First of all, let me quell all your fears.

I loved college. I think people should get as much education as possible. I'm even considering going BACK to college (eeesh). So I'm all for it.

But there are a few things that are a little left out of the college experience that I wish I had known before heading off into the big, scary world.

So hopefully my college friends can read this and be aware of what's to come!


1. College did not prepare me for the day-in, day-out of real life. Sure, you have to go to class and work, but those classes changed. Often. There were breaks in my schedule that I got to go home and relax, I didn't have to get up and get "ready" for the day every single day, I could wear a sweatshirt some days if I wanted. But out in the real world, I have to go to work whether I want to or not. There are no breaks longer than my lunch break, and even that is usually taken at my desk because I have so much to do. It's a routine that I've been on for longer than anything. And it taking some getting used to.

2. College did not prepare me for the sometimes tedious, monotony of a job. I LOVE my job. But I have to be honest, I'm doing a lot of very similar things, for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, every week but 2 during the year. Now you may tell me, hey I did that at my summer job, or I did that with classes and homework. It's not the same. Not even close. Because summer starts and ends, classes change, long Christmas break comes, finals week breaks up the monotony. It is taking some time to get used to not just doing my job, but doing it every single minute of the day.

3. College did not prepare me for getting to bed on time. That's pretty obvious, right? But seriously. In college I stayed up way too late a lot of nights, and would just come home and nap later. If I do that now, I'm dead. I need at least 6 hours or I am worthless the next day, but I still have to go to work and struggle to stay away and get things done.

4. College did not prepare me for being away from home all day. In college I had breaks, came home during the day, etc. But now, once I'm out the door for work, it's see ya later until 6 or 6:30 PM. Every, single day. Some people do that for a semester, or for a few days during the week that are the "long days" but that's reality now. It's been a funny adjustment remembering that if I want to eat at work, I have to bring snacks and food, and if I forget my phone, it's tough luck.

5. College did not prepare me for always networking and moving up. College prepared me for networking to an extent. I made friends and contact that have and will be important. But at my job, I feel like maintaining every, single relationship and making it a good one is not only important to have a fun time at the office, but could be crucial for my future at the company. It's a very interesting change in my perspective about how I react, and respond to everyone and everything.

Let's again go back to the fact that I learned SO much in college and I loved every second of it. For me it was the absolute best choice, and I highly recommend it. Just be prepared that when push comes to shove, you might not be as prepared as you think for that first job in the real world. I wish I had known that, it would've made these past few months SO much easier.

The days get away from me now friends!

The routine has settled in, here's how it goes.

Wake up, Randy goes running and I either work out or sleep. Get ready. Breakfast. Scriptures. Drive to work together. Work work work. Randy sometimes goes in later or leaves earlier depending on his schedule, and goes and runs errands which is AMAZING (love you!). Get done with work. Drive home together. Make dinner. Watch a show, read, play games, spend time with friends, go shopping for more house things, have FHE, go to the temple, make treats, or a mix of any of these. Then we do it all over again. Surprisingly, I really love the routine we have settled in to. It makes me feel like we are real life adults, a family, and I love that security.

Now here's time for the ballet part of this post:

My sister danced her last recital at Clytie Adams a few weeks ago. It was so nostalgic for my family. We have had a ballerina there for the past 18 years. And now we're all done dancing at that wonderful studio. Clytie came to my wedding a few weeks before the recital, and jokingly asked me when another Richards girl would be coming to dance for her. I have left so much of my heart at that studio, on the stage at Weber, in the dressing rooms downstairs, in every toe shoe and pair of tights. Dancing 100% has made me who I am today. I will always be a ballerina even though I'm not dancing as much anymore. Dancing at Clytie's are some of the most precious memories I have. I danced for me when I was there. Just for me. Because I loved it. I learned elegance, grace, friendship, technique, determination, hard work, how to smile through hard things, and that I could absolutely anything I put my mind to. I am forever thankful and so happy that I had the chance to be a Clytie Girl, and that my sisters also both that to do that.

I know, I know. I haven't blogged in so long that it's becoming a sin. A travesty. I'm ashamed of myself. BUT here I am, ready to play catch-up during my lunch break! Randy isn't here:( So you won't be getting any of him today, but I expect he'll be around again soon enough!

Between working 40-50 hours a week, planning a wedding, spending time with Randy, trying to wrap up my senior documentary, apartment hunting, and trying to see friends before I'm married a no fun, it's been a little busy!

So here's the small catch-up I can give you right now, stay tuned some posts purely dedicated to Randy and I's first look photo shoot, the rest of our bridal shoot, my thoughts about going to the temple for the first time, and things I've learned since becoming a working girl that I didn't learn in college!

For now, here's what's been up:

Again, so sorry for not posting! I have lots of updating for you...so let it begin!


My family had Spring Break last week, and let me tell you, it was so fun to get to hang out with them! They spent the night in Lehi so my sister could run in a track meet, and that meant Randy and I got to go to Thanksgiving Pointe with them! We always have way too much fun there.

 Donut Funeral to commemorate my last day at KSL. I'll still be there on-call, but not going in every weekend is going to be so sad!

Say hello to my new office! I'm going to be a Digital Marketing Coordinator for Ken Garff corporate! This means I'll be doing lots of website design, programming, and updating, social media marketing, and some video production work. I'm so excited, and overwhelmed, and terrified, and happy!

It's not Easter without some eggs, right? Randy and I had too much fun dying eggs last weekend.