What to do?

Christmas has now passed, I will go back to work for a couple days, and then its another holiday!!!

I love this time of year!

However, even though I love the holiday season, New Year's Eve has almost always been a bust for me. Every year I think it'll be different and I'll have the time of my life. Every year (with the exception of 2 that I can think of) have been just that. A total, complete bust. No fancy parties, no live ball to watch drop, no warm weather to encourage ANYTHING outside, and worst of all... no kiss at midnight!

Every day for the past week, I have been racking my brain for something fun to do on New Year's Eve. There's always First Night downtown... way too cold for me. Or, the big concert/dance party at the McKay Events Center in Orem... boring, I can go to those anytime. Not worth the $25 they want to charge each person. Or, the multiple house parties with rock band, karaoke, and junk food... typical choice, but never too exciting. What I really wish someone would do is throw a formal party (or a black and white ball) at a nice event center with a live band and dancing. Maybe some hor d'oerves being served by waiters. [Sigh] Ah, the typical New Year's Eve movie scene. Something that is not so typical of the Salt Lake/Single Mormon from Utah tradition. What ever happened to fancy evenings anyway?

So yeah, that's what I really want to be doing for New Year's this year. I would just throw the party myself, but there is this small thing ($$$) that just keeps getting in my way!

Yet again, the approach of 2009 has left me utterly stumped again. What will I do on New Year's Eve this year?

2009 Countdown

To begin celebrating the end of 2008, I want to mention the most memorable thing that happened to me each month.

January

Started attending my singles ward and made two incredible friends, Liz and Cammie! (I'd been in my parents home ward since I moved back to Salt Lake 8 months prior; and teaching primary wasn't doing too much for my dating life)

February

February was obviously not too exciting because I can't remember anything! And, I wasn't blogging yet so I can't check that history. Oh well.

March

Visited the Keys family and Keddington family in Houston, TX. My first time to Texas!

Me on the coast of Galveston, TX. It was wiped out a few months later by Hurricane Ike

April

Participated in the Solemn Assembly to sustain President Thomas S. Monson as the new president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

May

Had a lot of firsts:

1.) first time golfing 2.) first Salt Lake Bees game 3.) first 5K, even though I ran a 10k the previous summer

June

Right before our Keddington family reunion, we were informed that my mother's brain tumor from 1995, Oligodendroglioma, has returned. This made having all the siblings home together (for the first time in several years) even more special that we had imagined

July
Made new friends on an awesome river trip by Jackson Hole. Thanks for inviting me, Amber

August

Officially started my own wedding business, Keddington Weddings, and put together my very first paid wedding. Check me out at my official website, www.keddingtonweddings.com! (Thanks for helping me put it together Matt!)

September

I found an amazing house to move into with my friends! Also bought couches for my new house, making me a feel like a real adult! ;)

October

I got called as Relief Society President in my singles ward

November

My 24th birthday...I celebrated it with a weekend stay at the Marriott Summit Watch in Park City with some great friends. We went hottubbing, shopping, and fully enjoyed ourselves!

December

I got a new job! Surprise! My employment at Modern Display finally has a drop dead date... January 10. I will start my new job on January 12!!!

Modern Holiday Party

This year, Modern tried something new for our holiday party. Instead of the department party and a simple potluck lunch in the office, our special event department lobbied for a fancier party. It didn't make sense that a company that throws parties for many other companies wasn't throwing their own shebang! It all changed this year.

Below is one of the centerpieces that adorned our fancy tables. The theme was Nightmare Before Christmas, and all the decor resembled Halloween and Christmas together. And, all of it was stuff we already owned! The linens were provided by one of our suppliers, the AV was provided by our friends at Webb Audio Visual, and the food was potluck. We held the party at our warehouse in the carpet aisle, but you'd never know with all the decor. Can you believe how well we can transform a place?

When our warehouse was built, it was thought that the north side of the building could be leased out (forming the name "Lease Side"), but was quickly filled with props, stage sets, and many more fun things for our Special Events department. However, because of the original purpose, there was no door built between the Lease Side and our Expo Warehouse that stores all our chairs, tables, carpet, etc. At our Christmas party, we broke down the barrier between our Expo and Special Events departments... literally, with the target below.

I had my way with the wall too! The target you see above is now a 9'x9' opening!

The "POD" according to Anne Marie. We go everywhere together! I love these girls!

My Very First Tree

Last year, I purchased an artificial tree from Modern Display, anticipating a short employment and wanting to be sure I got the great employee discount. One year later, I still work at Modern Display. So, still hoping for a change in employment, I decided I would take advantage of my employee discount again and finally buy my ornaments. I'm so glad I did, because I love the way it looks!
[Side note: My roommate decided to go cut down a tree this year, so my tree purchase last year... still in a box, unopened.]

Here are some fun pictures from the lighting and decorating of the real, 12'H tree.

I let Cammie and Connie put the lights on it. I am too much of a perfectionist that I was getting super frustrated on the first branch. They were the right answer!

My version of "decorating the tree" (above)
vs.
Connie's version of "decorating the tree" (below)

Okay, this picture is actually from the Modern Tree Tour '08 that some friends from Modern Display and I went on this year. We all drew names for Secret Santa and as we visited each home to see how they decorated the tree, the person who's home it was gave their gift to the special person. It was so much fun!

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,
This year for Christmas, I would like a few things for my home, and some just for fun. Please see below.
Love, Rachel
PS-I've been really good this year!

iPod Touch 16GB


Emergency Flashlight for my home and a really good one for my car.

I really like candles - both for decorations and for emergency. Or just for ambiance!

Super Cute Apron

Tonal Block Quilt in either Brick or Ivory King Size!

Happy Turkey Day!

Today, Kimmy and I went to Paradise Bakery to grab some lunch. We were debating between sandwiches or salads when all the sudden we saw a TURKEY with the sandwiches!

Oh wait, that isn't a turkey... its a sandwich! Could've fooled me!

Birthday Wishes

Its official. I am 24 years old... or young, however you want to see it!

For the longest time, I've wanted to have a girls weekend for my birthday at the Marriott Summit Watch in Park City. This year, I finally made it happen! I got a bunch of my girlfriends together for a fabulous weekend.

The suite was sweet! We had 2 rooms, each with a bathroom and king size bed. The main room had a full kitchen, living room, gas fireplace, and lots of space for my friends to be... well... themselves!

I had an absolute blast over the weekend! There was food, cupcakes, shopping, sleepovers, movies, hot tubbing, and of course friends. I'm not sure there could have been a better birthday!

I am so grateful for all my extremely amazing friends!