Monday, October 29, 2012

1 yr of work-through the eye of an Iphone

I just got back from my last work trip of the year a couple of days ago! As much as I love to travel, I feel very ready to have a couple months break. Its been so hard being away from Russ so long. I am usually gone through the last part of the weekend through the middle of the week and he leaves right when I get home for hunting. I can count on my hands the times Ive seen him since September. But as I looked through my Iphone photos today I thought about all the fun trips I did this year for work, and all the amazing places I got to see that I wouldnt have otherwise. After 10 months of travel I went on a total of 14 trips, visited 10 different states, went to California 4 times, and gained 16 lbs from eating out breakfast lunch and dinner. A summary of my work year through pictures on my phone :)

January-
San Diego, California.
I loved this trip because I was able to meet up with my friend Emilie and take a water taxi to Coronado Island for garlic knots and pizza on the pier. (No pictures..sad)

March-
North Carolina-
I didnt get a picture here either! But my highlight was definitely when I played Petey Pablos "North Carolina" song and my co-workers werent pleased at all. "take your shirt off, twist it around your head just like a helicopter". I also enjoyed really yummy BBQ and the nicest people with the cutest accents.

April-
San Diego-
This trip was awesome because Russ came along. His friends drove down and hung out with us for a couple of days. Russ surfed every single day and we hung out and went to Sea Port Village and the beach!
May-
Michigan-
I ate the most delicious pizza ever and walked around Michigan State campus.

June-
Long Beach, California
I was training for Ragnar on this trip and remember after long days on my feet going straight to the gym to run afterwards. I ate yummy sushi on the pier and frozen yogurt.

July-
Hilton Head- South Carolina
Another fun trip because Russ came along! Probably my favorite trip of the year. I loved seeing the dolphins, swimming in the warm water, and I loved all the new people I met at the event! They were so nice! Plus, I was introduced to Grits and hush puppies.

Texas-
I loved going to Dallas because I was able to meet up with my other friend Jamie! She has the cutest little guy. It was fun to escape a couple times to have dinner with her and her nice husband. We also took a drive around downtown and got cupcakes.
I remember going to meet Jamie for dinner one night and it was 7:00 pm and still 100+ degrees. Texas in July= HOT.
I had 2 events in Texas over 2 weeks. So I spent two weeks in one of the hottest times of the year. The other event was 3 hrs outside of Dallas in a smaller town. It was cute, and I loved trying their local favorite- Kolache. It was a yummy little breakfast treat. (One of my favorite parts of my job is working with caterers from all over the country. I get to try to the food of each state and what they are famous for!) When I checked into my hotel room I had a lovely butterfly on my window.

Tennessee-
I was super bummed I didnt have enough time to check out Nashville. I was only 40 mins away but couldnt get the time to drive and explore. In Tennessee I ate my favorite sandwich joint Which Wich and enjoyed this sunset along with my buffalo chicken sandwich.
The one thing I remember about my time in Tennessee is the fiasco with Chick Fila. It was right around the time they had their stance with Gay rights or what not, and the there was a line forever long for people trying to show their support and eat at Chick Fila (which happened to be right next to my hotel). As I was making my way through the crowds an officer stopped me to tell me they had run out of food but here was a free coupon for a sandwich tomorrow. Awesome, I wasnt going to chick fila but Ill take it!

August-
Minnesota- MALL OF AMERICA.
I recently posted about that so I think thats enough said. Rode roller coasters, spent time with my cousin, and shopped shopped shopped.

September-
Ohio
I LOVED Ohio. Everything was so green, I loved all the farm land and most of all, I loved eating at a Mexican restaurant with Amish people! 4 lovely ladies walked in with their whole Amish attire and I thought it was great. I would love to tour their farms one day. I did get some delicious Amish peanut butter though.
Back to San Diego-
This may have been my second favorite trip. I loved the people I worked with, and had tons of fun exploring San Diego with them. We saw Lance Armstrong, dipped our feet in the ocean, hung out at Gas Lamp district, and walked down to Seal beach in Lo Jolla. Can you believe this palm tree picture?!

October-
Orange Beach- Alabama
This was nothing how I pictured Alabama. Nothing at all. I guess you could say I was pleasantly surprised! Highlight was definitely sitting out the balcony and watching dolphins every morning. Also, I realized the importance of applying sunscreen accurately. And yes, I still have those exact tan lines on my body today. Awesome.

Virginia-
I just got back from my last trip in Virginia and it was AWESOME. My highlight of this trip is when I walked up to the rental car company and found out I had forgotten to book a car with my flight. After they searched their lot high and low they told me they had great news! They found me a car. What they didnt tell me, was it literally struggled going above 35 mph and my carry on wouldnt even fit in the "trunk". It was awesome though. I drove around for 4 days and only spent $3 in gas.
When I got home from the airport from Alabama I had a surprise waiting me. It pretty much made my day. I usually drive myself to the airport so the fact that he was there, with flowers and a new rack for my car...it was pretty awesome!
But his thoughtfulness didnt stop there. He had to leave that night too and we were about to go another week without seeing each other. I was bummed. But when I got home and started unpacking...I noticed he had left me notes ALL over the house. There was one in the microwave, fridge, freezer, on my pillow, in the medicine cabinet, taped to Eckos collar, in the outside garbage can, in the dryer, on my computer... It was pretty awesome. I was finding them for days after he left them.
I especially liked the one in the outside garbage can and in Eckos dog food. I am a lucky girl. Its been a really fun year, but Im excited to be home for the holidays and hang out with my thoughtful man.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Run the Rave

We ran a really fun 5K a couple of weeks ago. It was out at the Great Saltaire and was all in the dark. Our team before the race
Kim and I getting our glow in the dark on
Lights out
This is what Russ and I look like dancing in the dark with glow sticks on.
There was a painting station with glow in the dark paint you could paint each other. Some of us did mustaches
Kim and I were painting each others eyebrows and lines under our eyes when we looked over at Russ and about died. He must have seen the looks on our faces because all he said was, "is this too much?"
They had little paper bags with candles that lit the way around the lake on the sand. It was fun, smelly and muddy and we made it! After the race:
 
Has anyone see the YouTube video "I like Turtles?"

Do you think they have something in common?

Monday, October 15, 2012

Fall=Fair

Theres the cooler temperatures, the falling leaves, the yummy candles, but nothing and I mean nothing, screams fall to me like the good ol state fair. What a better way to end summer and kick off a new season than some fried food, big yellow slide, and people watching? Growing up every year we would go to the fair with my grandpa. Even though he has passed, we still try to go every year as a family. Since I was staying down town for work, it was just a hop skip and a jump to the fair grounds. Russ was working in Logan so I headed there to meet up with my cousins and join him later.
I love this tradition with my cousins. Russ drove in shortly after and we stuffed our faces with high calorie fair food and headed straight to the big yellow slide!
I hope with all my heart I will never get too old to do the big yellow slide. We walked through the photography section, the booths, the animals and of course, for Russ the building with all the gross animals mounted on the wall. This was a lovely new addition however.
After a day full of being on my feet at work and walking around the fair, I was ready for a funnel cake and bed. Until next year...

Monday, October 8, 2012

Lonestar- Deer Valley

We had a huge event here in Salt Lake City for all of our customers. We had over 600+ people fly in from all over the US to come to the conference. I stayed down town and had so much fun. Since I live 10 minutes from down town SLC I never have actually stayed downtown. It was great. City Creek really did Salk Lake good. I was right next to City Creek and it gives down town such a fun feel. I love my job!! When I checked into my hotel there was this little present waiting for me. My favorite treats and my favorite drink..Diet Rootbeer.
I especially liked the "MR" Chelsea.
They were LONG ol' hours (Monday I worked from 6:00am- 10:00pm) but I loved spending time with everyone. On the first full day the users were in town we took them up to a private concert in Deer Valley. The things that Lonestar requested for backstage and on stage and everything was crazy. Certain kinds of drinks, and certain kinds of towels and where the towels would be placed etc. It made me think if I was a celebrity what I would want for my room? I decided a whole room full of playful puppies. Not the sleepy lazy ones, but make them playful!! What would you want in your room backstage? We were each assigned to a bus to give all the guests food vouchers, give them details about Utah and Lonestar over the microphone and make it a fun time for them. I thought it was great! Arriving at Deer Valley with my other coworkers:
Unfortunately, when we got up there, it was starting to rain. We were able to hand out 600+ people ponchos so they could enjoy the outdoor concert.
Russ was able to come up and spend some time with me at the concert. It was so fun to have him there. We were able to meet the band before they went on stage.
Right as the concert was starting there was a beautiful sunset.
Anyone that plans an outdoor event knows the risk of mother nature. Unfortunately, when you have a whole group of people already bussed up to the event there isnt a lot you can do with rain.
The lead singer was honestly such a class act. He could see everyone huddled together under the rain and invited everyone on stage to come up and out of the rain! Everyone had a fantastic time and he basically just sang while taking pictures with everyone for 2 hours!
I have a whole new respect for them! After the concert they were out signing autographs and almost of the buses had already left to go back to the hotel downtown and I was on the last bus waiting for our customers to finish up with the band and bring the last of the group home. As I was rounding everyone up the lead singer came around the corner and I was able to thank him and talk to him for a bit. Literally the coolest guys! He said they had never done that in a concert before and it was fun for them too! They were great sports, the music was awesome and it was all around a fun night!