A Weekend in Utah

A couple weeks ago, the Hubby surprised me with a weekend getaway for an early 5th anniversary celebration. I had some guesses as to where he was taking me, but none of them included Salt Lake City, Utah! Little did I know we were headed eastbound until minutes prior to boarding. Then it clicked: he was taking me Forage, a restaurant one of my friends opened with his business partner in Salt Lake City. I had been wanting to eat there since hearing about the restaurant and how successful they have been. They have been featured several times in Food and Wine, as well as many other publications locally and nationally. It's always amazing for me to see my friends pursue what they're passionate about and become successful doing so -- such a blessing that is!

So here we are, Utah in a day in a half...

*Warning - Photo overload!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

{ | Recommendations for Salt Lake City, Utah | }

Forage - Highly recommended, and I'm not speaking on bias terms just because I'm friends with the chef. The unique flavors in each creative dish takes your taste buds on an adventure. This restaurant has automatically placed itself in a top category of my favorites. The name was created in honor of the chefs, who enjoy foraging in nature and discovering new herbs and items to place in their ever-changing menu, which changes daily to feature what's fresh and in season. Be sure to check out their little greenhouse and herb garden in the back! 

Bruges Waffles & Frites - I thought I had the best Belgian waffle in NYC, but boy was I wrong! This place makes legit liege waffles that will send you begging for more. I'm still dreaming about them weeks later (or my belly is). Sadly, we only had one because we were saving our appetites for dinner. The Hubby even stated that it was comparable to the actual Belgian waffles he had in Belgium. Oh, and their frites are pretty darn good too (with a variety of aiolis to choose from!)...

The Copper Onion - This place was recommended to us by several people, as it is known as one of the better brunch joints in SLC. The restaurant features local fresh farm produce and dairy. The lady claimed that the eggs were plucked fresh from their farm that morning, but unfortunately I still had to have my eggs done medium well just to be safe. I recommend any of their dishes with an egg in it (I can never get enough of my eggs!). 

Jack Mormon Coffee - Alright kids, a quick lesson on Mormons...my friend who lives in SLC told us the name "Jack Mormon" has been used to describe rebellious Mormons who have been lax in their faith and make it known through piercings, tats and oh yes, drinking coffee (caffeine is not allowed in their religion). Soo, hence the name of this little cafe. We were craving coffee (okay, I was) and ended up finding this place which roasts their own beans fresh each day. I stuck with decaf, but they have a variety of international beans. 

Tea Grotto - Go inside for a zen-like environment, reminiscent of a spa-meets-cafe. They have a variety of loose leaf teas from around the world and they even offer quick workshops on the art of tea drinking. 

Hiking - We didn't have enough time to thoroughly explore the trails, but we did visit Mill Creek Canyon, which was about 10-15 minutes from the main city. There are many beautiful canyons, lakes and waterfalls to be discovered - next time, Utah. 

Love Bump.

 

Now that the cat's out of the bag, I'll admit it-- I'm preggers and 5.5 months to be exact. I've been trying to see how long I could hold back our little secret from the public, but I guess it's a bit obvious now. This photo was actually taken a month ago, but this dress seems to accentuate the bump even more so...

Anyway, its been an extremely surreal, yet blissful journey full of challenges (hello, nausea!), new discoveries and blessings upon blessings. We've been truly thankful for all the support and prayers thus far, but the journey isn't over yet! In fact, this is just the beginning of life with an additional little one whom we will always love and worry about for the rest our lives. The thought can be rather intimidating, but we are looking forward to all that parenthood has to bring-- the good, the bad, the gruesome...we figured the Lord won't give us more than what he thinks we are capable of handling!


Some things I've discovered along the way...

• Morning sickness is an understatement, and there is such a thing as evening sickness
• Don't travel during the first trimester because the airplane and change of environment/time zones can put your nausea at an all-time high
• The movement of the baby (according to my friend Christi), feels like a giant gummy bear inside of your tummy
• Eating for two does not literally mean eating double the amount you normally eat
• There is no need for maternity clothes when the current fashion involves figureless tops and maxi dresses (thank you, Lord!)
• The number one question everyone asks: "Do you have any unusual cravings?" I'm still waiting for one!
• Your dog can become protective of the bump and somehow knows there is something living inside of you before others can even tell
• Don't eat your breakfast in the car, unless you want to see it come back up
• The most awkward stage of pregnancy is when you look like you've had one too many beers and the people around you are too embarrassed to ask
• Couvade is an actual symptom (aka sympathy pregnancy) that the father can develop-- Just ask Mike : ) 
• I've put myself on a somewhat strict pregnancy diet (no caffeine, raw/rare seafood & meats, processed meats, etc.) and its been easier to stay on track when I realize that what I'm feeding myself affects the little one growing inside
• The months go by quickly and each week, my belly seems to outgrow itself...

Sunny Delight

Zara blazer, Cotton On satin tank, H&M leggings, Longchamp bag, gifted heels, F21 cuff, RayBan sunglasses

I've been really into chartreuse lately, the neon pop of color reminds me of the neon crayons I had as a child in the 80s (yes, I'm dating myself here). The love started with a skinny belt to a scarf and now a top...it'll probably stop here, as I don't intend on being neon head to toe! Neon colors look great when paired with white, black or neutral colors, as a way to tone down the brightness.

Some goodies I won from Romwe. thankfully everything fit just right! I will show you what I ended up getting in future posts : )