Yes, it’s ironic that I’m naming this post “scrapbook” seeing as both Kate and I are hideously awful at actual scrap-booking. But that’s the point here. I think subconsciously I’ll feel better about myself if I can manage a snap-shot synopsis of the past 6 months that at least my parents can look at! I kept meaning to do some posts over the past few months to share some photos of what we’ve been up to and it just never happened, so today seemed like a good day to re-cap. First off, we’re pushing rewind and heading backwards all the way into July. While Kate was busy birthing a small human (no biggie)
I headed back east to New York City.
There is a huge annual publishing event called Book Expo America, and I went to represent Our Best Bites and our publisher, Shadow Mountain. The event was full of every major publisher, lots of authors, and tons and tons of books!
I signed lots of books and met lots of great people.
And ran into some familiar faces, too. Jane Seymour was signing right next to me (look, she’s wearing the necklace!)
And the lovely Bakerella was just around the corner. She is every bit as darling in person as she appears to be online!
And since Kate couldn’t be with me, I brought along my fun sister in law and we spent a few days seeing all of the amazing sights of the Big Apple. We stayed right in the center of Times Square (oh my gosh, now I know why they call it the city that never sleeps) and made sure to see the Empire State building, the Twin Towers, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and you know the rest. SO much fun
We got a couple of months off from traveling during the summer and then hit the road again last month. We headed down to Salt Lake City to launch our book and had a fantastic event at Orson Gygi (swoon.)
See all of that stuff? It’s only a small part of Orson Gygi and it’s ALL kitchen stuff. I have heart palpitations every time I enter that store…
We were so fortunate to have such a great team setting up the event. We literally just had to show up and they had made and prepped all of the food.
They had lots of samples from the book so people could munch as they waited in line. I’m pretty sure we need to incorporate food into all of our signings now.
We were thrilled, and not gonna lie- a little shocked- when hundreds of people came to see us and celebrate the launch of the new book. We loved meeting so many new people, and seeing some familiar faces. It’s especially fun to connect with other bloggers in ‘real life’ and we got to see so many! I wish we would have snapped pictures with everyone, and I wish we had more time to chat. Below you can spy the lovely ladies from (clockwise starting at top left) Tatertots and Jello, House of Smith’s, Jamie Cooks it up, The Crafting Chicks, and Two Peas and Their Pod.
To say our hands were tired at the end of the day would be an understatement, but hey- you’ll never find us complaining about having to sign too many books!
After the event was over, we slipped over to the gorgeous display kitchens at Orson Gygi to shoot some videos.
They told us to look like we were having fun with our food. Clearly, Kate is unimpressed by my enthusiasm.
We went straight from Salt Lake City to Denver, CO to speak to an amazing group of women. I literally took zero photos of that trip! It all happened so fast, and I think we were in sort of a daze after such a whirlwind trip. But Denver was wonderful and we especially enjoyed meeting so many of you OBB readers.
We were home for a few weeks and then jetted off to Logan Utah last weekend. While driving on the freeway to our event, we spotted this billboard on the side of the road:
Well, we spotted it in the middle of a rain storm, which made it hardly recognizable. A fantastic reader named Danielle snapped this nice sunny photo and sent it to us, thanks Danielle! We had a blast with a sold-out crowd in Logan, and then since it’s Kate’s home town, she took me around to sample some of Logan’s best. Cookies from Old Gist Mill? Wow. Again, there were no cameras to be found on this trip. What’s wrong with us?
We’re home this week and then off to Salt Lake City next weekend.
BOOK SIGNINGS: To those of you in that area, please note: we’ll be signing books at the Flagship Deseret Book Store down town on Saturday night. Please come! 6-7:30pm. The very next weekend we’ll be in Phoenix, Arizona (woot woot Phoenix!) Again, we’ll be doing an extra book signing there as well, Friday Nov 2nd, 6:30-8pm (Deseret Book Gilbert-Mesa South 1350 S Gilbert Rd #4, Mesa, AZ 85204) So come and see us, and please help spread the word!
After that, our goal in life is seriously to NOT go anywhere for a while! Kate is staying busy with her cute family, and especially her new little man (oh that face melts my heart!) She needs to basically hibernate for the rest of the winter so she can get all caught up on sleep (am I right, Kate??) I swear she’s been Superwoman these past few months doing all of this traveling with a newborn.
And I’m up to my neck in moving boxes. Have I ever mentioned that I HATE packing? The house we’re building is almost done and I plan on living there for the next 87 years so I never have to pack another box, ever. I kid you not, this is a photo of my office desk as I’m sitting here writing out this post:
Bah! I cannot wait for my house to be organized again. We’re getting soooo close. Carpets are going in today and then it’s clean up and final touches. I especially can’t wait to show you the new kitchen when it’s all done:
It’s getting there! So if my posts start getting whacky (tutorials like “How To: Make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich”) it’s because my life is in complete chaos as I try to pack, move, travel, cook, and write, all at the same time. Be nice.
Alright, that’s a wrap. Next week we’re coming at ya with some awesome new recipes. I’m sharing one that I seriously can’t believe I’ve never posted before since it’s one of my go-to fall yummies. We also have a great giveaway coming up soon. Have a good weekend and we’ll see you next week!
Questions & Reviews
Kate – SERIOUSLY? HOW ADORABLE IS YOUR BABY!?!?!?!?!? He’s SOOOO CUTE!!!
I love you guy’s. have you ever considered coming to canada? namely Ontario?
We love seeing those billboards on I-15!! Both north and south of SLC … Every time we drive by my two girls yell out “YEA!! Kate and Sarah!!” You two are pretty much rock-stars at our house 🙂
Thanks, you two for everything. When I get your new posts in my email, it’s like getting a present! I have made so many of your recipes and couldn’t wait for your new cook book to come out! I even put myself on the pre-sale waiting list with Deseret Book. I have to confess that I feel a little guilty that I should be paying you for your time spent on my behalf! 😉 Keep up the good work and kiss that darling baby for me!
Oh my gosh- are you doing a tin backsplash Sara?! That is going to be gorgeous!
And Kate’s baby is absolutely adorable.
Yes! Not the entire wall though- husband wouldn’t go for it, lol. So I’m doing a section of my ceiling like that and a square above the range to match.
Ha! My house always looks like that! And you guys have been traveling a lot! Wow! Definitely deserve a nice long rest! 🙂 Looks like you gals have been having fun though! 🙂
So excited to see you in AZ!
uh, I think “How to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich” would be a great tutorial since my husband puts butter, then PB….He made this for me when I was pregnant and I was like “What the WHAT?” Really enjoyed you guys in Logan! Love your new kitchen!
Hahaha. Okay, confession. If I’m making peanut butter TOAST, I always butter it first. So naughty!
You met Bakerella! I love her stuff, too! Sometimes I wonder if all the blogging foodie ladies are secretly friends or intense rivals. Congrats to both of you on all the big events!
Haha, between you and me, I think there’s a little of both that goes around! haha. But honestly everyone I’ve met in person has been nothing but delightful!
Good mercy, you two are so busy!!! The kitchen looks like an absolute dream and I’m so happy for you ladies. SO happy for you!
Sara, tell me YOU did NOT take that shot of Gygi’s from who knows where up in the rafters! I got to spend some time with Shelley from House of Smiths while waiting my turn in line (she’s SO bubbly and fun). Will is super adorable- I hope I get to see him at TOFW next weekend. I know, he’ll be the little man behind the curtain, but still, can I sneak a peek? What shall I bring you for a treat this time? I just made sugar cookies with a pumpkin cream cheese frosting. Want some?
Oh it was no biggie. A grappling hook and a harness did the trick… 😉 They have an upstairs, ya know! Excited to see you- bring me some carrots or something, I always completely blow my diet at TOFW! haha
Ok, I LOVE that awesome blue shirt you are wearing in the Orson Gygi photos… Where did you get it?! It’s such a cute color combo with the yellow necklace.
Awe, thanks! I just grabbed that shirt from Old Navy the night before the event because why? I had nothing clean and it was easier to go shopping than actually start a load. I can’t believe I just admitted that, haha.
Bless your heart(s) guys….hope you both get to hibernate this winter!
Are you girls ever going to come back to Pennsylvania? I somehow missed your trip to Harrisburg……how about visiting State College, PA?? I would love to meet you both.
Awe, man- I’m not sure when we’ll get out that way again. But I would sure love to, it was a fun trip and Harrisburg was lovely!
I saw your billboard coming into Lehi, UT a couple days ago and did a little happy dance in the car…all by myself! I LOVE the new book. You two are Ah-mazing!!!! Thanks for all you do!
Its so fun to get glimpses of your travels and lives! Is that carerra marble in your kitchen??? Whatever it is, it looks beautiful. Can’t wait to see the whole thing.
It’s not Carerra, but that’s the look I was going for! I ended up doing a granite counter top that’s white with lots of grays in it. But the tile backsplash has little pieces of carrerra marble in it.
Your office looks like my house. And moved 5 months ago! Still a mess
It was so much fun meeting you in NYC! Isn’t BEA such a trip? Books EVERYWHERE!
SO fun to meet you Emily!
Oh, that was a super fun insight into your lives!! Thanks for sharing. It’s so hard to keep tabs on you two, lol.
And, your kitchen? G-O-R-G!!
You ladies are awesome! Thank you for all of the work that both of you do for all of us…we truly benefit from all of your hard work.
Yay!! I’m so excited you 2 are FINALLY coming to AZ!! And that Deseret Book it’s SO CLOSE to me. I will for sure be there!
You and Kate rock!!! Cool stuff!
Oh what fun to have a new kitchen coming! Mine looks like Kate’s used to before her redo. It was fun to see/hear what you girls have been up to the last few months. And don’t worry, my desk sometimes looks like that and I’m not moving anytime soon. 🙂
Love spotting the Boos butcher blocks in the kitchen! Representing my hometown! I can’t wait for my Christmas present- a dining room table made from Boos butcher block top! Wahoo!
I can’t wait to see the final pictures of your kitchen.. what a dream of a place!
You joke about the “how to make a good pb&j sandwich” tutorial but I just recently saw one and it made me realize I have been doing it all wrong all my life. Lol!
Oh my gosh! We just moved to Gilbert from Provo at the beginning of the year and I’ve been so sad I’ve missed your events but now I can finally meet you both! Yay! Secretly, I don’t want to tell anyone you’re coming so I can have you all to myself…