packed.

I kid you not that top Mexi bag was $3 at a thrift store. High five.

Half Moon Bay. In love with it.

Between moving, road tripping around the west coast, and vacationing with family back home and Mexico to come... our suitcases and time have been packed for the last few weeks and will be for sometime more. Our new place is hilariously small, packed with charm, and has a backyard bigger than the inside square footage. Not to mention, we have a redwood tree the size of a skyscraper! We love the area and can't wait to take it all in. Oh.. and you know, the beach is only 20 minutes away. GORGEOUS, freezing, and totally my new spot to hang out. Seeing downtown when we drove in took my breath away, so I know this is going to be good. So for now, I'm just getting my R&R on in my happy place of good ol' San Diego.

It's a lot to take in, but it's all worth it.
Not loving the cold I've gotten from all of the chaos..
But I'm loving every minute of this!

80+

We've been in the car for like a hundred years. Okay, exaggeration, but really we spent over 80 hours driving long distances this summer! BNWOER*#Y#Y#QLKNDA_)(* ...Every trip was worth it, but I feel so glad to be done packing, moving, unpacking, packing, moving, unpacking.. so over it for sure.

And that is the end of our Seattle Stay-cation.

Now we're ready for real life again. And we need to buy a new office chair.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, summer exists! And it's happening in Provo! We barely got any in Seattle and so I hope this lasts for at least a whole month longer! Summer is my favorite, and I don't want it to end. Ever.

Horray!

And that's all for now. See you on the flip side.

Fwowieeess.

So.. we're literally down to the week before we head back to Utah. Can you believe it!? It has flown by. We've had fun here, as you've been exposed to over the past months. It's been exciting to explore a new place together for 3 whole months, a place where neither of us have been before. Also noteworthy; however, is we've had ample amounts of boredom, anxiety, & loneliness as well. The rain didn't lift our spirits very much, so that didn't help Seattle's cause for wanting us to come back. But we did have some good memories, that's for dang sure. And one thing is undeniable... the beauty of this place. The greenery is unreal. I wish I had taken pictures the first week we were here because before the rain killed all the flowers, there were gajillions! Flowers make me happy. Here are just a few to give an example of what I'm talking about.

These are from our complex and they are less than a third of the different kinds that live on this property! Unfortunately I didn't take my camera around until after so many of them had already bloomed and gone.. but anyway, they definitely brought joy to my soul every day that I walked outside, and every time I raised our blinds to enjoy the scenery.

I will miss the gorgeousness, but I can't believe I'm saying this... I'm SO EXCITED to go back to UTAH! AHHH! I miss my friends, I miss knowing where everything is, I miss the foodie places that I can only get in Utah (luckily I didn't fall in love with anything here that I'll miss), I miss our towels not smelling rancid after one use... yes I miss the dryness!, I miss the ridiculously hot summer, I miss trips to the Orem Target, I miss going to Emilie Jayne with Lauren and going to Gardner Village with Kels, I miss my $50-60 weekly groceries (this place rips you off with food I'll tell you what), my cheap gas and proximity to everything, and probably most of all, I miss having a place that feels like home. We've been in our little basement for over 2 years now, and it's amazing what life feels like when you don't feel like you're in a home. This place was so temporary, so disposable, so bland, so stinky and cold that it never felt like home.

Utah, this is the second time I've said this to you, but I want to say it again... you're not that bad & I'm excited for us to be reunited. For the record; your baby delivery rooms are oober stindgy, you have 1 too many mormons (I love them, I am one.. I just enjoy a little diversity), your winters are out of control, and you're missing an ocean (can't win my heart fully without one)... but you know what... I'll take ya. You've been good to our little family minus a few setbacks. So, friends?

...Deal.

T minus 1 week until our departure. Thanks Microsoft and Washington, we had a good time. (:

Orevwa

Goodbye dear internet world. I don't know when we'll meet again.
I assume it's whenever Comcast hits up our new apartment in
WASHINGTONNNN.

Toodles. (:

BYU vs. UTAH

{via Flickr}

I have to work, but afterword we will be watching this game tonight. GO COUGARS!

O Rise and Shout, the Cougars are out
Along the trail to fame and glory.
Rise and shout, our cheers will ring out,
As you unfold your vict'ry story.
On you go to vanquish the foe
For Alma Mater's sons and daughters.
As we join in song, in praise of you, our faith is strong.
We'll raise our colors high in the blue,
And cheer the Cougars of BYU.

I've bled blue (..and known the fight song, whether I've wanted to or not) since I was 2. More or less since I was born actually. Anyway, now I actually care and wish them luck!

PS. Happy Weekend!!

It's Raining Sunshine

{photo via Flickr}

Today is refreshing. Literally.
The air is full of rain, hail, thunder, lightning, & sunshine? Yes, I don't know how they've pulled it off up there, but they're offering all types of weather at the same time. It's magical!
Fall is here, and I forgot how much I've missed my boots!
And with the temperament of the sky, it feels only appropriate to listen to a playlist full of Frou Frou, Fort Minor, Eve 6, The Fray, LL Cool J, Keane, & Eminem. Some might call my taste eclectic, and I would happily agree! Call it what you may, but it definitely works for today. (:


PS. Tomorrow I'm going into admissions.. wish me luck!

It's True

...it is.
It's been quite the battle, this accepting process. But I finally feel it. Yes, it's been two years in the making, but my heart has finally grown fond of this land. Andrew and I have made this little place in Utah, our home. I missed it while we were away, and I feel good to be in it, and I feel like I can continue to make it our own. And that feels good. Almost as good as being with Mother Ocean. This is a huge step considering I used to break down and cry and feel lonely in this place. The very place that brings comfort to me now. Of course it's lacking in a few simple and important aspects, like family and said beach, but other than that.. it's darn near perfect for us. So I'll take it. Granted, I wont raise children here (don't worry, we're not going to get into that here and now), and I probably wont ever claim this state (sorry, I'm baby stepping, and I love my roots too much..) but it's a start.. and a happy one at that. Because truly, it's only the beginning for us. I feel like Ty Pennington should come greet us as if we've won a whole new start and say to us..
"Welcome home, Young family... welcome home."

Thanks, Ty. And thank you Provo for being nice to me even when I wasn't so accepting. Can we start over?
Thanks. (:

{image via AT}