The Cure

My cure for a slow, hard to wake up morning? Music. Nothing gets my day going better than getting ready to some toe-tapping, upbeat music! Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts or even some good old fashioned BSB does the trick every time!

Another doldrums pick-me-up? Rob's blog. Robierto25.blogspot.com. It's my favorite- check it out! He is, by far, one of the funniest people I know!

Some things

I got Tim Tams today.  I can't wait to eat them!  It will be a good ending to a crazy, hard week.  There is so much to do for school in the next few weeks.  I can't wait 'till Thanksgiving!  

I realized today just how happy  I am at Savior of the World.  I never feel as completely at home as I do there.  I love everyone there and they all teach me each day.  I'm grateful for the great examples of the people around me at the theater.  It was sort of a blow to my ego to not get cast as Mary this year, but I really felt today that I am where I'm supposed to be.  I love being able to just sing my role without having to make my voice young or old.  I'm thankful that other people are so positive about my new role, too!  The Lord always helps us to grow.  Isn't it great?  

Michelle told me a few weeks ago that I have a regal stance... I'm pretty sure I never thought- ever- that that would be said of me!  It made my year, seriously.  

Uh...

Remember how I'm certified to sail a 27-foot keelboat? Yep. And remember how I'm 24 now? Yup. And how we finally painted our house and it's AWESOME?! Yep. And how I'm Mary Mag this year? Yeppers... And how we spent an hour getting two miles away after the football game on Saturday? Yep. And how I desperately want my body from last year back? Yes, yes I do. And remember how I spent an hour and a half cutting Alex's hair on Saturday, which now looks great? Totally. And remember how Alex found me a car yesterday, because my Pontiac finally decided to die? Uh huh. He's cute.

Such is life!

Best of Times, Worst of Times

At the beginning of the year, when school was about to start, I looked everywhere for my backpack. Seriously, everywhere. I couldn't imagine where it had gone. I was very sad and had to endure last semester with my YA bag as my backpack, which looks really cool, but is extremely uncomfortable to wear for an extended period of time, especially if it's heavy.

So a few days ago, Alex was getting ready to go on a business trip. As his lovely and dutiful wife, I was helping him pack, despite my devastation at his leaving me. I decided he could take the small suitcase, which doesn't get used much, as he was only going to be gone a few days. As I opened the small suitcase, there, in all it's padded-shoulder glory, was my lovely purple backpack. I have no idea who decided to nest it in there right before school started, but suddenly, in my sorrow, I was so extremely happy that I actually got a little less anxious about school, and relieved that I would be able to lug my books around without killing my shoulders and back. The moral of the story is that even when it seems to be the worst day ever, you can still find things to bring you joy!

Life

It's been a while since I've posted anything. Mind you, life isn't that exciting right now, so there's not much to tell. I feel like I'm in 'mommy-mode' because little Belly was kind of sick yesterday. I've been under the weather as well this past week. My sore throat won't quit, but after an entire week of coughing after I said anything, it's better today. We've been back from Nauvoo a whole week! It's crazy.

Amazing vacation. Probably the most fun I've had on vaca with my both of my parents ever. And I got to sit next to Alex for 18 hours. What's better than that? It's a really hard drive, friends, but it's worth it. Nauvoo is the most amazing place. I'll admit that I was a little nervous to go back as a tourist. I didn't want to be totally sad that I wasn't there with the pageant, and get all down on myself. However, despite numerous hormonal overloads and breakdowns from yours truly, it was a great vacation! If I was short with anyone or seemed like I was out of it...it was the period talking, I swear!

Annabelle had a lovely time at the grandparents' house and even got her cousin, Vash the crazy Dachshund, to play with her for about 15 minutes. We had a lovely time with Ashley and Peter! I can't believe Ashley's pregnant. We had fun FINALLY getting to spend some time with Peter, after a year of marriage! I guess that's what happens when your best friend lives across the country. On our way home, we stayed in this great hotel in Des Moines, where we saw none other than Shawn Johnson


in the hotel lobby getting breakfast like the rest of us. Yes, folks, she eats eggs, too. She looks just like herself!

Good vacation brought to you by:

MadLibs, Harry Potter, VeggieTales, ice cream, hot husband, good friends, and the Spirit.

Thanks to all those who participated.

So soon!

Harry Potter!!! I can't wait. I absolutely LOVE Harry Potter! Whenever ABC Family has a "Harry Potter Weekend," I die. I love watching the first one and feeling the magic of it all! I wonder just what it is that draws people to the series. Alex is on the 7th book and I love reading all the books again with him! I really don't get sick of the books or the movies. Ahh!!! I am completely excited!

I'll Be There...watching tv...

Ok, I'm not going to lie. Today, while watching Michael Jackson's funeral, I got a little teary, which was very unexpected! Everyone said Mariah sounded amazing...which I really don't agree with. She was pretty pitchy the whole time. Jennifer Hudson killed it, even as prego as she is! John Mayer can really make his guitar sing. I was impressed with the whole thing, and felt sad that I didn't really embrace MJ's music as much as I could have while he was alive. On the other hand, I've been impressed with how many songs of his that I do know! All are iconic.

On another note, I am fascinated by watching people make cakes on tv. Why is that? I really think I could watch it all day. It's totally amazing and something I don't know if I could ever do. I'm just not very artistic. Last night on The Bachelorette, I thought I was going to die. Could Wes be a bigger loser? Ugh. But you know, I saw a lot of an ex of mine in him. I kept watching him and thinking, why does she even like him? Can't she see how awful he is, even after she's got all of these people telling her he's a liar? Well friends, I, too, have been taken down that path before. He's so charming and gentlemanly to your face, and even when he says obnoxious, jerky things to you, you don't really care. Why? Why do they have such power?! I don't know. I think that guys like that are so self-centered that they don't even consider that what they are doing will hurt other people. Girls, you can't change him, you'll never be able to. So steer clear of that fiasco. Listen to what people say. Being a player is a hard habit to break, apparently, and you do NOT want to go through that. Don't let a compliment or a bit of chivalry fool you. Get to know him a little bit better before giving him your heart!

Finally, how sad is America that there are enough crazy messy houses for Clean House to clean up? Seriously.