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

Happy Spring Saturdays.

Saturday was one of those happy days.
I went to the temple, which never gets old.
Then I came home, wrote in my journal and fell asleep.
I awoke to the sound of playing games in the pool, and immediately joined the fun.
Laid out in the perfectly warm sun and went to sonic for big drinks.
Windows down always.
Went on a long motorcyle ride up the canyon,
and silently enjoyed the warmth on my skin and beautiful green of the mountains.
Screamed all the way through tunnels
and sat at Sundance listening to bluegrass artists warming up for their show.
We talked about how stubborn I am, boys, family, and snow-capped mountains.
Then went disco skating, which.... I mean how could you get better than that?
It rocked.
Then cute boys and jam sessions to ring in the night. win.







I seemed to fit homework in there somewhere, but somehow it isn't as much of a pain when the rest of the day is so happy.
Here's to hoping this weekend is as happy.

Taylor Ann

i-da-ho...

General Conference included a trip to a real home. 

Not an apartment...

A home... with real-size bathrooms,

and parents who believe college kids should not pay for food, 

and real mom-cooked meals, 

and candy bowls, 

and in the house were real-sized beds, 

and everything was clean.

We slept. 

and we ate.

and we ate.

and we ate.

then we slept.

We played with the six year old sister, 

and took a stop in mama's hometown on our way back. 

Burley: where the only thing that blows harder than the town is the wind.

That was rude- I secretly love that dinky town.

I love it for giving me my senior prom dress,

and three weeks of bonding time with mama while grandma was sick, 

and bonding time with grandpa.. when he wouldn't stand for any grandchild to be there but me.

I love Burley for making me cry the hot, embarrassing kind of tears,

for making me cry in front of a boy for the first and only time.

I love it for the Snake River,

and being serenaded by that boy on its banks.

I love it for the dinky movie theater, 

and awesome cinnamon rolls.

I love it for the nursing home, 

and the people who loved grandma as she passed from one side to another.

From the outside, she had been gone for a long time,

but she was still my mama's mama.

I'll never want to lose my mama. 

Never never. 

But when I do, I hope my kids are old enough to understand that no matter who she is then,

She was mine. She rocked me to sleep [when I let her].

She cooked for me, and cleaned up after me.

She taught me how to figure me out.

And when I cry hot tears when she's gone,

I hope they understand.

And maybe that's when they'll be forced to sit in my dinky hometown for three weeks.

And maybe, maybe, they'll like it too.

Love Always, 

Taylor Ann

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

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.

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.

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 :)

reminiscent.

Tonight I went to a Peru reunion.

And as I sat there with those people and talked about life since our grand adventure,

the longing that for so long has been in the back of my mind came directly to the front. 

It never takes long for it to get there.

I remember riding the bus through the mountains between Urubamba and Cusco on my way home.

My eyes were glued to the window, and a sort of hole started to form in my heart.

Someone asked me what I was thinking and all I could find to say was, 

"I don't want to leave"

Peru was one of the best experiences of my life for so many reasons. 

I was doing something bigger than me in a place so much bigger than me. 

I went to bed exhausted every night,

and woke tired every morning. 

I met people I would never have dreamed I could love so much.

In a place I knew hardly anything about.

And at the end I was left wide-eyed and breathless,

and aware of a place in my heart that I never knew existed.

Happy Birthday, Bub.

My little brothers birthday was day before yesterday. 

He's the man.

...as is made obvious in this picture.

he may be embarrassed. 

but he also may never check my blog, 

and thus never know :)

he was always the peewee of the crew...
and now he's all grown up and seventeen years old on us!
he even passed me up in height last year and could probably now beat me in wrestling
[although we will never. ever. mention that. nor try it]

he's the only true blonde of us all
and the old ladies of our childhood deemed him

"the surfer cowboy"

blonde hair. 

tan. [[ALWAYS.]]

blue eyes. 

and boots most of the time. 

now all female specimen deem him the
"beautiful one"
I was glad for the extra popularity boost this year as a counselor at girl's camp.
where I was immediately ten points cooler when it was discovered that I was related to Zane.
instant street cred.
it was rad.

things I love about Zane:

he picks me up princess style and makes me feel pretty all the time

he's fun. lots and lots of fun. 

the party truly does not start until he arrives.
he has mad impersonation skills.

he's all man.
he can saddle a horse and do manual labor like a champ. 

he can dance to Justin Beiber in the efy talent show.
he can somehow pull off old man sweaters. [not the cute kind either.]
he does ridiculous favors for us, like getting our water that's just out of arms reach.
he lets me mostly do all his school shopping.
he's never too cool for a sibling date with his sisters.
he puts up with having all sisters.
[and all these are just the tip of the iceberg...]

happy birthday, bub.
you da best.

Summer Adventures: Berkeley edition

Don't hate me too bad for neglecting to update this baby for so long.

If you understood how wonderful my week has been, you would be totally understanding.

So trust me on this one.

Now, I will proceed to give you a teaser of my fabulous week.

aka....just the first few days :)

Remember, Aspen? and how much I love her?

I got to visit her this week!

She goes to UC Berkeley [aka Cal. aka really smart]

and it is quite the cuteclutter-hippie dream town if I say so myself.

Here are some things that you must do while you're there.

1. Go to La Med [hi, I have the Berkeley lingo down]

because the food looks like this.

and a restaurant is nearly always worth trying when it is this cute outside.

2. Go to Ici.

because who can pass up some strawberry-balsamic carmel swirl...?

Shoot, actually I can. I got malted vanilla. 

And it was dang good.

In the words of a local...

"you only go there for the cones anyways"

but really, their flavors are so cool

[don't judge me... it's just that when it comes to sweets, I like'm SWEET]

3. Go to cheeseboard

Preferably, you should get a very drunk lady and her girlfriend to pay for your whole pizza so they can cut you in line. At least, that's what we did....

 

4. But whatever you do, it will be a whole lot better if you take along a friend

and sit on a rooftop if at all possible.

because I love most everything about Coarsegold,

but there's something about city lights that's so enchanting.

And if you can, have late night giggles and chats until midnight.

and remember your childhood. 

and appreciate that friendship even more than you did before.

because it's good to be with people who know you. all the way. through and through. 

from beginning to end :)

cleaning out the closet.

So Jess and I have a track record.
We have collectively....
lived through 43 Valentine's Days.
been bridesmaids in 7 weddings.
were elected to homecoming court 6 times.
were named princess twice and queen twice.
and attended 20 different formal dances.
...at five different schools.

that made for a lot of roses.

 and hey, girls like roses. 

And who wants to throw roses in the trash when you're 16? 

That's right, nobody. 

So they have stayed...

 in drawers...

 and boxes...

 in vases...

 and baskets.

 in water basins

 and adorning

 every.

 single.

 wall.

And in this big move that's happening right now, we thought it might be time to say goodbye.

Because, well, it's over. And also... 

how do you successfully transport huge bags of dry roses without making a complete and utter mess?

You don't.

So, [being the slight pyro that it is in my blood to be] 

I decided it was time to have a little bonfire. 

Plus, it's more dramatic. And thus, more fun.

Thanks for the good times, high school.