SHOPPING CART RETURN

Admit it...we all get a little bugged when we come out of a store and see a shopping cart behind our car or that one has blown into another car by the wind. Yeah--hate that. People, why can't you return them to the stall like a responsible person should?! I haven't seen a single shopping cart left out in a parking lot here and I think it is because of this idea:
All of the carts are connected by a little chain. To get one free for use, you must put a coin in the slot and it pushes the chain out. When you return the cart, you use the chain from the cart just in front of yours to push your coin out, which in turn, locks it up until the next person comes along and your coin is returned to your pocket. AMAZING.

MATH LESSON

Maybe I'm not the best at math, but I'm pretty sure there is something wrong with the logic in this tshirt:

My other favorites that I have seen recently say "three blind mouse" and "living life to the full." Oh Czechs...bless your hearts.

SPAIN

Thanks to my pal LaRee and her family, the nanny, and my friend Brandon, I was able to enjoy a wonderful week in Spain.
I drank horchata, watched soccer, and hung out with the bulls in Madrid

Visited Alhambra, devoured churros con chocolate, and hunted for gypsies in Granada

Enjoyed Plaza de España, munched on tapas, and castled it up in Seville

Picked oranges from trees, experienced flamenco, and got lots of opportunities to hablo in Cordoba.

Click here to see more of my photos from Spain

SUMMER/MUSIC/BBQ

I'm not in town this weekend...but if I was, I'd totally go to this concert!
However, I'm headed to Spain. William is at a KinderCamp for a week which equals time off for me. So I'm going to see if the rain really does stay mainly in the plains.

Here is the info:
Date: Saturday, 22 May 2010
Time: 6:30 - 11:30
Location: Velour Live Music Gallery
Street: 135 N University Avenue
Town/City: Provo, UT
Cost: $7
Cory Mon & the Starlight Gospel with Dave Eaton...need I say more?! Well, I will...Kara Henderson, the Question, and hot diggity dogs!

BBQ starts roughly @ 630pm - Doors @ 8pm - Music @ 830pm

GREATPOSTEROFFER.COM

Who doesn't need to hang artwork like this?! Especially if it's free!


Click here to choose YOUR free poster

FREE SHAMPOOING

Just heard about this:

Rachael Ray mentioned it on her show and it's on Facebook, so you wouldn't be cool unless you got in on this deal. Suave is offering 100,000 free bottles of their new Salon Professional Quality shampoo and conditioner. Click here to get yours.

BEYONCE

Some days I feel like saying "You must not know 'bout me..." Beyonce style.
Then others I feel like she's telling ME I shouldn't think I'M so Irreplaceable.
Am I the only one who feels this way? Maybe I shouldn't think out loud.

SUMMER MARKETS

Go ahead...try to guess what my favorite thing is about being in Plzen.
The hot boys?...NO
The beer?...Never tried it
Getting out of trouble by saying, "I speak English"?...psshhh, that's easy

It's the little summer markets that fill the náměstí


with sights like these:

Today was perfect.

DENTIST

On Saturday, May 1, 2010, the day before I flew to the Czech Republic, Stonehaven Dental in Lehi opened its doors to members of the community who couldn't afford dental work. On a first come first serve basis, community members were able to get an extraction, filling, or cleaning. Registration began at 8AM, but some people spent the night to be first in line. I really don't know why. My friend showed up at like 7AM and grabbed a ticket for me with no problem. Whatever...people like to do weird stuff.

Since I travel around a lot for work and maybe don't really have dental insurance, I went in for a simple cleaning to keep these pearly whites shining. It was great. My teeth thank you, Stonehaven Dental.

So if YOU are looking for a great dentist in the Utah County area, may I suggest to you the place with my absolute favorite dentists, the friendliest staff, best snacks, and all-around coolest dental experience (and I'm pretty sure they have a treasure box):

Hammond & Ellis Dentistry in Provo, UT

Besides me just wanting to spread the word on good service, they also offer a $30 gift card for both you AND me for referrals so click here to make your appointment:
http://www.facebook.com/hammondellis#!/hammondellis?v=app_4949752878

(They also have a deal going now until June for professional teeth whitening for only $30 and 100% of the proceeds are going to charity. They just keep sounding better and better, don't they.)

MOTHER'S DAY

My mom rocks

LEMON/CUCUMBER

Last Friday, I had an awesome date to spend the afternoon at a spa. We went to the Kura Door. It's a Japanese Spa in Salt Lake City and it was pretty much amazing. Three hours that included 1 hot soak, a 60 minute massage, 2 trips to the wet sauna, a couple minutes in the dry sauna (not my favorite), 6 dried apricots and almonds, and I was the happiest girl ever.


BUT my most favorite thing about this place was not walking around in the robes and slippers they provide for you, it was drinking the water infused with lemons and cucumbers. WOW! So delicious. I think I found a new favorite.


I mean, I've had lemon in water and I've had cucumber water, but never lemon WITH cucumber water.

WORLD'S SMALLEST...

I've travelled around the world a little bit, but never have I been so mesmerized by such a find. That's right, I am pretty sure that today I opened a jar to discover the world's smallest....pickle or okurka as they say here in Czech.





**Right after taking these photos, I ate it and kinda destroyed the evidence. Don't I feel like such a fool.

LIBERATION

It's the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Plzen by the American army and today ended the festivities. These are the beautiful sights I've seen on my walks around town (amid the rain).


American and Czech flags flying together

German propaganda posters

At the top of Americka street, there is this nice memorial:


Czech citizens gave lilacs to WWII soldiers in gratitude and so during this celebration you could smell the beautiful flowers around in remembrance.


Thank you, America!
Click here and here to read more.

REUNITED

Deanna and William reunited.
"I want to stay in your room and play with you forever and ever."
Oh no, what have I gotten myself into?!
**We'll see how long it lasts...

CZECH

Three planes, 2 inflight meals, one 5-year old William so excited to see me and I made it to Plzen. Ah the Czech Republic: the land where I am no longer an inexpensive date because beer costs less than water.

(Pilsner Urquell brewery)

HAIR CUT

I received a coupon for a free haircut from the women's expo at UVU for Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design in Orem (off University Parkway). I know what you might be thinking...an ACADEMY of hair design...that means hair school. But it is super nice inside, the cut was good, and the scalp treatment was a-maz-ing! The price for both services: $17. Not bad. So if you're on a budget and need a new cut with a tad of pampering, I recommend Taylor Andrews.

NOTICE THINGS

I notice a lot of things. This week I have made these conclusions:
1. Girls should not wear heels if they do not know how to walk in them or if they are going to buy them 2 sizes too big. Gross.
2. It's fun to see boys play skin vs shirts sports out in the nice weather ONLY if the boys on the skin team have nice arms/shoulders/lats.
3. If I ever have a little girl child, I want her to dress just like this girl we saw at the park...isn't she cute?!

4. Domino's Pizza has a new garlic and parsley speckled crust (as of Dec 2009) and it actually tastes really delicious.
5. Most people seem to lose 1,000 IQ points when either driving or walking through a Wal*mart parking lot. Seriously people?!

DAY TRIPPER

Have you ever flown somewhere for a meeting and then flew back home all in the same day. Me neither...until today. I put on my business attire and flew to Las Vegas for 4.5 hours and then flew home and still had time to enjoy my day.
Ahhh...you know you're at the Vegas airport when you see naughty show signs and hear the sounds of slots.




Of course, my next flight will be much longer...to the Czech Republic. Surprise!

GLORIA'S LITTLE ITALY

I have had a hard time in my search to find a good Italian restaurant since Ottavio's on Center Street in Provo closed it's doors. If you have any suggestions, please send them my way.


One place I do NOT recommend is Gloria's Little Italy (1 East Center Street, Provo...just a few doors down from where Ottavio's was). Maybe it was just a bad night for them but here's my review:
*super small tables with not enough room for the food.
*instead of getting oil and vinegar to dip your bread in, we got a basket of burnt toast with a little oil already splashed on it and no plates to set it on if needed.
*world's worst server award goes to Meghan.
*it took a long time for our order to arrive and once it did the person said, "Thanks for waiting. We have too many people eating here tonight." What?! What place complains about too many customers and maybe he should have said, "We're sorry, here is a complimentary gelato or Italian soda because you have waited so patiently and our service is horrible..."
*my gnocchi was overcooked and mushy.
*$40 for a salad and 2 plates of pasta. Dessert looked good but we didn't have another hour to wait for it.


The best part of the evening was when I played chubby bunny to see how many dumplings I could fit in my mouth while we, now a little impatiently, waited for the check. 15...not bad.

CENT 99 TACOS

If you have ever thought you hated your job, just be glad you aren't THIS guy (holding a sign that doesn't make sense in the rain on the coldest day of the month in Pleasant Grove):

VOLUNTEER

If you don't have a job as cool as the guy above or are just looking for something to do to keep you out of trouble and maybe contribute a little to the community, volunteer at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi. Once you sign up, you can choose what events you're interested in helping with and as you rack up the hours you can earn sweet rewards. This Saturday there is a half marathon, Baby Animal Birthday party at the barn, Tulip Festival, and an Indian food cooking class they need volunteers for. I do it. Maybe you should too. CLICK CLICK.

10:01

For some reason, I just get so giddy when the digital clock hits this time. My mind starts wandering and I actually play with all of these thoughts:
You're looking at the clock, what time is it? 10:01.
You're upside down (as I turn my head), what time is it? 10:01.
Your car just crashed and flipped upside down (don't actually do this one), what time is it? 10:01.
You're holding the clock up to the mirror, what time is it? 10:01.
You're dyslexic, what time is it? 10:01.
You wrote the time on a piece of paper and are looking at the front...no back...no front of it, what time is it? 10:01.
No, no other exact time makes me do this besides 10:01.

PIMPLES

I am 20-something...whatever, we don't need to talk about it...so why do I still get pimples on my face?! I'm pretty sure I did my time in my teenage years. Can I be handed a 'get out of break outs free' card, please?

WRONG SIDE OF THE BED

I think I might have woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Normally, while at the gym I don't mind what channel people watch on the tv near me because I am there to get my exercise on not watch shows. But today, while I working the elliptical, some guy came and changed the channel without even asking if it was cool with me. Then he turned the volume up so loud I could hear it over my ipod with my earphones in my ears. RUDE. So what if I was watching the TLC channel with ugly ladies trying on wedding dresses that they have no business trying to squeeze in to. I wanted to say, "Hey, chubby dude, you mind changing that back?! I was here first!"

MINI VAN

After driving my nieces and nephews around this week, I've come to this conclusion:
no matter how hot you are (or think you are), you CANNOT pick up on hotties cruising in a mini van.

PIRATE ISLAND

Spring Break for the kiddies so we headed to Pirate Island in Orem for dinner during a 24 hours of Auntie Nana fest.
Whoever thought "Chuck E. Cheese's is cool but would be cooler if it was pirate themed," is a genius.
So here we are:
Max hit the jackpot and won 100 tickets!

Fun with loot bags and pizza. But make sure you don't take the wrong tickets...

Throwing down to get his!

Prettiest pirate ladies in town.

Load up the car and take the family or friends to Pirate Island to see Captain Jack, eat some good grub, play in the aargh-cade, and take home some sweet loot.

SAKURA

If you like sushi or hibachi grill (or maybe even both) and are in the glorious Utah County area, then you MUST go here:
Sakura
171 West University Parkway in Orem.
Wow. There isn't a roll they've made that I didn't like (trust me...I've had a lot of rolls there) and the owner Siv is so cool I wish he was my uncle. Go ahead, get your sushi on.
**It's all you can eat and you should order the Hawaiian roll for sure (it's like dessert and sushi in one bite)**

DON'T DISAPPOINT ME

I went to the Jazz vs Knicks game last week with my friend Jason. I kinda felt like I was in the movie How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days. Don't ask me why.

Anyway, while at the game I discovered something...two words...Kyle Korver. What?! Why haven't I been a Utah Jazz fan all this time?!

Katie Holmes told Seventeen magazine that when she was a kid, she wanted to marry Tom Cruise. When Oprah Winfrey asked Cruise in May 2005 whether he'd make her dream come true, he replied, "I don't want to disappoint her."

So, Kyle Korver, I'm not crazy enough to say I want to marry you. Uh yeah...weird. I'm also not Katie Holmes. But, maybe you should try not to disappoint me and take me on a date.

PS Jazz won 103-98.

THE SQUEAKUEL

It wasn't the movie premiere.
In fact, it is already on DVD.
It was playing at the dollar theater.
It was a Thursday night.


But doesn't dressing up make things SO much more fun.


Our night out at Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Chipettes vs Chipmunks

CEREAL KILLER

Hello, my name is deanna, and I mix my cereals. Some people tell me they think this behavior is unacceptable and I kill the taste of one cereal by mixing it with another. Instead, I like to think I'm just bringing two yummy flavors together to form a party in a bowl.

My favorite mix: Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Trix.
(No, they aren't just for kids.)

DIRECTION

Ever feel like this? Maybe I do (a little bit) today.

ALL IN ONE DAY

All in just one day:

Driving through Moab and the tire on the truck falls off...literally.


While sitting in the truck and watching the tire roll by us, through the intersection, bounce, and land in the street, I decide we might need it again. As I jump out of the truck to chase down the tire, my phone falls into the street and (even though it had already been run over and lost for a week at the Dulles Airport and dropped several times on hard wood floors) the screen dies and my celltron doesn't work any more. RIP.
Of course, there is no T-mobile store in Moab.



The tow truck driver was kind enough to get the truck to the shop.
The shop employee said he could fix the truck. Hooray!
...in 2 weeks. Not so good.
Think the day could get any worse for a girl? Yes, my monthly friend decided to stop in. Brilliant! (Maybe I should've kept that one to myself but I felt like it was the icing on the cake.)


I suppose it wasn't ALL bad. Got to meet the whole town of Moab, make new friends, and play in the red dirt.
You know what they say, when in Moab...do some hiking.