Birthdays Galore!

Well last week seemed to be the week of birthdays and I am so happy to say mine was so great! I was surrounded by so many friends and family members that made it so special! It's amazing how much has changed between the ages of 21-22 and I must say I like 22 much better already! Last year was a rough year to say the least but I have learned so much and grown in ways I couldn't even imagine and I am so grateful for everything I went through so I could be where I am today.

Season, Cache and I at Herm's.

First of all I just have to say I LOVE birthdays and more than that I love my birthday... any and all of my friends and family could all tell you that I am obsessed with birthdays I love throwing my friends parties and making their day special because it is there one day of the year you get to be completely selfish for one day cuz it is YOUR day. You were born on that day and so YOU get the crown for a day and that is why I love birthdays.

That morning I went with my mom, dad, sister and her kids to Herm's Inn for breakfast. Afterward my Dad and I were headed to meet my mom and sister at my favorite clothing store when my Dad went speeding down 6th East at a whopping 35 mph! When lo and behold a police officer was waiting for him as he didn't know the speed was only 25. So you see what this means?? I am not the only one that is always getting pulled over in Logan!

Haddie, Me, Nat

The conversation went a little something like this:
Lady officer: "Hi, sir I pulled you over cuz I caught you going a little fast."
My Dad: "I know I didn't realize the speed was only 25 my daughter told me just as we saw you."
Me: "I'm so sorry, it's my birthday today and my parents just came from Idaho to visit me."
Officer: "License and registration please, I'll be right back"
Me: "If she takes longer than 5 minutes you got a ticket."
Dad: (Nods head in agreement)
Me: "Dad... It's been 5 minutes"
Dad: (Shaking head) "yeah.... I know."
Officer finally comes back....
Officer: "Well I'm just going to give you a verbal warning today, wouldn't want to ruin the birthday or anything. Have a good day!"
Me: "Thank you so much!"
Officer leaves...
Dad: "I knew we wouldn't get a ticket..."
Me: "Sure you did Dad, you're welcome for it being my birthday."

What does this scenario prove?? It just proves that birthdays are the best is what!

Dani and I at my birthday.

The rest of the day was great as well, I went shopping with my sis and mom, we then went to Coldstone and got me a cake, my parents left to go back for Idaho, and I went and did more shopping, got my nails done, went to a movie with my friends Haddie and Natalie (love these girls!), had a birthday dinner with tons of friends and then my friends Dani and Mary threw me a little party with cake and ice cream at their place after. I just love them! I have the best friends!

Season and I

Two days before my birthday my niece Season celebrated her 3rd birthday. I am so grateful to be so close to family that I can see all the time and take part in these special celebrations with. She is just the cutest and had a "Frozen" themed swim party. My sis did an amazing job of making an Olaf pinata that took her all week, it was a little bitter sweet when the pinata was destroyed, although she made it so well it was virtually indestructable.

Birthday Dinner

Natalie and I at her Birthday

Three days after my birthday was my friend Natalie's birthday on the 20th. We celebrated her day with dinner and cake and ice cream at her place with tons of friends! It was so fun and I am so incredibly grateful to this girl, her birth and her friendship these past 6 months have been such a blast with this girl! We became friends through hard times and we have grown so close because of it with everything we have helped each other through.

I really don't understand it when people say, "I'm not big into birthdays, or yeah I don't really care about my birthday." How can you say that?! It gives you such a great opportunity to be grateful for the people in your life that appreciate you and you can appreciate them too and that's what I think birthdays are all about, love and gratitude to be alive and to have people that love you.

The girls at Nat's B-day

New Beginnings... It's Terrifying.

Well we are already a month into the new year and I am seriously so bad at this whole blogging thing! I have some crazy/ weird/ exciting changes coming up in my life and I thought I would jot down a few thoughts I have been having about them lately. Wellll for starters I am graduating in 3 months! AND OH MY GOSH I AM SCARED!!!! I have been looking forward to this time in my life for so long that now that it's actually here it's terrifying. SO here are few thoughts I have been having lately as my last semester of college has gotten crazy busy and I have started to try to figure out what the heck I am going to be doing after I leave the safety net of Logan, Utah and school.

1. Why the heck did I ever think graduating would be a good idea?!

2. Once I do graduate if I don't have a job right after graduation does that make me a failure?

3. If I do get a job am I making the right decision wherever I choose to go?

4. If I choose the wrong job am I going to ruin the rest of my life?? (An irrational thought, yes but nonetheless one that has crossed my mind)

5. If I stay in Utah does that make me a failure?

6. What is the "Real world" like anyway and why is it called that? Is there really such thing as a "fake world"?

7. Have I done enough to prepare myself for what's to come? .... probably not.

8. Am I ready for a new beginning and fresh start? YES.

These were just a few of the questions that have been constantly running through my mind as I enter this next chapter of life. The hardest part for me to accept out of all this is what I want to do vs. what I should do. I would hope they were one in the same and yet sometimes I think God has a little bit better idea of what I need than I do. As much as I would love to be in a big city and go to New York,  LA or Chicago, maybe now is not the right time and that's ok, because I know if I truly want it to happen I can and will make it happen and I will love whatever I will be doing.

Sometimes you just have to simply follow the wise words of one my very favorite songs from one of my favorite movies and "LET IT GO!" So for right now I am trying to take things one day at a time by not getting overwhelmed and caught up in all of the talk of future plans. The most frustrating thing lately has been the constant question of, "Oh you're graduating soon! What are your plans?" Well you know I don't know what my official plan is yet... but I  have an idea and I am doing the best I can to prepare for the future by living in the present.

Here were a few of my favorite quotes I have found to help me get through this "Terrifying time".

I Just love Audrey.