If were being honest...

Heres the thing, I have not written for about a month and I am quite disappointed in myself. I guess my mind has been elsewhere.

I honestly can not believe that I am leaving for Provo in like a week. WHERE did the time go, someone please tell me. If were being honest it really, really scares me how fast life passes by us. Am I seriously going to be a sophomore at BYU?!? Apparently I am and I am SOOO excited. Way too excited for my own good, actually. Sure will miss all the family time I've been blessed with this summer though. If were being honest again, I've been blessed with a whole lot more than just family time this summer and it truly amazes me to see Heavenly Father's hand in my life every day. Often I have what I like to call "moments" (Kailey and Anna know what Im talkin about) where I sort of just sit and stare and zone out in awe at life and its many wonders, and then Im overwhelmed because I realize Im blessed with so many answers.

I love sundayssss!!

Well, life is sort of just life right now. Work is taking up 40 hours out of every week which is good because I think I would be bored with out it. The other day I decided to by myself  a macbook. WHAAA!? and I haven't gotten off of it since because I am just so fascinated. I hope the infatuation fades quickly though. I unfortunately have not done anything productive besides pinterest (which can sort of sometimes be productive because I get ideas) since I bought the dang thing. humph. I did make some good soup the other day though..mmmmm corn chowder. :)

My reasoning behind loving sundays:  I get to go to church and be inspired and enlightened and then I get to come home and write letters and maybe take a nap if I'm lucky or read or cook or do all of these things.


:)

worth the rain

Seattle is seriously SO beautiful when it is sunny! Completely worth the gloom and rain that we receive about 10 months out of the year...The wonderful Gammon family was here this weekend and they always make me realize how blessed I am to live in such a beautiful place because they appreciate it so much when they visit. P.S. Thanks for introducing me to utahbrigeblog.com, it is seriously about to be my new obsession. LOVE YOU!

summa summa summa time..sort of

My goodness it has been too long since I have blogged! I guess things these days are a little scattered and I am not finding all the time I want to pursue the things I am interested in. I know I have the time though, I just need to manage it better :)

I am working full time at Gene Juarez so I am staying very busy. I do hot yoga two times a week and Madison and I are trying to run as much as we can! Gotta stay hot and healthy right ;) I can not believe that it is already almost July! Way too weird how fast life flies by... Maybe it would feel a little bit more like summer if we saw the sun every once in awhile...thanks Seattle!! There is one plus side to no sun though, it doesn't make me feel so bad about working every day :) but ultimately i am ready for shorts, tanks, bathing suits, ice cream, lemonade, boating, laying out, swimming, etc etc!

Our house is almost completely FINISHED! The carpet get installed on tuesday and then we can take everything in from off the porch! This makes me veryyy happy. On Friday the Gammons will be here and they stay for a couple days before their Alaskan cruise! AND Chlo comes on the 9th! July is just going to be way too much fun!

I MISSSSS all my provo lovers so so so badly. like soooo badly.

peace and blessings until i blog again <3

Remember Casey Bridges

After receiving news of Casey's passing, my world turned upside down. I really couldn't believe what my mom had told me. I couldn't believe it and I didn't want to believe it. He just couldn't be gone...

Casey lived such a beautiful and full life and touched every single person he knew. He was always laughing, dancing, beat boxing or ripping one. But no matter what he was doing, he was making other people laugh. I always looked up to him in the way that he could make friends instantly, almost just by smiling at someone. I remember one summer after we had gone to Youth Conference here in Seattle, he decided to throw a going away BBQ and invite everyone he had met. I sort of chuckled and wondered how many people would actually show up, but sure enough about 25 people were at our house. He had a contagious personality and his laughter pulled people in. We had so many beautiful memories and I will never forget the wonderful times we had together in Seattle when he would come and visit during the summer time. There really wasn't anyone like Casey on this earth, he had such a choice spirit and a loving heart. He loved life and everything about it. I would give anything to talk to and hug Casey one last time and tell him just how much I love him.

It is a tremendous comfort to know that after this brief existence here on earth, we will be with Casey again, and he will still be the same hilarious and loving Casey we all know and admire. I am so grateful for the knowledge that we have of the Gospel and of Heavenly Fathers plan. I know that Casey will be watching over us through thick and thin. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Bridges as they embrace this difficult time as a family. I really cant express my thankfulness for the opportunity to go to Alaska and be with the Bridges. Although Casey will not be there when we arrive, he will be there in spirit to watch over us, and will forever be in our thoughts and memories.

I love you forever and always, Casey Bridges.

for kindness truly lasts forever

Today in Sacrament meeting a man in my ward gave a talk about being kind to one another and the importance of being open, loving and  non judgmental to every person that you encounter. He got me thinking about the impact that kind words and deeds have on each and every one of us. The perfect example of kindness truly does come from our Savior. If only we could all strive to be as gentle and kind as him, the world would be a better place. I don't know about the rest of you but I have seen that in my life it is the small and simple acts of kindness and words that make the greatest impact and that I cherish forever. I <3 kind people and I <3 being kind! And I also love sundays :)

im obsessed. im obsessed and i dont care who knows it!

As of late, my days are filled with Gene Juarez, my wonderful parents, my computer, my thoughts, my book, and of course my food. So, I have plenty of time to drool over my latest obsessions: words, weddings, crafts and food.

After work I come home and stalk peoples blogs, try to document crafty ideas, and go on Facebook (ugh) or read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. While reading this book, it has shocked me how little I actually know about words. I am becoming more and more fascinated by the hundreds of plain and simple words that I have neglected to acknowledge my 19 years of existence. To make up for my naivety I have decided to try and memorize new words every day. I bought a moleskin journal to write down all of the words that I don't understand. It is sort of fun to look up the definitions at night and try and memorize the words for that day. Keeps my brain on top of things. 

Besides my fixation with words, my usual obsession with weddings has lived on. Not much more to say about that. I know it may be a little premature, but just let a girl dream :) While stalking wedding blogs I have become a lover of all things ivory. I am going to have to say it is my new favorite color. So elegant and beautiful. 

LOVE this dress.

The kitchen/floor was finished today! Which means I can resume my cooking/crafting obsession in my downstairs with ample room. I am SO excited! My next project is going to be my duvet cover!!! Yipee!

P.S. Pinterest is quickly becoming yet another obsession of mine. 

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! slash I love Kailey

The house is coming closer to consummation...Oh what a wonderful feeling that is! Crafts and cooking are on their way! My papa works until he is sore regardless of his 10 hour day at work. I admire him for that and always have. He is such a wonderful example of hard work. Lets all strive to be a little bit more like him!

Kailey Janyne Trussel came home this weekend for a wedding and I was fortunate enough to spend a night with her which consisted of watching the Justin Bieber movie and baking pizookie. Two of my favorite things! I have Bieber fever and I am proud of it! More importantly, I really didn't realize how much I missed Kailey! She is so inspiring, wonderful, amazing, beautiful, funny, kind and...tan. (LOL) Its weird going from living with someone for a year and seeing them every day to not seeing them at all for a month. Come home already, Kailey Janyne. I need you in my life!!! But, seriously...

 Pizookie!!

 The third member of our family whom we have adopted. His name is Perry.

Rock on Kai Truss

lets get craftyyyyy

After rearranging my tiny little room at home and being around Anna Mari 24/7, I was inspired. CRAFTS! I want to make all sorts of things this summer and my first project is going to be making a duvet cover! I fell in love with a beautiful cream colored duvet from Anthropologie that was a little out of my price range...so I forced myself to fall out of love with it. Until one night I just happened to be stumbling, and I came across some ladies blog who had fallen in love with the same duvet and had also had the same budget problem as I and decided to make the duvet cover herself. Pure genius. AND she left instructions just for me ;) Thank goodness for the domestic goddesses in this world. One being, Princess Anna Gee herself. <3 Here is too a craft filled summer!

SURPRISE!

Thursday was my 19th birthday. Hard to believe, I know. But it was so incredible! I don't feel too much older, in fact I feel like a 12 year old. Probably because in reality I am still very young. Anyhow, I really got everything I could have wished for...ever. Rachel Farnsworth and Marcie Prince, being the insane women they are, road tripped from Provo, Utah and surprised me Thursday morning! What kind of friends would do that? Oh yeah, the best kind of friends :) Naturally, I spent part of the day with them and Anna Gee and we shopped and walked through the Bellevue farmers market. My family and I hung out that night and had Thai for dinner (one of my faves). To end the evening, the movie Something Borrowed was watched with the company of amazing friends. Everything was perfect on May 12th and to top it all off, the weather was beautiful. A rare occasion on a May day in Seattle, Washington. I am so blessed and forever grateful for the wonderful family and friends that I am so fortunate to have. Thank you to all who made it a special and unforgettable day :)

lovin my kirkland ladies

I love Kirkland and everything about it. <3 All of you grown ups at college need to come back home pronto!

its all about the music

Music really is such a wonderful thing. Always seems to make everything better, doesnt it? This past year at school I saw Sufjan Stevens, Arcade Fire, and the Fleet Foxes. All three shows were superb. Although I must say the Fleet Foxes hold a special place in my heart and therefore were my favorite. Honestly ineffable beauty coming from that stage at the Moore Theater in Seattle. BUT Sufjan and Arcade were unreal as well. Their sets were amazing and their talent was pretty excellent. Below are some peectures of the wonderful shows :)

 DA CREW at Sufjan Stevens :) [Trenton, Me, Anna, Spencer]

 Sufjan's beautiful set

 DA CREW 2 at Arcade Fire

 Spence, Trenton and I with the lead singer of Local Natives! They opened for Arcade Fire and were SO amazing (P.S. I have never aaactually been drenched in someone else's sweat until this concert...really gross but so worth it.)

Beautiful Robin Pecknold of the Fleet Foxes with a little solo action

My Princess Anna Mari Gee and I, patiently waiting for the Fleet Foxes :)

My Beautiful Mother

EEK! Second post in one day, I am off to a great start :)

I had to mention my wonderful mother because of course it is Mother's Day! What would I do without this woman? It was a struggle being away from her while at school, but I think we both grew from it. Thank you for all that you do for me, and for all of the people in your life. You never cease to amaze me :) I love you forever and always!



P.S. Although I am not an avid reader, I would really like to be. Hence, the bookshelf background :) I am hoping it inspires me...

as time flies by...

Well this whole blogging thing is sort of new to me, but I thought I might try it since the whole "write in your journal every night" thing isn't exactly going as planned. And besides, the computer and I have a special bond that might get to me write more often than my journal does....
It is so bizarre that I am already finished with my freshman year at BYU!!!! Honestly, where did the time go?   I really could not tell you. This year has been so magnificent and wonderful and awesome and memorable and spiritual and I could not have picked a more perfect school or found more astounding people to fill my life with. I wish that I had started blogging earlier so that I could have written about all of the amazing experiences I had down at school with these lovely people, but that is what next year is for :)
Being back home in Kirkland, Washington is an interesting feeling. I cant even express how much I missed the lush, green trees that surround our city, the beautiful lake that we are so lucky to live by, the fact that Seattle is just across the bridge, waking up to the sound of rain falling on our roof, the moisture in the air, home cooked meals, shopping trips with mom, and i really could go on forever but I will spare all of you. As much as I love being here with my family and friends, I miss the girls that I became so close with at school! Shout out to mah homies back in P-townnnn (hot like mexico, rejoice) All of these girls really are special individuals and I have learned so much from them and can not wait to be reunited with them!
This summer I have a lot of plans for myself and I can not wait to dive into some of them! Right now, my kitchen and downstairs is being redone but once we finish that whole ordeal I am going to be a chef and learn how to cook delicious meals :) and I want to ride my bike daily and do lots of crafts, and sing a lot and learn to play the piano and soak up the sun and make sure I am exercising and keep a mini moleskin journal of words that I do not know so that I can expand my vocabulary. I really need to expand my vocabulary. Being at Brigham Young University has instilled in me a yearning to take in all of the knowledge that I can while on this earth. I also plan on working full time this summer to save up for school next year. Since when do I have to be an adult and work full time? AH!

Peace and blessings