DATE NIGHT & MORE

last night i was lucky to go on a blind date with some great friends--old and new!  the whole evening was a blast.  we first went bowling and then headed over to the chocolate in provo where we had the most amazing pazookies of our lives.  to finish the night off we ran over to the dollar theater to catch the last viewing of captain phillips... oh, tom hanks.  it was a night to remember!

i creamed my date, austin, in bowling.  the second game... well, we'll just leave it at that.

the chocolate is the cutest little house on state street turned into a dessert place, perfect for a date or a night out with friends! it's full of tiny rooms with tables and couches and the perfect setting... go there on v-day (anyone excited as i am?!?!) and the lights will be turned off for a romantic candle light setting... there isn't a more perfect way to have a little quality time with that special pazookie ;) isn't my date cute? 

after we filled ourselves with gooey cookie and ice cream we headed over to the dollar theater, and yes--captain phillips--by far the most intense movie i've ever seen! i highly recommend it.  the acting was amazing and the story itself will leave you slightly shaken and yelling 'MERICA to your friends on the way out. 

1. bowling is for everyone, even though it makes you feel like a loser sometimes.
2. the chocolate is a place for lovers and non-lovers alike. get the pazookie!
3. tom hanks deserves best actor for the last scene of captain phillips alone. 

happy weekend! 

I SOLEMNLY SWEAR

the second 2014 began my health has been struggling.  from nausea to migraines to sinus colds to migraines--my body has been through a lot.  this past week i have experienced insomnia for the first time and it has caused to me think a lot about the importance of taking care of my body as i regulate my sleeping patterns and pay special attention to things i never did before... i never thought of myself as a stressed person.  is that what could be causing this? who knows.  "health problems' isn't exactly something i would include in a list about me until now.

all i know is... i have to make some changes if i plan on doing something with my life.  conscious health changes.  and one thing i think could be the culprit is my eating.  i don't think i'll ever be able to pinpoint the cause of my insomnia, but my diet is something i know i can control.  no more late night runs to the helaman creamery for ice cream shakes or sneaking out to the vending machines with elisabeth to indulge in some reese's.  it's time to take my body seriously.

here's a promise to the universe.  my body deserves the best.  and now that i'm experiencing these health problems, it's even more crucial that i give it proper fuel.  i promise to treat it right.  i promise to treat it like a temple with respect and care.  i promise to treat it as the most precious gift i've ever been given.

MONDAY FUNDAY

the rest of last monday was quite an affair.  my first day was definitely full of excitement and new experiences.  after lugging that sixty-seven pound suitcase across islington {do not get me started again} i went to buy my tube pass.  san diego, why do we not have a tube? WHY? you put your money on your card, and they even give you a special little case for said card. you don't even have to open the case to scan it. just swish and flick walk through those swingy doors that I'm always scared of closing on my behind.... seriously people. let's get ourselves a tube.

after buying our golden tickets we then started our first walk out of our "london walks" book.  this was our first assignment of the whole trip.  it was called "walk of the scholars" or something totally regal like that. whatever. 

I have a thing for doors. it's fine.

this was one of the many buildings we saw on our walk, the university college of london. why they gave this school a superfluous name, beats me.  

this is the beautiful courtyard of the college. makes ya feel smart, don't it?

 

thinking smart thoughts is always easier with a hot british guy around. "would you like me to get out of the picture?" "no you're fine right where you are." my exact words. 

naked men too. 

so apparently jeremy bentham, father of utilitarianism, adamantly requested for his own mummified head to be placed on top of his skeleton in this sacred shine.  here we see his skeleton dressed with his actual clothes but instead with a wax head.  apparently the mummified head had some complications with distortion, so it was moved to a vault. complications? you're telling me i came all the way to london to not see jeremy bentham's actual head because it actually went through the process of decomposition? i demand a REFUND.

^beauitful church in tavistock square, our next destination

exmouth st you will always have a special place in my heart.  well, you have pistachio ice cream so i guess i'm kind of biased

great first day. great new friends. 

'ELLO, GOVNA

this last week was the beginning of the rest of my life.

about a year ago i decided to try to go on study abroad before my mission.

a few months ago my wish became a reality and i was accepted to the summer london study abroad program with byu.

needless to say i'm on top of the world, moving away from home straight out of high school and living with about thirty-two other people in a foreign country, completely on my own. {insert cringing face here}. it's definitely a big change for me, considering i was practically spoon fed at home {so grateful mom and dad}.

but really. it's good. i think i'm ready to move out of the nest. i mean, i better be, cause it's too late now..

before i get all sappy and emotional about growing up, here's a recap of my first week in the most amazing city. 

i left early sunday morning with my sister, anna and parents, and made sure to wave to them every two minutes from the security line.  after watching my pancake mix being pulled out of my bag and inspected {mister you better put that back in there right now or things are going to get messy} i was off to london town.

after a long flight {loooooooooong} and doing my best to avoid the nice gentlemen who offered to travel with me to london from the airport {look away. look awayyy} i landed in london. i have this weird thing where i look at myself from the outside? my thoughts as follows: liv. you're in london. england. liv. london. look at those trees. look out the window. you've never laid eyes on that before.

the trek to my professors' apartment was lengthy but i did get to ride in my first london taxi.  yes, i am that awkward american tourist who doesn't know to press the button to talk to the driver.  liv. he can't hear you. li- ugh.

after i eat some chocolate at the flat {does this need an explanation?} i, with the rest of the girls, pull our sixty-seven pound suitcases across town. how did i get on the plane with a sixty-seven pound suitcase? nope, not telling. it's a secret.  however it may have involved a smart sister, an aching back, and some serious re-packing.

where am i? oh yes. the trek. THE TREK. i've never known so many ways to look like an idiot whilst pushing a suit case.  but can i just ask, what really is the point of those bumpy yellow sidewalks by cross walks? nothing, i declare! only to make my life more difficult. "how dare you!"

the rest of the story is history, or for tomorrow's post i guess.  coming up, how much food can liv possibly fit inside her person? intriguing, i know.

tally ho!