Home Sweeeeet Dorm

I've now lived in my precious dorm for over a month, and it just dawned on me that I never posted pictures of it anywhere! So here you have it, apt. 305 in all it's glory....

This was our first "back to school" home-cooked meal

Notice the seasons of One Tree Hill in the top drawer. Duh!

That's it! I really like it. It's finally starting to feel like "home." Since this semester was only 7 weeks, I didn't really go too crazy decorating. But you can bet the wall will be covered in pictures once I'm back for a normal semester. And you can't see my closet, but that's definitely my favorite thing. It's huge! Also, don't make fun of my bed rail. For the first week, I didn't have one and I was terrified to go to sleep at night. Seriously. TERRIFIED! It doesn't really look like that big of a drop, but I was not too interested in getting a concussion my first week of college!

Thank you so much to everyone that texted/called me, or commented on my last blog post. I am so blessed to be surrounded (maybe not literally) by so many great friends that love me. I've realized it's mostly my attitude about the situations I am faced with that determine whether or not I'm happy. For my American Foundations class, we have to read Standing for Something-10 Neglected Virtues That Will Heal our Hearts and Homes, and the last three chapters are on gratitude, optimism and faith..three virtues that I often forget. He says we need to move forward with a spirit of optimism and a willingness to work hard, that "regardless of our circumstances, we must do the same-go forward with faith and prayer, calling on the Lord for His sustenance and direction." I kept telling my roommate I just wish I had a magical genie that knew the future and could instruct me on all the decisions I must make, knowing which decision would make me happiest. And then I later realized, I kind of do. I just need to put my trust in the Lord, and He will provide a way. But it truly is my attitude that will enable me to be happy or satisfied with my life. Regarding gratitude, in the book he says that "Gratitude is a sign of maturity. It is an indication of sincere humility. We should walk with the knowledge that we will need help every step of the way. The absence of gratitude bespeaks a lack of appreciation and an ignorance that comes of an attitude of self-sufficiency." I have SO much to be grateful for, and I shouldn't let the little things get in the way of my perspective of that. Last week was hard, very very hard. I lost sight of all the things I should be grateful for. Like I said, I was probably a little too dramatic in saying "bad life". I absolutley do not have a bad life..and I didn't even have that terrible of a week..(it was more like a horrible four days.) I'm hurt and upset, but there are so many people way worse off than I am, and I feel bad for being selfish and complaining. But for those of you who care, I'm doing/feeling a lot better now, and I'm sorry you had to listen (or read? whatever you want to call it..) to me vent.

The little things that made me smile this past week:

-The tire pressure light had been lit up in my car for the past week, so I finally decided to get it fixed. There ended up being a screw in it, which meant it needed a full tire repair. It took over an hour, and when I went to pay, I noticed the guy at the counter was a member of my bishopric. I got my credit card out, and he told me not to worry about it, and that it was "free today!" How nice was that?! Totally made my day

-On my way to the testing center, I noticed not one, but TWO people go out of their way to pick up trash. (Not the first time that's happened) I go to school at the most beautiful/clean campus in America!

-Used my $50 Target gift card that I won to buy new tennis shoes! So now I won't feel like a dork wearing sperry's to the gym since I forgot my good shoes at home  

-I found a shortcut to my Book of Mormon class

-Went on a double date (I guess you could call it that..?) to play put put and laser tag

-Went bowling for $2 with these lovely ladies:

Ttttaryn, Shana, me, Kennan, Heather, Rachel and Vanessa
*thanks to facebook for this picture :)*

Oh, and let's be honest..this is how my room usually looks--of course I had to make it look perfect for pictures :)

Also, THIS is what I spend my time focusing on in BOM class. This particular game took us 5 days to complete. Intense. Sadly, Britt dominated...

Bad day. Bad week. Bad life.

Okay, that's an overly dramatic title. I realize that..but I'm keeping it anyway.

Today has not been easy, nor was yesterday, or the day before. It seems like nothing is working out the way I want it too..and no matter how hard I try, everything has gone wrong. I'm not going to go into detail..but if this is a test from the big man upstairs, I'm about ready going to give up soon if things don't take a turn for the better. Give up, meaning..lay in my bed, eat peanut butter m&m's and watch shows on netflix for the rest of my life. (Occasionally I might get up to go the bathroom, or even get some real food in me if I'm up to it). No, but seriously...I'm just having a hard time understanding people that I thought I knew, and I definitely didn't think things would turn out the way they seem to be. Life is interesting..and can dramatically change in an instant. People change, make choices and say things that hurt..the toughest part is that there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.

Since starting school, I've only cried twice. Once, a couple days after I got here, my roommate was playing music and the song "Home" came on by Michael Buble. I was eating cereal, and didn't even realize I was crying. I suddenly became homesick (which lasted all about 3.5 minutes) and that was that.. and then the other day Brooke and I watched made the dumb decision to watch sad & depressing music videos in the middle of the night, which totes obvi had me bawling like a baby. Today was the first day I really cried though. I had/am having a mental breakdown. I can't handle it. I don't know what to do. I just sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, and cried. (Maybe this is too personal for my blog?? I don't know...)

A couple months back, an old friend sent me a random text sharing the following quote. I liked it, but never really thought twice about it. However, this past week or so, it's been lingering in the back of my mind. I searched my phone for it, and read it again. It couldn't apply any more to my life than it already does.

"Your future is not determined by the conditions around you. It is determined by your faith, your choices, and your efforts."

I do not want to do some of the things I may end up having to do. But I know it's my choice to make the best of the situation, and my happiness is only up to me. If only it weren't so much easier said than done.

For now, I'm just going to go lay in bed and watch netflix and eat PB m&m's. Sound familiar??

**Sorry Beth.. I know you hate it when I only write. I promise I'll post more pictures soon.

"It's totes the best hun cal fro yo"

I lucked out big time with my roommates. Seriously, they are the best. It's weird to think we've only known each other for almost a month..I guess living with someone does that to you. They are both so fun to be with and I couldn't imagine surviving my first semester of college without them! 

Introducing.....

BROOKE:

Brooke is easily one of the most upbeat and optimistic people I've ever known. She's from Texas, and she is proud of it! But I grant her the right to be.. since after all, she IS considered royalty in that great state of hers. Yep, that's right. She's North Texas' Miss. Rodeo Queen. See for yourself here. Not only that, but she truly is one of the nicest people I know..even when she's mean ;) and apt. 305 definitely wouldn't be the same without her. We've already made some many wonderful memories together, like trying to stalk Rachel on her "stroll" but being too lazy to really spend time finding them, going to the Farmer's Market and drooling over the good-looking "corn on the cob" brothers, and staying up super late watching depressing music videos just because we felt like crying. This video does a pretty adequate job at portraying the relationship we have, and we quote it all the time..okay, so maybe we're not THAT ridiculous..but pretty darn close. It's cliche to say, but I know we will be friends forever. We just click, and I'm grateful to have someone like her here with me in good ole' Rexburg. Also, thank goodness she is as obsessed with the Bachelor/Bachelorette/Bachelor Pad as I am, you always know how we're spending our Monday night. (FHE? What's that?!?) Pray that we can find somewhere to live and are able to room together again in the Fall!

and RACHEL:

Rach is such a good example to me. Words cannot express how much she has already influenced my life for the better. She is definitely one of the coolest, most down-to-earth girls I know and is so sincere in everything she does and with everyone she meets. She has basically every boy in the Burg chasing after her. She graduated from East High (you know, where HSM was filmed?!) and was a cheerleader there. I know..pretty cool. Not many people can say that. She is an extremely skilled photographer and I'm dying for her to teach me her sweet photoshop ways. Also, she's an incredible dancer, very athletic and in great shape. Therefore, I have dubbed her my personal trainer. And let me tell you, she's good at it. She motivates me to go to the gym and push myself..and we always go work out together so we have each other to talk to. I love having her as a roommate-we have so much fun together, whether we are on one of our many quick trips to Wally World, discussing what boys are worthy enough to be on the fridge and printing them off (which was her idea, btw) or watching a movie from her amazing collection of DVD's..it's always a blast. Her strong testimony of the gospel is evident, and I feel like I can always learn from her, also..I'm beyond thankful she knows how to french braid. I don't know what I would have done! (Learn to do it myself??? Nahh....)

Me and Brooke

Rachel posing with our "fridge of desire".  I may or may not brush my fingers across James Franco's cheek as I walk past it, or stare into David Beckham's beautiful eyes for quite some time before I proceed to open the fridge.

There's a reason the three of us were put together in the same apartment for these seven weeks, and I am so glad I've gotten the opportunity to become close with two of the greatest girls. 

Side note: THIS is what I had for dinner tonight. Living the dream, I tell ya :)

the greatest invention since sliced bread

...is SKYPE. Seriously. Skype is the bomb.com and I am SO grateful for it. It makes keeping in touch a whole heck of a lot easier. I don't know how people in the olden' (is that a word??) days survived. Or I guess I should say pre-2003. Hah. Like, I wrote my parents a letter the other day and it felt silly sharing information that I knew wouldn't get to them for a few days. Technology is way over my head, but I love the fact that I can have a face to face convo with my besties that live in Florida anytime I want, while I'm stuck here in my little dorm in Idaho.

Lately, I've been having a really hard time with missing my friends back home and wishing things were still the way they used to be. I've almost been in school for a month now and it still hasn't hit yet that I'm growing up and in a different phase of life. (What's wrong with me?!?) That is, until today. My UF friends move in today, and FSU next weekend. Savannah's already in Hawaii and Beth is coming to Utah next week. It's SO weird. I'm not okay with the fact that if I were to fly home to Tampa, none of my friends would be there. We're all in different places, making new friends and living different lives. Thank goodness for skype though so we can all keep in touch and remain apart of each other's lives. I love all of my high school friends, and if you're reading..text me your new address so I can be all old school on you and send you a real letter in the mail!

What's going on Billy and Taylor?!?

Other current thoughts:

-Should I start watching Psych, Brothers & Sisters, Grey's Anatomy or Friday Night Lights on Netflix?? (Another glorious invention)

-I have a slight addiction to Freshens 80 cal smoothies.

-Thank goodness EFY is over. Seeing them take over campus was cute (at first) but started getting rather annoying.

-Maintenance people, do you REALLY have to wash our windows every afternoon? Oh, and mow the grass at 8 am directly outside my window on the ONE day I get to sleep in?!? just wondering...

-My picture on my I-Card looks like I'm a yellow demon with a creepy smile. I hate showing it to the hot guy that works at the gym. Totes embar.

-How in the world did someone I kind of knew but haven't seen in SEVEN years recognize me? Do I really still look the same as I did when I was eleven years old??

Welp, that's all folks. Kind of a random post, I know.. until next time... :)

I'm a belieber.

I can't believe I'm writing this. I never thought I would ever say the words I'm about to type. I am still somewhat ashamed to admit this to the world, but I officially have a case of:

Bieber Fever

Yep, you read right. The rumors are true.. I am now a Justin Bieber fan. You won't see me in the mile long lines to get tickets to a concert, or scream (like every tween girl in America) when a JB song comes on the radio, and you definitely won't see me in the audience of one of his sold out concerts. However, I have to admit he is definitely talented and extremely successful for being only 17 years old. (And he really isn't that bad looking either)

It all started the other night when my roommate Rachel convinced me to watch Never Say Never with her. To be honest, when I first saw the trailer at the movie theater I shook my head in disgust, laughed and turned to the person sitting next to me and asked what is the world coming to? But now having watched it, I've realized that I judged him wayyyy too quickly. He truly is a talented kid, that deserves to be recognized.

I know, I know..this is quite embarrassing to admit to all my blog followers that I now have a major crush sort of like the Biebs. I mean, what's not to love? He's committed, a hard worker, entertaining, a crazy good dancer, got a great personality and have you seen that hair flip?!?

So there ya have it, yes, I am shamefully confessing there is now one more belieber in this world.

My First Visitor!

Last Tuesday, my very first visitor (as an adult living on my own...) came to see me! Danielle flew from Floirda to Idaho Falls and we have been going and having fun non-stop since. However, sadly she left this morning (at 6 in the freakin morning?!) and now I don't know what to do with myself. She had never been west of Ohio, so I tried my best to show her everything Idaho and Utah has to offer in such a short time. This is just a little recap of the great week we had:

I picked her up as soon as my last class got done on Tuesday and we immediately went to Cafe Rio for lunch (totes obvi...) I made her get a pork burrito and she fell in love, just like I knew she would. Then we came back to Rexburg, got all her stuff unpacked in my room, and I gave her a tour of the campus. I may be bias..okay, I know I am, but I truly believe I go to the most beautiful school in the country. The grounds are SO clean, maintained and there are flowers everywhere! 

"Pleasure Gardens"--renamed by my lovely roommate Brooke

Later, we made a quick trip to Walmart and had a movie night. The next day we went and saw 17 Miracles, got the best cupcakes at Cocoa Bean and then drove to Island Park (ahh, such a beautiful drive), had dinner at the gas station (classy, yes I know..) and went and saw "Phantom of the Grand Ole Opry" at Mack's Inn. 

Thursday was a really busy day for me. I had classes AND my first college test! So while I was studying, Danielle went to the store, lunch and then hung out at the temple grounds. She took this gorgeous picture! I love, love, LOVE being so close to the temple.

After my test, we packed up and headed to Pocatello for the night. We had a wonderful, home cooked meal at my aunt Cindy's house. I never realized how lucky I was to have a homemade dinner daily until I started school. It's either lean cuisines, tuna fish sandwiches or lean pockets for me pretty much every night. Anyway, we hung out with my fam bam for the night, and I really enjoyed spending time with them. I haven't lived this close to them in so long, and I'm loving it!

Friday morning, we woke up to grandma making us buttermilk pancakes. We ate, got ready and then got in the car and headed to Provo to spend the weekend with Emily.

During the drive, we made a pit stop in downtown SLC to meet up with Stephen for lunch and eat at Crown Burger. Man vs. Food went there, so of course I had to take Danielle. And of course, it did not disappoint. When we got to Emy's apartment in Provo, we got settled and then hit up the mall, went grocery shopping for Danielle's bday breakfast, and got a shaved ice. Later, we got ready and went to Kyle's birthday party for awhile. We finished the night watching videos of cute couples on a videographer's blog. Yes, that is what we do for fun. And I loved it.

Saturday morning we woke up early and headed up the canyon to tube down the Provo River. The river was basically melted snow...definitely not the water temp of the rivers I'm used to in Florida. We got sunburned and pretty beat up from all the times we crashed into the twigs on the side. But we had a BLAST nonetheless. Afterward, we went back to the apt and got freshened up. We headed to Zupas to eat and then Murray to watch (the ending) of my brother's work softball game. We picked up Keyboy and went to the Gateway mall where we shopped a little, got another shaved ice (don't judge..) and then saw Crazy, Stupid, Love. Such a good movie! I'm soooo in love with Ryan Gosling!!

Gotta have a large diet coke at the movies. I guess I didn't NEED those nachos...but mmm, they totes hit the spot

Sunday morning was Danielle's birthday, so we had cinnamon rolls and juice, and then drove down to SLC to visit Temple Square. It was such an awesome way to spend our Sunday afternoon. We went to Keyboy's church, and then said our goodbye's and endured the long drive home to Rexburg.

High School Musical???

Ugh, now it's back to the real world. I have homework to do, and tests to study for. I'm so glad Danielle was able to come though! We had a lot of fun... and there's definitely room if anyone else wants to come anytime soon for a visit. Hint, hint.....

17 Miracles

Last week, me and my roommates had the opportunity to go see the movie 17 Miracles. I can't even begin to describe my feelings while watching this heart-wrenching, inspirational and true story played out right in front of my eyes. The movie follows the hardships and miracles that took place during one of the Willie Handcart Company's journey west. Although the saints who walked the great plains, even during the harsh winters suffered through countless afflictions, the movie focuses on the miracles that occurred along the way.

There are so many unexplainable miracles that were portrayed in the movie. For example, the saints ran out of food and they're portions were cut tremendously. For a long time, they only had flour and water to sustain them and were going to die of starvation if help didn't come soon. One day while gathering wood for a fire, a woman was lead by a man into a cave on the side of the mountain where he had a large amount of animal jerky hanging. He told her to open her apron, and he gave her all the dried meat, as long as she promised to share with others. She was so excited that she forgot to say thank you. When she tried to go back, she could not find the cave or the man again. She whole-heartedly believes it was an angel sent from heaven to provide aid to the struggling saints. Whether he was or wasn't, it was a miracle nonetheless.  Another story involves a little girl who, overnight had frozen to death. Because the ground was too hard, they wrapped her in a blanket and placed her above ground as they continued their trek west, knowing that wolves would eventually scavenge upon her corpse. Soon after leaving, her mother remembered a blessing they're family was given that "all of the members of her family would arrive in Zion safely" They turned around and rushed back to where they had laid their daughter to rest. They try to warm her up and say a prayer, having faith that He can bring her back to life. Within minutes, their little girl opened her eyes. She eventually made it all the way to Utah, where she settled and lived a long life.

It is so easy to forget about the pioneers who completely devoted their lives to Christ and obediently followed the counsel of their leaders. Sure, some of them didn't fully know what they were getting themselves into, but for the most part, they remained faithful. They had to face mobs and protestors, starvation, lack of supplies, bitter weather, weakness, illnesses and death. However, they did so with an optimistic outlook and hope for a better future. Seriously, if you ever have the chance to watch this movie-DO! I bawled like a baby (when do I not?) and have gained a better knowledge of the love and devotion early Latter-Day Saints had. They were truly remarkable people.

I have gained a newfound respect and a whole lot of admiration for the saints who had to walk from Iowa (I think?) to the Salt Lake valley. I truly believe that we were born in different eras for a reason, because I know that I would not be able to endure the trials the early members of the church had to face. They knew that Heavenly Father and our savior, Jesus Christ would protect them and had to put all their trust in them. I'm not sure I would be too happy if I was told to leave my home and all my belongings and spent the next few months walking across the midwest in hopes for a better life, knowing that I would face incredibly difficult obstacles along the way, and might not even make it alive.

Two years ago, when we went on the pioneer trek as a youth group (kind of like, a mock mormon migration) I hated it. We had to wear pioneer clothing, could only bring a small bucket of items, and everything we did bring we pulled in our handcart. Living in Florida, it was hot and humid, and it rained all afternoon, so we had to walk in the mud, being wet and cold for several hours and into the night. When we finally made it to camp, we had to set up our tent and were given some broth to eat. It was horrible. Or, so I thought at the time. Looking back, I really wish I would have had a better attitude about the situation. What I had to go through was nothing like what the faithful, humble and unwavering pioneers had to face. The trek I went on lasted 3 days and 2 nights, the trek they went on lasted several months. I feel guilty for thinking the way I did. I have no idea what it is like to starve, or to walk for miles in a blizzard, or to lose a member of my family and have to bury them and continue walking. I wish I could go back in time and enjoy the experience more. Everyone should watch the movie before they go..no one would complain!!

"*Photo cred to Lauren Ramsey..thanks for capturing my life on camera. You're the best friend I've ever had"- quote from Lauren herself.

Anyway, I'm grateful for the early members of the church that sacrificed so much, so that I don't have to and can enjoy the blessings of the gospel today.


"Of all the stories of American pioneers and settlers, none is more inspiring than the Mormon trail...Let us remember that the Mormons of a century ago were a persecuted and prosecuted minority...While today, in the short space of 100 years, their faith and works are known and respected the world around. As the Mormons succeeded, so America can succeed...if we will not give up or turn back."
-President John Fitzgerald Kennedy


P.S. I want to marry someone like Levi Savage.