J.O.Y.

Today Choose Joy is more than just a phrase about choosing to be happy.  It's more than a blog to rant about my life. 
It's about becoming a better person and always trying to progress. It's documenting my journey to finding myself and hoping someone is inspired along the way. 
It's about choosing JOY to find happiness and bring it to others. We receive joy and happiness by serving first Jesus, others, and finally ourselves. 

I hope by following with me along my journey, you will be one step closer to finding joy. 

So.. I GRADUATED!

Hey guys! Yep, you read correctly. I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE! It's a crazy feeling being done with school and not going back in a few weeks. But it feels so good. Like I finished something I started.

It's comparable to that feeling you get when you have been reading a book for a long time and you finish the last page.. you close the cover and reflect for a moment..then you move on. I guess that's sort of how my graduation from college was. It was as if I just finished, reflected for a moment and now I'm moving on. -- Graduating in December is anticlimactic.

** Disclaimer- This post is long, sappy and slightly dramatic. Continue at your own risk. **

I haven't decided yet which career path I want to take. I've been praying about it and I'm trying to put my trust in the Lord to know that whatever happens next will happen for a reason. There's quite a few things I'd like to do and it would be ideal to get a job doing something I love. Right now I'm figuring out with direction I want to go. Finding my niche.

I moved away from Logan and I've been having a hard time being gone. Logan became my home and it was hard to up and leave my life up there.. I miss the town and my friends and even Utah State's campus. I miss how quaint it was. I miss how close and compact everything was. I miss how social it was. I miss everything about it.

Since I began college in Logan, I've formed hundreds of friendships- big and small- and I know they'll never be forgotten. After we have all passed away, I look forward to seeing everyone again and talking about old times. I am excited to watch my life movie and be reminded of the happiness that came from that chapter of my life. Part of me wishes it didn't end so soon.

I left behind best friends. Old roommates and constant support systems. I left behind my yoga buddies. My sushi dates. My painting partners. My study groups. I left my routine and my hobbies. I am now recreating my routine and finding new places to continue my hobbies. I am strengthening old friendships and trying to keep my life going at a pace I feel comfortable with.

Phorist, my yoga buddy and me. 

If you didn't know, I graduated with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Multimedia. I am eternally grateful and so blessed to have had the opportunity to attend and graduate from college. I know it's not a possibility for everyone and I consider myself very lucky to have made it through. I loved college. So far it has been the best years of my life. I was the happiest I've ever been in Logan. I didn't take it for granted. I lived to the fullest and took advantage of every opportunity I had while I was there. I'm so glad I did.

I'll tell you what though. I won't miss homework or wasted time with professors that don't know how to teach. Or paying for the spot you left your car in for 10 minutes while you dropped off a paper. Or buying food on campus that costs a million dollars.. but you have to buy it becuase you're STARVING. Or living paycheck to paycheck and barely making it through (even though I'm still doing that.. except I'm not getting paychecks now haha.)

But, I will miss being around people that relate to me. People that are in the same phase of life as me. People looking for friends and finding themselves. I found myself in college. I found what kind of person I wanted to be and would strive to be for the rest of my life. I found new hobbies and interests. I found a list of things I need to work on to become a better person. I found my struggles and my weaknesses but also my strengths.

I learned more about myself and how to grow up and live on my own then I did actually attending classes. I KNOW I went to Logan for a reason and that Heavenly Father blessed me so much while I was there. I want everyone to experience college as I did. I want everyone to have the happiness and laughter that I had up there.

I had hard times too. I had constant financial struggle. I had jobs I disliked and roommates that were hard to live with. I had boy drama. Oh did I ever have boy drama. I am blessed that I had the opportunity to date as much as I did. I made so many friends from dating and I met some of the neatest guys. I also met dirt bags and divas.. but I wouldn't trade them for the world. If I didn't date as much as I did, I wouldn't know what I want. I wouldn't know how a guy should treat a girl and how I deserve to be treated. I wouldn't know what ambition and hard work looked like.

Friends and I at Hyrum Dam for a summer BBQ. (I'm the second from the left.)

I'm happy to be graduated and I'm thankful for my parents who helped me along the way. I'm thankful for my friends and my employers and everyone who has been a part of my life. I'm so happy to be graduated and I'm excited to get started writing the next chapter of my book down here on earth. Cheers to a bright future!

Here are some pics of my closest friends and I this past year.

John, Jashon and I ate this whole pie during "Friends night." Every Tuesday was friends night. 

Natalie & Ryan Humpherys at my birthday celebration.  

Natalie and I standing outside our freshman dorm the week before I graduated. 

My freshman roommate Amanda. She was also my roommate my junior year.

My favorite roommates. Amanda, Amber and Jess. 

Jess and I getting frozen yogurt. 

Jess and I saying goodbye after I moved out. 

Mairen and I making tinfoil dinners in our make shift fire pit last summer. 

Amber and I at the concrete jungle in Logan canyon last summer.

Hayden, me and Mitch in California during the 4th of July. Best. Vacation. Ever.

FALL 2014 BUCKET LIST

Because fall is the best season ever, Braden and I have been thinking of things to do this year! Here is our bucket list! Feel free to print it or do whatever you want with it! Hope you enjoy!

Sorry that it's a jpg. You may have to convert to pdf if necessary. My computer was going crazy and it wouldn't open as a pdf. 

Did You Serve A Mission?

I'm assuming you read my post's title... and if you didn't... I don't know why you would end up here. So lets all rhetorically answer that question. Did you go on a mission? If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints you know that this question is one of the first asked to all men and nowadays increasingly more women.

I think missions are an amazing thing. I think they teach people life lessons and help them learn knowledge they may have not learned elsewhere. I know missions have changed the lives of millions. Not only the missionary but the people and families all over the world who have been served and touched by missionaries. Missionaries even learn languages oftentimes in just a few months, and if that's not amazing enough they have to adapt to new climates and cultural lifestyles. 

Many of my close friends have served missions and it's incredible to listen to their heart softening stories of converts and even stories of self conversion. Return missionaries have so much to offer and have done so much good... but what about those people both men and women who haven't served a mission?

For the sake of the cause, lets call the question of if one has or hasn't served a mission, DYSAM (did you serve a mission) because I will referring to it a few times. 

People often get caught up in the yes or no of  DYSAM rather than the intentions and heart of the individual. I feel strongly about this because over the years I have dated many, many men.. some who have and some who haven't served missions. Here is what I have found.

I have found that the men who have served missions are AMAZING guys...but guess what? The LDS men who haven't are still AMAZING guys! They have high standards, attend church, have testimonies, want to get married in the temple, etc.. I could easily say their character and spirituality is based on the present, on the now. It's not solely based on DYSAM because yes, that's wonderful but what are they doing now? Have they fallen away? Are they still reading scriptures, praying and attending church? I know some have fallen away, some have stayed strong. 

As mentioned before, I think missions are SUCH a positive thing. When I have children, I will encourage all of them to serve missions, especially my boys (if I have boys..) but what if they don't? I'll love them unconditionally. They are still perfect and will still have every chance to make it to the Celestial Kingdom. 

Does it mean you're a bad person because you didn't serve a mission? Absolutely not! There are many reasons one doesn't serve a mission. Sometimes heath issues prohibit one from serving. Other times anxiety and nerves deter someone from going into the mission field. Maybe they are taking care of prior sins and going through the repentance process? Lastly, sometimes a person doesn't yet have a strong enough testimony to withstand a mission- and that's not necessarily a bad thing. All that means is that the person needs to search, pray and build a deeper conviction for them self. Who's to say they won't go later?

I know that there is a time for everyone. It could be at age 19, it could be at age 50. We can all be missionaries regardless of DYSAM. That yes or no doesn't mean we can never be missionaries or that we don't have to continue to be a missionary. We are all eternal missionaries, some have more experience than others and some are still growing their testimony. 

Instead of focusing so much on DYSAM, let's focus on the now. Let's focus on what each individual is doing in their life currently to draw closer to our Heavenly Father. Let's use those wonderful missionary experiences to learn and grow but also realize we are all at different spiritual stages of our life. We are all special and we can all be missionaries. 

What are your comments? 

Top 5 Ways to Experience Washington D.C.

Washington D.C is one of the most interesting and culturally rich cities I've been to in the United States. It offers something for everyone. Around every corner is incredible architecture, a new museum to explore and hundreds of new restaurants to try.  Braden and I decided to go over Labor Day and we were extremely surprised to learn that there was so much to do and we wanted more time! I put together the top 5 things you have to do in Washington D.C. that we learned from our trip and hopefully you'll get to experience them too! 

1. Rent Bikes from Capital Bikeshare

If you've never been to Washington D.C. you'll learn quickly that your poor feet will hate you from all the walking you'll do during the day. If you've been there, you already know this. I didn't bring the best shoes because "uhm hello, tennis shoes don't match my dresses." Psshh, doing it over again, I'd bring those tennis shoes, wear them proudly and sacrifice gallivanting around in my dresses.

Joyriding around D.C. with Capital Bikeshare bikes

Around day 3, Braden and I talked to some of the locals that lived in the D.C. area. They told us about the bikes all over town that you can rent. The bikes we used were called Capital Bikeshare. The reason we chose these bikes were because they have rent stations literally all over the city. You can check one out and return it to any other rent station in the city.

TIP: These bikes have a small rental charge for 24 hours or 3 days. They are always free for the first 30 minutes. There is a fee for ever 30 mins - hour after that. Braden and I never paid over the rental charge because we would return our bikes to a new rental station before 30 minutes was up. We always had enough time to get from place to place in that amount of time.

Here's how it works.

a. You swipe your credit card and choose between a 24 hour rental or a 3 day rental. The 24 hour rental is $7 and the 3 days is $15.

b. Accept and acknowledge that the company will take a $101.00 hold out of your account to ensure the bikes are not stolen or lost.

c. Agree to the terms and conditions.

d. Print your 5 digit code.

e. Punch your 5 digit code into the numbers just left of the bicycle you want to rent.

f. Return bikes before 30 minutes to a new bike rental station.

g. Understand that you will be given back $94 per bike unless you are charged more with the time.

TIP: Download the Capital Bikeshare App to find all the different bike rental stations. Map out where you want to go and find the station closest to your destination. You will most likely make it in the free 30 minutes if you're touring and sight seeing.

Bikeshare stations

2. Take a Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour

We went through the company Big Bus Tours and it was so convenient. They have four day routes that take you everywhere and anywhere you would want to go to sight see in Washington D.C. Braden and I purchased a 48 hour pass and allowed us to hop on and hop off the buses all day for two days. The first day we took a few routes for almost the whole loop to sight see and learn facts about the city. We then used the map Big Bus Tours provided and circled the interesting places we wanted to return to. It was so easy to navigate and hop on and off the buses at the stops we wanted to go. The bus tours are also great for resting your feet.

TIP: The buses are double decker buses so sit on the top for the best view! Make sure to bring a jacket or umbrella for inclement weather.

Our 48 hour bus ticket also included free tickets for many other activities. It included a river tour on a boat in the Georgetown Harbor, admission to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, admission the Crime & Punishment Museum and admission to the Washington D.C. Zoo. Braden and I went to the zoo and did the boat tour and it was a good time.

View of the Lincoln Memorial from the river tour

3. Visit Georgetown

Georgetown is full of many historic neighborhoods and buildings as well as restaurants and shopping. If you love quaint towns and gorgeous buildings, you will adore Georgetown. It was one of my favorite places in D.C for sure. We went once during the day and even went back one evening because we loved it so much. 

Amazing shops in Georgetown

There are dozens of restaurants to chose from as well as dozens of stores to shop. We were told before we went that we had to try Baked&Wired, a local cupcake shop. We searched it on Google Maps and when we found it there was a line out the door; but, we waited and were NOT disappointed. The cupcakes were delicious. They were large and moist and basically the best cupcakes we had ever had.

With so many restaurants to choose from in Georgetown we narrowed it down by the ratings online and the type of food we wanted to eat. I suggest using Yelp and making reservations if you're going for dinner. It gets really busy in the evenings.

I mentioned Georgetown has shopping didn't I? I may have spent some time in H&M because I have a slight addiction to that store. I splurged and got some clothes for fall. Shhhh... don't tell. They basically have any store that you would need if you were to take a shopping trip there.

One of my favorite parts of Georgetown was the harbor. The waterfront is just gorgeous-- especially in the evening. There are multiple restaurants along the water that if we had time, I would have loved to go to. I suggest trying one out.. and letting me know what you think! You can also take the boat tour, like I mentioned above, at this harbor.

The harbor in Georgetown

4. Walk the National Mall

The National Mall starts at the Lincoln Memorial and ends at the Capitol-- it's about 2 miles long. I would spread it out into a few days if possible because there is a lot of walking with much to see. Start at one end and make your way to the other. Braden and I started at the end with the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument and got to explore that end of town first. 

Braden and I at the Lincoln Memorial

We then made our way to the row of Smithsonian Museums but couldn't get through them in one day. Spread out the museums and take a few a days if possible so you don't burn yourself out. Along the National Mall you will also get to see the front and back of the White House. 

The White House

Further along, after the museums, you will see the Capitol building and the Library of Congress as well as many other government buildings. You can get a free tour of the Capitol when you arrive or you can schedule one in advance.

TIP: The capitol tours take about 45-50 minutes and take you into the rotunda among a few other rooms that used to be used by congress.

The Library of Congress is an extremely beautiful building on the outside and even more extravagant on the inside. I would highly suggest vising this while you're at the Capitol. The Library of Congress is directly across the street.

TIP: Get a map with all of the monuments, museums and sights and circle which ones you want to make the priority just in case you don't get to everything in time.

View of the Washington Monument

5. Take Advantage of the Smithsonian Museums & Zoo

In Washington D.C. there are 19 Smithsonian museums and art galleries all fairy close to one another. If you didn't know, each Smithsonian museum is free to the public. It's AMAZING! There are so many interesting ones. You can spend as much or as little time as you would like in each museum which makes it great for managing your time. Braden and I had a list of priority museums that we wanted to go to and we spread them out over a few days.

The first day we did the Holocaust Museum and spent 3-4 hours reading, watching and listening to all the eye opening facts and information. It was a sad experience but a place I think everyone should visit. I would definitely recommend it.

The second day we went to the Air and Space Museum as well as the National Museum of Natural History. Both were incredible but only took us an hour or two to walk through. The Air and Space Museum had a lot of information of early flight systems as well as dozens of planes to look at. A few of the planes even allowed for you to go inside. The Museum of Natural History had everything from ocean exhibits to early human evolution to birds and all size mammals. The dinosaur area of that museum is currently closed for a few years due to the assembly of a new T-Rex.

If I had more time, I would have loved to visit some of the beautiful art galleries and gone to more museums.

I always knew I wanted to visit D.C. but I didn't ever think I would love it as much as I did. No one ever told me there was soo much to do and see. I hope my favorite things from our trip help you in your ventures to Washington D.C. 

If you've been to D.C., what were some of your favorite things? 

I added a bunch of extra pics... so if you don't want to see our touristy iPhone photos, stop scrolling now!!!

Photographing the Washington Monument

Dinner downtown at a quaint little Italian restaurant 

Continuing our touristy adventures

Breakfast at the Wicked Waffle shop- the ladies there were so nice!

Inside a hallway of the Library of Congress

Dinner for a whole family.. that's what it felt like!

Lights in Georgetown