MIA

Sorry I have been MIA for...ever. We went to Houston for a couple of weeks (it was GREAT and makes us want to hurry up with school so we can get back to TX) and then came back and started school the next day. Since starting school I have been BUSY with the opera and teaching and Bryce has been spending lots of hours in the computer science lab getting his projects done for his 3 CS classes. And we've both been sick... yuck! Basically, we are just trying to survive until we get another 3-day weekend or some sort of break. (That's probably not going to happen until Thanksgiving break, which we're spending in Houston!!).

I will try to be a better blogger... we have lots of fun and exciting things coming up this semester that I will be documenting, time permitting!

Wishlist

I have several big-ticket items on my wishlist/really early Christmas list. One main thing that we (I say we because this is an expensive item and the only way it will get gifted to me is if its a "we" item) want/need/drool over is a nice camera. It is one of those things that we always look at when we go to Best Buy and lust after. Bryce says the next camera we get should be one with interchangeable lenses and all that fancy stuff, but I'm not sure if we need that. I am sure that I want to get a better camera before our trip to Singapore for Christmas. Here are the ones that have gotten good reviews and I think I would want:

Nikon Coolpix P100 10.3 Megapixel Digital Camera

Canon PowerShot 12.1 Megapixel Digital Camera

These cameras are both under $400. They are both fancy point-and-shoot digital cameras. Now, if we are going with a really nice, interchangeable-lens, digital SLR camera, these seem to be the best (reasonable) ones:

Nikon 12.3 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera

Canon EOS Digital Rebel T1i 15.1 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera

Any thoughts? Does anybody have one of these cameras? What else would you recommend? I can't decide what is good/what we need. Oh wishlist, how you take up my time!

100

This is my 100th post!! So I would like to take the time to tell you 100 things I love/am grateful for.

1. Husband
2. My Mom
3. My Dad
4. In-laws
5. 2 Best Friends
6. Music
7. School
8. A Job (that I LOVE)
9. Sister
10. Brothers- and Sisters-in-law
11. The Gospel
12. My Cats
13. Health
14. The Temple
15. The Savior
16. All of my music friends that help grad school be bearable
17. My Teachers
18. Scholarships
19. Government Grants
20. A nice house to live in
21. Clothes on my back
22. Food on my table
23. Shoes on my feet
24. The Bible
25. The Book of Mormon
26. Living Prophets today
27. The gym
28. Hugs
29. Kisses
30. Unconditional Love
31. Crafts
32. A creative mind
33. Missed opportunities that help lead to better opportunities
34. Utah's love for community theater (which has allowed me 2 operatic roles outside of school this summer)
35. Opera
36. The Armed Forces that keep our country safe
37. Freedom
38. Christmas
39. Friendly neighbors (finally!)
40. 2 Cars, even though Bryce and I mostly share just 1
41. The Internet
42. Halloween
43. Setting Goals
44. Making Lists
45. Airplanes (even though my recent experiences with flying/purchasing tickets may have made me feel otherwise)
46. 4th of July 
47. Decorating
48. Teapots
49. TV--specifically some of my favorite TV shows, including:
50. Friends
51. Gossip Girl
52. Grey's Anatomy
53. and Anything on Bravo
54. Ikea (especially since we are still poor college students)
55. Bubble Baths
56. Massages
57. Manicures/Pedicures (and a mother-in-law who loves to get them when she visits)
58. Air conditioning during the hot summer months
59. Snow
60. That I can help others be better at something
61. Blogging/Reading others' blogs
62. Easter 
63. Chocolate
64. Thanksgiving
65. Movie marathons curled up on the couch
66. TV season marathons with Jess
67. Shopping
68. Hope/Planning for the future
69. Traveling 
70. Having to get up really early for something exciting
71. Staying up way too late
72. Talking on the phone to people I can't see often
73. Curiosity (especially from my cats)
74. Hobbies
75. Reconnecting with long lost friends
76. Facebook
77. A washer and dryer in my house
78. Watching sports on TV
79. Going to a baseball game
80. Babies (no experience with my own yet, but one day)
81. Being a girl
82. Lace, Ruffles, and Pearls
83. Video games to keep my husband occupied when I need to get something done
84. Having a really clean house (it doesn't happen often, but it feels so good when it does)
85. Generosity of others
86. Camping
87. Finding new craft ideas online
88. Playing games
89. InStyle magazine that comes in the mail once a month 
90. The Ensign
91. Real Simple magazine that also comes in the mail once a month
92. The Classical Singer website and all of the useful information it contains (including auditions)
93. A computer
94. Houston (which Bryce and I both miss terribly, although I don't know if we'll be saying that after we go home for 2 weeks in August)
95. Dreams
96. Funny Stories
97. Celebrity Gossip
98. Dancing
99. My iPod 
100. Sleep

Unique New York

Bryce and I were able to travel to New York City for a few days while I competed in the Classical Singer Convention. I didn't win :( but I got some great feedback and it was a wonderful experience. Here are some pictures from what we did there.

A view of the city from our ferry to Liberty Island:

Ellis Island:

Statue of Liberty:

Broadway Theater (just down the road a bit from our hotel):

We took the Subway to Lincoln Center so that I could see the Metropolitan Opera House (they're not in season right now, so we couldn't see an opera). When we went back above ground and were getting our sense of direction, I looked up and BAM! There was the temple:

The Met (I will sing there someday, fingers crossed):

After that, we walked around Central Park, down 5th Avenue, and over to the Museum of Natural History. It was very cool and interesting. I loved all the little boys running around in the dinosaur exhibits saying, "WOW! Look at the COOL dinosaurs!!" It was priceless.

Across the street from our hotel was the Times Square Toys R Us, which had some amazing displays. Bryce really liked the Lego's:

I enjoyed the Barbie house:

Bryce liked the toy store so much that it made him ask me if we could have a kid "in a couple years". I said "yes" and then preceded to remind him that that would mean I would be pregnant in a little over a year. He then said, "What? Maybe thats too soon." Our 4-year anniversary is in 2 days. I think we passed that too soon stage quite a while ago, haha. 

On our last day, we decided (since it was Fleet Week) to go see the USS Intrepid. We didn't want to wait in line or pay $30/person to go on it when we had to leave for the airport in a few hours, so we walked around the dock and checked it out from afar:

New York was SO fun. Hopefully I will have to go back there sooner rather than later. This competition is in Los Angeles next year and I am very excited. I love LA and this is the first summer since we have been back in Utah that we haven't gone to LA, so we can't wait to go next summer.

One Week

One week until Bryce and I are in THE CITY of this: 

and this (during movie #2's premier weekend): 

AND THIS: 

(Not quite sure why Vanessa is missing from this picture, but I'm not complaining). 

I can't wait to be in NYC for the first time. I may never want to come back after staying 4 nights in Times Square. Oh, no! What should I wear?!?

Traveling

Bryce and I are going to be doing a LOT of traveling from now to the end of the year. We are going to New York City for 5 days next month for a singing competition (1st time Bry is going to be able to come along!), Houston for 2 weeks in August, and Singapore for a little over 2 weeks in December. It is going to be hot and humid pretty much everywhere we're going this year AND we're going to be flying, so I have been searching for a durable, large, safe, and cute bag. I would like something nylon or similar that is waterproof or water repellant. I have spent the past week or so searching online and today came across this:

It is PERFECT, except for it is expensive (at least on our college student budget). I really want the white, since it is summery and would go with pretty much anything, but some of the reviews say that the light colors get dirty easily. The bag is nylon and waterproof, so it can be cleaned with soap and water. I really like the blue and it would probably stay cleaner, but the white is just so classic. The bag can also be folded up and snapped closed so that it looks like this: 

So that, if you're traveling and want to take the bag in a few colors, you can fold them up and throw them all in your suitcase! If I could, I would get it in most of the colors, but just one would be fine too... :)

After reading all the reviews, it seems to be a really durable bag for school too. So does that cut the price in half if it can be used as a purse (especially for traveling) and a school bag? 

To quote the lady from Napoleon Dynamite, "I want that..."

Wardrobe Wednesday

This week's outfit is inspired by the B-E-A-utiful weather we've been having here in Utah. Plus its totally an outfit I want to buy myself for a little trip we're going to be taking this Christmas break...

Dress from Chadwick's (so inexpensive!), Jessica Simpson sandals, headband (same as last week, I know, but its a good one), and Kate Spade earrings and bracelets. Enjoy!

Can't Hardly Wait

I have class/teach for 2 days next week and then get a full 5 days off. After which, I have 2 more weeks of class that include a 15-20 page research paper for one class and 2 small projects for another and then FREEDOM! As soon as Bryce is done with finals we are off to Houston. It is going to be a much needed trip of rest and relaxation. I have been going to school year-round for a while now, with not much break from work/life in between. This will be nice. Now I am off to clean my house so I can have room for making some Christmas gifts/crafts. Plus, I want a clean house for hosting Thanksgiving.

Gone

We will be gone this week on vacation to these places:

It is going to be an awesome trip before we have to go back to school!

DONE!!

I finished my last final today which means I am officially done with my undergraduate course work. Commencement is tomorrow (although I am not going to that) and I walk for my college's graduation bright and early Friday morning. Friday will be a long, fun day. My mother-in-law will be in town and so after graduation we are going to have a little girly day along with my two best friends. We are going to all get pedicures and then see a movie. After that we'll let the boys back in on the fun and go to dinner. This Saturday is a family reunion for Bryce's dad's side and then we are off to Vegas and the Grand Canyon for a little vacation before school starts again. I can't believe I made it. It only took 5 years, 2 schools, way too many classes, and quite a few sleepless nights, but I am officially a college grad... and will be starting my master's in less than 3 weeks!

Creepy

Last summer Bryce and I took a trip to England, Wales, and Scotland to visit his parents that were living in England at the time. Bryce loves historic sites, especially castles, so we visited a LOT of castles. We visited one castle right before they closed, so we took a lot of pictures and bought a book and were out of there. Recently in a quest for photographic evidence of ghosts, this picture came to light: It was taken just weeks before we were there. The article states, "No mannequins or costumed guides are used at the castle and photo experts have confirmed that no digital trickery was used." There are no guides at all, at least there weren't when we were there. When we went they were also doing some reinforcement of the castle and nobody was allowed to go up into it. It really creeped me out when Bryce showed me the article and picture. (If you click on the link above, it will take you to the article which has a larger version of the photo.)

4th of July and the happiest place on earth

For the 4th of July weekend, Bryce and I have been planning since about April to go visit my best friend in the entire world, Jessica, and her family in Anaheim, CA. Last time we went we were supposed to go to Disneyland, but things didn't work out, so I was super excited to find out a few days before we left that we could get in for free the day we got there! I have only ever been to Disneyworld and that was when I was like 8 or something, so we had a blast! (On our way to Cali, we stopped off in Vegas and stayed the night at Cesaer's Palace...nicest hotel room ever!) Bryce and I in front of Cinderella's Castle:
Jess and I about to go on California Adventure's newest ride, Toy Story. It was incredibly fun (and 3D, hence the glasses):
The next day was the 4th of July, so we woke up (like any good Mormon family does) and went to the pancake breakfast at the church. Bryce and I before we ate and it got hot:
After breakfast we went to Jessica's boss's house (which is somewhere in the hills) and had a 4th of July celebration including hot dogs and hamburgers, Ziplock baggie racing down the backyard fountain, Guitar Hero, watching the 20 different fireworks shows viewable from the balcony and some just good old fashioned fun. Here is a group shot of everyone (except Jess's parents) that was there:
I love going to California and visiting. Bryce and I are currently in the process of figuring out when is the next time we can go back.

Week 2: Scotland

After all of this, we finally made it to Edinburgh, Scotland! We staying in a wonderful Bed & Breakfast that my in-laws had been to before. It was beautiful and the room we stayed in was HUGE! (They really know how to pick 'em.) The day we arrived all we wanted to do was eat and go to bed since we had driven from York and stopped at Hadrian's Wall on the way, so that is what we did. After walking for a while, we finally found a restaurant that was wonderful. The next day we rode the bus into Edinburgh's city center and toured around. The first place we went was Edinburgh Castle. It was like a little town inside the city.

After the castle, we made our way down to Holyrood Palace (the Queen's Palace in Scotland). It was really beautiful. While we were inside this awful woman kept taking pictures with her flash off after she had been specifically told that no one is allowed to take pictures while inside. I got really fed up, so once we reached the Great Hall, I went to the security guard at the end of the room and let him in on her little secret. I felt proud of my observance of history. :)

Next we explored a few castles outside of the city. First, we went to Craigmillar Castle.

It was especially cool because there is a tree growing inside of it. Here are Bryce and I by the tree.

I think Bryce is trying to figure out how to get one of these into our future house.

Here is a view of Edinburgh from on top of the castle. Very cool.

Next, we ran to Tantillon Castle about 30 minutes before they closed. We were sad to have to go so fast through it because it was so cool.

It was in such a beautiful setting, right on the water. There was this huge rock formation out in the water. It is called the Bass Rock. There is this really cool lighthouse on it. It is that white thing in the center.

Bryce and I on our way out from touring.

The next day we left from Scotland and drove back to my in-laws house in Twyford. We stopped and got some food on the way back (KFC sounded good) and then we finally got back in. That evening I ate dinner with Bryce's parents, but Bryce wasn't feeling well, so he just went to sleep. Later that evening (Bryce had actually thrown up by this point) I decided it was time for bed. I woke up at about 3:30 in the morning because I was not feeling well. Next thing I know, I spend the next 14 hours throwing up and can barely hold anything down. By this point I had not gotten my teapot for the trip (I collect them) and that had been our plan for the day. I finally started feeling well enough to take a shower and get dressed, so we went into town and got my teapot. It was totally worth it, even though I had to lay down with my eyes closed for the entire car ride. The next morning I woke up feeling just fine, which was good considering we were flying home that morning. After our nearly 14-hours of traveling we got home and slept.

Week 2: Hadrian's Wall

There's basically only one thing between York and Edinburgh that is of any consequence: Hadrian's Wall. Bryce being the history buff of the family was pretty excited to get to see this on our trip to the UK. We were able to go into a Roman Army Museum, which was very interesting and then we chose a spot and walked up to the wall. Here are some pictures from our adventure:

Unfortunately the only shot of Bryce and I with Bryce smiling while we were here, my eyes are closed, so this was the next best shot.