Open Sew Day at Hotel Hamilton

Once a month we hold and Open Sew day at Hotel Hamilton & Event Center

This gives all of us an opportunity to get together, visit and work on projects! 

Bring your UFO's

Start a new project

Come and visit with friends

Bring a hand sewing project

Finish the binding

No charge, JUST come!!

And bring a treat to share. No one minds treats!!!

For a full calendar of Open Sew Dates www.visithamiltonmo.com

OR join the group Hamilton Quilters on Facebook 

Thoughtful gift

Today in the mail I received this beauty!

This piece of art was designed with my family in mind. The inscription on the back says 

" Made with love for the Redford Family. 

Sego Lilly- Utah State Flower

White Hawthorn- Missouri State Flower"

I have said and always will say "I have the best guests". But, it's not just something I say. I wholeheartedly believe that I do. They prove it every day! They are kind, thoughtful, generous, funny, good people. 

Rae and her husband Nate stayed with us two weeks ago. They are absolutely delightful! 

I am so grateful Rae decided to create this for us. And I am grateful that God knew it would be a good day for me to receive it. He is good. 

Thank you Rae, this I will treasure always, along with your friendship!

Texas Waffles

It may sound silly but finding a hotel with waffles shaped like TEXAS!?! One of the highlights of our trip!! LOL.

 As you can see we made quite a few of these beauties. We couldn't get enough! Is it possible that Texas shaped waffles taste better than regular waffles? Maybe!!

 We surely enjoyed continental breakfast at our hotels for the first few days. Then we were ready for a larger variety of cereal, haha!! Either way, having someone make breakfast for me for a change was WEIRD!! Ryan makes breakfast often, especially when we don't have guests at the house, but having someone else make it all together just felt nuts~ most days I just ate a yogurt and granola or a piece of fruit. I was ready to get home to Croissant French Toast and REAL biscuits and gravy..the stuff from the can is nasty, y'all!

Amazed by You!!

Happy Valentine's Day to my sweetheart!!

There is no question that I am absolutely spoiled rotten! Every day he shows me how someone is supposed to be loved. He treats me the way God see's me, and he helps me to see my own potential. I am so grateful to Ryan for taking a chance on the immature, a little bratty, extremely emotional young lady. He has helped me become who I am today. 

A long way to go but look how far we have come!!

This is a picture of our wedding day, February 5, 2000 at the Mount Timpanogos Temple, American Fork, Utah.

So, now I have to brag on him a little more!! 

Fast forward to February 5, 2019

Here we are, 19 years to the day later! Same temple, same spot, same two hearts that have grown a lot larger and fonder for one another and for God.

For our anniversary Ryan asked me to dress in church clothes; he was taking me to the temple. A few days prior he said he was taking me "overnight to the city for our anniversary". So I packed a bag, put on a dress and out the door we went. About 45 minutes from the house I said "oh no, I don't think I brought my wallet and my temple recommend is in there" He responded with "uhhh, you are going to need your wallet...for more than one reason.

Well, he took me to "the city" (Kansas City, Missouri) where we promptly got on a plane...definitely needed my wallet (During the flight he showed me a 1 1/2 hour slide show; pictures of our lives together with our children. He is so the BEST!) and flew to "the city" (Salt Lake City, Utah) and then drove to our temple!! 

He took me back to the place where we were sealed for time and all eternity on our anniversary even though it is states away!! 

SPOILED!?!?! YES!!

Ryan had printed names from Family Search to take with us to the temple so that we could do family sealings. This allows other families to be eternal. And we did it in the same place that we started our eternal family 19 years previous, almost to the hour!!

After the temple we headed to my mom and dad's bridal shop, Veronica Michaels Bridal, to say hello to them! Good thing, if mom found out we were in Utah, albeit 36 hours, and didn't stop to say hello...TROUBLE!

After visiting with my parents for a bit we headed back to SLC to our hotel, Anniversary Inn. For years (as long as I can remember) I have dreamed about staying in this cute BnB. It is so romantic and each room is themed, LOVE!! We checked in and then headed to Cheesecake Factory for dinner. I got my mainstay.. Thai Lettuce Wraps--oh they make me so happy! YUM! We also enjoyed bread with vinegar and oil (my favorite) and then of course a piece of cheescake. Mango something or other. It was so good!

The night does not end there, no it does not! WICKED!! Yes, he took me to see WICKED. This is the second time on our anniversary that he has brought me to WICKED. He could repeat it every year and I would never, ever complain. I absolutely love this show!

As we were moving about downtown between dinner and show, etc. the snow was falling so gently. Beautiful, like out of a movie, or fairy tale. My own fairy tale! 

We awoke the next morning to over a foot of the white powdery stuff. It was incredibly beautiful but the roads were terrible! He then surprised me with a little time with my bestie, Cindy  Lou Who. We got pedicures and ate at Cafe Rio. I absolutely LOVE Cafe Rio and we do not have ONE in Missouri! Then he picked me back up and whisked me away to some shopping before heading back to the airport. It was an absolutely beautiful way to spend our anniversary. 

When we were dating Ryan sent me a CD of Lonestar with our song "Amazed". I was shocked and totally enamored. He did not listen to or like country music, but for me, he made it ours!

Every time our eyes meet
This feeling inside me
Is almost more than I can take
Baby, when you touch me
I can feel how much you love me
And it just blows me away
I've never been this close to anyone or anything
I can hear your thoughts, I can see your dreams

I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby, I'm amazed by you

The smell of your skin
The taste of your kiss
The way you whisper in the dark
Your hair all around me
Baby, you surround me
Touch every place in my heart
And it feels like the first time every time
I want to spend the whole night in your eyes

I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby, I'm amazed by you

Every little thing that you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do, oh
Every little thing that you do
Baby, I'm amazed by you

Want to hear the song? Follow this youTube link to their official music video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-skFgrV59A

Ryan I love you so very much! Thank you for choosing me to be the Queen in your kingdom and treating me as such. I love you, my King!! 

Juan in a Million

So, when you are in Texas you look for good Mexican Food. When we heard the name of this place we knew that we couldn't go wrong. I give you  "Juan in a Million"

We were in what most would call a sketchy neighborhood. (That is when you KNOW its gonna be good!) And, then when we arrived to a hole in the wall (another good sign) place, we are golden!

Next sign for a good mexican restaurant is that you are the only light skinned people there including the staff (not trying to be insensitive, but telling you how to find good food). AND BOY OH BOY it was good food! 

The chips were deep fried, perfectly salty and made from scratch. The tortillas, yummo. The salsa made your nose run...yep, that's what I like! Every dish was well made with good size portions. I don't know when we will be in Austin again, but I will definitely make Juan in a Million a stopping place! 

This is my brother Nick. He and his sweet wife live in Austin and we were so happy to spend some time with them there. Unfortunately Nicole was at work when we went to Juan in a Million. I hope Nick treats her to a date there sometime. She would enjoy it!

Diners Drive Ins and Dives

Cameron is obsessed with Food network and more specifically Guy Fieri. Cameron is our food guru and he and guy have the same taste buds! Cam is always looking up the best place to eat for when we travel. One of the stops that we enjoyed was featured on Diners Drive In's and Dives. We really enjoyed this old Diner. 

Jackson, of course, was tickled with the jukebox. 

And I was enamored by the bar. How cool! They had a window, a bell, the whole thing! Picture perfect. We really liked Bun -n- Barrel 

The food was good too. We all left stuffed and enjoyed stepping back in time for a bit.

Let's talk about food for a minute.

You may have already learned this about me, but I love food!

One of my favorite things about food is that it brings people together around the table to talk. More specifically, my table. I absolutely love feeding the tummies of those that then sit and build relationships that feed their hearts and souls. THIS is WHY I HAMILTON! This is why I love owning a Bed & Breakfast. This is why I like to make good food.

This picture is taken on a typical weekday around our table. This menu is requested often by guests, albeit quite simple. Breakfast Casserole, Muffins and Fruit and Yogurt Parfait. I make a mean yogurt in the Instant Pot but as a tip, I LOVE (and often use) the Great Value Vanilla Yogurt. IT is delicious!!