Things I'm Lovin'

Here's a list of things I'm loving on right now, in no particular order.

Favorite thing about this week: it's over

Favorite thing about today: Good hair. No, GREAT hair.

Saying "like a G6" at the end of every sentence.

Favorite new song: Phoenix's 1901. So what, I'm behind the times.

My Halloween costume options. Endless!

Favorite happy thought: I'm going to California in a month.

Favorite not-so-happy thought: I have to plan my future. I think I'm going to get in my car the day I graduate and just drive. East? South? Want to come?

Happiest time of my Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: English 451 and ELANG 325. For obvious reasons which will only remain obvious to me.

Favorite new discovery: I can have curly hair in Utah. And I can rock it.

Worst new discovery: I can't function on 4 hours of sleep each night. Also, I have the worst case of senioritis ever.

Discovery of the week: "The 6th Sense" is not scary. I've been lied to for so long.

Sweater of the week: Stripey gray cardigan.

Food of the week: Frosted Mini Wheats. I'm such a college student.

Happy song: "Speak Now" by Taylor Swift. Her new CD comes out in THREE DAYS!!!

Goal of the week: Don't get discouraged with people. Some of them just aren't worth my time.

Texas is the Bestest

This past weekend I was able to fly to Dallas to spend the weekend with my favorite family, the Trythalls. My family has known them for about 10 years. I spent junior high baby-sitting two of their kids, Kennedy and Alec, before both our families moved, and Sister Trythall was also my Beehive's advisor, so we all go way back. :) It was a great trip. Basically, I got to spend 3 days playing with 4 kids, eating delicious Tex Mex, and being disappointed as BYU lost to TCU. I thought maybe me being in Texas with the team would help them, but I guess not. Good thing I don't care much about football! It was a great trip, and I think the pictures below will explain how much fun I had more than I can!And like always, I never take enough pictures. I wish I had more!

Ryan the cowboy

Me and my buddy Matthew


Alec being silly!

Ryan covered in guacamole from Uncle Julio's


Showing off our muscles!


Kennedy and I in our matching watches.

Sweet little Matthew. Can you beat that smile?

My flight made a pit-stop in Oklahoma. Whatever they say about Oklahoma, it's probably true. Thank you, Trythalls!!

Thank you, airport stranger

So, I'm doing this 10-Day challenge that the Women's Resources Center at BYU is putting on. Basically, each day, they give you some sort of challenge, whether it's listing 10 things you love about yourself, doing fun exercising, or not judging yourself or others, to help women become more confident with themselves and their bodies. I think it's a great idea! My friend Rachel is doing it as well, and she's been awesome about writing her experiences down. Read about them here. It's been a good experience for me to really know that we're all beautiful in different ways.

Which brings me to my story. Yesterday I flew home from my wonderful trip to Texas (more on that later with cute pictures of cute kids), and I had a 2 hour layover in Denver. So I got something to eat and sat at my gate. There was a plane at the same gate taking off to Detroit before my flight to Salt Lake City, so a group of people was sitting around me. I had my laptop open with my headphones in, not really paying attention to what was going on around me. The passengers for the Detroit flight were told to line up to board, so the people around me started to get up and walk past me to get in line. As they did, this guy, probably somewhere around my age, walked up to me and tapped the top of my computer. I took my headphones out to hear whatever he was going to say. And he says, "I just wanted to let you know you're very beautiful." And then he walked through the gate to get onto the plane. I was shocked! But can I tell you something? I'm pretty sure I had the biggest grin on my face until I boarded my plane. I'll never see this kid again, but he made my (very tired, crazy curly hair, flip-flopped feet) day.

Why can't we all be like that? If we all were to tell someone each day that they are beautiful or handsome, and sincerely mean it, I think the confidence level of the world would increase. So that's my story. Thanks for boosting my confidence, airport stranger!

Dear God...

It's me, Alexa. I have a favor to ask you. I was wondering if, just maybe, you could give me more than 24 hours in a day, just this week and next, so that I stop going like this...

And have more time to do this?



And this?



No? Okay. Then I'll just live on this...


And these...



So that I can stay awake at the library. Or maybe just make the next 6 days go fast so I can get down to 80-degree Texas and out of Provo. Thanks!!

Baby Blue Eyes

This last week I went with my roommate Ashley to the Hanson concert. Remember them (Mmbop, long hair, circa third grade)? Anyway, it was really good! They're all grown up now, and their songs are great, their hair is amazing (much better than 13 years ago), and it was fun! But I really liked the band that opened for them, A Rocket to the Moon. Because I'm on this music kick right now, here are a couple of their songs, my personal favorite being the one called "Baby Blue Eyes." Enjoy!

"Like We Used To" video

Maggie

My dog Maggie passed away this week. She's been in my family for more than half my life, and finding out that she died was like finding out I'd lost a sibling, because in essence, that's what she was. She was the 5th Justesen child. Maggie had been sick for a while, and the vet said it would be easier to put her to sleep rather than wait for her to die because that way she wouldn't have to suffer as much. When my dad called last night to let me know, I cried and cried. And I haven't cried in a while, so I had a lot to let out. But because she's been a part of my family for 13 years, I decided I needed to give her a little photo tribute. Maggie was the best dog in the world. She fit into our family perfectly, and most of my memories of growing up involve her in some way, whether it was being angry at her for chewing up my socks or taking a nap next to her on the floor. Maggie had a knack for knowing when someone in the family was sad and just needed a buddy. I have many memories of her just coming and putting her head on my lap. Every good thing you hear about dogs, Maggie was it. Rest in peace, Maggie. I love you.

"A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbol means nothing to him. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his." John Grogan

"Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them." John Grogan

The poor dog, in life the firmest friend,
"The first to welcome, foremost to defend." Lord Byron

"His ears were often the first thing to catch my tears." Elizabeth Barrett Browning, referring to her cocker spaniel, Flush

"A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself." Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw)

"A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty." John Grogan

Weeks Fly By...

School is taking over my life right now. I've spent this weekend writing a paper about the relationship between the theory of hyperreality and mimetic criticism when taken with a pluralistic viewpoint. Sound boring to you? Maybe. But I love it! My classes are tough, but I really enjoy them. I'm going to miss this BYU experience when it ends. But...I have some fun-filled weekends to look forward to!

This weekend: General Conference. I'm making cinnamon rolls for the Sunday morning session. Come if you want to. Conference weekend is always my favorite. I love sitting in my PJs with family or friends and listening. I love the feeling of being motivated to do better.

Next weekend: My dad comes to town! Hopefully to help tell me what's broken on my car. Because sometimes it seems like a new thing each week. And also BYU football! Hopefully we don't get thrashed again.

And then...drumroll please...the weekend after that I'm going here!

I can't tell you how excited I am! 3 and a half days out of Provo and out of Utah will be fantastic. And I get to play with my four favorite kiddies in the whole world. Our family friends the Trythalls are letting me come invade on their family time, and I'm so excited! So right now that's kind of the next biggest thing I'm looking forward to. I'm sure when I get back there will be a long post with lots of pictures.

Until then here's a quote that I came across that I love. "I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us." Thomas S. Monson