Yellow as far as the eye can see.

On Friday Dan and I picked up some sandwiches from Pot Belly's, hopped in the car, and headed for the mountains. All week I've been telling him how much I wanted to see the leaves and he got us there!

I love this time of year. I think Autumn is when the Earth looks her best. She's so colorful and bright and stylish. Those pops of yellow, and red, and orange, and that soft golden light....she's just stunning. 

As we were heading up Little Cottonwood I kept oohing and ahhhing like someone who's never seen the mountains before. I kind of love that about Utah--she never gets old. 

We made it to the top of Guardsman Pass just in time to see everything lit up before the Sun tucked herself and for a nice sleep. After walking along the trail and snapping a few pictures we sat ourselves down right on the dirt (because naturally we didn't think to bring a blanket), and had a nice little picnic. 

It's funny to think that a year ago from right now Dan and I had yet to exchange I Love You's. And now here we are, casually eating sandwiches on a dirt trail in the mountains. 

I'm grateful for an adventurer of a husband. He keeps us going and exploring and prevents us from ever being boring (his worst nightmare). 

I'm also grateful for Fall. I refuse to see her as the transition from Summer to Winter. I hope she sticks around for a while. 

(kacey.ism 371)

Taylor + Tennis + a mini honeymoon + a bridal brunch

We have wasted no time saying goodbye to Summer and hello to September. And suddenly I've blinked and September is half gone, my studio is back in session, and my birthday is three weeks away. How did that happen? I really can't complain about moving so quickly into Fall. We've had a lot of fun these past couple weeks, and while I never like to see Summer go, I can't help but get excited when the crisp Autumn breeze rolls in.

There was no better way to ease out of Summer and into Fall than with the Taylor Swift concert. Yes, Carli and I wore matching T-Swift t-shirts. Yes, we sang louder than most of the 14 year old girls there. Yes, even our husbands couldn't help but love it, and her. I walked out grinning, and Dan and I continued to be entertained by our light up bracelets for days afterwards.

Dan and I snagged a few hours of sleep after the concert, woke up at 6am and headed up to Sun Valley for Labor Day weekend. It was the best. We haven't taken a trip just the two of us since our honeymoon, and now I know we need to do it more often. There's nothing like being just the two of us. We relaxed, watched a lot of the US Open, played a few rounds of tennis, went on walks, took the scooter for a spin, went on a bike ride, and ate a home cooked meal by yours truly. I love more than anything to look over at Dan and smile because he's my husband now, and know that we're taking on the world together. I feel extremely lucky.

When we got back last week I was in full bridal brunch-prep mode aka let's finally hang some pictures up in our house and make it look like our home mode. There's nothing like an upcoming party to make you whip your house into shape. Thanks to Dan it really did happen. I have pictures hanging and new shelves in our family room, and now when I walk in the room it feels like our own little home.
Ann's shower was so much fun. We had a great turnout. Everyone dined on yogurt parfaits, cinnamon twists, and homemade swig cookies. We showered the bride with presents and learned all about how much Nate loves Ann. And let me tell you, he adores her. It makes me so happy to see her so loved.

This week started off with Federer losing the US Open final (I'll still love him forever), and dance getting back in session (woohoo!), it's currently raining outside, and we speak in church on Sunday. Oh hello there, real life! Time to face the music. How about I just sit here and watch my wedding video over and over instead?

(kacey.ism 370)

Our Favorite Summer Tradition

  

Every year we plan on taking a big group of friends to Lake Powell at the end of the Summer.
And then Summer comes and is busy and crazy, and I always think it might not happen.
And then miraculously...it always does!
We take the best bunch of friends to our favorite place, and it always ends up being the best trip of the Summer.
This year was especially fun because we had a couple people who had never been before mixed in with our faithful bunch. I love bringing people to Lake Powell for the first time. It reminds me what an amazing place it is and how lucky I am to spend my summers there every year.
After four glorious days filled with surfing, skiing, paddle ball, trick skis, tubing, boat rides, good conversations, and lot of laughs we already can't wait til next year.
There will always be a next year. I'm determined to never let this tradition go.

(kacey.ism 369)