The Unknown

 "If we don’t offer ourselves to the unknown, our senses dull. Our world becomes small and we lose our sense of wonder. Our eyes don’t lift to the horizon; our ears don’t hear the sounds around us. The edge is off our experience, and we pass our days in routine that is both comfortable and limiting. We wake up one day and find that we have lost our dreams in order to protect our days.

Don’t let yourself become one of these people. The fear of the unknown and the lure of the comfortable will conspire to keep you from taking the chances the traveler has to take."

 -Kent Nerburn, Letters to My Son

Take Me There: Netherlands

This video is awesome, I love riding my bicycle places. I think I would be right at home in Utrecht Netherlands. Maybe I will live there for a while someday.


Bicycle Rush Hour Utrecht (Netherlands) III

What Happened to Adventurers?

What happened to the world of adventurers and explorers? It seems that the once noble and respectable career has been demoted to that of children's fantasies and short articles in history books. In fact for the most part in our modern world the profession of an "adventurer" is extinct. Why is this? I cannot believe that there is simply nothing left in our world to discover. I believe that it is far from that fallacious thought. Perhaps we just have different priorities now...?

How fantastic would it be to resurrect this exhilarant business? I want to step far beyond my comfort zone, I want to be lost in a foreign country that doesn't speak the same language as me nor share my own customs, to discover things that history has long since forgotten, to embark on hair-raising experiences.

Anywho, on a closing note I decided to make a list of six small things that are a "quick fix" for all of my adventurer friends out there.

1. Take a new route that you have never been on to where-ever your destination is.

2. Don't let the rain stop your out-door plans.

3. Go outside of the city, and eat dinner in a small town cafe/diner.

4. Say "yes" to the next person who asks you to do something. (assuming that thing wouldn't go against your conscience)

5. Next time you get the chance to do something like karaoke, do it!

6. And all in all, DON'T be afraid to try new things!

.........................................

Hmm...three things I am grateful for.

1. To go along with my post, traveling definitely!

2. Clouds; I know this is random, but driving today, I saw so many beautiful things involving clouds. This morning on my way to the university Mount Timpanogos was covered by clouds except for the top peak, it looked like it was floating in the sky, and the sun was shining perfectly on it so that both the snowy peak and the clouds were glowing. Then driving home I saw such a unique cloud formation with the sunsetting it was extraordinary. Plus is there anything fluffier than a cloud?! If there is I don't want to know about it! lol.

3. For three I am going to have to list my kitty Figaro!

Little Mermaid on Broadway

Saturday morning while I watched Janice, Ian, Kate, and Emma I brought over the Little Mermaid Broadway soundtrack and the picture book I bought from the musical in New York. Two of the girls are starting dance class so I thought it would be fun for them to dance to. Ian however loved dancing to it as well. Anyway it was a hit, they loved it. And it reminded me I never did a post about the musical, though I wanted too.

As many of my friends and family know The Little Mermaid is one of my all time favorite Disney movies! She and I were even born the same year ;). (Hercules, and Mulan are my favs too). So as one might imagine I was ecstatic when I heard we were going to go see it on Broadway in New York! We were lucky enough to see all of the original cast, many of whom have received Tony Awards. The woman who played Ariel received a Tony Award for her performance in this musical. Everything was incredible...I know this may seem odd, but I thought the Stage set was spectacular! Ursula's dress had to have been at least 25grand to make.

I loved the play and the music, but I will agree with some of the critics who say it was a little theme parkish. However keep in mind this is Disney we are dealing with... And I wish they had added a few more creative touches to the musical. I found that though it truly was wonderful it felt like I was just watching the movie with extended songs. What was the name of the woman who did the Lion King on Broadway? They should have hired someone like her.

Although I do have some criticisms for the most part I loved it! My favorite songs were, Part of Your World, I Want the Good Times Back, and One Step Closer. If you are a Disney fan, and are ever in New York City I would definetly recommend it. I hope when and if I have a daughter that it is still playing on Broadway!

Why I love to Travel

I was shopping in a world market while I was in San Francisco, and purchased a journal. I thought it only fitting that I make a journal I bought in a world market my traveling journal. And than I began to ponder on why I like...no LOVE to travel so much. It is one of my greatest passions.

I believe it is important for every individual to travel both alone and with a group, be it with a family, a group of friends, or with an organization. I believe that many of life's most valuable experiences can be obtained through travel. Traveling provides priceless memories that cannot be obtained through any other means. I love the people aspect of traveling as well. Both the people you meet and just seeing how different people live their lives. Traveling cultivates the mind, and most of all Traveling is fun and exciting!

Park City, UT

Without a doubt one of my favorite places to go is Park City! I believe that it is one of the classiest, charming cities in the US. I love everything about Park City from the nature and the wild life to the ski resorts, the Alpine Slide (I will admit however that I have been a little nervous to ride down it since Heather broke her arm the last time we went down there as a family....lol), going to my friend's cabin during the winter, the outlet malls. But my favorite is visiting the historic Main Street. With its art galleries, fashion boutiques, historic sites, cafes, trolleys, book stores and much more! My most recent trip to Park City was devoted solely to it!

Watching the familiar old buildings while I walked down main street was like watching a memorized scene from a favorite movie. Memories flashed in my mind of Winter when everything is covered in a layer of white snow, and strings of lights are carefully strung around trees, and from building to building. How great it feels to walk into one of the warm cafes and order hot chocolate! Of the film festivals, Of their art shows when the entire street is filled with booths from artists from all over the globe, and of trips similar to the one I took recently where the street served as a refuge when I just needed to get away.

A regular stop for me when I come to PC is Dolly's Bookstore The shop was named after their cat Dolly, who lives in the book store. They actually have two cats that stay there but Dolly has been around the longest. It has an Ice cream polar connected to it...with a door that separates it so Dolly and her friend can't wander in there....It has the best ice cream, and sweets. I get withdrawals from their caramel apples. Especially the one that is first dipped in caramel, then white chocolate, and covered in cinnamon sugar goodness! A weird treat that I have found that is actually good there are their frozen dipped bananas.



This is a picture of Dolly, I saw her sitting on the "Staff Picks" table and had to get a picture.

This trip to Main Street I did something new. I tried out the trolley. Our driver was a hilarious crazy lady. I have ridden the trolleys in San Francisco and the drivers always seemed super grouchy and frankly a little scary to me. But ours was super nice.

Here are some pictures I found of Main Street. I couldn't find one of the entire strip sadly:(