Not so campy Camp Yuba

Earlier this year I was overcome by the love for a good discount and signed up to do two triathlons (bulk discount). A couple weekends ago was the second of these tris, Camp Yuba organized by RaceTri. I was only slightly better prepared for this race. And I say only slightly because I did start training after the tri in June, but with some recent changes to my life (I got called to be the Relief Society President in my single's ward) I didn't work out for at least the month before the race. It wasn't a pretty race time, but I did at least as well as June. I got exactly the same time as the Salem tri...down to the second. Now that is talent.
I don't have any pictures of me racing at this event, but I do have an awesome story. Brian and I drove down to Gunnison Friday night to stay in a hotel so we wouldn't have to get up too early before the race. What we didn't know was that the side of the lake we were staying near was not the side the tri would be raced on. So after sleeping in longer than we planned we got in the car and drove to the lake where we discovered we were not on the correct side. We hurried to the other side of the lake, grabbed our race packets and got our numbers painted on our legs and arms and immediately after we put our bikes down the race horn was signaling the start of the race. Now that is one way to start a race. Not the most ideal situation, but we did it. And thus completes #6 of THE LIST. I promise I do do things outside this list.

Wake surfing

I love Utah. We can do everything here including surfing. A couple weeks ago my best friend Erika dragged me to Bear Lake with her friends. (I only say dragged because I was having one of those conflicts of too many fun things to do that weekend and only having one body to do them with.) It was a great weekend and I am so glad Erika invited me. I made some great friends.

We know how to relax

I drove up Thursday evening with Erika and her roommate, Abbie. Now I don't usually pack a lot of stuff. For example when I went to New Zealand the only make up I packed was eye-liner and mascara. It was a 2 week trip and I was ready most mornings within 30 minutes. I don't like to be high-maintenance. But if ever I was going to look high-maintenance it was the Bear Lake trip. I took my bike and all my riding gear, stuff for running, 2 swimming suits, 2 hats (I like hats), my camera with extra lenses (but this is really a must), stuff just in case we went hiking and more clothes than I would need. And we were only gone for 2 days. I didn't bike. I didn't run. But I did wear both swimming suits. And I did wear my running shorts, but not while running. Needless to say I over packed a little.

Christy getting up on the wake

Friday was the day for sun. The Matts with the boat were coming up later Friday evening so the rest of us lounged on the "private" beach (yes we are spoiled) and played games. I have to say I think we are genius; to keep ourselves cool we set up a table and chairs in the water to play games. Dinner Friday night consisted of over 75 kabobs we grilled up on the neighbors grill (sweet old man next door let us use his grill after ours almost exploded).

75 kabobs for about 6 of us...lay off me I'm starving

Chef Kody at work

Saturday we got on the water and it was beautiful. We were surprised that the lake wasn't cold which is very typical of Bear Lake and we were happy that there weren't a lot of boats either. We each took a turn trying to wake surf. It was awesome. Kody really showed us all how to do it.  Then Christy taught us the ways of wake boarding. She is a mad woman.

Me and my gal pal Erika...love her

Love that eyebrow 

Getting situated 

And she's up

Hardcore :)

Me, Christy and Rachel

Kody showing us how it is really done

I very much want to buy a boat, learn to drive it (including how to back it up) and get me a wake surf board and hit the lakes next summer. Go out and try it, you will fall in love.

Snowshoe Winter

This is my favorite winter view.
Love the pine trees covered in snow, sun shinning.

Talena and I headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon 2 weekends in a row trying to make it up to Dog Lake.  Last week I was sick and we made it just over half way when there was no more trail and we were both too tired to go off breaking trail.  But the sun was shinning and it was a beautiful day so I couldn't complain too much.

At least we brought a really tasty lunch

This week we took a map and a navigator (her bro).  Despite our effort to not get lost we never made it to our destination.  We got started too late and ran out of daylight.  Oh and there was the little fact that it was FREEZING!  I couldn't feel my nose.  I could tell I was touching it, but I couldn't feel myself touching it.  Talena's feet were going to fall off (ok not really, but I am sure they were cold).  Ellie (Talena's sis) had cold hands and all the hand warmers they had with them expired in 2005.
I threw a little 2 year old tantrum for 30 seconds then we booked it back down to the trailhead, my Subaru and its amazing tushie toasters.

Even my hair froze

Cold, but we still smile.

Dog Lake we will be back another day to conquer you.

Get Your Art On - Utah Arts Festival

 Event Notice
Utah Arts Festival - Starts Tonight
Dates: Thursday, June 24 - Sunday, June 27
Time: Noon to 11PM daily


Oh Joy!  I love the Utah Arts Festival.  The first year I really remember hearing about the arts festival (I mean really remember it) was 7 years ago.  My brother-in-law was part of the "Brew Crew" (Yes, that is the beer guys) and my sister was talking about getting tickets for free.  Sadly, it took me a few more years to attend.

My first festival experience:
A few years back a friend of mine had worked on a film that was participating in the short film contest held at the arts festival.  We ate great ethnic food, we watched creative short films and we strolled the booths.  It was such a great evening it was hard to not come back every night.  A year later I attended to see a free concert. 

The Utah Arts Festival has something for everyone (unless you are one of those people who is never happy with anything).  There is great music, films, food, art and crafts.  You can really make the UAF whatever you would like.  Usually, I attend for the food, it is my favorite part.  I love eating ethnic food.  There are rows of food vendors there with every variety of food you could imagine.  I recommend going with a group and each sampling something different.

Located at Library Square, the festival covers the area from 300 East to the City & County Bldg and from 400 South to 500 South.
Not Free!  Check out link below to see ticket prices.  But don't forget to look around discounts.  You can get $2 off for riding your bike.  This year the UAF held a concert the week before (CAKE! was incredible) and gave out 2 for 1 vouchers.

Art courtesy UAF website (Leia Bell)

Every year the UAF picks an artist to design the art for the festival.  This years artwork was provided by Leia Bell.  Along with her art for the UAF she does most of the concert posters for Kilby Court.  I love what she did for the arts festival, each image is a different landscape of Utah.  Check out Leia Bell's work.

More details of the Utah Arts Festival complete with booth and concert info -  http://www.uaf.org/

What to do in Salt Lake City?

Recently, I feel like I have had a lot of people ask me for suggestion of things to do in Salt Lake City. I have been living in Salt Lake over the last 5 years (with the occasional return to my parent's) and I absolutely love living here. It's a decent sized city with lots of things going on and it is constantly changing.  SLC is very accessible (transportation/parking as well as the people) and of course I love the easy access to the mountains. One of the best parts is there is always something new I haven't seen, a restaurant I haven't tried or an event I haven't been to.
Out of this love for the SLC and the recent inquiries I thought I would share a list of fun summer activities to do around Salt Lake City.  So each day over the next week I will be posting a list of weekly reoccurring summer events that will be going on around downtown SL and surrounding areas.  Wed on Wed, Thurs on Thurs, Fri & Sat on Fri (because seriously I won't be on my computer over the weekend), Sun - nothing (you should all be in church), Mon on Mon and Tues on Tues.  So here we go...

 Wednesday

Sadly, I decided to start this on Wednesday.  I'm sorry I got nothing.  Salt Lake City is seriously lacking in a good Wednesday night activity since the Movies at the Capitol got moved to Thursdays.  Returning in 2011 Rock Concerts at the Gallivan Center will be held on Wed, but 2010 is "make your own plans" Wednesday.
If you know of anything going on in SLC Wednesdays afternoons or evening on a regular basis leave a comment and I will update.