Just Because I Do.

Things I love

In no particular order

Whales

Corn Bread

Diet Coke

This Human

Harmonicas

Nature, specifically the Ocean.

but like I always say... "Choose your love, love your choice"

Show Me the True Blooded Aggie From Utah

An Ode to the Best Four Years of my Life. 

I'm not going to lie... Today is a really strange day for me.  In fact, its been a weird week.  With being social media friends with all 1000 of my sorority sisters comes the constant reminder that I'm not up there this year.  Although I am quite thrilled that I didn't have to go to Spirit Weekend this year (it was fun while it lasted... just glad its over), it is a really strange feeling knowing that I'm not going back. And that Logan is no longer my home.

 There I am at an Aggie Basketball Game my Freshman Year

I keep seeing so many tweets and pictures of "Oh it's SO AMAZING to be back in Logan" while I'm just saying "Oh good, I'm SO happy for you" while I slam my computer shut. No really, I'm not bitter... Just a little bummed.  

Going to USU was the best decision I made in my whole life.  I grew so much as a person being able to live out on my own.  I met my best friends through my sorority and lifelong friends through roommates, my Social Work program, and through my jobs.  

No really, it is a huge relief to know that I'm not going to have to cram study and spend 12 hours in the library studying for exams and writing multiple 20+ page papers and going more group projects than I could ever count... But I do miss Logan. I miss the environment.  I miss the people.  And I am bummed out that ALL my friends that are still up there (and I could not be more grateful that Bryan felt sorry enough for me, he thought he'd stay here and keep me company).

SHOUT OUT  to the Basketball Games, Dorms, Quick Stop, SAAVI, Old Main, the Quad, Fraternity Dance Parties, The Howl & Mardi Gras, End of the Year Bash, PoBev, Guest Speakers, Logan Canyon, First Dam, Texas Roadhouse, 12 hour sessions in the Library, amazing Social Work professors, Monday night meetings, All Greek, Pin Attire, Elections, Socials, Exchanges, Formals, and just creeping out the KD window.

I absolutely loved my life up there and I would never change my experience for anything.

  Keep that Aggie Pride alive! 

But like I always say... "Show me the True Blooded Aggie from Utah, Who Doesn't Love the Spot-- Where the Sagebrush Grows"

Check THAT off my "to do" list.

My whole life, I have always wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride! I'm not sure why, but I just always thought there was something so cute about them.  
However, when I was probably only 6 years old, my demon older sister Krista told me that hot air balloons take kids to the middle of the ocean where the basket drops off so sharks can eat them! I lit'rally was scared for life until one day I actually sat and thought about it and realized she was definitely just being the tool-ish older sister just trying to scare me as always.

It all started a few months ago-- There I was, sitting in class with only a few short weeks until my big graduation day when I got a text from my mom that asked me if I wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride with her! It was like all my dreams came true because I didn't even have to beg!!!  It worked out perfectly because my mom wasn't able to make it to only the biggest day of my life thus far, my COLLEGE GRADUATION because she was busy helping children in Africa.  Luckily we were able to go on this ride together so I was able to find forgiveness for her in my tall dark soul (just kidding... but seriously).  

It really was all I dreamed of! It was so fun and peaceful just floating around the sky.  There is nothing quite like standing in a wicker basket hundreds of feet up in the air where you can see for miles.  I am proud of young Ann and I for being so brave and not even crying once! Anyways, I would highly recommend it if you like to enjoy life.

It really does feel like a huge accomplishment-- flying on a Hot Air Balloon since I've been talking about them and how "it's been my dream" for my whole entire life. Thanks mom!

But like I always say... "Nothing says 'Sorry I missed your college graduation  like a Hot Air Balloon ride!"

I recently went to a wedding where the groom explained one of Plato's theories. From what I understand, the theory is where two humans have only half of a soul and spend their entire lives looking for the other person who makes their two souls into one. 

not to be dramatic, but i found my human.

The funniest part of it all is he has been in front of my eyes for the past 7 years, and has been disguised as one of my best friends throughout that time. 

I just didn't know how else to say, I've never been happier in all of my life 

and I'm completely in love with this human.

Perfectly Aligned.

I have really dropped the ball on this whole blogging thing, but to be completely honestly my life has been pretty dull this summer.  I have loved teaching swimming lessons-- it has been a great job and I hope that I will stick around so that I can teach it next summer.  But besides that, nothing more than that has really happened.

It has been an interesting summer.  I'm not sure if it's because I am growing up and graduated college or if I'm just an overall more lame human.  My schedule consisted of mostly working and being home by 10 pm to talk to Bryan on the phone for an hour before he went to bed.  I have missed my best friend Heidi who is away in Boston building a career woman out of herself-- but proud of her nonetheless. Luckily for me I have got to spend a lot of time with my other BFF Lucy who I haven't had this much fun with since two summers ago when all we did was play play play. Things have really started to look up.

Bryan came home from Texas this last Sunday and it feels like my summer has actually begun!!! It has not even been a week and we have had so much fun catching up on all the things we missed out on this summer including Farmer's Market, Twilight Concert, Drive In, lots of swimming, scooter rides, & all that good stuff. He is basically the worlds best human and I don't want to say I'm obsessed with him, but...

Another huge part of my life that everyone thinks I'm being dramatic about (but I'm for sure not!) is my new bed!!!!! Okay so I got an adorable new queen size bed that lit'rally made me feel more grown up getting that than my diploma in the mail.

Last, but not least I got a big girl job-- and I really mean a big one! I went into an interview at Granite School District thinking I was interviewing to be an assistant in the ASSERT program, which is helping teach pre-school children with autism but came out being a Lead Preschool teacher at Kearns Elementary! Who ever thought I would teach preschool?! Not this girl! But I'm so excited!!!! If anything swimming lessons has prepared me for this job, and I love teaching.  I am so excited for this new chapter and challenge in my life.  I gotta start preparing though now so I can know what the crap I'm doing on the first day of school, it's coming up quick! The perks are no nights, weekends or holidays which will be unlike any other job I've had in my whole life! I can't wait!

Although it has been a pretty slow summer, everything has been aligning perfectly these past few weeks and I truly couldn't be happier. 

But like I always say... "HAGS"

catch up.

Okay so unfortunately my life is not that exciting since graduation...
People keep asking me what I am going to do with my life and when I'm going to get married (obviously thats the only thing left to do once you have a degree....) But I am still just trying to figure it all out.

After graduation I can say that I basically slept for a month straight... and it was awesome! Not only that, but I went go karting, mini golfing, to the driving range, on scooter rides, hiking, went to the zoo, boating, read a few books, had a few bbqs, bating cages for the first time, went to a Bees game...you know, average-everyday summer activities. Overall it felt like a successful summer in just a few short weeks.


Some of the biggest news as of lately:
As of a week ago I am back to the wonderful world of employment...
I am back to serving again in those black non-slip shoes that are oh-so-unholy.  I am a server at Pizza Factory and it ain't half bad.  I also just got a job at a catering company as well, and to top it all off swimming lessons start on Monday! Not going to be as much of a relaxing summer as I would have hoped working 3 jobs, but somebody's gotta bring home the bacon.

In Other News:
This summer has so far been an interesting one.  I have gotten close to someone who basically makes me laugh my brains out at least 100 times a day and who I spend some of my time thinking about which hasn't happened to me in a few years; yes, its all very exciting.   I've also grown apart from some people who I've grown up with. It's been an interesting process and seeing not only myself grow and change, but also my relationships. However, I am still a believer in everything happening for a reason.

I recently went to Oregon to see my sister, her husband and my niece Lillie! It was an awesome family vacation and the puuuuuuurfect way to ring in my 22nd birthday.  Being by the ocean with some of my favorite peeps was all I needed--- well, that and a delicious cake baked by the legend Scott Webb.

I guess you could say I'm just leading the average life of any 22 year old in America.
Crazy to think a year ago from today I was in Africa.
Crazier to try to think of where I will be in a year from today.

A Few Things to Look Forward To:

Swimming Lessons!!!!!
World Oceans Day!!!

FARMERS MARKET!!!!

Texas!!!

But like I always say... "Summer time and the livin' is easy"

love to love.

I'm not a love hater. In fact, I'm quite the opposite. I really dont know WHY I love love so much, but I just do. I think its because I want to believe is something... and since Santa isn't real and the tooth fairy never actually brought me money I want to believe is something sort of magical.

So I guess I'll believe in love.

My #1 life goal is to never get divored. And I understand that this is slightly ridiculous and everyone laughs at me, and the statstics and world all seem to be against me... but I will say that when I write down my goals I almost never fail. and I really really hope I never get divorced.

I've met a lot of love-haters lately. I'm not exactly sure why this is... they have probably been hurt or seen their loved ones suffer, whatever.  All I'm saying is... You aren't the only person who has been hurt. and sometimes, I think that people forget that. Just because you got hurt once doesn't mean you always will. Doesn't mean you won't eventually heal. And it sure doesn't mean the whole world is out to get you.

"And if you're in love then you're the lucky one because most of us are bitter over someone" -- Youth, by Daughter.

The way I see it is... people fall in love. And usually it happens pretty quickly, and eventually that wears off. But love isn't just about the excitement and the lust and the almost obsession. Love is a decision. It's a conscious effort and commitment to one person for the rest of your life. To be there when things are good as well as when things are rough. And you might not always like the person that you love, but you will always defend them and drop your pride because that's what peope should do when they are in love.

I just want my husband to be in love with my for life.  And I really want people to be able to tell how much I love my husband, my whole life.  I want them to know that when I look at him our love is real and it's forever.

Maybe I'm a dreamer, but I think its a pretty worthy goal.

but like I always say... "I love to love you, but above all, I love to love"