Sunday, May 11, 2014

a tribute: to my mother

Marblehead, MA

As this blog becomes more and more of a journal for me, I wanted to share just a few of the reasons my mother is so special to me ... 

I started writing down the thoughts for this post while I was in church this morning. One of the speakers recalled his first memory. Unsurprisingly, it involved his mother. Mom, my earliest memory is of you as well. I was three years old, and you were pregnant with Hannah. I was so excited to have a little sister, and I remember kissing your belly. 


Carlsbad, August 2009

Thank you for sacrificing your wants and needs, to keep us healthy and happy. Thank you for teaching us to be kind, to be smart, to be graceful, and to have integrity. Through your actions, you've taught us to work hard, to be selfless, and to converse with Heavenly Father every day. From the time I was little, your testimony of the Gospel and of the Savior has strengthened my own. You taught us to rely on The Lord, rather than the world.


BYU, April 2012

In so many ways your life has inspired my life own. From a young age I knew I wanted to attend BYU because you did. It was such a special moment when I got to place that graduation stole upon your shoulders to express my gratitude for all the support you'd given me over those past four years.


27 Palace Court, London, England
August 2007/August 2010

I believe that I was born with your sense of adventure, and just like you, I wanted to spend some time living abroad. I will never forget that afternoon when you took us to the BYU London Study Abroad Center in 2007, only to return just three years later to drop me off for three months. 

March 10, 2012, Salt Lake Temple

And just like you, I wanted to get married in the Salt Lake Temple. :)

March 10, 2012, Alpine

Mom, you give your all to this divine calling of motherhood and we couldn't be more grateful for you. You radiate beauty and light, and we are so lucky to call you ours! Happy Mother's Day!

All my love, 
Sarah-Kate

Sunday, May 4, 2014

#beachtrip2014

Over my Spring Break I flew out to Southern California to meet up with Ahlin and Leslie for a little girls' getaway!

First priority: a trip to the beach. Here we are ocean-bound. Leslie gave me some side braid magic. 

The beach is not complete without a burger and fries. Habit burger and fries to be exact.

A sight for sore eyes. 

After a day on the sand, we went down to "The Shore" for dinner. ("The Shore" is a hip street lined with restaurants and shops. It's where all the cool kids go, I assume.) Dinner with these two would not be complete without a stop at Yogurtland.

SM and LO together again. I missed this girl!

On Sunday morning we attended church in the Cypress area. They thought we were college students. It was a nice change from getting confused for a middle school student, which I experience on a semi-regular basis. It's fine.

After church, we went back to the beach for a little Sunday stroll. 

I could not get enough of the sand and the surf. 

To thank Ahlin's aunt and uncle for letting us stay with them, we prepared a gourmet Sunday meal. We got a 10/10 from Ahlin's Uncle/Chef. I should clarify; he's not her chef, but a chef. 

The gang.

The main. 

Ever since I started watching Masterchef Australia (cue laughter), I've been dying to try the iconic pavlova. Thanks to Aunt Melissa for making this dream a reality!

Heaven on a plate.

A trip to California would not be complete without a stop at Disneyland! I find it very fitting that my BFFs are roller coaster junkies like me. 

Love these two. 

We saved the best for last. 

#happiestplaceonearth

I know this image is terrible quality, but I love it. Even though I was exhausted by the end, it was such a fun twelve hours!

Before we left for the airport on our last day, we stopped at the Los Angeles temple. The grounds were absolutely beautiful, and I felt such a peace walking around them. 


I'm so grateful that I got to take this trip with Ahlin and Leslie and I hope we can make it a tradition! #beachtrip2014forever