utah: reception night.

i have been to my fair share of receptions, and i am only twenty two. but if i was to give this reception a title, i would say it was the most tumblr-worthy i have ever attended. if you don't know what that means, just know that it is awesome. i love having such a cool sister.

 jade and i are actually pretty awesome.

complimentary shoeshine. are you for real?

 mine bestie sarahmainesduke came. this reunion was so happy.

 i love her forever.

and off they went. it was magical.

also, please note all the incredibly well dressed individuals. i was gawking all night.

last utah post to come!

look out will and kate. there are new dukes in town.

one time my best friend got married and it was the best day of my life. true story.

waiting patiently for the newlyweds.

this was a fun moment. they came out looking all celestial and happy and beautiful and then i started to cry like a child and then the photographer decided that was great and got up in my grill taking pictures of my tears. super.

 got the gang back together. i swear i have at least two other versions of this picture.

 snagged the beautiful bride for a quick pic.

 we had so much fun dancing, eating, and catching up. so many sweet moments throughout the day. i am so happy for the dukes and i can't wait for the memories we'll make in this next stage of life!

less is more.

i am quite sure we would be best friends in real life.

via

if wishes were fishes...

...i actually don't know the rest of that saying.

anyway, i've decided to put my christmas wish list on here so that certain family members who have asked for it know where to find it. i'll also make a link on the side so i can add to it as well. i can never think of what i want when i'm asked, they just kind of come to me throughout the month.

so. here goes.

i've heard running in these is a dream. a dream i would like to be a part of.

 i need a new hoodie. and i heart volcom.

for when i don't want to get back out of my cozy warm bed to turn off the light.

i need to put my hundreds of pictures somewhere safe and organized until i find time to actually scrapbook.

anthropologie wants to keep my ears warm.

i can be a game person.

pretty pretty.

i'm kind of particular when it comes to rings. but this one is pretty.

and you know how i lovvve earrings. especially ones with feathers.

i want to be this kind of girl. please. 

why can't i, you ask? oh just cause i have to walk more than five feet every day, that's all.

 and always, gift cards. of course:

target, itunes, forever 21, nordstrom, tj maxx, cafe rio, zupas, golden spoon, the usual...

does this make me sound gaudy and pretentious? i promise i'm not. it's just fun to wish. and give others ideas...

bf: the day

well, the wonderful day finally came when i got to see brandon.

and oh was it glorious.

let's start from the beginning.

of course the night before we had to figure out what i was going to wear.

after several unsuccessful outfits, this is what we came up with.

this is my yeah, i fly to los angeles for less than a day to see brandon flowers, don't you? getup.

flew out of salt lake. time: 1130.

i heart planes. and sitting in a chair in the sky. aka flying.

blake picked me up and we went to our grandma and grandpa griffith's house. then we walked to the pier for some yummmmy lunch. right there. by the ocean. don't worry about it.

my yummy yummy fish tacos. probably my favorite california treat.

there were super cool bike racks too.

after that we walked back to their house and blake and i took a nap. we were both pretty beat so it felt good to get a couple hours of recovery time. then we met up with dad for dinner at spires where i had some french toast. mmmm...

after that blake and i headed to la. of course there was a bit of traffic but it was definitely good bonding time :) and we arrived at the wiltern right before the opening act got onstage!

the first guy [fran healy of the band travis] was pretty good but i was just itching to hear brandon. finally, at 9, he took the stage.... and blew me away.

the opening song was on the floor. he walked out to the center of the stage and started to sing. the lighting only showed his silhouette at first. to hear this rich, deep sound coming from a mysterious shadowed figure was really powerful. and then they lit his face. and it took everything i had to remember to breathe.

he was wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a vest. do you know what vests do to me? they make it impossible for me to focus on anything else besides the wearer of the vest. and in this case. i had no problem with that.

his voice was everything i had remembered and more. the clarity and strength of his voice is pure divinity. the power in each song he sings shows how he believes every word. his enthusiasm on stage is addicting. his signature move of jumping on the speakers and adding a fist pump makes your excitement triple.

please. if you are looking for an inspiringly good time, something different to throw into your schedule, something to get excited about, go to his concert. i promise you will not regret it. he is worth every penny. and not just because i've loved him for the past five years. he is a quality performer with a voice and presence that is unprecedented. here are the shows. if you are near any of the locations, please. just go. don't make excuses. that's not what life's about.

the videos turned out a lot better than the pictures. so please. partake and witness [full screen please] the wonderfulness that is brandon flowers.

for the encore, they came back out and brandon said,

"we have a little treat for you guys... actually, it's a treat for us too... the police are here!"

and out walked andy summers from the police. and then he played with the band while brandon sang roxanne.
holy crap. only in la.

when we were walking back to the car, we saw what we assumed was brandon's tour bus. excited face!

we made our way back to ggg's where we said our goodbyes and i went inside. i showed grandma my merch and made my way to bed. but not before i tried on my new shirt!

warning: i may wear this shirt everyday for the next three weeks. please do not judge. thank you.

and the poster.

the next morning grandma and i got up nice and early to head to breakfast before i had to be at the airport.

this is my grandparent's house, where they've lived for over fifty years and where my daddy-o grew up!

and where my dad [and all his siblings] went to high school.

please behold the beautiful crisp and clear california morning i woke up to. i think some would describe it as paradise.

we stopped at hof's hut for some breakfast [i got eggs and a pumpkin muffin. let's not discuss how pumpkin anything is a sever weakness of mine].

then grandma dropped me off at the airport where i made it perfectly in time for my flight.

and i kind of felt like fergie walking out to the plane. minus the glamour.

landed in salt lake. time: 1045.

yup. less than twenty four hours.