Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I had a lovely, low key day. I woke up at 9:15, opened my stocking in my room as per tradition, and Jack threw up on my Dad and the floor. Melissa and Randy came over and we Facetimed with Matt and Kate as Mia opened up her new Bitty Baby (that she loved). Then we got to opening our presents!

Look at my cute lil seester

Let's just get a close up of that cute wrapping paper.

New Mr. Darcy ornament, imported from Bath

Opening up presents is the greatest thing, same with giving them. My Dad picked out this nativity scene  from Peru from the store 10,000 Villages. Nicely done.

 My mom tracked down this crane after my dad spotted it while they were in York. Nicely done, Mom.

My haul- not pictured, 3 months in Europe. Can you spot the two American Girl items? Once a hardcore AG lover, always a hardcore AG lover.

This will do, thank you.

After breakfast casserole and sticky buns, and lunchtime later, I worked on my puzzle and we went to see Saving Mr. Banks (obsessed). But this puzzle is coming along, it is a toughie. 

I've spent two weeks at home now. We leave for Utah tomorrow and I am both very sad and very happy. I love my bed, my room, my own space, and my puppy, but I get to see my family that I haven't seen in 8 months, celebrate more Christmas, and then start school where I'm taking skiing and ballet and living in close proximities to my new best friends. I can say that things are looking very bright!

Merry Christmas from me to you!

Highlights

{Well well well.. what do we have here?
in this past month I have been keeping occupied. Here's just a taste-}


My family came into town for over a week which was glorious. I'm a little loner baby of the family so having siblings around 24/7 was a real treat.
Highlights included:
Stampede and the accompanying festivities
Matt's birthday celebration
All of us reading World War Z at the same time
Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 and a bit of The Sims
Despicable Me 2
Watching the Tour (de France)
Momma cookin'
Beading bracelets
bubbles and bike rides
and snuggling (especially my little nuggets).

I miss them!

Now my days consist of cashiering (and returns) and the Depot which turns out is quite the adjustment. I am beyond grateful to have a job but sometimes fatigue gets the best of me and I complain about it. I'm learning quite a bit about myself in the process, especially that I know I want to work to have a job in the future that I'm really passionate about. This is a great little summer job for me though, for now.

The rest of the time is spent thinking about London, and most currently clothes and make-up. Over the past few days I've become obsessed with UK beauty bloggers/YouTubers (I dislike the word vlog. It's one of those words to me.)

My top three:
Zoella
Essie Button
Tanya Burr
and the list continues

Should I use my time for something else? Probably, but I am quite enjoying myself thank you very much. I am thoroughly researching my Primark, High Street stores, and TopShop expertise and expanding my English slang.


And this weekend I've made some good purchases for my trip including a suitcase, purse, and new shirts and the best pair of sweatpants.

I'll be back with more!

-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

Extra Easter

I just got the pictures off of my mom's memory card, so thus explains the delay in the Easter festivities!

Saturday- Egg Launch
This is probably my favorite part. The weather was nice and toasty, which was a big change from the last six years spent in Canada! Plus I kept wanting to pinch myself because I could hardly believe that my whole family was together! Seriously, look at that little baby.

Sunday
Mia's blessing day! We all dressed up and had her blessing at Kate's parent's house. Afterwards we had brunch, (which was absolutely divine) an easter egg hunt, and generally lazed around and chatted. then half of us headed to visit the grandparents. All in all, it was a perfect Easter weekend.

(She loves me, I swear.)

So as a general catch up of this past week, I worked hard to finish the LazyMan Ironman this week and got a t-shirt (nice), did some occasional homework, partied it up with the family whenever I could, and thoroughly enjoyed General Conference this weekend!

I went up with Bayley and Jeni to the Saturday Morning session, I babysat my nieces that night, and then spent Sunday at Bayley's house eating delicious food and watching conference on various tv's. 

This week is the last full week of classes! I have one, short final essay to write, a newspaper assignment for geography to finish, a skirt to finish sewing and a sewing portfolio to assemble, and a oral presentation of my research essay before finals start next week. I'll be in California in less than three weeks and home right after that! I need to get a summer job stat. 

I'll be back with more,

Sincerely MM

Hello Easter!

My whole family was able to be together this weekend. My whole family! It was the greatest blessing. First on Saturday we decorated eggs, and then we met Matt and Kate and new baby Mia at the park to launch them. Oh my oh my Mia is perfect! We also went to Scheel's and rode the ferris wheel and played around. That night we got pizza and headed our separate ways (we are all spread out to five locations). Family is the greatest, and I'll be back with the Easter pictures!