almonds, hat, a good book.

finals = over.
zits on face = almost gone.
spring break = ready.

 

for this household, spring break starts tomorrow at 4am. as you can see, we're half way to packed... when 100% packed we'll hop our flight to SLC to pick up the FAM and head to TEXas. from there we are hoppin a big boat to the gulf of mexico, where we'll be spending 8 days loving life!

 

if you're thinking "oh my heavens, i hope they're not cruising on carnival!" we appreciate your concern! we are indeed going on that carnival ride. if you aren't up to date about all that's been going on with them: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/03/15/174392871/more-problems-aboard-carnival-cruise-ships

 

if you don't hear from me in 2 fridays from now, send out the alarm! but until then, just pray for us;)

 

so because this week i've been a complete crazy and haven't dressed all that cute.. i thought i'd share my favoritest... healthiest... easiest meal ever!

 

i don't know about you, but come spring time, i'm totally ready to shed my winter skin and eating habits, and revive my inner being. this is one quick meal that always leaves me feeling light and nourished. (i made up this recipe, so be impressed)

 

 

ingredients:

QUINOA (if you've never used it, you'll find it in the rice isle, comes in different colors)

AVOCADOS

BUTTERNUT SQUASH or YAMS that you will ROAST (try to find already diced squash, way easier!)

FRESCO SALSA (or whatever you like, but i put my favorite kind below)

BLACK BEANS

CHEDDAR CHEESE

GREEK YOGURT (as substitute for sour cream)

 

cook quinoa as directed. should take about 15 min.

heres my favorite fresco salsa. found commonly here in any california grocery store. i'm sure other states have something similar 

 

layer: quinoa, cheese, avocado, orange vegetables, black beans and top with salsa and greek yogurt.

 

viola! there is your dinner for tonight! it's nutritious AND its delicious. if you make it, i'd love to know your thoughts/recommendations!

until next week, peeps! happy easter!

 

 

tut tut, looks like rain.

so here we are. end of another week and i swear, i have no idea how we got here! but nevertheless!  yesterday was the astronomically the first day of spring (the things i learn listening to talk radio in the  morning...) and appropriately enough, it was a little drizzily...

that drizzle reminds me of my birthday (in april)... which reminds me of the rainy season in my home state of utah... which reminds me of how much i love that weather pattern.

i love it because 1- i love my trench coat. (p.s. have you invested in one yet?? [either: yay, good for you!!! OR what?? what??!]) 2- i love wearing dresses with leggings. 3- i love my rain boots. i love all these things individually, but TOGETHER!? oh, just stop now.

 

trench: h&m. dress: jcrew. boots: nordstroms.

the wind was workin with me here. thank our lucky stars!

 

i used to think that crazy patterned rainboots were the best, but i've found that with solid colors they are more universal! you can wear them with about anything as long at it's snowing or raining. well that brings up a question... is it okay to wear RAIN boots when it's SNOWING? i did when i was in idaho and utah this winter, but it may have been a total faux pas. thoughts??

something suspicious caught my eye.

 

never buckle your belt like normal. either tie it in the back, or tie it in a knot in front. no reason. haha i just made it up. but i feel pretty confident in using that as a "trench rule of thumb".

 

so i must say: next time it rains, don't huff and puff, walk over to the closet and pull out those 4 things. it's comfy, it's cozy, it's comfy-cozy. AND {picture this} walking to class, cozy in your trench with the collar pulled up to your chin, hot chocolate in hand, rain boots slappin the rain, umbrella protecting your precious curls....

 

darling, you belong in london.

 

 

i'm amanda, and i'll be your guide today.

you guys, forgive a missing friday post! i'm sure you'll understand though! at the butt crack of dawn on friday, i dragged by best friend/cousin off his airmattress and into the city. he was here from tuesday-saturday and there was not a MOMENT to LOSE! every minute was filled with great adventure. i truly feel bad for the people that have come to visit me before this year, because i must say... my tours/entertaining have gotten much better and i'm thinking about becoming an authentic saaaaannnn fraaaannnncisco tour guide (dream... now over).

if you ever wake up and find yourself in the foggy city, and are wondering what to do, might i suggest a few nuggets of information? fabulous. let's proceed.

(side note: please understand that i am by no means a sf native. i have a tendency to consider myself a native/local wherever i am. it's ridiculous. in sf, i pretend i know where every little gem is. in paris, i mumble the 3 french phrases i know, multiple times in the day, in hopes that people will mistake me for a true french woman. in london, i'll say "oh i'm just walking my trolley to the queue"(but i never say cheerio, because i learned that they never do that). SO long story short, there are others who REALLY are natives and can give you a way better itinerary than myself. but lets try it!)

[wednesday] carmel, ca.
we drove down the coast and had lunch at this delicious place called demitras (it's mediterranean). super delicious food! then we skipped down to the cottage of sweets (because if you don't skip to the candy store, well, that's just not normal). finally after crying at the sheer cuteness and charm of all the houses, we landed at the foggy (but stunning) beach. highlight of the day? the squirrels that are apparently people friendly and love food (no surprise).

he loves the cottage of sweets.

in love with this door.

keepin it real.

secrets little yelp keeps me laughing all freakin' day.

[thursday] san fran.

a day of visiting the 6 painted ladies, doubtfire house, smitten, and highlight? alcatraz. we did the night tour and it was amazing.

the wifi at alcatraz. "you guys are hilarious". 



AH. breathtaking! (but freezing my face off)

[friday] san fran.

rented a go car and cruised the city! best way to laugh your pants off while touring the city. hilarious! then rode bikes to the gg bridge. serious workout, but hey "i work out!"

can you tell we enjoyed ourselves?

 super awesome bike! i'm loving this sf brand: public. great bike!

 UGH! i love it! perfect day on the bridge!

if you make friends with the people in the window at boudin they give you free bread turtles. it's an exclusive privilege! so make sure you're really appreciative! (oh it also helps to have an attractive young bachelor there, too...)

[saturday] palo alto, ca

we took the bff on a quick tour of stanford and dropped that tired boy off at the airport to catch a flight back to the SL of C (salt lake city, i really am a local/native of there).

anyway, hope everyone is having the most delightful weekend and enjoying the new season (if spring hasn't hit you yet, wherever you are, leave now. it's not worth it;) we'll talk FRIDAY fo sho!





4 pregnant women, 5 moms, 7 wives.

so when i told people that our girls weekend was happening in {vegas} i got a lot of the "oooooohh, vegas! party! go wild! you go girl!" comments. yeah, well when our group consists of 7 married women, 4 of which are pregnant, it's not as wild as the party of 19 year olds next to us. let's just say, in the words of my best friend (who is now 24) , "i'm not 21 anymore".

[BUT] our weekend was still, seriously the b-o-m-b. flew in saturday morning, ate a delicious brunch at the original pancake house, got a pedicure, browsed hobby lobby (don't judge,  that's what we do), and fueled ourselves with {cafe rio} before getting crazy at the concert.

i just ate lunch and my mouth is watering.... that apple pancake blew my mind. and i discovered that i like jalapenos at this brunch!

what concert you ask??? well i can't show you pictures, because they were "strictly prohibited". but you can guess...
 "i'm your lady".
"i drove all night, to get to you".
"my heart will go on".

YOU guessed it! celine. dion.

 

 for some reason i look like a bald eagle in this picture... and for that exact reason i put it up here!  i think it's so hilarious! but my friend of course does not look like a bald eagle, which saves the picture.

 

after the concert we had to go and explore... not that there's much to explore because, well, ya know, we don't gamble, go to clubs or get into trouble. so our exploring pretty much stops at the fountain;)

 

sunday, we visited the temple and spent some time there just moseying around. such a nice place! i love that where ever you go, the temple is guaranteed to be the most beautiful building around and the grounds are always *perfect*. makes me proud:D

 

we ended our trip by watching movies, playing games, eating cookies and pretty much pulling an all nighter talking. we went to bed at 1am (I KNOW, it's not really THAT late, but remember, we're not in kansas anymore [we're not 21, anyway]) and had to wake up at 3:30 for our flight. isn't that just cray, cray!!?? (we're not 21, but we can still talk like one...)

it makes me sad to think that our girls weekend might not ever happen again, as in 6 months our stanford experience will be over and we'll all be going to different places of the country! but it will always be such a sweet memory:) VEGAS!

army/navy/gingham. done and done.

{{so sorry to post on MONDAY and not FRIDAY. the day and weekend completely escaped me as i was busy basking in the sweet, sweet spirit of listening to celine dion LIVE in vegas. (i'm convinced i have to name a daughter after her;) that experience to be reported THIS FRIDAY}}

 

i hate to boast, because i know there are many readers who cannot say this: but the weather here this week has been {amazing}. i'm pretty dang sure it's the only thing that keeps me moving. and that's not a joke. i'm seriously a cat basking in every moment of sunshine before i enter the dank classroom where i am turned into a zombie. maybe not literally, but i get out of class, look in the mirror and think "why the heck does my makeup have to turn into to zombie makeup when i get to school?!" why does it always look completely different at the end of the day?? 

 

i had the great pleasure of throwing a little "new year" (in february) party for the young women at my church. it was complete chaos, up until 7 o'clock when everyone arrived. i have to document this event, mainly for my own benefit, because it was such a feat! i'm proud of myself for doing the entire thing and surviving! i even sort of want to do it again... haha





 

 

table with temple pictures on display...

 

 

i took the pictures of each girl and had them framed on these tables. they had taken most of the pictures home already, before i could snap a picture. BUT it was super cute and dainty! i loved how it turned out with the lamps!

 

 

 

this week i wanted to try something new and mix patterns! so i bit the bullet and went for it! i picked out my favorite patterned pants and my favorite patterned shirt and gave it a whirl!!

 

i thought it turned out okay! what are you thinking over there?? ?

 

 

 

 

naturally i had to pop my collar. you know i can't resist.

 

i think the idea worked for the moment and i see myself trying with something like this again in the future. it's just all about the patterns though! there's a fine line and it's all about finding it. do any of you out there experiment with mixing patterns??? if so, let's hear about it! i KNOW there are others who would be totally inspired  by your ideas!!

 

i just sent secret to the store to buy season 2-3 of [downton abbey] (if you haven't gotten into this yet... well i trust you to get on that). so i gotta finish homework and prepare myself for a little english drama. until friday... ciao!