holly hollydays

I love being home for the holidays. My babies are here visiting from Pennsylvania!! Oh how I have missed them.

random.

I am pretty sure between finals week and the holidays, my body and brain are on sugar overload. I bought a pack of 16 pop-tarts and that thing was gone within a week because, well... during finals week you can probably guess what I ate for every meal of every day.

My thoughts are all over the place right now, I am home for the day.. hooray! There's nothing like being home and waking up to fresh muffins in the kitchen... or sleeping in my queen sized bed instead of my dinky twin. Unfortunately it's back to Logan tonight because I work this whole week. It sucks to be up in Logan when pretty much no one else is, but I absolutely love my job. I love the people I work with and the fact that I am always busy so time flies.


I can't believe another semester has come and gone though. It is insane to think that in just 3 more semesters I will be graduating. My summer internship plans are becoming more concrete, and I could not be more excited! I will be keeping you all updated as it unfolds. Let's just say this girl is living in the big apple for the summer :) That will be a fun series of blog posts.


I can't wait for all the family to get here from the East Coast! Jason, Nicole and the babies get here tomorrow and Josh and Thomas get in the 23rd. Last time we were all together was last Christmas. It will be a fun series of events over the next few weeks.


This was probably the most all over the place post ever. Just giving an update on life :)

Happy Holidays everyone, I will be posting pictures from the fun holiday events!


xoxo

lame.

Okay so I have writer's block. I know, I know... it's only the first sentence. Blah Blah Blah. I haven't really given a life update for a while.. so I guess here goes.

This is my life-

No I don't eat here a lot, I work here. haha but I guess I do eat it a lot. I have eaten it every single day since I got a job there. It is just so delicious. COME SEE ME and get noodlies.

School- BUT, the semester is almost over!! YAY For those of you who don't know, I am a Journalism/Communication Major with an emphasis on Public Relations and a minor in Multimedia Development. Wow that's a mouthful.

 

Attending Fancy Parties. Just kidding. This is my attempt at a social life.

and last but not least.....

 

Daydreaming of a summer internship in NYC.

snowy

I have been neglecting my bloggy blog. I have been busy with the new blog I started for my sorority. You can see it here. I am quite proud of it. You should all check it out!

Okay okay, where to start...

So whenever we are sad or upset, we all react in different ways. We all have our "thing." Some people don't eat for weeks, some just sleep for days, or others completely disappear from the social scene. I was talking to one of my roommates the other day and she told me her "thing" was driving. She said that she had a really bad break up once so she got in her car and drove straight to L.A. by herself just to calm down. I thought that was the coolest thing ever, so today my friend and I decided to take a drive... forget about "wasting gas" and just go. Money comes and goes, but memories are forever. We drove up Logan canyon to Bear Lake and listened to our favorite album the entire way. It made me so incredibly happy. Never in my life would I ever have thought that I would appreciate snow and all of it's bitter cold glory.

tis the season.

Tis the season to.....

try new things!


Make home made cards (or if you're not as adventurous, try a card kit!)

Take a stab at making Thanksgiving dessert! this one looks fun and different.

Write someone a letter and mail it. Yes, a letter. As in snail mail.

Go Black Friday shopping if you never have. Everyone should experience it at least once.

Kiss someone under the mistletoe. (Yes, it's cheesy. But who doesn't want to do it?)

Volunteer at a homeless shelter (my family and I did it one Thanksgiving and it was actually extremely rewarding.) Click here to find one near you.

Plan your spring break vacation. It's never too early!

Ski a black diamond run.

Take hot chocolate and donuts to your neighbors and sing carols at the door.

Leave milk and cookies for Santa, even though you know the truth.



Happy Holidays!

love.

Today I fell in love. Sitting in a holiday filled Starbucks while the snow ever so graciously blanketed our little college town, I fell in love. Sipping Christmas in a cup, laughing and bonding.. I fell in love.

This love is difficult to explain to those who don't experience it, but beautiful to those who do. This love is strong, unbreakable and everlasting. This love is unique, precious and endearing.


Our love is many walks of life coming together to better understand and love each other.  Our love is creating room for mistakes and failure. Our love is encouraging one another to try harder the next time.

I fell in love with my sisterhood today. I don't know why it hit me today, maybe it was the feeling of complete comfort.. maybe it was the combination of holiday cheer and sisterly love. I think it was the feeling of being at home for the first time in a long time.

AOT

life as a road.

A year ago today I had just returned from my first visit to San Diego where I met one of the greatest families I will ever have the opportunity to meet. I thought my life was headed in a completely different direction than it is now. The idea of a new place was a haven, an escape.

Funny how things work out.


Tonight I spoke with an elementary school friend who said something intriguing, "How did we get here?"

Every experience, conversation, mistake made, heart broken, trial, friend lost or missed opportunity we have ever had in our lives have brought us to exactly where we are right now. The road of life is full of stop lights, crossroads, and road signs that are subtly guiding us to our destination. Someone or something, whether it be God or the universe, drew this place on a map for us. It is up to us to find the joy in it or choose to fight it.

This amazing place I am in now has become my haven. I feel so lucky to have found a place I am content with and set goals for myself that I am working toward, all in good time. No more rushing life.

weekend love.

An amazing weekend includes...


 long coffee dates


catching up with old friends


seeing family


discovering amazing new music


spending time with the greatest guy.

Birthday lovin!

I should be sleeping, but I'm not. #collegelife  (I really hate hash tags but I just love doing them to be funny). This week has been so crazy, the busiest yet of the semester.
Monday we had our formal meeting for Kappa Delta along with the elections of our new council. I am extremely pleased to announce that I have been elected to the position of VP of Public Relations! It may not sound like much to some of you, but I wanted it so badly! I spent hours prepping for my interview and speech. I am so honored that my sisters chose me, especially as a new member. Thank You!

The rest of the week so far has been homework, work, more homework, etc. I am really excited for Saturday, Dad's Day! All the KD dads are coming up to Logan for the football game and dinner. It should be pretty fun.. speaking of dads......



HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRUCE!!!!!!!!

 

this is the only picture I could find that was just of him..... haha

Dad- In honor of your birthday, 54 things I love about you.

I love.......

1. Your awkward face you make when you are being photographed

2. The fact that we like the same music

3. The fact that you call me "Nen."

4. How soft you get when your grandbabies are around

5. Your laid back attitude

6. Your University of Utah pajama pants

7. The fact that you dress like a tourist

8. Your driving speed

9. That you let me call you Bruce

10. That you still don't know how to type

11. when you call me asking questions about itunes

12. How you always know how to fix everything

13. Your middle name... haha- Joel.

14. Your patience with your crazy family

15. That you go along with all my shenanigans (or at least pretend to)

16. That you support all of your children

17. That you still try and speak Afrikaans

18. Your silver fox hair

19. Your awesome blue eyes (thanks for those :) )

20. That you make fun of people with me

21. That you work so hard every day for your family

22. That you always let me think I am right, even if I'm not

23. The way you say "brush a teevees"

24. That you still call all of us by our childhood nicknames 

25. On the home video where you say, "...and if you look closely, you can see a little train going by...."

26. That you're always fair

27. How you always turn the house into friggen Buchard gardens in the summer time

28. How much you give others

29.That you're always willing to take one for the team (even if it means letting me fart in the car so that my stomach doesn't hurt)

30. That you ran a marathon 

31. Your softball league

32. How much Drew loves you- and only you

33. How high tech you are becoming

34. The fact that you have facebook

35. How you never say anything bad about anyone

36. How supportive you are of PFLAG

37. How you have never once doubted my trust

38. the fact that you randomly know how to make homemade apple pie

39. How you have a cool smart phone that you never take anywhere with you

40. The fact that we are HeyTell friends

41. Your dedication to your parents

42. How obsessed you are with golf

43. How tender you are

44. The care-free and simple attitude you have about life

45. How one time you fell asleep on the toilet

46. How, when I am at home, I can always count on you to be sleeping on the couch with the TV on at about 4 am.

47. How you have bought the same pair of K-Swiss like 17 times

48. How you always seem to know about every subject I ask about

49. How you used to always say, "Yump in, Yiminees." I still don't quite understand it.

50. How much you love mom

51. How you always just know things will turn out okay

52. How little you expect from others

53. The fact that someday you'll be the one walking me down the aisle

54. You

Happy Birthday, Dad. I love you.

 

sisterhood.

White Rose Weekend is under way! I cannot even begin to describe how great it has been.
First, the new members went through second degree (part 2 of 3 of initiation). Following that, we all went upstairs and found our Bigs, and ate cheese cake under the table.. apparently long ago the active members used to make the new members eat under tables, so it's a tradition. It's more of just a fun time than anything else.

My Twin and my Big..

Last night was my favorite part!! Our entire pledge class (all 33 of us) went to Wal*mart and were forced to stay together the entire time. Everyone had to get their treats, pillow making crafts and random other things. We had to come up with a class name and "trophy" so we chose Young and Flirty, 3 and 30. Our trophy is a laundry basket full of random items that make up a "flirty" woman. I was pretty sly at walmart and snuck away to get a bunch of stuff for the basket, or else we would have been there for hours. I am pretty proud of myself for that one.

 Our pledge class.

We seriously had the greatest night ever bonding, crafting and getting to know each other more, some more than others. haha. We played "never have I ever," and well, let's just say we all learned A LOT about each other.

I cannot think of anywhere else I'd rather be at this point in my life. I absolutely love every single one of these girls. This is exactly what I was dreaming about 6 months ago and now I am having the time of my life. Who knew I'd find it in little Logan Utah?


I love you girls.. just a few short hours from now we will be actives!

Halloweenie

I hope everyone had a fantastic Halloween! Mine was pretty good. My favorite part about it was our Mystery Date for Kappa Delta. It was so much fun. I had a fun-filled Halloweekend, and now it's time to re-focus on school and finding a job :o
I hate job searching!

 

Volunteered at The Howl dance at my school! It was interesting to see all of the costumes people thought of.  I saw a white man dressed up as Nicki Minaj, a Rebecca Black, a few Katy Perry's, Some Lady Gaga's, a really cool Jack Skelington, and a countless number of Officer Dangle's.

 

Last but certainly not least. I dressed up as Brynn from Bridesmaids!

It's a Mexican drinking worm.. it's a native american symbol.. meaning "wasted."

Happy Novemba!

9/11 Memorial.

While in New York, I was lucky enough to go to the 9/11 memorial that opened last month.
It was so incredibly peaceful due to the limited amount of tickets sold everyday. It was amazing to be in such a quiet peaceful place right in the middle of the city. The memorial featured 2 huge fountains in the footprints of the twin towers.
The memorial is heavily secured. We were required to show our ticket to about 6 different people and then proceed through a security check just like those at airports. Many NYPD officers stood guard around the memorial as well... they're not messin' around.

At first, while looking at the fountains and reading the names of those lives lost that day I felt no feeling at all... Until I came across this...

It was after I saw these things.. that I started to realize, these aren't just names. These are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and friends who never came home that day. I know we have heard about this for ten years now, but when it's right in front of you it's real.

If you ever have the chance to visit the memorial, do. It's not only a beautiful memorial site, but it is important for us to remember.

Empire State of Mind.

Have you ever had one of those days or weekends where you feel incredibly replenished and ready to take on the world?
Well, Alicia Keyes and Jay-Z.. you are right. "When you're in New York... these streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you."

In the last 24 hours...

 

I <3 NY

one more time, with feeling.

 This past weekend was a little walk down memory lane, and I loved it. I visited the original "church" where my quickly made and life-long friend Betsy and I used to spend hours talking about the world, the future, and life on a deeper level than I ever had before. Saw some people who brought back emotions from the past.. and I thought to myself how strange life is. It seems to, at least for me, be separated into chunks of time and place. Dixie, home, dixie round 2, san diego, home again, and logan. Each place and time brought completely different experiences and emotions.  Thinking back on the past few years, I have realized that things are never as bad as you think they are, and you never know what kind of person the next place will mold you into.

It's strange how a single song, smell, person, or word can make you feel an emotion. Whether it's the joy I feel when I smell coffee on my back pack from being at a starbucks for hours on end doing homework, or the strange nostalgia I feel when I hear the song I listened to on repeat for days when I lost my first love.. There's something I have realized over time, and it's that feeling is beautiful. Whether you're extremely happy and content with life, or hating it with all your heart.. the important thing is that you're feeling something and experiencing the wonder of human emotion.

[Irresponsibly young, we let go.]

This week has been so much fun. We had Big/Little Reveal for Kappa Delta, it was lovely. In sororities and fraternities all new members get a "Big," I don't really know what its exactly for.. it's just a lot of fun.
Monday and Tuesday we got presents, treats, and clues about who our potential "Big" was. Tonight we had some more clues, and treats, and all the Bigs got a pair of matching shirts for them and their little. I fell in love with my Big the second I saw the shirt she made for me... because it wasn't a shirt, it was a cardigan!!! It could not have been more perfect for me.
After we all put on our new shirts, we ran up the stairs in the house where all the active members were, and found whoever was wearing the same shirt. I was so happy when I found out my big was Courtney Robinson! Yay! She was my number one choice and I am so pleased.
This all probably sounds dumb to a lot of you, but oh well.

Me and Courtney

So, my girl Shelby made a really cool thing that I want to copy (ha ha love you girl)... she made a "vision board" of things she wants to do, see, people she wants to meet, and things to achieve. You should check out her post about it. I will start working on it and give an update later...



The one thing I could use in life right now is a JOB. I am so poor it is sick.




On another note..... I miss this babies soooo bad lately. :(  They're getting so big!

 

love post.

I love today.
I love today.
I love today.



I know everyone and their dog is posting and talking about the rain and how much they love it, but I really do. It's so amazing. On that note, I really don't like when people complain about what other people post on facebook/blog/tweet about, especially when people love something i.e- the rain. Let people love the rain! Let them be positive and express it how they wish.
Okay I'll come down from my soap box now. 



I'm just chillin at Starbucks right now listening to foreign people converse in accents. It's really quite beautiful. I love pumpkin spice season! Ahhhh I know I posted about fall last time but I really do love it and it's starting to feel even more like fall with this crisp air and light rain. 

Since I am just in the lovey mood.....

other things I love...


 1. Crossfit- Even though I pretty much dread going every day, I am always so happy after. If any of you need a new workout unlike anything you've ever tried, I recommend it! It's so great.

maybe one day I will look like this if I do it long enough....

2. Coffee Shop Study Sessions- There's nothing that makes me happier than going to a coffee shop and doing homework in the chill environment. I seriously sound like such a hipster, bahhh I'm sorry I'm really not trying to be. 

 I'm cool........

 
3. My family- I seriously cannot wait to see Joshua in like 2 and a half weeks, and Jason and his family for Christmas! Yay! I am also very lucky to live about a block away from my brother Jordan. <3 loveyoubrothas and of course mom and dad. They do so much for me, I am so incredibly lucky to have such a great family and so much support.

4. My friends and sisters- They are pretty much my family away from home, and I love them so much. We are together 24/7 and have so much fun. It never gets old being with them. loveyou.

 

5. Pinterest- It's honestly kind of disgusting how much I am on it. I have already tried to limit myself because I can get on that thing and time flies.. But I'm sure most of you know about it. It's so great!

6. Radical Face's new album "Family Tree: The Roots"
It just came out yesterday, and I am obsessed. I just barely downloaded it today and I am so giddy about it. Today is the perfect day for it, too. Yay!

7. Being Involved- I am one of those people who loves being busy. I love having things to do and being a part of something other than myself. 

8. My Mickey and Minnie Grilled Cheese Maker- you guys don't EVEN know. It is glorious. Paige and I make sandwiches all the time with that sucker and it makes them so delicious and cooked to perfection. Plus, they are shaped like minnie and mickey!

 

9. Dropbox- a fantastic way to share files, and it is SO incredibly easy. If you don't have an account, I suggest you get one. If we have the same music taste, we can share music too! 

10. Greek Yogurt- FAGE is the greatest brand, but if you can't find it.. get Brown Cow. They taste pretty similar and are the two healthiest brands of greek yogurt...without all the sugar and crap. You have to sweeten them though with Truvia/Stevia, whatev. Anyway, it's delicious.