kiss the cook: July 2014

The stunning view near the top of Emigration Canyon while cycling with my love.

The sun is shining, I'm relaxing with my favorite sitting pillow given to me by my friend Megan, nag champa + candles are burning, my speakers are bumpin' Lana Del Rey's latest (listen now) + my journals are at my side. This is my element. I'm in the zone. I am able to reflect + appreciate my life. I am so in love with my man + my home. Home: one's happy place.

I approach my new home with my whole life packed away in boxes + my heart in his hands.

The gorgeous Wasatch Mountains greet me with silence + beauty.

Exploring our neighborhood hikes behind the U.

Cool kids in love.

Tabs! Papa's Girl + lover of catnip, back pats and wolf documentaries.

Home isn't what it used to be. Reflecting on my last 5 months in Utah, it's funny that things didn't happen exactly as I thought they would. I thought I would be able to relax and enjoy the stillness that comes with settling into a new place. I unpacked in under a week + within two weeks I had cabin fever. It was just me and my two new cats waiting for Ryan to come home. I needed to get out, get to work, start meeting people, get back to normal! I needed to feel at home already. I had great expectations of smooth transitions into a new yoga studio, a new gardening space, and of course, being around someone you love twenty-four/seven. I found out, you can't just replace your old home in an instant. You must find yourself at ease, in the comforts of that happy place you call "home."

Snow aka Snowzies aka Mama's Girl! Lover of brushin's, her mousies + strings.

My first SLC citizen privilige, the library card!

I've barely had the time to maintain a yoga practice. Everything is still so fresh + exciting. No routines are in place + I have the spirit of a wild horse ready to roam new lands. I've done more day + weekend trips in the last five months than I have in the last five years. Ryan + I's hearts yearn for getaways into the mountains, desert, far away places to camp, hike, bike + see more, live more.

I had a plan to move in, unpack, start seeds, grow plants, harvest, can + celebrate one year in Utah with a salsa from Summer '14. Easy peasy, I thought. I bought a plot through the Wasatch Community Gardens right on time, ignoring that it was a 20 minute light rail ride out to get to the plot, because that was step one. I ordered a bunch of seeds from my seed library in Boise because that was step two. Sadly, I soon recognized my inability to maintain a garden at this location + also devote the hours + energy strengthening a community that was so far from where I actually lived. I did what I could do, though, I donated the plot to a refugee gardener.

AFLA's Handmade Seed Bombs!

I briefly joined in with AFLA Artists for Local Agriculture, but after planting some seeds, our garden boxes were vandalized, destroying trellises + little plants that were growing in their home. I have to say that though it's a bummer to not grow gardens this season, I am also relieved. I'm in the middle of life's lesson of "Time Management" and I'm back at start with a clean slate. I am now able to give myself that time + space to truly find my place in my new home.

While I'm exploring my new Farmer's Markets, shopping around for local goods, dining at amazing (really amazing) new restaurants, making friends, riding in gorgeous canyons, exploring the high desert + so much more, I'm not exactly replacing Boise, but discovering all the joys of Salt Lake. I'm not focusing on how much I miss home, but embracing all that I have right in front of me. The mountains are enchanting, the canyons tell me I'm right where I need to be. I'm in awe with the slick rock, red rock, cairns + arches. There is no place like any home. Every place is magical + unique. You have to introduce yourself to your environment + I am so happy to be acquainted with mine!

Having a good time with AFLA at one of their Community Garden plots!

Vintage platinum + diamond ring from local jeweler, Antoinette's.

He captured my heart + brought me home.

First kiss of the Lunar New Year!

After celebrating the Chinese New Year at the end of January, Ryan I took off for a surprise getaway for the first days of February. After 3 + a half hours, we arrived in Moab. We drove to Arches National Park + hiked up to the Delicate Arch. There, comfortably seated, leaning back into man, enjoying the view of the world-famous arch, he proposed to me. The ring popped into my line of view + after lots of happy laughing, I said yes + we celebrated quietly in desolate Moab.

My first vintage engagement ring. An heirloom ruby (my birthstone) with diamonds + a yellow gold band.

Save the Date Postcards handcrafted by yours truly + the F'yoncé.

Wedding planning is damn near a full time job! Of course, it does give me an excuse to pin compulsively. My co-planners have been my wedding album on Pinterest + my lovely wing woman in planning anything + everything, Miss Kniss. A weekend visit from Jen ended up figuring totals for booze. We drank a mimosa + a hard cider + knocked around numbers for hours + hours just for booze.

Date, location + wedding party have been decided on.

Rings have been purchased, including my second engagement ring (oopsy daisy!).

Our save the dates postcards were craftily made by Ryan + I + sent via my favorite way of communicating, snail mail.

Pretty radical gifts for our groomsmen + bridesmaids have been purchased.

My soul sister + maid of honor Miss Kniss kickin' it with me in the SLC crunchin' numbers + makin' pizzas!

Ryan picking his ring out at Stroud's Jeweler, making both of our rings SLC local!

Our photographer friends Dylan + Sara have booked a session with us for the end of July up in the wildflower fields in the most beautiful mountain setting of Alta. My best lady pals + I are planning my

Bachelorette Party in Las Vegas. Very excited to spend a weekend dancing + relaxing before all of the excitement begins!

My wedding cake has been selected after my mom prepared a delicious beet + chocolate cake for us to try. Her organic wedding beets are happily growing as I type. My family has been preparing for the big party covering all of the bases from painting to building a bridge + other major labors of love!

Some songs have been chosen + will be performed by a Boise musician + dear darling pal of mine, Miss Gabriella! Invites are being finalized by yours truly. I have been illustrating away as my deadline to get these puppies sent out quickly approaches!

ALTA! The future site of our photos with our pals of Dylan + Sara Photography!

My man in his zone, on his bike, being "mantastic." *Swoon*

I'm working with lists on lists on lists! I will not lie, I'm having a blast with all of it! Everyday I fall more + more in love with Ryan. I've found him to be all that I need in a partner in more. He is my best friend + I am so happy to have him in my life. He's been such a good sport with my almost complete overhaul of his diet + cleaning products. Being an all-natural + organic-nazi about things, as I am, doesn't always make my partner happy. Some days he wants to use Windex + eat all the bagels he wants for breakfast, but instead, he's accepted the all-natural glass cleaner + an occasional Bagel Project bagel as a treat here + there. He's loved me through my sometimes difficult transition to a new place far from all friends + family. He's been patient with my needs + wants. He's heard me out + made adjustment a lot easier for me.

Tapas dinner date at Medtrina. Lots of incredible meals have been enjoyed in this foodie dream city!

In the comfort of my man's arms at Cactus + Tropicals for the beautiful wedding of Noah + Kate.

A night out on the town with a pit stop to say hello to our
neighbor + pal, Andrea at The Rest/Bodega.

From L to R: Cards Against Humanity Fourth Expansion Pack, Ryan's crafty card development, my sweet, sweet victory!
My great lady friend Paige stopped at a new neighborhood spot, Rye, on our SLC tour.
Above: My lady friend Dani + I in the sunset waiting for mole + margs!

Home away from home

My first visitors from Boise were my lady friends Dani + Dani. I was thrilled to have a piece of Idaho with me for a moment in Utah. We went out to dinner + margs at a popular mexican spot where they enjoyed their favorite mole + I relished in good company! My friend Paige came down for another former Boisean's Salt Lake City wedding + for a few awesome hours I gave her the first tour of my favorite SLC spots from my quaint neighborhood down to our lively downtown. Other comforts of mine have been a somewhat regular shindig where we host our friends for whiskey + Cards Against Humanity shenanigans. I've managed to win one game not on my home court, but away, at my foodie-friend-extraordinaire Brooke's dinner party. At a recent birthday party, I was able to dress up as Minnie Mouse reminding me of all the fun costumes of past Halloweens in Boise. Feelings of excitement for the first flowers and the change of snow white to lush green as the season changes are one in the same. Those moments + the warm feelings they bring take me to that universal place I call home.

Ryan's dad + his wife out to dinner with us at Fresco.

His family has been so wonderful to me. We go out for dinners with his dad + his wife trying new places + revisiting favorites. We've traded our own grown + harvested goodies. I've given them canned salsa, tomato sauce + pickles. They returned the gift and gave me a bag full of cherries from his backyard + invite us over for fresh homemade ice cream! His mom has been there for us since day one, offering us dinners while we moved my stuff in. We've went shopping and out to lunches + dinners. Her + her partner are so beautiful + sweet to me! We spent time down in St George visiting his brother + his lovely family. Are you familiar with "Jeepin'?" You take a jeep out + ride it up steep inclines, rough declines, slick rock, desert + whatever your heart desires! So. Much. Fun. Jeepin', sand dune climbin', trail hikin', bike ridin', pizza + s'mores makin' fun! One of his dear cousins in Washington D.C. send us a congratulatory gift card to Takashi, the best sushi spot in SLC, to celebrate our engagement. I met a couple of his cousins last night who traveled by train all the way to Salt Lake by the recommendation of their late grandmother + we received our first wedding gift from them! I'm so lucky to be welcomed to such a warm + loving family. I already feel like the Mrs. Simmons I will soon be!

Running down the sand dunes with Ryan's niece + nephews while visiting for the weekend in St George.

Adri-made surprise Valentine's Day pizza for Ryan!

Home is where you'll find my oven preheating to 500 degrees

Cooking for two has been just slightly more difficult than single girl cooking. I'm used to limited carbs, cheese as treats + leftovers. Ryan is a bagel/grilled cheese/pizza kind of guy. He loves his bread + cheese + he's not so into eating leftovers. Some nights have been quite a challenge, but somehow, I've managed to make plenty of amazing meals for the two of us. Some meals derive from my cravings, others cater a little bit more to Ryan's. I couldn't tell you how many pizzas I've made for Ryan, but I can certainly show you some of the delicious pies he's sinked his teeth into!