randah's randomness

big news and a new blog!

2011-03-08T00:07:00.002-07:00

So . . . I have some BIG news. Check out my new blog to see what I'm talking about!

{love}
randah

i love the day of love

2011-02-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

Ahh . . . Valentine's Day. It was a fun few days of celebration. Here's a rundown:

My sweet Edward treated me to a delicious dinner on Saturday at Sawadee, one of my favorite places to dine. Scumptious Thai food. Mmmm mmm mmm. I do love massaman curry. :o)

No, this photo is not from Vday weekend, but we didn't snap any new
shots, and this is one of my favs, so I'm including it anyway.

We decided to celebrate Valentine's Day on Saturday to avoid crazy masses of people at restaurants on actual Valentine's Day. We also got together Friday, Sunday, and Monday. Monday, we just enjoyed a nice casual meal at Cafe Rio. It was great!

Edward spoiled me with a new charm for my Pandora bracelet. He got me this cute new panda charm. My nickname with my family since I was a baby has always been "Randah Bear." Plus, Randah rhymes with panda . . . so it was perfect! And P.S., "he went to Jared." haha. We laughed about that all weekend.

Because I do so love the day of love, I decided to be super creative and domestic, and I made cake balls to share with my co-workers (and Edward's co-workers) and the girls Tricia and I visit teach. Here are my yummy cake balls. Confession: I might have eaten a few too many of these over the weekend. Oops.

Mmm. Cake balls. What are your favorite combinations? I did fillings of chocolate and strawberry--with milk chocolate and white chocolate on the outside. They turned out delicious. :o)

What did all of you do for Valentine's Day?

community classes = fun (surprising, huh?)

2011-02-15T19:08:00.011-07:00

So, my roommate Tricia and I, along with our friend, Amanda (and their moms), have been into community classes lately. Who knew community classes were fun? We've taken two cupcake decorating classes and then Tricia and I also took a pizza-making class. Here are some photos:

tomato basil soup {pure heaven}

2010-12-06T10:48:00.005-07:00

Yummy. Try this. You won't be sorry!
This was my dinner last night.

Samira's Tomato-Basil Soup
(My awesome roommate, Tricia, works for O.C. Tanner. Her company cafeteria has a professional chef who makes lunches. This is his recipe.)

28-oz. diced Italian tomatoes (canned)

2 cups chicken broth

2 tablespoons dried basil leaves

1 carrot, pealed and diced

1/2 cup celery, diced

2 cloves minced garlic

1/2 onion, diced

1/2 cup butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup cream

salt to taste

white pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat sauce pan. Add oil and butter. Saute vegetables, garlic, and basil lightly. Add tomatoes and broth. Cook 15 minutes. Add vegetable mixture with cream and puree in a blender.

Serve with grilled cheese sandwiches.

Ahh . . . a perfect dinner for a cold winter night!

edward

2010-12-03T08:52:00.005-07:00

I've been silent for far too long. Sorry, blog world.
Things have been . . . busy.

Why?

Well, mostly because I spend most of my
free time these days with a certain fella.
Edward.
He is so dreamy and so fantastic.
And sweet.
And handsome.
And I could go on and on.

So please forgive my infrequent blogs.
I'm just enjoying my time with my guy. :o)

new favorite breakfast spot

2010-09-19T11:41:00.005-06:00

Yesterday morning I met some girlfriends for breakfast. We decided to try something new. We stumbled upon Normandie Cafe...and oh boy, am I GLAD we did! Besides each opting for the croissant breakfast sandwich (which was created on the flakiest, buttery-est, most delicious croissant ever made), we each also ordered dessert. Don't judge. haha Dessert with breakfast? Yep. And I didn't regret it!

If you find yourself in the SLC and are wanting to try something new, go here! I know they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I will be frequenting this spot from now on during my monthly get togethers with old college friend, Risa.

Here are some rough pics of our a-m-a-z-i-n-g feast!

in love

2010-07-19T13:17:00.004-06:00

Yep, I'm officially ready to admit that I'm in love...with THIS lipgloss. Mmm mmm mmm. Philosophy's Red Licorice lip shine is delectable. It's goes on in an awesome reddish/pink berry color that is super chic. And it tastes divine--just like licorice. It's been my favorite for a while. And I felt it was time to share. It's one of Philosophy's limited edition flavors--so it's usually only available in a kit like this. But you should try it. The end.

ten years. wow.

2010-07-12T23:17:00.002-06:00

Last weekend while I was home in Idaho, I attended my ten-year high school reunion. Yeah. I feel old. It's official.

As a senior class officer, I had to help plan the event. And to be honest, I was dreading it. Immensely.

But, much to my surprise, it was rather enjoyable. I had a blast. Strangely, it didn't seem like ten years had passed since I'd seen my old chums. It was fun to catch up and see what everyone has been up to.

And it got me thinking...what have I really done with my life over the past ten years?

i have spent 2.5 weeks in Italy with my family while collecting my brother from his mission
i have attended 2 years of college at Utah State (hey, Aggies all the way!)
i have traveled to the British Virgin Islands with my fam
i have served an 18 month mission in Dallas, TX with my beloved Latinos
i have learned to speak Spanish
i have visited NYC with my roommates for spring break
i have on a cruise with my parents as a graduation gift
i have graduated with my degree--BA in Journalism/Communication--emphasis in PR and minors in Spanish and Sociology (that's a mouthful)
i have become a "big city girl" in SLC
i have made a few trips to CA
i have lived with 28 roommates--not counting mission comps
i have held "real jobs" with 3 different companies and learned much
i have moved 11 times (in 10 years--NOT counting the mission at all)
i have gone sky diving!
i have dated about 10 boyfriends and learned about heartache, falling in love, and myself
i have welcomed 2 sisters-in-law and 3 adorable nieces to my family
i have learned much about life
i have set and reached many goals
i have seen success
i have seen failure
i have made countless new friends
i have cried countless tears
i have giggled countless laughs
i have grinned countless smiles

Yep. It has been a great ten years for me! I think from age 18-28, I have changed a lot--as expected. I am not necessarily where I thought I would be at this point in my life. But things happen as they happen for a reason. I'm convinced of that. And I couldn't be happier. I am grateful for my life and all the amazing experiences I've had.

What a lucky girl I am. :o)

they say the third times is the charm. guess so.

2010-07-12T23:03:00.007-06:00

As a kid, I was the MOST un-photogenic person ever. I had to get re-takes every year for school pictures. I was notorious for closing my eyes. I've had to train myself over the years to look semi-decent in a photo and to keep my eyes open.

But I guess old habits die hard sometimes.

On Saturday, while hanging out at the demolition derby in Logan, I asked a friend to snap a quick pic of my friend Carlie and me. I hadn't seen her in a couple of years and I wanted a little memento to remember the fun evening.

And I struggled...

Take 1
classic. closed eyes--just like half my childhood photos

Take 2
eew. gross. greasy-looking hair and huge bug eyes. haha.

Take 3.
phew. finally a presentable shot.

Haha. It was fun to catch up with a long-lost amiga. I had a great weekend!

be a bumble bee

2010-07-09T16:08:00.001-06:00

"Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway."

Mary Kay Ash
(1908-2001): Entrepreneur

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something!

proud to be an american {& an idahoan]

2010-07-05T23:22:00.010-06:00

Ahh. I returned tonight from a four-day weekend of pure bliss. I feel revived and... (I suppose) ready to return to work tomorrow.

Why was my weekend SO fantastic?! Because I spent the 4th of July weekend in Idaho!

I am convinced that Idaho is THE most patriotic state in the union. Why? Well, I'm glad you asked. For starters, Idaho Falls, my home town (with a population of only about 60,000) had the second best fireworks in the nation this year!

Yep. It's true. We ranked over NYC, Boston, and all the other big cities. Wow. We had always been rumored to have the best show West of the Mississippi...but now we're the second best in the whole country? That is awesome.

While I did not actually catch the I.F. fireworks this year (I did last year though--and it was as great as it always is), my family spent the 3rd and 4th of July at our cabin in Victor, Idaho. We attended the Victor 4th of July parade (on the 3rd). Then later that evening, my family attended a large Independence Day celebration in Driggs, Idaho.

Jon Huntsman, Sr. (originally from Idaho) and his family own a lot of land in Teton Valley. They hosted a big fireworks show on their property (there were an estimated 6,000 people in attendance) and had Glenn Beck come and speak about the history of our nation. I know that Glenn Beck is a controversial icon these days. I am neutral on the subject. But his speech was surprisingly not too one-sided. He spoke about the history of our nation and what it means to him to be an American.

After Beck spoke there was a fantastic fireworks show that was synced to music and audio clips of famous speeches that past presidents have delivered.

It was touching.

It was stirring.

It made me remember why I am proud to be an American.

During the course of the rest of the weekend, I found myself reminded over and over again of why Idaho is so great. I've heard all the jokes. I've seen all the wrinkled noses and smirks as people tease me about being from Idaho.

But all jokes aside...what is not to love about Idaho?

As I drove from Salt Lake to Idaho Falls last Thursday night after work, I was awed at the beauty of the rolling green hills that go on forever in the Devil Creek Reservoir area near the Utah border. Wow.

As my family and I drove around Victor and Driggs in the Teton Valley over the weekend, I was, again, awed at the beauty of my surroundings. Our cabin has a perfect view of the Tetons. What majestic mountains they are. I was also so in love with the never-ending farm fields and the lush greenery that filled my view in every direction. I was humbled by the simple beauty.

As my mother and I drove back to my parents' house after spending time at the cabin, the road from Victor to Idaho Falls again captured my heart. I loved seeing the Snake River winding its way through the mountains and forests and farm fields. Wow. Such beauty.

Sunday evening, my mom and grandma and I took a drive to Wolverine Canyon. Again, wow.
So my heart was captured over the weekend. And I was reminded of why my home state is so great. And although many people joke and turn up their noses when I proudly say that I am from Idaho, I don't care. I'm an Idaho girl and I'm proud of it.

Idaho is still so raw and untouched. It is pure. It is simple. And it will always be home.

I am grateful to live in a country that is free. I am thankful to those who continue to fight for that freedom. I am forever indebted to a God who made this all possible. And I am proud to be an American.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

P.S. I also attended my ten-year high school reunion over the weekend. Haha. More on that later...

grandpa oxspring

2010-06-13T22:59:00.005-06:00

I've been meaning to post this for a while now. It's been on my mental to-do list since Memorial Day.

While I was home in Idaho for Memorial Day weekend, I was able to visit my grandpa's grave. Harvey Kane Oxspring. He passed away when I was a senior in high school. He had pancreatic cancer. It happened quickly.

As I have contemplated recently on the man that my grandfather was, I am so grateful to have had him in my life. And even more grateful for the knowledge I have that I will see him again.

Here are some of my fondest memories/random thoughts about my Grandpa Oxspring:

He was a talented piano player and singer. His voice was lovely.
He used to call us kids "little rascals."
He laughed like Santa Clause--"ho ho ho"--and his belly jiggled too.
He had a twinkle in his eye and was always smiling.
He loved popcorn.
He let me drive the golf cart when I was a kid. It meant the world to me.
He was my horsey when I was really little and let me ride around on his back.
He was an avid golfer and tennis player.
He served in the Canadian military.
He cared about me. Immensely.
He was a faithful and righteous man. Church responsibilities came first.
He loved his family and knew how to show it.
He believed in me.
He was my Grandpa.

He never got to see his grandkids get married, or be their sealer as he had dreamed of. He never got to see his great-grandkids. He never got to see what us kids grew up to become. But there were so many times on my mission that I felt his presence near and I was very aware that he was watching over me.

I am grateful for my Grandpa Oxspring. I just wanted to pay a little tribute to him. Here are some of my favorite photos of Grandpa and me.

pack rat

2010-05-11T10:57:00.006-06:00

I am moving, once again. I have moved pretty much once a year since I started college ten years ago. You'd think, that after this many moves, I would have stream-lined the process and simplified my life. That is not so. My last move (a year ago) was perhaps my largest move yet--in the fact that I filled an entire 15-foot UHaul truck. Wow. How do I accumulate so much stuff?

I have about two weeks until this move will be finalized. So my main goal right now is to simplify.

Simplicity.

According to Leonardo da Vinci, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." I think he was a pretty smart guy. And I think I could use a little more sophistication/simplicity in my life.

I have always been a pack rat. Even as a child, I saved, hoarded, stored, and treasured junk. Why? I have been blown away by the things I have found in my room. I am finally retiring a certain gray cardigan to DI. This particular cardigan was worn in my junior yearbook photo in high school. It is missing half the buttons. I haven't worn it in at least six years. Yet somehow, this item has made the cut over and over again as I've attempted to clean out my closet many times in the past.

But this time, with this move, I'm determined to truly simplify!

I have been posting and selling unwanted items on the KSL classified ads. Wow! What a great tool that is! I have sold a loveseat, an old TV, and an old camera so far. I have more items to go! How convenient it is to just have someone come to my door, hand me cash, and take my junk away for me. I now have a testimony of KSL classified ads. I'm a believer.

I will be spending every spare moment in the next couple of weeks cleaning, de-cluttering, packing, selling junk, and making DI runs. Whew. But it'll feel so good to have less stuff, right?

45 simple truths

2010-05-05T15:27:00.001-06:00

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11 . Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion.
Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29 What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

grammar snob

2010-05-03T10:58:00.004-06:00

So, I am a self-admitted grammar snob. I cannot stand commonly accepted mistakes such as the improper use of too/to/two, their/they're/there, and, perhaps worst of all, your/you're. I know that I am also capable of typos. I make mistakes too. But I still hate it when people consistently make the same mistakes. Didn't we learn these fundamentals in elementary school?

My co-worker and I often forward each other bad emails that we receive from other office-mates. We all too often mock those who are not as grammatically smart as us. I know, I know...it's rather mean of me. But poor word usage is one of my biggest pet peeves.

Recently, my grammatically wise co-worker sent me a link to this blog. I enjoyed it immensely. If you've ever had a grammar-related pet peeve, I think you'll love this too!

i hate it when...

2010-03-31T00:07:00.001-06:00

boys make me cry.

legally blonde

2010-03-26T00:09:00.004-06:00

Tonight, on the spur of the moment, my buddy Josh called me and invited me to attend the touring Broadway show of Legally Blonde. I loved it!!! Josh's friend works for Broadway Across America and he got us seats on the 8th row. Great seats. Great show. Great company. I loved every second of it! It was such a funny show! Plus, everything was PINK, which made it even more enjoyable for me. :o)

truly inspiring

2010-02-27T00:50:00.002-07:00

Please take a few minutes and watch. I hope you enjoy as much as I did. Wow. I needed to see this...

boden

2010-01-26T19:31:00.007-07:00

I just discovered THIS fantastic website. So many great finds! I wish I could afford to buy it all! Here are a few of my favorite items...

Ahh...Boden. You make me so covetous. :o)

the gift of heat

2009-12-30T00:51:00.006-07:00

Know what Santa brought me? Among other marvelous treasures, he brought me a Lasko 5532 Ceramic Tower Heater. This space heater is the king of space heaters! It is quiet, it rotates, it has a REMOTE CONTROL so I can lazily control it from the comfort of my bed, it has temperature settings, etc, etc, etc. And the best part? Now I don't turn into an icicle in my cavernous basement bedroom. Yay! It is kind of nice to only have to wear one hoodie to bed instead of two, and to loose the bathrobe, too. Thanks, Santa!

navidad

2009-12-27T21:47:00.011-07:00

Christmas was fantastic! It was probably my favorite Christmas I can remember in years. I was able to spend several days in Idaho with my fantastic family. We did all of our traditional things--hour d' oeurve dinner for Christmas Eve, acting out the manger scene while my dad read Luke 2, opening almost all our gifts Christmas Eve night, Christmas dinner at my Grandparents' house, sledding at the cabin, etc. Oh, how magical it was!

I think the highlight of the holiday season was the sub-for-santa I was able to organize. My "litter sister" through the Big Brother Big Sisters program comes from a very low-income family. Her mother asked me a while back if I knew of any programs that could help her with gifts for her kids for Christmas. I decided to organize a gift collection through my office. Wow! I was overwhelmed with the generosity of my co-workers! The five children in this family were so spoiled for Christmas! Here is my roommate's SUV totally FILLED with gifts! It was so fantastic to see the look on the dad's eyes as he helped unload the car. Wow. What an awesome feeling!

I hope your Christmas was just as great as mine!

can you tell me how to get, how to get to sesame street?

2009-11-10T22:37:00.007-07:00

sesame street turns 40! has anyone else loved the google tributes to sesame street? how cute! i loved this show as a kid.

Sunny Day
Sweepin' the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame Street

Come and play
Everything's A-OK
Friendly neighbors there
That's where we meet

Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street

day 7...almost over!

2009-11-10T21:46:00.002-07:00

So the cleanse is still on. Day seven is coming to a close. I have not eaten for a week. Wow. Crazy, huh? But I must say, it has not been all that bad! I have had a lot of energy and have even been able to work out. I really am rarely hungry anymore. Weird. Creepy weird. But I feel great! I have three days left of the cleanse...then easing back into normal foods. I feel like it has been effective so far. I have learned a whole lot! I just need to get through the next three days (as I now hate the lemonade!). Yay for almost being done!

2009-11-06T11:09:00.003-07:00

My internet has been down at my house and I have not been able to update the blog. Sad! So, I am stealing a few minutes of work time to post.

So, I am currently on DAY THREE of the Master Cleanse! Yeah! No food (or gum, or candy, or mints, or anything) in about 64 hours so far. And the surprising thing?! It's not nearly as bad as I was expecting. Whenever I feel the tiniest of hunger pangs, I just take a swig of my awesome lemonage concoction (that I always have in tote), and voile, I am not hungry any more. It has been totally amazing to me.

I feel like I have more energy, oddly. I guess my body doesn't have to work on digesting anything, so there is ample energy to spare. I usually can't get through the work day without a Diet Coke. Now? Not a problem at all! I even worked out at the gym last night (not a hardcore workout though, because I really don't have many extra calories to burn up at this point).

I have realized so much during these three days.

-Human beings eat out of habit. We eat because it is "lunchtime," whether we're hungry or not--because everyone else is eating, and because it's weird if we don't eat at certain times/

-Eating is very psychological. We THINK we're hungry sometimes when we're really not. If we decide we're NOT hungry, it's easyt o not eat. It goes both ways.

-We eat to comfort ourselves.

-We eat entirely too much food. As proved, we don't need huge portions of food to sustain our energy and feel good and healthy. I am living on very minimal calories, yet I feel like I have MORE energy than I have on my normal diet. Maybe this is because my body isn't clogged full of unhealthy, greasy food?

I really think that my eating habits are going to change a lot after this experience. After I reach day ten of the cleanse, I have to ease food back into my diet slowly and cautiously. Days eleven and twelve will be days of drinking orange juice only, as suggested by the experts. Then days thirteen and fourteen will allow me to eat raw fruits and veggies. After that, I should be good to go on eating whatever I want. But the interesting thing to me during this process is that my cravings are not for greasy fast food or fatty sweets. I am craving very healthy things--like hummus, veggies, salads, etc.

I think that for me, the cleanse has been an awakening of sorts. So far, I feel like I have learned a lot about my body and about how to care for it better. I am glad for that. That's what I was hoping to gain from this experience. And, as a bonus, I have also lost six pounds so far! Not a bad side effect at all.

Seven days to go...

am i TOTALLY crazy?!?!

2009-11-03T21:22:00.003-07:00

So, the other day, out of boredom, my mind was wandering...and I decided I wanted to do a cleanse. Not totally sure why.

So I did some googleing and decided on The Master Cleanse. Eek. I'm scared. Really scared. But I talked my co-worker, Teresa, into doing it with me. I probably wouldn't have the courage (or stupidity) to do it myself.

So what is The Master Cleanse? Basically, it is a starvation plan. Haha.

The Master Cleanse has been around since like the 40s I think? I have read so many websites about it, that my brain is a little mushy. But basically, you only drink this lemonade concoction for ten straight days to cleanse your body. Yeah, I know...sounds insane. But lately, my body feels like it needs some sort of purification. I just feel sluggish. And I'm not okay with that.

Here is the lemonade recipe:

2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed organic lemon juice
2 tablespoons of organic, grade b maple syrup
1/10 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1 cup filtered water

You mix up the lemonade and drink 6 to 12 glasses a day--you drink every time you feel hungry. Ugh. Already dreading it...but excited to see the results!

So, tomorrow marks day one of the cleanse. Wish me luck. I will tell you all about it as I go. But tonight, I had my "last supper" at Winger's with my old roommates, Susan and Brittany.

Sigh. Cleanse, here I come...

the birthday festivities

2009-11-02T21:29:00.007-07:00

Yep, the birthday was fantastic! Here are some pics of the party:

28 is great!

2009-11-01T22:00:00.010-07:00

So, I turned 28 yesterday.

Though a little traumatic to me
(how did I get to be THIS OLD?!),
I am determined that...WILL BE GREAT!

I mean, how could it not be great?

Let's take a moment to
contemplate the great things
associated with the number

there are 28 days in February (usually)
the 28th President of the US was Woodrow Wilson
in 1928, Mickey Mouse made his debut in Steamboat Willie
texas was the 28th state of the union (and i LOVE texas!)
the 28th LDS temple was in Sydney, Australia

and, most importantly...
is my new favorite number!

yep, in all my
LIFE
I have been truly blessed.

What a fantastic life I have.

And my 28th year is bound to be the best yet!

So, though I feel a bit old,
IS GREAT!!!

yay for

P.S.--My birthday was truly fantastic! I will post pictures and details soon.
My goal for November is to post a little something EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Yeah, we'll see how that goes...

logan

2009-10-14T22:01:00.009-06:00

A few weeks ago I made the trek to Logan with some friends and attended the Homecoming football game. Much to our surprise, the Aggies actually won! Amazing! We had a great day in Logan. It was fun to reminisce of our college days. I got to spend some time with my brother, Sean, and his wife, Kaylyn. What a great day!

Tricia and I buying some Aggie gear at the bookstore.

Old Main

Tricia and me on the Quad--Old Main in the background

Josh and me at First Dam

Ashley, Chad, and Tricia at the game

Josh, me, Sean, and Kaylyn at the game

Chad, Tricia, Josh, me, Sean, and Kaylyn--showing off our Aggie tats

i heart logan!

zoom zoom

2009-10-14T21:55:00.005-06:00

I FINALLY got rid of my Audi and bought something a little more reliable (fingers crossed on the reliability factor).
I am loving my Mazda 3 that I bought last Friday! Yay! So far, so good.

RIP Audi. I had so many problems with that car--but it was a truly a love/hate relationship. Here is my last glimpse of my Audi. And here is my happy face as I drove away in my new car. Yippy!

hermanita (little sister)

2009-10-14T21:49:00.003-06:00

My roommates and I decided it would be fun to sign up for Big Brothers Big Sisters. We're all single, and we can all afford to donate a little time to help out a kid who needs a positive mentor/responsible adult influence in their lives. The process is long and arduous, but I finally have a little sister! I met Elizabeth about two weeks ago. We have had two activities together so far and are planning to go to a haunted house next week, at her request. She is ten years old and comes from an...interesting living situation. She is a sweet little girl and I know we will have lots of fun together in the months to come. Already is the works is a trip to see Disney on Ice: Princesses next month at the ESA. hahaha. Yeah. Should be fun. She is pumped! I will post some pics of her soon.

2-in-1

2009-09-23T23:40:00.008-06:00

Tonight we had a girls' night making jewelry. I taught Barb and Tricia how to make their own bumble watch bands and helped my friend Jen make a necklace. And while I was in the beading mode, I made myself this little treasure:

And the best part is that it's like 2 necklaces in 1!

It can be worn doubled up like this--so it's short...

or long and lean like this...

I got part of my inspiration after attending a Lia Sophia jewelry party at work. They were charging $60-80 for items similar to this. Wow. I made it for about $10 and it took about 5 minutes flat. Much better.

Let me know if you want to buy one. I used a black faceted glass bead--but it would be fun to use a vibrant color as well. :o)

i feel the fall a brewin'

2009-09-20T20:30:00.006-06:00

We are quickly encroaching upon my favorite time of year...AUTUMN!

Mmm...I can already taste the crisp fall air, the apple cider, the chilly evenings, the cozy hoodies, pumpkin shakes, jack-o-lantern carving, and best of all, HALLOWEEN!!!

Halloween is, hands down, my favorite holiday! My roommates and I are planning to throw an epic Halloween bash. And that means it is time to begin the costume brainstorming. :o)

Last year I was Minnie Mouse. And this year...drumroll please...I am going to be...A WITCH! Yay!

Here are some of the elements of my costume that I have collected so far:

you're so vain...

2009-09-20T20:05:00.010-06:00

I have been meaning to post pics of one of my latest projects for quite a while now...

So, in my new house, the bathroom that Tricia and I share has zero counterspace and we don't really have room to get ready in there. So I had been sitting on the floor in my room while blow drying/styling my hair and applying my makeup. I was kind of tired of it. So I thought of a fun/cheap solution to my dilemma...A VANITY!

Purchasing a nice vanity was a little out of my price range, so I decided to create one that met my needs.

Step 1:
Find a cheap desk that had ample drawer space. Check.
$12.00 at a local thrift store.
Step 2:
Find a large & affordable mirror. Check.
$15.00 through the KSL classified ads.
Step 3:
Decide on a color scheme & buy supplies. Check.
$25.00 for sand paper, paint, brushes, decorations, etc. at various craft stores.
Step 4:
Some good old elbow grease. Check.

Step 5:
Move the finished product into my room and enjoy the fact that I don't have to sit on the floor anymore! Check.

It just so happened that I already had a cute little hot pink corduroy stool. Perfect!
(oops--mirror is streaky in this picture. haha)

Yep. It's orange with pink polka dots. And while it might look like it belongs in a five-year-old girl's bedroom, I don't care. I like it. And I might as well have a pink and orange bedroom while I am still single and I can. :o)

For a total of about $50.00, I created a funky solution for my vain morning routine of prepping myself for the day.

so hilarious, because it is SO true to life...

2009-09-07T16:23:00.002-06:00

I'm sure many of you have already seen this truly inspired website--completely dedicated to the people who make the Wal-Mart experience so...epic? enjoyable? unforgettable? disturbing? sad? Hmm...not quite sure how that sentence is supposed to end.

While perhaps a tad bit mean, this site perfectly captures the "what was he/she thinking?" moments we have all experienced while shopping at the local Wal-Mart. So sit back, remind yourself that these are REAL people, and go ahead and laugh a little at their expense. I did.

Click on PEOPLE OF WAL-MART to see what I'm talking about...

I have heard that the site has become enormously popular over the past few days--so if it's not working because the site is too over-loaded with visitors, try again another time. It's worth it. I promise you'll feel really good about yourself after seeing some of these pics.

the bold, the beautiful, the RED lipstick

2009-09-02T22:27:00.005-06:00

So Tricia and I were shopping tonight and ended up playing around with some lipstick colors at the makeup counter. And we were talking about how RED lipstick is timeless and we wish we could pull it off. So I did. I put some on right then and there and continued our shopping bout with RED lips. I felt strange whenever I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror. Who was this daring creature? RED lipstick is SO not me...but I kind of liked it a little. I am just not sure it looks that fantastic...eek...still trying to decide...I bought some, but it kind of freaks me out a little bit. haha.

Tell me what YOU think...can I pull it off or not? It looks a little more pink in this photo (taken on my phone), but it really is RED. TOO bold for me??? Still not sure...

an audacious august

2009-08-30T23:28:00.003-06:00

So, August is nearly over...and it has been AWESOME! I was crazy busy just about every minute of August--and I loved every minute of it. Here is a brief synopsis:

attended a demolition derby in Tooele. wow. pure w.t.--but such a fun night!

spent a weekend at my parents' cabin with Tricia and Brittany. we went hiking, white water rafting, shopped around jackson, wy--etc.

went to bear lake on a mini camp-out with Brittany, Susan, Adam, and Greg. it ended up being cold and rainy--so we only spent a few minutes at the lake. it was fun anyway.

flew to st. louis with my parents for my cousin Jason's wedding. had dinner at Busch Stadium, attended the wedding in the st. louis temple, went to the reception, ate Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard several times, and flew home. it was a quick trip--but lots of fun too. it was great to see the st. louis family members. :o)

participated in the 5K Juvenile Diabetes walk with some co-workers.

and so much more. but that's all i have time to include for now.

ahh...life is grand!

a few new favorites

2009-08-19T21:36:00.006-06:00

Here are a few of my newest necklace creations. If you want a matching one, let me know...

summerlove

zexy zebra

green goddess

i finally did it...

2009-08-19T21:29:00.003-06:00

I broke down, after THREE years of coveting one, and purchased a CHI! Yay. What is the CHI? Well only the world's finest hair straightener. I have had several friends rave to me about the CHI forever. But they're quite pricey. And I refrained for years. Until I bid on one on eBay (don't worry, it was brand new and in a box) and scored one for only $54--which is about half of the full retail price. I opened it today and tested it out. My critique? It is a dream machine! Love it! If you're in the market for a new hair straightener, just splurge and get a CHI. I am a believer.

why women stay single...

2009-08-05T21:42:00.012-06:00

So I must say, that I am sometimes SO SICK TO DEATH OF DATING! Ugh! The older I get, the more I feel like finding a decent, motivated guy to be interested in is about as fun as choosing the least compromised stall in a large public restroom. I mean, they're all completely repulsive and cringe-worthy, but you MUST select one of them...
You peek into a few stalls, eek! You pass a few of them by...and you ultimately end up selecting one of them--thinking it is the best one available. Once you lock yourself in and make the commitment, it becomes overwhelmingly obvious that this stall is probably much worse than you thought it was at first glance!
Yuck! But you're stuck--at lest for a few minutes... You do your business, and get the H out of there as soon as you can--convinced that you'll NEVER again make such a poor decision in stalls. But you forget your valuable lesson. And the cycle is seemingly never-ending.

How do other people seem to find the nice, pearly white, pristine stalls?

Yep. I am sick of the whole routine. Though a little dramatic, the bathroom analogy is about the best comparison I could conjure up.

Now here are a few other reasons that women like myself are still single:

See what I mean??? What a bunch of freaks! Hahaha. No, honestly, I know there are some good guys out there. I have dated many of them. But I am just on a loser streak lately. If any of you know of any nice, single, employed, educated men between 26 and 32, let me know... Wow. Did I really just ask for a set up? Huh. I guess maybe it has come to that. :o) Don't judge too much, it's rough out there these days.

(500) days of summer

2009-08-01T10:02:00.006-06:00

If you haven't heard of this movie yet, that's a crime. Go see it. Right now. (500) Days of Summer was fantastic! In Salt Lake, it is only playing at the Broadway Theater--where they show independent films.

Zooey Deschanel & Joseph Gordon-Levitt did a great job portraying the ups and downs of a relationship that lasted 500 days. You really cannot help but love these characters. And the dance scene? Wow. It was such a delightful, different-than-you expect, treat. I want to go see it again today. :o)

Before the movie last night, my friend Brittany and I had dinner at the delicious Naked Fish Japanese Bistro. Yummy! We shared edamame and two sushi rolls. The Connect roll was melt-in-your-mouth-fantastic. And the atmosphere of the restaurant was so enjoyable. We were seated in a separate room, had to take our shoes off, and sat on the floor at a low table--so fun.
Then we walked around downtown to kill time before our movie started. We found a few random shops with vintage clothing/furniture and lots of fun, novelty gifts. The Frosty Darling is a quirky little boutique--fun stuff.

Here are some pics of Brittany and me looking at some vintage clothes. We had a fun night!

summertime and the livin's easy...

2009-07-26T21:23:00.025-06:00

I must say, it has been a truly fabulous summer so far! I have been on the run and having loads of fun! Here is a brief rundown:

boating at Pine View with Brittany, her family, and some friends
(sunscreen, water, tubing...that's what summer is made for!)
Griffiths family reunion in Victor at my parents' cabin
(hiking, crawling through the wind caves with headlamps, canoeing, horseshoe championship, yummy food, marshmallow roasting, fun games, laughter, good talks, and so many memories!)

my big move from Daybreak to Sugar House
(my 45-minute commute to work was KILLING me. now it only takes me 10 minutes. i am loving that and am enjoying getting to know the sugar house area--so fun! and yes...i DID fill an entire uhaul truck! so thankful for great friends who helped me move!)
attending a few Bee's games with great friends
(gotta love weiner wednesday--$1 hotdogs!)
4th of July weekend with my parents at the cabin/fireworks in Idaho Falls with cousins
(canoeing, 4th of july parade in victor, bbq, relaxing, family time)

seeing Joel McHale again in SLC with friends
(oh...how we LOVE joel!)
Taylorsville Dayzz!
(neil diamond impersonator & fireworks...it doesn't get any better!)
helping organize and carry out the Pioneers of Progress dinner for the Days of '47 celebrations
(so, so much work! but the dinner went smoothly and i am so glad it's over!)
enjoying my new MacBook, as my OLD, OLD PowerBook finally died for good
(macs are the ONLY way to go!)

picking fresh apricots from the tree in my backyard
(i wish i were more of a domestic goddess and had the desire to make jam...cause we have apricots by the hundreds! let me know if you want any!)

I AM SO GLAD IT IS SUMMER! I AM LOVING THE WARM WEATHER, HAVING FUN SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY, AND SO GRATEFUL TO BE ALIVE!

up: an absolute must see!

2009-06-07T00:44:00.007-06:00

Last weekend, a big group of wardies attended the movie Up. Wow! I am not always a huge cartoon movie fan...but I was pleasantly surprised by this little treasure of a film. I teared up on four or five different occasions during the movie. It had humor, tragedy, tender moments, and it was just everything that a feel-good movie should be. Plus, I LOVED all the vibrant and imaginative color schemes. All around, it was fabulous.

You should all go. Right now.

On the other hand...I don't really recommend the movie Drag Me to Hell. Hmm. Not my favorite. Cheesy, predictable "scary" movie? Yes, most definitely. Worth seeing? Not so much.

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

2009-04-30T23:37:00.001-06:00

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Free genealogy - Pedigree

a whirlwind weekend

2009-04-26T21:50:00.004-06:00

Whew! The weekend is nearly over and I feel even more exhausted than I did Friday at work. Isn't the weekend supposed to be relaxing? Well this weekend was FAR from relaxing. Though...I must say, it was so much fun that I guess I am okay with how tired I am now.

The weekend's highlights included 1) Arrested Development night with Richard, Steve, Jonathan, Susan, and Brittany. 2) Stamp Camp with my co-workers. 3) The Oh Sweet Sadie Art & Craft Show in the Daybreak model homes--such fun stuff to see and buy! I bought a super cute necklace there from The Pink Chandelier. I love it! 4) The Bee's game in the box seats with Brittany's comapany. 5) The opening of the new Wise Guys at the old Hard Rock Cafe location downtown. We got to see Marcus, who is HILARIOUS!!! I laughed so dang hard it hurt! And then the marathon Sunday--that consisted of 6) church and visiting teachers, then 7) home cooked dinner for three guys in our ward that we auctioned off at the service auction last week, and 8) Ward Prayer hosted at our house--with treats for everyone. Oh, and I also 9) worked eight hours at Pier 1 between Friday and Saturday.

Whew. See why I am exhausted?! Not a moment was wasted.

All I want to do now is sleep. I am so not ready to go back to work tomorrow!

But it was a fabulous weekend and I am grateful for good friends. :o)

Here is a picture of Marcus for you to enjoy. Yum.

a GREEN tip on earth day

2009-04-22T22:41:00.002-06:00

So...in all honesty, I don't do my part to be green. I don't recycle. I sometimes leave lights on. I drive wherever I want to whenever I want to and don't really worry about my gas fumes destroying the o-zone. Oops. Maybe I should be more e-friendly!

But I was excited when I heard of this very simple way to help save a little bit of energy! This was posted on the intranet at my office...

Google has a search engine, blackle.com, that uses less energy than google.com. Here is the info from Nat'l Geographic:

Over the course of the year, energy consumption from personal computers contributes the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions as burning 32 gallons of gasoline.You may not be able to cut back on your web browsing, but your search engine of choice can help cut back on that energy use. Powered by Google, Blackle provides the same search results as google.com but on a blacked-out background, saving over 944,500 kilowatt hours of energy since the engine's launch in 2007. If the transition from white to black is rough on the eyes, try thegreenspider.com , also powered by Google, which saves a bit less energy than Blackle but allows the user to chose from a variety of colorful alternatives to the white screen.

I gotta say, this is an easy way to help in a tiny way. Plus, I like the PINK background on thegreenspider.com. Try it out!

pink lemon jewels

2009-04-05T23:41:00.004-06:00

So I LOVE to make jewelry! It is one of my favorite pass times. But it gets expensive. So last summer I decided that to support my habit, I should try to sell some of my stuff. I have really only sold a few things--mostly to co-workers and a little bit online through my Etsy store. I wish I had more time to devote to it.

I have been making jewelry for co-workers for Christmas and Valentine's Day--and it's a big hit at my office. I have also made wedding jewelry for a friends/a cousin. I love it!

My boss is helping her mother organize an auction to raise money for a charity that plans special programs for handicap kids. She asked if I would donate a few jewelry items for this cause. Of course I will! But I decided that I wanted to have labels or business cards or something--some way to let people know they can contact me if they ever want to order jewelry.

So I designed these business cards the other day (super girly, I knjow...but they're so me). What do you think? Are they TOO girly for business cards, or do you think they're cute? I came up with the name Pink Lemon Jewels last summer...not sure where that came from exactly, but I think I'll stick with it. Any thoughts on the name?

slacker blogger

2009-04-05T23:15:00.011-06:00

I haven't blogged in so long! Life is just busy these days, but really good too!

Here are a few things I have done the past few months...

I went sledding with my nieces when I spent a weekend in Idaho in February. Brr...

My roommates and I went on a weekend road trip to Long Beach, CA. We drove all the way there to see JOEL McHALE!!!! He is our favorite comedian (if you don't know who he is, you really should watch The Soup on E--hilarious!).

While in CA, we did a lot of random things and had a blast. Though it was a quick trip, it was fantastic! Yay for girlfriends, pedicures, yummy food, beaches, and lots of laughing...so good for the soul! :o)

My (really dumb) car hit 100,000 miles! haha. Lame, I know, but I took a picture of the odometer while I was driving to work one morning. Gotta capture these "milestones!" hahaha.

I have decided that I am SICK to death of dating lame losers! I am considering taking my vows as a nun and joining a convent...do you think it matters that I'm not Catholic? haha. Just joking, of course. I will keep trying...

enter to win!

2009-02-05T18:12:00.000-07:00

I saw this on my friends blog and thought... this will be fun!

Lucky you! The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

2- What I create will be just for you.

3- It'll be done this year--probably within the next month.

4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or a unique piece of jewelry. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! (I will be checking to make sure you did it!) Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

cheesy pageant bliss

2009-01-26T18:59:00.010-07:00

So, of all the cheesy things I'm sure I have done in my life, attending this year's Miss American Pageant has got to top the list! Don't get me wrong, I had a blast in Vegas with my mom and my childhood friend, Tina, and her mom. We cheered on our family friend, Elisa Davis, as Miss Idaho (as Elise introduced herself--"Idaho--where the TV was created, but I'm no couch potato!"). the christina (miss idaho's sister) sonja
(tina's mom),tina, me, and my mom.
yay for idaho!

elise davis--the beautiful miss idaho

The four of us ladies thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Paris on the strip, saw the Cirque du Soleil show "O" at the Bellagio, and delighted in excellent cuisine.

Can I say, "Wow?!?!" Cirque du Soleil's "O" was FREAKING AMAZING!!!! If you find yourself in Vegas, you seriuosly need to just splurge and treat yourself to this amazing treat of abstract art, absolute creativity, and mind-blowing performances! Wow. Seriously. Just go! No words can describe it.

It was truly a miracle in and of itself that we made it to Vegas. Tina and I flew out of Salt Lake Friday night after work. The world's thickest fog brewed up Friday evening and I thought for sure we'd be stuck in SLC all night. I couldn't even see the sign for the airport exit on the freeway, so I missed it and had to turn around. I parked in economy parking and wandered around the parking lot for half an hour trying to find the shuttle stop--couldn't even see my hand in front of my face in the crazy fog! But somehow, we made it out ontime. I don't know whether I should be glad or afraid that my pilot took off in the fog. But it all worked out.

tina and i enjoyed a cinnabon at the
slc airport to start off the weekend right!

we walked around the vegas temple grounds
on sunday before flying out. i never knew the
vegas temple was so pretty!the madre and me at the vegas temple.
yeah, i highlighted my hair and it looks
super blonde to me in this pic...still
not sure if i like it or not.

To sum up the weekend, the Miss America Pageant, though cheesy, was a blast--and a once in a lifetime type of thing. And hey, I got to see Mario Lopez dance in person--so how could that have been a bad weekend?

catching up...

2009-01-11T01:33:00.016-07:00

So, I haven't blogged in over a month! I guess a lot has happened in the past month, so I have my blogging work cut out for me!

For the past month I have been working a second job. I thought it would be fun (and a great way to earn some extra Christmas cash) to go back to my old Pier 1 days part time in the evenings/weekends. So I did. My old boss was excited to have me come back temporarily. And I had quite a bit of fun with it! So I decided to stay on for a while. I have been super busy with working two jobs!
Now I need to stay on for even longer than I planned because my car has serious issues! I am going to get a few things fixed on my car and then hopefully get rid of her!

Audi A4=BAD car!!! grr. It really is a love-hate relationship I have with my car these days. She is oh so cute/fun/sassy. But she makes me so angry that I have to spend so much money fixing her! Evil car!

I am car shopping and taking in advice from everyone. What is a great, affordable, easy-to-maintain smaller car that won't cost me $1,000 every time something is wrong with it? Or better yet, what kind of car will be reliable enough that I won't be in the shop every other week? I am open to any ideas at this point! I just need reliability! I am thinking maybe a Mazda 3? Any thoughts on that?

Mazda 3=potentially good car???

Anyway, long work hours and car problems aside, my past month has been fantastic! First of all, there was Christmas! Wow! I was way spoiled and had such a great time with my family in Idaho. I loved every second of it!

Me with my sister-in-law wearing the aprons my mom made us. My mom is so crafty and talented! I wish I could sew!

My mom also made purses for all the girls in the family! Tons of work, but so cute! I love my mom!

This is me and some of my favorite cousins at our grandparents' house Christmas night. Such great fun!

This is my dad opening his iPhone! He loved it. The first app he downloaded was iFart. Wow. Really, dad? haha. He kept making me pick up the phone so it would make farting sounds. He said the app was only like $1, but we would have paid $10 because he thought it was so cool! One of the greatest parts of Christmas was that my dad had broken ribs from skiing. Our goal all weekend was to make him laugh because he would cry and laugh at the same time, all the while holding his ribs and winching in pain. Yeah, it makes it sound like my family is super mean, but trust me, it was hilarious!

My family acting out the nativity story. We hadn't done this in years! I think my nieces really liked this resurected family Christmas tradition.

Every Christmas Eve, my family has a huge dinner made up of tons of different hour d' ourves. Did I spell that right? Hmm. Who knows. Anyway, ever since I can remember, we always have an English cracker at each place setting on the table. My mom grew up with this tradition. So the whole family has to eat with their paper crown on, read their joke/riddle, and show everyone the prize that came inside their cracker. I love this tradition. We all look silly in our paper crowns, but it would not be Christmas to me without this!

After Christmas was over for another year, my roommates and I carried out the best New Years party ever! We had tons of people at our house, shared a few New Years kisses, played some games, ate some delicious snacks, and enjoyed ringing in the new year with our great friends.

Just this past week, I passed the Utah property and casualty insurance agent licensing test. Whew! I had been studying for the past two months and I am so glad/relieved to have that over with! I had to pass this test for my job, and I am was the happiest girl in America when I saw the large word PASS across the computer screen at the proctor testing center. Yay!!!

So, I am excited to begin a new year. I think 2008 was a pretty great year for the most part, but for some reason, I think 2009 is going to be even more divine! I just have this hunch...

Happy New Year to all of you! I love you!

new jewelry items!

2008-12-03T21:25:00.005-07:00

Check out my new jewelry items I just posted on
my Etsy page! (http://randahg.etsy.com)

More fun stuff on my page...

thankful

2008-12-01T23:04:00.013-07:00

So Thanksgiving has come and gone--here are the

highlights of a great weekend in Idaho, in no particular order:

Meeting my beautiful new niece--Baby Whitney.

Seeing Twilight with a bunch of my aunts, cousins, mom, and sister-in-law. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. We had a great time--there were 16 of us!

Playing with my adorable nieces! We read books for hours on end. I loved it!

Thanksgiving dinner with the family. Yeah, my mom is a little Martha-Stewart-esque.
She loves to set a pretty table!

Spending some quality time with my spunky Grams.

Seeing my cousin, Denae, get married in the Rexburg Temple.
She was the happiest woman in the world! That was awesome to see.

Helping my mom in the kitchen.

Shopping on Black Friday with my mom and sister-in-law. I hadn't done that in years, but we actually had a good time, despite the 5:00 AM start!

It was a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend! I am grateful for my wonderful family!

be grateful

2008-11-21T00:45:00.003-07:00

So, as completely cheesy as this message is, it made me cry. My grandma sent me this email forward the other day, and I wanted to share it. Somehow she must have felt inspired to send it to me.

BE GRATEFUL

MAYBE GOD WANTS US TO MEET A
FEW WRONG PEOPLE BEFORE MEETING
THE RIGHT ONE SO THAT WHEN WE FINALLY
MEET THE RIGHT PERSON, WE WILL KNOW
HOW TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT GIFT.

WHEN THE DOOR OF HAPPINESS CLOSES,
ANOTHER OPENS, BUT OFTEN TIMES WE LOOK
SO LONG AT THE CLOSED DOOR THAT WE DON’T
SEE THE ONE WHICH HAS BEEN OPENED FOR US.

THE BEST KIND OF FRIEND IS THE KIND YOU
CAN SIT ON A PORCH AND SWING WITH,
NEVER SAY A WORD, AND THEN WALK AWAY
FEELING LIKE IT WAS THE BEST
CONVERSATION YOU’VE EVER HAD.

IT’S TRUE THAT WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’VE
GOT UNTIL WE LOSE IT, BUT IT’S ALSO TRUE
THAT WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’VE BEEN
MISSING UNTIL IT ARRIVES.

DON’T GO FOR LOOKS; THEY CAN DECEIVE.
DON’T GO FOR WEALTH; EVEN THAT FADES AWAY.
GO FOR SOMEONE WHO MAKES YOU SMILE
BECAUSE IT TAKES ONLY A SMILE TO MAKE A
DARK DAY SEEM BRIGHT.
FIND THE ONE THAT MAKES YOUR HEART SMILE.

MAY YOU HAVE ENOUGH HAPPINESS TO MAKE YOU
SWEET, ENOUGH TRIALS TO MAKE YOU STRONG,
ENOUGH SORROW TO KEEP YOU HUMAN, ENOUGH
HOPE TO BRING YOU JOY.

ALWAYS PUT YOURSELF IN ANOTHER’S SHOES.
IF YOU FEEL THAT IT HURTS YOU,
IT PROBABLY HURTS THE OTHER PERSON, TOO.

THE HAPPIEST OF PEOPLE DON’T NECESSARILY
HAVE THE BEST OF EVERYTHING; THEY JUST MAKE THE MOST
OF EVERYTHING THAT COMES ALONG THEIR WAY.

THE BRIGHTEST FUTURE WILL ALWAYS BE BASED
ON A FORGOTTEN PAST, YOU CAN’T GET ON WELL IN
LIFE UNTIL YOU LET GO OF PAST FAILURES AND HEARTACHES.

WHEN YOU WERE BORN, YOU WERE CRYING AND
EVERYONE AROUND YOU WAS SMILING.
LIVE YOUR LIFE SO THAT WHEN YOU DIE, YOU’RE
THE ONE WHO IS SMILING AND EVERYONE AROUND YOU IS CRYING.

This is me with my cute Grandma last Christmas. Thanks for the poem, Grams!

still alive!

2008-11-20T23:29:00.001-07:00

Oops. I forgot to post again to let you all know that yes, I AM still alive and have not yet died from carbon monoxide inhalation!

I have just been really super busy doing free-lance work for my old job.

I promise to blog more later. Have a great day, everyone!!!

one long day...with a surprise ending...

2008-11-17T22:51:00.002-07:00

So, I left my house at 7:15 this morning. After THE longest day ever, I was finally pulling onto my street to go home around 10 PM. And, much to my surprise, there was a fire engine right in front of my house! My three roommates were standing in the driveway with 5 HOT, HOT firemen!!! What a nice welcome home greeting!

As I was quickly debriefed on the night's events by my roommates, I learned that our carbon monoxide detectors had gone off. So, my roommates called the sheriff's department--who sent the firemen.

I guess my roommates did the wrong thing by opening all the windows and doors when the alarms went off. FYI, you're just supposed to evacuate your house immediately in such an event--leaving the air un-diluted so it can be properly tested. So, at any rate, the hot firemen were anable to determine if we truly have a carbon monoxide leak, or if our batteries just died.

We put new batteries in and are sleeping in our house tonight anyway--with all our windows open (even though it's going to be a really cold night).

The scary thing is that two of my roommates have been sick the past few days with symptoms similar to carbon monoxide poisoning...

So, I will blog again tomorrow, just so you all know that I didn't die in my sleep tonight while inhaling toxic chemicals!

Sadly, we did not get photos of the hot firemen, so you'll just have to take my word for it, but they were yummy!

re-focus

2008-11-17T00:09:00.005-07:00

As we live life each day, doing the thousands of things we have to do, the thousands of things we want to do, and the all the little things in between, somehow, it is easy to become complacent, forgetting what really matters.

I am guilty of this. I think over the past few months, I have become somewhat apathetic spiritually. Sure, I am active. I go to church every week. I do my callings. I go to church activities. I mostly do the things I should be doing. But sometimes I wonder if I just do it because it's all habit. I know there should be more to it than that.

Today was a great day. It made me truly reflect on what this life really is all about. I haven't had a self-reflection day like this in quite a while. And while I do continue to do the things I know are right, I realized today that I needed to re-focus a little and remember WHY it is that I do the things I do.

Why do I go to church? Why do I fulfill my callings? Why do I pray? Why do I support church leaders? Why do I read my scriptures? Why do I go to the temple?

Not just because I live in Utah and that's what everyone else is doing. Not just because I don't know how to live my life contrary to those practices. Not just because I would feel guilty if I didn't. Not just because I don't want to disappoint my parents.

But because deep within my core, I know that's what I am supposed to be doing. And I know I wouldn't be truly happy otherwise. The bottom line is this--I do know who I am. I do know why I am here. I do know what life is all about. I just needed a little reminder I guess.

As I attended a fireside tonight by Elder Ballard, I was touched by his sweet words:

"My friends, be strong. You know what is right and you know what is wrong. Make a stand for right, even if you have to stand alone. There is no friendship more valuable than a clear conscience."

So true, M. Russell!!! Thanks for that. I needed it.

So, strong I will be, remembering that spirituality is not something I can afford to be apathetic about. To have spiritual apathy is to be unexcited or dispassionate about spiritual matters--and that is not okay with me. I am glad I re-focused today and reminded myself that I need to have a little more zeal, zest, and even a zanier attitude towards maintaining my spirituality.

i got tagged (i HATE doing stuff like this...thanks Tricia!)

2008-11-02T22:46:00.002-07:00

I got tagged by my friend Tricia..........
The rules are:
* Link to the person who tagged you (Tricia Buck http://triciamerlin.blogspot.com/)
*Post the rules on your blog
*Write six random things/unspectacular quirks about yourself
* Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them
* Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog* Let the tagger know when your entry is posted
Okay, here goes:

1. I ONLY drink Soy milk. I used to love real milk until sometime on my mission. I had a companion who had heard great things about the health benefits of soy milk (don't ask me what they are, because I have absolutely NO clue). So we decided to start drinking soy. And now, I absolutely am repulsed by the thought of real milk. It is nasty to me. So for probably the past five years I have drank only soy milk. I usually have two cartons in my fridge---one of Very Vanilla and one of Chocolate. Mmmm...I heart soy milk!

2. I count things. Now, this is somewhat embarrassing to admit and not too many people know this about me, but I count things all the time. For example, I am driving down the road and I see a billboard that says, "Nate Wade Subaru..." What do I subconsciously do? I oftentimes will count the letters in the words. And then maybe the syllables. And then maybe the different colors used in the billboard. I know, I know...this makes me sound totally crazy. I oftentimes will count pictures hanging on a wall or stairs or window panes, or people in a room, etc, etc, etc. I mostly just count on down time--driving, watching TV, sitting in boring meetings, etc. Now, this actually is something that kind of runs in my family, believe it or not. I have come to find out that my mother and my younger brother are also counters. Last year one of my co-workers found out about my counting fetish and made me walk with her to our office psychologist's office to confess to him my craziness. I explained to him that I count a lot, but not obsessively. He told me that it just means I have an active mind that doesn't like idleness. Now that sounds to me like a positive thing. Haha. Yeah, I am pretty much a freak, but at least my mind is always thinking.

3. Shopping is therapeutic to me. If shopping were a sport, I seriously think I could be a gold medalist. I grew up with a shopaholic mother. This just wore off on me. Even when I'm feeling poor and don't buy anything at all, shopping just lifts my spirits and de-stresses me. In college when I was working full-time and taking tons of credits and had a million other things going on, I would spend maybe an hour shopping, and all the sudden the world seemed bearable again and I was able to get everything done.

4. I am a clutz. I fall and trip and bump into things ALL the time. I am definitely not graceful by any means. My family can attest to this. I have infinite stories of me falling in front of large groups, in very public places, and in front of hot guys. Yep, that's me. One of my all time favorite falling stories was when I was in second grade. Tricia loves this story! I used to walk to school with the neighbor girls, but they were almost always running late. My mom always said I could go knock on their door, but if they weren't ready, I just needed to leave and walk to school alone. They always said they were almost ready though, and sometimes I'd go in and wait for them. Well one day, I waited and waited for them. By the time we finally left their house to head to school, we were going to be really late. My mom was watching from her bedroom window and she yelled out to me that I better RUN to school! While running, with my backpack furiously swinging up and down, I stumbled over a large chunk of broken cinder block that was haphazardly placed by the curb. I flew through the air, hitting my head on the cement. I totally blacked out and was unconscious for a while. I woke up in some lady's car. She took me home while my friends continued on to school. I chipped my tooth on the curb. And, after such a tramatic morning, my mom took me to the dentist to get my tooth repaired, and then she made me go to school. I totally deserved a sick day after that! But there was one bonus out of the situation. I got a huge gaping hole in the knee of my pants! I hated those light blue corduroy pants with the built-on suspenders! Luckily, I never had to wear them again! Long story, but the moral is that I fall a lot.

5. I am a thrill seeker. I went sky diving a couple of years ago and I have been on this thrill-seeking hunt ever since. I love any crazy, scary ride there is. I will try anything! I used to be pretty afraid of heights, but I got over that when I had to climb latters a lot while working retail a few years back. I can't get enough of roller coasters, sky diving, high-speed, twisty, crazy rides! I love them! I definitely want to go sky diving again very soon!

6. I am crazy about flossing my teeth. I cannot go to bed without flossing! I carry dental floss in my purse always. I am obsessive about it! But, luckily, I think it is paying off. When I went to the dentist a few months ago (after not going for about two years), I didn't have a single cavity! Yay for flossing!

Now you all know a little too much about me! Haha. I guess we're all kind of crazy in our own ways though!

I now tag my roommate Susan, my cousins Christin and Emily, and my friends Tina, Mindy, and Risa. Sorry girls! :o)

more HALLOWEEN pics!

2008-11-01T11:35:00.006-06:00

yay for halloween birthdays!

2008-11-01T11:21:00.005-06:00

So, as sad as it is to admit, I turned the big 27 yesterday! Ahh. How did this happen? haha. Getting older is definitely no fun, but at least it was a f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s birthday!!! It was truly one of my very favorite birthdays ever.

At work, we just kind of had a party all day and ate non-stop. We had a bug pot-luck cook-off and I had a blast with my new co-workers.

Then...my roommates and I had a massive Halloween costume party! There were people wall-to-wall! We estimate that we had between 80-90 people at our house! It was a blast!

I dressed up like Minnie Mouse--thanks to the cute skirt my mom made me and the accessories I purchased at Disneyland when I went with my family in September .

All in all, it was a truly fantastic day! I LOVE that my birthday is on Halloween. I hated it as a kid, but now I think it's pretty much the coolest thing ever. I feel so lucky to have such great friends and roommates!

Thanks to all of you who helped make my birthday so awesome!

new job...here i come!

2008-10-26T23:47:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow morning I start my new job. I'm nervous, but excited. I needed a change, and I am hoping that this new job will be something great for me! I have a lot to learn. I know virtually NOTHING about insurance! And in this new position, I actually have to become a licensed insurance agent! I never thought in a million years that I'd work in the insurance field. But hey, life always seems to be throwing me curve balls as of late. I guess that's how things stay interesting.

the luckiest

2008-10-26T00:27:00.002-06:00

Wow. Listen to "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds. It is a beautiful song! It made me cry.

run fatboy run

2008-10-18T13:21:00.002-06:00

Have any of you seen the movie Run Fatboy Run? I though it would be a little strange--I mean British films are typically not my favorite. But wow. I loved it! It was funny, sad, cute, happy, and an all around great film. You should see it. Seriously.

new job!!!

2008-10-13T21:48:00.002-06:00

So, I have been looking for a new job for the past two weeks. And...today I got my second job offer--but this is the one I really wanted! Yay!!! I'm going to be working for the Buckner Company (which is an insurance broker). I will be an account manager in the marketing department. I start October 27th.

Now the tough part...telling my boss tomorrow morning that I'm giving my two-week notice. Eek. Wish me luck!

one full & fabulous day

2008-10-12T01:19:00.003-06:00

Today was a fantastic Saturday! I slept in really late, then cleaned like a crazy woman for hours. I got all my winter clothes out, organized, did 5 loads of laundry (and actually put everything away--which is my least favorite thing to do ever!), went grocery shopping, hung out with my friend Tricia all night (We had "pumpkin night." We ate pumpkin shakes and carved pumpkins with her friend, Mark), and baked a birthday cake for my roommate. Whew. I feel like a got tons done though; and nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment.

my so-called life

2008-10-10T00:06:00.004-06:00

Ha. Does anyone remember the TV show from the early 90's called My So-Called Life? I loved that show--mostly because I had a huge crush on Jordan Capilano (Jared Leto). Anyway, while I was searching on ABC.com for the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy (which isn't up yet--and was supposed to be recorded on my DVR, but somehow got all messed up), I happened upon some random old-school episodes of My So-Called Life. Random, but fun.

desperate housewives

2008-10-09T10:51:00.002-06:00

Haha. I thought this was so funny. I don't know if you can read the words or not, but here is what it says:

Belle: "My husband is such an animal."
Cinderella: "Mine still drives a pumpkin."
Snow White: "My husband leaves me at home with 7 little ones."
Ariel: "Mine wants me to wear fish net stockings."
Sleeping Beauty: "I just pretend I'm asleep."

Disney's Desperate Housewives.

:o)

maria mena

2008-10-07T00:08:00.003-06:00

For the past few months I have listened to tons of Maria Mena's music. Her songs are kind of sad in some ways, but I have related so much to them lately. This Norwegian singer speaks to me somehow. You should listen to some of her stuff.

revived

2008-10-05T22:33:00.004-06:00

I went home to Idaho for the weekend. My family and I stayed at our cabin in Victor, ID. It was the best weekend I've had in a really long time because I just relaxed and got away from all my stresses for a little bit. I needed it.

Probably the reason it was such a great weekend was because of General Conference. It's funny how something that was so boring to me as a kid means the world to me now. Words cannot express how deeply my soul was touched by the words of living prophets. Watching eight hours of conference sailed by in what seemed like moments as I soaked in the counsel and teachings. I came away knowing that I have much to work on, but also much to be thankful for. My spirit feels revived.

Disneyland Trip!!! :o)

2008-10-01T22:17:00.000-06:00

So, I'm a terrible, terrible blogger! I still don't know what I'm doing on here--but I thought I'd play around with adding photos. Man, do they teach a blogging class somewhere? haha. I need to take it if so!

So, my family and I recently went to Disneyland. The whole family wetnt. It was such a fun getaway. I needed it. We played all day for four days at Disneyland and California Adventure. My nieces, who are 4 and 6, had such a blast! Disneyland with little kids is the best!

reflecting...

2008-07-12T22:20:00.000-06:00

Today I had a family reunion for all the extended family on my dad's side. Wow. It was actually a tribute to my Grandpa, who is the oldest living Griffiths descendent. It was pretty awesome to hear stories about my Gramps. He's an amazing little man. He's about my height--which is only 5'4" (he keeps shrinking!). How amazing that from him and my Grandma, there is now a fmaily of 94 people (their kids, in-laws, grandkids, and great-grandkids). Wow! I am lucky to have such an amazing family!

hola!

2008-06-19T15:48:00.000-06:00

Hey. So I'm brand new to the blogging world. I really have no idea what I'm doing yet. So many people I know are bloggers, so I decided to give this a try. Is it really as cool as facebook? Hmm...I'll have to find out.