It's October?!

Utah Sunrise

I ashamed to say been a little negligent with my blog. Funny how things change; it seems only yesterday I was in Europe writing daily about my travels, experiences, joys, and trials. I think writing was one of the best ways to keep a little bit of normality on the trip. Now since things have gotten a tad more "normal" I get lazy. Though things may not be as adventurous they definitely are still exciting and fun. Let's start with August:

We made the best of our time in Tulsa in our last two weekends there by visiting the Hard Rock Casino, an oil baren and Oklahoma! the musical. It was great to leave on a high note.

there were 4 bands playing around the Hard Rock casino. All very talented. I would love a hook up like that!

With my 'Hat fan' at Oklahoma! the musical.

Oklahoma! was great and had a cast full of young students. The only downside was that they sang the song "Oklahoma!" probably five times more than the movie. I think they were just a little proud...

The oil barren mansion was gorgeous as you can see below. It was donated to the state and turned into an gallery with some beautiful works. But in the upstairs corner there was a random contemporary area with multimedia projects. That was probably my favorite and Trent's least favorite part :P

regardless, this area of the gallery was certainly the most memorable. haha.

Our last week of work, both our companies we worked for over the summer gave us a going away cake. It almost made things bitter sweet to leave Tulsa...but it still wasn't. :)

We got back to Utah on the 19th by pulling an all nighter driving. We always just get so anxious! Plus there are no areas to stop between Kansas and Colorado which would be our half way. We spend the following week prepping for school and driving to and from Park City.

My sister Kristen and her family came into town and we went to the Utah State Fair with them. It was so fun to go on some fair rides with her. We're so intense we even went on the zipper!

Holla!

Kambria was FREAKING out because she couldn't handle watching people on the Ferris Wheel without being on it. You don'teven wanna know what she looked like after we had to take her off!

hot air ballooning with the kiddos

did I mention it's kind of a creepy fair? And not too popular either.

LOVE the leashes. Parent's best friend.

Cute Chic!

Well school started and we've been super busy. This has definitely been one of the busiest school years for both of us. Trents working on his thesis and I'm in two performing groups on top of 16 credits. But it's great because when we area together, we really take advantage of it. For instance, a couple Monday's ago, Trent took me to and on campus animal museum call the Bee's Museum! It's home to the famous Liger!

There's a few things I've not included like the gig my band (The Lucky Crickets) had in Park City house. It was so fun and awesome to use the house for a concert. I definitely think it'll not be the last time. My band has had tons of opportunities to perform lately and we're making a lot of songs, paraphernalia, and hype around the Provo area.

At the same time, I've had a fair few gigs with my Folk Ensemble at BYU, mountain strings. This week we actually sang for a painting unveiling at BYU from Brian Kershisnik. Here's a video of the night. Big thanks to Trent for recording it! Sorry I spelled his name wrong in the title... :(

Trent and I have also had a lot of nights with our friends Bridgette, Christian, Sarah, and Jordan watching movies, playing games, eating pizza, and enjoying our last year in this area!

Also, I've had the great pleasure to teach dance not only at BYU but also at my previous Young Women's teacher's, Ronna, new studio called Elements Dance. It has been so so fun and such a great opportunity to work with young students.

Lastly....

.... may I introduce to you....

Zeus (or Zeusy) the II.

Yes its true. We FINALLY bought a cat. We knew we were going to get one eventually (considering but weren't sure when it'd be quite right. In August the stars aligned as we found a fantastically good deal on KSL for an F6 Savannah cat. You can read up about them here. He's so fun and can jump SO HIGH! He's actually sleeping next to me as I write. I had no idea how happy this little (big) kitten has been for us. We both love him so much!

that's all for now!

Aint no Cure for the Summertime Blues

Oh what do you do in the summertime in EXCITING Tulsa?

Do you eat lots of chocolate?

Visit downtown?

Watch a concert in the park?

Sing with a classical guitarist at a mexican restaurant?

Do you watch a Harry Potter movie every day?

Go to the pool?

Go to a dirty bar thinkin' its a country dance venue?

Walk the "river" walk (that's really a dried up pond)?

Indeed, many of our weekdays have been spent eating Braum's frozen yogurt, walking the mall, playing Guitar Center Martins (newest obsession), petting cats at Pet Smart through the cages, and working out to P90X.

It's true, Tulsa has not been the best place in the world for us. Trent and I are active outdoor people and when the only place you don't sweat is inside, you get a bad case of the summertime blues. The people are nice, but the activities are few and far between. But our opinion is a little tainted after traveling through Europe. We went straight from the highest adventure of our lives to picking our noses, watching seinfeld series, and eating poor food. But not all is lost! We certain have tried to make the best of it. Harry Potter marathon was the best. AND at least there are a bunch of chain restaurants we recognize. AND at least we save TONS of money because we don't have to pay for breakfast! AND at least we both have jobs! AND at least we were able to go to Park City last weekend for a break.

On a Sunday hike. FINALLY SOME OUTDOOR ACTIVITY!!!

Picnic with the band at an outdoor concert in PC. Can't wait to be with them full-time in three weeks!

Cute Mickey-blue-eyes/ Sassy

At Rachel's bridal shower! So excited for her and her to-be-hubby!

This weekend we plan to visit the best of Tulsa. Maybe if we can fit it in, we'll actually find a good place to country dance, open mic, and even visit the aquarium :) We also have plans to see Oklahoma the musical and visit the Ozarks, OK City, and Branson.

Moral of the story is, we're almost done. Trent will be back to his boys boys, and I'll soon reunite with my band for a good long 1 1/2 where (hopefully) we'll make it somewhere in the Utah music scene.

Note: Trent and I really are so perfect for eachother; we give eachother independance and support through the goals we make whether academic, extracuricular, spiritual, or mental. I feel so warm inside every time I remember he's mine. Forever.

The Suite Life of Steph and Trent: Tulsa and Nauvoo!

The Lucky Crickets on the Main Nauvoo stage after our show. We sat here and pose with our adoring fan!

Greetings from Tulsa OK! After Trent and I got back from Europe we had only a few days until our next adventure. On Sunday, we drove to Tulsa (18 hours in a car= no mi gusta). Now, we live in the Staybridge Extended Stay Hotel on 71st street (a very popular street with all the best restaurants including Cheesecake Factory). Apparently we hit the jackpot; we not only get new sheets and cleaning daily, but also free breakfast and sometimes dinner. Feels more like a senior center than a hotel they're taking such good care of us...

our room

stay bridge suites

free breakfast

Our life is a hybrid of the Suite Life of Zach and Cody and Parks and Recreation. Trent's started work with a bunch of Ron Swanson look a-likes and I work with a guy names Jerry who everyone blames everything on. Oklahoma also has a Pawnee county. Altogether, Trent and I couldn't be happier with this temporary lifestyle.

No sooner did I arrive in Tulsa that I had to leave for a Trip to Nauvoo and surrounding areas with my band, The Lucky Crickets. We toured with the Spring Performing Arts Company of BYU by playing backup for them and also playing a few of our own music. Nauvoo was an incredible experience for me and I wish I had written a day-to-day journal entry of it as well. But after Europe I was a little fried...and after eating multiple bugs on stage while singing in 100 percent humidity day and night, the two bar slow interned was not worth the head ache of my blog-readers (sorry ya'll).

So without further adieu, here are my favorite memories from my trip.

the Historic Nauvoo Temple

sundae Sunday at the Mission President's house...with raptor Alex

Saving a lost turtle on the road by helping him cross the street. He was so adorable (I named him Donatello for Lauren Wilkes)

The whole dancer and musician gang in Montrose

building a cheez-it fort with my favorite friends from the trip (Cheez-its are courtesy of Darren and Connie Riggs)

pretending to hitch hike then actually having to after the vans forgot me in Historic Nauvoo

the crazyawesomeamazingtalentedpatience director, Delynne, and her bossing me around.

missing Trent was inevitable so of course I kissed inanimate objects to try to cure my craving for him.

eating at Annie's frozen custard and putting a napkin under her plastic table cloth to signify our love

and permanently keep our memory at the darling joint. I gave a shout-out to her at one of the performances

and she gave free frozen custard to everyone after the show!

learning about agricultural things: did you know the cows develop hairballs that build up in their stomaches?

They're really shiny and lightweight. Most people wouldn't touch them...

and, of course, the bugs. I thought Darwin, AU was the worst for bugs on light but I stand corrected. This picture looks like snow right? But it's hundreds of thousands of bugs waiting to enter our mouths.

Of course there were other favorite moments including the handcart trek, Sunday sociable where I sang Emma's Lullaby, Carthage Jail, the performance in Fairfield with the incredible sound engineer, dance party with DJ BRiggs, and the calling I now feel to pursue my dream and actually become a performer and entertainer to children!

Goodbye for now! I'll update with any new info in the next month or so :) Maybe you'll even see a new COOKING blog!!?!?!?!