Mmmm...

So this DIVINE man, Mr. Danny Gokey (you could also call him my future husband) has a new single out...called "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me". FANTASTIC. I bought it on iTunes the second I heard about it. At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, check it out! Love him love him love him. So at the moment he is my current obsession. I dug out all his songs from American idol and am listening to them all again. My favorite? "September". Look at that man in those jeans.

How cute is he? And why can't I find someone like him??

Merry Christmas!

"For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin--real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. " -Souza

Julie & Julia

So this movie is truly amazing. I have watched it over and over since we rented it. And I need to buy it. There are some very important things in it. If Julie Powell hadn't already come up with the idea, I think it would be so much fun to try to do what she did. Julia Child was an amazing woman who was optimistic even when her life was not so exciting, even when she had to move from her beloved Paris. Having been to Paris once, I can say with perfect certainty that had I lived there for years, I would be much more upset and bitter about having to leave than she was. I need to be more like her, and find happiness in my life the way it is right now, not sitting, waiting, and wishing my life away. Even though I'd still like to leave NAU, move to Denver, and go to culinary school.

Major Problem and Correction: Josh Groban

Lakshmi, my favorite person and best friend, brought this to my attention last night. Someone very very important is missing from my list of "20 People I'd Marry In Half A Second". JOSH GROBAN! Eek. So here's the revised list...

20 People I'd Marry In Half A Second(note: this is in no particular order, except for #1 and #2)

1. Aaron Rodgers - This man has the most perfect arms of any human being on the planet. And he looks mighty fine in football pants. And he has gorgeous eyes.
2. Josh Groban - This is the right spot for him...so glad I added him. I feel better about this list already.
3. Ewan McGregor - I have to agree with Lakshmi on this one.
4. John Krasinski - The closest thing to Jim, the perfect man.
5. Dermot Mulroney - Here's another movie: The Wedding Date. Yes, sir. I'd pay that man my entire savings.
6. Hugh Grant - Yes, I realize he's just a year younger than my mom. But WOW.
7. Colin Firth - I don't know why, but I seem to have quite a "thing" for distinguished, handsome, but hilarious British men.
8. Tony Blair - Again, yes, I know he's old. But something about him...
9. James Marsden - Another one I agree with Lakshmi...poor guy always gets passed over. :(
10. Chris Meloni - Maybe it's the whole cop/protecting people thing. And he's just hot.
11. Matthew Macfadyen - Mr. Darcy? I think yes.
12. Matthew Perry - Because what's better than a man who can make you laugh and look cute while he's at it?
13. John Corbett - He had me at "My Big Fat Greek Wedding".
14. Jensen Ackles - Supernatural cutie.
15. Jared Padalecki - Supernatural cutie #2.
16. Gerard Butler - The Phantom AND cute guy from "The Ugly Truth?" Say it ain't so!
17. Dougray Scott - Handsome in "Ever After", but very attractive on "Desperate Housewives."
18. AJ McLean - The best looking Backstreet Boy.
19. Jesse McCartney - Not sure why, but he is one attractive guy.
20. Derek Jeter - It's just too bad he's a Yankee.

Hello December!

I know we all said "hello" to December a few weeks ago, and I'm a little late. But...I think it just dawned on me a few days ago that it actually was December.

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. We finally put the tree up, and we are slowly accumulating more presents underneath. While I am excited to open mine, I am most excited about my presents for the family this year. I cannot wait to see them open everything! It truly is the best part of Christmas. That and the cinnamon rolls my mom makes Christmas morning. Yes, I know, it's always food with me.

I have just been enjoying being at home this past week. My mom works, so I have been doing a lot of the baking while she is at work. Six loaves of pumpkin bread, about six dozen snickerdoodles, fudge, and lots and lots of sugar cookies. I have definitely been busy! But I can't think of a better way to spend my vacation than doing my favorite thing...cooking! Especially baking of any form. I love making food for people (and stealing a little bit of the sugar cookie dough for myself). Now it's on to finish up gift shopping, wrapping, baking (it's fudge and toffee today) and grocery shopping for Christmas dinner...

Merry Christmas!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! How pretty is this?? It's snow. And it's so wonderful.

"Well, sometimes love seems easy. Like...it's easy to love rain...and hawks. And it's easy to love wild plums...and the moon. But with people, seems like love's a hard thing to know. It gets all mixed up. I mean, you can love one person in one way and another person in another way. But how do you know you love the right one in every way?"

"I'm not sure, but I think you'll know. I think if it's the right person, it'll be better than rain and hawks and wild plums. Even better than the moon. I think it'll be better than all that put together."

if you're gone...

I have so many different thoughts running through my head right now, about different things.

I'm kind of frustrated...that a 56-year-old man can act like a 6-year-old girl. And that I always have to be the adult. Sometimes I just want to be able to relax, instead of being the one everyone piles their problems on and expecting me to fix it and handle it. I love that people feel they can trust me, because they can. I am always here to listen to anybody and help with anything. But it's just overwhelming when there's nowhere to put my problems and feelings.

I'm exhausted. The past few weeks have been insanely crazy.

But I guess, overwhelmingly, I'm just grateful.

Grateful for boys who are willing to take the time out of their day to do something they know you will appreciate. And to just do the right thing. And like to help people. Just because.

Grateful to have friends who understand. Friends who you have so much in common with--from taste in music to political opinions to craving the same thing when you're on your period to just being able to talk, but also a friend you can learn from. The differences just enhance the relationship.

Grateful for finding food that doesn't make me sick.

Grateful to have a car and to be able to go home Wednesday morning for Thanksgiving.

Grateful for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Grateful for my mom. And my step-dad. And even my brother.

Best Friends, Popcorn, and Books

It's November! So those are the three things I'm thankful for today.

Best friends: I love Lakshmi Sivaguru to freaking pieces. Ashton Horton is also a wonderful roommate. She sticks up for me when boys are mean and always makes me laugh with text message replies like, "Well, that's strike one for you-know-who."

Popcorn: I finally bought real popcorn today. With butter. And I must say, it was quite a yummy lunch, combined with a Diet Coke from the vending machine. And it's amazing I haven't even gained a pound in college yet. Of course it hasn't been a cake-walk. I just finished my workout, and I decided to do the hill climb on the elliptical. WOW.

Books: I am re-reading "The Time Traveler's Wife". And it's amazing. Here's my favorite part: "It's hard being left behind. I wait for Henry, not knowing where is he, wondering if he's okay. It's hard to be the one who stays. I keep myself busy. Time goes faster that way. I go to sleep alone, and wake up alone. I take walks, I work until I'm tired. I watch the wind play with the trash that's been under the snow all winter. Everything seems simple until you think about it. Why is love intensified by absence?"

What I love...

You feel like you're falling backwards,

Like you're slipping through the cracks,

Like no one would even notice

If you left this town and never came back.

You walk outside and all you see is rain,

You look inside and all you feel is pain,

And you can't see it now

But down the road the sun is shining,

In every cloud there's a silver lining,

Just keep holding on.

Every heartache makes you stronger,

But it won't be much longer and

You'll find love, you'll find peace

And the you you're meant to be.

I know right now that's not the way you feel,

But one day you will.

"One Day You Will" by Lady Antebellum (Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood)

Welcome to the Future

So I am watching "Country at the White House", some country special on GAC. It's Brad Paisley, and he is singing "Welcome to the Future." Before he started singing, he was talking to everyone, President Obama included, and it just made me think about what he was saying. I'm not the greatest fan of Obama, and that is the understatement of the century. But you really have to admit how far we have come as a country, even though everyone has beaten this fact TO DEATH.

We are so lucky to have what we have. I can call Lakshmi on the other side of the country, and I don't even think about it. Michael just sent me a few videos and I watched them on my mom's computer. We have TV's, computers, music, cell phones...it's so wonderful! I have an application on my phone that will give me instant scores from any game of every single sport that exists. And we still have this glorious country and great Constitution. We have so many things to be grateful for! It's pretty amazing.

Following Lakshmi's Example.....

So Lakshmi did this, and I thought it was quite entertaining. So here's my list of:

20 People I'd Marry In Half A Second
(note: this is in no particular order, except for #1)

1. Aaron Rodgers - This man has the most perfect arms of any human being on the planet. And he looks mighty fine in football pants. And he has gorgeous eyes.
2. Ewan McGregor - I have to agree with Lakshmi on this one.
3. John Krasinski - The closest thing to Jim, the perfect man.
4. Dermot Mulroney - Here's another movie: The Wedding Date. Yes, sir. I'd pay that man my entire savings.
5. Hugh Grant - Yes, I realize he's just a year younger than my mom. But WOW.
6. Colin Firth - I don't know why, but I seem to have quite a "thing" for distinguished, handsome, but hilarious British men.
7. Tony Blair - Again, yes, I know he's old. But something about him...
8. James Marsden - Another one I agree with Lakshmi...poor guy always gets passed over. :(
9. Chris Meloni - Maybe it's the whole cop/protecting people thing. And he's just hot.
10. Matthew Macfadyen - Mr. Darcy? I think yes.
11. Matthew Perry - Because what's better than a man who can make you laugh and look cute while he's at it?
12. John Corbett - He had me at "My Big Fat Greek Wedding".
13. Matthew Morrison - Will Schuester on Glee. Need I say more?
14. Jensen Ackles - Supernatural cutie.
15. Jared Padalecki - Supernatural cutie #2.
16. Gerard Butler - The Phantom AND cute guy from "The Ugly Truth?" Say it ain't so!
17. Dougray Scott - Handsome in "Ever After", but very attractive on "Desperate Housewives."
18. AJ McLean - The best looking Backstreet Boy.
19. Jesse McCartney - Not sure why, but he is one attractive guy.
20. Derek Jeter - It's just too bad he's a Yankee.

Fly Me to the Moon...

So there's this boy that's really nice...I just got a letter from him today. He is WAY too nice to me. I'm beginning to think I don't really deserve him being so great. I can't wait until July!

And Ashton and I are checking out apartments for next year. There's this really fun one with a fireplace. Yes, that's right. I said a FIREPLACE. It will be SO nice to have our own place.

So this whole "life" and "adulthood" thing is working out pretty well.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HOANG! :)

The Answer to Our Life

This weekend was probably the best weekend I have had since I moved to Flagstaff. It's been a huge adjustment, and I haven't really been happy, but I've done a really good job of hiding it. Most people don't know. But this weekend was amazing.

Friday night, Ashton and I drove to Clarkdale for some Mexican food. Yes, we really did drive 3 hours to eat. But it was totally worth it. It was nice to finally eat some decent Mexican food, since Taco Bell is about all we have here. We drove through Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona, so we saw some beautiful fall colors. It's incredible how beautiful it is--it's not something I have seen much growing up in Chandler. But we saw some beautiful colors: red, maroon, orange...it was wonderful. And it was nice to relax and listen to the Backstreet Boys.

Then Saturday we went to the homecoming football game! NAU killed ISU, 40-12. It was pretty awesome. Now we wondered why we haven't been to any of the games so far. It was fun to yell at everyone. Ashton and I went with Bonnee, one of my best friends up here. We laughed, talked, and checked out the cute football players. Then we went to dinner at an awesome pizza place downtown and watched more football. So definitely the best weekend I have had up here so far.

And I went to church today for the first time in about a month. I've been various places so I have missed it--Allie's wedding, going home, going to the Grand Canyon, etc. But it was nice to go to church again and to see my friends. Then I went visiting teaching afterwards. It's a feeling that I didn't know I was missing. It's so wonderful to be around people who have the same objectives, values, and beliefs. It's just relaxing. You don't have to worry about anything. And it's a nice feeling to do what you're supposed to do.

Put On A Happy Face

"It could be worse. You could be a little Ethiopian girl living in the tundra."

"...Um, Mom...There's no tundra in Ethiopia."

(long pause) "Well, then! Imagine how hard that would be. You wouldn't be used to the tundra."

That was my mom this morning on the phone, in one of her many efforts to make me feel better. That woman is a saint. And, strangely, it did make me feel better. Everyone needs a laugh at 7:30 in the morning.

It really could be worse. I may be hungry after most meals, but I still get to eat. I have a roof over my head, and I can shower daily. I have friends, and a phone to keep in touch with them, even when they're in PENNSYLVANIA. I'm getting 3 A's and 2 B's (though I'm trying really hard to get an A in English).

But it could be better. So I'm going to work really hard on this. I talked to Lakshmi, who, also like my mother, always makes me feel better. And she really makes sense. It's stuff I knew, but sometimes you just need to hear it again. She said that you get out of life what you put in. It reminds me of that quote, "Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it."

So here's to attitude adjustments, smiling, finding happiness in the little things like sitting next to a cute guy, and laughing!

I'll Believe You When...

You'd think it was too early to enroll for classes for next semester. You'd think that, right? Well, NO. Next week. So I'm incredibly stressed now. At least, as it looks right now, I won't have classes on Fridays! But I have a class every morning at 9. But I guess that's the price I'll pay for being able to go home for the weekends on Thursday nights. It is stressful, but it's nice to make the decisions, unlike high school. The woman made those decisions for you.

I cried all the way back to Flagstaff yesterday. I know it's early, but I'm not happy. I'm not enjoying it here as much as I had hoped. Everyone says it will get better, it's just early........I hope so.

My roommate and I are going to Subway. It's really sad when that is the highlight of your week. And I guess I'm going to FHE tonight. I guess. Unless the Broncos game is good.

Welcome to the Farm

Today I realized how much I want to be like my mom. I came home yesterday to a house full of Halloween and fall decorations, which I'm sure immediately went up the first week of October, if not before. There should be no question in one's mind what season it is, even what month it is, when they come into our house. Of course it's classy, and pretty. Not gaudy and overdone. It's comfortable. And that's something I've always noticed about our house. It's a home. I hope I can create a comfortable, loving atmosphere for my family just as my mom has for us. Of course there's many other reasons I want to be like her--she's patient, loving, kind...I could go on and on. But that's what hit me today.

It is such a nice feeling to be home. It's nice to change the pace...this last week was crazy. It's wonderful to spend time with everyone, and eat Mexican food. I'm so excited to eat Mexican food tonight. I really miss that up in Flagstaff. The only Mexican food is the fake Chipotle we have in our union, which happened to make Ashton and I extremely sick.

Are You Havin' Any Fun?

Whatcha getting out of living?

What good is what you've got

If you're not havin' any fun?

This is for Michelle. :)

It's fall!! October is one of the best months of the year. The leaves are falling in Flagstaff, and it's cooling down! Of course I had to come home this weekend, and it's almost 100. But I guess that's the price you pay. I've been thinking a lot today about my blessings. What would we do without:

1. football
2. pumpkins
3. french fries
4. HUGS
5. nail polish