Cheers to better days

How does two and a half months fly so quickly before my eyes? These last couple months after graduation have been more eye opening than most of my 21 years prior.

I've had a lot of down time to realize all that I may want and need in this life. I became very sad when I was offered an amazing position with Zions Bank here in Utah but since it would be working underneath my aunt, HR came back and claimed nepotism and I wasn't able to pursue the position anymore. This was a very humbling experience for me and until now I only told close friends and family because something about the situation as a whole was so embarrassing for me. I guess the biggest frustration that has come out of it was that I feel I have not gotten a position close to this one since and been interviewing once a week and feel I am getting nowhere. Reality check.

I cant help but wish to go back to NAU and be the fun college girl who didn't worry about student loans and paying for my own health insurance.. If anyone showed me a glimpse of what being an adult was like in the past, I promise I would do everything in my power to keep the fun, young girl again.

Life changes so quickly. Maybe it just because I'm a girl but one minute I feel one way and the next my emotions are in a crazy whirlwind, roller coaster that I cant seem to control. I don't mean to sound so sad and depressing but today has just been full of so many feelings and thoughts.

I think to myself does the little things mean the most...and if they do why do some of the big things affect us the most? There's sometimes situations in life that you just cant see yourself getting over, no matter how hard you try or what is on the table that you could potentially lose, you just cant seem to get over it. And that's why I wonder what matters more....the little things or big things in this life?

I also have come to realize that in this life, especially the future, we will be making so many sacrifices. Some start young and sacrifice when they decide to join the military while some don't know the meaning of sacrifice until they are blessed with their first child. No matter what, everyone is going to approach a time in their life when sacrifices are necessary and sometimes I wonder when I should start sacrificing certain things in my life or feelings for another person? Sometimes its so hard not to be selfish in this life because we have the freedom to be. And in the end, selfish or not we all are buried in the same kind of grave. Then I realize, if you want any type of commitment in this life, you will need to sacrifice. You will have to sacrifice nights out for nights in the office or buying a purse you've had your eye on for months for a birthday present for your sister. It sounds so elementary but sacrifice is really inevitable so I may have even just answered my own question.... I'm gonna sacrifice anyway....why not start now?.....

Maybe I am just putting too much thought into this life and should just be young happy and free for at least ten more years... maybe travel some more, go visit my host parents in Spain... who knows ...maybe pursue my dream of teaching English to children outside of this country....

Well, seems like every decision I make in my 20s will in someway affect my life and I struggle with knowing which decisions to make for myself and sometimes I wish I had my momma to tell me all I need to do in this life...even if I wouldn't listen...

Ultimately, this life is just so crazy and maybe that is truly the best part...feeling high and happy one month and lost and alone the next.... up and down it may go but I am in no way not grateful for this life because I have the best friends and family even if they are all miles away. I am content and for now content I will stay. Cheers to better days.

Post Grad

Whew! The last couple of months have been a whirlwind and gone by so quickly I feel I've hardly had a moment to breathe...

Heres a lil break down of the amazing events which have happened in the last month:

1. Country Thunder 2014

2. Met Rob Speer

3. Graduation 

4. My big move to Utah

5. My 21st Birthday and Vegas trip

1. One of the biggest events I look forward to every year is Country Thunder. Its a huge country music festival in Florence Arizona where you camp out for 4 days and nights and party country style! I was so lucky to spend it with Deanndra again this year after she moved away to Iowa! It was a fun time with lots of memories and great music and was a great little break before the last month of college. I already wanna buy my ticket for next year's festival! 

EVENTFUL PICTURES FROM AN EVENTFUL WEEKEND :)

2. This may be one of the most important events that has happened. I met a guy named Rob Speer at Country Thunder. He knew a friend of mine from high school and we had been following each other on Instagram but never met or even knew each other. Well he noticed on my Instagram page that I was at country thunder and commented on a picture asking what camp site I was staying at. I of course being the nervous, cautious girl I am didnt reply because I didnt register that he was my friends friend.... hahaha.. so long story short the first night Im standing at a campsite with some friends and I see this guy staring at me. Not like a small glance or anything, no guys, this was FULL ON staring and I was a little offended. I kept thinking if this guy doesnt stop staring Im going to walk right up to him and ask him what he's lookin at because staring is just rude. Well a few seconds before I walked my happy ass self up to him to confront him, my good friend texts me telling me his friend is standing close to me and wants to meet me. What do you know, that green eyed, blue shirt wearing boy staring was Rob, my friends mutual friend. So I walked up, introduced myself and the rest is history. 

Never in a million years would I think that I would start dating someone close to a month before I moved out of state, but it'd kind of crazy how some people can make you change your mind about so many different things. 

When I first met Rob, he was so quiet and shy and for all of you who know me well, I am the complete opposite so I was nervous if we would click but to be honest a tall handsome man in cowboy boots really stole my heart from the day I met him at Country Thunder. I remember telling my friend Deanndra how I thought he was so cute and I wanted to get to know him and I'm so thankful NOW she took it upon herself to tell him and get us going.

Within about 2 weeks, Rob was full fledge comfortable with me and we shared so many jokes and laughs and FaceTime calls since I was still living in Flagstaff and he was in Phoenix. Can you believe it? A relationship that had so many reasons not to work is probably the best relationship I have ever had in my life. Rob has treated me so well since Day 1 and every day he amazes me more and more with his ability to make me fall for him. He has been so supportive of my move and my new career changes and I could never ask for a better support system and partner. He really is my teammate and makes me feel confident and loved always. I can't even believe I am lucky enough to call him mine, not to mention I LOVE LOVE LOVE his family which is so important to me! They are just as supportive and amazing as he is and makes me feel like I have a whole new family that gives me advice and memories which is more than I could ever ask for. 

3. GRADUATION

Can you believe I did it? I graduated with my Bachelor's degree and said peace out NAU! I am very very grateful for all my family and friends who attended graduation. I was so lucky to be surrounded my so much love and sent a prayer up to heaven asking God to make sure my grandma could see. 

                

My sweet girls. So hard to say goodbye to them. So grateful for the amazing examples and inspiration they have been to me throughout all the years of their lives. I hope I have given them half of what they've given me. 

4. So I did it. I moved to Utah. I am adjusting well and am enjoying this weather way more than the hot Phoenix sun! I am serving at a restaurant in Sandy, Utah and finishing my interviews for Zions Bank so things are looking great and the only thing left to do is make some friends!! haha... that hardest part eh? 

5. Last but not least my 21st birthday! WOOHOO... can you believe Im finally legal, My parents and Great Aunts were so great and took me to Vegas for a memorable four days of fun in the sun and on the Strip! 

*** Reserved for a picture of my two great Aunts and I***

Overall, it has been an amazing few months and I am so excited to see what the next few hold!

 

 

An amazing last Spring Break in Cali!

Getting back to work today after ten days of lovely California is kickin' my butt! I had the most amazing spring break with some amazing people and I am so grateful since it is my last Spring Break as a college student!

My Spring break started by traveling to San Diego to see my good guy friend Jarred and my older Bro Spenc!

Although I've been to San Diego the last two summers, this trip was so different because I spent so much time around Pacific and Mission beach AND it happened to be the weekend of ST. Pattys day so it was wild! Way fun to chill in the sun and throw on a wet suit and get surfing lessons from my brother! San Diego has amazing malls with my favorite store LUSH Cosmetics and I went crazy in that store! Shopping in different states is so exciting to me because some stores have different products and items that I love coming across. The weather was so amazing and it was fun to see Jarred before he heads off to Hawaii where he will be stationed. His friends came down from Oceanside with him and it was so fun!

HAVE FUN IN HAWAII BOYS! 

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After Monday it was off to L.A. to visit my other brother Jordan and my dad was in town too. I felt so blessed to see my brothers because we don't get very much time to see each other with all of our crazy and busy lives! 

First day in L.A. we headed to Hollywood to see the Stars and busy city! 

 Beautiful Flower shop and Kat Von D's Tattoo parlor

 Hanging out with my two favorite guys: Johnny and Elvis! 

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Next day we were off to Santa Monica for some fun in the sun! Santa Monica pier is so lively and fun with street performers! We rented a three tandum bike which let me tell you is a lot harder than it looks and was a workout! Makin' fun memories like this with my family is what I live for! 

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Thursday rolled around and I was so happy to find out Patrick lived so close and we had a fun day exploring Museums and observatories in LA.

Griffith's observatory with a great view! 

 L.A. County art Museum. You may recognize this from the movie No strings attached with Ashton Kutcher!

OBVIOUSLY needed to get my fix of IN & OUT while in Cali! 

L.A. Dodgers stadium! 

Finished our fun day at Malibu Beach eatin dinner on the beach with a sunset!!! SO FUN and beautiful.

ONE OF THE.......

the best parts of the trip was riding around on my brothers motorcycle. It's a 78' so pretty old and was antique looking! 

Last but not least, made it to Bakersfield to visit my great friend Shaun and he hooked it with courtside seats to the NBA-Dleague Bakersfield Jam game! It was so fun to see a game on the court i could literally touch the players bottoms heheheh ;) 

 After visiting California for break, I was really torn on whether I would like to live there after graduation, but I am so happy with my current decision to Move to Utah in less than six weeks! Graduation is right around the corner and I feel so overwhelmed and excited with getting my graduation pictures wrapped up and announcements sent out.... and of course the most important... actually graduating!!!! Cheeers to SIX MORE WEEKS  of classes and beginning the rest of my life! Thanks for reading everyone and have a great week!

Ringin' in 2014 right!

 It's crazy to me to think about when I was little and was the most impatient person in the world feeling as though time passed so slowly and now I feel that I only blink and a year has already come and gone. 2014. This has got to be my year! SO many fun and important events will be happening in this year including: graduating from NAU with my Bachelor's degree, turning 21, moving out of state, and getting a grown up job! It's only the 9th day of 2014 and I already feel that this year is amazing and will continue to be. For those of you who know me well, Im addicted to Dr. Pepper and Peter Piper Pizza. This year I've put myself on a healthy diet not because I wanna get skinny (well let's be honest, yes I do) but because I wanna be healthy. I always feel drained and tired after a day of eating junk food and soda so I have limited the amount of soda I am drinking and hopefully one day soon don't feel the need to have one daily anymore. Peter Piper on the other hand, I havent given that up quite yet. I just want to feel healthier which in turn should make me happier. So that begins one of a few of my new year reolutions;

Here are my 2014 New years resolutions: 

Eat healthier and drink less soda

Don't let things people do hurt or affect me

Be in charge of my own happiness

Not use the word what or huh instead"pardon me" or "excuse me" (its more polite)

Judge less and love more 

 Needless to say, I have quite a few resolutions or goals and having the last three and a half weeks off of school has really given me time to sit down and think about the things I like and don't like about my life. Aside from all the life thoughts, I had an amazing winter break in Glendale and it was so good to be home for a long amount of time and see friends who I've missed. 

Mom thought toilet paper would be a good gift for us broke college students!

 Having Josh, Kaiden and Madalynn in AZ for made Xmas so fun! It was exciting to watch them get excited to open their gifts!

And of course had to celebrate with my second family! These three ladies have been here for me through so much throughout the last 11 years they would never be considered anything less than family! 

Although we hosted our Ugly Sweater Party in late November, I forgot to add the fun pictures from it in the last blog so here they are!

 It was such a fun night to see people from freshman year who I hadn't seen in forever!

 If we had a competition for ugliest sweater, Dana's homemade one definitely won!

I must say, I have AMAZING Girlfriends!!! Love each and everyone of em!

 I would have to say this year's greatest gift was definitely having this sweet boy here with us. He has given me a new look on new life and just life in general. He is so sweet and I never knew a two month old baby could make you feel so loved without even saying a word. I thank God to have blessed my best friend with such a sweet, cute, and healthy baby like Bentley. He can make a bad day great with just his sweet smile that he is beginning to show and makes me so excited to having my own children one day. I feel God knew how much I was struggling this year without my grandma so he made sure Briana and I were very close when he brought Bentley into this world. I understand that we must lose life to have new lives like baby B and he has made this Christmas and New year's all the more special for me. I seriously can't even go into a store without heading straight to the baby section because there are just so many cute lil boys clothes and I'll admit I've become a little obsessed. Babies are truly the greatest gifts from God!

Last, but not least, this winter break has given me a second chance to be so close with my bff from fifth grade. It's so funny how we have sleepovers like were still 12 and miss each other when it's finally time for me to go home. I am so happy that this is who Bentley's mama is and she is such an inspiration to me and shown me what it is to be a true selfless person. She has given so much to this little boy and makes sacrifices everyday to make sure he is cared for and nurtured. I am so blessed to have the two of them in my life and they were just what I needed to make it through this winter break! Thank you so much for always being my rock Briana!

Now let my last semester of school begin and an amazing 2014! I am sad to think I am leaving college soon and all the amazing friends I have made here, but looking forward to the new experiences which will come. It's my last time to have the first day of school butterflies, last time to pick out my first day of school outfit, last time to feel nervous in a room full of strangers with a new professor standing before us, but I'm looking forward to my first experiencing of having my first adult job and getting married and eventually having kids. I'm sayin' peace out to 2013 and bring it on 2014! 

PLEASE BE GOOD TO ME!!!! ;)