Oh Barry....

...And I need you today, oh Barry!



Long story short
I got free tickets to a Barry Manilow show
and then I found a bunch of really great people
to tag along with me...
The show got canceled last minute

We sort of really suck at frowny faces
Apparently i just laugh when I'm sad. 

Nice hair Cole

Luckily I have some really fantastic friends
and we had a super night,
even without Barry

Just playing in the rafters at Cole's cool studio

You're Welcome

July 12th

There is no Magic in our Practical

There are moments in your life where small bits of new information can change so much of what you thought you knew about the past.

I experienced one of these moments this summer, at Shara and Ricky's wedding.
I ran into an old friend who had a lot to say about a person who I no longer keep in touch with.
This turned out to be one of those situations where your initial reaction to all of this knowledge is "I would be better off not knowing".
But the truth of it is, that learning all of this made it much easier to deal with my current situation.
I had been really sad and dwelling on the situation for months.
After the shock of all this new found information wore off, I felt relieved.
I no longer felt the need to beat our situation into the ground and replay every scene of our friendship falling apart.
It was like all of a sudden it all made sense. There was a reason for all of it.
It felt comfortable to just let it go.

On a second thought... I certainly had moments where I had to ask myself, "How possible is it that most of this is a lie?"
It's definitely a possibility.
But the sad, yet reassuring answer was that ... it all felt true to me.
As crazy and terrible as some of the things that I learned were... I was never truly in disbelief.
Every thing that I learned sounded exactly related to something else that I already knew to be true.

In the harshest of words.... I felt that I would be "better off without her".

The one question that still remains an occasional occurrence in my thoughts is, "how different would things be if she had been willing to talk to me?"

I would like to think that things would be completely different.
I am an accepting person. An understanding person. A compassionate person.
If she had ever thought to be even the slightest bit open or honest with me.. I would have never turned her away.

But instead, she made me out to be a fool. Ten years of foolishness is enough for me.

Rooney and Ricky

This past summer,

one of the very few, truly

"made for each other" couples,

 tied the knot!!

This amazing couple happens to be

my beautiful sister in law, Shara and her awesome husband, Ricky!

They have been the best of friends for like 10 years

 and one day they just realized the potential of what had been standing in front of them the entire time.

There is no better fairy tale 

than that of marrying your best friend. 

Just a few of my personal photos from the event. 

Being in the wedding I unfortunately couldn't spend time on photos

All the lights of July

Fourth of July

this year wasn't the most eventful 

but it was special

because we got to spend it with Derek's family that usually isn't here this time of year. 

Everyone happened to be in town for Shara's wedding

so we all got to be together for the fireworks. 

We kind of just took it easy this year and watched from Liberty Park

because we can walk from our place. 

To our surprise

Liberty really put on an amazing show. 

The only problem is that you can't see!

Ha! Seriously.... 

You really can't see much at all.

There are too many trees. 

Yay for siblings!

From Liberty,

we walked to Lucky 13

which is a bar with super fantastic burgers

that just so happened to be straight across from The Bees Stadium.

We got to watch their fireworks as well!! 

Score! 

~

Ever since I have been a part of the Jensen family

we have followed the Sandy tradition 

of going to 

Draper Days

This year was fun but didn't quite accomplish 

last years success. 

Last year I got to hold an alligator.

That was cool :)

Can you tell which couple just got back from their honeymoon??? Ha! 

~

Our third and final firework show was again at Liberty Park.

Utah's own, 24th of July Celebration

also known as Pioneer Day

This year, we certainly learned that it is about time to find a new place 

to celebrate this particular day. 

Sadly enough, Liberty has just become too crowded

and a little too youthful for the likes of 

Grandpa Der and this "Old Lady". 

All in all

the Fourth and its surrounding celebrations 

were good fun...

But I have to say that I do miss my 

days of walking barefoot down the Oceanside Pier,

flinging around, dodging chewed gum and sand, in the Zipper at the carnival, 

sprinting, screaming across the blistering sand,

munching down Stater Brothers fried chicken out of the family size box with sandy fingers,

browsing the millions of street booths full of puka shells,

catching every wave possible waiting for the one that will end your body surfing hours by kindly slamming your face into the ground,

and getting sun burnt just enough to make you pray you never have to wear clothing again. 

All to see a faint burst of color behind a blanket of clouds over the ocean. Ha!

No one wanted to see fireworks anyway.... that's not at all why we got there at 7am!

It didn't matter though.... 

We were all so tired at that point,

that we just pass out the second we enter the car

leaving my wonderful mother to drive home all alone

in bumper to bumper traffic. 

Those were the days.....

Someone please learn how to turn back time so I can go back and appreciate those days. 

July 4th

The Garage Surprise!

Just when I thought the Birthday celebrations were threw...

and that I was already the luckiest birthday girl around....

Derek whips out the big guns 

with a pretty epic 

SURPRISE PARTY!!

He first takes me to one of my favorite 

thrift stores, allowing me to blow 50 bucks on whatever I want. 

This might sound strange for the normal girl,

but if you know me at all....

you know that there are few things in life that I enjoy more than a good treasure hunt! 

Very thoughtful and sweet on Der's part!

After shopping,

we headed to an unknown location for an unknown event. 

When we arrived at 

The Garage (Despite the name, it's a really fun bar and grill)

We were 2 of 5 people there. Ha!

Not the best surprise in the world 

but first impressions are not always revealing. :) 

Pardon the hair... I was in a weird "growing out the bangs" stage. 

Courtesy of Cole

Can't remember what happened here... but I'm sure it had something to do with Derek and his mischief. 

Although, Der's timing may have been a little off in the whole planning arena, 

the Surprise party turned out to be 

one of the funnest nights we've had

with most of our close friends in one place. 

One of the reasons we love The Garage so much 

is because they have 

the game cornhole

It's a really simple game,

but also very addictive!

We pretty much played until about everyone that was determined to make it in the hole, did.

That is pretty much how it always works. 

It is nearly impossible to quit without making it at least once.

You just get so close you can taste it

and then it becomes that thing that you will accomplish,

no matter what!

It's fun! :)  

One of the most thoughtful and loved gifts I have ever received.....

I realize that is a strong statement to make,

and it in no way over powers any previous gifts I have received in my life.

Each gift is special in its own way. 

This particular one 

was given to me by a friend who obviously pays great attention 

to her friends 

and takes the time to find something that she knows will have a special place in their heart. 

Well she was right,

and I hope she knows that she holds a special place in my heart...

right next to Carly Simon.  :) 

Birthday roses from Derek that morning.

They were some of the most 

beautifully colored roses I have ever seen

and they bloomed so full, 

like overnight!

I think it was because it was so hot in our apartment. 

It was really fun to watch. 

July 1st