Less than a week!

I am officially down to less than a week before DC!

We are now on rush to see all and any friends before my flight on Saturday. We kicked off the countdown on Saturday by having a fabulous sushi dinner and catch-up session with Emma and Carolyn at Red Ginger. Oh My Goodness. I seriously need to spend more time with people, it has most definitely been a lonely summer. Which makes me even more excited to live with fun roommates again :)

Today was little Miss Kate's 3rd birthday party, and I had to say goodbye to my favorite babies. I'll admit I got really emotional when saying goodbye to Max, I didn't let him go for maybe 5 whole minutes. Broke my heart when he told me he would think of me on his birthday when I wouldn't be there :(

Later Mom and I met up with Livvy so she could do our hair to pass off a few things for the salon. I really love getting my hair done, something about someone running their fingers through my ever-growing hair really relaxes me. I love it :D

Things to come this week include:

1-(Monday) Finnish reading Eisenhower: Soldier & President by Stephen Ambrose
2-(Tuesday) Ice Cream Catch-Up Session with Erica
3-(Wednesday) Glee Concert Movie with Ian D and work
4-(Thursday) Laundry and last day at work
5-(Friday) Packing and last goodbyes for the Humanities Housemates

I honestly can't believe we're down to less than a week! I'm excited/nervous/anxious etc. But I know that there are so many more adventures coming my way, and as Walt Disney said, "Keep Moving Forward."

Movin' On

So today was my last day at the SRC and my goodbye party. It was a great day. Bryce, Kate, and Aly and I had a great time at the Desert Edge Brewery at Trolley; I explained to them the significance of that place, it is my parent's special place where they had their first date. We really had a blast catching up and just having a great time.
Afterward, I headed back to Shoreline and got distracted by a vacant practice room. After singing for 45 minutes, I finally headed back to spend my last night at the apartment. I finished packing up my room and proceeded to move my boxes into the living room. All that's left to do is move out my TV and bedding and pack up my kitchen stuff. I'm really excited to move back home for two weeks before heading to DC, spend some time with my parents, and settle back into my old room.
I'm officially counting down until my flight, and every single day is getting closer and closer. I really can't wait!

You are of Worth

This past weekend was my friend Corie's mission farewell, and it gave me the opportunity to reconnect with my Phi sisters one last time before we all split up in different directions. I got to spend the majority of my Sunday talking to Livvy, one of my sisters who is going through her post-grad depression. Like me, she graduated and had her heart broken around the same time, and seemed to have lost her zeal. It seemed like just yesterday I was the depressed one, only it was actually three months ago. Luckily, because I had been there already, I responded to her problems with some of my own recent experiences and they seemed to be just what she needed to hear.

One of the main conversation topics always circles back to relationships, it seems like every time we talk, one of us is having issues with some guy. I pinpointed that the reason why breakups hurt girls like us so much is because it isn't just a rejection, it is a declaration of not being loved. We feel unloved, and that sends us into an anxious quest to feel validated again. It makes us look desperate to new guys because we like the attention, we like to feel important to others. Other girls make it look so easy, and for a long time I was determined to figure out why.

Then it dawned on me. It doesn't matter to them. They have validation and love from other places, they aren't lacking anything and therefore don't spend their free time dwelling on what they think they might be missing. I mentioned this to Livvy, and she asked me where I get my validation from.

I thought about it for a split second before responding (take in mind I had already thought about this long before we had this conversation). I look at the friendships I have in my life, beginning with the girls. That's what made Phi so great, it's because it was our safe place. I don't have sisters, neither does my mom, or my grandma. My family averages one girl per family, and the cousins really don't stick around. My friend Steph has been around since Spring of '09, and regardless of distance we've kept close. Phi added more friends to the mix, like Livvy.

Then I looked at the guys in my life: Dad, Uncle D, both brothers, little Max, Grandpa, etc. Top of the list of non-related is Bryce and Adam. Best friends. My best friends.

So, I get emotional support from my family, affection from my toddler cousins and my best friends, and love from all of them.

So the next time someone performs any act that make you feel rejected, unloved, not worth it, etc you need to re-evaluate your life. You don't need someone else's approval to feel loved. You really don't, as long as you love yourself. Don't ever stop loving yourself.

Mom's Early Birthday

So, my Mom's birthday is in September, when I am in Washington DC, so I decided to take her out early.
We went to the downtown restaurant called Eva,

 and afterwards we spontaneously hit up the Tavernacle for some live music.
After we made a pit-stop at Wendy's for frostys and baked potatoes, we headed back to my apartment.
Overall, it was a great night, personally I had way to much Tequila, and woke up with a headache before work. But I guess that's the sacrifice you make for a fun night out with Mom

Hanging with Bryce

Bryce is my best guy friend. I'd be lost without him.

We had the opportunity to hang out twice this week, I even let him read one of my books (even though he is essentially in most of them). This week we celebrated our friend Kate's 21st Birthday at the Spaghetti Factory, and hit up Pioneer Park for Bryce's very first Twilight Concert (The Decemberists).

We've been close friends for over 6 years now; now we're parting ways :( I'm heading out to DC and he's staying in SLC for ELP Graduate School at the U. Four whole months without hanging out might just drive me insane, because we all know that Skype, text, email, and phone calls just aren't the same as a face-to-face conversation. Although he is possibly coming out to DC during Fall Break in October to visit (fingers crossed).

For those of you who know the history, we are two of the three original Besties. Adam and Bryce were besties, and then I came along and pushed my way in ;) We three were the closest, and they were my best boys. But you know, things change (Adam high-tailed it to Riverton after I moved on-campus and Bryce moved off-campus). So now there are two, me and Bryce. Hopefully we'll still be as close when we're gray-haired and deaf/blind of old age. Haha, one can only hope right?

Hanging out after the birthday dinner.

Chillaxing at the Twilight Concert.


Best Friends Forever!

Washington D.C. Update

As of Thursday (July 21, 2011), I am an official intern for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission. I received my official intern acceptance letter from Gen. Reddell congratulating me on joining the staff beginning August 22, 2011 and concluding December 16, 2011.

It's all so exciting, my flight leaves on Saturday the 20th at 9:46am. The sad part is going to be saying goodbye to my adorable little cousins (Max 4, Kate 2). I leave right after Kate's 3rd birthday, and unfortunately will miss Max's 5th :( He has already requested/demanded that I Skype him on a daily basis, but I convinced him that a weekly basis will be just as good.

At the moment my mind is otherwise occupied with finishing my summer class, moving out of my apartment and back home, finishing my SRC internship, and giving my notice at the Development Office.

D.C. Countdown is at exactly 4 weeks!

California Adventures

So, it's been awhile since I've blogged. Really the only thing worth reporting is June was going to Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles with my grandparents, my aunt and uncle, and the little cousins.

It was crazy.

We left on a Tuesday morning, and got to the airport with 45 minutes to spare. After getting bagels and cream cheese we waited for the plane at gate B something or other. After 5 minutes, my uncle noticed that his shirt was on backwards, and I commenced laughing in my head.

On the plane I read my Facebook novel for class, and begun writing my book report.

I met up with my grandparents at the LA Airport and we headed to the beach house.

The beach was great, but the best part was meeting up with my Aunt Jo-Ann and being in the studio audience for the taping of Fran Drescher's new sitcom "Happily Divorced."

The beach, I love it!

Lieu & Damian came down from Anaheim for lunch with me and my grandparents.

Me and Grandpa

It was nice to get away for a few days to the beach with amazing weather, but it was nice to come home again. Although the temperature was absolutely perfect in CA and just plain hot in SLC.