Mallory's Birthday Extravanganza!!...and a GIVEAWAY! (CLOSED)

The adventure started early, as many good adventures do. Bilbo Baggins can attest to that. We had agreed to meet 8:30am, so of course we didn't leave until nine. We brunched at Roots Cafe in Millcreek, a place we had heard great things about. When we drove up, there were a ton of people on the lawn. People in Chacos. People in bandannas. People wearing beards and bare faces and tank tops and smiles. Everyone looked like they were about to go on a hike, or had already gone on one. Mallory and I waited quite a while for a seat, but the opportunity to lounge outside in the glorious spring morning was utterly thrilling to say the least. We were pleased as peaches to stare around at the sky and the blossoms and the sparkle of the sun on everything she touched.

▲How did I get such a cool best friend?▲

When we sat down, the waitress was kind and courteous. All the waitresses wore minimal makeup and were just naturally beautiful. I hungrily ordered the Peta Breakfast Sandwich (Housemade pesto on parmesan rosemary ciabatta bread, 2 eggs, veggie sausage, pepper jack cheese served with a side of house potatoes) and a Pumpkin Zucchini Carrot Apple Muffin.

Mallory hungrily ordered Roots Huevos Rancheros (Two farm fresh eggs overeasy, bacon, black beans, pepper jack cheese,and housemade ranchero sauce. Topped with fresh avocado and cilantro. Served with flour tortillas.) and a Lemon Blueberry muffin.

The muffins are made fresh everyday and they were SOOOO good. As I write this post Mallory and I have been absolutely pining for them.

My sandwich was really yummy, and Mallory had a bite and was just raving over the pesto. I liked it a lot, but I would have liked fruit as a side rather than the potatoes. I prefer crisp taters and these were not.

When we return we both wish to try the Housemade Apple-Pecan Cranberry Bread Pudding French Toast (Three thick slices egg-battered and grilled to sweet perfection.).  Mallory wants to order her same muffin, and I would eat mine again or try a new muffin. But I would definitely have to order a muffin. Update: Mallory just said she'd like to try a Mediterreanean omelet (Spinach, sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, capers & local feta cheese). 

From there we flew to our spa appointment!! I'd been wanting to go to the spa for months and Mallory HAD NEVER BEEN. I was looking at KSL one day when I found an amazazing deal for Whispering Waters Spa. It is run by a Native American man and his wife and they focus a lot on healing, which I appreciated. I had been doing a lot of research on spas for work purposes and had therefore become a spa snob without actually having been to one other than my first and only time, which was in high school. Anywhayz, We had an appointment for a Thai Foot Massage, of which I knew really only one thing-- that it was not a pedicure. The website was quite specific about that. We entered the room and found massage tables. Our therapists left the room so we could unshoe  and accomodate ourselves on the tables. We did so, looked at each, and just straight up giggled.

Mallory says:  My first real spa experience was AMAZING. I can see why people go all the time. It was the most relaxing, happy, blissful feeling ever. Whispering Waters was really homey and comfortable (and smelled incredible, btw) and the staff were so freaking nice. Robyn had purchased a hugely discounted package from them in an online deal, and I was planning on just paying for the foot treatment itself. But after our treatments they offered to give me the same exact package at the price that Robyn paid! I was blown away that they would offer that to me and of COURSE I couldn't pass that up. Now we get to go back and get facials and a massage and I can't WAIT! I was completely happy with every part of the experience!

▲Post-massage Contented Happiness▲

My feet were so smooth and silky they were slipping around in my sandals, and my shins shone like the top of the Chrysler building! Which is, of course, how every shin aspires to shine.

Next on the birthday agenda was CITY CREEK. We went to Anthropologie first. They were having a rare 15% off all the things sale and Mal and I had the BEST time just looking around at everything. We seriously searched the whole store and fondled so many luxurious items.

▲This was my dressing room rack. No, I did not make it through trying on all of those jeans.▲

We found the chameleon plates Mallory wanted for her birthday *HUZZAH* and put them on hold at the front of the store so we could shop with only the burden of our heavy purses in tow. And by our heavy purses I mean my heavy purse.

▲The dressing room had the most beautiful refreshment table set up▲

They had this incredible beverage that was fizzy and citrusy and fruity and had just the right amount of sweetness. I am going to ask Anthro for the recipe and then update you when I find out!

My favorite buy was this lovely pair of silky pants. They are technically sleepwear, but they fit so chicly and are so flowy and gorgeous that I have visions of myself wearing them while taking a sunset walk along the beach. It's going to happen guys!

After spending two hours in Anthro we went to Jcrew, Lush, and West Elm. At this point I was feeling quite peckish so we headed over to Nordstrom to go to Sixth & Pine, a restaurant tucked away on Nordstrom's second floor. The place was decorated so chicly! Very New York.

We got the sweet potato fries with cilantro lime dipping sace(which I had heard about from Olivia) and sweet potato latkes which came with an apple compote and a chive sour cream. I LOOOVED the apple compote with the latkes, and Mallory was all about that cilantro lime dipping sauce.

Stomachs satisfied and vigor renewed, we headed out to the rest of Nordstrom to shop. And then we were in Forever 21 for an hour and a half, and ended up purchasing, among other things, these goodies. The last City Creek stop was Sephora, which was fun as always. I got this wonderful Bite lipduo in Tangerine and Lingonberry and Mal bought the Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ash Blonde.

After paying FREAKING SEVENTEEN DOLLARS for parking at City Creek we had dinner at Aristo's in SLC. This place was voted in the top 100 best Greek Restaurants in the U.S and Best of State in Utah. First of all, the decor was GORGEOUS and the server, an older gentleman with an accent, was very charming. We shared Calamari and Spanakopita. Mal's affection for the Spanakopita was most ardent.

My favorite thing though, was the grilled vegetable mini gyro. I died. Next time I go I am ordering three of them. It was perfection. Mallory's counterpart was a mini chicken gyro.

Everything we ate was cooked perfectly and tasted delicious. Our one complaint was that the fries were severely undersalted. Everything else though-- tip top. You must go and get that grilled vegetable gyro!

Post dinner we left Salt Lake, but were we finished with our Birthday Extravanganza?? NOOO NOT WITHOUT WAFFLES! We met Mal's man Chris at Waffle Love and indulged in the sweetest Belgian benevolence. I had a free waffle on my punch card so I got Strawberries, Raspberries, and fresh cream. It was YES.

▲That is the very picture of Waffle Love, right there.▲

It was seriously the PERFECT day!!
One of our favorite parts of the day was traipsing through Nordstrom. Who doesn't love a good Nordies trip?? That's why we're doing the very first PutTogether GIVEAWAY for a $30 Nordstrom gift card so you can shop til you drop with your BFF!!! Huzzah!!

RULES:

1. Follow our Instagram @PutTogetherBlog

2. Leave a (genuine & thoughtful) comment on our blog. Any post! Because we would prefer not to talk to crickets ;)

EXTRA ENTRIES (YAY!):

1. Follow our Pinterest here

2. Follow us on Bloglovin' for THREE extra entries here

3. Tag a friend on the Instagram giveaway post (every friend you tag gets you an extra entry!)

IMPORTANT:

Comment on our Instagram giveaway post and tell us what extra entries you have done!

The giveaway ends on Wednesday, April 22nd at midnight, and the winner will be announced the following day! You have one week! Good luck! Get on it!! May the odds be ever in your favor!