warm, sunny day anyone?

I was reminiscing as I was looking over pictures from my Italy trip last March and I came across this delicious sunset from the hill top town of Erice in Sicily, looking towards the Mediterranean Sea. This picture just looks buttery warm, like a late summer sunset that you could soak yourself in. I think it's time for those days to come back.

Do I complain too much about the winter? I think I might. But I'm not ashamed. Get me out of this inversion if you please! I don't want my lungs to look like I'm a chain smoker. Supposedly it's supposed to snow tomorrow. I'll keep my fingers double crossed.

Mr. Weather Man,

You promised. Please hold true to your promises.

I can't take much more...

awww, aren't we adorable??

This last weekend Dave and I went up to his parent's cabin with some friends and had a glorious time! Here's a few pics. We went sledding and beat Tara and Chris down the hill - no contest people!

Snowmobiling through the trees...

We had a fantastic time, eating WAAAAY too much (that's kind of what dictates me having a good time or not - good food). I made my new year's gaucamole again and it was decent, needed to sit longer to soak up all the different flavors but not too shabby.

~~~

This weekend Dave and I had some decisions to make and so went to *el templo for a little inspiration/help (*that's Spanish for 'the temple' for those of you who don't read Spanish, I sometimes slip into it from my high school/college Spanish days).

It was gorgeous up there with the snow falling down, really peaceful.

Awww... aren't we adorable?? And super spiritual as well? ;)

Ok no more sappy pics of Dave and I. I promise.

For awhile anyway.

a movie review

I loved this movie.

I love historical movies, and the Victorian era is truly fascinating. I think Emily Blunt was fantastic in it along with Paul Bettany and Rupert Friend (Mr. Wickam in the Keira Knightley Pride and Prejudice - who he is also dating in real life btw).

My friend Hayley and I went to see it at the only place in Utah that you can, The Broadway Centre Theatre downtown. And I would highly recommend it. I never knew a lot about Queen Victoria other than her era of reigning changed the course of England and made it brilliant. What I learned from the movie is how truly a determined and strong woman she was, how her and her devoted husband were fantastic leaders who not only helped the poor, were patrons to the arts and science, but were completely in love.

A beautiful story and beautifully filmed (and gorgeous dresses for those of you out there that love that kind of thing - you know who you are).

january equals...

freezing, bitter cold temperatures,

yucky inversion,

two of my sister's birthdays (poor girls),

gloomy, grey skies,

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (and a day off work - wahoo!)

....but mostly it's a pretty poopy month....

I'm ready to move on.
Spring anyone??

new year's guacamole

I LOVE guacamole. So when it came to New Year's and I was going to a party I decided to find 'the best guacamole ever' recipe. After typing in that exact phrase, my friend Google informed me that this was in fact 'the best guacamole ever.' This recipe is by Food Network star Alton Brown (not my favorite on the network but he knows his stuff). And I give the recipe to you all so that you too can share in it's goodness:

Ingredients
3 Haas avocados, halved, seeded and peeled
1 lime, juiced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 medium purple onion, diced
2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 clove garlic, minced

Directions
In a large bowl place the scooped avocado pulp and lime juice, toss to coat. Drain, and reserve the lime juice, after all of the avocados have been coated. Using a potato masher add the salt, cumin, and cayenne and mash. Then, fold in the onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and garlic. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved lime juice. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then serve.

** Modifications by me: add a dash of fresh ground pepper, add more cilantro (if you're into that kind of thing, which I totally am), add one minced serrano chile depending on your desired hotness. Oh and use one of these babies if at all possible:

(You can't 'click to enlarge' so don't try ;) My mom gave me hers because she doesn't really cook much anymore. They're only like $15 but a great investment. I hate cutting up onions and this thing did it in like 3 seconds. It also cut up garlic, cilantro, you name it. Perfect for guacamole making and many other things I'm sure.

the smith's 2009 christmas season

I left my laptop at my parent's home, with all my pictures on it, for the last week and haven't been able to update my oh-so-important blog. So I appologize to all my readers out there for the delay ;) I'll just make a summary of the last few weeks that will embody our 2009 Christmas season.

Dave's highlight was boxseats to the Jazz vs. Lakers game Dec. 12th....
Our 5th year anniversary of getting married at this beautiful place...
(picture taken at the Mo-Tab Christmas concert - not bad Natalie Cole,
but also not my favorite, truth be told).

Taking pictures of my brother Tyler, his wife Mar, and their cute 'lil guy, Harrison.


Mar's impromptu glamour shots (that she's going to hate me for posting). You pose perfectly btw ;)

The Briggs Family Christmas photo taken by a neighbor

and edited by yours truly.

...spending time with cute neices and nephews...

...spending time with my spouse...

...making a rockin gingerbread house Christmas morning with sister Breanne...

Overall we had an absolutely great Christmas season. It was a super busy one with being in the play and all and I hope to never again do a play during Christmastime but we still fit in everything we wanted to do.

I love the Christmas season; wonderful food, being with the people I love, remembering the birth of our Savior, and just relaxing.

singin in the rain

~

My play 'Singin in the Rain' starts tomorrow at

the Rodgers Memorial Theatre in Centerville.

I play Zelda Zanders - the famous 'zip girl'

(or bff of the infamous Lina Lamont).

If you're looking for a fun time I'll be performing

TUES, THURS, and SAT for the month of January!

(mention my name and you get $2 off per ticket!)
~

new year's....

I was excited (like for the first time) to do something on New Year's. But this picture pretty much resembled me, at our friend's house, sleeping on the couch.... what a party pooper!