2012

Hello!
This is pretty weird because I'm typing on my phone in the San Francisco airport. I should almost be in Hawaii right now but we had an emergency landing in Sacramento that was headed to LA (my worst nightmare basically) and they then shuttled us to San Francisco where we now wait till 4 for our flight. Mind you our first flight was at 5:30 am.

I've already had a minor meltdown already and then realized how blessed and grateful I truly am for this past year. It has been stressful and confusing at times, I lost a loved one, friends came and went, but more importantly I feel closer to my family than ever before and I feel big changes in 2013. (Starting in Italy.) Ringing in the new year in Kauai isn't so bad either. Even if its later than I expected.

I'm going to hug my loved ones tight more than i have before, break down barriers, and really LIVE in 2013.

Join me?

A Quote a Day


{photo: tumblr}
"Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never been this way before
All you can do is try to know who your friends are
As you head off to the war
Pick a star on the dark horizon and follow the light
You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye"
-Regina Spektor

San Francisco

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As I've grown older I've come to love San Francisco more and more. Before it used to be the 
city we passed as we drove to Grandma's and now I see it as the city that sparkles
at night and has it's own vibe during the day. 

My friends and I happened to stumble upon the city on one of its good days 
and we took in as many sights as we could and ate as much food as possible
including the worlds best root beer float. 

San Francisco, you were totally showing off. 

Merry Day after Christmas

Merry Day After Christmas



Here are some snaps from our Christmas tree that I am obsessed with. Now that Christmas
is over I hate the thought of taking down all of our Christmas decorations. 
I really think they make the house warmer and more inviting. 

I had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you did too! I am blessed with the 
greatest family and was completely spoiled this year. 
Tomorrow I am going to San Francisco with some friends so hopefully
I'll come back with some fun pictures! (:

Have a great Wednesday!

Favorite Christmas Songs


Allie's Favorite Christmas Songs

I am the type of person that listens to Christmas music as much
as possible almost to the point of driving everyone I love away from me. 
There is something about how each songs brings back a different memory
 and emotion that really pulls me in and sometimes even moves me to tears.

A few of my favorites are any songs by Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole
because they are absolute classics, any songs from Michael Bublé's Christmas
album that came out last year (I think), and of course, Judy Garland singing
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from Meet Me in St. Louis. 
Mariah Carey's rendition of "All I Want for Christmas is You" is up there on the 
charts as well. 

What are your favorite Christmas songs?

Let's Play Catch-Up...

Sorry for my absence!
I've been busy soaking in every moment of being home and honestly,
have not whipped out my camera even once. All the pictures below
are from Instagram or my friends cameras. Whoops! 
Here's what I've been up to:

Staring at our Christmas tree and beautifully decorated house. I'm in love
with this season. Seriously. 

 Christmas services at Bayside church with friends. The services are spectacular! 

 My sisters choir concert with the symphony in our town. We got to dress
fancy and my cape made an appearance. 

Last night my BFF Amanda and I got to take over the huge stage
at her church and play around with all the cool lights. I felt famous
for about 2 seconds. 

Other than this, my mom has been making me work out with her and boy, am I
sore. My body forgot what is was like to work out. (I know, it's horrible.)
I also wanted to remain quiet for awhile because of the Newtown shooting.
I was driving home on Friday and had no idea until a friend texted me letting me know.
My heart broke into a million pieces. I've been praying so very hard for all of 
those children and their families. 

I hope your Christmas season is filled with as much joy as possible. (:

Bam Bam I'm Done!

Here is a selfie showing my excitement because...


I got my visa in the mail!!! Finals are over!!! I'm
going home tomorrow night (3am!)!!! 

So I am now officially (and legally) going to Italy ( my mom said the packaging
was pretty intimidating. So official.), I am a free woman from school and now 
have to pack up all my thangs to take back home, and then I'm outta here!!

I can't wait to sit around my Christmas tree with my family, think of all the things I am
thankful for this beautiful year, and hug every single member of my family 
until they beg me to stop. 

Fall semester, you've been a doozy. But now that you are over, I have never felt
more relieved and free. So I guess, thanks for that. (:

Talk to you guys when I'm settled in at home. Oh, and I couldn't put my coffee
down for these pictures. Coffee is obviously pretty important in my life. 

We Interrupt These Messages...






...to bring you light spread all throughout a Botanical Garden.
It was magical and beautiful and Trader Joe's was handing out free samples
of their warm Apple Cider. Any place that has millions of twinkly
lights is my kind of place. It was a great study break. 

Now back to the grind... 

A Quote A Day

{via tumblr}

This!

That is all for today. I hope finals are going well for everyone in college/
high school. Don't go too crazy! :) I'll try not to as well. 

This Song

This song NEEDS to be in some wedding video or really
adorable video that we all share to our friends because it makes your heart
skip a beat and your whole body feels warm and loved. 

I love me some Philip Phillips. He is so darn talented and now he
has a whole album! Go snatch it up!


There is only a lyric video out for now but please tell
me how great this song is!!!!

Dear Santa...

Christmas List 2012
Here are a few things I asked for for Christmas/
my 20th birthday. That's what's great about a birthday so close
to Christmas- you get to make one list for both times!
Most of these items are suited for Italia and traveling. (:

 A cozy jacket to keep me warm and one that I can layer.

 Recipe cards that I can bring to Italy/ I just need since I've become quite
the cook. ;)

A Safepac purse for traveling around Europe that is safe from anyone slashing
my bag and stealing my money! I thought this was one was the cutest. 

 Infinity scarves for keeping warm in the winter!

Blouses with a collar for lots of layering.

A journal to document all my travels!

What are you asking for this year?

Homesick

Homesickness hit like a ton of bricks this morning. One second I'm watching 
E! and the next all the air is sucked out of me and the more I think about home and 
California, the harder it is to breathe. I try to push the thoughts back and remind myself
that I still have 14 days here but it's.so.hard.

This is the first semester where I haven't been home at all since I left for Arizona
in August. Sure, I've seen my parents because they came to me or I met them
in San Diego, but never once was I home in my safe familiar place. So many people
I go to school with live only 2 hours away and have been home numerous times
or they grew up in town so they see their family once a week or more! It's difficult
because you can't discuss this feeling of homesickness with them. They truly
don't know the feeling. 

When I was in elementary school, I played basketball. One of the worst feelings
in the sport was when someone would chest pass you the ball and it would end up
right in your stomach and suck all the air right out of your lungs. 
This is the only way I can describe being homesick sometimes. 

I'm ready for this semester to be over. And I still have 14 days.