{ Essentials }

Because sometimes all you need is the guy upstairs and and a fountain Diet Coke.

{ Park City }

Words cannot express how much I have grown to love Park City. Since my parents have bought their place, I always try and find an excuse to go up. I'd venture to say I use that place the most. I love new adventures, and I since I wasn't too familiar with Park City before it has definitely been fun exploring. 

I took my nieces for a sleepover up at the condo. It was so fun! We went on the alpine slides, too. Alli and Kylie each rode on their own. Courtney was so nervous, I thought we'd get to the top and have to back out of it. We get to the top and I think she realized there wasn't any other way down. Finally when we got to the bottom, she says, "can we do that again?"

All afternoon she kept referring to the "yellow slide" and how she was scared at first but not anymore. It was the cutest thing seeing how proud of herself she was.

The next day, we woke up, played games and watched TV. We had plans to go swimming in the pool. I get the girls dressed and we head on over. However, when we get there, there is a sign that says "pool closed for the day." The ONLY day it's closed is the day I have the girls. Perfect, right?

So I jump in the car, drive all the way back to Provo so the girls and I can go swimming for an hour before I have to go to work. Honestly though, I cherish the days I get to hang out with those girls. I want them to have fun memories with me. Sometimes I feel like I can and want to do more with them, but life gets in the way. Grateful for summers off so I can party with some of my favorites. 

Nordstrom | 4 Years | 3 Stores

Nordstrom has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Seriously.
I am so grateful they continue to be so gracious in letting me come back since being a teacher!
Not only that, a girl needs some cute teacher outfits, right?

A whole lot of friendships. 

A whole lot of clothes (about that). 

And a whole lot of great encounters with customers.

Such a great company! Love this job. 

Hey Filters, I Owe You One

Me: I look like crap
Instagram Filters: I got you girl

My roommates and I had a discussion about filters tonight.
I was taking shameless selfies before I went on a date and they were all laughing.
It took like 20 pics and what felt like a million filters to get one I liked.

Like, what? No wonder the 2013 word of the year was "Selfie."
We are obsessed with ourselves. And looking magazine ready all the time.
And unfortunately I fall victim to this. But how did this happen to our society?
I would love to go into more detail, but first.....

LET ME TAKE A SELFIE.

{ Washington}

For the 4th of July I went home! My friend Cheryl's sister goes to Gonzaga Law School, so she met me up in Washington to party! Being home is the best and my parents are such troopers these days (benefits of them being retired and bored). I had them going and going. We spent a few days in Spokane and then bounced to Seattle.

The drive to Seattle is my favorite. You are surrounded by mountains of pine trees. That is one thing I miss about Washington. First stop in Seattle? was Snoqualmie Falls. Just driving along I-90 you would never know those falls existed.

After that, we took Cheryl on the normal touristy things: Space Needle, Pikes Place, The Great Wheel, Ivar's and we even took a ferry around the harbor. I had never taken that particular ferry before and it was interesting listening to the history of Seattle.

Two things Cheryl noticed about Seattle:
1. How old the city is. She said she was expecting the city to be a lot newer.
2. And I quote, "There's really not a lot of beautiful people here." That made me laugh so hard, but she is so right. People are so chill in Washington. North Face and dark denim? You're set. Not to mention it's pretty much the granola capital of the world. She grew up in Utah, which is a 180 difference from Washington. In Utah, life in general is a competition whether people like to admit it or not. Who can look the cutest, nicest house, best car, the list could go on. Point is, people take a lot more care of themselves in Utah (I think it comes with the Mormon culture too).

Being home is always rejuvenating. Brings me back to solid ground. Not only that, it is my dream to live in Seattle even for a small amount of time someday. I can't get enough of that city.

recently

A couple of bricks hit me recently.

Brick #1: Do more of what makes you happy. Let me repeat, do more of what makes YOU happy. One of my biggest weaknesses in life is being a people pleaser. I always do what others want me to do. I always want to make sure everyone else is happy and sometimes I forget to make myself happy. This year I am going to say "No" more and be better at calling my shots. And sticking to my guns. 

Brick #2 Save that green! Like duh, right? My roommate Gillian is building a town home in Pleasant Grove. I don't know what part of the process that struck me, but I realized I need to not be just saving money, but straight up stashing it. I am just a few years away from maybe following in her footsteps and I want to be more than ready. I can't always count on "meeting the one" (not like I have up until this point) in fact, I kind of want to live on my own.

Brick #3 Sewwww no one is going to do it for you. When I was younger, my mom made everything for us. Especially dresses. I loved them! She is always sewing up a new project and it has always just been second nature. When we are watching a family movie, my mom always has to have a lamp on so she can be stitching something. As kids we'd always be so annoyed if she had to have a light on during a movie. Now I see sewing is her passion. When she was younger, her mom wouldn't buy her any of the "cute" clothes at the department stores (which is interesting because her parents had more than enough money). However, her mom, Beth, would buy her all the fabric she wanted. My mom learned very quickly that if she wanted cute clothes, she'd have to sew it herself. I've always admired her talent and passion for sewing. 

I started sewing in Junior High and continued through High School. After high school I went onto college and really haven't sewn much since. That makes me sad, especially because I like sewing. After my dear, Great Aunt Helen died a few years ago, she left some money to my parents. My mom bought all of us girls sewing machines. She said it was because she wants all of us girls to continue sewing. What a thoughtful gift! I've had it for two years and finally took it out of the box this year. Now I'm sewing up a storm! I've made a sewing cover and am onto the cutest triangle quilt. I realized that sewing won't come naturally. It sure as heck won't happen when I am a mom. It needs to happen now. I love sewing. My goal is to take advanced sewing lessons soon and eventually teach a basic sewing class to kids. Moral of the story is: sewing is sew fun (catch what I did there?) and no one is going to learn for you.

{my sewing nook}

Ironic that my Aunt Helen's picture is in the bottom left. Shout out to her! 

Because she's the reason I have it! Our family loved her so much and definitely miss her dearly.

t a h o e

Okay, sooo if anyone knows me they know I have A LOT of Northwest pride. I rep it hard.
There is nothing better and I miss it like a child misses their blanket. So why am I not there, right?
Lets just say it's in the works (insert angels singing hallelujah here). That's another post to come.

Anyway, I've been pretty homesick lately. And I think the last time I was homesick was when I was six years old.
Point is: its been a while.

The road trip to Lake Tahoe was the boringest (not a word, I know) and ugliest drive.
Think sage brush, desert and brown for 600 miles. Woof.
However once you reach the lake, you forget about that blasted drive.
Lake Tahoe is unreal. It reminded me a lot of Coeur d'Alene.
Those pine trees and that fresh water lake made me feel right at home.

{yep, that happened}

{neature}

So Tahoe? I now have your back.
You were putting out those Northwest vibes and I most definitely needed that ❤️

shut up and drive.

I've had this inner battle this last month.
Over a car. Stupid, right?

It was coming to a point where it was time for me to upgrade in the automobile department.
I was excited about the idea of a newer car, the reliability and all the fun features.
However, I was not super sold on that car payment that came with it.
Oh, and not to mention dealing with car salesmen (attractive or not). 

It's not that I can't afford a payment, I just don't WANT to pay it. I'd rather save it.
Anyway, I bit the bullet and got a new car. And guess what?

I love it.

{good memories and even better sticker. go wsu!}

{not even mad}

Moral of my rant? New cars are great.
But this growing up business is getting old.

Sincerely,
Over it.

h o m e s i c k

I love Utah (I really do) but I've been a little homesick lately. 

I need some familiarity. Pine trees. The lake (a legit one). 

I miss the simplicity of life that lies in the Northwest.

Before I moved to Utah, I swore I would never fall into the competitive atmosphere here.

Who's wearing what, who's driving what car, who's house is bigger etc.

Yet, I'm slowly finding myself in this trap. 

For some reason, I think I deserve all these new things or just things in general.

When in fact, I don't need any of it.

Maybe it was just the way I was raised OR the way of life in the Northwest, but life is so much more simple up there. People are happy with what they have. Girls don't have to be dressed to the nines every second they walk out of their house. Guys don't have to have a pimped-out BMW.

 People live within their means. And they definitely prioritize needs over wants.

As I get older, I realize I don't want to raise my kids with an attitude of entitlement. 

I want my future kids to see the beauty in living a simple, frugal lifestyle (no matter where I live).

I am not saying let's shop at Goodwill (J.Crew, say what?) and drive a beat up car. I'm saying, I hope my future kids can appreciate the little things in life. And realize that they don't need the newest iPhone or latest and greatest electronic. I hope they can see that there is more to life.

As for me, I am trying to simplify my life even more these days.

And trying not to compare myself to others (harder than it sounds)

{In a car wash, Go Mariners!}

I guess what they say is true: you can take the girl out of Washington, 

but you can't take the Washington out of the girl  ❤️

second year of teaching? c h e c k

I finished my SECOND year of teaching! How did that happen?!
At the end of my first year, I was convinced I was not going to teacher another year.
IT WAS HARD.

People think all I do is do art projects, but it is SO MUCH MORE (although, that is fun).
My first year was baptism by fire. I had no way out but through. And I made it.
Talking to my principal at the end of my first year really pushed me on to my second year.

And for that, I am so grateful.
I was exhausted and didn't think I could do it.

Turns out I can.
I still have a lot to learn, but I am excited for my third year of teaching!