Happy Finals

A finals doesn't go by where I don't procrastinate something everything by blogging. So here I am keeping the tradition alive.(see here, here or here)

However instead of saying how stressful a time it is, or how sad finals make me I've decided to share the lovely, great, terribly happy thing that I've found and that have been happening.

-This song is probably my new favorite.

-However in exactly one week I get to go to this lovely concert:

I'm hoping to hear this new one, this old favorite, and oh my heart would melt if she performed this one.

-A lovely yellow Easter skirt.

-The Spring (and 1 year anniversary issue) of my favorite online publication, The Violet, just came out. Check it here. And marvel in the simple beauty of it.

-This week I got a lovely bike ride in, which always makes me smile

-One of my favorite bloggers is telling her life story. Which I have to admit has me enthralled. I love the idea of writing out your life for posterity. You can catch up here.

-Two words: Tax. Return.
      Ok one other word too: Miracle. It was more than expected, and it made my day. Month. Ok year.


-This print:

found here. I want a print to hang on this.

-4 bridal showers in 1 week. Tis the season for bliss.

-And finally this little article about growing up. Ah....her writing is divine.

Happy Finals!

10 Things I'm Terribly Thankful For: 8

8

Education

Let me preface this by saying that it's been an easy week school wise-so being thankful for it has been pretty easy this week.

I always wanted to go to BYU. People often ask me, given the fact that I am a Utah fan, why I go to BYU. I honestly have no answer to give them other than the fact that I always wanted to go here.

Always.

So I worked hard. I studied hard. I took the ACT multiple times, I got involved in extra curricular activities and then one magical day my Mom and Dad were leaving early for something but they came into my room with a paper my dad had printed from the BYU website-it had a list of application statuses:

BYU-I: Accepted

BYU-Provo: Accepted

There was such a relief in knowing that my hard work had paid off in the way I wanted it to. The official letter came about a week later.

-------------------------------------

A few weeks ago I was talking to a friend about BYU, and getting into BYU. We both mentioned how it was each of our first choices. And it hit me...

I got into my first choice. I go to college at my first choice.

I wondered how few people could say that. And instead of feeling cocky, or thinking this was all my own genius (ha) I felt extremely grateful. My father had given me what I'd pleaded for, what I'd desired.

I'm not one to say that BYU is better than anywhere else, I promise. Education is personal and unique for everyone. However, BYU is exactly where I needed to be. I'm gaining the education that I need, in a way that I need for a life that is being inspired by the things I'm learning here.

Today, that increase in knowledge, that opportunity that has been granted me, and the possibility of achieving my wildest dreams because of this opportunity is what I am terribly thankful for.

Summer 2011...

was nothing like I expected it to be.

From where I lived to who I spent my free time with it was not what I'd originally expected, but it was what I needed. My days were spent working, and my evenings spent reading, hanging out with my friends, trips to Moon Lake, St. George and Las Vegas, parade of homes with my family, shopping, baking, relaxing, going to the movies and enjoying the rainy nights.

Jessica's wedding

Stacie's cabin

Moon Lake

Trying my luck at the slots

Disco Skating

Taggerts

H&M lovelies

Salt Lake temple

Diet Coke and a good book

my favorite book dedication (from Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.) Other summer reads: the Hunger Game series, Jane Eyre, One Day, and 34 Charles street

The "UP" house

With Russell and Carl

Laughing with the sisters

It was a beautiful, quiet, peaceful, comfortable summer.

But I'm more than ready to start my senior year of college tomorrow. I love having my friends back, and seeing Provo all a buzz again. I'm excited to get involved, with school and my ward and my friends. I'm ready for a change in schedule, to work hard, and to play hard too.

It Better Win An Oscar or Two...

So, how do I reward myself after a 7 hour study session?

By watching a Golden Globe winning movie about college kids who invent this website that I may or may not check multiple times a day. It all starts in their little dorm room at desks much like mine at a university I surely couldn't have gotten into and somehow what they did there manages to affect me everyday. Oh, and they become billionaires.

Now I've watched this movie a few times now. I'm kinda a fan. Who isn't? Have you seen Andrew Garfield? (or heard him.. yep hot British accent) And after watching it for about the 3rd time tonight I realized something-

not once in the movie does it show any of them actually studying

Rowing crew? Sure. Drinking? Obviously. Dressing horribly and attending Jewish club parties? Luckily yes. Traveling to NY? Why not. Defending their animal cruelty? Definitely.

Studying? Nope.

Did I mention there at Harvard. Not studying....

So, here is my question-how can I become a billionaire without having to spend another day like today?

Heck, I'd settle for a million :)

If you find out let me know. Oh and if your answer is marry Andrew Garfield we better be best friends.

Until then though I gotta go-I still have some studying to do.