I have The Best Job

I really do have the best job. As an Event Planner for a scrapbook company I get to travel to some really amazing places and see some of the most beautiful parts of this country. O yeah and not to mention we always eat at the yummiest places. The only downside is that Jim is not with me to enjoy these wonderful places. I guess that is what Vacation is for right?

Last week I was in San Antonio Texas and Washington D.C.

This was in my room in San Antonio----it was all chocolate YUMMY

Remember the Alamo

Washington D.C. with the Capitol behind me

We took a boat ride from Alexandria VA to Georgetown Washington DC. It was so pretty!

Climb Every Mountian
Climb every mountain, search high and lowFollow every byway, every path you know.Climb every mountain, ford every stream,Follow every rainbow, 'til you find your dream!A dream that will needall the love you can give,Every day of your lifefor as long as you live.Climb every mountain, ford every stream,Follow every rainbow, 'til you find your dream!
From the Sound of Music Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein

Our friend Danielle was in town this weekend so we decided to go hiking on Friday night. We hiked Battlecreek Canyon up to the falls and continuing to the trail junction for the Great Western Trail. The view was beautiful and the weather was perfect for a summer evening hike.



My husband loves to hike. If he had his way he would hike all year long and travel all over the world to hike. I on the other hand like to hike also but in a different way than Jim. My idea of a fun hike is a nice hike that isn't too strenuous and takes only a couple of hours. On this particular hike it it is a steady climb of 2.46 miles to where we stopped to turn around. I think Jim could have ran! Hiking is his happy place and I love that about him. The funny thing is I can run 5 miles no problem but ask me to hike 5 miles and it is a struggle. Funny how we are all different. My goal this year is to hike to the top of Timpanogos Mountain. Jim said we are going to have to do a few more practice hikes before he takes me to the top. I can't wait.


View from the top

Fore

Last Saturday Tasha and I went golfing with Cale at Wasatch Golf Course in Midway, UT. It was such a pretty day and so nice to be riding around in the golf cart. I miss going golfing and lately have been wanting to go hit some balls. Jim surprised me for my Birthday in April and took me golfing, which was a blast. I hadn’t been in a long time. Anyway Saturday was perfect the weather was nice and we saw some neat wildlife.

Tasha and I

Wild Turkey

Deer crossing the green

Cale and Tasha

Alaska Cruise 2007

I just returned from a 7 day cruise to Alaska. It was amazing and beautiful. I have added some photos from my trip below. I went for work and was not able to bring Jim which was a bummer. I will go back with him someday. I loved Alaska...we have beautiful mountains here in Utah but Alaska has majestic mountains. It was my first time on a cruise and I am hooked. I would recommend seeing Alaska the way we did. You can see so much and eat yummy food!

Ready For Spring
It has been awhile since I have blogged so I thought I would add a little something. Life is going great for us. Jim is busy with mid-terms and I am busy with work, church and tv watching. Isn't it funny that we always can find time to watch our favorite TV shows? I am the worst at it. I don't have a whole lot to say today so I thought I would share some things that make me happy right now.

1. Spring
Two weeks ago I went to San Diego for work and took these pictures from across the street of my hotel. It was the same day that Utah got a huge snow storm. Needless to say I did not want to come home. I love San Diego, if we could afford it we would live there.









2. Nelly Furtado
I love her new album Loose. It is one of my favorites right now. When I listen to it I just want to get up and dance. My favorite song on the album is "Say It Right"


3. Ellen
I love Ellen. I TiVo her everyday and watch at least the monologue. She did a wonderful job hosting the Oscars!


4. The Office
I seriously think this is the best show on TV right now. Nothing makes me laugh as hard as that show. I love Dwight he is the best.


5. My Husband
Even though this is #5 I am saving the best for last. My husband Jim brings me so much joy! I am the luckiest girl around. He takes such good care of me and is such a sweetheart. I love being married to my best friend. James Edward Drake you make me HAPPY!

A Sad Time

On Christmas morning when we got to Jim’s Mom’s house for Christmas breakfast we received the terrible news that Jim’s younger brother Stephen had passed away in his sleep the night before. It was a huge shock to all of us as he was a healthy 28 year old. He and his wife Katie had been living at her parent’s house with their 18 month old daughter Samantha. This has been such a huge loss for our family and it has been a difficult few weeks. Stephen was a great person, a very sensitive and caring person. He was a great brother and friend to Jim and the loss has been especially hard on him. After the autopsy came back they found that Stephen had a cyst/mass on his brain that had swelled and they think it blocked the nerve that controls breathing. Stephen had found out he had this cyst a couple of years ago when he started having really bad head aches and had a CAT scan done. He was told that the cyst was not cancerous but it was inoperable and it wouldn’t grow or affect him. They now think that it did increase in size.
We had a beautiful funeral service for Stephen on Dec. 30. Katie asked that Jim and her Dad speak. Jim gave a beautiful and loving tribute to his brother. I know that Stephen was happy. I was in awe as I listened to the words my husband spoke. He bore such a wonderful testimony of our Savior and gave us a perfect glimpse into the person Stephen is. Jim is a wonderful man and I am so thankful to be his wife. It is so hard to see someone you love suffer. I know that the road ahead is a long one but I am so thankful to be by his side.
We have received an out pouring of support from family, friends, and ward members. We are so thankful for the love and prayers we have felt. We know that through our Savior Jesus Christ we will be together again with Stephen.

Jim and his siblings Ellen and Michael

A beautiful view of Timpanogos....just what Steve would have wanted

My handsome husband

Our two sweet nieces Mackenzie and Samantha

Las Vegas Bowl
We made the fast trip to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Bowl December 21, 2007. It was such a fun BYU game. BYU won 38-8 against the Oregon Ducks. We also stayed one night at our favorite hotel JW Marriott in Summerlin. It was a fun time to get away and relax.

One of my favorite things at the JW Marriott is the huge bathrooms!

And the shower is so wonderful....the shower head is in the ceiling the water falls on you like rain.

SNOW
It snowed yesterday afternoon. I know it isn't that much snow but it's snow. I have really loved the warm weather we have had the last few weeks, I am sad to see it go. Jim on the other hand loves the snow and cold so he is really excited that winter if finally here.
I took this picture from my window at work.

I Love Purses
I think that you can never have too many purses. When Jim and I were in California in September we went shopping at a mall on our last day there. I walked into the Coach store and there it was, staring back at me the most beautiful purse I had ever seen. I wanted it .... Jim was a little hesitant because of the price tag. He left the decision up to me. For a moment I was caught up in the spirit of vacation and I almost bought it. But something inside of me was telling me I needed to be responsible, so I put the purse back. Since that day I have regretted not buying that purse. I have never wanted a purse so much. I do not regret not spending $400.00 on it. But I still love it. I know you can find the knock-offs online but I don't want a knock-off I want the real thing. So I continue to look up my beautiful purse with the hopes that someday I will buy it. My Coach bag can be seen here.
In the meantime I found a great red purse. I have wanted a red purse but just couldn't find one I really liked. And with a price tag of $17 who can pass that up. Gotta love T.J.Maxx. The picture makes it looks really shiny but it's not that shiny, it looks like leather.

Here is my cute red purse.



















My sister just got a job at Dillards for the holiday season, she gets 25% off. They sell some Coach bags one of them just happens to be the smaller a little less expensive version of mine. Hint hint Christmas is coming.

I love Fall
This past weekend I had to work at an event in Midway. I took these pictures out of my hotel room. It was so pretty up there. Unfortunately I was working and didn't get to enjoy the outdoors as much as I would have liked to but it was still pretty.

Happy Birthday Baby
Jim celebrated his 32nd birthday on Monday. I decided at the last minute to make him a cake. Since Dallas is his favorite football team and they just happened to be playing the Giants on Monday Night Football I made him a Dallas Cowboys cake. Thanks to my Mom and all of her supplies I think his cake turned out quite cute. I also bought him some silver and blue balloons for the occasion as well. Too bad the cowboys lost but it was still fun to just hang out at home and eat pizza.

Viva Las Vegas-Viva Mariah Carey
This past weekend my sisters Natasha and Victoria and I drove to Las Vegas to see Mariah Carey in concert. We have had our tickets for months and have been waiting for this weekend to arrive. We had so much fun together. It was the first time just the 3 of us have gone someplace together and Vegas was the perfect spot. We left Thursday night and stayed in St. George and then after making a stop at the TJ Maxx and More we drove to Las Vegas Friday afternoon. When we arrived in Vegas we checked in to our hotel and then headed to the local TJ Maxx. People don't understand why we would drive all the way to Las Vegas to go to TJ Maxx but believe me it is worth it. After shopping we headed to the strip to do some sight seeing. We visited The Palms (home of the new Playboy Club opening next week!!!) The Rio, Beligio, and Paris. On Saturday we got up and headed out to sight see. We went visited The Forum Shops, Mirage, TI and the Wynn-which is amazing. We then went back to our hotel to get ready for the Mariah Carey concert. Her concert was at teh MGM Grand in the Garden Arena. We had such a fun time. She put on a great show she looked amazing. I have new dedication to my working out. I want her body! She seriously looks so good. After the concert we went to NY NY, Luxor and then Mandalay Bay. We didn't want the night to end but our feet were killing us! So at 2am we called it a night and went back to our hotel.
It was a fun trip and I am so glad I got to share it with my sisters!!! I love them

A little slice of Heaven
For a few short months every year I get to have my favorite little slice of Heaven......pumpkin bread. This morning on my way home from running I stopped by Kneaders Bakery and picked up 2 loaves of Pumpkin Bread. Jim and I both love their pumpkin bread. There is nothing else that tastes as good as warm pumpkin bread and butter. Yummy!!!!
For a few short months every year I get to have my favorite little slice of Heaven....pumpkin bread. This morning on my way home from running I stopped by Kneaders Bakery and picked up 2 loaves of Pumpkin Bread. Jim and I are both big fans of pumpkin bread. There is nothing that tastes as good as warm pumpkin bread with butter. Yummy!!!!

I Love Vacation
Jim and I had such a great time on vacation in Southern California. We spent 2 days at the beach and 1 day at Disneyland. The weather was great and the water was warm. My favorite thing was being able to spend 4 days with Jim without any work or school. It was so hard to come home.

First Day of School Aug. 2006















I have to brag about my two brothers. Blake is 12 and Cade is 10. I just love these guys. They are getting so big!

Provo River Half Marathon
August 12, 2006














We did it! My first half-marathon in 3 years and it felt great. We had a great race and finished 2 minutes earlier than in 2003. Go figure. The race started up at South Fork in Provo Canyon which can typically be really cold but the weather the day of the race was great. We kept a steady pace for most of the race and were able to finish strong. Around mile 12 is when the exhaustion started to take over but it wasn't anything we couldn't handle. It was awesome to have Mom, Tasha, Dale, Blake and Cade there at the end to cheer us on. I love that I could run 13.1 miles and it didn't kill me, I was still able to enjoy my Saturday shopping with Tasha.
Mile 12.5














My Dad and I have still been running everyday. We run from the mouth of Provo Canyon to a little past Canyon Glen each morning. It is 6 miles round trip. It is so pretty up there and for some reason the time goes by so much faster. I do enjoy working out first thing in the morning and not having to go after work. I don't know if we will do anymore races anytime soon but it is good to have a goal to work towards something.

We went rollerskating for a friends 30th birthday party. I think this was the first time Jim had been rollerskating in years. He's just so dang tall but once he got his balance down he did great!

I know I am horrible at updating my blog but after reading all of my friends postings I have decided to do better. There is only one small problem, I don't really have anything interesting to write about. However I am going to make the effort to update more frequently.

Last Thursday and Friday I along with one of my co-workers went on a small overnight trip to Sonoma CA. I know what you are thinking but yes there is other stuff to do besides drink wine. Okay well maybe not a whole lot more but it was still fun. My Dad is from that area so it is always a treat for me to return to Northern California. The weather was great, a little cool in the mornings but it warms up nicely in the afternoon. Which I learned is why the grapes like the climate so much. We toured 3 vineyards, 1 olive grower and 1 mushroom grower. No, not those kind of mushrooms, the kind you eat with food. The food was amazing....I ate so well. It makes coming home to tuna fish sandwiches not seem so exciting. Overall it was a great trip even if it was fast and it was for work. I want to go back soon with Jim. It really is some of the most beautiful country.

Saturday I was supposed to get up and run with my Dad but since I had worn some heels on Friday and didn't know I would be hiking in the olive farm I had gotten a blister. So after a quick phone call at 5:45am I was back in bed until Jim woke me up at 10 to see if I wanted to go with him to Salt Lake while he took his last final. I of course said yes since we hadn't really seen much of eachother. So while he took his final I started reading "Confessions of a Shopaholic" I am in love with that book. It reminds me so much of someone I know...he he.

After Jim was done we ate lunch at Cafe Trio in Salt Lake. Such yummy food. We then headed home but first made a stop at the TJMaxx in Draper. I bought a new purse. I am so in love with it I can't stop looking at it. I love to shop. That about wraps up our week and weekend.

I don't really have any big plans for this weekend except running a half marathon with my Dad on Saturday. It will be my first half in about 3 years. Hopefully I will finish! I have been training with my Dad for about a month. He is such a good running partner, I really look forward to our runs every morning. I don't however look forward to the alarm going off at 5:15 am