Hello March

Hey everybody. Happy March! I can't believe how fast time flies these days.

My life is full and chaotic. Wake up, work out, school, work. Repeat. 

I'm winding down my half freshman/half sophomore year of college. This summer I have state tests to take for school and a new nanny job lined up. In the fall, I'll start my second year here at UNW, and I also found some roommates!

It's crazy how far ahead you have to think when you grow up. But I'm so thankful for the support of my family, new friends, and boyfriend. No matter how much work a college degree is - I'm grateful for those around me who give encouragement and for our amazing God who knows every detail before I do.

Here are some of my favorite memories of 2016, so far.

date night with Derek // my cousin's wedding // babysitting & drinking coffee //

Valentine's Day roses // MN Wild hockey game // I BOUGHT A CAR // new shoes & ripped jeans //

hanging out with my little bro // Derek's birthday // scenery on campus // Driving home for the weekend // 

sunsets // my dog Hattie // Easter Sunday with my sisters

Hope all of my followers are doing well & that you have a fantastic week!

xoxo,

Michlyn

An Open Letter to my High School Best Friends

I recently read this post and thought why not write my own letter.
Because I'm gonna be honest. I. Miss. High. School. So. Much.

These girls were my everything. My support, my laughs, boy talk, pizza lovers, terrible dancers, and adventurers.
So here's to them and their beautiful futures.

The Laughs

Thank you for the endless laughs. The last minute sleepovers and girls nights. For helping me eat an entire pizza & cheesecake. For passing out on the couch because it was past 1am and we had just finished a dance party. For the "hot tub of truth" where we told our secrets and trusted each other to never tell anyone.

Memories

Freshman to Senior year - you girls are apart of my favorite memories. Color coordinating our dresses for Snowdaze. Taking pictures together before Prom. Dominating an entire lunch table Sophomore year because we didn't want to sit with anyone else. When we were the most athletic girls in gym class because we actually took the ridiculous "volleyball session" seriously. Always trying to sit next to each other in choir so we could actually learn the song correctly. Making signs for our friends and holding them up in the stands when they won their section title game.

Opportunities

Getting to go on my senior trip and enjoy every part of it with you by my side. Graduating high school with all of you in the auditorium with me. Learning how to drive and getting our first cars to carpool every where together. We made the varsity team together and played side by side on the court. Celebrating our birthdays, first jobs, first kisses. I'm thankful that I got to experience the best moments of my life with you girls.

What I Missed

Sorry I wasn't there for you when you broke up with your boyfriend. Sorry we only hung out once over the summer because we were "too busy". I'm sorry I missed your last high school basketball game. I wish I was there when you found out you got into your dream college. I wish I could have punched the guy that broke your heart. I wish I hadn't missed so much.

For the Future

So. To your beautiful journeys ahead. I wish you the best. I hope you can reach a 4.0 gpa. I hope you find new friends that make your heart happy and make you laugh. I hope you're never afraid to hold back and to fight for what you believe in. I wish you the best 4 years in college; I know you'll do great, just like you did in high school. Drink lots of coffee, buy lots of clothes, go on as many adventures as you can. I know you'll achieve great things.

Dedicated to the girls that stood by me in everything. My life wouldn't have been as exciting or fulfilling without all of you as my sidekicks.

xoxo,
~Michlyn

I'm Alive // 2016

Woah where do I even begin?! I've been absent from this little corner of the internet for well over 2 months. I'll do my best to recap bits and pieces of my life, and hope you don't get too bored.

I did survive my first semester of college. Barely though. It was a great feeling walking out of my last final and then realizing it was officially Christmas break! I then proceeded to basically pack up my entire dorm room. Break was an entire month long and even though I worked about 40 hours a week - it was nice to not worry about school for a while. Before I left campus I did two things.

Snapchat my mom this picture and and then laugh at how pathetic MN looked in December.

Christmas was amazing this (last?) year. I got to spend my first Christmas with Derek and just being surrounded by everyone I love made me realize how grateful I am for this life. My parents have never made Christmas all about gifts. Instead they've reminded us to be thankful and happy for what we have. It was also fun having Josi with us this Christmas - We were one big {happy} family!

(I'm not really sure what it is with my little siblings and their shirt sleeves)

Things I enjoyed over break:

Being with my family

Date night with Derek

Catching up with high school friends

Hanging out with my dogs

Babysitting

Laying around and doing absolutely nothing

Shenanigans with Erin

Finding out I was going to be a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding

Just to name a few...

Hope you enjoyed the pictures friends! My life is even more chaotic (how is that possible!?) right now than it has ever been. Thanks for following along!

xoxo,

~Michlyn

One. Week. Left.

Guys the time is winding down!! In just over a week, I'll be back home with my family & my dogs & working & having no school work.
Can't. Wait.

College has been much tougher than I ever thought it would be. Many different aspects tie into the first semester being a little challenging but this too shall pass. I've learned SO much and am just taking more and more steps towards my ultimate goal - which I'm incredibly excited about.

With no set schedule (besides classes), little sleep, homework, and other various socially & mentally draining events - you get a little exhausted. So I'm very much looking forward to being home for almost a month!

Highlights of my first semester?

- Getting to know my roommates better & we're actually adding our best friend to our dorm room next semester :)
-Yes, we were one of those dorms that bought a "pet" fish. Hank Alexander Nigel Sven I - aka Hans. (long story, don't ask. We just call him Hank)
- I'm very thankful for the weekends I got to go home - a lot of students aren't able to.
- Random adventures to Target.
- Playing Just Dance with my roomies until midnight - and losing every single time I might add.
- The support of friends & family! I couldn't do this journey alone.
- My GORGEOUS campus - any season is picturesque.
- Extremely thankful for my boyfriend who pushes me to do my best & supports me through everything. Going to college with him has been such a blessing!
- Also, my sister Erin is my biggest support. She wouldn't complain when I texted her ranting or upset. She drove the 2 hour commute to come see me on weekends I was alone (or just bored). She totally understands me & my heart. It's tough not sharing a room with her anymore but I know we'll be there for each other in everything we do.

Praying all my lovely followers have a safe & blessed Holiday season. Enjoy those around you and don't take them for granted. Remember the real reason for Christmas. I'll be back soon!

xoxo,
~Michlyn

Beka {Senior 2016}

Some of you will probably remember Beka - We've known each other since we were toddlers, became inseparable best friends through middle school/ high school, and then life got crazy and I went to college. In my early years of blogging, you'll find many posts about us and our adventures.

She's a senior in high school this year and she asked me to take her senior pictures since we used to do photoshoots all. the. time. So I borrowed a camera, picked a weekend I was home, and spent 4+ hours shooting. It was a blast! So here's a little preview...

I loved accompanying her to all the places she had in mind, going to lunch, tagging along with her horse 'Joey', and overall she just made my job super easy. She's very photogenic and her gorgeous, natural red hair looked perfect the entire shoot. Even through some rain and changing clothes it stayed perfect. Thank you Beka for a fun day and I hope you have the best senior year ever!

xoxo,

~Michlyn

Two Months In

Wow it's been a while since I've blogged. I really really miss it but I also keep a personal journal that I write in quite often so my memories are getting noted somehow.

College is going great! It's as hard as people say but also as fun as people say.

It's hard to be away from home and my family. It's hard when you feel extremely lonely somedays. It's hard when you fail exams. It's hard to not be familiar with things. But...

It's fun to make new friends. It's fun to laugh and stay up late. It's fun to be 5 minutes from your boyfriend. It's fun to learn things that will help you gain a degree & career.

So life is good and busy. I don't have any pictures this time, but I'll be back soon!

Make sure to follow me on Instagram or bloglovin' to see a little more of my life - links in the tab above or on my sidebar.

xoxo followers,
~Michlyn

College Life

The last 3 1/2 weeks have flown by so incredibly fast.

All the nerves, anxiousness, and worries are gone. Replaced with new friends, joy, and college adventures. Let's rewind just a little bit...

Family selfie after the truck was loaded up

On August 18th, I moved into my college dorm and started orientation.

The next day, August 19th, at 5:30am I woke up to tryout for the varsity volleyball team. I didn't make the team but it was so fun to meet the girls and get to be on the court again.

Then on August 21st my roommates moved in! They have the same name (Brooke) and so we now go by nicknames based on our last names. We get along so well and we're already really close. That same day my boyfriend (Derek) also moved into his dorm and it's such a blessing to have him on the same campus!

From the 21st-25th, we had constant freshman orientation activities. Met with our orientation leaders, our entire orientation group of 20+ people. We did volunteer work in the community, played "name games", went to chapel together, and had so many informational sessions I thought my head was going to explode.

Goodbye pictures with my brothers

Move in day with Derek :)

Me and "the Brookes" (roommates)

Despite how exhausting and full our days were, it was a lot of fun and my roommates and I got to know our group really well! Classes started on August 26th, and we're just about to go into our 4th week of classes! Time flies so fast and it's insane that I've almost been here for an entire month. Lots of work. Lots of fun. Lots of memories.

First day of school selfie - I only did this for my mom because it's tradition :)

I've even gotten to go back home a couple times to see my younger siblings play soccer, and visit with some friends. Last week, Derek and I went back to our high school to watch my old volleyball teammates play their second home game! It was so fun to see them again and one of my best friends from high school came and watched with us too!

Erin and her best friend came to watch UNW's first football game!

Hope everyone else is enjoying their time back to school! I'll write again as soon as I have enough time :)

xoxo,

~Michlyn