*Crickets Crickets* anyone still there?

So hey there blog and anyone that actually still checks this place!!! Long time, no see :) I'm not sure what has exactly brought me back to this place, but it might be the fact that I'm avoiding doing homework, there is nothing good on TV, and I've seen all of our movies a billion times. But I'm glad I'm back!! To say I've been a bad blogger is to say the least (if I can even call myself that. Let's be real, I haven't been real constant with this place ever really). I promise to be around more as I plan to start using this place frequently to document life...ya know when I have time from said life! I guess I should update everyone on said life...again if anybody still reads this dead place.

I moved back to Portland after my last post and I'll be honest, I had a blast! I love that place and it helps that my family and best friends are there! I think all the shenanigans will have to be another post or two so check back soon for that.  But while in Portland, I soon noticed something was missing. I tried to ignore it, but it wouldn't go away; no matter how much fun I was having. and I noticed it was Erich. If you know me, I'm totally not that mushy gushy girl that believes in fairy tales, misses people, or even believes there is "the one"; so it was hard for me to admit that I knew I had made a mistake and that all I wanted was Erich. And believe me, I asked myself all the time if it was just because we were newly broken up or if it was because I truly wanted to be with him for the rest of my life. Thankfully, my heart and my mind both told me it was the second one :) With that said, I decided I had to come back and that it must be for a reason. So I brought along my friend Cait (my best if you don't know) and we had an epic adventure.

Here is just a preview of the beautiful places/things we saw

I'll do a whole post on the trip, but I was so glad to finally have a friend on this drive as I've driven those roads now twice by myself. I was able to see the trip with new eyes because she was there and was so excited about everything!

So I've been back since the middle of May and have enjoyed the summer so much! Camping, rafting, playing with Bella, family get togethers, more camping, getting engaged, hiking, and berry picking. Oh did you see what I did there?! How I snuck in I got engaged?! I thought we were just going on one of our normal rafting/camping trips, but boy was I wrong!

Here is just a quick snip-it of the beginning of the proposal. 

Ignore the bad sound, he recorded it with his GoPro.

It was perfect for us! Just him, the dog and me doing what we love to do together! So now we're trying to plan the wedding..who are we kidding, we haven't planned a thing! Other than the fact that we want it to be like a big vacation for our friends and family while we happen to get married one of the days. File us under: No Drama, Tons of Fun, No Fuss, Party, Tropical Vacation. There is a little part of me that totally wants to craft the crap out of a wedding, but the beach wedding obviously trumps my crafting side!

Other than that, I just started Fall term after taking Summer courses (P.S. remind me to tell you that time I took a 6 week math class. It's a really good time...NOT!). I'm taking 5 classes which seem like they should go smoothly and will be pretty easy to get good grades in (P.S.S. remind me not to take classes that end at 6:50 PM). I just started a coffee hut job a week ago and I actually really like it! I'm a nerd like that and love to make really awesome foam on milk to make the perfect latte. I've been working mornings before I head to class and weekends and I think I can make pretty good tips which is a plus. Then I interviewed for two PT student position at UAF, which one went really (P.S.S.S. remind me to tell you that time I was 50 minutes late for an interview and my interviewer was an old woman with a buzz cut except for her curly rat tail. I bet you can guess which one did not go well!) and she said she was really interested, so I'm hoping ill be getting the offer this week. So yes, that means I will have two jobs and will be going to school full time! Call my crazy, but I thrive in busyness and turn into a sloth when I've got nothing going on. Speaking of sloths, you should probably check out this video below. It makes me laugh every single time!!!

If you don't find this even a little funny, we can't be friends!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba7rRfKIHxU 

I guess that's about it for right now, as I'll try to write about previous events that happened to lead you up to the current moment. Hopefully, you'll be seeing posts about New York, Ohio, Florida/Disney World, Portland, the drive back to Alaska, and any other little tid bits! I'm debating if I want to maybe post some outfit of the day posts since I now have to actually get dressed and leave the house. We will see how that goes because I think I might have to whip out my real camera to take full length quality pictures and I'm kinda (okay really) lazy about uploading pictures off my camera. I'm gonna try though! And I'm going to leave you with two pictures I took today because who doesn't love pictures!

Beautiful fall day in Fairbanks, AK

 The cutest little mushroom I ever did see

Hugs and Luvs, 

Nicki