”. We stopped by smiths. Upon walking in Kristen was in full swing sleep walking. She walked in like a zombie and just stared into the distance. The smiths Manager looked at her and Ash and said “WOW what’s wrong with you guys.” We all cracked up.
  
• Friday day we spent lounging around the condo and swimming. It was super relaxing. There is NOTHING like summer + fountain coke + pool + gossip mags.
  
  That night Ash and Kris went to MESA Grill so they could get closer to Bobby Flay, even if just in spirit.
  
  
• I met up with Lindsey at In-n-Out burger to head over to see PHANTOM! Which was AMAZING! We were about 5 rows back. I love phantom in Vegas. The entire Venetian theater is made Just for it, so the entire experience is surreal.

• After out Show we went to Serendipity to meet up with the other ladies! It was fun to catch up with April (MuMu) and see Carole Ann again.
  
  

We went to the Burger Bar for dinner Saturday night. We met up with some of Carole Ann’s friends. The burger bar was YUM YUM YUMMY. You can pick whatever meat, bun, and toppings you want. IT was a lot of fun to put together a burger. I would probably skip cibattia bread next time, and maybe get beef, not turkey.

Once we were STUFFED to the max we went to see the LION KING. Which could be the most amazing show I have ever seen. I was completely blown away. From the opening scene to the very last I was in awe the whole time. A MUST SEE!

We found a really fun outdoor mall thanks to MuMu (aka April). We shopped. Ate great frozen yogurt and shopped some more.

Rocking the Cheesecake Factory and & Serendipity one last time.

We even stopped by the Welcome to Las Vegas sign. Last time I did this we pulled the car up on the curb and Ryan G was FREAKING out that we would get a ticket.

NOW they have a little pull through were you can park. Nice Upgrade VEGAS!

I know this trip sounds pretty glamorous. I all reality our trip look mostly like this:

I wouldn’t have it any other way

Hilton Head 2010!

♥ Single Girl

Dear Roommate and her fake half boyfriend,

PLEASE please PLEASE stop sitting on the couch for 18 hours at a time. You guys are BORING. Seriously, why do you JUST SIT THERE? You are clogging our living room, and making me think that if sitting on a couch all night is "dating", I never want to do it again. Please go to your fake half boyfriends house.

Dear Michelle H.
I hate that you have a private blog, and iM not invited. It made me cry when I went to catch up on my Reading and I could no longer expatriate it up. Alas we should be email buddies.

check yes or no

Dear Vacation,
I miss you already.

Dear Company BBQ,
you were surprisingly fun (minus the rain, and that one girl snapping at people). I won catch phrase, and was given the potty mouth award...sad...I guess we have a new goal. SWEAR MORE.


Dear Mom's house,
You are so full on strangers its amazing. (No my parents are not divorced. Yes my dad is still alive. I have no idea why i refer to home as "My moms house".) I hope you missionaries love living in the pool house, though you cannot swim or look at girls in swim suits. Seems like a good fit, welcome home!


Dear Sunshine,
Please come out again. I need to be tanish for my sisters wedding.

thank you for your consideration


Dear Moose,
Thank you for being excited when I came by. You have gotten soooo big it made me sad. You were just a little guy last time I played with you. I promise to stop by more.

Dear life,
We NEED a new plan. We HATE not having plans, even though it seems they rarely if ever work out. So start thinking about whats next, I scheduled a meeting for later in the week, lets call it a brainstorming session.

Dear soon to be new friends,
I have a friend named Bree and we want to meet you soon. Preferably before our camping trip on the 19th. So answer our craigslist ad (no we didn't place one, but you know).

♥ Single Girl

iM not DEAD, Just BUSY

I left last week to spend some time with my girlie friends in Las Vegas. Upon our LATE late Late return Monday morning, I was slammed with a super full work day.

And today is just as busy with meetings, projects and a company BBQ. I will update soon.

{Promise}

♥ Single Girl