confessions of a college graduate

//you move home. because after all the times you said you would never ever ever live at home again, it's really cheaper to live at home.

//you find that you left all your friends in Provo. so on your nights off you are bored, literally, to tears.

//so, you try not to have nights off. you become a workaholic. and when your patients ask you why you work so much, you tell them it's because you like money and because you have no social life.

//you thought you'd know more what was going in life after 5 years at a higher institution of learning. wrong. you are as confused by life as you ever were.

//your to-do list goes from "study pathophysiology" to "paint nails"

//you thought you'd have lots more money because you are living at home, but no, you're saving for your mission, so you are practically penniless.

//the gym is the only thing that is keeping you from going insane. and jam sessions with Skrillex.

//you go out to lunch- by yourself. and bring a book to read. because you don't want to seem lame for going to lunch by yourself.

//when your computer breaks and you don't have money to fix it, you feel like you are 14 years old, using your parents desktop. at least you know the password to get on the internet haha.

//you stay up late and sleep in.

//you wish you spent more time at the pool.

//that's pretty much it folks. welcome to the real world.

what not to do in your wedding announcement

ok people, it's that time of year, wedding season. something that every wedding crazed girl looks forward to. and something that those of us with small pocketbooks dread. wedding invites crowd up the refrigerator and we find ourselves getting the same present for everyone on the list, because it's just easier that way. and, although i am unmarried, i believe i am a self-proclaimed wedding planner and critic. i've seen my fair share of weddings, and in particular wedding announcements.
here's what NOT to do in your wedding announcement.
*awkward poses. we've all seen the "awkward engagement photos" online, but people, these things really exist! there are certain poses that perhaps you should not be putting out there for the world to see. this includes hand placement and how your clothes look in the pose. below, is just a tame example of awkward posing. what were they thinking? "oh honey this will look so good. i mean we're gonna walk around like this all the time after we're married right? i don't want you out of my sight! and if you try to leave me, well then you will be strangled. . . "

*personality. ok ok, don't get me wrong, you should incorporate personality into your engagement photos and wedding announcements! this sets you apart from other people. however you can take this too far. don't dress up in crazy outfits- keep it simple. don't include animals, especially dogs or cats, in your photos (i think the occasional horse can be cute if you are going for the country feel)- you are not marrying your dog! location is huge. avoid posing in water- that's awkward. avoid strange locations, like porta-potties, college campuses (yes i have seen people taking engagement photos on BYU campus and i think it's weird), etc.

a good way to add personality

* keep the clothes on! i don't need to say anything else on that i hope. . .
* kissing. let me clarify, kissing is all good and fine. i mean we want to know you are in love, and not just signing a business contract. buuuuut, (and this was told to me by a good friend who is actually married),  you don't want to kiss too much. her words "just give him a peck in the photos because other wise it looks like you are just macking on each other." not classy. also keep the kisses cute- lips, cheeks and foreheads. everywhere else should be off limits! we don't want dear 80 year old auntie marge keeling over out of shock and a sweet kiddo like you would kiss like that.

this is cute

*colors. i do love me a good pop of color on the invite/save the date. but too much color, that doesn't match up, is just too much. choose a font that people can read without going cross eyed, in a color that isn't going to blind people. it's ok to do a couple different colors on the save the date, but make sure that there is an underlying theme and that it makes sense. don't do a new neon color on each line. that is just awkward to look at and hard to read. if you are going to do colored lettering, then keep the background color something neutral- creme, black, grey, or white.

well i've had my rant. i hope you laughed a little, but you also took this seriously. thank you to the people whose wedding invites inspired this post and for the friends who had beautiful and classy engagements. you have given me hope that not everyone is terribly awkward.
now go. be in love. get married. and all that jazz.

why i take naps

if you know me, you know that i love taking naps. there was a time this semester where i was taking two naps per day. so i was basically on a toddler's schedule. what's wrong with that?

people who know me well, know that there is a time almost every day, where i turn my phone in silent, and nothing can wake me from my nice little nap. whether it be 30 minutes or two hours. naptime is important.

why didn't we take advantage of this while we were kids?

apparently there is a National Napping Day! on March 14. wish i'd known so i could have celebrated. probably one of the only holidays where you party by sleeping. i will definitely be observing this holiday in the future.

did you know that cultures which have siesta hours have lower rates of coronary heart disease?? a study shows that napping 3 times a week, decreased the risk of coronary heart disease by 37%! boom!

famous people who napped: Winston Churchill, Bill Clinton, Johann Brahms, Einstein, Margaret Thatcher and Napolean.

so you see why i nap?

it's completely logical.

it's not that i'm just lazy, and i'd rather get under my comforter for some snuggle time.

nope i'm purposely napping.

so i can be a genius and live forever. obvi.

napping is pretty great. 

just sayin.

so go take a nap today.

you deserve it!

oh haiiiii

i'm back! not that i was actually gone anywhere, besides doing cool stuff, obvi. but i haven't blogged in forevs. and since i promised someone that i would blog today, i'm doing it. first off, i think we should all recognize that it's April. March just flew by! and it's got 31 days. cray. i'm already loving April because. . . 

i'm blogging outside on my balcony, in short sleeves. this is epic.

also. . .

i graduate- from college, not high school- in 22 days!

my sister comes home from her mish in two weeks from this very day.

the sun shines in my bedroom window making napping so much more pleasant.

it's general conference this weekend. supes excited to hear the prophet speak!

and elder holland, of course.

and, the trees are starting to get little green leaves. 

spring really is here!!!!

i need to quickly report on how my March goals went-- look for April goals coming up this weekend!

accomplished: 

finish The Holy Temple book

finish 2 Nephi and Jacob (I actually got through Words of Mormon)

Get a B on chemistry test (83% baby! i'll take it!)

learn a belt song (in process)

met two knew people in the ward (thank you sushi sluts club)

save $100-$200 (actually saved $400. boom baby)

yes. i would say March was good to me. 

so i finished the Harry Potter series again. guys, i can't help it. i love it. 

also, this is my life. just sayin.

so that's my life. i promise that i won't be so long lax in posting. because i know you all check everyday to see if i've written something, and you are dying to know what the heazy is going on in my life. it's like a freaking novel.  or like an action comic book. i'm basically a super hero. like spiderman. i'm spiderman.

speaking of spiders, remember that one time i held a freaking tarantula?

because i'm really desperate for comments...

the last couple posts i've written have received like zero comments. now i don't base my worth off whether or not i get comments or not, but you know, i'd like them. i see that i have quite a few views on my blog posts but i don't even know who you are! do you know who i am? if you don't, or you want to learn more about me, go to my about me page.

after you've done that, please comment below with the following:
your name, age and where you are from.
also your blog/website url so i can follow you! (if you have one)
your celebrity crush.
your favorite harry potter book (movie if you have never read the books).
and any questions you have for me. (examples- why do you love ice cream so much? what exactly do you do at this job of yours? if you could be any kind of dinosaur what would you be?)


if i get zero comments it's cool. i will just figure that a bunch of robots are reading my blog so that i feel like i have a following. ha ha, but really it's my birthday month, so ya'll should be commenting!

oh and have a happy weekend!

ps. it was supposed to snow today and so far i have not seen a drop and my weather app says it's 46 degrees! heavenly!

why i'm excited

*i'm a debt-free girl. i had to borrow a couple hundred buckaroos from the parentals for this final semester and i just paid them back last saturday! i hate being in debt (even if it is just to my parents)!

*it's been pretty warm these last couple days. i know better than to be fooled and think spring is just around the corner, but the "heat wave" has been delightful!

*it's my birthday month which means celebration and partying all month long! i plan on having a spectacular birthday!

*jenny spencer comes back to Provo tonight. seriously, i love that you had fun in texas but ya'll should come back now.

*i recently rediscovered mac & cheese. guys, in case you didn't know, it's delicious. go out and buy a box or two, but not more than that because it's really not the most healthy thing in the world.

*miranda is this british comedy show that is HI-larious. like funnier than modern family. you guys should all come over and watch it with me and we will love it together.

*it's valentine's day this month. i don't really love the "day of love." in fact, i don't celebrate it. but i am making english butter toffee for my family as a gift of love! hope it turns out!

*i have class today and work. . . which means i won't be bored out of my mind all day. kids, stay in school! i'm not even graduated, but i only have two classes and little homework and i get bored! one day last week, i took two naps. two naps! i have the schedule of a toddler.

*ZUMBA tonight! if there is anything that is going to help my dance moves, it's Zumba. i love it with all my little white heart (especially when we do Waka Waka)

*thursday is sushi thursday again! love me some good sushi. everything should be tempura (fried).

*i've taken up watercolors. yes, painting. i'm not good, but it's very soothing.

*i'm eating leftover massaman curry for lunch. #getinmybelly

so yes, that's what i'm excited about this week.

what are you excited for?

top 10 things about winter

i know i haven't posted in AGES. and now here i am being a total fool writing about how great winter is. the world must be coming to an end because if you know me at all, you know i hate the cold and snow. what with the sub-freezing temperatures we've got going on here in utah, i completely understand a small amount of bitterness towards winter. . . which probably won't end until april. in an attempt to see the good and not get bogged down by the winter blues, i've made a list of my top 10 favorite parts about winter.

10. BYU men's basketball and volleyball! i went to both volleyball games last weekend and i'm pumped for the game against Irvine tomorrow!

Adam, Jenny and I at the volleyball game last Saturday

9.  hot chocolate! there is nothing more pleasant than coming in from the cold and grabbing a cup of hot chocolate. or driving around Provo with your friend drinking some Mexican hot chocolate from The Cocoa Bean.

8. you don't need an excuse to make delicious soups. i lurv me some soup and i honestly would eat soup for every meal if that was socially acceptable. 

7. being justified to turn on the heater. when it's not quite cold enough to turn it on, you feel like a fool because it's september and 70 degrees and you are shivering. 

6. my birthday! folks, in a month i will be turning the big 2-3! shall we party? who would be down? but for real. . . would you come to a party for my big birthday?

5. cute winter accessories. scarfs. gloves. hats. headbands. they are all real cute. i'm hoping for a slouchy cap and infinity scarf for my birthday!

4. three day weekends. although i honestly believe that every weekend should be a three day weekend, i'll survive with two this semester. especially since one happens to be my birthday weekend.

3. Valentine's Day. i've never really celebrated the day of loooove (aka i've never had a boyfriend for this holiday). but i love Valentine's candys- especially Reese's peanut butter hearts. oh yum.

2. one of my favorite things about this winter is that i'm only taking two classes. don't worry i'm working 30-40 hours a week and making my way with a "real job." it's pretty great.

1. the BEST thing about winter is that it's before spring and summer! and i cannot wait for those warm seasons :)

christmas break fiascos

i'm really not having any huge fiascos. i just like the word. so my laptop broke. my brother diagnosed it as a problem with the hard drive. so i gotta take it in to best buy and have them fix it. and then magically come up with money to pay for it to be fixed. ha! that's a funny joke. so bear with me and i post even less than normal (if that's even possible).

SHALISE IS HOME!!! I would put up the picture we took at the airport, but remember my laptop is broke? anyway after waiting for two looooong hours at the airport she was finally there! oh she cried so hard! she does not want to be home. but it was SO good to see her and hug her! i look up to her so so much and i am happy she is back.

we had story night. what's this? we all sleep in our living room and mom reads christmas stories to us until we fall asleep. we always read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. have you read that? go read it. it's hilarious. i made some delicious food for us to snack on this year- oreo truffles, cheese ball and white chocolate popcorn.

i've read the first two Harry Potter books.

i've worked a lot. who's working Christmas morning? pick me! yes folks i am working so much. good thing too cuz homegirl has got to pay for school somehow.

went to the temple this morning with my brothers. the lady in the baptistry wanted to hook me up with her son. i don't whether i should be flattered (and given her my number) or worried.

after watching miracle on 34th street last night, it's official: santa is a mega creeper.

it's my day off today. so what am i doing? chillin obvi. and listen to crank dat soulja boy. can anyone say blast from the past?

peace homies. and if you don't hear from me for a while, then have a happy Christmas and be grateful you get to spend the day with your family.

Christmas break diet ha ha

ps. so far i am very happy with my grades :)

pictures and inferences

because, let's be real, i'm probably the worst blogger of all time.

what did we learn?

be happy and enjoy the journey. i like snow right now. tickling can be dangerous (but enjoyable). i have hung mistletoe. i think hermione is the best. there is no one here to hang out with me- boo break. i may have thought of you today. i'm reading harry potter again. santa is a mega- creeper. magic- believe. don't give up because God has good things in store. Christ holds the little children killed in the tragedy in connecticut in His arms.

12 on 12.12.12

12. i didn't die. it's simply finals. oh wait, those are pretty much the same thing. finals=death. so yes, i died. i'll be back soon though.
11.  when asked if i enjoy my spare time i wonder, "what if i spend all my spare time sleeping???"
10. i am actually enjoying the snow. because not having a white christmas is the epitomy of lame. however, the snow really puts a damper on late night adventures.
9. i have decided i want to learn another language. partially because it is really good cognitive practice. but mostly because then i will feel like a spy or something when i speak it and no one else can understand. Portuguese maybe?
8. i just took my last final!!! booyah! am i ecstatic? yes. did i have a celebratory dance party? yes.
7. apparently people are going around saying that the mayan calendar ended today. just so you know, it ends on the 21.
6. now that finals are over i really don't know what i'm going to do with all the free time i'll have. does this mean i have to get a real life with real friends for the next three and a half weeks??
5. i never eat christmas candy that's given to me before christmas. always after. there is 13 days until christmas. and i'm feeling great about the amount of candy i've accumulated.
4. my day has been filled with so much studying that i really don't have anything cool to say. are you bored yet? on a more exciting note- i had costa vida for dinner.
3. some saints were giving out hot chocolate to people as they left the testing center tonight. i'm pretty sure those people are going to be saved
2. speaking of the Testing Center and finals. . . i think it would be just beautiful if we were all given complimentary back massages at the end of finals.
1. anyone who wants to buy me mistletoe?

and for those of you who still have finals left to take, just do the following:

tuesday is the new wednesday

some days you just don't feel like you can rely on anyone. i've said this once, and i'll say it again: sometimes the only way to get things done right is to do them yourself. not only that, but sometimes you just have to move on when people aren't there when you think they should be. because in all actuality, the people you think should always be there, will leave. and that guy you really like will stop calling you, for no good reason. and the best friend you swore you would always keep in touch with will move far away and you will only talk once a year. you probably won't get everything you think you deserve. you will probably still only pull a B in that tough class despite the hours of studying. you will probably still be single, even though it feels like the whole world is graduating college with a ring on their finger- or at least a boyfriend. and you probably shouldn't like your best friend's best friend because then you can never hang out with him without the guy you like there or at least in the back of your mind. and your relationship is totes different. and that sucks.

it's terribly frustrating.

so i was just looking for some snarky quote about being alone and how that's pretty much what life is. and then i was reading all these inspirational quotes about loving life, finding happiness, and serving others. and i felt really hypocritical. 

yes, i'm stressed. yes, i want things to work out the way i think they should. yes, i have no money. yes, i wish my friends would call me. yes, i wish i weren't alone so much of the time. 

but that is not what life is about! sometimes you do have to be your own hero. and you are alone for what seems like forever. but you have to remember that when you are down, that just means there has got to be good times ahead. and you will be grateful for those.

it's time to stop wallowing in self pity. because that just leads to anxiety. it's time to remember the blessings i do have. it's time to look forward to the celebration of Christ's life. it's time to serve and bless others. it's time to become a better me.

over the river*

sometimes when you are away from home you forget some things.

like how long it takes to get in the shower when there are 8 other people who have to shower.

or like how your mom is going to remind you to make your bed, even though you have been living on your own for 4.5 years and have made your own bed almost every day for those years.

or how delicious cold cereal is.

or like how your siblings and parents are still busy, and since you don't want to do that pile of studying, you end up sitting around (on pinterest) too much.

or how cute your cousins are and how fun it is to make seven pies for thanksgiving dinner.

or how nice it is to not set your alarm (even though you still wake up in a panic at 7:11 thinking you need to get up. dang body clock.)

or how you don't have to have your cell phone with you 24/7 because the people that really matter are there with you.

yeah, being home actually is pretty great. we are all ready to have a wonderful thanksgiving dinner tomorrow at my grandparents in Cottonwood Heights. and i'm not even nervous for my race tomorrow (it will come though).

*technically, no rivers were crossed in my drive to my parents house.

gingerhead crush

if you didn't already know, i'm slightly obsessed with Harry Potter, and even more obsessed with Rupert Grint. we are pretty much MFEO. (mfeo=made for each other.) i think he is just adorable. now please enjoy this video and wonder and how Rupert can be so creepy and yet still so attractive. (also, the lyrics are wonderful and i love them.)

ok now onto more serious matters. today i was voting- for the People's Choice Awards. i know, i know. who actually does that? well i figure if i can vote, then i'm going to. i can't even talk about it. how do you choose? i stressed more over these votes than i did over my vote for president. . . do i vote for Andrew Garfield as best superhero or Christian Bale??? voting made me want to re-watch all the amazing movies that came out this year. i also realized that  i don't really go see a lot of comedy's. i usually just go see action movies. or maybe that was just this year. who knows. so, go vote! BE HEARD!

all joking aside, let's talk about humor. i'm thankful for people and situations that make me laugh! sometimes a small touch of laughter is really what gets me through the day. it is like a shot of chocolate sauce on top of plain vanilla ice cream. so thanks people who make me laugh.

speaking of ice cream, i have one week left of my No Junk Food Challenge! guys, it's getting soooo hard! it seems like everyone is blogging, posting and tweeting about delicious foods that i can't eat! your over there with your ice cream, chocolate, and cookies, and i'm over here like: "i've got this applesauce. . . " on the bright side, i have not been able to eat my emotions!

feeling like this right now. if i could just live in the castle or with Peter Pan (i'm sure he would be cool with it) and escape the stresses of now, that would be lovely.

antisocial?

*don't worry , there is a picture in this post! keep reading!

you know when you get done with your studying faster than you planned on? and it's friday night and so you really don't feel like studying anymore? and it's snowing out so you can't go running or you will freeeeeze? but, you are avoiding going home because then you have be social, and be around treats and unhealthy food, and possibly not sleep, and probably talk about boys. and you just don't feel up to it.

that's me tonight. i got done with group therapy and then did the homework i needed to do, and even some extras! but i'm still in the library, in my little cave called the first floor. listening to He is We, Joshua Radin, Alicia Keys, and Blake Shelton.

i caught up reading all my blogs today. (and by "caught up" i mean that i read the posts that looked interesting slash funny.) yeah, i'm a major slacker and i don't expect it to get better anytime soon. i mean what do you want me to post about? how we learned about the renal system in pathophysiology this week and Brock and i decided that although the kidney is very important it's definitely the most boring organ to talk about. or i complain about the snow and how i hate the cold and how my feet got wet because boots are already leaky. or i could tell you about how i pretty much would live off goldfish crackers if that were possible. i guess you knew that already. . .

i've been working on overcoming fears and facing scary situations this week. it wasn't actually intentional. but it's turned out that way. it's been. . . good. they say that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. i'm not dead yet. and i want so badly to be fearless.

sometimes i wish things could just go back to the way they were. like the perfect day, if i could go back to it, would be september 28. or october 4. but you can't go back. you just keep moving forward. 

i've been delaying posting about this, buuuut (duh duh duh) i'm doing the 21 Day No Junk Food Challenge again! i didn't post about it when i started last thursday because if i totally failed i didn't want ya'll to know and secretly judge me. but i'm more than a week in and i have not caved- even though i have been sorely tempted! this is a big reason i don't want to go home tonight because there is going to be mountains of delicious treats, found on pinterest, made by girls in my ward, and i don't know if i can control myself. i guess i should go and prove to myself that i can. i will post more about this after it's ended (it ends on Thanksgiving).

this week has been so emotional. what with family health problems, heavy tests, and the usual dating stuff. you know.... and if you don't. well you can ask. i'd rather not talk about it on my blog. but yesterday i was so worn down and stressed. i couldn't concentrate on anything. i was worried. i was lonely. i wished for things to change. i just wanted a quick fix. but i didn't get that. i just had to go face stuff. buck up. and i did. and i'm proud of that.

i really can't delay going home for much longer. i've run out of things to look at on pinterest. and facebook is a bore. so please, if you made it to the end of this post and actually read all of it, comment below, and then go get yourself some ice cream, oreos, pizza, brownies, or french fries. and eat them for me. kthanks bye.

*basically i also miss this. and these kiddos. and also because i think posts without pictures are very boring.

ps. if you have noticed i have mentioned therapy a couple times in a few posts recently. don't worry guys, i will tell you the story behind that. just not now.

the post-elections post

disclaimer: guys i don't write political posts! i'm not all knowledgeable about politics (i'm an exercise science major) and i hate conflict. but i'm part scottish so i have a bit of a temper and i can get cynical and sarcastic. so i'm sure you can imagine that i was pretty much on a rollercoaster last night. true, i was disappointed by the outcome of the election last night. obviously the candidate i voted for was not elected. but that happens. and that's not what this post is about.

this post is about America.

cute self shot after voting

i lived in a foreign country for almost four months. while i was there i gained such a great appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy in the United States. how lucky we are to be able to vote and chose our leaders! and how lucky we are to have good candidates to vote for- instead of just corrupt candidates. we are blessed to not have policemen holding AK-47's on every corner. we are blessed to be able to influence government and its affects in our life. we are blessed to be able to sleep soundly at night, not worrying if we will be rooted out of our homes the next day. we are blessed because we are not in famine. we are blessed because we can practice our religion without fear of retaliation. we have a voice and we can make changes if we don't like the way things are. we are blessed because our government allows for innovation and creativity.



so we may or may not be happy with who was elected as president. but remember this: " governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society" (D&C 134:1).

we still have agency. we can choose whether or not we are going to make the most of our life or if we are going to give others the power to control our happiness. we are the creators of our own destiny. we choose if we are going to be happy or not!

Gandhi said "be the change you wish to see in the world." i still have faith in the American people that we can make changes where changes need to be made. i have faith that there are people who will continue to uphold the Constitution and the principles it was founded on. i know that there will always be people who will give help and support to those less fortunate. i know that there will always be the innovators, the creators, the inventors, the care-givers. these are the people who really make up America. and they have not left. i plan to continue to be the change i want to see in the world. do you?

ok wow, that was deep. it's time to get on with life. let's go think about "more important" things! like. . .
- BYU women's soccer team has a No. 1 seed in the NCAA play offs!
- Thanksgiving is in like 15 days
- i have like four more tests before Thanksgiving break
- i still want to find and marry Rupert Grint (or Tom Felton)
- speaking of Rupert Grint, i'm craving a Harry Potter marathon
- this weekend is the last BYU football home game
- it's supposed to snow this weekend and i'm not ok with that
- i'm getting excited for planning holiday parties and holiday food!
- speaking of food, i'm still craving cafe rio
- ok it's time to get back to mega-studying

the best of 10.29-11.4

best text recieved (from Brock): "I have been listening to country music and know how to solve all our problems: alcohol."

best Harry Potter reference (besides the HP party): in group therapy on friday, our therapist was talking about how humor helps with anxiety and then said "it's like in Harry Potter they have those boggarts and Snape comes out and they have to make it funny and laugh at it to make it go away, or the boggart really will hurt them." Riddikulus!

best news received: i got an 85% on my pathophysiology test! my goal was to get an 84% and i got 85%! one of the perks of having no life is that i can get good grades. next test i am setting an even higher goal.

best shopping deal: buying a big box of goldfish crackers from Costco for only $5.50!

aaaand i was supposed to post this on Sunday... now it's tuesday. and the fate of our country will be known in (hopefully) a few short hours. i'm putting off studying by writing this last sentence. if Obama wins i might move to England. find Rupert Grint. and marry him. the end.

ps. another awesome thing about me is that i totes fixed our fuses today! our stove and microwave were not even turning on and i fixed them! my roommate said this makes me marriage material.

change you can believe in

no, this isn't a political post. i don't do those. not because i don't care about politics or this wonderful U.S. of A. it's just that i'm pretty uneducated about political matters, and politics always seems to strike some discord with someone, and it's really not worth it to get people all offended.
anywayyyys.
i cut my hair!!!!
i'm not sure how much i cut but i would say at least 5 inches. maybe even 6. i'd been thinking about it for a while, but after this past weekend i knew i had to do it. i needed to change something up.
please excuse how thrilled i look in the self portrait (after photo). this was after like a bajillion tries. i mean self portraits are just awkward right?

truthfully, i totes miss my long hair. i feel like i don't know what to do with my hair now. it's quite intimidating! i'm thinking i gotta go buy some biotin so it grows out fast again! (secretly i might be afraid that no guy will want to date me because "boy's don't like girls with short hair." but then i remember that i'm still the bomb.com with or without long hair.) 

did you know that i am more than halfway through the semester? thank the stars! this has been quite the semester and i have no idea what is in store for me before it ends. but i do know that my life is in the Lord's hands and that He will lead me where i am supposed to go.

[tangent: ah guys that picture of me with the short hair! i'm dying (of embarrassment). do i look like that in real life with short hair??? someone go get me extensions or something. i mean aren't before-after pictures supposed to show improvement? ah!]

TWO MONTHS from today one of my bestest friends gets home from her mission! i'm totes excited to go get this girl from the airport and then to have her back in P town! i haven't seen her since April 2011 which is such a loooong time.

January 2010

 and guys i saved the best for last. BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. i know you've all been waiting on pins and needles. i'm going to do a giveaway! i'm not going to tell you what it is yet because there is first something you gotta do. i'm not going to do the giveaway until i have 100 followers. yes, this may just be a sad attempt to get back into blogging, but really would love to reach 100. if anything i will feel like a "legit blogger." ha! so help me out and tell people about my blog and that they should follow it. i promise that it will be worth it :)

on being thankful

two posts in two days?! now before you go have an aneurysm, just read this post because i think it's going to be good.

sometimes we don't get things we want and then we get really mad, and kick things, and look at the ground, and the sky seems grey, and we feel like the little kid who just dropped his ice cream cone on the ground. and by "we" i mean me. and my multiple personalities. . . ?
so today i realized that although i am still sad, there is so much that i can be grateful for! you gotta look at the little things people. like. . .

*the temple. it's really soooo good. 

*pineapple. thanks mom!

*studying. because staying busy is a good thing. and being productive is a great feeling.

*funny, nerdy physiology class jokes

*physiology study buddy who is more like a friend now. thanks :)

*new stairs at my apartment building (now i don't feel quite so much like i'm going to die when i climb them)

*running and p90X. "i hate it, but i love it."

*catching up on Bones

*writing a letter to my favorite missionary cousin

*not having anymore midterms

*e-mail from my sister

*making plans for friday night

*sunshiney day

*running into old friends

*cute outfits

*actually looking happy (unlike Kristen Stewart)

happy hump day!

speaking of thankful, in a few days it will be a month until Thanksgiving. i'm going to be doing 30 Days to Thankful, with a new twist for 2012- photos! so you know, be excited.

thought on tuesday

*upon finishing my second graveyard shift. . .  i realize i could do them long term- but only if i don't want a life.

*if you make rules, right them down and stick to them. be true to yourself and what you want in life, long-term. don't trade something you want forever, for something you want just now.

*why do people always give girls chocolate and ice cream when they break up? while i appreciate the kind gestures, i've eaten so many sweets in the last few days that i want to puke. what i really want is a cute new outfit, a trip to Disneyland, or to be registered for my next race.

*you know you love sleep when you look forward to sleeping from 6:45 am to 12 pm, after working all night long.

*it's soup season! who else is excited? i made this delicious butternut squash soup (from Sprouts Market) and added broccoli- perfect combination.

*i'm trying to be positive. but while i believe in optimism, i also believe in honesty. that's why i just tell people "i'm ok." because i'm not good. staying busy helps keep me ok.

*who let my sister's p day be changed from Monday to Tuesday? don't these people know that if i don't get a letter on monday i can't even handle it?

*oh, i went to a football game on saturday. it was like, good. but we lost which is horrid. saturday was not a good day for me or for byu football. (i said it last year and i'll say it again- my dating life and byu football scores are totes connected. someday byu will have an amazing season- and i will be married or something. i think coach mendenhall should do something to make this happen.)

*i need to get out of utah county!!! like really, provo is the pits sometimes. i'm stilling trying to come to peace with the fact that i'm supposed to stay here next year. however i'm hopefully heading up north next weekend so if you live in Logan be excited to see my face!

*did you watch the debate? my friend had a drinking party. so obviously i went. i'm falling off the wagon- it's cool. so in the debate if certain words were said (jobs, America, immigration, etc.) you had to take a drink (sip) or entire cup of root beer. (oh, did you think i meant alcohol? this is byu, people!) after three cups i was so done. i think it's safe to say i would never be good at any alcoholic drinking game. oh but back to the debate, what did you think?

*true confession: i have no plans this weekend other than working a 10 hour shift saturday. it might be time to cash in that month long netflix trial. . . .

*i'm shutting up now. gonna go watch despicable me with my brother (he still hasn't seen it!)

because i've been a bit of a slacker

i thought i would post this music video which has been stuck in my head since tuesday.

my pathophysiology study buddy showed it to me. watch it once. and then watch it again. because it gets funnier every time.



in other news....
i saw a picture of an 8 week old fetus today. it looked like a snake. i feel really great knowing that once upon a time my 8 week old fetus looked like the snake from Jungle Book.

i'm feeling guilty about the lack of posting. but i honestly have zero time. fact: i should be studying for my nutrition and chronic disease prevention test that i'm taking tomorrow.
fact: i had ice cream for dinner tonight. it was free and i'm a poor college student. i'll take what i can get.
fact: i'm going to bed now.