remembering 2011

Since it's the new year, I find it nice to reflect on the great things I did during the last year.
So here's a glance back at 2011. It was grand.

I finished my time as IC Vice Pres of Lambda Delta Sigma (and bawled when I heard the sorority was disbanded)

I went to California with some friends over Spring Break

C

I decided rock climbing is actually fun

I went backpacking to Lake Blanche

and in the Uintas

Turned 21 (and went to the Bonneville Salt Flats)

Drove from Montana to Jackson Hole with my sister

Spontaneously took a short trip to Yellowstone

Love, love, loved my first row seat in the MUSS

Went to San Francisco

And had many other great adventures
(mostly involving C and a camera)

2011 was so fantastic, I can't wait to see the adventures that await me in 2012!

"I know that it's green, but what else is about it?"

Watch this. 
Now.

merry Christmas

"Said the King to the people everywhere,

Listen to what I say. Pray for peace, people everywhere.

Listen to what I say. A child, a child, sleeping in the night,

He will bring us goodness and light.

He will bring us goodness and light."

(image found via Google search)

I hope everyone remembers the true meaning of Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

a good reminder

Remember back in March when I did this? It was a 21-day journey that I didn't take full advantage of. I read the challenges, but never felt like I was super into it.
Fast forward to now, when there is so much going on in my life, my head and my heart. So much more so than months ago when I first did the challenge. Which is why I decided to do it again. To invest myself in it more than I did the first time, to really pour my everything into truly coming closer to my Savior.
And you know what?
You wouldn't believe the results. Everything in my life is so much more wonderful than it was before, because I've centered my thoughts and my life on Christ. Opportunities I have been searching for for many months have finally presented themselves, (hopefully I'll get to post about these soon) and I know it is because of the change I have made in my life.
Today is Day 15: "Be Still." (Each day has a little 'theme')
"Find...the quiet place you can go to focus on the Lord. Make haste and invite the Lord into your home. How will you prepare to receive Him?" (quoted from Emily Freeman's 21 Days Closer to Christ)
I am so grateful for the chance I had to repeat this challenge and to really implement it into my life. It has been such a blessing, and every day I am grateful for that. I think it's been especially wonderful during the Christmas season to purposefully study and focus on my relationship with Christ. I cannot thank Him enough for everything He has done for me, and for sticking by my side and waiting for me to come around. I am so excited to see Him again and to thank Him for never, ever, giving up on me. I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for the wonderful blessings it brings to me.

christmas presents

So it's December 1, and I am already struggling with what to get C for Christmas.
I found this great list on Pinterest, and it gave me a few good ideas, but if anyone else has any ideas, please let me know! (Why is shopping for men so hard sometimes?)

Happy December to everyone! I hope all of you in the SLC area are surviving this horrible wind storm today.

Just a thought for today

(eek. so why is saying the 'L' word so scary?!)

cat, and other happy thoughts

 When this ^ happens to me, instead of thinking there's a stranger in my house, I think "What has my cat broken now?"

Speaking of Tonks, I adopted her a year ago today!

I can't believe it's been that long. I love her so much (even though she's a little wild sometimes).

She's still a kitten at heart, but she's the sweetest snuggle-bug when she wants to be.

Happy thought: C and I joined a gym a few days ago, and we went last night. It was so great to be working out again, and having someone to go with is definitely a good thing.

Another happy thought: two more weeks of school!!

Thought I would share these gems.

 I know, I make really funny faces when I cheer on my Utes—I become a crazy-head.

I just love them too much to look like a normal person.

Thought you'd get a laugh from these great photos from the snowy Utah vs UCLA game last Saturday.

(photos credited from the MUSS Facebook page)

thankful

Thanksgiving is next week, and while the celebrations will be a little different this year than usual, it's still a great holiday. It always makes me sad to see Christmas decorations appear in stores the day after Halloween because it seems like people forgot about Thanksgiving. Don't forget about it—it's an important holiday! Which is why I refuse to listen to Christmas music/watch Christmas movies/do anything Christmas related until Thanksgiving is over. That way I get to celebrate each holiday separately. So, in honor of Thanksgiving coming up soon, here is a list of some things I am thankful for.
1. My faith and my Savior
2. My family
3. C
4. Only having one semester left in college
5. My car
6. My cat (because even though she is a crazy kitten, she will always love me)
7. Utah football/the MUSS
8. Food
9. My wonderful mother for paying me to nanny while I try to find a job

What are you thankful for this time of year?

happiness

Thinking today about how lucky I am.

So so lucky to have him in my life.
He makes me very happy.

Tomorrow I register for my last semester at the U. Eeek!
As for what my plans are after graduation...I have none. But it's all good. I'll figure it out.

It's winter, and I'm actually kind of loving it. What?! At least I'm loving it now, because in about a week I'll be hating it.
Maybe my post-graduation plans will be to move somewhere tropical...

job

I have been stressed about getting a job for more than five months.
Ever since I quit working at lotion land (which, though I was utterly sick of it, in hindsight was probably a bad idea) I have been struggling to find another job.
Sure, I work at the newspaper at school, but that is once a week, and I barely make any money doing it.
I have filled out hundreds of job applications, made just as many phone calls, and done everything I possibly can to get a new job.
How come, even doing all of that, I haven't even gotten an interview yet?
Why doesn't anyone want to hire me?
I'm seriously sick of being stressed out about money. Sure, I've never made enough to just spend it on everything, but I've never had so little money in my bank account that I'm nervous about being able to make my car payment and pay for gas at the same time.
It really sucks to be stressed about money so much.
I really need help.
I'm begging for anyone who knows anyone that is hiring, to please let me know.

Sorry for the stress rant, I'm just going to explode from all this pent up worry, and I needed to get it out.

blackout games are fun

I am pleased to say that my Utes won yesterday! 27-8 against Oregon State!

I am also pleased to say that I have been in attendance at all the blackout games since their beginning in 2008. I love blackout games!

A sad discovery I made today: I only have two more home football games in my U life...two more games in the MUSS...what am I going to do? How will I get my football fix without it?! I'm going to miss it soo much.

sf

Spent the past weekend with C in San Francisco, California! It was so great to get away and hang out in such an awesome city.
We went on the MUSS Bus to watch Utah play Cal. Sadly, the three-hour game was quite disappointing, but the overall trip was wonderful!
Pictures say more than words, so here are a few from the great vacation.

C and I walked from Ghirardelli Square to the Golden Gate Bridge. It's about 5 miles.

It was super fun though.

 The Golden Gate Bridge is so beautiful. It almost looks fake.

 We ate yummy Mexican food at the U tailgate before the football game.

 And C won this great red wig from the raffle at the tailgate.

 AT&T is the coolest baseball park/football stadium ever. It's right on the bay, you can see the bridge in the background.

And people hang out in their boats right next to the stadium and listen to the game/catch home runs during baseball season.

It was such a great trip, I wish we were still there! We are definitely going back very soon.

tv

I feel like I need a tribute post to my favorite television shows. I don't ever watch them when they air (thank you On Demand and Netflix) because I don't have time, but I love them. (I watch other TV shows too, these are just my "most watched"/faves)

1. "Bones" — C and I started watching "Bones" on Netflix near the beginning of our relationship, and I am hooked. He's seen it before, but I'd never watched it, and I'm obsessed. It's such a great show. Mystery, crime, with a little drama mixed in. Love it.

2. "Glee" — I'm a Gleek, I'll admit it. This show is just too great to pass up. The music is my favorite part (sometimes the story is just too dramatic for me) and I just love it.

3. "Food Network" —I know this isn't a specific show, but the Food Network is the greatest. I especially loved "Chopped," but everything on this channel is awesome.

4. "Revenge" —A new favorite, but good nonetheless. It's still the first season, so I'm still getting into it, but I love it. Lots.

5. "Terra Nova" — So great. Saw the previews for it, decided to watch it On Demand, and now I'm hooked. Dinos and drama? Pretty great for sure.

6. "Biggest Loser" — Always a tear-jerker. Always. I love it.

7. "Say Yes to the Dress" — Looooooove. I'm so obsessed with this show, it's kind of embarrassing. But really, I love it soo soo much.

So, if you're looking for new shows to watch, check these out. They are great.

what I did for fall break

Fall break is the best. It's a much needed rest from the stress of school, and while I didn't go anywhere exciting, I still had a wonderful week!
C and I spent Tuesday driving up to Park City and Midway. We stopped in Midway for some lunch at Tarahumara (arguably one of the best Mexican food places in Utah—not my fave, but quite delicious. The salsa bar was the best) and then decided to take a drive up to my cabin for an afternoon movie. We watched "Remember the Titans" (the vhs version) and snuggled a lot—a perfect fall activity.
Thursday we went to Gateway, discovered that Juicy Berry has some amazing frozen yogurt, and indulged in a great movie. (It's rated R, don't judge me) We saw "50/50," and it was INCREDIBLE! I highly recommend it.
Saturday we watched our UTES crush the Pitt Panthers 26-14, which was a glorious and much-needed win. We also carved pumpkins! Check mine out.

I had a fantastic fall break! I'm sad to be going back to school, but the prospect of graduation looming in the near future (I applied for graduation this past week as well!!) I don't mind school too much.
I also made this over the break:

I love quilts!
I love my life!

I'm excited for bowling class to start tomorrow!

My two favorite things: C and the temple.

fall break

It's fall break! Finally. I need this break from school so much—just a week straight to relax and hang out with C. It'll be so great!

I love fall so much. I'm hoping it sticks around a little longer so that I can enjoy the nice weather before the snow attacks.

sand castle

About a month ago C and I went to the Great Salt Lake with his family. We decided to make a sand castle since the water is stinky and itchy and not that much fun to swim in. C decided to take a time lapse of our castle building adventure, and he recently put it up on Vimeo. I thought I'd share it—it's super neat.


The Great Salt Castle from Conor Barry on Vimeo.

I just want to say

That I love my Utes no matter what happens!
I'm looking forward to destroying Arizona State this weekend!
Go Utes!

C is the best. I'm seriously so so lucky!

And just to add a little quip about the BYU game a couple weeks ago:

I want one of these shirts!!

cabin weekend

This past weekend, C and I spent a couple days at our friend's cabin in Oakley. It was lots of fun.
Here's some pics to show our adventures.

 This horse ran right up to the fence when C started taking pictures. He stuck his nose right on C's lens. It was really funny.

 I fed this horse some weeds and then snapped a pic of him eating.

 Probably my favorite horse—he was gorgeous, and a big sweetheart.

And of course, C and I taking pictures of the river.

Such a great weekend!

"Live in such a way that people who know you but don't know Christ, will want to know Christ because they know you."

-Bishop H. David Burton

new obsession

Remember when I was confused about Pinterest?

Well, I've become an addict. I've used it for approximately six hours, and I'm obsessed.
It's soo neat.
I love looking at all sorts of things that people Pin, and finding stuff that I can Pin. It's great.