We had an amazing trip. Incredible! I don't think I've stopped thinking about it since, and considering it was finals last week- that is saying a lot.

We started in Venice, drove to Florence, and ended it off right in Rome. Oh and a lot of darling towns along the way. I've never been to Europe before, and Italy was so unlike anywhere I've ever seen. I absolutely fell in love!

The beautiful rolling hills with perfectly straight lines of harvesting grapes, orchards of olive trees, and fields of yellow flowers. Then the cathedrals, domes, and museums that left us all awestruck. Killed me!

And what blog post of mine wouldn't include something about food? What can I say, we are food people. You'd think after having pasta twice a day, gelato (sometimes 3x..why not?), and endless pizza- I would be excited to get back to "normal" food. Not so much. In fact, I'm craving thin crusted pizza with prosuitto, lasagna, nutella gelato, and all the different types of pasta (that I embarrassed myself trying to pronounce) like it's nobody's business.

..And then when I came home and described this to the sweet girl I work with, she recommended Applebee's bacon alfredo pasta ("Seriously, SO GOOD!!")- I wanted to cry. Unfortunately, this trip may have turned me into an Italian food snob. Thanks, Italy.

Enough of the complaining, let's bring on the pictures! Here are some pictures from Venice. I really tried to narrow it down, but I suppose I'm a bit of a photography junkie.

 Some of my sistas

 The bag boys. What would we do without them? 

 

Erica's baby Adam. I missss him!

 

 Glass making factory

 Why yes, my husband is a model. You'll be seeing a few of these.

 San Marco's Square

 

The Problem With Valentine's Day

I believe that I had a epiphany today: Valentine's Day isn't perfect. In fact, it is seriously biting me in the buttox right now.

You see, the problem with Valentine's Day is ironically what makes it so great.

The candy. Creamy chocolate and sugary hearts all day long of the only guaranteed guilt-free day. It's bliss, isn't it?

...Until the day after. And the day after that. And if you're in my shoes, a week an a half later. Because it isn't really possible to eat it all in one day, especially when you take Valentine's Day as seriously as we do.

V-day needs stop around here already. Because my huffing and puffing, softening body is no longer amused.

V-Day

I love Valentines Day. Always have. Single or not, it is the perfect excuse to celebrate, eat chocolate, wear all the pink and red you want, and red lipstick isn't even a question. I'm not sure it gets better than that.

But as much as I love it, I do have mixed memories about this day. Like when I was 16, Abby and I spent hours upon hours making sugar cookies for my boyfriend because the first batch we mistook powdered sugar for flour. Don't do that. Then he took me to Subway (yes, the sandwich place) for our hot date where we shared a slimy sandwich with pickles. Or Jetblue's painful Valentine's Day massacre. Or freshman year at college we did a big group date to Olive Garden and mini golfing. My date tried to hold my hand, and that was awkward. Or last year when we babysat for my aunt's 6 kids all week, and I spent the majority of it dancing with my sassy 2 year old cousin- and loving every minute of it.

Well, this year wasn't anything spectacular. We both had classes, I had a crazy test, and then worked till 10. I don't think I saw Alex anytime between 9am-10pm.

But somehow, it was probably my favorite Valentines yet.

First off, I had an awesome outfit. Well I thought so.Yes, this is a self portrait...try not to poke fun.

 

In the morning I snuck out of bed to make chocolate chip red velvet pancakes, with a cream cheese glaze. (Recipe below.) With whipped cream, of course. Wow- don't even get me started! I full-heartedly recommend them, even if the amount of food coloring kinda weirded me out. AND I somehow managed to get it all done before I woke him up! (That never happens.)

By the time I got home to change for work, Alex had already left for another class. But waiting for me was a sweet surprise- little notes all over the place. Inside the microwave, in my closet, on the TV, and places that I'm still finding. I'm coming to find this guy to be quite the romantic, and I'm loving it!

Oh, and a trail of reese's peanut butter cups to the bed where a bag of Cadbury eggs lie. This guy knows me.

When I finished at 10, we dined over leftover lobster bisque while cuddling up to an episode of Chopped. We love our Food Network.

Can't wait for next year!

Red Velvet Pancakes with chocolate chips

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons granulated sugar

4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

2 large eggs

1-1/2 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup sour cream

2 teaspoons red food coloring

4 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup chocolate chips

-Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl

-In separate bowl, whisk together egg, buttermilk, sour cream, food coloring, vanilla. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold in chocolate chips.

Cream Cheese Glaze

• 4 ounces low-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon milk, if needed 

Simply blend together until even. And enjoy!

Mini Road trip

The past two weekends Alex and I have taken "road trips" to Price for his NORC job. Yes, it is only an 1.5 hours away, but the fact that I never take road trips (what can I say, I prefer flying) and it felt like we were headed for the middle of nowhere... it qualifies.






The scenery en route was my favorite part. Stunning. Sorry, fleabag motel and the local joint with a hair in my food didn't make the cut. Not exactly exotic, but it is still fun to get out of Provo- even if it's only a couple days. Plus, how can you not be happy when blasting Billy Joel the whole way?

Another favorite: Alex's bug-eye oakleys that have definitely seen better, more trendy days.

It seems like a road trip wouldn't be legitimate without some trail mix. Or at least that's what they say...

As much as I long to get back to the east coast, days like this make it so worth it.

Wisdom Teeth Adventure

This morning I got my wisdom teeth out. And it wasn't too bad, considering I don't remember anything- except for a few select awkward moments.

Pros: My cheeks aren't as dramatically chipmunk-ish as I pictured. They aren't by any means normal, but compared to the cartoon resemblance I was anticipating... I'm not complaining. You never know with those infamously round Neeleman cheeks! Also having a perfectly good excuse to just hang out is totally okay with me.

Con: I haven't been able to keep down a sip of water or food all day. Sustenance is reeeeeaaallllyyy looking good. Crossing my fingers for tomorrow!

Everything aside, these videos make it ALL better. I hope you find some enjoyment from one of my non-shining moments. Oh and excuse my nasty red teeth, apparently the gauze and I didn't get along.

I still can't believe I am uploading these... but somehow I can't resist. Perhaps any social inhibitions that I have will resurface in the morning, but probably not.

P.S. I'm selling my ocycodone if anyone is interested.

.....i kid, i kid:) Already disposed of them the right way- so don't you get any ideas.

It's Vegas Baby

For our 1 year anniversary, Alex and I decided to keep it classy and go to Las Vegas. Why not, right?

It was great. I decided December is the best time of year to visit Vegas.
1. Probably the classiest you will ever see it- elaborate Christmas decorations, exhibits, and lots of happy music. Nothing short of spectacular.
2. The weather is AWESOME. 65 degrees, I'll take it!

And thanks to Alex's dads amaaazing Marriott discount, it was pretty much guilt free!

We loved sleeping in and walking all over- we calculated that we walked 8-10 miles one day. Wearing high heels- I don't recommend it! We even enjoyed a real Vegas buffet. And I fell in love with the Bellagio's water show... it is enchanting.

My only complaint: they had room service for lunch and dinner, but not breakfast. Now, does that make any sense?

We spent our last night with Alex's grandma, Mam and her six cats. Yes, six. And I have pictures to prove it. Cat ladies are a real thing people!

Doesn't that freak you out just a little bit?

Mam is the best! One of the most hospitable and thoughtful people I've ever met. And she's a riot.

For lunch she took us to a French bistro in the Paris that I'm pretty sure I will dream about for the rest of my life. Mon Ami Gabi. Everything was delicious, and the view of the Bellagio's water show right across the street just put everything over the top for me.

Oh, and a banana foster for dessert doesn't hurt either.

Why yes, that is my husband.

There are pictures of us, but I've seemed to misplace the chord for my old camera. Rats.

An extra little tidbit for you: I hauled our wedding cake with us. Too bad the TSA man didn't think it was as cute as I did, but I passed:)

Alex doesn't quite understand this tradition, and was seriously skeptical of a year-old cake. He ate a few bites, and had me giggling with his exaggerated, "mmmm, freezerburn....!"


It has been an amazing year bebe!