Cloud 9

Yesterday was easily on my "Top 100 favorite days". Not that I have a list or anything but if I did…

I woke up yesterday, got an awesome picture for my passport…

Met with my new AMAZING physiology tutor Becca. She is seriously an angel…

Volunteered at the Nursing Home and painted nails and gossiped for an hour and a half…

Went to class and found out that, oh yeah…

I'M GOING TO LIVE IN GHANA AFRICA FOR 90 DAYS THIS SUMMER.

This is a Field Study Research Project through Brigham Young University where I get the opportunity to spend 90 days in Ghana with three other very lovely ladies and research a topic of my choice. It is in the beginning stages. So far the research question posed is "What traditional/cultural healing treatments are used in maternal and neonatal care compared to the hospitals and clinics with "westernized medicine" in Ghana?" This will change many times and I know there is lots of research I need to do before I even think about pulling out a suitcase. 

But I am on cloud 9. 

LIFE IS GOOD, OH SO GOOD. 

I am so richly blessed in my life and so grateful for this fantastic opportunity. 

If you want updates on my progress you can check out on my other blog strictly for my Ghana research at nataliejblake.blogspot.com 

xoxo Thrifter-Sister

Back to Busy-ness

I'm back!

I just spent one of the best weekends with 4 girlfriends at venice beach, eating Diddy Riese icecream, playing catch phrase for hours, and spending time at the beach. I made a little trip video and this sums it up pretty accurately… pictures to come!

School is now in full swing and I love it! Some days it is difficult to manage everything but most of my classes are so fascinating I love doing the work for them. My favorite class is Athletic Training and I am loving the hands on lab I have each week. 

xoxo Thrifter Sister

The Golden State

Today I am off to California! Four friends and I are going to spend this 3 day weekend relaxing by the beach. Nothing sounds better than a weekend of sun after living in cold snowy Utah. I plan on doing absolutely nothing but read the Hunger Games and get some sun.

 See ya Monday!

XOXO Thrifter Sister

A NEW YEAR!

Although it is a few days past New Years I still want to be like every other blogger and blog about twenty eleven and how excited I am for the TWENTY TWELVE! Last year brought so much adventure and so much change. 

I met some amazing friends...

Went on way too many road trips with amazing friends… (Utah, Vegas, California, Elko, St. George)

Learned how to ski from my awesome roommate...

Went to some crazy and fun dance parties….

Found out how much I love to sew 

Lifeguarded more than 500 hours and taught swim lessons this summer

Spent Thanksgiving with my cousins in California...

Spent Christmas with my best friends from High school and my lovely family… I miss them!

And realized how important family is to me no matter how crazy we are...

So needless to say I am excited for TWENTY TWELVE! All of the new relationships it brings with it and new adventures… I can't wait. So here is the part where I add my list of New Year Resolutions. I have never been too great about keeping these but these seem pretty manageable… so here goes!

1) Make more friends

2) Strengthen relationships with old friends

3) Blog more

4) Do what I want to do more

5) Be more creative (take photos, sew something complicated…)

6)  Sleep more

7) Study harder and more often…  

8) Get healthier

9) Call my family more often 

10) Let people know how important they are to me daily

11) Learn how to Keep Calm and Carry On

BRING IT ON 2012!!

My Blogging Obsession

I. LOVE. REFASHION. BLOGS. 

Let me clarify. I am OBSESSED with any blog that deals with DIY crafts, refashioning, up-cycling clothes, or weddings :) but who isn't! It is so exciting to see what someone can do with an ugly dress or even a pillow case! Most of my ideas do come from other Blogs or are inspired from Pinterest. I hope one day I can be just as creative as these lovely ladies. They are so inspiring! Check out their blogs!

Cotton & Curls

Trash To Couture

Jay n Sarah

Elle Apparel

This is just a short list of what consumes my time when I should be studying (Like right now! Oops!). 

Well right now is finals week but I am going HHOOOOMMMMEEEEE on Thursday and couldn't be more excited. Mainly because I will have all the free time in the world to sew!! SEW, get ready for some fun before & after blog posts! See y'all then!