i'm stepping onto my soapbox

a few months ago i came across an article that had to do with the new music video "animals" by maroon 5. the article talks about how they made it seem like it was perfectly okay for a man to stalk a woman, fantasize about her in a meat shop and essentially give off the message that it's okay to treat women like meat. 

i don't consider myself a full fledged feminist, but i do find myself getting more upset as women are treated unfairly throughout society. i get  that it happens to men too, but it's not often portrayed in a negative manor like it is for women. 

recently a friend showed me the song "girl in a country song". basically it just talks about how women are shown in music videos, and used to be some "hot piece of woman" in order to make themselves look better and to show off to their friends. This music video reverses the role, and puts the men in the hot seat. not only is it humorous, but it's also accurate. 

where is this post going exactly? ....here is where i tie it all together. 

a few weeks ago i had the opportunity to speak for a yw in excellence. their theme for the night was "you're worth more than gold" based off of brit nicole's song "gold". 

i feel bad for people who see how men or women are mistreated in the media, and than think it's perfectly normal to be in a relationship or to be mistreated because it's okay in the media. 

more than anything, i wish people, especially females, would realize that they really are "worth more than gold" especially in God's eyes. 

thank heavens we have made some progress where women are somewhat respected in society, and that we are allowed to have jobs, run for government positions, go to school etc. but we still have to take a stand for our own lives. stand up for yourself or other people who are being mistreated, make a difference, and don't take no for an answer when you are striving to reach your dreams. 

*steps off soapbox* 

currently...

++ drinking a woot woot from fizz n' fryz because i went to the gym this week, so i deserve it 

++ watching: private practice and loving every minute of it 

++ rejoicing because my cute brother has hit his 3 month mark 

++ enjoying having all of my wonderful friends come back from their missions 

++ living up the fall season in l-town. even though it's starting to get cold, i love it 

++ counting down the days until graduation. 5 weeks, say what?!?! 

++ patiently waiting for december 5th, hello t-swift pre-sale tickets 

++ jammin to these two songs 

and blank space by t-swift....which unfortunately you can't listen to it anywhere until you buy it

but the who cd is great anyways. 

lately.

here's what i have been up to lately, according to my iPhone photos. 

also, can i get a woot woot, because there is only 11 1/2 more weeks left until graduation.

i'm working on a post on tips for surviving college. share any and all of your thoughts!

 my cute little brother left on his mission, as you know from a previous post. 

i got to talk to him on monday, and it was such a blessing. he is doing so good! 

i miss him like crazy though! 

 road trips with this stud to island park. it was a great time! 

 also getting stranded in the middle of the canyon with brit was a great adventure. maybe i should learn a thing or two about cars. shout-out to all of the kind people who pulled over to help us. 

 really anytime i get to hang out with these cuties is a good time. 

 mia and megan have both gotten married in the last two months, i'm so happy for them! love these girls so much. p.s. carrie bird gets home in less than a week! 

my mom signed us up for doeterra, so we will see how this goes. 

that's really all that has happened lately. right now i'm working 45+ hours a week and 

trying to balance school and spending time with my husband. it's rough, but i'm almost done! 

until next time fellow internet peeps. 

best day ever

obviously i'm talking about my wedding. thank you to everyone who made it possible, the day went smoothly and i loved every second of it! check out this video my home gurl jenna put together for me. it's pure gold. you can watch it HERE

also a big thank you to step and blue bird photography!

 

 

little brother

this is my cute little brother. 

he left for his mission to el salvador, san salvador east mission on wednesday

i already miss him like crazy, but i am so proud of him for making

the decision to serve a mission. 

thanks brother (i never call him by his name ps) for being such 

a wonderful example to me. i am so excited to get your weekly emails

and see how much you are growing. 

the people of el salvador are so lucky!

see you in a quick 2. 

p.s. eventually i will post about the best day of my life. 

chain of events

have you ever taken 5 minutes to sit and ponder how you got to where you are today based off of all the events that have lead up to it?

as i was sitting in church today, i thought back to all the events that lead up to my temple marriage.

> may 2011, i graduated from high school and prepared to move up to utah state university

>>august 2011-may 2012 i was blessed with the best roommates i could ask for, who helped me stay on the right track. if it wasn't for their examples i don't think i would be where i am today.

>>> january 2012 i wanted to go to maine to work at a summer camp but my mom insisted that i work at oakcrest instead. i applied the week everything was due, and somehow made the cut to actually be interviewed.

>>> summer of 2012 was the best experience of my life. i learned so much about myself and where i truly stood when it came to the gospel. not to mention i met my great friend caitlyn, who set us up,  my future sister in law, and my best friend. working at oakcrest also helped me solidify my career path.

>>>the entire 2013-2014 school year i decided i was going to do some type of humanitarian trip, party in logan all summer, and hang out with my best friend. good thing i'm not actually truly in control of my life. Heavenly Father knew that i needed to go back to oakcrest, even though it wasn't right at the very beginning. my bishop gave me a blessing telling me that working there again would prepare my for my temple marriage. i learned so much from the wonderful staff and i finally felt like i could handle marriage.

>>>zach and i started dating in august, at first long distance (which was the worst), and eventually at utah state. we had so many things preventing us from dating we had to work hard to keep it together. but i know that these events made us stronger. and i am forever grateful.

i guess my whole point is to always remember that through every single good and bad time, it is preparing you for something better. we are not in control, it's  important to trust in His timing. my challenge for you this week.....think of all the events that have made you into the person you are today. write it down.

'merica

let me start out by saying i hated when people shortened America to merica. but i couldn't stop saying it yesterday. any who, this is the first 4th of july i have actually really celebrated in awhile. for the last two years i have been at oakcrest celebrating with human fireworks, which is fantastic. but there is nothing like parades, booths, face painting, and of course fireworks. last night we sat on my roof and watched fireworks all throughout the valley, it was fantastic. also, since brit and i are teenagers at  heart, we made a special 4th of july video. i promise you will love it!

 

also a little preview for July 11th! i can't wait to marry zach in 6 days! 

shout-out to blue bird photography for taking my amazing pictures! 

"The World's Greatest"

sometimes we do weird things and it turns into something spectacular. please

enjoy this short video, and remember you're the worlds greatest!

do rad stuff

yesterday we got a bunch of people together to run color me rad. our team name

was kickin' asphalt, and you better believe that's exactly what we did. thanks for the rad

times guys. enjoy the video below.

                   

do rad stuff

yesterday we got a bunch of people together to run color me rad. our team name

was kickin' asphalt, and you better believe that's exactly what we did. thanks for the rad

times guys. enjoy the video below.

                   

i lived

so last weekend jenna, mia and i ventured to usana amphitheater to see american authors, the script and one republic. i was so impressed by all three bands, they all put on such a great show. i highly recommend seeing one republic next time they are in utah. here are a few pics.

i love it when i go out in public and cute oakcrest campers 

recognize me. it makes me feel cool for a second. also, props to 

her mom for the awesome photo bomb. 

 after the concert. 

also, this last week i was in st geezy with my fam bam. here are

all of the girls getting pedicures. 

now check out my fav one republic song. 

peace n blessing's

gurlz gone wild

last week brit and i ventured to two of my favorite places in utah. torrey and lake powell!

it was an adventure as always. if you want to watch the video it's down below. here are a few pictures

from my adventure with my best friend.  of course we had to bring the better part of our trio on a stick because she is busy serving the lord in georgia

  

 

                    





**two more things. have you seen the fault in our stars yet? what did you think? i loved it, but i remember why i don't see sad movies in the theater. people cry way to hard and it becomes more funny than sad.



**i'm going to one republic this weekend with my home gurl mia. and i'm freakin stoked.



have a great week my fellow internet peeps!