The Best Part About Grad School:

So this post is like 4 months late but it needs to be documented so here we go:

MED SCHOOL & LAW SCHOOL PROM!!

Seriously, they are the BEST. 

Okay so they're not officially called "prom" (mine was "UUSOM Semi-Formal" and JP's is called the "Barrister's Ball") but let's be honest, it's basically prom for grown-ups and they are awesome!

We've gone to JP's law school prom every year so obviously we had to go to the final year (see the post from the first year we attended here!) and it didn't disappoint! They serve dinner, give out awards, have a photographer, and a DJ! It was a blast. 

<<<<<>>>>

I was put on the prom committee for my med school (of course I was, I think it's because I wrote about my love of throwing parties in my personal statement of my application...) so I got to help plan it and it was awesome! The theme was "out of this world" (so think like space/aliens/etc.)

We had food, a photographer, a DJ and people danced all. night. long. It was incredible! 

And JP definitely won a fantastic-husband-award that night because he came to the party for a couple hours even though he was taking a part of his law school bar exam the next morning! 

Law school prom:

 ^^^ we're on the far left!

Med school prom:

^^^ presenting the future doctors of America! #classof2018

^^^ med-school besties! we call ourselves #medicallyblonde

^^^ yeah... for some reason the photographer took a lot of pictures of me dancing.... I think it's because of how awkward I usually look! haha

^^^ prom planning committee!

^^^ this picture kills me every time hahah

So we went to Barcelona...

So so much has happened since I last posted in February. 

Basically I am the worst at multitasking and when studying and tests start consuming my life things like taking photos and posting them online tend to take a backseat... so this poor little corner of the internet has been severely neglected. 

But not anymore! I am back and have so much to update on here, including but not limited to:

>>> the 2 week road trip through Europe that we just finished

>>> our 3rd and final law school prom

>>> our 1st med school prom (that I was in charge of! Yikes.)

>>> a certain someone graduating from law school

>>> lots and lots of delicious new restaurants to share

>>> also, family pictures! Woohoo!

But to begin, lets talk a little bit more about this European road trip, shall we?

JP first found these AMAZING tickets to Europe (think $650 roundtrip! eee!) and then we figured we would need to go on a graduation trip for him anyway (because that's mandatory, right? ;) and then we got our BFF's on board and voila! 

The 4 of us left for Europe the day after I finished taking finals. 

We began our trip in Barcelona and let me tell you, that city is a dream!!

Here are the quick and dirty must-do's (and must-eats!) 

>> see all of Gaudi's awesome architecture and also his park guell (and definitely go inside the Segrada Familia)

>> Eat at Foc i Oli (best burgers EVER), get dessert at Escriba

>> Walk through the old town and shop at all the cute amazing shops

We didn't get to visit the Tibidabo amusement park this time around (but it's good to leave stuff for the next time you're there, right?!)

PS- huge thanks to those who gave us fabulous recommendations!

Sundance Film Festival + More:

Hello!!

It's been over a month since I posted on here - something I swore would never happen because an online journal is sort of completely worthless if nothing is ever posted... but moving on:

2nd semester of med school is hard! Why didn't anyone tell me med school is hard? ;) 

So studying is consuming my life, but thankfully I am LOVING what I am learning about, my classmates are pretty much my favorite people, and JP keeps me sane by forcing me to leave my studying cave and do fun things. 

Speaking of those fun things, we went to the Sundance film festival!

It's our sixth year attending (crazy!) and I think it was the best year yet. 

We saw three movies -- Digging for Fire, I Am Michael, and Z for Zachariah and they were all so different that I don't even know which one is my favorite. 

The best part about seeing movies at Sundance is that the actors and director are right there and watch the movie with you, then they get up on stage after and talk about the movie and answer any questions the audience has! 

^^^ Dinner in Park City at Vinto after a movie!

^^^ Hi Nick Miller!

 ^^^ James Franco on the left talking into the mic!

So that was really fun. 

See previous Sundance film festival adventures here, here, here, and here!

Then, last weekend, JP decided that we really needed a weekend away and so at 5:00 PM on Friday evening we decided to road trip to St. George!

We jumped in the car with our friends Eric and Kimmi and had the best weekend eating delicious food, laying in the sun, hot tubbing, and playing tennis!

And then last but not least - Valentines Day!

We had a pretty low key valentines this year - it started the night before valentines with our annual heart-shaped pizza group date (thanks to everyone who came!) which I will be posting about soon because I just realized that I didn't upload my pictures off my camera yet haha. 

But here is a picture of what I wore! Very festive.

Then the morning of valentines we went to yoga, played some tennis, and got Vietnamese food that night! And also watched half of Titanic.  It was basically perfect, and I loved every minute of it. 

It's Official:

When you matriculate in med school, they have this awesome thing called a "white coat ceremony" where they "cloak" you in your first white lab doctor coat (bet you didn't see that coming haha).

It was a really great day. It was sort of like all my years of hard work had paid off and were culminating in this amazing event that officially welcomed me into the medical culture. 

I'm really going to be a doctor!

 ^^^ hooray for new med-school friends!

The actual white coat ceremony was so inspiring, I was expecting more of a graduation ceremony type boredom, but instead I was riveted the entire time! Between the speaker (who was this fabulous pastor, loved him.) and the BAPTIST CHOIR they had come sing (that should be a requirement for any ceremony, AMAZING.) and they showed this video, and if that doesn't make you want to become a doctor I don't know what will. 

Also I was introduced to this quote about medicine and I really love it, because it gives such a nice perspective on the whole field:

Medicine is the most humane of sciences, the most empiric of arts, and the most scientific of humanities.

Edmund Pellegrino, MD (1979)

And now suddenly I'm two weeks into school and we already had our first test! Ah!

Grace and JP in the big city!

We've moved!! 

Yes, I've been completely MIA for like 2 weeks, but that's because boxing up your life, loading it onto a moving truck, unloading it into a brand new (to you) place, and then wondering why you have so much stuff as you are attempting to fit it all into new cupboards and bookshelves and closets takes up a lot of time. Leaving very little time for blogging. 

But I'm back! And hopefully I"ll be posting more regularly as I am getting back into more of a routine... because guess who starts medical school on Monday?! THIS GIRL!

I cannot wait. I feel like I have been waiting FOREVER to start and I am so excited I can hardly stand it. 

Other updates:

+ pictures of our new place are coming soon- it's a fabulous little basement apartment in Salt Lake City. It also has a washer and dryer, a luxury we are unaccustomed to. #parentlaundromatforlife

+ our car got broken into (we're definitely not in Provo anymore...) BUT they took everything out of the back that we were planning on throwing away or donating anyway so... jokes on them. #winning

+ JP still has 1 more year of law school at BYU in Provo so he will taking the train down south probably 2-3 times a week for class. (I won the "who should commute" battle). 

+ Best thing so far about living in Salt Lake City? THE FOOD. We haven't cooked yet because there are just too many new places to try!

Which leads me to the focal point of this post (and most of my posts...):

When in Salt Lake City and craving mediterranean street food, you must go to Spitz SLC and get anything on the menu (seriously it's all so good). JP loves the donor basket and I got the street cart donor but I truly I am going to order something different each time we go back because everything looks fantastic.

We are loving it up here already, I've been amazed at how much it already feels like home! 

Also - any SLC recommendations are much appreciated!

Making It Official!

Even though I technically graduated in December... (and BYU already sent me my diploma in the mail haha) I'm going to be "walking" at the end of this month at the graduation ceremony!

Because I'm sort of all about celebrating milestones/traditions etc. 

I am going to walk with my sister-in-law's college, which is Visual Arts, instead of mine (the School of Education) so JP only has to go to one ceremony, and I get to walk with one of my best friends, it's sort of a win-win!

So just this week I sent out graduation announcements! 

I designed and made them myself and I have to say I am pretty happy with how they turned out!

It's kind of fun, this whole visual-arts business ;)

What's been filling my time lately:

Well first of all, because of this little announcement I made a while back, JP and I need to find a new place to live up in Salt Lake City!

So I have been making spreadsheets, scouring the classifieds online, comparing prices and locations, asking for opinions on facebook, following up with referrals and contacts, etc etc and hopefully we end up living somewhere we love! 

It's very exciting, this whole moving business and also bittersweet because we really like where we live now. But the allure of a fresh start in a new city is pretty intoxicating, so the house-hunt is on!

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

Second of all, we attended The Barrister's Ball aka Law School Prom again! Remember last year?

Well this year was even better, they added a photo booth AND italian sodas! haha

But seriously, JP has made such good friends during these last two years at law school, we feel very lucky to know and spend time with such wonderful hilarious people!

And last, but not least, a few links of things that I have been loving and showing everyone lately! Enjoy!

>>> If you've read Divergent or seen the movie, (or even if you haven't) you definitely should read this article! I loved it, so much. 

>>> Also, I've watched this video five times and still am almost crying laughing by the end.

>>> Have you heard about this movement? It's the most amazing innovative idea and such an easy way to make a huge impact. Join me and do it!!

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 Week, sort-of summed up::

This is a little scatter-brained so bear with me:

JP and I have been playing house this week while my parents have been out of town (shout-out to my dad for running the NYC marathon last Sunday! His second marathon in less than a month!). 

Playing house means we are in charge of my little brother. My little seventeen year old brother haha. 

So basically our job is make sure: 

a) My parent's house doesn't burn down.

b) My brother eats something other than Mountain Dew and frozen pizza.

c) And that he comes home at night. 

Piece of cake. I think we're ready for our own kids! ha... ha... ha.... just kidding. 

I also received some super-awesome exciting news on the medical school front... but since I haven't made any final decisions I better hold off on the specifics, sorry! 

Also, can we talk about men and colds? JP, bless his heart, has had a cold all week and I'm not going to say anything, but this video is pretty much exactly on point haha. 

Also, we're over halfway through this semester, my final semester of college, and you know what? I am actually sad to be finishing college. These years have been the most fun, challenging, growing years of my life and I'm apparently not quite ready for that chapter to be closed yet. Oh well. We'll see how I feel about it after finals week haha. 

Ooh we went and saw the Bar J Wrangler's last weekend with my in-laws! 

Haha, I don't know if anyone reading this has ever seen them, but it was hilarious... mostly because we were the only ones there under the age of 30... and there was this whole western trading-post thing going on outside the concert where you could buy indian jewelry, blankets, cowboy hats and saddles, and even deer skin. Definitely awesome, definitely not really my scene, but I loved traipsing around with the mountain men in my high heels! (face-palm)

See below.

So here's to the weekend!  I still have to take a quiz and a test before it's *officially* the weekend... but it's pretty much here. 

Have a great one!