Girls Night Out

Great night last night. Some girlfriends took me out for dessert as part of my belated celebration since I was in Utah for my birthday. We dined on sweets at Macaroni Grill and entertained ourselves with the "shaky-face game." Here are some of our rad outcomes: (ya - I still use the word rad)









After dessert, Laurie and I went to the Midnight screening of the new Sex and the City Movie.

I am a total Sex and the City junkie - have been for years. I don't want to say too much and spoil it for anyone who still wants to see it. I liked it, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I give 7.5 out of 10, right now. The more I go over it in my head, the more I like it. Maybe I will give it a higher score tomorrow. My take: it is a movie about forgivness. Plus all the great fashion. And food (apparently). Usually all I can think about is how much I want the shoes. Last night, all I wanted was Samantha's guacamole. Don't know what THAT means.

**UPDATE** I have raised the score to 8.5.

Uh...

Last night we went to Target to pick up some BBQ goods. We were discussing what we want to eat. So far we'd named the usuals like chips, beans, etc. This conversation ensues as we are walking through the parking lot:

Me: AJ, what do you want?

AJ: I guess I want a brother or something.

Me: ????????

Me: Um, I don't think they are on sale today. How about some hot dogs instead?

AJ: Can I have a sister then?

Me: Well, they don't have those either.

AJ: OK, we can get some hot dogs.

And chocolate for mom. Mom's going to need lots and lots of chocolate after that one.

Happy Memorial Day

I am so grateful to live in the greatest country in the world. I'm thankful that I can worship as I please and that I can raise my daughter with so many freedoms and privileges. I am thankful to be a woman in this country, where I am seen as an equal to my husband and can live the way I choose. Thank you to ALL the armed forces, past, present and future, who risk their lives for our freedom. Thank you to the families who give up your precious family members for our safety. And especially this day, I extend a huge debt of gratitude to those who gave their lives for this country, for my family, for me. Thank you.

Flying Kites and Fireflies

Night before last, we went to the park to fly a kite. When I was growing up, flying a kite was NEVER worth the effort. It took 20 minutes to put it together, it was a miracle if you got it to the park before you tore the plastic wing on something, and it was always too windy or not windy enough to keep it in the air for more than 20 seconds. Or maybe I was just a lazy kid. At any rate, Craig was a little more enthused than I about buying AJ her first kite. But after we got out there, I was pleasantly surprised. It snapped together in nothing flat, the breeze was perfect and AJ had so much fun.


We left just as it was getting dark and the fireflies were out in full force.

This may look like a lame picture, but if you notice in the bottom right corner, I caught one. If you all knew the tiny, ghetto-fab digital camera I use, you would know what a miracle that is. I know I've talked about this before, but I oh-so-love those magical little bugs.

Hereditary Disease

As I might have mentioned before, I SOOOO love Anthropologie. So yesterday, I hauled my buns out of bed bright and early (around 7:00am - anyone who knows me knows how truly bright and early that is), met my friend Rochelle and off we went to the Anthro cardholder's early bird sale.

Did I dream about it the night before? Twice. Did we have butterflies when we pulled up to the store? I'll never tell. Are we totally lame? Jury's still out. Have we passed our disease onto our kids? Uhhh.....




At least we've obviously passed our coolness onto them. Those girls don't know how lucky they are!

Wow - What a whirlwind!

The past few weeks have been crazy. I'm not sure whether to try to update, or just start over now. I did enjoy my time with Candace in Utah. It wasn't just all depressingness. We even had a big girls-night-out to lift our spirits.





Heck ya! - I did just post that pic of you! Don't complain - I still have your "before" picture tucked away for a rainy day.

And I'm sorry Stephanie - I don't even know if you read my blog, but this picture is too rad not to put on the internet somewhere...


I came home to these birthday/mother's day gifts from my hubby:



Can't wait to grind my own flour to make the best bread in the world (more to come later)

Book club at Katri's on Saturday was so wonderful. Click here to see more...

My friends gave me some great b-day gifts:

This beautiful temple pic with our names and wedding date on it,


This gorgeous apron, which totally reminds of the ones at Anthropologie that I always drool over but am too cheap to buy,


This book,


A hilarious Shutterfly book , wrapped in a "Cinco de Mayo" gift basket, complete with maracas! (I'm ticked I didn't take a picture of it.)
Plus a cute shirt, a gift card and a bag filled with my favorite candies. I've said it before and I'll say it again- MY FRIENDS ROCK!

Saturday night Craig and I and my parents went to the Rangers game.

We were given tickets by some random stranger at dinner Friday night - turns out he had box seats and free parking.

Gorgeous weather, a ball park hot dog and a few home runs to win the game rounded out a pretty perfect evening.

Finally Free

After a long and painful battle with cancer, our beloved friend Cory passed away this afternoon and is finally free of the body that has imprisoned him for so many months. I am so grateful to know that he is with our Savior and to know that we will see him again someday. Though we are broken-hearted, I want to take this post to celebrate the life that he shared with us.

We've taken more trips together than we've taken with our families.


We've probably taken more pictures too.


Cory was always one to appreciate a good meal.


And a good laugh.


At the horse races. We didn't have much luck.


But that night we had some great BBQ.


Lagoon - oh ya, walkin the wild side.


Cory was always trying to steal a kiss.


Always!


Sometimes he got lucky.


Little Wild Horse Canyon - We are quite the physical specimens, eh?


Gettin' our dance on - a month before their wedding.


Our favorite thing to do - dining out.


Dining out...


Dining out...


Hmmm, dining out again. We REALLY love it.


Sometimes Craig pops up in their photos.


Sometimes Cory pops up in ours. Just accept it.


Our trip to the Oregon Coast, our last vacation together.




Sometimes, when one person is missing, the whole world seems depopulated. ~Lamartine
I couldn't have said it better. These pictures are such a small part of the joy and good times we spent together. There is a piece of our lives that is missing and will never be filled. Candace, we love you so much and are so sorry that you have had to endure this trial. Please know that we are here for you and love you.


Cory, we will miss you, more than we can say. Till we meet again.

Tunesday: Back to Reality

After being dealt some seriously depressing news this weekend, I must admit I'm having a hard time keeping it together. Suddenly posting on my blog seems so insignificant, almost inappropriate, but in an attempt to "snap out of it", I am going to try to keep posting as usual. I have a lot to be grateful for and I'm hitting my knees - doubletime. So to kickstart me back into "normal" life, here is the Tunesday Playlist - all pick-me-up songs. I'm keeping it on repeat.

Cheer Up by Reel Big Fish
Let It Go by Kari Kimmel
Love Is A Beautiful Thing by Phil Vassar
Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
Red Umbrella by Faith Hill
New Day's Dawn by The Wilshires
Take Me There by Rascal Flatts
Juliet by LMNT
We Danced Anyway by Deana Carter
Everything Is Alright by Motion City Soundtrack

PLEASE HELP

The Alldredges are an amazing family and our best friends in the world. They have gone through more in the past two years than many of us will experience over a lifetime. Below is a flier for their benefit luncheon today and tomorrow. If you live in Utah and can go, please do. And if you can help in any other way, from finances to prayers, they can use them all. Please send what you can.



JOIN US FOR LUNCH HELP WITH A GREAT CAUSE AT THE SAME TIME!
Cory, Candace & Hayes Alldredge are a
wonderful young family going through an
extremely difficult time. Cory is fighting his
second battle with cancer and, though the
family is showing great courage on the front
lines with this terrible disease, they are losing
the overwhelming financial burden it creates.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE INVITING
YOU TO JOIN US FOR ONE OR
BOTH OF TWO BENEFIT LUNCHES TO BE
HELD ON APRIL 25th & 26th AT MAIN STREET STUDIO
ON 1802 SO MAIN STREET SALT LAKE CITY.
Times are 11:00am to 2:00pm both days.
We are asking for a donation of $8.00 for lunch
and there will be raffle drawings and of course great food.
PLEASE JOIN US IN HELPING THIS FAMILY!
You can call 484-4247 with any questions you have.
SEE YOU THERE!

Donations can also be sent to
Cory & Candace
317 W. Election Road
Draper, UT 84020

or paid at Wells Fargo Bank under a charity account called the Cory B. Alldredge fund.

Life:Beautiful

I picked up this magazine at Barnes and Noble last weekend. LOVE IT! It's sort of Martha Stewart meets Christian Faith. It's full of uplifting stories, beautiful photographs and fun tips and projects for home and family. I am totally subscribing. In fact, I'm a little disappointed that it's only a quartley magazine. Check it out - Life:Beautiful.

Happy Tunesday: Sunshine

Since it's nice and sunny today, here is a playlist to listen to when you're out enjoying the sunshine (or just wishing you were).

The Sun by Maroon 5
Sun Comes Up by John Legend
Music Of The Sun by Rihanna
On The Sunny Side Of The Street by Billie Holiday
Sunny Skies by James Taylor
Pocketful Of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield
What A Wonderful World by Stacey Kent
When The Sun Goes Down by Kenny Chesney
Keep On The Sunny Side by The Whites
Soak Up The Sun by Sheryl Crow