I'm Thankful For:

• My family, who loves me and supports me in all that I do yet helps me see what is needed to become a better person
• My friends, who support me and have tirelessly listened to my relentless wondering (whining)
• The Gospel, which keeps me centered and happy even though I’m not quite cutting it in every other aspect of my life
• The excitement I feel for my future even though it is far from figured out
  

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

Make A Wish

Last night while driving around I saw the most amazing

shooting star I've ever seen: almost the entire sky lit up

and then there was a bright streak through the sky as a

meteor fell through the atmosphere. It was incredible.

I took it as a sign that I was in the right place at the time

(which otherwise would have been doubtful).

Girls' Night Out...in Provo?

I find myself having fun whatever I do because I have great friends, but often our fun times involve a night in because, well, Provo is lame. If I feel the need to go out and do something I usually look to Salt Lake or Park City to fill that need. However, this weekend I went out with some girl friends to trendy locations without having to leave Provo.

We started the night at 9:30 with dinner at Communal. (I'd like to say that we always eat that late, but it was really just because I had Stake Conference). Communal is a new addition to the Provo "downtown" restaurant selection, and the food is delicious. It is owned by the same people who own Pizzeria 712 in Orem. I appreciate these people who have worked so hard to bring quality food to Utah Valley. I have always thought that if a restaurant served good food people would notice and eat there. I am excited to see this theory play out.

We then went to Spark, a lounge that offers a variety of fancy drinks and hors'dourves. We had some more delicious things to eat and drink and enjoyed listening to the live music. We ended the night past midnight, and it didn't end because the Provo police broke up the party we were at.

Is Provo actually getting better, or have I just been here too long to tell the difference?

Happy Halloween!

My friends ended up getting caramel corn. Not great, but good enough.
A fellow law student and flamenco dancer enthusiast.

Here we are at the law school Halloween party. Aren't we all good sports to dress up just to make trick-or-treating for the children more fun? Clearly none of us are that excited about our costumes...

How great is it that this many law students were willing to take a night off of studying, dress up, and shake what their mommas gave 'em?! (Please ignore the sad fact that even though I was far away from the library I was still surrounded almost entirely by law students).

I'm glad my friends also see Halloween as the perfect excuse to wear heavy eye liner and bright red lipstick.

Trick-or-Treat Disaster

These jack-o-lantern caramel apples didn't turn out quite how I envisioned them in my head. My friends would have been exited to find these on their desks in the morning...

I should have taken some tips from Emily who baked this darling cake for the law school pumpkin palooza.

Oh Oregon How I've Missed You!

For my first full day back in oregon I headed to the coast. I love that drive--90 minutes on a windy, two-lane highway through old-growth forest. Oregon has some of the most beautiful coastline.

It was sunny and in the high 60s. You'd be lucky to get a day like that in July, let alone October. There's nothing quite like a long walk on the beach alone with your thoughts for some deep personal reflection.

I've always been fascinated looking at the sea creatures abandoned on the sand as the tide goes out.I remember taking our German Shepard to the beach when we were younger, I remember how much he loved playing in the water and biting at the waves, and I remember how much he hated throwing up in the car on the way home (we all hated that). I love the memories going to the beach drums up, I love the smell of the ocean, I love the icy water that makes your feet start to cramp if you walk in it for more than 10 seconds--I just love the Oregon coast.

We went to a fashion show of some local Northwest designers. It was located at a shipyard. So cool. So Portland.

No trip to Portland would be complete without eating at a food stand. This one specialized in Dutch tacos.

It's Definitely October

Thriller dance theatre.

I saw this house while running in the morning and came back to snap a

picture when it was all lit up. And I though I loved Halloween...