back to real life.

my poor adventurous (i'm not adventuring anymore, blog name change coming up..) blog has been put on hold for the time being. 

but... i'm back! 

i am back to real life, full swing. when i have a spare moment, i think to myself, was i really in africa? the uk? out of the US? some days, i can't believe i was really there. experiencing life on my own. 

too much time has passed since those weeks. 

to sum it up, i had a completely fantastic summer. the time of my life. i am so grateful and lucky i was able to travel and experience the things i did. great britain was cultural, historical, and informational. africa was humbling, extraordinary, and a place full of people i will never forget. 

many things have happened since i last posted. here's a small recap from august to now.

families we met and love:

welcome home, elder law! (his talk was so great.)

love these girls (alli is studying abroad in italy, wahoo!):

katelin, taylor, alli, me.

fam bam here for 2 weeks:

love this girl.

africa shirts! 

first day of school, water buffalo backpack!

change of major #2 happened last week, food science to exercise and wellness, accounting 200 is taking over my life, i got 90% on my math test, and i couldn't be happier with life right now. 

amazing. 

just a little opinion.

i am stuck with a dilemma. 

some may think it's silly, but... hair is the greatest accessory. (well, one of them!) 

my departure date is a mere 22 days away. yes, 22!! 

i will be gone for just over two months and my hair is in need of an update. not just a normal update. like i said, my dilemma happens right here. 

i was blonde for years, loved it. decided to dye dark, loved it. 

blonde for summer? cause it's summer once the rain stops?

or do we like the dark? it's natural and all that jazz. 

here's some examples of each:

OR

even if you don't want me to know that you read this, i really don't care! any opinion is appreciated. 

as silly as this is, it's a tough decision. haha. 

p.s. 

22 days until i leave for shannon, ireland. 

68 days until i depart for africa. 

it's coming quick!! 

i may...

i may or may not have just indulged in this ice cream!! 

breyer's makes phenom ice cream anyway... so to add waffle cone AND hershey's semi-sweet baby chips is just crazy. try it, i tell you. 

to go along with my "healthy" eating, i had this oven-cooked rosemary chicken today for lunch. 

very tasty, and easy might i add! try that too. 

last week, i hiked the Y with my parents (and the byu athletic department, me and shar were the only ones NOT a.d. oh well). it was a little chilly, then it was a lotta chilly and snowy at the top. not pleasant, but fun nonetheless. 

loving this app on my phone that takes "polaroids".

taylor (yes THIS taylor) and i decided to run to gold's gym, then work out at gold's gym, then bum a ride home from willie cause we would be tired to run back, he he he. the run was approximately 2.6 miles. it was a good little run. then we worked our butts off while we were there. 

side note: i am loving zumba and pilates at gold's. and we recently tried out the dirty dancing class. it wasn't really that dirty so don't judge us! 

i have been trying really hard the past few months to get in shape and stay there.. it's been a challenge, but i am pleased and i feel great! dedication is hard, in all aspects of life! some days, i am tired or whatever the excuse may be, but i think of the outcome and i go to the gym anyway. i understand that my body won't be petite and tiny, but i am proud of the hard work i've put in and what has come of it! like my friend, whitney, i would love to run a half marathon. but that won't be happening this summer because i will be eating away my hard work of the past few months. just kidding, i will stay on track! you all can live vicariously through me and my travels ;)

enough posts for now. i just can't believe how fast the time is going! san diego next week, then 3 more weeks before i am on to the land of the irish. i am excited, nervous, scared, and feeling adventurous. it will be amazing to say the least. 

just a shorty.

it's been far too long and this blog has been neglected. i have been thinking a lot about what i need to post and what i should post! haha. that's when you know it's a cool "hobby" let's say? 

i have too many pictures that i have taken and am procrastinating uploading and semi-editing. 

events as of late:

-hillary's bachelorette party/wedding

-surprise visit from tim, becky and the cuties.

-family wedding/baby blessing

-andrew's senior day baseball game

-more baseball games! love :) 

-a sad goodbye to the nebraska residents

-nights of nerts

-and many food projects!

what a list. but, i will say i've documented them quite well and my pictures have improved (at least i think so!)

this weather is a total downer. i laid out for the afternoon last friday and got a great tan and completely enjoyed it! now, it's rain? unbelievable. thanks utah. 

i enjoyed a fun weekend with some friends. killer workout, long day of shopping and eating, and great company! not a better day out there. 

i played a simple piano piece in my sacrament meeting. it's too bad i couldn't get my shoes back on after i played and everyone sat there awkwardly watching me struggle to get up and walk back to my seat! ha ha. i lost that one for sure. 

i wish i had the time to go to only zumba classes during the week. that would be 4 or 5 times a week and a high amount of calories could be burned. then i could have a rockin' bod and not even have to worry about my craving for a cheeseburger with lettuce and sauce only from in n' out. oh, and a chocolate banana shake from arctic circle. well, any ice cream for that matter. ice cream donations are greatly appreciated, thanks. 

i will say, i'm enjoying this summer time. still working, but totally enjoying being with my good friends. i have some great people in my life and i am so lucky to have them! 

and... for the record, 35 more days until i am meeting my fellow study abroader's in the shannon, ireland airport. can you believe that? the time has flown by. i am sad i am missing summer here in utah, but this trip will be once-in-a lifetime. the travels will be amazing and the sites are those that i wouldn't imagine visiting. (maybe, you can find one of the owls from harry potter and send me a birthday gift via the owl post. that way i can still enjoy my birthday in the UK. after all, the hp 7 premire is right around my birthday time. not the ideal bday gift, but still.. )this trip creeping up on me like a byu student creeps his female co-ed. 

i'll work on my pics and show you the visuals of the events as of late. i need to get on a good blogging schedule so i can have it down while i'm in the euro! 

stuff.

thanks to this totally awesome weather, i have been so sick. and so not fun. 

who gets achey teeth and jaw? stuffy nose. can't breathe. can't taste. can't smell. we even went to tepanyaki for andrew's grad dinner and i didn't taste one bite of my meal. one bite! i was very unpleased with that. 

but, on a better note. school is really done and i am thrilled! i feel like this semester blew by. classes, then finals were super quick (even though i procrastinated and took all my finals the last 2 days, whoops.) i did boost my gpa a little bit though. 


i think of last year at this exact time. my, how times have changed. people in my life have changed, events have changed. it's so weird to think about. that i am in a completely different part of life right now. it blows my mind. 


here's how i spent last summer:

 

photo courtesy of: JSB.

last summer, i learned so much doing what i did. yes, i worked 100 hour weeks. and 18 hour days for 7 weeks in a row. but i learned and i grew so much. some things fell apart and others came together. it was a great experience to say the least. and i worked with my amazing brother, tim. 

here we are back in the day! how sweet are we? i think i am "sleeping". i do love that guy though. 

happy hoppy day.

easter sunday was just great! it was such a nice sacrament meeting in church and we had a yummy dinner at my grandma's house. it was a cluster, to say the least.. but it was fun as always! 


here's the fam, minus a few: 

after killing myself during finals week and staying up til the wee hours of the morning for many nights, i am completely relieved that everything is over! 2 for 3 on my finals, so not bad. now time to enjoy sleeping in, summertime, and a countdown until i begin my travels! 


i was looking at the time. and i realized that four months from yesterday, we will all be home from africa. adam will be home. and school will be just about started! isn't it crazy to think how time flies? 


what a cluster of thoughts going around in my head right now. should i, should i not? is it good, or bad? 


p.s. have you thought of a major for me yet? keep thinking. 

what a cluster.

is it hectic right now? yes. a final project for my business communication class is killing me. i get what to do, but the instructions aren't very clear. don't you hate that? man, i know i do! 


after wednesday, however, i will be enjoying myself in vegas, yet again, to get a tan and watch some baseball! and only three finals in the dreaded testing center the following week! then.. the summer begins. lots of laying out, and relaxing, and enjoying no school. 
to summer and being this tan and blonde:

and after that, my traveling adventures for nearly eight weeks. eight! speaking of eight.. today is april 8, in exactly four months, on august 8, i will be in africa seeing my bro bro for the first time in two years! don't worry, i will take lots of pictures for those of you who are wishing you would be in africa too (not necessarily for adam, but still..)
to traveling and adam in africa:

one of my favorite pictures of all time right here. 

p.s. who even cares about choosing a major, right? i am stressing about that. that, and many many other things in life. goodness! is there thought management somehow? 

just in the country.

i wish i was a country girl. you all know how much i love keith urban, he is country, urban country i would say i guess. but country nonetheless. i just got jason aldean's album. love it. love it! 

he is country, but not too honky tonk. it is some good music, let me tell you. if you want to expand your horizons, listen. it makes me think of going to the east, well mainly the deep, country south. i have heard a lot about those places. i think of dirt roads, cowboy boots, t-shirts and jeans, a nice and chilly smoothie, and most of all, wrap around porches. 

like this one:

i picture summer nights, rocking chairs, and basking in the beautiful night with my dearest, talking about nothing and having no cares in the world. i dream of those days and i can't wait for that day to come. whoever you are, i hope you are okay with my country dreams and at least, the wrap around porch. it seems so relaxing, so laid back, and so calm. i am totally okay with that!