2014 in Review...

Growing up all the old people use to say that "life goes by so quickly when you're older". Well it turns out that I've become one of those old people... It became very apparent today while at a baby shower for one of my high school girlfriends. No, it wasn't the fact that she's having a baby - she's not the first. The reality came crashing down as I reminisced with the girls about the beginning of our friendships... just over 10 years ago. Holy heck! I am now one of those people that can say things like "10 years ago..."

And so of course another year has passed... quite quickly. So here it is recapped mostly in picture form for your viewing pleasure (but mostly for me because it's hard to remember everything that happens in a year).

Travels...

California Trip #1

Catalina Island

 Ensenada, Mexico

California Trip #2

Lake Powell

Palisades, Idaho

Steamboat Springs bike trip

Uintah Mountains

Books...

- The Help

- The Illiad

- Their Eyes Were Watching God

- The Alchemist

- How to Live on 24 Hours a Day

- Alexander the Great

- The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

- Jane Eyre

- The Count of Monte Cristo (longest book I've ever read)

-  The 5 Love Languages

- Into Thin Air

- Naked Statistics

12 books! Apparently I'm one of those people that has time to read now! 

Events...

Fashion Remix

 The Opera - Madame Butterfly

 Ragnar Trail in Zion's National Park

 Hosted a dinner party

One of those color festivals

 Time Out for Women

Grizzly's Hockey Game 

Other fun...

Invested real money in the real stock market

Create a killer 72 hour kit and started collected food/water storage

Passed the LEED exam! Woo! You can now call me Kyra Bell, LEED AP ID+C. Or just Kyra is fine

Got my hair permed

Took a concealed carry permit class

Built a website. Check it

went hiking

 soaked in some hot springs

danced at a club

 created some mother's day hoopla

a little roommate bonding

cooking, cooking, and more cooking...

...So in case you couldn't tell, I'm really enjoying this living thing... On to another year!

In 3 Days I...

...built a freakin' website! You heard that right. I built a website. You're about to experience a bit of a proud, "I'm gonna brag about myself for an entire post" kind of moment, so it may be in your best interest, and in the best interest of my sweet and humble reputation, for you to stop reading now. 

Back to awesome matter at hand. I'm not referring to a blog like this that every college girl, soccer mom, and do-it-yourself have (I realize I am stereotyping bloggers on my own blog but that's the irony of it all). I'm talking about a legitimate website. A portfolio of my design work. Of all the things I tell you to check out, this is one that you really should. It was hard work, exhausting, and frustrating. But it's dang good. Seriously. Check it out.

www.kyra-marie.com

Shout out to my very patient boyfriend who was willing to help me with the behind the scenes stuff. Love you tons punkin.

Anniversary #3...

And on the third year they traveled far and entered a cave...

...and found a miraculous spring of mineral water of which to heal themselves.

...and they feasted and filled their bellies with the same food they feasted on three years hence on their first date. And all was well with the world.

We Be Cultured, Yo...

Our first opera - Madame Butterfly!

Followed by clubbing in our opera attire. Ya, that's how we role.

Fashion Remix...

I walk construction sites by day and runways by night...

Not really. But kinda. Every other year one of the professional design organizations, IIDA, hosts what's called Fashion Remix. It's an extremely fun and creative competition where teams of designers are paired with a vendor of architectural materials at random and then required to make an ensemble out of material the vendor supplies. Think dresses made out of wood, metal, wallpaper, etc. 

This year was my first year participating :-) We got paired with a vendor that supplies an architectural film - it's a vinyl kind of like wallpaper but for more surfaces. This is what we created... 

Pretty incredible huh? It took hours and hours of work but it was so fun working with girls from my office in this creative outlet and then being on stage to present our hard work (I was only chosen as the model because I was out of town when the team decided :-P But it was honestly a lot of fun). And to top it off... we won in our category! Most Innovative Use of Soft Material! Way to go girls!

Take a look at some of these other impressive designs...

wood veneer and carpet

Tile and chair parts (no joke)

 And this only give you a glimpse of a quarter of the ensembles! It is definitely one of my favorite design events of the year..

I am now a fashion blogger...

I joke I joke! But check out my latest project! I took a one size fits all construction vest, cut it apart, and turned it into a Star Trek inspired women's cut vest! ha!

...and here it is on display!

It was for a presentation promoting Women in Architecture - or women in any industry dominated by men for that matter. Looks like I could start one of those fashion blogs where you take thrift store finds and turn them into presentable clothing. I joke. But check out some of the beauties...

Selfie No Selfie...

I don't like selfies. Never have. So I don't take them. I could get on my soapbox about them but we'll leave that for another post. Regardless. One day Jake and I tried to take some together. And this is why we should never try that again...

I actually think Jake looks so sweet in this one! Just don't mind my huge forehead...

Rollin in her 20's...

My sweet roommate Meagan turned 20 and we celebrated it with a bang! Actually no. We celebrated it with a classy summer dinner party...

Happy Birthday sweet girl :-)