San Francisco, Here I Come!

All of the big accounting firms have what they call a summer leadership program where you fly out for 2-3 days for a leadership-type conference during the summer. It's basically a way for us to get to know the firm, and for them to decide if they would want to bring us on for an internship a year later, and potentially a full-time job the year after that. I thought it wasn't really a big deal, but apparently this program is harder to get into than getting an internship position! 

Anyway, I applied for the leadership program with five different firms and had my interview with the first firm, PwC, last Friday. I must have done something right in my 45 minute interview because I got a call today about going to San Francisco for final round interviews! 

So, what does it mean? They will fly me in on March 21st for a few hours to tour the offices, get to know some people, and have another interview. Nervous? Most definitely. But also very excited? Most definitely.

Amidst our midterm week that seems like finals week where all I do is study, I sometimes wonder why in the world I did this to myself. But then, trips and opportunities like this make it all worth it! 

Here's to hoping this, and my other 5+ interviews this month go well!

Skiing at Sundance

This weekend, I got to go skiing for accounting! PWC was hosting an event up at Sundance so I took Tracie up with me for a day of skiing, food, laughter, and sun. It was a beautiful day and minus the fact that it was a little icy, it turned out to be a pretty good day on the slopes. I hadn't been skiing for about six years while I've been trying out snowboarding, but luckily it's like riding a bike - it comes back quick. Anyway, I met some great people and am thinking I just might go work in San Francisco when I graduate. But that's still two years away so I don't have to have that all figured out just yet :)

Can I also just quickly say how great my major is? Sometimes, at least. We get hoodies, backpacks, ski trips, concerts, bowling, and all kinds of crazy events to go to. Yes, the program is challenging and certainly is very stressful at times, but I'm also lucky to be in a major where jobs come looking for me. Tangent over.

One more thing, Elise posted this little gem a little while ago and I just had to share. This was way back in our senior year of high school (I think) and we went to the drive in. Such a fun night with my best friends! And look how young we look too! It's great.

Ode to Elise

I just have to give a quick shout out to one of my very best friends who is leaving on a mission to Argentina in three days. Bear with me :)

Miss Elise and I met in 7th grade (random fact - as Elise recalls, I was wearing a Costa Rica t-shirt. Not important to the story but cool nonetheless) but didn't really become friends until 9th grade when we both joined the Lone Peak swim team. We began a carpool to practice everyday with Zach and Hayley and slowly got to know each other over freshman year.

Sophomore year we had American Studies together and her and Zach also got a ride with me and my brother to swim practice everyday in the grandma car. Basically, that means that they sat in the back seat and just watched me and my brother be our weird selves with each other. I think they, and I, will always remember the day Michael smashed crackers in my face for no reason. It's one of those things you just have to be there for but it is sure a great memory!

Anyway, junior and senior year we just continued to become best friends. We have some great basketball memories, dances, and hundreds of swim team memories. 

The two of us, Taryn, and Zach code-named ourselves the fab 4 and usually spent our weekends in sweats lounging on the couch talking and laughing cause we were so tired from swim practice. 

These friends, as well as our other wonderful swim friends have become an amazing group of friends to be around. Check out these wonderful swimmer family photos if you don't believe me. Yes, we are weird, but we have fun!

Fast forward to sophomore year of college when Elise and I brought our friends together to live in lodge 73 at Glenwood Apartments. That year was literally the best year of my life and we have so many happy memories from that year; I'll always treasure it! Especially spring semester when we just partied it up. And then this year I got to live across the hall from her and Sarah since we couldn't all get into the same apartment. We learned our lesson: don't be slow on housing! 

One of my favorite things about her is that we don't have to do anything to have an absolute blast. We can literally just sit, chat, and laugh for hours, and it is one of my very favorite things! We can talk about anything and everything and she is so good to listen to all my crazy stories. I'm extremely grateful for her true friendship and for her incredible example to me of a Christ-like person. She makes me want to be a better person each and every day, and I wish I could even begin to portray how much I love my bestie! She will be greatly missed over the next 18 months, but Argentina is extremely lucky to have her. And I know she will do amazing things there! 

Love you Lise-Geese! I'll see you in August 2013!

Cafe Through the Years

So, this Friday night I had a laughing night with my two besties. Can I just say I'm pretty sure I have two of the greatest friends in the whole world?! The 'Fab 4 minus Zach' met up on Friday night for a much overdue laughing night before Elise leaves on her mission. Pretty much that just means we just talk and laugh and cry all night. It's my favorite. These two ladies are my favorites. 

We've had many, many great times over the past few years and I'm soooo very lucky to have been blessed with their friendship. I treasure my many memories with them and it was wonderful to catch up!

I also dug through my photos to pull out these two gems of our many Cafe Rio trips through the years. We have had dozens of these trips, but only documented a few. Here's our senior year after winning region:

And here's one from last summer:

Basically, we are some pretty loyal Cafe customers!

Engaged!

First of all, calm down. I am not engaged. First step would be to have a boyfriend, which I don't, so it looks like I'm still working on square one.

This lovely lady, though, is engaged so I just wanted to give her a quick shout out. We've been cousins, well, for our whole lives. Duh. But I was lucky enough to grow up with her and loved when the Moons were coming to visit, which was pretty frequently. We have hundreds of memories of working at our uncle's lodge for a few weeks in the summers, EFY, cattle drives, four wheeling, watch Charly in the Warm Springs cabin while eating chocolate chips, nerts games, and living in the same freshman ward. Even though I hardly see her these days, I consider her one of my best friends and I am so happy for her and her fiance, Sam. He's a great guy and I'm excited to get to know him even more. 

All our cute pictures together are on my parent's computer at home, but I did find these two gems :)

Congrats Amber!!! Love you!

Weekend

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I had a pretty great weekend. I hope you did too! On Friday Elise and I went to the BYU v Utah swim meet at the RB. While eating Cafe Rio (swimmer favorite) we watched our dear friends dominate in the pool. It was great to remember all the fun times we had in high school and just to be in that fun environment. Congrats to all the BYU swimmers!

Like the classic 'raising the bar' formation? Me too.

And then, after the meet Sarah and I threw a surprise party for Elise who turned the big 21 on the 25th. She had no idea so it was a definite success. Lots of friends from high school and previous wards came so it was great to catch up with people. Here are just a few of the people who were there for the actual surprise part. Aka the best part.

Cafe Rio + swim meet + surprise party = one successful and fun night!

Running in the Snow

After working on my lovely Financial Accounting homework for four hours, I was ready for a break.  While sitting in the dungeons of the library, I decided I was in the mood for a short run up and around the Temple.  But then, I walked outside to see a nice snowfall outside.  I decided it wasn't too cold, just wet.  So, I put on pants, running shoes, a hoodie, and after tying my hood on tight went out the door for my three-mile run.  It was weird to run in the snow since it's been such odd weather for January but I enjoyed it!  Besides the fact that it was hard to see and I had black streaks from my mascara under my eyes when I got back, it was a pretty great run.  It felt good to get exercise after sitting for so long!

In other news, I made Tomato Basil soup last night for our monthly swimmer dinner.  Let's just say I learned how unhealthy that soup is but it's good stuff.  I think next time I make it I'll modify it so it's actually a heathy soup.  And as tradition, here's our usual awkward swimmer family picture of the night.

How I absolutely love my swimmer friends!  I'm so lucky we stay in touch and that I get to see them once a month. Best friends for life!