My 3 Favorite Salads To Go

This summer has been a killer for me, the heat has been sapping my strength since the end of June! For a while there I didn't know why I was soooo lazy and didn't want to do anything... was it really just the heat? are all summers like this? oh my gosh, is global warming real?!? Then, at a trip to the doctors to do some blood work I found out I'm having a baby!!! So, while it still feels like this has been the hottest summer of my life... I feel way better about being so exhuasted, and so lazy, and coming home from work to watch tv (the olympics, bachelorette/bachelor in paradise, and stranger things) in our air-conditioned basement.

Anyways, all I have been wanting to consume are cold slushy drinks and maybe a big delicious salad to eat at home. My problem is that I can't ever seem to make my own salad that I enjoy as much as the salads I can get out...  perhaps one day, when the sun and pregnancy aren't making me so lazy, I'll master the art of salad making in my own kitchen, but until then...

Shout-out to my three favorite salads to-go that don't ever fail me! 

#1 - Chick Fil-A's Cob Salad with Avocoda Lime Ranch Dressing
What I love about this salad is the bite-sized romaine and baby greens - they are the perfect size for your fork and mouth. And I love the delicoius fried chicken with the crispy fried red bell peppers, grilled sweet corn, cheese, bacon bits, diced eggs, little grape tomatos, shredded red cabbage and carrots, and that avocado lime ranch dressing. I learned from my sister to add the dressing and crispy peppers, put the top back on and shake it, everything mixes and tastes fantastic together.

#2 - Pizzeria Limone's Italiana Salad
Hearty, nutty, and fresh! It's got fresh greens, aged mozzarella, hot fennel sausage (crumbled), pickled beets, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, and fresno peppers... served with yummy blue cheese vinaigerette and a healthy side of Crosta (their bread). I can't get enough of this salad, I wish I had invented it... because it has a lot of my favorite flavors in it, I just never thought to combine them! If you love deep, hearty, full flavors... you will totally dig this.

#3 - Red Rock's Warm Shrimp Salad
Oh my gosh, this is hands down my most favorite salad I've ever gotten at a restaurant! Red Rock is already our trusty go to restaurant when eating out, everything on their menu is delicious, but after our visit when I ordered the warm shrimp salad, I haven't ever ordered anything different. My husband will sometimes, if I'm lucky, stop for take out and get me one... I love eating it at home because I can pick up the container and lick it clean without anyone judging. It's got sauteed shrimp, watercress, plenty of spinach, diced and roasted sweet potatoes, sliced up gratefruit, toasted pistachios, gorgonzola cheese, and creamy lemon pepper dressing! You guys, it's amazing!

Can you tell I'm pregnant? This is the strangest post ever. But, maybe the summer heat has made you as lazy as me. If so, go buy yourself a salad and chill out in an air-conditioned kitchen... fall is coming, and it's all I can think about!

Peace, pine trees, and prayers for rain,
Joy

PS. Here's all the salads I have pinned for inspiration... one day I'll be a proper woman who makes them.

Summer Tidbits

We started off our summer with a weekend trip to Portland, OR... and it was absolutely magical! With left Dozer with a dog sitter we found on Dog Vacay (it's like Airbnb, but for dogs) and flew out to spend the weekend with Lily and Tom. We stopped and smelt the roses at the Rose Garden, rode the aerial tram, ate at Pok Pok, ate at Salt & Straw, wandered through the best farmers market, visited some alpacas, and had a really great and chill Memorial Day BBQ... with really great food and good company.  And can you believe this breakfast (pictured above)!? Lily bought me freshly picked asparagus (I'm trying to grow my own right now, that won't be able to harvest for two years) at the farmers market to eat for breakfast, and her table setting was so beautiful and picturesque - it cheers my soul every time I look at it!

 

Back at home I've made my 99 days of summer list, I posted it on IG - but want to type it up here too:

-read the constitution

-find the perfect backyard hammock

-swim @ crestwood park

-make some good popsicles

-organize family bowling night

-read/listen to all the Flavia de Luce mysteries (I love this girl so much, soooo delightful!)

-write Dolly Parton a letter (she's coming to Utah this summer!)

-explore Ferguson Canyon w/ Dozer

-plant some flowers in the median of the fort union business park and 7200 south

-go skinny dipping

-cozy up the camping trailer

-make a chalk drawing for Buttlervile Days (over Pioneer Weekend)

-throw casual potluck in backyard (sans cell phones)

 

I haven't done any of this list yet... but there's still time.

 

Other 2016 Summer Tidbits:

Watching the show Alone on the History channel... I'm so impressed by the girl who is finding all the medicinal herbs and green things to eat! I want to know what she knows about survival and Mother Eath. (best show on tv)

 

We found out that dragonflies are attracted to magpie blood.

 

Watching the family of baby quail that show up in our backyard a couple times a day, I love them... it makes me sad seeing them grow out of their cottonball stage!

 

Absolutely loving on summer rainy days, I don't think you can fully enjoy summer without the rainy days too... plus I love taking a break from watering everything in the evenings.

 

Dozer is completely terrified of fireworks, but did so good sitting outside with us on the 4th of July - our neighborhood was a warzone!

 

We drove out to the Little Grand Canyon, down in Emery County over the weekend, and it blew me away!

 

Dining up Millcreek Canyon at Log Haven for our anniversary, out on their deck.

 

Dining with my family up Provo Canyon at the Sundance Owl Bar, out on their deck.

 

Our Saturday out shooting with the family, up Spanish Fork Canyon, truly was an extravaganza this year! My mom even enjoyed shooting!

 

Hanging out at the Strawberry Days Rodeo with family and friends.

 

And! I've already had three snow cones!

 

LOVE YOU, SUMMER!

My Favorite Grilled Chicken

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My favorite grilled chicken recipe is so easy and sooooooo good... pair it with some buttered corn on the cob and a yummy summer salad, and you got dinner taken care of!

Ready for the recipe?

Sharing Time: Happy Summer!

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We have August coming right up this Saturday (tomorrow), but before it gets here we have one magical summer moment to look forward to tonight... the blue moon!

Here's a quick poem to get you in a blue moon mood:

"But once in a while the odd thing happens. Once in a while the dream comes true. And the whole pattern of life is altered. Once in a while the moon turns blue." - WH Auden

We want to do something fun for the blue moon, but we haven't decided what yet. What I really want to do is to grill up some good food, sit outside by our fire pit, and try to beat Mike at backgammon... because it's only once in a blue moon where I can actually beat him!

Since it's been a while, here's some summer goodness worth sharing:

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I found this simple assembly recipe on the Trader Joe's blog,

and decided I needed to give it a try so I went and bought all the ingredients -

well, these little ice-cream sandwiches are DELICIOUS!!!

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I love this picture, and this braid... her blog shares some pretty awesome hair tutorials.

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I searched and searched for the classic pop mold this summer,
and found what I was looking for at Williams-Sonoma.
(they are even on sale right now!)
(ps. check out the popsicle ideas on this pinterest board... yum!)

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 This summer has been the summer of friends buying houses,

so I have had my eyes peeled for good housewarming presents.

I love these simple tablecloths from Ikea.

And that's all for now, have a good weekend!!!!

Saying Howdy!

Howdy!

I hope you all are having sunny and joyful summers, full of home-made popsicles on the back porch, drives up the canyon, wild-life sightings, food truck runs, evenings outside chatting with friends, and good music with the windows rolled down.

It's time I wiped off the dust that has settled here the past two months, and played a little catch up on this blog I love so much!

My handsome Mike and I have been talking about getting married for a while, and in June, we decided to make it happen! After much deliberation we decided to do Mike's dream wedding, which was a quick trip to the courthouse. It was low-key, fast, and crazy... and it has made Summer 2015 one of my favorite summers yet! It feels so good to be in love and to be making fun summery memories together. Just last night, after we both got off of work, we drove up the canyon, spur-of-the-moment, and ate deli sushi rolls while sitting on the back of the jeep and admiring the empty ski lifts over the crazy mountain wild flowers. I love stuff like that. And I love Mike.

Work has been super busy too, so between long days at work, fixing up the house, and soaking up summer with my sweetheart, I just haven't had much time to post. Hopefully I will start squeezing in some more blog time, because I miss it bad.

(Summer portraits of the Mr and Mrs up Little Cottonwood Canyon with moose in the background,

crossing off one of the most important items on my 99 days of summer list!)

Peace and pine trees,

Whitney

Memorial Day

Sante Fe friend salad, contributed by Jeff.

Dad painting the deck.
Max BBQing

Sam chopping trees down.

Dewey pool.

Packing stuff up the Orchard Shack with Dan.

Clear beautiful Memorial Day weather.

Life is so happy right now.

Summer 2010

one of the best photo's taken this past summer:

I can't believe October is here in T minus 2 days.

October is my favorite.

(I miss that hat)

Saturday

could saturday get any better?? I mean look at this sky!

(photo thanks to Mary Dewey) 

I found my new favorite spot to sit at the Rio Tinto... it's right here.

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waking up in a tent w/ andie near a pretty river

McKay swinging in her hammock above, still sleeping

hiking to Julie Andrews meadow w/ andie and cousin Sara

swimming in the dewey pool

basketball extreme

real salt lake soccer

breakfast with the king

finding money on the road (8$$$)

harry potter's birthday

JCW's

dance party at Nate's

and calls from Chuck saying Floyd was found

.

beat that, August.

Spark Your Lighters, Wave Them Around

Saturday night I found myself next to a roaring fire with a view of the valley's pulsing lights below, and a view of heaven's twinkling lights above. It was just what was needed, as this picture above depicts how I felt after a crazy filled weekend.  I felt like a cow. A cow in the herd, being herded from event to event.

It was wonderful. A wonderfully wild weekend.

Starting Thursday with Greg's sweaty little Girl Talk set. Which was magical, to say the least. Maxxxxx took these picture below because he got to be on stage!!!!

freak! this last picture I like, it's when Max took over for Greg, and everyone was pumping an X - because he was so much better than girl talk. Okay, that was a lie. But if you need proof of how awesome this is, that max was on stage dancing... please make your way over to my sister's blog - she has a youtube video posted.

After the girl talk crowds and crazies, we went and saw inception at midnight. Because I love me a good midnight showing, to feel they hype and enjoy a good packed theatre.

Friday, I worked for 2 hours, than sped up to SLC. Parked my car. Was herded through the lines of the Lion House Pantry (which was packed), to have lunch with Mark. Skipped across the street after shoveling the food in (and talking business) and joined a crowd of weird, red-blooded patriots at Desert Book, to have my book signed by Mr. Glenn Beck. The line was forever long, but I only had to wait for like 2 hours - and was 12th in line to see him. My friend had been in line since 9am, talk about dedication, crazy boy!   Here's a poor picture I took after I got out of desert book, and was headed back to my car. The line goes all around that corner, and all the way down the street.

But I got to shake his hand! Glenn Becks hand! And stare into his eyes! I was pretty star-struck... if you click on this link you can see me, I made the news... it's like seconds 11 and 12.
Don't blink when you watch that. Pretty exciting, I know.

From the book signing midst, a quick fresh'n up, throwing on a dress, I found myself in my family's midst. One of my favorite cousins, Tyler Whitney, had his wedding 'p'reception Friday night. The Guymon backyard was packed, and the line was too long for me to stand in. So I just sat with my big extended family, and let them oooh and ahh over my recent brush with Glenny B. The Guymons and Standifirds have lived in Highland for billions of years, and both have tons of kids... so I think everyone from the stake came. It was a big fun mess of people.

The morning came quickly, at 6:30, when I had to wake up to get these fellows to the races:

Don't they look great? Tour de Donut is such a funny race. Ben and Nate were american hero's showing up like that to a bike race. And as I was trying to get them signed up, and before they biked up, the actual tour de donut dude recognized me from the 2008 race "hey, weren't you the indian?".. made my whole day. Can't wait till next year.
I didn't stick around the race too long, just long enough to remember how hot 21 miles is in burlap on a bike, and to be grateful I had a wedding to get to.

The temple was packed packed packed with weddings. So many people, so many bridesmaids, so many little children running around wearing yellow. And it was hot. Too hot.

I was glad to go home, relax.. take andie for a drive up the canyon, jam some bloc party, while munching on blue lemon's sweet potato fries, to catch some peace and pinetrees:

felt good.

Felt real good to not be herded around for the rest of the night.

Just sit around a fire, and let the tin foil dinners get cooked.

peace and pinetrees, whit.

Just One Week In The Summer

changed sam's name to andie's in my phone

floated the onieda in idaho - got a rapid named after me

man handled a mule through a river in spanish fork after night fall

finally watched a river wild with kevin bacon

held book club in my backyard

got the flu and cured it in 30 minutes

took a friend to IHC where he was diagnosed with the dengue fever

have filled up my gas tank twice

played hearts twice at work and didn't loose (didn't really win either)

rode my bike through a thunder storm

planned a year long back packing trip for 2010

applied to SUU

ate a USA snowcone

planned and executed a treasure hunt

watched 5 episodes of psych

stayed up all night

ran into the biggest spider I have ever seen on this continent - and witnessed it's gooey demise

fell in and out of love

got a tour of a upper and lower falls yellowstone and a really old barn (thank you mckay)

participated in a birthday party

transferred large sums of money

and then I did that one thing, yup that's right, and I wasn't even afraid

(not necessarily in that order)

and it hasn't even been a week since the plane landed.

A Music Porch Sit

A couple days ago on "all things considered" they spotlighted this book, 1,000 RECORDINGS TO HEAR BEFORE YOU DIE... they say the book is written with the idea that "the more you love music, the more music you love". I love that phrase, because for me that is completely true.

When I came home from my mission I was excited to listen to my old music, but was disappointed in how unsatisfying it was to me. I hadn't even listened to all my CD's but was already sick of looking through them. It's nice being older and not so ignorant about good music. I feel like my music taste has matured a lot since being home from Romania, matured and broadened.

Music I've listened to since being home I'd never thought I'd like: the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Neil Diamond, Janis Joplin, Joan Baez, Dolly Parton, and Keith Urban... just to name a few off the top of my head.

On my mission I had a companion who listened to Jazz, and I thought it was so cool. And lately I have been wanting to listen to classical at work. There is so much I still need to explore and educate myself on.

While talking about this book in the article they spotlighted a few of the songs that reminded them of summer. One of the songs they picked was Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run. This song is great (heck, it's a great album). The article said that you could put this song on any time and "immediately evoke summer nights of endless possibility", and I completely agree. It makes me curious what everyone else's summer songs are, and I think it would be fun to sit have a porch sit one of these fine summer evenings and just listen to good music while the sun goes down.

The end of summer and the beginning of fall is probably the most exciting time of year for me. I love it, it makes me so anxious and excited. I feel like there is so much to do, and that there is so many possibilities. Wonderful weather, clear skies, hot afternoons, inspiring mountains... ah, and music that captures these feelings is the best.

Joy

Sorry for not making posts. My recent lack of blogging is probably a good thing, it means at Horrocks I'm working hard with no distractions, and that at home I'm playing hard and am completely distracted.

Current list of distractions:

turbo kick boxing
dressing as an indian (feathers)
good indian food (dots)
biking 21 miles on the tandem
late nights at nic and amandas
shooter, the movie
plane tickets to seattle
bottle rocket air raids on dance parties
dirty wet clothes
free concerts at the galivan center
fabric to be quilted
diet coke runs
helping mom and dad steal bricks from abandoned houses
practicing the organ
dark knight ticket waiting on my fridge
tom's hammock across the ditch
funnel cake
ute stampede
son of ranbow, thursday, with friends and toney
trying to finish the book of mormon
dinner on the deck
corn on the cob
hikes to sunset peak
swimming
shake it, by metro station, the song

Mt Mahogany 5K

This is the course for the 5K tomorrow that I organized. I'm way excited.

Life Is Funner In A Wetsuit

One of my favorite lines from this last weekend was said by my friend Nathan, "life is so much funner with a wetsuit". So today I looked up wetsuits on craigs list.

Last night Laura and I were doing P90X and in the middle of 'bow to boat' she yelled out what I thought was a Japanese phrase from Ichigo in Kamikaze Girls. It was almost the funniest thing I have ever heard.

Today I listened to arcade fire all day at work.

I just took a shower and used Laura's organic hair products, and now her mom is making us dinner.

Things are good.

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Awesome!

Summer Weekend

If this weekend was a taste of what summer is going to be like this year... I'll have no complaints. Painting decks, garage selling, eating too much Indian food, and good jokes.

That bike I have there was only 5 bucks, and it's the perfect size for me. Last night Nate and I spent two hours taking it apart, stripping it down. We are going to start a blog on our fixed gears... so more on that later.