College Room-mates....

A couple weeks ago, my sister Courtney called me and asked me if I would do a quick photo shoot of her and her room-mates. I, of course, said yes. Though I have struggled to take beautiful photos in the not so ideal Utah weather and was worried how these photos from the shoot would turn out, I was anxious for the opportunity to spend time with these four girls. Each one is so beautiful and so sweet. They all four have such fun personalities and are definitely entertaining to watch when they are together. In my book, they are the epitome of college room-mates. They live together, they laugh together, they play together. They are each so close and they are their own little family. They started out as four strangers and as time passed by they have grown to be the best of friends.

Theme Songs....

Have you ever had a theme song? For a day, a week, a month, or even a year? You know, that one song you listen to over and over again. Each time singing the words at the top of your lungs. And you can't help but smile every time you hear that one specific song. Don't lie! We have all had a theme song at one time or another. I know I have had many. Sometimes they last for a day. Sometimes for a week. And sometimes for a month. I just can't help myself. I discover this amazing song, fall in love with it, and the next thing you know I want to spend every second of every day with it. I will listen to it while I do homework, while I check my email and various photographers blogs. I will listen to it as I walk to and from school or when I go jogging. Basically, no matter what, my theme song is always running through my mind. O.k. pause......if we're being very honest here, well, then, this week I have had two themes songs. And I can guarantee you that they will be my theme songs for next week as well.

#1. Glee: "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"- Of course one of my theme songs would be a Christmas song. Tis the Season!! This song is absolutely amazing and it warms my heart every time I hear it. The arrangement is beautiful and the girls that sing this song have such beautiful voices it makes me jealous. Listen to this song, I promise you wont regret it.

#2. Auburn: "Perfect Two"- I can't even describe how much I love this song. It is so stinkin' cute and yes, it's a love song. A cute love song that will simply put a smile on your face each time you listen to it. I one day hope to learn how to play this song on the guitar so that I can sing it to a very special boy.

So, now you know mine. What's yours?

What comes next?

Someone once told me that our intended plans hardly ever workout. This past couple of weeks, I found this to be true as all of my plans came crashing to the ground. Everything. One moment I knew what I was doing, I knew what I wanted, and I knew where I was going. Then as soon as I turned around, it all disappeared. Its the worst feeling ever. Not knowing what I am doing or what I want. Not knowing what comes next. What comes next? Where do I go from here? Though I am still unsure, though I am still confused, though I am still lost and feel completely hopeless, I know that there is a plan for me. I know that whatever happens next will be the right thing. Though I walk blindly into the darkness, into the unknown, I walk with faith and hope. So, what comes next? For me, my dream, my love, my passion, my photography. Though I do not know what tomorrow holds or where I will be in the next few months, I know what I ultimately want. I know what my dream is and I am going to do anything and everything to make that dream a reality. What comes next? My photography!

"Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future, and today, today is a gift. That's why it's called the present."

24 days and counting....

That's right internet.....24 days. 24 days till what you might ask. 24 days till I get to go home for Thanksgiving break. For those of you who don't know, I am currently residing in Provo, Utah as I attend Brigham Young University and in 24 days I will be home in Arizona. If you couldn't tell I am super excited. It has been 6 months since my last visit home and if you ask me, that's far too long. It's actually the longest I have ever been away from home. So yes, I am super excited and I hope and pray that these next 24 days will be somewhat speedy.

For now, to pass the time, I have kept myself busy with school, work, and photo shoots. Yesterday, despite inclement weather, I had a photo shoot with my sister Courtney and her good friend Whitney. I was terribly upset that the one day I had scheduled a photo shoot it had decided to down pour. However, though the conditions were not ideal, we did the best we could and I was able to capture a few good shoots. Thanks Court and Whitney for being my models and for making the best of the rain, cold, and cloudy sky's.

Writer's Block....

For the past two hours I have pathetically and hopelessly sat at my desk staring at my computer trying to write a post for today. I have started and deleted four different posts, all of which were completely lame and pathetic. I hate to admit it, but I seem to have an awful case of writer's block and yes, I am going to blame it all on the insanely difficult political paper I am attempting to write for my English class. Let's be honest, that paper is not going so well either. So, in light of this fact I decided that this post will be a "Quote of the Week" post. Happy Sunday!

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...its about learning to dance in the rain."

New Blog, New Brand, New Me

A couple days ago as I was sitting at my kitchen table contemplating life, in efforts to procrastinate doing my homework, I began to think about my photography and more specifically about my dream to start my own wedding photography business. After some extensive research I came to the conclusion that it was time to start fresh, to start new, to start over. For the past few months I have been restlessly trying to figure out what my next step would be. I continually kept asking myself where do I go from here? Finally a couple days ago I figured it out. I finally decided what my next step had to be in order to bring myself that much closer to making my dream become a reality and it all starts with a new blog, a new brand, a new me. Its time to re-design and re-invite my business. There is much under way and I am so excited to see my thoughts, plans, and ideas come forth.

My research, thoughts, plans, and ideas....oh, and of course a "TO DO" list:

Music...

Plato once said, "Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."

For my sister Courtney, music is her life, music is everything. It is her love, her passion, her dream. For the past 8 or so years Courtney has gained a deeper understanding, a deeper meaning, and a deeper love for music. She has played her viola in front of numerous audiences and has touched the hearts and lives of many. She has lifted the weary soul, given hope to the hopeless, and as Plato would say, "flight to the imagination." For Courtney, music and her viola are what brings her the greatest of joys. As I have seen her love and passion for music grow, I have also seen her commitment and her determination grow. She has worked tirelessly and has put in numerous hours of practice in order to be where she is today. As a sister I am so proud of her and all that she has accomplished. Congratulations Courtney and may all of your dreams come true!

I had to include this photo. It shows her personality so perfectly!

BYU....Year 3....

The night before the first day of school is always interesting. To some it's like Christmas Eve and to others its a night they pray will never come to end for fear of what the tomorrow may bring. To be honest, for me personally, the night before the first day of school is one that I pray will never come to an end for fear of what tomorrow may bring. This year I began my Junior year of college here at Brigham Young University and it began just like all the other years. I woke up that Monday morning at 6:00 a.m. contemplating the classes that I would attend that day. With each minute I became more and more fearful of the unknown.

With each new semester there are new classes, new professors, new trial, and new challenges. And with each new semester the same fear I always have creeps up inside of me and I begin to second guess myself. I begin to doubt myself, I begin to doubt in my abilities and potential, and my self-confidence lowers dramatically. This semester has been no different. This semester began just like all the other, I feared that I would not be able to succeed in any of my classes. I feared that my classes would be hard, too hard that I would not be able to do well in them academically.

With so much fear, stress, and worry I called my mom for help, strength, support, and comfort. Being the wonderful mother she is, she sweetly reminded me that this same fear, stress, and worry comes every semester, yet every semester, despite how difficult my classes are, I succeed in them. Every semester I work hard and achieve the desired grades that I had hoped for. She then wisely told me, "Never second guess yourself.....No excuses."

This semester will require more dedication, more motivation, and more hard work than any other semester that I have completed. However, I know that if I work hard and do the absolute best that I can do, then I will be able to do well in all of my classes this semester. With hard work and determination, nothing is impossible.

Game #1: BYU vs. Washington

Goodbye Summer....

This post has been difficult for me to write for it has become so dear to my heart. It is difficult for I struggle to find the words in which will perfectly describe and memorialize the events of this past summer. For you see, after four amazing months I have grown, I have changed, and I have had experiences that I wish to never forget. This summer so much has taken place, so much has changed, and I pray that I will never forget any of it.

After four long months of living in the beautiful Utah mountains, my summer has come to an end. It has been a summer full of wonderful memories, wonderful friendships, many wonderful adventures, and lots of laughter. It has been a summer of growth and change. A summer of love. A summer of life. A summer of firsts. A summer of friendships. And a summer that I will never forget. This summer I experienced the greatest of joys and the greatest of sorrows. I lived, I loved, I laughed. I made mistakes and I fell. However, I picked myself up and learned from those mistakes. This summer I realized who I was, who I am, and who I can become. This summer I changed. I become more open, more confident, more independent, and less afraid of what others would think about me. I became loud and I pushed myself out of my comfort zone. This summer I made more friends than I could have ever imagined. This summer I found a best friend. This summer, the summer of 2010, I will cherish in my heart forever. Thank you Aspen Grove for giving me this wonderful opportunity to live, to love, and to laugh. To grow and to change. And most importantly, thank you Aspen Grove for blessing me with such wonderful friends.

First Week of Aspen Grove:

Last Week of Aspen Grove:

Top 10...

As the summer has begun to come to an end and the beginning of a new school year looms ahead, I have taken some time these past couple of days to reflect on all of my summer adventures. The late nights playing games, watching movies, playing basketball, going hiking, going swimming, etc. This summer has been one of the best summer's ever and I never want to forget it. For this reason I have come up with a top 10, the top 10 adventures I had this summer. The top 10 adventures in which I experienced the most joy. The top 10 adventures in which I spent time with the people most important to me. The top 10 adventures in which I laughed the hardest, played the hardest, and truly lived life to its fullest. So here it goes, my Summer's Top 10 (in no particular order):

#1. Participated in the World's Largest Water-Balloon Fight at BYU

#2. Spent a wonderful weekend in Park City with my family.

#3. Went to Salt Lake City's Gateway Mall with Albert

#4. Had the opportunity to meet and shake Elder Holland's hand.

#5. Had a "So You Think You Can Dance" party with my girls.

#6.Broke into the kitchen late at night to make pazookies with Albert.

#7. Floated the Provo River with all of my Aspen Grove friends.

#8. Went to the midnight showing of "Step Up 3D" with two of my best friends.

#9. Became best friends with Jessica.

#10. Watched "The Big Bang Theory" all summer with Albert.

I cannot find the words to explain how incredibly fun this summer has been. I feel so blessed to have had such an amazing summer and am truly grateful. As I have reflected on this summer and all that I have done, I have come to realize that this summer has been so wonderful because of the friendships that I have made and the people that I have been blessed to work/live with. This summer has been a summer to remember and I will forever cherish each friend and each memory.

Life....

Life is a funny thing. In life one can experience the greatest of joys, yet at the same time or in the same moment, one can also experience the greatest of sorrows. This summer has been full of joy, laughter, friends, and fun. However, this summer has also seen some difficult and trying times.

Someone once told me that the hardest decisions in life are more often than not the most important decisions. This past weekend I had to make a hard decision that I wasn't ready to make, and yes it was a very important decision. However, it was a decision that needed to be made. Though I was unsure, I went forward with faith knowing that in time everything would be o.k. Knowing that whether it was the right decision or the wrong decision, life would go on and in time my heart would heal. In the moment, it doesn't make sense. In the moment it hurts. And though it may seem like your whole world is crashing down around you, know that you made the right decision. Know and believe in the choice you have made.

Life is a funny thing. One moment you can experience the greatest of joys, then in the next you can experience the greatest of sorrows. However, if it were not for sorrow, one could never come to know any joy.

National Dance Day...

The first blog post I ever wrote was about a beautiful young dancer full of life and love for dance. Her commitment and dedication are inspirational and her love and passion for dance are beyond description. She represents the millions of dancers who hold that same love and passion for dance. To watch a dancer is an experience that cannot be described in words. It is beautiful, touching, and inspirational. It expresses those feelings that go beyond verbal communication and it brings life to not only the dancer, but to those in the audience as well.

Though I am not very good at it, I love to dance. However, seeing as I am not very good at dancing, I more often than not choose to watch others dance and/or choose to photograph the intricate movements of a dancer. Last Saturday, here at Aspen Grove, we celebrated "National Dance Day" by performing a hip-hop routine at the opening show. So, of course I was there in the front row with my camera ready to capture the performance. As I watched two of my good friends, who are dancers, perform in this dance routine, it only increased my love for dance and my desire to learn how to dance. In the photographs below it is evident the joy each one of these girls receives from dance.

"Dancing is the loftiest, the most moving, the most beautiful of the arts, because it is not mere translation or abstraction from life; it is life itself."

~Havelock Ellis

Week #13:

National Dance Day:

Jess:

And Jess:

Aspen Grove Staff:

Living Life to its Fullest....

I always find myself telling others to "Love Life and Be Brave." I guess one could say that its my theme or motto for life. For so long I have simply let life pass me by. For this reason, today and everyday I try to live my life to its fullest. When I have one of those random days in which I find myself reflecting back on my life and looking over those things that I have done, ok so I do this everyday, I hope that I will have no regrets. I hope to find that I have lived everyday to its fullest. I hope to find that everyday I truly lived life.

Coming up here to Aspen Grove, I knew that my entire summer would be over before I realized it. I hated to think about, but deep down inside I knew that it was going to happen. With this knowledge, I made a goal and a promise to myself to live everyday to its fullest and to have no regrets. I did not want this summer and this experience to pass me by without fully taking advantage of all that has offered and will continue to offer. In the grand spectrum of things, life is short and I cannot afford to let it pass me by anymore. Today is a gift and I am going to take advantage of it.

This past week I did just that. I loved life and was brave. I lived everyday to its fullest and as a result had one of the best weeks ever. It all started with a girl's night out, Christmas in July, and the world's largest water balloon fight.

"The past is history, tomorrow's a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why they call it the present."

Week #12:

The Jess Trio:

Christmas in July:

The world's largest water-balloon fight:

Badminton....

One of my favorite sports to watch and play is basketball. It is faced paced, intense, entertaining, competitive, and exhilarating. When I play basketball I enter into another world.Everything changes. All I can see is the basketball, the court, and the hoop. My world suddenly becomes so full of life as I give all of my efforts and energy to play to the best of my ability. Having such a deep love for basketball, other sports just don't compare, especially badminton.

I have never understood the game of badminton and probably never will. In high school we had a badminton team, and to be honest, I thought that it was the weirdest thing. I honestly didn't understand how badminton could be considered a competitive sport. I mean really, all you do is stand there and hit a feathered projectile over a net to the opposing players side of the court. Having played basketball competitively for more than 7 years you can see why I am so confused and why I don't understand how badminton can be considered a competitive sport.

Well, taking place right now, here at Aspen Grove, is a badminton tournament and no I did not sign up to play. However, two of my dear friends, Jamisyn and Albert, did and there first match was against each other. Obviously I had to be there to photographically document the occasion and let me tell you, it was not a game that I wanted to miss. Both Jamisyn and Albert dressed up for their game and the event was one to remember. I have to admit that I was completely entertained and will never forget that night for it was full of laughter and good memories. I guess badminton isn't so bad after all.

Week #11:

Okay. For the past two days I have been sitting on my bed trying to come up with the perfect words to describe this past weekend. I finally came to the conclusion that I have writer's block, bad. Or could it be that this past weekend was simply so fabulous that there are no words to describe it? I could try to explain and describe the events of this past weekend, however, I feel that my photos would tell the story way better than I ever could. A picture is worth a thousand words right?

Week 10:

Hello Park City:

He thinks he's so cool, oh wait, HE IS:

The next generation learning from the generation before:

The amazing hotel we stayed in: