On-a BOOOAT!

I could actually make this post a whole lot longer than it already is...we had such a good time, and gazillions of pictures to prove it. The following are only a third of them.

I WILL try to bore you with all the details...

First flight to Memphis, then onto Miami!

Hiding our talents? I think not. Bree and I showcased our artistic abilities for all the plane to see.

As well as passing air vessels...

First night was spent in a Miami hotel that some jerk of a taxi driver took us too. Believe me when I say I called his manager to let him know that I didn't really appreciate the cab driver calling us "stupid" and "bit*hes".

After a trip to Walgreens for ice cream sandwiches, strawberry milk and cold sore gel (for poor lil' me) we settled into our beds while visions of beaches danced in our heads...

Ready for our first day on the ship!

Lounging about before hitting up the pool deck

"Never thought I'd be on-a BOAT!"

Five minutes out in the very much anticipated sun, when this "little" storm rolled in.

Back to the lounge we headed, where the crew did their darnedest to entertain us. Exhibit A: below.

And entertained, we were!

I dare say it looks like I am having the most fun of my entire life right here.

My cruising partners: Tianne, Bree and Amy

Things to do: get a fake tattoo. CHECK.
I prefer Bree's.

After our tattooing. T got a tramp stamp. Who just does that?

I could really get used to this sight!

Enjoying the sunset.Heading out to Cococay on a tender boat, just a little wary of the impending storm...

Cool as a cucumber.

I call her Aurora.

Rarely did you see us without our Coke cups (except for most pictures).

With the weather so cooperative, of course we had to lay out again after returning to the ship from Cococay.

Formal night! Tianne and Amy with the captain. Does anyone else find him extremely small for such a large ship?

I loved my dress for formal night (thank you Mama dear), but sadly it was still a little short after Sue Bear had lengthened it, so a swimsuit went on underneath.

The classic Rose and Jack pose. Can't cruise without one!

Or without THIS pose!

We love the sea!

Day 3: Nassau, Bahamas
forgive the fogginess, humidity affects cameras too!

It affects this girl too. I'm a vision.
let's hope this picture can't be enlarged

Our Bahama-Boat-Bracelets!

Rum Cake...MMM...
Rookie: can you learn how to make these?

After a truly sad attempt at laying out near Atlantis (thank you rain) Bree and I decided to make an adventure out of the day anyway and walked back from the beach. Above is how far away our boat was after we had already walked about a mile. I even zoomed in a little!

The streets along our walk.

And later, the pool party on the pool deck!
All these fools were dancing on the deck, not IN the pool! So, we switched things up real fast!

Sadly, we were thrown in by mean, MEAN people!
Let me also add that my flat iron did not work in the stateroom outlets. HORROR!

This was by far the best night of the trip!

And we made the most out of it!

TT and I waiting to get kicked off the boat the morning of our departure.

With six hours to spare until our flight left, what else was there to do but head to Miami Beach! Luggage and all!

TGIF after hours and hours of a real beach day, ocean water and even dolphins!

I tried taking this golf cart in the airport back to Tadd, but the metal detectors wouldn't allow it.

I truly lasted until the last day without getting burned. Stupid Miami Beach in all it's loveliness.

So sad to be off the BOAT!

Letters to Marla

Dear Tadd,

Thank you for staying home and letting me escape with some girl friends, but let's go on a trip together soon. Ok? I love you.


Dear Bones,

Why don't you and Booth just hook up ALREADY? I realize I haven't seen your most recent season, but I'm sure hoping once I get there that I'm truly satisfied! It's just getting ridiculous!


Dear Life,

I so enjoy you sooo much more now that I don't work at The Skinny any longer. Speaking of which...Dear Nu Skin,

Please release my friends (Celina, Kristen and Bree) from your death grip soon...

Moving on...

Dear Life (continued),

Thank you for allowing me time off before we move to Viva Las Vegas. I appreciate your generosity and laid-back attitude.


Dear commute to and from home,

I'm starting to enjoy you. Especially since you give me time to do my make up every day. Shhh...don't tell the police. I specifically enjoy my daily DC and PB m&m's. Oh, and Heart screaming in my ears.


Dear blog readers,

Wish me luck as I attempt to refinish my first piece of furniture. Dun dun dun...


Dear Celina,

I'm a dirty, rotten thief of ideas. Forgive me, for I am boring and idea-less.

Rest O' Memorial

Grandma Sally and Grandpa Erv were paid a little visit by Tadd and me last night. I really enjoyed visiting their headstones, it was so peaceful!

Tadd never had the chance to meet my mom's parents, so it was fun sharing a few things I remembered about them with him.

Specifically how my grandma prounounced "onion" in her sweet Irish lilt, and my grandpa's ever-present lemon drops.

Sally Katherine Samson and Ervin Dryden Samson (WWII Veteran)

Also, Tadd told me he DOES want to be buried next to me! He loves me!

I suggested that if we both died at the same time we could be buried in the same casket. Genius idea, right!? Save some cashey for the afterlife.

Bucket List

My Utah Bucket List - Celina's idea

Bonfire in the canyon
Feast on cupcakes from around Utah County
Sundance moonlight ride
Hot pots
Sale Lake consignment stores
Diamond Grill * 3 times since May 4th
Hale Center play
Color Me Mine
Parade of Homes
Ice Blocking
Trash the Dress Session with Pete Stott Photography
Float the Provo River
Star Mill
Lavendar Days

I'm sure I'll be adding more with all of your ideas! Hint, Hint!

Lovely Memorial Holiday

Happy Memorial Day to you and yours!

Here's a bit of what we've done on this sunny holiday:

Ate lots of this, well at least I did.

Watched these master grillers grill a lot of these...

Madi was quite shocked at the number of kabobs

me, Kecia, Lacey, Bree
Posed for pictures

Took holiday naps

Gathered all the towels from swimming

Lounged on the floaties in style

Watched Tadd impress us with his boat skills

... a few more fun boat pictures ...

The boys were so intrigued with the boat, and Chris mastered how to splash them on the step

Crew looks so concerned!

Definitely a spectacle to see!

"Got Dance?"

was the theme of Jive's 2009 dance concert. My last dance concert with Jive. I feel like it was a great end to my Utah dancing career. Now onto my Vegas dancing career...

L-R clockwise: Myself, Tianne and Amy (more to come of them later after our cruise!), my class in our finale costume, Tianne and me (DFF!), my class in our class costumes for 4 Minutes

My super supportive family! (Tadd and Mom behind the cameras)

L-R clockwise: Liz, Celina, myself and Bree, myself and Mazie, me with the two little dancers, myself and Ellie

I got to dance in the same concert as my beautiful nieces, who both did a fantastic job!

I have loved dancing at Jive and will definitely miss it!
Thanks to everyone who came to support me!

Took a Count

Just finished watching Taken.

Liam Neeson is a bad as*

Here's the verdict:

44 killed
5 wounded

fairly sure that's correct

Arevaderche!

May 13th marked the last day I would ever walk into Nu Skin and punch that clock (hypothetically). As much as I enjoyed my time at Nu Skin and felt very blessed to have such a great job, I must say...I don't miss it! Sure, I miss the people, but nothing is stopping me from still seeing them!

So, without further adieu, I list for you SOME of my fondest memories (some plagerized from Jick Nohnson).

WNTU (words-not-to-use) list

Nick farting in Kristen's chair

"We have no news"

Patio Time

Employee Store jack pots

"Topless" at the Marriott

Work errands

Shopping for Vans that would never come, or in my case trying to force Nordstrom Online to take cash as I was not allowed any credit/debit cards.

Jeff's treat drawer

Too many trips to my Credit Union.

Bucket Lists

Meeting my Dad in the "caf" for drinks

Making enchiladas, tacos and tamales with Paula in her cube; carrying them out to her Nissan and selling them at lunch-time near the Center Street Freeway Entrance.

8:00 am department meetings, which consisted of Nick telling everyone that he was hotter than Tadd.

Squatters Night #1: Kevin's greatest night ever

Squatters Night #2: "I can't say no to anything!"

Waiting for HR to get Kristen and me both in trouble for our“short pants”

The daily wardrobe contests.

Cab ride in Orlando…if only I could have a recording of that entire ride.

Crest

Breakfast trends: Tewst and Diet Coke, then Bwraps and Diet Coke, and then Diet Coke with a side of Diet Coke.

Celina's car being mauled by the boss.

CPK coupons

Conventions…sweaty dances and sore feet…that about sums it up.

Pretzel Day and Cinco de Mayo day

The daily "F" word near the end of work. Doesn't matter whose mouth it came from.

“Compote”.

Depressed Nick "getting pretty again" after losing the Halloween costume contest.

Learning how to get “funky” on the dance floor courtesy of Brad S.

LOTS of "work" blogging

Dressing down as much as we possibly could without getting caught.

Café Rio (CC—pork salad with just pork, no rice, beans or salad. KC—Styrofoam tub of black beans.

“Let’s rock this”.

Heating pads.

The Golden Boot

Switching pants

DEER CREEK

Nick taking a big bite out of Kristen’s burrito at the wrong end—thereby making it impossible for her to eat it without causing the “guts” to fall out of the tortilla like a common Mexican turd (P.S. I checked with Paula and it is ok to qualify it as a “Mexican” turd given the context).

And finally, the occasional phone call and/or email.

The Brat Pack, as we were so "affectionately" called

Myself, Nashley, Chala

Cel-Cel and Bree

Justin and Liz, whom I'm glad I've re-friends with.

Ah, Bandit with his leafy Yamaka

We're engaged!

Bree with her boss

The Asians! Chieh, Jerraine and Susan.

Brad and Dusty

The fancy hand!

The lunch gang!

There are many other people I will miss from Nu Skin that couldn't attend. Good times, I tell ya!

Send me your favorite memory and I'll sing your praises.

Joey and Janice's Day of Fun!

Ah...the life of the unemployed.

Errands
Diet Cokes
Costa Vida
The park
Milk shakes
Nephews

Ok, so I'm a little obsessed with Van...can you blame me?

New Commute

What to do when the commute from Provo to Woodland Hills takes 45 minutes due to construction?

Simple. Try to apply a purple smokey eye and then take annoying pictures.

The BIG News...

cake compliments of Rookie-Cookie

That's right! Husby-Tadd and I will be relocating to Las Vegas in August for the next three years!

Tadd will be attending UNLV in their Professional Golf Management Program, and I will be working for Ecomates.

To answer your looming questions...
A. Yes, I will be ending my career at Nu Skin (last day happens to be tomorrow).
A. Yes, I will be returning to Provo every 6-8 weeks for my beloved clients, family and friends!

Wish us well! And definitely congratulate my husband husband for this great opportunity!

Giant Dose of Girliness

Ali was in town from Texas, meaning a good old-fashioned girly night was in order. What was on the agenda, you ask?

-Dinner @ Spark (note to self, never eat there for dinner)
-Treats
-Home Pedicures
-Lots of Pictures
-Oodles of Chatting
-Wheel of Fortune on Play Station

Aw, to be young again...

I have a geisha foot!

All our toes compliments of Mary Kate.

I love these girls! I'm so fortunate to have such great best friends!

National Limmerick and Nutty Fudge Day

That's right, today was a celebration of catchy poems and crunchity fudge. Below are the limmericks I composed:

For years I’d been against peanut butter
I’d believed it belonged in the gutter
Then one day PB Twix
Put me into a fix
Now peanut-y chocolate has my heart all a-flutter
.
.

.
There once was a golfer named Tadd
He had never been to Baghdad
Then one hearty swing
Hit that pin with a ding
Now he’s famous in shorts pink and plaid.

P.S: Exciting news to come...

Week of Holidays

Did you know there is a national holiday every day of the year!?
Celina discovered this and decided to make a week of it!

Day #1:
Mother's Day, of course! I was too busy celebrating to take pictures, but just so you know, I have two incredible mothers! Both so kind, loving and supportive! I feel so blessed to have been born to such a fantastic mother, and to know that my husband has a fantastic mother as well!

Day #2:
National Eat Whatever You Want Day. So, my friends, go ahead. Eat WHATEVER you want. As for me? I celebrated this day at Kneaders this morning eating All You Can Eat French Toast & Pancakes! Eat on!

Blessed Cinco de Mayo

I dubbed this day a fancy day...hence the sparkly earrings, string of pearls, and cupcake.

So Get This...

I know a girl who knows a girl who is a bride.
This bride kicked her own sister out of the wedding party because she didn't make weight and called up an old roommate to fill her spot since she thought she could fit into the dress.
True story.
What a beast.

Also, I Tide to Go-ed my jeans and now I have blue spotted garmies. {Fancy}