Might As Well Post as I Procrastinate Packing

Hi Internet,

I didn't forget about you. Summer happened. Life happened. So, here's what's up.

May: Finished school. Got my Bad A job and left for my graduation tour.
Spent a week in DC with my cousin Danielle and her adorable family:

Highlights: loving on 2 week old Lainey, playing "LADY" with Elsie, reading Magic Tree House with Liam, making yummy foods, a first trip to Trader Joe's, Searching for a cadet in Annapolis, visiting all the cool shops in Georgetown, DC Cupcakes- NO LINE to wait in! Staying up late catching up with my frousin (Friend+Cousin)

June:
2 weeks in Utah with NO agenda!

Highlights: Planning with Amy about how we're both going to spend our money now that we both have real teacher jobs, Music and the Spoken Word, Watching TV with Julia Janice Marlin, kisses from baby Jesse, Getting blacklisted at Aqua Aerobics, NOT working up a sweat at Aqua Zumba, Day Road trips, Olive Garden Lunches, Visiting BYU-I*, Craigo's and impressing the hostess that we came back after 7 years for a mini reunion to Rexburg- she was so touched she gave us a free jumbo "Cookie Monster- YUM!", staying up late with Julia and Spencie trying to solve all of the worlds problems.

MORE Highlights: Impromptu Roommate reunion with Bre, Merika and Pam (Amy and Lester were missed terribly), Bre's awesome salads, Alton's great idea, Pam's boy problems, Merika's Vegas stories, IKEA, Farr's Ice Cream with Merika, Brazilian grills, Cheesecake Factory, buying things for my classroom, session in the SLC temple with Hoppes, staying up late reminiscing about 11 years ago when we were young and funny in college.

Then... I had to come home.

Highlights: Watching Levi's soccer games, water fights with Ju-Ju, finding bargains at yard sales for my new crib and classroom, play date with Hannah at the Library, lounging by the pool with Ju-Ju, Organizing my classroom library, avoiding packing, watching DVD's about the Daily 5, family dinners, taking a BBQ class, walking the Midnight Sun Run, stressing/getting excited to move and start my real job!

So, this summer has been pretty full, and really great, I hate to see it end, but I really can't WAIT to meet my kindies! I've been planning and prepping and I'm going in a week to visit Sterling and hopefully see my classroom and begin decorating! Ahhh!

Well, I'm off to bed. If you feel inclined to come pack a box or two for me, by all means come on over! :)

No News

Internet! 9 days!!!


NINE DAYS UNTIL GRADUATION!!! All that stands between me and that funky black robe and hat is a presentation and a reflection paper. AHHHHH! It has taken me 11 years, but I'm so close I can almost taste it!

Still no job prospects. :( I'm a little sad about that. I keep applying, so pray, cross your fingers etc. that I will find a job.

I keep thinking about getting a summer job... but then I don't want to.... And then my mom says that my idea of a "summer of self-exploration" isn't gonna fly. Party pooper!

AND, because blog posts without pictures are boring...

Here is a picture of my classroom, and the leaky roof. Apparently there isn't money to fix this, but ceiling tiles are rotting and falling. Nice.

Because I Love Those of You Who Don't Live Across The Pond

Hi Internet,

My nose is healing well. I think I'm gonna make it out without any major scarring. WHEW!

I've been meaning to post this, but I keep forgetting/run out of time.... So, here it is.

Remember how I LOVE Downton Abby? 

 And it's like my favorite show?

 And we've had to wait SOOOO long to see what happens to Mary and Matthew?!

Remember how you thought you'd have to wait til Janruary 2013 to find out? 

WRONG! 

It's playing right now in the UK! YES!! I've been watching with my friend HERE, and it's GOOD! 

You're Welcome!

You may send your thanks in the form of well wishes, prayers for me finding a husband and naming first-born children after me.

No Excuses, Just Happiness

Hi Internet.

The only excuse I have for not blogging is that I have been so busy crossing things off my 29 before 29 List! Holla!

Check me out!

5.      Make the Chancellor’s List

 BOO-YA!

2.      Get Associates Degree Diploma

 Sorry, I just got out of the shower, BUT, if you had worked for 10 years for a diploma, you wouldn't care either!

11.      Go on a vacation outside of Alaska

Brace yourself for lots of pics from the family Vacay to So. Cal

First Stop. San Diego to visit Aunt Bev and Uncle Jack, complete with a visit to the Mormon Battalion site, Old Town, the BEST food at Fred's, San Diego Temple and the USS Midway

I'll be honest. When I heard we were going to the Midway, I wasn't excited. But, I was really surprised how cool it was! Not only did I learn so much (Like did you know the Midway Laundry did over 4,000lbs of laundry an HOUR??) But it was also the location of the American Idol Auditions where they found runner-up Jessica Sanches! Cool Huh?

Oh, and look who is my TWIN! Same gift shop!


After a visit to the mall and Balboa Park it was off to Anaheim! We rented a house less than a mile from the park. It was great! We were the first people to stay there after a complete renovation and it was a bummer that we didn't have more time to swim in the pool, play air hockey, ping pong and watch tv!

Because we had 3 amazing days at the Happiest Place on Earth!

A. Standing outside the Tower of Terror B. Us girls ready to ride the Winnie the Pooh Ride! C. Levi, pretending NOT to be excited. D. Tower of Terror, Aubrey and I were terrified! E. Magic Kingdom F. Captain EO... Movies have improved a TON in 30 years! G. Corn Dog, legendary H. Dad and Nate on Splash Mountain (Dad's arms are raised) I. Me and Jules before it's a Small World J. Jules and Aunt Aub K. Creepy Princess Aurora did NOT stop for pictures L. California Adventure at night.

Oh! And I went to church with this guy!

All in All, an incredible family vacation! Can't wait til the next one!

In A Relationship!

Hi Internet!

Life has been pretty busy. I've been pretty preoccupied with my newest relationship. 

Yep. 

You read that correctly, I am in a pretty serious relationship with a certain fella.

He's a lawyer.

He's smart.

He's funny.

He's a snappy dresser.

AND he's wealthy.

Internet, may I present to you....

Captain Matthew Crawley. Dreamy huh?

He's currently in a wheel chair due to a shrapnel wound, but I have high hopes he'll be walking next week. Oh, did I neglect to say that he's a character on my new favorite show Downton Abbey?

Confession. Not a real person. Not my boyfriend*. 

That said, if the captain asked me out, I wouldn't turn him down like SOME people.... cough, Lady Mary, cough! (Don't get me wrong I LOVE Mary, but I REALLY want her to get over herself and just marry Matthew already!)

Have you seen Downton?? I LOVE it!!! 

When it came up on my Netflix I was like meh, and it took me a few minutes, but then I got into it. 

It's like a cross between Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables and the Sopranos.

And the best part, WAY clean!

You HAVE to watch** it!!!!

What are you waiting for??? Go watch!

*I  have no immediate prospects of a boyfriend. It would be more likely for Captain Crawley to jump in the future 100 years and ask me out than someone here. haha :)

**Season 1 is free on Netflix and Season 2 is free on PBS

There's Still Time!

Hi Internet,

I'll tell you what, this Geography class I'm taking is KICKING MY TRASH! I really hate when professors try to make your 100 level class consume your ENTIRE LIFE. Just wait until instructor evaluations come around. You had best believe I'll be giving my two cents.

So, when I'm not drawing maps of the world, or reading, or watching required films, I'm working. Filing and scanning and indexing away. And listening to my Audiobooks.

I'm really grateful that I can relax at work. I used to read ALL. THE. TIME as a kid. My mom would come upstairs late at night and take my books away so I would go to sleep.


Then High School and college came and reading was no longer fun. I couldn't read what I wanted to and I had deadlines, reading was a chore. It's been really fun this summer being able to listen to books that I've been wanting to read, but couldn't justify the time. But now, since I can listen and work at the same time. Hello! Multi-Tasking!

Today I finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

Source: barnesandnoble.com via Krystal on Pinterest

I absolutely LOVED IT!

I'm a little obsessed with the South, their culture, their homes, their food (Thanks Paula Dean!) and The Help just made me love it that much more. Also, I loved the historical aspect too.

The story is set in 1960's Jackson, Mississippi. 23 year old Skeeter has just graduated from Ol' Miss and returned home, SINGLE. In an effort to begin her career as a writer Skeeter is told by a fast talking editor in New York to write about something that bothers her and doesn't seem to bother anyone else. Well, when her best friend and president of the Jackson Ladies League, Hilly Holbrook, introduces the Home Health Sanitation Initiative to require homes to have separate bathrooms for their black help, Skeeter finds what bothers her. Skeeter wants to write a book from the perspective of The Help, but what black woman in the South is going to snitch on her boss-lady?

The Help will make you laugh, cry and cheer. The movie comes out next week so you still have time to read the book before you see the film, which looks good too. You won't be sorry. This is a MUST READ! And then watch. :)

Happy Reading!