My Guilty Pleasures

Ever since I graduated from the U I have had a lot more time on my hands. It has been fun to pursue things that I previously had no time for. I have picked up some good and useful habits and hobbies and some that are a little more embarrassing. Here's a list.

1. I have re-arranged my apartment several times since graduating. I have only shifted the furniture once but I have moved around picture frames and accessories dozens of times.
2. The Real Housewives-- I have become a fan of the show The Real Housewives-- I will watch any season from any location. I know it is kind of a ridiculous show, but that is why i like it.
3. Target-- I get gift cards to target when I meet my sales goals. This has led to quite frequent trips to Target which has become my second favorite store behind Costco. I have created a need for many and more things I never thought i needed before.
4. Sister Wives--I have come to love the show Sister Wives, I have watched every episode. I don't know why I like it so much... I think it is just interesting to see the daily life of a polygamist family.
5. The LSAT-- I keep changing my mind about whether or not I want to go to graduate school, so over the course of the summer I have resumed study of the LSAT and quit several times... I still have not yet made up my mind...
6. FOOD--We planted a garden in the spring which means we have had an abundance of veggies all summer--mostly tomatoes (or are they fruits????) This means I have cooked quite a bit. I love to cook and since I worked at Pottery Barn I made good use of my employee discount and stocked up on almost every cooking utensil known to man at Williams Sonoma.
7. The New Yorker-- Stephen got me a subscription to the New Yorker for Christmas last year. While I was in school I didn't have much time to read it, I mostly just read the New York Times, but since graduation I have been able to spend the time reading the serious as well as the more light-hearted articles in the New Yorker.

I managed to compile a list of things i have been doing since graduation, but I have an even longer list of things I wish I would have done with my extra time... But I guess I can save those until January and just make them New Years resolutions!

the magical kingdom!

Stephen celebrated his 26th birthday on Sunday with a trip to Disneyland!!!! Actually, the trip just happened to coincide with his birthday, but i keep telling him that was his present. Here are the top 10 things that made Disneyland especially awesome this year:

1. More/Older nieces and nephews to take on rides. (they are so cute and fun, this was really the best part.)
2. Seeing Stephen's cousin Johnny and his wife Jen and their 4 cute kids.
3. Sharing a hotel suite with more cute nieces and a nephew.
4. Having the entire Stewart family (except Penelope and Jack) in Disneyland together.
5. Going to a "Princess Lunch" with nieces where we met Ariel, Aruroa, Snow White, and Cinderella!!!
6. Bacon wrapped asparagus.
7. Lots of Churros
8. Halloween decorations
9. Buying nightmare before Christmas souvenirs
10. Spending 3 whole days with Stephen.

Disneyland is really the happiest place on earth. Stephen and I were so sad to leave, but we really had a great time. Thanks Stewart Family!

Here are some Pictures.

Stephen and Daniel were best buds our first day. They went on almost all the rides together.
Not sure what David is doing in this picture.
Justin and Traci in the car with the sweetest paint job.
Dave bought ponchos for everyone so they didn't get soaked on the rapids ride.
Little Jon Jon driving the car. Look at those beautiful curly locks.

We went on the grizzly bear rapids like 10 times.
I asked olivia to smile for the camera and she stuffed this wrapper in her mouth and smiled. ha ha.

We'll miss you Disneyland...

Family Foto Fun

While we were at the ranch the Stewarts decided to take some family pictures.

Here is just one of the many family pictures

After taking the group shot, each family took their turn getting their pictures taken. Stephen and I decided we wanted some photos as well, even though we are just a family of two.

Crow Creek Ranch

Stephen's family goes to the Stewart family ranch in Crow Creek, Wyoming every year. This year we went over Labor Day weekend. The Ranch is like your typical Wyoming Ranch (or at least what picture a typical ranch being.) There are cows, horses and two dogs to keep them in line. The ranch is in a pretty rural area surrounded by pine and aspen trees. It is really beautiful.

When we go to the ranch we try to help out wherever we can. Last year we spent half the day raking up grass clippings around where the houses are and filling up a big hole where a pipe had been replaced. This year we got up early one morning and helped repair a 50 year old fence that was in disrepair due to snow, falling trees, and cattle. Although it was hard work (i really didn't do any of it, i mostly just kept the kids that came along from getting hit by swinging hammers and wood), it was really fun to see the fruits of our labors. Stephen's Uncle Brent who runs the ranch said that he had never seen the fence look so good.

The day we helped repair the fence also happened to be Stephen's Uncle Brent's birthday. (We didn't know it at the time.) Even though it was his birthday he was a good host and took us all on a horseback ride later in the afternoon. We spent the rest of our trip relaxing, going on a four-wheeler ride, playing games, and watching our cute nieces and nephews.

Here are some pictures.

Here I am on top of the Plateau looking over the Ranch.

Stephen is filling up the gas tank on the four-wheeler using these old-school-looking gas tanks
Every time Stephen goes to the ranch he finds a hat in his grandparent's house that he wears the whole trip. He chose the red one this time.
Here I am with Uncle Brent on our horse ride.

end of summer fun

the past two and a half months have been really draining on me. since i started working at wells fargo full-time while keeping my part-time job at pottery barn kids i have had no time for rest and relaxation. i was pretty sad thinking that summer was almost over and i will be working full-time the rest of my life. so we decided it was time to take a mini-vacation.

stephen's grandparents have a cabin in bear lake that he hasn't been to since before his mission. (about seven years.) i'll be honest, i was kind of scared to go after hearing stories of an indoor hot-tub, dead animals found around the house, and strange scents. but for me, any vacation is a good vacation. and all the hype about the cabin turned out to be over-exaggerated.

we spent most of our trip outdoors. we went on a couple of hikes, went swimming, and laid out on the beach. at night time we sat on the deck and saw millions of stars, way more than i have seen anywhere else. although we weren't too far from home, it was just the break i needed.

here are some pictures.
here is the view of the lake from the deck of the cabin.


here we are on the deck. i am trying to get stephen to throw away this Schmit house shirt, i hate it!
beautiful bloomington lake. the water was so clear, so fresh.

stephen walking past some wild flowers. they were soooo beautiful and colorful.
"take a picture of me with the wild flowers!"

summer veggies

Today i picked our first cucumber of the season!
We are excited for the many tomatoes, peppers, squashes, and green beans to come.

le cruset

I got my first Le Cruset piece about 2 weeks ago and I love it! I just wish i didn't have such a tiny stove and oven.


I made this yummy braised rosemary pork roast from The Silver Spoon (which Stephen gave me as a "prize" for getting a new job)