Meanwhile in Montana..

So Friday night, it was suggested that we should drive the five hours up to Missoula, Montana so Haley could see an old friend that would meet her there halfway. I figured, what the heck..I have nothing else to do! So the road trip was planned. We stocked up on snacks, gas, music, pillows/blankets and left early Saturday morning. The drive there was so fun and SUCH a beautiful one too!

We got to Missoula around 1:30 so we changed and did our makeup while we waited for Cory to arrive. When he did, we parked and walked around downtown Missoula in the shopping district. It's such a cute little town, and kinda had a "Gilmore Girls" type of feel. I loved it! We ended up choosing the Uptown Diner to eat, which seriously felt like I had stepped back in time into the 50's. 

Afterward, we walked around the town a little bit and then Cory and Haley went off together so me and Kenz spent the rest of the day exploring!!! We looked up the top 25 attractions in Missoula and tried to do as much as we could in the few hours we were there.

First on the list was the "A Carousel for Missoula" which is a carousel (obviously) where every single horse or chariot is hand carved and painted. Apparently Sunday was it's birthday, so we got to ride for free! Lucky day!

Next stop was the tattoo parlor!!! (You think I'm kidding....I'm not) No, we didn't get tattoos but Kenzi DID get her cartilage pierced. She figured, there's no better time than the present! And as I always say, "when in Montana, do as the Montanan's do..." (okay, I've never said that before but I did a lot on Saturday) She didn't even flinch. I was so proud.

After we left feeling rebellious, we headed up to the University of Montana campus to walk around and explore. There was an "M" on the mountain and a trail that led up to it so we decided to take a little hike (and by little, I mean we couldn't even make it 1/4 up the mountain. We blamed the altitude.) to see the city of Missoula from up high. It was overcast and hazy, and BEAUTIFUL. Such a pretty town! Side note: the people there were SO friendly. Almost everyone waved, smiled and said hello :)

Before heading out, we drove around the residential areas of Missoula. I was in love with the huge trees that towered over the cozy little streets that were lined with old, beautiful homes. Kenzi probably thought I was crazy. We drove around for a little bit, and then went back to the shopping district to take pictures of the amazing courthouse that was built in 1909!

I'd say our little day trip to Missoula was successful, the only thing that would have made it better was if Haley was with us the whole time! But I'm glad she was able to spend some time with an old friend :) We met back up with Haley, got taco bell and left around 9:00, not realizing that the worst drive of our life was ahead of us. We literally drove through a snowstorm for three straight hours. (By "we", I really mean Kenzi..) Thank GOODNESS she's experienced driving in snow. It was horrible, I couldn't see anything and thought for sure we were going to die. Not to mention being lost with not much gas in the middle of nowhere where probably only axe murderers live, almost getting pulled over and having little to no cell signal...it was fun, to say the least. However, we made it home safely and now have a ton of memories to cherish forever. Love those girls!

That picture does not do justice of how bad the roads were! It was pure ice. I had never been so grateful to see a "Welcome to Idaho" sign in my life :)

Butterfinger Blondies

via instagram. everything looks better on that marvelous app.

Two weeks ago was Haley's birthday so obviously I wanted to make her a delicious treat!! Since she doesn't like cake, I needed to make something different but something I knew she'd still love. Every time we go to Nielsen's, she gets butterfingers in her custard, so I figured these butterfinger blondies would be our best bet. Something different AND delicious :) I mean, seriously...just look at that picture....currently drooling.

So today I'm sharing the recipe with all you lucky readers! Honestly, go make them. NOW. And just don't think about how many calories you'll be intaking when you eat one, or two, or three.....

Blondies:

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp course sea salt (I didn't include this)

2 cups coarsely chopped Butterfinger Bars (approx 16 "fun size" bars)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cream butter and sugars in mixing bowl

Add the vanilla and eggs and mix until incorporated

On low add your dry ingredients until just combined

Stir in chopped Butterfinger

Spread in 9x13 baking dish & bake for 25 minutes until center is JUST set

Remove from oven and cool completely

Butterfinger Buttercream

Ingredients:

1/2 cup room temp butter (1 stick)

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

2 1/2-3 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup chopped Butterfinger Bars (approx 4 "fun size" bars)

Directions:

Cream the butter & shortening together until smooth

Add in powdered sugar on low speed. Turn speed up to medium & mix until smooth

Spread on cooled blondies

Sprinkle on chopped Butterfinger

These definitelyyyyy passed the roommate taste test and Haley especially loved them! So I consider this recipe a success! :)

Over the Weekend

I spent this past weekend in Utah! (surprise?!) I love that my mom was there, I miss her so much while up here at school. She was still in Pocatello from Mother's Day, so we drove down to Salt Lake together (which I also loved because I hateee driving down there alone.) After spending Thursday night and Friday in Provo with Beth, I stayed the next couple of nights in Sandy with Stephen and Rach. Friday night was spent watching the Rays game and eating an assortment of treats from 7 Eleven with Stevie and Jeremy...very entertaining evening, I must say.

My cousin Andrew is getting married in a few weeks so we threw a bridal shower at my grandma's house for his cute finace Janyssa on Saturday afternoon! It was fun to see some of the ladies in my extended family and catch up with them. I have the best fam! Saturday morming, we (mostly meaning my mom and Rachel) made about  80 mini cupcakes before heading to grandma's to set up for the tea party themed shower. Everything turned out so cute and the table display of food was lovely, especially with the beautiful flowers my grandma had gotten. 

Janyssa opening her presents. Wish we would have taken a group shot!!! I need to start thinking of these things earlier.

Saturday night Stephen, Rachel, Jeremy, my mom and I went to Tsunami for sushi. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical at first so I ordered some chicken skewers and potstickers as well. But who knew I was a sushi LOVER!?! Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. However I did learn that chopsticks require very talented and skilled people to use them. Those things were impossible! I obviously have a lot to learn before I'm off to China!

Sorry for the crappy quality pictures....it was a dark restaurant. Once again, reason #492831 why I need to start taking my camera with me everywhere. 

After our hearts were happy and our stomachs full of delicious, sushi goodness we headed to Mulligans to play miniature golf! Let's just say, golf is not my forte but it definitely is Rachel's (the least competitive of the group, of course...) Afterward, we went and rewarded ourselves with some frozen yogurt. Yum! Have I mentioned how much I love being with my family???

Again, sorry for the horrible quality...

Sunday, we went to our old ward in Pepperwood for sacrament meeting to hear a family friend give his mission farewell talk. My old orthodontist also spoke, which was kind of funny! I always love going back to that ward to visit. Everyone is so nice, and it feels like we never left! I got to visit with my childhood best friend Erin Hunt, who's now attending BYU. So fun! Anyway, after church we went to the Mabey's house to have a sunday luncheon in honor of Brent leaving on his mission. They live across the street from the house I grew up in on Wanderwood Way, so it was interesting to see our old home that hold so many memories inside. Next time we visit, I'll have to snap a picture of it! We went back to Stephen's hung out for awhile, loaded the car and then it was back to Rexburg for me. Why do fun weekends in Utah always fly by so quickly??? I rocked out to country music the whole time, stopped at Taco Bell and had a grand ole' time with me, myself and I. Road trip, party of one - check. 

Good thing the drive between Rexburg and Salt Lake is a pretty one, especially when the sun is setting :) As always, it felt good to get back home (aka Rexburg....I still don't like calling it "home") and getting back in the swing of things. This week has been CRAZY busy with homework, projects, tests, etc. but at least I made it to Friday!! Now I just need to get ahead with my homework over the weekend so I can be ready to party the whole time Sam and Taylor are here! I hope everyone enjoys their long weekend and enjoys the warm weather! Almost all my roommates (and the BYUI population for that matter) are leaving town and it's supposed to be rainy and cold here, what's up with that Rexburg??? However I'm sure we'll find something to do! :)

So in case you were wondering...

THIS has been my face all day! And I will continue to be this happy until next Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!

Why, you may ask??? Because my two best friends Sam and Taylor will be HERE in Rexburg in exactly one week!! Sam gets here Wednesday and is staying a week and then Taylor arrives Saturday. I CANNOT WAIT!!!! They're coming all the way from Florida and I am so, so grateful/thrilled/pumped/flattered that they'd travel all this way! Just imagine my face as I woke up to the following text the other day:

I can't wait to be reunited with these beauties ;)

....and to recreate pictures & memories just like this one:

See you guys SOON :)