blow away with this new sun

 My life has been a flurry of activity since I've last updated. Last week I was lucky enough to get to spend 3 days with my mommy and sister. Alyanna is now a freshman at BYU and my mom came out to drop her off and move her (me too) in. It was such a treat to see my mom because I was really bummed about not being able to go home one more time before school starts. I enjoyed showing her around Provo, running errands, COSTCO/TARGET RUNS and especially having her meet my friends and Preston. The first picture was taken after Preston Intro Dinner. (By the way, Communal is as good as everyone says it is! I thought everything tasted so great and fresh. And I am the last person to care about how "fresh/organic/free range" anything is. I ruv McDonald's, remember?) One of the many wonderful things about dating Preston is I never have to worry about him meeting new people. Meeting my mom was no exception. Preston has a really good first impression. If anything, he's a little quiet, but always polite and friendly. Probably to impress my mom, but also because he is the sweetest, Preston helped us move into my new apartment, which was good bonding time. Afterwards, my mom only had nice things to say about him, my favorite being "I can tell he really loves you." :) :) :)

On Sunday we were invited to have dinner at our friend's cabin in Alta as an end-of-summer hurrah. Alta was beautiful and kind of chilly, which was refreshing after the 95+ degree weather in Provo. It rained while we were there, but it was fun to be cozied up in a cabin with friends, food and Bob Dylan.

Another thing I forgot to talk about is seeing Iron & Wine at the Twilight Concert Series 2 weeks ago. Preston and I share a great love for Sam Beam and were both very much looking forward to seeing him for $5. The show was exceptional. My only complaint would be the audience. Too many high schoolers who wanted an excuse to get out of the house being loud, taking Myspace pics and getting in my way. Other than that, such a lovely set. Indie til I die.

School has started. I have embarked on my final fall semester at Brigham Young University. This week I registered to take the GRE and applied for graduation. I'm not sure whether to cry or dance. Probably both at the same time. You know how when you were a senior in high school and starting school you were kind of like "I run this place?" I feel that way. It's weird and elitist of me. Especially being in Provo all summer and getting used to campus being a dead zone and within 3 days experiencing a population explosion I'm all "Y U HERE???" I'm gonna meet with an advisor today to make sure I'm ACTUALLY graduating in April.

Finally, I'd like someone to explain to me the phenomenon that is "I'm-wearing-winter/fall-clothes-in-95-degree-weather." This first week of school all I have seen is layers on layers on layers on boots. LIKE AREN'T YOU HOT AS HELL??? BECAUSE I AM SWEATING OVER HERE IN MY SUNDRESS. Cute outfit, but I can promise you it will be cold for 8 months and your chambray+sweater+cords+boots combo will totes be relevant and practical.

too weird to live too rare to die

Today this dress came up on my Tumblr feed and I literally gasped. This is one of, if not my favorite J.Crew dress of all time. I can't get enough of the ruffled collar. I had a homecoming dress made with the collar and I bought a short sleeve wool dress with the same collar. And so I did some research. And I found the catalog it came from. (January 2008). Then I found the name of the dress. THEN I FOUND IT. I found it on eBay AND GUESS HOW MANY THERE ARE? ONE. Ask me what size it is. MY SIZE. So I should buy it right? I really shouldn't, but I should right? There's only one! In my size!! From 2008!!!! It's perfect and silk and long sleeved and crazy. I really adore this dress. And I know I will be thinking about it until the auction ends. And then after if I don't buy it. I will probably buy it. I can't not buy it. It's like it was made for me, you know? DOES ANYONE GET ME????

Interesting fact: I wanted to title this post after lyrics from Frank Ocean's "Lost," because it's my favorite song on Channel Orange. I was reading through lyrics and the ones I chose sounded the coolest. After looking them up I learned that they are really popular lines from Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, a book I read last summer. Cool huh?

Here is another absolute gem from the catalog. J.Crew is perfect.

In other news I am moved out of my apartment kind of. My management was kind enough (weird) to let me store things until the 22nd of this month. Also my sweet angel boyfriend Preston Kutney cleaned 95% of my apartment and moved 100% of my things last night while I was at work. I wanted to tweet/Path about it but he hates both forms of social media and sometimes reads this blog when he's bored. 

This hellish week is almost over! One more day of working 8 hours. The Awful Waffle is officially open for business, so everyone should stop by and try it out. It's glam and chic and there's gelato. 

Summer is dwindling down and it makes my heart heavy. Here are some things I would like to do before school starts:

1) Go to an aquarium

2) Take a serious practice GRE. Essay portion and everything and only using the allotted time

3) Make another great IDP and dance with all my friends when they're back

4) Swim in a body of water that is not a swimming pool

5) Read 2 more books so I will have read at least 10 this summer (list + reviews to follow)

6) Hike a hike I've never hiked

all your appeal once again with feeling

Today marks day 2 of my week in which I am an actual human being and have to work more than 3 hours a day. As you know, I got a second job at The Awful Waffle last month and this Thursday is the grand re-opening, so I'll be going to trainings every day this week and actually starting work there. (Guys, the new location is BEAUTIFUL! You should really check it out. It's located at The Village apt complex on 600 N 600 E. They've added a bunch of stuff to the menu as well, and even if you're not into food (how?) just check the place out. Even the BATHROOMS are chic.) In addition, the other 2 receptionists are gone for the week so I'm picking up their shifts and working 8-5 every day! :-O Really love that for the bulk of the summer I've had to work 3 hours a day and BAM. This week is crazytown. August is zipping by too quickly for my liking. I've always wanted to have a birthday in August because 8 is my favorite number, but I take that back now. August just makes me sad. It marks the end of my favorite season and back to school :( I am looking forward to everyone coming back to Provo, but certainly not the return of responsibility, studying and the shiii show that is the testing center. I JUST CAN'T.

Above is one of my favorite pictures of Preston and me this summer. Perhaps it's our silly expressions or maybe the initials in the top left corner.

Sunday I spent the evening sprawled on the couch eating peaches and watching the closing ceremonies. All I wanted to see was/were 1) Tom Daley 2) One Direction and 3) the Spice Girls. My wishlist was fulfilled. Plus the David Bowie "Fashion" tribute was supreme. Kate Moss is everything. Also, the United States looked impossibly chic in their Ralph Lauren shirts/shirtdresses and berets. What's more American than Ralph? I'm sad that the Olympics are over, but thought that London did such an excellent job hosting. Sooo looking forward to RIO 2016!! 2016 is going to be a bomb year for Brazil- World Cup AND Olympic Games. Can't wait.

I found another book to rival Steve Jobs as favorite book of the summer. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami has been on my to-read list for the longest time. My Tumblr feed is littered with Murakami quotes that I'm always reblogging and liking, but I felt like a poser because I've never actually read his work. After reading reviews after finishing Norwegian Wood, I realized that it was much different than Murakami's other works and fans were disappointed that it was "just a love story." I loved it. I thought it was beautifully written and some of the characters reminded me of people I know and myself. Certain parts made me laugh out loud because some of the lines have actually come out of my mouth. Here is my favorite quote:

You know they've got these chocolate assortments, and you like some but you don't like others? And you eat all the ones you like, and the only ones left are the ones you don't like as much? I always think about that when something painful comes up. 'Now I just have to polish these off, and everything'll be OK.' Life is a box of chocolates.

A little Forrest Gump-y at the end, but overall my exact philosophy (and practice when it comes to eating assorted chocolates).

All I want for fall are these Cole Haan oxfords, floral or polka dot jeans and a denim vest. 

My mommy and sister are coming out to Provo next week!! I'm so excited. I've been wanting to go home this month, if only for a few days but alas, 2poor2play. I'm glad they're coming out here.

ballerina trapped between the walls of her own home

Never have song lyrics been more applicable. Except for I'm retired. The 3 people I hang out with daily are leaving/left this week. But it's not so bad. I've been keeping busy and actually productive. I study for the GRE, pack up my apartment, go to the gym first thing in the morning and of course watch and love the Olympics. I got really emotional the other night watching team USA win gold in women's gymnastics. They just worked so hard you know? Except the time delay is killing me. I always forget about it and since work is so boring, I'm glued to social media and always get the results first thing in the morning.

So cute right? I am the little girl. Right? Like almost?

Another not so bad aspect about being foreveralone/sosingle this week is the fact that my apartment now smells like a mix of coffee beans, volcano candle and new carpet so I can just bask in that delicious aroma while cheering on the United States in my underwear. No shame y'all. Oh yeah. My management thought it would be clever to tear out the old carpet and replace it for 5 hours 2 weeks before they kick me out. Here's my thing- if you're going to make your tenants homeless for a week in the summer, don't make major changes/start crazy projects (aka replace carpet and re-pave the parking lots) before homeless period. Like, it's not hard.

Earlier this week Emilee and I went to a bridal shower during our shifts. Honestly, working in the Marriott School is one of the best gigs on campus. Above is just us on a typical day at work :) Not pictured are the delicious Yogurtland creations we now live by. Mine: almond midnight mocha yogurt + raspberries + white chocolate chips + mochi. Em's: s'mores yogurt + strawberries + vanilla wafers + mochi. Try them, you'll die. Gonna miss that QT when she leaves for the better coast tomorrow morning.

I finally started How to Win Friends and Influence People. Scale of 1-10, how dumb do I look reading that book? But let's be honest, I need all the help I can get when it comes to making friends. Also I am enjoying the new Passion Pit album and am genuinely disappointed they backed out of Twilight even though I heard they suck live. Will probably use more lyrics as post titles. Not sorry.