Ducks and Stars

(via lauren nassef)

I'm back! And here to put all of my blogging ducks in a row.

If only I could treat this like a Yelp review. Not that I've ever written one before. But it does have a certain appeal. I mean, don't you wish you could Yelp review your life on the reg? You could be as ruthless or as overly generous as you'd like without (much) backlash. Your experience is what it is: if you are happy, you are like in heaven happy. And if you are mad, you have every right to be mad as hell. And ready to take down whatever establishment allowed such angering within you. Hopefully I can steer away from those two extremes. But man, Yelp reviews am I right? In keeping with that theme, let me first begin this catch-up with the detached and relatively short, list-like review. Ratings to follow.

School ended. School started. Part time ended. Full time started. Sick for like, a month.
Coby left for an internship. New nephew. Still haven't cleaned my room.

And now for the hyper detailed and overly invested review!

Let's start with the sick stuff. Here ye here ye, being sick is the worst. What started off as a little cold turned into full blown ear infections, full four stage migraines, and a rather unnecessary but completely not fun ER visit. I felt exhausted, chubby, anxious, useless and just done. I was constantly rubbing my head and leaving it in my hands for the majority of the day. Don't mind that I texted my mother on Mothers Day of all days, begging her for guidance before just driving myself to instacare. I recognized the error of my ways, but still. What kind of daughter does that? Thankfully she, and everyone else, were so good to me. Even if it was just letting me watch Gossip Girl all night (roomies!) or forcing me to go to the ER via my mother's wishes (Coby!). I would show you the picture I took of my half smiling face when the migraine induced paralysis hit, but then I would die of embarrassment. Just know that a slurred speech causing British accent was also involved. Thus, I give the sick stage a whopping two stars. One star for the amazing support I was given. And the other for Blair Waldorf's second season hair. Well, five stars for Blair's second season hair. No stars for spending one night crying because I had to miss the Haim concert. And while I still have yet to finish cleaning my room after all of this sickness, I did finally put the sheets on my bed. So, another star for effort.

I've been back in the Sports Camps scene since January now, but things are really picking up with the summer now in full swing. The days can be crazy, leaving me feeling either exhausted or energized and ready to crash a dance or two. While I don't get to participate in the fun stuff anymore, I did take a trip back to the hospital with a hurt camper yesterday. And I gotta say, it was a good feeling when the staff remembered me. Especially considering how much time I spent there last summer. I also had a "moment" at the Cannon Center. Aka the buffet style cafeteria that I've been gorging myself at everyday. I was standing at the salad bar, patiently waiting my turn to make myself a salad that I know I will only have three bites of... And I just had this moment. Where I loved that salad bar. And everything it meant to me. It was my place! My moment! I feel like every time I see someone I only kind of know they ask If I'm doing "the Sports Camps thing". And I weirdly answer "yes!..." while feeling uneasy about their idea of this "gig" versus mine. But then, you guys, the salad bar moment! And this is where the whole Yelp concept makes this less weird... Anyway, the point here is that Sports Camps is great and supplies me with the greatest co-worker friends, a daily Rice Krispie, and the promise of pebbled ice. Oh, and some money. Four stars for Sports Camps! The fifth star has been withheld, due to the discovery that I am not a morning person. But working on it.

Speaking of food, Smashburger is underrated. Don't you think so? So are hot cars. I've never been more okay with not blasting the air conditioning than I have this summer. For now, at least.

And speaking of summer, Coby is gone for the rest of it. And while it has actually been totally fine, it would be a lot finer if Face Time worked for us. Before he left, he sang some Miley as the sun was slightly setting for a good seven or so minutes. That should hold me over for the rest of the summer, right? Also, before Coby left, he had a birthday and I had an anxiety attack. Which my mother has 75% convinced me is just a side affect of all of that time under the weather. I really hope so, because it would be nice to feel confident in social situations again. Especially after my embarrassing moment at the pulpit for Fast and Testimony meeting in church the other week. Said moment being, well, me talking. And just being up there entirely. Let's leave it at that. No stars, sorry.

And last but not least, I have a new baby nephew! Baby Blaine. My sister flew me out to Portland for the weekend to meet him and take some pictures and boy (ha!) am I so glad she did. He is the squishiest, tiniest, cutest little dude and I love him so. It also gave the the opportunity to cave and read Divergent on the plane. That said, now I'm comparing everything in my life to factions and personality traits and I CAN'T STOP. All the stars for my little baby love Blaine!

And now, for the Yelpified Blog Post Star Round up...
Coby gone - 1 Star. ER visit - 1 Star. Sick - 2 Stars. Work - 4 Stars. Baby Blaine - 5 Stars!
Blair's second season hair - 5 Stars! Cannon Center Rice Krispies - 5 DELICIOUS STARS.
This Blog Post - hopefully some stars?

P City to Portlandia

Hello blog land, how are you?

I was able to celebrate Father's Day with my parents in Park City. We went on the most amazing hike (per usual) up the mountain that was just covered in these beautiful white and purple flower bushes. Covered. It really was a fairy land. My mom is like a mountain goat and can practically run up that thing while my dad and I trail behind. Me takin' pixs and dad hiding in bushes and such. It's always the best of times - hiking with them. We followed that up with a kick ajax dinner of steak and baked potatoes and salad and watermelon and strawberry lemonade and holy cow if I don't love those summer mountain dinners I don't know what love is. Speaking of love, if there's one thing I appreciate about my dad, it's his ability to grill a steak. Bison burgers included. He is the absolute best and I love him more than he could know. He is always sensitive to me and whips out the best "dad jokes" like it ain't no thang.

Sports camps have been filled with late nights and new friends and blood coming out of girls' eyes (!). It's also made my snapchat feed that much more entertaining so that's always a plus. A definite highlight of the week was entertaining an auditorium of nine to thirteen year olds with jokes and talents and too much Taylor Swift and finally THE game six where I have never seen so many children out of control. My ear drums were on the brink of explosion. And I'm sure, if a parent were to have walked into that room, who knows what would've happened to BYU sports camps good name.

Dearest Erin visited for the weekend. I didn't see her much due to some newfound summer lovin', but it's nice to remember that your friends still care about you. And even if you aren't seven year olds sharing crayons in primary on her first Sunday in Arizona, you can share a room and some pillow talk on her first real night in Provo. ET phone home. 

Other festivities included a hot-pink-and-polka-dotted-wedding and a moonlight-super-moon-lift-ride up at Sundance. And people, that lift ride was amazing! Amazing! Once Tristan tucked her extra blanket around my frozen feet I was one happy rider. Couple that with Coby's hard core fear of heights (so sad but so cute), horrible story telling, J-Rob's big ole laughs and a twenty minute conversation about pizza and that may very well be the best night of my life. But the view! Oh the view. The moon really was super, it was so bright you could see forever. I loved that. 

I've also been a collector of books! My birthday gift to myself was Mindy Kalings' book, finally. Say yeee-ahhh! As a blogger*, I've tried to stray more and more away from the serious posts (aka long and painful and angsty and over-sharing but beautiful in a weird "I'm a sad, white and privileged girl" way) and leaned toward frivolous, pop-culture laced posts instead. The only downside to this is, well, celebrities are kind of the worst and my life really isn't all that comical. OH and that I read off like a complete and utter dummy at times. This is where Mindy comes in handy. I'm not quite sure how... But she's smart and loves Beyoncé. I idolize her and her book was no different. I swear I am educated you guys. Or at least trying to be. My mom gifted me with a book on happiness, that's up next. And then Coby bought me The Fault in Our Stars for my birthday! (Rach, you're number one on my waiting list). So ya know, you could say I'm crossing off my book list. Do note the blaring absence of classical lit, I'll get there. 

As of right now I'm sitting in a bed in the most beautiful, recently remodeled Arts and Crafts home in Portland. There are fresh hydrangeas in my room. Fresh you guys! Coby and I decided to take a trip for my birthday (okay okay, it's tomorrow you caught me) and I don't know what says happy birthday more than FRESH HYDRANGEAS IN MY ROOM. After eleven hours of driving (ahem sleeping) we arrived to Thai food and fairy houses with sweet four year old Emma. A puppy named Lucca, homemade chocolate ice cream, and of course soccer playing with Jake. People can be so nice.

So that's the latest from me. I'm excited for this week and appreciative of everyone around me. And I can't wait to test out my new birthday lenses from mom and pops! Happy happy!

P.S. yes I do love Portlandia, yes I want suggestions of things to do (Seattle too!)

*As a blogger? Did I really just write that?