bits & pieces

i'm not a huge fan of leftovers, but give me a pan of mom's homemade enchiladas and i'll gladly eat them all week long.

once upon a time brissa told me about the ultimate grilled cheese at zupas. little did i know that i would become instantly addicted to the goodness of that sandwich. they aren't kidding when they call it the ultimate grilled cheese. if you haven't had one yet i highly recommend you go this week. be sure to call me when you do, i want one too.

once upon another time i was obsessed with lost. summer has arrived and along with the warm weather it brought back my obsession. jack is winning as my current summer crush.

sometimes i live the life of a kid. i get a day off work, i sleep in far later than i should, i lounge in shorts and a t-shirt all day long, i watch a whole lot of lost, and i eat a peanut butter sandwich.

when dad heads out of town we turn into a group of anti-cooking women. i convinced mom that eating at the cheesecake factory was necessary. that margherita flatbread pizza of theirs proved that it was indeed necessary. so did the trip to h&m where we ignored the fire alarm and found the perfect pink shirt for an upcoming wedding.

two weddings in one night. there were two gorgeous brides, pies instead of cake, pretty pictures and smiling faces, mini high school reunions, pineapple and eclairs, and a whole lot of love between two happy couples.

when i tell people i'm an ice cream addict i don't think they understand the reality of that statement. nielsen's one night, artic circle the next, leftovers the day after, and the day after. i swear i eat it every day of my life.

the past few days have been a bit gloomy here in utah but i handled it well by having soup and breadsticks for lunch.

planning ahead

september is going to be a good month. good as in i can't believe this is happening i am so excited i could scream and dance for days. it will be my first time visiting new york city and i am over the moon thrilled about it! traveling to nyc has been a dream of mine for quite some time and come september i'll be able to cross it off the bucket list. we have a girls trip planned and a few ideas already but if you have any must see places or best ever restaurants to tell me about it, now is the time. i like to plan ahead so let the new york advice begin. did i mention i was beyond excited about the trip?

hiking at night

night hikes are somehow way better than day hikes. maybe it's the spontaneity, the darkness, the city lights from up top, the scary stories, or the cool breeze. it could be the lack of other hikers, the conversation and company, the sense of mystery and adventure, or the thrill of hiking in the world's worst hiking shoes. call me a champ because i rocked that hike in those shoes. next time i plan on being a little more prepared, and you can bet there will be a next time.

uncomfortable growth

most people are not willing to be uncomfortable. being comfortable is their biggest priority in life. but highly successful people know that being comfortable is highly overrated. being comfortable may make you feel warm, fuzzy and secure but it doesn't allow you to grow. the only time you are actually growing is when you are uncomfortable.

the facebook status of the century right there. those words found on another's page sent me straight into a state of deep thought, life analyzing, and goal making. i realized that i live in too much comfort. i rob myself of progression by living in my own little world of comfortable habits and routines. it was then that i vowed to make a change. i want to be better, become stronger, and find success. i want to grow from uncomfortable situations.

some people call me social, but what they don't realize is that i struggle with it. too often i choose books, tv shows, movies, and baking over parties, hangouts, and even church activities. i withdraw myself rather than make the inevitably awkward introduction. i hide behind the written word without expressing things vocally. i live in my comfort zone. just last sunday, i took a step out of that comfort zone. it may have originally been forced but it was beneficial nonetheless. having my parents in the singles ward with me has been wonderful for many reasons, one of which is the constant companionship of my mother. i always have someone to go with, someone to sit by, and someone to make me feel comfortable. last week i was forced to go to class without her. i literally panicked for the first 10 minutes. it was not my finest moment. i found a seat in the back, pulled out my phone and prepared to distract myself until the lesson began. and then i spotted her. we're friends on facebook, instagram too, but she was one of those girls i admired from afar. she was nice and i knew she wouldn't care if i sat by her but i was too warm, fuzzy and secure with my phone in the back row. in a single second i had somehow forced myself from the chair and made the seemingly endless walk across the room. i asked if i could sit next to her to which she happily and kindly replied yes. it was uncomfortable at first but in the end it was entirely worth it. i made not one, but two new friends. i even ended up at a class i would have never chosen on my own. while i was proud of my decision then, i am even prouder now. looking back i realize that this is only the beginning of many steps out of my comfort zone and into the uncomfortable, wonderful world of opportunities and success.

my next step? it's into the world of meatheads and sweaty bodies. that's right folks, i am an official member of lifetime fitness. have i ever confessed by irrational fear of gyms? probably not because that would be an uncomfortable conversation and i like to live in my comfort zone. but things are changing around here and my comfort zone is getting smaller. wish me luck as i venture into the scary but growth-inducing world of fitness. and by growth i don't just mean i plan on becoming the next body builder of salt lake city, i mean that i plan to learn a lot about who i am and who i can become. here's to growing up and being uncomfortable.

born and raised

my ears has been hearing a whole lot of john mayer lately. i'm a fan of the new album.

jeans

proof that jeans do make an appearance in my life. it's rare, but it does happen.

bits & pieces

utah weather has been wonderful lately. i take advantage by eating lunch in the backyard. i also eat as much ice cream as possible, but i don't need warm weather to do that.

i finished mockingjay and started nienie's book immediately after. she is and always will be an inspiration in my life.

sometimes i eat breakfast for lunch. i can't make pancakes for the life of me, but waffles i can do. add strawberries and a little powdered sugar on top of the syrup and you'll have yourself a plate of waffle perfection.

sometimes i wear awesome t-shirts that i got way back in high school when i traveled for a medical assisting competition. they made us these special utah, honey of a state shirts so everyone else would know where we were from. my team may have lost the competition, but at least we walked way with a fun trip and free t-shirt.

when luke was in salt lake last week we took the mustang out for a spin. no cloudy day could keep us from riding around with the top off. we didn't drive far, but we did have the time of our lives.

it was just a little after 12am when i spotted a spider crawling across the floor. i about died. he was far too big to squish in a wad of toilet paper so i was left with no other option but to trap him in a water bottle. yes i'm a baby when it comes to spiders. let's hope my future husband can handle them.

mornings are best spent sitting on the deck with my puppy. i live for summer and sun.

we went to target to buy one suitcase for dad and left with a pair of shoes for the sister, some sandals for me, a swimsuit top, shorts, and a purse for mom. target wins.

first summer hike

i've read a book, had a bbq with friends, enjoyed a fire in the mountains, stayed out late and slept in. i've driven around with the windows down, spent plenty of days not getting ready, even baked a few times. i've spent time in the sun, eaten strawberries on the deck, had my first snow cone, played tennis and gone on walks. now i can say i have been on my first summer hike. most anticipated summer activity yet to come? boating. until then, i'll keep going on hikes.

sunday thoughts

is there anything easier than praying?

prepare for your prayers and when you say them, do so out loud.

prayer is a two-way conversation. be sure to listen. talk to heavenly father as one would talk to another face to face.

start each day with a prayer of gratitude.

prayer creates a feeling of love. love for god, for those you pray for, and for yourself.

when you are near heavenly father you will be inspired on what to pray for. not only are we prompted on what to pray about but also when to pray. there may be times when the lord has an answer for you and you will be prompted to pray.

just because it is a righteous desire doesn't always mean it is the right desire at the time.

god always answers prayers. sometimes no answer is the answer.

the power of prayer cannot be measured.

scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and lives.

to memorize a scripture is to form a new friendship.

setting goals is a step towards progression and perfection.

do not go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention.

coming down

happy birthday

happy birthday lindsay!
so glad we went to youth lagoon together. first concert of the year! so glad we're going to india together. the experience is going to be amazing and i am so happy we get to share it. so glad we go to cinco de mayo parties together. i will forever love our awkward corner dancing. so glad we traveled to vegas together. bon iver and call me maybe in the back of the cab were the highlights of my entire year. so glad we volunteered together at the color me rad race. we rock at throwing powder and being there earlier than necessary. so glad you're my friend linds. hope you have the happiest birthday!

tennis fanatic

i have always had a little interest in tennis but it was never anything i acted upon. i had bryndy teach me a few things once last summer but it never happened again. until now. the past three days have been full of crossing my fingers i hit the ball, chasing after missed ones, accidentally letting the racket fly clear out of my hands, laughing at my complete lack of skills, and pretending that i am indeed the greatest tennis player in all of salt lake. practice makes perfect right?

eat, pink and be married

planning a bridal shower with the help of another makes for a much easier planning process. two minds are truly greater than one. so are two wallets. the shower was a definite success. we had pink everywhere and on everyone. we served pasta for the spaghetti loving bride. we had wonderful friends offer to bring salads, fruit, and drinks. we stalked up on pink candy for the shower favor. but most of all, we had time to be together as gamma girls and dote on the bride-to-be.