Now that it's been a week....Guess What?!

 we're engaged! ! !

The story: Jantz was leaving to Colorado for the weekend (as in last weekend) so we wanted to do something fun on Friday before he left Saturday morning. He "casually" came up with the idea to go to Thanksgiving Point and walk around the gardens up there and then go to PF Changs afterward. Nothing too out of the ordinary. I didn't see anything fishy about the plans. So, we both got off work early. (enter sneaky Jantz, which is rare - that boy tells me everything. Turns out he made up that he had to go in early because they were changing the carpets, when in fact he just told his boss he was going to propose. AND he talked to my dad last week, which must have been pretty terrifying (I am his little girl, after all)).


When we both got to my apartment, we were starving! We sat at the table and tried to figure out what to do - eat here and then go to the gardens and then PF Changs, or go there first. While we were talking, Jantz kept staring off into space and not paying attention.

Finally, he said, "I can't take it anymore" and got down on one knee. I was so confused on what was going on. When I realized he was actually on one knee I was sure he was joking. I started tearing up anyway (and simultaneously thinking, he's gonna see that i'm crying and admit it was a joke). but it was no joke, my friends. He said some sweet words and asked if I would marry him. I immediately said yes and he put a ring on my finger. The cutest part was that, in the midst of it all, he ended up down on both knees. In the moment, in was precious. The runner up cutest part was after, when he told me he could do it over again if it wasn't good enough (he knew that I wanted a really great proposal). And I did want something meaningful and great, and you know what? it was simple, beautiful, and just the two of us in a place we spend most of our time together. It wasn't at all how he planned it, and it was so surreal when it happened, but I loved every second of it.

After all the hugs and kisses and tears of joy and pictures and calling of parents, we then went to eat (and boy did we eat) at PF Changs. Then we met up with my extremely excited roommates and played some baseball at the park. It was a day that was totally us and totally fun.

He got me a fake ring so that we could go ring shopping after we were engaged (which is exactly what I wanted :). We're hopefully going to get a real one soon!

We're so incredibly happy and excited for our future together!

So there's my big news :) Thanks for reading our quick story, I hope you all enjoyed it.

Whoa

I have SO much to post on.


things just keep getting in the way.


but I promise soon a lot of wonderfully good news!

My Wonderful Grandmas

Two of my grandmas passed away last weekend, both pretty suddenly. They were amazing women and they will really be missed.

My dad's mom passed away Saturday afternoon after a few of the kids and grandkids were able to say goodbye. It was a really sad but touching day. (she was an opera singer most of her life - she was in Cats for while. i loved listening to her sing.)

My step mom's mom then passed away Sunday morning. That was a big shock. We were all still recovering from Saturday. (christmas at her house was the best. A Christmas Story all day, so much candy and good food)

Needless to say, it was a very emotional weekend. I have dear memories of both of them and I'm very sad that they're gone, but at the same time I'm glad they're no longer in pain.

ps, aren't both of them gorgeous?

Bloch

Carl Bloch, The Daughter of Jairus, 1863

In case any of you live in Utah and love art, the BYU Museum of Art has an amazing exhibition going called Carl Bloch: The Master's Hand. And when I say amazing, that doesn't even begin to describe it. They were able to get some really great altar paintings from Denmark and Sweden. In case you don't know who this Carl Bloch character is, he lived during the 19th century in Denmark and painted many religious pieces as well as some secular ones (which I really love). You might think you've never seen his works, but you'll be surprised :) Here's the museum's site, but other great places to see some of his work are here, or here, or here, or here (this one is my favorite because you get to see the works in their actual locations and it's all 3D!).

It's been going since November and it ends on May 7th (you have to have a free ticket, but I heard they were all out and now you can go on stand by). I just couldn't not say anything, because I loved it. And, as I've said before, there is just nothing like seeing paintings in real life. You can just go and sit in front of the altarpieces or get up close and see the beautiful brushstrokes.

left handed toons

So, I used to get on this site (lefthandedtoons.com) almost every day. And then I totally forgot about it (I blame facebook, because it used to be a box on my profile page. and then one day it was gone. forever). But today I remembered it. And I found this gem:

Just a little something to get through the Mondays :)

life is good

Brancusi, The Kiss, 1916

in one of my art history classes a few years ago 

my teacher put this up as his first slide. 

i didn't think of it much then, but it has grown on me. 

he used it as a way to explain the intimacy of life - and of art. 

you don't usually kiss someone with your eyes open. 

it's too special to do with just anyone. 

because being that close, it's like they're looking into your soul. 

sometimes i feel like getting up close to a work of art 

is like being able to see into its soul - and vice versa. 

that's why art is so special, 

because it can reach into your soul and make you feel something.

I don't really have much to say, but I wanted to blog anyway. I like having a photo of some sort for every post, and since i'm terrible at taking pictures, i think i'll post art instead :)

I'm [ ] this close to finishing my big paper that I have to give a presentation on tomorrow. I'm so excited to be finished (not because I hated writing it, but because I liked writing it) I'm having a hard time focusing enough to proof-read and prepare a PowerPoint. Thus, blogging.

I made Jantz a sandwich when I got home from work and then brought it over to his work so we could eat dinner together. and because he never brings dinner food with him to work, so he eats a granola bar or mcdonalds. not acceptable in my book. He showed me around where he works and all the little rooms he does stuff in. it was cute. My dad used to work in that same building so it was weird walking around without him haha. I'm so proud of Jantz and all the hard work he does. He works crappy hours and his job stresses him out sometimes. But he sticks with it. I know how miserable it can be to work full time at a job you don't care for (as I'm sure we all do). At least it won't be that way forever :) he's such a trooper.

I've been so grateful this past week for all the things I have. As I've mentioned before, sometimes I get real stressed about money. But you know, it always works out. no matter what. I keep waiting for a time when it doesn't and I'm stuck with no money and no help. But so far, it just keeps working out. I found out I got some scholarship money to help me this next year in school, which was a total surprise. then tax filing came around and my gracious mother is letting me get some of the money I would have gotten if she hadn't claimed me (what a saint, let me tell you). and then today I found out about a raise at work that will help out big time (who knew having a degree would be so beneficial?). I'm definitely not rolling in money (not by a long shot), but at least now I can save more money, start paying off loans and stop worrying so much about paying for school. I'm just really grateful that, even when other parts of life aren't perfect (because, when are they ever??), there is something that I can feel sure about.

ok so not such a short blog haha. but.....life is good. things are good. i'm happy :) even more so because the semester is almost over!

papers and more papers

how precious is this sketch by Rembrandt of his first wife Saskia?

I can not believe it is Friday already. I have been switching off grading papers that will be given back at the final from 8-10 (yes PM) tomorrow and writing my own paper that is due on tuesday. Needless to say I can't wait to be done with papers. And I can't wait for thursday, when I get to turn in a big project and an outline of my thesis. Then I will be all done with school until August :)

For a little break last night I made chicken enchiladas with green chile sauce. Sometimes I'm sheepish about cooking because I don't want it to turn out bad. But, I did it anyway. And it was fun. Almost as fun as baking. And I think it turned out pretty good. And apparently Jantz did too because he had seconds. I should have taken a picture because when it came out of the oven it looked amazing. Now it just looks half eaten...

Summer is just around the corner and I'm so excited!

P.S. I had this funny conversation scribbled on a paper (from probably last summer) in my drawer and randomly found it today:

A: "if you're not scared off by now...well i don't know, you could still get scared off..."
J: "no....unless you send me an alpaca"

I guess here's to no alpacas in our future. haha. 

thinking about art

I've been thinking about art lately (surprise surprise) and about the amazing effects it can have on a persons life. Which got me thinking about art that has really left a mark on me. There have been quite a few, maybe more than I can think of. But one place for sure completely changed my life. Not in a "i changed the way i do things now" kind of change; more of a "the feelings i felt there left me in an awe that i will never forget" kind of change. Seeing art like that is something you will never forget. It changes you somehow.

The place is the Galleria Borghese. There are several Bernini statues in there, and I promise that you will never look at his works the same after you've seen them in person. There is literally no comparison between a photograph and real life (kind of like hearing about going on a rollercoaster and then actually riding one. i kid not.).  

Apollo and Daphne is set in a little room where light shines through onto the statue, and it literally glows. The light shines through the leaves. And the textures. they are incredible. the smooth skin against the rough wood and the leaves. And then theirs the drama. the drama itself makes it breathtaking. We sat in that room for so long, just looking at it. I think about that day a lot. I don't think I could make it through life without art. it's one of those loves of your life that will never leave you and that makes life that much more worth living. 

If you ever get the chance to make it to Rome, don't miss this place. I can't wait to go back.

just for fun here's three of us waiting to go inside

dear robin eggs

i love you because you are so delicious to eat

but

i hate you because you make me sick when i eat too many of you (which is always)

someday, in our own house...

...our freezer will always be stalked with

for me. caramel is a must (but sometimes fudge is good too)

&

for jantz. the banana flavor of course

and....just for good measure, i'm gonna say that these will probably be next to them

don't worry, we'll be sure our fridge is full of salad and chicken and good things like that :)

another friday post

Jantz is visiting home in CO for the weekend. Before he left I thought, sweet, time to do some major finishing of projects. and all the hills watching that i want (yeah....sort of have a slight addiction to the show that has ended and is thus no longer applicable to life. but i still find the first seasons way too entertaining). So, I was set when i dropped him off at the airport yesterday afternoon (making me soo late for class. oops).

But then I woke up this morning and remembered that Jantz is no longer in this state. and even though I don't usually see him until 10:00 every night, just the fact that he wasn't in the city made me really nervous. sad/desperate-nervous. and pathetic-feeling. I went over a year of seeing him maybe once a month....then he's here for two and a half (yes i'm counting) months, leaves for one weekend, and i am completely lost in how to go about my day.

pathetic, party of one.

but also maybe, crazy in love, party of one (or two if jantz gets to tag along)   (you can cue gagging now ;)



in other news, i have amazing roommates who let me tag along as they picked up some goldfish (count: 55). and i got to buy some more robin eggs (which i LOVE. but whoppers not so much. however, malt shakes are my favorite). getting out of the house with the girls always helps :)

in even more other news, I'm doing an internship at the museum at BYU over the summer. I get to work on a Warhol/Murakami exhibition. I'm no contemporary connoisseur, but it's going to be freaking awesome. look forward to more talk on this over the summer, because i am so going to be talking about it.

and now i'm sitting on the couch reading article after article (and book after book...you get the picture) so i can write a "magnificent" paper on widowhood in Paris in the 18th century, in relation to this painting by David (that's Daaaveed, as in hot, and weed). when i saw it in the Louvre i cried

p.s. do any of you watch csi:ny? one more thing i am totally obsessed with. just a quick comment on Mac's round sunglasses.

i think he looks like a creepy mad scientist when he wears them. he is way too cool for such glasses, even if he does have some of the cheesiest lines.

p.p.s. biannual fondue night is happening tomorrow night and I. can. not. WAIT. be jealous.

dear blog,

I miss you lots.

I promise as soon as school is over and summer begins I will write so much more. but the next four weeks are going to be madness. technically the madness started yesterday. and let me tell you blog, it was not good news. I had a big presentation that I thought I was totally ready for. and then I woke up yesterday morning and thought, I am so not ready. But by then it was way too late. I did the best I could, put on my "confident" face, and got the job done. Usually I do better than I expect (so not bragging here), and feel all good inside. It's a completely different feeling when it goes the other way around. I wasn't very proud of myself. at all. It was my favorite project of the semester and I was really excited about it - I thought I had it down.

But, it's not the end of the world (I hope) and I don't have to impress everyone all the time (even though I'd like to). I still have one more big presentation next week and then a paper (and presentation) in four weeks. Let's just say I'm going to try my hardest to be as prepared as possible for both. 

At the end of the day, I still love what I'm doing and all that I'm learning; reading for class has now become a pleasant pastime (I can hardly believe it myself). I wish I could tell you all of the cool new things (like learning about Derrida and then seeing it get mentioned in a movie - totally knew what they were talking about), and all of the really weird things (like that some feminists believe lesbianism is the way to go because it means you're not a "woman" - to each her own*), that we get to talk about. just know that everything I'm learning is freaking awesome.

Alright, I better go. lots to do. I hope all is well :)

*totally not slamming lesbians OR feminism. I personally think feminism is 

fascinating and I have oh so many opinions about the importance of women

and how to achieve an equality in society. so basically, feminism represent.

a break from reading

I'm still missing Europe.

And free time.

It's that time in the semester when project due dates are in reach. Which means my mind is going a million miles a minute, redoing and reorganizing presentations and papers. It's going to be a really fast month, I can tell. But that means that things are finally going to get finished, which I'm very excited for. Summer is beginning more and more to look like the biggest relief (even with an internship and another class...).

Along the ride for all the busy-ness these past two weeks has been a cold. I think I'm finally out of the worst of it. I was on Dayquil and Nyquil pretty much nonstop all last week. I forgot the feeling of being sick and laying on the couch all day. It made me really want a vacation. A spring break would be really nice about now haha. silly BYU.

Thankfully it hasn't been all tissues and homework. Jantz took me out to P.F. Chang's on Friday. It's one of our favorites. and for good reason :) Speaking of, does anyone know of a good mexican or take-out chinese place in orem (or anywhere close)? We have yet to find any keepers.

Ok, I have to go watch The Bachelor now.

Oh Rome, how I miss you

I've been really missing Italy this week. Especially this place:

 The Parthenon

 

If you ever want your breath taken away, come to the Pantheon. On the outside it doesn't look like much, but once you step inside you won't want to leave. The amazing colored marble alone will suck you, but the dome is what will get you in the end. The way the light trickles in through the hole in the roof, casting a beautiful ray on everything it touches. It will literally take your breath away. It took mine away the moment I walked through the door. I was mesmerized. I couldn't stop looking up. The coffered dome looked like a painting. It was an amazing experience, to say the least. I did not want to leave.

making brownies on a friday night

WOW has it really be two weeks since my last post?!? I have so much catch up to do. I still have written nothing about Valentine's Day (which was pretty perfect). Last weekend Jantz and I went to Apollo burger and got burgers, fries, AND onion rings. all with fry sauce of course. best. decision. ever. it was so good. We watched the All-Star game last weekend too. I may have enjoyed it.

We're watching the Nuggets vs Trail Blazers game right now (oh and I made brownies :). I'm almost ashamed that I now know so much about sports these days. But, today I found out that one of the guys Denver got in their trade of Carmelo is Italian. Yeah, I just got way more interested in this game. haha.

Not too many exciting things happen during the week since Jantz works til 10 and I do homework all night.

Here's the flowers Jantz got me for Valentine's Day:

Happy Weekend

I got a lot of homework done today, I just wanted to let everyone know that.

And I watched the History channel for a good two hours today...while doing homework. I felt like I was being extremely studious. Studying art history while watching something about art history. win win.

I also bought some brie cheese and a baguette because I've been having major Europe and Paris breakfast withdrawals. The cheese did not compare (and neither did the baguette really) but it was delicious anyways. As good as I can get with a limited selection and no moneys. (ps, i never liked baguettes until Paris. i like my bread soft, not hard. but by the end of the trip i couldn't get enough (we even smuggled it from our hotel breakfast for a snack later). Paris is also where i fell in love with brie - seriously amazing. there's nothing else like a baguette with french cheese.)

What are your plans for the weekend? Any big Valentine dates? Or is everyone waiting until Monday? We've got some fun plans for the weekend that include a group party and a date just the two of us, both of which I'm very excited for - we're dressing up and everything. As roommates we all bought new dresses, and they look great. Pray that we remember to take pictures!

Have a great weekend :)

Hello February

Just wanted to stop in and say a quick hello. Jantz and I are heading off to Sandy to have some Chipotle for lunch. Then hopefully some shopping for a cute dress and then lots of homework (oh the joys).

I made clam chowder this week (another meal, check). And I think it turned out pretty delicious....this coming from someone who can't actually eat clam chowder, haha. But I was told it was good, and it smelled good, so I'm going to count it as a success.

The most exciting part of the week would have to be that I've been getting body work done from my amazing friend Jessica. Basically she re-structures my body so that it looks how it's supposed to look (aka, correcting my bad posture and making my shoulders even. stuff like that). I'm not going to lie, it's the most pain i've experienced in long time (maybe ever). But i can already tell a difference, so it's all worth it.   She also does massages that feel amazing, so if you want one, you should get one from her :)

Oh AND, B and I bought light bulbs last night for our bathroom. We've been living with one light for way too long now, always fearing that it would go out while we were in the shower. But now all three work and we can actually see our faces.

I hope you're all having a great weekend! Hopefully I'll be back soon with some pictures

remember when pam and jim first got together? that was so cute

(I've been watching a lot of old Office episodes lately. The second and third seasons will always be my favorite)

Wow I have been terrible at blogging....my only excuse is that life has been so busy.

I have been doing homework almost non-stop. But I feel like the more I get done, the more I have to do (shouldn't it be the opposite?!). Even though it seems to never end, I'm pretty excited about all of my projects for this semester. Another annotated bibliography (much akin to last semesters but with more sources); a paper for my Women in France class, which will be about images of the holy family in France and how they differentiate between roles of motherhood and fatherhood (still working on a for sure idea with this one); and then a project for my Gender class, which I'm most excited for because I basically get to do mass research on my thesis. I have pages and pages of lists of books and articles that I need to find and read...which is daunting. But still exciting :)

Jantz has been here for two weeks. He's all settled and getting used to his new job. We've been having so much fun. Here's a few pictures of life this month...

New Years -

awkward picture....we didn't get a good one

My first homemade meal in who knows how long -

 yeah, it took Jantz moving here to make me realize that 

I don't really know how to cook anything (other than boxed pasta and cereal). 

hopefully it will only get better from here. any suggestions of meals to cook that are fast and delicious?

Jantz's birthday! (I always want to write Jantz', you know, like James'. but it just doesn't sound right...)

 his birthday cake i made from scratch. not to brag, but it was amazing :)

 naturally, i had to smear frosting all over his face. it's tradition!

I got him a visor beenie, the movie Batman Begins (he loves The Dark Knight), and a brown Rockies hat (he had been talking about it for months, but I told him it was too expensive, which of course means that I got it for him :) I think I may be breaking my life-long streak of "bad present-buying".

During his break at work he said he was hungry for a chalupa, in & out, and a red baron pizza. Since it was his birthday I made sure he got all of it. So after he got off work we went around to in & out, taco bell, target, and the gas station for drinks. And yes, he ate each thing (with a little help from me of course).

Wow, this has gotten lengthy. Before I go, here's a ridiculous video from the party. They bought mentos and diet coke and Derek had a "good idea"...

Oh AND i got my hair colored and cut today. I love it :)

is it really Saturday already?

Because that means it's the day that Jantz is moving here!!!!

So there's my big news. I hope none of you were disappointed. If you were.....well.....maybe next time ;)

He had an interview over New Years and we were really really hoping he would get it. It just seemed too perfect not to happen. After a week of being SO nervous, he got the call that they wanted to hire him.

That was Monday. They want him to start Wednesday (as in this coming Wednesday). He decided to move out here Saturday (which is today, hooray!), which gave him 5 days to pick up and move to Utah. from Colorado. to figure out how to get out here, where to live, etc etc. As excited as we were, it was stressful trying to put it all together over such a short period of time. It just seemed so surreal. Despite all the stress, things somehow all fell into place. He found a place to live, a car to drive, a way to get out here (and good weather the whole way!).

So....he's currently driving out to Utah. right now. whoa. I get to see him tonight. and every night.

Yep, I finally get to be a girlfriend who gets to see her boyfriend every day. I'll actually be able to say "I'll see you tomorrow". I feel so lucky. Which sounds silly, because that's how it should always be. But really, I feel like I'm getting the biggest blessing (on top of many others over the past couple months).

Even though I would never wish a year and a half of long distance on anyone (really people, it's not easy), I don't think I would take it any of it back. There are things you can learn about another person only by being long distance. We have learned so much about each other from talking so much. And now I get to find out all of the wonderful things that come from being in the same place with my very best friend who (whom?) I love to death.

In the words of a girl in my ward, it's going to be "epic awesome" (Jessica that was for you)

I'm going to try and be a good blogger even with Jantz around, so cross your fingers and forgive me if I'm a slacker for a bit. I promise I'll catch up!

i thought today was thursday pretty much all day...

I was just sitting here, in the midst of homework, when i thought, i wonder how my blog is doing....and then i realized that i have been pretty terrible at writing anything since school started and the new year happened. So many things have happened since then!

-Jantz and i finally got to have a new years kiss together (tmi?). the night also included a late night run to del taco, if that makes it better haha

-school started. and boy did it start! i can't believe a whole week has already passed. I have been busy since day one, which means that everything i was hoping to do last week (including grocery shopping, seeing friends, doing laundry, etc etc) got pushed to this week, and so far no progress on the personal to do list, but i'm working on it, promise.

-i realized i'm really bad at actually recording the happenings of my life on this blog, which makes me really sad and I want to do better in that area. and i mean, this is a blog about my life right? so from now on hopefully you'll actually be able to know how i'm really doing and feeling and all of the "fun" things i do everyday. it's riveting stuff.

-i fell in even more in love with my roommates (in a, "you are the most wonderful friends and roommates" kind of way). for real everyone, they are amazing and i love them to death.

-AND some very exciting stuff has been happening this week, but you'll have to wait for a full recap on that in the next couple days. it's big news people, and i'm so ecstatic about it!

alright, i must be off to read for my 9am class tomorrow (who starts a 2 1/2 hour class at 9?! it's madness i tell you)

and, in case any of you aren't feeling appreciated today, just know that I appreciate you :) thanks for reading my silly blog. if i was cool enough or popular enough to have giveaways, i would give each of you a big candy bar. so instead here's a big candy bar in the shape of a thank you. i think you're all great :)
(ria and b, i would definitely give you two each because i know you are starving ;)

want another video? this ones for the holidays

I'm pretty jealous of everyone in this eating area. (and now that i know how to put in videos, i might have to do it more often...)




And a late Merry Christmas and early Happy New Years! I hope everyone had so much fun and ate a ton of delicious food (I definitely did!).

Christmas with the family was so much fun. I have missed them so very much (especially my darling niece, she's the cutest. and i'm not even kidding, so adorable). We were all poor this year so presents were minimal and very creative, which actually was a lot of fun. It really is the thought and effort that makes the holidays special. We ate so many delicious home-cooked meals, mostly just hung out and relaxed. Exactly what I needed. Thanks fam for the presents and love :) and thanks roomies for the cute presents (you're basically my family too)


To top it all off, after the stress and frustration (remember the not-fun money issues?) somehow everything has sorted itself out in the past week. It's kind of funny how it was all taken away (enter: frantic ali), and then all given back again a short time later (enter: very happy and grateful ali). All I can say is, what a relief. And holy cow do I feel blessed. So grateful that things work out when I least expect it.

There's pretty slim chances I'll be posting again until after the new year since I've be traipsing around town with that silly boyfriend of mine. We got to do Christmas all over again because we weren't together for the real thing. He got me some really cute presents. He knows how to shop :) And I think he liked what I got him.

I'll be back next week, probably droning on about how hard school is. haha, but hopefully with some fun stories and pictures.

On a completely unrelated note...I need a haircut. bad.

Thought of You

Just wanted to share.

This video was made by two faculty members, one in animation and one in dance, at BYU. Amazing is all I have to say. love the music. love the animation.





Thought of You from Ryan J Woodward on Vimeo.

 

non mi piace snow

(or "i don't like snow", in case your Italian skills are rusty ;)   also, "snow doesn't please me" if you're being literal)

It snowed all day yesterday. and I was hoping for just rain today......but oh no. It snowed all night, leaving A LOT of freaking snow everywhere. Oh, and it's snowing right now. It may never stop.

I guess that wouldn't be so bad, only because it would mean Ria, B, and i (and Derek too) could finally make a sweet-awesome igloo/tunnel on our balcony. but that is the only good thing that can come from this snow business.

I took the bus today to escape having to drive myself on the terrifying roads. Now if only the good city of Orem would shovel their sidewalks so i wouldn't have to stomp through a foot of snow to get to the bus stop. enter: moon boots, which made the stomping somewhat entertaining.

I wrapped Christmas presents last night. I feel like I should apologize for the wrapping, and not just to those who receive gifts from me, but to anyone who values good wrapping. You see, I didn't have wrapping paper, and because of previously mentioned snow, there was no way i was going to go buy some. So i used what i had: pink tissue paper and a ton of bubble wrap. I'm not a very good wrapper anyway (not for the lack of much instruction by the parents), so this proved to be pretty exciting and I'm looking forward to watching people unwrap them.

If only the gifts inside made up for that, but i'm pretty terrible at buying gifts for people. I should also be apologizing to anyone who has ever received a present from me. No, your present doesn't mean i hate you, i just didn't know what to get you that adequately shows you how much you really mean to me (which is a lot). I'm trying to get better at this, promise :)

I forgot how much there is to do when school isn't taking up every crevice of my life. I reorganized my room, fixed up my closet and my desk, went through a bunch of old papers, did laundry, used super glue (yeah...that was a big mess), finally changed up this old blog (better? worse? did you even notice? fess up), and wrapped presents :)

Life is going to be so nice for the next two weeks. Christmas couldn't have come at a better time. I was seriously beginning to forget what the real world was like. I've been so consumed with school and doing well and working harder than ever and trying to please my teachers and worrying about money and time and on and on. My mind literally has not been able to breathe and think about things (kind of like being in a tornado for 4 months, and then finally being flung out. and you think, oh yeah, that's what it's like to be still. grad school=tornado); which I've sadly only realized was the case now that school has been out (but, better late than never i suppose). I'm not stressing or thinking about anything related to these things for the next two weeks. I'm just relaxing and remembering how great life is, and how much i love my roommates (and how much i miss hanging out with them), and how excited i am to be with my family for Christmas and with Jantz for New Years :)

grateful

welp, my first semester of grad school is officially over. I turned in my last project today (a 21 page paper, 30 with pictures and bibliography. my other projects included a museum exhibition critique and 30+ page annotated bibliography. oh and paper grading :) .

i am 1/4 of the way done. whoa.

so yes i want to celebrate. and yes i definitely want to get all those piles of books (along with anything resembling school) out of my room, so i can have two weeks of forgetting i even started grad school (because really, who does that?!). and yes i want to go home and lay on the couch and do absolutely nothing. and yes i want to be happy and smile all the while. 

but, instead i sit here, so frustrated i want to bop people on the head (ok maybe not, but that would be funny right?). i'm rarely a big money-stresser, but when i am, i am in a big way and it's not a pretty sight. and it doesn't help when decisions are involved (we're not very good friends either).
 
But details aren't the important part, this post titled grateful for a reason. and that reason is named jantz (aka the best boyfriend ever). he's the one who is always on the receiving end of my disgruntled-ness. he hears every bad thing i have to say about anything and anyone (which isn't a lot, promise). and he most especially is always the one who has to put up with my bad moods when any of these things occur. he's a good sport, to say the least. and today is no exception.

i'm grateful for his kind words. his assurance that everything is going to work out, not just because he can say it, but because he knows it's the truth. i'm so grateful for the unconditional love he somehow has for me. no matter how angry or sad i am, somehow he always calms me down. and he deserves a big thank you, for reminding me to smile, and to be grateful when i really don't want to :)

alright

first of all, remember when i started going through my Europe trip with pictures, but then i only got through Greece (the first place we went)??? yeah, i'm pretty ashamed. maybe i'll finally get around to do it after finals. mostly i just want to relive all the amazing places i went. i miss traveling around to museums everyday.

secondly, i may have bought a new bed yesterday. i've wanted a new one since i got home from europe. i finally saved enough to buy a really nice one for a really good price (really). after way too many years of sleeping on a twin, i think i deserved the upgrade to a queen. even if it does take up twice as much space. haha. i might just have to post pictures.

but really, SO excited.

and lastly, seriously people, i need to change up my blog. even i don't want to look at it anymore. no more posts until i start! (any ideas for a new title?)

Song-of-the-Week (almost forgot you existed): If I Die Young by The Band Perry. really like this song. the end.

Just a bit more dwelling on being one year older

I must admit I can't believe how fast time has gone. It seems like just yesterday I turned 21, which is when I think life became really exciting (well, exciting/scary/terrible/amazing). Really though, life has only gotten better, even if that has included many failures and wanting to give up on numerous occasions, the good definitely out-ways the bad.

I like that my birthday comes close to Thanksgiving because it gives me extra time to think of all that I'm grateful for. (when i was younger I hated having a fall birthday because it meant i could never go to Seven-Peaks for a party). I really am so grateful for my life right now. School is rough and takes up a lot of my time and energy, but it really is fulfilling. I have the best friends i could ever ask for, including the best roommates Ria and B (we live in the perfect apartment because you are the perfect roommates) and a boyfriend who makes me laugh every single day and who has kept me happier than i ever thought possible.

My year of 22 has been so full. Lots of changes and new things. I finished projects I never thought I could get through, I somehow made it to graduation (still weird to have a diploma), and I even went to Europe (seriously changed my life). Basically, 22 treated me very well and I can't wait to see how 23 turns out.


Is everyone ready for Christmas? for once I am haha

Thanksgiving in Jersey

Here are a few select pictures from the super fun Thanksgiving in
New Jersey with my mom's side of the family :)

making the big dinner :) i stuck with pies, as usual.

after waiting in line for an hour and a half, we finally made it into Carlo's Bakery. 

It was crazy packed, but so worth it.

   

spending a night in new york city. 

(being on the subway really made me miss europe...)

 

a personal fave. opening christmas presents while unaware of pictures being taken.

birthday cake

I turned the big 2-3 on Monday...but, I think I've been telling people I'm 23 for at least a month now. I normally don't approve of broadcasting an age that you are not, but I legitimately thought I was 23. And then my birthday came and I thought, oh yeah, I've been 22 this whole time. hmm. And funnily enough (yes funnily is a word), now that I'm actually 23, I keep forgetting. So, there you go.

Sunday I went out to my dad's. He cooked a huge pizza in his new smoker. I didn't even know that was possible. but it was delicious. We had turtle pie (seriously good) for dessert and i barely blew out the candles - every year my dad gets me trick candles (probably thinking i will have forgotten the past years, which, oddly enough, i usually do), and this time only a couple worked, but instead of lighting back up, they sparked, which caused for some good family laughs. then I got some cute cards from my sister and parents. It was a totally unexpected thing, but it made my birthday that much sweeter.

Then, after saying goodnight to Jantz around 11, I got a call at midnight wishing me my first happy birthday :) I'm still impressed he woke himself up to call me (that boy loves his sleep). he must like me or something...

Monday was one of the most stressful days of the semester (remember my hour-long presentation?). I got up early and prepared all morning (my 9:00 class was canceled) for class at 11. Then I went first (yes, very very first out of everyone) so it was nervous times 10. But of course I played it off totally cool and breezed through the hour (and actually went over a few minutes. yeah, how did that happen??).

After 2 1/2 hours of class, I met with a student who was in desperate need of help with her research paper, which happened to be due that day by 5pm (did I mention my morning was also full of answering frantic emails from what felt like the whole class about said research paper?). After an hour with such a sweet girl who was trying her hardest, I had to rush to work for a meeting. After a few meetings, I was finally able to leave campus.

I took the bus (oh the bus, that's a whole post in itself) to the mall, where I briskly walked to Texas Roadhouse (their opening day was on my birthday! Pretty sure they knew my love for them), where my awesome friends and my mom were waiting. I got to sit and breathe for a few minutes before we were seated and the feasting began. Dinner was soo good. I'm so glad I got to spend some time with all of them, just us, eating and talking and laughing, it was just what i needed after such a long day. And yes, I did have to sit on the saddle thing (in a skirt no less) while everyone made lots of noise. Pictures were taken (of the whole night actually), but i don't have any of them, probably for the best ;)

The party continued at my apartment where a bunch of friends were waiting (thank you everyone for coming!). We played games, ate candy and cake, and hung around and had lots of fun. The cake was soo good (Maria did a wonderful job). There was quite a bit cake-smearing-on-faces (I was so caught of guard, and maria got it all over my face, and in my eye. but i made sure to get her (and bethany) back. birthday tradition, check). which was made extra evident today when i found chocolate cake frosting on my cardigan....guess i failed on the "pretending i'm not wearing the same thing twice" gig, but a cardigan is totally allowed to be worn more than once. just maybe not this time. ha.

I was so exhausted by the end of the day, but I'm so grateful for all of my many friends and family who have been so loving and caring. I don't know if I deserved all the festivities, but thank you all so very much :)

Oh AND, my amazing dad helped me get a new laptop which came in the mail yesterday. I hope it can fill the shoes of my old lappy. I'll be getting used to it over my Thanksgiving in New Jersey (woot!), and hopefully making some changes on this old blog of mine (which I've been trying to do for ages, but never get around to).

ok bye!

updating my blog is totally the same as studying...

Homework has taken over this weekend. I have to give an hour-long presentation on Monday, which is both frightening and exciting. I just want to get it over with, but I think it will be fun to talk about all that I've researched. I'm tracking the scholarship done on Guido Reni, and if you guys don't think that's fascinating, I don't know what will convince you. haha.

Oh and my laptop died on Tuesday. It was pretty devastating. Thankfully (seriously thankfully) all my information survived. But being without a laptop (or moneys) in the midst of grad school is not so good. Good thing my birthday is on Monday...pretty sure I know what my present is going to be.

Last weekend with Jantz was so much fun. We didn't do anything too extravagant, except for a birthday dinner at Cheesecake Factory :) we mostly hung out, watched movies, played random games like War (i've always been really fast at this game, but that boy beats me 90% of the time), chess (my first official game. yeah, he creamed me), and checkers (which I also lost) - my ability to strategize has greatly decreased since high school. And for probably the first time, I didn't take any pictures. for shame.

So I have nothing to spice up this post with......except maybe for one of my many baby pictures that my mom posted on facebook....i think this is a pretty precious one of my dad and i

Hope you're all having a good weekend!

PS. if anyone knows of any job openings in the Utah county area, please let me know! :)

PPS. in the Jewish Bride painting (from my last post), i know it looks like that man is groping the woman, but it was actually a gesture of love and respect. So, it's really a precious couple :)

paintings i'd like to own someday...part 1?

I'm constantly seeing paintings that I fall in love with. But most of them aren't necessarily "hang in your house someday" paintings, they're more like, "stay in the church and come visit often" paintings. So leaving out some that I really love, here's a few that I would pretty much die to see in my house someday. You know, if the museums just decided to let me have them...

Rembrandt's The Jewish Bride

the impasto on this painting is incredible. 

it's what makes it a painting in every sense of the word. 

nothing can compare to seeing this painting in person. seriously. nothing.

Rembrandt's Supper at Emmaus 1629

Caravaggio's Fruit Basket

Vermeer's View of Delft

i also have to say that nothing can compare to seeing this in person. 

it has a luminosity that no one can describe.

it's literally like the painting is lighting up the whole room.

What do all of you decorate your houses with? Art? Pictures? Paint? If my house could be like a 19th century Salon, that would be really cool.

 

it's what day??

it's October 26th. didn't October just start?? the weeks are seriously flying by. but what can i say, time flies when you're busy studying. Is it scary that I've actually sort of enjoyed going to class and doing my homework? because it sort of scares me....I believe this week I even told someone grad school was fun (maybe even twice?!). yeah, whoa.

I'm not gonna lie, it's no walk in the park. I feel like i'm constantly doing homework. reading, writing, study study study. I miss out on a lot of fun, which makes me sad sometimes, but it's pretty much mandatory that I do homework every night, no exceptions (well except for Sundays, that's my "no homework allowed" day. I have to stay sane somehow!).

On a completely different note, I have taken no pictures for a couple weeks, tisk tisk. But, i have been looking at lots of art :) I'm probably going to be writing my thesis on this painting by Guido Reni:

St Joseph with the Infant Jesus, 1635

I actually wrote a little post about this painting (and others) a while ago. Funny how a few months later I found myself writing my senior thesis on it. And now....I may just continue that into my master's thesis. either way, this image will always hold a special place in my heart.

On another completely different note, I get to see the boyfriend next week, yay :)
(yes, he is back)

GNO

"Girls Night Out" for those not properly associated with The Office :)
(not to be confused with GAI, "Guys Afternoon In")

A few of my wonderful past roommates and I got together for a long overdue dinner. I was the "matriarch" of the apartment in our 9 months together a few years back. Seeing how far we've all gotten makes me feel like such a proud mother (...in a "we're still basically the same age but also not" sort of way). They are each doing such amazing things and I feel so lucky to call them friends.

We ate (a lot), talked (even more), and had a whole bunch of fun.

I'm not quite sure how to put in to words all that has happened this week.
Everything has changed. I feel like literally everything is up in the air.
Every day has been a roller coaster of emotions.
But, I'm beginning (only barely) to see a faint light at the end of the dark tunnel.
I don't really know how to talk about it yet, so I'll hold off until things settle a bit.

mish mish

The time has come. I have been both dreading and anticipating its arrival.

My most favorite person in the world, who just so happens to be my boyfriend and best friend (and future husband ;) is leaving for two whole years. to Columbus, Ohio. to serve as a missionary. that means no more phone calls. no more visits. only letters. for the both of us who love and obsess over talking to each other at every possible moment, these two years are going to be quite the experience. But I know that they are going to go. and hopefully it will be more happy than sad. we're going to get through this separated by more than 1700 miles, but we'll be connected through our love and letters. I can't believe this day has finally come. I'm so excited to go through this new adventure with him. I'm so incredibly proud of him for taking such a faith-filled step. all for the benefit of our future and happiness (which i can't wait for).

so please bear with me for the next two years as I mush and gush about how much i miss him and what a wonderful job he is doing.

 just look at these sweet awesome sweatshirts he made for us :)