Me and My Crazy Books

Date A Girl Who Reads (ie. ME)

So this came to me in a moment of utter distress and frustration and I felt as if I really needed it because it brightened my day. Classes have started and I have been stressed out of my mind coming home with a crazy headache every day so far this week. Then one of my teachers read this to us today in class and all I could think is...wow, that is SOOO ME!!

As you may know if you have been reading my blog, I have been reading A LOT this summer!!! I have read 75 books since April, 72 of those since May, and 29 of those in August alone. So...without further ado...

You should date a girl who reads.

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes, who has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she has found the book she wants. You see that weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a secondhand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow and worn.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee.

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent.  Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas, for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry and in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.

She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who read understand that all things must come to end, but that you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes.

- Rosemarie Urquico

Update

So, to give an update...last Thursday I went to the North Pole to Santa's workshop! I sent a postcard to a group of you so you should have received that, make sure to check out the postmark! Also, Saturday was my birthday, it was actually pretty uneventful, I went to Cripple Creek and we had car trouble so that was fun all around! A very good looking guy with an amazing voice told me that I was beautiful and sang to me in Italian. Thanks to all of you who wished me a happy birthday. Yeah so...this weekend I will head out to Kansas for my cousin's wedding...um that is it for now I believe!

Home

So, I have been home for a week now and since I have been home I have gone to Denver with my mom, grandparents, and nephews where we visited the aquarium. That was a fun experience by I was disappointed by their lack of penguins. However, I did get to see pregnant MALE seahorses so that was an interesting experience. We also went to the restaurant Casa Bonita which had a cliff diving show. The cliff diver was attractive so that was fun. Then we went to Colorado Springs to the zoo which was fun. I got to see penguins there! Happy Day. Also, we have had my favorite Chinese food and went and saw Cars 2 which was super cute! Aside from that we have hung out and played the Wii! Overall it has been a fun trip so far! I am enjoying being home and spending time with my nephews and mom even when they all drive me crazy!

Realizations

So I have recently have a couple of realizations. One is that my 21 list...well that turned out to be a pretty big joke on me! Usually I am pretty good about keeping goals, I'm not a quitter by nature. I have immense troubles with giving up on things but in this case...I think it is for the best! I just made some goals that were unachievable. Next time I won't reach for the stars...because goodness knows my arms don't stretch that long!

Another thing that I have realized...the world is full of hypocrites. I am sure that I am one of those hypocrites. The guy that I was crazy about in high school absolutely hated hypocrites and as such, nothing made him madder than being called a hypocrite. However, he was most definitely one. I am beginning to realize that incidents such as his, aren't isolated. They are everywhere and I'm not sure half of them would recognize themselves as such.

The final thing that I have come to realize...bad taste in guys must be genetic because I know my mom has it, I sometimes wonder if my sister got it, and now I am realizing that I seem to have inherited it as well! Such is my luck...

I'm a Copycat

So, yesterday a dear friend of mine posted about her musical habits and tastes. I too listen to music much of the time! While I am cooking, cleaning, in the shower, eating, just doing general computer stuff, sometimes during homework depending on the homework...etc.

So, I am not sure if I have a whole lot of absolute favorite bands as I most definitely go through phases...however, my top five artists or groups of the moment would probably be...in no particular order

-Taylor Swift (yes I am this much of a dork!!)
-P!NK (I think this is how she is spelling her name these days...?)
-Fun. (I was recently introduced to this group and fell in love)
-Ministry of Magic (This is the only Wizard Rock I have really taken the time to listen to but I absolutely LOVE it!!)
-Blue October (This one I haven't listened to so much lately but I still really like them)

However, music choices very much do depend on my mood and I do enjoy a good variety.

~I grew up with Country Music, (this is about all we would listen to in the car with my dad) like I mentioned I like Taylor Swift but I also love Trisha Yearwood (especially "How Do I Live"), I love Alanis Morrissette, John Michael Montgomery, Tim McGraw, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Carrie Underwood, and many others!
~My mom was into a variety of music so I get my love of 80's classics from her. Chicago might be my favorite but I also love Queen, Kansas, Asia, Boston, Kansas, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, STYX, Pat Benatar, Cindy Lauper, etc...
~I love Musicals so I listen to Grease, RENT, Wicked, Disney Music, The Music Man, etc...
~I also love soundtracks ranging from the Harry Potter Soundtracks to soundtracks for TV shows such as Grey's Anatomy to soundtracks from chick flicks like A Lot Like Love
~I have music that I listen to when I am particularly angry such as Disturbed, Hinder, Hollywood Undead, etc.
~Sunday music consists of Blackmore's Night or my Hillary Weeks Pandora station
~It is fun to rock out to Ke$ha or Avril Lavigne
~There are the songs that are constantly stuck in my head such as "Rasputin" by Boney M or "Always" by Erasure
~Sometimes I resort back to Elementary and Middle School with some Backstreet Boys or Brittany Speares
~I love Owl City as well as Paramore

Essentially my music tastes are varied, I am open to most any music! Um...so yeah, if you have any music suggestions for me that would be awesome! I am sure I could have gone on forever but...for now I think this gives you an idea of my musical tastes!

Finals

So I have this horrible character trait where I hate studying for tests. I mean...most people dislike studying for tests but I find myself almost incapable of doing so! I will look through notes for maybe an hour max and then I can't take it anymore and I just go take the test! So...two finals down and one to go! My stress level has officially dropped about 80% I would say!! Whoo hoo!

Lucky Charms in Zero Gravity

So, I did a post of movie quotes that I love, despite people not actually saying things like that and now I decided to do one with book quotes!! This time around I am going to stick with strictly Meg Cabot since that is what I have been reading non-stop due to my 21 list but at some point I will do one with a greater variety! So here goes...some of the most fantastic book quotes ever!!

1. "Then he leaned down and kissed me some more. This time when he lifted his head, birds, stars, and even little rainbows seemed to float around in front of me. It was like someone had dumped a box of Lucky Charms in zero gravity." -Jinx

2. "Wait. Why am I thinking about Krispy Kremes? We’re supposed to be exercising."-Big Boned

3. "Unrequited love is all right in books and things, but in real life, it completely sucks"-Haunted

4.  "Being brave is when you have to do something because you know it is right, but at the same time, you are afraid to do it, because it might hurt or whatever. But you do it anyway."-All American Girl

5.  "And now Rocky is begging me to watch Dora the Explorer with him. I understand that millions of kids love Dora and have learned to read or whatever from her show. But I wouldn't mind if Dora fell off a cliff and took her little pals with her"-Forever Princess

6. "Everything this boy said-and did-was causing my internal organs to do acrobatics!" -Runaway

7.  "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle." "I really hate this expression. I bet fish would totally want bicycles."-Princess on the Brink

8.  "Chaz looks me dead in the eye and says, 'Why yes, Lizzie. I’m manically depressed because the girl I’ve finally realized I’ve always been in love with, and who I was beginning to think just might love me back, turned around and got herself engaged to my best friend, who, frankly, doesn’t deserve her. Does that answer your question?" -Queen of Babble Gets Hitched

9.  "I just want to let you know that when I look into my future, I see nothing but you.” That’s what Chaz had whispered in my ear at some point during the wedding last night. Then he’d whispered. “And you’re not even wearing Spanx." -Queen of Babble In the Big City

10.  "if you give a man to fish he'll eat for a day, if you teach a man to fish he'll eat all the fish you may have caught for yourself "-Darkest Hour

11.  "I loved you way before you ever had a chance to put a spell on me. I loved you at 'I've never been to Long Island,'" Zach said. I couldn't keep a big goofy grin from my face. I loved you at 'I like seals,'" I admitted. He grinned back."-Jinx

12.  "I may have been dead for the past hundred and fifty years, Susannah," Jesse said, "but that doesn't mean I don't know how people say good night. And generally, when people say good night,they keep their tongues to themselves."-Ninth Key

13.  "You'll blow up a helicopter, but you won't go out with me? What is wrong with you?"-When Lightning Strikes

14.  "If it turned out Brandon Stark also likes to dress up as Strawberry Shortcake while playing croquet with his miniature pony collection, I totally wouldn't be surprised anymore."-Runaway

15.  "Cal: “I’m not presuming. I know exactly what you think about me. You think I’m an anal-retentive Armrest Nazi . . . an arrogant Modelizer. You can’t stand the way I talk, any of the subjects I choose to talk about, the imperious manner I order food in restaurants or tell cab drivers how much we owe them. You find my taste in women odious, the fact that I don’t own a television an unforgivable sin, and the fact that I would choose to write a book about Saudi Arabia completely unfathomable. And you’re also totally in love with me. If you weren’t you wouldn’t have pushed me into the pool earlier today when you saw Grazi walk in.” -Every Boy's Got One

16.  "Don't cry." "How can I not?" I asked him. "You just said you loved me." "Well, why else did you think all of this was happening?" He set the book aside to wrap his arms around me. "The Furies wouldn't be trying to kill you if I didn't love you." "I didn't know," I said. Tears were trickling down my cheeks, but I did nothing to try to stop them. His shirt was absorbing most of them. "You never said anything about it. Every time I saw you, you just acted so... wild." "How was I supposed to act?" he asked. "You kept doing things like throw tea in my face."-Abandon

17.  "...And you can't have two stars in one relationship. Somebody has to be willing to be the wagon...at lease some of the time" -Queen of Babble Gets Hitched

18.  "Tell me what game Steph Landry and I used to play in the big dirt pile they made while they were digging my family’s pool, back when we were both seven, or I’ll know you’re an alien replacement and you’ve got the real Steph up in your mother ship!” I glared at him. “G.I. Joe meets Spelunker Barbie,” I said. “And stop being so ridiculous. We have to go. We’re going to end up at a bad table for lunch." -How to Be Popular

19.  "Oh, that's just great. I come all the way back here, risking major brain cell burnout, and you don't even believe me? I'm basically guaranteeing myself a lifetime of heartbreak, and all you have to say is that you think I'm not right in the head?" -Twilight (Mediator Series)

20. "We kissed all the way through the fireworks display. We didn’t even notice that there was a fireworks display… …I guess because we’d been making fireworks of our own." -Teen Idol

21.  "Cadaver breath. Do you realize that's what you called me? That hurt, you know, querida, that really hurt." -Mediator Series

22. "No matter how nice the company one might be with, however, it is never pleasant to have a rifle pointed at one's back." -Sanctuary

23. "In order for people to be happy, sometimes they have to take risks. It's true these risks can put them in danger of being hurt." -The Boy Next Door

24. "I know, Glow in the Dark Dinosaur stickers are so last year." -Airhead

25. "...he definitely didn't sparkle!" -Insatiable

So I am sure there are many others because Meg Cabot is absolutely brilliant!!! You may be noticing that my blogger address as well as title of my blog all has something to do with the things I have read in Meg Cabot books!! :) Sorry I went a little crazy with the colors but I felt like they needed broken up a bit!! :P

Appreciation

Sometimes we do not truly appreciate the things that we have until we no longer have them. As many of you know, I broke my glasses on Thursday and the doctor put me in contacts until I would get my new glasses and they were really bugging me and I was really annoyed. However, last night I lost one of these contacts and I had to go to school this morning without my glasses or contacts and therefore had to strain my eyes very much to see anything. This resulted in very sore eyes and a massive headache. When I got replacement contacts and slipped them in, it was so amazing just to be able to see things without straining! I am legally blind but I am so blessed that with the modern technology I am actually able to see!! Sometimes, I think we and by this I most definitely mean I need to stop some times and just take time to appreciate all the wonderful gifts that the Lord has given me!!

Game Night

I absolutely love Sundays because we go to church, obviously, which is a wonderful time in and of itself. Then we get to spend time with friends which is wonderful. We do group dinners, (tonight's was "What's in your fridge?) and we have ward prayer. Then we have GAME NIGHT!

Tonight I hosted and we played a couple of great rounds of Werewolves and then we played one super intense round of BANG!! It was a fantastic Sunday as always!

Next Sunday is going to be even better because...I won't have to go to school at 9 the next morning!! :)

Summerfest

Okay so in the small town that I grew up in they have this weekend every May called Blossom Festival. There are all sorts of little craft vendors and people with funnel cakes and cotton candy. There is a parade and carnival. The works.

Well, today I was invited by a friend to go to Summerfest in Orem. There were all the booths and little kids with balloon animals and face painting. There were carnival rides and the vendors with funnel cakes and cotton candy and the works! It was fantastic! Today truly felt like a summer day! How fantastic!

Friday once again...

So this is the second Friday in a row that I actually have plans! Going to the Stake BBQ and then the birthday party of the one and only absolutely wonderful Sarah June!! :)

Sorry the posts have been so boring most of this week. Life has been crazy! Hopefully more interesting stuff is yet to come!

Then again I could be completely wrong! I apparently am destined to sit at home by myself and do nothing except maybe attempt to read a book that is giving me a headache because these contacts suck! Such is my life...

Giving Up

That is right! I am giving up! The moment that things look as if they might possibly be looking up, something bad has to happen to take that all away!! SCREW IT!!! I just snapped my glasses in half, I have finals next week, I don't have insurance that will cover an eye visit and new glasses! I am royally screwed!

Exausted

Honestly I am just too darn busy and tired to really post anything profound or even remotely interesting today! It is too darn hot and I am way ready for classes and finals to just be OVER!!! For the record!

I'm Quirky

So, I wrote this list for my English class last semester and the teacher really liked it! This details some of my odd quirks so I hope you enjoy it!

1. I absolutely cannot wear socks to bed! It doesn't matter if it is below zero outside, if I am sleeping in a tent, or just a really cold bedroom. I would rather have my toes shrivel up and fall off then wear socks to bed. However, I love to have blankets that cover my feet or wear slippers around.

2. When watching an extremely sad or sappy movie or any movie that might make me cry it is best if I watch it while consuming a pint of Hagan Daas Rocky Road Ice Cream! This just seems to make the world a better place and reminds me that the world is not going to end just because the lives of the people in the movie were tragic or whatever!! I don't know...it just helps!

3. I believe that all books should be treated as if they were something sacred. They should all be stored in a safe and special environment. They should not be written in or dog eared and under NO circumstances should they ever be placed face down while open! That is blasphemy!

4. All of my books, movies, and CD's must be alphabetized.

5. I believe that old calendars make some of the best decorations because when they are ripped apart page by page there are twelve pictures of a related topic that are all the same size and great to gang on walls, doors, etc.

6. I think that I would like to live somewhere where it never got above seventy degrees, never got below thirty degrees and rained at least six months of the year. I know that this would mean that it would not get very sunny but to make up the difference I would simple paint my bedroom in bright shades of yellow and pink!

7. Pajamas are my absolutely favorite kind of clothing. I once considered going into a medical field partically because it meant that I would get to wear scrubs to work everyday and that was as close as I could get to living in pajamas and having a career where I helped people.

8. Until this past summer I had not drank milk out of desire since I was maybe five years old. Then it was like a switch in my brain switched on and I now go through about a gallon of milk a week.

9. Pancakes are one of my least favorite foods, especially my least favorite breakfast food. However, when they are covered in normal applesauce (not the unsweetened or the cinnamon kind) they are one of the best things ever. I never liked pancakes until my grandma served them with applesauce one day and I smothered mine and it was fantastic.

10. I love smelly goody stuff but I don't really care for flowery scents! They need to be the fruity tropical smells or smell like fresh baked goods and such!

Seasons of Love

So, I found out that the musical Rent is coming to Salt Lake a little later this month and I decided that I will be going to see it no matter what it takes. I know that this musical is really very controversial but I love the music and even most of the storyline. It is all about living your life today and loving in the moment and how people will remember your life by how much love you gave. I think that the general motif is beautiful! So...I am making plans to go see it at least once! How many other opportunities am I going to have to see an amazing Broadway musical somewhere near me at such good prices?!

Thankful

Many of you reading this will have already heard this from me today, however, I feel as if you cannot hear it too many times! I am so thankful to have all of you in my life. I am thankful that through my struggles, hardships, and sorrow, you are there for me, offering a smile and a helping hand! I am so thankful that even though I may sometimes try to shut you out and push you away you are willing to chip away at my walls little by little and see the real me inside! I love you all dearly and am just so thankful to have your presence in my life! I know that the Lord puts people in our paths to teach us lessons and I have learned so much from all of you about how to be a better, happier person! I hope that you all know how much I care about you and appreciate you!

YOU ARE ALL WONDERFUL, AMAZING, FANTASTIC PEOPLE AND I STRIVE TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLES EACH OF YOU SETS FOR ME!!!!!!

Things We'll Never Say

So, I decided to do a post compiling some of the cutest, best movie quotes! Those things that make us swoon but that we know that people in real life don't actually say because if they did, they would just sound absolutely ridiculous! Here we go...the things we'll never say!

1. “…If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love … I love … I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.” -Pride and Prejudice

2. “So it’s not gonna be easy. It’s gonna be really hard. We’re gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, for ever, you and me, every day. Will you do something for me, please? Just picture your life for me? 30 years from now, 40 years from now? What’s it look like? If it’s with him, go. Go! I lost you once, I think I can do it again. If I thought that’s what you really wanted. But don’t you take the easy way out." -The Notebook

3. “Me? I’m scared of everything. I’m scared of what I saw, I’m scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you.” -Dirty Dancing

4. “But for now, let me say — without hope or agenda, just because it’s Christmas and at Christmas you tell the truth — to me, you are perfect. And my wasted heart will love you. Until you look like this [picture of a mummy]. Merry Christmas.” -Love Actually

5. “Don’t forget I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” -Notting Hill

6. “What I really want to do with my life — what I want to do for a living — is I want to be with your daughter. I’m good at it.” - Say Anything

7. “I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle in your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” -When Harry Met Sally

8. “It was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together … and I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home. .. only to no home I’d ever known … I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like … magic.” -Sleepless in Seattle

9. “My heart is, and always will be, yours.”-Sense and Sensibility

10. “You erased me from your memories because you thought you were holding me back from having a full and happy life. But you made a mistake. Being with you is the only way I could have a full and happy life. You’re the girl of my dreams… and apparently, I’m the man of yours.” -50 First Dates

11. "The truth is... I gave my heart away a long time ago, my whole heart... and I never really got it back" -Sweet Home Alabama

12.  "The best love is the kind that weakens the soul, that makes us reach for more, that plants fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that's what you've given me. That's what I hope to give to you forever." -The Notebook

13. "Do you know that place between being asleep and awake, where you still remember your dreams? That's where I'll always love, that's where I'll always wait for you." -Hook

14. "I think I'd miss you even if I'd never met you!" -The Wedding Date

15. "What you wanna be married to me for anyways?" "So I can kiss you anytime I want!" -Sweet Home Alabama

16. "I guarantee that we'll have tough times. I guarantee that sooner or later one, or both of us will want to get out. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life.. because I know in my heart you're the only one for me. " -Runaway Bride

17. "If you love someone... you say it, right then, out loud. Otherwise... the moment just passes you by." -My Best Friend's Wedding

18. "A life without love, is no life at all." -Ever After

19. “Don’t say we aren't right for each other, the way I see it is… We aren't right for anyone else.” -The Cutting Edge

20. "Honestly, if you're not willing to sound stupid you don't deserve to be in love." -A Lot Like Love

21. "You know what's wrong with you, Miss Whoever-you-are? You're chicken, you've got no guts. You're afraid to stick out your chin and say, "Okay, life's a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness." You call yourself a free spirit, a "wild thing," and you're terrified somebody's gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you're already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somali-land. It's wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself." -Breakfast at Tiffany's

22. "Well then how can you be certain to find them? And if you do find them, are they really the one for you or do you only think they are? And what happens if the person you're supposed to be with never appears, or, or she does, but you're too distracted to notice?" "Then let's say God puts two people on Earth and they are lucky enough to find one another. But one of them gets hit by lightning. Well then what? Is that it? Or, perchance, you meet someone new and marry all over again. Is that the lady you're supposed to be with or was it the first? And if so, when the two of them were walking side by side were they both the one for you and you just happened to meet the first one first or, was the second one supposed to be first? And is everything just chance or are some things meant to be?" -Ever After

23. "A bird may love a fish, signore, but where will they live?" -Ever After

24. "I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of the earth alone. I choose a mortal life." -The Lord of the Rings

25. "I hate the way you talk to me, and the way you cut your hair.
I hate the way you drive my car, I hate it when you stare.
I hate your big, dumb combat boots and the way you read my mind.
I hate you so much it makes me sick — It even makes me rhyme.
I hate the way you're always right. I hate it when you lie.
I hate it when you make me laugh — Even worse when you make me cry.
I hate it that you're not around. And the fact that you don't call.
But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you — Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all." - Ten Things I Hate About You

Well, there are probably a lot more that I can't think of right now! These ones are in no particular order but are pretty fantastic. Some might be slightly misquoted but I believe they are all pretty close!!

FRIDAY!

So, this is going to be the first Friday in a while that I don't spend at home alone reading a book! Nope nope! I am going to a sleepover and I am so excited I cannot even tell you! But, I'm already late so toodle oo!!

Why hello there!

So, a few weeks ago a friend posted a blog where she stated the things that made guys more attractive to her. I thought this would be fun to compile my own list of characteristics and whatnot that get my attention. Keep in mind, this is not meant to be a checklist but these are things that seem to come as an added bonus in a guy or makes them more noticeable and attractive!

1. Dark hair and Light colored eyes (I am a sucker for a blue-eyed brunette)
2. Sense of humor (Sometimes I don't think I have the greatest sense of humor so I need a guy who can make up the difference)
3. Motorcycles (This is just sexy...need I say more?!)
4. A guy who can cook (I love cooking but a guy in the kitchen is pretty attractive)
5. A little spontaneous and crazy (say a guy just spontaneously wanted to go puddle jumping or something...)
6. Wrestlers (I can't help it, this is a weird weakness)
7. Enjoys Chick-flicks even if he won't admit it
8. Cuddlers
9. Guys who give mischievous grins
10. Five o-clock shadows
11. Both well dressed guys (suit and tie) as well as a guy who looks like he just got out of bed
12. Guys in a good pair of worn out jeans
13. Guys who can be competitive while playing a game but is not a sore loser
14. Guys who give honest compliments
15. Enjoys games (board and card games)
16. A guy who would invite a girl on a walk just so they could talk and get to know each other
17. A guy that can sing
18. Guys that are comfortable dancing
19. A guy who is willing to help with housework
20. Killer smiles, especially with dimples!!

So, like a said, this is not a checklist and I am not describing anyone particular! However, when guys have some of these characteristics or do these things, I am likely to notice!

Happy Ending

When the going's rough and you've had enough,

Leave your troubles and your woes.

Turn the other cheek and forget your grief,

Make a friend out of your foe.

Give me a happy ending every time.

We'll kiss and make up,

That's a very peaceful sign.

Give me a happy ending every time.

Don't be unhappy, everything will work out fine.

Okay so I decided to do an update on my list of things that I am working on for the summer since one whole month is over.

1. Read/Reread every book I own by Meg Cabot in Alphabetical Order (9/50) [I did end up deviating from the alphabetical order but I think the major accomplishment will be to read all 50 books in four months!]
6. Teach a friend how to decorate a character cake (COMPLETED) [This was way fun! We made Care Bear cakes! Mine was Grumpy and hers was Funshine!]
8. Paint each individual fingernail and toenail a different color and leave it for a week (COMPLETED)
9. Ask the guy I like 25 random questions I would normally be too shy to ask (8/25)
13. Blog Everyday for a month [Trying to do this starting today!]
14. Listen to 5 entirely new groups as recommended by friends (2/5) [Hollywood Undead-American Tragedy and Fun-Aim and Ignite...been working on Ben Folds-Rockin the Suburbs but have not listened to the whole album yet]

Fear

Wow, it has been almost a week since I have blogged which I think might actually be the longest that I have gone since I started a blog but I have been fairly busy and haven't had anything particularly profound to say.

Well, tonight I had a realization! I think that I try to act nonchalant and as if I am not really afraid of anything. At least I try to make myself think this. I try to act as if I am not really worried about what happens to me or whatever but tonight I realized this simply is not true. I don't think I am going to be able to fool myself anymore! The truth of the matter is...I am scared of everything.

How did I come to this realization? Well, I decided to walk to the grocery store around 11 because I thought that I wanted icecream although I am pretty sure now that I just wanted to get out of my apartment really badly. Anyways, on my way home I was going to walk the river trail  which I have heard it is not particularly smart to walk at night. I figured that I wasn't really scared and that I would be fine and that if something happened to me...well then that was just the way life goes. However, I got a quarter of the way on the trail, and it started getting really dark, and I stepped in some mud and almost slipped, and the river was so high and rushing by and I could hear it even over my super loud music and I was clutching my keys on which I keep a thing of pepper spray and I turned around and decided to take the more well lit way home because I was scared. That's right, I am scared of everything it turns out! I am scared of the dark, I am scared of the river, I am scared of strangers that look at me funny, I am scared of the way people perceive me, I am scared to go to bed at night in my empty apartment, and I am scared to death to ask the guy that I am interested on a date because I am scared to death of being rejected!

Most of all I think that I am scared that I am going to wake up some day and realize that I was too scared to really live my life!

Nothing is Final Until Your Dead...

Well, I really wanted to blog because I haven't for a few days but I don't really know what to say. Um...I had a pretty fun weekend actually! I remarkably got a good deal of my homework done yesterday and today...unfortunately not all of it yet! Then last night I went to the Nicklecade with a group of friends which is always fun because I am friends with some absolutely amazing people. We then went and got Boba's. A Boba is a smoothie type drink with tapioca balls in it although my ended up not having any of those in it because there was such a big group of us and they messed up three different times (giving us the mistakes each time) and by time they made mine there was no boba left! We then went and played BANG! One of the best games ever!

Then today I had the wonderful privileged of celebrating one of my friend's birthdays with her...ten days late. Earlier today we went to the park and did bubbles and played duck, duck, whatever and then had a flour fight so we were all covered in flour. Then, I went for a walk with a friend and it was neat to just get to talk to her. Then I got to get all fancy and go to the second half of the birthday party which was a "Mocktail" party. It was great! I found that if I were to become an alcoholic then Strawberry Daiquiris and Mojitos would be drinks of choice! 

So, great weekend and there is still one day left, Sunday! Hooray!

In other news...
My list is going fairly well! I am on the third of fifty books! I am still slowly making progress on asking questions! My mom is sending me my cake decorating stuff so that I can teach my friend ShaNez how to decorate a character cake! I have made it to the temple twice this month now (which just makes me happy), I hope to start writing a letter to Lisa tomorrow...I don't know what else I am working on but hopefully I will get there! I am a master of making goals that I cannot complete so...we'll see how this goes!

It is funny because there is so much other stuff that I totally could have put on my list that may have been much easier for me to accomplish but I will just try to do as many of those things as well and it should prove to be a fantastic summer! Especially once Spring term is OVER! he he

Sometimes you do learn valuable things in school!

So, we have been talking about philosophy a lot in my Foundations of Education class and for the most part I have no idea what the professor is ever talking about or trying to get across but today he put some stuff up that I really liked and felt like sharing for no real reason...I just feel like it!

I have always loved Shakespeare's 116th Sonnet which says-

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved. 

But even more than that I loved this by Frank Lloyd Wright-

If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you wisely invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life!

I thought that this was truly amazing and I would encourage us all to pay attention to the beauty in our lives, no matter the source, that we are able to better appreciate it!

Photograph(s)...

So, I just got this e-mail and it happened to be pictures from my mom...from Christmas! Yep, it took her this long to send me the pictures from Christmas but some are so cute that I just have to share!

 I just loved the way he is looking at me in this picture! This is my younger nephew, Tristan!

 My babies mauling me during my naptime! lol!

 Brotherly love, Tommy is the older one and Tristan is the redhead!

 My younger brother and sister got the boys cowboy hats! There mom was not too thrilled!

A Little Too Much

Everybody hurts just a little too much
Everybody hurts but it's never enough
It's wonderful to fall
Let's love and risk it all
I'd rather love just a little too much 

Okay so tonight I saw a movie and in it the character is in love with this guy but she thinks that a guy like him who is so good looking and smart and funny could never like a girl like her! This is something that I can totally relate to! When I fall for guys I usually get the impression that he is probably way out of my league and that a guy like him couldn't possibly like me! That I would never be his type! This is something that I have been feeling quite a bit lately. The guy that I am interested in, isn't the typical kind of guy that I find myself falling for and I am not sure that I see myself as being his type. However, in the movie the guy was totally in love with the girl the whole time too. So, guys...when we look at you and get super scared because you seem to be the airbrushed image of perfect, you need to give us a hint if you are interested in us! This would be really helpful, just so you know! However, it also brought out the premise that sometimes you have to take a risk in order to find that happiness and truly live your life, this is something that I am going to try a little more! As much as I view myself as an open book where my feelings are concerned, I am also rather reserved with them because I am scared of putting myself out there and getting hurt! I am a work in progress!

Okay...my list! I am happy to announce that I have completed one of the 21 things on that list! I wore each of my nails a different color for an entire week and it was fun and eccentric! 

In progress...

1. Reading or rereading the books that I own by Meg Cabot! I have completed the first book, which is Abandon and it was my first time reading it! Very good but interesting! Next will be three books that may seem out of a order a bit alphabetically but it will be the Airhead trilogy!!

3. Also, watched the first four episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender series, very fun despite how tired we all were!

9. The questions are in progress of being asked...I get up a little nerve every once in a while

14. Currently in the process of listening to album number 1...Hollywood Undead-American Tragedy

16. I visited the temple yesterday and it was fantastic! (I am going to actually try for once a week but the goal is as long as I make it once a month!)

So, I am making good progress! I still fear that maybe I put a few things on there that will be unaccomplishable but I am going to do what I can to make this a success and have a great time doing so! :) 

Shoutout!

Okay so I have to give a shout-out to Sara who is old today! He he! I know that I already texted you and wrote on your Facebook but I had to tell you once again how absolutely AMAZING you are!! I just love your guts and am so glad that I have the amazing opportunity to know you! You can put a smile on my face without saying a word! I hope that you have the most absolutely, positively, terrifically, wonderfully, fantabuloso birthday ever!!! :)

All By Myself

Livin' alone

I think of all the friends I've known

But when I dial the telephone

Nobody's home

All by myself

Don't wanna live

All by myself

Anymore

So today I came home to quite a surprise, a note on my coffee table from my roommate telling me that she had moved out. Her room is pretty much empty and she is gone. When I asked her brother about it, he didn't know that she was going to move out either! Now I live alone again! Sad Day!! :(

My New Mantra...

Seems the only one who doesn't see your beauty
Is the face in the mirror looking back at you
You walk around here thinking you're not pretty
But that's not true, cause I know you...

*Disclaimer: Okay so this post is going to be a bit more personal so if you don't like mushy, personal stuff then I guess you can bugger off because apparently I am the type of person who puts everything out there for the internet world to read!

So, lately I have been having a bit of a hard time with things. I have been stressed with school and my own personal thoughts and it has brought me down. I was talking to some of my friends about how I need to learn to love myself and how I have this idea that I am not capable of being loved by another human (especially males) and how I need to stop this way of thinking. So one of my friends instructed me to come up with five things about myself that I like, that I am good at, and that make me lovable. So this is not meant to be conceded in any way but is meant rather so that I can see something besides my faults. It is so easy to believe when people say bad things about you and much harder to believe it when people complement you. So...here are the five things...

1. I am good at cooking and baking! I am capable of making meals and desserts that not only I get to enjoy but that others get to enjoy as well!

2. I am a compassionate, giving person! If someone is in need, I do my best to reach out to them and offer them the help that they need.

3. I am intelligent. I have done well in school, enjoy learning, and am attending a great university.
4. I am open to new experiences and trying new things. I enjoy having fun and helping others to have a good time as well. I am fun to be around.

5. Finally, the hardest one for me to see and accept sometimes but is nonetheless true...I AM BEAUTIFUL! Both inside in spirit and on the outside!

So, my new mantra...I AM A DAUGHTER OF GOD WHO IS BEAUTIFUL AND I AM WORTH IT!!!

On a lighter note...I have been working on my list of things to do! I still have until Thursday night to before my nails can cease being a different color each. I am making plans to attend the temple, hopefully later this week. I am hoping to start my reading later this week as well (which with school could be interesting!) I am building a list of music to listen to! I still need movie suggestions! And I wrote my list of 25 questions to ask my crush...now to work up the nerve to actually ask them (which was the point and yet is going to be VERY difficult for me!!!)

Different Types of Readers

Today in my foundations of Literature class we were having a discussion about how there are different kinds of readers. Now loving books I would consider myself an avid reader of novels. However, these are not the kinds of readers that I couldn't help but think about. I was thinking about the types of readers who have the innate ability to read people! This is an ability that I have always wished that I had but unfortunately do not possess. I feel that if I had this ability it would be easier to tell what people think and if in fact guys might be interested in me.

However, in the opposing view I happen to be very easy to read, or so I am told. Apparently I read like an open book! And we're not talking some deep intellectual work that you need a dictionary to decipher. Today I was told that I wear my heart on my sleeve, so willing to give my love away. This is something that I could agree with and has led to me being hurt a few times. However, I just can't seem to find faults in anyone except myself (of whom all I see is faults). I don't know why I thought to share this but I guess basically because I am wondering if maybe I should try to protect my heart a little bit more and make it harder for people to turn the pages of my life and read my story?! Hmm...

Pachyderm in the Room

What do you do when it is after two in the morning and you can't sleep but you don't want to work on homework either as you should...apparently you blog! I think I may have developed a new addiction!

Anyways, yesterday I was watching the most recent episode of the TV show Bones and it had a premise that was radical honesty. There was a whole group of people who always told the truth. It talked about how even if you are choosing to omit the truth then technically you are lying. This got me thinking...what would it be like to live by radical honesty? What if I could just go up to the guy I like and say it flat out? What if I could call my dad up on the phone and tell him that he has missed out on over half of my life and that he should really regret it? What if I could be radically honest with myself? I don't know why but this was such an interesting concept to me! I thought about how it mentioned that when people tell the truth all of the time they come off abrasive. But sometimes I feel as if I am missing out because I can't seem to tell someone something that I really want to.

Then again, I sort of tried this once! I told the guy that I liked how I liked him and his response was..."I know." And then he walked off. It took me five long hard years to get over that particular guy too! So...I guess the moral here is that we can lie to ourselves which probably hurts us...or we can tell the truth, which can also hurt us! Hmm...depressing thought!

"The lingering question kept me up
2am, who do you love?
I wonder till I'm wide awake
Now I'm pacing back and forth, wishing you were at my door

Please don't be in love with someone else
Please don't have somebody waiting on you"

Hey everbody! I made GUMBO!

Okay...actually I made Jambalaya and it was YUMMY! lol! So...on Wednesday while I was talking to my mom she told me that she was making Jambalaya for some of the girls at work. Now, I used to get so tired of Jambalaya because she would make it every other week and we would be stuck eating it the WHOLE week because it was just the two of us. However, it had been about a year since I had it so I thought...YUMMY!! Spontaneously while texting a friend later that day I asked..."Do you like Cajun Food!" When he responded that he didn't know I was absolutely shocked not knowing my geography and thinking that it was crazy for him to be from Missouri and have not had Cajun food! However, when someone explained to me that the Missouri is not the deep south...isn't really all that south at all, I figured that I would invite him, his roommates, and two other  friends over for dinner and that I would attempt Jambalaya for the first time! When I mentioned my plans to another friend and she invited herself along (he he) it turned into an event! The basis of this story is that it went over well and that for those of you who wanted the recipe...here it is!


*Disclaimer...hopefully you understand my mother's instructions because I will admit I had to call her twice while making it as I am a bit of a DITZ!! he he


1 lg green bell pepper
1 lg yellow onion (I prefer yellow they are not as strong as white)
2 smoked sausage (like Hillshire farms, and make sure you use the ones with pork and beef, the all beef make it too greasy)
2 Tablespoons of Cajun seasoning
1-4.5oz. jar minced garlic (only use  1/2)
1 lg can crushed tomatoes
8 cups cooked rice

chop the pepper and onion, sautee them together in a large fry pan, add 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning and half the jar of garlic, let simmer, slice the sausage and add to the fry pan, heat over medium to low heat

cook the rice

in a separate sauce pan, heat the tomatoes and 1 tablespoom cajun seasoning over low heat (I rinse the can with a little water)

mix all ingredients together in very large bowl or pan and enjoy

Do you want to go penguin sledding with me?

So I started and finished this puzzle last night! It took me close to eight hours probably. I feel that I have wasted a lot of time lately doing puzzles. Some people play video games, I do puzzles. This all started my first semester at college when I had a roommate who when through a bad relationship crisis. She had nothing to do with her time so she started to do puzzles because she felt they kept her mind off of things. I would help her and we would glue the puzzles and hang them around the apartment. At that point I was awful at doing puzzles and would only do small portions. Now, a year and a half later, she no longer lives with me but I keep up doing the puzzles, but I am the one doing the majority of the puzzles. This one I did have a bit of help with a chunk of the sky. I currently have 28 puzzles hanging on my walls, of which I completed most and another 9 waiting to be hung up all of which I did! :)

"When we begin life, we are all given a puzzle -- each one very different, yet special. As we continue through our lives, we meet people and have some type of affect upon their life, as they do on ours. We share with them a piece of our puzzle and they share a piece of theirs, with us, in return. No matter what type of impact they had upon our life, we still carry along with us, a piece of their puzzle. Meaning that everyone we encounter has a special impact upon our lives, because they have shaped us into what we are today. This is called the puzzle of life. Each puzzle growing and changing throughout our lives, but always becoming better and always having the same foundational pieces. Know that you DO make a difference in peoples lives! I thank you for sharing part of your puzzle with me!" - Erin Bridget Doyle

Girls are like
apples on trees. The best
ones are at the top of the tree.
The boys don't want to reach for
the good ones because they are afraid
of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they
just get the rotten apples from the ground
that aren't as good, but easy. So the apples
at the top think something is wrong with
them, when in reality, they're amazing.
They just have to wait for the right
boy to come along, the one
who's brave enough

  to climb
all the way
to the top
of the tree

Why Can't I?

Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you
It's inevitable, it's a fact that we're gonna get down to it
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you

I've heard it said that when you can't get someone out of your head that maybe they are supposed to be there! Right now I am really hoping this is true. In high school I made it a habit of falling hard for guys and getting caught up and then getting my heart broken. So when I came to college I made a resolution to not fall for guys. I still got crushes and asked guys on dates but when it seemed the interest was not reciprocated I was easily able to move on. Now it seems that I may once again be falling...I think about him a lot and really have a desire to get to know him better. He seems like an intriguing person with an interesting story to tell. I hope that I will be able to get to know him better and at least build a lasting friendship!

On another note...I have officially started on my 21 list! Currently working on number 8-all of my nails are a different color! Now I just have to make it last for a week!

Summer Girl

'Cause I'm just a summer girl
I wear my flip flops
And when I let my hair down
That's when the party starts
And who needs a boyfriend
I've got my girlfriends
And when we get together
The summer never ends

So, technically it is the start of Spring Term but to me it is pretty much summer despite the mass amount of credits I have decided to take and the menopausal weather. I have decided that I want to have a really great and memorable summer. I turn 21 and I want to remember this summer. So, I am sort of stealing an idea from a dear friend. She decided to do 101 things in 1001 days...I am going to do 21 awesome things this summer! These things are meant to break me from my bubble, help me have an amazing summer, and better me as a person! They start now and I have until Fall Semester starts to finish them!

Therefore I will...

1. Read/Reread every book I own by Meg Cabot in Alphabetical Order (0/50)
2. Volunteer in a Soup Kitchen
3. Have an Avatar the Last Airbender Marathon with friends
4. Go on a picnic date complete with bubbles and sidewalk chalk
5. Kiss a boy
6. Teach a friend how to decorate a character cake
7. Dress up for an entire week (Hair and makeup done, skirts no pants)
8. Paint each individual fingernail and toenail a different color and leave it for a week
9. Ask the guy I like 25 random questions I would normally be too shy to ask (0/25)
10. Go without chocolate for a week
11. Do 5 Random Acts of Kindness (0/5)
12. Read and Watch Every talk from Last Conference and Reflect
13. Blog Everyday for a month
14. Listen to 5 entirely new groups as recommended by friends (0/5)
15. Watch the entire season of Firefly and see Serenity
16. Go to the temple at least once a month
17. Go on an impromptu road trip
18. Write to Lisa on her mission at least once a month
19. See 25 movies I have never seen as recommended by friends (0/25)
20. Host a murder mystery dinner
21. Write 10 real letters to friends (0/10)

Why Blog?

I have a few friends who have blogs and I recently read one of their entire blogs. Just tonight, it took me about an hour but I read all of his posts from newest to oldest and I feel that I learned more about him than I did which isn't really saying much since I didn't know much to begin with! However, it is convenient since I am sorta crushing on him but didn't really know him! So, I figure this way I have somewhere to post my randomness and just talk if I need to! If someone reads it...great! If not...I'll never know! So...here goes blogging...hopefully I can keep up with it!