a happy monday.

i wasn't lying when i told you that my life consists of the same few things, day after day.

but i didn't happen to mention how awesome it can be!

take today for instance.

i enjoyed the eighty-something degree weather as i studied for my physiology midterm.

i did really quite well on said midterm.

i did a partner project with the quarterback of the football team in class... it's fine.

i played badminton and bocce ball on the lawn for fhe. 

i had an epiphany of sorts and think i finally decided on a topic for my spanish term paper.

i had a nice catch-up phone sesh with my dad on the way home from class.

annnd i squeaked out a solid work out, after not wanting to even step foot in the gym tonight.

life is good. 

even in stressful times,

life is good.

dominican DREAMs.

my life currently consists of a lot of the same...

class, gym, study, (too little) sleep, repeat. 

i was worried i was going to work myself to death this summer, 

that the whole "summer" feel that i live for wouldn't be a part of my life again until 2013.

especially after the best summer of my life last year, when i lived in spain. 

though i'm taking some incredibly interesting courses this term,

have a few great friends in provo, 

and have twelve weddings lined up for the summer,

i just felt as if i was missing something.

luckily, i found that something, and i am thrilled!

in august, i'll be going down to the dominican republic for two weeks to work for the DREAM project.

i'll be photographing the program/kids, making videos, and working on their website.

i am so excited to finally fuse two of my loves, photography and international development work.

and it makes me happy every day, just thinking about it.

i cannot wait to snap 1084120983 million photos of the niños,
experience the culture,
and do a little service where i can.

check out the organization. it's a good one; i promise. 

what summer adventures do you have lined up?

on happiness.

i spend a majority of my time thinking, my mind in a million places at once. 

but on occasion, 

i lose myself, 

my worries, 

my stress. 

this happened today. 

as i walked home from class at dusk,

i caught myself smiling.

enjoying the cool spring breeze,

the music in my earphones,

and the beautiful world around me.

i thought of my hopes, 

my excitement for my future,

and of my pure content.

and these moments?

even if they're momentary, these fleeting moments of happiness are what life is all about. 

or so i think. 

girls just want to have fun.

when i was in LA last week, i had the greatest time.

celebrating beth's wedding week with her was so fantastic... busy, but fantastic!

we didn't have much time the night before the wedding for a bachelorette party (poor bethy was so tired!),

so we celebrated the end of her single-hood the afternoon before.

after browsing the fashion district of LA,

we headed to the original in-n-out for lunch, 

where one of the girls tried her very first in-n-out burger. 

needless to say, she was hooked after one bite.

though we were exhausted from mornings of travel,

we were all a little bit giddy and anxious for the wedding and so grateful to be out of the freezing temperatures,

which made for lots of light and laughter. 

there's nothing like that california sunshine in the dead of winter!

later that afternoon, we headed the salon to get our nails done for the wedding.

i've never had a french manicure before (weird, i know)... and i might not ever get one again.

BUT it looked great on the wedding day, and the whole salon experience just added to our adventures for the day!

this is when you know that life is good.

this makes me smile.

Ben Dangerous from andrew+carissa on Vimeo.

really though. how can you not love this?

bridal showered.

remember how one of my closest friends got married yesterday?

well, last weekend, i had the chance to get together with her sister and throw a bridal shower for her! 

it was so much fun.

we decided to base the shower off of her colors and her preppy style, and put blueberry muffins, caramel apples, pumpkin bars, fruit, & chips on the menu. 

you know, a good little mix of sweet & salty.

we devoured these, played some awesome/hilarious games (thanks, caitlin!), and chatted.

it was a night of laughter (and calories).
need proof?

again, i'm so grateful for my wonderful friends...

and it might seem cliche, but it really makes me happy to see them so happy.

really.

love you, laur!