Halloweenies.

I can not express to you how much I love Halloween. I am completely serious.
This is my favorite holiday. Maybe Thanksgiving rivals it, and obviously I love Christmas, and let's get real, holidays in general are my favorite thing ever. But Halloween is the best.
Costumes, dance parties, candy. 
How can you get better than that? Those are potentially my 3 favorite things in the world. Plus my birthday is around Halloween time and it is in fall, my favorite season. So much goodness. One of my favorite past times in the world is dressing up and going to dance parties. I dress up for pretty much every dance party I ever go to (which is many), but Halloween is just a whole new level. I always have multiple costumes every year, and go to as many dance parties as I can. Thus far this Halloween season I have been a grandma (again), a birthday princess, and Professor Trelawny (throwback). Also, I've already attended 4 Halloween themed dance parties. Winning.
So, what will I be tonight for real Halloween? I have no idea yet, but some potential ideas I have had are: David Bowie as the Goblin king in Labyrinth, a Jedi, and a Native American. Also DeeDee from Dexter's Lab because I have a friend considering being Dexter.
I just love costumes. I need to calm down about that, I know. And yes, I realize that I am now 23 years old. I don't think I know what it means grow up and be an adult. Fine with it.

Moral of this rambling story: Halloween rocks. I love dressing in costume. I love being in character. I love dancing. And I love sweets. Let's go celebrate the day of the dead.

Employable.

Now let's address what I have been doing since graduating from college.
What's that you say? I forgot to mention that I graduated from college? Well, surprise! I did that.

I finished the last of my graduation requirements in August. All I had left was to finish my internship and turn in my final research paper - which ended up being far more work than anticipated. But it's all done! I'm done! I graduated! And it was official about a month ago when my diploma finally came in the mail. That was a very exciting day of my life.
It's kind of funny how important a single piece of paper can be in the world. I spent 4 solid years of working my butt off for that piece of paper. I crammed my brain with so much knowledge and spent countless hours in the library studying and writing papers. And you know what? It was absolutely worth it.

So what HAVE I been doing?

Well once I graduated, I was no longer eligible to work in my on-campus student employee job, so I found myself unemployed. Isn't it interesting that upon graduating from college I lost my job? It's usually the other way around, but it's fine.
And thus began my weeks of unemployment. Having absolutely no obligations to my name in the middle of August? You would think that sounds like a heavenly end to the summer, but let me tell you, it was miserable. I have been in school and working for 4 years straight, and have gotten used to that fast-paced movement and then all of the sudden BAM - I was sitting home all day, everyday watching netflix and reading fantasy novels. The first day was great. I slept in, I went for a jog, I didn't have to shower until after lunch, and I watched at least 5 episodes of Once Upon A Time. But then the second day happened and I realized that I was going crazy. I needed a job. I applied to seriously at least 40 jobs; it was ridiculous. I was unemployed for a good 2-3 weeks, and I really think I went crazy. But then I was blessed and got a great job! Basically, life's just moving right along. Good work team.

Karen.

So it's been a month and a half since I last updated the blog. Sometimes I'm just not as into it as usual. But I'm back, hopefully. And ladies and gentlemen, let me just tell you... life has been a crazy hullabaloo of fun, sad, wonderful, hilarious, exhausting, stressful, and awesome memories.

Let's first just take a moment to appreciate love. And marriage.
Never fear, not my own love and marriage, but that of my roommates. In the last month or so I have had 2 roommates get engaged and the one that was already engaged got married. Lots of love? You are quite right. And it has been wonderful. In the last 8 months, I have been able to see these relationships begin and develop and grow and become something wonderful.
I am so so so happy for my best friends and that they have each found an AMAZING man to spend eternity with. Does life get better than that?

Kaylee + Daren = Karen. Or Daylee?
Kaylee has been my best friend for 4 years. Living with someone brings you closer than pretty much anything and I love this girl with all of my heart. She's always been the one to share all of my nerdy passions and get excited about the most ridiculous things. She plans the best parties in the world and she understands my love of themed events. Midnight premier? Kaylee and I are the ones at the front of the line and pre-buying enough tickets for all of our friends. We just have so much fun.
Kaylee is also my therapist. She understands when there is an issue and she knows how to make me look at every side of the situation. She knows just what to say to shine a new light on a problem and she will let me sit in my pit of stubbornness as long as it takes for me to understand what she's saying. And she gives unparalleled advice.
Kaylee has taught me how to give my all in everything I'm involved in. With her, there is no wishy-washy indecisiveness. You make a commitment and you stick with it until it is good and done. I admire that trait so much.
I honestly truly don't know what I would be like without Kaylee Joy.

Kaylee and Daren's wedding day was absolutely beautiful. They are so in love and I am so excited for their life together. I knew from the day we returned from our California trip back in February that they were perfect for each other. And I am thrilled to have been able to be there to support them for their wedding! Here's a few of my faves from the day:

All of Kaylee's friends that were there at the temple when they came out. I love this group of humans.

Bridesmaids!

And let's just take a moment to appreciate every person's face in this picture. Everything is solid gold entertainment. Winning.

MT and I proving that we were the one's that made this marriage happen. We brought them together in California. But you don't have to thank us.