Loves

My two loves from last weekend:

Seriously, just look at him.....

This is Chris Carrabba, better known as Dashboard Confessional.
He and I have quite an extensive history, starting even before high school. Without giving you the entire romanticized story, I will break it down for you:

He came on Friday and played an acoustic show (just the way I love him best) and I straight up sang my heart out!!! He played all my old favorites, and I fell hard for him all over again! Aside from the tattoos and rockstar lifestyle, I'm sure he leads, I would marry him. And he could sing for me anytime he felt like it. Sigh.....

My second love this weekend was the snow.
Behold:

These are actual snow flakes people.....

The snow was SOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!! Jess and I stood out in the freezing cold to enjoy these fabulous flakes, taking pictures (that still don't do them justice), and taking turns yelling at each other about how amazing they were. I look at these pictures, and I'm still in awe. Isn't Heavenly Father wonderful?!!! Look at the incredible things He gives us to enjoy.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Blog, Blob, Blah

-Just some things and stuff-

It was my birthday yesterday and I came into work this morning to find my desk COVERED in delicious treats and pressies. Isn't that just so great??!

My WONDERFUL boyfriend did something SO out of the ordinary for him and took me to a fabulous french restaurant for my birthday date on Saturday night. I had the Duck Confit, and it was delish! I love surprises! (Also, check out my cute black-friday-steal of a coat!)

Ty and I at the ReAL celebrations to bring home the MLS cup. SO exciting! Check us in our RSL colors, we are true fans, even in the FREEZING-A cold.

BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING!!! I seriously love it! I will admit this picture is pretty rockin considering that we are in our 24th hour of being awake, 9th hour of straight shopping (starting at midnight) and 10th (approximately) store of the night/morning. I ALWAYS end up shopping 90% for myself and 10% for others... probably part of the reason I love it so much.


Random:

Tyson and I on a beautiful Halloween day at Frightmares at Lagoon. Who would have guessed by the scenery that we were in a ghetto theme park? Not me. BTW, Wicked rocked my socks off. I'm so into that ride.

Finally, to cement my status of "cool" in the record books, I would like to brag/show off a bit for all your Twilighters/New Mooners. (Twi-hards if you will)

This is Jessica and I in Montepulciano, Italy. You may recognize the square we are sitting in from the scenes in Volterra in New Moon. You can actually see this restaurant in the movie, if you know where to look.

Yes, behind me is the clock tower below which Edward plans to show off his glittering body before his plans are foiled by Bella. (Jessie, thanks for sacrificing and being the one to take the pic)

There you are, now hopefully that erased any doubts you may have had about my coolness. I. am. cool.

What the.. November 12?!

How did that happen already?

I don't really have anything to post except that I am ready for the snow!! (....boo's from the crowd, I know....) Now is the time I get so excited about Christmas, and it just doesn't feel real until that fuzzy white stuff starts showing up.

OMG. Christmas!!!!


I've been sneaking in some listens to that holiday music when I'm in my car alone, and no one can even tell! Ha!

D to the L + H to the Alloween =

Awesomeness and 4.5 VERY happy people.

Who knows what Jes is so upset about.... the ride isn't THAT scary.

Mickey's Halloween Trick-or-Treat party. SO fun!

Idea

I think that instead of being punished by my body for the things I eat, I should be rewarded for the things I do not eat.

Funny

I hate waking up in the morning, but I love being awake. I always feel like I can accomplish so much more in a day where I don't waste half the morning sleeping. Also, I love how it feels outside (not so much when my car has frosty windows) but when it's nice and crisp and everything is so new from the day before.
Anyway, I find it so funny that on my way to work most mornings the air smells like toast or pop-tarts. I like it because it makes my life feel like a movie where the vast majority of people are throwing some breakfast in the toaster and grabbing it right before they run out the door to join the white collar work forces. Plus, I love breakfast.

The second thing I hate today (this one doesn't have a positive side though) is when people are unhelpful at answering the phone. I call people a lot for work and when the person I am trying to reach isn't at home, I generally get unhelpful children or spouses. The conversation usually goes something like this:
Me: "Hi, is so and so there?"
Them: "Nope"
That's it.
This is my irritation. I would only be calling if I wanted to talk to them, so could you please tell me when you expect them home, a different number I can reach them at, or at the very least be courteous and offer to take a dang message?! I am not a telemarketer, I'm not trying to sell anything, I do not have a heavy accent and most of the time I am returning a call. Help a sister out!

Lost Wages

Tyson and I had the good fortune to head down to St George and Vegas over conference weekend (apparently along with half of the state). Watched the marathoners come in, watched conference, watched my money disappear, watched my body fat percentage increase, etc, etc. Overall, a great weekend.

What I would like to comment on here is the Bellagio. I have posted about it before, and I don't think this will be the last time. I. Love. The. Bellagio. I love the extravagance and elegance of it. I love the hoity-toity idea of it. Even if I lived in the lake, I don't think I could get enough of the fountains. The conservatory is INCREDIBLE, and pretty much sums up the whole concept of what the Bellag is. No trip to Vegas is complete without a visit to my favorite place. I just belong there. While we were there, we only got the chance to watch the fountains once, and it was SO perfect because it was to a Frank song. (Which is another staple in my love for Vegas "We both shook Sinatra's hand") He was Vegas. Anyway here are the only pics of the weekend:

Mini Bellagio inside the Conservatory, fountains and all. Gosh! I just love it!

Game On!

A few pieces of information before I explain exactly what game is on:

1- Johnson girls love weddings, not actually getting married themselves, just weddings.

2- Kalie takes an inordinate amount of pictures. Especially with her boyfriend.

3- Just as a clarification, none of us are getting married.

Kalie's picture taking has resulted in a contest for the best faux engagements.

Thanks to her trigger happy finger, I have been inspired to take more photos, and we have joined the ranks of the contest. Tyson and I went on the most beautiful drive up on the Alpine Loop this weekend and began our portfolio. See below: (For all you love haters out there or those with weak stomachs, you may want to turn away)

If you would like to join in, we would love to have you. Have a hay day with it.

A-dork-able

Went over to Tyson's last night to find this:

(not a great picture, because it was taken with my phone)

He was playing Beatles Rock Band (which I have to admit is pretty cool). He wanted to sing and play the guitar at the same time, so he had the microphone attached to his camera tripod with a rubberband. He was singing and playing his little heart out. It was totally cute.

YAY

Time for a picture post!




Rode in this helicopter as a Labor Day celebration. No sick bag needed.


Fair outing #1 (Tyson with hair)



Disgusting, I know. This may be our very first kissing picture in __ years of dating. On the ferris wheel, of course. So OC of us.




ReAl game. Fun. Obviously, look at my face.



State Fair outing #2. I L.O.V.E. the fair!
(Tyson without hair)



We make great double daters. Anyone want in? Oh, and my double chin is the 5th wheel. Never be the one to hold the camera in these shots...




Pictures on the rides. If you go to the fair, get a ride wristband and ride until your heart's content!




We are a very loving bushels of apples.

Done.

Duh

Mandatory hibernation from spending starts tomorrow!

Bullets... pathetic.

I lied a little in my last post. This will not be a recount of my trip to fabulous Richfield. It will simply be a bulleted list of things in my life - both important and perfectly insignificant.

- Had a lovely weekend with Tyson's family up in Park City/Heber/Midway over Labor Day. Regretting VERY much right now not having pictures of the much loveliness.

-I am having a battle with my office chair, trying to decide how high to have it. At the height I like, the arm-rests don't fit under my desk, any lower and I feel like I am sitting in a hole.

-Very much looking forward to going to the Utah State Fair and filling myself with delicious fried food such as corn dogs, funnel cake, fried twinkies, fried whatever. I LOVE fair food (and always feel sick after eating it, go figure)

-Put a half-full (optimistic, right?) water bottle into my purse, 2 minutes later, pulled out an empty water bottle. nice.

-Book of Mormon reading in 30 days. If I profess to be a Mormon, I suppose it would behoove me to read the literature. Yeah, or no? 4 days to go!

-I am deeply considering purchasing multiple sets of Rosetta Stone to learn a couple new languages. Anyone have any experience in this department?

-Love reading blogs of people who don't know I'm reading them. Totally stalking a girl from high school.

-Glitter toes in red? Check!

-Each week I get the Top 20 travel deals from TravelZoo and I open all the most exciting ones and pretend to plan my vacation. This week it was 6 nights in Tahiti on a private beach. I would SO love to be able to pack up and take off whenever I wanted.

-I feel like I have had some really cute outfits lately, and I have no pictures to re-assure myself that those feelings were warranted. I'm starting to doubt myself.

-I could probably eat a Veg-Out from Apple Spice (with no olives and lots of mushrooms) every day for lunch. Tasty.

I hate reading blogs with no pictures, and I know I have some to be shown, so maybe I will alternate between all pictures and all words. TTFN

Also, I love love.

Nothingness

Beautiful tulips from Costco. I just couldn't get enough of them, so I took a picture. I love spring and tulips.



Kalie and I accidentally wearing matching outfits, white shirts, purple scarfs, brown hair, etc...
I miss my eyelashes!!!



Made this festive dessert. I'd give it a B for the first try. I probably ate my weight in raspberries and frosting during the decorating process.


Kalie being held by her boyfriend, me holding my boyfriend.... yeah, I know. (By the way, Tyson's pants are supposed to be that short)



Cute little Tyson golfing on a beautiful summer evening.



Maga actually IN THE POOL at the Johnson pool party at the Club.



In the next post you will hear about our little excursion to Richfield. I had to go down for work and I was presenting. This is the sign on my door. I had my own room for the presentation sessions.



This is me with all my presentation stuff (Mama Jessie was so proud of her little professional). I don't know if you know, but I'm a pretty big deal. It was terrifying. Playing teacher as a kid was WAY more fun.

Thank you Focus Features

I love a good chick-flick as much as the next broad, but even more, I love the real-life movies. The ones that never make the big blockbuster bucks or get the cardboard displays in the theaters, but resound with their audience in a way that is unique, realistic, and relate-able. The latest of these to receive my adoration is called Away We Go (not recommended for all, due to some un-savory parts). The movie is about an expecting couple and their journey to find a place they can call home. Everything about their life and story was mediocre, and none of it mattered because they loved each other. Jessica and I walked out of the movie LOVING mediocrity. It can be such a wonderfully simple and beautiful thing to be ordinary. To be totally un-exceptional. It was a great lesson to me, not to stop trying, but to relax and enjoy life, and above all, that love is the most important thing.

Away We Go (have a look-see if you'd like)

Also, Focus Features... THANK YOU for Pride and Prejudice.

One more thing:

Cute right?! I finally own it! I have been searching for a cruiser all summer. Hopefully I will soon have a photo of me actually riding the dang thing. It lives at my parents house, and any chance I get, I take it for a spin around the block, or at least around the circle.

Seasons of Love

I love him in the summer spending days at the pool, evenings washing our cars and nights at the ballpark with sunflower seeds.

I love him in the fall with jackets and scarfs at outdoor concerts and new seasons of the O.C.

I love him in the winter when we cuddle up with some hot chocolate and just lay by the firelight.

I love him in the spring going for walks and Vegas for his birthday and wandering through the gardens at the Tulip Festival.

I love his kisses, his touch, his lame jokes, daydreaming about him, and I love that he loves me.

Done and Done!

Before:



After:

Difference: Redfaced, sweaty, extra tired

I, Lacey Johnson, ran my very first road race! A 5K may seem insignifigant to most, but it was quite an undertaking for me. I didn't care about making great time, I just wanted to run the whole way and finish. To both of those requirements I say: Done and Done!

Thanks Murray Fun Days and also, Happy Birthday America! Thanks for being born!

Change

They say the only thing constant in life is change. I think they are right, but just because it's constant doesn't make it easier.

I have been mourning (and when I say mourning, I mean crying, pouting around, and eating every terrible thing I can get my hands on) because of a recent change that has challenged my loyality, made me question things I felt and thought I knew, and just plain broken my heart. My dearest friend is gone from my daily life at work, and I just can't fathom how things could ever be normal again. I have been such a mess of emotions in depths I never knew existed and in such complex arrangements I can't begin to untangle them. I can't wait for hind sight to reveal the lessons to be learned from this unsavory experience.


In other news, I ripped off all my false eyelashes (it was painfully satisfying, like taking acrylic nails off) and my natural lashes are truely pathetic.

Also, against any of my better judgement, I will be running in a 5K on the 4th of July. I may not live to see the evening's fireworks....




"There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help and what they cannot" -Plato

Like for reals...

Remember that one time I said my Euro Trip blog would be eternally long.... I was totally right. After going through 1,800 pictures (yes, you read that correctly), I have narrowed it down to approximately 62 that I feel must be shared. I have broken them up into blogs by location and of course I can't get them to post in the right order. Paris first. Venice second. Cinque Terre, Florence and Pisa third. Rome fourth. Dusseldorf last. Well.... Have at it...

Please, please feel free to Wikipedia any of the item seen, or discussed.

Germany, the end.

Dusseldorf

Washing the dirt of Italy off our feet in Jessie's bathroom (the feet washing was a regular occurrence during our travels)
Jessie's cute house as we are leaving to pick up her girls from school
Downtown Dussely-dorf and the Rhine.
Playing with little Tim, who was so cute.

In Closing:

I do not believe this trip could have been any more perfect (except it could have been longer). We had the most incredible time, saw the most unbelievable things, partook of the most delicious food, and made many priceless memories. I am so very lucky to have had the opportunity to go on this trip, and I would recommend it to anyone! I hope you all have the privilege of finding yourself in Europe someday.

Roma

Montepulciano
This beautiful, historic town we stopped at on our way to Rome. This is at lunch in the square. An incredible lunch. Btw.

Pauly and I and the square at the top of a steep main street so skinny you can barely fit 1 car and pedestrians.
Gelato #115

Rome
Each morning we took a picture of the three of us before we headed out to various activities. Some are better than others, most are better than this one, but I wanted to show of my eyelashes in this one. I got eyelash extensions before I left, and they were the best thing I packed. They were so great!

THE Colosseum. Like the real thing. I was there!
It was Paula's birthday so we had some fabulous gelato (#122) with a candle.

THE Trevi Fountain!!! It was SO BEAUTIFUL!! And absolutely packed with people.
Tossing my coins into the fountain to ensure my return to Rome. (each day about 3,000 euro in coin is tossed into the fountain... that's over $4,000)
St. Peter's Square in The Vatican City.
Jessie and Pauly and the square.
St Peter's Basilica. The yellow circle is Pope Benedict. As in THE POPE. I saw him!
The Swiss Guard uniforms. They are the sworn protectors of the Vatican.
Inside St Peters with my hand in the Holiest of Holy Water. Boo YA!
The Mouth of Truth. Go watch Roman Holiday with Audry Hepburn.

Shopping in a nasty discount bin along the street. 2 euro isn't bad for a skirt. Didn't buy it.
The Pantheon. Huge church. Huge dome. Huge hole in the top. Awesome! The outside looked so dumpy and run down, and the inside was... amazing (I'm running out of adjectives for all the things I saw)
Sad, Sad, Sad. The final Italian Gelato cone. We went out with a bang by mixing two flavors.
All our luggage, 1 million degree weather, waiting at the train station for the train to the airport. Goodbye Rome. Goodbye Italy. I will very sincerely miss you.