Month: November 2013

Thanksgiving

November 29, 2013 — 1 Comment

Sooooo it’s Thanksgiving. Yay!

It’s been an incredible day. My 20th Thanksgiving being alive. Weird, right?

We spent the day with my extended family, eating and playing games and watching movies. Basically my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents are the best. Plus my family ROCKS and being with my sisters was awesome.

Oh. And Drew was there:) So that was great:)

We had a moment before we went over to my grandma’s house where we talked about things we were thankful for. It was wonderful to look over the past year and talk about the things that we are so thankful for, and realize how blessed we are. Basically, I feel like we’re the luckiest family alive. I’m the luckiest girl alive, that’s for sure.

I’m going to be re-creating some of my Thanksgiving favorites, and putting the recipes on the blog. SO look forward to that. Also, in the near future (like tomorrow or something), I’ll start attempting to be fashionable and put on my outfits or hair stuff. If that makes sense haha.
Anyway.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. 
The last thing I want to say that I’m thankful for is the gospel and the church I belong to. I would not be the person I am without it. It has brought me so much happiness I can’t even tell you. I have such peace in the decisions I make, and I know who I am because of it. It’s the reason I know my family can be together forever, that there is a God in Heaven who cares about ME, and that things will all work out as long as I try and do what i know I’m supposed to do.
Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Turkey Day, Happy Black Friday Eve, and Happy Thursday everyone:)

In which I am thankful for my family

November 27, 2013 — Leave a comment

Friends, tomorrow is Thanksgiving.

Where has the time gone?

I promise to do a big ol’ post about my day of thanks, and I hope you all have a wonderful day.

The good news is, I am SO much less busy now! SO blogging will once again take a priority. Promise! Also, I am home free now that school is over for the break! Which means lots of fun is ahead:) Happy days!

November 26: I am thankful for knowledge. I love reading, I love the things I’ve learned in my life, and I wouldn’t trade that away for anything. Sometimes I hate school, but I love the things I have learned because of it.
November 27: I am so thankful for my family. I love them more than I can ever explain. They are the solid pieces of my life and I know they will be here for me in everything. They are supportive while letting me know how they feel, caring while keeping me on the straight and narrow. I owe them everything that I am. Thanks for being the best family in the world guys:)

Happy Wednesday and happy Thanksgiving Eve everyone!

The Cracker of Nuts

November 25, 2013 — 3 Comments

So I went home this weekend and like a SAP I didn’t take ANY pictures.

Yeah, I’m the worst.

But my sister took some pictures thankfully, and I have the stories to go along with them:) YAY.

So Friday, Drew and I jetted to my house to see my sisters perform in The Nutcracker. Yes, it was incredibly sad that I wasn’t dancing. But my sisters are both so beautiful, and the show was amazing.

Bethany was a Lady-In-Waiting, and she was so graceful I can’t even tell you. She had the perfect facial expression and body language, and was so technically perfect, I can’t even explain it! Plus her hair was rocking and her costume made her look incredible. Basically she’s the best. Happy last Nutcracker Beth:)

Liv was the Doll, in the Snow Corps, and a Waltz soloist. Basically she owned the show! She is so amazingly talented, I’m not sure that we’re really related. She has worked so hard to get where she is and I am so proud of her. She looked beautiful up there on the stage and if she wasn’t my sister, I’d probably hate her! LOVE YOU LIV.

This picture describes my sisters perfectly. I love them:)
We went out for ice cream and then went to bed, had breakfast the next morning and said goodbye to my family. I hate saying goodbye to my family every time I leave, but the good news is I get to see them SOON. So happy day:)
Then Drew and I spent the day in Park City. It was SO FUN. We shopped and had lunch at this adorable restaurant called The Eating Establishment, drove through the pretty snow and got back home utterly exhausted. The rest of the weekend was studying and church meetings, boxes of Mac n Cheese and pints of ice cream, so basically it was one of the best weekends ever.
November 23: I am thankful for chocolate. What would I do without it?
November 24: I am thankful for where I go to school. I love BYU with all my heart and seriously I wouldn’t be the person I am if I didn’t go here. I have met some of my very best friends her and had experiences that will forever shape who I am. Thanks BYU:)
November 25: Today I am thankful for my family traditions. I love the holiday season especially because of the traditions my family does and the fun we have together. From scriptures study to our Christmas Countdown, all of the traditions we have are wonderful.
I post some sweet recipe, but I haven’t cooked anything but PF Changs Spring Rolls in the past three days. Sooooo that’ll come tomorrow:)
Happy Monday everyone!

Gotta get down…

November 22, 2013 — Leave a comment

IT’S FRIDAY FRIDAY GOTTA GET DOWN ON FRIDAY.

But on the real. I made it to Friday. Which means I am officially two classes away from the weekend. From going HOME and seeing my BEAUTIFUL sisters dance in The Nutcracker.

I have a lot of thankfulness to catch up on.

November 18: I am thankful for my roomies. Seriously they ROCK. Love them so much
November 19: I am thankful for my friends who aren’t my roommates. My roommates are my friends but I’m also thankful for the friends I don’t live with…if you’re picking up what I’m throwin down. Basically every single person in my life is the best and I don’t know what I would do without them.
November 20: I am thankful for the boy who brings me flowers and Pinwheel cookies and takes me to get thai chicken pizza from Slab, who comes and helps out with everything for Student Alumni, takes me on scooter rides, and never fails to make me feel so important and special. I’m so lucky!
November 21: I am thankful for the chance I had to dance. Nutcracker opening night was yesterday and I miss it more than anything. But I am so thankful that I had the opportunities to learn and perform and LOVE every second of it. To the three pairs of toe shoes hanging in my room, don’t worry. We’ll head back over to the RB studio and dance soon.
November 22: I am so thankful for my extended family. They are out of this world amazing and I am so lucky to have such great memories with all of them. Sometimes family gatherings are crazy, but I wouldn’t change a second of it. I’m SO excited to see them all in less than a week:)

So wherever you live, there will be a ballet studio or company putting on The Nutcracker. Go see it, for me. There is no better way to get into the holiday mood, I promise.

Also I have a Week of Gratitude Challenge for you all:)

Week of Gratitude:

November 22—Only say prayers of thanks today.

November 23—Write a thank-you note to a family member who you

are thankful for.

November 24—Do something for your roommates to show them your

gratitude

November 25—Make a list of all the little things you’re thankful for.

November 26—Show the girls you visit teach how thankful you are for

them.

November 27—Show gratitude for who Heavenly Father made you by

not talking badly about yourself today.

November 28—End the Week of Gratitude by writing down your

thoughts, testimony, appreciation, in your journal and be sure to say a

prayer of thanks!

Try it out, it might change your whole week.

Happy Friday everyone:)

pie for breakfast

November 19, 2013 — 3 Comments

Some guy brought me flowers.

Ok it wasn’t just some guy. But that’s another story.

I am so busy this week. If I can just survive and make it to this weekend, I’ll be fine.

If I survive.

Happy breakfast everyone! This is from the vending machine at work. I’m praying that it’s as delicious as I hope it’s going to be.

Yesterday Heidi gave a fantastic Family Home Evening that I wanted to share with ya’ll. Maybe you can use this for your next Family Night!

She asked us to all look around the room and see all the red things. She then asked us to close our eyes, and tell her everything in the room that was purple. We all struggled to recall the purple things in the room. She then explained that if we were focused on one thing, we wouldn’t see all the other amazing things around us. She talked about how we should be grateful for EVERYTHING not just focus on some things. She then told us how for the month of November, she was challenged to write ten things each day she was thankful for. That became hard after a few days, and really pushed her to think of un-ordinary things that she was thankful for. Then we made hand turkeys and had to write five un-ordinary things that we were thankful for on each of the fingers.

Basically you should do this for your family night or for an activity to remember Thanksgiving!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Tilapia:)

November 17, 2013 — Leave a comment

So this weekend was super fun! Friday, Drew and I made dinner (recipe below!) and watched the basketball game! Then Saturday we ran a million errands, went to the football game (it was FREEZING. But SO fun) then watched movies with friends after running more errands. All in all, a very good weekend.

So Drew had tilapia in the freezer, so naturally we had tilapia for dinner!

Yeah it looks weird. SO good I promise.
Recipe:
Ingredients: Tilapia, lemon juice (real or bottled), onions, soy sauce
Thaw your tilapia or get it fresh.
Pour half a cup of lemon juice and half a cup of soy sauce into a bowl. Let the tilapia sit in the mixture for however long you desire. Cut the onions into circles. Place the onions and tilapia in tinfoil and wrap TIGHTLY. Put in the oven at 350 for 10-15 minutes, or until fish is flakey and white.
SO GOOD.

Drew does this weird thing with his eyebrows in pictures. Whatever it’s fine.
And there’s us looking ridiculous at the game. 
November 14: I am grateful for music. I love everything about music and how it has such power to make people feel. GAH it’s wonderful.
November 15: I am grateful for getting flowers. Seriously it’s one of my favorite things. Flowers in general are just wonderful.
November 16: Cold water. Isn’t there something delightful about drinking a glass of cold water? That was something I really missed in Europe, there they serve you room temperature water and no ice. It was kind of the worst.
November 17: Today I am thankful for the awesome ward I have! Seriously. They are the best! Wouldn’t know what to do without them. 
Happy Sunday everyone. Also. Donate to the food drive!!!  

What I learned about people today

November 15, 2013 — 2 Comments

Guys. Sometimes I jump to conclusions and assume the worst.

But today I learned a really important lesson. A few of them actually.

1. People are good.
2. They want what’s best for you.
3. They care about you.
4. People change and become better.
5. You change and become better, and you have to give other people the benefit of the doubt.
6. People are good.
7. People are so good.

It was a good lesson for me to learn today. Don’t worry so much, everything’s going to be fine.

Happy Friday everyone, have a great weekend:)

The long road

November 14, 2013 — Leave a comment
http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/yNQC-_srxH8&source=uds

Popped onto YouTube and watched this gem, and knew I had to share it! Lately I’m not sure what road I’m on, but God is good and I’m sure that whatever road he’s taking me down is for a reason. These little lessons that I’m learning are so important and I wouldn’t trade them for an easier road at all.

So that’s my spiritual thought for the day:)

November 13: I’m grateful for that boy in Japan today. Who knows who I would be without him. Happy 13th Randy Low!!

And happy Wednesday everyone!

At least they broke 100

November 12, 2013 — Leave a comment

So yesterday out of the blue, I get a text from Drew asking if I want to go to the Jazz game. Umm….is that even a question!? So my two best friends grabbed some guys, and we all headed to watch the Jazz lose to the Nuggets in an embarrassing display of athletics. It was incredibly fun:)

November 11: Today I am grateful for my country. We are so blessed to live in this land, and I am so thankful for those who have fought, and continue to fight, to make this land free. God bless America!
November 12: Today I am grateful for my job. I am absolutely in love with what I do and I can’t imagine myself doing anything else for a career. I have amazing co-workers who have made me feel at home so quickly, my bosses are awesome, and I can honestly say I come into work every day, loving what I do. 
So how should you make today more than average? Sometimes, when someone asks you to just go do something, don’t think. Just do it!

Love love love

November 11, 2013 — 2 Comments

Folks, my roommate got engaged. Isn’t it wonderful?? Lindsay and Ethan are ADORABLE together and I am just so happy for them:) All her roomies and their families and friends went to this beautiful park right by the temple in American Fork and Ethan came up, and we all started singing happy birthday (it was midnight and Lindsay’s birthday. It makes sense) and then he said he wanted to give her the first birthday present. AND HE GOT DOWN AND BANG. Cuties. We then proceeded to get donuts and Martinelli’s and stay up far too late screaming and laughing with her that night. Happy birthday future Mrs. Clark:)

These are my “”Rules of Engagement” (I can be clever;))

1. Ask my dad for permission
2. Use my full name
3. Lead up to it with some solid mush about how much you love me
4. One knee (duh)
5. Make sure my nails are done!
6. Secret photographer is a MUST
7. Make sure we look cute and I’m not in sweats or something
8. If you can surprise me, bonus points!

Maybe I’m too picky? Maybe when it’s actually close to happening I won’t care so much. But for the time being…..yeah:)

This weekend also consisted in me actually being productive and getting stuff done, country dancing, movie nights, and shopping. All in all, a very satisfying weekend.

November 10–Today I am grateful for modern medicine. It’s such a blessing for me to know that whatever is going on, there are people who are qualified and working to provide help. It’s truly a miracle how far we’ve come.

Look at this sunset. WOW. 
Also Drew is home from Vegas:) But more on that later! 
Happy Sunday Everyone!