Footsteps

Last night I was listening to my one roommate shuffle across the living room floor, thinking about how I knew it was her just as well as if she had spoken to me or I had looked her way. Later, Jessica's stride and the other roomie's bounce down the stairs affirmed that their walks are just as individual as their faces.

I love watching people walk--it tells me so much about them. Much more than a two minute exchange of pleasantries could ever tell. I don't always have the opportunity to get to know everyone as well as I would like, so I watch them walk. And I learn a lot.

Roomie's shuffle tells me a little bit about her hesitation, some shyness. The other roomie's walk is full of confidence. H-face has a great stomp going on that warns me of her presence a good 30 seconds before she says anything. It's powerful and self-assured. I'm not so good at my knowing my own walk. I have a feeling of what it might be like, but I want to really see. Maybe I'll go spend an hour walking in one of the dance rooms that are full of mirrors.

What does your walk say about you? What do you want it to say about you?

Tim Tam Slam

What do you do with your life? Tiff wrote a great post about it that made me stop and think. And then she proceeded to question me on two different days.

"What did you do with February 23rd?"

Well, February 23rd wasn't so hot. He doesn't really come off as that nice of a day. I was pretty bluesy. But then, someone awesome brought me balloons and taught me the wonders of Tim Tam Slams. So with February 23rd, I came one step closer to Australia. And it was good. So good.


"What did you do with February 25th?"

February 25th I wrote a few papers and went running/biking. The biggest part of Feb. 25th was the decision I made to go to Greece. I looked up all the information, did come calculations, made a plan, and I'm sticking to it.


So there are my answers, Tiff.

What did you do with today?

Conversations with Macy

Miss Macy {age 5}

Macy: There's this boy in my preschool class named Dallin. I like him a lot. So I kiss him all the time. Do you have a boy in your class that you like?
Me: {blushing} yes, yes I do have a cute boy in my class that I like.
Macy: Well, do you kiss him?
Me: No, I've never kissed him.
Macy: Well how is he going to know you like him?
Me: ...

Macy: Are you in singing school?
Me: No
Macy: Then you need to stop singing all the time!
{I Love My Lips from Veggie Tales Silly Songs usually stops the negativity about singing}

This is gonna take a lot of training

Today I made a big decision.

I am going to Greece at the end of October to run the original marathon for its 2,500 anniversary.

Well, why not?

Will I ever have another opportunity like this? Probably not. And let's face it, the 2,501st marathon doesn't sound nearly as appealing or cool.

Running a marathon was never really on my list of things to do until a little over a week ago. I heard some people talking about it and thought, Yeah! I can totally do that! Mind over body, right, Heath? I can totally do this.

Athens, here I come!

(Oh, and I promise not to drop dead at the end, like Pheidippides did.)

more info here

21 New Things

I'm doing new things. Lots of new things. I'll be 21 this June, so I decided to copy the lovely Sarah Von over at Yes and Yes and make a list of things I want to accomplish before/while I'm 21. It's gonna be good. The full list is on the sidebar. I'll write about them as I accomplish them.
These are things that I made goals to do, but I didn't see them happening unless I told someone about them. Now I have to do them. Yikes!

(don't worry, global domination is not on my list of things to do before I'm 21. I'm saving it for 30.)

2 Uncomfortable Things

{I seriously just keep looking at the pictures of the ball and they continue to make me happy.}

I went to Heather's FHE tonight, where we played charades.
Can I just tell you that the boys gave me "Don't be a Menace to the South Central while Drinking Your Juice in the Hood"?
{Thank you, Matt, for knowing that there is actually a movie called that out there. What other ridiculous information do you have stored in your head?}
14 words? How do you sign that with only 10 fingers?
It was difficult. And no one told me when the timer went off, because they just wanted to see how far we got.
We got through south central in about 3-4 minutes. Impressive, right?

Anyways, I did 2 hard things today. I ran more than I wanted to and I played charades. Thank you, friends, for pushing me. I feel more comfortable with myself/like a better person already.

Scandocious

Prince Charming and Cinderella {aka Bishop and Wifey}

(Almost all these pictures are for a certain Talana because she doesn't have a Facebook. Enjoy, lovah.)

So remember this?

Well, Saturday night was the ball. And can I just tell you that it was awesome? I am so so in love with my ward. Here is some documentation and commentary.


All images are courtesy of the amazing Tiffany and our sweet bishop's wife.

The boys put on their top hats...

...and cowboy hats...

The girls put on their pretty dresses...

And then we danced!

{I don't know what Jacob's doing in this one...}

Parker and his ballroom dance partner gave us a lovely performance.

Which we all heartily approved of.

We went to take a portrait with Mike {3-4 ladies, the lucky man!} but it took forever to set up the lights.
Tiff got quite a few of us waiting there.

It was Kinsi's birthday. A ball in her honor? I think so.

I am constantly amazed by the awesomeness of my friends. You guys rock.

I think that this is an adorable one of Ash. Parker knows how lucky he is, I think.

After the dance, we were still so happy that we had to take more pictures.
{Notice my awesome blue coat?}

I'm pretty sure that Blake and Ashley make this my favorite picture of the night. Ees hot.

The tiara made it's way around

This is a series by Ashley. She likes to click the camera.

All in all, we agreed with Joey, that it was a success.

Melbourne Style

When I move to Australia, I will be living in this house. The good news is that you can rent it right now, if you're looking at taking a perfect little trip.

More pictures here.

Stripes+Tutus=Lurve

I am desperately in need of one of these. Just the other day I was wracking my brain, trying to figure out a way I could pull off wearing a tutu in public without looking 3 years old. Oh Ouma, you make life worth living.

So their costumes are a little weird...

I haven't really talked about the Olympics, mostly because I hadn't watched any yet this year. But last night the men's figure skating was on. So instead of writing a paper, I fell in love with Evan Lysacek.

I've come to realize that I don't actually love the Winter Olympics. I prefer summer with the swimming, diving, volleyball, and running. But Men's figure skating is something I can watch all day. It is incredible to me!

Johnny Weir is my favorite, I think he is so graceful and lovely, but Evan here is flawless. I have never been more mesmerized by anything than when he was skating. Perfection. I've been on youtube for hours just watching him go around. I love love love that he won gold.

The Cinderfella Ball

One more video to illustrate the awesomeness of my ward. This Saturday night is gonna be rockin.

Glowsticks+Ravenclaw Mansion=DANCE PARTY!!!!

What do you do with left over glowsticks from FHE?




First you make a video, then you go knock on the Red Door and have a dance party.



I know, we're basically the coolest girls you know.

Dorian Gray

I am currently reading The Picture of Dorian Gray. And I love it. I read it once, a long time ago, but I don't think I appreciated it the way I do now. Oscar Wilde is genius. Book club? I think so. Who's in?

Lost: The Perfect Shade

Have you seen me?

height: 3 inches
weight: not a lot
color: ruby woo by MAC
last seen: Thursday morning

Guys, I am dying without my violent shade of perfectly red lipstick. Does this mean I have to go buy more? Yes. I'm a sucker. But I hesitate because I know I will find it ten minutes after I go buy more.

Love Letters

I don't know if I told you, but my new calling at church is Compassionate Service. This basically means that I am in charge of making sure all the girls in the ward are happy/feeling good. I chase away sickness and sadness and support everyone in their endeavors. I remember everyone's birthday and give them a card and cupcakes. I make soup for those with the flu. The best part? I make new friends. Lots of new friends. It is the best. Oh, and I have a committee, lest you think that I am Superman, doing all these things alone.

Anyways, the point is, last night at ward prayer (where we all gather for a thought, song, prayer, and socializing on Sunday nights) I started a little thing in our ward called Love Letters/Nice Notes (thanks for the idea, Kenzie!) Basically, you write a note (or two, or ten! Heather...) to people in the ward. Someone who gave a great talk, someone who smiled at you, your crush, etc. Write them a note!

I am so grateful to the kids who helped me sort and deliver all of them at ten at night. It was so good!

All in all, Valentine's day was a success: Romeo and Juliet, cinnamon rolls, California speed, love letters, heart attacks, and awesome friends. Love love love. We are now reconciled. I don't need a lover to have a great day.


.credit

Wonderful Wednesdays

1. The Picture of Dorian Gray
2. $15 running shoes at Target
3. sharing Green Apple Airheads
4. these two songs

Cartoons and Forever Plans - M...

God Help The Girl - God Help T...

5. Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds
6. watching H-face run the track barefoot
7. mustard yellow skinny pants
8. plaid shirts on cute boys
9. the invincible feeling you get when leaving the gym
10. thought provoking statements by New Testament professors
11. the promise of tomorrow

Valentine's Day. Of course.

Fact: I hate Valentine's Day.

I want nothing to do with it.
Unless the man of my dreams shows up on my doorstep with flowers...
And, let's face it, he's really bad at taking hints and/or just doesn't like me.
So I am resorting back to my original plan of hating on this holiday for lovers.

All you lover-less people, let's get ice cream and chick flicks and fantasize about the perfect man who will sweep us off our feet and carry us off into the sunset.

And while talking of love...
Isn't this the best picture?
I don't really want to get old, but I know that I will have to.
So, more than anything, I want a lover who will hold my hand when we're old.
And I will also be rocking a red coat.

The Death of All Things Floaty

What the what?!

Guys, helium is running out! How is this possible? Is anyone else like me and had no idea where helium came from but never thought it would run out? This is so weird! We have got to fund a solution to this problem. (That means, some kind of smart scientist needs to find out where to get more helium or some kind of alternative floaty gas.) My kids will never know floaty balloons if it keeps going like this! I am seriously so depressed.

You can google this to find out that I am not, in fact, lying to you. NPR and News Week both have articles on it.