Thanksgiving in Utah
Happy December!
Is anyone else in denial that it's already December? It doesn't feel like December yet, especially since just two days ago it was 60° in Boulder. Don't be too jealous though, because we are currently getting hit with a few inches of snow and record low temps (highs in the low teens) . I suppose the Minnesota weather was bound to catch up with me eventually. It's been a while since my last post, so I will try my best to fill you in on all the exciting stuff that has happened since.
(11/24/13) Tuesday, Amy and Torsten and I met up for a coffee date at a little cafe that has Caribou coffee inside of it (the only Caribou coffee in Boulder). There's a million Starbucks, but only one Caribou; it's an up north kind of thing. It was very nice to get out and about and talk to Amy, but I'm sad to say that Amy informed me that she will be moving back to Minneapolis later next week. :( I totally support her in her decision, but I will be sad to see one of my only friends here in Boulder go. We will just have to meet up for Caribou coffee dates when I come back home to visit! :)
(11/26/13) Thursday was Thanksgiving!! First off, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I hope you got to spend time with people you love and fill your bellies with delicious food!
I drove to Utah and spent Thanksgiving with family out there, which was very fun. I left Boulder around 5:00am and headed to Littleton, CO to pick up my cousins friend, Shay, who was coming with me. She was a great road trip companion (and now a friend) and the long 8 hour drive went by rather quickly, or as quickly as an 8 hour drive can go anyways. We only made a couple stops along the way and we arrived in Lindon, Utah around 2:30ish. We were greeted with a warm welcome, did a bit of socializing, and then dilly dallied around the kitchen, watching and helping with dinner preparations when we were needed. Our whole group included myself, Shay, Jake (cousin), Rachel (cousin), John (uncle), Elise (cousin) and her husband Aaron along with their four kids, Aaron's parents (who were very fun to talk to), and a friend from Elise's church.
Dinner was, of course, delicious. We had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, cranberry sauce, a yummy brussels sprout and apple dish, and an extravagant spinach salad with loads of unique toppings. For dessert there was apple pie, pumpkin pie, and (my personal favorite) sweet potato cheesecake! After most everyone had gone, Jake, Shay, Rachel, Eliza, and I played some Wii U, which was really fun. :)
(11/27/13) Friday morning Rachel and I did a P90x kickboxing workout which went pretty well. I was feeling confident enough to attempt the 15 minute ab workout...HA! The ab workout nearly killed me...it was definitely entertaining to say the least. The next day, I woke up to muscles hurting that I didn't even know existed. Anyways, after putting myself through that blissful torture, I decided to go for a quick run. It turned into a 4 mile run, but it's not so horrible running when you're surrounded by beautiful mountain views.
Later that afternoon Rachel and I made a quick Target run and then came back home before heading out to do some outlet mall shopping. I completely forgot about it being Black Friday, but with stores opening so early on Thursday the crowds weren't that bad at all. I got a sweater type of shirt at Banana Republic and decided to stop there while I was ahead. We went to Cafe Rio for dinner (which was awesome) before meeting up with Jake and Shay to see Catching Fire. I just read the book a couple weeks ago so the plot was fresh in my mind. I feel like the movie followed the book really well, and I really enjoyed the movie overall.
(11/30/13) Saturday I woke up and went to the gym for a quick workout, hit up Starbucks at Target, then headed back home to finish my psych paper. The paper took a little while to revise and edit, but I eventually ended up finishing it and turning it in! Woo. During the time I was finishing up my paper I got a call from my Grammy! It was so good to hear from her and listen to all the things she had to tell me about her Thanksgiving out in Washington. I can't wait to see her when I'm home for Christmas! A little later in the afternoon, Jake and Shay came over, and Peter (cousin) stopped by right after he had been winter camping in the mountains, which was apparently as brutal as it sounds. We all hung out and played some more Wii U until Peter left and Jake and Shay went and did their own thing.
Jake, Shay, Rachel, and I were all going to meet up later at the Temple in Salt Lake City to see the lights, so Rachel and I left to swing by some more stores and stop at Trader Joe's to stock up on their delicious food. It's no surprise that I left Trader Joe's with gingerbread cookies, chocolate, and coffee. A Trader Joe's is supposed to open in Boulder on Valentines Day of 2014, so I am really looking forward to that!
We then headed to see the Temple lights, which were very beautiful. It was very crowded, and quite cold, but we managed to make the most of it and get our fill of the lights. We also popped into some of the surrounding buildings which had exquisite interior design; they made you feel like you were in a palace. We also went to see the statue of Jesus with the universe painted on the walls all around him, and from there we went to the top of one more building to see the view of Temple Square from above. Overall, it was a very enjoyable outing!
(12/01/13) Sunday morning I packed up my things, loaded my car, and then headed to church with my uncle John. Listening to the testimonies was a great experience and a lot of people had great messages to share. After the testimonies, it was time for Shay and I to head back to Colorado. The drive, like the drive out to Utah, was quite uneventful weather wise (yay!) and the traffic wasn't too bad at all. Shay and I had some good conversations throughout the drive and I'm glad she came with. :) Although she lives a ways away (a little over and hour), it's nice to know I have another friend.
After I dropped Shay off at her car in Littleton, I decided to seek out a Starbucks (shocker, I know). It was an interesting Starbucks trip thanks to an older gentleman I struck up a conversation with. He was in front of me in line with (who I'm assuming were) his wife and son, and when he tipped the barista he said: "Money is like manure; it doesn't do anyone any good if it's not being spread around". Kind of a funny way to put it, but it definitely has some truth to it. While we were waiting for our drinks he then asked the baristas (two college aged guys) and myself if we knew which four rivers flow through Colorado. I got one right with the Colorado River, and told him that because I'm from MN I should get a pass on all the rest. ;) (Bad excuse, I know...) After we had tried guessing and figuring it out, he told us to remember "CRAP": Colorado River, Rio Grande, Arkansas River, and the South Platte river. He then asked if we knew which direction they flowed. Ha! Having been driving next to the Colorado River all day, I guessed East for the Colorado River and got that one right. We then slowly figured out after a trial and error approach that all the others flowed West. I thanked him for the knowledge he bestowed upon me that evening and headed back to my car. It's just funny how encounters like this can drill random pieces of information into your brain that you'll never forget. After that fun Starbucks trip, I hopped back into my car, thankfully for the last time that day, and headed back to Boulder. I spent the rest of the night just laying low and preparing for the week ahead.
The week so far has gone smoothly! I took advantage of some Cyber-Monday deals, went to yoga, organized what school work I have left, the usual! Today I decided to try baking cookies for the first time since I've moved out here and they turned out pretty good! I tried a different recipe than usual, so they turned out a little different, but they're still yummy. :)
I hope everyone (especially those of you in Minnesota) are staying warm, dry, and safe while you are being pummeled with snow! My advice? Stay at home if possible, read a good book, watch your favorite movie, drink cocoa, sit by a fire, and enjoy yourself. :)
♥ Jane
Is anyone else in denial that it's already December? It doesn't feel like December yet, especially since just two days ago it was 60° in Boulder. Don't be too jealous though, because we are currently getting hit with a few inches of snow and record low temps (highs in the low teens) . I suppose the Minnesota weather was bound to catch up with me eventually. It's been a while since my last post, so I will try my best to fill you in on all the exciting stuff that has happened since.
(11/24/13) Tuesday, Amy and Torsten and I met up for a coffee date at a little cafe that has Caribou coffee inside of it (the only Caribou coffee in Boulder). There's a million Starbucks, but only one Caribou; it's an up north kind of thing. It was very nice to get out and about and talk to Amy, but I'm sad to say that Amy informed me that she will be moving back to Minneapolis later next week. :( I totally support her in her decision, but I will be sad to see one of my only friends here in Boulder go. We will just have to meet up for Caribou coffee dates when I come back home to visit! :)
(11/26/13) Thursday was Thanksgiving!! First off, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I hope you got to spend time with people you love and fill your bellies with delicious food!
I drove to Utah and spent Thanksgiving with family out there, which was very fun. I left Boulder around 5:00am and headed to Littleton, CO to pick up my cousins friend, Shay, who was coming with me. She was a great road trip companion (and now a friend) and the long 8 hour drive went by rather quickly, or as quickly as an 8 hour drive can go anyways. We only made a couple stops along the way and we arrived in Lindon, Utah around 2:30ish. We were greeted with a warm welcome, did a bit of socializing, and then dilly dallied around the kitchen, watching and helping with dinner preparations when we were needed. Our whole group included myself, Shay, Jake (cousin), Rachel (cousin), John (uncle), Elise (cousin) and her husband Aaron along with their four kids, Aaron's parents (who were very fun to talk to), and a friend from Elise's church.
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| Thanksgiving Dinner! |
(11/27/13) Friday morning Rachel and I did a P90x kickboxing workout which went pretty well. I was feeling confident enough to attempt the 15 minute ab workout...HA! The ab workout nearly killed me...it was definitely entertaining to say the least. The next day, I woke up to muscles hurting that I didn't even know existed. Anyways, after putting myself through that blissful torture, I decided to go for a quick run. It turned into a 4 mile run, but it's not so horrible running when you're surrounded by beautiful mountain views.
Later that afternoon Rachel and I made a quick Target run and then came back home before heading out to do some outlet mall shopping. I completely forgot about it being Black Friday, but with stores opening so early on Thursday the crowds weren't that bad at all. I got a sweater type of shirt at Banana Republic and decided to stop there while I was ahead. We went to Cafe Rio for dinner (which was awesome) before meeting up with Jake and Shay to see Catching Fire. I just read the book a couple weeks ago so the plot was fresh in my mind. I feel like the movie followed the book really well, and I really enjoyed the movie overall.
(11/30/13) Saturday I woke up and went to the gym for a quick workout, hit up Starbucks at Target, then headed back home to finish my psych paper. The paper took a little while to revise and edit, but I eventually ended up finishing it and turning it in! Woo. During the time I was finishing up my paper I got a call from my Grammy! It was so good to hear from her and listen to all the things she had to tell me about her Thanksgiving out in Washington. I can't wait to see her when I'm home for Christmas! A little later in the afternoon, Jake and Shay came over, and Peter (cousin) stopped by right after he had been winter camping in the mountains, which was apparently as brutal as it sounds. We all hung out and played some more Wii U until Peter left and Jake and Shay went and did their own thing.
Jake, Shay, Rachel, and I were all going to meet up later at the Temple in Salt Lake City to see the lights, so Rachel and I left to swing by some more stores and stop at Trader Joe's to stock up on their delicious food. It's no surprise that I left Trader Joe's with gingerbread cookies, chocolate, and coffee. A Trader Joe's is supposed to open in Boulder on Valentines Day of 2014, so I am really looking forward to that!
We then headed to see the Temple lights, which were very beautiful. It was very crowded, and quite cold, but we managed to make the most of it and get our fill of the lights. We also popped into some of the surrounding buildings which had exquisite interior design; they made you feel like you were in a palace. We also went to see the statue of Jesus with the universe painted on the walls all around him, and from there we went to the top of one more building to see the view of Temple Square from above. Overall, it was a very enjoyable outing!
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| The Temple (front view) |
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| The Temple (above view) |
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| Jesus & the Universe |
(12/01/13) Sunday morning I packed up my things, loaded my car, and then headed to church with my uncle John. Listening to the testimonies was a great experience and a lot of people had great messages to share. After the testimonies, it was time for Shay and I to head back to Colorado. The drive, like the drive out to Utah, was quite uneventful weather wise (yay!) and the traffic wasn't too bad at all. Shay and I had some good conversations throughout the drive and I'm glad she came with. :) Although she lives a ways away (a little over and hour), it's nice to know I have another friend.
After I dropped Shay off at her car in Littleton, I decided to seek out a Starbucks (shocker, I know). It was an interesting Starbucks trip thanks to an older gentleman I struck up a conversation with. He was in front of me in line with (who I'm assuming were) his wife and son, and when he tipped the barista he said: "Money is like manure; it doesn't do anyone any good if it's not being spread around". Kind of a funny way to put it, but it definitely has some truth to it. While we were waiting for our drinks he then asked the baristas (two college aged guys) and myself if we knew which four rivers flow through Colorado. I got one right with the Colorado River, and told him that because I'm from MN I should get a pass on all the rest. ;) (Bad excuse, I know...) After we had tried guessing and figuring it out, he told us to remember "CRAP": Colorado River, Rio Grande, Arkansas River, and the South Platte river. He then asked if we knew which direction they flowed. Ha! Having been driving next to the Colorado River all day, I guessed East for the Colorado River and got that one right. We then slowly figured out after a trial and error approach that all the others flowed West. I thanked him for the knowledge he bestowed upon me that evening and headed back to my car. It's just funny how encounters like this can drill random pieces of information into your brain that you'll never forget. After that fun Starbucks trip, I hopped back into my car, thankfully for the last time that day, and headed back to Boulder. I spent the rest of the night just laying low and preparing for the week ahead.
.JPG) |
| Chocolate Chip Cookies! |
The week so far has gone smoothly! I took advantage of some Cyber-Monday deals, went to yoga, organized what school work I have left, the usual! Today I decided to try baking cookies for the first time since I've moved out here and they turned out pretty good! I tried a different recipe than usual, so they turned out a little different, but they're still yummy. :)
I hope everyone (especially those of you in Minnesota) are staying warm, dry, and safe while you are being pummeled with snow! My advice? Stay at home if possible, read a good book, watch your favorite movie, drink cocoa, sit by a fire, and enjoy yourself. :)
♥ Jane
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