SCATTERBRAINED

today i got a 70 on my american heritage test. considering that i've been studying for the past almost-week, i was a bit disappointed. study sessions, lavender rice bags, hours devoted solely to this dreaded subject, 7:30 am wake up on a saturday for a review session, talking to the ta, and more studying... that's what got me a 70. kill me.

sometimes, when you just feel like life is too much, and the rain outside threatens to make you want to pull your hair out, you have to put your sweats on, drink some hot chocolate, and curl up to take a nap. it's just necessary. (and, just to add, it was probably the BEST nap i have ever had. ever.)

getting ready is so inconvenient, i find myself dreading it. would anyone really have a problem with me showing up to school in pajama bottoms and an over-sized T-shirt? and my moccasin slippers?

okay, yeah, i guess i should get ready.

the snow on the mountains, while it is pretty, makes me want to move somewhere tropical. where is the season we call fall? the leaves are still green down here, weatherman. and yet the white stuff floating around in the air and the fact that i can see my breath spells winter. BOO. however, it is kinda fun to be here at school with all these people who have never seen snow before. they're going out of their minds crazy about it. "snow! snow?! oh my gosh, it's snowing! can you see that?!" and i just want to say, "yeah, snow. it comes in october and it doesn't leave until april or may, and by january i'm sick of it." and one more thing about snow. people who post "it's beginning to look a lot like christmas!" on facebook drive me crazy. it's not even halloween yet, people!

i just read the above paragraphs. i sound like negative nancy. sorry.

(switching to positive polly.)

it's always fun to make a big pot of mac and cheese and bust open the oreos. maybe some chocolate ice cream? bring on the freshman 15! haha! (i'm kidding. kind of. i don't eat like that all the time. in fact, i've been rather proud of myself. thanks, mom, for teaching me how to eat healthy. even though i made fun of you for it.)

i love my roommates. all ten of them. and you wonder, how can that be? wyview has three girls to an apartment! well, my roommates are really dana and morgan. and dana's roommate over the summer was elyse. and dana's best friend from high school is melina. and melina's roommates are allie and haley. and julia is my best friend. and her roommates are tessa and jessica. and julia's roommate from the summer was aubrey. and there you have it -- ten girls. i consider them all my roommates, and some of my best friends :)

i've been pretty good about bedtime this week (figuring that it would help my score on my american heritage test! fat chance). tonight is an exception. 2 am again, oops. sorry, mom. i'll be better. this scatterbrained brain needs its rest.

goodnight blog. until next post.

RELAXED & EMBARRASSED

tonight i was feeling very stressed. school, finances, work, boys, and people were weighing down on me. on top of that, i needed to study for my american heritage test coming up this week. i decided that in order to achieve the best possible studying, i would do the following:

1. dim the lights
2. warm up my lavender rice bag and put it over my eyes (a little therapy before homework)
3. put on relaxing music (shine by william joseph)

so, i'm sitting there in the armchair, breathing in the scent of lavender and de-stressing before i studied, when i heard snickers from the couch.

hmm.

i ripped the lavender bag off my eyes and demanded, "what?!"

and the response? "nothing." very suspicious. i jumped off the armchair and turned dana's computer around. this is what i saw:

wow. okay. thank you, roommates. another picture for facebook to see. as embarrassing as it is, i decided my blog followers would probably enjoy it as well.

MY FAVE GEN CONF

i have never felt more spiritually uplifted by general conference before -- ever. in my entire life. perhaps it's because i'm at college? away from my family? perhaps because i needed it? perhaps both.

i was able to go to the saturday afternoon session with julia and james. being there, in the conference center, is an absolutely incredible experience. i don't even think i could express my love for that place. it felt like all the talks were meant for me! and when we all stood up, singing "praise to the man" while knowing that the world was watching, i couldn't help but get emotional. i love this gospel. i feel the lord's love for me so much. i am grateful to be alive, attending brigham young university, surrounded by the gospel each and every day. what a blessing!

a few (a very few) highlights:

• it's better to look up!
• let us be as quick to kneel as we are to text
• the atonement is for us all -- no matter our circumstance, how big or small our mistakes are, or how inadequate we feel
• motherhood is not a responsibility, it's a calling
• we need to be better about doing family history
• we are members of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints!

ps. i want to get married in the salt lake temple. i love it.

LAUNDRY (UGH)

laundry is such a pain.

underwear and socks have to be washed every time. really? ugh! and also... you wear something a few times, it gets stretched out, and it doesn't fit right. then you get all that saggy-bum-jeans goin' on, and the stretched out sleeves of your favorite sweaters. so what do you have to do? wash it. and then you have to sort all of it, lug it clear across wyview to the laundromat, sort it into different washers, and after all that -- you have to pay MONEY to do it!

i hate laundry.

it's necessary.

ugh.

ugh.

ugh.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"this life is what you make it. no matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. but the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. girls will be your friends -- they'll act like it anyway. but just remember, some come, some go. the ones that stay with you through everything -- they're your true best friends. don't let go of them. also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. keep trying, hold on, and always, always believe in yourself -- because if you don't, who will, sweetie? so keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling. . .

. . . because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about."

-- marilyn monroe

OPTIMISTIC!

after a sad weekend, i'm ready to start this week off with a positive attitude.

sometimes, when something sad happens (such as my dog dying), i get so bombarded by all the sad/bad things that are happening to me and feel like i will never be happy again. how ridiculous is that?! i am soo blessed.

these things make me happy today.

goofy sister whom i love dearly.

mac and cheese... mmmmm.

completely self explanatory.

jewels. my best friend.

new favorite song.. such a good one!

family. i love them so much.

mom, whit, park, me, jare, dad

(even though my dad looks mentally handicapped in this picture)

...

haha. love you dad.

bandit

how many times did i complain about "that dumb dog"? how many times did i yell that he was being too loud, or that he was too stinky, or really annoying when he followed me around, or that his barking just had to stop?

and yet. . . i loved when he jumped up on my bed and cuddled next to me. i loved when he came trotting out from underneath a bed whenever someone called "bandit?" i loved when he laid down at my feet when i was watching a movie, or reading, or eating, or sewing, or doing homework. i loved when he would chase me around the yard, barking and wagging his tail and then plopping down in the grass like the happiest little dog alive. i loved when he jumped up on his hind legs and "clapped" when he wanted a treat. i loved how he was always there to keep me company. i loved when i picked him up and he rested his little head on my shoulder.

i loved our little dog. he's gone now, but i think he's in a better place. great-grandpa wilcox is taking care of him. we'll miss you bandit. we love you.

this isn't the best picture of him, but the only one i had.