So, Prague. WE MADE IT!!!

Let the Europe Summer vacation begin!! 

25 things I learned from living in #25

 We lived at number 25 for two years and around here that's  kinda a big deal. It's the longest either of us had lived in a place since we moved out of our parent's homes. We had a love/hate relationship with number 25.

Here are 25 things I learned from living in #25:

1. Living 2 blocks from BYU campus is kind of awesome. 

      You know that energy at a basketball game - everyone is excited, everyone around you has the same goal - a "we're all in this together" kind of energy? That kind of energy is always present. I look out the window and see people trudging to class at 7:30am and I feel for them. I wait in 10 minutes of traffic just to turn into our complex. I love that energy and I love living in the middle of it. 

2. Living 2 blocks from BYU campus is kind of awesome...

     7 minute walk to the center of campus = kind of awesome. 

3. I learned how to store our stuff in strange tiny places. 

     Our apartment was 400 sq. ft. You would be surprised how much stuff Steve says crap you accumulate in two years. 

4. I learned how to park. 

    Either in a tiny parking garage with a yellow pole that I hit occasionally or to parallel park really parallel park. I was quite good by the end. 

5. Living 1.3 miles away from the temple is such a blessing. 

    We were able to attend the temple frequently. We ran to the temple. We walked around the temple. The temple is a big part of our lives. 

6. Living right next to a university means you live right next to almost anything you would ever need. 

    College towns are really concentrated. There are lots of restaurants, doctors offices, movie theaters, bowling alleys, parks, grocery stores, banks, right around you. 

7. I learned how much I love evening walks. 

8. I learned how to cook lots of different pinterest meals. 

9. I learned how to avoid the spider web that appeared outside our door. 

10. Married Student Wards are unique and fantastic! 

     I know they aren't for everyone. But, it was for us. Steve and I loved our ward so much. It was so nice going to church where essentially everyone else was in the same life situation. I wouldn't want to stay in a ward like that forever, but for the last two years it was exactly perfect for us. 

11. Living with an in-unit washer and dryer is a need. 

12. Changing the air filter is important....oops. 

13. Doors are nice to have. 

    Our apartment was technically a one bedroom. But, really it liked to be a studio. Having a door to separate your living room or kitchen or bathroom from the bedroom is really nice. If you burn food, you can't escape the smell or smoke. If you have company over the entire place has to be clean because you can't hide any mess with a closed door. 

14. Even tiny apartments should have Christmas trees. 

     It's worth the space sacrifice. 

15. Girl hair plugs drains, but off brand draino works wonders. 

    Always have some on hand. 

16. Candles! 

    Candles weren't allowed in any of my other apartments. When Nana gave me one I was hesitant to light it because...is it allowed...but, IT IS! and candles are so nice. They make the place homey and nice. 

17. If necessary, Caulk guns will kill hornets that are hiding in your door frame. 

18. If possible, always live in a place with lots of windows. 

   Sunlight. Sunlight. Sunlight. 

19. No matter how long you are going to be there, settle in. 

   Decorate and make the place yours. It's important for home to feel like home, even if it's a temporary home. Our souls need a calming comfortable safe place that is ours. 

20. Make the bed. 

   It helps keep a person productive and discourages hiding in your room all Saturday watching Netflix. Which is necessary sometimes, but can also be a way to hide from the world. 

21. Keep salt on hand for the winter months. 

   The apartment complex workers don't always salt or shovel the path all the way to your door. Ice mounds can be very dangerous. 

22. Shop at Costco. 

    For our 1 year anniversary we got ourselves a Costco card. Why would two people need Costco sized portions you may ask??? Because sometimes when you are a student and your husband works a lot you need some frozen Costco pot stickers or Costco sized pasta or really anything that won't expire Costco sized. cooking and grocery shopping takes a lot of time. 

23. Living without a TV is so possible.

   Steve and I don't have a television and I kinda like it that way. At first we just didn't have space or money to get one. But, now it's kinda nice not having one. We do watch Netflix and Hulu on our laptops, but we don't just surf channels or have background noise. With the internet cable tv isn't a necessity really. 

24. Living as a young newly wed is fun.

   Experiencing life with my best friend in a tiny apartment was pretty incredible. 

25. Establish a house of God. 

     D&C 88: 119-120

         Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High.

Thank you #25. I learned a lot. 

I'm a graduate.

It's been a little over a week and still hasn't really sunk in. I am a graduate, alumna, if you will, :) from Brigham Young University. For the last five years I've worked hard, learned a lot, and got a little closer to being the person I want to become. This video was released right after graduation, making it's ability to pull at my heart strings quite timely. In it, President Worthlin, I like to call him Kevin, shares a few reasons why BYU is such an incredible university. I'm really grateful for my education and experiences at the this fantastic place.

A few notes from the ceremonies: 

"be grateful, serve, keep a journal, remember the importance of faith, live worthily so you can receive new spiritual experiences, enjoy the journey."

"Optimism is to use whatever remains from your education."

"Your data of knowledge fades but the residue of refinement becomes ever more evident."

"The value of college is the value of being human."

"We are the stories we tell."

Picture Documentation: 

If you squint, tilt your head to the left, and use your imagination a little you can see me waving...where's stef like where's waldo...

 dance department graduates 

 dance education graduates

Andy, Leslie, my main man, alumna herself, sis, Nana, Papa, Harper girl, Erica, Ethan boy, Daddy

I am really loved.

This guy

This one right here ^

Life is so much better with him in it.

I love Steve a lot.

"How will the spirit of the 'Y' stay with me?" 

Last Semester I...

Fall Semester, 2014, I took 9 classes, 17 credits and got a 3.89 GPA. My husband was shocked because the entire semester I was convinced and very vocal about how I was going to fail all of my classes. It was an extremely challenging semester for many reasons and I was very happy to do as well as I did. Other than school I...

...began performing with Contemporary Dance Theater! 

This woman started the dance department at BYU when she was 15. Now she is 102. 

Dancing with CDT has been a great learning experience for me. Challenging and rewarding.

...celebrated my husband's 26th birthday! 

 For the last three years we have gone to Beni Hanna for Steve's b-day. Love that place. 

...started teaching with BYU Children's Dance! 

 This was Halloween. Some of them weren't dressed up, but apparently 5 of them were Elsa and 2 were Anna. Way to go Frozen, way to go. 

...had some great girl's trips.  

I love my family. These are mud masks not a genetic disease. 

...continued our annual tradition of going to Witchapalooza!

Such a hilarious show at Gardener's Village. I feel cool knowing Bryan. 

  ...presented at NDEO in Chicago! (National Dance Education Organization)

 Then, ..... fell in love with the city. 

Mia Wells and I decided to ride the Ferris Wheel on a whim. Serendipitously we were at the top of the ride at sunset. It was incredibly dreamy. 

 The Bean. 

Art Institute of Chicago. 

Best Restaurant Ever. Try it if you get the chance. 

...celebrated my twin siblings first birthday! 

 Ethan hated cake. Harper loved it. 

They are the best. 

I am so grateful for the time spent outside of school with friends and family. 

Dreamy Hawaii Trip: Part 3

 

I love the Polynesian Cultural Center. I love learning about each of the regions and cultures. I love the dancing. I love the humor. I love love the parade. My dream is to be a hula dancer on one of the canoes during the parade. They don't take white blonde girls. I can dream, though! I was a happy girl here. 

 After the PCC, we went on a little tour or BYU-Hawaii and the Laie Temple. 

Steve found some Russian friends and spoke to them the whole time. I took pictures and explored the Visitor's Center. :) 

WE TOOK SURF LESSONS! Steve is convinced that a Hawaii trip isn't complete without surfing. I was terrified and told him that I was NOT a surfer girl. A small part of me was super excited though and happy we were doing this. Afterwards I told him maybe I'm a little surfer girl, deep down inside.

Ideally, we would've looked like this the entire time. 

Realistically, we looked like this the entire time. Boy, was it fun though! 

Of course, we visited Pearl Harbor.