I am in love...

With This PUPPY! ^

These BOOTS ->

...my funny friends...

Excuses...

My Facebook is back up and running, but only for a bit. I didn't think I needed to give anyone an excuse for deleting my social networking life...but apparently when you pull a 180 on people, they get freaked out. I had so many missed calls and texts that day from people asking what they did wrong and why I deleted them as a friend. Sorry! Facebook really is a black hole I suppose. I still need email addresses, because (FAIR WARNING) I am going to delete my facebook account. Eventually. No one did anything wrong... I just don't really want it right now. At least that is the excuse I am giving to those of you who need one.

Life is good. I am happy and productive and excited to graduate. Love you all and I would love to see my friends in person more often if possible!!

Remembering the Seasons

Day 2.

Sweaters

Beautiful

Warm

Cameras

Beauty

Capture

I am sooooo grateful for sweaters! I have quite the sweater collection building up lately. I've been told that I am a "fall" girl and I cannot deny it. As much as I love summer...there is nothing better than colorful leaves, a cool brisk breeze, green grass, and a bit of snow on the mountains. I am a boots and sweater type girl. :) I'm also grateful for my camera. I LOVE taking pictures.

Two words

Day 1.

Two words to describe two things that I am grateful for:

Math:

Consistent
Trustworthy

(My Goose Down)

Comforter:
Inviting
Warm

Today I am thankful for my Down comforter and for math. I LOVE math. I never thought I would say those words...but I do. Math is consistent and trustworthy. My blanket is inviting and warm every single night.

Get lost

For "family" night... we went to Cornbelly's Corn Maze. After 8pm everything turned ghostly. :) I will share one funny moment from last night...
We were walking through a small haunted maze, I was holding my boys hand while keeping a close eye on the girl who was walking closely behind me. (She has seizures so I was concerned b.c of the strobe lights.) After a scary clown/freak/murderer man popped out and scared us...I heard this girl start breathing heavily. The lights flashed off for a moment so I spun around and grabbed her shoulders to see if she was alright, and when they flashed back on...I was NOT holding the shoulders of the girl in our group...but the shoulders of the scary clown/freak/murderer man. I screamed and ran for it, burying my face in my dates sweater. This mans face was priceless. A little shocked that someone had grabbed him and pulled him close. I keep laughing about this moment and I think it will be a joke within our social circle for awhile.

Alrighty, time to focus in Biology. :)

Lookin' good, Jazz.

We enjoyed a Jazz game this weekend with friends since our little fall trip was canceled. Jazz are looking good this year!

Trying to be everything can make you lose your mind

She grew up on a side of the road
Where the church bells ring and strong love grows
She grew up good
She grew up slow
Like American honey

Steady as a preacher
Free as a weed
Couldn't wait to get goin'
But wasn't quite ready to leave
So innocent, pure and sweet
American honey

There's a wild, wild whisper
Blowing in the wind
Calling out my name like a long lost friend
Oh I miss those days as the years go by
Oh nothing's sweeter than summer time
And American honey

Get caught in the race
Of this crazy life
Trying to be everything can make you lose your mind
I just wanna go back in time

To American honey, yea

There's a wild, wild whisper
Blowing in the wind
Calling out my name like a long lost friend
Oh I miss those days as the years go by
Oh nothing's sweeter than summer time
And American honey

Gone for so long now
I gotta get back to her somehow
To American honey

Ooh There's a wild, wild whisper
Blowing in the wind
Calling out my name like a long lost friend
Oh I miss those days as the years go by
Oh nothin's sweeter than summer time
And American honey
And American honey

Week 2 without a facebook account = amazing. I got a few texts that said, "Miss social networking deleted her twitter and facebook? How odd!" Well, I just needed to disconnect from the world and say, "As interesting as your lives are... I am going to shut the computer and go live mine." Facebook is a black hole for me. I work on it then come home and enter what I consider to be my virtual college social life. But, the only reason it ended up that way is because I made it so. It is easy to take five minutes and write on a friends wall to see how they are doing, or to check out their most recent photo uploads to see what is new rather than giving that friend a very deserved call. I am not going all anti-facebook on you all...but I need to take a large step back from it for now.
So, since I deleted my account, I've had more time to do the things that I need to do and want to do. I've been practicing my guitar more and giving my classes the study time they require. I've received more phone calls this week than ever before and gone to dinner and lunch with friends more than ever before. Facebook may be a cheap way to socialize but it also cheapens friendships by using it as a main social resource.

I spent today inside. It was a beautiful day...but I stayed in and gave my home the deep cleaning it desperately needed, caught up on laundry, homework, and talked to a few old friends on the phone. It is amazing what you can find to do when you do not rely on facebook to relieve boredom. I check my email and shut my computer. This may sound silly to those of you who have your facebook usage under control, but again...I work ON facebook and then I am in school the rest of the evening, so at times facebook was my only friend interaction/mid-study break (that lasted a few hours...oops.)

I have a few fun adventures coming up next week that I will fill you all in on. Please keep in touch via email or phone. If you do not have my email address, just leave a comment below and I will send it to you! <3

Removed.

I deleted my facebook account and also my twitter. If you would like to stay in touch please email or call me. I am going to leave my blog up for family updates and photos.

Thanks!

Pretty Eyes...Pirate Smile.

Go back to bed, because I love you

My week...summarized in two quotes.

"It was merely my own voice, speaking from within my own self. But this was my voice as I had never heard it before. This was my voice, but perfectly wise, calm and compassionate. This was what my voice would sound like if I'd only ever experienced love and certainty in my life. How can I describe the warmth of affection in that voice, as it gave me the answer that would forever seal my faith in the divine?
The voice said; Go back to bed, Liz.
I exhaled.
It was so immediately clear that this was the only thing to do. I would not have accepted any other answer. I would not have trusted a great booming voice that said either; You Must Divorce Your Husband! or You Must Not Divorce Your Husband! Because that's not true wisdom. True wisdom gives the only possible answer at any given moment, and that night, going back to bed was the only possible answer.
Go back to bed, said this omniscient interior voice, because you don't need to know the final answer right now, at three o'clock in the morning on a Thursday in November. Go back to bed, because I love you. Go back to bed, because the only thing you need to do for now is get some rest and take good care of yourself until you do know the answer. Go back to bed so that, when the tempest comes, you'll be strong enough to deal with it. And the tempest is coming, dear one. Very soon. But not tonight. Therefore: Go back to bed, Liz."
-Eat Pray Love- Elizabeth Gilbert.

"We're all susceptible to it, the dread and anxiety of not knowing what's coming. It's pointless in the end, because all the worrying and the making of plans for things that could or could not happen, only makes things worse. So walk your dog or take a nap. Just whatever you do, stop worrying. Because the only cure for paranoia is to be here, just as you are." -Meredith Grey

I'll be seeing you

We distract ourselves

I'm laying here trying to find the energy to finish my math homework. Applied for graduation today, work, school, photoshoot, more homework... My days seem to mimic each other with only minor changes within each. The semester is passing quickly and I am trying my best to keep up with the tasks I have given myself thanks to my inability to relax. I feel lazy when I relax...thinking of everything that needs to be done. I don't have time to read books that do not associate with the classes I have enrolled myself in. No leisure reading. It takes me months to read even a magazine as I fold the corner of an interesting article and return to my self-given obligations and duties. I overloaded myself this semester. I will be the first to say it. Reminding myself to breathe regularly, and checking my to-do list every few minutes...as if another task may appear without my knowing. I check the little boxes by each task all through the day, and cannot sleep until each task has been taken care of. Right now, as I type, I am thinking-"Laundry...out of the dryer, Dishes...need to go in the wash...Jeans, do I have clean ones for tomorrow? No. Dangit. Guitar, I still need to practice tonight. Math, why am I not doing it right now? I have 30 problems left and a test tomorrow. Boyfriend, wish I was with him right now." My mental checklist goes on and on.
I know I will look back at these posts and laugh. I know there will come a day when I remember these days and thank myself for all of my hard work.

A new thought just popped into my head and heart... I never thank myself. A girl in church yesterday mentioned that she was taught by a mentor to thank the moon and the sun...out-loud. To hold a conversation with the moon and the sun. Her conversation with the moon began awkwardly, and ended in tears and words of thanks for lighting the darkest hours. Her conversation with the sun began quietly as she lay on the warm sidewalk at her favorite park. Soaking in the sun, she thanked it for warming her. She lay still and listened to the wind and the birds. Stillness. Love that concept. What about thanking ourselves? What would that conversation sound like? I might try it out sometime and let you know how it goes. ;) I suppose that is a form of meditation. Not so weird. Right now, I want to thank myself for taking a minute to get these thoughts out of my head so that I can get back to my studies. ha...okay, seriously, I want to thank myself for taking guitar lessons as I have always wanted to do. For getting braces, because I always wanted a pretty smile. For letting love in-although I've been hurt deeply. For going back to school after a 7 year break (although those 7 years are filled with incredible experience in the marketing and business industry of which I do not regret). Lastly, for participating in church activities all summer--which led me to making life long friendships.

Enough writing for tonight. I hope you are all doing what you can to absorb each day and that you are continually giving yourselves greater challenges and goals to reach towards.

2 pm lunch break

Today Jenna let me know that I have been horrible about updating my blog (Love you, lol). Here is a quick update- and for those of you who have requested more info--I will be calling you. :)

School is going well. Still trying to balance school and work and what I have of a social life. Still spending a lot of time with my nose in the books--but I am almost done with school which will bring greater happiness to my life than any mocktail party. (...right?)

Boyfriend... yes. I have been dating one of my best friends since June and we are now officially official. Facebook official, in fact. We love each other quite a bit...and I think having spent much of 2009/2010 as JUST FRIENDS (legitimately JUST friends) has actually made us closer than any relationship I've had before.
So? What happened?
The short version: We have been good friends for awhile/he was my home-teacher, talked every night until late, hung out often and talked about our recent/past relationships, life in general, etc. Neither one had really considered ACTUALLY dating...I admit I thought he was pretty cute at times, but I had a boyfriend so it was never an option. May- He was tagged in some pics on Facebook and I looked through them. I realized at that moment that I had never looked at his facebook pictures before. I browsed through some of the good times from the previous semester and found a picture of him that made me smile. I thought, "He is so cute and sweet to me, I love him..."..."wait, shut up, did I just think that?"
June- I told him I thought he was cute...and that I thought I might be interested in maybe kinda sorta maybe trying to sort of...date? He was surprised. Agreed. Transition was easy but interesting...and tada! We are together.

Really, those are the only bits of breaking news in my life right now. I moved into a new home with a roommate that I ADORE. We have a lot of fun together.
I will try to post more often rather than giving monthly updates. :)

We summarize and sign off...because every night's a party.

Tie dye nails for summer and fall. I do declare.

Temple time. Finally a chance to reflect.

(both pics above taken w/ my cell phone. hoorah)

First official family photo. Lookin' good.

My best friends...birthday dinner. The balloon and sucker were to make up for a bad birthday morning.


Tim McGraw + Lady A + Fun friends...you do the math



Hawtttt dang.


I am a lame-o blogger lately, but these are my most recent adventures and favorite memories. This has been a fantastic summer thus far as the nights are packed with fun friends and good times.

ciao!

Sweet Cherry Pie

Inception. Panera Bread. Sister Time.


Traveling with Ambs.

Dinner with E.

One of my best friends. Never a dull moment.

Those Summer Nights

I noticed a common theme while looking back on several previous blog posts. A lack of depth. I have been posting some pretty lame updates to my blog as of late. Who really reads blogs anymore though? Maybe I am crazy, but sitting down with a pen and paper is actually refreshing to me. I type quite a bit at work, school, facebook, chat sessions, etc. and sometimes miss the feeling of actual paper beneath my finger tips. I suppose I haven't had much to say the past few weeks.
Last night I went to dinner in Denver with a good friend of mine who said something profound that opened my eyes. "I feel like I know myself now--I am finally the person I have always wanted to become." I stopped for a moment and processed her comment. Then agreed. I also feel like I know myself and believe that I am finally becoming the girl I have always wanted to be. I am dressing the way I want to, behaving the way I want to, and believing in the things I want to believe in. I guess that means I am finally growing up. Happy regardless of my surroundings.
Another wise comment from a friend this week--"No one who has accomplished great things ever went without moments of boredom. In fact, some of the greatest talents sprouted from moments of down time...where they had nothing better to do than to think, create, explore."
I leave you again, with another simple post. Hope you are enjoying your summer nights as much as I am.

We celebrate freedom

We go back to our roots.

Literally.

I feel like me again. :) hurrah. I love my hair girl. Happy 4th yall. Have a good one!

Stadium of Fire - Carrie Underwood coming to Utah!

We never really grow up.

Ha my melted cake. :)



Special thanks to everyone who came and helped us set up for our bbq. We put our cameras away after cutting the cake, and I am bummed that I didn't get pics with a lot of you who showed up between 7pm-11pm.
Thank you to our wonderful chefs who grilled, chopped, and served some seriously delicious bbq food.
BEST birthday I have ever had in my life. :)