Real People Food

Today, I achieved the extraordinary (for me).

I made myself some real food :)
Yes it's true! I did! And it was sooooo good. It makes me a little sad to think that tomorrow I will probably go right back to mac & cheese, out of sheer laziness and maybe lack of funds.
Okay not really. This was super cheap and so great because I love to cut things. I bet you didn't know that. I love chopping vegetables and slicing bagels and bread and cutting fruit... I don't know why! Anyway, so in preparation for this meal I got to cut a lot of things, which made me really happy.
I'm probably making my dinner sound a lot more grand than it actually was. All I did was make some garden pasta (it's like, green and orange, instead of normal colored pasta...not sure what the difference is). I then chopped (woo!) a tomato, an onion, and a bell pepper, and tossed it in. I added sauce and then spinach at the last second so it wouldn't get all soggy.

Voila!

Sometimes I really impress myself. (You don't have to be impressed.)

...And then I ate a ton of marshmallows.


While I was eating and listening to Speechwriters LLC, I found myself wishing that I could slow things down a little, wishing I could "just sit back down and take my mind off everything I think I should do."
College life is a bit too busy for my liking.

THIS IS THE COLDEST GRASS I'VE EVER FELT IN MY LIFE

Wooooooooo I love my FHE family SO SO SO much!

"Why is everyone Indian?"

"I'm perfect to go right through the windshield!"

"Haven't you ever seen on that TV? No, you haven't. Because nobody actually does that."

"How did you guys sneak past us?"

"No. It's German. Like he just said."

"We have the best seats in the house!"

"Yeah, we're definitely going to the temple in our leggings and skater jackets."

"I thought for sure I grabbed her waist!"

"That felt like climbing up Mount Doom it was so hard!"

"Remember that time you gave me a prolonged kiss on the cheek?"

I know. I know you hated reading those because you have no idea what I am talking about. And they're not going to be funny to you, and I'm not going to explain why they're funny because they will still not be funny to you. I just want to say that my FHE family is the greatest. Why did it take me half a semester to realize this!? Ahh.

I've never had so much fun riding in the trunk of a car, even though I sustained a few injuries because of Zach's maniacal driving.

Cold.

"You are comin' home, Leo."

Two nights ago, Allison and I journeyed up to Salt Lake City to see this beautiful musical.

Mind officially blown.

Parade ripped my heart out. Specifically, the actors that played Leo and Lucille Frank ripped my heart out. They were astounding. And they're only students! AH. I can't believe how much talent exists in the world. They were so good! I felt like I was a part of it, not just an audience member. I feared, hurt, and cried (a lot) with them. (Okay, so I probably cried way more than any of the actors.) This is easily the most moving musical I've ever seen. Jason Robert Brown, you have done it again.

Also. Remember how I said the actor who played Leo was SO talented? Turns out he's also cute, charming, funny, kinda goofy. Yeah guess who got his number? This girl ;)

Shoot. Why am I not a vocal performance major anymore? Well, I know why. But I miss it so so much. I sang in church today and afterward a girl asked me if I am a voice major, which makes the third person to ask me that this weekend. I need to start auditioning for things, maybe that would fill the void...

Anyway. Last night, 3 of my roommates and I got lost in (and then found our way out of) a corn maze!

"It smells like a campfire, and Fall, and happiness." - Taylor Teeples

(I think I'll marry the first man to make me a grilled cheese. Mm mmm.)

Not to be sappy, or anything. I hate being sappy.

I have two best friends.

I miss Natalie more than anyone. I only met her last year, but I know that one of the main reasons I was meant to go to Hawaii was to meet this girl. (Don't call her girly, though.) There was kind of a Nor Cal vs. So Cal battle between us. It lasted for the longest time, but I gave up. I'm not even ashamed to say she won, because after spending a day at her house over Winter break and a week at her house during the Summer, I can proudly say that Nor Cal may indeed be better than So Cal. I'm sorry, I have betrayed you all. Also... I sometimes say "hecka" now. I understand if you never want to speak to me again. But she's worth it! I've always loved beat up trucks and camping and horseback riding, but she's made me realize how much of a country girl I really want to be. Seriously. See how cute I look in that flannel?! It's perfect!

Years ago, my mom, went to BYU. Yeah! She was on the ballroom dance team. She became friends with this awesome girl named Maylene Burns. Well, my mom eventually married my dad, and Maylene eventually married this guy named Eric White. (Sorry this is so vague; I don't actually know all the details. I wasn't there.) So they were married friends. How precious. Long story short, after college they stayed really good friends. Eric and Maylene had four kids, my parents had five. About once a year, our families go to Disneyland together.
I don't know why I'm being so formal about this story. Basically, I want to thank whoever that these two couples met and were friends -- if it weren't for them... Well, I don't want to think about my life without this family. The White's second son, Matt, is 19 days older than me. (He never lets me forget this.) He kissed my older sister once. (I never let him forget this.)

He is the best person I know.

Try a little harder to be a little better.

"And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." (Matthew 5:30)

While studying this in my New Testament class, I couldn't shake the feeling that I need to rid myself of facebook! It's great, sure. It enables old friends to reconnect and for everyone else to stalk you constantly and find out a little too much about your life. I've abused it and become addicted. I can't even open my computer without checking it; therefore, I'm cutting it off. It's not worth it.

Sayonara, facebook. This feels so weird. Nevertheless, I know it's something I need to do. Maybe one day I'll reactivate it, but for now, there's no way.

In other news, Sunrise Tangerine Strawberry Crystal Light is a-may-za-zing.

It's cold!

I'm listening to Dreamstreet.

I went grocery shopping! (I LOVE grocery shopping.)

Alex, Caitlin, Kaleb, and Laura introduced me to a weirdly fun ninja video game.

Snow. The first week of October? Really?

I'm going to Divine Comedy!

I still have yet to go on a date. Freakin' Provo.

Nate can play Such Great Heights on guitar! I'm adding that quality to my future-husband-requirements list.

My blossoming-English-major-roommate Taylor got accepted into the London study abroad program! She's brilliant! I am SO PROUD of her. (She's also a freshman. Canya believe it?!) I can't lie, I'm gonna miss her so much when she's gone. But everyone's been telling her not to go; I think she should take advantage of this awesome opportunity. I don't want her to be 5 weeks into winter semester at Provo and think, 'Wow, I could be in London right now.' She'd regret it. But I seriously doubt that while in London, she'll think, 'I so wish I was in Provo right now.' I mean, sure, she'll miss some people, but it'll be so worth it! I'm so jealous -- she might run into Matt!! (For those unawares, Matt White, one of my besties, is currently serving in the England Manchester mission.) I feel like there are so many opportunities that I'm not taking because I'm more concerned about my bank account than my personal well-being. I worry all the time about being poor. It's silly. But then again, I'm pretty much a professional when it comes to worrying about silly things.
...In fact, I was so impressed by the initiative that Taylor took -- not worrying about not getting in and just going for it -- that I've started looking at some study abroad programs myself! Wales study abroad, English Language in Britain, or London Theatre. Thoughts? I could also potentially go to Kenya to teach Sign Language this summer. There is much to think about...

I'm trying harder to be a little better. I hope there will be some noticeable improvement :) At the very least, I hope to become more productive with my time and maybe even go to my History class for once in my life.

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers."

Oh, Gordon.

:)

No man will ever love you unless your eyes look like they're outlined in Sharpie.

Cake face (noun): One who wears so much make up that when she hugs someone else, part of her face is left on the other person's shirt. A cake face covers her face because she thinks she is too ugly to show her normal face.

^ This terminology was brought to my attention by the insightful and dashing boys of apartment 89. Over the past 5 days, those boys have been the fountain from which our entertainment flows! Hahaha. They're just great.

Last night was great and today was stupid. (There must be opposition in all things...) Last night I hiked the Y! First. Time. Ever. I am such a wimp. I forced them to stop at almost every switchback because I am a lazy, out of shape person. (The real reason was that on the first switchback, instead of going sideways up the mountain like a normal person, I decided to climb straight up the 160 degree or whatever incline. It wore the heck out of me. I'm just happy I didn't fall down and die... It was a likely possibility.)

Mitchell (our 7th roommate; he is always at our apartment because he loves my roommate Natalie :)) introduced a crazy concept to me: hang upside down from the top of the Y. Oh, okay Mitch!

I promise you it was way steeper than it looks. It was terrifying getting into that position, but as soon as my head was all the way back I was just awestruck at how beautiful Provo looks upside down! It is amazing. Anyone who lives in Provo, you have to try this. :)

Yeah, so today didn't go very well, but it was made better by some very generous people in my life. For example, my friend James bought me ice cream! Mitchell started teaching me how to drive stick! And Taylor saved some waffles for me. (It's Waffle Wednesday, babay.) My roommates are sooo wonderful; we have so much fun. I love them SO MUCH. I just feel lame whenever I'm not with them and I can't wait to get home to spend time with them! Aaaaaah.

Left to right: Natalie, Taylor, Bronwyn, Sadie, Jennie, Allison

This is actually the only picture I have of almost all of us (Mitch wasn't there). It was the day after BYU got slaughtered by the U (something I witnessed firsthand and will never fully recover from). We all wore black to church in mourning. Sad, sad day (despite how happy we look in the picture). But seriously, can I accurately express how much I love them?! The answer is that I cannot. Le sigh. Hopefully you understand what I'm tryin' to say. I lucked out.

A lunch break interrupts a whole work day.

Titled with love by my charming roommate, Allison.

So, I guess I should warn you. I'm a spaz when I write, (and I guess all the times I'm not writing, too) and I promise right now that this is not going to have any kind of organization so don't even try to make sense of things.

Things about Utah that I'm surprised are different from the stereotype I imagined inside my head:
1. I haven't come across a single person that owns horses! Where are all the cowboys? All I want is for a strapping young man to literally sweep me off my feet onto his horse and ride off into the sunset together. Is that too much to ask?

...

HA. All cynicism aside though, it's not that bad. The only thing that really bugs me is that the rain is freezing and people don't look at each other. Yeah, I found out the hard way that Utah rain is very unlike the wonderful, warm rain storms of Hawai'i. It's cold. Just like my heart. I cannot count the amount of times daily that I look at someone, smile, wave, or say hi, and he looks away. It's gotten to the point that when someone looks away, I just have to laugh because it is so ridiculous. Then I'm walking to class, seemingly laughing at nothing, and getting weird looks from the people I'm about to say hi to. So when I say hi, it's even weirder, which makes me laugh even harder! "It's a vicious chocolate and vanilla swirl."
"...Circle."
"Is that gonna be on the test? I hate geology."
"That's geometry, and this is history."
"...Bee-ee-ee-ees..."
Sorry about that little tangent. (Please tell me someone got the reference. Wait, what someone? Nobody reads this, Bronwyn. Unless Sadie does. Or my mom. All right this is a really long parenthetical... How awkward.) Hey, that's geometry too! Whaaat. I need to go to sleep. I JUST WANT TO GO CAMPING YOU GUYS I WANT TO GO CAMPING SO SO BAD.

Kay bye.