You're a Wizard, Harry!

So much love!

Hello bloggers! Long time no write. But I've been busy! I had a date with Harry Potter. It was magical. We rode the castle ride until it broke (literally) and drank so much butterbeer, I thought I was going to explode. Oh, and Carlie was there too. It was her birthday/graduation surprise. It couldn't have been a better week. Seriously. It was magical. Carlie's reaction was perfect. She was so happy and literally cried of happiness. Which is always a good sign. I was so grateful to be able to enjoy the experience with her. But now I am really craving butterbeer! Haha. But really...

Hmm so what else is going on in my brain. Lots of things. I am coming to a point in my life where I am really trying to accept who I am as a person. And I am trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. I have so many dreams and priorities to organize and pursue, and I want to make sure that I do what will make me happy in the long run. Since high school, I've thought about being a lawyer, but it never really interested me because it would take away from working with special needs kids. Then a few months ago, it hit me. I can do both! I want to be a special needs advocate. It's just opening another door within the special needs community. And I would still use my therapeutic recreation major to be a therapist. There are so many options and so many ways I want to help in the community. And if I don't get into BYU Law, then I will just call it a day and go be a therapist. My goal in life is to help as many kids as possible. Plus, it brings me so much joy. There is nothing better than the peace I feel when I am around a child with a disability. They are the sweetest souls and I love each and every single one of them. 

I love my siblings!

I am also trying to be confident in who I am. There are some who want to tear me down. They judge me. They hate me. And they are horrible to me. And honestly...I don't care anymore. This is who I am: I love working with children with disabilities. I love them. They are the best souls I have ever met. There is nothing better than seeing a smile break out on a child's face when they see me, knowing that I am their friend. Nothing brings me more joy. I try to be kind to everyone. I have made my mistakes. But I really do try to be kind. I have reached a point in my life where only a few things really matter, and I like to think that they are the important things. My family is important to me. I love them and try to make them proud. My parents have always nudged me towards being a lawyer and have helped me gain the confidence to accomplish any goal I set. And I love them for pushing me to be the best I can be while still giving me the space to be my own person. Devin is important to me. He is such a positive influence. He doesn't bring me down. He is always so supportive of me and he never judges me. Simply put, he is nice to me. A concept I feel is lost on others. Be nice. Makes life so much easier. School is also important to me. I study hard so that I can have any door open to me. My friends are important to me, and in the last few months, I have really seen who my true friends are. I love them and thank them for always being so encouraging and showing me what true friendship and kindness is. I love them. 

Four. Four simple things. They are the only important things in my life. I will be who I want to be. I will be successful. I am who I am. If you have a problem with it, get out of my life. Walk away like I am walking away from you. We have reached adulthood, people. Time to start acting like it. In my future, I see happiness. Success. Marriage. Love. What do you see?

So bloggers, always remember...

All good things come...to those who ACCEPT themselves. 

The Perfect Day

Hello bloggers! I HAVE to tell ya'll about yesterday. It was the perfect day. I was so unbelievably unhappy. I couldn't stop smiling! Why, you may ask? Well because I found a new playground. It is called Murray, Utah. Let me tell you about my day.

First of all, I threw a bridal shower for my roommate Samantha. It was lovely. We had chicken caesar salad on croissants, strawberries, and chocolate coconut bars. It was delicious. The table looked amazing. The guests were entertaining. The presents were fantabulous. And it was generally a good morning. Oh, and we passed our cleaning checks! Which is always a blessing. Chanel and I seriously said a prayer before they came. Hey, when in doubt, ask God for some help. Flawless plan. Oh, and I ran before the shower. I was very productive yesterday morning!

The table

So after the shower, Amber and I skipped out the door to go to Nordstrom. My mother surprised me this week with a pair of ballet flat Toms. They are adorable. I love them. But they were too big, so I had to go exchange them. Sadly, the Nordstrom by school is no longer in business. Stupid Provo. But this just meant that we got to go on an adventure! So first we headed to Nordstrom. As we were pulling into the mall, I gasped with joy. Lo and behold, there was a Crate and Barrel. I thought I would die of happiness. When I register for my wedding in some far off day, I will be registering at Crate and Barrel. My mother has brain washed me. It is true.

Happy Easter!

So after a few hours of shopping, exchanging my shoes, and finding Amber an adorable Easter outfit, we had to head out to make our movie on time. Please note that the only location I looked up was Nordstrom. By pure chance, the movie theater was only a mile away. We went to see the Hunger Games. Yes, it was my second time seeing it. But it was only $6.75! It was a score! I love the Hunger Games. Team Peeta all the way. Just saying. Amber and I shared a coca-cola icee and an a water. It was a perfect date (haha)!

Amber and I

 And then here is the best part. After the movie, I looked up Chipotle, which was also on our list of places to go for the day. And it was only one mile away from the movie theater. It was amazing. So I got a burrito. And chomped that sucker down. It was great. AND I even got a diet coke! 

Happiness can be defined in a few things for me: diet coke, Chipotle, and best friends. But especially Chipotle. Seriously. If someone were to ask me to contain happiness, it would be in a chicken burrito from Chipotle. Don't hate. It's amazing. 

The whole famdamily!

I wish I could describe the happiness I experienced yesterday. It was a perfect day. I could not stop smiling and having minor freak outs. It was an amazing day. Perfect. True happiness does exist. Boys have nothing to do with it! I had a perfect date day with Amber, thank you very much! Best friends bring so much happiness.

So bloggers, always remember...

All good things come to those who eat CHIPOTLE.

"Settled Soul Mate"

Hello Bloggers! Wow. All I have to say. Look at this article that came out in BYU's Daily Universe. Go ahead. Read it. I am sure it will make you laugh. I promise. 

http://universe.byu.edu/index.php/2012/03/27/the-waiting-game/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-waiting-game

See? He is FOCUSED!! Distraction my butt!

Ok, did you read it? It's hilarious. Though some spots rustle my feathers a little bit, others perfectly describe this situation. Here is the true deal about waiting: it sucks. But I am a stubborn pain in the butt. And, my mother raised me better than to wait for a missionary. Imagine my shame when I had to tell her that Devin was going on a mission. She handled it quite well actually. She did not disown me or lecture me like I had expected. Instead, when she came to visit in November, she was surprisingly supportive. We laughed ourselves silly over a Thanksgiving package for him. We drove around the temple for 33 minutes while my brother and sister waited to give him a letter. It was fun and entertaining. And yeah, I am waiting, but I find it a relief. Living on the south side of campus can be like living in a jungle full of marriage hungry boys. It's nice to have an excuse to escape the jungle. My mother also told me not to get married until I was older and ready. Having a missionary is a guarantee to not get married before I graduate. It's a win win situation! I get to put the stress of a relationship on hold and just study and kick butt in school. I am quite a fan of this arrangement. Minus the whole, missing him terribly part. But you win some, you lose some right? Besides, I can never be too miserable. Not when I have stuff to do in my life!

Now there are different kinds of waiting. I am one of the valiant. Determined not to date anyone else while he is gone. However, if I were to be asked out, I would probably go. Because my biggest beef is how dumb boys are about dating! They don't know how!! So if one finally gets up the guts to ask me out, I don't want to ruin a good thing. This situation has not happened yet, so I am not sure how I will react. I'll keep you posted bloggers! My favorite part about this article was when one boy, while waiting for his girlfriend to finish her mission, decided to date another girl on and off. After spending considerable time with her and her family, and admitting that sometimes he thought she was "the one", he eventually told her that she was just his "settling soul mate". Ouch. Settling soul mate? What kind of a douche tells a girl she is just a settling soul mate? If I were that sister missionary, I would be so cheesed that my boyfriend was off dating other girls seriously enough to meet her family and talk about getting married. Seriously. I would dump his sorry butt and focus on my mission. But I have high expectations of relationships and the words "commitment" and "waiting". 

The other thing that is ridiculously annoying is how judgmental people are! Trust me, me more than anyone is embarrassed to admit that I have a missionary. I have become one of "those" girls and it kills me a bit inside. But he is worth it. Wouldn't be waiting if he weren't. But I hate when people just assume that girlfriend equals distraction. Excuse me. Have you ever written a letter to a missionary? Has your best friend gone off on a mission? Well mine did. Is it so ridiculous to think that MAYBE, just maybe, I write him as my best friend? Because that's what he is. I already struggle with expressing my feelings, people! Devin will never cease to stop teasing me about how I never hugged him last year. I am just not a touchy/emotional person! So what on earth makes you think that my letters are like that? I try really hard to include one paragraph telling him I love him etc., etc., but it's usually at the end (because I tend to forget haha). My letters consist of me complaining about school, Utah, and updating him on my mundane life. I have threatened him. If I ever at any point think I am a distraction, I will stop writing him and we can talk in 2 years (actually, 16 months, but who is counting?). He actually makes it a point to tell me that he is working hard and trying to make me proud. Which is how it should be!! I won't judge your relationship, if you don't judge mine. Fair?

So bloggers, the point of this blog is that sometimes Mormon boys say weird things, and the whole waiting culture is such an interesting phenomenon. Just saying. Rolltide.

So always remember bloggers...

All good things come to those who FILTER THEIR THOUGHTS.

Let There Be Light

Hello bloggers!! Tonight I was rereading my old blog that I had started over the summer. I started this new one because I wanted to get away with the darkness that I had been (literally) running from this summer. But I think it is unfair to say that my summer was completely dark and depressing. It is true that I was lost. I didn't know up from down and I felt like my whole world had shattered around me. But there were so many good things that happened last summer.


For instance, I saw Harry Potter with my best friend Katie and my sister Carlie. We all dressed up and went to the midnight showing. Carlie dressed up as Luna and Katie dressed up as Waldo. It was quite the night. Carlie kept going around talking to different people in Luna quotes and Katie kept getting a plethora of screams that they "found waldo". I can only imagine how many My Life is Average posts we made it into. And I am pretty sure Carlie appeared in the Atlanta newspaper the next day. It was so fun. We laughed. We cried. We quoted. And I watched my childhood end with the roll of the credits. Quite fitting for my summer though. I felt like my summer defined the end of my childhood. Every dream I had, gone. But unlike Harry Potter, I couldn't rewind and watch again. A fact that I am alright with. But anyways. Harry Potter was awesome to go to. 







Camie came to visit me. We went to the aquarium, a braves game, bought Toms, and ate our way through Atlanta. My all time favorite line? "Do you know that your tennis courts are monogrammed?". Haha. Don't mess with the south and it's monogramming! It is a very real art! That was a fun week. But I wasn't myself. And even when I came back out for school, I wasn't healed yet. And somewhere along the way, Camie and I lost our way. She's getting married in April. I wish her all the best and thank her for being a great friend when I needed her. Best wishes and joy in your marriage.

And of course, Devin was a factor this summer. He called me the night my world came crashing down. And after that, I needed him. He was the one who listened to me cry at 3 in the morning. He was my rock. It helped that he wasn't actually in Georgia. I had to spread my misery amongst my friends. But the night I bought my plane ticket to see him (a decision that changed my life), I will never forget. My parents had gone to Savannah for a baseball tournament. I had had food poisoning, and on top of everything else, I just couldn't handle it. So I was miserable. And lonely. So Devin called me and persuaded me to go to Spokane to visit him. So I called my parents and asked them if this was ok. Yes, I am aware that I am in college, but I still felt like I needed their permission, especially after everything they put up with from me last summer. So as I was talking to my mom, I find this great deal online to fly up for labor day weekend. And my dad surprised me and bought my ticket. I will never forget what my mom asked me. She asked, "Will this make you happy?". And I said yes. And it did. And now 6 1/2 months later, I am waiting for him. Waiting for the boy who so patiently waited for me. Waited for me to finally see him. So even though my summer was miserable and my life did not turn out the way I thought it would, I am so grateful. 

Right to left: Spencer, Maddy, and Parker

I feel like it would be unfair to not mention the two kiddos who have changed my life the most. I started working with Maddy and Parker when I first moved to Georgia in 2002. At first, I just sat with Maddy at a little table in front of the TV and played with her while her mom did things around the house. Eventually, as I got older, I started to babysit them when their parents went out. Apparently I was the only one who could make them (aka Maddy) go to bed. It was quite simple really. I would just tell Maddy that her mom would only come home if she went to sleep. And if that didn't work, I would grab my book and sit in the hallway, making sure she would stay in her bed. My favorite night was finding Maddy asleep in the doorway of her room, too afraid to cross it, but wanting the comfort of being closer to her parents. Parker was always the bed time angel. I would read him a story and he would be asleep before his head hit the pillow. I miss reading stories to them, but as with everything in life, they grew up and no longer need me to read them bed time stories. 


Soon, I was tutoring Maddy every Monday. We would sit in my basement and struggle through her homework together, and then she would stay for dinner. And then when I got my license and a car, I started nannying for them over the summer. But I don't like to call it nannying. Sure, there were some days that were hard. Trying to get Maddy to do her PT homework after surgery was no cakewalk. But I did discover the malicious joy of making her handwrite her apologies. That became my newest form of punishment. Usually by the time she had finished writing the apology, we were both laughing because it was so unbelievably painful for her pride. She may be cranky, but we sure know how to laugh together. Maddy knows everything about me. She remembers everything I have ever told her, and I tell her everything. I trust her. She is the best listener. And she loves being a part of my life. And I love letting her in. I may have had to punish her, control her food portions, and made her swim, but I really just think of her as my best friend. I love and miss her while I am at school.


But let's not forget her brother. Parker has the kindest heart of anyone I have ever met. He is always looking out for others. One day at the pool, a group of girls wouldn't let Maddy play. So Parker took a pool noodle, filled it with water, and blew it at the girls. When the looked at me to punish him, I just shrugged and told them they got what they deserved. Parker and I fist pumped later. He is always looking out for those around him. Parker goes to different day camps to keep him busy, and though it is easier to just have one kiddo to watch, I miss Parker when is gone. I would usually leave Maddy at home when I went to go get Parker so that I could catch up with him, and give him an opportunity to talk to me one on one about anything that was bothering him. I love driving around with Parker. I always turn on Taylor Swift and he sings along loudly, windows down, and a smile on his face. I love those jamming sessions with him. And sometimes we would sneak to QT and get icees. Sometimes we would bring one home for Maddy, but other times, I let it be between just us (not that Maddy hasn't had her fair share of secret treats). 


These kiddos have taught me the meaning of friendship and loyalty. I miss them. They have taught me compassion and love, even for those who don't deserve it. And last summer, even though the rest of my world fell apart, these kiddos were my rock. I watched Dance Moms with Maddy. I listened to music with Parker. They were my motivation to get up in the morning. Thanks kiddos for letting be your friend and for always trying your best to be good. We all have our bad days. Just keep going and don't be discouraged. And when you do get discouraged, look at how far you have come. And don't give up. Remember, I am always a phone call away. And I will be home soon! 


So always remember...


All good things come to those who don't get DISCOURAGED. 

Oh Don't Look So Prim, I Come In Peace

Hello Bloggers! Hmm, what has my week consisted of? I will tell you what I should have done: studied for my anatomy lab final coming up on Tuesday. What have I done instead? Well, let me tell you!

What I did instead of studying:

1. Had the stomach flu

2. Watched the entire season 1 of Downton Abbey (don't worry too much, there were only 7 episodes)

3. Went to a bridal shower

4. Watched Castle

5. Slept. A lot.

6. Went for a walk up the canyon with Samantha

7. Saw the Hunger Games at 8 p.m on Thursday. That's right. I saw the premier to the premier. Because I am awesome.

But don't worry. I have done some studying. I just haven't been as diligent as I should've been. But it has been an alright week. My favorite line from Downton Abbey is when the grandmother says, "Oh don't look so prim, I come in peace". How true is this bloggers? When people annoy us, we all put on an air. But how refreshing would it be if people just called us out on our bull crap? Just saying. Speaking of bull crap...

MY MOM AND SISTER WENT TO THE BEACH WITHOUT ME!

That's right.

Officially disowned. 

Just saying. 

On a happier note, Samantha did my hair! Thanks Chanel for letting me use your curling iron! I am totally going to get one of these when I get home. It is amazing. But anyways. I think it looks super cute. 

Amber, me, and Mandy at Mandy's bridal shower!

Also, the Hunger Games was amazing. I want to go see it again. Alone if I have to. But seeing it with my roommates was so fun! We just call ourselves "the family". I don't know what I would do without my roommates. Seriously. From flirting with random theater workers to fetch us water without waiting in line, to making too many delicious treats to be allowed, to finishing each others sentences, we are quite the group of girls. Gotta love us.  

Well bloggers, another uneventful day in the life of Miss Bella!

But always remember...

All good things come to those who ENJOY life.

And Today I Remembered Why I Never Wanted to Be a Cougar...

Hello bloggers! First of all, let me tell ya'll that I do love going to Brigham Young University. I do. However...I do not claim being a BYU fan. I can't do it. And today, I remembered why I never wanted to be a BYU Cougar in the first place. Let me tell ya'll my tragic story.

So I arrive at the game. Alone. No one wanted to go with me. This is the life of a southerner in Utah. No one appreciates baseball quite like I do. This is a fact that I can accept. So by going alone, this means that I have to sit alone. Also acceptable. So I walk up and find a completely empty row, save one guy. Well, it is BYU, so I assumed he had friends or family coming to join him. So I put my hand on a seat two seats away from him and ask if it is saved. He looks at me and with the most arrogant tone he can muster says, "yes, this seat is saved for my WIFE". And then he pointedly looked at me. Ok, hold on. I just asked for a seat, not for a date. I could care LESS if he was married. I just wanted somewhere to sit. But Mr. Hot Shot thought he was just the sexiest beast alive, and therefore assumed that I was trying to flirt with him. Ridiculous. Attention boys at BYU: just because some of us don't have rings on our fingers, doesn't mean we aren't taken. And even if we aren't taken, doesn't meant that we are even looking! So get off your high horse, pull the stick out of your butt, look in a mirror, or swallow your own face, because the egos and rude behavior is completely unnecessary and uncalled for. I was annoyed before I even took my seat. After I sat down, he just exuded annoyance because I actually sat down. But I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of finding another seat and letting him think he was being hit on. Oh no. He was going to have to deal with my cold shoulder for the game. The best part was that for a few innings, I was convinced that he had lied and that there was no wife coming. But she eventually showed up. And then this guy proceeded to update her on what she had missed. I love when people who know nothing about baseball try to talk about baseball. They just sound ridiculous. And it wasn't just him who wasn't afraid to blab their ignorance to the world. The rest of the student section wasn't much wiser. 

Here are a few things that annoy me at BYU games:

1. People don't understand baseball.

2. People doing chants like when the boys were 8 playing baseball. "Three up, three down, no one gets around, I said three up, three down, no one gets around...". Yeah. They know how to play the game. They don't need us to chant it for them.

3. People bate and call out rude comments to the opponent's pitcher and catcher. Some things are just not necessary to say. Have respect for the game and the opposing team. Seriously. I don't see you out there on the field, so can it!

4. A foul ball is a foul ball. Just because the ball connects with the bat doesn't mean it is going anywhere. Nothing phenomenal happened. The level of skill being played is mediocre. So stop freaking out about every little thing.

Nothing special happened in this game. It was really mediocre. BYU was playing Seattle. Seattle is just like BYU in that they can't play until June because of bad weather (ok, June may be an exaggeration, but most teams in the south get much longer playing time). Most of the outs were pop ups to the outfields. If a runner did get on base, he was stranded. There was one hit to the BYU pitcher where he fielded it to the first baseman and got an out. You would've thought it was a triple play though, based on the reaction of the stands. My personal favorite was when the center fielder, short stop, and second baseman, all ran in for a pop up, and even though the ball was going towards the center fielder's glove, no one bothered to call it, so they all were just staring at it. Right before the ball could hit the ground, the short stop slid in and caught it. It was a nice catch. But I am not going to go crazy about a lack of communication. I'm sorry. But that was a routine play that I have seen my brother and his teammates execute for years. And he is 14. College-level players should be able to communicate with each other. Now, Seattle was just as guilty. BYU got to first on a bunt only because the catcher and pitcher couldn't communicate with each other. But the comments made by the BYU student section to the Seattle catcher was uncalled for. I understand that it is a competitive sporting event, but there is a certain etiquette to be followed. In the end, BYU lost 2-1, stranding a runner on third. Not a very impressive game. Nothing exciting happened. I wasn't on the edge of my seat with nervous excitement for BYU. Instead, I was on the edge of my seat with annoyance. I ended up watching the last 2 innings in the aisle, away from the crowd. BYU fans have nothing to be so riled up about. BYU will never make it to Omaha. And not just that, but these fans get all worked up about a game they don't even understand. BYU fans are more obnoxious than Texas fans. And coming from me, that is saying something.

So needless to say, I am home now watching the second game on BYUtv. It is much better from the comfort of my own home, with roommates who know about baseball and without boys who think they are the hottest thing since global warming. I love baseball. I love BYU. I do not love BYU fans. I hope none of ya'll judge me for their bad behavior and ignorance. 

So always remember....

All good things come to those who UNDERSTAND baseball.

Sometimes I Fall Asleep While Praying...

Hello bloggers! Sorry for disappearing. My life has pretty much been consumed by this wonderful thing I like to call college. While most of you are kicking it back at PCB or setting obnoxious facebook statuses about that "one last big paper before SBXII", I am still in the throes of my schoolwork. In the last 12 days, I have taken 3 tests, taken 6 quizzes, turned in 10 homework assignments, had 3 pop quizzes, and have another midterm starting tomorrow. And two opening next week. Life of a Brigham Young University student does not get easier in March. In fact, it gets harder. Unlike the rest of you goons, we don't have a spring break. True, we do get to get out in mid April. But that just means that for the next 3 1/2 weeks, our professors try to shove as much knowledge and assignments into our systems as they can. I don't know how we all survive. My dad likes to tease that I am useless on my drive back to Georgia. Maybe that is because I don't put a book down until I get in the car to go home. Last night, I studied all day for my anatomy quiz, and went to a total of 3 hours of anatomy lab. When I got home, I ran to clear my head, then sat down at the table and immediately started studying for Italian. Forget writing Devin. I always know I have a had a crazy stressful week when I don't have time to write the boyfriend. Never a good sign for how my week has gone. I feel like I am constantly studying for something. Even if I don't have a book in my hand, my mind is constantly whirling, quizzing myself on different subjects. I am always stressed and alert. My newest vice is tea. For whatever reason, tea has really helped bring my stress levels down. I haven't been able to sleep well this semester, which is odd for me. I think it is because I can't stop naming off different anatomy terms and picturing the cadavers or specimens in my mind. Life is rough. And to top it all off, I have been applying and doing different stuff for summer jobs. Even the simplest of tasks, like updating my resume, takes twice as long as it should because I don't have time to add one more thing to my plate. My brain is almost at it's max capacity!!! But in 3 1/2 weeks, I will be done. Then reading days will come. And then finals. And then sweet home Georgia! It can't come fast enough. 

So as the title suggests...I have been pretty exhausted. Everyone is. Today, all of my roommates (myself included), and Dylan (Devin's brother), all slept in. It was just a day to oversleep I suppose. I still made it to class on time, I had just wanted to wake up to study a few more verb conjugations for my Italian test. I spend many mornings waking up 2 hours before I need to just to review some term or go over some concept. Welcome to my life. Tomorrow, anatomy lecture is cancelled. So I am taking a mental health day!! Just means I am missing Italian. I go every day AND I just took a midterm. I feel like it is justified. Sadly, I will probably spend a majority of it studying for my anatomy lecture test. Sigh.

Alright alright, I am done talking about school. Sorry ya'll. On a happier note, I have been running again! Oh how I have missed it. There is nothing better than the feeling in your legs as you beat your way 1.5 miles up a mountain. And the relief to be able to go downhill for 1.5 miles. It helps to have a good running partner as well! Amber and I started running together last semester. She is the best! We have this great policy that "what is said on the run, stays on the run". It is a perfect place to get any concern, fear, or thought out. Plus, our favorite place to run is up in the canyon, so it helps to be surrounded by beautiful mountains and fresh air. I love it. It leaves me so peaceful. I am grateful to have my running shoes and my best friend Amber. Without them, I would be totally lost. I feel like I have found myself this semester. I have been so lost. Last summer was hard. Probably one of the hardest time periods of my life. I think everything in my life just accumulated, and one thing just triggered me into despair. All I had last summer was my running shoes. And great friends, though at the time, I couldn't see it. But I ran almost every day. 

And if all else fails...go to Chipotle! Proof that you can indeed buy happiness!

When I think back on the summer, all I can recall is being really numb, and running. Running helped bring feeling and purpose back into my life. It sounds over dramatic, I know. But last summer, I broke. Life got the best of me. Devin played a big part in putting me back together. He listened to me. He never gave up on me, even when I pushed everyone out. But he had to leave on his mission last October. It's good though. He gave me the push I needed to find happiness for myself. He helped me bring me out of my misery and show me how to live again, but he also helped me find myself. Him being gone is hard. I feel his absence every day. But mostly because I miss my best friend. But you know what bloggers, a part of me is grateful. His absence has made me take that push he gave me, and act on it. I am happier. I live in a much nicer apartment, with roommates who are practically hand cut for me. School is much harder, but some of the stresses from last semester are gone, making school much easier to handle. I feel as though my very soul has found peace. I am who I am. I am loud. I talk a lot. I am southern. I am stubborn. I try to be happy. But I also struggle. I struggle to keep my head above water. I want those around me to like me and to accept me. And for a long time, it wasn't that way. I found myself trying to change for those around me. And one day I woke up and decided that I was tired of it. I am who I am. Take me or leave me. I am much happier now because I have found those who love me for me. They lift me up. They go on runs with me and let me vent to the mountains about not getting an email from Devin (which was in my inbox by the time I finished my run. But it's the principle of the thing!). They know when I am sad. Just the other week, Sam played this song called "I'm Yours" by the script. And I don't know WHAT happened, but all of a sudden, I was in tears. So she gave me a hug and popped in "The Mummy". Simple as that. For those of you who know me and have wondered where I have gone, well...I haven't been myself in a long time. The shocker is that I am finally back to who I want to be. I can't always be the strong friend who carries everyone's burdens or who caters to your needs. Sometimes, I need to do things for myself. I need to be taken care of too. So this semester, I have really focused on getting myself to be the best I can be. I have been running again. I go to bed early and wake up hours before class starts to prepare for my day. My homework is done early. I surround myself with those who make me happy and who I know I can cry, laugh, or just talk with. Bloggers, I encourage you to try to find peace in your life. I have found it through running and those around me. Especially Sam and Amber. They deserve a shout out. They have been angels to me this semester. Helping me come back to who I want to be. Thank you. But really, try to find peace within yourself. When life throws you a hardball, make cookies! That's what we do in my apartment. Do whatever it takes to find that inner peace and try to hang on to it. Everyone deserves to be happy and to feel content with their lives. Life doesn't always have to be hard. But when a trial emerges, endure it! Don't quit! Grit your teeth and survive. I promise, good things come from our greatest trials.

Well bloggers, I have rambled enough. So always remember...

All good things come...to those who have PEACE.

"You Don't Have to Just Survive, You Can Live"

Top Left Corner: Devin Porter. Look at him! Such a cutie!

Hello Bloggers! In my weekly email from Devin, he told me that "you don't have to just survive, you can live". He was referring to some of the challenges I have been facing in my life. I always say that I am tough and that I can handle it. But he reminded me today that I don't have to just handle it. I need to live too. Do ya'll see what he is saying? We all have trials and difficulties in our lives. And we have to endure them. But there are some aspects of our lives that we can eliminate so that we can be happy once more. It's not always about surviving, it's about living. We should not have to tolerate things that make us unhappy. We should always be striving to be happy! 

So here is lesson #9: Be happy. Let the things in your life that bring you down go. You don't need them. Find your own joy and happiness and love your life!

I am going to gush about Devin for a moment. This picture was taken (I believe) after his first baptism. I am so proud of him. He is doing amazing. He is preaching the gospel and serving the Lord. I miss him a lot. But when I saw this picture, it gave me great insight into where he is and what he is doing. As much as I miss him, he needs to be in Argentina. And I think he is happy! Which is the goal. Look at how tan he has gotten...it's going to be embarrassing when he gets home and he's super tan and I am white white super white. Oh well. He loves me anyways!

So I think the greatest lesson that I gathered from today's email is that we all deserve to be happy. And we need to be happy. And I think this means figuring out for ourselves what makes us happy and eliminating the parts of our lives that make us sad. There needs to be a good balance between trials and things we can cut out from our lives.

So always remember....

All good things...come to those who LIVE.

Costco Friday and the Number 34

Hello Bloggers! Happy Friday! First of all, I must tell you the most exciting news of the day! My sister, got into Brigham Young University!!! Not surprising. She got a 34 on the ACT without even cracking a book. But still, it always feels good to finally get that acceptance letter! I am so happy! Being out here in Utah can be lonely, and I can't wait to have Carlie out here with me. I get my running partner back!!!! She is going to study engineering (I think the verdict is still out on which one she wants to pursue) and she is going to rock this planet. I am just so happy that she decided to come here. Sorry Georgia Tech, my baby sister is going to come show these Utards what she can do! Congratulations Carlie!

So I posted this picture because it pertains to both stories I have to tell. On the left is Carlie. Soon she will be the one wearing the graduation cap! So exciting! In the middle is my Nonno. He passed away over a year ago, and not a day goes by where I don't think about him. So every Friday, I go to Costco. I usually go alone, and I am perfectly content with that fact. But every Friday I go and get a Costco hotdog. $1.62 for a hotdog and a drink! Perfect meal for a college student. I think people think I am weird for loving Costco so much, but let me tell ya'll why. Towards the end of his life, Nonno had a hard time walking very far, and he had a few fainting spells, so driving was out of the question. My mom and I would go up to Virginia (and usually some combination of my siblings as well) and while my mom took my Nonna out to do something fun, I would sit with my Nonno. Usually we just watched westerns, or NCIS. I think he turned on NCIS mostly for my benefit, even though I actually came to love watching westerns. But anyways. We would sit in the basement together, both of us sleeping on and off, and just enjoying each others company. Nonno was a character. He would hoist himself out of his recliner, shuffle to the kitchen, steal a few cookies from the cookie jar, shuffle back to the family room, hand me a cookie, and sit down like nothing happened. He loved his cookies. I ate so many cookies the summer before he died, because I stayed with him for over 2 weeks. That's a lot of cookies. But my favorite days were when he would lean over to me and go, "Hey Warden...you want to break me out of here and go get a hotdog?". I would just laugh. It was always good to see that mischievous look on his face, because it almost made me forget that he was sick. So I would help him out of his chair, get his shoes, and grab the keys. Of course, I would always shoot my mom a text telling her where we were going, but I would play along with him and let him think that we were going rouge. So we would go to Costco. He would go sit down at one of the tables, and I would get our hotdogs. Ketchup on mine, and ketchup, mustard, and onions on his. Then we would sit and enjoy our hotdogs and diet coke. So now every Friday, I go to Costco and I get myself a hotdog and a diet coke in memory of my Nonno. It isn't much, but I like to think it's because I am moving on. I know he is happier in Heaven. But he meant a lot to me, and this is how I keep his memory close to me. I love him. And my Costco hotdogs :).

So always remember....

All good things...come to those who REMEMBER.

Baseball Equals Love

Hello Bloggers! Today on my way home from school, I saw a couple of high school aged boys walking from the baseball fields. They were in full uniform and had baseball bats in hands. And I'll be darned, I almost burst into tears! It made me so homesick. People always look at me funny when I talk about my love of baseball, so I am going to take this opportunity to tell you why I love baseball! 

This boy works hard

Spencer started playing baseball when he was 3 years old. We had just moved to Georgia and had not really been exposed to sports, considering that my sister and I danced, and our 2 seasons of indoor soccer in no way counted as a dedicated sport. And then Spencer came around. I remember one game when Spencer was only 3. He was playing third base. The ball came to him, he caught it, touched the bag to get the force out, and tagged the runner on third who didn't double up. He was 3 years old and had the baseball sense to get an unassisted triple play. The thing about Spencer is that he works HARD. Yeah, the kid has amazing baseball smarts. But he is seriously the hardest working kid. There is something about watching him play. Let me paint ya'll a picture. It's the third game of the day. It's night time. You have been at the field since 8 in the morning and you have watched your brother and his team fight their way to the elimination bracket. Your brother is at shortstop and his bat has been on fire. So it's the third game. And you are on edge. You are tired. And you want nothing more than for your brother to win. You are losing your voice, and your mouth hurts from eating so many sun flower seeds. Now back to my reality. Spencer gets up to bat. The bases are loaded. And he hits a grand slam. Over the fence. And this kid just runs the bases and goes back to the dug out like it's no big deal. My favorite thing about Spencer is that he will play like a rock star during a game. He will catch pop flies like they are no big deal. But when I say, "catch", I mean Spencer will dive, jump, spin, and do ANYTHING it takes to make sure that ball gets into his glove. Hence why he always ends up being the dirtiest kid on the team. He spends half the game in the dirt. But ya know what, that ball always ends up in his glove. Or Spencer will slam the ball to the fence, getting anywhere from a single, to a triple. Sometimes, he even gets an infield home run. And watching him steal is nerve racking, but he does it like it is his job. In fact, it is his job. And he does it with ease. Look away for a second, and all of a sudden, he is at second. One of my favorite plays was when he was at third and he was inching his way down the line. Pass ball. And BAM Spencer touched home and walked away before the catcher even had a prayer to recover the ball. And he just walked away without looking back. No big deal. 

My favorite part is taking Spencer home, because he is so stoney on the field, but the minute he comes over to me, a huge smile breaks out on his face. I'll look at him and comment on something amazing he did, and will just smile at me, happy with the way he played. And even on bad days (because we all have bad days, no matter what sport), he still usually has a good attitude. Sometimes all I have to say is, "Dude...." and he will just shake his head and laugh. The game is important to him. He wants to win. But I like how he leaves the game on the field. He remembers the accomplishments and learns from the mistakes. If on the off chance Spencer misses a fly ball, I tell the stands to shut up. I know my brother. He will learn and redeem his mistake at the first chance possible. And 9 times out of 10, the next ball that comes to him is solidly in his mitt. Watching Spencer play makes me so happy, because I get to watch him do something that he loves, and that has made me and my entire family love it. It is a part of our lives. You can't understand how amazing the sound of a baseball connecting with a bat is unless you have seen your brother slam the ball to the outfield. You don't appreciate the sound of baseball cleats unless you have had your brother click towards you after a win. You don't appreciate sun flower seeds unless they are your only source of stress relief during a game. I love baseball. And I love the person it has helped my brother become. He is an amazing example of patience and dedication. He works hard, and the rewards are abundant. I love baseball and the time I spend with my family watching Spencer play. I can't wait to go home and watch Spencer play again! 

So always remember bloggers....

All good things...come to those who are DEDICATED.

Valentines Day

Elder Porter (sorry, I couldn't resist but give him a shout out)

Hello Bloggers! Happy Valentines Day! Alright, now let me put my two cents in on what I really think about Valentines Day. I am alone today. Please, do not pity me. That would just annoy me. I don't need one day out of the year to feel loved. Devin loves me everyday. So for me, today is just another Tuesday. Swamped with anatomy, stressed about life, and surviving without my boyfriend actually being here. I don't understand what all the complaining is about. Seriously people. It's a Hallmark holiday. It shouldn't be this big horrible ordeal if you are single. If you are single, live it up! You can date whoever you want, get free food, and do whatever you want. If you are in a relationship, maybe you should think if you love your other half every day of the year, or just on Valentines Day and Christmas. Love should extend beyond flowers or gifts. Love cannot be contained to one day. Love should be a daily feeling, a daily reminder of why you are in a relationship. So here is what I think: stop complaining!!!! I have a boyfriend who is going to miss 2 Valentines Days and I could care less!!! I am going to have a girls night with my roommates, and I am perfectly content with this. I am no more lonely today than I was yesterday. Nor am I less happy than I was yesterday. We are what we CHOOSE to be. 

So here is lesson #8: make your own damn happiness and stop complaining. I don't need to see it on facebook. Really. Enough is enough people. Be happy. Choose to be happy. Appreciate what you have in your life. And realize that there is more than one type of love that you can appreciate on Valentines Day. Call your mom, your sister, your dad, or your best friend. Tell them you love them. And please, stop moping about the lack of a relationship. If you define your happiness off of if you are in a relationship or not, then you need to step back and reevaluate yourself. True happiness in a relationship is being happy alone, so that you can be happy with someone else.

So always remember...

All good things...come to those who LOVE.

Dayton's Legs

Dayton's Legs. Prepare to cry!!

Hello Bloggers! If you didn't watch the link, go watch it. Right now. And have a box of tissues handy because you will cry.

Isn't this story amazing? This boy was 13 years old, and he sought out a friendship in an boy who could not talk, could not walk, but was just as much as boy as anyone else. And this 13 year old boy had the maturity to see and understand that this boy needed a friend just as much as any other boy. Not only did he befriend him, but he got him involved in a sport. They completed a triathlon together. Spencer pulled Dayton in a raft for the swimming section. He pulled him on his bike. And he pushed him across the finish line. He was Dayton's legs. Can you imagine the joy that Dayton felt for not only being able to accomplish such a feat, but to have such a loving friend who refused to leave him behind. This story is truly inspirational. So I ask ya'll...whose legs are you today? Are you helping someone in need? Reaching out to those who have fallen? Are you seeing the light of Christ in those around you and trying to reflect that same joy and love? If not, try. I find this story so touching because I find no greater joy than working with children who have disabilities. I really believe that these children are perfect. They may have physical disabilities, but when you look them in the eye, you can see their personalities. You can see that there is a child and a soul in there who is so sweet, and who just wants to be accepted. I am a staunch believer that everyone is equal and that every soul deserves to be treated with kindness and unquestioning love. So this story about Dayton really touched my heart. If only there were more people in this world who were willing to reach out and help those, no matter how different they may seem. So let's all try to be a little better and help someone in the world today.

Lesson #7: Love yourself and you will be able to love those around you.

So always remember....

All good things...come to those who LOVE.

Chocolate Pudding Pie and Insane People

Hello Bloggers! You know, some days...ok weeks...ok months, can just be terrible. And there's nothing you can do about it...except eat chocolate pudding pie. I mean, seriously. Nothing can make you feel better than politely eating your one piece whilst in the midst of a group of people (guys included), then going home with the said pie and eating 2 more slices. Seriously. I feel so much better now. A little bloated, but delightfully happy right now. Shout out to Katie K. who made said pie. She is amazingly talented. And she has no idea how much I needed that chocolate fix!

So here is what I think...I think that life is hard sometimes. And though I fully believe in having a positive outlook on life and trying to push through any trial that comes your way, sometimes it's just not as easy. And I am nowhere near perfect. I get annoyed with people. I get down on myself in ways that no one realizes. I don't handle criticism well, especially when I feel like I am doing so well. It is like when you study really hard for that test, and you KNOW you got every single question right. And then you get the test back, and you did horribly. Sometimes that is how I feel with people. I feel as though I put a lot of effort into the relationships around me, and then when I hear that they think less of me, it's hard to handle. And it makes for some very lonely nights. I don't know what it is about weekends, but it's like once Friday hits, it's time for me to cry. I spend many nights in my room, after having perfectly fun and nice days, crying alone. I don't know why. I think the stress just gets to me sometimes. It's hard having to be who people want me to be. And you know what bloggers, I am done! And I am going to be happier for it. I am who I am. And I try to be kind to everyone. I try to be nice. I try to be sweet. I try to help those around me and not burden them with the trials and difficulties of my life. I will talk to people, but I internalize and deal with things on my own. It's easier that way. And I have no solution as to how to fix this dilemma that I find myself in. The only solution I have is to eat more chocolate pudding pie and go to bed. But here are some things that I know:

1. I know that God hears my prayers, and He will always listen to me

2. I know that I do have great friends and family who love me. 

3. My roommates are amazing.

4. My boyfriend loves me and puts up with me, so I don't really care about anyone else.

5. I have those few girls I know I can always call and talk to when things get bad. They are my secret guardian angels, and I know they know who they are. They listen and comfort me when no one else will, even those closest to me. And I thank them for their love and support.

6. I will always remain true to myself. Because that is how you stay happy. Is by being happy with yourself and loving who you are and the decisions you have made in life.

Lesson #6: Always stay true to yourself and know that even when everything around you is falling apart and you feel like you aren't good enough, that you ARE good enough. That doing your best is enough. Accept yourself, and don't worry about anyone else. Just be happy and let others feel your happiness and love.

So always remember...

All good things....come to those with no REGRETS.

I eat for 3 people...

Hello bloggers! When planning a breakfast, you must remember that some roommates can eat for 3 people and therefore will be excused from inviting any other friends. Don't ever underestimate a girl and her bacon. Just saying.

So life is swell. Tonight we watched "Life as We Know It". I love this movie. It was filmed in Georgia, right outside of Atlanta, and not too far from where I live. Boy do I miss my state. The green trees. The humidity. The sweet summer air. The fireflies lighting up the night sky. I love the South. But dating someone from Washington has made me resign myself to the fact that there are beautiful places in other parts of the country. But nothing can beat the South. Hmm. So now I am watching "Sweet Home Alabama", because apparently I am really homesick. I can't wait to go home in April.

Lesson #5: You can make home wherever you are. Home isn't just a place, it is a state of heart. And if you let your heart accept your surrounding and appreciate the blessings around you, then you will become much happier. There is no use fretting about the past, the future, the could've been, or the will be. Instead, you have to focus on the present, and how to survive the very moment that you are in. 

So always remember...

All good things...come to those who appreciate HOME. 

Home Sweet Home

Costco Yogurt and Nordstrom Therapy

Hello bloggers! Ever had those days where you are just cranky? Can't stand people, don't want to deal with school, and just generally cranky? Well I have been cranky. So today, I went to my chiropractor because I can't stand my nightly migraines. So conveniently, right behind my chiropractor's office is Costco. And I conveniently had $5 in cash. So naturally, I went to Costco for the sole purpose of buying a chocolate and vanilla swirl yogurt. With this in hand, I began to feel myself be less cranky. The true cure, however, was in Nordstrom. Which conveniently is right behind Costco. So I went in, and meandered around for a bit before purchasing a pair of leggings to go with the dress my mother sent me for Valentines day (pictures to come soon). With a BP bag in one hand, and my yogurt in the other, I returned home much happier. After a vent to my roommate Sam, some soup, and a piece of homemade bread (thank you Melissa and Chanel), I was feeling much more like myself and much less cranky. To top it off, I took a nap! And then I studied for Anatomy. I have a midterm tomorrow, and I actually think I am prepared. Surprisingly, but apparently my brain has been retaining a lot more information than I thought it would. It also helps when your roommate is a PDBIO major and in grad school so studying became more of a helpful discussion. It is like having a professor in your family room. I love it. So that was my day. Fighting through the typical crankiness. The worst part is that I know the source of my crankiness. I just don't want to deal with it. So here is lesson #5: no matter how annoying it is, you have to confront your problems. If you don't, it's only going to cause more stress (and more yogurt consumption) in your life. 

So always remember....

All good things....come to those who FACE their problems head on.

True Friendship is Texting While Peeing One Room Away

Hello Bloggers. One of the best things that can happen to you in life is sitting in the kitchen, messing around on your computer, when all of a sudden, you get a text from your roommate who just got up to go to the bathroom. And you know she is currently in the loo. And yet, you get a text that says, "Duh duh duh duhhhhh (I'm singing bethoven's 5th in my head)". That right there, ladies and gentlemen, is true friendship. I was very proud of my clever response. I replied, "Very epic music to pee to". Nothing else needed to be said. This was indeed the highlight of my day. Next to the fact that I got my weekly email from Devin. The fact that these two things happened at the same time, was just the icing on the cake. So this let me wonder...what is the definition of friendship? I have friends in many different aspects of my life. And I am not always good at seeing them often, but I think why we are friends is because they are so patient with me. 

For instance, I have Amber, who is one of the sweetest and best people I have ever met. She is also a fantastic running partner and I love our runs, because we have a rule of "what is said on the run, stays on the run", so it's always a good chance to unload. For both of us. 

And then there is Kelli. She is adorable. She is my Disney buddy. We can quote Disney like some people can quote scripture. And mint chocolate chip ice cream is a necessity.

Then there is Krista, who lets me escape to her apartment when I need to unload, and who is always willing to listen. She is such a kind soul, who always has good advice. And she always appreciates my Trader Joe's goodies, which I gladly share. And she lives in Washington! Which is where I could end up, so it'll be good to have her in the same state!

Then of course there is Rachel Price. She is always good for a good laugh, study buddy, or just to sit and watch a movie with. I like her because she doesn't care if I talk or not about what is going on. Which is nice. 

Then there is Rachel Nuffer who helped me out a ton last semester and who is always unfaltering in her kindness.

Then of course there are my Georgia Girls.

Hali Winterton: we have probably been friends for too long, but we always can run to each other for anything. Any boy problem, any friend problem, anything, we can talk to each other. So glad to have had her in my life for so long.

Hannah Banana: Even though she is from South Carolina, she gets counted in this category. My one and only friend from EFY and I am so glad we are still friends. I like it better when we are on the same coast, but I always love when I am with her. 

Katie Fadler, or as I better know her, the "Chosen One". We have been through hell and back over the years, but we are better for it. This girl is amazing. She is seriously probably the kindest most charitable person that I know. Seriously. She is a beast. She can multitask like I have never seen before. I love her.

And then there is Lauren LaChance, my bad ass Marine. I tell people she is "my marine". She has had her own battles to fight, but she always pushes through. I love sitting in my kitchen with her, eating my mom's cookies, sharing insight on life. She is going to survive anything that comes her way, and I pray that she will be safe when she goes overseas.

Malikah Christie gets a shout out as well. She always keeps me on my toes. To this day, before I walk out the door, I try to pick out what Malikah will nit pick at. Her infamous line, "Daniela, your hair looks like sh** today" will always stick with me. Thank you Malikah, from both me and my hair. 

And not to mention...

Dylan, Devin's older brother, is such a godsend. He calms me down when I am stressed or let the fear of 2 years get to me. He is a constant support and I want nothing more than for every possible good thing to happen to him. He deserves it. 

And I suppose I should also mention Devin. He is my best friend. I tell him everything. He pulled me through some of my darkest days. He makes me laugh. Makes me smile. And he is always there for me, to make me better, for a shoulder to cry on, or for an ear to rant to. He puts up with a lot. And I love him for it. 

There are many other people who have touched my life. My new roommates for example. I am just beginning to see the impact that they are and will have on my life. I have friends in many places, and each friendship, each conversation leaves an impact. I don't think friendship means seeing or texting someone every day. I think friendship is defined by time. To see which relationships can survive the tests of time, grief, trials, and life changes. Life is constantly changing. Some people are only supposed to be in your life for a certain amount of time. You learn your lessons from them and move on. Doesn't make it any less sad. I hate when I find myself growing distant from those who used to be my best friend. But life happens. Appreciate the friendships you have, the ones you have had, and the ones that you have had. Always find the good in people and try to pull out the reasons why you are friends with them. Everyone has a purpose in life. And we can find it through the help of those around us.

Happy searching bloggers!

And always remember....

All good things...come to those who SEEK.

The Happiness Experiment

Hello Bloggers! So tonight, my roommate Melissa was telling me about this book called The Happiness Experiment. No, I didn't put down everything to go read this book. But it did get me thinking about the meaning of happiness and made me wonder if I am truly happy. And here is what I have decided: Yes, I am happy. I may not always get the grades I want, or be happy with my friends. I may be miserable and lonely some nights. I may not have run as many miles as I wanted. I may have had an asthma attack. But these things should not determine my happiness. I like to think of happiness as a state of mind. I truly believe that happiness is looking at a situation, no matter how terrible it is, and enduring it. Gritting your teeth and pushing your way through, constantly looking for the happiness on the other side. Now, this doesn't mean that having a good cry once in a while means you are failing at being happy. In fact, I spent quite some time last night crying in my bed. No shame. I miss Devin, school is hard, my asthma made me not feel well, and it gets lonely sometimes. So I cried. Did it do any good? Not really, other than making me feel emotionally better. So yeah, I cry sometimes! And sometimes I get cranky! But when I look at my life, I know I am happy. Here is why:

1. My family is happy. We lost our Nonno, which was sad beyond belief. I miss him every day. But I know he is in a happier place, pain free. And that gives me joy, knowing that he is happy and looking out for me. I am happy because I had him in my life and he was such an example of strength and endurance. I strive to be happy because I know he would want me to be.

2. Things with my friends are better and we are happy again. We all worked our way through our personal demons and have found each other again.

3. My roommates are seriously Godsends. They are supportive, kind, and always make me feel better, even without knowing it. 3 S's and a Special K. We are quite the group of girls.

4. Devin may be gone, but he is doing amazing work. I miss him every day. More than I think most people realize. But even on nights where I am so lonely and miserable, I am happy. As I told him, we may be happier together, but that doesn't mean we can't be happy now. I need to be happy now, in my own life, to know that I can be happy with him in ours. And I am happy, because he is doing God's work.

5. Anatomy may kick me in the shorts, but I will keep trying and studying. I find joy in the small achievements in that class. For instance, I touched a cadaver for the first time. And it didn't make me want to vomit. I take that as something to be happy about!

So here is lesson #4: Be happy. Don't let the world get you down. Smile more. Help a stranger. Go on a run. Enjoy nature. Take a nap. Do whatever makes you happy and enjoy all the small things in life. Soon they will add up to a bigger picture full of happiness.

So always remember...

All good things....come to those who are HAPPY.

90:10

Hello Bloggers! I have one thing to say to ya'll: 90:10. The Hitch theory. Make the guy go 90, and then we come 10. It's pretty flawless. This movie is much funnier than I remember. What a nice way to end the night: cleaning for over 2 hours for cleaning checks and enduring being extremely sore. I ended up running last night. I can't be sure, but I know I ran anywhere between 4-5 miles. And then after class today, I went snowboarding. Yeah. I am feeling the pain. But it was worth it. Running always clears my mind. Makes me feel better. Running is good for the soul. I love it. I guess I had a lot on my mind. I usually only run that many miles when I can't handle my own thoughts. Which would make sense. But anyways. While I was snowboarding, I think I got a little bit sunburned too. Which is highly entertaining. Because it is January. Ideally, I want to go snowboarding tomorrow morning and then I am running with my friend Amber at 1. Hopefully my body can keep up. I promise to rest it on Sunday. But I feel so fit! And I actually had a great snowboarding day! Not bad for going for the first time in a year...and I just learned last year. I didn't biff it today. Which is always an improvement. Always. I did however get hit by a beginner. That wasn't fun. But we are both ok. No harm, no foul! 

Theory #3: When you fall, get back up again. Sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively. Either way, always get back up. It's always worth it.

So always remember...

All good things...come to those who keep standing.

Chipotle and Toddler's and Tiaras

Hello bloggers! Do you want to hear a secret? I love Chipotle. Now, it's not that much of a secret since I post on facebook every single time I go. But really. Chipotle can always make me feel better. I love Chipotle. Devin and I have a long standing joke that I love Chipotle burritos more than him. The sweetest thing I can say to him is that I love him more than my burritos. He returns the favor by saying he loves me more than his motorcycle. That's true love right there.

And to top my night off, Toddler's and Tiaras is on TV! I love this show. I know people who have done pageants, and I have nothing against them. But there is something about this show. These moms are INSANE! I will never do this to my children. And these little kids are brats! All they care about it how pretty they look and how much money they can win. It's sick. But gives me tons of entertainment. Honey Boo Boo Child. If you have not seen this clip, you HAVE to go watch it. Right now. Go. And then come back to my blog and we can laugh about it together. Go. You back yet? It's funny though right? I love this show. Tonight has been a good night, what can I say. 

So I might go on a run tonight. The problem is, my knee hurts. It's better today. But why wear it out when I am going snowboarding tomorrow? Haha. Snowboarding is on my agenda for tomorrow. Can't wait. Friday is the best day of the week. Tomorrow, all of the roommates are going to Melissa's brothers house for pizza. It should be fun. I feel like my weekends always get so busy, which is funny because I swear I am not that social. But I think my weekend agendas always give me away. 

Alright bloggers, time to get serious. Lesson #2: strive to be the best you can be. We don't always succeed in life, but if we try our hardest and put our hearts and soul into something, then we are successful. Never be discouraged. Don't let stress, anxiety, or sadness dictate your happiness. See your true worth and see your true potential. You will be much happier if you don't spend your days judging yourself. I promise. 

Till next time.

And remember...

All good things...come to those who TRY.