13. Bake a French cake DONE

Well since my brother Jon has moved back home, we have had the chance to experience some wonderful cuisine. Jon is quite the cook from Julia Childs French cooking to the sushi of the orient. Today we worked together to make my first French cake! It was a Gâteau a L'orange (Orange Spongecake) and surprisingly easier to make than I suspected. We make a Glaçage a la Créme (Butter-cream Icing) that was really good too! So now I can say I have made a French cake! Check!

12. Hold a mystery dinner party DONE!

Okay, I am slowly working through these bucket list items. I have just under 9 months to work on this list so I need to get going! But I have a lot of them that are in the works or half way done so I'm still hoping to get 'em done before my 30th birthday.

So, I finally had a mystery dinner! It was so much fun! Finally got the photos uploaded!

Josie Jenson as the simple dressmaker, Belinda Screete

Dave Cook as the impeccably dressed Khover T. Ageante

Shannon Harris as Princess Idelle Chattre/Fiona

Supe Lillywhite as Wayland Awfcorce a skill-less pilot

Jeanette Wallentine as the extravagant Barbra Z. Enhussie

Jenn Weiss as world famous reporter Mary K. Trairie

The whole crew, including amazing chef and assistant!

30s Bucket List Update: 16. Get a pedicure-DONE

I know, I know. Some of you girls out there are shocked but until this month, I had never received a pedicure. My sister Red and I went together as a treat for her birthday in the beginning of September.

Turns out, a pedicure is totally worth every cent! It was a fun, relaxing hour but I think the best part was walking out in our stylish saddles!

25. Watch a show on Broadway AND 27. Take a nap in Central Park, NY AND 29. Go to China Town, NY

BEAUTIFUL NEW YORK!

Okay I'm playing catch up again but I have to get these photos up here about the rest of my adventure on the East Coast. After WA DC I drove up to New York with a great friend who dropped me off in the big city on her way further North.

As soon as we got on the island I could begin to feel the energy of the Big Apple and I loved it! My adventure started off great as I checked my luggage at a storage place for the day and ran into a man from Germany named Ludvig. He was super nice and we started talking. He too was just visiting New York for the day and out for an adventure. I should have been more adventurous and asked him to join me. Next time!

I tried the lottery to see Wicked on Broadway three times but never won. Instead I went to the Broadway showing of Memphis, a story about the roots of rock 'n' roll in African American blues and jazz. It was a great show and I was glad I went to see it.

Afterwards I went for some dinner at Junior's and got to experience a little of the night life. It was great! Because I was alone, the host sat me at the bar and I had a great conversation with Wig, my bartender and Bobby, a man who sat down and enjoyed some dessert with me. It was right out of the movies, meet a cute, tall guy at a bar, enjoy great conversation and then... Well actually I let it stop right there but it was fun to be a part of the night life.

I also went to the Metropolitan Museum, the Empire State Building, Times Square, Ellis Island, Liberty Island, the New York Temple, Natural History Museum, China Town and Central Park.

I ran into some great street musicians at the Metropolitan Museum and again at the Natural History Museum. Stopped and ate lunch while I was listening. Some good music in this town! Oh and the food wasn't half bad either. I enjoyed eating off the street vendors a few times. Just was fun to act like a local I guess! :)

Ellis Island

After Ellis Island I spent the whole afternoon wandering around the financial district and lower Manhattan trying to find China Town. Well not quite the whole afternoon but I was so happy when I started seeing those familiar characters on the building and store signs!


I picked up some of my favorite Chinese fruits and the stopped for lunch and really enjoyed myself. Just as I stepped into the restaurant it started pouring! I was glad I missed that part of things and could just admire the downpour from inside enjoying my authentic Chinese food and chatting in Chinese with some locals who I'm sure thought this tall, Chinese-speaking, blonde was crazy!

My last day after I enjoyed a few quiet and wonderful hours in the Manhattan Temple, I headed to Central Park.

I could have spent well over a day here! I should have! Next time that is on my list. I did walk around a bit and just enjoyed people watching. I watched a volleyball game and yes, I laid down and took a nap on the grass. Well I didn't actually ever get to sleep but I think it is going to count for this one!

The Chrysler Building

Anyway, the whole adventure was great. I've always wanted to experience the big city and now I feel like I could navigate the place with some amount of confidence. So, if you ever get the chance, go to NY! I highly recommend the big city!

7. Go to an East coast city for at least a day AND 28. Visit the Smithsonian/Memorials in WA DC-Both DONE!

Well I am currently in WA DC visiting some dear friends and taking this opportunity to knock off some of my 20s Bucket List! Monday, July 4th I spent the WHOLE day in WA DC! It was an amazing day. With the guidance of Sterling and Bren Larsen and Becky Perry we started at the Washington Monument and then walked out to the Jefferson Monument. We then watched the Independence Day Parade and then went to the East Wing of the National Art Gallery. I then continued on to the Air and Space Museum and that evening, after staking out our spot for the fireworks, I also went to Lincoln Memorial and the War Memorials. It was a wonderful full day. The best part was finishing the day watching the biggest fireworks I have ever seen go off above the Washington Monument in our great Nation's Capital. One great day! And two bucket list items crossed off!

1. Get my concealed firearms permit-DONE

Just reporting on my Bucket List! I forgot to do this earlier but I did, in fact, take the CFP class in May and get my permit. About that time I also went toe to toe shotgun shooting clays with a local butcher and it came out pretty close! Okay, so I like knowing that I know how to use a gun.

Winter Report

Today is officially the first day of Spring. I sang today in church "All Creatures Of Our God and King" to welcome in the new season and remind Mother Earth that we do not need any more snow. With the change in seasons, I thought it might be a good idea to simply report on some of the fun things I did over the winter.
Thanksgiving was really the first decent snow. Here's Sam doing a snow angel. I remember he was amazed how a year after returning home from Brazil, he has adjusted to the cold temperatures here in Logan.
We also played a lot of Volleyball since the outdoors weren't quite as available. Will and Joe have got really good at playing and every once in a while I would join them. Here is the family playing some basketball at Thanksgiving. Also fun but not really my sport to play.

In January, my dear friend Alexandra received her mission call to serve in New Zealand. The funny thing is that she is from New Zealand originally! She finished HS here and attended USU being in Logan for a total of six years. Now she gets to go back and preach the gospel to her own people. Pretty exciting!
I also went snowboarding a few times this winter. I remembered what I had learned last winter and picked it up a lot faster this time. I also got to go twice and experience what it is to snowboard in nice powder! Up to this point I didn't know I had been dealing with unfavorable conditions but after experiencing the fun of powder I don't ever want to go back to chopped up snow and ice. I now understand why skiers freak out after a night of snow.

Between work and homework I have squeezed in a few USU sporting events as well. Went to a volleyball game, a gymnastics meet and a few basketball games. Here are some pictures of the last home game before the USU basketball team went to tournament play.


Also tried to keep the artsy side of me alive be attending a few performances, etc. I performed in the American Festival Chorus Christmas concert series again this year and got a group from the ward together to go caroling during the Christmas season. We even got a trailer and drove around the neighborhood singing to our neighbors! Went to a production of Music Man at the Ellen Eccles and also saw Brian Reagan there live. Also went to a BYU Men's Chorus concert here in Logan. It was great to see Sister Hall again and just experience the BYU music department again. I miss that sometimes.
So its been a fun winter but I am excited for spring! I have 5 more weeks in the semester and a lot to do. Sunday nights I sometimes get a little stressed by everything that must be accomplished in a week but Monday comes all the same! So that's my winter report!

20s Bucket List

Over a month ago I was speaking with my best friend and she told me that she had decided to create a 20s Bucket List with all the things she wanted to do before she turned 30. I thought it was a brilliant idea and we stayed up late one night brainstorming together our separate lists. Here's what I came up with. I'm doing 30 items and so far I've already done one! I was a secret admirer. But I can't tell you any more or else it wouldn't be much of a secret any more! Enjoy!

1. Get my concealed firearms permit

2. Go snowmobiling

3. Snow shoeing/x-country skiing to and stay the night at a yurt

4. Dance with someone under the stars

5. Read the Lord of the Rings trilogy

6. Record a CD-Even just for me and friends

7. Go to an East coast city for at least a day

8. Test drive a new car

9. Own a car

10. New hair color for at least a day

11. Subscribe to a professional association/journal

12. Hold a mystery dinner party

13. Bake a French cake

14. Have a country picnic

15. Overnight camping on horseback

16. Get a pedicure

17. Be a secret admirer

18. Go GEO caching

19. Develop my own speciality dish

20. Redo personal filing system

21. Write and illustrate a children's book

22. Go to karaoke bar

23. Compose a piece of music and share it

24. Sing at an open mic night

25. Watch a show on Broadway

26. Kiss someone on New Years at midnight

27. Take a nap in Central Park, NY

28. Visit the Smithsonian/Memorials in WA DC

29. Go to China Town, NY

30. Learn to sail a boat

Color again in Cache Valley

Okay friends. I just finished reading some blogs of some dear friends and I thought it was high time I got back to blogging. Now I'm not going to set some outlandish goal because I just don't have very much time to devote to this. But there is something about sharing a record of your life. And it just feels good to share and throw it out there for the world to see. I think it is part of the joy of creativity. I have set a goal to create something beautiful each week. Maybe this blog can be that every once in a while.

Anyway, I'm back and life has changed a bit. I'm still in Cache Valley but now I am working at an Assisted Living facility in the valley as the Administrative Assistant. I really love my job and it keeps me really busy and sometimes stressed. The other big thing that changed is that I went back to school. I decided to pursue a masters at USU in Family Relations. So far it has proved to be a very rewarding experience. I really enjoy the members of my cohort and my professors as well. The best part is learning! I'm doing my thesis on marriage preparation which is only slightly ironic because I am still not married. But maybe this will be the ticket for me! I do research on marriage preparation and then I'll finally figure out how to get married!

So let me just share a fun adventure from tonight and then I need to get to bed. Tonight my dear friend Adee invited me to join her for a Pickleville Playhouse Production of Bandito Rides Again. It was hilarious! I was laughing all night and then as we drove home and even now I continue to chuckle when I think of some of the great scenes and one liners! If you ever have the chance to see Pickleville when you are in Cache Valley, DO IT! Check out this short video. Just a clip of the fun that awaits at Pickleville!