Lights, Camera, Action

I don't know if we're lucky, crazy, or just decisive, but both our location and photographer have been the first people we interviewed. Now, I don't want you to think I'm making hasty decisions, blindly picking the first ad that catches my eye. We have actually done a lot of internet research before setting up interviews. It just so happens that the people we thought we liked over the web, also happened to be perfect for us in person.

Mitchell Burt was no exception. We absolutely loved his online portfolio! Be sure to check out Zuma Photo. He was even better in person. We met him over lunch at a Italian style pizza restaurant Settebello. The pizza was okay, but the conversation was fabulous. All the wedding books advise you to be sure you like your photographer. I think it was a good sign that we got so lost in conversation, we almost forgot to order food and then almost made him late for his next appointment.

The Playlist

Well, Rod and I have very different music tastes. We are trying to compile a playlist for the band/DJ that we eventually hire. Please send us your suggestions for additional songs. Below is a list of the songs we've picked or others have suggested. Thanks!

1. Just like heaven - The Cure
2. World in Your Eyes - Depeche Mode
3. My Best Friend - Tim McGraw
4. Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
5. Lifetime - Better than Ezra
6. Why Can't I - Liz Phair
7. You were meant for me - Jewel
8. I will follow you - Death Cab for Cutie

My mind off . . .

Ever since I started wedding planning, I have been completely occupied by it. I will be sitting at my computer furiously typing away on a complaint one minute, and the next (or 40 minutes later), realize that I have spent the last hour contemplating what particular shade of purple I want my bridesmaids dresses to be. Now, I am not a particularly girly girl, but for some reason all these little details (perhaps due to my anal retentive, perfectionist personality) have consumed my thoughts. I'm sure those around me are already sick of hearing me wax poetic about wedding favors.

Despite my desire to do nothing but search for wedding bands, I forced myself to do a couple things non-wedding (or work) related. In addition to hip-hop, which is weekly de-stresser, I hosted a Girls Night on Thursday. It is so fun to get together with my girlfriends. Most of them are married,and I'm used to hanging out with them with our significant others. It's amusing to see how different people act when they are not around their boyfriends/husbands. It is so fun to talk about girl stuff.

Also, on Sat. night, our good friends Diana and Tobin had us over for a great Halloween Party.

My Maid of Honor

I feel so incredibly lucky that the best friend I had in eighth grade is still my very best friend. We have both changed so much since then, but it has only brought us closer. Shortly after we became friends, we convinced one of our friends that we were non-identical (obviously) twin sisters, who had been seperated at birth. She was so mad when she found out that we weren't really twins, but we are and always will be sisters. She has been there for me through every major change in my life. Whether in person or over the phone, I have leaned on her and cried on her shoulder countless times. She inspires me and pushes me to improve myself. I am so excited to share this special day with her.

Min, I love you! Thanks for always being there.

Location, Location, Location

Well, it didn't take us long to figure out where we wanted to have the wedding. . . We really wanted something that fits our personality. We both love being outdoors and playing in the mountains. Rod is a foodie, and I love to dance. It also needed to be a relatively large venue because I come from a big family and Rod and I both have a lot of friends. With these considerations in mind we set off to discover the "perfect location." We had set up several appointments to check out venues with mountain views, but we fell in love with the first one.



Log Haven had it all. In addition to the beautiful mountain views, it also has a lovely lake and a waterfall. It didn't hurt that it is incredibly close to our house (I ride past it every morning that I road bike up Millcreek Canyon). Although we couldn't see them, the planner assured us that the meadow is filled with beautiful wildflowers. The menu doesn't offer as wide a variety as we would like, but what they do, they do well. It also has a big open patio to serve as a dance floor.

"A dreamy drive up peaceful MillCreek Canyon brings you to a log home-turned restaurant, surrounded by cliffs and waterfalls. Candlelight, a warm cozy glow and sumptuous fare warms your heart (and stomach)." Park City Magazine



Now to plan the other 5 million things I need to do before July 12 . . .

Ring true

Rod had to present at a water law conference in AZ on Thurs. I hate when we don't get to fall asleep next to each other. It always seems strange to me that after spending most of my life sleeping alone, it only took me a few years to become entirely dependant on another person (specifically Rod) to get a decent night's sleep.

Anyway, when he got back Rod surprised me with my actual ring. He had the ring custom designed. I guess it was supposed to be finished a month ago, but due to a couple of problems, it was not finished before Rod proposed. He told me that for weeks he had come up with contingency plan after contingency plan on how to propose. When it became clear that the jeweler wasn't going to have it finished before we went to La., Rod told him just to put the diamond in a setting. Rod felt bad that he didn't get to ask with the actual ring, but I told him this time I get to be surprised twice.

It really is a beautiful ring. I can't believe Rod picked it out all by himself (and that he did it without giving away any hints!). There are still a couple of things that we plan on tweaking. The jeweler is going to create a crown to close the gap between the diamond and the setting. He is also going to carve out the sides of the crown. Below is a picture that inspired the crown.

'Tis the season (for trials and motions)

Well it's been another crazy week, between the 9 a.m. trial in Logan on Monday morning, the the motion and opposition response due that afternoon, and the two reply memoranda due on Friday, my work week was a blur. I was so glad when Friday night rolled around.

That night was the Utah Minority Bar Association's Awards Banquet. This is our (I'm on the board) big social event for the year. It's alway fun to have an excuse to dress up and schmooze with the Judges and other community leaders. The keynote speaker was Judge Valdez, who is so inspiring. In his book No One Makes It Alone, he recounts the story of his life. He was a young boy selling papers barely surviving when a gentleman gave him the opportunity to work at his printing shop. From there, the man taught him how to play tennis and made him feel like someone believed in him. After he grew up, Judge Valdez lost touch with his old friend. Then, years later, he went to Smiths and witnessed a homeless man about to be arrested for panhandling. Judge Valdez recognized this man, who was suffering from alzheimers, as the man who had helped him as a boy and took him home with him. Judge Valdez took care of the man that he credits with his success and eventually put him in a nursing home. They saved each other in their time of need. It just goes to show what a great impact even a small gesture can have.

Although I haven't proposed the idea to the UMBA president yet, I hope that he will let me organize a mentoring program for disadvantaged youth. UMBA already has a mentoring program for minority law students. I think it is a great program, but I think there is a greater need for mentoring at younger ages.

The greatest gift . . .

Rod and I have been so blessed and feel like we have everything we need in each other. The best gift we could ever ask for is for our family and friends to be able to share this special day with us.

We have been encouraged by others, though, to provide a registry for those who would like to get us a gift. Below are links to a few places that we have registered.


Pottery Barn
Crate and Barrel
Bed Bath & Beyond

Rod and I are also in the middle of remodeling our home and would appreciate gift cards in any amount from Lowe's or Home Depot.

I do!

Rod and I became friends during our first semester of law school and, after two years of skiing, biking, climbing, and entertaining together, we became more than friends. After law school ended, Rod had the opportunity to go to D.C. to be part of the Interior Department’s Honors Program. I was very happy at my job and had just bought a house on the eastern bench of Salt Lake. We decided to do the long distance thing.

Rod eventually moved back to Salt Lake. Last year we decided to make the big commitment . . . we refinanced the house to put his name on the mortgage. :) Seriously though, Rod recently (Oct. 3) asked me to spend the rest of my life with him and I could not be happier. He is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. He’s a tall, blonde southern gentleman who had me at “Darlin,’” but kept me with his gourmet cooking, his willingness to be my partner in everything (even cleaning and doing dishes), our mutual love of the outdoors and adventure sports, and his general ability to make me laugh harder than anyone I know (can you tell we are still in the lovebird phase of our engagement?). He spoils me rotten. And he thinks he’s the lucky one.

Rod and I spend a lot of time traveling to Louisiana to visit his family and visiting our friends on the east and west coast. We also play a lot close to home. We both love skiing, mountain biking, rock climbing, and kayaking (I haven’t quite mastered this one yet). We spend too much time working, traveling, and playing to even start thinking about kids (or dogs) yet. But we do have a very dog-like cat named Ani.

A week to remember!

This week started with an amazing opportunity from one of my clients (Thanks Bruce!) to take a Blackhawk helicopter ride. We took off right as the sun was coming up and flew through Provo Canyon. The pilots were having a lot of fun swooping, dipping, and basically making us all squeal. More than one person lost their lunch. At one point, the helicopter dropped so rapidly that I lifted off of my seat. It was like a roller coaster ride with all of the thrills but none of the safety. The view was spectacular (my pictures don’t do them justice). The snow on the mountains was a remarkable contrast to the beautiful fall leaves on the trees at the bottom. After the ride, I attended the VIP breakfast where Mary Kay Huntsman was the keynote speaker.

Although the Blackhawk ride was the experience of a lifetime, it was completely eclipsed by the life-changing moment I experienced when I came home Wednesday night. I had just finished seeing Paint Your Wagon with some friends at the Pioneer Theater and it was late. I was worried about getting everything packed before Rod and I left early the next morning for Louisiana. I forgot all about my angst, however, when I opened the front door. There was a pathway of candles leading me up the stairs. When I got to the top, there were roses everywhere and our (Rod and my) song (When You Say Nothing At All) was playing on the stereo. The pathway of candles led me to our coffee table, which had a vase full of red roses and a letter that said read me sitting below it. Without sharing this very intimate card with everyone, it basically said that the time he had spent with me had been the happiest in his life and he wanted to make sure that he got to spend the rest of his life with me. When I turned around, Rod stepped out of the dining room and got down on one knee, “Will you marry me?” I was so surprised and excited I pulled him up and just started kissing him. When we stopped, he said, “So will you?” I thought my answer had been pretty clear, but I told him that he better get down on one knee again. :) He asked me again and slipped the ring on my finger. I can’t imagine a life happier than the one that we are going to have together. I said “YES!” of course. Then I started crying and we danced to our song.


Now, believe it or not, my exciting week was not over there. Again, it was nothing compared to getting engaged to the love of my life, but on Sat. night, Rod and I went with his family to the wildest, craziest, loudest, most exciting football game: LSU v. Florida Gators. For most of the game, we were not happy campers. Florida was winning and our defense was not doing much to stop them. Rod and his brother Stephen had given up, but I never gave up hope. I think I have watched one too many inspirational football movies. I told Rod at halftime that the defense was going to get the motivational speech at half time and come back out ready to stop the Gators. Well . . . it wasn’t quite that easy, but as soon as Florida fumbled the ball, the momentum of the game changed. When they announced that USC, who was competing with LSU for first in the rankings, lost, the crowd went crazy! The clip below shows how loud it was minutes after the announcement. The crowd cheered even louder than when we scored! The real heart-attack moment, though, was when Les Miles decided to go for it on the Fourth down when the tigers were within field goal range. I knew that it was going to be either glorious or Les was going to get crucified the next day. Luckily, we got first down, made a touchdown, and managed to keep the Gators from scoring during the last 1:09. I screamed so much that I was hoarse for two days!
WHAT A WEEK!