Summer has Begun

Be warned: This is a massively long post. Lots of pictures!

To begin, I just wanted to show off my favorite hill to bike down. It is a nice steepness, enough that you really have to pay attention, but incredibly fun at the same time. 

I also made a 3-hour long project out of a paper crane!

I call him Le Roi Bleu (aka The Blue King)

I one day curled my hair, only to discover it was raining outside. So I took a walk! It was gorgeous, even if it was a killer of curls. 

I've been chilling with my roomie, Rachel, lately. Together we went to see the new Star Trek (I loved it. Of course I loved it. Was that even a question? Would I ever not love Star Trek?)

I made her pancakes for her 20th birthday...

And we keep Taco Tuesday alive!

Well, my super awesome parents came up this past weekend and we got to hang out together. It's always so great to see them!

Together we went to the local Farmer's Market...

And the Willow Park Zoo! Only $2 admission. So fun!

I then invited all of my fantastic Moen friends to come to devour pizza, play games, and just be weird.

For example: The Hipster, Bub.

Taylor and John

Colvannah (Cole and Savannah)

Carolle and Josh (not a couple ;D)

Rachel and Deanna!

Mom, Dad and I walked from First Dam to Second Dam on Sunday. Logan is freaking beautiful, can I just throw that out there? Heck, all of Northern Utah is gorgeous.

We also walked around my favorite temple.

Now, the most exciting thing to happen was probably the CHOCOLATE SYRUP SLIP-N-SLIDE. I invited those who lived relatively close to join me; Savannah, Deanna, and Bub showed up. They might have had doubts at the beginning, but let me tell you: IT WAS WORTH IT.

(Disregard the fuzziness. Chocolate syrup got on the lens, unfortunately)

I went down 4 times. It was one of the most exciting things to happen to me this summer. So so so great. 

 And, as promised, here's an update on my little garden! The tomato plant is still kind of stagnant (it had a hard transplant)

But I have itty bitty strawberries!!!! It just makes me so happy to see them grow. Having my own little garden for the first time 100% reliant on me, I understand faith a bit more. When you plant a seed, even if you give it adequate sunlight and water, there is always that hesitancy. Will it grow? Will it flourish? Did I do everything right? 

It grows. It really does.

My green onions are quite impressive now, and my basil and cilantro has finally sprouted!

And finally, I spent an hour or so and made a bunch of fake-out strawberries to try and deter the birds. Who knows if it works? Still, it was fun, and they look so dandy in my strawberry patch.

Life is grand. It really is. I had a second interview with Coldstone today, and I'm really hoping to get this job. I sing all the time, and my institute classes resume this next week. I'm making friends, socializing, and improving in just about every way. 

Summer has officially begun.

:)

Utah Love

I'll admit that April had me worried for Utah. It honestly made me hate living here for just a bit. But then summer arrived in all its splendor and oh what a glorious morning!

I love the smell of a million blossoms embellishing the trees in white.

I love the embrace of warm grass when I lie in the sun to read.

I love the sound of the eloquent birds chiming above me.

I love the wind whipping about me as I bike effortlessly down hills into town.

I love the fresh "clean" smell of dirt when I go to check on my budding new garden.

I love the taste of fresh and ripe mango for breakfast.

I love the euphoria I get every time I go outside and the weather is simply gorgeous.

I love the smell of chlorine when I jump in the pool for the first time that day.

I love the feeling of my coconut sugar scrub on my skin right before I go to bed at night.

I love the accomplishment I fell when I finish a really great workout.

I love the delicious aroma of my Mango-Pomegranate body wash.

I love the delightful chill of frozen yogurt on a warm day.

I love taking walks in the gorgeous landscape that is Logan, simply enjoying God's creations.

I love living in Utah. I really do :)

Questions, Part XI

51. Favorite classic Disney princess?
       Classic Disney princess.... Pocahontas. For sure. She's so strong and adventurous and actually intelligent. She doesn't do things just to spite her father (unlike 90% of the other disney characters). She sacrifices a lot for her love and she has some great songs :D

52. If you had $1,000,000 and you HAD to spend it, what would you do with it?
        Psh, let's break this down (assuming no taxes are removed from this sum)
1. Tithing: 100,000  [amount remaining, 900,000]
2. Education: 36,000 for three more years [amount remaining, 864,000]
3. Car, (and gas fund for 10 years): 15,000+20,000 [amount remaining, 829,000]
4. House: 150,000 [amount remaining, 679,000]
5. Miscellaneous taxes for all these things: 18,000 [amount remaining, 661,000]
6. Savings: 100,000 [amount remaining, 561,000]
7. Investments: 500,000 [amount remaining, 61,000]
8. Fun/travel money: 61,000 [amount remaining, 0]

53. What does your dream vacation look like?
        First of all, it would take a while. I would get at least a month off of school or work or whatever. Preferably two months. And if I can fast forward to a future time when I am married, I'm just going to be super mormon for a second and say go on a temple road trip. Start in Rexburg and hit Idaho Falls, Logan, Brigham City, Ogden, Bountiful, Salt Lake, Oquirrh Mountain, Jordan River, Draper, Mount Timpanogas, Both in Provo, Payson, Manti, Cedar City, St. George, Snowflake, Gila Valley, Tucson, Gilbert, Phoenix, Mesa. 
       23 temples in a row. How beautiful would that be?


54. If you had 24 hours left to live, what would you do and why?
          I despise this question. I mean, really. And it's very difficult because all of my family lives far away from me. I would want to fly down to them, but that would take about at least four hours out of my 24. And really, I wouldn't want people to know. I don't know that I could ask my parents to fly me out without telling them. And that would just put a huge damper on the whole trip.
          I would tell people what they mean to me. I do a decent job of telling my family, but I don't think that my friends know what a huge impact they have had on my life. I really love each and every one of them. I'd just... be happy. Read my scriptures. Enjoy the sun. Use my body. Write down all of my thoughts about my life. Say good-bye.

55. What is your favorite television show?
        Doctor Who and Sherlock. Yeah, definitely. I love my BBC.






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Just for reference, here are pictures of all those temples I want to visit:

Rexburg

Idaho Falls

Logan

Brigham City

Ogden

Bountiful

Salt Lake

Oquirrh Mountain

Jordan River

Draper

Mount Timpanogas

Both in Provo

Payson

Manti

Cedar City
(under construction)

St. George

Snowflake

Gila Valley

Tucson
(under construction)

Gilbert

Phoenix

Mesa