so dance like its the last night of your life.

I have come to this realization about myself:

I really like to party. I really like to dance. I like to celebrate. I like to stay up late. I like to throw parties. 

And so naturally of course, Im going to love activities and holidays that promote these same things, such as...

New Years Eve. 

It is a great excuse to dress up more fancy, stay up really late and just party with all of your friends. 

This year was no exception. 

And was probably one of my most fun New Years Eve festivities. 

My friends and I decided to go to the Glendale NYE Dance. 

Good decision. 

Good songs. Good dancing. 

My favorite part was dancing with this chica. 

Dont mind Daniel, the creeper in the back.
She has got some hot dance moves. And we may or may not like dancing with each other a little bit too much. 

Unfortunately I was inches away from getting a NYE kiss. Too bad the kid couldnt pull it off. HA.

After we rang in the New Year, my crew of friends headed to the car to hit up our next destination.
Now looking at our cars you would have thought we were going on a week long camping trip. However, if you know me, you would know that was completely out of the question. 

But kinda close--as our next stop was Pasadena to camp out for the Rose Parade!

As soon as this idea was passed around a few days earlier I was immediately in and started planning right away with my friends.

Obviously I was super excited about this activity. We drove straight to Pasadena from Glendale. We packed lots of warm clothes and blankets as it was expected to dip into 30 degree temperature for the night. 

As soon as we got there we lucked out getting an awesome claim of sidewalk on Colorado Blvd. 

And although I have previously made mention of "sleeping out" at the Parade. Never was this my intention. From day one of planning I said I wanted to stay up all night long. I dont know why, I just wanted to. Perhaps because I cant remember the last time I pulled an all nighter, or because the thought of sleeping on the street is just too close to camping and I would prefer to stay up all night than camp. Either way I was very adamant about this endeavor and many  doubted my ability to stay up through the night. 

Most should know that I get excited over little things real easy. And I was real excited about this night. As a result I was literally bouncing off the walls with energy. 

i love this picture of Tom. HA. He looked like such a creeper with that hat on. But I gotta thank that kid, this excursion would not have happened if it wasnt for his planning too.

And..

after two trips to the car to get all of our belongings,

and laying all the blankets out on the street, it was already 2:30 AM

after a few rounds of catch phrase, uno and four hilarious and juicy rounds of "what if...",

it was about 4 AM

after filming some videos, snuggling with Alyssa, chatting with Tom, Alyssa and Daniel, it was about 6 AM

and by that time the sun was about up and more people were filling the streets

and i didnt close my eyes once! And neither did half of our group.  

By the time we started people watching, acting more delirious, packed up our things, and more trips to the car to put the blankets away, situated our seats on the street, it was just in time for the Parade around 8:30 AM.

And I was even more excited for the Parade then just pulling an all nighter. Pretty sure I ran up and down the streets a few times before it started in glee and excitement. Also done to help me stay awake, as I started to doze a bit.

The Rose Parade was amazing as usual. I am always so amazed at the abilities to design such creative floats.
One of these years I will go help decorate a float to check it off my bucket list. 

I loved seeing the Grand Marshal!..

I love me some Paula Deen!

And Alyssa and I LOVE Ronald Reagan. We bonded over him years ago at his Presidential Library.

I loved being with my friends for NYE. I love planning really fun activities and outings with my friends. I loved the partying. I loved staying up all night and wish I could with my crew more often. Even if I was a zombie for the rest of the next day. 

Goal #4. Check.

2011 is already looking a lot better than 2010.

I am starting this year off right.

 Something that has stressed me out the most in my life this past year has been being a college grad and being in limbo without a job. As a result, one of the goals I made for this year, as mentioned in my last post, was to get a job.

And as of today...

I have a job! 

woohoo!!!!

Like a real one. 

As in, working 40 hours. 

One that doesnt have a deadline on it. 

And I couldn't be more excited. 

I can not wait to start working and learning. 

I feel extremely lucky and blessed to have this opportunity and work.

I need to give a huge thanks to my brother Matt, for despite his snide comments to me about being unemployed, he set me up with a temp agency as soon as I moved home, giving me pretty constant work and money. 

He made phone calls about teaching. 

He got me a job interview. 

He sat with me, in frustration, looking at monsters.com and craigslist.

He hugged me and told me everything was going to be ok when I cried in frustration.

He coached me in my job interviews. 

so thank you mattie! you are the best.  

now lets just hope the rest of these goals start getting checked off too. 

2010 in Review.

I can not believe that 2010 has come and gone. 

It seems like just yesterday I was leaving DC, graduating, trying to debate between saying twenty-ten or two thousand and ten, and writing my 2009 review post and reminiscing on the amazing year I had in 2009.  

And now 2011 is literally just around the corner.

And I think this year Im going to settle with twenty-eleven.
The other just seems like too much of a mouth full.

When I wrote my 2009 review I knew going into 2010 held a lot of unknown. This was my first year not in school and supposedly my first year until adulthood.

2010 has brought on...

A lot of changes. 
And for someone who self admits to hate change, thats kind of a big deal. 

A lot of heartbreak.

A lot of frustrations.

A lot of fun.

A lot of moving. 

A lot of crying. 

A lot of new friends.

A lot of new experiences.

And a lot of the unexpected. 

And with that my 2010 Year in Review..

January. 

I moved back to Utah! I lived in a apartment that was not Lanai. After being there for a week I got an amazing job at Oak Canyon Jr High. I still miss that job! I took a trip to Vegas with the Lanai Crew to see Bardi. Celebrated my 23rd Birthday! 

February.

I saw Jason Castro in concert with my roommate Aubrey. Went to a Monster Truck Rally instead of having a Valentine's Date. Two trips back home to escape the cold. 

March.

Busy month. 2nd annual trip to Dodgers Spring Training. Partied with the Lanai Crew at a wedding. Got to see Allie Barker again! Went on lots of dates. 

April. 

Got a boyfriend. Experienced a Spring Break for the first time in four years. Went to General Conference. Graduated from college! It just became more official walking across a stage. Went home for a weekend to go to Disneyland and attend first Dodger game of the season.

May. 

Finally started to enjoy somewhat warm weather in Provo. Lost my two best friends Taylor and Chanel by having them move away from me. Prayed a lot. My job ended. 

June.

 Decided to move home! I packed up my car and drove to LA all by myself in the first week. It was definitely an unexpected change in my life. Went to a lot of Dodger games. Went to Temecula to see some of my Lanai friends. Two Kobe Bryant sightings. One of my most favorite people, Lillie, came home from her mission!

July. 

Started to somewhat have a job. Experienced first round of heartbreak in the year. Decided I needed to make friends in order to be more happy. Made awesome friends. Kelly and the kids came to visit. Hung out by the pool everyday with the kids. Went to the beach a lot. Drove up the coast with family to see some beach towns, San Fransisco and the Dodgers. 

August. 

Went to Newport to see Taylor. Reunited with GH kids. Started to love living in LA and love my NR3 ward and friends. Really became BFF with Rudy. He helped me in so many ways, and more ways then he probably knows. Started a new job! More trips to Dodger games and the beach. Continued to debate on what I should do with my life.

September.

Went to Las Vegas and St George to see the Lanai Crew and go to JB's wedding. Stayed up late, walked the strip and partied with all of my favorite people. Went to a concert. Do I need to mention that I went to Dodger games? Realized that I was super happy living in LA.

October. 

Probably should have started looking for a new job, but I didnt. Went back to Utah for the first time since Spring and for the first time not actually living there. Got to see my Provo friends as well as family for my cousin's wedding. Realized I didn't really miss Provo. Went on lots of dates. 

November. 

Back to unemployment. Its the story of my life this year. Started temping again, depended on the day if I liked it or not. Went to the beach the first weekend. Went on lots of fun outings with friends: karoke, City Walk, powderpuff football, Auto Show, Hollywood Park, Girl's Night, Harry Potter. Robyn. Needed these fun outings to get over douche. 

December. 

Continue to temp while trying to look for a job. Continue to stress on a daily basis about my life. Got to hang out with Annie and Chanel. Continue to party hard with my NR3 friends and love every minute of my new crew that I have. Lots of Christmas celebrations--Temple lights, candy can lane, Newport lights, Gingerbread house making, Secret Santa with friends, Christmas movies. Spend time with the fam for Christmas.

In the end it was a great year.
There were some rough patches. But it was fun. And I learned and I enjoyed it.
I am ever so grateful for my growing testimony in the Gospel that truly helped me get through this year of change.
2010 wasnt as good as 2009 and I hope for an even better year for 2011.

Some things I want for 2011:
More fun.
More friends.
More change. But in a good way.
A job.
An apartment. no offense ma and pops.
Love.
And more adventures.

{Happy New Year!!}

Christmas Time.

Christmas is over??

How did it come and go so fast. 

We had a great Christmas season at the Robins home this year. 

The best part was easily having my sister Kelly and her family escape the snowy land of Utah and enjoy some rain (as well as some sun) in Southern California. Kelly has been a bah humbug and not come home for Christmas in 8 years. It was definitely a needed visit. 

Due to the excitement and fun I actually decided to just enjoy the time together and not snap away so many photos as I usually do. So with that I dont have too many pictures to share. 

Some of the highlights from the trip included going to The Grove, playing lots of video games, walks around the neighborhood, basketball in the cul de sac, the annual Christmas Eve party, Denny's Christmas Eve breakfast, lots of shopping, seeing Gulliver's Travels, lots of puzzle making, getting fought over by my buddies and of course opening up lots of presents Christmas morning. 

 The baby girls. Both kinda drama. Love necklaces. Love their mommas. One has a mullet, the other has lots of hair. Both cute. Love them both.

 Mama Mia and her Identity Disordered Eyes. 

The huge Christmas tree at The Grove. Laura and I took the babes around as Ella and my mom and Kelly were in the American Girl store. I kinda loved pushing Kate around and pretending to be her mom. I think we could pass.

All the kiddies. There are only six and it was still a struggle getting this picture.

Christmas Eve with Miss Ella Bella. 

Shopping a few days after Christmas. Chase wanted a new Dodgers hat. I tried to convince him to get this one so he could look like a thug. He didnt agree but still cheesed up for this shot. 

Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year. 

And so of course I still have N Sync "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" as my ringtone. Just for a few more days at least.

lee bee and annabell.

My senior year of college, Whitney and I were going to room with two semi random girls. 

We were a tad nervous. 

We hadnt done that before. 

These two random girls turned out to be Christina and Annie. 

Those nerves I felt never materialized because within a matter of days we became such good friends. 

They both went on missions. And I missed them A LOT.

If you dont remember how much, I blogged about multiple times.

As they were about to come home I literally began counting down.

I should have had made a paper chain. I was just that excited. 

It was so great to talk and the phone with them and be able to be real friends again. 

After a few weeks of them being home Annie called me one day. 

A: "How far away are you from Los Angeles?"

L: "Um, I live in LA..."

A: "Can I come visit you?"

L: "YES PLEASE"

And a week later she was on a plane to come see me!

Unfortunately she came into town Friday afternoon and I had to work. But my mom picked her up and they drove to my work to take me to lunch. When they got there Annie and I definitely had one of those "running to each other and jumping up and down as we embraced" moments. We were both just that excited to finally see each other after a long year and a half. 

Annie and I need some good quality BFF time. But I also wanted to show here around LA since she has never been here before. 

Friday night I took her to Hollywood. A great place to go after the mish. 

The Pantages Theater. 

Grauman's Chinese Theater.

The Kodak Theater.

And sneaking into The El Capitan Theater (and almost getting to see Tron for free)

Saturday, We snuck in Annie to the gym (we got really good at being sneaky)

And then headed to The Grove to do some awesome shopping and get more into the Christmas Spirit. 

Saturday night we got to see Chanel! As she made a stop in LA on her way to Mesa. Cause if she came to LA one more time and didnt stop and see me I was gonna shank her. 

We definitely all stayed up until 4 AM chatting and catching up and seriously talked about everything. And I couldnt have loved it or needed it more. 

Sunday came and they went to church with me. It made me miss Lanai so much. I miss our RS A TON. 

Of course when they left I cried and was so sad. Sometime amazing weekends suck when they have to come to an end. But I am so grateful for both of them in my life.

I miss you girls! 

Thank you Annabell for coming to visit me! I loved every second of it. It was seriously an amazing weekend. 

I miss you so much. 

I miss us being roommates. 

I am so grateful for you in my life and the amazing blessing of having you move in with me. 

You will always be one of my bestest friends. 

I love this girl! and need her back in my life!