Quinn's Playlist

Snow!!

 I love snow! Unless I'm driving in it or someone I love is driving in it. But that's not the point. Snow is so beautiful!! Just look at it! 

This is Quinn with a ferret named Lady.

Happy Christmas!!

On Call

Back before they were winning Grammys, their hair was much more luscious.

It's Only Tuesday?!!

If the person who made this cute little picture could
figure out that you need a comma before "gorgeous,"
which is actually spelled with the "o" before the
"u," and if they knew that you should capitalize the days
of the week, then I would like it a lot more. But for now, I
hate it just as much as I hate the fact that it's Tuesday.

I have pretty long days all this week. I have a final every day and am trying to work as much as possible this week as well because I'm short on the holiday funds this year. I thought this would make the week fly by, and it kind of is, but it's also making me tired at the end of the day. Don't get me wrong, this is one of my favorite feelings: spending the day in productive pursuits and then feeling exhausted when you finally go to sleep. But, it's somehow making time seem to go by SOO slowly. I am sure that come Friday, I'll be saying, "Wow! That week just FLEW by," because it's probably one of those long days, short weeks weeks. But during the long days part, the days are so long! I guess this is just what it's like when you work full-time, but I'm hoping I'll get some down time after work when I have a real job. Then again, seeing as how I'll be a teacher and your first year teaching is supposed to be awful, that might not happen for a couple years. I guess we'll see. In the meantime, I feel like I'm counting down the minutes until this week is over, which is painful. But it will be worth it when I can pay my bills and hopefully get good grades in a couple weeks. And at least I'm being productive and not sitting around wasting my life. But I was amazed to realize that it was ONLY TUESDAY!! Wednesdays always make me feel better though because you're more than half way there when the day is over. So I have that to look forward to tomorrow.

Also, some food for thought: Don't you think it's interesting that the more you use your mind, the more likely you are to lose it? You'd think it would be readily accessible if you're using it all the time. But I guess people lose their cell phones all the time too... and wallets. Or maybe they don't lose them that often, they just think they do because those things are so important. But I know I've lost my cell phone more times than I've lost my boots for instance and I use my cell phone a lot more than my boots. So I guess it does make sense that the more you use something, the more likely you are to lose it. For example, if I use my mind all the time, then I could leave it at the gym or in a crevice of my couch or even in the Dr. Pepper isle at Smith's, since I have it with me always. But then there's the matter of the skull and skin that's supposedly keeping it in. Figure that out. I dare you.

Surprise!!!

It's been two weeks since Quinn was down here for Thanksgiving and I've been missing him a ton but I've been busy with final projects for classes and everything so time has gone by pretty fast. I was a little bummed because I didn't have much to do this weekend and it's still a week before Quinn moves down here and I get to see Mal and finals are over and all that good stuff but I decided to make the best of it. So I went to the temple and then I was going to go to the gym... my usual when I don't have anything I have to do. So there I was, waiting to go into the font, and I look up and I see Quinn sitting down on one of the benches!! He totally surprised me! I had no idea he was coming down! It was the best thing in the whole world. :) We had such a fun weekend and it was SOOO good to see him!!! :) I love surprises and I love Quinn so it was just the best. :) 

So now... I just have to get through five finals and then Quinn will actually move down here and Mal will come for a few days!!! I wish Mal were staying too, but you can't win 'em all, I guess. A few days will have to do.

Anyway... WOOHOO!! I'm so happy! :)

Justin, Our New "Friend"

Last Sunday, Lisa, Kate, and I inadvertently wore patriotic coats. So we made some poor passersby take our picture.

Then, after church, we came home to this in our living room. We didn't know where it came from at first, but we figured out that our roommate Hillary had moved it there from her room. We spent the next two days being terrified every time we walked into the living room and saw Justin staring at us with his laser beam eyes. I don't remember the last time I was that scared.. over.. and over again. He has since been removed and put in the spare bedroom to welcome our new roommate come winter.

And here is some progress my paper chain has been making. The one on the left is from December 6th I'm pretty sure and the one on the right is from this morning. It's pretty clear that I used my phone today and my real camera the other time.. but it's a chain. I don't think it needs to be photographed in just the right light for you to get the point. But it's getting so much smaller!!! Woohoo!!

Christmas Time is Here

Quinn was down last week for Thanksgiving and we went to Tucano's and there were all these pretty lights everywhere...

 

Then later, we went to Temple Square and saw the lights there.

Before Thanksgiving, we made a thankful turkey. It's lovely.

Then I made a paper chain for when Mal comes to Utah. I'm so excited!!! And it's starting to get shorter! :)

Kate decorated our living room and it looks so Christmasy!! I love it! :)

 

Yay  Christmas!! :)

My New Old Favorite

This is my new favorite song, but it's pretty old. Ha. I like the Kenny Loggins version best, of course, but this one's not too shabby either. Also, who could resist such awesome high tech features?

A Poem for Quinn

It’s the first of December

and all that I can do
Is sit and remember
the good times with you.

My living room is beautiful
thanks to Kate my roomie,
But my homework is so dull
that I still sometimes feel gloomy.

The day you drove away
and I had a chat with Mal,
I fashioned myself a way
to countdown ‘til we see our pal.

So every morning I rip
a paper link off the chain
‘Til you’re here and a trip
Mal takes on a plane.

Until that super fun time,
my days are all alike:
The hill to school I climb
hoping not to step on a spike.

At night, home I come
to make myself some food.
And as I cook, I hum
my favorite Christmas songs, dude.

I just love this season
but I could do with a little less snow.
Because it’s just one more reason
why I can’t see you, you know?

But, let’s look on the bright side:
I have time to focus on school.
And just for the sake of my pride,
I have to keep acting like it’s cool.

Really, I’m not that upset
because three weeks is close to none
And I know I would regret
Not getting my homework done.

So I’m happy that it’s Chrismas time
and I get to see you soon
Even though I have not a dime
or time to watch “Benny and Joon.”

Marjorie Hinckley

"For everywhere she went, Marjorie Hinckley left everyone she met better and happier and more confident than she found them" (54).

When her daughter lived in Hawaii and missed the fruit her family grew at home, Marjorie wrote her and said, "'Don't grieve over the cherries. Enjoy the pineapples and mangoes.' . . . There was never a need to focus on what she didn't have" (57).

Sheri Dew writes, "I am deeply grateful for the privilege of knowing a woman whose life has touched so many of us and from whom we have all learned much: That living the gospel is the only way to be happy, and that being happy is a choice. That it is possible for a woman to be intensely supportive to her husband while continuing to grow herself. That when a righteous man and woman commit to each other completely, the bond is impenetrable and eternal. That an unpretentious woman filled withe the pure love of Christ and devoted to Him can move about the entire earth and leave everyone she meets better than she found him or her. That a testimony of Jesus Christ is what undergirds it all. And that it really is possible, in the latter part of the latter days, to do what we came here to do, and to do it with joy" (60-61).

President Hinckley once said, "all of us are largely the product of the lives [that] touch [ours]."

I was reading all this tonight and hoping I could be more like Sister Hinckley. And this made me think of what I learned last night in my reading: that hope is firm. It is not uncertain, but a knowledge that things will be better. It's hard to believe when I look at myself now, but I know that when I hope I can be more like her, it really is possible and that if I keep trying, one day I'll get there.

No One Can Take Your Place by Sheri Dew

Nailed It

Wednesday, November 10th

Today is the day I mastered the Rubik's cube. 

No I didn't just unwrap it and take a picture. This is the work of my own two hands and my genius... and Quinn teaching me.

Clam Chowder

Tuesday, November 9

Today was pretty eventful but not in the picture taking kind of way. So this is what you get. Clam chowder with gold fish. Jealous? You should be.

Last Visit to Los As We Know It

Monday, November 8

Los Hermanos is moving down the street to where Ottavio's used to be and last night was our last visit to the old location. So many memories. How dare they move. Oh well. It was still fun to see everyone. 

I'm thankful for Los Hermanos. No really, I am.

Sunday Walkabout

Sunday, November 7

Quinn and I went for a walk up Provo Canyon today. It's all dead and getting ready for winter but it was SUCH a nice day outside so it was still good. :)

Look how hot my boyfriend is scowling next to this river.

Quinn found these cars half buried in the water. I think they're quite curious just chillin there. Does anyone know how they got there?

I know you guys are all totally grossed out by kissing pictures, and rightfully so. But I liked these two so if you hate them, don't look. But I thought they were kinda cool lookin'.

Again, in honor of Thanksgiving, I'm grateful for Quinn. And I'm grateful for the mountains.

4 Month Anniversary!!

Saturday, November 6

Quinn and I went to Yamato to get some sushi.

And then we went to Fat Cats to get our bowling on and we ran into Quinn's uncle and cousin so we shared a lane with them.

Then later that night, we went to Chili's with Kelly and Devin and then played games with Chase and Sammy and a couple of their friends. It was such a fun night. :)

And, in honor of Thanksgiving, I'm grateful for sushi. :)

Bloomy

Friday, November 5

I noticed this flower as I was getting ready this morning. It's one of the flowers that Lisa got Kate for her birthday and it was particularly bloomy today so I took a picture. :)

I'm grateful for flowers. :)

A Classic

Thursday, November 4

I have to read a couple books a week for my young adult literature class and today I read Alice in Wonderland for the first time since my childhood. What a great book.

I am grateful for children's books and an imagination.

PIE!!

sunday, october 31

 Oh how I love apple pie...

and Quinn. :)

Mormon Halloween

The best part of Halloween in Utah is that when Halloween falls on a Sunday, NBD, we all agree to celebrate on Saturday. Back in California, Sunday Halloweens were always such a bummer for us Mormon kids. We had to go to church while the rest of the world celebrated the ghosts and monsters and dressed up all cool. But not here. Kids here have it made. Well, at Halloween at least. :)

So, we took advantage of the Mormon Halloween here in Utah and had a great Saturday before Halloween. Me and Quinn went to the Hogle Zoo and saw all these cute little children dressed up so they could trick or treat at the zoo and we also saw a bunch of animals, which was cool. :)

Then that night, Kelly put together a FANTASTIC Halloween Los party at my house. It was so fun to see everyone!! And everyone dressed up. It was so fun! Kelly and Devin were my favorite. They were dead prom dates. It was adorable and creepy at the same time. A job well done.

And even though these pictures are from October, I'm posting them in November, so I'm thankful for Halloween. I love getting dressed up and having excuses to see friends. :)

Goals for November

I feel the urge to set some goals. And I figure November is as good a month as any to try and achieve them. So, to keep me accountable, I'm blogging them. Starting today for the remainder of the month of November, I will do the following:

1) Read my scriptures or other church publication for 1/2 hour a day
2) Take a picture and post it every day

They may seem like small goals, but that's all that I can handle at a time, especially since I'm so busy. So I'll keep you updated--not that you care, this is mostly for me--on how I'm doing.

And in the spirit of the month, it's only fitting that every time I blog, I try to mention something I'm thankful for. Today, I'm thankful for my family. I love my parents and they have done so much for me. I also have a wonderful sister and I love her so much. I miss my family so much and I can't wait to see them on Thanksgiving!

Shrunken Heads

monday, october 25

 For FHE, Lisa had us all carve shrunken heads out of apples. They shrunk up quite nicely and made for some nasty little heads by Halloween.

Vegas Trip Two

saturday, october 23

Since Ragnar didn't work out, me, Quinn, Kelly, and Devin went to Vegas on Saturday. It was a lot of fun. We went to the dead people museum and saw the tigers and lions and did a little shopping and had dinner. It was a lovely day.