Day to Day Routines....

-Wake up at 6:00 a.m.

-Get out of bed by 6:30

-Get ready and leave for class at 7:30

-Accounting class: 8:00 am

-Return home by 9:30

-Do homework till 12:30

-Religion class:1:00

-Return home by 2:15

-Do homework till my brain hurts

- Bedtime: 10:00 pm

We all have our day-to-day routines. This one is mine. Well, its my Tuesday and Thursday routines. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday have a completely different routine. Then Saturday and Sunday I get crazy and wing it.

It makes my life a little bit more exciting. I rebel and step over to the dark side of the unknown and the unplanned. Yes that's right, I am a risk taker.

Alright, time to be honest, I'm not really that much of a risk taker. I'm boring and get stuck in my day-to-day routines. I don't take risks, I am not adventurous, and I am certainly not spontaneous. I will admit that I have days where I get so caught up in school or work that I completely forget to just stop and live life. Enjoy the moment that I am in and the life that I am living. Life is more than just school, grades, and work, though these are all important. Life is about family and friends. Its about making your dreams come true. Life is about experiences and the people you share those experiences with. Life is about learning and growing. Its about being loved and loving someone in return.

Its a new year and tomorrow is a new day. Be spontaneous. Take a risk. Tell your story. Live life, love life.

4 school days down 72 more to go.

Day 1....

I did it. I made it through my first day of classes. I have always had strong dislike for the first day of school. I find it to be uncomfortable and nerve wrecking. You are basically walking into the unknown. You have no idea what the professor is going to be like. How the class is going to be graded. And in my case, you have no idea who is taking the class with you. Meeting new people is definitely not my strong point. It is an experience which scares me beyond belief. However, I am proud to say that I have gotten better at it. For example, today I opted not to wear my "Hannah Montana" backpack today because I wanted to meet new people and make new friends, not be made fun of. Sadly, despite by ingenious plan, I didn't talk to a single soul. Now I am thinking that maybe I should have taken my "Hannah Montana" backpack to school. It might have had potential in others starting a conversation with me. Well, no worries. There is always tomorrow and the next day, and the next. And who knows, maybe I will meet my future husband in one of these classes.

Anyways, the first day of classes is always difficult. It comes bearing an unnecessary load of stress because it is the beginning of the 4 long months to come. Four months in which we will experience too much homework, too much studying, too much stress, and far too many sleepless nights. Four months in which we will experience the greatest of joys, the hardest upsets, our greatest achievements or our biggest disappointments and failures. And, for some unexplainable reason, we choose this. I choose this, and I am grateful for the opportunity I have to go to college, to further my education. This semester, despite how difficult it is going to be, is going to be a good one. I am sure of it. One day down, seventy-five more to go.

New Year, New Goals, New Me.....

Another year has come to an end, and a new one has just begun. With the passing of each year, we take a moment to look back on the previous year. We remember the good, the bad, the successes, the failures, the trials, and those experiences that brought us true joy and happiness. For me, as the year comes to a close, I like to look back on my year in order to learn from my mistakes. To give myself the opportunity to learn and grow in the year to come. To become different, to become better and improve.

As I looked back on 2010 and the goals I had set for myself, I was quite satisfied. I had achieved some of my goals and others I neglected. In the winter 2010 semester I improved academically and I spent my summer at Aspen Grove. Meeting new people, making new friends, learning, growing, stepping outside of my comfort zone, making mistakes, and learning from those mistakes. This past summer, I had one of the best summer's ever. However, as some people like to say, all good things must come to an end. Though I did have many wonderful, fun experiences this past year, I also came upon various rough times.

Now, as I have rung in the new year, I am grateful for this opportunity I have to start new, to start fresh. I have been given a clean slate, a chance to start over and improve. With a new perspective I am going to work hard to be different. This year I am going to live my life to its fullest, I am going to embrace life. This year I am going to love life and all that it has to offer. Time waits for no one and this year I am going to work hard to make my dreams become a reality.

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.