Birthday Continued....

After the spa we decided we needed to check out IKEA. I hadn't gone yet and was really excited. I was totally blown away. What amazing stuff and so inexpensive. I bought some place mats, sheets, a platter, and a nice glass gallon jar all for only $30, what a steal! I can't wait until I have my own place and I can get even more. Mom bought me a very cute red duvet cover with white flowers on it and a whole bunch of other stuff for her.

Then we needed a little refreshment and relaxation so we hit Jamba Juice and then sat at home for a little while before we had to meet everyone for dinner. We went to Buca di Beppo where for dinner you eat family style. Basically you order a few dishes and everyone serves themselves out of those. It took a little while to pick but I think everyone was happy. It was really good. My friends gave me some presents. Melanie and Carrie gave me some really cute place mats with adorable napkins and two small dipping sauce dishes. (This is all to make my drawing dinners more fun) Alyson gave me an apron from Anthropologie that was so amazing. I loved it. I have been wanting an apron for a long time. I got sung to and blew out some candles on a candelabra. We shared some dessert and then most everyone headed back to my house to hang out for a while.

Then Mom, Loralee, Alyson and I went to see Laughing Stock at the Off Broadway Theatre. Alyson and I have really become regulars there and I had some coupons. One of our favorite actors was there and he was hilarious as usual, though they did still do the sketch that we all hate, but yet again passed up the opportunity to voice our opinion when we chatted with the owner. Seriously, though if you are ever in the Salt Lake valley on a Friday or Saturday night then check these guys out or go see their funny parody plays. They are very silly but fun to watch and have audience interaction.

The next morning Mom and I met up with my brother and his wife for breakfast at Little America. Oh my gosh it was so good. Their bacon was the perfect amount of crispness, the fruit is amazing, and the potatoes were yummy. So glad we went there. Good suggestion mom.

Later that night I had my bookclub meeting and our lovely hostess had made cupcakes with a little singing candle in one. They sang to me and those cupcakes were really good. I still have a few at my house. So sweet! Oh and my visiting friend, visiting teaching partner and fellow bookclub gal gave me a couple of books too. One was even on my list to read and I'm really excited to read the other one.

This weekend has really reminded me of how many good friends and family members that I have. I need that sometimes. I am so lucky to be so loved. All of these people do so much for me even when it isn't my birthday so to all of you who were involved this weekend or thought of me from afar, thank you so much. I love you all so much and thanks for my birthday one of the greatest.

Birthday Weekend--Spa Day

My last few birthdays have been so good and this one was no exception. My mom, whom I haven't shared a birthday with in a few years, came up on Friday night. She and I had an appointment the next morning for a whole spa day. It was so wonderful.

First Service:
Mom: Massage --deep tissue which gave her some back pain afterward
Me: Manicure-- shaping, salt scrub, lotioned massage and paraffin wax then paint nails red (sizzle from Brazil was what it was called)

Before getting my nails painted, they had me change into a wrap around towel and a robe so as not to mess up my nails when I need to undress for my massage. I was in it the rest of the day.

Second Service:
Mom: Manicure --safe pink (I believe it was called prom pink)
Me: Massage -- full body (there was even some light butt touching) though overall it was good, there were times when the pressure was a bit much but I wouldn't let myself say anything. It lasted for a really long time. Her c.d. player was broken which i didn't mind at first but then it would have been a welcome thing. The silence and breathing was a little weird. But seriously mostly it was so good.

Third Service:
Mom: Pedicure-- matching pink nails and yay no callouses ( there is a salt scrub, lotion massage and paraffin wax.)
Me: Pedicure --I got french tips and apparently no callouses either.
We ate lunch from Gandolfo's while we got our pedicures. I was little worried that it might hurt a little but I didn't notice what she was doing very much. Our girls were really nice. We talked to them a little bit. There was a girl next to mom getting a pedicure who was getting a ton of skin buffed off our heel. It was crazy and a little nasty.


Fourth Service: Facial
Oh this was so good. The perfect thing to end on. The same girl who did my manicure gave me the facial and the girl who did my pedicure gave mom hers. I took off my robe but left the towel on because I figured nothing was gonna happen the neck down. Heather was really nice. She had a c.d. player and that made it even more relaxing. As I was lying there I was concentrating on what she was doing and her movements and even the movments of getting a massage was like this whole choreographed thing. Like a little dance they do on your body. The timing needs to be perfect and the pressure. It gave me even more appreciation for what they do. While I had a mask on Heather massaged my arms with a warm towel, oh those warm towels felt so good. Then she massaged my feet and that was wonderful. All of these things required a generous helping of lotion in all the services. I have never been so moisturized in my life. Oh she also did place a blinding light on my face to point out any flaws but she said that I had amazing texture but a few scars here and there. Poor mom had to get a few zits and things taken care of so it was little more painful for her.

We were there for about 5 1/2 hours. I think well worth $150.00 each. Thanks again mom for doing that with me. It was so much fun.

Stay tuned for the rest of my birthday celebration.

Seen on an evening stroll

The other night I went on walk around my neighborhood. I went down streets I had never been on before and some that I had driven on. I took my camera with me because I knew these streets would be interesting. I love walking around the area and seeing all the different houses. It made me sad to think of those people who buy the houses in the rising developments where all the houses look exactly the same, you have to go inside to gauge their personality. These houses had their own personality. Enjoy the pictures.

I love how roses just seem to grow automatically around here. I remember my mom trying to plant roses at our house and we just couldn't seem to get them to grow but they flourish here.

Aren't these trees sad?

I just think this house is cute. If the fence was painted white that would be the ultimate.

The old and the new.

Doesn't this look like a little doll house. I would love to come home to this.

The Lavendar House with the amazing yard. Someone has put a lot of work into this. The water feature makes the yard smaller but very interesting.

And it goes all down the side of the house with a little swing to sit in and read.

Such a nice street to walk on.

This house has a huge backyard that is pretty unkempt. But I like it. It gives it a country feel in the middle of the city.

For some reason I love to take pictures of running water. I don't know why. I'm just drawn to it.

This house wasn't anything special except that a uproarious laughter came out of it as I passed by.

I felt a little odd taking pictures of people's houses. That at any moment someone would come bursting out their front door and demand a reason why I was taking pictures of their house or yard. That never happened. There was this one house I wanted to take a picture of that was slightly a grey color and kind of run down and someone in the living room was watching a black and white movie. I thought it was cool but again I thought it might not be looked at kindly if I took a picture through someone's window.

Weekly Dinners

Last night was my first Weekly Drawing Dinner. Here is the concept: I have created a list people's names and I put those names into a bowl and draw out a few people each week to join me for dinner. I just bought a new cookbook that looks like it has great stuff and I want to cook something new each week and also get to know people better. The point of drawing is to mix up everybody so they get to possibly meet new people or get to know others better as well. Also, this will help me be a little more outgoing and improve my hostess skills.

Last night I had my cousin, my roommate and a few fellow ward members who weren't really acquainted with each other. I cooked Grilled Raspberry Glazed chicken with a side of green salad with Raspberry vinagrette dressing and biscuits. Everyone said it was very good. I would have liked mine if my chicken had been cooked all the way through. I'm just relieved that I got that one and everyone else's was fully cooked. I felt like the conversation went really well. Loralee helped out a lot with that. Then Alyson had brought a lovely dessert, cake and ice cream. I think there might have been a few awkward moments but they were very fleeting.
I concluded dinner with having the attendees draw for next week's lucky winners.

Then most of us stayed for a movie. Loralee and I are starting a weekly musical night. So we decided to combine the two things. I had her draw which movie out of my musical collection we would be watching. She chose Summer Magic. I was excited because she had never seen it before. I love this movie. There are a few boring moments but overall a wonderful movie. There isn't a kiss at the end but that is understandable as the love interest doesn't enter the movie until the last fifteen minutes of the film but he does it in a dramatic way. I giggled a little. Plus the songs are so great. We sang along to the ones we knew. My favorite is the "Act Feminine" song. Here are some of the lyrics:

Laugh but not loudly (ha ha)
If he should make a joke.
Be radiant, but delicate
Memorize the rules of etiquette
Be demure, sweet and pure
Hide the Real You!
This is what a girl should know
If she wants to catch a beau.

Love it!

Anyway, I think the night went really well. I hope that subsequent dinners will go as well if not better. Though they probably won't get treated to a movie unless they want to.

Small Annoyances

I watched a movie over the weekend that I had seen before. The 1956 version of Anastasia starring Yul Brynner and Ingrid Bergman. I thought in mind that this was a good movie. I love the story and Yul Brynner and Ingrid Bergman would make an interesting couple in the movie. They did, however, when they finally realize their love for each other, I was totally thwarted by the director. They get together off screen. It is only suggested at by other characters that they have run away together. Where was my end of movie kiss?! I was watching this with my friend and when the screen said "The End" I couldn't help but yell "What?! That's it!" Totally ruined the movie for me. There have been a few other films that have left me so unsatisfied. It doesn't matter if the whole rest of the movie is good, if I don't see the main couple kiss in the end to solidify that they would live happily ever after, well the movie is just ruined. ( there might be one exception, which is Pride & Prejudice. I can't remember if they kiss in the end or not)

As I look back on it I think I have only seen one movie where Yul Brynner kisses the female lead out of love and doesn't take it by force. He just really isn't known for playing the romeo, I guess. It would have been interesting though to see him try. I tried to play it out in my head a different way the story could have ended. It was a little difficult. Anyway, I will try to remember in the future not to watch that movie anymore.

Also, when a complete stranger interrupts my reading. I decided to eat lunch outside a week or so ago and read while doing so. A man walks up to me and asks the time, which is fine. I tell him and then he proceeds to tell me how he missed the train. I tell him another will be along in a few minutes. He didn't need to wait long. After each of my sentences I look down to continue reading my book. He continues to talk to me. Commenting on my food (Crown Burger) and how his bishop has taken him there sometimes. I give some polite acknowledgment but looking up now and them but making it pretty obvious that I want to read my book. Finally a train comes and he takes his leave. I don't know why things like this bother me so much. I'm just not comfortable talking to strangers, I guess.

Time to Try Try again

It's June 1st and I am going to try to lose weight again. Especially, now that I have packed on another ten pounds (sshh). I'm not gonna do anything too drastic. Well, maybe a little, but things need to change. Here is the plan:

-Drink more water (1 diet coke per day, which I'm a little sad that I'm already drinking mine early in the morning)
-Intersperse between Subway and Lean cuisine for lunch (today will be spaghetti)
-Candy intake will be reduced to Jolly ranchers (also to help me stop biting my fingernails
-Cook more dinners with a focus on smaller portions (bought a cookbook just for this)
-Try to go on a walk every night (I'm taking an idea from my cousin and aunt where I will rent audio books to download onto my ipod and will only allow myself to listen to it if I'm walking. So if it's a good book I'll walk more)
-Find other things than eating (including my fingernails) to occupy my time while watching a movie like: origami, scrapbooking, or just sit still.
-Will allow one night a week to eat out.
-Two nights out of the week must be for reading. (doesn't really affect the weight loss goal but just thought I would throw that in there, probably won't last after the Fall season starts though but at least for the summer.)


All of this with the mantra "I really wonder what I would look like if I was skinny"


scroll down for a picture of me with my new hair color.