Memorial Weekend

 Dust storms in Pine Valley (or Wah Wah.. I can never remember which is which :S)

 I had a long and wonderful weekend in EskDale! So nice to see my family and visit a little bit. I got a chance to spend a little more time with Anette's kids this time and that was fantastic.

 Miss Abby Flavalicious is gettin hitched!! Bridal Shower commence!

 Abby and Tara

Just lovely seeing everyone. I was fortunate there was a feast that weekend so I was able to see so many people before I head out yonder to California.

Beauty in the Mail - A wonderful discovery

 

Makeup has always been a long time obsession and source of joy for me. I recently discovered a website called Birchbox. It is like most websites for makeup except they offer a monthly subscription to receive a box of surprise goodies! I recently received my first box in the mail-

The Box contained small samples of:

 Atelier Cologne/Vanille Insensee 

 Color Club Nail Polish/Disco Nap 

 Dr Jart +/ Waterfuse BB Cream

Fresh/ Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment

My favorite item by far was the Dr. Jart + BB Beauty Balm. Lovely stuff!! I've been using the cheap version of this that Garnier makes but it really doesn't compare. This is basically a one step product to moisturize, protect your skin from the sun, treatment serum and hide imperfections so you have no need for foundation. 

Thought I'd share that with you since it's fairly cheap and you can cancel at anytime. Kind of like a magazine subscription.... except better!

It's Family Time

My Family got together this last weekend. Because we don't get together all that often we wanted to do something special and out of the ordinary..... so we decided to have a Solar Eclipse.

 

We began the day with food (which is how all good days begin) and then went for a hike in the mountains behind Cedar City, UT. 

 

 

 

(The above photo would terrify you if you knew everyone was watching my dad skii down the mountain.) 

 

It is always neat to hike with my family - Rose explains the rocks, mom explains the plants and the boys make silly remarks about it all.

We headed to the "C" to watch the eclipse. 

 

 These pictures of Rose and my Mom are when the moon was in the center of the sun and the lighting was Amazing! Well, the moon wasn't literally in the center of the sun, that would have caused a whole set of problems. Maybe we will do that for the next family get together.

So nice to see my favorite family and the eclipse was great! I think I'll do it again sometime. 

Salton Sea with a side of dates

The Salton Sea is a shallow salty lake that was created by a flood in California's Imperial Valley along the San Andreas fault. I once saw a documentary on the Salton Sea and wanted to see it myself. I believe they once tried to make this a resort area but failed miserably. The lake is now surrounded with broken down, rusty buildings. I found myself feeling very uneasy there.

 There is apparently no outflow for the water. This means there isn't enough oxygen in the water and the beach is littered with skeletons. The beach isn't even actual sand - it is crushed sea shells so it crunches as you walk. So for someone with an active imagination all I could think was I'm walking on dead things, walking on dead things. I will NEVER have vacation here. I understood why this place did not flourish like once hoped.

 

 

 Still, something interesting and worth seeing plus a neat little day adventure. Of course no adventure is complete without food. There is a famous date farm (Shields) in Indio that apparently makes famous date shakes. I had to go! Mostly because super cool Anthony Bourdain went here on one of his episodes of "No Reservations" and I am always hungry.  I don't know much about dates, but date shakes are fantastic!

Presenting Mark and Laura Weeks

I WOULD LIVE IN YOUR LOVE

 Author: Sara Teasdale

 I would live in your love as the sea-grasses live in the sea,
Borne up by each wave as it passes, drawn down by each wave that recedes;
I would empty my soul of the dreams that have gathered in me,
I would beat with your heart as it beats, I would follow your soul as it leads.

Oh the feelings that overwhelm you at a wedding of a loved one. There are a variety :) First and foremost of course is feeling happy that two completely wonderful people could find each other and begin a life together. Second (and less wonderful) is the feeling that life is truly passing and, surely I'm not old enough to have younger cousins that could be so beautiful and so grown up.  

This wedding was one of the most beautiful I have been too. It was so Laura - and the cowboy boots on the bridesmaids was just a perfect touch! 

 Laura made a very stunning bride.

It was such a neat wedding and of course I have to mention the food - delicious!! I am very happy for them and Mark is just a very welcome addition to the family!! 

Good Luck Laura and Mark 

On a side note: Blogger changed it's layout and I am totally confused :(  However, I have hopes that I can figure it out.