Trip to see ibff Kate!

So my brothers wedding was great and so was NYC but one of the highlights of my Summer has to be the time I spent in Colorado!

So it's just a state over but I have never been. I have to say it is a breathtakingly beautiful state and the best part about it is that its home to my dear ibff/KS and one of my best friends Kate.

It was a fabulous 4 days that ended too soon but I think we crammed enough fun and late night talks in to last us until the next time.

This is us right after we met!

I got there early Friday morning so I was starving so we headed straight to breakfast from the airport. After we ran a few errands and Kate gave me a tour of her lovely city.

We stopped by the Denver LDS Temple..it was one of the things that I wanted to see while I was there.

After that I met up with a friend from college. She and her husband just moved to Colorado. It was alot of fun to see her and catch up on life. Most exciting news is that I found out they are expecting their first baby in January!

Friday night we and then we stayed up late to chat and do girlie things :-)

Saturday Kate had a breakfast for her work so I got to sleep in and then we headed to a Eclipse matinée. I loved it and since we had both seen it a few times before we sat in the back of the theater and gave our own commentary on our favorite(or not so favorite) parts of the movie. If you haven't done this you really should. Sometimes it can make the movie all the more exciting.

After we went to lunch at Quotoba ( oh how I wish we had one of these in UT) and then we headed to Kate's favorite bookstore.

Tattered Cover...it is the most lovely little bookstore. Not to big, not to small. Its perfect while feeling quaint and welcoming. I could have just crawled up in chair and stayed awhile.

Sat we drove around some more and sang GLEE at the top of our lungs.

Kate introduced me to her favorite TV show "How I Met Your Mother" and I have to say I'm hooked. I've only had time to watch a few more episodes on Netflix but I am hoping to eventually make it through.

Sunday we got up early and went to church. After church we went on a fabulous picnic.

Where we had fruit and meat and baguettes. It was fabulous and felt very French even in the middle of Colorado. Kate then took me to one of e miraculous views I have ever seen. Having grown up on the other side of the Rocky Mountains where a trip up one of the canyons was only 15-20 minutes I had always wondered what was on the "other side". We'll I can tell you what's on the other side and the view is just as spectacular.

Daniel's Park is this beautiful park that overlooks the Colorado Valley and has a magnificent view. Not to mention it is on a private golf course that a guy built just for his wife. Talk about a gift of love.

So back when Kate and me first became friends I told her about some of my favorite movies growing up. "Anne of Green Gables" and "Anne of Avonlea". I have seen them both so many times that I have them memorized and I never get sick of them. I still swoon the very sight of Gilbert Blyth and the way he says "sorry" in fact I think he may have been my first "movie crush" :-) So I made sure to bring Kate her very own set so we could have a marathon, and marathon we did. We watched every wonderful Anne and Gil moment from first glance to broken slates, to tests, to the epic and swoonful ending. If you haven't seen them. Change that STAT!

What's an Anne of Green Gables marathon without a little Raspberry Cordial?

and then it was over far to fast. Monday morning hopped back on a plane and headed to my side of the mountains.

I had the most wonderful time and I am so grateful for wonderful ibff's who become real life bff's. Can't wait for our next adventure Kate!

New York, New York

Every year I try to plan two or three vacations for myself so what's a girl to do when she has places to go and people to see?

I take off to my favorite city....

NEW YORK CITY!

One of my best friend's and former roommate Jackie got a internship in the city this summer so with a free place to stay how could I say no!

This was my 4th time going to my favorite city and it just gets better every time.I'm going to give you all down a run down of my 10 day adventure and then I'll follow up with a few posts on the highlights.

The three previous times I had been there it was with different people each time. Needless to say I have been to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Top of the Rock, Empire State Building and just about every other touristy thing there is. That's not to say I didn't do some things that may have been touristy, I just skipped all the major attractions this time. Jackie had her internship so I spent a few days wandering the city alone but I loved going off and having no agenda just discover it!

So I flew out on June 18th. That night we just hung out in her neighborhood and had some "real" NYC pizza. It was mushroom with truffle oil and the crust was cracker thin and oh so good..I am usually a "deep dish" kinda girl but I still dream about this pizza.We hit up Pinkberry and just walked around and soaked up the city.

Saturday we got up went to canal street purchased a few purses and knock-off Tiffany jewlery and then went to Shake Shack..if you haven't been to this place it needs to be on your list of places to eat one day. The hamburger is fresh ground beef and AMAZING and their concrete shakes are bar none!

Sunday we went to church and then decided to walk through Central Park then down 5th Ave.

Nothing better than window shopping at all the prettyest shops. Had the most wonderful time at Tiffany's but I'll save that story for one of my follow up posts. It was one of the highlights of the trip!

Monday I had the day to myself so I walked around went to Central Park, then I met my dear friend Lorri for lunch by the river.

She lives in the city with her husband and new daring baby. We had a great time and she is doing so well. Of course I shopped my way home and walked 15 blocks to a museum only to discover the museum was closed on Monday. FAIL!

Anyways after Jackie got off work we went and got our nails done. This wasn't any other manicure but a Shellac manicure. They use a special polish that cures and harden using UV lights. the brilliance of this manicure is that it lasts 10-15 without a chip, scratch, or dent. I wish I had taken a picture. I loved it. The only downside is you have to go back to the salon and have it specially removed, I however didn't do this and just waited for it to wear off on its own. After we headed over to Serendipities for some frozzen hot chocolate....It was every bit as good as I remember.

Tuesday, Me and Jackie walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and had famous Grimaldi's Pizza which was amazing and so worth it. NYC pizza at its best!

After we headed to Soho to look around and do some shopping.We went to Grenich village and hit up a few cute little boutiques and the famous Magnolia's Baker

.

I am not a cupcake expert but I consider myself well educated. That being said I ordered the Red Velvet my favorite cupcake at my favorite cupcakery Sprinkles just so I could see how it measured up. I have to say that the cupcake crown still goes to Sprinkles. I know Magnolias is the one who started the cupcake trend but I think Sprinkles MADE it the trend. I was glad I went but can't say I would go back.

We did some more shopping and then we decided we wanted to hit up the Shake-Shack again so we headed to Madison Square Park, just as we got off the subway it started pouring rain. We were two girls who would not be deterred so we went to the Shake Shack got our order (no waiting in line! Yea for the rain!) after we got our food we realized we had no place to sit since all the seating there is outside so we did what any New Yorker would do right? We ate in the subway stop. I being somewhat of a germaphob had to just hurry and eat my food and not think about it too much. It was not the best moment but one that created good memories.

Wednesday Jackie had to work so I decided to sleep in a bit and then headed to the "Fashion District" to look around and go to a few stores. Of course Mood Fabrics(where they film Project Runway) had to be on the list.It was amazing and I loved every minute of it!

*More of this later ;-)

Next I headed to M&J trimming where I think I could have died and gone to ribbon heaven!

After my fabulous fashion encounters I went to see Kristen Chenoweth & Sean Hayes in "Promises, Promises" it was fabulous as ever and I'm glad I saw it but I admit my heart longed for a bit more music.

All you Gleeks out there will remember her singing "A House Is Not A Home" on one episode of Glee, I was a little puzzled at the song and its place in the story but its actually from the musical. Hearing it live was even better!

After I went to go see the Manhattan LDS Temple, its beautiful. One of my favorite temples!

met up with a friend for a Institute class (think of it as a mid week optional Sunday school class). After that I met up with Jackie and we headed down to Max Brunners the Chocolate Man..its a whole restaurant where everything is made with chocolate. Of course we headed straight for the dessert and Ice Cream Popsicle's that we could dip and roll in whatever and how many toppings we wanted.

Thursday. Me and Jackie went back to Canal Street then ventured over to the Upper West Side and saw where they filmed You've Got Mail., then worked our way through The Village to see some other cute shops and bakeries..I found the most amazing cookies from Levin's Backery. Seriously SOOO good..

I brought some home and wish I had brought more.When ever we vacation together we always pick one nice swanky restaurant to go to.

For our NYC trip we got dressed up to the nines and picked the NYC famous restaurant GRAMERCY TAVERN it was sooo good. We had a three course meal and were out with all of NYC's who's who... my kind of night!

Friday I spent the day at various museums The Met, The Frick, the MoMa.

and of course did some more shopping, NYC was good to Shannon in this aspect specifically H&M..I probably went to a different location every day! I spent some more time in the Central Park, it really is the most beautiful park with so many different paths and places to explore.

I ran across this adorable Alice in Wonderland statue that looked vaguely familiar...I think I may have seen it in a movie recently? ;-) #Robwould

Jackie and me then met up went to Shake Shack again(3rd time) and then headed home to get ready for our night out. We headed out and hit up a few clubs(no drinking was had, only a Coke:-) we went to Pom Frittes and had some amazing Belgian fries and then hit up another club on our way home.

Saturday we slept in some then headed to Juniors for lunch and pick up a cheesecake for my Mom, she loves the Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake.

She told me I wasn't allowed to come home unless I brought one home. lol I had called ahead to order them since I was bringing 2 home. They asked me if I wanted the 7" or 10" I of course said 10, who is going to bring home a 7" cheesecake when I could bring home a 10" right? We'll I go to Juniors in Time Square to pick them up and as they bring them out they are in HUGE cake boxes like I couldn't even carry one let alone two on the plane. I was livid!

After enough beggin and pleading and telling my sob story about bringing them home the kind manager agreed to let me switch out for the 7" even though its against there policy. (Dear wonderful man from Kenya who is the Manager of Juniors in Time Square I still love you!) I went back to Jackies house, waited for the Supershuttle and then flew away from my beautiful city. It was late when I finally got home and I was exausted sufficed to stay I had a ball and can't wait to go back to my "east coast home" again!!!!

Robsten...one year ago.

So a year ago I went to go see my good friend Jackie in LA.

I had never been to LA before and was having so much fun seeing all the sites and doing "the tourist" thing. I just happened to check the internet and saw on Letters to Twilight

THE picture...I think you know the one I'm talking about but just in case here it is.

Rob & Kristen exiting the Bobby Long concert at the Hotel Cafe.

The crazy thing is that I had looked up who was going to be playing at the Hotel Cafe while I was in town because alot of my favorite artists often play there. I had seen that Bobby was going to be playing, and I would have liked to see him because I genuinely like him and that kind of british indie music but I knew my friend who is very much an R&B girl would have hated it. So I didn't bother even bringing it up as an option. (She told me later she would have been happy to have gone *facepalm)

I hate myself now for not going...oh well but as you will see I think I got an even better show!

So I knew R&K were in LA..so I got thinking wouldn't that be cool if I saw them. (I had wanted to see at least one celebrity while in the BH (Beverly Hills)..cause that's the "Hollywood" thing to do right? So I got thinking where would they be? I love pop culture so of course the first place I thought was the Chateau Marmont the most "swankified place in town" (guess the quote and you win). It didn't really seem like "them" to stay there but I took a chance because I had wanted to drive past it anyways just because of the landmark that it is(JimBelushi, Marilyn Monroe, anyone who is anyone in Hollywood has stayed there at one point or another). So one day while we were in Beverly Hills, for what was probably our 4th Sprinkles run (I think we ended up going 6 times, they are THAT good!) My friend Jackie agreed to drive me by (she had no knowledge of who I was "actually" looking for).

So we drove by and I'm looking up and I see a guy in a blue shirt with his back to the street standing in one window in the window right next to it I see a set of girls feet. Curious I had my friend drive past again and that is when I saw it..she, him, them! He was in one window looking down at the street below with a Pepsi in his hand wearing a blue shirt, and hair dis-shuffled as ever. She was in a towel and green bikini top with her wet mullet of a hair cut in the next window over. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera ready so there is no picture of it but it is seared in my memory.

That is when I lost it...I couldn't hold it in any longer and I fan girled..

I straight out fan girled (you can all be second-hand embarrassed for me now). I am ashamed to say this and I hope your all my friends after I admit this but I got so excited that I forgot to breathe, my friend Jackie had to pull over on Sunset Blvd while I dry heaved on the corner(sorry to paint the picture but it had to be said) I composed myself enough so I could have my friend Jackie drive around again. I gave my camera to her cousin Ryan who had the best camera angle and had him snap away.

Its kinda a little blurry and Rob turned right as Ryan took the picture but I can assure you its him...how do I know.

Exibit A) Pepsi...everyone knows that Rob spent the Summer of 09 filming Remember Me. There was alot of set pictures...too many if you ask me it was Rob overload (Robaload?) Anyways in many pictures he had a can of Pepsi. He loves his Coke, Pepsi, basically any soda..this was the Summer of Pepsi though. The can was still in view even after Rob wasn't in the window anymore just sitting on the window seal.

Exibit B) The blue shirt...Rob has this problem..he makes millions and could buy anything he wants yet he doesn't. He spends his money on expensive guitars, hot pockets and trips to Good Will)Anyways he has a very limited wardrobe. I like to joke around that he has about 10 outfits he rotates through. So the previous day he was seen driving a Porsche around LA wearing a blue short sleeved shirt..and in this picture you will see its the same shirt.

xibit C) The Porsche...at expensive/fancy hotels its normal for them to have cars for their guests to check out and use while they are staying there. I saw this line up of Porsches in front of the CM (including the green one I believe he was driving that week).

The next night Bobby Long was playing again but we thought what are the odds that they would go back especially after getting caught the night before. Turns out pretty darn good. They ended up going back three times. Now I don't know how different each show would be, but I give them props for supporting his and all the Britpacks shows over and over again. I have to wonder though how many times Bobby, Sam and the other members have seen Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. I am guessing not as many times as Rob & Kristen have seen their shows..guess they have some catching up to do ;-)

So there is my "Robsten" story...It wasn't as up close as some people get, or have gotten but for that I'm actually grateful. I don't know if I would ever want to "meet" them. I would be too embarrassed and I would never approach them if I saw them in person, plus it might ruin the "mystery" for me. I just think they are ordinary people like you and me. They just get to be in million dollar blockbuster sagas and she just gets to kiss (and more ;-) the guy I wish I was kissing!

* I have never lived down this story with my friend Jackie and her cousin Ryan, or even my family. It is brought up on a almost monthly basis and has spawned many nicknames.

*love me through it!

*I also ended up seeing Jay Leno, and Lo from The Hills too...but I think the Robsten wins!

Feel free to fangirl with me below!

Nauvoo and beyond...

Most of you know that I just got back from a fabulous vacation with my family. My youngest brother is getting ready to serve a mission for our church in Hamburg, Germany. It’s sort of a tradition in my family that before the missionary leaves he gets to choose where we go on a family vacation. Justin choose Nauvoo and the surrounding Church History Sites. We went there when I was 9 and although we have been to NYC, Hawaii, Disneyland..it has by far always been our favorite trip.

We left early Friday (March 12^th) morning. We flew in the Kansas City. We first went to Liberty Jail where the Prophet Joseph Smith was held prisoner for a time. It was my brother Justin's 19^th Birthday. The lovely Ashton gave me a great restaurant recommendation since she grew up in the area. We had a great dinner at M&S and I would recommend it to anyone! When we got there we had a little time to spare so we did some shopping..I would like to know why there is a Tiffany & Co in Kansas City but not in SLC...lets change this...I need a little blue box! While we were driving around we saw these HUGE badminton shuttlecocks we had to stop and take a picture.

So we were just taking pictures minding our own business when all of the sudden we heard a loud booming voice "Please do not climb on the Statues..If you continue to climb security will be called" What..the? Really? We weren't even climbing on them just standing by them and getting pictures( my brothers are in the pics above) so in risk of being arrested we headed to dinner and out of the rain.

Over the next few days we worked and we saw Liberty Jail where the prophet Joseph Smith was held.

We then went to Independence and learned more about the pioneers crossing the plains they had this cute little area for kids to play and me and my brothers decided to play "Oregon(Mormon) Trail" luckily no Oxen died :-)

and on to Far West where a temple will one day be built(there's just a monument now) and Adam-Ondi-Ahman

We finally got to Nauvoo! Nauvoo is Hebrew for "city beautiful" is a small city right on the Mississippi River. The Mormon pioneers gathered and lived their until they left for the Salt Lake Valley in Feb of 1846. Many of my ancestors lived here and 6 years ago I spent a semester here living and learning all about it. It is one of my most treasured adventures, I have many fond memories there and I hadn't been back since I left 6 years ago so I was so excited to return. One of my favorite spots is the Nauvoo Temple. I mentioned earlier that my ancestors lived here, many of them helped build the the temple and made great sacrifices to finish it before they were driven out. The one that is there now was re-built in 2002 using the original plans and is as close to historically accurate as it can be (including furnishings).

The first few days we went around to some of the sites there are 22 historical homes & shops you can visit and tour. Here are some of my favorites.

Jonathan Browning Gun Shop (yes thee Browning guns originated here)

The Mansion house where Joseph Smith and his family lived.

The Heber C. Kimball home..by far the most elegant and fanciest house in Nauvoo.

The Seventies Hall

Luck Mack Smith Home (Prophet Joseph Smith's Mother) This is by far my favorite house..in fact I would move right in if I could. I just love it. She was a petite lady 4'10" (like me) and was so sweet.

Parlor/Kitchen/Dining Area

Look at this China..I am in love..seriously I have thought about this china probably every day since I left Nauvoo and spent countless hours trying to find it..I wanted to get the maker and pattern while I was there but they wouldn't take it out of the cabinet to let me look :-( Anyways I took about 25 pictures of it alone and I will track it down and it will be mine one day!!!

After Nauvoo we went just about 20 Min west to Carthage Jail where the Prophet Joseph Smith was held and killed by a mob.

The room where he was jailed and killed. He was shot and fell to his death through this window.

The Door still even has the bullet hole.

Tues me and my family went to the Temple..it was fabulous and so beautiful inside.

A view of the temple from the flats

A statue of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum riding to Carthage.

(I just think this one is cool)

One of the best parts of the trip besides being able to be in Nauvoo and go to the temple was seeing two of my favorite people. When I lived in Nauvoo there was 9 of us girls who became the best of friends we have stayed in touch through the years. One of them actually met and married someone from Nauvoo and another lives in Omaha with her husband.
My good Nauvoo friend Becki..I love this crazy girl!

My friend Jen..she met me at 10:30 when we got to our hotel in Omaha and we ended up staying up talking till 2:30..I love when you have good friends and you can have not seen them for years and then you get together and pick up right where you left off.

In Omaha we saw a few other little church pioneer sites and then we headed home!

Me & my cute family