First Snow

Here in Utah we got our first (real) snow the other day. I guess my definition of real is when my car has basically become a mobile icicle, you'd never know we have fleets of plows here, and I begin to contemplate buying the spikes for the bottom of my shoes for walking around campus (you know these ones?). But the snow is beautiful and every year I get excited for it. Here's a few snaps from around my neighborhood.

this guy must be freezing!

my new L.L. Bean 'duck boots'- hoping these will help me navigate campus in the snow :) and the camp socks aren't too bad either

Growing up in Maryland, the schools always got shut down if there was even a slight threaten of snow. Once school was cancelled we would all gather up to go sledding and play outside as long as possible before our clothes were soaking wet. My best friend Devin lived across the street from me and we used to go have 'adventures' in the woods behind our houses. Whenever it snows, even though it does a lot in UT, it brings back those feelings of getting lost in the woods and I still get giddy when I see snow in the forecast. 

School is almost over for me, one week of classes and one week of finals, then I make my way across the pond to visit my Grandparents for the holidays. I'm so excited to be in the South of France during Christmas and visiting two of my favorite people.

Are you studying for finals too? Click here for a good laugh (you know you want to procrastinate more ;)

Thanks for reading! 

A Blog?

I cannot believe it has been over a month since I last blogged! Totally not on purpose, I swear. Anyways, I am counting down the days until the end of the semester (and my trip to FRANCE)  but here is what I have been up to the past month or so..

Fall break I took a trip to MD to visit my Dad in the DC area and my friend Katie in my hometown. I love going back and seeing friends that I haven't seen in months, or even years. I left some of the good ones back there. You know the type of friends you can pick up right where you left off laughing until your stomach hurts and even though you have to say goodbye, you know it's not forever? The east coast is where they are for me, and I'm extremely lucky.

The leaves weren't turning as much as I'd hoped (since the east is so pretty in the fall) but I did do some pumpkin carving and got to spend time with Carolina (Katie's mom who I adore). The bottom right picture is the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge in Solomons. At least the weather was beautiful! 

 Quaint Annapolis streets

 

One thing I really miss about the east coast is really being able to take day trips places. We went to Annapolis, Baltimore, and DC all within 2 hours. Everything seems so close compared to here in Utah because, let's face it, sometimes it's nice to get away. All the above photos were taken in Annapolis. It's such a cutesy place to walk around, it can be kind of touristy but still fun. I got the first crab cake I've had in a long time at Chick N Ruth's and devoured it before I could get a picture so I can promise it was delicious.

We spent another day in Annapolis touring the Naval Academy, where my dad went to school. We watched them do their lunch formation and explored the campus. It's really beautiful and open to the public, if you're in the area I would definitely recommend it. Walking around with my dad was fun to hear what school there was like, very structured, but with a few kegs snuck in here and there :).

We also went to Fort McHenry while in Baltimore, where the Star Spangled banner was written.
Needless to say, my trip was full of history!

Now I'm just planning for Thanksgiving and finals. I don't think I will be doing any Black Friday (or should I say Black Thursday shopping). It's become kind of ridiculous. Can't the stores just leave Thanksgiving alone? Anything to make a buck. I think this e-card says it perfectly



via pinterest

 

Anyways, I hope you have a fabulous Tuesday. Thanks for reading!

Downtown Dwelling and the Beginning of Fall

I finally moved into my new apartment the other day and I couldn't be more excited. I'm now living in downtown Salt Lake so I am pretty close to everything. There is something about moving into a new place with an entirely blank slate that sparks my creativity (and the walls are painted- score!). I have so many ideas of how I want to decorate. To be honest, I haven't been much of a decorator in the past. Getting essential furniture was much more important than making sure the place I lived in was "cute" or reflected my taste at all. Now that I have most of the essentials and I already feel more at "home" in my new place I can't wait to decorate and share bits and pieces with you!

Fall has officially arrived. I know- blah blah fall this, fall that. It has been 50 degrees here the last few days and I almost brought out one of my coats it was that cold, and I consider myself to be one of those annoying people who is like 60 degrees? I'm still in shorts. Not this year. brrrr... and the mountains got some snow on the tops (these photos were taken on the 25th of September).

In other exciting news, I am going to DC for fall break to visit my dad and will be spending some time with my friend Katie. On my to-do list: thrift shopping, find berger cookies, visit old friends, and maybe even (attempt) to go sailing if it's not too cold.

Happy Monday, thanks for reading!

Downtown Denver

We had a lot of time to kill on Sunday before the wedding, so we headed downtown and went to the aquarium. Who doesn't like to look at fish? Salt Lake only has this dinky little aquarium that is in an old grocery store. Obviously it doesn't look like a grocery store inside but the outside is not ideal if you know what I mean... anyways. Brady had never seen a seahorse before or touched a starfish or anything of that sort so it was really fun. 

 All that was showing of that fish was his head, I honestly thought it was fake but nope!

 Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam...

 300 days of sunshine a year? Is that a promise?

Unfortunately lunch took a lot longer than anticipated so we didn't have much time left to explore downtown as much as I would have liked. Next time! Now here's a few iPhotos from the wedding!

wine in hand, of course.

yet another gorgeous view.

All of the tables were assigned by different ski resorts. My aunt and uncle used to own a house in Steamboat Springs, CO. It's where I first learned to ski and although I don't remember much of it because I was so little, I always loved visiting them there. Until next time, Colorado and a big congratulations to Steven and Sophie!

Have a great Thursday!
xo, Amy

Weekend in Denver

Hello! Sorry I have been MIA lately. With school starting, apartment hunting, and everything in-between, things have been kind of crazy. Labor day weekend I took a trip out to Denver to attend my Cousins wedding. I've only been to Denver one other time and I loved it the first time and just as much the second time. Here are a few snaps from my trip!

We drove up to Mt Evans, known as the "Highest paved road in North America", aka one of the scariest paved roads in North America. The road is literally (yes, literally) crumbling off the edge in some spots but look at that view!

Unfortunately we did not see any mountain goats like I was hoping, maybe next time.

Note to self: bring a sweatshirt at 14,000ft. Doesn't look like it but I am freezing in this photo.

 

It really is gorgeous from 14,000 feet!

 These photos are about halfwaydown the mountain, stunning views!

Now the most exciting part of the day, the Miller Coors Brewery in Golden, CO.

I have to admit, the actual brewery tour was a little lackluster. It could have been because they were working on the machines or something but there wasn't a lot going on. 

But...you get FREE beer! Two of these to be exact (and a little half cup serving halfway through)

 Who doesn't love free beer? (they even have non-alcoholic Coors for my Utah friends ;)

Hope you have a great Tuesday!

xo, Amy

Craft Lake City

A few weekends ago, my friend Jenny and I met up in Salt Lake for Craft Lake City. We saw lots of homemade jewelry, art, house decor, ate way too many macarons and drank way too much grapefruit juice. I don't get to see her very often (she lives in a far away land called Provo), so it's always great to spend time with her. The good news, if you missed Craft Lake City, many of the vendors have Etsy shops and I have listed some of my favorites down below!

 ^there is a real plant in there! (I would kill it the first day, but it's a cool idea) She also has other really pretty jewelry on her Etsy shop here. I love this necklace as well

 Love those wooden spoons! Find their Etsy shop here

 Mmm those cupcakes-- Citrus Spice Bakery

 ^MissFitts Upcycled (also below)

 Travis Gray - Cutest miniature books and paint by numbers

I had never had unsweetened grapefruit juice before, the first sip is a little shock but it's SO good. Wasatch Organics does not use preservatives, they just freeze their juice so we drank it like a slushie and it was amazing and healthy (would also be good with a little vodka ;)

Not Pictured:

The Land of Salt - Terrariums and jewelry 

Emily Elizabeths Designs - Cutest Owl drawings

Dolce Bella By Erin - Amazing Macarons! Best I have had in UT 

Alexis Mattox Design - Cards, Party Supplies, Journals, Jewelry

Those are just a few of my favorites from the market! I only have a few more days of summer (4 to be exact), but I have a few things planned. First up: Kid Cudi tonight, what do you have planned? Thanks for stopping by!

Back To School Essentials

Below are a few of my back to school 'essentials', mainly because they are things I often wish I had while at school. I always get sort of giddy when it's time to go back to school. When I was little as soon as the school stuff came out at Target I would beg my mom to go school shopping and rearrange all of my new stuff in my room. Needless to say I don't really do that anymore, now it's more like oh good I have a notebook with five empty pages that will get me through the first week, but new school supplies are still fun.

1. A Backpack. I know this seems stupid, duh you need a backpack but I have tried using shoulder bags for school and unless you don't have very much to carry, it's not a good idea. This will save your shoulders big time, plus it's cute!

2. An Umbrella. Whether you store it in your car or in your backpack, it's handy to have for when it unexpectedly starts raining. In Utah we have very fickle weather, you never know what it's going to do!

3. A Water Bottle. Ask any of my friends, I carry this EVERYWHERE. It's important to stay hydrated and I find it a lot easier when I have my water bottle with me.

4. A Stapler to keep in your backpack, for when you forget and the professor insists that he/she will lose your paper (unintentionally) if it's not stapled. You'll be the one prepared and other people will be asking to use it as well.

5. Comfotable Shoes . College is not a fashion show, most people show up to class in sweats anyways (I never have once!) but if you school is on an incline like mine, or you just do a lot of walking, comfort is key!

6. A Motivational Planner. I like to keep everything organized and although everyone has smart phones now, sometimes I like to just write it down once instead of telling Siri to confirm reminders three times. This one is especially cute and they have lots of other cute planners in their etsy shop. 

7. A Lanyard. These are perfect for everything. Throw your keys on it and you should still be able to fish it out of your backpack when you are leaving campus, add one of these and you don't even have to carry your wallet with you.  

8. Headphones. Want to drown out that annoying person in the quiet zone yammering on their phone? Always keep a pair of headphones in your bag!

9. A cute phone Case. Just because :)

Are you ready for back to school? What else would you consider an 'essential' for back to school?

Have a great day, thanks for reading!