I'm still alive!

It may seem as if I have fallen of the face of the Earth, but in reality, I am just engaged. I am getting married December 22nd! Woo hoo! That's in 22 days in case you wanted to know... So, yes, sorry, I have been extra horrible with socializing and communicating with people. I still love you. I am so freaking busy. Everything is falling into place though, and my future mother-in-law and my mom are both awesome. Geez, I am so ready for my wedding to just be here. I am so excited! I was worried our engagement would be too short. haha

Thanksgiving was fabulous. I have so much to be thankful for. Anthony and I went to Panaca of course. I love my future-in-laws. Lauren came too, and she likes my future-in-laws too.

So, that's all for updates now. There is lots I could say, but I have a 10 page paper due Wednesday morning, and I have like 2 pages written... cool... But I didn't want to let November go by without a post, and I wanted to let y'all know that I still love you. I will be better... if not this semester, definitely next semester.

Check this out!

I don't spend much time on the internet these days, including the blog world and facebook (in case you didn't notice...). However, my cousin Danae told me about this site. You will enjoy it. There's some funny stuff. Who said the average life is boring?

Sweet Home Alabama

That reminds me of my very first Sunday at BYU... Middle of Relief Society and my phone goes off: "Sweet home Alabama..." It was awkward. I didn't even know the caller. Lame. But it is a great story.


So I got work off the first two weeks of August (I work at the Creamery on 9th... in case you didn't know), and I headed home. However, this time I brought two people with me... Anthony and my 8-year-old cousin Brynna.

First off, that provided funny experiences at the airport. I will let you use your imagination...

We had a blast of course. We rock climbed, ate real Southern barbeque in a real Southern manner (put sauce, beans, and coleslaw on top of the pork on a bun b/c it makes it more moist), swam, ate good home-cooked meals, saw my sister perform in "the King and I," saw my brother's soccer games, met people..., and played lots of games of course.

Anthony and I taught my family how to play Hand and Foot. My family taught Anthony how to play Five Crowns, Perudo, TransEuropa, Killer Uno, Chicken Feet (a dominoes game), among others.

Perudo was definitely the fave of the trip--It's a liar dice game. Everyone has their own set of 5 dice and a cup. After shaking your dice, you keep your dice hidden from everyone else and bet on how many of a particular number have been rolled. Highly recommended.

There were a lot of people who wanted to see me. Actually they really just wanted to meet Anthony. ha

My aunt and her 5 little kids came to visit for a couple days. That was fun... and crazy. My cousins liked to call Anthony their "future cousin." They liked him... obviously. They teased us a lot. ("Do you kiss him????")

My family liked Anthony a lot. (Who doesn't?) I think my mom feels a lot better having met him now. Fortunately, she had heard good things about Anthony from my extended family who he has met. Now my parents know firsthand that Anthony is a really good guy who treats me well. My mom especially got a kick out of Anthony and I when we teased each other, especially when he teased me... Even Kyle liked Anthony. I think Anthony earned bonus points with him for teasing me. Kyle (Mr. Fashion Conscious) had only one complaint--Anthony wore jean shorts.

I don't know why I am using past tense. My family still likes Anthony. Both my family and Anthony still exist. No worries there.

Anthony enjoyed meeting my family. After all, when you meet someone's family, you understand him or her a little bit better. Anthony claims I act a little differently with my family. My family and I tease each other quite a bit, and I hold my own quite well--Anthony enjoyed it. Except with my dad. I always lose with my dad.

So, the second day we were home, we went rock climbing and had to take two cars for the 1.5 hour drive. Boys rode in one car and girls in another. It was my dad's suggestion. Anthony survived though... happily even. I would have killed Anthony if he had done that to me. Grant it, I met his family after we had been dating for only two weeks. Slightly different... (We now call the beginning of our relationship our "shaky stage." haha I was... umm... flippant...)

My family hits the sack at a decent hour. So, Anthony and I had some good late night chats too...

Then Anthony left. And it was sad. We spent nearly a week apart. But he brought me flowers. And bought me chocolate.

That's all. Kinda random and rambly. And long. Hopefully this appeased any burning questions within you. Probably not... but this is all you get on the Internet. ;)

Cleanliness

News Flash! I have always enjoyed cleanliness over messiness.

Those who have known me during high school or the beginning of my college career know that I did not always keep a clean room. I began to keep a cleaner room out of respect for my roommates. Then I began to realized how much I like things clean--I finally saw the light!

As it turns out I saw the light most of my life... it just dimmed for a little bit. When I was home, my mom reminded me that I used to always have a clean room (until high school). I thought... and thought.. and thought... and remembered! I used to keep my bed made and room spotless believe it or not. (Then I hit high school...) When my sister and I played together, particularly Barbies, I used to make us play in her room. That way it was her room that got messy... hahahaha I am definitely back to normal. I love things clean.

Panaca

"Conveniently located smack-dab in the middle of nowhere."

Anthony and I went to visit his family in Panaca (for the second time this summer). Panaca is a small town about 30 minutes south of the Nevada/Utah border and currently has about 800 occupants. It was settled by some of Anthony's ancestors in the mid 1800s. There are two nearby towns of similar size, Caliente (prounced Calientee) and Pioche, an old mining town. Las Vegas is 2.5 hours south and Cedar City is 1 hour north. Far from civilization.

They have a grocery store (which is more like a large convenience store), a gas station, a car wash, and a diner. That's it. Talk about a lack of civilization. No movie theater, fast food, shopping mall, barber shop... nada. I love it.

Panaca is full of gems, such as the underground spring that is always warm (even midwinter) and the sand dunes where you can play "jump the bush." Cathedral Gorges, a nearby state park, is also a fun place to visit. The town is full of trails to go four-wheeling too. (Anthony and I definitely took advantage of them. Too bad I am not too good at driving those things...)

Everyone knows everyone and everything that goes on. It is heart-warming and loving... yet frequently awkward. One of Anthony's cousins fell off the zipline and had to call an ambulance. Everyone and their dog came when they heard the sirens and saw the commotion.

The town is full of horses, fields, and old rusty cars. The town has quite the rustic feel. No cookie-cutter homes here. I wish I had a photographer's eye and could capture it in some photographs. I took a few landmark pics but failed to capture the essence of this lovely town.

You can't help but love Panaca. You always leave with a smile.

Summer Lovin' Part Two

I've been slacking in the blogging department. However, I thought I would add to my rockin' list of summer activities. Within the past month I have:
--Attended the Strawberry Days rodeo in Pleasant Grove and ate strawberries 'n cream.
--Worked at the Creamery on Ninth. (I love visitors...)
--Camped in Payson canyon and cooked some amazing dutch oven meals.
--Had bonfires and s'mores in Provo canyon.
--Visited Las Vegas.
--Visited the Freedom Festival in Provo.
--Cooked fun things, such as lentil tacos, brie chicken, homemade mac n' cheese, delicious brownies, enchiladas, etc.
--Ate Kneaders' french toast.
--Realized I can run an 8'30'' mile.
--Experimented with my running and biking routes and discovered the lovely, diverse houses of Provo.
--Attended my first murder mystery dinner.
--Spent lots of time with Anthony.
--And last, but not least, had a GNO with some of my favorite people--Jenna, Meagan, and Jenn. Our last one for a long time...

I have yet to...
--Go home to Alabama (2 more weeks... and I am bringing Anthony with me.)
--Take a 2nd trip to Panaca.
--Bike to Utah Lake.
--Make a Cafe Rio dinner.
--Discover the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe.
--Read for fun.
--Hike Timp.
--Swim at Seven peaks.
--Run a race or complete a triathlon.

I love summer. Thank goodness it isn't over yet!

Summer Lovin'

Summer is treating me fabulously. Here are a few highlights:
--Anthony
--Living in a cute, blue house
--Camping in Moab with some of my favorite people
--Visit to Zion's National Park
--Visit to Panaca, Nevada--a small town in the middle of Nevada
--Lots of hiking, such as Stewart Falls, the Y, and some trail in Sandy
--My aforementioned World Religions class
--A public health class--I now feel a little more connected to Meagan and Jenn.

Up and coming plans:
--A trip home
--Las Vegas
--Utah festivals and rodeos
--Hiking Mount Timpanogas
--Lots of reading
--Cooking for fun
--Harry Potter movie (and party) and Hannah Montana movie
--Bike riding
--Seven Peaks and Lagoon
--More playing outside
--Cleaning and organizing
--Visiting Jenna's house

Now, I just need a job... Ideas?!?!