My 4th of July Weekend has Inspired me to Join the Circus

A weekend full of surprises, that's what I had!

Surprise #1. Finding out that we would not be traveling to St. George (Utah, not the island) the night before we were supposed to leave due to some issues with accommodations. I was absolutely crushed because I had really been looking forward to getting away, but after killing myself on the treadmill I decided to suck it up and make the best of my weekend vacation time no matter what we did.

Surprise #2. Discovering that my 50 SPF spray sunscreen was not as effective as I would have liked. We went boating on Friday and Sunday at Utah lake and who goes home looking like a lobster? Me, that's who. Of course it helps that my sister is already tan and my parents keep almost all of their clothes on except when entering the water. Regardless, I got burned and it hurts.



Surprise #3. Crashing on the wake board and jacking up my sunburned neck. I fell 4 or 5 times so it's hard to be sure which one caused the damage. I think it was number two...but at this point what does it matter?

Surprise #4. Getting to meet a group of ED's best friends that he has been keeping hidden. Actually I'm not sure if it was me he was keeping hidden or them... The best part of this surprise is that they were all amazing. I loved getting to know them, and in the end they seemed to "approve" of me, and I them. I'm looking forward to spending more time getting to know them in the future.

Surprise #5. Learning how to hula hoop. Also known as making a complete jack ass out of yourself and being caught on video while doing it. FOR THE RECORD: I had no idea my future brother-in-law was recording us!
The blond closest to the camera is my older sister who brought the hula hoops and is very good, the other blond is my younger sister who has a day more practice than me and I'm (obviously) the uncoordinated brunette. I will say though, this is after practicing for about 2 hours. I'm not sure if that makes this video impressive or pathetic...


Surprise #5. Remembering how great it is to just lay on the lawn while the neighbors light illegal fireworks that they bought and paid for. No parks. No crowds. Just family, friends and a dozen or so neighbor kids running around shooting bottle rockets at each other.

Just the way our fore fathers would have wanted us to celebrate.

Blogfully yours,

Summer

Hola! Me amos es I'm going to Mexico Bitches!

I have some very exciting news! I'm going to MEXICO! Si! Es true. In 2 months I will be laying on the beautiful white beaches of the Riviera Maya with my babe ED.

We have been talking about taking a trip together in between summer and fall semesters. Both of our birthdays are in August (Leo's rule! Rawr!) and it will be the big 3-0 for ED, so we figured what better way to celebrate than by spending 6 days and 5 nights plastered in a foreign country.

We booked our trip Sunday night and of course I had to text Karina the Russian to let her know that it was really happening.

Me: OMG! ED and I just booked our trip! It's official work out, tan and save money like crazy time!

KTR: Yeah! That is so cool! OK, I'm going to start working on your to do list!

So the "to do" list is something Karina gives me before I leave on any and every trip I take. It started when we went to California last year and she made me pretend to be from England and flirt with local surfers. Then it continued when I visited ED's parents for the first time in the country and "have sex in a barn" was on the list. The most recent list came from my trip to Zions National Park where I had to scream from the top of my lungs that I was the queen of the world, much to EDs ultimate embarrassment.

KTR: 1st! Find a hot pink taco and eat it!

KTR: 2nd! Have sex in a sombrero!

KTR: 3rd! Watch a donkey show!

KTR: Drue (random new guy friend) says you need to bring me a grain of rice with my name on it too. Oh, and eat a bacon wrapped hot dog from a street meat cart!

Me: Um... we are not going to Tijuana... we are staying at a classy place!

KTR: Don't worry, I'll have more for you later. I'm watching playboy Hef and he has a new girlfriend named Christal!


Seriously I can't help but love that girl!

If you have items to add to my "to do" list for Mexico, preferably one's that don't involve donkeys or eating questionable food, let me know.

Gracias!

Blogfully yours,

Summer

The Perfect Getaway: Zion National Park

I've decided I am either crazy or dedicated to be taking summer semester classes. Either way, I knew I needed to make the most of the 2 week break ED and I shared in between semesters. We discussed lots of options on where to go. My only criteria was that it be someplace mountainey that I could hike and that wherever we stayed had a shower.

How's this for mountainey?

And how's this for a happy hiker?

What's that? You want a picture of a happy hiking couple? How about three?




In case you skipped over the title of this blog, we went to Zion National Park. It was absolutely amazing! We had perfect weather, we didn't kill each other on the drive to and from, and most importantly, I resisted the urge to push him off the mountain after he made me climb our hardest hike much faster than I am used to (that's putting it nicely). Why in the world my boyfriend feels the need to hike a 5 mile strenuous hike, which they say should take 4 hours, in under 3 (thank you very much), is beyond me!

I present to you, Angels Landing:



Honestly, that doesn't begin to do it justice.

We hiked several other hikes, we ate at amazing restaurants (highly recommend the Spotted Dog), and as for the room with a shower, we stayed at the Novel House; a cozy bed and breakfast where all of the rooms were themed around famous authors. We stayed in the Rudyard Kipling room, not because I had any idea who he was (author of Jungle Book), but because I liked the way the room looked best with it's India/Jungle feel to it.

Lastly, Karina sent me with her version of a "to do" list, as she is often prone to do. I can't share the majority of the list... but I will share item number one because it was one of the first things I did, much to ED's embarrassment.

1. Scream at the top of your lungs from the highest mountain "I'M THE QUEEN OF THE WORLD!"



Blogfully yours,

Summer

There's no crying in the country

So last week I told you that I was going to the country to meet my boyfriend ED's parents and see the farm he grew up on. I asked for your opinions as to what to wear and you did not disappoint! Your advise was spot on! I know this because I didn't listen and wish I would have. Ah well! I always did have to learn my lessons the hard way.

Designer boots or no designer boots? That was my original question. You convinced me not to take them and I decided to bring my hiking boots instead. Well, I decided to, but I actually forgot to put them in my bag so I showed up bringing only the lightweight tennis shoes I had on. Doh! Strike one for the city girl!

Let's see, what other advise didn't I listen to? Oh, the whole get up early part. I half way listened. I got up about on time, jumped through the shower, did my hair and put on some light makeup. Little did I know that the day they had in store for me was one of manual labor. Luckily ED's mother, let's call her Mama ED, was kind enough to tell me to leave my fancy purse in the room (so I don't get mud on it) and handed me a pair of leather work gloves and some sunscreen.

First chore - dig a ditch with a tractor.
Second chore - get tractor unstuck from the mud.
Third chore - dig ditch by hand.














Mostly I was on supervision duty along with stacking random pieces of wood from dead trees in the burn pile (score one for me not having appropriate shoes!). Luckily I had the guidance of ED's 5 year old nephew to show me the ropes.

Fourth chore - set the field on fire.














After watching the field burn and pretending not to have anxiety about fire containment and whether or not the reported the fires to the proper fire burning officials, we stopped for lunch.

Although I was ready for a nap, I sucked it up and found a way to redeem myself by 1) learning to drive a tractor and 2) hauling tree branches that ED and his brother were chainsawing, onto the trailer bed and then onto another burn pile.


This post is getting quite long and there is probably no need to tell you EVERY detail so I'll try and wrap things up.

Day two - the wind was incredibly strong so they decided that the days chores would be to cut down a tree that had fallen in front of their grandfathers farm "just across the way". That's right, because wind and sawdust go perfectly together. However, lifting heavy tree stumps was totally worth seeing the way ED can swing an axe. I literally had to tell myself to stop eye-raping him before someone noticed.












Joking and eye-raping aside, I had a great time. ED's family is amazing. I finally understand where he gets his incredible work ethic. I am sore, bruised and exhausted. I got to see so much. Like regular horses, baby horses, all sorts of bunny rabbits (I even held one, but not the one with the red eyes because it looked evil...like it would chew your head off if you gave it the chance), chickens with feather shoes on and a crap load of farm cats and dogs. When I asked ED what the bunnies names and the chickens names were he told me that "not all farm animals get names." I told him that on my farm, ALL animals would be named - even the chickens. Granted their names would probably be Shut-the-hell-up-noisy-ass-bird 1, 2, 3, etc.

Farm life is great but I'm glad to be home.

The end.


Blogfully yours,

Summer

P.S. Do I label this post as a vacation? That just seems not-quite right.

Moab Continued - 4 hikes, 1 day

Yeah, I know, I have been a blogging slacker. I have a lot of catching up to do starting with finishing writing about my amazing trip to moab!

The great thing about going to Moab with a group who has been there a million times is that they were all very concerned with making sure I was able to experience as much of Moab as possible. Truthfully, I felt like a kid visiting Disneyland for the first time. "Look at that rock! OH! No look at that one! Holy cow look how amazing this place is!" and the group would laugh at me and feel proud that they were the ones to introduce it to me. Like their little mountain child had finally found her way home.

We started out the last hiking day of our vacation with a 1 mile hike called "Park Avenue". A far stretch from the real Park Avenue not that I have ever been there, but even if I had, I'm sure I would have like this better.


Next we mad a quick stop by "Balancing Rock" we only had 5 minutes before we were supposed to be at our next location but I had to see the rock from every angle. Julie came with. When we rounded the corner to head back to the car we saw a few of them were taking off so Julie and I did some trail running back to the car. It sounds funny, but all of sudden I had this image that we were two 10 year old best friends giggling and laughing as we jumped from rock to red rock.


Next stop was "The Firey Furnace". In order to enter the laberinth that is the furnace you must have a ranger, a certified guide or take a class due to the complex maze of canyones you wander through. I was excited to have a ranger as our guide and let me tell you he did not dissapoint. He was incredibly knowlegeable, but I guess if you had done the same hike over 1,500 times, you would be too.
The funace was by far one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I tried my hardest to stay in the front of the group so that I could hear all that Ranger Lee was saying...I really am such a nerd.





After spending 3 hours weaving in and out of the furnace we finally emerged, ate a quick lunch and headed over to "The Delicate Arch". Those of you from or familiar with Utahs license plate with the red rock arch, that is what I got to see.


The hike up is a gruling 1.5 miles strait up on slickrock. So Julie, Mariah, Chris and I figured the quickest way down was to RUN IT! Wind in my hair, sweat on my back, and smile on my face, that's exactly what I did.

Lastly, I promised you "Indian Dicks."
Ranger Lee informed me that is not the technical name for them. I guess in mixed company you should call them spires, but...look at them!



Mother Nature has a kick ass sense of humor is all I'm sayin'!

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Kicking 8.5 miles in its mountain ass

My Valentines day was spent hiking in Canyonlands trying to comprehend just how small we all actually are. I forgot my camera for this hike, luckily one of the group members, Chris, brought his. Despite my complaining, I did actually pack warm enough which is a very good thing because temperatures were in the 30's for this hike.
We hiked the Syncline Loop around Upheaval Dome. The hike starts at approximately 5,700 feet up.

You spend the first mile hiking strait down over rocky terrain carefully watching where you step, stopping every so often to look up...then down...and down some more.

After dropping down from 5,700 ft to about 4,200 ft you hike along a dried up riverbed for a few miles, then back up a "short" rock staircase into one of the most breath taking valleys. I kept trying to absorb everything I saw, to commit it to memory, but it's overwhelming. Standing in the valley, with rock walls in every direction with another hiker, Julie and I stood there spinning in circles to see the view from every angle, to memorize it somehow. Words can not describe how truly awe inspiring it was.
We stopped for lunch just past the valley. Sitting on a large rock soaking up the sun while sharing and passing around treats. It's quite a community event. "Anybody want some almonds?" "Who wants Fig newtons?"

After lunch, we looked up the narrow canyon trying to figure where the trail might lead us. Rock scrambling is where it lead us. But we all looked out for each other as we began to hike strait up over boulders the size of trucks. No one left behind became our motto.

For the first 5 or 6 miles of the hike, while you are stepping from sharp rock to sharp rock, you don't really pay much attention to your feet. During the last 2 to 3 miles of the hike where the rocks were replaced with snow then a sandy river bed it felt so good I could have literally kissed the ground we were hiking on.
When we finally made it back to the cars, we were all exhausted yet celebratory for having made it back safely. I can honestly say I have never done anything like this before. Oh sure, I'll do 3 to 5 mile hikes in the mountains close to home, but they do not come close to comparing to this.

I'm quite proud of myself actually.

Spoiler Alert: In my next post I will show you what an Indian Dick looks like, Ranger Lee and a really big rock balancing on practically nothing. Will the wonders of Moab never cease?

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Preview

My hiking trip to Moab was absolutely amazing and I fully plan on blogging about hiking 8.5 miles, running down the mile and a half rocky trail to delicate arch, stiff muscles, seeing Canyon Land, Indian Dicks and park rangers. But for now, I have been studying for a math test and writing a research paper for english so I'll just leave you with these pictures of Mesa Arch in Canyon Lands.


Blogfully yours,
Summer

Why yes, makeup is a requirement in Moab

Last Thursday night I was packing for my hiking weekend in Moab, UT. The boyfriend came over to spend a little time with me before I go. Of course he had to tease me that I was packing WAY too much stuff to which I adamantly disagreed with because the smart hiker is always prepared (so there!).

Upon arriving in Moab I quickly realized that not only was I severely UNDER packed, but that I also forgot my makeup bag. 4 days with NO makeup is just not acceptable unless you are boating or full blown camping! This weekend consisted of hiking and staying in a motel so makeup is pretty much required.

TEXT MESSAGE

Me: I would like you to know that I am severely under packed compared to everyone else! Oh, and you will be happy to know that I forgot my makeup at home.

ED: How could you possibly be under packed? I think everyone else is just over packed and lets be honest here, you know you have some makeup with you. ;) xoxo

Me: I hate that you know me so well.

I will have a full post complete with picture (yes, I will have makeup on so don't be afraid to check back) in the next day or so. For now, I am going to crash. My aching muscles and my comfy bed are calling to me.

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Thanks for the memories Cali

Where to begin and what to say. California blew my mind. We spent most of our time during the first 2 days at Lagoona Beach. I fell in love with the beauty of the beaches, the ocean, the smell and of course the surfers. Can we say YUMMY?!? Our first meal was in Lagoona Beach at a cute restaurant over looking the ocean. It was so beautiful. We both had 2 Coronas...we remembered halfway through the second one that these are not the 3.2 Utah beers we are used to!



So...we decided to play on the beach for a while and sober up! Unfortunately we did not have our suits on (that would have made too much sense) so we didn't really get in the water, which was ok because it was warm, but not hot. I'd guess high 70's.




During the evenings we went out to different fancy shmancy restaurants. We went to one called 21 Oceanfront dressed to kill in sexy black dresses. The "cougars" HATED us! The rich men tried to be sly while they checked us out and the waiters smiled a little too big. To say that we got a lot of attention when we went out is an understatement. Believe me when I tell you I am not saying all of this to brag. Karina and I are 2 6ft tall women. We wear heels and classy sexy clothes. We get noticed when we go out in Utah, but nothing like we did in California. We went out to a few clubs when we were there. The guys were so different. Not necessarily in a good way, they just cared more about how they looked. Apparently the Persians run the club scene in OC. There were literally NO blonds! Maybe 2 blond chicks, but no blond guys. We had fun. We had a lot of fun. I mean we had way more fun than should be allowed!



We got to Newport on a Thursday. When we woke up on Saturday morning, we looked at each other and said the same thing - I miss home! So what did we do on Saturday and Sunday to pass the time? We shopped! I don't think my wallet will recover for quite some time and I am pretty sure I won't be eating for the next month either because I came home literally broke! Strike that. I came home in the hole! But you know what? Its was worth it. I have so many memories from this trip. We agreed going into it to say "yes" to every new experience and those experiences (some good, some bad) are something I will always have.

I'll leave you with this last photo. You can not tell, but we are standing in front of a $95 MILLION Yacht that was for sale. We decided it didn't match our Bentley so we would keep on looking.

I love my mountain people!

While in California, Karina and I spent our first night there hanging out with her x-boyfriend. He is a local of So-Cal and continued to tease us over and over about being from Utah. "I don't know how you mountain people do things in Utah, but in Cali this is how we roll." Blah Blah BS! It ended up being great on going joke throughout our trip. But you know what? I'll take my down to earth mountain people any day of the week! I was so overwhelmed by the OC mentality. Everything is about image, I mean there is nothing but black, silver and white luxury cars on the road and people can be so incredibly fake! By the last day there I was counting the hours, minutes, seconds until I could be home with my big truck driving mountain people! Don't get me wrong, I had a great time and made some incredible memories, but home...ah home sweet home...I missed you!

I'm home friends. Pictures, stories, and thoughts will be posted later.

I love it when things just fall into place!

Sometimes I need to remind myself that it's best to just not stress because things will work themselves out. Today is the perfect example. I was able to get everything done for work that was pressing. I went to class and my professor didn't give us very much homework. I am ahead in my Tuesday night class too. Which means I don't need to stress about studying while on vacation. I just finished packing (and I think I packed enough to stay there for a month! (Kel, if I fall in love with Cali, can I just move in with you?) I'm downloading some music for the trip. I found a ride to and from the airport and someone to feed my kitty! See? Everything just fell into place right in time. It's a beautiful thing!

See you soon! Well I guess I won't "really" be seeing a lot of you soon...but you know what I mean.

Count Down to Cali!

I leave Thursday morning for beautiful sunny California (Newport Beach)! Ask me if I have packed yet...go on...ask. "Summer are you all packed and ready for sunny California?" Of course my answer is NO! I was in class until 8:20 tonight and I have been finishing up my homework for tomorrows class ever since I got home. Tomorrow I have class until 8:30 again so I really won't be packing until about, oh I don't know...10 hours before we leave! Oh and I don't have a ride arranged to the airport yet. Crap! I better get on that instead of blogging. Whose crazy idea was it to stop homework and blog! Oh yeah...mine!

When excited Russians make lists.

I am going to California in 10 days. Look out Sunny Orange County because I am not coming alone! I am bringing with me a crazy beautiful Russian Queen bombshell named Karina who happens to be one of my very best friends! You will know it's us as we will be easy to spot. Just look for the two 6 ft tall tan women talking with fake British accents and hitting on surfers while running on the beach and taking pictures.

Below is a list of "To Do" and "Not To Do" that Karina the Russian sent me today.


To do:
1. Run on the beach in the morning
2. Soak up the feet in the sand and take a picture of it
3. Shopping
4. Eat Healthy!
5. Experience California night life
6. Flirt with a local surfer/sexy man
7. Have a fake accent .... British...or pretend we r French on one of the nights we go out
8. We'll have to do something that we've never done before... surfing or something in that nature! Create a memory maker!
9. Lay on the beach and Tann and look sexy as we do it!
10. Be smart! Don't talk to creeps!
11. Take A LOT OF pictures!

Not to do:
1. One night stands
2. Eat like a pig and buy sweets from every corner!
3. Get married.

*Add if you can think of something.

We are only there for 4 days...I hope we can fit it all in! Oh, and I should note that Karina the Russian has also requested that we throw ourselves a going away party before we go. I swear to you there is never a dull moment with her and I absolutely love her for it!

Bryce Canyon National Park Weekend

I am a bit late in getting this post up. Last weekend I went to Bryce Canyon National Park and Escalante with my good friend Heidi. We left on the 5th and drove to Escalante where we stayed at a wonderful bed and breakfast called The Slot Canyon Inn. I originally booked the room here in the beginning of May when I thought Sven was coming out. Every place inside the park was booked so I found this place, which is about 45 minutes outside of the park. It took us just under 5 hours to get there. We checked in around 3:30pm, packed our packs with food and water and headed out to Calf Creek Falls, a beautiful 6 mile hike with amazing scenery. Red rock cliffs with lush greenery along a river and an amazing fall as your payoff at the end. Here are some pictures from this hike.





















Sunday, the 6th, our plan was to spend the entire day hiking around Bryce. We had a great breakfast at the Inn, packed up food and supplies and headed out for adventure. However, this was not destined to be my day. We arrived at the park, pulled into the visitor center and decided on a longer hike, one that said it would take 4-5 hours, went back to the car and realized I left my pack (which contained all of our food supplies). I was so mad! We debated about going back, but that would set us back 2 hours! So I decided that I would splurge and buy a new pack and we would split the cost of more food. $95.00 later, we head to the trail head only to pull up and have it start pouring down rain!
Still determined to see Bryce, Heidi and I decide we will take the less adventurous approach and drive to all of the over looks. Only problem is that my camera is in my pack back in the room, so I do not have any pictures! After seeing the sights we stopped for lunch at the Bryce Canyon lodge, and decide we could both use a glass of wine. The waiter, bless his heart, spills my glass of wine all over me. At this point my bad luck is just funny to me. We had a good laugh about it and ended up getting dessert for free.
After lunch we decide that it might have cleared up enough to attempt a hike, but 30 minutes into the hike the imposing storm clouds, complete with lightening and thunder made us turn around which was a good thing because we ended up getting to the car right as the rain began to pour down.
We headed back to our hotel and decided that we needed a really nice dinner. A friend of mine told me about a place in Boulder that has and amazing restaurant so we called and got a reservation at Hells Backbone Grill. It was about 45 minutes away from where we were staying, but well worth the drive, which I should mention is so awe inspiring in itself. The food was fabulous and I want to go back and stay at the lodge there some time soon! Here is a picture of Heidi and I after we got all dolled up for dinner.

Monday morning we packed up, checked out of the hotel and headed back to Bryce. We decided we wanted to get a morning hike in before heading back to Salt Lake. We did the Navajo/Queens loop and it took us about 2 hours. It was amazing! I felt like I was on another planet, like I was walking around on Mars or something. There were large Hoodoos, red and white layers or rock, and pine trees...such an odd combination. It is hard to describe, I think it best to just put a bunch of pictures up instead.
















I loved this vacation! It was perfect for me. Right up my alley. I would recommend it to anyone. Bryce is a place that everyone should experience. Now I won't lie, it was a little hard being there (since I had originally planned this for Sven and I)but I do not regret going! Heidi and I had a blast and it is truly one of the most majestic places to visit in Utah.