Hello Cancun

Spring term is over.
Which means finals are over.
Which means business law is OVER.
Which means I went home to Coarsegold for a week.
Which means I got to spend time with the preggers before she leaves for Boston.
Which all has made me very happy.
All of which was wonderful.

Now I'm in Mexico.
HOLLA.
And it's even better.

I literally have nothing to do except whatever it is I feel.
Yesterday after a run and good solid workout at a lovely hole-in-the-wall Mexican gym,
I joined my mom and my sister on the beach.
I had a book in my hand [because how could you sit in a chair for hours and do nothing?] and got through only 7 pages.
Then I had the thought- I have the option to literally do nothing right now.
I don't know how long it's been since that has been an option. 

So I did.
I watched the kids play in crystal clear water and enjoyed the breeze.
Then I turned over on my belly and laid there in silence until I fell asleep.

The only bad thing that could happen here is a sunburn.
And let's be real- considering the circumstances, that's not all that bad.


 



Missing you from Mexico...
But probably not.

Taylor Ann

[you want to follow these picturas erryday? feel free to insta-stalk me: smalltowntaylor]

oh heyyyy there!

I thought I probably owed you all a photo-montage of spring.
Life here is always happy during spring, and rain never lasts long.
Long enough to curl up and read a book...maybe enjoy some hot chocolate...
Then the sun comes out and you can ride your bike to school and just sit and bask in sunshine.
New sunshine, warm sunshine- not hot sunshine.
Fountains glimmer and frozen treats come to play.

This spring I've especially loved the freedom of it all.
Having everything to do all the time, but choosing whether or not you want to do anything at all.
Realizing that you are secretly 17 at heart when you buy multi-colored pens to stock up for back to school.
Getting large groups of people to go with you everywhere... even if it is just the gym.
Sitting in an empty library to study while you wait for your next class.
Eating dinner together on your bedroom floor... because you can.
Going to weeknight, latenight dinner with the boys just for fun.
Riding in the beds of trucks and on the back of motorcycles.
Receiving a new "spanish name". alter-ego anyone?

a list today

Spring flings and happy things

picnics on the floor

back roads and country music

late nights

windows down

crystal light. so much crystal light

books

two people in an apartment for four

volleyball

warm days 

stargazing

bike rides 

spontaneity

wild hair

bare feet
sunrise

and this girl.... ohhh yes, this girl. 


 

Straight out of Urban Dictionary

One time I had a guy friend send this to me because he thought it was so spot on.
I giggled so hard I nearly fell out of my chair.

"A Taylor is a fascinating girl. You may hear blondes are the best, but you heard wrong. Brunette Taylor's are the one's you wanna meet. Characteristics of a Taylor are usually funny, outgoing, sarcastic, nice, and can be jealous at times, but not often. They would take a bullet for their friend's in a second. They also have a way of leading boys on, so be careful...But if they really like you, cherish it. Taylor's don't fall for boys easily. And don't let a Taylor get away, whether it's a friendship or something more, you will regret not having a Taylor in your life."

in his words:
"...........pretty close, eh?"
Do you know me well enough to say?

Still chuckling every time I read it,
Taylor Ann

hi, i'm alive.

Good gracious.

My dearest readership,
[or at least those of you who are still around]
This game of ours has gotten pushed to the back burner in a major way the past few weeks?
[ugh. boo]

In the midst of it all I had a roommate get sick with mono... oh, and tonselidus too,
a sister get sick with a bacterial sinus infection,
midterms that never seem to end,
and a wonderful date or two. or three or four.... ;)

And the biggest distraction of them all: the weather. 
You know those times when you can close your eyes and be perfectly comfortable just.. being?
The weather is just at that perfect moment that never seems to last very long,
but you breathe it in with all you have and wish it would last forever.
It never stays, but the memory gets you through the frigid cold of winter.

Yep, so my days are filled with more long barefoot walks and motorcycle rides than ever before.
Long phone conversations on the grass outside, and equally long phone conversations indoors.
I love the out of state friends? Apparently...

Spring, please stay forever.
I love you.

I probably love being 21. Ok, I really do.

But really, my birthday was one of the best days EVER, 

as was the rest of the week spent with my family.

Someday I will tell you about all of the celebrating.

But for now? I am going to record 20 important things that happened in my 20th year of life.

1-Walked the Brooklyn Bridge

2- Explored Central Park

3- Went through my first sudo-relationship [booya. it was longer than two weeks.]

4- ...and subsequently my first DTR

5- ...and subsequently my first breakup? if that's what you call it

6-  Lost 5 pounds

7- Ran a race. a hard race.

8- Kissed a boy or two

9- Took several roadtrips. [idaho, vegas, california(x3) anyone?]

10- Chose a major

11- Moved into a new apartment

12- Threw a sweet dance party or two...ok maybe more

13- Spent a million nights up at the house

14- Explored Yosemite with Linner

15- Discovered my love for Thai food on a whole new level

16- Cut off ALL of my hair

17- Became a Vice President for Student Alumni

18- Put some blonde in my hair

19- Found roots in the 1950s and my obsession with lipstick.

20- Lived a whole heck of a lot

I feel like that's a pretty solid list for a year of life.

And I'm continuing to love every minute.

Can't wait to see what this year has in store.

I mean, it started off with a sequin shirt...

it's already going the right direction.

[Kudos to Jess for the picture at my birthday dinner!] 

Love Always, 

Taylor Ann

insta-life

my life in instagram.

a. Lauren and I dawned matching bejeweled cases. found for $2... I couldn't resist
b. tights are the greatest thing that ever happened
c. baking boys happy.... it's more fun that way
d. using my new cake decorating supplies from grandma to make cupcakes for my spanish class. #win
e. fitting in the skinny jeans these days.... and all kinds of big gulp runs :)
f. sledding at solider hollow for a student alumni retreat. sooo fun :)
g. getting serenaded on the weekends by cute boys is the stuff. try it sometime.
h. and tights.... again. with the boots I haven't taken off since Christmas. socially acceptable slippers people.
i. getting the PERFECT descriptions of ourselves on a date last week.
j. my sister got a puppy named Watson.... I die.
k. he loves his aunt taylor.
l. wearing my mom's sweater from college. real retro is the best.

My kind of boys.

I'm serious. 

I have the best boys...
I am so spoiled when i go home.
I have a daddy who will watch serendipity with me when I'm sick,
and get me out of a packed house when I feel yucky.
I have a brother who drives me around and runs errands with me.
And a baby boy cousin who lit up our world this Christmas with hugs and kisses.

 

What can I say?

I'm just a lucky girl.

[ladies, the cute little brother rockin the raybans is still single...just sayin']

Love You Forever 

and Always,

Taylor Ann

Livin the dream... from a great angle.

Last weekend we got to sit in the president's box... 

well, let's call it a "Loge" since that's what the ticket says.

Plus, it sounds way cooler.

Although we girls may have complained at having to wear matching polos with the boys-

[I mean come on, on our first dates with these boys?] it was way worth it.

1. Look at that view

2. WE WON

3. RILEY....

4. We got to watch the rushing of the field happen from that angle.

[Seriously, watch the progression of the field in these pictures...]

 I mean, in all honesty, the last 4 minutes were the most exciting part. 

But all you need to remember is the strong finish anyways, right?

And if great food and company happen to be a part of it all- yeah, that's alright with me.

Hanging out with President Samuelson and Sister Beck on my Friday night. 

You know, living the dream.

Happy things thurdsay.

a cute big sister.

 early mornings... or late late nights... same thing.

 old-new friends and catch up dates.

passing my favorite willow tree of all time every day in the bookstore.

 cute roommates and target shopping dates.

 balloons and warm weather in September.

 new nailpolish adventures and vintage rings.

truly enjoying the last bit of warmth.

on dance parties, glitter, and cupcakes

I love acrylic nails. I really do. 

Some girls like my sister hate them. 

They find them inconvenient.

I, on the other hand, love them. 

Love love love love them. 

You see, I have these stubby little hands and I they make my fingers look longer.

And they are a great addition for rings on your fingers. 

And giving back-scratches is one of my favorite pastimes.

So, naturally, I love them.

Anyways, we found out that you can buy acrylic nail sets at Walmart for like $6.

Score! We knew immediately that would be one of our purchases on Thursday night.

And who knew? They actually didn't turn out all that bad!

Also, we had a dance party this weekend. 

If you didn't know, we really LOVE dancing.

So we do everything possible to prepare. 

Including doing our nails,

curling our hair, 

wearing glitter hairspray, 

and stretchy pants to allow for full movement.

[neon or sparkly. always.]

Oh, and everyone knows that for a party to be good, the treats have to be good too.

That way it just gives more and more excuses for people to come.
If you ever want a successful party snack, these will do the trick.
I've been getting comments on them alll weekend.

And in case you were wondering, the party was an epic success.
If you don't love to dance, you should learn to love it.
[that's totally possible, right?]
Because oh my.... it. is. fun.

sonic and late nights.

Sometimes after a wild dance party, 

you just need you some sonic.

And when you have such good company?

You may as well stay awhile, 

appreciate the waitresses in their rollerskates,

and ask for balloons like you did when you were five.

Then if it happens that you run into old friends 

and proceed to have a spur of the moment dance party in the parking lot...

so be it :)

Fall Favorites thus far.

Fall is this beautiful time of year, especially the first few weeks of school.

Every conversation, every class, every person: it's all new.

I walk around in awe . 

Because, after the more static nature of summer, 

my world is suddenly more alive than I remembered it being before.

And of course, the repeat places and friendly faces are more than welcome too.

My current Fall Favorites are these:

(a) the Ferris Wheel in the middle of the square.

[yes, I go to school in a magical place. comparable to Hogwarts]

 (b) fhe movie dates with the sister.

[every window was down and both voices were turned all the way up.]

(c) dates always include cupcakes. 

[we just can't seem to get away from "vaniella". and a new location? score]

(d) girls night out splitting pizza and salad.

[with lots of boy talk, mind you]

(e) windows down while the weather is just right.

(f) riding my bike to and from school-- always.

(g) and mud masks and old movies with the sister.

[this week's choice? North and South. highly recommend it]

What's your favorite thing about fall and the start of a new school year?

Summer Adventure: the Lindsay finale.

So then, all of a sudden, it was our last night together.

We went to dinner and saw Captain America with my family [both equally awesome]

And proceeded to wear our 3D glasses with the lenses popped out all night.

We stopped by for a late night grocery run at Walmart

...and if you thought the glasses were immature, you should have seen our behavior...

It was bad. We may have embarrassed my family half to death. 

But when you're laughing to the point you can hardly breath, there just can't be much wrong with that.

When we got home we decided we just couldn't go to bed just yet. 

So, naturally, we made cookies. 

Because, well, we love baking.

And also, that boy at church on Sunday just can't be upset at you if you give him cookies.

So we made my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.

and stuffed whatever we felt like in each cookie. 

So they were individual surprises!

also, note the odd manner in which we placed them on the tray. 

[found here]

it literally makes a difference, they will be way thicker!

So that was that.
And faster than we knew it, our time together was over.
For now at least.
I sure do love you Lindsay Rae!

[oh, and coming up next: my trip to the fabulous Manhattan New York!]
[stay tuned. you'll learn all about why I have some major dietary repentance to do. mmmm]

classic summer.

tri tip

watermelon

soda in glass bottles

lawn chairs

dressing to theme

 family

country music

windows down

barefeet

frostys

minimal makeup

tall oats

dirt

&old friends.

this is what classic summer is meant to be.

-Tay