Progress, Not Perfection

At the end of this winter semester, my title references the profound quote from Steve Madden himself. Since that life changing mall visit, I've dubbed this past season "Madden about Winter" a la my not fully updated Facebook album. I realize I've only posted once this year. I'm fine with that. I've been posting once a month at this blog, which is a year-long challenge I'm participating in. I also started a poetry blog with Drew that will soon be up and running.

I've been brainstorming about what kind of blog I want to have. Holly and I are going to get together soon to put together a design. I just love my London header so much I'm tempted to retire this blog and keep it in it's perfect form, and start fresh. I've developed a girl crush on EssieButton and other YouTubers, and if I could have a dream job I'd be a figurehead in social media. But I would like to have a project like this to make my life more exciting and to learn how to take better photos of my life.

This semester has seemed very long, but thinking that the next batch of London study abroaders have already returned home is crazy. This semester has also been full of its challenges, but things are looking up. I have some more ideas for posts about this semester, but finals week is here. I'll be home next Tuesday for a week, and I can fill you all in on what's been going down.
For now, here are a couple photos from the last month:

Spring has sprung!

My lucky conference seat

Hanging with my peeps

Morgan and I dressed up as Kristofferson and Ash from Fantastic Mr. Fox in celebration of seeing Wes Anderson's Grand Budapest Hotel. It was too dark to take photos where we were in downtown SLC so Y Mountain it was.

Our usual experience at church.. loners club over here. But girl look at that mani.

 I'll be back with more- including an updated apartment post which I'm most excited about!

-MM

The End of It All- Installment One

32 days later....
Sorry for the crickets over here.

I have some lovely tales to share though.

I was able to see some of my beautiful cousins and celebrate Adrien's twins!

Since I'll be away from Utah all summer and then in London all fall, Maddie and I got together for Apollo Burger and Vine-ing one last time, matching naturally. 

This beauty opened up her mission call! She was full to the brim with excitement. The jungle of Iquitos, Peru is going to be even more dazzling when this girl arrives in August!

 I bought myself a bouquet of flowers with some of my dining plan money, and some flowers for my grandmama too.

I started getting sentimental and influenced by spring and began taking pictures of everything. (what else is new?)

accidental, foreboding filtering

So, what happened was I wrote my finals, packed and cleaned up my room,  and saw some lovely people. 

Next up- road trip!

Love,

MM

It's a Wonderful (dorm) Life

This little alcove has been my home away from home for the past four months. Without having a roommate, I could spread out all I want to. Being a notorious collector, I had enough bits and pieces to decorate the space. 

Here's a little tour-

My lucky numeros!

Effective scarf usage (they really came in handy)

That's my crib! I'm going to miss this little place. It's the first square footage to call my own. Now, there are two more days of classes and then finals until next Wednesday! Then it's California time and then back home again. Jiggity jig!

Love,
MM

Extra Extra! {weekend, weekend}

Now now, it is now Thursday I realize, but I am determined to post about last weekend some more.
Friday I went to geography in the morning, and then after ripping the sleeve of my dress and doing a hack job sewing it back up before putting on a blazer, I drove up to Salt Lake. My cousin Ben got married and I was able to go to both the wedding luncheon at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and the wedding reception later that night at the Lion House. In between I went shopping at City Creek and ended up with two shirts and some other odds and ends. It was so nice seeing and talking with all of my cousins and of course celebrating mawwage!

Saturday was spent babysitting my lovelies. We went to a birthday party at Boondocks, came back to my dorm and played around, and then Mike joined us for dinner at the Cannon. I love those punkins!

 Later, a few girls and I went ghetto laser tagging, to Roll Up Cafe, and to the midnight showing of Wreck It Ralph. All in all, a lovely evening.

my "love of owls"

Life is grand.

-M