Screamin' Ice Cream & Nasty Cars

National Ice Cream Day is a holiday that hopefully everyone finds time to celebrate!
We seem to celebrate it more often than just Friday. Early this week when we had had a craving we headed to Sub Zero for our first time with a gift card from Father's Day from my Mom to Brandon. Genius! It's such a mad science experience and the science behind it perks my little brain. Cream + Candy + Liquid Nitrogen = Delicious Creaminess! Science is Awesome!
For the actual holiday I donned my ice cream earrings and we headed to Cold Stone to devour our Favorite concoction of Brownies, Caramel, Fudge and Nuts. Rich much!

 So I rarely photograph myself and should to prove that I was actually there but I had to share my little cone earrings that i've had since I was little and found just in time for the occasion. I can't believe I still had them!

Now on to the NASTY CARS...nasty, sick, mean. And they all mean good things. Those are the terms my Dad uses to describe a car that's worth looking at and listening to. Saturday we headed to a Car Show with my parents. I have a lot of fond memories growing up at Car Shows and race tracks. I was excited to go relive memories with the Mister. 

 Brandon's Favorite Car at the Show. Red Shelby Cobra.

 

 This Old Man was really cute and classy. He makes me smile.

 

Freedom & Fireworks

The 4th of July has always been a beloved holiday full of traditions. Growing up we would wake up at the crack of dawn and head to the balloon festival, hit up the parade, nap, play, BBQ, and enjoy fireworks on a blanket right under the explosions.
This year Mr. Finch and I were asked to plan/host the Ward Breakfast. We had an amazing turn-out and I grabbed a few quick shots before it got super busy! My parents invited us out for a BBQ and we licked our lips and fingers over my Dad's competition worthy ribs! We saw the Movie, Lone Ranger, had the world's quickest Croquet game (2nd place, so close but good hit Kate!) and then set up camp for fireworks up by the new Outlet Mall by Cabelas for Thanksgiving Points fireworks. From that vantage point we could see the entire valley celebrate with fireworks. 
My favorite fireworks are the white and gold ones. The large gold ones that slowly cascade down and look like the bottom of Cinderella's ball gown. Always my favorite. 
I'm so grateful for the Country I live in and the Freedoms I enjoy. Happy Independence day!

 We were pretty tired after the breakfast and had to "brighten up" for the next picture.

Mountain Retreat

We are very fortunate to live in a place so close to mountains, lakes and beautiful scenery. There is something about being in nature that reminds me to slow down, breathe deep, count my blessings, and realize what a loving Father in Heaven we have to surround us by such beauty. Camping with the Finch Family afforded me the time to relax and reflect that I really needed. The Mr. and I dubbed the campground "Camp Butterflies", with wild flowers everywhere, butterflies gathered in large numbers. There's something so delicate about a butterfly. I love watching them. They're attracted to natural and internal beauty, color, and sweetness. Things I should seek as well as trying to be a delicate woman in the world.
I have a strong affinity for Quaking Aspens. The stark contrast of the bark and the way the little leaves dance in the wind. I could sit looking at sunbeams coming through trees and listen to the wind breeze through the leaves all day. Any cluster quickly can become my own personal sacred grove.
We had a lovely time and I'm already in need for a mountain retreat.
We camped in Beaver Creek Campground near Beaver Mountain Ski Resort above Bear Lake. A new favorite spot.