i'll be home for christmas.

there could not have been a better time to come home from london. landing straight in the middle of all the christmas festivities was the best thing i could have asked for. even though the snow and christmas spirit made me feel like i had time traveled it still stands to be true, christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year. 


it was great to reunite with my friends and family that i have missed SO much. and i guess i missed provo a little too. the rest of december was spent having the most fun and living up every second of the break.


there were parties and celebrations

pampering and girl talk

ugly sweaters and egg nog

family and food

but most of all a lot of really great times. 


i love being home. and i love my friends and family.


happy holidays.

love and memories.

well, it's official... my girl callista lauren priest is now officially Callista Lauren Welling. On December 19th Calli and Ben were wed forever and ever and I couldn't be more pleased about it.

We began the wedding festivities with a little bachelorette party. Karissa, Rebekah, Cami, Michelle, Calli and I gathered together for the last time as singles ladies and had the time of our life. Even if the bride to be fell asleep before the clock struck midnight. 

A few days later we toasted the almost new Mr. and Mrs. Welling at a beautiful wedding dinner. We all held back tears and it finally felt real that our little Cal was about to be a wife. That night we had one final girls chat before we let Calli rest for her big day. We'll always be the best of friends and marriage can't change that...too much. 

The next day was one we will all always remember. We all drove up to the Mt. Timpanogos temple to see the beautiful new couple come through those brass temple doors. The weather was perfect and the sky was a gorgeous shade of blue, it was have been freezing but it made for gorgeous pictures.

The reception was a night full of reminiscing and catching up. As us girls set up camp at a table and watched the new couple greet their friends and family we were grateful that Calli found the perfect man to share this perfect day with. 

I still can't believe she is married but I am glad to see her with the man of her dreams, and no matter what she will always be our girl.  

set adrift on memory bliss.

since I've been home from London I have been on a ever-constant memory lane. here's a list of my motherland favorites...

1. 27 Palace Court: the mice and Ms. Shepherd could never scare me away. even with all its victorian flaws this place will always be home and i have to say, my bottom bunk and shoe box sized closet will always have a space in my heart.


2. Queensway: two tube stops, two tescos, boots, whitley's, tuk tuk, bella italia, cheap scarves, the post office, frog frozen yogurt, ryman stationer, mcdonalds free wifi, waffles, and everything in between. this is my most frequented street. 


3. Nandos: grilled chicken pitta with lemon and herb sauce, chips on the side with a bottomless diet coke. yes please. the best place in town to find unlimited supplies of soda, an amazing meal and a perfectly good time.


4. Lush: this place has the best beauty products and emanates an even more glorious smell. mmmm yummy.


5. Queen Elizabeth II: I hope she reigns forever. long live the queen. 


6. Megavideo: this site stole so much of my rare "the-internet-is-actually-working" moments. and okay, i know this is available in the states but nevertheless, thanks to it i never missed an episode of any of my favorite shows. even with its bogus 72 minute rule.


7. The Ladies: i never thought i would survive living with 40 girls but it wasn't so bad. i grew to know and love each and every one of them and we became such a family. sure, we all had our times, but i already miss all of them and can't wait till we are reunited in Provo in January!


8. The Wandsworth Common Ward: Never have I met such amazing people in my life. I will never forget my time spent serving as a youth sunday school teacher and working with the kids in the ward. From day one they all welcomed me in as one of their own and I will honestly miss them and their amazing spirits. The hour and a half trek to church each sunday was worth it every time.


9. The Tube: i owe my life to my student oyster card that got me everywhere I needed to go. london transportation is like a gift from the gods.


10. Londoners: with their immaculate sense of style and absolute poise these people are unlike any I have ever known. They come from everywhere but share the same love for the greatest city on earth. and being so, i love them. even if it takes a little refresher in a pub for them to lighten up a bit.

and even though i promised myself i would limit the list to ten things I love so much more about the city. since i've been home people have asked me what my favorite thing is about london, and the truth is that is an impossible question. sure, i don't love every single thing about london, it isn't perfect after all. but i love it will all my heart and it will always be home.

nothing lasts forever.

well my time in London has quickly come to a close and I can't hardly believe it. When I first arrived in this city, I thought my time here would last forever. I couldn't quite comprehend three and a half months but now that it's over I realize how quickly time has flown and I am sad to see it go.

The past couple weeks in London have been a whirlwind. I arrived home from Provo just in time to begin studying for finals. Although jet lag and the flu got the best of me for a while I made it through and tried to enjoy the last of London as much as possible. 

In between completing assignments and preparing for tests I found time to do all the last minute shopping my wallet could afford. I stormed down Oxford Street, fought the crowds at Portobello Market, laughed at the neon outfitted limbo man in Covent Garden, smelled the incandescent aromas of Lush Cosmetics, braved the Primark line, walked the halls of Hitler's beloved Whitley's, drooled over the stationary in paperchase and all the clothes in my favorite clothing stores and spent almost every last pence i had. 

I also rocked out to Queen in the West End musical We Will Rock You, went Ice Skating in Sommerset House underneath the Tiffany's decorated christmas tree, ate at Nando's as much as possible, indulged in my favorite treats also as much as possible, and walked down all my favorite streets for some final memories.

My last day in London was full of final tourist activities around the city. We sat on top of a royal red double decker for the last time, watched the changing of the guards for my favorite lady queen elizabeth, said loving farewells to my architectural boyfriend big ben, climbed the lions in trafalgar square, enjoyed the Norwegian's evergreen gift to London, and many other london-exclusive events.

After a packing frenzy and a tornado like mess all over the centre, a sleepless night, and a long day full of travel I made it back to the states safe and sound. I'm absolutely exhausted and extremely crazy but it feels good to be home.


i love you london and i will miss you forever. but after all, there's no place like home.