Carved in My Heart

Time for a little life catch up...

I have a feeling that sophomore year will be filled with lots of group selfies 

The first of my close friends, the ever so lovely Courtney, turned 20 in September! It's so strange that we are leaving our teenage years, years I so anticipated when I a kid. Even though you're technically an adult at 18, 20 feels so much more real and adult like. Six more months of teenagehood left for me! We celebrated 2 decades of Courtney with a delicious dinner and even more delicious cheesecake.

I went home at the end of September for Olivia's sophomore homecoming. I still remember each high school dance like it was yesterday and am so happy that she's enjoying high school as much as I did. I skipped my Friday chem lecture and went home Thursday afternoon, making it back in time to surprise my family at the football game, where Olivia would be performing at halftime. While I was there, I ran into some of my favorite people in the world! 

My favorite people tend to be under the age of 8

Friday, Olivia had a very busy day but still managed to look so beautiful on her way to the dance. 

It was a really amazing weekend home. I got to relax and spend some quality time with my family, including my grandparents. Sunday, we walked the Race for the Cure, which is always such a humbling experience. 

A week ago, on Friday afternoon, Christine, Emma, Mackenzie and I headed south of Boulder to go to see one of our favorite singers, Ben Howard, perform at Red Rocks. Emma’s family recently moved to a house just minutes away from the beautiful amphitheater, so we got to go hang out at her house for a while, where her mom made us the most delicious salmon chowder. We got to play ping pong, pet her adorable dog, and talk about life and the season we’re all in. Ben Howard was incredible live, but I was not impressed with his set list. He chose to play mostly new songs, and NONE of the songs that he is most known for/what made him famous. We still danced, sang to what we could, and enjoyed the time together. After the concert, Christine, Mack, and I went to Christine's friends house for some smores and we all had a great time. We got back into Boulder pretty late, but it was a Friday to remember. 

That next day, my parents came up on Saturday since it was technically "Family Weekend" at CU. My siblings were pretty busy the entire weekend, so just my parents came up and we drove an hour north to Estes Park. The fall colors on the trees were fantastic, and we poked around several of the shops on Main Street. The best part was how many Christmas stores there were scattered down the street, filling my Christmas-loving heart to the brim. I love when I get to have only child time with my parents, it's nice not to be interrupted by my non-stop talking sister. 

Casual deuces

when adults selfie...

#sororitysisters

And I'd just like to say again how much fun it is to live with your best friend. We are like two old ladies living together. We grocery shop and switch off making dinners, we go on runs together, we take care of each other when stressed/sick, we finish each others sentences, we watch documentaries together (highly recommend The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst), we borrow each others clothes, we make fun of each other, but still love each other. I pray that my future daughters (and sons!) all find their Mackenzie in life because it is the best.

We are non-romantic soulmates

Sometimes in life there really are bonds formed that can never be broken. Sometimes you really can find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. Maybe you will find it in a spouse and celebrate it with your dream wedding. But there's also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, the one person who knows you sometimes better than you know yourself is the same person who's been standing beside you all along. -Bride Wars 

Sweet, innocent, single. Have at her boys

I'm grateful for each day this year, and for the comfort that this is all familiar. It's so interesting to me how much changes in a year, but how you are always exactly where you need to be. I am loving classes, no matter how challenging they prove to be. I am loving Young Life, and budding leadership and ministry there. I am loving my friends, and our talks and laughs and cries. I am loving now, and each moment. Now is now. I'm taking what is, and carving it on my heart, carrying it with me, knowing that while I don't always know what is next, there will be peace, and it will be ok. 

xo

Hannah

LAS VEGAS

This summer, I noticed Mackenzie had added the song "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" by Celine Dion to her summer Spotify playlist. I instantly remembered how much I loved that song in middle school and texted her to compliment her on her excellent music taste. She told me that Ainsley was going through a Celine Dion phase, and after hearing the music play while Ains was showering, her love for Celine was also reignited.

I became an avid Celine listener, especially after discovering Luke (the little boy I nannied) would instantly calm down and fall asleep when listening to her music. I remember a great number of hours in his dark room, rocking him while humming along to "Because You Loved Me" and "All By Myself", admiring his most adorable face. After I got my gallbladder and appendix out, the first thing I did when waking up from anesthesia was listen to "It's All Coming Back to Me Now". As summer continued, so did the love for Celine. Towards the end of June, Ainsley texted me asking if I would want to go to Vegas to see Celine in concert. Of course! However, for a while, everything seemed very dreamy/hypothetical. I didn't think it would actually ever happen, but the oh-so-persuasive Ainsley somehow convinced her parents to go to Vegas and see the queen for her 16th birthday, along with her best friend Maya (who actually dreamed up the whole trip idea), Mackenzie and me. It all worked out wonderfully, and we were scheduled to head to Sin City over Labor Day weekend to see Celine freaking Dion.

We left late Friday night, so so excited! On our way to the airport, a piece of Eileen's car literally flew off, causing a quick put stop and so much laughter. We made it to the airport with plenty of time, Mackenzie and I scored Schlotzsky's for dinner, and the flight was super short. Mack's dad planned for a limo to pick us up from the airport to take us to our hotel, The Venetian. However, only Mack and I knew about it, so we got to be the ones who surprised everyone! We made sure to get ahead and find the driver, and I explained to him the surprise situation. Eileen just knew we were in charge of transportation, and I told her my dad gave me a great company to call that he had used. While we "waited" for the car company,  I suggested we go take some flashy pics next to a limo. Ainsley and Maya were convinced they wouldn't let us, but we went over and sure enough, they let us! lol. We talked to the driver for a bit, and I eventually asked if he could take us for a spin. At this point, Maya and Ains were freaking out, especially after he said yes. I then told them that the limo was our ride, and everyone was very confused/nervous/freaked out, but Mackenz and I just got right in and they followed! We drove through the lit up strip, admiring all the lights, drunk people, and yelling with excitement for the concert. We got to the hotel pretty late and went to bed right away.

Airport selfies are always essential

our weekend itinerary made by the birthday queen no less

Saturday morning, we had a quick breakfast before heading out to do as much as we could before the concert. We went to Madame Tussad's Wax Museum and it was worth every penny! It was so freaky but fun to see wax figures of celebrities like Cameron Diaz and Oprah. The best part was when we go to see the wax figure of Celine. After the wax museum, we explored several of the hotels. The architecture of the entire city is pretty phenomenal. After walking around in the heat for several hours, we retreated back to the hotel to get ready for the evening. I'd say on levels of hotness, we went from 7s to 10s, without a doubt. We ate at the Hard Rock Cafe before heading to the Colosseum at Caesar's to see Queen Celine. Along the way, we took pictures and just marveled by the oddities of the human race.

Your newest Playboy bunnies (I know, I can't stop laughing too)

YES

Our queen

Oh yeah and this happened! hahahaha

Quick stop in Paris

There's a lot I love about this picture

Did Caesar really live here?

Eileen's Vegas bf

Ainsley's birthday present bahahaha

 Then came the concert.

I don't think I'll ever have the words to adequately describe the magic that happened that evening. Celine truly has the voice of an angel. The concert began with a little video montage to "I Drove All Night", and then suddenly, she appeared. She began singing "I Surrender". Right at the chorus, the white curtains dropped to reveal an orchestra and back up singers and honestly, I don't think I've ever felt so close to tears at a concert. Ainsley really did bawl a steady stream of tears. The entire concert, I had goosebumps and was just in disbelief of the beauty of her voice. It's something I will never, ever forget. She certainly left us on a a Celine high.

Sunday, we went to the pool for about an hour in the morning before checking out of our room and heading to New York New York. Ainsley, Mackenzie, and I rode the roller coaster three times. We indulged at Shake Shack for lunch, and no shake will ever be as amazing as the Black and White, and no crinkle cut fry ever as worthy. Honestly, we were so exhausted, so we went back to the hotel and camped out on some couches until it was time for us to take our limo back to the airport.

The weekend as a whole was quick, but so fun. Vegas is such an interesting city, and I look forward to going back- when I'm 21 that is, so it's a little more enjoyable lol.

The moral of this long vacation recount is GO SEE CELINE DION IN CONCERT. Your life will never be the same. You will truly be touched by an angel.

I just had to get this babe a shirt since he is Celine's biggest fan. Also, this picture is my favorite EVER.

Oh, and of course Mackenzie and I made a video of the weekend. Enjoy!


xo
Hannah

Thank You for the Music

When I was in Kauai last month, my family stopped in at this little cafe near Port Allen to grab some lunch. It was nearly empty, with only one other family in there finishing lunch. When we walked in, I heard the faint sound of "Mamma Mia" playing against the noise of fans and quiet chatter. It made me smile and I thought it was rather serendipitous to be stopping into eat somewhere that was playing my favorite music. As we sat in a booth looking over the menu, "Waterloo"came on, followed by "Super Trouper". I was in complete awe that this little hole in the wall cafe was playing ABBA! The waitress noticed that I was singing along and mentioned that she was a longtime ABBA fan and had felt a little down, so she decided to play ABBA because she knew it would instantly put her in a better mood. Oh, how right she was. The food was fantastic, service friendly, and my day, made. Thank you Grinds Cafe! The rest of the day, I played ABBA in the car, much to my family's liking;)

So, I am obsessed with ABBA. There is video of me dancing in my neighbors yard to "Take a Chance on Me" when I am about 6 years old. My dance moves were about as amazing then as they are now, ha. Mamma Mia is my second favorite movie (after Cheaper by the Dozen, of course) and I enjoy the weirdness of Muriel's Wedding. There's just something about the catchy beat and slightly corny lyrics of all ABBA songs that I just adore. Back in April, I was looking up what shows would be at Red Rocks in the summer. As I scrolled through the list, I saw that in late July, an ABBA tribute band would be performing. I clicked a few links and listened to some videos and was blown away by how similar the tribute sounded to the real deal. A call to my mom later, I was figuring out how to buy tickets. They sadly were not on sale yet, but I was still determined to go. The semester ended, summer was in full swing, and the tickets were bought! We had a big group of ladies to go with us- the ultimate girls night out.

We grabbed sandwiches and picniced in the parking lot of Red Rocks (classy right?) and made our way into the breathtaking amphitheater. As we waited for the show to begin, we took some pictures (duh) and were so excited we could hardly handle it. The audience was quite the mix of a handful of young people, but mainly middle-aged and seniors. We were certainly the anomaly- while we were singing "The Winner Takes It All", an older lady in front of me turned around and asked how the heck we even knew who ABBA was. The show began with a number of lesser-known songs, but really picked up about 20 minutes into. Everyone was singing and dancing and I had never felt so alive. Lucky for us, this concert is an annual show at Red Rocks so this is a new tradition that I have a feeling will continue for many years to come. It was the best show of my whole life, and will be hard to beat.

Red on the Rocks lolz

SO MUCH EXCITEMENT FOR ABBA

No truer friend than Mack

Yep, we're talking about ya

Love my Petersen ladies! 

Bling sistas

Chiquitita tell me the truth, I'm a shoulder you can cry on 

There was something in the air that night, the stars were bright, Fernando...

xo
Hannah

Katie Herzig

Last night, Mackenzie and I got to break away from campus and go to a concert! About two weeks ago, I saw that Katie Herzig, who is probably my favorite artist ever, was going to be in Boulder!!! For a few years now, I have been trying to go to one of her shows because she usually has a few in Colorado. Finally, she would be in a place that was rather convenient and tickets were cheap, so it was one I had to go to! Mackenzie also shares a love for Katie - shocking, I know, what do we both not like? Actually, I like beans and she doesn't so there's that. Anyways, I texted her and we both bought tickets in a matter of minutes. It was quite impulsive of us, but certainly worth it.

Wednesday evening, Mack and I went to Pearl Street and had a very nice (very expensive) dinner at The Cheesecake Factory, because sometimes you just gotta treat yoself. We then made the four minute walk to eTown Hall, the concert venue.

Crazy concert lighting #rave

So the concert was not your typical concert. It was actually being recorded for the radio and a podcast so in about a month, anyone can listen to it. It went from 7-9 and there was two hosts who were rather annoying but what else is new. Mackenzie and I were basically the youngest people there (which ALWAYS happens to us) but we got stellar seats and obviously like music that has substance if adults like it too. There was another act there, The Barr Brothers, who were pretty good, but I could have gone without them. They had a harpist though and she was really awesome.

The Barr Brothers, Katie Herzig, and the two hostesses

Since it was a recorded show and could only go for so long, Katie sang six songs: Charlie Chaplin, Walk Through Walls, Closest I Get, Way to the Future,  Frequencies, and Lost and Found. There were a few more that I wish she would have sang, but that just means I have to go to another concert!

What I loved most was how real she was. She's not widely known, so her music is something special and unique. Her voice in real life is just like that on her albums, which is so important to me. There is nothing more disappointing than going to a concert where the singer doesn't sound remotely like they do on their album. Katie is down to earth and simple, something I deeply admire. Oh, and she went to CU so that's always exciting:)

Low quality picture, high quality enertainment

After the show, Mackenzie and I got to MEET her! It was SO exciting, even though we were nervous wrecks (looking back, I'm not sure why we were so nervous). The night was a blast, and I am so happy that I not only got to see in concert, but meet the artist who's music has had a profound impact on my life.

xo
Hannah

A favorite song of hers, which is in Mack's graduation video

High Five for Friday!

TWO MORE DAYS UNTIL EUROPE!!!

1. Taylor Swift=best concert ever. I loved EVERY SECOND of it.

2. Only my friends would decide to cut each others hair for fun.

3. New rain coat for Europe + my new favorite H&M leggings= happy Hannah

please ignore my face, selfies just aren't my thing.

4. Our neighbor got the most brutal TPing I've ever seen. And he's out of town, and we're in charge of taking care of their yard, so guess who was outside cleaning up 100 rolls of TP at midnight? ME!

this wasn't even half of it.

5. My favorite girls in the whole wide world graduated kindergarten. :( Before they move this July, I may just have to steal them. I love them to pieces.

xo
Hannah