5 favorites

1. Fall Food: Caramel apples, of course! Especially when they are home made. (see picture)

2. Accessory: My rose ring, like always.

3. Movie Genre: Oddly enough, I have been loving action this month.

4. Gum: Tropical trident. It tastes like vacation.

5. Book: Sherlock Holmes. Ok, so I don't really think it is my favorite, but I am reading it now and I like it.

So, there you go. I hope everyone has as wonderful of a fall season as I am.

i'll get back to you

Some of you may have heard, some of you may not have, but I got to go to the beautiful city of Cancun Mexico for a week. And I loved it. However, I am going to divulge into the glory that was my vacation in a later post, because I do not currently posses the pictures that I would like to share with the information.

To give you a little teaser; I got to release brand-new baby sea turtles on the ocean beach, one at a time, by hand. One of the most amazing experiences of my life.

5 favorites (and by 5 I mean at least 15)

I know, I know, three in one day. Remember, I have next to nothing to do.

This is a special edition of 5 favorites because in this one I will be discussing something very important to me and dear to my heart. BOOKS! I couldn't possibly list down even half of amazing books that I have read, but I will try.

(I have decided to veto Harry, even though I love that series more than I can express, but I don't need to go there)

Also, I am not going to tell you why I love these books because I don't want to. If you want to read them because you trust my opinion and taste, then great, let's talk after, but it would take forever to explain what I love about them. And, honestly, these books are not for everybody.

1. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2. These is My Words (series)

3. The Alchemist

4. Dreaming of Dior

5. The Merchant of Venice

6. Pride and Prejudice

7. The Glass Castle

8. Jane Eyre

9. The Uglies

10. I Capture the Castle

11. The Ordinary Princess (I read this when I was in elementary school and I love it)

12. Life of Pi

13.The House of the Scorpion

14. The Kite Runner

15. The Count of Monte Cristo

That should do it.

the best

I don't know how to appropriately or accurately describe my experiences since I have graduated except to say that they have been the best. And this is a very inadequate representation of why, but this is why:

I got to spend time with my family...in Seattle...which I love
I also got to meet up with some friends...in Seattle...which, in case I wasn't clear before, I love
I got to go shopping, and if any of you know me, you know that I love shopping, window gazing, just looking at everything...and I got to do that in Seattle...which I - OK, I think you get it
I went to Dick's for the first time in a long time
I got to put together puzzles with my mom and sister, and I might add I did one all by myself and realized that I am actually pretty efficient in the art of puzzle-putting-together
I got to see Calvin, and he still loves me
I got to see Griffin, and he tried to eat my socks
I got to eat at my favorite Chinese restaurant
I got to sing at the top of my lungs the whole drive to Utah
I got to see an amazing friend and eat amazing Thai food with her, eat savory bakery with her, laugh with her, see a movie with her and then talk in her car until almost three in the morning
I got to play Lego Star Wars with Robert, and I am planning on doing that again, very, very soon
I got to read books that I wanted to

It's been the best.

you may call me stir crazy

Maybe, it is the fact that I just moved to a new state and life, and still have more moving to do within that state before the month is over. Maybe it's the fact that I still need to find a second job. Maybe it's the fact that I don't really have a whole bunch of responsibilities (which is new for me). Maybe it's all of those things combined and more.

Anyway, where is this going?

I started a new chapter of my life and decided that I really hated my blog. Because the style, while is a little my style, it really wasn't at the same time. And I know that doesn't make sense but I am perfectly fine with that fact. It needed to change. Maybe, in a day I will change it again! Oh, the suspense. I bet you now will check every day just for that... I know - yeah right.

i really love the 80's...

I am proud to say that I was born in the 80's! Granted, it was very nearly the 90's, but still.

This post will be devoted to a select few of my favorite 80's things. Note that I said select because I do not want to put you all into a coma from staring at your computer all day/night reading a ridiculously long post about mullets, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, acid wash jeans, Back to the Future, hair scrunchies and Molly Ringwald (I love Pretty in Pink).

The 80's was just bigger, badder, crazier and I'm pretty sure it was a whole lot of fun!

Let's start with music shall we? I totally dig 80's pop. I do, sorry but it is so dramatic and outrageous how could I not love it? Pat Benetar speaks to me.



Like I mentioned earlier, not even scratching the surface of 80's awesome-ness. So, don't judge me for not covering all of my bases.

As far as movies go, I do not even know where to begin. I have gone through many different phases of 80's favorites throughout the my years but these are my favorites right now.

Some Kind of Wonderful

I was introduced to this wonderful flick fairly recently and I love every minute of it. It has great lines like "This is what my girlfriend would look like without skin." Duncan is seriously one of my favorite characters. I mean who says "I think it's safe to say that this party is about to become a historical fact"? Awesome. Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson are perfect in their roles together, and if you've seen this movie, you know what I mean!

Willow

I am happy to say that I was lucky enough to grow up on this movie. Thank you Dad! This movie rocks and that's all there is to it. It is what spawned my little crush on Val...before he pretty much fell of the face of the earth. I watched it not too long ago and it is still as funny as it was before. The huge human snowball? Classic.

 

 

TMNT

I actually grew up on the 2nd movie, with the ooze and Vanilla Ice...But now, I love them both. Casey Jones (who also is Duncan in Some Kind of Wonderful) once again, is one of my favorites.
Go ninja, go ninja, GO!

Anne of Green Gables

This series was with me my whole childhood and I couldn't be more happy about it. It's perfect and I love it to this day. Gilbert Blithe is a dreamboat and Anne is enduring.

Dirty Dancing

"Nobody puts Baby in a Corner"

Also, another dancing move...
 

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

This movie is so ridiculous it couldn't be better. I can't decide if my favorite part is how dramatic it is, or the fact that SJP and her man in the movie win the dancing competition because the tumble across the stage.

Anyway, at college, one of my modern teachers for Halloween would have an 80's day for class and it was spectacular. Walking, no, strutting across campus with my friends in tutus jean jackets, oversize sweaters, big hair, and lots of color, it doesn't get better than that. We would then do the real thriller dance after watching the music video and some 80's hip hop. Bliss!

One of my favorite MJ videos...

Oh Madonna, you are outrageous! But Fabulous! Just like the 80's...in my opinion.

5 favorites

Yup, it is that time.

1. Albums:

Andy Grammer - Andy Grammer

 

 

Brad Paisley - This is Country Music
(In case you missed my 4th of July post...I MET HIM!)

Adele - 21

The Script - Science and Faith

2. Animal: The Panda!

they make me laugh

3. Outfit:

Yeah! I'm Graduating!

4. Drink: Dr. Pepper

this is what is getting me through my last week of school...and what got me through the Harry Potter premier

5. Movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

more coming about this...

tlc you kill me

I don't know what has been going on, but I really need to put a stop to it. I have noticed that the older I get, the less control I have over my emotions. I thought that is was supposed to get easier as you get older, guess I was wrong.

Granted, this is a very rocky time in my life just because all of the change I am dealing with and am going to have to deal with. I am graduating, saying goodbye to one life to dive head first into a brand new one. That freaks me out a little. There are a lot of people that I don't want to say goodbye to. There are also a lot of people that I do want to say goodbye to. Ha, joking... Point of the story, I have too many emotions swirling around. Happy ones, nervous ones, sad ones...etc.

The fact that I have started to grow more and more unstable has been coming to my attention any time I watch the channel TLC. I sound really pathetic right now, but I am owning it. I love TLC OK? It has some great stuff. Anyway, a few days ago I was watching one of my favorite programs on that channel, Say Yes to the Dress. I was watching it with my roommate, and there was a marathon, and it was a really happy thing.  During this marathon I cannot even own to how many times I started tearing up! There were so many sob stories, that I completely fell for like a sucker, and then to top it all of there was a commercial for a new program that was premiering about bringing soldiers home and surprising their families. Tear worthy? My emotions sure thought so. (Not that my emotions think? Whatever)

I guess what I am getting at is that I might break down at any moment, so do not be alarmed if you see this actually happen. Just ignore it. I would be most grateful! And to be honest, I think I have just a little right to be emotional. I have been thinking about college and all the people that have come in and out of my life, that is a lot of people! But now I'm ready for new adventures with my new soppy self! Bring it on Utah.

a very happy 4th

I love the 4th of July for many, many reasons. July, in fact, is one of my four favorite months. You see, July embodies everything that is summer. It is all about sun, fireworks, BBQ's, swimming, family, parties, friends, ice cream, late (warm) nights, the smell of grass, energy, hot dogs, sun glasses, warm wind, watermelon, sailing, cheesecake, color, Ray Charles, burgers, parks, caramel popcorn, walks, PLAY!

But anyway, back to the 4th. I love the 4th because it puts pretty much all of those activities into one day (or into one weekend depending on which day it falls on). Also, I love the 4th because it's somebody's birthday!

Yeah, my Dad is a sailor!

It's my Dad's birthday! And my Dad is awesome (see above picture). So that is just one reason why the 4th of July is also awesome.

It's also the great USA's birthday as well. And I really do love this country. Red, white and blue looks good on me!

I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm freeeee...

So this particular 4th of July I got to spend in Utah with my brother, Robert, and his wife, Megan, and my sister Amber and her family.

I was driving down on Saturday because Robert's awesome company Qualtrics was sponsoring Stadium of Fire this year and he got tickets for myself and Amber. David Archuleta and Brad Paisley were the stars this year and I was stoked.

Side note: the theme song from Stadium of fire is the lamest theme song I have ever heard, and I can't stop singing it.

Well, on Friday that awesome brother of mine called me to tell me that because he was the top seller for the quarter in the whole company he gets to go backstage and he was taking Megan and me with him! WAHAHAHAHAAA

At this particular moment I happened to be walking on campus, heading home after class, and there were plenty people surrounding me. That being said, it did not stop me from skipping and making loud exclamations of joy all the way home. Sure people looked at me like I was crazy, I have three words for them. Brad. Freaking. Paisley.

So Saturday I got in to Amber's, got spruced up and put on my black eyeliner, which I will have you know, I only pull out for special occasions when I want to make a little more of an impact. Yeah, this was a big deal.

Amber and I before the concert

We met up with Robert and Megan and some good friends of theirs and went to the pre-party where we enjoyed free J-Dawgs, chips, salad, watermelon, pop, and a Klondike bar to wrap it all up. That was a good time.
 
I was a little anxious by that time, because I was soon going to meet Brad. (We are on a first name basis now). We headed off to the stadium, and two wrist bands later (one for the private box that we got to partake of with some other Qualtrics peeps, one for Brad) and after standing in a very long line next to our buddy, the governor of Utah,  which is a whole other story, I got to meet Brad Paisley, shake his hand, take a picture with him, and make all of my 4th of July dreams come true.

He totally has his arm around me.

To say the least it was a magical night filled with many magical moments. The concert was great. A dude got taken out by a fence because a skydiver hit it with his flag... I got it on video.

You have to be patient through the first little bit, and then you can see the guy get taken out in the lower right hand corner. My favorite part is that pretty much every service man runs for the flag and not one of them pays attention to the guy on the ground.

DAVID!

BRAD!

The fireworks were pretty good as well. My favorite fireworks were the ones that misfired a little and almost took out a whole slew of people in the stands that were watching dangerously close to where the fireworks were being shot off from behind the stage, (STADIUM ON FIRE!) and also the very last ones that made you feel like you just got blown up. Talk about adrenaline rush. It was the perfect 4th of July celebration, only to be followed by more awesome celebration.

Robert in the box wearing Megan's hat. Legit.

However, I will say that after having VIP treatment, like a nicer bathroom that a limited amount of people could use, meeting the performing artist before the concert, having dinner provided before the concert, as well as treats and an air conditioned room during the concert, I think I have been ruined. I want all my future concerts to be that way. This could be a problem for sure.

wristbands = happiness

On the actual 4th (Stadium of fire was on the 2nd) Robert, Megan, and I went to see X-Men First Class. I like that movie, and not just because it has one of my favorite actors in it....

James McAvoy - mmmhmm

But moving on, we closed out the 4th with a delicious dinner from Amber and some of the best col-de-sac fireworks display I have ever seen, complete with invading parachute army men. Basically it was one of the best 4th of July celebrations I have ever had. I can't wait until next year.

five favorites

It is yet time again for a brief look at five of my favorite things at this moment.

1. That the Collegiate Dance Concert "Just Dance" was a total success, selling out both nights (and also our FHE that we hosted had over 1200 people in attendance). Not bad!

2. Movie trailer: I cannot wait to go to this movie premiere!  

3. Nail polish color: neon pink

4. Missionary: Amanda Beukers. I miss her.

5. Long lost picture: 

The people in this picture are also my favorite. (Not including myself; that would be complete narcissism) 

i dedicate this post to t$

It's June 16^th and this is a very special day. Today is the day that my beautiful sister Tara, also known as t$, was born! So my post today is dedicated to her. 

 

My sister Tara is one of the coolest people that I know and I am not just saying that because she's my sister or because she secretly aspires to be like P!NK.

We have been through a lot together. She's the reason that I take long drives for no reason at all; she is the reason that I always die my hair when I get stressed out; she is the reason that I have awesome reflexes; she's the reason for a lot of things. 

as you can see, we are usually extremely serious when together

But really though, my sister Tara is one of the nicest people I know. I was really sad when she left for college, partly because I couldn't borrow her clothes anymore, but also because I was going to miss her. She used to write me letters from college and take me out when she came home. She has always, ALWAYS supported me in everything that I have done. She has always been there for me, when I am happy, she celebrates with me, when I'm down, she helps me get back up, and she threatens to beat people up who are mean to me (just kidding). She's the kind of older sister that everyone should have.

I was performing a lot in high school and junior high and I had all these different events, and no matter what she was doing, where she was she would always call me or pull me aside and give me a pep talk. I remember one time it was her senior prom and when others would be focusing on themselves, she focused on me, an awkward, nervous adolescent.

I call her almost everyday and she still answers the phone, even though she knows I usually have nothing but nonsense to say. And for the record, she actually let me borrow her clothes, I didn't have to steal them from her closet! How awesome is that? 

Also, she doesn't judge me because I love the reality TV show Survivor, in fact she even tried watching it once and now we share that love. And she didn't judge me when I was craving puffy cheetos and bought some; she ate them with me to the point of farctate [the state of being stuffed with food (overeating)]!

Anyway, my sister rocks. She is just someone that you always want around and I cannot wait to see her in 22 days! Yes, I am counting down. You would too if your sister was as awesome as she is. Happy birthday Tara! I love you.

you have to see this

In no particular order, here are a few of my all-time favorite black and white movies...

Sabrina (original): Starring Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart

I love Audrey and I love Humphrey...put the two together and it's magical! Audrey’s Sabrina is youthful and although she is more mature and confident when she returns home from living in Paris, she is still youthful in her aspiration and desire for love. It's a beautiful film with great characters with just the right balance of conflict and resolve. A classic romance, brought to you by great, classic actors. Oh, and Audrey looks fabulous as usual,and Humphrey looks debonair, as usual.

Some like it Hot: Starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis

This movie is one of my favorite comedy's, even out of the black and white category. With a sizzling Monroe, Lemmon and Curtis in drag, a mob problem, set in a tropical location, and let's not forget one of my favorite funny accent ever, it's a perfect recipe for a classic romantic comedy.

It Happened One night: Starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert

I cannot adequately express my love for this movie. I am not sure why I fell in love with it but I did. It's not a very fast paced movie, but for some reason it catches you and holds on. Maybe it's Clark Gable's charm; maybe it's because his name in the film is Peter, which is a very charming name; maybe it's the way Claudette Colbert makes her character so easy to relate to. I'm pretty sure it is actually all of those things and then some. Watch it, you won't regret it.

The Philadelphia story: Starring Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and Katherine Hepburn.

This movie is so well done and so well acted with Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and Katherine Hepburn. I don't know if I really need to say more than that to convince you to watch this movie. I remember watching for the first time and finding myself unsure of how I even wanted it to end. It's safe to say I was completely invested in their tangled story.

Casablanca: Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman

I know choosing this movie is probably cliché but it is still a great movie. It has it all, action, intrigue, romance, and one of the best lines ever, “here's looking at you kid”. In case you haven't noticed yet, I have a little thing for Humphrey Bogart. Make that a big thing...I think he is a total dreamboat.

Arsenic and Old Lace: Starring Cary Grant and Priscilla Lane
This movie is silly and a good time. I watch it every Halloween and I think it is one of my best traditions to date. It's funny as well as a little creepy and disturbing. What's not to love?

The Wizard of Oz: Starring Judy Garland and Toto (and a whole lot of other people that I am not going to mention). This one is cheating just a little since it is mostly in color, but it starts and ends in black and white right? So, back off and just enjoy the movie. It is still so captivating because of how colorful it is...wait this is about black and white movies so I will quickly end by saying it's iconic, it means a lot to me, and Somewhere Over the Rainbow, which is sung in the black and white section (score!) is still one of my favorite songs.


His Girl Friday: Starring Cary Grant (I must like him too, but who doesn't?) and Rosalind Russell
Cary Grant does his usual awesome job and I like Rosalind's strong female character.

I could probably go on forever, actually, I did just that. Anyway, there are three more that I just HAVE to mention and they are...

The Big Sleep: Starring Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, surprise!
I think one of the main reasons I liked this one is not only because of the scandal, but because real-life couple Bacall and Bogart play the main characters. You cannot dispute their natural chemistry; it really is amazing. Love it.




Swing Time: Starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
They are perfectly matched. They are great performers and dancers and they have great chemistry. This long list would not be complete without one of their movies up here, and this one happens to be extremely entertaining. Ginger Rogers plays a perfectly sweet, innocent part and Fred Astaire's character is enduring. Also, a little tidbit, more of a rumor really, but it is said that in any of their films together they didn't actually kiss. You can kinda tell...but this movie is still worth it!

A Street Car Named Desire: Starring Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh
SSTEEEEEEELLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAA! I think that says it all.