Saturday, March 31, 2012

Another Birthday

Guess who just turned 20.

This fashionable girl!

Oh Megan Annie,

Happy happy birthday to one of the best people I know. I had a blast celebrating with you this weekend. Keep being the happy, kind person you are. I'm sure this will be a great year for you. May 20 bring lots of change, laughter, and happiness. And of course sister time.

I love you always,

Colie

And the celebrating continues...

It's not something many people are proud of in Provo. When people hear you're from Utah there is a tendency to roll their eyes and place all of their preconceived assumptions about  those Utah girls right onto your shoulders as well.(Let the record state that I have never once embraced "Utah hair" and I don't want 10 kids.)However, be it perceived as popular or not it does not change the fact that I am a Utah girl, and proud of where I came from. I was born and raised in the shadows of the Wasatch. I was nurtured in the desert, and grew beautiful not in spite of but because of the devastating winters and sweltering summers.
I'm well traveled, well read, and well aware that the world extends outside of my beautiful valley, and yet as much as I love and long for the travel a large piece of my heart always remains here; tucked in a canyon.
So, it's been with great anticipation that I've looked forward to March 22, 2012. It was the day my city would surpass it's potential again. The day everyone would be able to see how truly beautiful this place really is.
And Nordstrom, Tiffany's, BCBGMAXAZARIA, Michael Kors, Coach and Swarovski would be the evidence.

Without further ado I end the cheesy poetics and present:

The Greatest Day: City Creek Opens
a love affair between a Utah girl and things of beauty

I had warned my father for months that I wanted to be there for the ribbon cutting, to see the doors open wide and the world let in. However he must have thought I was joking (not sure why he thought I would joke about such a thing) because when the time came he was all eye-rolls and worry about missing school.

School will be there everyday. Today is a shopping day, said I.

The day started at 6:00am for me. I was in Sandy by 7:45 and Mom, Megan and I were on Trax by 8:20. By 9:15 we were standing inside City Creek. It kind of took my breath away.

Due to my great researching skills (and itinerary I'd made) we were able to check in on Foursquare, complete a few things on the to-do list and be waiting in line for our free grab bags by 9:30 (with diet cokes in hand)



When shopping all day Diet Coke is necessary, even if you're "off" Diet coke.

Due to our preparation at 10:00am we were 3 of the lucky 100 to steal these cute goodie bags. Inside: a bracelet, coupons, stationary, lip gloss, key chains, cosmetic bags and.... a $50 City Creek Gift card.



From there were were off to shop!  Back and forth we went between shops, dressing rooms and sales counters. I managed to find a cute $20 dress within the first hour, however technically it was free.

If you use a gift card-whatever you purchase on it can be considered "free".

The highlight for me was definitely Tiffany's. I feel fast and hard for this delicate bow ring and the man who slipped it on my finger. It was a thing of real beauty.

Although I have to admit, the thing in it's entirety is the real beauty. A small creek, a huge outdoor fireplace, live music, big windows, a gorgeous fountain, a retractable roof. The whole thing radiates class.

When you shop somewhere classy, you by default are classy.




The real highlight of the day was not the sales, the gift cards, watching mom fall hard and fast for Lush, the fountain, or even the kind conversation with the man on TRAX.
Nope it was spending the day with these lovely ladies.
Who you're shopping with defines your day-choose wisely.

I joked with my mother that when I'm here buying my granddaughter pearl earrings for her wedding someday I'll be able to turn to her and say "I was here the day this place opened, and (insert a big number) years later it's still the most classy place in Utah" And I'll think back to this day and the fun I had with my sisters and mom. It'll be one of the best memories.


By the end of the day we were weighed down with bags, proud of our finds and completely exhausted. However it was worth it, totally worth it.

If a shopping day leaves you exhausted, you did it right. Treat yourself to more diet coke.


Repeat.

Friday, March 23, 2012

22

My birthday was Monday. I was kind of sad about the whole not being in California any more thing, but if I had to return at least it was to streamers, diet coke, sweet cards, texts, presents, flowers, treats and family time.

Aren't my roommates just the sweetest?
It was a great day! It was nothing fancy-just work and school, lunch at Zupas and then dinner as a family. 

And as always they were too sweet and spoiled me a little.

abbie paige! how did we not get a picture together... we'll have to take one next time.
 
Oh and I got a bike!! I couldn't be more excited to use it this Summer!

 Thanks to everyone for the kind birthday wishes, I really do have the greatest people in my life.

And thanks to my sweet family for my wonderful gifts. I love being surprised, and the bike was a big surprise! I'm so excited about it! Love you.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

EOCZ

About two weeks ago I sent the following text message to my mother
"Mom. Can we please just get away for a weekend? I am dying here in Provo. I need a change of scenery/pace for a few days."
(Anyone who lives in Provo understands that this happens sometimes)

 Then last Tuesday happened. It was one of those awful stressful no good days, until there was a knock at my door. Two of my friends were there to invite me (by each speaking every other word) to come to California with them for the weekend.

It was too perfect.

Obviously I found someone to work for me, blew off school and went to California.
And I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I've made in awhile.

I mean how could it not be when it involved:

-the kindness of the Miyharah family
-making up our own acronym. involving the word "zoo"


-Jelly Belly
-the roller coaster in Primm

-Fitting in on Rodeo drive.... oh wait that didn't happen.

-pillow talk
-Raoul and Kian.(wow-how did I avoid these awkward encounters?)
-the man at johnny rockets who loves his job more than anyone should

 
-Visiting the LA temple


-Just Dance parties with Grandma
-metaphors
-finding out why we celebrate st. patricks day... not
-everything Sammy said

-movies in the hot tub
-paddle boarding and kayaking





-finally, after 2 weeks, having diet coke again

-How we spent the hours in the car: singing very loud and very off key(maybe the off-key part was just me), discussing our ward crushes, taking awkward photos, and asking very detailed questions about someones ideal woman. (she will have great eyebrows)


-The beach! Sure, it was kind of cloudy, and not the 80 degrees I was hoping for  but it was still beautiful




-Hanging out with these crazy wonderful people.
Every time I hear Fun I'll always think of them.

Thanks for the mini spring break guys! I can't wait till we do it again this summer.


Pictures are all either stolen from Brit or via our iphones.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Spring Dreams

 All of my favorite bloggers have been compiling lists like this, and now I know that I'm not some fancy blogger, but I I just can't seem to get the following lovelies out of my mind. 
So, I thought I would share them anyways, for who ever happens upon here.

 #9 is what I'm currently, and most strongly obsessed with... on a completely unrelated note it is the most expensive. I'll take a size 9 please.
J.CREW swim is currently on sale! If you love #13 act now. Free shipping and marked down 30% from where it was originally priced. I love a good deal on j.crew.

 1, 2, 34, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13



Oh, and as I was linking up, I found this extra beauty here.

Thursday, March 1, 2012