Utah Esthetician School

I had the opportunity to go to a Utah Esthetician School last week! I brought my friend Taira along with me &we were both pretty excited :) We each got to pick one spa treatment. I have never been to a spa before so the whole experience was new for me. 

Since I am very fair and am sensitive to the sun, I decided to go with the Environmental Shield Vitamin C Infusion Facial. This facial treatment is scientifically proven to deliver the most powerful and stabilized formulation of pure Vitamin C. Enriched with antioxidants to help repair and prevent free radical damage from environmental exposure. The facial was amazing! The girl who did my facial was very sweet, and answered all of my questions. She was very knowledgeable and gave me some great tips and advice for my skin. The facial started with me going under this light that shows all of your sun damage. WOW.... if there is one thing that will help you put sunscreen on every day it is seeing yourself under this light! They should show kids this early on. It made me really happy I was getting this facial and reminded just how fragile our skin is under the sun. The room where I got my facial done was very relaxing and I wasn't expecting the extra bonus of a light massage on my shoulders and neck. I felt super comfortable throughout my facial and I felt great after. I am pretty sure Trevor is not going to love that I went and had this facial, because now I know how wonderful they are...I think I am addicted :)

My friend Taira had specific concerns with her skin when it came to breaking out and acne. She chose to go with the Clarifying Enzyme Facial, a professional strength treatment designed to improve acne prone skin. Exfoliating natural fruit enzymes of papaya and pineapple, plus antiseptics, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory ingredients will result in skin clarity and reduction of acne blemishes. She even went for a salicylic peel. Here are her words on the experience...

 (Taira buying six more sessions!)

I had a great experience, the girl was very nice and professional. I was so relaxed, and couldn't believe I was at a Utah Esthetician School, and not some high class salon. The salicylic peel was amazing! My face is already looking ten times better. I was so impressed with the facility and their prices that I bought six more sessions before I left! I will keep you updated on those!

 Taira &I after our facials... we have no make up on so don't judge!

So basically we both loved it! If you live in the Salt Lake or Utah County area I highly recommend you try them out. The Utah Esthetician School offers you affordable spa treatments, and a great experience. Plus it is super fun to do with a girl friend :)

Berry Lemon Muffins.

I am loving that with school done, I am having some more time to bake and cook. I wanted to make something yummy and I decided I wanted to make something for my co-workers at the University of Utah Library. Just to thank them for being awesome and being so flexible with me while I was in school. They were always so great :) and worked with me and around my schedule. I found this recipe which actually just called for raspberries but I decided to add all kinds of berries :) the more the merrier right?

Ingredients
Servings: 14 large or 56 miniature muffins
1 1/8 cups sugar, divided
4 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel (from two large lemons)
2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 large egg
1 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 1/2-pint containers (about) fresh raspberries (I added raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, you get the idea!)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line 14 standard muffin cups (or 56 minis) with paper liners. Mash 1/8 cup sugar and lemon peel in small bowl until sugar is slightly moist. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat remaining 1 cup sugar and butter in large bowl until smooth. Beat in egg. Beat in buttermilk, then vanilla and lemon sugar. Beat in flour mixture.
Divide batter among muffin cups (the 2/3-3/4 level worked well for minis). Top each large muffin with 4 raspberries (or mini muffins with one each). Bake muffins until lightly browned on top and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes (baking time was on the shy side of 20 minutes for mini muffins).

 Enjoy! :)

Graduation!

Well remember last year when Trevor graduated? Well I have officially joined him in being a college graduate from the University of Utah! I loved having my family drive all distances to come and be with me at my graduation. I love that I have family willing and able to do those kinds of things. My parents drove up from San Diego, and Trevor's parents drove up from St.George to come to my graduation. Trevor's sister Courtney and her husband Eric don't live too far away, but they made time to be with us as well.

Having them all with me just added to the excitement of the day!

I wasn't planning on going to my commencement, but then I heard that Mitch Albom would be speaking... you know the American best-selling author, journalist, screenwriter, dramatist, radio and television broadcaster and musician. You may recognize some of his books, like Tuesdays with Morrie, and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. So of course I had to go simply to see him, and I am so happy I did. He was amazing. He stole the show! My parents who have been to countless commencements said it was by far the best one they have ever been to or heard. I don't mean to sound corny, but the whole experience was kind a little life changing... I will have to get into why later, because that is a whole nother story! I decided to not dress up and sit with the other graduates at the commencement and just enjoy sitting by my parents, I mean they live in San Diego and I miss them, and I am happy I had that experience with them.

After the commencement we had decided to meet up with everyone for a big lunch. Unfortunately my college's convocation wasn't until 6:45 that night. Can you believe it was so late? We stuffed ourselves silly at the Cheesecake Factory... um yum. Then we went back and rested our big fat belly's until it was time for me to get all dressed up in my cap and gown. I was happy my friend Chelsea was at the convocation, because only SIX people graduated this semester in my major! It would have really sucked to sit by myself through convocation. It was fun sitting with her because it was just like all our classes we took together, we just chatted up a storm. The speaker at our convocation wasn't that great in my opinion, which made me even happier that I had gone to my commencement. Walking to get my diploma and hearing my name was exciting. I can't believe after all this time I have graduated. For those of you who are wondering, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science Social Science Teaching Composite and History Teaching Minor. I couldn't be more excited to go out and really help young students find a passion for learning and their education. To help them find a passion for the world around them, the histories of their families, countries, and cultures.

My education has taught me so much about myself, and what I am capable of.... I can't wait to go out and give the world what I have to offer.  

 

 

 (Don't you just love Trevor's little hair that is sticking straight up in all of these pictures?! haha)

GO UTES! :) CLASS OF 2011

So where have you been?

(this was taken on my phone on my way to graduation!)

Alright blogger friends.... guess who has finally graduated? Yup ME. So slap my wrist, because I know I have been a bad blogger the last couple months. But to my defense I had to focus on my school work. Sometimes real life is more important then the blog (I know, I just said that...)  
BUT I AM BACK &ready to go!

Happy to be here again :)