Guest Post!

December 16, 2013 — Leave a comment

Hello everyone! It’s Hannah again over at Words as Palindromes! Maddy is super busy with exams and presentations this week, as I was last week, so we decided it would be fun to guest post on each other’s blogs. So here it goes!

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Hannah and I blog over at Words as Palindromes. I am a senior in college and attend school in MN. I am studying to be a Speech-Language Pathologist. I blog about everything and anything that happens in my life, sometimes it’s funny, sometimes it’s lame, and sometimes it’s just great! But you should definitely check it out!

Christmas is coming up sooner than any of us can imagine, right? I mean I still have to wrap all my presents and find a few yet, but I don’t want to go to any of the stores because they are SOO CRAZY. So today we are going to talk about some of my favorite Christmas traditions.

1. Decorating Christmas cookies

Usually, my mom would always bake the cookies and would always have all my siblings frost them when I was at school or at work…but last year it was a day when I was off! I was so excited! My siblings and I listened to Trans Siberian Orchestra Christmas music while attempting (attempting is the key word) to decorate the cookies professionally.

2. Christmas Trees

I guess this really isn’t a tradition, but no matter where I am, whether on campus, at home, at my grandma’s or at a coffee shop, you will always find me by the Christmas tree. There is just something so peaceful about the bright lights and looking at how each and every person decorates the tree so beautifully and differently.

3. Christmas Lights

In my town in WI there is a large park at the end of a big lake in WI. Every year they completely deck the whole park out with lights and it is so beautiful! Within the past couple of years they have a light show. Every year after the Children’s Christmas Eve service at my church, my family and I get in my car, still in our dresses and ties, and drive to the park, despite the craziness and enjoy the light show.

4. Christmas at Granny J’s

Let’s preface this and say my dad is the 9th of 11 children. Yup, I did just say 11 kids. That means Christmas is crazy. Every year since I was born we have gone to Christmas at her house on Christmas Day. There have been some years when there have been over 70+ people at her house between all the aunts, uncles, grandchildren, their children, boyfriends & girlfriends, and more. It is a blast. Usually we don’t eat until almost 7:00PM at night. Then we open presents. Recently, Santa has been coming. 🙂 Then the best part of the night. We all sit down in the living room and sing Christmas carols for over an hour with my uncle playing them on the piano. Nothing gets better than that.

5. The awkward Christmas Family Photo

This one is not actually too awkward, but every Christmas Eve before we open presents we attempt to take pictures in front of the Christmas tree. It really has not worked too well in the past few years due to the fact that Josh is about 8 million feet tall now and we are all too big to fit in a picture.

Sure there are more traditions like my favorite peanut butter cookies with the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, the ranch oyster crackers, seeing my cousins who I like to call my best friends, and hoping that even though I live in WI, the weather is not too cold.

I hope all of you have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and remember to stop over at my blog, Words as Palindromes.

Currently needing:

December 16, 2013 — 1 Comment

Finals week is upon me. The horror…the horror. (Name that book and I’ll give you cookies. Look it up online and I will beat you up.)

All of you lucky kids who are done with finals already, don’t rub it in.

Currently needing to do well on finals:

A good night’s sleep.
A large tube of cookie dough.
Fuzzy socks.
A Christmas movie ready for in between study sessions.
Healthy food for dinner.
Scriptures.
A temple trip.
A shopping trip.
Best friends to spend hours with laughing while we study.

Happy Sunday everyone, and happy beginning of finals week for me.

I’m a redhead

December 11, 2013 — 2 Comments

As a redhead, I have to promote one of my very favorite companies, since it’s all for redheads like me!

The other day I had the chance to interview Adrienne and Stephanie from http://www.howtobearedhead.com as part of BYU Radio. I am a huge fan of these girls and their work, and as a thank you for their interview, they sent me a package!

Are they not the cutest? They sent me their signature redhead bobby pins, redhead hair ties, coupons, and a shirt! They’re basically the best, check them out!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…:)

So finals week is coming up, I am stressed out of my mind with a zillion things to do, and I just want to be home for the holidays already. BUT the fact that our dorm is a little Christmas-y looking helps a lot! You’d be amazed what a little tree and some lights can do! But don’t take my word for it, try it! I promise you won’t be disappointed. Stay tuned for some finals-week tips, Christmas traditions, and LOTS more blogging once finals are over!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

What were you up to?

December 2, 2013 — 3 Comments

Here’s the explanation of my Thanksgiving, and a look at what I was wearing that day:)

So my weekend started after work on Wednesday! We headed back to my house for family, pie (we can never wait until Thanksgiving to eat pie. We aren’t a patient family,) games and movies.

Thanksgiving came way too early, but we made the best of it by heading to the park to play steal the flag and Frisbee and football! We won, by the way. Then it was putting the finishing touches on all the food and heading over to Grandma’s! I ate WAY too much (recipes are still coming, never fear friends,) and played games and took five or six naps I think, and over all just had way too much fun. Thursday night was games and movies and more food than I should’ve ever eaten, more games and laughing and talking, etc. etc.

Friday was MORE food (I know, right?), Catching Fire (it was incredible. If you haven’t seen it I would highly recommend it!) and SHOPPING. Drew and I were incredibly productive and got lots of things on our shopping lists crossed off. Which was wonderful:) Friday night I got to go with my family to see Ballet West’s The Nutcracker. IT WAS AMAZING. I seriously almost died. They were so technically amazing and elegant and beautiful. It made me miss dancing a lot but it was SO wonderful.

Saturday we ate MORE FOOD. And my cousin Michael got baptized so that was awesome, I got to see some of my best friends from high school during a quick hot chocolate run, and then it was more games with the family until they headed to a concert, and Drew and I went to the USU/BYU basketball game in SLC. It was SUCH a good game, so close until BYU pulled ahead in the end. The fans were CRAZY and it was really fun to be there. Then it was home sweet home after a crazy fun weekend. It was a much needed holiday and I really don’t think it was long enough. But that’s ok, Christmas is soon right?

And the Christmas tree is up! Finally:)

I love my family:) All dressed up for The Nutcracker

We had a “White Grape Cocktail” to kick off Thanksgiving.

My cute family with Michael on his baptism day!

USU vs BYU

Thanksgiving outfit!

Sweater–Forever 21

Black Jeans–Dillards

Boots–Forever Young Shoes

Jewelry–Forever 21

Happy Monday everyone, and happy back to reality!

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:)

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!!!

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!