Cabin Fever with Bourdain

My left eye keeps watering. My sinus' are clogged up. My nose is bright red and chapped from wiping and blowing. I hear echoing when I speak. I keep sneezing. All signs of a cold.

It started last Monday. I woke up feeling somewhat down and trodden.

I made a ridiculous decision. I went snowshoeing that night. I got sicker. By Thursday I was not getting better, in fact my cold was getting worse. Not the best of feelings. Friday morning I woke up and decided staying home in bed would be to my advantage.

I needed my best armor to combat this cold--trust me I was ready to fight this thing off.

I went to the grocery store, bought tons of fruit

The last few days have consisted of me doing the same activities.

Sleep. Eat grapefruit. Drink water. Watch Anthony Bourdain. Read. Sleep. Eat grapefruit...oh you get the picture.

Needless to say, it's not been too exciting these past few days. I would say my saving grace was Mr. Bourdain. Any of you who know me well know that I absolutely love watching his show on The Travel Channel. I might go as far as saying I have a bit of a crush on Mr. Bourdain. Trust me he is no hottie. It is his crass, dry sense of humor, honest personality that attracts me to him and his show. I am a bit obsessed. He travels to far off exotic locations eating amazing cuisine and lets us into the culture along with his smart@#$ comments.

By Saturday night I had major cabin fever. I am always on the go and am not usually home. So to stay home since Thursday night was killing me. Even Mr. Bourdain was not doing it for me anymore.

Luckily there was a friends birthday party to get me out of the house.

Thank goodness I am on the mend now and thank goodness I had some good company.

Thanks Bourdain.

Bright colors, tan skin, it exudes Summer.

{Photos courtesy of The Sartorialist blog.}
The Sartiorialist was posting about all the hip fashion in Rio.

It's so fresh and beautiful that I swear I started hearing samba music ringing in my ear.

Alas I was reminded I was not in Brazil.

But I love this ladies style and I am looking forward to bright colors and tan skin.

About 5 months and counting until Summer is officially here...

{p.s. I am covetting her red dress.}

Sunday Dinners

I love Sunday dinners at my parents place.

I walk in, the windows are always fogged up from the many delicious things baking(my favorite being my mom's homemade rolls) and pots boiling or warming up on the stove top.

Everyone gathers together and we break bread together, talk about what the latest happenings are and just enjoy that it is Sunday, a day of rest.

I don't know where the future will take me, but if it takes me elsewhere, I know my heart will ache on Sunday evenings when us Santamaria's gathered together and just savored life.

{I just got a kick out of listening to a 3 year old reciting scriptures.}

Wise words to live by.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed

by the things that you didn’t do than by the things you did.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover."

-Mark Twain-

Snowshoeing

{Snowshoeing up Tibble Fork.}

I live for 3 day weekends because that is one more day of getting to do what I want to do.

Thanks Mr. King for the civil rights movement and years later for 3 day weekends so I could go play in the snow with my friends.

Chop, Chop...Bang

{I am slightly annoyed that this photo has a misplaced hair hanging down onto my face. Oh well.}

Well I did it, I got bangs. Well I didn't actually give myself bangs, my amazing hair dresser and friend Ashlee did, who also happens to be my roomie.

I had been needing a change in the hair department and had flirted with the idea of bangs for a while now. I thought I could never pull them off since I have the natural curl and all. But then I thought, eh, why not get bangs? I have a flat iron, hair dryer, product. Hair grows back, and worst case scenario if I hate them, I can grow them out again.

So I decided it was high time to live on the edge.

I walked out of the salon feeling like a new woman. Hair re-colored(thank goodness, it had gotten so light after my Kauai trip), hair trimmed and these rockin' bangs.

Don't you just love the feeling of a new hair style or just getting your hair done in general?

I sure do. It's just the change I needed and I have my great hair stylist Ashlee to thank.

2010 is starting off with a BANG!

{Sorry I couldn't resist that punny line.}

The never ending lists...

I am sure you all feel the same way(or maybe it's just me, I am after all an odd ball). Week after week things don't slow down and the lists and filling up of the planner never stop. Not to say it's a negative thing, on the contrary, I think I'd be bored if I didn't have my never ending lists. But still, I think there are things on the infamous to-do list that I wish I could magically wave a wand and it'd just get done. Here's my list for the weekend: Workout Hair appointment(oh my, oh my, I'm doing something very differnt this time, just you wait for pics!) Grocery shop Clean car(although I don't know why, since I just saw the forecast and it is supposed to snow all next week.) Finish reading the book I've been reading for a year-that is pathetic! Go to see Avatar-it is the latest craze and all. Laundry Snowshoeing Change sheets So who wants to grocery shop for me, do my laundry, clean my car and change my sheets?? These pesty guys never get off my to-do lists, week after week they are there to greet me. They must love me. Well I hope you all got a 3 day weekend like me so we can all enjoy it! Happy Martin Luther King Day.

A successful ski day, that is if bunny hills count as skiing.

I plowed, like a pizza slice. That is what Jeff kept telling me to do. "Put pressure on your heels, pressure on the left, pressure on the right, bend your knees."

I think I was a good student, but it was because he was a very kind and patient teacher. He helped me down the first bunny hill. We laughed because I am sure people thought I was special needs. By the second time down the bunny hill I was doing it on my own. All in all I really liked skiing. I want to go again in fact.

I can finally feel like a true Utahn, what an accomplishment! Even if it was just down the bunny hills.

Next time I think I'll dream bigger and go down the big people hills.

But for now, I am happy I conquered my fears and did it.

If Bridget Jones can do it, so can I right?

I am going skiing tomorrow for my first time. I am a bit scared, actually scared might not be the right word. Terrified is a better description. I am terrified of heights and fast speed. I am like a grandma on the freeway, no joke. So the combo of both these fears is why I have never gone skiing before. Well the time has come to look fear in the eye and just do it. That time is tomorrow. My friend Jeff has offered to teach me--does he realize what he is getting himself into?!?!

I have included a clip of the movie Bridget Jones:The Edge of Reason. Just watching Bridget makes my palms sweat. I can relate, I have a feeling I might be going down the mountain in full Bridget-esque style. Pray for me dear friends. Okay I might be being a bit dramatic.

{But really pray for me.}

Making Mr. Snowman

I've been day dreaming

{Lake Como, Italy}

{Calanque de Sugiton, France}

It's the dead of winter. The Holidays are over and let's be honest, I think January through March are the months we try to survive and eagerly await Spring. I am doing just that and of course day dreaming of places that are warm, green and beautiful-- such as these far off places in Europe.

Until my beloved Spring gets here, I plan on doing lots more day dreaming...oh fine and trying to make the best of this Winter. Did I mention I am going skiing for my first time next week?

Yep, I'm a Utahn and don't know how to ski.

Yes, you can count on me letting you know how that adventure goes.

I have to go now...back to day dreaming.

2009 in review.

I love the beginning of a new year. Time to reflect on the past year and what was or was not accomplished and time to make new goals to accomplish for the new year.

This past year was filled with the same things most years are filled with, but at the same time each year is so different it's always a new adventure. There were goals met, there were other goals not met. New friends made, new additions to the family, laughter until I nearly peed my pants, tears of sadness, tears of joy, disappointment, joy and new places visited. Looking back I realize how very blessed I am to have the life I have and to have new beginnings.

Here are some pics of my favorite memories and things I did during 2009.

{January-March}

These are the dreaded dead of winter months where I try to remember that Spring is just around the corner. I made the best of it with a trip to San Francisco, snowshoeing, a girls night out V-day get together, 80's party and lots of movies.

{April-June}

Spring time was busy. I moved from my brothers house to my parents house for two months and

then moved one more time to where I live now, with Ashlee. I went back to San Francisco for my

dear friend Cathy's wedding. I got back in the nick of time to celebrate Easter with my family, always

a favorite. While I was out of town my niece Caia was born. Such a cute little girl and I wasn't complaining

that I get to spoil another cute girl. The bonfires with friends started along with hikes up the canyon

and Sunday strolls. Over Memorial Day weekend I flew out to New Jersey to see my grandma and family.

While there I visited good friends in NYC and made sure to get in some shopping and bike around

the city. I swear I blinked and June was over. I went to the Kelly Clarkson concert with friends, although

it rained the entire time-but we still had a good time. End of June my twin brothers got home from

their missions in Spain. We spent hours together as a family, laughing, eating and hearing

about all their great experiences. It was great to be reunited once again.

{July-September}

I love summer and all it entails. Bbq's with the family, 4th of July, lazy summer evenings, swimming

at the pool, camping and I added some new things to the mix this year. I went to a few rodeo's.

I am not a country type gal, but a few of my friends are. I was happy to go along and see what

the rodeo's offered and I ended up having so much fun. I also learned how to golf. I didn't think

I would like it at all. But with good friends teaching me the ropes I had lots of fun learning. We had many

evening dinners in my parents backyard with the family, and ate lots of yummy paella. End of August

some girlfriends and I decided to take a little trip to the heart of Texas. We went to Austin and San Antonio.

I really liked Austin and all its artsy eclectic culture. I also loved strolling along the river walk in San

Antonio. A few days later was Labor Day and my dear friend Lindsay paid me a visit. We had a great

time in Provo and then headed to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for some good food and entertainment.

It was such a great summer, full of great memories.

{October-December}

Autumn in Utah is always so beautiful with the leaves changing on the mountains. Fifteen minutes

away is a palette full of stunning fall colors. I made sure to go up there for a little hike this fall. We

didn't get too far on our hike because we were so taken aback by the colors. It was a busy month with all the

typical fall activities; corn mazes, halloween parties, etc. I made sure to go to Thriller put on by a SLC

dance company, it was spectacular. My family did family photos after 5 years. There were two new additions

to the family so it was time. November came quickly with preparing for the Holidays that were

coming up. Ashlee and I made our first turkey and had about 30 people over to our place. It was jam packed

but we had so much fun doing it. We might have lost 3 church chairs along the way--ooops! The next

week was Thanksgiving and I got ready to spend it in Kauai with some great friends. I never imagined

Hawaii to be so beautiful, but I fell in love and I hope to go back again someday. December was busy

with all the Holiday hustle and bustle of it all. It was a great Christmas with family and friends. I tried to

reflect on the Spirit of Christmas and I felt a difference.

2010 is a new year that I am sure will be filled with many different emotions, goals and memories. All of which I look forward to.

{Ps. I know this was the longest post ever, thanks for bearing it with me!}