Edge of the Ocean

Tales of Boyfriends Past

2012-02-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

I recently read my friend's blog, who had read her friend's blog, and I decided to be a double copy cat. It is an intriguing idea! (to me at least...) When I went to BYU-Idaho and worked at the testing center I often thought, who could I see come in through those doors and just start screaming out of excitement? I thought of my love from 3rd grade, Jonathan Cockran (whose name I think is spelled that way... but no way to know, as he moved in the middle of the school year before class photos) and I think that was about it. Ha! But I also often think, nowadays, how it could be really awkward to run into an ex. I remember one of my friend's mom's saying she had run into an ex boyfriend, I think he was a dentist or something... I really do not recall. But think about it, you're in your mid forty's and run into an ex, will you be ashamed or something you said, or didn't say? So, this all goes on in my head in a matter of three seconds and now I will babble about boyfriend's of the past!

A- Oh high school love... I remember we started dating the weekend after I was super lonely and decided to really focus on schoolwork and getting really good grades because for some reason I didn't have friends at my high school. But you rode in on AIM (AOL instant messenger) and changed my mind. You went to a different high school and that was okay. We dated too long, it is true. But you were fun and helped me to be a little bit more social, for sure how to be silly.

B- What else can I say other than I was barely 19 and you were 28?! It was a summer romance... or something. When we sat in the park that one day and you said you were dating me and another girl and deciding between the two of us, I should have told you to go for her, not me. I think I knew from that mid-afternoon in your parking lot where people were washing their cars and you tried to kiss me that I wasn't interested. You did applaud me on being considerate when you would open my door for me and I would lean over to unlock your door. I also remember when I can home from school one day and saw flowers on the couch through the window and my heart sank and I felt ill thinking, oh crap I bet those are for me. I think that even though I realized when you came to visit me when I went home to visit my family that I was still in love with A and never even gave you a chance and really was not interested in you at all... but it was good for me, to learn that about myself and have that experience. I am sorry you thought it was because you have depression... it had a lot to do with the fact that you were 28 and were so ready to get married that you didn't care whom to, and you would have married me who wasn't a good match for you. I think I saw on facebook that you're married and have a few kids now, I'm glad things finally worked out for you. Maybe that girl enjoyed your angel in the snow analogy. (For the record my roommates that fall had a big chuckle about that.. sorry!)

A- repeat. It was because I realized I was still obsessed with you while dating B. This time our relationship really was a bad idea. I became very sad and angry, not to mention jealous...and you were not honest with me.

D- Oh D... how I thought you were so amazing (though not at dancing, I didn't close my eyes to that... sorry) and I thought I could change you--make you want me.You used me and I let you... though at this point I didn't realize guys could be such jerks, so heartless and abusive. You were good to help keep my mind off of A, that was good for me for sure. You were very vain and self absorbed, but I heard you got married and if we ever ran into each other, I think it would be okay.

C- Yikes. This was traumatic for me for sure. I thought for sure after my past two relationships that you knew about, you were an actual decent man... You told me you weren't but I didn't believe ya. You are probably still the one person I hope never to see again because after you broke up with me and I saw you from across the street like a month or two later... my blood actually boiled and I was literally shaking. I have never had that reaction to someone and I never want to again. I do want to apologize for telling you I was thinking about making a voodoo doll of you one time... but I was honestly in a real bad way after what you did to me. I cried for a week. Cried myself to sleep, cried in class, on the way to class, in church... what a great way to start a semester!

J- Wish I hadn't fallen for you, and to be honest... I am not even sure why I did. You are a great guy, but on some level I always knew it would never work and that we were only friends. This is why it made my two week depression so strange... this was the first time I could not eat after a breakup. Cried for two weeks. But I think that's because you asked me to be in your prep for eternal marriage class... totally messing with my mind. Oh well, if we ever saw each other I think we would give one another a high five and be just fine.

R- You were a childhood dream come true... and I think that's the only reason I actually dated you. Sorry if you thought our breakup was out of no where... I knew I had been lying to myself about it all along. You are a good guy, but so super awkward and socially inept--which you do to yourself. I hope that you can shake that some day cause you'll make a gal real happy one day if you can.

T- you are the one that haunts me lately. I feel really badly for how I treated you... and sometimes I really want to text you and say hi. We were always such good friends, and when you came over--upset, and proclaimed your love for me... I was caught way off guard and knew I didn't have time to be a decent girlfriend... but in the end I made up excuses and wasn't even a decent friend, as I haven't talked to you since. I honestly do feel so terribly bad about it and wish there were an un-awkward way to talk to you... but I don't think the damage can be reversed. You were afraid that if I got accepted to grad school that I'd move away and meet someone... I doubted you but also knew I did not want to try a long distance relationship. I am honestly so sorry and wish there were ever a way to apologize.

H. (not a past boyfriend but the current one) You are so incredible. You make it worth what I've been through. You make me so thankful it didn't work out with anyone else and make me see why it never worked out... You are so understanding and kind and loving. I do not know how you can be so calm when I get so super crazy and neurotic, but you diffuse that and help me to be sane. Sometimes I don't know how we work, we are so opposite... yet so so so the same! I love you and really hope this is a forever deal... cause if you break up with me I believe it would be at least a three week depression and I don't know if I wouldn't eat or if I would gain 50 pounds. Please don't break my heart... but know that you have be in a very vulnerable spot... as I have given you my heart... I trust you. I love you.

Healthy habit... or addiction?

2012-01-27T15:41:00.000-08:00

So since I have moved to Utah, I got a library card. And I have been very impressed with the Salt Lake County Library system. They also have awesome sales...
Some of these books I had when I moved down here, like my travel copy of the Book of Mormon.

Extras (still only three chapters in... its the last book in a series so I need to finish it.

Anne of Green Gables. My mom is lending them to be, I think it would be a great series to read sometime.

The Birth Order Book. Still barely half way through it... I would really prefer a book just on middle children I suppose. Haha!

My mom bought me the Vanished series by Meg Cabot when Borders was going out of business.

Books that I got as Christmas presents:

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis from my dear friend Matty, who goes by the name of George.

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister but George Maguire. I actually bought this for my sister but her sister in law also bought it for her, so I got to keep a copy!

The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes, from my mom. I saw a girl reading this in England on the train and made a note of it in my phone and it sounds super good!

Now... the rest are all books I have bought a few different Salt Lake County Library locations...

I have already read Odd Girl Out by Rachel Simmons. It is a psychology book and true story about aggression in girls. I thought this would be a great book to have in my library as a High School Counselor.

Two books in one: Somewhere Between Life and Death and Time to Let Go by Lauren McDaniel. These books are about cancer in girls and I remember reading these in third grade and this started my middle child syndrome need for attention and hidden desire to have cancer. TERRIBLE I know! But I thought I should buy it and relive those third grade moments and see how bad the books really are. haha...

Sweet Misfortune by Kevin Alan Milne. I have had some good fortunes from cookies in the past four months and the book is set near my home town near Seattle... and it looked funny!

House of Dance by Beth Kephart. Because I love dancing...

Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay because I love Russia! And it is about a ballerina who is selling all of her jewelry...

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. It seemed like a book similar to Odd Girl Out, about a girl in high school whose best friend suddenly hates her (I can relate)

College Girl by Patricia Weitz. I got confused and thought it was written by the same person who wrote Juno, but really they reviewed it... ah well. I needed to use my debit card but was under the limit and it looked alright so I went for it.

Waltzing To A Different Strummer by Tom Plummer. Same story, needed to get up to $3.00 to use my debit card... and it talked about dance so... haha it seems like it might be an alright pop psychology type book.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman. About a girl who is between life and death, the back says it is "Simultaneously tragic and hopeful" which is right up my alley. haha

The I got three books by Jodi Picoult, Second Glance, Salem Falls, and The Pact. The first two I just grabbed cause I mostly like Jodi's work and would probably enjoy those novels as well... and the Pact I have been debating whether or not to buy on my Kindle for a long time cause it looks really good and now I have it!

So for all of those books (12) they cost me a grand total of $5.50!

Absurd. But... I have text books I am suppose to read instead of all of these... what is up with that?!

Decisions

2012-01-12T15:27:00.000-08:00

So with the new year, I am trying to do things that make me happy. As an unofficial kind of resolution. I think it is also the philosophy I have tried to live my life with... but even more so this year!

Let's start with a confession then, eh?

I love Mandy Moore! I sometimes wish I could be her. I wanted to dress up as Rapunzel for Halloween but didn't end up having a time to for work and wasn't feeling well on Halloween. (So that's another goal, dress up for halloween!) But I also realized I kind of am her... I just rented her new movie from redbox, called Love, Marriage, Happiness. she is a Psychologist in the movie. I am a psychologist! I love her style and makeup.

Moving on. To another confession.
I think I have a crush on Tim Allen?! Is this real? Well.. I am totally loving his new show Last Man Standing. I ADORE his relationship with his Wife and want that kind of marriage! I think it is very similar to Home Improvement, but with girls, but doesn't matter. I love it. So there.

Last confession...
I am in love with Just Dance for the WII. I played it over Christmas Break and once I got back home I bought it. I couldn't even wait. I had to have it! Such a fun way to work out. I must admit, since I am confessing... that I get really into it and kind of really pissed when I don't always have the highest score... I think the wiimotes are to blame or my positioning to the wii control box. Other than that, its always smiles and giggles and fun times! (Haha...)

Now. Onto what I need to decide.

I LOVE dancing. (Sounds like this is a post of things I love, no?)
Well. I was informed that there is a dance team I can audition for that meets in SLC MWF from 7-9AM for the Advanced Team and MW 8-10 PM.
And since I have been dancing ballroom for 11/12 years... lets just say I would be pretty upset if I didn't make the advanced team.

That being said... My work week is Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 4 PM

Another thing to be noted. My car is a blazer. and getting old. So, it is kind of a gas guzzler. And I live half an hour away from work, school, and my boyfriend. And the drive to Salt Lake for dance would be closer to 45 min/ an hour... then half an hour to work. And I would be close to an hour late for work.

And the question is, is it worth it?

I am fairly certain I am going to the tryouts, but as to what team I make might help me decide what to do... but then again also complicates my decision!

What do I do?
How do I get a new car and lots more money? haha...

Accomplishments of 2011

2011-12-31T15:49:00.000-08:00

Went to Europe: Wales, Scotland, Ireland, England, France

Applied to Grad Schools

Accepted to Grad School: Utah State

Worked EFY for 3 weeks

Went to Yellowstone, San Francisco, Arizona, Canada

Moved to Utah

Met Benji Schwimmer

Started dancing a LOT (spent a lot of money… but it was great)

Got a B and a B+ in my first semester of Grad School

Got a job at an elementary school

Got a boyfriend!

Watched more football than in my whole life combined

Fa11

2011-11-25T21:21:00.000-08:00

Edited with Picnik, paying homage to Fall!

THANKSgiving

2011-11-24T22:32:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for love. For the love a family has for its children, especially the love my parents have for me and that I have for my nephews.

I am thankful for my dog, that I trained her to sit and shake to get a treat. She does it automatically for me, and almost only me, which is really kind of funny! But it is because no one else requires it of her. Which is a shame. But she is super sweet. Even after I gave her a bath and she hates me.

I am thankful for little kids hugs and kisses, and especially for their laughter.

I am thankful for the opportunities I have had in my life. I love that I was able to be on a dance team that went to Russia. I loved out shows message and that we were able to bring a piece of the Gospel to people who may not have been introduced to it already, and in a form that they might never get it again.

I am so thankful for the time I spent learning how to dance, and for not giving it up. (There was a time where I almost did.)

I am thankful for having worked EFY. And for all of the wonderful kids I got to work with and for their love and excitement about the Gospel.

I am thankful that finally some girls took me up on my silly offer to set me up with someone.

I am thankful for Brad and Blanche giving me a happy home to live in.

I am thankful they read scriptures as a family, and that they are trying to do that.

I am thankful for all of the failed relationships I've had.

I am thankful for how my boyfriend and I understand each other, and how we just seem to fit and how natural it has been.

I am thankful for the moon and the stars. And for star gazing. :)

I am thankful for sunsets.

I am thankful for a love of photography and that I kind of have a good eye and can capture some really neat moments.

I am thankful for the Book of Mormon and the insights I get when I read it.

I am thankful for Rachel and the strong friendship she and I have. I am also thankful for the way she got to be on dance alliance, the team that went to Russia. I sometimes tell her she got on so that I would have a friend.

I am thankful for time, and for the time it takes to develop different relationships, and that my sister and I have become good friends.

I am thankful for a sense of humor, one that I have and the one that Heavenly Father has. (he has to right, it only makes sense...)

I am thankful for rain, and how beautiful it sounds. One time a roommate and I were at the store and it was raining, or this man was buying some tin roof or something random... and he was telling us he was buying it for his wife because she loves the sound of rain on a tin roof.

Oh am I thankful for love and how it grows!

I am thankful for heated blankets. Serious.

I am thankful for prayer.

I am thankful for the Priesthood.

I am thankful for music.

I am thankful for kindness and for when people see a need and fill it without being asked.

I am thankful for many other things as well!

UP! House

2011-10-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

UP! House in Herriman Utah, for sale!

Above the fireplace

Along the stairs

Silhouettes

Sitting in the replica chairs in the living room. Harrison got to wear the hat, glasses with eyebrows, and pose with the cane... I got nothing. haha

So this was maybe the third date that Harrison and I had been on, and we went to the house after having lunch and decided to look around inside. The guy there asked if we wanted to have our picture taken and of course we did! So as we sat he said, you two have to hold hands... and we were like, eh okay... But the story ends well cause now after many dates Harrison is my boyfriend.

Oh but Jenni, how did you meet Harrison?

Well I am glad you asked cause it is kind of a funny story. For the past three years at EFY I have met so many awesome kids and I think, I bet if they had an older brother he would be this awesome too. So I extend an invitation to all of my youth to hook me up with their older brothers. Quite a few of the kids said, hey date my brother! And would send me a link to their facebook but nothing would ever come of it. Until this year when I was telling some of my girls and they were like, well we don't have a brother but he is like our adopted brother and he goes to BYU and he is awesome and you should marry him! And I am like, of course! So then they CALL him right then, and tell him the story and he is kind of laughing on the other end and they get on my facebook to show me his pictures and add him as my friend and he sends me a message with his number and I do the same and then we started texting and nothing really happened. Well then I move to Utah and he calls me up and we talk about going out and we set up a time and had a really fun first date. (Comedy Sports in Provo) and a week or so later he asked me out again and then it kind of became a more consistent thing until this last week when we were seeing each other every night and we finally decided to call ourselves on it and be official. And that's the story of how Harrison is now my boyfriend.

Fall(ing)

2011-10-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

Well I love to take pictures of nature as we all know, and I have been slacking lately. Because since I moved to Utah to start Grad School I have gotten a job! I work in an elementary school as a teacher's assistant which means I help in Math, Language Arts, and writing and reading workshops in the 5th and 6th grade classes. We are reading, The Power of Un, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Sixth Grade Secrets. It is usually a pretty fun thing to do... but sometimes the kids are so difficult to work with because they hate math and for some reason have given up already. What is is with the younger kids that figured out they can NOT do things? I never knew that was an option, but my brother sure did. I just don't understand... what has contributed to this? Is there something to be blamed?

Ah well, that's a different topic for a different day. It is Fall around here and boy is it pretty! I have been making sure to take my camera with me since I don't have much time to go scouting for pictures. (Which I NEED and really want to do. Makes me miss my photo friend in Washington who would go out on day long photo adventures, and my friend in Oregon who walked around Portland with me before a concert and we share all of our pictures and editing techniques, I need to send him more stuff! haha) Anyway, As I drive to work I have been passing this old corn field or something that has a TON of geese in it that are migrating or something, and if the speed limit weren't 60 and there weren't a million cars on the highway, I would take a picture. But instead think of Fly Away Home and you'll see what I see. Well, some things I have captured thus far....

I loved this purple with the yellow in the background

I loved the gradation, how all of the leaves where right here and further out they were less and then it is just green grass holding on for as long as it can before fall takes over...

Sunflowers with the Sun behind it...

Birds flying over a field

Shadow from the tree it fell from... just in a parking lot. I love it.

View from a hike up Ensign Peak, so beautiful!


I just liked all the leaves and was working on a macro shot, but I LOVE this.

Things to do in 2011

2011-09-24T16:02:00.000-07:00

I was pretending to do homework which equals updating my ipod, cleaning up my computer desktop and files... watching youtube and checking facebook a million times... Anywho, I found this document! Entitles, things to do in 2011.

Things to do in 2011

Apply for Grad School

Take GRE

Travel

Europe

Arizona

Roswell NM

Canada

A short list, but I feel quite accomplished!! I took the GRE, I applied to two different Grad Schools and got accepted to one (Go Aggies!!) And I traveled to Europe ( Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England, France, a plane change in Iceland) I also traveled to Canada and Arizona!

Now, to fit in Roswell by the end of the year... maybe... :)

LOVE.THIS.VIDEO

2011-08-31T21:25:00.000-07:00

LOVE IT

New City

2011-08-31T13:57:00.000-07:00

Well Folks, I did it! I got into Grad school at Utah State University! I found that out on a Friday, started packing all of my things and moved that Wednesday. I drove for 15 hours straight. I drank a Monster, and 3 Mountain Dews in my mom's 7-11 44oz refill cup... so when I got to my aunt and uncle's house that Wednesday night after midnight, I could not fall asleep! MtDew overdose... such a sweet overdose though! haha I then moved all of my things in by myself and have quite a great set up in my new room. I miss my family in Washington so much, it was tough saying bye to my Nephews cause they didn't understand. I didn't expect my sister to cry, I miss them. But I am enjoying the sunshine here. I am hopeful to focus more on school (since I haven't gotten a job yet... and only have classes once a week so I should be able to study every day and do well... right? ....right?!)

Since moving here I have:
been on a motorcycle converted into a trike ride on Saturday with my uncle and got stung by a bee
gotten 7 terrible bug bites that look like bruises
not slept through a night
got a library card!

and not done my homework yet.
haha. And I haven't been motivated to edit any of the pictures I took during my drive or ride.

Well, time for some homework... or for some chocolate. :)

I'm still here

2011-07-31T11:58:00.000-07:00

I love sun flares.This was taken at a park in Redmond one lazy Saturday afternoon. I really like it, and I am working on putting together a little portfolio or book to have for my records from snapfish or whatever. I love taking pictures!!

ps- I'm alive just been super busy with EFY this summer and a family reunion and finishing up my online abnormal psychology class so I can actually start grad school this fall! I only have two quizzes and the midterm and final to go... so we'll see how this works!

Music: Favorite Songs/Artists

2011-07-12T14:38:00.000-07:00

http://www.playlist.com/playlist/22218138123

Elevator love letter-Stars

Heels so high, hopes so low

Airplanes-Local Natives

Encyclopedia!

Lost in my mind-The head and the heart

Mango Tree- Angus and Julia Stone

I LOVE MANGOS sweet sound

The Blower’s Daughter-Damien Rice

Hauntingly beautiful, can’t take my eyes off of you heath leger 10 things I hate about you

Blindsided-Bon Iver

Mercy-Duffy

Catchy

Rumour Has It-Adele

Makes me want to dance

A Little Love-Meaghan Smith

50s sound with electronic background… love her from 500days of summer

Sweet Disposition-Temper Trap

500 days of summer

Haunting-Anberlin

LOVE anberlin,

Most Of Me-Mandy Moore

Everblue is a favorite…

Darling buds of May-Brother

Her birthday is in May

New Low-Middle Class Rut

I only see you-Benton Paul

Paris is more a favorite, but his voice is great

We Can Try-Between The Trees

Spain or Darlin or She is

We Used to Wait-Arcade Fire

Love this group, so unexpected…

Breathe In-Frou Frou

Dumbing down of love sold me on frou frou… this is a great song that isn’t as serious

Crash Into Me-dave Matthews Band

Girls-Beastie Boys

CLASSIC

Pin Your Wings-Copeland

Lazy Eye-Silversun pickups

Fever-Meiko

Love this version…

Iris-Goo Goo Dolls

Amazing..

Stay-Lisa Loeb

Fall 2008. heartbroken… amazing

Stare-Marjorie Fair

Black Sheep-“The clash at demonhead” really brie larson’s cover of metric.

Loved scott pilgrim vs the world.

Misty eyes-ohbijou

Canadastalker… the one good thing that came from the date that would never end.

Ruby Blue-Roisin Murphy

Genious…

Staplegunned-Spill Canvas

Bennie and the Jets-Elton John

LOVE

I’d Rather Dance with you-kings of convience

Great band

Turn to stone-Ingrid Michaelson

Sytycd

Midnight Highway-Daphne Loves Derby

Went to efy with bass player… great high school romance song

Edge of the Ocean-Ivy

Underwater sound, love

Anything-Mae

LOVE MAE. No arguments… I just love them.

Here with Me-Dido

Roswell…

The Way you make me feel-Michael Jackson

WCS FAVORITE

Saints and Sailors-Dashboard Confessionals

Classic..

Salt Sweat Sugar-Jimmy Eat World

Prefer believe in what you want

You Make My Dreams-Hall and Oats

500 days of summer

Clap your hands-Sia

Good feel

It’s Oh So Quiet-Bjork

Don’t turn your speakers up too loud… great music video…

Tightrope-Janelle Monae

Clever

When You Say Nothing At All-Alison Krauss

A little country is good for the soul

Such Great Heights-Iron and Wine

Probably one of the first indie songs I had heard…

Human-The Killers

Not a huge killers fan, but are we human or are we dancer? Well, dance alliance 2008-2009 Russia tour is dancer. Dance mission!

The Scientist-Coldplay

Also Yellow. Just classic.

*Oh My Love-John Lennon

AMAZING

Edinburgh 2

2011-06-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

Did I mention the weather was PERFECT? Always sunny, always beautiful. I was nervous that all of the pictures would be dark and rainy... but instead, sunny!!

I took some silly pictures during our little tour at the Edinburgh Castle, I just felt it was right! haha

Edinburgh

2011-06-13T21:36:00.000-07:00

I wanted to talk about my trip to the United Kingdom!
We flew in to Iceland, then over to Manchester. We then were picked up and driven an hour west to Chester. We all spent that day together and then Katie and I took a very early train from Chester to Manchester then to Edinburgh! I was still jet lagged, so I slept on the train. While we waited for that first train at five in the morning... we met this crazy kid! He was wearing a plaid shirt, and his name was James Cameron. and he sang to us. He actually had quite a nice voice! But was also super drunk.

On the train ride we saw a ton of sheep and green rolling countryside... It was pretty. When we finally pulled into Edinburgh... oh it was gorgeous! The train puts you right into the city and our hotel was RIGHT there! It was perfect. We put our bags in the coat check and set off to explore the city. We looked to the left and saw the Castle!! We walked through this crazy big cemetery and up to the castle. Then down along the Royal Mile passing a ton of buildings I wish I had studied about and known what they were. And that statue. We went back to our room to take a nap and then walked back to the castle at night!

Finally A Title!

2011-06-13T15:18:00.000-07:00

Okay guys. Turns out this whole time I have had title turned off. But I figured it out and I have a title! WOO!

2011-06-11T12:25:00.001-07:00

I was looking through my pictures and trying to add a little logo to some of them, going back and forth with JWO Photo or Photography and Photographs when I stumbled upon this gem! I added the JWO... so maybe I should go with JWO Photographs eh? hahahaha

Photo tag?

2011-06-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

I realize I have been slacking off on getting my pictures up from my trip, which is important to me... cause I really enjoy my photographs and want everyone to think they are amazing too!
I took this one in color, but edited it in picasa by saturating it and then putting it in black and white... I don't know why but I really like it!!

And I was reading my friend who is a real and really amazing photographer, and she was talking about her logo and I have been considering a logo for my stuff, maybe just so that it is connected to my pictures so people know it is mine more than my trying to promote myself, and I don't know what is a good tag to have. Right now I am waffeling between JWO Photography or Photographs, and I don't even know if I like using JWO or not... thoughts?

And thoughts on my picture?

Thanks!

PS- I see that I am getting a lot of traffic... but I don't know who you are! I'd like to... :D

Can't You Just Adore Her?

2011-06-09T06:59:00.001-07:00

She likes her chocolate in the morning, she drinks her caffiene late at night...

I am awkward. I knew this in the past, but let me tell you... it is definately triggered by boys.

I can't decide if it is an awkwardness brought on by me trying to get a boy to like me or strictly because I like a boy and am unsure how to navigate this situation because I don't date often.

But the other day this boy called me out on it as I was leaving his house, I wasn't sure how long we wanted to be talking outside and so I said, Welp...See ya later (as in Big Gulps style) and as I was turning to walk away he said, Don't be awkward. And I said, it's what I do best...

then we proceeded to quote Arrested Development and Scott Pilgrim VS the World via texts for the next two days, danced a few times on Tuesday where he invited me to watch a hockey game with him the next day, yesterday, which I did. And it was normal and fine mostly... until I had to leave again (which I never know how long to stay... bah) anywho... another awkward exit and it is so frusterating!

Why can't I just be me?
Is it because I don't understand why he isn't in love with me yet? Do I want him to like me so I have the upperhand and can deny him?
Am I just this into him that I don't know what to do??

I don't know! But I do know that my mind is betraying me and I can't stop thinking about him and thats kind of infuriating.

2011-05-23T05:39:00.000-07:00

Canadian Stalker part 2

somehow the story does not end with us leaving. A few days later I was on a plane to Texas to be in my dear friends wedding, Go Maria!
As I am waiting and dillydallying on my phone, who texts me? Of course, Dane.
He wants to know if I want to go to a concert and I am like, you live in Canada, I don't and no...
and he was like, oh I was planning on going down to --
and I was like. Nope, Im out of town. Plane is taking off gtg.

So then it is a little while later and my bestie (amazing hair) asks me about Dane. And I tell her and then say, wait... how do you even know about him, I never mentioned him?

Turns out he went on facebook and sent Rachel a note because he wanted to come down and surprise me with a visit.

STALKER!!!

fast forward: a week after that he is engaged. Turns out instead of visiting me he went somewhere else and met a gal as desperate as he was and they got engaged and married shortly after. Good for them! he thanked me sometime after this--not that I did anything, but he was all like, if i had gone to visit you I wouldn't have ever met her! And yikes. he was like, I do still love you too though. WHAT? You LOVE me??

...oy.

2011-05-16T05:49:00.000-07:00

The Canadian

I was reading through some old posts and realized some of my disasterous dating posts are quite funny... and then I realized I never told you about my Canadian stalker.

The year was 2009. I had just gotten back from my three weeks in Russia and my two weeks or how ever long my jet lag and dilly-dally-ing took coming back to Washington from Utah... then my mom wanted to go to Canada to visit my grandmother and I was still on a Passport high, so I said yes! I knew that shortly after that trip I would be going to Texas for my friends wedding--I was her maid of honor. :) Which would not be my first time in the wedding party...

Anyway, We go up to Canada. We usually stay at my mom's best friend's house which is nice, they have kids my age that are sometimes fun to hang out with. We go shopping and this was the trip that I found THE Perfect Little Black Dress. It just is so perfect.

Well, my mom's friends have an extra room in their house that they rent out to local college kids and this guy, lets call him "Dane" was living with them. So whatever. I pay no mind to him cause I am there to see family and I am still a little jet lagged.

I don't remember how it all happened, but I think my mom was going to go out with her friends and I didn't really want to and somehow I ended up going to the county fair with Dane. It was fun enough, I haven't really ever done rides at a fair before and he was excited to show me how fun they were and whatever. So we are trying to make some conversations and I am thinking, this kid is kind of strange. But whatever, we are having an alright time. So after that hour or two passes he askes if I want to go see a movie. I like movies so I think, eh sure. Harmless right? And that after the movie we would just end up going home and it would be over.

Wrong. After the movie he says, lets grab something to eat. And I think, well I am kind of hungry. So okay. But I made a mistake. I had mentioned that I bought the best dress earlier that day so he says, lets go get dressed up for a fancy dinner! And I am thinking... eh no? And I say, oh I don't know I kind of and he says YEAH! Somehow I am trapped.

So we go back and get changed and I have to dry shave my legs cause its been awhile and I don't have time to shower. But it is like 8 or 9 by this time. so I am thinking, okay dinner and then we come back.

As we leave I shoot my mom this stare that says, I am trapped and you are doing nothing to save me from this.

For whatever reason we drive around and he can't find the Keg where he wanted to take me and instead we go to the beach and walk out to the lighthouse. I am kind of irritated by now cause I didn't bring a jacket, I didn't think we would be outside and it is cold... and he is making me climb down these rocks in a dress I just bought and I don't want to be doing this anymore! I think the salt water ended up irritating my dry shaven legs...

Anywho, finally we go back to the car and he takes me to a poolhouse. So we shoot some pool. He is trying to be all flirty and I am thinking, I can put up with this for another half hour and then go home. No biggie. But he is dancing all weird and I a getting fed up. But I can be nice for a little longer.

Do you think I got to go home and go to bed after this?

Nope. We then are driving and he says, oh I want to show you one more thing! And I am like, well I am kind of tired...

He ignores that. So we drive to a beach lookout and I am like, no way am I kissing him. So we sit in his car just in silence. I make some comment cause it is soooo awkward. I comment about the CD that is playing, the music was really cool so I talk about it. (the bank is Obijou, pretty good, and he ended up giving me the cd, so that was cool) Then it is back to awkward silence.

Finally I say, man I am so tired... I think we should go back. I have to wake up early in the morning so my mom and I can drive home.

and then maybe twenty minutes later he drives us back. I have no idea what was going through his head... he isn't trying to make any moves so I have no idea.

anyway, We get home late like at 1:30 or something so everyone is asleep. He goes to his room and I make my bed on the couch.

He may have tried to tuck me in. I can't remember.

What I do remember is waking up to someone nudging me and telling me to scoot over. I am vaguely aware that it is Dane. He is trying to cuddle with me. I pretend to be asleep and won't budge.

He is very persistent. I can't remember everything but I am grumpy by this point because he is disturbing my sleep and it is like 6 am! No way am I cuddling with you! I felt NO connection yesterday on our date that WOULD NOT END! And no you will NOT get any action. He then says, lets go to breakfast! And I am like, no I am sleeping. After a few more attempts to cuddle and lure me to breakfast the annoyance goes away. This may have been where he tucked me in. I have no idea anymore.

But then I am being woken up again and I want to slap him. Turns out it is my mom. She let me know that Dane went and got us doughnuts and I am like, mom we have to leave before he comes back!!

So we leave.

2011-05-11T10:10:00.001-07:00

My Birthday is in May.
It is what it is.

LOVE this song right now!!

2011-05-10T14:23:00.000-07:00

My Nephew Owen turned three on May 5th and he had his party on Saturday, it was Ghostbuster Themed after his favorite movie! My sister had made the boys matching jumpsuits and this amazing cake.

I had to make cupcakes and knew they had to be special... so I made strawberry cupcakes filled with sLIME!

A picture of me as Janine with Owen wearing my glasses, what a cutie!!

2011-04-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful little town next to the Denbigh Castle in Wales. We didn't get to experience this city at all, but it is so cute and I love all the colors.

2011-04-27T15:38:00.000-07:00

I had a GREAT weekend! I read on facebook that one of my old college friends who lives in California was coming up for a dance conference this weekend, so I decided I needed to go and visit her.
It was the Seattle Easter Swing so I went on Thursday night for social dancing.
It was fantastic! But, I use to think I was a great dance, and a good dancer in West Coast. But... turns out I don't know anything about West Coast Swing! It is totally different than ballroom west coast, and both are great but true West Coast is super fun and swanky. So I have been working on that.
I couldn't get into any other of the events because the whole thing was booked, so I decided to volunteer.
I went on Sunday to check wristbands for the award ceremony and right before that was the professional jack and jill competition which BENJI SCHWIMMER WAS IN! I hadn't even realized or thought that he might be there... but I have loved him since SYTYCD and I voted for him for HOURS!! My roommate Tiffany and I would sit on the couch with our cell phone and the apartment phone and vote and vote and vote...

http://youtu.be/2hHOClvXmf8

http://youtu.be/SyebouKagQQ

So after that was over everyone cleared out of the ballroom to clean up before the social dance started and I got up the guts to go over and ask Benji for a picture with him.
And I did and he was super polite and was talking to someone before me and noticed I was waiting and then we started chatting and he noticed my BYU-I dance shoe bag and we talked about being LDS and going to church and easter and teaching/choreographing for BYU and I told him if I was ever asked to choreograph for BYU that I would call him up and invite him. We had a good laugh and he is a really nice guy and I still love him! haha
So, here's our engagement photo, no big deal....

2011-03-25T13:04:00.001-07:00

http://urlybits.com/2011/03/the-aurora-aurora-borealis-like-you%E2%80%99ve-never-seen-it-before/

Thank you Julie F of http://howcouldyounott.blogspot.com/ for posting this... I almost was tearing up because it is so gorgeous. It has been one of my life goals to see the Aurora Borealis for a long time now, and once in Canada my Grandfather and I tried to find a good view of it on a beach but had no luck. While watching this video I decided I will know I have found the right guy when it is his goal to get me to see the Aurora Borealis in all its glory. :) Happy Friday err'buddy.

2011-03-22T20:14:00.001-07:00

To do list: (a post in parenthesis)

Listen to Damien Rice's Blowers Daughter five more times ( within the time it took to write this post, I listened to it at least three times) (one reason I LOVE it is cause it makes me think of Heath Ledger from 10 Things I Hate About You)
Laundry (check... for one load)
Clean room/unpack
upload photos (check)
edit photos (not even close to having a check)
read more (books to read include the trylle series, a cutesy trilogy about trolls... i know right? Happy Potter... MAYBE.. don't get too excited. books to look into reading, never let me go and the last letter from your lover. Need to read, the newer Nicholas Sparks novel. and tons more books, I want to read more. also, scriptures daily.)
And read my Grandfather's autobio in our family book called Oh Joy.. so, I might as well read the whole thing yeah? Maybe.
Go to Seattle/Tacoma and drink in the culture like I did in the United Kingdom
Make my T-Shirt quilt... or start, more so than having the shirts piled up in a corner of my room. (check! Well, I have them folded in a box...)
Listen to a CD a day, and give a description of it or post about my feelings from it.
Apply to Utah State University
Study for an take MAT instead of retaking GRE if lady from USU ever gets back to me on how my GRE scores rank within their program...
clean room. (I am anticipating that by the time I have done some of these things my room will again need to be cleaned. haha)
Go through my clothes and get rid of a ton. (living out of a suitcase for basically the past month I have realized I really don't need much... so why am I am set of having so many clothes?)
Read more Psychology books. (heh heh psycho analysis of myself, here I come!!)
Learn more about History and those who where here before me.
Appreciate more the things I do have. (which would be easier to do if I took out the excess)

I could keep coming up with more, but really I am just procrastinating cleaning my room... haha

Give and Get is Here!

2011-03-15T22:13:00.000-07:00

Give and Get is Here!: "Enjoy 30% off from March 17-20 at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy plus we'll make a 5% donation to a non-profit."

2011-03-15T14:41:00.000-07:00

Not Exactly A Bucket List...

Going on Holiday go the United Kingdom was amazing. Some words I have decided to bring back are, holiday for vacation, lift for elevator, and allan out for exit. Haha..
I also had decided to try to live my life a little bit differently, and in that has sparked a semi bucket list kind of list.

Before my holiday I would go to work from 6 am til 1 or so, come home and nap.

In Europe I walked about 5 miles a day and did 3000 stairs. I went to museums and learned about history, I appreciated art and nature and enjoyed my food.

So, instead of coming home from work to a nap, I want to go to a museum or go to an art gallery. I want to discover what my city has to offer.

In other things that more similarly go to a bucket list kind of thing... I really want to go in a Hot Air Balloon.

I also must check out the Salsa scene here... I promised a Brit that I would! (He was the kindest, cutest, bestest salsa dancer who smelled AMAZING. Curse his French girlfriend... at least he did kiss my cheeks good bye! seriously though, he smelled great and was such a fantastic dancer and lead...his lead was a very fluid and soft lead, not at all harsh and difficult to follow, and I really liked him. I really do want him and me to be pen pals of sorts and remain friends and share dance stories and whatever.)

The way of life over there seemed less hectic and more calm and happy. Maybe that was just because I didn't have any responsibilities and wasn't going to work... who knows. But they all seemed to be living better than we do and living more simply and appreciating things more.

2011-03-15T03:22:00.000-07:00

Just a preview while I start to go through and edit pictures from my trip! This is Stonehenge and no edits were done because I think it is already stellar. I have become a little more motivated to submit some of my photographs into some contests or county fairs!

2011-02-23T16:53:00.000-08:00

What I have packed so far:
Dark bootcut jeans
lighter colored skinny jeans
floral top--white and grey tanks
grey cardigan
polka dot top --black tank
red cardigan
black shirt
green houndstooth tank
long sleeve blue t --black tank
black sweater vest
white t-shirt --black tank
tan boots
purple sneakers
black flats
gray sweater hat
black sparkle scarf
black belt
brown belt
purple peacoat
black sweater coat
long plaid sweater coat
sunglasses

Toiletries:
Febreeze
hot hands
eyemask

IMPORTANT:
Passport
Paperwork for hotels, trains, stonehenge, driving directions etc
Ashes and crematory letter

Need to pack:
black skinny pants
skirt?
dress
more shirts?
tights
another pair of shoes?
sweatshirt for lounging
pjs/workout clothes

Umbrella
Hair dryer
round brush
straightener
deodorant
toothbrush
toothpaste
moleskin
neosporin
bandaids
safety pins
advil
cough drops
handiwipes and sanitizer
makeup...
body butter
skin care products
another scarf or two

EEKS! 4 days!

What am I forgetting?

2011-02-15T16:12:00.000-08:00

England is in 12 days I don't know what to pack!!!

I do have some ideas of things I will need...
I know that moleskin is a must! We will be walking a lot!

http://whatiwore.tumblr.com/tagged/Travel

We did get accepted to walk through Stonehenge too, amazing!!

2011-02-07T17:54:00.000-08:00

While doing some research for my England trip... I took a look around me and started laughing about all the books I had splayed around me, so I took a picture!

The a rough look at the itinerary so far:
Chester, Scotland, Chester, Dublin and the longest city name in the world (in Wales), Chester, Cadbury World and Crooked House, Castle Sunday! (Conwy, Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Dolwyddlean) Chester, London, Paris, Stonehenge, Roman Baths and Chester! WOOHOO!

2011-02-07T17:36:00.000-08:00

2011-02-02T22:30:00.001-08:00

Post Script:
TO DO this year: (forget resolutions... I'm makin to do lists!)
I want to participate in Kendi's 30 for 30... but it scares me. And I couldn't this month due to my TRIP TO ENGLAND! (sweet photo of planning coming.)
Go to London, England, Dublin Ireland, Edinburgh Scotland, Paris France, Stonehenge, and other exciting places!!

Also: Currently Reading Water for Elephants

2011-02-02T21:35:00.000-08:00

Well I haven't really made any new years resolutions... towards the end of last year I was toying around with the idea of running in a 5k every month but I missed January already due to grad school hullabaloo...
I did however try to tell myself that I must wear a different dress to church each week. Seeing as I have over 30 It shouldn't be too hard! So I have a few weeks of those pictures to catch up with...Week One: The Perfect Little Black Dress
I thought I would attempt the belted-scarf idea... But I didn't actually end up wearing it. But I liked the idea and LOVE this scarf that my friend Madame Bada*s got for me from New York!
Belt: H&M
Dress: Le Chateau (Canada)

Before I had chosen the LBD, I was toying with the idea of this little number, using these awesome Jessica Simpson tights from Macys, and I couldn't decide which shoe I preferred... But as I was deciding I realized I didn't like the way this dress from Romy's was fitting me, so I opted to switch. This means that you will indeed see this dress again sometime this year!
Boots: Target
Shoes: DSW
Bad picture, I know. But I enjoyed this outfit.
Cardigan: Old Navy
Dress: Banana Republic Outlet
Boots: Target

Week Three: I decided to wear Mrs. Peacock. I had been wanting to wear it with my purple boots, and also decided to try a new trend...
The tall sock above the boot... I don't know if I loved it or not... but I liked the outfit alright.
Dress: Nordstrom Rack
Socks: WetSeal
Boots: Sears

Week Four I went with my dress Coral Reef. I decided to try a new way of tying it... instead of the traditional bow which is cute,

I decided to twist it around for a new look!
Dress: Nordstrom
I wore it with those sweet brown Jessica Simpson tights and my Target boots.

To Be Pictured: Week five, the Puuurfect Puuuurple Dress with purple flats.

So now the question on every one's mind, What will Jenni wear in February?!
Also, I ended up buying another dress in January... oops! It is super cute though, a cranberry shirt dress. It'll look great with my boots from Target!

2011-02-01T13:32:00.000-08:00

Well... Thanks for nothin...

My Grad school application is due by Today... so does that mean that final materials are due today or that it all needed to be turned in by yesterday? I don't know... which brings me to what is stressing me out uber bad today...

One of my letters of recommendation has not been turned in yet. Thanks for that psych department chair. Guess I shouldn't have picked you.

so... it is very possible that I stressed myself out about the GRE and writing my essay and paying my 170 for the test and 50 bucks for the application for fun... because they won't accept incomplete applications.

so..... I'm kind of in a terrible mood.

Lucky for me I do have a massage scheduled for tonight.

But a drawback of massages are that they release emotions... so it is QUITE possible that I will end up bawling on the table. My apologies in advance Masseuse.

2011-01-27T22:32:00.000-08:00

So I just saw a commercial for Dentyne gum (http://www.dentyne.com/) where it said the average person has 28 first kisses.

This new information is making me think a lot about my "new years resolution" of last year, to not kiss anyone for a year...which I failed. And so now I am considering trying to hit the 28 mark. haha... It is an interesting thing though, the other day I was watching a show, How I Met Your Mother I think... where Robyn had decided she was fed up with dating, and was going to focus on her career and they guys were like, oooh you are so getting married! You know how it is when you hear all those stories (cuing up He's Just Not That Into You to keep myself in check...) I also remember this gal in Rexburg who was 18 and her sister had a goal or had done this... go on a date with 100 guys before she got married and this gal who was 18 was super adorable and every boy was in love with her and she was trying to do the same thing but then got snatched up.

So part of my mentality is to try to kiss 28 guys... so that in my quest I may get a boyfriend? Too lame? Eh either way I like kissing... but have not been asked out this year yet.

Sigh, My attempt was to be funny and clever and I end up being all self pity-ing.

Also, why is it I can write two blogs today and not my essay? Haha.

2011-01-27T21:07:00.000-08:00

Ladies Night! So these new girls moved into the area and we all found out that we get along and love to dance. So... we decided to go out dancing, and we chose to go on 80's night. It was awesome!

Except no one dressed up like 80's except us...

Some pre-clubbin' events were to eat pizza, drink "throw-back" Mt Dew and watch 13 Going on 30! We all jumped up and danced along to Pat Benatar's Love Is A Battlefield, it was a great warm up for the night and we had a blast dancing along to 80's tunes with the occasional 90's jam!

PS. I don't know how to link... (I mean I still don't know how to make titles) But here are my friends blogs.

http://howcouldyounott.blogspot.com/
http://torilynndickson.blogspot.com/

Current Favorite Artist: The Like
Book to Read: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

2011-01-25T17:26:00.000-08:00

Ok, it isn't quite finished... but please edit and help!

WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL COUNSELOR PROGRAM

QUESTIONNAIRE

(Statement of Purpose)

1. What stimulated your interest in school counseling as a career?

2. What do you consider to be the current role of the school counselor?

3. What personal qualities do you possess that you believe would contribute to your effectiveness as a counselor?

4. What causes you to be interested in the program at WWU?

Please attach your answers to this sheet and complete the bottom of this form.

You may also attach any additional information that you consider to be relevant to your application, including a professional résumé and/or statement of interest.

I remember meeting with the school counselor in elementary school. She provided direction and support and also took the time to talk about friends and play games. The career segments directed by the counselor in Junior high I recall the career segment we had with the school counselor which included one of those personality aptitude tests, that is suppose to inspire future goals. The High School Counselor helped me attend the “Running Start Program’ where I received college credits for high school and college without having to go to high school anymore. And in college my counselor helped me to grow and figure out what I wanted to do in life. Each of those counselors had something in common, giving me an opportunity to grow. Along with giving me opportunities, they also helped encourage and give me a desire to do better and do more. A school counselor is a supporter of students and an academic coach. Each counselor I interacted with was a great listener. I often found myself being the roommate and friend that people would confide in and I enjoyed being able to help them through some of their challenges. I sought after more opportunities for this, in internships at a middle school and high school as well as through teaching dance and as being a youth counselor at a summer camp. I found that through those experiences the best way to be an effective counselor is to be patient and understanding without being pushy or trying to solve problems for the people I was working with. By being a good reflective listener and encouraging them to find solutions and make goals I was best able to help them.

I first thought of being a school counselor as I was applying for college and needed to declare a major. I had taken a psychology class on human relationships at the community college during high school and was riveted by what I was learning and thought what better way to spend the next four years of my life than by being excited to learn everyday? I then thought of what jobs a psychology major would lead to and thought of how much I enjoy working with youth. At the time I was merely 18 and did enjoy working with my peers. Over the years since then I have obviously gotten older, but still prefer working with the ages of 13-18. I think it is because of their excitement about the future, the majority of them have an optimistic demeanor and are eager to find their future and find who they are. I really do enjoy helping people realize their passions and encourage them to do so and find ways to help that drive them. I love to schedule things and tend to be organized. It was always exciting for me to schedule my classes and help my friends create their schedules.

Part of my interest to Western is the classes that are required and the link the program has to other aspects of psychology. Some programs seem to focus on one area, which is great but to keep well rounded and aware of what is going on it is better to reach outside and keep aware of things that are going on around us. I also love the Bellingham area, it is so beautiful and rich in culture and activities. I believe that Western will give me the tools I need to be a great counselor and better person and citizen in the different areas of my life.

2011-01-19T19:55:00.000-08:00

Well after some studying (not always everyday and never for the same amount of time...oops) I took the Gre!
I got a 450 on Verbal and 490 on Quantitative! I must wait for my essay scores.

My scores are a little below average... but hey. I finally took the freaking test for $160.
Application to Western is due by Feb 1st... so I am waiting on my last two letters of recommendation to trickle in... and I need to finish writing my personal essay. I have a very rough draft done...

Please write a brief essay answering the following questions and requests for information:

1. What stimulated your interest in school counseling as a career?
2. What do you consider to be the current role of the school counselor?
3. What personal qualities do you possess that you believe would contribute to your effectiveness as a counselor?
4. What causes you to be interested in the program at WWU?

I first decided I wanted to go into psychology for school counseling it was after I had taken a class on human relationships and looking into options for a bachelors degree.

What made you decide (sparked)

I have always preferred working with youth to any other age group because …..

I find myself attracted to school counseling because of the opportunity to work one on one with youth daily and to help them realize and achieve new goals and find success in their lives daily, which I believe to be the current role of the school counselor. The things day to day a counselor will do.

I thought that in the future if I ever wanted to have a family, this would be a good career that I could be able to raise a family and work and have those two relate to one another.

I am a patient and understanding person, optimistic, inventive, with a love of learning and a strong moral compass. These are some of the qualities are required for the youth of this day and will help me to aid them in their strivings for success.

Looking through the required classes for the masters program at WWU I think that it matches well with my goals of what I need to learn to become an effective counselor and will challenge me so that I can grow.

Current experiences with youth. Camp, internships. Why you enjoyed these opportunities.. How you helped. What you got out of it.

But now my thoughts can be turned towards...
80's dance night Thursday night!
Hockey Friday Night!
Photoshooting Saturday Morning?
Laser Tag and YSA dance Saturday night!
Getting my hair did. (Not too sure how I want it done, but in Europe I WILL dye it pink.)
Which brings me to... EUROPE TRIP!!!! W0000000000! (Feb 27-March 14!!!)
I hope to take pictures (of me) like this in Europe! http://www.jordanmatter.com/photography/dance-photography/dancers-among-us/gallery.php#Anne_Laure_2.jpg

And all of those mean, PICTURES!

2011-01-05T23:28:00.000-08:00

didn't really study today due to working two jobs at odd times, poor planning, and saying bye to a good friend who is moving out of the state for a while... annnnd beating him and our other bestie at Risk 2210. :) yeyuh!! Priorities? come on!

better luck tomorrow when I don't work in the evening and my dad will be home, maybe we will do some math together!

2011-01-04T17:41:00.000-08:00

Well I did slightly worse in my math for the day... I got 13 answers correct and 17 incorrect.
What I need to do is study in the book of how to understand what the question is actually asking since they don't really want you to solve for the answer.

oh my brain hurts...

Post Edit
Then I studied some more and asked my dad for some Math help. It was kind of nice, and I felt like I was learning... so I did another practice test and got 16 right and 14 wrong! An improvement, not to mention I didn't use scratch paper so that hindered me... and I was (am) laying in bed, so those factors make a difference. Here's to hoping for better scores tomorrow... and I will do some verbal tomorrow as well... eeks...

2011-01-03T18:19:00.000-08:00

*GULP*

Well, as the new year has arrived I have tried to be a little more daring...
I have tried to apply to take the GRE... and I have already practiced for the test.
My attempt to take the GRE is to happen on the 17th. Just a few days away really...
So, here is my score for the day, Quantitative 280 Verbal 360
I got 16 questions wrong in each section.

So, in order to keep up with my studying, I plan on submitting my scores daily. Boring for you, but hopefully I will add some fun stories of the goingons in my life.

I won't be taking full practice tests everyday either, but I don't really know how to study for this thing... so any advice is gladly appreciated! And, if anyone wants to pay for a massage for after the test, I'd LOVE that... Thanks!

2010-12-13T16:56:00.000-08:00

Attempts at the car lights with slower shutter speeds

This is just one of my favorite pictures I had taken so far this fall... it was in November on a freakishly hot day in Enumclaw on a hike. I edited it slightly to make the side of the tree darker and I just can't stop looking at it! I should take a picture of it in the frame I put it in... ah I love it!
Accidental self portrait on a ferry after a YSA campout and service project.

2010-11-25T22:05:00.000-08:00

Loving this band and this song... also seems kind of fitting at the moment... hehe

2010-11-22T10:40:00.001-08:00

25. Well, maybe... :)

2010-11-16T20:52:00.000-08:00

Right now I am listening to the "She and Him" pandora radio station... it's been a great choice! It features bands like She and Him, Fiest, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Rilo Kiley, and The Acorn which I can't figure out if they are the same as Ohbijou or just share a singer... either way... I've really been enjoying it, especially while reading Little Women.

I just recently remembered I said I wanted to read 20 books this year... eeks!

Which reminds me, one of my co-counselors at EFY would start off each day at the group gospel study with a report of how we were doing on our group goals and how we could achieve them that day. This makes me think of new years resolutions, or any goal we set for ourselves. How often do we actually take an inventory and see how we are doing on those things?

Well, time to look back on the year and see how many books I have read and how many more I need to read before the end of the year!!

I read the Hunger Games series, loved it, so thats 3 (within the past two weeks might I add.)

I have read 7 books in the True Blood/ Sookie Stackhouse novels, they are easy reads and pretty fun. So there's 10, half way there!!

I read Shutter Island before I saw the movie, liked them both town between wishing I hadn't read the book first... (11)

Hahaha.... Murder Takes the Cake... eeks.. it was free remember? hahaha (12)

The Last Song (13) I enjoyed it, also saw the movie and I like Miley Cyrus so whatever.

I can't remember if I did re-read any of the Twilight books... but either way I don't think I'd count it... so looks like I need to read 7 more books before the end of the year! EEK!

I am almost half way through Little Women (did you know it is a super long book? I am enjoying it, just sayin...)

What book suggestions do you have for me? (PS, I maybe am interested in reading the Birth Order books...)

2010-11-16T20:36:00.000-08:00

On Saturday I went to Gig Harbor for some photo taking, and once my friend and I had wandered around the town a bit we realized we were hungry... but what to eat when you are on the harbor? Why, Fish and Chips of course! So we went to this dinky little place right next to Anthony's (which is a fancy schmancy fishery) And had the most AMAZING from scratch beer battered Halibut and chips and such mouth watering tartar sauce!

I didn't think to take a picture before we started eating... but there were two pieces of the Halibut and oh it was so amazing. The lemon had some chili powder on it, which was something new, but delicious! It didn't actually seem to make a difference except for the fact that we were in love with this meal.

Here is some of the scenery of the restaurant...

And our view...

2010-11-14T19:53:00.000-08:00

I went to Gig Harbor this weekend on a photo shoot excursion, this is one of my favorite shots of the day!

2010-11-14T17:36:00.000-08:00

Serial Dating, for cereal? For Serious.

24. Now 24 is someone I think I could actually be interested in, he is chill yet motivated and productive. He and I go out and take pictures together and it is nice. He is however, very good friends with 21... not to mention good friends with both my ex-boyfriend Alex's best friends, David and Scott. (Yes, I dated two different guys named Alex, one when I was 14 and the other when I was 17 to 21ish? Anywho, just a weird coincidence.) We've only been out "shooting" twice, and the first time we talked about a bunch of stuff, how we would like to live IN a city, like own a building and have the lower part a garage, the middle a dance studio or restaurant, and the top your house... I was recently inspired with this idea from Grey's Anatomy where Christina and her Husband (weird to say btw) buy an old Firehouse! Fire Station? whatev. I think it would be so awesome to have a dance studio in my house, why not live in the downtown city and hold weekly dances, charge people for them, and have it be a side business! It would be great! Especially if somehow it could be an after school hangout that is an appropriate place for kids, and a good environment? Yeeaah! After that we were driving around and picked out houses for him to buy me. All in all it was a blast. Part of my hesitation here is height... which might just be me being vain and petty. sigh.

25.
26.
27.
28.
29. Well, I am not sure if there really even is a 29 anymore. I was suuper into him. Okay, super might be stretching it too... but he was really cool. and super attractive, not a stretch. We met at a YSA dance a few months ago now, I remember walking past this cute 23 year old and his friend on my way to the drinking fountain and they stop me and say, hey you can't say hi to us? And I say, my bad I was just getting a drink.. then on my way back in I invited them to come dance with my group and they decline at the moment but come join us later. It's all fun and I am taking a liking to this blond 23 year old even though we aren't really talking but just dancing in a group... then theres a slow song.. and he doesn't ask me, neither does his friend... and then the dance is over! And I am like, man this sucks! But I decide to kind of hang around and the cute 23 year old is actually hanging around a little bit too... and then I see him ask his good friend for his number and realize, they had just met! I think that at that point he also asked me for my number. Then we are chatting a little and they are turning lights out trying to get everyone to leave and I say, hey too bad you didn't bring a suit you could come hot tubbing... and he says, hey I might actually have one in my car... so we go out there and we get sidetracked just talking and somehow he says he works at a gym and I go, oh as a trainer cause I realize he is riiiiiipppped! For serious, super ripped. And then I am thinking, dang, I need to get him to my house. hahaha. shallow! anywho. Turns out we parked side by side. turns out also, he doesn't have a swimsuit with him... but I suggest my brother has one he could borrow. So he follows me and we hot tub and chat, turns out he is a Podiatrist, a foot doctor. And that he is 29. Now, at this point I was already attracted, but hearing he was 29 I was like, mmmbaby! (And the fact that I had him half naked in a hot tub!)

So we are just chatting and getting along and he mentions he is going out of town but he'd like to see me again sometime and I suggest he text me when he gets home so that I have his number and he gives a great hug goodnight... very firm... even more so since his body is so firm...

So he does text me, and I text him a little but the rest of the weekend I wait, and after he gets back from his trip he texts me and I refer to a joke we had made and he invites me to his place and we watch a movie and hot tub and cuddle and it was great.
So we do that a few times, then I helped him invite me to go out with his friends on his quads and I realize that we don't talk as well now, but I am still attracted to him and he remains a mystery although does he? I keep thinking of the movie made for my mind--He's Just Not That Into You-- and thinking... well he doesn't text me as much... he doesn't invite me to things... I have to try to suggest them... but when I do he goes for it and we end up doing something like going out to Seattle for a laser light show that is full so we walk around Seattle and go to the Melting Pot for Dinner, YUM! but... since he isn't really trying it isn't going anywhere which is so lame! I've got more guys than I know what to do with, but the one I want doesn't want me. Is that the reason I want him?

Sigh.

I think that part of it with him was that I was trying to stay cool, and not be over bearing so I over analyzed everything I did, timing my texting and stuff... when I should have just been me and not worried about it because by removing myself so much I may have come off as disinterested when really all I had been waiting for was him to ask me out.

So now I have a ticket to this hockey game this Friday and I don't know who to ask. I did as 29 but he doesn't get off work til 7 and can't really get off any earlier and the thing starts at 7 and he lives 40 minutes away plus its a friday night and he'd be fighting tons of traffic... so he declined. I am trying to ask his friend who I met through him... but that might not be the best idea although I know he really likes Hockey (and is 25 haha)... and then there is this other guy I met because of 29 inviting me to a football party at this random girls house, he was easy to talk to and fun, but I don't know if thats weird to just ask a guy I haven't talked to for a few weeks and have only met and hung out with once to a crazy hockey game with my sister and brother in law... or there is this really cute and funny guy that one of my dear friend's served his mission with... or a new 22... or 21, 24 works late so he's out... maybe a different 29 but he always ignores me and I know he has a temper so I wouldn't want to date him... my good friend 25 is out cause he works nights...

moral of the story is that I feel like a serial dater, I feel like I have such a great opportunity right now, yet, the guys I am really interested in are not returning my calls--who am I kidding, texts, I don't call people... so I still feel like no one I like likes me, which I feel ridiculous feeling since I know what it is like when no one likes you and people like me say oh it'll be okay hon and I want to punch them... so oy.

2010-11-05T07:22:00.000-07:00

Remember how I use to write about my disasterous dating life?
Remember how in the summer I had two boys and didn't know what to do with myself or my feelings?

WEellll.... it's kind of like life is giving me a big joke right now...

the joke is that I have maybe 6 guys chasing me.

Okay, I am exaggerating quite a bit... mostly for entertainment value. And for self esteem purposes.
But let me explain!

My favorite part of the guys that like me right now are their ages. So instead of names, we will just use their age. And whatever other nick names I want. Cause I do what I want.

19. We all remember him, from the dance team I coached last year, he talks nonstop and gave me 24 "kisses" on my birthday and toilet papered my yard a few times. Well, he was in love with me or whatever but he is now on his mission, which is great! I am NOT waiting for him. I wrote him once, and I might write him again. Not as often as he asked--once a week? heeeeeellllllzNO.

21. It was unclear as to if this guy was trying to date me or ask me out... he calls and invites me to things like dinner and a movie but then invites his other guy friend so it's me and two guys--which I love. so I wasn't sure. but he texts me regularly and he finally asked me out last night over the phone--for next friday night. I'm not sure how excited about this I am... which I will explain a little later better, but for now it is that he has bad breath to be blunt. and is pretty fresh off the mish, and I had heard that he did NOT like older women so I was excited that we were just friends but oh well. I love that he likes me for my story's sake if nothing else.

22. Let me preface 22 by saying that my dear friend Kyle often comes over to hang out and hot tub after he gets off work, and we always have fun and just talk about life and things. We are both aware that we are friends. (Last year I was hoping he had been into me cause I was diggin him, but I am over that) SO, sometimes Kyle will invite his friends over to hot tub with us. He did this a few months ago and his friend was instantly charmed by me. I did nothing. I was just hanging out with the guys... but I digress back to 22. So, again Kyle comes over to hot tub, and invites a friend, and 22 comes. Maybe it is the sight of me in a swimsuit -NOT- but again, without trying or even aware of it? 22 loves me. He texts almost nonstop, always inviting me out but I need sleep! So I decline, or say, sure you can come over and leave by 10pm so I can get some sleep. 22 flatters me, and is really strong. Too bad for him he is over confident in his view of what I think of him, and he is a meathead and is seriously like that girl from How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days-- no joke, one morning he texted me to tell me what he ate for breakfast. And let me tell you, it was 8 eggs, three pieces of toast, an apple, two glasses of orange juice, and something else I am sure. I was full for three days just hearing about that much food! He also tried to start using pet names with me after the second night we hung out... I'm just not feelin that.

23. This is one of the summer boys-- the one I was less into by the end of the summer. PS, turns out the one I was more into most likely HAD a girlfriend while we were dating. Stupid boys. Anyway, 23 is backpack. ...and I really feel like he is turning to me so much because the girls at school aren't returning his affections. I don't know if I am right in thinking this, but thats how it feels to me. Maybe thats because I have 85 guys after me and I have NEVER had that and I don't know what to do? But it could also have something to do with the fact that I decided the last time I visited him in his home town that yes we have fun together, but there are big differences in the way we want to live our lives and we have such different views on certain things... and I realized for me that we are great as friends and I didn't want anything more than that. Which is so ironic that he was all passive this summer saying he wanted to be friends and just chill and not ruin the friendship and I wanted a commitment, and now it is so flipped. He wants to be inlove with me, he keeps calling me love and all I want is for him to stop texting me 7 times a night and talking about the SAME things (why don't we ever talk? I miss you, do you hate me? Oh we never talk and I miss it) BLECH. Broken record much? Sheesh. And whenever I explain we never talk because I am working he complains and tries to give me a solution--which I did not ask for or need. Every day he feels more and more like my high school boyfriend. Which in turn only turns me off more.

2010-11-05T07:03:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been wanting to do a cool music challenge, like listen to a CD a week... since the era of iPods, I think we collect music a lot more liberally, and sometimes that means we don't appreciate our vast collections or even give some of the old stuff a chance. I am trying to figure out the best way to do this kind of a challenge... I have way more than a years worth of weekly music, so it should be more of like a CD a day... but do I have time to listen to music for the required 45 or so minutes? Sounds silly... but I've been swamped with working two jobs and pretending to study for the GRE. I was suppose to just sign up and take it two weeks ago... but studying and taking practice tests scared me away from that... and why? Because I don't have the time to devote to it.

Lately I have been considering going to CityU, the grad school that accepted me as soon as I paid my application fee... the benefits are: Live at home, commute only 20 minutes or so. Keep working at one of my jobs... with the possibility of getting a job through the dance team I volunteer at teaching 5th graders dance. (with the right training I would LOVE that) another pull to stay here and go to CityU... is dating.

now, dating needs to be another post. And I really need to do a lot to improve that aspect of my life and narrow it down and find ways to be straight forward so that I know what is going on there...

My parents are thinking of buying a new house, and renting out our current one. They suggested I could live in our current house and have roommates, which could be quite awesome! Part of my wants to move out and establish myself and be able to do what I want with life without my parents being RIGHT there... (cause dating after high school but still living at home... not the most exciting. Any guy that is over my mom will make a comment like, oh he's cute and I am like, MOM. We are friends NOT engaged. She is always planning the wedding and it is irritating. haha) but if they were to move out, I still wouldn't have to pay rent which is a big pull of living at home, the free aspect, but they would be gone and not micromanaging my life. Not that they are... but it's weird.

I still feel a little like I am waiting for life to happen, even though I KNOW that it IS happening and I have to go and do stuff to enjoy it to the fullest, to really experience it.

Sometimes I really wish I went to a psychologist so they could listen to my ramblings and maybe encourage a decision cause I am way too indecisive. Or am I? (get it? hahaha... )

Anyway, back to the music... hahahaha. The other day I put my iPod on random and I had THE BEST playlist! I was digging every song, not wanting to skip anything! I then tried to go back so I could add all the songs to a playlist and enjoy them in that order again later but I messed it up a lilbit.

It was something like this:
Anberlin
Vertical Horizon
Juliana Theory
Garbage
Bush
Avril Lavigne

Haha. It was just a really good mix and felt like a great fall soundtrack.

2010-11-04T22:05:00.001-07:00

Holy Mother of Chocolate Cake

Layers:

3 ounces semisweet chocolate

1 1/2 cups hot brewed coffee

3 cups sugar

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

3 large eggs

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla

Frosting:

1 pound semisweet chocolate

1 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1/4 cup unsalted butter

You’ll need:

Two 10- by 2-inch round cake pans

Wax paper

Electric Mixer

A good attitude

For the layers:

Preheat oven to 300°F. Grease those pans. My grandmother lines the pan bottoms with wax paper, too. Finely chop the chocolate. Then, in a bowl, mix the chocolate with the hot coffee. Stir until smooth.

In a large bowl, sift together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl, beat the eggs for about 3 minutes. An electric mixer works best. Then, slowly add the oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and melted chocolate mixture to the eggs, beating until it’s all combined really well. Add the sugar mixture and beat (on medium speed). Finally, divide the batter between your pans and bake them in the middle of your oven for about 65 minutes.

When that’s done and your kitchen is smelling really, really good – Cool the layers completely in their pans. Run a thin knife around the edges of pans and invert the layers. Carefully remove the wax paper and cool the layers completely.

For the frosting:

Finely chop the chocolate. In a saucepan, bring the cream, sugar, and corn syrup to a boil over moderately low heat, whisking until the sugar is dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and add the chocolate, whisking it until it’s all melted. Now would be the time to whisk in that butter until smooth. Put the frosting in a bowl and allow to cool, stirring occasionally.

Then, spread the frosting between your cake layers, over the top and around the sides. Now, find a fertility specialist and give her what she wants.

Insanely Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cake

For this one, you can opt to use the same frosting from my grandma’s Holy Mother of Chocolate Cake. This cake also works pretty well without any frosting at all. It’s up to you.

2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups sour cream

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 (6 ounce) package chocolate chips (I like the mini kind)

Heat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9 pan. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sour cream, butter, vanilla and eggs. Mix all of that goodness together. You can use a mixer at medium speed for about 3 minutes.

Then, pour half of the batter into your pan. In a separate small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle half of that sugar mixture and ½ cup of your chocolate chips over the batter. Repeat with the remaining batter, sugar mixture, and chocolate chips. Bake it all at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

If you want to add the frosting from my previous recipe, you can do so now. If not, no worries. Baking cakes at people is fun, isn’t it?

Give Them What They Want Double Fudge Cake

Again, you don’t have to use frosting on this cake if you don’t want to. If you do, use the frosting from my first recipe.

6 ounces semisweet chocolate

3/4 cup butter

1 cup sugar

4 eggs

1 cup cocoa powder (not drink mix)

1 teaspoon finely ground black pepper

1 pinch salt

Preheat oven to 350° F. Prepare an 8 inch round pan by greasing its bottom and sides. Cut a circle of waxed paper and fit it around the bottom of the pan. Grease that, too.

Coarsely chop your chocolate. Then, melt the chocolate and the butter over simmering water. Stir the sugar into the chocolate. Beat the eggs (fast and hard), one at a time, into the chocolate. Next, add your cocoa, pepper, salt, and stir. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake about 40 minutes.

Cool about 10 or 15 minutes. Then run a knife around the edge to loosen, and invert on a plate.

2010-10-21T22:08:00.000-07:00

Why do I want to be a high school counselor?

Well, part of the reason is because I want to teach high schoolers ballroom dance. Is this a good enough reason for a career that isn't a dance teacher? ...

When I first applied to BYU-Idaho I applied as an el ed teacher. It took me one day after submitting that I said, whoooooaaaaaaaaaa! No way! Haha so I remember looking through the catalog and looking at a bunch of majors and then, thinking about how I was enjoying my psych class at the community college and how I really wanted to get into the psychology of personality class... and I thought hmm... maybe I should be a school counselor so I can work when my kids are in school and have the same vacations as them because lets be honest, most likely both parents are going to need to be working.

Is that a good reason to want to be a high school counselor?

I have done EFY for the past two summers and I LOVE working with the youth, so I know that age group is my favorite... I do know that is a good reason to want to be in the high school setting.
But should I just find a way to be involved with EFY every year instead?

I guess I should preface some of this deep introspection... well here it is, post preface at least. haha
Tonight we had an additional relief society meeting, where Dr Yamata, a clinical psychologist came and talked to us. I had heard the topic was "Fear of Progression" And I was SUPER excited because thats me. I am that.

I never really had to plan life, but in high school you apply for college. My friends were, and I did. I don't remember when I decided I wanted to go to BYU-I, but it was the only college I even applied to. And for whatever reason, in college I said, yeah I want a masters. But I didn't plan it. I should have taken a gre prep course my senior year, and taken the friggen test back then.... but I didn't. I didn't understand all that. Freudian as it may be, my parents never did that stuff and therefore didn't teach it to me, so thus making it their fault. ;) I only buy into that so much. I am in charge of myself and can change that stuff and I should have taken that initiative, but I didn't realize I needed to. So thats why I am here.

Back to tonight, Dr Yamata gave a good talk about perception and thoughts and feelings and truth... it was good. But it wasn't the AMAZING insightful sermon on how I can stop having a fear of progression in life-- and let's be honest. I am afraid of becoming something. In high school my boyfriend was jealous of me and there was a tension in our relationship because I had a job and he didn't, or I had a better job and he didn't, or I was better at this than him, or yada yada... and I like a man to be in control, to be the strong one, to take the lead. I LIKE it when a guy orders for me at a restaurant! So I am afraid of becoming something, a young woman with a master's degree, a real job, tied to a place where there are no guys to date or to a place I might not want to leave if I meet a guy who needs to move somewhere else. because lets be honest, I am motivated to meet a guy and get married. thats been the plan, the goal ever since forever when you grow up in the church. So thats part of the reason I didn't plan this far or take all the right steps to get me into a masters program yet... cause I thought I'd be married by now.

That said, I do enjoy not being married yet! I am having fun in life, turns out I am a bit of a workaholic... but is that more of a coping mechanism to not have to deal with life because I don't have time to think about how I haven't done all the things I want to in the time frame I expected myself to?

(pausing to think. Should I just send this in for all of my grad school apps inplace of the essay for "why do you want to be a school counselor?" haha... yikes! Too much info. I always mean to write just a little and then this huge self analysis happens... and I don't know how to cut it up!)

Going with Dr. Yamata's lesson or whatever, I do have the bigger picture in mind, that I want to have a family and yadda yadda, but I can't pin down the little details cause I don't want to make the wrong choice... but I know that whatever I choose I will make the best of it, I always do. I look for the bright side of everything, the best in everyone.

...so what grad school do I pick?

2010-09-21T22:14:00.000-07:00

Dance Log 2
(would be three but I skipped town last week--more to come on that. )

I was so excited to go back to dance class and see what more there was to learn! And I looked pretty cute. Anywho, the best/funniest/truest thing I learned tonight was this:
Cheri "This is not your grandmother's ballroom dance... where she went to the dance and waited for a man to ask her to dance and she got twirled around and then dropped off and waits for the next guy to ask her to dance. No. This is the modern woman's take on ballroom dance, Equal Partners!"
I really thought it was funny and so applicable, and kind of cool to see that just as the world has changed and roles have morphed a little, ballroom dance takes part in that, and we both must do out parts to make the whole work. I think that is one thing I love about partner dancing is that it takes the two of you trying and putting forth this effort for it to work out the right way. Active participants I suppose.

Anywho, I don't have much else cool insight on the matter, but I love dancing. :)

2010-09-07T23:03:00.000-07:00

Dance Log 1

(I still don't know how to make a title.)
My beautiful, talented, and dear friend Alyssa is taking a dance class, inwhich her teacher said it would behoove the students to have a dance journal.

Interestingly enough, I read that today... and then I went to a dance class.
During the class I thought, man it would behoove me to be like Alyssa and have a dance journal too!And since it is less painful and more fun to write on a computer and post it online, I thought, this blog would be a great place!
So... it might be painfully boring to begin with, but wait til the end, I promise it'll be good!
First hour, 6:30-7:30... American Fox Trot. At first I though, uuuuuuuuugh Fox Trot. But I was determined to have a good time, so I plastered on my Fox Trot Smile (it's real, I have a particular smile just for Fox trot and boy is it cheesy!)Just like this lady, a big cheesy smile, yet it is elegant and refined!

It is also similar to what my face looks like in this next picture... in which I am indeed dancing...Fox Trot!Notice the smile? Notice how it is full of joy, ease, elegance, grace...

all while my shoe is falling off and I am trying to figure out how to get my foot back into my show! (Dear Alyssa, this is a show or two after the unfortunately hilarious incident of my dress being tucked into itself and me dancing this number with my shorts showing. How I wish I had pictures taken DURING that show!)
Anyway. Back to tonight, Fox Trot. Some things I learned/relearned/want to note: Heel Leads. Stand on supporting leg, compress, bend supporting leg with pulls other leg through, extend heel, push on to heel, and release back leg making this the new supporting leg, repeat.

I may have had other thoughts, but lets get back to entertaining you.

Second hour, 7:30-8:30, Jive! AKA, East Coast Swing.
Lots of fun, I keep smiling and pulling faces as I normally do in dance, especially swing.
What I learned/need to actually work on since I kept forgetting to do: put heel down on rock step.
I thought class was over at this time. Turns out there was a third hour! I was contemplating leaving since I start work tomorrow at 6 am... but I heard it was Viennese Waltz. I had to stay! So, from 8:30-9:30 I did just that.
And boy, is it Tuesday again yet?! It was the best hour of my life.
I couldn't stop grinning, I loved the combinations! I loved the movements, the routine is amazing!hold for three, burst, wheel in shadow, canter rhythm to outside partner, natural turn, three step to outside partner, natural turn, check, pivot, hold, whatever this step is called with the ladies arabesque to same foot lunge! Hold, swivels to turn to over sway, hold.... spin to hip check and turn to reverse/basic!

I felt like I was flying, floating... something amazing! I felt so graceful, the movement felt so natural. I felt like this:

(an oversway)
I want to video tape it next week to see if I actually look more like the ugly duckling... you know how your perception can be off? well... haha

Either way, I am SO excited for next Tuesday!!

2010-08-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

Ahh Seattle... You are beautiful.

2010-08-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

what I wore: second date

peacock button up shirt: nordstrom sum/fall 09
jeans: old navy
shoes: rocket dog dsw spring 10
necklace: target ...today!

2010-08-13T16:56:00.001-07:00

Do you love how I will post 5 new posts in one day and nothing for months? ...yeah... me too.

I can't get over this song, I have have to listen to it over and over and over and over and over again! The beginning is a little weird, I don't understand the noises... but the song... oh man!

LOVE.

but for some reason my computer's speakers stopped working... it is bothering me quite a bit.

On another note: I just bought this necklace but I don't know if it is really ME or not.
It is a camera, with rhinestones! And a suitcase! But I don't know if I am a long necklace with random objects girl...

Local Natives also have a song called Camera Talk. ilovethem. :)

2010-08-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

My camera does panoramic views and here are some shots I've done recently...

Seattle Skyline from Gasworks Parks in May with Sarah and Jordan Wagner and Trevor Brown

Seattle Skyline from my bike ride on Alki with Sam Acuna in July

TriCities view from a hike with Ryan Mears in July

2010-08-12T21:35:00.000-07:00

Flower Boy

So, as I mentioned, I got asked out and went on a date where we rode bikes and ate thai and went to a concert. When he asked me out, was after Sunday School right before Relief Society and my face when bright red. I was wearing this outfit though... so I can't blame him. ;)

Well, after that I was going back to EFY and he said, maybe I'll write you a letter and I was shocked and said that would be amazing...

turns out he one upped himself... and sent flowers. A dozen red roses.... I was overwhelmed! I actually burst into tears when I saw it. A little bit because I wanted them to be from the merecat.
I think that since I had kissed the merecat, my emotions were definitely more there than anywhere else. But I was flattered and they were beautiful and he wrote a cute letter with them, saying he had taken a fancy to me and that he hoped this gesture wasn't too much but that it showed he was thinking of me.

Well, backpack now refers to flowerboy as , the one who is super in love with you. Flowers doesn't know about the merecat.

Do I date them both and see who wins? Well Flowers is moving back to provo soon.
Merecat is moving back to rexburg.

Whist typing this flowers just asked me out for tomorrow night... but through texting... kind of lame...

I need to be more open minded and give him a chance

...but I want it to be merecat!

what is it about the chase that is so desirable?

2010-08-12T21:12:00.000-07:00

People wearing Mear-cat backpacks... Part 2.

How did he convince me to visit? Well his birthday had been the Monday before, and we were texting non-stop, serious we would pass out because we were texting so late at night. So we decide we will go hiking and do fun things and it was better than sitting, bored, alone at our houses.

So I meet his mom, sister and bro, oh man I love them. So funny, full of energy and just sweet people.

We went hiking and talked a lot, we went and played mini-golf and we made a bet that loser had to do what the winner wanted... so I ended up kissing him.
Then we went swimming and went back to his house and we made dinner and while we were cooking we started kissing again, this time for reals. I have always been an advocate for cooking with my future spouse because I think it can be romantic, and like the book, Like Water For Chocolate, I think emotions can be put into the food... that like that one movie with Sarah Michelle Gellar -- Simply Irresistible, that you can taste that the food has been made with happiness and joy and excitement. So we cooked. and the kitchen heated up.

Then his family came home and we ate dinner and played games and watched movies together and the next day I went home. And we continued to talk nonstop.

The next week was week 5 of EFY and the flirting was still there, but there had been a date I went on Friday night with whom we call Flower boy, for reasons that will be explained later...
And it was a blast! He taught me how to ride a bike, we ate Thai, and then we went to a concert! It was fun, but by the end I was so tired!

Backpack had a small complex about how much fun I had with him vs Flowerboy and asked me if I liked Flowerboy better because in a facebook picture my smile looked bigger than when he and I had gone hiking.

--I should mention that since the merecat had broken up with his girlfriend he had decided to date a lot of girls, try to 31 flavor challenge and he suggested I do the same, that it would either bring us together or we would find someone else. But as soon as I got asked on a date he got jealous, and when I left his house to go home to go on the date he was jealous.. haha
(now that I am typing all of this I feel so silly and that this is lame... arg.)

yada yada, that week passed and was slightly uneventful... we hung out on the weekend a little bit and then he got super sick and was sent home and I got sick and everyone thought he had gotten me sick but I don't really think so....

Anyway, he has been on dates with other girls but he still talks to me a lot, and we are legit best friends. He invited me to come back to visit him in two weeks for the fair, and he just invited me to go camping with him and his family next week. So... he keeps inviting me to family functions, like you would a girlfriend, and he talks /flirts with me like we are dating... but he also says things like, our friendship is my greatest concern and makes it clear that he considers me a friend but wants benefits of dating but wants to be dating others

and I get that... I mean he needs time to chill since he just broke up with whatsherface... and he will be going back to rexburg and I will be staying here so distance... but man... we are awesome together.

So I just need to get back to watching he's just not that into you
cause otherwise I talk myself into thinking we are dating and we are not.
We are best friends, and I am the rule.
If I were the exception he wouldn't be able to wait to date all these other girls, he would just want to date me.

So, am I cursed to be the best friend?

(I didn't mean for this post to end up on a sad self-pity-ing note...)

2010-08-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

People wearing Mear-cat backpacks...

Remember in the past how I have written some stories about my awful dating experiences and I always give the guys a code name to protect their identity? Well, time for a new one... although hopefully this one doesn't turn into an awful dating experience?

This summer I met, well re-met since I met him last year, an EFY counselor who over the course of the summer got nicknamed People, Back Pack, and "Mear"cat... clever names I know.

Last year he had a girlfriend so I ignored him. Not true, though I only worked half a week with him and hardly knew him, so basically.

This year I meet him, and again a girlfriend... a different one from last year. ...but then he broke up with her.
And we were co-counselors. And our kids tried to set us up... He would try to make me blush in a new way every day, nay, every time he saw me.

Thus started out friendship, full of laughter and fun and poking fun at the other.
We had a good time as co's, it was easy for us to talk and he was so great with the kids, he really gave them everything he had.

Well, that weekend after the week of being co's was the 4th of July. I had to go get my hair re-done cause the roots were disgusting me. I knew he wanted to go to the aquarium and I wanted to as well.

Turns out he waited for me and we were texting the whole time... we ended up going to Seattle with a group of people but the aquarium had closed. after that we all went to Bremerton or somewhere ridiculously far away for fireworks, which was fun. I noticed the Merecat kept standing next to me, but I didn't think anything about it. After the fireworks we walked back to his car, and the people who drove out with us decided to get into a different car, so we were alone.
This is when he asked what the chances were of me saying yes to him asking me out, and I said. Are you asking me out. And he said, yes will you go on a date with me next week and I said, I'd like that!

We then proceeded to play 20 questions as we got stuck in terrible 4th traffic, but we were having a great time chatting.

The next day at church he was flirting with me like crazy! He loved the dress I wore, which we now call the "Purrfect" Dress, that or Kitty.

Yada yada, the next week he tried even harder to make me blush which wasn't that hard when he knew I liked him and it was a new group of girls. haha

Every night we would text for a long time, and one time he called and we talked for a real long time which surprised me cause normally I hate talking on the phone, but it is fun with him.

So that, the 3rd week of EFY was over and it was time to drive down to Portland for week 4. ...by some devious friends, they took my car and I drove down with him. We talked, we sang, oh we sang love ballads to each other! When we got down there we went to the beach and took some silly pictures, like this... for our set of EFY kids to think they had succeeded.
(PS, I do not know what is goin on with my badunkadunk, but it looks ca-razy.)

Once we got back from the beach we realized we were feeling sick and really tired, but decided to still do part of our date anyway--we were going to get chinese and go star gazing but we ended up eating peanut butter and pretzel m&ms on a field and chatting. We talk so easy, about anything, nothing, and everything.

well then, that 4th week I had some kids who dubbed his nickname, Backpack. They actually were kids of mine from last year, and they were happy I was there but sad I wasn't married and said, we will set you up with the next guy that walks by, and it just so happened to be him! And he was wearing his backpack... so... backpack.

But later I was talking to my friend about him and the whole situation and I didn't want to use names in front of her kids, so I said, People.

Anyway, then we flirted like crazy on the weekend but he left to go on a date, and after his date and when I was home, we texted from Saturday afternoon til Thursday morning... when I got to his house cause he convinced me to come visit.

(congrats for reading this far. hope its not too boring... but I just had a friend who suggested I journal it down either for Future Jenni or for my future kids. so...)

2010-08-12T18:47:00.000-07:00

I love photography, I've never taken a class in it... and I haven't developed it too much... but I try to find moments. I sometimes see what others do and I try to imitate... but lately I've been feeling like I need more shots of myself. So I have been dabbling in the self portrait... and here we have Angelic

and Devious

2010-06-14T21:54:00.000-07:00

Gulp.

Well, we all know that I have a tendency to stalk people.

And occasionally ex-boyfriends.

...man does it suck to accidentally stalk an ex and find out they're engaged... yeah, the one who said he would never get married.

Looking at my history with guys, I have noticed I've done a lot of silly things for guys... gone out of my way and tried to get their attention.

...this isn't a pity entry... honest. It just is so weird. I've done all those silly things to try to "change" a guy, to be the girl from all the romantic comedies who ends up getting the guy to want to marry her (27 dresses, he's just not that into you, etc) and it hasn't happened for me yet.

I am positive that one day I might be that girl. I am not too worried about not getting married... the when part is occasionally frustrating, but no big deal. It just sucks to have invested so much in people to not be able to show anything for it.

And then to find out that the ones who were so against marriage are finally getting married (to a girl three years younger than me [and who made a reference to twilight on her blog, when you called me crazy for reading twilight and you said you'd never date a girl who did! though I don't know if she read or likes the books... but still on principle that she made a reference to it]) stings a little. Even though I am totally over him!

I will always try to be the girl who is the exception to the rule, and not the rule. It's just who I am, no matter how cynical I pretend to be.

blah. it's just weird is all.

2010-05-27T20:03:00.000-07:00

DSW Spoils = Spoiled Jenni

Madden Girl red pumps: $20?

Rocket Dog Summer Sneakers: $12.00

Report Tan Heel : $16
I first saw these and said, cool shoe but I think I have told my mom she should never wear anything like it but man this ambient music is getting to me and I think I must try them on Oh my goodness they feel like butter and make my feet look tiny! Eeek they are 50 bucks, I will think about it and if they are here next time I will get them.
Next time I show my mom and she is indifferent.
Then I decide, what they hay... they are 50% off clearance, Turns out they were 75% off! Woo!

2010-05-27T19:52:00.001-07:00

What I Wore today (in homage to http://whatiwore.tumblr.com/ and http://haveacuteday.blogspot.com/ )

Brown Sweater: Old Navy fall 09
Blue pin striped button-up: H&M summer 08/09?
White lace tank: Nordstrom's rack summer 05/06?
Purple belt: Old Navy fall 09 ($3.00!! just got it on clearance a week or so ago!)
Destroyed Khaki pants: Gap Outlet... only 5 dollars. AWEsome. I love the button fly, the boyfriend fit, the color, the feel! So soft! Only thing I do not like is that they are "destroyed" so there are small patches that are roughed up spots... but honestly... amazing pants. The pockets are a great size and the back pockets are good too. Love.

I wore my rocket dog flats from DSW last fall.
Also, I am wearing a sweet little necklace my mom got me for my birthday (last week) from h&m. Love!

I hope I am doing the belted sweater right... it is a tricky thing.

2010-04-28T11:38:00.001-07:00

DSW

So I went to DSW to kill some time while my dog was getting groomed... and here is what I found. I didn't buy anything... but that I took note of some birthday present ideas!!

I've been wanting a grey shoe, and I LOVE my rocketdog flats in multicolor, so I instantly fell in love with these ones.
http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/catalog/product.jsp?index=1&sort=&category=&prodId=184979&brand=300325

Size 8 for anyone who is interested ;)

But then I was also sorta liking these...

http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/catalog/product.jsp?index=6&sort=&category=cat20010&prodId=197315&brand=

but at the same time... I don't know if I want a grey heel...

As for red heels to go with my seafoam dress and all black dresses,

http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/catalog/product.jsp?index=55&sort=&category=&prodId=201476&brand=300211

in a 7.5 please!

Also, I have been really wanted a multi-colored heel. I haven't found anything so far, and nothing to even say, ooh something like that. so... that search is on.

2010-04-22T14:13:00.001-07:00

Dang you Target! You win again...

I went to Target the other day to pick up the new Covergirl shadow blast! I got the bronze fire smokey eye one, love it so far!Well, I didn't actually buy that when I went to Target, they were out.
But I did buy this dress that I am in love with.
I think I want red accessories for it, everyone remember I love sea foam green and red together?!

I also bought this top, but I am still unsure. What are your thoughts? PS- I know my mirror needs cleaned.

I did buy another shirt too. haha I will post that later!

2010-04-18T20:59:00.000-07:00

Well I finally cleaned my room... though not as intensely as I had wanted... and it took me a few weeks. Hahaha

Well, I wanted to show you all one of my new favorite dresses... really just another great dress from the Canadian store Le Chateau. I LOVE their dresses.

2010-03-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

New Finds

playlist.com
You can add a ton of songs to a playlist, and it will play them, for free! I know pandora is awesome cause it gives you artists that are similar to ones you already love and introduces you to new bands, but this site lets you listen to all the songs you love! No commercials, no waiting to hear a band you do know, and you can replay the song if you loved it!

So I am trying to spingclean my room... get rid of some clothes, get the clutter removed. I am trying to be heartless about my things, so that I can actually get rid of things...but I came across a pair of pants, and I tried them on and they did not fit. So, in this spring-cleaning spirit, I should just donate them. But I thought... why not give a date that I should be able to fit into them like say, May 5th, and if by that date they don't fit, then get rid of them? Good idea? Bad idea? Am I just being a hoarder? haha
Now, I don't think I am a hoarder (but isn't denial the first sign?) but I do want to keep certain things, just cause, or so that one day when/of I have kids they can read the books I read, they can wear the clothes I wore. I've been collecting? Stashing? haha Getting kitchen-y things for the day when I move out and don't have to spend tons of money to furnish my place. Is this smart? Or is it just going to make that move more stressful because I have so much stuff already? I've started buying picture frames because one day I would like to have a ton of awesome frames with cool pictures in them around my house, or on a mantel is some cool decorative way. But should I just be keeping the pictures and wait on the frames? I don't know.

I want to be able to just toss things, but is that being wasteful?

either way, I have been meaning to clean my room for a few days, but then I don't because my sister wants to take her kids swimming, or because my parents want to go to a movie, or because I decide to blog, or because I found a cool new music site, or because I got distracted and now want to buy some new clothes...
what do you think of these three shirts from charlotte russe?

Yeah, I know. I shouldn't be looking to buy new shirts when I still haven't gotten to cleaning my room or getting rid of clothes I actually don't, probably won't, haven't worn in months. But I want new things!

Sorry that my blogs are usually disjointed thoughts... haha

Well, I should get back to cleaning my room.

I told my nephew I couldn't play after swimming yesterday cause I need to clean my room, and he asked why so I fibbed and said Grandma Tracey said so, and he goes, oh she won't let you have any candy if you don't? I say, yes. SO then last night I see him again and he asks if I had cleaned my room, and I said, actually I got distracted by the TV and I didn't. He said, you clean your room or I'll be mad at you! I say, oh okay! and he goes, no, you say Yes Sir! haha what a riot!

But really, going back to cleaning. ...Or catching up on Grey's.

2010-03-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been feeling blah about lunch, I just can't figure out what is a good lunch... something not too heavy and something nutritious... The other day my mom bought this salsa salad mix, and I loved it.
I recreated it on my own, I just cut up some lettuce or spinach, crushed up some tortilla chips, put a little bit of cheese on it, then spicy ranch dressing and salsa for the dressing! I could eat a whole head of lettuce, a whole bag of spinach this way... which would probably not be all that healthy. But sooo delicious! haha and if you don't have spicy ranch, you could use regular ranch, or sour cream. In the packet my mom bought it was spicy sour cream, which really was sour cream and salsa.
I bet with some cooked chicken it would be good too!

2010-03-04T22:34:00.000-08:00

Belle of the Ball

Well yesterday I volunteered at the dance studio, per usual, it being a Wednesday and all. I am suppose to dress up, in slacks or a dress. Typically I wear slacks. But yesterday I was feeling especially blah and decided to wear a dress. I wore my blue Calvin Klien which I got for a steal of a deal, I think it was 20 bucks and originally it was something like 89 or 120. I am not sure, I never could find it online and it didn't actually have a tag, but I do know that Page, a sister of NieNie and CJane, wore it. Proof: http://www.cjaneanswers.com/2009/09/pages-pink-dress.html

Anywho, how can one girl be tired of her clothing? easy. And I guess yesterday was more a day of feeling blah in everything, so I felt the need to embellish and recreate my clothing.

First off, I've been wanting a chain necklace but all the ones in the stores were not quite right, too bulky, too plain, too hot, too cold, too long, too short, too hard and too soft, I needed one that was juuuuuuuuuuuuuuust right... so I went to JoAnn's and made my own. I bought three different chains and put them together in a matter of minutes, and viola!

So, I wanted to wear my necklace, that has a black chain, dark charcoal kind of a silver or maybe gun metal, and then a bright silver. I enjoy things that contradict just a little, like a Proper Punk. So, chain necklace with baby blue dress!

Then I noticed the dress was a little low, but I didn't want to ruin my hair and take it off and on again, over my head cause it has a silly side zipper... so I found some white lace I had laying around, cut a small section out and safety pinned it to my leotard. (remember, I was going to dance practice)

But I still felt something was missing/ I knew it was cold in the studio and that I didn't really want to wear a jacket so I needed a sweater of sorts. Lucky for me I had bought this half cardigan at walmart for 5 bucks on a whim, since I don't really like the half cardis. But I didn't really like it just being open, or buttoned... so I turned it into a "wrap" with what else? Safety pins!

And when I got to the studio the kids were like... you look like someone... a princess or.. Belle! so now they call me Beauty and I am okay with that!

shoes are rocketdog

this post inspired by a new blog I am loving, Have A Cute Day http://haveacuteday.blogspot.com/

2010-02-26T12:06:00.000-08:00

Yikes. So, I am not trying to have pity party for my dating life, instead I am giving you a good laugh.
So I work at a gym as a receptionist. This means a lot of weird guys try to hit on me, because I believe myself to be an attractive woman, cute and funny, smart, creative, whatever. I've been hit on by older men, married men, and weirdos. Latest weirdo is Chris, again a fictitious name.
Chris had seemed interested in me for a few days, and finally yesterday he asks me the standard set up questions.
Do you go to school?
No, I graduated with my BS last year
What do you do in your spare time?
I work, I have three jobs. But when I don't work I sleep. Ha ha. I read and play card and board games with my family, and teach ballroom to youth.
Oh wow, so do you have a boyfriend?
No, I don't have time for one! (This is where I realized I made my mistake... but it was too late. And I am an honest person...)
He goes, oh wow really? That surprises me. So, you want to hang out sometime?
(This is where I try to use a cop out) Oh, that's kind of against the rules...
Oh... so you want to hang out sometime?
(Dude, did you not just hear me?)
He says, I am such a shy guy it takes me so long to try to talk to a girl
So I feel like I have to say, oh okay sure.
Then he says, oh great! Can I have your number?
(Dang it!) Uh... sure... so I write it down. But just so you know, I am not a phone talker.
Okay, cool well We'll talk later then!
(...I just said I hate talking on the phone...) Just so you know I do work all day today. (The truth.)

...so about an hour after he left I get a text, hey Jenny this is Chris from the gym, will you be free to talk later?

Oh sheesh, what did I get myself into?! Not to mention he shaves his head, which really isn't a problem, but I love hair. Oh, and he has this huge post in his ear, across the whole top of his ear, going from one side to the other. So while I may have been flattered to be hit on, since he isn't a Peter Priesthood I kind of dismiss it. Is that weird?

Well I wait a few hours before texting him back and saying something like, oh well I work all days so I won't have time, haha! Trying to be funny about it.

Then he texts back later saying, oh okay, will you have time to talk tomorrow?

So again, trying to be funny but also trying to let him know I hate talking on the phone and also trying to emphasize that I always work I say, No, I wasn't joking when I said I work all the time! (imagine me laughing after that, because it is true but trying to use humor.)

This morning I get this text from him "When you use an ! after your sentences, does it mean more than it is? Or are you telling me something? Like i'm texting too much? You're not sorry you gave me your number are you?"

...
Whoa. Take a breather man! It was an exclamation point!! But yes I am sorry I gave you my number you silly girl! First off, you only texted me twice, so no, you are not texting me too much, But you are being annoying too much. So I don't know what to write back to him. Because I know there isn't going to be a future for us, I am not actually interested in hanging out with him, and whoa. I just can not believe how insecure he is. It is actually kind of a sad situation.

And thus continues my romantically challenged-ness.

2010-02-26T00:19:00.000-08:00

New favorite song of the week or so:

I want these shoes, but in white or black? http://www.cutesygirl.com/Classified_Design_Flats-PID29074-MID282266.aspx

Lastly, I finished the book Shutter Island! Psychological thriller, good read. Lots of swearing... but I did enjoy it. So now I am reading The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks, and I am wondering if I should continue to read books before the movie version comes out or after. I have usually read the book first, but I felt like that made Shutter Island a waste of my time to watch, except for not because Hello Leo! But, I already knew the ending, and the turn of events... same for My Sister's Keeper, the Lovely Bones and A Walk To Remember and etc. Usually, if I read the book far enough in advance I will actually forget details and it can be like a new story to me... and I always go into the movie with an open mind, appreciating the directors creative interpretation... but I have begun to wonder if I should wait to read the books.

2010-02-04T11:17:00.000-08:00

The rest of the week's music...
Fiona Apple, anything by her really... Waltz Better Than Fine, Please Please Please, and Fast As You Can

The song for the Dear John Trailer, Set Fire to the Third Bar by Snow Patrol

the song I will one day play for the man I marry:

Heard that at old navy one day while I was working and I was blown away by it... haha I love it!

Man I wish I could marry, Benton Paul. This is my favorite song by him, The Devil. This is a live clip, and I would say he is just as good live as he is on his cd Grey, which I basically love every song on there.

2010-01-28T16:36:00.000-08:00

I have decided I would love to do this to a dresser (the upper left hand corner):

http://www.freshnestdesign.com/2009/11/25/knack-studios/

It looks like a simple wallpapered drawer, and I think it is awesome.

2010-01-28T16:23:00.000-08:00

anthropologie.com

I think this would be an awesome tableside lamp, good for reading. It is so antique looking, but cool and modern at the same time!

These measuring cups are adorable!!

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=HOME-KITCHEN-GADGETS&id=973291&catId=HOME-KITCHEN&pushId=HOME-KITCHEN&popId=HOME&sortProperties=&navCount=80&navAction=top&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=095&colorName=MULTI&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=

2010-01-28T16:10:00.000-08:00

Cheese Grater
This is the best and most awesome cheese grater, the top clips on, fills the bowl with cheese and comes with a lid so if you made extra, you can refrigerate it! It has been my favorite/go-to wedding present gift to give.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80083256

This spatula is perfect for getting out the insides of canned foods and sauces.

http://www.surlatable.com/product/oxo+blue+silicone+spatula%2C+9%26%23189-%26%2334.do?keyword=spatula&sortby=ourPicks#

2010-01-28T15:35:00.000-08:00

Last night I was reading cjanes blog, and she mentioned the Fresh Nest Design blog, so I started reading that... and then I thought, shoot! I should star blogging about things I like and want!
Because lately I have been thinking/feeling that I have a very eclectic taste... which is cool for me, cause I always feel unique... but I don't really feel like my family understands it. haha It seems shallow, but I had asked for a wallet for Christmas, and my sister got me an amazing black leather wallet... when I wanted something funky like this:

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate and do love it... but I guess it is more a question of why I don't go gaga over all the expensive leather purses like my mom and sister? So, I am going to let you in on the things I look at online, what I want to wear, decorate with, etc.
I've never been one all about decorating either... I never brought decor to my apartments, I only have a few picture frames... but I do have a love for pillows and I have always wanted an ottoman... haha but right now, I am in LOVE with this mirror.

from: http://www.cherryandeast.com/Kenneth-Wingard-Mirrored-Op-Art-p/whob1006.htm

2010-01-28T10:07:00.000-08:00

Mid-week melodies
the postmarks

This song is james-bond-esque, and could possibly be the song you see me auditioning with for So You Think You Can Dance!

I think it would be an amazing Tango, and there is a sound that I would always try to emphasis with my dancing... (its that snapping something at the end of the song. it repeats throughout, but you'll know what i mean.) it would either be a brush tap tango move, which makes you snap your head further to the left and away from your partner, trying to make your head, neck, and chest parallel to the ceiling. That or I would do a hand movement I can not quite describe... ah well. You'll all just have to wait to see it, eh? :) one day...

I heard this song one time after work as I was driving home, loved it, so I remembered some of the lyrics, came home and googled them to no avail. Then remembered that radio station has a playlist kept online, so I just looked it up according to the time I heard it, and viola!

2010-01-26T22:52:00.000-08:00

Tuesday in tune

I went and saw Extraordinary Measures with my mom, and it was a really good movie! I hadn't heard much about it, but it is mostly the story of how far a man will go to save his family. Very touching, based on a true story... tear jerker for me and my mom--but it is acceptable because there is a dog in the movie.
My mom and I had smuggled in some treats like the Vault Red Blitz which we had tracked down! Then I also brought in some of those new Wendy's spicy chicken nuggets with sweet and sour sauce, and finally, these super yummy chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies... mmmm!
After that we went to Fred Meyers, where I found some cute clothes on clearance for fifty percent off, then I dropped my mom off and I went to Target and moseyed around and found some more sales... turns out I love to spend money and get things.

While I was gone my mom was preparing dinner...
Warm Lentil Salad with a side of Oven Roasted Beets and Goat Cheese and Homemade Italian Dressing

I couldn't remember ever having lentils before, but man! I was wanting seconds, thirds, fourths, to eat this salad for the rest of my life!!

As for music for the day, I found myself enjoying the song by Lady Antebellum, Need You Now, but it is quite twangy and that throws me off quite a bit.
I also really liked some of the music I heard when I watched According to Greta. I can't find a soundtrack anywhere, so I don't know the songs yet... but I want to find some of them! As for the movie... it is of an angst-ridden teenager who is very brooding and making a list of things to do in life as well as a list of how to die. It is an interesting role to see the little cinderella-diner girl to be playing, but it does show that she has a range, and can make movies without her sister by her side (Material Girls)... but I wasn't too impressed with it... mostly because I thought her character was trying too hard for attention doing such negative things, and she was also so scrappy and wore such large hoop earrings and dark makeup, dark roots and grown out blonde hair dye... she made me thing too much of a girl from high school I can't stand... haha.
But the ending message is pretty good.. even though it came super quick...

Post Script: I carefully typed in to google some of the lyrics from a song from according to Greta, (which on imdb is only credited as Greta) and turned up a result! The Acid House Kings song called This and That. They are categorized as being IndiePop and that is my favorite style!! haha I am actually really digging all of their stuff!! just listening to the thirty second song bites http://www.amazon.com/Sing-Along-Acid-House-Kings/dp/B000QQVOTE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1264578203&sr=8-1
I love how typically indie groups are not about high fashion album covers, like this group posing as a late sixties early seventies kind of style! You can hear a clip of this and that from this link : http://www.amazon.com/Advantage-Acid-House-Kings/dp/B00006G9ZE/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1264578203&sr=8-13 though, it is not the same portion from the movie that made me fall in love. It is surprising to know that they made that cd in 1997, and this style has become to be a very popular style now. Also, it is not surprising to hear that they are from Sweden!

Boy oh boy has this made me excited for Wednesday's music!

2010-01-26T17:41:00.000-08:00

Per request, I will tell you what I am listening to this week!
Sunday January 24th I had songs from the musical Xanadu stuck in my head from going to the fabulous show at the Paramount in Seattle on Saturday with my parents and sister. (Wow, that is a long sentence.)
Here is a picture of the stage

My favorite/the song most stuck in my head was "Magic"

I felt she looks best in this video, although it isn't as clear visually, and it is slightly muted. I couldn't seem to find a clip of it from the movie itself, but hey, this one isn't bad at all.
For a glimpse at what the movie is like, what this video of the song Xanadu :

Now, it is a silly movie and I have heard people say the writer/producers may have been on acid. But, the play version was hilarious, my parents love the movie, I enjoyed it when I was younger, and the play made jokes about the movie being silly, but I loved that even more!
The premise: A young artist is feeling discouraged about his work, and his most recent creation was a chalk painting of some Grecian muses. He walks away suicidal (at least in the play) and then the painting comes to life. The muse played by Olivia Newton John decides to inspire him to keep going, to realize his potential. So, in the play, the actress decides she needs a disguise, and she says something like this "I know! I will pretend I just moved here from Australia and use a terrible Australian accent, wear roller skates, and leg warmers!" So, for the rest of the play she talks in an absolute terrible Australian accent... and I loved it! Oh, and towards the end of the play she has a solo song and she is skating around and then some guy comes out with a huge fan and she stands in front of it and the wind is blowing, like we always see in movies, I just thought it was very well thought out to use jokes like that. ...anywho, if you can, go see the live production. SO FUNNY!

Monday Music
I was farming on facebook and wanted some music, so I turned on my pandora... I do not remember what playlist it was on... but My Moon My Man by Feist came on, and I loved it. I loved it so much I went straight to youtube and when I saw the music video, I loved it even more!!

I think it is a very clever music video! I love all the dancing on the moving sidewalk, and the lighting... and how it ends with her just walking away. Love. It.

2010-01-25T22:00:00.000-08:00

I did not actually take any pictures this week... but I still have a picture for each day, and a story/review on the picture which is a product.
Monday:

I am at work at Old Navy, on my break enjoying the energy from a Diet Mt Dew when my coworker walks in, all 4'9" of her, and she says "Girl! You don't need to be doing diet anything!" Instantly I thought of Napoleon Dynamite when he tells whatsherface that she could drink whole milk if she wanted. haha! So that was a nice boost for me! I told her I don't like to drink the calories, so thats why I drink diet sodas more often than regular sodas.

Tuesday:

I was bored and was at Big Lots awhile ago, and I was dilly dally-ing... and found this Sunsilk Winter Collection, which claimed to be anti-static and so I said yes please! I do enjoy it, it smells a little musky, but I like it. I think it would work better for me in Rexburg where my hair could sense the snow and instantly become filled with static.

Wednesday:

I went camping with Rachel and her family this past summer and I remembered her sisters eating some rice crackers. So for Christmas I asked for some, because I suddenly had a craving for them.
So my mom bought me these crunchmaster sesame and artisan four cheese rice crackers from Costco. They are kind of healthy, 130 calories per serving and 3 servings per package... only problem is... I can eat a whole package!! And in like 5 minutes! haha soooo delicious.

Thursday:

I find a substitute for MtDew... a coke product so that my mom can enter it in for her mycockrewards account. Vault. It is slightly different, but I am enjoying it. I had my first experience with vault red blitz which is a berry version which I loved! But I can't seem to find that anywhere. so, I stick to the original.

Friday:
For breakfast I had a bagelful... so yummy!
I have had all three flavors, original cream cheese, strawberry, and cinnamon. My favorite is the cinnamon because it is not an overwhelming cream cheese-y-ness, but the strawberry one is too separate, but the cinnamon is mixed in just right!
Then for lunch I had a craving for egg rolls... and my friend wanted to go to Jack in the Box, so I decided to get some egg rolls there... and to be honest, they were not bad!

Saturday: I do have an actual picture for what I did, but I will save that for a review for another day... so instead I will show you what my mom bought for me online since I have not been able to find any in Walmart, Target, Rite Aid, gas stations, etc.

A 12 count box of Natural Ice! (I was not looking for a box of 12 in stores, but just a single tube. I had been using my tweezers and bobby pins after my nail wasn't enough to dig out the remaining chap-stick! So now my addiction is filled, and my lips don't hurt real bad anymore, and I have a lifetime supply!! ...well, as long as 12 tubes last.

2010-01-17T21:32:00.000-08:00

On Friday I spent the day with my friend Devin...
He and I ran a few errands he wanted to get to since he lives in an extremely small town in Colorado, and needed to visit some specialty stores in Salt Lake...
First stop, lunch, we went to Bajios, delish.

Next stop... Lyon & Healy West. Before I go into more detail on what exactly kind of store this is, I must mention how artistic Devin is. He plays the drums, the guitar, he sings, etc. I had seen him at BYU-I in the guitars unplugged a few times, once as a drummer, once as a guitarist. Recently in our texting he mentioned how he had gotten into playing the cello... and when I met up with him on Friday he also confessed that he has started playing the harp!So, we go to Lyon & Healy West, in SLC which just so happens to be a historical site (a home of David O McKay if I remember right), and I was too nervous to take a picture cause as soon as we rang the door bell this lady unlocked the door and let us in... (but it was so cool, there were all these chairs set up on the porch... and I was going to get a picture of the plate that said when he lived there) and then I was too nervous to take pictures of the harps even though I had tons of amazing ideas on how to photograph them between the strings of another one... oy. Anyway, so the lady played three harps for us and Devin and I played a game to see which one we liked best, I liked the second one better because it had a more warm tone, but he liked the third best and I thought it had a more "tinkling" kind of noise, light and whatever, but he said it had a more full noise. Which is true... but I don't know much about harps or the noise they make.

So, after that we went to this art supply store so he could stock up on oil paints... he showed me a picture of one he had made for his parents... amazing! I thought that it was the photograph of which he based his painting off of... but no. It was indeed a picture of his painting.

After that we drove to a fish store... and anyone who knows Devin knows how much he loves fish... haha I had tried to get our double date for that night to be at the aquarium... but I was outnumbered. So he and I went to two different fish stores and got our own aquarium experience.

We then went and got some hot coco and looked at books! He researched some oil painting and I looked at some photography books, and then we looked at the dog dictionary!

Then we met up with Rachel and Randy for dinner at the Olive Garden:

I wish the waitress had taken it from the other angle or straight on, so that I didn't have a Devin head growing out of my head... But oh well.
After dinner we went to a movie, Surrogates. It was pretty good, but so warm in the theatre and I was getting real tired!

Saturday I had Brunch with Devin, and we attempted to go to an art museum... but it was closed because it was the weekend. Lame. So instead, he and I went to BMW to test drive a 5 series, then to Audi to test an A6... it was fun being in such fancy cars! Then he had to go hang out with his brother, so that was the end for us... I hung out at my grandparents house, had no mercy and beat my grandmother and cousin's wife at Ticket To Ride, and got to bed before 10:30!

Sunday, I slept in the car as much as possible for we left by 4 am... so this was my view for most of the day...

Looks like an airplane window, but no... it is the back window of the truck! I slept through Idaho entirely, and most of Oregon. I did really enjoy these clouds...

2010-01-17T19:58:00.000-08:00

Weekend Away
Well, my dad said he was planning on going to Utah and I said, take me! I am tired of working and would like a break! (And... to be honest, I had gotten a text from a guy I had a crush on for three years at BYU-I, and he moved to Colorado after graduating and he said, hey we should meet up somewhere sometime and I said, hot dog you got it! And so secretly I was planning on dating it up like none other in Utah since I can't seem to get guys to notice me here in Washington. anyway,) So then my friend Eli said, I would like to come along and visit my friends in Utah as well!
So, on Tuesday I packed.

I packed five shirts, two sweaters, a pair of light and a pair of dark jeans, sweater boots, two scarves, a fleece jacket, a wool peacoat, enough unmentionables, knee socks, ankle socks, toiletries, a hair dryer and a curling iron. All in one bag! (my friend Eli had three bags.)

So Wednesday we set off for the long haul. (At 4:30 AM mind you.)
I had intended to get a picture crossing each state line... but I was usually asleep.

Back story to explain the picture: well, first off, this is a picture of my dad and my friend Eli towing the truck since it broke down right outside of Mountain Home.
Now, back story. A week or two ago, my blazer's transmission went out.
I have never driven my father's truck.
I rode in the back seat the whole trip, except for the stop at Mountain Home where Eli said, my turn to take a nap, you sit in the front seat and talk to your dad. (Now, when I was in the back seat it was so easy for me to fall asleep because for at least six hours straight those two boys were talking about cars, guns, mechanics, and guns, and guns, and off-roading adventures and guns and... you get the point.)
...So I sit in the front seat and guess what happens? Yeah. The transmission dies.

So... if you live near the greater Boise area and received a phone call from me... secretly I was trying to get you to come rescue us from the cold weather. I first called my dear friend Ellen, but I figured since I had texted her before then and she hadn't answered that she must be in school, so I didn't explain in the message I left that we were in need of being picked up. So then I proceeded to go through my phone alphabetically to see if I remembered who lived where. So then I called a married couple from my dance team, both were at work. So then I reach the K section and remembered I had an old roommate whose husband owns a huge truck and they live right outside of Mountain Home... so I call her and they are willing to come tow us, so while we were waiting we took some silly pictures!
We got to their house late, well it was dark out and all the shops closed so we waited til morning to fix the truck, but my dad did so then we were on our way! But man it was soooo fun to visit my old roommate and her husband! (Katie and Brandon, and their little baby and new puppy and three cats!) It made me want to just take a road trip around the country later this year, with no time limits and nothing pressing... just me driving around and visiting old friends. Oh it would be so nice!

Anyway, so Thursday we are driving from Idaho into Utah...

when (back up, we had my uncle come up Wednesday from Utah to drive us to utah incase the car didn't get fixed, but it did, so I rode with my Uncle behind my dad and Eli [probably still talking about guns and cars etc])
all of a sudden it goes from being gorgeous out into a huge fog where they disappear!

2010-01-11T22:05:00.003-08:00

20 Books in 2010

I've decided to read at least 20 books this year. Seeing as I have already read one... shouldn't be too hard!

Murder Takes The Cake
I decided to read this book when I was on amazon.com looking up books to read on my Kindle, Nicholas. And I found this book, for free! So I said, suuure! (I have begun to realize how much of a freeloader I truly am!)
It was a simple and easy read, fun to hear about the different types of cakes that she is making... but at times I felt there were too many details about her decorating of the cake that didn't mean anything and didn't have a connection to anything or about the murder that had taken place.
But, for a free book, it kept me reading and I did enjoy it. Not too sure I am in love with it enough to get the second book in the series. Fun, and makes me wish I was better at decorating cakes! Haha

2010-01-11T19:28:00.000-08:00

I've decided this picture a day thing is pretty awesome, and it is like a photo journal. And that is really nice because I haven't been able to consistently keep a journal in quite some time... so I have been enjoying this assignment! Every day I think, hmm what is going to be my picture today? Well, on Wednesday it was some of the kids I help teach dance to.

Here they are doing a Viennese Waltz, and this kid in the picture is flashing an I love you sign, but I don't think he does it intentionally! He just does the arm line and this happens to be his hand position! It could be worse...
Oh, also, I think he proposed to me, for after he gets off his mission.

On Thursday I had to be at work by 8, so when I went outside at 7:30 to drive to work, I saw how gorgeous the sky was and said, Yes I will take a picture of you.

Friday I had to work at 5 am.
I was driving and thought the car lights looked really cool and then when I got to work I really liked how the rain looked on the windshield and tried to capture that.

Saturday
another driving in rainy conditions liking the way the lights looked...

Sunday

Had to be at work at 5. Got in the car at 4:58. Yikes.

Monday
I made dinner! Very simple, so delicious.

I like to call them Sloppy Turks cause I like how risque it is. haha

2010-01-05T21:33:00.000-08:00

So it turns out that my dog will become the default picture of the day... haha but she is so funny!

I thought it was funny to come home to see her in my bed, on my glasses, with all my electronics... so I positioned them all around her in a better way. I got a cover for my phone(Landon) today, it is zebra print and I like it!

I went to the gym today. Back up. I went to work today, but they didn't need my so I was sent home after two hours. I went to my sisters to play with her kids, then i went home and thought hmm.. gym or nap? PJ was on my bed sleeping so we took a nap...three hours later... haha I finally went to the gym after dinner, and I had such a great time! I ran a mile on one elliptical, the kind without the moving handles... then I switched to one with the moving arms, ran another mile. Stretched, lifted weights, ran another half mile, did some more stretching and some abs, finished another half mile and then I went into the cedar sauna for about ten minutes. Then I went tanning, and man I felt great! Before I went to the gym I had a terrible headache, maybe from taking such a long nap? I am not sure. Anyway, it was very rewarding to go.

Yesterday's picture:

My unveiling of my modeling for Snuggie! My friend Rachel made me this snuggie for Christmas, and it is nice! I do wish it had a pocket for my feet... but otherwise it is perfect for reading in, watching movies on the couch and taking naps!

Sunday's photo:

I liked the idea of this picture from in my head more than how it turned out. But I was driving and I was like, this is a sweet shot!

Saturday! Now that was a fun day. My sister had invited me to this crazy rockabilly/swing night. So I went with her, but we of course dressed up!! And I loved it.

Though she was calling my Lucy all night long... haha
Another photo I took that night was of the Seattle Space Needle. Now, you must know that I was hoping to get a fuzzy view of it and I quite like how the picture turned out, but I want to try this kind of shot again.

2010-01-01T22:44:00.000-08:00

I had every intention of going to the gym today. I got into my work out clothes, and then my dog burst into the room. I said, well PJ, I am going to the gym... Unless you want me to play with you. And honestly, she started jumping!! So, I went outside with her. We walked around my block twice, running when it wasn't a hill. And she was loving it!! So, I figured that would be okay... haha

When I went to the gym to work there were some people there, basically a typical Friday night.
Day 1 of photo-a-day:

Since she was so key to my success in working out today, I felt that she should be my photo subject! That... and it was super rainy. I do see myself finding a way to work rain into my photo shoots.

I also took a photo shoot of myself to re-enact this photo: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2116258560/tt0496424

2010-01-01T00:29:00.000-08:00

New Year's Resolutions
12 AM Jan 1st 2010
No more Chocolate
12:04 AM Jan 1st 2010
Ate whole candy bar and three truffles. Need new new years resolution.

Partially a joke, I would NEVER eat just three truffles! Ha... another joke. I would honestly never be able to give chocolate up, especially for a year. I bet I could try to do it maybe for a month. But... meh. No need to right now.

So, I don't usually make new years resolutions. In 07 I decided to make a new goal/resolution every month. I made it three months I think... January was no Hydrogenated Oils, February was no high fructose corn syrup, and March was no pizza...that was the one that ended the whole deal. haha

One thing I have been thinking of is trying to read a book a month and posting about it on my blog. (I have felt guilty about not posting anything... but also I was a little angry/upset/disappointed that there weren't very many comments about my nature pictures. I was hoping people would be blown away and that no one would stop commenting on them and that you all would be in awe of me! But then I remembered how little I actually comment on peoples blogs... and I decided to not be offended anymore. Isn't it amazing how such little things can really affect us? wow... long tangent.)

So it would kind of be a book of the month/book report sort of deal. I don't know if I really will do it, especially since I am already a member on goodreads.com and after I read a book and list it on there I rarely give my input on it... but that also has to do with how long after I have read the book. SO, that is one idea I have had.
Ellen gave me the idea of posting a picture every day. I like this idea, because it makes me use my camera more! Last year I wanted to use my camera more and actually have pictures from every month... I think I got closer to accomplishing that... but I am not sure if I really did.
I do enjoy taking pictures, trying to find the beauty (blog website, destination beautiful) and editing is a fun process too, because you can totally change the way you saw nature or yourself by changing little things like fill light or whatever.

So really what I am trying to say is that I want to blog more, take more pictures, and read more.

And today, being January 1st, I, like most of the entire planet, resolve to be healthy and go to the gym! I shall report back on A) If I even went.* B) The number of other people there. and C) how much chocolate I really had that day and if the gym even paid off.
(*disclaimer, I have to work at the gym so this applies only to me going to work out)

Also this year I want to become funnier. (I know, as if that is even possible!!)

:)

Is it working yet? ...how bout now? ...now?

ugh. Fine, I will continue on that quest.

2009-12-30T18:27:00.000-08:00

I've noticed an interesting habit of mine... naming things. Like my electronics, Dylan, Henry, Landon, Edward, DJiPod, Nicholas...
But I also name some of my clothing.

The Loralie Dress (which I don't really know why... I am not a big fan of Gilmore Girls, but for some reason this dress makes me think of that show.)

as seen on me in this photo

The Julia Roberts

for obvious reasons...

The Ugly Skirt (just because of the color really... but I love it!!)

which has always reminded me of this green skirt from West Side Story...

The Ten Dollar Dress

(not very clever... but I was shopping with my brother and he found this dress and it was only ten dollars! I was very excited.)

THE Little Black Dress

on me...

The Librarian Skirt

I'm not set on this name... but for now, The Graduation Dress

made famous in this picture...

The ones I do not have names for...

The one Rachel made for me with the fabric I fell in love with and sent to her:

2009-12-27T22:11:00.001-08:00

White Christmas 2009

2009-08-23T22:03:00.000-07:00

I decided to make it be a lazy Sunday where I sat around on my bed editing pictures! Honestly, I think I did it for over six hours... eek! But, I have had some encouraging feedback! So, I thought I would post a few of my favorites from the day.

In a field in Tremonton Utah

In the Kalaloch Forest (30 minutes from Forks... I think this is where Edward usually runs off to... haha)

Twin Falls Idaho

This one was taken by accident, but in San Diego

2009-08-13T22:22:00.000-07:00

New bands I have found and their cute music videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI4JLa0hbUw
Owl City with Fireflies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgBeu3FVi60
Matt and Kim with Daylight

Enjoy!

2009-08-09T03:03:00.001-07:00

2009-08-01T18:41:00.001-07:00

I've decided I want to go Hot Air Ballooning.

2009-07-18T12:10:00.000-07:00

Just so everyone knows (and is jealous)
I will be out of town for the next week... as I am going to Disneyland and San Diego!

See you in a week!

2009-07-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Male Bonding.