lots of suitcases
lots of stuff to bring with me
i'll squish it to fit
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
the year that was...2009
longest blog post ever...
Life is more about the little moments, right? Well, 2009 had lots of those little moments. Now, a look back at some of the things that weren't quite cool enough to get blogged about the first time, but somehow got more notable over time...
January brought long days in the newsroom and the start of creeping on the dtr-bench out the window. Also, basketball, hammering paths for car tires in the cinnamon tree parking lot and Sunday afternoon gymnastics. This was also the month we were introduced to the beauty of "Another Cinderella Story". We just really wanted to go to a wedding, but ended up crashing Rihanna's first birthday instead.
February, month of my birth, the start of the "year of me". We tried on mumus, were too poor to buy them, so had a photo shoot instead. This is also the month I told Jimmer "good game" and he smiled and said "thanks". we're basically bff.
In March, I mingled with Provo's finest at the Y Awards. The month also brought hints of spring, late night talks at the park and a PRSSA golf outing. March is also when accounting 200 and Norm took over my life.
April ended winter semester with a bang. We celebrated Easter with an apartment egg hunt, celebrated the end of the newspaper with a series of parties, and celebrated finals with an ice-cold slip n slide and Nepalese food.
We cleaned forever before moving out of our apartment, were too scared to use the super clean bathroom, so we went down the road to Dennys to use the toilet and eat, then moved our mattresses into the living room for a last night sleepover.
May brought spring term, sunshine and a new apartment. Adventures including playing in the sun, joining an intermural kickball team (go Desmond-aters!) and surviving the outbreak of swine flu.
One day in May, I accidentally followed Cecil to devotional. At the end, he turned to go in a special VIP door and I chickened out and went in the main door. MLIA.
oh hey, and I went to Guatemala and built houses. and passed out just feet from where this pictures was taken. and got sick. and danced with rabid dogs. 
In June, I saw Kelly Clarkson in concert. There was a guy near us who knew every word to every song and rocked so hard, he was nearly more entertaining than Kelly. I was also a Y Group Leader for NSO and partied like a freshman. The highlight was definitely showing them how to take naps on campus.
In July, I was back in Sammamish, babysitting for these cute kids. We also started a new tradition with a family baseball game on the 4th of july in coeur d alene, where I hit a homerun and talked some serious smack. I also started braving the singles ward, found it wasn't that bad, and had my records moved for the last Sunday I was in town.
August was hot, hot, hot and brought the first of 2 cross-country road trips to Utah. Roommates were reunited, and Sian-Amy went tubing for the first time, goggles, carp and all. Grandma gave me a care package and we made delicious chocolate covered cake balls.
In September, I embraced my inner Kylie on friday night and won a free costa vida shirt. Connection? I think yes. Our roommates also nearly burned down the apartment and gassed us out, so Kylie and I holed up in our room with our emergency food supply until it was safe to come out.
So there it is, the mundane but wonderful year of 2009.
Celebrate the small things, my friends.
and now, on to 2010
(two thousand ten? twenty ten? how are we saying it?)
Life is more about the little moments, right? Well, 2009 had lots of those little moments. Now, a look back at some of the things that weren't quite cool enough to get blogged about the first time, but somehow got more notable over time...
January brought long days in the newsroom and the start of creeping on the dtr-bench out the window. Also, basketball, hammering paths for car tires in the cinnamon tree parking lot and Sunday afternoon gymnastics. This was also the month we were introduced to the beauty of "Another Cinderella Story". We just really wanted to go to a wedding, but ended up crashing Rihanna's first birthday instead.
February, month of my birth, the start of the "year of me". We tried on mumus, were too poor to buy them, so had a photo shoot instead. This is also the month I told Jimmer "good game" and he smiled and said "thanks". we're basically bff.
In March, I mingled with Provo's finest at the Y Awards. The month also brought hints of spring, late night talks at the park and a PRSSA golf outing. March is also when accounting 200 and Norm took over my life.
April ended winter semester with a bang. We celebrated Easter with an apartment egg hunt, celebrated the end of the newspaper with a series of parties, and celebrated finals with an ice-cold slip n slide and Nepalese food. We cleaned forever before moving out of our apartment, were too scared to use the super clean bathroom, so we went down the road to Dennys to use the toilet and eat, then moved our mattresses into the living room for a last night sleepover.
May brought spring term, sunshine and a new apartment. Adventures including playing in the sun, joining an intermural kickball team (go Desmond-aters!) and surviving the outbreak of swine flu.One day in May, I accidentally followed Cecil to devotional. At the end, he turned to go in a special VIP door and I chickened out and went in the main door. MLIA.
oh hey, and I went to Guatemala and built houses. and passed out just feet from where this pictures was taken. and got sick. and danced with rabid dogs. 
In June, I saw Kelly Clarkson in concert. There was a guy near us who knew every word to every song and rocked so hard, he was nearly more entertaining than Kelly. I was also a Y Group Leader for NSO and partied like a freshman. The highlight was definitely showing them how to take naps on campus.
In July, I was back in Sammamish, babysitting for these cute kids. We also started a new tradition with a family baseball game on the 4th of july in coeur d alene, where I hit a homerun and talked some serious smack. I also started braving the singles ward, found it wasn't that bad, and had my records moved for the last Sunday I was in town.
August was hot, hot, hot and brought the first of 2 cross-country road trips to Utah. Roommates were reunited, and Sian-Amy went tubing for the first time, goggles, carp and all. Grandma gave me a care package and we made delicious chocolate covered cake balls.
In September, I embraced my inner Kylie on friday night and won a free costa vida shirt. Connection? I think yes. Our roommates also nearly burned down the apartment and gassed us out, so Kylie and I holed up in our room with our emergency food supply until it was safe to come out.September was also BYU's big win over Oklahoma, which led to impromptu celebrations and a dance party down University Ave, when we nearly got hit by multiple cars.
October introduced us to the football face, a natural occurrence whenever the topic of football comes up and I get way too excited. This is also when we enrolled in comms 402, traveled to Burley to experience Crazy Daves, and had one kickin Halloween where my costume literally unraveled throughout the night.
November brought a trip to San Diego, complete with glee parties, Damien and Julio. We also learned how to fit 5 people into the backseat of a car with minimal permanent damage to all involved.
October introduced us to the football face, a natural occurrence whenever the topic of football comes up and I get way too excited. This is also when we enrolled in comms 402, traveled to Burley to experience Crazy Daves, and had one kickin Halloween where my costume literally unraveled throughout the night.
November brought a trip to San Diego, complete with glee parties, Damien and Julio. We also learned how to fit 5 people into the backseat of a car with minimal permanent damage to all involved.Basketball season came again, and the team came out to a Beyonce song. low point.
November was a month to give thanks, go home, and explore the ship that was the Interceptor in the first pirates movie.
November was a month to give thanks, go home, and explore the ship that was the Interceptor in the first pirates movie.
December was snow, roadtrips, packing, unpacking and saying goodbye. It was choreographed Christmas lights, internships and another long drive. We also fed big jumping fish in a Cabella's adventure.
So there it is, the mundane but wonderful year of 2009.
Celebrate the small things, my friends.
and now, on to 2010
(two thousand ten? twenty ten? how are we saying it?)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
1-1-3
and now, dear friends, a tribute to my roommates, who have been wonderful this semester.
The girls of apartment 113 are lovely. we've had good times and gone through a lot together... 
...we probably have more inside jokes than are normal for roommates...
...and spend way too much time together...
...but I love them all a lot!Thanks for putting up with me, for feeding me and for being great roommates!
Don't have too much fun without me!
and a special shout out to this little lady, my dear kylie, who has been my room roommate for the past five semesters. that's a long time, people. I seriously lucked out when we were randomly paired together freshman year because she is the greatest roommate!
and I'm sure she will love turning my side of the room into a permanent fort.
(believe it or not, this is the first picture ky and I have together in November of freshman year. Remember how we were awkward around each other at first and Kylie went to bed first and wore non-hfac clothes? oh, how times have changed)
-shakespeare
“A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.”
-shakespeare
snowflake lane
Mom and I met lots of cousins, aunts and uncles to go to snowflake lane last night.
real drumming "toy soldiers"?
a dancing polar bear?
fake snow that never hit the ground because of the wind?
lots of cousins and lots of Christmas cheer?
yes please!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
it is christmastime. i am home.
This semester was hands down my craziest one yet. I often felt like I didn't have time to breathe, but in a lot of ways, it was my best semester yet. Now I'm home, getting ready for Christmas and thinking ahead to my next adventure. As I drove out of Provo last week, it was weird that I won't be coming back next semester. Like a friend told me, I want to go, I just don't want to leave.
Anyway, this break should be quite lovely.
Here is my to-do list:
Anyway, this break should be quite lovely.
Here is my to-do list:
- edit the BYU Comms Annual Report (honestly, I am super glad to have this project. I don't know what I would do with 2 PR-free weeks)
- catch up in my journal writing
- plan my life/summer internship
- get ready for my winter internship
- grow an extra layer of fat to stay warm in a DC winter
- update my portfolio
- celebrate Christmas with friends and family
- meet my newest niece
- play the piano, something I haven't done in months
- relax...if I can sit still love enough
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
pops
My dad is the greatest guy I know.Today is his birthday. He is celebrating with whole-grain tortillas and low-fat, low-cal, reduced sodium sour cream.
I am so excited to see him in just a few days!
Happy Birthday Toby!
Monday, December 14, 2009
this weekend was incredibly festive.
first: studying for econ all day long (not so festive)...but then
wrapping Christmas presents
making gift wrap bows
going to see the lights at Thanksgiving Point (see above)
petting a small reindeer
watching an amazing house with lights that match the radio station
Christmas Music and the Spoken Word (Natalie Cole, children in berets and the bell choir-- it doesn't get better than that)
Christmas songs at church
Decorating Christmas cookies with the Guatemalans
Ward Christmas music fireside (my apartment sang, there was pie, it was great)
I love Christmas time!
first: studying for econ all day long (not so festive)...but then
wrapping Christmas presents
making gift wrap bows
going to see the lights at Thanksgiving Point (see above)
petting a small reindeer
watching an amazing house with lights that match the radio station
Christmas Music and the Spoken Word (Natalie Cole, children in berets and the bell choir-- it doesn't get better than that)
Christmas songs at church
Decorating Christmas cookies with the Guatemalans
Ward Christmas music fireside (my apartment sang, there was pie, it was great)
I love Christmas time!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
viva las vegas!
Last weekend, my dear friend Laura and I went to visit her sister and brother-in-law in Las Vegas. Talk about a trip down memory lane!
My elementary school. RHB Bulldogs!
Christmas time at the Bellagio. apparently, people in Vegas don't realize they can take vertical pictures because they all took them like this.
And of course, the classic Bellagio fountains. my favorite!
such a fun weekend, and a joy to come back to snow and finals in provo!
My elementary school. RHB Bulldogs!
Christmas time at the Bellagio. apparently, people in Vegas don't realize they can take vertical pictures because they all took them like this.And of course, the classic Bellagio fountains. my favorite!
such a fun weekend, and a joy to come back to snow and finals in provo!
Friday, December 11, 2009
coming to an end
warning: this post is probs the most emo thing I have ever written. I just have a lot of feelings.
One week from today, I will be somewhere on the road, headed towards by who-knows-how long hiatus from Provo. To me, this is bittersweet.
I am excited to go home and spend Christmas in my favorite place.
I am excited for finals to be over and to pack up everything I own, which is surprisingly fun and drive across the west with my dear mother.
I am excited to see my sister and her family and meet my newest niece.
I am excited to start 2010 off with a bang, flying across the country.
I am excited to get out of the dry cold and into wet, bitter cold.
I am excited for a new adventure and a great internship, to be a real person who takes the metro and wears collared shirts and dress slacks.
I am excited to live on my own, more than I ever have before, in a wonderfully big city.
I am excited to not have to worry about classes (as much. I'll still have 12 credits and an internship) and tons of activities and focus on what's important and fun.
I am excited to meet new people and explore new places.
I am sad to leave behind a place that is so dear to me. Seriously, I quite love Provo.
I am sad to leave my roommates, who have been lovely to me for the last 3 semesters living together. They are so fun and put up with some of my crazy mood swings.
I am sad to miss basketball season, prssa and all-men's chorus, inside jokes and random afternoons.
I am sad to leave behind some of the best friends I have made this semester, even though I have known them all for much longer. They were seriously what got me through this semester and I love them dearly. It's crazy to think that this is the last week we will all be together as students, before internships and graduation take up who knows where. luckily, we have skype and party calls.
I am sad to be so far away from everything so familiar and so close to everything that is so unfamiliar.
One week from today, I will be somewhere on the road, headed towards by who-knows-how long hiatus from Provo. To me, this is bittersweet.
I am excited to go home and spend Christmas in my favorite place.
I am excited for finals to be over and to pack up everything I own, which is surprisingly fun and drive across the west with my dear mother.
I am excited to see my sister and her family and meet my newest niece.
I am excited to start 2010 off with a bang, flying across the country.
I am excited to get out of the dry cold and into wet, bitter cold.
I am excited for a new adventure and a great internship, to be a real person who takes the metro and wears collared shirts and dress slacks.
I am excited to live on my own, more than I ever have before, in a wonderfully big city.
I am excited to not have to worry about classes (as much. I'll still have 12 credits and an internship) and tons of activities and focus on what's important and fun.
I am excited to meet new people and explore new places.
I am sad to leave behind a place that is so dear to me. Seriously, I quite love Provo.
I am sad to leave my roommates, who have been lovely to me for the last 3 semesters living together. They are so fun and put up with some of my crazy mood swings.
I am sad to miss basketball season, prssa and all-men's chorus, inside jokes and random afternoons.
I am sad to leave behind some of the best friends I have made this semester, even though I have known them all for much longer. They were seriously what got me through this semester and I love them dearly. It's crazy to think that this is the last week we will all be together as students, before internships and graduation take up who knows where. luckily, we have skype and party calls.
I am sad to be so far away from everything so familiar and so close to everything that is so unfamiliar.
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
-2 timothy 1:7
-2 timothy 1:7
Thursday, December 10, 2009
so cold, it's comical.
"it's been so cold lately, the only thing to do is laugh about it"
-my econ professor.
"it is stinkin freezing!"
-me
but seriously, it is so cold. I don't think I've ever been in Utah when it's this cold. The other day, I got to campus around 8 and weather.com said it was -1 but felt like -13. Today I walked to campus wearing four layers and gloves and still felt like my fingers were literally going to explode. Tomorrow's high is 24 and it will feel like a heat wave.
Yay for winter!
-my econ professor.
"it is stinkin freezing!"
-me
but seriously, it is so cold. I don't think I've ever been in Utah when it's this cold. The other day, I got to campus around 8 and weather.com said it was -1 but felt like -13. Today I walked to campus wearing four layers and gloves and still felt like my fingers were literally going to explode. Tomorrow's high is 24 and it will feel like a heat wave.
Yay for winter!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
home is...
where you are free to be yourselfwhere it feels like nothing can do wrong
but when it does, you know it will all be okay.
beautiful
a sanctuary from the craziness of life
somehow full of distractions unknown until you try to write a research paper
my favorite place to be for Thanksgiving
where it's okay if it rains every day, in fact
full of love
where the heart is
my week at home for thanksgiving was great. I loved relaxing, being with family, and taking time to be thankful and thoughtful.
Monday, November 23, 2009
survey
to whoever has a moment....
please take a survey for a PR campaign I am working on.
thanks!
http://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_9NwvBMfUGFbY31W&SVID=Prod
please take a survey for a PR campaign I am working on.
thanks!
http://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_9NwvBMfUGFbY31W&SVID=Prod
Sunday, November 22, 2009
100
This is my 100th blog post. Woohoo!
I feel like I should do something epic to celebrate,
but I think I'll do something celebratory to celebrate.
I feel like I should do something epic to celebrate,
but I think I'll do something celebratory to celebrate.
I was inspired by this fabulous video (I'm on a total video kick recently...weird)...
...to create a list of 100 things I am thankful for. 100 posts, 100 ways to be thankful. get it?
1. The Atonement of Jesus Christ
2. My eternal family
3. Temples
4. The scriptures
5. A living prophet
6. Good health
7. Sisters
8. Baseball
9. Mornings
10. Crunchy leaves and the colors of fall
11. Nieces and nephews
12. The start of a new season
13. a warm bed
14. BYU
15. Opportunities to travel, learn and grow
16. Post-it notes
17. Music
18. Piano (the ability to play and listening to talented people)
19. Journals
20. Cell phone
21. My laptop
22. Technology in general
23. Airplanes and the ability to go home when I need to
24. Sammamish
25. Trees
26. Rain
27. Pictures
28. Memories
29. Baseball
30. Endorphins from exercising
31. Bargain shopping
32. Small children
33. Smiles from strangers
34. Conference issue of the Ensign
35. Living in a free country
36. Great professors and friends in the PR program
37. PRSSA
38. Sunshine
39. Ovens and microwaves
40. My heritage
41. Grandparents
42. Laughter
43. Toast and hot chocolate
44. Tights
45. Personal revelation
46. Spunky Sally
47. Priesthood blessings
48. Choirs
49. Christmas
50. Thanksgiving
51. Roommates
52. People who freely share their talents
53. Books
54. Harry Potter
55. My internship
56. The freshmen I get to mentor this semester
57. Tuesday devotionals
58. The Sacrament
59. Comms 402
60. Gardens
61. Safely exploring new places
62. Fireplaces
63. Missionary opportunities
64. Missionary letters
65. Movies
66. Spontaneity
67. Organization
68. Automatic spell check
69. Good examples of those who have come before
70. Glasses
71. Holidays and reasons to celebrate
72. Notes for no reason
73. Phone calls from a friend
74. Random happy texts
75. Lakes, oceans and all bodies of water
76. Trials who shape who I am
77. Being busy
78. Beautiful earth and all God has created
79. Love
80. Plans for the future
81. Miracles
82. slippers
83. Time
84. Bulletin and white boards
85. Vitamins
86. Vacations
87. Being able to get an education
88. Visiting and home teachers
89. Free time to curl up in a ball
90. People who dress modestly
91. Libraries
92. People who are anxious to teach and learn
93. Fruit snacks
94. Umbrellas
95. Gloves
96. Ice cream
97. Thank you cards (writing and receiving)
98. Lists
99. People who do the jobs I never want to do
100. Late night chats
Saturday, November 21, 2009
dc by the numbers
41: days until DC
3: phone interviews, my favorite
2: internship offers
2: internship offers waiting to hear back from
off the charts: my excitement level
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
regresamos
If I had the money, the time and the stomach, I would be back in Guatemala today. Not that Provo is bad, but today my heart is in Chimaltenango, tierra divina.I've been back for over five months now, but the time I spent there was so amazing and life changing. Today I was talking about Guate at my internship, and then I had an assignment to look through my pictures tonight. My heart hurt a bit.
I love the people and their beautiful spirit.
I wish I could visit them and tell them how much they mean to me and how their kind actions and example had such an impact on my life. I wish I could help them like they continue to help me. I wish I could go to the orphanage and see who's there and how they are doing. I wish I could play futbol with the boys and explore the jungle with Benjamin. I wish I could buy a bag of mangoes through the car window and eat it while driving through the mountains. I wish I could ride on a chicken bus. But more than anything, I wish the best for those beautiful, Christ-like people.
Soy chapina, pero solomente un pocito.
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