DeLaMare Days

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This summer my cousin Emma was married and me, my mom, and all my aunts [on my mom’s side] were able to go to the wedding. It got off to a bit of a bumpy start when my hour long flight was over an hour late. However, I had a great travel companion, Mary. We kept ourselves entertained until our plane showed up and convinced someone to trade seats so we could sit together and watch a movie on our way to Vegas [She’d never seen First Wives Club, can you believe it?].

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Mary!! This is obviously after the Salt Lake Airport, when we we’re in Vegas.

Mom, Annie, Jan, Mary, Shelly, and I all stayed together in a rental we [and by we I mean Jan] found only five minutes from Phil and Shauna’s house.

My main contribution to the gathering was teaching everyone how to use snapchat filters:

Not everyone could make it, but it was so fun hanging out with everyone there. We chatted.  We ate [Many chocolate cinnamon bears were sacrificed that weekend]. We wedding-prepped. We hot tubbed [Annie also may have convinced me to jump in the big pool with all my clothes on!!].

Both the ceremony and the reception were beautiful. [Happy] Tears may have been shed. It was a lovely weekend!

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For some reason the only picture I have of Grace makes it look like she’s getting married [You just look too glamorous Gracey]! Jack somehow escaped my camera completely, but it was great seeing him too.

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Pathway leading to the reception. Isn’t it dreamy?

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THIS COOKIE ! Am I right??? My aunt Shauna is the sugar cookie queen. Some may find it hard to eat such artistic desserts, I however, am not one of those people, which is why I can say it was tasty too.

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After dark everything got even more magical. I should also mention their wedding playlist  was so so great.

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Jan and Shelly :)

Cheers to Emma and Chad!

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Mary made us all this great watermelon drink before we dashed off to the airport. It was  watermelon with a vanilla and citrus ice cream. You’ll have to ask her for the full secret recipe ;)

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Currently: missing all these wonderful people and already thinking about Christmas!

Leadville Living

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My friend Jordyn’s family has a house in Leadville, Colorado and I was lucky enough to hide away at the “Burrow” for a weekend. The week leading up to Labor day weekend this year was pretty hectic, which made our get away especially needed.

I loved exploring the town. Leadville itself is pretty itty bitty, but charming. It reminded me of Stars Hollow. We could walk from the house to town, no problem. And the Burrow itself is also pretty charming too. It used to be a stagecoach stop and is deceivingly large.

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An example of the Leadville houses.

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One of Leadville’s finest establishments is the Rock Hut. There were so many amazing things to see. Everything ranging from $1.00 minerals to $2,000 alien-like formations. They also had petrified wood, which I neglected to get a picture of.

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My YA fiction collection gained these agate bookends.

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But I was tempted by these pet rocks too.

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Jordyn’s dad drove us around on their ATV and we visited the Leadville Hatchery. We ate food and enjoyed the scenery until we were rained out. I may have eaten my weight in onion dip.

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We also spent a sunnier afternoon at Turquoise Lake.

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Me + Turquoise Lake

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LADIES OF THE LAKE

And before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye and head home.

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We took the scenic route home.

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Thanks Burrow! You were good to us. Not pictured: Jordyn’s dog Fergie, who anxiously stared out this window anytime people left.

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Couldn’t ask for better roadtrip companions.

Currently: sad to see the Utah State Fair and Dine O’Round leaving Salt Lake soon!

How to win friends and influence people

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How to win friends and influence people:

Step 1: Team up with a nice slice of pepperoni pizza 

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gab

Step 2: Take your pizza to fun and exotic locals. Console said pizza when the dolphin upstages him. 

The pool! The lake! Giant Slip n’ Slides! Pretty much the only place my floats didn’t accompany me this summer was Seven Peaks [Although it would have been amusing to see a pizza float in the middle of the wave pool].

At Slide the City we had a number of floats with us and while my pizza definitely got reactions, the dolphin float stole the show. A guy came over and offered to pay us to ride the dolphin down the slide while full on monologuing about his love of the dolphin. We leant him Herbert [said dolphin] and thankfully he was returned to us safe and sound despite the dolphin obsessed stranger.

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Me sliding with my pizza [The guy working there asked me if this was a pizza delivery, get it???] at Slide the City in downtown  Salt Lake City [it covered three blocks]. 

Step 3: Assemble a squad of likeminded friends

What makes a float day better? More floats, of course. Not all of these are mine, but I enjoyed taking them out for a spin.

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Lifehack: If you have a large amount of floats to inflate, but only a $3 plastic pump to blow them up, Gilmore Girls help pass the time. Also maybe eventually buy a second electric pump. 

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Stampede.

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Gabby moved to a place with a pool and it definitely changed my summer for the better. 

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Gabby and I living our best summer lives. 

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We had a lovely ward “campout” that ended with a great lake day. Please note Herbert is front and center. 

Step 4: Challenge yourself 

While Herbert is great for giant slip n slides, it’s actually very hard to use this dolphin as a float [There are some serious balance issues involved … annnd the float may have been designed for children]. But the view is worth it.

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Herbert in his [almost] natural habitat. 

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“Have floats, will travel” has it’s obstacles.

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When you’re exerting yourself this much you gotta stay hydrated. My drink of choice: the diet pepperlada. 

Step 5: Repeat 

I think the float addiction may be permanent and it’s definitely contagious. I’ll keep you updated on next summer.

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NOT PICTURED: The latest addition to the fam, a pretzel float. I snagged this baby during an end of summer sale and managed to get in one swim with it at the ward pool party. It has three holes so it’s perfect for floating with friends.

Currently: Excited for the next season of Project Runway to start!