Gelato: Four Times in Five Days

I think that my love for gelato might be bordering on obsession. Murray may agree; I've dragged him to Maestro Gelato again and again ever since Jenny told me about the store opening. Last night, I put in a take-home order so that I could bring samples back to El Senor and my coworkers.

(Image not from actual store. Murray's camera is out of batteries.)

If you've never had gelato (and you live in the Provo area) now's your chance. It is a milk-based ice cream (less fat) that is a bit denser. If you have had gelato, then you already know you love it. Maestro Gelato gives you a chance to indulge without having to spend $1000 on a plane ticket to Italy.

I was shocked to find out that they have my favorite gelato flavor---yogurt. You may not think that sounds like much, but go in and try it (especially try it and chocolate or chocolate raspberry together) to understand what I'm talking about. Its tangyness (think cheesecake) perfectly complements chocolate. Of course, it tastes great with fruit flavors, too.

I was also shocked to discover that their gelato is exactly what I'd expect to find in Italy. This is the first time that I've found good Italian gelato here in the States.

So spread the word, please. I need these people to stay in business to feed my addiction.

Maestro Gelato, 22 West Center Street, Provo

(To those in Salt Lake City, I have yet to try Dolcetti. Once I do, I'll let you know how it compares to Maestro Gelato and real, Italian gelato.)

Puerto Nuevo and Coronado Island

Here is the follow-up picture to represent what really happened when we went to Puerto Nuevo and San Diego. We combined experiences we had in Mexico and on Coronado Island to bring you this very accurate version of what happened. (Note: The dolphins did come very, very close, but just when Switchback turned her back to bring her found, live sand dollar, the dolphins swam right up to us and let us play with them. It's so sad that Switchback missed out.)

Thirteen Thousand Words

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Later, Murray and I will illustrate our trip to San Diego so that you can see how it compares to our Puerto Nuevo prediction. In the meantime, I will provide you with all this evidence of fun and frivolity.

on the road

In New Port, Mexico:

Switchback kindly cropped out the graffiti, trash, and beer-drinkers. But I just negated all that work she did by telling you that this scene originally had all those things.

Our feast was worthy of the trip. The lobster was tiny but delicious. The cheese-stuffed, bacon-wrapped, deep-fried shrimp was the best.

Switchback and her lobster.

Me, Redras, and Redras's wrestling masks. Last year I brought a Mexican wrestling mask home from Tijuana, so this year, Redras simply had to get the same thing for her brothers. The bartering process occurred on our way out of Mexico. There is a long line of cars waiting to exit the country (it takes one to two hours to get out) and so street vendors walk through the slow-moving traffic with random merchandise. Want a Coke? They've got it. Want a gigantic plastic lawn turtle? They've got it. Squeezable polenta? Mexican popsicles? Check and check. Forgot to buy your life-sized crucifix? No problem---they'll bring it to you at the border.


Switchback, in two countries at the same time.

Redras in the back of the car.

Me, on La Jolla beach Sunday night, proving that going to the beach is a Sabbath activity because I'm wearing my Sunday clothes. Murray and I learned that we do, actually, like long walks on the beach.

Murray on the beach. Holding my purse. But you wouldn't know it.

Looking for birds and whales and other sea creatures at Cabrillo National Monument.

A mermaid on the beach. Many thanks to Murray for not choosing to make me into a manatee.

An Announcement

Of course there's lots to report from our trip to San Diego and Mexico, but I'll wait till we actually have pictures. For now, I'd really like to talk about what was in my mailbox this morning.

The explanation starts about nine months ago...

Oh boy. Now you're thinking that there was a baby in my mailbox. Really, the whole "nine months" thing is a coincidence. It just so happened that nine months ago, I was making a special effort to get out more and meet new people. This involved attending any ward activity I could stomach and accepting invitations to random people's birthday parties. So it was that last October, I found myself at a birthday party for a ward girl. There were a lot of other people at the party, but during the course of the evening, I was able to meet her and her boyfriend/fiance.

The stint of "meeting new ward people" didn't really last very long, and so it was that I probably only talked to this girl and her fiance the night of that party and maybe a nod or two in the halls afterwards.

Last week, when I was at Hancock fabric buying the rest of my supplies for my Betty Shopper bag, I saw her and her fiance. I made eye contact---kindof---with the fiance who didn't seem to recognize me at all (nine months ago was a long time) so I didn't really feel the need to go up and start a conversation with either of them. Not out of spite. Just out of having absolutely nothing to say because really, we just casually barely knew of one another's existence.

In fact, when I was ready with my fabric, I stood at the fabric cutting counter right beside them. Again, it's not like they recognized me or anything, which I, of course, was fine with because like I said, it's not as if we had some fabulous friendship. I left the store without ever talking to them.

This morning, I checked my mail on my way to work to see if my latest Etsy purchase arrived. It didn't. But I leafed through what was there and found an announcement-looking envelope. I opened it up to find this couple's wedding invitation.

Wow.

This basically means that for invitations alone, I can never afford to get married (sorry Murray---give up on me now) because apparently the rule is that you must send an invitation to every person you have ever said hello to, briefly been acquainted with, or nodded at in a hall.

I'm Not an Addict (Maybe That's a Lie)

I currently have two addictions (three if you count Murray). They are Etsy and Amy Butler fabrics and patterns. The bad thing about these addictions is that I don't feel remorse when I spend money on either of them.

With Etsy, I'm supporting independent art, which is actually quite noble. The writer of Design Sponge talked about creating a gallery wall in her home and I've decided I'm going to do the same thing after I've collected enough art. (Luckily because of Murray, I won't have to buy all the art---he can create it and then I can display it.) But so far, I've purchased three things on Etsy. In one week's time... come to think of it, it may actually be a bad addiction (not to mention that I coerced Ambrosia into purchasing a crochet pattern on Etsy so that she can try it out and then teach me how to do it). The positive side effect of being an Etsy addict is that I now check the mail almost every day, whereas previously I think I would go about three months on average between opening my mailbox (El Senor did it, and really, if all I'm getting is junk mail and bills that are already automatically paid, why take the effort to get my mail?).

This is my first Etsy purchase, a print from Dkim.



My second addiction is Amy Butler fabric and patterns. I also justify these purchases because I consider them "market research." I would eventually like to produce my own original fabric line (instead of designing fabric for a corporation). I also love her bags, and I figure that since I help to design bags as well, sewing Amy Butler's bags is really just investing in my own skills and knowledge. Did I spend $100 in Amy Butler stuff last month? Yes! And what an investment!

Last night I completed this Amy Butler bag just in time to take it to the beach in San Diego. Next month I'll take it to the beach in New Jersey.


And as long as I'm showing things I've bought and made, I may as well give you a sneak peak at a a lining I've done for work. I don't show my designs on the blog because they're not my property, but I think I can ethically get away with showing this picture of a sample product... This weekend I'm also using a weekender bag that uses my poppy pattern on the outside. I'll have Murray get a shot of it and post it when I get back.