Sunday Adventure #3

Link to Sunday Adventures #3 here —> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH9UdfAOvWI

For our latest Sunday Adventure, Wesley and I drove the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. It is my favorite drive and definitely my happy place. 

Alpine Loop connects American Fork Canyon and Provo Canyon. It goes by Sundance Resort, past beautiful rivers and aspen groves, and has amazing campgrounds. You can go hiking, mountain biking, and spend an amazing time with your friends, family, and pets!

Alpine Loop is beautiful and I definitely recommend it to everyone!

Sunday Adventures #2

Link to Youtube video here! —> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOl6XzZYrAU

This week, we went to Nebo Loop for our Sunday Adventure. Nebo Loop is a scenic byway that you can access from Payson, Utah or Nephi, Utah.

Right now, It is closed a little bit in from Payson because of severe road damage. So, we did not get to drive too far in.

However, you can still hike around and it is simply beautiful right now! Where the road is closed is a lovely area where you can park and and have a picnic.

This drive is so fun and there is so much to do with the trails and camping areas.

***TIPS***

1.) Bring a sweater or light jacket. A combination of the time of year and the environment of these mountains mean the weather can go from sunny to rainy in a couple minutes (see the video we posted for an example). It is best to be prepared with some warm clothing just in case!

2.) Wear the right shoes. Because the drive is closed, there is a lot of opportunity for walking around and hiking. Bring some hiking shoes because you will definitely want to stop along the way and take in the beautiful scenery!

California: April 2016

For Wesley’s birthday, I surprised him with a trip to California. We are both from Orange County and his parents still live in Laguna so we were able to see family, friends, and have a great time for his birthday.

We went to Huntington Beach Pier, cruised down PCH, and we went to Glen Ivy Spa and Hot Springs– it was so relaxing and so fun! We both miss California, but, we are glad to be back home just the 2 of us.

*** couple tips for you!

1.) sign up for email updates from different airline companies. When they have deals on fares, they will email about it so you can know the best time to buy tickets!

2.) Don’t want to check a bag? Save space by packing items that can be worn multiple times in different ways or by packing mostly neutral colors.

3.) Trying to save money on food while on Vacation? Pick a couple places that you know for sure you want to eat at/spend your money at. Then, for other meals just go to a local grocery store and pick up cereal or sandwich items that you can keep in a hotel fridge.

Have fun!

the smell of books and perfect eyeliner

Last week was a really long, frustrating week. So, on Saturday night, I decided to take a hot bubble bath and read a book (yes- I am one of those people and it was sooo relaxing). Currently, I am reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen so I grabbed that book and got into my luxurious tub. I was so happy! And then for some reason I decided to bring that book right up to my face and just take in how perfect this moment was. While I was doing this- and being the weirdest person in the world- I was thinking how much I love the smell of books. It’s just one of those small things that puts a smile on your face, you know?

This made me think how many other little things there are in the world that seem like such big things to us:

When you get you winged eyeliner just perfect

Squishing your toes into wet sand on the beach

Really soft blankets

A cup of hot chocolate

Laughing with your best friend

When the cookies you bake turn out delicious

When the cookies you bake suck and you can just laugh it off

Crossing things off your to-do list

Seriously, I could go on forever. Life is so full of these little moments that help us get through the harder times- the little things that make the big difference. After thinking about all this, I decided to add something else to my list of 2016 Goals:

Remember all the good moments, happy accidents, small victories, and the little things that get messed up but it works out anyway. Remember how wonderful books smell and how great it feels when you do your eyeliner perfectly.

2016 Goals and Bucket List

So for 2016, I couldn’t think of one specific resolution I wanted to make (I’m bad at picking just one thing). So, instead, I made a Bucket List of things I want to do this year and a list of personal goals I want to accomplish. *Note* List is subject to be added to.

Bucket List

Zipline! (probably Sundance Resort in Utah but I won’t be too picky!)

Hike Mt. Timpanogos

Visit Timpanogos Cave (this is different from the one above)

Visit the Ice Castles in Midway, Utah

Go to a National Park

See a play, musical, concert, or ballet

Goals

Be more diligent about writing in my journal

Create something

Learn a language

Read the Book of Mormon (again!)

Read 3 church-related/spiritual books

Try something new!

Also, take more pictures like this!