The Joys of being a Redhead: post-grad in Provo

the valentine sweater.

2012-02-14T22:58:00.005-07:00

i love sweaters, my heart sweater is a new favorite.

i love it. its perfect for valentines day (and any other day too...).

did you see J.crew's heart sweater in December? I fell in love with it at first sight, as did the rest of the US population. oh how i loved it, but it sold out SO fast! my little heart was broken that my closet wouldn't have a new addition. Alas, pinterest saved the day with a little tutorial.

and I made it.

and i am as happy as a clam.

at a valentines party i played 'stab the heart' and me with daddy's flowers.

love love.

the provo life as of late.

2012-02-08T14:54:00.013-07:00

I did a wicked amount of paperwork this week.

21 admits!!! stop. my. heart.

the RD was very impressed...i am awesome.

made my room messy...shame on you if you judge me.

its "annalise" clean now: looks clean, but closet is a messy. love my walk-in.

homemade valentines--yes I sewed that arrow to the paper...

no, I did not get the idea from pinterest, i thought of it on my own.

these valentines are for really really special people.

although my JBeibs valentines are pretty rad too.

Celebrated Up Helly Aa with the study abroad folks.

my boat didn't float well, i apologize to my european heritage.

temple tuesday. the workers love cousin grace and i.

i am still not loving the 4:45 AM alarm clock, but its worth it.

i love the provo temple. i think its beautiful.

saw the peking acrobats at BYU.

i really wish I went to acrobat school, i want to fly in the air. darn gravity.

so in love with BBC's downton abbey...my mom is obsessed too. what??

matthew crawley is perfection.

i wish I was an actress since I not-so-secretly want to star in period dramas.

preping for my glitter birthday party with Emily.

yes, its glitter themed.

I am going to Dallas tomorrow to visit aunt ruth who is really sick with daddy and see my favorite newlyweds, danielle and jared.

and in 52 days I will know about dietetic internships.

yowza.

love love.

groundhog day.

2012-02-02T00:13:00.000-07:00

Don't you worry about cholesterol, lung cancer, love handles?

groundhog day is probably one of the dumbest holidays in the US--school still occurs, there are no special foods, decorations or costumes...weathermen can't accurately predict the weather, why do we think an oversized rat can?...but I love the movie. so much.

i hope its playing at the gym in honor of this "holiday." yesterday was 'the count of monte cristo' at the gym and I made it 6.3 miles. no big deal.

love love.

i don't feel bad saying, i am so (SO) good looking.

2012-01-30T17:36:00.007-07:00

hi.

family.

3 oldest.

ladies of the family.

love love.

green wig.

2012-01-28T20:40:00.005-07:00

this weekend I was in a murder mystery.

so naturally I had to wear a wig.

it was pretty fabulous.

so clearly I have decided that I will wear wigs when I am old and wrinkly.

getting old is starting to sound better.

and i found my passport after a four hour hunt. hallelujah.

words cannot express my excitement to go to isreal.

love love.

hello, its me!

2012-01-25T17:06:00.008-07:00

I am trying to perfect the becky hayes smile with your mouth open.

remember me? the author of this blog? I know I don't blog as much as I did when I was a BYU coed. I miss those good old days when my life was really funny/interesting (or am I the only one who thought that??)

anyways, nothing blog worthy is going on...

but I have been quite busy.

crafting.

searching for my passport.

making messes looking for said passport.

watching BBC's downton abbey. expect a blog post dedicated to this soon.

writing letters to missionary friends.

making valentines.

fretting about my future. my personal favorite pastime.

busting moves at the gym.

working (31 new admits in one week...)

scraping snow off my windshield.

avoiding the 40% JCrew sale. resist. resist. resist.

reading.

chatting it up with old dietetics friends.

watching the Australian Open.

going to the temple.

indexing.

scanning family pictures.

3 weeks of laundry.

started having a tendency to forget to press start to the dryer.

dinner group-ing.

perfecting my spotify account.

thats it. i am alive.

pray for my passport. i need it. bad!

love love.

education.

2012-01-19T23:40:00.009-07:00

reading in bed with teddy bear=crucial part of life.

I'm on the provident living committee. this sunday I am teaching about education to people with last names A-E in my ward (automatic audience=excellent) and i am giving the class valentines day pencils so its sure to be a success. I am still working on my outfit, but my lesson is done. bam!

anyways I am sharing this quote with the class...

“Our education must never stop. If it ends at the door of the classroom on graduation day, we will fail. And we will need the help of heaven to know which of the myriad things we could study we would most wisely learn. We cannot waste time entertaining ourselves when we have the chance to read or to listen to whatever will help us learn what is true and useful. Insatiable curiosity will be our hallmark.” -Henry B. Eyring, “Real-Life Education,” New Era, Apr. 2009, 6

what a relief I have started reading with 3 purposes...

1) pleasure--'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' by Jonathan Safran Foer

2) not for pleasure--'Krause's food and nutrition therapy,' I don't recommend it. its pretty dense.

3) preparation for Israel--'Jesus the Christ'

and I listen to NPR when I don't like the songs on the radio.

baby steps.

tomorrow I am wearing a suit. i have an interview with BYU for the dietetic internship. why did I apply to BYU? one reason, miss anna elizabeth.

love love.

awkwardness: lack of shaving. cringe.

2012-01-16T21:37:00.004-07:00

i am not a hippie. I believe in smooth legs during all seasons. no excuses. but recently I didn't shave for 6 weeks. a few lucky friends were texted pictures of my man-ish legs.

I am in the process of doing laser hair removal. during my first appointment I was told NOT to shave until the morning of the next appointment. I obeyed. however as time passed my self control was really tested, but I stayed strong.

lo and behold, I WAS LIED TO! you can totally shave during laser hair removal treatment. needless to say when I told the women who was lasering my legs this weekend about the advice I was previously given she was shocked. like really shocked. I was just annoyed. all those days I wore tights to work or had my legs hair glisten in the sunlight was for naught.

but my legs are smooth now. I repeat. my legs are smooth now.

don't judge me.

love love.

and now it really begins.

2012-01-15T21:26:00.009-07:00

I am all done applying for dietetic internships

AND

almost done with graduate schools applications too.

you know i did a high kick and victory dance after submitting.

wish me luck.

the waiting game is the worst. so give me a hug.

but i feel like a million bucks.

I AM SO AWESOME.

love love.

ps. thanks to mom/dad/sister for your awesome editing skills.

make each day count.

2012-01-12T16:27:00.007-07:00

my mind is fully consumed by dietetic internship/graduate school apps. sometimes I wish I could just fast-forward (or hibernate) to sunday, april 1st when dietetic internships matches are listed. I also strongly believe it is cruel to have match-day be april fools day.

"Time is a gift, a treasure not to be put aside for the future, but to be used wisely in the present." -President Thomas S. Monson

until April 1st I am trying to be nice, maybe train for another half marathon, learn a few talents, hang out with brother, read quality literature, scan a lot of family pictures, prepare to go to isreal etc.

oh be still my soul!

love love.

miss becky hayes.

2012-01-07T17:45:00.005-07:00

recently miss hayes was posed an earth-shattering question,

why are you and annalise friends?

this led to a FaceTime conversation where we evaluated our friendship. we decided to stay friends and discussed a few reasons why we love us.

1) we love bleed blue: both inside our bodies (physiology obviously) and figuratively for our BYU cougars.

2) we love skiing utah powder. its the greatest snow on earth.

3) we love justin beiber. his songs speak to our tween hearts.

4) we love organic chemistry (gag).

5) we love blogs, whether it's our personal blogs or strangers.

6) we love the HBLL even if we once got locked in the bottom floor with no lights.

7) we love running the 7 peaks Provo loop.

8) we love the color orange.

9) we love talking fashion.

10) we love apple products. RIP steve jobs.

11) we love harry potter...we are products of our generation.

12) we love olives restaurant in Las Vegas.

13) we love going to the pencourt. once again, thanks BYU dietetics.

14) we love hiking.

15) we love being mormon.

16) we love alternative food styles: becks is vegetarian and I am a cooking vegetation. (i don't cook meat)

17) we love the continent of europe. but we call north america home.

18) we love the american pastime of baseball.

19) we love random meet ups.

20) we love provo, granted its not NYC or DC, but its a pretty good stomping ground.

bottom line: we are kindred spirits like diana berry and anne shirley. I might even suggest we are better friends then diana and anne since our friendship didn't start with a solemn oath in the berry's garden like them. we just decided that we just love to be together.

whether its eating frozen yogurt

or skiing

or meeting a death eater (harry potter) at the cannon center

or seeing the lights at temple square

or hiking

or randomly seeing each other at BYU after 4 months apart
or graduating together.

This blogpost has been brought to you, the reader, by divine intervention and BYU housing. we thank you for bringing us together.

love love.

it starts again.

2012-01-06T21:26:00.005-07:00

I have started applying for dietetic internships. again.

yes. my life totally rocks.

remember last April when I wasn't placed? although I put on a good face to the public, inside I was aching. It was hard, the day before I was at Grandpa's funeral and the next day the world told me I was a failure. Crying in the shower wasn't really fun either.

but fast-forward almost a year later, I feel a little grateful I wasn't placed. It was a hard lesson to learn, but I have learned the most important thing in life: how to rely in the Lord.

do I feel confident applying this year? no. don't be crazy. my fate is being decided by a computer program that will decide where I go based on how I am ranked.

but I am at peace.

the best is yet to come.

love love.

ps. please send me happy thoughts. you're awesome.

the cake of all cakes.

2012-01-04T23:00:00.003-07:00

ignore the crowns, we always pop english crackers during christmas and new years.

In July I made Daddy a birthday cake. The nutella cake: vanilla cake and nutella buttercreme frosting. basically a heart attack on a plate and a serious labor of love. BUT it was requested again for Elias' 10th birthday on New Years eve. it was perfect. more delicious, more beautiful and well loved by brothers.

isn't my domestic prowess impressive?

love love.

christmas=perfection

2012-01-03T16:54:00.010-07:00

Christmas was so much fun. My favorite part was giving a talk in church on new years day about building a strong spiritual foundation...just kidding. It was so nice to just be together as a family and be there for a few special events like the triplets' baptism and Peter's Eagle Scout court of honor.

the family.

Peter's court of honor for his boy scout eagle award.

Elias is excited to be the last brother 'eagle-fied.'

singing at the homeless shelter.

with the triplets.

showed mom the joys of costco.

hiking at the land.

carriage riding.

Riding a camel, its my new prefered mode of transportation.

dietetics approval.

11th annual ice skating party with high school friends (meghan, kate, ariel)

The triplets were baptized!

chill. blessed frozen yogurt.

ate raclette...oh sweet study abroad memories.

ted drews. a st. louis tradition.

love love.

favorite newlyweds ever.

2011-12-21T23:36:00.007-07:00

boat basin.

Ted Drews.

hello happiness! my favorite newlyweds came to St. Louis on a layover. it was pretty magical. Provo isn't the same without them and Dallas clearly lacks a little Annalise flair.

...and home is great. i am a definite fan of sleeping in, running around the neighborhood followed by p90x ab ripper X, practicing driving the motorcycle, reading, attending elementary school sing-alongs, studying MO history with Elias, costco/global foods shopping, checking out christmas decorations, cooking delicious food for brothers etc.

love love.

cheapskate.

2011-12-17T16:00:00.005-07:00

one of the best parts about traveling with brother: he will carry my bag. excellent.

something about paying to check-in baggage seems so unfair. airports have free wi-fi during the holiday season, why NOT free baggage too? brother and i pricelined our tickets back to St. Louis, so we are flying frontier, a non-free baggage airline (hyrum did inform me that they pass out warm cookies at 30,000 ft...this gesture however isn't raising my spirits)

so I am bringing home 2 carry-on's

1) violin--as requested by mom.

2) my beautiful leather weekend bag

therefore I have all my outfits planned for when I am home.

i have never packed so light in my entire life.

love love.

ps. a resident told me at work that I am the best dressed employee.

pps. i am so in love with the micheal buble christmas cd...he is dreamy.

Christmas, I love you. so. much.

2011-12-12T06:31:00.002-07:00

I have so much Christmas spirit...its so much easier to be excited for one of my favorite holidays when I don't have finals to worry about. being a college graduate is awesome on so many levels.

today I was reminicing about christmas past.

Christmas 1988: My first Christmas in NYC. I am pretty sure it was awesome. I have an ornament that says, "Baby's first Christmas 1988" so I know I got an ornament. and a visit from Santa.

Christmas 1991: Los Angeles/Cheyenne, Wyoming. We gathered for Grandma's funeral and I was a little overwhelmed with the amount of cousins I have. serious. That Christmas I think I played in snow for the first time that winter...snow and I have been in love ever since.

Christmas 1994: the start of the American Girl doll phase started in sister and I's life...and at the ward christmas party we sung 'Rockin' around the Christmas tree' and the tree fell down. It was memorable.

Christmas 1999: it snowed Christmas morning. It was magical. We also didn't open presents until late morning since Daddy was at the hospital saving lives as usual...waiting was a bit of a trial.

Christmas 2oo2: Elias was born! I was so excited to go back to school and tell everyone that I had a new baby brother. It was so magical having a new born in the house during the Christmas season.

Christmas 2003: I was playing the violin in the London New Years Celebrations so Mom, sister and Jonathan came to see me play (aka. tour London). Minus playing in a bunch of concerts, London was pretty festive place to be.

Christmas 2006: my first Christmas after starting BYU. I was so excited to be home and I remember thinking how cool I was flying home for Christmas...its really weird to see this picture since the kitchen has since been remodeled...

Christmas 2009: In Nicaragua. coolest christmas ever (minus the fact Hyrum was still on his mission). It was so magical down there.

I just can't wait to go home, hug the brothers, have pillow talk with sister, go on walks around the neighborhood, play with the triplets, go ice skating at shaw park, sled down art hill, hike the katy trail, etc.

love love.

I'll be home for christmas...

2011-12-10T09:34:00.009-07:00

Mom's Swiss shitzbuben cookies...pure happiness.

I leave utah in 7 days and 9-ish hours.

yes. I have a countdown and a pile of clothes waiting to be packed.

I am determined NOT to overpack this year--for some reason I always forget my parents have a laundry room and PJs are suitable attire for Christmas break.

I have been quite busy with work (lots of new admits), dietetic internship applications, grad school applications. I don't really want to talk about it...BUT Mrs. McCallister's in 'Home Alone' said it best, "Christmas is the season of perpetual hope." and I am feeling GOOD!

this week I also saw "White Christmas' the BYU...it made me miss sister since we would sing 'Sisters' at every talent show. ever. forget the fact I can't sing in tune...i have other talents...like the fact I'm playing the violin in Anna/Rachel's ward tomorrow, yes I was recruited outside the ward for my talents.

love love.

santa.

2011-12-03T22:34:00.001-07:00

my first christmas: sharing santa's lap with sister.

today i saw santa at the mall.

i didn't sit in his lap, but I sent him a message via telepathic powers.

so i am feeling pretty confident about my christmas stash.

love love.

i wish i had an aunt like ralphie who would give me a present like this.

2011-12-02T17:42:00.007-07:00

seriously. so. funny.

16 days until I go home and watch christmas movies with the family.

love love.

dear summer, come faster.

2011-12-01T21:07:00.009-07:00

october 2011. mom and dad rocking the tour headsets at the dome of the rock.

I know the Israel tour is not until the summer, but I am beyond excited.

can i just go NOW? provo has NO snow and its getting cold. no good.

this week I started reading 'Jesus the Christ' by Elder Talmage.

I started it during the summer of Cornell, but didn't make it all the way.

but now I am determined. super determined.

its also a pretty appropriate book for the christmas season.

I can't wait to see the garden tomb, swim in the red sea, sing "there is a green hill far away," bask in the shade of an olive tree, climb the hills of bethlehem, go fishing in the sea of galilee, crawl through Hezekiah's tunnel, put a note in the wailing wall, eat falafals and gyros, shop in markets, hold a baby lamb, and walk the city walls with my siblings.

its going to be fantastic.

love love.

a zumba thanksgiving morning

2011-11-27T21:51:00.005-07:00

cousin grace and i with our pies at grandma's thanksgiving dinner: key lime and cherry.

thanksgiving morning I went to a zumba class at gold's. I hadn't gone in months and was about to leave since I thought I was looked bad. My ego can really only handle so much. but a little group of old ladies gathered around me and said I looked awesome. so I stayed. some quotes from my posse..."are you a dancer?" "your hips can really move" etc.

hello ego boost.

i guess my hips don't lie.

and i was invited to one lady's house for thanksgiving. ha!

and another wanted her grandson and i to get together. ha ha!

and i burned about 500 calories zumba-ing then burned another 400 calories running. so i ate as much stuffing as i pleased. worth it.

quality thanksgiving.

the rest of the weekend was delightful too.

love love.

ps. new addition to my list of skills: i make amazing key lime pie.

count your blessings not your troubles.

2011-11-24T07:24:00.006-07:00

things I am grateful for on this thanksgiving day...

the restored gospel

an eternal family

friends

warm blankets

education

large purses

iphone

heartbreak

"rise and shout the (BYU) cougars are out..."

my redhair

edamame

naps

the (conference) ensign

hot showers

costco

red nail polish

skype/facetime

books

text messages

golds gym

smiles

answers to prayers

my sweater collection

snow

skiing

mountains

cafe rio salads

laughing

pipping hot showers

oversized post-it notes

anne of green gables

mr darcy. mr knightly. colonel brandon. edward bertram.

clementines

sunshine

bare essentials makeup

frozen yogurt

pico de gallo

scarves

vacations

the seasons

trees

dry heat

colors: mostly yellow

modern transportation

glitter

the armed forces

music

BBC masterpiece theater

acne medicine

contacts

unfortunately I am not in St. Louis with the family, but they miss me terribly so that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. its nice to be missed. let the record show that i miss them too.

my mind keeps thinking about last thanksgiving in aspen grove. it was my last time seeing grandpa. he was so frail and looked so old, i really miss him but i am grateful he has been reunited with grandma again. i bet he is eating a really big feast in heaven with lots of apple pie.

love love.

all good things happen at yogurtland.

2011-11-22T23:02:00.009-07:00

yogurtland is the most magical place in Utah valley.

i am in love with the pumpkin fro-yo.

it should be offered year-round.

its the most delicious thing my taste buds have ever touched.

ok maybe that is an over exageration, but you get the point.

this picture gives NO justice to the fact my hair now has curl in it.

pacada and i had to go to yogurtland to say our goodbyes.

i'm going to miss my favorite house guest ever.

thanks byu dietetics for bringing dani/pacada/i together with our mutual love of nutrition, free stuff, golds gym classes, the chocolate's white cake, Diet dr. pepper, GG, sleep, procrastination etc.

love love.

a st. george wedding.

2011-11-21T14:05:00.005-07:00

This weekend was a whirlwind of weddingness. but it was perfect.

mr. and mrs. green outside the temple.

diet dr. pepper run after the wedding. necessity.

pacada and i at the reception.

the happy couple at the open house.

congrats to the newlyweds!

i am going to miss them in Provo. so much.

it was so fun being there for all the events

minus my $90 speeding ticket...so unfair!

love love.

weekend. of. bliss.

2011-11-13T23:17:00.011-07:00

aren't we the cutest? love my sequin sweater too!

This weekend was Dani's bridal shower.

it was so fun.

not to brag, but i did such a good job planning it.

we had cupcakes from the sweet tooth fairy

and crepes.

and I made cookies that said 'he put a ring on it' for favors.

pretty fabulous right?

they were made possible by message in cookie

and inspired by a philospher of our time, Beyonce.

they took forever to decorate but it was okay.

call it a labor of love.

so basically the shower was a sugar-overload despite the high attendence from present and post dietetic majors...

rachel, anna, me, covey--vienna study abroad fall 2008. still miss it.

I went to the BYU-Itaho football game (thanks covey!)

and nearly froze to death.

we won.

sunday-church was really good, my nap was coma-like, dinner with brother was delicious, talking to the fam-fam was delightful, playing games with my favorite engaged couple was awesome.

5 days until they wed and they leave me/provo.

guess I will have to make some new friends

since they are 85% of my social life.

yes, I'm a third wheel. its no big deal. they love me.

love love.

crafting: make-up board.

2011-11-11T13:14:00.004-07:00

After 23 years I have my own bathroom (ok, I had one for a year when I was a senior and sister was in college...then I went to college and had to share again). It is really amazing, but the lack of counter space has been driving me nuts. When I have tried to find the right foundation or eye shadow this has usually led to a cascade of products falling all over the floor and into the sink.

no more.

this weekend Ezip made make up boards.

yes. so now my daily make-up has velcro attached to it on the board.

now i just need to figure out how to hang up the entire frame.

this is pretty much the best thing to happen to me ever. just kidding.

my life is super awesome.

love love.

curly hair?

2011-11-08T22:53:00.006-07:00

curly hair. what? don't you dare call me 'little orphan annie.'

I always knew my hair wasn't perfectly strait.

but I didn't know it would dry with curls when cut short.

what is this?

it was quite the surprise this morning.

thats all folks.

love love.

winter has arrived.

2011-11-07T23:25:00.002-07:00

there is snow on the mountains and it probably won't go away until june.

so one of my favorite winter ritual has started: herbal tea.

hot and delicious.

I might just have texted this to my mom...ignore the grammatical error (thanks)

remember how I majored in dietetics/nutrition?

awesome.

love love is my signature phase. i have grand hopes for it infiltrating american society.

Life is just grand.

love love.

life is too short to wear boring clothes.

2011-11-04T15:30:00.005-06:00

how true that is.

today I wore my sequin sweater...its 100% rose gold sequins.

i got a lot of compliments at work and double-takes while driving.

i am cool. super cool.

other notes:

-the cardinals won the world series. marry me david freese?

-i gave a talk in my new ward and it was really good. I looked good too.

-halloween half marathon=horrid experience. so poorly organized.

-ticket-to-ride: germany is the best version of TTR. trust me.

-Pacada will be in UT soon for Dani's wedding. so excited.

-got my new Conference Ensign. love it.

-saw all the myres cousins at a family dinner. the best.

-made homemade bread. I should do this more since it is a universal truth that I make amazing homemade bread.

-yogurtland's pumpkin pie frozen yogurt is sinfully delightful.

love love.

haircut.

2011-10-26T22:11:00.020-06:00

it is a universal truth that I have beautiful hair. my hair looks like spun gold and feels like cashmere, so few people are up to my standards to cut it. Therefore I schedule such hair appointments when I am home.

On a whim I bought a groupon for a haircut at Salon K in Provo since my long hair has been a little irksome for a while.

today was the final straw when my hair kept snagging on my sweater.

so I called for a hair appointment.

one hour later I said goodbye to the last 9-10 inches of my hair.

before and after shots: isn't my haircut the cutest? I love it. so. much.

buying that groupon was nothing short of brilliant. seriously I love my cut SO MUCH. The hair stylist, laura was so cute too. I had so much fun with her and she was so encouraging since I was unsure if I wanted a long bob or to keep the long layers. I am so glad I did the long bob, its perfect. LOVE IT! I am so excited to be able to wear my hair down more.

so if you need a cut in the provo area, you now know where to go. my stamp of approval has been placed on Salon K.

now you can comment and say how good my hair looks. kthanks.

love love.

words with friends.

2011-10-24T15:08:00.018-06:00

1) foaming. 65 points against gogreener.

beating gogreener at words with friends is one of my top goals for the end of 2o11. trust me, its a very worthy goal.

2) unvaried. 56 points against katie.

i was losing most of the game, but I won with my LAST word! hahaha. I might have also texted her at 11 PM asking her to place a word since I had my 'unvaried' word all planned. Needless to say I was pretty excited when my phone beeped this morning telling me it was my turn!

its the small successes in life that really count.

this shirt was a must-have. hahah! no shame.

on another note, please pray for the cardinals to win the world series. my team needs it. seriously who are the rangers? never heard of them.

on another note, my hair is wicked long. I know everyone it jealous of its softness and color, but the hair is mine and i want to CUT it. any suggestions?

on another note, i hid my debit card from myself. it sounded like a brilliant plan in theory, but I now i can't remember where it hid it.

on another note, the halloween half marathon is less then a week ago. am I ready? nope, but my costume is.

love love.

conversations with a 9 year old.

2011-10-22T16:22:00.010-06:00

talking to Elias, my youngest brother on the phone is the greatest.

"how is college?"

"i graduated remember? so now I work."

"does that mean you're old."

"I guess so."

"when are you going to get married?"

"Someday."

"I am going to get married someday and get resurrected!"

"are you going to get married in the temple?"

"Sure! Then I am going to heaven and live with Jesus and Grandpa."

"can I come with you?"

"well, you have to buried like Grandpa first..But you can come with me."

golly, he is the cutest. he melts my heart everytime.

love love.

always in search of the perfect burger...

2011-10-20T21:38:00.015-06:00

me + burger...isn't my new fall sweater perfect? love it. so. much.

beloved pencourt had a theme day the other week. I had to go since missing this blessed event would be sinful. So much work goes into it.

I had so much fun to seeing my old professors, a few old classmates and the new juniors in the program. (I was so glad it wasn't me back there in the yellow t-shirt and hairnet.)

and it was delicious. the burger rivaled smashburger. serious.

it was really wonderful to all see the blessed pencourt kitchen where so many memories were made. Like the time I didn't put in 3 cups of flour into the muffin mix or burned my wrist and had to go to the health center or running to make it to class on time.

thanks for the good times BYU dietetics.

love love.

fabulous las vegas.

2011-10-15T10:58:00.025-06:00

Elvis was right when he sung, 'Viva Las Vegas."

Brandon Flowers was right about 'Fabulous Las Vegas."

unfortunately, JBeibs has not sung about Las Vegas yet...

EZip was a dream travel companion and excellent co-JBeibs enthusiast as we drove 375 miles to Vegas. so fun.

mesquite. we were getting tired of driving.

so happy to have arrived.

I spent time at the pool/gym while dad went to his medical meetings.

in the afternoons Dad and I played in the greater Las Vegas area.

red rocks.

dad + me.

the next day we went to Lake Mead and hiked about 6 miles in the heat of the day with little water. sounds terrible right? well, let the record show it was amazing. the slot canyon was incredible. Slot canyons are always amazing, but this one was possibly the best one I have ever been in...the rocks walls seemed like they were moving.

then we went to in-n-out. and texted pics of the deliciousness before us to brothers to make them jealous...goal accomplished. HA.

and then we went to Cirque du Soleil show Beatles 'LOVE.'

I like the beatles, but the show was OFF the charts. the show was truly magical. I can't believe the talent of all the performers. I was saddened to learn that I have missed my calling in life to be an acrobat. I really wish I could climb ropes and fly in the air.

Miss Becky Hayes, a resident of nevada and current staff member for the senior Nevada senator and senate majority leader, Harry Reid, recommended going to 'Olives.' I had the most amazing butternut squash pasta. I want to get it daily as with their mango creme brulee. am I asking too much? we loved it.

then our time came to a close and I dropped dad off at the airport and I drove home. alone. hello boring. It brought back horrid memories of the summer 201o when I drove to and from Cornell alone. thank goodness the speed limit is 75-80 mph the whole way. I really missed EZip on the way back to the blessed city of Provo, UT.

thanks Dad for an excellent trip and new iphone case. "you're the tops, you're the empire state building" but I think you already knew that.

love love.

disclaimer: do NOT stay at the Venetian.

1) it does not look like Venice. Venice is beautiful despite it being covered in pigeons/seagulls and people smile more. it was a good attempt, but not quite there.

2) the security is over the top. I will spare you all the horrid details (although if you give me a call, I will share), but I couldn't get into my hotel room for 3 hours because they didn't think I was who I said I am. YET I had drivers licence and my name was also on the reservation. they gave us one night free for my trouble/apology...LAME.

3) the wi-fi internet is really slow. I aged 5 years every time tried to connect to make a move on 'words with friends.'

4) you have to walk through the smoke-filled casino floor to get to the guest elevators. If I contract lung cancer, I will know who to send the hospital bill to.

why does this never get old?

2011-10-12T19:18:00.004-06:00

i'm cool. promise.

i will be in las vegas tomorrow.

swimsuit? check.

short-sleeved shirts? check.

sandals? check.

jbeibs cd? check check.

love love.

welcome to fabulous.

2011-10-10T18:28:00.010-06:00

1) thursday I leave for vegas with EZip. I will be hanging out the pool/hiking red rocks/making sure dad attends his medical conference. EZip is coming to keep me company on the drive/visit her pregnant sister and brother in law. we we we so excited.

2) I got the best phone call yesterday. Since my parentals had such a wonderful time in Isreal they are sending the 3 oldest kids with the Daniel Rona Isreal tour! I am so excited. I can't wait to see where Christ walked and get more passport stamps. Now I just need to figure out how we can also get to Egypt and Petra, Jordan...and meet Anna in Vienna and visit the Brewers (my study abroad director) in Berlin.

my life is too fabulous.

love love.

kindred spirits unite.

2011-10-09T19:40:00.003-06:00

christmas 2006 temple square. graduation april 2011. BYU homecoming oct 2011.

on saturday I hunted miss becky matkin hayes down at the BYU booksore. it was magical. I never see this girl anymore since she decided to move to DC to work for senate majority leader, Harry Reid...my loss is DC/the senate's gain.

since we were inside, I decided not to reinact how I saw her at graduation...I think all of campus heard our screams of happiness on that blessed day...

the heavens aligned again and I saw her sunday (what luck!)...I wasn't thinking about where I should park to go to church and ended up in the WILK parking lot. I was a little bothered with myself for not parking on the right side of campus, but lo and behold, becky was in the car in front of me and I parked next to her parent's car. becky saw me and tapped on my window, you better believe I screamed. then smiled. happiness. pure happiness.

clearly we are kindred spirits. our spirits are united.

here's to you miss hayes.

i can't wait to visit you (and sister) in DC, very soon.

love love.

Steve Jobs, facetime for heaven?

2011-10-08T00:20:00.003-06:00

I joined the apple crew in 2008 when I spent most on my summer earnings at Aspen Grove on a Macbook Pro. best idea ever and its still going strong. I also have successfully convinced 2 siblings to purchase macbook pros post-mission. Their lives have increased in happiness 247% like mine. fact.

After my Cornellian Summer, the iphone and I were introduced to each other. It has been glued to my hand or the side of my face since.

the NYT app notified me that Steve Jobs has passed on to another place...I guess Steve would approve of this. Thank you Steve Jobs for improving the quility of my life. One last favor though, can you get facetime for heaven? I think Grandpa and I are due for a chat.

In honor of Steve Jobs, I fixed up my phone case. a little bit of mod podge and glitter goes a long way...I think it fits my personality better too.

love love.

welcome home.

2011-10-04T22:55:00.016-06:00

the room over my shoulder is my closet...yes.

nothing says 'welcome home' better then a package at your door.

I have been rewatching conference...starting with preisthood session. obviously. however my favorite part so far is watching the announcment of the new Provo tabernacle temple...the audible gasps from the crowd gives me goose bumps/teary eyes. everytime.

life is pretty good.

work is "capital capital." -Sir Lucas, 'Pride and Prejudice'

preparing to apply for dietetic internships is taxing, yet exciting.

the new place feels like home due to the large amounts of polish pottery.

temple tuesdays keep me grounded, minus the 4:50 AM alarm.

training for the halloween half marathon equals early mornings runs.

beach boys and johnny mathis christmas CD, welcome back to my life.

reading 'Return' by Elder Hales is the best thing to happen to me. ever.

love love.

an addiction to ticket to ride (TTR).

2011-10-03T21:59:00.016-06:00

i won. no big deal. (ignore my post-work out hair/face.)

since returning to Provo in late July the three of us have probably played 30 games of TTR. we are slightly addicted...the feeling of taking over a continent kinda gives me Napoleon syndrome...I'm 5'3" but my drivers licence says I am 5'6.

one issue, dani and jared are getting married soon and moving to Florida...my heart is broken. I will be accepting applications for new TTR playmates soon.

application requirement:

-must be able to play fast.

-shuffle well.

-be competitive.

-smack-talk during the heat of the competition.

-have a good evil eye.

-not have the long routes memorized (we do and its leading to trouble).

serious applicants are only being accepted at this time.

love love.

ps. moving is the best. I found a few lost items like my charm bracelet, hair barrettes from Venice, extra contacts, the 'what about bob?' DVD, a large collection of bobby-pins etc.

pps. moving is the worst. I still have to put up a 6 ft long shelf for my t-shirt/chunky sweater/scarf collection. wish me luck.

Provo tabernacle temple.

2011-10-01T11:02:00.005-06:00

I remember being awoken in the early hours of the morning from sirens when the Provo tabernacle was burned down. Just yesterday I drove by the outside walls of the tabernacle and wished it would be rebuilt since it is such a beautiful building. (and Provo has such a shortage of beautiful architecture).

AND IT IS!!!! I am so excited for it to be converted into a temple. The second temple in a city! I have hoped for another temple to be built in the Provo area for a few years now and its happening!

My squeal of happiness when I heard the news from President Monson scared little brother...hahaha.

love love.

thank goodness its the weekend.

2011-09-30T21:05:00.002-06:00

this week was nuts.

work was nuts.

moving is/was nuts.

i'm nuts.

@work we had some new admits (this means paperwork) and lots of people (15! what?) with low albumins and abnormal lab scores (this means more paperwork). my job=paperwork which is then co-signed by the dietitian.

Random thought, but I wish a chick flick could be made that revolves around the life of a dietitian, I feel like it would add more of a coolness factor to my desired field.

the new place. trust me, its beautiful.

on the moving front...the silver bullet is a mess, but I'm officially moved. done and done.

about me. I might have been called out for singing to JBeibs too passionately in the car while driving to work. I'm not embaressed.

and I am so excited for general conference.

love love.

weekend joys.

2011-09-26T15:12:00.007-06:00

this weekend I packed. and packed. then brother had the opportunity to help me carry all my earthy possessions into my new place.

lucky boy. he loved providing service to me.

ezip and I made sure to wear shabby apple dresses for the occasion.

and there was the Relief Society broadcast. with EZip. Elder Uchtdorf's talk about the flower, forget me not's was so amazing. His five points are something I will now have to review often.

and there was a Vienna Study abroad reunion. I can't believe it has been 3 years since I spend my days wandering museums, eating gelato, running down the danube river, shopping, and people watching.

and I treated myself to a present. a skirt from shabby apple.

and I bought my plane ticket home for Christmas. Dec 17-Jan. 3. yes.

and I became an official member of the Provo YSA 231st ward. I can't wait to finish transporting my stuff (mostly food, bedding, a clothes I will need for this week) and move into my new place. holla!

love love.

make me cry.

2011-09-23T16:06:00.009-06:00

today I was called the worst thing ever by a resident at work.

it is unrepeatable.

i would have cried, but I didn't want my make-up to disappear at 11 AM.

i would have called my mom, but she is in Isreal.

so i texted Ezip...best reply ever. "They need to have their mouth washed out with soap!"

that made it all better.

and I went home to fill my online shopping cart with goodies from shabby apple, jcrew, and nordstroms...although I didn't buy anything. but I am still thinking about a skirt from shabby apple...so that might change.

love love.

canning.

2011-09-22T20:15:00.006-06:00

Last weekend brother and I canned with Grandpa (Grandma is still in Israel with my parentals) since the nectarine trees were becoming a little burdened with all the fruit...it was fun. The canned nectarines are so good, so I don't plan on sharing the fruits of my labors. sorry.

love love.

ps. that heart shaped valentine on the fridge is from me...clearly I make the best valentines.

food service flashbacks.

2011-09-15T19:34:00.006-06:00

ignore the awful pose, I was really excited to mix in the pepper. isn't my hairnet rockin'?

Today the big weekly nutritional meeting was canceled (NAR: nutrition at risk) so I had nothing to do. So I brought my cute apron to work (I was not about to wear a standard white apron, no way!) and I helped in the kitchen for the day. It was so fun!

Tomorrow the facility is hosting a tailgate party for the BYU-UT game so Cindy, the dietary manager and I spent about 4 hours making 50ish lbs of potato salad and 10 lbish of macaroni salad.

It was quite the job to say the least and it gave me flashbacks of being a cook one summer at Aspen Grove, the BYU family camp...oh the horrors of cooking for 500 people! I know it sounds crazy, but cooking for 150-200 people is so manageable.

love love.

the power of painted nails.

2011-09-14T22:32:00.014-06:00

yes, I sometimes wear my high school field hockey jersey to bed.

what is it about newly painted nails that make you feel so powerful and that everything you touch can turn to gold?

seriously. Painting my nails makes me want to go to work so my newly painted nails can dance across patient's charts as I calcuate their nutrient needs.

love love.

ps. today my parentals + Grandma left for Isreal. My passport and I feel so left out, but the thoughts of a present from the holy land calms my soul a little.

pps. I got a new shabby apple dress in the mail today. I love it. so. much. Now the hard question is, where should I wear it on its maiden voyage outside my room?

However long and hard the road...I will travel on it.

2011-09-13T01:00:00.003-06:00

the best part about not being in school is that I have time for my favorite pastime...reading. seriously. so. in. love.

after reading a few novels, I decided to read something of more substance.

last weekend I read, "The Mormon Scientist." After spending much of my undergraduate career in the Erying Science Center (mostly in room C-251), I felt like I should know more about Henry J. Erying.

this weekend I bought 'However long and hard the road' by Elder Holland because he is a favorite...the book is amazing. I am almost done and I plan on reading it again. and again. and again.

it has given me so much perspective on hope, trials, marriage etc.

"Does the wilderness stretch before you in a never-ending sequence of sand dunes? Read Moses again. Calculate the burden of fighting with the pharaohs and then a forty-year assignement in Sinai. Some tasks take time. Accept that. But as the scripture says, "They come to pass." They do end. We will cross over Jordan eventually.

Others have done it---and so can we."

-Elder Holland, page 4

sometimes you just have to "do the difficult."

love love.

crafty necklaces.

2011-09-04T23:49:00.010-06:00

Emily and I made necklaces this weekend...they had to dry for a day so she came to pick her necklace up with her new beau, Chase.

luckily dinner was made so they stayed to eat...

so I got to know Em's squeeze...

approval. approval. approval.

and my opinion counts like a ton of sparkles.

emily and I love things that sparkle and are shiny.

back to the necklaces. yes. we are getting pretty crafty. remember the sparkle shoes we made...the next project is still to be determined...but I am sure sparkles or glitter will be Incorporated in some way.

AND I re-made the blog banner...farewell St. Louis skyline.

fact: I only re-wrote the banner 1X previous then the one posted....the StL skyline one took about 15 tries...

AND Dani got engaged. Isn't that the HAPPIEST news ever? I re-read her text a few times and stared at the picture of her beautiful ring (what did the world do prior to picture texts?---a picture is worth a thousand words, especially if it is a picture of a ring on an all important finger!). I am so excited for her AND we are wedding dress shopping tomorrow.

dani and i hanging loose in Hawaii this summer.

AND I sold the contract to where I am living right now. I am moving out in 2 weeks. where? TBA...when I figure it out. ek!

love love.

rise up.

2011-09-04T09:53:00.012-06:00

I guess going independent was a good idea...

BYU 14-Ole Miss 13.

Bronco almost cried when he was being interviewed by ESPN.

Although I don't understand football, it was a beautiful game.

I might have taken a little nap/read 90 pages when bored of watching....

go cougs.

love love.

ps. my house is freezing so I pulled out my uggs. happiness.

pps. I promise to be a better blogger, but my life is pretty mundane.

cRaZy.

2011-08-25T20:48:00.005-06:00

Life has been so crazy with work + moving.

seriously.

today when things got to be crazy (because state inspectors showed up to make sure we were doing things right AND today was the BIG nutritional meeting for the week AND I had to place the food order AND waking up at 5 AM makes me a little irritable.)

so I thought back to happier and more relaxed times.

Venice, Italia. Fall 2008.

Then I remembered my life is pretty rockin'.

love love.

weddings.

2011-08-20T12:03:00.004-06:00

2 weekends and 2 weddings.

first, Lindsay and Preston--Lindsay and I worked at AG summer of 2009 where we made food for a small army, gutted fish, and skydived.

second, Ryan and Libby--Ryan and I are cousins. I finally got Ry-Ry to talk to me freshman year while we were in the Heleman Hall dorms.

I just love the wedding season.

love love.

once an American Girl, always an American Girl.

2011-08-15T20:10:00.002-06:00

In the past month, I have watched these 2 American Girl doll movies---so fun to relive my childhood doll obsession again.

Hyrum, Sarah and I--Christmas 1994 in Baltimore, MD.

I got my first American Girl doll, Samantha when I was in first grade. After that Sarah and I were obsessed. We would spend hours looking at the catalog, reading the books about the dolls, learning about the history behind the time periods, and traveling to places like Williamsburg, VA. My doll collection is in storage until a new generation of little girls enters our family, but I have really fond memories of playing with the dolls. I think Kirsten was my favorite doll because I would always pretend she was a Mormon pioneer.

love love.

hello and goodbye.

2011-08-14T20:20:00.013-06:00

Sister McKinlee Covey came home from the Germany Alpine Mission. It was so amazing to catch up on 1.5 years worth of news with the Vienna Study abroad friends again...and I did skype Anna for 2 hours, I can't wait for her to return to Provo life.

Britta and Tim are leaving for Scranton, PA for graduate school. Emily and I will miss her so much. Chipman Hall suitemates forever!

This weekend I also heard President Monson, Elder Holland and Cook speak at Elder Marion D. Hank's funeral. It was pretty amazing. It was like a mini General Conference.

love love.

oh goodness!

2011-08-12T17:17:00.007-06:00

so tired after work but I love looking cute everyday!

Remember how I have a job? crazy!

anyways this week my boss was fired so I am the acting dietary manager until the new women comes on September 6. Its been crazy being the dietary manager job--ordering food, sign paperwork, put away orders, menu making, working out kinks in the system AND doing my job!

the order came today without frozen waffles. so that was a crisis.

the weekend dietary aide quit. so that was a crisis too.

I figured out solutions. the waffles will be special delivered and 16 hours of work have been filled without people going overtime...I am that good.

AND both times I wanted to cry, but I didn't. I am pretty adult.

love love.

sparkle.

2011-08-04T13:23:00.006-06:00

Last weekend Emily and I made sparkle shoes. I found the tutorial online and it was so easy/fun to do it together. FYI. my love of all things with sparkle is minor compared to Emily's level of sparkle love.

I wore the shoes to work yesterday and I got a few compliments. I think if the ugly shoes in the first picture could talk, they would express their happiness in being a lot cuter.

love love.

motorcycle.

2011-07-30T20:15:00.011-06:00

I was the first to know about Dad's latest and greatest toy. favorite daughter status? I think so. I would have blogged about it earlier, but I was under sworn oath not to until Mom knew, but now she does so I can post the funniest movie ever. It was so fun to drive around the neighborhood since the speed bumps have been removed and the black top has been redone. I should also mention that I do love a good horn.

note: no motercycles, animals, or humans were harmed in the making of previous video.

anyways, my glamorous life in St. Louis ended, but it is good to be back in the Holy Land of Provo, Utah. it is excellent to be with friends again, in dry heat, and near yogurtland. my job is great and I am learning so much. its good to be me...

love love.

I can see now...

2011-07-23T08:03:00.004-06:00

Some well meaning friends have encouraged me to go to the eye doctor for quite sometime, but I always brushed it off. I am really good at making excuses for things I don't want to do. But today I went in...I couldn't put on eyeliner with my right eye closed...

In my Dietetics classes we talked about the stages of change and how change has to come from within. I guess we all move towards the action phase at different rates or for different reasons. iheart dietetics.

bottom line: new contacts=I can see real well.

other notes:

-the other day I played with my American girl dolls. oh to be 6 again!

-flooded the basement...opps!

-meet ups with Clayton HS peeps.

-made falafals...really good.

-st. louis is deathly hot...1 day until I return to the holy land of Provo.

love love.

Miss Anna.

2011-07-22T16:11:00.015-06:00

Dresden, Germany, before Anna left on her mission, BYU basketball game.

On study abroads you have to "shop around for friends" since you will be with the same people for a whole semester, take all your classes, travel AND pose in a lot of pictures together. Therefore it is really important to hang out with people you fit with.

I am good at shopping for friends. It is always the same cycle. At first I don't like the person then I change my mind. Anna was no different.

The summer before study abroad I worked at Subway (the busiest in the world, might I add...serious) so I could learn the value of a dollar. One day Anna came into the line and I asked her if she was going on the Vienna study abroad and she said "yes." I wanted to talk to her, but she ignored me...when i now bring this up, she always says that the line was long...anyways after she snubbed me, I decided I didn't like her.

the summer ended.

the Vienna adventure began.

Anna played phase 10 with me at the Vienna airport on our first day. I don't remember who won, but I probably did...Hours later we sat on a park bench talking (so jet-lagged) and learned that we both were named 'Anna Elizabeth.'

I changed my mind. She was worthy of my friendship, or I was worthy of her's. Probably the latter.

so today Miss Anna turns 23...currently she is in Germany where she served her mission. I was I was there too. I bet she really misses me.

Anyways, anna. You are the best friend a girl could ask for.

love love.

domestic failure.

2011-07-20T15:09:00.016-06:00

Today is Dad's birthday. Since I have missed his past 10-ish birthdays/I am the only one home, I wanted to make him an extra special cake like something worthy of being served at 'The Chocolate,' my favorite place in UT to get cake---words cannot describe their vanilla cake frosting...

So I prepared for the event: researched recipes. bought "special" madagascar vanilla and the huge jar of nutella (if you are a nutella connoisseur you know the one). researched some more. This morning I felt fully prepared to mix the wet/dry ingredient's slowly, use measuring cups, read the recipes, and be patient. I also might have thought, "I'm a natural at this."

fail. epic failure.

my cake looks like the one made by the fairies from 'Sleeping Beauty.'

so many issues.

1) the batter spilled all over the oven

2) the cakes fell apart when I tried to remove them from the pans

3) the frosting was too runny since I decided to add more milk

4) frost a cake...what? the goodness ended up all over the counters, floor, my clothes, hair, and hands...

anyways...HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD. you are the bee's knees. maybe this post isn't about how amazing you are/how I rate every guy I go out with and compare them with you, but this post is a tribute of my love...love you Dad.

love love, your favorite daughter (shhhhh.)

deep in the hundred acre wood.

2011-07-18T09:38:00.005-06:00

I also saw The new Winnie the Pooh' movie opening day weekend...no shame. It was pretty much amazing. although I did miss the voices of the characters of the old animation.

love love.

harry potter, the boy who lived.

2011-07-16T22:08:00.007-06:00

Dad and I saw HP 7.2.

I couldn't resist these cardboard pictures...HP for life.

and we also went to chill.

I needed some peach ginger frozen yogurt...froyo for life too.

love love.

home is where the grass is always greener.

2011-07-15T11:48:00.011-06:00

being home is great. the best. its just me and dad. so I miss mom's cooking and the boys with their constant ukulele strumming.

but I have been busy.

...watering mom's plants and mowing the lawn (not fun at noon). I thought I was doing to pass out from heat stroke.

...painting my fingers/toes.

...taking 2 more practice GRE tests.

...re-learning a few algebra principles and more vocab.

...a makeup consultation at bare essentials. oh happiness!!!

...getting a free oil top-off from jiffy lube (post-makeup consultation...these two events are directly related.)

...going to chill...surely my love of frozen yogurt is no secret.

...filled the fridge with food. aka. fresh fruit/veggies.

...made thai peanut sauce, which dad wants a personal stash for his birthday. It is just that good...

...saw 'The Little Mermaid' at the Muny with Dad. It was so fun. It made me miss Hawaii...OH HAWAII, most blessed state in the union.

...studying clinical nutrition for my JOB...so adult.

love love.

ps. Dad is so happy to have me home. because I am so much fun. I also think he was getting tired of eating mac and cheese, boxed thai food, and oatmeal. favorite daughter status? maybe.

I AM HOME!

2011-07-13T07:12:00.006-06:00

I was stuck in the Honolulu airport for 10 hours with just my GRE books/flashcards to entertain me, so photobooth started to call my name and I took 100 pictures of myself. Then I sat on a plane for 10 hours. Its okay, the extra waits made coming home even sweeter.

love love.

ps. Don't fly American Airlines.

last of the hawaii goodness.

2011-07-12T02:25:00.005-06:00

I have seen more rainbows in 2.5 weeks then I have seen in 23 years of my life. seriously. I guess there is a good reason Hawaii has rainbows on their licence plates.

Malasadas: Portuguese donuts...a healthy breakfast for future RDs.

hiking.

possibly one of my favorite pictures of the trip.

crazies at the dole plantation.

we "needed" more pineapple ice cream post hiking.

Sunset + matching shirts + turtle = happiness

Unlike in Nicaragua, the turtle was not interested in being my friend.

Flea market. fresh mangos and JBeibs.

we love thai food.

costco. and costco sized coconut M&Ms.

I leave the wonderful state of Hawaii tomorrow morning. I can't believe this trip is over since the three of us talked about it for months before it happened. As Pacada and I took Dani to the airport tonight we wondered, what do we now have to look forward to? Taking the GRE? Just kidding. It may sound cheesy, but celebrating your graduation from BYU dietetics is just the beginning...

love love.

yes, i am still in Hawaii.

2011-07-10T13:26:00.017-06:00

How the day starts in Hawaii--put the paddleboard on the car, pose for the camera, cover your arms in a towel to guard against skin cancer.

Our favorite place on the North Shore.

haimea beach, our favorite.

my favorite beach activities: playing with random dogs, paddleboarding and GRE studying. 2 weeks until I take the test!

Dole plantation.

Shrimp truck. so fatty but so good.

The Laie, Hawaii temple.

The beet box cafe...we saw Larisa Oleynik from 'The secret life of Alex Mack.' I would have asked for a picture, but Pacada was embarrassed.

Matsumotos for shaved ice. It tastes like snow.

yes. its been good. I will be sad to leave this island of paradise in a few days--due to the excellent company, weather, and beaches. Pardon all the food pictures, but we did graduate in Dietetics.

love love.

paddleboard.

2011-07-03T14:47:00.006-06:00

New life goal: own a paddleboard.

I'm slightly addicted. Its the best thing to do at the beach since I don't like go far out swimming. I am afraid of sharks or getting swept out to sea, but paddleboarding lets me explore where I would never go.

FYI. I have already called REI to check availability to buy one. They might not have them in stock in St. Louis/UT, but they are willing to ship one to me...

love love.

GRE-ing at the beach.

2011-07-02T18:25:00.004-06:00

You know you have watched the A&E Pride and Prejudice when you define GRE words using quotes from the movie.

Obstinate: stubborn or unyielding.

"Obstinate, head strong girl." -Lady Catherine De Bourgh

Vex: to annoy

"My dear Mr. Bennett, nothing you say shall ever vex me again." -Mrs. Bennett

Hawaii is grand. Pacada and I bring our GRE materials to the beach. Its much more pleasant studying on the beach then in a library.

love love.

Aloha Hawaii.

2011-07-01T02:10:00.011-06:00

Sorry for the lack of blogging...you know you missed me and I missed giving my bloggity some love. BUT I am in Hawaii. Its paradise. I might never return to the mainland, there is everything I need here from sunshine to yogurtland.

Banyan Tree.

Paradise.

Yogurtland.

Dole Plantation.

shaved ice.

Snorkling in Hanama Bay.

Yellow tang Fish. I followed him for about 15 minutes since he was yellow, my favorite color.

Waimea Bay.

Waimea Falls.

Waikiki Beach.

Hotel mural.

love love.

seriously???

2011-06-25T12:39:00.006-06:00

today i went to schnucks, our local grocery store with my little brother Elias, age 9. We were in the store for 10 minutes and two people decided to make conversation with me...

Conversation 1:

"What a cute boy you have."

"He is my brother."

Converstation 2:

"Are you old enough to be babysitting him?"

"I just graduated from college and he is my brother."

"Oh, I thought you were in high school."

and I did give them both the "you are crazy look."

FYI. I'm 23 and elias was born when I was in 8th grade.

love love.

Home in the 314.

2011-06-24T11:25:00.006-06:00

fam on Sunday, post-Hyrum's homecoming talk.

This past weekend was the first time we have all been gathered under the same roof in 3.5 years. In a few days I leave for HAWAII, but until then I have been very busy playing frisbee, eating delicious food, helping mom create a blog and use her new iphone, banking, creating a new AT&T account since I will now be paying for my iphone usage, sleeping in, reading random books, getting brothers addicted to the BBC robin hood, playing with/packing up my dolls, going on walks around the neighborhood, de-cluttering my stash of stuff at home, figuring out housing in UT, but mostly studying for the GRE. its a real snooze.

quoteable:

"Do dogs go to school?"-Elias

"Obedience school. Dogs learn how to listen." -Peter

"Do they learn how to read at school too?" -Elias

love love.

new years dentistry resolution.

2011-06-20T12:40:00.001-06:00

One of my new years resolution was to floss everyday. I am proud to say that in 2011 I have made flossing a habit. I don't miss. Some people floss because they care a lot about their oral hygiene, but I mostly do it because I hope to find "treasures." sorry if that was gross, but whatever. congrats to me and new habits, no matter what the motivation behind the action is... Due to my excellent flossing skills, the dental hygienist was nice to me today and didn't floss aggressively. She even said my teeth looked good. It was pretty motivating to keep flossing.

love love.

provo girl.

2011-06-15T12:17:00.010-06:00

All summer I have been telling people I am leaving UT to work at Cornell or in St. Louis...plans change. weird. I now have a job in Orem as a Diet Tech at Assisted Living/Rehab Center behind my favorite place, yogurtland. It starts at the end of July so I still can spend some time with the family, play in Hawaii, and take the GRE. Its a really amazing opportunity for me to build my resume as I apply for internships again. I feel pretty grateful since I have been reflecting a lot on all the decisions I needed to make. but its over. holla!

Hello post-grad in Provo!

love love.

almost there.

2011-06-14T14:04:00.005-06:00

2 days left of anatomy studying. and I am so happy.

get me home!

love love.

sunday night photos.

2011-06-13T10:23:00.006-06:00

the best part about a mac computer is photobooth.

i love us, model poses and all.

love love.

its beginning to look a lot like SUMMER...

2011-06-12T17:01:00.017-06:00

Orem summerfest fireworks.

God bless America. I can't wait to be in Hawaii for the 4th of July.

katrina, stephanie, rachel, jen, me.

afterwards we went to yogurtland. the boys always just go for samples, but some of us are a tad addicted. its the perfect summer food. I am trying to get my fill of yogurtland goodness before I leave Provo.

other notes:

-anti-inflammatory meds are the best. my foot is so much better.

-making decisions is hard. now i know why peter pan never wanted to grow up.

-provo vs. st. louis vs. cornell...where to move? what to do?

-i have always loved the name Franz. Turns out Franz Greiter invented sunscreen in 1938...is it too far to name my first born son Franz? I think not.

-5 days until I go home. the family is so excited to see me.

love love.

pinched nerves.

2011-06-08T23:07:00.014-06:00

bed rest means that everything is within arms reach. it makes staying in bed easier.

I sprained my ankle in the beginning of the term and I kept running on it until 1.5 weeks ago because friends found my pain grimaces to be scary/Doctor Dad said so/the pain was getting worse. After 2 days in the instacare I finally saw a real doctor, an MD and he diagnosed me with pinched nerves in my foot/ankle and a bad sprain. no wonder I have been in pain, hello!

anyways, I am supposed to stay in bed as much as possible. Naturally the pain went down a little today, but I missed my anatomy lab final so I am taking it with Steph's section tomorrow. I should have been studying today, but the medicine makes my brain foggy and sleepy. and I just want to do is go home and be treated like a VIP.

due to the foggy brain, i watched a few episodes of robin hood (RH) instead of re-learning old material today...I know this is blasphemy, but RH might be better then A&E Pride and Prejudice (mostly because its longer and richard armitage is so dashing). forgive me Jane Austen!

love love.

Robin Hood and Little John walkin' through the forest...

2011-06-07T11:08:00.013-06:00

Most my favorite movies are produced by BBC.

(Elizabeth Gaskell is the other Jane Austen)

2 years ago the White Gables house was obsessed with 'Merlin.'

(I would rush home after clinical to watch it at the kitchen table...good times.)

Now my apartment loves 'Robin Hood.'

(I have even resorted to sometimes watching it on my phone)

netflicks is procrastination.

when I saw this email this morning, I laughed.

I knew i would get him hooked.

lab final in anatomy=gag.

love love.

terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

2011-06-06T16:31:00.008-06:00

usually my life is 95% perfect. today was the unspeakable 5%.

after a series of unfortunate events, it was a necessity to get a cupcake.

one for anna and one for me.

when I got home, I found out she had a bad day too.

which got me thinking, are bad days contagious?

i hope not since I haven't had one in quite a while.

love love.

ps. today I played 'broche' on words with friends. 66 points.

snowbird weekend.

2011-06-05T17:21:00.010-06:00

anna, me, steph.

Steph's family invited Anna and I up to snowbird for a weekend of fun: swimming, playing games, watching movies, talking etc. It was wonderful. The resort is open until the 4th of July to ski. Maybe I will hit the slopes one more time before I head home....

love love.

words with friends: riant.

2011-06-02T22:42:00.009-06:00

"What does 'riant' mean?"-Steph

"Its in my GRE vocab list. Its means cheerful." -me

I think 'words with friends' should give you points based on how advanced your word is. 8 points for using a GRE word? lame.

FYI. I am still losing terribly to Stephanie. If we weren't friends in real life, I would worry about what she thought about my lack of skills. Its just embarrassing!

note: just played reft (past tense of the verb reave) which means to plunder, pillage or rob. 8 points.

love love.

I'm a cougar.

2011-06-01T14:46:00.002-06:00

Its been two years since I had hiked the Y so it was time to reaffirm my cougar-ness. The last time I hiked the Y was with mrs. britta naylor at midnight after the Winter 2009 semester.

sitting on the Y.

hey Provo! We had fun spotting old apartments we lived in, the temple, stadium, MTC etc. My personal favorite was the Erying science center and the window where the beloved dietetics computer lab is...

love love.

for he's a jolly good fellow.

2011-05-31T10:11:00.006-06:00

my true feelings displayed via picture.

today brother returns home from his 2 year mission to Seattle, WA.

I'm in awe that 2 years has gone by. sometimes NYC fast. sometimes glacial slow. today reminds me of another day, the day sister came home from her mission in Hong Kong.

love love.

motivation shot.

2011-05-27T02:04:00.008-06:00

I came back from a run with 2 missed texts.

1) "I was going to honk when I saw you running, but you always jump out of your skin when you are startled. consider this a HONK. "

2) "Bad day? You are running in all black."

Its good to know people saw me with a tomato red face. If that is not motivating, I don't know what is.

I am thinking about being a "serious" runner again (serious runner=consistent runner) because my Gold's pass just expired. I haven't been "serious" since March 8, 2008, the day I ran a half-marathon. I lost 8 toenails afterwards and was really sore for my birthday the next day.

rewrite: Actually I was a "serious" runner in Vienna before it got cold/we traveled every weekend/I realized 6:30 AM was not an earthly hour.

love love.

ps. this happened last night. I was gushing.

"while we are waiting can I use your computer to read your blog?" -nate

"Thats music to Annalise's ears." -anna

donating blood.

2011-05-26T17:01:00.011-06:00

I like to donate blood because I feel like new clean blood is running through my vein and arteries after the event. I know physiologically this is not correct, but my feelings say otherwise.

Today I donated blood and filled my blood bag in less then ten minutes. Some people around me were taking forever since their blood probably has the viscosity of a milkshake...everything was great until they started to freak out...I developed a bruise when the needle was removed.

Now my arm hurts, but I hope my blood saves someone's life. I am sure my blood contains magically properties of healing that have yet to be discovered.

love love.

1 week left.

2011-05-24T12:58:00.020-06:00

Grandpa with his namesake (Hyrum/brother) the night before going on his mission.

Little brother is coming home from his mission in one week.

Am I excited? NO.

I am BEYOND excited to see him. Its been 3 years since we have been gathered as a family. It is also high time for a new family picture.

Last family picture with Grandpa--pre-sister/Hyrum's missions. (April 2008)

Anyways. ONE WEEK til we can skype face-to-face and he can read my blog via computer instead of me printing it for him (and his district/zone) to read.

My first weeks as a missionary supporter to sister. (June 2008)

ALSO...1 week until I retire as a sibling missionary supporter! Not to toot my own horn, but I have been a VERY faithful e-mail writer for 3 years and would happily accept a gold star for my endeavors. I am positive that my correspondence from the homefront was like a hug from miles away.

love love.

Storytime: laxatives.

2011-05-23T15:20:00.018-06:00

My Chinese roommate offered me "candy" a few days ago. It wasn't a sugar day for me so I kindly declined. It also looked suspicious since it was in tablet form and it obviously was NOT chocolate (no chocolate=deal breaker).

This roommate does not clean up after herself, so the 'candy' was still on the table today. On the back of the packaging it says, 'bisacodyl.' I googled it, just like any other technology-lovin' American who is addicted to their iphone... Don't worry, ITS JUST A LAXATIVE!

Who offers a roommate a laxative?

Moral of story: Random roommates can really be a hit or miss.

Another laxative story for good measure: Some girls on the 8th grade field hockey team put laxatives in the middle school cafeteria smoothie machine. Someone had a guilty conscience and told the administration. Thank goodness someone mentioned that some of us were clueless to the prank, so I was off the hook...

Moral of story: Its okay not to be cool in middle school, being cool gets you into trouble.

love love.

Home alone.

2011-05-21T16:36:00.012-06:00

2 posts in a day, clearly I have a lot to say...
I love the movie 'home alone.' Its the best movie to watch post thanksgiving gluttonous feasting.

The 'home alone' house is for sale for a cool 2.4 million. I hope it comes with a pet tarantula, tree house in the back and soldier statue that always falls over when it is hit by the pizza delivery guy. Maybe.

on another note: My parents house looks VERY simular to the 'home alone' house (sometimes when I describe where it is I tell people its like the house from 'home alone.' true story), but its in St. Louis, not Chicago. I think my parents coolness rating should be increased due to this.

"Buzz, your girlfriend. woof!"

love love.

thank you.

2011-05-21T12:22:00.006-06:00

'You are my sunshine' is in my top favorite songs.

after a week of rain, the sun has arrived in Provo. hello happiness!

I am going running. with sunscreen. and sunglasses.

Its supposed to rain next week too, but lets not talk about that. Its not right to be wearing uggs in May. heavens.

love love.

ps. I'm so in love with the soundtrack to 'the scarlet pimpernel.'

HI FRIENDS!

2011-05-20T10:50:00.008-06:00

I know this look, its the same look he did in 'Pride and Prejudice' while Elizabeth was playing the piano at Pemberly. sigh!

The other day I saw 'The Kings Speech.' It was amazing...It was my first time seeing an 'R' rated movie in the theater and I was carded for the first time in my life (and at the tender age 23). I normally don't see 'R' rated movies, but my institute teacher and multiple professors have recommended it...so I did.

The script was brilliant, the acting was superb, and I loved seeing all my friends.

Pride and Prejudice (A&E version):

Colin Firth was Prince George VI, but he will always be Mr. Darcy to me.

Jennifer Ehle was Lionel's wife, but she will always be Elizabeth Bennett to me.

David Bamber was a small role, but he will always be Mr. Collins to me.

Harry Potter:

Helena Bonham Carter was the Queen, but she will always be Bellatrix Lestrange to me.

Timothy Spall was Wiston Churchill, but he will always be Peter Pettigrew to me.

Michael Gambon was the Old King, but he will always be Professor Dumbledore (and Squire Hamley in the BBC 'Wives and Daughters') to me.

It was 2 hours of bliss with my friends on screen and in the theater.

and I looked online, Queen Elizabeth liked it.

love love.

ps. I am still trying decide if I rather be a Jane Austen heroine or a royal. Both have a unique set of advantages and disadvantages.

Jane Austen.

2011-05-19T13:04:00.018-06:00

Emma and Mr. Knightly.

I am not confident about everything in my life, but I am quite certain that I would be an excellent Jane Austen heroine. Annalise in the 21st century is a sad or forlorn creature when compared to the 19th century Annalise that one could behold. In the words of Mr. Bennett in 'Pride and Prejudice', I am not sure what dowry I would have "to tempt worthless young men" into domestic felicity, nevertheless I believe I would do quite well in 19th century England.

1) I have been told on occasion my clavicles are beautiful

2) Empire waist dresses were made for my frame

3) I could make polite conversation by a fire while needle pointing a worthless cushion, remaking a hat or painting a picture as I wait for something ie. mail, a gentleman caller, a change in the weather etc.

4) Writing letters regarding the weather, the health of those around me and inquiring of the latest fashions could be penned by me very easily

5) My wit sometimes gets me into trouble...

6) Flirting with a fan in hand? please, I could master this with a little eyelash fluttering.

7) Smelling salts: yes, I would shamelessly use them to get attention.

8) I can waltz beautifully while engaging in a witty conversation

9) Saying "oh how dreary" or "the pink dress is very becoming on you" would sound very lovely, like a flock of doves when said by me.

10) Everyone looks good in candlelight.

After a long discussion late at night Anna and I decided I was an Emma. Its true. I'm an Emma. I am quite fond of Mr. Darcy, but Mr. Knightly is dreamy too...

love love.

ps. today I was invited to join a book club, such a jane austen thing. It meets Saturday...I need to get reading 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.'

pps. I make the best homemade pizza, Anna was practically bowing before me at my new found skill.

no one should be studying at 4 AM.

2011-05-18T04:17:00.000-06:00

B/W picture is necessary to avoid showing my no-make up grossness/tired eyeballs.

its 4 AM.

I'm tired, but I still don't feel prepared for my test.

if only Daddy, the former BYU anatomy TA guru, was here to quiz me.

ahhh!

its okay, don't feel too bad for me...my life is the best.

13 days until brother comes home from his mission.

30 days until I see my VIP fan club (the family) and go to chill.

40 days until HAWAII.

63 days until the GRE...gag. feel bad for me.

love love.

466.

2011-05-17T11:27:00.009-06:00

remember how I am taking anatomy?

last night I woke up at around 3 AM due to my sleep talking.

I am pretty sure I was naming the bones of the hand.

(scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform, trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate)

anyways, tomorrow I have a test.

the objective of said test: be able to 466 places on a cadaver or model.

its gonna feel good when I am done.

love love.

its monday.

2011-05-16T07:48:00.003-06:00

"Come monday, it'll be alright

Come monday, i'll be holding you tight..."

-Come Monday, Jimmy Buffett

the mamas and papas also sing about Monday, Monday. most excellent.

yes, its Mon.day.

its going to be a good week. 2 quizzes & 1 test.

my nails are painted. my signature red.

laundry is done. and put away.

my room is clean. (huge) shocker.

a new pack of gum is waiting to be open.

the possibilities of the week are pretty endless.

why do people hate mondays? 1/7 of your life occurs on a monday, thats a lot of life to hate...just a thought.

love love.

summer is here.

2011-05-14T20:53:00.014-06:00

I have been listening to the beach boys. they are the voice of summer.

they sing a lot an awful lot about (crowded/high cost of living) CA,

no one sings about Missouri.

its an underrepresented state in the music industry.

I'm ready for Hawaii...a new swimsuit has been added to my closet.

today I left my one true love, my iphone at Smiths. thank goodness UT is an honest place. I have lost my wallet/phone so many times and it has always been returned to me. i'm a VERY lucky girl.

yah for GRE studying on a saturday night (don't fret, I played earlier).

its LOADS more fun then anatomy.

please ignore my nerdness.

love love.

the beloved NYT

2011-05-13T17:06:00.008-06:00

my computer homepage is the new york times for 4 reasons

1) It makes me look smart/informed about world events

2) I live in a bubble

3) Its always changing

4) the BYU paper is sad

You bet I enjoyed my 20 free articles on NYT.com and i'm sad I have to wait until June to keep reading online (until then the paper copy will have to suffice and my fingers will have black ink on them).

today I learned that 'The importance of being earnest' is on broadway. as it is one of my favorite plays, I clearly need to get to NYC.

love love.

ps. I tried to see if usatoday could be an mediocre substitute...FAIL. Its horrid.

modern day psycho.

2011-05-11T19:50:00.001-06:00

Today I got into the shower and remembered the front door was not locked and my laptop was in the front room. then I remembered the movie 'Psycho' and the famous shower scene...obviously this led to my brain/imagination going into overdrive.

so I showered while watching the door. I was ready to produce an ear shattering scream when the moment presented itself...

don't worry, I'm safe

and my computer is still in the front room.

Moral of the story: don't leave your computer in the front room...and don't watch scary movies, the memories will haunt you.

love love.

my life is fabulous.

2011-05-10T21:24:00.020-06:00

Today I...

-wore mens deodorant...I have no idea why I have it in my possession.

-remembered to put in earrings.

-studied anatomy.

-ate a cafe rio salad. happiness.

-went to the library with a dead computer and no charger.

-threw away 2.5 trash bags of food from the old (gross) tenants. now the bulk of the fridge is dedicated 7 lbs of strawberries, no joke.

-running.

-got my birkenstock clogs in the mail.

-read conference talks.

-talked my self out of buying a sequin shirt.

-registered for the GRE. July 21. 71 days and counting.

-lost my computer charger. not in the lab, apartment or car...so where?

-had a conversation with a deaf man using universal symbols. he was nice. he told me that campus is looking beautiful and he wished me a good day. I smiled. the world is a pretty nice place.

-shamelessly danced in the rain.

love love.

embrace it.

2011-05-09T07:18:00.007-06:00

a little streaky...I have ALL summer to improve and keep it classy!

Being a redhead is the best 99.9% of the time. Its so awesome that I almost feel bad for people with "normal hair colors" but every summer I struggle with the lack of melanocytes (which produce melanin) in the stratum basale layer of my skin. I just wish I could be a bronze beauty!

I have had a few really bad sunburns in my life and some friends have some embarrassing stories about said burns. if i ever run for public office these stories will be my "skeletons"...

This weekend i applied fake tanner to my legs. yes.

the smell took me back to middle school when I went to the first day of seventh grade with a very obvious bronzer streak on the back of my leg...cringe!

Don't worry I use lotion now and washed my hands after use (this is crucial, one unnamed friend forgot once and was really tan between her fingers...hahaha)

I can't wait until someone tells me I look tan...hopefully soon if it will stop raining.

onward to a summer of big hats, SPF 50 and fake tanner.

love love.