the fourth of july..

was just another day in another day in españa.

& it almost made us a little homesick missing out on the celebrations at home (especially since I haven't been home on the 4th of july in 3 years now) but we decided we wanted to celebrate too.

now our way of celebrating couldn't consist of parades, bbqs, & fireworks sadly. but we figured a night out for gelato would do. and lets not forget dressing up like the american flag. haha sav & i found anything red, white, blue & striped in our closets and put it on. 

and we didn't get just one scoop of gelato tonight like usual. no, tonight was special. so we spoiled ourselves with two. it was delish.

and we even happened to find a firework show going on while walking the boardwalk by the harbor. (or we may have photo shopped them in...). either way, we still enjoyed our mini-celebration.

and lets be honest... even though europe is beautiful and rich in so much history. there is a reason they journeyed to a new land. we are so blessed to be apart of that wonderful country. & being here makes me realize the little things we take for granted. so i guess we can conclude that i am proud to be an american. 

hope you all had a wonderful 4th too!   

happy mother's day mama!

my mother has the kindest heart. 
it is a rare occasion to hear her raise her voice.
she also has the patience i hope to one day acquire.
i have the best memories when my dad would watch the boys & my mom and i would sneak off and have "special time" since i was her only daughter for nine years. 
and most importantly, i have never questioned her love for me. she has always told me often in her words and actions. i hope i have done the same because i sure love you mom! 


xo  lindsey marie


*sadly i don't have recent pictures of my mom on my laptop :(

happy v-day.

happy day of love!

one of my valentine's is mikayla. my cute little sister. she asked me to be her valentine but i know she had an agenda. it's because i bought her a big heart of mint truffle chocolate last year from kara's chocolates at the mall and she about dies for them. i buy them for her birthday too. so I, being the best sister ever, bought her another one this year. and i decorated her room with paper hearts i sewed together. ohh the many uses of a sewing machine :)

 

now the rest of the night will be spent with my other valentine.

hope you all have a lovely day.

whether your valentine is a lover, a sister, or maybe even your dog?

either way, enjoy it. because love is great.

i love love.

a very merry christmas.

christmas was wonderful.

it was spent with family & friends and i don't know how it could have been any better.

we acted out the nativity story on christmas eve. 

it was fun to have a real baby jesus this year (actually two baby jesus'... so we had two mary's as well)

a big smile from brielle

& a cute pose from elise

christmas morning in our pajamas

dustin & i at his parents house

i feel so blessed this holiday season.

i hope you all had a very merry christmas as well!

i have lovely friends.

it was our eighth annual friend christmas party. this year it was an ugly christmas sweater theme. unfortunately alyssa & alicia had to leave after dinner but carolyn, celia, savannah, & i ended up partying til 4am. and you know what happens when we are up in the middle of the night.... something like this christmas music video.

from our heart to yours. enjoy.

there's so much to be thankful for.

I love this song by Josh Groban. I haven't listened to him much but I heard this song on the radio the other day and I love each and every word. It has such a wonderful meaning. And who can deny that he has an amazing voice. Anyway... just thought I'd share this beautiful song. It has reminded me of all the good things I should be remembering during this holiday season. (listen to the link as well.. its so much more powerful to hear him sing it.)

"Thankful"

Somedays we forget

To look around us

Somedays we can't see

The joy that surrounds us

So caught up inside ourselves

We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for

What we know can be.

And on this day we hope for

What we still can't see.

It's up to us to be the change

And even though we all can still do more

There's so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves

There's so much sorrow

It's way too late to say

I'll cry tomorrow

Each of us must find our truth

It's so long overdue

So for tonight we pray for 

What we know can be

And every day we hope for

What we still can't see

It's up to us to be the change

And even though we all can still do more

There's so much to be thankful for.

Even with our differences 

There is a place we're all connected

Each of us can find each other's light

So for tonight we pray for

What we know can be

And on this day we hope for 

What we still can't see

It's up to us to be the change

And even though this world needs so much more

There's so much to be thankful for 


merry christmas eve!

little notes.

dear snow, 

you made me so happy when i looked out the window this morning. & i'm dreaming of a white christmas so please keep coming. 

dear best friends, 

i can't wait for our eighth annual christmas party tomorrow evening. i love how long we have been friends & that we are all here to celebrate.

dear elise&brielle,

i'm so excited you will be here for your very first christmas. i've heard you are sitting up by yourselves now & i can't wait to see your cute little faces. 

dear boyfriend, 

i reeeeeally wish you would tell me what you got me for christmas. five days is just too long to wait. 

dear chamomile tea,

how i love a hot, steaming cup of you in the mornings. you ease my sore throat & make me feel all warm inside.

and most importantly....

dear sickness,

please go away. this is absolutely the worst time for you to be here. please just leave & never come back.

xoxo 

lulu

new york city christmas.

today as i was listening to this song on the radio, i decided that one day i am going to go to new york for christmas/new years.

yes, i have already been there (and i loved it) but how magical would it be to see nyc during christmas time?

ice skating in central park? sounds so lovely.

(pretty sure that is always where people fall in love in the movies... i must go!)

someday i'll fulfill my dream & have a 

merry new york christmas

pictures from google images & this blog

missing these two.

hoping kristi & ben decide to leave sunny arizona & come to utah for a {hopefully} white christmas.

i am missing these pretty blue-eyed babies TOO MUCH.

christmas festivities.

 dustin & i at the festival of trees.

there were plenty of cute/creative gingerbread houses too.

 and you can't really tell but santa is surfing and the blue trees curled over him are the waves. creative, eh?

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas.

well although the so-called blizzard was a huge disappointment, i still got the winter wonderland i'd been waiting for. 
too bad it hit before i left dustins last night because my poor car couldn't make it up skyline. so i finally parked it half way up the hill & walked the rest of the way to my house. 
no big deal though because i was so happy to see the pretty snow. and lots of it. 
thanksgiving break was way better than i ever hoped it would be. i loved every minute of it. today i finished it off by putting christmas decorations up with my family. and i pretty much listened to christmas music all day because i officially can now & not feel ashamed of it since thanksgiving is over.
lastly, let me just point out that there is only two and a half weeks left of fall semester for me. although they are going to be extra busy & full of projects, presentations, & exams... i am MORE than ready for it. 

let it snow.

I am officially on thanksgiving break & it feels so good. I came over to dustins (the boyfriend) after school cause the poor boy is sick. Now we're watching anime (nerdy, I know... But he lived in japan for two years so I guess he can't help it) I don't mind though cause I get to blog on his iPhone. It's sweeeet.. makes me want one.
I'm looking forward to this storm that is supposed to hit which is surprising but I figure if it's going to be this bitter cold then it might as well be pretty & white. Plus I'm reeeally getting into the christmas spirit. I'm usually big on waiting til after thanksgiving to listen to Christmas music but I may have slipped this morning on the way to school.. I just couldn't help it! I am looking forward to thanksgiving though.. What's better than family & yummy food?
Anyway... Today I'm thankful to be going to school & getting a degree but I'm especialy thankful for holiday breaks off from school. And I'm even more thankful I can just relax under a warm blanket & watch a movie with Dustin. Bring on the blizzard.. I'll be enjoying the day indoors :)

goodbye october.

it's been breathtaking.

p.s. HAPPY HALLOWEEN

*pictures from camping over fall break

a tasty fall treat.

chocolate chip pumpkin cookies

picture via google

if you are craving something yummy & perfect for the fall season then i suggest you make these tasty things.

the recipe is so simple. they are almost so easy to make its dangerous..... i will probably be making another batch too soon.

-1 spice cake mix

-1 can pumpkin

-chocolate chips

mix together well. then add as many chocolate chips as you prefer.

 i used one entire package of them (milk chocolate chips are best... none of this semi-sweet stuff ;).

heat oven to 350 degrees & grease cookie sheet.

enjoyyyy

i just finished my last piece of easter candy.

i am now ready for halloween candy. yeeeesss. 

BUT i still don't know what i want to dress up as. 

i always end up just throwing something together the day of. but i kind of want to be ready for it this year.

i'll try to keep my creative juices flowing. but let me know if you have any suggestions!

red. white. & blue.

{happy fourth of july}

this holiday weekend has made me miss my family & friends but i'm glad I have devin here at least and we made the best of it!

*we went for a morning walk on the beach

*painted festive pictures with water colors (i had to beg dev to do this with me)

*made red jello (devin must really miss utah because he was craving jello ;)

*went all out and bought a frozen pizza & festive cupcakes for dinner (yes, this is going all out for us poor college students)

*watched fireworks at turtle bay resort with friends

*lit our own fireworks on the beach

it was a good day to be an american!

god bless america, my home sweet home(: