Follow My New Collaborative Blog

Now I know that I've been MIA on this blog, but I hope that you will all check out my latest project with my twin sister, Kelcy.  It's a collaborative fashion, design, food, music, media, & worldly inspiration blog.  

It's called BKC².

Follow our blog & Twitter and please tell your friends!  We will be posting daily!

Let me know what you think :)

kinda obsessed with....

People have a sort of love-hate relationship with country music.  I went through my ultimate country phase back when Shania Twain and The Dixie Chicks were the hot, new artists.  For the next years, I kind of conformed with those who are ashamed to like country.  HOWEVER, I recently set my pre-sets in my car, and I added the local country station to the list.  I've gotta say, I don't know why more people don't like country!! The lyrics are genuine, sweet, they make you smile, and they remind you that the right guy might really be out there.  Below are some of my favorites with a little blurb about what I think about when listening to them.

Just A Kiss--Lady Antebellum

(This song's just cool because it's a duet.  It reminds me of a love/lust that only happened for a short time, but both the boy and girl want it to be more than just that night.)

I Don't Want This Night To End--Luke Bryan

(I love the chorus of this one.  It's what every girl hopes a guy is thinking while she's singing to the radio, instead of "shut up."  It also reminds me of Spring/Summer/anytime where you can ride in a jeep without being cold.)

A Woman Like You--Lee Brice

(The song just proves that no matter what guys say, they all want to be married at some point in their lives, and that they will be happy about it.)

Does this change your mind about country music, or what?!

life is what you make it

"This life is what you make it.  No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth.  But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up.

Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway.  But just remember; some come, some go.  The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends.  Don't let go of them.  Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world.  

As for lovers, they come and go too.  And babe, I hate to say it, most of them, actually pretty much all of them, are going to break your heart.  But you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soul mate.  You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything.

Just because you fail once doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything.  Keep trying, hold on, and always always always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie?  

So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about."

--Marilyn Monroe

the past two turkey days

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I've got to admit, I haven't had a "traditional" Thanksgiving for the past two years.  Last year, my Dad was out of town.  But we still managed to make it to my Aunt's, and then Thanksgiving night consisted of Spinach dip and Keeping Up With The Kardashians with Mom, Kelcy, her boyfriend (Nick), and moi.  

The kitchen can be a dangerous place :)

This year, I'm in a place where they don't even celebrate Thanksgiving!  Luckily, the friends that I've made living in the international dorms, Arcobaleno, organized a pot luck Thanksgiving dinner.

I hope you all have a great day! Enjoy the time you have with your friends and families...it's on this day that I realize how important that is :)

i pray you

I stole this from the lovely Kristen...check out her blog.
 Not only is she smart, beautiful, and my friend, but she inspires me <3

{weheartit}

"I pray you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.  

I pray you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.  

I pray you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.  

I pray you enough pain so that even the smallest joys in life may appear bigger.  

I pray you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.  

I pray you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.  

I pray you enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye."

three nights

Three more nights in the United States.  This is beyond surreal.  I've been waiting for this moment (to go study abroad in Italy) for five years now.  And it's three more days away.  I have so much to do in so little time.  

This is more for me to organize what I have to do than for you to enjoy, but feel free to read on.

To Do before Sunday at 5pm (when I have to be at the airport):

Pack.  Don't forget shoes, electronics, bathroom stuff, etc.

Spend quality time with my friends and family.  

Buy a wallet, purse, and extra makeup in case they don't have my kind in Italy.

Bring some nail polish and put it in a separate plastic baggy.

Get transformer/electric converter so that I can use my electronics in Italy.

Talk to Susanna (the girl I'm renting from) and find out where to meet at the airport!

P.S. I wish I could bring that many suitcases...I'm fitting my four month life into one.  And that includes clothes for hot weather...and freezing weather. Wish me luck!

nice thought

I'm going through my little "blog <3" folder on my desktop.  I found a little note that I must have dragged in there from someone's tumblr.  It's a sweet thought, and I truly wonder how many people are able to honestly do the following:

When I'm older and my daughter asks who my first love was, I don't want to have to pull out the old photo album.  I want to be able to point across the room and say, 

"He's sitting right over there."

reality check

Today it kicked in that I'm really leaving for this summer.  And then leaving some more for the Fall semester.  My work now knows that my last day is April 30.  My mom's looking at booking hotels for May 1st when we go check out the apartment that we want to put a hold on.  It's just coming up so fast.  

I feel like my dad thinks Kelcy and I are going for the wrong reason-- to party, or what not.  But we're going because this summer is a fantastic opportunity for our futures.  Why else would we leave everyone we love and everything we've ever known?  Especially since I'm going to be gone for the whole Fall semester...you would think that I would want to spend as much time as I could at HOME.  But I want to grow--and that's what I'll be doing for the next seven months.  

I'm just going to live the next 29 days or so to the fullest.  I'm nervous, excited, scared, sad, happy, concerned, skeptical, curious, and ecstatic about the next seven months of my life.  I finally feel like I'm becoming me.  By picking myself up from everything I've ever known, all I will have to rely on is who I am.  And I'm confident that Kelcy and I will be just fine.  We can do anything we put our minds to, especially when we're together.

nostalgia

So yesterday was my Mom and Dad's 26th Wedding Anniversary.  (Should all of those words been capitalized? Weird...) 

My mom gave my dad a really cute photo frame that looked like a street sign "Memory Ln." and it had a picture of them when they rafted the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon wayyy back when.   Before Kelcy and I were born.  

It reminded me of all of the pictures I have of my mommy and daddy when they were around my age.  I hope my kids look back on pictures I have and think what I think when I see pictures of my parents: "Wow...they were soooo cool." Haha.

Enjoy <3

The one in red pants,
with her band: Tigerlily!!

Daddy playing football <3

Crazyy how style's are still kinda the same, huh??

The little set up I have in my room :)

P.S. Please give me movie ideas in the post below!! 

 I can't believe noooo one has any recommendations haha.

back to school

Spring Break went by wayyyy too fast.  The first part was a lot of work since we picked up shifts in order to get shifts covered while we were cruising in the Bahamas!! :)

It was so much fun to just have a cute little mommy & me + Kelcy vacation.  My favorite day was probably when we docked in Nassau.  We had day drinks at Senor Frogs, went over to Atlantis and snuck into the aquarium/pool area/beach, took a taxi back to the ship, had our formal night dinner onboard, and then went back out again to party at Senor Frogs...complete with karaoke and conga line-ing !

And now for the pictures ---->

<3 <3 <3

How were your Spring Breaks?!

favorite photos

Day 11: Post your favorite picture ever taken of yourself.

This one's a tough one.  Not because I think I look amazing in every picture that is taken of me...but because I take SO many pictures.  Lately though? 

My favorite picture is of me and Kelcy in New Zealand.  We were driving to another town, when the traffic suddenly stopped.  Why? Because there were hundreds and hundreds of sheep crossing the road!  They were beautiful.  So we hopped out of the car and Mom captured the following image.  Now when looking back at the photo, it takes me back to that exact moment.  And that's probably why it's one of my faves.

me on the left and kel on the right :)

After looking at the "New Zealand" album, it looks like most of my favorite pictures are from that trip.  Maybe it's because it was so green and vibrant there, compared to Arizona especially haha.

Favorite picture I've ever taken (of Kel):

And my favorite picture I've ever creatively thought about:

milan: fall 2011

I got into the study abroad program in Milan this Fall!!!!!!


I was getting ready for work yesterday morning when I opened up my email and read the amazing news.  My heart was beating so fast.  I didn't want to wake Kelcy to tell her, but I just had to.  She was so happy for me, which made me even more excited and relieved.  I was in an EXTRA good mood all day at work, and was in disbelief all day.

I'd like to thank all of you that sent me good thoughts <3 Even I doubted myself (since there were only two spots in the entire program), but with the good vibes sent from my family, friends, and blog friends, I will be living my dream in six short months!! :)

More news to come, but I just wanted to update you all on the most amazing news that I've heard in all of 2011!!  (Except of course Kelcy's acceptance into her internship program in LA that guaranteed the two of us an AMAZING summer.)

heavy competition

Today I went to my advising appointment to get all of my paperwork settled for my study abroad program application.  Here's how the conversation went down with the international coordinator:

her:  You do know this is a highly competitive program, right?
me:  Yes...
her:  For example, we already have ten applications (the application's due in 5 days),       and we only have two spots to fill.
me:  Oh wow...
her:  I see you haven't selected a second choice, would you like to do that now?
me:  No, thank you.
her:  I think you're making a mistake.  You're missing out on a great opportunity to study abroad.
me:  I understand that.  But I've travelled a lot in my life, and this is the program I've been looking forward to since I was in high school.  I see no point in spending the money to study abroad if I'm not crazy about the location or school.
her:  Okay.....you're choice.

To put it simply, I left the study abroad office feeling pretty bummed.  But after wrapping my head around the stiff competition and talking to Kelcy about it, I feel like whatever happens will happen for a reason.  If I get into the program, I have to go.  I was chosen to be only one of two students.  But it I don't get into the program, well then something good will come of that too.

If I do get in, I'll be able to:

Check out the Duomo.

Go on espresso dates.

Wait for the metro on my way to and from class.

Be one of those little figures walking around.

And visit all of these places on the weekends <3

But, then again, if the odds don't work in my favor...I'll be able to spend my entire Senior year with my best friends and family before starting a career and my "real" life.  If I don't get into the program I've been looking forward to since high school, I'll be here for Paige and Olivia's 21st birthdays, my Dad's birthday, all of the Fall holidays, and everything inbetween.  There are pros and cons to both sides, and now my fate is in the hands of the study abroad office.

Now I wait.

to kelcy

This post is dedicated to my best friend, who just so happens to be my twin, Kelcy.

Not only is Kelcy beautiful, smart, hilarious, and fun to be around, but somehow she gets everything she goes for.  Oh, and she laughs at all of my stupid jokes and dance moves.  She's probably my favorite person EVER, and she will be sooo successful one day.

Most recently, she got an internship at a PR firm in LA this summer that she really wanted. It's the first one she tried for, the first one she interviewed for, and she got it.  Now our dreams of going to LA this summer are a reality, thanks to Kel's amazingness.  I just have to catch up now so I'm not the slacker sister without a summer internship in LA.

If anyone has any ideas or companies they know of that would benefit from an intern like me, definitely let me know!! <3

first day royalty

Today was the first day back to school.  This semester is going to be a tough one.  Kelcy and I decided to get all of our hard core business classes out of the way this semester.  But that means we have to take three of the classes we've been dreading, all at one.  And to top it all off, they're all in the same lecture hall.

But it was a good day overall.  And what made it that much better, was the Burger King King.  He was wandering the Memorial Union when Kelcy and I went downstairs to get our Jamba Juices.  I saw him meandering around last semester, but it was amazing to see him in all his glory on the first day of school!

I'm trying to forget that he was, in fact, kind of creepy.  Like how he snuck up on Kelcy and was literally centimeters behind her looking over her shoulder at the picture.  And when we turned around, shocked to see him so close, he simply gave us the "A-Okay" sign and walked away.

How were your first days back?!

hello again lovelies

Wowww.  It has been WAY too long since my last post.  If I were you guys I would have thought that I disappeared when the new year came!  But I'm back :)

My NYE wasn't spent at some extravagant party toasting with champagne and dancing until I had to kick my heels off.  Instead, I was at home with Kelcy and Paige, packing for our early morning flight to Kauai with my Mom and Dad!  We did have a toast, champagne thanks to Joel (Paige's BF), and a mini dance party.  Then we hit the hay, woke up at 5 in the early morning, and made our way to the airport.

Kauai was amazing!!  It was so much different from the other islands, but it was so lush and beautiful.  In fact, it was kind of chilly some days! Here are some pictures from the trip, and now you can see what I've been up to for the past ten days. 

hat shopping in hanalei haha

Giving Kel a piggy back ride :)

horseback riding!

Kel and Paige with the coffee beans

The mini-plane we got to ride in!

(from the plane)
Where a scene in Tropic Thunder was filmed!!
The part where Ben Stiller was a captive.

We got to talk into cool headsets

A HUUUUGE cave

Thanks Mom and Dad for the trip :))

 It was so great to spend ten days with the parents and Paige since I don't get to see either that much when we're all back in Arizona.

Now I've got a day to do laundry, unpack, and then repack for my trip to California with Mom and Kel!!

meow

I just came across this video and it's impossible to not laugh.  I don't understand how those little boys sing without laughing...especially the blond one.

Needless to say, I'd be the proudest parent in the world if my future son could sing and meow that well.  Check it out for yourselves, and if you don't want to watch the whole thing.  At least watch what happens at 1:37ish. It's amazing :

shopping surprises

I wonder what these smell like?

So I'm reading Eat, Pray, Love right now, and I just came across this quote that I really liked:

"I can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with. I can select what I eat and read and study.  I can choose how I"m going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life--whether I will see them as curses or opportunities...I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others.  And most of all, I can choose my thoughts."

Also...Kelcy and I went shopping today.  She came out with these super cute True Religions and then another pair of jeans.  I couldn't find anything...but I did find these two books for $5!  And it's kind of weird because I just wrote down The Time Traveler's Wife on my "To Read" list this morning, and then I find it in a little second hand shop today!  

Look how ridiculously excited I am...

May I also say that I am very excited to read both of these books because I love both of the movies...and we all know that books are even better than movies.  A Walk to Remember is one of my all time favorites.  I remember the first time I watched it, I woke up the next morning and just felt different.  In a good way.  As far as The Time Traveler's Wife goes, I balled my eyes out.  And not just during the movie.  And not for a few minutes after the credits rolled.  I cried for the next couple of hours.  Even halfway through the funny movie we watched to take my mind off of it.  I have no idea why it affected me so much, so stay tuned to see how the book takes a toll on my emotions.

the gift of giving

This holiday season I decided, for myself, that I want to find out what the gift of giving is all about.  For the past 19 Christmases that I have had, I've been carried away with my Christmas List, what I want, and basically it's been all about take take take.  This year, I don't really know what I want for Christmas.  Except maybe some warms clothes to update my wardrobe.

That's why I'm making it my priority to be a giver this season.  I already decided that I want to make homemade holiday cards to send out to my friends, but as I was scrolling through weheartit, I have finally found the gift that I plan on giving.  It's simple, yummy, and cute.  It's a s'mores kit!  (Feel free to steal the idea, I know I did.)

<3 <3 <3

Also...a special thank you to Lindsay at scenic glory for the stylish blogger award!!  Check out my seven things post here :)