words from mama kay...

So yes I have been posting a lot lately. You can always tell when things like my blog, or my itunes playlists get updated cuz it ALWAYS means I had a test recently. Those are the main things I do when I procrastinate. So lucky you, I'm writing again.

I'm gonna be honest...this past weekend and even the beginning of this week have been a little rough. Just some different things going on in life and trying to plan for the future have just been weighing me down! I'm definitely the type of person that bottles things up, pretends everything is ok, puts on a smile, and then one day has a complete BREAKDOWN! I may or may not have experienced this lately (I promise there's a point to this).

But as usual, the hard moments in life always bring you closer to the Lord, family, friends, and allow you to reconnect with what truly is most important in life. Which is always good for me to remember what my focus should be on.

I swear I have the most amazing people in my life who time after time say things to me that are exactly what I need to hear (my mom being one of them). But this morning I woke up to a short & sweet little facebook message from cute mama kay from Belize. She said something that really touched me:

"...my baby girl the things we want in life that are good for us require effort, dedication and sacrifice, I know you can make it." 

Effort. Dedication. Sacrifice. Those aren't the usual words you hear when going through a hard time. Usually its words like faith, patience, hope, etc. But I loved this new outlook. In order for things to change for the better, especially things we want, we have to be doing something. We have to be "moving"...putting forth more effort, making more sacrifices, doing 100% in all we do and being dedicated to it.

So despite what life throws at us, this can be our new motto. We can all be a little better. There is so much more I can be doing to achieve my goals in life. And when my life is aligned with the Lord's will, everything will work out how it should. I truly believe that and know he cares about us more than we can imagine. He knows what we're going through and will always be there for us when we need him.

Life is the ultimate test. Yes God has to be a good teacher and not give us answers to the test when we want them SO BAD, but it is how we learn and become better. Things will work out they always will and we all be ok.

There's my little pick me up for the day.
And don't worry...I totally got to play my FIRST BUNCO GAME EVER tonight. It was life changing. I feel I have become addicted :)

PEACE and love.

true confessions...

I want a dog.
not down the road.
not in 5 years.
not once I have a house and am married.
RIGHT NOW.

Dogs make me happier than I can even explain.
I love them.
A lot.
And I need one...
ASAP.

Graduation Present?
April's coming soon right?!

Someone PLEASE back me up with this decision...
And don't worry mom and dad, I totally have a friend who's a dog trainer...
training would be a breeze! :)
PEACE and love

sundance 2012

Fact: I hadn't been up snowboarding this ENTIRE winter until yesterday...embarrassing.
Fact: Although the snow looks perfect and beautiful in the picture, it was definitely PURE ICE.
Fact: I may or may not have fallen on my knees a lot (because it was really slippery obviously) and they are now swollen and black and blue. Its pretty cute.
Fact: I definitely need to perfect my toe-side a little more.
Fact: Utah mountains with snow really are beautiful...i have to admit.
Fact: I really enjoy snowboarding and had a lot of fun (despite the icy conditions) but I am definitely a summer girl. Boating, biking, hiking, sun-tanning, watermelon, running outside, sunshine....it is time.

SUMMER please come soon...

I really miss you.

PEACE and love

down the road...

So it has been a while I know. I am still living and breathing. Life just gets a little crazy! Lets just say with school, 3 internships, and graduation coming up...my brain has been goin 800 miles an hour. Not Normal.

I have a lot of decisions to make in these next couple months and it is literally FREAKING me out!!! Where will I live? Where will I work? What will I be doing? How will I pay for that? Can I quit school already? Is stats lecture REALLY that important? These are questions I think about almost on an hourly basis. 

Because let's be real. I've pretty much made up my mind that all I really want to do is pursue photography and maybe go to hair school. Papa James is not the biggest fan of this, especially considering he has been helping with my college tuition for the past five years, but I know I would love it. And I want to be doing something I love for the rest of my life. So...here are my options:

1. WORK all summer, save up some cash cash, and MOVE to any of the below to work some more!!

 
 WASHINGTON D.C. 




 
 SAN DIEGO, CA
And yes. 
I would be HERE everyday.


 
NYC

2. WORK all summer, start hair school in the fall (where?? not quite sure yet.)

3. WORK all summer, work all fall/move to slc, start hair school in the winter**All of these options include starting some photography on the side...yes, i'm aiming high.

SO that's what we're lookin at folks. Those are just some of the ideas that my brain has been thinking up lately. Have I mentioned I am SOOOOO READY to be a college graduate!!!! Provo has been good to me but its time for a new adventure.

Song of the day....Dave Barnes new single: White Flag. Obsessed. already...

PEACE and love...

So I am going to start something new on here. Everyone knows how much I love music...I am a little obsessed. So I wanna start posting not only the youtube video but also the lyrics of the song I am feelin for that particular day. I know for me I understand songs so much better after reading the lyrics...so that is my goal. To just really truly appreciate music for all that it is! Cheesy? maybe. But do I care? Not at all.

Song of the day/my week/my life: JASON MRAZ, "I Won't Give Up"

When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
There's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up

I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not
And who I am

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
Still looking up.

I won't give up on us (no I'm not giving up)
God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)
We've got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved)
God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it)

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up.

OBSESSED. I want to marry him maybe? yes. I LOVE this song so much... 

its a new year baby...

So I am graduating in April. SO WEIRD. I never thought this day would come. I can't believe my time is almost done in this place! But this semester is gonna be a little different. I am only taking one class...ONE. And its stats 121. WHY did I wait til my last semester to complete this class? I have no idea. And then I have my internship I have to complete for graduation as well as my photography one too. But they all start next week so I have had a lot of time on my hands at the moment.

So as always I find new music in my spare time. My current fave...Trevor Hall. Thanks to Dean from 3B yoga for introducing me to this man. I have been obsessed today.

I promise I'll have better blog posts once my life gets more busy and interesting! Peace and Love...

songs like these are the reason i get through finals....

I know my sister hates me when I find a new song that I love because I can't help but play it OVER and OVER. This one in particular I just can't get enough of. SO GOOD!!

On a sidenote...hope everyone is surviving the pre-Christmas rush. But may we be focusing on what really matters at this time of year. This quote from our tender prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints really touched me today...

“Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. It is His example, which if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others.

Because He came, there is meaning to our mortal existence.

Because He came, we know how to reach out to those in trouble or in distress, wherever they may be.

Because He came, death has lost its sting, the grave its victory. We will live again because He came.

Because He came and paid for our sins, we have the opportunity to gain eternal life.

May His precious Spirit be with us, and may He ever be the center of our celebrations and indeed of our very lives.”

-President Thomas S. Monson

Remember the REASON for the SEASON! I am so grateful for my Savior.

peace and LOVE to all <3