A Pumpkin Carving Party {minus the carving part}

JP and I attended a pumpkin carving party put on by my cousin, and my goodness I don't know if I've ever been to a party where there was so much creative-ness being projected onto pumpkins! 

I mean, people had power drills out. Power drills!

JP and I however, found ourselves in a bit of a conundrum (<-- that, right there, is a great word)

You see, neither of us exactly excel when it comes to being creative and putting sharp knives in our hands while we're trying to be creative? That's just dangerous. 

Also, our pumpkin was honestly the most perfect pumpkin I have ever laid eyes on. The shape, the color, the lack of any blemishes! It was a state fair pumpkin. 

Anyways, those two factors sort of led us to the decision to not carve our pumpkin [see picture above] so instead we chatted. socialized, tried to figure out what everyone else was carving, and had ourselves an absolutely fabulous time. 

Life Starts All Over Again...

... when it gets crisp in the fall."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

This weekend, JP and I took advantage of these beautiful mountains that surround us and went on a drive up the canyon! 

It was a dream: we put "Old Man Radio" on Pandora (best. station. ever), rolled the windows down, and brought a little pseudo-picnic to eat as we drove! (peanut butter + honey for me, roast beef +sausage for him)

Love love LOVE this place we live in!

:)

^^^ stolen from JP's instagram

:)

Powerful:

This girl is amazing.

I had read a little bit about her incredible story when she was first shot, but had no idea she had since written a book. 

Watching this interview is 100% worth your time, the answer that leaves Jon Stewart speechless comes at 4:20!

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 Know How Much We Love a Themed Party:

Okay, I'll be honest, when JP first presented the idea of a "Chili Cookoff" to me, I was less than excited. 

 Exhibit A) Everyone's in school! People don't want to take the time to make chili!

Exhibit B) I don't even know how to make chili. 

Exhibit C) We hosted a BBQ just 3 weeks ago! I don't want to dominate people's social calendar. 

(I didn't take any pictures at that particular event, which was a shame because JP made bacon-and-cheese-stuffed hamburgers.)

But luckily JP just ignored these hollow protestations and eventually I got on board and voilá! We had the most fabulous chili cookoff I have ever attended (also, the only chili cookoff I have ever attended. But the bar is set preeeeetty high now).

Everyone brought amazing chili's, we got to spend quality time with friends we love, play the most hilarious game ('Head's Up' -- look it up on the app store!), and eat JP's signature pie again! So I would call the night a success. 

Should we make this an annual tradition? It's not like JP and I have very many of those ;)

Flashback Friday?

Guys, I was totally missing Europe this week!

I think that with the changing of the seasons I just start to feel nostalgic, which then transitions to me looking through all the pictures I took this summer, and then to me browsing the internet looking at places to stay in Seychelles and/or Santorini, Greece? 

^^^Top destinations on the bucket list right there^^^

Anyways, I think I've posted this quote on here before, but I have to post it again because it's so true! I just love it: 

"Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change 

that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas 

of living." 

- Miriam Beard -

A Heartbreaker of a Game:

So I'm not the most hard-core football fan out there. 

In fact, if I go to a game I mostly go for the social aspect/the food. 

BUT this weekend BYU had a game that was an exception!

We played our rivals - the University of Utah! And you better believe I knew what was going on for more than 50% of that game! Baby steps.

Now, I'm not going to get into the details of the rivalry that's been around since the beginning of time, but basically BYU hates Utah, and vice versa. It's a big emotionally-charged game every year and it always blows up my twitter feed the week (month) before the game with all this talk of who's team is better, why Utah fans are the worst, why BYU fans are even MORE the worst, etc. 

You know, real important classy banter haha. 

But the game! oh the game! It was a heartbreaker. 

It was a low-scoring one where you had hope up until the last minute just to have it crushed. 

(BYU lost)

But it was still so much fun, and I still love my cougars. AND it was really great because it was a "throwback" game which meant everyone wore royal blue and the football team even had royal blue jerseys!

You know how I'm a sucker for themed events ;)