my last few months

I refuse to apologize for not blogging for the past few months because: 1. You probably didn't really mind and 2. I don't really feel that bad. Turns out that shoving everything you want to do, and all the people you want to see, and the errands you have to get done into your day when 9–5 (plus travel time) is taken from you on a daily basis is actually pretty difficult to do.

So what might you ask has happened to me in the past 2 1/2 months? Well stuff made me happy, and stuff made me sad, and a few more things have made me feel anxious (just kidding, that's just my perpetual state of being), and something made me really happy (but also kinda anxious, obviously), and that's enough about me and my feelings, huh?

But, in case you still feel like that just wasn't quite enough information (but I've already given you so much!), I'll walk you through a few more things that honestly you probably already know about because of social media:

I got to be there for my best friend when she got sealed to her other best friend in the LDS San Diego Temple, and it was magical and wonderful and made me feel all jittery and excited and happy for her. I was all kinds of worried that I was going to feel bummed and alone at the wedding, but honestly I felt nothing but the best vibes because I think I was just too dang happy for my Hily to think about anything else.

I checked out some fish with my guppy KatieMac, and I just wandered around looking at fish and feeling like the most blessed human alive to have a best friend (it's a tier not a title, yeah I have a few) who understands me so well and who is willing to make fishy faces at fish with me and understands when I send her crazy long vents one day and gushes about how perfect everything is the next day and never complains about it.

I made a great escape from Provo and headed down to St. George, and I just didn't really take many pictures, because sometimes I'm just feeling so good that I don't want to look at the world through a lens, but I just want to be wherever I am fully and completely and without having to think about lighting and looking good. This was one of those trips and I liked that a lot about it thanks to the people around me and good ole' mother nature. Feeling happy is nice, don't ya think?

And then this weekend my parents came to visit me in Utah, and we skied and snowmobiled, and it was really amazing. Not just because we had fun, but because it's always nice to be reminded that I don't just love my parents, but I actually really like them. Plus, sometimes I convince them to take selfies with me, which is cool.

Well, I feel like that is all the information that the internet is privy to. I've had people tell me before that they know more about me from my blog than actually interacting with me, and that kind of made me sad. So, I've been trying so hard recently to be a more open human in real life and to every once in a while talk about my feelings and tell people nice things, and it's hard, but I'm trying, and I really think I'm getting better and maybe that's also why I have been so absent on my blog and social media for the past little bit. So maybe I'll blog again tomorrow and maybe I'll never blog again (but probably not cause I actually am now remembering how much I enjoy this), but until them I hope to see you in the non-internet world too.

peace. love. and catching up.

my lavender love

My friend Katie and I heard that there were lavender fields in bloom up in Mona, so we decided to take another one of our mini adventures and check them out (oh how I am happy that I have found someone who is always down for whatever/whenever). I really want to say that we were not at all disappointed and that it was the most majestic thing we had ever seen, but turns out they harvested 3/4 of their lavender fields a few days before we got there. So being flexible humans, we settled for a lavender patch. Lavender patches although not quite as amazing and not the breathtaking sight we hoped for, are still quite nice and smell absolutely lovely. Alas, maybe next year we will be at least a little more on top of things and make it to see the fields in full bloom.

Let's all wear hats and lavender in our hair every day, okay? It sounds nice to me at least.

Don't tell the people at the farm that we picked their lavender and took it home in beautiful smelling bundles. They won't miss it. It's okay.

I've started to get a lot more serious about trying to find a job, but I am going to miss this adventurous life of mine. Not that I won't be able to go on adventures, I just don't know if I am ever again going to have quite this much freedom in my life. I think the best advice I could give to anyone at the moment is to not try to grow up or get your life going too fast. It's okay to spend a summer playing in the lavenders before you try to find a job and be an adult. In a weird way I feel so blessed that I didn't get any of the internships that I was trying so hard for this summer. Instead, I have met and become friends with some of the most incredible humans on the planet, gotten tanner than I have been since I was a kid (no that still isn't very tan and I'm going to be honest I miss everyone being pale because I actually think it's prettier, SORRY), read a ton of great books, fallen way more in love with Utah, and probably all around had one of the best summers of my life.

peace. love. and lavender.

my salty photo shoot

Since getting my new camera (affectionately named Helena because I have a weird habit of naming everything), I have actually been a little scared of it. I'm just still not entirely sure what to do with all the settings and what not. But, I've decided the best way to get over my fear of Helena is to get out there and start shooting.

Since I am driving a rental car for the week (due to a minor accident last week where my precious car Benny got rear ended), I figured it was the perfect time for a mini road trip out to the Salt Flats to play with my camera a little. I was pretty happy with the results. Also, you're about to be overloaded with pics because there were so many good ones that I had trouble choosing...

This is my stunning friend Katie who came along with me to help me take pics, to keep me company on the road, and of course, also to enjoy the salt flats.

I may not get tan, but I do get lots of freckles. Is it weird that actually seems better to me?

Yeah excuse the serious picture before this. Clearly I can't keep a straight face for very long. 

Sometimes I whip my hair back and forth. But actually, I'm pretty sure this was accidental which makes it an even cooler picture.

I was drooling over how blue and clear the sky was. Seriously. Look at it. So freaking blue.

 We were the only ones out there, so Katie and I had to use a self timer to get a pic together by artfully propped up my camera on my keys. One time we intentionally wore matching outfits and ever since then we keep on accidentally wearing matching outfits. We really aren't doing this on purpose, but we find it pretty hilarious, so I guess it's okay.

Pre hair flip...

..and hair flip! This is probably one of my favorite shots because just look at dat hair!

Taking pictures is hard work so I finished off by taking a little salty nap.

I think I feel a little less afraid of my camera after this and a couple other photo adventures I've taken recently. I'm trying to get a lot of practice in before my McCarty family reunion this summer so that I can take some good pics when I'm out in Oregon. So, like, who wants to go take pictures with me?

peace. love. and blue sky.

my day at the zoo

What better way to spend a Saturday than at the zoo romping around with friends? As a zoo lover, I can't believe it has taken me four years of living in Utah to make my way up to the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake.

 I think I'm about the same size as a gorilla. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

There was supposed to be an elephant in the back of this, but you just never know what you're going to get when you hand your camera to someone to snap a pic for you. 

 I realized when I was going through my pictures that I otter of taken a few pictures with real animals not just fake ones, but I would be lion if I told you that I didn't love taking pictures with the fakies...

No day at the zoo is complete without ice cream cones.

Hogle Zoo, you were quite small and I was really mad that the otters weren't out and that the foxes were sleeping, but I still had a wonderful day and I am always satisfied by adorable animals. 

peace. love. and animals. 

my dreams

Last Tuesday, my friend Katie and I went to an exhibit up in Salt Lake called The Dreamathon. It was put on by a few of my friends and a company that they started called The Dream Press, and I have been real excited to see it ever since hearing about it from them. They brought local artists into an abandoned high school and transformed an empty building into a work of art.

Katie and I may or may not have intentionally worn matching outfits for the occasion, but that's not the only reason we had a blast. I loved seeing all of the funky, cool, and interesting creations that they made in this school. A tribute to dreaming and following your dreams is exactly what this pool bum who is trying to figure out what she is going to be doing with her life needed. 

Ok, I guess I should go figure out what my dreams are so I can chase them.

peace. love. and dreams.

p.s. If you are in Utah they will be reopening the exhibit at Granite High School in Salt Lake City on Friday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.