Happy Birthday Homegirl!!

Good Morning Internet!

I just thought I would give a little Birfday Shout-Out to one of my FAVORITE People in the World!

And I don't want to spread Rumors.... But I'm going to tell you the Top 10 Reasons Why Julia is one of the most fantastic women I know!

1. She has FANTASTIC style!



2. She's the best person I know when it comes to decorating/setting mood lighting.

3. She LOVES Ho Cho! And can make ANY situation fun!



4. She has the most amazing ability to become besties with ANYONE she talks to! Everyone loves her, even crazy Homegirl at Sourdough Sam's!

5. BEST power shopper. EVER!

6. She can rock a visor like NO ONE I know!

7. She is kind and generous and because of that throws the BEST Birthday Bashes.... EVER. Even when she gets paper thrown on her. ;)

8. She's stunning. I mean holy gorgeous eyes Batman!



9. She is SUPER patient, and knows how to get a job done.



10. She's the BEST cheerleader ANYONE could ask for! She's always encouraging people to be the best they can be... and the best part. She really believes it! :)



Thanks for being born Julia Janice Marlin! Love ya!

Mmmmm.

Internet.

I'm craving Eggo Waffles. If anyone cares, that's what I want right now.

Wait, I just read there's an Eggo Shortage. Ugh. My luck! :(

Vacay!

Hi Internet.

Guess what?! I purchased my ticket for my much needed 3 week vacay to Oregon!

And this is what I plan on doing....

Sleep...a lot

Play in the rain...

Hang out with Grandma

Read the book BEFORE I see the movie...

Play lots of Games!

And most importantly...

Ahhhh, can't wait!

Oh, the things you hear at home! haha

Hey Internet,

So, my youngest brother is 10 and is pretty hilarious. He's also going throught this crazy growth spurt. My dad told him that he was "Eating like a horse and growing like a weed".... WELL, this weekend he and I had a hot date and the following conversation took place:

Baby Bro: Uh, Dad told me I'm eating like a horse and growing like a WHEAT.

Me: Uhhh, are you sure he didn't say growing like a weed?

Baby Bro: Ohhhh, I must not have heard him right!

hahaha!

So, then tonight we're retelling the story and this happens...

Baby Brother: Well, I only want to be the good kind of wheat, the bread kind.

Me: Uhhh, what other kind of wheat is there???

Baby Brother: The Drug Kind!

Other brother: Dude!! That's WEED!

Oh dear. HAHAHA! Love ya Baby Brother!

There is Hope Smiling Brightly Before Us!

Happy Sunday Internet!

I really needed to hear this today!



Enjoy!

Dear Nordstom,

Internet!

I opened my package of purchased mascaras and I'm excited! However, please note how my 3 little tubes of mascara were packaged:

Yes, one GIANT box for these 3 things. haha. I should write a letter...

Dear Nordstrom,

Please go green and use less packing materials for my mascara.

Love,
Me!

PS. Thanks for getting it to me in one piece and in a timely manner.

Happy Saturday!!

Movie Review: Little Women

Happy Weekend Internet!

Tonight, I decided to watch an oldie but a goodie! Yes, my fall back lady movie, Little Women! The 1994, Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder version. Ahhh. Memories.



I remember the year we got it for Christmas and my cousins and I probably watched it 20 times that week. We used to assign each other characters to be.
:) EVERYONE wanted to be strong, independent Jo... but alas, only one of us could be Jo. Melissa, since she was the oldest, USUALLY got to be Jo, and that suited her. :) And if you couldn't be Jo, the second best was Amy, because Amy ends up with Laurie! ;) No one wanted to be Beth, cause she dies, and since Dani played the piano, she usually got stuck being Beth. And I usually picked Meg cause she has twins and I always thought that would be fun! (In hindsight, I guess Melissa should have picked Meg! haha)

I just love this movie! COMPLETELY appropriate for all ages, and fun, and heartwarming. I was watching tonight and was particularly struck by a conversation Marmee has with Jo. She's just refused a marriage proposal from Laurie and been told she can't go to Europe with the Crabby old Spinster Aunt, and fears she'll never fit in anywhere and Marmee, in her infinite wisdom tells her:

"Oh, Jo. Jo, you have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to lead an ordinary life? You're ready to go out and - and find a good use for your talent. Tho' I don't know what I shall do without my Jo. Go, and embrace your liberty. And see what wonderful things come of it."

Which got me to thinking. All my life I've felt bad cause I wasn't like everyone else, I tried to be "normal," when what I need to do is recognize that I have amazing talents and I don't have to have a "normal life" I should live an extraordinary life!

Thanks Marmee for this timely life lesson!

If you haven't seen it, you MUST watch Little Women!

BEST Hairspray... EVER!

Happy Thursday Internet!

While I am NOT an expert on mascara, there is one thing that I have found THE product for! HAIRSPRAY!

Ladies, and I guess fellas, you can get rid of all other hairsprays, I have found the solution to your hair hold problems!



Kenra Hairspray! It smells great, perfect amount of hold, not sticky and basically I feel naked without it. WONDER product if you ask me!

You're welcome in advance! ;)

ps. I got my mascara today.... stay tuned for my "science project!"

Roommates! Roommates! There Were Never Such Devoted Roommates!

Hello Internet!
I'm glad that everyone didn't hate the Butterfinger Theory. Feel free to keep commenting and adding your 2 cents! :)

So, I've been listening to some of my old CDs lately and some old mixes and then I was flooded with memories of my college days.... ahhh. Warning, this is going to get personal and nostalgic, so if you can't handle it, I suggest turning back now.

We all know that I love the musical Wicked, and I think my feelings could best be described in the lyrics from the song For Good,

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you

So, this week I was thinking back on the past 7 years of my life, and how I was put in the right places at the right times. My senior year of High School, I was planning on going to BYU (Big BYU aka Provo), that had been my dream since I was in 4th grade and at 17 seemed like the only plan. Well, on my 18th birthday I got the small envelope from BYU Provo. I didn't get in. I DID however, get in to BYU-Idaho. I was crushed. Not only that, but at BYU-Idaho the school runs on 3 tracks, Fall/Winter (Traditional), Winter/Summer, Summer Fall. I didn't notice at first, but in May I realized I hadn't been accepted to the Traditional Fall/Winter, I was put in Summer/Fall, which wouldn't work for me financially because in Alaska the main industry for Students is Summer Tourism. I was devastated.

I knew I had to go to school, but it seemed like everything was stacked up against me. Well, thank goodness for my inspired father who KNEW I had to go to school, and I needed to be at BYU-I. Somehow, I was the exception, we wrote a letter to the admissions department and my track was changed. From that time on things just seemed to fall into place, my housing, my classes. There was a reason I was going to Rexburg.

I remember walking into Chapman Hall 460. I remember being coming after checkin and meeting an RA and as soon as I told her my name she was so excited! "Oh! You're MY roommate! We've been waiting for you to get here! We've been calling you Alaska!"

We went upstairs to our apartment, and I will never forget there was a tall girl sitting on the couch quoting her favorite movie "'Dude! What's Mine say?' 'Sweet! I know, But what does mine say?' 'Dude!'...." (This went on for about 10 minutes.) I went back into my room and with a look of panic and tears in my eyes said to my mom, you can NOT leave me here!

My roommates were from Florida, New Mexico and California, and we were living in Idaho, and I was the only one with any winter experience, there couldn't be a more random mix of girls. Not to say that we didn't have our struggles, but I know I was supposed to be in Chapman Hall 460. Those girls helped me through one of the most difficult times of my life. I still consider them to be my best friends.

Me, Jill, Ashley, Ashlee, Jerai (adopted roommate) and in the pants... Leslie! :)

From that time forward I have been led to many other wonderful roommates and friends who have shaped and inspired my life.

My Sophomore year, let's just say thank goodness for roommates who know how to do hair. :) And roommates who like to pull pranks on Shmampa's House, and who do Interpretive dances to "You're Not Alone" and who eat 12 Cadberry Eggs in one sitting, and who try to use a drinking glass to measure a cup of water for baking. I needed those girls in my life.

(1st Semester.. Still looking for a better pic and 2nd Semester ladies.)
Charlotte, Adi, Me, Jenn-Jenn

Junior Year. All I have to say is roommates that pray together, stay together, ok, not totally true, some have gotten married, which is in keeping with the plan, so I suppose it's ok! ;) I am greatful for Devo parties with Snickerdoodles, and High Lows, and cookbooks, and Non-Existant Haunted Houses and dress-ups, and "Roommate Bondage."

80's Night! Merika, Leslie*, Amy, Me, Pam, Bre
*If you think Leslie looks familiar, yes it was she in the PANTS above! ;)

Thank you ladies. I wouldn't be where I am without you.

Feel free if I left out your favorite memory to leave it in comment form.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

Internet,

I've been debating with myself for a week over whether I wanted to post this or not, and I've decided that I do. With my change of heart in terms of blogging I have decided that this blog MUST be a positive atmosphere. No one wants to read doom and gloom, no one wants to read rants that are offensive. So, I am choosing NOT to allow that here. :) But what I do want to talk today is something I'm pretty passionate about. My intent in the post today is not to offend, but rather share with you some of my INCREDIBLY personal thoughts on self respect and relationships.

In my calling one of the most difficult things that I see is girls who lower their standards to be in a relationship. I think it's natural that we long to be in a relationship. From the time we are young girls we are told that we will date and marry a wonderful man and get married. I think unfortunately girls are SO interested in the end result they'll sacrifice to get there. I remember one day having a conversation with a roommate Amy...

We were talking about guys, and settling. And developed what we call the Butterfinger Theory.

Unfortunately, all too often these girls will date guys that have potential of a fun-sized Butterfinger. I mean sure, they're cute, they're tasty. But no real long lasting joy or fulfillment there right? But they see the Fun Size Butterfinger and they think, well that's all I deserve, that's all I can see, so it must be the only option. Yeah, I'll have to change what I really want but this is what is here. The sad thing, is that THERE IS MORE. You don't have to settle, you CAN have not just the Full Size candy bar, but you can have the KING sized.

We get so focused on what we want that we forget that Heavenly Father has a plan for us. He's not planning on us getting the bare minimum, he wants us to have the Butterfinger Factory! ;) He wants us to have JOY!

It also breaks my heart when I see my friends trade what they want for what they want right now. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart and physical affection. I'm somewhat of a prude. You may even say I'm the president of the VL club, and yes I am almost 26. If I wanted to get out of the club, I could. I could go to just about any club in this town or find someone and lower my standards and be set. But I know I deserve better. I might be incredibly old fashioned, but I really feel like physical affection isn't just something to do when there's nothing good on TV. (And I'm not 100% Duggar Style either) To me that MEANS something. If I love and care about you, I am going to show you. But when I do, I'm giving you a piece of my heart. A piece of me. And again, maybe I'm a nerd, but I'm A-ok not kissing a whole lot of frogs, cause then, someday, someone can have my whole heart. Not a fraction, not what's left. Because I respect myself, and I respect him, whoever he is. :)

I think Kelly Clarkson said it best: 'Oh, no I do not hook up, up I go slow, So if you want me, I don't come Cheap!"

The REST of the Story...

Internet,

I used to love Paul Harvey, my dad and I would listen to him on the way to school every morning when I was in High School. I found a quite by him that's rocking my world. When asked if he had any regrets in his Life Mr. Harvey gave the following response; "Ever since I made tomorrow my favorite day, I've been uncomfortable looking back."

I'm making Tomorrow my Favorite Day!

Sunday Sentiments

Internet,

I'm on an alliteration kick right now. Humor me. Well, today has been a pretty great day. I was assigned to speak in Church today. For those of you who may not know, in the LDS church we don't have a paid clergy, our Sunday meetings are taught and led by members of the congregation.

I was asked to speak on the following quote By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:

“A wise man once distinguished between ‘the noble art of getting things done’ and ‘a nobler art of leaving things undone.’ True ‘wisdom in life,’ he taught, consists of ‘the elimination of non-essentials.’ What are the nonessential things that clutter your days and steal your time? What are the habits you may have developed that do not serve a useful purpose? What are the unfinished or unstarted things that could add vigor, meaning, and joy to your life?"

Which has really gotten me to thinking. I k now in my life there are many things that I can be doing to be more productive, more efficient, but more importantly, can help me be a better friend, better daughter and ultimately, a better disciple of Jesus Christ.

I think especially in this day and age of technology we have so many distractions that make it harder to heed the promptings of the Holy Ghost. That take away from meaningful opportunities to learn and serve because we're "busy" with the non essential things. This year, I want to be better than I am. I want to set aside the things that are cluttering my day and distracting me from my ultimate goal, to be like my Heaven Father.

All this makes me want to set some specific goals... and Internet, I think I will post them here, so you can help me be accountable. BUT, I'm tired, so you will have to wait. :)

What are your thoughts on the Non-essential?

Happy Sabbath!

More Mascara Madness Mounting...

Internet.

I have purchased new mascaras and will be doing a little science project... if you will... Stay tuned for pictures!

Movie Review: Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging

Ok Internet, so this movie doesn't come out on DVD until Jan 19, but if you're looking for a fun, feel good, chick flick...
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging needs to be in your Netflix queue!

Now don't be turned off by the title.
This is a cross between Harry Potter (sans wizards and magic, haha) and Mean Girls (But INFINITELY cleaner). And it's set in the UK, so they all have accents, which, I think makes it just a little more fun!

The movie is about Georgia. She has two main goals in life:


1. Find a boyfriend to Snog*.
2. Throw the best 15th birthday party ever.

(You can see where this is going.... I can tell ;) )

Enter.... the solution to goal #1, brothers Tom and Robbie. Add to the mix her arch rival Lindsey, family situations, typical boy crazy teenager shenanigans, and ups and downs.

And you have, in my opinion, a pretty cute flick! I laughed out loud a few times, (ESPECIALLY during her snogging lesson, Buwahahaha!) and the movie was relatively clean. (I did watch it on TV, so it may have been edited) I recommend Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging to just about any lady who wants a movie to watch with her besties!

Oh, and the best part... the girl who's never snogged gets a fella! Juuust saying!

Happy Watching!

*For those of you who are confused, Snogging British for what we Americans like to call Making Out/Kissing.

Calling all Mascara Experts!!

Internet,

I'm coming to you with one of my most pressing issues. MASCARA. Here's the thing, if I don't have something on my lashes, I look like death warmed over. Not good. BUT, I have kind of squinty eyes, so if I wear normal mascara I look like I haven't slept in weeks. BUT, I don't like waterproof kinds cause then I feel like I need a chisel to get it off my lashes and may loose some precious lashes in the process.

I've tried these before, but obviously I'm coming to you because I'm not 100% satisfied.

It's something that I need a fix for. I can honestly say the only time I was happy with my lashes was when I had extensions. LOVED them! I'd wake up, roll out of bed and my lashes ALWAYS looked gorgeous... only problem is that they aren't cheap. :( But how can you not love looking like that?? (Don't judge, that's me with no makeup on, just my lash extensions)


PLEASE, I'll take ANY tips/tricks/suggestions!

Ode to the Auto Start

Internet.

Let me tell you what. My Auto Start has been broken for the past 2 days. For those of you not from "Semi Canada" as Bean likes to call it, an Auto start is a remote for your car that can turn the car on from a distance. (In my case a mile away.)

So, imagine this, if you will; the temperature outside is -35*, my alarm clock goes off, I roll over, push my auto start, the RAV starts right up to warm and I hit my snooze button and enjoy 15 more minutes in my cozy bed. This is FAAAR superior to the alternative, which is what I had to do this morning. :( It felt a little like this....

So, after I mustered up the courage to brave the cold again, I high-tailed it to the shop where the friendly car-fixer-man reset my auto start and it works like a DREAM! Which will come in handy tomorrow morning when I get 5 more minutes here:

Stay Warm!

A Change of Heart

Well Internet,

As you can see I have NOT gone private, and in fact, have decided not to. (Don't worry, I plan to explain.) It came to my attention that there are quite a few people who actually DO read what I write. Which concerned me at first, and in a way felt like my privacy had been invaded. However, after I calmed myself down, :) I realized that what I saw of an invasion of privacy, was actually a tremendous blessing.
* I have people who love and care about me. I guess I'm interesting enough for people to have an interest in what I have to say.
* BECAUSE I have such an attentive audience, what a fantastic forum for me to share what I know, for me to relate my experiences with others, and share my happiness with others.

Methinks this is a win, win, win.

SO, by popular demand. I'll keep writing. The continuation of my blog is conditional.....(this is where you come in) I'd love to know who actually reads what I'm saying. Leave a comment, as long as I know people are reading, I'll keep writing.

Today I've been thinking. I went to church, which was great... We had a lesson in Relief Society about Our Heavenly Father. I know that there is a higher power. I know that God is real, he knows my name, he knows my struggles, he knows my strength and potential. I know that He has a plan, that the Earth was created as a place where we could come and learn and prove our obedience to so that we can become more like Him and live with Him again. I know that Heavenly Father loves me when I drive up Birch Hill. I love looking at the green leaves of the trees, and and the beautiful Autumn colors, I love the frosted birch branches as they glisten in the snow, it reminds me that Heavenly Father is aware of me. He created this Earth so that I can have joy. I am grateful for Heavenly Father's creations, and the opportunity I have to be a part of His plan.