my last day

I just got home from my last college class ever and I have to admit I am sad! I have loved the past 4 1/2 years at BYU.

I love that I had a fun freshman year, made so many friends, and stayed up so late.

I love that I took full advantage of "Dining Plus" - it rocks.

I love that I stayed for Spring and Summer after my freshman year - that was such a fun time staying up late, studying a little, and working at The Pita Pit - "fresh thinking; healthy eating."

I love that I learned so many things in my general education classes - I loved geology and I had some great music civilization and humanities classes; I am grateful that I made it through stats.

I love that, with help, I have overcome significant personal challenges. I love that I have learned to love my self and my imperfections.

I love that I lived in Paris for a semester, ate way too many pastries, traveled throughout France, and loved every minute of it.

I love that I became such good friends with my study abroad directors and have continued to have Sunday dinner with them once a month since we got home.

I love that I got to live at the infamous "Liberty Square" and, true to it's reputation, met my husband there!

I love that Ben & I found each other, went on three dates and fell in love, and have been sealed for time and all eternity. I love that we got to be married during our college years and live in classic Wymount Terrace. Being married at BYU is the best.

I love my major. I love how applicable it is to my life and how I will use it in my future, no matter what I am doing.

I love how I have sincerely loved most all of my classes. I am sad to no longer be a "college student."

I love my internship, how much I have learned in regards to my schooling and my future career, and how much personal growth I have experienced.

I love that Scott and I have been able to share at least one semester here at BYU; it has been such great fun.

I love being surrounded by so many people who share my beliefs. I love how I said I would never want to live in Utah and how now I really would like to live in Utah.

I love how I have become a professional nap-taker.

I love how I have moved ten times while I've been at college.

I love how I have taken a dance class every semester except this last one.

I love how I still can't breathe at this Utah altitude. I love how I still and will always hate the winter here!

I love that I have loved BYU! :)

friday favorites

1. Friday lunch with Scott . . especially when he buys.

2. A new book! "Matched" by Ally Condie.

3. Ben's teacher has been holding class via Skype all week because he is in China; that makes class at 5 a.m. for the teacher - talk about passionate.

4. I have been wanting "birthstone rings" for a while and I ordered them today with Christmas money! They are stackable rings, one with mine and one with Ben's birthstone. They'll look like this (except just two, obviously):

I can add a ring for each child as well. Fun. I'm excited!

5. No more studying for the GMAT in this house!

the same dilemma

This happens at the end of every semester!

I like to check things off my to-do list, I like to "get a lot done," and I like to stay away from stressful situations (i.e. lots of reading, homework, and projects at the last minute).

Thus, I am done with all of my reading and homework for the rest of the semester! I signed up to give my final presentations yesterday and today and to have my internship exit interview yesterday. I am done.

"Oh yay," you think. "Good for her," you think. No, not so. Because this happens every semester and every semester, for several weeks, I am bored out of my mind!

There is still a week and a half of classes left, plus a week of finals which for me this semester will be a breeze; I'll be done on the first day. But, Ben, like every other student in Provo, still has so much to do!

Why do I do this to myself? I always think it's going to be such a great idea and that I will love having everything done. But no. I am bored. This is my last semester, so obviously I never learned.

I've gone through my entire GoodReads To-Read list and BYU has not a single one of the books I am interested in. I have two books in our apartment and I've started both but neither grabbed my attention.

You can only watch so many episodes of Parenthood on Netflix.

You can only exercise so much.

You can only cross-stitch for so long.

I've already re-named and re-organized all of my Pinterest boards.

I need some ideas here!! Preferably of a good book . . . as good as "The Help" or "Sarah's Quilt" . . . After my run of amazing books last semester nothing seems to compare.

Ideas, anyone?

;)

friday favorites

1. A Thanksgiving feast with Jamin, Anne, Aunt Ellen, Uncle Creed and family. Joyous!

2. Spending Friday in the Alzheimer's Unit. Working a full day is tiring!

3. Buying a carton of Roasted Almond Fudge from the BYU Creamery. It is my all-time favorite ice cream so I am attempting to eat myself sick of it before we move so that I don't miss it.

4. We joined Netflix this week!

5. We only have 4 more items left on our Utah Bucket List!

6. Ben & I enjoyed nice big bowls of popcorn last night until I noticed a spider crawling across my shirt . . .

friday favorites

1. A 17-month wedding anniversary. We're pros by now.

2. While we're in Utah, every wedding month-iversary we get a slice of Magleby's chocolate cake to share. We had this month's slice last night and when we opened it, we both leaned down to smell the yumminess . . . and bonked heads.

3. Vocal Point concert tonight!

4. Ben's flag football team, "da ducks," is in the Elite Eight! Ben had 3 touchdown catches at last night's game.

cha cha cha!

Early yesterday morning I got to go see Scott compete in DanceSport. He competed in the Cha Cha and he did FABULOUS! He made it all the way to the fifth round! Seriously, that's pretty dang good! I was very proud to be his sister.

This is him and his partner coming off of the dance floor for the first time. He didn't know I was going to be there - SURPRISE!

His partner's sister and I happened to be sitting really close to each other, so for one of the rounds, they gave us a great view!

Doesn't he look so great!??

cool

Karin Myers

Campus Hire Spouse

San Francisco

Ernst & Young

Quality in Everything We Do

This is what my name tag looked like tonight. And I am so happy about it!

Last year, EY had this same dinner to congratulation students who had been made offers for internships or jobs. We went, of course, and were excited when we saw the spread: Italian sodas and mingling to begin, then a hearty and delicious dinner, followed by dessert which consisted of a choice of three cakes plus the cupcake tree on each table. Not even a boring speech or anything! Great!

Except last year, I had a horrible random stomach ache and I felt terrible the whole time (thank you, Mr. Parasite) - I even left early . . . before dessert! I was sad. A little vindicated when Ben brought home the cupcake tree, but still sad that I had not had an enjoyable experience.

I got over it. I did. It wasn't that big of a deal, even though it may seem like it because I am writing a blog about it.

But when I heard that we were invited to the same dinner this year, I knew that I had to redeem myself! I prepared well . . . I made sure I had no chance of a stomach ache and I made sure I was hungry, but not starving to the point of a headache. I suspected the event would be similar to last years.

It was. I enjoyed my raspberry vanilla Italian soda. I devoured my mashed potatoes, pork sirloin, steamed veggies, and salad. And I relished my cupcake and chocolate/cream cheese swirl cake. In short, I redeemed myself from last years poor experience.

The best part was my name tag. Last year we hadn't officially accepted our offer so there was no "hire" on the name tag. I'm not sure it even said spouse (although I was one). But this year I got to be the spouse of a campus hire in the BAP-Advisory office in San Francisco. It just all felt so official! And cool. Mostly, I felt cool. And that is why I'm writing this blog.

Doesn't it feel cool to feel cool?