Cheesecake tasting

In honor of National Cheesecake Day, the Cheesecake Factory sold their slices at half price. Clark and I went over to try a couple different kinds to see what we wanted for our "wedding cake."

The winner (which is called something along the lines of "Chocolate Tuxedo"):



Us, after having stuffed our faces and bellies with much delicious cheesecake:

Cross your fingers!

We may have found a place to live.

But I don't want to jinx it, so I'll wait until this weekend to have a real update. :D

Picky Eating

All my life I've been a crazy picky eater. I'd try things, sometimes, just to have an excuse to say that I knew I didn't like it.

I've been surprised in the last couple of years how, even if I really don't like an ingredient, sometimes I can find a way to still incorporate it into a meal. Two examples that come to mind are onions (which I will now eat in their french-fried form) and spinach (which is okay when it's a ravioli filling).

I still don't like fish, though.

Surreal

Even after looking at apartments for an hour and sitting in my apartment for another two tonight writing addresses on wedding invitations with Clark, I still don't believe I'm getting married in less than a month. It just hasn't sunk in, yet, I guess.

July 16 - BYU Soccer Game

Brady went to soccer camp and was given a few tickets to the soccer game. Even though we lost, it was still a pretty fun game. Here are a couple of shots:

July 15 - Bridal Shower

Thursday night was my bridal shower! I was so happy to see so many good friends that night. Lots of Clark's family was able to make it (mom, grandmas, aunts, cousins) and my Aunt Julie and four of my cousins, plus lots of old roommates, friends from old wards and jobs and girls from my current ward. I'm sorry I don't have many pictures--my roommate was in charge of those and she's been gone all weekend. I'll steal from her later. :)

There was eating:

Scrapbooking for my new recipe book:

And group participation in a Mad Libs game (that Michelle has somewhere):
We also played the candy bar game and interviewed Clark (I think I got three questions right).

July 14 - Enrichment

Our Relief Society had a meeting at Sister Ashton's house where she and Sister Potts shared ways they were good homemakers for their families (whether or not they worked jobs). They listed:

making memories together,

having family scripture study,

playing good music in the home,

eating at least one meal together every day,

and having visual reminders of the Gospel,

Barbara's Reception

Barbara (from my freshman year) held her Utah reception on Saturday night and I was lucky enough to go. This was completely due to Barbara taking a few hours that afternoon to contact some of her friends who were in the Provo/Orem area to give me a ride up. She's wonderful and selfless like that. :D

I loved this idea: Barbara had cloth squares out on the table for her guests to sign and she'll be making a quilt to remember her wedding.

This is one of her cakes--which was a bundt cake, made by a company called "Nothing Bundt Cake" (which is fabulously clever, I think).

Barbara's sister is a sweetheart (she's the one in purple) and Ariel showed up not to long after me. :)

And, last but not least, how awkward is it that Jessica and I wore the same outfit?

Courtesy

So, last weekend I had the pleasure of riding in three different cars. Each of the drivers was a guy, two of whom I know very well but two of whom I'd never ridden in the passenger seat with. It was a pleasant surprise to realize that the two I'd never ridden shotgun with automatically went to the door and held it open for me.

Chivalry is not yet dead. :D

Making Invitations

I'm still surprised that I spent 4 hours looking for/buying materials for these invitations and then it took 6 hours to assemble all of them. Three cheers for Michelle doing so much today (when we didn't expect this to take even half that long!)--you're awesome!

(And, yes, some important information has been removed--I didn't want Michelle getting scammed or random internet people showing up at my house. :) That's all.)

July 5th - the Parade!

Since Utah declared July 5th to be the real holiday, the Provo parade was held off until Monday morning. Unlike last year, I participated by holding a banner for the White Peaks Centennial Pipe Band (the group that Clark and several of my roommates are a part of).

Here are the shortest and tallest members of the group. :)

Michelle and I borrowed some T-shirts from the group so we could look a little more official for our job.

My old roommate Erin took this picture (which is why I'm able to be in it). I stole it from Facebook. :D

Had to get a shot of me and Clark after the parade while he still had his kilt on. :)

The rest of the day was spent cleaning up and participating in a Jack Black marathon (Nacho Libre, Kung Fu Panda and School of Rock) which *would've* been awesome except for that fact that I was running on minimum sleep. Turns out Jack Black helped fix that by letting me sleep through 1 1/2 of the first two films.

And what holiday would be properly celebrated without a little RockBand, eh? Hooray for gold starring a few more songs!

The Actual Fourth of July

Our ward had a Break the Fast at the house of a member of the bishopric. I'm so grateful to their giving and thoughtful family for hosting so many of us!

Sleeping--the all-American holiday pastime. ;)

I'm crazy surprised that not much salad was brought, but all of it was eaten. Go team!

Although I didn't get a shot of the homemade rocket (I was running for safety and cover), the fireworks show was pretty awesome. Here's a couple of store fireworks shots. :)

July 3 - Stadium of Fire

I was sitting at home making birthday cards (so I could be ready for a nephew a future mother-in-law and then the crazy onslaught of September birthdays my family always has) when Jessica L. from my ward came by saying she had food and games outside to be ready to enjoy the fireworks from Stadium of Fire. Of course, I had to join! Here are a few pictures from the evening:

Have I ever mentioned how much I love sparklers?

I also fully love fireworks. And how awesome is it that these look purple?

Official-official

Today I got my ring back!

Now when I get all those awkward hitting-on moments, I can throw my hand up in their face and say, "whoa, there! I'm taken!"

You know, in my mind. ;)