Playing with Paint

I am an Art Education Major and sometimes I just can't keep my paint on my canvas.

Can't Get Enough of Fall!

To piggy back off of Caitlin's photos of the fall, I want to share my most recent trip to North Carolina.

Being in Florida, I miss fall most terribly.  So I felt like one lucky girl that I got my fall fix for this year.  I love you Florida, but I really love fall too.

Without further ado, here are the pictures from our amazing trip!

This was the view from our cabin. Absolutely phenomenal!

We went on a hike, and I seriously thought I was going to die.  I am totally out of shape and the higher altitude just about killed me.  But fortunately, I made it and it was SO worth it.  Here are the views from the hike and the top!

Amazing, right?  Fall, I am absolutely in love with you.

More Fall Pictures

Aren't the mountains beautiful this time of year? I went up the canyon with my roommate and friend on Saturday and was constantly amazed at how breathtaking everything looked. Here are some of the pictures that I took (expect the one the picture of myself which my roommate Jessica took for me):

Fall Pictures

Happy October Everyone!

 It is a magical time of the year with the leaves changing and the weather getting nice a brisk. This is the time of year for corn mazes, hot chocolate, pumpkins, sweaters and boots. What is not to love? 

I am about midway through a photography class and I thought I would share a couple of the photo's I have taken. I am planning on making a trip up to the mountains today to go and take some more photo's. 

Produce Stand , Provo, Utah

Produce Stand, Provo, Utah

My Roommates Jessica and Lauren, Provo Temple, Provo, Utah

Hari Krishna Temple, Spanish Fork, Utah

Hari Krishna Temple, Spanish Fork, Utah

Provo Library, Provo, Utah

You are Beautiful

Not going to lie, when I first started watching this video, I thought, "Cheesy..." but then it hit home.  It is true.  This video speaks truth.  So, sit back, relax, forget the cheese, and let the truth embrace you.  You are a daughter of God.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153247735365106

Sorry...Hopefully you can find it.  I found it on Facebook and it didn't give me an outside source to bring up into video form.  I am apparently not technologically savvy enough to figure it out. Let me know if you have any issues.

Hair

About a year ago, this is what my hair looked like, and I'll admit, I cried.  It was SO short.  I didn't expect it to be quite that short.  It was quite shocking. At that moment, I vowed to grow my hair out.

Now, after a year, this is where it is at.  Pretty impressive, eh? I can't believe it's been a year! It's taking a ton of hair cuts to shape it up, frustrating periods of just bad hair, and now...I think it is all down hill from here! Here's to long hair!

Scattered Thoughts

I am feeling so grateful.  I just might burst.

As I drove home from work today, the anthems of my life blared through my car stereo.  It took me back to high school, Idaho, Disney, former lovers, and other memories between.  It shocked me, to think of what I have accomplished and the places I have been.  It almost seems like those memories didn't belong to me, that I didn't really live through those different phases of my life.  Those "Erins" seem so different than the Erin that I am today.  Yet, at the same time, many things haven't changed.

As I look back at these memories, I see that the hand of God guided me to and through those different experiences. I would not be who I am today without Him.  I stand in awe of what He has done for me, and where He has led me. I am so deliriously happy for where I am today.  I love my life.  I love my Mr. Ryan Novak.  I love being in Florida.  I love so many more amazing aspects of my life.  It is truly amazing.  I wouldn't change it for anything.

I am glad to have accomplished what I accomplished. I'm grateful for the people I have met along my journey, and continue to meet.  I am beyond grateful for the Lord's help and strength in my life to bring me to where I am today.  I feel like one blessed girl.

Does this post even make sense? I can barely find the words for how I feel! For now, this will have to do.

Take Me to the Ocean

Guys, all I want to do is go to the beach.  I am seriously in love.  So I've collected a few to-do's and to wear's and must have's all while at the beach!

Head Wrap

^^THIS swimsuit. Adorable.^^

^^A Romantic Picnic^^

My other ideas:

-Bring some games: cards, chess, whatever...and enjoy some qual time with the husband.

-Bring some sparkly cider to share as the sun sets.

-Long walks are always mandatory, and obvious.

Any other must-do's while living the beach life?

Summer To Do List

Since the first official day of summer is only a few days away I thought I would share my summer to do list.  I started dating a pretty amazing guy and we came up with this list of things to do together. I have a small notebook that I carry around with me that I keep all of the ideas in.  

I love new experiences and learning new things. Who knew that I would actually enjoy going bug hunting? The world is a beautiful place and there are so many things to go and do.   Why would we want to settle for the typical dinner and a movie date when there are so many other things to do? What is on your list of things you want to do this summer?

Summer To Do List:

-Geode Hunting

-Visit the Great Salt Lake

-Star Gazing

-BYU Planetarium

-Visit the Salt Lake Temple

-Timpanogas Cave

-Ikea

-Make Homemade Paper

-Gold Leafing

-Photography/Editing

-Croquet Game

-Egg Yolk painting

-Comedy Night (listen to Brian Reagan, and Bill Cosby)

-Geo Cashing

-BYU Bean Museum

-Donate Plasma

-Hiking

-Tracy Aviary

-Aquariium

-Group Camping Trip 

Here are some of the things we have done recently (some were not on our original list but were fun experiences none the less):

-Fossil Hunting (which turned into rock collecting because we didn't find any fossils)

-Visit the BYU Art Museum 

-Listen to a whole Sigur Ros album 

-Spray Paint Art

-Picnic at the Park

-Feeding Ducks at the Park

-Watching the Sunset (multiple times)-Go to some Yard Sales

-Visit the Planetarium in Salt Lake

-Bug Hunting

-Going to the USA vs. Honduras Soccer game

-Thanksgiving Point Dinosaur Museum

Rain

I am sitting in the living room, listening the the thunderstorm outside.  I love the summer rains Florida brings.  I enjoy being curled up on the couch near a large window, watching the rain pour down outside, the sky growling at its best, and the bright flashes of lightening.  I have never seen such intense thunderstorms until I moved to Florida.

I love it here.  I am so glad that we have family that lives here, so that even if we one day leave, we will always have a place to come visit.  Utah and Florida are places I want to be part of my life forever.  Luckily, family live in both places, so I believe they shall always be part of our lives.

Visiting Utah was a dream.  It went by so fast, and every day seemed to collide into the next.  We were busy with visiting the next person, and barely had time with my own family.  Fortunately, they were good sports about that, and were willing to share us with others we haven't seen in a long time.  We never got to relax, but that is okay.  It felt so good to see old friends that have been missing from our lives for awhile.  We had so many other friends we wished to have visited, but sadly, our short time did not allow for it.

I loved taking in the Utah scenery. Seriously, that place has a beauty all of its own.  I have a favorite place, as shown in the second picture, that has the most beautiful view of the valley.  During the sunset, it is breathtaking.  I wish I could capture its beauty adequately.  Unfortunately, camera phones just don't do it justice.

It was so good to be reunited with these two girls as well as the rest of my family.  My family seriously rocks.  I feel so blessed to have such great support in my life.  I feel like one lucky girl.

Hello Again.

Do you want to hear a joke?  Okay, there were two girls who owned a blog that said they would do better making posts...The kicker? They never did!! BAHAHAHA.  Okay, so...that's not funny.

Truth is, I've been stressed out of my mind.  I didn't want to even THINK about owning a blog.  Work has been kicking my butt.  But it's okay...the load seems a bit lighter for the time being. Hopefully it continues on that path.

So...in just FOUR short (please be short) days, I will be back in my homeland in Utah.   Man, I miss that place.  It is funny how leaving a place really makes you appreciate what you had.  Don't get me wrong, I adore Florida.  So much.  But Utah is home.  I spent a good many years there and left behind family and friends.  I cannot WAIT to see everyone again, to see the glorious mountains, and perhaps make some quick stops at all my favorite Utah restaurants! It is going to be epic.

Stay tuned for some epic Utah vacation postings.  (Did I really just put the words "vacation" and "Utah" together? Never dreamed THAT would happen!)

Duck Face

+Erin lets be better at posting on our blog? Okay? Okay.

 I miss all of the times that Erin and I used to spend together going on random adventures and doing crafts. What I miss the most though are the times where we would just sit and chat for hours. We used to talk at our apartments, at the park, and often times in the car parked somewhere. We would cry and laugh  (which usually ended in me crying from laughing so hard) and discuss our dreams. So in order to make up for the distance we try to talk as often as we can on the phone. Sometimes it seems as though we are right next to each other lounging around talking about our dearest dreams and adventures. We don't even need to be talking about anything of any importance but the simple act of talking with each other is a blessing. I can't wait until her and Ryan come to Utah next month!  

Oh and I forgot to mention that sometimes we send each other pictures to further explain what we are talking about..or sometimes just for a good laugh. Here are the pictures from our last phone conversation. 

My Duck Face: 

Which Erin Decided to turn into this:

And then this happened:

Erin's Duck Face: 

And then these. No explanation. 

Weekend in Review

The Weekend in Review:

We spent the weekend up in St. Augustine, FL for spring break with a group of friends.  We stayed at a condo on the beach and just chilled back and relax.  It is amazing how a little get away, even for just a day and half can perk up your spirits.  It was just what we needed before real life continues onwards.  

Have I mentioned how much I adore the beach?  I really, really, really am madly in love with the beach.  And this man here:

Hope your weekend was just as spectacular! :)

Wow.

I can't believe it has been this long since I have blogged. Or my sister, for that matter.  What is wrong with us?

I guess lately, to be honest, I haven't really desired to blog.  Lame, I know.  But I've been so busy with everything, that blogging is the furthest thing from my mind.

The last few months, I have just been continuing to try to dig my feet into the ground here to establish myself.

It's not working very well.

I'm struggling with my job.  The company is amazing, the pay is fabulous, the benefits countless, and don't even get me started about my vacation days (I get a tooonnn), but the job is not quite my cup of tea.  I am trying to press on though, because again, I really do love the company, and don't really want to leave.  They say give it a year.  I'm about 7 months in.  So we'll see.

Time has just been limited.  Between church callings, work, meetings, and scrubbing our free house until it shines, I just have found no time for blogging.  Okay, fine.  I just chose not to prioritize blogging.  But I want to bring it back, mainly as an outlet as I'm going through this crazy, hectic part of life.

Despite all the craziness of life, the hardships of a job, being far from home and finding myself homesick at times, I feel so blessed to have my best friend through it all.  Man, ladies, if you aren't married, do yourself a favor and find yourself an amazing man and marry him.  It's the best thing that will ever happen to you.  I could not imagine going through this with anyone else.  He is wonderful.

But enough gushy stuff, I'll show you a bit of odds and ends what I've been up to these last few months of being MIA from the interwebs.  (Mainly, this blog)

We spent our anniversary at Disney World!!

 Love ourselves some beach days!

I beat myself to a sweaty pulp from doing Cross fit.  Don't I look like a train wreck?

 Surprises from returning home from a long day at work.  Our date night involved a progressive dinner. It was amazing.

Lost the pixie cut! Now I'm sporting a nice A-Line!