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!