J.Crew photoshoot

Bain and I realized we didn't have many pictures together so.. we decided to pull out our J.Crew clothes and have a fun little photoshoot! Thanks to the amazing Kiara who took the lovely pictures. Enjoy!

(all clothing items are J.Crew unless specified)

Hat on Bain: Urban Outfitters

both black shoes (left): Michael Kors

both of Bain's shoes: Steve Madden

Bain's glasses: Urban; My glasses: Gap, baseball hat: Yankee store

My shoes (right): Seychelles

we also took a couple dance shots

dance attire: Jo+Jax

Taylor is HOME

Since Taylor's been home we have:

• Watched the Olympics 
• Visited with Taylor's Granny and family
• Drove up the Canyon, a couple times
• Played card games
• Went on a walk/hike in the canyon 
• Watched Batman Begins
• Watched The Dark Knight
• Went to see The Dark Knight Rises (so good)
• Went on a long bike ride
• Went to Talyn's wedding
• Went to 2 other receptions, Cody's and Ashley's, with Blake
• Front porch swinging (actually back porch swinging)

(these are all the pictures we have, we're not very good at remembering to take pictures)

And to come:

• Weekend in Vegas with Bain and Mom for Gavin DeGraw concert 
• Zermatt resort swimming 

MRS. Talyn CRABTREE

My lovely best friend since Elementary School got married on Friday, August 10th. Amazing! She is so beautiful and so in love and I am so extremely happy for her!!! 

On Thursday my mom and I arranged Talyn's flowers (thanks to my aunt Leslee and Talyn's friends and family who also helped out) and they were beautiful. On Friday we took pictures at 1:00 then Talyn was sealed for time and all eternity at 4:00. The party started at 6:00 with a ring ceremony and dinner, then at 8:00 came the dancing and dessert. Berrilicious catered her reception dessert and everything was absolutely lovely! The "bridesmaids" and Talyn even did a little surprise dance for Colby to "Baby", by Justin Bieber - so fun, haha! I will post more of her actual wedding/reception when I get pictures of it. For now, my mom took the pictures of the group outside the temple, so I will post some of those.

Congratulations Talyn and Colby Crabtree!

yes, we're super short, or they're super tall

Katie, Haley, Tal, Me

sneak peak at flowers/reception

Taylor, Me, Emily, Matt

so sorry..

For the lack of posts..

I meant to get some posts done this past weekend but a mean virus took over my computer and it has been in the shop. I may be MIA until next week (grades + Taylor + Talyn's Wedding).

I apologize...

Life has been wonderful with Taylor home (did I mention yet that he will be leaving for another 3 months in September? For another amazing internship opportunity. In Arizona. So I am soaking in as much time with him as possible.) And my bestie since elementary school gets married this week SO pictures and posts will be coming!

recently...

The newly married Emily, the lovely Katie, and I went to City Creek on Tuesday to catch up, it has been far too long since us FITers got together. I found my favorite J.Crew pants in navy (I already have them in black, grey, and olive) and I couldn't resist because I literally wear them 4 out of the 7 days a week - if not more) I was excited. We had yummy cheesecake and talked all night. It was really nice. I miss them. 

Oh, and check out Emily's wedding, her photographer posted it on her blog! 

In other news - My sister is in Dallas for a dance intensive and I am waiting for her to see the photos from our photoshoot before I post them all on here... but here are some of my favorites. Since starting today things get a bit crazy so time will be getting away from me.. 

1) TAYLOR COMES HOME TODAY!
2) Talyn's Bachelorette Party is this Saturday which Haley and I are throwing! So the food and planning and decorations are currently consuming my time.
3) Finals for the summer jazz classes I'm teaching are next week so I have lots of grading to do.
4) We've been 1 short at Avenia Bridal so I have been working more than usual.
5) Talyn gets married next Friday and I am helping with the flowers and all the fun day-of festivities.

It's finally my summer break, hanging out with Taylor will now fill my evenings instead of long to-do lists.. It'll be nice.

Two words:

Mens Gymnastics

um...yes!

thank you.

life currently..

• Taylor and I have been figuring out school/internship/work plans which has been taking up most of my time and has been slightly stressful. (P.S. he comes home next week!!!)
• I've been working, working, working
• My family was gone last week at Lake Powell (without me) so I've been spending my evenings with Bain (she and my mom leave again this weekend for a dance intensive in Dallas - I've hardly seen them all summer with all their vacations)
• I've been crossing things off my to-do list, and adding more things to it 
• Basically my life hasn't been too crazy exciting to post much lately (and no one is around to take pictures of my everyday looks - so I have no material to blog about)
• Bain and I did have a fun photoshoot today (thank you Kiara!) - pictures to come! Here is just a sneak peak that Kiara posted on Instagram. Theme: J.Crew. 

The past two days...

Have been wonderful! 

I treated myself and my body to...

On Tuesday:

45 minute workout

(weights and workout 2)

+

An hour massage

+

A free contemporary dance class at UVU 

(It has been FOREVER since I have really danced, teaching doesn't count)

+

Some designing/sketching 

(while getting hooked on Pretty Little Liars (thank you Netflix and Bain)

On Wednesday:

45 minute workout

(workout 3)

+

40 minute stretch in my 231 class I teach

+

More designing and sketching (and PLL)

+ 

1.5 hour Pilates class (for free)

(first timers at The Academy get a free class! and after it is only $5/class)

((My first time using the reformer as opposed to just mat training - LOVED IT))

+

1 hour (advanced) Yoga class

(at The Academy)

I am going to be SO sore tomorrow!!! 

But it was so refreshing and I mentally and emotionally needed it so very badly.

spiritual thought

The lesson I prepared this week for Relief Society was on the talk by Elder Holland called Laborers in the Vineyard. IT IS AMAZING! I highly recommend it.

Here are my two favorite quotes from his talk:

"Brothers and sisters, there are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those."

"Coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live."

God is merciful. We are all His children and we wants us to come to Him. Whether it is at the first hour or the eleventh, He wants us and will bless our efforts. "I testify of the renewing power of God’s love and the miracle of His grace. His concern is for the faith at which you finally arrive, not the hour of the day in which you got there."