Friends and LMAOs

I love my bestfriend (and other besties). I love her cz she's crazy and because she tells me to shut up when I need to. She's constantly harassing me about finding a boyfriend even when I tell her to leave me alone. I love her cz she's always honest and even if I don't talk to her for weeks I know that it'll be fine when I do talk to her. Mostly I love her cz I know she always has my best interest at heart. And even if I meet and fall in love with my husband next year she'll be the longest relationship I've ever been in! (and she knows it too)

Just Mia, Keep Out

Mia was mad because we were teasing her. She couldn't find her keep out door hanger so she made her own. Next thing I know she had locked herself in Mami's room and kicked us all to the curb.

Christmas Eve

My Kiddies

Naty and Emilio

Mia and Naty

Mami and Me

Julian and Me

Mia after the rush at midnight

Jasmine

All he really wanted for Christmas was a soccer ball, I went in his room the next morning and he had fallen asleep with both of them.

Naty and Julian

Mami

This was my favorite tree

I like surprises

Look at my baby!!

Every year we celebrate Christmas at midnight on Christmas Eve. We have a big dinner and invite family and friends to come celebrate with us. Although we missed all of the people that couldn't make it this year we made due. I took a couple pictures to help me remember this night.

A Serious Conversation

Mia: Naty, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Natalia: An accountant

Mia: What's that do?

Natalia: I count money

Mia: oh okay, but do you want to get married???

Natalia: Yesssss, one day. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Mia: A mom

Natalia: Really??? How many babies will you have?

Mia: 3

Natalia: Oh wow!

Mia: Yeah, that's not a lot



Put to shame by my own sister!!!
Look at her already knowing how many babies she will have! Can you imagine a Disney princess with babies??

The Nutcracker

My friend Rachelle is moving and leaving Utah behind. In honor of her move and because it would be the last time we saw each other for a while we went to go see Nutcracker in SLC before I left for the holidays. We had a great time as usual and enjoyed the show.

Things to look forward too

Today I took my last two major finals for the semester. I was practically keeling over with exhaustion and weariness after I left the testing center. This has been a hard semester as far as my schedule and classes went. I felt I was constantly in groups and running around. I'm so glad it's over!!!!

That being said, I can finally let myself get excited and start looking forward to a few things this Christmas Break.

Here's a couple of them:

Having a fun last weekend with friends in UT especially since I'll be seeing The Nutcracker with Rachelle (post on that soon)

Our annual Christmas Party at Stephen's house

I'm REALLY looking forward to carrying a purse without any extra notecards, pens, pencils, highlighters, flash drives, or school supplies in it.  It's like a surprise every time I stick my hand in to find something.


Seeing the lights at temple square

Going to get manicures with Mia

Going to Disney World with my brothers

Going to restaurants in Jersey that Amber has picked out for us

A last Christmas dinner with my siblings in UT, including making gingerbread houses and decorating a tree

I'm looking forward to getting rid of paper. I am surrounded by paper!! I have lists all over the place, I am constantly writing on scratch pads writing equations and whatever else I can think of. I had a friend send me a box filled with notepads and  notecards last September. A BOX!!!  I have used every single notepad, post-it, and notecard she sent. I get a weird sense of satisfaction when I reach the last page in a notepad and look forward to the end of a semester so I can throw away every single used up sheet. Is that crazy???

Finishing up the Pretty Little Liars series and some more Stephanie Plum books.

Lastly, as crazy as it sounds, doing my laundry, cleaning my room, and cleaning the car!!!

Finally, I will finish changing my blog. I tried to overhaul it a couple weeks ago but then realized it would take too much time and energy and creative juices I didn't have at the time. Hopefully I'll have a new look in a couple of weeks.

Christmas Came Early

Christmas came a little early for me this year. The comedian Kevin Hart came to SLC to perform his new tour over the weekend since Andrea knows how much I love to laugh she bought us some tickets and took me as my Christmas gift. We had an amazing time and laughed for hours. All of his opening acts were hilarious and he was amazing. The best part- at the end of the night I got to go backstage and meet him!!!! HOLLAAAAAA!! Although, that had more to do with his camera man being a creeper and trying to impress me than anything else. Whatever, I let him think he was all that until I met Kevin and then I went home. It's one of the best presents I've ever received. We weren't allowed to take any pictures or video in the venue during the show but I couple of pics of me for you to look at haha. I've even included a short video for you to watch so that you can see how funny he is. He curses a lot so....watch yourself.

Standing in line

She was so excited. I love this picture

Posing

Jhene, Drea, Nat

Star of the show!!

Wedding

Evan got married this weekend. The 2nd person from Jersey in 3 years to get married. I know the stereotype in UT is that everyone gets married as soon as they land but the kids from NJ aren't dropping like flies.  What's up???

My favorite girl

Friends <3

BFFS

While everyone was at the temple I was babysat one of my favorite girls, Bellsie. After everyone got back we all dressed up and went to the grooms luncheon at The Hampton House in SLC. I was too busy eating my meal to take pictures but the food was absolutely delicious.

Warm Weather?

It used to be blazing hot in Utah. Then we had fall and it was okay because I don't mind heading out in hot leather boots and dark jeans with long sleeve shirts on. Sometimes it's the perfect outfit when you don't need a jacket or coat. Now, however, I am freezing my ass off and all I want to do is lay on a beach somewhere. I hate having to pile tons and tons of layers on. I can never accurately predict the weather at certain times of the day so I'm either sweating or freezing.

Currently, I am experiencing this:

I want to be here:

Two more weeks and I get to the part on my calendar that has absolutely nothing scheduled for 3 weeks, just keeping my head down and barging through.

All of the Lights

The title of this post is in no way meant to make you think about Kanye West and Rihanna's song entitled all of the lights. But, if it did, cool.

One of the nights Jay was here we all went out to see the lights at temple square and then dinner at a restaurant called Brio. I try to make it to temple square lights every year because it's one of my favorite activities. (This year I am going to try and add in the Hogle Zoo lights, too.) If you find yourself in Utah, I would recommend it. I would also recommend Brio. It was my first time dining there and I absolutely loved my grilled pork chops.

Thanksgiving

I hope that everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving. I know I did. I contemplated going a couple places but ultimately I decided to stay and just hang out with my family and of course with the Birds and Janelle who were coming into town. Jay acts like no big deal but she would have been so sad if I'd left.  haha ;-P

Regrettably I did not take pictures of Thanksgiving dinner- I was too busy eating. I'll tell you my favorite things anyway: the green beans, the apple pie, the stuffing and the yams. In that order.

I did take a couple shots of thanksgiving brunch though which I loved almost more than Thanksgiving dinner.  We had pumpkin pancakes with 5 different types of homemade syrup.  Seriously, I could have just eaten those all day.

The delicious pancakes

Jay Loves Her Hot Chocolate

Posing

                                       

Raspberries, Yuck.

The Happy Couple 

She can't live without me. Haha

P.S I'm learning how to finally use the instagram app I downloaded literally over a year ago. Can you tell? A girl's got to do things at her own pace.

She's Got a Point

Nat: So guess what??
Rene: What?
Nat: So I got this groupon and now I'm doing bootcamp 3 times a week at 6:30 in the morning!
Rene: I'm not sure how that's going to work for you since you can't even make it to work at 9


BAHAHAHAHAHA

Rene is my boss.

She's got a point.

I'm thankful for..

Okay, this might be one of my more boring posts but I just feel like I have to write up and give a quick update on what I've been doing. Actually, the update is this- I took my midterms and they rocked my world. Thank goodness I had my friends to be able to call all week crying when I was hungry from not eating enough and tired from not sleeping enough and just stressed cz I really want to do well this semester. Instead of being relieved the week after the midterms I was super stressed trying to catch up on everything from the week before. Why do teachers teach new material the week of midterms? I hate that!Anyway, I've been working a lot, beefing up my resume, going to club meetings, and more group meetings. I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off.Sometimes I don't mind being so busy, it helps pass the time quickly. But other days, when I'm overwhelmed, I find myself wishing that I could just take a breather and relax.

That's why I am so thankful for today.

I am so thankful that I was able to leave campus at 5 o'clock for the first time in weeks. I actually got to go to dinner group for the 3rd time since I joined it.

I am so thankful that I could come straight home and relax in my bed and just read my books and ignore my schoolwork for a couple of hours.

I am thankful that my best friend calls me every couple of months to say stupid things like, " I just want you to know that you're still on my favorites call list." And when I say," Shut up, you're so gay." We both cackle like hyenas because deep down we both know I secretly love it. haha. You can tell who I love by who's on my favorites lol. Kidding...but not that much.

I am thankful that today was the day people chose to call me just to check up and say I miss you.  I felt so loved today.

I am thankful that today was the day someone texted me to say they couldn't stand the thought of me not having mashed potatoes or pies on Thanksgiving. They were double checking with me to make sure that I knew I had options and places to go. Even though I assured her I was fine and I had plans I was so touched by how considerate she was. I love my friends.

Today I was thankful for considerate people, for loving people, and for my amazing friends. If I can't be married right now at least I know I have chosen friends wisely and am surrounded by people who actually care about me. Hahaha. When I get married I'm kicking you all to the curb.

JUST KIDDING.

I will ALWAYS have my best friends by my side.

Wonder Woman and Friends

So I just finished taking a midterm and was able to leave class a little early. I figured I would take this extra half hour and update my blog because I know I just won't this week. It's going to be a crazy stressful midterm week! Can you believe it's November already???? 6 more weeks in my semester!! I just finished registering for my last 4 classes and I'm slightly excited for spring.

Anyway, let's get to the goods. I hope that everyone was able to do some fun Halloween things this weekend.On Friday, I went and picked pumpkins, got lost in a corn maze, rode haunted hayrides, and walked through a haunted corn maze . Saturday was my 2nd year in a row going to see the Odyssey Dance Company perform their Thriller Dance Show. I recommend it to anyone who is ever visiting Salt Lake, Provo, Ogden, Logan, or St. George (lol) during the months of September and October. It's such a fun time. If I live here next October I'm definitely going to see it again.

After Thriller, we hung out for a couple hours and put finishing touches on costumes we were all planning on wearing.  Then we all got all prettied up and hit up a couple parties. I had an amazing time. It was definitely the break I needed right before midterms.

Andrea's Birthday

If you're reading my blog than you're probably my friend and if you're my friend than you probably know that birthdays in my family are no joke. We always take the time to make someone's birthday a big deal and do whatever the birthday girl/boy wants.

Andrea's birthday landed on a Monday this year. Pretty inconvenient because everyone knows that the best day to celebrate your birthday is your actual birthday. We celebrated on Saturday and still made it fun.

Anyway, we all went to dinner at La Carreta. My family loves that place. It's the only restaurant you can get good Peruvian food. We're still looking for an awesome chinese place. Why is the food better on the east coast? Hell, why is it that everything is better on the east coast??? After  dinner we went to Hee Haw Farms and participated in the Halloween festivities.  We walked through the corn terrors and rode the haunted hayride.  Photos weren't allowed on the rides but you'll have plenty of us to look at.