christmas, part III

If you live in Utah, I suggest you take a trip to Midway and hit up Soldiers Hallow for some great tube sledding. There is actually a place a tad bit better in Park City, but if you're looking for something closer, this is great too. We met up with our cousins and tubed away down the snowy hills. It was a blast, the little kids LOVED it. My nephew Andrew said that this was his favorite thing he did all week long. The scenery was incredible when you made it to the top of the hill and once again, it was truly a winter wonderland. On the way home we made a pit stop to Heber Cities famous burger joint, Dairy Keen. The joint is full of trains that keep the kids a rollin'. Of course we dipped our burgers and drenched our fries in Utah's famous fry sauce. It's funny to me that fry sauce is only in Utah when all it is is ketchup mixed with mayo. Either way, I could drink it. Man, we seriously never stopped eating this past week. I didn't know my stomach could be stretched so wide. Good thing the new year has struck today and it's back to square one only this time, it's for real go time. No fooling around. I'm getting hip hop ship shape. I'm a bridesmaid in THREE weddings! THREE. I don't want to regret anything that's going to be plastered all over the internet, if you know what I mean, so all of this in shape talk... is for real. Besides, the whole goal for this new year is to just be flat out healthy, think about my mind and body and leave it at that. I want to be happy with myself and proud of the decisions I make. So here's to a GREAT christmas vacation and to a HAPPY new year!

christmas, part II

I will say this, Utah is kind of the place to be during Christmas. It really makes you feel like the hallmark holiday card, or all of the classic Christmas movies you watch every year. It really sets the mood and its just flat out jolly! Really though, the cabins were all spaced out enough to where you felt as if you were in the middle of no where, but they were close enough to where you'd wave to your neighbor as they flew by on their snow mobile. The aspen trees were so beautiful and white, I could not stop taking pictures of them for the life of me. It really was as if we were living in a winter wonderland. We were far way from the town and in our own little world with jolly people. The streets were always filled with packs of snow mobiles and kids sledding down the streets. One night, I took a walk out side to take some pictures and all the way across the field were a bunch of log cabins lit up with smoke coming out of the chimney and I could hear them blasting "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and for a second I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It was not real life. But it was awesome. 

We did everything under the sun; the zoo and I built a snow igloo for the kids and they LOVED IT! We went snow mobiling which I vow to never do again, or at least not do on my own as I was left BEHIND and my snow mobile was flying BACKWARDS down a major hilly road as I was flooring on the gas. So that was fun. We met up with all of the cousins and hit up Soldiers Hallow in Midway, Utah for some tube sledding. We went snow shoeing and watched my dads traditional christmas movie which has now become one of my favorites, "It's a Wonderful Life." My dad LOVES that movie and it was always so hard for him to get us to watch it when we were little. I don't know why I ever had trouble with it seeing as how I LOVE Jimmy Stewart, Classic films and the black and white, but for some reason, it was a struggle for me also. But it always meant a lot to him if we sat down and watched it. So this time, I made sure to really tune in and of course I fell in love with it. I plan on watching it every christmas with my dad, even if it's just the two of us, because it's special to him, therefore it's special to me. I plan on carrying that tradition with my little family and Im sure the day I have kids they'll have no desire to watch it, so i'll be just as satisfied watching it on my own. 

This Christmas Vacation really was a dream come true. I look back at it with a huge grin on my face and wish I could go back and relive every moment being with my family. 

christmas, part I

Christmas was very good to me this year. Our christmas vacation was filled with nothing but family and good memories. We spent a week up in Heber City, Utah in a log cabin deep in the woods and I actually am surprised to say, I wouldn't have had it any other way. The company was precious, the food was over the top to die for, the cabin was magical and the week itself was one that will never be forgotten. I can't get enough of my family. With my sister and her family moving back home to Georgia where my parents are, and the chances of my other sister and her family moving back home to Georgia, and with the zoo and I left in Utah, this week was a little bittersweet. I am so excited that my sisters are moving back home near my parents because going home to Georgia will be even more of a blast when I go home. It does sadden me a bit that they'll all be together in my favorite place in the world, together. So I did not waste any time at the cabin. I spent all that I could with my family. I am excited for what this new year will bring for the zoo and I. Though we'll be some of the last standing it Utah, I think we can make the best of it and take advantage of the mountains and crisp air while we can, because we ALL know... we ain't living here for the rest of our lives. I am just glad that I have the zoo by my side, all of the time, to keep me company, keep me laughing and keep me happy and grateful for everything that's around me and for everything in my life.

I am very grateful for my family. I am very blessed that we will be together for eternity and that they are mine all mine. They are so important to me. I hope you were able to spend some special moments with your family for christmas. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight.

christmas vacation jingle jams.

christmas vacation is just right around the corner. im ready to kick back, drink that nog and shimmy around the tree as i jam to my favorite christmas tunes. here's my official christmas playlist for december of twenty-twelve. jingle all the way. 

a winter cool down.

a winter cool down of jams. kick up your feet, sip that eggnog, listen to the crackling of the fire and dig into that cheeseball while you kick back to these favorite jams of mine for a winter cool down. 

PENCIL FULL OF LEAD

paolo nutini

KEEP ON PUSHING

the impressions

POSTCARDS FROM ITALY

beirut

BRING IT HOME TO ME

sam cooke

THANK YOU PRETTY BABY

brook benton

MOON RIVER

louis armstrong

SING SING SING (WITH A SWING)

the benny goodman orchestra

MAN ON FIRE

edward sharpe & the magnetic zeros

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN

billie holiday

HOME

phillip phillips

RIDE (EDITIED VERSION)

land del rey 

frosting the state of utah.

the state of utah was graced with frost this past weekend. normally, i feel the need to keel over and die when the first major snow fall hits the state. but oddly, this year i have been pretty excited and positive with the weather. more open minded, i guess you could say. the snow fell hard and covered the land and it sure was a dreamscape. this years first major snow fall was unique and even more exquisite due to the fact that the orange, yellow and green fall leaves still had yet to fall. with that said every color was magically frosted with  snow making the state glow with color. the trees were so heavy due to the inches plus the leaves that many trees did split and fall on cars and in the yards of houses. luckily the zoo and i decided to take my car to the james bond movie because when we arrived home, my normal parking spot was dumped with large tree branches. unfortunately the snow will melt this week and that's okay because i always love my dosage of warmth and sunshine.

these four photos above were taken from myself and my friends off instagram. so many people captured the most beautiful landscapes of the snow fall, that i had to share. here are a few of my favorites. if i had a prize i'd hand them out because my jaw dropped when i saw these photos.

1. this photo was taken by my friend kelsey who currently lives in salt lake. she was able to capture a frosted sunset of the state capital.

2. this photo was taken by my friend deb in provo. i can't get over how much this photo looks like a watercolor. it is truly dreamy.

3. this photo was captured by myself. i thought it was really cool until i saw all of the other photos above. but i still love it because this was taken on our street right out side of our house at midnight. i loved seeing the swamp of trees frosted and hanging heavy over the pavement. it was magical.

4. this photo was taken by my friend whitney. i love the pops of green and oranges/yellows in this.

i hope your weekend was enjoyable and safe no matter what your weather was! onto a productive week we go!