2011 - what a crazy year!

2011 was such a crazy year full of ups and downs.  I've learned lots of valuable lessons...and am sure 2012 will bring plenty more!  Sometimes it hurts to learn...and that's when it feels like learning.  I think the more pleasurable way of learning is called "fun" and the year has had plenty of that!

January


I started my second semester of college!  Sociology, psychology, humanities, and chemistry.  I could only remember 1 of 4 and had to look them up.  How sad is that?


Miss Katie Plott {Janie and Kylee's friend from home} visited Logan.  She dyed my hair for the first time.  I remember I was kind of nervous...what if I hated it?!  Good thing I love it!

I'm not capable of not pulling faces.

Um...January doesn't really stick out to me...it was almost a year ago!

February

February was the month I started blogging!  Nothing too special...but it's a way to remember life :)

Kylee, Sarah, Katie, and I went to a basketball game...super early!  We didn't realize we'd have to wait outside for so long!  It was freezing.  But Aggie games are always great.

And I made these lovely gems.  Heath {better than sex} cupcakes!  SOooo yummy.  Messy.  And a pain in the butt to make...but delicious nonetheless.

March


March was INSANE!  I was out of Logan more than I was in Logan, but it was so much fun!

I went to California (posts 1, 2, 3, and 4).  San Francisco is such a beautiful city.  I'm so grateful Eryka's step-dad offered to take my parents and I on a tour of the city!  He knew the ins and outs and was great at navigating since he knew the city so well.

I tried my first bowl of clam chowder.  Delicious!

Ghirardelli Square.  Chocolate is always divine

Lombard Street

But we didn't go to California just to sight-see...we went for a wedding!

Daniel and Eryka make a gorgeous couple {you can follow their blog here}

It also included friends who made me feel awful.  But more importantly it included friends who reminded me of how special I am.  It makes me tear up just thinking about them.  Thanks Sarah, Janie, and especially Kylee.  Kylee knew how to make me talk when others didn't.  And she knew what to say.

That month we also met the boys across the hall.  Yep.  It took us until March even though we had been living there since August.  Pathetic...but that's life haha :)

And I went down to Bountiful for work a bunch.  It was just for training...every Thursday.  Not the most convenient...but it's better than not having a job!

April


Stephanie and Eric got engaged on April Fools Day.

The roommates and I met Biggest Loser contestants and worked out with Brett {from the show}. Yep.  He was pretty awesome.  Or maybe pretty and awesome.

The roommates and the boys across the hall went to Lagoon.  I went on Skycoaster for my first time.  So scary...but SO fun! {you would think I'd have gone on it before now...considering it was my fifth year working there...}

There was bacon-shaped cake.  And schedule planning for the fall.  And taking webcam pictures like I belong on 16 and Pregnant {except I don't!} {april blogs}

Oh and I found ducks in a parking lot by the stadium.  I like ducks :)

May


Finals could not be over soon enough!  I was SO ready to move home.  Packing was a beast.  But thankfully once I got home I had family who brought all my stuff inside our home under ten minutes!  I wish taking it to my car would have gone that fast!

The weekend after I got home my family participated in Race for the Cure.  I've participated before, but it was a different feeling this year since breast cancer had hit home.  Aunt Tracey is an amazing lady!

love this family!

love them!

I find {this} post funny.  In it I comment on how, depending on the day, you interact with some pretty interesting characters.  And at the end I say "Life is pretty quiet.  Not uneventful...but lacking major events."

And then the NEXT Saturday....this happens!

If you can't tell, I have a black eye!  Well...had.  That's a story I never talked about on here yet!  Maybe later I'll have to do the story justice...but longish story short...I got punched in the face by a random lady at work!

June


June must have been filled with work.  I can't find pictures.  And there's one blog post.  But work was great.  I love the people I work with and hope most of them will be there this coming summer too!

July


July was full of work, fireworks, and Steph's wedding.

I watched fireworks on top of the rec center with Kevin.

I never got wedding pictures onto my computer...but the wedding was pretty!  And seemed to fit Stephanie perfectly.  The weather was everywhere that day...from blinding sun to pouring rain.  Not the greatest for an outdoor wedding...but we made it work!  I loved having family in town, especially Heather!

August


Some of the old roommates and I went camping up to Hunts property.  It was so much fun!

Did you know I'm a lumberjack?
P.S.  dull axes are awful

4-wheeling fun!

No wonder we're all single... :)

Sleepover fun! 

So bright...we're blinding each other with our beauty!

The best friend left on his LDS mission.

Work went back to weekends.

I moved back to Logan for school.  Met new roommates.  Met new friends.  Settled into my new home.

September


I turned twenty.  No more being a teenager for me!

Finally blogged about my "lovely Logan home" with pictures.

Played A LOT of Just Dance 2.

Went to Cobra Starship with Sierra at the U {for free}

Participated in a Guinness World Record.  World's Longest Kissing Chain? Check.  We also camped on the quad.

Was a big girl and got my car fixed {take 1}

October


What a wonderful month!  Life was quite blissful :)

General Conference.

Source: jengerbreadcreations.blogspot.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Made new friends at the Trophy House {Just Dance, game nights, and movie nights (my fav)}

Home was broken into.  Thankfully it was a prank.  Dumb I1 boys...except we love them still!  But we did learn how to use the deadbolt.

Discovered the wonderfulness of Violet Hill Boutique.

Had a leaf bug on my nose.

And put Pinterest to good use...by actually doing some of the projects I've pinned!

And going to the North Logan Pumpkin Walk was delightful.  So much creativity and hard work!

My car broke {take two}.  Thankfully it was in a parking lot again.  And thankfully it's been working since then {knock on wood}

Best friend came home.

Can I just say how much I loved wearing a tutu?  They are so much fun!  I missed out as a child...but maybe I appreciate it more now?  haha who knows?

What a cute peacock!  I was super jealous of her costume :)

November


I cranked out a huge paper in a day and a half {research and all!}  The teacher thought it was great enough he asked permission to use it as an example for next semester.  Score.

Katie and I celebrated 11:11 on 11/11/11.  We both screamed and freaked out and made a wish like little kids.  I think I remember my wish.  If not, I guess it wasn't that good haha.

Thanksgiving.  Awesome.  I love having a mom that can cook.  And sister/sister-in-law/me that can pitch in.  The only thing that would make it better is having more family here next time!

Football with Dad.  Pressbox seats.  Free lunch.  Also went down to the sideline.  Awesome.

Tried to give blood.  Not super successful.  Gave up after being there for over 2 hours.

December


Roommate Christmas.  I love pretty presents.

I love friends.

Went through mega-stress/worry.  Thankfully everything ended up okay.

Then came a different stress: finals.  After going through the previous week they were {almost} a welcoming sight.  Grades went well.  All A's and one A-.  I was quite content.

Christmas was great!  Church was full of wonderful music.  Later, the nieces came over and we opened presents about 2.  Everything was perfect!  My family knows each other well.

Hanging out with Katie {the roommate} over the break.  And just talking for over three hours.  Love her!

Tomorrow is my sister's birthday {happy birthday Steph!} and New Year's Eve.  It'll be spent with friends welcoming in the new year!

I'm excited for what it has in store.

thinkin' 'bout the new year

Lately I've been thinking about all I've done this year.  And how much I've forgotten.  So much of it seems like so long ago.  I think about all the things I've accomplished.  And learned.  I have learned a lot.  And what sticks out the most are the life lessons...not the school...although there's been plenty of that too.

And sometime within the next two weeks {the new year is really that soon?!} I'll throw together a blog post or two about my year.  The highlights.  And the lowlights.  Because the year surely hasn't been all ice cream and glitter.  But it hasn't been devoid of that either.

And maybe I'll even make goals for 2012.  I hate making goals.  But I know there are things I want to accomplish.  Ones that will take me to new places.  

I'm excited for the adventure.

pssst!  make sure to check out the giveaway at the dainty squid....I know I love free things...especially shoes!

killer

The past two weeks have been killer.  Not as in killer awesome, but as in killer "I want to die."

Okay.  Not really.  Not that far anyway.

Just lots of little things...and something that seemed like a big thing to me...from last week just added up.  They made me stressed.  They made me tired.  They made me worried.  They made me irritated.  They made me...ugh.

And then...it became time to prep for finals.  With no time to recover.  And I studied.  And studied.  And studied.  And took a test.  And got a 77.  Which is AWFUL in my book.  But I also knew there were concepts I didn't understand...and wouldn't understand no matter how much I studied them.  So I feel okay with that.  And then I took my open note/open book test and got a 96(?) which is just grand!

Then I went home to Bountiful.  And studied.  And did a job shadow.  And studied some more.  Then drove back to Logan.  (Why I chose rush hour....who knows?)  And Katie and I exchanged recaps of our day.  And now I should be studying.  But I'm not.  Not yet anyway.  But I probably shall.

Then I'll sleep.  But not long enough.  Never long enough.  Not until Friday am I allowed to do that.  And I don't think I'll ever be able to catch up...but I can try.  And I'll wake up.  Maybe study some more.  And take my final final.  And yes.  I did just say final final.  Or if that's too complicated for you...last test.  But final final is more fun to say :)

And then I'll write my paper about my job shadow.  Which shouldn't be difficult.  I love easy projects.  2-3 pages double spaced.  Easy.

And then I'm free.  Free to take me and Katie home.  Free for three weeks.  Or three and a half I believe.  The half totally counts.  It makes such a big difference.

No homework.  No tests.  Nothing I'm supposed to read.  Nothing I'm supposed to do.

Actually I'm sure there will be plenty I'm supposed to do...but nothing school related! :)

Although the freedom will be short-lived, it will be greatly appreciated.

And here's a picture of narwhals.  Just because I can.

source

liberated

As of now I feel liberated.

The last homework assignment was just submitted.

Source: noahpinionblog.blogspot.com via Kelly on Pinterest

This is how I feel.  It's lovely.

Now just to study for my computer science final Monday.  And MIS on Thursday.
And take my Lifespan Development test.  But that one should be easy.
A job shadow on Wednesday.
But it's a Friday night.  And I'm going to take a mental break.
School appears manageable.  People I worry about seem to be doing better.
Life is good.

happy list - december edition

so eryka and janie both have done happy lists recently.  i need a little pick me up and figured it'd be good to focus on the positives that make me happy!

the fact that i went to my last class of the semester today.  i still have finals...but no more awful class!
christmas lights
my lovely decorated apartment

friends who come to visit
technology
staying up til 3 watching movies {i went to bed before they even finished!}
my mama llama. and pops. except i usually just call them mom and dad
my electric blanket
mint m&ms.  i was excited when i remembered they existed
talking to my mom and sister for forever on their birthday.
going to the library for the first time all year. with no plans to study. {today is seriously the first time i've set foot in here...}
awesome roommates
awesome neighbors
warm clothes
nieces who are excited for christmas
peace and comfort

time.

i am great at wasting time.
i do things that are unimportant and have no real meaning.
but i enjoy them. so i continue to do them.

i am pro at procrastination.
it's not my middle name.
it's my first.

but.
i have my homework done.
that's due tonight anyway.
only a few more things.
and then i'm done.
and off to other craziness.

stress

sometimes i get
stressed.
worried.
anxious.

yep.  all of the above.
even to the point if people ask if i'm okay because i'm acting different.
ugh.
life.

oh you know...

oh you know...life's not all that exciting around here.

hence the lack of posting.
{warning:  my thoughts are all over the place.  this is completely random...}

it's dead week.  which means no tests....but I have ten thousand assignments.  seriously? come on.

but then it's time to go home for Christmas.  For almost a month.  If I can last that long haha :)
I love being home though {generally}.  Like Thanksgiving?  I gave myself an extended break...ten days total...and still wasn't ready to come back to Logan.

and it's about time for a break mentally.  I like people.  But I like my alone time too.  Or at least chill and do nothing time.  It keeps me sane.

Like the other night.  I drove to Hastings to pick up my present Leasa (aka my Mom #2) brought up for me to give to my roommate Tyler for our roommate Christmas {my real mom lovingly crocheted the edge of the blanket...because she is sweet like that}.  I didn't realize how awful the drive would be.  Five o'clock.  On a Friday.  In "busy" Logan traffic.  In the dark.  In the snow.  With idiots on the road.  I was pretty much scarred for life.  Well...not quite but almost.  I was waiting at a light.  And the lane next to me was emptier than mine...and there was a stupid bicyclist crossing 4th North (super busy, super crazy) not at a light/crosswalk.  Idiot.  He pretty much almost got plowed over by some not car not SUV, something in between thing.  Idiot.  It freaked me out pretty badly.  Then after getting the blanket, I tried to avoid the crazy, busy streets and wind my way back home.  I should have just stuck with heavily traveled streets.  They would have been much easier to drive on.  My drive home stress/anxiety piled on to the "I just almost saw someone get hit by a car" anxiety.

Anyway.  When I got home, no one was there {they all went to play racquetball}.  I whipped up a batch of brownies, making sure to leave enough to enjoy some batter {the best part}, grabbed a blanket, threw in a movie, and curled up on the couch.  Talking to a couple friends...one was understanding and sympathetic...and the other asked me if I was okay, and when they received a negative response, still went on their merry way in the conversation...but that didn't surprise me haha.

my cute little 11x7 i rarely get to use...
why yes...I did cut the middle out of the brownies....

My roommates got home just as "You've Got Mail" was ending.  Somehow we ended up watching Step Up 1 and 2 and another movie that I can't remember.  Except I fell asleep during those three.  4 movies in one night.  Sick haha.  Oh well.

We really haven't been up to much.  Lots and LOTS of movies.  And lovely Christmas with the roommates.

This pretty present was for me!  Apparently Sarah and I "ruined" Christmas because we figured out who was giving presents to who....that's probably really whom...but we know that I don't follow proper English/grammar rules.  They're generally just guidelines.  Anyway.  I was excited.  Because this present was wrapped really pretty.  I felt like my grandma...because I opened it carefully and saved the wrapping paper.  It was peacock!  and sparkly!  Two of my favorite things.  And inside there was a lovely cupcake maker.  I need to try it out.

 But before we have Christmas we had Thanksgiving.  It was like the traditional American Thanksgiving.
It was full of family {not as full as I'd like...missed you Mari and Heather}, delicious food {thanks mom!}, football {thanks pops!}, and shopping!

Through his work we got press passes...which allowed us up in the box...where they fed us food...and down on the sidelines.

Black Friday shopping was fun.  But I didn't go "real" Black Friday shopping this year.  I woke up about 7 and hit my different stops.  I thought it was ridiculous all the stores seemed to open at midnight or before.  I was content with the 4 and 5 am openings.  Those are more fun anyway, but since I knew there probably wouldn't be things to fight over, I slept in. Ish.

Oh.  And the Monday after Thanksgiving I tried to give blood.  Tried being the keyword.

The bag stayed empty...

I hadn't given blood before.  I forgot to hydrate I guess.  They struggled finding a vein.  So they made me go drink a lot.  I ended up drinking a bottle and a half of water and two cans of juice.  Really fast.  I wanted to puke my guts out {I know you wanted to hear that, right?}  So after twenty minutes.  I went back to the expert vein finder.  He poked and he stabbed and finally got it in.  And the trickle was super slow.  He told me it would take 20 {or 30?} minutes to fill the bag.  Either way I knew that was a long time because I saw Shayna fill hers in under 5.  He said "You can call it a day or we can try the other arm."  I called it a day...because they tried looking for a vein in the other arm earlier and found nothing...and I had been there for forever.  But he decided to look anyway.  And apparently he found "a good one."  But he told me the choice was still up to me.  After over two hours....I still called it a day.  I am not a life saver.  Not that day at least.

they had to draw lines on my arm to not lose the vein.
oh and they said that not only are my veins small...they like to move around a lot too 

Oh and here is our lovely friends Christmas tree.  I believe Tyler created it for them.  I was asleep on our living room floor when this occurred.  I'm getting old.  I'm falling asleep early.

We're adorable.  We like to shove ourselves on to one couch instead of sit on the floor.  Then we attempt to watch the Goonies.

OH!  And I found a video of a flash mob.  In Logan.  With my bishop.  It made me giggle.

He's at 1:51 and 1:57 with the USU sweatshirt with the red collar sticking out.

That's pretty much all the randomness on my mind.  I doubt it made sense...but you know.