Blate (Blogger Date).

A little while ago, I had the pleasure of taking quite the spontaneous, day trip to Phoenix to be with two of my blogging heroes--Lauren from Life.Love.Lauren. and Tiffany from The Austin Family Diary. We decided to meet up in extremely hot beautiful Scottsdale at sweet little restaurant called Olive and Ivy. 

As girls, we talked about everything under the sun from blogging to The Bachelorette to favorite books. It was just the night I needed and as we chatted, we ordered everything we wanted off of their happy hour menu (which kept the price just right) and shared it all.

Want to know the main advice we all agreed on? BLOG FOR YOU. Seriously. Blog because you want to and because you want to remember what was going on in your life. Everyone else will magically join in because they LOVE YOU.

So pretty, so magical. I love these girls and can't wait till we can meet up again! New York City, anyone?

Sunday Thoughts-Light

Taken one sunny afternoon while walking through Central Park.

When I first moved back to Arizona, I thought it had the brightest sun of anywhere in the world. I loved it and it's warm January weather constantly brought a smile to my face.

Lately, the light has been fading. It feels that even though this is one of the hottest, brightest times of the year--darkness is everywhere. I've never seen the sun and still felt like it was dark outside, until now.

Major life changes have been spiraling downward and all I can do is watch for the most part. You'll have to forgive me for my blogging hiatus.

Yet, even in darkness God knows how to put light into our lives.

Sunset in Sahuarita

He gave me my sweet friend Lauren and a safe place to stay. He gave me the strength that I have needed to organize my things. He gave me the love of a complete stranger who to this day, I've never met or even spoken with.  God has given me the sun and gorgeous sunsets. He gave me love from my family.

When struggling, I believe that one can choose to become closer to God.

"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." -Doctrine and Covenants 84:88


I am being lifted up. Things will work out. There is light at the end of the storm.

Last night's storm with light at the end in Sahuarita.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -Martin Luther King, Jr. 

{linking up with}

Independence Day

Besides, spending time on Twitter. . . it went something like this.

1. It rained in Tucson.

2. Even though it rained, it was still hot, so we headed out for a giant snow cone at the skate park.

3. Trying to dress all patriotic.

4. Lauren's amazing fruit pizza (yes, I kept the leftovers and will be eating it today).

5. Lauren and I waiting for the fireworks to start.

6. Fireworks in Tubac, Arizona.

What a Happy Fourth!