Cali Lovin'

I have been going through Utah withdrawals. Already. I have not even left yet, but the thought of leaving makes me sad. So, I went to San Diego to get away and have time to not have to think about anything. Sunshine is my favorite accessory, and I am pretty sure that heaven is an endless beach with lots of chocolate. So many beach days. From Mission Beach to Ocean Beach to Pacific Beach. I love them all. I could spend all day there and just forget about eating and sleeping and everything. Also, we swam so much! After the beach we just had to go swimming to get all of the sand off. There was no other way. One day we went to Seaport Village. There are lots of little stores, statues, and and a carousel! We of course went and saw all of the above, and there was a hat store. Add that to the list of what heaven has. One day we went to Sunset Cliffs to hunt for crabs. It was fun to climb around on the cliffs even though Ami told me we were going later that night so I was wearing a dress. Another night we watched the sunset on the beach. So many colors. So peaceful and absolutely beautiful. The last day I was there we were swimming and the cutest boy was swimming too. All we said to each other the entire time was hi, but boy oh boy was he attractive. Perfect tan, perfect teeth, and blue eyes. We probably didn't say anything else to each other because he scared me to death when he dove in right after I did and came up right in front of me at the same time I did. Bummer. So, back to my love for the beach. I am a beach bum. I didn't choose the beach life. The beach life chose me. I love the soft warm sand (even when I have to walk in it carrying a sleeping almost 2 year old and thought my legs were going to fall off), the beach curl the salty air gives my hair, the blue water against the light brown shore, the sound of the waves, the seashells, the sound of kids playing, the colorful umbrellas lining the beach, and the surfers. Oh my! One more thing to add to the heaven list. So tan. So attractive. Someone please get one of them to teach me!!! I learned how to boogie board. That's one step closer to surfing, right?! It was so fun. I have been doing it wrong all these years. I think one of my favorite things at the beach was when I was going out to the deeper waters to boogie board and I would turn my back before a big wave hit me. As it crashed against my back if I opened my eyes there was a rainbow right there seemingly just for me. There was just so much beauty in one place! My drive back was a long one. There was an insane amount of traffic. But although there was a lot of traffic, I did finally get to see the Las Vegas strip! I do not think my eyes could get any bigger. I just wanted to see and experience it all. So many things to see and do! So much shopping, so many people, so many amazing buildings, and Hershey and M&M World?! Also, Treasure Island... Love. I have wanted to see it since Miss Congeniality 2. Mission accomplished. Although I miss sunny San Diego, seeing the Y on the mountain in stormy Provo was a welcome sight. Now I just have to wait a week and a half for my family to be here! Graduation is well on its way. Also, my mom and dad said I could get a puppy, and I get to redecorate my room when I get home. I am just so excited!!

Sun's Out Fun's Out

Sometimes you end your day in the best of ways. You get to go eat s'more after s'more in all kinds of varieties. Rolos, Reese's, cookies in cream Hershey's, original Hershey's, Hershey's with almonds, colored marshmallows or plain, cinnamon, chocolate, or honey graham crackers. Seriously. Why not try them all and maybe a roasted Starburst or two? Going along with all of that spend time with a friend the whole time, play with a baby, and pet a Siberian Husky. Maybe even flirt with a couple guys a little. Leave smiling and on a sugar high with the top of the car down and just laugh when a guy hangs out of the window and yells how much he loves you all the way down the street. When you turn the other way and he is still yelling think of things you should have yelled back. Why not say you love him to? You will never see him again. Just say you're never getting back together. Like ever. Because, again, you will never see him again. Laugh until you get home, and to wind down watch a favorite Disney movie and fall asleep to it. 

Sometimes your day begins in only the best of ways. You get to sleep in. There is not much better. But, not only do you get to sleep in, you know when you wake up you will be able to go to Seven Peaks with one of your best friends. So, we go to Seven Peaks and play on all of the slides screaming and laughing on the way down. We carry the tube from ride to ride, take ridiculous selfies, lay out on our towels soaking up the sun, and lounge in the lazy river making it live up to its name. When we left I drove straight to work and got to park in the graduate parking garage right by where I work. I changed in the bathroom out of my swimsuit and immediately had things to do. All the while I am smiling because I am going to California in two days. When I got home I made a good dinner only putting me in a better mood, and  when my mom called she told me about how a lizard fell out of a tree and landed on the spotted dog who proceeded to completely freak out. I was crying from laughing so hard. I watched my favorite show, and when I thought my day could not get any better... It did. Sometimes the prayers of a young girl are answered within a few minutes when she prays to find her puppy who has run away and he is there when she turns a corner. Sometimes it takes a little while longer. I guess the point is, they are always answered. 

Know What Makes Your Heart Happy

Some things just make your heart happy. On days when you don't know if you are happy or sad, I look to those things and I end up leaning to the happy side of things. Here are a few of those things that bring a smile to my heart as well as my face.

1. Downton Abbey or Harry Potter marathons.

2. Going to Seven Peaks and smelling like chlorine for days.

3. Looking at pictures of animals (not just the puppy you want but all cute animals).

4. New recipes that I want to try one day. 

Like these orange sweet rolls.

5. Babies. 

6. New workout clothes and just new shoes in general.

7. Dreams of a home of my own. 

8. Knowing I am going to the beach next week. 

9. Bouquets of big, pink peonies at weddings. 

10. Graduation being in 27 days and having the principle of my elementary school (I thought she was 100 years old when I started... how old is she NOW?!) who is the sweetest and scariest woman I know send me a card for graduation. 

11. Cute quotes.

12. Whimsical artwork.

Just Around the River Bend

When Julie Anne asked me if I wanted to go camping I was more than a little hesitant. The last time I camped I was a senior in high school. When she asked me if I wanted to go camping and hike up a river I said yes for some reason. I know why. It was because I love adventures, and the ones including water always win. So, on the day we would be leaving I was pacing my apartment and feeling really anxious about the adventure I was about to embark on. When we finally got there and set up our tent we decided to go on a short hike. Guys! The lizards... They are massive. More than one I froze because one was right in front of me. Julie Anne had to go ahead and get them to move. On our hike, we ended up getting in the river and ultimately having a mud fight. When we got back to camp I am pretty sure I had more sand in my shoes and clothes than there was in the river. When I dried off and wiped some of the sand off of me I fell asleep on the picnic table bench.  Julie Anne had to wake me up to go to bed. It was nice and cool in our tent. It felt so good. I will say that with the drunk guys in the camping site next to us I did not get much sleep, but it was still a good night. Now, if you want to hike the Narrows let me tell you that you have to scale boulders, climb over fallen trees, slip on rocks in the river, go against the current most of the time, go through waist deep mud pools, and your muscles are so sore by the end. Let me also tell you it is beautiful. At the very end, there is a waterfall and with all of the ginormous butterflies it is almost like you are in a different world. There are also little springs along the way, when you climb the big rocks they are nice places to take a water or snack break, and you don't really get too hot because you're in water the whole time. I loved our trip even though my leg didn't quite clear a fallen tree and a scratch turned into a giant bruise. What is an adventure without a battle scar? I fought long and hard for my bruise. The hike up the river is 10 miles round trip not including the one mile hike there and the one mile hike back. I am thankful to be back and clean, but I really did have fun. Going to Zion National Park was on my Utah summer bucket list. I did not get to it last summer, but I can check it off now!