Two weeks ago, in a land kinda far away but still really wonderful..

I've been slacking on my blog posts :(

I'm busy, alright?

But listen.

Two weekends ago, Katie and I took off on a semi-spontaneous trip to California to visit our cherished friend and roommate, Caroline. The reunion was tender, and it was as if we haven't been separated from her for the last 9 months.

Coronado was gorgeous.

Everyone who lives there is so friendly and relaxed. The sea breeze carried in the constant sound of waves and smell of the beach. It was basically heaven, is what I'm saying.

We enjoyed many a delicious meal

Spent several hours lounging in various locations

Explored Orange Street

Visited the Del where Marilyn Monroe filmed Some Like It Hot

(and stole some fancy hotel soap)

Beached it up, of course

Played in/got dragged through the sprinklers

Went to the mall (and I made a terrific spontaneous purchase)

Visited the USS Midway

Hit up some street vendors, where Caroline had her future told to her via taro cards

And we spent our last morning attempting to shape our bodies into the letters to spell 'love' but we clearly underestimated the level of difficulty.

And naturally, we took an excessive number of pictures of ourselves.

As you can imagine, I didn't want to leave. But it was good times and such a good opportunity to escape from life and just spend time with my best friends. And I'm so so excited to finally get my Caroline back in TWO WEEKS!!!

Happy belated 4th of July

It's late. I know. Can we just get past this?

I wanna talk about my Independence Day experience. I hope that's OK.

First of all, I got to experience the CRAZINESS of Provo the night before. Who knew people camped out? It was like a gigantic block party all along University Avenue.

I got to watch the parade from the comfort of my own kitchen.

And what did I do to celebrate 4th of July? I worked.

Well, mostly I sat around for 11.5 hours. But some of that time I worked.

The rest I sat in a room with my beloved coworkers, avoiding the crowds and waiting to get called to clean up a "code blue" otherwise known as a "combo spill" otherwise known as throw-up. My job is soooo glamorous.

Bright side: I got paid to watch Stadium of Fire. The Beach Boys came this year. I've never been particularly crazy about the Beach Boys. But it was a good show. Cell phones were waving left and right. They've still got it.

I got paid to watch an amazing firework show (and to clean up the shrapnel after the fact).

I got to get paid to go to the dance party held outside the stadium after the show. Specifically, I got paid to be pulled into a dance circle and twirled around by a stranger. It happened. And I liked it.

I got paid to eat Carls Jr. at 1 a.m.

And I got paid to hang out with the people that I probably would've been hanging out with anyway.

My 4th of July was a lot of fun. But the importance of it wasn't lost on me. I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has ever fought for this country, and who is fighting for us now. Our freedom isn't free, and I know that God has blessed this nation so that we could enjoy many privileges that we take for granted. I'm proud to be an American.