And Now I'm Back

.....from outer space.

(Please say that at least one person gets the reference).

Because of my 19 month hiatus from this blog I will treat you with a 19 point list of random loveliness. None in order.

1. I'm truly back from Tennessee and Kentucky (its own planetary system to be sure).

I flew into Salt Lake City on August 27th, and received quite the royal welcome from mi familia.

2. Reunited with the Mizzy!

3. Playing the most beautiful instrument with some talented youngsters.

4. I'm thinking Stevie is not too excited to have me back as her mother 

and I like to play around in Provo. 

5. One of my favorite places to be in on a college campus. Especially with those gorgeous mountains behind! (I really missed the mountains!)

6. Can you find the "Y"?

7. Seeing mission buddies! You talk about these moments as a missionary, but it seems surreal that you are able to hang out...in pants.

8. Stalking my childhood home. Those trees were definitely not that size. 

9. Visiting Jeb's grave in Malta. So glad he is closer to the rest of the gang!

10. Seeing MANY General Authorities! D. Todd Christofferson is somewhere in that mix. 

11. Being overwhelmed with all the new nephews and nieces. "They're everywhere, they're everywhere!"

12. Still being entertained by the elder ones. He asked me to handcuff him to the chair. Being the charitable aunt I am, I had to oblige. 

13. One of the members in my mission sent me this picture. Her daughter named her African American doll and stuffed pig "Sister Johnson" and "Sister Johnson" from when I was companions with a Sister Johnson. What a honor. 

14. Reunited with Pickle! Both proud of our Southern missions!

15. We received a knock on the door one evening and a guy from the ward bought a dozen roses and was giving a rose to each apartment. I happened to be the one to answer the door so they all claim it was for me.

16. What happens when you add Halloween and S'mores together? You get orange marshmallow cream = deliciousness. 

17. Mission Reunion!!! It happened to land on my one month of being home anniversary and was such a tender mercy to see so many of my good friends. Luckily I didn't have too many awkward "do we hug or shake" experiences. We all just went in for the hug.

18. 8:30 am church means special roommate bonding time.

19. And just another picture of the siblings. Thanks for singing in sacrament meeting!

Just So's Y'All Knows:

I got my Associate's Degree.

I also did not fall once on the Rexburg sidewalks.

They should give me another certificate for that.

I also actually received my Associate's a few semesters back and just recently requested it.

How's that for academic ambition.

Dear John

I've never written a Dear John letter so I'm kind of rough at it, but here it goes.

Dear BYU-Idaho,

            Well, what can I say? My last two and half years with you have been quite the adventure! I've met all sorts of wonderful people and reunited with friends old and new. The job in Admissions was perfect and fed me well (both in money and actual food....and sweatshirts and shirts and candy). My education was superb as my love for both English and life-long learning has increased ten-fold. I feel like I've matured so much whilst there, but we know that is a lie. Not to mention the incredible study abroad experience. The Spirit of Ricks is real and I've loved you since I was eight years old. But it is time to separate...at least for 20 months. So until Fall 2014, 

              Neener

Behind the photo: One day at work they extended the offer to go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the 

BYU-I center. My favorite part was the cat walks overlooking the auditorium. Every devotional I would look up there and want to wander around. And I got to.

Bucket List = Check

*Also for those interested: I am deferring to both BYU and BYU-I for the duration of my mission and I'll make a decision (hopefully) when it gets closer to my homecoming. BYU-I perks: the best college job ever and I'm a senior (What?? When did this happen?). BYU perks: The Editing Minor and something new.*

The Gift of Awkward

I think I've said this on my blog before, but I am a fan of awkward.

That's probably why I have the friends I do...

So when I was invited to an Ugly Sweater Party I was enthralled and soon found myself at the DI with just the sweater that the party called for:

The awkward thing about this sweater is that it is actually just on the threshold of being hip and in. I received multiple sincere compliments on this beauty.

The only thing holding it back is its squareness in nature. And by squareness I mean someone telling me to cut out the front panel of it and making a pillow. 

Maybe I will.

In other awkward news, The 21st Most Awkward Situations in History.

Awkwardness, what a gift. 

Party Day is Every Day

The past month I suffered from a symptom in which I get nauseous every time I look at my camera.

Never fear because I did manage to take a few pics of some fabulous parties I had with this girl: 

The trekkie is Danielle and my old roommate. 

She is leaving for her mission to Peru in about a month!!!

This was from her surprise birthday/Halloween party.

Our other roomie Dianne.

LOVE these girls!

What's a party without a Jello eating contest?

The second featured party was:

Latin Night!

Tacos

and 

Jarritos

And Latin Dancing.

Last semester I went Latin Dancing which consists of 1 hour of instruction and then they turn the lights down low and let us loose. The first song, this Asian guy in white pants and a white suit jacket grabs my hand and goes out onto the dance floor. Let me tell you, I was twirling all over the place like a rag doll. It was crazy!

And guess who was there again:

That and our own dance party in the corner of the room made for a fantastico latin dance jam.

We finished the night with Zorro and sopapilla.

Me, myself, and I made this Mexican dessert consisting of cream cheese, roll dough, sugar, and butter.

Yum.

Side note: Me and Danielle also enjoy Zumba and lots of movies together. 

That's a Bit Theatrical

I guess leaving the country is a good excuse to watch an excessive amount of TV. 

Usually my time wasters are blogs, pinterest, and stalking...on Facebook of course.

Anywho, here are some of my more recent discoveries:

1. The newest Batman (I don't even know its name). 

I haven't seen the first two and yet I still understood what was going on. That's a sure sign that this movie is surviving purely on action and special effects.

Great, but like any other superhero movie.

2. Paris When it Sizzles

Every Audrey Hepburn movie is fantastic, right?

Well....this one was a bit different.

It was cheesy and weird, but I think they meant to do that. 

Why, I don't know.

3. The Man Who Knew Too Little

For any Pink Panther, Johnny English, Get Smart, etc fans.

In runs right with the whole clutzy guy solves the mystery and saves the day plot.

But with Bill Murray.

And the guy who plays Peter in While You Were Sleeping.

4. The Secret of Kells

Like any good artsy fartsy student who just returned from a study abroad to the British Isles, going to the foreign film was a must. Especially since this is based off of some Irish history.

I liked it so much, I'm going to share a trailer:

Ok, so the trailer is kind of weird, but this movie is incredible!

After you got use to the animation, the design was amazing and I love the story line.

It's not completely historical (if you watched the trailer, I'm pretty sure I could have left that comment out), but it is based on some facts about the Book of Kells.

Which I almost saw.

Almost.

5. Biezly and Goddfried

This was a play performed on campus and was written by one of the professors at BYU-I.

That being said, you probably will never get the chance to see it.

But it was great!

It was a mind churner which drew in and repulse the audience at the same time.

And I knew of half the cast.

I guess those theater folk and English majors run into each other a lot.

ESA- Colleges

Oxford University: England

Did you know that Oxford is split into more than 30 different colleges spread out in the town?

 They also ride a lot of bikes like any scholarly, hipster student would.

Also in Oxford is the pub where Tolkien and CS Lewis would spend time:

Trinity College: Ireland

Trinity College contains the Book of Kells which they hyped us up for only to not have it on display that day. However, we did get to go into their library which has rows and rows of books.

My bookworm, Englishness, and nerdiosity came out in that moment. 

Happy Search

Happiness is:

-Ice cream after every meal

-Nieces and nephews

-No tuition because you work hard for your good GPA

-Utah plans tomorrow

-Pasta

-Using good smelling Bath and Body Works soap

-Writing a ten page paper in one day

-The sight of this:

One is for one week in Rexburg and the other is for 4 weeks in England.

If you said the one on the left is for Rexburg, you're wrong.

Be Happy!

A Shakespeare Play a Day, Keeps Your Sanity Away

One of my courses for my England Study Abroad is a Shakespeare class so I've been reading my share of Elizabethean English.

Just so you don't miss out on the fun, this comedian does "The Three Little Pigs" in Shakespeare style.



This video is of an impressionist combining celebrities with some of Will's lines.

Time to Play Catch Up

Due to a serious lack of blogging motivation, you get to be blessed with a catch up post. And you know what that means: one uber long post in which I spout off random tangents.

 I am done with my fifth semester of college! 

The only thing I miss about my last semester were my roomies. They were a hoot and a holler.

Other than that, hallelujah.

Back in Malta for the next 6ish weeks.

So the next 6ish weeks consist of:

A. Playing with the honyocks

B. Taking my time to exercise (mostly zumba and running)

I come home from Miss Jewelee's Zumba class dripping with sweat.

Also, the day I came home from college I went straight to a zumbathon she put on. SO. MUCH. FUN.

The dirt roads are glad to have me running on them again, I'm sure.

C. Once again any socialization usually deals with some form of church activity. Last week- scavenger hunt for FHE, instititute, International Dance Festival, and four-wheelering.

D. And eating all of the Mummsie's food.

I haven't done this in a while, but I love to eat mandarin oranges with chopsticks.

I don't really have an explanation....

Other than moving from Rexburg and settling back into my Malta routine, I have been prepping for England! September 17th cannot come fast enough. 

The Olympics have only fueled the fire. 

The Opening Ceremony had pretty much everything I love about England.

Not to mention all of the team's fun outfits.

Why I Work at the Admissions Office

Par-tay with the Admissions office.

Guess who got last place at bowling?

This girl.

And here is my trophy:

And the white elephant gift I collected:

Yep.

Work shouldn't be this fun.

Pinterest Worthy

Skinny jeans + cheetah flats

Don't mind if I do keep your pants Sarah.

PSA for PCM made by JJ in ID

Made this little video for a class. Since I can't really put it on the fridge, I figured the blog would be good enough.

Epic Roomie Weekend

We thought it was time to cross off some of those Roomie Bucket List:

Extravadance  / Midnight Premier of Brave

Taco Bus  / Sno Cone /  Carousel  /  Latin Dancing  / Sleepover

Surprise breakfast  /  Hair braiding party  /  Tubing  /  Cake cookies

English Tea Party  /  Modeling  /  Croquet

More photos on Facebook.

I just love, love love my roommates.