A Party Trick: Salad Jars

This spring has really been packed full of baby showers and bridal showers (we're talking pretty much at least one a week, and this week I have 2!). But let's be honest, I've loved every minute of it haha.

This last weekend, my mom threw an engagement party for my cousin Caroline who is getting married at the end of April. All of my aunts, uncles, and cousins were there along with the groom-to-be and his family! And we had the absolute best time chatting, eating, and playing a hilarious version of Family Feud. 

I was so busy enjoying the party that I didn't manage to get pictures of any of the "during" but I did snap some before everyone got there!

My ultra-creative mom came with up the most brilliant and fun idea for the dinner: we had salads-in-a-jar! There were three different kinds to choose from, and inside the jar was everything the salad needed + the dressing. 

When it was time to eat, you shook the jar up and dumped out all the contents onto the lettuce leaves that were already on your plate! 

The dinner salads were supplemented with fruit and homemade bread and it was one of the most delicious (and so healthy!) meals I've had in a while!

What's been filling my time lately:

Well first of all, because of this little announcement I made a while back, JP and I need to find a new place to live up in Salt Lake City!

So I have been making spreadsheets, scouring the classifieds online, comparing prices and locations, asking for opinions on facebook, following up with referrals and contacts, etc etc and hopefully we end up living somewhere we love! 

It's very exciting, this whole moving business and also bittersweet because we really like where we live now. But the allure of a fresh start in a new city is pretty intoxicating, so the house-hunt is on!

<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>

Second of all, we attended The Barrister's Ball aka Law School Prom again! Remember last year?

Well this year was even better, they added a photo booth AND italian sodas! haha

But seriously, JP has made such good friends during these last two years at law school, we feel very lucky to know and spend time with such wonderful hilarious people!

And last, but not least, a few links of things that I have been loving and showing everyone lately! Enjoy!

>>> If you've read Divergent or seen the movie, (or even if you haven't) you definitely should read this article! I loved it, so much. 

>>> Also, I've watched this video five times and still am almost crying laughing by the end.

>>> Have you heard about this movement? It's the most amazing innovative idea and such an easy way to make a huge impact. Join me and do it!!

A Friday Getaway...

... to ARCHES NATIONAL PARK!

It was the best day ever. 

Minus the fact that JP has just gotten a new job (literally this week) and had to work, thus missing the whole adventure. 

We drove down early Friday morning (like 6 AM early, it was killer, I'm a night person clearly.) and met up with some friends from New Mexico!

First up, we hiked to the Delicate Arch (you know, the one on all the Utah license plates!) 

It was grand actually seeing it in person and can I just say we had literally the perfect hiking weather?! No wind, sunny, but not hot. I mean whoa, it was like the weather stars aligned (that rarely happens for me haha). Then we saw some petroglyphs that would land you in jail for 5 years if you touched them. 

Then we hiked to Landscape Arch, then to Double O Arch which I think was my favorite -- mostly because we climbed right on top of that bad boy.

Honestly, it was the funnest day ever. 

I loved every minute of it. 

Utah is pretty freakin rad and I love getting to see parts of it for the first time. 

And now, for a million pictures: 

 ^^^ The whole fam-damily. 

Minus my husband, my sister on a mission, and my little brother who had an English test he couldn't miss.

A Night at the Opera:

JP and I classed it up this past weekend and attended the opening night of the Opera "Turandot"!

We honestly loved it and had such a great time (really, I'm not being sarcastic haha).

The opera is set in China but sung in Italian -- and they have the translation in English on screens so you aren't completely confused. 

The whole night was right up our alley -- we got to dress up, spend time in Salt Lake, eat candy, and try a new restaurant for dinner. It's like all of our favorite things! haha

 ^^^ They had a red carpet thing where they were taking people's pictures! And they insisted on taking one of us... ;)

^^^ Necessary. 

^^^ If you don't Snapchat it, were you really even there?

Baby Showering Time: Round Two!

This weekend was full of parties (and I'm not complaining!). 

The morning following JP's bash, we helped host a baby shower for my cousin Eliza! 

I posted about her wedding here.

She's having a little girl and naming her Chloe (most likely haha). 

Chloe Collins. Isn't that adorable?!

So we showered her with gifts and played some games and had a really fabulous time. She can come now! Everything is all ready :)

PS - you might notice a few repeat decorations from the shower I threw a couple weeks ago... but I liked them so much we used them again!

A Celebration 28 Years in the Making:

JP had a birthday last week! 

We celebrated his 28th year of life with a little Texas Roadhouse (where he ordered steak... AND ribs... typical.) and then the day after his birthday we had a little get-together with friends! 

We had snacks and treats and even a cake made from scratch. 

JP  and I spent about 4 hours the morning of the party making this white chocolate/raspberry buttercream 3-tiered cake that turned out tasting absolutely amazing, and was only slightly lopsided. 

It was so much fun baking together, even though I got a little bit bossy because he started deviating from the recipe instructions and I might have acted like he had committed the cardinal sin when he melted the butter all the way instead of just softening it... haha I think it's the start of an annual cake-baking tradition! ;)

Thank you to all of JP's friends who came and made the party to much fun, he felt very loved and it was the best getting to see and chat with everyone!