thoughts from the girl next door

too much to say.

2012-01-29T23:51:00.004-07:00

4 blog posts all put into one:

#1. The ceiling underneath the kitchen table.

Last weekend, Max and I decided to re-create our own version of the Sistine Chapel ceiling underneath the kitchen table by taping construction paper and lying on our backs to draw a masterpiece! I am proud to say that our artwork turned out to be something that would make even our (potential) children's children proud. Combining that with Italian music, French phrase books (no Italian language books lying around unfortunately,) and eating eclairs... Am I allowed to take credit for all of it? Because I'd like to. For some reason, eating take out pizza underneath a kitchen table was about as romantic as any five star restaurant that I've ever been to... and I hope it always stays that way.

#2. Life books.
No Sunday afternoon should ever go by without working on a life book, listening to golden oldies, followed by a long afternoon nap.

#3. The Cooking Corner.
After three attempts, I mastered the art of cooking on a George Foreman Grill. Since this discovery, Max and I have made at least 3 of our cooking shows we like to call: M2K in the Kitchen. This past weekend, we decided to go with Japanese cuisine (Max's choice) and since I terribly dislike sushi, we created dessert sushi rolls by using Little Debbie Swiss cakes, cutting them in half, and putting a Swedish Fish on top. Voila! And then I bought cupcakes.

(no pictures were taken of the following event... thank goodness)

#4. Quadruple Date Night.
I've learned that the once beloved classic skating (and the even more beloved: "snowball") is now only for forty year old men re-living their glory days and people who most likely do drugs. One more sad unfortunate truth is that all 10 of us young able-bodied adults get tired after only 30 minutes of impossibly trying to skate like we used to in middle school. It was kind of pathetic, but Michael Jackson and the YMCA made it worth it.

(this picture was taken before I knew what was wrong with me)

#5. The disease.
I have cytomegalovirus. Another word I like to use for mono. The doctor advised that I should forgo caffeine, which will make my parents all too happy to know that the diet coke (or what they refer to as "cancer-inducing-chemicals") sitting in my fridge has remained untouched for four days. That's a miracle.

a sunday recipe.

2012-01-23T00:58:00.007-07:00

The recipe for a perfect Sunday:
- 1 bag of chips + salsa
- 2 baby turkeys (only $2.50 at walmart! scorrrrrre.)
- 24 pack of diet coke in the fridge
- 1 90s chick flick movie. (and being able to guess all 90 minutes: annoying girl rock band? check. some bad boy transformation? check. silver eye shadow? check. (my detest for this 90s fashion fail knows no bounds.) and finally...the entire plot revolving around the senior prom? check.)
- 1 love plant still in bloom

And last but not least: this talk is absolutely amazing. Holy smokes amazing. Have I emailed it already to friends and family? Yes. Have I read over it three times since yesterday? Yes. Nothing better than all of the above, and reading over the quote below:

"Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote of the need to “shed my Martha-like anxiety about many things, … shedding pride, … shedding hypocrisy in human relationships. What a rest that will be! The most exhausting thing in life, I have discovered,” she said, “is being insincere. That is why so much of social life is exhausting."

Elder Maxwell is always worth reading; he is so eloquent and so, so smart -- but something about this talk really impressed me and encouraged me to be better.

And that's about it. Because on Sunday, as Kylie says, we deserve to treat ourselves like royalty. And I guess with a whole week of school ahead, and Monday in the morning, I'm more than okay with that.

my favorite class.

2012-01-19T15:20:00.007-07:00

Although it might not be as great as Professor Walker and his kissing assignments, and his take on love, and his weekly readings of ee Cummings -- it's still a favorite this semester: Comms 411.

So far, some of our assignments have been: watch a scary movie and take our pulse throughout the film; observe others playing video games for an hour and notice any behavioral differences; explain if and when the "birds and the bees" talk came from an incident involving the media (thank you Friends) and the list goes on and on, and I love it. You might think it sounds easy, but we have two essays a week. Which to some of you might still sound easy. And it might be. But if you're taking Sociology 300/Stats at the same time, it's not. I love this class. So if you're at BYU - take Comms 411: Media Effects/Professor Thomsen. Amen.

Back to why I'm writing about this though: Our next assignment asks us to think about what influenced our idea of romance, before actually dating. I've said it before: A Walk to Remember takes the cake -- because as a seventh grader, that movie might as well be called: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told.

I thought about any other experiences that might have shaped any of my own ideas growing up, and this is kind of a tangent, but I remember in the fifth grade when one of my classmates told me he had kissed another one of our classmates for five hours! Five hours? I think that is humanly impossible, especially for a fifth grader. But I believed it, and probably even thought that was romantic, too.

Anyway, the final part of the project is ask others where their idea of romance came from? I've already bothered classmates in my other classes today, so since I'm working on my essay at the moment, I decided to get online and ask anyone who may still read this blog of mine:

Where do you think you you learned all the information you know about dating and romance? What had the biggest impact on what you think is normal?

If you really take the time to answer, you're my new best friend.

PS.
Speaking of Romance...
Shout out to my friend Jalene who I adore, and her photography I adore just as much. Be sure to check out her latest contest here and enter to win full wedding day coverage from an amazing photographer! If I happen to be planning a wedding one of these days (and I just might!) this would be a dream come true. So be sure to check this out!

PSS.
thank you, THANK you for all your responses/insight! i appreciate it so, so much. thank you!

currently reading:

2012-01-18T16:46:00.009-07:00

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

"He shall never know how I love him: and that, not because he's handsome, Nelly, but because he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same."

Reading this again. And then I will again and again and again. I first read this the summer after seventh grade during a family vacation, and can still remember sitting on the couch those summer afternoons unable to tear myself away from the mysterious Heathcliff and his beloved Catherine. This. book. is. so. good. And Kathleen Kelly (kindred spirit) said she'd read it every winter with a rose as her bookmark... Can I please do that and pretend I came up with that idea on my own? I love it.

The Infinite Atonement by Tad R. Callister

"Contemplate for a moment the magnetic pull when a little child sees her father on bended knee with arms extended. The invitation is irresistible. The reaction to return is automatic. There is no intellectual analysis. It is like reaching for a blanket in cold weather, turning on a light in a dark room. Some things are not mind-driven, but heart prompted. These are natural yearnings of the soul---the need for warmth, light and love. Likewise, our Father in Heaven is extending his arms with the intent to entice us home. How irresistible those arms are to those who seek his warmth, his light, and his love."

Words won't be enough for my love of this book.
I had started to read Jesus the Christ about a year ago, and got through maybe a chapter in a month and then decided to take a break... which I'm still on. It took at least 20 minutes to decipher each paragraph, and I found a lot of it difficult to understand... although one day, I really plan on finishing. However, this past Christmas I received The Infinite Atonement (as a present to myself!) and I cannot tell you how much I love it. Basic doctrinal truths I've learned all my life are explored not only in a way I understand, but Elder Callister explains everything as so profound and inspired, and every sentence, every word, is entirely uplifting.

And then I take a look at this. What is this? Snow for forever, that's what it is. Reading through next Friday (at least) sounds fine with me.

"if i could be asleep right now, i would be."

2012-01-12T14:19:00.010-07:00

Sleeping is, hands down, the best thing I get to do every day. From the time I get up, I can’t wait to get back to sleep. Going to bed is amazing. It’s like the foreplay of sleep. I love everything about it. I love lying down. I love blankets. I love pillows. I love pajamas. I love reflecting on the day and planning for the next one. If I had my way, I’d be in bed as much as an unemployed baby with clinical depression. Except my diagnosis would be “clinical living the dream.” - via

Truth.
Truth x a million.
Truth x infinity.

(and just an fyi, the article above is worth reading)

There are a few things I've come to the conclusion to, since being 22:
1. I love sleep. SO much.
2. I have no more time for sleep. Or anything else for that matter. Where did this time go?
3. Errands. Errands take a whole lot longer than I ever thought possible. My mom used to spend all day running around getting things done, and I thought it was ridiculous that it took a whole 24 hours! Figured out why. Driving. Driving to run errands takes for-ev-er.
4. An idea of a fun weekend does not mean going out anymore.
5. I plan my life in my head at night while lying in bed, all the way up until my retirement. That whole "making lists" thing? I do it.
6. Finally, and maybe the most depressing one of them all: my calories catch up with me now. High school lunch meal (every day my senior year) = 2 lunchables, 33 cent candy bar (usually a Reeses) and a bottle of water (grand total of $2.78! Thank you Maceys!) If I ate that these days, I'd die.

And since six is my lucky number, I will end there.

fashion budget

2012-01-11T15:16:00.001-07:00

I had read about Jason Wu exclusively designing lower priced items for Target, but didn't think much about it until I saw his collection here.

I plan on sticking with my budget this year... after February 6th.
Promise.

more like a friday.

2012-01-09T16:25:00.002-07:00

Flowers and sticky love notes make Mondays feel more like Fridays, and Fridays feel more like a holiday, and every other day after that pretty great, too.

the bookstore is my friend.

2012-01-07T00:01:00.007-07:00

A boy doesn't have to fight a war to be a hero, he can say he doesn't like pie when he sees there isn't enough to go around.
Edgar Watson Howe

My favorite part of our trip to the bookstore last night was looking over the book The Art of Manliness. It was worth purchasing alone for the list, "100 Books Every Boy Should Read" in the very back, but after I read the quote above, I was won over -- and all it read after that was: buy me.

Other books purchased:
Skeletons at a Feast - by: Chris Bohjalian
Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - by: Ransom Riggs

I bought both of these after reading only a few pages (so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!) but I always feel the need to purchase books that I'll actually read after spending money on textbooks that I'll probably only use once this semester.

And now with the falling snow, (you're three weeks too late and not necessary anymore in my humble opinion) I plan on keeping company with my new books and my desire to do anything but get out of bed until I absolutely must.
Happy weekend!

image via

birthday cake pop.

2012-01-06T09:15:00.002-07:00

Starbucks and steamers,
Two birthday cake pops,
And three of the people who I love the most -
especially the boy sitting right next to me.

you jump, i jump, remember?

2012-01-04T16:55:00.006-07:00

Going back to school/work/reality this past week wasn't so bad after I made the following list:

12 Things to Look Forward to in Two-Thousand-And-Twelve:

1. A new President.
2. Valentines Day thanks to Pinterest.
(And throwing all originality out the window.)
3. The end of the world. (December 21, 2012)
4. The morning after.
5. The new Rocket Summer CD.
(please be like everything but your last CD?)
6. The return of Modern Family.
7. Turning 23!
8. Wallowa Lake next summer, and New Zealand (with significant others) next Christmas.
9. The Hunger Games, of course.
10. Titanic 3-D.
11. Titanic 3-D.
and
12. Titanic 3-D.

Now if there was anything I loved more than Mr. Dicaprio (besides Dream Street, BSB and JTT - in that order) it was Celine Dion. I remember a sleepover with my best friend Cassie in the third grade and all we did was sit by the radio to listen for Celine Dion singing My Heart Will Go On. No seriously, that's all we did. I remember that was the night we both heard the song including dialogue from the movie (which we still weren't allowed to see) and we went to school on Monday telling our friends that we had basically seen the whole thing after hearing this:

My Heart Will Go On (With Dialogue From The Film) by Various Artists on Grooveshark

Cassie and I vowed we'd see the movie together one day when our mothers would actually let us, and when it happened, Titanic did not disappoint. So Titanic in 3D 15 years later may be one of the many reasons 2012 could never be a failure... and why starting life after two weeks of bliss wasn't all that bad, either.

2011/2012

2012-01-02T12:36:00.018-07:00

I will always be grateful for 2011. Sometimes I can hardly believe that 2010 was just the year before last, because so much has changed. We kid around, but we often make the joke that this year we were forced to grow up. I kind of think it's true.

I am grateful for a year that brought so much change, even for the parts that weren't perfectly perfect or what I was planning on (at the very least...) Because seeing my sister fall in love, getting a new brother, seeing my best friend after two years, and petting kangaroos and koalas with two parents who became more like two best friends was worth all the up and downs in between. Learning more of who I ~~think~~ believe I am through friends, family, school, chances and opportunities (missed or taken) and understanding life better by bike riding and forgetting our cares, or sitting with those same friends realizing that life just got so much bigger than ourselves... and then knowing that although any of it may not get any easier from this point onward, it definitely gets more and more rewarding, and I only become more and more grateful.

I am most excited for 2012, though. I have been for a few reasons, but I decided that if the world is going to end anyway next December 21st (just like it was last May 15th?), I better make the most of it.

So cheers to a wonderful and magnificent, exciting, imperfect but perfect and happy year! And cheers to another 365 days beginning... now.

far apart.

2011-12-26T11:34:00.007-07:00

If I could tell you one thing I learned this Christmas, it's that I could have had all the snow in the world, the biggest presents under the prettiest tree, and it still would have felt like something was missing without all my family around. Thank goodness for Skype and for parents who will read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas over the computer screen even though we're far apart.

christmas confession session.

2011-12-21T10:23:00.013-07:00

1. The man I spoke to on the phone yesterday afternoon who kept referring to his wife as "my bride" (who he married nearly 44 years ago) deserves everything he wants on Christmas morning.
2. Phil Dunphy, will you marry me?
3. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is now a movie? Time to confess: I didn't finish the book.
(side note: I cry in the trailer War Horse. Who cries in the trailer War Horse?)
4. I also cried at the Post Office on Monday morning. Something about seeing a line of cars all waiting to drop off Christmas letters and packages and then listening to I'll Be Home For Christmas as you drive away will do that to you.
5. All I want for Christmas is: you. Really.
6. Kylie and I called a long over-due girls night, which meant leaving the uno dolares theater early so we could talk. Instead, we watched parts of the latest Victoria Secret fashion show to encourage any sort of motivation we have for our new years resolutions.
(6.5 I still have no motivation.)
7. Half of my Christmas shopping was done completely online. Bless you Amazon.
8. If the boy who asked you to be his girlfriend when you were sixteen asks you again nearly six years later... It's even cuter than I thought it would be.
9. I miss my parents way more than I care to admit.
10. I read Christmas Every Day every year.

"Peace on earth will come to stay,
When we live Christmas every day."
-Helen Rice

I love this season.

the 90s.

2011-12-19T11:04:00.005-07:00

Thought Catalog (which I love) published this article (below) which I love, love.

Things 90s Kids Will Have to Explain to Their Children:

-Topanga was at some point in human history considered not only a legitimate first name for a human being, but the kind of name that would inspire in malleable teenage boys a life-long infatuation. Topanga, in our day, was leading lady name-material. Topanga (pronounced Tah-payne-ga, for those who will have only ever seen in it written down) is the name of the quintessential girl-next-door who will live, along with Feeney, in our hearts forever.

-At some point, we carried around little plastic eggs with tiny screens on them — in these screens lived our hearts, our pets, our raison d’etre, our very own Tamagotchi. We loved them, we listened to their tiny electronic screams of malnourishment, and we occasionally forgot to pick up their poop for long enough that they died a tortured, poop-filled death. They were perhaps our first foray into the life-consuming world of electronics and self-absorption, later to be fully manifested by Facebook.

-Though on the surface, they are the exact same thing in every conceivable way, whether you liked The Backstreet Boys or N*SYNC said more about your character than all of the terrible macaroni art you could ever make for your child psychologist. Essentially, liking *NSYNC meant you liked Justin Timberlake, as he was clearly the Seabiscuit in that race from the get-go. You even liked him with his terrible, icy-blond mini-fro. Liking the Backstreet Boys gave you a bit more of a cultured palate, as there was no clear Diana in those Supremes. Nick was kind of the wholesome, if northern-Florida-redneck safe choice (save for his humiliating younger brother, Aaron). Brian was the shy, sensitive type. AJ was the hottt, dangerous meth addict. Kevin Richardson was mute with sexy, sculpted facial hair. No one liked Howie. Choosing between the two groups was like choosing between two beloved children, but once that line was crossed–there was no going back.

-“I wanna really really really wanna zig a zig ahh,” has a meaning, and all true nineties kids know it, but we must never share it. Like the Illuminati, it must remain between us, the keyholders. With great power comes great responsibility.

Is it sad that I still feel like the 90s were basically yesterday?
When did I get so old?

via

christmas memories.

2011-12-16T10:30:00.021-07:00

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
Hamilton Wright Mabie

I love this time of year. I love the Christmas movies and traditions and the shopping and the wrapping and the snow, (and unfortunately since snow isn't in the forecast next week, I went ahead and ordered this a few days ago) -- But one of my most favorite things about the holidays are the memories.

When my sister and I were little, my parents told us that two elves named Thumpkin and Dumpkin would come stay in our home a few weeks before Christmas. The purpose of their stay was so that they could observe and report to Santa whether or not we had been good or bad that year, and what exactly we would deserve on Christmas morning.

Now, when I say I loved it when Thumpkin and Dumpkin came to stay at our house, I l-o-v-e-d it. It was almost even better than Christmas itself. A kid with two magical elves can't easily be beat. We had a big dinner in honor of their arrival, and I remember always setting two extra places at the kitchen table for our new friends. We'd set up little beds near our own at night so our elves could sleep by us, and you can bet your bottom dollar we never forgot to say our prayers with them around. We meant business. And honestly? It was one of the most magical parts of the season. The only downside to any of it was that I lost friends in the first grade because of this. You can imagine what my classmates thought of me when I told them I had two invisible elves in my pocket. (true story. ask my mom.)

But beside the Christmas elves and the memories, I'd have to say that the one other thing I absolutely love about Christmas is the music -- probably because most songs remind me of a memory, anyway. And I know there are plenty of people who dread Christmas music when it starts at the beginning of November, but not me. No siree bob. I love it all, but most especially, I love Jon Schmidt. I don't remember a Christmas without his CD. Whether we were listening to it in the car picking up last minute gifts, or on Christmas morning as we read our letters from Santa (and Thumpkin and Dumpkin!) -- this song always seemed to be playing in the background.

So I share with you all my most favorite song of the season, because as I spend my first Christmas far away from my parents, this song will always remind me of Christmas at home.

Silent Night by Jon Schmidt on Grooveshark

maybe it's what some people call stalking.

2011-12-08T16:33:00.009-07:00

SAVE THE DATE from Hailey Haugen on Vimeo.

I promise I only really stalk people through their blogs, because blogs are so much more fun than Facebook. But after obsessing over Haugen Creative videos (like this one and this one and this one) I ran across her own personal Vimeo account a few days ago, and posted on my own blog her own video about her missionary coming home. This is when I knew we were probably meant to be real life friends.

And then Kylie, my stalker-in-crime, texted me this afternoon and told me that Hailey (we're on a first name basis now) was engaged. And she had posted a video of the whole thing.

So you can't blame me when I admit that it made me cry, because it's "shark week" (if you know what I'm saying) which also means I cried during Modern Family last night, too... but that's beside the point.

And yes, admittedly I found her on Facebook, and although we only have 1 mutual friend, I feel like adding her just to say: Hi. I think you're awesome and your videos are awesome and your love life is awesome and we'd be as good of friends I think as I would be with Taylor Swift if I knew her in real life, too. Awesome.

So that's all I have for today. Watch the video above just because it's cute, and because you can stalk her through me, and I have to say it: it's the best time of the year to be in love.

here we are.

2011-12-07T11:10:00.007-07:00

"Uncle Sam, Here we are,
Volunteers for Pearl Harbor"

Brooklyn Navy Yard, December 1941
photo found here

it's a great feeling.

2011-12-05T12:38:00.005-07:00

Life got brighter, and somehow, the world suddenly got brighter, too. You know how this is? You’re walking along, and then the sun comes out from behind a cloud, and the birds start to sing, and the air is suddenly warm, and it’s like the whole world is happy because you’re happy. It’s a great feeling.
- Gary D. Schmidt

Laughed out loud several times this morning as I read The Wednesday Wars at work (thanks to Mandy for the recommendation!) I feel like Holling Hoodhood summed up life the last little while, even with the freezing cold temperatures (like 8 degrees?) and the falling on ice part of my Monday morning.

Weekend in photos above.
Don't know if anything is better than catching snow on your tongue, making chocolate covered Oreos, and watching the Christmas Devotional at the conference center with some of your best friends, (one of them who happens to be really cute, too).

happiness is homemade.

2011-12-01T14:59:00.005-07:00

The Happiness Project:

-One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to make other people happy, is to be happy yourself.
-Never start a sentence with the words: “No offense.”
-Look for happiness under your own roof.
-“Nothing,” wrote Tolstoy, “Can make our life, or the lives of other people, more beautiful than perpetual kindness.”
-When I find myself focusing overmuch on the anticipated future happiness... I remind myself, “enjoy now.” If I can enjoy the present, I don't need to count on the happiness that is (or isn't) waiting for me in the future.
via

other happy things:
-this video.
-this video.
-this video.

... and snow in the forecast.

absence makes the heart grow fonder.

2011-11-29T16:46:00.010-07:00

I've neglected this blog because it's been hard to stay on top of everything, let alone online journal-ing. But since November is ending, and the most wonderful time of the year is just beginning -- I thought I'd share only a few of the happiest of things that the 11th month of the 2011th year has brought to me:

-The oh-so-fateful date of 11/11/11. After years of waiting to make a wish on such a special day, I somehow found myself at 11:11 that night + in my pajamas + in a Wendys parking lot + making a wish inside of a car. But my wish was granted.
-The return of my best friend Max. Words won't be enough for this point, because I don't know how to write about being happier than I've ever been before.
-Christmas decor. I watch Mickey's Christmas Carol every time I set up the Christmas decorations, just because we used to when I was little. Even with family far apart, I still feel at home.
-Thanksgiving feast, naps and Youtube videos with my aunts and uncles and cousins.
-Black Friday shopping. Never had done it before, never will do it again.
-The cuddle couch/Red Robin bottomless fries/stories by the fireplace - all accompanied with friends and family and movies and smiling til our cheeks hurt. I love how people come together so much more often this time of year.
-My tentative (fingers crossed!) planned trip to see my parents (and Samoa!) this Christmas.
-And again: My best friend coming home. Have I ever even talked about being in love on my own blog before? If they say absence makes they heart grow fonder, mine could probably burst at the seams.

run-on sentences only because i'm so happy.

2011-11-10T15:27:00.006-07:00

This week the stars will align because I will have been able to see every single person in the picture above.
And a few others, too.

The best thing about having old friends is the way old friends know everything about you. They know you only eat turkey and cheese sandwiches plain, they know you listen to your music too loud and about that time when someone found Sara's sock in Mr. Call's class. They know you kissed like a fish and wore boxers with leggings to midnight movies (I wish I could forget that #fashionfail forever) -- They know you by your big hair or long stories and the way everyone seemed to be in love with the other at some point in time. It's because life is only better and growing up isn't as hard, and memories from way back when are even sweeter because with them, you get to remind yourself that the relationships that last (despite the odds of growing up) are equivalent to the stars aligning. Or at least they are to me.

In a very nutshell way of saying things: I can't even begin to say how grateful I am for these friends. Friends in their sweats and face masks and retainers, underneath piles of blankets asleep on the cuddle couch. Friends in their Sunday best, all trying a little harder to be a little better. Friends who make you laugh or cry because you're laughing too hard, and friends who know what you're thinking five seconds before you do.

But most of all, I can't even (literally: can't even) begin to say how excited I am to see my very best friend: the kindred spirit of all kindred spirits, (thanks to an assigned seating arrangement in our English class six years ago) who comes home tomorrow night after two years away.

Gosh, I think I'm so happy my heart is about to burst.

book of mormon stories.

2011-11-03T11:07:00.005-06:00

Mormon Messages are always beautifully done, but I loved this one especially. I've read The Book of Mormon many times and have had special experiences while reading from its pages, but I still remember being about eight years old and for the first time, feeling something different inside of me as I read a few verses to myself one night.

Since then, I have found so many answers to so many of my questions while reading from this book, and have felt peace even when life has been the most difficult. The best part of all is that when reading from The Book of Mormon I feel closer to my Heavenly Father, and something inside always assures me that I am His daughter and I am loved.

"I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to his commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God."
-President Gordon B. Hinckley

I don't think there is anything that makes me any happier.

to my utmost kindred spirit:

2011-11-02T00:00:00.009-06:00

Sometimes I wonder if I should turn this blog into the adventures of Kelsie and Kylie, because that's what most of it is. Kylie has been my best friend since we were fifteen years old, and I'm pretty sure we knew each other before that in heaven. I think we promised to find each other here on earth just so we could get through life together -- because lets be honest: sometimes life is hard.

Kylie shares her personal experience here, but after the month of April this past year, I think we became more like adopted twin sisters. We sat in bed for weeks, crying, laughing, crying even more - wearing our pajamas and only eating Cracker Barrel fried chicken. (we joke about it now - but confession: that month we both had Cracker Barrel on speed dial).

Even though I've always considered Kylie one of the closest friends I've ever had over the past seven years, the past seven months we've become even closer. Saying things like "Cody," "a lot can happen in a day," or "bullet points" all mean something, but probably only to the two of us. We kick each other underneath the table when we know we're both thinking the same thing, or plan our weekend dates around the other so we don't go more than 48 hours without at least a diet coke run together.

And I know growing up means things change, because I've seen a lot of that this past year. But I also know that growing up in my and Kylie's case only means another 365 days of friendship. So with all that (and so much more) -- let me just say I love Kylie like a sister and couldn't be any more grateful for a kindred spirit like her. Her 22nd (take 2) year of life will surely be the best - because lets be honest: we'll be the best of friends for all of it.

november 1.

2011-11-01T16:34:00.004-06:00

1. A weekend getaway in Park City = perfect. Apple pie, fireplace games, Halloween movie re-runs and wearing bathrobes over our clothes is all I could have asked for.

2. Hopefully I attended the last college Halloween dance party ever. I'm ready to graduate from college (soon) and college dance parties for life now.

3. Why is it more fun to read books from the library in a bookstore instead of the library itself?

4. My sister and her husband adopted a baby puppy named Boston into their little home, and he is pretty much the only thing I ever think about. Cutest thing in the world.

5. Did you know that next Friday will be 11/11/11? Which means you can make a wish at 11:11 on 11/11/11? You can times your luck by five. And if I said I waited my whole life for that day, it wouldn't be far from the truth.

my sunday afternoon walk.

2011-10-24T17:03:00.003-06:00

I had two favorite things about yesterday:

1. An afternoon walk.
2. And a family dinner.

When we cracked open an egg and noticed two yokes in the center, we made a wish for good luck. And then I went snap happy on a walk up the canyon and later was introduced to just about the funniest person alive. If I could have a new roommate, I'd probably pick Fredrick, The Protector of Faith.*

*(warning: this film is not g-rated).

last minute thought.

2011-10-23T22:17:00.002-06:00

A lot of people have a lot to say about feminism. I think I like what G.K. Chesterson has to say about it too:

"It [feminism] is mixed up with a muddled idea that women are free when they serve their employers but slaves when they help their husbands."
-G.K. Chesterson

Chesterson is right on up there with C.S. Lewis and Elder Holland in my book.

a sticky sweet saturday afternoon.

2011-10-22T17:52:00.005-06:00

I like extra sugar in my oatmeal for breakfast, at least on Saturday mornings. I like making plans last second, and catching up with people I care about for longer than expected. I like sleeping in and wearing my hair in curls that I did yesterday morning, and reading over old letters from my brown box in bed. I like my new library card that even came with a frog on it, and I like conversations with Mom and Dad. I like reruns of Modern Family (where has this show been all my life?!) and I like going to the store to make s'mores in a jar with old friends tonight.

I like Alfred Hitchcock movies and apple pie in the fall,
I like driving past the football stadium and hearing the crowds cheer,
and I like Saturday afternoons most of all.

taking it all in.

2011-10-18T17:26:00.004-06:00

While sitting underneath blankets and scarves in our leather jackets, we tried to take all of autumn in. It was the first time in seven weeks I think I really let myself think about nothing at all, and I made only one mental note: I need to do this more often.

The drive through Sundance all the way up to Aspen Grove surely has to be one of the prettiest things I've seen in all my life. Especially when it came to the yellow leaves on the aspen trees; they were so bright it looked like gold, and we even had to listen to this Coldplay song twice because of it. Maybe even three times.

And then came our picnic: apple pie, cream soda, and honey butter with bread. Baguette bread, to be clear. I don't know where that idea even came from, (perhaps from our self-scheduled Saturday morning French lessons?) but I'm a baguette-bread-picnic-eater for life now.

And I know I said it last time, (and maybe even last year) but this fall is my favorite. I've lived through 21 of them before, but number 22 seems to be taking the cake. And to be honest, I don't even know why. This semester certainly has been the most difficult. The past few weeks have definitely had more ups and downs and disasters than I can count. But the weather makes me feel like its "my best day" nearly every day - and although I don't know why, I'll take it.

witches night out.

2011-10-17T12:53:00.006-06:00

For whatever reason, the nickname "witches" have stuck with us over the years, which is why witches night out at Gardner Village gives us an excellent excuse to say things like:
"Break your bones break your back, make your skin black as black!"*

This year included the best soup you will ever find, free cookies & cream fudge, Britney Spears, too much traffic and orange striped tights. The night "put us through the ringer" as Kylie would say, considering all the events like policemen in short shorts and witches galore -- but it was a perfect fall activity, if I do say so myself.

As for other Halloween outings: This week we'll be going to see the silent film Phantom of the Opera at the Organ Loft with our kindred spirits who lately seem to make Monday mornings okay with traditional movie nights on Sunday.

And I gotta say it: I really like the fall, but I like it this year especially.

--

*Heaston Dahl may be the only person who will understand this.

when your little sister gets married.

2011-10-10T09:12:00.010-06:00

No one tells you how much you realize you love your little sister the day before she gets married. As we sat at the wedding dinner the night before the big day, we held hands tightly for a minute underneath the table, and I just couldn't put into words how much I loved my little sister.

A few years ago, I remember reading a talk by President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and for me, it was one of those things you read once and remember for the rest of your life:

"My young friends, there is much happiness and joy to be found in this life. I can testify of that. I picture you with a companion whom you love and who loves you. I picture you at the marriage altar, entering into covenants that are sacred. I picture you in a home where love has its fulfillment, and I picture you with little children about you and see your love growing with them. I cannot frame this picture. I would not if I could, for it has no bounds. Your happiness will have no ends."

I've spent so much time "planning my own wedding" since I was six (just kidding, maybe like 12) and usually it included things like what flowers I wanted at the reception, or what "our wedding song" would be -- but after being a part of my sisters wedding this past weekend, I realized so much of the little details go unnoticed anyway because you're so overwhelmingly happy and grateful for the feeling of love. And for family, too.

a monday.

2011-10-03T22:04:00.006-06:00

This is one of those days that the pages of history teach us are best spent lying in bed.
-A Philadelphia Story

It was one of those days. At least I can say it's Tuesday in two hours.

pardon my french.

2011-09-28T17:16:00.009-06:00

I skipped class today to go to the bookstore and teach myself French.

--

It was officially unofficially the first day of fall a few weekends ago, and naturally I found myself sitting in Barnes & Noble with a stack full of books on my tiny table. I usually wander around the classic and new fiction section, but that day we gathered travel and vacation novels -- and then I wondered what life would be like with a bank account ending in ...000,000,000. I have come to the conclusion that my first flight out of Utah would probably be to Disneyland in Paris.

But that day I was unfortunately reminded of one sad, unfortunate truth,
and it is this:

I only survived one semester of French.

The only phrases I can really remember are enchante, leitmotiv, and je ne sais quoi - which translated means: I don't know. That was the one phrase I used most frequently in French 101 and which is why I never moved on to French 202. Je nais sais quois never failed me, except it kind of did because I still can't speak the language of love.

But that's okay because my determination kicked back in again on the first unofficial day of fall. And thanks to a rainy evening at the bookstore/and the Amelie soundtrack on repeat, we purchased our French phrase books, and officially began our Paris fund for post college graduation.

--

Which is exactly why I skipped class today to go to the bookstore to teach myself French.

mission impossible: krispy kremes.

2011-09-26T09:00:00.003-06:00

I know I say it so often, but this time I really found my kindred spirits.

Sargent
Dr. Ross
Lieutenant
Agent 89
Caroline
Heaps

And we're all off to Hollywood. I'll be sure to write a postcard.

how i de-stress my life.

2011-09-19T14:07:00.008-06:00

You know it's been a long day/week/month (in my case) when I am building forts in my closet, or beds inside of bathtubs (long story), or decide to watch a movie on the balcony instead of on the couch. Lately, all of our movies have been hand-picked from the library, and films in black and white seem to be mandatory. So far, we've particularly taken a liking to Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn, and both of them combine wonderfully in the movie *A Philadelphia Story.

*One of our favorite quotes:
Don't you agree that if a man says he loves a girl, he ought to marry her?

Oh I wish.

I think I take a liking to old love movies when I'm stressed out of my mind, because everything back then seems so simple - even love.

So I'm looking forward to another week of school.
If I make it through tomorrows 6 AM to 5 PM schedule on campus, after pulling an all-nighter on Saturday and staying up until 2 in the morning on Sunday... Angels will be singing the Hallelujah chorus.

10 years ago.

2011-09-11T22:42:00.006-06:00

I was twelve years old on September 11, 2001.

Although I was not old enough to understand everything as I stood in front of the television that morning with my family, years later I can't quite put into words what that day did for me. There was something different in the way I felt the following days; as I saw the flag wave, as I watched the evening news, and as I read the words "God Bless America" on billboards, signs - even hanging in car windows.

This weekend, like many of you, I watched all the specials of 9/11 on TV, and I was touched by the memorials reminding us of the incredible and awe-inspiring courage of so many that day. But it was this morning, as I sat and listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square, that I was truly reminded of that same way I felt as a seventh grader on that day ten years ago:

I feel so, so grateful to be an American. And I always do, but so especially today.

as is tradition...

2011-09-05T15:40:00.002-06:00

Summer 2011. from Kelsie Christensen on Vimeo.

Another summer documentary.
Here's to: thelma and eleanor, (their new bff luna!), wesley's timeless advice - naturally shared at cafe west, utah lake, the river bank, ray charles, fireworks, emails, penpals, and sunshine.

--

And I'll miss it. Just like I do every single time school starts again.

a few love letters.

2011-09-01T12:24:00.003-06:00

Dear Book Delivery Boy (the same one who I met a year ago!),
Thank you for the books. Break up with your girlfriend.

Dear Tuesdays,
How am I going to survive you this semester?

Dear Stress Levels,
Lower yourself.

Dear Mandy,
Thank you so much for letting me guest post on your darling blog! I think you are lovely.

Dear New Zealand,
You spoiled me.

Dear Skype,
Thanks for being invented. My Mary Kate and Ashely Olsen days aren't quite over yet thanks to you.

And most importantly:

Dear everybody reading this,
Please watch this short film. It's about 20 minutes long, but so very worth it.

That is all.

Sincerely,
Yours Truly,
Love Always,
etc.

how to beat the back-to-school blues.

2011-08-29T09:52:00.006-06:00

My last week of summer included a lot of last minute crossing off lists.

List for: Before School Starts, I Need To...
List for: Before Sunday Night, I Need To...
List for: Before Summer Ends, I Must...

The end of summer list included sidewalk chalk summer murals, newspaper boat river races, and of course, riding our bikes. Saturday night we took one last bike ride down to the river banks and watched the lightning and played with our sparklers (i think the words wingardium leviosa were used a few times too). Even though I think I sometimes sound like I'm 7 years old when I write about what I love, it was such a perfect way to end such a perfect summer.

But then it all abruptly ended this morning the moment my alarm clock went off. (My alarm clock is my radio, and I'm pretty sure that every song I wake up to I end up hating forever. This morning? Still Fighting It by Ben Folds.)
But I got ready, grabbed my backpack and books, and ran out the door ready to go. And even though driving on University Avenue isn't the most pleasant activity in the world, I learned on my drive over that you only need three small and simple things to help beat the back-to-school blues:

1. Christmas music. Yep, I listened to Mariah Carey sing Oh Come All Ye Faithful on my drive over to campus.

2. 1.25 liter of Diet Coke for 98 cents.

And 3. Finding out that Beyonce is with child. Fact: If I could be anybody in this world, it would be Beyonce. When my sister found out this morning, she told me she'd name her firstborn whatever Beyonce names hers. She really will, too.

And by that point I had found a parking spot. As I got out of the car and began my walk across campus, I realized that not only was I ready for it all to begin, I was maybe even a little bit excited for it too.

So thank you summer for being so great,
But thank you Christmas, Diet Coke, and Beyonce for making the end of it all pretty good too.

flora is her name.

2011-08-23T09:05:00.000-06:00

There are so many things I love about my sister marrying Jess, but one of the best reasons (most selfishly of course) is the fact that this little girl happens to be his niece. Even though I know that won't make us related, I will still play with her all day at the wedding, (babysitter any weekend too? call me) because honestly, she is the cutest.

Untitled from Jourdan Boynton on Vimeo.

The butterfly wave? Seriously? Can you get any cuter?

check.

2011-08-21T20:24:00.002-06:00

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement, the greater part of life is sunshine.
-Thomas Jefferson

Really couldn't have said it any better myself.

will defend the silver lining.

2011-08-19T10:30:00.008-06:00

Last night Kylie and I had a late Birthday celebration with lunch pails, sparklers, bubble gum and diet cokes. We sat in our usual spot and talked about what we usually do, like how life rarely ever goes according to plan. But something I can count on is friendship. She is one of the only people I can have a conversation with, without saying anything at all.

After hitting a bucket on the freeway the other day (never-ending road construction, thank you) I took my car in to get an estimate of how much it would cost to be repaired; the sweetest old man came out to take a look at it, and surprised me when he said, "For you, it's free!" Even when I insisted on paying him something, he refused. I went home and wrote the first thank you card I had in a while, and I felt so grateful I couldn't even find the right words I wanted to say.

And I'm sunburned. Sometimes I hate it when that happens because people like to tell you that you're red, but this time I don't mind because it means I had a summer day yesterday, and I don't have too many of those left.

So a combination of mosquito bites, early mornings and feeling blessed sums up most of this week. And even though it's almost the end of summer, I'm not that sad.
At least not when John Mayer comes on the radio.

move.

2011-08-12T11:27:00.006-06:00

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

I love being home. When you leave the country for a period of time and land back on American soil, there is a feeling you get that I can't really describe; it's like love and pride all mixed into one. When my friend lived in the Ukraine for a few months, I remember her telling me that as she went through Customs once arriving in the Chicago airport, they stamped her passport and said welcome home. It made her cry. And I know this may sound funny, but I honestly felt the same way.

However, I've got to be honest... after watching this video earlier this morning I felt like packing my bags again. This makes me want to travel and travel and travel and only come home after I've seen all there is to see,
(watch the videos eat and learn, too - both so inspiring!)
But school starts in a few weeks, work resumes on Monday, and I have a lot of friends with a lot of catching up to do.

So I guess this will have to fall into the category of: One day.

a lucky penny.

2011-08-10T03:28:00.018-06:00

For my Birthday a few weeks ago, my parents took me out to lunch to one of my favorite restaurants, and on the floor I found a lucky penny.
And you know what they say about lucky pennies don't you?
"Find a penny pick it up,
All day long you'll have good luck."

I figured that since I found it on my birthday, it probably meant all year long I'd have good luck... which so far, has been proven true:
(in other words, this is just a long-winded summary of my New Zealand getaway)

-First time I've ever been in a five story mall, conveniently located just two blocks away from our hotel in Australia. Dreams come true in buildings like that.

-Took a ride on one of the steepest railways in the world (in a rain forest located in Katoomba, Australia). Seriously, we all felt like Indiana Jones for sixty seconds.

-As was mentioned before, I tried vegemite: I was one of the firsts out in a game of mafia and consequently had to take a bite (luckily I avoided a whole spoonful) and it honestly tastes like pure salt. But looks like Nutella. And they put it on toast? I'll stick with Tim Tams.

-I was also almost kidnapped one night. When they say your life flashes before your eyes, I can similarly relate - except it was more like my unlived life: there goes my wedding, my future daughter Summer, my career on Fox News, my retirement at Turtle Bay... etc.
As a group of guys surrounded and approached the car (that I happened to be sitting alone in/in a parking garage/at 11 at night) I tried to listen to my iPod and look unaware of my unknown approaching fate: Most likely being stuffed in the back of a trunk, probably a Taken-like-movie-scene, minus the fact my dad isn't Liam Neeson. I would probably die.
But long story short: I lived.

-Did you know that out here they call the hood of the car the bonnet and the trunk of the car the boot? Did you also know that I was particularly smitten with a certain boy because of this? (okay, in all honesty it wasn't only because of this) But all I'll say is: 12 hour marathon date/doesn't like Megan Fox/insists on offering his jacket/picks me a flower/and he opens my car door every single time? Proof that life actually beats Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen movies... by a long shot.

-I was able to visit both Sydney, Australia and Hamilton, New Zealand LDS temples. So special.

-Harry Potter on Worlds Largest Imax in Darling Harbor + Ferris Wheel looking out over the Sydney Harbor + stroll through Hyde Park on a sunny afternoon? No words my friends, no words.

-Gold leaf brownies (twice) amazing margherita pizza (everywhere we went!) And I only gained 30 pounds.

-And finally, (and most especially) out of the millions of stories I could write about, what the real highlight has been is the people who I've been able to meet and the friends I've been able to make. It goes to show that relationships always mean more than anything else in the world, and that there will always be good people and kindred spirits who will cross your path, no matter where life takes you.

There really is so much I love about New Zealand (and Australia!) now, it's not even funny. I have a feeling that this time as I board my flight back to the States, a part of me will feel like I'm leaving home, rather than returning to it.
And I think my penny was pretty dang lucky.

TGFT

2011-08-03T08:12:00.016-06:00

Thelma and Eleanor made a new friend before I left (a blue beach cruiser Sara so perfectly named Luna), and right now that is the only thing that makes me feel okay about having to leave New Zealand in the next little while. I didn't think that I'd be that sad to go, but I have a feeling I just might.

I have so (so, so, so) so many adventures that I want to write about, (like):
-The night I finally tried vegemite (it's awful)
-Gold Class Theaters. Watching a movie on a lazy boy recliner (seriously) and they serve you MnM's in a champagne glass? Why, thank you for changing my life.
-The fact that the pizza here is worth living for (not kidding). I have a new unhealthy addiction for pizza.
-The New Zealand International Film Festival. That deserves an entire post of its own.
-The fish market - which almost made me sick to my stomach. So many (ginormous) fish (on steroids).
-The cutest friends I've been able to make... I once believed the nicest people lived in Hawaii, but I changed my mind: they're in NZ.
-And going on the worlds best date (with yes, a boy who has an accent) traveling around to things like little quaint towns and the most beautiful beach I've ever seen... If I die tomorrow, I have lived a full life.

But I plan on writing more about all of that soon enough. In the meantime though: TGFT. Or in other words, Thank goodness for Thelma (and the friends at home who I miss oh so much!)
Because oh my, I will miss it here too.

PS.
Please listen to this song. He's kind of a big deal down here, and he should be at home too. #Love.

melts my heart.

2011-07-30T20:14:00.009-06:00

I thought I wanted a baby koala, but I changed my mind after feeding the baby kangaroo; they don't sleep nearly as much, (although look at the cute little one with his little brother and sister sleeping behind him!) Oh my gosh, if only. They are by far the cutest things I've ever seen.

a vacation on vacation.

2011-07-28T06:54:00.007-06:00

I've grown up hearing my dad never being able to quite fully put into words his love for Australia. Serving an LDS mission in Sydney years ago, I've heard all my life about the most beautiful city in the world and all of the incredible experiences he had as a 19 year old boy living in this country for two years.

I grew up dreaming about coming one day and seeing everything all for myself, (...and wanting to own my own baby koala. my first stuffed animal was a koala bear with velcro hands that I probably loved more than anything when I was little!) So needless to say, when I first found out that Australia would be a part of my summer plans, it was some of the most exciting news I've had in all 22 years of my life.

My pictures hardly do any justice, because truthfully, the city is so beautiful it could make you cry. The Sydney Harbor/Bridge/Opera House and everything surrounding the area is out of this world. And this is saying a lot, (especially for those of you who know me) but as much as I've loved and adored and have always wanted to live in Boston all my life, I'd trade it in a second to move to Sydney. It is by far the most spectacular/breathtaking/beautiful city in the world, and now I know why my dad didn't have enough words to describe it, because really, I don't either. It's unreal.

I'll write more about all the specific and exciting things we've been able to do, but in the meantime... change of plans everyone: I'm not ever coming home.

devonport.

2011-07-23T02:17:00.003-06:00

I think I could live here.

The charming coffee house, Auckland city by ferry, Viva la Vintage, the oldest movie theater on the island, and every amazing restaurant lining the most darling Main Street that you could ever imagine... (including a Greek bistro where you can dance and smash plates!)

I've picked out my house already.

young and old.

2011-07-21T00:06:00.005-06:00

10 confessions of growing old (and by old, I mean, I just turned 22):

1. Do you remember when you were little and you'd kiss your pillow/pretend imaginary boyfriend before going to sleep? Okay, so maybe I don't do that (anymore), but I daydream about my wedding and things like that before I go to bed -- it's basically become a part of my routine: wash my face, brush my teeth, say my prayers... plan a wedding.

2. Eye wrinkle cream is now a part of that routine, too.

3. I'd still rather eat anything saturated with sugar for breakfast. I try and avoid the poptart aisle at all costs.

4. I don't want to grow old today. Sometimes that changes, but after talking to my mom about rest homes and the hearing impaired, I decided today is a day I definitely don't want to grow old.

5. My Zac Efron crush is dying, and I'm starting to get motion sickness on swing sets... a sure sign that my childhood has definitely ended.

6. I'd rather go to bed early and wake up early than the alternative.

7. Time to admit it: my parents were right.

8. My bad hip is getting worse, and it's illegal for me to drive without glasses. I'll probably be arthritic and blind by 25.

9. I still drive as fast as I did when I was sixteen.

10. And most of the time, I still feel like I could be seventeen.

--

Since I'm a little bit younger than most of my friends, I always feel semi-prepared when my birthday rolls around because everyone has "already aged" -- But this year, I felt differently. When I turned twenty I remember vaguely feeling a little sad because I had to say goodbye to my adolescence; turning twenty-one, however, was just a lot of fun.

But twenty-two?

After writing down that list, even though I know I'm still young (although some things are definitely sounding a bit old), I have come to the final conclusion that this year is a good year to be a little bit of both.

So Happy Birthday to all the other July 21sts out there! It was a good day to be born, if I do say so myself.

the lake.

2011-07-18T18:35:00.002-06:00

The last thing I would still ever identify myself as is a runner, but when it's not raining (and raining... and raining) it's too pretty and perfect outside not to. My parents live minutes away from both the beach and a lake, so I have a hard time each morning deciding where I'd like to go. This week, though, I think I like the lake best. It's still a little too cold for the ocean, and there's a bench I've found with my name on it right next to the lake with the prettiest view.

So today I packed a picnic and a book and went back to enjoy the two most relaxing hours I've had all summer. I couldn't choose between thinking about life or teaching myself how to whistle, so it was probably an hour of each.

Best day so far, I'd say, but I said that last time didn't I?

best day so far.

2011-07-16T01:57:00.027-06:00

Today was so perfect that I hate to see it end. And I know I've said that same thing before, (probably even within the last week) but really, truly, today was so perfect that I absolutely tried to mentally photograph almost everything about it.

It all started with a sudden detour to downtown Takapuna.

Usually when I fly out to New Zealand during Christmas break, it is so sunny and warm, most people are crowding the shops wearing their swimsuits; but this time, the rainy, wet weather reminded me so much of fall. Everyone was rushing in and out of stores to avoid the cold, and it all felt so much more like a cozy and quaint secret than the usual tourist stop. After aimlessly walking in and out souvenir shops for a while, (and after unfortunately discovering one of my favorite stores had been closed down!) we began to make our way back to the car just in time for the pouring rain. Thank goodness we left the house in too much of a hurry to remember our umbrellas, because we stalled and found our way into a used bookstore.

-- Now, I love any old bookstore as much as the next person, but this one was different - and excuse my exaggeration, but it was really like a step back in time.

After finding hundreds of perfectly old and worn books, (Bronte, Austen, Tennyson) and after reading Matthew Arnold tucked away in the corner, (best: "Alas! is even love too weak, To unlock the heart, and let it speak?" -- gosh I love that) I really, completely lost track of time. Boxes filled with pictures from fifty, sixty, seventy years ago were cluttered all around the store, and everything I found felt like it must have been a treasure to somebody at some point long, long ago.

That's when I discovered the most darling book of all-time entitled, "Christmas Is A Time of Giving" - published nearly sixty years ago. All I could think of while turning the pages is of the future Christmases I'd spend reading that same book with my own family. Definitely the best ten bucks spent in a long time, and I'm already searching online for any/everything else the author may have written... all so cute.

But anyway, to end the evening my mom and I sat in Starbucks drinking steamers and hot chocolate discussing (mainly) my sisters upcoming wedding this fall, and all the future family reunions and vacations we'll get to have. On our way out the door I fell in love with a boy who was wearing a blue shirt and had brown eyes. Kylie you will kill me because I kept on walking, but I did turn around to look three or four more times. I talked about him the whole ride home, imagining with my mom a scenario much like this one (minus getting hit by a car) from only my most all-time favorite movie ever... If only my nerves hadn't gotten the best of me.

And now I'm sitting by a space heater. I'm eating Tim Tams and Pringles, telling the internet about my day because my cell phone doesn't get service down here, and so there is nobody I can really call. But the point is, today was really perfect, and I don't think I would trade anything in the world for it. That's all.

family of four + one more

2011-07-14T20:03:00.009-06:00

My little sister,
(who I really love more than anything)
fell in love,
and just said yes -
to the cutest boy ever.

I've always wanted a brother,
now I really get to have one.

(!!!!!)

I am ohmygosh so happy about this.

the past 48 hours of my life.

2011-07-11T21:32:00.016-06:00

Pulling an all-nighter the night before I left wasn't the smartest idea I've ever had. The next morning at breakfast (which I was already awake for at six forty-five in the blessed AM) I asked the waitress how her food was, and said goodnight to the cashier even though the sun was just rising.

I fell asleep sitting up twice that day.

We waited 4 hours for our flight at the SLC Airport, only to find out that it had been delayed for 24. We finally make it to San Francisco the next day and spent most of our time on photo booth, because at this point, anything seemed funny.

Finally we began the 12 hour journey. Someone proposed to his girlfriend on our flight, and it was kind of like The Wedding Singer, except he didn't sing about "growing old with you," he just told her. I have only witnessed one other proposal in all my life, and it was at a concert; I liked the airplane idea more, except if I were the girl, I probably would have cried in front of everybody -- especially when we all started to clap somewhere high above the pacific.

I miraculously slept for six hours on the flight while listening to this song on repeat (the entire six hours) and I will have it stuck in my head for the next 18 months. I carried on a conversation with Marcus (a bartender) which is ironic if you know another Marcus who is also a bartender, who ironically just kissed a girl I know quite well on the Fourth of July. He still also owes me a shirley temple, especially if he gets to ride my bike.

And now here I am. I arrived at 5:30 in the morning (NZ time) and to avoid jet lag and an awkward sleeping schedule, my parents have forced me to stay awake so I spent the early hours of the morning watching Fox News and MTV.

So far, I have seen birds in the grocery store, the beautiful beach (from the car), Rice Krispies called Rice Bubbles -- and after I overheard someone say "confectionery" in a New Zealand accent, I kept asking my mom if we could stop by the "confectionery aisle" at the grocery store, just so I could say that word the same way.

We bought four things of Tim Tams.

And that's it. The past 48 hours = success, because somehow, I am still awake, and alive, and all the way in the southern hemisphere in a tiny little place that almost feels like home. It's called New Zealand.

i could die happy here.

2011-07-05T22:23:00.005-06:00

I've mentioned Dear Lizzie before, but today was especially special. Chocolate cupcakes, recounting our Fourth of July events, drinking dizzy fizzy lizzies (or something like that?), eating turkey and cheese, and forcing ourselves to memorize this song (almost got it!) - we spent most of our time admiring the food and our surroundings rather than eating our lunches.

And speaking of the fourth...
Kylie and I were able to cross off several more items on our "summer to-do list" - but that deserves it's own post, and I plan on saving that for three special people next time.

happy 4th

2011-07-04T11:52:00.010-06:00

I've mentioned John Adams letters to his wife Abigail before, but I especially loved this letter, too. Dated July 3, 1776, future president John Adams predicted the fourth of July to be something like this:

"...I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction."

I've been especially patriotic in some ways since the eighth grade, (and yes - I thought former President Bush was super cute) but reading that part of his letter earlier this morning made me feel so especially grateful that John Adams was exactly right.

Happy 4th of July!

for-ev-er. for-ev-er.

2011-07-01T07:15:00.004-06:00

I have never been to a Bees game before, but going to a baseball game was on our summer to-do list so it had to be done. Even though my summer vacation will resume in New Zealand next weekend, I have almost felt like I only have a few days left to cross off everything I want to do this summer.
(and plus it's winter in the southern hemisphere, so it's almost like a winter break?)

Although I haven't followed baseball much before, (and by that I mean never) - it was still so much fun. The weather was perfect and the combination of cracker jacks, coca cola's and snowies seemed as all-American as the sport. To top it off, we'll be going to see The Sandlot tonight (who else had a ginormous crush on Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez twelve years ago??) and best of all - it's an outdoor movie/at the SL Capitol/for free/over the 4th of July weekend. Twenty four hours after that, we'll be sitting on a boat watching the fireworks from Utah Lake. Watching fireworks in a swimsuit? Gosh I'm so excited.

--

and this is just a small secret (and maybe it's not so secret) - but to be completely honest, i'm probably going to miss all this more than i should - even if it's only for five weeks.

tea, a drink with jam and bread.

2011-06-28T14:21:00.004-06:00

Where has this song been all my life?

I watched The Sound of Music dozens of times when I was younger, (who else wanted be Liesl and sing about turning seventeen in the rain??) -- and it still remains in my top ten/fifteen favorite movies of all time. But for whatever reason, it's been years since I've listened to the soundtrack. The last time I remember hearing this song in particular, was this past fall while making blueberry muffins before school with Kylie. That is the only joyful memory I have from living at Raintree.
(haha - just kidding)

But before that, and since then, do-re-mi had nearly been wiped from my memory.

The other night, however, I overheard it from my bedroom and I immediately got online to download it. This song is the bomb.com.net.org. It's almost as good as The Circle of Life, and nearly twice as good as Glee's cover of Friday. I'd be lying if I said I didn't listen to it every morning when I get ready for work. Next time I fail a test, get broken up with, or find that I have no purpose in life - please show me this song and all will be well again.

i love cake batter frozen yogurt, yes i do.

2011-06-26T19:10:00.010-06:00

Five minutes of a lifetime were truly spent, and we felt young in a good way.
-Stephen Chbosky

-- except it was more like 2,880 minutes.

My dad was my date, Sara my twin, the Reed's a second family, and I the chauffeur for Kenken and Jess. It was a nearly perfect summer weekend, combining cake batter, boating, bonfires and s'mores.
Now if only I had gotten up while water skiing (goshdangit, why is it so hard for me?!) I would honestly have to say that I just had the best weekend of the summer. The weekend where we all felt young because everything was sunny and carefree - all in the most memorable and best kind of way.

to my friend who works the graveyard shifts:

2011-06-24T08:53:00.006-06:00

(but before you die, come visit me in new zealand!)

thelma and eleanor and kindred spirits.

2011-06-21T08:15:00.006-06:00

The good and the bad results of yesterday evening:

Kylie's shattered Cocoa-Cola bottle; shards of glass flying everywhere. Nobody was hurt though, and our picnic (with homemade bread and real strawberry shortcake (instead of just the cupcake kind) was, needless to say, perfect with the setting sun and pink clouds scattering the sky.
Except Thelma lost two of her screws, so the whole ride home she was kind of rickety.
And the bottle of salsa exploded in Eleanor's wicker basket.
However, we did find a new bicycle path with Grandmother Willow-ish trees (like the one in Pocahontas who speaks words of wisdom) and that always counts for something.

We ended the night by finding Thelma and Eleanor's kindred spirits (so many cute beach cruisers all at once!) and we sat in a baseball dugout drinking our Mickey D diet cokes before splitting.

You can't help but like life a lot in the summertime.

--

(yep - that photo is from my phone. nope - not an iphone (obviously). still one of those phones dated back like 5th century BC. one day that will change.)

craig christensen (that's my dad)

2011-06-19T10:11:00.008-06:00

Some of my friends have made the joke that if you were to call me and begin a conversation, you could put the phone down for at least three minutes, and three minutes later I'd still be talking unaware that the person on the other line had gone (ha...ha...) -- But ask me about either of my parents, and I'm sure that would be the case.

-- Except today I'd like to specifically dedicate to my dad, because that's just the sort of thing you do on fathers day.

I could tell you a million stories of a million different ways that my dad has been one of greatest examples in my life, but today I decided to share one of my favorite memories instead: my first kiss.

Because we weren't allowed to date in my home until age 16, my first kiss had to be kept secret because I was still fifteen and a half - and I was convinced that if my parents found out, I'd be banned from dating Spencer Beeston until college graduation (haha - dramatic now, but at the time I was truly convinced that would have been the case.) So I swore to myself that I'd never, ever tell my family -- and most especially, I'd never, ever tell my dad.

Well, all that changed when I made the exception and told my little sister about it (like fifteen seconds after I got home) and I guess I shouldn't have been all that surprised when she apparently went straightway and told my dad about it anyway.

And I still remember that Saturday morning -- walking into my bedroom, seeing my dad there sitting at my desk. Do you guys remember ever missing curfew? (oh the joy of junior year) My parents were always sitting at the kitchen table by the time I walked in the door - and worst of all, all they had to say was: We'll talk about it in the morning.

Well that particular Saturday morning was that same awkward/guilt/dang it feeling times a million, because as I slowly walked into my room, all my dad had to say was: "We need to have a talk."

And although I can't really remember what we specifically talked about, (other than my dad making me read a Jon Bytheway article entitled: "What Do Kisses Mean" - haha) what I remember the most was hugging my dad after a long, awkward, "I promise it won't happen until I'm at least 27" conversation, and my dad telling me that he loved me.

I'm biased, but my dad is the best person I know, the best basketball player I know, and most gratefully, the best father I know. And since today is fathers day, what better way to celebrate than by letting other people know what kind of a dad my dad is - because he's just the best.

happy fathers day!

--

ps. dad - after looking for half an hour, i swear this is the only picture in existence of just the two of us. (and it was taken like 18 years ago, and i take up 1/100 of it). depressing. time to change that this summer.

pss. best fathers day card. "like hunting down and killing his enemies."

psss. love (and watch!) this video.

ppsss. love you dad.

a sunny disposition.

2011-06-17T09:22:00.005-06:00

I hope it stays sunny this weekend, so a red boat and pink swimsuit can become a part of my plans. In the meantime, I have to go get some blood work done this afternoon (not so fun) and I can't eat until then (even more not fun).

At least my mom agreed in going to get a tigers blood snow cone with me afterward. I'd have to say that the one good thing about Spanish Fork (besides the horse on top of "Western Wear and Saddlery") is the island of palm trees around the snow shack.

One day I plan on writing about my adventures in SF.

In the meantime, though, I thought I'd share this video. I love it so much I watched it twice.

love lane.

2011-06-15T11:04:00.008-06:00

On the agenda:

I told myself today that I'd celebrate being done with finals by going to Salt Lake (and by Salt Lake I mean) I'm going shopping. JCrew, Decades, Victoria Secret (lip gloss for $1.75 - I'm pretty sure somebody spent nearly $50 in lip gloss last night), Ruth's Diner (tears of joy beginning... now), and maybe even another quick hike up to Ensign Peak.

But the best part of all of this is: I haven't even taken my finals. So really, I'm celebrating an unfinished final/a final-for-tomorrow/or most honestly: pure procrastination. It's exactly what today calls for.

Oh, and PS:
Last night we went to the dollar theater to finally see the Disney movie: Prom. I had wanted to see it for months (just ask Elin/Kristina) and I've got to be honest - the four quarters I spent were worth the 90 minutes of laughing so hard I was crying. Maybe it was because it was ten at night, maybe it was the freshman declaring his love from a tree, or the "you are my supernova, nova" jokes from the girl in front of us, or the "are you serious?" (constantly) from the boy behind - either way: 4 quarters were worth it. But if they had asked for 5? Not so much.

--

(photo thanks to an early morning email from sarbear, which hasn't any real significance - rather just a memory from the weekend she was almost swept away with the river. don't worry, she lived.)

kelsie christensen (insert last name later)

2011-06-13T12:20:00.007-06:00

Like every other seventh grader who watched the movie A Walk To Remember at age 12, I immediately began a quote journal. If I ever fell victim to leukemia, my Shane West look-a-like boyfriend would surely need to be able to read me love quotes near my hospital bedside, and I would be prepared.

(I'm pretty sure the first quote I wrote down in my seventh grade quote book would have been something like: "Find who you are, and do it on purpose," - Dolly Parton)

Needless to say, I have read thousands of love quotes since that time; some kind-of awful, some I absolutely adore, but it's funny how most quotes I find nowadays that relate the most to love are all under the category of friendship.

When I was young, I wanted to marry Chris Trousdale from the boy band Dream Street, because naturally, he could sing and dance, and one day, I was going to be famous, too. When I was even younger, I pretended that I was going to marry an imaginary boy named David, and he looked like my dad, had glasses like my dad, and had a job like my dad (and we had five to seven children and a maid just like Alice on the Brady Bunch).

But then I grew up and a lot of those things changed. For starters, I didn't know his name or what he'd want to be. I didn't know when or where we'd meet - if it would be fireworks, or a lot of late night phone calls that would eventually turn into something more. The only thing I guess I already know is that he'll be my best friend - before he's famous, before he wears glasses, (and before he's a lot like my dad, which is okay, because I ended up a lot like him anyway.)

And the reason I'm talking about all of this mush is because I wanted to share my latest, favorite love quote. I first read this a few months ago, and have shared it with nearly every friend/foe I have (just kidding about the foes) - and I think this perfectly sums up what friendship truly is, what love has/will be like, and what I plan on sharing with whoever I'm going to have forever with one day too:

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all 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.
-Dinah Craik

--

photo of my craft corner and the latest version of my marriage book (which has no dolly parton quotes ... yet)

blessings book.

2011-06-09T14:40:00.009-06:00

I got an email a few weeks ago from a fellow blogger asking me if I would mind sending her a list of my ten favorite things to be included on her blog. I was more than happy to, and decided that at the risk of sounding slightly redundant, I'd write out a few of the things that make me the happiest today:

Reading under the covers early in the morning.

Books so clever they make me wish I was that way too.

Cherry chapstick. That smell makes me want to fall over or fall in love. I love it.

Muddy buddies and Jack Sprat toast for breakfast. Judge away.

Vacuum lines in the carpet. I would vacuum every morning just for those lines if the people who lived below me wouldn't be annoyed to death. They already stopped me in the elevator once just to tell me that my apartment must be very clean from all the vacuuming that goes on. Ha, if they only knew.

The smell of summertime.

Texting my mom, dad and sister - all at the same time, all about different things, but all ending in I love you's.

About a year ago, I read a talk given by President Henry B. Eyring that suggested writing down your blessings every single night before going to bed. It's kind of like a journal, but now I just refer to it as my blessings book. I don't want to stand on a soap box, but I'm going to anyway for only just a second.

Ahem.

I cannot even begin to express how much has changed just by simply writing down a blessing, or even something small that made me happy over the past 14 months. I don't want to exaggerate the point, but there is no other way of putting it: it changed my life. If I could find even the smallest thing on the worst day that somehow made me recognize the good, I started to look for it more and more. I started to recognize it more and more. And so even when I felt like throwing myself in front of a bus (because lets be honest, some days you just feel like that) I'd still find something to be grateful for that night while writing it down in this book.

And to be fair... sometimes I was lame and would write something like: water, (ha) for what would have been lack of enthusiasm, or it was just really late at night, but I swear to you - even writing water made me feel great. And now I notice those great days come most of the time, rather than less of it.

And who knows, one day this might all be a huge secret to success.
Maybe.

But that's all I got for now. Off the soap box.

down by the banks.

2011-06-05T12:10:00.013-06:00

It's a summer Sunday in June, (because for once there are no clouds in the sky, and not a chance of rain,) and I'm trying to decide what hurts the most: my arms, my back or maybe my neck. Thanks to tubing, and thanks to Kyson being the co-captain of the boat (enough said) I feel like if I were to actually get out of bed, I might just fall apart. But that's a good thing.

And do you ever have those moments when you feel like everything in the world has changed? But then when he already knows that you'd rather be listening to the Beach Boys, or you're holding hands because you're a lot more like sisters, you realize that a lot really hasn't? Even though it still has? That was like yesterday.

And as for all the days before that:

I've been MIA because who really wants to sit at a computer typing when it's a lot like summer outside?

Actually, being MIA is mostly because finals start in a week (wasn't it just April?) and I have to try and discipline myself and devote some of my time to studying.

And my mom is back - which means our bedtime somehow happens to be at 2 AM even though we tell each other every morning we can't keep doing this.

(and then we talk and talk and talk, and we do it again)

And there are strawberries in my fridge. So if I'm not studying, I'm eating, and if I'm not eating, I'm bike riding, and if I'm not bike riding -- I'm wishing I was, and I'm probably still studying.

So I still think fall is my favorite, but when it's sunny and warm outside, then I let summer win.

(photos from a few weeks ago, thanks to kylie. if i could put the month of may in a nutshell -- that is what it would look like)

sunny with a high of seventy five.

2011-05-26T00:00:00.002-06:00

After trying the cinnamon pull apart bread at Great Harvest the other weekend, (the newest contender for the best dessert I've probably ever had) I decided to make my first loaf of bread - and not just any loaf of bread - but a cinnamon swirl loaf of bread.

I was hoping that it would put my mothers homemade bread to shame (nearly impossible) - so it was unfortunate that the dough tasted better than the actual bread. Regardless, I would give myself 7 out of 10 stars. 5 for trying, 2 for using less sugar than it called for (which is why it tasted more cinnamony than sugary) but 1 star for trying to be healthy. 7 stars.

--

We also discovered La Jolla Groves the other weekend (on a bike ride, of course) during one of our trips down to the Riverwoods. When we noticed the twinkle lights in the windows and the lemons hanging from the trees, we knew we would have to try it out.

So try it out we did! And in my most humble opinion? It smelled like lemons, we were allowed to order off the kids menu, and the water boy was super cute. 8 out of 10 stars.

--

And I saved the best for last, because the last is the best of all the game.

This drink machine has become our treat machine. We stop by every day on our way home from the gym, just so we can pick from 3,029,482,093,852,093 different sodas off the touch screen menu. And okay, there are actually only 101 options - but still... One hundred and one. From one machine. It's like the drink machine of the future. Our children will be a part of this sugar revolution. I am convinced Willy Wonka was the brains behind it.

And best of all? It's at Cafe West -- aka my home away from home. So it's kind of like fate again.
10 out of 10 stars my friends.

The end.

class of '07.

2011-05-22T15:46:00.011-06:00

Class of 07. from Kelsie Christensen on Vimeo.

This isn't the first video I've shared online, but this is definitely where it all started. We began documenting life through our videos toward the end of our senior year in high school, and now I'm so unbelievably grateful we did - (despite Wes, Heaston and Ben protesting it most of the time.)

When I watched this video a few months ago with some of the friends who are in it, I could hardly believe that four years had passed since I wore my red gown with gold tassels, and tossed my graduation cap up in the air. Admittedly, I would never trade even the stressful or more hectic parts of life now, for my untroubled cares at seventeen -- but a part of me will always seem to miss it deep down.

And although I don't think I could have told you where exactly we'd all be four years from that day, (engaged, married, single, nursing/film/broadcast/elementary ed degrees, returned missionaries, only 5 months left missionaries, engaged after only one month, married for almost three years -- etc etc etc) I bet I at least could have told you we'd all still be friends.

Phone friends, only-see-each-other-every-few-months friends, friends who still put too much salt on their food, friends who still believe Merlin lives at Maple Lake, friends who sing along with The Rocket Summer and Jamison Parker, friends who are finally friends again, and friends who are still in love... Whatever we are to each other, I'm just glad we're still there.

--

And PS...
While we're taking this trip down memory lane, it should be noted that the only name they got wrong out of the hundreds of students during the graduation ceremony was... yours truly.
Yep.
As they snapped my picture for the entire McKay Events Center to see (think: at least two thousand people) they announced me as "Malerie Loveland" instead of Kelsie Christensen. My jaw dropped to the floor and my final glorious moments as a Spanish Fork Don were unsurprisingly somewhat of a disaster. Literally my face was as red as my cap and gown - so it's a good thing red was one of our school colors anyway.

lilac bushes make me happy, as does the lion king.

2011-05-20T00:11:00.009-06:00

I've lost everything: my job, my future, everything people think is important, but I don't care - because even if I have to dig ditches for the rest of my life, I shall be a ditch-digger who once had a wonderful day.
-Hello, Dolly!

Is everyone else getting as sick of me talking about my bike as I am? It's why I included another quote. It makes up for my repetitiveness.

But lets be honest for just a minute: People have their blogs to talk about their happy spouses, their darling children, and even their Vogue-worthy wardrobe.

Unfortunately, I own none of the above.

But I do have a bike named Thelma.
I have a best friend named Kylie.
And I have a whole summer ahead of me.*

--

*this summer including, but not limited to: finding the ice cream man, racing newspaper boats down the river, trying every soda at Blickenstaff's, sliding down the blue slide (the biggest one!) at 7 Peaks, performing The Circle of Life at Muse Cafe, crashing Heaston's wedding (...kidding), and going to a baseball game.

That's all I ask for now. Well, that and lilacs, and I only say lilacs because it compliments the pictures above, and because there are no such things as forget-me-not bushes.

the end of harry potter.

2011-05-18T12:35:00.008-06:00

About six months ago, I began to read Harry Potter for the first time. Years later than most everyone else, I discovered Hogwarts and Quidditch, Dumbledore's love and wisdom, Harry's goodness and courage, and most especially, a much greater love for friendship and bravery.

I've been so excited to begin a lot of my other summer reading, (like: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and The Help. I breezed over them both while at Barnes & Noble this past weekend and had to be pulled away) Except once I finally finished the last page in the last Harry Potter book, I didn't feel like reading anything else. In a weird way, it's like I had to allow myself at least twenty-four hours to "mourn" the end of the Harry Potter series.

Is that too much?
Most likely.

But if anything, that means all the late nights regardless of early morning classes were well worth it. The first book that ever made me feel similar was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. I must have read it when I was twelve or thirteen years old, but I remember crying throughout the final chapters, not only because Francie was growing up, but because the book was ending.

It all sounds silly, but finishing a book can almost feel as sad as goodbye.

photo

three truths and a lie.

2011-05-16T00:00:00.007-06:00

i like my bike.
i like the color yellow.
i like shorts almost more than skirts.
and i like you.

these are all actually true, but i'll keep the title anyway.

ps.
you can't tell, but my shirt says: bicycles are for lovers.
holy smokes, that was my best ever summer t-shirt find here.

summer plans.

2011-05-10T13:45:00.011-06:00

So as I mentioned a little while ago, life is short and that means it's probably worth an adventure or two. Or three or four or five.

Once I was accepted in my newly chosen major, I decided that to speed up the graduation cycle, I would stay for spring semester at the Y... which, so far, I've come to two conclusions about spring semester classes:

1. There is something completely wrong with summer and school combined. It may be just me, but waking up at 7 for a class when it feels like summer outside? It's like fighting against mother nature from within. There's just something inside of me that doesn't let those two things easily combine.

2. Parking is actually possible though, (bad parking and BYU go hand in hand just like marriage does) --but knowing there will always be a spot for me in the Y lot? I'm a happy, sleepy, happy camper.

Annnyyywaay. Spring semester will be ending soon, (another pro of summer classes: 6 weeks fly by!) And once that is over, my parents will be making another trip to their native land of America and will be in town for the fourth of July (so excited for family and a holiday to combine this year!) And then... my friends, I leave.
July 8th to be exact.
So my summer in New Zealand will end up being more like 6 weeks of vacationing, but six weeks beats two, and New Zealand beats a lot of other places, and being with two parents who are about as cool as me, well - that beats all of them combined. Bon voyage!

photos via my dads fb page.

a rainy-ish monday afternoon.

2011-05-09T13:56:00.007-06:00

We take the back road to Wills Pit Stop because the streets look like we just pedaled our way out of Provo. Whenever we take our bikes out to that particular picnic spot of ours, I feel like we leave our small college town and let go of everything that has anything to do with it.

And that is what I needed the most this weekend.

No, I don't like to blog a lot about bad days, even though I have them. And I don't usually like to focus on what might not be right, even though it might seem ignorant. No, most of the time I think I would rather focus on the good, because if it counts for anything at all, I think that it's something I'm good at.

But when I do have a bad day, or something frustrating happens, and I have puffy eyes or a sad heart, I pedal my bike on the back roads to Wills Pit Stop. I pretend that the pretty houses along the stream, and my blueberry pixie sticks and her honey lemonade are the only things that matter to me. And even if it's just for an hour or two, it's nice to let go of everything else.

photo

mother dearest.

2011-05-08T21:46:00.002-06:00

All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
-Abraham Lincoln

No matter where she is in the world, she is always putting others before herself.
And I'm lucky to have her as mine.
My best friend, my all-too-often advice giver, and my example day in and day out, of the woman and mother I hope to become one day too.

Happy Mothers Day Mom! I love you.

thought for the day.

2011-05-05T15:27:00.010-06:00

The first test of a truly great man is his humility... I do not mean, by humility, doubt of his own power... (but really) great men have a curious feeling that greatness is not in them, but through them... And they see something divine in every other man... and are endlessly, foolishly, incredibly merciful.
-John Ruskin

I feel like my dad has essentially said this same thing to me dozens of times, more or less in the same way as Mr. Ruskin.
And it really, really makes a lot of sense, and I'm noticing this really, really means a lot more to me the older I get.

kenken.

2011-05-03T23:06:00.002-06:00

We ate lunch this weekend on the floor.
We missed the Disney movie Prom.
We had two sleepovers.
We ate fried chicken in bed.
And we learned this dance.

If she didn't already have a boyfriend, I'd probably date her.
That's how much I love kenken.

to-do list.

2011-04-28T15:24:00.009-06:00

When I am finished with spring semester, I will live on my bicycle and in cafe west.
When I graduate, I will never, ever live in Utah County again. And I will avoid University Avenue and Parkway like the plague.
When I get married, my husband and I are going to join a bowling league.*
And when I take Megyn Kelly's job on Fox News, I will spend a week every summer vacationing here, here and here.

Daydreaming is what happens when you work afternoons and it's sunny outside.

*We'll nickname our bowling balls and wear sweet matching bowling shoes, too.

*I discussed these specific details over dinner last night with already married friends planning on joining my league.

And yes, I drew that picture for all of you.

kind of like fate.

2011-04-27T00:08:00.004-06:00

Remember how I went on my first bike ride last weekend?
Remember how Kylie named her bike Eleanor?

--

So is it any wonder why we freaked out after we saw this poster of someone on a bike with the word Eleanor underneath, while on our bike ride?? (!!!)

Freaked out is an understatement.
We called it fate.

a little bit of my bucket list.

2011-04-24T22:25:00.026-06:00

I started compiling a list of things I wanted to do before I die my freshman year of high school,
(which is why at age 15 I included "go clubbing" and "wear leg warmers"... really kelsie?)
Since then, however, the list has grown to over 14 pages long, and thankfully, it's a little bit more ambitious as well.

And just a few months ago, I came across the following quote:

It takes just as long to be great as it does to be mediocre.

I don't know who said it, and I don't know where I read it, but I swear that it was as inspiring as meeting Mahatma Gandhi or Diane Sawyer. Like fireworks exploded.
(and okay, maybe that's pushing it...) but reading that made me realize that it takes just as much time to actually do something, as it does to not do something... if that makes sense.

I initially thought a lot about this ongoing bucket list of mine when I read the quote above, and I started to think a lot about what I really wanted to do as well. And as much as I'd love to drive the Autobahn or own a pet monkey (again, think: age 15) - I narrowed in on some of the things that were 1. financially possible and 2. actually feasible.

And just so you know, running has equaled death in my book for most of my life. But just like the rest of the world, that didn't mean I didn't include "run a marathon" on my own to do before I die list.

So after a combination of the quote above, a new pair of running shoes, a whopping $80 dollar registration fee, (and after several months of training so far), I just registered for my first-ever marathon in St.G this upcoming October. And I can hardly contain my excitement.

In fact, I'd even go as far as to say...
that this has all been more exciting (and rewarding) than wearing leg warmers, owning a pet monkey, and eating a whole bag of marshmallows (yes, that's #23 on the list) ... alllll combined.

rather: summer reading and such.

2011-04-22T15:56:00.008-06:00

Summer means a lot of things, like t-shirts and shorts and ice cream, but the other part of it would probably be reading.

And because my New Zealand getaway is coming up (more on that next time most likely!) I not only have the lemonade park, Barnes & Noble, and my comfy, cozy bed (where I spend late nights buried under the covers just so I can find out what happens next) But I also have a 13 hour plane ride, six week getaway, no school/no work (talk about heaven) on the beach, on the balcony, or again, buried under my bed covers 7,000 miles away - where I will probably make even more time for reading.

Last summer, when I asked my main"go-to" reading kindred spirit (my darling boss Elin) which book I should read next, she suggested The Book Thief. Has anyone read it? Snap I loved it. I cried the last fifteen pages with a roll of toilet paper next to me because I couldn't find tissues. And today as I browsed online over some "to read this summer" book titles, The Book Thief was on one of the lists, with the following critique:

"If you want a fast read, this book is not for you. If you only like happy endings [then] this book is not for you... [But] if you love to read, and if you love to care about the characters you read about, and if you love to eat words like they're ice cream, and if you love to have your heart broken and mended on the same page, this book is for you."

That's all I really have to say about that. I love it like ice cream.

But the real reason I'm writing about all of this, is because it's time to go to all of you --
What books would you recommend? Anything and everything.
It's starting to feel a tiny bit like summer, and that means a lot of things, (like t-shirts and shorts and ice cream) but most especially reading.

Hallelujah.

2011-04-20T19:16:00.027-06:00

Hallelujah is the most frustrating word to spell in the English language if you ask me.
That and restaurant and cinnamon.

But onto more important things:

After one heck of a long week (and it's only Wednesday), surrounded by notebooks, textbooks, and multicolored study guides sprawled across my bed, I was finally able to walk out of the testing center and ask myself, "Is this semester really over?"
My response made me want to faint with joy.
After a semester of Hemingway, stats (just typing that raises my blood pressure), acceptance letters, kissing assignments, and a considerable amount of credits completed, I can finally hear the hallelujah chorus singing.

And now that I am one semester closer to completing this thing called higher education, I will celebrate in the only way I know how:
Shorts and a t-shirt and ice cream... even though the temperature will probably be somewhere around 58 degrees, and the rain seems to be sticking around too. But just to pretend "school is out for the summer," I will wear my summertime attire and get a kong cone perhaps, just like we used to when we were 16.

Can I start my weekend on a Thursday?

photo

rain rain go away.

2011-04-19T11:14:00.004-06:00

The rain after a glorious weekend,
the melt-your-brain studying for finals morning, noon and night,
10 minutes late to a final this morning... 10 minutes late to a final? might as well have worn a sign on my forehead: most worthless student ever.
and most especially... the fact that I completely erased everything on my hard drive. think: five hundred thousand videos and pictures... gone. I hyperventilated, and then I sat on my bed in a state of denial, completely emotionless for an hour.
In other words, the start of this week hasn't been so great.
And I'm still in a state of denial.

Luckily, there have been a few things that have cheered me up despite the rainy weather and my significant/tragic loss, so I thought I'd share just a few:

-Another one of our "Eat Pray Love" nights has been scheduled for the weekend. We experimented with this idea a few weeks ago, and all this simply means is: we ate, we prayed (well, we basically just blessed the food) and we loved our love movie of choice. Usually we celebrate the end of winter semester by tagging suicide rock, but the rainy forecast might call for a rain check, which is fine when you have nights like these.

-I just found out that Josh Hutcherson will star as Peeta in the upcoming movie trilogy: The Hunger Games. I'm already in love with the character, now I'm in love with his face.

-A YouTube classic. It's funnier after the sixth and seventh and eighth time you watch it.

-Gah. I spent more than I should have, but I just fell in love with my summer swimsuit. Anthropologie, you can do no wrong.

-Three Cups of Tea. I call it, my first reading book of the summer! (even though spring semester starts in a week and I have another 6ish weeks of schoolwork to go)... regardless, the name will stick. Has anyone else read it? In some ways it reminds me of The Kite Runner -- but I think I might like it a tiny bit more. An English Professor recommended it last semester, and I am thoroughly enjoying it already.

-Oh, and lets not forget: we have a holiday to celebrate! Easter Sunday in my book means a fancy brunch of some sort (and by fancy I mean blueberry muffins and orange juice), and maybe even a new white summery dress. I'm mainly looking forward to spending time with friends and family; I think we might even make a trip up to see The Spoken Word on Sunday morning, which is always a special Sunday thing.

-And finally... a new kindred spirit has emerged in my life. We kind of have a funny past, but after he told me we could go see JB in theaters again tomorrow night... well, now we're friends forever, I say.

So perhaps losing one gabillion memories isn't as bad when you can at least look forward to making another bajillion more. Either way, lesson learned.

photo

this should come as no surprise.

2011-04-17T01:12:00.009-06:00

I took thelma out for her very first ride of 2k11, and it was as wonderful as I thought it would be. I once heard someone ask a friend in class, "Who did you fall in love with for the first time?" and she replied, "Oh it was with my bicycle" -- I thought about that this afternoon as I pedaled all the way to center street and back.

And let's be honest, spring is worth celebrating. And if there is anyone who adores springtime and red bicycles with wicker baskets as much as me, it would probably be ee cummings. So because this is a favorite, and because it's a tradition -- after spending a whole day riding my bicycle, and a whole night watching love movies on the balcony (picnic basket/twinkle lights/Ewan McGregor singing and all), this poem is most definitely worth sharing.

sweet spring is your
time is my time is our
time for springtime is lovetime
and viva sweet love

(all the merry little birds are
flying in the floating in the
very spirits singing in
are winging in the blossoming)

lovers go and lovers come
awandering awondering
but any two are perfectly
alone there's nobody else alive

...

(secretly adoring shyly
tiny winging darting floating
merry in the blossoming
always joyful selves are singing)

sweet spring is your
time is my time is our
time for springtime is lovetime
and viva sweet love

-ee cummings

really, though... viva sweet love.

politcally incorrect most likely, but i'll give it a go.

2011-04-12T11:33:00.013-06:00

(picture from our girls trip to visit this lovely lady back east two years ago...can't believe it's been that long!)

This year on my new years resolution list, I added: watch the morning news.

This was mainly because a lot of the information I get about current affairs is usually from my parents stressing out about the U. S. of A far, far away; so I decided that I'd like to become more aware because it's important (for me, at least) to be informed, and to think about things for myself.

And I don't like to get too political, mainly because as I've mentioned before, once I get going, I really get going, and then blogging would become more aggravating than relaxing... (just ask my friend Austin about our discussions on becoming future presidential campaign running mates, I tend to get overanxious) -- however I just have a few things to say for today, simply because it matters to me.

1. Donald Trump (future president? really?) - Although agreeable on several issues, (like your plan of action regarding China) you need to drop the "birthing" issue when it comes to Obama. He wasn't my first choice either, and I think he's creating a financial disaster (understatement), but whether he was born in Kenya or Hawaii is beside the point now.

2. I am really, really liking a lot of what Mitt Romney has had to say lately.

3. Obama, I like you when I see you interviewed on TV -- a lot. Especially on the Ellen Degeneres show. I wish you were my next door neighbor, even.
But just not the president.

Also on my new years resolution list: (of course) finish the Harry Potter series. And to be honest, regardless of my political frustrations, at the moment Professor Umbridge is far more aggravating than any other political person or party or debate I know*
And she's fictional.

*(except maybe universal health care)

this afternoon and this evening.

2011-04-11T01:19:00.004-06:00

i spent this afternoon rotating between making two failed batches of cinnamon rolls, talking to my parents on the phone, and sitting on the couch having a much needed life evaluation/discussion.

and then kylie and i sat in bed watching meet me in st. louis and decided instead of jennifer aniston or kate beckinsale, we'd rather look and sing like judy garland.

and a lot of things about today has made me think about a lot of things tonight.

and the only reason i'm up so late thinking about all of this, is because i'm waiting for my hair to dry and that takes a while (like hours) -- so i decided to make the most of this unnecessary amount of time i devote in keeping my hair healthy, and sort out my messy backpack.

i almost threw everything away, except for a pop quiz i found which i forever plan on keeping because of the first question:

on which page did you shed your first tear in 'great expectations'?

yes, this is the professor who gave us the assignment to kiss somebody as if it were the first time; and yes, i most certainly still adore him. when i was given this pop quiz in class, i remember feeling like professor walker must have stolen my book and saw that i had page 53 turned down.

(the part when pip begins to cry and hugs joe around the neck as joe responds: 'ever the best of friends; ain't us pip?')

he must have known page 53 made me cry.

and tonight is just a bunch of thoughts, mostly none of which have anything to do with the other, but that's just what happens when you think a lot.

i keep thinking about the advice my dad passed on to me earlier this afternoon, and the interest my mom always takes in my life - whether or not anything exciting has happened. i think about how much more kylie and i are alike than most people think (including ourselves), especially because we are the only two people i know who clap our hands together during the first kiss in a movie. and naturally, i thought about how much i love professor walker and his class discussions.

all while waiting for my my hair to finish drying.
(i told you it takes hours).

and then i realize i have written too much again, and that all i really wanted to do was get on here and pass on the following quote because i felt like it was worth mentioning:

later she remembered all the hours of the afternoon -- one of those uneventful times that seem at the moment only a link between past and future pleasures, but turn out to have been the pleasure itself.
-f. scott fitzgerald

and for once i don't dread monday morning, because monday morning means tomorrow, and tomorrow means another good day.

and that is all.

on and on and on and on.

2011-04-05T18:24:00.004-06:00

more than ever, i am determined to have fresh flowers on my table every morning when i have a home of my own. i will continue my new tradition of buying strawberries on a whim, and will ruin the effort of maintaining a new healthy lifestyle by putting the strawberries on top of cupcakes.

i saw a robert pattinson look-a-like at the grocery store and he commented on my sunburn. i only had a sunburn on the right side of my body, from reading ee cummings and harry potter in the park a few days ago. now with the semester winding down, i can finally finish book 5 of the series, although harry, you’re being ornery and it's bugging me.

i had a final muddy muddy session last night with my best friend cousin who leaves to serve an lds mission in tahiti this wednesday. we wrote letters to read to ourselves in 18 months and I taped it in the safest place I know: my journal. she will be the reason i commit to finally learning french.

i bought packets of forget-me-nots at the sunflower market yesterday, on a trip to buy orange juice because of a cold. and even though i do not (yet) have a garden, i love these flowers, and find them to hold a very special place in my heart. frank sinatra sings about them in his song “you make me feel so young” – and thumbelina wears them in her hair. sold.

glenn miller radio station on pandora will take up my 40 free hours within the next two weeks.

la vie en rose – best bike riding song in the world.

and dear everybody in utah county who seemed to be barbecuing last friday:
you made it smell like summer.

so please, dear rainy forecast,
go away.

Meeting President Monson.

2011-04-01T08:23:00.005-06:00

Several weeks ago, I was invited by a friend to attend a small wedding dinner for his grandpa who was being remarried after his wife had passed away several years ago. When I arrived, I had the opportunity (and privilege!) to meet President Monson (the prophet of the LDS church) who was also in attendance that evening.

I was so, so, so excited (more like beyond ecstatic) that I forgot to take my camera off of "video mode" to the picture setting.
Which is why we have the results below!

Wedding Dinner from Kelsie Christensen on Vimeo.

(I thought that no flash meant that it was off! Not that the video was on! When I thanked him afterward for the picture, he said he liked my pink camera even though it seemed a little slow - haha. this comment made my night.)

Although I was only able to speak with him briefly, the opportunity to meet the President of the Church meant a lot to me. I will never forget how familiar and kind he was, and how remarkably cheerful and optimistic he seemed as I spoke with him and as I watched him speak with others, too.

With that being said, this weekend is one of my favorites because it's the weekend President Monson and other inspired church leaders will be able to speak to us. Because General Conference only comes twice a year, it's always something I start counting down the days for a few weeks in advance... And best of all, you can watch it here from the comfort of a cozy bed and laptop screen!

So I'll be stocking up on Easter candy for the weekend, mainly Cadbury eggs even though I was supposed to swear off sweets this year (this goal literally lasted all of 4 days) and my pajamas will be the only wardrobe I need.

I'd like to argue that life doesn't get any better, but instead I'll just wish you all a very happy start-to-spring-weekend!

just to be alive.

2011-03-26T12:26:00.003-06:00

I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.
-Agatha Christie

i like this.

and i like that i might maybe even meet david beckham tonight, too.
(one can dream right?)
maybe he'll at least blow me a kiss from the soccer field.

happy weekend!

[via ridesabike]

red, plaid and polka dots.

2011-03-23T09:23:00.008-06:00

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
-Marcel Proust

I have too many things I want to say about how much I adore these two friends. Whether watching Kylie swallow a goldfish at her sweet sixteen, seeing Sara actually cry real tears for the first time in the Arctic Circle drive-thru (don't worry, this is actually a funny memory now), or having them both accept me even after my leggings and jean skirt phase _________ (judging space) I will always feel like the lucky one who gets to call them both my best friends, my kindred spirits, and more often than not, my sisters.

And needless to say, our traditional springtime picnic turned out to be glorious.

So cheers to sunshine.
Cheers to paper sack lunches and straw hats --
But double cheers to the people who make life just as great without any of those things anyway.

--

(and a big thank you to my second dad (sara's dad) for always being willing to take our pictures... as long as we bake him brownies).

chalk chalk chalk.

2011-03-21T13:10:00.001-06:00

I usually opt out of going to the ever-so-popular Festival of Colors in Spanish Fork every spring (pink hair for weeks on end is no bueno) but I was almost tempted to reconsider my stance this year after I saw the video below...

Alyse & Chance from Haugen Creative on Vimeo.

(almost... but in the end, I probably won't risk it).

-- isn't that idea darling?

japan.

2011-03-18T10:32:00.003-06:00

After seeing this on a few of the blogs that I follow, I decided although it's a "bloggers day of silence," I had something I wanted to say on the subject of Japan.

One week ago, I woke up to missed phone calls and several text messages asking about one of my best friends* who is currently serving an LDS mission in Japan. Needless to say, I think I said about 17 prayers by the time I jumped out of bed and ran to the television to see what was going on.

Although I have since learned that my friend is safe and is far out of harms way, my heart aches for the many, many victims who are still hurting. Only a few weeks before the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, I remember watching the news after an earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, and although my parents (who currently live on the North island in New Zealand) happened to be in Utah visiting at that time, I remember the overwhelming feeling: "What if?"

Years before that, my grandparents had been living in Thailand during the 2004 tsunami, and although I was only 14 at the time, I still remember the phone calls between my mother and her brothers and sisters, anxious to hear about their parents safety.

So much of what I see or hear about on the news is scary and unsettling -- but it is especially so when some of the people I love the most have been involved. And although I am incredibly grateful and blessed for the safety of my friends and family over the years, I was especially moved the other night as I watched an interview with an elderly man riding his bicycle around what was left of his home in Japan; when asked what he was doing, he told the cameras he was still looking for his wife and wasn't going to give up searching.

At times we may feel like there isn't much we can do, but I found this website helpful -- and especially for those of you who are bloggers (and even those who aren't) this particular website deemed helpful as well. Sometimes even the smallest amount can go a long way.

--

*read: love of my life.

photo found here

dear blank, please blank.

2011-03-17T15:40:00.009-06:00

Having a bad day? Need something to just make you smile? Well, look no further my friends -- dear blank, please blank just made today 10x better.

Some of my favorites:

Dear Noah,

We could have sworn you said the ark wasn't leaving till 5.

Sincerely, The Unicorns

Dear America,

You produced Miley Cyrus. Bieber is your punishment.

Sincerely, Canada

(haha - so funny even though I am in love with him)

Dear Scissors,

I feel your pain... No one wants to run with me either.

Sincerely, Sarah Palin

Dear 2012,

Please disregard all the rumors. You'll be fine.

Sincerely, 1984.

Dear Nickelback,

That's enough.

Sincerely, The World

(amen and amen)

--

and if this glee song doesn't make you want to dance all weekend, you're not human.

the beatles had it right.

2011-03-16T10:35:00.011-06:00

As we sat with our soda pop and picnic baskets yesterday afternoon, the sunshine came to pay a permanent visit. I was a little worried on our drive over with the dark gray clouds still hanging around -- but once we set our picnic baskets down, the clouds seemed to understand that they were no longer needed for the afternoon, and they finally disappeared...

(as did my parking ticket and sticky hair. the secret just forgets to inform you that all you need is love... but then again, i guess the beatles do that too).

So yesterday I loved sunshine, orange soda pop and two friends who will be the main reason why my wrinkles show up at age 25, because somewhere in between the "sparkle" and "nice rice" comments, I laughed from 4 PM until midnight. And this is all a good thing, because that also meant I ended up with 416 pictures on my hard drive by the end of the night -- 97% of which are of somebody laughing. I plan on posting these pictures online too, but first I need to go spend $327 dollars in printing them at Walmart.

And last I checked it's unofficially Spring. Happy day.

the secret.

2011-03-15T14:21:00.014-06:00

I had a friend convince me the other day that The Secret changes lives... (well that and the Book Of Mormon) but although I was doubtful at first, I found his experience pretty convincing. And if you read the following, you'll see why:

We first celebrated this "life changing" phenomena by getting ice cream on Thursday because of the 96% he got on his Biology test -- a 37% improvement from his first exam. (And if you ask me, seeing "Good Job!" on the testing center screen merits ice cream and cherries and whip cream and cupcakes). But even though his test score was worth celebrating, I still wasn't convinced.

But then -- I got a text on Friday morning, inviting me to a celebratory luncheon because he had finally found the girl of his dreams (and even though he had to pass her a note in the library to actually ask her out) he did it. And she said yes.

And then! Late Saturday night I got a text telling me he had won $500 dollars earlier that day. And that his life is close to perfect. And that all I need to do is: read and believe in "The Secret" -- because as the book states: 1. Believe (and then 2. you shall receive).

Needless to say, his random streak of luck over the past few days made me think twice about "The Secret." So I watched the documentary yesterday afternoon, took notes throughout all 90 minutes, (and although some of their methods were...well, pretty obvious to me...) I thought that it made sense: If I put out positive forces into the universe, the law of attraction would inevitably have to respond by bringing me positive results. So that's what I did: positive positive positive thoughts, and within the past 24 hours I have:

Had a parking ticket.
Learned that the cute delivery book boy I've had a crush on for months already has a girlfriend.
Guessed on about 50% of my English exam this morning (even though I studied 29 hours yesterday).
I was told that rain is forecasted for this afternoon - and my springtime picnic might have to be rain checked (actually...not really, because I will go sit on a blanket, in the park, in my straw hat, come rain, snow or shine. I've been looking forward to this one waaaay too long).
And finally - I don't know how this one happened, but I thought the can of shaving cream under my sink was hairspray for a moment -- and I screamed when I realized I had pink foam covering the top of my head.

The Secret may work for others - but apparently it doesn't for me.

--

Life is still good, but as Forrest Gump would say: That is all I have to say about that.

all i want out of life.

2011-03-13T18:26:00.005-06:00

the
little brown pen probably has the most beautiful pictures i've ever seen.

and after spending a sunday afternoon browsing through the entire website, i have decided that all i really want out of life is a picket fence and twinkle lights,

and maybe fresh flowers on my kitchen table.

--

we scheduled our "celebrate springtime picnic" this tuesday because daylight savings means we get an extra hour of sunshine (and that makes daylight savings okay even though i dread losing an hour of sleep)

blacking out.

2011-03-09T14:22:00.008-07:00

I saw this post earlier today on Cup of Jo,
and was reminded of something I saw a few weeks ago on Tyler Knott's website.

I think this idea is so neat,
and the message so sweet.

(almost makes me want to add on my male checklist:

-must be able to write poetry

but I'll settle for at least being willing to read together for now)

the caramel apple on my doorstep.

2011-03-02T22:11:00.005-07:00

To whoever left a caramel apple on my doorstep:

I normally don't cry (...okay, that's actually a lie...) but today I cried a lot. Anyone I spoke to between 4 and 5:30 PM can testify of that.

But when I opened the door this evening seconds after I heard the doorbell ring, no one was there -- but I saw the caramel apple. Which most notably came with a pink bow.

I don't know who you are, but consider yourself one of my best friends. Because whoever you are (whether you knew it or not) you just made my day. And provided my dinner. And made me so, so, so happy, because I knew my math class (and other such things) were no longer worth being sad about. So I am thankful. And grateful. And happy.

And feel very blessed.

Confession Session. Trois.

2011-03-01T14:23:00.011-07:00

I don't know why - but it's sort of become a tradition (as in this is only the third time I've done this). But nevertheless, a confession session must still be had, because today is March the first of Two-Thousand-Eleven.

1. I hate washing my hair. If I could magically decide to either 1. Never have to wash my hair again or 2. Never have to shave again - I'd pick 1.

2. Andrew Garfield? This fellow from The Social Network? Seriously would have given a right arm and/or leg to have been his date to the Oscars on Sunday night. Really.

No, really.

3. Speaking of missing arms -- (worst transition in the world, I know) -- this Disney Movie preview almost made me cry. And I want to see the Disney movie Prom. But if I really got to choose - I'd go see a silent movie over anything any night of the week because they melt my heart.
(and if you live somewhere near Salt Lake City you can see them here!)

4. I think we all saw this one coming...but seriously: Justin Bieber, Justin Bieber, Justin Bieber. You know something is wrong with you when you're sitting in the Justin Bieber movie and your 10 year old cousin asks if you're really crying. Because I did. As did my sister. For a good ten minutes (this movie is inspiration at it's best my friends). And as Kylie said: Justin Bieber is a prodigy.

5. I hate video games. Rock Band, Guitar Hero, Halo, Wii anything - I am not a fan. And I am now every boy and future child's worst nightmare.

6. 90% of my diet truly consists of cheese, turkey and bread.

7. The first picture I had on my dashboard when I got my first car was of President Bush. And I still think he's cute.

8. I bought 10 flying paper lanterns after I saw the movie Tangled. I plan on making a wish on every single one of them one of these days.

9. I have a marriage book. And I know I sound a little BYU-esque when I say that, but I do. I started a marriage book of all my favorite quotes, poems, ideas for kids names and married date night ideas... I even have a section: "to read when we get in future disagreements."
Honestly? It's one of my most favorite books in the world.

10. Last but not least...
Reading this quote the other day changed my life:
"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."
-President Thomas S. Monson

Okay, maybe it didn't change my life, but reading it made me want to.

And with all ten confessions out there,
my March can officially begin.

it's my best day ever.

2011-02-23T15:41:00.006-07:00

The same boss, who asks me every Monday morning if I've fallen in love over the weekend,
Who wears a little top hat and sweater every day to work (despite the temperature outdoors)
Has definitely fallen onto the list of my favorite people, ever.

Every afternoon when I first greet him by asking how his day is going, he replies:
"Oh it's my best day ever."

In fact,
I don't think there's been one day in the past year and a half of working here, that he hasn't told me it was his best day ever.

(with only one exception, and that was when he came into work with a black eye - but according to him that morning, it was his "second best day ever.")

And honestly? I love it. Do you remember when you were little and you'd hear a phrase and it sounded so cool so you wanted to start using it all the time?
(think: i don't grow up, i throw up, and when you see it, you lick it up, because you think it's 7up)

Third grade? I know.

But I also know that whenever I hear "it's my best day ever," I start to feel like it's my best day ever, too.

So I decided it's about time I start saying it.

Who knew a part time job could be so great?

7up girls.

2011-02-17T22:45:00.008-07:00

I used to call myself a 7up girl (hence the name 7upkels) - and I usually forget about those days until someone brings it up. Whenever they do, mind you, the 7up girls are usually an easy target for a joke (and I have to admit, I understand why) but back when the 7up girls were in full swing, I was most definitely a part of it.

And we made notebooks.

That's all you really need to know, because truthfully, I think that's what we were best known for. These notebooks were filled with a lot of things, but mainly, they documented most of our memories. Things like "Our Crushes," "Our Favorite Songs," or even "7up girl quotes" -- (easy targets for an easy joke becomes painfully obvious right about now) -- really, the notebooks were full of silly things like that. But the one thing I look back on and am still completely amused by, was our time line. I think that's my favorite.

The time line was a pretty simple way of documenting the simple adventures of high school. It consisted of only the most noteworthy events that took place in our lives, and these were just a few:

Kelsie has drivers ed with Austin Pritchett
Sara gets over Zac Fox
Cassie goes to Sadies with Chris
7up Girl meeting held in Kelsie's backyard - a lot was covered.

Riveting, I know.

But honestly, the more I thought about it tonight as I reminisced with old friends, the more I realized that if I were to document my own life on a time line right now, it would look completely different. I forget about that cute boy in class by the time I walk out of it. I don't think about the football games I go to, or write down about lunch when all the 7upgirls are back together, (in fact, getting everyone together is about the hardest thing in the world these days anyway). Actually, looking at the closest thing that resembles a time line, my past journal entries make me sound like I've turned into an old woman, always going to bed early and staying up late on weekends to study. What has become of me?

Yes, I'm excited about my future, especially as a broadcast journalism major (and yes, I can officially say that now!) the traveling, internships, relationships, and all that's yet to come... But I almost miss the days when I didn't worry about those days: when I was excited about drivers ed with Austin Pritchett, even if it was at 6:30 in the blessed a.m.

But only just a little.

try.

2011-02-16T13:09:00.005-07:00

I'm not old enough to play baseball or football. I'm not eight yet. My mom told me when you start baseball, you aren't going to be able to run that fast because you had an operation. I told Mom I wouldn't need to run that fast. When I play baseball, I'll just hit them out of the park. Then I'll be able to walk.
-Edward J. McGrath, Jr

When I began college, there were things I was afraid of trying because I was afraid of failing. But about a year or so ago, I changed my major (debated on changing schools) because after three years of being "comfortable" with what I was doing, I wanted to challenge myself to try something I loved even more -- even if that meant risking failure (and an extra year or two of school). I was stressed. Stressed, anxious and to be honest, doubtful. I had to rearrange my plans for graduation, I had to switch over to an entirely new class load and become familiar with a whole new curriculum.
Yes, doubtful is the right word. And stressed.

A few weeks ago, after completing the prerequisite courses and working on a lot of other projects, interviews, essays and assignments for this field, I finally finished. This meant that all I had to do for the next few weeks was wait. Even then, I would ask myself over and over, "Why? Why? Why?" - I wondered what I'd do if I didn't get in and what that would mean... (another 18 years of college, I convinced myself). In a nutshell, why was I brave enough to risk so much?

Well, I woke up this morning with a knot in my stomach -- today was the day I would receive my letter. I almost tripped out the door in a rush to open the envelope and read the verdict:

I was accepted. I nearly fainted, but instead I just cried (luckily no one was around). And when I arrived to class (fifteen minutes late) a friend pulled out the story above (about the boy playing baseball) for me to read on his computer.

It was all so fitting.

And to be honest, I've never been so happy with an accomplishment. Even my first kiss didn't feel this good.

So naturally, I thought I'd blog about it.
Because today is such a good day,
And because today I'm so unbelievably glad and grateful I tried.

(ps. turns out i won't be 40 when i graduate after all!)