just some dam photos.

I kept up my out of town persona, and went back to Sin City two weekends ago. 

I love having a vacation home in Vegas via my friendship with Shylettera. 

This time around we took Rudy along with us and had a great time. 

We of course hit Peggy Sue's on the way there {biscuits and gravy were calling our names!} And then mostly just chilled, hit the strip for some great shopping and dinner, had two grand outings and decorated Shy's Christmas tree. 

Our first field trip: Las Vegas Temple. 

In all of my times to Vegas I have never seen the temple but have always really wanted to see it. So we set up an appointment for baptisms and although had  some bumps on the road {i.e. forgotten recommends} we got there! 

And of course with the combo of the spirit, a beautiful setting and some really nice people, the place did not disappoint.  

I also got to run into the former Jenesee O'Bryant!

 A Lanai alum and neighbor. I miss hanging out, our great chats and her doing my hair. 

Sunday's field trip: the Hoover Dam.

During our shopping spree Saturday night, I saw a sign for the Dam, and jokingly said we should go there. Next thing I knew everyone was on board! I was surprised at how cool it was to be at the dam. And it was super fun to have Shy's friend Lauren come along with us to snap some great photos as well as have great {and much needed} girl talk.

Some favorite moments while there: the massive bridge we walked across which over looks the dam,

 being in Arizona and Nevada on the same day and even at the exact same time

 dropping a Cheez-It down the dam (in hopes that it would slide right down) to be pleasantly surprised that the wind coming off the dam shot the cheez-it right up as it was propelled in the air. Not pictured. But a great moment for us. 

 Some moments that did disappoint: not saying nearly enough DAM jokes while we were there. 

And no Vegas trip is complete if there is not a photo of me and Bardi.

{and a Ragnar reunion! I think Trey's hands were getting a little frisky back there...}

Im loving all these reunions we've been having. Hopefully lots more to come of these as he is now a So Cal resident! 

LA Dawg: The Slaw Dogs.

Lillie and I were in desperate need for a night out together.

With her landing an awesome new job. And me being ever so busy and out of town. 

It had been weeks since we have had any hang out time. 

and so with that. we did what we do best. 

hot dog date nights. 

Recently the LA Times wrote an article about the boom in gourmet hot dog places. 

please. Lillie and I were on to that a long time ago. We are ahead of the times. Literally. 

However, thanks to their article it gave us a list of new places to check out. 

 per recommendation and convenience we chose to hit

The Slaw Dogs. 

This place did not disappoint. 

It had it all. Starting with an eager beaver {and attractive} of an employee giving us all the great recommendations. 

an amazing and huge menu of fancy and delicious hot dogs

and yummy choice of french fries 

Lillie chose the Mac N' Cheese Dog

you got that right. 

{btw. check out those hoops! so proud of my girl}

mac n cheese. on a hot dog. and it was good. 

I was torn between the pastrami dog {i love pastrami} and the picnic dog. 

I chose the latter. 

potato salad. a pickle. bbq sauce. onion rings.

wait what!? on a dog? yet it was sooo good. 

but beware. sooo messy. 

of course I have no shame and will always refuse utensils for food meant to eat with your hands. 

So far this has been our favorite hot dog place. 

Totally beats out the others in taste and yummy menu options. 

And of course like all of our hot dog dates, Lillie and I successfully sat there for hours. Catching up and chatting and of course constant laughter at how our lives are always so similar. 

so glad i have this girl in my life. 

fall.

They say the seasons don't change here in California. 

Its looks like fall around here to me. 

Ive been wearing cardigans and scarfs for days. 

Im loving this fall. 

Also...while I was out on my walk snapping these photos. This little guy came out looking for me. 

love him. 

a wish.

I hold my breath in tunnels.

 I pick up every penny found.

 I look for shooting stars.

 I break wishbones.

 I pick dandelions. 

And soon the best moment to make a wish will be here.

11:11

11.11.11

Ill try to make one of the most epic wishes of my life. 

double the Robyn.

As mentioned previously, when I was in Sacramento, I was on a strict time frame to get me home.

I had accidentally overbooked myself that weekend with the wedding on Friday night 

and tickets to the Robyn concert on Saturday night. 

Im obsessed with Robyn.

She makes me want to dance. 

She helps me get over boys. 

Perfect Combo. 

And when Taylor told me he was going, I couldnt pass up on the chance to dance alongside Taylor to some Robyn jams. 

I got back from Sac Town just in time to change and get me on a shuttle bus to the Hollywood Bowl. 

The bowl was packed. The beats were great and the lights helped us rage all night long.

Rebbie, Taylor and I even snuck down to some better seats which made the show so much better. 

Robyn always puts on a good show and Im always completely carried away with her lyrics and dance moves. 

The show got even better by running into Bob Harper from The Biggest Loser. 

(my dad and I are a little obsessed with the show)

I grabbed his arm, "Are you BOB!?" 

I have no shame. 

However, as Tay and I had both just attended our THIRD Robyn concert, we both agreed we were done with her shows {for now} until she comes up with a new setlist, new songs. 

Then about three days later, Taylor sends me this screenshot:

MTV performance of Robyn. 

Halloween.

Secret Location. 

Free tickets. 

Admits TWO. 

Screw what we said earlier. COUNT ME IN. 

We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into but I thought this sounded too awesome to pass up. 

Turns out the "secret location" was the biggest Halloween party pretty much in the entire country. The West Hollywood Carnaval. 

And Taylor and I had just scored free tickets to be front row at the Robyn concert. Located at the heart of the carnaval. 

Seeing Robyn so up close and personal make the show about 100x's better. 

Those dance moves kill! 

You can watch her performance here. 

Look for Taylor and I at the side of the stage. 

We braved the carnaval crowd for a bit. It was crazy. Like the most people I had ever seen. If you know anything about WeHo, you know it was a little scary and yet awesome. 

Halloween is in my top three favorite holidays {followed closely after my birthday and Christmas}

Its all about dressing up in clothes you cant get away with any other time of the year, and {now that Im older} all about dancing and partying. Some of my favorite things. 

Combine that with an awesome Robyn concert, my hippie costume, and hanging out with Taylor. 

pretty fun night!

I loved Halloween and I love Robyn concerts.

But I think I will take a break now that I have been to four...

im an out of towner.

I lead a rather busy life. 

You may have picked up from my blog. 

My sister Kelly often comments by saying "Are you ever bored?"

My answer is no. 

I have no time to be bored. 

I'd like to think I live by the phrase:

work hard. play harder. 

With working full time and attempting to attend all ward activities and then just hanging out with my friends, I am hardly not busy.

This past two months, not only have I been busy with all of the above, but add that I have been out of town for almost every weekend. 

Here's the list of my travels from the past few weekend:

starting with the last weekend in August, the 26th:

Orange County. {Visiting Taylor}

Cruise to Mexico. {vaca! for basically two weekends}

San Francisco. {Ragnar!}

Home. {however friends were in town, day trip in OC}

 Conference Weekend. {home. relaxing}

Vegas. {Party with Bardi}
Home. {shocker}

Sacramento. {Wedding}

Phoenix. {Lanai Reunion}

Im sure you all feel so sorry for me.

Its just crazy to me that I have been gone so much lately. 

I joke with my friends that I have become inactive at church. I have never been so MIA in my life. I feel like I'm a professional weekend traveler now. 

Mom joked with me about how talented I am now with packing weekend bags. 

This brings me to last weekend and my trip to Phoenix. 

 Chanel is going on a mission! Called to Independence, Missouri.

Could not be a better place for her to be and I am thrilled for her to serve a mission!

Although slightly depressed. I dont know how Im gonna survive without her.

So I headed down to AZ with A Wise for the farwell. 

It was great to be reunited with these ladies.

Ive been so blessed with their friendship and having them in my life. 

We didnt do much other than chill and laugh and me writing down all the life lessons I learned from Chanel's glamorous and hilarious family. 

And I cried saying goodbye to Sister Wright. Im gonna miss her. But so glad we were able to spend a weekend together before she leaves me. 

And so with that I think I am done with my travels. 

For now at least. 

what happens on the road trip...

Last weekend the NR crew and I took off on a road trip to Sacramento.

It was a quick trip as we left Friday morning and came back Saturday afternoon. 

But we headed up there to celebrate the wedding of the NR3 celebrity couple Trester. (Trevor and Ester).

And we could not have been more excited to party the night away at their reception on Friday. 

Definitely a highlight of this trip was the road trip itself. 

I drove up with Ms. Letta, Ryan and Christina and we had so much fun dancing, singing, good chats, taking naps (i think i took like 5. each way.) and of course witnessing Ryan doing the best rendition and dance to Ke$ha I have ever seen.

 (its a must watch. find it on fb)

Road trips are so great just for that reason. I truly love my friends and am so grateful for all of the opportunities we have to do such fun things together. 

 However, before we left for Sac Town, I had one request. 

Perhaps as a lover of history and DC and never before visiting Sacramento, Ive always wanted to see the California Capitol. 

As we got to Sacramento a bit earlier than expected we made our stop in downtown.

It should come as no shock that I was overcome with excitement to see this great building. 

My friends allowed me to take lots of photos and even a nice walk around the building. 

We actually really enjoyed our stroll around the capitol and so the tree tour. Ryan was even nice enough to sacrifice his body for my photos.

Ryan provided more entertainment as he was challenged by Shylettera that he couldn't jump high enough to grab an orange off the tree. 

Which he did accomplish after many attempts.

And he did some great impersonations of squirrels and eagles.  

Oh so many laughs!

After chilling in the hotel for awhile, we headed off {late} to the ring ceremony. Followed by dinner and the reception. 

Trester could not have looked more happy or excited to finally be married.

 And Ester is easily one of the most beautiful brides I have ever seen!

We took some photobooth photos and danced the night away. 

I loved being able to be there all together with our friends to celebrate and support their wedding. 

We had our after party at the hotel that night. Mostly just including trying to eavsedropping on the boys and then late night chats with the boys.

We then headed out that morning (as I needed to get back for a  concert that night...more on that later). 

We would have left earlier if the boys hadnt of taken so long.

Really? Riding the elevator for just one flight? 

Those boys really know how to push my buttons. 

We drove back with another great road trip. This time accompanied by Rudy as well. 

It was a quick trip. But super fun nonetheless. 

And what happens on the road trip...Get made into some great memories.