the real christmas

most of the time, I let the month of December get to me. for the past few years,
it has always mean the same thing: snow, finals, bad drivers, and being cold, and christmas songs.

but I sometimes forget, it's supposed to mean something else. it is the Christmas season,
and for one month a year, people tend to take on Christlike attributes, and do so
more consciously. People are more willing to give of themselves, of their time,
and "the simple teaching of the Savior that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) becomes a reality.

I had lunch with megan yesterday, and bless both of our hearts we struggle in the winter time.
but this year, I decided I want to try and truly feel and study the meaning and feeling of Christmas.

we have decided to read one Christmas devotional or story everyday in the month of December, and I could not be more excited about it. Today is day three, and here is my favorite quote:

Christmas is not a day or a season, but a condition of heart and mind.

If we love our neighbors as ourselves;

if in our riches we are poor in spirit and in our poverty we are rich in grace;

if our charity vaunteth not itself, but suffereth long and is kind;

if when our brother asks for a loaf, we give ourselves instead;if each day dawns in opportunity and sets in achievement, however small—

then every day is Christ’s day and Christmas is always near.

Merry Christmas season!
and please bless that I will get a better Christmas spirit.

we're in a recession folks

I've been slowly catching on to a growing hair trend: the hair melt aka ombre hair.

at first I really didn't think I liked it that much, but, I do.

it doesn't look like regrowth (okay it totally does),

but rather sunkissed tresses. Amazing how trends

can change your perspective. I am so hip.

I'm totally having this done to my hair tomorrow. I'm copying Richelle. Kind of.

If you really don't want me to, stop me by tomorrow.

The best part is I will let it grow out and save monies an no one will know the difference.

I am poor.

loving these

these albums have been on repeat in my car for a good two months now. I realize that two of them are country. so sue me. buy them now, I'm serious. you need these songs.

Taylor Swift:
1. Mine
2. Never Grow Up

Brandon Flowers:
1. Hard Enough
2. Crossfire

Lady Antebellum:
1. Love this Pain
2. Perfect Day

Pretty soon I'm only gonna be listening to this:

good thoughts

I just remembered a phrase I used to use in every

single one of my prayers growing up:

"may we have good dreams not bad dreams, good thoughts not bad thoughts."

I wish my concerns were that simple now too. Here is my good thought today.

"With any major decision there are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been an illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don't give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don't give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. Cast not away therefore your confidence. Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you."

--Jeffrey R. Holland

Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence

Liahona June 2000

brain dump

I can't help it, I am terrible at blogging. I always read others blogs though,

so it makes me feel like I don't need to call dear friends like Shauna Lewis because

I constantly feel like I've just been updated on what's new in her life.

(not an excuse.)

I seriously can't wait to be done with school.

Glory glory hallelujah.

Taking 18 credits your senior year is not recommended.

I still have no job- esthetics in Utah is mostly a joke.

You people are cheap. I have had one appointment in two months.

I love having Andre' in my ward, and having Holly close.

Nothing like having family nearby while you're in school.

I went to Disneyland two weekends ago, haven't been forever.

I loved it. For so many reasons. If I ever move to LA, I will be a season pass holder.

It's getting cold in Utah again. I shouldn't be able to complain,

seeing how it is the middle of November and we haven't even REALLY seen snow,

but I hate it. I do not do well.

My North Face fleece and my UGG boots are

going to be the only thing you see me in until next year.

Too bad Bethers isn't here to be hating winter with me.

I have not gone shopping, even once this semester.

Okay once, and I bought these gems:

I don't regret it at all, and I wear them with everything on the days I'm not wearing my UGGs.

I cannot wait to have a real grown up job with real grown up paychecks.

But just because I'm not shopping does not mean I'm living under a rock.

I could really use these items:

I've really gotten back into chicken soft tacos from Del Taco recently,

not sure why but I think they are really really good.

I miss my friends, even though most of them live in the same complex as me.

Amazing how that seems so far sometimes. I could really use

more of them in my life. Also, I want to be back here:

I can't stop watching two movies:

1. How to Train Your Dragon

2. Sleepless in Seattle

How had I never seen How to Train Your Dragon before? That movie is hilarious, action packed, and an all-around good time.

Aidan and Ethan can't stop quoting it:

Aidan: "I have beefy arms! I have beefy eyes!"

Ethan: "Ha. ha. Beeth eyes!"

Hilarious.

It is almost the holidays. Richelle has been lighting her christmas candles,

has her tree up already, and has been listening to N'Sync Christmas on Pandora.

It makes me want to be home with these crazy peeps:

And it's a fact that I have the cutest nephews inthe entire world. Seriously.

stress

if there is one phrase that I possibly overuse, it is this:

I. am. stressed.

Or any other sort of variation. That stresses me out. I'm stressin. Mostly I'm kidding, but enjoy making things semi-awkward and uncomfortable.

This week, midterms stressed me out. But not as much as they normally do because I am beginning to not care. I just need a job.

Two nights ago, I could not stop watching the show Hoarders: Buried Alive. These people are crazy, and watching them live in these types of conditions stressed me out. I spent the entire day cleaning.

Midterms ended, I stopped staying up late to watch stressful television, and woke up and started watching TLC's A Baby Story, and I Didn't Know I was Pregnant.

What the freak?

Like I wasn't terrified enough already of growing a person inside myself, people go on national television to share their awful, stressful experiences. These people are crazy.

All of this stress has caused me to become sick. Which is how I'm going to spend the rest of my fall break from school. Awesome.

At least my room is clean, I'm not pregnant, and I dominated my midterms.

breakthrough

sometimes, I surprise even myself.

between me, Meggers, Bertolli and Richelle, the last thing we need is an excuse not to date somebody. Seinfeld said it best:

She had man hands.

He's a regifter.

She's a two-face.

She's got the jimmy legs.

She's a virgin.

She just took credit for my salad.

She's one of these low-talkers.

He's a high talker.

He's a bit of a close talker.

She's bald.

She went out with Newman?

She's too tan.

She's too good.

She wasn't my type.

and we can definitely add our own to the list.

he wears gloves. he's not funny. he has weird friends. he made me eat vegetables. he made a double comeback. his heart just isn't in it. he likes bad music. he had a booger in his nose. He won't chew gum. He wears gargoyle shirts. He has baby hands. He has a weird laugh. He only wears free t-shirts.

But recently, I've grown.

Me: I hate his jeans.

Richelle: Jeans are fixable.

Me: You're right.

Richelle: How bad are they?

Me: Awful.

Richelle: Yikes.

Me: I've met plenty of guys with good jeans and bad attitudes.

Maybe there's hope for me after all.