Catch Up

I haven't really been good at blogging lately so I have decided to give you an update on my life. I know, I know, I always promise to be better at blogging but alas I haven't been any better.  Erin's last two posts have inspired me to post something today and hopefully more in the future? I won't make any promises on when the next post will be though.  So here are so new things that have happened since the last time I blogged:

Top 5 New Things in my Life:
1. Colored Hair: I recently did a semi-permanent dye on my hair. I LOVE the color but I have too much hair for a normal application of hair dye. Right now I have some splotchy patches of hair that are not colored. I have another box of hair dye, I just need to get around to coloring it again.

My darker hair and a fantastic orange sweater I found for less than $3.00. 

2. Glasses: Yep, I have had to get glasses. I have had the worst migraines lately and I am trying to figure out the cause of them. Excedrin does wonders for me but it only masks the symptoms so I can temporarily feel better. I had my eyes checked and sure enough I have needed glasses. I am wearing them for the first time today! Some of the other things that might be triggering my migraines are sugar, TMJ, low-pressure weather, and stress. I sure do hope the glasses will help a little with this. It is amazing how many small things I have been missing out on before wearing these glasses!

New Glasses! I bought two pairs..a brown pair and a black one. 

3. Study Abroad:  I am going on a study abroad this summer to study art history in Italy! The program is a 4 weeks and then I will be doing some independent traveling to Switzerland, Paris and London after with some of the other students for about 10 days after the program ends.  68 more days until I leave!
Not like I am counting the days till then...

Cinque Terre, Italy (I will be staying a weekend here! AHH!)

4. Working a Lot for Study Abroad: I have been working at my regular job at school and I went back to my bakery job to help fund my trip. I also work four hours at a call center on Saturday's. EEK! Luckily, I am only taking one class right now or I would probably be going insane right now.

5. Boyfriend: I don't post a lot on here about my relationship status because, well, it has been pretty complicated the last couple years. With a long term relationship tragically ending about a year and a half ago, dating has been an interesting journey that I wasn't planning on ever having to take again.  I did date a guy last summer for a couple months and I was very grateful for that relationship. He treated me really well and was intellectually stimulating. We broke up before school started. I was pretty upset for a while but I am now grateful that he broke up with me for many reasons. I have gone on dates here and there since then. About a two months ago, I went on a date with one of my friends John who works as a freelance pianist. I was excited to go to Cafe Rio with him but honestly I was thinking it was just a friend date and nothing more than that. I was wrong. He is charming, genuine, loving, funny, and also extremely handsome, bonus! We went on a second date a couple weeks later and then shortly after that we decided to date exclusively. It has been an interesting journey dating him and I would have to say I have been happier than I have been in a really long time.  I usually am pretty happy anyways but he has brought a lot more joy in my life that I never knew I was missing. 

John and I at BYU's concerto night. 

Less Than Two Weeks...

In just less that two weeks I will be in one of my all-time favorite places.

The place that I dared to try something new.

The place that I left home, and lived in a place far, far from home.  No four hour drives to and from home, but somewhere that I wouldn't be allowed to visit for a few months.

The place that I spent my first Christmas away from home, and you know what? It ended up okay.

The place that I made some of my best friends for life.

The place that I ended a relationship, which opened up other possibilities that I needed for my life.

The place I constantly yearned to return to.

The place that my husband-to-be would live most of his life and would call home.

The place where I was proposed to, and began the great journey of eternity with my love.

The place that feels like home, even though I have never lived there for more than 4 months.

The place that is so close to my heart, and hope to one day return to raise my family.

Florida.

I'll see you oh, so soon Florida.

Hello, Seattle!

Can I tell you how much I love road trips?

I love road trips.

Road trips renew my soul.  They give me insight, hope, and direction.  It's just you and your thoughts while on the big open road.  I needed this trip.  Desperately.  I was on the verge of my breaking point.

Thank you Seattle, for showing me the light.

More to come...If you're lucky!!!

The Weekend

Me, on the way to Park City!

Ah.  Finally.  The weekend.  But not ONLYthe weekend, the end of the work week.  For now.  Hallelujah.  It was a long, long, long, long week of work.  But it came to pass, AND it turned out alright after all.  Can I get another hallelujah?

I just want to get away.  Pack up the car and leave town.  I'd be happy to go anywhere.  Just. Get. Me. Away. From. Here.  Momentarily.

I could go down south, somewhere warm like St. George or Vegas, and bask in the sun.  I would sit by the pool with a good book.  Ah.

But! Even though I did NOT go on a vacation this week, it still has been a success.  Friday night we went up to Chipotle in Sandy (better than nothing, right?) and today we went out to Park City to shop the outlets AND went to the new mall (City Creek-it's awesome) in Salt Lake.  So, it has definitely been a success thus far.

City Creek, with a view of the Salt Lake Temple.

Happy weekend! Hope your's has been as lovely as mine! 

San Fran: Explained in Photos Part 2

Ok...So for the next part of the trip...We took a nice visit to the beach:

[Picture currently trapped on my iPhone...But just imagine a beach and a beautiful sunset.  This is the part of the trip when things just get better and better from here on out!]

Then, we took a trip to Monterey Bay and visited the aquarium:

                                    Yes, this picture did take place at the aquarium, oddly enough:

                                       The world's ugliest fish on earth....Also, it is GIGANTIC!
                                     

                                                                Forrest Gump anyone?
                                              

                                                    THE Monterey Bay. Oh, and THE Taryn.

                                                          Indian Cuisine...Bon Appetit!

This was Chad's doing...He was angry with our waitress and wanted to make sure that she noticed that he was in no way, giving her a tip.  (It was already included in the price anyway.  Way to go, Chad.)

On the 14 hour drive home, we got rather bored and Taryn and I started to "shoot" each other...on film...

                                           Chad, dying in during our loooooonnnnggg car ride.

             This is our attempt to make our caramel hard again.  Car refridgeration.  Are we handy, or what?

There ya have it!

San Fran: Explained in Photos Part 1

The photos are pretty much self explanatory.  They range from Standford University, to the Golden Gate bridge, then to H&M where we become sick of shopping, to the Full House houses, to us being completely and utterly exhausted.

Just wait...We go to the beach, Monterey Bay, and then the dangerous trip home.  Photos to come.

San Fran...Coming to a Blog Near You

So...I have been super busy...I apologize...I have not had a rest to stop and post a picture.  Even now, I should be fast asleep, working up my beauty rest.  But, I am here...offering to you a few teaser pictures.  Are you ready?  Here you go...

More to come, with details.  Cross my heart.

The Fourth

Guess where I get to go this fourth of July weekend?





No guesses?





Here's a hint:

I am so excited, I can barely wait.