Home of the hip hop

This city has got me busy.
so busy.
mainly exploring, mostly working, but definitely spending.
Over memorial day
(which consisted of so many adventures i don't even know where to start!)
everyone told me i needed to go to the
frying pan.
my first thought was food.
fried food.
however, it was even better than that!
it is this old ship


docked at chelsea pier
that you can go hang out on
order food and drinks
(and diet coke with lime)
and enjoy the incredible atmosphere.
it was buzzing with the fun hip young socialites of the city
and the food was pretty alright too.


mainly i was completely captivated by all of the sailboats out on the water
during the sunset.

as we were walking around the pier afterwards
(followed by cafe lalo that i'm now kind of obsessed with)
i was staring out over the water
surrounded by my friends
admiring the city
and thinking how lucky i am.

in 3rd grade
there was a new girl in school.
her last name was brown.
so mrs. cram made her sit by me,
assuming our identical generic last names would create some kind of bond.
I really think it was her smiley face back pack which I secretly coveted
that sealed the deal.
we were instant best friends.
she is a part of every childhood memory i have.
she helped me name my pet guinea pig (rascal fireball brown)
and open my first myspace acount.
she bought me my first t shirt from Abercromie & Fitch
and i wore it religiously every week.
we would build world class blanket forts in her room
with a secret chamber for the oreos and ding dongs we stole from the pantry.
we created original concoctions daily, for example: the MOA (consisting of milk, orange juice, and apple juice.)
she helped me write a peom for Velvet, our cat that died after 20 years of cat naps and bird chasing, and stood by me as i recited it at her burial service in our garden.
we used to chat on msn with strangers for hours with fake identities and questionable motives.
she was my friend through all of my awkward phases (I had approximately 4)
and she is still as loving and true to herself as the day i met her.
i am so lucky to have her as a part of my life
(i wish i had access to all of our childhood pictures, they are priceless)
i hope that today is an amazing day!!
happy birthday katie!
i love you!

on may 23rd

someone
had a birthday
(i may be a week and a day late but timeliness never was my best quality).
as fate would have it
we met one autumn afternoon
on the bus.
this bus:

this is Ashlee Leelar Larson.
born in the land of eskimo natives.
raised in the 801.

featured below is a classic forced smile photograph captured after a night of casual text and attempted socialization.
one of those awkard, "hey lets take a picture together" and then the awkward faces pressed against each other. she got accustomed to my awkward moment making early on.


this is ashlee circa 2007.
our friendship was in the fetus stage
until i discovered that...


she shares the same enthusiasm for Walmart novelties as well as all Utah inspired paraphernalia
as I do.
which is quite the rare quality.


as is her above average love for puppies. which was the initial motive in the adventure featured below. followed by 2 concussions.


we have been on aproximately 682 bad double dates together.
wing man came into the job description early on..


(featured above: bad date #37, followed by #81)

she was a little late to jump on the online social networking bandwagon.
this was the night we created her facebook account
after an ill fated game of croquet was ended a little early.


the memories have been flooding my head for hours
and bursts of laughter come with every picture i look at.
so i'm just going to get straight to the point:

10 lovelys about ashlee:
1. She looks amazing with brown hair


and blonde hair:


and red hair:


2. She is a domestic icon. she can cook anything. and not only is everything she makes edible but it is incredible!
3. because we take equally bad candid photos.4. i can always talk to her- about anything. unedited.
5. she is the most loyal friend i have ever had. she is also very easily convinced to taking a break from her daily productive routine and sitting on the couch with me to eat our daily caloric intake in one sitting.
6. she is gorgeous. even with banana chunks in her hair. you know someone is gorgeous when: you happen upon them early morning with no make up on sporting some back of the closet sweat pants- and you still want to look like them.
7. this girl's got jokes. i can think of no one i would have rather endured this night with:


(yes, that is a toy ambulance possibly stolen from a middle eastern refugee child and glued to a putting green obstacle.)

8. She hates to have her back scratched. therefore, church is wonderful because i never have to return the back scratch favor.

9. we have unsuccessfully tried to start about 6 business plans. without my partnership i'm fairly confident they would have had enormous success- she is just the smart ambitious type. don't be surprised if she owns half of corporate America in 5 years.

10. she is dependable. reliable. and less flaky than a Head and Shoulder'd scalp. best of all, i can always count on her for a better than good time.

She has even been known to serenade the masses.

only 6 more months until your half birthday..!
I love you!
I hope your day was special and wonderful
and full of lots of
presents!
I'm sorry that for your day i hopped on a plane
to the other side of the country.
and that i am too poor to fed-ex you a present.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

can i have some more?

I have been so busy.

Mostly I've been busy eating.

I'm quite the disappointment as a tourist seeing as how I only take out my camera whenever food is involved.
But seriously.


I have come upon some extraordinary restaurants.
I'm sure you can only imagine my excitement when I found out that here

they serve chocolate for every meal!

Also, you know you love food when:You walk across the Brooklyn Bridge so that you can:

Wait in a 2 hour line for:

this!
The world famous Grimaldi's Pizza in Brooklyn.

I swear not every picture I've taken is of just me.
Or just me with an awkwardly open mouth and food.
Or even just me eating food.
I'm 97% sure that we got more than one Asian tourist inspired group photos.
My stomach has been spending all my money, I haven't even been shopping yet!
Soon enough I'll get my priorities in order and switch the spending to more materialistic things.

i heart new york

After my 4 suitcase production from

airport to airport to airport to taxi to 101 Ludlow I am finally here! Where Jay-Z so eloquently sang of this concrete jungle where dreams are made of. (and for the record it was really more like 2 suitcases and a carry on and a laptop.) When I first arrived, Richard (the black building security guard) said, and I quote,
"girl you's in safe hands." "we be like Allstate baby."
He should really look into the comedy profession, he not only gives me my quickest daily subway route but he's got jokes for days. I have a constant layer of humidity added to every part of me. Frizzy barely begins to describe the unruly yet lifeless mane on my head. My room is comparable to that of a man serving 25 to life, but the view out my window is amazing! The city is crazy, but a good kind of crazy and I love it. I could barely sleep because I was so anxious and nervous for my internship, it was the same feeling you get as you are waiting in line for the Tower of Terror at Disneyland. After 2 hours of debating whether I wanted to look business casual, business comfy, or just plain business, I went straight into my comfort zone: I wore my leopard wedges. (Which I'm sure comes as no surprise.) I almost donated my cardigan to a homeless man as I paced up and down 5th Avenue where my office supposedly was. It was hot and smuggy and I was sweating bullets. A doorman helped me finally find my office, and when the elevator doors opened to the 6th floor I was in LOVE. The office is incredible, so beautifully decorated. And everyone is SO NICE- I really don't know that I've ever met nicer more accepting people. I love saying, "I'm on my way to the office." Because I really do love it there, I am learning so many things from the architect and all the designers, I could not have asked for a better internship.

I can't believe that last summer I was here



doing this


and now i'm here


working right on 5th avenue
and eating lunch at bustling cafes while looking at the empire state building
and going to dinner at night out in the city.

it's amazing and exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time. but i am in love with exploring this place. i can't wait to finally be able to tell which way is North.
and to get a real job next summer so that i can afford life.

but where are the lenses...?

Last summer

I happened upon a pair of
glasses.
they were one of a kind
vintage
and so unflattering on my face
that it almost made me love them more.
They traveled everywhere with me.


(our waiter in Italy- who had an uncanny resemblance to George Clooney- made fun of them the entire time.
until he put them on. and realized just how extraordinarily marvelous they really are.)

But somehow
they got lost.

(nomakeup. facial expression is truly capturing how i've felt.)
I don't lose things.
even though things such as my room
and car
and closet
may seem unorganized, I could tell you exactly where everything is.
I have been searching everywhere for months
for my favorite pair of
glasses.
I made every family member testify that they did not seal or hide them (mom).
or know their whereabouts.

And then...
this morning as I headed to the kitchen for my daily bowl of
captain crunch
there they were!
Sitting on the counter.
Just like that.
(I'm told they were found behind the couch. But I swear I looked there...)


I couldn't be happier.
I may even sleep in them tonight.

FINALLY

It's here!
My old D.I. discovered then purchased Polaroid has been doing nothing but collecting dust over these past few years.
But now I have a new one.
Due to the fact that i bought a camera for the patience-less
(I obviously can't live without the instant gratification of a photograph)
you would think it would have arrived as soon as possible.
But no.
I have been waiting for days
but at long last it is here.
and it is beyond marvelous.
I have been been scavenging the cul-de-sac for the slightest hint of a photo op.
I couldn't be happier!
I can't wait to put my amateur skills and untrained eye to work.

so this is Love.

The other day,
it was a day just like any other day,

Erika and I were in
Ross and we happened upon
the most absolutely fantastic hidden treasure
that could have possibly been discovered:
these sheets

I made her send me these pictures.
I am still kind of obsessed.
How could you not have the best nights sleep
when you are laying your head down on
these sheets every night!
such a great find.

The Face Of A Boy Hearing For The First Time

This photo was taken by photographer Jack Bradley and depicts the exact moment this boy, Harold Whittles, hears for the very first time ever. The doctor treating him has just placed an earpiece in his left ear.

Date unknown.

How wonderful is this.

It made me think that everyday I take so much for granted.

And I need to start more fully appreciating everything in my life.

"it's like finding out that Jesus wasn't born on Christmas."

Yes.
another one is leaving me to
continue her progression toward the
Celestial kingdom.
this little petunia has been the best friend
I could have ever asked for.
But somehow, I am going from seeing her everyday and living with her
to living on opposite sides of the country.
Coast to coast.
This summer she will be in L.A. while I am in New York.
And then she will be Mrs. Kaitlyn Reese.


10 Lovelys about Kaitlyn:
1. Her eyes. They have been known to glow white in the winter.
2. Her real laugh. Everyone has their laugh, and then their real laugh:
the one that only comes out when a true scene of funniness is before them.
3. She is afraid of killer whales, ghosts, fish (and sharks), and needles.
I think in that order. Oh, and hatchbacks.
4. She loves to squish snouts, ears, and paws. be it dogs or babies.
5. She will do anything for anyone. She is one of the most sensitive, kind, and loving
people you will ever meet.
6. She's funny. Yeah, she's really funny. But even better, she thinks I'm funny.
Or maybe it is that we think the same things are funny, like MTV's classiest new show
"Is She Really Going Out With Him". Refer to #2.
7. Her enchiladas. And her love of Cafe Rio equal to mine. And Taco Time's crisp bean burritos
with a churro.
8. You'll never see her at a party. Because she would rather spend the night with her friends.
she doesn't care what anyone thinks. she is just herself.
9. She will eat a whole rainbow chip cake with me. With no plates.
Just the cake and a fork.
10. When she gets embarrassed. Which she probably is if she is reading this.
Because she hates when the attention is on her.
But i just wanted everyone to know how wonderful she is!

Last week,
I threw her a little
Fondue Bridal shower

Ashlee, Erika, Me Kaitlyn, Lindsey, Whitney, Ali

It was so much fun.
And I laughed the entire night.
Especially when Erika told us how she almost didn't join the church
when she found out Jesus wasn't really born on Christmas.
It was priceless, as were the many other stories shared.
I have the most beautiful friends.

8 May 2010

Photo via Rebekah Westover

In high school
there were 6 of us who were
best friends.
We developed custom Jesse McCartney dance moves
that we performed backstage at his concert.
We ventured to Disney Land where
Kelsey bought 2 left shoes.
And I told a woman with a son and a daughter
that she had 2 very lovely little boys.
It's on tape.
Once Brie and I drove around town in Juan:
my mexi truck that was my only method of transportation junior year
and tried to find a boom box to put in the back while we went to taco bell.
Saturday, Brienne officially took the marriage count to 5 out of 6.


Her reception was just so Brie. It was so creative and beautiful.
And she had rock candy! This is why we are friends.


Her cake was so beautiful


I got to see the gorgeous Missy and her boys
I just love when I get to see her


And I finally snuck a picture with Brie
Is she not the most beautiful bride ever?


And her dress!
I was dying. I'm still coveting it. I'm obsessed.
Kelsey, you are one lucky man.

Oh this wonderful day of mothers!

mom:

Happy day!
even though every day should really be your day.
And I love you because
you love cupcakes just as much as I do.
Which is why I took you to The Sweet Tooth Fairy and got you one
for your day.


I love you because you can't ride a bike.
And because you don't know the definition of organized.
And I love you even though you leave that dirty butter knife on the counter
every.single.day.
I love you because you think every idea I have is the best idea you've ever heard.
I love you because you laugh at all my jokes and because you don't get them 1/2 the time.
I love you because you will drop anything to help someone in need.
And because you'll pull the car over to help the kid that fell off his scooter and scraped his knee.
I love you because you can't cook. So, genetically, neither can I.
I love you even when you wear your socks around the house hanging half way off your feet.
I love you because you are beautiful.
I love you because of all these things a million more.
Happy Mothers Day Mom!!

"The future
is as bright as your
faith."

-Thomas S. Monson