BOOKS, BOOKS, and Fees!

If I were an alien following me in attempt to understand humankind, I would probably think books were a rare commodity.  Lately books seem to take up all of my time, money, and energy!  I work all day at the library with books, in my spare time I research my textbooks to find the best price, and today I bought a grand total of $120 worth of textbooks and I still another $130 of books to go!  Not to mention I still have my course fees to pay!  I am seriously hoping that some kind of money fairy drops by soon to help me with them, but I hardly think that is going to happen!  At any rate in about a week I get to hit the books again and start my second semester of college.  If only I could choose a major!

Life Lesson Number 2!

One day during middle school I walked into class and my English teacher had written on the board.
"The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want right now"
She had asked us to respond to it in our journals I had absolutely no idea what it meant to me.  At the time I was only about 12, but for some reason the saying stuck with me.  If I could I would tattoo this saying on hand where I would always see it(probably in Comic Sans =]) to help remind me of what I really want in life. Although I've never been fond of needles and a recent experience has engraved in my mind that I will NEVER get a tattoo!  The important thing about this post is that I never knew exactly how important this concept would become.  Though out my high school years I gave up countless parties and social events to do homework because what I truely wanted most was to get good grades, a scholarship, and go to a good college.  It was fairly simple for me to see how the consequences of my actions would affect my future.  Although life is a tricky thing! At first it was just the simple things that I had to give up and what I wanted "most" was fairly simple to determine, but life through me a curve ball as I have only started to realize how much more complicated it is.  As seven years have flown by from when I first learned this lesson I've realized its alot harder to decifier what you want most from what you want now. This struggle can be seen in many areas in my life hence why I still haven't chosen a major!  I've only began to start picking out the things that I want most, so the actions I take now at times can be a little confusing.  Sometimes I might loose sight of what I want most, but I will try to jump right back on track.  I am determined to live a happy life, and so I realize that means sacrifices and not giving up what I want now for what I want most.  Hopefully I can just keep on my blinders and stay away from many of life's distractions! At the end of the day I know that my life out of the billions of people living right now may be small and insignificant but through my choices I can atleast ensure that mine is going to be one well spent!    

Goodbyes and A New Perspective

Yesterday I said goodbye to one of my best friends.  Wednesday he will move into the MTC in Provo

and then in 3 months he will be going to CROATIA!  Even though a few months ago I had no idea where this place even was, I am seriously so jealous!  I can't believe that the time for him to leave is finally here, but couldn't be more happy for him! Even though I am really going to miss my best bud I am so happy he is going to do the Lord's work and teach the people of Croatia.  During his farewell address he talked about something that helped change my perspective on life.  He talked about a shooting experience and how he and his friends were trying to aim a pistol at a large paper plate.  Their aim was terrible and they really couldn't hit the plate. Then one of the more experienced boys in the group stated that the smaller the aim the smaller the miss.  He put a small sticker on the middle of the plate and told them to now aim at the sticker.  When they now tried to shoot at a smaller target that they thought would be impossible to hit because of their lack of success with the plate, they were surprised to see that their aim had improved immensely.  They were able to narrow their aim and even hit the sticker a couple of times.  This principle is so true in our lives and trying to make goals.  If we set a large goal we are more likely to "miss" because its so vast, but if we can narrow down our goal to one or two things, we are more likely to become successful.  So as New Years comes nearer I am determined to narrow my goals and therefore reduce my "miss". By focusing on a smaller target hopefully my larger ones can be conquered a day at a time.  Even though goodbyes are hard, I am so excited for my friend's new opportunity and I understand that for him this is part of constructing a good life!

Cribbage, Cookies, and FREE TIME

Ever since finals got out I've been trying to find something to do with my life.

There is a term I learned in my sociology class, that I can't remember now

but it means a sense of normlessness amonst change. 

That is me.

After the past semster of studying and stress

not to mention cooking and cleaning

It is so weird to wake up and only need to shower

and on two days of the week go to work.

Yeah its weird but I feel a bit lost

I just won't be saying that in about 2 weeks

When school starts back up and I'm once again fullfilling

societies role as a student. So for the next two weeks I need to focus on

MAKING EVERY DAY GREAT

So now I want to fill you in with what I have been doing with all this free time!

Saturday I went to work but when I got done working.

I hung out with my buddies! It was really weird to just "chill" and have

no guilt for not studying!

We went to a super fun place called Sub Zero, which turned out to be super fun!

After that we went to my house and learned how to play Cribbage.

My dear friend, that will be leaving for his mission in 9 days.

Taught me and I have to say, I might be on the track to becoming the worlds best

Cribbage player!

Sunday was also pretty weird because I didn't have anything to do besides church

mostly I played some Cribbage with my siblingins and watched

The Christmas Card. 

(Only one of the best Christmas Movies EVER!)

So that all leads up to today!

Today I woke up, showered, and then made like a million sugar cookies!

Which then lead up to me coming to work.

Which is where I am at currently in my story. 

So in other words the past few days have not only been

GOOD but they have been GREAT!

The lesson I have had to learn is what to do with FREE TIME.

In the end I'd say, pursue whatever you like

Maybe this Break I'll take up basket weaving!

Final Finals...and Nutcrackers

Yesterday I took 3 finals. 

I woke up at 5 AM!

and didn't finish until 4 PM!

Now I'm finished and 

Ready to enjoy 3 painless weeks

at home with my family before

going back to school for

STATISTICS, CHEMISTRY, and ANTHROPOLOGY

Directly after I finished my final

I got picked up and literally dragged 

to dinner and the nutcracker.

While I should have Carpe Diemed it

I had a bad attitude and probably wasn't the most receptive of 

guests, (Insert a few apologies here and a thank you to my unpraised host)

I have always loved the Snowflake Dance and that I did Enjoy.

Overall, It was just nice to know that I am LOVED.

I'm not perfect at making everyday as happy and joyful as it can be yet. 

Sometime in the good life I have bad days and really bad days but in the end

It makes us appreciate the good ones even more!

So I'm going to make today a GOOD ONE.

Blitzen Bars and Work

Today I turned in my final paper for humanities!

That makes my running total to be 2 classes down

and 3 to go! YAY I love the end of finals week.

To celebrate Christmas and the end of finals week

(I'm not sure what I'm more excited about at this point)

We made Blitzen Bars

Do you know what Bitzen Bars Are?

Why they are like Snicker Brownie

They have 1 layer of brownie

1 layer of Chocolate Chips

1 layer of Carmel

and then to top it off

a layer for BROWNIE!

So DELICIOUS

Then I got to go to work!

I really do love work all the books and people

Plus this really cute little boy told me thank you for his movie

I love days like this where the people are happy and the

Spirit is Light!

I don't have to do much convincing to conclude that

Today Was another day in the GOOD LIFE!

Movies, Lotions, and Fish Tacos

I love mom and me dates.  

Well first off I just really love my mom, 
but getting to spend one on one time with her is a rarity. 
I count myself extremely lucky she dropped 
a whole afternoon to just chill with me!

We went to see 127 hours.

Which turned out to be a really good movie.

Its the kinda show the reminds you how good life really is.
and how important it is to

cherish every second.

After the movie I got to go to the mall.

I went into two of my favorite stores and didn't even buy anything for myself. 

SERIOUSLY!
I go to smell all sorts of fancy lotions and be haggled by a 
desperate sales lady.
But it was worth it because it was all in the pursuit of 
a CHRISTMAS gift for a beloved roomie
Also the shoe salesman at Nordstrom was 
extremely cute, and his smile made me happy
So shoe shopping not for me turned out to be
almost as good as shoe shopping for me!

After the mall we went to Rubio's and got a fish taco!

I love fish and well I love tacos
So how could life not be any better?
Well it was!

And after all of that excitement I got to go to WINCO!
And buy my VEGGIES!

Overall just another great day in the good life!