Drumroll please...

After months of preparation and waiting, completing mountains of paperwork (ok, not really but just roll with it haha), many scans sent back and forth, and stalking my house for FedEx workers daily...

...my visa has finally arrived!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

I would just like to say that 

1. faith and prayer work 

and 

2. God is in the details of our lives. 

FIVE DAYS! :D

xoxo,

     Rebecca

Pageviews & Gratitude

Today I hit 1000+ pageviews of my blog from 14+ countries! It seems like a milestone worth celebrating. I am amazed and humbled at the reach my simple words have had, and the ability to hone my skills as a writer.
Thank you so much for all the support! :) I can't wait to share all of my Swiss adventures with you! 
T-Minus 19 days!

xoxo,

     Rebecca

Packing & Moving

Phew! 

Today I spent a couple hours moving stuff from my apartment back to my parents' house. So tired! haha. As someone who has moved 10+ times, can I just say that packing/moving SUCKS. It makes me want to throw out all of my stuff... but I'm too sentimental to actually do that. Now I must sort through everything to see what I am actually going to take with me to Switzerland and what my parents get to store in their house :P they are so nice!

I'm on a little break, and I wanted to share this awesome video my friend showed me: 

Perseverance people. It's the key to life. :)

xoxo,

     Rebecca

Swiss Chocolate

Because you can't talk about Switzerland without chocolate coming up :)

From Frommer's "Food & Drink in Switzerland":

Chocolate Superpower

Cocoa beans are chocolate's raw ingredients. First publicized in Europe by Columbus, who noticed them growing on trees in Nicaragua in 1502, they were traded as currency by the conquistadores in the New World, who viewed them as an elixir of physical strength. Back in Spain, royal cooks mixed the pulverized beans with sugar and hot water and served them with great success to the royal family. The Spanish-born Anne of Austria introduced it to the French court at her dinner parties after her marriage to Louis XIII. And in a kind of chain reaction to the bean's original "discovery," London's first chocolate shop was established by a Frenchman in 1657.

Nineteenth-century attitudes about chocolate (as perceived in North America and in Europe) were widely different. In 1825, the leading culinarian of the French-speaking world (Brillat-Savarin) declared that chocolate was one of the most effective restoratives of physical and intellectual powers known to man. In contrast, Harriet Beecher Stowe, the American-born moral crusader and woman of letters, declared chocolate unfit for proper American tables, and -- in a burst of prudishness -- commented suspiciously on its French and Spanish origins.

Despite Ms. Stowe's invectives, the market for chocolate continued to grow. This fact was immediately noticed by the canny Swiss from their politically neutral bastion in the Alps.

From the early 1800s, the Swiss began investing heavily in what they perceived as a long-range moneymaker. Pioneers of the industry opened the country's first chocolate factory in 1819 at Corsier, near Vevey. What's now a massive multinational concern, Suchard, was established near Neuchâtel in 1824. In 1875, Swiss-born Daniel Peter invented milk chocolate by adding condensed milk to his brew of pulverized cocoa and sugar. In 1879, the first chocolate bar was created (the Lindt Surfin bar). In 1899, the Sprungli and Lindt empires merged into a Zurich-based chocolate-making dynasty. The Tobler and Nestlé organizations were founded shortly afterward.

Switzerland today is the largest chocolate superpower in the world, leading the globe in production. Both secrecy and precision have always been cited as Swiss virtues, and both of these qualities are required during a complicated blending process that transforms the raw ingredients into the final product. The allure is aesthetic as well as gastronomic: Swiss consumers expect new artwork on their chocolate wrappers at frequent intervals, and an army of commercial artists labors at yearly intervals to comply. The Swiss eat and drink more chocolate per capita than any other nation in the world, fueling their bodies for the bone-chilling temperatures of the alpine climate. (No self-respecting mountain climber ever embarks without the requisite chocolate bars.) Swiss factories maintain "chocolate breaks" for sugar-induced bursts of energy, and swiss housewives usually don't buy less than a kilo of chocolate at a time.

Read more:   http://www.frommers.com/destinations/switzerland/798116#sthash.SlK40VpY.dpbs#ixzz34gQu9bZI

xoxo,

     Rebecca

Beauty Is Pain?

Oh mah gosh.

Today I went and got my lower legs and underarms waxed for the first time. My beautiful friend Sarah is a student at Aveda and is currently raising money to go to New York Fashion Week! I figured I could kill two birds with one stone, you know, support my friend, and get mah smooooth on ;) haha. 

HOLY. SHIITAKE. MUSHROOMS.

I feel like the screaming pain my calves were experiencing is the pain that guys think a Brazilian wax is like; dude, I will take a full Brazilian wax over legs any day of the week. My poor friend had to deal with all my screaming and head shaking hahaha, I'm sure it was hilarious. 

*Side Note: So the manager/teacher came in and informed us that some dude was getting a facial across the way... "I know it hurts, but...." Oh, you are not serious right now lady. You're telling the woman getting hair ripped out of her skin to shut up!? Maybe you shouldn't have the waxing station and the facial station NEXT TO EACH OTHER! 

Anyway, my legs feel fine now, but I may just stick to shaving. I am NOT looking forward to doing that ever again... although, the first time is always the worst... *shrug* we shall see. Underarms weren't as bad, but they're still a bit sore. It's nice to be all smooth though! 

If you're in the Provo area, hit up Aveda Institute (ask for Sarah! she did a FABULOUS job) for hair, makeup, waxing, facials, etc. Treat yourself! You deserve it! :) 

xoxo,

     Rebecca

Officially Counting Down

Holy moly.
Just ONE MORE MONTH to go! I can't believe how quickly this all came together - the timing has been impeccable. There is no denying that Heavenly Father has His hand in all of it, and I'm so grateful. I'm so ready and open to learn more about these people, this country, and this culture.

xoxo,

     Rebecca

God Bless the USA!

I'm so blessed, and so grateful to call America my homeland. I hope you all have a safe and happy Independence Day! :) 

xoxo,

     Rebecca

Aren't you nervous?!

People keep asking me if I'm nervous about moving to a different country. I am WAY too excited to be nervous! haha There are so many things I'm looking forward to! This is going to be life-changing. The only things that have given me some slight trepidation are some random bizarro nightmares and... food. 

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am one of the least adventurous eaters on the planet. I'm the girl who has one or two dishes/meals at various restaurants that I ALWAYS order and I rarely deviate from those items (it seems that whenever I do try to have something new, it's always such a  disappointment). I know what I like, and I'm extremely hesitant to try anything outside of that box, ESPECIALLY when it comes to textures. My best friend and her family constantly tease me about "weird ethnic food" but they have managed to open my palate and my mind to some new foods that have actually become personal favorites now, because surprisingly, Utah has a pretty eclectic variety. 
I haven't been TOO worried because, as far as Europe is concerned, I feel that Switzerland is one of the more mild places to be exposed to new kinds of delicious cuisine. And because of its close proximity to so many other countries, there is a cross-over of German, French, and Italian dishes, depending on which area of Switzerland you happen to be in. 
I've just decided that I'm going to try everything at least once. It's not gonna kill me, right? :) Besides, from what I can gather in a five minute Google search haha, the Swiss are big on fondue/cheese, potatoes, sausage, and of course CHOCOLATE ...I think I'm gonna be ok :) 

Here is a link of recommended foods to sample:
BBC Good Food: Top 10 foods to try in Switzerland

xoxo,

     Rebecca

Book Review: "Man's Search for Meaning"

I received a book entitled "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl, as a graduation present and I finally finished reading it a few days ago.

WOW! This is one of those books that will seriously change your life, or at least your perspective. Utterly inspired. This is definitely going on my "favorite books" list. I highly recommend it, and just to tease you into reading it yourself, here are some of my favorite excerpts:

"Frankl saw three possible sources for meaning: in work (doing something significant), in love (caring for another person), and in courage during difficult times. Suffering in and of itself is meaningless; we give our suffering meaning by the way in which we respond to it." (from the forward by Harold S. Kushner)

"An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior."

"A thought transfixed me: for the first time in my life I saw the truth as it is set into song by so many poets, proclaimed as the final wisdom by so many thinkers. The truth - that love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which man can aspire. The I grasped the meaning of the greatest secret that human poetry and human thought and belief have to impart: The salvation of man is through love and in love."

"Love goes very far beyond the physical person of the beloved. It finds its deepest meaning in his spiritual being, his inner self. Whether or not he is actually present, whether or not he is still alive at all, ceases somehow to be of importance."

"As the inner life of the prisoner tended to become more intense, he also experienced the beauty of art and nature as never before. Under their influence he sometimes even forgot his own frightful circumstances."

"Humor was another of the soul's weapons in the fight for self-preservation."

"No man should judge unless he asks himself in absolute honesty whether in a similar situation he might not have done the same."

"Nietzsche's words, 'He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how'..."

"Human kindness can be found in all groups even those which as a whole it would be easy to condemn."

"...there are two races of men in this world, but only these two - the 'race' of the decent man and the 'race' of the indecent man. Both are found everywhere; they penetrate into all groups of society. No group consists entirely of decent or indecent people. In this sense, no group is of 'pure race'..."

"The crowning experience of all, for the homecoming man, is the wonderful feeling that, after all he has suffered, there is nothing he need fear any more - except his God."

"A man's concern, even his despair, over the worthwhileness of his life is an existential distress but by no means a mental disease."

"...something which in itself is meaningless cannot be rendered meaningful merely by its perpetuation."

"Pleasure is, and must remain, a side-effect or by-product and is destroyed and spoiled to the degree to which it is made a goal in itself." (also "...happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.")

"...we have come to know man as he really is. After all, man is that being who invented the gas chambers of Auschwitz; however, he is also that being who entered those gas chambers upright, with the Lord's Prayer or the Shema Yisrael on his lips."

Seriously people, READ IT. It is worth your time, I promise!

xoxo,

     Rebecca

"In all thy ways acknowledge Him..."

I had an epiphany today. 

I'm often surprised at how capable I am at blowing personal development epically out of proportion.  What should I do? Where should I go? Who should I be? These kinds of questions have haunted me ever since I graduated high school and began my journey in the world of "higher education." So much time and exhaustive effort was put into trying to figure it all out. Something about our society - I'm unsure if it's an American thing, or a world thing - seems to put a time limit on "self-discovery."  Like if you don't know what your grand contribution to the world is going to be by the time you graduate from college, you're some kind of deadbeat who's living on welfare and tax-payer's dollars. 

Uh, ok... thanks world.

I've always been so jealous of friends and other random people, who divulge that they "always knew" they wanted to be a *blank*, or they knew from the time they were *blank* years old that they wanted to go into *blank*. When I was young, all I wanted was a little brother or sister, and for my brothers to live with me in the same house (neither of which happened). I also had massive interest in extending my bedtime, getting my parents to let me watch pg-13 movies, and begging for a dog (none of which happened either). I wish I'd had that kind of foresight in my life; I don't think my curious little self could comprehend the idea of choosing ONE thing to do and be forever, when so many things fascinated me, especially with my parents encouraging me to be involved in so many diverse activities. To some degree, I still don't understand it, but maybe this has allowed me to be open minded towards opportunities that have come my way because I didn't have a set plan, although I certainly did try to come up with one. I still do it now, as I think about pursuing a Master's degree someday and not really knowing which direction I want to go with it. There are so many variables and possible outcomes!

The beautiful thing though, is that God knows your greatness. 

If you are doing what you're supposed to, and you seek Him out, willing to hand your life over to Him, He's going to use you to achieve His purposes. You don't need to stress (like me - I'm a worrier and a planner) about figuring out who you are or what you should do with your life. If you are proactively and eagerly engaged in seeking out and doing His will, God's not gonna just let you sit on a shelf collecting dust - He'll put you to good use. 

"In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." - Proverbs 3:6

I wrote this in my scriptures during my Seminary years of high school:

"If I want to receive an answer to my prayers then I must be willing to place my life and future in the hands of the Lord. I must be willing to give everything I have to Him. I must be patient."

The loudness of the world creates a mind full of chaos and doubt, but in the core of my being, I know that I'm doing alright because I am TRYING. Besides, "the best way to predict the future, is to create it."

xoxo,

     Rebecca

This is a video a friend of mine shared on Facebook. It's mind-blowing. This is what initiated my thinking leading into this lil' epiphany of mine. Have a look! 

Weight-Loss & Victoria's Secret

Holy moly, where do I start!? :)
I lost 6 lbs this week! Woo hoo! #highfiveforme 

I lost SIX of these! WOO HOO! :D

I'm so proud of myself! All I've done is cut portion sizes WAY down, and I cut out grains (ie bread, cereal, pasta etc...). I still allow myself a treat on occasion - like chocolate pudding, YUM - and I try not to drink anything but water ---> I don't want to drink my calories! I also try to carry around healthy snacks with me in my purse such as walnut/almond mix, cucumber slices, carrots... apparently it's working! Which is fantastic because when I get to Switzerland I want to taste/eat all the delicious food (in moderation, of course)!

Anyway, I've also stocked up on some new swimwear because unfortunately, my old VS swimsuit has been ruined from the chlorine in the gym pool. BOO ...but yay for shopping! haha. 

Check out these awesome VS products I found - click on the caption(s) for direct links to each item: 

Victoria's Secret Forever Sexy Tie Front Tankini (Color: Ink Blot)

I got the bottoms shown in the pictures above and below, in these colors which I thought would look really cute with the dark blue tanktop:

Victoria's Secret Forever Sexy Foldover Bottom (Color: Black/White Dot)

Victoria's Secret Forever Sexy Foldover Bottom (Color: Coral Blaze)

If you love VS or PINK products and you aren't already subscribed for their emails, I highly recommend you get on that - they send fabulous promo codes for extra savings; all of these products were on sale, and I had promo codes for an additional 20% off and free shipping. AWESOME.

I also found these cute Hurley swim shorts on Zappos that I thought would work really well with the dark blue tankini top as well:

Hurley Supersuede Printed Beachrider (Color: Midnight Navy Skeleton)

Hurray for summer, healthier living, and cute new swimwear! 

xoxo,

     Rebecca

Baby You're So Classic

Sorry to post more than once today, but I am LOVING this song from MKTO and had to share. I dub it my personal theme song :) Enjoy!

Lyrics:

Hey! Where's the drums?
Oh whoa-oh-oh-oh
Let's go!

[Tony:]
Ooh girl you’re shining
Like a 5th avenue diamond
And they don’t make you like they used to
You’re never going out of style

Ooh pretty baby
This world might've gone crazy
The way you save me
Who can blame me
When I just wanna make you smile?

[Hook:]
I wanna thrill you like Michael
I wanna kiss you like Prince
Let’s get it on like Marvin Gaye
Like Hathaway
Write a song for you like this

[Chorus:]
You’re over my head
I’m out of my mind
Thinking I was born in the wrong time
One of a kind, living in a world gone plastic
Baby you’re so classic
Baby you’re so classic
Baby you,
Baby you’re so classic

Four dozen roses
Anything for you to notice
All the way to serenade you
Doing it Sinatra style

Ima pick you up in a Cadillac
Like a gentleman bringin' glamour back
Keep it real to real in the way I feel
I could walk you down the aisle

[Hook:]
I wanna thrill you like Michael
I wanna kiss you like Prince
Let’s get it on like Marvin Gaye
Like Hathaway
Write a song for you like this

[Chorus:]
You're over my head
I’m out of my mind
Thinking I was born in the wrong time
It's love on rewind,
Everything is so throwback-ish (I kinda like it, like it)
Out of my league
Old school chic
Like a movie star
From the silver screen
You're one of a kind living in a world gone plastic
Baby you’re so classic
Baby you’re so classic
Baby you’re so classic

[Malcolm:]
Baby you’re class and baby you're sick
I never met a girl like you ever til we met
A star in the 40s, centrefold in the 50s
Got me tripping out like the sixties
Hippies Queen of the discotheque
A 70s dream and an 80s best
Hepburn, Beyoncé, Marilyn, Massive
Girl you’re timeless, just so classic

[Chorus:]
You're over my head I’m out of my mind
Thinking I was born in the wrong time
It's love on rewind,
Everything is so throwback-ish (I kinda like it, like it)
Out of my league
Old school chic
Like a movie star
From the silver screen
You’re one of a kind living in a world gone plastic
Baby you’re so classic
Baby you’re so classic
Baby you’re so classic

xoxo,

     Rebecca

Happy Father's Day!

My dad and I butt heads a lot - my brother says it's because we are so much alike haha - but when it comes down to it, he's always got my back. What more could a daughter ask of her father?

I love you Daddy♥

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful, dedicated fathers and FUTURE fathers out there. Know that you are so loved and appreciated!  

xoxo,

     Rebecca

This is NOT a Prank

Yes, it's true: I'm moving to Switzerland! :D

Near the end of 2013, I learned that a good friend, whom I had the pleasure of meeting during my time in Hawaii, was going to be working THIS year in Germany, as an au pair. I was intrigued and asked her about it and how she came upon such an opportunity. She informed me of a couple legitimate, safe websites where you could register to become an au pair and look at possible families (while families in turn, register and search for possible au pairs). I decided, on somewhat of a whim, to create a profile. However, after a discussion with my best friend, and at the beginning of my senior year at school, I quickly put it aside and didn't think much of it. 

I went about my studies, trying to balance being a full-time student, dancing on my University's ballroom company, working on my senior project, three part-time jobs, familial duties, and an effort to maintain some semblance of a social life - all more than plenty individually to preoccupy my mind and my time. 

At last, after four months of insanity and chaos, finals came and went - as did graduation!

I had every intention of moving to Oregon, it was just a matter of when. I had a place to stay, thanks to the kindness of my cousin and her family, lots of other family members and friends in the area, and I felt really good about it. It felt right. And it had been an excruciatingly long time since I had had that much clarity about what I should do, so I was stoked. I even started looking into schools there to eventually pursue a Master's degree.

Well, in the midst of all of this, I decided to check my au pair profile, mostly with the intention of deleting it. Once I got there though, I decided it couldn't hurt to just see if there were any opportunities now that I didn't have school tying me down. I spruced up my profile hoping to impress some family. Much to my surprise, soon I did have people showing interest, especially after I browsed through some families and voiced an interest myself, to those who seemed like a good fit in various countries (you click a button that says "interested" and wait and see if they respond the same way or if they "decline"). Several families in Australia were inquisitive, and one in particular very much peaked my interest and seemed perfect, but after reviewing Australia's visa restrictions etc... I had reservations.

Around this time, a family in Switzerland showed interest and after reviewing their profile, I eagerly responded in the affirmative. Soon after that the mother, Tamara, messaged me. We corresponded through the website's messaging system for about five days, and regardless of having never met this woman previously, I felt an immediate connection with her, as you would with an old friend. You could tell she was just a bright, happy, giving person.

Everything seemed to be falling perfectly into place, but I didn't want to get my hopes up too high too soon. 

We decided to exchange email addresses, and traded more messages and photos. Ah! Be still my heart - cutest children, EVER. 

 Baby girl <3

The BOYS

On the carousel w/ her brother. Girl after my own heart :)

We set up a time for a Skype chat where I spoke with Tamara and her husband Peter, and I was able to "meet" their daughter. I just kept falling more and more in love with the whole family. 

Silly girl with her momma, Tamara

Peter & all the kids

During the interview we all confessed we were each other's favorite "candidate" and that we were both ready to proceed with official paperwork. 

The extent of my excitement and joy was (and still is) overwhelming. Like how little kids get overly excited and so full of emotion that they don't know what to do with themselves so they just burst into tears haha. I can't believe this is really happening!  
I couldn't help but post the following epiphany to my Facebook timeline a few days later:

"Recently, Heavenly Father has brought some wonderful opportunities into my life; opportunities that have made me the happiest I can ever remember being. And I have realized, that He was waiting for me to be THIS person; who I am NOW. With this knowledge, this education, these life experiences, and THIS desire in my heart..."

*Side Note: Currently we are working on finishing up all the paperwork and getting a visa! Guess where there just happens to be a Consulate of Switzerland for me to pick up my visa... Salt Lake City, UT :) 

God really is in the details of our lives. Yes, moving to Oregon would have been good; actually it would have been great, but remember that General Conference talk "Good, Better, Best" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks? Being an au pair in Switzerland for this family, is the BEST decision for me at this point in my life. This is EXACTLY what I'm supposed to be doing, and where I'm supposed to go, and I couldn't be more thrilled to be able to continue to get to know these beautiful people welcoming me into their home, and into their lives.

xoxo,

     Rebecca