Smile Through The Confusion

experience is a funny thing. the whole concept of everything happening for a reason? thats kind of funny too. and by funny, i mean stupid. and interesting. and awful. and wonderful. all at the same time. i realize that we don't have all of the knowledge and experience that we need. i realize that we have to go through certain situations at certain times. i realize that each of those situations will teach us something new and something important. i get that.
it's just hard sometimes.

life is crazy. and to be honest, sometimes it really catches you off guard. and recently i feel like my life has been all over the place. i've had days where i've been ridiculously-off-the-walls-not-having-a-care-in-life-feeling-like-i-could-conquer-the-world kinds of happy. and then i've had days where i've been ridiculously-feeling-awful-about-everything-watching-the-notebook-crying-into-the-bucket-of-ice-cream kinds of depressed. i just think you need to be prepared for anything. you know. hope for the best, but plan for the worst. i think there's a song like that somewhere.

i dont know. sometimes life is gonna throw you a few curveballs. and you're not gonna expect it. and you cant control it. its gonna happen whether you like it or not. but what you can control is the way that you react. we have the power and the agency to choose how we will react to every single situation that life throws our way. and what a great blessing that is. we have the choice to be happy and stay positive, no matter what challenges we encounter.

who knows. maybe you'll get a crazy expensive speeding ticket. maybe your boyfriend will decide that you're not good enough and that he wants to date other people. maybe someone will treat you really badly. maybe you'll lose a loved one. and yeah, all of those things really suck. trust me, i know. but we have the choice of how we let these things affect us. and i'm not saying that its bad to feel upset or sad or disappointed. i'm just saying that maybe instead of dwelling on the negative feelings, you should embrace the positive ones! [and trust me, i definitely need to take my own advice. i'm trying to inspire myself as much as i'm trying to inspire you!]

let life take you by surprise. do the things you love. eat lots of chocolate! smile and laugh all the time! make someone else feel good. focus on yourself [not in a selfish way] and figure out what it is that makes you happy in life, and then do it. for goodness sake, just be happy! every 60 seconds you spend being angry or upset, is a minute of happiness that you can never get back!

moral of the story: life is crazy. you never know what's going to happen, but what you do know is that it's always for a special reason that only the man upstairs knows. and one day, everything is going to make perfect sense. so for now, smile through the tears, laugh through the confusion, and keep reminding yourself that everything is going to be okay! :)

Christmas Time

so, my christmas was amazing. here are some of the pictures that helped capture my favorite moments of the weekend.

im so grateful for all of the blessings in my life, and for one of the greatest blessings--my family. they are truly the best part of me. i love my family so much and im so grateful i was able to spend the most wonderful time of year with them.

Things I Love

well, seeing as how it is almost christmas... (6 DAYS PEOPLE!!) i guess i've been reflecting on everything i'm grateful for. and i thought that i would write about the things that have happened this week that made me feel truly blessed. the things that i loved.

1. i loved having a girls night in with my single friends. we were all a bit depressed about boys at the time. if you didnt get that from the picture. he's just not that into you? ice cream? yup. but i love these girls a lot and i know that no matter how dumb the boys in my life are being, i've always got my girls.

2. i loved having a shopping day with my married friends. its not too often that this happens, so i was extremely grateful for this. it was so nice spending time with them again without the husbands. (no offense to trent or logan...they're both great.) but i love shopping. and i love morgan and chelsea. so totes a win win situation.

3. i loved that the semester is over and that i am FINALLY done with my finals. and im grateful for how well i did on them. well, on most of them...

4. i loved spending time with this boy. he's pretty great, if i do say so myself.

&i wish i had a better explanation for this picture, but this is prettty much how it went down... "here, stand behind me and put your hands right here so it looks like one of those pictures from the olden days!" uhhh...

5. i loved all the times that i got to spend with my family. our annual christmas bonfire...our candy day... doctors appointments... babysitting, etc. i just am so grateful for the amazing family that i was blessed with. i definitely have the best family and i dont even know what i would do without them.
well, i hope you all had a great week and that you will take some time this week to really reflect on all of the wonderful things in your lives. for the things you are grateful for. we all have so many blessings in our lives and we need to remember to always show gratitude, especially during this christmas season, to our Heavenly Father
&on a side note...i have not been to in&out in one whole month!! kind of going through withdrawals... somebody take me? pretty please? :)

The Perfect Week

so, this past week has been AMAZING. so many wonderful things have happened. it felt like the perfect week. and i thought i would share my experiences with you all, and hopefully they will bring a smile to your face. because they sure as heck have brought a lot of smiles to my face lately. :)

1. last sunday i had the opportunity to play in church with my friend maddie stanley. it was super fantastic, even though i definitely messed up a few times. and it was super noticeable. and super embarrassing. but whatever. i still was happy that i got the opportunity.

2. tuesday was just a really great day. work was a lot of fun, i got to go shopping, and i got to go to fhe and have a lot of fun with a really cute boy that i may or may not have a huge crush on. just, you know...some really great things. :)

3. wednesday i went to an all day twilight marathon with my family and my friend taren. go ahead and make fun of me. i know, it sounds really stupid. but it was so much fun. seriously. i enjoyed it so much. totally screamed every time jacob came on screen shirtless. :)

4. saturday i had the opportunity to go to the temple super early in the morning and do baptisms with one of my best friends taren payne. it was such an incredible experience and the spirit was definitely so strong there. for sure the best way i could have started my day. then, later that morning i participated in a singles ward service project and had such a blast. seriously, i felt super good about the way i spent my saturday. :) then later that night, i was able to play in a trio for the wedding of some friends in the singles ward. it was so amazing, and i must admit, it made me want to get married, haha. i am so happy for amy and anthony, they are perfect for each other. ohh...and then it is definitely possible that i went to in&out. again. im obsessed. whatever. :)

oh...aaaannndddd.... I MET SANTA CLAUSE!!!! i got to take a picture with him and i was seriously giddy. dont even make fun of me. i was really happy about it. i love santa!! :)

5. yesterday, my brother gave a talk in another ward and i was able to attend. he is such a great speaker and his talk was amazing. he spoke about the book of mormon, and the spirit was so strong, even over the crying babies and screaming children. haha. seriously, i forgot how ridiculously loud family wards are. then later that night, i attended a fireside with a few friends and although we got lost and ended up at the wrong building, i know that i was supposed to attend that particular fireside. the fireside was about charity and service and how much it can bless our lives and the lives of those we serve. (if you have not read the story christmas jars by jason f. wright, i strongly recommend you read it.) i was so touched and felt so happy and blessed that i accidentally ended up at that fireside. and then, to end the evening off right, i went and watched the walking dead with some friends. it was thuper fun. for sure. i love zombies. whateeeerrrr.

6. today, taren and i again had the opportunity to go to the temple to do baptisms, but it is definitely possible that we forgot that the temple was closed on mondays. so we just walked around and went into the visitors center for a little while. which was still amazing. even though we werent actually inside of the temple, we still felt so peaceful and happy just being there.

anyway... moral of the story is that i am a very happy girl and i LOVE the way my life is going right now. :)
its funny how a lot of little things can all add up and make you so happy. i loved that i was able to attend the temple, spend time with my family, and just be around great people and be in places that lift me up and inspire me to become a better person.
i hope you all had equally as amazing weeks.

and that is all. :)

except oh wait. its not.

THANKSGIVING IS IN 3 DAYS!! so so so so so so SO excited right now!! i love thanksgiving. everything about it. my family turkey bowl, all the food, the games, the company, black friday shopping. ahhhh!! i seriously can not wait!! :)

Happy Birthday. I'm Not Married. Whatever.

well, today i got reminded by a dear friend that i haven't posted on my blog in a while. i suppose thats true. and usually i would use the excuse that nothing exciting has happened in my life lately, but so many amazing things have happened.
so i guess i'll blog today.

just a quick recap of the past few months:
september 7, 2011: my brother richie came home from his mission. gahh i love him so much. he's just the best. i love having him home.

september 16, 2011: my best friend, morgan lindsay bagley (GILLESPIE) got married. pretty crazy. yes, she is only 19 years old. yes, she is insane. but yes, she is also happy and in love. what more could you ask for?

september 17, 2011: my other best friend, chelsea laree duke (THOMPSON) got married. everything i said about morgan applies to chelsea as well.

i think its so crazy that they are both married so young, but they are both so happy and so im happy for them. they are both doing so well these days (in case any of you were wondering.) however, i must let the world know something: when your best friend is getting married and you are still single, she will say that you guys will always hang out still. THIS IS A LIE. i barely see these girls. they are too busy with their cute little married lives to hang out with a siiiingle girl. whatevvvsss. im not even bitter. ;)

october 19 (aka yesterday): MY BIRFFFFDAY!! yup. thats right. 19, baby. hahaha im so youngggg. but i had such an amazing birthday. tuesday my friends had a surprise party for me and it was pretty much the most amazing thing ever. ive never even had a surprise party before and i didnt know what to do. i didnt even realize that the surprise was for me until about 30 seconds after everyone yelled surprise. hahaha it was so great. so many people came and i just felt so loved. (thanks guys. i love you.)

ohh& thanks to morgan and richie for shoving the cake in my face. i was so happy about it.

i also got lots of great presents (including a BIKE!) YAAYYY!! so excited!! its a cute little beach cruiser. its purple. its cute. iloveit. so much. and then i went shopping with morgy porgy. (its been so long. i swear, married people never go shopping. something about saving money to pay bills? whateverrrr.) and finally, i went out with rocky, maddie, taren, trent, and spencer for a little celebratory bahama bucks and in&out. my favvvv.
moral of the story? what they say is true. its not about what you do, its about who you're with. best birthday ever.

anyway, i am working and going to school right now. its pretty boring. but what can you do? boys dont like girls who aint smart. haha goshhh i dont even know why i just said that. im so tired right now. &technically i could go back and delete it, but im not going to. because i kind of like it. getoverit.

and as for me and my love life... i am still dating zac efron and we are very happy.

hahahaha. no, i am still very much single and LOVING it. (except for when i hang out with chelsea and trent or morgan and logan. then i am miserable and pathetic and wishing i was married.) WHATEVER.

anyway. i love everyone. i love life. i love shopping. i love kids. i love being crafty. i love being cute. i hate cats.

the end.

Yays& Nays

once upon a time there was a girl named victoria who had such a crazy life and had no time to blog. or do hardly anything that didnt involve work or school.
anyway. this is me. just letting you all know im still alive.
&this is how the past few weeks have been.
the GOOD:
1. my girl whitney lane alger is visiting from texas!!
2. i made a dress for my baby niece and it is CAAA-YUUUTE!
3. ASHLEY PICKED JP!! wahooo!!! :)
4. morgan comes home from vienna in 6 DAYS!! :)
5. meeting a really cute boy in snowflake for pioneer day. im talkin COWBOY, ladies! :)
6. damian did NOT get kicked off of the glee project... thank you cameron! [i dont know if any of you watch the glee project, but i am kind of obsessed with it. and with damian. and i definitely would have cried if he had been sent home, but cameron quit, which saved my sweet irish damian. aww.]
7. getting 100% on my test for my online class. yay!
8. my older sister finding out she's preggo. again. haha
9. my brother gets home from his mission in 33 DAYS!!!!!!!!!! WAHHOOOO!! :)
the BAD:
1. morgan and chelsea are still engaged. [hahahaha jk jk jk. its a good thing. i suppoooose.]
2. being sick for the past week. ugh.
3. finding out that ames isnt going to be the new bachelor because he is on bachelor pad. [i have a feeling its going to be ryan, but i am really hoping that it isnt.]
4. school starts soon. chandler gilbert+online classes+work=even less of a life. ohhh dear.
&&that is basically all that is new with me.
happy friday everyone! <3

4th of july

i guess you could say that this weekend was one of the best ive had in a while. i did a lot of fun things, and besides, the 4th of july is one of my favorite holidays. to start this magical weekend off, on thursday a few of my loverboys came down from utah for a fun visit. and we swam. all day. every day. and went to bahama bucks. and partied. it was fantastic. i just really like them a lot.

and then on the morning of the 4th, my beautiful neice, ashley, got baptized. it was amazing to see how excited she was to be baptized and she was such an example to me and im sure all of the other members in my family.

then, later that afternoon, i made these bad boys. [go ahead. be impressed.]

they ended up being DEEEE-licious. and then we headed over to my brother's house for our family party where we played some intense games of water kickball, did some major trampoline jumping, ate lots and lots of yummy food [ribs, hotdogs, chips, cookies, cake, soda], had some crazy just dance competitions, and watched fireworks. it was definitely an amazing weekend. seriously.

can i just tell you how much i love the 4th of july?

okay. thank you.

I LOVE THE 4TH OF JULY A LOT!! i love spending time with my family, because lets face it: my family is the coolest family in the world. not even joking. we are awesome.

best weekend of the summer so far. maybe this weekend will be better?? because, well, I AM GOING TO CALIFORNIA!! yay!! our big family vacation this year is going to cali. you have no idea how excited i am. we leave tomorrow. yay. yay! YAY!!! :)