Adding Guacamole

Feeling so savvy - I figured out how to make a picture collage!
And, of course, the rest of the world already knows how to do this . . .

I had lunch today with a good friend. We'd planned to meet at 11:30, so I pulled into the parking lot a little after 11:00 because I hate to be late, and found myself in the cutest little strip mall. So, naturally, I had to look around. There's something special about walking along those quant little shops, sporting my dark red moccasins and bright turquoise purse that I got for almost 90% off its sale price, with cash in my pocket but no intention of spending any of it, feeling the cool breeze as it scatters the drops of sunshine into a fine mist that makes the air sparkle, simply observing and breathing it all in. It makes me feel so grown up, which is a rare feeling. Most of the time, I feel like I have the mind of an 80-year-old, with the heart of a teenager and the spirit of a toddler.

We met for lunch at Señor Patrons, a delicious Mexican restaurant. If the picture weren't so fuzzy, you could see the name through my car windshield in the picture of my shoes and truck, which I just had to take because I was feeling so put together. Most people think themselves classy if they can match their watch to their shirt. Me, I match my shoes to my truck. We're so cute together.

I ordered the Burrito Asada, which was to die for. Reading through the menu, I was sold when it said " . . . steak . . . and guacamole." I told my roommate one time while we were talking about English Majors (which we both were) and how much money they supposedly don't make, "I just want to make enough money to never have to think twice about adding guacamole." Then my friend asked for her dish without the guac and I almost had to reconsider our friendship. No, I'm only joking.

The food was great. The company was even better. So long as that is never flipped, I'd say life is pretty good. And life is good. Just the other day my blog reached fifteen international views from six different countries. You have no idea how exciting that was. I definitely did a victory dance because if the kids on the show Newsies (great show) can sing and dance about a tub of boiling water, I think I can justify a victory dance.
I shared this "exciting" news with my friend and that got us talking about my blog.
"What do you write about?" she asked.
Oh, boy. Good question. If anyone has the answer to that, I would love to hear it.
"Just about anything. Mostly life and big ideas,"I responded.
"Why don't you write a post about 'I can't?'" she suggested.
Great idea.
Gosh, dang it. The dryer's buzzing at me. I better start packing for our trip to Disney (so excited!).

 . . . To be continued.

Candidly,
Cookie

College in 100 Pics

Flying out to Utah

At the top of Mount Timpanogus

Ready to move in.

Our new "home"

Cold Cereal at 1:00 am. Life
doesn't get better than this.

Feeling like true adults when
the first two items on our list
of simple joys have to do with sales.

A toast to our first night in the dorms,
and as close as I'll ever come to an all-nighter.

Watching our first BYU game out on the lawn with all the freshies.

You thinking what I'm thinking?

Yeah . . .
What have we got ourselves into?

First game with my roomie (far left) and a couple total strangers.
They weren't strangers for long.

Ran into a friend from back home during freshman orientation.

First day of school pics.
When your roommate's a photographer, these were a must. 

Affectionately termed freshman hill.
Walked up this every day on my way to classes. 

Second date. Hiking the Y.

The view from the top of the Y.
So we may have stayed up there talking till midnight. Isn't Provo beautiful at night?

Some of the girls on my hall. Love this place. Love these girls. 

Sunday afternoon picnic and pictures in the canyon.

Pretty much the extent
of our halloween decorations.

Love from home.

Halloween night was spent in the dorm room grading papers.
I was just finishing my movie, "While You Were Sleeping"
when Mallory came home from work. So we started it over.

Then Mai joined us, so we had to watch it again.
I was fine with that.
It was my first halloween without candy, but popcorn, a movie
and hot-cocoa hit the spot. 

Watchin Maleficent with the girls from my hall at the $1 movies. 

Went running at night,
through the sprinklers.
On purpose.
Soaked and freezing,
but man was it fun.

Ran my first biathlon with this gorgeous girl,
who also happened to live across the hall.
She was my running buddy. We usually ended up running around 9:30 pm.
It seemed every time she came over to ask me if I wanted to go for a run I was
either crawling into bed, had just gotten out of the shower, or had just eaten.
But I could never say no.

On one of my dates,
we decided it would be a fun idea
to run up the down escalator.

Hot cocoa mix and oatmeal were my bread and water.

Pumpkin bread from a girl across the hall. It was devoured.

Don't know what I'm doing with my face there .  . .
This may or may not have been my first time
wearing my hair in a messy bun.
#roomiefirsts. Thanks Mallory

Girls night in my dorm with my sis,
 painting nails, coloring disney princess coloring books,
eating chocolate covered pretzels, and talking about boys.

The family came together for Thanksgiving, and for my sister's wedding.

Something is wrong with this picture . . . But it looked pretty.
That, and it's a pretty accurate representation of Utah weather.
One minute it's snowing. The next, its 72. 

Love from my aunt, uncle, and cousins
in preparation for finals

Dinner is served!

Got to decorate a Christmas tree
while volunteering
at a food distribution center. 

Ward activity: roller-blading. Already missing this fun crew.

And this is what a study group looks like. 

"Studying" for finals = Pizza and comedy shows. 

My roommate had to wake up for a final at 5:00 am, but we both knew how good she was at waking up, so at 2:00 in the morning, I recorded herself giving a pep talk to be played back to her at 5:00am. This is real guys. College and finals at their finest. Click here for the video. PS. My voice sounds weird because 1) it's a recording and no-one likes the sound of their own voice on a cheap recording 2) my retainer's in and 3) it's 2 am. I think the last point explains everything.

Grandma took me shopping during finals week
and we bought enough to earn some store cash.
It wasn't enough for both Kylie (my choffeour)
and I to get something neat, so we bought out
the Christmas sock collection. Fun stuff.

Temple square at Christmas is gorgeous. So many lights . . .

My favorite part of college - coming home.

And we're back for round two.
I got back a couple days before Mallory. Just waiting.
This pic also reminds me of a funny exchange I had with my roommate.
Me: Mallory, my bed is being mean to me
Mallory: hmm
Me: No really, it's teasing me. How do you punish a bed?
Mallory: You sleep in it.
Really, it's a fantastic punishment. Your bed hates it.

Just about the only snow we got. It was gorgeous while it lasted.

Accepted a job in the dish room . . .

. . . and got a date to a basketball game after my first night of work. 

Started a thankful wall
with post it notes. 

Mallory's desk after she moved out.
I kept notebooks on it and a jacket over the chair
to keep it from looking so lonely.

After work ended at 9:00pm
 I'd routinely grab a second "dinner"
from the creamery with my work friend.

Perks of not having a roommate: tiered seating for movie night.
We watched Maleficent      

Cross country skiing with friends.
(Left to right: A random girl who joined us whose name I can't remember,
myself, Makayla, Krisitn, Cristina).
It was my first time cross country skiing and these girls made it a blast.

Dinner in SLC for Cristina's birthday.
Margaret chose the restaurant.
We were skeptical. The area was pretty sketch.
Then again, so were we.
The food was delicious, and service was fantastic.

Things got a little crazy. Love these girls.

Competed the swing in DanceSport.
Mark and I got to dance in the quarter finals.
I loved my dance classes.
Not to mention all the fine dates they got me.

Making food art at Sunday dinner
in the Cannon Center.

This greeted me every day
on my way from Lit class

10k with this gorgeous girl

Every year, BYU makes a castle
out of cardboard boxes
and then lets you paint on it.
It has the structure of the Wamping Willow
and the colors were dying because I was running out
and I couldn't rinse off the brush,
but it was fun to paint. 

Easter care package from my aunt, uncle and cousins. Made my day.

Friends from back home joined me for a day at the park and provided a picnic.
It was so fun to see these great people. 

See that little speck under the tree?
That's my friend Hinkles.
He and his mate, Chips, would hang out
outside the dorms.
I fed them every day. 

The trails I would go walking on every Sunday after church.

Chillin in my Easter socks. Can't get over my fuzzy pillow.

So right by campus is a rent-a-puppy program
 with free drop-off and pick up services.
Of course the puppy's not free.
But it was worth it. Sofie was charming. 

Nutella, banana crepe with Dad in Salt Lake
 after Saturday General Conference.

Spending the afternoon playing word games with my dad,
great uncles, second cousins,
and other family I may or may not have known I had.
Super fun

Inducted into the honors society.

Women's Conference with Kylie

Minor changes. Literally.
I got accepted into the editing minor. 

In case you can't read the note it says "To do tonight."
This picture was my reply to a friend
when she asked if I wanted to watch a movie with her one night.

Home sweet home. My brothers are so tall!

Candidly,
Cookie