I.P.

A Manly Cabin Weekend—Cam Stephens

This last weekend, Cam and I and our friend Scott were invited by our friends Carl & Olivia Yeip to take a little weekend trip to their cabin in Island Park. Even though it feels like we are buried in homework and work, we decided it wouldn't be the end of the world if we forgot about that for a couple of days!  

We got there late Friday night but that didn't stop us from staying up late, playing a few games and eating a whole lot of treats. Liv made some delicious crépes on Saturday morning for breakfast and then we went along with the guys and did all sorts of guy stuff. 

Shooting guns, throwing tomahawks... well, Liv and I watched for the most part because it was so chilly but we got a few shots in! I won't lie,  it was entertaining enough just watching the guys together, they were like little boys.

We drove down to West Yelli for some dinner and walked around a little bit. 
[Side note: I can't believe how many tourists/asians were still there. It felt like winter weather without snow. I guess I expected it to be dead because it's almost October but it was still bumpin'.] 

There's just something about sitting inside a cabin next to the fireplace that is so relaxing. Even doing my homework was more enjoyable there. It was nice spending time with friends... I definitely needed that trip. We had so much fun! 

...and to top off a great weekend we decided to go ahead and take some cheesy photos by the fire pit... in the middle of the day. Who doesn't love a good stock photo?

you guys.

{that's usually how I start a really important announcement}

I cannot contain my excitement.

Why? 

Because I am going to Tennessee in 10 days.

Not to Nashville or Memphis but to Gatlinburg.

What's so great about Gatlinburg?

Oh just a few things...

Like the zip-line that my friends happen to be working at this summer

WATCH HERE

Or the fireflies which only come to Gatlinburg and Southeast Asia that just happen to be there right when we arrive.

Seriously, it is going to be un.real.

And of course my friends who I can't wait to see!!!

Especially this lady who is never not fun!

Tickets are booked. I'm ready to go.

Plus, I've never been to the south unless you count a layover in Florida...

YAY!

well overdue

Alright people.

For how much I love my birthday, you'd think I'd be all up on posting the photos and deets about it

but... 

apparently it has taken me about 1 month, 19 days to do so.

Not to say that it hasn't crossed my mind a time or two, or three, or 19 times. 

Better late than never though!

Needless to say it was a fabulous 20th birthday

slash funeral for my beloved teenage years!

Only because I was surrounded by so many of my good friends.

And my family,

knowing up close and personal how much I have, and will always love my bday

 --and how I hate to spend it without them--

 trekked to Logan just for lunch and a lil bit of Kinect fun!

A few birthday highlights included

 Coming home to a room 

stocked with only the finest junk food

(all my favorites!)

by my bathroommate and longtime friend Jess.

My door is glowing because of all the magically delicious surprises that lie on the other side of it!

also packed with things to keep me young like this HanMontan T 

which I happen to be wearing right now!

Cuz I'm a Secret Pop Star!!

She also made me french toast for brunch on my birthday.

I'm the luckiest.

I'll just owe the gift of those 10 lbs. I got on my birthday to her

finding this on my facebook at the end of the day.

who doesn't like 41 notifications on facebook all wishing you a happy birthday!

these were a few of my favorites:

--from Elder Hartley, my first crush, and favorite missionary--

--a funny note from my favorite little people--

--my one and probably only birthday wish directly from Paris France--

--competition on Facebook, it's the best!--

I loved all of my birthday wishes, these are just a few that made me laugh!

OKAY FINE!

besides facebook

most of my birthday highlights were food.

big surprise!

I really did love that my mom gave me a

Babes cake AND her homemade lemon cake -drooling!

Happy Birthday to ME!

goodbye 2010. hello 2011.

This year has been full of so many adventures. 

I...

• finished my freshman year of college and hatched out of my cocoon to become a social butterfly :)
• tried out for a play and tried my hand at acting
• dated. A lot. and I learned a lot.
• made friends that will stay with me throughout my whole life.
• didn't go home for my first summer in my entire life.
• saw Old Faithful for the first time under a full moon.
• snuck up to the Historic crows nest TWICE! adrenaline rush. 
• drove to California 3 times.
• learned how to do a round-off back handspring
• was a bridesmaid for the first time.
• realized that I have so many things to do with my life and don't quite know how to fit it all in*

*which leads me to my new years resolutions

• sew something (a quilt, a shirt, a purse, a pillowcase..... something somewhat impressive).
• start Really getting into graphic design and learning more about it.

I feel like I should throw some don't drink soda, don't eat sweets, don't eat more than a handful of chips a day but that's not gonna happen so here's my alternative:

• run a half marathon.

Might not sound like an impressive list but for me to accomplish these things would be a dream come true. 

And like my dad always says, 

"A goal unwritten is just a dream"

(Thanks Rollie for the words of wisdom!)

So that's that. I am going to make my dreams come true this year...

I have a lot more dreams than this but they are more of personal goals that I keep to myself in my heart and just wait for and work for everyday...

NOW.

Prepare for a picture OVER LOOOOOAD!

I ended the year with a bang by taking a road trip to California with a bunch of close friends for Jennika & Sam's wedding!

Let me tell you something,
There's nothing to bring you closer to your friends than a road trip.
Maybe too close. Like, the brink of closeness if there is one. Bubbles do not exist.

Let me tell you something else.
 These two have more friends than anyone I know. 

It makes sense though, they are two of the friendliest and most fun people I know.

To sum it all up in a nutshell, the wedding was a blast! Everything about it was beautiful and fun just like Jenn and Sam!
So here you go. 

They're married!

The wedding party!

So to start off this new year

I have to tell all my friends that I'm so so lucky to have:

I love you!

a most magical christmas

I still can't believe that Christmas has come and gone so quickly! 

That seems to be the theme for this year.

I was lucky enough to have two christmases this year. 

One of which was this summer. 

It's tradition at the Playmill to celebrate Christmas on August 25th (or in our case, the 22nd) 

and the owners gave everyone a trip to Disneyland. (Best bosses on earth)

It was so much fun to be reunited with the people who I spent every second of this summer with!

"team churro"

(I think the name describes itself)

We just happened to go during one of the biggest storms in California in years.

But honestly, besides our soggy feet and mildew scented clothes. It was pretty great.

Yes, I wore the same outfit for 4 days in a row

No lines more than 10 minutes! 

I appreciated the Christmas spirit there as well. Every inch of the park was decorated with 

garland, lights, ornaments. I absolutely loved it. 

 I got back home just in time for a sleigh ride with the family!

The rest of Christmas was spent with family. Meeting the newest little babies on Christmas Eve. And eating lots and lots of delicious Christmas treats!

(My Christmas Breakfast, Too beautiful NOT to take a picture of)

I love this Holiday and everything it represents, 

and I love the comfort of a warm and happy home to come back to.

I hope everyone had a 

very merry christmas

Now I am headed back to "sunny" California for my best friend's wedding!