Her little carb baby.

That's what my mom calls me. 

Occasionally. 

She says I need to watch it. And eat more vegetables. 

I guess it's kind of embarrassing. 

But mostly just funny, cause it's sort of true. 

Don't get me wrong, I love vegetables. 

Carrots, peppers, and celery, to name just a few.

And let's not forget the BLT, which has tomatoes, lettuce, and avocado. 

(well, avocado is my special addition.) 

But, don't forget it also needs bread.

So. Ask yourself this question.

Are you going to get full munching on some carrots or eating some of these delectable items? 

Let's be serious. 

*all pictures from pinterest.

At the risk of getting too hungry, I'll stop now.

 But I think this case is closed.

In other news, I can't wait for the weekend. I'm going to make cinnamon roles.

(The best part is cutting them with the wire.) 

xoxo

That awkward moment...

...when you call every. single. person. in your family in a row and NOT ONE of them answers their phone. And this includes the home phone. And none of them call you back, either.

This might be a sign that I spend maybe a little too much time at home. But home is just awesome. And funny. And comfortable. And clean. And full of food.

Plus, there's a cute little ball of fur that greets me every time I walk in the door. This past weekend I might have gone a little crazy with videos of her. See for yourself.

Happy Wednesday!

Don't look before you laugh. Look ugly in a photograph.

Check. Mark.

I was listening to U2 today while working (sort of) on homework. Always a good choice. And my favorite song of their's came on: city of blinding lights. I love when Bono sings, "the more you see the less you know." You might be wondering what that means. But just think about it. It really is so true. The more I see and experience the more I realize how little I really know about the world and life.

Anyway, that awkward picture is simultaneously of Heather tickling me to death and Bekstrand showing  me something on the internet. In case you were wondering. I love candid camera moments.

And I love these girls. It's crazy awesome to see where we've come in the past three years. And where we're headed. It's going to be a while before we're all back together again and I'm gonna miss them. A lot.

Part of the Penrose Penthouse. 

hahahahahahahahahahaha.

Reminiscing about Freshman Year. Yeah. This picture. Hilarious on so many levels. 

This weekend involved lots of laughing, which is always good. :) I was also practically tickled to death on Saturday, something that hasn't happened in years.

But this post's title is actually referring to the silent laughter that I held in ALL THE WAY across campus today while walking behind a kid singing the lyrics "always something there to remind me" in the lowest/deepest voice I've ever heard. I almost cracked up once, but I bit my lip and thought about being on fire. However, I couldn't help but curl my lips in a grin as I passed someone who gave the kid a look of pure disgust. Hey, I agree with you too, random BYU student. It was waaaay too early for someone to be happily singing. 

On second thought, maybe this blog title is referring to me going to all the trouble to get some shorts, capris, and sandals down to Provo, since the weather was in the 60s all last week, only to have it snow yesterday. Yeah, I can hear mother nature laughing at the irony of it all.

In all reality though, I think this post is referring to me hitting my alarm at 6:30 AM this morning, thinking that I would rather die then get up that early, and then realizing I'll be spending the next 18 months getting up even earlier then that. Every. Single. Day. What was I thinking?? Cue sarcastic laughing. Hahahahahaha. I can't wait. 

But seriously, I cannot wait. 

For this,

source. 

But ten million times more, for this.

source.

I was thinking about driving up to the MTC the other day and asking if they would take me early, but I decided that might not be the best idea. So here I sit. (72 more days!)

Happy Monday! 

waiting for the midnight showing of HP!...I mean, HG.

Ever since I started college three years ago I have looked forward to the magical month of November (or July) when the next Harry Potter (HP!) movie comes to theaters. Wait, I take that back. Ever since I saw these three faces in the newspaper one morning in 2000 (wow, has it really been 12 years?) I've been stoked to see the movies. After all, my childhood is synonymous with several words, one of them being Harry Potter.

source. 

But watching the movies during college has held a special place in my heart. My friends and I, who love Harry Potter as much as me (thank goodness!), have gone to every midnight showing together. Dressed up, of course. Usually we have about a month's worth of anticipation because midnight showing tickets are sold a month in advance. And people, they are sold out lightning fast. Then there's watching the trailer and deciding what character to go as and the random squeals of HP! late at night. Suddenly, it's the day of the movie. And you get to stand in line with a bunch of Harrys and Dobys and Lunas and people who love Harry Potter as much as you. And my favorite part is the dynamic of the theatre right as the movie is about to start. The cheers and clapping and oohs and aahs and yes, sometimes even tears.

But this year was different. Because there were no more Harry Potter movies. Don't worry, I won't get started on that whole drama. (I've already discussed it here.) Anyway, I was pretty sad that I wouldn't be going to a midnight movie with my friends. But then I found out about The Hunger Games being made into a movie, and my world was righted once again. :) That's right everyone, I'm going to the midnight showing of HG in exactly one week! (HG just doesn't have the same ring as HP, though. Lame.)

I'll admit the books are not as good as Harry Potter. But the story line is still intense and the characters are well developed. And the book makes you think about a lot of interesting things like what life would be like after a destruction of North America or what you would do if you had the choice to kill and live or not kill and die. Also, the trailer looks impressive. So I'm excited. Yeah.

Also, my preparing for this movie has been slightly different then the Harry Potter's.  I read the book again, because it's been a while. Then I slowly realized that I've been preparing for the actual Hunger Games. By rationing my food. And running a lot. And practicing my bow and arrow skills. Ok, maybe not that last one. But still. It's good to be prepared, because you never know, right?

May the odds be ever in your favor.

source.

slow down, you crazy child.

This morning I woke up and it was still dark outside, thanks to daylight savings. Lying in bed, I sorta felt like the life had been sucked out of me. Picture that scene from the Princess Bride with Westley in the pit of despair and you get the general idea.

source. 

To be fair, I probably shouldn't blame my exhaustion solely on daylight savings. The past few weeks have been crazy busy. I feel like I'm a rat running on one of those little treadmills.

So, continuing the hectic pace of the past week, I raced up to campus to not be late for work. My mind was running through the endless list of things I had to do for the week. I got right up to the corner of the Clyde building when I heard the music. What the, I thought. But don't worry, I wasn't going crazy. It was the national anthem. I've just never been on campus early enough in the morning to hear it. As soon as it started, everyone stopped walking and faced the general direction of the flag. At first I was a little annoyed about stopping, but the longer the national anthem played, the more I realized how grateful I was for this little reminder to slow down and breathe. Into my mind started flooding all these things that make my life wonderful. It was warm outside. Birds were chirping in the trees. My backpack was lighter then usual. I had a lunch packed for my job. Hey, I actually had a job! And the anthem was playing the final chord and everyone was honoring the U.S. by standing so still and I wanted to shout out loud that I loved America! Ok, that's taking it a little too far. :)

The song ended, everyone started walking again, and my day was ten times better. It's amazing those little moments that can change your whole day for the better.

Coincidentally enough, the song Vienna by Billy Joel popped into my head shortly after this experience, and it's been there all day. I thought I'd share some of the lyrics because they describe my feelings perfectly right now.

Slow down, you crazy child 

you're so ambitious for a juvenile 

But then if you're so smart, tell me 

Why are you still so afraid? 

Where's the fire, what's the hurry about? 

You'd better cool it off before you burn it out 

You've got so much to do and 

Only so many hours in a day 

But you know that when the truth is told.. 

That you can get what you want or you can just get old 

You're gonna kick off before you even 

Get halfway through 

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you? 

Slow down, you crazy child 

and take the phone off the hook and disappear for awhile 

it's all right, you can afford to lose a day or two 

When will you realize...Vienna waits for you? 

source.

For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.  

~Lily Tomlin

sometimes i ration my food.

source.

This is my last 13-hour day on campus. [Insert wild cheers of excitement here, if I were awake enough to do so.] Every Wednesday this semester I have been on BYU campus from 8 AM to 9 PM. Over 12 hours people. I'm not quite sure how this lovely day developed, but it did. (I'm thinking I signed up for all the classes while I was in Jerusalem and just so happy about everything and not thinking about real life). Anyway, I have class from 8 to 11, work from 11 to 2, library time from 2 to 4, class from 4 to 7, and orchestra from 7 to 9. Phew.

But today was my last TELL 410 class, which means my incredibly long class from 4 to 7 is now over. Which means I can cut out my library time (sorry, Harold) and go home before orchestra and oh, I don't know, eat a normal dinner. Sounds superb!

I can't deny that I won't miss the rationing of food to last during these long days. I usually start with my pb&j around 11, fruit at 12, granola bars and random chocolate that I find in my bag from 2 to 4, cold drinking fountain water and my last granola bar around 6, and then imagining delicious dinners during orchestra.

Right now I have 50 minutes before orchestra and 8 cadburry eggs. So I figure I can have one egg every 7 minutes, approximately. I'm glad my math skills are paying off.

10 things that make me really happy.

blue sky from my apartment window.

1. walking home in 60 degree weather with a slight breeze.
2. eating chex cereal with ice cold milk as a mid-morning snack.
3. getting out of my class 1 hour early (it's normally 3 hours).
4. talking to my mom on the phone.
5. having the apartment to myself all afternoon.
6. anticipating corned beef, cabbage, and soda bread for St. Patrick's Day.
7. finishing the monday crossword puzzle.
8. baking from scratch a lemon meringue pie.
9. receiving a compliment about my writing from a professor.
10. finding Cadbury eggs and strawberries at my friendly neighborhood grocery store. 

cadbury eggs are one of the many signs of spring. hooray!

P.S. 86 more days till till I leave for this...

source.

...minus the dress, plus a companion ;)

HAPPY MONDAY!