I'm pretty sure that this is the cutest video,
ever, ever.

harry, zayne... and that's all i can remember.

I've just got to admit it... I love this song.

but why?

I remember the first time I attended an Opera. It wasn't romantic... or that much fun. I was 13 years old, and my dad had bought tickets for the family to attend a Saturday night production of La Bohème at Capitol Theater. I dreaded going, I dreaded even the idea of sitting through an entire two hours of people singing in French, and worst of all, I dreaded spending any Friday night without the company or quality of my Dream Street CD.

I remember asking my dad why we had to go. A lot. I'm sure he said something about spending quality time with family, but when I kept persisting, but whyyyy ... I remember him saying something about the importance of broadening our horizons.

Years later, in a British Lit class at BYU, I had a very wise professor ask us why we were in college. Beside, perhaps, becoming informed citizens, gaining necessary credentials, and socializing - why were we there willing to study History? Art? or Literature? Why did something that happened in 1809 matter over two hundred years later? Why read Wordsworth? Practice the piano? Travel thousands of miles to see the Mona Lisa? Or barely survive reading The Odyssey for the first time? Why do we care?

My dad must have taken a class from this same professor, because he said something about broadening our horizons, too... But then he quoted something I doubt I'll ever forget:

Make your mind an interesting place to live for the rest of your life.

latest favs

I feel like I'm always last on the bandwagon, but these are some of my favorites lately:

1. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

I really couldn't put this book down for a few weeks.  The culture and practice of foot binding in nineteenth-century China was fascinating to read about, (albeit, rather gruesome, too) and was so well written that I really felt like I was a part of another time in history. What especially kept my attention, though, was the story of Lily and her relationship with her "laotong" Snow Flower. Their friendship, the intertwining of their lives through their secret messages and fan; you read their story starting from their early foot bindings at six or seven years old, through their adolescence, marriage, family, children, etc. I thought the concepts and ideas in this book such as "old-sames" and "a woman's duty" were intriguing and thought provoking, and was glad my mom had already read it because it was definitely one of those books you want to discuss and ask questions about.

2. Jonsi



Go Icelandic music.


3. The Artist

I will admit, although I'm sure I've tried to sound cultured (read: trendy) enough in admitting that I enjoy silent movies, and periodically visit the Organ Loft, if I were really being honest, I would tell you that I actually get bored every time. It is only fun for the first five minutes, and then I check my watch every few minutes after that waiting for the end. This silent movie, however, (a very, very big however!) was enchanting, charming and simply perfect from start to finish. Max wishes he could be Captain America, I wish I could be Peppy Miller. I have seen it three times already, and can honestly admit that The Artist is definitely a new favorite in every way.


(and what kind of person shares lists like these without sharing a viral YouTube video. now, that is the bestest... it's yumma!)

wedding bells are ringing.

I've only been out of school for a few weeks, but I feel like I've accomplished half of the start of summer to-do list. Book reading, Dunkaroo hunting (not kidding - when I found out that WalMart is selling these again I made half a dozen phone calls at least!) a battle between choosing diet coke or lemonade every time, and best of all: long, sunny, carefree afternoons with Max. Summer wins every time.

We've tied a few more loose ends when it comes to some of the wedding planning, too, including booking a string quartet for the wedding dinner. (I plan on posting a few pictures of the location and everything that has come together so far next time!)

Originally I was hoping to find music that would fit with the special day and the setting I would like that night at the dinner, but what I ended up finding was a dream come true. I was looking for something between both classical and modern music, and so when I found a string quartet with a repertoire including: When You Wish Upon A Star, La Vie en Rose, and Clair de Lune -- I was nearly smitten. And when I heard a clip of the song below, I nearly cried.



45 more days... but whose counting?

it's time.

I could listen to the song below over and over and over and over again. I remember listening to it on the last day of school one year ago, driving away from campus with my windows rolled down. It's the best kind of song, and one of my newest old favorites.



With the end of this semester though, I feel a little different. This was my last semester at BYU. With only a few online classes left to take, I'll never again step back into the classroom, (at least that's what I'm telling myself for now :). But truthfully, I'll miss school. I feel like BYU was a huge chapter in my life. And it was. A whole five years.

I look back and am surprised at my own experiences; what I learned, and even what I'd do over again. In a very small, small way of saying things: I feel so grateful to have learned so much. It was in my first college writing class that I first read ee Cummings, "not even the rain has such small hands." It was then I knew I loved him. I remember as a sophomore sitting in my first Sociology course realizing how profoundly proud I was of my country, even if my Professor didn't seem to be.

Everything from reading Dante's Divine Comedy to reporting for KBYU Eleven News, it's almost ironic that some of my favorite memories were in some of my most difficult classes. So today I feel like I'm not only taking the past three months with me, but the last five years -- so much stretching and shaping and changing and growing and learning and really, so many wonderful, wonderful things.

I could go on and on about my experience at college; what I would recommend and what I wouldn't. What I'd change and what I'd keep the same. But for now, I just plan on listening to this song once again on my drive home this last day of the semester. I'll forget for just a moment that this chapter is ending.

And then I'll let myself feel really, really grateful.

it's about time for summer.

All I need when the weather is warm

is a good playlist
and the windows rolled down.

you jump, i jump, remember?

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:




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.

christmas memories.

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.

tea, a drink with jam and bread.

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.

cinnamon rolls and mozart.

When I was younger, my dad came up with a rule that I never (ever) fully appreciated until this morning. Back to the days of Backstreet Boys, Nsync and Mandy Moore, I remember the very first CD I ever owned was:
"Aqua: Barbie Girl."

I was ecstatic. Even thinking about it now gets me excited. This was the first CD I ever. owned. It was a huge deal. And although it was only the single, I think that it is the one song I can remember listening to more than any other in my entire life, with maybe the exception of My Heart Will Go On. (Don't even deny it -- if you were in the third grade, you would have been a huge Celine Dion/Kate and Leo fan too -- even if you weren't allowed to see the movie for another seven years.)

Anyway, the same day I received the Barbie Girl CD, I remember my dad explaining his new brilliant rule: Every time I was ever given any sort of CD, I would promptly be taken to the store to purchase one classical music CD of choice as well.

Looking back, this isn't surprising. I remember instead of listening to Radio Disney on our way to school in the mornings, my dad somehow thought his two daughters would benefit more from listening to Classical 89 (really, what was he thinking?) --
But mind you, I was only eight, and my sister only six. Eight years old and knowing the difference between Rachmaninov and Pachelbel? For those of you who don't know my dad, let me just say that this rule of his explains him perfectly.

Anyway, back to the original meaning of today's message: This morning, with the rain falling outside my window, cinnamon rolls cooking, all while sitting next to the fireplace and actually finding the time to read out of pure enjoyment, (whaaat? even during the middle of the semester? today has been a miracle I tell you!) -- I was also able to voluntarily pull out one of the many classical CD's I've accumulated over the years, and listen to it while eating breakfast.

My parents always told me I'd thank them one day, and so I guess this happens to be one of those days -- because as all the BYU football go-ers walk past my window, I wave and say enjoy the football game, but today I think I will enjoy Mozart.

rocket summer.

we all have our guilty pleasures, but since i was about 16 -
the rocket summer has always been mine.
after already seeing him 11 times in concert,
i am making it 12 this november.
the confetti during his shows just gets me every time.

and as for gossip girls - (another all too common guilty pleasure)
i don't know how i've managed to do it,
but i've completely sworn off the television series.
first facebook, now gossip girl - this should elevate my status to: i'm a-maz-ing.

hot date.

he's great on the radio,
but 23,495,394,853,085,039
(multiplied by infinity) times better in concert.

so yes, i paid $39.50 to have a date with johnathan mayer tonight.

chasing summer.

"The Endless Summer" was a documentary that came out in 1966,
which follows two young surfers who basically "chase summer"
around the world for an entire year.

When I first heard about this movie, I was sitting in a diner in California and decided that instead of making my trip back home to Utah, I would instead, forget finals and chase summer.
(common sense usually gets the best of me though,
and the end of this story is: I ended up driving back home to Utah)

I forgot about this movie until the other day,
and now that my summer is really coming to an end,
I've decided that,
(at least when money and school don't get in the way)
I will be chasing summer one day.

Until then, my never-ending
summertime soundtrack will have to do.

the 5 loves of my life.

the very first cassette tape i ever owned was:
the beach boys

the very first crush i remember having
(besides jonathan taylor thomas,
who comes in at a close second)
was:
the beach boys

before the dream street era,
my boy band of choice was:
the beach boys

___

so after learning that the beach boys are coming to provo, utah this november,
i officially have one good reason to be excited for the fall.

me plus you.

guess who finalllly got tickets for a hot date
to see this beautiful face in concert?

i am freaking. out.

___

july 10th i may just fall in love,
and then never fall out of it again.

counting my blessings, instead of counting calories.

not as if i usually count my calories, or even necessarily watch what i eat - but i thought that phrase was special, so why not pass it on (and work on being grateful, too).

so...life seems to get busier and busier, and it's beginning to feel a lot like summer - which (considering those two combined) doesn't make much sense, but here are just a few items of business:

1. has anyone read the book thief by markus zusak? i just started it the other day and love it. (thanks for the recommendation elin!) -- any other summer book suggestions?

2. yesterday the radio was psychic and knew exactly what i needed to hear as i made the long unbearable drive down university parkway, managing to hit all 127 red lights in .5 miles (this is usual). i usually prefer one of my cd's (i haven't hopped on the ipod wagon yet - emphasis on yet) but the radio just knew exactly what i liked for once: john mayer, justin bieber, no rocket summer - but that's only because the rocket summer isn't on the radio (yet).

3. but speaking of the rocket summer...
before "kelsie" was the name of choice - i was going to be a "summer." since this news was revealed, i have been convinced that i'd name one of my own daughters summer. and i will.
and just the other day i found out that my friend kylie wants to name her daughter rocket. which means... our children together will be named: rocket summer. in my world, i'd call that fate, but i still don't have any real evidence to support that theory, but maybe one day i will.

that's all for now.

{photo via}

Kind-Of Obsessed.

With this CD.
(one week to go!)

Some favorites:
Topsy Turvy, Family Force 5
Follow Me, 3Oh!3 ft. Neon Hitch
Painting Flowers, All Time Low
Tea Party, Kerli

and now I'm pretty excited for the movie, too.

although is it just me,
or is alice way too young in the original movie
to even think about getting married?


(just an afterthought: worst. movie. ever.)

Two Is Better Than One.

I once wrote about Kathleen Kelly from my all-time Favorite movie: You've Got Mail.
If I were to be cast into any movie, as any character that totally identifies with who I am...I would perfectly fit her role.

however, if my life were to have background music by only ONE artist...
and I could relate to only ONE person...
Hands down, Taylor Swift would be singing my story.
One of My All-Time Favorites? The Way I Loved You.
A new favorite? 2 Is Better than 1.


i just heard it over the weekend,
what do you guys think?

Mr. Mayer.

"The saddest kind of sad is the sad that tries not to be sad. You know, when Sad tries to bite its lip and not cry and smile and go, "No, I'm happy for you?" That's when it's really sad."
-John Mayer

I can totally relate Mr. Mayer.
& I know the media likes to portray you as this arrogant,
insensitive, heart-breaker;
Regardless, I am still so in love with you and your music.

ps. i'm happy to be home.