just in time for valentine's day, i believe in true love.

i'm quite the cynic when it comes to love. i often say (much to the chagrin of my mom and friends) that i'm never going to find anyone and that i'll wind up a crazy cat lady (i hate cats so this is just unrealistic anyway), but yesterday made me believe in true love like never before.

my mom's parents divorced when she was 11. my beloved grandfather passed away in february of last year. my equally beloved grandmother was diagnosed with leukemia in may. her prognosis wasn't good; doctors gave her through the summer at best. but like the warrior that she was, my grandma made it through the summer and the holiday season. she passed away yesterday peacefully, surrounded by her children and husband. february 6th, 367 days after my grandpa, her ex husband.

jane adelaide froman tiedeman was one of the best people i've ever encountered. she was independent, ferociously passionate about everything she did, and tremendously loving. she was also brilliant, and could offer the most perceptive advice even if she didn't know the whole story.

the short time since my grandfather died and my grandma got sick has given me the opportunity to consider what love is: what it means, what it looks like, and most of all, the power it has. i know that my grandparents loved each other up until the days they each died. maybe not in the same way that they did when they were married or when they fell in love in high school, but they did love each other. and that love makes me feel a little better about them passing so close together. i find solace in the image of them being together, watching down on me for eternity. i am grateful that i had them for 20/21 years, and i know they will continue to influence my life everyday.

true love always prevails.

"love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous;

love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly;

it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,

does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

love never fails...but now faith, hope, love, abide these three;

but the greatest of these is love."

this year, i am thankful for.....

my health & happiness

berkeley

cupcakes, pies, and muffins, oh my!

getting an education

all the fun memories from this year

my dear friends, without whom i would lack those memories

my family, who is all huddled together this thanksgiving, stuffing our faces with turkey and sweets and remembering what's important in life

Happy Thanksgiving!

May your day be warm, reflective, and full.

my mom is the cutest.

last week my mom came up for lunch.

we had delicious sushi and went shopping

and chatted about life.

my mom gives the best advice ever

and always provides me with rational insight about things going on in my life.

last week i got a card in the mail thanking me for having her for lunch.

even though she's the one who drove 1.5 hours to see me for just 2 hours.

once again, she's the best.

the card was especially poignant for me at this point in my life.

the front reads:

peace.

it does not mean to be in a place

where there is no noise, trouble

or hard work. it means to be in

the midst of those things and still

be calm in your heart.

-unknown

such powerful words.

rarely am i in a place where nothing is going wrong,

but that doesn't mean i can't be happy.

i love my mom.

thank you so much for coming up last week!

i love you.

ps shout out to my very best friend on earth MORGAN who just started her own blog and is now reading mine :)

family time is the best time.

My beloved Grandpa Nick passed away in February, and in May my mom received news that her mother was sick with leukemia. The prognosis wasn't good, but the doctors gave her a few months.

When I left for France, I wasn't sure I would see her again. But with some prayers and determination, my grandma Jane is doing very well! She and her husband George took a spontaneous trip to San Francisco last week, and since we're all so close to the city, we had lunch.

The photo above is a (low quality iPhone) shot of George, my sister Paige, my beautiful grandma, me, and my cousin Tyler (my parents were also there). Isn't my grandma beautiful? I was expecting her to look sick or at least tired, but she looks as gorgeous as I remember. She's so strong, determined, and sure of her self. I admire her tremendously and am so happy to have shared the perfect afternoon with her.

We had lunch at Kuleto's in Union Square, which most definitely deserves a post of its own.

Family time is the best time, don't you think?

Happy Wednesday! The week is almost over

:)

sunday blues

Something about Sundays always bums me out a little.

I think it's that the weekend is over

and that I actually have to do schoolwork.

But there are so many things I like about Sundays too.

Like having 150 facebook friends online at once

(because they're all procrastinating, just like me, duh)

and looking at all my new tagged photos

and making my weekly to do list

and catching up with my friends about their weekends.

Most of all, though, I love wearing my pjs all day

and sitting on the couch,

lazing the day away

thinking about how much I have to be grateful for.

What are you grateful for today?

Happy Sunday!

Goodbye.

If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.

I can't believe this month is over. I feel so different but so the same. Paris is a place that moves you. It's nearly impossible not to fall in love--with the sights, the history, the food, the people on the streets. Paris is inside me, an inextricable part of my heart and soul. Wherever I go from now on, I carry a little piece of Paris with me.

Au revoir, Paris. Until next time.

Grateful for everything.

This trip has made me truly grateful for everything.

Grateful for macarons, crepes, and paninis.

Grateful for the Metro, the Louvre, and LIDL (the French Costco).

Grateful for my friends, my body, and my mind.

But mostly it's made me grateful for my parents

who have allowed me to have this incredible experience.

The memories I've made and will continue to make are ones that I will never ever forget.

And that's more than enough.

I don't know if it's the rain or this 15 page paper,

but I'm feeling tremendously introspective today.

I love my life.

Top: Me at the Opera Garnier

Middle: Notre Dame at sunrise

Bottom: Panoramic of Paris from the top of the Arc de Triomphe

I won an awesome give away!

You guys, I'm so excited to have won Christine's Project Have Hope give away!

If you know me well, you know that I never win anything. Seriously. At Sober Grad Night after high school graduation (where everyone is guaranteed a prize) I didn't win a single. thing. The entire night. Nothing. So I'm very excited to have won my first blog give away!

What is most special about this give away is that it comes from such an amazing organization. From PHH's website:

"Project Have Hope works with a group of 100 women in the Acholi Quarter of Uganda and helps them transform their lives and the lives of their families. Through the sale of their beautiful, handmade paper bead jewelry, the women can feed their families, send their children to school, and look forward to a richer future."

There's nothing I love more than community-focused empowerment and action, so I feel like I won double with this. I am getting some awesome hand-made paper products AND I found a fantastic organization to support.

I recommend you check out Project Have Hope's website. They also have a fundraising program for people here in the states to support families in Uganda.

Such a great way to start my week. Hope you're all having a happy Monday!

Sunday Gratitude

Sometimes I am just struck by how amazingly blessed I am to have my friends and family in my life.

I spent the weekend surrounded by people I love and who love me, and for that I am tremendously thankful.

Today I just wanna pinch myself. My life is full of love, happiness, and smiles.

Happy June!

via

"If a June night could talk,

it would probably boast it invented romance."

-Bern Williams

What I love most about June is that it makes summer feel so official.

June is the month of popsicles, laying by the pool, and walking around barefoot. It's the time of aloe on a sunburn, ice clinking in a glass, and freckles appearing on noses. There is something so romantic and relaxing about turning the calendar over from May to June.

I'm so excited to see what this month brings!

Happy June everyone!

The Semester in Review

I literally cannot believe the spring semester is over. Time sure flies.

So here's my breakdown:

This semester was by far my worst

and conclusively my best

semester I've had as a student at Cal.

Why the worst, you ask?

I battled minor depression (but I admit it, so I feel like that's a positive thing)

My beloved grandpa passed away

My three best friends were 21 and could go fun places without me

Becoming president of my sorority was in a lot of ways a huge mistake and it was really really hard on me at first (and continues to be, but I have learned to handle it better)

Why the best, then?

I rocked all my midterms/papers (earned an A on every single one!)

I finally FINALLY made exercise a part of my life. It's not something I have to do; it's something I want to do. It's helped me lose some weight, but most importantly it has helped me love my body

My sister Kendall got into almost all the schools she applied to, and I'm so excited to say she'll be joining me in the Pac 10 next year! Bears > Huskies ;)

I've begun to navigate my way around this blogging world, and I've found such an amazing support system and endless source of entertainment

But most of all, I've figured out how to be me in this world.

Despite the tears and stress of this semester, I am grateful for it all. I hope I never go through so many tough things at one time every again, but I will also be forever glad I learned so much about myself.

I am so excited about all the prospects of senior year! Lighter course load, getting a job, being 21, and making the most of the last year of the best time of my life. I am enjoying summer so far, but cannot wait for senior year to be here already.