fill.in.the.blank.fridays

Fill In The Blank Friday’s: Weekend Favorites

1.    What do you look forward to most  during the weekend? Two whole days with my husband, no worrying about being up and ready for work. Just the two or three of us.

2.    Favorite weekend date would have to be dinner and a movie, I absolutely love going to the movies, I think I get it from my mom. If not a movie hiking, bowling or miniature golf.

3.    Go to weekend meal Top It Frozen Yogurt haha I could eat this every meal, but really on the weekends it is a must.

4.    Anything you dread for weekends? Basically laundry, deep cleaning and long training runs. Got up to 20 miles and they take up most the morning.

5.    Favorite weekend Pandora station? Lately it has been Imagine Dragons and Passion Pit!

6.    My ideal weekend would consist of living room sleepovers, a good hike, a run, frozen yogurt, a movie and seeing family and friends.

Happy weekend everyone!

san.francisco.working.girl

Traveling again! This past week I was in San Francisco again for a Social Media Strategies conference. Lucky for me, or lucky for Trevor he was able to come back with me. If you remember I got him a plane ticket to come and Giants tickets for our one year anniversary.

It was a short trip, but a lot of fun! We were able to see a lot of the city and Trevor was able to relax!

Our first day in San Francisco was spent checking into a new hotel, the conference hotel was gross, smelled of urine and probably was haunted. We also were able to meet up with Trevor’s friend from Portland, Austin Bell, and his girlfriend, Moanahana, to walk around, eat lunch and do some shopping.

Trevor and Austin at Union Square

Tuesday was spent inside for me, but I learned a lot of great stuff and was able to get a picture with 12 time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin. It really was a great conference and met a lot of great people. That night the fun really began… We walked to the Ferry building and along Embarcadero street and then made our way to the baseball game. Austin and Moanahana went with us too so it was a lot of fun, it was FREEZING though and the Giants got killed.

Wednesday was spent sightseeing and finding our way around. We went to Lombard Street, Nob Hill, Ghirardelli Square, Baker’s Beach and the Golden Gate Bridge. I love San Francisco, so many childhood memories and time spent in that city.

It did feel good to get home and see Nixon. It has been a very busy month for me and I can’t believe it is coming to a close. This is the first weekend with no plans and we love it. Next weekend ST. GEORGE MARATHON yikes!

grand.opening

Grand Opening of the Matt Knoop Memorial Park

On September 15^th Basin Recreation hosted the grand opening for the Matt Knoop Memorial Park. It was beautiful. There were lots of friends and families and loving support.

It was a true celebration of Matt and all his achievements and contributions to our activities. For me it was pretty emotional. I loved seeing the joy on everyone’s faces, the laughter and all his friends playing a soccer game in his memory. This is a perfect place and a perfect way to remember and represent Matt. I could just picture him everywhere.

I can’t wait to take my own kids to this park and tell them Matt’s story. I am convinced and set on buying the lot that is for sale right next to the park! Natalie,

Natalie, Dave (Matt's Dad and our old soccer coach) and I admiring the beautiful astro turf soccer field. 

Sarah Cate and I. Sarah was my roommate up at Utah State and had to deal with Matt all the time because of me. We all became a tight knit group. It was so good to see her. 

Natalie, Kaye (Matt's Mom) and I. It was truly a perfect day.

seattle.working.girl

Seattle

Last week I was up in Seattle for the Pacific Northwest Mortgage Lenders Conference… Sounds fun huh?

For my first time to Seattle it wasn’t that bad. I did spend a majority of the time in our hotel representing IDS, but on the last day I was able to go out and explore and catch up with old friends. It was perfect weather and the city was beautiful. 

The IDS Booth

The opening reception cocktail party for our conference was at the top of the Space Needle on the first night it was so amazing. The view from the top is unlike anything. I loved seeing the ferry boats and the water. It was a great way to spend my first evening in Seattle.

View from our room at the Grand Hyatt Seattle

View from the Space Needle, I love ferry boats

Space Needle

Space Needle

On Wednesday once the conference was finished I was able to meet up with one of my very good friends from home Brittney Bell, now Brittney Gardner and her husband. We met up at the Pike Place Market and it was a blast, totally different and unlike anything in Utah. I loved the flowers, the pier and all the small shops and food vendors all along the market. 

Pike's Market with Britt, love her!

Pike's Market flowers, they are so beautiful and so cheap

The famous Gold Pig and me it doesn't get much better than that. 

The 'World Famous' Fish throwers. They came to speak at our convention and it was really fun to see it live at the market. 

Gum Alley- Entire wall filled with gum, yuck!

The first Starbucks ever. Everyone in Seattle always has a cup of Starbucks coffee in their hand. 

The Pier

Seattle was a lot of fun, but it was long days and lots of hours and it felt oh so good to get home to husband and Nixon.

fill.in.the.blank.fridays

Fill In The Blank Friday’s: Rivalry Week

Favorite part of rivalry week: All the fun competition and pranks that go throughout the week, the blood drive UofU vs. BYU, campus activities all week long

The team you support: University of Utah- My blood bleeds red

Best way you support your team: This year I wore red everyday! Always cheer them on no matter who is in my company for the game day party

Favorite tradition on game day: Tailgating, picking out game day outfit and getting cute face tattoos

The team your husband supports: He is like Switzerland- Neutral, but I make him support the Utes!

Best rivalry week memory: When I was living in Provo with my two best friends we had a big BYU Utah party in Park City... Everyone who came was a BYU fan except me and one other person, they made us sit on the floor... and guess what we won, it was awesome to say the least

Best game day food: seven layer bean dip made by Liz and Laur! It is the absolute best. And of course the red colored treats, chips and drinks. All about the red.

Best game day entertainment: The competitive nature in everyone whether on the field, at the game or watching with friends and family. The 'Holy War' truly brings it out of everyone.

LET'S GO UTES! HAVE A FUN AND SAFE GAME DAY!

matt.knoop.memorial.park

This Saturday the 15th at 10am will be the grand opening of the Matt Knoop Memorial Park! It is going to be an amazing day and emotional. This park is amazing and everyone young and old can enjoy what it has to offer. I know Matt would love/will love every single thing about this park, but mostly he will love the beautiful setting in his favorite place, Park City, and the astro turf soccer field which is immaculate. I hope everyone can come and check it out, if not Saturday I hope it becomes apart of your daily lives. I know I can't wait to bring our kids to this park and tell them all about my best friend Matt!

We love this park already, so beautiful!

medford.oregon

Over Labor Day weekend Trevor, Nixon and I made the 13 hour road trip up to Medford Oregon to hang out with Dave, Erin, Royal and Nolan! It was a blast and well worth the journey.

Early Thursday morning with the car packed, me sick as can be and Nixon already whining we were ready to go. Though I slept most of the trip (I accidentally took Nyquil instead of Dayquil oops) we finally made it to Central Pointe where Dave and Erin live. It was so fun to see their cute place, neighborhood (which is really fun) and be a part of their routine for four days!

Nixon trying to be patient... he did a lot better job on the way home then on the way there!

Our trip consisted of lots of running, biking, hiking and site seeing, oh and Royal screaming because of Nixon.

Friday we went to lunch with Dave in downtown Medford, hiked in Jacksonville and Erin and I enjoyed some frozen yogurt and talking. Saturday we headed up to Ashland, which I absolutely loved and reminded me lots of Boulder, Colorado. We spent our day at Lithia Park, which was beautiful and lots going on. We ate some great pizza and shopped in a really cool boutique. 

Saturday late afternoon Mary came down from Portland for the rest of the weekend and we all hung out. Sunday we headed up to Avenues of the Boulders a really cool waterfall. It was also Trevor’s birthday; we celebrated with pulled pork, hot carrot pasta, and fun fetti cake. It was a lot of fun to be with family on his special day. Monday we headed out of Oregon to Crescent City California to enjoy the coast and Redwoods. The Redwoods were amazing and not even the biggest ones. I couldn’t stop saying how magical they were and beautiful. I loved hiking through them and seeing such a different landscape from Utah. The coast was a little chilly and foggy, but it was fun to head to the beach and see how Nixon liked the ocean… he hates salt water! Tuesday we said good bye and today we are back to reality.

I found the Medford Oregon Temple on my run Friday morning! It is very pretty and very small!

Royal found a fuzzy caterpillar at lunch!

Ashland mineral water fountains--- so gross!! Nolan loved it though!

Nolan enjoying the wading hole at Lithia Park in Ashland.

Nixon after a morning run... Calm! 

Avenues of the Boulders- Mill Creek Falls Park

Avenues of the Boulders- Mill Creek Falls Park

Avenues of the Boulders- Mill Creek Falls Park

Avenues of the Boulders- Mill Creek Falls Park

Avenues of the Boulders- Mill Creek Falls Park- Birthday Boy!

Avenues of the Boulders- Mill Creek Falls Park- Nolan having a blast!

Avenues of the Boulders- Mill Creek Falls Park- Erin and me, I love her.

Avenues of the Boulders- Mill Creek Falls Park- Royal the scary statue

Avenues of the Boulders- Mill Creek Falls Park- Our little family! 

Redwoods & Crescent City, California

Redwoods & Crescent City, California

Redwoods & Crescent City, California- Me inside of a huge redwood tree

Redwoods & Crescent City, California- Trevor at the roots of a redwood tree!

Redwoods & Crescent City, California- Trevor and Nixon compared to a redwood

Redwoods & Crescent City, California- split redwood

Redwoods & Crescent City, California- foggy, mystical, eerie beach!

Some of my favorite parts of our trip: Ashland and Lithia Park, the Redwoods, all of Nixon's new nicknames: Nixican (Nolan), Lickson (Dave & Royal), Nixi (Mary) and Nixico (Mary). Spending all day everyday with Trevor and Nixon, celebrating Trevor's 25th birthday! Thanks Erin and Dave for letting us come!

 We have lots going on this month: Trevor starts school September 10^th (I am so proud of him), We are helping Frank, Trevor’s brother, with Lotoja, my best friend Liz is getting married, Liz's bachelorette party, Liz's endownment, birthdays, training, Seattle and then we are off to San Francisco for work and vacation. This month is full of activities and fall fun! Oh I love this time of year and it always makes me want to be back in school enjoying fall semester and college football.

Wait for lots of updates this month!