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!

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!

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?

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!

Oh, darlin' don't you ever grow up.

Are you ready for an emotion-driven, sappy post? Well, you might be in for one. And I'm sorry! I've had a lot on my mind this week and writing about it is therapeutic for me. This week I've been thinking a lot about growing up. My brother Tyler just moved down to Provo and he is living with some of my great friends. All of them are done with school, and in my eyes all of them are, essentially, "grown-ups." They're doing the whole life thing on their own. They're picking out furniture for their new, amazing apartment (I affectionately refer to it as the "palace"), and they work full-time. They even have SALARIES. Um...I want one!

And then my dear friend Jenni said good-bye to me tonight. I met Jenni two years ago in London, and she has been a big part of my life ever since then. She took her last final at BYU today and leaves for southern California tomorrow to be a grown-up.

So all this growing up business has me excited to graduate from BYU. Don't get me wrong, I have LOVED my time here. It has been full of fun, growth, challenges, and of course, learning. I wouldn't give my education up for anything. But I'm ready for whatever is coming next for me. Who knows what it is, but I'm excited!

Until then, I'm off to finish packing, move out of my apartment, and head to California to see my family and my friend Cailey's wedding!!

Also, I hate packing. My poor little room looks so different.

Sacramento, Sacramento, Where You At?

Ladies and gentlemen, we got him.

Home

Well, I made it! My Winter 2011 semester is over. And now I'm waiting in the airport to head home to California for a few days before I come right back and start classes for Spring term. Will it ever end? Anywho, in honor of me being so ridiculously excited to go home, I'm giving you two of my favorite songs that have to do with going home. Enjoy lovelies!

Final Straw

It's finals week over here in good ol' Provo. Enter stressed students, sweatpants, maybe some tears, and a few late nights. Scratch that, lots of late nights. Scratch that, every night is a late night. So sorry readers, I'm going to have to put you on hold for a few days. See you when I'm home in California in 8 DAYS!!!!

I Let the Love Fern Die

Um. I may or may not have listened to and/or belted out Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" in my car today. And when I say may or may not, I mean did.

But...said singing that spawned at a fantastic girl's night this weekend was what got me going. Don't believe me that it was fantastic? Look below.

I count at least 30 bottles of nail polish. For 10 of us. Trés successful.

Also, my roommate Ashley and I are so proud of ourselves. On Saturday we ate all of our meals out, but got them for free. Ready? Okay. Free samples at Costco (ssh. I went back for seconds), Great Harvest Bread Co. samples (actually, they gave us half a loaf each), and Café Rio for dinner provided by our lovely ward Relief Society. All in all, pretty darn good. My daddy would be so proud of me.

Check out THAT sample.

Two more things. First, I saw both of these magazine covers sitting next to each other at the grocery store. Take a look. They both claim to be Jimmer, but are they really? Does anyone else see it?

Don't see it? I'll give it away. Guy on left: photoshopped Jimmer. I promise. I've seen him close up and personal. That is not the same dude.

Also, I think this next little experiment of mine proves that I'm a mediocre poor college student gardner. These are supposed to be daisies or something. This is what they looked like on day one.

This is today. Poor little blue boy doesn't want to grow. Unless he really is a boy and he's just going to mature and shoot up WAY after little girl does. Do plants follow social norms? I don't even know if it's dead or not.

How was YOUR weekend?

Honor Code

One more thought for the day, I promise.

Today in my Rhetoric in Law class we discussed BYU's Honor Code and whether some of its requirements can stand without debate. This naturally led to the discussion of why mustaches are allowed for men but beards are not. We came to this conclusion:

Mustaches help us keep the law of chastity. Seriously, folks. Would you rather kiss this good-lookin' bearded face...

Or this?

Forget the fact that it's Ryan Gosling. It just proves my point that no one can pull off the 'stache.

The ladies over at My Life is Not a Jane Austen Novel agree. Check them out.

In the Words of J. Biebs, "I Need Somebody to Love"

Happy Valentine's Day! Let me give you my count.

Approximate number of giggling girls I saw on campus with flowers:

23 (I was on campus today for ONE hour)

Approximate number of guys I saw carrying flowers for said girls:

17

Approximate number of people I saw at Smith's buying some sort of V-Day treat:

Lost count

Number of love songs my Pilates instructor played at the gym today:

One whole hour's worth

But I'm not complaining. Maybe next year I'll be a recipient of those flowers. But I won't be all giggly. That's not my style.

BUT...I had an epic weekend with great people in Las Vegas. I'll spare the details for now, but I'll just give a sneak peek. Our theme was James Bond. And we looked HOT.

And That's the Way I Like It

Warning: This is a rant. Please don't judge my normalcy based on this post. Resume writing is tough business. Especially when it has to be really good. Can't my cover letter just say, "Dear Church Magazine people, I really want to intern for you this year. I promise I know how to write and I like to edit. Please hire me."? No? Okay. This is the big leagues apparently. Tonight as I've been staring at my computer racking my brain for the best way to describe my editing experience, I started to feel like this dude. Do you think they would notice?

But, the upside about the whole resume-writing business is that I now have my future planned...I think. August graduation has been declared, my second minor has been declared, and internships are being applied for. I love that I know what I want to do with my future, or at least for the interim. Feeling like a grown-up is kind of fun, when it's not scaring me out of my mind.

Here is my last thought for the day. Last night, as I was sitting doing homework, NOT watching the amazing BYU/SDSU basketball game (FYI, "jimmered" is now a verb, basically meaning "to be crushed by all that is BYU basketball") because I didn't want to wait in line to get tickets (that's another story. I detest lines.) and because we don't get the CBS Sports channel, I decided to peruse Netflix. That was a horribly long-winded sentence. Anyway, I found "The Last Song," and unfortunately, I watched it. Miley, I wanted to gouge my eyes out and burst my ear drums. How did you get Liam Hemsworth??? Don't get me wrong, it's a sweet movie. Everyone else can act except Miley. Her acting felt like nails on a chalkboard. Is that harsh? Usually I really like Nicholas Sparks' characters (with the exception of a certain Noah in "The Notebook"). But I think I started to dislike Miley more and more as the movie went on. Someone just needed to do her hair! Sadly, Youtube doesn't have a whole lot of videos showcasing her awkwardness, so you'll just have to believe me.

Anyway, before I say something really stupid, back to resume writing. Also, is it healthy for a 5 foot 8, 120-something pound girl to drink a whole gallon of milk in two days by herself? Because I did. What? Ovaltine is good.

Be Free. Be Happy. Be You.

The title is from the Dove dark chocolate candy wrapper I just ate. No, I didn't eat the wrapper, just the chocolate. Yum. Here's been the last week of my life:

Yep, just being busy with school. And maybe watching "The Princess Diaries," 1 and 2. A couple of times. And, because I've been working hard, I rewarded myself. :) They're much cuter in person.

I'm in Love, I'm in Love, and I Don't Care Who Knows It!

Well, if you read my post below, you know that the title of this blog has nothing to do with anyone of the male persuasion. Instead, it has to do with my new semester here at BYU! I'm taking five classes, and for the first time ever, I love every single one of them. I wake up each morning excited to go up to campus and learn. I'm taking two editing classes, which is leading to my dream of being a magazine editor someday. Here's a list of what I'll be learning for the next four months:

ELANG 410 Genre and Substantive Editing: In this class we're working with the editors of BYU Magazine to learn the magazine-making process, and I love it. In the Spring they're offering student editing internships, which would be a dream for me. So I'm working hard to get it.

ELANG 350 Basic Editing Skills: Pretty self-explanatory. Lots of grammar, lots of red pencil marks. And I love it.

English 396 Studies in Women's Literature: For this class we're reading works by African, Indian, Afghan, and European women in the modern and postmodern eras. A book a week is tough, but I absolutely adore this class. I was worried that it would be all about man-bashing, but it isn't. My professor is able to seamlessly blend our religion and beliefs with "womanist" ideas. I love it.

Communications 381 International Media Systems: My last class for my Communications minor! We're learning about how the media exists in different cultures. I didn't realize how much of an influence the United States has on what people around the world watch on TV.

English 495 Rhetoric and Legal Argumentation: This is my Senior capstone class. When I was little I wanted to be a lawyer. That's not my dream anymore, but I'm taking this class because I want to learn how my English major fits into the law. And I love it!

So that's what's going on this semester. The social aspect of my life can probably be improved just a little bit, but I'm finally where I want to be in the academic part.