new

I can't believe the new year is less than a week away! This year has seriously FLOWN by! Luckily I have a lot to look back on with fond memories. I may not have gone on any awesome vacations or done anything super awesome, but I definitely had some great times! I had fun going on a weekend camping trip with Mike, going to St. George with my dad, I was lucky and got to see Mike on almost every big holiday this year, I had fun mini adventures, made new friends, laughed a lot, tried new things, started going to the U, started a little business with my sister, read some amazing books with my goal to read 52 in a year, moved out, learned some new recipes, met one of my favorite singers (andrew mcmahon) and got to see my other in concert (taylor swift) and just lived life in a fun way! I'm excited to make some new resolutions for this year and to try and continue some of the ones I made for 2011. I'm excited to see what 2012 has in store for me! (hopefully some great stuff!)
Bring it on 2012!
              
oh yeah, and I'm not going to let my dreams be JUST dreams....they're going to be reality!
happy new year! 
good luck on all those resolutions!

here's to traditions big and small.

Merry Christmas!!
I can't believe Christmas is two days away! It has all passed so quickly. I want the next two days to just slow down a little so I can enjoy them! Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year and I'm so excited to be able to see Mike again for it! I was also invited to have Christmas dinner with his family. This will be a FIRST! This will be the first time in the 4 Christmases we've been together that I will get to see him on Christmas! I think that's all I need for a good Christmas!
I'm excited to spend some time with my siblings tonight and tomorrow for our holiday traditions. Tonight we will sleep under the Christmas tree and watch the muppet's version of the Christmas Carol. Tomorrow, Khemia and I will make some festive sweaters, we will go see a Christmas Eve movie, eat lasagna, drive around and look at Christmas lights, play games, and read a Christmas book together. These traditions are ones that I treasure and look forward to every year. I'm glad I am able to spend time with my family and make some new memories with them. I hope everyone has a merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season! 

tis the season

I'm so excited for Christmas! I love this time of year! Now that finals are over, I can finally enjoy the month of December! I'm excited to do all of the fun holiday activities! 

DECEMBER!

I love, love, love, love December! It is one of my favorite months. I love Christmas and seeing all of the lights on people's houses, trees, in windows, temple square; the works! I love baking delicious treats and watching fun Christmas movies...I just love it all! I made my winter list last week and I'm so excited for finals to be over so I can start working on it. I am most excited to go to temple square, see the elves at Gardner Village, go ice skating, to make awesome sweaters with my sister, sleep under the Christmas tree on Christmas Adam and of course, Christmas Eve!
I love seeing people this time of year! Everyone is so friendly, giving, and willing to serve. Everything changes this time of year, and I think for a few weeks, the world changes. This is the only time I actually enjoy snow, it's beautiful! (but only in the month of December).
Anyway, I'm procrastinating instead of studying for finals, so maybe I should go look at some stats or something. I hope where ever this finds you, you're having a wonderful holiday season!

meeting Santa Claus 

Thanksgiving.

I can't believe tomorrow is already Thanksgiving! I'm sitting in a quiet house, working on a load of homework so I can take tomorrow off (or mostly off) and just enjoy being with my family and loved ones. I will be one of the first to admit Thanksgiving is not one of my favorite holidays. I have always said there shouldn't be one day for people to be thankful for the things they have (and I know you can say that about any holiday), but regardless of how much I love food and eating, it's a holiday I could skip and be okay with missing. This year, I wanted Thanksgiving to be different. For once, I wanted to look forward to the day and not just black friday shopping right after. I've tried really hard to be aware of all of the things I have in my life this whole month rather than just on one day. What a difference it has made! For the first time, I'm actually excited for Thanksgiving! 
I am so grateful for all that Heavenly Father has given me in this life. I have an amazing family, great friends, I have the opportunity to get a good college education, a place to live, good food to eat, money to save, more clothes than I need, my talents, a cute niece and nephew to make me smile everyday, the gospel, the best boyfriend and best friend I could ever ask for, and so much more! 
I realize I am the minority when it comes to how many blessings I have. I have more than I need to get me by each day and I'm so thankful for all of the little things that get me through the day a little easier by having them in my life (my car, shoes, a backpack, water bottle.......) I think what I want to take from this Thanksgiving is an attitude of gratitude. I don't want to be one of those people who only remembers what I have and how lucky I am on one day out of the whole year, or someone who only sees what I have until it's gone. I want to recognize all that I have and be thankful for it each day. Maybe I won't pig out on turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, and pie everyday, but I want to treat everyday like it's Thanksgiving.


Happy Thanksgiving!

appreciation.

some more thanks.

Such a good quote! And the perfect time to be reminded by it's truth.

I'm thankful for all the blessings in my life!

 Today, I'm thankful for a good education, a loving family, a great boyfriend/best friend, and all of the experiences I get to have.

I have so much to be thankful for on a daily basis and I appreciate all that I have been given.

thankful.

Life is so good! I'm thankful for everything I have and all the opportunities I get to experience! A couple weeks ago, my all time favorite band came to SLC; Jack's Mannequin. My dad and brother called me the night before to tell me that Andrew (the lead singer) was going to play a special pre-show free show. I searched and searched until I found the information, and boy was I glad I did! I went with Mike, Matt, and Abby and we had an AMAZING time! Andrew only had time to play 4 songs, but it was totally cool! We were right up front, heard his lovely music, were able to meet him, take a picture with him, and get his autograph. I love Andrew's music and I was so excited to go and meet him and just enjoy his music.
I also had a fun Halloween. Me, Lisa, and Khemia dressed up as the Kardashians and we had the men in our lives be their significant others. It was so much fun to dress up like them! We had fun at my parents house for a fun Halloween party the Friday before Halloween. On the actual day, I had to take a horrific stats test (not thankful for), but Mike and I went to his parents house and we had a good time watching "House on Haunted Hill" with his parents and decorating a haunted house.
I'm in the middle of getting ready to apply for grad school (still can't believe I graduate in May!!!!), it's kind of scary. The U only takes about 12 people a year for their program and I'm pretty sure it's the only place I'm going to apply at. I'm going in with the attitude that if I don't get in, it will be okay, but I'm still hoping I do. If not, I will just look into taking a few more classes so I can get a Family Life Educator certificate. I guess we'll see what happens. 
I'm excited for next semester, I have 4 electives and I'm excited to take a couple of awesome classes. I love going to school and really learning about the things I want to use for the rest of my life. I'm so glad I decided on the major I did because I know it will help me and my future family!
I'm excited to finish up my fall list and to add things I hadn't thought of. It's crazy it's almost time to make a winter list! Time flies by too quickly.
Happy November! I hope to post more and include things that I'm thankful for!

Autumn

I love Fall! I love the smells, the foliage, the candy (and other sweet treats), the crisp air, sweaters, scarves, the colors, the holidays....I love it all! I've only been up the canyon a couple of times, but I've enjoyed looking up at the mountains and seeing them colored with reds, oranges, and yellows. This time of year makes me smile. Here's to Fall!

oh, did i mention i went with my dad to see the little mermaid? so good!

just ONE of the baking days this month

Taylor

Mike and I went to the Taylor Swift concert this week and we had such a great time! I love Taylor's music and it was fun being there with Mike because so much of her music reminds me of him. I remember introducing Mike to Taylor's music and him just hating it. Eventually, she grew on him. (Go me!) Mike was able to sing along the whole time! (Even to the song that not many people knew). I was so proud of him and it was so much fun just experiencing it with him. It was definitely a great memory made!

it's been awhile

It's been awhile. School is already going and I am ready for it to be over! Or maybe I need a couple more weeks to get into the swing of things. Either way....haha
Well. I finished my summer list! I was sad when I was all done with it, but I'm pretty excited to start my fall list. Here's some of the things I have so far. Any suggestions, send them my way!
-either go to a corn maze or haunted house (or both depending on how the bank holds up)
-make caramel apples 
-go up the canyon to see the leaves change
-watch: Hocus Pocus, House on Haunted Hill, Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Nightmare Before Christmas, and the Disney version of Sleepy Hollow
-go to Oktoberfest
-go to Gardner Village to see the witches
-make pumpkin pie
-go to a football game (GO UTES!)


Then some other things I want to do this fall...
midnight mall shopping
go to the fair
itty bitty Salt Lake City


So one of the most fun things I've done lately was I met this guy.....

                                                                Tyler Hilton!
He is on One Tree Hill and was also on Walk the Line. I LOVE his music and he came to the Davis County Fair! Mike was a good sport and came with me to see him along with all of all the other screaming girls. OHHHH! and did I mention, he was also Drew from Taylor Swift's music video Teardrops on My Guitar. Can I just say I was a little starstruck!? If you've never heard of him, I suggest you look some of his stuff up. My favorite is his cover of Missing You..but Glad is good too! He is such a nice guy and played a great show! 
I even got his autograph and an awkward picture with him

 Thanks to Mike for coming with me!!

the sunset of summer

Summer is just flying by all too quickly. I have 1 more week before my last year of school starts! It's crazy how fast everything has gone. I know I will miss summer and I've been trying my best to fit in as much fun as possible! 
Lately, some of these fun things include:


silver lake
the ocean rock
snowcones
ensign peak
lagoon
cowabunga bay
bear lake
i got a pedicure (does that count as summer fun?)
and more!
I will be so sad to see it all end when school starts next week. I need to finish everything on my summer list and start thinking of a fall list. I'm just not ready...
here's to one more week of freedom!

ensign peak

silver lake

ocean rock

lagoon

bear lake

snowcones!