Wedding Bliss

My cousin's wedding couldn't have been more
beautiful and magical all around.
Every detail was taken care of, 
the location {Sundance} was the
prettiest backdrop for her 
special day.

We Santamaria's partied it up
with lots of eating, laughing, & of course dancing.
So glad I got to be a part of this beautiful couple's
special day and celebrate with them.

weekend in snaps.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Mine was filled with family in town,

my cousins gorgeous wedding, hiking to

Stewart Falls up the canyon,

and lastly catching a cold,

{I could have done without the last one}.

The good thing is I'm on the mend.

I'll be posting more on the beautiful

wedding later on this week.

Autumn Baking

It happens every year without fail,

I get so so excited for this time of year

and start baking on my time off.

Great for the tastebuds...

perhaps not so much on the waistline.

You can't win them all right?

While perusing the blog world

I've come upon some recipes that

look so good and aren't

rocket science with a million instructions.

I will definately be making these

during the next few months.

Pumpkin Spice Cookie recipe found here.

Pumpkin Caramel Layer Cake recipe found here.

Pumpkin Sponge Roulade Cake {gluten free} recipe found here.

End of Summer.

I thought I'd share some

of my favorite summer memories with you all

since fall is upon us.

To be honest,

it was a bit of a stressful summer for me.

I had work coming out my ears when

all I really wanted to do was enjoy the weather--

which was one of the hottest summers in Utah.

But I did manage to squeeze in some play as well.

A trip back east to Jersey, Boston and NYC, 

a family reunion in San Francisco, 

enjoying all the fun Utah offers in the summer

{rodeo's, boating at the lake, camping, hiking}, 

eating obscene amounts of watermelon and ice-cream, 

evening walks and having some good reads by the pool.

I really do love all that comes with summer,

but as usual I am ready for a new season.

Now that work has slowed down I feel like

I'm ready to relax a bit more and enjoy

the delicious autumn weather that

has already arrived here, crisp nights and all.

Remembering.

"Time is passing.

Yet, for the United States of America,

there will be no forgetting September the 11th.

We will remember every rescuer who died in honor.

We will remember every family that lives in grief.

We will remember the fire and ash,

the last phone calls,

the funerals of the children."

-President George W. Bush, November 11, 2001

Time has passed, eleven years and I can still remember every detail of that horrible day.

I'm pretty sure all of us can recount most of the events of our personal lives that day.

I can only imagine how it is for those families and friends that lost a loved one,

remembering it every single year, but having the opportunity to honor them as well.

 

One thing that I remember that day more than anything,

is that we came together as a nation.  It didn't matter our political views,

our religious beliefs, our color, our race.

For a time our nation felt as it were one with a simple yet poignant goal,

to help one another.

 

A good reminder of a day that will live on in all of our hearts.

Labor Day at home, Part II

It was nice spending some time 

at home just relaxing.

I had promised my nieces a while ago

we'd have a sleepover at my place

over Labor Day weekend and they

were thrilled, especially since it was

their first one ever.

We stayed up late watching Monster's Inc., 

with some popcorn {a must}and they 

were so excited to stay up till late.

The next morning we

went out to breakfast with two of my 

brothers and then stopped off to get some pastries.

The day ended with a picnic up the canyon

and walking by the river admiring

all of the foliage that was beginning.

I can't believe the trees are starting to change

color so early this year, but I'm not

complaining, I'm ready to welcome 

some cooler temperatures.