Day Date: Sundance Film Festival

JP and I have a lovely tradition of attending the Sundance Film Festival every year we've been together (that's 5 years now FYI, crazy!).

And not "lets-go-see-how-many-celebs-we-can-spot" attend, 

(although I would be up for that as well, JP will have none of it haha) 

no, we actually go to the films! And we honestly look forward to it all year. We've been to lots of movies at the festival and have watched them premier right along side the actors, producers, and director. 

There is something pretty incredible about witnessing someone's artistic vision come to life with them right in the same room.

Of course, attending films at the Sundance Film Festival is always risky -- you might not always get into a showing, which is so disappointing, and none of the films are rated so you're always taking a chance when it comes to the scale of appropriateness haha.

But we love it. We love movies -- well-made, thought-provoking movies that widen or even change your perspective. So the Sundance Film Festival is sort of right up our alley haha. 

This year we headed up on the first day and were really looking forward to seeing "Camp X-Ray" but unfortunately due to some traffic re-routing and other unforeseen issues we missed the deadline by 1 minute! 1! 

Just a heads up - They are freakishly strict when it comes to the film scheduling, whoa.

Anyways, we decided to not let the day be a total loss and took advantage of the beautiful weather by walking around Park City and having brunch at our favorite bagel shop up there. 

Not a bad way to spend a morning! And we're going back up later this week! Anyone seen or heard of one that's a must-see? I have a list but it can always be added to :)

See previous (blogged) years at Sundance:

2011,  2012,  2013

Resolving:

I mentioned in this post how a few of my new year's resolutions included updating and refreshing our little apartment, and those resolutions are well underway!

We've lived here for about 2.5 years now, and nothing has changed much (from an interior design perspective) since we moved in. 

So, over these last few weeks I've been brainstorming and rearranging, and then re-rearranging, until finally voilá! 

The bookshelves are color coordinated and my coffee table is finally realizing its full potential. 

What do you think?

^^^ a christmas present this year from my sister serving her mission in New Jersey! ^^^

^^^ Our apartment is also hosting its very first live plant! Isn't she a beaut? ^^^

See how the bookshelves used to look here. 

Ice Castle Fairies

We joined the rest of the BYU student body (haha, not really, but whoa it was hopping!) this weekend and went up to the Ice Castles in Midway!

They use sprinklers to make these amazing labyrinths and mazes of stalactites and stalagmites (which are slightly terrifying when you're walking beneath them... but it's worth it). 

Everyone kept saying they felt like they were in "Frozen" 

(which I haven't seen yet... I'm still trying to wear JP down haha)!

We went with Eric and Kimmi and had the best time! 

Which was equally due to exploring the ice castles as it was to where we ate dinner -- we ate at the Snake Creek Grill afterwards and my goodness, it was my first time and I am sold. 

Get the gingersnap ice cream sandwich dessert, you'll die. 

^^^ yeah... we had to. ^^^

Working Woman

Well I should probably clarify, I've worked through all of college but it's only been part time, so now that I'm working full time, WHOA. 

I got to Friday and was exhausted! I fell asleep at 11 PM and didn't wake up until 11 the next morning! 

But I love having this little break from homework. I get off work at 5 and head right to the gym (I'm terrible at maintaining a good workout schedule when I am in school! I'll be good for a week, and then I'll have a couple tests to study for, and then somehow it's been 3 months and I haven't been back to the gym haha), then I come home and actually make dinner! 

I love it. Having time for all this homemaking stuff is awesome.

A few of my new year's resolutions include some big apartment projects that I'm excited to have time to do, and I'll most definitely share on here as I complete them, like:

- reorganizing and cleaning out all my kitchen cupboards (I probably won't share pics of this one haha boring!)

- redesigning my bookshelves (still toying with a few ideas on how I want to do this one!)

- replacing and rearranging my picture wall! I am so excited about this one.

To name a few. 

Ooh I've also started back into my shopping fast! 

Starting Jan 1  and ending May 1. 

Remember it from last year? 

Feel free to join me! It's so refreshing to exercise that self control and really makes you realize wants vs needs in a way I was never able to before. 

Plus come May 1 shopping is suddenly so much more fun. 

via

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!

:)