After a very long, intense, stressful week I got to go home this weekend. The reason for this trip was mainly to see my family since I can't go home for Thanksgiving and to see Lauren before she goes on her mission. It also ended up that one of my really good friends, Bryan, got home from his mission on Saturday, so I got to see him too which was great!

My trip started off with a 3.5 hour drive to Salt Lake and then a flight home. I was SO tired when I got off the plane that I tried to go down on the up escalator. Yeah...it was pretty embarrassing. Saturday I spent the morning shopping with my mom and then I met Lauren and Rach for a while at Starbucks to talk and catch up. I then went home and ate my dad's world famous tacos and spent some more time with my parents before meeting Bryan and Cameron at the Stake Center. Bryan was his normal self but had just gotten released from being a missionary, so he was in a little bit of a culture shock when Lauren and I went to hug him.

Sunday, I went to church to hear Lauren speak and then had brunch with Lauren and Rach. It was so fun to spend time together like we used to, but it was really hard to say goodbye knowing that I wouldn't see Lauren again until I'm graduated from college. We haven't gone that long without seeing eachother since we met (we met when we were 5!). I'm so excited for her to go on a mission though!! Then I hung out with my parents some more and they took me to the airport. It was really hard for me to leave because I felt like I hadn't been home for long enough and I just wish I could come home for Thanksgiving. I'm honestly not sure how I'm going to handle being in Cedar for such a big holiday.

My flight was delayed in Denver so I had to sit in the airport FOREVER next to this guy who I'm pretty sure was high. He kept telling me about all the drugs he invents and how he can't go a day without drugs (I didn't say anything, I was just thinking wow this guy is gross). My ipod was dead but I put in my headphones to pretend I was listening to it so he would stop talking to me...he didn't but at least I had a better reason to ignore him now other than just that's he was creepy. After finally getting to Salt Lake I headed back to Cedar and didn't get in until 11:30, but I was surprisingly awake on the drive.

I'm so glad I got to go home. It was just the boost I needed to keep me motivated in school and everything else going on in my life. I love the comforts of home and being with my parents and my kitties. I love eating tacos and spending time with friends. I just love Colorado. I can't wait to go back on December 19!!

Randomly tonight Alli and I decided to make a list of all of our favorite things starting with each letter of the alphabet. It is much harder than you would think...but it's so much fun!! We are going to get pictures of all of them and make a scrapbook so that we always have something to cheer us up! Here is my list:

A: Aeropostale
B: BMWs


C: chapstick (light blue is the only real kind!)
D: dancing

E: earrings
F: family and friends

G: Gilmore Girls
H: hugs
I: ipod
J: July
K: kitties

L: laundry
M: math
N: nests (this is the name we gave to those pillows with armrests...)
O: oreos
P: Dr. Pepper
Q: quotes (we have a quote wall)
R: road trips

S: shoes
T: tacos
U: underwear
V: very hot men (Twitch Boss comes to mind)

W: white cheddar popcorn
X: xtra polka dots (this was a stretch, but I love polka dots and what really starts with x?)
Y: yummy food

Z: zip-up hoodies

So there is my list from A to Z of all my favorite things. What are your favorite things??

Ok, so I haven't posted in a long time again, but I've been so busy with the various activities going on in my life that I'm going to attempt to catch up right now! This first post will mainly be about my trip to California, but I'll try to post on other things as well.

I got to go to Newport Beach, California for a ballroom competition with the tour team, since my competition partner is on tour team and it was so much fun!! I stayed in a huge beautiful house and the owner of the house owned a BEAUTIFUL BMW, which has been my dream car for forever! We spent time dancing and hanging out on the beach in between the competition, so we had tons of fun. My partner and I danced well (other than completely messing up our cha cha...but that's ok because our rumba was HOT!).

This is me and Chelsea on Newport Beach. This was my proof that I actually went in the ocean, which was needed because I hate being wet. So yes, everyone, I went in the ocean!


This is Colt, me, and Charles hanging out at the beach. Colt is my dance partner, and I was basically with these two the entire trip!


We all decided that we are going to buy a beach house together so we can live there because it's so beautiful. These are the beach houses we were looking at! If only I really could do that...


This is me and Jose at the competition. That is my amazing bright blue samba dress that I wore to compete in. He is an amazing dancer and he and his partner got 2nd and 3rd in their events...so this was us celebrating!

That was basically my trip...lots of sitting in vans, not eating, dancing, not sleeping, dancing some more, playing on the beach, driving...good times!!

I absolutely love conference weekend!! General Conference always seems to come right when I need it. There were so many messages of hope and happiness in this conference, which was definitely what I needed to hear. I have been so discouraged with school and other things lately, but now I feel refreshed and ready to tackle this semester! General Conference is so amazing!!

I also love that it finally feels like fall. I love the smell of fall and the crisp, cold air! Last night some friends and I curled up under blankets and drank hot chocolate and ate the fresh batch of caramel popcorn that I made and watched a movie and it was perfect. I'm so excited to wear sweaters and hoodies and see the leaves change again!! Fall is such a great season!

On top of that, Alli and I decorated for Halloween today. We put up my Halloween Mr. Potato heads and the pumpkin lights my mom sent me. My roommates family came over today and I think they thought we were crazy because we were so excited but I don't care because I absolutely love decorating and it makes me feel like I'm at home again :)

Speaking of home I get to go home in 19 days and counting! What a great weekend!

I've decided to post a few of the things I have loved about the last week (I would post pictures too, but my friend borrowed my camera):

• I LOVE surprise packages from my Mom. Especially halloween-themed packages with brownies involved!
• I loved passing my advanced calc test (that gives me hope for passing the class!!).
• I love having a best friend who cares enough about me to point things out that I need to change in myself.
• I love dancing in ALL my spare time to practice for team and prepare for our competition in California next week.
• I loved going to Salt Lake to see one of my best friends get married.
• I loved that my life-long friend got her mission call!
• I love that my Dad is back from China, so now I can talk to him again and my Mom isn't stuck alone with our cats.
• I love having a family that prays for me and looks out for me.

Life is so amazing when we take the time to recognize all of the great things that happen everyday!