Happy Easter!

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xoxo.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope your day was filled with happiness and spent with the ones you love.

xo

Valentines crafting.

I know I probably say this about every holiday, but Valentine's Day is seriously one of my favorite holidays! 

My heart just melts with all the purples, reds, and pinks.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I've been doing some crafting and painting and just love how everything is turning out.

I'll be sure to post some pictures of what I've been up to soon!

Happy Friday!

xo

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As of late...

With taking only a few "fun" classes this semester and working part-time on the side,
one might wonder what in the world I do with all my free time. 

Well... I wonder that same exact thing.

My days are usually spent going to spin/yoga in the wee hours of the morning, reading a good book in bed,
running errands (on a good day), planning for the future (jobs, etc..) and trying out new vegan
recipes at night while reminiscing with friends.

My life isn't much at the moment, but I'm enjoying this free time while it lasts.

Ps. Is anyone else excited that Valentine's Day is just around the corner??
I just love planning for this holiday and excited to celebrate it!
And of course, who could NOT love Krispy Kreme's Valentine donuts?
They are a great way to break a vegan diet :)

Hope everyone is enjoying their week!
xo

MLK in NYC.

For the long weekend I had the chance to make my way out to the big city.
It was once again a fabulous trip.
The cold weather made it a perfect excuse to brush up on my art history, as I spent most of my time in a few museums.
Admiring Monet in the Metropolitan brought back so many memories of living in London...
I think I could seriously spend all day every day in that museum.

I didn't take as many pictures this time around, but here are a few to give you a taste of what we did...

Hope everyone had a lovely MLK weekend!
xo

Hooray for 2012!

I can't believe the New Year is already here!

As I look back on 2011, it amazes me how many memories I have and all that I experienced.

 There were times of laughter, stress, joy, uncertainty, anticipation...

and although it was probably one of my most challenging years, I am grateful for it.

One of my favorite things to do is write down my new year resolutions so at the end of the year I can look back and see all that I have accomplished. I usually make two lists: one that is simple and fun, and another that is more personal and specific of what I hope to accomplish that year.
This year will be interesting with all the changes that will occur, but I couldn't be more excited.

Cheers for new beginning, a fresh start, and a chance to become better!

2012 is going to be grand... I know it. 

Home for the holidays.

If there is one thing I love most, it is being home for Christmas.

Nothing brings me greater joy than celebrating one of my favorite holidays with the ones I love.
This year was especially special as I got to see cousins and family members that I haven't seen in ages.
I'm not sure where I'll be this time next year, so I tried to savor every moment.
It was a Christmas filled with lots of love, and I feel so blessed to have such amazing people in my life.

Hope everyone had a very merry Christmas!
xo

The Countdown to Christmas.

This is one of my favorite Christmas commercials this year and thought I'd share.

Enjoy!

Christmas in the city.

Last weekend I had the chance to take a quick trip to New York City.

I feel like it's already my second home as I have traveled out there a few times this semester.

When I go I always have the days planned out on exactly what I want to do, where I want to eat, what I want to see... this time around was a little more relaxing, but of course still did a ton!

For those of you who have never been to the city during the holidays, I definitely recommend it!

There is nothing more magical than ice skating around the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, smelling the fresh pine trees that line the streets, and drinking hot chocolate after the wonderful Nutcracker Ballet. 

It was such a fun trip and was just what I needed before I dive into finals!

xo

Thankful.

This year we spent Thanksgiving with three other Texas families up in snowy Deer Valley. 

It was so fun celebrating this holiday with family and good friends!

We ate lots of good food, watched some football (go cowboys!), slept, ate some more, had a little talent show, celebrated some birthdays, and chatted until it was time for everyone to depart. 

Along with watching football, shopping, skiing, and eating, we made our way over 

to Temple Square were we saw the all the Christmas lights! 

I always love it there this time of year... nothing is more magical.

I hope everyone had a fabulous and relaxing Thanksgiving!

xo

The Journey to Christmas.

Sunday morning we woke up early to go to Music and the Spoken Word.

I was so touched by the beautiful music as the choir sang different arrangements of Christmas carols.
We sat right in front so we could see the orchestra play their instruments with such feeling and passion.

I was also so touched by the message that was shared, and found it to be true to not only Christmas, but my life.
How often I forget to live in the moment and recognize those things that are preparing me for what lies ahead.
It was such an inspiring program and I am so glad we were able to go.

"The month of December is a time of joyful anticipation. The sights, sounds, and smells of the season evoke feelings of excitement and wonder. For generations, children—and grown-ups—have used advent calendars and paper chains to count down the days. But does our focus ever become so fixed on the future that we forget to enjoy the journey to Christmas? This year, instead of just looking forward, let’s also take pleasure in the preparations: in the little, less spectacular moments along the way, even in the spontaneous joys that may, at first, seem like interruptions to our bigger plans. In order to recognize those moments for what they could be, it sometimes helps to slow things down a bit. We may need to shop less and savor more. We might have to dim the bright lights in order to see the stars in the heavens, but if we look, we will find them. Often it takes a child to redirect our focus. Think of how much children enjoy the present moments, the preparations, and not just the finished products. When helping to decorate the home, wrap presents, or bake Christmas treats, they usually make more of a mess than we would; they might not do it just right, but they also usually enjoy the moment more than we do! Their enthusiasm can be contagious. A three-year-old girl, wholeheartedly living in the present, exclaimed: "It’s not tomorrow! It’s not today! It’s to-now!”  When was the last time you felt "to-now”? Yes, we are busy. But the days leading to Christmas are not just to be endured. In fact, perhaps they offer more of what the season is really about. The promise of Christmas is everywhere to behold. It’s not saved for Christmas morning. If we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to open, we truly can enjoy the journey to Christmas." - Lloyd D. Newell

gobble gobble.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope it's a good one.

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Things I love...

1. Peppermint steamers at Starbucks

2. BYU Bookstore's white-chocolate-sprinkle-Christmas-tree-pretzels
3. Reading a good book in bed when it's snowing outside
4. Early morning yoga

5. Reminiscing and laughing with old friends

6. Homemade chocolate covered strawberries

Never forget...

On this 10th anniversary of 9/11, may we never forget those who have fallen and those loved ones they left behind. 

God bless America.

xo

Red, white, and blue.

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. 

Bike riding, swimming, barbecues, sparklers-- I love it all!

I'll be honest, I was a little bummed when I found out my whole family was going to be in Utah celebrating this great holiday without me. 

There is nothing that I love more than sharing this holiday with them.

However, my long weekend here in the city turned out to be just what I needed. 

I was able to soak up the sun at the beach, catch up on some pleasure reading in the park, and spend time exploring the city with my friends.

Lucky for me, I have a friend who works at an agency that is located right off the Hudson River (which is where the fireworks were at). We watched the fireworks from their huge terrace (that they also shared with Hugo Boss Studios) and seriously had the BEST view! There was a live DJ playing all types of American music during the show, which of course led to lots of singing and dancing.
It was quite a night. 

How grateful I am for the freedoms we have and for those who fight for our country. 

Hope everyone had a Happy Independence Day!

(again, sorry for the poor quality with the photos... my phone has been my camera out here)

Happy Easter!

Just got back from a weekend trip to Denver, and man does it feel good to finally be DONE!

Although finals ended for me Thursday, I had to fly out to Denver to present the jcpenney campaign. 

Unfortunately we didn't win, but I was so proud of how it went and the final product of our campaign. 

I also got to spend Easter Sunday with my sister and brother-in-law, which was such a treat.

We made homemade waffles with homemade whipped cream and 

strawberries, sausage, and freshly squeezed orange juice. 

It was all so good, and I am so glad I got to spend Easter with family. 

Hope everyone had a 

Happy Easter!

xo