"Lasts"

Well, I can say I've been completely lazy about posting, but here I am with a little catching up! We are officially a little more than halfway done with my second semester of college which means... SUMMER!! I can't wait! I am just CRAVING warmth and sunshine! Why won't it come sooner? School is getting to me and I just want it to be over!

At the same time I want things to slllloooooooow down. Tyler turns his papers in April 22nd. So pretty much in a month. We had always joked about it but now it's coming faster and faster. It has made me realize all of the "Lasts" we've had, (at least for two years he he) Our last Christmas together, our last Valentine's day, Our last New Years, and finally... our last Summer together.

Tyler and I are planning on having an incredible Summer but I know he'll probably leave towards the end of it  or early fall. He's going to make the most incredible missionary and I'm so proud of him and the steps he's taking to prepare himself. But it's getting harder and harder for me to imagine two years without him. But enough with the sad!! The GOOD thing is is that we still have time and we are totally going to make the BEST of it!! Can't wait!! :)

 Surprise Valentine's dinner at my work! Tyler called to get me off work early and then he brought olive garden, roses, and chocolate covered strawberries. Best boyfriend award? I think yes.

 Ty also does... I mean... HELPS me with my math homework. He's a genius!

 Sledding day!

 Yep! He's rather dapper. Handsome guy :)

Distance makes the heart grow stronger and fonder...

A Little Bit of New Years Posting

Words can't even describe how excited I am for the new year but completely dreading it at the same time. So many great things are going to happen during 2012! I'm going to finish my first year of college! (I'm hoping my second semester is completely different than the first), I'm going to be able to spend an incredible Summer with my best friend and sweetheart Tyler, and I'm going to be moving out in the fall for College year 2 with my best friends Jessica and Emily to this awesome apartment where we are going to have a total blast!

On the downside, Tyler leaves for his mission this summer. I mean, it's not a total downside. He's going to have one of the most incredible, spiritual experiences of his life and I am so proud of him! No one deserves to go on a mission more than he does. He is SO passionate about the gospel and has a testimony that I truly admire and look up to. BUT it's still going to be hard. I know I'm going to miss him like crazy and I can't imagine not having my best friend in the whole world by my side but some things are inevitable. At least this experience will be bittersweet :) 24 months isn't that long right? ;)

But for right now I have many new years resolutions! But my top two are to be HAPPY and to be POSITIVE! I'm going to try to let nothing bring me down and to have a truly positive attitude for whatever is thrown my way in the future. I am SO excited for my next semester and 2012 will truly be... well... different. It will be an experience that's for sure.

Tyler and I went downtown to celebrate the new year with a bunch of our friends! It was so much fun!! Happy new year!!!

You MUST Read!

So my mom gave me a book to read when I get bored at work and let me tell you... EVERYONE needs to read this book! Especially during this season. It's one of those books that makes you look at your life and makes you want to be a better person. I almost finished in one day, I just couldn't put it down! It is a BEAUTIFUL story and you better go right to the store and buy it after reading this! It's called "The Seventeen Second Miracle" I can't really tell you what it is about, but all I can say is that 17 seconds can change a life... that's all it takes :) Get reading!!

Decision MADE!... for now.

Alright, after trying to figure out what I want to do with my life over the past few months at college, I think I've come to the conclusion on what my ambitions truly are. For my career I want to run my own photography and video making business on the side, but I have decided I want to shoot for being a fashion photographer. Every time I open a fashion magazine I always gaze at the pictures and imagine what I would have done if I would have taken that shot. Or just how much fun it would be to take pictures of models and CLOTHES in general! It would be incredible!

Ambition number two: I. love. musical. theatre. I love it! It has been my life for as long as I can remember! I can't remember a time when I wasn't onstage! I love theatre so much, both straight theatre and musical theatre and I can't imagine my life without performing. My dream has ALWAYS been to be a young ambassador at BYU, or to at least get into the MDT program. I know it's extremely hard to make the cut, but I'll never know until I try. I'm already signed up to take dance classes and I am still looking for a singing teacher that can help me improve. But I know if I work hard enough and believe in myself, anything is possible. Last year I had some peers tell me that it was a long shot and that I shouldn't get my hopes up. They told me that I had no idea what I was talking about when it came to theatre and I didn't understand theatre and basically that I wasn't as good as they were. They got me so discouraged that I decided I didn't even want to do theatre anymore, and I gave up on it. But you know what they say... "You never realize how much you miss something until it's gone." Well that is SO TRUE!! I realized that I can't give up on it! I missed it too much and I'm not making that mistake again. So I'm going to shoot for it! And even if I don't make it, I'll still audition for musicals and plays at different theaters because I don't think I could ever give up this passion.

So whether I'm going to major in digital media, photography, or MDT... it's all up in the air. But what I do know is that I'm going to work my hardest, take advantage of opportunites, let no one put me down or get in my way, and reach for my dreams, and let myself be happy in whatever I do.

Flowers are a Girls Best Friend

Diamonds are pretty and all but let me tell you... flowers are the way straight to my heart. Roses, lilacs, daisies... I just love them so much! And this boy right here, never ceases to surprise me with flowers at the most random times! Seriously? How lucky am I?! Much love! :)

Only a cheese ball would kneel to give someone a flower... but hey! I love the cheese! ;)

Thanksgiving Break = Way too short!

This break was far too short for my liking! It was an incredible, long weekend filled with hitting the slopes, amusing movies, buying cute clothes, seeing old friends, and spending time with Tyler and my family. So here's the shortest recap of my break I can muster.

Skiing was a blast! I went with my dad, uncles, and cousies. The snow is really icy and pretty much non-existent up there but hey, it was still a blast! I splurged a lot of money on some darling outfits that I adore, as well as some...wait for it... hair extensions. YES! I GAVE IN and bought hair extensions and I... LOVE THEM!!! I feel like Rapuzel! Now I just need a talking lizard ;) Thanksgiving was lovely. I ate way too much pie. I saw Breaking Dawn (Not as cheesy as the other movies sadly) and The Muppets (BEST MOVIE EVER! Please go see it) I hung out with my best friends Jess and Alissa as well as some of my old theatre pals, miss those guys! And of course I loved spending time with my incredible boyfriend/best friend Ty and my amazing, wonderful, impeccable family!  This break was MUCH needed! And now... I'm counting down the days till Christmas Break! Two weeks baby!! And counting... ;) Much love!! :)

 Skating with Ty :)

 The Christmas Tree at the Gateway, so pretty!

Skiing with my Dad!

 Seven Summits Ski Lodge... Classy :)

 Me with my dad, uncle and cousins

 My hair magically grew over the break!! Can you believe that?!

Lissy poo! Love her! I think Jess was getting ready to leave... We will imagine her presence ;)

Simple Things

So I've been thinking a lot lately about all the little things that make me happy, or that I'm grateful for. I love to look for the beauty in everything I see, maybe try to see things in a way that you normally wouldn't. I honestly believe that everything and everyone has a story and learning, discovering, and understanding that story intrigues me. So I've decided to make a list of things that in the past couple weeks that have made me happy or have a certain beauty about them.

Trees that are crying leaves
How the mountains look like muddy buddies after a light snow
Hot chocolate and a warm blanket
Seeing a best friend happy
Getting lost in a book
Seeing old friends
Taking pictures of something you love
Seeing Tyler in the middle of the week
Walt Disney
Warm sweaters, blazers, boots, and scarfs
The smell of crisp air
Calming music