Summer Series: Belle

I spent some time with my Gina when I was home.
Those adventures are always much needed, and always last longer than planned.
Regardless of when we meet up, I keep my entire afternoon open.
This time we just needed a Frosty.
Those of you who are from Coarsegold, you know what I mean.
We just needed to sit on the wooden tables under the misters,
and enjoy a frosty at Robert's.
Where old black and white movies play on repeat,
and the walls are covered in glamour shots of Marilyn, Audrey, and Lucy.
Where a hand carved wooden bear sits atop the shelf,
and the different coffees are named after the regular customers.
Where anybody not from Coarsegold gets their picture posted on the wall.
And even if the waitress doesn't know your name, she knows what family you come from.
Oh, and Robert actually cooks the food. Every day.
So yeah, we needed to go to Robert's Frosty.
How else on earth do you describe that feeling?




Gina and I, being 5 years old like we are, needed matching lockets of our favorite princesses.
I guess I hadn't ever given much thought to which was my favorite before.
But it is Belle, without a doubt.
She is strong, and knows what is right.
Not only does she know what's right, but she does what is right...
even when it doesn't make sense to everyone else.
She can hold her own, and stand alone.
She sees beyond outer appearances, and genuinely loves her friends and family.
She fights for what she believes, and knows what that is.
And on top of it all, she dances in a beautiful gown and tames a beast.
She allows herself to be vulnerable, when she could have stayed safe.
She is Beauty.

Just a thought.
Taylor Ann

lonely and alone are two different things.

I am house-sitting for sister,
while her and the hubby are in Boston house shopping.
We won't discuss that further, because I'll cry that she's leaving me.....
Moving on.


Buuuuuuuutttt, that means it's all about #1 over here these days.

And it is the best thing of my life.
There has been lots of content, quiet moments.
And studying with a puppy curled up by my feet.
There have been lots of dance parties in the kitchen with said puppy.
...Maybe some wooing boys by letting them play with Watson [ok, not really, but kinda..]

And walking around with the doors locked and less than appropriate amounts of clothing...
because I can.

Studying my brains out
& loving the solo life,

Taylor Ann


[also, to clear up the confusion over the last post... there is no boy, just a boy. just a friend, who happens to be a doll and make me food when he flys into town from across the country. I lucked out in the guy-friend department, eh?]

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.

do you know what i do all the time?

College was really hard, emotionally, my first year.
I was used to things falling into my lap, and people knowing my name
[not to mention the two generations before me]

and I came here and I couldn't play an instrument.

I mean that wasn't all, but it personifies my problem.
Everyone seemed to be good at things that I wasn't...
and I forgot that I was good at anything at all.

Then I found something outside of myself.
I got involved in a campus organization.
I started doing things that weren't about me.
I loved it, and I felt important and needed.

I've found something every semester since to  do that for me.
That makes it all sound selfish, but maybe it is?

Right now, I'm a Vice President over with Student Alumni.
Oh wait? You don't know what that is? Never fear. I'll tell you.

Student Alumni is connected with the term "Cougars today, cougars forever" and that's our goal. I mean, what's the point of going to a University you don't love and want to be a sweet alumni that reps their college shirt on gameday forever?
I seriously don't know.

We [meaning myself and the other officers and volunteers, whom I adore...] get to help students feel the spirit of the Y by hosting Tradition and Professional Development events. I get to do the Traditions events.....which are awesome, fyi. Traditions Ball, Hike and Light the Y, Food Drive, Senior Celebration, etc. Yeah...sweet.

Oh wait? I forgot to explain the spirit of the Y? If you've gone to BYU, and I mean really gone to BYU [not just gone through the motions of going to classes... you get out what you put in, y'all] you will know. There's just something about it here. Regardless of sports, or physical attractiveness of our facilities [which are often lacking], or prestige of our programs.... there's just a special spirit here. If you let yourself stop stressing about school or boys or how fat you feel in those pants for just a second, you'll feel it. Take out your headphones. Look up, remember? It's better to look up. And that's one of my favorite reasons to look up. To feel that spirit of the Y.

Anyways, all this means that 1. I'm advocating another cause bigger than me, probably for selfish reasons like keeping my sanity 2. I get to spend much of my time in the most beautiful building on campus named after my childhood prophet [Hinckley Center] 3. I get to help plan awesome events and meet even more awesome volunteers. let's be real, they make my job easy.

Just thought I'd let you know about what takes up a large chunk of my time.
Oh wait? You want to go to our website? I'll help you. Click here.
While you're there you want to register for Traditions Ball? Even better.

Just teasing you. But really.

Love Always,
Taylor Ann

getting back on feat. miss mackenzie

Have you ever fallen off a horse?
Well, it's kind of a scary thing....no matter how old you are.
When I was probably around 6 years old, I fell off my horse straight into grandma and grandpa's pond.
Daddy gave me the shirt off his back and I emotionally recovered at grandma's house.
[which is, of course, the best place to recover]

But would you know what is the most important is about falling off?
Getting back on.
Which also happens to be the scariest part.
But gosh darnit, isn't that the way everything is?

Well, this story isn't about me after all anyways.
You see, Miss Mackenzie loves horses.
[Santa even gave her horse pajamas this year]
Over Christmas, she fell off.
Scared her and everyone else half to death,
but she was so brave.
She got right back on.

You know, if you think about it....
everything good stops if you fall off at the first bump,
and never get back on.
But life keeps going just fine if you get back on.

I love you my pretty little Mackenzie :)

Taylor Ann

Jesus: The Perfect Leader

"Each of us has more opportunities to do good and to be good than we ever use. These

opportunities lie all around us. Whatever the size of our present circle of effective influence, if we were to improve our performance even a little bit, that circle would be enlarged. There are many individuals waiting to be touched and loved if we care enough to improve in our performance.

We must remember that those mortals we meet in parking lots, offices, elevators, and elsewhere

are that portion of mankind God has given us to love and to serve. It will do us little good to speak of the general brotherhood of mankind if we cannot regard those who are all around us as our brothers and sisters. If our sample of humanity seems unglamorous or so very small, we need to remember the parable Jesus gave us in which he reminded us that greatness is not always a

matter of size or scale, but of the quality of one’s life. If we do well with our talents and with the

opportunities around us, this will not go unnoticed by God. And to those who do well with the

opportunities given them, even more will be given!"

President Spencer W. Kimball

I even had dad snap a picture...

New Years has never been a "thing" around these parts. Not that we don't love the idea of starting fresh or being excited for the future, but we just haven't ever really been into it. I think my parents normally go to sleep around 10. Sometimes they probably roll over and give each other a kiss as the fireworks go off and people start to shout.

I don't really remember what I've done on New Year's Eves before this.. I suppose none of them were that memorable. So when it came time to make plans this year, I hadn't even give it a thought. There was a dance going on in town, then miss gina wanted to play dress up and drink cider. But then daddy suggested we go out. Me, mom, dad. Just us. Dinner, movies, and cider.... but mostly dinner. [the kids are pretty popular these days, so naturally they were gone] 

I don't know about you, but I thought forgoing the 45 minutes of freeway driving for a night in with the parentals sounded about right. Mom and I ran some errands [mostly, i needed shoes and she needed groceries...] and ate ice cream and sang loud all the way home. I dawned the fake eyelashes, lipstick, sparkles, and a princess skirt and went to the fanciest dinner I've ever had.

We talked about the past and a little bit of the future, and naturally we talked about the boys of my life [which is always a favorite subject]. We tasted some things that were incredible.....beef. and some things that were an experience....rosemary dessert?

I thoroughly enjoyed my time having my parents to myself, and then something like 9 courses and 3 hours later I was voted driver [20 year olds have a better record for staying up until these hours you know....] and we headed home.

And you know what? BEST. NEWYEARSEVE. EVER.

you should really try hanging out with your parents sometime.

food drives and lots of lovin'

My week was taken over. 

Snatched right up.

Collecting cans, 

making announcements, 

contacting volunteers.

You know, all the good stuff. 

Tonight my roommates asked me an insightful question. 

They asked me why I do it- all the service stuff.

It took me a minute to answer....

I have been dong it all so long that I almost forgot.

But it comes down to this-I need it.

I need something that's not about me.

Service is really what saved me,

when I got lost in the sea of people here.

And when I remember that, 

it's all easy again.

And it's always worth it.

Thoughts on life.

Today, there's a lot on my mind.

Most of the thoughts center on how short life can really be,
and that anything can happen. to anyone. at any moment.
Today it has been two years since my cousin Caroline passed away.
She was young, with three little ones- all under the age of 12.

I was able to visit her 3 or summers back or so, when she was in remission.
Although she was my senior by, I don't know, almost twenty years,
we talked frankly and openly like we were cousins.
After all, that's what we were.
We spent time talking about marriage and dating and high school,
we enjoyed fabulous dinners due to our mutual love for good food,
we bonded over our mutual love for great shoes,
we talked about growing up and how there's no need to rush.

I was in Texas for especially for youth, a church camp.
That year, my roommate had to bum out on me at the last minute,
and in all honesty I was a bit nervous and frustrated.

I will be forever grateful that Heavenly Father stuck his hand directly into my life,
and gave me a little extra time with Caroline.

Everything happens for a reason,
even when you don't understand it.
Today I found out a friend from high school, who just got married,
is moving home because her husband has cancer.
I don't understand that.
Caroline Terry lost her battle with cancer 2 years ago,
and left behind a loving husband and three children.
I don't understand that either.

So today, be grateful for what you have.
Love the people you love,
and take advantage of every opportunity.


I love you all,
Taylor Ann

because it happened

So, remember my rose-burning-fun a few months ago?

Well, around that time I also found my old box of notes.

And, you know, reading them helped me remember how much I loved them. 

And when you remember those times, you wonder how it ever came to be that you aren't close now.

In some cases, it was my fault. 

I was immature and did things that put a wall between us.

In some cases, time and distance placed us far apart.

And that was that.

Sometimes I get sad that they're over.

But then I remember to smile because they happened....those friendships that I needed so much.

I am so grateful for those memories that I shared with them, and I will forever look back fondly

on writing secret notes and sticking them under the church couch,

making waffles and peanut butter and dressing up late at night,

decorating envelopes and sending handwritten letters,

taking friends on family vacations to the beach and the mountains,

taking pictures and writing notes during class,

and giggling about silly crushes [these notes were chalk-full of those]

I will always love these girls.

No matter what comes between or where we are.

Their friendships got me through hard times.

And helped me appreciate the good times.

So in the words of Dr. Seuss...
smile because it happened.

Love Always, 

Taylor Ann

Magic.

You know those happiness moments?

The ones where the weather is perfect,

the sky is the right shade of blue,

when nothing seems to be the matter,

and you curl up with a blanket and a book,

or take a hot bath.

Those moments when you feel so content,

where everyone around you is smiling,

and you just can't seem to wipe the smile off your face.

When you sing loud in the car,

or catch a glimpse of something breathtaking,

when the snow is falling so magically,

or you feel loved perfectly despite your imperfections.

I love those moments. 

I live for them.

Magic is real,

I just know it is. 

I remember walking home from class my freshman year on my birthday.

It was in the end of February, and weather is never very good then.

But the sun was shining and it felt so good on my face.

I can remember exactly where I was at that moment, and I remember how it felt.

Magic.

I remember seeing my kids waiting for me at the front of the orphanage when our bus pulled in.

I remember dancing with them all night to the sounds of Peruvian voices and guitars.

I remember Jerry holding my hands and walking on my feet and smiling up with that toothless grin.

Magic.

I remember coming home for a weekend in the summer of 2009 and sleeping under the stars with my family.

Magic.

I remember driving down dirt roads this summer with the music up loud...singing at the top of our lungs,  and catching frogs in the muddy banks of the pond.

Magic.

Life is never perfect. 

But I think He gives us moments in which we glimpse for a moment what pure joy feels like.

It's that peaceful, calm, happy moment when nothing else seems to matter. 

Where even if all other things are wrong, you just know it will be ok.

I think that might be what eternity feels like.

I suppose I'll have to wait to find out.

These are some of my favorite "magic" pictures on my pinterest account.

I think the older I get, and the more I make the distinction between what matters and what doesn't,

I have more and more "magic" moments.

It's more of the feeling than the circumstance or action.

That swelling in your heart. 

Magic.

In those moments, and always....

truly, my cup runneth over.

tender mercies

I'm sorry I haven't really been a real blogger the past couple of days.
You see, right now I'm a little overwhelmed.
[With all the having to be a real person and make real choices about life and stuff, you know]
And I still have 3 midterms left this week.
So thus... it's not over yet.

But don't you worry, Heavenly Father has not forgotten me.
The other day I had to wear a pencil skirt to school,
[cue "having to be a real person" remark found above]
so I didn't ride my sweet penelope.
I thought I might die. The walk home is fifty times longer without a bike.
But then mama called and I decided to set down my heavy backpack and lie on the grass.
As I talked, I looked up.
The sky to my right was painted all light blues and pinks.
And the tree above my head was turning rich yellow around the edges.
My phone died, so I let my mind be quiet for the remainder of my walk home.
I saw green summer touched with the fiery hues of fall.
I could smell the water on the pavement.
I thought how ironic it is that to smell the best scents you have to breath deep.
Gratitude takes some effort from our part.
There's so much wonder that you miss if you don't open your eyes- or take a deep breath.

So, aside from the stress, these are the things that make me happy this week.
These are my tender mercies.

(1) friends and BYU football
(2) boys that strap sheep pillow pets on their bikes
(3) pizza and soda with General relief society meeting
(4) home evening at the bishops house: fingerpaints and haystacks

Let's make it through this week :)

How to successfully survive....

a day at work (dare I say "enjoy"?)

so we had a conversation yesterday. me and dad.

we have lots of conversations these days [seeing that we spend nearly every waking hour within 10 yards of each other] but anyways, we were talking....and by we I mean I think I was doing most of the talking at this point....about how I love being busy. thank heavens I have a 9-5 job, because I think I would go crazy without it. so I thought I would share a few of the things that are essential in getting me through.

Step 1: Moisturize..

Or keep something on hand that you like I guess....

I, personally am obsessed with Bath and Body's Shea Cashmere Hand Cream and Rose Salve.

I'm also a huge anti-fan of dry skin and lips. Soooo...

you best believe these are constantly on hand.

Step 2: Hydration! 

When I'm sitting at a desk all day it's easy to keep water on hand and sip.

Sipping is better than snacking, no? 

Because they're equally as easy...

Step 3: Tunes.

If at all possible, I highly suggest it.

 

Step 4: Keep snacks on hand.

My guilt-free treat of choice is gum :)

Step 5: Look decent. 

Nobody can look great every day

[wait, don't I have a sister that accomplishes that feat?]

but for the majority of us... decent is totally great.

Ok, so some of you may be calling me a hypocrite right now for that last one. [I'm a large fan of sweats and I never blowdry my hair] but what I'm trying to say here is look presentable! When you feel cute outside, you feel better about yourself inside. Girls are emotionally connected all over the place...if you are a girl you understand what I mean. If you are a boy.... [are there many of you out there reading this...?] just trust me. Last summer I didn't quite have this one figured out. Mostly I didn't wear any makeup [not a bad thing... but it wasn't due to great skin and summer freedom. the culprit was laziness...] and didn't care what I wore. I figured I was seeing my dad's clients all day....and Donny too I suppose.... so why would I care what I looked like? That happened to me my senior year too. I think I went through at least a few months where I wore a large sweatshirt, jeans, and vans every. single. day. [aka do I not sound sooo frumpy? don't judge me]

Sooooo what changed? Well, my sister always has been really good at being cute. Like wears cute outfits all the time, portrait of perfection, etc etc. and I used to ask her sometimes why she got so cute when there wasn't always what I thought was a "reason". Then I read an article one time where somebody was talking about putting on mascara before she went to the gym....not because she was looking to impress anybody....but that was the one thing that made her feel presentable. So I figured out that everybody has something that makes them feel better about themselves inside. Some people don't need makeup. I happen to feel about a thousand times better if I have two things: mascara and lipstick. Some people need to do their hair to feel presentable: I don't care enough in that department. I feel fine with crazy hair. In fact, the crazier, the better. 

So take the extra five minutes. Maybe it only takes two. 

Whip out your cute shoes.

Blowdry your hair.

Paint your nails. 

Wear a headband.

Put on a dress.

Put that sparkly, shimmery something to good use [hey, can't every day be a special occasion?]

For me, I'll keep my mascara and lipstick close at hand.

Feel pretty today.

Because you are :)

[someday remind me to blog about confidence... I have had some major life discoveries in that category over the years...still learning.]

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

Who doesn't love Justin Bieber and frozen yogurt?

 Today I had some visitors at work!

 They were well behaved for the most part, 

but a picture was needed so we took a quick break from good behavior.

 They waited for me to get off work then we went out on the town!

 [Is it normal to love girls night with 12 year olds just as much as your roommates?]

 Well, we went and bought some Claire's accessories, naturally....

and ate frozen yogurt. And bought lipgloss and smelly-good stuff.

 

Then drove home to the beats of JB and 96.3 

[country...did you expect anything else?]

Sang at the top of our lungs with the windows down and music alll the way up..

Went to the housepad and explored in my heels from work. 

I let them crawl out the sunroof to exit the vehicle. 

This is what makes me a cool adult.

 If I was twelve I would hang out with them.

Oh wait, I already do.

riding in cars with boys.

Story time....
the other night we had quite the college agenda.
Namely.....
a block party/outdoor concert
a dance/birthday party
& a ward bonfire.

The night didn't go exactly as planned, but they never do... do they?
Well as we were heading over to the dance party from the block party.....
there happened to be an open convertible full of boys next to my car.

KJ: "Would you pay me if I just jumped in that car right now?"
Me: "Heck yeah"
KJ: "How much? Five bucks?"
Me: "Yeah"
KJ: "Make it ten and I'll do it right now"
Me: "Are you serious?! Yeah I'll do ten" (... I really wasn't thinking she would do it)
KJ: "Alright" [runs off and jumps in the back seat of the convertible]

Meanwhile, I'm laughing my guts out leaning against my car.
They drive around the block.
I'm still laughing when they get back.
They get back. I hop in, we go to the carnival and watch fireworks with them.

pays to have a wild roommate.
life's more interesting.

Moral of the story.
if you live anywhere other than Provo, don't do that.
even if you do.... be careful? but that may be slightly hypocritical.

So now we come to the bittersweet reality that spring term is over.
And my social life will die... but come back to life with sibling time.
And my life will go from independent to dependent.
And I will have a lot less pavement and alot more trees.
And a lot less friends but a lot more family.
And good Sunday dinners as opposed to endless Sunday functions.
And more crickets and less traffic.
And less sidewalks and more weeds.
And more drive time and less homework.

And someday soon I'll tell you about this crazy thing that is my life.
And about packing and finals and running quite a few more miles than I bargained for this week.
But until then, it's late... really late. And I have just one or two things to do tomorrow...

Goodnight world
-Tay

Just somethin I've been thinking about.

So some people think blogging is a fake world. 

Where people pretend like their life is perfect. 

In some cases, that may be true. 

But let me tell you about me. 

And why I blog. 

I blog to record. 

And to record the good things. 

Yeah, sometimes I mention my mini-meltdowns

But 1. who wants to read about my debbie-downer moments...

and 2. I don't want to focus on them.

Because what's the use in reliving them?

Oh, that's right. There's not.

 

And also I get to share the things I love. 

And the pictures I take. 

And the quotes and stories from my life.

And maybe someone reads. 

But if they don't, I don't care.

it's a good way for me to reset.

And take a little "me" time everyday. 

And listen to some good country. 

And remember what's important.

So moral of the story: I like blogging.

More all the time.

I'm not going anywhere.

Tay

marriage, running, life.

Last night I went to institute
(for those of you not familiar...it's like a religion class that doesn't count for credit)
and it was so, so good. We talked about relationships, which happen to be a popular subject around these parts, but it wasn't overwhelming. It was refreshing, really. A while back I was asked to share my thoughts on the subject of marriage. Here. With all of you. I never did for some reason or another, I guess sometimes life gets in the way. But it's about time I at least tried. I won't claim to be an expert, oh no...that would be leading you astray in a big way. But I'm allowed to have thoughts, aren't I?
I sure hope so.

Then I ran. Does it ever happen to you where the plan was to be home at 8, exercise until 9, and be done with your paper at 12 and it turns into not getting home until 10, exercising until 11:30, not-being-able-to-write-your-paper-and-wanting-to-write-this-blog-post-instead, and finishing at who-knows-when?
Well that's what happened to me.
But anyways, I ran. It just felt so good outside. And I was connecting it all in my head. I think it is at least semi-acceptable to think of analogies on a consistent basis, yeah? So back to running.... I ran to the temple, which happens to be all uphill. So as I ran on this seemingly endless incline, I thought of something that was said tonight.
"I've learned one thing. Things done the easy way make life hard, and things done the hard way make life easy"
That may sound weird, and my quoting may be a little off, but it made perfect sense to me. And in relationships, I think that it's totally applicable. Putting off talking about potentially uncomfortable subjects, not waiting to do things the right way, those are the easy ways. In the end though they end up being harder. Saying things that need to be said, sticking to your guns, standing up for what is right even when it's hard, waiting for the better things, those things are hard. But just because they're hard doesn't mean you stop "running". It doesn't mean you quit. You put it in low gear and keep pushing through.

Tonight we had the greatest discussion on perspective. To be unhappy with someone or life in general can be so easy to do if we focus on the moment. Or the day. Or even the month. Step back. Look at things from another view. Preferably a view from a higher standpoint. You know, it's no surprise that that ships have a crow's nest, or that lighthouses are set above the crashing waves. A different perspective, particularly one from above, can make a world of difference.

I don't know a lot about this stuff but I know a few things for sure.

Things I know:
My husband will be absolutely wonderful.
It won't always be easy.
My problems don't all of a sudden go away when I get married (shocking, right?)
I will get married in the temple.
In relationships, you get out what you put in.
I will marry my best friend (dear family, don't read into that....because I know you already did). 

My favorite marriage analogy:
Let us compare two people to two colors of paint on an easel. When you get married, you can't just stay the same way you are. If you did, your life would go on just as it was.... but that's not why we get married now, is it? But we also don't change into a different person, right? (I mean that's why they always tell you not to go into relationships expecting to change people-you're still you) But now that you are married, let's say you are yellow and he is blue, you need to become one. Just as we can become "new creatures" through Christ, so with marriage we also become something new. We become green. So you both are still there, yes, you have to have blue and yellow to make green, but you've become something different than either of you could individually.

So this is just another rambling... from me to you :)

home loving and a happy memorial day

So Saturday I may or may not have had a quarter-life crisis.
It lasted less than an hour (they always do around here...)
And we were off to the races.
By the races I mean retail therapy.
I mean, I think it was already planned by my cute mother...
(I mean, you don't shop while you're at college.... so when you come home...it happens)
but shop we did, and cute they (our purchased items) are.

Sunday was better, as Sundays always are.
Memorial Day in a home ward is so different than a college ward could ever be.
The veterans stood up and were recognized... two of them spoke.
They spoke of real things.
One spoke of how the gospel has helped him,
the other recognized all of those who defend us.
Of all the millions upon millions of people who have lived on this earth.
How lucky we are to be the small fraction of those...
who live in a free country
at a time when we have every opportunity

another favorite part of home is daddy's Sunday school class.
he's my favorite teacher ever, and not because he's my daddy.
we just speak the same language, you know?
we talked about scriptural military heroes.
Moroni of course...

Other things I'm loving about being home??

dad's old rodeo t-shirts

and puppy love.

With Captain Moroni, dad, and these little guys in my life, 

how could I ever need anyone else?

hi, i'm impulsive.

 So, my roommate and I have a summer goal list.

On it, as you can see, is listed "BE IMPULSIVE"

the rest are... in progress 

(to be blogged about later....for the most part)

Sooooo... let me tell you a quick story.

Thursday morning my only class was cancelled. 

So I set no alarm, woke up, read for a while,

studied a little bit. 

Then realized, if I'm going to do this for the next four days....

I would much rather do it at home. 

So I hastily packed bags, threw my camera gear and blankets in the car.

Went to a review at 5pm, took a test until 7pm.

Then left.

Just like that.

 This is my I'm feeling so good about leaving face.

(I don't think it was looking quite so lively while driving at 4am but that's a different story...)

So here's a few instagrams from the drive. 

Or at least the half of the drive done in the daylight...

 Finally back in California.

Back to my kind of mountains.

 Long road ahead.

and wow, it looks like I'm off the road... weird. 

Promise I wasn't if that's any consolation.

 sunrise. 

haven't been up for that in a while.

 Back to the valley, with fields as far as the eye can see

 Windows down and feelin good after the nearly-all-nighter.

 good old barns in the red, white, and blue fashion.

 and the casino....

ohhhh the casino.

 Still running on 3 hours of sleep, 

but high on love.... and a runners high too!

and of course being back home means having Jess back.

platforms and boots.

vanilla and chocolate.

marilyn monroe and audrey hepburn.

sweet and salty.

stringy and stalky. 

reunited. 

if only for a moment.

thank the good heavens.

Be impulsive ?

(oh, and take a roadtrip too...)

CHECK.