To be honest… I don’t think I know the last time I cried.
Okay I take that back. Just remembered.
October 3rd.
Moving on…
On Saturday night, Will and I went to the new movie St. Vincent.
My mom & nana suggested we go see it so we took their advice and boy were we glad we did!
Towards the end of the movie, Will looked over at me and I had big fat tears streaming down my cheeks.
I was SO touched at how beautiful the entire message was!
Driving home, we talked about how it was such a great reminder for us to love everyone regardless of where they came from, their outward appearance, how they may treat us, and how they are choosing to live their life.
I feel as though most everyone has a similar goal in life and that is to LOVE AND BE LOVED.
No one likes being left out, no one prefers to be talked about, no one wants to be looked at differently and no one doesn’t want to be loved.
The movie was such a remarkable reminder of how we should constantly strive to treat others. The little boy in this movie treated his (different) neighbor with constant kindness, unconditional love, and never judged him no matter their differences.
I am definitely in denial my favorite month is over!
I don’t know why.. but October always leaves me in a happy mood.
Maybe it is because of all of mine and Will’s October of 2007 was filled with nervous phone calls, anxious text messages and sneaking out to spend more time together…
(sorry mom. you had to find out sooner or later…)
Or maybe it is the weather.
Or possibly the anticipation for Halloween?
Or even just Fall in general leaves a magical feeling around Utah.
My high points of October include:
-setting up all of my Halloween decor (obviously)
-one of my greatest friends and her baby coming in town from Arizona
-a beautiful hike up Big Cottonwood Canyon with Will one Saturday morning
-baking every Pumpkin flavored thing possible
-running pipeline trail before the snow comes
-the warm weather lingering around longer
-escaping down to Lake Powell for the first time in a couple years
-and obbbbviously becoming an aunt to baby Luella!
My LOW points of October:
-freaking out the world is coming to an end due to Ebola (sarcastic.. but i really do freak out)
-bailing on our planned costume at 4:30 p.m. the evening of Halloween and having to fight the crowds in a rush
-my car deciding to lock itself with my keys AND phone inside one day…
-enduring some of the busiest work days possible
-having mine and Will’s schedule constantly contradict each other
-the process of beginning to whip out hundred upon hundreds of dollars towards MCAT prep stuff for W
this year has BY FAR been the best year of my entire life.
i am truly living my dream!
(i never thought that living my dream would include having no washer & dryer, no dishwasher, and living in a spider infested tuff-shed like cottage…. but it does!!)
living with William…
seriously NOTHING is better!
he is my dream come true. my better half and my absolute soul mate.
since my main point of this blog is to document my life with William here’s to some of my favorite memories together thus far….
1. when we went on our first married trip to DISNEYLAND!!!
and they had just BARELY put up all the magical Christmas decor and we basically ran around like little 4 year olds squealing in excitement.
2. when we spent our first Thanksgiving away from our families and with friends in San Francisco for a wedding.
ohhh and let us not forget the car breaking down on the way down there and us being stranded in Wendover….
3. when we argued for a solid week about whether we would have colorful rainbow christmas tree lights (what YOU grew up with) or white twinkling lights (what I grew up with).
happy to say we agreed on trading off every year and you were happy as a clam that our first year was your light year.
4. when we spent our ENTIRE Christmas break either a.) watching Gossip Girl or b.) attending the movie theaters with our families.
we definitely went to a total of NINE movies over Christmas break……… pass the popcorn plz
5. when we casually met some of our greatest friends on Twitter……
6. when I got in trouble by my family in Europe because all I wanted to do was Facetime with you…. whoooops.
7. when we ate our way through Arizona on our road trip
8. when we spent summer nights in your parents back yard playing Pickle-ball
9. when i tricked you into thinking running was way fun.
10. when we were serenaded by these guys in Cabo and they were rude to us when because we “didn’t tip them enough” and we felt soooo guilty we went and found them after eating….
11. when we were a bridesmaid and groomsman at some of the absolute funnest weddings this past year
12. when “we” babysat kids 5 separate times.
(aka i go to work on Saturdays and leave you with 5 kids during my 13 hour shift………………..)
13. when i basically scream of excitement if you can come on my nightly walks
14. when i wouldn’t shut up about driving the Alpine Loop so finally you took me and it lasted like 4 seconds so we laughed about the gas we wasted
15. when you forgot to blow out the Anthro candle before we went to bed and it burned all night and I called you a “candle waster!!” and now you insist on being called that.
16. and of course when we began to celebrate 1 year of marriage by you walking in the doors with these!!!
mine and Will’s personality can definitely fit under the “foodies” label.
i am that type of person that wakes up & IMMEDIATELY goes to the kitchen to find some food.
sometimes i even go grab a cereal box and crawl back into bed and just sit there munching.
(don’t ask how Will feels about this….)
we absolutely love a good, quality restaurant & appreciate when salt lake comes around with food we actually really love.
Will enjoys trying new restaurants with me, sharing/splitting meals so we can try everything and always making sure we end with a dessert!
so here’s a little simple list of our favorite places to eat! these are places Will & I are constantly going to so you should try them if you feel like branching out.
they are all pretty average priced hence why you aren’t seeing the New Yorker or Market Street on this list. we love places we can go to all the time without breaking the bank!
1. GREEK CITY GRILL
6165 Highland Dr, Salt Lake City, UT
Up first is greek city grill.
It’s right in our neighborhood and we have become obsessed with it ever since we tried it for our first time.
It’s clean, local, has great customer service and the food is always fresh.
Can’t ask for much more!
[[olivia: the D-Will! warm pita with hummus spread on it w/ the juiciest chicken, onions, green peppers, lettuce & salt and pepper]]
[[will: classic lamb gyro with white sauce]]
please please please get their fries!
2. YI SUSHI BISTRO
6957 S State St, Midvale, UT
This one is a hard one for me to confess my love for.
It’s the biggest hidden gem for my family & i!
We discovered it a little over a year ago and have (no joke) probably gone easily once a week since.
It’s half price, all the time.
Yes.. half price, all the time.
and it is actually GOOD! the rice is never soggy, their fish is always fresh.
[[olivia: dragon roll & shrimp tempura roll]
[[will: vegas roll & executive roll]]
3. SIXTH & PINE
Inside City Creek Nordstrom
The first day i started at Google, i filled out a simple questionnaire with questions “about me”
When the sheet asked “favorite restaurant?”
Sixth & Pine is what i listed!
Their sweet potato fries with the cilantro lime dipping sauce is OUT OF THIS WORLD!!
Promise they are the best sweet potato fries out there.
and don’t get Will started on their french dip… he craves it incessantly.
[[will: french dip sandwich]]
[[olivia: chicken and strawberry salad w/ sweet potato fries]]
*end with the chocolate cookie sundae!
4. RIO GRANDE CAFE
270 S Rio Grande St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
LISTEN TO ME
IF YOU LIKE CHEESE ENCHILADAS
GO GET RIO GRANDE CAFE’S CHEESE ENCHILADA
I GET CHILLS THINKING ABOUT IT
NO OTHER WORDS CAN DESCRIBE THIS RESTURANT
[[will: cheese enchilada]]
[[olivia: cheese enchilada]]
sorry i screamed
5. BIG APPLE PIZZA
2939 E 3300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Big Apple is that pizza restaurant i have been going to since I was a little kid.
My dad has been a loyal customer to them for over 20 years!
And I must admit… my Dad always knew what was up.
Their new york style pizza is truly OUT OF THIS WORLD.
No better crust if you ask me!
Their lunch special is 2 slices + a soda for $4.95.
Amazing!
However, if you don’t do the special PLEASE get the pesto pizza!
[[will: cheese & pepperoni with sausage]]
[[olivia: pesto pizza or pepperoni]]
6. LAYLA MEDITERRANEAN GRILL
4751 south holladay boulevard. holladay, utah 84117
Layla just so happens to be across the street from our cottage…
and it just so happens to be the best mediterranean food in Utah soo….
we aren’t mad!
It is pricey for dinner so we usually get take out for lunch if we are ever home during the week.
Lunch is basically half off compared to dinner prices!
[[will: Lahm Bi Ajin Meat Flatbread. Open- faced flatbread topped with ground top sirloin, tomato, exotic spices, pine nuts and onions]]
[[olivia: Musakhen. (thin flatbread, stuffed with a mixture of roasted chicken, caramelized onions, sumac, exotic spices and pine nuts. Served with Lebanese vermicelli rice or Layla’s Signature Fries)
7. SPITZ
35 East Broadway, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Spittz is quickly gaining traction downtown SLC.
It is home to the most amazing Doner Kebabs.
I loved Doner Kebabs in Germany so I was over the moon when we discovered Spitz.
Their fries are also over the moon.
Just bring lots of breath mints after you leave the restaurant….
And if you are hoping to get a first kiss right after maybe reconsider 😉
GARLIC GARLIC GARLIC
(hi mom, this is your worst nightmare)
[[olivia: doner salad]]
[[will: street cart doner]]
8. LONE STAR TAQUERIA
2265 fort union boulevard. salt lake city, utah 84121
Lone Star is your typical fresh local Mexican restaurant.
I love the atmosphere there and the food reminds me of a beach side restaurant in California or something… It’s all just fresh and their chips and guacamole are some of my absolute favorite.
Food Network even came here when they came to Utah!
[[olivia: carnitas burrito with GUAC ]]
[[will: fish tacos]]
9. THE DODO
1355 east 2100 south. salt lake city, utah 84105
I seriously think I have YET to find someone that doesn’t love The Dodo!
Ya ya ya.. weekend nights it can be a nightmare to get seated but besides that, I seriously do love the everything about the Dodo!
I used to always get the Classic Turkey Sandwich but after I found out you could put it all in a salad instead.. I was sold! It’s called the Dirty Bird Salad and it isn’t on the menu.
Something about their BBQ sauce makes me believe it is the best in the world….
[[olivia: dirty bird salad]]
[[will: dodo club]]
TOLLHOUSE PIE FOR DESSERT!
ALWAYS
10. PIZZERIA LIMONE
613 east 400 south. salt lake city, utah 84102
A guy in my ward started the restaurant Pizzeria Limone and Will and I LOVE IT!
No matter how hard I try, I can never get myself to stop craving their Italiana Salad & Caprese Pizza
(yes I usually order both. not just one or the other #fatkid)
The restaurant has an atmosphere like Cafe Rio and It’s so easy to get in and out without ever waiting TOO long. So fresh too!
[[olivia: italiana salad and caprese pizza]]
[[will: he loves any pizza they have to offer]]
11. ALAMEXO
268 S State St, Salt Lake City, UT
It seems like everyone is posting about Alamexo these days and it is all for good reasoning.
We have been going lately and we seriously do love it!
#trendy
There isn’t too much authentic Mexican in downtown Salt Lake so this restaurant really is the perfect fit.
make sure you order the Guacamole too!
they grind it all up right in front of you.
[[will: carne asada tacos]]
[[olivia: enchiladas suzas and the CHURROS!!]]
12. CAPUTO’S
4673 S 2300 E. Holladay, Utah
We are so excited that Caputo’s finally came by us!
It is downtown, by the U, at the U and is now in Holladay!
I love getting their fresh cheese, meats or fish for dinner and their lunch is one of my favorites on Saturdays!
[[olivia: The Caputo]]
[[will: meatball sandwich]]
13. NIELSONS FROZEN CUSTARD
And of course we are topping it all of with dessert!
If you haven’t ever had Nielsen’s Frozen Custard I have no words for you.
Please set down any device you are reading this on and go before they close… like now.. like why are you still reading this sentence.
[[willivia: malted chocolate almond concrete]]
Hope you enjoy!
Obviously we are no food critics but we (almost pathetically) love food a whole lot.
Let me know if any of you have suggestions or places for us to try.
Every time we get asked we CAN’T say no because we actually love playing mom & dad.
It is always an adventure for us to branch outside of the cottage and play with the kids, cook in a big kitchen, drive big Mom vans and go to bed completely wiped from doing the dishes and cleaning up consistent messes.
Casual playroom.
In between conference sessions on Sunday we took the kids up Milcreek Canyon to go on a little walk/hike.
Castine was the biggest trooper and made it a challenge to find the BRIGHTEST leaf she could!
My favorite canyon on earth.
This is where I run!
I even made homemade cinnamon rolls for my first time and they were HEAVENLY.
There is truly no Sunday like Conference Sunday.
We already miss the kiddies.
This morning Will made fun of me for having a picture Castine drew me hanging up by my bedside.
I miss them okay?!
This is her after her sister gave her a “makeover”.
1. take your oreos and put them in a food processor and grind until sand-like texture.
*if you don’t have a food processor put them in a gallon ziploc bag and crush them by hand. get clever on how to get them completely crushed! but make sure the texture is almost a powder.
2. pour into a bowl and incorporate the room temperature cream cheese with the oreos.
(it’s important for the cream cheese to be room temperature because it mixes better!)
mix the cream cheese and Oreos together with your hands until all is mixed evenly.
3. mold the ingredients into balls of whatever size you prefer!
4. put the cake bites in the freezer for 10 minutes
5. right before you take the cake bites out of the freezer, melt the whole block of white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl.
(i have found that melting the chocolate for 1.5 minutes, stirring, & putting it back in for another 30 second increment then stirring 1 or 2 more times melts the whole thing without hardening)
6. dip the cake bites in the chocolate and put them back onto the cookie sheet
(add sprinkles if desired!)
7. put in the freezer for another 10 minutes and wah-la!
