Freshenin' Up

I           AM           A        FRESH     WOMAN  (freshmen) (freshwomen) FRESHALICIOUS

In..

College.

wut?

#tbirdnation

Goodbye Martha, Hello Sharwan Smith

Sharwan waving hello to me^^

Two days is equal to forty eight hours which is equal to the amount of time I had between landing in Salt Lake City Utah (from Massachusetts) to actually driving to college.

Two days to:

Say goodbye to loved ones

pack

take care of business

pack

say goodbye to other loved ones

and

pack

Irrelevant fun fact: I also got a terrible manicure. 

So. 

I did that stuff, and on the morning of August 20th I began my journey four hours south of my childhood city, to my college city. aka:

Cedar City

Shay and my grandma came over to say goodbye that morning, for which I am very grateful.

also

I had to make a stop on the way
to say hello and goodbye to my grandparents whom I had not seen for two months.
I sure love these people.

And with that I was on my way to SUU 

***************************************************

The two previous times I spent at SUU were each only a couple of days and they went something like this...

Team Whale at the Red Rioting Shenanigans 

LOL because Cedar City has a lighthouse

Why is that funny?

I've said it before and I will say it again

Utah.. Is a dry flippin' desert

I do love that lighthouse though :)

 A little of the Vineyard in Cedar to enjoy

............

Then road trip number two for orientation with my future roomate/Lindsbae

Clear Back In June

We went on a hike:)

and we explored some caves

Claustrophobia is real people

mind over matter

The white things are crystals :)

We made a stop on the way home to the new Payson Temple, it was breathtaking <3

*************************************************

Anyway, I loved it. That's the short version of those two trips to my future home

So going to college was not much different, I knew I would be seeing my family again in two weeks instead of two months so leaving this time was a lot easier. 

I knew what I was doing, but I must admit the whole finding classes ordeal was giving me anxiety, luckily all of my classes are only in two different buildings that are a very short distance away from each other. 

Sweet, I know

I got to my apartment to find Lindsey there in a different apartment than I was expecting with two less girls and clean surroundings because this apartment is the show apartment... 

BONUS

#ThankYouVirginia

Plus, I missed this girl even though it had been two days. 

^^^ Peas In A Pod ;)

My wonderful parents helped me move in, and the freshman/WelcomeToSUU festivities began

We have a tradition at Southern Utah University

We as Freshmen walk under the bell tower from West to East to symbolize the beginning, the rising of our Education here. Then, during the next four years, it is forbidden to walk under the bell tower until we are graduating and we will walk under it once more with our fellow graduates from East to West as our time here comes to an end, much like the setting of the sun. 

IF SOMEONE WALKS UNDER BEFORE THEN IT IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH

or worse 

So after some fun stuff, the entire group of freshmen walked under the tower. I did it. 

Huge Stepping Stone People

It was a super fun first few days.

I will mention this again on my FAV THINGS O' COLLEGE list,
but I get to practice my wife material skills on Lindsey

Yes I made this masterpiece.

For real first day of college 101: Remember who has your back. In your selfie and in our life ;)

This is an example of how awkward I felt inside all day walking around trying to not stick out like the newbie I am

This is an example of how I looked on the outside 

Fake It Till You Make It 

my motto

#CoolAsACucumber

My first assignment as a newly refined young adult college human was to take a selfie.

Yes.

A selfie.

And turn it in. 

As an assignment.

For points.

Take a selfie with items representing your fave stage of development.

I chose 

NOW

can you tell?

I <3 SUU

How much is too much.. 

answer: no such thing

That weekend, we got caught.

Red Handed

See what I did there? I made the word red... red. 

Now that I wrote red in red for you to read are you ready to read about red in red and painting the town so as well?

(say that ten times fast)

Paint The Town Red

It's where the whole town gets together. They close off mainstreet, we literally paint the town red. We also enjoy food trucks galore including but not limited to:

WAFFLE LOVE

Which brings back memories of sluffing with Walli and pretending we were students at Weber High because Waffle Love was there and we wanted a waffle but we wore FHS silverline shirts to do so... 

not surprisingly we were caught figuratively red handed by their principal

luckily Walli knows the dude..

Now on to getting caught literally red handed.

actually

That's pretty much it..

my hand was red..

moving on

Besides the food, there are games and activities and tons of clubs that want you to join them.

It was fun... but not as fun as getting a call from Lindsey exactly one week before that as I was on my way to Cedar City to tell me that the night of Paint The Town Red a certain band would be playing on main street for Paint The Town Red.

This certain band happens to be my favorite. 

I discovered them from my wonderful cousin Braden during our scuba lessons

My Favorite Band In Cedar City Just A Week After I Got There

For Free

*FanGirlScrem

VANLADYLOVE

I love VanLadyLove

I am a Vanladylover 

Sure enough that night we rocked out and found out about an after show in a park that we obviously were going to have to go to. 

I got to talk to all of them. And hug them. And touch Steele's beard in the park on the front row when he was playing the base two inches from my face. 

FRONT ROW IS RIGHT

I LOVE STEELE

AND ALL OF THEM

BUT STEELE MOSTLY

HE HAS A SICK BEARD

"I like your beard" 

    -Ke$ha

AND HE IS ADORABLE

VANLADYLOVE

YASSSSSS

So that was super fun to say the very least possible. My shirt is also really sick and evidence that 

that night actually happened. 

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 Nature vs Nurture

I am learning about it in my human development class


I am experiencing a lack of nurture because I am no longer under the same roof as my mommy :( and Lindsey is not a touchy human
or male

So I have been over compensating my lack of nurture with nature which in itself has been a nurturing thing so I guess I have nothing to complain about.

Also: The way I am talking about nature and nurture is completely unrelated to what it is in my class. lol.

CEDAR BREAKS NATIONAL PARK

Nurture and Nature ;)

A Ryannimal Spotted In Her Natural Habitat

My Backyard^^

We also made a trip to the ST. George temple about forty five minutes away from us

It is the closest to Cedar

I will have more detail on college life in my next post, but here are three things to complain about and three things to love

1. My math teacher does not speak fluent English. After rumors that she was German, assumptions that she was Japanese, and another that she is from Austria, I am able to confidently confirm her nationality: China
Sweetest lady in the world, cannot say linear equation to save her life
2. I have no food
3. Books are an insane amount of mullah.

Things to love
1. Red and green mountains (best of both worlds)
2. My awesome roommates and neighbor Jamie
3. Testing out my wife skills on Lindsey and aside from burning the garlic bread twice, I am a chef.




TTFN
MAKE IT A GOOD DAY
for real do that^^

xoxo

Comin' Home

IM COMIN' HOME

Comin' Home

Tell The World That I'm Comin'..

HOME 

It's no surprise

It has taken me so long to get to this last week of lasts

last time eating at the pub

last time scooping ice cream for a tourist that doesn't deserve it

last time skinny dipping in the ocean

(jk)

(only not jk)

last time at South Beach

last time eating the greatest ice cream in the world

last time sleeping on literally two pieces of cloth

last time possibly on Martha's Vineyard

Sad?

It will be someday probably very soon.

but that day where last of lasts came to an end

last time (probably) riding a taxi to get to the ferry to get to the bus to get to the plane to get to the other plane to get 

HOME

It. Was. Not. Sad.

Thankful I am, for this summer, and never forget will I, the adventure, the growth, the happiness, the memories, the food, the humidity, the ocean, the rain, the lighthouses, or the people.

But there is truth in a simple statement from my Nanny's (grandma's) favorite movie

It Goes Like This

there's 

no

place

like

home

So without further-a-do

My last week, and then some, on the island known as 

Martha's Vineyard

and my journey happenings to Utah 

also known as

home

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We tried out a delicious place for breakfast called

Among The Flowers Cafe

We literally had to go back three more times that last week

Interesting story time

I.....

Wait for iiiiiiiitttt........

went. on. a. date.

That's right ladies and gentlemen. I found time to go on a legit date.

Remember the boy who casually got my number?

Well on a rainy Tuesday

the last Tuesday I was there

Pouring Rain and all

we drove to a beach

then drove to the unveiling and relighting of the

Gay Head Lighthouse 

He didn't plan that..

lucky guy

we get there and there is tons of people and cops

he asked a cop what the actual was going on

cop said,

"After the relocation of the lighthouse and during, it has not been lit. 

This is the first time it will light again, in a long time"

so naturally we parked and this handsome boy said

"I totally planned this"

He didn't.

lucky guy

why is he lucky? 

because when does winging a date actually turn out this great?

advice to boys all around: this is not real life. If you like her, plan a date.  Like actually think about it before you pick her up.. ;)

Huge historical event for MV and he happens to bring me there

not to mention the undeniably romantic situation

sunset: check

rain: check

lighthouse: check

beach: check

Tonz of humans were honking and cheering as they lit the lighthouse that stormy night

muah. 

;)

Then we went to this cute little bakery called orange peel bakery, it's this hole in the wall of someone's house in the middle of the woods where you let yourself in and leave the money in a jar.

And grab whatever you want. On your honor. 

#raspberrypie

Needless to say it was fun. I won't ever see him again, but it was a good day indeed. 

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Miki Chancey and I made it back to Menemsha the little fishing town, I got some souvenirs and we took a dip in the ocean

We did not get a live lobster this time

OKAY

super excited to talk about the last Saturday on the Vineyard

My cousin Braden son of Rob brother of Ryan father of me

visited me with his adorable wife and her adorable family

Fun fact about my cousin's wife and her family, they are family.

Some of the best people I know and they trusted me to be their tour guide the whole day!!!!!

We got some serious stuff done

 I took them to the gingerbread houses, jaws bridge where we all jumped, south beach,

s/o to Braden who is just as much of a water lover as I and gave me mission advice in the ocean.

We also ate at The Pub and got some Ice Cream ending it all on the dock by my apartment house. 

I am so excited for this semester of school at SUU only forty minutes away from Dixie where they will be if I ever need help with math (Hales is a genius, Braden married a math whizz) or if I need spiritual advice from Braden (Hales married a spiritual giant) or just to be with good company.

Sunday I was able to go to church for the last time and it was really sad to say goodbye to those amazing branch members.

especially the sister missionaries 

Sister Gropp and Sister Jones will forever be some of my favorite humans on this Earth

I almost forgot.. a couple of nights before we went night swimming and it was pretty cool. 
the movement of our arms made bubbles, and a weird phenomena happened where the bubbles looked like they were glowing.
I am going to google this right now.

...

I couldn't find anything  about it, but I swear it was legit.

That monday, it was finally time. 

All packed and rearin' to go, we realized some things that day.

We were not sad

why?

we were plenty sad leaving Utah

Island and ocean and other stuff that's cool about MV>>>>>Rocks in Utah

Right?

Momas<<<<<<My actual mom

That's the key.

Home is where the heart is and my heart never left Utah and the people I love there.

So we began our journey.

"How does it feel to be going home?"

Got off the ferry and something terrible happened

Now on the mainland, I realized I did not have my tote carry-on bag

My carry-on bag had in it

My laptop

snacks

and worst of all

My family's souvenirs.


And. It. Was. Gone.

Chancey rushed up the ramp to check where we sat on the ferry

nothing

I asked the lady at the ticket window to call the island and see if I left it on the ground there

nothing 

but we had a bus to catch and if we didn't catch it we would miss our flight

chancey found the bus as I was getting the number of the lady in case she found anything

Chancey left her suitcase with the busdriver to come get us

I was about in tears

we went to the bus and the bus driver yelled at us and told us if we leave luggage again he will cal the cops because apparently that's a huge deal
I have never been yelled at by anyone who isn't my family like that
"AM I CLEAR?????"
he yelled
"Crystal"
I shouldn't have said it out loud. 
Especially in the manner that I did..

Got on the bus

got a call

My bag was on the island


But I know people, being a member of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

and the sweet sister missionaries happened to be a two minute walk away from the steamship station and they picked it up without a fuss. 

So thankful for my friends in high places

get it?;)

Then we got on a plane,

 got on another plane, and next thing I know

I see my family and Miki and Chancey's families
and everything is happy.


Saul, Seth, Rachel, Mom, Dad, hugs all around. 
I was in heaven

Goodbye Martha's Vineyard
 I have loved every day of this summer
2k15
it truly was a fairytale


(minus the carpal tunnel)
 


I also have to mention a few huge things that I haven't.


PAUL CARDALL GAVE ME A SHOUT OUT ON HIS FACEBOOK
LIKE WHAT IS LIFE ANYWAY???
He gave my blog a shout out.
Me.
Little ole me.
I kind of lost it. My cool that is.
I freaked out.

Also as I got home to my actual home in Utah

I realized how much I took little things for granted before I left

My bed

Carpet

Fast Food

Chain Restaurants

(MV only has one  Dairy Queen soo.. no McD's)



My bed

food readily available


My bed

High Heels


a stove

Dressy Clothes


Jewelry


and lastly


My bed. 

as I was soaking in the glory of it all my mom began to sneakily record me while I was cuddling up to my bed and talking about how much I missed my room
I heard a noise
a knock
in my closet?

Saul?
and
I opened it to find

Shaylyn

Remember my mexi bestie on a mission?

She called me while I was on the island when she got home a bout a month ago, and I was dying to just see her

There she was a month later
total Princess Diaries 2 moment
in my closet

Shay
in the flesh

I was stunned and so happy

I have missed her more than I can tell

We talked for awhile and she left

(-(-(-(-(-(-(-)-)-)-)-)-)-)

Lindsey came over soon after and it was craziness all over again


Reunited with so many people I have missed so much



#joyoverload


Mission Prep at it's finest

despite my lack of pants I couldn't wait for Lindsey to walk to my door

I ran outside at one a.m. and jumped on her

we were both going a little bit ballistic 

the whole neighborhood got a wake up call

Lindsey Jean Rendon

I missed you 

The next day I went to the temple.

How I have missed the temple. I cannot even begin to explain, I will never take it for granted again. 

That night was girls night for The Pride
(The Lion kind;)

Reunited with Walli, Mass, and Linds. <3 
That night was one for the books
remember when we beat each other up? 
lolz
:)

The next day I went boating with the fam,

 and Walli came to say goodbye.

hellogoodbye..

What..

already?

why?

bc college was waiting for me the very next day

Hellogoodbye 

It was time to make a new home in Cedar City Utah 

residence of Southern Utah University aka 

The Thunder Birds

#tbirdnation