I love Owl City, and today I came across these two videos of my two favorite Owl City songs and I thought I would share them. I love the lyrics. There's something in the symbolism and subtle messages that I absolutely love. Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 23
Monday, February 22
Busy Bee
Today has been non-stop for me. I don't know when my life started to get so busy. When I was in high school, I used to get annoyed with girls who were always so "busy." I always thought, "Can you really be so busy that you have no time to do anything?" But since then I've kind of turned into that annoying girl who has absolutely no free time. I wish I did, trust me!
I've been thinking a lot about my work and class load this semester, and while I love it, sometimes I wish I had time for myself every once in a while! Yesterday in church, we talked about taking time every day to just sit and think. Sometimes we learn the most when we are sitting quietly and getting to know ourselves. I sarcastically thought to myself, "Yeah, if I ever have time I'll do it." But yesterday afternoon, after meetings and interviews, I had a little bit of time to myself (one of the reasons why I love Sundays!) So I decided to take about 20 minutes and sit quietly in my room and just think. And it was wonderful! I tend to stress out very easily, but afterward my mind was cleared, I felt more hopeful, and life looked good.
I decided to look up some General Conference talks on pondering, and I found one I liked by Jospeh B. Wirthlin in 1985 called, "Pondering Strengthens the Spiritual Life." Some of the quotes I found are:
"Pondering, which means to weigh mentally, to deliberate, to meditate, can achieve the opening of the spiritual eyes of one’s understanding."
"To soundly plant good seeds in your heart requires prolonged, intense, unremitting pondering. It is a deep, ongoing, regenerating process which refines the soul."
If you haven't taken some time today to sit quietly and think, I highly recommend it.
I've been thinking a lot about my work and class load this semester, and while I love it, sometimes I wish I had time for myself every once in a while! Yesterday in church, we talked about taking time every day to just sit and think. Sometimes we learn the most when we are sitting quietly and getting to know ourselves. I sarcastically thought to myself, "Yeah, if I ever have time I'll do it." But yesterday afternoon, after meetings and interviews, I had a little bit of time to myself (one of the reasons why I love Sundays!) So I decided to take about 20 minutes and sit quietly in my room and just think. And it was wonderful! I tend to stress out very easily, but afterward my mind was cleared, I felt more hopeful, and life looked good.
I decided to look up some General Conference talks on pondering, and I found one I liked by Jospeh B. Wirthlin in 1985 called, "Pondering Strengthens the Spiritual Life." Some of the quotes I found are:
"Pondering, which means to weigh mentally, to deliberate, to meditate, can achieve the opening of the spiritual eyes of one’s understanding."
"To soundly plant good seeds in your heart requires prolonged, intense, unremitting pondering. It is a deep, ongoing, regenerating process which refines the soul."
If you haven't taken some time today to sit quietly and think, I highly recommend it.
Thursday, February 18
A Toast
I would like to make a toast to productivity. This week I have been working on 6 papers, 3 group projects, a midterm, and a quiz. All due by tomorrow. And I'm almost done with all of them.
That never happens.
That never happens.
Tuesday, February 16
Dear BYU,
I don't complain very much, I promise. In fact, I love you, and I don't feel like I have had anything to complain about. Until today.
You see, ever since I was a freshman, a few times a week or so I get your Caesar salad from the Grab-N-Go line for lunch. It's quick, it's good, and I have a tendency to forget my lunch at home, so it's nice to have a go-to meal. Last week, as I was eating my salad, I noticed that the lettuce was a bit wilted and gross. "Whatever," I told myself. "It's just one bad head of lettuce." But then today I bought myself a salad. And do you knew what I did? I threw it away. The lettuce was wilted and turning all kinds of gross colors (brown, red, yellow, etc.), and it tasted very unlike how lettuce should taste.
Are you trying to give me food poisoning? I already got it a few weeks ago from eating lunch at the MOA, and it was not a pleasant experience. So, dear BYU, for my health and for the health of your 35,000 students, could you maybe use some fresher lettuce? Thank you!
Love,
Alexa
I don't complain very much, I promise. In fact, I love you, and I don't feel like I have had anything to complain about. Until today.
You see, ever since I was a freshman, a few times a week or so I get your Caesar salad from the Grab-N-Go line for lunch. It's quick, it's good, and I have a tendency to forget my lunch at home, so it's nice to have a go-to meal. Last week, as I was eating my salad, I noticed that the lettuce was a bit wilted and gross. "Whatever," I told myself. "It's just one bad head of lettuce." But then today I bought myself a salad. And do you knew what I did? I threw it away. The lettuce was wilted and turning all kinds of gross colors (brown, red, yellow, etc.), and it tasted very unlike how lettuce should taste.
Are you trying to give me food poisoning? I already got it a few weeks ago from eating lunch at the MOA, and it was not a pleasant experience. So, dear BYU, for my health and for the health of your 35,000 students, could you maybe use some fresher lettuce? Thank you!
Love,
Alexa
Friday, February 12
Love Love Love
No, despite the title this post has nothing to do with Valentine's Day. It has to do with what I was able to do this morning, and what I'll be doing over the next few weeks.
This morning I was able to hold an authentic Victorian era periodical!
I know, I know, I know. I'm so odd. But for my English class we have to do a research report on a Victorian short story, and today, for the first time in my entire college career (pathetic I know), I went to the L. Tom Perry Special Collections section of the HBLL. And there were shelves and shelves of real magazines and books from that era! Call me a geek but I was so excited to look at them. That is what I love today.
I also love the tulips that showed up at my work. :)
Wednesday, February 10
Childhood Education
In my Humanities class right now, we are reading essays by Rousseau, a French philosopher. One that I've really enjoyed is his essay titled "Emile," in which he discusses childhood education.
The reason I love it is because he talks so much about home and family involvement in teaching a child, which I am a HUGE supporter of. He says, "...when mothers deign to nurture their own children, then morals will reform themselves, natural feeling will revive in every heart, the state will be repopulated...When the family is lively and animated domestic cares become the most cherished occupation of the wife and the sweetest amusement of the husband...Once women become mothers again, men will become husbands and fathers." I love that! Growing up in my home was so great because it really was a haven from the trials and cares of the world.
I love that he also says that we should let children be children. Parents shouldn't force them to grow up too fast, to be involved in too many things, or expect too much of them. "Do not prepare yourself for regrets by robbing them of the few moments which nature has given to them. As soon as they are aware of the pleasures of existence, let them rejoice in it; make it so that whenever God calls them they will not die without having tasted life...Nature wants children to be children before they are men. If we try to pervert this order we shall produce a forced fruit that will have neither ripeness nor flavor and that will soon spoil."
Anyway, I just really enjoyed reading this essay. I love that, even though it was written in 1762, it has so many points that are still applicable today.
Monday, February 8
Perspective
Sometimes, when a good day turns bad, you just have to remember why it was good in the first place. That was the lesson I learned today. There's a long story behind this involving an educational crisis, but I figured I won't waste your time making you read about it. The sun is shining, the weather is nice (for February), and things will work out the way they should. That's all.
Friday, February 5
Nut-ell-a, [nuh-tel-la] -noun A delicious tub of fat and chocolate
Today I was looking at one of my favorite food websites, foodgawker.com, and I learned that it is World Nutella Day. So I would like to celebrate by listing some of my favorite things/memories that involve Nutella.
1. Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake cupcake at The Cocoa Bean Cupcake Cafe.
2. 39 girls going through tubs and tubs of Nutella in London. The poor Schuellers couldn't keep up with our demands!
3. Nutella on fruit
4. Nutella on toast
5. Nutella milkshakes
6. Nutella won-tons (my specialty, thank you to Giada de Laurentiis for the recipe)
7. Nutella right out of the jar with a spoon
8. The gallon-size tubs of Nutella available at Marks and Spencer in England. You just can't find that in America.
Today I encourage everyone, if you've never had it, to try some Nutella. You won't regret it! :)
1. Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake cupcake at The Cocoa Bean Cupcake Cafe.
2. 39 girls going through tubs and tubs of Nutella in London. The poor Schuellers couldn't keep up with our demands!
3. Nutella on fruit
4. Nutella on toast
5. Nutella milkshakes
6. Nutella won-tons (my specialty, thank you to Giada de Laurentiis for the recipe)
7. Nutella right out of the jar with a spoon
8. The gallon-size tubs of Nutella available at Marks and Spencer in England. You just can't find that in America.
Today I encourage everyone, if you've never had it, to try some Nutella. You won't regret it! :)
Tuesday, February 2
Lists
I saw this on my friend Kylie's blog and thought I should have some fun. Someday I'll do all 100!
Bold the things you have done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
20. Slept on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung Karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visted Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of China
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies
62. gone whale watching
63. got flowers for no reason
64. donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. gone sky diving
66.visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy
54! I'm slowly getting there. Not bad for only being 20! :)
Bold the things you have done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
20. Slept on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung Karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visted Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of China
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies
62. gone whale watching
63. got flowers for no reason
64. donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. gone sky diving
66.visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy
54! I'm slowly getting there. Not bad for only being 20! :)
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