Niagra Falls - put up pics

I just went on a work trip with my colleague and friend, Carey, and it was a great trip! We worked hard, and got to relax a bit too. Traveling to cool places that I normally wouldn’t go to is such a great perk of my job. I have wanted to see Niagra Falls in person but I don’t think I would ever make a trip to just see that. We flew in on Sunday to Buffalo, New York then drove across the Canadian border to a Marriott that overlooked the falls. It was absolutely gorgeous! My hotel room was on the top floor (floor 31) and when I looked out of my huge bedroom window I could see Niagra Falls right there in all it’s glory. The first day we got there it was very rainy and wet so it was hard to see it all, but by Tuesday it was nice and sunny for our boat tour of the falls so we were really grateful for that! The first night we walked over (in the rain with our umbrellas flying inside out from the wind!) to a restaurant called The Keg and had a great steak dinner overlooking the falls. The next day we had a break for a couple hours and someone on my Instagram had recommended Niagra on the Lake which is a town. The area surrounding Niagra Falls isn’t the most beautiful area because it’s so touristy. It reminded us of Vegas. As we were driving out to Niagra on the Lake it got more and more beautiful with lots of vineyards. When we got closer to the little town there were the cutest houses we had ever seen! It was the most charming little city I think I have ever been to with gorgeous flowers everywhere and lots of darling shops. We walked around for a minute and went to this lovely boutique where we each bought this cute book that was titled, “100 Gathered Thoughts for my Beautiful Child” that has the sweetest quote on each page. We wish we could have stayed all afternoon! We had to get back for work, but when the day was over you better believe we headed straight back there. We were looking for a restaurant and driving around when all of the sudden down the road I saw the most gorgeous pink sunset through the trees. I told Carey, “drive!!” and she raced down the road! We got out and saw Lake Erie with a beautiful pink sunset and Toronto in the distance. We couldn’t believe the gem we found! Pictures don’t do it justice. We watched the sun set and then drove around and kept looking at the cute houses and vineyards. We ended up just going back to the hotel for dinner later and shared this yummy Thai pasta, sweet potato fries and caesar salad. The next day, after we got done with work and packed up our booth, we headed down to the boat area and got our ponchos. I thought everyone looked cute in their red little ponchos and I felt like a kid again. We boarded the boat and took off to the falls. There are two sets of falls, one that is straight and one that is a big horseshoe. It was SO COOL! Such an incredible perspective down there with the mist blowing everywhere. It’s so loud and the current is so strong. The amount of water that flows over those falls is incredible and I just can’t get over it! When we were done, we got off then walked over to the edge of the falls. This view was unreal. Seriously. The water flowing over the edge…and to top it off there was a double rainbow over the falls!!!

When we were done with that, we took a tram up to our hotel, changed, then went to Niagra on the Lake again for dinner. We stopped at a pastry shop and got some delicious macarons, then asked the girl that worked there what was good for dinner. We ended up at this delicious restaurant with an Italian server and we shared bruschetta, fish and a shrimp linguine. Bon appetit! We finished the night was a long walk around the town looking at all of the cute houses. What a great adventure! Now I’m sitting in the Buffalo, NY airport waiting to catch my flight. I got here early cause I had to cross the border and it always makes me nervous if I’m rushing. I’m headed home! This weekend we are going to pick up the motorcycle we bought…Oakley says I’m having a quarter life crisis ha ha but I just think I’m ready to have the best summer ever!

 

Texas

I went to Texas for work and was so glad that it fell over a weekend so that I got to spend time with Ashley and my mom flew out for the weekend! I flew in on Thursday night and my dinner appointment cancelled so I got my car and went to pick up Ashley. We went to Pappadeux for dinner and had the tastiest fish and got caught up. It’s so nice being with old friends who have known you for years. She grew up with me and we learned and have matured and have so much history. As I was driving around with her I kept thinking to myself that it’s nice to go home because you find parts of yourself that you were lost. It’s been a rough few months so it was nice to remember more easy going days when life’s problems weren’t quite so big. After dinner we went shopping at the Dillard’s sale and I got a text from my mom saying, “it’s not looking good” because she was on standby using McKell’s flight benefits. I said a prayer that I needed a miracle and I really needed my mom in Texas for the weekend! About 30 minutes later she texted me and Steve, “I made it on the plane!” I almost couldn’t believe it! The plane was completely full and then someone didn’t show up. There were two people in front of her on standby that didn’t want to split up so she got to board literally last minute. I was so excited! After shopping for a bit, Ashley and I went to get a pazooki to go at BJ’s. We took it home and ate then sat and chatted with Bobby until about 11:30. I left to go pick up my mom and was so excited to see her! We drove to Dallas and stayed at the Westin at the Galleria for the night. I jumped on the bed when we got there like a little kid. We woke up the next morning and got ready then went to the hotel restaurant and split an omelet. She went shopping while I went to my first appointment and it was starting to get really snowy and icy on the roads. Yes, in Texas! After my appointment I picked her up and it took us about an hour and half to get to my next appointment when it should have taken us 30 minutes! I dropped her off to have lunch at La Madeleine with Connie and Chris while I went to lunch with my customers. After lunch I went over to sit with them and talked for about an hour. The snow kept coming down outside! After lunch with picked up Lynn and went to Dillard’s again so we could shop the sale then went back to our hotel to rest for a bit. This time we stayed at the Gaylord Texan and it is such a cool hotel! It was so snowy and icy that we decided to eat at the hotel but most of the staff hadn’t shown up because of the ice storm so the menu was limited. We had fajitas, chips and queso and a pina colada. Yum!

The next morning we were pretty exhausted so we slept in then didn’t leave the hotel until about 12! We met Chris and Mark at Torchy’s Tacos for lunch and Lynn met up with us at the end. We then went shopping at Southlake Town Square and Ashley and Connie met up with us there too. Our favorite was browsing the baby stuff at Janie and Jack. We went to a delish dinner at Cheesecake Factory, then Ash and I went to get matching mitten at J. Crew because it was so cold J By this time Chris and Lynn had gone home so we went to Trader Joe’s to pick up a few things that Connie needed and then to Nordstrom Rack. We also went to see a movie that night. It was such a great day and night! 

We woke up at like 4 am to get my mom to the airport and I dropped her off on Sunday morning. I went back to the hotel and went to sleep again, then woke up later and met Ashley for church. After church I met my co-worker Shash at Torchy’s Tacos again for lunch because she had just flown in and then we had to work that night. Monday was pretty busy with boardrooms, manning the booth, taking a partner to lunch and demo rooms. We didn’t have to do anything for work until 4 pm on Tuesday so I woke up and met Ashley for eggs benedict at La Madeleine then a little shopping at Target. I got the most comfortable silky pajamas ever that I love! We also bought some matching flower sweatpants for when after she has her little baby girl next month. We met up with Connie, Todd, Abby and Chris where they were having lunch at Rosa’s. Connie had taken the boys to the library that morning so we got them and took them back home for a nap. Ashley and I talked all afternoon then I had to get back for work. I went to dinner with Shash and this guy from EMC named Jay at Pappadeux again and I swear I had the best meal of my life. Seared salmon topped with grilled shrimp and lobster. Yes, please. After dinner I dropped them back off at the hotel then went back to Ashley and Bobby’s for a bit to hang out and borrow a book from her. It was SO nice to be able to see them so much!

Blogger Get Together

My friend Katie from Katie Dudley Photography that I met at Alt Summit had a fun meet-up at her studio. I went with Oakley and Annalisa while Tyler and Scott watched the BYU basketball game. A chef named Tom made the most delicious soup, cheese sandwiches and cararmelized white chocolate pudding with raspberries. We all shared what we learned at Alt and had a great time! Afterward we went back to Oakley and Scott’s to finish watching the game with the boys.

Good Things Utah again!

I was on Good Things Utah again talking about my favorite money saving tips for my blog A Slice of Style. Michelle Money interviewed me this time and it was fun! I always get so nervous beforehand so it’s a good thing I practice what I’m going to say over and over again so I can remember it during the segment.