Music For A Snowy Day

It's been snowing basically non-stop up here in Utah County.

I don't despise the snow itself, just the fact that I almost die driving/walking

 to and from school everyday.

I'm ready for a change of pace.

January.

Over it.

Here are some tunes to get you through the winter blues.

Perfect for playing in the car during these snowy days.

Weekly Wrap Up

My mom came in town on Tuesday and left on Friday.

That meant lots of time was spent at my Grandma's house where we got a little silly.

 My mom just got an iPhone so I got snap happy.

 Awkward photos by the fire place.

 We love Aunt Janice!

Hilary and I FINALLY went to 5 Star BBQ to redeem the free meals we won for the most awesome picture on instagram. That's right, we are even on the wall there! It's weird how excited I get about this... but then again, it's not weird at all. 

Friday night Anders and I had a little double date with Lexie and Jon.

We met them at Planet Play in Draper.

If you have never been there I highly recommend it. 

There is a buffet that Pizza Pie Cafe caters.

Yum!

Then there is a huge arcade with lazer tag, go karts, bumper cars, mini golf, and bowling.

They have it all!

 Anders got really into this game. Haha.

Oh heyy Kanye.

In the end, I had around 700 hundred tickets.

This was nothing compared to the 1,000+ tickets Lexie won from hitting the jackpot at some fishing game!

You go girl.

All the little kids were jealous.

We ended the night with ice cream cake at Jon & Lexie's and some Just Dance 4. 

I seriously love that game.

Saturday:

Was a fun yet productive day.

I worked out, ate lunch with my cousin Alexis (congrats on the engagement!!), then met up with Anders for dinner at Mongo's (the delicious Mongolian restaurant), followed by Wreck It Ralph.

Can you believe he hadn't seen Wreck It Ralph yet?

Cutest movie ever.

Anyways,

that concludes the weekly wrap up.

Bring on week 4 of the semester!

I'm not counting... whaaat?

Oh Monday, I wish you were Friday already.

Till next time :)

Return To Fiji

I don't think I actually officially announced (on the blog) that I am returning to Fiji!

On May 5th I am embarking on another crazy, amazing, and fulfilling service expedition to Fiji.

I'm unbelievably excited for this trip and I can't wait to see some old friends.

If I'm being honest, I found myself the last time I was there.

Looking back on my years in college, this was a turning point.

The first two years were (wonderful at times) very hard and confusing.

I didn't understand what this phase of life was all about.

And more specifically I didn't know who I was away from my family and home.

My life wasn't all bad. No, not at all. 

However, there was definitely an inner battle of my purpose at this time.

Looking back, this was when it all came together.

I feel so blessed to have had that time to get away from everything and everyone.

I worked hard and just served those Fijian people.

In reality, they served me. 

I had plenty of time to ponder and learn about myself.

What did I want? Who was I really? Where am I going?

I felt God's presence there so strongly I just can't forget it.

It even looks like heaven. 

 (not excited about seeing those huge bugs!)

 Heaven on Earth

 I love those sweet kids.

 My BIGGEST wish is to see Susu again. I don't know if I will or how I will find him... But I truly hope I do. He is the bravest boy I know. Leaving him was so hard. I always told him I'd come back!

Winter: 1,465,789 Me:0

Well I am sure you all have heard about the insane weather that we had in Provo yesterday.

And I will admit I was a victim of the crazy ice that was EVERYWHERE.

I have a few bruises and scrapes to prove it!

I had class really early yesterday and before anyone could warn me 

I was face planting in the middle of the street walking to my first class.  

True story.

What was the first thing that I did?

Get up and make sure no one saw my embarrassing fall.

And no one did.

Score!

Well played, Winter.

Well played.

My favorite video that was posted about the ice storm.

Weekend In Idaho

This last weekend Anders and I headed up north to Rexburg, Idaho!

I had never been to Idaho so I was excited to see what it's all about.

And my conclusion is that they really do love their potatoes. 

Next time we are hitting up that potato museum we passed!

Anyways, Anders had a cousin coming home from a mission, a cousin leaving on a mission, and his grandma's birthday. The whole family was there to celebrate! 

 We played lots and lots of games.

Most of them I hadn't even heard of!

I had such a blast!

And of course we ate a lot of delicious food.

 We hit a bird, actually the bird hit us, on our way up to Idaho.

We had to stare at this mess on the windshield for the whole trip.

Poor bird :( There is even a feather on the windshield. 

 I had to be back to work on Monday afternoon so we left Idaho at about 6:30am!

So early but we caught this really pretty sunrise.

Road trips go by pretty fast when you have really good company.

 Last but not least... we stopped at THE best ice cream parlor/restaurant in Utah
on Friday night.

LEATHERBY'S.

By far my favorite place to get dessert.

This beauty is called The Traci.

Too much peanut butter and chocolate?

Never. 

After a While

I came home last night and found this little present waiting for me in the mail.

Finally, a mile stone! 

It took me long enough...

I have another degree to my name.

Now if I can just make it through one more year for the Bachelor's degree :) 

I found this quote on pinterest and thought it was beautiful.

We all learn, don't we?

One way or another.

Last Weekend

Work hard. Play hard.

This should be the motto of the semester.

Since I dedicate every waking hour to school or work, plus social gatherings where I try to incorporate doing homework, when the weekend rolls around I am ready to party!

Anders and I decided we would try to have a date night every Friday night.

Our schedules are a lot more complicated since school has started back up 

so we are determined to make this happen!

This last weekend:

We kicked off our Friday date night with dinner at Cafe Rio.

Everyone loves this place.

And for a good reason!

So yummy.

We met up with Marie & Alex (Anders' sister + brother-in-law) at Nickel City.

We killed it there!

We got tons of tickets even though we wasted most of our nickels playing the most addicting game ever. 

That silly price is right game where you just drop the nickel in and it pushes the nickels off the edge...

I realize that is the worst description ever but regardless, it is addicting. 

We made some friends (and enemies) playing laser tag (sorry kids!) and it was a blast!

I had forgotten how much I love laser tag.

I also discovered my long lost competitive side.

We spent our tickets on fruitie tooties and flutes.

We had a lot of fun with those flutes!

Saturday:

Anders and I met up with one of our favorite couples to double with, Matt & Libby.

They had us try a new Mongolian restaurant on Bulldog Blvd. called Mongo's stir fry.

It was sooo good!

Basically you create your own noodle bowl (buffet style) and at the end of the line there is a really old Mongolian man with what looks like a Samurai sword who cooks/fries your food. 

If you are in P-town, go try it!

We followed dinner up with a movie.

We planned on seeing Lincoln but that was sold out when we got to the theater. 

My parents had seen The Impossible the night before and highly recommended it so we decided to just see that.

Boy, were we in for a surprise!

This was the most intense movie I have ever seen.

Not to mention the most gruesome and emotional movie. 

The acting is incredible and the plot is inspiring (since it is based on a true story).

However, you either feel like throwing up from the graphic injuries or just crying.

Also be warned that there is some nudity in this movie.

My mom just happened to leave that little detail out so we were a little bit shocked when Naomi Watts' boob flashed on screen. It wasn't sexual or anything but I mean if you don't want to see boobs then don't see it, haha.

I don't really know if I recommend seeing this movie but if you do just be aware of what I mentioned.

And bring tissues :)

Sunday:

Sunday night I cooked some white chicken chili and strawberry shortcake.

I found the recipe online so I was a bit nervous if it would taste good.

But it turned out great and tasted even better than I thought!

Our little dinner party loved it as well.

Anders and I attempted to watch the CES fireside Sunday night.

But this was the result...

We're a tired couple of kids.
I'm already counting down the days till next weekend!

On Growing Up

According to The Weepies:

"Yesterday when you were young

Everything you needed done was done for you.

Now you do it on your own

But you find you're all alone, what can you do?

You and me walk on, walk on, walk on,

'Cause you can't go back now.

You know there will be days

When you're so tired

That you can't take another step

The night will have no stars

And you'll think you've gone as far

As you will ever get

You and me walk on, walk on, walk on,

'Cause you can't go back now.

And  yeah, yeah, you go where you want to go

Yeah, yeah, be what you want to be

If you ever turn around, you'll see me.

I can't really say

Why everybody wishes they were somewhere else

But in the end, the only steps that matter 

Are the ones you take all by yourself

You and me walk on, walk on, walk on

Yeah, you and me walk, walk on, walk on

'Cause you can't go back now

Walk on, walk on, walk on

You can't go back now."

The First Week Of School...

... is not over yet.

But today is Thursday which means tomorrow is Friday,

so for the sake of my sanity I'm calling it basically over.

More importantly,

I survived the first week!

Never in my life has the first week of school been so stressful!

I'm definitely getting into the upper division courses for PR.

Although it is difficult and there is a TON of reading, I'm absolutely loving PR.

My week in a list of thoughts:

How is it my 4th year and I still get lost on the first day?

So early.

So tired.

I love diet coke.

I strongly dislike public speaking.

Please don't call on me.

He called on me.

I can't remember the last time my feet weren't cold.

It's really cold.

I love school.

 I hate homework.

I need an iPhone.

I love my job.

Check me out cooking dinner like a mom.

Can't wait to watch the new episode of New Girl.

I hate myself for watching The Bachelor.

Music is my fav.

I'm so poor.

I should work out...

.... starting in March.

Who ate all of my angel food cake?

I love PR.

What did you say the starting salary is??

Books cost a lot of money.

It can only get warmer, right?

I love my electric blanket. 

I'm so excited for Fiji!

I am so blessed.

Can't. read. any. more.

I wasn't even that tired today!

I love diet coke.

Oh, what a week!

New Year's Eve

My favorite part of winter break was when Anders came to visit me for New Year's Eve!

He flew down from Salt Lake City the evening of New Year's Eve because he had to work. 

Our little reunion started off amazing when we ran into Dennis Quaid at the Las Vegas airport!

I saw Dennis come down the escalator right in front of me but I was too nervous to say anything.

Naturally I just stared at him like a creeper.

When Anders and I met up I told him, "Dennis Quaid is right over there!"

Anders said, "Oh ya, he was on my flight! Do you want a picture?"

I told Anders I couldn't possibly go ask him.

So Anders walks up to him and goes, "Hey Dennis, can we get a picture?"

Dennis Quaid was really nice about it even though you could tell he probably didn't want to.

His wife took our picture and we thanked him then they left.

It was amazing!

New Year's Eve was a blast.

We ate dinner and played games at a family friend's house.

Around 11pm we came back to my house and wrote letters to each other that we aren't allowed to open for 6 months! Around midnight we popped open the Martinelli's and watched the fireworks at a country club across the street from my house. Anders tried so hard to stay awake and did so well!

For about 15 minutes after midnight...

and then he was out!

Maybe I'll start a collection of pictures where he is sleeping and I'm wide awake.
I think it would be hilarious.

New Year's day was jam packed of fun activities.
We went to Town Square, the Las Vegas sign, the District, Cheesecake Factory (where he had never been), played some Reverse Charades, and of course a few games of PIG on the basketball court.

Our reunion in Vegas was short lived since I had to work in Utah on the 2nd.
My flight left at 6:15am on the 2nd, ouch!
I was not very functional that day but I made it through.
I'm glad to be back in the swing of things and can't wait to see what this new year brings!

Here's to 2013!

Christmas Break

I'm baaacckk!

Which means I am blogging again.

This Christmas break I was lucky enough to go home for 10 days. 

It's much MUCH warmer in Vegas than it is in Provo. 

It was so nice to be with my family over the holidays.

I'm so grateful for them!

Before I left, Anders and I celebrated Christmas together.

I had so much fun shopping for him!

I can't wait to do it again.

He got me a cute sweater & earrings from Forever 21

accompanied by the best smelling lotion from Bath & Body Works.

It's called Be Enchanted. If you haven't tried it yet. Go do it!

I don't know how Anders is so good at shopping for me,

but he is.

And I am not complaining!

Bits and pieces from my trip home:

Our family friend Jessica and her husband Cory had their paint company come and paint her brother's house like a Christmas present while he was out of town.

She told us to go take a picture and check it out.

It even made it on the news!

That is an expensive prank.

 Naturally it wouldn't be a real trip home is Jordan didn't hack my Instagram a few times.

 ^^ This picture was taken at church.

The Sunday before Christmas I sang in a trio at church.

I was super nervous but really glad I did it!

It's been a while since I've sang in church. 

 Running errands with my brothers.

These guys... 

 My mom's wedding ring broke about 3 years ago.

So this Christmas my dad got her this nice sparkly gem you see down below. 

On Christmas morning, after we had all opened up our presents, he got down on one knee and proposed to my mom all over again. She was crying and we were all crying.

It was so sweet!

Well done, dad. 

 Our Christmas Eve pj's.

 Emmie's new favorite hobby is taking our everything she can find in the cabinets

and occasionally putting them back in a different cabinet.

 I couldn't wait to see my friends back home!

We went to Stoney's to go country dancing.

Then had our annual Christmas party the next night.

I wish we all weren't so busy and had time to see each other more than once a year!

 ^^ Nicole and I at Stoney's. 

On the 29th the siblings and I went to The Killers concert at the Cosmopolitan!

It was so fun hanging out together.

My first concert was The Killers when I was 13.

This was Jordan's first concert!

Brandon Flowers put on a great show.

I fell in love with their music all over again.

I just love getting to spend time with Emmie.

It is fun getting to watch her discover everything around her. 

This picture was in the car on the way to the mall.

She was fascinated by her tongue, haha.

Overall, I had a wonderful Christmas break!

They always are though. 

Thank goodness for families.