questions to the void:

-Why is "My Favorite Things" considered a Christmas song? I love that song, but I don't get where the Christmas vibe comes into that.

-Why does everyone listen to FM100 ALL December long when they just play the same 20 songs over and over and over again?

-Why does time have to fly by SO fast?! Its almost Christmas, and I've been home for almost 2 weeks now. Doesn't seem like that at all.

-Why did my Neil Diamond shirt not win the award for best PJ's? I mean Bret and Erica's outfits were pretty awesome but lets be honest, it's NEIL we're talking about.

-Why does everything have to cost so much money? Seriously.

-Why is it that family movies are so hilarious to me? I'm not even in more than half of them. Maybe I just like laughing at my siblings back when they were children.

-Why is it that butter, sugar and, chocolate can make so many different delicious treats? I'm especially fond of the fudge we made.

-Why is Christmas so much more exciting when you are 3? Favorite line from Lyvia: "Ahhh! This is JUST what I wanted!"

-Why does WalMart have to be so ridiculously crazy during December? I've pretty much vowed I will never go back there again during the Holiday Season. It's pretty overwhelming.

-Why does SUU's University Journal have to publish a newspaper when everyone returns from the break? This would really save me a lot of work and an extra day at home come January.

who knew finals week could be THIS fun?!

it's the most wonderful time of the year!

this week has been one of the best weeks of the semester. maybe it has to do with the fact that i really technically only have one final...either way its just been great. mom and dad came down to st. george for the weekend and watched my christmas choir concert. it was so nice to have them down for a little while and hang out with them. (on a side note i loved all of the christmas songs my choir got to sing this year, which made the concerts even better!)

this week i have been able to hang out with my roommates a lot by:

helping them study.
helping them take breaks from studying.
roommate gift exchange. (i gave courtney a beatles t-shirt and beach boys record, and becca gave me a pretty necklace)
making movies. (check out facebook for details)
ordering pizza.
taking pictures.
listening to music.

we decorated a little itty bitty tree to go on our table in our front room. (thanks to mom and the cricut it turned out really cute!)

overall, this week i am very grateful for
my roommates,
my family,
& only ONE final!

i really want to be here:

i love this song.

My Shepherd will supply my need,
Jehovah is His name.
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.

He brings my wand’ring spirit back,
When I forsake His ways.
And leads me for His mercy’s sake
In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death
Thy presence is my stay.
One word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.

Thy hand in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread.
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days.
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.

There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come.
No more a stranger nor a guest,
But like a child at home.

took the long way home.

15 miles

in

50 minutes.

not only was it 15 miles, but it was 15 miles outside of cedar city. so close but yet SO far.

car trips are great!

glad to be back in festival city USA.

firsts, seconds, thirds.

(refrain from clapping please)

so this week has been pretty...well...not the greatest. as my roommate ashley would say, "meh."

first, i am sick. i decided i don't like to be sick away from home. i told mom i really wanted hot tang.

second, it is so close to thanksgiving break, which makes it 1000 times harder to concentrate on school.

third, my group project for advertising isn't turning out so great. that's a bummer because up to this point, it has been my favorite class. and i'd like it to remain that way.

good things about the week included:

first, "gilmore girls tuesday" was added to mine and sierra's weekly routine (along with "popcorn thursday").

second, i have listened halfway through the harry potter 7 audiobook. that has definitely been my biggest time waster as of late. but its soooo good, and worth it. i can't wait to go see the movie!

third, i went to the men's basketball game with jenna and it was a blast. we sat on the first row and cheered really loud. we came up with nicknames for all the starters. nicknames such as; "groupie", "buddy", "sweet baby ray" etc. it was great fun!

and the most exciting thing...
IT'S ALMOST THANKSGIVING!
reasons i love this holiday:

first, i love spending time with the family. having steamers with our snazzy hot chocolate maker, watching festive movies (usually chick flicks or musicals. fancy that.), watching the thanksgiving day parade (don't rub it in that you are going to be there grover's), going to grammy's or nana's (the best cooks on the planet) and having an amazing thanksgiving dinner. i'd have to say that thanksgiving food is some of my favorite. of course the famous bailey quote was coined at grammy's dinner- "beans?! i love beans!" referring to grammy's delicious green bean casserole. i'm sorry. i just get really excited. brynn and i always make fun of the movies where they have some perfect turkey that comes out of the oven and then the mom sets it out on the table and everyone claps. i've never really understood that. why are you clapping for the turkey? but really, i'm pretty sure we always have the perfect turkey that could be straight from the food network... or one of those cheesy movies. probably even better.

second, this year i am especially excited because i will get to see some old friends that i've been missing! it will be good to catch up with everyone and spend some time together. i can't wait.

third, thanksgiving is the beginning of the christmas holidays. i love this time of year! i'm very excited also because i only have to survive one more week of classes and then one week of finals and then i'll be back home for a whole month. hooray!

now don't get me wrong, i'm loving it down here...but a nice break is LONG overdue.

is that even a question?

assignment: three to five page paper on a person or event in the mass media industry.

it took me 2.7 seconds to decide.

and this is why i'm doing what i'm doing.

Today as I was walking to my first class, I cut through the student center to see that the rotunda was decorated with everything SUU. There was also a stage, and a podium. I quickly knew what this meant. A press conference. Ohh was I excited. I didn't even know what it was about but I knew I had to be there.

Later, my advertising class was spent discussing public relations, advertising and how P.R. people work with the media. "Extra Credit to whoever goes to the press conference today" Okay, YES. Thank you professor.

At 2:00 pm I walked over to the rotunda to find it PACKED with people. I ended up going to the second floor (also packed with people) and watching/listening from above. I absolutely loved the atmosphere. I recognized the dean of my college, the provost, the VP of students, and many professors (This is why I love SUU, I KNOW all of these administrators), also a lot of people from the community, students, and athletes in their uniforms. President Benson got up and informed the crowd that SUU would be moving into the big sky conference. Okay so I don't really know what that means. I mean I know its a big deal for SUU, and SUU athletics but that wasn't the exciting part.

I loved watching the news reporters and photographers in front of the stage snapping photos and scribbling furiously with their pens. And all of the speakers behind the podium who represented SUU so well.

It reminded me of last year when Principal Manning came into yearbook and said they needed students to sit in on the news conference announcing that Olympus would be rebuilt. I think he was a little surprised at how excited I was (not about the school being rebuilt, but about the news conference).

The truth is, this not only excites me, but it genuinely interests me. I love being up to date on current events, things going on at my school, and in the community. I always have been. I kept on thinking about how that is going to be me someday. Participating in press conferences will be in my job description.

and that is why I'm doing what I'm doing.

note to self-- next year when you are in that killer Communications Research class, come back to this post and remind yourself of this.

two things i love.

fall
&
SUU's campus.

as of late...

puddle jumping with the roomies

the light in our bathroom went out...that means for several days we were without any light when we showered and what not. this picture is of me soaking my sore feet after the football game. Quick shout out to the maintenance man who came today with a box of lightbulbs and pretty much changed every one in the house. that means i got to shower in the light! hooray!

HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME! One of the best so far. it was SO MUCH FUN! Go T-Birds. I went to my friend Kenzie's (far right) house before the game and spray painted shirts.

Homecoming Parade with the Presidential Ambassadors. Also a definite highlight of my time at SUU. As you can see the theme was "rockin every day" so the few and the proud were cavemen (or flintstones), and the rest were rock stars! haha such a blast! By the way I would just like to let you know that we won "best float by a group or club" I really have NO idea why because all we basically did was decorate the golf cart. It must have been our energy, and T-Bird spirit that morning!

us after the game
Courtney was the quarterback for the P.A./DPO powder puff football team. GO CHAOS! They won 31-0. Yep, THATS MY ROOMMATE!

sometimes we just like to dress up in our PJ's and pose for pictures with our DI purchase Ellen the Bunny Rabbit. There's not a lot of explanation for this one...

i can do anything good.

If you ever have a negative attitude all you have to do is watch this video and it will be gone!

And it's so true. I like my mom, my sisters, my alysons, my aunts, my dad, my brother, my cousins, my whole house is great, I like my school, I like anything, I like my hair, I like my hair cuts, I like my room, I like my stuff, I like my pajamas.

"Daily Affirmations"



life is good.

new york. part 2.

i'm not sure if this even needs explanation.
lets just say its a mixture of my most embarrassing moment and the best improv courtney and i have ever done.

THE NEW YORK CITY SONG.

what dreams are made of...

We are in a New York state of mind here in EcclesC104D.
Why you might ask? Because Courtney and I just planned our trip to New York. It's going to be epic.
First all, Court has never been to New York (that is a GIANT shame), Never riden in a taxi (another shame...it's quite an experience), never been to the JFK airport (okay that one isn't that big of a deal, but still). ALL of these things are on her bucket list. Secondly, we decided that we would go over the week of her birthday and see a Yankee's game (also on her bucket list). SO basically, I'm helping her fulfill her dreams.

We will arrive in NYC and do all of the touristy things such as:

• Statue of Liberty
• Empire State Building
• Toys R Us
• Yankee's Game
• Ground Zero
• Serendipity
  
• Wicked
• Times Square
• NBC Studios
• Shopping, Shopping, Shopping
• Delicious Food

So this is our dream.
Only one small problem.
We are college students with no money.
Our next step in this process is trying to figure out how to make money in cedar city. this should be an adventure!

st. george

I had a fun "pre-birthday" weekend with the roommates in St. George. We went shopping, took "family pictures", had dinner at the olive garden (complete with raspberry lemonade slushies), and nielsons frozen custard for dessert! What a perfect way to celebrate my birthday. I love having St. George so close!

some friendships will never fade.

"oh the comfort, the inexpressible comfort, of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts, nor measure words-but pouring them all right out-just as they are-chaff and grain together-certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them-keep what is worth keeping- and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."

I just got off the phone with one of my best friends sara. we could have easily talked for another hour and never run out of something to say. thats always how it's been since I met her in my ninth grade spanish class and when we were always the last one's out the locker room door after swim practice, or when we would go on a "quick" two hour walk. there is always one more thing to talk about.

But, I could say that about all of my friends.

I consider myself the luckiest girl on the earth because I have been blessed with true friends.
Both old, and new.

realizations...

(hard core t-bird fans.)

Here are 10 things that have been on my mind lately: (however random they may be)

#1: When I plan my days out and use my time wisely, my days go so much better.
#2: Swimming feels sooo good. It's been too long.
#3: Glozell is HILARIOUS.
#4: I love SUU. I'm ready to convince everyone to come here. I'm almost all the way certified to give tours!
#5: I love my friends. old and new.
#6: I miss REAL food!
#7: Last night's "sunday dinner" stir fry was delicious. (thanks for the recipe Brytt.)
#8: Cedar City water is nasty.
#9: A clean kitchen is a BIG DEAL.
#10: I really lucked out...I have the best roommate/apartment/university/ward/family/friends.

COLLEGE. week one. pictures edition.

|
My Roommates
|

Court and I on our way to WalMart

|
First Day of School Pictures
|

Jessi (our BFF from PA's), Courtney and I

Re-enacting a PA legend--making mothers cry in the centurium.

On our way to the dance

Eating popcorn

Straightening our hair...

Jessi and I watching Forever Strong at the retreat

P.A. Pride

COLLEGE. week one.

I'm here at S.U.U. and loving every minute! Here is a play by play of what i've been up to this past week. (pictures to follow)

SUNDAY: Arrived in Cedar City. Moved in, went to WalMart...all of the important stuff.

MONDAY: P.A. Retreat=sooo much fun. I LOVE ALL OF THE P.A.'s! It was great to get to know everyone. On Monday night we just played games up at the mountain center, watched Forever Strong (that was the theme of the retreat) and LAUGHED and LAUGHED and LAUGHED.

TUESDAY: Tuesday morning we woke up early and had initiation (complete with tiki torches) we walked out into the forest by the cabin and recieved a letter from a previous PA. Mine was from a lady named Nikki who was a P.A. in 1991-- part the first set of presidential ambassadors ever at SUU. Also on Tuesday we had a talent show where my group (called a task force) made up one of the best skits ever performed at a PA retreat! It was very fun.

WEDNESDAY: Courtney and I got back from the retreat and helped our roommate Jenna (the R.A.) decorate our hall before everyone else moved in. We also took a LONG nap to try and recover from sleeping on cement floors. That night we put together a Jonas Brothers puzzle and then went to bed early.

THURSDAY: The rest of my roommates moved in! Got to know all of them, we all get along and are great friends. Thursday night flight school started. We had a speaker and had campus tie dye! My shirt turned out really cool!

FRIDAY: More flight school. I got to participate in the T-Bird tradition of walking under the bell tower to be welcomed by tons and tons of faculty, administration, and students. The tradition is that now I am not allowed to walk under it until the day I graduate. Friday night we went to the institute dance and played with the P.A.'s

SATURDAY: Flight school again. Service projects and more speakers. We went to another dance and watched a movie, and then ended the day by staying up maybe a little too late (or should I say early) talking to the roomies.

SUNDAY: Woke up at 11 and Courtney and I made french toast. Then we went to my new ward and loved it! My bishop is Samoan and he is awesome. After church we made dinner (pasta and brown butter) and had Sunday dinner with the roommates followed by dessert at the Presidents house. It was great. Then we had a floor meeting in our apartment and went to sleep to prepare for the first day of school!

TODAY: My first day of school was very successful! I think I am going to love my advertising class. We have to make up an ad that introduces ourselves so I need to start brainstorming...if you think of any bright ideas let me know. Also, I tried out for choir today--the vocal professors really liked my voice and said they loved when non-music majors wanted to be in choir. All in all a great first day of college! I'm loving it!

So I'm sorry for rambling on forever. This post is partly for me to remember, and partly so all of you can know what I've been up to...even though you probably didn't need that much detail.

p.s. Mom, I haven't taken a first day of school picture yet but I definitely will on the front "porch" of my apartment.

stop this train

No I'm not color blind
I know the world is black and white
Try to keep an open mind but...
I just can't sleep on this tonight
Stop this train I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly won't someone stop this train

Don't know how else to say it, don't want to see my parents go
One generation's length away
From fighting life out on my own

Stop this train
I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't but honestly won't someone stop this train

So scared of getting older
I'm only good at being young
So I play the numbers game to find away to say that life has just begun
Had a talk with my old man
Said help me understand
He said turn 68, you'll renegotiate
Don't stop this train
Don't for a minute change the place you're in
Don't think I couldn't ever understand
I tried my hand
John, honestly we'll never stop this train

See once in a while when it's good
It'll feel like it should
And they're all still around
And you're still safe and sound
And you don't miss a thing
'til you cry when you're driving away in the dark.

Singing stop this train I want to get off and go home again
I can't take this speed it's moving in
I know I can't
cause now I see I'll never stop this train

what i love (summer edition)

ham, apple, and melted cheese sandwiches. i recently had one for dinner and told my family that it had "changed my life." so good.

popcorn. its never too early in the day!

light blue and red. the perfect color combo in my opinion.

the weepies. their music. i like it. its very chill.

fleece blankets. i don't care how hot it is outside, i enjoy wrapping up in a blanket.

shaved ice. i've been very partial to island flavor lately.

gilmore girls. brynn, my mom and i finished the 7th season this week.

winterfresh gum. nothing is better. ah, so good.