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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

Dear 16-Year-Old Me

I know summer is coming to a close, but I found this video today, and I thought it would be important to share. My family has a history of melanoma (my aunt was diagnosed with it when she was in her early 20s), and because we have a fair skin and blonde hair background, avoiding harmful tanning beds and rays is important. I have friends who bake in tanning beds on a regular basis, and people, it's just not healthy! Not only do you end up looking like Snooki and age faster than you should, not being smart about these tanning beds (or "death" beds as a dermatologist I know calls them) can even result in painful surgeries and death. Please be smart, and know that this is not a "girls only" disease. Guys like to tan, too! Share this with any teenagers and young adults you know, and let's be safe together.

As for me, I'm a fan of Jergens Daily Glow line. Use it 3 times a week and you have a natural-looking, NON-ORANGE, UVA/UVB rays-free tan.

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.

Love Notes

Tonight was one of those nights. The one where nothing is really going on, you're home alone, and your mood starts to sink a little bit. I hope I'm not the only one who occasionally has those! The stress of moving in the next few weeks, of paying rent when I have about $5 in my bank account, and other things just kind of got to me. So I decided to read some notes.

I have a drawer in my room where I keep notes and letters from friends, family, neighbors, etc. I haven't read them in a while, and browsing through them was just what I needed. Notes like those remind me to put a smile back on my face, and to keep moving forward. They remind me that there are people out there who care about me, who want the best for me. So to those of you who have written me a "love note" in the last 4 years, thanks. Thank you for reminding me that I'm beyond blessed for having so many wonderful, amazing, and inspirational people in my life. And thanks for the memories those notes remind me of.

Rainy Days

I love rainy days.

I love sitting on my couch next to my window with a book and watching the rain and listening to thunder.

School starts in 34 days. Only 34 more glorious days left of the best summer of my life. I'm going home in 18 days. I can't tell you how excited that makes me!

Brother Tyler graduated from BYU-I this weekend. I'm so proud of him! I cried the whole time. That Processional March sure gets to me, apparently. Or maybe it was knowing that that's going to be me in December. Boo-yah. He's moving to Provo in 14 days. Another Justesen in Provo...that can only mean one thing. There will be two Justesens in Provo.

Anyway, I'm going to get back to my book. In the meantime, here are some pictures from the Harry Potter premiere. I was a non-ginger Ginny Weasely. I cried during the end of the movie, too. I sound like I've been an emotional wreck this week!

Also, Instagram is the neatest thing on the iPhone app block.

Blackbird

via

"I climbed the stairs to my apartment, lay down in my new bed and turned off the light. I waited to start crying or worrying, since that's what usually happened to me with the lights off, but I actually felt OK. I felt fine. I felt the early symptoms of contentment. My weary body asked my weary mind, 'Was this all you needed, then?' There was no response. I was already fast asleep." Liz Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

Hi friends. This is how I'm feeling today. I did something kind of brave and kind of scary and kind of necessary, and after I did it, I felt this wave of relief wash over me. And stress vanished. It was something I knew I had been needing to do for a little while, but I was scared. So I told myself, nope, this is it. I'm doing it. And I did.

So starting today, I'm at a point where I can say, "What do you want, Alexa?" Spring term ends this week, and I decided not to take summer classes. This little weary body needs a break. So what do I want to do? I want to learn Spanish. I want to run a half marathon. I want to take a road trip to somewhere I've never been. I want a job. I want to buy myself fresh flowers every week. And nothing is there to hold me back from doing those things. I've let go of what's been weighing me down, and it feels so liberating!

Two more things before I go. My great friend Megan shared this scripture with me after a long discussion about why things happen the way they do:

"Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth." Mormon 9:21

And last, the title of this post refers to this song. It's one of my favorites by the Beatles, and it describes a little bit how I'm feeling. Good night!

Sheeee's Baaaaack! This could be good or bad.

All right people, maybe you didn't notice (and you probably didn't), but I've taken a bit of a blogging hiatus. And I know that's pathetic of me, but it's true. May was a bit of an up and down month. Great things followed by not so great things followed by happy things followed by disappointing things. And I'll admit there were a few times that I looked up at the sky and quoted my favorite little man, "The clouds opened up and God said, 'I hate you, Alfalfa!'"

But I woke up a few days ago and decided to pick up whatever pieces had fallen out of my life's little puzzle and put them back. (This would be a fantastic time for some "Yay Alexa!" applause. But don't feel obligated. But really, you should.)

Anyway, here are some of my favorite quotes I've found that got me through these couple of off weeks. Find them here.

My favorite. And so true.

My sister Whitney would love this.

This one is too small to read, but it says, "You're going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it's their actions you should judge them by. It's actions, not words, that matter." And I don't know why these are all underlined but it's kind of annoying me.

This is the hardest one for me to learn. We all know Alexa is not patient.

FAVORITE

This is why I try to laugh as much as possible.

Yep!

Taylor Swift. Genius.

So anyway, I'm hoping maybe one of these helped you too. Life is good. It just has its ups and downs every little while.

Just Little Things

I stumbled across this blog today, and I absolutely love it. It's perfect if you need a pick-me-up or if you just want to be reminded of why life is good. Enjoy!

Just Little Things

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?