Its been a while...

I haven't posted since July?? That is sad. This one is mainly for my sis who I don't get to update on my life as much as I probably should.
GET READY FOR THE LONGEST POST OF YOUR LIFE.
I live in AZ again!! Kind of weird? Yes. Am I adjusting? I'm trying my best.
I still can't believe I lived in Utah for almost a whole year! It was the greatest time of my life. I made the most incredible friends who I will be friends with forever. I graduated esthetician school!!I learned life lessons that I wouldn't have been able to anywhere else.
I learned that..
For things to be worth it you have to work at them.
Growing up can be kind of rough, but its such a great journey.
Doing the simple things brings the most happiness.
Putting the Lord first is the only way to go about life.
I have a Heavenly Father that hears my EVERY prayer.
I am given tender mercies daily, I just need to slow down and notice them.
I was born into the family that I have for a reason.
Everybody has trials, therefore there is no need to whine about my own.
Listening to promptings of the Spirit and being obedient are very wise things to do.
People are put into our lives just when we need them.
Parking right the first time is better than having your car towed once a month.
Roommates can make or break an apartment..lets just say I was extremely blessed :]
Snow does not mix well with my driving skills and AZ blood.
I will always have an itch to be in Utah and Arizona at the same time..one day maybe it will be possible!

A week before I moved home, one of my bestest buds passed away. George Roger Victor. He was the most sincere and generous man I've met. I was able to attend his funeral and so grateful to have that closure and peace to know I will see him again.
I then moved home and my Grandma Kerby passed away. I didn't know her too well in her younger days but I sure did learn a lot from her! What an incredible lady. Now I know where my mom gets it from :]
Things happen for a reason. Heavenly Father has a plan for each and every one of His children. He loves us all. Aren't those great truths?? We are so blessed!
Now here comes some pictures of my life in AZ:
I got to go to the State Fair twice! Love that awful, weird, awesome, nauseating, terrifying, blood-rushing place.
I get to wax this fellow whenever I want :]

I got to dress up 3 different times for Halloween! Can you guess what each one is?!
I get to go on crazy adventures all the time with the one and only Lauren Castillo!
We were cowgirls for the weekend and went to bonfires, San Tan Flatts where we country danced, and explored the wilderness.
Life is wonderful! I still am trying to get my license figured out but I know it will all work out. The holidays are here and its great!
2 of my best friends, soon to be 3, are ENGAGED!! 3 weddings in December?? Yeah insane. I love love and love when its my friends that are in it!
My sister is prego! Woop woop! Baby bump should arrive at the first of February. #13 and counting for the nieces and nephews.
Ok thats enough for an update! Until next time!

July is Gone!

Harry Potter! Complete success. I think I will be able to watch that movie over and over and never get sick of it! Thanks to Bre and Martin for getting me a free ticket :]

Emmy Wright and a few other cute girls from Mesa performed in the Young Ambassadors camp and were incredible! So glad I was able to go this year and watch.

I think waxing parties and homemade ice cream nights have become the Sunday evening ritual. Great tradition huh?!

We had a fun little girls night and saw the movie Crazy Stupid Love. Lets just say Ryan Gosling is a dreamboat and is the only reason the movie was worth watching!
We also like to go mattress surfing and maybe, just maybe, jump out of windows :]

For those of you who didnt watch Bachelorette, it was incredible and you should watch it!
Also, its SHARK WEEK and my roomies are obsessed. Someone please save me so I'm still ok with going in the ocean!
Happy August!!

recap!

Arizona was so good to me!
This sweet girl got baptized...
I made some room for good ol times with these gals!Went jeeping and cliff jumping with these crazies..I love my cousin more every time I see her! Seriously we have so much fun together and I miss the heck out of her!After a week of fun with fam and friends, we headed off to Cali! Jess and Kris let me ride in their car with the cute girliesLaners likes to show his love to me only sometimes...kind of like his father!
Disneyland and Cali Adventure were so fun!
I seriously am the luckiest aunt! Ah these kids are just so dang cute and fun!Thanks to the Mama and the Papa G for getting the fam together and going! Nothin like family trips and bonding time.
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I didnt want to leave the dream and head back to Provo....but I guess its a good thing I did! Mr. Brad Paisley was waiting for me there..Stadium of Fire was amazing! The next night we camped out on University Ave. Crazy I know! We didnt get much sleep, but it was fun to be there for the parade in the morning!I felt right at home when we yeehawed to the rodeo!! Only one cowboy from AZ, but you can bet I screamed extra loud for him :] Life is finally settling down again and I'm kicking it into gear to finish school by September!

viva la vegas!

i hadnt been to las vegas since i was 9 years old! it was so great to go back!
we shopped at ceasars palace (3 story H&M!!), ate at cheesecake, went to the amazing esthetics show, and had a blast!i even got to go on a sweet scavenger hunt. it left me with a shopping spree to the sugar factory and a date back in provo!i am such a lucky girl! now i'm in az and heading to cali in a couple days..is this real life?!

my kinda party

i love summer! i love that there is so much more to do!
these are 2 of my bestest friends (one is my roomie) and we went to an awesome rooftop concert. Love the Ficionist!Midnight showing of Pirates was so great!! We even got some sick tats. BUT i now am deathly afraid of mermaids.
Kenzie and I like to rent tandem bikes and ride them around town :]
I was a lucky girl and got to go to Salt Lake and visit Paige for a few hours. The EVMCO recorded and performed up there all week. I hear they were incredible but sad I couldn't go and support my cute friend.It is new tradition to have homemade icecream every Sunday! I feel right at home :]Next weekend is the Vegas Aesthetics Show...and then off to AZ!!

sunshine

i know this is the opposite of my last post BUT everyone needs a little sunshine :]
and thats why i drove down to ARIZONA!! ah the weather was great! especially since it rained all weekend in provo.
i love my family! they are best examples, support, and reasons for laughing that i could possibly ask for!
we went to red robin with some of the fam and celebrated keli's early bday!
i also love that this boy is home!
my bestest bud all growing up. we played catch, had picnics in the park, made jumps for our bikes, caught wild animals, went fishing, and climbed trees. he accepted me as my chubby little boy self. haha we had some good times! do we look any different now?!i am so proud of talmage and amazed at the man he has become! i'm so glad we can still be such good friends!
life is good and i am loving school! i'm super stoked for the vegas skin show in a couple weeks. then i will be heading to az again for a little break!

A skin secret.

Most of you know that I'm in aesthetician school right now and halfway done!
My fam is always asking for tips on healthier skin or whats the best brand of this and that. So I thought I would give a few tips every once in a while! I'm no professional (yet) so don't go quoting me on all of it, but I am being well-trained and have some great knowledge to share!
The first secret to younger, healthy skin isn't really a secret. Its called using SUNSCREEN. Now come the questions of what kind?
There are a bajillion brands and types out there.
But its more the INGREDIENTS.
Look for
-zinc oxide
-titanium dioxide
-FULL spectrum coverage (not broad)
-SPF of no more than 35 (after that it is called a CHEMICAL sunscreen which causes burning)
-Avoid fragrances and parabens
I haven't discovered all the best brands yet but just keep those few hints in mind!
Re-apply at least every 2 hours!!
So this summer have fun in the sun, but do it right! :]

Making lemonade

After a rough weekend of saying goodbye to roomies and being homeless, it has been such a great week!
But back to the weekend. My rachie poo left me and it was really sad. Then I moved out of The Colony and tried to move into my new place. They could've told me that check-ins weren't til Monday!! Holy smokes people. My car had been packed for 2 days and I just wanted to unload it! But I had to wait.
So when in distress of course I called the papa. He always gives me great advice :]
Then I decided to make myself useful and go to the temple.After that, the Ellingson bunch was nice enough to take me in. We saw Rio, ate yummy pizza, went to my favorite toy store, and had a good few days together!
And we can't forget the mini Easter egg hunt! Thanks to mama g for the golden eggs :]

So let the saying ring true, When life gives you lemons, MAKE LEMONADE!

rolling in the deep

Since Arizona, I've been trying to get back into the normal life. But life just hasn't been the same since! I'm more happy and full of love and its great.
Becca was in town again for another wedding, so we went to visit her. I will be seeing her again soon for my roommate's farewell and I am stoked!

Then my wildest dreams came true on Sunday when we found the long awaited.. CASTLE!!


Isn't it so great?? I sure think so :]
So is PROVO.
I took Rachel to Texas Roadhouse since she had never been.They treated us so great it was insane! So here's a hint- if you want free stuff from roadhouse, then say you've never been!
Then I came home and decided I should start packing. I lifted up the bed comforter to find this...WAX spilled EVERYWHERE! Oh man it was such a mess. After 6 wash rags, a whole roll of paper towels, a whole bottle of Googone, 4 hours of me scrubbing and lots of blowdrying, it came clean..mostly :]

So now I'm cleaning out my apartment to move to a new one! Roomies are all leaving and its super sad. The thing I will miss most is Chol. She is pretty great. Theres honestly never ever a dull moment with us. I just love her and will miss her lots! But I'm glad she gets to go home and spend time with her fam.
Now onto other big adventures.I will let ya'll know how the new roomies are!

Meanwhile back in the good ol AZ, my dad is the new BISHOP! I'm so excited for him and the new ward. They will definitely be in good hands!
Also, one of my best friends arrived back from an honorable mission in Russia. Talmage Stahle! Ah I sure miss the kid and cant wait to catch up with him.
So life is good and exciting and everything great!
Check out the new Adele cd if you need some good listening tunes.

i say ARI..

you say zona, ARI. ZONA. ARIZONA!!
yep thats where i relocated for 4 days :]
i surprised the whole fam and was able to be there for Minda's bday and Tatum's baptism!
It was just a whole trip filled of pure HAPPINESS. Besides for when I got emotional at the baptism, then Tatum cried Sunday when she had to leave and knew I wouldn't be back for a while. But it really was a great weekend!
My nieces and nephews are beyond scrumptious, i know :]

I miss Sundays just hangin out with the fam. And wrestling. And tickling my brothers til they cry.Monday morning was filled with lovely doc appts..but i got to see this cute sis one more time!
A lot of my time was spent with my most wonderful mom. She got some things for me that I've been in desperate need of and took me everywhere! I've definitely missed my time with mama bear.
A special thanks to Sunni/Spencers for helping out with the buddy pass, Minda and Stephen for picking me up at the airport, and my whole family for being so incredible! Couln't have asked for a better weekend in AZ!!

desire.

"What we insistently desire is what we will become."
that hit me. thank you Elder Dallin H. Oaks!
now wasn't conference so incredible?
holy smokes I sure enjoyed it.
can you tell?!
it was my first time away from home watching conference.
and it was my first time going to it!
what an amazing experience.
the weather wasn't anything I would call 'ideal' but it made for some good laughs!

i just had to share my exciting news of going to conference!
but before that i had some other interesting experiences.
chol has an awesome Uncle Mike that plays basketball in a wheelchair for the Wheelin Jazz, so we went to their game against the Utah Celebs! here is a pic of us with Shaun Bradley.. can you say tall?we tried to imagine this 7'6 man holding his 5'4 wife's hand..kind of awkward.
so friday at school was quite interesting for me. you see, i decided to give some girls practice on brow tinting. lets just say it didn't go as expected and my name was "bert and ernie" the rest of the day. i didnt want anyone seeing me for weeks!
luckily i have a great roommate who accepts me no matter what and played with me that night :] oreo rice krispie treats and milkshakes mmmm
and one last thing.
i know everybody knows that i have the greatest nieces and nephews on the planet. yes i really do. and sometimes they send me sweet notes in the mail that just absolutely melt me! this is tatum saying thank you for her bday present."ceriesly" so cute right?! my sweet TATUM LYN is getting baptized this saturday. i am so proud of her for making this choice in her life. i am so sad i cant be there in person to watch her take this big step,but she knows how proud i am and how much i love her!
it was a great week to say the least!
i hope everyone has a renewed desire to be a little better!