I Have A Dream Of Success

 WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!

We completed our Lazy Man Iron Man! 112 miles biking, 26 (not 36 like my last post says) miles running and 97 laps swimming. I'm so glad that Carlee talked me and Afton into doing the Lazy Man with her. It was so great to have some workout buddies this semester and to have something to make me actually keep going to the gym! I really think that I will try and do the Lazy Man again in future semesters. I had a great time with it and I lost up to 20 pounds this semester! (not sure exactly, but around that). 

I Have A Dream of Afton

Meet the roommate...Afton Cecil :)

I love this girl so much. She is an amazing friend, roommate, and overall person. She is so fun to be with and keeps us all happy and laughing. Afton and I are always together (that is, when she actually gets to come home). She's one of those people that if you're laughing with, or having a serious conversation with, it's always a good time. She knows how to laugh with you and she is a great listener who understands you. 

Since the beginning of the semester, our other roommate Kristina has been calling us an old married couple. At first we laughed and thought it was silly but then we realized how right she is. Afton and I started out the semester by going to the gym every morning at 5:30 and reading scriptures together every night. We have since been less than excellent at these goals of ours, but we try. We enjoy many of the same things and have similar senses of humor. One of my favorite little quirks about the two of us are that we are so in sync together! We'll pass by each other and automatically either high-five or fist bump each other. We also start/stop singing to the radio at the exact same spots. It's kinda creepy actually, but so fun. 

Well, our OTHER roommate, Carlee, talked us into doing the Lazy Man Iron Man that the school's gym hosts. At first I was a bit nervous about it-112 miles biking, 36 miles running, and 2.1 (97 laps) miles swimming to be completed in a month's time...are you kidding me?!?!?!?! I am not the most fit person in the world and I am not blessed with a love of exercise. But I have to say-it has been one week out of the month and I have quite enjoyed it so far. It has not been the easiest, but I have done 2 miles running, 21 miles biking, and 14 laps swimming so far. It makes it a lot easier that I have two amazing ladies by my side to encourage me and keep me going. 

I am so blessed to have Miss Afton as a roommate this semester. I was a bit nervous when the semester began, just because I had never roomed with Afton before so I wasn't sure how it would work. But it has worked out beautifully. I never am upset or irritated with Afton. I'm always happy to see her when she comes home or wakes up in the morning and she always leaves me smiling. I am truly blessed to know this girl.

I Have A Dream Of Fall

My roommate Carlee has been bugging me that I should start writing on my blog again since it has been a while...but I can never think of anything to write! But this morning is lovely and the weather is beautiful so that's what I'm choosing to write about...yep, the weather. Lame? Probably.

But seriously, it's that time of year here in Rexburg when the leaves are starting to fall and the weather is turning cool and it is absolutely lovely! I love autumn...hands down it is my favorite season. There is something beautiful and magical about this season. All the different colors, the smells, the pumpkins everywhere, the cooler weather...it is quite amazing. What I love most about fall semester in Rexburg is that is does have the autumn season here. There are trees everywhere and it is so pretty. 

But pretty soon it's going to start snowing and while I do enjoy the snow and think it is quite beautiful as well, I am not ready for it. I do not enjoy walking to class in the snow because I always slip. Dang winter...why do you have to come and ruin my autumn?

I Have A Dream Of A Great Week

This has been a great week! Last Friday I went to Idaho Falls with Rachel and Lauren to pick up Lar's friends from back home, Karina (aka my Twin) and Carissa, from the airport. Their flight ended up being two hours late so we went to Victoria's Secret and took advantage of this amazing sale (mix and match scents 6 for $20!!!), shopping at Old Navy, grabbing dinner at this amazing place called Five Guys, and squeezing in a little grocery shopping at Winco before heading off to the airport. (Quite the productive trip? Why yes, yes it was.)

The next day we all went swimming at our favorite canal. (That’s me and the Twin pictured above) It really wasn't that hot, but we've been wanting to go for a while and it's finally getting warm here in Rexburg! Despite it being a bit windy and not all that hot, it still felt amazing being in that water! Later that night we headed off to the sand dunes for a bonfire and had a blast!

 For FHE on Monday we went to hike R Mountain. Let me tell ya, I'm not a hiker and I am not in shape so it was a bit of a challenge for me. But I had a great time. On the way down, I went off the path with James, Jim, and Karina and we had so much fun exploring down there. 

This week we also worked out to..........DRUM ROLL PLEASE......................RICHARD SIMMONS! That's right ladies and gentlemen, Richard Simmons. At the beginning of the semester Lauren and I were at the D.I. (aka Goodwill) and we both found a Richard Simmons VHS for a buck. A BUCK!!!!! Naturally we had to buy them. We hadn't used them yet until yesterday. We decided to kick off our workout video habits, we needed appropriate hair, makeup, and clothes. So of course we dressed up for our date with Richard. I'm pretty sure we took just as long to get ready than we did actually working out. And let me just say, you can make fun of Richard Simmons all you want, but I've never had more fun working out than I did last night. That guy is a hoot! And naturally to celebrate our fantabulous 70 minute workout, we had a chocolate fondue party right after! Don't judge. 

Yes, it's been a great week and I'm sad that it's almost over. It's been so fun having Carissa stay with us. She's such a sweetheart. Although I have been seriously neglecting my school work and I'm pretty sure that I'm going to fail my muscles lab test this Friday-I have enjoyed a week of fun adventures.

I Have A Dream Of Summer

Can you feel it? Summer...it's almost here! I am so excited for summer vacation! And make no mistake-I have major plans in motion for this summer :)

1. Annual Girl's Camping Weekend at Woodward Lake

2. WING STOP! Oh how I miss you!

3. Getting a nice tan-goodbye white skin, hello bronze goddess

4. Road trip to Southern California??? Yes please!

5. The roommate's wedding in August <3

6. Movie nights

7. Santa Cruz...it's a need, not a want

8. Pizza My Heart...yum!

9. Being with the fam again

Basically, I can't wait until summer is here. I love it. I want it. I need it. 

Let's make this the best summer yet, k?

I Have A Dream Of Happily Ever Afters

THEY'RE FINALLY ENGAGED!

One year ago I first roommed with my friend Shailee Simmons who I met the year before in my student ward here at BYU-Idaho. That same semester, we happened to be in an FHE group with a boy named Aaron Drees, whom my whole apartment became really good friends with. Throughout the semester we became close and it became more and more evident that Shailee and Aaron would make an adorable couple. Unfortunately for us, this relationship was not to begin quite yet. 

Throughout the next year, we stayed good friends with Aaron and apartment 203 was still not-so-secretly rooting for Shailee and Aaron to get together. Our wishful thinking and girlish 'what-if' plannings finally paid of at the beginning of this year when they officially became a couple. Soon after, we switched from trying to get them together to taking bets on when they would be engaged. (I'm telling you that they are a match made in heaven!) This spring semester has been so much fun taking and retaking bets on when that boy would get that pretty ring on that gorgeous girl. We all knew it was going to happen soon. Well, as of June 13, 2011 they are officially engaged and set to be married and sealed for time and all eternity this August in the Rexburg, Idaho temple! We are so excited for them!

If ever two people deserved to be together and enjoy every happiness that life can offer, it is my dear friends Shailee Simmons and Aaron Drees. It will be sad not having Shailee as a roommate anymore, but we all know that she is moving on to better things. I am so excited to celebrate their big day with them and cannot wait to see where life takes these two amazing people and the family that they will have in the future. Congratulations to my very dear friends! I could not be happier for you both!

I Have A Dream Of An Amazing Semester

I'M SO EXCITED FOR SPRING SEMESTER 2011!!!

I plan on living life to it's fullest by:

-Roadtrip with Moriah!!!!!!

-swimming in all the safe canals I can find

-visiting my favorite nearby lakes (Rigby much???)

-rocking my classes hardcore

-getting accepted to the social work program 

-workin on my fitness in the new gym with my girls

-Plasma twice a week (fingers crossed I don't pass out again!)

-spring time evening walks...a must!

-sleepovers with my roomies in the front room

-movie nights galore (can't go wrong with a classic Disney!)

-it's birthday season in apartment 203!

-temple trips up the hill

-LOTS of selfish time with Rae before she graduates

-hopefully getting a job to save for Alaska :)

-music videos with Lauren

-car dance with Rachel?!?! (We must perfect it this time)

-Ice cream cone runs to Arctic Circle, yea!

Pretty much going to be an amazing semester...I can feel it.

Ps...you might wanna check back on this list because I just might add some more to it when I think of it

I Have A Dream Of Rexburg, Idaho

That's right! It's almost that time again when I'm off to Rexburg for yet another semester of college at BYU-Idaho! This week is the funnest and saddest week that I go through about every three months. Funnest because I'm super excited to travel and see the people I've been missing for three months and because I always do super fun things with the ones I'm about to leave. Saddest because I am about to leave one of my worlds for three months to catch up in the other world. (yeah, it's a rollercoaster life!) 

But this week is different. This week is the first time that I am anxiously waiting for my little sister Ali to come back from her semester at BYU-Idaho. This week is also the last before I take my first roadtrip with my Lovebug, Moriah Fallon to Rexburg. This is also the last week before I start to working to apply for the Social Work program at school. This is the last week before the last semester that my beautiful roommate Rachel is graduating after. Yes, it's going to be a big week and an even bigger semester!

But truthfully, this last week that I wait through (mind only halfway here most days!) is one of my favorite weeks. I get to really enjoy my family and we try and make a special effort to be together before I take off, whether it's a big event or just a few family game nights (which are personally my favorite times). I also really look forward to being in Rexburg, Idaho again. It's so exciting to think of all the things I love to do up there-the places I love to go and the people I love to see-and know that in a few short weeks I will be doing that again. But my real excitement comes from knowing that I will soon be in the arms of the most amazing girls I know-my roommates. They are angels on this earth. I don't think there are enough words in all the languages on the earth to describe how much those five girls mean to me. I love them with all my heart. Those girls, and Rexburg in general, has become such a huge part of who I am and truly has become my first home away from home. 

I Have A Dream Of Beautiful Things

So I have been following my sister's roommate's blogs and I love them! One is her personal blog and she is just so sweet and funny that I think you should all check it out. The other is her shop blog. She has her own brand called Peace Republic Clothing where she makes her own headbands, necklaces, and other amazingly cute things! Through Candace's blog, I found this etsy shop-SO adorable! They have joined together for a giveaway of this beautiful ring! 

You can go here to see the giveaway and enter in it :) 

I Love Cute Blogs

Let me tell you all about my amazing friend Rachel and her blog. Rachel has the best blog I've ever seen! I am totally in love with it! And, not to sound stalker-ish, but I always have to check if she posted something new whenever I open my laptop. She is the type of blogger that I want to be!

Here's why I love her blog so much: (1) She has a theme. A THEME! Oh geez...I never would have thought of that! (Although, she's not actually the first person I saw that had a theme blog, the first was Maggie, but still) Her theme is "I Heart" and that's how she starts her blog posts. Totally cute. (2) The links. Oh the many, many, many links that open my blogging world to all sorts of new and exciting things. I can literally find myself sitting on my computer for hours because I'm looking through the links she posted on her newest blog post. (3) The pictures. This girl ALWAYS has some sort of picture on her posts and I absolutely love it! (4) She's so open, honest, unique, and totally her cute and adorable self on her blog. I love it! Her blog screams with awesome personality. (5) She's always posting something...like at least once a day. I'm lucky to get once a month! 

Yep. That's basically why I love Rachel's blog so much. I am religious about reading it and whenever I see Maggie, we undoubtedly will talk about her newest posting. (Rachel, I think you just found yourself a fan club!) Anyway, I think you should all check out her blog because it's pretty much my favorite thing to read!

One Picture Of Yourself

"I believe I can fly" 

♥

Two Songs

 1. This Is Your Life by Ryan Calhoun--it inspires me and helps me smile through the bad days

2. The Greatest Story Ever Told by Oliver James--it's going to be my wedding song someday ♥

*These aren't really my top two favorite songs...I don't have a favorite song, just many that I love...but these songs have been on my mind today

Three Films

1. Steel Magnolias-Can cure anything

2. Remember the Titans-most inspiring thing I've ever seen

3. Beauty and the Beast-Pure magic
♥

Four Books

1. To Kill A Mockingbird--all time favorite!

2. Walk Two Moons & Ella Enchanted--favorite childhood books

3. Night--so powerful

4. Little Women--Absolutely love

Five Foods

1. Milk, cheese, and bread :) 

2. ANY kind of fruit-delicious!
3. Wings from Wingstop

4. Refried beans and tortillas 

5. Ice cream...it's a Tolman thing :)

Six Places I Want To Go

 1. Alaska to visit Kylie Jo

2. France-Mostly to see the Louvre 

3. Italy 

4. New Zealand 

5. Rexburg in March with my Lovebug--ROADTRIP!!!! :)

6. The Beach ♥

Seven Wants

1. Graduate college with a Social Work degree...then possibly to get a masters :)

2. Travel to all the beautiful places I want to see

3. A wonderful husband and children someday

4. Have a job that I'm passionate about where I can change peoples' lives

5. Have my roommates close around me for as long as possible

6. A library that will far surpass the one in Beauty and the Beast

7. To be married and sealed in the Portland, Oregon Temple

Eight Fears

1. Spiders, bees, and bugs that fly

2. Balloons, clowns, and loud noises

3. Not being able to remember

4. Water I cannot see through
5. Hurting/losing the people I love the most
6. Not being good enough
7. Car accidents
8. Losing my independence 

Nine Loves

1. BABIES :) 

2. Books, books, books!

3. Walking barefoot in the summer 

4. The beach

5. My family 

6. My roommates

7. Wing Stop!

8.  Watching crying movies and chick flicks with Lauren 

9. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Ten Secrets

1. Rexburg, Idaho is now my home--whether I'm there or not

2. I'm what you would call a dreamer, but I am part realist too

3. I could not live without fruits and breads :)

4. I dream of a fairytale ending ♥

5. My roommates are some of the best girls-they are the pieces of my heart that I miss dearly

6. When I'm really thinking, I either bite my left thumb or my bottom lip

7. I think of my future children a lot and I already love them so much--I hope I'll be a good enough mom 

8. I cannot wait to be married and pregnant-pure bliss ♥

9. There are a few special people I will forever carry in my heart--they saved me 

10. I usually feel I could be doing something more for someone out there

10-Day Challenge

I stole this from my sister and I think it's way cool :)