hi my name is paige and i am the pinterest QUEEN

this is a story about a girl who had no friends so all she did was cook. hi! that's me! 

having lived here for only 3 months, i don't have a whole lot of friends. so when i'm not working or with my family, i get suuuper bored. and i'm running out of things to do. so, i turn to pinterest, and focus my energy in the cooking direction. never have i ever loved cooking and baking so much. but in the last few days i have made so much delicious food!

first were the s'more cookies

then, pretzel chocolate chip cookies

earlier this week we made no bake cookies (which i didn't really need pinterest for...)

last night i made pizza monkey bread

and then this morning i made funfetti cookies

everything i've made has been deliiiicious. and for the most part, pretty easy! i've decided you seriously cannot go wrong with a pinterest recipe. tomorrow night, it's enchilada puffs and rasperry swirl cheesecake cups! 

to follow me on pinterest, click here!

and to see pictures of the yumminess (and everything else),

follow me on instragram @haiimpayge

do you have any yummy pinterest recipes i should try?

mormon.org

hey lds people... 

who has a mormon.org profile? 

here's mine. 

leave me the link to yours in a comment!

hurrah for israel

as part of my "pre-field training" for my mission, i had to watch six 30-minute videos about real elders and sisters and their experiences with some of the people they taught during their time as missionaries. i'm grateful that the Church's missionary program now includes these videos because so far, these have been the most helpful to me in learning what it's like to serve a mission. did i cry during every single episode? i did. i didn't have to be there to feel the spirit. seeing real life investigators changing their lives, desperate to come unto Christ and follow Him, was incredible. and all thanks to young men and women just like me. i've always put missionaries on such a pedestal. i admire them and respect them so much. especially the 19 yearold men that go. 19 seems like such a young age. but every single worthy missionary i've come across seem so mature, eloquent, respectful, and full of gospel knowledge. and now i get to be that! 

words cannot accurately express just how blessed and excited i feel to be able to serve a mission. there is no better way i could be spending the next 18 months. in the last few minutes of the last episode, one of the elders said, "if you're worthy, it'd be a mistake not to go!" but really. i am so eager to share the great message of the gospel of Christ with the people of madrid. i can't wait to see the truthfulness of His teachings change people's lives for the better. to see miracles worked, prayers answered, and faith increased every. single. day. i am so beyond ready to forget the world and get to work. i love this gospel with all that i am, and i'm thrilled to be able to share it with those who the Lord has prepared to hear it.

come on, september 12th! i'm ready for you.

a minor setback

so this little joy came in the mail for me last week. i sent in my missionary acceptance letter and then got this in return! the instructions and information for getting my extended visa. getting all these big envelopes from salt lake makes this whole thing seem so real. in less then 4 months i'll be in the mtc like a real missionary! it's stupid how excited i am about this.

so because of all the technical things i have to get done this summer regarding my 18 months in spain, i decided that this week would be a productive one. i was going to fill out my passport renewal form, take it to walgreens and have them take my picture, and start working on my visa paperwork. i had made an appointment for my visiting teachers to come over. i had even agreed to come teach my brother and sister's seminary class one day. all on top of the 40 hours i was going to be working.

and then i got sick.

so, in lieu of the productivity i foresaw, i instead went to the walmart clinic (no waiting rooms and much faster service), got prescribed amoxicillin, and have been in bed ever since. in the last three days i have watched: 

footloose

the glee concert movie

7 episodes of revenge

the bachelorette premier

some embarrassing abc family shows

and a healthy dose of ryan gosling and chris evans

people, i am ready to be well. i have a lot to do as a future missionary and a lot of hours to work in order to make some very necessary money. so if you have a spare second or two, send your good thoughts, karma, mojo, and all that nonsense my way. my one day converts in madrid, and my family would appreciate it. 

just so we're being clear, i wouldn't mind being able to breathe and taste again either :)

counting down, as usual

16 days til i get lasik

19 days til our favorite photographer comes to take our family pictures

21 days til i start my new testament class online to keep my spot at byui

125 days til i enter the mtc as sister munden

2012 has been and continues to be such a fantastic year

keep it comin'

mutha's day

dear mom, thanks for everything. 

for the years and years of going above and beyond.

i couldn't have done a better job if i hand-picked you myself.

i feel so very blessed to call you mine. 

i love you. 

happy mother's day!

(so, so weird to think that this time next year i'll be calling from spain!)

mawwaige is what bwings up togeva today

the day started early. i was up at 7 to do my makeup and pack up my suitcase and bags. i headed to amara day spa, as recommended by my friend chantelle, to get my hair done. this girl alex came in extra early (8:30) before the salon opened just for me! we talked weddings, hideous bridesmaids' dresses of her past, and of how many friends we had getting married.

at 9:15 i was off to the mount timpanogos temple to watch my best friend and her jason walk out as husband and wife. the morning was cold and windy. family and friends were huddled in the waiting area just inside the temple. at 10:00 the mother of the bride announced that amy and jason were about to walk out! i got chills as they pushed through the doors, smiles and loving glances across their faces. amy looked stunning. i had forgotten what her dress looked like until then. but it was utterly beautiful. she was the most beautiful bride i had ever seen. and jason looked so dapper in his suit. they looked incredible.

after hugs and kisses were exchanged between the bride and groom and their families, we were directed to positions for photographs. after 30 minutes of picture taking we were "dismissed" and i met up with my friend (and one of amy's previous roommates) megan and [their other roommate] chelsea. literally all the three of us talked about for the rest of the day was how much we loved amy and how gorgeous of a bride she was. 

we headed to a little victorian house in provo for a luncheon for the wedding party, family, and close friends. after a fantastic salad and yummy chicken with mashed potatoes and veggies, amy and jason's dads offered words of advice, encouragement, and keys to a successful and happy marriage. i may or may not have teared up. it was pretty special. 

after the luncheon, we made our way back up to lehi for the reception. the room was beautifully decorated in blue and yellow, with the center pieces, food table, and flower arrangements set perfectly in place. there was music, dancing, mini cheesecakes, pictures, receiving lines, and unexpected guests! apparently one of jason's uncles and his wife were my primary teachers 15 or so years ago! the lds community is such a small, small world. it was great seeing them. amy and i got a moment alone when i helped her change her clothes in the dressing room. it was the only time i'd really seen her all day and it was nice to be able to congratulate her on my own.

it was finally time to let mr. and mrs. demke go. the reception guests each took blue and gray balloons to release as amy and jason left. it was such a happy day. by the afternoon/evening the sun had come out, the air had warmed up, and the wind had died down. the balloons left our hands as quickly as the happy couple sped off. 

it was such a good day. i am so sooo excited for amy and jason. i've never seen her this genuinely happy in the three years i've known her. they are truly a perfect match and i wish them all the luck in the world as they embark on their marital adventures. i love them both and i'm thrilled i got to be there on their special day!