Ohhhhh my word, I can't believe I'm writing my 5th Sunday Post right now! Technically, this post should have been written about three weeks ago, but unfortunately school took over my life in that time, which left me with little time to write a post. *Sigh* Last week I experienced a little break down in my car while talking to my sweet mom. For real though.... I have no clue what I would do without my caring, helping, loving mother. She always knows what to say, and how to fix whatever problem I'm dealing with. She is my best friend (and yes I'm 19 and still sometimes hold her hand). In last weeks case, it was stress. I was feeling overwhelmed with various things related with school, and I just, hit my breaking point. On a positive note, allowing myself to cry a little made me feel 99.9% better! :) Lesson: It's okay to cry; you should every now and again, quite frankly. We all do it. No shame! 

So, last night I went to see the movie Gone Girl! It was definitely worth my 11 dollars (eleven dollars!?!? SERIOUSLY!? Like ten dollars wasn't enough already? Seriously theater people... you're killin' me). The movie was suspenseful, mysterious, and mind-blowing. Once the credits started rolling everyone kind of, silently sauntered their way out of the room. It left you with that feeling like, "What just happened?" Haha, but it's a definite must-see if your into those kinds of movies! Personally, I am glad I hadn't read the book yet; I liked not knowing what was going to happen. Oh! I almost forgot to tell you of the yummy treats that I snuck in (because I refuse to buy an 8 dollar tub of popcorn or a 5 dollar bottle of water!). So, I went to Sprouts, and bought a bag of Popcorn Indiana - -Parmesan and Herb popcorn! It's only 40 calories per cup, and still tastes amazing. Oh! And then I also bought some dark chocolate covered blueberries, because I knew after a salty treat, I'd want something sweet. Delicious!

I'm pretty sure that Fall fever has 100% hit me, now. Why? I have never really been a crafter, nor have I aspired to be. Until now. Everywhere I look I see DIY crafts being made! And since my roommate and I love the holiday's, as well as decorating, I thought it fit to take a trip to Hobby Lobby to spruce up our apartment. So yesterday I decided my first project would be to decorate our kitchen dining table! I'm giving myself a pat on the back for this one, because I composed it all by myself! What do you think?

I finally had the chance to watch Gods Not Dead, last night. Wow. What a great movie! I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it yet!

This morning I got my exercise in over at a park nearby. I don't usually workout on the weekends, but still like to keep active, or else my body gets super stiff! I really just wanted to get a nice breath of the fresh, autumn air. I jogged a couple miles, performed a few jump lunges, squat jumps, mt. climbers, hi-knees, burpees, and sit-ups. It was a great workout to start my Sunday! I'm thinking I need to take up yoga again to get back the flexibility that so quickly disappeared after high school! What are your plans for today? My tasks today are to go grocery shopping, and get prepared for this weeks classes. Happy Sunday!

Weekend Getaway | Salt Lake City, UT | Washington vs. Utah

 This past weekend I traveled to Salt Lake City, UT with my awesome roommate, Taylor, to attend a Washington State University vs. Utah State University's college football game. I have never been to a college football game before, and couldn't have wished for a better, first experience! I am originally from Utah; you would think I was cheering for the Utes, but I sure wasn't! You see, Taylor's dad is one of the coaches for WSU, so of course I was cheering for them! ;) #traitorandproudofit Oh, and the best part.... the Cougs won by one point!

Salt Lake City bound!!

Rainy, cloudy, wet, but still beautiful.

The team getting on the bus about to head to the stadium!

Have you ever attended a football game where it down-poured the entire time, and all you could cover yourself with is a thin plastic poncho?! Yeah... I hadn't either, UNTIL NOW, ha ha. Grey clouds covered the beautiful city of Salt Lake all weekend; I wasn't complaining, though! Rainy days are my favorite, especially when you can eat breakfast inside a cute bakery such as Kneaders, have a warm cup of hot cocoa or coffee, and watch the raindrops swim down the cold, glass window, all while listening to classical music. Yes, we did this on the morning of Saturday before exploring City Creek Mall.

And of course there I am... doing what I always do... taking pictures :P

We stayed two nights in The Marriott hotel, located smack-dab in the middle of downtown. Wow. That's all I could think when stepping inside the gold-swinging doors. It was absolutely beautiful. The hospitality was amazing; right as we pulled up Taylor and I were greeted by the valet men who opened our door, helped take our bags inside, and took our car to the parking garage. The view from our room (on the ninth floor) was breath-taking (the first picture up above). There is something about those bright city lights...and my most favorite part of the hotel was the restaurant that was located inside of it, La Belle (I will be writing a separate post dedicated to La Belle, soon).

And of course, my most favorite part of the entire trip was....... THE FOOD!!!! I am a total, and complete #foodie at heart. I swear I was trying to capture a picture of every single delicious thing I ate, but that was a challenge. Why? Oh, because Tay likes to make fun of me for taking pictures of EVERYTHING!... I can't help it, ha ha. This was my first time meeting Taylor's parents....thank goodness Tami, Taylor's mom, didn't think I was some crazy person for stopping every five seconds for a picture! :P I think everyone feels like they are allowed to eat more treats than usual while on vacation, and I couldn't agree more! A few of the yummies that I treated myself to were: buttery/stadium popcorn, creamy/chocolatey hot cocoa, creamy/sweet/vanilla custard filled chocolate crepes, warm/oatmeal w/ crunch granola, fruit, and brown sugar, and soft bread rolls dipped in olive oil & vinegar.

Breakfast at Kneaders :) Pumpkin Bread, Coffee, and an egg white omelet.

Japanese Chicken bowl for lunch!

Food/Dessert at the La Belle <3

Dessert at the La Belle <3

Buttery, stadium popcorn!

Late night cravings called for a slice of Tiramisu cake!

Road trip snack, of course!

I would love to hear about your weekend; It's storytime! Ready....... GO! :)

I'm Linking Up With:

Sunday Post #4

What I'm Listening To // C O U N T R Y

"Easy like Sunday mornin...."

Say Yes to New Adventures

It was my dear friend's birthday last weekend (the big twenty-one)! I didn't get to see her that weekend, because she went out to Denver to have some fun with her boyfriend. She and I don't get to see eachother as much as we used to, due to school & job shchedules; however, this weekend we both were able to make time to see eachother, and boy am I happy we did! It was a great chance to paint our nails, watch Modern Family, and talk about anything and everything. She and her boyfriend moved into a new house awhile back, and this weekend was my very first visit. Let me just tell you.... (as you can see from some of the pics above) it was the cutest darn house I have ever seen! I'm so glad she let me be a creeper and show the world snippets of their home (and doggie). On a side note, aren't those pumpkins the cutest things ever?! My friend is so crafty, just like her dad!

The last collage of pictures came from my this last Wednesday. After hitting the gym I decided to go "on an adventure" to find a place to take a few photos. I ended up at a hotel with the cutest outdoor Italian restaurant. It was surrounded by beautiful flowers; I couldn't resist. Sometimes I wonder if someone will get mad at me for taking pictures of "their property", but so far I haven't been approached :P

The coolest thing happened while taking these pictures.... I made a friend with a little old lady named Dawn. She stopped to ask me if I was taking pictures of the flowers, and I replied, "Yes I am!" She then told me that she also loves to take pictures of flowers, and the conversation kept-a-goin' from there! I learned that Dawn was on her way to Las Vegas with her friend and husband to go see a Cirque du soleil show, as well as gamble. She has a daughter who graduated school with a degree in fashion and merchandising, and hopes to open up her own boutique someday. Dawn asked me questions about my life (college, family, hobbies), and before parting, she asked why I was taking these pictures. I told her that I have a blog; she seemed impressed (I felt cool lol), and asked what my blog name is so she could look me up after we parted ways. When saying our goodbyes, Dawn told me she was so happy to of met me, and wished me a good life. My heart felt so full that morning. I'm grateful that I got to meet Dawn. This is why I do what I do.... to have experiences like this one :)

Bloggers to Follow

The Farmers Wife -Amy is a farmers wife (hence her blog name lol), and a mother to two cute boys.  She likes to write about her life on the farm, style, and marriage. This is one of my favorite posts of hers, because I love food. If being a mama and wife isn't enough, she also is an amazing cook/baker, and posts the most delicious-looking food posts ever!

Happy is a Choice - First things first.... prepare yourself because this girl and her husband are GORGEOUS. Every stinkin' picture of the two of them together is picture perfect. Brittany is a new wifey, she gets free coffee sometimes from her hubby who works at Starbucks (lucky duck), she is a diet coke fanatic, and her idea of a good time includes a coffee shop, a latte, and a good book. Her blog is considered to be a "lifestyle" blog. Just because it's getting closer to the Fall season, I thought I'd share this post of Brittany's that I am dying to try!

Seeking Individuality  - Oh my goodness, I was so happy when I discovered Jess's blog! She is all about community, love Jesus, fuzzy socks, tea, and Disney songs! Her blog is so diverse in that it has everything from creative ideas, adventures, blogging tips, college life, DIY, travel, and more :) This is my favorite post of hers so far, mainly because we get to see the person behind the screen in real life (well... sorta)!!

Notes from the Messy Middle - Desirae is a new wifey, and not too long ago made a big move to another state! She misses her family quite a lot, so make sure you go and give her some love and company :) On her blog you will find posts about fitness, adventure, marriage, and recipes! And of course since Fall is creeping up on us, I figured I'd share another pumpkin post. This is one of my favs from Desirae's blog!

Brave Love - Basically, Bailey Jean is legit; that's all there is to it.... She graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Theatre Performance, and will continue on in a 2-year grad program at Oklahoma State (smarty pants). She loves Frank Sinatra, curling up with a new book, drinking hot cocoa on a rainy day, and white roses! Right now I am participating in her Blog-tember challenge, and I have loved every bit of it!

Random Links

Mini Pumpkin Pies

5 Quick Tips for Capturing Beautiful Fall Photos

Homemade Ketchup + Fries

13 Types of People You'll Find on Instagram

The Art of the Breakfast Sandwich

20 Healthy Game Day Recipes

21 Food Tricks That Totally Change Everything  

OMG Dance - You've Never Seen Anything Like This!

Random Facts

• I like to hold my mom & grandma's hand 
• If someone gives me a hand massage with oils or lotion..... I'll pass out
• I always wish I had a large amount of money stashed away specifically for buying more makeup, nail polish, and hair products
• I used to be addicted (and I literally mean ADDICTED) to bubble gum. Now it's too sugary-tasting for me, but you better believe that I won't hesitate to get one out of the gumball machine in the malls if I pass one! 
• If funnel cakes were healthy I would eat 10 pans a day.... 
• I catch my marshmellows on fire before eating them; black mallows are the best!
• When I was younger I would eat spam sandwiches topped with apricot jelly, miracle whip, and pepper-jack cheese (SO FREAKING GOOD)
• I could wear heels everyday...even if they hurt ("beauty is pain".... what my momma used to tell me when she'd french braid my hair (ouch!)
• I have gone to the movies by myself, and YES, I loved it

I LINKED UP WITH:

Sunday Post #3

"A Sunday well spent brings a week of content...."

Hello everyone! :) I hope you have had a a week full of new experiences and adventures! Here's a few things that happened in my life since last Sunday's post:

1. On Monday I ate this delicious spinach and artichoke dip. The best part of it too, is that it was healthy! Who doesn't love a guilt-free snack?
2. Tuesday was a rough day. For any of my fellow college-goers out there, I'm sure you know what I mean when I say that. Homework. Homework. Homework. It's a never-ending cycle of pack my brain full of new information, then slap it on my forehead and give me a mile-high pile of homework...... I've struggled lately trying to figure out how to successfully balance my homework, my study time, my blogging time, my club contribution time, and my social life all on top of trying to keep mentally, physically, and spiritually healthy. I am learning, but the journey is hard sometimes. 
3. Thursday was a good day. Why? Because I was busy, and when I'm busy, I feel a sense of accomplishment. I love when I am able to meet the goals I have set for myself the night before. The simplest of things, like marking off a task on my to-do list, takes such a load off of my shoulders. On a side note, this app really helps me to stay organized and keep track of stuff I need to get done in the present & in the future. Okay, but here's really why Thursday was a great day. I got to do something I don't often get the chance to do anymore with being a college student on a budget...... COOK/BAKE!! I made these healthy breakfast muffins, and this all natural, tasty hummus! :)
4. I finally got to see my older sis and brother-in-law on Friday! In all reality it's only been close to three weeks since I last saw them, but...... I always miss 'um! They came into town late, and we met at a frozen yogurt shop called "Yogo Mojo" to get ourselves a cup-o-heaven! As you might know by now, frozen yogurt is my ULTIMATE favorite treat. Tonight I had the almond milk kind (because I'm on a #nodairychallenge for one week) topped with crushed Butterfinger, peanut butter M&M's, organic granola, and one mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cup :) Oh, and then we (my sis, brother-in-law, myself, and my awesome roomie) stayed up until midnight talking about everything and anything. To say the least....it was a great Friday!
5. My beautiful mom and younger sister came out today so that we could all shop for my little sister's very FIRST, high school dance, dress (that was a mouthful)!!!! I've said it before, and I'll say it again...... I can't believe how fast my little sis is growing up. It's bittersweet. She found the most beautiful dress today; her date isn't going to know what hit him when he see's her!! :)

Say Yes to New Adventures

You can say we ate like royals this weekend :)

F A M I L Y  T I M E

Fall Scents @ Bath & Body / Dress Shopping / House Spying

Blogs to Follow

The Kardia - This girl is my long lost twin. She is from the beautiful state of Minnesota, and currently going to college in Nebraska. She is a lover of nature, lions, family, photography, and her boyfriend, Caleb!

According to Laura Jean - Basically, Laura Jean is probably the most positive, friendly, and adventurous person I know (through the web anyway.... I would love to meet her in person someday). She is married, she is bald, she loves the outdoors, and she loves trying new restaurants with her husband! Laura welcomes anyone and everyone to her page, so make sure to check her out!

As the Wine Cork Turns - At first glance you will notice that Amanda is a GORGEOUS southern gal! She loves wine (hence her blog name), football, and event planning. She also loves Jesus, cooking, and and style. One of my favorite posts of hers is this one where she shows & talks about her venue for her wedding next year!

Detoxinista - Megan over at Detoxinista is all about living a healthy life, and making it easier for others to as well one UN-processed food at a time. Her blog is filled to the brim with natural, quick, and easy recipes. She gained her Holice Health Counselor certification at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. She really makes healthy eating seem both easy & delicious! I really want to make these Dark Chocolate Avocado Truffles, soon!

Random Links

Emotional Scale 3 to 7

Apple Pie Filling Cookies

Blogtober

Elvis Granola

Soulmates Don't Exist

6 Delicious Ways to Eat a Little Healthier

Crossfit: The Pros & the Cons

What Your Coffee Says About You

Your Clean-Eating Sheet For the Week

Maple Pumpkin Cake Roll

Random Facts

• I eat extremely slow. Like..... I can take up to 30 minutes to finish a sand which. 
• I eat almost everything with a fork.... even pizza
• If I had a choice to spend 5 dollars on an item of clothing or a cup of frozen yogurt.... frozen yogurt would win every time
• When I'm on a roadtrip & am listening to music, I like to pretend I'm in a movie scene
• There will never be a dessert that I like better than my mama's homemade Texas Chocolate Cake paired with homemade, almond-flavored ice cream
• I would like to spend a day in the life of The Pioneer Woman. She makes life on a ranch look like so much fun! Plus..... I would maybe get to eat a lot of yummy food :P
• Meryl Streep is my favorite actress
• I'm a cereal fanatic.... to the point that I usually have a tiny side of cereal with all of my meals

THIS WEEK I'M LINKING UP WITH: