Sundays and Birthdays

The four of us!

So beautiful!

It's a pollination party!
Yesterday was such a wonderful day. I've kind of been having a slew of those lately and it feels so nice. Before church I went to a bit of choir practice and was visit taught. Church was lovely. I sometimes am more inclined to feel depressed on Sundays, but yesterday I was feeling on top of the world. After church, Julie made us a nutricious dinner of pizza and burritos with a side of chips. After consuming the copious amounts of delicious grease, we drove up to Silver Lake with Michelle and James Gallup. We walked, jumped, climed, took pictures, toasted, did some yoga poses, and some of us even ballroom danced while singing disney songs. Haha. Upon returning, we went to ward prayer, which was lovely, and then had movie night at Larissa's. We watched Stardust, and I have to say, Robert Dinero is so great in that movie. Haha. So there culminates my glorious Sunday.



So today is my older sister Amanda's birthday. I fondly refer to her as just "Manda." She's 11-ish years older than me, and unfortunately for her, that made her my unofficial babysitter. Despite being so far apart in age, she was my favorite sibling growing up. By the time my parents had Clarissa and I, they were tired. We didn't get to have all the fun water fights, baseball games, and other fun things that the older ones had. Manda always made sure Clarissa and I had fun things to do (we once made a big mural on butcher paper of a bunch of Greek gods). She also taught me cursive in first grade, and some French words. I owe a lot of who I am to Manda and how much she cared for me. Now she's married with 2 kids and she's still an awesome sister. I lived with her when I first moved out here, she bought me a blender when my roommate took hers, and she loves to have me sleep over and make me some delicious dinners (and black moons, my favorite things ever!). So there's my sister for you. Happy Birthday Amanda Dawn Timms!

Minus little Oliver.

Etiquette

When one calls and leaves a message for a friend, and invites said friend to a friendly gathering, the proper response would be to reply, by either accepting or declining the invitation. It is unacceptable to not respond.

This goes to show, that people can be exceedingly chivalrous and simultaneously lack any form of etiquette.

Moral of this story: Be polite and show common courtesy to everyone. The end.

For Clarissa

Dear Little Sister,

I'm so sorry you got in a car accident today and I couldn't be there to light the guy who crashed into you on fire. I'm sorry I couldn't rush there to give you a hug and tell you that you'd be okay. I'm so glad your alive and, whiplash aside, relatively unharmed. I'm so thankful to Heavenly Father for watching over you and making that SUV somehow miss you (I hear it would've killed you). As hard as I am on you, it's because I love you and want the best for you. You have strayed a bit, but I know you still believe and I still have hope for you. I'm so proud of all the work you've been doing. Being hired on at Converse as a manager is pretty kick-A. I love that we're so alike, and so extremely different all in one. You are so beautiful, funny, outgoing, and fearless. I love you so much. I'm so blessed to have you as my sister (despite the fact that we "fight like cats and dogs," as Mom likes to say, haha).

Love,
Your Big Sister

Friday Fill In (I've lost track)

And...here we go!

1. One week ago I could not wait for this week.

2. I would sing "We Are The Champions," and get breakfast at McDonalds with my dad and sister after playing rec. basketball when I was young.

3. Mama told me to love everyone.

4. "How I wish you could see the potential, the potential of you and me." High five Death Cab

5. Take your time and enjoy each moment.

6. These hard times will pass!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going running with Michelle, tomorrow my plans include working and Sunday, I want to study Preach My Gospel!


P.S.
-I went on a nice morning walk with Dixie. There was a farmer's market going on, and it was a beautiful morning.
-I got my first e-mail from Natalie! She's loving the MTC!
-Kathy (she's Laotian) had her mom bring homemade eggrolls to work today. So delish!

Walk Away

I Almost Forgot!

Today is the first day of Fall! This is what I miss most about a New England Fall. I can't wait til November.

XoXo

Here's a little homework assignment I got from this blog.

8 ways I've surprised myself lately:
1. I'm a much more capable firt than I once thought.
2. I'm growing my nails out and don't have the ridiculous urge to bite them off.
3. I'm not a morning person. I always thought I was...until now.
4. I really enjoy running. Who knew?
5. I don't really like to listen to my punk rock/ emo music that once made me feel like I belonged somewhere.
6. If I have the desire, I can make friends really easily.
7. I've decided Cafe Rio is my favorite place to eat. I just can't get over those quesadillas.
8. I'm worth it.

P.S. Gossip Girl is back in full swing! I'm so excited!

When the fall comes around.

It's finally getting chilly outside and the leaves are starting to change. This is my fall theme song.

I had such a wierd dream...again. It involved me putting together a number for the stake talent show in the gym at the church building. We were doing the Mickey Mouse theme song and tap dancing. Jon and Larissa got the dance down (I was so ecstatic), but Melanie Reese told me, after I choreographed the whole thing that she didn't own tap shoes or really know how to tap. She also told me there were way more lyrics to the theme song. After stressing for a bit, we got the bishop's daughter, Kennedy to look it up, but all we saw were copyright laws on the projector screen the computer was hooked up to. I went home to look for a shirt that used to be my mom's when she was little with Mickey Mouse's face on it (this shirt exists in real life),hoping to salvage the performance by distracting them with my shirt? Haha. I was looking everywhere and Julie came to help me. She told me to go look in Jake Tripp's room. As I start to, I see a bunch of prom dresses and sequins tops that he bought for girls to go to proms and weddings with him. There was a really hideous purple long sleeved sequins top that he made Brooke wear. He also had a ton of jewelery in a box on the floor. And that was the end of my dream. Haha, I love these crazy dreams I've been having.

The 3 Musketeers

Last night was kind of a bad night for me, but after some brief texting to Lyssa, my night changed dramatically. She asked me where I was (knowing I was sad) and came to meet me. Not only did she come, but she brought Robyn too, who I hadn't talked to, let alone seen in months. It felt so nice to be with those two again. Though we've all gone our seperate ways, we have so much history. We're The 3 Musketeers! Sometimes it just feels so right to hang out with old friends. They know your past, and you know theirs. I didn't realize how much I really needed them until last night when they stepped in and took care of me. Here's to old friends and the pasts we all share.

It's that day again!

And...here we go!

1. My car is.a.piece.

2. You never know what is coming up next.

3. Lately, things seem well balanced.

4. Under my desk on the teller line is one of my favorite 'hiding' places.

5. What happened to real gentlemen?

6. Being happy is not impossible!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to an institute luau, tomorrow my plans include copious amounts of homework, and Sunday, I want to celebrate Larissa's birthday!

I went to Studio 600 last night with Julie and Leah. We danced for a bit, but primarily sang karaoke for the majority of the time. Me and Julie rocked that Bohemian Rhapsody (as always). Haha.

You Love Me as Much as I Do.

It's that time again! Thankful Thurday! And so it goes...
-That I speak Spanish decently well.
-That I met a man from Cuba today to told me my pronunciation was good.
-I have a healthy body that allows me to work out.
-I have a job.
-I'm able to go on a mission
-Dr. Baugh, the best dentist in the world. If you need one, he's the man to see.
-Pecan Pie. Who knew I liked it so much?
-My sister, as it turns out, is not mad at me.
-Christina. She's always cheers me on. I love her.
-Norm's Seafood and the fact that I can go there when I go home in November.
-I have hair. Wierd, but think about it.
-My car works.
-Roxberry Smoothies. They are wonderful and only 130 calories. Magic.
-Kami Coppins, my running guru.
-Chocolate. My love.

Randomness

So I know I'm a little late, but I saw this and loved it.


'I wish' .... I could be ________!
(Name that TV star!! Post a picture and tell us why)


Dr. Temperance Brennan (Bones)

She's the fictional character I'd most like to be. Bones is not only hilarious, but she's extremely intelligent (and gets to hang out with Booth all day).


Alexis Bledel

She's the real person I'd most like to be. She got to be on Gilmore Girls (ridiculous fun in itself), traveled to Greece for The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, and has got some rockin bangs.



Stolen from Jon
If Your Life Was a Movie, What Would the Soundtrack be?

How to do it:
1. Open your music library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc).
2. Put it on Shuffle.
3. Press Play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button.
6. Be honest.

OPENING CREDITS
11:11, All American Rejects

WAKING UP
Play the Game, Queen

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Never Know, Jack Johnson

FALLING IN LOVE
Alone Down There, Modest Mouse

FIGHT SONG
Photographs, Lakes

BREAKING UP
Shine, Plain White T's

PROM
All the Single Ladies, Beyonce

LIFE IS GOOD
Take My Heart- Soko

DRIVING
Honeybear, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

MENTAL BREAKDOWN
Life is a Perception of Your Own Reality, Chiodos

FLASHBACK
Everything to Me, Michelle Branch

GETTING BACK TOGETHER
If You're gone, Matchbox 20

WEDDING
I'm a Sucker for a Kind Word, Copeland

FINAL BATTLE
I Was Made for You, She and Him

DEATH SCENE
Smokin', Boston

FUNERAL SONG
One of These Things First, Nick Drake

END CREDITS
The Conversation, Motion City Soundtrack

Cien.

This is my 100th post! Yipee! I'm officially an addict. Haha. To celebrate, here are some things you may or may not know about me:

-I'm a side sleeper. Always and forever. Little ball, one hand under pillow status.
-I don't have a security blanket. I have my Ernie Pillow. I've had it since I was a wee little girl and I sleep with it every night.
-Zooey Deschanel is the best. End of story.
-My weakness is chocolate chip cookies.
-I have 6 siblings, 3 of which I've lost contact with.
-I carry a little notebook with me everywhere to write my fleeting thoughts in.
-Sometimes I wear glasses...They're fake.
-I love love love hats. Specifically berets.
-My favorite color is navy blue. It looks magnificent with yellow.
-I miss having a cat. I want one.
-Andrew McMahon is an absolute genius.
-Gossip Girl is my vice.
-I can quote almost 100% of Hercules.
-I think my mom is the greatest woman alive.
-This is the one greatest thing that has defined who I am.
-Travelling is my number one passion. Flying, I hate, however.
-Thunder and lightning storms are fantastic.
-I hate blue pens and my favorite black pens are Pilot G2s and Uniball Signos. I'm a pen snob.
-Most headbands hurt my head. I can wear them for 1 hour max.
-I write poetry here and there...I don't share it.
-Nylon is the best magazine out there.
-I.AM.SUCH.A.CRY.BABY. Take it or leave it.
-Moving to Utah was the best decision I've ever made in my life.

There we go. Now you all know me a whole lot better. :)

My best friend is leaving...

Natalie (Sister Bautner)leaves for her mission tomorrow morning! I'm so sad/happy/proud/excited. Tonight I'm going to see her set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She'll spend about 2 and a half months in the Missionary Training Center learning Polish, then she's off. She told me it can get down to -30 degrees Farenheit there in the winter, hence the picture I chose. Haha.

GTK

"Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'" - Mary Anne Radmacher

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." -Emerson


I stole these from Siovhan's blog. They are just what I need on a day like today.

I'm rights.

So much blatant rejection...Enough is enough people.

Oh my.

Another wierd dream last night...

I went to the Good Earth with my mom to get some ingredients, and was excited to go visit Amber and Whitney. When we got there, it was more like a Spencer's and we kept getting in trouble for standing in line without a rewards card. Anyways, this old man (a non fictional man from the bank with dirty clothes, horrid breath and a mustache that sticks directly outward) saw my mom and I purchase what ended up to be a huge canvas bag of cash to bring to the vault (which coincidentally was my garage in Mass.). We got home and Arine, the 73 year old lady I work with, who is the vault teller was waiting to put the money in the vault/garage. I knew this old guy was following us so I gave the money to Arine, ran and ran through the house (he was chasing me at this point). I asked Arine if everything was locked up as we were ready to drive away. She said the vault wasn't but he didn't have both combinations to it, so we were fine. I'm in the car with my mom again and he's chasing behind us. We look away, and the next minute, he's hanging from the side of the car. I swerve the side of the car into a tree, he falls off and is lying in the middle of Paine Rd. In the back seat there is 3 children, one of which is a red-headed little girl who proceeds to tell me that I this whole thing was just part of 24, season 2. I asked where Jack Bauer was and she said he wasn't in this season because he was getting ready for season 3. The end.

Such a ridiculous dream. Hahah.

Friday Fill In: Part 4

And...here we go!

1. That's an optimistic way to be.

2. Hey you! I'm over here!

3. The possibilities include: things beyond your wildest dreams.

4. Chocolate chip cookies are one of my favorite cool day recipes.

5. How will you know what could have been?

6. I can't get enough of a chilly breeze and a stormy sky.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out with friends, tomorrow my plans include Lanea's baby shower and movie night and Sunday, I want to make some new friends at church!



On a more serious note:
8 years ago on September 11th I was in homeroom in 7th grade when my teacher got a phone call. He rushed to the TV and turned it on. All of us just watched in terror and confusion as we saw the first building go down. The room was silent. After about a minute, my principal came on the intercom telling us that there had been a terrorist attack on the Twin Towers and that we shouldn't panic, but our teachers should turn off their TVs. Most of them didn't. We went through the rest of the school day in solemnity and reverence. When I got home, all I could do was sit with my mom watching the news and developments. I will never forget that day. Do you remember where you were on September 11th?

ADD Post

There are a few things that I've been meaning to blog about, but haven't really had the patience to upload the picures for. Here goes...

A few weeks ago some friends and I met at Sugarhouse park at 9pm for a baby oil slip n' slide. Needless to say, it was amazing and we were wicked greasy afterwards. It was totally worth it.

All of us doing one of the most slippery group hugs I've ever been a part of. So rad.

I've also begun baking quite a bit. Now for those of you who know me, I don't cook or bake...Ever. Like, I once had to call my Mom to ask her how to cook a hot dog...Haha. Anyways, I decided it was about time I tried it. I can't say I hate baking and cooking if I've never done either. I started with (all from scratch, mind you) brownies, progressed to sugar cookies, tried some chicken parm, and just today baked some cranberry/ walnut upside down muffins. I found everything was a success except for the chick parm. I've discovered that I rather enjoy baking, but I'm still not the biggest fan of cooking.

My perfect sugar cookies.


These are my cranberry/ walnut upside down muffins. It's a family recipe that I'm head over heals for. They smell like Christmas morning.


Las night Schmessica* and Schmemily* surprised me by bringing my some flowers. It completely made my night. I love getting flowers, however have not recieved any from any guy who wasn't my dad. Thank goodness I have great friends who send me them, so I don't have to miss out on the experience altogether. Thanks ladies!

So pretty!

Republic Tigers love.

Car Creeping

Yesterday I'm having an anti-stress drive, just coasting down Highland Drive. I slow down at a red light, peer to my right and there is someone shamelessly staring at me. I quickly turn my head facing forward again, then think to take a second look. When I do, I realize it's BryBry staring at me, not a creeper... Or at least, not a total creeper. Haha.

MHS

So I was told by a friend yesterday that I suffer from MHS (Multiple Home Syndrome). This entails side effects such as:

-Calling Massachusetts home when I'm in Utah
-Calling Utah home when I'm in Massachusetts
-Being equally loved by various persons in both states
-Thriving in either state

Although this is a completely fictional disorder, I'm still pretty sure I suffer from it.


After being homesick yesterday, I went on a night drive with a different friend and let me tell you, there is nothing like a night drive through a canyon to set you right again. It changes from day to day, but today, I'm loving Utah.

(Especially with this new crisp, cool weather) :)

Arms Around the Stereo for Hours

The National. My loves. Thank you Rachel.

What's up with that?

So last night I met a new guy at ward prayer, let's call him Schment*, and I proceeded to invite him to movie night at Larissa's. I was sitting on the couch and he was sitting on the floor leaning against the couch I was sitting on. He kept asking me if I would give him a head massage. He probably asked about five times in 2 hours, which bugs in itself. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't know how some people just expect perfect strangers to rub their backs or their heads. If he was a good friend, no problem. If it's someone I barely know, I at least want to have been on a date first. It seems people are just used to getting what they want without giving anything in return and THAT BUGS.

*Names have been altered

"When Gidget goes Hawaiian, she goes Hawaiian all the way"

Ya, I wanted to watch Gidget so bad that I just bought all 3 Gidget movies. Haha. I love it.

Mmmm...Chick Parm.

I'm making this for dinner tonight. Wish me luck!

Friday Fill In: Part 3

And...here we go!

1. I feel super exhausted.

2. Watching 30 Rock is always fun.

3. Right now, I can hear these things: My manager greeting a customer and cars swooshing by outside.

4. I have all day Monday off and I'm glad that I'll get a chance to recoup.

5. The last time I ice skated was years ago on Cami's pond.

6. I have so much homework to do this Labor day weekend.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to being alone, tomorrow my plans include work and hanging with the crew and Sunday, I want to meet my new bishop!


I am constantly going without stopping now that school's back in session. I'm pretty sure my body has decided to stage a coup. I want to watch Gidget so bad. I really just need to be with my mom right now. I love Jamba Juice. I hate insurance companies. I wish I could drop out of school and get a degree in institute classes. I'm gettting sick and I want to sleep forever(not talking "the big sleep" here). There are my ramblings for the day. The end.

Excuse me.

Everyone knows this person. The one who makes excuses for not acting:

Girl X: "My boyfriend never pays any of the bills, our electricity just got shut off, and I don't even want to be with him anymore!"
Me: "Well you can always move in with your brother like you did last time when you left your crazy boyfriend."
Girl X: "He lives 20 minutes away. That's too far away. I won't be able to afford the gas to get to work and back."

Don't get me wrong, I adore this girl to pieces, but when she can't function because she's crying so hard, it's time to make the necessary, and more intelligent decision and leave.

Girl Y: "I hate my life. I can't afford to make my car payment anymore."
Me: "For one, you make the same amount as me and work double the time, live at home with your parents, and don't have to buy your own food. Your only bill is your car. You need to budget better. Where is your money going?"
Girl Y: "I don't know. I don't want to talk about it. I don't need a lecture."
Me: "Then why bring it up?"

I have these conversations almost daily. Don't you just love excuses?

Had a great emotional breakthrough today thanks.

Happy September!

I have this lovely day off from work and school. Other than a couple of appointments, I'm free as a bird. Anyways, I had a crazy dream last night. I was at the bank in a new branch with Christina, Jodi and Annie, three girls I work with. I noticed Christina had a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee and got SO excited. I then noticed there was a little one across the alley that was under construction, but I was way sad it wasn't open yet. But then I looked up and saw Auntie Ann's. There were $11 green and pink jelly rolls that looked good but were just too expensive. What I really wanted was a salted pretzel, but for some reason forgot about it and got a sub instead. Suddenly I'm back in the bank (which has morphed into a dance studio), wearing penny loafers and Annie is teaching us how to dance. I grabbed a guy to practice with, who turned into an old grannie who yelled at me for not being more fragile with her. I love dreams like these. Haha. What on earth is my subconcious trying to tell me?