tomorrow

merry christmas

Dear blogging world,

Merry Christmas! I'm just about to go to bed, but I thought I would share something super neat that I get to do in April.

I get to go here:

And here:

(found the pics on Pinterest. My most fave website ever.)

Can you believe it?! My wonderful mother is taking me there with her. While she is in a bunch of smarty-pants science meetings, I get to wander London, just me and my camera. Super stoked. And then, when her meetings are done, we're taking the tube under the channel to Paris (the city I've dreamed of visiting ever since my first French class in high school. Don't worry, I don't speak one word of French. I learned nothing.)


I'm so excited!!! I only wish C could come. Then it would be the perfect trip.

Did I tell you that my cute cousin, Katie, is getting married?
I don't think I did.
Well she is, to the amazing Tom (who treats her like a queen), and I could not be more excited for them.
December 19 is the day.
Can't believe it!

Congrats to the lovebirds, I'm so happy for you two. Love you both!
(C took their engagement pics up at Tom's family ranch. It was the most perfect fall day, and they could not have looked better. I'm completely obsessed with the pictures. He just took their bridals/groomals this past weekend, and I'm in love with them. They are amazing.)



Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Working, spending time with C, and planning bridal showers are taking up all of my time. Life sure is grand though.

fish

Thanks to my dad, the expert fly fisherman, C and I were able to spend a few hours on the river in Yellowstone last week learning the tricks of the trade, and catching a few fish of our own.

We loved every minute of it. Thanks, dad!


ps: I gave in to social media pressure, and decided to start tweeting.
If you have Twitter, follow me!
@kristinw77
That's all, folks.

nerd alert

It's been awhile since I posted...sorry!
Work and love have taken over my life.
I'm fine with that though.

I bought this for myself for my birthday:

I know that I'm a nerd, it's okay.

And I had to include a picture of C, of course.

randoms

So I am now a full-time employee at the University Credit Union. Today was my first full-time day, and it was long, but the paycheck is definitely going to be worth it.

I may have just bought these.

One can never have too many pairs of Toms.

Yesterday was the best day off ever. The weather was perfect, I spent the whole day with C, sat and cuddled in the sun, and just enjoyed a great Memorial Day. And remembered those I love who have passed on. One in particular was very much on my mind yesterday. Can't believe it's been eight years. *cds*

C and I swam in my pool today for the first time this year. I love having a pool at my house.

This turned into a terribly random post about a lot of different things. All-in-all, life is grand.

see ya college

So I graduated. Can you believe it? I can't believe how fast time flew.

 Shaking the dean's hand.

 My sisters decided attacking me with silly string was a great way to celebrate.

 I love my family.

 Love these women.

 I'm so grateful for the support of my parents

 and my sisters.

 Love him so much.

 The amazing people in my life.

College is over. Woohoo!

dinner

Ever heard of The Copper Onion? If you haven't, you should have. It's a delicious restaurant in downtown SLC that C and I visited last Friday. It was our belated one-year celebration, and it was well worth the week-long wait. Everything we ordered was delicious, and the atmosphere there is awesome.

It was the best hamburger I've ever had. This picture doesn't do it justice, but it was so good.
And, it's not even expensive. It's cheaper than Market Street, and way better.
You should definitely check it out if you're looking for somewhere to eat. It's kind of hidden, but it's right next to the Broadway Theater downtown. Go there some day, you won't be disappointed.

one

One year ago C and I started dating. One year. Can you believe it? Sometimes I can hardly believe it's been that long, and other times it feels like we've been together for much longer. It's so crazy how fast time went—it began here a year ago, and since then we have barely spent any time apart. I love it. He's my best friend, and I love him so much.

Here's to hopefully a lot more time spent with him!

we were there

We were there when the Jazz beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-90.
When Jamaal Tinsley dribbled through someone's legs and made a basket.
When Kevin Durant went 6-of-22 shooting.
When Gordon Hayward shot, and made, many 3-pointers, and played some great defense.
Devin Harris did all that too.
What a team.
We watched it happen.
And it was awesome! I love the Jazz, and I'm so glad C loved my Valentine's Day gift to him (even though he couldn't use it until today, pretty sure it was totally worth it).

(Sorry for the horrible picture quality. Neither of us brought our cameras (too heavy) so we had to resort to using our phones.)

V-day

I'm so lucky.

I just loved Valentine's Day.

Time with C,

Sushi (at Takashi, of course),

Moneyball,

Flowers.

Sure do love him.

things

I love Saturdays because I can wear jeans and a sweatshirt.

Does anyone else watch The Bachelor?

Please say that you, like me, are obsessed with her:

and absolutely detest her:

(This show is my guilty pleasure (okay, one of my guilty pleasures), not sure why, but I just love it)

C and I went to The Leonardo last night, and it was so awesome. They have a giant Google map on the floor that you can actually move around and find places. We went to the world's largest swimming pool (that's in Chile) and saw the tallest building in the world (in Dubai). Super cool. I absolutely recommend checking it out sometime.

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!

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.

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.