Go Big or Go Home

This year is coming to an end in a few hours! It has been one heck of a year. Many laughs, many tears but that's what it's all about, right? Learning and growing with these experiences. Here are {just a few} things that happened in 2011:

I finally built a bear at Disneyland...at the age of 19.
I met some of the most amazing people on this planet
I turned 20...ye!
Got over a few fears.
I started the Book of Mormon again.
I only fell on the ice ONCE.
I went to Disneyland.
Helped some frazzled freshmen
My testimony of Jesus Christ grew even more.
I got a lot better at listening to promptings.

These are just a few that I could think of on the spot. The main one is that I love the Gospel more than ever and I know, I know, that Heavenly Father wants the best for us. I loved everything that happened this year, I just wish I would have gone "big" on a few things. Which is why 2012 is the year to "Go Big or Go Home." You are welcome to join me! I learned this from a sweet, sweet girl. She sure was a shining example of this phrase. She lived it.

So to 2012 I say...bring it...and..

I probably just killed the mood with this video...but the year wouldn't be complete without a Mean Girls quote, ya know?

Happy New Year to you!!

A Beautiful Heartbreak.

"...the prophets tell us that true love “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (Moro. 7:45). Once again that is ultimately a description of Christ’s love—He is the great example of One who bore and believed and hoped and endured. 

Bear up and be strong. Be hopeful and believing. Some things in life we have little or no control over. These have to be endured. These are not things anyone wants in life, but sometimes they come. And when they come, we have to bear them; we have to believe; we have to hope for an end to such sorrows and difficulty; we have to endure until things come right in the end.

It endures through sunshine and shadow, through darkest sorrow and on into the light. It never fails. So Christ loved us, and that is how He hoped we would love each other.

Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, is the only lamp by which you can successfully see the path of love and happiness. How should I love thee? As He does, for that way “never faileth.”

How Do I Love Thee? By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

 It is in that love that I trust He knows what we are going through. It is that love that I know can help heal broken hearts.

Chilly December

It hasn't snowed that much but its been a bit chilly. Those icy winds that come from the canyon just cover us like a thick blanket. It's okay though because I have a phobia of driving in the snow. It's been nice not having to scrape off my car or shovel the side walk, however, Christmas is around the corner so...the snow can come then. And that also means that sister is coming home for the holidays. I. Am. Stoked.

December 2010-Retro sledding.

Sometimes the snow is fun. Happy Wednesday!

See ya, November!

Ok, saying that I've been busy is an understatement. It's quite a bummer that I have to be reminded to update my own blog {Sam}. Anyway, Thanksgiving was lovely! We feasted at our home, it was just my immediate family, we like to keep it nice and intimate over here. I can't say that I followed the gluten-free diet...it's hard ya know? But like every other human is saying, I should prob go to the gym or something. However, with Christmas just around the corner, I just don't see the point. Don't you agree? Yes, yes you do.

One thing that I am truly grateful for is the knowledge I have of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of His atoning sacrifice, we can all receive the gift of eternal life and continue as families in the presence of God. How amazing is that! I love knowing that death can't break my family and I apart.

In honor of Black Friday....

It's so funny!!! Enjoy and happy Wednesday to you!

Quick Fall update:picture style

Fall has been lovely! Here I was thinking that mother nature removed it this year...proved me wrong! I love, love Fall and the colors and the smells...and the food...and activities...OK, so it's great. Here's a quick update with photos.

During lunch break at Time Out for Women.

Pumpkin carving with friends!

Doing some corn maze-ing.

Can they make the holes smaller next time? Thanks.

 Real Salt Lake game.

 

 Ali loving.

Welcome home, Ben. We missed you lots.

Learn to laugh...

Now days it's hard to see the good and laugh. It's easy for us to get mad, sad, to cry, to complain. But seriously if you learn to laugh at the small things, your day will be SO much better!
I don't know why I tell you about my clumsy life style but here we go.
Last week I literally ran into the door. It was dark and I couldn't see my hand in front of me, so...cut me some slack. Yesterday, I started chasing Ali, my cat, up the stairs but alas she was too fast for me. For some reason I thought I'd only gone up ONE step so I turned around and stepped down. Guys, I rolled down the stairs! I got embarrassed more than anything and no body even saw. Today, I was feeling good, driving with the window down and singing along with the radio. I made a swift move to pull into a parking space when I looked up to see a sign: "This parking space is for Senior Citizens". Really. A senior citizen lady watched my whole move and took my parking spot after. Whatever right?
Bottom line is, I laughed. I laughed! And you should too.
So, let's get laughing:

Glad you came...

For about a week. 

I'm talking about Fall folks.

Seriously, when did we vote to skip this joyous season?? 

Bummer number one thanks to the cold weather- I've had a cold for a week now. Bummer number two- I left the windows of my car down and it rained all. night. Gallons upon gallons of water got in my car.

Not my brightest move.

I looked at our mountains this morning and thought, well, there go my cute Fall outfits...time to put on as many layers as I can.

On a more happy note, the snow doesn't mean we have to hibernate, hellooooo... We're talking more hot chocolate, lots of snuggling in blankets, watching a plethora of chick flicks, and CHRISTMAS duh. I know you were all thinking it. Shhh.

Today was the first day I wore my new boots. I've been dying to own a pair of cute, leather boots. I looked everywhere people. Finally I found some online that fit ALL of my categories. I'm talking I'm-very-precise-when-i-shop-and-if-don't-love-it-goodbye.

I hope you are enjoying the weather {hot or cold} wherever you're at!

I choose to blog.

I'm sitting in the library of USU and I should be doing homework.

But I can't focus right now. Mainly because there is an awkward couple kissing in front of me. Every. Two. Seconds. Seriously?? As if Valentine's Day wasn't enough...

Whatevs. 

General Conference was so wonderful. Every 6 months I look forward to spiritual enlightenment, cuddling up in a blanket, possibly drink some hot coco {whaaat? it's getting chilly over in my neck of the woods}and some uplifting from our dear Prophet, Thomas S. Monson. 

Fall is most definitely in the air. And mother nature has started to paint the trees with lovely oranges and yellows and reds! Oh, what a lovely time of year. I found a delicious recipe for pumpkin pie here and it just made me even more excited for October festivities. 

Last night I received a call from one of my best friends who is back from the mission!!! After TWO whole years of not hearing his voice, I was in heaven.

I love how grown up and mature he is. I love how much he loves and appreciates the Gospel and family. I love his little Spanish accent when speaking English. I love that he is fluent in Spanish. I love that he asked me 20 times to know how to say a word. I love that I get to hug him NEXT week. But what I love the most is how two years can strengthen a friendship.

He is the first one of my friends to come back and I can't even imagine how much the others have grown.

One by one they will be back.  

It's surreal.

Last week I had this little number:

 I should prob work out or something...

Happy Monday to you!!

and then i got an e-mail...

Timing is funny, isn't it. That's all I've got to say about THAT.

It's crazy how fast the semester is going. I think it's because I've been on campus from 8am to midnight every day for the past three weeks. I should just set up a tent, ya know. And hope that they don't lock up all the buildings...because I would need a restroom.

I've been working on a lot of branding projects as well as building my first website. I seriously love HTML. Who knew I could develop such love. I love it because it's like a puzzle/equation/test that I HAVE to figure out. Actually, I really do need to figure out the code otherwise it won't work, ha. 

Freakin' cool!!!

Yesterday I went on a blind date. C'mon you know how you feel about those, don't judge.

No, but it really was so much fun. Except the first part, as in the lets-ask-a-lot-of-questions-so-we-don't-have-to-sit-through-awkward-silence part. It was a double {phew!}, we went bowling and then ice cream. Cute, simple, a little cliche but still super fun. We spoke lots of Spanish. 

Last week I had an MIS {Management Information Systems} project and it kicked my butt. Seriously. It even laughed in my face. Not. Cool. 

I thought I knew Excel pretty well. I do, however, when it comes down to applying formulas to an actual real-life project that's where all heck broke loose. Which brings me to my next point. {Not that I have a list of points going on or anything...} 

I have a problem. It's called:

I don't like asking for help because I'd rather figure it out on my own.

So, it took a lot of humbling down and pride decrease-age {that's not a word} to ask for help.

I need to get over that and ask. Ask. Ask. Ask.

Last but not least, this is what I see when I get out of classes:

Life is not bad. It's actually quite fun.

monday quote

How true that is! I'm excited for the future. I'm excited to see where life will take me. I'm excited to to have what I've waited for. OOOOHH exciting, right?

Just a little love...

Have a nice day :)

Bloomington Hike

I've never been to Bloomington, Idaho let alone Bloomington Lake. The first time I went with a group of friends for CRASH of the Week. Check out this video by Jon Price:

It was so gorgeous that I had to go back!!! Over Labor Day a few of us left Logan and went for a hike. If you know me, you know that I'm not a big fan of hikes, but boy do I love this one! If you haven't been, please go soon, it is beautiful and breath taking. 

We are blessed to have these places to go to, no?

The water is FREEZING. I didn't even get in all the way like these crazies!

My dad's b-day.

Today is my dad's birthday! 

I love him so much. 

You could say I'm a daddy's girl, I'm so lucky to call him my dad. He is very hard working and is always making jokes. He loves everyone and is willing to help them out whenever, wherever! I'm proud to call him my papa and am so happy that families are forever!!! 

Happy b-day pops! You seriously are the best, thanks for all you do.

Don't tell Jonny boyyyy..

First of all, find friends who will give you THIS kind of advice.

Second, follow that advice.

I hope Jon reads this one day and appreciates it. Yeah.

Let's talk.

I'm in the right place at the right time when awkward/funny/embarrassing/sad/happy things happen. I guess it's a blessing. Or at least I'd like to think so. Because those moments keep me going. And not only that, they make me want to be a better person. Yes, even the embarrassing ones. To name a few random happenings in my life.

1. My math professor reminds me of Lord Voldemort. Shoot. How is one supposed to concentrate?
2. I pulled up to a stop light as it turned red, and I noticed a very cute, old man walking along with a backpack. Well it was next to a car dealership so there were balloons hanging from strings, and one popped by the old man! He jumped and looked around...SO funny!
3. I came a few minutes late to class and a boy gave up his chair for me. How nice.
4. My missionary friends are coming back!!!! One of them is already home. Oh, happy days.
5. The Temple is great. I love going there.

Enjoy those funny moments in life, won't ya?

How to loose a guy...

In 10 Days Seconds.

Oh yes. You read that right.

Okay, I had to entertain myself in math tonight. I got to class early so I had the option of sitting on the outside or inside. Of course I was blessed with a good looking young man in my class, so odds were {or were not} in my favor. I sat on the inside and left the other open. For the bachelor. Alas, he came late and another guy sat on my empty chair. This would be a good hash mark tweet, #talkaboutannoying. I just got a twitter account and I'm learning all sorts of things.

After making small talk with me a few times, the guy kept fidgeting. I noticed that he kept looking at my hands. Weird. But then it hit me. 

RING CHECK. 

Don't do this, k?

He must have come to the conclusion that I was not married or engaged because the small talk and awkward fidgeting grew. So, I slipped on a ring.... :)

He looked at my hands again and stared. And the small talk stopped. And the awkward fidgeting stopped.

The rest of class this guy was confused.

Ten points.

I am still laughing, guys!

 

Aggie BLUE Fall Leadership Conference 2011

Last year I was a facilitator at Aggie BLUE for the first time. Loved every second of it, so I did it again. Round two was just as great! I can't believe how lucky I've been to have worked with amazing students. We had facilitator training at Bear Lake over the weekend, and then the following Monday and Tuesday we were busy with the conference! This years service project was at the Heritage Center in Logan, and boy was it HOT! Probably the hottest day of the year if you ask me... We had amazing speakers, and learned a lot about being a better leader. It really is the best way to start a new year! 

Co-Facilitator Charley Riddle aka CFBF.

 

Love them all so much!!

  

Go Aggies!

Lunch with the girls!

A few weeks ago I had lunch with some of my best girl friends. It was so fun to finally catch up and hear about their lives! It's incredible to see how much we've all accomplished in just two years out of high school. One is busy being a soccer star at Brigham Young University, one is going on her one year anniversary of being married and lovin' every second of it, one is waiting on the bling and very giddy ;), one got accepted into her program down at Southern Utah University, we are starting our third year of college with exceptionally good grades while balancing jobs and social lives, the list goes on and on! I'm so blessed to have grown up with these lovelies! 

Now, if only I could see them more often pretty please?? 

 Watch out world, we are going to do BIG things.

Always laughing. Not ready for the camera!

 

 

There we go! Tori, myself and Shelly.

Cami, Gaby and Sarah. Three beauties!

Best friends.

 

 

Thanks for a fabulous lunch, girls!

4th of July?

Okay so sue me. I'm a little late for posting about the fourth. Whatevs. I absolutely love fireworks. Can't say that enough. This year I went to a few BBQs and watched the fireworks show with my cute family. Do they get better every year? Why yes, yes they do. Happy 4th! {a little late} Hope yours was just as fun.

 Then we went home to play with some sparklers. Legiiiiiitttt.

 

And if this picture doesn't make you excited to have children...I don't know what does.

JUUUUST kidding.

Good-bye Jamba.

Hello homemade summer smoothie!!! I added the 'summer' part because, well it is summer still. And I'm going to celebrate it as much as I can before the dreaded W word comes. That would be winter if ya'll didn't get it... Anyway, here I was craving a Jamba when BAM, I realized that I could make my own and save me some $$. And it was much, much better.

Here's how it went:

2 Cups of Frozen Mixed Fruit

2 Cups of Orange Juice

If you want a creamier smoothie, you can add one banana. Blend it all together and you get a glass full of smoothie goodness. Did I mention that it was better than a Jamba? Well, it was.