New Blog!

I'm sorry to leave you all hanging for forever, but I have a new blog! I decided to switch over to Wordpress, which I think I like a little bit better. Take a gander over there! alexajustesen.wordpress.com

Packages from moms are awesome

Hello there! Can you believe it's December 1st? Not I. Where has the year gone?

Can you believe I graduate in two weeks? Not I. 

There's some serious doubting going on over here. Am I really ready to graduate into adult life? Sometimes I question that. Like when I get super excited to watch The Santa Clause on ABC Family, which I did tonight. Don't know if that's a very adult thing to do.

But it's all okay because SOMEONE made candy cane/chocolate fudge ice cream pie tonight. Maybe I'm turning into a domestic goddess. That or I just really wanted an excuse to eat Dreyers' limited edition candy cane ice cream. Either way, Christmas is here folks. There's no stopping it. 

Also, thanks Mom for the Christmas package! The tights are great, and I was nervous this would be the first year EVER that I wouldn't have a chocolate advent calendar. But of course you came through. Love you!

Happy Thanksgiving Back

10 points to Gryffindor for whoever can give me the movie my post title came from. How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was great. We spent it with my mom's family in Lake Tahoe, and we have two more glorious days here. We spent yesterday watching the parade, going for a walk down to the lake, standing on the California/Nevada state line, eating of course, and playing card games. All in all, a good Thanksgiving.

I am grateful for so many things. My family, the gospel, my education, and after an accident this week, a new appreciation for my car and that it will still work after I get it fixed. And that both drivers were okay. I'm also grateful that Christmas is now here! Let the festivities begin.

Grateful

This week I have quite a bit to be grateful for. Here are just a few of those things, and I'm constantly amazed at them:

1. I got a job as an in-house editor for a publishing company in Lindon. With a full-time position offered once I graduate.
2. I found out today I received an internship at LDS Living magazine for next winter semester!
3. The magazine I'm currently working for, Stowaway, featured an essay I wrote as the staff essay to be published in the Spring 2012 issue. BYU even did a news story about the magazine, and you can see my little face a couple of times, right here.
4. My hope has been restored in the male population. Real men do exist, girls. I found one. :)
5. I get to spend a few days at Lake Tahoe with my family next week for Thanksgiving. And I couldn't be happier about that.

After a year or so of getting a few bumps and bruises, the end of 2011 is shaping up to be a good one. As I was talking to my mom on the phone today, I joked with her that I'm kind of waiting for something bad to happen because I've felt so spoiled with all these blessings! She of course told me to stop thinking that way. It reminded me of one of my favorite quotes:

Via Pinterest

Blessings come, guys. I've been so overwhelmed with the amazing things that have happened to me in the past few weeks, but it's strengthened my testimony that Heavenly Father really does love us and that, after the storm, the clouds clear up and things get better. Sometimes it's hard to trust in the Lord (believe me, I know), but He always comes through. Don't ever doubt that.

No-Spend November Has Begun!!

Okay ladies and gents, it is Day 3 of No-Spend November. I've had so many people jump on board with this idea, and it's exciting! How has it been going? So far I've spent $40 on gas this week. And I turned down a date with myself to Costa Vida. Which was...tough. As I'm sure I have previously stated, I keep Costa Vida in business. Speaking of CV, here's a spending secret. So Costa has a daily $6 special, which is a decently sized meal with a drink included. Each day the special changes, but if you're a student, you can order any special on any day. Six bucks, folks!!! But this time, instead of eating out, it's an extra $6 I saved. Instead I ate at home, which was actually pretty good! Lemon garlic spaghetti is yummy. And cheap.

So like I promised, I'm doing some research about some money-saving ideas. But until I find some great tips for you guys, here are a few things I've found that I'll let you know about.

1. Have you discovered Winco? I just did a few weeks ago. Yes, it's a little far if you live in Provo, but once a month or so it's definitely worth the trip. Because it's employee-owned, somehow their prices are able to remain lower. $2.00 Special K? Yes please. Parmesan cheese, which I cook quite a bit with, is about $3-4 for a block rather than the $5-7 at other grocery stores. Guys, this place is a gold mine. Wincofoods.com has some great coupons, too.

2. Plato's Closet and Trendy Xchange are both consignment stores in the Provo/Orem area. I will freely admit that I'm a clothes horse. And I don't wear a lot of what I own. So every month I clean out my entire closet and sell some of the good quality things I don't wear anymore to one of these places. I've made up to $75 in one go on my old clothes. And if you don't mind the idea of wearing clothes that someone else has worn a few times before, stores like these are great places to shop. Remember when I fell in love with these shoes? Consignment store, baby.

Do you have some great saving tips? Want to guest post on this lovely little blog? Leave a comment below. Also check out what my friend Breanna has to say about her No-Spend November experience over here. Nighty-night! I'll leave you with this little gem. Don't judge me, but I might do this to my little chitlins someday.

I Feel Pretty

I'm just going to resurrect two of my favorite commercials. Aren't days when you feel like this the absolute best?

No-Money November

Pinterest

"One of the better ways to simplify our lives is to follow the counsel we have so often received to live within our income, stay out of debt, and save for a rainy day. We should practice and increase our habits of thrift, industry, economy, and frugality. Members of a well-managed family do not pay interest; they earn it." L. Tom Perry, "Let Him Do It With Simplicity," November 2008 Ensign

I think I've mentioned this before, but for the last couple of months I've been taking care of myself financially (except for my foot. Thank you, parents, for paying that little medical bill). But school, gas, food, and rent have come out of my pocket. And while it can be tough, it's been really fun! I feel like a real adult, learning how to budget and save. My Personal Finance class has definitely been a huge help, as well. Because of this, I decided to do a little challenge next month. I'm going to call it No-Spend November. I'm not going to buy anything except the essentials: food, gas, and rent. No clothes, no toys, nothing. I want to see if I can do this for a whole month. Want to join me? Leave a comment at the bottom and we'll work on it together. I'll even post tips and tricks I've found to help you save some dinero every day. Here's to saving!

Awkwards and Awesomes

I've always liked reading the Awkward and Awesome posts that other bloggers have done in the past, but I've never really jumped on that bandwagon. Until now. My life has been so great/bizarre/scary/uplifting/confusing that I have to share. Drumroll please.

Awkward:

- Catching two people you know make out in their car. In the parking lot. In broad daylight. No dears, don't stop to wave to me. As you were.

- Walking past a couple breaking up in the library. THE LIBRARY? Honey, if he's going to break up with you in the BYU library, where everyone can see you, you don't want to be with him anyway. Although in his defense maybe he decided to do it there so she wouldn't cause a scene.

- Falling asleep in my Linguistics class (after a night of 8 hours of sleep, mind you), only to wake up because my leg twitched and kicked the seat in front of me. Hard.

- Learning how to walk again after removing my medical boot FOR GOOD. I walk like a duck now.

- Making a phone call at work to a person named "Charles Sheen" and wanting really badly to ask if he was winning.

- Having a girl from my home ward come up to me on campus and calling me "Whitney," who is my sister. I didn't correct her and pretended, in fact, to be Whitney. Guess that's more awkward for her than for me.

- Rocking out to Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" in my car at a stoplight, only to realize that a group of guys in the car next to me were pointing and laughing.

- Speaking in Sacrament Meeting with my Relief Society presidency, all of us with the same topic. And then realizing my entire talk was given before I even got up to speak. I don't do well making things up as I go.

Awesome:

- Going to a Stake Relief Society fireside only to be told exactly what I need to hear. Life is good!

- Discovering WinCo and all the money it saves me.

- Getting the afore-mentioned medical boot off FOR GOOD!

- Costa Vida dinners with my friend Kaitlin. And opening up a Costa Vida points card because we all know I keep them in business.

- Knowing that my mom and little brother are coming to visit me this weekend. Hooray! I need my mom.

- Finding the best place to buy clothes. Maybe if you're nice I'll share my secret.

- The Fall leaves in Provo Canyon. I don't think I've ever seen anything as beautiful.

- Halloween is 11 days away! What are YOU going to be?

There you have it. My life is awkward and awesome. I would say about 60% awkward and 40% awesome.

Of Being Happy

Here's to another week of being happy.

1. Packages in the mail from Mom.

2. General Conference.

3. WinCo. It's a bit of a drive, but definitely worth the savings every once in a while.

4. After today, I won't have to speak in Sacrament meeting for a long time to come. Hopefully.

5. Stake Relief Society firesides in which the speaker says exactly what I needed to hear. There's nothing wrong with being unmarried at 22!

6. Knowing that I might get to visit Washington, D.C. in the Spring. D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival, here I come!

7. Knowing that Thanksgiving in Lake Tahoe is getting closer and closer by the minute.

8. Internship interviews! Not so happy: waiting to hear back from them.

9. Father of the Bride parts 1 and 2 on Netflix.

10. Finally being able to exercise again after this darn foot injury.

What makes you happy?

I'm a Mormon

This is great.

To find out more about what I believe, visit mormon.org

GC Weekend

I had a lovely little weekend. I spent the majority of it watching General Conference. It was perfect. Cinnamon rolls, warm Fall weather, and even a session at the Conference Center made it the perfect weekend. I think the most exciting thing, however, is that President Monson announced that Provo will be getting a second temple! The Provo Tabernacle, which burned down last year, will be renovated and turned into a new temple. Here's what it is supposed to look like:

Isn't it beautiful?

Here are a few other images from the weekend. I wish General Conference was held four times a year instead of just twice.

Stowaway

Hi there folks,

I want to take a quick second to tell you about the magazine I'm working for this semester, called Stowaway. This is a completely student-run magazine, and it's for my editing capstone class. Stowaway is a travel magazine for college students and young adults, and let me tell you, it's a really cool magazine. We feature stories from places all over the world as well as cool ideas for what to do in those places. I'm currently working as a writer and as the Senior Features editor, and it has been an amazing experience so far.

The Stowaway staff is really trying to push our advertising for it, so if you like me, please take a peek! Visit stowawaymag.com and like it on Facebook. The Fall issue will be rolling out next week, and it's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. We're also holding a photography contest. If you have any neat travel photos, submit them to stowawaymag@gmail.com by October 14, 2011. If you are selected you'll be published in the magazine next year!

Being Happy

I borrowed this "happy list" idea from one of my favorite blogs, the Rockstar Diaries, and I want to make it a regular feature on this here little blog. Here's to being happy!

1. Fall colors on the mountains. I'm excited to take a drive through Provo canyon sometime soon.

2. Fall food! Apple pies and cinnamon rolls and pumpkin pancakes make me feel all warm inside.

3. Knowing that my foot is healing and knowing that in 5 more days I can hopefully get rid of the darn boot and crutches forever. Also, I'm thankful for my handicap parking pass. It has proved to be useful.

4. My calling in the Relief Society presidency. I've been able to work with some incredible girls who strengthen my testimony.

5. Soft sweaters. Enough said.

6. Phone calls with Mom. She's the best.

7. This final semester. I love each and every one of my classes, and I have some incredible professors.

8. General Conference weekend. I'm so looking forward to Saturday and Sunday!

9. The fact that I get compliments when I manage to wear a high heel with my little black boot. It's a skill guys.

10. Starbuck's hot chocolate. It's that time of year again, folks. Who wants to petition with me to get a Starbuck's a little closer to my

apartment?

What makes you happy? Leave a comment and I'll feature it.

Photographia

My lovely leggy roommate, Rachel, took some pictures of us last weekend. She's an amazing photographer, and I wanted to show off some of her work. Check out her website at rachelhphotography.com. She is AM-AHHHH-ZING!

The Green Monster

We're talking food today, folks. Or I guess smoothies. I know, I know. Fall's coming and cold smoothies are on their way out. But until it's a cool 50 degrees outside, We're going to talk about them. Have you heard of the Green Monster smoothie? I'm sure you have. I'm usually about two steps behind everyone else in the world. I found the recipe on Pinterest, and I've been addicted to it ever since. The best part about this smoothie is that it's customizable. Combine whatever fruits, juices, and yogurt flavors you want. The key ingredient is what makes it a green monster...spinach. Yep, spinach. I'll admit I'm not the biggest fan of spinach (especially when it's cooked), but I did some research. Each little baby leaf is chock full of vitamins, it's a good source of heart health, and it protects your vision. Also, ladies, Fitness Magazine lists it as one of their super foods for healthy skin and hair...HELLO. Who would say no to that?

Because I can't do much cardio exercise at the moment (read about that whole saga here), I've been trying to eat as healthy as possible. This smoothie fits in perfectly because it's low in calories. Here is my little take on the Green Monster:

1 big handful of fresh, clean spinach (you can't taste it, so load it into your blender)

1/3 cup milk

1/3 cup orange juice (or juice of your choice)

1/2 frozen banana

1/2 cup frozen strawberries

1 tablespoon vanilla yogurt

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

3 ice cubes

splash of honey

Blend blend, blend! And then, enjoy and bask in the glory of healthiness.

DRJ

I know this is a day late, but I want to say happy 17th birthday to my studly little brother, Devin!

I wish I could have been there to celebrate it with you, Dev. But I heard you were on a hot date and I didn't want to interrupt. :) Here are some things that I love about Devin:

He's just about the nicest, kind-hearted guy you'll ever meet. This kid will do anything for you, and then when he's done, he'll ask you if you need anything else.

Devin has his own style. He doesn't care what other people think about him, and because of that, he is so much cooler!

Devin is a peacemaker. He never fights with anyone, and he has this calmness that he carries with him. He's laid-back and chill.

Lastly, you can't beat this kid's sense of humor. If I'm having a hard day, I call him and end up laughing my little heart out.

Happy birthday, Devin! I'm sad you won't be joining me in good ol' Provo next year, but that doesn't mean we can't have some fun road trips.

Gimp.

Two weeks ago, I went and got myself injured. And how did I do it? Tripping and falling while running around outside. Guys, it's not even a good story! And because I'm really bad at taking care of myself (I'd like to think it's because I'm busy taking care of other people), I waited a whole week to see a doctor. Walking on it was a pain, but I convinced myself that it wasn't that bad, and that seeing a doctor would be a waste of time and money. Wrong. After looking like an idiot walking around campus with a severe limp, and after much convincing from my mama, I got my first ever X-ray. And here is what we found:

First off, no, this is not my foot. I googled "fractured third metatarsal bone" and I found this picture. But it's identical. Can you believe doctors are apparently too high tech now to send you home with an image of your X-ray? Now they just look at them on their computers. I was so excited to hang mine on my fridge with a big gold star stuck to it. But nope. I have to search for pictures that look like what's going on inside my foot.

So I got one of these beauties:

This, ladies and gents, is called a Cam walker. It's a sexy little boot that goes with everything. And lucky me, I get to accessorize everything I wear with it for at least 3 WEEKS, maybe longer. Let's not mention that, every time I tear the velcro straps off to remove the thing, I can hear dogs howl because it's so loud.

I also got a nice pair of crutches, courtesy of the BYU Health Center. Raise your hand if you've ever had to use crutches. Raise your hand if you've ever had to use them on campus. Raise your hand if you experienced intense sweat sessions hobbling from class to class, as well as weird bruising and soreness under your armpits and on the palms of your hands. Also, raise your hand if people have shushed you while you walked through the library because your crutches were loud. Raise your hand if you used your crutch as a weapon against the shusher because they obviously deserved a whack in the leg for not being considerate to a gimp. Crutches may be convenient (especially as a weapon), but it took me about 5 minutes of using them to learn that they are of the devil. I kind of want one of these cool contraptions:

I always see students zipping around on campus with these! Or maybe I'll get a Jazzy. Or a Razor scooter.

I know I'm complaining. But I promise that there are benefits to being injured, like this:

No, I will not cheat and use it until it expires. The minute I'm healed it's going away. But until I'm no longer a gimp, this is the greatest thing ever! Take me with you and I can even bring it in your car. Maybe I'm just asking myself to be used...Also, guys on campus are oh so great when it comes to opening doors for me. Thanks boys! And yes, my injury is a great conversation-starter. Props to those who have taken advantage of that.

Also, did you know that BYU has this elite crutch/gimp club? I didn't until now. You know how motorcyclists all have that side wave they do when passing another motorcycle? (I know this after years of riding with my dad) Well, there's something similar on campus. You see someone else with crutches and you do the head nod (obviously the wave wouldn't work as our hands are too busy having uncomfortable pressure put on them as we attempt to walk). The nod says it all: "Yes, you look miserable. Yes, I know I do, too. We get what each other is going through." It's taken me four and a half years at BYU, but now I feel like I've arrived with this exclusive little club.

Anyway, that's the end of it. I have been called a gimp a total of 57 times in the last two weeks, and I'm starting to forget my real name. Someone please remind me once I'm healed, mmkay?

We Remember

Back to School, Back to School

School started this week, and I'll admit I kind of feel like the above image - a super senior amongst babies. Or in my case, 18 year olds. But I think it'll be a good semester. I love my classes, my professors, and my classmates. And I'm trying to appreciate every last second I have here at BYU.

So far the semester has kicked off pretty well! My job is good, and I just got called as the first counselor in my Relief Society, which keeps me pretty busy. But I've loved every minute of it. Anywho, this was just a little update, and now it's back to homework!