my big fat Greek experience

Study Abroad was non-stop art. We had free time, but mostly our days were packed full. I loved every second of it. First stop was Greece...

We were in Greece for 4 days.

saw the Parthenon. loved it.

ate some Greek food. interesting, but good.

saw some amazing artifacts. loved them.


went to the beach with lovely girls. so beautiful.

saw some huge temples, like the Temple of Zeus. so huge.

That was a mere droplet in the bucket. I saw so many amazing things in Greece. It was the perfect place to start our journey.

Next is Italy....

Song of the Week: Love Like Crazy by Lee Brice. I love this song so much. It's just precious. No matter how many people refuse to believe in you, you can always prove them wrong. Because love can make it through anything.

And..........She's BACK

Wow, two months with no blogging. I have SO much to catch up on.

Europe was

A M A Z I N G

Seriously the best time ever. I can't wait to tell you all about it! I'm still going through my pictures. I took thousands. literally.

Even though my wonderful trip is over, I'm going to relive it through my blog for a couple weeks :) because I miss it a lot!!

So I hope you're ready.

E to the Europe

Don't worry everyone, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.

I've just been in Europe having the time of my life.

When I have time to post pictures, i will :)

i heart art...among other things

So, graduation is coming up

And while I'm so very excited to celebrate my amazing accomplishment,

I may be slightly more exited to see this face:




I'm trying to stay motivated to study for finals. heck I'm trying to stay motivated to do anything this week. other than watch Veronica Mars (and plan my week with Jantz and dream about Europe). I'm only a little bit obsessed...



It still hasn't sunk in completely that I'm leaving to another country - another continent - in

9 days.

No seeing my friends, no talking to anyone (well, except for the brief "I'm here, I'm alive, I miss you, and I really love you" phone calls), no time to think, no break from the horde of girls I'll be spending all of my time with (not that i don't love girls, i am one after all, i just don't pride myself on befriending them), no familiar comfort foods/places/people to turn to.

Of course, there are about a million amazing things that I will be doing. And I can't wait for those parts :) such as.....

seeing my most favorite works of art
walking on ancient ruins
walking through hundreds of museums and churches
eating delicious culinary creations
being immersed in different cultures
really feeling like an art historian - like i'm finally legit
did i mention looking at art? that is by far going to be my favorite part. because

I heart art
(with an extra emphasis on the heart part)

on a side note...
i keep wanting to spell
among, "amoung".
what is up with that?

Song of the Week: Today was a Fairytale by Taylor Swift. So cute. And, well, a girl in love can't really not love this song I think.

dear shopping

I miss you terribly.

having no money has torn us apart.

Lately it's been dresses I envy. Now that summer is finally creeping around the corner, I'm getting antsy to wear dresses and skirts. Here are just a few that have caught my eye...

un-twill we meet again dress

crewel to be kind dress

chocolate chip dress

corner booth dress
(love this one)

bronzed goddess dress
(LOVE brown)

all of these lovlies can be found here

So shopping, I hope we can soon meet again. Perhaps in Paris? or Italy?

EurOpe

My summer adventure is quickly approaching. I think I have 22 days left. whoa. I'm getting more and more excited. My backpack finally came and I'm looking forward to cramming all of my belongings into it:




I'm most excited for the food. In case you didn't know, I LOVE FOOD. I'm planning on making these apart of my regular European diet:




Oh, and you can be jealous now :)

I could really go for some....

cheddar broccoli potato soup
(in a bread bowl of course)

right now

this schizophrenic Utah weather really needs to go away

Song-of-the-week: goodness, it's been a while. I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes by Dierks Bentley. yes i know the subject matter, but i don't even care. i love it too much. his voice is so nice. plus his name is Dierks. enough said.

one month

I will be landing in Athens exactly one month from today. Then I get to spend the next 8 weeks traipsing around Europe (with 23 other girls). I'm getting more and more excited to go.

Museum's everyday.
Pretty much my dream come true.

I've been doing some "research", aka picture-looking, of each of the places we're going. Maybe I'll post some a little later. So you can be even more excited for me :)

For now I should probably focus on finishing up the last few weeks of my undergraduate career...

why oh why

Why do I love procrastinating so much?
I'd like to tell you that I hate it, but,
I kind of like waiting until the last minute,
when the deadline is so close i can feel the excitement
of finishing something and not having to think about it ever again.
because then I get motivated to get things done
.....well, motivated, but much more vocal
about hating myself for being such a slacker.

On the other hand, I also love not having
to think about the due date.
I just have to pull it out and turn it in.
that's pretty good feeling too.

Every semester I tell myself that i'm going to be SO on top of things and finish way early.
(It's the research papers that get me the most)
And every semester, i find that i put it off again, somehow.
Well ok, I've gotten a little better over the years.
It's more fun now. Less miserable.
But I need to get much better at it if I'm ever going to survive another two years.

SO..............................I guess I should get back to finishing my awesome senior thesis

and here's a cute picture that i'm quite fond of, just for funsies
(someday I'll figure out why Jantz loves his moccasins so much)

sometimes the impossible happens

by some miracle...

I GOT ACCEPTED INTO THE MASTER'S PROGRAM FOR

I'm pretty much still in shock!

I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me along :)
I wouldn't have gotten this far without lots of love

Graduating with a bachelor's is one thing
that i'm very grateful for

but getting a master's degree
is definitely something
i won't be able to do alone

so thanks for the past,
and a special thanks for the future :)


I CAN'T WAIT!

cooking night = most excellent idea

Saturday was quite a day. I had to say goodbye to Jantz, which just about broke my heart (but more on this later....)

A bunch of my amazing girly friends got together and made our own version of PF Changs lettuce wraps. They were so good. I thought they tasted exactly like the real thing. I think it would be a most delicious weekend meal to make with some super awesome roommates....when i get them, of course (can't wait for summer!).

maybe along with with an equally amazing dessert. but what?

i'm no addict, but i sure do love it

tonight I got me some diet coke. and let me tell you,
it was the best beverage decision i've made all day.
all week maybe.
i can't deny that i love it.

it just makes me so happy..........well, as happy as a diet carbonated drink can.

i mean, it's certainly no person.

baking does crazy things to me sometimes

Today I made some chocolate chip cookies. I didn't realize how excited I was to make them until I started dancing.

in the kitchen.

yeah, it was special.

I'm not what you would call a "dancer", and with good reason.

But, the little girl in me wanted a Cinderella moment. And so I let her have one. because making cookies is just that exciting.

Next step is getting Prince Charming by my side.

Song-of-the-Week: wow, I haven't had one in a while. Paparazzi by Lady Gaga. Because, how can you not dance to this?

P.S. I love your clothes

I watched P.S. I Love You the other day, and I remember how much I love Hilary Swank's clothes in this movie.

I love her shoes (and hair) most of all, but i couldn't find any good pictures of them, so you'll just have to watch the movie to look at them :)

I love her coats. so classy

I love her dresses

not to mention this guy. so adorable

full

I'm so happy right now. Words can't even express it. I'm just,
happy.

I feel so incredibly blessed, so incredibly loved, and so incredibly full of love. I don't know if I deserve all of these feelings.

But I wouldn't give them up for anything in the world.

I must really like Colorado....trip #4

I'm going to Colorado tomorrow until Sunday to party it up with Jantz. I must say I'm really excited. We're going to have so much fun. Plus I won't have to work or go to class, which is extra nice. Oh and the fact that I'm going to see an amazing boy doesn't hurt either. On the agenda so far is (in no particular order)....

eat at Chipotle
go to the gym (preceded by buying me some better gym clothes)
maybe watch the chronicles of narnia (yep, never seen them)
get cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory. yum
go see Lovely Bones
eat at Guatalajara. so excited for this
watch CSI:NY. it wouldn't be right without some of this.
oh and....have tons of fun the entire time.

Hopefully I won't die on the plane ride over there...



Speaking of flying...I'm buying tickets to Europe this week. This study abroad thing is getting more and more real. In exactly 3 months from today I'm going to be one of these people (but hopefully not the lady in the white pants. tacky):

muse

Lyrics. Do you ever hear lyrics that you instantly fall in love with? That repeat in your head over and over again. Maybe because their catchy, but maybe because they fit you almost perfectly. Here are a few to share:

"I know I feed your desires
to wear red lipstick and be dressed for the kill.
I'm sorry I fed those desires
because I've been murdering your soul"

-Dressed to Kill by Landon Pigg

"If you let me have my way
I swear I'll tear you apart"

-Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis by Brand New

"I wanna kiss you
But if I do then
I might miss you, babe"

-LoveGame by Lady GaGa

"Something must've made you say that
What did I do to make you say
That to me?

Something must've made you so mad
What can I do
To make you say
Come back to me?"

-Stay by SafetySuit

"How 'bout you don't,
don't even move
Let me hold you, show you
that I still love you"

-How 'Bout You Don't by The Lost Trailers

20 + 10 = 30

...just making sure I can still do math in 2010. apparently I can.

So. new years resolutions. I've mostly just been thinking about all that has happened last year. So much happened, all in one year. A lot bad, but so so so much good. I really think it's been my best year yet. I'm even grateful for the bad stuff. because it made me stronger and led me to the good stuff. I was reading my "new years" post from last year and I realized that I actually did accomplish some of the things that I wanted to (which is extra surprising because I haven't looked at those "goals" probably since I wrote the blog). So, I chose a choice part from each goal to sort of check off to myself (and to you) that I did it.

I wanted to be "'fine with whatever happens in my life because I can be happy no matter what or who is in my life". I feel like I did a pretty good job with this. I found ways to be happy without relying on anyone else but myself. I got to learn more about what I actually enjoy in life. Of course, I also realized how much I need my friends. Friends fill a place in my life that just can't be replaced. I've made so many new friends this year that I hope to keep for life. For this year, I want to work on making the gospel a constant in my life that I can really rely on. Because no matter how lonely and hard life can get, I can always turn to that. And if Heavenly Father can't bring happiness, then nothing can.

I wanted to "maintain this "healthiness"". I must say I'm very impressed that I still look the same as I did last year. I haven't even tried. In fact, I still eat a lot. But I haven't gained any weight (I hate girls like that by the way. ha). So, I guess this year I want to keep it up. Maybe even throw some healthier food in there and maybe even some trips to the gym (....maybe). Actually, another goal this year is to cook more (like actually cook) and eat more fruits and vegetables.

I wanted to "read more books and research more about things I've always wanted to learn about". Yeah, I didn't do too great with this one. I mean, for school I do a boatload of research. But, I wanted to do that stuff when it wasn't for a class. And this year, I even more want to do that. I feel like if I really want a career in the Art History world then I need to prove it. I need to learn as much as possible. If is this really what I love to do, then I should probably be doing it even when I'm not told to. And I want to. I'm just lazy sometimes (ok a lot of times). This year I want to do my own research on things that really interest me. I think I'll enjoy learning a lot more if it's for myself.

I wanted to "stop worrying so much about other people and more about myself" specifically concerning "this whole decision-making problem". Oh decisions, how you haunt my life. Ha. But really. I've done so much better with making my own decisions. Mostly because I told friends about it and so they helped me (and continue to do so :). Granted, I'm still nowhere near where I want to be. But, I've made a lot of progress. And with that came a focus on myself. Not on being selfish. But on (as cheesy as it sounds) listening to what I want. And making decisions based on that and not on what other people want me to do. It's been....weird. But also, nice. This year I want to work on being even better about making decisions and being more assertive. Mostly just, I want to be happy.

So, there's my resolution post. Glad that's out of the way. Now onto an amazing year filled with so many changes and even more fun than last year.

look how happy

I know it's a little late, but last last Saturday, the 19th, my best friend in the whole world got married. She was such a beautiful bride and she looked so happy standing next to her new husband, Jared. Of all the guys out there, I'm glad it was him who won her heart.

I'm so happy for you Deb!

go to bed

Yep, it's 3:30 in the morning. I went to bed at 4 on Sunday night. And like 5 last night. Woke up at 2pm. I know. madness. I really need to go to bed. I have so much grading to do tomorrow. 40, 5-7 page papers and 40 essay tests. I'm spending all day just grading. You should ask me about it to make sure I'm really doing it.

I saw Invictus on Monday. It was really good. That rugby is crazy. Like, whoa. And Morgan Freeman does an amazing job. Inspiring. And the corn dog and ice cream cone I had whilst watching it definitely didn't hurt.

I saw Avatar in 3D too. That was really good. I was iffy about it, but I enjoyed it a lot. And the main guy? really attractive. just sayin. I think I would even be ok seeing it again. all 3 hours of it.

Song-of-the-Week: Happy by Leona Lewis. I really like this song and especially the music video. It's a good one. And, I think we're all just trying to be happy.

bloggy blog

So much has happened this week. A lot good and a lot bad. I don't know which to focus on. The good I think. The bad makes me too sad. So, the good:

I got offered to be a TA next semester (woot woot!) for our dear Professor Magleby. I'm really really really excited. I didn't think they would want me again.

I finished all my papers and such on time. Finals should be a breeze compared to my last week.

I still haven't adequate sleep since.....I don't even remember, last Tuesday or Wednesday I think. Yesterday was a beasty tired day. Today is a little less....this sounds like a bad part haha. The good part is that my body is amazing for staying awake and not hating me too much for not taking good care of it.

I get to throw Deb a bridal shower tonight. I'm super excited. I hope it's good. I don't think I'll ever compare to the friend that she is to me. I feel so priveledged to be her bestie and maid of honor. I feel like such a loser friend. She's just so amazing. So, I hope she loves the shower. Because, I love her :)

I've had so much fun this week with friends. They're worth getting less sleep for.

And speaking of being a TA, I better not be late to my Review Session, which starts in 12 minutes.

OH!! AND, I got accepted to go on Study Abroad in Europe during Spring term!!! I'm ecstatic! but, more on this later :)

loves.

love them

I went to Temple Square on Monday with Laura, Jess, and their ward (I think maybe my first fhe attendance this semester ha). It was super cold. But also super pretty. It's really the same every year, but, it's always a different experience with different people. It was really fun. I just love these girls to death.

I had my own personal tv on the plane, so I watched the food network the whole time. loved it.

Back in Utah. not very excited about it. New Jersey was just way too good. this week was so much fun. i loved every second. I took a bunch of pictures, I'll try to post some soon. Here's one now for your enjoyment, Spiderman up close and personal:

party in New Jersey

My mother and I are leaving in a few hours to spend Thanksgiving in New Jersey with my awesome aunt and her family. Hopefully we get to go to the Met, which, let's be honest, would be my most favorite thing. I get to maybe go to the Thanksgiving Day Parade too. I get to make pies and be with family. I'd say a pretty good holiday week.

I guess I better go start packing.....

I haven't been able to come up with a good song of the week for a couple weeks, mostly because all the songs I want aren't on playlist. but, I've listened to this song a lot recently (and I also love the show :). love it:

Song-of-the-Week: Take a Bow by the cast of Glee (really just Lea Michele) I don't know why I've loved this song so much, but boy have I. Evertime it comes on my ipod I think, sad song, change it. but then it keeps going, and I love it. And my shout-out to Glee is that I love it. You should watch it.

Twenty 2

I guess it's about time I write a blog haha.

My birthday was pretty much fantastic.

Thursday was a surprise birthday dinner/party. People just kept popping up: Derek, Amanda, Maria, my mom, Joel, Spencer. I have such cool friends. Amazing hamburgers and onion rings (my fave) and delish eclairs. Oh, and the coolest part, goodie bags, provided by my awesome mom. Very appreciated presents. So unexpected. So fun. Pretty much exactly what I needed.

Friday was a delish homemade dinner with Deb, Nikki, and Trisha. Awesome presents that I will treasure for always. Followed by an excellent girls night of movie-watching. A night with my bestie. I'm afraid the days for such partying are few, so it was a perfect present.

Saturday was a full day of RB (aka racquetball) and delcious sushi with Maria, dinner with my super cool family. really good pizza and the best chocolate cake ever. adorable niece who I think finally knows who I am and actually likes me. I love family time. Then movie with Maria and friends. 2012. intense. homework til 3. Slept at my dad's because my fear of slippy roads is extremely high these days.

Sunday - the BIG day. Recieved many a text and phone call, all of which I loved. It really turned into several days of partying followed by a day of relaxing on my actual birthday. Which really was all I could have asked for. I slept until 1:30 in the afternoon and it was amazing. Had some good, much needed talks with the parents. got really emotional - tears of happiness and relief. Felt extremely loved and undeserving of such love and presents.

Unfortunately, the only pictures taken were at the party on Thursday. so that is what I'm providing you with:

THANKS EVERYBODY!!!

Sometimes grading is awesome

I found this nice little surprise at the end of a test:

"Not part of my essay!: I pay well! How about I give you $20 if you give me an A! Haha just kidding I only have $5 I can give you for an A :) cuz I'm a poor freshman with no spare cash!"

bribing, really?

I think he is my new favorite.

artsy fartsy

today has been kind of blah. so, in an act of desperation to make my day feel somewhat accomplished, i have come up with some words about the love of my life that is art...

I love art. Here are some things I love about it. I love art that makes you feel something. i love emotion. that makes you pause at the beauty. that makes you question everything you've ever known. i love drapery. the folds. the movement. the contrasting light and dark. i love color. bold color. beautiful combinations that make art worth looking at.


my hands-down favorite work of art. Nike of Samothrace.
whenever i feel like my life is crashing down, I like to look at this. she has just flown down and barely landed onto a ship. she looks so victorious. like, she can do anything. she is that powerful and confident. i love the drapery. like it's fighting against the forces of the wind. the forces of the world are upon her and she has no hesitation in taking it on.





I think this work is precious. it's not necessarily one of my favorites, but i definitely like it. it's Joseph and child by Guido Reni (one of my faves for sure). before this time, Joseph was rarely shown as being apart of Christ's life. but this painting. it's such an intimate relationship between Joseph and his son. He looks so entranced by Christ - like a father with his newborn baby. and Christ's response is playful and just, cute. i love seeing such cute relationships between fathers and their children.





I randomly found this on the internet a long time ago. Konstantin Flavitsky's Princess Tarakanova. There was a legend that she got locked in a room which then got flooded. she had no way out. she must accept her fate, whether she wants it or not. she has a look of such dispare. like life has given her the impossible and she feels utterly alone and helpless. i think we all feel like this sometimes. i know i do.

Sister from another Mister

My bestie's birthday was yesterday. I hope she had a great day. She deserves it. School + graduation + planning a wedding + coming home to a messy apartment (and maybe messy roommate?) = need for some amazing birthdayness.

Thanks for putting up with me all the time Deb, you're the best best friend I could ask for.

Since I didn't take any pictures yesterday (terrible, I know), here is one of my favorite recent pictures of us:

If I had my own fashion show

the runway would be covered in leaves. because it would look so cool when the models walked through them. whenever i've walked home the past week, the ground is covered in leaves. and i love to kick them up as i walk. it's way too fun. it's nice having those little moments where i'm not thinking about anything important.

remember:

this









plus this












= really cool

Song-of-the-Week: All the Right Moves by OneRepublic. I love this song. Loved it from the moment I heard it...the second time. it gets stuck in my head sometimes, and then i listen to it, and then i'm happy. i think this would be a pretty cool runway song i think, which is fitting :) Unfortunately my lovely playlist.com doesn't have any songs by OneRepublic, so if you're dying to hear it, you can go here and watch it with the cool music video on YouTube. To compensate for no new song in my playlist, I've added Dressed to Kill by Landon Pigg. also love it. it gets stuck in my head too.

Pumpkins

I spent Friday night eating delicious home-cooked food

and carving pumpkins with my awesome family.

Here's mine. I think I like this pumpkin carving business.

Falling Slowly

Today as I walked home from campus, a wave of leaves fell from the trees. I wanted them to keep falling. I wanted to lay in them and roll around like a little girl. I know that falling leaves means the onset of winter, which I loath. But, for those few moments, I welcomed the beauty.

Song-of-the-Day: Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. From the Once soundtrack. I also love Kris Allen's version.

ROAD TRIP

Approximately one hour from now I will be on my way to California. Disneyland all day tomorrow. BYU football game on Saturday. With my super awesome friends Maria, Greg, and Derek. I hope to have lots of pictures to show you when I return.

Things are a Changin'

After talking to one of my Art History professors, who tried to convince me to stay at BYU to get my masters degree, I'm slowly - and I mean slowly - coming around to the idea. I went through a few days of complete shock that I may stay in Utah for another 2 years. It just wasn't in the plan. At all. I was getting excited to leave.

But. Maybe it would be nice to stay. As long as it's not forever.

Maybe more on this later....

i want my mommy

I know she's only a phone call away (10 minutes away even). But I know if I call her I'll start crying. Not because I'm sad - because I'm not - but just because. Because she's my mom and sometimes you just need a hug from your mom. To just hear her voice. Even when you're happy, which I am. Sometimes I try to be so independent that I forget how much I need her. Just to share happy moments with (and of course the sad ones too).

I feel like a little girl. I'm sitting at my desk at work. Near tears. Because I'm happy, but I still want my mommy. Like a 3 year old.

this one's for you deb...

Song-of-the-Night: Party in the USA by our dear Miley Cyrus

...because it's been stuck in my head since you sang it to me half an hour ago

humanism, symbolism, conference, and football

The football game on Friday was awesome. Very cold, but way fun. Also, at work we have this thing called "Cougarosity" where employees dress up for BYU football games when we play at home. I walked into my boss's office to ask him a question and the next thing I knew he was taking my picture because I was wearing a BYU shirt. Here is said picture. I didn't even win ha.













Conference was great, as always. Those apostles are just so cute.

I went to an awesome girly fondue party on Saturday night. It was delicious. I love fondue. When I get married, we are definitely registering for a fondue pot, that's all I can say.

I've been grading tests all weekend. It's been intense, let me tell you. Some are good, some are bad, and it's not so fun having to give people bad grades, even if they do deserve them.

Song-of-the-Week: Good Riddance by Green Day. I love playing this song on the guitar. And I miss my lovely guitar. So this is in commemoration of my current want to play it and inability to do so.

now that i have my GRE scores, it's down to business

Well, I've narrowed down my grad school selection to 5. I think maybe that's a lot, but they cover a range of really good to just ok art history grad programs, so, someone has to let me in :)

1-Princeton (this is MY number one choice, not only because it's one of the best, but because it's only like 45 minutes from my aunt julie, which equals my favorite)

2-UC at Berkeley (they also are top-rated, but mostly the weather would be awesome, that's really the only appeal for me haha)

3-Northwestern [this is white] (they have a good program, but not as highly rated as UC and Princeton. also it looks like i could get my degree in a shorter amount of time, which is just what i want)

4-University of Colorado at Boulder (this was originally my top choice, before my eyes were opened to my potential. the only reason i would love going here was to be close to larke. otherwise, their program is good, but definitely nothing to write home about)

5-University of Utah [this is also white] (ok, this is like, "if no one accepts me, they have to" option. maybe i shouldn't even have this option, but, just in case, i need a back-up back-up)

I have graciously provided you with each school's colors, if that sways your opinion at all.

also, i think i really love football. like, i would watch it on tv (if i had one). maybe that's going a little far. but, byu games have been so much fun. i guess what i'm saying is, if my husband loves football, i'll watch it with him. so really, score for him.

song of the week: We Used to be Friends by The Dandy Warhols. because Veronica Mars is the best. and this is the theme song. love it.

listen to your heart...and also to music

It seems like I haven't put music up here in a while, and I've been listening to some pretty awesome music today, so here's a few selections....

Makeover by David Cook. My relationship with my dear David is touch and go most of the time. Today has been a "go" day. I've probably listened to this song dozens of times, but today I finally decided that I like it.

Three Cheers for Five Years by Mayday Parade. I've been listening to Mayday Parade at least once a day for the past couple weeks. I love them. lots. I just think they're awesome.

If You Wanted a Song Written About You, All You Had To Do Was Ask by Mayday Parade. I know, another one. But I love them that much. They have such cool song titles. Of all the songs I look up on songmeanings.net (which is a lot), I probably look up Mayday Parade songs the most.

Drawing a Line in the Sand by Brandtson. I got this song free on iTunes a really long time ago. And I still love it. How could you not? It's like a song of victory. After getting your heart broken and finally getting over it.

Down by SafetySuit. I stumbled upon this song whilst looking for another of their songs, Stay (which I also love). I really like this song. I know I say that for, like, every song I put on here, but, that's why I put them on here haha. So, you should just listen to it.

Life in Progress...the happier version

This is me trying to be optimistic about this:

-i COULD see the world in a whole new light

-i COULD actually enjoy living in a "foreign" place

-i COULD find a job to pay the bills that doesn't make me miserable

-i COULD find a great place to live

-i COULD get scholarships and not have to pay for school

-i COULD fall even more in love with Art History

-i COULD fall madly in love with a guy who wants to marry me (doubtful, but possible)

-i COULD actually enjoy getting a Ph.D.

-i COULD be really speedy and not be gone for like, a million years (and by million I mean more than 5)

-i COULD get a great education that COULD get me a real nice job someday

-i COULD make some amazing new friends

-i COULD travel the world

-i COULD actually find some happiness in a new place

But even after all of that, it still means leaving family. friends. comfort. But, I'm trying to be positive about that too:

-i'll still be able to come home for holidays

-i can come home during the summer, if i want

-everyone is only a phone call away

-i have facebook to see pictures and stay updated

-friends and family could come visit me (with bribes of course)

and with all of THAT said, I may not even get into the places I want. Maybe I'll end up going to UofU. but maybe, just MAYBE, I'll get accepted to the places I want, like Northwestern, or UC, or some other great place I find.

Life in Progress

So, I'm sure you've all heard me complain about how I don't want to go to grad school, and especially about not wanting to get a Ph.D. But, I'm trying to be more positive about it. Because I've decided, you know what? why not. I'm not married, I don't have kids. Why not just go for it? All the way. If that stuff happens to be an issue, then great, I'll take it as it comes. But for now, I really have nothing to lose.

My biggest complaint about a Ph.D. is that I don't want to be in another state at some school for like, years and years. But really, even though it will be so sad to be away from family and friends and the life I've grown accustomed to, there really isn't a solid, major reason for me not to pursue such a degree. And really, it will be good for me to be out "on my own". And if I really do go for it, then it should be somewhere good. Not just a place that's "close to family" or "close to friends". It should be a place that will actually give me a good education - you know, that could actually get me somewhere, if necessary.

I just kind of hate making these plans because really, it makes it permanent. And permanence scares me. Because I don't want to leave here. I want to leave Provo. But not my family. And not my friends. That scares me the most. Being all alone. Who am I going to hang out with? Who's going to make me laugh after a hard day? Who's going to give me a hug just because they love me? It makes me teary-eyed just thinking about it.

I also hate it because it seems like I'm going to somehow lose the chance to get married. I know that sounds totally irrational. And it is. But it's still there. In my mind. Everyday. You're choosing to go to school so you can work, which means you're not going to get married for a long time. I hate that I think like that, but I just can't get that thought to go away. Especially because I don't see another option. I can't not go to grad school, because a bachelors degree in Art History equals crap.

So, it's my destiny I suppose. The plan I've created for myself without even knowing it. It just scares me. The unknown. The possibilities. I've only looked at the pessimistic ones. So many good things could happen I know, but I'm not breaching those quite yet. I still need some time to relish in my fear. Then I'll share all the good things that could happen :)

Here's four schools that I've kind of looked at. I think I like Northwestern....

http://graduate-school.phds.org/rankings/art-history/compare-programs?p1=20817&p2=21403&p3=19698&p4=23253&p5=19779&p6=20098

On another note, I played Rock Band with my family for a few hours today. and had my favorite meal. and ate delicious pie and cake. and heard my adorable niece say "Ali" lots of times. And it brought me to two conclusions: 1-I love Rock Band, and 2-I LOVE my family

6 minute blog

As you can see, i'm managing my time better so that i have more time for the important things, such as blogging.

I have a wee bit of a cold. It started Sunday morning. But I think it's almost gone. Which is good. I can't be sick this semester. It just can't happen. Ha, watch now I'm going to get really sick.

I love 3-day weekends. I think they should happen every week. Here's a bit of what I did: Saturday (in Eagle Mountain) - went to Julie and Julia (loved it). ate some Pie (delicious). watched the BYU game and did some homework (yay for BYU! they were amazing!) [I'm trying to get more into the football scene, considering I bought an all-sports pass this year - i know, ME - so far, so good]. i don't remember what happened after that. Oh yeah! duh. Went to get SUSHI for the first time. I was really scared, but you know what? I actually liked it. And want to try it again (I know, I've been surprising myself a lot lately). Watched Moulin Rouge (good times).
Sunday - church at 8:30 in the morning! madness. but the nap afterward was very nice. Went to EM (eagle mountain...), watched a movie, ate cake (that I made, mind you...a week previously). threw cake away.
Monday - did homework all morning (so proud of myself). Went to Deb's pool party. Swam for the first time in my new swimsuit! so cute, but, i've never not worn shorts with my swimsuit, so, that was kind of weird. Went to a movie, got to eat delish corn dog and ice cream cone in the theatre.

All in all, an excellent weekend. and oh look, my time is up.

Song-of-the-week: Warm Whispers by Missy Higgins. I pretty much like her new stuff a lot. And this happened to be the first song I could find in the ten seconds I have to write this. Anyway, like it a lot.

5 minute blog

I have exactly 5 minutes before i need to scamper off to Italian 201. So we'll see what i can write about for 5 minutes. good luck.

This week has been crazy, and it's only barely half-way done. I have been non-stop. Classes are definitely a plenty this semester. 16 credits. I've never attempted such a load before. 12 all the way was my motto. but no longer. graduation is in sight.

oh, and TAing for ArtHC 202. that adds another class. so, 6 in total that i will be attending in these next few months. intense. that's all that crosses through my mind. oh an work at the CTL. of course i could never forget that.

i am still in limbo with my schedule of working. pretty much i'm going to be on campus from 9-4 everyday, somedays longer, hopefully friday's will be shorter. and i will only get 2 half an hour breaks where i don't have to work. which is right now. monday and wednesday's from 11:14 - 11:50.

I'm getting more and more excited about getting into the flow of things. even though it scares me. all that work. all that focus. i'm going to have to cut back on the fun. but maybe that just means that when fun does happen, it will have to be more concentrated. so...extra fun, just less often. i think maybe i can handle that. it's for the greater good, after all (which is graduation with admission to a grad school of my choice. in case you were wondering).

Well, 5 minutes is up and i must be off. not even time for a song. sad.

I miss your face

I'm missing a lot of things right now....

I miss my glenwood roommates, especially Laura and Jessica. I wish we were roommates again. We had so much fun together. I miss watching them make dinner and then sitting around talking and talking and laughing.

I miss Larke. It always makes me so sad that we live so far away from each other. Life is just better when we can hang out. I wish she was here to make me brownies and watch a movie with me.

I miss my dear bestie. Maybe you've heard from her recently? because I sure haven't. Her name is Debbie and if you see her, tell her that her bestie is miserable without her and that she should probably finish moving into her new place so that we can be roommates again.

I miss living in nice places. This place I am forced to call home is a hole. I know I say that I can live anywhere, and I can, but, I guess it would be easier if I had a reason to smile about it. Like, a roommate and best friend to laugh with.

I miss food. I haven't eaten dinner yet. But I'm too scared/awkward to go into the kitchen when people are in there. Pathetic I know.

I miss Eagle Moutain. Mostly Eagle Mountain friends. I loved being able to, at any time, go and hang out with people. I feel so lonely here. I feel like if I want to go see someone here, I have to plan a time and make it a big deal. It can't just be a, "hey i'm lonely, can i come over?"

I know I'm being a downer right now. I'm just dreading school and having to do homework and be in provo and look for grad schools. I'm not ready for my crazy life to start again. I liked it just the way it was this summer. it was perfect.

Song-of-the-Week: Already Home by Ha-Ash (with Brandi Carlile). Sometimes you just have to stop looking. And realize that what you need is right in front of you.

Wicked

Here's a walk through of my day at Lagoon. I hope you enjoy every second of it. because i sure did:

8am: get up after like 2 hours of sleep. for reasons that will not be explained. feel really nauseous. eat half a piece of toast, throw the rest away.

9:15am: arrive at Derek and Greg's. late. Soon after: Derek, Greg, Maria, and Ali leave for a fun-filled day at Lagoon!

10ish: get breakfast at McDonald's. somehow eat most of it. nasty.

10:30am: get to Lagoon. race a mexican van to the entrance. lose. forced to ride Wicked for the first time. thought it would be super scary, but was actually super fun. rode Collosus. also fun. ready for more.

11:20ish: in line for round two of Wicked. neck and head start itching for no apparent reason. halfway through the line, start getting really dizzy. Can't walk straight. Things get fuzzy. have to sit down every few feet. Derek talks to me and his voice is muffled. i'm going deaf, great. get up, move a few feet, stumble to the ground. everything is spinning. pretty sure i'm going to pass out at any moment. or throw up. or both. decide going on Wicked is probably the worst idea right now. Somehow stumble out of the line while Greg tells the employee girl that i'm scared to fall out while on the ride (which is true). get about 6 feet away from the line with Maria in tow. collapse on the ground. positive throwing up is going to happen. locate the spot by some lockers that this will take place, since moving is not an option. Derek runs to get some water. realize the previous itchy feeling is hives and it's spreading fast. lay face on the ground. nausea subsides a bit. Maria tries talking to me, to get me to move to a better place (like where hundreds of people can't see me pathetically curled in a ball on the ground). can't talk. no energy. hold finger up. "one second". Derek returns with water. Lift head up and try to sip. proves difficult, but not impossible. nausea returns full-force. head back on ground. finally convinced to move to a better place. sit up. realize i'm covered in nasty groundness. somehow get to a table in the shade. collapse on the seat. drink drink drink. more hives. everywhere now it seems. lay head on the bench. want to go to the first aid place, but it's far away and i know i won't make it. Maria goes to get a first aid person. they return with a wheelchair.

12:30/1ish: get to the first aid place. get blood pressure taken, blood sugar taken (yeah, getting pricked with a needle didn't make me any more nauseous ha. "it feels like a paper cut". um, i HATE paper cuts). take benadryl = sleepiness. start shaking from possible cold-ness and nausea (i shake a lot when i'm nauseous, i don't know why). lay on the provided bed for about an hour or so. can finally think and talk like a normal person again. hives subside. Greg and Derek run to Target to get some anti-nausea stuff. take that too = more sleepiness.

2:30ish: feel a lot better, leave the first aid place. only now i can barely keep my eyes open i'm so incredibly tired. but i stick it out because, well, i can't possibly waste any more of my fun-filled day at lagoon. time is running out. Proceed to go on more rides, eat half a hot dog, fall asleep at the table, go on more rides.

go home, more fun is had.

end of the day: realize how lucky i am to have such amazing friends who would sacrifice their day at lagoon to take care of my sudden outbreak of unexplained misery. and for making it possible for me to somehow have an amazing and fun time despite all of it.

sing me to sleep

I just want to lay in my bed all day and listen to music.

I almost forgot how much I love music. We mostly listened to Indian music whilst camping. And the occasional songs from "The Last Unicorn" (which is now stuck in my head, by the way).

I've been gone so much this summer. I haven't really had time to process everything going on. I need some time for processing. Just me in a room with music.

thinking, singing, sleeping, eating.

I won't get that chance, but I've been dreaming about it all day.

Song-of-the-Week: Lullaby by The Spill Canvas.

Holla!

i just read a blog, in which was said "holla!" and I thought, ha, haven't heard that in a while. so, i have brought its presence to my blog. I hope you appreciate its amazingness as a word.

In other news, I'm back in Utah. Colorado was amazing. I'll try to post some pictures later. I had so much fun. I bought two new pairs of jeans, a cute new shirt, and a cute hat that I'm real excited to wear around. Plus, my new swimsuit came while I was gone so my mom had it in the car when she picked me up. It's pretty amazing I must say. And of course I got to spend a whole bunch of time with Larke, which was the best part! I miss her lots.

I've been in kind of a weird mood since I've been back. I don't know why. I'm trying to snap out of it.

Song-of-the-Week: Stay by Safety Suit. I just really like this song.

Off I Go

Today is the day I leave for the beautiful Colorado. I seriously can. not. wait!

I packed half of my things while on the phone with deb, and packed the rest late last night. I certainly hope I didn't forget anything. And that I packed enough shirts. I honestly don't remember what I threw into my suitcase.

I'm super tired today.

I think I've averaged at least one yawn every 5 minutes. But who can think about sleep at a time like this?! I get fly across the Rocky Mountains. When I land I'll sift my way through the huge airport, gather up my luggage, and wait for Larke and Jantz to pick me up and whisk me away to Johnny Carinos, where we will eat 'til we're stuffed. And thus will begin my week of fun.

On another fantastic note, my amazing mother ordered my dream swimsuit for me. I can't wait to have it. I may have to go swimming soon.

Song-O-the-Week: If I Were a Boy (Remix) by Beyonce feat. R Kelly. Brilliant. Does more need to be said? I think not.

I love swimming!

you don't believe me do you?

well, neither do i.

but I found this fabulous swimsuit and i want it so bad that i'm willing to change my entire outlook on the swimming front. just look how cute it is!



















what do you think? is it a keeper? should i purchase it?

Sleepy

today

i am tired


really tired



but not cranky tired. not yet




i am happy. life is good. and for that i'll take a little sleepiness.

song-of-the-week: i hate everything about you by three days grace. but today i don't hate you. today, i love everything about you.

Loverly

Do you ever have moments or days when you just feel so full of love you fear you might burst? I have them every once in a while. I feel like I don't have enough people in my life to properly distribute such amounts of love. I want to hug everyone and tell them I love them (it's times like these that I'm grateful for my shyness). I want to smile as big as my mouth will allow and laugh to the sky. because life feels just that good. It has those moments when I wish I had someone I could just run up to and hold for an indefinite amount of time. Just be in the moment and feel completely at peace and so very very happy. bask in the joy.

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever find someone deserving of my love. That sounds selfish and conceited, I know. But, I think of all the people out there who could take advantage, who I would willingly give all I had for, only to be selfishly abandoned. left with nothing.

Is there really someone out there who will understand the importance of such a gesture? who will stay with me forever? who will deserve all the love i have to give, because he will in turn be giving such love to me?

I hope I have these moments the rest of my life. So when I have kids I can snatch them up and hug and tickle them until they laugh uncontrollably and I can hear the love and happiness that I feel. So when I have a husband I can surprise him at work with a piece of chocolate cake that we can share at his desk and laugh at all the silly things in our wonderful lives.

Smirk

the past couple days i've been noticing little things that make me smile. so i decided i would record some, and maybe i'll try to keep it up every once in a while.

Sometime last week: was walking on campus when a random guy walking by said, "hey! how are you today?!" it kind of shocked me, thus making my response quiet and awkward. but afterwards i couldn't help but smile.

Tuesday: stopped by my mom's house to find a plate full of BYU's mint brownies. if that doesn't put a smile on your face, i don't know what will. they are my fave. so of course i ate one....or two. and i enjoyed every second.

Thursday: saw a construction worker carrying a "road work ahead" sign. i had no idea those signs were so big. it was like the big/little world in mario64. the sign was huge and the guy was tiny. i laughed out loud.

Friday: saw a woman walking out of the women's bathroom carrying a plant watering can. i'm sure she was just filling it up, but even so. it was one with a really long spout. my first thought was, what the watering can? i smiled.

Al dog's song-of-the-week: This is for Keeps by The Spill Canvas. This song is so precious. I read that he wrote it after reading Twilight. Anyway, i like it even without that connection, maybe more actually. It's just so sweet to hear a guy telling a girl that being with her even for eternity isn't enough, he loves her that much.