My Life

Faces of Ghana

2011-10-23T12:49:00.001-07:00

I started a new blog, Faces of Ghana. Please check it out. I will be posting pictures next week of the merchandise that will be available. www.facesofghana.blogspot.com

A Better Perspective

2011-09-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

This photograph was taken by your's truly in a little village on the western coast of Ghana. I volunteered in Ghana last July and lived in a small town called Amasaman for one month. I lived with a family who treated me like gold. I love them dearly.

Whenever I think about my time there, I feel immediately grateful for the blessings I enjoy. Simple things like having hot, running water (and while I'm on that point- having fresh water to drink), owning a car (yes, grateful for my old, beat-up Dodge), having carpet, a closet with a door, having good healthcare, having a healthy body free of deformities, paved roads!!! The list goes on and on.

Shortly, I will be starting a fundraiser to help my little, Ghanaian town. Details to follow. When talking to George (the son of the family I stayed with) he let me know that if I sent anything to him it needed to be through FedEx and that it had to be tracked, otherwise it would be stolen.

I may have went off on a tangent but that small conversation with George reminded me again of how lucky I really am. We all are. :)

You Knew It Was Coming

2011-09-22T14:29:00.000-07:00

Bravo Zooey!!! You did a fantastic job! This show
had me giggling quite a bit. And I really like the dynamic of three guys and one girl. Looking forward to watching this season unfold. One of my favorite lines was, "We're reverse Mormons. One just isn't enough for her." Another one, "its okay, he probably didn't hear you!" It's a good one. If you haven't seen it yet I recommend that you take a gander and see. Its not the funniest show I have ever seen but I definitely enjoyed it. Zooey- you're a rockstar!!! XO

Drive- I give it an 8

2011-09-18T15:47:00.000-07:00

This movie was pretty good. I loved Ryan Gosling's character in it. Why is he so hot??? I went into the movie having no idea what it was about and I was very impressed with the cinematography. The sound track was amazing and the acting superb. If you don't have a problem with seeing violence- check it out.

Blue

2011-09-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

Feeling a little bit like this today:

This overcast weather makes me sad. I already miss summer.

Kayla

2011-09-13T11:47:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen anything cuter? Didn't think so. :)

She is 4 months old and has a baby tooth. I love her.

AMERICA

2011-09-07T14:52:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know this song?

Its a classic. A Horse with No Name was another hit. I am pretty sure I am an old soul at heart. I like everything old (except my man!). I like antiques..like antique anything. I love old movies- especially ones with Audrey Hepburn (I never watch old movies anymore- that needs to change). I love old records. I can't resist buying them at music stores. I love vintage clothes. And, of course- classic cars.

Anyway, for some reason this song popped into my head today. It reminded me of the time I bought me and my dad a ticket to go see them play at the Coach House in San Juan Cap and I was the youngest person in attendance by 20 years. The guy next to me had an oxygen mask on- no joke. Like I said- old soul.

Labor Day Weekend Recap

2011-09-06T09:37:00.000-07:00

Friday night I hung out with my two besties:

Daniella and Fred.

We watched The Dilemma and discussed how hot Channing Tatum is. Then we all passed out by 11:30. Party rockers!!!

I went to Andrew's 40th bday pool party Saturday night. It was a blast. Nicole is the best at throwing a party!!!

The three amigos were reunited!

Sunday night was another great party in Laguna. The house was right on a cliff overlooking the ocean. It was absolutely beautiful. And after heading over to the Sandpiper, I snagged this great shot:

Amazing.

And yesterday was full of cleaning, laundry, napping and Sopranos.All and all, it was a great holiday weekend!

What did you do?

What Are You Doing This Labor Day Weekend?

2011-09-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

I love and hate Labor Day weekends. Love them because its a shorter work week but hate them because it means that summer is over. :(

One of my favorite Labor Day weekends was back in 2008 with April, Adrienne, Aubrey, Colby, Brad and Travis.

Good times! We went all over San Jose and San Francisco. We drove the 18 mile drive and stayed at April's parents house- its amazing. We even shopped in Carmel. One of the best little, weekend get-aways of my life!

This weekend will consist of a pool party with my lovely Nicole Fulton.

And some good, old Orange International Street Fair action.

Happy Labor Day weekend everyone! What are your plans?

TI is out!

2011-09-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

TI is finally out of prison. I was so sad one of my favorite rappers went back into the slammer just when he was starting to make some great, new tunes.

A US Bureau of Prisons spokesman said:

The Atlanta entertainer, whose real name is Clifford Harris, was sentenced in October 2010 to serve 11 months in prison for violating the terms of his probation after he was arrested on suspicion of possessing the drug ecstasy.

In 2007, TI faced a possible 30 years in prison on federal gun charges after he was arrested the same day he was due to have starred at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards, where he had been nominated for a series of prizes.

A judge eventually sentenced him to just one year in jail after he pleaded guilty and agreed to perform 1,000 hours of community service, warning young people about the dangers of drugs and gangs - work for which he was widely praised.

At his sentencing last year, TI acknowledged he violated the terms of his probation when police stopped him for a traffic violation in Los Angeles and found drugs in his car.

"I screwed up. I screwed up big time and I am sorry," the rapper told US District Court Judge Charles Pannell during the sentencing.

Federal prisoners typically spend the last portion of their sentences in residential re-entry centres, formerly called halfway houses, prisons spokesman Edmond Ross said.

Prisoners normally are assigned to centres in or near their hometowns, he added.

TI's career began as a rapper in 2001 but he then branched out into other areas of the music and film industry, finding success both as a producer and actor.

And on Dailyfill.com rumors of a him filming a reality show hours after being released are confirmed:

Getting on with post-prison life, VH1 has announced plans for a 10-episode reality show series starring T.I..

Having been granted release from an Arkansas penitentiary earlier today (August 31), the Grammy Award-winning rapper is set to give fans a "behind the scenes look" as he reunites "with his wife and kids and thrust back into society at this crucial juncture in his life."

Now a free man, the series will follow the "Whatever You Like" artist as he works to get back on track and begins recording a new studio album in an effort to return to the music scene.
T.I. served an 11-month stint in the slammer on a weapons violation charge he incurred back in October 2010.

See more pictures about this story at GossipCenter.com

What can I say? I love TI and I will definitely be watching his reality show- cheap entertainment or not!

Foster the People- Pumped Up Kicks (Song Meaning)

2011-08-31T14:52:00.000-07:00

Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People

Who doesn't love this song? Ok, so maybe the radio playing it on repeat is some major overkill, however its a great song. I believe it was about the 10th time I heard the song, I actually started to THINK about the lyrics and interpret them. The chorus- better run, outrun my gun- got me thinking- this song must be about a troubled kid going on a shooting spree. Can you say buzz kill?

I think it is so interesting how much music can influence but also how unaware we can be of the meaning behind it- or even what the lyrics flat out say.

Take a gander at the lyrics:

Robert's got a quick hand

He'll look around the room

He won't tell you his plan

He's got a rolled cigarette hanging out his mouth

He's a cowboy kid

Yeah, he found a six-shooter gun

In his dad's closet hidden in a box of fun things

And I don't even know what

But he's coming for you, yeah, he's coming for you

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks

You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks

You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet

x1

Daddy works a long day

He be coming home late, yeah, he's coming home late

And he's bringing me a surprise

Because dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice

I've waited for a long time

Yeah, the slight of my hand is now a quick pull trigger

I reason with my cigarette

And say your hair's on fire

You must have lost your wits, yeah

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks

You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks

You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet

x1

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks

You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks

You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet

A little surprised you didn't see this before? Me too.

Sometimes I HATE being a woman!

2011-08-31T09:56:00.000-07:00

Any other females having this kind of a day?

Mod Cloth

2011-08-30T15:51:00.000-07:00

I love this website. They have some great clothes! I love how unique they are. Check them out- you won't regret it. www.modcloth.com

They also have a fab blog- blog.modcloth.com

Running with the Bulls (I mean...cows!)

2011-08-29T11:04:00.000-07:00

Pretty sweet, right? Check out the website-

http://www.urbancowhalfmarathon.com/

I'm pretty excited about this race. Who will join me?

Another thing...

2011-08-25T16:23:00.001-07:00

The New Girl

Its coming out on Fox. Can't wait to see my love, Zooey Deschanel, work her magic on the tele!

Its almost been a year..

2011-08-25T16:07:00.000-07:00

Since my last post! What is wrong with me???!! This is not acceptable. A lot of things have changed around here. New job, new roommates, new school...life is busy and amazing!

Check out my favorite song (currently).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_sLOwke_QY

C'est La Vie...

2010-12-08T13:19:00.000-08:00

I hate to do this but...its that time, AGAIN. Time to say goodbye to Diet Coke. Its a love/hate relationship, really, and that can't be healthy. Currently I am at an all-time fatness...I am pretty sure I have never been this out of shape. Now, its not like I am letting myself go BUT there comes a point where I have to say..enough is enough. Unfortunately that point has come. Another unfortunate thing is that Diet Coke makes it hard to lose weight and can be a cause in gaining it. Check out this article:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2779084/does_diet_soda_make_you_gain_weight_pg2.html?cat=5

I'll be back Diet Coke, but let's get this addiction (and my body) under control first. I'll miss you. XOXO.

Black Friday= SUCCESS!!!

2010-12-02T23:19:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was GREAT. Shauna's mom is a fabulous cook and I loved every minute...however, do you know what I loved more? (You probably do because the title gives it away). I LOVE Black Friday. My family is a family of shoppers but not just any kind of shopper, we're BARGAIN shoppers. Black Friday is like heaven to us. All my girl cousins go every year and when my sis and I don't make it out to AZ for the holiday, we go in California. This year was no different.

We went to the Spectrum and had some great buys. Target and H&M were handing out free gift cards with every purchase. I spent a little over $100 and here is what I bought:

Six kid outfits
One child's santa hat
Two children's beanies
One princess costume
One pair of boots
One cardigan
One knit hat
One scarf
One shirt
One skirt

Amazing? Yes, I know.

It's Christmas Time, Again

2010-11-17T17:08:00.000-08:00

These are the two things my niece told me she wanted for Christmas-
A princess costume and....

A "jumping rope". We have no idea how she knows what a jump rope is but she does. I think I'll buy her both. :)

P90X!!!

2010-11-15T19:50:00.000-08:00

Oh how I have missed this gem of a workout!! I love introducing my girlfriends to these wonderful dvds. Tonight Aubrey, Jess and I did "Legs and Back." It kicked our booties and we felt so good afterwards. This is a great way to cross train while running.

My favorite workout is plyometrics, aka jump aerobics. Its one of the most intense hours of exercise I've done and it really kicks you into shape. Its also a great way to get your lungs in shape. If you haven't tried P90X, I highly recommend it. Don't feel obligated to do the 9o day challenge, just incorporate it into your exercise routine. Enjoy!

Half Marathon Training

2010-11-08T21:27:00.000-08:00

My training for the Agoura Hills Half Marathon started today with the wonderful Aubrey Messick. I loved doing this race last year and I can't wait to run it again. The rolling hills, Spring weather and lakeside houses of Paramount Park makes it the most beautiful, scenic run. Check it out and join us!!! You won't regret it.

Halloween

2010-11-02T22:09:00.000-07:00

Usually I don't get very excited for Halloween. I never can find a good costume, I generally don't like scary movies and I've never been a sweets person. But this year was a pretty good time. I thought it'd be fun to dress up as Lady Gaga. I had a lacey, one-piece in mind and thought I'd go with it if I could find leather leggings and a long sleeved, black lacey shirt. I went to Forever 21 late Saturday afternoon, and there, in the front of the store, right by the entrance, were rows of black shirts and black, leather leggings. It was perfect, for once! I had a lot of fun with my costume. I am glad it was so easy to put together.

Here is my best effort at a Gaga pose.

Erin invited Dave and I over for dinner before we hit the party. Yes, I have bangs. I actually cut them for the Gaga costume and was disappointed because I cut them too short. :( Oh well, opefully they will be okay in a few weeks.

The dinner was delicious. Erin and Aubs out did themselves. I wish I had just a little bit of their cooking skills!

The weekend before Halloween, we went on the haunted hayride, as I mentioned in an earlier post. Again, I loved the group that went. It was really fun and scary and I liked it, who knew?

Also, Dave and I have been watching scary movies lately. Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th are amazing; The Boogie Man, not so much.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween! On to Thanksgiving! :)

GIANTS- WORLD CHAMPS!!!!! :)

2010-11-01T19:41:00.000-07:00

Bravo boys, BRAVO!!!! :)

Disneyland with Avery

2010-10-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

It was so fun to go to Disneyland with Avery. She was loving on me. I couldn't put her down without her throwing a fit. Molly enjoyed the freedom, I'm sure.

Avery was super brave and went on The Haunted Mansion. She clung to me with her eyes closed and her head buried in my neck for the first part. She loved the rest of the ride.

She is scared of all the characters except Mickey. He was really cute to her. When she said goodbye, she gave him a kiss on his nose. Precious!

We were walking through Fantasy Land and all the sudden Avery says, "I know...DUMBO!" And so we went.

I still don't know what Mickey's costume is.

I love all the pumpkins!

Happy Halloween everyone!!!

Giants

2010-10-29T00:04:00.000-07:00

Game 1: 11-7

Game 2: 9-0

Ha! Take THAT, Texas!!!

It's Kind of a Good Movie

2010-10-26T18:48:00.001-07:00

I really liked this movie. Its really creative and fun. I left thinking I might be closer to crazy than I originally thought. Zach Galifianakis gives a phenomenal performance.

Bowling

2010-10-26T15:51:00.001-07:00

Dave took me to this cool little cafe in Culver City which is connected to a bowling alley. We ate and then bowled before seeing Its Kind of a Funny Story. The perfect Friday afternoon.

Cool kicks.

Strike??

That face I make makes me a better bowler.

Asking for heavenly help for a strike.

A spare is close enough.

At one point I was winning but its only because Dave was too busy posing for pictures. ;)

See what I mean?

Never knew bowling could be this much fun.

Giants Baseball!

2010-10-23T21:47:00.001-07:00

I know, I am not supposed to like The Giants, since I'm from Orange County and all but let me enlightened you for a moment. And no, I am not a bandwagon fan.

I have an Angels hat and I have been to more games then I can remember. Sure I root for the home team and wear red and white but to be honest, I really don't like the Angels. Ask my dad, he'll tell you. He took me to see them when I was little. What I remember is the hot dogs, cotton candy, loud people and LOSING! The Angels consistently lost and I was destined to resent them forever. I wasn't even excited when they won the World Series, that is how much of a NOT bandwagon fan that I am.

When I set up a checking account with US Bank I was automatically submitted in a Dodgers contest and I WON! Cool, huh? I was able to go to the game early, with four vip tickets, was given a goody bag (note the hat above) and I was shown a tour of the field and dug out. In between an inning, I was put on the big screen and asked to answer a question to a short quiz. If I won my row would all receive free soda. I lost but only because the majority of the crowd shouted the wrong answer to me. Good times, however, I've never been fond of SUPER GHETTO fans, its way too obnoxious to go to any Dodger game. Again, not a bandwagon fan.

Recently I was introduced to The Giants. I went to a couple games and I fell in love. Their team is really diverse. The fans are awesome and I have always loved the city. I quickly identified my favorite player, Pablo Sandoval, aka, Panda. Don't you want to just squeeze his cheeks?? He may not be the strongest player but what to do care? I'm still a girl and base most of my decisions on cuteness and likeability. ;)

So, there you have it. I have been happily converted as a Giants fan.

I am SO happy they won the NCLS!!! And Cody Ross is such a humble guy. What a team!!! They'll take the World Series. I can't wait for it!

Thoughts

2010-10-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

I LOVE this season! Cute beanies, boots, scarves, rain, hot cocoa, desserts, pumpkin flavored everything, scary movies, lightning, umbrellas...give me more! :)

And, The Giants are going to win the World Series. I can feel it.

The End.

Missing...

2010-10-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

This little babyboo right now. I can't wait to see her on Wednesday!

The Social Network

2010-10-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

Great movie...acting, writing, editing, loved it all. Go see it!!!

What's Happening Now

2010-10-04T21:37:00.000-07:00

I saw Muse again, two Thursdays ago. They were amazing, as always. One of the best live bands I've ever seen. Thanks for exceeding my expectations, guys!

It's bang season and I am TOTALLY craving them. Shauna cut some and now regrets it a little. I am worried that will happen to me too. I can't wait until I get married and I can just chop my hair whenever I want because I won't be worrying about how appealing or unappealing a haircut makes me look.

I am loving the rain these days. Double rainbows galore! I have been seeing them everywhere! And the weather has cooled off, thank goodness. It seemed like the end of days for a while.

I LOVE sleep, I wish it was happening more in my life. I feel like this girl, EVERY day!

I am trying to get back into reading. I have two books that I am currently diving into: The Price They Paid and The Biography of William Hearst. Both are really good. I need to make more time for them.

Thats all for now. :)

Elvis Anyone?

2010-10-01T01:48:00.001-07:00

If you want to do something cool on a Wednesday night, go to downtown Fullerton and watch an Elvis impersonator. The lounge is covered with red lights. Maybe you can get a cool photo out of the experience. :)

Justin Long

2010-10-01T01:44:00.000-07:00

Saw this cat at the Hollywood Bowl tonight. Maybe my friend Dave washed hands next to him in the bathroom. Did not see his Boo, Drew Barrymore. He is pretty little and was hanging with the guy from Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Back to School

2010-09-05T01:10:00.000-07:00

The traveling is over and now its time to get back to real life! I started school this week. I am taking 6 classes. I also started working at an interior design firm part time AND I am nannying a few nights a week. The result? Me being super busy, not having any sleep and never seeing anyone. But...I kind of love being busy. Its also nice seeing my bank account grow instead of diminish. Cheers! :)

Happy Anniversary!!!

2010-09-04T21:32:00.000-07:00

This week marked my one year of quitting my grown up job and becoming a full time student. I started reminiscing about the last 12 months and all the places I was able to go. Here is a little travelog for any who are interested.

My most recent trip was to Italy, on my way back from Ghana. I loved every minute of that trip. Italy has it all, history, art, culture, beautiful language and people, beaches, food, shopping. Definitely one of my top favorite places! I am going back in April with my mother. Can't wait!

Most of you know about my trip to Ghana this summer. It was life changing. This is my favorite picture from the trip. She is the most beautiful, little girl. If you are in to safaris go to Kenya but if you want to volunteer in a peaceful country, Ghana is the place! I miss the kids at the hospital I volunteered at, dearly. :(

I went to Thailand in May. We were in Bangkok during all the chaos. It was pretty exciting and just a little bit scary. I did feel sorry for the Thai people. Made me grateful to live in America.

I started a tradition last year- to travel outside of the country for my birthday. Last year I went to Paris and London. This year I went to the Cook Islands. It was beautiful there. The people were so kind and mellow. The island was only about 18 miles around. It was perfect. There were also three church buildings on the island. I loved it.

In January Tory and I visited Boston and NYC. I fell in love with Boston. Little Italy was amazing. The historical sites were thrilling and the people were so charming and sophisticated. Harvard and MIT had beautiful grounds.

We saw West Side Story in New York, ate a ton of food and shopped til we dropped. It was the perfect girls' trip!

Last November I finally went to Costa Rica. Tory and I had been talking about it forever. It was so fun! I loved the food and the people. I had some of my most adventurous moments there. We rappeled down a waterfall. It was 165 feet up. I never could have mentally prepared myself for that. Then we bungee jumped! I still cannot believe I did it. I am glad I survived and I will NEVER do it again. Just thinking about it gives me the willies!!!

Cabo was a long weekend, spur of the moment trip. I am really glad I went. It was nice and hot. The water was really pretty and I had a fantastic time parasailing. Sarah was the best travel buddy there. Its too bad I was so sick while I was there. But it was still a lot of fun.

I visited North and South Carolina, another long weekend and was able to see some of my old friends from my mission. I was only able to visit my first area and was pleasantly surprised that people still remembered me. It was a great trip. I went to see Gini and her family in North Carolina. They have the most beautiful house, right on a lake. It was paradise.

I feel so blessed that I was able to travel so much in one year. I love traveling. One of my favorite parts is meeting new people and seeing their culture. It has really been eye opening. I am excited to go back to Europe with my mom. I also can't wait for more adventures.

Traveling is a lot easier than most people think. My biggest tips would be to travel during the week, go to places that have flights on sale, and be open to the people and the areas you visit. Also, make sure the person you travel with has similar interests as you and that you get along with well. It can make or break a trip. Do a few touristy things and then make friends with the locals and ask for tips on restaurants and activities. Put away a little bit of money each month and you'll be traveling in no time.

My favorite place I've been? I've loved them all.

What's On My Mind

2010-09-02T23:38:00.000-07:00

PEOPLE- STOP BEING SO MEAN!!!! You are driving me CRAZY!!!!!

Have You Seen The Mormon Bachelorette Video?

2010-08-26T08:11:00.001-07:00

If not, you're missing out!!!! Go to www.themormonbachelorette.com. You're going to love the video and love Aubrey!!! And guys- we are still accepting applications, its not too late!

The Mormon Bachelorette!

2010-08-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

I know, I know!!! Its been ages since I have blogged. I have lots of things to discuss. Travels, a new business and the MOST important...The Mormon Bachelorette! One of my best friends, Aubrey Messick, is starting on a path to eternal bliss!!! She will be blogging daily about this experience. Currently we are going through applications and selecting the lucky fellas. It will consist of 31 days, 22 guys and lots of kick off and cocktail parties.

For details go to www.themormonbachelorette.com . You can also join our event on Facebook and get access to party invites and voting for your favorite bachelor!

This is going to be AMAZING!!! Good luck guys!

Celeb Sighting!

2010-08-03T00:39:00.000-07:00

Maybe, this one time, Shauna and I were checked out by this cat while walking down Sunset Blvd. to go to a show in LA.

And maybe I didn't even notice..yep, I am THAT fly.

PS- Shauna says he winked at us. She never lies. This is TRUTH!

PPS- Maybe I didn't know what Adam Levine looked like until I looked him up for the post. Silly me.

Current Favorite Quote

2010-05-25T02:57:00.000-07:00

"They are called skinny jeans, not 'I wish I was skinny' jeans."- George Lopez

Ghana- Help Needed

2010-05-18T07:07:00.001-07:00

I'm leaving on an adventure on June 16th. I will be in Ghana for six weeks volunteering at a health clinic five days a week from 8:00 to 5:00. In an email sent to me about my placement, they expressed their need for basic supplies including; gloves, scrubs, antibacterial soap, cleaning supplies, towels, etc. It would be wonderful to donate any of these items. I am asking for your help in donating these supplies. Each of us can make a huge difference just by a small act of kindness. Please let me know if you would like to help. I can buy all the supplies or pick them up from you and deliver them. I will also be documenting my trip and sending out a weekly email. If you would like to be included in the emails, let me know.

So, I'm pretty psyched and just a little nervous about my upcoming trip. I still have to get my Visa and vaccinations. Yes, I am a slacker.

Apparently I'll be in Southern Ghana, close to the beaches, yay!

I'll be coming home waving this flag, just you wait.

And maybe I'll get my face painted so I can be immersed in their culture...

I know, this beach doesn't look very exciting but its a beach, that's all that matters!

I'm now exhausted...just from thinking about this trip. Ahh...and excited. Can't wait!

I Haven't Blogged in Almost a Month but Don't Get Too Mad, I've Been Traveling.

2010-05-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

I realized today that I still haven't blogged about the Cook Islands, just give me a little more time. Thailand was AMAZING but its good to be home. I loved all the beautiful islands. I'll give you a more detailed post once I have pictures but below are photos of my two favorite islands.

This island is called Koh Phi Phi (pronounced Co-pee-pee). It was absolutely GORGEOUS. This is a picture of one of the bluffs (they were about 500 feet high) and the aqua-marine colored water that we snorkled in. Jealous? I would be too.

This is Koh Tao. Another BEAUTIFUL island. When we got to the island I said, "Oh my gosh, its SO beautiful I want to cry." This island had very little beach and lots of rocks and cliffs. It was very breath taking.

Stay tuned for more!

Celeb Sighting!

2010-04-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday Erikka, Amanda and I went out to breakfast at Mimi's Cafe and then headed over to Fasion Island for some shopping. Guess who forgot the Kardashian sisters were at Nordstrom promoting their new jewelry line? Me! And we were there at Fashion Island WHILE THEY WERE IN NORDSTROM! UGH! By the time I remembered, it was to late. My fav TV reality sisters were already gone. :( Below is an excerpt from an article, just to prove I'm not making this up.
Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, the stars of the E! reality television show “Keeping up with the Kardashians,” made an appearance Saturday at the Nordstrom at Fashion Island in Newport Beach for the launch of their new jewelry line, the Kardashian Collection by Virgins Saints & Angels.

Luckily we did in fact have a celebrity sighting! My favorite housewife, Alexis, was at Nordstrom shopping away with her hubby, twins an two women who looked a little rough and tough if you know what I mean. Her hubby was sporting a fohawk. GROSS! I went up to her and told her she was my favorite housewife, that I loved her and gave her a hug. :)

Still bummed I missed the sisters...I'm going to find out how to meet them. I just love them!

Feel Sorry For Me

2010-04-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

This is my current school schedule:

Monday- English- 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Tuesday- Geology- 9:30am to 12:30pm
Marriage and Family- 2:20pm to 5:30pm
Wednesday- Homeland Security- 8:00am to 12:00pm
English- 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Thursday- Geology Lab- 9:30am to 12:30pm
Marriage and Family- 2:20pm to 5:00pm
Direct Marketing- 6:30pm to 10:00pm
Not to mention I have two physical fitness classes during the week. Ugh! Can't wait for the end of May to get here.

Glee Is Back!!!

2010-04-13T23:54:00.001-07:00

Oh how I LOVE Glee!!!! I am SO happy it's back on! They did not disappoint. If you haven't seen the episode check it out on Hulu.com. Its perfect. :)

Funny moment while watching it with Shauna and Ashley.
Shauna: "I LOVE that guy! He is on Step Up 2, my FAVORITE movie!!"
Ash: "What's Step Up 2?"
Shauna: "That dance movie. I have probably made you watch it a thousand times."
Ash: "Oh."
Me: "Oh my gosh, there are so many cool people on this show. We need to be on it!"

Another funny moment:

Shauna: "That black girl is SOOO pretty."

Me: "Umm, no she's not!"

Shauna: "No, not that one...the cheerleader."

Me: "Oh yeah, you're right."

And probably my favorite moment of the show and Shauna. Rachel sings, "Hope it Gives You Hell" by Fallout Boy or some lame pop punk band to show Finn she is upset. As she starts singing, I look over at Shauna and she is ever so slightly mouthing the words. Ha! Loved it.

What I Am Up To

2010-04-13T23:29:00.000-07:00

Maybe I should be writing a compare and contrast paper on Dubliners and A Good Man is Hard to Find but instead I am surfing the web for a picture to go along with this post. I literally spent twenty minutes doing just that. Hmm, counter productive much? Yes I am...

Scripture of the Day

2010-04-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

Exodus 14: 13-14~

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."

I love everything about this scripture. I think we can all relate to Moses when the Lord calls him to be a prophet with a charge to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt and to be their leader. Moses more than questions his calling. In this scripture we see him become the prophet that the Lord knew he would be. "Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." I don't think I have heard a more beautiful statement. His was full of conviction and certainty.

And then he says, the Lord shall fight for you. I like the image that sentence gives of God in action; fighting for me. I forget that He will not leave me alone and He WILL fight for me as long as I am obedient.

I was really grateful for the testimony I received as I read that scripture and even more thankful for the wonderful people I am surrounded by. We all have this amazing potential. Let's start living up to it!

Money, Money, Money

2010-04-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

I have been traveling a lot lately. Thailand is up next with Darc and Shauna, whoop, whoop!!! :) I can't wait. I have also been getting a lot of inquiries, especially lately, asking how I am affording the travel.

I think that is a personal question and I got a little bit weirded out by it, until I realized people just want to know how so they can join in on the fun. Okay, fair enough. Here is my secret:

I worked for eight years full time. EIGHT YEARS. Doing lame office assistant stuff and a bit of retail and property management. I may have saved a few dollars here and there. Also, I always get a great tax return each year, the combination is fabulous. So, save your pennies and then blow it all on traveling. Ha.

And for the record, I have not been taking out thousands of dollars in student loans to pay for my traveling.

Okay, I feel better. I just needed to clear the air!

Friday Night; Movie Night

2010-04-10T01:55:00.000-07:00

Maybe I saw three movies tonight....

Cheesy, predictable, cliche, sappy; another emotional manipulation by Nicholas Sparks. But you already knew I would say this. Why did I see the movie? I'm fine with lame, romantic movies when I am prepared for them to be lame and romantic and I just want to sit back and relax. Also, I knew I'd be in for another flick anyway, so I didn't mind so much.

Pretty freaking funny. I love the both of them so much. I laughed WAY hard. If could have been the sugar high I was on. Who really knows. Also, I've been told I am not the best judge when it comes to comedy. I think everything is funny, so don't go off of what I say.

I always am appreciative of great writing, directing, acting and shooting. This movie had beautiful music and very artistic lighting and shots. It also left me thinking. DiCaprio is always a great actor. If you haven't seen this movie already, you may want to take a gander at it.

If You Haven't Been to Boston, GO!

2010-04-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

I went to Boston and NYC this past January and LOVED every minute of it. If you haven't been to Boston you need to go. It is rich with the history of our nation's birth.

Maybe we were SUPER touristy and went on the trolley to see all the sites. Here is a picture of the new State House. Beautiful.

Boston is also known for it's elite universities, namely MIT and Harvard. Tory and I stumbled upon MIT, by accident when we were lost. Beautiful campus and metro stop. :)

I REALLY geeked out when I found out that the original bar that Cheers was based on was in Boston.

These pictures are a little out of order, but here I am, as touristy as ever!

See that smile of delight on my face? Seriously, I was in heaven!

Along the freedom trail is the USS Constitution. She is UNDEFEATED!! Wait to go, girlfriend! We love you and your "Iron Sides"!

Although NYC definitely tops the charts for food, we found some fun, trendy places in Boston. This restaurant had a variety of sandwiches created by famous chefs in the area. Brillant!

As if you needed another reason to visit Boston, below is the inside of the public library. It was breath taking!

I also visited Walden Pond, the Sleepy Hollow cemetery, the site where "the shot was heard around the world", the Bunker Hill monument and Paul Revere's home, just to name a few. I had no idea I would love Boston so much. If you haven't gone...get your butt over there! You won't regret it!

Going Four-Wheeling in the Jungle Sounds Safe Enough

2010-04-06T13:38:00.001-07:00

When researching The Cook Islands on Trip Advisor, this tour, The Coconut Tours, was highly recommended. Everyone said it was a ton of fun and the best thing to do on the island.

Ryan was all for it when I mentioned it to him and we decided just to book it when we got to the island. They were pretty busy but we were able to get booked for Saturday, our last day there. I was so excited for our adventure in the jungle.

I was a tad bit nervous about driving a quad, I have never driven one before, until I saw a picture of this lady on their website. If she could do it, I definitely could.

We got there Saturday morning, went through paperwork, got our helmets and were ready to go. We had two girls from Australia with us and three Americans who were studying law abroad in New Zealand. Everyone was fun, laid back and easy going. We started off going on some easy trails to get used to the bikes. Everyone did great.

Next, we went onto more advance terrain. We crossed over a few bridges and came up to a stream that seemed pretty high, it had been raining for a couple days and had started raining again, but we didn't think much of it. Our guide crossed first and we all followed suit. First the boys (apparently they were better at driving) and then us four girls. I crossed the stream, luckily, I was gunning it and there was steam coming from my engine. All the sudden our guide started yelling for us to stop going across and said he'd help us across. The other two girls did not hear him and made it to the other side.

One girl was left to cross with her bike. She was asked to cross the stream and the guide tried to drive the quad over. The stream had gotten deeper and the current was stronger (the reason he yelled for us to stop) and as he was trying to cross, the bike was swept away! He went running after it and we were instructed to keep going.

We started driving and came to another crossing, only the stream seemed more like a river now and we didn't even attempt to get across. Meanwhile we were waiting for our guide and had no idea where he was. Finally, after what seemed like an hour, he showed up at the place he originally lost the bike. He didn't get the bike but brought a truck with him. He asked us to bring the bikes back down the path. So we did. Through this whole process the water was getting higher and higher and was now too dangerous to cross. The guide said we needed to wait it out but unfortunately, it just kept raining and the river (no longer a stream) was getting worse.

It continued to pour down. The water was continually getting higher and higher and the current was picking up speed; fast. Finally our guide told us waiting it out wasn't going to work (uh, yeah we figured that) and that he would send a rope over to us so we could cross.

There were a few guys there from the tour company. One of them reminded me of a polynesian version of Bear Grylls. He was a smaller guy, super ripped and crazy. The guys tied one end of the rope to the back of the truck. Then, this guy climbed up onto a pipe, which was over the river, and walked across it with the rope in hand. He slipped a few times and almost fell in. Scary! He got to our side and started looking for a tree to tight the rope to. There was a lot of bushes and small trees in the way so he macheted his way through. Umm, yeah he was bad ass!

They got the rope all tied up and ready to go and we started going across. Another local guy stepped in to help the girls across. I have never been so scared in my life. The current was pretty strong and the other two girls that had crossed had struggled a little bit. I was next in line. As soon as I stepped out into the water the guy put his arm around my waist and was going to basically carry me across. I loved him and told him I was going to kiss him once I got to the other side.

I got out to the current and my legs immediately were pushed up from underneath me. My body was parallel to the water. It was the scariest feeling. I had NO control in that moment. I held on to the rope as tight as I could and we inched across. About three quarters of the way over the current somehow picked up more speed and was almost twice as strong. When I got to that point my body kind of turned over a little to the side. Our guide came out and pulled me in. My heart has never beat that fast before.

Once we were on the other side the guide asked us to push the rope in the opposite direction to try and keep it out of the currents. The rest of the boys crossed and so far everything seemed to be going according to plan. We had one more person to get across and then we could all go home and forget all about it.

Corey was the last girl who needed to cross. We were worried about her because she was pretty over weight and she was also scared to cross. I have realized that when you are in that type of a situation you have to remain calm and focus on the task at hand.

They had an old cable in the truck, which they wrapped around her waist and hooked to the rope (only the hook wasn't locking; bad luck). They started crossing and Corey seemed to be doing okay. She had two of the local guys helping her. She was about halfway across and she started to struggle. She wasn't keeping both hands on the rope and wasn't focused. Then they were almost three quarters of the way across when she started slipping. Her hands slipped and her head went under the water. The cable held her for a minute and the smaller guy had his body behind her and was holding the rope. The next thing we knew they were gone! The were swept away by the rushing current. It was the most terrifying thing I have ever watched. I felt sick to my stomach and shocked that that had actually happened.

We ran after them down the river. FORUNATELY, they had both stopped but on opposite sides. Corey was still on the other side of the river. We asked them if they were okay and they just looked at us with blank stares. They weren't comprehending anything we were saying. That was awful to witness. I felt so bad for them. After a few minutes the local guy got up and seemed to be okay. It took us a little while to communicate with Corey but once she responded to us we asked her to get out of the water and just wait until we figured something out.

The guide asked us all to go back to the tour company. He said Corey's friends could stay but we needed to leave. The rest of our group left, the two girls from Australia, me and Ryan and we waited back in town until she came back.

After calling the police and realizing the was no search and rescue, they somehow got her back across. They pulled up after about an hour and a half and Corey was in the front seat of the truck. I was so relieved she was okay. She was a very brave girl.

So, when going four wheeling in the jungle, beware of rain! I guess the guide said he was pretty sure we experienced a flash flood. He said that the smaller bridges we crossed over normally would have been flooded over before the bigger streams did but they didn't that day. He saw no warning signs until the bikes were struggling to get across the stream and even then he didn't expect it to flood over that quickly. So it was a new experience for everyone. I am just very relieved everyone ended up okay and that we all made it back safe.

Back to Blogging

2010-04-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

First off, I am so sorry it has taken me so long to make a new post on my blog. I am now dedicated to updating on here because some pretty cool things are happening in my life. I just got back from The Cook Islands. It was amazing. Unfortunately I do not have any pictures yet but they are coming. Hold tight. In the meantime, below is a picture of Muri Lagoon, just one of the gorgeous beaches we hung out at while we were there.

I had my 28th birthday about a week and a half ago. Ugh! 28? How did I get here?? Luckily, I have some really great friends. Shauna planned an intimate bday dinner for me at Javier's. I loved it!

Then we went back to her house to have some of the amazing cake she made! I love her even more! Its beautiful, isn't it? It tasted just as good as it looked!

That Friday night I rounded up all my besties and we went to LA, in a limo and saw Dreamgirls. Can I just say that I LOVED every minute of that night? Because I did. :)

I did my half marathon the next morning. Maybe next time I plan on running a half I won't be partying the night before, eating In N Out and drinking Diet Coke. BAD IDEA! I barely slept at all. But the race was way fun. I can't wait to do another!

And thanks Jeff for booking the Hampton Inn, instead of down grading to a cheaper hotel. I told you I was worth it!!!

I will post pictures of my ladies night and The Cook Islands once I get them.

Can You Guess What Happened to Me Today?

2010-01-25T16:42:00.001-08:00

I locked myself in my room. Yep. Awesome, isn't it? My door knob has been giving me trouble from the very start but it always opens, not today. I turned it to the right and to the left. Something was stuck and the door knob was completely loose. I had my pink tool box and decided to unscrew the knob. As it came undone a little broken piece fell onto my side of the door, while the knob with the thing that turns the lock fell through on the other side. Ut oh. I called Heather and told her I was having an emergency. She was home and came over with her toolbox, awesome. We had a little trouble getting her into the house; my front door was locked. She was about to break into a window when I realized I had my keys on me and dropped them through the window to her. Yes, it felt like I was in prison. She came up the stairs and instantly started laughing. After a little discussion, I held the broken piece in pplace while she put the knob back on and turned it..and then...the door magically opened!! So glad to be free again. :)

After Costa Rica...

2010-01-24T18:26:00.000-08:00

I came home and was SUPER depressed to be away from the 9o degree sunny weather. Christmas was great. Avery got WAY too many presents and was over it after opening only a couple. She did love my Tickle-Me-Elmo, yes! She is such a doll baby. She laughed and hugged that thing all day. When she hugged it she would put her cheek against his face. So precious!! I am excited to go babysit her on Tuesday.

I'm Awful At Blogging....

2010-01-24T18:21:00.001-08:00

I have some better pictures of this and some video too. Maybe I'm actually start blogging again and add both in the near future. I went bungee jumping in Costa Rica. Tory and I went the day after Thanksgiving. We were bungee jumping a few days later. It was the most terrifying thing I have EVER done but I am SO glad I did it. I think my fear of heights is somewhat conquered. It was surreal jumping out into the open air, being so high up, with nothing to support me but a bungee cord. I'll never forget the feeling of falling. CRAZY!!

New Moon

2009-11-20T15:48:00.001-08:00

I'm going to see New Moon at 9:00 tonight. I was NOT planning on seeing this movie but when Julie asked me if I wanted to go with the girls, I promptly said, "yes!" You see, I love my girls and I love Girls Night Out EVEN more...add dinner to it and its what we like to call heaven. :)

I remember my friend Gini told me about Twilight, way back in 2008 or earlier. She kept saying I had to read this book. Everytime I talked to her she would ask if I had read it yet. Finally I bought the book and read it. Of course, I loved it. I was obsessed with it, I couldn't put it down. It was like I was living the perfect little fantasy. But like most things, the novelty wore off and I soon got bored of the story line. I did read New Moon but barely got through it. Why am I SO fickle? Seriously? With EVERYTHING? Anyway, back to the book. New Moon was just okay and I was pretty disappointed by it. My girlfriends kept telling me that the third book, Eclipse was WAY better. I actually have it sitting in my room..still haven't read it. Instead I read, Escape from Slavery, 1776 and currently Every Man Dies Alone. Better choices? I think so too.

Still, when Twilight came out and everyone was so pumped on the movie, I saw it. It was the WORST movie I have EVER seen. I vowed never to waste my time or money again on something like that....so much for that vow. http://emilyheartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/11/twilight-movie-horrible-experience.html

With all that said, I am excited to see New Moon. I hear this one is a lot better than Twilight, maybe a new director helped? I sure hope so. I'll give you a review soon. Wish me luck! And who knows..maybe I will end up reading the last two books..we'll see.

Cabo Wabo

2009-11-18T23:25:00.001-08:00

My roommate Michelle recently found a lot of free time on her hands and was offered to use a FABULOUS timeshare in Cabo! She invited Sarah McDermott and I to come along. I had to make it a short trip (Fri to Sun) but I decided it was worth it! Boy am I counting my blessings!

Sarah and I got in on Friday. And I was so excited to see the shoreline when we flew in, I had to take a picture!

We had to wait to check into to our room so we had lunch at a restaurant next to our resort. This guy was NASTY but also funny. This place had the BEST tortilla soup. (I was eating soup because I had the flu and let me tell you, it is NOT fun to be sick in dirty Mexico!)

I was trying to look scared here, not seductive...oh well.

We finally checked in a couple of hours later and the place was amazing!! Below are a few pictures. It was HUGE and sooo nice. I loved the hot tub on the balcony.

After we got settled, we ventured out to some liquor store and bought some food. I was feeling pretty sick, so we just went back to the penthouse and called it a night.

Saturday we decided to take the five minute walk to the marina to shop and eat lunch. Again, our lunch was delicious and I had my second Coke Light of the trip. Our server was so sweet. He ran out of Coke Light so he ran next door to his buddy's place and got two Coke Lights for us. :) He even apologized for not speaking English well. Such a humble and sweet man.

I HAD to get a shot of this guy walking around with a long sleeved shirt and speedo. Haha.

After we shopped around we came back and got into our swimsuits and went down to the beach. It was SOOO nice! We even got a free massage, awesome. And Michelle had finally arrived! I was happy that Sarah didn't have to stay in a second night. After we were done laying out we went back to the room to hang out. Michelle and Sarah went out to get dinner and I stayed in and rested. It felt good.

By Sunday morning I was feeling a lot better, mostly because I hadn't had anything to eat. We decided to rent some wave runners and have some fun. I am OBSESSED with wave runners! We had a BLAST riding them around. It was so fun. After that Michelle and I decided it was time we parasailed (Sarah had already done it once before). Parasailing was a blast as well. I was so happy to be feeling better and enjoying some adventure. Our balloon said "Aries" on it. Michelle and I appreciated that since we are both Aries. :)

I'm really happy to be doing this, can you tell?

I LOVED those rocks. It was so pretty. It was thrilling to be able to see everything from where we were. It was nice and peaceful and the weather couldn't have been better.

I had a couple more hours to lay out and then it was time to go home.

The flight home was the WORST THING EVER!! Let me take a step back and tell me you about the flight there. I was on US Airways coming there and it was a breeze. I had a layover in Phoenix for about an hour. By the time I was off the plane and finding my gate, they were boarding, perfect timing. When I flew into Cabo and got through security, I was greeted by Sarah and we were off.

The flight home, not such a breeze.

First off, it took me a HALF HOUR to check in at the Cabo airport. Secondly, everyone there wanted me to check my carry on bag and I had to repeatedly tell them no. Third, I had to be one of the first on the tiny plane, so I could find an available bin to put my suitcase in (its kind of big for a carry on). Luckily, I was one of the first on, after priority boarding. Also, they weren't speaking ANY English, I flew AeroMexico, so I had to guess when it was my turn to board. STRESSFUL.

Then I realized that I was flying into MEXICO CITY! Its a two hour plane ride SOUTH of Cabo. I got off the plane and had to go through security AGAIN, in the Mexico City airport. My boarding pass said I would board at Gate K, but it was wrong and I had to find Gate 61, and still, no one is speaking English. I finally boarded the second plane and again, I tried and board as soon as I could because of my bag, but luckily it was a nice, big plane. I sat next to a woman and her son. She took off his shoes so he could sleep but his feet stunk! AND, I was still feeling sick as I was traveling. Then I realized it's a FOUR hour flight back home. Sheesh. I finally landed in LA, only to be shuttled to another terminal to go through Customs. The shuttle took about twenty minutes. Awesome. Best flight home, ever! Lesson learned: always double check where your layover is and how much travel time it will take.

But all in all, it was a FANTASTIC trip. Perfect weather, fairly cheap and a lot of fun things to do. Thanks Michelle for inviting me!!!

Oh and here is video of parasailing. :)

North and South Carolina

2009-11-18T23:00:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago I visited my mission. It worked out great because the Pattersons and the Baynes (featured below) had made a trip out to Ca and Utah and we missed each other in BOTH states, so I decided it was time for a quick visit. My mission comp and BFF's family just moved to NC and she was going out to visit them. She has been wanting me to see her parents' new house on Lake Buffalo so I took a long weekend and went.

I arrived late Thursday night. The next day Sister Bayne took me visiting. I saw the Pattersons, a wonderful couple who served their mission in Fresno, Ca and who took great care of me in my greenie area.
Then we went to say hello to the Lagrones. They were recent converts when I moved in, so we had lots of dinner appointments at their house. I was lucky enough to be invited to see them sealed as a family in the temple, one of the BEST days of my life!

I also saw the Whites. They are such a great family. Andrea is everything I want to be when I become a mother and wife. I love them so much! And their boys are AMAZING.

Then I stopped by to see my favorite girls, Oanh and Le. Their older sister,Ly, wasn't able but she is a doll as well. They all were baptized together as sisters. I cried like a baby when they got dunked! I love them to pieces.

I stayed with the Baynes. Papa George is one of the smartest men I know and also one of the most stubborn BUT he is getting soft in his old age. We're still waiting on his baptism date. ;)

Sister Bayne is my HERO. She has gone through so much in life and yet moves forward and learns what she needs to. She is grateful for every lesson. I admire her strength and her testimony.

After saying goodbye to my greenie area, I headed up to NC to hang with Gini and her fam out on the lake. It was a perfect day and I was so excited to be there.

They have such a fun house and nice neighbors. The neighbor next door owns a four wheeler. They have a bunch of trails to ride through.

I may or may not have gotten stuck when I drove...

I loved the beautiful fall colors there! It was gorgeous, this was on my way home to the airport.

It was such a quick trip and I was sad I couldn't stay longer. I wanted to see EVERYONE in SC, but luckily we will have eternity, one day. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve a mission. I made friendships that I will cherish forever.

What I Was Up To Last Week

2009-10-21T22:53:00.000-07:00

See that smile on my face? We had some good seats. :)

I was sitting inside of here:

Houston, Texas

To see these guys:

Muse

Who opened up for these guys:

If I had to use one word to describe the experience it would be: AMAZING.

Two Thumbs Up for "Whip It"

2009-10-10T22:19:00.001-07:00

Megan and I saw "Whip It" tonight. I was expecting a cheesy, girl power, over acted movie. But I actually LOVED it. It wasn't over-the-top cheesy or too unrealistic (somewhat unrealistic, but that is what a movie is, if its realistic; its boring). The story line was decent too. Drew Barrymore did play a little bit of a too hardcore chick role, (we all know she isn't and she wasn't completely believable). Other than that, it was fabulous. Go see it girls!!!

BE YOUR OWN HERO! I love that. :) Oh and Ellen Page is in it...what more could you want?

Getting an Oil Change....

2009-10-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

....And my car shop has a computer with internet access. Coolio.

My Narcissistic Post

2009-10-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

Please take the poll..

Maybe its time for a change??? Which do you like better; dark hair with bangs or...carmel highlights and long side bangs? I need help deciding.

Fall Is Here...

2009-10-04T19:43:00.000-07:00

Went to Park City from Thursday to Saturday (don't be mad we didn't call to hang out- we had a limited amount of time). We did some fly fishing, shopping, eating out w/ his sister and relaxing in our pimped out hotel room. It was nice to get away.

Me documenting our trip.

Covey putting on his vest for fishing. He is so happy.

There was snow in Park City. It was pretty.

Me trying to be artistic.

Cool shot of the Covester from the bridge.

Our totally awesome UPGRADED rental car.

Me at Sundance.

Covey being cool.

Alpine Loop, pretty.

The End!

Randomness...

2009-09-28T03:17:00.000-07:00

Covey did the Lotoja a couple weeks ago and I got to be his support vehicle. It was actually a fun-filled day running around from stop to stop (five in all, including the finish line). He had recovery drinks, water, powerade and PB&J sandwiches on hand. I would meet him at a spot and then give him two cold drinks and a sandwich. Then I'd cheer him on as he rode off.

This is in Afton, I think that was the third stop. He said he was feeling sick by then. :( Sad.

But, he powered through from Alpine to Jackson Hole. Hello Tetons and party time! Go Covey! He is kind of a rockstar.

Here we are in Yellowstone, a few days later. Maybe Covey likes fly fishing? I'm not quite sure yet.

I think this is the Lewis river. This is through the canyon. Some of the prettiest scenary I saw in Yellowstone.

BUFFALO!

We made it to Old Faithful. It was a pretty long drive and totally worth it.

Lewis Falls. A pretty spot.

The cutest and wettest dog. He was running around the Teton Springs resort. He had the CUTEST face and the SMELLIEST fur. Covey loved him....and so did I.

One of the cabins at the resort. Gorgeous.

We got back to Bella Terra and my car was decorated with parking notices. How nice. Don't worry, I wasn't charged anything; phew!

Ok..here is where the randomness starts..I am WIDE awake right now. Boo!! Its 3:44 AM! I am excited to pick up this girl tomorrow at the airport and hear all about her little get-away with the BF. :)

Also, I was driving home tonight; late style and there was a CRAZY driver on the road. He was swerving in and out of lanes, cutting people off, driving OUTSIDE the lane lines and being completely reckless. It really freaked me out. And then I saw these....

I have never been so thankful for a cop before and I found myself saying a silent prayer that this person would be kept safe. I am sure the driver was drunk and hoped he wasn't on any kind of drugs or had any weapons. Thanks Mr. (or Mrs.) cop person for keeping HB safe! I think I actually love you for that. Hope you're safe!

Dodgers Game!

2009-08-21T12:22:00.001-07:00

Went to the Dodger game last night with one of my favorite people! Thanks Melissa for the invite and the free ticket!!!

And yes, they did win! Go blue!

Up Pacific Coast Highway

2009-08-21T11:20:00.001-07:00

A few weekends ago Erin Elton invited Covey and I to come to Santa Barbara for the fiesta. We headed over on a Friday night. When we got into SB we met up with them in Downtown. We were greeted by having decorative eggs smashed on our heads! I was a little shocked but then relieved when out came all the confetti (note confetti on us in the pic). John decided it was smarter to smash the egg on my head so as not to anger Covey and his muscles. Haha. Smart move John!

The only ride we went on was EIGHT tickets! Man, the fiesta was expensive. Covey said he wasn't going to smile the entire time. Although, that only lasted a few moments. How can you not smile when you have a little girl named Gabby sitting next to you, gabbing your ear off. :)

After the fun with the fiesta Erin decided it was time for some risky business. We drove up to the news station, which is on a hill that overlooks the entire city. The only problem is, to see the view you have to hop a fence and trepass! Covey's first reply to that, "I am going to lose my license if we get caught!" As you can see, he risked it.

Erin might have come into some trouble on the way over. Mini skirt central!!

I think it was worth the trouble, don't you? Thanks Erin for showing us this place!!

The next morning we woke up and had Erin's famous egg mcmuffin sandwich, vegetarian style. It was amazing! After that Erin and John decided to drive home for the conference. They are more righteous. Covey asked me what I wanted to do and I said I liked his idea of going to Solvang. So off we went....

Solvang was SO precious and I loved it. It made me proud to be Danish! After we had lunch Covey asked if I wanted to keep driving and see Hearst Castle. Of course I was down to go. So we kept driving. Along the way I saw the pretty ocean and asked if we could stop. We stopped and took a few pictures. Then I saw a few people playing on some big rocks in the water, so Covey and I did that as well. It felt good to get out of the car for a while and run around in the wet sand.

We got to Hearst Castle and took a few pictures. We didn't want to spend the time taking the tour, so we just took it all in from the highway.

After Hearst Castle we decided it would be fun to drive to San Fran. I was trying to find a vacancy in any hotel and wasn't having much luck when we saw the Elephant Seals sign.

The male seals molt during the summer. Meaning, they lay out on the sand for two to three weeks in August and shed their top layer of fur/skin. They are pretty ugly. After that stop I kept calling hotels and Covey kept driving. We were almost to Big Sur when we saw this beautiful place.

We ended up staying in Monterey (because all the hotels in San Fran were sold out), went out to PF Changs and watched Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (LAME!) and then fell right asleep. Again, the next day Covey asks, "what do you want to do today?" I reply, "Let's hike in Big Sur." He says, "okay", and off we went.

We were pretty exhausted by the time we were done hiking. Covey drove the long trek back home. We stopped in Pismo at a cool, hippy sandwich shop for dinner and SB had major traffic so we stopped and saw Aliens in the Attic while we waited for traffic to let up. We finally returned home at 12:00 that night. Covey was such a trooper! He drove the entire way and didn't complain once. He even put Enya on so I could fall asleep. Nice boy.

I recommend everyone make this trip, at least once in your life. Its some of the most beautiful scenary I have ever seen.

My Touch- The T-Mobile Alternative to the iPhone

2009-08-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased this phone as an upgrade, a major upgrade, to my ghetto-had-to-use-to-replace-my-last-phone last week. I LOVE IT!! It functions just like an iPhone only it isn't an iPhone and I didn't have to cancel my contract to get it. It also caters to gmail since it is made by Google. I also heart the color of it. Thank you Google for making such a cool phone.

Smooches.

The Fair Lied to Me!

2009-08-11T14:19:00.001-07:00

The OC 2009 Fair specifically said on its website that it was closed Mondays and Tuesdays. LAME! Because of this error, I actually missed the fair. I had planned on going last Tuesday but after looking up times and talking to a co-worker I concluded that it was closed. Needless to say..it was WIDE OPEN. I am so upset.

Luckily I was able to go to The Old Spanish Days Fiesta, which was similar to the fair. Thank goodness for that.

More to come on fiesta and the rest of my weekend and some really cute pics!

Smooches.

Old Spanish Days Fiesta, SB, CA

2009-08-07T13:37:00.000-07:00

Heading out of town to my FAVORITE place!! Santa Barbara!!! :) Going to see some of this.

Old Spanish Days Fiesta. Whoop-de-whoop!!! Pictures to follow, soon. :)

Smooches.

500 Days of Summer

2009-08-04T10:53:00.001-07:00

If you have not seen this movie, I suggest you go soon. I loved everything about it. I loved the story...so NOT a typical romantic comedy chick-flick. Thank goodness! I hate the predictable, fairytale ending. I loved how real it was. I loved the way they told the story and the timeline, I loved Zooey and her acting. I loved the soundtrack, the clothes, the dancing scenes, the emotional roller coaster. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. Go see it. Support my favorite singer/actress EVER. Love you Zooey. I think its time for me to dye my hair dark again and get bangs.

Smooches.

Going to the Fair Tonight....

2009-08-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

And I am going to eat some of this. I'll tell you how it goes.

What Did I Do Last Night?

2009-08-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

I'll give you one hint.........

Yep. That's me in front of Cinderella's castle. Oh how I heart Disneyland and really cool Blackberry phones that have cameras w/ a flash.

Gini had a baby...

2009-07-28T14:55:00.001-07:00

And I didn't even take my picture with him! What was I thinking? I am so mad that I forgot my camera. Grr...Next time.

Anyway, I just got back from a fabulous stay in Utah. It was so fun seeing Gini be a mommy. It reminds me of a quote from Sid the Sloth, "I'm a MOMMY!"

I also had my first experience fly fishing, or rather, watching someone fly fish. I cannot tell you how relaxing it was to grab a good book, sit by a river and bask in the sunshine. I loved every minute of it.

Thank you Utah for beautiful Deer Valley, great weather, beautiful sights and literally giving me a breath of fresh air.

We did take a few pics. Sadly, these are the only ones I have. I guess we'll have to go back. :)

The love of my life, Gini, aka the married version of me
Out at Macaroni Grill. Yum!

DISNEYLAND!!!! Reunited and it feels so good!

2009-07-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

My pass expired last April and I finally went back to renew it. I may not have actually renewed it personally but either way it was renewed and I couldn't have been more happy!!! I just love Disneyland. Everything about it...the yummy smells, the rides, the happy kids, the food (cream cheese filled pretzel..yes please!), the music, everything....ok, maybe I hate the crowds but I am always willing to sacrifice a little discomfort for a lot of fun.

See you soon Mickey! Thanks for having me. :)

Gini had a baby...

2009-07-16T15:24:00.003-07:00

....and I cannot WAIT to see him next weekend.

Benson Scott Berrett 1:30pm, 6 pounds 13 oz., 18.5 inches long

Congrats favorite mission comp and BFFFFFFF (best friend forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever!!!)

See you in a week!

AZ Bound

2009-07-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

I'm off to AZ this weekend to visit my Granddad and Nana. I cannot wait to see them!!!! Avery is coming so cross your fingers that she doesn't cry the whole way there and back.

Fishing!!!

2009-07-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

Pete Ord is a fun guy who plans fun stuff. I am glad I am friends with him. He rounded up a group to go deep sea fishing out of Dana Point. I was a little skeptical about the amount of fun I would have fishing. Everytime I fished in South Carolina I always had nibbles but never any bites. I viewed fishing as boring and a waste of time. But, I figured this was a little different and sounded fun. So off I went. As you can see by the first picture, I caught a bass. My first catch EVER!!! And as the night progressed, I ended up catching 8 fish including; some sand bass, a barracuda and two sculpin (weird looking, poisonous, orange fish). It was a lot of fun.

The trick- having small bait, preferably squid, and dropping your line all the way down.

My first catch of the day!

My girlfriend Aubrey

Pete and Meg- so hot right now.

Covey and I. He helped me anytime my line was tangled or caught under the boat and brought me all my bait. He is also a great math tutor. :)

Had to have at least two pics w/ the GF. LOVE YOU!!!

Avery Will Be 1 on July 30th!!!

2009-07-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

This little munchkin has been my pride and joy from the moment I saw her enter into this world. She is so beautiful and everytime I think about her I just want to be with her and hold her and squeeze her little cheeks. I can't believe she is almost one. She is the CUTEST thing ever. And to make her even cuter, she has started to talk and can now say: Dada, Mama, Ut oh and bottle. Oh how I love her!!!

Also, this Saturday I went to my sister-in-law's baby shower. She is due in two months. I can't wait for little Jason to get here! Hurry up already!!

After Memorial Day...

2009-07-16T14:21:00.000-07:00

June was a good month. Everyone and their mother got engaged and it made me happy. I started school and that made me sad. A lot of my friends had bdays and the parties were great. I have so many talented friends. I made a trip up to LA to see this really cool band called, The Indio Bait, check them out. And most importantly, the Bacherlorette and So You Think You Can Dance started. Oh how I love/hate reality TV!!

Enjoy a few pics-

Me and my sisters in LA

Mike's Bday

Meg's Bday

The Bachelorette!!

I was supposed to start taking guitar lessons but the towing of my car took precedence. Lame!! Hopefully I'll be blogging about that soon.

Memorial Day Weekend

2009-05-28T16:44:00.000-07:00

I had a blast this Memorial day weekend thanks to my new friend.....Stella Scooter!

Here I am being artsy.

I love you Alice!

So fun!!

I have GOT to stop making that kissy face.

Pretty HB beach path and palms.

These guys kept honking from behind us. When I turned around they said, "Take a picture of us." They all gave me a thumbs up. Cute.

The rest of the weekend was GORGEOUS and I got some major sun. Thanks Alice for the good times. Miss your face already!!

Travels with Shavs

2009-05-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

About two weeks ago I decided to go to Utah with Shauna. She had to go up for a shower and a couple weddings. I drove to Vegas and she drove the rest of the way. It was a fun but short trip. My friend really wanted me to meet her good guy friend to see if any sparks went off. We were really tight on time all weekend. We were getting ready to drive home and picked up my roommate Amanda on the way. And then we decided to stop by her friend's house on the way. We both thought it was a little awkward and funny but we wanted to meet. Shauna lovingly called it a speed date and decided to take a picture slyly on her iPhone.

We left after about 20 minutes and we're headed home. Shauna told us she should by her friends, Adam and Richard's to say hello and that it would be a quick stop. So we stopped by. Shauna and I went in and Amanda decided to sleep in the car. We were there for about 30 minutes just talking and laughing. I told Adam he had a cute face so then he got up from where he was sitting and sat next to me. Again, Shauna said, oh another speed date..how cute and took this picture.

Oh how precious. After we left we realized it was SNOWING outside! But, to our luck, Amanda hadn't froze to death. As we were driving home Amanda explained to us her love of Petz Catz, apparently its a fun game?

Last weekend I had to see the love of my life again so I drove out to Vegas. Richard was in town and we all went to the Marriott and pretended like we were on vacation. Of course another funny situation happened and Shauna was there to capture it again. (This is Shauna's nephew, not my child!)

Kind of looks like we are a family, doesn't it? Funny.

Anyway, its obvious from this post how much I love my GF Shauna. Thanks for being a huge part of my life and making me laugh so hard I snort and cry all in one sitting! See you this weekend!!!

Time to Do Some Updating...

2009-05-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

So I have been a major slacker on my blogging. Sorry!!! This is what I have been up to lately....

Planning on playing with this Lovey,

And this girl...

To do some more of this in Costa Rica in September!! Can't wait girlies!

I have started running again. Time to run a half. Should be fun. I'm doing it w/ my coworker in Santa Barbara in early September. :)

Playing with my niece who now gives kisses, high fives and claps her hands.

And reminiscing about the mish...

I am also OBSESSED with Shauna Lewis and experience separation anxiety when I don't see her. So last weekend I was in Vegas and two weeks before that I went to Utah with her. Yeah, I kind of love her.

More to follow on that one. :)

My Bday Dinner

2009-04-09T08:45:00.000-07:00

My bday keeps giving and giving. Last night my family and I went to Lucielle's BBQ for the March (since I was out of the country for my birthday) and April birthdays, which included me, my sister and her husband. It was so fun being with everyone, seeing my sister-in-law Melissa preggers and playing peek-a-boo with my little eight-month-old niece Avery. :) And...I finally got it...a beloved guitar!!!!!

The next video I post will be of me playing Yesterday by the Beatles. :)

London and Paris

2009-04-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

And here we are...London and Paris for my 27th birthday!!! This trip was so much fun. There is way too much to tell, so, here are a few highlights and some of my favorite pictures.

Houses and Parliament and the London Eye, taken in front of Westminister Abbey.

This church was so amazing with so much history. Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were buried here, just to name a couple of the famous royalty.

Portobello Street- too many people but some great shopping. :)

Here we are, can you find us?? At Buckingham Palace.

Yes, we are singing "London Bridges" on the London Bridge.

Here I am outside of the Bloody Tower at the Tower of London, overlooking the Tower Bridge.

View of London from the London Eye....pretty sweet.

Guard at Tower of London. I would hate his job!

This guy was hilarious and started making a beeping noise and looking at his coin slot in his box. The beeping got louder and louder until we filled it up. Haha.

Megs and I in Paris walking along the river towards Notre Dame. Breathtakingly beautiful.

Erin decided that the girls should dance in front of famous sites and video it. I can't wait to see the video.

Did you know that the Eiffel Tower has twinkling lights (in addition to being lit up) and that it sparkles on the hour for ten minutes every hour? When we walked up to ground level from the Metro, it was there right in front of us; sparkling. Erin Hawley and Aubrey both screamed. It was so cute!

I loved Notre Dame. Truly heartstopping. They were having mass when we walked in. It was really interesting to watch. Then afterwards we ate the BEST crepes I have ever tasted right outside of the cathedral. One of my favorite moments of the trip.

Umm..my one true love...Coca-Cola Light!!

This was another favorite. JB took us up about nine flights of stairs, a few of which Sanchez had to carry Erin Hawley because her knee was bothering her, and when we got to the top we find this little precious place!! I wanted to buy some artwork and I am still slightly regretting not getting any. Also, around this part of Paris, were some streets where they filmed, Amelie, my favorite movie.

I saw the Mona Lisa on my bday!!!

This was the Napoleon Apts section of the Louvre. So amazing.

And there you have it. I miss it and would love to return in the near future!!!

Michael Jackson and I Are Two Peas in a Pod!

2009-02-03T12:14:00.000-08:00

I have an obsession with sunglasses. See below.

These are my newest pair! I bought them at Forever 21. Sometimes I really heart that store. Aren't they so cute????

Shabu, Shabu

2009-01-29T13:09:00.000-08:00

I had this last weekend. You cook everything in hot, boiling water. The result is just fabulous. :)

Shabu-shabu (しゃぶしゃぶ, , also spelled syabu-syabu?) is a Japanese variant of hot pot. The dish is related to sukiyaki in style, where both use thinly sliced meat and vegetables, and usually served with dipping sauces. However, it is starkly different in taste; shabu-shabu is more savory and less sweet than sukiyaki. It is considered a winter dish but is eaten year-round.

My Dad, the Beatle???

2009-01-27T15:26:00.000-08:00

My dad is OBSESSED with The Beatles. He used to entertain back in the day and covered all their songs...we all think he looks like Paul.

What do you think?

Amanda's response: "Yes, but he is cuter" (pointing to my dad). I love you girlfriend. You are cuter, Dad!!!

P.S.

2009-01-21T09:30:00.000-08:00

HOT YOGA:

Did it.

Loved it.

Did it again.

Loved it again.

This is the start of a beautiful thing.

History in the Making...

2009-01-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was able to witness the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. What a historic moment, America's first black (well, HALF black) President. While I feel there has been TOO much emphasis on his race, there are other reasons he was elected, it is still a huge step for our nation. We have come a long way since the Civil War, although I believe its still happening in the southern states (not quite sure what that is all about- get over it already!). I am excited and nervous for this new chapter in the White House. I hope President Obama succeeds and brings our nation out of our financial crisis. While I do not agree with many of his policies I do feel he will be able to make wise decisions given his position, let's hope. Here is an article that is worth reading....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/17714/print

Hot Yoga

2009-01-19T09:33:00.000-08:00

Yep, I'm going to take a Hot Yoga class tonight from 6:30 to 8:00. Aren't you proud of me Michelle? I am proud of me. We'll see how it goes. The class is an hour and a half long so I am a little bit nervous about that but maybe I'll love it. I hope I do. Thank you Kiele and Megan for talking me into this!

Working It Out!

2009-01-15T09:36:00.001-08:00

Looking fine in 2009!! Well, thats the goal anyway. A few of my fabulous girlfriends and I decided to set goals together and get into shape.

Here are the rules: Eat healthy but get weekends free (without going overboard, of course); workout at least three times a week (I am switching off pilates and cardio every other day for five days a week) and we have to give something up for one whole month (chocolate is my choice).

So, there you have it. I have written down my goals on the World Wide Web, hopefully this will help me accomplish them. Wish me luck and maybe I'll be looking fine in 2009!!

The Bachelor

2009-01-13T13:38:00.000-08:00

Dear Jason,

As much as I heart you, I cannot watch another episode of The Bachelor. It gives me total stress and anxiety just watching and seeing how ridiculous all those girls are and how desperate they act. Please know that I love you.

Maybe I'll watch the final episode.

Good Luck!

Two Birthday Wishes for Two Beauties

2009-01-08T09:41:00.000-08:00

A birthday shoutout to my girls Monica and Nellie!!! HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I hope each of you have a wonderful day. You have both enriched my life so much and I am grateful and happy to call both of you my dear friends!!!

Mon- it was fun partying it up w/ you German style last night! Have so much fun in San Diego!!!

Nell- I miss the crap out of you! Please let's play soon. Thanks for always having a listening ear.

I love you both so freaking much!!!

Big Fun in Big Bear

2009-01-08T09:09:00.000-08:00

This year I spent the New Year with a bunch of close friends at a cabin in Big Bear. We played games, watched sports, went snowboarding, danced and counted down the New Year..all together. It was the best New Year's EVER!!! A big thanks to Dre and Lisa for all their planning. It was a blast! Love you girls!!!

Here are a few pics I stole off Facebook:

The Beloved Cabin

The group minus Dre, Santi, Jeff and Martha

We're thugged out.

Before snowboarding.

A magic carpet ride!!

Going down the bunny slope. Yep, I'm pretty hard sometimes.

The end of our trip before going home. Sad day. :(

New Room

2009-01-07T09:05:00.000-08:00

Time for a little room remodel. Anyone who has seen my room knows its two things: plain and messy- maybe we can also throw in unorganized. Its time for me to revamp my little space that is all my own. I hear that certain colors will give off different moods. Right now my room gives off the mood: I am sloppy and lazy and ugly. Umm, not a very good vibe.

My wonderful parents gave me a gift card to Ikea for Christmas. Its only a matter of time before my room will look closer to the picture above. Here is what I willing to doing:

1. Painting the walls a light blue color

2. Getting new bedding with soft, light colors

3. Replacing the ceiling light with a new chandelier

4. Buying some fake plants

5. Replacing my curtains for closet doors with mirrors

6. Getting bamboo curtain for the window

7. Getting new wall decor

8. Putting candles out

9. New dresser (eventually)

10. Getting a rug

11. Putting up shelving for my picture frames

The End.

Hopefully in the next few months I will be posting pictures of this wonderful project. Yay for redecorating!!!

2008-12-30T15:35:00.000-08:00

When I said I was obsessed with Zooey Deschanel I wasn't kidding. I want to be just like her. :) Stylish, fun loving, talented...so I have decided to take up guitar lessons. Hopefully I will know how to play one of these by the end of the year.

Starting a Book Club

2008-12-30T11:27:00.000-08:00

If I calculated how much time I spend a day on gchat and Facebook I might realize that my life is going down the toilet, along with my brain. I have always had a love for reading. I get it from my mother. She has a huge collection of all kinds of books and she is always reading a new one. Somehow my life became too busy for reading and I just stopped. Now, with all the things that are going on in the world, all the wars, political problems, the environment and everything else, I feel the need to be more educated and what better way than to read?

I have two main objectives in starting this book club. One, to be able to make better use of my time and two, to read good literature, books that I can learn from and that give me a better perspective. I will be choosing books that are both entertaining and factual. Books that discuss real issues like the genocide in Darfur and illegal immigration, etc. and also books that recount historic events like Pearl Harbor and the Civil War. I would also like to read biographies and church history books.

Erin and I decided to start a book club just last night. I know this will be the start of a good habit for myself and I can't wait to finish my first book, 1776. I wonder how it ends.... ;)

My New Obsession: Zooey Deschanel

2008-12-23T09:52:00.000-08:00

"Zooey Deschanel is so hot right now". No, but seriously, she is. She is starring in "Yes Man" and does an amazing job. You may recognize her as the blonde girl from Elf. That is where I fell in love with her and her beautiful voice. I just love everything about her. Her cute name, her hair, her bangs, her style, the fact that she is in a band (She and Him). Her voice is also very unique. It reminds me of a jazzy 1920's singer. Check her out and you'll fall in love too.

PS.- Megan Hall told me I looked like her! BEST COMPLIMENT TO DATE! Thanks Meg!!

Avery is in the Christmas Spirit!

2008-12-05T08:43:00.000-08:00

I love this little girl!!!! Isn't she cute? Merry Christmas Avery!