see ya never.

But really.. I feel like I don't have time to blog anymore! Between working 29 hours a week, editing pictures, working out (getting wedding ready.. ya know!), eating, spending any other available time with my fiance (eek!!), and going to bed at a reasonable hour.... When am I supposed to blog?!

That makes me sad..

So I'm going to try still. But it may be far and in between...

So here are a few tidbits.

This is what they call the golden hour... And I love it.

Chance and I crafted a mug this weekend. To go in our future cupboards.. cute huh?

Oh... I also bought like 5 other mugs. Because I'm a mug person... especially a Christmas mug person. Love to thrift!

hale center theater

Chance and I saw Les Miserables at the Hale Center Theater.

So much better than the movie.

Ahh... no words.

We loved it.

"love your lover especially today" day.

OHHHH VALENTINE'S DAY.

The day to especially show my love how much I love him.

And I love him more than ever.

See those roses? Chance himself bought the balloon, roses, vase, and ribbon all separately and then put it together himself! He made sure to mention that to me, and I'm glad he did because I definitely assumed it was all bought together already arranged. Ha, I really am impressed and it makes them that much more special to me. That bundled with a candle, junior mints, and a note written on a paper airplane.... melt.


I got so excited for valentines this year and made a few things for my lover boy.

I'll never buy another card. Hallmark ain't got nothin' on homemade!

A little photo craft. Also homemade!

Dinner at Carls Jr. cause we were just too starving so we picked the first place we saw, and then Romeo and Juliet by the Odyssey Dance theater! AMAZING DANCING.... tragic kind of dark story... BUT AMAZING DANCING! hahaha. We quite enjoyed ourselves.

Home to watch 13 going on 30 and snuggling.

What more could I ask for?

ice castles

Yes, yes, because of my new obsession with the movie Frozen, just like everyone else, I just had to go see the ice castles. And they did not disappoint!

What a beautiful thing to see! You know what, even before I saw Frozen, I have totally noticed an attitude change in myself toward winter and the cold. It hasn't bothered me like it has in the past. And when I heard the Let It Go song and she says "the cold never bothered me anyway", I was like, THAT'S SO ME!! Haha, I love it:)

2013 review

I just looked back at my New Year's resolutions for this year (2013) and they were:


1. stay true to myself and what i believe
2. do what i love and have adventures
3. be thankful every day


I'm happy to say that I believe I successfully kept to my resolutions throughout the year. Every day, more and more I become happy with the person I am, and the life that I live.

Like I had said in that post, I know there is always room for improvement, and becoming the best me I can be is an on-going adventure, but I feel that I have indeed tried my best to stay true to myself and what I believe. I tried hard to not lower my standards to conform to the popular opinion and lived my life in such a way that people would know what I believed.

I have seen myself improving in the areas that I wished, especially in photography, and I can't wait to continue to expand my knowledge and skills. I don't care that "everyone is a photographer now". I'm doing it because I love it.  And though I didn't take any extravagant trips, I felt like I had my fair share of adventures. I became a "yes man" and did things that scared me. I made memories. Real memories.

I may not have said the words "I'm thankful for...." out loud everyday, but I did my best to "choose" to be happy. To see the small and simple things that made each day special. I really believe that to be thankful is to be happy.

2013 has been good to me! So here is the top 13 highlights from my life in 2013 (cliche, I know...)



1.  Dating Chance. Whatever I was doing, if he was there, it was better. I'm so thankful for the way he has impacted my life. The love and care, support, influence, and motivation he has given me through out this year has really made a difference! The year would have been VERY different if he wasn't a part of it, and I don't really care to think about experiencing it without him.

(the rest are in no particular order)

2. Speaking of Chance, going to Lake Powell with his family was definitely in the top 13 best times of the year! Not only do I just adore his family and love spending time with them, I had never been to Lake Powell before! It's just as awesome as everyone says it is.

3. The expansion of my family. Two new nieces AND Chad's engagement. Grace and Layla are two little bundles of perfect, and I'm so excited for Chad and Leanne to start their life together.

4. Grandma's passing... Seems weird to be a highlight, and I would give anything to have her still be here, but the time I was able to see her in the hospital before she passed away will always be a moment I treasure. It was a hard holiday season without her... but I know she watches out for me and I miss her everyday.

5. Mckay's mission call opening. Seeing Mac open that call and read out loud where he would be serving the Lord for the next 2 years was surreal! My baby brother! And then spending as much time as possible before he left. He knows how to have a good time!

6. Antelope Island trip with mom and dad. Just me, mom, and dad. Hey, I love my parents, but I'll admit I wasn't too excited to live at home by myself with them. But my attitude has totally changed on that. Plus, they like that I make them do fun things.

7. My homemade double stuffed Oreo Halloween costume. It was legit, if I do say so myself. Even though Chance and I had no parties to go to or anything... I spent 3 full nights on those costumes and was happy to just drive around the valley to show my family.

8. Little Millie turned one this year! And we were lucky enough to have her in Utah for her birthday, and birthday party. I got some really cute snaps at her party, and she's the cutest thing that ever hit this planet.

9. I bought a car! (I've been planning to do a picture and post about it... but I haven't.) I bought a car, with my very own money, in full, WITH CASH! Now that is a good feeling. I sure enjoy having my own car, and I really like the car itself too! Thanks to Chance for helping me get a good one.



10. Attending the Temple and my increased love for Sundays. With regret, I have to say that I didn't go as often as I should have... but every time I did, I always had the most beautiful experiences. I've got to make it more of a habit. And this year I have gained such an appreciation for the Sabbath Day. The peace is brings to me is priceless.

11. I turned 20! I officially said goodbye to my teenage years. Nah, I don't really feel that much difference between 19 and 20, but for some reason this year, I didn't struggle with telling people I was still 19 for the first few months after I turned 20. And I had a 'cake' of Grandma Nilsson's rolls, instead of an actual cake. That.... was awesome.

12. Chance and my Elf inspired Christmas date. Snow angels, ice skating, lights at temple square, texas roadhouse (for free), cookie dough, and snuggling. Now that was a date to remember!

13. Shark Week in Park City with my family. Even though we just swam, and watched Shark Week, and not everyone could stick around for long, I love little getaways, I love Park City, I love spending time with my family, and I love Shark Week... haha.

14. Okay I had to add in one more, because my life long friends and I went on a road trip to St. George and even though we got stuck in the hell fire sand and got swimmers itch, I'd go back and do it all again!!

Wow. It really has been a great year!

But you know me. I love change. And I'm ready for it. I've got great feelings and vibes comin' from 2014, and I think I'll run to it with open arms.

remember how much i love ice skating?

so much so,
that i made chance take me
in the middle of summer!!

and OHHHH how much i loved it.

i will say that i enjoy it better outside,

but still.

i love ice skating SO much.

and it's fun to do in shorts too:)

sometimes i want summer forever...

and then i remember how much i love a white christmas

and ice skating outside,

so summer forever just wouldn't be cut out for me.

thanks to chance for putting up with my christmas fever.

i'm his friend:)

(ps. cost 2.50 a person. love it even more)

PROM!

okay.
no i didn't go to prom.

but mckay did!
and he and his date looked AMAZING
(her mom even made her dress!)

seriously though,

if i could go to prom every year....

i would.

even with weston. :) haha

winnnerrrr

let the record show:

that i beat chance at bowling.
HA HA HA!
yesssssss!

christmasy!

dinner at city creek.
ice skating.
candy windows.
ice skating.
temple square lights.
christmas movie.

doesn't get much christmasier....
ya, sure that's a word.

it is the most wonderful time of the year!

it's over 70 degrees

which means it's officially SHORTS WEATHER!!!!
first off, i had my field work and i just got to play soccer outside for 2 hours.


and me and ann decided to sport our summer gear to school.

aub-
hat
tshirt
shorts
keds
shades

ann-
head wrap
basbeball t
shorts
high tops
shades

ahh yes. it feels soooo good!

{side note: my uncle E saw this picture ^ on facebook and said "punks" hahahahaha}

we enjoyed and embraced the weather all day long.

... or maybe we just tried to cover the greasyness of our hair........ either way.

we enjoyed it

so. 

right as my last class was coming to a close i received a call

from a strange number.

when class ended i went out and called the number back

"hi who's this?"

"is this aubrey?"

"yes..."

"hey it's joseph!"

joseph lives in my apartment complex.

really nice guy:)

short story even shorter-

i went to the jazz game with him!

yes, t shirt, shorts, hat and all.

a little embarrassing?

maybe.. but he didn't judge and it was way fun!

and we went to chili's after at like 10:30

where we thought the couple next to us was having a really awkward

first date..

ethan asked them.

hahahahahaha

too funny.

they were just friends actually.

anyways the last minute date

was awesome:)

and this warm weather is awesome.

daaaaaaate

red lobster for dinner.
crab legs for him {brought out in a casserole-like dish haha}. very entertaining to watch!
jumbo coconut shrimp for me! with pina colada sauce!
yummmm!
and i bet you don't hear this compliment very often:
"it's nice to go on a date with a girl who actually eats."
hahahaha
what can i say?
i was hungry..
and i loooove seafood!


"Rumors" at westminster

hilarious!
a little cussing?
ok a lot of cussing...
BUT my date apologized, he didn't know.
still a really funny show though!

yogurtland for dessert.
delicious.
and i'd recommend the place just to talk to the owner.
what a swell guy!

i'd call it a successful date!

keep calm and potter on.

let's see here.

it's just been a week that i'm glad is over.
not particularly because it was a bad week.
because really,
it was a fine week.
i'm just glad it's over!

the week has ended nicely though!
some pizza and a visit with my great friend edward.

and jason's deli,
mission impossible 4,
and checking out qualtrix with
my biggest brother austin.
it was so fun hangin out with him!
i have the best brothers in the world.

now i'm lovin me some
harry potter weekend on abc family.

it's simply brilliant!

are you serious right now?

that day of all days.

the day of love.

and not just for lovers.

but for all the people you love and love you.

but for me,

today was just another day.

class from 2-7.

tonight there were plans.

i go on dates with annie and trent.

it rocks.

they are so nice to me.

i can never thank them enough for all they have done

and do for me.

the plan was to see the vow.

but of course it's sold out on valentines day!

so we grabbed dinner at Zupas. 

mmmmm...

i came home just expecting to clean

and get ready for cleaning checks tomorrow.

step into my room and:

are you serious right now?!

it sings!

and see that sunny d in the background? :)

and the bag opens up to show all the princesses!

and reeses all over the bed!

princess mailbox filled with princess valentimes!

princesses in paris!

hearts everywhere!

and a 3D toy story poster valentine!

huge box of junior mints!

i feel so loved.
this really means the world to me!!

best valentines surprise EVER!!!!
thank you annie and trent!!
i have the greatest friends in the world!!!