Best news of my LIFE!

Yesterday was SUCH a great day! Not only did I get my hair done (I haven't had it done since FEBRUARY...my hair was hating me), but I found out that I will be going back to school in January!
These last couple of months have been so so so hard on me. I couldn't understand why no one could help me...not the government, the school, or any loan place. Finally, on Thursday, I talked to someone in the Financial Aid office who actually knew what they were talking about. I was still a little upset because, had I talked to her one of the other thousand times I had called, I could have been in school this past semester. But it is over and done with, and this lady is a miracle worker! I didn't get financial aid, but I did get a loan. And as much as I hate to go into more debt to go to school, I will do whatever I need to do to get back.
I really am so grateful that things have worked out the way that I wanted them to. After so many prayers, and begging and pleading, I finally feel HAPPY. I am so excited to be back in Logan.
Look out USU...Chelsee is BACK!

Home-made Dresses and Christmas Sweaters

I love the Holidays. It is my favorite time of the whole entire year. I love the music, the treats, the decorations, and the way it just makes me feel.
This year, we had a little family Christmas party. There were only about 33 people in our little tiny house. No big deal, right? Makes things cozy. There was good food, good treats, and great company. We had a little white elephant gift exchange, complete with a Dollar Store pregnancy test and another feminine hygiene product. Ha ha. My family is best. We are loud and sometimes obnoxious, but always fabulous!
Here are a few highlights...

Caitlin and I went to the DI to find some sweet holiday outfits. She found this treasure. If she would have been able to sit down in it, I would have made her get it.

PHOTO BOMB. Ben decided to ruin our picture. But it is ok because Caitlin was ruining it with that face anyway.

Look how cute we are with our fun Christmas sweaters!

My little Maser. He makes me so happy.

We finally got a good picture of the 2 of us...sometimes he takes after me and makes ugly faces.

This was a wild game of Phase 10. I totally rocked it. That's a lie...I was stuck on the same 2 phases for about 8 hands. Awesome.

Also, one of my best friends from Utah State got married yesterday. I am so happy for Sarah and Danny. They are so fabulous and perfect for each other. And now I am pretty sure that I am close to the last single girl on the planet. Ok...maybe that was a little dramatic. But I am dwindling in single friends.

Merry Christmas to all of my dear friends and family! I hope yours is fabulous and I hope Santa brings you EVERYTHING you want!

SWEET VICTORY!

Hail the Utah Aggies!

We'll play the game with all our might!

See the flying colors,

The Aggie Blue and Fighting White!

How they stir us onward,

We'll win the VICTORY alright!

Hail the Utah Aggies!

We're out to win so FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!

UTAH STATE HEY!

AGGIES ALL THE WAY!

GO AGGIES! GO AGGIES!

HEY! HEY! HEY!

I love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love LOVE that Utah State beat BYU last night! It makes my heart melt with joy! It really just tickles me. I wish that I had been able to go to the game, but from what I hear, a bunch of my friends didn't even get in. I love that Aggie fans are so united...the entire crowd in sync with every cheer is FANTASTIC! I love that Stew is our coach....I definitely think he is one of the BEST coaches in college basketball. I love that, even though BYU thinks they are invincable, they are NOT.

I love EVERYTHING about Utah State Basketball.

REMATCH!!!

Tonight, Utah State plays BYU in basketball. I don't know about everyone else, but this is a HUGE game for me. Last year, BYU was too chicken to come play in the Spectrum, and made Utah State play at Energy Solutions Arena. We ended up losing by 5...and it SUCKED! This year, Dave Rose decided to grow a pair and try his luck out at the Spectrum. Anyone who has been to an Aggie basketball game knows how hard it is for any team to beat the Ags in the Spectrum. I am hoping that my Aggies will KILL the Cougars.
I know this rivalry is nothing compared to the BYU-UTAH football game, but this is a big deal to Utah State fans. And speaking of USU fans...we are loud and fabulous!
I am so sad that I will not be attending the game tonight...it was a very hard decision for me to make. My little sister also has a game tonight. And I don't really enjoy driving through the canyon in the dark by myself (ok...so not really enjoying it is an understatement. I hate it). But you can better believe that I will be cheering on my Ags tonight!
I even wore my favorite shirt today, in honor of this game...
"YBU? Win or lose you STILL live in PROVO! 'NUFF SAID!!!!"
GO AGGIES!

Slacker.

With the holiday last week, I didn't blog. I didn't even think about blogging. I know all of you are DYING to get to the next letter of my FABULOUS uncommon uses for common household products. So we'll get right to it.

H
HAIR DRYER:
*Clean silk flowers--your feather duster doesn't seem to make a dent in the dust accumulating on your favorite floral arrangement. Try using your hair dryer on the lowest setting to blow the dust off your silk or dried flowers.
*Soothe the itching under a cast--got a cast? Can't scratch? Don't despair-just shake some baby powder inside the opening of your cast and blow it in with a hair dryer. Just be sure to use the cool setting. (I sure wish I had known this when I broke my arm in the 4th grade and I was in a cast for 2 months)
HAIR SPRAY:
*Remove ink stains from clothing--your favorite ink pen leaked all over your favorite skirt. You may have to buy a new pen, but the skirt can be saved with an old remedy for ink spots. Just spray hair spray in the stained area, blot until the stain comes up, and wash as usual.
*Keep that zipper up--got a zipper that's always sneaking down? Spray it. That's right. Cover the rest of the garment so it doesn't get ruined and spray hair spray onto your zipper. Let it dry and no more worries. For this to work, make sure your hair spray contains lacquer.
HANGERS:
*Remove static cling from clothing or hair--static can make your hair stand on end and make your skirt embarrassingly clingy. One simple solution is to run a wire coat hanger over your hair or skirt, or between your skirt and slip. The static electricity will transfer from you to the wire, and you should be static free.

I
ICE CUBE TRAYS:
*Handy frozen veggies--if you've got extra onions, celery, peppers, or other seasoning vegetables, go ahead and chop them up. Place a couple of tablespoons into each compartment of an ice cube tray. Fill with water and freeze. Put the frozen cubes into labeled freezer bags. Next time your favorite hot recipes call for veggies, you're ready to go.
ICE CUBES:
*Remove fat from soup--you're on a diet, and you're trying hard to eat low-fat. Try sliding a few ice cubes into your soups and stews to remove excess fat. The fat will congeal around the cubes as they melt, and you can fish it all out with a spoon. Reheat, and you have an ultra-low-fat dish to enjoy.
*Fresh tasting rice the second time around--reheat leftover rice in the microwave with an ice cube on top. The added moisture will really perk up the taste.
INNER TUBES:
*Let slipping rugs lie--does your area rug slide around on your hardwood floor? Put the brakes on it by stitching a few patches of old inner tubing to the underside.
IRON:
*Hot tip for repairing furniture--if you've got a dent in your wood furniture, don't despair. As long as no wood fibers have been broken-you'll have to look at the damage carefully to determine this-you can literally iron the dent out. Grab a damp cloth and place it over the dent. Set your iron on medium, and hold it on the cloth. When the cloth has dried, re-dampen it, and apply the iron again. Repeat this until the dent is lifted.

(Just a side note--I definitely do not come up with this wording on my own. It is straight out of the book. And speaking of, it is time I gave credit where credit is due. This glorious book is called "Uncommon Uses for Common Household Products" and was written by the editors of FC&A. This particular copy was printed in 2002 by Frank W. Cawood and Associates, Inc. I also, for a brief second, thought about formatting this citation like I would on a works cited page, but quickly changed my mind...correct citation is not a strong point of mine.)

I'm running out of clever titles for these...

Since I have started the habit of just blogging once a week (I need to leave something to do while I sit and do nothing at work...), I will once again do 2 LETTERS today! Wow...I am so nice to you guys.

F
FABRIC SOFTENER:
*Remove baked-on foods--if you're left with a baked-on mess to clean up, don't despair. Put a fabric softener sheet in the offensive pan, fill it with water, and let it sit overnight. The next morning, cleanup should be a breeze.
*Shocking solution to static electricity--if winter time means you're constantly generating static electricity in you carpet, try this easy solution. Mix one part fabric softener with five parts water into a spray bottle. Spritz your carpet and no more shocks. Your carpet should stay cleaners as well.
(Dryer sheets also repel mosquitoes. My grandpa would swear by it. At our annual family reunions, he always brought a box with him and handed them out to everyone. He was a champ)
FILM CANISTERS:
*Never be locked out again--put a house key in a film canister and bury it in your garden. It's safe there than under the welcome mat.
FLOUR:
*Track your fertilizer--when fertilizing your lawn, if you mix a little flour in with the dry fertilizer, you'll be able to see exactly where you've spread it and identify any areas you missed. Use this tip when you're planting seeds, too, and you'll never overseed one particular area.
FOOD COLORING:
*Test your toilet--you suspect a leak somewhere in your toilet,but you can't find it. To check if the leak is coming from the inside valves, dribble a few drops of food coloring into the tank. Now don't flush, just wait it out. If the coloring comes into the bowl without your flushing, you've found your leak.
FURNITURE POLISH:
*Help shower doors stay cleaner--spraying your glass shower doors with furniture polish or lemon oil will help keep them clean longer.

G
GARDEN HOSE:
*Make buckets easier on your hands--if you've ever had to carry a heavy bucket with a wire handle, you know it can really dig into your fingers. Next time, make it a little more comfortable with a piece of old garden hose. Just cut a short piece, slit it, and slip it over the handle of the bucket. You'll have a little cushion and a lot more comfortable grip.
GARLIC:
*Repair a cracked vase--if you've got a hairline crack in your favorite vase, take a clove of garlic and rub it along the inside. Let it dry. The crack should be sealed.
*Wage war on weevils--place a few cloves o garlic in with your dried beans and grains, and you'll never seen another weevil again.
GLASS CONTAINERS:
*Resize a vase--you've chosen the vase that has the look you want, but it's too large for your bouquet. No need to look for another container. Just put a slender olive jar inside the vase. It won't be noticed, even in a clear vase. And the flowers inside will stand up instead of flopping over the sides.
GLOVES:
*Give pet hair the brushoff--pet hair on the furniture can be a mess and an embarrassment. An easy way to get rid of it is to put on a rubber glove and rub your hand over the upholstery. You'll find the pet hair rolled up into an easily removable ball.
(WATCH OUT! Don't wear rubber gloves when you polish your silverware or use rubber bands to hold pieces of it together because rubber will darken silver.)
GLUE:
*Tighten a screw hole--holes sometimes get too large to hold in a screw. Here's the solution. Soak a cotton ball in ordinary white glue, stuff it into the hole, and let it dry for 24 hours. Then try your screw.
GLYCERIN:
*Wash away oily fabric stains--glycerin is a grease cutter that can usually be found with laundry products at the supermarket. It works well to remove oily stains on most washable fabrics except acetate, triacetate, and rayon. Make a solution of one tablespoon each of glycerin and liquid dishwashing detergent ad eight tablespoons of water. Shake these together in a squeeze bottle, then apply directly to the stain. Let it work for several minutes before rinsing.

2 for the price of 1!

Since I have been slow on getting these out, I will do 2 LETTERS today! You lucky dogs! So...here are D and E.

D
DENTAL FLOSS:
*Easy way to layer a cake--want to make a fancy, multi-layer torte? Allow your cake to cool and remove it from the pan. Take a length of dental floss and gently saw your cake into the number of layers you need. You can use this technique to slice cakes and cheesecakes into perfect, no-mess slices, as well.
*Stitch a strong hold--heavy buttons won't come off coats as easily if you sew them on with dental floss. If you need a color to match the fabric, a colored marker should do the trick. The strength of dental floss is also a plus for repairing things made from heavy-duty fabrics, like tents, duffel bags, and convertible tops.
DENTURE TABLETS:
*Bubble away toilet stains--if you've got stubborn stains in your toilet bowl, try dropping in a few denture cleaning tablets. Let it soak for awhile, scrub the bowl clean, and flush those stains away.
DETERGENT:
(If you think detergent and soap are the same thing, think again. While they may perform similar tasks, they are chemicall different. Soap is made from fats or oils and alkali, but detergents contain surfactants and builders. Surfactants dissolve dirt, and builders softenwater so the surfactants can do their job better. That's why detergents work better in hard water than soaps do.)
*Protect electric cords--rub down your electrical and extension cords with liquid laundry detergent to keep curious pets from munching on the cords and shocking themselves.
DISHWASHER:
*There really isn't anything that fantastic about dishwashers in here. It basically just says you can wash your car wheel covers, kitchen sponges, dish drainer, greasy filters, and dustpan and brush.

E
EGG CARTONS:
*Store Christmas decorations safely--when it's time to take the tree down, don't just toss your Christmas lights into any old box. Place the bulbs inside an old egg carton, and wind the cords around the outside. Next year, no breaks, no tangles.
EGG SHELLS:
*Clean stains off glassware--do you have stains on your glassware or even your china? Try soaking them in a solution of vinegar and eggshells. They should come out squeaky clean.
EMERY BOARDS:
*Rough up slippery soles--if a new pair of hard-soled shoes has you slipping and sliding, give them a few scrapes along the bottom with an emery board or nail file.
ERASERS:
*Give glass a glistening glimmer (great alliteration) --use a blackboard eraser to make all kinds of glass surfaces shine. You can clear a fogged-up mirror or wipe a car windshield clean as a whistle.

If anyone has tried any of these handy hints, let me know how they work out!

Thank You

IN HONOR OF THOSE BRAVE ENOUGH TO GIVE THEIR LIFE FOR MY FREEDOM AND TO THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO PROTECT ME AND THIS COUNTRY THAT I LOVE.

On this Veteran's Day, I would like to thank all of the brave men and women who are fighting to protect me and the great United States of America.

When I was younger, I never really understood the importance of Veteran's Day. When I was younger, it was just another one of "those" holidays. Now that I am a little older (and wiser, I might add), I truly understand and appreciate the sacrifice that these people had to make.

My brother has been in the National Guard now for a year and a half. About a month ago, he got his orders and will be deployed in March to Afghanistan for a year. I am so proud to have a brother that is willing to risk his life to protect me and my fellow Americans.

I feel so blessed to live in this beloved country. Sometimes I think we all take our freedom for granted. We have so many wonderful luxeries that most people feel they are entitled too, or feel that it is their "right" to have. I spent the entire summer without a job and without any money, and yet, I still had clothes to wear and food to eat. I whine about not being back in school this semester, but kids all around the world don't even have basic education.

I am PROUD to be an AMERICAN. And I am GRATEFUL for these SOLDIERS who FIGHT for my FREEDOM.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Next comes C

I have been slacking on my blogging of awesome uses for common household products. I know you have all been patiently waiting for the C's. So here we go...

CANDLES:
*Help drawers slide smoothly--if you have a desk or chest with drawers that stick, remove them and rub the runners with a candle. Slip the drawers back in place, and they should move smoothly in their tracks.
CARDBOARD TUBES:
*Save that artwork for posterity--if you have children, yo know that each drawing they bring home is precious. But pretty soon you can be up to your neck in finger paintings. For easy, safe storage, save all your empty paper towel and wrapping paper tubes and roll the artwork up inside. Stick a label on the outside with the child's name and date. These tubes are much easier to toss into storage, and you don't have to worry about ruining those little treasures.
CARPET REMNANTS:
*Be prepared for winter emergencies--stock your trunk with a few pieces of old carpet in case you get stuck in the ice or snow. They'll slip under your tires to provide extra traction.
CAT LITTER:
*Keep your garbage can fresh--nothing smells as bad as garbage, right? Think again. A cat's litter box might be worse, and if not, it runs a close second. If commercial products can keep litter boxes from smelling bad, they should be able to keep your garbage positively fragrant. Just sprinkle some in the bottom of the can, and change it occasionally.
CHALK:
*Prevent silver from tarnishing--you love using you grandmother's good silver when company comes but hate having to polish it after every use. Try putting a piece of chalk in the drawer with the silver. The chalk will absorb moisture and slow down the tarnish. Put some in your jewelry box, and your jewelry won't tarnish as quickly, either.
CHARCOAL BRIQUETTES:
*Stamp out stumps--save money when you have a large tree cut down. Instead of paying extra to have the stump ground out, you can get rid of it gradually yourself. Each time you cook on the charcoal grill, when you finish the steaks and burgers, put the remaining live coals in the center of the stump surface. Each time it will burn a little deeper until finally the stump will disappear.
CLOTH SCRAPS:
*Feed your plants from afar--going away for a few days? Keep your houseplants watered with this handy trick. Line the bottom of your tub with several thick layers of old towels, then soak them well with water. Put your houseplants in on top of them, and they'll have water when they need it.
CLOTHESPINS:
*Use all your toothpaste--it's frustrating to throw away a tube of toothpaste when you know there's more inside. A clothespin can help hold the back of the tube flat as you use up what's left in the front of the tube.
COFFEE:
(I don't drink coffee, but I think that some of these are good ideas)
*Restore faded cottons--if black, cotton garments are looking brownish and dull, add two cups of strong Maxwell House coffee to the rinse water when doing laundry. They'll turn dark again.
*Highlight dark hair--add some highlights to brown or red hair with black coffee. After shampooing, just douse your head with cold, black coffee, then rinse with water.
COFFEE CANS:
*Keep toilet paper dry--when you're camping out there "in the rough," one luxury you don't want to be without is dry toilet paper. And empty coffee can makes a perfect waterproof travel container for this precious commodity.
COFFEE FILTERS:
*Keep the flavor, lose the fat--if you've got delicious beef or poultry broth to use for soups or gravies, don't worry about the fat. Simply strain it through a paper coffee filter, and you're left with flavorful, fat-free broth.
COINS:
*Buy extra time for your posies--keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a copper penny and a cube of sugar to the vase of water.
COOKING OIL:
*Pet food supplement--if you add a little Crisco to your pet's food every day, it will help his coat become shiny and lustrous. If you have a cat, it will also help prevent hair balls.
*Keep the crows away--fight crow's feet with olive oil. Just dab a couple of drops around your eyes each night before bed.
CORK:
*Keep your keys afloat--whenever you go boating or swimming, attach your keys to a cork. Then if they fall overboard, they'll float and you can easily retrieve them.
CORNSTARCH:
*Handy dry shampoo--when you go camping, does it drive you crazy not to wash your hair for several days? Take along a box of cornstarch, and you can at lest give yourself a dry shampoo. Just work it into your hair and brush out.
(It works. I don't like to wash my hair every day, but if I don't, I can't wear it down two days in a row. The cornstarch helps. In fact...I used it this morning.)
CORRECTION FLUID:
*Make scuff marks disappear--you are all dressed to go out when you notice a dark mark on your white shoe. With a dab of correction fluid (also known as white-out), you can perform a neat emergency touch-up.
CRAYONS:
*Cover bleach spots--you can recolor spots on fabric that got splashed with bleach. Choose a crayon that matches the color. Heat the area to be repaired by ironing it. Color in the spot white it's warm. Then cover with waxed paper, and iron again to set the color.
CUCUMBERS:
*Repel mosquitoes--for a natural mosquito repellent, try this trick. Peel and puree a cucumber. Strain the liquid into an ice cube tray and freeze it. Before you go outside, rub your face and hands with the ice cube. Mosquitoes will stay away.

I'll try not to make another week before I post the D's...

B is for...

I know that you have all been waiting for this next one...so on to the B's!

BABY POWDER:
*Silence squeaky floors--if a certain spot on your hardwood floor sings to you every time you step on it, dust the area with a little talcum powder. Sweep back and forth until the powder has settled down into the cracks. (Makes sneaking out a lot easier!)
*Polish scratches off glasses--if your eyeglasses have tiny scratches on them, don't toss them out. Make a paste of talcum powder and water. Rub this gently onto the lenses and wipe it off. You'll be seeing things in a whol new light!
BABY WIPES:
*Remove mildew from books--to remove mildew from books, wipe the covers with baby wipes and apply powdered sulfer to the pages.
BAKEWARE:
*Bake potatoes--potatoes will bake more quickly and evenly if you stand them on end in muffin pans. Stuffed green peppers, apples, and tomatoes also bake better in muffin pans.
BAKING SODA:
*Drain cleaner--here's the recipe for an all-natural drain opener. Mix together one cup baking soda, one cup salt, and a half cup of white vinegar. Pour this down the clogged drain, wait 15 to 20 minutes, then pour a big pot of boiling water down the drain. A word of caution- don't use this method if you've already tried a commercial drain opener that is still standing in the drain.
*Ease acid indegestion--baking soda helps neutralize stomach acid, which can cause indegestion and heart burn. For quick relief, drink a half a glass of water mixed with a half teaspoon of baking soda.
BALLOONS:
*Practice clean and safe hunting--nothing is more dangerous than a dirty gun. To keep debris and foreign matter from getting into your gun barrel, slip a balloon over the end.
BANANAS:
*Shine your shoes--banana peels can make your shoes shiny. Just rub your leather shoes with the inside of the peeling, then buff with a soft cloth.
PS...contrary to popular belief, you should store bananas in the refrigerator. Although the peels will turn dark, the fruit will stay fresh and firm longer.
BASTING SYRINGE:
*Clean up spilled egg--if you drop an eff on your floor or counter, us a basting syringe to quickly such up most of the slimy egg, and just wipe the rest away.
BEDSHEETS:
*Scare deer away from your gardens--want to keep deer out of your garden without hurting them? Run a string around the perimeter, about three or four feet off the ground. Cut strips from a white sheet and tie them along the string every few feet. A flash of a white tail is a warning signal to deer. The white strips, hung about tail height, should frighten them away from your peas and corn.
BELTS:
*Make a temporary hinge--you can fix a broken hinge temporarily by nailing a short piece of a leather belt to the door and door frame.
BERRY BASKETS:
*Use as a colander--berry baskets make great colanders for draining small amounts of pasta or washing fruits and vegetables.
BLEACH:
*Save your garbage from marauders--are dogs constantly exploring your garbage and strewing it from one end of the neighborhood to the other? Sprinkle a bit or chlorine bleach inside the bag before you close it, and your canine friends will turn thier discriminating noses upat the smell.
BOBBY PINS:
*Protect your fingers from an angry hammer--don't try to hold a small nail with your fingers because your fingers are what you'll end up hammering. Instead, grip the nail between the prongs of a bobby pin.
BREAD:
*Wipe away lipstick stains--ue a slice of white bread to remove lipstick stains from fabric.
BUTTER:
*Keep your pasta in the pot--to prevent boiling pasta from boiling over, drop a lump of butter in the water before heating. The extra oil will help keep your pasta from sticking together, too.

Stay tuned for our next adventure...the C's!

Best Book EVER.

Ok...so I am already bored with that A-Z blogging idea that I had. Forget that. I have found something even better!
When my Grandpa passed away, we had to go through everything in the house. I found this book called "Uncommon Uses for Common Household Products"...basically the name says it all. My mom told my I was stupid for taking it home...psssh, what does she know. It is the best book I have ever read! There are literally HUNDREDS of things to do with all of these products that you already have at your house...it blows my mind! There are 128 items, plus a completely seperate section called "Uncommonly Good Ideas to Make Your Life Easier", not to mention fun little tid-bits of totally random facts about everything.
This book blows my mind (yes, I am aware how totally nerdy I sound right now). So, instead of doing the A-Z blogging, I have decided to share some of these awesome facts that I didn't know could be done with cooking oil, garlic, ice cubes, peanut butter, spices, yogurt, and 122 other things! I'll probably do a letter each time I blog, and one or two things from every item within that letter. Unless there is nothing cool for that product.
Hopefully, something I post could maybe help you one day! I'm going to be such a good little wifey one day...

Let's start with the A's...
ALUMINUM FOIL:
*Sharpen dull scissors--layer several thicknesses of aluminum foil and cut through them a few times times with your dulls scissors. They'll come out nice and sharp.
*Twice the heat for half the effort--iron your clothes from both sides and cutyour ironing time in half. Simply slip a piece of aluminum foil between your ironing board and your cover. The foil will absorb the heat from your iron and reflect it up into your clothes.
AMMONIA:
*Remove stains from washable fabrics--ammonia will help remove nonoily stains- like those from blood, milk, perspiration and urine-from most washable fabrics. Make a mixture of equal parts ammonia, dishwashing liquid, and water. Shake it together in a plastic squeeze bottle. Apply it directly to the stain, let it stand for a few minutes, then rinse. This should not be used on acetate, acrylic, silk, spandex, or wool. For fragile fabrics, do not apply ammonia directly. Instead, hold the stain over the mouth of an open bottle of ammonia, and let the fumes permeate it. Then gently wash.
APPLES:
*Clean aluminum cookware--dull pots and pans will become bright again when you cook apples, rhubarb, or lemons in them.
ASHES:
*Cut the glare--if you don't mind looking like a football player, you can reduce the glare while driving or working in your yard. Moisten your finger with oil, dip it in ash from your fireplace, and draw dark half-circles under your eyes. (Please, please someone do this. Please)

A-Z Blogging...A is for ADRENALINE

I like to blog, but I always have a problem finding things to blog about. So. I have decided to blog about something from every letter of the alphabet. I first thought about doing one a week...and then I realized it would take me 6 MONTHS to get through everything. Then I thought every day, and I'm not sure I have the motivation or dedication to that. So I am now thinking every other day...or whenever I get around to doing it.

A...ADRENALINE.

I know a lot of people who are adrenaline junkies...they will do anything for a thrill. I am the complete opposite. Don't get me wrong, I like the feeling that I get in the pit of my stomach when I go on a roller coaster, but that is about it. I am so afraid of heights, that I get that feeling when I am on the top floor of the mall.

Some people will even break the rules or the law to get that thrill. I have always always always been a rule follower...I HATE to get in trouble or even have the potential of getting in trouble. In high school, I never sluffed a class (except mayebe seminary). If I didn't want to go, I would call one of my parents and get permission. Or I got permission from my teacher.

I know that a lot of people think of me as a goody-goody...you know what I have to say? GOOD! I like being known as the one who is responsible and reliable, someone you can count on whenever you need a friend or a helping hand. I like knowing that if something sketchy happens, people won't suspect me because they know I am not one to do something like that.

So, for now, I will stick to roller coasters and walking close to the railing on the second floor of the mall.

Out of Retirement!!

My soul mate, Garth Brooks is coming out of retirement! I love Garth. He is old, but I would marry him in a heartbeat...watch out Trisha Yearwood!

Garth is doing an extended show at The Wynn Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. I swear, before the show ends, I will go to at least one concert.

Welcome back Garth, my love.

Farewell to my Grandpa

David J. Hirschi (May 28, 1925 - October 5, 2009)
David Junior Hirschi, 84, passed away October 5, 2009 at his home in Salem Idaho of natural causes. David was born in Salem, Idaho, May 28, 1925 to David Hirschi Jr. and Hedwig Aldehoff Hirschi, the last of four children and the only boy in a family of girls. He was a big baby weighing 13 lbs. and twenty-two inches long. Although he was a big baby he was always the smallest boy in his class. He attended school in Kilgore, Spencer and attended his last year of high school in Blackfoot, where he stayed with his Uncle Abe James. It was during his last year in high school that Pearl Harbor was bombed.
He met his sweetheart of 60 years on a blind date. It was love at first sight. He married Virgene Berrett on June 26, 1946 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple after a two year courtship.
David was drafted into the army in May of 1945, he took his training at Camp Roberts California and was in the Ninth Service Command which was a guard & escort company and he spent his time guarding army prisoners.
He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a Branch President, Counselor in the Elder’s Quorum, Young Men President, High Priest Group Leader, 1st Counselor in the Bishopric and many other callings. He and Virgene officiated in the Idaho Falls LDS temple for seven years plus two more years after his wife was released for health reasons.
David and Virgene served a mission to the Dallas Fort Worth mission where they made many wonderful friends.
He worked for Ricks College for 24 years as a custodian. He worked at the Livestock Auction on Tuesdays for many years and was known for his ability to get hard tasks done in a most efficient way. He was a great horseman and in April of 2005 was inducted into the Eastern Idaho Horseman’s Hall of Fame.
He was an avid outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman. He farmed and ranched in the Kilgore and Salem areas and he could repair most anything. He loved his family.
He is survived by his seven children; Marné (Clark) Tucker of Roosevelt, UT, JoLynn (Brian) Davis of Salem, ID, RaeAnn (Roger) Hall of Idaho Falls, ID, Michele, (Bryon) Smith of Logan, UT, Michael (Barbara) Hirschi, Bill (Denese) Hirschi of Salem and Cindy (Jeff) Nelson of Riverton, UT, as well as 27 grandchildren & 50 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, three sisters, a grandson, and one great grandson.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 10, at the Salem LDS Chapel. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, and again at the church from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Kilgore Cemetery.

Last monday, my dear sweet Grandpa passed away. He was the best man I have ever known and one of my very favorite people on this earth. It has been a really hard week for me. But I know that he is happy now. He is spending his time with my Grandma and Ty and the rest of his family that has passed on.

I am so proud to have known and been loved by this man. Anyone who had the pleasure to know him was blessed by his presence and spirit. My grandma and grandpa were two of my very favorite people and the best of anyone I have ever met. This is a painting of my Grandpa that hung in their house for years. This captures everything that my Grandpa was. His love for cowboying, his softness, his spirit. I love love love this painting.

The main flower piece was on my Grandpa's saddle. He loved horses almost as much as he loved his family. He used to break horses for anyone. In 2005, he was inducted into Idaho's Horseman's Hall of Fame. It was the perfect award for him.
This is 23 of my grandparents 27 grandkids. 3 lived in Florida and couldn't afford to come out, and one passed away in 2003, but he was proudly represented by Cece. It has been a long, long time since this many of us have been together.
This is my very favorite picture of my grandparents ever. They were in Yellowstone right after they got engaged with my grandma's sister Louise and her fiance Harold. The 4 of them had a double wedding on June 26, 1946. My grandparents became more and more in love every single day. When my grandma got sick, my grandpa cared for her every day, and put aside his wants and needs. I only hope that my marriage can be like theirs was for 60 years.

This is the grandma and grandpa I remember. And I feel a little twinge in my heart every time I see it. When I think of how they will look when I see them again, this is it.

I love my grandparents so much. And while I am so so sad that my grandpa is gone, it is a bittersweet feeling. I know how happy he is with my grandma. And I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have because I KNOW that I will see them again. And I cannot wait for that glorious day. I also want to tell all of my family members how much I love them, and I hope it won't take another funeral for us to get together again.

Do What You Don't Want To Do

Last night, I went to dinner with some of my really close friends from freshman year at Utah State. It was so much fun and very theraputic for me. It was a chance for me to talk about everything in my life to people who didn't know what was going on and who were unbiased about everything.
One of the girls has had a super hard couple of years, and an especially hard 2009. She gave me some advice on how she is living her life now, and that I am hoping to incorporate into my life now. DO WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO. Simple as that. Just do those things that you don't want to do.
There are a lot of things in my life that I don't want to do. And a lot a lot of things that I want to do, but am too embarrassed or shy or something to actually do them. So, I have vowed that I am going to start doing those things that I dont want to do. Here are a few of those things...
1) Go to a singles ward. I really really HATE singles wards. Especially the ones by where I live. Basically the people from high school that I want to talk to and want to see, I do. Plus, I don't like having a calling, so I have a habit of jumping from ward to ward every Sunday. Starting next Sunday (since this Sunday is Conference), I am going to go to a ward and stick to it.
2) Work out. I hate working out. I can never find the motivation to do. I like the way that I feel after I have a really good work out, but I just hate doing it. But, I need to get healthier so I am going to do.
3) Make new friends. Not being in Logan and around all the thousands of college kids, it is hard for me to meet new people. And I work at a middle school, so I am not meeting anyone there. But at home, most of my friends that I know here are married or moved away to school, so there is a major need for me to meet new people to hang out with. I'm tired of being such a home body.
4) Find myself a husband. Or boyfriend. You may think this is a joke, but I am serious. And I have had a lot of people tell me "Stop looking and stop wishing and stop waiting for it to happen, and it will happen." That is a load of crap, if you ask me. I'm hoping that if I do #1 on this list, #s 3 and 4 will happen too.
5) Stop feeling sorry for myself. I get so caught up in the negative in my life, and I wallow. And that seems to make me feel better for a little while. No more wallowing. It is going to be hard, but I am going to do it.
6) Don't get annoyed with my brother as much as I do. My brother, who I love dearly, is one of those people who just knows how to push every single button I have. And he bothers the crap out of me. I'm going to work on not letting his little quirks bug me.
7) Become a True Aggie. I have a huge fear of public embarrassment. I am terrified of standing up on that A and waiting to see if someone I don't know will come up and kiss me. But it is one of the those rites-of-passages that only Utah State Aggies get, and I am going to do it before I graduate.
The list is longer. There are a lot of things that I don't want to do on a daily basis, but that I am going to start doing now.
I think it is going to be hard for me to break out of my shell and actually do those things that I really just don't want to do, and it is going to take a lot of coaxing myself into doing them. But, I think this will really help me out a lot.
DO WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO.

Obsession?

I love TV. A lot. Some may call it an obsession. Which it might be. But I really really love TV. Primetime hours in the fall make me happy. Thank goodness for TiVo.
Here are a list of shows that are on this season that I love...
Sunday:
-Amazing Race
-Cold Case
Monday:
-How I Met Your Mother
-Accidentally on Purpose (it's new...and rather hilarious)
-Two and a Half Men (I could take it or leave it...but it is one in between my other shows)
-The Big Bang Theory...LOVE
-House
Tuesday:
Oddly, there is nothing on Tuesday that I really care about.
Wednesday:
-America's Next Top Model
-So You Think You Can Dance
-Glee
-Criminal Minds
-CSI: NY
Thursday:
-Survivor
-Bones
-CSI
-Grey's Anatomy...still my favorite show ever
-Private Practice (just not quite as good as Grey's...)
-___________ (This is the spot that is left blank in my heart by the ending of ER...farewell my friend)
Friday and Saturday:
Who really watches TV on the weekends? =)

I think the reason I love TV so much is because my life is SO DANG BORING. It is nice to live in a fantasty world for a while.
Judge me if you will.

Scratch that...

Hello Kitty and I have hit a speed bump. Or rather...a mountain. I am so raged right now. I got that second job at my mom's school. Super great. Fixed schedule. Fantastic. All I would need off at Sanrio would be Wednesday, Thursday, and every other Friday. I would still be able to work Saturdays and the holidays! But apparently that isn't good enough.
My totally AWESOME (or not) manager said that it wasn't going to work, because when I interviewed, I was able to work any day at any time. And since that has changed and I won't be available at her beckon call, things just aren't going to work. Why would she work around everyone else's schedules but mine? Why is she so opposed to me having a second job when she has one herself? As the STORE MANAGER, she works 20 hours a week max. She lets a 17 year old high school student RUN the store. Awesome.
To be honest, I didn't want to be working there anyway. But, I needed the money. And I was still available the most important times! But the way the whole situation was handled really chaps my hide. She was not very nice about. At least now, I won't have to worry about taking time off during the holidays when I want to go out of town for weddings and such.
Here is what I have to say...TO HELL WITH HELLO KITTY! Good riddance.

Doubel the C, Double the S, and you will always have SUCCESS.

Ha ha I learned that on an episode of Full House.
So...I finally got a JOB! Actually, I got 2 jobs! After searching and searching, they just kind of fell into my lap. Which is AWESOME.
My first one...well, I don't really want to talk about. I am working at a store in the mall called Sanrio. Most of you probably know it as the Hello Kitty store. Not my proudest moment. But. They give me good hours...I will basically be working like 1-5 only. Or hours close to that. But I will never be opening or closing, which is fantastic. I do, unfortunately, have to put up with bratty little kids who ruin my cleanly placed displays all day long. Ugh.
My second job is a Mobile Lab Assistant at Elk Ridge Middle School. Thank goodness to my mom who works there and put in a good word for me! Basically, I will be taking around laptops to different classes and helping all of those annoying middle schoolers with Word programs. It should be pretty good, I think.
Finally things are looking up for me! I am glad to have something to fill my time besides rerun marathons of America's Next Top Model and solitaire.

Oh...and thanks to all for the birthday wishes! I had a pretty good day. It was pretty uneventful, but good. I was supposed to go to Disneyland for the day, and it just didn't work out. So that night, my BFF Brittany took me to dinner and a movie. Then on Saturday, my mom took me shopping for clothes. And then last night, we had cake and ice cream and stuff. So, it was good.

Today is the day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!! That's right...I just wished myself a Happy Birthday. And I don't feel bad about it. =)

Love...part 2.

Lately, I have been focusing on all the crappy things going wrong in my life and HATING THE WORLD. So. I have decided to remember all the things I love. Part 2.
*I love swimming.
*I love Imogen Heap...this is a new love.
*I love Dum-Dums...the suckers.
*I love making crafts.
*I love smelly candles.
*I love my UGG wannabe boots.
*I love putting old pictures in picture frames for the whole world to see.
*I love Lady Antebellum's new song "Need You Now".
*I love pens that write in colored ink.
*I love being outside.
*I love doing logic puzzles late at night.
*I love Logan (I have a new found appreciation for it).
*I love cheesy 80's movies.
*I love having my friends home from missions.
*I love the way my heart races at sports games.
*I love to sing.
*I love the 1962 movie "If a Man Answers"...every girl should watch it.
*I love Farmer's Markets...what treasures you can find!
*I love to ugly dance in the car.
*I love to bake treats.
*I love setting a goal and achieving it.
*I love that I sleep with a teddy bear and that I'm not ashamed to admit it.
*I love making lists (if you can't tell).
*I love my car...even though I said I would NEVER drive Ford Focus, Walter has treated me well.
*I love to edit papers.
*I love when Avery falls asleep in my arms.
*I love weddings. And wedding TV shows.
*I love America.
*I love the Holiday Season.
*I love TiVo...best invention ever.
*I love babysitting.
*I love having lazy days.
*I love listening to Christmas music whenever I have the urge...even in September.
*I love getting my hair done.
*I love to organize.
*I love the big red blanket my Grandma made just for me.
*I love chasing Mason around the house.
*I love thinking of all the possibilities for my future.
*I love to clean when I get mad.
*I love wearing comfy shoes.
*I love a good lotion.
*I love having a cleanly washed face.
*I love spending time with my mom and sisters.
*I love rugby.
*I love getting scared out of my wits in movies and haunted houses.
*I love dressing up.
*I love practical jokes.
*I love boys who sing and play the guitar.
*I love hand sanitizer.
*I love stargazing.
*I love to laugh.
*I love being right.
*I love coffee ice cream...it's my favorite indulgence.
*I love taking pictures.
*I love to cry.
*I love cheesy little trinkets.
*I love to push people's buttons.
*I love to daydream.
*I love Kilgore, Idaho.
*I love to play the piano.
*I love having shaved legs.

Craft Queen

Or not. But I am trying to be more crafty. Since I am jobless and BORED ALL THE TIME, I am trying to get into doing more crafts and stuff to help occupy my time. My favorite thing at the moment is to make cards. I'm not all that great because I don't have all the fun things needed to make some freaking sweet cards. But I am having fun nonetheless.
And now I am in need of some more things to do. So. Any ideas? I know all you crafty/homemakey moms out there have some fun stuff to do. So pass along your infinite wisdom to this little, single, bored girl.
Oh...and try to make them cheap. Or free works too.
Much love.

Good Riddance!

Summer is finally over. And all I have to say is THANK GOODNESS! I know that everyone else is so sad for summer to be over, but I think that it could not come soon enough. Since school got out in May, this season has been full of SO many ups and downs. And, unfortunately, lots more downs.

I found out Tuesday that there is a 98% chance that I will not be moving back to Logan until January. The news came as quite a blow...I have been an emotional wreck for 2 days. I honestly could not control my tears. I have been fighting all summer to be able to go back. First, the deal was, if I sold my housing contract at my old place, I could live somewhere cheaper. That was a task in and of itself. But I finally got it sold. And I was SO excited. I was going to be living by some good friends and it was going to be so great...I was planning on it being the best year I have had at Utah State. School was still up in the air...I was waiting on a lot of factors, but it turned out that I would not be going to school. I was OK with that...I would just work in Logan fall semester and start again in January. Well. Today I found out that my last 2% chance was gone and I will for sure not be moving tomorrow. It has been really really hard on me. My family is getting tired of me being depressed an crying.

So. My new attitude is POSITIVE THINKING. Everyone keeps telling me that there is a reason for what is happening. And I am going to try to see it from that point of view. My silver lining to this whole freaking crappy mess is that I will be able to watch Caitlin play volleyball this season. I rarely get to see her play, so I am excited to watch her during her senior year.

Hopefully, this fall brings some stability to my life. Everybody pray that I can find a job...

Groupie...my true calling in life.

I knew that I chose the right place to intern at. Thanksgiving Point is great. Especially when they put on AWESOME concerts by bands that I LOVE! Last night was case and point. Secondhand Serenade came last night. And I love them. A lot.

Working for the venue has a LOT of perks. This includes:

-Free food.

-Free entrance.

-Driving the golf cart (not walking all over the entire park the entire night is quite a relief).

-Driving band members in the golf cart.

-Getting free CDs.

-Driving JOHN VESELY of SECONDHAND SERENADE to the bathroom.

-Becoming BFFs with John...maybe not BFFs, but we were tight. Bathrooms allow for great bonding time.

-Hanging out with attractive band members.

-Being the envy of everyone because I get to stand right next to the stage and not behind the barricades.

-Plus many more.

And. Just to make everyone more jealous. I will now put up pictures of my awesome night.

Just me and Cait chilling at the concert.

Meet John. He IS Secondhand Serenade. And my lover.

Cait backstage.

Just chilling backstage. AWESOME.

MMM...there he is again.

And again.

This is Jonathan. My other lover. I have a thing for men with that name. He is the lead singer of We Shot the Moon, formerly Waking Ashland. And totally cool.

Last night=BEST NIGHT EVER. Loved it. Once again, it is ok to be jealous of me. =)

Blogging Block.

I am having a blogging writer's block. I have started 3 different posts and got bored. Hmmmmmmmm....what to say? I wish I had something witty and exciting to post about. Or some deep insights into life. But no. There is nothing.

One day I will get my blogging talent back...

Brother for Sale...only 50 cents!

Bah hah Mary Kate and Ashley movies...LOVE THEM.

And by "Brother", I really mean APARTMENT IN LOGAN! I am selling my apartment contract in Logan for the 2009/2010 school year.

This place is AWESOME. Seriously. I love love loved living there last year and wish it had worked out that I could live there again. I loved being able to wake up 20 minutes before class started, leave 5 minutes before class started, and be ON TIME! Best thing ever.

The apartment is literally 2 minutes walking distance from campus. It is HUGE. My bedroom had so much space that I didn't know how to fill it all! I had a walk-in closet, my own bathroom, a gorgeous view of the Logan Valley. And...the apartment has its own washer and dryer. And utilities is included in the price. Awesome! I loved not having to haul all of my laundry home or pay for a laundromat. Plus...the people who live there are pretty cool too.

There are a lot of things I loved about this place. I so wish that things had worked out for me to be there again. It is a little more expensive than some of the other places up there, but it is TOTALLY worth it. If you or anyone you know might be interested or have any questions, PLEASE let me know. It would help me out a TON.

Gracias! =)

despair.

I'm not one who usually broadcasts about my problems. Sometimes I don't feel like I have anyone to talk to about what is going on in my life because no one understands. It has gotten to the point where I just need to get my feelings out, and it looks like this is the only way I feel I can really do that without worrying that I am making somebody feel bad or making someone feel sorry for me. I am not looking for sympathy or pity. This is another one of those posts to make myself feel a little better. Maybe that is a little selfish. But it is my blog and I can do whatever the eff I want.

It has been so hard for me to stay positive lately. The financial burden on my family has been so hard. I try not to get involved or try not to worry but when it causes this much stress, it is hard to ignore. I don't even know if I can go back to school in the fall. And that breaks my heart. I complain constantly when I am in Logan about how much I hate being there and how much I want to be done with school, but I want to go back to school so bad. I love my family and I love being home...that is why I come home almost every weekend. But sometimes I need to get away. Living with roommates and being out on my own is so freeing.

I wish that I could do more to help my parents out. I do my best not to ask for money to go out or for clothes. I try to help around the house to relieve some stress. But sometimes it seems like it isn't enough. I looked and looked for a job and finally found one...I work 2 hours next week. At $6.75/hour. That doesn't even pay for my gas. I love my internship, but I put so much work and so many hours into something that I don't get anything out of except experience. Sometimes it seems like such a waste to me.

I just want life to turn around for us. Isn't it our turn for some relief? I try not to be negative. I try to be so grateful for the things that I have and the blessings in my life.

Life is just hard.

train. freaking. wreck.

Emotionally, that is. I can't stop crying, no matter how hard I try. Even when I am in a really good mood, I am crying. It's weird.

This past Friday was the 3 year mark of my dear, sweet Grandma passing away. (Here the tears come again) And it has been really hard on me this year. I had gotten to the point where I could go visit my Grandpa and see her stuff and not get all emotional. I was making progress...must have been one of those 2 steps forward, 1 step back kind of progression.

My mom's side of the family has a HUGE family reunion every year over Father's Day weekend, which happened to be this weekend this year. I was so excited. I love love love love love my extended family. And I am so sad that I don't get to see the majority of them more than once a year...they really are so great. And I love being up at the old homestead in Kilgore, Idaho. If you are not related and you have heard of it, I will give you a cookie. It is this little tiny place that doesn't mean anything except to those people who have had the pleasure of spending time there. I love it up there, but this year was especially hard. I was having a great time visiting, but there was always that sadness in the back of my mind and in my heart.

And to make it worse, since I was super emotional, I was letting the littlest things bother me. Which, in turn, brings out things that aren't so little that I have been holding inside for a long time. When I was younger, anytime I would get into an argument with my sister or my cousins, my Grandma would always know the right thing to say to make me feel better. And I always knew that what she was saying was true, because she would never tell a lie if her life depended on it. And what was even more great about her, is that she would make me feel better without putting anyone down. So this weekend, I was not getting along with my sisters. When I tried to talk to my mom about it, she just kinda shrugged it off and told me to let it go. That was not what I needed. And my little tiny thing that should not have even upset me snowballed into this huge ordeal. Saturday night, as I was trying to sleep, I just began sobbing. I felt like no one knew what I was going through, that I didn't fit in with my family, that I was all alone. When what I was really upset about was that my Grandma wasn't there to pull me on her lap, sing me one of her favorite hymns, and tell me how special I am.

My Grandma was an amazing lady. The nicest, kindest, sweetest lady you would ever meet. Even when her Parkinson's progressed to the point she could barely leave the house, she always made sure to send out the grandkids birthday cards, or call the ladies in the ward just to see how they are doing. It was really hard for me to watch her the last couple of years because the Parkinson's Disease had taken away who my Grandma really was. But once in awhile, I was fortunate to witness one of those "clear moments" when she was able to be that sweet little lady again.

I miss her a lot. Especially this weekend. And other moments when I feel like nothing is going right in my life. She is one of the biggest reasons I am who I am today. She has touched my life and shaped me to a point that I cannot even explain. And I cannot wait for the day when I get to see her again.

I wish that my own computer was working so I could put a picture of her up, but just know that she is beautiful.

POVERTY.

I am SO broke. But such is life. Maybe one day I will get a job. If I didn't love my internship so much and wasn't so dedicated to it, it might be a little easier to find one. But that is besides the point. Just because I am ridiculously poor doesn't mean that I don't want to find SUPER FUN things to do with my friends...I just need to find free things to do. And I figure that other people are poor too. So...I have compiled this totally awesomely long list of free (or pretty freaking cheap) things I have found to do in SLC/Utah/Davis/Weber counties. Maybe it will make your life a little less boring without spending a shiz load of money.

Here we go...

>Clarke Planetarium...formerly Hansen Planetarium. The shows cost money, but admission to the exhibits and stuff is free. I went there yesterday. I think most shows cost like $8 for adults and $6 for kids.

>Utah Museum of Natural History-free on the first monday of every month. It is $7 for anyone over the age of 17, and $3.50 for ages 3-17. And it is only $2.50 if you have a student ID.

>Great Salt Lake Shorelands Bird Refuge...located up by the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area and Antelope Island.

>Hill Aerospace Museum, about 5 miles South of Ogden. It is free, but donations are appreciated.

>Wheeler Historic Farm...there are wagon rides and farm chores!

>All of the awesome Church sites such as Temple Square, Tabernacle, Conference Center, Joseph Smith Memorial Building, etc...

>Brigham Young's grave...you could visit the grave and the Church sites in one day!

>Cathedral of the Madeleine...they offer tours that include the cathedral bells and the gargoyles.

>Capitol Hill and the Governor's Mansion...the mansion tours are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-4pm.

>Fort Douglas Military Museum...closed Sunday, Monday, and all Federal Holidays.

>Great Salt Lake State Marina...the cost is $2, but there is swimming, picnicking, boating, and wildlife.

>International Peace Garden...open from dawn to dusk until September 30th.

>Liberty Park...this is not the druggie park.

>The Olympic Legacy Plaza Snowflake Fountain...or more likely known as the Fountains at the Gateway. I was also there yesterday.

>"This Is The Place" Heritage Park...admission to the village is free, but they have a Spring and Living History Season. For $8 (for adults) you get any (3) take home crafts, pony ride, or mini-train ride. Extra crafts or activities cost $1.

>Red Butte Gardens...$6 for adults, $4 for kids.

>Ice Blocking at Sugar House Park...a personal favorite.

>Memory Grove Park...has memorials to Utah war veterans.

>Utah Children's Museum...now known as Discovery Gateway. Admission is $8.50, and anyone over the age of 14 who is not accompanied by a child must leave a photo ID. Weird.

>Utah's Hogle Zoo...cost is $9 for adults, and $7 for kids, but totally worth it. Especially when you have a season pass and can get in free, like I do.

>Tracy Aviary...$5. Super fun, as long as the birds don't poop on you.

>Utah Museum of Fine Arts...my FAVORITE field trip of my entire life. $7...UofU students get in free!

>Timpanogos Cave...a Utah landmark. A $6 per car fee is required to get into American Fork Canyon. And guided tours of the cave cost $7.

>Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Cauldron Park...right next to Rice Eccles Stadium at the UofU.

>Kimball Art Center in Park City...closed on Tuesdays.

>Gardner Village. LOVE IT.

>Veteran's Memorial Park and it's Wild West Jordan Playground...I don't really know much about except that it has an AWESMOME playground.

>Factory Tour at Mrs. Cavanaugh's Candies Inc., Taffy Town, or Sweet Candy Company...YUM!

>Utah Botanical Center...a Utah State University creation, located in Kaysville.

>Salt Lake Art Center..."The purpose of the Salt Lake Art Center is to encourage contemporary visual artists and art which challenge and educate public perceptions of civil, social and aesthetic issues affecting society." Free. Closed Sundays and Mondays.

>Gilgal Sculpture Garden...formerly the Secret Garden of Salt Lake City, and has 12 sculptures and 70 stones carved with scriptures, poems, and literary texts.

>Springville Museum of Art-FREE

>Cabela's...lots of animals and exhibits. I love this place.

>Park City Historical Society and Museum...I take it back. It is closed for renovation.

>Park City Main Street

>Murray City Park...feed the birds!

>Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts...this museum focuses on Utah artists. Support your local talent.

>Gallivan Center...starting in July, there are free concerts every week. FUN!

>Miniature Golfing...Mulligan's is at a great central location.

One time, my totally awesome YW leader Charlotte gave me this list called "NO MORE MOVIES"...I will also share this with you. Some of these things on this list may be for the more single (and by single, I mean not married) readers. Don't hate.

*Badminton Tournament

*Basketball

*BBQs/Camp Fires/Camping in one of the many canyons

*Star Gazing

*Frisbee Golf-there is a park in Murray somewhere (I am not exactly sure of the address...but I think it is on 4500 South. Maybe.)

*Bike Rides

*Card/Board Games

*Boating

*Bubble Blowing Contest

*Candy Making

*Canoeing/Kayaking

*Croquet...I freaking love croquet.

*Dutch oven cooking

*Football/Steal the Flag

*Formal Dinner (I know all you girls are DYING to ear those old prom dresses again)

*Hike

*Horse back riding

*Karaoke...LOVE IT!

*Kite Flying

*Water Fight

*Swimming

*Finger Painting

*Picnic

*Racket ball

*Sand Castle Building...HELLO DAYBREAK! Perfect little beach.

*Scavenger Hunt

*Sidewalk chalk drawing

*Softball

*Tennis

*Tubing

*Volleyball

And that is that. This list was basically for my own benefit. (I am trying to become more adventurous/spontaneous) If you hate it, well then...whatever. My friends and I are going to try to do every single thing on here by the time school starts again. Wish us luck.

Oh..if you have any other awesome FREE/CHEAP ideas, please tell me.

The End.

Boo.

I suck at this blogging thing.

That is all.

WAIT!

I forgot to give a little SHOUT OUT to my little sister...4TH PLACE IN HIGH JUMP AT STATE!  Woot!  And Riverton Girls Track took State...first state title for RHS!  

I love my baby sister.

Farewell...

Farewell to my Summerhill-ites...I shall miss you.  We have been in our new house for a week and a half now.  And though I don't hate it, it is not my house.  Or my ward.  Or my neighbors.  And yes, I do know that we are about 2 blocks away from the old house, and still in the same stake, but it just isn't the same.  

But...I am very grateful to have a place to live.  Grateful that I am not living in a cardboard box somewhere.

The End.

Ulcer...in my EYE? WTF!

Yep, that's right.  Ulcer in eye.  Who knew that could even happen?!  Well, I do now.  And let me tell you...it hurts like a MOTHER.  My is puffy and red and watery (or as my nephew would say "My eye is leaking!") and burning and I can't keep it open.  Worst thing ever.  Ulcerative Keratitis is what it is called.  I would put a picture up, but the ones I found on Google are pretty disgusting.  And to make it worse...I have to put eye drops in every two hours-including at night.  That means I have to set an alarm and wake up every two hours to put these stupid eye drops in.  

My life sucks.

If you ever get the urge to run naked, spray yourself with Windex-it will keep you from streaking.

My brother said that to me the other day and it reminded me of this one glorious day in the summer of 2006...

Me and some of my friends (who will remain nameless-I don't really want to die) went to St. George as a little "Senior Trip" of sorts.  One day, we went swimming at Sand Hollow Lake.  While there, we decided to make a night trip back to the lake to do a little "skinny dipping", as some people might call it.  The plan was for all 4 of us to partake in this adventure.  So at about 9:00 we headed back (the park closes at 10, as the lady at the fee box so rudely informed us), and tell a little white lie to get in, since we're not allowed to be swimming after dark.  When we get there, one of the girls decided not join us in the event (you know who you are-and I still love you).  So she stayed in the car, lights pointed toward the lake, waiting for us to make our move.  The other three of us, instead of undressing by the lake, take off our clothes at the car and run to the lake-stark naked, with our poor little friend watching us go the whole way.  Instead of actually swimming, we kinda just ran into the water, got a little wet, and headed back.

And that was that.  Bah hah hah hah...best night of my life.  Only true friends will run naked to a lake with you (or watch you run naked to said lake).  Love you girls!

Random Thought Wednesday-HELP!

Today's Random Thought isn't really a random thought at all...more of a cry for help. I move back to Riverton for the summer in exactly 14 days. And I can't find a job to save my life...it is bad news.
Does anyone have know of ANY job? I am not in a position to be picky right now. Please please let me know of anything.
THANKS!
I guess I can put in one random thought...In Sweden, there is a ski-thru McDonalds. Wow...I didn't know people loved Big Macs that much.

Random Thought Wednesday...Useless Trivia

Did you know...
-In Cleveland, Ohio, it is illegal to catch mice without a hunting license.
-The average bed is home to more than 6 billion dust mites.
-Mosquitoes have 47 teeth.
-Your right lung takes in more air than your left one.
-In Iceland, tipping at a restaurant is considered an insult.
-Dolphins sleep with one eye open.
-During your lifetime, you'll eat about 60,000 pounds of food...the weight of 6 elephants.
-Maine is the toothpick capital of the world.
-Des Moines has the highest per capita Jello consumption in the U.S. (NOT UTAH! Wow!)
-Since 1896, the beginning of the modern Olympics, only Greece and Australia have participated in every games.

I'm full of this useless trivia...or I got it from the internet. Whatev.

2nd place is 1st loser...

I just want to share with you how freaking cute my niece and nephew are. And by share...I mean RUB IT IN YOUR FACE that they are cuter than your nieces and nephews.

This is Mason Albert...

I love his CHEESE face!

He is so cute when he is happy!

And now to Avery Addison...

She has my nose!

This is my FAVORITE picture of her...so freaking cute!

Bah hah she has this look like "WTF"? =)

Sorry that you have to take second place...

Random Thought Wednesday...

So, my friend Katie does a post every week called "Memory Monday" and I like the idea...but I want my own spin on things. While "Random Thought Wednesday" doesn't necessarily FLOW like "Memory Monday", I like it.

Today's random thought is about hybrid animals...the mule, the liger, and the wholphin are some of my favorites. These animals are supposed to be completely sterile, but when I was a junior in high school, the only living wholphin...had a BABY WHOLPHIN! Weird.

One time, when I worked t 1800Contacts, I won a prize for this random thought...a king size Kit-Kat bar. Sweet.

Here are a few pictures..

Bah hah...this mule is my favorite.

The wholphin and the supposedly impossible wholphin baby...

Look forward to more random thoughts from my random brain...

My RANT Post

I am in the mood to RANT about all the stuff that bugs me. It might be a pretty downer post. So, if you don't want to read it...well, whatever.
-Why do people care if I wear sweat pants or basketball shorts to school? Some days I like to be comfortable, so sue me. I am not opposed to getting dressed up, but I don't like to do it every single day. I once had someone tell me that the reason I am not married is because I wear sweats in public. Well, you know what? The person I am supposed to marry will like my sweats, and probably wear sweats a lot too.
-While we are on the subject...I hate when people ask me WHY I am not married. Well, I believe the reason to that is because I wear a man-repelling perfume, an "I hate men" shirt every day, and I never shower. Wow. Why the H do you think I am not married?! Personally, I wish it was the other way around...just so everyone knows.
-I hate that I get sick after every single thing I eat. Seriously...worst thing ever.
-I am tired of being in Logan. I dread coming back on the weekends...and I don't even know why. I want to be graduated NOW. I want to be able to relax with my family on a Sunday night and not have to worry about driving home to Logan too late. I want to take a nap after church without thinking I slept too long to get back.
-Rude teachers. Everyone has had one. I currently have one. She is a BIOTCH. No joke. She yells in class ALL THE TIME for stupid little things. On a paper we had to write, I got knocked off a point for putting an E on the end of "Ginni". We have a 50 minute class, but our tests are all 6-8 essay questions that take at least a page each to answer. On the last test, half the students didn't even finish before the class ended. This is an INTRODUCTORY class...not even one of my upper-division classes. She bugs.
-Public Displays of Affection. I have a roommate who makes out with her boyfriend on the couch in front of the rest of us who live there. I feel like I am interupting a personal moment or something. It makes me uncomfortable. And then I feel like I have to get up and leave or something. In fact, it is currently happening right this very minute. And I don't like it.
This is the end of my ranting for the day. Do I feel better? I don't really know. But, I figure everyone has things that bug them...I just decided to write mine down.

Hail to our Riverton Pack!

This is a SHOUT OUT to the Riverton High School Girls Basketball Team. What a FREAKING AWESOME season they had. 24-1, second place in state, and an amazing year. WAY TO GO GIRLS! I am so proud of you! Bri, Katie, Dani, Ashley, Morgan, Allee, Shelby, Angie, Alle, Mandy, Chelsea, Shaye, Kylee, Megan, and Caitlin---You guys rock!

My first tag...I am so COOL!

6 Things Tag

1. Post the rules on your blog.

2. List 6 random things about yourself.

3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post.

4. Let each person know the have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Randomness...I am good at it.  So here I go!

1--My new favorite greeting is "Wingapo" from Pocahontas.  I say it all the time...and do the hand motion.

2--I am addicted to treats.  All kinds.  And it is a bad thing...but I can't help it.  Anyone who loves to make treats is free to have me taste-test them.

3--I have acid reflux disease.  It is the worst thing ever...especially since some of my favorite foods give me the worst heart burn EVER.

4--I am obsessed with watching commercials since I started my promotions class...every ad is so freaking funny!

5--I have mad Guitar Hero skills...as long as it is set on easy.  =)

6--I have recently decided that I want to be an event planner...I love to organize and plan and execute.  And I am freaking great at it, so why not?!

Ok I tag...Annika, Natalie, Carly, Erin, Kateka, and Merinda.

I love...

1. I love sweats. If I could, I would wear them every single day.
2. I love Colin Firth.
3. I love reading...it is an addiction.
4. I love old Disney movies...these new ones just aren't as good. Beauty and the Beast is my fave.
5. I love being my Grandpa's favorite granddaughter...it feels great being better than everyone else. =)
6. I love texting.
7. I love reality TV, which brings me to...
8. I love Jason Mesnick, the Bachelor.
9. I love watching Caitlin play sports...any sport and every sport.
10. I love Mason Albert Meldrum.
11. I love Avery Addison Meldrum also.
12. I love the Gospel.
13. I love cookies and ice cream.
14. I love Amanda Bynes...she is freaking hilarious.
15. I love Father's Day weekend and my family reunion.
16. I love that I am graduating in December!
17. I love Sudoku.
18. I love my kick A family.
19. I love water.
20. I love moccasins.
21. I love Fruit-by-the-Foots.
22. I love my friends...even all my married ones.
23. I love summer.
24. I love lip gloss.
25. I love camping.
26. I love hot chocolate.
27. I love my computer.
28. I love Pride and Prejudice...the book and the movie.
29. I love big purses.
30. I love my giant, comfortable, queen sized bed.
31. I love cowboys.
32. I love Secondhand Serenade.
33. I love SuperBowl commercials.
34. I love my roommates...and my roommies from last year too. And of course most of the ones from my freshman year.
35. I love comfy chairs that you can curl up and read book in.
36. I love having my fingernails painted...tho I rarely do.
37. I love having money...which isn't very often.
38. I love hats.
39. I love Utah State Basketball.
40. I love jumping as high as I can on a trampoline.
41. I love creepy old men who hit on me...ok, not really.
42. I love British accents...I wish I had one.
43. I LOVE DisneyLand...greatest place on earth!
44. I love shopping.
45. I love giving relationship advice... =)
46. I love 4-letter words.
47. I love sleeping in.
48. I love Missionaries.
49. I love my Grandma.
50. I love how totally RAD I am.

BRRRR!!!

WOW...Logan is so freaking cold. Seriously. And even though it is like 3 degress outside (no joke), I have to sleep with my window open every night because the roomies insist on having the heater on ALL THE TIME. That's ok, I love them anyway.

School has started...once again. And besides having to get up ridiculously early every morning (ok, it's really not THAT early), and having to walk to school in the FRIGID winter, I am actually enjoying the semester. Weird, right? I sure am glad that I didn't change my major from Marketing...I actually like it now. My classes are fun, for the most part anyway. I do have a crap load of group projects, which I don't love. On the + side...I got a 91% on my first test. GO ME!

Random thoughts of mine...

*Mamma Mia...never gets old. I could seriously watch it everyday and not get sick of it. And my love for Colin Firth grows everytime I see it.

*Retainers are overrated...I hate wearing mine. And yet, I do. Like three times a week. I am basically awesome.

*Walking in this dang inversion is the WORST. By the time I get to school, I am practically wheezing. People probably think I am so out of shape...but I'm not.

*Welcome back to The Bachelor AND American Idol...I love reality TV!

*And for the most important of all...I have the CUTEST nephew and niece in the whole world. There is just no competition. Sorry if you thought that you did...but you're wrong.

Aren't they freaking adorable?!

Well...that is all. Unless someone can help me find a job in Logan. Seriously...I am getting desperate. And I don't like it.

PRIDE and PREJUDICE

I have been absolutely OBSESSED with Pride and Prejudice this last month. Jane Austen is a GENIUS. Seriously. There has never bee a book that has tugged on my heart strings more (well, except maybe Twilight). Mr. Darcy has got to be the most loving character ever. The love that he feels for Elizabeth Bennett is so beautiful and real and deep...AAH, I just can't get enough of it! Yes, I am aware that it is just a book. Elizabeth's character and wit makes the book SO enjoyable to read. Oh, I just LOVE IT!

For your enjoyment, here are some of my favorite quotes from the book...

*It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

*Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance...it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.

*I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.

*Those who do not complain are never pitied.

*Stupid men are the only ones oth knowing after all.

*In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings for you will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.

*She was convinced that she could have been happy with him, when it was no longer likely they should meet.

*...but to her own more extensive information, he was the person to whom the whole family were indebted for the first of benefits, and whom she regarded herself with an interest, if not quite so tender, at least as reasonable and just, as what Jane felt for Bingley.

*If you will thank me, let it be for yourself alone. That the wish of giving happiness to you might add force to other inducements which led me on, I shall not tempt to deny. But your family owe me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe I thought only of you.

*You must learn some of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.

*I do, I do like him. I love him. Indeed he has no improper pride. He is perfectly amiable. You do not know what he really is; then pray do not pain me by speaking of him in such terms.

I honestly cannot get enough of this story...the book and the A&E Pride and Prejudice television movie. Oh, it is AMAZING! I have never seen a movie that is based on a book that sticks so well to the story. Yes, it is 5 hours long (and yes, I did watch it twice in one weekend), but i would recommend it to anyone and everyone! If you want someone to watch it with, you know who it call! =)