Taste of Travel

My first time out of the country started about three weeks ago when I flew out of Salt Lake City, through Washington DC and Paris and into Kyiv, Ukraine. I guess the fourteen hour flight was a little more than a taste of traveling, but after having walked of my LBS (lead butt syndrome) and sleeping for about a hundred more hours, I have finally adjusted my circadian rhythm and things are going great.

Not counting airplane food--because honestly, you can't count airplane food as actual food, my first meal in Ukraine was green borsch. Everything since then has been pretty good. Naturally there are a few exceptions, like the partially boiled eggs we ate right out of the shells.
Yeah I kind of just gagged that one down. But when you have an adorable host mom who's more like a grandmother, you can't help but eat everything she puts in front of you. Especially when she's so excited about it.


I've had a taste of the transportation system too. More of like a feast really. The best time to get on the metro is never. It's always so crowded, but it's definitely a good place for people watching, that is, as long as you avoid eye contact. You can't look at anyone here, it's actually really funny to watch what happens when people do make eye contact. It's also interesting to note that although Ukrainians appear to have very large bubbles, in reality they have no bubble at all. They can't with the way they pack people into the public transit. Everyone wishes they would have bubbles though when you see all the PDA going on. I thought it was bad in the States...no, no, no. Apparently as soon as you intentionally make eye contact with someone repeatedly it's an invitation into the non-existent bubble. Really the whole Ukrainian phenomenon is quite alien to me. I'll report on that more if I ever figure it out.

Well time to go prepare for the kids to come.
Stay Classy!

Basic Sauces-Bechamel

Before you play this video, you will need to scroll to the bottom of the page and turn off the music player.

Friends

This is Me. I love music, dancing and being with my friends.

We were roommates my sophomore year and still do everything together. They have changed my life for the better!

They are my best friends in the whole world.

Classy Carnival

On Saturday my sister got engaged. We were so excited. I was able to be there to take pictures for her now fiance`. Monday my whole family went to meet his family and we went dress shopping. I was amazed that she found a dress she fell in love with that first day, and it was only $500! She is the first in child in our family to get married so all of this wedding planning is new to us all. But, we have a common goal through all of this: to make this wedding fit her personality while staying classy. We have chosen a carnival theme, full of life and color. My sister is an absolute ray of sunshine, so anything fun is perfect for her. We feel like a carnival fits her perfectly. Our only problem is to keep the party from becoming cutesy and hokey.

We started by choosing colors that would be found at a carnival, but that do not blare out "ketchup and mustard!" She chose lovely muted coral, blue, and yellow. To bring the party in we are having a live band and a dance floor, which will be surrounded by a white picket fence. There will be colored pennants swooped across the fence to bring in the color. We are arranging for a photobooth for the guests, and scheduling a miniature ferris wheel to put the gifts in. The food is very important at a carnival as well as a reception. Using deep fryers is not practical for our venue, which kind of ruled out funnel cake. But we found miniature waffle irons which will be similar to funnel cakes, and much easier to make. The toppings will include fruit, chocolate, syrups, candies, anything that can possibly be conceived to go on a waffle. To bring the elegance of a night life into the mix, we will be stringing lights across the ceiling, with colored balls hanging down to lower the ceiling. 

We have a lot left to plan and work out, but it's a good start for first time wedding planners! My sister is so happy, and as the maid of honor, I'm pretty excited too. My sister and I are best friends, and this will be a great memory to look back on when we aren't together anymore. I will miss her, but this is the best thing that has ever happened to her, and I am so happy she found her prince charming!