strawberry jam.

Over the weekend, my mom and I made some strawberry freezer jam. It's delicious and super easy to make.

Here's the recipe we used (basically):

• 2 pints (apprx.) strawberries, washed, hulled and crushed
• 4 cups sugar
• 1 box Sure-Jell Fruit Pectin for Homemade Jams and Jellies
• 3/4 cup water
• washed and rinsed containers to hold 5 cups of jam 

You just crush the strawberries, then stir in the sugar. In a small saucepan combine pectin and water. Turn burner on high to bring to a boil stirring constantly. Continue stirring for 1 minute. Stir the pectin into the strawberries and continue stirring for about 3 minutes or until the sugar is completely dissolved. Pour the mixture into the jars leaving a little room for expansion, put on the lids, and leave at room temperature for about 24 hours. Then put them in the freezer, and that's it! 

Pinterest Love: Summer Dresses and Flats

Here is what I am loving on Pinterest lately: 

 It would need to be little longer and with a cardigan... But I love the color (mint green!).

Can't find the source for this.

I love this dusty pink color. I would wear it with a belt and a cardigan and my new heels.

This is so pretty.  

photo via tumblr.

I love this floral print. So summer-esque.

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And these shoes are also perfect for summer.

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For once, I feel like I am right where I belong. Why am I the one always packing up my stuff...

While I was packing up my room Friday afternoon, "Why Am I the One" by fun. started playing on my itunes. I found it applicable because I had just been asking myself "why is it that every time I finally get comfortable somewhere I have to pack up and move somewhere else?" It's a good song. But anyway, I am moved back home and, although I am going back in the fall, I still feel sad for some reason. It's an interesting contrast to last year when I was pretty much counting down the seconds until I could move home. Don't get me wrong, I'm more than happy to be able to see my family more often. As you may have noticed, I adore them and they are my very best friends. Still, I am really going to miss my friends in Provo... the Spanish Fork YSA ward just isn't quite the same. Although, I'll probably end up being sad about leaving them in the fall. That is yet to be determined though.

But at the same time as being sad I am actually really happy with life. And I'm glad I am going to miss good ol' Brookview. First of all, it's a good thing since I have to move back in the fall. Secondly, it's nice that I have people to miss. :) I'm glad that this year's experience was so much better than last year's. I'm so thankful for all the lovely people who made it so, even if they don't even know that they did. I'm happy that I was able to embrace being independent, I am so glad I met the people I did, I'm glad Jamie and I became even better friends (at least I think we did). I'm glad I got to do fun things like go to the aquarium, Ikea, fun., Holi, etc. And don't worry, I remember it wasn't perfect. School is hard and sometimes being shy is really hard but I think overall it was my favorite year, even school-wise. I got to take Human Development (so interesting), History of Psychology (loved my professor), Creative Writing (amazing!), three English classes in one semester (probably won't do that again but it was great!), and Intro to Voice (which was probably my favorite class ever). Also, my job is just fantastic. I love the people I work with! So really, I have nothing to complain about. But, still.
I'm going to miss late-night talks with Jamie. She's kinda like a sister.

Ashley because she's just so cool, such a great example, and not even judgmental. She's not coming back in the fall. :(
Oh yeah, Joe and his sassiness. It still surprises me.
Sunday story time with Katie. That girl makes me laugh and she really has the craziest stories.
And really, I didn't get to know Hilary that well, but I'm going to miss her too. And her desserts.
Robert and his random facts about stars and physics. He's moving for good. :(
Brian and Jim just because they are hilarious.
My VT's because they are adorable and so nice.
Jason and his empanada's (sp?) and his movie nights.
Oh and Shawn and Gus of course.
And of course Matt, Sam, Stephanie, and Braden. But they are sort of the friends who are always around so I'm grateful for that.

But, I've already met some pretty cool people and I hope to make some lasting friendships here as well and I'm excited to begin all my summer adventures!

I'm happy to have had such a good year, sad to leave it, but really looking forward to the summer and next fall.

But thanks for everything, friends. :)

school's out for summer!

Finals are over and I am finally free! This month has been crazy so I have a lot to write about.

As I mentioned in a previous post, Hilary, Jamie, Robert and I bought tickets for fun. the band. And it did turn out to be really fun. They were great live! I was really impressed with the whole concert. There were so many people there though, it was pretty ridiculous. Nate Ruess just has an amazing voice--he sounded just as good as he does in their recordings. He also has amazing performance skills. He just looked so happy to be up there singing his little heart out. He danced all over the stage and he had us sing with him at several parts. I didn't get any pictures because I forgot to bring my camera, oh well. Afterwards we headed to the famous SLC pizzeria, The Pie. Amazing.

 

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 The next day our awesome friend Jason made us a three course meal. So we had cucumber sandwiches (love!), fish, and cheesecake. He also taught us how to open a coconut the other day and it is so interesting. I didn't realize how little I knew about coconuts... but apparently I knew, like, nothing. Also I didn't know that I love coconut meat but it's so delicious!

I also had the chance to read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close for one of my classes. I love this book. I know a lot of people really don't like it, but it was really moving for me. 

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Also, Jamie and Parker were watching 127 Hours and invited me to join them. It was amazing. Like pretty much life-changing.

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We decided to be social and went to a couple of parties this weekend and we met some pretty cool people. And ate some pretty delicious desserts.

 And last, but most certainly not least, last night we and a bunch of people watched Troll 2.

 Although I had seen it before, it was just as enjoyable as it was the first time. Full of classic moments like this:

 And this:

This:

And we can't forget Grandpa Seth:

Other good things this month:
I got to hang out with Stephanie, Sam, and Braden quite a bit.
My mom and sisters and I went up to Salt Lake for a good day of shopping, Ruth's Diner, and Bruge's Waffles (Amazing! Go there!).
Matt Andersen and I wrote a song. I may post it here later... but fair warning it's not that good. But we spent like 6 hours putting it together and I'm so glad he helped me because otherwise there is no way I would have finished.
Oh yeah, I sang at my first, and only, voice recital. Yay me!
P.F. Chang's Great Wall of Chocolate. Need I say more?
Coral-colored shoes.
Oh, and this song:

And now I'm getting ready to move back home for the summer.
That's about it!
The end.

Twelfth Night Adaptation...

Here's a video some people and I made for a class project.
Yeah, it's not amazing... but we had a lot of fun making it.
Yes, I am dressed as a boy. (I didn't want many lines so I got to be Sebastian haha). 
Enjoy!

pinterest love: mint.

Here are some things I'm loving on Pinterest right now...

This backpack: Oh my goodness. Love. So much. I can't even tell you.

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These jeans: Adorable.

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And these shoes:

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Yeah, so can you tell I love mint these days?