bondi band review & giveaway

I received this beautiful teal bondi band in the mail yesterday & I already love it!! I used it on my run this afternoon and it kept my ears warm in the chill wind. I love that it's a wider headband, so it really keeps my hair out of my face while I exercise. Some headbands are too tight on my head and hurt after a few hours, but this stretchy wicking fabric is very comfortable. 

And now it's your turn to enjoy an awesome Bondi Band!! I have a neon green "shut up and run" headband to offer as a giveaway! Just use the rafflecopter widget to enter. Good luck & keep running! 

*Disclaimer - I received this headband from Bondi Band at no cost in return for my blog review on their company and product. They are sponsoring my giveaway for 1 Bondi Band, so please be sure to enter before it ends on November 3rd! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

Hey there. Happy New Year! It’s weird to think that we’re in 2012 now. Time has seriously just zoomed by! goals, goals, goals…here are my 20 resolutions to keep for the year I turn 20-

 1.      Blog more. (obviously)

2.      Run a half marathon

3.      Develop better study habits

4.      Read more great books

5.      Get into the nursing program!!

6.      Become more organized

7.      Go on a road trip to CALIFORNIA!

8.      Volunteer & give back to the community

9.      Create & keep a workout plan

10.  Spend more time with my lovely mother

11.  Make plans to study abroad

12.  Become a “morning person”

13.  Keep a journal of grand adventures

14.  Hike Rim2Rim again in 12 hours

15.  Attend ALL my 7:45am classes…we’ll see about this oneJ

16.  Eat real, nutritious foods

17.  Go snowboarding

18.  Become better at letter-writing

19.  Learn how to ballroom dance

20.  Develop a habit of scripture study every night

But most of all, I want to simply enjoy life more!! I’m looking forward to another year full of love, laughter, good food, and enjoying beautiful places with those I love. I want to show more gratitude. I want people to know how much I care, love, and appreciate having them in my life. Happy New Year!! 2012-bring it on.

P.S. I fly back to ID tomorrow morning!! I’m really excited, but also sad that I have to say goodbye:( Bittersweet. Also soooo much more packing needs to be done.

the sunshine state, we're here at last!

Due to hurricane Irene (which was predicted to be the worst east coast hurricane to hit the US in decades), we left for our family vacation two days later than planned. After church, we spent a few hours packing everyone and the car up, and we hit the road to FLORIDA!! I’ve been quite excited for our beach trip, especially since Hunter is flying into Orlando just for the week! Hunt & his friend JC got to our resort on Saturday and have been keeping the fort down while we prepared for the hurricane.

The car ride wasn’t too bad, I finished reading Goblet of Fire while my Mom drove for the first few hours. I took my turn rockin’ the packed mini-van from North Carolina to South Carolina. It only took about two and a half hours & I was singing along to Coldplay. We finally reached FL around 6:30am and each enjoyed a steak, egg, and cheese bagel. From there, I drove to our resort where we unpacked and met up with Hunter and his friend. While the boys got groceries, everyone else went to the beach. 

It’s so beautiful here and the waves are far calmer and more enjoyable than Dewey beach. In the summer, honestly what is better than a relaxing day at the beach? Grant and I enjoyed jumping the waves together, I read on my kindle, and walked on the warm sand. The beach hat that Maura, Sarah, and Ariana gave me for my birthday is so perfect for this vacation!! Thanks again:) 

After they got back from the grocery store, we all took a break from the tides. Since we drove through the night and couldn’t really get the best nights’ rest, I took a cat’s nap. When I came back outside, the boys were playing football on the sand, so I went on a nice run. Then we started making our favorite chipotle-style family dinner. Everyone has their specialty that they prepare; Mckay grated cheese, I made yummy guacamole and put cilantro in the rice, Clark cooked the meat, and Grant was in charge of the refried beans. It was delicious!

Since it’s a Monday night, Hunter and JC planned our Family Home Evening lesson. We watched & talked about these great mormon messages, found here and here. I love the first one, “What Matters Most,” it reminds me to forget the small annoyances in life and focus on the big picture. We ate cookies n’ cream ice cream for our dessert. For the adults that were still awake, we watched one of our favorite movies, Down To Earth. That movie is hilarious! JC fits in just perfectly with our family & is more than helpful with everything. We call him Jay-Z! Our family's so gangsta that we got a rapper on vacation with us!

I love sharing laughs & sweet memories with my family. I can’t wait for more sun, sand and serenity tomorrow. Happy summer & family vacations! 

IDR reflections banquet

The Indoor Distance Running winter season has officially ended & tonight was our reflections banquet. Our league ate dinner together while we saw a picture slideshow of some highlights from the season. Afterwards, a few coaches and athletes said a few words about how much they enjoyed the season and how much they’ve improved as a runner. Then awards were given out. All of the coaches stood together and announced the recipients for the three awards: “Most Improved Runner”, “Runner of the Year”, and “Spirit of Ricks.” For each of the awards, one was given to a girl and one to a boy. I was surprised and humbled when my name was announced for earning the “Most Improved Runner” award. I thanked all of the coaches and the athletic director. 

Inevitably, I started reflecting on the season that I thoroughly enjoyed. Our first practice was rough & I felt like a rusty runner who was completely out of practice. However, I started putting in more effort and started to really enjoy the  practices and meets. I loved our weekly friday night team dinners and the support that I had from my coach. Through improving my meet times and endurance, I learned a lot about myself & became a stronger runner. But most of all, I’m so glad I became involved in IDR because I met Majken. She’s such a wonderful person who inspires me daily. We cheered each other through difficult practices and exhausting meets. Maj is naturally a really positive and upbeat person & we enjoy so many laugh attacks. Once one of us starts cracking up, it cannot be stopped. 

I’m so thankful I became involved in IDR this semester. I was able to improve my physical strength & make some great friends. I love setting goals, setting personal records, and improving through hard work.

victory race, sleepover, and sammy's

Friday

There's nothing more rewarding than a delightful weekend after a busy school week. On Friday, after my roommates & I came back from grocery shopping, we started our party hop. The first party was fun; pizza, kit-kats, and the game “what if…” Everyone gets in a circle and writes a “what if…” question. (i.e. what if you turned into a monkey tomorrow?) All of the random questions are collected and re-distributed. On the back of the slip of paper, you write down the answer to the “what if” question you received. Once again, the papers get collected & passed out among the group. The game starts when someone reads the question on their paper & the person next to them answers the question with the reply they have on their paper. So the reply to “what if you turned into a monkey tomorrow?” could be “I would laugh forever, then cry.” (The reply being completely unrelated to the question & an answer to a different question.) Fun game, lots of laughs. After awhile, we decided to hop over to our next party.

Two girls in our dorm complex were having a birthday party in our lobby, Christa & Jenny. There were lots of elaborate decorations & treats. One of the goodies that I tried was insanely tasty; it had mini marshmallows, chocolate, and some sort of crispy morsel to it. Delicious. It’s like a s’more without the grahams & fire. I enjoyed chatting with friends in our building & meeting some new people. It was a delightful birthday celebration.

After the birthday love, our friend Ryan came over to play card games. He helped us build the IGLOO, we couldn’t have done it without his height and strength! He brought over dorito chips & spicy salsa as a midnight snack. Kyra, Dexter, and I were so exhausted after playing a few rounds that the uncontrollable laughter started. I laugh at anything when I’m extremely sleepy. It’s embarrassing. Afterwards, I brought my stuff to Kyra’s. She’s an awesome friend of mine & we stayed up talking until 3am. Loved it, but not the smartest decision-considering I had to wake up a few hours later & race at 8am.

 Saturday

Somehow I managed to make it to the track and had enough time to warm up before I raced the mile. On Thursday we ran a timed mile during our practice & I tried something new. One mile on our indoor track is 5 ½ laps around and I can get weary by the 4th lap. So I started thinking about a different brother on every lap, since I have five hermanos. The first lap I think of what an intense basketball player Hunter is. On the last lap, Grant’s adorable seven-year-old charm keeps me running strong. The last .5 of the lap, I give it all I have-a final sprint. By using this thought process, the mile seemed much shorter and I got my best ever mile time!! 7:11 and I know next time I can get sub seven. Compared to the LAST mile I raced, I felt much stronger & the race seemed to go by faster. Our team did really well-Rachael, my coach, also got a PR and so did Majken. After all the scores were announced, I said that our team needed to have a victory breakfast the next day.

Later in the evening, my roommates, Kyra, and I walked over to Sammy’s. It’s a wonderful sort of diner place that’s famous for their delicious pie shakes & cupcake shakes. They put a slice of pie into every pie shake, making it so difficult to decide which flavor to get. I enjoyed an oreo chocolate cream pie shake & it was outrageously tasty. Connected to the diner part of Sammy’s, there’s a stage and music concert performance area. Several music groups perform there weekly & who doesn’t love enjoying nice music while sippin’ on a delightful dessert? I love Sammy’s!

Afterwards, Ryan came over and brought everything to make froot loop rice crispy treats. Yummy! It brought back to mind several memories of my mom & I making these sticky treats in the kitchen together. We brought the dessert into the lobby & munched on it while we watched ROBOTS on the big flat screen. Cute movie, but I fell asleep half way through. I feel so old, that I can’t make it through a children’s animation film without falling into some much-needed sleep.

Sunday

Kyra & I aren’t in the same student ward, but coincidentally the weekend that I stayed with her was stake conference. We’re both in the BYU-Idaho 1st stake. how perfect. It was fun getting ready for church together & a good indicator because we’re thinking of becoming roommates next semesterJ  Members of our new stake presidency each shared their testimonies with us & it was an insightful conference. After church, I began making waffles for my team’s victory waffle celebration. Majken, Rachael, and Cameron all came & enjoyed the blissful brunch. I really like that our team is small enough that we plan & enjoy team dinners and gatherings. For the rest of the evening, I spent more time with Kyra and prepared for the school week ahead.

The best thing about Sunday was when Emily came home, she had been in UT for the weekend! I came outside to help bring her things in & to my surprise she led me to a parked car. I was really confused because I thought she had gotten a ride back up, but she didn’t need one. Her parents had driven her car from Colorado to Utah, where she met up with them for the weekend. YAY, a CAR!! Not that I don’t fully enjoy doing reps with my gallon of milk on the way back to our dorms…but I became really joyful when I realized no more lugging groceries home. Of course, I was also really ecstatic to have Emmy back! We get along really well, she’s my favorite roomie and we miss each other lots when either one of us goes out of town:)

wedding and reunion.

This week has been absolutely the busiest and chaotic thus far. I didn't realize how stressful and time restraining college would be, but somehow I survived! Personal Narrative? check. American Foundations paper & power point project? check. Math exam? check. Skeletal Lab Exam? check. Math group project? check. American Foundations exam? check. Anatomy & Physiology lecture quiz? check. I've learned what not to procrastinate & how to take one day at a time. It just seems like there's so much to get accomplished throughout the day, that it seems like two. From when I wake up(7:15 7:30) to 5pm is day one & from 5pm to when I finally get to bed(12:30 1:00 2:00am) is another day. Plus when fhe, devotional, my tutor group twice a week, and track practice every day-it gets a bit crazy. You get the point, I don't mean to be a complainer-but its just a lot to juggle.

Anyways, it only made me more excited & thrilled for our three day weekend-thanks to President’s Day! My cousin Henry was getting married on Saturday & I made plans a few weeks ago to attend. I haven’t seen the other Boodys, my Uncle Rob and his family for the longest time & I was really looking forward to seeing them. I also got really eager and thrilled to see some of my close friends who go to BYU in Provo. I secretly talked with Megan’s roommate & also a great friend of mine, Alissa. Her family recently moved to Utah & she was planning on going there over the weekend, so it was perfect. I had a place to stay & would be Meg’s roomie for the long weekend-whoo! And Megan had no idea, boy was going to be shocked.

friday

After my last exam for the week, it was time to leave for UT! I tried to be a responsible adult & I even made a detailed packing list and everything. But as always, it’s a chaotic scramble at the very last minute to get everything to fit in my weekend duffle. The five hour drive was beautiful. The snowy mountains in Pocatello are a gorgeous sight & they got even better once we crossed into Utah. I love the way the tops of the snowcaps harmonize with the sky.  I loved when we drove through downtown Salt Lake City, there were so many brilliant shops & beautiful buildings. On our way to Provo, we had to make a donut run at Banbury Cross. Strawberry glazed. Delicious. And oh so savory.

When we arrived in Provo, I met up with a relative of mine. Christine’s dad & my dad are cousins, so I think that makes us second cousins once removed or something. She was so kind to let me crash on Friday night. I dropped my things off at her house & admired the vintage décor. One of her roommates was away, so I took over her room. I was anxious to surprise Megan and see my friends, so Christine dropped me off at the dorms on campus. Alissa sneaked out of their dorm room & their RA helped us with our plot. She made up a story about their smoke detector being defective, while I was hiding to the side. After a minute of Megan being a bit suspicious, I jumped into their room & the excitement began. We were both screaming & jumping with happiness. She was so astonished and I was so thrilled to reunite with one of my best friends. 

After the shock initially wore off, I thought we should do the same thing to another great friend of ours, Courtney. We stopped by her room, but she wasn’t there. Meg sent her a text asking if she stop by & borrow her hot glue gun. Court said sure and a few minutes later there was a knock at their door. I panicked & hid under Megan’s bed, squished next to storage containers. She spoiled our plan with being so kind & had brought the zebra printed glue gun. I was sure she had spotted me and I came out of my hiding spot & greeted Courtney. Not the ideal reaction I would’ve liked, but it was great to see her!

Awhile after catching up, we went out to Café Rio for dinner. I had heard of this tasty Mexican restaurant & wanted to try it out. It was delicious!! I love chipotle, it’s my favorite place to eat at and their burritos are the best! But Café Rio cannot even be compared, it has a completely different flavor. I ordered a steak salad & was entranced by its taste. Their tortillas are homemade & make the salad.  I’m so glad they are opening up a few new locations in VA! After the delicious dinner, I went back to Christine’s owl house. She made yummy chocolate cookies & I saw some photographs she was editing from a photo shoot. She photographed the engagement pictures for Henry, and his fiancé, Lily.  They are so beautiful. I was excited for more timeless photographs at their wedding the next morning.

saturday

Christine made me a delicious egg sandwich for breakfast & we left for the wedding. It was raining and we got a bit lost, but we made it just in time to see the bride and groom! They are so adorable together. I got to see my Uncle & boody cousins. It felt fantastic to be able to catch up, since the last time I saw them was quite a few years ago. Henry & Lily were just glowing and they couldn't stop smiling. Ah wedding bliss. Christine took plenty of photographs of all the family, just his, then just hers. It was so precious. I can't wait to see all the pictures from the lovely day. 

 Before going to their reception, Christine & I had a craving for a churro. Naturally, we went to Costco. I also bought a huge bag of waffle mix, clementines, and a pack of healthy choice frozen dinners. I desperately wish there was a Costco close to campus, that place is the best. 

The reception was held at the Velour, in downtown provo. The atmosphere was upbeat, but also tranquil. There were many guests, the majority surrounding the food tables. It's always so hard to choose what desserts to indulge in, so why not try all. There were seven trifles, so naturally I made a trifle of some of the different trifles. The oreo cookie crumb & chocolate pudding definitely made my top three, up there with the strawberries n' creme. I loved all the Beatles songs that the band Timber played, as well as their band's music. It was so cute, Henry got up on stage and sang a special song for Lily with the band. adorable. 

After the fantastic reception, I moved into my dorm room for the weekend. Megan and I caught up for a bit and another one of our great friends, Audrey came over. We all then went to Courtney's room and hung out. My friend Will & I then met up to go running. Utah is significantly warmer and has nicer weather than Idaho, so it felt great to run outside. Towards the end of our 5 1/2 mile run, it started to snow. I should be completely acquainted with this, but it was awful. My eyes got so irritated, but at least we were almost back to campus. We were soaked, but at least had finished running strong! I managed to dry off before our girls' night in at Courtney's friend, Dana's house. We enjoyed delicious cookies & popcorn while we watched "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers." I can't believe I hadn't seen it before, it was such a great movie! It was a wonderful evening. 

sunday

After going to church with Megan, we were both exhausted. We finished our Café Rio leftovers & enjoyed our 2 1/2 hour sunday nap. It was much needed & felt rejuvenating. Afterwards, we invited Court over for a jumping photo shoot. priceless.

 monday

Court, Meg, Will, Isa, and I ate breakfast together at the cannon center. Breakfast foods are my absolute favorite, it was delicious! I stopped by Audrey's apartment to say goodbye & poor thing twisted her ankle:( I was so thrilled I could spend time with her over the weekend, she's hilarious and I miss spending time with her. Megan & I had a sentimental dance party right before I packed up. I miss our dance parties together & this one was especially delightful. 

The drive back seemed much shorter & I was was looking forward to my return. My roommates were happy to see me and I was glad to be back home. Back to the reality of freezing weather and Anatomy & Physiology lectures:)