Summer Stuff

After school got out I went home for the weekend but came back up to Provo yesterday. The question I get from everyone is why? Why am I living in Provo for the summer? I'm not taking classes, I don't have a job, my roommate just got married, my family is in Vegas...and on and on. People have come up with many great reasons why I shouldn't be in Provo, but here I am. 

I can't really explain it either. I know that it might make more sense for me to live in Vegas this summer but something is pulling me back to Provo. Maybe its new friends to be made. Maybe its old friendships to be strengthened. Maybe its a boy. Maybe its a job or a great volunteering opportunity. Maybe its - as Carrie likes to say - f.o.m.o. (fear of missing out). Maybe its just a chance to learn more about who I am - a time to grow. I don't know what it is yet...but I know I need to be here.

That doesn't mean I'm completely confident about this decision. I've never lived an entire summer away from my family. For the past two summers I've gone home for six weeks or so. In the past I've also had someone really close to me to live with. I've lived with Jess for the past two (three is debatable as well) years - and we did pretty much everything together. Then in London I had Jordan and we were inseparable. I'm the kind of person that has one or two really close friends. That doesn't mean I don't have a lot of friends, because I do, but always one or two that are super close. I haven't decided if it's a weakness or a strength, but it's how I am. Right now my close friends have all found someone closer. And that is super great for them...it just leaves me in a new position. I'm at the point where I have a lot of friends but no one to spend every minute with. I don't know if that makes any sense in writing, but I don't know how else to explain it. Either way...its taking some getting used to. 

My apartment is different now too. With Jess gone there are just three of us here and its quiet. The other two girls are really nice but they keep to themselves. When I am home I don't like to lock myself in my room unless I really need to...so I eat in the kitchen and do my work and stuff in the family room. That's what Jess and I always did. These girls don't do that. They make food and take it back to their room. The only time I see them is walking into their half of the apartment and back out again. It's getting kind of lonely. It sucks when I know they are home and just chilling in their rooms and I'm just sitting in the family room...I wish they would just come out and talk. I think we could get along great if we got to know each other...but they are secluding themselves. It doesn't help that they live on one half of the apartment and I'm on the other half. For such a small apartment there is quite a distance between us.

Despite the lonely apartment, I am excited for the summer. The girls in my ward are great and we already have a lot of fun stuff planned. And even though my best friends have a bester friend (yep...definitely a word) they are still in Provo and we can still hang out. So this summer is going to be great. Different...but great. 

As far as the job hunt goes...I'm applying for every CNA opening I can find in every hospital from here to Salt Lake. That made five today. I also applied to three volunteering positions just for Utah Valley Regional before I got tired. I'll continue tomorrow. I also picked up an application for Banana Republic and Gap. So...I really hope something works out. If not...I am going to be very well rested, tan, and in shape this summer because all of my time is going to be spent sleeping, laying out, or at the gym. 

In other news...grades for winter semester are in and I have officially survived my junior year. My lowest grade...church history. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to quit studying and take the test before I was really ready to ensure I was done before Sonic's happy hour was over. Oops. Oh well.

Half Marathon

Ok...this post is way overdue, but here it is. Two weeks ago was the Salt Lake Half Marathon (and marathon for the brave souls out there). Me, Andrew, Carrie, and Kylie ran the half marathon together...and finished in a respectable 2 hours and 10 minutes. Not bad for our first time. Kylie's dad and husband ran the entire marathon and did a fantastic job. The highlight of the race was definitely going up this huge hill on the 11th mile and hearing Andrew shout "if you're happy and you know it clap your hands" at the top of this lungs. Of course people clapped. He proceeded to sing the entire song and even went into the "stomp your feet" verse before he ran out of breath. It was something silly but motivational at the same time...throughout the entire last mile all I could think of was "if you're happy and you know it." And I was happy. The race was great. I had a lot more fun than I thought I would have. 

Kylie, Carrie, Andrew and me at the starting line.

Me and Andrew after the race. Notice the medals!

 The entire group waiting for trax after the race.

Seriously this was a great experience. Now...there are rumors that Andrew and Carrie want to run a full marathon in Logan on September 18. If they really do it I am so there with them. Anyone want to come support?? We are going to need all of the love we can get.

When Did This Happen?

Guess what?!? I'm done! I have successfully completed my junior year of college! This past two weeks have been killer but somehow I managed to get through them.

I don't feel like I'm old enough to be done with three years of college. I don't feel like I'm old enough to celebrate my best friend-cousin-roommate's marriage TOMORROW! I don't feel like I'm old enough to be applying for graduate schools this summer. I don't feel like I'm old enough to think about an adult job...and all of the responsibility that comes with it. 

Life is flying by...and I don't think I'm ready for it.  But, if there is one thing  I've learned about life it's that life keeps going...whether you are ready or not. So I may be dragged along for a little bit, but hopefully I'll get caught up soon. Until then...I'm along for the ride.

Procrastination

Guess what?!? I only have five more days of this semester! The last day of class was on Tuesday. I swear I have done more work this past week than I did the entire rest of the semester. That's what I get for procrastinating...gotta love it. 

Yesterday and today were reading days...hmmm was I supposed to study? Because I didn't. More procrastination....I have five finals in the next five days and I haven't studied at all yet. You would think I'd learn my lesson. NOPE! I am having way too much fun hanging out with friends...new and old. My brain thinks school is already over...it's not going to like the reality of the several hours I still have left to sit in the testing center.

I'll get around to that studying thing tomorrow. My first final isn't until 3...and it's English. No big. Since we just had a major project due and had to do a presentation on it, our final is just writing a paragraph about how our writing has improved this semester. I think I can handle that. 

Things I have enjoyed lately:

...sunshine (it is so nice here!)

...going to the temple

...music (like Train and the Script and so many others)

...baseball games with friends 

...pilates

...training for a half marathon

...unexpected texts from a fun boy

...movies with friends (how to train your dragon...so cute!)

...not studying

...1 A.M. dance parties with the roomies 

...a clean car (the pink dust from festival of colors is almost gone!)

...the thought of summer
...bright colors

Things I'm looking forward too:

...Jess' wedding

...my mom coming to visit

...the train concert!!!!

...buying summer clothes like shorts and sandals
...going home next weekend for a few days

...the end of finals

...selling all my textbooks back and getting money for things I would probably pay someone to take from me

...the half marathon on Saturday (I'm nervous to be honest)

...whatever the future brings :)

Treat Making & Jess' Bridal Shower

Last weekend was Jess' bridal shower. My grandpa and grandma Ellen were so nice and let us use their condo in Orem to entertain all of Jess' many friends. Carrie, Torrie, Karolyn, and Julianne were super sweet to help...oh and Jess too...silly girl.

the invitations (with personal information removed of course)

My job was to bring dessert and provide some kind of entertainment. For dessert I decided to make caramel and chocolate covered pretzels and mini cupcakes in a chocolate shell. Easier said than done...so so much easier (and so so much more fun). Let me explain.

After running errands all day and enjoying some Cafe Rio with Jess, we started making our desserts around 9. That would be the first mistake.

My job...pouring the melted chocolate into the mini cupcake wrappers so the chocolate cooled in the shape of the wrapper.

This job wasn't too hard at the beginning...it just took a while.

Jess' job...dipping pretzels into the caramel and letting them cool.

This was working really well at the beginning...and she may have even enjoyed it for a while haha

Then the mistakes started. The caramel we were using didn't have directions on how to melt it...so we just did it in the microwave. Bad, bad idea. First...the microwave was often opened to reveal this...

...and then, once the caramel cooled on the pretzels it was ridiculously hard and brittle. But we didn't figure that out until we dipped all of the pretzels. Yes...all 30+ of them. So...around 11 (yes...in the p.m.) we went to the grocery store for more caramel (the good kind this time) and more pretzels so we could start all over.

Then...I started having issues peeling the paper off of the chocolate wrappers. We had many half formed ones...but luckily these could be remelted and used again...it just took more time.

This stuff tastes super good too so I didn't mind eating the mistakes...until there were too many mistakes to eat.

Around 12 I started actually baking the cupcakes.

This is why you don't bake after midnight.

Jess and I were so hyper all night. It was one of those moments when you are so tired everything is funny. So even though we were seriously struggling, we were having a blast.

Laughing so hard about our mistakes...me with a broken chocolate shell and Jess with a caramel explosion. I think we were both crying we were laughing so hard.

The nasty caramel pretzels we wasted a few hours on. I hope the trashcan enjoyed these.

So...back to leaving for the store. Picture this...Friday night, two overly tired and ridiculously hyper girls shopping for caramel and pretzels at 11:00. It was one of my favorite shopping trips ever.

Caramel!! haha

Super random checkout...especially considering the time of night. The cashier though we were real strange.

We got back from the store, melted the caramel on the stove (with some water) and started dipping again. This time it worked beautifully.

Look how nice that caramel looks! And it was super chewy and delicious.

After the caramel was all done we started dipping the pretzels in the same chocolate I had been using for the cupcake wrappers. New problem...the chocolate took forever to harden. By this time is was 2 in the morning and we were dipping pretzels and then holding them for a few minutes each while they cooled. If we set them down too soon all of the chocolate would slip off the caramel. We got super tired of this at the end so the last few looked horrible. But take our word for it...they all tasted so freakin good!

The final product. They weren't a whole lot to look at...but boy were they good.

While this was going on I was still taking the paper off the chocolate wrappers.

Eventually I got them done...and they looked pretty good if I do say so myself. (oh except for the two I forgot to take the wrapper off of...luckily Jess ate those two...and half of the paper that went with them. Sorry)

The cupcakes turned out well. After that we were way too tired to do anything. We saved the icing making for the morning.

The final cupcake product. Yellow cake...chocolate frosting and white chocolate wrapper. Again...not super pretty but super delicious.

By the time we were done it was 3. Yes...3 in the morning.

By the end...our kitchen looked like this. Unfortunately, by Sunday it looked even worse than this. But this was pretty bad.

So on Saturday I went for a run with Carrie and Kylie (they are also doing the half marathon on Saturday), raced home to get ready and make icing, and rushed everything over to Orem to set up for the shower. Before I knew it more food arrived, people were showing up and the party had started. Confession...I forgot to take pictures! I know, I know...epic fail! We did get two pictures of Jess with her friends.

Jess and some of the girls that go to her school.

Ally, Jess, and Ashley...Jess' friends from California a long time ago but both of our good friends now.

After having a delicious lunch with sandwiches and salad (thanks Carrie!), fruit (thanks Torrie!), chips, a fun drink (thanks Julianne!) and dessert...all on plates with cups and utensils (thanks Karolyn!) we got to some games.

First, we quizzed the girls on how well they knew Jess and Ryan. Out of 20 questions Julianne and Karolyn tied for getting the most correct. Congrats girls!

Then...we checked up on how well Jess and Ryan know each other. I had asked Ryan some questions beforehand about Jess and their relationship. I asked Jess the same questions and...if she got the same answer Ryan did...she got a prize. We found out that Ryan and Jess know each other super well...they are a perfect match!

After that we all had fun watching Jess open her cute gifts. All of that combined with visiting with great friends made for a perfect afternoon.

Thanks to everyone who helped and to everyone who came and celebrated with us! Congrats Jess! I love you and am so excited for this new adventure in your life.

Legally Blonde the Musical!!

Last Friday Jordan and I saw the show we have been waiting months to see...Legally Blonde the Musical! Don't laugh...because I know you probably are. Even though the show is supper cheesy and silly and pretty pointless...there is still a message and I left feeling happy. Of course...we couldn't just go to the show. We had to make a day out of it. First, we got lovely manicures and pedicures. Then, we drove up to Salt Lake City to eat at the Cheesecake Factory. Delicious. Finally...it was time for the show.

Really bad self-take in the theater. We couldn't take another one though because we got caught with a camera. Oops.

Bad picture outside the theater. This one wasn't my fault. Well...maybe I should have asked a different random lady on the street to take it for us.

Besides being a great way to spend a night, this show totally reminded me of the many nights Jordan and I spent watching shows in London. I miss that...but this let me get a little taste of it. Thanks Jord! Let's do it again sometime :)

Festival of Colors

The Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork has a unique way of celebrating the Indian Holi festival. It is an event that celebrates the passing of winter and the beginning of spring but in Spanish Fork it is celebrated like no where else. Bags of colored chalk are sold and at a certain point in the ceremony everyone throws their chalk up in the air. The result...everyone turns out super colorful. Of course the chalk isn't all saved for the big event so everyone is a little (or a lot) colored before. Words don't really do it justice.


The group before the event...all nice and clean.


The group...with a few more additions...still clean (well...except for eric).


After a little coloring.

And a little more.

From the top of the temple looking down on the crowd. The place was packed!

The girls...not so clean anymore.

Yep...that is a llama. I was apparently unaware of its presence.


After the big color throw there was a cloud of chalk over the whole crowd. It was hard to see and impossible to breathe. This is what it looked like a few minutes later...after we had managed to get out of the crowd and into fresh air.


The original group...yes the same people from the very first picture...just very dirty.

My car still has a little pink powder dusted on the inside and my bathtub has a nice purple tint...but I had so much fun. I will definitely be celebrating the coming of spring again next year.