Red Rocks. So Does Moab.

Spring Break seems like so long ago, especially with all of this wet, cold, nasty snow trying to steal Spring's thunder (figuratively speaking). Well, the snow cannot take away the magic of reliving Spring Break through picture form...
My sister-in-law, Kara, pointed out one reason she loves Moab - everything is set in complimentary colors: orange rocks against the blue sky, green sage against red rocks...not so much yellow & purple in there, but you get the idea.

Landscape Arch...looking more and more like "delicate" arch.

Feathy and I take this picture each time we go to Moab. I'll have to post them side-by-side.

And you thought being a 3rd wheel was bad... jk ;)

Cute Madre, I love her.

Ok, I love (LOVE!) the trees at Arches. Each one has so much unique character and personality... that said, I apologize in advance for how many pictures I took of them. I just couldn't get enough. Cello, they're ancient.

The trail back down to the parking lot from Delicate Arch. Isn't it beautiful?

Another thing I love about Arches is that you can find SO many images in the weathered rocks. This one is one of the Window Arches. I think it looks like the front facade of a house with a door, window and a chimney on the left. Do you see it?

Feathy & Joseph are a cute couple. They stopped in the middle of the trail to take a picture of themselves, so I took one of them, too.

More Window Arches. Kara called them "Zorro's Mask."

Ok, tell me you don't see a lion in this big guy. Just picture it saying, "Simba," in a booming voice like James Earl Jones' and you'll see what I mean.

Double Arch in all its (their?) glory.

Moab love.

This is the Devil's Garden loop (roughly 6 miles). And yes, that is a giant puddle that we got to climb around. It was intense. The trail marker said "Primitive," but what it should've said was, "Primitive indeed," as one man cautioned as we passed on the trail.

So steep! Look at my sweet gentleman of a dad.

Mom came right down behind me and nearly plowed me into the puddle, so I slid a bit faster.

And we all laughed pretty hard when the "ordeal" was over. Especially me, cause I'm a laugher.

Yeehaa! Conquered that massive puddle!

The trail was SO cool. We all agreed that we felt more like explorers than tourists. This li'l beauty is Double O Arch.

Trees growing out of rocks.

We stopped at Private Arch for some Subway deliciousness and rejuvenation.

Beautiful view. I love the fins.

Walking on top of the fins, however, is another story. This one was A LOT steeper than it looks. Like 30 foot drop off on both sides and serious winds threatening to blow us off the edge. I think I crawled on my hands and knees the whole way down.

See why I love the trees?

We all survived and lived happily ever after!

The End.

Rewind.

Does anyone know where the REWIND button is for today?

I seem to have misplaced The Remote Control of Time & Space.

Wait, wait, don't push it yet.

Checklist:

Homework - check

Ipod - check

More than 5 hours of sleep - check

Wallet - check

Student ID - check

Smile on my face - check

Motivation to be here - check

Ok.

I think I'm ready now.

Go ahead and push it.

. . .

. . .

P.S. Moabular photos coming soonish.

Oh what do you do on Spring Break...

...when all your time is FREE!

Freeee-du-hu-hummmm!

. . .

sorry,

got a little carried away

. . .

ah-hem.

Anyway, as I was saying,

If you're having trouble finding ways to spend your free time, try these:

sleep in till 8:30am (at least),

read the Percy Jackson series,

and the church magazines,

and The Book of Mormon,

make homemade granola bars (recipe),

go to the mall with Nicole and shop till you drop,

watch Biggest Loser,

attend your nearest LDS Temple,

take lovely naps in the sunlight,

find different ways to style your new haircut (that you're not too fond of),

clean your bedroom thoroughly (no massive spider moms in thar),

take a bubble bath while watching "No Reservations" (or other chick flick),

run a 5k a day out in the gorgeous (unpredictable) weather,

make meals with the Madre while dancing around the kitchen and lip-sinking oldies,

oh

and

GO TO MOAB!

Yep!

That one's on the "To Do" for the morrow.

Can't wait to shake the dust of this crummy little town (name that movie)

and hike all over

and photograph everything

and swim/hot tub

and get a little tan

and bond con mi familia!

I'll be back on Friday for more fun and relaxation

With lots of fun pictures and stories to share!

Tah tah for now, ol' chaps!

(you can tell I'm in a giddy mood when I whip out the random accents)

Live it up!!!

*sigh*

Broccoli's Purpose

I don't like broccoli.

I never have.

I mean, it's ok if you're allowed to put cheese on it,

Or ranch,

Or something equally delicious and fattening that dilutes the nastyness of

what I like to call: bro-coli

But, until now I never really understood

Broccoli's purpose.

When I was little I'd ask Madre,

"Why broccoli?"

She'd answer,

"Because it's good for you."

And so it is with broccoli on The Plate of Life.

It may not taste like it,

But "broccoli" is good for you

And no matter how hard you try to get rid of it,

To sneak it into your napkin or feed it to the dog,

The only way to make it go away, is to dig your heals in

And eat it.

Hey, it could be worse.

Some people get liver,

steamed spinach,

lima beans,

brussel sprouts...

So chow down, folks

Cause there's plenty more where that came from.

Don't worry,

I hear the dessert is to die for.

As my friend Travis says,

"Hold onto your fork,

The best is yet to come."

Girls Night Out and a Dash of PPP

Last night my two sisters, Madre and I began our monthly tradition of getting together for some much needed bonding time. We started the evening with dinner at Madre's favorite Chinese restaurant: The Mandarin. YUM-A-LICIOUS!

My Greek neighbors started this place before I was born and it's been a family favorite for years. Don't ask me why they didn't start a Greek restaurant, cause I'm not really sure, but I do not mind because, cello, how could I live without Honey Walnut Shrimp and Almond Chicken?

(Answer: I couldn't) Are you drooling?

See how quaint and Chinese-y it is? It's just a fun atmosphere with friendly service and a fantastic menu...what more could you want? I haven't tried their desserts for a while, but they look amazing and they're made my Angel (my neighbors daughter) who is basically a gourmet. She makes us a plate of Greek desserts every Christmas and they are divine, to say the least.

{These photos ^ from The Mandarin website. Check it out.}

Notice: This is not a Pinky Promise Project recommendation.

Nope, I'll be spending most of my day at the gym, thanks :) (totally worth it)

. . .

This week I learned (from a certain cheesecake indulgence) that you don't have to live without your favorite foods. Just eat them sparingly. It's true! I still lost another pound after eating a slice of 1,200 calorie cheesecake. Granted, I kicked my own trash at the gym, but that's because I've made a deal with my body - it's a give and take. I exercise it on a regular basis and it allows me a treat now and then.

You don't have to completely deprive yourself of everything you've ever loved about food. I promise, life will be miserable if you do. At the same time, don't indulge your every craving if you're not willing to accept the consequences. It's a balance.

Small portions. Mostly nutritious. Irregular caloric indulgences. And daily exercise.

Don't be afraid to kick your own trash at the gym and sweat buckets.

It feels good and your body will love you.

Ok, sorry... I went PPP-crazy on you, all the sudden.

. . .

After dinner we went over the Feathy's new(ish) house, had a tour and spent the rest of the night chatting and bonding. I love my sisters and my mom so much! I'm a lucky, no blessed, girl to follow in their footsteps as I prepare to be a mother, homemaker, and wife. Thank you for your examples and your love, Kimmy & Feathy & Madre. I love you forever!

Happy Friday

(ah, I love this day)

And if you're fortunate enough to have Spring Break

This whole entire week like me, enjoy that, too!

BOOYAH!

(yes, I just said that)

Warm, Wrong, Wishing & Washing

I hope never again (not that I ever have hoped this) to have a dream where

giant arachnids invade my bedroom

and lay massive egg sacks

in the nooks and crannies of my closet that,

when poked, gush fountains

of creepy, crawly, tiny, little, pinching, biting, scuttling

spider babies that overtake me

and crawl up my pants,

and make me run around screaming bloody murder

and writhing in a riotous frenzy.

phew

We're talking basketball-sized spider moms, guys.

Not cool.

BAH (shudder)!

If you're a dream interpreter,

I don't want to know what this one means,

Thanks.

Have you noticed how everyone is happier when it's warm outside.

Now, I've never met someone from Antarctica,

but I can only imagine that,

for the most part,

they're cranky on a regular basis.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Hawaiians on the other hand...

Most hospitable people on the planet.

Do you see my point?

Every time I make a wish,

Be it on a shooting star,

11:11,

tossing a coin in a fountain,

blowing out candles,

etc.

I always absent-mindedly start it by saying,

"Please bless..."

I guess it just goes to show where wishes truly come from.

Some of the most hilarious occurrences in the world

Happen when people sing the wrong lyrics to songs.

Please tell me you agree.

i.e. (my favorites):

"When upon life's pillows you are tempest tossed..."

LDS Hymn - "Count Your Blessings"

"I blow bubbles when you are not near..."

Macy Gray - "I Try"

"Swing, swing from the tables o-of my heart..."

All-American Rejects - "Swing, Swing"

Is it just me or is it impossible to get everything done in a day

And get 8 hours of sleep as a college student...

This morning Madre was making a lot of calls and leaving a lot of messages,

I guess she was just getting into the flow of it, because at the end of one message she said,

"...Thanks! Hope you guys are having a great day. In the name of... I mean? Bye."

I laughed pretty hard about that one.

I love Madre! I just had to share.

From kindergarten to my senior year of high school

I was morally opposed to sloughing/playing hooky/ditching class,

Whatever you wanna call it.

The one time I did in high school,

My friends and I went to a park,

And it rained.

A sign I think.

It was fun, but I still feel guilty about it to this day.

However, now that I'm in college,

I've found that it's almost impossible not to skip a class every once in a while.

It's amazing the amount of things you can get done when you're not sitting on your behind in front of a computer for 3 hours, listening to your professor yack his merry way through his life history. Right? Right.

I'm a people-watcher.

I know I've confessed this to you before.

So, want to know the most entertaining place for people-watching?

The gym.

If you don't believe me, next time you go observe the following:

-The 'check me out' expressions on the faces of the guys lifting weights

-The many different ways to use an elliptical

-The competitive face people give when they pass each other on the track

-The limber girls that sit doing splits on the mat for 15 minutes, just to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to see how bendy they are

-Peoples faces when they're pushing themselves really hard

Now that's not to say I'm not guilty of a few (very few) of these gym-mannerisms,

But wow, we the people of the world are pretty darn entertaining when we try to "act natural." Yes sir, we're all guilty of being oxymorons every once in a while.

Indoor plumbing was developed in the late 19th century,

Right?

So you'd think, because it's been around so long,

that people would have a grasp on how to use it,

Right?

False.

I swear, if there was a poll on this subject, the majority of people

(especially on college campuses) would answer,

"I don't flush. I don't wash my hands. Ever."

ew.

I'm sure they're great people and all, but...

ew.

15 seconds people. 15!

There's just something about seeing everyone wearing green on the same day that warms my heart. I think it's the thought of "unity" in a world of people always trying to prove that they're "different" from one another, when in reality, we're all very much the same.

Smile at strangers,

Cause since when is

Smiling strange?

The End.

PPP Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Catherine Newman!

Please send your mailing address to

lindsaykayphotography@gmail.com

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway

For sharing your awesome tips, recipes and motivations.

I'll be posting those throughout the next couple of weeks,

So keep 'em coming and enjoy this beautiful weather!

YAY for sun!

P.S. Happy St. Patrick's Day... I totally forgot... hence I'm not wearing green.Short story: a kid I work with just told me that he'd pinch me, but he thinks that I'll beat him up if he does... I don't know what that says about me... but then he added, "It's not you, it's me." Ok? Well. At least I haven't been pinched yet.