Happy Birthday...I mean WEEK!

It has become tradition in my world to celebrate everyone's birthdays for at least a week. It takes that long to really make someone feel appreciated. SO, I figured it would be a great time to take at least a few days to celebrate my birthday. I got to head down to Taylorsville and blow out some candles:Then eat some yummy homemade cupcakes with some of my favorite girls:Then I went out to eat with my sister named Laura to PF Changs and it was so yummy! I would definitely recommend the lettuce wraps-they were to die for! This was the day for some great presents too: some yummy smelling lotion from B & B Works and a new Digital Camera! Anyone who has had to take a picture with what I lovingly refer to as "ghetto camera" will happily agree that this was a much needed gift:) Then, after a few days in Salt Lake, I headed back to Logan for a half day of work and then, Saturday we went to Bear Lake:Here we are at the Bear Lake Lookout and this was the best pic taken by the poor nerdy guy that we asked to take the picture for us. We had a great time and went to LaBeau's (who gave me food poisoning for my birthday and are SO not getting a thank you card for that gift) and just hung out on the lake. And in true Barlow tradition, I had to take a picture of the natural habitat of Bear Lake:I am pretty sure that I never want to run across the "Utah Sucker Fish" whilst playing in the water. All-in-all I had a great week and although I still only admit to being "Twenty Ten" this birthday will rank up there on the list of favorites. Thanks to everyone for the cards, pics, well wishes on Facebook, phone calls and presents. And, oh yeah, I also get to go shopping at my favorite store, ROSS! So I truly feel loved.

Wedding Weekend

Once upon a time there were a group of friends that were always together. They had lots of good times and knew all of each other's secrets (well, most of them anyway...)and will always have great memories. Then, some of them scattered out of Logan to do things like go to school and get better jobs. Weird. But, every once in a while, one of them will do something worth traveling back to Logan. This weekend there was such an occasion. Brad and Tanja got married on Saturday and even convinced a couple people to wear tuxedos. Luckily they are worth it and the tuxedos looked great!Laura came up from Salt Lake and here we are with our Joe:Laura, Me, Tanja, Brad and Michelle. Yes, this is Brad's picture face:And finally, the whole gang together at one time:Joe, Jer, Michelle, Laura, Mikol, Me, and Dave. It was great to have everyone together at least for one night and I am glad that everyone made the trip so that we could catch up on eachother's secrets. I heart you all:)

I heart the A's...and the Bees!

Every summer I try to make it to at least one Salt Lake Bees game and Monday night was the night. It was a perfect night for baseball and there was excitement in the air to be able to watch a great game! We had a whole section of friends and got to meet up with some of our SLC friends we don't get to see much anymore:If you look closely you can see our new friend Derek and the famous Robert Draper in the background. We got to hang around with another new friend:It also marked another occasion of being able to hang out with these two for the last time before they get married on Saturday:They really love baseball. All-in-all it was a great night and totally worth the drive to Salt Lake-even though the Bees really lost big time. But as an A's fan, it just felt right to be cheering for a team that not only loses, but loses with style.

Today is MUCH Better. I promise...

So, after being the driver of the Grumpy Gus Bus yesterday, I decided that I needed some retail therapy before going home to crawl in my bed and hide from the world. I went and got some yummy food from Lee's (mostly all healthy) and decided that I needed to trek to my most favorite store in Logan:Anyone who knows me knows how much I love this store. It is filled with treasures that you never knew you needed for much less than you ever thought you would spend for them. In true fashion of the day yesterday, however, I was almost hit by a car in the parking lot. Don't worry, I jumped out of the way just in time, banged on the hood and shouted, "Watch where you are going!!" to the teenage driver who apparently cannot drive, talk on her cell phone and apply lip gloss all at the same time. I desperately needed a little time in ROSS to salvage my day. Luckily, I found some cookbooks that I have been looking for forever for great deals! I found this one:Which has some great ways to sneak veggies into recipes and no one will ever know it and I also found: This is 3 cookbooks in 1! All of the recipes are very easy, healthy and yummy! And what kind of girl would I be if I left Utah without knowing how to make casseroles? What kind of deals did I get for all of this you ask? I spent a grand total of $10.68 at ROSS and left with a smile on my face. So, if you are looking for a gift for me to convince me you are my favorite, you could get me one of these:I would heart you forever...better yet, just come shopping with me. It would be a good time had by all:)

It's Been One of Those Days...

Maybe I am a little cranky because I woke up with a headache today. Maybe it is because I am a little tired, maybe a little crazy busy. I am not sure. All I know is that I have reached my limit of tolerance for today and luckily my plans for tonight have evolved into crawling into my bed with two guys named Ben and Jerry and watching a movie-just to spare the world from my presence. What pushed me over the edge you ask? Well here are the things that have gotten on my last nerve today:
1. A well-known advisor called me today and first asked in her condescending tone,"How are WE doing today?" and then later in the conversation,"Why would WE do this?" Seriously? How are WE doing? Well, I am fine, how are all of you? Seriously.
2. This doesn't happen very often but two students applied today stating their majors as "Public Health" only they forgot to include the "L". Seriously.
3. I got asked the question,"So when is Preston going to be Annexed into Utah so that we can receive Utah Residency?" Seriously? What I wanted to say was,"Well, Utah and Idaho are going to be combined to make one large state. We're going to call it Udaho." Seriously.
Luckily, the sarcastic answers that run through my mind when things like this happen are not the first things that pop out of my mouth. But seriously. I promise that I love my life and the next post will be way more positive. But for right now, I have just had it.