June 28, 2014

#5- One of my favorite places: Zions.

I am very lucky to have rockin' parents who like to hike with me!

Angel's Landing! 

Guys- these shoes. If you ever need good hiking shoes, Salomons all the way. My feet were in heaven.

 #37- Reading the Book of Mormon is one of the things that has truly changed my life for the better. I have learned so much this year from reading the testimonies of Christ that are shared within its pages. It was a bittersweet moment to finally finish because I have loved every chapter, every historical account, every miracle, every lesson that has taught me how to be a better and stronger person. I can't wait to start it over again and continue to grow as I gain wisdom and blessings from this incredible, sacred record which serves as another testament of Jesus Christ.

June 25, 2014

#70- It's bubble time! I'll just share one piece of advice when it comes to bubble-blowing: if it's windy outside, don't even try.

June 24, 2014

#2- Ok, I'm dedicated to honestly recording all my experiences with this list so I feel it necessary to tell the truth.

This is me right before I rolled down the hill. I was so excited. Little did I know...

In case you can't hear it, about a second into the roll I yell: "This was a horrible idea!" Little did I know...

This is me ending up in a pile of dried, post-mowed grass right before throwing up. Yep, true story.




What I don't have a picture of is how long I had to stay there before I was able to get up and move. About 5 minutes. I also don't have a picture of what happened about 10 minutes after the roll. Throwing up- that's what happened. That 5-second roll did me in and I lost it. Looking back, it probably wasn't a good idea to eat dinner right before doing this. One thing's for sure: I am definitely getting old and apparently need to start carrying Dramamine wherever I go.

June 22, 2014

#32- "Stay in the lines!" - That was always the worst for me. I'm too impatient to create art. I very much enjoy it, but coloring book is as far as I go so I picked up this gem at the store:

It was pretty fun, but I felt like it was missing something...

Ah, there you go. 

June 21, 2014

#28- Baseball: the All-American pastime. Where else can you sit for hours eating hot dogs and cotton candy and not be judged?

I don't even know what possessed me to think it was ok to eat this but I secretly loved every minute of it.

Same with this. Let's just say my intestines were not happy with me that day.

#11- We got to sit on the baseball field after the game and watch fireworks! Seriously- best ever.

June 20-21, 2014

#42- Deliciousness. I really like sugar...it's kind of a problem. So I was probably looking forward to this one way too much which made the following experience even more heartbreaking...and glorious.

Imagine this: it's Friday night, your plans just fell through (ugh), but it's too early to go to bed and you've already finished all the seasons of your favorite show on Netflix. Solution: bake a cake, of course! First, you look through the mass of recipes on the internet until you find the perfect combination of sugar, butter, coconut, sugar, chocolate, and sugar. Behold: the Martha Stewart Chocolate Cake with Coconut-Pecan Frosting.

http://www.marthastewart.com/316151/chocolate-cake-with-coconut-pecan-frosti 

You race to the store, get lost twice because of construction, and finally make it home to start your culinary journey. Unfortunately, it is 11pm at this point but you remain determined to stand as Martha's equal. And you just really want sugar. Real bad.

Everything is going perfectly. All the ingredients are coming together in a swirl of delicious chocolate perfection. Your self control falters and....to heck with salmonella! You have to try some. It's heavenly. Your expectations rise even higher as you gently place your creation into the oven. 

It's now 11:45pm. And something is burning. 

All your fears have come to life. The Pandora's Box of baking has been opened! WHY?! You hurriedly remove your overflowing pan and silently (or not so silently) curse Martha Stewart. She set you up. She always has to be #1. That monster. There's nothing you can do until the oven cools down. You just have to wait. And stare. Stare and mourn the cake that could have been. 

  Finally, you clean the oven. And as you remove all the crusted cake bits, they start to become your baking doubts. You scrub at them until nothing remains and you can start anew, learning from your mistakes, letting nothing stop you from gaining the 5 lbs that is undoubtedly awaiting you after eating this cake.
All the sudden: EUREKA! You can save this cake! You WILL save this cake! You gently remove all the batter that can be saved and instead of making a three-layer beauty, you make a two-layer warrior who defied all odds and came out tasting of chocolate and victory.

She is finally ready to be dressed in her armor of glory a.k.a. coconut and pecans. She came out even more delicious than you imagined and you can finally sit and enjoy the spoils of your battle. Take that, Martha Stewart.

June 19, 2014

#81- Strawberry Days Rodeo. I was a rodeo newbie but am proud to report that I didn't embarrass myself too much.

These guys were amazing!

It's not Strawberry Days without strawberries & cream!

She is too legit. 

June 18, 2014

#105- Par-tay. This one might be a cop-out, but I'm taking it. I planned a summer party for work and It. Was. Awesome. We rented a pavilion at the park, played games, ate food, played volleyball- it was great.

These were the party favors. I feel weird posting pictures of my coworkers so this is all you get.

June 15, 2014

#124- I loved these ducks. There was an injured one flapping around and he was the best. (The person I was with, however, had to crush my heart by telling me the duck was probably going to die. Rude. You know who you are.)  :)

June 14, 2014

#8- Orem Summerfest! Had tons of fun with Sammi.

At the top of the Ferris Wheel!

No fair is complete without funnel cake. 

Guys! I saw a helicopter take off!
I cannot even express how incredible this moment was for me. 

The fair was also fantastic because I crossed off #89!

June 12, 2014

#120- Ugh. Let's be real for a minute and admit that I only put this on the list because it was the only way I was going to actually do it. I know it's cliche, but I strongly dislike the dentist. Nothing good ever happens there- just strange drilling noises, awkward conversations (I don't even know why they insist on talking to you while your mouth is wide open- it's not like it's going to be a great conversation), and pain. Lots of uncomfortable pain.

We meet again, old nemesis.

Ok, so maybe it's not all bad- you do get free stuff. Although the prizes were a lot more exciting when I was a kid. Why don't they have a treasure chest at the end of the hall so I can go pick out my toy? I was really good! 

Unfortunately (or fortunately, however you choose to look at it), I haven't been to the dentist in an embarrassingly long time. Which meant I had a couple cavities. Which meant I had to go back in for a second (and third) appointment. Which meant I got to spend a majority of my day looking like I got a botched Botox job.

I really am smiling all the way, I promise.
 

Let me share with you some of the lessons I learned that day.

Things you cannot do after going to the dentist:

1. Drink water from a cup. Just stick to straws for a while.

2. Put on Chapstick. Ends up everywhere but your lips. 

3. Rub your lips together after attempting to put on said Chapstick.

4. Go out in public. (Ok, you technically can do this, but it is strongly discouraged.)

5. Laugh. Just don't. It's scary.

6. Look like a sane person. 

7. Have hope that your face will ever feel normal again. After about four hours you just begin to accept that this is your life now.

Things you can do after going to the dentist:

1. Self-cannibalism. It's that lovely moment when you realize you're no longer chewing your food and strangely half of your cheek is missing. 

2. Drool. 

3. Dress up as a convincing Two-Face from Batman. Minus the missing skin, of course. Except after you've done #1- then you totally have it all down. 

4. Excuse yourself from work for the rest of the day. Everyone knows what you're going through and trust me, they don't want to come near the uncontrollable drooling. Just go home.

5. Be blissfully ignorant that you might have had Ranch dressing on your face for hours.

June 11, 2014

#12- I have the perfect neighborhood for running. I do not, however, have the most perfect face for running. Unless you really like the color of beets, cherries, roses, and Radio Flyer Wagons.

Doesn't even do it justice. I'll do better next time and get up to level Fire Engine red.

I also have the most lucrative neighborhood for running. This wasn't the same day, but I still thought it was important to share. See, kids? Running isn't only good for your health, it's also good for your pocketbook!

June 7, 2014

#116- Dirty Dash 5k! Holy mud, this race is fun.

The muddier you get, the tougher you are. It's science.
(P.S.- That shirt started out white.)

True story.

I convinced Tacy to run with me again this year. She's the BEST EVER!

#108- This was one of the last obstacles during the Dirty Dash. Best Slip'n'Slide this side of the Mississippi.

No, that's not me. But that's what I slid down and I was probably going way faster than this girl- just sayin'. 

June 6, 2014

#4- BATTING CAGES! I cannot express to you the level of anxiety and joy I felt while doing this. Joy: I hadn't been to the batting cages in years. Anxiety: I hadn't been to the batting cages in years.

My friends Cameron and Sam came with me on this spontaneous adventure and it was a good time. (Sam and I were definitely not dressed appropriately but has that ever stopped us before? Nope.)

Getting some pointers.
It was a very good thing Cameron knew what he was doing because there was no doubt that I did not.

Here we go...

Guys! I HIT THE BALL! Yes, it was being pitched very slowly. Yes, I am aware my form is probably horrible. Yes, I seem way too intense in this video. Yes, it was because I was super nervous. And yes, I HIT IT!



#62- Confession: I've actually eaten quite a few snow cones this summer. I can't help it- they're delicious! But this is the one I remembered to take a picture of:

I can't remember the flavor but it was delightful. Cameron's was a radioactive yellow/green color. I did not trust it.