27 August 2012

365 Days of Erin

Check it out, I've finally updated my photo a day blog!

http://365daysoferin.blogspot.com/

I've only missed 28 days since March 1. I consider that pretty good!!

Weekend Update

Friday
  • The weekend started early with our work summer party!! We got to leave the office at 11:30 for a picnic lunch and a game of Amazing Race, SLC style. We literally ran all over downtown in 90+ degree weather. I was completely worn out by the end. It was a lot of fun though and definitely beats a Friday afternoon in the office!
My team-we had to put on swimming gear and stand in the fountain at Gateway
  • Amber and her roommates had a timeshare in Park City for the weekend so I went up there and hung out with them. I forget how great Park City is. I need to make it a point to go up there more often. We had dinner and walked around Main Street for a little bit. Then we went back to the timeshare and hung out in the hot tub, chatted, and played games. Apparently I'm 97 years old and was so tired by 11:30.
Saturday
  • Drove back from Park City. The leaves are already changing colors. That's not allowed. It's still summer!
  • Karen had texted me and invited me to go to her ward activity. They were going boating so of course I couldn't pass that up! It was a lot of fun. I love to be on boats!! I don't particularly love getting in the water but nothing beats spending an afternoon cruising around on a boat. I need to find some boat owner friends by next summer...
  • Relaxed at home a bit, cleaned my room, attempted to make lemon macarons and failed. I was so disappointed they didn't turn out. I think I overbeat them. I had to throw all of them away. Boo.
  • Went to a birthday party for a girl in my ward. It was fun-I learned how to play bumper pool and played Just Dance
Sunday
  • Church
  • Lemon macaron attempt #2. It was a success!!! I was super careful with those egg whites and they turned out perfect!! I love macarons and am so excited that I know how to make them!

  • Choir practice. Our stake was invited to sing in the choir that's going to sing at the RS General meeting at the end of September and we had our first rehearsal. It was COMPLETE chaos. It took them over an hour to hand out the music. Once we started actually practing though things calmed down. The songs are really beautiful and despite the crazy clothing standards (long black skirts and an UNTUCKED white shirt...who wears their shirts untucked these days?!) I think it will be a fun experience. Or something.
It was a good weekend. I can't believe that this upcoming weekend is the last weekend of summer! Nothing too crazy is going on this week...FHE, hopefully playing some tennis, and going to see To Rome with Love!!

24 August 2012

Basil everywhere!



If you follow me on instagram (@erinmasi), you've already seen my enormous basil plant. At the beginning of the summer, I wanted some bruschetta. I went to the store looking for some delish fresh basil to use and all I found was a little plastic container with some pretty pathetic looking basil inside. I decided that I was going to grow my own fresh basil! Buying a basil plant had to be cheaper than that horrible grocery store stuff and it couldn't be that hard right?

Well, fast forward 4 months later (how have I already been in UT four months?!) and we now have 2 happy, ENORMOUS basil plants, producing more basil than I know what to do with!

So this is where you come in! I need some new ideas! Send me your recipes!! What are your favorite things to do with basil?

23 August 2012

Start spreading the news...

....NYC I'm coming for you!!! October 11-14. I could not be more excited about this little weekend trip! I get to spend a day and a half in the city, loving it. I'm already trying to figure out how to fit the most I can into my short time there. And then a couple days out in Queens with the fam to celebrate my great Aunt's 90th birthday and the 10 year anniversary of my grandfather's passing.

Central Park in the Fall!! Yayyyy!!

21 August 2012

Weekend Update

It was a good weekend. And I am behind in adding pictures to these posts....ooops...

Friday
  • Went and saw Aida at the Sandy Amphitheater with Megan. We got there super early so we could be sure to get the best grass spot possible. It ended up not being as crazy crowded as the Abba concert was so we probably didn't have to be there right when the doors opened but oh well. It was a fun show and the main people were really great!
Saturday
  • Ventured to the farmer's market at Pioneer Park. There were so many wonderful things there! Fresh fruit and vegetables, great people watching, delish food. I definitely must return before the summer is over!
Met this friend at the market. The man in charge wanted me to pet it. That sure was not happening...
  • Went and got a massage. Oh how I wish I could have a personal massuese!
  • Ran a few errands including a trip to Barnes and Noble. I could spend my life's fortune in there! I always come out with more than I intended to buy. I purchased this month's book club book. For once, I'm going to finish the book and actually participate in the discussion!
  • One of my college besties was in town!!! It was so fun to see Lara and chat and catch up. She had to go and move to California so we don't get to see each other much these days. Boo and boo. We just hung out at my house then met up with Amber for dinner at Settebello. It was a lovely, low-key evening.
Love this candid!

Reunited!! Lara-move back please!!

Sunday
  • Church and a munch and mingle.
  • Mario and Dale came over for dinner. Rissa made pulled pork and I made my potato salad, special request from Dale. I also made a delish peach crumble and had my dad make his famous homemade ice cream to go with. It was a lovely Sunday dinner.

  • Caught up on Dance Moms. Does anyone else watch this ridiculous show?!
This week is looking to be kind of a quiet one. My tennis lessons are over (sad face) so I need to come up with something else wonderful to fill my time with!

14 August 2012

Weekend Update

Friday
  • I only worked part of the day because I went to sister's convocation in the morning! Yay for graduating and yay for only working part day!!!

  • We had our ward overnight activity. Does anyone else find it odd that we had a ward slumber party? Nonetheless, it was lovely-lots of delish food and it was fun hanging out with the wardies
Saturday
  • Yogurland time with Karen!! I wish that place wasn't so far, although perhaps it's a good thing it's not just around the corner...
  • Kathryn's bridal shower!! She is so excited to get married and she received some lovely gifts. It was an all-white theme so I got to test out my white dress I'm wearing to dinner in white!

  • Family dinner at Bombay House to celebrate Rissa walking at graduation. Rissa had never been to Bombay House so that was her pick for dinner. It was delish-definitely up there with some of the best food I've had since leaving NYC. Oh how I miss eating good food all the time...
  • Watched the Olympics and Fast Five. I was so tired from the ward slumber party that I just wanted to veg Saturday night.
Sunday
  • Just the usual-church and choir practice, delish Sunday dinner, getting my last bits of relaxation in before the new week
Up this week...I'm in charge of our ward FHE this week-we're doing an Iron Chef competition, home ward garden party, tennis and tennis, and my college bestie is coming to town!

06 August 2012

Weekend Update

This weekend was good and relaxing!!

Friday
  • Took a half day at work!! YAYYY!!!!
  • Drove to St. George with Megan to spend the weekend in our house down there-since we left in the early afternoon we didn't hit any traffic on the way down!
  • Saw The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Tuacahn indoor theater. The show was SO funny. I really liked it! The actors were great and the music was fun too. Would definitely recommend this show!

(apparently I need to work on my self portrait skills...)
Saturday
  • Brunch at Bear Paw Cafe. Unfortunately, this place was not nearly as good as the first time I went there. I think I need to find a new St. George brunch spot. Any suggestions?!
  • Perfect St George Saturday-pedicure, nap, and pool time
  • Dinner with the padres
  • Saw Hairspray at the Tuacahn outdoor theater. I was nervous we were going to get rained out but thankfully the dark clouds blew over. The show was fun. The girl that played Tracy was really good but I wasn't a big fan of the guy that played Link.

(photo of the scenery on the way to Tuacahn)
Sunday
  • Drove back early in the AM
  • When I returned home I had 2 packages waiting for me! I love getting mail!! One was some Percy and Penny Pigs (delish British candies from Marks and Spencer). And the other was some new stationery that I ordered!

  • Watched some of the women's marathon before going to sacrament meeting. Oh. My. Goodness. These women are incredible. They run SO fast. It's so inspiring to watch! I haven't finished watching the race yet and I have managed to avoid finding out who won. Can't wait to watch the rest!! And even though I already know who won the match, I can't wait to watch the men's tennis final match!
  • Sacrament Meeting
  • Rissa made us Mongolian beef for dinner. I was bored so I made her put on a cooking show for me while she cooked dinner. So fun!
  • Made French macaroons with Karen and Aubrey. They actually turned out REALLY good!! I was so impressed with our baking skills! I LOVE french macaroons and it wasn't incredibly hard to make them. So excited to keep experimenting with different flavor combinations!

(photo courtesy of Karen)

It was a really good weekend. I love going to St George. It's always super relaxing! Up ahead this week: stake FHE at the Bees game, tennis and more tennis!, Rissa's graduation, and the ward overnight trip. Anyone want to be penpals? I have some new fab stationery that I'm dying to use!