Tuesday, January 31

We made it all the way through January already.

That felt quick.

Yay.

Monday, January 30

Look, a braid.

I wore my hair like this to work.

Apparently I look really different with my hair pulled back.

Sunday, January 29

Spent the day remembering,

And reading old letters,

And missing that boy.

Saturday, January 28

Cake!

Friday, January 27

We fed the sister missionaries.

It was the first time I've ever done that.

I made chicken tortilla soup & sopapilla cheesecake bars.

It was delicious.

And fun.

Thursday, January 26

Made my first breakfast sandwich:

Bacon, fried egg, brie.

Wednesday, January 25

But when will my ear stop hurting?

Tuesday, January 24



A beautiful sky over campus.

It wasn't completely dark when I got to campus.

I consider that a victory.

Monday, January 23

It was a positively dreary day.

Gray and wet.

A good day to hide under a quilt.

Sunday, January 22

We had our first snow & ice of the year.

It was a cold, crisp & wet day,

Little icicles on the trees.

Saturday, January 21

Today was Mike & Amanda's wedding reception.

I am so happy for them & that they get to be together forever.

They waited for each other while they served missions.

So their love story gives me hope.

Friday, January 20

I got to play Harry Potter Clue today.

It was way cool.



Thursday, January 19

Grilled up everything with my new George Forman grill.

Wednesday, January 18

The bare trees on campus in the sharp, cold night

Felt so much like winter.

Tuesday, January 17

Finally.

White Collar is back.

And just as good as ever.

Monday, January 16



A fun FHE with all our friends.

Cozy in front of the fire sipping hot cider.

Sunday, January 15

Sunday evening at home with Momma & Dad.

And we got to talk to sistergirl.

Saturday, January 14

This is the most delicious, beautiful & elegant dessert I've ever made.

Blood orange olive oil cake.

With honey blood orange compote.

And homemade whipped cream.

Yum.

Friday, January 13



Great night on the town.

We went to Wilmington to see Ben on his last night on the job.

We had an awesome time.

And I ate some delicious steak.

And pepper caramel cake.

But. Unfortunately.

I forgot the memory card in my camera.

Thursday, January 12

New boots.

Super casual.

And they allow for multiple styles.



Wednesday, January 11

Yay for literature.

Modern American Novel.

I am extremely excited for my new class.

Even though there are only two students.

Tuesday, January 10

First day of the semester.

Anthropology class was not at all what I expected.

Not at all.

Monday, January 9



It's a pensive and quiet kind of day.

A cold kind of day.

A lonesome kind of day.

Sunday, January 8

New dress.

Flowy & elegant & feminine.

It made me feel like a watercolor painting.

Saturday, January 7



So many cans.

A day full of stressing over making dinner for so many people.

But I did it.

Ten casseroles all by myself.

Friday, January 6

It was a great day.

I took a scenic drive down some old familiar roads.

And paid a visit to a favorite tree.

Michael showed me this tree the first time he drove me anywhere.

The mid-afternoon sky was so lovely with the tangled branches.



Thursday, January 5

Christmas is not yet over at the apartment.

After surviving the first work week of 2012,

I came home & found a spot in the middle of the living room floor,

with my roommates,

Project Runway

and a letter from my love.

Wednesday, January 4

Time.

It seems like there's not enough.

But then I just find myself wasting it.

And going to bed far too late on a weeknight.

Tuesday, January 3



First letter to Michael of the new year.

One year of letters down, one to go.

Monday, January 2

Today everything started to go back to normal.

Rachel went back to Utah.

I went back to my apartment & back to adult life.

And Christmas went back into the closet.

Normal life is not as fun as Christmas life.

I'm suddenly ready for next Christmas.

Sunday, January 1

Welcome to the new year.

And church was a great way to start it & get inspired.

I feel excited about the things to come & what lies ahead for me this year.

And the beautiful flower arrangement at church seemed to capture my excitement for the beauty of this new year.

This small tree was in the relief society room, sitting on a simple lace tablecloth.

This picture from below looks up to the bright white light.

And that for me reflects the promise of the coming year.