new year's day.

 

rockin' my nebraska cornhuskers pride.

i'm so very sad the huskers lost their bowl game. not that it was unexpected.. but you always hope, you know? regardless, i sported my husker gear around town to do laundry, dye my hair & more.

pics on my hair later.. when i fix it. :/ i threw my back out about halfway through doing it.. i'm an old lady & it's sad. 

dec 31 2012 & we're still alive!!

JANUARY
-made several spontaneous trips to logan. regretted none.
-went on a lovely winter hike while on one of said random trips.
-started spring semester & took several great english & communication classes. also, le francais.

-celebrated one year together with my most favorite boy.

-started writing for indie ogden...had no idea it would turn into great friendships & opportunities!
-decided to cast my vote for jon huntsman jr. sad day when he dropped out of the race.
FEBRUARY
-learned about art house cinema, ogden's cute little theater that shows independent films.
-held a goodbye party for my best friend adam & his puppy kiara. they moved back to pennsylvania & it was very bittersweet.
-discovered nesta takes after her mother & has severe food allergies. she is now my pescatarian kitty..she only eats fish.
-discovered sunday brunch at slackwater.
-realized (again) what an amazing boyfriend i have after he surprised me with these presents for valentines day:

-my gift to him was the craft i made behind the sock monkey..i'm a cheeseball.

-oh, & he also made me chicken parmesan. <3>
-was featured in the salt lake tribune.
MARCH
-went to the festival of colors for the fourth year in a row.
-celebrated luke's 25th birthday.
-celebrated st patrick's day at a reggae festival & a friend's party, where we took several silly pictures, & i embraced my inner ginger.

-was in a photo shoot for urban chic, a vintage store up here in O-town.
-met robert downey jr. i peed my pants a little.
-celebrated international pancake day by having breakfast for dinner.
APRIL
-completed an item on my bucket list by road tripping to broomfield, colorado to see tom petty & regina spektor live in concert...words can't even express how amazing this was.

-became an aunt for the third time...to little preston james. i feel like we have a special bond because we share hair color..we'll see how he feels in a few years.
-shaved my cat like a lion & got ignored for a week.
-discovered utah's best pizza at lucky slice.
-luke's dad let us drive his 1972 mustang...by us i mean luke. & it was his first time..& someday this bad boy will be his (& his siblings...unless i refuse to share...)
-luke bought me a guitar.
-sad goodbye to my sweet nephew & niece, matthew & grace, as well as my brother & sister-in-law as they embarked for texas. saddest day of the year (tied with a day in october..see below.)
MAY 
-picked fresh strawberries for days & days.
-saw the civil wars perform live...great news since they announced they're breaking up just a month or so ago. it was SPECTACULAR.
-threw a benefit concert with the blog i write for. we raised over 2 grand for the TEARS foundation.

 
-celebrated our niece kaylee's birthday by going to lagoon & riding all her favorite rides.
-got a summer job at criddle's cafe...endless hash browns with SOS & scones. so. much. delicious.
-discovered a plethora of hiking trails near my house...fell in love with the 32nd street trail.

 

-celebrated mikki's & kristin's birthdays with an awesome photo booth & even more awesome ladies.

JUNE

-went to the arts festival with luke..picked up some gorgeous paintings for our house.

-picked apples from apple trees, squash from the garden, & zucchini...came up with several different recipes to make with them...i mean, to make luke make for me.

 

-started a hump day hiking tradition...fell in love with ogden even more.

-made homemade pizza & enjoyed a bottle of wine with my bff ally.

-my best friend emily moved closer to me!!! we enjoyed the sights of ogden & got the best pizza ever (lucky slice for the win!)

-our close friends chase & kaylee got married & we were lucky enough to attend the luncheon & beautiful reception.

-went to my adorable nephew's baby blessing.

-celebrated pride weekend with some of my favorite coworkers & lez bos.

-went to luke's little sister marti's high school graduation.

JULY

-took my dad & ray on the ogden valley garden tour for their birthdays.

-celebrated my favorite holiday, the fourth of july, with lots of food, swimming, & parades. sadly i had to sleep through the fireworks.

-quit starbucks after 2 long years!!!!! relief. so much relief.

-went on the BEST TRIP EVER to seattle! saw chelsea play the seattle sounders, visited the space needle, wandered downtown seattle, ate crab legs for the first time, & more! see the adventures here, here & here.

-was offered a full-time position at fox 13, working as a producer for good day utah!!!!!

AUGUST

-went to breakfast twice with my brother, sis-in-law, niece & nephew..mm scones.

-saw mumford & sons perform live...i've been wanting to see them for a few years now. it was amazing!

-my little sister married her BFF & they had the prettiest wedding ever.

-speaking of my sister's wedding, we had a lovely bridal shower for her..my mom embarrassed her lots & i quizzed her on how well she knows chris. turns out..really well.

-went to the worldwide on 25th festival. met people from all over the world & tried so much delicious food!

-i got to babysit my nephews & niece on more than one occasion... i was so happy about it! we also got to go to the zoo!

-saw horse feathers perform live at ogden nature center.

-survived triathlon 2012!

SEPTEMBER

-started yet another fall semester.

-was able to see brand new & manchester orchestra live for free.

-went on a double date with erick & emily before erick left on his mission. mmm nachos at slackwater pizzeria! yes please!

-went to emily's father's funeral... a very sad part of my year. RIP jeff davis. thank you for being a wonderful example, second father, & friend. & thank you for bringing my best friend emily into the world!

-celebrated luke's sister cassie's birthday at the dinosaur park!

-hosted a yard sale, where more people wanted to buy my cat than anything else.

-officially started my full-time schedule of 1am-9am monday through friday. brutal.

-celebrated labor day by working. ha! also, making baked zucchini. mmmm.

OCTOBER

-played in the leaves with my niece kaylee.

-ate copious amounts of ice cream (not ashamed by that either).

-went to a U of U game.. & got to see an at home win for the first time!

-was a featured guest at the local first monthly mixer at rainbow gardens!

-got a tattoo on my wrist. 

-went to see les miserables with my family.

-had to say goodbye to my family AGAIN!!!! this time my brother alex, sis in law susan & nephew preston. basically my heart broke a little.. i miss them.

-had sunday brunch with friends.

NOVEMBER

-turned 24!!! got old, basically.

-enjoyed two thanksgiving dinners.. had a food baby for a week straight.

-went out to sushi for my bday. thanks, darlin'.

-went to my first co-ed baby shower.

-saw milo greene live (again!)

-watched "my team" the seattle sounders beat RSL! don't tell my bf that's who i was rooting for (we are a house divided).

-worked the night of the election entering in numbers.. so fascinating & such a fun opportunity!! & romney said none of us were better off than we were four years ago.... :P

DECEMBER

-hosted the INDIE OGDEN AWARDS at union station.. highlight of my year.

-went to my aunt geneal's funeral. celebrated a life full of love.

-ate lots of food & had lots of family parties.

-celebrated christmas by working & feasting in the newsroom.

-got my favorite pair of christmas PJs ever that i wear....all the time.

sunday brunch.

so another one of my new years resolutions was to make some new friends.

i have some of the greatest friends in the world. my best friends adam, emily & ally are the most amazing people i know.

however, some of my friends i've given way too many chances to. & i've damn near had enough of being treated the way they treated me!

that goal was a lot of the reason i joined the Indie Ogden team. I love writing & photography, & I love buying local, which is what this whole blog is really all about. it also turns out the girls who run it are fabulous. it's very rare that you meet a group of women who aren't catty, or who aren't out to get you, it seems.

i'm a very VERY shy person, until you get to know me. i worry so much about first impressions. which is why i was very proud of myself when i went to sunday brunch with a few of the indie ogden team! it was so much fun. we went to slackwater, & i had literally the best breakfast burrito i have ever tasted. ever. the sandwich? it looked divine. i am DEFINITELY going back next sunday for a mimosa & the breakfast sandwich. 

my whole meal was under 10 bucks; not bad for what a big place it seems to be becoming. hooray slackwater! hooray for making new friends! hooray for the adventures ahead of me!

drinking mimosas & chit chatting before our food.

this is kristin, one of the writers. she's adorable!

mikaela's breakfast sandwich! it was HUGE! 

if you're ever in the ogden area, i highly recommend slackwater pub & pizzeria for brunch. you won't regret it!