Farewell // Adios // Ciao

You would think that at the ripe ol' age of 23 I would be done with this whole missionary thing, but not even. My other half is leaving me for Australia and I couldn't be more emotionally confused about the whole thing. On one hand, i'm ecstatic, stoked if you will. But there has always been a part of me hoping she would change her mind about going and JK the whole thing. Just stay here so we can continue to have late night pool chats and go on countless of slurp runs. Australia is one lucky country to be getting THE Kylie Moe for a year and a half, but it's definitely not on my good side at the moment. Here's just a few moments from this sunday where she gave such an amazing farewell talk about faith and how we can best show our love for our Heavenly Father through service. I have no doubt that she is going to make an amazing missionary. She has met great adversity with such amazing strength and has been a huge example to me. Getting to know her better this past year has been such a blessing. Growing up together was a challenge at times and I often took having a cousin so close in age and location for granted. We definitely had our differences but as we have grown, I have come to appreciate those differences so much more because they make up the amazing person she is. I love ya Kybabe. Kick some Satan butt out there in Melbourne!

Left to right: Eric, Kylie, Bishop Lyman (the man!), Me.

Exactly a month and a day apart. God sure knew what he was doing. 

Side Note: This is Austin and he's currently rockin my world. 

Disney

The word obsessed doesn't even come close to describing my family & disneyland. I grew up on disney which is probably the reason I love it as much as I do. Having a mom who grew up 5 minutes away and worked on Main Street will do that to you I guess! Disneyland is everything! The smell, the sounds, the people, the characters, the food, especially the rides ... I just can't get enough. I already know i'm going to be one of those disney moms because I want my kids to share the same experiences I was so lucky to have. We took a last minute trip to disneyland to celebrate my Moms 56th birthday (wow!) and when it comes to birthdays, disney knows how to throw a party. So Happy Birthday to my crazy fun mom, she is seriously the best. My cousin Kylie was able to come with us this time which reminded me of the good old days. I have such fun memories with her at disneyland. We took the park by storm and were exhausted by the end. Two days of disney was just perfect for us and we all spent the rest of the time in San Diego. If I could afford to live in California, I'd be there this very second. I love it, but I'm at least grateful I get to visit as often as  I do. Until next time Disney! 

California Adventure with this babe.

These hats were made for us...literally, we had them made for us. 

We can most definitely pull off the mickey ears. 

Always a Bridesmaid

 Summer has been an absolute wonder people! I have been loving every second. hashtag summer 2k14. This summer has definitely been the summer of weddings, not kidding. Let me just hand you this giant stack of wedding announcements I have accumulated since april. I may be the last one standing! One of my dearest friends Kelsi Webb (Now Perry!!!) was married this last weekend in the Bountiful Temple for time and eternity & I was lucky enough to be one of her bridesmaids (thanks kels!!) Finding a yellow dress was killer but luckily Dillards came through, of all places. I've known this gal for a long time. From High School to Hair School and beyond we've been great friends. She's had her fair share of dating disappointments, but really haven't we all? Which is what makes me that much happier she finally found Troy. I'm so glad I got to share in their special day. Doesn't she look fab?? 

But seriously how to die are these flowers!!?? I will never get over how beautiful they were. I'm now determined to include succulents in my wedding. Dying. Perfection. Ugh. 

Mary, Me & Tasha (the bride's sister)

&

The night before the wedding I got to see my favorite play of ALL TIME: Wicked. This time was extra special because my neighbor and musical idol Nikki Bohne played the lead as Glinda. Let me tell you how amazing she did. Chills!! Literal Chills. The whole time I couldn't help but try to imagine how she was feeling up on stage, a stage she had aspired to perform on, while singing her dream part. I couldn't even begin to fathom how she must have been feeling but I'm so excited she was able to live her dream. Congratulations Nikki!!  

July 4th

What an amazing weekend it was celebrating the birth of our country!! July 4th has to be one of my top favorite holidays because I have so much pride in America! Just like every July 4th, we started the day off right and went to the balloon festival. It is always way too early but has been such a fun tradition through the years. This year Bentley got to join in on the festivities and was the star of the show.

Of course we couldn't let the morning pass with out a little daddy daughter run which about killed me because it was so hot and we extended the length of our trail. Nothing like a little american spirit to get your butt into gear I guess! We didn't even hesitate at the end and ran straight into the pool to cool off, clothes and everything!! Then it was off to the BBQ and pool party.

I think Bentley enjoyed his first 4th of July...just a guess.

Whats July 4th with out fireworks?? We gathered everyone together and headed over to thanksgiving point to see their firework show and OF COURSE we had our own fun with sparklers beforehand. Sparklers definitely bring out the kid in me as you can see! 

Sparklers are my jam.

How do you want your burger? Rare...So it bleeds American

Left to right: Yasin, Austin, Kylie, Me, Mustafa & Benni

This July 4th was extra special because we were able to have our foster "cousins" over to celebrate. Yasin and Mustafa are from Pakistan while Benni is from Africa. We ended up talking about their customs and what it is like living in their country. Yasin told me that they are never allowed to date or let alone speak to women. I asked how they are able to get married since dating never existed. He told me they do not marry for love, but have arranged marriages. Usually they meet on their wedding day or are allowed to have a conversation with each other to tell each other their habits before they are married. He then went on to say the men are allowed to sell their fiances for money if they wish. I could not believe my ears! I also didn't know my jaw could drop so low. I have always heard of such things, but hearing it come straight from someone who actually knew first hand was a different story. My heart was so full that day for all the blessings I had from living in a free country. I'm so thankful for all that has been sacrificed so that we can have all the privileges that we do. Often times I take my freedom for granted when there are so many who struggle to survive every day. May we never forget.

For Freedom!

Easy Skinny Lasagna Rolls

This is seriously the easiest meal and is impossible to ruin. I came across a similar recipe at BYU in my food prep class and fell in LOVE. I'm a huge carb lover with a desire to be healthy. Sometimes it's hard to mix the two but this dish makes it happen. Feel free to experiment! These lasagna rolls can be made your own with very simple modifications here and there.  Here's what you'll need:

• 8 lasagna pasta noodles (wheat or regular) 
• 10 oz of tomato sauce (whichever kind you prefer... Western Family is 89 cents a can just sayin)
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
• 15 oz of Ricotta Cheese (low fat or regular depending how "skinny" you want to make them) 
• Spinach (For spinach lovers go with 10 oz but can be modified down to 5 oz if that's your thing)
• 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese  

Step 1

         Bring water to a boil and place noodles until soft (takes about 12 mins) Meanwhile, thaw the spinach and finely chop

Step 2

         Preheat oven to 350. Combine Ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese as well as desired amount of spinach in a bowl and set aside. Pour 1/2 of the tomato sauce into the bottom of a glass pan. 

Step 3

         Take pasta out and lay it flat on the counter (preferably on top of plastic wrap or wax paper) Take the cheese mixture and spread evenly over the noodles and roll up. Place the rolls with the crease underneath and place into the glass pan.  

Step 4

         Spread the remaining half of tomato sauce over the rolls so they stay moist through the baking process. Top the rolls of with some mozzarella cheese and bake for 30 minutes. Voila! Easy Peasy! 

         

A Runners guide (for non-runners)

Ok, lets not get carried away here!!! I laugh a little as I write this post because I'm the furthest thing from a runner and here I am giving out tips. Here's the honest truth, I've always hated to run but after all these years I've finally found out a few things that have worked to get my butt out the door and hitting the pavement. So if you're like me and absolutely HATE to run these might be a little helpful. 

Tip 1. WATER WATER WATER! I can not even stress enough how much of a difference this has made. You're probably over there thinking duh, that's a no brainer but hey...i'm new at this! I'm not some water professional and I'm sure there are countless of statistics I can find on the internet, but I can tell you from personal experience that staying hydrated through the day not only motivates me to be healthy but it helps my runs go a little smoother. After a while, water can get a little boring and just thinking of taking another gulp makes me want to drop kick my water bottle BUT there is hope for us all! Water flavor drops are blessings from above!!! My favorites are Dasani "Coconut" and Minute Maid "Mango Tropical" but there are so many kinds water will never be boring again. The best part?? They're 0 calories!!! Hi! sign me up for the rest of forever. I could drink water for days .. and I have thanks to these. 

Tip 2. It probably goes with out saying but having a good playlist can make all the difference. When my jam Timber pops up on my workout playlist I lose it. It takes everything in me not to break out into a dance party in the middle of the road, and it's been a close call a couple of times. Pick something upbeat and easy to run to so you keep a good pace. No one wants to run to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sorry but no leave them out of this playlist. 

Tip 3. Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! I always miss out on a lot when I'm too focused on my body and how my legs are crumbling beneath me. I came across this stop sign on my run last week and it made my entire day and the whole run was worth it. When you're appreciating your surroundings and focusing less on your body, I think you'll find you can go a lot further with out even realizing how far you've actually gone! 

Tip 4. Last but not least find a running buddy... There's just something so comforting about having someone suffer right beside you. It's a lot easier to walk, take short cuts, as well as quit entirely when you only have yourself to lean on. My dad has been joining me on my runs lately and I actually look forward to our time together. The only time we aren't running is when i'm trying to not wet my pants from laughing so hard. He is a good distraction as well as an amazing motivator to help me push through the wall and keep on going! 

new look.

New Look. You Like???
To be honest it was hard letting go of a URL I've had since the very beginning but it was a little too long and complicated for my taste and I wanted to go a more simpler route.. hence the change. I'm already excited to start posting in my new medium! "Somegirlzhavealltheluck will always have a special place in my heart. I'm taking this time to "start fresh" with all my new ideas for this blog. First of all, i've been working on a lot of projects lately and have so many DIY ideas I want to post. I've also decided to take my life in a different direction involving design and this blog will be a perfect way to document my changes! These are exciting times in my life and I'm hoping to take my blog along for the ride. So why " Wear Sequins to Breakfast " you ask? First of all I'm obsessed with all things sparkly. If I could marry glitter I would...to be even more specific, gold glitter because obviously. Anyone who knows me knows I am always one to dress up for any occasion. Any time of day is the perfect time of day to dress up and feel pretty, so why not wear some sequins to breakfast. Lets get things started shall we!?

Strawberry Days

Praising the heavens a little extra tonight that carnival season is now in session. A perk from living where I do, is that if you miss one carnival, there's always the next town over celebrating the next weekend. One of "The Musts" being a Utah resident is attending the Pleasant Grove Strawberry Days Rodeo. Tonights adventure included two, not one, but TWO strawberry cream desserts because no self control. The cure for anything. AND I MEAN ANYTHING. is strawberries and cream dessert from Strawberry Days. Ask anyone and they'll tell you the same. Besides drowning in cream heaven all night, attending the rodeo was a fun way to spend a summer night. I mean, where are all these babe cowboys hiding anyway? Turns out towns exist outside of utah/salt lake counties, who knew (minus St. George, of course St. George exists) More carnival pics coming soon. 

bentley

My attempt at blogging is almost embarrassing but here I am yet again writing another post all the while making a million spelling errors because trying to type with acrylic nails is a struggle. but first world problems. You Guys (all 3 of you who still even check this thing...you're my true friends), life has a funny way of never going the way you plan. I've always heard that was the case, but now I know first hand how very true that statement is. At this point we can all just ignore that previous post since said boy is no longer in the picture. sigh, but all for the better my friends! (& I really do mean that) Minus the fact that i'm once again in the Utah dating scene which is a complete and total nightmare. Can I get an amen? Like I said, life is always full of surprises. Despite all the trials that have seemed to come my way as of late, I have been blessed with a little ray of sunshine I call Bentley.

This is Bentley.

Our first day together, I literally would not put him down. 

Bentley was born 1 week before my 23rd birthday and just turned 9 weeks old yesterday! He has seriously been such a blessing which in return has made life more fulfilling as of late. Bentley is a shorkie (mix between a shitzu// yorkie) and a ball of fluff that keeps me on my toes. 

He's #1 when it comes to cuddling.

There should be some award for doggie paddling since he would take 1st place.

Having a puppy should be another offered method of birth control since he's basically a baby that requires 100% of my attention 24/7. My sleep schedule is a complete mess while my social life is almost nonexistent. 

I know what you're thinking and no he is not a stuffed animal. 

Bentley is also super high maintenance and insisted on having his own instagram account (@apupnamed_bentley). How could I say no to that face? He's so spoiled. He's such a champ though and has the whole potty thing down like a pro. 

His first official walk with his first official leash. I could watch that waddle for days. 

Who needs boyfriends right?? Puppies are the way to go. 

valentines and other goods

valentines was seriously the best. I have such a sweet guy in my life who spoiled me rotten. lunch at carabbas, shopping, redbox & a pitstop at slurp to grab a drink and sugar cookie. he's too good to me. he even went the extra mile getting me Coach "Poppy" perfume. he loves it! longer hugs for me so win win. i found a cute little book called "50 things I love about you" and I got to fill in the blanks on every page and gave it to him for valentines with some clothes he looks dang good in (that vest tho). so lucky to have this babe in my life.

                          

i recently started working at a boutique called Fransescas at University Mall & i LOVE. today i walked in to work and my boss tells me to start shopping because everything is 60% off. umm hi, dying. i've been wanting to get a volcano candle for like, my life. and i just couldn't get myself to fork over 30$ for a candle, but today was the day my dreams came true. i got my volcano for 11$. BARGAIN! (PS ryan was thinking of getting me a volcano for Vday, good thing he went with the perfume instead, he was relieved too) 

happy valentines day!

     

                                                   

twenty-fourteen

I can't even believe it's already 2014 with out even a single blog post! I have really let myself down when it comes to blogging. My life has been full of many new adventures as of late! 2013 was a great year I must say. It brought me amazing new friends, an unforgettable experience in arizona, a new start at BYU, and finding my gem of a boyfriend, Ryan. He really is so adorable FYI. I have been very blessed. 2014 has some big shoes to fill, but I have a feeling this is going to be the best year yet. (which I say seriously EVERY year, but it's always soooo true). I have a lot of good ideas in mind when it comes to twenty-fourteen.  On to making plans. 

p.s. ryan and I have been getting a little more creative with our dates as of late. Our Saturday date night (or I should say day since it was 2pm but same deal right??) consisted of chinese acrobats and getting to sit next to this handsome guy an entire 2 hours. But really, I just have to say how mind-blowing it was! Cirque Ziva came to BYU this past weekend which is an entire show of little chinese gumbi's (seriously, Im not entirely sure they have bones) doing the craziest things with their bodies and insane stunts that my mind is still having a hard time comprehending 3 days later! It's definitely one for the books. Huge thanks to my parents who suggested it and even paid for our tickets! (poor college students you know? will this poor stage ever end?? i can't tell.) 

                                                                                          -brit