ATLANTIS!!!!!

ATLANTIS! We found the lost island! Sean and I were lucky enough to go to the Bahamas. I qualified for the trip through work -  paradise really is better when it's free!

Check out the views from our room:

 

 Getting there was not easy! Hurricane Sandy canceled all our flights through JFK. I lost sleep worried we wouldn't get there. Thankfully my travel department got us there without missing a beat. We had to go from SLC to LAX to Miami THEN to Nassau, Bahamas!! But we made it! ***Reminder, last time we headed that direction for a vacation, hurricane Irene cancelled part of our flights. We have the worst luck.

No real signs of the hurricane there. Well, the water was cold, a few of the palm trees took it hard (below) and there was a lot of seaweed junk on the beach.

Cold water didn't keep us off the slides!

Check out this Pyramid slide. The bottom lands you into a tube going through a shark tank!

Their lazy river is awesome--- the whole thing is rapids and wave machines.

Some rides push you back UP the slide. I loved it.

The first night was a company welcome party. Incredible food. It was here I learned that Oprah was at Atlantis at the same time! So obviously I was on the prowl, but no sightings.

Shameless self portrait. 

Table of Mormon reps = table full of water

The next day: Sean's birthday!! The big 2 - 4 was rung in by swimming with dolphins! This was the highlight of the trip. They gave us high fives, we snorkeled with them (each of us had a self propelled motor, so we didn't have to swim to keep up!), we kissed em, and perhaps the coolest part: they pushed our feet and propelled us across the top of the water. INCREDIBLE!

They wouldn't let me bring me water camera in...so this is the only photo I have. :(

For his Bday dinner, I made reservations at a seafood restaurant. They grilled up tons of food next to our table (lobster, steak, sausage, veggies, pork, lamb, bacon...I couldn't finish it. I could hardly start it.)

The resort restaurants have a dress code for men-- collared shirts required. Because Sean only packed one collared shirt...it made another appearance.

Right after we finished dinner, they were seating people for a free Cody Simpson concert.  ....ookkkay...why not? (Cody is a 15yr old Australian pop star...he's still up and coming).

Sean pretended to really enjoy it.

The next day we just lounged/slept at the beach.

Sean is always begging me to go swimming. I'll get in the water but I just want to do the least amount of work possible once in water. Sean really means SWIM. He tries to swim as far out as he can. So we don't swim/float together.

I usually prefer hanging poolside. Something about the loaded nacho option the beach just can't provide.

 I wish I could capture the amazingness of the resort. Just incredible everywhere you look.

Atlantis has the worlds largest open air aquirium -- the sides of the tank line hallways in the lobby.

 

There are 2 10ft manta rays! I could watch them for hours.

 

I leg kicked a few times at Atlantis. Just marking my territory.

 

We headed home all too soon :( Our return flights routed through NYC were not cancelled. When booking I gave us a 6 hr layover so we could run into the city to hit up Canal Street. Mass transit was still a disaster, so we waited out the entire layover at the airport. I'm actually a big fan of the JFK JetBlue terminal. The 6 hours actually went by really fast.

We watched a few movies. Can you believe Sean has never heard of Troop Beverly Hills? He's a fan now!

Something about Sean carrying my Betsey Johnson bag just makes me laugh.

 

Real life has been tough to come back to. Man we miss Atlantis. Definitely going back someday.

NYC Video

Sean and I just got back from our fab trip to the Bahamas. While I work on the post, enjoy this video of my last NYC trip.

My super talented friend, Melanie Bean, put together this little compilation of memories together. If you're a fan of me, you'll want to watch the ending.

Back to NYC with the Girls!

I'm just in love with this city. I'll jump on any opportunity to visit. I heard my HB friends Lisa & Melanie were planning on going to visit my old HB roommate, Dre, that recently moved to Brooklyn. Why not?

Photo Cred: Dre Baby

This was my first time staying in Brooklyn. I didn't know what to expect. It was so "neighborhood-y". Clinton Hill (RIP Biggie Smalls) did not disappoint.

This trip was mostly eating, walking, shopping (what else?). It went by so fast, I really can't remember all we did.

Dre's hubby's friend Chris toured with us on the first day.

Walking Brooklyn bridge to Grimaldi's. Grimaldi's now takes the coveted spot of #1 fav NY pizza.

Lombardi's for brunch the next day.

Nothing like some authentic Mexican food at Chevy's. We were tired of walking, ok?!

 

GRACIOUS! My purse guy at Canal street. He always takes care of me.

I don't know why I don't go for the everyday practical purses. This trip I did the duffle and purse LV. The quilted Chanel I had wanted for a while. And the practical Tory. I wish I had got more, sigh.

Pretty Bean at 30 Rock.

Lisa used to live in NYC. She took me to some new places. I love gothic churches.

 

MAGNOLIA'S!!!!!!!

Queen B at the Met! (Dre Baby is preggo and such a trooper. What a cute expectant momma!)

Touring Central Park

 

That night we split up and visited friends in the city. Aimee and Rachel and I have the tradition of Patsy's Pizza every time I come to the city. Why didn't we take pictures?!

One of the highlights of the trip: Bean finding some cats!! If she could have taken them home, she would have.

Cafeteria. Best.Brunch.Ever.

I miss you ladies already. The trip went by too fast. Where in the world can we go next? PS Bean, I need the leg kickin pics!

Seeing Sean

Let's face it, this guy can pull off glasses.

He's been wearing only glasses for weeks in preparation for corrective eye surgery.  I have great eyes and can't imagine being dependent on contacts/glasses like Sean (and lots of people are).  A few months back I told him 'if it were me, I would have already had surgery'. So we started looking into it. 

Two days before surgery Sean had his eyes dilated again. We learned Sean was a better candidate for PRK - not LASIK. There are advantages/disadvantages to both. Unfortunately, PRK has a nasty recovery time. PRK's other big difference (which explains the pain) is scrapping off the top layer of your eye before the lazer-ing begins. Surgery only took about 15 minutes. 

Sean claimed he wasn't tired, but the Valium was really slowing him down.

As soon as we got home, he said he didn't want to nap. He wanted me to put in the movie "Hitch" (he claimed all the dialogue would help him listen.) 5 mins in and he was totally knocked out.

He's been wearing sunglasses 24/7. Because he's drugged and always closing his eyes, he tends to fall asleep a lot. Everywhere.

At one point he was awake and said he'd like sushi. I was happy to get out the house too. Unfortunately, he's not too much fun to take anywhere right now. 

Sunglasses everywhere. He sleeps with them on too.

In tradition of eating taco's at our reception a year ago, we went out for Mexican.

We only went to one hour of church today. We sat in the back row.

We head back to the doctors this Tuesday. Until then, he has contact lenses in his eyes to help with the healing. The contacts make things blurry. Poor guy still can't drive. (He's not feeling up to it anyways). Fingers crossed he'll be back to 'better-than-normal' soon.

Stacey + Tommy's Wedding in Malibu

Boy do my friends know how to throw a wedding. I have known Stacey Hunter since elementary school. We started cheering together in 7th grade and have been best friends since. I wish you could all know the Hunters. NO ONE parties like the Hunters. NO ONE. They've provided many, many fun nights and memories. I was lucky enough to be apart of Stacey's wedding. Stacey has had the smoothest engagement (ok, maybe she only makes wedding planning look easy...she never complained, screamed, or cried once). Her attention to detail was amazing.

Although Stacey has been living in LA since college, the Malibu wedding was a 'destination' wedding for family and friends. I'm NOT complaining! I love any reason to visit CA, certainly Malibu. We all stayed at a rad hotel (Lady Gaga was there!). For the big night, we were bused up a HUGE hill (I got car sick...) to the venue. The road was worth it, because look at this view...

Photo Credit: Ryan Weeger

Enough of me telling you about it, I'll let the pretty pictures do the talking.

Photo: Ryan Weeger

From L to R: Talli! (Stacey's Sister in Law and my 8th grade cheer coach!, Gina Cazale (my other bestie), me, Stacey Hunter, Carrie (Stacey's sister), Hannah & Cassie (Stac's college friends/roommates). Photo credit: Ryan Weeger 

PS: HUGE SHOUT OUT to my Aunt Barbara! This was an insanely difficult dress to edit. She rocked the sleeves.

With Gina & Stacey. Cheer leading brought us together...and 10 years after graduating (AHHH 10?!) I'm so happy to still call them best friends.

Pictures of every guest listed the table assignment to sit at. Super cute. Photo: Ryan Weeger

Stacey's Mom, Georgia, is one of the craftiest/most creative people I know. She did all the flowers! Photo: Ryan Weeger

Her new hubby, Tommy, is one of the greatest guys I've met. So fun to hang out with.

Oh, the Hunters did it again!

 I had been looking forward to this wedding for a year.  Now what?

Back to CA, Daddy Lamb turns 50!

A few days after I got back it Utah, Sean & I drove to CA... (again- we'll take any reason to go home).

Sean's so great at driving long distances while I sleep. I'm grateful :)

We got in on Friday and went straight to Sean's Dad's office to surprise him! Scott turned the big 5-0. The surprises were just getting started... Sean and I stalled before we headed home for a big 60's themed suprise bash.

Biggest.cake.ever. Sean's mom ordered the same cake we served at our wedding. yummy! (if you're in Costa Mesa, stop by Susie's Bakery for some celebration cake!) The details to the party were amazing - everyone dressed up, authentic 60's decor everywhere, and an amazing taco cart for dinner.

How cute is my family?

On Saturday Makenzie, Delaney & I ran up to LA for a celebrity home tour.  I have been on many, many celebrity home tours, but every tour I see something new.

I didn't recognize this at first... but remember the end of Pretty Woman? Julia's prince charming gets out of his limo and up the fire escape? Yep!!

An ice cream truck serving Choco Taco's made our day.

That night ended with Kenzie and I meeting up with Huntington friends at Roscoe's.

Oh boy, I miss these ladies A LOT.

Girls Weekend in Palm Springs

I'm still playing catch up with the blog...

The weekend after cinco de mayo I flew off to Palm Springs, CA for Stacey's Bachlorette party! Stacey was one of my best friends in high school. Gina, Stacey & I have managed to stay close the past (eeek!) 10 years since we graduated high school.  The three of us went different directions in college and haven't all lived in the same city since.  Luckily, I have met most of Stacey's college friends over the years and count them as some of my friends.  I was looking forward to seeing everyone, but honestly, I love any excuse for a trip to California :)

Recognize this lobby? Home to Saved By the Bell's Jessie's Dad's wedding.

ohhh, send me back.  My fair skin enjoyed the shade all day.

This very cheesy photo is a tradition. We randomly did this pose the last day of school our freshman year and repeated it every year. Why stop?

I forgot to mention our big night out was 80s themed. Most of my closet is 80s - so it was easy for me.  Stacey was an amazing Madonna!

It was an amazing weekend.  These girls are some of the most fun you could imagine. Can't wait to see them all at the wedding in July!