how pretty!

I'm trying to make this my new go-to lazy day hair do instead of just a plain old bun. So far I can't tell if it's cute, or my efforts look stupid.

basically, I like to sleep

I wasn't always this way. Well yes I was. I liked to sleep anywhere, any time EXCEPT for at night, and except for in my bed. There is plenty of photographic evidence for this.

However, this is true now, more than ever. I LOVE SLEEPING. I love napping on the couch, sleeping in the car, sleeping in my bed, sleeping outside in the sun. Sleeping is nice.

However, sometimes the shifts I work make the sleep I like impossible to get. I'm talking about the I NEED 9 hours a night to be the functioning, cheerful, optimistic Amy we all know and love. Lately, I've been closing a lot on Saturdays, and thanks to the 9 o'clock church block, that means about 6 hours of sleep, especially if I'm going to shower in the morning before church. You know, you're supposed to be off by 10, but the store is messy so you're there until at least 11 or 11:30, then you drive home, you unwind, you get ready for bed, you put the finishing touches on your sunday school lesson, and before you know it, it's 1 or 2 in the morning.

So, I've been really enjoying the re-introduction into my life of the "SUNDAY AFTERNOON NAP."

It's a treasure. However, sometimes I'm not that sleepy, but I really need to catch up if I'm going to do anything at all after 6 pm. Here is where you perk up and pay attention. here are 3 things proven get an adult to sleep- please note they are all movies/television users.

1. The Lord of the Rings extras- from any one of the 3, but preferably from the extended cut, where you will have hours upon hours of droning about details that is boring enough to put anyone to sleep. *Please note here however, that I ADORE these extras, and sometimes I watch them just for fun. But usually end up sleeping.

2. Planet Earth. It is interesting, informative, beautiful...and soothing.

3. America: The Story of Us: slightly interesting, but really monotone and not that interesting. like a history class film you would watch the last 2 weeks of school. May as well skip/sleep.

The extra added bonus is a comfy couch, and late afternoon, indirect sunlight streaming in, giving everything that soft nappy glow. Definitely wonderful.

business trip

So, this Saturday through next Wednesday (why don't we spell then wensday?) I'll be working at University mall to prep the brand new store! for it's grand opening on (I think it's) Friday. I'm treating it like a little business trip, packing and staying at mom and dads for the whole time. I think it'll be nice to be so close to work again! only 5 min!

But I'll tell you what else: it stinks packing a weeks worth of black clothes...

On a different note, I have a love/dislike/love relationship with the weather. rain is bad for people in flooding areas, and there is a lot of rain melting a lot of snow, and I would really love to see the sun...but I love the hard, pounding rain and hail on the metal roof of the covered parking outside my bedroom window...downside? I like to open my windows to hear that lovely sound more clearly, and then...wet carpet in my bedroom. whoops!

Last week Elder Oaks popped in to our ward, and we were so lucky that it was our fast and testimony meeting! I want to share a little snippet of what he said that touched me.

"We can retard our progress by characterizing ourselves, rise above that. Don't hold yourself back by viewing yourself in any other way than as a daughter (or son) of God, beloved by Him."

A simple and touching reminder that only our Heavenly Father knows what potential hides inside of us.

Welcome to our abode!

Today my roommate, Emily and I got the rearranging bug, and we needed to hang a mirror that I got from my Aunt. It used to belong to my grandma Knight, so I think that's pretty cool.

Come on in!

From the front door, coming in.

The living room area. You might notice I am attracted to sunset type things...

the other side of the living room, with our little vacation painting.

our newly restlyed and much more full bookshelves! (you might remember the old ones, from this post about where I live)

closer view. I love that now there is a lot more about US on there! not that many people come over to see them...)

And here is the little reading nook we fit in next to the dining table. We moved the biggest pillow trying to cover the ugly fabric on the chair until i decide what i want to recover it in. I think something gray, if I can find it, since I couldn't find it for my sofa...maybe a vertical strip or even plain white or cream...I have no idea. Hope you enjoyed the tour of our "new" living room!

Tulip Festival

Last week I went to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving point, and it was beautiful! I have actually never been to the gardens there before, so it was a fun treat, even though it was windy and really pretty cold, and I was unprepared for that. Tyler came with, and took most of these pictures so I could try to finish up a roll of film(!) I still have a bunch of half used disposable cameras lying around...and I have a little diana camera I've been trying to figure out.

We happened upon this little goose family on the path, and papa goose was very defensive until they got in the water. What a perfect springtime scene!

Luckily he just happened to have 2 quarters, so we could each get fish food! It was so cool, they really gather for those little pellets, and there were a lot of fish!

A pretty little prospect. I love the trees like that, although they don't have a very beautiful name.

There is nothing I like more than a little color organization.

I was trying to get a photo of all tulips that I could print to hang in my room, but this is the closest I got with the Nikon.

I had to take a photo of this because this tulip looks so much like a peony that I have to remember it! It's so beautiful, and if I can grow these, that will save me some money in the future, I'm sure!

I like this garden because it looks like a couple at Versailles, but prettier! It's oh so European, and definitely made me wish I was headed to Europe soon (oh what could have been!)

Ha, this was a funny point in our visit, and this is very beautiful, isn't it? I wish the raised beds weren't quite so high, though. but what a nice place to sit that is!

A New Perspective

sometimes Heavenly Father puts people in your life long before you end up really, truly needing them...before what they offer you in your relationship really shows itself. I am grateful for those people, who I've been able to build relationships over years, so that when I really need to hear something, they know me well enough, or are in tune enough with what the Spirit is telling them, that they can deliver a message that I need. Especially when it's unexpected.

I'm sure I need them for a lot more in life than that one thing, but I hope they need me just as much, or that I am contributing as much to their life as they are to mine!

On a different note, I've been thinking a lot about the only real "what if" I have in my life, and all I can conclude about it, is that I wish I were more brave. So, I am going to try to be more brave in the future. I don't believe in living wit regrets. What we decided, how we act, and what we do-they're a part of who we are, and we can't undo them, or change who we are-we are who we are because of what experiences we have. The best we can do is learn from them. So, here's to being brave when you're afraid, trusting when it's easier to doubt, and stepping out on a limb from a safe ground.

AND exercising a little self confidence! I think we're always inclined to think less of ourselves than others think of us, and isn't there just something wrong with that?

rainy day off

My room has been getting a little messy lately, so I promised myself I would clean it before I go to FHE today. But I still haven't. I did take a nice nap to the soundtrack of The Lord of the Rings extras (thank you Peter Jackson, for how long those are!) So I suppose I should start before I get nothing accomplished on it.

I was also thinking about restyling our bookshelves, just for kicks and because I've seen lots of pretty pictures of bookshelves lately. But I didn't do that either.

That's what happens when it's my rainy day off, especially after a late night at work. mostly, I just nap, and run a few errands, and nap, and resist buying pretty things.

love, amy.

happy thing

It smells like mowed grass outside. yes.

But Moses he knowses his toses aren't roses

As mo-oses suppo-oses his to-oses to be!

Remember how Singin' in the Rain is one of my favorite movies?

"you look lovely in the moonlight, kathy." "and I can't stand him... and I cahn't stand him." "i love you, i love you, i love you, i love you" "no, no, no...yes, yes, yes...no, no, no...yes, yes yes..." There are some not very great little musical numbers hidden between all the amazing ones. But THIS is my favorite. Unfortunately, I can't get the video to imbed, so do yourself a favor, take a 5 minute joy break from whatever you're doing and WATCH! Because if you didn't, you can't fully appreciate what I'm about to show you...

did you go watch? okay...I trust you.

It may or may not be that I've always kind of wanted one of these. so, last night, since my roommate jaclyn and I were home and a bit bored we decided we needed to fill an empty wall in our house, and we decided we'd start to make stuff to fill it. I made this exciting vowel and she made these cute little birdies.

So, it's a start. if you have a suggestion for what we should paint next, you can feel free to make one. We're ready. and that wall is kind of big.

and

I don't know why everything is publishing as one big paragraph. weird.

Also,

my shift key sometimes won't press down, so that's sometimes why I'm not capitalizing. And sometimes i don't want to. BUT I just realized there's one on the other side of the keyboard...but who uses the righthand shift key? anybody? and then I realized that to type a question mark is the only time I actually use it...to use it to type anything else requires a complete rerouting of my mavis beacon teaches typing skills. BUT the actual real reason I started this post was to say i have a new calling in my ward. that is to say I have a calling finally in my new(ish) ward. I am a sunday school teacher. hurrah! apparently, when I taught at our mite night, the bishop and sunday school president came to scout out my teaching skills and thought it would be a good fit. should be fun, I think.

you're probably not now, nor have you ever

ACTUALLY wanted to know this information, but since I'm bored and just watched an intersting movie, here are some of my favorites in no particular order except how they come to mind: -Sunrise (A Song of Two Humans)-Casablanca-Finding Neverland-The Departed-An Affair to Remember-Singin' in the Rain-Emma-The Lord of the Rings, the Two Towers-Casino Royale-Holiday Inn-A Lot Like Love-The Young Victoria-An American President-Persuasion-Meet me In St. Louis. I also reserve the right to ammend this list at any time, for any reason. Like right now, when I want to add Easy A. Just because I can, and because I think it's really funny, and slightly inappropriate.

Midway Ice Sculpture thingy

A few weeks ago, my friend Tyler and I went up to the midway ice sculpture thing. It was really incredible, beautiful and a little bit creepy. Unfortunately for us, it had been pretty warm before we went, but it was still perfectly icy. Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure, and to entice you to go next winter and pay the few dollars to wander around in a surreal north pole. (If I were you, I'd probably go in January, when it's at the peak of perfection.)

They're almost all beautifully lit like this one.

Here is Tyler in his throne. In his grand throne room.

A lot of them have cool tunnels so you can go inside of them.

They're very drippy.

Here am I.

It was colder than I expected, though I don't know why I didn't expect it.

Snow exploring in the winter, anyone?

This one was my favorite! It reminded me of a cathedral with all of those niches.

They're just waiting to be filled with some incredible sculptural program.

Although, if it's like any cathedral, it's this one:

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

source

Go there next year, and tell them I sent you. You'll get a discount!*

*okay, not really. But wouldn't that be cool?

Today I finished a crafty little project I've been wanting to do for a while.

In 2009, when mom, dad, Sarah and I were in Prague, we happened upon (and really couldn't avoid) the Easter market.

It was beautiful, and incredibly interesting. But it gave me some inspiration for something I've wanted to do since then: an Easter tree!

We try to keep fresh flowers in our apartment, but our windows don't get any sun, so any plants we get die, and cut flowers only last for so long.

So, last week my roommate Jaclyn and I headed to the park and found some tree trimmings, so I brought them in, and today I painted them, and added some spring decorations.

I wanted to add more flowers to it for fun, but these purple ones were all I had left from the wreath I made.

One night mom and I were doing nothing. (I think.) and she had a coupon for Thai Pan that I tried to steal for a wreath...only the one the I wanted cost $120! Umm, no thanks. I figured I could make one just as pretty, and in the end made one a little more colorful. At first I couldn't decide if I liked it really or if it was ugly or cheap looking, but in the end, I like it a lot. PLUS, it adds a cheery dose of color to our front door, and identifies our apartment as a place where fun lives.

Holy cow, I don't know where all this crafting is coming from, but it's a little bit fun.

Faber est suae quisque fortunae OR every man is the maker of his own luck

Since I am undecided on what path I will eventually take with graduate school, I am currently preparing for both a business degree and a humanities or art history degree.

I am cultivating business relationships who can give me excellent recommendations, and studying the math I need for the GMAT, and I am working on some new writing samples and just picked up a book I want to tell you about.


I was always annoyed in high school that Latin wasn't offered, and when I got to college so jealous of those who had been luckier than I. But, at BYU I was intimidated, and less driven, and so never seemed to make it a priority.

My friend Jason, however has recently introduced me to Wheelock's Latin, which is apparently a great text for self-learners. SO, I am teaching myself latin. It will surely be a slow process, but I am going to share what I learn here. I am really excited.

Why does it even matter? Well, when I go to graduate school, if I study humanities or art history my favorite periods are 1)ancient roman and okay, greek-so maybe Greek is next but it's all in Latin anyways and English for that matter, and 2) middle ages and renaissance-but particularly as it revolves around the Catholic church-where most things are in Latin!

I think it will just be helpful. Although, I see in it everything that I hated about learning French. However, since I already have a certain amount of French under my belt at least I'm already familiar with it, and they're cognate languages (yay!) so I already have some vocabulary mastered.

Wish me luck!

FORTUNAE!

Rodney Smith

Have I written about him before?

It was probably 5 or 6 years ago when I first heard of him. He had an exhibit at BYU, and I fell in love.

His photos have so much whimsy and delight in them. But they're also so beautiful.

One of my art wishes is to own his book. But I don't have a spare $800 right now...although I guess if it really were my top priority I could not take vacation for a year and own it. but no, that's absurd, right? right? yes.

Or even a print! I would choose this one or this one. Because that second one was the cover of the guide to his exhibit, and I may or may not still cherish it like it's a real print.

I admire him. I also like to read his blog and get insights into his life. I know that's kind of creepy stalkery since I don't even know him. But that's basically what blogs are for anyways, so I don't feel bad about it.

I am in general a pretty cheerful person.


Sometimes (okay, kind of often) I get frustrated or even a little angry, but I try not to let things get me down.

But sometimes I get very sad. Yesterday was a sad day. Wake up the next day with a puffy face and a headache sad.

At first I couldn't place it. Work was fine. I'd even gotten over my cough finally so I could take a morning jog outside.

When I got home and no one was there, I realized that I just wanted to be with someone I knew.

I felt... Homesick.

Not homesick like "I live so far away there's no way I can get there" homesick. I don't live that far from home. I could have just driven there ( I do it all the time!) or called my mama. or my sister. or my dad or anyone in my family.

Homesick for company. for friendship. lonely even.

I wanted so desperately to be with anyone I knew, but the few people here I know were away.

And I just couldn't get over it. I cleaned my room (I know, thrilling on a Saturday night).
I even scrubbed my tub.

I walked around my whole complex looking for anyone I might know. no luck.

I have a quote I try to live by "Don't worry about having friends, worry about being a friend." But as I looked at that quote in my room, I just felt guilty for feeling lonely. I have done a poor job of meeting new people, and I knew it was my fault for not trying harder, maybe not being as charming in group settings as I could have been, or being as open and friendly to new people to make them feel at ease around me.


But then I just lost it. I missed feeling at home.


BUT THEN TODAY

I felt the love of my Heavenly Father, and I knew He was aware of me, and that wherever I am, He is my friend. Christ is my friend.

He reminded me that He hears me, and that I should have more faith in Him and confidence in myself.

I almost forgot that it took over 6 months of sitting by myself in my old ward (with people I grew up with!) for me to make a friend-and that she was intimidated by me from a distance the whole time.

And today at church, a nice person smiled and said it was good to see me again.

and I am so grateful. Probably they'll never know that their simple smile was an answer to my heartfelt prayer last night. But I'm grateful they're close enough to the spirit to know to smile at me today.

And I hope that I can pass it on. And be a friend to someone who needs it more than I.
Or maybe we just need each other.

Last night I gave my presentation at our weekly MITE night.

It seems like it went well. I was really nervous that people wouldn't find it interesting, but quite a few told me they enjoyed it. (yay!)

I loved doing it, presenting, teaching about something I love so much.

A group of people in my ward is heading to Europe at the end of April-if I'd known a little earlier I would DEFINITELY have been on board with it. Already today I was looking at airfare, but I just don't know if I can justify it.

I think I'd rather save a little more and do something different-a south African adventure? an outback getaway? a tropical escape? I'm not sure. But after looking at all that art, I ache to be in Europe again, traipsing around charming cities, saoking in the history, the sun and filling my heart and my eyes with the museums!

oh well.


On a brighter side, today I bought the most beautiful dress from Banana with giftcards I received from work. (yay for a nearly free dress!) I'm convinced it will be my go-to the whole spring and summer. It must be. You can dress it up with a cute belt, some wedges, or ooh, a sparkly cardigan or dress it down with a t-shirt and sandals.

and my last thought for the day. I went to Forever 21 on my break yesterday, and all I could see were things that looked like they were made by hippies who only had access to pioneer fabrics. gross.

Cabin Fever

With all the on again--off again weather, I'm getting a case of cabin fever!

I can't help but wear my spring shoes and dresses, and spend as much time out of doors on the nice days as possible.

So, I've been doing some shopping. Well, some planning...

I've had my eye on this little sweatshirty jacket for at least a year. I meant to buy it for my plane ride last fall, but since I didn't, I think it'll make the perfect spring/summer/fall traveling outfit-don't you?

And if I'm going to have a cute jacket to travel in style, I think I should go somewhere exciting.

My passport expires in July, so maybe a last little foreign destination with the trusty gal? or maybe a US Virgin Islands destination or Hawaiian escape?

OR I've been thinking about taking my little cube on a nice roadtrip. He travels well and he's comfy, so maybe up to some national parks and wildlife exploration? I've been wanting to go to Yellowstone, and I've always wanted to go see Mount Rushmore.

any recommendations? I have a little over a week planned to take off at the end of April. I'm thinking that is the perfect time for a little get-away. (what do you say, Meagan?)

This ones for you!

Lots of people I know that read this (all 7 of my family members and Meagan) really LOVE books and language.

I've been reading the autobiography of Mark Twain. He desired it should only be published 100 years after his death so he could say what he wished without the worry of offending anyone and disguising the truth.

Here's a sample so you'll all want to buy your own copy or borrow mine. And you are welcome to.

His grammar is foolishly correct, offensively precise. It flaunts itself in the reader's face al along, and struts and smirks and shows off, and is in a dozen ways irritating and disagreeable. To be serious, I write good grammar myself, but not in that spirit, I am thankful to say. That is to say, my grammar is of a high order, though not at the top. Nobody's is. Perfect grammar-persistent, continuous, sustained-is the fourth dimension, so to speak; many have sought it, but none has found it....This reviewer even seems to know (or seems even to know or seems to know even) how to put the word "even" in the right place; and the word "only" too. I do not like that kind of persons. I never knew one of them that came to any good.

It's a few hundred pages of delighful, well crafted memories and a few boring details which are usually interjected by the editors. I think I will revisit some of his other works after this.

Where I live

I like color. You will see that.

I sometimes wish I lived in a beautiful neutral home,

like this lovely family.

But who am I kidding? I don't think it will ever happen.

But I do love the way she does things.

I love my sofa. It sure is comfy.

And the painting by my sister!

note the old sofa in the corner

I wish I had bigger booksheves.

But these are working for now.

I like mirrors and reflective things, and pretty things.


Here is my bed, with the bedding I've had FOREVER
(but still love)



I labored over this mix of art and stuff for a while,

but I don't LOVE it.
I think maybe it's a little much.

That little pillow is my favorite.

And it looks good on my couch.

The art is all over the place-some of it is real art,

some traveling souvenirs, the photos are all ones I took,

or of my family, some of the paintings are mine.

If you've been reading my blog for a while

you'll recognize my favorite art around my room.

I am very grateful to be in the master

and to have a large closet and

MY VERY OWN BATHROOM!

I don't like lots of little trinkets,

but the ones I have remind me of great places

I've been and fun things I've done, and

VERY SPECIAL MEMORIES.

Masks from Venice, creepy puppet from Prague,

camel and lantern from Morocco, little blue rock from Zion.

pink flowered lamp from London, Grandpa Roberts hat,

Tiffany box (I sure do love that color!

Thus, inspiration for my bathroom) from work.

Lady Jane Grey

I have a small obsession with Tudor England...but not with Henry VIII or his wives.


The drama after his death! most especially I feel so sad for poor Jane Grey. She may not be as innocent as history makes her seem- a victim of mean, insecure Elizabeth-she may have been as motivated by power as the other candidates for the throne.




But in this painting by Delaroche my heart breaks for her.

Poor Jane, a victim of ambitious parents and opportunity. On the throne-the Queen of England for 13 days.



This painting is beautiful-definitely one of my favorites. Her dress looks so real-you can practically hear it rustle. She is ready-succumbed to her fate, but you can see the loss, the awe at the injustice of it all in the eyes of her companion.




Sad. But Beautiful.







On a side note, I'm preparing a short presentation on the synbolism and role of the Virgin Mary in Northern Renaissance art, and I LOVE being immersed in the world of Art History again. I sure do miss it.

Wish me Luck!

Last weekend I submitted an application for a merchant-in-training program.
I have loved working in retail and decided to take the opportunity to try to change the direction of my career into more of the home office direction. It is very competitive, and if I get in it will be the biggest compliment! There are a lot of rounds of interviews ahead of me (if I get through the first round!) but I couldn't pass this opportunity by.

Being accepted means going through a 7 week training program being partnered with a senior merchant, ending with the opportunity to become a junior merchant for one of our brands.

and relocating to either Columbus, OH or New York, New York.

We'll see how it goes. Either way, I'm excited that I took this step!


*most people are familiar with a merchant as a BUYER, or the people who decide what the stores will carry for each season.


who knows? maybe in a year or two you'll be buying things I picked out for the store to carry!

moustache?

Last night I watched the kidlets, and so this is what we did for a minute. Little Miss Hayleigh didn't want one because she thought it would hurt, but the boys and Sadie thought they were pretty fun.

get them cheap and easy at modcloth.

dun da da duhn duhn DUHN DUUUHHHNNN!!!!

So, the pictures I took aren't anything amazing. But here it is!

It's so comfortable. And I love it! I am looking for a deep yellow-marigold colored rug and coral, pink, and yellow pillows...like the roses in the background.

But not just any pillows-textured and interesting. They need to hold their own next to this luscious sectional. SO, if you know where to find some, let me know! I think it's gonna take a while, or come down to my own creations.

on praise and recognition

I love my job.

Sometimes it probably seems like I don't. Because sometimes the people and situations make me angry. But I do.

I am SO lucky to work for a company that is values based, that stands by its values, that invests in its leaders and am even more lucky to be viewed as a valuable leader by people in that organization.

Today I was talking to someone who used to work at the executive level about what I valued and what I needed from my leader and we were talking about recognition. I told him I thrived on positive recognition, and he said he did too. But what else he said really got my wheels turning. He said that as you grow in position, responsibility and authority, less and less positive recognition comes to you from your leaders. That positivite feedback has to come from the people who work for you, and their attitude. It may not be that they praise you or recognize your efforts. But if they enjoy working for you, and you've created an environment where they like to be, then that is praise-that is positive recognition.

He's right. (He's right most of the time.) I don't need someone to tell me I'm doing a good job to know I'm doing one. I am great at my job. I thrive on meeting challenges and exceeding expectations and making the people around me better, too. And if they love to work for me, then that is where I'll find my success.

I also love that at my new location I have the opportunity to get exposure to more of this thinking. I have been challenged in the past 6 months, definitely. Did I think more than one time about handing my keys over and walking away? Absolutely. But I have grown as a leader.

I am elevating.


And I LOVE my job.

I would show you if I could.

But I can't. I don't have the plug thingy to my camera. whoops.



(Too bad, because I even have cute roses to have in the photos, oh well.)





But, it is BEAUTIFUL! A little lighter than I remember, but it is still amazingly beautiful. I am in love. All I need now is proper throw pillows and a proper rug. It goes really great with your painting, Sarah! What a lovely place I live in. Thanks roommates!

blue velvet

I'm so excited! my new sofa sectional is being delivered tomorrow. I am SO excited to see how it turned out, so I'll put up pictures and you can see how it turns out. Today I am going hunting for simple shams and a great rug to go with my awesome sofa. I'm going to try home goods. I've never been there, and have heard some good things about it...wish me luck!

bedding

I am in LOVE with this duvet cover.

I've had the same bedding for about 7 years! Which, to many may not seem long. And I love it. But I really love this, and I am extremely tempted...

All I need to find is the appropriately simple shams and I am all set.

upcoming vacation!

YAYAYAYAYAYAY!

I finally bought my ticket to go and visit my wonderful friend MEAGAN in London next month.

I'm so excited!
I always take a vacation this time of year-I can't take any vacation days after November 1st, because then it's Holiday Season.

So, guess when I get back? October 31st. It will be a wonderful 10 days. hallelujah! Shopping in London and other exciting places-here I come!

oh work...yes, yes you are.

Yesterday I officially handed my store over to the new store manager. We spend one day together next week so I can finish "transitioning" her.


I'm not gonna lie. It's hard. I cry a lot. I'm frustrated. I feel quite a bit like a failure.
(which is an irritating feeling.)

I daydream of days when the people that worked for me liked me.
When I didn't have to be the mean guy.
When they would trust my judgement and KNOW that the feedback I was giving was honest, fair, and in their best interest.


It's been a little over a month since I started my new job...so far...I almost wish I hadn't done it.

BUT, I know in order to grow, you've got to get out of your comfort zone.

I am really truly incredibly grateful for the assistant I have. She is WONDERFUL. And if i didn't
have her, I would probably hate me life completely and have asked for my old job back.


KEEP CALM and CARRY ON!

right?

So, I am currently in limbo.

Staying at my parents house-everything in boxes trying to find a place to live.

Granted, I could have been giving it a little more effort all along.

However, I am optimistic.




enough about that.


I am excited about education week next week. I had completely forgotten that I had already taken the time off of work until it showed up on my calendar a few weeks ago. (yay!)


Last time I was there I learned:
-that it's practically a commandment (from the way the instructor presented it) to make yourself more beautiful if possible.
-that every woman should own a pair of nude shoes
-that every woman looks good in coral and teal
-about how to remember more things (this clearly did not work, I have gotten ridiculous at remembering things if I don't write them down and look at them daily)
-about the brother of jared.

and other things I don't remember, so I didn't really learn.

This time I am excited to learn about:
-testimonies of christ through paintings and sculptures
☺☻♥♦♣6♠•◘○◙♂♀♪♫☼►◄☺‼¶§▬↨↑↓→←∟↔▲▼ (wow! look what I just figured out when you hold alt and use the 10 key-that's cool)
-more about the apocrypha which I find really fascinating


oh, and I'm going to this class about how to overcome my fears of dating-which I must have because I'm still single :) but one of the days is on how to deliberately fall in love. I'm going. Mostly I want to see what they say, and see if hey, maybe it is true, and partly because I want to give this information to a friend of mine, who REALLY should go hisself.

And on Thursday (cutting into my education week time) is Lagoon with my ward and my bff ANG before she heads to Peru to dig up long dead things for 5 months!



It's not like I'm her mother or anything. But I am SO PROUD OF HER! I just wanted to tell the world.


I'm even more proud of my sister SARAH because she is taking classes and moving herself towards her goal and masters program and excelling at it. Well done, Sarah!


I'm constantly impressed by the people around me. They are so motivating.


My new job is hard. I haven't been challenged like this in a while. It's pretty frustrating, and refreshing. It's been a long time since the feedback I got at work was anything other than "great, wonderful, perfect." So, it's difficult to hear "unacceptable, fix it, make them work or get rid of them" but I will only grow, and so will my team. The problem is I'm now in charge of something that hasn't been done correctly for over a year, and some of the people there are very resistant. but it's okay. I'm a teacher, and a coach. It's what I do best. Pretty soon, we'll be hearing "perfect, show others, that's what I want to see!"

*Pretty soon is a relative term...I'm hoping to hear those by Christmas...or MAYBE Thanksgiving.

So...I'm moving.

It's not that big of a deal.

But it is to me.


I'm moving out on my own (I hope) but striking out in the world ( a little). I'll be moving up to the Salt Lake Valley because I am making a slight change in work. Same company, different store, different position.

I am hoping to find a perfect little studio or 1 bedroom apartment-(wouldn't a loft style be great?)on the east side in the south end of the valley (or close to 215)...if you hear of anything, or see anything will you let me know?


I do hope this is just the change I've been craving and needing. It's a little away, a big enough change, and the start of something new. I think I've become a little too complacent.

Graduate school is still in the future plans for me, but since I just don't know exactly what I want to do, I feel it's a little silly to go now. So, it's in the plans-maybe in a year.


For now, a little change goes a long way.


Wish me luck!

Vegas, Part II

We took other pictures on the way (but on a different camera). However, the cool thing to know about Holly is that FILLMORE was the most south she had ever been before this. Since we hit at just the right time, we decided to take a little detour and visit the St. George Temple. I love it because of the way it's pure whiteness really stands out from the green and the surrounding red rocks. It's just beautiful.

The flowers were so pretty, and so is Holly. aawww.

It was a nice little detour. But then, on to Vegas!

On a sidenote-I think it's so funny when I ask people to take pictures for us. It's a digital SLR, but it works just like a regular old camera-but no one seems to know to look through the viewfinder. It's so funny. You can see them all-just holding it out in front of them-wondering why they can't see anything on the display screen. uuuhhh...

Las Vegas: Part I

TEAMMATES!!!!!


I have this fun way of passing time: and it's called teammates.
NOTE to all the people who are more kind than me: this involves identifying stupid/incredibly trashy people.


See, everytime you see someone who you think is incredibly disgusting/stupid/trashy etc. you say "teammate!" and try to get the best collection of award winning crazies for your team. We tried to get pictures of all of our teammates, but we couldn't. Some wer just too quick to spy.



So, here are some of our teammates. Sorry if you're offended by our playing this game. We used to play in college with people on campus, and you know what? It's just fun.





Whoever owns this property-they are my teammate.

These people have bombs in the back of their car (okay, not really, but it kind of looks like it)-TEAMMATE!

This man was smoking a cigar and talking on the phone with the windows rolled up-Holly won the battle on this one. Her teammate.

Check out his awesome car that goes lower and higher (What's that called?) well, whatever. It also says "Amigo" and there was a child in the front seat-Holly's teammate.

Okay, it's not Holly's silly expression-but the girls in the background. Yup, my teammates.

Don't I look awesome in this visor? I become my own teammate here.

**We didn't even get pictures of the lady with the platinum wig, with her own hair sticking out from under it, OR the guy we were laughing so hard at we couldn't even spit out the words teammate.

OR my teammate from Hoover Dam with his beer belly over his gross pants and his necklace. TEAMMATE!

Try playing sometime, it's very fun.