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.