Ain't Nobody Got Time For That!

I am slightly obsessed with this clip. It makes me want to get a cold pop, BBQ, and get bronchitis all at once:

We Went to Chicago, and We're Still Real Full

If I haven’t mentioned it before, Kristen is kind of a big deal, and has a fancy job. She will deny it all day long, but it’s true. As a result of her fanciness, she had a training meeting in Chicago last week, so Julie and I invited ourselves to tag along. I love me some Chicago, and think it is one of the best food cities out there, so I was excited. As a side note, my first visit to Chicago occurred when I got my first job out of college and had to go there for a training myself…for one month. Oh, and we were an hour outside of the city with no cars, so the only way I got to see downtown was when my siblings flew out to save me/drive me into the city one weekend. Despite that rough introduction, I have grown to love Chicago.

Our hotel was right in the middle of the Magnificent Mile. Julie had printed out only one map with the location of the nearest Nordstrom, and turns out, it was right across the street. So glad we had our map to guide us! I will try to talk about things other than the amazing food, but it will be difficult, so if I get off track, just skip to the end. One of our favorite things to do is take the architectural boat tour in which you learn about the history of the city through the different skyscrapers. It really is fascinating, and who doesn’t love a boat ride? It would have been better if it had been warmer than 50 degrees, but I’ll still take it!

Kristen and I ran a really fun 5K that ended at Wrigley Field, and we got to run through the concourse of the stadium before the big finish. I thought we got to run around the bases, but Kristen informed me that we had to fundraise $10,000 for that privilege, so I was out of luck. What was not so fun was the subway ride back with a crazy man singing at the top of his lungs the entire ride back. Especially since he refused to harmonize with me. Jerk.

We went to Millenium park and loved the Bean and all of the beautiful flowers.

Thanks to Kristen and Heather Bunting, we also went to the Museum of Science and Technology. There are 3 things in that title that scare me, so that was a victory to get me there. But we loved it! It was very interactive, and it kind of made me wish I had not bribed my lab partner into completing all of our Chemistry assignments in high school.

While Kristen went to her training, Julie and I took a food tour that was really fun. In addition to getting us to eat a traditional Chicago dawg, we also got to see the Tea Room in the Drake Hotel, and the Tip Top Tap (lame name, I know) ballroom in the Allerton Hotel. Aren’t they perty?

And the capper was a Darryl Hall concert that was SO good. If you don’t know who Darryl Hall is, you should be ashamed of yourself, and should immediately go to the Google machine to get educated. For a good story, ask Kristen how she almost had to get a tattoo before they would let her in.

I almost forgot to talk about the food! Our favorites were the following: Limeade and Mexican ice cream from Xoco, Garrett’s popcorn (that stuff is RIDICULOUS), and these make your own cupcakes. We had a great time, and can’t wait for Kristen’s next training!

Happy Birthday Melinda!!

It's true - it's Melinda's Day of Birth!  To think it was just 29* years ago that she joined our family. And boy are we glad she did!  Here's why:
*dates are approximate.


Melinda will do anything for her friends or family.  And she doesn't complain about it either - she's happy to do it!

Melinda is fun.  There were many days sitting in church giggling as we had to sing the word "broad" in a hymn or being shushed by the Relief Society president because we were being too noisy.

Melinda is a great aunt.  She's always the one down on the floor playing games with her nieces and nephews, and the first one they ask to play games with.  Darn her.

Melinda knows exactly what she likes.  A beach, a magazine, a pina colada, dessert, summer, opening the moon roof on her car, good reality TV, going to lunch. 

Melinda likes to wear a sassy shoe.  While her high heels are not always appreciated in the sensible-shoe-loving-family ward like they were in the singles ward, she continues to wear them because they make her happy.

Melinda can remember lots of stuff.

Melinda notices people.  Melinda is interested in people and pays close attention to them.  And, she's often the one friends open up to because she always listens and remembers.

Happy birthday, Melinda!  We hope it is a great day.

Cut Your Hair, Jason Mraz

You're not going to be selling many albums looking like this.

SkyMall: Endless Delights

I find the Skymall fascinating. I'm always amazed by the treasure trove of useless crap they try to entice you with (A lifesize Bigfoot Yeti lawn sculpture for $1,500? Sign me up!")

The genius of the Skymall is that, like the best informercials, you start off mocking, and then you see something that makes you stop and think, "You know, that's actually a good idea!"

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be the poor people who model for the Skymall? I'm sure they are ridiculed mercilessly by their peers, because if I were their peer...I would ridicule them mercilessly. And it's not like they can just bury this in their portfolio. It's sitting here for everyone who ever takes a flight to look at!

Below are some actual Skymall pictures. You tell me which one is the absolute worst:

My vote is the chick in the box (a portable sauna, by the way).

I Heart a Parting Gift!

 

We love taking cooking classes at Thanksgiving Point and have been going since they started more than 10 years ago.  It started with all of the girls meeting there for a class together - Kristen would come from BYU, I would pick up my Mom after work and head down with her and Melinda would join us too.  Now, it's pretty much just Melinda and I from time-to-time.  This week we went to a great class by Michelle Huxtable, who was sampling recipes from her Gathering of Friends cookbooks.  I had been to one of her classes before and knew that we would be fed well.  In fact, the last time, Michelle had just come from shooting a picture of one of her recipes for an upcoming book - bacon wrapped tater tots.  You have to respect a woman who will put that recipe in a glossy, showy cookbook.  Not to mention, my love of all things bacon - I knew her recipes were for me.  We were fed some delicious food and were stuffed in no time.  One of my favorite things of the evening . . . lovely parting gifts.  We left with a package of a spice mix to use when we make Tuscan chicken and we got a package of homemade peanut butter cookie balls to make at home - both in a cellophane bag tied with ribbon.  I was in heaven!  Oh, how I love a little take away gift. 

I Heart Sampan

One of my favorite dishes at Sampan is the Snowball shrimp . .  yummy shrimp in a sweet dressing with freshly steamed broccoli on a bed of rice.  Delicious!  But, what I love even more than the food is how nicely they wrap up their dishes that are to-go.  I can't tell you how many times I come home with food that is a drippy mess leaking through the container or bags.  But, at Sampan, everything is sealed shut with plastic wrap so that everything is clean when you get to your eating destination.  It's brilliant!

Easter Sunday

We had a great Easter celebration at the Bird house.  A traditional ham dinner started things off.  Then Dad had a little spiritual message for everyone.  After that, we were off for the egg hunt that we have been doing since we were little.  There are eggs everywhere . . . in the treehouse, the side yard, window sills, flower beds, the front and back yards too.  Lisa was the big winner of the silver egg this year and Maggie is already plotting and getting Emma in her corner to help her find it next year.  The kids make quick work of opening their eggs and figuring out how much tithing they need to pay from their winnings.  The adults draw names for an Easter basket treasure hunt and exchange that was great fun.  This holiday is a wonderful reminder of how grateful we are for the atonement and for the chance that we have to be together forever as a family because we sure do love our family!

Come On!

Does anyone have a bike or some of those heelie shoes I can borrow to ride down to Provo?

Line Upon Line

One of my favorite parts of the New Era Magazine is called "Line Upon Line" where they breakdown a scripture into definitions with supporting quotes to help with understanding and clarification by our church leaders.  I love it!

I think it's weird....

...when grown men go by "Kenny."

Corner Bakery Delights

I was lucky enough to have dinner with a couple of great friends this week.  And, funny enough, we ended up at the Corner Bakery each time.  First, one in Draper that turned out to be opening day, and then in Foothill.  Their food is good, but what I really look forward to are the yummy treats.  And here, you get dessert first - even better.  While you wait to have your food delivered to your table, you get the bakery treats right away.  I am a sucker for the mini-bundt cakes that come in chocolate, red velvet, pumpkin - in the fall, and a new one we tried this week - banana with caramel frosting.  Then, of course, there are the whoopie pies.  These come in pumpkin year round - plus red velvet too.  So yummy!