JKA

Let it begin

2012-01-01T08:29:00.000-08:00

Flea Market!

2011-12-27T16:09:00.000-08:00

Hoping to hit up all of these Flea Markets someday!

Alameda {vintage quilts & furniture} is great, so is Canton (great vintage framed flags, fried PB&J!}, and I had some good finds at the Rose Bowl {restored trunk & bench}...

A serious shopper's market with over 800 outdoor dealers.
Location: Alameda, California (near Oakland)
Outdoor Market Dates: Year-round, 1st Sunday each month.
Brimfield Antique Show :
Held three times each year, and it's HUGE with over 6,000 vendors.
Location: Brimfield, Massachusetts (Southern MASS)
Outdoor Market Dates: May-September, select weeks.
Brooklyn Flea :
The NY Times calls it "One of the great urban experiences in New York."
Location: Brooklyn, New York (Multiple Locations)
Outdoor Market Dates: April through November, various dates.
Canton Flea Market :
One of the world's largest outdoor flea markets, it's over 100 years old.
Location: Canton, Texas (In driving distance of Dallas)
Outdoor Market Dates: Year-round, Thursdays through Sundays.
Chicago Antique Market :
High-quality (and pricey) vintage modern furniture in the heart of the city.
Outdoor Market Dates: April through October, select weekends.
Location: Chicago, Illinois (Randolph & Washington)
Georgetown Flea Market :
An open-air market in one of America's most beautiful neighborhoods.
Outdoor Market Dates: Year-round, Sundays, 8am - 4pm.
Location: Georgetown, Washington, DC
Nashville Flea Market :
A mega flea market with dealers from over 30 states.
Outdoor Market Dates: Year-round, 4th weekend each month.
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Nashville
Raleigh Flea Market at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds :
Billed as the "largest selection of antiques and furniture in North Carolina."
Outdoor Market Dates: Year-round, Saturday & Sunday from 9am – 6pm.
Location: North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh
Rose Bowl Flea Market :
With over 2,500 vendors, it's "the shopping place of the stars."
Outdoor Market Dates: Year-round, 2nd Sunday of each month.
Location: Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
Shipshewana Auction and Flea Market :
Handmade furniture and local farm stands in the heart of Amish country.
Outdoor Market Dates: May to October, Every Tuesday & Wednesday
Location: Shipshewana, Indiana (in Amish Country)

Mom

2011-12-24T21:14:00.000-08:00

I was putting together a slideshow for a Christmas present and stumbled across these photos of my Mom... Love her!!

Christmas~ing!

2011-12-20T16:43:00.000-08:00

Love this time of year... It always sneaks up on you! So far, we've been having a lot of fun! {Thanks to all the amazing people in our lives!!}

a little fresh pine

a lot of Candy!

a little rosemary

a little GNO night

sugar cookie making

chocolate peppermint cupcakes

nightly beach walks to talk about our days...

the manger

christmas music

candles

holiday brunch

Pajama Day @school!

a visit from Mom for some Christmas shopping LA style!

I have to say it's been one of my fav. Christmas's so far, yet! Hope you have a
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Thanksgiving 2011! St George style...

2011-11-27T21:59:00.000-08:00

We headed off to St. George for Thanksgiving this year!

It was so fun to meet up with family and get-a-way :)

we did lots of hiking, tennis, and pickle ball with these love birds...

Miss spending time with my fav girls...

and this little one...

great to see Grandma Ann, my namesake:)

my Mom made some tasty food!

so grateful for all the blessings in our life! SO great to be with my family! We all got a little weepy when we talked about how much God has blessed us... Love Thanksgiving!

Hope you all had a great Turkey Day! xo

thanksgiving approaches!

2011-11-07T23:10:00.000-08:00

What are your favorite Thanksgiving traditions? I'm always looking for fun {Holiday Traditions}!!

pretty cool tips

2011-11-04T20:19:00.000-07:00

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster. Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold. Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking. Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat. To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up. For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a minty frosting. Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic, and at the end of the recipe if you want a stronger taste of garlic. Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simply chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. Expanding Frosting: When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving. Reheating refrigerated bread: To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster. Newspaper weeds away: Plant your plants in the ground, work the nutrients in your soil. Then wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go, cover with mulch, and forget about weeds. Broken Glass: Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily. No More Mosquitoes: Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away. To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it. Flexible vacuum: To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings. Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip to eliminate static cling. It works; you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks. Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out. De-fog your windshield: Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car When the windows fog, rub with the eraser. Re-opening envelopes: If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. It unseals easily. Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair. Goodbye Fruit Flies: To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. flies are drawn to the cup and gone forever. Wash your dryer filter: dryer sheets cause a film over filter that will burn out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. The best way to keep your dryer working for a long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take the filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush at least every six months.

Halloween time!

2011-10-30T20:16:00.000-07:00

the girls!

the boys....

Fun Costumes!

games

Carmel apples

potluck spread!

the "fit" couple!

cute costumes

Games

cupcake in a jar favor

Fall

2011-10-13T00:18:00.000-07:00

my fav lady, my mom :)

swadey!

missing the utah fall leaves and mountains!

little lizzie, my new niece!

my sister-in-law's amazing halloween decorations!

next time I go back, there will be a lot more of this!

BUSY week!

2011-09-29T23:47:00.000-07:00

First a little weekend get-a-way to {Dana Point}...

the Harbor for Breakfast with our dear friends, the Marquis!

Then I did a {Dessert Table} on Rodeo Drive at Guess event thanks Morgan's help!

I got to chat with "Alli" from the Bachelorette at the event...she was sweet and genuine.


prep work... More pictures to come on Annie's Candie's blog and then, {Back to School Night!}

loving my kids, loving teaching again...

soo much that I made them a treat :)

I'm READY for the weekend!! woot woot!

Two Harbors... Catalina

2011-09-19T22:29:00.000-07:00

CATALINA at last!

We have been wanting to go here for so long...

and we even got to camp :)

loved hanging out with this crew...

the bday boy

quick boat ride... even saw a whale

a little sea kayaking

q-t with Annie K

and got him away from studying

ate some grub

was quite impressed with the feta omelet!

Loved 2 Harbors and had such a great get-away weekend! Morgan is quite the pro-planner :)

get your last bit of summer in!

2011-09-11T03:18:00.000-07:00

Summer Lovin' from Floataway Studios on Vimeo.

The Lake of Powell '11

2011-09-07T23:33:00.000-07:00

A quick stop to SONIC, um.... yes, I was so happy to finally get the Chocolate Diet Coke with the balled ice...

yum!

Chris and Jon reunite, just like the Santa Barbara days

and then we hit the Lake!

it was soooo good to be back!

Page has some interesting thing going on in that little town...

arrrriba!

a little fishing

fun hanging out with the Marquis!

burned lots of calories hiking up the sand hill

special guest: Jordan and Paul, Karaoke night!

Jon and Chris rocking out on stage...

Courtney & I

I am missing it there already... If I could only slip in a waterski run every morning on that beautiful Lake!! Until next time....

Girl time in SF

2011-08-29T01:28:00.000-07:00

A much needed girl family time in SF...

cartwheels


twinned

she is getting too big too fast

the beach

a great day with my very favorite gals in the world. I'm so blessed to have best friends as family.

old roommates

2011-08-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

It was so nice to have a little piece of home come visit!

Becca and Sarah doing cheesy yoga poses

It was so fun be with her again, we of course ate lots of treats and stopped at all the essential bakeries!

Sarah came from Paris and brought me fresh French Macaroons, I was in heaven

one of my favorite things...

2011-08-11T17:41:00.000-07:00

I just ordered another one for the upcoming year!

You can pick from these designs and personalize it just how you'd like...

I love the monthly and daily layout... it's perfect for me. I like the medium size best!

here's the link to order if you're interested! http://maay-products.blogspot.com/p/journals-idea-books.html

my grandpa: {Orval Webster Adams}

2011-08-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

Orval Webster Adams, Jr.

May 31, 1928 ~ August 3, 2011

Hometown: SLC, UT

Hurricane, UT – Orval Webster Adams, Jr. age 83, died peacefully at the home he loved on August 3, 2011. He was born May 31, 1928, in Salt Lake City, UT, the youngest of six sons, to Orval Webster Adams and Luella Nebeker Adams.

As a young boy his Grandfather Nebeker had a profound effect on Web as he worked side by side with him on the family ranch in Bear Lake, UT. It was there that he developed a love for nature and the outdoors.

After serving a mission in Eastern Canada, Web graduated with a degree in law from the University of Utah. He married his beautiful and gracious wife Ann Rogerson in the Salt Lake LDS temple. Together they raised four children.

Web had a deep love and respect for his country and God. He worked for; a law firm, the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, brokerage firms and nature preservation projects.

He was active in many civic organizations throughout his life including; Salt Lake Republican County Chairman, Utah State Finance Chairman and attended two national political conventions. Web was an adventurer at heart and was especially drawn to Montana and the Madison River,

He was preceded in death by his parents; and four brothers.

Passionate to the end Web lived each day to the fullest. He loved classical music of all kinds, Mozart was his favorite. He always found joy and beauty in the majesty of nature, the views from his back porch, flowers blooming in the desert, the dark clouds that rolled in with a storm, and swinging his nine iron. Most of all he found love and comfort from his wife of 60 years Ann. We will miss him as he now embarks on “the greatest adventure of all.”

He was more like a best friend than a grandpa! He always made me laugh, paid boys to take me out on dates, and I will never forget how much fun he was to be around. Love you Web!!

Web & Abby

My namesake and grandma Ann, Mom, and aunt Kathy... 3 Generations

Grandma Ann found a pretty grave site, right in at the base of Zions Canyon

All of the sons & grandsons

We LOVE you Web!!

summer reading

2011-08-10T00:30:00.000-07:00

Just read the last page of this book... so refreshing to find a book like this again!

now I'm excited to check out the movie, even though they never do justice compared to the text.

Celebration week!

2011-08-02T16:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Bday Jon! I luv you! { we have both of our birthdays, and our anniversary all in the same week, so we call it our "CeLeBratIon weEk!"

He went on a scuba trip last week for his b-day, but we went to 6 Flags for celebrating on his actually Bday, we felt like little teeny-boppers!

August 1, 2009 : We got hitched~!


In memory of our honeymoon in Maui, we opted to eat over looking this view of ocean on our anniversary of 2 years!

August 1, 2011 :I've been a Kimball 2 years! I loved this place, I felt like I was in Hawaii all over again...

There were the coolest HUGE pelicans diving for fish in the ocean, Jon was completely entertained!

Pick me up

2011-07-29T00:44:00.000-07:00

This will make me {happy} always:

I love you See's...

I am feeling old!

2011-07-26T00:25:00.000-07:00

This was probably my hardest bday yet! I am feeling like a grandma lately... Luckily thanks to my family and friends it ended up being such a fun bday!

My Mom and Dad came out to visit! I was so excited!

After a couple days hiking and crusing around LA we headed to Santa Barbara for some golf and fish!

Love this warf

my cute parents!

They left and then Jon planned a fun surprise on my actual Bday!

Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory with some of my friends!

Paula, Carlos, & Joseph!

Sarah & Jojo

us 2 Annie Kimballs :) yes, she is the younger, cuter version!! :)

Impressive Mr. Jon!! SO grateful for such an amazing husband, family and great friends that have become our family out here!

4th of jUly!

2011-07-11T00:39:00.000-07:00

We had such a fun time in UT, WY, & NV this past week! A much needed break with our families... Ah, Utah is so much cheaper and easier to get around!

First stop: St. George and a trip up to ZION's National Park to eat with my Grandma Ann & Grandpa Orval Webster

I am sad to see him get older~!

Beautiful sunsets... Especially loved the summer rain and huge toads Jon and I found on the golf course while riding our bikes!

Next stop: Vegas! Only a little over and hour drive and sin city here we come! I was so excited to finally eat Serendipity 3, it was adorable and well worth the hot walk there!

Made me miss NYC a little, but nice to have this S3 out west!

Onion ring tower was bomb, topped with parm cheese and all it's glory!

sideways.... oops!

Famous frozen hot chocolate.... sssssssSSOOOOOOOooooo tasty!

my husband is going to have a heart attack... The "Vegas Strip" sandwhich- steak, eggs, cheese and bacon... oh boy!

Mom and I being dorks in front of Ceasers (We were grateful for a little rain!)

back to St. George.... we were told by a local to check out {Judd's}

I was in love....

old fashioned candy, soda and icecream...

yum! can't wait to go back, we had so much fun! My Mom is always so hilarious and fun to be with!

New job!

2011-07-01T00:25:00.000-07:00

I have been substitute teaching for sometime now out here in L.A... When we moved from Utah so Jon could start med school, I was so sad to leave my teaching job in Utah at a private school with a curriculum I really believed in. Needless to say, I have been very picky in finding a new teaching job out here! I can't wait to start teaching at a little private school in Brentwood in a few weeks! I will sure miss seeing these lovely ladies though...

One last pick on the job with some of my fav gals...

one last candy run!

everyone needs a little candy to get them through a work day!

Jordan...sad face :(

Celebratory lunch at CPK!

wrapping up our first year in LA...

2011-06-15T23:47:00.000-07:00

Jon completed his FIRST year as a med-student last week.... Very proud of him, so he got a surprise after he took his last final...

One of the major perks in living here is going to see our favorite shows, live! Jon scored American Idol tickets...

Chris & Cort

The concert was amazing... U2, Lady Gaga, Underwood, Steven Tyler, J-Lo, etc...

Bree & Jonilyn on the red carpet

the hubs and I

Lunch, Movie, and AI!

the girls...

We have been so blessed to meet such great people out here this year...

these girls have been a HUGE blessing to me

I'm sure going to miss working them, so we better be hanging out a lot still!

It's been a great {first year}- thanks to all the great people we have met! Your high cost of living and traffic lags have been well worth meeting the friends we've made. Wish I could mention them all!

Thank you Los Angeles,
<3 me

Memorial Day

2011-06-05T00:32:00.000-07:00

After an hour and a half hike, some of my FaV peeps & I hit up {MAYBERRY} in the Palisades...


Yum! It is DELICIOUS!

Then, we decided to go here to clean up!

If Disney had a spa, it would look like this

crazy decor.... I loved it!

Pinpin

it was such a fun day! thanks chicas!

{Abby} the bday gal

2011-05-31T11:00:00.000-07:00


Abby came in town for her birthday! First stop: {American Girl}

so fun to have her and Jenny visit L.A.!!

we hit up the beach and got lunch at {Lemonade}

Mac & Cheese and Blueberry mint LEMONADE

Jenny and B-day girl

B-day dinner at C & O! Abby was good at getting free B-day stuff ALL day Long!

Happy Birthday Abs! LOVE you and hope you come out to L.A. again soon!!

a couple days ago...

2011-05-20T00:15:00.000-07:00

I discovered this in LA:

temescal canyon waterfall hike

Then ate here on my lunch break with one of my fav gals:

in Santa Monica: a must go to!

and I bumped into this girl... which was so weird because I was literally watching her on TV the night before

Venice & Baby Shower

2011-05-17T00:18:00.000-07:00

Finally a Saturday off!!

Aly, one of my best friends (this girl gets me and has blessed my life soo much over years... Thank you BYU London Study Abroad for introducing me to this gal- she is one amazing friend). I'm so happy for you Aly!! Lucky Maddox to get you for a Mama!

Cupcakes I made... click {here} to see more

candy tables...

2011-04-20T01:15:00.000-07:00

I have decided to start something new... If you need an inexpensive dessert table at your next event, let me know!

www.anniescandies.blogspot.com

Becky got married!

2011-04-17T00:33:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Becky and Dave!! What a beautiful bride, and such a fun day to be with the KIMBALLS! We have missed Kimball time!

Wadely Farms & SLC Temple

the dudes

Jenner, Autumn, & Jessie

Oldest Kimball Niece!

Jessie

Ada

Freshly marrieds...

The beautiful bride and I

Autumn with boys

wadely farms

Jon with the nieces

Me & the nieces & nephews

What a fun day! Wish it didn't have to end....

girl time

2011-03-28T23:47:00.000-07:00

A fun day @ the Ellen show!

Ang & Sis: such cute twins! Love them :)

Getting our dance moves warmed up!

Happy Birthday night with co-workers and friends!

{Good girl times} :)

the jury is out...

2011-03-23T20:10:00.000-07:00

Which cupcake is more delicious?


Magnolia's

Sprinkles?

... {one thing I have determined is it is BAD that I live by them both!}

Spring Break '11

2011-03-10T22:55:00.000-08:00


We headed back to Utah for our {Spring Break} or Winter Break?


My parents house was surrounded in a winter wonderland of snow


My Mom taught Jon & I how to Cross-Country Ski, we loved it! Thx Griz!


My Mom is always keeping Jon happy by feeding him... She knows the way to his heart!

Just like in Jr. High...


I got my ears re-pierced! So hilarious to get this sweet bag...

It's always so hard to get in touch with all my fav. Utah peeps... I wish I could've seen more friends... Glad I bumped into these gals tho! Hopefully next visit we will have more time!

off to...

2011-03-05T16:25:00.000-08:00

{Clothing Swap}

2011-03-01T23:07:00.000-08:00

Spring cleaning is amongst us, so we decided to get together and trade clothes! It turned into a fashion show/eating party... We even got in a mini-clothing fight, with strewn clothes-a-flyin!!

strawberry lemonade

grub

heather's new outfit!

Nicole & Heather

treat bar

flying clothes!

take 1

take 2

take 3

Bonnie & Natalie

Jonilyn

{Thanks for coming gals! We need to do it again soon!}

inspiration

2011-02-19T17:07:00.000-08:00

I could get married all over again!

2011-02-14T23:22:00.000-08:00

I am DYING about this new Anthropologie line, {BHLDN}....

So so so love these dresses, shoes, and accessories. I had THE hardest time finding a gown when I was engaged, so I created my own. I bought a super cheap dress and found an awesome lady to embellish it. Lucky gals who have this vendor now. BEAUTIFUL!

i may just have to pick up these shoes to sport...

love this new line!

a little visit

2011-02-09T00:03:00.000-08:00

It started out with {Mom} visiting for a couple days....

then she was able to stay for the entire week!

yay!

and we found Magnolia's Cupcakes!!

Thanks Jojo for the great recommendations! LOVED Toast!

I got to hang out with her on my break :)

Shopped

Ate lots of food of course

I was so excited about these tasty cupcakes!

and then guess who else showed up? Dad!! The week kept getting better and better. Jon caught a fish and lobster while spear fishing,

3rd Street

We had so much fun with you Griz- Miss you already! Hope you come back soon!!

finally...

2011-01-28T01:15:00.000-08:00

We are finally unpacked! This is a huge feat for us... Please, no more moving! It's exhausting! Jon likes to sing a song when I ask him to help me move something heavy or big- "Jon-arella Jon a-rella, night and day it's Jon-a-rell-a... hang up this, move this... night and day it's jon-arella.." I know he is totally joking and LOVES to help move us in... In reality I die laughing every time he sings it. Now I just need my Mom to help me finish up the decorating when she comes in town next week! Yay! I can't wait!

Thanks Jenny for the table cloth!

We found this love seat at the flea market here :) Thanks again Jenny for introducing me to them!

sunny days and lots of walking in January?

2011-01-19T09:49:00.000-08:00

This is new for me! Yes, I have lived in California and other parts of the country, however I have never had a feeling of {summer is a month away} in the middle of January! This is because having spent most of my life in Utah, where Spring did not roll around until May when all the snow was melting and the brown hint went away. I keep thinking about going to Lake Powell and my summer plans, yet is months away. ha! Needles to say, this 72 degree in January has been quite nice and allowed me to walk to work down this street everyday!

we moved! { again, 5th time in 1.5 years! }

2011-01-04T23:44:00.000-08:00

UCLA student housing in culver city area

Thank you Bryn for taking pictures when you stayed with us, otherwise I wouldn't have these :) Please come visit us again soon!!

my Christmas decoration attempt!

our mini kitchen

We are going to really miss living by our UCLA friends, and hope that they come visit us in our new place! Hopefully we won't have to move for awhile :) Happy New Year!!

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION: do not move this year! :)

Christmas '10 part I

2010-12-29T23:53:00.000-08:00

Ah... the holidays, visiting family {for a short minute!} A much needed break - even if it was a small one. Family is what makes it. While Jon and I are establishing our own, we still love where we came from!


first a little sugar cookie baking bazar....

wouldn't feel like Christmas time without a walk around this...


My Anthro family holiday party!

LOVED seeing these people for just a short while...

Ruche

2010-12-08T19:46:00.000-08:00

Want to get the anthro look without the anthro price? Check out this:

Thanksgiving fun...

2010-12-02T10:46:00.000-08:00

We missed our family this year, but luckily got to visit some of our favorite people in Santa Barbara! RICKY- we love you and are so {grateful} for your incredible meal!

Jordan and I were pretty excited to discover this tasty new {holiday flavor} at Pink Berry!!

Pumpkin!!

and we look forward to getting this size next time!!

to get you through the hussle and bussle...

2010-11-29T11:44:00.000-08:00

To spice up this...


add and squeeze some of this... you will be in heaven!

{Happy Holiday} decorating!

a city by the bay

2010-11-08T01:10:00.000-08:00

yay! I got to visit my family for 3 short and sweet days...

A little shopping in San Francisco

where I fell in LOVE with this {Sky} bedding

went to get a macaroon at Davids- sorry for the sideways view!

for Halloween Jenny made me be a sister-wife! scary! (NO! Mormons DO NOT believe or practice in Polygamy!!)

walked along the beach and collected sea glass with Abby and watched her do cartwheels in the sand

I wish I could do this everyday while Jon is at school... it makes me teary just thinking about it!

hippies!

2010-11-04T21:50:00.000-07:00

PEACE!

jon picked these up for us to wear to his med-school party

our new {black chalk} wall!

the Getty

2010-10-24T23:40:00.000-07:00

We got do some more touristy things around LA, like the {Getty Museum}... I love it there. It was Jon's first time, and I think he was most excited about the ride up, and it's funny because at museums he gets funny- he wants to know why every painting is "famous." I get funny too, because after studying in London, I feel like I get ripped off. I liked learning about the art before seeing it- like I had "earn" my visit... Anyway, it made for a fun afternoon!

We felt like tourists

love this place & the view up there of the city

the food court

Neo Classical never end mirrors

We walked down the hill and found these awesome little shrooms...

Last weekend: Aly in town, yay!

the stars...

2010-10-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

We have lived here for about 3 months, and although I am not really a "star seeker" I have spotted a few:

at Pepperdine, walking the hills and going to b-ball games

John Locke, saw in Santa Monica

good old donnie at the Grove

just outside Anthro hosting people's court


saw Pierce in Santa Monica yesterday and struck up a conversation, he was super nice!

20 min away, we found this!

2010-10-10T23:36:00.000-07:00

 CAL-TECH!

the quad reminded me of a mini version of Stanford's campus...

we are dorks...

I was LOVING the homes in Pasadena! Check the Halloween decor!


Q: Guess what movie this house was in? A: Father of the Bride! (Thanks Austin, good idea)

We had a great {Sunday mini-get away}... Lots more to check out here!

FINALLY!

2010-10-09T00:29:00.000-07:00

It has been a LONG time since I got this guy back, it lasted only a day, but hey- I'll take it! He had a four day break, wahoo!

{LOVE him} and time is seriously flying by... (we have been laughing as we find grey little hairs sprouting out of our heads... not joking!)

When I was preparing for a talk, I found this great article... thought you all may like- I sure did :)

By Rachel Bruner, About.com Guide

12 Ways to Have a Happy, Healthy Marriage

Everyone in this life is affected by marriage, either that of their parents, their own, or their children's. Keeping a marriage strong while surviving life's trials can be a huge struggle, but learning from other's experiences can help us through these times. Here's a list of twelve ways a couple can develop a happy, healthy marriage.

1. Marriage Based on Faith in Jesus Christ

A Happy, Healthy Marriage

A happy marriage will be more easily developed and maintained upon a firm foundation of faith in Jesus Christ. Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy said:

"A final gospel truth that will contribute to our understanding of and hence the quality of our marriages relates to the degree in which we involve the Savior in our relationships as husbands and wives. As designed by our Heavenly Father, marriage consists of our first entering into a covenant relationship with Christ and then with each other. He and his teachings must be the focal point of our togetherness. As we become more like him and grow closer to him, we will naturally become more loving and grow closer to each other" ("A Union of Love and Understanding," Ensign, Oct 1994, 47).

2. Pray Together

One of the most common things mentioned in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when talking about having a happy, healthy marriage is to pray together. President James E. Faust said:

"Marriage relationships can be enriched by better communication. One important way is to pray together. This will resolve many of the differences, if there are any, between the couple before going to sleep....

"We communicate in a thousand ways, such as a smile, a brush of the hair, a gentle touch.... Some other important words for both husband and wife to say, when appropriate, are, 'I'm sorry.' Listening is also an excellent form of communication." ("Enriching Your Marriage,"Ensign, Apr 2007, 4–8).

3. Study the Scriptures Together

To really strengthen your marriage study the scriptures daily with your spouse! Here's some great counsel to help you start:

"As husband and wife, sit down together in a comfortable and quiet place in your home. Consult the Topical Guide found toward the back of the LDS edition of the King James Bible. Scan the scriptural topics for areas that you feel might help strengthen your relationship with the Lord, with each other, and with your children. Consult the scriptural references listed with each topic, and then discuss them. Jot down the insights you gain and the ways you will apply these scriptures in your own lives" (Spencer J. Condie, "And We Did Liken the Scriptures unto Our Marriage," Ensign, Apr 1984, 17).

4. Have Charity for Each Other

Selflessly giving of oneself is one of the hardest aspects of marriage. Our natural tendency is to be self-focused: that we make sure we're happy; that we get our way; that we're right. But happiness in marriage cannot be achieved when we put our selfish needs first. President Ezra Taft Benson said:

"Today's inordinate emphasis on individualism brings egotism and separation. Two individuals becoming 'one flesh' is still the Lord's standard. (See Gen. 2:24.)

"The secret of a happy marriage is to serve God and each other. The goal of marriage is unity and oneness, as well as self-development. Paradoxically, the more we serve one another, the greater is our spiritual and emotional growth" ("Salvation—A Family Affair," Ensign, Jul 1992, 2).

5. Only Use Kind Words

It's easy to be kind and say loving words when you're happy with your spouse, but what about when you're upset, frustrated, annoyed or angry? It's better to walk away and say nothing then to say something hurtful and mean. Wait until you're calm so you can discuss the situation without negative emotions tempting you to say something that would be hurtful and damaging.

Saying unkind words in the form of a joke or with sarcasm is an abusive technique that people use to avoid being responsible for their words/actions by forcing the blame on the other person, making it their fault that their feelings were hurt because they "just couldn't take a joke."

6. Show Gratitude

Showing genuine gratitude, to both God and a spouse, shows love and strengthens marriage. Giving thanks is easy and should be done for both the little and the big things, especially those things a spouse does on a daily basis.

"In the enriching of marriage, the big things are the little things. There must be constant appreciation for each other and thoughtful demonstration of gratitude. A couple must encourage and help each other grow. Marriage is a joint quest for the good, the beautiful, and the divine" (James E. Faust, "Enriching Your Marriage, Ensign, Apr 2007, 4–8).

7. Give Thoughtful Gifts

An important way to maintain a happy, healthy marriage is to give your spouse a gift now and then. It doesn't need to cost a lot of money, if any, but it does need to be thoughtful. The thought put into a special gift will tell your spouse how much you love them- much more than a gift of monetary value ever can. Unless your spouse's "Love Language" is gifts, then you don't need to give them often, but it would be highly advisable to still give an occasional gift.

One of the twenty suggestions by Brother Linford is to give "occasional gifts... such as a note, a needed item- but mostly gifts of time and self" (Richard W. Linford, "Twenty Ways to Make a Good Marriage Great," Ensign, Dec 1983, 64).

8. Choose to Be Happy

Just like being happy in life, being happy in marriage is a choice. We can choose to say unkind words or we can choose to hold our tongue. We can choose to be angry or we can choose to forgive. We can choose to work for a happy, healthy marriage or we can choose not to.

I really like this quote by Sister Gibbons, "Marriage demands work. A happy marriage exacts the very best of us. Yet above all, maintaining a successful marriage is a choice" (Janette K. Gibbons, "Seven Steps to Strengthen a Marriage," Ensign, Mar 2002, 24). The attitude we have about our marriage is a choice: we can be positive or we can be negative.

9. Keep Stress Levels Low

It's so much harder to react rationally and kindly when we are stressed. Learning how to lower our level of stress, especially in regard to finances, is a great way to have a happy, healthier marriage.

"What do airplanes and marriages have in common? Relatively little, except stress points. In airplanes, stress points are the parts that are vulnerable to a lot of wear and tear....

"Like airplanes, marriages have stress points.... As engineers of our own marriages, therefore, we need to be aware of the specific stress points in our marriages so that we can strengthen our vulnerabilities" (Richard Tice, "Making Airplanes and Marriages Fly," Ensign, Feb 1989, 66).

10. Continue to Date

Continuing to date each other will help keep the spark in your marriage. It takes a little planning and prioritizing but the results are worth it. You don't have to spend much money to have a fun date, but can easily find something enjoyable to do together, such as going to the templetogether or doing one of these dating ideas.

"Time spent together sharing interests helps a couple grow closer and gives them a chance to relax and take a break from daily stresses. Perhaps most important, dates help a couple build a reserve of love. Filled with memories of good times and strong positive feelings, this reserve can help them through difficult times of stress, disagreement, and trial" (Emily C. Orgill, "Date Night—at Home," Ensign, Apr 1991, 57).

11. It Takes Time

Building a happy, health marriage takes a lot of hard work, time, and patience- but it is possible!

"Marriage, like any other worthwhile activity, requires time and energy. It takes at least as much time to keep a marriage in shape as it does for a weight lifter to keep his body in shape. No one would try to run a business, build a house, or rear children on two to three hours a week. In fact, the more two people who love each other interact, the stronger their bond becomes" (Dee W. Hadley, "It Takes Time,"Ensign, Dec 1987, 29).

12. Complete Fidelity

To keep their covenants of marriage a husband and wife must always been completely faithful to each other. Trust and respect are built upon this faithfulness, while breaking the law of chastity, even with something as seemingly harmless as flirting, can destroy the sacred bond of matrimony.

I strongly believe that love and respect go hand in hand. Without love you can't respect your spouse and without respect how can you love your spouse? You can't. So build your love for each other by respecting one another and always being true and faithful to your spouse.

hhhaaaaallllloooowwweeennn

2010-10-03T23:32:00.000-07:00

I put up my Halloween decor today in our little space- this ideas from PB & Country Living were inspiring for me... Now I just need those beautiful fall leaves we used to get in Utah to make it really feel like fall!

{Oh, and at midnight yesterday, I decided to paint our kitchen wall black, with chalk board paint. Now I can doodle while I eat my meals! Jon thinks I lost it!}

my new treat!

2010-09-22T01:48:00.000-07:00

{LOVE} to chew this:

It's NEW!

I'm usually not a huge fruit-gum gal, but they seriously are all delicious! This mint-chip one is the best I think.

{Serena & Lily}

2010-09-18T00:27:00.000-07:00

I am loving this line I found online... If I could have a house, I would love to make it's rooms look like these: {found here}

I love the clean, yet- unique and interesting artistic patterns and combos of these rooms.

I think this one won for me...

Fashion's Night Out in Beverly Hills

2010-09-13T02:48:00.000-07:00

We had quite the night in Beverly Hills... Great people, my favorite type of clothing, and MY favorite treats!


Preparing for the show


"re-re's" as Carissa put it :)


the fashion show stylists


I wanted to wear her outfit and go home to Utah for Smores


Paulette- French Macarons! I was dying and snuck WAY too many of these. Shhh!!


Jordan

AG designers came, and brought their Gold Sewing Machine... They were SUPER nice and this thing was bling!


We were still starving after the Fashion Show, so we met up with Anthro peeps and hit up Inn & Out!

Thanks gals, what a fun night!

what I'm loving right now...

2010-09-09T21:55:00.000-07:00

I was excited to find this new and colorful Britta water filter:

They come in other colors too, and you can't complain when they hand you $5 gift to Target when you buy it!

even though it doesn't get too cold here, it gets chilly enough to wear these:

and to make the whole grains taste better, why not add a little chocolate? I LOVE these, and have been snarfing them down everyday lately:

recreational laBor daY!

2010-09-07T00:21:00.000-07:00

Today was a much needed Jon-time day... I have been working a lot and he has been studying and doing the med-school thing a lot!

Jonny woke up at 6am and went {surfing}...

Then we went to play a little {volleyball} game with a bunch of fun ward peeps:

then after the game Jon invited whomever was there to come on a {hike} that we had planned to go on...

the 5 mile Hollywood Hike! Hello LA, don't mind the smog... we try to just pretend it's fog

Yikes! On our way down we saw a huge rattlesnake! It doesn't look that big... but we couldn't believe the size of this thing

the girls

Jon was sooooooo excited about this cave from Batman.

We had so much fun everyone! Thanks for coming along!

Jeff + Kara

2010-08-26T23:55:00.000-07:00

Yay! Jeff and Kara got hitched! It was a beautiful wedding, and great to see family again in Utah. I am very excited to have such a cute gal entering the Kimball clan :). Welcome to the family Kara!!

the white coat

2010-08-22T23:08:00.000-07:00

Dr. Parker & Jon


Yay!

It's now official... Jon is on his way. I'm proud of you -

It was a treat to have Jenny come too!!

Thanks for coming Jen! Please come out again soon!!

I heart gwen!

2010-08-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

Her new website, Goop has been a great resource. You should check it out for any of your traveling/living needs and finds!

cEleBratiOn wEek!

2010-08-02T01:52:00.000-07:00

All in one little week, both of our b-days occur, and our anniversary... How did we plan that?!? Eeek! A very fun celebration week, just before Jon starts his medschool adventure.

Aly came in town randomly, so after church on my b-day, we spent an AMazIng afternoon with the Allens in San Clemente... She was so adorable to make us a tasty meal and birthday cake! Oh how we love them. Aly, please come back home!

Jon was a trooper and went to see the Ramona movie... I read the whole series when I was little, and loved it. (I know I am a dork loving kid flicks!) ps the movie screens here in LA are as big as buildings.. it's crazy!

I made this extra large cupcake with Jon's FAvorIte, funfetti, although I think he was sad because it wasn't out of the box...

He got to go on a scuba trip with the Knights for two days, and brought home Sea Bass! I was quite impressed with his spear-fishing skills! (Learn something new about him everyday!)

It has been an awesome anniversary today... I feel like a very lucky to girl to have found this guy. {Even if he has dragged me across the country and back this year, is has been an eventful year! :)}

What a different world married life is. I always wondered when I hung out with my married friends as a single girl why they couldn't explain it, and now I am starting to get it. It's indescribable. It is full of unexpected adventures in which are a lot more fun when you put the OTHER person's need first :). We have a long road ahead of us with med-school starting tomorrow..., but I couldn't do go through this with anyone else but this dude. Love him, and we feel overcome with blessings this year.

{Jon whisped me off to Santa Barbara, his old stomping grounds where he proposed... It was such a fun day... LOVE it there}

Hope Ranch

loved this house

jon was drooling over these...

barely any people - rare for cali!

thanks for an amazing day babe! loved every bit of it.

we moved west...

2010-07-21T00:34:00.000-07:00

The moving truck was long, hot, and bumpy- but helped us arrive to our new stomping grounds. We did it... we {moved}! and we couldn't have done it without the AMAZING help we received from family and guys from our new ward. We have a long, long, long road ahead of us... I have a new respect for med-students wives...

{I haven't lived in the same city for 4 yrs since the high-school days!}

Tony + Racine

2010-07-11T23:55:00.000-07:00

My little bro got married!! Welcome to the family Racine!!

the little love birds

more love birds!

We love you guys and are soo happy for you!

Celeste got baptised!!

2010-07-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

We love this gal... She has been a great friend to us this past year. We have LOVED having her in our home, and we are so grateful for her complimentary and vibrant personality! We love you {Celeste} and thanks for your great example!!!

PARK CITY!

2010-07-02T00:02:00.000-07:00

We are trying to LIVE up Utah before we move for the 3rd time this year- so we headed to the beautiful mountains in Deer Valley for a relaxing get-a-way!

{I highly recommend the silverlake hike & then treating yourself with hummus + pita chips, & edamame! yum!}

i love the summer days...

2010-06-17T23:44:00.000-07:00

Have you tried the new {Fizzle Skittles} & {Pretzel M&M's}? hurry to Target!

Happy {Summertime!}

Lake Powell

2010-06-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness for Lake Powell!! Oh how we have missed you. Jon and I had such a great time with the people we met... Lots of games, lots of yummy food, pranks, water-ski course, laughing on the "top deck" before we went to bed every night... definitely a good a time in Powell!! Thanks guys!!

jon was stoked get on a board again tori was quite the skiier!!

Games, games, and more games!!!

This was the best-- Parker dressed up to scare the house boat next us... we were going to die from laughing too hard

and we're back.

2010-06-02T01:07:00.000-07:00

We graduated from our Boston duties and we are back. How could one not help but miss these beauties!? Kinda funny, but I actually never felt like I HAD to live in Utah, and even when I went away to live in London, India, Africa, D.C., not once did I get homesick... however somehow in Boston I did! Strange... I missed the friendly service/vibes here in Utah, or anywhere on the west coast for the most part!

Jon made me these awesome candy graduation necklaces! Yum!! I LOVED them, and felt very lucky :)

My pastry partner... ANDIE! I miss you already

Jon got on the news, we had just woken up

2010-05-25T21:27:00.000-07:00

We were heading out of Boston Logan airport after a very long day of packing, and Jon got interviewed by a news reporter...

Logan travelers on pilot's suicidal text message

special visitors and the Cape!

2010-05-13T22:20:00.000-07:00

We were very lucky to have my {parents} come into town! Such a great way to end our semester here in Boston! Since we have lived here we haven't had to a chance to go up to the Cape - (we don't have a car out here)... So we thought we would catch some fresh air and drive sea-ward...

We took advantage of the rubber boats!! I loved being by the ocean- I was very happy to be with Mom on Mother's Day!

My favorite part of Cape Cod was Chattam Town... Pretty much my favorite spot we visited the whole day!

The neighborhoods there were unbelievable... This was a house I was drooling over! - and it was for sale!!

Beach stroll...

It was a very fun weekend, between feeding the ducks, walking tour of Boston, eating tasty meals and treats, the Red Sox games, Iron Man II, Mikes Pastry, more food, and more food... We had a lot of fun with you two! Thanks so much for making the long trip out! Love ya and see you in 1 week!!

Final Practicum

2010-05-04T21:58:00.000-07:00

I left school today with a major sigh of relief... It is one thing to memorize text, vocab, and write essays. It is another to execute a project, and then have someone eat & judge it! For the Final Practicum, we showed up to class and drew a name of a recipe, then had to execute it without any help or instruction, in a certain time frame, and no notes! My whole class and I were crazy pants nervous--

rewind: After touring several culinary schools throughout the past couple years, I final did it. I am in the final stages of finishing culinary school. Although my pants fit a little tighter- (well maybe ALOT tighter) I had a lot of fun! I must admit I did not think there would be so many written quizes and exams involved in a pastry program, nor did I think the final practicum I took today would require soo much work- but all in all I gained something- prob like 10 lbs and some fun pastry ideas!

Today I drew the card, "French Cookies with Gelato" so this involved making Madelines, Raspberry Fancier, Coconut Palet, Gelato made from Creme Anglaise base, and Orange/Hazelnut Lace Tuile. I had four hours, and I was dying the whole time. I literally thought I was going to pass out! I was so stoked when I got the taste testers grade... Phew!

Here are some of my favorite projects from school:

{The Success Cake}

- Jocande

- chocolate Genoise

{Poeme}

White Genoise

French Buttercream

Chantilly Cream

Raspberry Coulis

{St. Honre}

Pate a Chaux

Pastry Cream

Chantilly Cream

{Coffee Gelato}

Tuile

Chocolate Ganache

{French Macaroons}

French Meringue

Almond Flour, sugar

Ganache Center

Brioche (before)

Brioche (after)

{The Peach}

Pastry Cream

Marzipan

Sugar dusted brioche

It's not over yet! Now I get to study for the final {written} version... and finish my portfolio by Saturday. I am very glad I had opportunity while Jon was in school! It worked out perfect. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the main Chef, Delphin... he is this hilarious/crazy frenchman that is genuis!

(Oh and by the way.... {referring to Jon's post below}

My husband pretends to be "King of the Hill" but he actually can be a sweetheart... Like after he watched my study for 8 hours straight last night after a long day of school, then and wake up at 6:30am- I came home to a spotless house today! A perfect ending to a stressful day.)

Incites To The Natural Man - From A Natural Man

2010-04-30T21:56:00.000-07:00

Annie does a great job keeping this blog up and running, but I have noticed lately that it often represents her views more than mine. It makes sense since I guarantee the majority of the people reading this blog are female. I decided to make a post of my own to give all you women readers a better understanding of where us MEN are coming from.

I found this little clip on the discovery channel website the other day. It is interesting to see how much incite into the male psyche you can get from observing the life of a beetle. After watching this you may be converted into believing more firmly in the theory of human evolution. Although the men most likely evolved directly from these beetles not monkeys as most evolutionary biologists believe.

Take a look at this video and then read on -

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/life-darwin-beetle-tosses-rivals.html

Whether, human, rat, bird, or insect, MALES are simple creatures. Easy to understand and easy to predict. I hope you recognized two specific qualities that both male humans and beetles share in common.

1) Playing king of the hill is part of who we are.
2) Men were born with a "Hit it and Quit it" mentality.

We cannot help it - it is part of our evolutionary design. Women, be patient with men as they battle these innate desires. The power of evolution is strong, and difficult to overcome.

Boston Marathon

2010-04-23T23:22:00.000-07:00

I have been looking forward to seeing one of my best friends, Jill since the day we moved out here... She is the girl that made my college experience. We made a pact to not get a boyfriend our freshman year, and almost everytime we got asked out, we said "I have a cute friend, want to bring your friend and we'll double?" From Red Butte lunches, to matching purple tooth brushes, to dolphins in Sanibel, this classy gal has made my life richer and much more fun ever since I've known her...

Fenway Stadium... before the big race!

Get those carbs in! (I was nervous for her, but she wasn't even worried one bit!)

This was taken right where we live, but unfortunately we couldn't spot her amongst the 26,000 people! So sad!

This dude is unreal!

We never got a picture of her during the race, but she qualified multiple times

It was so fun to see her as an amazing mom to two darling kiddo-s and our little running days turned her into an avid multi-marathon runner! I am so proud of you Jill!!

While Jill was running the hardest race, I was making and eating way too many croissants!! Bah!

Love ya Jill... SO HAPPY I GOT TO SEE YOU!!

take a second look day...

2010-04-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

just got back from here...

for Jon to take a second look day here....

as you can see, Jon is pretty excited to be walking these steps for the next 4 years! I am so {proud} of you for never giving up...

while I keep eating.... (but SHOULD be giving up)

{DIDDY Riese} Ice cream delights!

this is pretty funny... a warm welcome posting at our hotel in Marina Del Rey!

Boston has been fun - but sunny beaches, colorful wardrobes, nice/laid back peeps, & delicious treats...I can not wait to be with you again in just a few short months...

sometimes you just need to do the tourist stuff!

2010-04-07T22:56:00.000-07:00

Mt. Auburn Cemetary: um, how talented is my friend {BRYN!}

one of the BEST and my most favorite thing about moving to a new place is making new friends- That cute gal in the middle is Evie- sweetest, nicest person I've met in Boston...

Thanks to Mr. Hopkins, ( my friend from the Waterford days!) we took the time to visit this beautiful place and saw an awesome view of Boston. I promise you this guy will be famous for his brains... He is genius!

It has FINALLY been getting warmer here (and boy am I a happy girl again) - so we have been taking a lot of exploring trips...

We get to walk down 5 flights of stairs to get out of our building,

and Jon has gotten pretty strong from it! :) ha- this sign is massive for those that have seen it in person. We live about 3 blocks away from this beauty-

a fun little job

2010-03-31T23:00:00.000-07:00

Culinary School has been keeping me quite busy, but I decided to apply to work part-time here in Boston for a couple more pennies... Luckily, an interview and survey later, I got an offer to work for my {favorite store}...

cheesecakes

2010-03-31T09:15:00.000-07:00

It's pretty crazy that I am almost half way done with Culinary School! It's no wonder why Jon and I can barely fit into our jeans these days when I bring home stuff life this every night... Not so good for the Spring dieting...

Strawberry Chocolate Marble Cheesecake

Chocolate dusted, Vanilla Cheesecake

the bedroom

2010-03-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

I love these Bedrooms from {here}... 

Kinda gets me excited to move out of this Fallout Shelter here in Boston :)

How sweet for a little girl's room....