Denver

At the beginning of the month I had the opportunity to go to Denver and spend some time with my wonderful aunt and uncle.

 

I flew in on Thursday afternoon and my aunt Lisa was just flying in from her parents in California and got in a couple of minutes before me and met me at my gate.  We made some dinner that night. On Friday my uncle had to go to work so my aunt and I went to the Botanical Gardens in Denver that has some beautiful blown glass art on display. It was beautiful.

 

That evening after my uncle got home from work we went to downtown Denver and had some dinner. For dinner we had some pizza and a Fire Grilled Cesar Salad. That salad was so yummy. I have to find out if we have any where in Salt Lake that makes a salad like that. We also went to the book store the Tattered Cover. I remember going to that book store when I was little and had been there with them so we stopped in and took a look around.

 

Then Saturday morning we drove to Carbondale to my aunt and uncles property that they bought there. They have the most incredible view of Sopris Mountain. We did some walking around on the property and they showed me where they were going to build their house. My grandparents live in Carbondale so they drove up and met us at the property and we had some lunch and then my aunt, uncle, grandma and I did a little hike. After the hike we drove down to my grandparents house and just relaxed until we went to dinner. We went to a yummy Thai restaurant in Carbondale. Then Sunday morning we got up and had some breakfast and then my grandparents drove me to Grand Junction so that I could catch my flight home. It was a really great trip and had so much fun just spending time with them without all the rest of the family around. So thankful for my incredible family.

Feeling good

So I had been having a difficult time with acne and had been to a dermatologist and was taking some medicine but I still just didn't feel like my face was getting any better. So I looked on line to see if there were any foods that I should avoid.

Here are the suggestions I found of what should and shouldn't eat:

I should eat fruits and veggies and that should be most of my plate.

Eat lean protiens (chicken, turkey, pork and fish)

Cut of processed foods

Cut out Sugar (okay this one seemed like it would be hard at first but it has been the easiest. I have been doing this for about a month an a half, I did eat some sugar last week and I didn't really enjoy it and didn't feel well after. Motivation to keep going right?)

Don't eat fast food. Okay I still eat out but I don't usually go somewhere that has a drive thru window and choose places that I can find some healthier options.

Not only by doing this do I feel that my face is getting better but I felt like I was stuck at a weight I didn't want to be at and couldn't see to get below it. Since I have started doing this I feel amazing, have lost 14 lbs, and dropped a pant size.

I will admit right now that I am not a big exerciser and need to be better this. Since doing this I do tend to try and park further away in the parking lot, try to go for more walks. But I am never been big into I exercising.

Here is my before photo:

I will have to take an after photo as the photos that I have taken since losing weight have only been head selfies that are my shoulders up. 

Last day and flying home!

So Thursday I was all on my own in Stirling. I didn't really go out and see much of anything as I really wasn't comfortable to get on a bus or the train and go see any sites. I did walk around Stirling and went to and Italian Restaurant for lunch and got gelato ice cream. I then went out and got Subway and dinner time. I mostly just watched some movies on my phone and read.

Friday I was flying home in the morning so I really only went out and got some breakfast. Scotland was truly a vacation that I won't forget. It is just beautiful almost everywhere you look. I love how green it is. Yes even the humidity and my hair going curly.

No real adventure while flying home. I got in about midnight and was supper tired. So you know in the movie The Parent Trap where they get off the plane not at a gate but out on the tarmack? Yeah pretty sure that only happened in movies until I landed in Amsterdam. I got off the plane and then had to get on a shuttle to get into the airport and catch my connecting flight. We were delayed getting into Amsterdam. Not really sure how that happened as we had pretty much left on time. I thought I was' t going to make my connecting flight. But when we got to our gate they had been inspecting the plane or something so we were delayed boarding. Little creepy that they were inspecting the plane right before I got on but at least we know it was fine as I am here to tell my story.

 The flight from Atlanta to Salt Lake felt longer then my flight from Amsterdam to Atlanta. Probably because I was so excited to be home and there were no tvs. I really enjoyed my time in Scotland and was so thankful to Rob and Rachel for letting me come and visit and for being my tour guide. Glad we got to experience Callender for the first time together. Even though I had a wonderful time there I was happy to be home in my own bed.

National Wallace Monument in Stirling!

Wednesday was my last day in Scotland with Rachel and Rob as they would be leaving to go to Italy for a conference that Rachel was attending. So Rachel and I went and saw the National Wallace Monument. It was a pleasant little hike up to it. You are able to climb up the tower and see the views from on top. I really wasn't wanting to pay to go up as it was kind of expensive and a lot of stairs. We still had some amazing views just from the bottom of the tower. Scotland truly is one of the most beautiful places and I have fallen in love with it. 

 In this picture int he distance you can see the Stirling Castle. This is one of my favorite pictures that I took.

After we went to the National Wallace Monument Rachel and I went over to her campus at Stirling University. It really is a beautiful campus that has a pond on it . Wow it was amazing. While on campus we got some lunch and then printed off a few things that she and I needed to print. We also got some Ben and Jerry Ice cream!

That evening the Bishop and his wife had invited us over for dinner. So we went over to their house for a while and had a really yummy dinner. I have made some wonderful friends while over in Scotland.

                                          Amanda Pryor, Aimee Wilford, and Jody Cassidy

Edinburgh!

The same day that we went to Linlithgow we also went into Edinburgh and saw the Edinburgh Castle. This castle is incredible. We were not able to see every room of the castle as they were not all open to the public. We did get to see some of the jewels.  While in Edinburgh Rachel and I ate at a resturant that specialized in American Foods. Yes I ate a cheeseburger. Wasn't quite sure what the rocket was that they put on the burger. They brought some out to show me what it was cause they said we had it here in America. I didn't figure it out until a couple of days ago that the american work is arugla. I have a lot of Pictures from there and as they say a picture is worth a thousand words here is over a thousand words then

                                                   cemetery for the Soldiers dogs

                                                            Edinburgh (Royal Mile)

                                                                     Edinburgh Castle

                                                      view of Edinburgh

                                                                    view of Edinburgh

                                                                    Edinburgh

                                                  When in Europe you have to get the phone booth photo

                               Watch out I have a weapon that I am not sure how to use. It was really heavy actually.

After we had been in Edinburgh one of Rachel's Friends had invited Rachel and I over to her house as her husband was gone to young mens. We just had hot chocolate and I tried some digestives. Islay had made some homemade peanut butter bars. They were amazing! We just talked and had a great time.

Linlithgow!

After we had gone to Callander, the next day we went to Linlithgow which is a palace that was burned out. It has no ceiling and all these different hallways and passages that you just get to go explore. There is one of the towers that you are able to go to the very top of and it has some amazing views. It really was fun just exploring this palace. I should read up on why this palace was burned out. I didn't really experience the true Scottish weather while there (or so I had been told). It hardly rained on us and was just nice pleasant weather the whole time.

Callander!

Okay so I am going to combine Sunday and Monday in this post as I don't really have any pictures from Sunday. Sunday we got up and went to church in Alloa. I have never been to a ward before when the announce by name the person who is visiting. So when that happened I was a little taken aback. Of course I had met the Bishop the day before as he had brought Rob to the airport to pick me up. Rachel was unable to come to the airport as she was teaching piano. So her husband came and got me. After church we came home and made some food. Then Rachel and I watched the Saratov Approach as Rach hadn't seen it yet.

Monday I had the opportunity to go to the city that my ancestors are from. The city is Callendar (but pronounced Calendar). It truly was one of my favorite places that I went. While there we ate some lunch, which I got fish n chips. (you can't go to Scotland without having fish n chips)

                                                               
                                               cemetery that I believe my ancestors are burried in

                                                                 
                                                                     Callander, Scotland

                                                                     Fish N Chips

                                                           beautiful pond that was in Callander

The photos of the are taken in the cemetery that I believe my ancestors are burried in. (when I looked them up online it said this one) But I could hardly read most of the names on the graves as they are so weathered.