Bye Bye Fall

I have a million and one (like ten) drafts in my blogger, and for whatever reason, today's attempt is making the cut. This place is one of my favorites. To hike and to think and run and think and wander and think. My nature church, if you will. And soon it will look drastically un-pretty with the cold coming in. Speaking of which, I'm already freezing. Fuh-ree-zing. Mind you I'm just in my room, wrapped in two blankets and my Omni-Heat jacket. Uh oh. And with that, what does it mean if you start secretly crying in spin class to Katherine McPhee? (It was American Idol themed day, blah.). The song is just so dang catchy! And surprisingly motivating! And that music video! But let's cleanse our musical palettes with this song. I love it, oh yes.

And that is all I have for today.

Oh! Wait! Watch the Office again. Season 5, or 6. Preferably with a Coby-alike of your choice. All the laughing will get you motivated to take on your ever-awaiting homework. And happy. (Also anxious, nervous, compassionate, impressed, and left in unbelief, {aka Michael}).

November Already?

(via.)

How is it already November? And dark by five? Crazy I tell ya! These last couple of weeks (well month, two months?) have been a blur. With life picking up, alongside a well-timed lesson in church today, I knew I needed to spend a couple of minutes writing down life as of late. Spirit of Elijah! Huzzah!

School has been so full of goodness this last little while. And this week before Halloween has been my favorite week of school to date. Each one of my illustration classes allowed us to let loose and just draw. I'm feeling my groove pick up in figure drawing, and am really enjoying all four hours on a drawing horse now that we've covered most of our material for the semester. My confidence is starting to resurface in Character Design. And I learned the Thriller dance in Spin! A little break from spinning my legs silly is always appreciated, no matter how embarrassing the alternative may be. There have been several late-night Uncrustables from the vending machine, many misprints and miscuts made in the visual arts Print Lab, and tons of early treks to campus. I'm happy to be getting an education, and especially to be getting an education in the visual arts.

In other, cooler news, I ran a half marathon! And have an obnoxious, completion medal sitting just to my left to prove it. Over the summer I started running again, (always "again") so my coworker Meghan and I decided to really make something of it! The first month of my training was awesome. The second month, well not so much. The big day crept up on us anyway, and after a night of very little sleep it arrived. The morning started with a spooky bus ride up Provo Canyon to the top of South Fork where we were dropped at a cloud of eye-stinging smoke. Standing in the cold for the next two hours probably wasn't the best way to warm up our legs or unfreeze my toes, but we made the best of it and tried to keep the nerves away. Once we finally got going I felt so good! And continued feeling that way up until mile ten. Truly. That stretch in the open canyon had to have been the best part of the entire race, I felt like I could fly. We had a longer than necessary pit stop thrown in the mix, and once we got past the Riverwoods I could just feel the weight of lactic acid seep through my legs.  Oh, and I may or may not have thrown up (but only a little!) at the medal table after a surprise sprint to the finish. But despite those few set backs we did it, and we did it together. Meghan really helped motivate me at the end, and I like to think I kept her going too. It was tender knowing we had gone into it together and finished it as a unit. I loved building up our friendship through running, and genuinely looked forward to our Saturday morning runs! And may I just say, It's crazy fulfilling to have a long time goal of mine finally accomplished. Now I may not be my former fifteen year old self, running miles upon miles every morning... But my pride has come into play and I'm feeling motivated to do another half marathon! This time, for time. And this time, with actual running shoes. (I swear though, that race was my gateway to obesity for a hot second there. So much pasta and candy and hello, I can eat whatever I want! Do you know what I just did?!)

Speaking of goals, I scored an internship for this semester and next at Sycamore Street Press! Somehow the stars aligned and I landed right where I want to be. I knew I wanted to find a job in my field or to study under an illustrator, and now I've got the best of both worlds! While what I'm working on right now is only one gear of the experience, every day I find myself admiring the cards and prints around me and thinking of how lucky I really am. It's been fun to grow as a designer leading up to this (and I'm talking like, MAJOR growth).  To look at my portfolio and feel proud at how far I've come. And to now take that growth and apply it is exciting! Kirk and Eva have been great and their love for what they do is inspiring and motivating. Plus, the drives to Heber are beautiful and definitely set the tone for my day. I can't wait to look back and see what I've learned and what I've offered to the brand!

Another exciting item of business, I made the jump and bought a newwwww (read in a Price is Right voice) camera! HOLY GUACAMOLE the difference in quality was instant. In. Stant. My images are now just so creamy, and buttery, and I've found myself wanting to haul that couple pounds of greasy goodness with me everywhere. Gone are the days when I would leave shoots feeling confident, only to come home to my computer frustrated and so deflated. So while the photography world is still so vast and ever so overwhelming, I no longer feel as held back in terms of quality and creativity. Slap that stereotypical "utah-photog" badge on me, I will wear it with pride. (Hint hint, hire me!).

Are you still reading this? Well if you are, other highlights of this last little while include driving the Mount Nebo Loop, the Alt-J concert, and watching the X-Files. Exploring Mount Nebo left me screaming over the yellow-leaved beauty at every stop. Really. It could not be contained! Coby and I would drive up and up, jump out for a bit, run around in windy nature dance, and slump back in to the car. Back to the warmth and the Kanye remixes. The Alt-J concert was just as magical. Coby's brother oh so graciously gave me his ticket (I know) and it proved to be one of my favorite concerts. I wanted to lay down right there in the middle of the floor and float off into sweet, sweet lyrical heaven. And then the X-Files, the perfect amount of mystery without the twisted gore. Perfect for getting some Halloween spirit. And how can you not love Agent Scully and Agent Mulder?

Go team!

Spring A Ling

Spring is here! Spring is here! And boy is it beautiful. I've been running around rock canyon with chalk-handed men who clap for me, old ladies who walk with me, and doggies who run alongside me. Aka my little hiking escapades have been the best. Spring also means the hot tub! Soccer games! Sand volleyball! Tingey dinners! New classes! St. George picnics! Vegas (more on that next)! And a future trip to Disneyland!

Do you know what else Spring brings? Spring TUNES YO! Want to hear mine? You do, especially because TLC is involved. And if I'm left dancing on my bed then thats gotta mean something. Here ya go: one / two / three / four / five (thanks kaylie!)

But guys, can I take a moment to talk about the cycling class I'm taking? Yes, yes it is rad and I left today drenched in my own power of positive thinking sweat and sense of accomplishment. But other than my bruised butt all I could think about was this little Schmidt gem. If only, right?

Last thing, I'm needing books to read this summer. I think I'm going to start with The Fault in Our Stars and then reread the Great Gatsby before I see Leo. Suggestions?

Whew. Spring. I love it.

Just Stopping By To Say...

This has been the best two days of my life. {AND THERE ARE PLENTY MORE TO COME!}

Being a BYU sports camp counselor has got to be the best thing that's ever happened to me.

I love my girls.

I love my fellow counselors.

I love BYU.

and I love sports! {duh!}

I cannot wait to do this summer after summer after summer...

Yep, even after I graduate.

Just keep 'em comin!

I feel like I'm in student council again {SJH student body president whats up!}.

I also may or may not enjoy telling people what to do?  It's a weakness, it really is.

Tonight I danced my life away without a care in the world.  Prancin' through hundreds of sweaty kids and let me tell you my friends, dancing has never felt so good.  Now people, remember all of those stake dances?  All of those junior high dance parties?  EFY maybe?  Let me tell you, being a counselor at a dance is TWENTY TIMES BETTER.  There is no such thing as awkwardness when you are a counselor {yes, even in dancing! wahoo!}.  Everything you do is golden.  I am worshipped here.  A goddess really.  

Okay so maybe not worshipped, but we'll just settle on "loved" instead.

In all seriousness though, these girls here at camp mean the world to me.  It's amazing how quickly relationships can form, and how quickly someone can just invest all of their trust to you.  And to see their fresh little faces light up {it's cliche for a reason} when I give devotionals every night?  The greatest.

Anywho, these last two days have been too special to not write a little something down.

{and in my free time i get to go trail running, three cheers!  i am seriously so addicted that i don't even care how pretentious/ridiculous i sound right now.  pictured above, naturally [hahaha! get it?]}

In Which I Abuse the Brace Bracket

{via.}

Well, it seems as though I don't have much to blog about.

Things around here have been, well, routine to say the least.

I've been spending my time in the art room {crunch time!},

taking religion tests {and aceing them!},

running down rock canyon {i'm an athlete again!},

and being sufficiently awkward in each and every social encounter {which seem to be few and far between...}

I'm starting {haven't started} to pack {again!} to leave Provo Town this week.  And while at first I was very {very} excited to get away from here, after watching Phantom of the Opera {gerard!} with the homies {random people who I very loosely call "friends"}, I admit it will be sad to leave the familiar faces of the past six months.  They've been {relatively} good to me {insert winky emoticon here to protect this sentence, only don't}.

Alas!  Adventures {kind of} await!

See you later Provo.

p.s. Lana Del Rey, all day

A Rainy Day & Cupcakes

 {morning message left by Shayn}

Now I need to find a gym.

Or at least an electrical shock of some sort to keep me awake in the morning early enough to run.

Obsessed

Best Movie Royalty.

Minus Sandy's bangs.  Don't entirely hate them, just don't love them.  However, your dress is heaven.  Angie?!  I swoon.  That is all that needs to be said.  SWOON.

Best Usually I wouldn't like this, but you guys make it look dang good!

Material of Meggie's dress = amazing.  So sultry.  Annie, girl, I love the boatneck and sleeves.   Not to mention the lighter hair.  Just look at you!  Keep it uppp.

Best Mod.

Meeechelle.  I so wish Blue Valentine wasn't so sexual, because I, along with the rest of the world, are rightly in love with you.  In love.  Stay strong girl.  I dig your lips.  ScarJo?  This fits you fantastically.  Way to make Ryan weep in regret!  Love the neutrals ladies.

Best Pretty in Pink.  

NATTTIE!  WAY TO REPRESENT!!!  Congrats a thousand times over on your win, as well as your darling rose and baby to be.  Not to mention your jewelry and makeup are perfection.  Lea darling.  You are just a vision.  Can you teach me how to style my hair?  Structure of this dress is rad.  Just sayin'.

Best DANGGG GURLLL!

Livi dear, you are a princess.  You totally pulled it off.  Way to be different.  Leighton!  My love still remains.  You are gorgeoussss.  Dress is amazing.  Uh-maze-ing!  See that slit?  Totally balances the killer long sleeves.  Teach me?

Best One Shoulder.

Chrissy!  Only you could grow a rose on your shoulder and look that good.  Julia.  Hun.  I miss you!!!  Where have you been all of my life?  Make another movie pwease.  Because you rock that carpet.  I wish the bodice was better proportioned though.

Best in Back to Black. 

Jenni, yes you, I'm stealing your dress for prom.  Consider yourself warned, because I adore the high front.  Giuliannaaaa, I sincerely hope you get pregnant!  You will be one classy mommie.   All my best.

Best Shining in Chiffon.

Jules!  I wish you chose a different color, however,  you rock it.  So modern.  DIIIIIIIII.  I die.  I die for Di.  I die for her hair.  I die for her nails.  I die for her lips.  I die for her dress.  Rachel Zoe dies.  We all die.  Love love.

I can honestly say that this is the BEST red carpet outcome for any event in the longest time.  I salute you ladies!  You're golden.  'Nuff said.

Back to studying?  I guess so...

{Guess what?!  I ran today!  Granted it was for 20 minutes, but I did it!  I could barely breathe, but I kept on keepin' on!  Curse you altitude...  Oh, Kevin?  I'm sorry I didn't call you.  Thursday.  We conquer the altitude together}

Spiderwomen

This week has been spent:

~Going to MVT's holiday dinner concert= uh-maze-ing.

~Seeing the Mesa Temple lights.

~Driving all around, realizing my bff Todd is basically the boy version of me, and listening to the Twilight soundtrack while Tyler spies...

~Being totally overwhelmed with school yet never doing any of the millions of things on my list...

~Running the track at nights.  I love the crisp air.  It keeps me sane.

~Mythology randomness with Allen, Alma, and Jonathan.

So Allen and I were obsessed with that flippy paper clip thing, we <3 substitutes.

~Telling stories in code in Seminary {to avoid the ears of our teacher} with Conrad, Jen, and JD.

~1st hour crush definitely flirting with me, AND he said hi to me later in the day. OMGoodness.  Yes, I can still act like a 13 year old girl and be totally fine with it.

~My last high school assembly

Let's just say the Jr. Suns were a little crazy this year.  Paige's little brother even kissed Shelby.

~Experiencing my last real Friday EVER. {the whole graduating early thing...}  And maybe even crying a little bit.  Just maybe though.

~Facebook stalking my new roommates!  They look adorabllleee, let's hope everything goes alright!

~Of course, the beautiful Arizona sunsets. #3 thing I'll miss while in Utah.

The picture doesn't even compare.

~Trying to master a spiderman picture with Erin.

 Take 3

 Take 27!  Wooo!!!

 Each take usually resulted in falling over laughing.

True friendship.

=Pure Hilarity.

Life is goooooddddd,

Love NATALIE GRACE!