RE: California

California was everything, and more, that I dreamed it would be to me this time around. I got to spend time with lovely people who I adore, dig my toes into the sand at the beach, and be a part of a wedding for two people that I love. (more to come on that soon)

But for now here are a few photos, and little letters of love and thanks. 

Dear Melinda,
Thanks for letting us stay in your home this past week. I felt so welcome and loved by you and your family and it really meant so much to me. Thanks for taking us to the beach, for the countless tacos and other meals, diet cokes, introducing me to styrofoam bagel me cups, the cookies, picking us up at the mall, all the laughter,  the pedicure and sharing Jenna with us during these days leading up to the wedding. It meant so much to be able to share in this exciting time with you guys, and I can not thank you enough.


PS Also thank you for the invitation to move in. You know I'd love to, but I should probably finish school first. Until then can we settle for frequent weekend visits?

Dear Greg,
Thanks for letting us laugh at your e-mail draft, and for putting up with the scent of nail polish and sound of chick flicks in your home. You handle being out numbered like a champ. You were so welcoming, and could always make me laugh(even if there was a hurricane brewing). Being able to spend the week in your home was so wonderful, and I can't tell you thanks enough.

Dear Carly,
Thank you for making me laugh! Sorry we didn't get to watch Revenge of the Bridesmaids, that I teased you so much about your maid of honor duties,  and for waking you up Jenna style (your mom insisted). I hope you know that I loved being able to hang out with you this last week! Thanks for being my California navigator, and for the flower arranging tips. You are the greatest and I miss you already!

Dear beach,

I ache for you already.

Dear Brad and Brittney,
Hanging out with you at the reception was a highlight of the trip! It was so good to see you. Thanks for coming, and for being the best groomsmen ever. I can't wait to have you both back in Provo soon!

Dear Toll Road Ticketers,
Please, please, please have mercy on this Utah girl and don't give me a ticket.

PS-$6.50?! Seriously?!

Dear Grace and Jean,
You are such good friends to make the drive and come to the reception. I loved seeing you guys and catching up! I hope you enjoyed San Francisco!

Dear Natalie,
You are the best driver for stuck in traffic situations, as well as the most patient one for when your passenger has to use the bathroom. You are also a great navigator, DJ, partner in crime, beach buddy, roommate, shopping companion, and friend. I'm glad we got to go on this little adventure together!

Dear Jenna,
Thanks for letting us hang out, and inviting me to be a part of your big day. It meant so much to be able to spend some time with you before the wedding. The talks on the beach, watching you pack for Hawaii, and time spent just hanging out were absolutely wonderful. You handled everything this week with such grace, and you really were the most beautiful bride I've ever seen. I love you and could not be more happy for you and Mike.

One Year Ago...

"though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." - ralph waldo emerson

One year ago today I said goodbye to my home, my parents, sisters, half my closet, my comfort zone and my fears and embraced the most beautiful of all things-my dreams.

I remember being a mix of scared and excited as I got ready the night before. Excited to go where I'd only ever dreamed of, excited to call the greatest city in the world home; sad to leave the friends and family, scared to truly on my own.

But, through this experience I learned more than I can ever express, even with the most beautiful of words. When I think how much my life has changed in this past year, I realize how much of it I owe to London. My friends. My increased love of literature, arts, and culture. My strengthened confidence. My wonderful roommates. My improved testimony and relationship with my Savior.

I am who I am today because I had that experience of London.

So, although this year will be spent in Provo, going about a regular, ordinary every day life it will be extraordinary, because I've lived dreams, learned more about myself, and given a large piece of my heard to that other home of mine.

And so London lives on here, even in Provo.

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"Landed in London at 8:30 this morning. First thought-disbelief that I'm here. Then-wow it is very beautiful here! I'm in love with this city and I've only been here 8 hours! I can't believe I'm living here." -Aug. 31 2010

"Sister Seeley says that when you go home you should ask yourself 'How has this journey changed me?' I'm not sure I'll fully understand that until I get home and back into real life... This journey has brought many new people into my life-friends that have changed and influenced me for the better and have taught me so much. These people will always have a place in my heart and I feel honored to have them in my life... I hope that I can always remember the things I've felt and learned while in London and use them to better myself now and throughout my life."-December 15 2010

June 4th...finally

Spending 24 hours with someone for 100 days straight you get to know them pretty well. Such is the case with Jessica and I. I can tell you her favorite baseball team, the longest she'll go without washing her hair, what she'd pick up at Tesco (obviously dr. pepper and bueno.. sometimes some jelly snakes), parts of her life story, and much about her family. However, it took me 100 days, all day every day to get to this point. It took me only seconds upon meeting her to know that she was engaged, and madly in love with her best friend.

Over those 100 days we had amazing once in a life time experiences, I thought she was happy that night we walked through the fountain at the Louvre, or went to a football match. Or when we sprung for Jersey Boys tickets, and saw St. Pauls. However it wasn't until January, when I saw her for the first time since returning that I saw Jessica completely and totally happy. It was a new level of happiness, one I just couldn't have even imagined.

What was so different that night?

She had her Parker there.

And yesterday, after being in love for quite awhile, they were finally married in the Salt Lake Temple.

And words can't describe how happy they looked all day yesterday. Her and Parker were seriously glowing a little!

I loved being able to just watch them, and their loved ones, celebrate their marriage, and the beginning of their new and forever life together.

Jess asked me to be at the temple when they came out, as husband and wife, and I wouldn't have missed that for anything. Seeing one of my best friends that happy and excited made me so happy for her. After all the time apart, here they were, never to be parted again.

It was the most beautiful day.

That night they had a dinner for close friends and family. Of course I totally messed up and my battery wasn't in my camera but I grabbed a few shots on my phone. The dinner was gorgeously decorated(the candles hanging above the head table were my favorite), the food was delicious(loved the cake)and there was so much laughter and happiness everywhere! It was fun to hear their dads tell them how much they loved them, see them dance to "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" and watch them stuff cake in each other's faces.

During those 100 days in London I heard about all the wedding details, saw photos of the dress, blog stalked the photographer, and watched countless videographers looking for the right one...but always the talk turned back to being about Parker. I felt like I knew him before I even met him-I've never heard a girl gush so much about her fiance. Probably because I've never seen a couple so in love.

So, Parker and Jessica (who better not be reading this for quite awhile) thanks for letting me be apart of your day. Seeing you two so in love is inspiring, and it makes everyone around you so happy. I'm glad June 4 finally came, and excited to see the life you two build together. Because, you're truly amazing together, and will do such amazing things. I love you guys.

Of course the one picture I got on my phone of Jess and I was blurry... Isn't she beautiful though!

This shot is for you Jess-the chairs...

(I think you're worrying was worthwhile-everything was perfect)

April Showers...

Bring London friends! If you read my blog at all in while I was in London it would be easy to see that I became super close to my friend Jessica over there. We are both sarcastic. We both believe showering is overrated when you're staying in gross hostels. We both fell in love with British chocolate and enjoyed eating it at midnight. We both have grandmas and friends with the same names. We both laugh at really inappropriate times(remember when you hit your head in st. pauls?). We both really love camping chairs.

Obviously, we got along great.

Last Friday I was able to throw a bridal shower for her, before lots of our London friends head away for the summer! It was so great to see everyone and I was so glad so many of these girls I love so much could come.

(Disclaimer: My camera was being horribly lame... it broke so the screen is now completely black so when you take a picture you have no idea what your taking a picture of. It takes me back to the good ole' days of film.. but at least then you had a little lens thing to look through...Despite my camera problems I was able to get a few good ones)

The night was full of food, fun

Games... Presents... Catching up...

a very educational Q&A....

(love the different facial expressions of Lauren, Jenna and Molly)

excitement, screams of joy, and all things girly...

It was a great night and I'm so glad so many were able to come and celebrate with Jessica before her big day!

Now here is a little letter:

Jessica,

I'm really glad we could have a shower for you. I hope you liked it more than shower-ing. Because we all know how you feel about that. (jk)

I'm so happy for you are Parker! I love seeing you two together and how happy you each make each other. You will be a beautiful bride. The chairs will be perfect. The pictures and video will be amazing. From here it will only get better and better because finally... your wedding is close!! And I couldn't be happier for you.

Love always,

Nicole

For better pictures, and cuter write ups check out the blogs of my dear friends: Amanda, Grace, Sarah, and the bride herself, Jessica. (love ya girls)

Cuz We Make The Hipsters Fall in Love

A bunch of London girls with our best hipster impressions

when we got our hotpants on and up...

Yea, I'm not really sure about that? But after Friday night I'm pretty sure I know about hipsters. Last week I got a fb invitation to my friend Sarah's hipster birthday party. Well, I decided that I need to do some research before I could go to the DI and put together an outfit I would otherwise never be caught dead in:

Exhibit A:

So, I checked out this youtube video. And this blog.

Then set out for the DI. After getting all "hipster" we of course took some "hipster" pics. You know the kind I'm talking about... the casual i-know-your-taking-a-picture-of-me-but-I-don't-conform-to smiling.

yea. just one of the many reasons I couldn't be hipster in real life.

It was great fun getting all hipster, and the party was a blast. Whenever I get to mingle with my London friends it's always a good time. And the whole theme of the party reminded me why I actually do enjoy going to school at BYU. Who else has these kind of parties?

With the birthday girl. Happy 21st Sarah!

One downer... camera is basically dead. And turns out the charger is legit broken, not just won't work in UK broken. American broken. Dang. So sorry for the lack of smiling pictures, I promise there are a few on one of my friends cameras!

On the upside... gotta love the glasses.