Ideas for Mother’s Day

 No really important news today! I scanned every newspaper source and the there were things about banking and cannibalistic sharks and such. Nothing very important, in my opinion. Maybe I’m just lazy haha.

Anywho on to something new! Mother’s Day is just around the corner (MOM STOP READING. THIS MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOU!! LOVE YOU:)) and here are a few ideas of what to get your cute mom on her special day!

  1. If you’ve been listening, you may have gleaned something she really wants. For example, maybe she’s mentioned a few times she wishes she had a specific plant for her yard or that she’s heard this certain place is fun to visit. If she’s said ANYTHING like that, listen to her. Get her what she actually wants!
  2. Gift card. Sounds dumb, I know. But does she have a favorite restaurant? A treat she loves but doesn’t usually buy for herself? If she’s like my mom, a Barnes and Noble gift card is always appreciated!
  3. Plants/flowers. I sent my mom flowers last Mother’s Day with the words to a Primary song about mothers on the card. She loved it! You can make it meaningful if you just put in a little effort.
  4. Music. Sheet music if she plays an instrument, a CD or iTunes purchase if she loves listening to music, any of those would be a good idea. I bought my mom a song called “She Put The Music In Me” when I left for college. I played it for her while I was in the room. It was a really great moment.
  5. Clothes. I’m the kind of person who always loves getting clothes/jewelry/accessories. If you’re mom is like that, take her shopping with you to get exactly what she wants, or if you know her really well go for it! Just don’t guess the size wrong…;)
  6. An outing! My family LOVES going on outings and spending time together. We give that to our parents as gifts a lot. They love getting to go somewhere with us, and they don’t have to pay! Some of our favorites are Thanksgiving Point, the zoo, the aquarium, Temple square, This Is The Place Heritage Park, or even dinner or a movie!
  7. Videos/Pictures. We make videos or take pictures for my parents every once in a while. They really like having a more permanent memento of us, how we feel about them, and what we’re thinking. 
  8. Candy or food. I love food. If your mom does too, this could work out. 
  9. Poem/song/craft. I’m pretty decent at poetry, but it doesn’t matter how good you are. If you write something heartfelt your mom will love it. Same goes for a song or a craft. Homemade always is a big hit.
  10. Whatever you do, make it special and individual to your mom. Include a note telling her how much you appreciate and love her. Mom’s are people that get taken for granted too often. This is one day of many that you can give back. Do some housework, don’t make her cook, help with all the little things she does every day to make her life easier. 
Good luck on your shopping and happy Wednesday everyone!

Home sweet home

I’m home! One year of college down. I know lots of my friends will be home for the summer within the next few weeks. So here’s my list of things to do instead of sitting around, being bored.

  • Read. What’s that, you don’t like reading? You’re doing it wrong. Find a book that looks interesting. I promise you’ll get into it if you just find the right book.
  • Play with your siblings. I have missed my sisters a lot, and Scattergories and Jungle Speed have already been played in excess.
  • Find new music. I didn’t have time at school to find NEW music. Now, I do:)
  • Keep up with the news. Whether it be on this blog or from a news source. You need to know what’s up in the world. You’re an adult now.
  • See some old friends. Yes, it’s weird. We all have these new lives. But we can still go to lunch or have a bonfire or something.
  • Find a show. I’m on Boy Meets World right now! I watch ONE episode a day. Not too much, but not nothing.
  • Write. Journal, blog, whatever. Remember this time. It’s crucial.
  • Visit your teachers. I plan on making a few trips to dear ol’ Davis in the near future and thanking all the people who made my freshman year that much easier.
  • Get a job. Don’t sit around the house. Make some money!
  • Help your mom. She could use help with the laundry and dishes, and I’m sure you’re capable of doing it.
  • Organize your documents/photos. After a year of college you probably have a million documents and photos sitting around. Organize them.
  • Write a missionary! I have a few favorites that I can recommend;)
  • Make dinner. Give your parents the night off and whip out all those cooking skills you gained from college.
  • Enjoy yourself. You have 3 months of you time. Go walking, hiking, whatever makes YOU happy. 
These are just a few little ideas that hopefully will make your summer a little better. Happy Tuesday everyone!

April 30, 2013

New York Times Headline: Colleges Adapt Online Courses to Ease Burden

Colleges are working online to make sure students are more prepared for college, as well as make sure they graduate on time. With state budgets being cut, more students are unable to get higher education. These massive online classes are being tested to help fix the higher education problems.

Click here to read the full story.

New York Times Headline: Flow of Tainted Water Is Latest Crisis at Japan Nuclear Plant

Workers in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear district in Japan are struggling to contain radioactive wastewater. Water is pouring into the plants reactor building at an alarmingly fast rate, which contaminates the water. Workers are doing all they can to contain it.

Click here for the full story.

Saint George!

Finally posting about my Saint George trip! I know you’ve all been waiting;) But really, I have some great ideas for you if you’re ever in the Saint George/Dixie area. We had a blast and wish we could go back!

Here’s a few of the fun things we did:

  • Ate at Paradise Cafe, their cookies are to DIE for.
  • Laid out by the pool at our hotel, reading and talking about everything under the sun. I powered through a really good book called The Secret Keeper. Highly recommend it:)
  • At at Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe. Really good smoothies!
  • Cruised around Saint George, pretending to speak other languages in drive-thrus and parking lot dancing.
  • Went to Dixie Rock (beautiful view of the city) and sang hymns at the top when nobody else was there. It was a really spiritual, wonderful moment.
  • Worked out (not my idea, I don’t work out on vacation but some people are more fit than I am) and then jumped in the pool after. SO fun.
  • Hiked in Snow Canyon. Just a few minutes away from downtown Saint George and one of the most beautiful canyons I’ve ever seen. The red rock was incredible, and hiking up to the top of cooled lava and petrified sand dunes was so amazing. 
  • Ate some In n’ Out. I don’t care if you hate fast food, I promise a trip to In n’ Out every once in a while is worth your calories.
  • Also ate some Nielsen’s Frozen Custard. Try it. I promise you’ll love it. 
  • Realized that cute Wendie Davis (Gabe’s mom) was staying at our same hotel! She was so fun to chat with and we had a great time talking with her.
  • Took a million pictures (who doesn’t like to remember their vacation!)
  • Had a great time with my four best friends (I also recommend this one;))
So that’s the highlights of my trip! We had so much fun and a HUGE shout out to Alli’s family for making it happen! 
Dixie Rock
Parking lot dancing
Beautiful and warm!
Happy Monday everyone!

News April 29, 2013

New York Times Headline: Push to Require Online Sales Tax Divides the G.O.P.

There is lots of debate going on about what is a tax increase and what isn’t. Mixed with this debate is the issue of whether Internet sales tax is a tax increase for Americans. The most heavily involved group that is pro-Internet sales tax is small businesses who believe their Internet competitors have an unfair advantage.

Click here for the full story.

New York Times: With Bags of Cash, C.I.A. Seeks Influence in Afghanistan

According to Afghan leadership, millions of dollars have secretly flowed from the CIA to the hands of presidents and other leaders in Afghanistan. Apparently, this money was spent to gain the influence of the Afghan leaders and sway their decisions regarding terrorism and America. The CIA declined comment.

Click here for the full story.

Home sweet home

I said goodbye to my friends today (for real) and now I’m officially home.

It’s nice to be home!

And I miss BYU.

It’s an interesting mix of feelings. Right now I don’t have a minute to blog about my trip or all of the other things I want to blog about. So forgive me! But starting tomorrow, trust me. There will be lots of blog posts since all I’m doing this summer is working, reading, spending time with my family, and you’ve got it…blogging.

On the spiritual note, Dillon gave a fabulous farewell talk today about the restoration and how important that is to the people we are today. He talked about things we can learn from the restoration and apply to our lives. He’s going to be an amazing missionary folks. Those people in Texas are lucky to get one of my best friends for two years. I love you Dil!


Happy Sunday everyone!

News April 27, 2013


New York Times Headline: Europe Facing More Pressure to Reconsider Cuts as a Cure


Southern Europe unemployment numbers are steadily increasing. Experts who suggested that cutting spending would fix the problem are now admitting there are no other ways to cut back. Now they are hoping to find other methods to reguvinate the economy.

Click here to read the full story.

New York Times Headline: G.O.P. Claims Victory as Bill to Curb Flight Delays Passes

The House and Senate overwhelmingly passed a measure to give money back to airport improvement funds after severe cuts in the past few weeks. This money will hopefully curb the problematic flight delays that have been across the board. 

Click here to read the full story. 

Excuse me while I vacation

Photo: So excited for a weekend with my girls! Finals are overrr. :)

Hey Saint George. After 9 months of nearly straight school, you’re looking mighty nice. And it’s even better that I get to be here with my best friends.

Coming up on the agenda of my life; vacation in Saint George, go home and be with my family, say bye to everyone for real on Sunday at Dillon’s farewell, then a summer full of working, my family, and lots of reading.

Welcome to life after college.

News April 26, 2013

New York Times Headline: U.S. Economy Speeds Up, but Less Than Forecast

The U.S. economy sped up in the first quarter of 2013 at a rate of about 2.5%. While this is good news, unfortunately this isn’t the expected 3% growth that experts were hoping. Growth in the 4th quarter last year was incredibly slow, which may have something to do with the stunted growth of this year already.

Click here to read the full story.

Washington Post Headline: Federal Helium Program: How temporary becomes forever

Presidents since Ronald Regan have been trying to get rid of the federal helium program. This program is left over from the age of zeppelins but has been kept around based on the “what-if we need it” argument. There are plans to finally get rid of this program, but the House is likely to vote on Friday to keep it around. This allows the government to keep its foot in the door of the helium business, and continue to profit on the sale of helium to U.S. companies. 

Click here to read the full story.

Last goodbye

So this is the last goodbye. Goodbye to BYU, freshman year. It’s been an incredible 9 months, and I have made so many memories that I will never let go of.

I can’t even begin to document the things I’ve learned or the memories I have, so suffice it to say that BYU freshman year was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I’m currently in Saint George with my four best friends and don’t have time to be all nostalgic about BYU at the moment.

So let’s just stop dragging it out and do this.

Goodbye BYU. Goodbye freshman year. Goodbye to all the things I learned (which will be shared in a later post for my high school friends moving on to college, don’t you worry;)) Goodbye to all the mistakes I made and the things that I finally got right. Goodbye to the first time for so many things and the last time for so many things.

See you in four months BYU, I’ll be missing you.

On a separate note, I’m currently in Saint George with those four girls who make everything great. Get excited for some great adventures!