gracias a la vida

there is much to be said for life the sunshine brings, especially in the springtime.  this weather is making my heart giddy.  i spent way too much time last year feeling off.  there were times where it felt like no matter what i did, i wasn't happy.  and i was really trying to be happy.  now that the sun is out, it is much easier to feel happy.  but it is still a conscious choice everyday.  i choose how to react to each situation presented to me.  and i am learning to make the choice every day to be happy, to let things go, and to laugh at my mistakes and the mistakes of others.  

i never want to go back to the way i felt or the choices i was making 8 months ago...or even 3 months ago.  but i am grateful i experienced the things i did.  because of them, i am learning to be happy.  i am learning what choices ultimately lead to sorrow, and i am learning to look at each day as a gift.  and especially right now, i do not want to waste time feeling sad.  the weather has been way too beautiful and my life is way too awesome for that.

peace+love

true love

it's almost valentine's day!  i won't lie..i'm pretty darn stoked.  this year, i'll trade in my ski goggles for sun glasses and head to sunny san diego with my main squeeze. 

with love on my mind i've been listening to lots of cheesy love songs, and found one that i especially love.  sometimes when i listen to love songs i like to think that jesus is singing them to me.  corny, i know.  but i love it.  that's a lot of love right there, folks.  so here you go, my favorite love lyrics for this lovely, sunny, monday!

cause all of me

loves all of you

love your curves and all your edges

all your perfect imperfections

give your all to me

i'll give my all to you

you're my end and my beginning

-all of me by john legend

here's the whole thing

peace+love

i'll come out smiling like a snowman in a blizzard

wow, january is nearly over...i'm really glad it's leaving in better conditions than it came in. so far i'm doing pretty okay with my new years resolutions.  actually, i'm doing awesome on my biggest resolution.  like, so awesome.  perhaps someday i'll tell you about it...it's one of those inner battles with those debilitating demons in your head.  those demons are currently getting their butts kicked.  

in the meantime, enjoy some january highlights:
brennan got back from the break january 2nd and we spent the last couple days living it up before crunch time...

because we're such classy, cool cats, we love nickel city.

he worked me in almost every game we played.

we danced our little hearts out and had more fun than just about anyone at sydnee and david's wedding.  really though, i think syd and her new husband were the only one's having more fun than us.

then we hiked our little hearts out up big springs.  

with no new snow we saw plenty of large animal prints frozen in the snow...

and some really beautiful views.

with the new semester i had to hit the ground running.  between a promotion at my job and serving as relief society president, the first week of school left little room to breathe.  luckily, brennan was gone that whole week at med school interviews..i mean, i was sad he was gone, but glad.  you know what i mean.  but since then, we've made time for some more fun...

again, brennan worked me.  

this time in bowling.  

the only thing i beat him at were the granny shots

spent mlk weekend at the cabin hanging out with three 14-year-old girls.  

we had a ton of fun sledding and goofing around in the snow with them.

and now it's the month of love

and we fully intend to start it out right--

thank heavens for this new snow the last couple of days...

snowbird, here we come.

peace+love

a hopeful thought

everything receives its light from the sun.

everything receives its light from the Son.

yes, life is good.

peace+love

my boys

wow...i didn't realized how behind i was on documenting my life here until i started looking through my pictures.

so now i will document 2 very happy, much needed reunions...christmas will come later.

meet michael and mark. my two best friends from the moment we all met 7 years ago.  really, 3 peas in a pod.  these boys were there waiting for me with ben and jerry's when my cat died.  we've laughed together a lot, and at least one of them and i have cried together a lot (for his sake i won't tell who).  and after 4 years of not being all together in the same room i discovered i still love them just as much as i did when i saw them everyday.

and sam, sammy baby flew home from hell (grad school) for the holidays.  we went to church, completely stuffed our faces all day long, then sam entertained mom, brookie, and i with his life stories.

heaven knows how much i love this man and his cat sweater...i know you can't see it, but behind that poster his sweater says "real men admit they love cats".  ain't it the truth, sam taylor?  my life is happier with you in it.

and more happiness...i woke up to snow falling fiercely outside my window this morning, and it still has not ceased.  i love that i can walk around outside at 11 p.m. and have no need of light...truly a winter wonderland.

christmas to come...

peace+love

come on skinny love, just last the year

happy valentine's day!

things i love (in no particular order and not all things):

the moon
skinny jeans
ocean
TOMS shoes
skiing
fall
receiving letters in the mail
sending letters in the mail
kings of convenience
having my toes popped
npr
mountains
juno
warm rain
ukulele
climbing
zip-up hoodies
sunflowers
my iPod
dolphins
politics
summer
hiking
overcast weather
laughing
folk
family
winter
whales
pretty much all sea life
quarter sleeve shirts
walking in the snow all bundled up
quesadillas (i'd starve without them)
trees
spring
friends
life

What do you love? (name that movie)

also, happy birthday to this kid...
peace+love

spring swine flu

...it's worse than spring fever.
i miss the beach. so much that this makes me cry.

"movin' my hips like yea"
peace+love

spring fever

beautiful escondido/san diego
-gummy watermelons and wedding magazines for the drive. also, lots of Dr. Pepper
-katie's first attempt at wedding dress shopping
-remember hearing about all the rain in cali? ya, we didn't experience that
-peterson's donut corner...open 24 hours aka the reason America is fat...so good
-growing friendships and building new ones
-in 'n out burger
-driving a unimog-offroading in a unimog-almost dying on a unimog-the old guy on his roller blades carrying speakers and interpretive dancing
-trespassing for the sake of a picnic at the rock foundation of a house that burned down on top of a hill overlooking a lake
-kicked out of two apartment complex's hot tubs

-going out with a bang: late night swim at fletcher's cove and moonlight beach, almost a full moon, then warming up in some housing developments hot tub.(i broke more laws this weekend than i have in a long time)(wow, i look terrified)full moon. beach. bonfire. layers of waves grabbing my toes.

i thought, being here, experiencing this, how could you not believe in God?

what did you do this weekend?

p.s. LOST: the final season...starts tomorrow

peace+love

happy birthday, jesus

happy christmas
from our desperado hearts to yours
i hope it is a warm (on the inside) one full of pinching cheeks, ugly sweaters, lots of snow, slobbery kisses, and funny mugs.
but most of all, lots of love

peace+love

i'll be home for christmas

finals are over, pretty sure i aced them all, and i'm home for the holidays (possibly the last time for 2 years)...

i love living in southern utah. on the drive home i made my routine stop in fillmore at maverick for a potty break and drink refill. i followed a highway patrolman into the gas station. the man holding the door open for us called him by his first name. the highway patrolman called the first man i saw in there "dad". pretty much everyone in there knew his name. then this nice old cowboy helped me get my hood open so i could check my oil.

when i grow up and live in a big city, i might miss this.
peace+love

a response to aubry

obviously this is something i am very passionate about seeing as i almost never post about fashion...but this is my response/advise to those living in utah that claim they hate the snow...

first off, you're in the wrong state.

second, advise (complete with links)--

coats and boots=the cutest/prettiest and most practical items of apparel created by man.

coats: created to provide warmth against the wintry wind. easily accessorized with scarves and gloves equally as cute that even add warmth. coats are great for the moments you have to walk from your front door to your car (gloves for scraping your windshield), and if your car is cold (aka parked outside like mine) you just keep your coat on and shazam! take that, cold. there are extremely warm coats made with goose feather interior, waterproof on the outside for those of us that enjoy winter recreation. they even make extremely classy looking coats, practical for church, business, or a romantic winter date. in the 21st century, we take light-gazing walks downtown
in style.

boots: i cannot say enough about boots. i anticipate chilly weather for the sole purpose (no pun intended) of whipping out my boots. my heart broke along with my ankle for the month of chilliness that i couldn't wear boots because my foot was otherwise occupied. like coats, boots play a vital role in your winter wardrobe. aubry mentioned the wet pant cuffs. there are many designs of boots to fit everyone's taste, and the reason the design typically runs all the way up to the top is so you can wear them on the outside of your jeans. thus, no more wet cuffs, plus way cute shoes that everyone will (completely envy) compliment you on. also, aubry mentioned that the wet ruins your shoes. but boots are built to weather the moisture. there are awesome boots made for recreation. so when that cute boy asks you if you want to go sledding, you look fearless and smart with your practical but cute boots. impressed with your wisdom, naturally this boy would enjoy the grace of your presence at a nice dinner that evening. you think, it is snowing. i do not want to slip in front of this boy. what shoes do i wear? never fear my fashionably sensitive, wise woman. this sounds like a job for steve madden...there is usually traction on the bottom of boots, so no more embarrassing slipping-on-the-ice moments.

i'll never be able to persuade you snow-haters to change your crazy ways, but i do disagree whole-heartedly with aubry when she says, " i hate the way [snow] limits my wardrobe half the year because of it." i view the snow as an opportunity to expand my wardrobe.

i hope you appreciated this, but if not, don't worry, i will probably never blog about fashion again.
peace+love

december baby

10 reasons i love december

1. alta
2. ski clothes
   
3. moguls
4. snow
5. skiing
6. park city
   
7. snow
8. skiing
9. powder
   
10. skiing
    

now, if only it really would snow...
i want your list.

peace+love

mmmm....winter

snow is painting the branches and the only thing on my ankle is a brace.

and tomorrow, two of my best girls are coming to visit me along with mi padres.
here's why:

SUU Opera Theater presents:
Vixens, Rascals, and Saints
November 13th-14th
7:30 p.m.
Thorley Recital Hall

also, i finally learned you can't be perfectly happy all of the time. but that's what makes the times you are so great.

peace+love

a poem

did you know?
crutches are no fun in the snow

*after seeing me perform onstage with crutches my friend asked if i would have someone follow me around with a video camera...
peace+love

winter fun

over the break my mom decided to take me snow shoeing because i had never gone before and my dad kept backing out whenever i wanted to go skiing. we went to heber behind the wasatch golf course. my mom decided it would be a good idea to hike straight up the side of a mountain. about halfway up she stopped and said, "why don't you go to the top and i'll wait here"...huffing and puffing 3 breaks and a gazillion steps later i made it to a great view...well, this 4 exposure camera was the only one i had with me...it has no zoom and no flash, so i didn't get a good picture...i suggested my reward be a good camera so i can actually take a picture next time, but she didn't buy that.

the reason the shades are weird is there are four lenses over the camera with different color tints, but i used black and white film so it just gave it a shadowy affect

as you can see i really loved the snowman we built in the front yard when we got back from break...his mate was disproportionately smaller than him and the next morning both had passed away...next time we know to build it in the backyard...

peace+love

happy christmas and a fantastic new year!

i loved being with my family this christmas break...my family is kind of weird in that we're really close with our extended family...pretty much all of the cousins on my mom's side live within 10 minutes of eachother, so my cousins have been my best friends...this christmas was so fun because i hadn't seen everyone in four months and bethany came home from hawaii! grandpa took us all to dinner and temple square to see the lights and joseph smith movie...we had our toole party with my cousins and my mom's cousins, and our traditional christmas eve family chaos...i haven't been around little kids for so long and i forgot how funny they are! the rest of my break was filled with snowy activities with friends and family like sledding, skiing, and snow shoeing. oh and lots of movie-going...and food-eating...and sleeping...lots and lots of sleeping. unfortunately, you have to work to get anywhere in life...so it's back to the books for four more months...
...then hawaii

peace+love