Life as of Lately

So I created this post at the beginning of the semester and never got around to finishing it. I kind of fail at the whole blog thing, but it is my new goal to get back into the swing of it! So much has happened since the beginning of the semester:

I got into the Brigham Young University BFA Acting Program! This has been a goal of mine for years and required a heck of a lot of work. I had two auditions, a callback, and a lot of getting to know people and trying to impress them. That is always fun. It definitely payed off though!

I was cast in an amazing BYU Mainstage show called Microburst Theater Festival. It was seven, ten minute plays all written by BYU students. The underlying theme of all the shows is love. Gotta LOVE that! I'm so funny. I was in three of the plays. I played a college aged girl, an 11 year old, and a high schooler. It performed October 23-26. I learned so much from this production! I had such an incredible director. It was a very collaborative work. George wanted to hear our opinion and work with us. We were all working together. It was also interesting having to switch between three different people. Three different stories. Each play was very unique! It was challenging but so fulfilling. I miss it so much. I'm having the post-show blues.

^^The cast, playwrights, director, and stage manager

^^^"Twenty" I set my roommate up with a guy and see what unfolds. 

^^^"Rules" I play an 11 year old girl who tries to rekindle a relationship with her father who is addicted to video games. Sounds cheesy, but it was actually pretty intense!

^^^"Mississippi Izzie" I am a running a lemonade and fruit stand and one of the popular boys comes to ask me to a dance, but I will not have it.  

Classes this semester here at BYU have been difficult, but worth it! It's been hard to find motivation at times especially with my general education classes, but sometimes it has always come. I always some how get that paper done or some how find the time to go to the testing center to take a test. I thank the Big Guy Upstairs for helping with that. He has never let me down and I know He never will. Even though I am constantly letting him down, I know my Heavenly Father will always be right next to me pushing me along and picking me up when I am down.

Life is good! Harder than ever, but you can't feel fulfilled and successful if you don't have to work at it.

Living in Atlanta

So I am a born and raised Georgia girl and I love it. I love being from the South and having that southern hospitality in my life daily! So I thought I would do a post of my 3 favorite things to do in Atlanta, especially since I was able to do two of them this past weekend. Now I must warn you, two of them involve theater! What can I say, it's my life. 

1. Braves Game: This is such a fun way to hang out with friends and experience America's sport! I LOVE baseball. It is so simple and just fun to watch. The best seats in the stadium are definitely the nose-bleed seats. You're all the way at the top and can see everything that is happening on the field. I also love that it is a lot more open up there so you don't have to worry about bothering people if you are being loud with your friends. 

^^Braves Games are the best when you go with good friends that you know you will have a good time with! It is also a lot of fun to Tailgate before the game, too. 

2. Serenbe: This is an adorable little community in Palmetto, GA. I love it and hope to one day retire there. This community has its own stores, farms, restaurants, and amazing theater. It is a very green community so a lot of recycling and organic food. It is just plain adorable with all the matching houses and artsy stores. I love going there for dinner and then seeing a show. The perfect evening with friends!

^^My all time favorite restaurant there!

^^The set for the play was back in those woods! They do a lot more experimental things with their theater. 

3. Fox Theater: I love this theater! This was the theater that I was first introduced to professional theater. The Broadway National Tours always stop here to perform and their performances are breathtaking. About as close to Broadway will get without actually going to NYC. The theater itself is breathtaking, as well. The ceiling of the theater looks like a night sky with stars and there is egyptian architecture all along the walls. It is gorgeous! 

^^This is a picture with the lights up so you can't see the amazing night sky, but you get the idea.

A Week of Travel

So this past week was pretty crazy for me! I flew 4 times in 5 days. Crazy, I know. That is the life of a Delta kid. I'm so grateful that I am able to fly for free. It is a blessing that I will be eternally grateful for. It allows me to visit family as often as a like and see friends and do so many other things. I love it! So on Wednesday this past week I flew to Utah with my best friend, Meredith, to take her to the MTC. I was sad but so excited for her! I knew that serving in Salem, Oregon was where she needed to be and she was so excited! We flew into SLC, met up with my sister, had lunch at Zupas and then drove to the Provo MTC. When we got to the MTC, everything moved so quickly. We drove to the curb, got her bags out, gave her a big hug, and she was gone. I miss her so much already, but I know she is loving every second of it. I can't wait to hear the amazing things she does.

      ^^On the airplane!                                    

^^There she goes! Last time I'll see my MereBear for a year and a half. 

That night I flew to San Francisco, California to meet up with my dad who had a layover in San Francisco. I got to San Fran and met my dad as he got off his flight. We went to his hotel and went straight to bed. It was 1:30 in the morning when he finally landed! We woke up in the morning and just explored around San Fran. It was so much fun to have some Daddy, daughter time with my dad. He is the best! Our day included Cable Car riding and walking along all the piers. So much fun! 

^^Golden Gate Bridge              ^^Ghirardelli! Yum! 

^^I have a picture with this same fountain when I was like 5!         ^^^So many gorgeous boats!   

That afternoon we flew back to Atlanta! My dad flew the plane which was really cool. This isn't the first time I have been a passenger when my dad was flying, but it is always so fun when he does. I love hearing his voice on the intercom and getting to go into the cockpit before the flight. I had such a great time with him in San Francisco! 

Then on Sunday, I flew back to Utah to start my two weeks as a BYU Theater Camp counselor! It is only day 2 and I am loving it already. This is going to be an amazing two weeks!         

Visiting Utah

I had only been home from London for a week and my traveling spirit decided it was time to travel again! I decided to head to Utah for the weekend to visit my sister and my darling nephew. I had not seen them for almost 3 months and that was way too long. My nephew, Kristoffer, is my world and it killed me to miss out on him growing up. I also needed some quality time with the sister. Thursday night, my mom and I went to the airport to see my brother and sister-in-law on their short layover in Atlanta before they headed to London (I was so freaking jealous! It took everything in me not to hop on that plane with them). We got dinner with them and then I headed to my flight to Utah. I landed in SLC at about midnight, got on the bus to employee parking, and drove myself to my sister's apartment in Murray. Luckily it wasn't a very far drive. I got to the apartment and crashed. 

The next morning, I woke up to my adorable little nephew sitting on the other couch, playing with the cars I had gotten him in London. They were still in the box and he was just sitting there so quietly playing. Goodness, I cannot even stand how sweet and cute that boy is. My sister was off of work so we headed to Thanksgiving Point for some Waffle Luv and to go to the Dinosaur Museum with Kristoffer. It was so stinkin' hot but we had so much fun!

^^This is one of my favorite pictures of the weekend. I love holding this sweet boys hand more than anything in this world!

Saturday, we headed up to Provo to go to the Provo Farmer's Market. It's such a fun little outdoors market in the park. We walked through and got some treats and barbecue. It was lovely! That night, Kristoffer stayed with his dad so Janie and I decided to do one of our favorite things: go to a Rodeo! It was so fun. We are both Southern at heart, so it felt good being at a Rodeo. 

On Monday, I got to babysit Kristoffer all day. We had so much fun! We went on walks, played in the grass, and just had some quality auntie and nephew time. This boy makes me so happy. I mean who's day wouldn't be better after seeing those big blue eyes and hearing his adorable laugh?!

^^How is it possible that he is this cute?!

Monday night, I went to dinner with my good friend Jordan. We went to Cafe rio and SubZero. We had so much fun! Jordan and I always have a ball when we are together. We also stopped by the University Mall so I could visit Kara Chocolates where I used to work. I got to see one of my best friends, Rachel! I missed that girl so much! After, we drove back to Jordan's apartment and sat outside in the car talking till I had to leave for the airport. I swear, that boy and I could talk forever. I actually almost missed the all-nighter flight back to Georgia because I lost track of time talking to him. Luckily, I got on the flight with like two minutes to spare. I had a nice, but long flight back to Atlanta. The guy I sat next to was so nice and we talked about half the flight. We were just talking about life and our goals. He gave me some really great life advice! I would say it was definitely a successful trip to Utah. The next time I head out there will not be as happy because I will be taking my best friend to the MTC. I don't know what I am going to do without her. I will be sure to let you know how that goes!

Back In America

It has been so amazing being back here in USA! I've missed this beautiful country and all the people here that I love so much. My biggest struggle being back here, though, is not having exciting things to do each day. In London, I would wake up and go to some amazing historical place, a play, or some other incredible location, but now I have to be okay with waking up and kind of doing nothing. I'm starting to get used to it and really liking it. My life has been in fast forward for the past couple of years with graduating early, summer semester, freshmen year of college, and London and it is nice to take it slow for a while. 

My first priority for the next couple weeks is to spend as much time with my best friend, Meredith, as physically possible! This beautiful, incredible girl will be serving a two year mission in Salem, Oregon. She leaves July 10th which does not give me a whole lot of time with her. This girl has always been there for me, so I most definitely want to be here for her as she takes this huge step in her life. 

^^My first day back in America and this girl picked me up from the airport! She is so gorgeous, inside and out. 

Second priority this summer is to better myself. Better myself spiritually, mentally, and physically. I've been slacking on all of these lately and it is time to whip myself in shape! I've finally started reading again and my mom is going to teach me to cook and sew. I'm excited! I also got a gym membership so I will force my lazy booty to the gym. For the spiritualness(is that a word?), I went to the temple one more time with my best friend, Meredith, and lovely Laurel came as well (you like that alliteration!). It was so amazing! I love that beautiful building with all my heart. I'm hoping to go to the temple a lot more. I'm also spending some time with the Sister Missionaries. They are so amazing and fun to be with. Well, now that I have told these goals to the world, I have to do them, right? We will see! 

My third priority, to relax. I don't want to worry or stress about anything! I'm excited for the adventures and fun this summer has in store. I will try my best to keep you updated with all my doings. I hope you have a perfect summer as well. 

Fun Happening today:

My dad taught me how to drive the riding lawn mower and I love it! It's so relaxing to listen to music and just drive around the lawn. I was so determined to get every spot as well. I even ran into a tree! Of course, my dad had to snap a photo. I'm a little sad to think of moving to NYC and not having a lawn. I'll just have to come to the parents house and mow their lawn. My sister loves it too so we will now be fighting over this as well! Never thought I would love it so much. 

London Life: The End.

So I have really been putting off posting this last post. Partly because I've been really lazy lately (lets blame it on jet lag) and partly because I don't want to except that this incredible experience is over. I still can't believe it happened. It seems like a dream! We had a pretty laid back day for our last day in London. We had some last minute things that we needed to do before leaving this amazing country. Our first stop was Abbey Road! It was so fun! I love the Beatles so it was amazing to get to go where they walked and took their iconic photo. We also got to see the Abbey Road Studios where the Beatles worked. It was a dream come true, getting to visit Abbey Road.

^^So artsy!

^^Tessa's face is priceless!

^^I just couldn't believe I was here so I took one more photo

^^The Beatles walked through that door....

^^THE Crosswalk!

^^vvGot to do the iconic walk across the Crosswalk! Can you believe it?!

^^Awesome little shop we got some souvenirs from!

After Abbey Road, we decided we would visit our favorite crepe and gelato shop. It was actually super hot outside so I was looking forward to some delicious gelato and to hopefully see my ridiculously attractive gelato man. We got to the shop and sadly my attractive gelato/crepe man was not there. I was okay because I was happy to have gotten to see him at least once! I got a super delicious lemon sorbet in a cone and we sat outside to eat it. It was so fresh and delicious! I miss all my lemon flavored food. 

After gelato, McKenzie had to leave us to meet up with family, so Tessa and I did some last minute tourist shopping we needed to do. I still had some souvenirs I needed to get for people and for myself. We hit up the biggest most touristy shop we could find and got everything we needed. It was great. After the shopping we headed back to the flat to drop off our bags and then headed to the Globe to try and get tickets to "Taming of the Shrew." We showed up to the box office two and a half hours before the show started and were luckily able to get three standing room tickets! Oh and on our way to the Globe we stopped at our favorite little burrito truck outside of the National Theater to get delicious pork burritos. I'm happy that perfect burrito was my last meal in London. But anyways, after we got our tickets, it was two hours before the show, so we decided to go ahead and get in the groundling line to eat and make sure we got front and center standing spots. We were first in line so we were assured our good spots in the theater. We were first in line so we sat down ate our burritos. Eventually, McKenzie joined us and the doors were finally opened. "The Taming of the Shrew" was performed by an all women cast and was done very well. I left the theater not really knowing what I was supposed to have gotten from it, but it's the Globe so you will basically always get a great performance. 

^^One of my favorite spotes in London: The Globe. 

After the show, we did the long walk back to the tube across the millenium bridge. It was sad to think that this was my last time seeing the Globe or walking across this bridge for a while. I miss that incredible theater so much. We got back to the flat, I did some last minute packing, and headed to bed. I had to wake up at 5:30am to leave at 6am for the flight back to the states.

I was so sad for the Study Abroad to be over, but I was excited to get back to the states to my family and home. I loved every second of London and would give the world to be a able to experience it again. I am seriously so blessed to have gotten that opportunity and am forever changed from it.