2011 babyyyy!!

So New Years Eve was a BLAST!!! Hooray for Alex and I getting out of our norms and just watching the ball drop and then watching a movie. Haha We were going to go clubbin (since we're fiiiinally 21 and can do those sorts of things) but Alex's mom said that it would be super dangerous since we'd be driving to San Diego on the road with everyone who was wasted. Probably not a good combination. But. We decided to check out some local places and they turned out not lookin so good. So we pulled over, about to go with our default plan, but I remembered this thing in Old Town Temecula called "the Grape Drop" where they were going to drop 7 ft grapes at midnight. I figured we could check that out, so we did. What we didn't consider was the fact that it was like 3o something degrees outside!!!!!! We had dressed to get all hot in a club and so you better believe we were frozen. But! It was so so much fun!!!! They had live music and they were hilarious, not to mention talented! So we mostly watched the other couples around us dance (they were SO cute! All the husbands trying to keep up with their wives) and then....the BIG MOMENT came!!!....

So now for the obvious.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS!!!!

1. Be MUCH better at communication (with my phone)

2. Keep my workouts just as good at home as they were at school.

3. Try to make myself happy versus trying to put eeeeveryone else first.

4. Show more gratitude for everyone and everything I have.

5. Go Thomas Edison this year.

I figured I should keep the list somewhat short so that I could actually keep them all. Haha Happy New Years everyone!!! Bring it on 2011!! It's sure to be a year to remember!!

L is for the way you look at people

As I was thinking today about all the different things I've learned about, one keeps coming back into play: love. It's a pretty simple word, and really, it's simple to do.

I think one thing I've learned over this semester is to actually see people as people and learn to love them as the Savior would. I'm not saying it's been super easy, but just something I tried in the beginning and am continuing to work on. It's actually made my life so much greater and I've made so many more friends and great relationships than I thought I would! Every person deserves to be loved and respected, because every person is a divine design of my Heavenly Father and they are going through the same kinds of things that I am. It's so easy to be judgmental and critical of others. However, when I find myself attempting that, I just remember that I have no right, in my flawed self, to ever say anything negative about anyone! So I stop and actually get to know the person, and it's never failed me yet where I walk away having learned or gained nothing about that person. Everyone has something that they can teach me, and I hope that maybe there is something that I can teach them!

There is this book that I want SO badly for Christmas called "Love As a Way of Life" (who also wrote "The Five Love Languages"-also on my reading list, but later) and yes, it's mostly for people who have some sort of serious relationship going. BUT! It also is about developing and attaining qualities that make up a good person, basically. And I want to try to be the best person I can be! I just think life is too short and moves too fast for everyone to be so harsh and negative to each other! Why make enemies when you can make friends? It also came up in the Christmas Devotional from the First Presidency. That in love, you find the true meaning of Christmas. And in relief society today, Alex told us about an experiment that she got from Bobbi-every time she passed someone, she secretly thought of something she liked about them. Alex said that at first, it was little things like "Oh, I love her shoes!" but then, they started to turn into things like "Wow, she looks really confident! That is so cool!" and she started to notice that change in herself. That really struck me-how great is that?! She also said Bobbi became so overwhelmed after a while because she was finding all these amazing things about people she didn't even know! It was very cool. I hope to find those same things in myself. I love Christmas and the reflections and self-evaluations they bring. I can't wait to serve people and to go home and show my family how much I've missed them and love them! But. I will miss the people up here. I've learned so much and I hope they know that they've touched my life. Happy holidays!

Silver Shadow Believer

Day 03- A picture of you and your craziest friend.

Oh freak, this is a tough one. But if I had to pick one right now, I would have to say this guy.I'm not kidding when I say there is NEVER a dull moment around Spencer Perkins. It's been a little sad because he's been on his mission (North Carolina, coming back soooo soon!) and I haven't really had the chance to talk to him recently. BUT. He is the craziest person I know, the most fun, and the most outgoing. He will literally walk up to a stranger, come back, and tell me that he loves that person. Haha He's not afraid to yell, and there have been many a time where I've said "Oh my gosh Spence, be quiet!! Someone is going to hear you!" but it never bothers him a bit. He's totally himself all day, everyday, anywhere. And he always just lets me be my crazy old self. I love our "fights." They are usually completely ridiculous and over before we even really agree that we're officially fighting. I've never gone away from hanging out with him being like "Oh....that was mellow and okay." Never. He's the craziest, funniest, coolest guy I know.

Hahaha You get it then, yes?
And yes Al, you were a close second. :)

Memory Lane

Alright. Day 02 of blogging challenge: A really good memory.

Easy. 19th Birthday. It was the best day ever. Alex (bestest friend in the whole wide universe), Spencer, Ryan, and I first started out the day with breakfast at Spencer's house-which I loooove. They made breakfast for me (including the traditional orange rolls that I get on my birthday every year!) with eggs and bacon and the whole enchilada! (Well, not enchiladas thank goodness) and then we all drove down to Hollywood and listened to all our favorite songs (thanks to the cd Al made), especially Manchester Orchestra since we were going down there for their concert! we walked around the whole day and just ate, hung out, and Ryan and Spencer actually snuck backstage to the concert because they said they were roadies for Manchester and the security people believed them!! So they got to meet Say Anything and hang out back there while Alex and I walked around and went shopping. The concert was amazing too. They played all my favorite songs, Andy was smokin hot, and after, I got a picture of Robert and Freeman from the back!!


We even left a little early (we didn't really care about Say Anything) and were walking back and saw their VAN parked like blocks over!!! So Spencer and Ryan left a note. We're always going to wonder what happened to it. Haha But yeah. Cheesecake Factory, train, music, dancing, lights...It replays in my mind all the time. It was a perfect day. Best friends in a great place. :)

If you don't know Manchester, here is the reason I love them.