Weekend Getaway

Debbie & I decided Thursday night to take a road trip to Utah for a few reasons but the main one for me was Shannon Hale's book signing. On her blog Shannon wrote,

Next Saturday, June 13, at 5 pm, is the release party for the actor and the
housewife! The King's English, of course, is hosting here in Salt Lake City,
Utah. There will be karaoke and pie. And books. What more could anyone
desire?

And in another post wrote...

I'll give a book to the awesome person who dons the most fabulous apron.

Some might wonder why I would want to drive to Utah for a book signing, well really what more could I desire than pie, aprons, & karaoke? I really don't ask for more out of life? Awhile back I saw pictures from Shannon's Austenland release party on her blog and I have always been sad that I missed it. Doesn't it just look like so much fun? I didn't want to have the same regret.

If you don't know Debbie let me just tell you she is amazingly talented with almost anything crafty. I knew she was going to want to make her own apron and that she would need it to be the best. The only thing she asked for help was an opinion so I went over and gave my opinion on fabric/color choices. When I picked Debbie up Friday morning I saw her apron and words can not describe the cuteness of her apron and the geniusness of Debbie.

I have always loved a good road trip and it was fun to have so much uninterrupted time to laugh, talk & sing with Debbie.

Highlights from the road...

While pulling out of a gas station in Panguitch Utah I started to freak out because this truck was driving and a dog was on the roof. We actually ended up following the truck and the dog got down on the tool box but would get back up on the roof. Nearly causing me to have a heart attack. Mimi maybe you should not look, but I did see the dog made it safely home.

Then in a few miles a cop was slowing traffic down as there was a cattle drive going on.

This guy wanted to take the easy road.
The signing was on Saturday at King's English book store.

Highlights from the signing...

Mr. Darcy wearing an apron

See how cute her apron is she made it the night before with out a pattern. Isn't she the cutest.

Shannon was a riot the whole time but I really loved the story about how some Nuns either emailed or wrote her I want to say emailed something along the lines of them being the wives of their lord but also having crushes on Mr. Darcy/Colin Firth & that they loved her book Austenland. They also gave The Actor and The Housewife a thumbs up! The funny thing is I saw the Nuns at Project Book Babe, Mimi even checked them in. Shannon had gotten them tickets. See my friends from Hobo Skate also got to meet them. (I stole this picture from facebook)

Debbie's apron was one of the finalist and she won a DVD of Nacho Libre signed by the the writers/director.

Then of course we had pie and sang karaoke after Shannon & her husband Dean sang Islands in the Stream. If you have read the book you will understand why. There was a pretty long line so we stayed and sang our heart or lungs out. We were having a lot of fun with the girl in charge who was Shannon's sister and just as nice as could be. Debbie & I had a lot of fun singing I will Survive with her.

After our lungs gave out we got in line to get our books signed. Where I met some lovely ladies who are also twilight fans and we tried to convince them to finish reading The Mortal Instruments series. They also know my good friend Jenny Whipple. It was fun to chat with them.

Then it was our turn to see Shannon, She got up from the table and came and gave us hugs calling us her Arizona friends. We talked about Project Book Babe, I asked her about why she picked the name Bellamy. It was so nice to see her again, I am glad we made the trip. Later that night when we got back I opened my books to see what she wrote...

How cute is she? I just love that Shannon Hale!!!


Highlights of the ride home...

We got stuck in traffic out of Flagstaff and while crawling up a hill Debbie said if she was a vampire she would just pick up the car and run us over the hills.

Speaking of Italy and things we stole...We were driving and Muse came on I can't remember which song but as we were saying how we are excited for New Moon a Yellow 911 Porsche went zooming by.

Edit...you can see picture of Debbie & I singing with Shannon's sister on her blog here.