20 and one month.. Happy birthday Lo!

There's nothing I love more than celebrating birthdays with my girls. I'm super late with this post, but better late than never right? My Lauren turned TWENTY on July 11th... I don't know why but the number 20 strikes me hard... I feel like its significant enough that when my best friends turn two decades old, I need to post something about it... because naturally everybody is so worked up about turning 21 that turning 20 is just another inevitable day of growth and learning...... but a lot of wonderful things happen in your 20's...... so it should be one huge recognized celebration. 20 means you've survived 7300 days in this insane world and you have 7300 more days until you are 40 and your life is entirely changed and you begin another huge celebration of life. So cheers to 20 years of life, and one of the greatest friends a girl could ask for. I'm so grateful for this girl, it'd be impossible for her to ever fully comprehend how much she means to me and how much I love, adore, and look up to her. I've had the opportunity through the years to watch her grow and transform into such an incredible person, and there isn't a day that goes by that I'm with this girl and don't learn something new. Heavenly father truly blessed me with such an amazing friend to grow up with. I love you lo.

4th of July. Happiness. Sparklers.

The fourth of July is probably the greatest holiday ever. We celebrate America's freedom by blowing things up... it's great. I spent the weekend in a bite size town in Idaho with good company, boating on the Snake River and watching a ridiculous amount of fireworks. Nothing could have made it better. We watched the small town parade in summer clothes and sandals on a beautiful day while waving American flags with smiles.. it was something to be proud of. I love this place, this country, these people.

We came back from Idaho on Sunday and pretty much went straight to Richfield where we celebrated the fourth of July a second time on Monday. We took a small plane ride over the town, drank our body weight in orange julius', and enjoyed every single, solitary moment of the 4th celebration. We literally just spent the weekend floating around with nothing on our schedules but appreciating life and new memories.

7 Things I love about June.

Summers first fresh cut watermelon.

The Father's Day Celebration. PARTY.

These shoes. White wedges save every and any summer outfit.

Who doesn't love Nordstrom's half-yearly sale?

Best friends and sunny afternoon picnic photoshoots.

This book.

Weddings and a eternal perspective.

My beautiful cousin Summer got married last weekend... and it was incredible. It was a long, hectic weekend full of fun and laughter and we're all so blessed to have a new addition to the family who fits in perfectly. I don't have very many pictures yet but I have this video that I'm kind of obsessed with.... It's a sneak peak into one of the greatest weekends ever.

Summer+Brad SDE @ Four Seasons from Digs Studio- Jason Roberts on Vimeo.

Summer I love you so much and I'm so happy for you and Brad. I have the best family on the planet.

Sunny day.

It's getting closer and closer to summer, yet another overcast... gloomy day. Better reason for a Tuesday inspirational reminder that we truly create the "sunshine" in our lives, rainy day or not.

Spring decorating.

Spring decorating is the new spring cleaning. We can push back the deep cleaning for fall.... just this once.

A while ago, garlands a lot like these were hanging in Anthropologie... and I LOVED them. These aren't really the exact ones but they are definitely similar.

You can make them out of coffee filters, sewing pattern paper, tissue paper, and string.
Obviously you don't have to use the white, brown and pink but its the cutest! It's just easy and briliant.

You can use any kind of printed paper in between the tissue paper and coffee filters, but I love love love the music pattern.

I might be crazy but I've been feeling creative since schools been out and my apartment needs a little vintage decor!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHHHLIVIA!

Just some fun facts for you...

1. One out of TWENTY people have an extra rib.

2. Each year, there is about TWENTY billion coconuts produced world wide.

3. The average iceberg weighs about TWENTY million tons.

4. The longest U.S. highway is Route TWENTY, which is over 3,365 miles.

5. In a pack of skittles, there is an equal TWENTY percent distribution of each flavor.

6. Americans eat approximately TWENTY pounds of pasta per person each year.

7. Koalas can sleep up to TWENTY hours a day.

8. In China, September TWENTIETH is "Love Your Teeth Day".

...but most importantly...

One of my most favorite people in this entire world turns TWENTY tomorrow!!!

It would've been extremely deceiving to celebrate Alivia's birthday without some cupcake madness so that's exactly what we did. It was like a week long attack. Seriously.

Being up at school and away from my family gets pretty hard, and there's a select few that are constantly relieving me from the stressful reality of school and this girl is definitely one of them. She brings so much light and happiness to my life, she is basically one bright beam of optimism (...just don't try to boot her car or take away her dryer full of clothes...). I love her so much and I'm so grateful to have her with me while battling the real world in p town everyday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIV!

I live for...

A few weeks ago we had a lesson in church about noticing and enjoying the happiness and joy... in the little things we'd normally walk past without any recognition.. and it was something about that day, at that time, and that lesson.. that really stuck out to me. That day.. I found this.

The first ounce of color escaping from winter... to spring. Needless to say, I was really...really giddy that day. After I decided to be spontaneous and take a picture of this random yellow flower in the middle of dead plants that winter had obviously murdered, I was determined to spend the next few weeks paying attention to the little things.. that naturally put a smile on my face.

1. MY MOM. What an angel. She's my best friend and the greatest example to me.. I don't know what I would do without our 39 phone calls every single day. She's wonderful, in so many ways.. and I love her. A lot. We laugh a lot.. and cry a lot.. and whine a lot.. but she's real pretty and we all really like her. A lot.

2. Yellow. Yellow flowers, the lovely yellow sun, yellow houses, yellow dresses, yellow shoes, yellow pictures.. and my favorite song Yellow, by Coldplay.

3. Happy People. Whether its winter time when everyone gathers in big coats and scarfs, or summertime when people are running around outside in shorts with frisbees..... No matter what it is, there's smiling involved, its comforting.

4. The Best of Stevie Nicks. Easily the best purchase I have ever made on I tunes. Today, I had the AC on, the sunroof open and Stevie singing some 'Edge of Seventeen' in the car, and it was pretty.. perfect.. to say the least.

5. Fluffer Nutter Sandwiches. A sugar masterpiece.. and possibly the most unhealthy snack to have ever been eaten, but it easily cures rough times in the day. You can't go wrong with a peanut butter and marshmallow spread sandwich after a biology test brutally beats and tears you apart. Comfort food. Yum.

6. Laughter. You can share it with everybody. Even strangers. It's everywhere. In everyone.

7. Testimonies. Every single testimony I hear, I learn something from. They're always brilliant and delicate but strong... and great.

8. Sales. My retail therapy sessions would be disastrous if it wasn't for sales. I learned that this week. The hard way. Don't buy glittery things that aren't on sale. Glitter=weakness.

9. Family. I've learned that there are lots of different kinds of family. My roommates and my best friends, my ward and my real family. I love em' all.

Just some things I noticed this week. I've learned to appreciate a lot more since I've been up at college. I'm pretty caught up in everything these days.

LOVE LOVE LOVE.

beautiful girls.

I am the luckiest girl ever. I got the chance to go home this weekend and spend FOUR DAYS with these beautiful cousins of mine!

I was looking forward to this weekend for weeks, and it's past... but I'm so grateful that I got to escape from homework and school for a few days and have an eventful few days full of swimming, movies, root beer floats and fun. These girls bring so much sunshine and fun to where ever they go and I am so happy that I got to spend time with them.. thanks Kamille for letting us borrow them!!

the PERFECT chocolate chip cookie

For the past week... I have been depriving myself of good food, and by good food I mean cake, cookies, cupcakes..... all of the delicious fattening delights that surround us daily.. everywhere we go. It seems everywhere I turn, I'm faced with love. Meaning sweet, mouthwatering, deserts. I've been going strong on this health kick for about a week and a half now. I know what your thinking... a week and a half? pathetic.... but it turns out trying to make the PERFECT chocolate chip cookie 7 days a week, doesn't give you very much energy, and when your a college student, you thrive on every ounce of energy available. The PERFECT chocolate chip cookie takes meticulous planning and serious strategy... A strategy that I won't be attempting for a while. Okay fine. Until Easter. Then I will indulge myself into all of the colorful cadbury eggs, starburst jellybeans, and hollow chocolate bunnies in my sight. After everyone is passed out from outrageous amounts of food and laughter, I will then, with my mommas help, make the PERFECT chocolate chip cookie. And these of course....

Millions of them... like literally enough to fill an entire elementary school. I think that will suffice... Bless Christy's heart for listening to me complain 21/7 about the torture I'm purposely putting myself through to avoid the freshman 15...or 10... better yet, 5.

I just want Easter to come already, so I can run around in bright clothes with my siblings, screaming, singing and reminiscing about all the blessings that we've had in this past year.
I love holidays. I love yellow. The sun is yellow, and it shines on Easter. Can't wait. So as far as today goes...... the perfect chocolate chip cookies is just gonna have to wait!

'shining sunday'

Sundays are my favorite. Ever. They are the best days of the week. I love my ward. Some of the greatest people I've ever met live in the village, and the best part is, I get to see all of their smiling faces on Sunday mornings at church. There isn't a Sunday that I don't want to be up at 8 AM getting ready, listening to the 'shining sunday' playlist and counting my blessings. Every Sunday I fall in love all over again with every aspect of the happiness that comes along with feeling the spirit. It's been 9 months now since I've been baptized. That's a long time.

I'm excited.

Every Sunday after wrapping up breakfast parties after church (somehow we all manage to eat around the counter.. with three stools...... and six girls), we indulge ourselves in four hour naps. Literally. Then we wake up and have another feast with enough food to feed Florida. Everybody laughs and it usually turns into something like a middle school dance party... meaning 8 people dancing and spinning in the kitchen... but I could have possibly been the only middle schooler who did that. We eat enough calories for 3 people each, and its perfectly fine, because its Sunday and we're all about food. I'm all about battling obesity these days. It's really the only logical way to live... But in all honesty every Sunday just ends up perfect.. and I don't think I could survive ending long, stressful college weeks any other way.

I'm grateful I get to see this girl in 10 days! Can't wait! I secretly jump up and down every night thinking about it.

patience is a virtue.

I'm constantly learning valuable lessons about myself.... this months? 30 degree weather isn't healthy for this vegas girl. I've been patient with winter for a few good months now, but I desperately miss all my summer dresses taking up all the space in my closet for three months straight. I want to be laying on the beach listening to my paradise playlist or in NYC's serendipity with my girls in shorts and a t-shirt. Basically... I'm just ready to get my tan on. This winter white skin isn't going to suffice for much longer. At this point, I'm willing to sacrifice our every Saturday snowboarding trips for lemonade and poolside barbecues... which says a lot about my frustration with the cold weather and these dead trees. Me and chrissie actually made the executive decision today, to open up a flower shop and drop out of school. That's real responsible. I'm dusting off my flip flops early I think.. maybe it'll make these next few months go by faster.

I want to be here. Now. Please.

best day ever.

I'm pretty much infatuated with the phrase 'best day ever'. I actually have to try and sound convincing when I say it these days.. because I literally take full advantage of saying it at every single opportunity possible. But in all honesty.... when is it not the best day ever? Some days I end up face to face with a test I'm completely unprepared for, or I'm constantly slipping on ice at school and falling flat on my face in front of 36 strangers.. but there are so many things that easily make up the best day ever that would fix anything... like the perfect chocolate chip cookie, a drive in the 1987 convertible with my sister on a beautiful saturday night, laughing uncontrollably with friends at things that weren't even technically funny, or the perfect parking spot at the mall on black Friday. Today...... was the best day ever.... for this reason:

My family, dressed in their UVU gear, on a typical Saturday afternoon watching baseball. This screams best day ever. Being home makes me love Valentines day, and everything along with it. I'm so grateful for my family and friends, I LOVE every single one of them, they truly do make everyday the best day ever.

Premature Blogger.

I've clearly managed to find another form of procrastination to add to my unhealthy motivation in college. Why stop at twitter and facebook? Let's get all of the informal update sites in here. Things keep getting busier and busier, the days continue to get more chaotic and crazy... all the more reason to start a blog! I'm showing my 2010 spontaneous side and giving this whole blog business a try.