proof

I got my lovely personalized (fill in the blank) email from the graduation photographer yesterday. Turns out I'm official enough of a graduate to get hit up to order pictures.

Most of them are normal enough, like this:

 But then there is this one:

yes that is real. thanks jimmer, for always watching over me.

school's out

 

First day of college-September 2007

Last day of college--April 2011

Yesterday was my last day of college classes ever. It was a little surreal to sit in my comparative government class and realize I'm in the last few days of BYU undergrad status.

All that stands between me and graduating in a week is finals, job interviews and moving.

winner winner

want to help us win free engagement pictures?

Go to this page: https://www.facebook.com/PictureMeMine

"Like" the photographer

Click on Engagement Conest Photos

Like our picture (#3)

you can unlike the photographer after that.

Vote early and vote often--we are in 3rd place and the top 3 go to the judges.

thanks!

separated at birth

the two biggest things to hit BYU lately: 

Jimmer 

Mark Zuckerberg 

 

separated at birth?

minus the chin, I think so.

both wildly successful and famous

both slightly awkward

both have a unique sense of fashion (Jimmer wears uggs and cargo sweats in public, Mark chatted with a senator in front of 10,000 people in a hoodie and jeans)

the only difference--Mark couldn't shoot a three worth beans.

then and now...

since I am feeling nostalgic as graduation approaches, here's a look back at the last four years and how things have changed. It's crazy to think how the last four years have flown by.

Roommates

Freshman--dear Kylie. It was fate when we randomly chose the same room in good old Hinckley Hall

 

 Sophomore--the Cinnamon Tree days with these colorful bundles of fun

We had a room of foreigners, a room of curly haired girls, and then a room of leftovers

 

 Junior--I just had one semester at the Riv with these girls, but we loafed it a lot and made up the best apartment song ever.

Senior--tried something new with the Condo Row girls. All from Washington, all lovely.

checkup

Remember this list from 6 months ago? 22 things to do by my 22th birthday? well, it wasn't as easy as planned. an update (completed are in bold)

1. Do baptisms in 4 new temples
       accomplished: 2, Mt Timponogos and Draper

2. Host a swanky dinner party
          accomplished! Halloween murder mystery, fakes-giving and a few more

3. Ride a roller coaster
4. Read the Book of Mormon
5. Meet someone famous
     accomplished! Alex Boye
6. Sew a piece of clothing and actually wear it
     accomplished! a headband. cop out, I know
7. Visit 2 new states 
     accomplished! with a bonus.

        colorado

        south carolina

        texas

8. Make 5 free-throws in a row
9. Go on 3 new hikes
       accomplished: 2 new hikes and some repeats

10. Make a movie
11. Go geocaching
12. Try a new mode of transportation (segway, sailboat, mule, whatever)
      does driving a rental car count?
      but I met a camel. and I would have totally ridden it if I could. I give myself half points.

13. Paint a picture (on a canvas like a real artist...hello Van Gogh!)
14. Go on a roadtrip
       washington to utah and colorado to utah
15. Run a 5k (distance, not actual race)
16. karaoke to cheers, not boos
17. make Cafe Rio pork (bonus points for selling it on the side of the road)
      accomplished. delicious. inspired a massive apartment dinner the next week and Kaiser family dinner a few weeks later
18. Bowl over 200
      didn't realize how difficult this would be
19. keep a plant alive for more than 3 months
20. crash a wedding (doesn't count unless you get food)
21. learn to whistle
22. have a movie-worthy kiss 

Grand total: 8 for real, 3 more almost there. lots of room for improvement for next year's 23 by 23!

it's been real, 2010

2010 was the best. ever.

want proof? ok. (sorry if this is a little cryptic. but at least I included lots of never-before blogged pictures)

January 1 brought a cross-country flight for the adventure of a lifetime. It was living the life of an intern, having State of the Union viewing parties, riding the metro and crashing the sample table at Trader Joes. It was snow and photo shoots and an impromptu trip to New York. It was Congressmen visits and midnight runs to Kramers and the beginnings of the BC/DC fam and the hoedown throwdown.

 

      

February brought snow-mageddon and Valley Forge and my birthday. We looked at historically inaccurate huts and whitewashing. It was a group trip to New York where we rocked a Times Square billboard and froze in Brooklyn. It was Olympics viewing nights and crazy tour guides.

 

 

March brought springtime and tourists and happiness. It was long walks through the district, protests and getting on Fox News. It was the Supreme Court and feeling like a "local". It was Barlow fashion shows and visiting art galleries.

April was bittersweet. It brought "goodbyes" and "let's never forget this", Easter, a Canadian-themed prom and cherry blossoms. It brought getting moshed at Georgetown concerts and late nights reminiscing and writing papers and it brought home. It was taking care of my dying Grandma and learning I can do hard things. It was going back to Provo and transitioning back to a normal student.

 

May was the flava felons and frozen yogurt extravaganza. It was old friends and new friends, outdoor adventures and loving springtime. It was when I tried crafting, running, and avoiding bird poop.

 

 

June meant it was finally summer. It was Hunger Games and jeep rides and exploring new places. It was back home for real, tough but great family time and a lot of rest.

July started out saying goodbye to Grandma, which was made better with lots of family time. It was summer camp and cousin weddings and sisters in town and nights at mom's garden. It was weekend expeditions and welcoming missionaries home.

August was full of small children and weekend adventures. It was goal setting, mountain hiking and bike trips. It was back to school, back to work and moving into a new apartment. It was new roommates and the start of my senior year.

September was transitioning to a Mac, getting used to school, football and going to the fair. It was loving life and getting ready for graduation. It was the most beautiful autumn and enjoying warm days outside.

October was being festive, returning to my beloved DC to win some big PR awards. It was a parents visit for General Conference. It was balancing school and fun, old friends and new, and just being happy. It was a missionary invasion at the temple, old roommate Sundays, and walks around Provo. It was murder mysteries and costume bowling.

November was busy. It was covering election day and being in over my head, but loving politics. It was a boyfriend. It was a balancing act and late nights. It was a new state and meeting the family and long road trips. It was an abandoned airport and gaining driving confidence.

December was dominated by my capstone class, wrapping things up and feeling slightly overwhelmed. It was the end and the beginning and making plans for the future. It was Mo-Tab, Christmas festivities and a southern vacation.

 

Thanks for the emotions, excitement and thrills, 2010. It certainly was a year to remember, and a fabulous one at that. Here's to an even greater 2011.

this is the south.

I've spent the last two weeks loving South Carolina and time with the fam. 

And yeah, people here talk about gators and coons and "the war of northern aggression" and we went to a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the state's secession, but really, the South is quite lovely.

Here's the story from my phone:

 Hello, Atlantic Ocean! A beautiful beach with more starfish than I have ever seen

 Andrew got baptized! We're all so proud of him, and even though he was a little nervous, he did great!

 Newly baptized boy in his fancy clothes.

 Christmas pie contest. Our team's entry was Elegant Chocolate Raspberry Pie. We won most festive, which is quite an accomplishment, seeing as I was the only one with a 2 year old and an 8 year old on my team.

 Andrew, Natalie and Graham all became junior rangers at Fort Sumter. They were so excited to find all the facts and answer their trivia questions, then put their name on the wall of fame.

 Natalie and I dressed in traditional southern clothes, complete with hoop skirts but not the corset. I think I really could have lived in the antebellum south, you know without the war and everything.

 Rainbow Row in downtown Charleston was as lovely as I imagined. My favorite is the yellow house, which is for sale. Serendipitous?

 The architecture of downtown is just so quaint. I would love to live in any of the houses!

And just because I don't have a picture of Spence, and because he looks so cute in his new Thomas PJs.