Oh Hey There

This weekend was full of ugly sweaters, dancing, shopping, and being with good friends.

Salt Lake is my favorite place. I love it there. On the way home I did not love it though. It was snowing like crazy! It looked like we were going light speed. I decided I only like the snow when I am inside. I hate driving in it. 

If the Shoe Fits

For my English class our final was to write a 2-3 page creative writing paper. I had no idea what to write about. Then I was thinking about how I am going to Salt Lake tomorrow to go shopping and then I had a spark of creativity. Then my fingers went nuts on my key board and I started typing away. Thought I would share what I wrote.

 

If the Shoe Fits

You walk into a store. You are just there to look, to window shop. But you have a hidden agenda. You know of all people that you aren’t there to window shop. It may just be impossible for you to go into a store and come out empty handed. Of course you brought some money just in case of an emergency. Just in case you saw the most perfect pair of heels, or hand bag.

Walking into the store like a hunter stalking its prey is highly natural for you. The smell of Italian leather fills the air. You are scanning the store looking to see where the sale is, but of course your eye catches the most expensive item in the store. You may think to yourself that you obviously have good taste if it is ten times over your nonexistent budget. You set the item down because you are frugal, smart. You could possibly find and buy 20 different items for the price of one item.

 As you are walking to the strategically placed sale items in the back of the store you must walk through every isle on your way. Just to make sure you aren’t missing anything. Piling your cart until you can barely see over the top. The sale rack has everything you could possibly never need. Like the gorgeous blouse that is missing a few buttons, but you justify it by knowing that your mother knows how to sew on buttons, she could fix it. Or the picture frame that you have absolutely no room for but must have it because it is fewer than five dollars.  You may think I just want to buy this item because it is an insanely good price. You put it in the cart anyways.

As you walk into the dressing room with piles and piles of clothes in your cart you may wonder how some of the items made its way into your cart. Try them on anyways. Elimination is key when deciding what to buy. “I need this dress because it’s pink and I don’t own a pink dress. I own 20 dresses but not a pink one. Therefore I need it.” That is the thought process of a shopaholic.

Once you have eliminated half of your cart it is much easier to decide what to buy or not. You make a different pile of everything that you loved, liked, need, or want. Try not to justify everything in the want pile to the need pile. It may take some serious self control, but you can do it. Once you have chosen a few items that you cannot live without, it’s time to take your budget into consideration. Who needs groceries when you can have pretty clothes?

As you walk towards the cashier thinking about how you have ever lived without the items you are purchasing you may start to doubt yourself. Do I really need this? What would I wear this with? As you hand the cashier your money all your doubts go away. It was so simple. Swiping a card is as natural to you as breathing is.

You walk out of the store with all the confidence in the world. You rush home to try on all your newly purchased items. As you are sitting on the floor looking at the bags upon bags around you, you realize something. You are a shopaholic. The first step is admitting. Shopping to you is magical. Shopping makes everything better. It makes you feel confident, and happy. Rebecca Bloomwood from one of my favorite movies, Confessions of a Shopaholic says it better than I ever could; “When I shop the world gets better, and the world is better, but then it’s not, and I need to do it again.”  I say that life is too short, buy the shoes.

 

That's Odd

You know what's odd? When you are not stressing out about finals. I've been stressed all year long and the one week that I should be overly stressed, I'm not. That's odd. The more I say odd the more I don't think that it is a word. Anyways I only have one final and one more paper. Which isn't bad at all compared to some of my friends. I have no cares in the world right now. Which I probably should. But I'm liking this go with the flow, whatever, attitude. Here are some tips to do when you are stressed that have helped me.

1. Clean. Whenever I am stressed I go nuts and deep clean everything in sight. It's a big stress reliever for me.

2. Sometimes I'll go on pinterest and look at my funny board. The things I have pinned are hilarious and always gives me a good laugh!

3. Write. I write a letter to someone, or write in my journal, or I blog!

4. Don't procrastinate. Now I am the worlds biggest hypocrite. I am one of those people who can't do a project or homework a little at a time, I have to do it all at once. So really that's something I need to work on. It always makes me way more stressed than I need to be.

5. Jam out to your favorite tunes. Recently T-Swift has been my go-to jam artist.

6. Go to the temple. You may not think that you have time, but make time. Quote from a wise friend; "Everyone's busy." You have to make time for what's good. It brings so much peace to!

7. Eat ice cream.

8. Make a list. I probably have ten different lists in my bag of who knows what. But it always seems to help me to make a list and cross things off. Sometimes I'll write dumb things on my list just to cross them out. Like make list. done.

9. Call a friend or family member. Always good to talk it out. Or just talk about nothing!

10. Just breathe. Keep telling yourself that you can do it. It's all going to work out. Even if it's not how you planned. It'll all be ok.

There you have it. My top ten stress relievers. They have worked all semester long. Now I am going to write that paper which is due Sunday. ( notice how I am not procrastinating )

Walking In A Winter Wonderland

This has been a great festive weekend! My roommates and I decided to get some steamers and to take a stroll down main street. Logan is so charming. Especially during Christmas time! Also steamers are the best.

Today we walked into our apartment after church and found this.

80 something gallons of snow. A giant snowman, and tree. We were so confused when we first walked in! Probably the best prank that has ever happened to me. I love snow so obviously I was in heaven. First thing I do of course is jump right in and make a snow angel.

And then I realized that I was in a skirt.

Whoops my bad. So basically we just have been playing in it all day! Even though I have no idea how to clean this stuff up well just play with it instead.

Then we decided to add a bunch of water to this mysterious snow mixture and it grew twice in size! Not sure when we are going to clean this up! The boys who pranked us must really like us. They spent a good size of money on this prank! Also they put tarps down and covered our couches.They also hid cameras and filmed our reactions. How thoughtful.

The Pants That Weren't Ment To Be

It all started when I went to California with my two cute best friends. Pictured below.

We were at the mall checking out all the stores. We go into Pacsun and there laying in front of me are the cutest pants I have ever seen, and they were polka dot so obviously it was love at first sight. Sadly these pants were out of my budget. I was tempted to go without food though. I called my mom up and told her what I wanted for my birthday.

My birthday finally comes and my mom tells me that I have another gift, but it is in the mail. A few weeks go by and I am dying to have these pants. Very long story short my mom ordered the striped ones instead of the polka dot ones. Don't get me wrong stripes are great, but the polka dots and I had a connection. After a few more weeks I get a gift card to pacsun in the mail to go to my local pacsun. I rush over to the mall and come to find out they don't have them in stock. As tears filled my eyes (I exaggerate) they tell me to come back in a week or two.

Exactly a week later I go to the mall and they have them in stock! So of course I quickly buy them. I loved them so much! I wore them to Disneyland the next week.

So once I get back home to Logan, I realize that I left the pants at my parents house. I was so mad! I have only worn them once and then I leave them! So my mom sends them to me. Couple weeks later, I'm thinking that these pants were just not ment to be. I lost all hope in these pants. Then last weekend my mom brings them up to Thanksgiving! I thought they were lost forever but they were just sent back to my mom. Thank goodness. Now me and my pants can live happily ever after. I guess it was ment to be.

Christmas in N3

I's Christmas in N3! My mother gave me a boxful of christmas decor. I was so excited to get into the full on Christmas mode. I spent almost all day Monday decorating!

Please admirer my nine year old Christmas ornament.

Weekend

This past weekend was so much fun! I decided to take a quick trip down to St. George. Like 24 hours quick. The weekend was filled with Cafe Rio salads, coconut cokes, shopping, talking, laughing, reminiscing, and good friends. It breaks my heart everytime I say goodbye to them! At least I'll be back down in two-ish weeks!

Black friday shopping with the world's cutest little girl. (it sort of looks like I'm flipping off the camera.. I'm not I swear)

Playing the laughing game. Just look how happy we all are!

 My good friend David's mission farewell! Texas is one lucky state! He gave an awesome talk in church. So proud of him for going!