Oh, High School

Sometimes I miss you and remember when....

I always had hot friends...

Or took pictures to be silly, but then they turn out funnier than expected...

Or taking Christmas pictures with my silly brother who still can't be serious for one picture...

Or being able to convince a boy to do this...

Or going to Sadies with all my friends, dressed up like we were from the 60s, and laugh about something funny...

Or going to Girls Camp, searching for snipes and cuddling...

Or swimming with my friends and pose for pictures...

And realizing that we all really love eachother...

Or not having a date to prom, so I went with my best friends

Or just being able to stare at Mark's bod...

Or going to the midnight showings of movies like Spiderman...

Or just having the best lunch group EVER...

Or maybe actually having a date to prom and pretending to be drunk

Or taking a trip to Lake Powell and Alex convincing me to take a ride on the luggage carrier, but then pushed me into the lobby and ran away

So many fun, silly, and memorable moments with my friends. I am so grateful to still be friends with them today. Friends, I love you all. Thank you for the great memories. I hope you enjoyed the pictures as much as I have :)

Life Unexpected (Part 2): The Many Adventures of Taylor

As I promised, here is the 2nd update in my life...

I had the opportunity to take a few little vacations and travel to visit my dear friends and spend time with my family. My traveling adventures began at the end of September as I hopped on a plane to Colorado to visit my beautiful friend, Alyssa.

As a tradition (well, for only 2 years now), we did our own amateur photoshoot on the BEAUTIFUL CSU campus. Here's one of Alyssa's works...

My visit to Colorado was 5 days and 4 nights. I seriously had so much fun, even though it wasn't as wild and crazy as my last visit. We mostly watched movies and our favorite TV show "The OC". I believe this picture fully depicts my typical agenda visiting my BFF Lyss. Movies and popcorn!

On the 5th day of my trip, I hopped on a plane from Denver to Salt Lake City. Once I landed, it was a non-stop party! I had so much fun seeing ALL my friends. On my first full day on the BYU campus was on Wednesday. I slept in, had lunch with Mac Cobb, Mark Fletcher, & Andrea Morris, ran errands with Steven Hopper, had dinner with Jared Tate, Alex & Johnny Egbert, and hung out with my old friend Paul Rasmussen. The next day I slept in, went grocery shop with Ren (Wakefield) Noorda, shopped at the BYU Bookstore, had dinner at Cafe Rio with Brad McMullin, and then hung out with some people at Mac & Mark's apartment. Friday, I slept in (see the running theme?), went to lunch with Ren & Chris Noorda and their friends Ryan & Chad, then I tagged along on their EMS shift. When that ended, I went with Andrea to pick up Alyssa who drove from CO to UT with a group of people. We ate dinner and then met up with all our friends. It was an awesome high school reunion :) Here's a picture of our Friday evening (Mac was up ahead a little hiding in the bushes)

Saturday was conference. For the morning session, Ren & Chris, their friend Chad, and I made a nice big breakfast and watched the session. Brett Evans came over for lunch and the afternoon session. After conference was over for the day, Brett left and the 4 of us went to the park and played frisbee. Let's just say I suck.......... Here's a picture of us at the park...My amazing hosts Chris and Ren Noorda, me, and their friend Chad.

All the boys went to the Priesthood session, so me, Ren, and Mackenzie Daniels did some girl shopping. We met up with Alyssa and Andrea at Noodles for dinner. Then we ended the night at Mac and Mark's apartment. Below is one of many picture attempts from that night....

Sunday was conference. After the morning session, I headed up to Salt Lake with Steven, Mackenzie, and Brett. We spent a little time with our other friends outside the temple. It was so fun to experience conference with my friends! It was also my first time at a live session of conference. It was so amazing. I am so grateful we have a prophet on the earth today!

The Salt Lake Temple is so BEAUTIFUL. We got to walk around Temple Square for a little afterwards. I even ran into my friend Audrey Crandell who is serving a mission in Temple Square. It was weird calling her Sister Crandell. Anyway, my amazing trip came to an end and I flew back to Phoenix.

I was home for about a week and then it was Fall Break. My family and I took a very nice vacation to San Diego. Jenny tried to come to with us as you can see....

As our last family vacation for a while, we stayed on Coronado Island at the Hotel Del Coronado. Beach right outside our balacony, access to private pools & spas, and amazing food right down the street. The only downside is that we didn't see the sun :(

On Thursday morning, my mom, dad, and I drove to La Jolla and went to the San Diego Temple for a session.

It seriously was an amazing experience. I love being able to share something special like that with my parents. One day soon my brother will be able to join us and it'll be even more special!

Isn't just so beautiful? We're the itty bitty people at the bottom...

We didn't do much while we were there. Our daily schedule was always "whatever". We slept in, walked on the beach, chilled in the hot tub, ate delicious food, shopped, and slept some more. It was super relaxing and super fun.

I also did some soul searching on the beach. There were a few times I went out and sat on the beach all by myself. I didn't hate it one bit!

This is where you'd usually find my dad: asleep in a lounge chair and facing the ocean...

Thank you Mom and Dad for such an amazing trip. So many good memories made!

I'm living such a rough life huh? Hah! Many adventures and many more to come!!!

Life Unexpected

Ok ok ok, I know I'm terrible at blogging. I think it's fun and all, but I just can't get myself to do it. A LOT has happened and changed in the my life over the past 4 months. I will give an update in 3 different parts (meaning 3 different postings)... This is Part A: The General Update

SUMMER 2010 was pretty great! Nothing spectacular, but it was good. I worked full-time as the School-Age teacher at Sunrise Preschool. I had 20 kids between the ages of 5 and 11 Monday-Friday, 8 hours a day. It was fun but exhausting. I got to really experience having my OWN classroom: planning activities, creating classroom management, and trying to be "the cool teacher". We went on a lot of awesome field trips! Peter Piper Pizza, Pecos Park playing in the water fountains, going to the movie theater, the children's museum, and the Sea Life Aquariam (SO BOMB!). Overall, it was a great experience for my future teaching career. I've been fortunate enough to have been working at Sunrise Preschool for over 2 years and getting such wonderful experience with teaching children.

Now here comes what I like to call, a grocery list of updates...

My friend Hannah Meister was baptized in June. It was a wonderful oppurtunity for me to be apart of her conversion and watch her accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our friend Jordan Hunter baptized her and it was overall just an amazing day!

Elder Hopper and Elder Egbert came home from their missions in July. Alex on the 14th and Steven on the 15th. It was so awesome to talk to them about their missions and hang out with them before they left for BYU.

Elder Evans came home on July 16th from the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission. I can't believe those 2 years flew by so quickly! He's now at BYU-I having fun and working hard.

The wonderful Jordan Hunter took some us on a short trip to his grandparent's cabin near Show Low. Even though it was short, it was fun to escape the Phoenix heat and spend time with friends.My little brother A.J. is now an Eagle Scout. Can you say STUD??? (Smart. Talented. Unique. DORKY)

I went to the John Mayer concert on August 15th with my family and good friend Aubreigh Brunschwig. He is so AMAZING and TALENTED. I just love him, ok? Tattoes, wife-beater, and all!And of course, I was able to squeeze in a super awesome lake trip with some good friends :)

That was the end of Summer 2010! And now I'm just "living the sweet life": working part-time and playing the rest of the time... more to be updated later. BUT here's a small preview of "living the sweet life". I am practicing to be the next Beyonce, but I think Jarrett is going to beat me too it. (Video posted on Facebook)

I honestly love my life and I thank the Lord every day for the constant happiness I feel :)

Time flies when you're having... fun?

Has it really been 4 months since I last updated this? I kinda suck at this blog thing... I've been meaning to update it for awhile. Maybe I'll be better when I'm married with kids.... HAH, yeah right!

So, here's the update from the last 4 months

Mac and Mark came home from their missions (Mark at the end of February and Mac on March 1st). It really was SO FUN having them home for a couple of months. It gave me enough time to rebond, get attached, and then have my heart broken when they left for BYU at the end of April. Now they are living the "Returned Missionary BYU Life" and are too cool for me.... just kidding. I really do miss them though :(

Then there was Spring Break '10 .... wooo weeee. I stayed in town for the week, picked up a some hours at work, and had a nice time staying out late, sleeping in, and procrastinating homework. However, Spring Break '10 will always be remembered by a certain event. To make a long story short, I was driving my dad's truck one day. I met with Alyssa and Jenny for sushi, and then we decided to go to our friend Sean Keeney's bonfire for his birthday. I decided to drive because it seemed logical to drive a truck instead of Jenny's jetta. We drove all the way out to Maricopa, took a road that led us outside Maricopa, and then turned onto some desert land and drove for a good mile or so out to the middle of nowhere. To spare the pain of bad memories... I blew two tires that night. Thanks to the awesome people we were with, we were able to make it back home. Needless to say.... I am no longer allowed to drive my dad's truck.

Well, Spring Break ended and a few weeks later I turned 21!!!!!!!!!!

WOO HOO!!!!!!! It seriously was the BEST birthday (okay, it maybe ties with my 16th and 18th birthdays). Anyway, that day I had class from 930-1230, but after class, I went with a group of girls from school to Paradise Bakery for lunch. Then, I went home, took a nap and after my nap, I went and got a manicure and pedicure with Jenny. After, I got ready for dinner with 21 friends at Loco Patron for Taco Tuesday. The party then continued to my house for cake and presents. Then, there was the after after party on Mill Ave. I must say, it was pretty exciting to whip out my ID and be allowed to go anywhere :) My birthday ended with Jenny and me singing Lady Gaga karaoke at Fat Tuesday, meeting some guys from England, and staying out until 4 in the morning. I can honestly say being 21 has been so so so fun :)

A week after my birthday I started a diet called hCG and wanted to cry after the first day :( That week also consisted of festivities for Candace's wedding!!!!!!!!!

She was such a beautiful bride. I can't believe we're getting so old!!

Well, April continued to be CONSUMED WITH SCHOOL WORK... not even joking! I think I cried like every day. Being a teacher is a lot harder than you think!!!!

The end of April was celebrated by the return of my Australian missionary mate, Richard Harkey

Having your friends come home from their missions is the best!!!!!!!!

Well the Spring '10 Semester from HELL ended at the beginning of May. I can't tell you how much I am loving NO HOMEWORK and NO MEAN TEACHERS!!!!!!! This past school year has been the most challenging, time consuming, and exhausting I have ever had. College was a breeze until this past year. Thank goodness there is only one year left. But do I really want to enter the real world? Nope, not yet!

However, the beginning of May brought some sad tears. My great-grandpa past away, so my mom and I spent the week in Farmington, New Mexico getting my grandma out of the hospital, attending my grandpa's funeral, and getting my grandma settled in a nursing home. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, it was so wonderful spending time with my family. It was really an eye-opening experience in many aspects of my life. I feel like I learned a lot about the importance of family, family history, the gospel, eternal life, the priesthood, missionary work, etc.

I just love my family...

Well anyway, coming back home from New Mexico was welcomed to work. I am now the School-Age teacher at Sunrise Preschool and it's been so fun and so exhausting. That's pretty much all I do now... work and play

The end of May also brough home another missionary friend! This time from Italy!

Yes, that is right, Jared is back!!!! But his time home was short! He leaves for the summer semester at BYU tomorrow morning. Bye Jared!

Now, the excitement is for Alex Egbert's return on July 14th, Steven Hopper's return on July 15th, and my best friend, Brett Evans' return on July 16th. I can't believe Brett comes home in a month! These 2 years have seriously FLOWN by!

Well friends, I think that is officially the sparks notes update on the life of Taylor Smith! In the past 4 months I've had tears, lots of laughter, lots of fun, lots of "adult" experiences, and some starvation (17 pounds lost baby!)

Until next time....

Peace and Love,

Tay :)

Valentine's Day

Oh love...

Well, I can't say that this Valentine's Day was super exciting, unfortunately.

I spent the day making sugar cookies, going to church (which included a very nice meal made by the Elders Quorem), giving out V-day cards, and doing homework.

I would have to say my most memorable and enjoyable Valentine's Days have either been when I've had a boyfriend or when I've had a special Valentine...who eventually became my boyfriend (so that's like what, 4 out of 20 Valentines Days?). So that means, 16 years without having a Valentine. 16 years of being reminded of how VERY single I am. 16 years of feeling lonely, unwanted, and inadequte. Ok, I'm not trying to be dramatic or pity me, just stating the truth. However, today's Valentine's Day has been different. On the "not in a relationship" V-days, I can honestly say that I have been happy. I've enjoyed the day and made the most of it. But today is a different story. I found myself a tad depressed, lonely, and missing loved ones. Can I just let out a yell? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.... Ok I feel much better now :)

This be Jenny, my Valentine....

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY FRIENDS :)

Hopefully 2011 Valentine's Day will be better!

A Single Blogger (as opposed to a Married Blogger)

I often find myself viewing blogs of married friends and then clicking to their followers who I don't even know and I keep going and going and going until I've wasted like 15 minutes just looking at blogs of random people. Well, I've created of blog of my own, and maybe YOU are viewing this and don't even know me, who knows?

ANYWAY, thanks for visiting... I'm done with my first blog :)