Well, we are now in Utah, spending a week here with my family for my little brothers wedding!  We are way up in the mountains and there is hardly anyone up here and it feels amazing! Such a contrast from being in San Francisco for the past couple of days- which was constantly crazy.

Long story short, I went to San Francisco, by myself, for mine and Tamas French Visa three days ago and ended up getting stuck there for two days! I was suppose to fly in and out on the same day (back to Canada where Tama and Shem are) but when I went to the airport they would not let me board without my passport (the French Consulate takes your passport and then mails it back with the visa stamped in). So I get to the airport and they said there is no way I can fly home, even though I had all sort of other ID. Being a little pregnant emotional girl, I started crying and everything…and they still wouldn’t let me! Uhgg, so gut wrenching and stressful!

Luckily after hours of trying to figure out what to do they let me fly to Utah the next night (where my family was driving up to later that week). So I found a hotel, spent the night and the whole next day in the shopping district in San Francisco (Union Square), which by the way is a shopping haven. There is block and block of every kind of shops and a mall bigger than any other mall I have ever seen (on Market Street). So my little stressful dilemma ended up turning into a little R&R. It ended up being pretty relaxing walking around doing a whole lot of nothing and getting some really good Thai Food at Coriander  Gourmet Thai (down at the crazy, and kind of fancy food court of the mall on Market street).

If you have never been to San Francisco it is a city full of life and energy. It is kind of crazy how much is constantly going on on the streets and how many people are walking around. It was fun for a day but honestly flying into Utah and waking up in the morning to the back drop of the mountains and complete silence was the most contrasting and amazing thing.

I went for a hike, read a book, had a nice lunch and did again a whole lot of nothing! I felt bad because Shem and Tama had a 14 hour drive from Calgary to here that day, while I was kind of living it up over here!  I really did feel bad but there was nothing I could do and Shem is such a sport that he had a good attitude about hanging out with my parents doing who knows what- shopping for quilting stuff probably… haha.

My parents wanted to stop for the night and told Shem if he wanted to keep going they will take Tama and he could meet up with me so we have had a little mini honeymoon! He got in around 11:30 p.m., in the morning woke up, went on a really cool hike, went to an amazing BBQ restaurant called, Famous Daves, in Salt Lake City…and can I just say this place was absolutely incredible and a must… we got the dry ribs as a starter (best ribs ever), I got this lemon zest smoked half chicken, and Shem got the brisket which was great but not amazing. Overall our experience there was awesome, good service, great food, oh ya the fries are piping hot, home style cut and great seasoning. If you are around-GO!

Anyway, after that we went to the mall to buy some clothes because I literally came with nothing but my purse, and Shem had no T-shirts and its like a hundred degrees in Utah…it is soooo hot and dry. Luckily in the mountains its chilly at night in the mornings! I honestly feel like I have hot flashes 20 times a day with this pregnancy-I am a fire house so jumping in the pool at the end of the day was a must!

after that we finished the day eating at, The Steak Pit, at Snowbird which I have to say is good but not amazing for the price you pay. With saying that, there was a couple there that come all the time and claim it to be their favorite place. The best thing everyone will say and is true is the endless salad they give you with this crazy good blue cheese dressing. Shem kept eating salad just to eat the dressing which says a lot. If you have no budget go, if you do, don’t-in my opinion.

Tama and my parents got in around 9 and he was beyond excited about everything. He was a charm driving up with his G-ma and g-pa and they seemed to have a great time together which was a huge relief.  So this whole mishap of not being able to fly home turned out kind of awesome!

I guess I should mention this Tomato Basil Salad before I sign out! This is a number my mom makes a couple times a week and it is so fresh tasting, and takes minutes to throw together.

All you need is a few good ingredients- good cherry tomatoes,  fresh basil, red onion, a little olive oil, feta, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Eat it by itself or on a cracker, toast, mix into an omelet or add some lettuce and make a fuller salad. I love this salad and make enough for left overs for snacking or to add to another meal.

Try it and it most likely will become a go to item!

Hope you all are having a great week and can’t wait to hear from you,