Z: Zooey. Duh.

Let's wrap this up! Good-bye A-Z Series! You were fun, but I am done with you. I don't like things cramping my style and having to do the alphabet in order was too compartmentalized for me. But it was good for me. And it's going out with a bang! Good ol' Zooey. I think she is the most featured person on here. I can't help it!

I Was Made for You - She & Him

Y: Yellow

I love yellow. Possibly my favorite color. Here are some yellow things for you to appreciate.


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Yellow - Coldplay

X: X-Files

Post Edit: I'm not gonna lie. This post was the biggest mistake of my life. Seriously. Seriously?! I can't believe that even after talking about them for a whole year, I did not make this about my beloved X-Files. Thank you Kenzie, for bringing me to this realization. X is for X-Files. Now on to the original post.


I have nothing for x. Because, let's face it, the only words that start with x are things like x-ray and xylophone. And neither of those are very inspirational. So I went to Flickr and searched around for x's. And that was when I came up with this:


Duh. X-Men.

But I haven't actually seen any of the X-Men movies. (Check out that vein on his arm! Sorry...I get distracted by big muscles.)
Are they any good?


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Floating Beds for Magical Ladies

This is my new favorite photo and I long for a bed of my own in the middle of a pond.
I wish I had something clever to say, some topic that would enchant my dear readers, but nothing comes to mind.
I shall come back in the morning with a fresh mind and deep thoughts to share concerning magical looking beds.

Oh wait!
One just came to mind.
The Lady of Shalott.
I don't know why, but this bed reminds me of her.
Maybe it's just the water and the loneliness of the scene.
Speaking of Elaine, didn't Padme, at the end of Star Wars, look just like her?
Elaine had to be the inspiration for the way they portrayed her.
Yes, I am a nerd.
Sorry.
Not.

.the problem with the credit for the top picture is that I can't seem to remember where I found this... let me know if you know so I can credit it properly. The bottom was googled. xoxo

W: Wales

Speaking of Wales, does anyone else want to go to Great Britain?

Thank you, Susan Cooper, for starting this fascination.

W: Whale Watching

Whale watching is on my bucket list. Whales are really big and slightly scary, but I am fascinated by them nonetheless. This one thinks he's a ballerina. Which I am totally fine with. Take all the magic of the ocean and mix in a creature that sings (!!) and has mysterious physique. I want one. Do you think they're friendly? Or am I too tiny to pay much attention to? Like a hamster? Hmmmm...

V: Vintage

Lots of blogging, I know. But I'm a tiny bit bored..credit


I love all things vintage. If someone adds in that touch of old then I'm hooked. Which is a good explanation for my strange obsessions like Katy Perry's music video, Zooey Deschanel's cotton commercials, antique stores, and red lipstick. And anyone who feeds these addictions I automatically love. Cue Clay {who will spend hours with my in The Man in the Moon on Center Street}, Kenzie {who looks incredible in red lipstick}, Tiffany {who encourages me in all of this} and those little white gloves that are sitting on my bookshelf, waiting for the right event.

Can we please go back to a prettier time? One where we dressed up a little more? Where the cars were so much better? And where there were drive in movies? I'm just sayin.

V: Violins

Three more days in 2009! I better finish this up...

I have always wanted to play the violin, but I have never done anything about it. Except enjoy the music that others produce for me. Here are two of my favorites, Lucia Micarelli and Mairead Nesbitt.

Finals Week Pictures

Finals week. With Talana. In pictures. And a video or two.

Day #1: Macey's has the best eggnog ice cream.

Day #3: In Target. What the h? Who made this?

At our favorite Sunflower Market

DO NOT try to eat my J Dawg.

Day #4: Day before the wedding with Alexia and Kate Day #5: I suppose there was a wedding.
Congratulations, little one! I love you bunches and bunches!
hello kitty! ps It was real cold!

The flowers didn't actually taste good...

What's in a name?

Inspired by Rebel Angels, I've been playing with anagrams. How fun is it to change up your name? I'm really really bad at it. But I don't mind.
So far, I've come up with

Lacey Keli Warren

I don't love it, so I will be playing around with the letters until I get something I like.

What's an anagram of your name? Is it a name you would go by?

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Waves and Weak Stomachs. (and the adventure of a lifetime.)

The whole running off to sea thing was inspired by a deep sea fishing trip my family took on Saturday. I have been looking forward to this for a month now. We all know how I love the ocean and dream of being a pirate. Well, I got seasick. WHAT?! Where did that come from? The thought never even crossed my mind that that could be an issue. So the plan is to somehow spend enough time on the water to conquer my weak stomach. And then to eventually run away and be a pirate. Maybe being a mermaid would be better plan...


Anyways, an awesome friend introduced me to this awesome idea. What do you think?

50 days on a cargo ship. $600. No baggage limitations (that's the one that got me!). Wouldn't you like to come? And see the world? I am seriously considering it. Really. I need an adventure.


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Merry Christmas!

.credit (I got to see the original in the Salt Lake Temple. It was stunning.)

Normally I've got a countdown going in my head for Christmas, but this year I've been kind of a Scrooge. I think I've just been too busy to realize that Christmas is here! Beautiful musical firesides, putting up the Christmas tree, and watching Tavi play with the nativity under the tree has helped me feel a little bit more of the seasonal cheer. Here's a Christmas message to remind you of the true Christmas meaning and my two favorite Christmas pictures to make you feel warm and fuzzy. xoxo
Behold the Lamb of God by Walter Rane

Funny Names

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1. Rock Star name (first pet name, current car): Lacey Ford
2. Gangsta name (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite shoe): Butter Pecan Stilettos
   
3. Native American name (favorite color, favorite animal): Yellow Tiger
4. Soap Star name (your middle name, city you were born in): Nicole Tampa
   
5. Star Wars name (first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name):Walre
6. Superhero name (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Teal Water
   
7. NASCAR name (first names of your grandfathers): Willie Richard
   
8. Dancer name (favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy): Chance Symphony
   
9. TV news anchor name (Last name of 5th grade teacher, major city starting with the same letter): Walker Wellington
   
10. Spy name (favorite season/holiday, favorite flower): Summer Peony
    
11. Cartoon character name (favorite fruit, article of clothing you are currently wearing): Cherry Pajama
    
12. Hippie name (what you ate for breakfast this morning, favorite tree): Apple Birch
    
13. Movie star name (name of first pet, first street you lived on): Lacey Sanford
14. And for good measure, Kenzie and I decided my stripper name was Razzleberry Whisk. Or something like that.
    

via Frozen Eight

The right place, the right time.

Sometimes I want things a bit out of order. But tonight, while watching some tv as I waited for Tiff and Rand to come home, I flipped to Teen Mother (or Mama? I don't really know) and I was reminded of why things are the way they are.

I'm not a teen mother. I'm not afraid of a step-father that has been in and out of prison. My parents don't yell at me and have never said anything unkind to me. I am not a 16-year-old that is continually put down for giving my baby up for adoption. I have never been dumped because I had a baby waiting for me at home. I am not emotionally abused.

I am surrounded by love and happiness. I have the truth. I sometimes make dumb decisions, but I have never been faced with a challenge more difficult than I am ready to handle. I can't wait for the day that I have a little one to hold, but I am grateful that that day is not today.

There is a right time for everything.

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Promises

I promised Mindy a post. And I promised my mom pictures (because there was no color the last time she read my blog). And I am promising to be a better blogger.

.credit (I hit the random button on Flickr and came up with this beautifulness.)

Obnoxious

Fact: I'M HOH-OHM!!!! (Pretend I just said that in my obnoxious voice. I know you know what I'm talking about.)

And it is humid. So humid. I think I am going to die. But my family is nice. And those Packer people sure are awesome. That's about it. More to come.

Finals Week

Finals begin today. Which is fine, because I feel ready for them. It has been a very good semester and I will be sad to see it go. I don't know how next semester is even going to compare. My goal is to make it even better. I can't wait.

As a rule, finals week always goes out with a bang. April 2009 brought a car wreck. December 2008 brought llamas and car wrecks. April 2008 was all-nighters, The O.C. marathons, and too much food. As for December 2009, Talana is in town and staying with me, so it's gonna be a good one. Yesterday was amazing, what with church and music and games. Today promises to be just as good. So, if I can catch the bus, I'll be taking some finals, building some snowmen, eating some hot dogs, caroling at a nursing home, baking banana bread, going to the library, and watching Christmas movies. You are all invited to join me on any of these activities. Documentation will be provided of fun times.

As for the rest of the week, Alexia's getting married! Kate's getting in town today and I am going home in just 3 days. I can't wait to see my family and to finally be warm. Ahhh...Florida. I can hear you calling me. I'm coming.

Game Night

Sunday night is game night. And some weeks a lot of people come (meaning like 4, but they're really loud! So it counts.) Some weeks are smaller and quieter. And some weeks (aka today) there are firesides that interrupt. So we didn't actually have a game night. But we played some games with our friends at their house. And I have to share some things that were said. I will make them anonymous, in case certain people don't want me to share. But they were funny!!!

These were all while playing Catch Phrase.

The word is guppy
B: It's like oatmeal...
Me (sitting next to him, not on his team): How is that like oatmeal? That is a fish!
B: Oh I was reading it "goopy".


The word is Brooklyn
Me: A tree grows in ____...
J: Dirt! A forest!
Me: It's in New York...
J: Central Park!
buzzer goes off
Me: Brooklyn! A Tree Grows in Brooklyn! It's a book! And a movie!
B & J: Not everyone knows that! Is that supposed to be a common literary reference?


The phrase is Remember the Alamo
T: Davey Crockett said this!
Somebody: Remember the Alamo!
J: Wait! Davey Crockett was at the Alamo? When was this?
Me: How did you not know that Davey was at the Alamo? Disney even made a movie!
everyone (including J) starts singing the song
J: How did you know that and not me? Were you at the Alamo?


A: um....
M: Marzipan!
A: that's it!

The phrase is Mardi Gras
B: It's a party in Mexico...
Everyone: Cinco de Mayo, Day of the Dead...
B: Nope. Wait, maybe it's in Georgia!
Me (looking at the word): That's not in Mexico or Georgia!
B: Where is it?
Me: Louisiana!
B: Oh it's French!
M: Wait, you speak Spanish! How did you think that was Spanish?



If this bores you, I am sorry. But I know that Talana will laugh when she reads it.

U: Umbrellas

I really like umbrellas. I'm just saying. There's something kind of awesome about them. I once read from some guy in the early 1900s telling his son to always carry an umbrella when it looked like rain so he could take care of the woman he was accompanying. I don't know where I read that, but it was cute and I want men today to do the same. Just a thought.


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Llamas

Remember how I told you about caroling with llamas? It was for reals. We got llamas and collected canned goods for a local shelter. However, the stupid boy scouts had already wiped out the neighborhood, so we didn't get as many as we wanted. But here is some documentation. More to come.

I know this is hard to believe, but it is for reals.

The strangest thing happened to me today...

I began to get ready for a triathlon. Nothing fancy, just some running (I know! Shocker!), but it felt good. It was hard, but I was lucky enough to go with a friend who was gentle, yet pushed me just enough. And I'm going to keep going. And when April comes around, I am going to compete in a triathlon. It will be amazing.

There are three things that I am looking forward to during this whole process:

1. Overcoming my vanity
Today was the first step. I hate being caught without makeup, or my hair done, or generally looking my best. So not having time to replace the makeup I slept in with something decent was very tough. And the thought of spandex makes me cringe. But I am going to get over that.

2. Feeling/looking good
I don't think I feel or look bad, but it might be because I don't know the difference that regular exercise can make. I look forward to seeing how I feel and look in one month.

3. Seeing how far I can go
I have no skill in endurance. This is all about to change.

And I can't wait.

Floating Away

I'm having a hard time deciding what I want out of life today.
Most days I know what I want and then I go for it.
Sometimes it's as simple as a grilled cheese sandwich or a good novel.
On other days I get more complicated and want things like happiness, motivation, and endurance.
Today I had the simple and, while the grilled cheese was yummy, it wasn't enough.

So on to the complicated.

Today I want my stress to disappear.
It will take a lot of impossible things for this to happen.
So instead, I am going to try to let that all go and simply wish for a balloon.
A hundred balloons to float me high above the city would be preferrable,
but I am more than willing to make do with one red one.



Post edit: Some random person just brought me red balloons.
My life is complete.
thank you
thank you
thank you

.via Audrey Hepburn Complex

The Promised Happy Post

The coolest bookshelf in the USA. I need it for my future home. I will also need a husband that does not think these things are tacky.


via La Vie Boston

Ten (or Eleven)Things I Hate About Tuesday

You think it's pretty, huh? Snow is tricksy like that. I bet you wouldn't like driving this either.

I am a firm believer in equal opposites.
I think the Universe is, as well, and felt the need to counteract my happy Tuesday of last week.
Stop here if you don't want me to drag you down into the mire.

1. There is snow.
Everywhere.
Everywhere.
And I had to drive in that nasty stuff.
Please remind me that I love BYU.
Because I hate Utah right now.

2. Even though it is 1 degree out, my room has got to be in the nineties.
Not a lie.

3. The last assignment of the semester (to write a radio script for my advertising class) is hanging over my head.
It's due at 11:00 am and I haven't even been able to think of what product I want to write a jingle for.

4. My phone has done nothing but receive calls today.
No texts (to or from) and no phone calls from my end.
I feel lonely, detached, and ready to trade in a few fingers for the returned use of my phone.
(Cell phone, cell phone you're my heroin...sing along now!)

5. I have been waking up each hour for the past few nights.
No explanation.

6. I feel really fuzzy right now.
Which is mostly synonymous with blue/cloudy/under the weather/Eeyore-like/cranky.

7. I was irresponsible yet again (surprise!) and now plane tickets for Christmas have jumped beyond my price range. And I hate using my credit card.

8. The cute boy I have had a crush on for months has no inclination to ask me out, despite not a few successful and fun interactions.
I am starting to doubt what little feminine charm I thought I possessed.

9. I ate around twenty peanut butter cookies.

10. A certain four year old felt that entertaining her for 4 hours was absolutely necessary, despite the long list that her mother gave me to take care of most certainly proved otherwise. And because I am cranky, I did not appreciate being asked every 5 minutes (not an exaggeration) to provide entertainment.

And because I am cranky, here is another one

11. I was so tired (from being up all night) that I accidentally fell asleep from about 5:00-7:00 pm.
So I'm gonna be up all hours.

Happy post coming tomorrow, so don't fuss.

Growing Up

I can't wait for these days. I tell myself that they're coming, and I shouldn't get ahead of myself. I should enjoy where I am. But sometimes I remember being that little kid and how wonderful it was. And that is when I can't wait to be a momma and give some little ones all the great things my momma gave to me. Naked kids, clothesline forts, and muddy floors. They're coming. And I know I'm only 20, but I can't even wait.

Comments

I am just going to say this once: I love comments.
There are some of you awesome people out there who are regular commenters that make my day. But I have Google analytics. Out of the 60 or so of you that come each day, I am 100% sure that more than one or two people should be leaving a comment.
I'm just saying.

And if you know me, or don't know me, and think you're being creepy by reading my blog, let me assure you, you are not!
I blog because I want people to read what I write.
And sometimes I am insecure enough to need validation.
So, if I do know you, or don't know you, I will be really excited and like you a ton for commenting.
Really.
Try it and see how I greet you next time we meet.

It will be with this much excitement.So get ready.

T: Travel

We all know that I want to travel. Ever since I learned about the world and all the incredible things it holds, I've wanted nothing more than to see it all. Although I one day want to see it all, there are a few places that are calling me a bit more strongly than the others.

1. Australia
Obviously. I don't know when this obsession started. It might have been the first time I saw some science documentary about the Great Barrier Reef. It might have been when I saw Support Your Local Sheriff, or when I first heard an accent. Anyhow, my love has only increased with things like Baz Luhrmann's epic movie, Lisa Mitchell, and Finding Nemo. Oh, and can you say Koalas?

2. Great Britain
Ever since I read The Grey King by Susan Cooper, I've wanted to go to Wales. King Arthur has done nothing but make me want to haunt Cornwall, Orkney, etc. And Tamsin made me want to move to a farm house in the middle of nowhere. Sigh.

3. Italy
Is there anything more magical than Venice? A city built on water? I don't care that it smells bad. And all the history! Fascinating!

4. Greece
The clean white walls and clear water is calling my name.

5. New Zealand
Lord of the Rings made me want this one.

6. Norway
The North has always called my name. Fjords, East of the Sun, West of the Moon setting, the Northern Lights. Yes, please.

7. Portugal, Spain, France
They are all grouped together because I just want to go. Nothing specific, just the romance.

8. Peru
Llamas, Inca ruins, the Andes.

9. Brazil
For the Amazon

10. Egypt
Pyramids. Duh.