Favorite Things About Summer

I’ll be honest – I seriously have had an addiction my entire life – the sun. Although recently I’ve gotten a little smarter and started wearing sunscreen, the addiction remains. Nothing beats laying by the side of the pool (or the ocean for that matter), listening to some tunes, and soaking in the rays. Ahh…Paradise… It’s seriously therapeutic for me.

Running around barefoot

The smell of Hawaiian Tropics Sunscreen

Sitting outside and eating ice-cream/popsicles

Watching lightning storms roll in across the Great Salt Lake

The smell of rain hitting hot pavement

I absolutely love the feel of a hot car after its been sitting in the sun all day. Call me crazy.

The Oakely Polar King is finally open!

Drive-in movies off Riverdale Rd in Ogden

Sleeping on the deck of the cabin and stargazing (and hoping I don’t get eaten by a curious bear wandering through the woods). My favorite is to try and create my own constellations.

Watching sunsets.

Having more energy because daylight lasts so much longer. For some reason, this affects me. When it’s dark outside, my body wants to sleep.

Rainbow Shacks (is that what they’re called? You know.. where you get the shaved ice?)

Anything to do with large bodies of water. Lakes, pools, boating, jetskiing, waterskiing, Powell…

People watching at the fountains at Gateway

People watching at the Davis County Fair. Who knew so many mullets could exist in such a small little space at the same time?

Barbeques and Bonfires. For some reason this summer, I’ve been craving roasted marshmallows ALL THE TIME. Speaking of roasted marshmallows, I’ve discovered why I love crème brulee so much – the top crusty sugar part tastes exactly like a perfectly roasted mallow. Seriously…next time you have crème brulee think of flaming mallows..

1 word: Rodeo.

Gratitude

The other night, Deke and I took the truck up to the trailhead at the top of Parrish lane in Centerville. We sat in the bed and watched the sun set and the stars come out. I was overwhelmed with such a feeling of joy and contentment. I had the love of my life by my side and the beauty of God’s creations in front of me. I find it ironic that the grandeur of God’s creations makes me feel so small and insignificant, but it’s in those moments that I feel His love for me the most. It’s like He’s saying “Jenny, look at all that I’ve created. The stunning magnificence of such things are overwhelming, yet this isn’t even my greatest work. You are. Now go and become.” These experiences, or tender mercies as Elder Bednar would describe them, always seem to put things in perspective. Today, I am grateful for a wise Heavenly Father who always knows exactly what His daughter is in need of.

New favorite

There's a new frozen yogurt shop in Bountiful call the Yogurt Stop. It's on the corner of Main St and 5th South right next to Inkley's. This place is to die for! Everything is self service - You choose your own bowl, fill it up with whatever flavors you want and then add on the toppings! They charge you by ounce (only 35 cents), so you can get however much or little you want. This has become my new favorite dessert stop. My favorite combination so far? Strawberry and Cheesecake swirled ice-cream with graham cracker crumbles, fresh raspberries and hot fudge. Talk about heaven (and a cheap date)..

Paris holds the key to my heart...

Today marks the official date that Delta starts offering direct flights from SLC to Paris. Has it really been 2 years ago this month that I was there doing this?..



(Sigh...) I want to be there doing that right now. In fact, I want to be there eating the BEST raspberry pastry piled with layers of fresh raspberries, custard, and probably some alcoholic raspberry liquor, from the pastry shop behind the Louvre. I want to be there contemplating the magestic beauty of the statue 'Winged Victory.' I want to be roaming the impresssive gardens of Versaille. I want to be making out with my hubby in the park right off the Champs Elysees. I want Paris. Now.