Chicago!!!!!

I haven't blogged in FOREVER! Mostly because of work. It is getting really busy. Yeah! Less drama when everyone is occupied:) Below is our summer vacation. I got to go to NeoCon... just the biggest design show ever! So before the conference John and I flew out early to stay with John's best mission bud and enjoy one of my favorite cities... Chi Town!




After spending the day shopping the Magnificent Mile (I converted John to H&M:), we headed to the Orient Theater to see WICKED!!! AWESOME anniversary pres from John! I don't need to reiterate how great it was since half the world has seen it...but I will. See it!! I think I want the soundtrack!


We took an architecture river boat cruise. It was fascinating and fun. I was a little disappointed Vince Vaughn wasn't our tour guide.
I am floored at how the beach, the old and new buildings, the river, the everything just comes together in a perfect setting.. Outstanding!!!!

John and Craig in front of the boat.

Business Trip

China Top 10

10. Visiting Guangdong! A whole city in mainland China made up of furniture stores and factories. Just rubbing Budda's tummy for a successful shopping spree. It worked!

Here is one of the huge furniture markets.

9. Being immersed in a new culture.

8. Touring a factory that manufactures conference chairs.

It is dark because the factories all have to work during the night a few days a week to cut down on pollution in the city.The people were so humble, hardworking, and so grateful for our business. I will never look at a "made in China" sticker the same.

7. After walking around the factory we all got a 2 hour massage at our hotel. It turned out to be more like Chinese torture! It was a cultural experience I will never forget!

6. We were bumped up to first class on our 10 hour plane ride from Tokyo to San Franciso. I don't think I will ever to be able to fly coach on a long flight again.

5. These are my China suveneirs. Thanks to designer knockoffs sold in Beijing I am now the proud new owner of Jimmy Choo and Dolce & Gabbana handbags.

4. The last night we hung out late into the night photographing some of the sights in Hong Kong. It was so serene and beautiful. Ever since I was little I have been hearing about and dreaming of visiting Hong Kong. My BFF Kimme spent several years there while her dad helped build the LDS temple. I dated a guy from Hong Kong before I met John because I felt such a strong attachment to the the place and the culture. It almost felt spiritual to finally walk the city streets.





3.The Greatwall in Beijing.. BREATHTAKING!

My coworkers Bri and Eric.

2. The view of Hong Kong from Victoria peak. It was so stunning. I felt like I was in a city 20 years in the future! Kimme, Chelsea, and my sister-in -law Sophia, you are all so lucky to have grown up in such an awesome place!

1. Coming back with a more grateful heart for my hubby, home, and freedom.

Don John

Last night John took me to the Opera Don Giovanni. It was fabulous! The storyline was about a player who in the end gets what he deserves (he is dragged down to the underworld by a bunch of large opera women). I really should have attended this performance after a bad break up with a cheating boyfriend. It definitely would have cheered me up.
Before you start thinking we are too cultured... We were both asleep by the final act and when I was reading the program before the show I was really confused why all the character's first names were Don or Donna (apparently it is just a prefix:)


Here is another "John" I love. This is my dream bathroom I found at the hotel design show in Vegas.
On second thought, where is a girl supposed to put all her hair stylin tools? I guess it will have to be my dream guest bathroom.

Andy's New Crib

My mom decided to make two connecting rooms in their house "Andy's apartment." So last weekend Andy and I went shopping for new bachelor pad decor. He now has his own living room, dining space, private bathroom, and bedroom. If you want to visit, just ring his door bell. He will grab you a Propel from his fridge and whip you up dinner in his new microwave.


Sorry ladies, he has a girlfriend.


My two bachelor bros hanging out on Andy's new couch. Zac is the next Ty Pennington. He has an eye for a design and is always there to help out on all my decorating projects.

O Canada! O Canada!

John spent a week and a half in Tulsa for work and to visit fam, so to speed up time (and to keep me from redecorating) he bought me a plane ticket to visit Kimme. It was a week filled with face masks, chick flicks, girl talk, shopping, and lots and lots of laughter.
Check out Kimme's room above, she is a design rock star!

Here is the view from Kimme's parent's porch. I could sit out there all day!

Kimme with her wonderful hubby, Chris.
I am soon to be an "aunty!" They are expecting their first baby (a boy) in August.

Apparently, you can still eat Sushi when you are expecting. Just not the hard core stuff. Fantastic news for a someday prego sushi lover!

Vancouver is like Utah on steroids. They have the ocean, Whistler, and a huge metropolis city with lots of shopping. You could surf, ski, and visit Sephora all in the same day.



Kimme's sis and my friend, Chelsea, is such an amazing woman! She is single and has 4 kids under 4! Chelsea, you are great "mum." You have the sweetest kids ever and I wish you were closer so I could baby-sit.

A little bit of this, a little bit of that:

Hello! Sorry I haven't posted in forever! It seriously took me a plane ride, two different buses, and a ferry to make me slow down enough to write a post. I am on Vancouver Island visiting my BFF (with no phone service:) so I will take this opportunity to let you know a few of the things John and I have been up to on our Saturdays.

John's parent came to town to visit from Oklahoma. When they come, John's mom loves to fix him all his favorite foods. It was heaven not having to cook all week. Above are pictures from the Easter tabernacle performance at temple square.

John won tickets at work to the Utah Symphony, Video Games Live performance. I wore my boots, but jeez, no one told me to bring my sword! P.S. Does anyone have an old school nintendo? I have been craving mario brothers ever since.

This group takes away your blues! Last week John and I went to Vegas to see the Blue Man Group. This show is MUST SEE! I start laughing whenever I think about all the paper at the end (you'll just have to go to find out:) I've decided John can't ever go to the eye doc. He always insists on sitting on the front row because that is the only way he can see. The theater is a whole new experience without binoculars!

This is my kind of camping! John ordered a new tent online and was too excited to wait until the winter thaw, so we camped out in the living room. My vote is we keep it an "indoor" tent.