the last days

my days in rexburg idaho are coming to a close. and i'm more happy about it than sad (oops). since this is my last real weekend in rexy, i'm making it count. tonight i'm going to play phazer tag with juelaine, tiffany matt, jordan, alicia and zac (i only know half of them, cool). tomorrow i'm working a double, which doesn't sound cool, but it means money. and then monday night i've got the parachute concert with juelaine, katelyn and cristian in salt lake city. i cannot wait. it'll probably be my last concert before my mission and parachute is fantastic. if you're not familiar with parachute, familiarize yourself with these songs...

what i know

she is love

kiss me slowly

philadelphia

until the 15th, it's just cleaning, packing, crying, packing, working, packing, sleeping, and packing. it's gonna be a whirlwind of two weeks. but i'm so excited. here we goooooo!

lately

i can't believe i'm going to say this, but... i'm liking winter in idaho. it hasn't been bad at all. i work a lot. like, a lot. but i'm not even really that mad about it because i finally have money in the bank. i'm so glad i got to go down to provo to spend time with my cousins for christmas. we had lots of christmas pj days, fondue, movies, and shopping. and we made a trip to temple square to see the christmas lights. it was magical.

brent is here and i'm so very glad. i hadn't seen that boy in four months. we're going to jackson hole on sunday and i've got other things to show him around rexburg. it's been so nice not being entirely alone during winter break. unfortunately he's going home on tuesday :(

and can i just say that the weather has been fantastic? it hasn't snowed once and it's been in the 50's all week. gimme more of that. i guess what i'm trying to say is that being stuck in the iceburg won't be so bad this semester. i'm going to concentrate on work, my friends, and being the best version of myself. maybe i'll have enough to find a new hobby. basketweaving anyone?

lonely

the last day of classes is in 8 days. and everybody leaves in about 11. but not me. no, i'm stuck here during christmas, and new year's, and until everyone else comes back. why? because i have to work. it may sound like i'm complaining, but i'm trying not to. brent is coming to see me a couple days after christmas, but i will truly be friendless and alone until then. rexburg will be a ghost town, and i will probably end up talking to myself, discovering an imaginary friend, or sleeping the days away. only time will tell...

thai thursday, tumblr thursday, thirsty thursday

i woke up and really liked today. first, because i immediately looked at my phone and realized it was 11:30. i really enjoy sleeping late. second, because i woke up to a text message from chelsie that said, "i am so excited for thai food today" and then i realized that today was thai thursday... imagine my sheer joy. if you haven't experienced the magic that happens at original thai on main street in rexburg idaho, repent and then go! only $7.25 for any lunch dish plus a crab rangoon. i should be paying them. seriously. please feast your eyes upon the deliciousness that entered my belly today.

i hope only positive words entered your brain. because trust me, it tasted as mind-blowingly phenomenal as it looks. today is also the day that i decided to finally order my new hard drive for my poor computer that died about a month ago (moment of silence please...okay, moment's over). 

and, drumroll please... tumblr thursday. sometimes i contemplate the discontinuation of tumblr thursday on this blog, but then chelsie confessed today that she loves it, so i'll keep it. for her, and the rest of you that enjoy it.

(this little cutie was the guy from "up" for halloween, presh)

idk why i threw thirsty thursday in there... it just felt right. maybe because i'm going to be drinking plenty of vitamin C today in an effort to get feeling better. sickness once a semester should be enough! i thought i was done with this. woe is me. t-minus 1.5 hours til i leave for work. in that time i plan on cleaning my room and unloading the dishwasher, and maybe watching desperate housewives. here i go...

today i reailzed...

just how thankful i am for...
- fall in rexburg
- people who make time to help me
- my family
- money in my bank account
- patience
- religion professors at byui
- my car being at school with me this semester

just how much the following bother me...
- people who don't act their age
- people who drive slowly, in the left lane
- social statistics
- uncleanliness
- wind
- gas prices

just how much i love...
- big tippers
- the scent of lemons
- the spanish language
- forehead kisses
- heart to heart's
- spearmint chapstick
- naps
- curling irons
- my bed

happy tuesday lovelies!

food coma

did you know that it's scientific fact that most people gain weight in the winter? after all i've eaten the last two days, i'm not even surprised. yesterday at 530, after kelsey and i were finally done for the day (complete with 4 classes and a test for each of us), we decided to celebrate with a $5.99 craigo's buffet. then today we woke up to snow. kelsey decided to skip class, and i didn't have class, so we picked betsy up and proceeded to nom nom on some breakfast at jb's. talk about the ultimate fat day. now we're enjoying our food babies and preparing to snuggle up on our sectional couch and watch movies for the remainder of the day.

i hate snow.
i hate cold.
i hate that today is icky.

but i like that it means a movie day.
and hoodies.
and hot chocolate.
and comfy socks.

so it's okay...

the perfect indian summer

for those of you who don't know, rexburg is unseasonably cold for most of the year. not all of idaho. no, just rexburg. my very first semester here, it started snowing on october 5th and we didn't have our last snow until june 6th. i don't know about you, but i think 8 months of snow is like five too many. 

well this semester has been different. it's chilly in the morning, warm and sunny all day, and then cool again when the sun goes down. i'm not complaining at all. it's perfect. today i felt like going for a drive. i just had an urge. there's something about driving around with the sun roof open, not having a destination, and music blaring that's just so... magical. it's when i'm the absolute happiest.

chelsie joined me today for a drive followed by an adventure at the haunted swings. i loved every second of it. please forgive me for not wearing pants, and for having retarded faces in every single one of these pictures. i was just caught up in the fantasticness of it all.

she's a cutie

i like her

and the weather

and rexburg

and my life

except for the fact that i'm sick... that kinda sucks

this time last year

memorial day weekend 2010 i was in rexburg. miss becca came to visit me for the weekend, all the way from kansas. courtney and i planned a trip to the dunes with old friends and new friends. we played soccer, capture the flag, tried to roast marshmallows but got kicked out for our illegal bonfire, and then broke curfew to watch a movie at brad's apartment. oh and he lit a cup on fire at mcdonalds. it was enjoyable. i feel like this memorial day weekend won't quite be as eventful. but it does kind of mark the beginning of summer, which i happen to find all too exciting...

(nobody knew who this guy was...)

"here's my heart, o take and seal it"

well, the semester is oooooover! finally. i've been looking forward to this since about september 6th. no big deal. but i'd like to apologize for my lack of blog love lately. finals have been kicking my butt. however, i'd like to address some very exciting things...

i am officially done with school for the next 9 months. and i couldn't be happier. also, i'm just really excited about the fact that i went into my natural disasters final with a 78% in the class, got a 67% on the final, and ended with an 80%. how does that happen, you ask? i honestly don't know. but i'm thrilled about it, to say the least.

on friday morning, we had the dedication of the i-center and the re-dedication of the manwaring center. president eyring, elder bednar, elder nelson, and a member of the seventy were all there. it was incredible. i've met elder bednar (and shook his hand) twice, and he's my absolute favorite. also i really enjoy president eyring. i don't think i've ever been in the same room as so many general authorities. i really enjoyed it. the spirit when they walked into the room, was incredible. i was singing in the choir, so i was literally only like 20 feet from them.

elder bednar spoke first. i think the first thing he said was "brothers and sisters... it's good to be home" and started to tear up. call me a baby, but i bawled. his talk was incredible. then elder nelson spoke. and then we sang "come thou fount" which is one of my very favorites. every second that i wasn't singing, i was crying. i felt super lame. but not really. because i'm a crybaby. and it was a pretty fantastic occasion. i'm so happy i got to be a part of that. elder bednar's wife kept turning around to look at us and once she smiled at me and then i cried harder. no big.

then president eyring got up to speak and then offer the dedicatory prayer. seriously the coolest thing ever. on their way out they waved at us. and then at everyone in the auditorium. and we all waved back. it was seriously so cool. i wish i could think of a better word to describe it, but it was just... awesome.

and lately, everything is making me want to stay at byui. i thought i had decided to transfer to kstate, but now i'm not so sure. i'm hoping that maybe ecuador will open my eyes and help me figure out what is best for me. but i know that if i do decide to leave, i'll really miss it.

i'll miss the spirit of ricks that you can truly feel all over campus. i'll miss teachers (bro. riggins) that know me by name, invite me to their house for waffles, hug me instead of shake my hand, and tell me they love me. i'll miss starting every class with a prayer to invite the spirit. i'll miss weekly devotionals. i'll miss not feeling pressured to drink or party or do things i know i shouldn't. i'll miss having classmates and friends that hold the priesthood. i'll miss it all. i really will. because to be perfectly honest, i honestly love byui. i may not be a big fan of the depressing crappy weather in rexburg for a good portion of the year. but i am a big fan of byui.

basically i'm just trying to say, that despite all the stress, finals and packing, i had a pretty fantastic last week of the semester. i'm happy to be gone for the next 9 months, but i love my school. and "come thou fount." and president eyring. and elder bednar. and the new i-center. and getting B's in classes that i never attended. and and and i just really love my life.

oh, p.s.

11 days til ecuador

handel's messiah

so this semester i was in the university choir, mostly because i'm completely terrified of auditions. you see, i was in varsity choir all through high school, and the only person i can successfully audition in front of is my high school choir director. so, since i'm a baby, i joined the non-audition mixed choir.

anyways, sunday night was the annual messiah performance, which included;

university orchestra

university band

university choir

collegiate singers

women's choir

men's choir

women's glee

it was about 750 singers and musicians and the hart auditorium was fulllllll.

to be perfectly honest, i wasn't especially looking forward to this. like at all. but after we successfully pulled it off and received a standing ovation from said enormous audience, i was sad it was over. the spirit in the room was just... cool.

and im starting to realize...

...that i just might miss it here

sucess at lastttt!

for the last three weeks or so ive been trying so hard to wake up at 5 and go make an appointment to sell plasma. and today...

i did it! soo exciting.

haha i probably wouldnt have been successful if kacey hadnt come with me. we left my apartment at like 5:20 and were the second car at the plasma center. we listened to "stop and stare" by onerepublic at least 6 times waiting for 6:00 cause we couldn't figure out kacey's roommate's radio in her car. so frustrating.

car after car after car kept coming and we were getting nervous. then these two people walked up and we all like ran out to get in line. me and kac were people number 5 and 6. not too terrible. so at 6 we walk in to make our appointment. and, well, we got 2:00. just like we wanted, yayyyyy

then, to celebrate our conquest, we got breakfast at mcdonald's. sooo unhealthy. but so divine. all of this took place in under an hour. i was back home in bed at 6:30.

now, with three weeks of dirty laundry not done, a huge stomach ache, and cold toes, i am sitting at home skipping class like i sometimes do, and waiting for 2:00 to roll around so i can make some money :)

i miss everything about you

i suck at blogging, lately. but i think its on account of im so busy with school. which is good. because this semester im actually gonna try. shocker, i know. but when im not doing school-ish things, ill show you what im doing ;)

im working out with emily, EVERY night

be so impressed

im also stealing shopping carts with emily

thats what you have to do when the cute boys behind you in line dont offer to take you and all your food home

im spending saturday mornings at the library with betsy (shes passionately in love with her grammar class)

im spending quality time with zabe and james, james bell

im becoming attracted to men who served their mission in cicily and wear the cicilian flag on their back during the 50 lap relay

im commandeering (i know thats the wrong word, but i like it) the 50 lap relay with bets and flipse and our little committee of 6

...while wearing an orange vest

im reuniting with tiny shorts at hullabaloo round 2

im party hopping with chels, bets and em

that pretty much makes up my life right now. except for the fact that ive been sick this weekend. bad weekend to be sicky. i missed the 80s dance party at cajun bobs, quality time with sam, a sleepover with emily and all sorts of other exciting festivities. oh... and i have big news

1) my lovely calaigh and her sterling are getting married this weekend

1a) im going

1b) im going on a date with jimmy

1c) even though im in a complicated relationship with phil taylor

2) theres a 96% chance that, I WILL NOT BE IN REXBURG IN THE SPRING. yes, tis true. i think im taking a semester off of school to work in utah when i get back from ecuador

3) 95 days til ecuador!!!

4) im blessed with the best

goodbyeee sexy rexy

well the day is finally here, IM LEAVING REXBURGGG! for the next seven weeks. i sort of have mixed feelings. i am so so so ready for a break. i neeeed a break. i cant wait to get to vegas where its hot, and i can wear shorts, and i can work, and i can see my grandma, and play with jujubee and do lots of exciting activities. haha and this means im closer to home! i miss my home. ive never liked kansas so much as i have when ive been off at school.

the was the best semester of my liiiife. yes, i know this is only my second. but it was amazing. i had the best time in the world. i came here with my bestfriend. i was blessed to have two other amazing (and normal, for the dorms) girls as roommates who i absolutely love. i got a good schedule, with good teachers. i got lucky and had art with my girl madi. i had science with jamie. i had book of mormon with court and i had spanish with amy.

i met some of the best people; blake, kat, skyler, jason, justin, riley, chris, will, zack, zach, b, betsy, chelsea, davy, nate, braden, jon, kyle, t'jae, shawn, tanya, etc.

fjdklaf; heres to spring semester 2010

"you eyes are kind, they kill as well"

im stressin. finals are this weeek. white glove was today. amys car broke and now i have to find a new ride to slc. blahhh i just wanna be done. i cant wait one more week. i hate this.

other than that, im prettttty happy. i finally have an A in humanities, and a good chance at getting my scholarship back. im officially going to ecuador (i mailed in my check and application last week). i have the best friends in the world.

last night blake and kat and i went to a dance party at the loft thing above cajun bobs. so fun. so hot. ive never been so hot. but it was funnnn. ry hugged me :) it was a big deal. haha but im gonna miss b & k. i like them a lot. we decided were gonna live together next spring and im pretty happy about that. we all have an understanding of eachother and we get along and we all have the similar un-fondness (thats not a word) for girls, so it works out.

ive hungout with chris like four times now. my favorite was time number 1 and 3. is that weird. i hate being a girl and having feelings. some days i like him. some days i dont. right now i dont. i miss brent. if i was home id be with him right now. were just not in the same place (not just literally) right now. and we want different things.

the other night there was a fire at inl and it made the sky look craaaazy cool. i didnt take any pictures cause my camera is broken. but i stole this one from janelle.

is that not the coolest thing youve ever seen? i like rexburg. im gonna miss this place. ive had the best semester. im comin back in 7 weeeks :)

fjdklaf; im one week away from being a sophomore, frightening...

and the beat goes on...

my happiness streak continues. haha im seriously so happy. i absolutely love my life right now. everything about it. i had a couple bad days this week, but i wasnt down for long. i have the best friends, the best family, the best everything.

last night me and amy went to patriots and pioneers, this choir/band thing. i had to go for my humanities class so i wasnt particulary looking forward to it, but it was SO GOOOD. it made me miss choir so bad. i miss select, i miss backrub thursdays, i miss sickel, i miss singing everyday, i miss songs that give me goosebumps, i miss our chicago trip, i miss the unity and the people.

but this was amazing. at the beginning we all sang "the star spangled banner" and it was incredible. i got chills. it was a good reminder for how blessed i am to live in this country. we have so much opportunity, freedom, pride and so many blessings. i completely enjoyed last night. i miss being in choir. me and bets decided were gonna do university choir next semester, i cant wait.

there is something i absolutely positively loooove about summer nights. i love driving around with the windows down, blasting music and singing along. i love shorts and tshirts. i love how perfect the temperature at night is. last night i went with justin and little john longboarding. i didnt actually go, i just drove them to the top of hills and followed them down. haha it was so fun. longboarding must be a rexburg/westcoast thing cause i swear people dont do that in kansas.

this weekend is going to be spectacular. blake and kat are in oregon :( so im all by myself. but its going to be just phenomenal. except for the fact that i have to take a science test that im confident i will fail. oh wellllll. tomorrow, fireworks, a cookout, a sleepover and the new 3oh!3 album will make everything all better.

fjdklaf; i love where i come from, happy fourth of julyyy

p.s. my current musical obsesssion... "im not the one" by 3oh!3

the pursuit of happyness

shi all, im the happiest ive been since... i can remember. and thats a gooood thing. life is way good. i have the best friends, the best family, and idaho's weather is finally nice.

i love amy cragun. i like our adventures, our afternoons at the park, our sunday lunches, our spanish homework sessions with chris, our skype conversations, our gay "goodnight" texts, i just really like us.

30 days til i go to vegas

51 days til i go home

189 days til i go to ecuador

i absolutely positively am most definitely in love with summer. i just hate that i have to be in schoool. i like rexburg. i like it a lot. i like that the weather is finally nice.

i like taking pictures. i like doing things that are worthy of taking pictures of. i really like juice. a lot. and thai food. mmmm good.

i like david archuleta, even though im kind of embarrassed to say it. i would marry him 1) if he knew who i was, 2) if he was half a foot taller, 3) if he loved me back. hahah hes awesome. he is the nicest, funniest, cutest, most genuine, grateful, appreciative and in love with what he does person i've seen. he was here last weekend and i saw him (and david osmond, who i got a picture with thank you very much) with my fellow 816 hussy BETSY TRACY. it was bomb.

oh, and i really like tie-dye :)))

im really scatter-brained today, but i just thought i would share.

fjdklaf; so im paige