Provo in January

It snowed, once. 

This month has been full. It's been full of friends, a new place to live, and getting back in the groove of going to school on the BYU campus. It's also been full of London homesickness, but I've been fortunate to always be around my friends from the program so we can commiserate together. 

I've spent lots of time catching up with my favorite nuggets. Bowling, Fashion Place Mall, Museum of Art with Mom, snuggling, the works.

I've also been trying to spend as much time as possible with my favorite Madeline before she leaves on her mission in two weeks (!!).

I bought a set of metallic letters at the dollar section at Target, and this was the best thing I could come up with with one set of letters.

This building alone saves me from severe classic architecture withdrawals. (and those mountains?)

I seem to always think "What Would Mindy Lahiri Wear?" because she is perfect.  

and another!

Naomi and I made a trip down to Nordstrom's to go to the Steve Madden event. That there is Steve Madden, and that there is the selfie pose of the year.

Jayne and I, Roll-up Cafe, Study Abroad get together as usual. 

Morgan and I went up to Salt Lake and Park City last Monday for the Sundance Film Festival. After all this time, this year was the first time I've been. She got tickets from the film program to see To Be Takei, a documentary about George Takei that I really enjoyed. We made a pitstop at Trader Joe's, and then drove up to Park City. We strolled around Main Street, ate free veggie burgers, tried and failed to see The Trip to Italy on the wait list, found our new favorite cafe called Atticus, and saw the much anticipated concert by Belle and Sebastian.

 This is the result of meeting and taking a picture with the one and only Stuart Murdock.

 I've also began my skiing class up at Sundance. It's been really icy and we seriously need some more snow, but I'm slowly getting the hang of it.

On Saturday, Morgan and I went to Cat's Cradle Antiques so she could get some footage for her film class documentary. This was my first time there, and I'll be back there again soon because it was my kind of place.

This week has been tests, studying, and assignments, but this weekend I'm going to a concert in Salt Lake and it'll be February. Now back to an attempt to study for my test, be back eventually.

Dear Blog,

I've had a blog of some kind since 2008. That's now going on 6 years. It's changed and evolved as I've gone from a 14 year old to 20 years old obviously, but it many ways it has stayed the same for me. I love reading blogs and I have since I started one. I've always longed to have an inspiring and yes, I'll admit it, a popular one. I love having a place for my family and friends to see what I'm up to, and I love the few friends I have met through reading blogs. I just wish that I feel less stressed about maintaining it. I feel like I can never post enough for it to be effective, and most of the times it feels like one more thing that I'm failing to accomplish. There is also that whole putting all your thoughts, pictures and information out there for all the world to see.

I do love that now my friend Holly can help me with my design. It's been looking fabulously. The thought of never blogging again is too drastic and is saddening. I just need to rethink what I want a blog of mine to be. I think I may have narrowed down what I'd like my overall new year's resolution to be, and that's time management. That includes going to bed early and waking up early (a reasonable, consistent time), avoid wasting copious time on any of my beloved devices, and using my time to study and create. Currently I find it very hard to read textbooks, take time to just connect with others without my phone on my person, to enjoy creating and in general, all my brain wants to do is be entertained. Constantly chasing after the next update and waiting for new material on instagram, bloglovin, pinterest, and most of all facebook to appear is what seems to fuel my days. I've lost a majority of my motivation to work, read, and create art.

How can I retrain my brain to love things that are real and present more than what exists on a screen?

I feel like my dependency on technology has diminished what I'm capable of. If I could tell you what I'd like to be when I grow up, I'd say I'd like to be somebody, who is somebody. I'd like to create something of myself and gain knowledge of all kinds. How can I accomplish this if all I like to do is spend time on the internet? How can I do anything if my attention span is 10 seconds long?

I know a few things about what I want this blog to be. I'd like to divert my recording of my daily life, relationships, and little events to keeping my daily journal and printing photos. I could use this blog for writing and generating inspiration, with snippets of my life and snapshots of my face inserted. I'd like to have a space on the internet where I can present who I am, as well as work out who I am. Sharing online is part of our culture now, and I'd be daft to stop trying. I'd like this space to have purpose. Writing is therapeutic for me, and if I have a pressure-free space to do it, maybe it would help overcome my constant writer's block/attention deficit.

In conclusion, I'd like to spend less time constantly following the lives of others, (though I will keep that up) and spend more time figuring out who in the world I am. 

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!

Around the Making of Harry Potter in 80 Photos

I am now writing from home in Canada, unfortunately. 

I made it back from England last Friday with the hope that I would blog about the rest of my semester this Christmas break. I thought I'd begin with one the the most magical days of all- a day at The Making of Harry Potter! The reason this is a post of monster length because I had to take pictures of everything, and I'm guessing I have a few people who are reading this who also want to see everything. The studio tour takes place in the actual studio they filmed Harry Potter (studios J and K). It was full of the sets, costumes, models, butterbeer, and everything in between. Needless to say, it was unreal.

Head table

The Great Hall all decked out for Christmas!

I know, right?

Luna had the best everything.

THE invisibility cloak, lined with green fabric to make it actually invisible.

I spy the Sorting Hat.

The intensity of this beverage is astounding.

Quite sugary

Aw yeah.

This was made of three vintage double decker buses.

Um,  don't drink and drive?

The Burrow was one of my favorites and I may or may not have taken several notes for future home decorating. 

The Black family tapestry

Look at those goblin hands

Aunt Marge!

 Diagon Alley was a whole new world.

Doin' some shoppin!

 There are two other moments that compare to walking into this room and seeing the model of Hogwarts- turning the corner and seeing the Duomo in Florence and coming across Big Ben, seriously. This room was amazing!

  We sat in the room for awhile and watched as the lights changed like a sunrise and sunset. This model was used along with computer animation to shoot the exterior shots for the movie.

Now this is from "Platform 9 3/4" at King's Cross, but I thought it was fitting. Sometimes a day at school is the best kinds of days. The London Study Abroad really spoils you! To think that all we had to do was talk about Harry Potter in English class.