Sisters make the best of friends.

Okay, without jinxing myself, I have the goal of updating my blog almost every day (almost couldn't be more key).

Song reccomendation: Kainoa by IZ. if you haven't heard of Iz, let me introduce you to this Hawaiian beast of a man with the voice of an angel. He is apart of my everyday playlist.

Food craving: Rachel Ray Lemon Chicken http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/lemon-chicken-recipe/index.html

New Found Love: My Food Literacy Class. LOVE COOKING

Today as I was cooking lunch I overheard my roommate Toni talking on the phone with her little sister and just reminded me of how much I miss and love my little sisters!

Aren't they adorable??:)

My sisters are my heroes, and undoubtedly, my angles here on earth.

Lots of Love.

I was feeling a little groggy today, been getting over some sickies I've had the past couple of days and I decided to blog. WOOHOO. This does not happen everyday, but there was something extra special about today called "Homework Procrastination" that inspired me to blog.

Well V-Day is in 2 weeks now and honestly it is one of my favorite holidays ever. Funny thing is, my feelings on Valentines are always the same.. giddy, in-love, and missing someone. For the past 3 years I've been dating (waiting for) Andy we have surprisinngly never spent Valentines together. The first one was when we were very first dating and well, we all know how awkward it is to ask someone on a date on V-Day when the relationship is still fresh. The next year I went to Disneyland with my family but sent him this little gem from Huntington Beach :)

Last year, he was of course in Africa but sent meTHEE cutest thing in the world.

He sent me this picture and had a dozen roses, chocolate covered strawberries, and candy that I proceeded to eat in a candle lit bubble bath while being serenaded to by none other than Frank Sinatra himself (on my itouch;)! )  I made the best of VDay 2011 if I do say so myself.

I am so thankful for such a wonderful missionary in my life. He is truly my best friend and I think the best part of this entire roller coaster we've been on is that we are quick to love, forgive, and be there for each other always. <3 55 days.

V Day 2011

How should I spend V Day 2012???

short and sweet.

ugh.. guilt has finally settled. i feel as though i will never get enough time and motivation to keep up this dang blog.
with that said, hello :) been awhile!
well, quick update: school is back in "sesh" and this year has outdid every aspect of last year -by far- in some way or another! it has really been awesome! cool quote i saw on a nike ad today:
"you are entirely up to YOU.
 make your body.
 make your life.
 make yourself."
good, eh?
well, its late late late and i'm pooped!
ciao :)

I Love to see the Temple...

We have been urged as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints multiple times to share our testimonies with fellow bloggers, social networking friends, and the internet as a whole. I have recently come across an article on lds.org by Michelle Stocking that reiterates this and it kind of hit that spot that really makes me want to do things.

BTW here is that article is called "Finding and Sharing the Gospel Online" look for it on LDS.ORG

This last Sunday was Fast and Testimony meeting in church, and you know that jittery feeling you get when you know you should bare your testimony but every slight chance you get is either interupted by someone standing up to bare their own or psyching you out by making a getaway for the door instead of the stand.Well.. it was one of those weeks and in the end I was unable to share my testimony.

So between that and this article I came across, I thought it was bout time I posted something on my dear blog.

This summer I have been working a full-time job from 9-5 m-f. So every weeknight I have off and I am able to get things done. One of the things I chose to fill my time with is making Tuesdays my "Temple Tuesday" It wasn't really thought out before it happened, but was more like a tradition that developed over the weeks. One week I was able to take my sister down to Salt Lake and spend the afternoon doing baptisms for the deadas well as going through the visitors center and of course the Gateway. It was an awesome day.

I have been attending the Bountiful Temple every Tuesday (sometimes other days of the week) since I moved home and it has strengthened my testimony of Temple work and the Peace that the walls of the temple hold. Just walking into the Temple, scratch that- just driving to the Temple knowing you are about to go the the House of the Lord and do his work worthily brings such peace that it is hard for me to describe.

I know that the Temple, every temple, is the House of the Lord. I know that special ordinances are performed and that being worthy to hold a Temple Recommend is one of the best ways to know you are worthy to return to our Heavenly Father. I know that my commitment to going to the Temple weekly has brought me great comfort and happiness. And I know that always and forever this Church is True.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Tea Party or Planting Pots??

Food Craving: Hmm... I was thinking something like lemon bars but now I'm feeling more of a good ole banana popsicle :)

Song Recommendation: Us by Regina Spektor. She has a BEAUTIFUL voice and I actually quite enjoy this music video which is normally a deal-breaker on songs for me.

New found love: This is actually not new at all, but it is something worth sharing.. The Good Home Co. Lavendar Sheet Spray! It is obviously spray for your sheets and pillows that leaves a relaxing, long-lasting scent. I have the 4 oz. glass bottle which runs ~ $10. It is amazing!! All of The Good Home Company's products are phospate-free, biodegradable, aren't tested on animals, and mostly made from vegetable surfactants! -So if you're like me and actually care about that stuff then it makes this stuff even cooler;) anyways... look it up-I recommend this product!

Alright, now to the juicy stuff. As mentioned before, I am currently working at the Utah Botanical Center which has been an amazing experience and taught me something pretty invaluable-- I have a deep love for plants and for being in touch with God's creations on a daily basis. I believe that it's very important for every person to spend at least 10 minutes outside everyday breathing fresh air and pondering the unique beauty each individual day has to offer. I am just fortunate to be able to do this- on the job.

As I begin my quest to incorporate more plants in my home (especially in my upcoming apartment) I have had one specification for this project. These plants gotta be cute!! I can't have dingy terracotta-colored plastic pots covering my window sills and shelves of my room. Like I said- the gotta be cute! So I took myself on a little D.I. (Deseret Industries) run and got THEE cutest plant holders. I got 4 different "plant holders" for under 7 dollars. These are no ordinary plant holders-- they're are recycled plant holders. I bought different items and reused them as plant holders. These first 2 obviously don't have plants in them yet but I thought I'd share them anyways.

This first one is a regular vase- I LOVE the color and shape tho! Found at the D.I. And I plan on using some sort of fern or maybe even some sort of orchid. I don't really know yet :)

This next one is, yes, a shoe. And, yes, I bought them as shoes not as pots. It has a fairly large/medium opening that I can sit a small plant in (keeping it in the original plastic pot so I can take it out to water it and keep the shoe from rotting) I will probably end up using some sort of small succulent.

I didn't get this next one at the D.I. I actually have a small glass bottle collection in my window to begin with. So I took one of my IBC Rootbeer bottles and wrapped ribbons around it and put in a bamboo starter. I really like this one the best I think :)

The next is a tea pot. All that's there is a nylon toe filled with grass seed and soil put in the top of a teapot. The awesome thing about this is after I water my plant and the water seeps to the bottom of the pot I just pore it out of the spout to keep it fresh from molding. It works awesome!

This last one is a giant mug (ALMOST the size of a small soup bowl but not quite) and a red saucer (bought seperately) I kept the small Succulent in its original pot to take it out and water it and allow the excess water to drain through and keep my mug smelling good and fresh! Cute eh?

I have some other ideas I would love to try but is a little hard to explain and have it visually look the same in your mind as mine so dont judge if it doesn't sound cute. I would love to get a vintage chandelier and remove the lights and cord; Hang it up with a vine-y hanging plant that can grow all over the little tiers and arms of the chandelier. Trust me-it looks cute in my mind.

As well as getting an oversized, floppy gardening hat, tying a ribbon that matches my rootbeer bottle planter and have a plant pot sit in the hat with it being turned upside down on the shelf. Pretty simple, but these are different plant holders I'd like to get together before moving back to Logan! If you have ideas I would LOVE to hear 'em!! :)

my 20 facts that will set you free.

Food Craving: Something cheesy... lasagne:)



Song Recommendation: This one is critical, my best friend Jess and I went to the Iron and Wine concert last week and their opening band "The Head and the Heart" was AH-MAZZZZING! I seriously fell head over heels. I went home and downloaded their album off iTunes and its all I listen to. With that said, I can't choose a favorite but a good starter song to get you hooked would probably be... "Rivers and Roads" check it!


New found love: minus the previously mentioned, probably my newly bought Rugged Outback sandals. Their fabulous. Their comfortable, durable, and perfect my job!

ANYWAYS..
Here are my 20 facts that have set me free in my short little 19 years of life.
1- If god gave you 2 feet to use and 2 ears that can hear music then take advantage of the moments you can bust out in a move or two.
2- Sprinkling Parsley can make any meal look fancy, from canned clam chowder to macaroni and cheese.
3- Reggae has hidden subliminal messages that will make you happy no matter what.
4- Being unique and daring is a hell of a lot funner than being "normal"
5- Do not waste your time with people you have to impress.
6- You can't buy the 3 most important things in life: Love, Confidence, and Class.
7- You should not "Do what you please" nor can you always get what you want. Deal with it and learn how to be CONTENT.
8- Don't wait for the weekends to be happy, the tomorrows to change, or the person you someday hope to be.
9- YOU are number one, YOU are the definition of beautiful, and YOU are seriously EVERYTHING to somebody out there!! So don't think of yourself any less.
10- Yes, guys can be real tools, and girls can be real snots. But at sometime or other every person has soaked their pillow in tears, felt inferior to someone, and needs a friend.
11- people. can. change.
where would this world be if we didn't? and where would you be if everyone thought you were the same person as you were yesterday. this is why we're here on this earth.
12- no matter what religion you are or what you believe, the biggest thing that matters is that you have faith in God.
14- The only things that should be labeled for its contents are food and clothes-- no one really knows who you are besides You and Heavenly Father. Don't label, and don't be labeled.
15- Every morning you have a question to ask yourself: Out of the limited days I'm given, am I going to make this one count?
16- Your heart CAN be put back together, take some chances.
17- The best concert you can go to is when your jamming by yourself in the car.
18- The best pains are when your cheeks ache from smiling too long or our abs are sore from laughing.
19- Our pasts should make us want to be better, rather than letting them make us bitter.
20- Find what, where, and who you love and stick to that through thick and thin.

the end.
xoxo

Enchanted Fairy Gardens - HELP :)

I'm asking a favor of all of you, HELP ME :)

So, I'm working at the Utah Botanical Center in Kaysville this summer and amongst my duties one of them is coordinating and carrying out some summer camps. Which really is a lot of fun but I feel like ever since my fall Finals week this last year my creative juices have definitely been on a low!!! So, if you would be so kind to help me out on this one.

One of the camps that I am planning is called "Enchanted Garden Fairies" and I couldn't be more excited to plan it, there will be a tea party, fairy wand making, "magical" flower planting, etc. Its really coming together. But I had this idea that I basically got from when I stayed at Brighton Girls Camp. They do a hike with some of the girls that is called a "Brownie Hike" And they take them through "Brownie Land" There is little landmarks along the trail that they have fiary legends and stories for such as little trickling water "showers" for the Brownies. It is basically a fairyland that is made of all natural things throughout the hiking trail and is pretty neat.

Well between the Brownie Hike and lots and lots of researching of other people who have created these "Garden Fairylands" I have come up with just a smidgen of a beginning!! What I am asking of you at this point is

1) Look at the following pictures of what I have already spent this afternoon creating-give me your honest feedback.

2) Get those creative juices flowing and give me some more ideas of little things I might be able to create -EASILY AND FAST - to add to this little village.

3) Think "Mr. Rogers" and help me come up with a little Legend or Story I can tell to the kids before we go out on this adventure to find the "Fairyland" or whatever we end up calling it.

Let me give you what I've brainstormed up and what I have to work with:

We could tell them this great story that sparks their interest and gives them a background on these garden fairies. Like a legend of the fairies at the Botanical Gardens aand their stories.

Then we could start off by giving them a miniature cupcake or a sip of 7Up or something and call it the magic treat to being able to see fairyland for a short amount of time. We head out on finding this fairyland. Now keep this in mind - [we will be at the Utah Botanical Center, so I have ponds, trails, bridges, a beautiful setting where this could really turn out fun for the kids!]

I wanted to use this time to let the kids be creative and adventurous so I was thinking something along the lines of "The storms lately have destroyed most of the fairy houses so we're going to help them out by building them some new ones" And let the kids gather cattail reeds, sticks, rocks, leaves etc. And be creative building their own miniature house in the fairyland for a fairy out of things by the pond.

Be honest, critical, and creative!!! AND shoot back as many suggestions as you can to me on the ASAP :) Whether its on here, facebook, text me, whatever just help me out cause I've hit a dead end! Thanks soooo much :)

P.S. All of the pictures are just set up in my yard, not in the setting they'll be used in! It should look much cooler at the ponds.

Link to the Utah Botanical Center for the camps we're planning incase your interested!

utahbotanicalcenter.org/htm/education/youth/summercamps