Around here...

                                                                              (Can I just say, I love my National Geographic old world map.)

I am not a morning person. So taking a job that starts at 8am every morning probably wasn't the best idea. You would think. Everyone around me apparently agreed with this idea, because when I said I was working at 8am Monday through Friday...they all laughed and said good luck with that. My dad, my best friends, my siblings, my roommates... Really I should be thankful that those around me clearly know me SO well. However, I feel like I have proved everyone wrong! Even myself.

I have actually been enjoying working early in the morning. I feel incredibly productive by the time 5pm rolls around. Not only am I always on time, I usually even get there early and before everyone else. AND I am perfectly sociable and cheery. Yay me!

All this early rising has made me really appreciate my bed these days. I've got a great roommate who, like me, loves to keep the window open at night to feel the cool breeze. Unfortunately, this can make getting out of my warm cozy bed in the morning even harder. Add in the fact that our room now smells like lilacs (due to a lovely candle) and....man, its a wonder I ever leave that bed.

Yesterday was the summer solstice and thus, the first official day of summer. I am a big fan of change and I was feeling a bit worn out at the end of school in May so getting a new job and starting a new season has been the perfect way to get my spirits back up. I have a renewed conviction to live a life filled with happiness, faith, health, and rich memories. And I won't settle for anything else.

A summer fling...

"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer."

                                                                                                                                                                      ~F. Scott Fitzgerald

Yes, its been a while. Every year when school comes around in fall, this blog has unfortunately been put on hold for less enjoyable activities like writing eight page essays every week.

This blog is my summer fling. But who knows, maybe this year it could turn into more.

Lately...

 A lot of things have happened in this last month!  For me, this time of the year (end of summer, beginning of fall) is a time of new beginnings, uncertain challenges, and excitement about the unknown. And I absolutely love it. So...

• I turned 21 years old! Officially an adult.
• I was homeless and bumming it at a few friends houses for 2 weeks (thank goodness for those lovely people).
• I've been working hard at my job and moved up in the place.
• I started classes. And I really, really like them! My political science major continues to make me a happy student.
• I moved into a beautiful condo (pictured above).
• I've made a bunch of new friends. And my new roommates are a Mexican ballroom dancer and a fellow anglophile! We is crazy fun together.
• Gave two talks in church. (I'm a spiritual beast.)
• Cut myself some seriously hot bangs.
• Received plane tickets from my dad to fly home to Boise on September 14th through the 17th! Home for the first time since before Scotland! Get ready Boise :)

Rare Fresh Air

I didn't try to rhyme the title, so don't judge! I WAS trying, however, to get across the point that Utah is so smokey these days that its hard to get any fresh air. But, my friends and I found it! Near a waterfall up in a canyon. Plus, according to this screenshot, my city is due for a week of thunderstorms! BEST. NEWS. EVER!!

Anyways, back to the waterfall. My roommate Chelsie and I were very bored one afternoon, so we called up our friend Matt who always has good ideas of things to do. He said...'Lets go to a waterfall!' This was obviously a better idea than anything we were coming up with so we changed, grabbed our shoes, and headed up the canyon together.

 

The water was glistening! Also, Chelsie is fully unaware of the fact that her socks are showing BSU pride. Blue and orange baby! (Sorry...college football season is almost upon us. I highly suggest you watch this preview for my other favorite team.)

After hiking on a path up to the waterfall, we decided to actually climb down the waterfall to get to the bottom. It was fun! And I only fell twice!

 

 "And above all watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

Keane

(My roommate Chelsie said, when she saw this photo, "You did not take that." And I informed her (as I am you) that yes, yes I did.)

Alright, I said before that I loved Keane and they are my favorite...but they've officially jumped into another league that will never be beaten. They sounded fantastic live and I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. And Keane did as well! On Twitter after the show, they posted, "Salt Lake City wins best gig of the tour!" They came out for 3 encores because we were singing and screaming! Tom was like, 'you guys deserve more songs!' (In a British accent.)


Prepare to be insanely, insanely jealous of how close I got to them. I seriously took all these photos by myself (except for the ones Im in...). We, my roommate Katie and I, started out sitting on the ground waiting for the concert to start, then we got up and made our way to the front. We went from the 5th row back, to the 4th row, to the 3rd, 2nd, and finally for the last few songs...the 1st row!!!

Yea, that's my hand, practically touching Tom. And also, you will notice....he is totally looking at me! I caught our eye contact on camera! You know if he weren't married, he would have jumped off that stage, taken my hand, and kissed me right there. First of all because I am one of Keane's most devoted fans and secondly because I was lookin like hot stuff (see 2nd picture and the one below). Honestly, Im surprised I didn't pass out at this moment. You are looking at one of the longest dreams of my life coming true! :)

And here we are at the end of the concert, totally happy and fully satisfied with our evening!

I love you Keane!! <3