Yellow cab, Yellow pages, Yellow Snow...

This summer I (again) tried my hand at growing fresh produce. Last year our modest little garden provided us with squash, zucchini, a chili pepper or two and about one ripe tomato. We decided that we planted the tomatoes way too late. So this year, as soon as we were able, we put three tomato plants in the ground and watered them lovingly to ensure our timely arrival of red vegetables. I mean fruit. I mean vegetables...

About six weeks or so ago our little green tomatoes started turning yellow. Not long until they are ripe! Right? Well, we kept waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and our little tomatoes were STILL not red.

By now we have about 15-20 half-way ripe tomatoes on the vine. They've been that way for at least a month.

Finally, I decided to crack one open.

Turns out we planted yellow tomatoes. Very ripe, very yellow tomatoes.

Taking Care of Business

This week I'm working in Baltimore at a huge tradeshow where the latest and greatest natural and organic health, food and beauty products are revealed.

I overheard a man talking to, presumably, his business associate while I was in line for coffee:

"Well, we can figure this out. Things will be OK. Let's just meet up, hash things out and smoke a joint."

No wonder people here always seem to be hungry.

Using less hairspray, still buying too many notebooks

Ahhhh, Fall is here. Zach and I have been enjoying this cooler weather, spending more time outside and walking up to Trolley Square for dinner while appreciating the fact that we're not drenched in sweat and exhausted after a couple-block walk. Fall for us also means that with our eastern downtown location we get to hear the roar of the crowd at the U of U as the fans cheer on the Utes. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm more than a tiny bit jealous of all the students who get to be back in session.

One of my favorite childhood memories--or make that just one of my favorite memories, period--is of buying new school supplies. Pencils, pens, notebooks (oh, the notebooks!), book bags and book marks. All the exciting stuff. I also loved the thought of getting to spend 8 hours a day surrounded by my best friends. Last month I was lucky enough to attend my 10-year class reunion where I was again excited to hang out with some of my best girlfriends.

Some of my CHS friends: Marisa, Kristyn, Darci, Charity, me and Heather

A few CHS girls just after graduation: Summer 1997

Now I know what those older people meant when they said time flies.

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?

We are easily entertained

Zach was home on Wednesday night so we spent the evening playing in the backyard with the dogs.


Sydney LOVES playing in the water. She likes to practice her sweet acrobatic skills and is hoping to audition for Cirque du Soleil.



Parker hates the water and tries to hide.


He does love the water inside the house, though. He refuses to drink from a bowl like a common animal and pouts outside the bathroom door until we turn on the faucet for a drink.




What a city dog.

Oprah: Eat (pray, love) your heart out

About two months ago my good friend Teri invited me to join her fabulous book club, made up by many of my fellow SoTro neighborhood people.

Some of our book club members

Tonight I hosted our meeting and we discussed the book "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. If ever there was a book with an adorable cover, this is it. I did not, however, love the book itself. Most of our book club did, though, so don't let me discourage you from checking it out.



A quick overview: It's the true story of the author's journey as she divorces her husband, leaves her NYC home and finds out more about herself by living in Italy (eat), India (pray) and Indonesia (love) over one year. She discusses what she learns from each place and its culture.

We had pizza from the best pizza place in SLC (in my completely objective opinion), Z Pizzeria, and everyone contributed additional delicious items, including the lovely Indian treats Sonia shared with us.

Susan was so thoughtful and even brought me a hostess gift. Who knew that you could get a gift just by having some great girls over for treats, wine and a fun discussion? Book club, where have you been all my life?

My hostess gift. Thanks, Susan!

It was a great night. Four bottles of wine + lively discussion, pizza, treats, gelato & full moon = One perfect evening.