Rotting My Brain

I have to admit I've been watching too much TV lately. I usually don't watch a lot of TV in the summer, but yeah, it seems to be getting out of control with Ash working all of the time. That said, there's some good stuff on this summer...a time when TV usually sucks. :) And surprisingly Ash & I are agreeing on more shows than normal. So, a list of shows I'm diggin' this summer.

1. Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood. My sis got me hooked on this one. It's cute. I like Tori Spelling better now than back in the 90210 days.
2. Intervention. There are some messed up people on this show. And you just can't quit watching. Especially during the stupid marathons.
3. Paige's Perfect 10. Reminds me of lazy college Saturdays when Trading Spaces first came out and Erin, Tracee and I would sit around our apartment and watch ALL DAY LONG. They're celebrating Paige's return to the show by counting down her 10 favorite episodes - most of which include cat fights about how someone hates brown.
4. The new season of Project Runway. That show just never gets old.
5. Flipping Out. Another Bravo favorite of mine. Tagline: You think your job is bad...be glad you don't work here. That's what TV's good for, I guess. Making you feel better about your situation by watching people who are worse off. ha!
6. And finally, Netflix can't deliver my Big Love episodes fast enough. I burn through them the minute they get in the front door. As fictional as it may seem, I think a lot of the cultural issues addressed in this episode ring true in Utah. And besides the 'educational' value, it's SO, SO GOOD. I also have a conspiracy theory about who the show is loosely based on. But I'm still investigating. Again, too much time on my hands.

If anyone has a good book to recommend, I'd be willing to listen.

-Emily :)

Dirrrrty

So for over six months I have been telling Ashford we need a new vacuum. Now that Helena is constantly on the floor, trying to eat the floor, throwing food on the floor, etc. and also regularly covered in cat hair, he finally gave in. In typical Ashford fashion, he wanted to get the most expensive vacuum you can find. I know it's probably a great vacuum, but I just can think of so many other things I'd rather spend that much money on. Like maybe going to Jamaica. So, I did some research online and found a suitable, highly recommended one for a much reasonable price.
And from the looks of things, it works very,very well. Maybe too good in fact.









Yes, that is dirt, hair, fuzz, ick and I don't even know what from ONE SMALLISH, BARELY USED ROOM in our house. Ash and Helena were equally disgusted. I had to quit taking pictures because it got way worse from there.












Ash agreed next time he will listen to me sooner about how OUR VACUUM CLEANER ISN'T WORKING WELL! After nearly 5 years of marriage you think he'd realize that I'm usually right about everything.

Pardon me while I go and die.

-Emily :)

Bonus Day

Not working today because it's Pioneer Day here in Utah. I'm not really sure how we're supposed to celebrate, but there may be fireworks involved. I'm also going to try to get some stuff done around the house in the middle of chasing Helena around.

Here's an interesting article about the historical significance of today's holiday from the Salt Lake Tribune. Just so those of you who don't live in Utah can learn something new. Oh, and read the comments below the article...usually interesting things get said down there and cat fights break out regularly. And it seems it always comes back to polygamy.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_9978708

-Emily :)

Just tilt your head a bit...

I apologize in advance for this video being 'crooked'...my very rudimentary video skills combined with a bit of laziness hasn't figured out how to rotate it. Might be a camera issue...ugh.

Anyway, below is Helena playing with one of her toys. Ash & I refer to her habit of not letting go of the ball so it can roll down through the toy like it's supposed to as the game of "Just the tip, just for a second, just to see how it feels." She's obviously a genius since she figured out that you can put the ball in, still keep it in your hand to play with, AND enjoy the fun music. We're so proud.

You'll also observe a brief glimpse of her 'ride'em cowboy dance'. Take it from your parents, kid: it's hard to be smart AND a good dancer.

Spontaneous is Our Middle Name

Last Saturday morning we decided to head downtown to the Salt Lake City Farmer's Market to maybe pick up some local fruit for a pie. The market encompassed an entire city block and was more art/food fair than the smaller type of farmer's market we're used to. I picked up some apricots, raspberries and a houseplant and we had some delicious Thai food for 'brunch'.

Afterwards, Ash joked that we should go to Wyoming to buy some good fireworks. This Thursday is Pioneer Day in Utah (more on that later), an official state holiday we've heard is bigger than the 4th around here. Not wanting to go back home yet, I said SURE! let's go to Wyoming. Why not? I've never been. So, with the assistance of Ash's iphone we figured out Evanston, Wyoming was about 75 miles away. We stopped off at a filling station, got some gas, soda, water and Cheerios for Helena and off we went.

Ash blinged out on the 2-for-1 sale at the fireworks store. Here's a pic of him showing his wares to Helena once we got home. I don't want to talk about how much money 'blinged out' really is, but I do sense a spa day in my future as payback.

We then decided to take the scenic route home. We drove Route 150 through the Uinta Mountains back around to Park City. The Uintas are to the east of the Wasatch Mountain range, which butts up right against Salt Lake City. The mountain range is unusual as it is the highest range in the contiguous United States that runs east to west instead of north to south.

The drive was phenomenal. Ashford swears he saw a bear. Although I don't believe him since he wasn't wearing his glasses. We both agreed it was some of the most spectacular mountain scenery we'd ever visited, way more interesting and dramatic than Colorado even. We got out and hiked around Mirror Lake, one of many glacial lakes at about 10,000 feet. Due to the spontaneous nature of the trip, I didn't have my camera with me, but I'll try to post some photo's on flickr from Ash's phone once he sends them to me (hint hint...).

I think if we had been more prepared we might have just set up camp out there and stayed all weekend. We're definitely planning on going back to explore some more when it's a little less busy. If anyone has tips or ideas about camping with a 9 month old, let me know. I have a feeling it could be a disaster. :) The area is so remote there aren't really very many affordable lodges or hotels.

Even though we were in the car for most of the trip, it was a great break from work for both of us, and a good break for me from the monotony of being home so much since Ash has been working double time lately. Helena was very good until about the last 30 minutes when she just wanted out of her car seat and the only thing that would stop her whining/screaming was me feeding her excessive amounts of gas station cheerios and both of us singing silly songs.

Oh, and then we got fried chicken and barbecue takeout for dinner and we made an apricot cobbler. Nothing tops off a good day better than fried chicken and cobbler in my opinion.

-Emily :)

Dreaming My Dreams....

So I have this dream last night where my friend Erin and I are standing in line to get Barack Obama's autograph at some campaign event. So we get up to the front of the line and we strike up a conversation with him that lasts like 10 minutes, even though there are a lot of other people waiting behind us.

Evidently he liked talking to us, because he decided to leave the event to chill with us for awhile. (We were very charming.) Erin & I walk out to our car with our new friend Barack Obama and we all get in the front seat; Barack Obama sits in the middle. Erin is driving and at some point I say "Are you OK to drive?" because evidently we have been drinking a little before the event. Erin says..."Oh yeah, I'm fine!!"

So, we start driving and we're getting ready to get onto some highway and Erin runs like three red lights, goes over two medians, goes the wrong way on the road, etc. Barack Obama is clearly freaked out. I start yelling at Erin saying..."OMG Erin, STOP! I'll drive! What are you doing?!?" Erin replies, "What? I'm fine!?! Jeez!" So then I say..."Erin, seriously, WE HAVE BARACK O-FUCKING-BAMA IN OUR CAR. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?"

Then I woke up. :) This is what I get for complaining to Aimee last night that I never dream anything funny. And now, I can't get 'Barack O-Fucking-Bama' out of my head either.

And for the record, Erin is one of the safest drivers I know in the real world.

-Emily :)

It's homesick time!

Random things I miss about Lawrence & Kansas besides people to hang out with (in no particular order):

1. Wheatfields. A couple of weeks ago I would have died for one of their salads. And no, I'm not pregnant again.

2. Rain. I bet it hasn't rained here in a month. I was surprised to learn Utah is the second driest state in the nation. I've already killed half the plants I planted when we moved here. I just refuse to water twice a day. I can't do it. It takes too much time and money. Oh, and when it does storm here, the weather people do 'breaking news' about 30 mph winds. It's hilarious. In Kansas, that's called Thursday.

3. My old job. Although, I hear it's still open...but someone changes the subject every time I bring up telecommuting. (David's going to kick my ass for that one. ha!)

4. Zumba. Working out with friends is the best. All this free time is making me bake more, which is probably making me a bit flabbier. I found a Zumba class I'm going to try out soon here, though. Hopefully it will be half as fun!

5. Having people to go to lunch with. Just to get out of the office to calm my blood pressure, I've been going to cafes and READING for god's sake. Although reading has been a good alternative to hideous summer TV for me lately. Heather Armstrong's book was great, and now I'm reading Naptime is the New Happy Hour. A cheesy 'parenting' book, but entertaining nonetheless. Next up: Engulfed in Flames, David Sedaris' newest offering. I've learned that I'm a big fan of the non-novel. Something that's funny and generally short with short chapters for my short attention span is nothing short of perfect.

-Emily :)

Our Only Tree - R.I.P

So today I came home from work to discover our neighbor cutting down the only tree that gave our backyard any shade.

Kind of weird, it's his only real tree, too. It was full grown and very pretty, and didn't seem to be damaged or sick in any way. I was also screaming mad that the laborers he hired to cut the tree down had made quite a mess in our front AND back yards, which I promptly told them to clean up themselves. Which they did. Kind of.

Anyway, I guess I'm glad that Ash & I hadn't started the grand landscaping plan we conceived one night after sharing a bottle of wine since it hinged on the fact that that particular tree provided a lot of shade to one part of our yard. Lesson learned: don't plan landscaping around other people's trees. Especially when your neighbor is a weird hermit who probably won't consider consulting or informing you about cutting down said trees.

And, we have a new and improved view of the Wasatch mountains from our kitchen window. And look, another freakin' trampoline!

-- Emily :)

Mohawk or Fauxhawk?

Helena wants everyone to know that her hair just does this naturally and her mother did not just create this style for her own personal enjoyment. I'll save the real torture for later on in her life.














Ash had a business dinner tonight so I'm home solo. He's going out to celebrate the big job he won with the construction company guys they're partnering with. He just sent me a text saying they were blabbing about this other job they're bidding on that Ash's company is bidding on too, and what their strategy is with this competing engineering company. I asked if they'd had too much beer and he replies: "Just found out blabber is sober. Mormon." Funny.

The bright point of my day was getting a couple of hilarious e-mails from Suzanne and David that I used to work with at KU Endowment. It really made my week. I wish I could tell the story they shared with me on here, but it probably wouldn't be the best idea. They're so funny...I miss having people around that have the same sense of humor as me. Except WAY more inappropriate. Inappropriate probably isn't even strong enough of a word. Well, I'm going to go to bed before this post turns sappy about how much I miss my old job. And just friends in general.

Stream of consciousness. Gotta love it!

-Emily :)

Trying to forget we weren't at the lake.

LOTS of stuff happened this weekend. Enough for 10 posts, probably. But I'll condense it into one, I guess. Just wait, I won't have anything else to write about for the rest of the week!

The most monumental and exciting event was that my sister had her baby on the 4th! Kane LeRoy Dunlavy, 7lbs. 8oz, and most of us think he looks like his dad. There are worse things I guess (love ya Justin!). Anyway, here's two cute pics of my first nephew!

Everyone together now....AWWWW!!! :) My sis is really good at having kids. Her comment after..."it happened so fast, I didn't feel like I did anything!" Not exactly my thought after going through childbirth, but I'm glad everything went well. I felt more like "I can't believe I didn't die." Maybe I'm just more dramatic.

Ash, Helena and I kept busy...went to the West Jordan 4th of July parade, Helena attended her first petting zoo, I got a pedicure, Ash & I drank too much wine on the 3rd, and we started tiling our shower. Whew!

Also, today, we went hiking in Little Cottonwood Canyon just east of Salt Lake City in the Wasatch Mountains. It was fun, but we couldn't go on the trail we wanted to because THERE WAS STILL TOO MUCH SNOW. Maybe in a couple of weeks it will be gone.

Anyway, here's some pics on flickr from our weekend. http://flickr.com/photos/27437498@N04/

Hope everyone had a great one! Please tell me at least one of you did some tubing at a lake for me!

-Emily :)

Hyphens and Hairdos

Just saw on the news that Wal-mart is officially dropping the hyphen from their name. Part of an overall re-branding, evidently. This won't surprise some of you, but I 'researched' to hyphen or not to hyphen, to capitalize 'mart' or not, etc. when titling this blog. So, the hyphen is going away-- just in case anyone else is as big of a grammatical dork as I am.

In keeping with being someone who is absolutely correct all of the time, I should probably actually look for 'jesus jammies' at Walmart the next time I'm there. Crap, my entire blog title could be a lie. What will we do then?

Speaking of Walmart, I have to go get a new hairdryer tonight (mine mysteriously broke earlier this week), so that I'll be able to make my brand new hairdo look as stellar as my new hairdresser made it look today. I'd post a picture, but honestly after my hour and a half commute this evening, I'm not looking my best. Some other time, Internet.

-Emily :)