Last Minute Gift Guide: Your Mother Who Steals All Your Books and Always Makes You Eat Your Veggies

A Dozi Pocket Planner to help her stay organized.

Some more of her favorite hand lotion that's running low.

A pretty pear painting for her kitchen, since she always has buckets of fruit on the table.

Reusable snack baggies that she can throw into the washing machine.

The Housekeeper and the Professor, so you can have your copy back.

Elizabeth Bennet's Email Inbox

Bahaha!
Thank you, English Muse for sharing Famous Inboxes

Last Minute Gift Guide: Your Brother Who Writes Awesome Songs on the Guitar and Learned to Read from Calvin and Hobbes

Calvin and Hobbes artwork to hang up next to his mirror so he can practice making faces.

A cool holder for all his guitar picks.

One of the lovely new Harry Potter books since his originals are all falling apart.

A rad Constitutional t-shirt, so he can tell everyone what he thinks when they comment on it.

Miss Liberty America

Finally, a beauty pageant that Miss Congeniality could win without any trouble.

From the website:
Miss Liberty America is dedicated to discovering America's elite feminine patriots and giving them the opportunity on a national stage to showcase their patriotism, intelligence, beauty, and talent. The ultimate mission is to promote liberty, the military, and the documents of our founding fathers. The contestants will be judged in categories of:
~personal interiew
~swimsuit
~evening gown
~beauty
~talent
~questions regarding the documents of America's founding fathers
~marksmanship
This will be the first pageant of its kind to introduce competency in the handling, safety, and use of firearms, and CPR.

Bahahaha
So funny to me.

The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairie

I'm so very excited!
I have a ballet class that begins in January.

I took ballet a long time ago and loved it.
I can't wait to put on those shoes.
I was a ballerina for Halloween.

See?Me with two of my lovely ladies, Princess BubbleGum from Adventure Time and Astrid from How to Train Your Dragon

I know that it is too late, but I still want to dance the part of the Sugar Plum Fairie.
This time of year always reminds me of this, and of how much I am in love with the elegance and balance and discipline of ballet.

Death by dishes

Just another reason why I don't mind being single.
I do love being on my own.
I value my independence.

I just need to remind myself of that when I see all my newly married friends enjoying themselves this Christmas...

Finals

Let me take a moment to brag.

This is the first finals week that I won't be pulling all nighters and rushing to do ridiculous cleaning checks.
This is the first finals week of my college career that I feel a little bit relaxed.
Maybe because I'm an underachiever
(you know, keep everyone's expectations low, so that they're pleasantly surprised when you actually do well).
Maybe because I'm only taking 12.5 credits and about half of those were block classes, so I did the finals back in October.
Maybe because I'm in a class that is actually called Leisure in Contemporary Society.

The point is, 2 finals today.
Go home Wednesday.
1 final on Friday, emailed from Professor, done from my couch at home.

Fabulous.

Florida, here I come.

Things I have learned from Indiana Jones

Bad dates can kill you.

 Here's a picture of Indy for your enjoyment. 

Nursery Rhymes

Yesterday, my roommate was laying on my bedroom floor reading a book.
She came across a whole bunch of nursery rhymes and was excited, because apparently she wasn't familiar with any of them.
I was shocked.
Flabbergasted.
I thought everyone knew all the nursery rhymes!
She was amazed that I could recite all the ones she named.

Is this surprising to anyone else?
Please tell me that you know all those rhymes.
I have no idea where I learned them all.
They've just always been floating around in my head.

My favorites are Goldilocks

Goldilocks, Goldilocks, wilt thou be mine? Thou shalt not wash dishes, nor yet feed the swine, But sit on a cushion and sew a fine seam, And feed upon strawberries, sugar, and cream.

and How Many Miles to Babylon?

How many miles to Babylon? Three-score and ten. Can I get there by candle-light? Yes, there and back again. If your heels are nimble and light, You will get there by candle-light.

I love nursery rhymes.
They're so fun to say and so traditional.
I love traditional things.

What are your favorite rhymes?

Holly and Jolly

Finally!

After waiting and waiting and having to put up with roommates hating the music I began playing in October, it's finally here!

Christmas!

My favorite.

I love:

the feelings in the air

the bundling up to go out into the snow

the warm fires

the way my house looks, all cozy and peaceful with the tree and garlands (thanks, Mom!)

the music

the food

the family

the wonderfulness that is Christmas

Hooray!

Blizzard

Tonight we are supposed to be getting a massive blizzard.

BYU keeps sending me texts warning me about it.

Biggest storm in years, apparently.

So we did what any smart college students would do:

We plugged in our computers so we can watch movies if the power goes out.

We charged our phones and ipods.

Christine bought granola bars and ritz crackers.

I'll supply the peanut butter.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

Of the storm, I mean.

I keep imagining that it will be a Laura Ingalls sort of storm, with huge drifts and all.

But I think I'm expecting too much.

I just really want to walk on the roof to get to the neighbors.

Ice Cream is always the right answer

Every once in awhile, I run across something that reminds me of a great memory and I get super happy.

Today, it was this picture.

Those dipped ice cream cones reminded me of Bo's Ice Cream.

It's a little place back home.

It's been there forever!

And they have the best ice cream.

It might not be that good, but I remember going there with my mom.

I remember going there with the whole family.

I remember Jana Andrews taking us there after dance lessons one day.

It makes me happy.

It's a good place to be.

It's a good place to remember.

And that butterscotch dip was fabulous.

What's one of your favorite places?

Spammy

Happy Birthday, Sammy!

You're officially a teenager!

And although I'm still a bit uncomfortable with your new, deep voice on the phone, I am excited that you're growing up.

13 is going to be fun.

I promise.

And even though I'm too poor to send you a birthday present, I am singing birthday songs under my breath for you.

So if you hear some creepy singing, it's probably me.

I lurve you.

I luff you.

I loaf you.

Because love is not enough.

ps This is still my favorite picture of you, taking care of your gross bunny :)

#5 Make a wearable item of clothing

Check.

You can add crocheting a hat to my list of accomplishments, 

thanks to the darling Jessica that showed me how to do it.

I am now officially ready for winter.

Bring it on, snow! 

My hair is safe. 

Basically, I'm On My Way to Australia

In light of the imminent statistics exam that I have to take tomorrow at 11:00 am, I have decided to take a break from my fake studying and tell you some exciting news.

Australia is finally becoming a reality.

My major has a high adventure study abroad program this summer from July 8-August 13.

It takes place in Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand.

Um, yes please!

So I am applying right now, trying to convince them that I am awesome enough to go.

Cross you fingers for me, that I'll get in.

And that I can find a job that will pay me enough to save up for this adventure.

My dreams of scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef and safari on the Outback are finally realistic.

That is all.

Have a good day.

Bird Watching

Thanks to Tiffany, I am completely obsessed.

It's a problem.

Andrew Bird.

He's all I've been listening to for the past week.

There is something about him and his violin,

something about his whistling,

something about his lyrics that captures me completely.

Love.

Love.

Love.

Love.

I recommend these songs:

A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head

Oh No

Tables and Chairs

Scythian Empires

You should also read his blog post on Measure for Measure,

Words Will Tell

Quote-ables

via Yes and Yes

Why do all the good shows get cancelled?

I am so ready for this. 

Penguin Love

When a male penguin is sweet on a female, he'll search the beach for the perfect pebble to give to her. Once he finds it, he waddles over and places it at her feet. If she accepts, they become life long mates. 

Adorable.  

via long live the queen

Wanted:

I am trying not to imagine how awesome this dress would look.

Curse you, Anthropologie!

I need to graduate and get a job asap so I can buy things like this.

Real Love

"Sexiness wears thin after awhile and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that's a real treat."

Joanne Woodward on being married to Paul Newman

Oh just another reason to love Paul.

Laughter.

That's what I'm holding out for.

via Long Live the Queen

Life is good. Be happy.

Last night, I had a little surprise party for this awesome guy.

It went really well.

He was super surprised.

And I got to spend the evening with my favorite people.

I am so lucky.

Then we went to Danielle's and had a fire with roasted apples.

Then we came back to my house and watched a movie.

Where I fell asleep.

I think everyone left around 4:00 am.

I was not really awake and just stayed on the couch until a phone call from Will woke me up at 9:00 am.

And then it was pancakes and Conference!

Guys.

General Conference.

Seriously.

Watch it.

Best weekend{s} of the year.

I can't even begin to describe to you the joy I get from this.

It's stunningly beautiful and perfect.

Funny Quotes

"Actually, I can put a price on how much I love my family. It's $105 one way."

~Heather, when we were talking about the expense of going home for Thanksgiving and how much we love our families.

Michelle: Aren't you going to make waffles?

Joey (On his computer): Is this not how you make waffles?

Joey: Sometimes I forget that there are things more important than the internet.

Me: It's not that hard, I already wrote it. It was 3 1/2 pages.

Michelle: How did you get 3 1/2 pages on that subject?
Me: It was double spaced.

Quote-ables

"I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half in agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone forever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own, than when you broke it eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant."

~Captain Wentworth's letter to Anne Elliot

Persuasion, Jane Austen

This is my favorite line from my favorite Jane Austen.

Just thought I'd share.

And now I look like a smurf

On Monday night, we all gathered at my house for FHE.
We filled up water balloons with water and paint.
Then we filled up the shopping cart that randomly appeared on my back porch earlier that day with our ammunition, and headed to the park to play capture the flag.

Pregame, we're all looking pretty clean.

Post game, we're all looking a little awesome.
Wow my shorts look a little too short!
But they were the only dark item that I didn't mind ruining.

No, we aren't dating. Although this picture looks like it.

Ugly faces.

All in all, the night was a complete success.

This is real fun, the Mormon way.

P.S. My body is still blue and purple.
3 showers and much scrubbing later, that stuff is still refusing to come off.
I would recommend using a more water soluble paint if you try this at home.

Some Good Links

1. I must have these books.

2. There are a lot of strange places in the world... I must see them all!

3. Guess what? You can make your own handwriting a font. Thank goodness. I've been waiting for that one.

4. My uncle wrote a book. And my mom helped edit it. (Seriously, crazy amounts of time spent with that book.) And now it's finally available on Barnes and Noble. Check it out!

5. Speaking of books, I ordered this one last week. Stunning.

6. I've been listening to a lot of Bach lately. Particularly this song.

7. I desperately want this lipstick.

8. General Conference is this weekend. I really recommend it.

That's all.

Cookies=Angels

Every once in a while, someone knows just what you need.

Sometimes it's before you even know it.

I had a dear friend drop by last night with cookies because she loved me and thought I needed them.

I didn't really need cookies last night.

But I needed them this morning.

In this case, "cookies" are not just the Milanos on my nightstand, but the "love and caring" that comes from someone who's thinking of you.

My friends, there are angels among us.

Keep your eyes peeled.

You might miss them if you aren't careful.

Fanks, Jen.

For listening and acting.

The ghouls are starting to arrive!

Autumn is finally here!

Autumn is my most favorite time of year. 

I live for it.

Especially in Utah.

It's deliciously windy and colorful.

The air is crisp and inviting.

I've pulled out all my tights!

And the Farmer's Markets are all over the place. 

It's simply superb.

PS Halloween! My favorite!

What's your favorite season?

Just a little update

Here I am.

Back in school.

Back in Provo.

There's a lot going on these days.

I moved into a new house.

I have 4 new roomies.

And 3 new windows that let in so much sunshine it makes me giggle with happiness.

I found a new major.

It's a permanent one, this time.

I mean it.

I was never absolutely sure about the rest.

But this one?

It's exactly what I need to be doing.

And I feel great about it.

I have a new calling at church that screams of too much responsibility.

But I have 3 amazing ladies to help me out with all the work.

I'm sorta excited about it.

And that's about it.

Post edit:

In response to the emails, the major is

Recreational Management and Youth Leadership with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation

and the calling is Relief Society president.

{For those of you who don't know, the Relief Society is the largest women's organization in the world. It is for LDS women, ages 18 and up, and it's focus is building faith, strengthening homes and families, and serving others.}

Style Icon: Lonely Tourist Charlotte Charles

I found the first season of Pushing Daisies on the shelf in the living room of my new house.

So of course I immediately grabbed it and began watching episodes whenever I have down time.

And then I remembered...

I love Chuck.

I love her clothes.

I love her hair.

I want to dress like her forever and ever.

Thoughts?

Anchor

I am loving this video and this song.