And... We're back!

Z & I arrived back from our week-long European vacation last Saturday night. We had a great time visiting our good friends Maegan and Gabri, who live in Rome. Zach had never been there so it was so much fun showing him the sites (but let's be honest, as incredible as the historic sites are, the food kind of steals the thunder). We also cruised up to Tuscany to check out charming Florence for a bit.

The travel was surprisingly easy, although I was fortunate enough to catch a brutal cold just in time for the 23-hour travel day home. Let's just say that 15 hours of flight time + a 3-hour layover + 5 hours of traveling to and from airports and going through customs + being 7 months pregnant isn't as glamorous as it sounds. But we made it back safe and sound and I think little Mirando gained about 10 pounds while we were there. That boy seriously loves Italian food (notice how I'm blaming my gluttony on him--another pregnancy bonus).

Maegan and Zach were astonished at how big I got while I was there, although they did kindly try to help my ego by saying to me several times, "Your arms look really skinny because your belly is so big." Um, thanks.

Here are some highlights from the week-long trip:

Surprising my grandmother and great-aunt who were also in Rome, and enjoying their company at dinner and a visit to Trevi Fountain, where we tossed in a coin to ensure a return visit to the Eternal City one day

Grandma & me--dinner was fantastic and I ate all of it; Throwing in our coins

Having Maegan nearby to laugh at my lame jokes and having Gabri nearby to laugh at my lame attempts at speaking Italian

Maegan (through clenched teeth): "Her jokes really aren't that funny. I'm just laughing because she's my friend.
And she's huge. She could squish me."
Gabri: "You think those are bad, you should hear her Italian.
She just asked the waiter to bring us a side of automobile radiator."

Lots and lots of pizza

Even more gelato

Refreshing our history lessons by visiting classic sites like the Colosseum, the Forum and Palentine Hill

When we got here it was the center of civilization, but then I ate it.

Z at the creepy Colosseum

Zach getting busted photobombing some beautiful blonde girls' picture in a bustling piazza

Getting free gelato -- the workers said it's "for the baby"

Getting free desserts -- the waitress said it's "for the baby"

You KNOW that I ate my free desserts. I mean, the baby did.
(For the record, there are four kinds of dessert on this plate.
The waitress said I needed them when I told her I'm having a boy. Who am I to argue?)

Always getting a seat on the bus "for the baby"

Beautiful treats on every corner--a whole new meaning to "eye candy"

Playing rummy on the train back from Florence in front of an audience of elderly (English speaking) Italian ladies who thought Zach's trash talking to Maegan and me was hilarious

Did I mention gelato?

Getting to read UK versions of InStyle (And I found a typo! A secret, and admittedly nerdy, thrill of mine) and Elle Decoration

Italian grocery stores (where we scored heavenly chocolate bars for just 40 cents and a $60 Barolo wine for just 12 Euro! Don't worry, we're saving it for after the baby makes his grand arrival.)

Visiting enough churches that I think we're covered for at least 12 years of Sundays

Walking everywhere

Visiting Bernini's sculptures at Galleria Borghese--I could admire those all day long

Visiting my favorite Roman Holiday sites, the Mouth of Truth and the Spanish Steps, and pretending to be a much more uh, round, version of my idol Audrey

We're checking the Mouth of Truth to see if it is hiding any food in there that I can eat

Gregory Peck was here, but I ate him

Being tourists

On the bridge in front of Castel Sant' Angelo

Swapping out my open-toe heels for--brace yourself--Converse All Stars (These shoes are a genius invention! They have no heel but they do have some things called SHOELACES. Who would have thought?)

Doing some laundry and hanging it outside to dry just like a real Italian!

Those are our pants!

Finding out that Delta offers ice cream as a snack on the return flight home

Spending time with Zach

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Snapshots

I know how you just love looking at other people's vacation photos, here are a few from our trip last week. I'll be posting a recap in the next couple days...

Overheard: Match Making

Upon boarding a train from Rome to Florence, we spied a wonderful, wonderful woman. She was, ahem, a very large lady and was wearing some not-large-enough stretch pants, a blouse decorated with loudly colored cartoon characters, bright red Sally Jesse Raphael-esque eyeglasses and pink and blond-ish hair that was half pulled up into a wild ponytail. She also sported an ample of amount of makeup and was escorted by her multiple pieces of fluorescent pink luggage. Upon my deathbed, I know that it will be one of my life's greatest disappointments that I was not able to get a photo of her.

Despite the fact that the train was completely full, the ride was eerily silent. So much so, that Zach and I, seated across from each other, whispered to talk to one another so as not to disturb our fellow passengers (and you know how hard it is for him to whisper).

The only thing to break up the silence on the crowded train was our heroine and her cell phone. Fortunately for everyone on board, she did not speak softly.

Below is a rough transcript of her conversation (thanks to Maegan and her interpreting skills):

Hello?

Hello?!

Who is this?

Oh, yes, I saw your profile.

I'm on a train.

I'M ON A TRAIN. I'm going to visit my daughter.

So, what do you do for work?

You work in an office?

Oh, you sound like someone I would like to get to know.

Well, maybe I could meet you, but I need a close-up picture so I can see if you are beautiful.

I know, but the picture on your profile was from far away. I need a close-up one so I can see if you are beautiful.

You should give me your phone number so I can call you.

*Pause*

Hello? What is your phone number?

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?????


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Monday Lovely: Market Flowers

A visit to Rome's daily market that sells produce, meats, cheese, liquors, flowers and clothing at Campo de' Fiori is always a treat.

I spied these flowers there and thought they are a nice way to start the week. I wish they were sitting on my desk right now. Or, better yet, I wish I was sitting next to them on a fountain while eating some more delicious gelato...


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Arrivederci!

Z & I are off on a last-minute trip to Italy. We'll report on our adventures when we return, using lots of accents and hand gestures.


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The weather wasn't the only thing that was insanely hot

For Zach's 30th birthday earlier this year, I surprised him with a gift I'm sure every steak-eating, beer-drinking, sports-loving, Costco-clothes-wearing heterosexual male would love: George Michael concert tickets.


This weekend we trekked to Phoenix (it was only 101 degrees at midnight) for the blessed event to see one of Zach's all-time favorites perform live. George put on a fantastic show and looked better than ever at 45 (my childhood crush is apparently still alive and kickin'--especially when GM appeared in his cop outfit for his rousing rendition of "Let's Go Outside").

"I'm never gonna dance again..."

We danced to every song and sang along with our fellow concert-goers (99% of whom were either 40-something females or gay couples--we fit right in) and Z was able to walk away with a t-shirt featuring the aviator glasses-clad singer himself that I'm certain he'll be wearing to every major social event this summer.

Enjoy George's performance of Careless Whisper, we did and have been singing it since we got home.

Right Now, Practicing my Best John McEnroe Tantrum

Last Saturday, I loaded up the Ford Explorer and hopped on I-15 to head down to St. George to see my good friend and former neighbor Abby. She moved far, far away last summer and was visiting Utah for a huge tennis tournament. I tagged along with her and her fun-loving tennis buddies all weekend, enjoyed the sun and picked up a thing or two about the game. Including:

1. A bagel is more than a breakfast food;
2. There is a difference between games, sets and matches (although I still don't know what that is); and
3. I am still ridiculously uncoordinated.

I also learned one more thing: if ever there was a sport for me, this is it! THEY GET TO WEAR SKIRTS. Now if they just add some high-heeled shoes to the mix, I may start playing tomorrow.

Abby and I both came back to the SLC on Sunday and headed straight for one of our mutually favorite places, Noodles, where we had delicious and reasonably priced pasta to our hearts' content.

Afterwards we met up with the world's greatest neighbors who live in SoTro, the world's greatest neighborhood. Scott & Ryan volunteered to host Neighborhood Game Night and the game of the evening was "The Great Dalmuti" where the first two players to get rid of all their cards are king and queen of the next round and the last two are serf and peasant. Because they are excellent at accessorizing they ensured we each had appropriate headwear.

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend, full of friends, fun and family--I was even able to spend some time with my cute sister in Cedar City.

Abby went home Monday and we miss her already. I also realized I only have about 364 days to figure out what a backhand is. Abby, go ahead and sign me up for next year's tournament... If you dare.

Flashback Friday: Ladies of High Society

Like my post from two weeks ago, my Flashback Friday post is also from this summer. Again, I haven't scanned any new photos so you're at the mercy of whatever is stored on my computer at the moment. However, this post is very timely. See, at the end of the day on Tuesday, my boss Matt was breaking out the tequila and beer for us (Hey, it had been a hard day. OK, no it hadn't.) and I made a comment that I actually prefer Boone's Farm. That was a joke, except I was a little bit serious. It's a secret I try to keep hidden, but I really do enjoy the flavor of this $1.99 grocery store treasure, and hopefully I will still be able to buy it there as long as our sometimes-lame legislature doesn't ruin this for me.

For those of you who don't know, Boone's Farm is a sad excuse for an alcoholic beverage and I'm pretty sure doesn't really contain any alcohol at all. To those with a discriminating pallet, it probably tastes much like a fruit punch would if you let it sit in the fridge for too long. However, for some reason, I have an affinity for it and have been known to buy it on occasion when in a jam and needing to round out the beverage assortment after the liquor/wine store has closed.

As you may or may not know, Z & I trekked down to Southern Utah to play tourist with the Millers at Zion National Park this summer. We had so much fun and seriously, that place is amazing. For four years I lived within miles of it and never went there. Not once. I'm glad the Millers finally convinced us to check it out.

At the end of one of the days, we were all unwinding and were going to play a game of cards since the Miller princesses were fast asleep. The boys headed out to get snacks and returned with a couple of bottles of Boone's Farm for Abby & me. Nothing but the best for us!

As always, the Boone's Farm did not disappoint and a great time was had by all. (Disclaimer: Actually, I don't remember that we really even drank this. Sadly, I think it may have just been used for photo prop purposes. Maybe all this Boone's Farm has rotted my brain.)

Abby & Me with 0ur loot: a 2007 Fuzzy Navel. Ah, a very good year.

The review for this at the BOONES FARM FAN CLUB (yes, there are people out there more looney than I) reads: "Deeply colored and powerful, with a rich, fruity peach aroma and layers of peach, fuzziness, and navel. Immense structure."

Yummmm, fuzziness in a bottle. With a convenient, screw-on cap.

Flashback Friday: Bracciano, Baby!

This week's Flashback isn't from a very far-away time. It was just this summer, May actually, when I swung by Rome to visit everyone's favorite Italian, Maegan. One day, while Morgann and I were visiting, we boarded a train to Bracciano, the town that, despite its romantic and dramatic centuries-old history and stunning setting alongside a beautiful lake, is better known as the place where little Katie bought a one-way ticket to Crazytown.

Bracciano is the kind of place a little Italian village should be. Quaint cobble stone roads, balconies with flowers spilling over the side, dozens of small restaurants with tables perched on the sidewalk, tucked-away parks and a castle (of course!).

It was an incredible day, we had so much fun going on the castle tour, which was in Italian so I didn't understand anything, but I'm sure was enlightening.


We also stopped at a park and watched Italian teenagers flirt with each other while the younger children played in front of their parents.


We made sure not to not miss our daily gelato supplement.


We visited the town square area where we admired these adorable ladies. I would just love to have known what they were talking or gossiping about. It seems serious.


Then we stopped for wine. Then we missed our train back to Rome. So we went back for more wine while we waited for the next one. And we missed our train again. (This may or may not have had something to do with all the wine, but I prefer to blame it on the notoriously unreliable Italian scheduling system. I'm sure that's it.)

I spy three M's in the window reflection.

Summer: Stay Cool, Call Me & Don't Ever Change

It hit me today when I was making lunch plans with Aubrey, and we were planning a date to meet in NOVEMBER, that summer is officially, unquestionably OVER. I won't miss the unbearable heat but I will miss the warm nights, barbecues on our new patio, having an evening glass of wine outdoors with Zach and the flowers' brightly colored blooms.

Stand-out moments of this summer for us are our fun trip to Zion National Park with the Millers (before they moved to South Carolina and ruined our lives), hiking with my mom and dad at Calf Creek Falls, celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary (?!?), celebrating Sydney's first birthday with us and our always-fun neighborhood game nights and barbecues.

A few of Zach's favorite times included finally getting to play baseball again (his first opportunity since college 7 years ago), finishing the long-awaited (and badly needed) concrete at our house and getting to take a couple nights a week away from the restaurant.

My highlights included going to Europe to be with one of my favorite clients in Switzerland and then getting myself--in one piece--to visit one of my best friends in the entire world, Maegan, in Rome (three trains, four bags of luggage and numerous bumps and bruises later), cheering for Zach at his baseball games alongside my fabulous in-laws, getting to see and celebrate adorable mom-to-be Kristyn and reunite with my CHS pals at our 10th high school reunion.

I love fall but am going to miss summer--especially once winter has settled itself in. Goodbye summer, catch you in May '08.

Blast to the Past

In Emery County, Utah, we came across a time warp... Someone turned this little piece of land into a charming 50's style gas station replica, complete with classic car waiting by the pump. I thought it was so cute, I couldn't resist snapping a few pics.

(Manual) Labor Day '07

As you probably know, too often I spend my free time at home and doing something that doesn't require too much uh, moving around. I'm not what they call, "coordinated."

This Labor Day weekend, however, Zach and I decided to trek down to my one of my favorite places on earth--Price! to hang out with my family and go for a fun hike in the wilderness.



We got to Price Saturday night (Zach actually had a couple of days off) and then woke up early and headed down to southern Utah Sunday morning to hike Calf Creek Falls, which is down by the adorable towns of Torrey and Escalante.

My dad demonstrating a primitive version of "wack-a-mole"

Art created 1,000 years ago by the Fremont

It was a beautiful day, nice and toasty

If you have had the pleasure of seeing me hike before, I assure you I did not disappoint. My dad and Zach left my mom and me in the dust (literally). My mom, being the good mom that she is, was patient and waited for me as I glided across the sandstone like a graceful gazelle. Or, more like the nerdy, awkward cousin of the graceful gazelle.

We had so much fun and after the 2.5 mile hike in to the canyon we came upon the the waterfall, which was so beautiful and cold! It was heaven after hiking in the 90+ degree heat all the way in. We had some lunch at the waterfall and then turned back for the hike out.



On the drive there, my mom and I had been excited to stop and eat at the famous Hell's Backbone Grill, but we were all too tired and gross after the hike to want to stop anywhere that served gourmet food instead of just greasy fries and milkshakes (which was totally fine with me, since that's my idea of the perfect meal anyway).

Zach and my dad on the trail

I expected Julie Andrews to appear at any moment

It was a fantastic weekend, thanks Mom and Dad for being great tour guides! We'll be back for our next hike as soon as the soreness in my legs goes away. Maybe next Labor Day?