Lake Powell Part Two

Where in the world have I been? It has been over a week since my last Life in the Sexy Lane post!! That's unheard of!! I really do feel like I have been away from the blogging world far too long! Well there's a few reasons why I haven't been updating as frequently:

• I am an intern at the Family Life Center for Financial Counseling aka I have sold my soul to the Financial Counseling Center and have no more time for guilty pleasures...except for the Bachelor Pad, which takes up all my free 2 hours of the week.

• I am taking 15 credits of school and my days begin muuuuch earlier than I am used to.

• We got a Wii. I have NEVER EVER been a gamer. EVER. BUUUUT, this Wii business is actually pretty fun! I know, I know they have been out for yeeeeears, but this is my first experience. My problem is, I don't want to be on my death bed thinking..."well I didn't accomplish any of my goals, but at least I unlocked all of the races on Mario Kart..." With that being said, my roommates and I spent a good 4 hours last week playing Mario Kart and I don't regret it at all.

• From last Thursday until yesterday, I was at my most favorite place in all of the world!! Lake Powell!! I looooooved it!! Just my parents and I went (yes, in case you haven't noticed...I am the third wheel on many vacations with my parents...they are really cool what can I say?!)

Here are some pictures of our vaca:

It was a looooong drive from Logan to LP

When I am not at school learning about finance, I spend my entire vacation reading about finance. NERD ALERT. Great book though.

I drank an ENTIRE 12 pack in 5 days. It's a reaaaalllly good thing I don't drink alcohol.

We stayed at the docks and went to the restaurant EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT. Carb OVERLOAD.

I'm so glad my parents let me tag along with them on all of their cool trips.

Of course....relaxing wouldn't be relaxing without reading about running.

Cath and I.

Captain Dave.

I decided to go out of the ordinary and show the wakeboard some lovin. The wakeboard was not so kind to me.

I had a GNARLY fall and my ankle INSTANTLY turned purple. This was literally 2 minutes after I got out of the water.

On top of all the carbs, we couldn't pass up ice cream. I usually rationalize by saying that I need the calcium since all of the diet coke is taking the calcium out of my bones. Makes sense to me...I get diet coke AND ice cream!

Not ready to leave

Good thing my parents have a TV in their car so that I could watch an ENTIRE TV series on the way home!!

I looked really good in my headphones.

First Day of School

First day of school consisted of:

Sleeping in until 9:30am

Going to ONE class

Coming home and laying out

Going to the gym to do a killer hill workout

I have forgotten how much I loooove the college lifestyle. If I just had to go to school the rest of my life, I would be perfectly content (as long as it wasn't in a cold climate such as Logan). School life is sooo much easier. No rigorous schedule. Memorizing and then forgetting. Sweet talking professors and sitting next to the smart kids. Easy peasy. I loooove my new apartment complex. Why you ask?

Swimming pool that will be used every Monday/Wednesday/Friday for 2 weeks until the first storm hits (boo Logan), Hot tub will be used nightly when it gets cold.

AND...an onsite gym so that I don't have to drive all the way to the fieldhouse on campus. LOVE IT.

Although I did learn one lesson...

The first time you go to a gym and you want to make new friends....don't do a hill workout that makes you look suuuuper out of shape. AND...don't wear gray when you sweat as much as I do.

Now I am off to teach little soccer stars how to correctly pass, dribble, and shoot. LOVE my life!

Weekend Cabin Trip

So this weekend, we decided to take a spontaneous trip on down to Scofield, Utah to a friend's cabin. It was the perfect little getaway, just what I needed as a little bit of "rejuvenation" before classes start up again. There is NOTHING better than being around people that love and appreciate you and just enjoying each other's company. We had a blast, and now I feel like I can tackle the first week of classes! Here's some pictures:

The general store

The Jail

Trying to peak into some random abandoned buildings. This was the moment that I gained an appreciation for cheerleaders! It was scary up there!

Some fun pics at the railroad tracks

Luke is really cool, huh?

These two were determined to catch fish

I was more concerned about drinking caffeine and getting a tan whilst reading running magazines

Sara and Hayley in the Canoe

Still tryin to catch just ONE fish. Talk about determination!

It was a great weekend, and I am really glad that I decided to go last minute. It was EXACTLY what I needed after a crazy crazy week!

Hello Logan!

I decided that my relationship with Logan is like my relationship with a bad boyfriend. I HATE LOGAN: the small town, cold, etc...but somehow I keep coming back! Kinda twisted isn't it? Mostly because I love my major (Family Finance) so so much and it's only offered at USU. Within 12 hours, we drove to Logan, moved me in completely organizing my room, got my books, got a meal plan at the school, and went grocery shopping. I was literally EXHAUSTED by the end of the day. We really have this moving thing down to a science (finally, by the 5th year). So here is my cute little room that I will be residing in for the next four months while I finish up my degree. I got a pretty small room, but we made it work.

Moving, looking pretty exhausted

Finally moved in, finishing up the major project by getting my parking pass

Cute cute little saying that I just HAD to have in my room

Jewelry Tree

Magnet board for pictures (kinda blurry, but you get the idea)

Cute little door sign

The table that I assembled all by myself!

Shelves that Luke assembled!

The final product: Cath is pretty worn out! We worked HARD!

So I am pretty excited that my room turned out well and cute! In case you couldn't tell, I am obsessed with all things pink and love having a well organized and decorated room! It makes being away from home muuuuch easier when you feel like you have a "homey" room to escape to when things get crazy!

Apple, Lemon

This is a fun game to play.....

APPLE:

LEMON:

Why in the world do I always take pictures late at night after I wash my face?? Thank goodness for tatoo eyeliner- best decision Cath has ever made for me.

Okay here we go:

APPLE: I only have one more semester until I GRADUATE!!

Lemon: Now I have to grow up in four months...am I'm not quite sure what I want to be when I grow up still....

____________________________________________________________________

APPLE: After being ridiculously ill for a week straight, I finally went running today.

Lemon: I had the worst sideache of my life and thought I was legitimately GOING TO DIE.

____________________________________________________________________

APPLE: Today was my last day at work for the summer.

Lemon: I am going to be poor again.

_____________________________________________________________________

APPLE: I get to see all of my classmates and teachers again after a summer away from the Family Finance family of Utah State!

Lemon: I have to do 150 hours of financial counseling and I am TERRIFIED that I don't know what in the world I am doing.

______________________________________________________________________

APPLE: Rosie comes home the EXACT same week I graduate!

Lemon: Tyler doesn't come home for two more years....

_____________________________________________________________________

Apple: I get to move out of the parents house and live the college life again!

Lemon: I don't get to see all of my cute nieces everyday :(

Okay, I just got all teary eyed. Time for bed. It's off to Looogie town in the morning!! AAADIOS!

"When you know, you know"

Dear my fabulous friends of Utah County.

I am sorry in advance. This post may or may not make you feel suuuuuper uncomfortable, offended perhaps. The reason, is because I am going to go against what you have been taught and believed since your first day in Sunbeams. Something that gets on my nerves more than anything else in the world. The ol’ Utah County fairytale saying of, “When you know, you know”.

I HATE THIS.

This is what people say when they are trying to justify being engaged to each other after dating for 2 months or less. THIS IS SOOO UTAH COUNTY. Why? Because we grow up and are taught to get married to a returned missionary in the temple. It doesn’t matter what his education background, financial status, family situation, etc is. If he is a returned missionary and you get married in the temple, you will live happily ever after.

How do you reach this fairytale? You go to your singles ward, find the first attractive male that you see, and “when you know…you know” and there is no sense in dating longer than 2 months to MAKE SURE that you know.

I know, I know…there was this ONE time when your brother’s wife’s cousin met someone after 10 days….got married…and they lived happily ever after right?? NEWS FLASH- THAT IS THE EXCEPTION. That is the ONE IN A MILLION situation that most likely WON’T happen to you.

Being the logical person that I am…I just DON’T understand this. Last time I checked, forever was A FREAKING long time and a pretty big commitment. Why not date someone for a year?? See them in EVERY SINGLE POSSIBLE situation i.e.: family parties, finals week, vacation, church basketball, etc. See if you still “know” when you find out that your significant other is a big spender and has a ton of debt. See if you still “know” when they come on a family vacation and don’t seem to get along with anyone in your family. If you date someone for just a month or two, there is absolutely NO POSSIBLE way that you can see that person in every single type of situation that is telling of their character. We have all had those great friends or roommates that we were really tight with for about 90 days…their true colors come out, and you think “wow! Who is this person??” Someone can fake who they are for a maximum of 90. They can convince you that they are prince or princess you have always dreamed about since primary.

And why rush into things? Seriously…you’ve waited your whole life…why can’t you wait and see after a year of dating? Is it because you don’t want to slip up and have sex outside of marriage? So you are going to make the dumbest decision of your life, get hitched, have a bunch of kids…and be miserable the rest of your life? Just because of the fact that you couldn’t keep your pants on for a few months longer and really get to know the person? COME ON PEOPLE!

All I’m saying is…take your time. DATE. Get to know each other. If you do “know” after 3 months, then that’s GREAT! You both know that you have found the person that is perfect for you. BUT STILL DATE! Marriage can be the best or worst decision of your life. It’s TOTALLY up to you. Don’t rush it. Forever is a reallllllllllly realllllly long time, enjoy being young and single free of the responsibilities of marriage. It will actually make you a better spouse if you get into the marriage a little older, wiser, and more stable!

Okay, there you have it. My Utah County rant is over. I will move to Logan now.

Thank Goodness for Great Friends: Megan Story

One of the coolest people you will EVER meet!

I have a quote on my mirror that I got in Young Womens during a time when I was struggling with finding good friends. I read it DAILY and LOVE it.

"Choose your friends carefully. It is they who will lead you in one direction or the other. Everybody wants friends. Everybody needs friends. No one wishes to be without them. But never lose sight of the fact that it is your friends who will lead you along the paths that you will follow." -Gordon B. Hinkley

This quote is SOOO SOOO true. And the older I get, the more I realize how difficult it is to find TRUE friends who love and accept you no matter what. I have A LOT of really great people in my life and many people that fit the "true friend" category, but today I would like to introduce you to one of my HEROS: Megan Ruth Story.

This girl has been there for me through thick and thin. Every.SINGLE.milestone. We have been great friends ever since we were in Jr. High. Megan was there when I had my first boyfriend, first kiss, first heartbreak, first loss of a loved one, when I got my driver's license, we texted for the first time on our very first cell phones...you get the picture.

There is not a more genuine or true friend in this world than this girl.

I was SOOO excited when she got home from her mission in March, and we have been having a riot ever since! Although we are both busy, we always find time to play and have a great time! She is in my category of "low maintenance friends", meaning we can go days or weeks without talking, but we are both so secure in our love and appreciation for each other. We both would do anything for each other at the drop of a hat, and when we lose touch we know that it is just because life gets busy.

She even convinced me to go to a singles ward this summer in Utah county. THAT'S A BIG DEAL! There is nothing I hate more than going to a church that feels like it is designed to get me hitched, BUT Megan got me there and we had so much fun laughing about all of the funny times together. Besides my family, I will definitely miss seeing Megan so much when I move back up to school. She is always there to lift up my day or just listen to my whiny self when I am having a hard time.

If there's anyone that I strive to be more like each day, it's Megan....and I am pretty sure there are a lot of people that agree with that statement!

Love ya Megs!