countdown

This is my sister Elissa. She is da bomb! She comes home from her 18 month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 3 days!! You can see and hear of her past adventures in Buenos Aires Argentina here where we have been posting her emails and pictures for her!

I love her so much and I've missed her greatly this past year and a half. I am grateful for the example that she has set for me and the service she has given. I know the people of Argentina have been blessed because of her.

Also I am freaking out!!! Only 3 days?!?
3 days until this face is in America? {americuh!}

we love each other!

{following two pictures along with the first one, via my sister bethany j}

And then days after Elissa returns we will also welcome a little one into our family! I will be an aunt for the first time. Woo hoo! So many exciting things to come.

love,
kenj

my new favorite thing

warning: this blog post is recommended for starving college students who are on a tight budget. Also, sorry for my boring blogging lately--I have been in the process of moving and adjusting.

I love learning! I love school {when it's not stressing me out}! It's a time to start afresh. That's why I love the new school year. We have so many things to look forward to and so many new things to learn {and for some reason it seems most apparent this year. hmmm}. How exciting!

But along with a new school year comes new expenses, which I don't love. I think others can relate.

Every year, I find my way to the bookstore to buy another set of monstorous books galore, {which put a nice dent in checking account} half of which I end up not even using! Well this year, due in part to the new layout among other reasons, I decided that I will not stand for these expensive books anymore!!

So boycotting the bookstore, I have been buying all my books used trying to avoid spending money at all costs!

Amazon, Half.com, etc. etc.

but my all time fav? . . .

this

is glorious! and my new favorite thing.

Check it out and love it.

I have spent $145.10 on all my books. I saved over half of the total money I would have spent at the bookstore!

I still had to buy a few books at the actual bookstore, but hey, that was bound to happen, right?

I love being thrifty! That being said, I am headed to DI and Savers later for some back to school shopping. Can't wait!

{un}inspiring

oh how summer is fast approaching an end! i definitely took it for granted.

{this is just a fun pic i found. i like it a lot.}

so many thoughts running through my mind and so many things to blog about, which makes it very difficult to transform any real thoughts into words.

aklsfakfnvoiedj niowjndvlingvlk!!!!!!

so let's just forget me trying to sound inspiring or philisophical or whatever and say that i am excited for what this semester may hold, change and all!

i am going to embrace it and learn to love it! so there.

{pic via, originlly here}

the polaroid project

Just a little project I am working on and I thought I'd give you a sneak peak. I got a nice start on it while I was at home, which was awesome!

Look at how rad my little sister is! Jealous.

Also I'm sure you wanted to know that the marion blackberry frozed custard was delish!

I love Good times. I am craving it right now.

Shake it!

it's my birth!

{pics via brooke}

today I am celebrating my birth with best friends and new friends. ;)
it will be great. and you know what? so far it already has been!

it began with a surprise gift from best friends, which is totally awesome and will make you jealous.
it's a blog post in itself, so that will just have to come later ;)

the surprise was followed by a kick-start breakfast consisting of wheat and honey pancakes, delicious fruit, walnuts, and whipped cream made by best friends.

the day isn't even over so there will be more adventures to come, that's for sure!
*possibly a drive in this amazing stormy weather
*picture taking is a must
*maybe some shaved ice consumption followed by other deliciousness . . .
i.e. cake made by kaylie

i wait in eager anticipation!

there's no place like home {cheesy title}

Well I am back from my glorious trip home. Sad day. But here is a sneak peak into my life there the past few days!

Reasons to love Colorado/home:

The Mountains.

my favorite part of the drive. this sign!

old clock and pic of my beautiful grandmother.

things in my mom's sewing room.

basement wall with framed records. real.

backyard patio.

our frog prince.

little birdhouse.

sky. edited.

clement park.

Also I got a nice start on a little project of mine. More details on that to come!

spontaneity

last night the answer was obvious,
so this morning instead of going with best friends on vacay
i came here.

different moments throughout the drive i had to pause:
what am i doing? is it real?
i would burst into tears because i was overcome with His love.
He knows.
He is giving me this as a gift.

so now
i am home.

home
home
HOME
home

{it's a weird word when you say it so many times}

and this evening, through tear stung eyes i was greeted by the most wonderful people.
we all embraced. i was engulfed in love. i needed this.

charlie was even there, trying to get my attention by jumping and scratching on my legs. he just wanted to join in on the love . . .

the love.
it is real and it is a gift.
i must use it carefully.

in the fruit basket again . . . yum?

et maintenant des bananes!

we eat well here. obviously.

Did you ever think it would happen again? these might trigger your memory: and yes i decided to reveal their true identities.
grapefruit, pasta sauce, peaches, cucumber, peach & banana.

blee ba bee bla de

I may be going crazy.

I clogged the sink this morning trying to use the garbage disposal. It's probably still full of soapy water right now. It just stopped working and I had to leave for work. Sorry roommies.

It's my birth in 9 days.

other random thoughts . . .

On another note, I decided that night walks with best friends are the best ever.

epitome of a summer's day part 1

hokulia shave ice co {found thanks to my sister bethany, here!}. hot saturday afternoon. photo shoot. sam and nelly, 2 tired efy girls. flava: passion fruit with ice cream.

delish!