Spring Break

I was just lucky enough to have a WONDERFUL Spring Break.  After a super fun week in Boise I left on a cruise with four great girls!  Here it is in photos.

Our journey began in the Beautiful St. George.  

We boarded the Carnival Inspiration and sailed away in style…drinking CHOCOLATE MILK.

Catalina our first port.

I conquered a fear and checked off a bucket list item by going parasailing at 1200ft.

Tandem biking around the island.

Yummy yummy churros.

Wishin’ Big.

They made us such pretty food.

Beach in Ensenada.

Dinner group.

5 girls … 8 suitcases…1 room.

Besides getting to go on an awesome cruise and tend the best three kids I got to end my two week break with my besties.  Becca provided a legit tea party for Hannah’s birthday.  It was so fun!

As you can see I am one lucky girl.  These past two weeks have given me the opportunity to really think things through.  I am excited to finish off this semester with success and then spend another awesome summer in Logan! 

Shout Out

First off SHOUT OUT to Lauren Meek.  She is a sweet and super kind family friend who just happens to be an AMAZING photographer!  After hearing my favorite quote (the title of this blog) and me raving about how much I love canoes and water she sent me these BEAUTIFUL pictures from a summer vacation she took Canoeing in Canada.  Basically this girl has inspired me to add two new things to the Bucket List:  

1. Go on a Canoeing Trip

2. Become a good photographer  

Thanks for letting me share Lauren!

P.S. On my Bucket List it talks about this desire to become a proficient cook.  I think I am getting closer. Here are my lovely cupcakes.  I should probably let you all know that Cupcake Wars called and asked me to be on their show after seeing these bad boys! Ha ha

Reading.

I love to read.  Reading is my peace.  Reading is my escape.  Reading is my safe place.  Reading is my happy place.  Okay so I just love reading!  I have always had this dream and it is actually on the official bucket list and that is to ....(drum roll please).... be apart of a book club!  Someday hope to sip a beverage and discuss a great book with my buddies.  Until then you just get to hear my recent and current reads.

My most recent read was "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.  Loved it.  I am super excited to see the movie.

I am just about to start "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott.  This is one of my sister-in-law's favorites and I have always wanted to read it also it is one of my Penguin Classics!!!

"A Countess Below Stairs" by Eva is my I WILL FINISH BOOK.  I have been trying for two years.  My sweet friend Becca let me borrow it and still is and I just have to finish it!  Becs I will be returning it to you by Christmas!

My final book is "Uglies" By Scott Westerfeld.  I hear the series is a must read. I like to follow the crowd.

What are you reading?  

Too Blessed To Be Stressed

Ending summer on the perfect note.

Thursday. 8:30pm Leaving UT. Arriving in my most favorite place 11:30pm.

Friday.  Up by 5:15am.  On the lake by 6:30am.  Trying to get down the perfect cast until 1pm (Goofy is much better than me).  Lunch. Nap.  Huckleberry picking 5pm.  Warm River Fishing 7pm. All you can eat Chicken Strip Baskets 9pm.

Saturday. Up by 6:15am.  In Ashton by 7:30am.  Waiting at Bear Gulch by 8am.  Running through the most beautiful country 8:30pm.  Crossing the finish line 11ishpm.  Watching a Moose though kitchen window 2pm.  Huckleberry Shakes 4pm.  Sandwich Tree 5pm.  Logan City Lights 9:30pm.  Chocolate Milk with great friend 10:30pm.

Yep this was how I ended my summer and I loved it!!  My sweet Father and Grandma fulfilled my dream of going to my cabin before school started.  While I was there my very patient father taught me how to fly fish and just spent time with me.  We spent hours picking huckleberries and just talking.  I had the coolest thought occur to me while we were picking.  I was spending the day the exact same way my Great Grandparents spent their summer days.  They loved picking huckleberries in many of the same areas me and my father were picking that day and we went fishing to some of their favorite places.  This was a really cool moment for me to just connect to those who have come before me.


Saturday I ran my first half marathon.  My time was slow, but I FINISHED!!  I hope this is the first of many and I can just continue getting better.  I loved ending my summer with what is in my book a big accomplishment.  I do have to say that I believe this is another check off the bucket list!!


This weekend was exactly what I needed to begin my next year at Utah State University.  I am super excited to be living with Callie Stats!! 

 I am also excited to jump in to my major.  I am dueling Special Education and Elementary Education with an English as a Second Language emphasis.  This major for right now feels so right I can't believe it!!  Yipee here we go again!!

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."     -Helen Keller

Every day we try something new whether we know it or not.  This summer I tried something new!  Originally when the idea was presented to me to hike into the Grand Canyon I thought it sounded really cool, but kind of unreasonable for me.  Imagine my surprise on the morning of July fifth when I was on my way to Nevada.  I had never slept in a tent let alone gone camping.  I bought water shoes from Wal-Mart, borrowed camping stuff from my friend and I was on my way.  The only reason I think I ended up going was because it was on my bucket list and I had no idea what was coming my way.  

          Number one thing I learned...trust.  I hate trusting not only those around me, but the things around me too.  When you are hanging off a cliff holding on to only chains, rusty old chains, and the only reassurance of safety you have is from your friend saying that you are going to live, you have no choice but to trust.  Guess what I lived and I now want to show it to everyone I know. 

          Number two was that things in life are simply mind over matter.  The moment you decide you can do something no matter how scared you are you realize you can do anything thing you want and that the world has opened its self to you.  

          Number three goes as follows.  Have you ever slept under the stars and felt God's love for not only you, but for all of his children on the entire earth.  I loved becoming closer to the Lord through this experience.  The whole time we were camping through this beautiful part of the world the words to a children's song continually came to mind.  "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" written by Clara M. McMaster and has the following lyrics:

 Whenever I hear the song of a bird

Or look at the blue, blue sky,

Whenever I feel the rain on my face

Or the wind as it rushes by,

Whenever I touch a velvet rose

Or walk by a lilac tree,

I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world

Heavenly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes that I might see

The color of butterfly wings.

He gave me my ears that I might hear 

The magical sound of things.

He gave me my life, my mind, my heart: 

I thank him reverently

For all his creations, of which I'm a part.

Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me.   

And I know that my Heavenly Father loves me.  I feel so incredibly blessed.  I am surrounded by the most amazing people ever.  I cannot believe the blessed I am.  I truly know my Heavenly Father loves not only me, but all of his children. 

Festival Of Colors

"The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love color the most." - John Ruskin

The Holi Festival of Colors is a celebration of spring and the changing of seasons.  It is only hosted in little Spanish Fork, Utah once a year.  Since hearing about this last year I decided it was something I really wanted to add to my BL.  This year when invited by a friend I instintaly jumped on the opportunity.  I had a great experience and gained another check mark on my Bucket List!  Yahoo!!!

The LIST...........The BUCKET LIST

"Experience is when you get when you didn't get what you wanted."

 I have decided these are words to live by.  I have no idea what I want out of life so I'm just going to get tons of experience!  I am in college and have decided to LIVE THE DREAM.  One of the best ways I have decided to try and do this is through a bucket list.  


Bucket List: a list of things one wants to do before they die.  


My list is long and is just full of crazy things I want to accomplish.  I have decided to slowly post things as I accomplish them. Also I would like to say that if you don't already have a bucket list you should make one!