On my Mind.

Last Christmas break, I had a sudden urge to start a blog. I figured I would update it periodically and fairly regularly. Now, I've had it for almost six months and I have less than five posts. So, I'm going to try and get crackin' on more posts.

Tonight, I was looking at some of my various favorite blogs and I found a few pictures of things I absolutely love. Such as....

This wedding cake. I think it is absolutely adorable, elegant, and still fairly simple.

Also, I found these dresses at Shabby Apple that I'm in love with:

And this video on Youtube. It may be the cutest thing I've ever seen.

http://youtu.be/UGPL4J6IIJY

College is Great!

I remember during high school having multiple people tell me, "College is great. Better than high school. You'll have the time of your life!" And I remember thinking, "My life is great right now, it can't get any better than this. I already have life figured out, and it can't get any better."

Oh, how wrong I was! This last year at BYU really has been the time of my life. I've loved being independent. I've loved learning more than I ever have before in classes. I've loved going to church strengthening my testimony each week. I've loved meeting wonderful new friends. I've loved having fun every day of the week. I've even loved the trials I've gone though--I know I'm a better person because of them. I've loved college!

Here's just a few of my favorite pictures from the last year:

Everyone needs a crazy college dress-up picture. This was one of the first nights I met these girls. What better way to bond than though hairspray, feathers, lipstick, and a camera?

BYU football and basketball games, of course.

Amazing Arcade Fire concert with some of my very favorite people: Kevin, Debra, Scott, and Dallin.

I'll never forget this crazy, hilarious trio. These three will make great missionaries, I'm sure.

I could never have gotten through my first year without this amazing girl as my best friend. I'm so glad we're now roommates.
Family picture on the last day with my favorite people. I love each of them!

Epic Weekend.

Party on Thursday.

Road trip to Logan with one of my favorite people.

<----- (Isn't she just adorable?)

Good conversation with new friends.
Good food.
Cleaning the sink at Angie's in Logan. (So, so much ice cream!)

Spiritual fireside. (By Katherine Nelson, actress in the Joseph Smith movie on Temple Square.)
Watching Wimbledon with Merrilyn and Tyler.
In and Out Saturday night burger run.
A hilarious game of Lap Tag with great company.
Hot tubbing late into the night.
Sleep.
Church.

=a memorable college weekend.

School.

School has started. This is a very good thing in my eyes. I am very eager to make a new start in my classes and learn a lot this semester. I'm REALLY looking forward to my Interior Design class (which fulfills a General requirement--hooray!), my Living Prophets class, and my Book of Mormon class...the others will be harder but I'm confident that I can tackle them. I've been blessed with really good professors this semester, which is a major plus. I can feel that life is about to get a lot busier, but I'm welcoming that. I'm ready to work hard this semester and to get better grades than I did last!

It feels so good to be back! :)

My Favorite Things

I've always wondered why the song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music is considered a Christmas song. Other than a few wintery sounding lyrics, it doesn't seem like it should be considered a classic song for the holidays. But then, during Christmas yesterday, I started thinking about what my favorite things are--not necessarily material things, but rather my favorite people, my favorite things to do, etc. So then, I came up with this list of the Top 10 things I love (not in any particular order):

1.) My family.

I know this one is always at the top of everyone's list, but I really do love my family. A lot. Not to mention that I have the cutest nieces and nephews of. all. time.

2.) My friends--past and present.

I don't know where I'd be without my friends. Really. At school, these great girls help me keep my sanity and help me not to get too stressed out. They are absolutely incredible and I'm lucky to know each of the girls in the pictures above!

3.) Playing the piano.

I never realized how blessed I was to have a piano at my disposal until I left for college and no longer had one to play at my own whim. Especially now, I love playing at any opportunity I get. I wish I had more time to just sit and play and let the music fill my whole body.

4.) Photography.

I have a secret passion for photography. I wish I had a better camera to capture all the beautiful moments I witness in my life. This blog will probably also function as a sort of photo blog because I feel like a lot of my life is best shown through pictures rather than words.

5.) Sleeping.

Call me lazy, but I love my naps and sleeping in when I get a chance.

6.) My best friend.

I sure love this girl. I count myself lucky to know her and to be able to experience college with her. She is so smart, hilarious, and friendly. The man who steals this girl's heart will better be dang good, because she is one amazing girl. :)

7.) Good music.

Coldplay. Vampire Weekend. Death Cab for Cutie. U2. Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Jon Schmidt. Regina Spektor. John Mayer. Norah Jones. She & Him. Ingrid Michaelson.

8.) BYU.

My experience at BYU has been the best four months of my life--the most challenging, but also the most rewarding. I love Graham Canyon ice cream from the BYU creamery, the Harold B. Lee Library, and the experience of learning more than I ever have before. Go cougars!

9.) Good movies.

Inception. The Count of Monte Cristo. Pride and Prejudice. Return to Me. Runaway Bride. Nacho Libre. Australia. I'm also going to include Seinfeld, The Office, and Modern Family. :)

10.) My scriptures & my testimony.

I saved the best for last here. My testimony is what grounds me in life. I have no shame in admitting that I believe in Christ and am thankful to be a member of his church. I love the Book of Mormon and I know that it's the truest book on Earth. In other words, I love being mormon!

Well, that was a long post, but I wanted to start out this blog out well. Stay tuned for more posts in the near future. :)