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.