BoOk LiSt

Whenever I need something good to read, there are a few people I go to for suggestions (cough *Lauren* cough). Here are a few good reads that are on my "to read" list:

• "Graceling" by Kristin Cashore
• "Can You Keep a Secret?" by Sophie Kinsella
• "Remember Me?" by Sophie Kinsella
• "Her Fearful Symmetry" by Audrey Niffenegger
• "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer

Currently I'm reading "Emma and Me" by Elizabeth Flock - I stumbled on it by accident. Good so far. I love that I can read books for pleasure. :)

I decided to chop off my hair. Can't wait to start playing with it...

PiRaTeS, tWiNs & FrIsCo

Here is what we have been up to as of late: pirate party, garden and SF

Pirate party. A week or so ago, my friend and I had a combined birthday party/get together at our house. It was a pirate themed party - such fun! Great food and company. We even played Pin the Patch on the Pirate. Too funny! I wish I had a video of when it was Nic's turn - it was hillarious! These are the invites we sent out:

Me and my pirate:

Garden. Nic and I have been enjoying the fruits...or vegetables of our labor. We planted a garden and have eaten quite a few things from it: radishes, spinach, beans, peas, peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers. We noticed a little something different on one of our cucumber plants...I told Nic maybe this is a sign we will be having twins someday...

SF. A few ladies (my mom, Aprial Appah and Judy Coffman) and I took a little road trip this past Friday and Saturday and headed to San Francisco. We shared quite a few laughs. HORSES! haha we stopped at a rest area and decided to put the top down...

And this is what happens if you're sitting in the back seat... We headed to Fisherman's Wharf as soon as we pulled into town. We were walking around and I saw this interesting guy... You would think that by this picture it was a pleasant encounter...ALL LIES. After this picture was taken he started giving me this 10 minute pep talk that this was his living and I'm not a good person because I didn't tip him (I honestly did not have cash on me). Because he stopped to take a picture with me, he was passing up opportunities with people who would tip him. Get over it! Get a real job then. I was not very happy. I said, "Fine, I'll delete the picture off my camera" and then walked away. The moment we get to SF and this is what happens. Rude. haha

We did some more walking around. Ghiradelli Square. They were passing out free chocolates. Alioto's for a late lunch. I HEART SEAFOOD! haha I would love to have this display in my fridge. haha To the hotel to get ready for WICKED. My mom is a-m-azing. Heart her. :) Mother, daughter. She made this trip possible. Let us in to the theater. Orpheum Theater for Wicked. Second row. Amazing. Talent. Fun. Love it...still. We had such a blast. Judy and April had never seen and loved it - how could you not? As soon as it was over, I wanted it to start again. Saturday. Hot chocolate from Starbuck's. Randomly decided to go into this little restaurant for breakfast. Tall man told us we made a good choice as we walked...he was right. We took our time taking in a San Francisco experience. Did some walking and headed to Chinatown. Great little shops. I didn't realize how BIG Chinatown was - long and wide. We couldn't leave SF without getting fresh Sourdough bread from Boudin and a stop at In 'N Out in Redding. Yummy. The 4 of us had a great time. Great memories. Lots of laughing. Thank you mom for making this trip wonderful for me. Thank you to Nic for supporting me in my girls' weekend. :)

This is the new swimming suit I bought - what do you think? I can't wait to get it in the mail!

7 DaYs AnD cOuNtInG

In 7 days I will be heading here (aka San Francisco):

To see this AMAZING, SPECTACULAR musical (aka Wicked):

How excited do you think I am? UBER excited!

Me Vs. THE NEEDLE

Can I just say that I'm proud of myself for the silliest thing? This is quite an accomplishment for me:

I had to have blood drawn this morning and I did NOT pass out! :)

It seems that every time I have to go and do something that involves a needle, I pass out or become EXTREMELY close to passing out.

Not today! I won the battle between me and the needle.

StAr 23

I was sad that I could celebrate my STAR birthday with Nic, but he pampered me when I got home from Girl's Camp. The reason it was my STAR birthday was because I turned the age of the day when my birthday was. AKA I turned 23 on July 23.

Nic and I had a bet going on - if I won, he couldn't buy me anything and if he won, he could buy me something. Needless to say, I won the bet but because Nic is a spoiler he still did buy me something: a really sweet card that made me want to cry and an orchid plant (second fav flower next to Lilies). He also made me a delicious dinner on Sunday evening: cheese tortelini with alfredo sauce, cheesy garlic bread, and a yummy salad. It was so good. I think my favorite part was dessert...It started off with my closing my eyes. Nic then starts singing "Happy Birthday" oh so beautifully ;). I open my eyes and there's 2 twinkies: one has 2 candles in it and the other had 3 candles in it. He knows I love twinkies. :)

On Monday, my mom took me birthday shopping. PS Go shopping at Maurice's - they have amazing deals! My parents then treated us to a delicious birthday to Rooster's (privately owned steakhouse).

Me:

Us before dinner at Rooster's: My beautiful rents:

CoUrAgE 2010

BEWARE: There are lots of pictures in this post - some are cuter then others.

Girls Camp was July 19-24. My good friend Chelsea and I were YCL Leaders again this year. I can't tell you how many younger girls thought I was just another YCL. haha This is me and Chelsea right when we got to camp:

The YCL cabin - we think they are stars :)

The YCL's this year were known as the Courageous Colonels: Camp theme was based on Joshua 1:9 with an "Army" emphasis on COURAGE: Presh: Our amazing YCL's: I was imitating the army guy that you can barely see: Beautiful lake: Swim time: There was a YCL skit that my mom wrote - Chelsea and I played the angel and the devil: An angel always needs glitter: Opposing sides, but still always friends: I will poke you with Stanley (aka the sharp stick). That would be my breakfast in that paper bag: an egg and bacon. Cooked over the fire: Enjoying the scenery: So many things happened at camp. One of them included my birthday! They made me this huge card and all of my YCL's and leaders signed it: I was also treated to a special birthday breakfast: Being monkeys, I guess... My Army man, while Nic was at home. Messing. Be happy: The last night of camp, the leaders decided to do a late night swim at midnight: We tried to be sneaky: There were only 3 of us brave enough to get in. We did some amazing tricks: Great way to end camp. Camp turned out amazing! I had a lot of fun being the YCL Leader - my girls were awesome!

SaLeM & sUnRiVeR

Keep checking for more updates...

It's the beginning of August and I'm making updates from the beginning of July until now - such a slacker. For 4th of July weekend, we headed to Salem for this little guy's blessing (my brother's boy) - Hudson Grant Stewart:

There was then a girl's week here in KTown, but I didn't take any pictures. There was lots of swimming, eating and playing involved. My whole family then headed to our yearly vaca in Sunriver:

I absolutely LOVE Sunriver. Fun family time, eating, bike riding, games, and more eating. We took very few pictures...Here we are at a local bar we went to. Messing! We went to the High Desert Museum:

Watching a bird show that was going on:

I love Bald Eagles:

This porcupine made me laugh. I thought he was dead - just lounging:

Park to play some frisbee: