Friday, September 21, 2012

Seattle Road Trip

Brian and I wanted to make sure that we went on a honeymoon because we have spoken to so many people who had been married for a year, 5 years, 10 years, even 20 years, who had not yet been on a theirs.

But where...?

We are really hoping to visit Brian's sister in Paris next spring, so we didn't want to spend a ton of money, but we knew we definitley wanted to get away. On our wedding night, we drove up to Salt Lake City for a long weekend. It was really nice, but I don't consider a 45 minute drive north a honeymoon.

Brian kept telling me he wanted to go to Seattle and show me all of the places he went on his mission. Honestly, I wasn't too thrilled about that idea. All I knew about Washington was that it rains there

A LOT.

and if you know me (even briefly) you will know that me and rain, do NOT get along.

Rain is just not nice to my hair.

and again if you know me (even briefly) you will know that my hair is my baby and I will do anything to protect it (and its reputation) at all costs.

However, Brian assured me that the week he had planned out for us to go would be one that was filled with sunshiney weather. (A promise he was not sure of completely, until 10 days before our trip. Luckily, he was right and I did not have to kill him.)

Brian: "Phew!"

We Got there on Wednesday night, after a 15 hour drive to Burlington. The drive was long and boring, but totally worth it.



The first day we went to a city called Linden. It was a cute little dutch town with breath taking landscapes. Brian took me to a place that he and his companions would go and get the most delicious, cheapest ice cream ever! It was a dairy called Edaleen dairy. We got an extra large vanilla icecream cone for $1.39! They had 2 gallon cartons of milk for $1.99! My dad (aka "the baby calf") would have loved it there, lol! I told him about it and I think he was a little bit jealous of us.




Afterwards, we stopped at a beach pretty close by. It was beautiful. I had never been to the Pacific Ocean, so I was really excited. I collected some seashells.. but don't tell anyone, because I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to take them out of the park... :x


 
 
 
 
 
Brian and I attempted to take some cool pictures. Some of them worked, and some of them... not so much.
 
 
First I bombed it..

 
Then, Brian bombed it...

 
Then we aced it!


Brian said that Washington has the best terriyaki places. For dinner we went to a cute little place called Apple Terriyaki. He was right! it was so yummy! The owner was super friendly and gave us tons of rice and free soup. We got Brian's favorite Chicken Terriyaki. I had a hard time getting Brian to leave!

The next day, We drove to Anacortes and hopped on a ferry to Friday Harbor. When I say "hopped" I really mean "ran for our lives."

We were running kind of late, and the ferry was leaving in like, three minutes. We ran faster than I have ever run, because if we missed that ferry, we would have to wait three hours for the next one.
Even the ticket guys were like, "Run!" We made it there just in the knick of time, right as they were untying the boat. Yup, I felt pretty super agent like. The boat ride was beautiful. I didn't even know that Washington had islands that people lived on so it was incredible to see all of those beautiful houses.


 
Oh my gosh, I want to go back so bad!!!

 
(Like always, I was being a baby) so I'm holding onto that railing for dear life!

 
Funny Story
 
While Brian and I were on the boat ride to Friday Harbor, there was this man who suddenly pulled out a wooden flute and started playing music to a baby. Brian and I thought it was hilarious because it reminded us of the YouTube video, "the sax man." We didn't catch him on film playing to the baby, but we did get a snippet of him playing the flute to some elderly people sitting and talking. I'll have to figure out how to post a video from my phone on here, but when I do, you will have to watch it!
 
 
Brian took me a place that sold hot sauce, he showed me the hottest hot sauce that they carry, supposedly, the hottest hot sauce in the whole world. If you are brave enough to even put one drop of it on your toungue, the store owner takes a picture of you and it goes on the wall. See if you can spot Brian from when he tried it 3 years ago!
 
 

 
 
Later that night, we left Burlington and headed to Kirkland, a little city outside of Seattle. Upon our arrival, we were very surprised to see that the hotel we were staying at had upgraded our room to a King Spa Suite because it was our honeymoon. We were so happy. It had a beautiful jacuzzi right in the room. I hate going to the jacuzzi's in hotels and having 10 strangers decide they want to go in at the same time as you. It was nice to have a private one. That night we went to down town Kirkland, which is seriously the prettiest and cleanest down town in the United States of America. We ate at this yummy place called the Cactus. I got tortilla soup and a mocktail. Brian got Tacos Al Pastor and Mexican Lemonade.
 
TRY THIS MEXICAN LEMONADE!
 
1 carton simply lemonade juice
2 tbs cilantro chopped
1/2 jalepeno sliced
ice
 
mix together and enjoy!
 
The next morning we went to Pike's Place. It was amazing. Totally not what I was expecting. My mom would love it. We got breakfast at a bakery, and Brian bought me some beautiful flowers for just $5. Seriously. Getting flowers anywhere else, seems like a rip off now!
 
 
I don't have too many pictures from Pike's Place that I am willing to post it was super humid that day.
Yes, Brian was right it did not rain, so therefore I cannot kill him. :)
 
For lunch, we later went to a little diner called Spuds. It is there that I had my very first, Fish & Chips. Yet another thing I would drive up to Washington to have.
 
 
Sadly the next day, we had to go home. I did not want to leave. Brian fulfilled his many duties by checking the tire pressure and filling up the gas and we started out our sad journey back to orem... Blah!
 

 
Last picture of Washington trees.

 
As you can see, I got pretty bored being in the car for so long...
 
Anyways, Our trip was so fun. It was one I'll never forget. I already want to back, and that's how you know it was a good vacation. :)
 
 

 
 
 
 
 







Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Catch 22

In my lifetime, I have been blessed in so many ways. 

I have a loving and supporting family.
I have always had food to eat, clothes to wear, and a roof overhead.
I have associated with many wonderful people and am honored to call these people dear friends.
I belong to a church that is based on charity, love and faith.
I live in a great country full of opportunity and freedom.
I am in good health.

My list is simple and modest, but I think it encompasses all that truly matters.

To my list, I add one more thing: A loving husband who enjoys making birthdays a big deal <3

I had a great 22nd birthday. My birthday fell on a Sunday this year. Since Happy Valley tends to shut down on Sundays, we celebrated my birthday on Saturday instead. I was able to take off work. Since I've been working retail, getting any Saturday off is treated as a treasure. Brian and I simply enjoyed each other's company while relaxing. I got my hair trimmed and styled. Brian made me a delicious pineapple, mango and strawberry smoothie for breakfast. 



I was truly impressed with Brian's present picking skills. I really didn't give him much help to his dismay. I told him to take advantage of technology and go through my pinterest account and look at my "my style" and "OMG!I WANT THIS" albums to get some ideas. He did super well. I am very spoiled.



There is an asian market in provo that Brian and I have been going to since we began dating by the bowling alley in Provo. We love going there because they always have super funny candy and treats. For my birthday Brian truly found the funniest and beautiful thing my eyes have ever beheld...

take a few moments to prepare for this...


your life will truly never be the same...


you will forever be in a constant hunt and search for this magnificent treat...


................




................


...................














Oh my goodness! I seriously almost peed from laughing so hard. I just love what it says in the upper right hand corner of the box and I love how "questionable" the actual candies look. I was so pleased.

Later on that night, Brian and I went to the Hale Center Theatre to see a play called, "Old Lace and Arsenic." Neither Brian or myself had ever heard of it or read anything about. (We like it better that way, add some spice to our newlywed life. haha!)

It was AMAZING! I seriously couldn't stop laughing the whole time!

Afterwards, it was quite late. But Brian knew I had my heart set on going to Tucanos for my birthday, so he made a reservation for 10:15. A bit late, no one was there besides us and a family of four. So again spoiled.. or in other words they were treating us like garbage disposals and were trying to get us to eat as much food as possible so they wouldn't have to throw much away. However, still delicious. We were so full afterwards, but Brian wanted to make sure I had some cake for my birthday so we got a huge chocolate cake slice to go. Seriously, that thing was bigger than two of my heads. We did NOT eat it that night! I would have died.






The next day we went to my in-laws. Kara (my mother in law) and Emily (my sister in law) were terribly sweet and prepared a super yummy meal for me. Emily made some delicious Brazilian lemonade. Seriously, it was way better than Tucanos! I have to get that recipe.

All in all, I had a great birthday weekend. 

School started the very next day *sigh*

It honestly won't be too bad. My classes seem chill and low stress. My teachers are cool and down to Earth. I only had to buy two textbooks. Brian is taking on a course load of 18 credits. Bless him.

My dad and possibly my mom may be coming to visit us in mid-October. I really hope so because I miss them so much. Sometimes, I'll talk to them on the phone and, afterwards, get really quiet. Brian is the best and always knows just what I'm thinking about and stops whatever he is doing to give me a hug. It would be nice to see them in October, considering the next scheduled time I'll see them isn't until next August. (Yeah, that would be a whole year away... not cool.) Anyways....

I hope life is treating you well. I hope you are all happy and healthy. In the meantime, I'll be enjoying the exquisite delicacies of a certain chef that you all may have heard of....


;p