thank you :)

I know everybody else has done this exact same thing, so I should probably do it too, yeah?

I'm thankful for:

--My family. This is the first year that I haven't spent Thanksgiving with them and it's been super weird. You know, cuz I kinda miss them. We have lots of fun together, and I'm real glad they let me stay another year instead of kickin me out :) I'm also grateful for a very fun extended family. They're the only reason I'd want to have more than two kids--so we can have freakin awesome family parties and fun trips (Shout out to Robyn and Rick--thanks for bringing me to Bryce Canyon this weekend!)

--My super amazing friends! I guess you never know a good thing til it's gone, right? I knew I had fantastic friends, but I had no idea I'd miss them so much! But I love when they come home to visit, and I'm so grateful to always have people around that I can go to with anything.

--Our beautiful earth. It's just gorgeous! No words.

--Music. I always have a song playing in my mind, my life would be so boring without it.

--A cozy bed. And sleep.

--Technology (insert song by Kip Dynamite here). I love being able to stay in touch with my friends that are away...and creep on everybody else ;)

--Diet Coke.

--A grandma who got me hooked on Diet Coke. And musicals. She'll never get me when it comes to killing shows, though.

--Artists. Seriously! They give all of their time to create something for other people to enjoy. Right now, I'm thankful for Kathryn Stockett, the author of The Help, and Kelly Clarkson and Coldplay, with their new CDs. They've been entertaining for the past few days :)

--Cozy pants. They go real well with the Diet Coke.

--School. I mean, as much as it pains me to say that with finals just a week away, I really am grateful for it. I wouldn't have anything to do with my life otherwise, and I know (or at least really, really hope) that it'll benefit me down the road.

--A job. Gotta pay for school and my car and my Diet Coke :)

--My cars! Sadie and Rhonda, may she rest in peace. I spend more time in my car than anywhere else, except maybe my bed... But Sadie is one of my best friends! She sings along to the radio with me, she just keeps goin when I need to cry, and she's always up for a drive! I miss my Rhonda, but I'm definitely grateful for Sadie :)

--Paris. I don't have many goals, but Paris is one. I'm grateful for something to look forward to.

--The temple. I'm looking forward to going there too :)

I've been given so much, and I really am grateful for all of it. Everything. Except for spiders and mosquitoes. Especially when the spiders are in my basement. But besides those, I'm thankful for it all. I guess what I want most is a way to be able to express my gratitude for it every day.

I....changed my mind?

Just need to correct something from a couple posts ago...mostly for my friend Shelby Ballif...

I'm not going to New York.

Sad face.

Why not? Well. I don't know.

You know when something feels real good and you're just so excited?? And then, one day, it just doesn't feel so good and you don't feel so excited and you don't even know why? Yep. That's me.

I'm kinda really sad about it. But. I know enough to not do something when it doesn't feel right. Maybe that would be my conscience telling me to spend that money on college tuition instead of Broadway shows? Priorities. Psh.

So. If anyone has some words that would make me feel better about not going on that six day adventure, it'd be real helpful. I kinda need it.

In other news, the Garlick guy won, even though he didn't give away free bread. Guess he didn't need my campaigning advice. Darn.

two firsts and some random thoughts

Friends, I tell you all of this, only because I know you're just dying to know these bizarre things about my life. So...you're welcome? Or more like, thanks, all three people that read this! You make me happy :)

Okay, my first first... I promise that makes sense?

I voted for the very first time!! Mmm yeah bring on the city councilmen!

Okay, let's be real for two seconds. Do I know who to vote for? Um...no. Do I know what city councilmen even do? Um...no. Mostly, I just listened to my parents talk about these people and then I picked three. One of the guys' last names was Garlick. So funny story.

Me: "You know, if he gave out free garlic bread, I would vote for him."

My mom: "He doesn't even spell his name like that."

Me: "So?? Free garlic bread, Mom."

My mom: "You would vote for anyone who gave you bread."

So I pose this question--WHO WOULDN'T vote for someone who gave out free bread?? Just a thought.

Second first...

I went to Zumba!! And....I probably looked real retarded. But who cares right?? It was so dang fun. My mom wouldn't go with me, she says she doesn't have any rhythm. But she beats me every time we play Just Dance so...I challenge that. And it really is like Just Dance! Except you can't do it in your pajamas and there a lot more people there to judge you. But so what? It was a party :)

So I got home from the gym and Biggest Loser was on. Favorite show ever!! I also happened to have a Toblerone sitting next to my TV from Halloween...man, that one took resistance. But alas! The Toblerone remains untouched. Three points for me (everything is more fun if you give yourself points. I promise.)

I've driven past the high school a couple times over the last few evenings. Seeing all the cars of those cute little Musical Productions kids makes my heart ache. It first aches for them, because I know they're all dying because they're getting four hours of sleep and not getting all of their homework done. All for the love the art :) But then it aches because my car isn't there with them. Not that I would want to go back to high school...never ever...but that was my favorite part of all three years. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything, not even for all the Toblerone in the whole world.

To the cast and crew of Fiddler on the Roof, I wish I could be there with you. I know you're doing fantastic things. Play hard this week! Solidarity :)

To Nick and Nate, go rock the world. The people in the Philippines are going to love you! Probably not as much as I do, but you know...be good, boys.

To you, my friend, thanks for reading this. And for stickin it out until the end. Go team.

i love me some FALL

I love the fall. Love, love, love it. And Halloween is always my favorite day of the season. Something about the way it feels outside just screams happiness. But maybe that had something to do with the fact that for the majority of my lesser education, we didn't have to go to school on Halloween. You know, because it's a major holiday....and something about teacher prep day, but whatever. Anyway, I was tempted to skip school just to keep with tradition. Good thing I didn't, or else I would've missed out on Kit Kats in Economics! But...that would've been it.

I wish that I didn't have to be stuck inside on this gorgeous fall day. Stuck in class, in my office, on the bus...what a waste! I think next fall, I'll pull a Henry David Thoreau and live in a secluded cabin and just soak it all in. That sounds so much better than English papers, insurance policies and studying for art quizzes (that's what the last 3 hours of my life have consisted of...be jealous).

I've heard some rumors going around...about snow tomorrow? Should that happen to be the case, I believe I'll be staying in bed and enjoying hot chocolate and a good book. Because I REFUSE to accept the snow. I'm in denial, you see. It's just all happening too soon. I rather despise winter. The snow is only pretty for about two days (the 24th and 25th of December) then it's all downhill from there. No likey!

Please, fall, just stay. Forever. I....I love you.

Also, on a super unrelated, exciting note that I just like to talk about because it makes me so happy! (English friends--is that a properly formulated sentence? I'm too tired to figure it out, but just wondering...) ANYWAY. I'm going to New York again in June!! Aw yeah! Maybe it'll be stealing from my college fund, but so what? I'm young, I like to party, and I need a trip so bad that I'll die if I don't have something to look forward to at the end of the school year. So. I'm going. And it is going to be the greatest party EVER. That's all.

Happy halloween, kids. If you don't have the exceptional fortune of getting to see my family's costumes tonight, I'll see what I can do about posting some for your enjoyment.

the happiest parts of my day

Sometimes, on those kinda crappy days, you gotta hold on to the good parts.

Text from Emily Blankinship: "I am at this ward hoedown and one of my FHE brothers is playing the guitar and singing that song that you sang about a feather bed!! I totally just cried inside because it reminded me of you!"

I think that's the most tender thing I've ever heard. I'm now sporting my sweet pajamas and pondering putting on my cowboy boots. Just for fun.

We almost got away with only singing Pumped Up Kicks as our opening song for family night. Almost.

I have a sweet battle scar from my adventure at the gym this morning. I'd totally post a picture if I didn't have three bandaids and Neosporin protecting it from the world.

I stayed awake during Economics. That NEVER happens. I guess that wasn't a happy thing...but I was so proud that I let myself take a nap during Theatre just because I'd done so well.

My English teacher told us that we don't have to come to class for the rest of the semester. No class until 9:30? Don't mind if I do!

Sometimes Mondays aren't so great. But none of them have killed me yet! (fingers crossed...)

A Sweat Pants Sort of Day

There's something you need to know about me.

I LOVE sweat pants. I love being cozy. BUT. I love it in my house. And occasionally on a late-night treat run to the grocery store. However, I have issues with wearing them to school. They just aren't flattering on me. At all. And not like I care, I mean, really. But since I've started college, I've been tryin to make an effort to look good so that someday, a man might, I don't know, want to marry me? I mean, it'd be nice. So. I've been tryin to step it up a bit.

But some days, you just can't fight it. Some days, you just aren't feelin the whole school thing and it's all you can do to get up and take a shower. Which is probably most days, but especially today. So...today was a sweat pants day.

I think my mom was sick of me by the time I left for school. "Well which sweat pants should I wear?" "What shirt do I wear with them?" "Do I wear a jacket?" "I don't have shoes that match!" I was kinda driving myself crazy. But, all things considered, I looked decent as I walked out the door.

By the time I got to school, I was feelin pretty great about the whole thing. In fact, I even went all High School Musical with it. This could be the start of something new. New and beautiful and so cozy.

A Few Things I Learned This Week

--The Swiss eat 19 pounds of chocolate per person per year. Chocolate is my friend.

--Studying for a test the night before you take it won't do much good. Especially if you sleep through that class three times a week.

--Sleeping in can be fabulous, but only when you have the time for it. When you just happen to sleep through an entire day of school? Not so much.

--Once you accept the fact that the leading actress isn't Julie or Audrey, My Fair Lady becomes ever so enjoyable.

--Video chatting with your best friend is twelve hundred times better than writing papers about Shakespeare.

--Once the end is in sight, you feel like you could keep going for a long time. I feel like I could check groceries for the rest of my life...yeah right!! Get me outta there! Tuesday night is my last...come visit?

--Primary programs are just a little bit adorable.

--Retail therapy is real fabulous. As is my new wardrobe.