Fall Time

In case anyone missed the memo, fall is here and it is about to be taken over by winter.  My fall this year was just wonderful!

In October Alyson and Kenny came to Utah to be sealed in the temple.  The day ended up being most beautiful both weather-wise and family-wise and spiritual-wise.  I am so grateful for Alyson and Kenny's example of making the temple a priority.  

It was so wonderful to be together outside of the temple!

After the sealing I threw probably the best baby shower in the history of baby showers for Alyson and baby Jaycie.  It was a tea party and we didn't go half way.

  Grandma Cowley's tea set from Japan.  She would make me tea parties when I was a little girl.

Family Time

My second major vacation this summer was filled with family.  First, I went with my parents and Brian to Florida to see Alyson and Kenny.  Of course theme parks were involved. First, we went to Epcot and Animal Kingdom.

The day at Epcot was beautiful and not even too hot!  We totally lucked out with the weather and it barely rained the entire time we were in Florida!

After spending two days in the parks we needed a brake so we spent a day shopping and relaxing and a day in Jacksonville seeing Alyson and Kenny's home! 

After getting all rested up we headed to the Magic Kingdom.  It was in the Magic Kingdom that I got to see my totally cool former roommate Mehlanie!  Mehlanie knows more about everything Disney than anyone else in the world. 

After riding Pirates of the Caribbean my dad decided he would rather be a pirate than a PR guy.

The next two days were spent at each of the Universal parks, Islands of Adventure then Universal Studios.  The highlight of both days was Harry Potter World.  We missed the opening of Diagon Alley in Universal Studios by just a couple of weeks which was disappointing, but Hogsmeade and Hogwarts were AMAZING.  The ride inside the castle is hands down the coolest ride I have ever ridden in my entire life.

Don't even worry, we spent some time in Springfield with the Simpsons, but the best part of that was the doughnut that was as big as my head.  It was delicious!!

I also couldn't get over how much minion stuff there was to buy!  I just wanted to buy it all because minions are the best!

(This is just one wall in an entire store dedicated only to minions)

On our last day we went to Disney Studios.  I don't think I have ever been so hot in my life.  We happened to be there on the most crowded weekend of the year - Star Wars weekend.  Mark Hamel was even there, but we were there for the rides, not some old actors.  Luckily, I got to see Mehlanie one last time.

Overall, the week was a blast and I can't wait to go back again!  Although I love the Universal parks, there's just nothing that can match the atmosphere and magic in the Disney parks!  And they're a million times better when shared with family and friends!!

watch out-I've been thinking

It's one of those crazy things about life that as soon as you find out you can't do something it automatically becomes the thing you want to do more than anything else.  Some examples if you're not sure you have ever actually experienced it:

Scenario 1: You just decided to go on a diet that does not include any sweets.  The next afternoon the only thing you can think about is that chocolate frosted donut and those peanut M&Ms in the cupboard.

Scenario 2: You HATE shaving your legs, but then your razor breaks right as you finally go to shave for the first time in two months and it's a super crazy week and you don't have time to go buy a new one.  For those two months, you didn't mind your hairy legs, but now, all you can think about is that think sweater appearing on your gams and you can't stand it, the only thing you want to do is shave and you want to do it RIGHT NOW.

Okay, so maybe those weren't the best examples, but I have been experiencing this sort of thing recently, not with donuts or shaving my legs necessarily, but it just got me thinking about the whole issue and why our minds work this way.

diet time

In my post yesterday, I mentioned a new diet, and I'm sure those of you who actually read my blog(Holla Anna and Elissa), have been anxiously awaiting to find out what I even mean by this.  Well, here it is: I am eating gluten free.  Which means no wheat, barley or rye for this girl.

So far, I have actually been surprised at how easy it has been.  I mean, don't get me wrong, those doughnuts at the grocery store looked SO GOOD last night, but I've stayed strong.  I am really hoping that eating gluten free just helps me feel better.  Last semester I often just didn't feel well.  I mean, I wasn't sick, but I wasn't well, so I am ready to hopefully feel much better.  If you all are lucky, maybe I'll share some of my favorite gluten free recipes with you, but we'll see...  Wish me luck!

Also, as a completely random side note, my mom dropped me off at college today.  Love you mom!!

no shave november

There I was at Smith's grabbing a doughnut of all things when a tattooed man appeared and informed me that I had nice calves.  I was wearing a skirt and sneakers and the following could be a picture taken of my very un-shaved legs that day:



I was already feeling self conscious because my legs were super inappropriate to have out in public AND I was grabbing a doughnut.  The doughnut was totally worth it though.

california in august

My beautiful cousin Amanda got married a month and a half ago in the fabulous Newport Beach Temple!  It was so fun to fly down in time to help with the preparations for the big day and then to participate!  Unfortunately, I was VERY bad about taking photos, so the following are all that I have:

The sunrise the first morning at 6AM when I got up to exercise with my momma.

Food preparations

The night before the big day, my cousin and I decided to swim a little(without getting our hair wet, of course) Obviously, we decided to try out some synchronized swimming.

The setup for the reception at "the grove."  It was so beautiful-the weather cooled off just in time for the reception to start(as soon as we were done with all the hard work, of course) and the lights were perfect for in the dim twilight.

I mentioned above that I flew down to Arizona, but luckily, I got to ride home with these pretty ladies!  It was a ten hour party on the 15!

already procrastinating

My first test of the semester closes tomorrow, and I just spent an hour on Pinterest looking at the humor pins.  They were SO funny, but now I'm stressed again because I haven't studied yet.  Oh pinterest, if only there were some way to make money by pinning.  One good thing that came from my pinning spree this evening(night?) was eggless chocolate chip cookie dough!  I have been wanting cookie dough for days, so I made some.  It's not as good as the real stuff, but it worked well enough.  Good thing I'll have it in my fridge for the rest of the week.  Also, on a totally separate note, I haven't been to the gym in a week.  Go ahead and continue judging me.

market day

Every Saturday I have to decide whether or not to sleep in to catch up on some much needed zzz's or to get up and go explore.  Last week was a mixture of both.   I slept in and then went to changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace at 11:30.

There were SO MANY people!  Because it's not the tourist season, they only do the big changing ceremony every other day:(

After changing of the guards, we headed to Borough Market in Southwark!!  The market is only food, and most of it looks AMAZING, but there are some things that look a little out there.

(Gluten Free shout out to all you celiacs out there!)

This past week we spent in PARIS, FRANCE.  Posts to come soon.  My last midterm is on Tuesday, and it is looking to be a rough one.  Our professor enjoys reminding us that the first word in Study Abroad is Study, so we shouldn't complain about a test that keeps us in the centre studying for a day and a half and then takes over 2 hours to complete.  Wish me luck.