Root-root-root for the home team:

On our last night in California we tore ourselves away from the sand and water to go to an Angel's baseball game!

It was "Mormon Night" and seeing as we're Mormon (LDS, etc), and also seeing as they were giving away FREE HAWAIIAN THEMED ANGEL'S JERSEYS (see below) at the game, it was practically fate and we had to go. 

I haven't been to a professional baseball game in quite a few years, so I had forgotten how much fun they are (even when you are literally on the highest row -- in all the pictures you can see that we're up against the wall haha) and also how delicious ballpark food is.

I managed to down an icee, crackerjacks (had to), a pretzel, some nachos, and a chocolate vanilla swirl ice cream cone though out the game...  and also I bought a hat so that makes me an official Angel's fan, right?

Ooh and the Angel's won!

Best Of: Utah Edition

Ooh I love living in Utah!

There is so much to do! Winter or Summer. 

And there's so many great places to eat, as evidenced by most of my blog posts... moving on:

Not being in school this semester (hello graduated life) lets me enjoy a lot more of Utah than I usually do during this time of the year!

First up, skiing!!

My dad and I head up to Sundance resort -- I've been skiing there since I was 3 years old so it might not be the biggest resort in Utah, but I always feel like I'm home when I'm there, I love it!!

We went on the weekend with the HUGE snowstorm so the snow was A-MAZ-ING. And then it's decided to rain and be 50 degrees for the last two weeks so...

<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>

Next up: BYU Basketball games!

Which are seriously so much fun to go to. 

They're so loud and everyone gets so into it!

BYU played Gonzaga last night and it was the best game! 

JP and I got a little cameo on ESPN too! haha for like 3 whole seconds.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>

And then this isn't really a Utah-specific thing but...

HAVE YOU TRIED THESE?!?

Delicious. So so yummy. 

Get out to your nearest grocery store and purchase some! You won't regret it. 

The marshmallow crispy ones are my fave.

:)

I'm Going to Medical School!

So I graduated from college just this last December. 

 I feel like I should be buying books and finalizing my class schedule for winter semester but I'm not, I'm done! And it hasn't really sunk in yet. 

Instead, I"ll be working full time, actually cooking dinner (fingers crossed), and attempting to eat/live a tad healthier now that I don't have the excuse of "it's a test week" at my disposal haha. 

But that's only for the next 8 months, because come August, I'm headed to medical school!

I've mentioned it a few times here and there on this blog but I was pre-med my whole time in college, took the MCAT and applied to medical schools last May, have gone out on interviews this past fall, and have been anxiously waiting ever since. Very very anxiously haha. 

Now real quick let me just give you an overview of the situation:

JP is exactly halfway done with law school. BYU law school. Which is located in Provo, UT. 

Most medical schools are located in California, Texas, or on the East Coast. All of which are not in Utah. 

I think the number one question we got when JP and I would talk to people or meet new people was: 

"Wait... what are you guys going to do if Grace doesn't get into the University of Utah [the only medical school in Utah]"

And our answer was always the same, "We don't know!"

Because if I learned anything in college, and I certainly feel like I've learned a lot haha, but the number one thing I walked away with is that when it all comes down to it, after you've made all your plans and done everything in your power you can possibly do, you have to put your trust in Heavenly Father. 

And He comes through for you, every single time. 

And usually not in the way I had planned for or thought was the best idea haha but it always ends up being the exact right thing for me. 

I didn't know what we were going to do if I got into a medical school that was far away. 

But I did know that I had tried my best in all my classes, I had studied hard for the MCAT and felt like I had a good application, so there was nothing left for me to do except pray and trust that Heavenly Father was going to help me get into the medical school that was the best option for me and JP and our mission here on this earth. 

I knew whatever happened would be the right thing for us.

So, when I got a phone call from the dean of admissions at the University of Utah School of Medicine telling me congratulations and that I was one of the first five admitted into their Class of 2018,  I can't remember a time I've ever felt more loved and taken care of by my Father in Heaven. 

It was such a confirmation of Heavenly Father's awareness of me and my particular needs and situation here on this earth. 

So there you have it! I'll be attending the University of Utah School of Medicine in August 2014.

And I'm so excited to start I can hardly stand it!

:)

My Best Friend's Wedding: Markell & Jordy

Friday December 27 was a gorgeous, freezing day for the marriage of one of my best friends Markell and her fiancé Jordan! 

I announced their engagement here.

It was a beautiful wedding and they were glowing all day with happiness, you could honestly see it.

I love weddings! Especially when someone you love has found the person they are meant to be with, AAH it's the best. 

And now, a million pictures: 

(all photo cred for these pictures goes to my sis-in-law Shayla, she's the greatest.)

Except the ones at the very bottom, which you'll definitely want to see, trust me.

^^^Her dress was unbelievable! It was her mom's, and was made by her grandma!^^^

 ^^^ haha! we got caught instagramming ^^^

 These are a few of her BREATHTAKING bridals taken by her photographer Tracy Hill!! 

The same girl who took my bridals!

Those Christmas Lights...

If you live in Utah, it's pretty much not even Christmas until you've been to Temple Square and seen the Christmas lights. 

So, this weekend we (JP and I, with our friends Eric and Kimmi -- remember them?) made the trek up to SLC with a desire to see the lights and try out a certain highly recommended restaurant (which didn't exactly turn out... seeing as someone forgot their ID... that someone may have been me... BUT we ate somewhere fantastic regardless. Now, back to the lights.)

If you want to get in the Christmas spirit, my goodness just put on a million layers, grab some hand warmers, throw on a scarf (it's a game changer, truly) and head to Temple Square! 

It's amazing! And there is always someone getting proposed to right in front of the reflection pond, it's just fantastic haha. 

^^^ hahaha. She'll kill me but it's too funny.

Want to know what else will send you right into the Christmas spirit? 

Listening to THIS. 

Over and over and over. 

You're welcome. 

Weekend Recap:

I officially feel like fall has arrived. 

I think it had something to do with it being conference weekend, as well as Utah experiencing the first truly *cold* day since summer ended. I got my winter clothes out of storage and even put up Halloween decorations (!!!). 

Full disclosure: the winter clothes are still sitting in their boxes in my living room. BUT, they are out of storage :)

I also managed to watch the entire first season of Friends (thanks to a birthday gift from my sis-in-law!) and am currently scouring the internet for access to the 2nd season. Even though I've already seen probably 70% of the entire series... It's fine, I don't have a problem. 

Speaking of TV shows, DOWNTON ABBEY IS BACK! I watched the season premier, cried my eyes out, loved every minute, but no spoilers! I haven't seen the latest two episodes yet. 

Okay, now just so you don't think my life is entirely lived vicariously through others on my computer screen, a little weekend recap:

>>> A few girlfriends and I made it up to City Creek Mall on Saturday and managed to find a few things that we couldn't live without ;)

>>> I also finally tried my first authentic dirty diet coke (think DC + lime + coconut). And I mean, come on, I'm already a huge fan of diet coke so I didn't need much convincing of it's deliciousness. 

>>> We also went out to eat at Pizzeria 712 for the first time in a while, and my goodness! I'd forgotten how much I love that place. 

>>> We had a Sunday brunch with my fam and walked around my parents' block. There really is nothing like Utah in the fall. 

>>> And last, but not least, one of my absolute best friends in the entire world GOT ENGAGED THIS WEEKEND!!! Markell and Jordy! (We sort of dubbed him 'Jordy' because we already had a friend who was a girl named Jordan and it was just far too confusing)

They're one of those couples that are so perfect for each other, they just radiate happiness when you're around them. 

I just couldn't be more excited for them!!

You Guessed It, Another Wedding:

And this time it was my cousin David's! 

He married a fabulous girl named Whitney, and the whole day was such a blast! 

They were married in the Salt Lake Temple, had a luncheon in a beautiful building nearby that overlooked all of SLC, and then that night they had a reception! 

And my goodness, it was such a fun reception. Between the musical performances and dance-offs, I was not surprised at all when I slept through my alarm and woke up with sore muscles the next morning!

 ^^^ always camera ready ;)

^^^ beautiful luncheon! And sooo delicious.

^^^ the bride & groom! 

 ^^^ umbrella's were hung from the rafters! How cute is that?!

^^^ Okay, I included this because I think it's hilarious and I have NO idea why I am making that face/who I am making it at... but apparently I was not happy about something haha.