New Shades

Check out this little lady's chic shades! She is wearin' them.

Day 14: Eyes

Lucky Number 13

Remember this challenge... hum.

You probably wondered what happened.

In fact, last week on a walk, Ryan said something like "you gave up on that challenge, didn't you".

Not quite.

I just didn't know what to take a picture of... Yourself with 13 things?

Today I thought of it...

Day 13: Yourself with 13 Things

(If you look closely you will see: Outlook, BYU Homepage, eRecruiting, Google, Gmail, UCS Home Page, Utah Non-profits Association, UtahFutures, Indeed.com, Idealist.com, Google Calendar, FHSS Homepage, and USAJOBS.gov - places where I spend hours a day.)

Red Sky at Night, Sailor's Delight

phSometimes, you just have long days.

Sometimes, you just have long weeks.

When you experience this in excess, it's nice to see...

Full-arch Rainbows 

(Not a picture of the full arch, couldn't exactly get the whole view from my iPhone on the freeway...) 

and 

Beautiful, cloud-filled sunsets

Day 12: Sunset

Fashionista

Tonight I went to a Dressing Your Truth event with my colleague René. It was a lot of fun. She gave me one of the books, and I'm excited to learn more about it and see if this can help me as I try to create a well-rounded wardrobe over the next year or so.

When we got there, there were displays with hundreds of accessories from scarves to belts to earrings and everything in between. There were a few pair of earrings that I loved instantly and when all was said and done, I couldn't leave without these gorgeous beauties.

Day 11: Something Blue

Rhubarb

When I was a small child, we lived in a split-level house in west Provo. It was there I met a life-long friend, learned to ride a bike, discovered my hated fruit trees, came to love bleeding heart, and stumbled upon a delectable delight: rhubarb. 

In that house my parents had an incredible and very large garden. They had created raised gardens from 2 or 3 stacked railroad ties and planted peas, raspberries, and other delicious goodness. In addition, they had cherry trees, peach trees, but my favorite part was the enormous rhubarb bush in the front yard. 

Because the bush produced so much rhubarb, my mom and dad made delicious rhubarb cake a lot. As a five-year-old I remember thinking it was the best cake on the planet. But, I don't even remember because since that time (circa 1994), I haven't even tasted rhubarb. 

However, after I rediscovered the rhubarb plant at my parents house, I'm hopefully that with a little TLC, we'll have rhubarb cake yet and Adrielle will be able to love delicious rhubarb cake just like I did as a kid! 

Day 10: Childhood Memory 

Bubbles!

It was 4am on February 16, 2010. I was an exhausted, paranoid, and emotional new mom, and Adrielle was four days old.

I was sleeping on the couch with my new baby, in a half sleep, bothered by the light from the street-lamp. I remember waking up at her slightest movement or sound, but at that moment I looked at my swaddled baby and realized that as sleep deprived as I was, I loved that baby. '

Tonight Ryan and I gave Adi a bath, and I'll admit, she was pretty dang cute.

Day 9: Someone You Love

And, for the record, whenever Adi is smiling in a certain direction, I would put my money on a guess that she's smiling at Ryan.

OO-Oreos

Growing up in my house, "dipping" was against the rules. Dipping, you ask?

Yes, dipping. 

Dipping anything in milk, but especially cookies was considered a no-no. 

But, like a good rebellious daughter, I always disobeyed.

The best part about it was when I visited my little brother, Austin, at BYU-Idaho in 2007. He had some Oreos, and when he caught me dipping he said, "Hey! We don't do that." Haha. He may not do that, I do. Yum.

Day 8: Bad Habit

Botanical Fruit

Did you know that the tomato is botanically a fruit, but that it is considered a vegetable for culinary purposes (thank you Wikipedia)?

And,

Did you know that the tomato was spread through the Americas during the Spanish Colonization (thank you Wikipedia)?

Today we ate beautiful, delicious strawberries and golden cherries. Did I take a picture, no. Had I planned on it, yes.

It wasn't until I was rummaging through the fridge for a snack that I realize I could save today's challenge after all.

Day 7: Fruit

This love runs deep.

I love BYU. This love runs deep and started decades before I was born. 

I remember the day I got into BYU like it was yesterday. That week I had been checking the BYU Directory online obsessively, (Back East we figured out that they posted it to the directory before they mailed anything official) and that morning was no exception. What made that day different was the bomb threat and evacuation, but amidst the chaos I had found my name on the directory. I remember calling my parents from the auditorium at Broad Run High School and when they answered started singing "Rise all loyal Cougars and hurl your challenge to the foe..." This. is. making. me. nostalgic. 

It has always been my BYU, and as I see the new Freshman wandering around campus today I reflect on the excitement I felt graduating from high school (seven years ago today), boarding a plane to fly 2,500 miles, and starting an exciting new time at my BYU. My brother moves into the dorms tomorrow and starts classes Monday, so. much. fun. So excited for him. 

Today I was lucky enough to get a private, escorted tour of the top of Kimball Tower. The view was incredible! The mountains seemed soo large and the clouds were gorgeous. And everything went on and on as far as the eye could see. I had planned on using the photos for the challenge, but I couldn't post just one. And then I made it to the JFSB.

  

Here's to my BYU. 

Day 5: View from a High Angle

(Vantage Point: Tallest building in Utah Valley. Does that count as an 'angle'?)

Day 6: View from a Low Angle

---

Day 5: View from a High Angle

Day 6: View from a Low Angle 

(That's quite artsy if you ask me.)

Get a Load of These!

There are products in the world that just make you wonder. And, in this 'green' world, ideas are becoming more and more out there. 

For example: today Ryan and I walked through the BYU bookstore and found this:

Poopoopaper. Really?!? Really.

Yes, it was a real product. They were charging for it, and I checked. 

They even described the process...

"We're number one at number two!" (What a tag line.)

Listen to some of these sayings... 

"Just doo it."

"Brown is the new green."

"I would like a re-doo."

"Waste not, want not."

"We take the 'oo' out of poo!"

"Pies for everyone."

"Rethink, reduce, recycle." 

I'll be honest, I think the 'green' movement has gone a little too far, but for now... 

Day 4: Something Green

Cloud Nine.

When we follow through with our financial commitments to God and others, God blesses us. We pay Tithing and donate generous Fast Offerings to our Church, and we try to be generous to others in need.

Somehow, in ways beyond our control, things just work out.

Yesterday we were blessed because of our faith and commitment. We are very grateful. Today we are on cloud nine.

Day 3: Clouds

(A view from our run this afternoon on the Provo River Trail.)

Stacey London, I Need You.

So, I've never really felt like I've had good fashion sense. And frankly, it costs a lot of money. So who wouldn't love, love, love to be on What Not to Wear? I would kill to be on the show. Needless to say however, it ain't gonna happen.

So, until I automatically twinkle into fashion savy, I get to look like this...

Day 2: What You Wore Today

For the record, taking a picture of what you wore is awkward. Lucky for me, I didn't realize this picture was being taken. So, awkward, awkward is what you get. 

Yes, I Played Lacrosse in High School

I'll admit, I wanted to hook you with the title. And, in fact, I did play lacrosse in high school. However, most people probably have no idea...

Well, I have a good friend named Kara. We first met at lacrosse camp at BYU in 2003. We were both from Northern Virginia and both heading into our final year in high school. I'll admit, I thought she was pretty neat. And, I think they even called her "Vienna" at camp because she was from Vienna. How cool is that? 

Fast forward twelve months. I was sitting in my first Relief Society meeting at BYU, two days after high school graduation, 2,500 miles away from home. About twenty minutes in I said, "Kara?!" She was sitting one person away! Come to find out we were in the same ward and living two doors away from each other. Serendipity, I. Think. So. 

Well, seven years later we've graduated, 'grown up,' and are spread throughout the country. She and her darling family living in Texas, but I love to follow their blog. 

This week she started a 30-Day Photography Challenge and has posted some really intriguing and interesting stuff. It's inspired me to take the challenge. So... here we go! 

Day 1: Self-portrait (with a baby)