engagements

i got to take my roommate and her fiance's engagement pictures last week.

it felt good to have a project again and get really into it. 

the sun was absolutely gorgeous and i want it to always be like that. 

monday

thanksgiving is thursday. my break starts tomorrow. and i mentally checked out on saturday. why am i still here?

in good news, i get to leave and go home tomorrow. 

in better news, one direction's new cd, midnight memories is on sale today and i TOTES BOUGHT IT!

i also watched all 7 hours of 1D Day. it was not planned, but it definitely happened. 

my weekend didn't go as planned, but i saw catching fire, so at least that happened. 

i also can't stop thinking about said movie. seriously. have. to. watch. again. 

why do i always want gator jacks when i'm blogging on mondays?

sometimes i really love to pretend i'm online shopping. i'll fill up a whole cart and then just not buy any of it.

there's this game called skunk and we all can't stop playing it.
this weekend holds so much exciting potential, i can barely handle it.
i want to watch anastasia. odd? maybe. 

messages

I love this message and this story. 

happy sunday. 

how many more days until i see them?

remember when you were this little?

you probably don't. but i do. 

oh how i miss you, little cute boys. 

african stories.

i had never been somewhere that was far worse than i had imagined. but here i was, and it was staring me in the face. i had been to a third world country before, and for some reason i had thought that this gave me an advantage, but i was not off to a good start. it may have been the 27 hours of straight travel or it may have been the bed i had slept on that looked like it was covered in diseases, but either way, starting off my first full day in africa was not as easy as i had thought it might be. we were told several times that today we would be in the poorest of the poor, and all that experience i had mentioned before left me to think that it would not be much harder than what i had experienced. but the barren dirt land that was inhabited by far too many shelters, that could hardly be considered homes because they were made of garbage bags with sticks for framing, left me with a feeling i still can't describe. i could not process what was in front of me.  i did not know how i would face the day. i didn't know how i would make it and let alone smile, and i instantly wanted to go home. but i was the first seat on the bus. the one they were all waiting for to get off first, to lead the way through what was just as terrifying to them. i pulled my sunglasses down, and walked out into the sun with the most sincere prayer in my heart. and the biggest blessing i could have ever asked for followed. the instant my foot hit that ground, i was fine. i was more than fine. i was the most kind and outreaching i had ever been in my life. and that was when i knew i wanted to always do this. i wanted to always travel, no matter where in the world it may be. because it was a gift to be there and i left more blessed than those that i was intending to bless.

i know i always post this picture, but it was my moment and i love that it was captured. 

MONDAY

i am counting down the days until thanksgiving break.
my best friend got engaged on saturday!! i am so happy for them both!
there are exactly three things i can't stop thinking about: 1. a gator jack's sandwich 2. my weekend and how much i like it and 3. my birthday. its getting close!
after years of wanting a tulle skirt, i bought one yesterday and its stinking adorable.
it finally snowed in small college town, but it barely stuck to the ground, which is so uncharacteristic.
i definitely bowled a 111 and i am proud of that.
when is it ok to want to ask your roommate's boyfriend to leave the house? is it when he makes himself at home while she naps in her room? because i feel like thats an appropriate time. fiance's and college apartment life don't mix well.
for the first time in weeks, i finally had time to do whatever i wanted on a sunday, and it was bliss.
the fact that i don't have midnight tickets to catching fire doesn't disappoint me. its the fact that i don't care as much about not having tickets as i should care.
i have realized that happiness is subjective and dependent on ourselves - and that makes it that much more satisfying. i have earned my happiness.

the divine power

i am grateful for friends that are worthy. and i am grateful for friends that are good and whole. there is something so powerful in seeing a friend in a new, sacred, and spiritual light that brings such a respect that i can't even begin to describe. a new bond that lets me see just who they really choose to be, and how little i let them be that in my eyes. i think it so special that they live that way and they choose to be the most righteous they can be, so they can bless others. and now i should live my life that way, so that i might be able and willing to help, if only a small amount compared to them.

the priesthood is a gift and power that i have such respect for.  and for those that use theirs willingly and respectfully.

looking through old shoots

and i found this gem.

things my brothers tell me, part 3:

G (looking at an old and very 90s family picture): Elsa, are you wearing trousers in that picture??
L: Dude, those are overalls.

Noah (after I told him about the new release of the trailer for the movie Noah): Russell Crowe is playing me? Couldn't they have gotten Liam Neeson at least?

Me: Hey, do you like orange juice? Maybe we'll buy you some for your throat.
L: Yes, and I also love polynesian sauce.

G's commentary on a lady's musical number in church:
-Whoa, that was loud. I'm just saying what you were thinking.
-Did she just say enjoy your cake? (It was "in joy or pain")

L: Oh whoa mom, I can feel the comb on my head.
Mom: Yeah, that normally happens.
L: No, like I can feel it through my hair on my head.

G: (talking about One Direction) Harry is the British one
Me: They're all British
G: Well he's the most British. So he's the most cool.

G: (upon farting) Sorry, I can't help it when I'm nervous.

Me: I know that you love sports so much, but they aren't meant for inside, right?
G: Yeah, except maybe pool.

L: Nial's hair looks like Sky's.
G: Sky who?
L: Elsa's friend Sky. Sky Geren.
G: You're just saying that because they both are blonde and have good hair.

G: Its easier for me to remember Harry's last name because its like hair style.
L: Yeah and he has the most hair style.

Can you tell they are a One Direction fandom right now?

it's wednesday and i'm much happier now

i gave a presentation on pizza the other day, and replicated my dad's thai chicken pizza to bring to class. i've never been so popular on campus before.

i had a dream the other night that i was best buddies with the Kris Jenner and i traveled to Spain with the entire Kardashian clan for Kimye's wedding. 

i think i might have made progress. and that is a good thing. i mean he always opens the door for me. and only me. so that's good, right?

so we definitely had a cake party this last sunday, and it wasn't as big as the others. it was still fun, but i think we hit the quota when we went three weeks ago. 

anyone want to do my laundry for me?

i think getting mail from my best friend is one of the best things ever. she's a cutie that i miss. 

sometimes i just want to stop all of my school work and dive head first into photography again and do only that. 

and then i also want to keep doing video. i need to practice that. 

i've started to count down to thanksgiving break. anyone know how many days there are? i actually don't know, i just know its closer than it was yesterday. 

having friends on sports teams at school has actually made me that much more aware of how all sports work. i never thought i would learn. 

it's gotten so cold outside that i can pretend i'm smoking with my steamy breath. 

again, does anyone want to do my laundry for me?

"watch out, extremely sassy"

let's just start by saying the red devil came to visit in the most inopportune time, which was today.
my motivation has literally flown out the window. like, i watched it peace out on me right as soon as my sweats went on.  and the fact that i don't really care to get it back is probably the worst part. not that i care about it right now. all i cared about was an order of cinnamon twists, a crunchwrap supreme, and an extra large soda. and grumpy elsa gets what she wants. it also doesn't help that i have three tv shows that i want to catch up on right now, and a pile of laundry that should probably be done.  but to be real, my sarcasm is off the charts hysterical right now, and i think if there is anything that should be seen as good from this mood, maybe it should be that. i should walk around with a sign hanging around my neck that says "watch out, extremely sassy" so no one crosses me and i further embarrass myself. so let's just say that's my excuse for no post about my life. i'll promise that for another day, when the red devil isn't so keen on consuming my attitude and body both.

"you do not want to hike annapurna!"

it is one of my favorite movies

hola monday

[insert current picture here]

i have a knot the size of texas on my left shoulder blade and trying to get rid of it probably is a feeling similar to giving birth. too much?
i tried mcdonald's breakfast for the first time ever last week.
i successfully made it through midterms. high five for me!
have you ever wanted to just nap all day long? i felt like that on saturday and didn't even care.
speaking of saturday, we went bowling at this ghetto place and oddly, i came in third place.
i've come to the conclusion that i'm the ultimate soccer (or insert any of sport) mom there is.
when is thanksgiving break again?
has it snowed yet here? nope.
i was shocked at myself for actually wanting to keep watching the kardashians after it was turned off.
class sign ups are on thursday. what?
twitter is becoming a thing again. at least for me.
i've decided naps are always a good idea.
also, we've started a bowling league and i'm somewhat serious about practicing.