Dinner the night before Italy

Asian noodle soup, potstickers, and edamame...what better thing to eat than Asian food the night before you leave to Italy! Last night Heather and my grandpa came over for dinner (for her last dinner before she left to Rome). So Mike and I made her Chinese food. We figure, we probably shouldn't try Italian, so she doesn't show up in Italy thinking--oh, it's so much better than at Erin's house. (chuckle) She's going to Italy for the summer to paint in Florence with BYU artists study abroad, then her and my cousin Annie are going to travel. Lucky girl! Mind you, I have traveled to Italy, but geez, can I go back already!

My sister Heather--what a hottie. Backpack and all. Heather, get used to that backpack...it will soon come to be your fifth appendage...

Grandpa Lindy and Mike eating Asian noodle soup with chopsticks...niiiice.

Can't forget dessert--strawberry shortcake with homemade pound cake. Thanks to Mike's mom Marianne (who makes it waaay better than me), it is my absolute favorite. Mike kept spraying whipped cream in the shape of smily faces. I think he has a little too much fun with spray whip cream...

Here's the set table, before we messed it all up by having to eat on it...

I looove my sister! She's the best.

Spring at Temple Square

Happy Mother's Day! Mom, I took pictures of the blooming flower gardens on temple square for you, since you can't be here to enjoy them.

I took a lunch break today and walked to Temple Square (which isn't a long walk since we live a block away). The tulips and flowers were fresh and in full bloom.

Mom, I hope you like the pictures I took! I miss you...I hope you have fun in Palm Springs this weekend with dad.

Chicago GSB Admit Weekend

CHICAGO

We're back from our school trip to Chicago. It was a crazy, packed, exhausting weekend. But it was very fun. First of all, we checked out a totally cool city (totally new to me). Secondly, we had just about every hour in our day scheduled with events from 8am to 11pm. Long days. We met a lot of really smart people. But it was really fun, and it definately further confirmed Mike's desire to go there. Here are some pictures.

The campus was built in 1898. I guess that explains why all the buildings are so timeless. I loved the architecture. It is a very old campus, but the business building is new, and built out of glass and steel. I learned that GSB was the 2nd business school in the country, and was founded by J.D. Rockefeller.

Mike in front of the GSB building. You can see the Frank Lloyd Wright designed "Robie House" in the background.

This is the inside of the business building. The ceiling is entirely glass.

The Art Museum: I didn't have a chance to check it out this trip, but I told Mike that if he does choose Chicago, we must live within walking distance of the art museum. That way I can visit on my lunch breaks.

Our favorite view of the city from our hotel.

Here we are having dessert at the top of the Hancock building. That building has the coolest views.

Friday lunch tradition

It's Friday! Sweet. Mike and I have this tradition--we do lunch every Friday. This is often a difficult feat, given how busy Mike is at work, and how far away our offices are, but we love it. It's the perfect way to wrap up a work week--with someone you just adore. We always end up rehashing the endless drama with his team at work, or with my HP group. The endless politics with his team, and with my company is incomprehensible. But somehow we manage. Probably because of our Friday lunch tradition!

Oh yeah, gotta love the yummy, yummy sammie. That's what Mike calls sandwiches--sammies.

Here I am showing off my chicken sammie.

On our way to the restaurant...

California and sun

So it's April, and it's supposed to rain today in Salt Lake City. It's been cold lately (50's)! It's days like today where I feel like the winter is dragging on a little too long, and I can't wait for sun and summer. That of course starts me thinking back to growing up in California, and how warm the weather probably is there today. I'm so ready for sun already! I just talked to my mom this morning, who was on her way to yoga (how cute is that). So I thought I'd write a post about my thoughts on the matter, and post some pictures that make me happy. Mike + beach + sun = the happiest Erin in the world. Hopefully we'll get back to CA soon. We'll definately go for a week or so before school starts. Yey for surfing and sunsets! And summer...

Weekend Trips

CORTEZ, CO: 4/27-29


I know we mentioned before that we would be going to run the SL Half Marathon in April. We've been training hard for it, and were really getting excited. Well, it turns out, Admit weekend is the SAME WEEKEND! (Chuckle) Of course that would only happen to us. So we decided we still need to run a half-marathon so we found a half marathon the next weekend in Cortez, CO. Yeah, I know. I hadn't ever heard of Cortez before either. It turns out, Cortez is an hour or two south of Moab, so we're going to make a trip out of it. The race is called "Pueblo to Pueblo" and we run through Anasazi ruins. It should be pretty cool. You're all welcome to join us!

CHICAGO 4/19-22

It's official, we're heading to Chicago for admit weekend. Although we haven't made a decision on schools yet, Mike is more and more leaning toward Chicago. We've been doing our homework, comparing schools, etc., and what we're finding is that the quality of education at Chicago is pretty stellar. Plus, it certainly helps that we started researching all the high-profile Chicago GSB alum... I'm still not super excited about Chicago (the city itself) but Mike assures me that's because I've never spent time there, and I would really like it. So he thinks taking me out to Chicago in two weeks will change my mind about the whole thing. Chicago, here we come...!