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

The 6th Annual Christmas Party!

My friend Jordan and I (see the above pic? That's us!) hosted our 6th annual holiday soiree last weekend and I say this every year but think it was the best year yet!

Instead of a sit down dinner with place cards and hams and potatoes and lots of stress, we did a cocktail-style event and it was fabulous! We had cabaret tables and about 20 different appetizers and desserts, not to mention holiday punch and of course, the white elephant gift exchange! 

This year might have been the best year when it comes to the... um... variety of the white elephant gifts haha and seriously it was such a blast. 

I ended up with a Christmas clock that plays holiday songs every hour and some other lucky winners went home with a 49ers snuggy, a homemade twinky machine, and a pickle (to name a few!) 

This party is one that I look forward to each year - it's the best way to get all our friends from the past 6+ years together and spend a fabulous evening mingling and chatting and catching up. 

This year we had over 50 people come (!!!) and a new addition to the festivities included a photo backdrop that was made by Jordan's sister Kendel - it was maybe the most amazing backdrop I've ever seen and she also was the unofficial photographer of the night and took everyone's pictures in front of it! (seriously Kendel, you're a champ) I didn't even manage to take any photos of the centerpieces, the food, or the decor because I was too busy chatting and then suddenly 4 hours had passed and the party was over. 

What a night! Without any snow around it had hardly felt like Christmas, but after this party I was catapulted right into the Christmas spirit!

And thank you to everyone who came!

And I apologize in advance if your picture didn't make this post! There were  a lot to sort through and some most likely definitely slipped through the cracks!

^^^ Look at how amazing this made-from-scratch-and-held-together-with-3-nails backdrop is!

See previous years HERE and HERE!

So so thankful in 2014:

A few things I'm thankful for this year:

(yes, it's halfway through December but there was no way this post was going to get written in the middle of finals week - which I survived, by the way. 

So Happy very-late Thanksgiving! Hope yours was grand.)

>>> A husband who is unbelievably supportive of me and my dreams and also equally willing and excited to plan adventures around the world or just binge-watch Game of Thrones in our apartment. 

>>> The fact that I'm somehow in medical school and learning to be a doctor! I have a moment at least weekly where I can't believe this is my life - SO GRATEFUL!

>>> My family (and especially my parents!) that not only do I love, but I love being around! I love our hilarious group chats and face-timing at midnight and how I know they've always got my back - they're my people, and I am thankful for it. 

>>> Friends - new and old - that care about my life and make me realize how wonderful people can be (and are so much fun to buy Christmas presents for!)

>>> Our little apartment that is in the perfect location and is the perfect size for me and JP - not to mention the fabulous family that is renting it to us!

And now, a few pictures from our Thanksgiving, including but not limited to matching sweaters, deep fried turkey, and black and white checkered McKenzie Child dinnerware:

The 4th Annual Pie Party!

This party is JP's baby. 

Ever since the first year we were married, he's made sure we've never missed a year. 

The premise is fairly simple - bring a homemade pie, make sure you sample all the entries, and then there's the vote - & no voting for your own pie, of course. 

The coveted pilgrim trophy has been passed down through all the generations of the pie party and this year the grand winner was a Samoan-Girl-Scout-Cookie-Pie and it was delish!!

At one count we had 14 pies entered, making this our most successful pie party ever! 

See previous years' parties HERE, HERE, and HERE!

The winning chef!!

A Weekend in Park City:

This past weekend JP and I went up to Park City with our friends Eric and Kimmi for a weekend getaway!

We headed up on Friday and continued our halloween tradition of getting Chinese takeout for dinner. 

We played games and went hot tubbing, watched movies and the boys played a lot of FIFA. On Saturday we lounged around and explored shops on mainstreet, followed by dinner at Zoom!

Then, probably the best moment of all was waking up to SNOW on Sunday! It was seriously magical. 

And now we're trying to come up with a reason to go back this weekend haha