This will have to be a catch up post. We bought a fixer-upper and have been spending time on that. Oh, I also started a new job as a Field Administrator at Skanska...so that has been occupying my time too.

A few weeks ago I just needed to get out of the apartment and somehow ended up at the Clinique counter at University Mall in Orem. My cute sister-in-law is super knowledgeable about skin care and the Clinique products. I was hoping she'd be there. First we just chatted but then I ended up in one of those high chairs and Marissa was "fixing" my face and giving me pointers...she told me things about my face in which I had no idea. She even bought me dinner on her break. It really brightened up my day.

Below is my new ritual for morning and night. I already notice a difference. These are samples...I'm pretty convinced I'll need to take the plunge and get the bigger bottles.

Marissa couldn't devote ALL her time to me so I snapped this from afar while she was saving someone else's face.

When the weather warmed up a week or so ago Justin and I took a Sunday drive up American Fork canyon to Tibble Fork.  He did a couple paintings up there in October 2007 (Utah Mountains and Tibble Fork). I guess it is pretty up there year round...but it is so colorful in the fall.

I made heart prints with my shoes in the dirty snow.

My parents were in town for over a week. My dad helped me coordinate some work on the house. Mom and I got to go to the Salt Lake temple with some of her cousins I had never met. We ate at the Lion House afterward. I'm glad my Aunt Jean took this picture because I don't feel like I have enough pictures of just my mom and me together.

Here is just a little hint of some of the progress made on the house. This is the upstairs bathroom...still not completely finished but fun to see the difference.

And...yes...that is a pink bathtub...and...yes...we're keeping it that way.

On Saturday night we attended a beginner sushi making class given by Chef Otsuji. We learned techniques for various rolls and we were allowed make and eat as much sushi as we could handle. It was fun and helped me appreciate the art of sushi making. My favorite was the basic California roll but with real crab and the freshest ingredients. I got to tempura my last roll and it was delicious. Chef Otsuji got fancy as things were winding down and we just watched him work his sushi magic while he plated beautifully arranged and created sushi. If you're interested in taking a sushi class and live in the Salt Lake City area go to: www.sushisurfer.com