Christmas: This used to be a lot easier...

Well, another Christmas has come and gone. To be honest, I'm feeling a bit... deflated. I don't want to sound like a "bah humbug", because Christmas really is my favorite holiday. It's just that, for the last several years, it has felt different. I think part of my problem is that I keep expecting Christmas to be what I remember it being as a child. I still get that excited feeling as the holiday season starts, but that excited feeling is because I'm waiting for an experience that I really can't get anymore. You know, the way it used to be when I was a kid. My mother always made the Christmas season so amazing. But, it's true what they say, you can't go home again. I think I keep getting let down by the holiday because I hold it up to those memories. I mean, let's face it; if you aren't a kid or you don't have kids, Christmas just isn't what it was. And maybe that's what's wrong. I keep wanting it to be what it was, when everything else about my life has changed. I need to find a way to stop being disappointed by what Christmas isn't and start enjoying Christmas for what it is to me now. I need to find out a way for Christmas to take on a new meaning for me; with new traditions, and new memories. I know Christmas is about giving and being around family. It's not like I don't appreciate those things. I love getting to see my family, and I love giving gifts. It's the feeling that seems missing. I just need to accept that I'm not going to come home one day and see my mom making cookies while listening to Christmas music. I need to be the one making cookies while listening to Christmas music. Because I really do love the holidays. I just need to stop trying to relive the past and start enjoying the now. That may be a very good resolution for the New Year. Enjoying what I've got now, instead of waiting until it's gone to miss it, too.

Relief: removal or lightening of something oppressive, painful, or distressing

I got my final grades and, thank heaven, I passed all my classes. Two A-s and a C+. So, ya, I'm pretty happy with it all. Also, I played around with some green eye shadow today. I'm really starting to dig the colored eye shadow thing.

Now for some coffee...

I was totally inspired today when I found this blog. I only looked over it for a few minutes, so I'm not sure what this girl does for a living. But she does some of the most amazing makeup. She's very adventurous with her eye makeup in particular, and it made me want to be adventurous, too. And what an easy thing to do, even with as little expendable income as I have. Though not near as daring as anything she's done (seriously, check it out, it's amazing) I tried something a little new today. Purple is the only interesting color I have right now, so I tried that with some liquid eyeliner that I've been afraid to play with. Nothing too crazy, but fun nonetheless. I liked it and I think I'll keep playing around in the future. Now I just need to hit the drugstore! Or ELF!!

What's worse than finals?

Having to wait for the final grades! I've already check three times, even though I know that they won't be posted until next week, at the earliest! Ugh! I guess it wouldn't be so bad if I knew that I had passed all my classes, but there's one class I'm nervous about. I have to get a C+ in all my classes to be admitted into the journalism program, and I'm cutting it really close with one of my classes. And if I have to take that class again, I swear I'm gonna freak out! So now I have to figure out a way to distract myself for the next three to five days. And it's supposed to start dumping snow on us for the next week, so I will be completely stuck in Brigham. ~sigh~

Well, that's it....

I'm officially done with this semester. My last final was just a couple hours ago. I'd like to say I'm excited, but I really can't be until I get my grades back cause I'm not sure I got the grade I needed out of one of my classes. Anyway, fingers crosses everyone.

"Hair style is the final tip-off whether or not a woman really knows herself" Hubert de Givenchy

I was having a little fun on instyle.com yesterday. You can upload a picture of yourself and try on different stars' hairstyles. And it's completely free. Hours of fun. So, here's a few looks I was playing around with. What do you think?

Did I mention HOURS OF FUN!

(p.s. sorry about the smile, I hate my smile.)

Interesting Little Tidbit

Did you know Utah is ranked fifth healthiest state in the nation? Yup, according to an article on MSN, Utah is pretty healthy. Honestly, it's probably because fewer people drink and smoke in this state. Just my guess. But I thought it was pretty cool.

Mama's got a brand new bag

Big Bags by r_hansen84

Since I started taking classes at the University's main campus this semester, I begrudgingly bought a backpack. I put it off until a week before school started, because I just hate backpacks! I felt like a dorky freshman allover again (no offense, freshmen), walking around campus with that awful thing on my shoulders. And on top of that, it's very hard to dress in anything but jeans and sweaters when you're wearing a backpack. They just don't lend themselves to trendier outfits. I thought I was doomed. Turns out, I was just a little slow to catch up. A big trend this year has been these large handbags. I just bought the gray one from Wetseal and now I feel like all my troubles are over. I just love it. It's low key enough to wear with a sweater and jeans, but if I feel like dressing up a bit, it goes well with that, too. I made sure and bought gray because that way I can wear it with any color. Gray is the new black of fall/winter I think. The only downfall is that my semester just ended, so I'll have to wait four weeks to truly try this baby out. But I am still so pleased with this bag. It's rare to find something that fit an idea so perfectly.

Pity: a sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy

That's what I'd like you all to feel for me. I managed to get sick right in time for finals week. ~groan~ Also, to answer Jenifer's question about ELF products, they are actually teamed up with PETA for special projects and are a cruelty-free cosmetic company. Here's the article I found.

"The average girl would rather have beauty than brains because she knows the average man can see much better than he can think" Unknown

E.L.F. by r_hansen84

I found this website a while ago and got very excited about it. I was a little nervous when I first ordered some makeup from them because I was afraid the price reflected the quality. I was very pleased when the makeup turned out to be good quality. I haven't had a problem with anything from e.l.f. yet. So I thought I'd share the site and a few things I plan to get in the near future. Enjoy.

Four Calling Birds

Actually, I have five. I was at Michael's craft store a few days ago and found these adorable little bird ornaments.

I don't know why I fell in love with them, but I immediately did. They are just so whimsical. A bit retro, but modern; metallic but still elegant. I had to have them. I bought five and immediately when home to set up my Christmas tree. I even think I'll go back for more.

Mine eyes have seen the glory

I just filled up my tank for $16!!! Can you believe that?! Sixteen bucks and some change! I felt a little like an idiot as I'm standing there pumping gas with this stupid grin on my face. But I was just so elated.
Maybe I won't have to get a job to afford clothes. With my gas budget cut in half, I think I need to go shopping...

"Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or kick-ass red lipstick." Gwyneth Paltrow

I've always been fascinated by red lips. I love the way it looks. So glamorous and timeless. But I've been to afraid to try it until now. I found a shade that I think works for my skin tone. Now I feel like I'm wearing way too much make-up. And all I have on is the lipstick and mascara. So, I ask you. Can I pull off red lipstick?

It's beginning to look a lot like.... Autumn?

Happy December everyone! I can hardly believe that November is over. It seemed really fast this year. It really doesn't feel like December in Utah at all. The temperature is in the 50s and there's hardly any snow on the mountains, let alone on the ground where I am. It's pretty crazy. I was looking through my closet last night and realized, I have almost no winter clothes! How did that happen? Someone must be stealing my clothes!!!

Oh, wait! I remember. I thought I was being smart when I cleaned out my closet last spring. You know, instead of keeping all the "clutter." Ya, big mistake. I vow never to throw away clothes that haven't fallen apart again. Now I need to replenish my wardrobe; which will be no easy task considering I have no job and therefore no money. And there's just so much cute stuff I want. ~sigh~

(Gloves, Black trench, Beret & Leg warmers from Modcloth.com; Sweater vest from Charlotte Russe; Blazer from Banana Republic; Ruffle top from Gap.)

I think I need to find a job!

You gotta love Rihanna

I just saw Rihanna's new video "Rehab" and it's pretty great. First, the style is amazing. The clothes she wears are so sexy. She's definitely one of today's best style icons. Aside from the fabulous clothes, can we say "Hello Justin!" Now, I find Mr. Timberlake quite attractive on his own, but in this video he takes on a submissive role that not only screams Girl Power, but makes him even hotter. And somehow Rihanna pulls it off without looking skanky or dominating. She's the one pursuing, while still being uber feminine. Very nice music video.

Pretty Necklace

So, I tried my hand at something new and I'm very pleased with the way it turned out...

I just love the look of these necklaces. I had a lot of fun making them. They're quite versatile too, since you can wear the bow in the front or the back and adjust the length with the size of the bow. They're even cute as bracelets.

Who knows, maybe I'll start selling them. Make my millions off necklaces.

I'm an emotional eater

And I think I've been in denial about it. I just had the longest week that concluded with a really crappy day! I registered for classes today and two crucial classes I needed were completely full. This could set me back an entire semester! So, I'm fairly upset. And how do I deal with it? Well, after almost two weeks of eating rather healthy and exercise very regularly, I get Mat to buy cheeseburgers! And they weren't even good and kinda made me sick! I've never really thought of myself as an emotional eater. But I think I am. I had this helpless feeling after I registered for classes I didn't want and just thought to myself "Screw it!" Not a good attitude about food, for one. And as I thought about it, I do that more often than I probably should. It like I eat things I know are bad for me in order to reward myself for putting up with bad things. As a way of almost cheering myself up. And boy does it work. I usually feel sick afterward and always feel guilty. It's kind of funny how the mind works. All I can do now is try to move on, I guess. And vow to do better tomorrow... I'm still pissed about my classes though!!

Please, Don't Forget To Vote!!!

Next Tuesday is the day. And I truly hope everyone is already registered and planning to vote in the upcoming election. I found some statistics that really made me sad. According to life.familyeducation.com only 54 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots during the last four decades of presidential elections. Compare that embarrassing number to Italy's 90 percent, Germany's 80 percent, France and Canada's 76 percent, Britain's 75 percent and Japan's 71 percent. We rank 35th in voter turnout out of the world's prominent democracies. If that doesn't make you feel a little ashamed, I don't know what will. And, honestly, I'm not sure what causes the feeling of indifference towards voting. Sure, sometimes I can feel like my vote really won't matter, but more and more people are feeling that way. This is supposed to be a strong, proud country. We need to end the apathy. In my opinion, you have no right to complain about how the country, state, county or city are being run unless you participated in the democratic process. If you aren't well informed and involved with bettering your community, how can you just sit there and complain about what's going on? I'm not trying to wag my finger at anyone, I'm just trying to light a fire under a few butts. This is serious stuff. Whether you're a Democrat, Republican or anything in between, we need to care enough about our country to really do something. This country was built on the idea that every person would have a say in how things were run. We just can't forget that.

Stylista?

Really? It seems to me that someone had a light switch turn on in their brain as they watched 'The Devil Wears Prada' a few years ago. Anne Slowey, though a very talented and successful person, seemed completely fake. From her perma-snarl on her face to the awful way she tromped in her heels, it seemed like a complete act. And if it's not, well that's even more sad. The premise intrigues me. Though I'm starting to get a little tired of reality shows (ANTM is just getting sad) the idea of working for a magazine like Elle is very exhilarating. So, I know that despite the petty fights these people will get into (does no one ever grow up?) I will be watching every Wednesday night if for no other reason than to get a peek into the world I would love to live in one day.

Follow-up: My Bipolar Body Image

So, after hearing that basically everyone suffers from "Agh, is that me?!?" syndrome when they see themselves in pictures, I went back to look at some of mine and I decided it was the way I'm posed that makes me look 30 pounds heavier than I feel. So, I decided I'd check the Internet for tips on how to look good in pictures. Though I'm not sure they'd all work for impromptu pictures, if you get used to them, they could become second nature.

• Always turn partially sideways with your weight on your back foot.
• To minimize appearance of a double chin, pull head slightly forward and press your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
• Watch your posture! Pull shoulders back, chest up, and there's no shame is sucking in, but only a little. You don't want it to look like you were sucking in.
• Use items you're holding to camouflage areas on your body you're self conscious about. Like holding your purse in front of your stomach.
• Hold arms just slightly away from your body to keep the upper arm from looking flabby. But don't look like you're about to fly away.
• If you're planning a photo, opt for a monochromatic look. One color from head to toe is always slimming, even if it's not black, though darks are better at this than lights.
• Invest in some Spanx. I don't think there's a woman out there that couldn't benefit from some Spanx!
• Finally, to get a fresh, natural looking smile, look away from the camera, then turn towards it and smile just before it takes the shot. This is not easy, and takes some practice to master

I'm sure it would take some practice to master these. And if you're going to practice, do it behind closed doors so you don't look like a crazy person. Really, though, pictures aren't about looking back and thinking, "Mmmm, smokin'!" They're for memories. Remembering a great experience you had. So, I guess just stop stressing and smile. It's better than not having a picture at all.

Sources: http://beauty.about.com/od/hairstylephotogalleries/qt/photopose.htm

The Ghost of Halloweens Past

Growing up, Halloween was one of the greatest holidays. Not only was it great to dress up, but trick-or-treating was one of the most enjoyable traditions out there. Back when you'd get all dressed up and, with supervision of course, you walk around your neighborhood door-to-door, ringing doorbells and yelling trick or treat with such thrill that you barely noticed the terrible cold (Utah+October=FREEZING!!). But this tradition is fast becoming nothing more than a memory. First, it moved from door-to-door to trunk-r-treat. This may have been a Utah thing as it centered around the Mormon church. The members would get together in the parking lot and kids would go from trunk to trunk collecting candy. Though this still kept the essence of trick-or-treating, it lacked any real threat of the trick and the event went more quickly than the door-to-door method. Then our little town also tried what we called BooFest, where the local businesses on downtown would give out candy to trick-or-treaters. Sadly, both of these traditions have faded and it's simply not safe to go around trick-or-treating anymore, even in our little town. In my opinion the only solution to this is to throw a party. Whether it is simply a family party, or a neighborhood block party, it's really the only route to go anymore. Adults have been having costume parties for years now, but I'm more worried about the kids. But there are so many websites out there giving ideas for Halloween parties, the work is almost done for you. Costume contests are almost necessary, because we don't want to lose the importance of dressing up. And the food is always key, with cauldrons full bubbling over with dry ice, and a menu with spooky names. Or, for slightly older kids, create a haunted house. I loved doing this when I was younger. You could do it in a garage or use laundry line and put up partitions in the back yard. Do it just for the family, or invite the whole neighborhood over. Also, check out this article for some other great and easy alternatives to trick-or-treating, it had the best info I've found. We can't let Halloween die. Just because we can't safely send our kids out trick-or-treating doesn't mean Halloween can't be just as fantastic, if not better. Just don't forget to tell your kids what Halloween used to be like.

I'm starting to get concerned

So, I was cleaning my bathroom today and as I was sweeping, I noticed something. There was a ton of my hair on the floor. It looked like I was sweeping up at a salon. I'm worried that I'm losing too much hair. I Googled it and found out that it's normal to lose about 100 to 200 strands per day, but this doesn't really help me, since I'm not counting my hair every day. Every time I do my hair in the morning, the bathroom is covered in hair. And not just full strands, but lost of little broken strands. And when I take a shower, it seems like there is a ton that falls out. I'm starting to think I've over processed it in the last six months or so. But, I can't go without blowdrying and straightening my hair. It's just not an option. And I don't have to keep dying it, but I know I will, cause this color is just not pretty when it fades. So, I'm not sure what to do. I just hope I don't go completely bald.

Card-making

My sister has informed me that I do not blog often enough. So I decided to blog about what I did today. Kristine came up today, and we threw together some cards, cause we were both out. Here's a few of my favorite.

Experiences...

We had an interesting assignment in one of my classes a little while ago to write down ten experiences or adventures we'd like to have in our lives. I really liked the assignment, so I decided to list my ten here. Some of them are very simple, while others may take me a few years. They're not in any particular order, and I'm sure this list will be changed and added to as time goes on, but it's still fun to think about. As mom always taught, life really isn't about the things you acquire, but the experiences you attain...

1. Live in New York City: This one is actually my number one, though I'm not sure when it will happen...

2. Learn French: I've always wanted to be bilingual. Honestly, I'd also like to learn Spanish and Italian as well.

3. Try sushi: Like I said, some of these won't take much effort.

4. Write a book and get it published: Don't ask me the subject, cause I don't know.

5. Run/Complete a 5K: Walking a 5K would probably kill me at this point, but it's good to be ambitious.

6. Visit Europe: Well, western Europe anyway; Spain, France, Italy, England, Ireland, etc.

7. Road trip the old Route 66: I've always thought a road trip would be fun, and Route 66 has to be the most famous.

8. Learn to paint: Watercolor is actually what I'm most interested in, though oil painting would obviously be cool, too.

9. Master yoga: Yoga is hard! Way harder than I expected.

10. Go on a safari: A real one, I really want to touch an elephant. It would just be great to see those animals in their habitat.

Some of these are a little short-sighted. But, I guess that way as I cross them off my list, I can add more to them. I'm sure I'll wake up in the middle of the night thinking "Crap! That should have made it on my list!" but oh well. This is my list as of right now. To me, these are more important that owning a new car, or buying that big new house (or loft, for someone like myself). Besides, those things seem to be getting harder and harder to acquire. But there's nothing stopping me from training for a 5K, or writing a book, for that matter. What would be on your list?

Blink and you'll miss it

As Kristine pointed out in one of her posts, the changing of the seasons in Utah can be truly spectacular. My favorite part of driving to Logan the past couple of weeks has been fall colors on the mountain sides. So, needless to say, I was a little let down when I made that drive on Tuesday to find the change was basically over. The only colors were the green pine trees and the brown of the branches and hills. It struck me that while fall is probably my favorite season, it may just be the shortest one in Utah. We are expecting snow on the valley floors this weekend. So, for those of you who may have missed the season change, check out Kristine's post on her blog 'I'll go if I don't have to talk' (she's on my blog list). Otherwise, you'll just have to try to catch the magic next year. Winter, here we come.

My Bipolar Body Image

Ok, you know how they say people who suffer from anorexia or bulimia have a skewed body image. So that if they look in the mirror, they don't see what they really look like, they see someone who is fat. Well, I'm pretty sure I have the opposite problem. And yes, I say problem, because it's still a skewed image. When I look in the mirror some days I see someone who, while being a little overly voluptuous, really isn't too bad. Then I see myself in pictures, and it makes me wonder how off the image in my head is. Again, I'm not looking for any "oh, Becky, but you're beautiful" or "you're not fat", I'm just relaying an interesting thing I've noticed about myself. I don't want reassurance, I'm more interested to hear if this has ever happened to anyone else. And after I have seen myself in a picture or gone clothes shopping (a hell in it's own right) I go the other way and every time I look in the mirror, I see something I'm not so happy with. On those days, all I can focus on is how bloated I feel or how uncomfortable my clothes are. Is this too depressing, because I really don't mean it that way. I see it more as an phenomenon of the female psyche. And I must say, it makes getting ready in the morning a real bitch!

Ugh, so close!

But no weight loss this week. :-( I'm blaming it on being bloated for the week, will that count? Guess I just need to step it up!

Salt Lake City Farmers Market

I have lived in Utah for 22 years now. I've been going down to Salt Lake City for entertainment for the last five. And last Saturday, the 27th, I went to the Farmers Market for the first time. It's something I've wanted to check out for a little while, and I finally got the chance. I must say, I was impressed. Held at Pioneer Park, all sorts of local vendors set up booths and offer an array of fruits, vegetables and handmade goods. Going a little later in the year, I was worried that it might not be as big as even a month or two earlier in the year. But I was so very wrong. There were great heirloom tomatoes, squash off all sorts, herbs, melons, giant peaches. They even had fresh beef, seafood and cheeses, as well as a huge selection of baked goods. Being a carb-loving girl, I was truly in paradise. But beyond food there were plenty of hand-made crafts and goods ranging from soaps to yard ornaments to jewelry. I got there right at 8:00 am when they all open and it was already getting busy. It took me about an hour and a half to walk all the way around. And if there's one bit of advice I could offer to those interested in checking it out, it's this. Don't eat breakfast first! Not only are there a number of local and unique food venders (think falafels and tapas) as well as those fresh pastries, but there are free samples almost everywhere you turn. This is definitely near the top of my list of things I love about Salt Lake City!

Celebrity Sighting!!!!!

I could not have picked a better day to be at the Gateway! Some of you may know that I am a huge So You Think You Can Dance fan. Huge! The SYTYCD tour was in town Monday for the Salt Lake City, and while I was walking the mall, I was lucky enough to meet four of the girls from the show. First, I "bumped" into Chelsie Hightower (18) and Comfort Fedoke (20) at the Panda Express in the food court. Then I saw Kherington Payne (18) and Chelsea Traille (23) in the Wetseal.

I felt like a fourteen-year-old, smiling and giggling. I'm pretty sure my sentences were coherent, but I can't be sure. I must have looked like a complete geek to them. They were all so sweet, though. They had no problem posing for a couple pictures, and they all seemed very genuine and real. Especially Kherington, who asked me my name and talk to me for a minute. And they are all just as gorgeous in person as they are on television. It was definitely the most exciting thing that's happened to me in a while. If you haven't seen any of the dances, you've gotta check out Kherington's Contemporary routine with Twitch and Chelsie's Hip-Hop routine with Mark. Phenomenal! For Real!

Another pound

Yes, I've lost another pound. Slowly but surely, I will lose this weight.

That's one small step for man,

And one giant leap for the LDS church. I have never been more proud to be a member (some may argue not a very good member, but that's neither here nor there). The LDS church made a statement supporting Gov. Jon Hunstman's push to eliminate the membership requirements in private clubs. You can read the full article in the Deseret News, but basically the church says they can agree on laws that "allow individual freedom of choice." Hmmm, that sounds a lot like free agency to me, but whatever. In a state that is, in actuality, only a bit more than half LDS (sltrib.com), I see it as a good thing for the church to support our lawmakers, even if those laws aren't directly in line with the standards of the Church. And I think it has a lot to say about the members, as well. Perhaps we don't need our collective hands held at every road we have to cross. Maybe, just maybe, being a part of the LDS religion means that we can hold standards that don't need to be echoed by those who may not believe the same things. Of course, I think we can all agree that being responsible when you drink is of the utmost importance. But if Mormons can choose not to drink, can't those who aren't Mormons choose to drink. So I say kudos to the Church, for trusting it's members, and making life in Utah a little more cohesive.

I think I'm in love!

You know that friend you've had forever. The one that you may not have thought was that attractive but has always been there for you? Did you ever find yourself looking at them one day in a whole new light? Well, that's what's been happening to me. I think I'm falling in love with Salt Lake City. It kind of crept up on me. The more I visit, the more I find things and places that I never knew existed. And I'm loving it! A big turning point in our relationship happened tonight at the Fashion Stroll on Broadway between 200 East and 300 East. Some of you may know of my love (read: obsession) with fashion. And I've always been under the impression that there was no real fashion base in Utah. I believe I was wrong. The Fashion Stroll was put together by Matt Monson who owns the boutique model.citizen, which offers men and women's clothing by local designers. It happens twice a year, Fall and Spring, for local designers and boutiques to come together as part of a street festival that features live music, fashion shows, and lots of great people. It was eye opening. As I walked down Broadway surrounded by designers, antique stores, clothes and some very stylish people, I got that feeling you get when you catch a really cute guy looking at you. Exhilarated and empowered. It was unlike anything I would expect from Salt Lake City. It made Salt Lake City feel like the popular urban areas I've always dreamed of living in. It seems my dream may have just gotten a little closer.

One down...

Only fifty-some-odd to go. I lost a pound last week. I'm trying to celebrate every little victory, otherwise it's depressing. One pound may not seem like a lot, but look at these pictures...

Ewww! That is just gross. It also makes me feel pretty good having that much less fat on my body. I've also heard it equated to a bag of M&Ms. Putting it in this perspective just makes it feel like a much more significant victory. So, hopefully I can keep it up...

Lazy dressers!

What has happened to society in the last decade? I remember when I was in highschool (about six years ago) this whole wearing-pajamas-like-they're-real-clothes thing was just starting. Girls would come to school fully dressed, and wear their fuzzy slippers. Or they'd come in cute pajama pants. I never thought it would spread to a full-on lifestyle choice. Now, whenever I go out, where ever I go, I see both men and women looking like they just rolled out of bed. And not that sexy bed-head/bedroom eyes thing. I mean sweats, oversize shirts, dirty tank tops, hair that hasn't seen a brush (or a shower for that matter) in days. I don't understand. If leaving the house and facing the real world doesn't warrant getting ready in the morning, then what does? Like those old women I've seen in the grocery store with the rollers in their hair. If you're not getting your hair done to be seen in the world, then what are you getting it done for? I've always been a fan of the casual look. There's nothing better in this world than a good pair of jeans. But I can't help but think we've gotten too casual, too lax, in the way we dress. It's to the point now that when I see a woman in a pair of heels at the mall, I think, what are you dressed up for? Does anyone else find this sad. Don't we have enough respect for ourselves to take the 15 minutes required to brush out your hair and put on a little mascara or, heaven forbid, shower on a regular basis. Seriously, what is up with the "I haven't showered in a week" look? It doesn't take much too make an effort. Does it?

Five pounds in a week?!?!?

It would take 26 hours running or 20 hours spinning to lose five pounds. So, why did it only take my sister coming to visit for my diet to go so far down the toilet, I don't think it can be rescued. Why does it seem to be so much easier to gain weight than to lose weight? Yahoo!'s got an article on just this subject. It lists things like a pound is a pound, and it takes exercise and diet to lose weight, blah blah blah. I think it's simply easier to eat, drink and be merry than it is to exercise. And I was doing so well. I was losing a pound or two a week. So, I'm officially jumping back on the diet train. Going back to eating at home, eating smaller portions, and working out. I'm giving myself one year to get to my goal weight of 125 lbs. That's 50 pounds. About a pound a week. That's reasonable, I think. My goals for this week are drinking way more water than usual, and walking on the treadmill at least three times. We'll see how it goes. Wish me luck; I'll keep you posted.

Do Opposites Really Attract?

As I was up Logan canyon this weekend camping with my in-laws, I couldn't help but look over at my sweet husband and think, "You owe me!" Anyone who knows me will tell you, I'm not a camper. I'm barely a sit in the park with a picnic kind of girl. And as I sat there, in the dirt and bugs, I wondered how my husband and I got along so well. We are complete opposites in so many facets of our lives, it's almost scary to list. He listens to hard rock, I listen to alternative/contemporary. I drive a small, fuel efficient Civic, he drives a large, much less fuel efficient F-150. Everything from what we like to do in our spare time (think crocheting vs Xbox) to where we want to live is very different. Sometimes, when I think about it too much, it starts to concern me. What if, with all of these differences, we grow apart. Then I think of the saying "opposites attract". Sure, they attract, but do they stay together? I go on to try to think of why we are happy together. Is it because we are attracted to each other and don't mind doing things separately? I don't think it's that simple, because we really enjoy spending time together. Being the type to over analyze, (thanks for the collective gasp), I've really put some time and thought into this subject. Do opposites truly attract? Well, sure, but I think it's deeper than that. Certainly we can seem almost ridiculously opposed in our likes and dislikes, but when it comes to core values and feelings, we are quite similar. Such as, we always put the other before anyone or anything else in our lives. There is no question between us that we are in this together. And, in being quite different from one another in some ways, we bring out the best in one another. For example, I've always been very independent, to the point of being reserved and aloof. My husband brought out in me utter trust that makes me feel so safe with him I let my guard down. And, as far as my husband goes, he was never really motivated before. But, wanting the best for the both of us in life, he generates that motivation in himself to improve. Realizing this makes me feel so much better about our superficial differences. Clearly, no relationship is perfect. But, my mother always said, you're not perfect, but you're perfect for one another. So, I think I can handle the music, and the Xbox. Cause I feel like the best person I can be when I'm with him.

Digital Scrapbooking

So, a few of you have been asking about digital scrapbooking. A friend of mine, Nikki, turned me on to it. I don't scrapbook much myself, but it seems like it would be all the fun of scrapbooking, with none of the mess. So, here's a few links I've come across. Enjoy!
http://www.shabbyprincess.com/downloads.asp
http://www.freedigitalscrapbooking.com/
http://www.scrapbookflair.com/

What did I do without it?

So, as most of you probably know, I'm pretty addicted to shopping. I know, cliche. I'm always on the lookout for the next item that I just can't live without. During my recent search, I inadvertently purchased said item and truly cannot live without it. It is my black vest. Seriously, it goes with EVERYTHING!

I can put on jeans and a tee and by throwing the vest over it, it instantly becomes a look. Or, when I'm feeling, shall we say, boring, I'll throw it over a dress and heels, and almost get a hippie feel to it. I probably wear it too much, people are going to think I don't own anything else. But it is officially and absolutely the key piece that I cannot live with out!

So You Think You Can Dance!!!

Oh, how I love this show! And how sad I am that the season is over. It was an amazing episode, and I was thrilled with who won. But, that being said, did anyone else see the dance with past competitors? Lauren was wearing the cutest outfit with these great leg warmers. Maybe I'm the only one, but I'm seriously considering taking up dance just so I can get away with wearing leg warmers. I love them so much! I'd wear them, but I'm not sure if I could pull them off... Oh well, now only three weeks till ANTM!

Am I A B*tch?!?

How do you know? The more information I get, the more I'm thinking I am, or at least was. A few weeks ago at a family party my siblings and I were all sitting around the table, laughing, joking and reminiscing. I'm not sure how the subject came up, (you know how those conversations wander), but we starting talking about how we were when we were younger. Or, more specifically, how I was when I was younger. Of course, it's not always easy to see one's short comings as they occur. But, looking back, I realize I was a little, oh I don't even know what word it would be. Maybe stand-offish? Ya, that'll work. For instance, when my brother would come up and tap me on the shoulder, I would get mad at him for touching me. It didn't seem weird at the time, but looking back, it kinda is. And in high school, I had this best friend. We did everything together. And then, one day, she quit talking to me. Completely. Still to this day I don't know why, but I'm starting to wonder if it was me. Was I rude. I admittedly have little patience for immaturity and, not to sound too harsh, but stupidity. I always kind of prided myself for being non-judgemental. But, was I actually judgemental? More recently, I had a friend (same girl, actually), that I'm ashamed to say I abandoned a bit when I got married (though that's an entirely different subject). Once again, as I tried to make contact and plans with this friend, she quit returning phone calls. I'm not looking for reassurance or pity, I'm truly curious as to whether or not it's me, and more over, how I would know. If one doesn't know she's being a "be-yotch", how does she remedy the situation? Or is there a reason to? Should I assume it's in my past and I've grown up and matured beyond it? Or should I be concerned that I'm still possibly driving people away by doing something I'm unaware of? I guess all I can do it try to be conscious of my actions, and try to better myself. Right?

4 Days, and Counting!!!

Woohoo!! Four days left of work. This is worse than waiting for Christmas to come when I was little. I'm just so excited. Kristine and I are going to get pedicures on Tuesday in celebration. Yay! Anyway.....

Ugh, I'm so bored...

I'm at work right now and, in between forcing myself to work, I've been playing on the internet. I've decided I don't blog enough, so I'm gonna ramble for a bit. So, what to talk about. Oh, I'm quitting my job. Ya, I'm excited too. Next week is my last week. And I'm starting fall semester with 16 credits. 16 credits!!! Phew, that's a lot. It's the most I've ever taken, which probably explains why I've been in school for the last five years. But my plan is to graduate in 2010. It seems really far and really close all at the same time. Mat is starting this fall, too. Though he'll only be taking nine credits, cause he still needs to work full time. But, still, at least he's starting. I want him to go into graphic design, but he's still not sure. Oh, we're going camping this weekend. With Mat's brother and his wife. And we're going to fish, too. I've only been fishing once and that was over ten years ago. I remember, it was my whole family and my grandparents. I think we were at Tony Grove, but I don't know for sure. My grandpa and my dad both offered a cash reward to the first person to catch a fish. And it just so happened that I was the first on to catch a fish. I was so excited. But my excitement dissipated when I was standing on a rock that was covered with ants. And not little house ants, but those big black ones. They were crawling all up my legs. It was very traumatic. But I got over it. I don't think we ate the fish, but if I catch any this weekend, I wanna fry em up. I guess we'll see. But, I think that's all for now.

Why do white girls need to be skinny?

Ok, here's my rant. I was just watching Jordin Sparks new video, One Step At A Time, and I was thinking how pretty she is. I would be so happy to have a body like hers, but then it kind of hit me. If she was a white girl, she would be criticized for being fat. She's got to be, what, a size 10 when she's bloated? But it seems so much more acceptable for blacks and Latinas to have a little extra padding. The media thinks they're doing good by talking about how pretty girls like Jordin and America Ferrera are, but as soon as a white actress gets any sort of a tummy, speculations of a bun in the oven start to fly! Then you see the trashy gossip magazine at the check stands at Walmart. One has the extremely skinny famous girls on the cover talking about how it's getting out of hand, then the magazine right next to it has pictures of girls on the cover in there bathing suits and they're making fun of their rolls or cellulite. Because, heaven forbid we not all look perfect, not too skinny, not too fat. Granted, that Whitney who won the latest America's Next Top Model is absolutely striking. Just gorgeous and sexy! But how much do you want to bet she slips into oblivion and we never see anything beyond her "cover" of Seventeen magazine. What is it going to take to make it acceptable, even beautiful, for women of EVERY race and skin color to be bigger than a size four?!? Dove tried to with their Campaign for Natural Beauty, but it just wasn't enough. There's a lot of brainwashing that needs to be cleaned up. But where do we start?

Everybody in the party do the ChaCha...

Have you heard of ChaCha. I have discovered it and now I don't know what I ever did without it. For those who don't know what it is, if there's anything you want to know, you can text the question using any major cell phone provider to ChaCha (242242) and a real live person will text you back with the answer. Anything from directions, movie times, state capitols, trivia and jokes. Anything you can think of. Anything!! I just love it and I know once you start using it, you'll be just as addicted as I am!

Bring a salad...

Is it everyone, or is it just the mormons? Whenever we get together, say for a barbeque or potluck, twelve different people are assigned to bring a salad. Of course there's green salad, and potato and macaroni. But, in my opinion, if you bring canned pineapple covered in whipped cream and marshmollows, that qualifies as dessert, not salad. It never ceases to amaze me how the mormons will add sugar in one of it's many forms to just about any part of the meal they can. I mean, how many different ambrosia-type salads have you had? I've probably had thirty. No joke. All I'm saying is just because it's got one type of fruit hiding among the mounds of sweets doesn't make it a salad. It's a dessert, people. A dessert.

Hair color...

In the past week all the girls in the office have colored their hair. Granted, there's only three of us, but it seems to be a common among women today. I can literally only think of one girl I know that does not color her hair. It makes me wonder why we feel the need to change our hair. I know there are probably a million reasons. I know why I've done it. Looking back, it's almost always because I was in need for a change. Just a few weeks ago I went blonde, after being a dark brunette all my life. I know I did it with the childish hope that the next day, I'd be skinny, popular and rich. Needless to say, nothing changed. It's not that I'm unhappy with my life, it's just that every now and then everyone needs some excitement. And since I live in a sleepy little town, hair color is a cheap and easy way for me to do that. So, that's one reason I think women color their hair. For a fleeting glimpse of what they wish their life was. Of course, I've been known to overanalyze.

So, this is it...

This is my blog. Exciting, right? Ya, I don't know either, but we'll have fun with it anyway...