weekend happs...it's beginning to look a lot like christmas

in my opinion it's really never too early for christmas. i love christmas decorations all the time. even though i have seen them for a while now and even went to a tree lighting last weekend, this weekend it really started to feel like christmas.

i met friends for a quick dinner on friday evening. they went to see mockinjay after dinner. i read all the books, but i haven't seen any of the movies. i might be the only person on the earth that doesn't really care for them. the content is a little much for me so i skipped the movie and did some christmas shopping instead.

i run all winter long and have for years. i always tell people if you are dressed appropriately, it really isn't that cold. i thought it was warmer than it really was on saturday morning. i wasn't dressed appropriately at all, and i was so cold.

after running i went over to laurann's house for a lesson in making pies-really pie crust. i don't actually really like pie, but i feel like it's something i should know how to do. she had the dry ingredients measured in ziploc bags and the butter and shortening measured and cubed in bags too. it made the process of making 10 pie crusts so smooth. i learned everything has be to really really cold, and i also learned pre measuring and prepping ingredients before is really smart.

i met sage, tiffany, and laurann for dinner at the cheesecake factory. after dinner we went to the bell choir christmas concert. i went for the first time last year and loved it so much. they are so amazing. i have no idea how they get to be so good. they are so talented, and the music is amazing.

after the concert, we walked past the candy windows at macys. there has been a long tradition in downtown salt lake of having window displays made all of candy. the theme this year is peanuts. it was so fun to see them.

sunday I went to church with tiffany and sage for their primary program. there is something so amazing about hearing small children testify of our Savior Jesus Christ through music and talks. i loved it! i also got a few coats out of storage so i can quit being so cold all the time.

how was your weekend? any exciting or festive happs?

skin again

**i was provided product from skin again to review. all opinions are my own. living in utah does a serious number on my skin. it is dry and itchy most all of the time. it's one of the absolute worst parts of winter. when i got the opportunity to review some products from skin again, i was excited to try something new. to be totally honest i was also skeptical. i have tried so many things over the years, and nothing seems to work all that well.

my hands have been especially bad this winter. my left hand had the worst patch of super dry skin. i started using relief, and it worked wonders. i'm not even kidding. i've been using it for about 2 weeks now, and my hand isn't red or itchy at all. this stuff really is a miracle. here's a little more info.. SkinAgain (www.skinagain.com) is a revolutionary line of functional skin care products: Youth, Rescue, Relief, and Vanish, formulated to quickly and effectively aid in maintaining healthy skin in spite of debilitating or embarrassing skin problems like redness, itchiness, burning and inflammation, as well as noticeably diminishing the appearance of scars, cellulite, wrinkles and dark spots. Developed when Founder, Sherrie Berry, was a victim of a chemical explosion in her backyard leaving severe burns on her face, chest and arms, she set out on a mission to make products that would contribute happiness and self-confidence to customers by improving skin with compassion. A functional skin care line formulated using the highest percentage of active ingredients in cosmetics, SkinAgain’s products are also fragrance-, paraben-,gluten-and cruelty-free.
if you want to try it for yourself, skin again is offering dreaming about someday readers an exclusive discount. enter code AUBREY20 for 20% off Relief now through February 28. if you're still looking for ideas for valentine's day, you should definitely consider this product. check out the before and afters as well as their social media. i would love to hear if you decide to try it.

SkinAgain Social Media Platforms

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Lava/Soda Trip

I just love friends of friends. This weekend was full of friends of friends. Kari planned a quick trip to lava hot springs and Soda Springs, Idaho(where she's from). We met up after work and headed north. We stopped at a small diner in Milad for dinner before getting to lava. We spent a couple of hours in the hot springs. Normally I totally love that sort of thing, but I have an itty bitty cold. My ears refused to pop making it a little less enjoyable but still fun. After the hot springs we went a little further north for the night. We stayed up late laughing and most playing games, slept in a little, had breakfast, some people played some more games, and just had fun. The end got cut a little short when someone had a family emergency. Despite not feeling my best it was a really fun weekend. In a total case of blogger fail I only took one picture.on the way home.for#fmsphotoaday. oops. Thank you Kari for planning and hosting and thank you friends of friends!

about the weather

I know I live in Utah. I get it. It snows here, but seriously.... Since when does it snow THIS much? And since when is it THIS freaking cold. I'm dying!

I need to get out of here...like yesterday. Who wants to go somewhere?

celebrating the new year

Laurann invited a few girls to a condo at Solitude. It was such a fun little getaway not that far away. We ate (kind of a lot), watched movies, played games, talked about the new year, made some new friends, and I got even more jealous of instagr.am. It was just a little snowy and absolutely beautiful. I loved it!

killing me with instagr.am

Merry Christmas

It's Chelsea's off year from being at our family's for Christmas which basically means I go to Vegas and spend the holiday with them there. Christmas really is so much more fun with kids.

We had some last minute shopping to do on Christmas Eve before coming home to have our traditional chili dinner and looking at lights. We all opened our Christmas pajamas from my mom.

the kids left carrots for the reindeer and cookies for santa

the kids loved opening presents and i loved watching them

without knowing it karlee, chelsea, and i all got toms. i'm obsessed with karlee's little toms. so cute!

karlee was all about the opening this year

karson so excited to play

My mom wanted us all to have new Christmas church clothes since it was on Sunday this year. I kind of had a bad attitude about it being on Sunday (terrible I know. Isn't Christ the whole point of this holiday?), but I actually really loved it. I loved doing the traditional Christmas morning things (presents/breakfast) and then going to church in the afternoon to remind us of the real reason we celebrate. I always love music and really enjoyed the Christmas program. After church we came home to take a few pictures in our Christmas clothes.

It's definitely sad not being at home with the rest of the family for Christmas, but I really love spending the holidays in Vegas. The kids are at such a fun age. If we can't be all together, being there is definitely a good option.

30+2

Another too close to Christmas crappy December birthday. The celebrations started with dinner at Salt City Burger with friends on birthday eve.eveI spent most of yesterday going to physical therapy and running Christmas errands. Roommate Suzie and I ate at Tucanos for dinner. I even got a little Christmas cheer with the Gateway tree. I got some great gifts...all of which I'm dying to use. I came to Vegas today and opened family gifts and went to dinner at Red Robin. Wow! That was a lot of eating/fun celebrating.

rommate Suzie brought home balloons 

looking at Gateway tree while waiting for dinner
the tree changed colors and i loved it
roommate Carrie gave me this cake pops pan. can't wait to use it.
presents from Chelsea and Ashley
Karlee helping me with presents

Seasons

Spring might not be in the air but it is on the front door...in the wreath. Not sure what we're supposed to do about this.

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Arizona

Until I can figure out how to actually write captions on these pictures on my phone here's the recap of the photos... 1. superstition mountain hike 2. with Anne at the top of the hike 3. mountain biking turned into hike with a bike 4. tennis 5. THIS is what I came back to. not happy!

After a couple years of talking about it, I FINALLY made it to Arizona. It was an AMAZING weekend filled with fun in the sun...just the way I like it. What could be better than hiking, biking, and tennis in January?!? I want to move there immediately but since I have such a great job here I'll probably have to settle for more winter getaways.

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More Holiday Fun

Holidays=FUN

My work party was at Noah's in PG. We ate and had the rest of the afternoon to do whatever we wanted...ice skating, gingerbread houses, wii, ping pong, movies. I love my job!

Aly, Alyssa, Mikael

Angie, Kimber, Brianna (don't you love her outfit?), Diane

gingerbread house making (candy eating)

Beth got a group together to go see the lights at temple square. This is always one of my favorite things to do for the holidays. It is so pretty. Unfortunately the weather was rainy so it was pretty quick but still a good time.

could this picture quality be any worse? the temple in the background looks really cool though

We had our 6th annual Christmas party. No theme this year, but I think I saw a few ugly sweaters. No pictures. Sad.

David Archuleta was the featured guest at the Mormon Tabernacle choir Christmas concert this year. I tried to get tickets and didn't and have been dying to go. Michelle ended up with an extra, and i felt so lucky. Such an amazing voice.

Megan hosted our annual GNO party. I walked away with a pretty awesome white elephant gift. Still waiting for the group picture.

I've gotten together with Anne a couple times while she's been in town, but I kept forgetting to take pictures.

Laurann had a small party for New Years Eve. It was really low key and so nice.

The holidays were so much fun. I am so sad they are over and not ready to get back to reality tomorrow.