tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40084564308159810122024-03-12T19:19:11.499-07:00bona fide.Danielle Ycmathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03861071657756545538noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008456430815981012.post-17367779067263197772010-12-29T18:39:00.000-08:002011-01-01T17:10:53.997-08:00Four months ago...<div style="text-align: center;">I sold my life and soul to broadcast journalism.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Thirteen stories later....I'm almost at disbelief to report that I <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >survived</span> to tell the tale.<br /></div><br />325. The class that all broadcast journalism majors dread. Every week for an entire semester, reporters are re<span style="font-size:100%;">quired to find their ow</span>n stories, find credible sources to interview, shoot b-roll, shoot a stand-up, write (multiple) scripts, edit footage, voice over, produce and submit graphics, compose a package, and attempt to look good on live television, in addition to a radio story -- every. single. week.<br /><br />Needless to say, I struggled.<br /><br />I experienced back-knotting stress, countless sleepless nights, 6:00am treks up to the Brimhall, tears, and daily thoughts of, "Do I <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">really</span> want to do this for the rest of my life??"<br /><br />I remember my first story I was terrified! I chose to do a piece on skin cancer prevention, and showed up at a Rite Aid parking lot to film a skin cancer tour without the slightest idea what I was doing. After looking like an idiot trying to find out what was going on, I met some of the nicest people!!! The tour director and the dermatologist I interviewed were so helpful. Andrew (bless his heart) even showed up for moral support and took me to lunch after. I'll never forget that day. I feel like I've come miles from then.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ6xcKwseBI/AAAAAAAAAZs/xyvgLGsdAgY/s1600/IMG_7613.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ6xcKwseBI/AAAAAAAAAZs/xyvgLGsdAgY/s320/IMG_7613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552570488077449234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ6yMrYSzjI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/es8dSAlqO1M/s1600/IMG_7616.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ6yMrYSzjI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/es8dSAlqO1M/s320/IMG_7616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552571321467194930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ6ygtIZu0I/AAAAAAAAAZ8/J1Trr6zTrS8/s1600/IMG_7618.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ6ygtIZu0I/AAAAAAAAAZ8/J1Trr6zTrS8/s320/IMG_7618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552571665534794562" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a few other pics of my epic journey as a reporter:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ60B41qQ0I/AAAAAAAAAaE/6l8pzzLZtOI/s1600/IMG_7619.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ60B41qQ0I/AAAAAAAAAaE/6l8pzzLZtOI/s320/IMG_7619.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552573335124722498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Dermatology center in AF. They were so patient when I asked them to re-enact a check-up <span style="font-style: italic;">several</span> annoying times. Such nice people!!!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ60mM77gvI/AAAAAAAAAaU/Fiw2GemdtBA/s1600/IMG_7679.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ60mM77gvI/AAAAAAAAAaU/Fiw2GemdtBA/s320/IMG_7679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552573958995018482" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ607iuKIpI/AAAAAAAAAac/S2nm7a2okxM/s1600/IMG_7680.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ607iuKIpI/AAAAAAAAAac/S2nm7a2okxM/s320/IMG_7680.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552574325620089490" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ60XJwl75I/AAAAAAAAAaM/kLStY5gcoU0/s1600/IMG_7678.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ60XJwl75I/AAAAAAAAAaM/kLStY5gcoU0/s320/IMG_7678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552573700444123026" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">My first live shot on depression awareness. By far my favorite story. Dr. Golightly was so gracious and helpful and Kels even came out to show some love! Shout out to Bro. Green as my photographer!<br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ61oh5ojiI/AAAAAAAAAas/J-dnz9j-N5Q/s1600/IMG_7682.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ61oh5ojiI/AAAAAAAAAas/J-dnz9j-N5Q/s320/IMG_7682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552575098493898274" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ61NV-QfsI/AAAAAAAAAak/6f0mmPzoYIA/s1600/IMG_7686.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ61NV-QfsI/AAAAAAAAAak/6f0mmPzoYIA/s320/IMG_7686.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552574631435599554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Thaicycles Benefit Concert with j. wride! Check out Thaicycles<span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://thaicycles.com/"> <span style="font-size:180%;">here</span></a></span><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span>and j. wride <span style="font-size:180%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.myspace.com/jwridemusic">here</a></span>. AMAZING stuff going on. Joel was so nice and got me in for free.</span> <span style="font-size:78%;">Definitely my funnest story!</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ614uBktXI/AAAAAAAAAa0/eMqEUa6perU/s1600/IMG_7690.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQ614uBktXI/AAAAAAAAAa0/eMqEUa6perU/s320/IMG_7690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552575376626333042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Prescription Drug Take-Back. I'd been calling Kye Nordfelt, "Kynor" all day. As if we were like BFF's or something. Haha...Embarrassing.<br /><br /></span></div>As a health beat reporter, I met so many kind and helpful people in the medical field. I seriously couldn't have gotten through the semester without those people, my fellow reporters, and my amazing friends and family. If anything, this experience brought me deeper-felt gratitude to have met and know such sweet and genuine people in my life.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TR-0fjQlmMI/AAAAAAAAAcM/dYfe2rfNREE/s1600/IMG_8237.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TR-0fjQlmMI/AAAAAAAAAcM/dYfe2rfNREE/s320/IMG_8237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557358919332239554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Celebration dinner with some of the news family! I love these people.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TR-nFHHxUoI/AAAAAAAAAbs/Ch-OaENwtKw/s1600/IMG_8238.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TR-nFHHxUoI/AAAAAAAAAbs/Ch-OaENwtKw/s320/IMG_8238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557344171451306626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Please take special note of Anna's face. It brings me great joy.<br /></span></div><br />More than anything, my experience as a student journalist brought me a greater appreciation and respect for journalists around the world in every medium. The job is no easy task. I revere the plethora of men and women who are passionate and devoted enough to dedicate their lives to round the clock hours of seeking truth and reporting it. I believe that journalism remedies people of ignorance. It gives a voice to the voiceless. It inspires people to fight for freedom. I can't imagine a world without it.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span>Below is my first <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >resume reel</span>!</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span>Don't judge...I still have a long way to go and this thing still needs a lot of work (aka almost all my stand-ups were deleted so I should probably shoot some new ones...)</span>, but here's just a taste of my first attempt at being a bona fide reporter:<br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mzUT7YJYwlI?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mzUT7YJYwlI?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br />325 was, without a doubt, the hardest class of my college career. But you know what?<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">It was worth it. </span> </span><span>I really feel so <span style="font-size:130%;">grateful </span>to be part of one of the top communications programs in the nation.</span><br /><br /><br /></div>Danielle Ycmathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03861071657756545538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008456430815981012.post-89938167987674551452010-12-12T01:14:00.000-08:002010-12-12T01:29:02.673-08:00As Anners would say: NBD.<div style="text-align: center;">This is Anna and I at the library earlier tonight, studying. Or should I say "studying". Ha.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQSUqO4jvAI/AAAAAAAAAZk/ZIN6LFnfIiw/s1600/IMG_8248.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TQSUqO4jvAI/AAAAAAAAAZk/ZIN6LFnfIiw/s400/IMG_8248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549724094098029570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">FINALS WEEK.</span></span><br />The bane of our existence.<br /><br />There's only two reasons I can think of why this situation was bearable.<br />1. Anna.<br />2. We can revel in our freedom: NO MORE REPORTING.<br /><br />One week till I can actually kick back and finally reunite with my family. Until then...Bring it, BYU.<br /></div>Danielle Ycmathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03861071657756545538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008456430815981012.post-59606529381056210752010-11-26T07:38:00.000-08:002010-11-26T09:06:18.110-08:00BLACK FRIDAY.<div style="text-align: center;">This morning my dad and I walked into Target.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4:30 am.<br />My dad said, "I'm too smart to be doing this. People here are crazy!"<br />Even though the morning fiasco was my idea, I had to agree.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I always thought people were a little ridiculous to be getting out of their beds in the wee hours of the morning, just to hit some sales. Even more ridiculous are the ones who never go to bed. This morning KSL reported some people waited 10 hours in single digit degrees. I know, right?<br /><br />Today, I admit I was one of those crazy ridiculous doorbusters. And...I loved it!<br /><br />My dad was a trooper and let me haul him through the aisles as my personal assistant. He's such a happy guy at such an early hour. What a cutie pants.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TO_VtudOYQI/AAAAAAAAAYU/CdmH3LNaByw/s1600/IMG_8101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TO_VtudOYQI/AAAAAAAAAYU/CdmH3LNaByw/s320/IMG_8101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543884647857807618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TO_XkcPD3jI/AAAAAAAAAY0/7kSYiBqN9Ck/s1600/IMG_8105.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TO_XkcPD3jI/AAAAAAAAAY0/7kSYiBqN9Ck/s320/IMG_8105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543886687370993202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"Can't we get like a fast pass or something?"</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Dad. This isn't Disneyland."</span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Needless to say, the store was packed. The check-out line wound around every aisle, and took us an hour and a half to get through. I didn't mind though--I was proud of my steals and deals! (Don't look too closely at what's inside that basket, Katja...;))<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TO_Wd5AjbeI/AAAAAAAAAYs/b_1zlOdVoLw/s1600/IMG_8104.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TO_Wd5AjbeI/AAAAAAAAAYs/b_1zlOdVoLw/s320/IMG_8104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543885475324063202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TO_WQFXeLII/AAAAAAAAAYk/dBCrVswANVM/s1600/IMG_8103.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TO_WQFXeLII/AAAAAAAAAYk/dBCrVswANVM/s320/IMG_8103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543885238123244674" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I also just found out that there's actually a reason to the name of this rhyme. Apparently "black friday" indicates the period during which retailers turn a profit, putting themselves "in the black". Now put that fun fact in your back pocket.<br /></div>Danielle Ycmathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03861071657756545538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008456430815981012.post-11739312871986145982010-11-20T08:44:00.000-08:002010-11-22T19:30:05.668-08:00"There's a Light on in Chicago, and I Know I Should Be Home"<div style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Last month I was blown away--figuratively AND literally--by the Windy City itself.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: georgia;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;">Let the truth be known:<span style="font-size:180%;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >I</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" > L</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >OVE Chicago.<br /></span><br /></div><div style="font-family: georgia;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Back in the summer, Shelby buzzed me a t</span></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">ext one night: "Wanna go to Chicago with me?"</span><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">I didn't think sh</span></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">e wa</span></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">s serious.</span></span><br /><br /></div> <span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >I'd been DYING to travel back east for the last year (just ask my dad), but the </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >idea of actually going seemed improbable considering my poor, college-confined wallet, and my tendency to "play things safe". By some miracle, I put my t</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >ypical m</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >entality to the wind one night (PUN), and chose to be spontaneous. S</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >helbs and I found cheap plane tickets, and with little thought, broke bank and set an official departure date of 10/21</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >/10. It seemed too good to be true.<br /></span><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >When 10/21 arrived, it was a CRAZY day.</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > I'd been</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > up all</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > the previous night, working on a story that was airing that morning, and while frant</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >ically spitting out my radio story that afternoon, I was seriousl</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >y worried I wouldn't make it to the airport in time. Somehow, a few hours later I found myself on an airplane </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >with Shelby headed to Chicago.<br /></span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrrwh5HdUI/AAAAAAAAAM0/PE-CA-K2B8M/s1600/IMG_7750.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrrwh5HdUI/AAAAAAAAAM0/PE-CA-K2B8M/s320/IMG_7750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542501510396998978" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />It wasn't until we descended over the lights </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >of the city that night, that the reality hit me. <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">The dream was real.</span></span></span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrrdmPe2YI/AAAAAAAAAMs/Mf9xJs11jr0/s1600/IMG_7755.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrrdmPe2YI/AAAAAAAAAMs/Mf9xJs11jr0/s320/IMG_7755.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542501185147033986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Shelby's sister, Nessa, picked us up from the airport, and dropped us off at Shelby's aunt and uncle's house in the beautiful city</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > of Naperville--</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >our place of board for the next five days. We stayed in Dallin's room, decked out i</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >n BYU paraphernilia. Ironic that Shelbs and I are both Ute fans.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOruOCeLgaI/AAAAAAAAANM/Z2GaOwzRhko/s1600/IMG_7898.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOruOCeLgaI/AAAAAAAAANM/Z2GaOwzRhko/s320/IMG_7898.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542504216381850018" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >The first day, Aunt Stacy took us to a pumpkin</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >y festival thing. The weather was GORGEOUS and I was in love.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOruaQ3ztsI/AAAAAAAAANU/ri0QltyqmrI/s1600/IMG_7771.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOruaQ3ztsI/AAAAAAAAANU/ri0QltyqmrI/s320/IMG_7771.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542504426405869250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >We watched fat pigs race, "chopped off" our heads in the Halloween guillotine, "got lost" in a corn maze, walked through a "haunted" hous</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >e, and "fed animals" in a petting zoo ("ha. ha."). Check out how cute our crew was:</span><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOru369WNXI/AAAAAAAAANc/7K4F6OYajc4/s1600/IMG_7759.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOru369WNXI/AAAAAAAAANc/7K4F6OYajc4/s320/IMG_7759.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542504935919596914" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrvy3xx8HI/AAAAAAAAAN0/orEYkITl4ZI/s1600/IMG_7762.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrvy3xx8HI/AAAAAAAAAN0/orEYkITl4ZI/s320/IMG_7762.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542505948678058098" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrvrYfNjKI/AAAAAAAAANs/EwBDofvDbKM/s1600/IMG_7764.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrvrYfNjKI/AAAAAAAAANs/EwBDofvDbKM/s320/IMG_7764.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542505820019592354" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrvgGaDkVI/AAAAAAAAANk/kMW1QngPQ34/s1600/IMG_7763.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrvgGaDkVI/AAAAAAAAANk/kMW1QngPQ34/s320/IMG_7763.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542505626187567442" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrwfhd1TMI/AAAAAAAAAN8/Cia8MS_3Z4U/s1600/IMG_7768.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrwfhd1TMI/AAAAAAAAAN8/Cia8MS_3Z4U/s320/IMG_7768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542506715782925506" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />That night we went to the mall, and Shelbs and I </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >were allll over<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"> Delia's and H&M</span></span>. I wish we had them in Utah, but then again...It make</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >s them more special to have them abroad elsewhere.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrzVC5iBHI/AAAAAAAAAOE/RtKFtGmbal0/s1600/IMG_7776.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrzVC5iBHI/AAAAAAAAAOE/RtKFtGmbal0/s320/IMG_7776.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542509834313794674" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />Biebs was even there! Oh, baby baby baby....How I've missed my eenie meenie miney mo lover.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrzhtS68ZI/AAAAAAAAAOM/AghRFyIIaCY/s1600/IMG_7778.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrzhtS68ZI/AAAAAAAAAOM/AghRFyIIaCY/s320/IMG_7778.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542510051853005202" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Next stop: <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >Giordano's</span>. One of Chicago's most famous pizzeria's. Chicago ain't Chicago without a deep-dish slice of one of these babie</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >s.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrzpueFIbI/AAAAAAAAAOU/5v4OIA3qrp4/s1600/IMG_7780.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrzpueFIbI/AAAAAAAAAOU/5v4OIA3qrp4/s320/IMG_7780.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542510189607199154" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Saturday was the day I had long been waiting for. We took the train into Chicago (which was rather exciting in itself), and as soon as we exited the station<span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" > I could barely contain myself </span>as I ran out into the open expanse of colossal buildings, loud noise, and...lots of rain. Words cannot describe the pure ecstasy I felt at being reunited with this city.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr0JuerZEI/AAAAAAAAAOc/LAUYdDDhhTI/s1600/IMG_7786.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr0JuerZEI/AAAAAAAAAOc/LAUYdDDhhTI/s320/IMG_7786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542510739365520450" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Our first stop was the Sears Tower, which S</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >hel</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >by so kindly informed me is now the <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >Willis</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >Tower</span>, aka her tower :). The thing is HUGE. A ride to the top was 16 bucks, so we let that one fly. I spent my dough there on some sweet postcards instead.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr0nzc98BI/AAAAAAAAAOk/g38kKd9yfdg/s1600/IMG_7789.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr0nzc98BI/AAAAAAAAAOk/g38kKd9yfdg/s320/IMG_7789.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542511256096600082" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Turns out Chicago was a little emotional about seeing us because the city wouldn't stop crying.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr1Dyc49vI/AAAAAAAAAOs/vxWe4Yn3xjE/s1600/IMG_7791.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr1Dyc49vI/AAAAAAAAAOs/vxWe4Yn3xjE/s320/IMG_7791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542511736864175858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >SO. MUCH. RAIN. The souvenir shop was out </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >of umbrella's and we were kinda out of luck. I was fortunate to have my coat, but poor Shelbs and </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >cute little Ashlyn were especially freezing. We decided to postpone the city exploring until Monday and change plans to spend the day at the aquarium. The rain toned down a bit on our long trek there, and I couldn't get over how <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >beautiful</span> everything was. We took some of my favorite pics on the way.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr4WcFzNDI/AAAAAAAAAQM/7rjbctw1bMQ/s1600/IMG_7800.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr4WcFzNDI/AAAAAAAAAQM/7rjbctw1bMQ/s320/IMG_7800.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542515355814147122" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr41P4JuaI/AAAAAAAAAQs/_67lNUxDwkA/s1600/IMG_7792.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr41P4JuaI/AAAAAAAAAQs/_67lNUxDwkA/s320/IMG_7792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542515885111622050" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr4tRRd3hI/AAAAAAAAAQk/D-rQ55a-IXw/s1600/IMG_7795.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr4tRRd3hI/AAAAAAAAAQk/D-rQ55a-IXw/s320/IMG_7795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542515748047281682" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr4k8Zx0MI/AAAAAAAAAQc/rZAEwgtq-5o/s1600/IMG_7798.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr4k8Zx0MI/AAAAAAAAAQc/rZAEwgtq-5o/s320/IMG_7798.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542515605006045378" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr4dI4erMI/AAAAAAAAAQU/WPiCkcKk23s/s1600/IMG_7799.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr4dI4erMI/AAAAAAAAAQU/WPiCkcKk23s/s320/IMG_7799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542515470917086402" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr4Pl4lD8I/AAAAAAAAAQE/emTUS00NDfI/s1600/IMG_7801.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr4Pl4lD8I/AAAAAAAAAQE/emTUS00NDfI/s320/IMG_7801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542515238183964610" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Apparently everyone had the same idea we did, because the line to get into the aquarium was backed up about a mile. We started questioning our decision, when lo and behold, we were informed that families with strollers were allowed in a separate little line that put everyone else in the dust. (Thank yooooouuuu, Ashlyn!)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Shedd Aquarium.</span></span> I did a little research on</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > the place and found some pretty cool facts. Containing over 25,000 fish, the Shedd was at one time the biggest aquarium in the world with 5,000,000,000+ gallons of water. The aquarium has 2 million annual visitors and is apparently the most popular cultural attraction in Chicago. Bottom line: this place is pretty cool.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr6B2cZZ-I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/EZNQ6H891uE/s1600/IMG_7826.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr6B2cZZ-I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/EZNQ6H891uE/s320/IMG_7826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542517201134249954" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >We started out at the Happy Feet 4-D show which, not gonna lie, was a little weak compared to Disneyland's, but we still got some good laughs ("What <span style="font-style: italic;">was</span> that?").<br /></span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3_qtbfiI/AAAAAAAAAP0/xmH4EFA-6Ew/s1600/IMG_7807.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3_qtbfiI/AAAAAAAAAP0/xmH4EFA-6Ew/s320/IMG_7807.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542514964601470498" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >We then moved on to the aquatic show that I was superrrrr excited about, but turns out the show isn't actually until DECEMBER so we only got to watch the training. Kinda lame. We wanted to see more tricks, but it was still fun to watch. Such cute little dolphins and whales.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr33TcAAUI/AAAAAAAAAPs/aXqK21sFnWw/s1600/IMG_7808.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr33TcAAUI/AAAAAAAAAPs/aXqK21sFnWw/s320/IMG_7808.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542514820915396930" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">My mom made me swear I'd pay a visit to her beloved beluga whales. Apparently she had a "special" relationship with them when we lived in Chicago, which became clearly obvious when I heard them all chanting, "We miss Aprilllll!" True story, mom.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;">:)<br /></div><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3vKA1maI/AAAAAAAAAPk/YMmMgVAFASE/s1600/IMG_7810.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3vKA1maI/AAAAAAAAAPk/YMmMgVAFASE/s320/IMG_7810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542514680946596258" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3g_taX7I/AAAAAAAAAPU/Mbm3sUDj0iU/s1600/IMG_7811.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3g_taX7I/AAAAAAAAAPU/Mbm3sUDj0iU/s320/IMG_7811.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542514437662597042" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />Shedd even attributed a whole floor to my ancestors! Holla to my Filipino kaibigans!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3pxW3PAI/AAAAAAAAAPc/cU8Z2w4iR4k/s1600/IMG_7814.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3pxW3PAI/AAAAAAAAAPc/cU8Z2w4iR4k/s320/IMG_7814.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542514588428745730" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Below is some of the favorite little creatures Shelby and I met. We even got to pet a tub full of star fish. Woo!</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3XPRSShI/AAAAAAAAAPM/JUgjRzZHsLk/s1600/IMG_7809.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3XPRSShI/AAAAAAAAAPM/JUgjRzZHsLk/s320/IMG_7809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542514270040902162" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr4HWwIIII/AAAAAAAAAP8/5pxZrf0FQvs/s1600/IMG_7805.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr4HWwIIII/AAAAAAAAAP8/5pxZrf0FQvs/s320/IMG_7805.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542515096683028610" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3P4HXGwI/AAAAAAAAAPE/Mfwk8bFznf8/s1600/IMG_7823.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3P4HXGwI/AAAAAAAAAPE/Mfwk8bFznf8/s320/IMG_7823.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542514143566174978" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3JzpaZhI/AAAAAAAAAO8/Ekj-wbRypco/s1600/IMG_7824.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3JzpaZhI/AAAAAAAAAO8/Ekj-wbRypco/s320/IMG_7824.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542514039287604754" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3DcvR_HI/AAAAAAAAAO0/v6nMDf8DJ2c/s1600/IMG_7825.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr3DcvR_HI/AAAAAAAAAO0/v6nMDf8DJ2c/s320/IMG_7825.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542513930058988658" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />After we had our fair share of aquatic life, the weather finally cleared up enough to venture back into the city. Our crew took a trip to <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >Millenium Park</span> a</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >nd the Jay Pritzker Pavilion reallllly made me wish a concert was going on. Beautiful.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr9wtRrdWI/AAAAAAAAARk/ZbEttUf4ZdQ/s1600/IMG_7832.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr9wtRrdWI/AAAAAAAAARk/ZbEttUf4ZdQ/s320/IMG_7832.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542521304662111586" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >And what's a trip to Millenium Park without a visit paid to the legendary <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Bean</span></span>? This massive steel sculpture mirrors the city's skyline and anything in its vicinity. The thing could have kept me entertained for hours.<br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr9Xfx57FI/AAAAAAAAARM/iR55UByyMjY/s1600/IMG_7837.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr9Xfx57FI/AAAAAAAAARM/iR55UByyMjY/s320/IMG_7837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542520871542451282" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr9nEAqv-I/AAAAAAAAARc/dygetSLmCXc/s1600/IMG_7834.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr9nEAqv-I/AAAAAAAAARc/dygetSLmCXc/s320/IMG_7834.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542521138966085602" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr9dixLjMI/AAAAAAAAARU/YxsU9iLj4HU/s1600/IMG_7835.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr9dixLjMI/AAAAAAAAARU/YxsU9iLj4HU/s320/IMG_7835.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542520975423933634" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >My heart ached when I saw this wedding going on! Everyone looked so happy and the bride was absolutely stunning. What I would give to have my wedding in the heart of Chicago.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr9OdaywrI/AAAAAAAAARE/JYcB-9qrnT0/s1600/IMG_7840.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr9OdaywrI/AAAAAAAAARE/JYcB-9qrnT0/s320/IMG_7840.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542520716289819314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">NBC.</span></span> My favorite network and home of my</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > potential internship this spring in NYC. Everyday is indeed full of color.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr8_PJgi5I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/bHHEC-TTH_E/s1600/IMG_7844.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr8_PJgi5I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/bHHEC-TTH_E/s320/IMG_7844.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542520454761188242" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Some other random shots from the rest of the night. I'm extreme</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >ly disappointed I didn't get any from our frantic race trying to make it back to the train in time. 4 people and a baby booking down Chicago city streets = HILARIOUS. There's no way we would have made it back (or even survived the day) without N</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >essa and Tim's navigation expertise. Thanks, guys!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr-xcKK1sI/AAAAAAAAARs/qv742JCsevc/s1600/IMG_7842.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr-xcKK1sI/AAAAAAAAARs/qv742JCsevc/s320/IMG_7842.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542522416758707906" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr_aICVhMI/AAAAAAAAASE/z0c3TibHrbM/s1600/IMG_7850.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr_aICVhMI/AAAAAAAAASE/z0c3TibHrbM/s320/IMG_7850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542523115731780802" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr_LECGBSI/AAAAAAAAAR8/zAO86oNQS34/s1600/IMG_7849.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr_LECGBSI/AAAAAAAAAR8/zAO86oNQS34/s320/IMG_7849.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542522856958985506" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr_AvZIghI/AAAAAAAAAR0/l5hsLwD_F_s/s1600/IMG_7847.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr_AvZIghI/AAAAAAAAAR0/l5hsLwD_F_s/s320/IMG_7847.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542522679619781138" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr_iePdHCI/AAAAAAAAASM/Q0_83iuzqu4/s1600/IMG_7852.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr_iePdHCI/AAAAAAAAASM/Q0_83iuzqu4/s320/IMG_7852.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542523259131337762" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr_vH0RKdI/AAAAAAAAASU/oABt9UZ_nEM/s1600/IMG_7855.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOr_vH0RKdI/AAAAAAAAASU/oABt9UZ_nEM/s320/IMG_7855.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542523476450027986" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsAhv2ZjBI/AAAAAAAAASk/tN6mwjC_94I/s1600/IMG_7857.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsAhv2ZjBI/AAAAAAAAASk/tN6mwjC_94I/s320/IMG_7857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542524346189843474" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >The night concluded with some amazinggggg ice cream that I wish I remembered the name of. Fresh from the cows down the street. They even had my beloved pumpkin. Won my heart. Check out how cute Shelbs looks even after a long day of city life.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsA38DNRHI/AAAAAAAAASs/2qFvVf7_YAQ/s1600/IMG_7861.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsA38DNRHI/AAAAAAAAASs/2qFvVf7_YAQ/s320/IMG_7861.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542524727421912178" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsBInyluhI/AAAAAAAAAS0/a5OH9Cdx4Xs/s1600/IMG_7862.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsBInyluhI/AAAAAAAAAS0/a5OH9Cdx4Xs/s320/IMG_7862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542525014041278994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Sunday, we strolled around some parks in Naperville, that a description of "gorgeous" wouldn't justify. The pictures and video speak for themselves. (Have I mentioned that I am in LOVE with Illinois??)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrtS4MJvJI/AAAAAAAAANE/IJZ2DAWRK6E/s1600/IMG_7987.JPG"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyDDb5EdgI7xQJCMQMZ8Cdyot9f5s8Egx_PCPytPixLzGy114GYP-UsqVVULS-dTOie1EnkyIuiJGUUdYgbQw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></a><br /></div><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsGZnXE8tI/AAAAAAAAAS8/kloGq_5lFcw/s1600/IMG_7864.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsGZnXE8tI/AAAAAAAAAS8/kloGq_5lFcw/s320/IMG_7864.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542530803541799634" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsIyrtS8KI/AAAAAAAAAUE/hlKncWz8eng/s1600/IMG_7868.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsIyrtS8KI/AAAAAAAAAUE/hlKncWz8eng/s320/IMG_7868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542533433228718242" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsImpbr4BI/AAAAAAAAAT8/zblIzAmG9r8/s1600/IMG_7873.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsImpbr4BI/AAAAAAAAAT8/zblIzAmG9r8/s320/IMG_7873.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542533226459553810" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsIUScZbUI/AAAAAAAAAT0/epfMYHzow9Q/s1600/IMG_7879.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsIUScZbUI/AAAAAAAAAT0/epfMYHzow9Q/s320/IMG_7879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542532911050878274" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsIHMXnw4I/AAAAAAAAATs/QG2t1VEO66o/s1600/IMG_7882.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsIHMXnw4I/AAAAAAAAATs/QG2t1VEO66o/s320/IMG_7882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542532686081934210" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsH8m2maqI/AAAAAAAAATk/ulZJBVg-054/s1600/IMG_7891.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsH8m2maqI/AAAAAAAAATk/ulZJBVg-054/s320/IMG_7891.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542532504212630178" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsHw1v1XCI/AAAAAAAAATc/VJzDnh0ESYg/s1600/IMG_7884.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsHw1v1XCI/AAAAAAAAATc/VJzDnh0ESYg/s320/IMG_7884.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542532302052351010" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsHhIpSjpI/AAAAAAAAATU/jpAKhEi0CFY/s1600/IMG_7893.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsHhIpSjpI/AAAAAAAAATU/jpAKhEi0CFY/s320/IMG_7893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542532032247271058" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsHZmnT2nI/AAAAAAAAATM/JCbt5T1SGCI/s1600/IMG_7894.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsHZmnT2nI/AAAAAAAAATM/JCbt5T1SGCI/s320/IMG_7894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542531902853077618" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsHMAe3zDI/AAAAAAAAATE/bg-kejmwtkc/s1600/IMG_7895.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsHMAe3zDI/AAAAAAAAATE/bg-kejmwtkc/s320/IMG_7895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542531669278837810" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Afterwards, we went to Nessa and Tim's ward, that happened to the homecoming of an RM...Long story short, the crew got a kick out of me going up to talk to him after. Ness convinced me he was going to BYU, and he made i</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >t clear that he wasn't. Nice. My gullibility is going to get me killed one of these days. That night we had dinner with the Black's and played games that revealed mine and Shelby's apparent need to read up on the Bible. "I will never again forget Jesus." :)</span><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsLJW5srxI/AAAAAAAAAUM/KIMixIar6GM/s1600/IMG_7896.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsLJW5srxI/AAAAAAAAAUM/KIMixIar6GM/s320/IMG_7896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542536021803839250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Our last day in Chicago was a sad but happy one. The weather was finally in our favor!<br /></span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsTD4h1WaI/AAAAAAAAAW0/Fz96nyIKdpM/s1600/IMG_7901.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsTD4h1WaI/AAAAAAAAAW0/Fz96nyIKdpM/s320/IMG_7901.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542544723844356514" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyeTJpMV943Xag9DlhGzVTzK_gzSALnrD1SwTvp_O1L-mH7OZNnplAZgZ4ZQdg6Buvo_S-egBmVueF2YrS6rw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Had to take a few shots in <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Bloomingdale's </span></span>for McLayne. The boy would have drooled over these stores.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsMBbBltVI/AAAAAAAAAUc/VNi5K5dT12Y/s1600/IMG_7902.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsMBbBltVI/AAAAAAAAAUc/VNi5K5dT12Y/s320/IMG_7902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542536984983352658" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsL3GRyF8I/AAAAAAAAAUU/ATRII0PPLkg/s1600/IMG_7903.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsL3GRyF8I/AAAAAAAAAUU/ATRII0PPLkg/s320/IMG_7903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542536807615436738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Tree covered in purple ribbons to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness month. Very cool.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsMJ5kGtxI/AAAAAAAAAUk/eAb2D1UXtdM/s1600/IMG_7904.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsMJ5kGtxI/AAAAAAAAAUk/eAb2D1UXtdM/s320/IMG_7904.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542537130620139282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Hershey's cupcake. Had to refrain from eating 10 more.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsMUL313yI/AAAAAAAAAUs/j0DC6RxcQN8/s1600/IMG_7906.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsMUL313yI/AAAAAAAAAUs/j0DC6RxcQN8/s320/IMG_7906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542537307333451554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >This is what I do back in Utah...a</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >bout a million markets below hers. ;)<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsMa5tPdMI/AAAAAAAAAU0/O-m6lYtli2Q/s1600/IMG_7910.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsMa5tPdMI/AAAAAAAAAU0/O-m6lYtli2Q/s320/IMG_7910.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542537422716236994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Then it was off to <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Navy Pier</span></span>! Once again: breathtaking. And windy. Couldn't get enough of it. Shelbs and I were two very happy girls.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsNQwvhQaI/AAAAAAAAAVE/-5jXQVU7K1Q/s1600/IMG_7929.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsNQwvhQaI/AAAAAAAAAVE/-5jXQVU7K1Q/s320/IMG_7929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542538348022808994" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsNixvxweI/AAAAAAAAAVU/MT9YLwyW4c8/s1600/IMG_7930.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsNixvxweI/AAAAAAAAAVU/MT9YLwyW4c8/s320/IMG_7930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542538657529971170" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsNI8gAUEI/AAAAAAAAAU8/ETQsX0aBWec/s1600/IMG_7948.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsNI8gAUEI/AAAAAAAAAU8/ETQsX0aBWec/s320/IMG_7948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542538213740007490" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsN2cjEEbI/AAAAAAAAAVc/f3OcG7KzxOM/s1600/IMG_7950.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsN2cjEEbI/AAAAAAAAAVc/f3OcG7KzxOM/s320/IMG_7950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542538995436884402" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />Glass museum. Serious talent here.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsObqkh0FI/AAAAAAAAAVk/mMGcfxIEedc/s1600/IMG_7952.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsObqkh0FI/AAAAAAAAAVk/mMGcfxIEedc/s320/IMG_7952.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542539634856284242" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsOkt-u49I/AAAAAAAAAVs/1sj_Q0fPPmo/s1600/IMG_7954.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsOkt-u49I/AAAAAAAAAVs/1sj_Q0fPPmo/s320/IMG_7954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542539790390322130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Since we didn't break bank for Willis Tower, I came up with the brilliant idea of convincing Shelby to ride the Pier <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >ferris wheel</span> with me to take in the city view. Turns out the idea wasn't so brilliant. My EXTREME fear of heights kicked in and my eyes were shut too tight to even see the epic city scene. I'm such </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >a baby. At least Shelbs got a good laugh...<br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsO7CKluyI/AAAAAAAAAV0/QXBT-ER5VA8/s1600/IMG_7960.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsO7CKluyI/AAAAAAAAAV0/QXBT-ER5VA8/s320/IMG_7960.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542540173765884706" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsPOjSPCII/AAAAAAAAAWE/jRMRFhVSqj0/s1600/IMG_7961.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsPOjSPCII/AAAAAAAAAWE/jRMRFhVSqj0/s320/IMG_7961.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542540509073836162" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsPHMOoG6I/AAAAAAAAAV8/kVf6EUTXwQk/s1600/IMG_7958.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsPHMOoG6I/AAAAAAAAAV8/kVf6EUTXwQk/s320/IMG_7958.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542540382625602466" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsPU7a29kI/AAAAAAAAAWM/TxTNaeJoZEI/s1600/IMG_7970.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsPU7a29kI/AAAAAAAAAWM/TxTNaeJoZEI/s320/IMG_7970.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542540618631673410" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >You know you love DANIELLE! ;)<br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsPcWwzl9I/AAAAAAAAAWU/K2GpYqud7Eg/s1600/IMG_7973.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsPcWwzl9I/AAAAAAAAAWU/K2GpYqud7Eg/s320/IMG_7973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542540746230568914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Barnelli's made the cut as our final dinner destination and Shelby enjoyed this sign. "I thought it said Mrs. Fields but then I realized it said thank you..."<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsPn6A8-WI/AAAAAAAAAWc/36PUJ8S8fDw/s1600/IMG_7979.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsPn6A8-WI/AAAAAAAAAWc/36PUJ8S8fDw/s320/IMG_7979.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542540944672094562" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >The rest of the night was filled with homework and a test I avoided all weekend long...ugh. I got about 2 hours of sleep, before we got to get up at like 4:00 to get to the airport. Needless to say, we felt exactly how we look:<br /></span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrtS4MJvJI/AAAAAAAAANE/IJZ2DAWRK6E/s1600/IMG_7987.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOrtS4MJvJI/AAAAAAAAANE/IJZ2DAWRK6E/s320/IMG_7987.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542503200009600146" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Lucky we got out when we did, because less than an hour after we took off, the airport shut down due to the heavy rain. I was surprised they even let our plane leave. The turbulence on the way up had me and Shelby convinced we were at death's door. ("I don't wanna die today!") The showers cleared up as we headed west, and cute Shelby and I completely zonked.<br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsPwebsVfI/AAAAAAAAAWk/nnIiaQZIea4/s1600/IMG_7986.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsPwebsVfI/AAAAAAAAAWk/nnIiaQZIea4/s320/IMG_7986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542541091886880242" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsP3VQz5NI/AAAAAAAAAWs/7pPUo6SLQ04/s1600/IMG_7984.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TOsP3VQz5NI/AAAAAAAAAWs/7pPUo6SLQ04/s320/IMG_7984.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542541209684403410" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Overall, Chicago was an <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">AMAZING trip </span></span>I will never forget. Shout out to Shelby for being such a sweetheart and a <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">lifelong friend</span></span>. I learned so much more about her this trip that made me love her that much more. Nessa and </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Tim were awesome tour guides and were so nice to tow us around! Ashlyn is one of th</span><span style="font-size:100%;">e most precious little girls I've ever met and it was so cute to see how much Shelbs loves her. The Blacks were also such great hosts and were so gracious to let us stay in their beautiful home.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Another trip to Chi Town in the very near future is a must.<br /></span></div></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span>Danielle Ycmathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03861071657756545538noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008456430815981012.post-10831515494564983002010-08-27T20:41:00.000-07:002010-08-29T19:11:56.392-07:00Park City Panorama<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So I know I told myself I wouldn't allow this to become a "journaly" blog, but tonight I can't help it. This week has been brimming with stress--moving back to Provo, going back to work, preparing to go back to school and making a vain attempt to come up with an accommodating fall schedule--and yet...none of that is what actually matters.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm up in Park City right now with Britt, Mike & Andy and life is just GOOD. I'm bursting with gratitude for being so lucky to have them. Because when it comes down to it, what matters most to me is right here. My friends and my family.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Andrew wants to jab in his two cents :). I miss his blog.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">It is the weekend. Here, August 27th, about 9ish, Brittnee and Michael are sitting over on the other couch while Danielle and I are sitting on the other. We are in a state of boredom, tension, and anticipation for the next thing we decide to do next. We're up in Park City right now. In my House. My Parent's house. Danielle is picking out classes, asking, or no, she's asking what her minor should be, asking us for suggestions, she's lost, so it appears. here in Park City. my home away from home. It's rainy up here. Poetic. ha. Brittnee kind of looks like a uggghh.. what it's called..................just like the stereotypical hot tan blonde girl. if you know what I mean. whatevs. Mike can have her. ha. Danielle is hungry, for snacks. I am too somewhat. maybe we should go to freshmart or whatever albertsons is called now. The gosh dang grocery store. I haven't blogged like this in forever. Gangsters don't blog. But I guess Gangsters do whatever they want as well. and Gangsters don't need approval from anyone.. .. . . .. ... .... .. ha. Danielle's hair smells good. and she keeps sniffing my sweater hoody here, "ANDREW it SMELLS SO GOOD!". ha. "omg.." she says sarcastically to my typing it in all caps, exaggerating her exclamation of my great smelling hoody. It's black by the way. Michael mentioned, "I think that's my favorite jacket of yours". ha.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Back to Danielle. We're off to play. More to come later. And not so much fluff next time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Over and out.</span>Danielle Ycmathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03861071657756545538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008456430815981012.post-69176358046315819142010-08-23T15:34:00.000-07:002010-08-23T15:45:20.746-07:00<span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Things I’ll miss from this summer...</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1. Interning for Good Things Utah</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2. Nannying – I love my kids.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3. Road trips to Oregon, Bear Lake, Vegas & Cali</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4. Early 5:00am runs with dad</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">5. Watching dad run with a pocket knife and mace :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">6. Seeing my family everyday</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">7. Kenz (patiently) teaching me guitar</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">8. Sleepovers with Clayne</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">9. Watching the Today Show and actually having time for it</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">10. Grocery store trips with mom</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">11. Runs in the rain on the golf course with Britt and Mike</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">12. Michael being 2 minutes away</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">13. Swimming in the Hellberg’s backyard</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">14. Running with Britt</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">15. Eating with Britt</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">16. Sleeping with Britt</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">17. Breathing with Britt</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">18. Doing everything with Britt</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">19. Shopping with Savannah</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">20. Sleeping in</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">21. Fireworks</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">22. Sweet hook-ups with GTU</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">23. Being so close to high school friends who are too faraway during the school year… </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">24. Blind dates (ok, maybe not so much…haha)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">25. Visiting Kels in Provo</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">26. Dominating Nathan at the NKC :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">27. Wearing shorts and sandals</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">28. LONG HAIR</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">29. My own room</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">30. Bountiful temple</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">31. Sleepover with Sarah</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">32. Previewing for KBYU</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">33. Clayne’s dirty dancing ;)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">34. Drives with Kenz</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">35. Orange Leaf</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">36. Alyssa’s wedding</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">37. G-chatting with Katja</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">38. Concerts (Tim McGraw, Backstreet Boys, Justin Bieber…)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">39. Drive-ins</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">40. Rodeos</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">41. Hiking</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">42. Bowling</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">43. Chasey</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">44. Lagoon with Shauna</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">45. Kifing Kenzie’s ipod</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">46. Eating Havarti with Mike</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">47. Park City with the fam</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">48. Eating exotic fruits with Clayne</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">49. Weight Watchers with mom (for as long as it lasted…)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">50. 4th of July (my favorite holiday next to Valentine’s Day)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">51. Mclayne walking around in his underwear (NOT)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">52. Boating</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">53. Nights out with Kristy</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">54. Meeting famous people at GTU</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">55. Sabotaging the Smith’s fridge</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">56. Having a love/hate relationship with the mailman for missionary letters</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">57. Emailing Michael Marie every week</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">58. McLayne’s fashion tips</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">59. The SUN – I hate snow.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">60. Reading (Hunger Games especially)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">61. Phone calls with Andrew</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >62. Photo booth with Clayne</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">63. Tweeting</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);font-size:180%;" ><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Things to look forward to this fall...</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1. CHICAGO!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2. Structure</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3. Directing</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4. Reporting</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">5. John Mayer Concert</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">6. Watching my kids again</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">7. Best friends coming home from missions</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">8. Sara Bareilles concert</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">9. Living with my best friends</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">10. Meeting new people</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">11. Working my third year at KBYU and moving into the new broadcast building!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">12. Football & basketball games</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">13. Fall leaves</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">14. Fires and hikes in the canyon</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">15. Yozone</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">16. Homecoming festivities</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">17. Karaoke night at Applebee’s</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">18. Visits to Logan</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">19. Kaleidescope Heart</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">20. One year closer to getting my degree!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">21. Sparing my eyes the joy of seeing Mclayne in his underwear every morning</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">22. Dance parties</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">23. Late night drives blaring BIEBER FEVER</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">24. Dad and I both going to BYU</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">25. Morning Glory</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">26. Harry Potter 7</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">27. Weekly sushi runs with Andrew</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">28. Eating the same thing everyday (yes, I actually enjoy this)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">29. Indian Food Palace!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">30. Daily phone chats with mom and Shauna</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">31. Mac discounts with my press pass</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">32. Scarves & boots</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">33. Bed dance with Britt</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">34. Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">35. Girlfriends getting called on missions</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">36. Holidays</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >37. New phone</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">38. Tweeting</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >39. Blogging</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">40. Finding more fun than the list I've come up with because I'm still loving summer too much...:)</span>Danielle Ycmathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03861071657756545538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008456430815981012.post-33694954765742284842010-08-20T13:20:00.000-07:002010-08-20T18:34:30.787-07:00IN TWO DAYS...<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-FAMILY: georgia">I will finally be reunited with these beautiful faces.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: georgia" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7mSf8GQvI/AAAAAAAAAKc/hW_ukLFFEWs/s1600/IMG_9944.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507592599806296818" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7mSf8GQvI/AAAAAAAAAKc/hW_ukLFFEWs/s320/IMG_9944.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: georgia" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7lao2ZvMI/AAAAAAAAAKM/riC8R5UZaxo/s1600/IMG_8529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507591640125652162" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7lao2ZvMI/AAAAAAAAAKM/riC8R5UZaxo/s320/IMG_8529.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Andrew & Katja. Two of my very best friends (and in-law in-laws, ironically enough). After 4 months without these two, I'm more than ready to have them back where I wish they could have been all summer--with ME :). While I'm extremely grateful for modern technology, weekly exchanges of phone calls, emails, facebook messages, and g-chat just didn't do it justice. Time to bring them HOME.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Andrew moved to Texas for the summer where he braved the streets as a pest control salesman. I seriously don't know how he put up with 4 months of crazy people and slamming doors (neither does he). Nevertheless, he lived up to his own motto - GET DAT MONEY - and made bank this summer. In fact, he's going to buy me a brand new car. (Right, Andy?;) ) I'm so happy he's moving back to Provo with me. I've missed our weekly sushi runs.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: georgia" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7t7xjUwWI/AAAAAAAAAKk/4AVcxlaQZdc/s1600/IMG_5921.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507601005490258274" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7t7xjUwWI/AAAAAAAAAKk/4AVcxlaQZdc/s320/IMG_5921.JPG" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: georgia" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7ujITbSnI/AAAAAAAAAKs/FlsrI8lBcHk/s1600/IMG_6372.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507601681612491378" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7ujITbSnI/AAAAAAAAAKs/FlsrI8lBcHk/s320/IMG_6372.JPG" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: georgia" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7voKvPc8I/AAAAAAAAALM/gTGUOZ_OhEY/s1600/IMG_6221.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507602867677000642" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7voKvPc8I/AAAAAAAAALM/gTGUOZ_OhEY/s320/IMG_6221.JPG" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: georgia" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7kbKcwsVI/AAAAAAAAAKE/8TavWYNE6JE/s1600/Photo+309.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507590549633282386" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7kbKcwsVI/AAAAAAAAAKE/8TavWYNE6JE/s320/Photo+309.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Katja and her brilliant little body went to England to study at Cambridge University--I know, right?? Even seven years after claiming her as a BFF, I still don't know how I got a smartie like her to be friends with a dummy like me. :) I'm so proud of her. Although she won't be living with me and the besties this year, I'm still VERY happy to have her close to me in P-town. We are siamese twins, after all.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: georgia" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7uxColTqI/AAAAAAAAAK0/wvCJPLQGqoo/s1600/IMG_5667.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507601920608784034" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7uxColTqI/AAAAAAAAAK0/wvCJPLQGqoo/s320/IMG_5667.JPG" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: georgia" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7v6flji2I/AAAAAAAAALU/NfI5Z7Q5wl4/s1600/20080419bk+Woods+Cross+Senior+Prom+at+Davis+Convention+Center.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507603182511164258" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7v6flji2I/AAAAAAAAALU/NfI5Z7Q5wl4/s320/20080419bk+Woods+Cross+Senior+Prom+at+Davis+Convention+Center.JPG" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: georgia" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7vK9sbfeI/AAAAAAAAALE/C-qiybYFB5E/s1600/IMG_5928.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507602365959339490" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7vK9sbfeI/AAAAAAAAALE/C-qiybYFB5E/s320/IMG_5928.JPG" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="FONT-FAMILY: georgia" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7wZzLK1jI/AAAAAAAAALc/Z4gMoe9hLMI/s1600/IMG_4667.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507603720345146930" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TG7wZzLK1jI/AAAAAAAAALc/Z4gMoe9hLMI/s320/IMG_4667.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">2 days 3 hours 41 minutes. I can barely contain myself.</span>Danielle Ycmathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03861071657756545538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008456430815981012.post-81338772950147998902010-08-18T14:43:00.001-07:002010-08-20T14:29:15.591-07:00I know a place...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">where the grass is really greener!</span><br /></span><div style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:180%;">CALIFORNIA.</span><br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The haven where Mike, Britt, Kels, JC & I spen</span><span class="Apple-style-span">t the las</span><span class="Apple-style-span">t week partying it up--Katy Perry style.<br /><br /></span></div></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The first day we departed early to Vegas wh</span><span class="Apple-style-span">ere we spent our first </span><span class="Apple-style-span">night at Mike's aunt's and cousin's house. Aun</span><span class="Apple-style-span">t Barb and Lindsay could</span><span class="Apple-style-span">n't have b</span><span class="Apple-style-span">ee</span><span class="Apple-style-span">n more hos</span><span class="Apple-style-span">pitable, waiting on us like kings and queens and offering up every cupboard of fo</span><span class="Apple-style-span">od in the house. That night we hit up the strip,</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span">gaw</span><span class="Apple-style-span">king at the Bella</span><span class="Apple-style-span">gio fountains,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGx42RJbgtI/AAAAAAAAAIE/n9nDctvZX0s/s1600/IMG_7323.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGx42RJbgtI/AAAAAAAAAIE/n9nDctvZX0s/s320/IMG_7323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506909318078497490" border="0" /></a> </div></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">glazing on massive amounts of sparkly lip gloss from Sephora,</span><br /><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyEO-Jj9kI/AAAAAAAAAIM/ITlBoG1HDgQ/s1600/IMG_7329.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyEO-Jj9kI/AAAAAAAAAIM/ITlBoG1HDgQ/s320/IMG_7329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506921837103412802" border="0" /></a> </div> </div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">goofing around at the m&m factory,</span><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyEw9Spr4I/AAAAAAAAAIU/gIYp-4DMlmQ/s1600/IMG_7335.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyEw9Spr4I/AAAAAAAAAIU/gIYp-4DMlmQ/s320/IMG_7335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506922420988653442" border="0" /></a> </div> </div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span">and being pestered by creepy porno people,</span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyFOzWeo3I/AAAAAAAAAIc/eqLoxbqU9rc/s1600/IMG_7334.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyFOzWeo3I/AAAAAAAAAIc/eqLoxbqU9rc/s320/IMG_7334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506922933716427634" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span">ll the while dazed and half awake from our lack of sleep from the night before.</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The next morning we woke up to yummy blueberry pancakes (courtesy of Linds and Mike) and hit the road to our ultimate destination--NEWPORT. After a little confusion and annoyance with a mix-up in our hotel arrangements, Britt (thanks to Alyssa) scored us a 4 night stay at a Marriott for only $40 a night! The girls designated themselves to the king bed and the boys got stuck with the springy pull-out (hehe).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyQ5K47kuI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/7gS_QzvMJIw/s1600/IMG_7374.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyQ5K47kuI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/7gS_QzvMJIw/s320/IMG_7374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506935756217357026" border="0" /></a><br />We proceeded to book it to the beach to soak in as much sun as we could before it got surprisingly chilly and we made a dinner stop at Joe's Crabshack. I'd give the place a 2 out of 10 considering I was STARVING Marvin and my barbie sized enchiladas gobbled 15 bucks out of my pocket. Everyone else seemed to love their food though, and our waiter was a chill guy. He let us dance with the shack crew and even gave us personalized bibs.<br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyGIROdSbI/AAAAAAAAAIk/LpanUu9W3ZA/s1600/IMG_7372.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyGIROdSbI/AAAAAAAAAIk/LpanUu9W3ZA/s320/IMG_7372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506923920988391858" border="0" /></a></div><br />Friday was probably the BEST day of the entire trip, if not my entire summer. Back in January, Kels, Britt and I made care packages for earthquake victims and earned ourselves free passes to Disneyland through the "Give a Day Get a Disney Day" program. With these convenient little babies, we were able to treat ourselves to the happiest place on earth AND California Adventure for super cheap. They even gave us some cute little volunteer pins to make us feel special. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyGi1BQzdI/AAAAAAAAAIs/Ev-p2baADZ8/s1600/IMG_7378.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyGi1BQzdI/AAAAAAAAAIs/Ev-p2baADZ8/s320/IMG_7378.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506924377273322962" border="0" /></a><br />The day was chock-full of California Screamin', Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain (sheesh, I think they need another mountain), Peter Pan, Bugs Life, Captain EO, and Michael's favorite (he won't hesitate to tell you): Fantasmic! I almost died on Tower of Terror. If you don't believe me, take a look for yourself:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyJGSmc72I/AAAAAAAAAJE/wJqHgusMF5g/s1600/IMG_7388.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyJGSmc72I/AAAAAAAAAJE/wJqHgusMF5g/s320/IMG_7388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506927185532612450" border="0" /></a><br />The boys thought it was so funny, that they took me again. Needless to say, I wasn't holding up any better.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyIJIpR9zI/AAAAAAAAAI8/z3RsKBa205w/s1600/IMG_7391.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyIJIpR9zI/AAAAAAAAAI8/z3RsKBa205w/s320/IMG_7391.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506926134888101682" border="0" /></a><br />We topped the night off with the Finding Nemo ride, which I thought was super cool but everyone else decided to boo hoo about it. Go cry about it, guys.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">(*cough* Brittnee*)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div><br />Overall, our day with Disney was nothing short of magical. JC got some rich movie footage that we couldn't help watching until 5:00am. Yar cha char!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyJ7BIHe7I/AAAAAAAAAJM/unKVC3qztbM/s1600/IMG_7386.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyJ7BIHe7I/AAAAAAAAAJM/unKVC3qztbM/s320/IMG_7386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506928091375041458" border="0" /></a><br />The beach made up the majority of Saturday and our dinner that night at the Cheesecake Factory was EXQUISITE. Kelsey and I got this cashew chicken that I've been craving ever since. Seriously, I'll be making another trip to the Utah one this week. Afterwards, we hit up another Marriott and met some cool cats around the fire. I was flattered when this older guy said, "With all you young people I would expect you guys to be downing beer and drugs and partying and what-not." That's right, sir. We fly high with a different joint :)<br /><br />Biking all day Sunday hammered our butts raw, but it was so fun and so breathtaking to draw in all the beauty of Newport and Balboa Island. California is such a beautiful place. I definitely wouldn't mind living there sometime.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyMiC5xp6I/AAAAAAAAAJc/1WVyoyPXB6U/s1600/IMG_7466.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyMiC5xp6I/AAAAAAAAAJc/1WVyoyPXB6U/s320/IMG_7466.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506930960889915298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyLgOgHXEI/AAAAAAAAAJU/iihnvt22ndA/s1600/IMG_7451.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyLgOgHXEI/AAAAAAAAAJU/iihnvt22ndA/s320/IMG_7451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506929830132145218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyNE5SpZTI/AAAAAAAAAJk/XuhUcGwtynw/s1600/IMG_7447.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyNE5SpZTI/AAAAAAAAAJk/XuhUcGwtynw/s320/IMG_7447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506931559605298482" border="0" /></a><br />Monday was a bittersweet day as our last opportunity to absorb California sunshine, but we enjoyed every last minute at the beach nevertheless. It was the first day I was actually brave enough to venture out in the water because it had been so cold!! JC made a bet with me that the couple sitting next to us on the beach was lesbian and I totally didn't believe him--I thought I had just won myself 5 bucks easy. To my shock and dismay, 2 hours later the "guy" revealed "himself" as a GIRL!!! and JC kifed himself a footlong at Subway. Dang it. I wish I had a picture. We drove back to Aunt Barb's in Vegas that night as a rest stop to our sad journey home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyO_ZIaBjI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/4zrkGYxFJ38/s1600/IMG_7488.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyO_ZIaBjI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/4zrkGYxFJ38/s320/IMG_7488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506933664096323122" border="0" /></a><br />The rest of our drive Tuesday was full of nostalgic memories from not only this trip, but many years past. I feel so lucky and blessed to have known these four for such a significant chunk of my life. We know each other like family and it's almost crazy that our bonds of friendship have lasted so long (we're at a decade!!). Thanks for a stellar awesome trip, JC, Britt, Kels, & Mike! I love you guys more than life itself, and can't wait for our next big adventure :)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyOSTuE4mI/AAAAAAAAAJs/MRnFB1Wl4WI/s1600/IMG_7375.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGyOSTuE4mI/AAAAAAAAAJs/MRnFB1Wl4WI/s320/IMG_7375.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506932889549595234" border="0" /></a><br />Other highlights from the trip:<br /><ul><li>JC filming almost every moment and interviewing random people in line</li><li>Mike walking in on Lindsay and Rich making out :)</li><li>Danielle eating every 5 minutes</li><li>Burying Mike in the sand<br /></li><li>Michael and Danielle holding hands with Britt's in between--against her own will</li><li>JC wolfing down a can of tuna like a homeless man at a gas station parking lot</li><li>Michael's turtle head dance to practically every car song</li><li>Kels, Britt, and Danielle ALL kissing Michael :)</li><li>Michael instructing yoga in the Vegas valet and on the beach<br /></li><li>TRIP THEME SONG - I Love U - Chris Brown</li></ul>Epic quotes:<br /><ul><li>"I'm baby hungry but I'm also smart." - Britt</li><li>"I hate you and your beautiful face and your perfect hair and your tight abs and your baggy pants, and you're just so nice to everyone...I just can't live up to your expectations!" - JC</li><li>"Some imagination...hehe!" - JC/Mickey</li><li>"Michael...I'm disappointed." - Kels</li><li>"Yeah, ya freak." - Danielle</li><li>"I just stepped over the line! He probably thinks I'm such a jacka$$!" - JC</li><li>"Brittnee, I'm glad you finally warmed up to the idea of food." - JC</li><li>"Disneyland was great...FANTASMIC was amazing!!!" - Mike</li><li>"Lindsay, is it sanitary to sleep in the bed?" - JC</li></ul></div>Danielle Ycmathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03861071657756545538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008456430815981012.post-59852526659174549852010-08-11T04:33:00.000-07:002010-08-18T10:07:22.075-07:00California Bound!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Me + Britt + Mike + Kels + JC<br /><br />Last night we were HERE (Alyssa's wedding):</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGKK_NJMpjI/AAAAAAAAAHs/oHUdlszVk84/s1600/IMG_7312.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGKK_NJMpjI/AAAAAAAAAHs/oHUdlszVk84/s200/IMG_7312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504114513064797746" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGKLv2gtYxI/AAAAAAAAAH0/fD9FOxZ8bxQ/s1600/IMG_7313.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGKLv2gtYxI/AAAAAAAAAH0/fD9FOxZ8bxQ/s200/IMG_7313.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504115348802986770" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">And in less than one hour we will be on our way HERE (no, I haven't slept all night, and yes, I'm crazy enough to blog at 5:30am):<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGKMN-1ybDI/AAAAAAAAAH8/Ao2zOPJSxsM/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_I4K6F9Iktzw/TGKMN-1ybDI/AAAAAAAAAH8/Ao2zOPJSxsM/s200/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504115866434956338" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">California bound, baby!!! Can't wait!</span></div>Danielle Ycmathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03861071657756545538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008456430815981012.post-43103873800295314422010-08-09T23:04:00.000-07:002010-08-09T23:14:46.886-07:00My Newfangled Notion<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I think I’ve been thinking about this blog for roughly 6 months, 3 weeks, and 6 days.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Haha, I don’t really know how long, only that it’s been TOO long that I’ve sat and thought about this thing without doing something about it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I get silly like that sometimes.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I’m such a perfectionist.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">If I have a vision but can’t immediately conform to it, I simply contemplate it—let it swim around in my subconscious until it’s ripe enough to burst through my brain.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">Tonight is when that changes.</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">My name is Danielle Ycmat and this is my imperfect blog!</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">My new means of documenting life and expressing my ideas.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Nothing optimal, nothing fancy, and far from my world of “ideals.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Just me.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Raw and real.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Bonafide.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Maybe now I can actually get this thing going :).</span>Danielle Ycmathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03861071657756545538noreply@blogger.com0