Ah, Autumn is coming...

Aren't you proud of yourself when you eat a healthy late night snack? I just had light vanilla yogurt mixed with Pumpkin spice granola. Besides being a healthier alternative to snacks such as, say, cookies or ice cream, this late night treat also had the added bonus of tasting like fall.

I love autumn. I love the crispness of the air when you step outside. I love cozy-ing up in sweaters because the weather is cool (but not freezing cold). I love fall colors and the changing leaves. But maybe I really love autumn because I love pumpkin.

I love the taste of pumpkin anything--bread, cookies, cupcakes, pancakes, granola, pie, etc. When you add that to the smell of a pumpkin candle or baking pumpkin bread, I could just melt with happiness. There is something so homey about the taste and smell of this fall vegetable. I absolutely love summer, and though I rather dislike winter I look forward to autumn because this transition season is, in my mind, synonymous with comfort and coziness.

So I think the first thing that needs to be done in October is to go out and buy a pumpkin scented candle. Maybe the next is buy ingredients to make pumpkin cupcakes or bread. Then I'll know that fall is really here.

My next post will have details of living in Washington DC. I know you might be curious, and I have been here for almost a month and a half, so I do have some opinions now on this exciting city. Look forward to another post soon.

What time is it? Summertime! It's my vacation...

Yeah, I just went there with that title.

Moving on, can you believe what a crazy year I've had so far? This spring term I finished up my capstone on the Chinese Student Movement of 1935-1936 and also prepared like crazy for the LSAT. In mid-June I finished school and moved back home to AZ for the summer. Yes, that means I am done with Provo and with BYU. And what a relief that is. Most of my high school friends had already graduated and moved on with their lives, so I'd been feeling like I was behind in the game. It feels good to have that part of life behind me.

Anyway. I came home only to start being a counselor for a special all-girls conference/camp called Time to Blossom...for two weeks. Each week, I was in charge of 10 girls from the ages of 11-13. Wow. The girls were adorable, but I forgot about what drama there is at that age! Yikes. In any case, I was exhausted in mind, body, and spirit after the crazy past few months I've had.

Which leads me to this evening...I am getting on a plane with my family and we are going on vacation. I will freely admit that I NEED THIS VACATION. Seriously. I feel so worn out. Hopefully half a month in the Caribbean and Florida will restore my well-being.

In August, I start a four month internship with Congressman Jeff Flake back in Washington, D.C. I am honestly thrilled at the prospect. I've heard such great things about D.C., and plus there is so much to do (for free no less!) in our nation's capitol. I think most of my weekends will be full of me being a tourist. :)

Anyway, there is an update on my life. It's been a while since I've written anything, so there you have it.

Have a splendid day!

--Kyra

A New Year, Another Post

Hello hello! It's been a while. No fashion rants today, but I thought I'd write about some of my current obsessions to start off a new year of posts right.

So I am currently watching the British mini-series Downton Abbey. The show is amazing! Beautiful costumes, gorgeous sets, a juicy scandal-filled story, and a phenomenal cast of British actors make this an addictive ride. You can watch it online at the PBS Masterpiece website here. The second season will be filmed later this year, but for now I am loving the first season. Anyway, I highly recommend it!

I haven't seen a lot of new movies lately, but I did see the film Tangled twice over the holiday season. This is by far the best film that Disney has put out in quite a while. It was witty and genuinely funny without resorting to cheap bathroom humor. Can I describe how visually stunning it is? The lantern scene blew my mind--I saw it first in regular theaters, and it was gorgeous, but the second time I saw it in 3D and I almost forgot I was looking at a screen. Honestly, Tangled is so enjoyable. I will own it on DVD as soon as it comes out, but in the meantime, if you haven't had the pleasure of seeing it, go to the dollar theater and enjoy it!

Hmm. What else. Books! I read recently some fun YA fiction. Yes, I know, not very sophisticated, but nevertheless fun. First on the list is Matched by Ally Condie. It's kind of like The Giver meets The Hunger Games. It was a fun, easy read, but also made me stop and think. I'd give it a 7 or 8 out of 10--very enjoyable!

The next book is Pegasus by one of my favorite authors, Robin McKinley. I love fantasy books, and award-winning author Robin McKinley is a master storyteller. The story revolves around two races, humans and pegasi, who cannot communicate with each other without the aid of magicians. That is, until a certain princess finds she can speak with her assigned Pegasus companion. Their friendship is beautiful, and McKinley's world building is impeccable. The story ends rather abruptly, but Pegasus II comes out in 2012.

The final book I'll post about has been out for a while, but I finally got around to reading it. I'd been missing out! Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith is just what I like--swashbuckling fantasy, beautiful clothes, and a touch of romance. Could life get any better? The main character, Countess Meliara Tlanth, is a feisty young woman who despite her title was raised poor and ignorant. She has a mulish sense of standing up for what she believes to be right--the only problem is she isn't often right. She embroils herself in a scheme to overtake the throne of her kingdom, and finally is forced to leave the battlefield to battle it out in the kingdom's royal court. A bit fluffy at times, but enough action and intrigue to make a delightful read.

Okay, that's a really long post...I apologize. In the meantime, watch this YouTube video that cracks me up every time.

Have a great day!