And the celebrating continues...

It's not something many people are proud of in Provo. When people hear you're from Utah there is a tendency to roll their eyes and place all of their preconceived assumptions about  those Utah girls right onto your shoulders as well.(Let the record state that I have never once embraced "Utah hair" and I don't want 10 kids.)However, be it perceived as popular or not it does not change the fact that I am a Utah girl, and proud of where I came from. I was born and raised in the shadows of the Wasatch. I was nurtured in the desert, and grew beautiful not in spite of but because of the devastating winters and sweltering summers.
I'm well traveled, well read, and well aware that the world extends outside of my beautiful valley, and yet as much as I love and long for the travel a large piece of my heart always remains here; tucked in a canyon.
So, it's been with great anticipation that I've looked forward to March 22, 2012. It was the day my city would surpass it's potential again. The day everyone would be able to see how truly beautiful this place really is.
And Nordstrom, Tiffany's, BCBGMAXAZARIA, Michael Kors, Coach and Swarovski would be the evidence.

Without further ado I end the cheesy poetics and present:

The Greatest Day: City Creek Opens

a love affair between a Utah girl and things of beauty

I had warned my father for months that I wanted to be there for the ribbon cutting, to see the doors open wide and the world let in. However he must have thought I was joking (not sure why he thought I would joke about such a thing) because when the time came he was all eye-rolls and worry about missing school.

School will be there everyday. Today is a shopping day, said I.

The day started at 6:00am for me. I was in Sandy by 7:45 and Mom, Megan and I were on Trax by 8:20. By 9:15 we were standing inside City Creek. It kind of took my breath away.

Due to my great researching skills (and itinerary I'd made) we were able to check in on Foursquare, complete a few things on the to-do list and be waiting in line for our free grab bags by 9:30 (with diet cokes in hand)

When shopping all day Diet Coke is necessary, even if you're "off" Diet coke.

Due to our preparation at 10:00am we were 3 of the lucky 100 to steal these cute goodie bags. Inside: a bracelet, coupons, stationary, lip gloss, key chains, cosmetic bags and.... a $50 City Creek Gift card.

From there were were off to shop!  Back and forth we went between shops, dressing rooms and sales counters. I managed to find a cute $20 dress within the first hour, however technically it was free.

If you use a gift card-whatever you purchase on it can be considered "free".

The highlight for me was definitely Tiffany's. I feel fast and hard for this delicate bow ring and the man who slipped it on my finger. It was a thing of real beauty.

Although I have to admit, the thing in it's entirety is the real beauty. A small creek, a huge outdoor fireplace, live music, big windows, a gorgeous fountain, a retractable roof. The whole thing radiates class.

When you shop somewhere classy, you by default are classy.

The real highlight of the day was not the sales, the gift cards, watching mom fall hard and fast for Lush, the fountain, or even the kind conversation with the man on TRAX.

Nope it was spending the day with these lovely ladies.

Who you're shopping with defines your day-choose wisely.

I joked with my mother that when I'm here buying my granddaughter pearl earrings for her wedding someday I'll be able to turn to her and say "I was here the day this place opened, and (insert a big number) years later it's still the most classy place in Utah" And I'll think back to this day and the fun I had with my sisters and mom. It'll be one of the best memories.

By the end of the day we were weighed down with bags, proud of our finds and completely exhausted. However it was worth it, totally worth it.

If a shopping day leaves you exhausted, you did it right. Treat yourself to more diet coke.

Repeat.

I Am Thankful...

Today I embark on a quick trip to Ireland. Despite tomorrow being just a normal day here in Great Britain, it is a very important one in America, and despite how far I travel I will always be an American, and we will have school off to celebrate!

It's a tender time here at 27 Palace Court. Emotions are running high. Some girls are counting down the seconds until they come home. Others are stressing out of their minds about school work and finals. Some, are stressing about all the things they still want to see or do here before we leave.

As for me, I'm enjoying the ride. Excited to be here, excited to go home. I'm happy.

More than that though-I am thankful. And although I won't be home for Thanksgiving, the first time our family won't be together for thanksgiving, I will be celebrating my gratitude for all the blessings I have. So, here is what I'll be thankful for as I eat my Hard Rock Cafe Thanksgiving dinner in Dublin:

My great family

The gospel

Christmastime spirit of giving

Good friends

(Hyde Park Winter Wonderland-so much fun!)

Good music

London

Digital cameras

The opportunity I have to explore this world

(Jersey Boys last night. I love good music like this, and I love getting out in this city at night)

Medical advancements, and my good health

E-mail

The opportunity I have to receive education

Diet Coke

(The John Snow pump-John Snow is the father of Epidemiology and without him I would not be studying Public Health)

European chocolate

Laughter

My professors here

All the amazing opportunities I've had the past year

(One cool opportunity-visiting a Mosque last Monday. Yea, we were not too happy about having to cover our hair. Seriously, this would not work for me.)

And home where I will be for Christmas

But for now...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Londontown

I love a city-



Where every bike has a basket,

Every school child a uniform,

And every building a story.



I love a city-



Where every day invites adventure,

Every step discovery,

And every shop window possiblity.



I love a city-



Where every clock chimes the hour,

Every falling leaf the season,

And every shadow the moment.



I love a city-



Where every day brings the rain,

Every resident an oyster,

And every woman a dog.



I love a city-



Where every person obtains a place,

Every language a speaker

And every God a worshiper.



I love a city-



Where every difference number the pebbles on the beach,

Every book the cracks on the pavement,

And every peaceful afternoon the pigions in the park.



Afterall,



I love a city-

Where every bike has a basket.

London Rain

It finally rained yesterday! I've been waiting for the London rain for quite awhile and yesterday it finally came. And it was beautiful. I've alwasy loved rain, and I'm pretty confident that I won't get sick of it. It's just too beautiful here.

(Jessica and I loved wearing our rain coats!)

So, besides rain yesterday was full of classes. Religion first where I found a new perspective to the apostacy. Instead of it being a time of nothing, it was a time of preserving many of the key things of Christianity. Had that not been the case Joseph wouldn't have been reading the Bible, he would not have known had to pray, or how to get answers. Instead of Joseph starting with a glass half empty, like so often it's portrayed, he started with a glass half full. Beautiful huh?

Then there was Jane Austen where I learned more about this intersting woman. I once pictured a beautiful, witty woman who was socially active and high in society. I'm beginging to think that only one of those is correct-the witty part. And at that time I'm not sure people even thought that of her. We were talking about how she was so politically aware, and ahead of her time, and how her vast knowledge allowed her to be so funny-I'm pretty sure she was the first Liz Lemon.

Then humanities. Can I tell you how great it is to study artwork from Duer, and Brugell and then go the next day to the gallery and see their work? It really brings it to life for me in a way I've never experience before. It makes humanities possible for me... pretty sure if I was in Provo this would not be the case :)

Then I had the pleasure of having a great Skype date where I got to talk to my favorite people. Thanks for waking up at 7:00 on your holiday family. It was good to see you.

The rest of the day was spent in true rainy day fashion-homework and adventure. I read for Great War in the bay window in the library as I watched the sky darken. And after a delicious dinner a few of us set out to explore. The drivers of the tube are currently on strike so we took to the busses! (I feel like strikes are suppose to be spontanous, to show what happens when you're all of a sudden not there... these guys have been planning it for days, and all it's shown is just how many busses London has, and how many people have bike)

We found a beautiful little church right by our home, and even little Israel... or somethink like that. All we know is that we went left when we should have gone right and all of a sudden the 8 of us are standing on the pavement looking at all the shop signs, and they're in arebic. Oh and the people eating at the tabels outside were all smoking hukas. We tried to get some ice cream, and when we decided we didn't want some we thought the workers were going to lock us in until we relented and bought some. We hopped on the next bus we saw, and after some mapping, and getting drenched we made it home-grateful for English, and normal smells.

I'm trying to upload at least one photo for this post but the internet here is really slow. I'll try to get some up on facebook or something soon!

PS-I just have to take a second and say how grateful I am for my friends here. I feel so lucky to be living with all these great girls! And the 2 boys. ha ha ha