more gratitude give me

it would take me all day to list the things I'm grateful for today. If you are like me you can list off the usual suspects with ease {family, freedom, pumpkin pie} and then once you get going it's hard to stop.

The crazy thing is that the things I've been the most grateful for this year are things I never would have thought I'd think of as blessings.

just a few {of the things that are easier to list}

my family. It goes without saying that my brother is my hero and my parents are prime examples of love and all that is good in the world.

Michele and Tony are tip top on my list of people I am grateful for this year. I haven't said much here about how much I love and appreciate them for letting me live in their dining room. Those two are some awesome, genuine, give everything they have and more, fantastic people. {thank you frybaby}

the design program. I knew I loved design but it wasn't until I dared myself to finish school that I realized I could really put everything I had into something and feel the satisfaction that comes with learning.

along with that - finals that keep me up at night. Not for cramming or lack of time, but because I'm so excited to work on them. {de stijl} google it. Our modular home is going to be out of this world!

{the crazy mismatched thing pictured here is my test run at building models. I was playing around with the idea of a loosely drawn elevations instead of the one pictured above {CRANE restaurant bar} CRANE is done in the right way to do an elevation with everything exact and in scale... but I want to try something a little more stylized.}


I'm grateful for the way life has a way of surprising me. Every single time I think I know what is going to happen next - I'm wrong and I love it.

KC - our loaner pet. I'm definitely so happy he has come to visit. {so cool that he got in the way when I was taking pictures of polkadot puddles}


last but not least - Bearded M. He completely amazes me. I can ramble with ease because he says he feels weird reading my blog {online diary?} so I don't have to worry about being too embarrassed about gushing a little and telling you guys how lucky I am to have him in my life. I have never felt so comfortable or so excited about knowing someone. Like a new memory of a favorite past time that might have only been a dream because I've never experienced anything like it? Making sense? Of course not.

Oh. one last thing. I'm grateful for blogs. For this fun way of getting to know the people in our family {and my friends too, of course} better. I've SO loved reading about your lives and getting your feedback on my stuff. thnx blog family!

Earth City

If Earth's population was shrunk into a village of just 100 people, with all human ratios existing in the world still remaining, what would this tiny, diverse village look like?

In 1999, Phillip M. Harter, a medical doctor at the Stanford University School of Medicine, defined these population statistics. They have been revised to reflect more current demographices:

61 would be Asian

12 would be European

14 would be from the Western Hemisphere

13 would be African

52 would be female

48 would be male

70 would be non-white

30 would be white

68 would be non-Christian

32 would be Christian

89 would be heterosexual

11 would be homosexual

6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth, and all 6 would be from the United States

80 would live in substandard housing

50 would suffer from malnutrition

6 would not be able to read at all; 4 of the 6 would be women

1 would be near death

1 would be pregnant

1 would have a college education

1 would own a computer

Think of it this way. If you live in a good home, have plenty to eat and can read, you are a member of a very select group. And if you have a good house, food, can read and have a computer, you among the very elite. If you woke up this morning with more health that illness... you are more fortunate than the million who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death... you are fortunate, more that three billion people in the world can't. If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on you back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep... you are richer than 75% of the world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace.... you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy. If your parents are still alive and still married... you are very rare, even in the United States.

If you can read this message, you are more fortunate than over one billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

I forget sometimes how much I have to be grateful for.

loving lately

It's about that time again. Seems like sometimes I need to write my loving lately list to be reminded that I do love things. Earlier this week I attempted a half hearted 'hating hash down' list but nixed it when my blood pressure started to rise.

Loving {lately}

I can count {on 2 fingers} the amount of classes I have left to go to of the most annoying classes.

My final project group assignment. I can't tell you how big of a deal this was. It could have gone horribly wrong and it went the complete opposite direction. Perfection. I'll be working with a rendering genius, a drafting major and a third girl who I don't know well but she's had beautiful presentations in the past. YES!

Dreaming up the project: 3D modular home built to scale. 90% Green {it has to be energy efficient, sustainable, reclaimed, recycled... et al}. Modern/Contemporary. Mesa, AZ It's going to rock!

pleasantly surprised by the amount of color after the typical fall colors have blown away.

• knowing my parents are somewhere in Korea with Seaira and the gang filling up on hugs and that special kind of love Ben and Co. have to offer. This means PBPB will be the blog to read. {My mom promised lots of pictures}

• Ben becoming Major Ben!!! It gives me so many more options in terms of teasing. {and a heaping dose of pride}

• Watching home videos my parents had put on a DVD to preserve and fighting the urge to bawl. {Frybaby, you've gotta see these. I saw you when you were in high school playing with Lucky.}

• being asked questions like, "you said Coldplay is one of your favorite bands right?" by a handsome guy who just so happens to be incredibly connected and knows the man to know to snag tickets the day before the concert.

better late than never

I know it is already half way through November but I promised Halloween pictures and Janessa just barely sent them to me today. I threw in a pic of me and Coree from the first party too cuz she looked amazing!
Worth the wait to see Bearded M dressed as Wonder Woman beating up an eyeball? I thought so too.

Scary girls.

Dead scary girl.

Jazzercising. {Or whatever it is they did in the 80's to work out.} Janessa out hunting. {Or trespassing.}

Working that wedgie.

new job and semester count down

I don't think I mentioned yet that I have a new job? I do. I am a Bridal Consultant for LatterDayBride. It's been such a nice switch from that last job.

I'm having fun learning the tricks to selling wedding dresses and memorizing all the names and special things about each dress we carry. {about 150 in stock} I'll be training for another couple weeks then we'll be opening the new showroom at the beginning of December at the Gateway downtown SLC {and a short two minute train ride from school} I'm syked. Know someone who needs a dress? Um, friends and family discount.

Next week I turn in my restaurant project {Asian Fusion restaurant called CRANE on Venice Beach, CA- more to come on this} and that will mean there is only one more major project left for this semester. Ye-ah baby! Space Planning is still my favorite class but I have been so preoccupied this semester...

a reminder

I wish I could tell you I only thought grateful thoughts today for the veterans who have served our country. After running a bunch of unsuccessful errands today and getting denied by the bank and the library I gave up and went to Grandma's for a hug.

We drank eggnog and chatted about whatever. I jokingly whined to Grandpa about not being able to do some of the things I wanted to do because of the holiday. "You can thank me," he said, chuckled his grandpa chuckle, then went back to his poker game. Good point grandpa, I should thank you. Sometimes I really need to chill out and remember to thank the people who make it possible for me to live peacefully in this great country. Thank you.

elsewhere

check out what I was up today at the iidablog. It turned out to be such a good day. Big surprise since it took all of my self control to not bail out when only one other girl showed up to help us and it took us an hour and a half to find the place giving me plenty of time to wish I was still in bed. It payed off in the end.

speaking of number 63

I don't know what it is about this guy but he should market it and sell it cuz I've told two of my buddies that Bearded M has given me a flower each time he has come to pick me up for a date and they both acted surprised, 'oh, you girls like that kind of thing?' UM. YEAH!

And it's not like getting a bunch of flowers. That is completely different. I like bunches of flowers to decorate with but they don't mean anything to me. But just one? What is it about just one? It is so perfect.

I'll keep the gushing to a minimum but I just had to write something because I'm totally holding out on you guys. I do it with good reason. I am seriously thinking that I will wake up and find that Bearded M is just a figment of my imagination and then I'll feel foolish for going on and on about him in such a public way. Granted, I would have to be very creative to dream up a character as cool as him...

I just rambled and edited because it got out of hand. I'll leave it at that before I go start batting my eyes again. {my friends at school like to just say his name at me to see if I'll bat my eyes. Why am I so transparent?!}

100+ experiences experienced

Stole this list from Cara's blog. My class gets out early every week and while you may think this is a wonderful thing, it really isn't. It makes it incredibly difficult to stay 2 hours waiting for my religion class to start. Thnx cousin for entertaining me for a minute.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (from a plane, this should count)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (adopted. 27 years ago TODAY!)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb (how about a lion?)
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (remember that Jenny?)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (but had one summoned for me and sat in it for a minute)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Cara's Add-Ons - 15 more cool life experiences
101. Fly first class
102. Visit Stonehenge
103. See a Shakespeare production, performed by the Royal Shakespeare Conservatory in Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon
104. See a Broadway musical on Broadway in New York.
105. Ride the paddle boats on the Tidal Basin during Cherry Blossom season in DC
106. Puddle jumping in a rainstorm
107. Camping in the mountains
108. See the Blue Angels fly on Armed Forces Day
109. Watch 4th of July fireworks on the Mall in DC
110. Tour a European country with a backpack and a best friend
111. Perform in a theatrical production
112. Paint a picture
113. Ride the New York New York rollercoaster in Las Vegas
114. Visit the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, New York
115. Visit Nauvoo, Illinois and Carthage jail

dipping eggs

I definitely feel like I've written a fare share about what I loved about my Grandpa.

There is just this one last entry to do of the memorial we had a couple of weeks ago for him. It seems fitting since today is the anniversary of his passing. I was so grateful to be with my dad when he read the news.

Later that night we were at their apartment in Jo'burg when a storm rolled in. With the lights out we hung around the window watching one of the greatest lightening storms I have ever seen when the building across the street was struck. We all jumped back from the window and felt the energy from the bolt on our skin. The thunder was incredible. We joked about it afterwards that Grandpa had to be pulling some strings to scare us all a little.Before the service started we got word that my Uncle Randy wasn't going to be there in time to read the obituary as planned. Not thinking about how hard it might be I told my dad I would read it. Glancing over those sweet words my dad wrote about his dad pushed me to my limits and I started taking pictures of these two characters to distract myself. We are a family of bawl babies.
Grandma and Grandpa came to stay while my parents were in Jerusalem when I was 3. All I wanted was dipping eggs. No one knew what the heck that meant. Grandpa was determined {or possibly just fed up?} and learned that dipping eggs were actually just eggs over easy with toast. There is story from another summer where he patiently spoon feed eggs to a baby sparrow I caught. I love my Grandpa for his tender heart.
We all felt like something was missing as we spent time at the house. Grandma sits in Grandpa's chair now and no one was there to wave goodbye from the window as we left.

So very cool to know he is in a good place and that in a couple of months we'll be in the Seoul temple to do his work, as well as his siblings.

one year older

Thanks to everyone for such a fantastic birthday!

If I thanked you individually I just know I would forget someone. {Believe me, I just tried to do it!} It was completely lovely, low key and filled with perfect moments that made me feel special.


















Halloween was super fun this year. Earlier in the day I changed my plans to be a Rodeo Babe when Michele unearthed some turquoise spandex in one of the many costume totes she was organizing. Legwarmers and a perfectly 80's leotard followed. One thing lead to another at the local Deseret Industries and Jackie completed the look with her fantastic sewing skills when she cropped my sweatshirt and made my my headband and wrist guards {THANK YOU!} We laughed a lot and she repeatedly told me the whole thing was 'disgusting'. I do what I can!

Someone at the first party Coree and I went to someone said I looked like Olivia Newton John in her 'Let's Get Physical' video so there you have it: my favorite Halloween costume ever.

This is the only photo I have. More to follow if my friend Janessa emails the photos she took at Bearded M's party. You'll love seeing those, believe me!