Since we moved, we have not yet set up our computer. It's really a pain in the neck because all my pictures on there and I have no idea how to use my mom's new Mac computer(s).

Sidenote: David and I recently counted how many computers are currently in use at my parent's house: a total of 7 if you count David's work laptop. Radiation anyone?

Anyway, I have to tell you about some things going on. First, Mother's Day was really sweet. We were going to be out of the house by Sunday, so David gave me my present early so I could enjoy it in our house. He picked me up the most beautiful bouquet of flowers, a delish bar of Godiva dark chocolate and 3 children's books (Flotsam, The Higher Power of Lucky and Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!)

Sidenote: I need to buy The Penderwicks. I am in love with these books and rightly so. They are charming, innocent and down-right lovely. Anything with this delightful of a cover must be good.

I love that David was thoughtful enough to get me a gift for Mother's Day even though I'm not a mother. More than that, I love that he was thoughtful enough to think of getting me a gift that I will use as a mother in the future. He's pretty darn great.

Moving has been quite the process. We were scrambling to get out of the house only to find out that we still haven't sold that darn sofa and we can't afford to move our piano! Drat! Now we are in the middle of figuring out the details but the transition to my parent's house has been great for one solid reason: my parents are awesome.

Our other exciting news is David's upcoming company party. Can I even tell you how excited I am? Is it OK that I'm this excited for a company party? Well, here's why I'm excited.

A) The company is not my company - since David recently switched jobs so we no longer have the same parties to attend.

B) The event is "out of town" (READ: Carefree, Arizona) and they are putting us up for the night at the Carefree Resort and Villas. Do I care how nice it is (or isn't)? No. Do I care that it is only like 40 miles from our house? No. Do I care that it is excessively decorated in the Southwest style? No. In fact, I'm kind of happy that I get to stay at a resort in Arizona. I've never been on the tourist side of things here in the Phoenix valley. Plus, I've never been to the North side of the valley so it should be fun.

C) I get to "gussy" myself up for the formal dinner and awards banquet that night. I'm going to look so hot - just you wait.

Here's the big problem: There's a BIG FAT nothing to do in Arizona in the summer. Maybe we'll get lucky and be blessed with some more of this awesome weather we've been having. I doubt it. Does anyone know of anything remotely fun to do in Carefree or Cave Creek?

Oh, and since I have no recent pictures to share - here's one of my favorite (less well-known) engagement photos. I thought I'd throw this in for good measure. I love California.

{a few favorites}

Today . . . meet my husband, if you haven't already. I really love these pictures of him. I have a lot of favorites but I wanted to expound on why these few are special to me.

1. This picture perfectly encapsulates David because a) it was taken at the beach and he lives for the beach b) because he is tan (way, way tan) and it's disgusting how tan he is c) because his hair is blonde, curly and total "surfer" (which he is and always will be) d) because he is wearing a Rip Curl sweatshirt and loves Rip Curl more than any other kind of clothing - except maybe Vineyard Vines or Brooks Brothers. When I met David, he still had this summer tan and I was drawn to his bright blue eyes and charming smile (see picture). Even though I was on a semi-date with his friend, we immediately hit it off. A week later, I politely told his friend "No thanks." and David politely asked his friend "Do you mind?" and the rest is history.
2. Getting engaged is probably on just about everyone's "favorite memories" list but I think mine is the best. I love that I was surprised when he proposed. I love that I was worried that he would never propose. I love that that morning I had cried to my sisters about it. I love that we went on a walk late at night at my dad's ranch and I couldn't see a thing. I love that he kneeled on the hay of my dad's barn while my heart skipped several beats. I love that David cried and I giggled (a lot). I love that his voice cracked when he called his parents. I love that the next morning we burned our names into the wooden post next to where he proposed and I love that I'll always have the memory each time I go to my dad's ranch.
3. We love La Jolla. We love it A LOT. So, of course, we took our engagement pictures there! My amazing brother flew in from Seattle and we took off to the La Jolla coves and Point Loma where he proceeded to take several great shots. This isn't the one that we used for our invitations but I love it just the same. This picture is special to me because I remember thinking how happy I was when my brother was taking the pictures. I didn't have to pretend to smile and that was a great feeling.
4. I love this picture because I have no doubt that David was whispering something funny in my ear and making me laugh. He's really good at that. I also love it because this wasn't our "first dance" - it was just a dance. No one was watching. No one really even cared all that much. It felt so intimate in this group of people around us. Talking, mingling, eating. I love this picture because it reminds me of that night and how I felt so excited about every little thing. My heart didn't beat at a normal rate all evening. Mostly, I love this picture because it was the day that we were sealed together forever and nothing will ever top that.
5. David really wants to own a boat someday. I'm not talking about a cheap fishing boat or even a decent skiing boat. I'm talking a yacht. Like, a several thousand dollar yacht. He wants to retire and sail around the world with me while stopping at fine places like Greece so we can eat delicious food, walk around the city and then sail away on our next adventure. I'm fine with this dream. Maybe someday, Sweetie. I love this picture because it was taken in Hawaii for our 1st anniversary. I love the colorful sails in the background, the serious look on David's face and how his chest is somewhat puffed up with pride. Most of all, I love how when he realized that I was taking the picture, he got somewhat embarrassed and gave me a goofy smile. Secretly though, he loves this picture too.

I married a very, very, very sexy man.

{extraordinary desserts}

After our honeymoon, David's parents had an Open House at their home in California so their friends and family could come. One of the best places to get fabulous desserts in San Diego is Extraordinary Desserts. My mother-in-law picked 6 cakes and placed them on different cake platters. It was so pretty and each cake was exceptionally unique.

Extraordinary Desserts also makes the most beautiful wedding cakes (like this picture). I loved my wedding cake but I would have loved to get one of these.

Another great thing about Extraordinary Desserts is the actual store. It's a dessert restaurant and on any weekend night, you will probably wait about 2 hours for a table. The whole place is romantically covered in lights and a beautiful garden patio. You can get the most delicious freshly made ice creams and sorbets, tortes, cakes, mousses, cookies, scones, creams, meringues and tarts. Oooo, this is making me want to take a trip to Little Italy or Balboa Park.

After a wonderful weekend of General Conference, planting my garden of sweet peas and herbs, making cinnamon rolls for Saturday morning conference, enjoying some much needed fall weather, decorating Halloween sugar cookies with my girlfriends, eating dinner at Flancer’s and cuddling while watching Casino Royale (p.s. Daniel Craig is FINE) . . . David and I finished off the weekend by going “house hunting”. We didn't leave the house on Sunday until 5 p.m. and I was getting itchy with the inside air. We thought it would be nice to go for a drive. With the windows down and the cool air blowing through my hair, we drove around for 2 hours looking at houses that we could hypothetically buy. After looking at about 80 brown houses with gravel landscaping and bite-size yards, I proclaimed: “Please don’t make me live here!” The thought of moving 40 minutes outside of town into a suburb of homes with color choices of brown, beige, tan, coffee, russet, auburn, taupe and BUFF! Look up those words . . . they are synonymous and it makes me want to barf.

House hunting can be fun in the following areas: La Jolla, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; Canton, Massachusetts; West Linn, Oregon; Denver, Colorado.

David and I love a lot of restaurants but one of our favorites is George's At The Cove on the Ocean Terrace. It is in La Jolla, overlooking the La Jolla Coves. The view is wonderful, the service is spectacular and the food is unbelievably good. When we were there about a month ago, I ordered the herb crusted halibut over white corn, snap peas with marinated cherry tomatoes and a basil salad. (The picture to the left is not of this dish.) It was so good that when we got home from our trip, I tried to recreate the recipe . . . without a recipe. So, here's my attempt:

1 pound fresh halibut filet
8 ounces frozen white corn
1/4 pound sugar snap peas
8 cherry tomatoes
1 bunch fresh basil
Rosemary
Thyme
Sea Salt
Freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice cherry tomatoes in half and trim the snap peas for later use. Trim the halibut and sprinkle generously with rosemary, thyme, sea salt and pepper. Heat a large saute pan with about 1 Tablespoon butter. Lay halibut filet herb side down and let saute for 5 minutes until crusted on the bottom. Remove the halibut from the saute pan and place on oven sheet with the uncooked side up. Cook in oven for about 5 minutes until flaky. While the halibut cooks, add another Tablespoon of butter to the saute pan and add the snap peas. Let them saute until slightly cooked and add the white corn, stirring until the corn is warm adding the cherry tomatoes at the very end until they are juicy. Place the vegetable mixture on the bottom of a plate. Place the halibut filet on top (crusted side up) and sprinkle with torn basil.

(both images from George's At The Cove website)

The first pictures of our San Diego trip:

David and I built this sweet wedding cake complete with feathers and seashells,
then we built this awesome human.