schwendibooty.

the farm.

2011-08-14T19:37:00.002-04:00

last week, after a 15+ hour journey to Newdale, ID, i was lucky enough to spend a few days at a place that easily ties London and New York for favorite places, but for entirely different reasons. i snapped quite a few pictures between picking (and eating) buckets and buckets of raspberries, playing with adorable puppy next door, laying in the grass under the apple tree, ignoring my phone entirely, and playing cards with the family. sounds simply idyllic, right? trust me, it was. and always is.

empty potato pit.

grandpa

potatoes as far as the eye can see.

reasons #486, 487, and 488 why i love this place: mulit-colored shag carpets, wood-paneled walls, and neon afghans:

grandpa's cologne bottle.

{ books }

2011-07-30T22:43:00.002-04:00

i don't know how i missed this little gem of literature for so long, but i recently finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett. i very much enjoyed the book in its entirety, but found myself relating to one of the main characters, Skeeter, more than expected. she is 24, single, and living with her parents after graduating school because she essentially has nothing better to do. she dreams of moving to New York. she lives in a culture and a time where she is expected to get married very young and produce mass quantities of children. all of her friends are married (or well on their way to be) and popping out children like crazy while settling into domestic life (though i am in no way relating to having psychotic friends like Hilly). her boyfriend initially dumps her because he's not over his previous fiancé who broke his heart irreparably. i'm just sayin'... sounds familiar, right? luckily i am sans her crazy control-freak mother who is dying of cancer and spews criticism constantly... aside from loving reading about Skeeter's coming of age and transition into independent womanhood, i loved reading about the racial tensions and stale politics of the deep south of the 60's. a must read, if i may suggest...

i am very excited to see the movie in a few weeks, but i have to say i kind of hate how everything is a movie. once i see the movie or even the preview that is how i will forever picture the characters and story. i think that's why i loved The Hunger Games so much. i was really left to imagine it by myself... until the movie comes out next year, which i am 100% sure i will see. i can't win.

also, i finished reading mockingjay a while ago-- loved loved loved it. i don't understand why so many didn't?? i was hands down team peeta all the way.

next up:

can't wait!

the coast.

2011-07-26T18:32:00.000-04:00

last week, when grandma jones was visitng, we popped over to monterey to cool off-- highlights included shopping, cannery row, riding a surrey bike together, the aquarium, the wharf, and inhaling a gigantic bread bowl of clam chowder just before leaving. the low was for sure being kept up all night to "someone's" snoring. luckily it was nothing sleep with my ipod in and a diet coke the next day couldn't fix.

{ summer }

2011-07-26T18:22:00.000-04:00

probably the biggest perk to living at home is hanging out with these two hooligans between working my hiney off. these pictures just scream summer:

happy things.

2011-06-09T23:43:00.001-04:00

what i'm loving lately:

pinterest: so fun, but more than anything it's just made me lust for things i can't have. but a girl can dream, right?! someday i'll have that beautiful white kitchen with the marble counter tops or that enormous diamond ring...

hanging out with the cute kiddos pictured in the previous post.

watching what i believe to be the greatest rivalry in sports fold out perfectly once again at roland-garros. still love you, fed! 3 weeks til wimbledon!

the salt water sandals i bought in new york. total childhood throwback!

the hunger games series. canNOT get enough. i'm not a reader, but i can't put them down.

homemade almond butter and homemade strawberry jam. i'm salivating just thinking about it.

this little beauty at the gym, which helps me: 1. eat more almond butter and jam, and 2. burn many calories while totally absorbed in the hunger games.

friday night lights season 5. last season of my favorite tv drama of all time. can't get enough.

i like my family.

2011-06-09T23:42:00.000-04:00

my family is pretty great. i like them a lot. let me tell you about them:

dad: commodity trader (?), worries too much, ~~cheap~~ frugal, uber competitive, will do or say anything to make us laugh.

mom: teacher's aide, cares too much what makes the rest of us happy, puts everyone else first.

preston: (brother) IT guy, MBA student; climber, biker, man of few words, but with many many friends. strangely overprotective out of nowhere.

rachel: (sister in law) mom, student; honest and blunt (remember this?), colors inside the lines-- no really, look on her fridge.

david: (brother in law) lawyer; if you're familiar with the color code, he is red. maybe the hardest worker i know, master of bbq.

katie: (sister) ~~lawyer~~ attorney? types 100 wpm, bow maker. closest to my twin-- total foodie and laughs at the same things.

robert: (brother in law) medical student; ~~irritatingly~~ interestingly inquisitive and smart, methodical and thorough. waaaay nicer than the rest of us.

paige: (sister) mom, reader, party planner extraordinaire; lover of oreos, contagious laugh, the girl has tricks up her sleeve that always surprise me.

recent family photos april 23, 2011: las vegas, nevada.

totally candid, we walk down the street holding hands all the time.

originals.

sisters. remember?

these streets will make you feel brand new.

2011-05-23T12:09:00.000-04:00

the first week of may i had the great joy of returning to my favorite place on the planet and one that i will always consider one of my homes: new york.

the week was spent pretending that i lived there again: meeting up with roommates and friends for lunch, cooking dinner together, roaming through central park, shopping, exploring new culinary treasures, lots and lots of walking, lots and lots of sleeping, brunching, picking out the perfect red lipstick, a trip to the met, many trips to shake shack and wsm, catching up with old friends, discovering the best doughnut i've ever eaten here (think peanut butter and jelly in doughnut form), discovering the best cookie i've ever eaten here, etc. You get the idea: lots of eating, lots of playing. all around amazing trip, but great to realize that i am happy with my {financial} situation at home. i plan to return to new york, but it may be a few more months {or years...}.

here are some of my favorite pictures i took on my iphone hipstamatic (i know, i'm trendy. don't hate me.).

the square of times.

pillow talk with klr.

columbus circle

the plaza.

betheseda fountain.

the mall.

the famed florio's calzone. yum.

best cannoli in the city.

cutest couple in the city.

most awesome roommate in the city.

view from the highline.

DOUGHNUT PLANT.
i can't even talk about it, it was that good.

the met to see the alexander mcqueen exhibit.
so dark, but so beautiful. incredible.

out with my favorite twins.

new york, i love you.

the fever of the bieber.

2011-04-01T01:20:00.000-04:00

you read that right. this is how i'm choosing to re-enter the blogging world. i have the fever. in recent weeks i have seen the movie (the director's fan cut, mind you) twice, once with two 20-something males (who equal my admiration**) and once with a bunch of girls: a 14 year old, 13 year old, and three 11 year olds. i managed to convert some previously unexposed girls. since viewing the movie, i have purchased or otherwise gotten my hands on every track he has recorded. i find myself having many a private dance party in my room or with my 4 year old nephew. i can't hear his music and not move around.

i realize there's a lot of haters. haters will be haters, but i'd like to share what i consider to be the bieber's strongest credentials, many of which are based on footage from the movie (which i would strongly recommend you see before you pass any judgment). in no particular order:

he's pretty much besties with usher. i mean, they have a handshake. really? really. if that doesn't give him street cred, i don't know what does.
he can solve a rubik's cube in less than 2 minutes. who does that? not me. even the rhinestoned one that usher had specially made for him.
he can play 3 instruments in 1 concert and is exceptional at all three. take a gander at this:

he performs regularly with the likes of boyz II men, jaden smith, miley cyrus (ok, maybe she doesn't help his cause...), sean kingston, usher, and most recently, rascal flatts. and i mean they come to his concert to guest perform with him, not the other way around.
the kid can dance. and he's pretty hilarious.
his video for "baby" has 503,304,915 views on youtube. that's more than the entire population of the united states. that has to be some kind of record.
he was freakin' adorable as a small child. browse youtube for evidence (or see the movie...).
i felt happy and smiled through the entire movie and for long after it was over. i can honestly say i felt somehow more bonded to the 20-something males i saw it with-- like we had shared an experience of sorts...
oh yeah, and he can sing.

alls i'm saying is don't hate, see the movie, and give the bieber a chance.

**disclaimer: i say adoration, but would like to be clear that i mean this in a legitimate fan of his music way and not in a screamingoutofcontroltween way (or said tween's mother, as the case may be).

um hello?

2011-03-27T19:14:00.000-04:00

is this thing on? does anyone even read this thing anymore? i would venture to say probably not.

you might have wondered what happened to me for the last seven months? to tell you the truth, i have no idea.

people have asked me, what have you been up to? no idea. there was a stretch of about 4 months where i have no clue where the time went. i spent my time...working out?...running errands? ...baking? ...sleeping? ...giving thanks? ...christmasing? (both of which, were delightful, by the way) oh yeah, and job hunting. --which i finally did get one of those. a job, that is-- here. i like it. and it has consumed my life. nonetheless, i am so grateful to once again be a contributing member of society and begin to SLOWLY dig myself out of my student loans. it will be a LOOOOONG road. but i digress. the point is, i am back to blogging. i know you're thrilled.

san jose.

2010-08-26T18:41:00.002-04:00

3 days after i got home, i went on a spontaneous girls trip to visit becca and bryce with three of my besties. it was a little pathetic, but i felt like i needed a vacation? i know, i know, my entire life is a vacation right now. but i needed a break from my break? yeah, i know i'm lame. but it was so fun to catch up with 4 of my favorite people. we passed the time eating at cheesecake factory, laughing over delicious breakfasts, going to the beach, watching reruns of glee and several of our favorite movies, hot-tubbing, and making frequent visits to pinkberry.

so happy to be closer to my longtime eyebrow groomer, hair stylist, and beauty consultant.

after that 4-day trip, i've been spending my time job-hunting (which i'm not sure will ever end), going to the gym, playing with friends, playing with nephews, and playing at the lake (work hard, play hard, right?? now for the work part...).

leaving.

2010-08-26T18:11:00.000-04:00

the night before i left my roommates got our friends together to do two of my favorite things: eat at shake shack and ride the staten island ferry. i felt it appropriate to wear an "i heart ny" t-shirt.

the sign i came home to a few days before i left. kristin also bought me those flowers :)

in all its lit up glory...

mmm..the "concrete jungle"-- my motto for this meal was "go big AND go home."

roommate ruth and my replacement jessica.

roommate kristin.

5th roommate brad.

all 4 of us: lauren, kristin, dayna, and ruth. SO sad to leave them!!

some of us in the ferry terminal.

we went home and my roommates laid like this talking about life, boys, and our future while i finished packing and cleaning until 3 in the morning :

we had some very sad group hugs and said goodbye. it was so surreal when i simply walked out of our apartment at 5am and out to broadway where i got a cab to laguardia to fly home...

let's hear it for new york, new york, new york...

2010-08-26T17:25:00.000-04:00

i decided i was leaving new york. three days later my plane ticket was purchased. 1 week later i was gone. fast? yes. but i felt it completely necessary to "rip off the bandaid." that was the only way to make it a little less sad...

i tried to make the most of my last week. there's a lot i wanted to do and see and EAT one last time before i left. i didn't get to do it all, but i can visit, right? here's a quick rundown, just so i can remember my last days in my favorite place.

friday: movie on pier 46 with friends. they showed "big." the weather was perfect, the sunset was beautiful across the water, and the movie was way funnier than i remembered.

after big: billy's cupcake. i'm going to make a bold statement and say that this is the best cupcake in new york.

saturday: trip out to long beach for the day. pretty sure the whole ward was there-- but a beautiful way to get out of the humid city.

sunday: last day at church (weird!), which i chose to be in denial about. took a nap, and spent the evening watching Friday Night Lights with a couple of friends-- there will undoubtedly be a post at some point in the future describing my deep love for this show, eric and tami taylor, matt saracen, and tim riggins.

monday: made dinner with my favorite cooking partner, my roommate kristin. we repeated our favorite meal we've made: salmon, rosemary garlic toast, and spinach salad with strawberries, blueberries, and candied almonds. yum.

tuesday: some last minute shopping on canal street. then a pitstop at donut plant:

and meeting up with jen, ruth, and lori for one of my most favorite meals at florio's in little italy: the calzone.

and i finished up the night by using my zipcar for my first time behind the wheel in the city to help jessica move into my room. horrifying, but oh, so fun.

bittersweet.

2010-08-03T13:14:00.000-04:00

so remember how i'm living in new york, loving life, and living the dream? change of plans....

i still plan to love life and live the dream, but new york will have to wait a year or two for me. the economic climate has rendered it pretty much impossible for me to get a job here as a new grad nurse. and since i don't so much want to spend money i don't have hanging out in the meantime, i've decided to migrate west. as in fresno, more specifically.

i feel COMPLETELY split down the middle. super excited to be near family, drive a car on a regular basis, FREE and convenient laundry, free rent (well, free everything i guess...), target nearby, gym down the street for $20/month, a yard and pool, the wide open spaces of suburbia, and hopefully quickly finding a job and saving lots of money in the coming months.

on the other hand, i'm super sad to leave my adorable room and apartment, my fantastic roommates and so many AMAZING friends, countless indescribable food experiences and treats, so many happy memories and opportunities to make more, and this city that i am hands down in love with. completely bittersweet.

onward and upward?? maybe. but i'll be back, give me a year or maybe two and i'll be back ready to start my masters. and you can bet i'll visit. a lot. a lot a lot.

now to say goodbye...

dealbreaker.

2010-07-28T14:41:00.002-04:00

if you know me at all, you know that i love all things domestic. at this very moment there are three issues of real simple magazine and two issues of martha stewart living strewn across my bed. i am constantly perusing various blogs and websites for new recipes. i have a secret fantasy of opening a closet organization business or some kind of event planning a la amy atlas. i consider the container store and williams-sonoma two of my happy places. i have even earned such nicknames as "martha" or "bree" (from desperate housewives) from friends.

however, there is one domestic task that i detest like no other: ironing. the other day i was preparing for a job interview and found myself bent over my cheap ironing board in our stifling kitchen, trying to make my white button-up crisp enough for my liking. i have had countless lessons from my mom, who is an absolute expert. granted i blocked much of her teaching out hoping i would never have to do it for myself, i felt like i had no idea what i was doing. i was flustered, hot, and DONE with ironing forever. as in NEVER again (ok, maybe that's a little extreme...).

i chuckled as i played out this scenario to myself (and this is SO not a normal train of thought, i promise...)

man with whom i am absolutely in love: "i love you. will you marry me?"
me: "will you do your own ironing, buy only wrinkle free shirts, or have your ironing sent out?"
man: "can't you do it?"
me: "dealbreaker. sorry."

hcp & niagara.

2010-07-19T18:51:00.000-04:00

this last weekend i had the chance to go with 11 friends on a roadtrip to palmyra, new york to see the church history sites and hill cumorah pageant and go to niagara falls. we set out at about 7 am on saturday to meet jake in jersey where he had one of his parents' cars. unfortunately, the other car had to cram 6 people in for the 45 minute drive into jersey...and got pulled over...with 4 people out of seatbelts...going 25 over (good one, graham)...but by some miracle got let off when the guy found out they were from utah and mormon. sometimes it pays... by the time we all found each other and hit the road it was 9:00 or so.

i had a delightful car trip with jake, jessica, and sara, complete with roadside yoga, a photoshoot, and the most awesome sing-along (with coke bottle microphones) to songs like "bohemian rhapsody," "total eclipse of the heart," "i saw the sign," and "i want you back." we arrived at palmyra around 2:30 and grabbed lunch at mike's pizzeria. we drove down to the grove where we found one of the other cars and quickly dispersed into the grove.

it's been probably 14 or 15 years since i've been to the sacred grove, so i was excited to be there. i read a few passages out of joseph smith history and then just sat to meditate on the peace there. i walked around and laid down on bench looking up into the trees, with the sun illuminating the leaves and rays of light poking through. i laid there for almost an hour and it was one of those simple moments of clarity when you just know with absolute unquestioned faith that it's all true. i basked in it for as long as i could.

we left the grove and drove into town where we went to the Book of Mormon printing shop. we went on the tour, which was great to see again. the absolute highlight was when the tour guide asked the group to look behind us at something at the exact moment that jake and bryan decided to embrace in a full-on man hug.

after the print shop we grabbed some soft serve at the most amazing sell-anything shop a few doors down. i could buy a chocolate book of mormon, some facewash, and a small vacuum cleaner all in the same 200 square foot shop. then, we headed out to the hill cumorah pageant to stake out some seats.

i LOVED being at the hill cumorah. we were there a solid 4 hours early so we had time to burn. i went through the visitors center with a few of us and loved it. they showed the restoration video that i'm sure most of us have seen about 100 times in seminary and last minute sunday school lessons, but it gets me every time. i needed to be reminded of "why." it was another moment where you just think to yourself what an idiot you are for not trying harder to cultivate this feeling every moment of your life. i could not wipe the smile off my face. we explored the rest of the visitors center and had fun reading foreign language titles of the book of mormon out loud.

the next several hours were spent laying in the warm-but-not-humid sunshine, enjoying the wide open spaces, walking around the area, snacking on muddy buddies, seeing how many of the surrounding people we could get to raise their eyebrows at our conversation (never a dull moment...), and just loving hanging out amongst hundreds of mormons for the first time in a long while. it was the most relaxed and happy i can remember feeling in the recent past.

we watched the pageant, and i admit, we were all a little bit giggly at the exaggerated hand gestures and pyrotechnic special effects. but i loved the hush the came over the entire audience when Christ appeared. i looked up at the sky where i could actually see stars and soaked it in.

we drove up to buffalo to the red roof inn and quickly settled in for the night out of sheer exhaustion. we got up in the morning, grabbed breakfast at panera, and headed up to niagara. after gazing at a rainbow over the falls (watch this if you haven't seen it), we headed straight to the maid of the mist, and let me say, the $13.50 for the boat ride was worth every penny. you just can't help but laugh hysterically whilst being sprayed uncontrollably in the face, trying to keep your 25-sizes-too-big poncho from blowing up like a parachute, and being squished by 10 of your closest friends. after getting off, we explored the mist trail, where we all came out completely soaked, but loving every minute.

we hit the road and drove pretty uneventfully to binghamton, which is a hilariously abandoned back to the future-esque town in southwest new york. we grabbed some food at wendy's and switched up the cars for the last leg. this time i was with jessica, jordan, graham, and bryan. we suffered through nearly an hour of road construction traffic, but joyously rocked some 80's love ballads, michael bolton, ne-yo, usher, justin bieber, and backstreet boys as we drove into the city.

it was a weekend to remember...

sorry, for the lengthy description, but i LOVED this trip so much that i want to remember it! enjoy the visual documentation:

summer in { and out of } the city.

2010-07-16T13:12:00.000-04:00

ok, ok, it's been almost a month. again. my bad. but turns out, summer (and job hunting...) is just too much fun in new york. here's what i've been up to:

a yankees game.

trying to brave weather that is something like 90-95 degrees with 80-90% humidity. my hair is big and my body, sweaty. ALL the time.
shakespeare in the park. free and arguably one of the hottest summer tickets in town. you either have to wait in line ALL day in the heat, pay a "donation" of $350 for each ticket, or be one of a lucky few to win the virtual ticket lottery. luckily, i have a roommate who won the lottery and invited yours truly. we saw the winter's tale. it was PHENOMENAL. highlight actors included jesse tyler ferguson (a modern family fave), gerry bamman (aka uncle frank from home alone. every time he opened his mouth i expected him to say, "look what you did, you little jerk!"), and jesse l. martin (as seen on law and order).

this is pretty contraband: their staff is ALL over anyone with a camera.

free movies on the intrepid. friday's feature: ghostbusters. watch it if you haven't recently. bill murray at his best. in two weeks: the goonies. you can bet i'll be there.

regularly running through the spewing fire hydrant on my street with a couple of friends and five year olds in their swimsuits.
a trip home to fresno. succesfully surprised the parents, played with nieces and nephews, shopped with mom and sister, relived some old-fashioned schwendiman-style manual labor, relaxed in the pool, frequently visited the gym, DROVE A CAR and blasted the radio, grocery shopped with aisles wider than the cart and bought more than i could carry, saw toy story 3 (HIGHLY recommend), and zooed it up with reagan, jacob, mom and paige. somehow this is the only picture i got:

bored out of our minds in gymboree. we're both used to this scenario.

celebrating the 4th from the 37th floor of a high rise on 42nd street with a perfect view of the fireworkds. don't know if you saw it on tv, but new york and macy's know how it's done.
day trip to fire island. we (and by "we" i mean some of my friends who are actually employed) took advantage of the july 5th holiday and headed out to the beach. it took 2 1/2 hours and a ride on the subway, long island railroad, a shuttle bus, and a ferry to reach the island, but it was well worth it. so far it is remembered as my favorite day of summer. i spent the day with two of my best friends roaming the beach, strolling around the little beach town, chatting about everything under the sun, rocking out to justin bieber, laughing, people watching, relaxing, socializing with everyone else, occasionally swimming, and just hanging out in the ocean breeze. it was an idyllic summer day.

an epic night of capture the flag in central park. 45 people turned out to don colored headbands and hide glow sticks in the bushes of the north woods. note: central park is just as scary at night with just as many creepers/homeless people/drunks roaming around as there are rumored to be. thank goodness for the buddy system and some very nice and very protective male friends.
catching up on such televised masterpieces as the city, real housewives of new york city, and bethenny getting married. don't judge me. also, sytycd. i don't care if you judge me for that one.
next up: road trip to the hill cumorah pageant and niagara falls this weekend!

coney.

2010-06-16T13:50:00.000-04:00

last friday, i headed out to the very end of the D subway line with a few friends to experience all that coney island has to offer. let me just say, it lived up to and beyond my wildest expectations. we rode the cyclone, which turns out is as terrifying as a wooden roller coaster built in 1927 sounds. the thrill came from literally feeling like i might die, not from any fantastic ride design or engineering. we people watched. we ate corn dogs. we danced with the cid (coney island dancers), which is a bunch of middle aged semi-homeless men that are pretty sure they are the best dancers new york has to offer. we ate funnel cakes. we witnessed a hotdog eating contest. we sat on the beach. we watched the freak show, which lived up to its namesake. and to top the day off we played MASH the whole way there and back on the subway, thus securing each of our future lives. all in all a successful and productive day, i think.

a bona fide RN.

2010-06-10T16:30:00.004-04:00

sorry for the blog overload, but now for the most important: i am a real RN! i took the NCLEX last friday after a lot of anxiety, nervousness, worry, fasting, praying, a priesthood blessing, and much confidence and reassurance from friends and family. i can honestly say i walked out of the test with absolutely no idea if i passed or failed. there were only a handful of questions that i knew with 100% surety. one question i got was a cultural question about mormonism and had TWO right answers. lame. i felt like that should've been a no-brainer. however, i felt truly blessed to feel calm and collected through the whole thing and truly feel like i did my best on it (even if i could have studied a little more...). i got the news on sunday that i passed and was so RELIEVED! i feel like i can move on with my life now-- i've spent the last week updating my resume, gathering letters of recommendation, figuring out applications, getting my life (and my room!) under control, and coming to terms with my new identity as a non-student. the job hunt is on!

the belmont stakes.

2010-06-10T16:15:00.003-04:00

THE belmont stakes.

last saturday, my friend mike invited me to the belmont stakes. i jumped at the chance, since i have no experience with horse races, and i loved it. we sat up in the shade in the cheap seats and took it all in. i made it a point to learn all i could, since i knew nothing prior. there were big hats, sundresses, seersucker suits, and pastel polos all around, which i loved. there's something about horse races, tennis, polo, golf, and sailing that emanates an east coast feel of society like nothing else quite compares with. we had a lot of fun placing two dollar bets with mike's money (most of which we lost miserably) and screaming as the horses came in like we really cared. i will be back next year!

happy 1 year, new york.

2010-06-10T16:00:00.003-04:00

saw this on the eve of my 1 year anniversary: a good omen.

may 27th marked my 1 year anniversary of moving to new york. i can hardly believe it's been a year. i never hated it, in fact i liked it from the start, but really LOVING it took a little more time. but i can honestly say now that i really really do LOVE it. there's just something about it. i can't explain it. there's an energy, an ambition in the air. you can find anything, do anything, and be anything you want here. people are open-minded. new yorkers look out for each other. christmas is magical here. spring and fall are beautiful. there's always something to do or see, yet you can still find solace and quiet in a park. and i feel like i've only experienced the tip of the iceberg. when i was on my way back from duck beach, i was desperate to get back to the city for some reason. it truly has become home. i heart ny.

duck beach.

2010-06-10T15:46:00.004-04:00

apparently every memorial day weekend, there's a huge tradition for young single adults from all over the country to gather at duck beach in north carolina. groups of 20-25 people rent out enormous beach houses and pack people in. i knew a few going and my roommate was dying to drive down, so i consented as a trip out of the city was in order. aside from getting stuck/lost in new jersey on the way down AND on the way back, the trip was a lot of fun. it wasn't really my "scene" socially... but i'm glad i went and i got to know a lot of people that i didn't know before.

"studying" for the nclex.

ran into old friends from provo!

the brooklyn half.

2010-06-10T15:13:00.005-04:00

the saturday after graduation, how did i choose to celebrate? oh, by running a half marathon, nbd (apparently this is a new acronym for no big deal. i thought i'd try it out.). let's just say i did not prepare as adequately as i probably should have. this, coupled with the massive amounts of sugar and food consumed the weekend before with my mom, left me feeling less than excited at the thought. i forced myself not to think about it, and just enjoyed my carb loading the day before, telling myself that either way i'd finish. finish, i did. time: nothing noteworthy, but aside from the first few tortuous miles, i felt great! i ran waaaay more of it than i thought i would (which may be due to the fact that figured out it hurt less to run than it did to walk...). it was a fantastic way for me to see some of brooklyn since i haven't explored much, and ironically, running 13.1 made me love running again, when i had REALLY struggled training for this one. i need a treadmill... but i'm looking forward to training and running the next one...

my friend laura and i drove down at the crack of dawn from manhattan. we still started the race 12 minutes late due to lack of parking. notice the excitement on our faces...

coming in the home stretch on the boardwalk at coney island. i was rocking "don't stop believin" from the glee soundtrack at this point.

post-race, back at the car, in pain, REALLY sweaty, but HAPPY.

graduation. again.

2010-06-10T14:26:00.003-04:00

i did it! just 13 months after graduating from byu, i graduated from columbia's nursing program. it truly FLEW by... part of me felt like i learned SO much, and part felt like i just started. we had our graduation on may 18 at riverside church. the ceremony was short and sweet...

marching in in our white coats... can you tell i'm excited to be done?

dean mundinger giving her address.

all my girls-- i'm not going to see them much anymore--SO SAD!

me and mom.

my mom came all the way from california for the weekend prior to graduation. somehow this is the only picture we took together the entire weekend-- but we had a great time. we ate out almost every meal at some of my favorites, shopped til we dropped, walked til my mom dropped, museumed at the met, and saw west side story (highly recommend) and promises, promises (also highly recommend--sean hayes and kristen chenoweth were both phenomenal). she even put up with some pretty extreme pms on my part the last day or so she was there...bless her heart, she still loved me at the end of that trip. but i'm so glad she came out-- she and my dad have been ultra supportive over the last year. it's a little funny, they're supportive in the traditional sense, more in a "duh, of course we knew you could do it" kind of way. either way, i'm lucky.

apartment tour.

2010-05-14T20:53:00.006-04:00

so i moved into an apartment at the end of february. to put it lightly, it was a bit of a nightmare for the first while-- just getting the contract signed was an ordeal that involved overnighting between parents, running around all of manhattan at rush hour, and scrounging up several thousand dollars between the 4 of us.

we signed the contract and started to move in, even with work left undone, which we did make them sign that they would complete. but that was a problem too-- the kitchen was torn apart with mismatched old appliances-- they tried to convince us to leave them, but thanks to a very persistent and persuasive roommate, we came out with brand new full-sized stainless steel appliances.

then, after we moved in, we discovered the boiler room for the building was right on the other side of the wall and when it turned on, it literally sounded like a grown man beating a metal pipe with a sledge hammer. this happened for about 10 minutes at a time, 4 to 5 times during the night. needless to say, we were sleep-deprived and ornery. it was an epic battle to get our landlord and super to even believe us and a couple of weeks of workers in and out every day before it was finally resolved.

we've had other issues with a gas leak in the building, workers in and out, other minor fix-its getting done, etc. let's just say we have a very love-hate relationship with our super. but it was WELL worth it. the whole apartment is painted, pictures are hung, and it finally feels like HOME. we LOVE it!

the kitchen featuring the chalkboard wall.

the living room, made awkward by a huge pole right in the middle.

kristin and ruth's bathroom:

dayna's bedroom:

ruth's room:

i omitted pictures of kristin's room for the time being :)

mine and dayna's bathroom:

and my room:

we also have a sweet back patio, but no pictures since it's dark. come visit anytime, there's plenty of room! :)

over it.

2010-05-05T23:19:00.022-04:00

i've been over this whole blogging thing for the past 3 months. which explains my lack of posting. however, i will catch up-- though i make no guarantees for the future. here's what i've been up to (since i know you've been DYING to know). brace yourself.

moving. yep, i was pretty sure i was going to die if i stayed in the dorms any longer so i up and moved within a week of deciding. i found 3 amazing roommates who had already found an apartment-- more on the move when/if i get around to posting pictures of our adorable apartment.
culturing myself. way back in february, i saw in the heights starring none other than corbin bleu. if you don't immediately know who he is, i'm not sure if we can be friends anymore. he rocked it. and it was the night before i moved out of washington heights. i was surprisingly sentimental about the move away from the hood. unfortunately, i haven't seen anything since, although my friends and i agreed date night was well worth the $14 to see it...

the sweet iphone pic my friend bryan took from our third row seats.

celebrating my 23rd birthday. i kept it pretty low key with a dinner with school friends the night before at carmine's, a dinner on my birthday at shake shack and small party later in the week that was impeded by a massive snowstorm-- we broke out some twister, which was entertaining in its own right. my friends do yoga.

part of the group at my birthday. somehow this is the only group picture of the night...

getting over winter. it was a rough one, and i legitimately felt like i had most of the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. however, spring is that much more glorious after a long winter, and i have LOVED spring and the opportunity to get a little color and freckles on my face.

meals like this have helped. this was my favorite dinner with bec and lauren.

settling in. with the move came new roommates, new ward, new friends, new neighborhood-- this all means a whole lot of eating out, birthday dinners, dance parties, dinner parties, just-because parties, weekend trip to jersey, picnics in the park, long walks...

dinner party with school friends

ruthy's birthday dinner

funnest dance party EVER.

st. patrick's day parade.

junior's cheesecake in times square.

serendipity frozen hot chocolate.

jonathan's farewell dinner at our regular: metro diner.

jonathan's last meal: calzone's at florio's in little italy. AMAZING.

staycationing. i got a visit about a week after i moved from five of my best girlfriends... i was a little bit of a stressball because i just wanted them to love new york as much as i do. but i had to realize this was their vacation and their time. they were all incredibly forgiving and patient with me and we ended up having a great time.

christa pose. fyi, i NEVER pose like this in pictures.

becoming a fan of jack. with some concerted effort from a few friends, i got sucked into the monday night ritual of watching 24. i've resisted for years, but i have learned to love and even revere jack (with whom we are all on a first name basis). as the popular phrase goes among our devoted 24 crowd, "jack is AMERICA." we may or may not have indulged in the bachelor most mondays right before 24 started, something none of us are proud of.

counter terrorism at the st. patrick's day parade. ...jack?

cleaning up new york. my friend valerie organized a group from the ward to participate in hands on new york day, so a couple of saturdays ago we loaded up early on a school bus and drove out to a park in queens and cleaned it up.

saying goodbye to friends. i've had to come to terms with the fact that this will be common during my time here. so many people are transient here with internships and school programs, temporary jobs and projects, etc.

one of my best friends here , jonathan, left last week. i'm still getting over it. he was my therapist in more than one freak out moment and a truly great friend.

brett, the one in the middle, leaves on friday. SO sad! another great confidante.

finishing school. i finished out my rotations with psych, which is a story in and of itself, and moved on to my internship. i've been at beth israel medical center in the MICU for the past 6 weeks. i only have 3 shifts left and i've loved every minute of it. imagine how much i'll love it when i'm getting paid :) now, less than two weeks until i graduate. again. the next chapter is TERRIFYING. mostly in a good way.

snow day!

2010-02-10T19:08:00.005-05:00

i had my first snow day today since 1997 when i lived in ohio (and i went to school in utah for crying out loud). it was delightful. we started off the day with some chocolate chip pancakes and pajama lounging...

and then i went with these new roommates...

to see this while i ate my body weight in peanut m&m's...

and it was amazing-- scarlett and liev especially. i topped off the day with a little shopping at h&m and a peanut butter and banana sandwich while my feet dried. note to self, uggs are NOT waterproof.

i'm crossing my fingers for snow day take 2 tomorrow!

think you have the cutest nieces and nephews?

2010-01-25T16:32:00.008-05:00

i submit that you do not, because i DO!

holiday catch up.

2010-01-25T15:26:00.005-05:00

i'm finally getting around to this-- mostly because i don't want to study.

christmas vacation was a whirlwind, but so much fun. i spent the first week with all of my immediate family who were all in town for the whole week (except for david). we filled the days with pump it up, baking holiday treats, eating holiday treats, playing super mario on paige's wii, late night trips to target and the mall to re-vamp paige's wardrobe, costco shopping, playing with nieces and nephews, gingerbread house building, playing cards, participating in a family spelling bee just because we're that competitive, walking to see christmas lights, playing arcade games at chuck e. cheese, and enjoying christmas feasting and gift-giving and receiving! santa (and mom and dad) were very good to me this year!

the second week home was spent catching up with friends and making a music video to poker face (go here to see it), alone time with mom and dad, new year's celebrations, and making an audition video for the amazing race for the next time auditions roll around. i'd post it, but swore to my dad to keep it under wraps...

for new year's we decided to forego the traditional magic mountain trip and spend it at home.

in the end, the break was wonderful but way too short!

i know it's late, but happy new year!

fried and angry.

2010-01-17T16:18:00.004-05:00

until further notice, i will not be an internet-frequenter as my 8 month old PC notebook has decided to quit on me and was diagnosed with a fried hard drive. i'm a little upset, which may or may not be compounded by the fact that winter was temporarily interrupted yesterday with 50 degree sun, and today returned to rainy 30-something cold. i don't have the time or the money to deal with it, but i'll get over it. let's face it--there are MUCH bigger problems in the world. but live and learn-- i am SO done with PC's!

42 down, 18 to go.

2009-12-15T20:55:00.005-05:00

i am officially DONE with finals, marking completion of 5 months and 42 credits of nursing school. now just 5 months and 18 more credits (i know, they don't even it out very well). so that means that in may i will *hopefully* pass the nclex and *hopefully* be working full-time as an RN here in New York! i am completely excited, albeit completely terrified, which is probably a good place to be as a new nurse-- no one wants an over-confident new nurse, right?

we've played a lot lately, so here are a few pictures of our recent parties:

"Super Classy Holiday Party"

this is where they started calliny me bree from desperate housewives
because i made 3 pies and was dressed "classy."

Lauren's Birthday Party

birthday girl is front and center in the blue and green.

now just 2 days at clinical stand between me and the california sun (or fog...). it's wonderful to sit back, enjoy my newly purchased glee soundtrack, and dream of christmas...

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree...

2009-12-06T20:06:00.009-05:00

last wednesday after clinical, three of us changed clothes and headed straight down to Rockefeller Center to stand with 100,000 other people and wait for the tree lighting ceremony. we ended up right in front of Dean and Deluca-- we stood for 3 hours waiting in the rain, in which time we ate, chatted, and made friends with the girls next to us and officer pete standing behind us. my favorite moment waiting was a woman shuffling by us proclaiming, "why do these people need Christmas lights?! God is the light, and if you believe in God, you wouldn't need Christmas lights!"

the show started at 7, and of course it rained harder. we couldn't see much (since the stage was facing a building and not the crowd), but we watched on the big screen and it was fun to be there anyway. there were performances by barry manilow, rod stewart, aretha franklin, shakira (ugh...), rob thomas, the rockettes, alicia keys, and michael buble **girlish sigh**.

waiting with sarah

the four of us that went: jenn, sarah, me, and amy.

with officer pete-- we made a love connection for him with one of
the girls next to us, including a phone number exchange. he was happy.

us with the tree in all its lit up glory.

i learned that the public transportation system really is incredibly efficient, that jane krakowski does not appear to be different at all from her character on 30 rock, and that good friends can be made when you're forced into each other's personal space for 5 hours in the rain. we left full of christmas (or hanukkah) spirit, a little wet, and a lot more in love with michael buble (at least i was...).

turkey trot = more pie.

2009-12-01T19:54:00.008-05:00

for thanksgiving this year, i declared back in july that i was going to arizona and pretty much invited my entire family to my cousins' and grandma's houses for the holiday. lucky for me they didn't seem to mind and about half of my family made it.

i was able to go for an entire week thanks to a much-needed break from school (thank you, columbia!). the first couple of days were spent watching my cousin, taylor, at a horse show in scottsdale (which she WON in her division), eating out at chipotle, rosa's, and cheescake factory, catching up with one of my besties, becca (and i got her all to myself since bryce was out of town), lunch-date with becca to sushi, a free haircut from becca, and relaxing with mom and grandma.

everyone else showed up on tuesday and wednesday. we ate pizza and played a new game called quelf. it's been a long time since i laughed so hard i cried. pictures courtesy of paige's and rachel's blogs since i don't have a camera (santa?!).

my dad getting his game face on.

fierce gamesmanship.

preston won-- and it shows-- he was COMMITTED. he had to keep his hands on his head while drawing and running, and could only move his piece with his elbows.

quelf game 2, thanksgiving night. paige wearing a helmet just makes me laugh.

thanksgiving day started out for me with the mesa 10k turkey trot with my aunt alison and cousin rachel, since my family all bailed. my parents were very supportive anyway :) my goal time was an hour, which works out to about 9:40 miles-- i came in at 1 hr and 15 seconds! thank you arizona heat and dry air. i was pretty sure i was going to die of dehydration the last 1/2 mile. oh well, i guess i'll just have to do it AGAIN!

rushing to the start thanks to some very long bathroom lines

catching up to the crowd just after starting (thank goodness for chip timing!)

crossing the finish line with aunt alison with a dry mouth and much less pep in my step.

all done! so much fun to run with them-- we stayed together the whole time. next time i'd like to run with some immediate family-- yes?!

the thanksgiving feast was delicious and enjoyable thanks to seventy-something degree weather and a light breeze. we spent the evening playing volleyball, eating pie, playing with the six dogs that were there, eating more pie, and playing more games.
friday, i went to a car show in downtown phoenix with my dad, uncle gary, and robert-- it was a lot of fun, but i was definitely the girl of the group because the only comments i could make were "ooh, i like that color" or "that's pretty." either way i scoped out some cars for life post-graduation. we got the chance to go see my aunt wendy and grandma schwendiman in phoenix and ate some lunch and played cards with them. it was great to spend time with them. friday night was spent with a traditional jones card tournament, in which i lost miserably and eating MORE pie!

thanks for hosting joneses! it went by way too fast and i missed rachel and the boys and the bindrups, but less than 3 short weeks til christmas break! now back to the grind!

you know you've been studying too much when...

2009-11-03T21:36:00.004-05:00

1) you ditch one class to study for another one, and

2) you have a permanent pencil print on your finger. it doesn't go away these days.

now there's a problem i didn't have when i went to byu...

autumn in new york.

2009-11-02T18:54:00.010-05:00

i had today randomly off of school, so i decided to pack a little lunch and take a stroll through central park to see the leaves before fall is over--the air was crisp and the smell of dry leaves filled the air. i crunched through the leaves as loudly as possible, and i was once again reminded of my developing love for new york. the pictures really don't do it justice (and are a little fuzzy), but what's a girl to do with just an iphone camera?

i started in the strawberry fields around 72nd: rip john lennon.

soooo pretty...

betheseda fountain:

the mall:

ice rinks already...

the plaza. no biggie.

if anyone is planning on visiting me ever, might i suggest fall?? who could say "no" to all of that?

the MoMA.

2009-11-02T18:34:00.007-05:00

after my walk through central park, i ended walked down fifth ave for a while because that just never gets old. i ended up in the museum of modern art. thanks to my columbia id, i got in free! i was surprised at (1) how crowded it was for a monday afternoon and (2) how much i enjoyed it considering i struggle a little with modern "art." i think i can credit my enjoyment with the fact that i stuck with the "paintings 1880-1940" and "paintings 1940-1970" galleries and avoided rooms with titles like "contemporary sculpture." highlights:

Van Gogh:

probably my favorite painting EVER. i have a huge poster of it in my
room. so cool to see it up close.

Seurat:

Picasso:
Dali:

NOT my favorite, but still interesting. this was only about a foot wide--
every time i've seen it, it's been huge.

Wyeth:

Pollock:

Mondrian:

Warhol:

my day was complete with a starbucks pumpkin spice steamer and walk back to columbus circle. it totally beat 7 hours in class like a normal monday. i LOVE mondays off!

halloween.

2009-11-02T18:15:00.007-05:00

i didn't do much of anything on halloween since i pretty much abhor dressing up and didn't much feel like participating because we all know "halloween is the one night a year a girl can dress like a total slut and no one can say anything" (thank you, mean girls), but i did celebrate a week early with some school friends. we met upstairs in what we call the "skylounge" to make our crappy student lounge sound glamorous. the night was complete with pumpkin carving, pumpkin cookies, roasting pumpkin seeds, and even some pumpkin ale for everyone but me!

getting started...

kelly:

stephanie:

cassie:

nicole:

christina: named norma, after one of our teachers

jenn:

crista:

and mine!

i'm usually such a scrooge about halloween that i forgot how much fun pumpkin-carving is-- if this whole nursing thing doesn't work out, i may be taking that up as a career!

waste not, want not.

2009-10-29T21:06:00.005-04:00

it's kind of a bummer when you HAVE to make banana-crumb-chocolate-chip muffins because naturally, you need something to eat with your milk that expires today...

a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. good thing these muffins have made me a lot of friends, or i would be one pudgy girl...

good news.

2009-10-12T16:46:00.003-04:00

this (meaning my current educational pursuits) might just be worth it. on cnnmoney.com, new polls in the "Best Jobs in America" have ranked nurse practitioners as #4 and nurse anesthetists as #15 in the overall job rankings. nurse anesthetists also came in #4 on the median salary poll, which may come in handy for paying off my quickly-accumulating student loans. to see the full run-down on nurse anesthetists click here and to see the whole list click here.

the cure for homesickness.

2009-10-11T22:39:00.003-04:00

i know, it's been awhile. but no one wants to blog when she's homesick. how have i overcome this disease?

comfort food. including my first caramel apple cider of the season, my first experience at S'Mac, a delightful pumpkin scone from the Lincoln Square farmers' market, and the stack of whole-wheat-chocolate-chip-banana pancakes with peanut butter AND syrup i had for dinner tonight. i don't mess around with pancakes.

christmas music. i think my feelings on the subject have been made quite clear.

finally leaving my neighborhood. it had been about 2 weeks and a half since i'd ventured outside a ten block radius (i know, it's embarrassing...). this week i went to my first clinical at nyack hospital, which included a 45 min bus ride through the beautiful "countryside" of new york. it made me miss kenny. this also included a long shopping excursion saturday through the upper west side, whilst enjoying the crisp autumn air.

making an effort to be social. not my forte, let's be honest. i am quite the homebody. but i went to see a friend's play on friday and went to dinner and a movie on saturday. trust me, that's progress for me.

enjoying some good and some mediocre entertainment. the good entertainment included Glee on wednesday, which never disappoints, and the play on friday (although it had so much marital angst in it, i left all stressed out). the mediocre included Whip it-- entertaining, but nothing ground breaking.

my homesickness is in remission, but i'm still worried i may relapse before thanksgiving...

having a bad day?

2009-09-16T17:47:00.003-04:00

don't fret, and take comfort that CHRISTMAS is exactly 100 days away! i don't plan on having anymore bad days until (at least) december 26th. let the countdown and christmas season begin!

mom and dad in ny.

2009-09-15T22:07:00.006-04:00

a couple of weeks ago my parents dropped into new york for a couple of days en route from visiting katie & david in lansing to the byu-oklahoma game in dallas. it had been a whole week since i'd seen them-- needless to say, at first we were all kind of like, "didn't i just see you?" it turned out to be a pretty fun couple of days, though. they got in around 4 on a tuesday. i showed them around the neighborhood and the dorms a little and then we headed downtown and went to the empire state building. we grabbed some dinner and walked up to times square where they headed to jersey to stay with friends and i headed home.

thursday we met up in chinatown and then went uptown and walked through all 8 stories of macy's. then, we walked all the way up 5th ave, dropped in on st. patrick's cathedral, windowshopped, and spent some time in tiffany's and fao schwartz. we went back to times square where we got carmine's to-go for dinner and sat and ate in the middle of times square. the weather was perfect and the food was amazing (if you come visit me, that's where we're going...) and we just sat and took it in for awhile. then, we headed up to the gershwin theatre where we saw Wicked. it was my dad's first time and mine and my mom's second-- we all loved it, of course.

please excuse the wad of food in my cheek and my parents' "excitement."

we bid farewell and they left early thursday. it was a nice little visit-- hopefully next time will come soon and last longer!

fresno and vegas.

2009-08-29T18:25:00.007-04:00

after 4 days in lansing, i headed home to fresno, ca. it was a pretty blissful 3 weeks home. i chopped off my hair, went to the pole vault championships in clovis with the family, went on a hike to twin lakes with my parents, crashed my parents anniversary dinner at cheesecake factory, made sushi with my brother, played and swam with my adorable nephews, swam in the pool almost everyday, laid out, worked out, shopped with my mom, ran errands, cooked, baked, and generally relaxed and improved my skills as a homebody. i wish i had pictures of all that.

my mom and i at the destination of our hike.

my second weekend home, i got a visit from two of my best friends, bryce and becca, from arizona. i miss them and it was great to catch up.

my mom and i also packed up and flew to vegas for a few days to visit robert, paige, and reagan. well more paige and reagan, since i'm pretty sure i saw robert all of 3 hours in the 3 days we were there since he started his second year of med school. we had a lot of fun shopping at the outlets, baking that perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe, playing ticket to ride, eating at red robin, and swimming.

i really would not have changed a thing i did on my month off-- it was a short summer, but exactly what i needed and i got to see every member of my family. 2 days ago, i was welcomed back to new york with rain and humidity. my tan is already fading, but i'm feeling recharged and excited for school to start again on monday. now if only i can re-set my sleep clock to eastern time so i can stop sleeping until 1:30 pm...wish me luck!

michigan.

2009-08-29T18:23:00.003-04:00

2 days after finals ended i flew to lansing, michigan to visit david, katie, and alexis. it was very relaxing and felt like life slowed WAY down, but it was a great start to my abbreviated summer vacation. we grocery shopped, rented movies, clothes-shopped, made headbands, baked something with at least a pound of butter in it everyday (which helped us discover the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe), and went to jumpin' jax in a pathetic effort to work off some of the aforementioned butter. i'm pretty sure i left lansing at least 5 lbs heavier.

i LOVED jumpin' jax-- katie and i felt like a couple of kids since we were the only adults uncool enough to race up and down the slide alongside the kids and jump headfirst into the obstacle course. i don't remember the last time i laughed so hard or was so out of breath!

most of my time in michigan was spent with this little picture-poser, who lovingly referred to me as "wad-den." she wouldn't let me out of her sight and tried her hardest to convince me to take a nap when she took one, so she wouldn't miss out on anything. we read books, had a dance party, did each other's hair, painted nails, attempted to learn the letter "d" (although she was so distracted by her newly painted nails that she couldn't concentrate), sang songs, and had many interesting conversations. when i left she said "but wad-den, i will miss you so much!" ever the little drama queen, but i miss her too!

blog vacation.

2009-08-29T17:11:00.005-04:00

so what have i been doing for the last month+? lots!

the last week of school i got a visit from the Jones family + grandma-- we had lots of fun exploring grand central station and the empire state building, riding the staten island ferry, playing cards, shopping on canal street, and seeing West Side Story (which was amazing!). i like to pretend when people happen to be in the city that they've come just to see me! i was lame and these are the only pictures i got.

2 months and 20 credits later, i finished my first term at columbia! was it what i expected? no--harder in some ways, easier in others. did i like it? YES. i feel even more strongly now that this is what i'm supposed to do and where i'm supposed to be. it was a busy summer, but i truly loved it. here's a picture of my clinical group our last week on 14 N at Cornell Weill Hospital.

counting down.

2009-07-25T22:13:00.004-04:00

after a less-than-productive pre-finals saturday, all i can think about is counting down. i never was great at this whole "studying" thing...

2 days until these people (+ grandma) come to town to distract me from finals all week:
6 days until i am DONE with finals and my first term at columbia.

8 days until i head off to lansing, michigan to hang out with this little superhero and her mom and dad. she's already called me with an agenda-- something about sidewalk chalk, dolls, and drawing?? i was also promised a trip to the tumble gym and ikea by katie. it sounds like a promising vacation already.

and 12 days until i get to go home for 3 whole weeks and play with these adorable boys. i can just hear eli's belly giggles and jacob's mostly-silent fake laugh. i'm going for family kickball round two, swimming (and tanning), lots of baking, shopping with money i don't have, settlers of catan, in-n-out, harry potter, and kicking my butt into shape!

i can't wait!

it's beginning to look a lot like...

2009-07-21T12:17:00.003-04:00

maybe it's july. and maybe it's a chilly and rainy 65 in new york (be jealous, fresno and vegas...). and maybe when it's cold and rainy i get nostalgic. and maybe when i get nostalgic (and a little homesick) i let christmas music play when it shuffles to it on itunes. in july. where's the hot chocolate and christmas tree?

orators of the week.

2009-07-16T09:20:00.003-04:00

on monday we had Marcus Engel speak in class. he's a man who was blinded in a drunk driving accident at age 17. it was quite possibly one of the most inspiring and most real stories i have ever heard.

on tuesday we had Nathan, a transgender man (born female, now man) come speak to us about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender healthcare and everyday issues that transgender people go through. being raised extremeley conservatively and spending the last 4 years in utah, it was quite possibly one of the most educational stories i've ever heard.

finally, yesterday--on wednesday--i went to see this guy in action.

my friend called me last minute and said he had an extra ticket to The Colbert Report. i was exhausted from 5 hours of sleep and clinical all day, but it wasn't a tough choice. the funniest part was probably the q&a stephen did with the audience beforehand, but the show definitely wasn't lacking. it was quite possilby the hardest i've laughed in a very long time.

happiness is...

2009-07-03T21:01:00.003-04:00

...waking up at 7:30 am for no apparent reason, but feeling rested, with sunlight pouring into your room.

...spending 8+ hours studying and finally feeling truly productive.

...watching this guy win while doing the aforementioned studying. what a comeback! this made me truly happy.

he couldn't believe it either.

...anticipating the upcoming wimbledon finals: williams vs. williams tomorrow morning, federer vs. roddick sunday morning. i couldn't have chosen better match-ups. be excited. watch it.

...running (and walking...) to new jersey via the george washington bridge (aside from inhaling exhaust) enjoying some amazing views of manhattan from a distance on a gorgeous new york day. seriously the best weather yet.

...strolling through my neighborhood people watching and thinking what a charmed life i'm leading.

...catching up on my favorite replacement of my past favorite show project runway: the fashion show.

...sitting on the rooftop blogging and finishing up studying for the day while watching the sunset and feeling the river breeze.

...eating chocolate pudding.

...feeling patriotic watching the first feeble attempts at fireworks along the river and spotting the empire state building lit up in red, white, and blue.

yeah, it was a good day.

the only thing that would make it better: being home for the 4th tomorrow!

sorry obama, but i just don't think so.

2009-06-28T17:59:00.002-04:00

i'm not about to pretend that i carefully follow politics-- in fact, i'll openly admit that i ignore it entirely. however, my attention was recently drawn to the healthcare issue, considering i will be a part of the healthcare system before too long. obama recently did a Q&A session on ABC, although i believe it was largely overshadowed by a certain popstar's death (r.i.p. mj). to see video clips of the Q&A, click here.

it's theoretically a nice idea, but i don't see it working logistically. i think he'll lose this one.

however, i do agree that the current healthcare system is riddled with flaws. i think that Atul Gawande of The New Yorker has the right idea. (lest you think that since i've moved here i sit around reading the new yorker in my spare time to appear to care or fit in, that's not so. they handed out this article in my issues class and i read it when i was on the elliptical.) anyway, if you have ever received or given healthcare or plan to ever receive or give healthcare (aka everyone) you should read this article. it completely changed how i view the healthcare system-- it's long, but well worth the time.

The Cost Conundrum

virtual tour.

2009-06-28T17:21:00.006-04:00

that's right, i'm giving you an exclusive, all-access tour of my humble abode:

here we have the kitchen/laundry room/bathroom storage/closet:

here's the bedroom:

and here's the office:

and finally, the living room:

that's right, i have a sweet fireplace in my room...

and here's the view from my window:
the george washington bridge

and i took this one from the roof last night:

not too shabby, eh? there's also a really amazing view of manhattan from the roof, but the picture just doesn't do it justice.

it's FINALLY here!

2009-06-22T13:53:00.009-04:00

i bet i got your attention-- the BEST two weeks of the year are finally here! i've researched the draws, read countless articles, followed current events, studied the TV schedule, and yes, i even downloaded an app for my iPhone. what for, you might ask? the single best sporting event of the year (ok, it ties with the olympics on those years). forget the superbowl, world series, nba finals, stanley cup, the world cup, and the masters series. this is where it's at: WIMBLEDON.

let me get on my soapbox just one more time (and maybe a couple more in the next two weeks) about pro tennis. i don't think tennis players get nearly enough credit--at least not in the US.

exhibit A: last year's wimbledon final: Nadal vs. Federer. total match time: 4 hr, 48 min. final score: Nadal 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7. i watched a replay of the match last night while i was studying--honestly ridiculous and arguably the best match ever played. name an athlete who can for 5 hours straight--with no apparent fatigue, with mental dexterity to boot, and with ridiculous athleticism--sprint around a tennis court, twisting and turning in a battle of all epic battles. most athletes do NOT have the mental strength, let alone the athletic ability. furthermore, most athletes have a team to back them up on a bad day. tennis players do not.

i would submit that you cannot name one "popular" sports athlete to fit that description. i can name TWO: Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal, among others.

unfortunately, Nadal is out due to tendinitis in his knee, so there will be no repeat of last year's final. that does, however, open the door for Federer to break his tie with Sampras for most grand slam wins ever. needless to say, it will be a great two weeks because...

where else do the line judges dress like this?

and where else do the players have to abide by an all-white dress code?

and where else can they cover the courts from the rain in under a minute?

where else do you get to get this close? ok, maybe other places...

the point is, it just feels royal and prestigious--i love tradition, i love tennis, i love england and i LOVE wimbledon!

i miss my tennis racquet.

today at the met.

2009-06-20T20:44:00.004-04:00

my wandering today started at 86th street. i walked through central park in the rain, listening to big band music and couldn't have felt happier. the park was so green and beautiful!

i got to the east side of the park and went to the metropolitan museum of art:

i've been wanting to go since i got here, and since i get in free with my columbia id, i decided to go for a couple of hours. i loved that museum! i walked through pretty quickly because it was enormous, but here are some of the highlights:

i saw paintings by van Eyck, Caravaggio, Titian, Monet, and my personal favorite, Rembrandt.
i saw Michelangelo's 1st painting, "the torment of St. Anthony." here it is:

weird, huh? i guess he painted it when he was only 12 or 13.

my favorite painting of the day was "wheat field with cypresses" by Vincent Van Gogh. i love how in his paintings you can see every brush stroke and every painting tells a story. next up: going to the museum of modern art to see "starry night" once it returns...

i'm not sure if this was allowed, but everyone else was doing it...

before i knew it 2 hours had passed and i still needed to go to the grocery store, so i left the museum-- i didn't even get to the photography, american art, egyptian art, musical instruments, or modern art exhibits and i only skimmed what i did see. i am definitely planning on spending many hours over the coming months in that museum.

conclusion of the day: if i am ever ridiculously filthy rich i will live in the upper east side and spend my money on (besides philanthropy and do-goodedness) art-- the real stuff.

last weekend.

2009-06-19T16:36:00.011-04:00

last weekend, my aunt ilene, my uncle david, and my cousin, robin were in town on vacation. between class and studying for exams, i got the chance to meet up with them on friday and saturday. it was a lot of fun to explore the city with other people and we had a pretty good time!

on friday, we met up in chinatown and startd to walk south. we passed the court house:

then we walked a few blocks to ground zero. it was my first time there and i have to say that the reality of the hole in the skyline makes it really hit home.

this is an unofficial memorial on the side of the firehouse right across the street honoring the firemen and policemen that were lost.

after ground zero we hit century 21 and then walked towards wall street. we went inside trinity church:

i LOVED this church. it had tons of character, and i loved how it was right across from wall street.

and just because i might be a little obsessed with england...

wall st. not exactly what i pictured-- it's literally a tiny narrow street.

the new york stock exchange. the flag has been there since 9/11 as a memorial.

the famous bull statue near battery park.

then we walked down to battery park, the very southern tip of manhattan, where you can see the statue of liberty, ellis island, and staten island.

this statue was in battery park-- it was originally at the world trade center where it was supposed to symbolize world peace. ironically, it was burned and partially melted on 9/11. they moved it to the park as another memorial.

after fighting off the watch and purse salesman in the park, and enjoying the breeze, a popsicle, and the view, we hopped on the subway and went to little italy to find some dinner. if you know the lewises, you know that their food of choice is italian. we ate a little sidewalk restaurant. the weather was perfect and the food was good. it made me want to go to italy.

this is a good shot of uncle david carrying ilene's bag, or as we called it, his "murse" or "man-bag" or my personal favorite, his "european carry-all."

we ended up in times square, where their hotel was and hung out for a while before i hopped on the subway to go back home.

on saturday, we met up and walked around some more-- it was COLD (in june, for crying out loud) because it was raining. i'm pretty sure it's rained 90% of the time i've been here. we waited in the tckts line for broadway tickets. uncle david was nice enough to help me out with the ticket so i could join them!

we saw mama mia-- it wasn't as flashy as some other shows i've seen, but i was thoroughly entertained and it was a fun show to watch!

side note: i actually did my hair that day... it loves the humidity!

all-in-all, it was a great weekend. i appreciated having an excuse to stop studying-- i can't wait for the next visitors! my door is always open!

you probably don't care.

2009-06-07T18:49:00.005-04:00

but tennis history was made today. no one who reads my blog probably cares, but this morning i watched roger federer defeat soderling to win the french open. this ties him with pete sampras for the most wins in the majors and completes his career grand slam, since he was thusfar unable to clench the french open title. i'm guessing it won't be his last major win either.

i know, i'm an andy roddick fan, but let's face it, where is he? hmmm....never in the finals of any major tournament... questions are arising if roger is the best-ever player. my vote is YES. the guy's amazing.

oh yeah, and he's swiss. you can't go wrong.

if you don't watch tennis, you should.

exploring the cement jungle.

2009-06-07T17:59:00.007-04:00

on saturday, i decided it was high-time i did some exploring. one of my favorite things to do when i was in london was get off the tube somewhere random and just walk, so i decided to give it a try here. i set off at about 11:30 am. i walked down 168th to the subway. here's a picture of the school of nursing:

i hopped on the subway and got off at 116th street. i walked through columbia's morningside campus. apparently they were having some alumni day.

one of the libraries

another library. i didn't notice the balloon till after...

i continued walking an came across the catherdral of st. john the divine. i love cathedrals. no, they're not part of the church, but i think they have the right idea of reverence and awe to God.

this is me being too lazy to walk down the street and get the whole thing in the picture.

i love how in cathedrals my eyes just move up. there's something to be said for that design.

next i walked over to central park and wove in and out as i moved downtown. i have to say i was pleasantly surprised how beautiful central park is. i love wide open spaces in cities-- that may sound backward, but i love the contrast right next to each other.

a statue at columbus circle at the southwest corner of central park.

by this point i had walked some 60 blocks and was getting a little tired, hungry, and need of a bathroom and a band-aid for the growing blister right between my toes. i stopped at the time warner center:

looking out toward columbus circle.

i stopped down in the whole foods to grab some lunch.

behold, brown rice, salmon, avocado, and cream cheese. gone in about 2 minutes.

from columbus circle, i kept walking with no particular plan or direction. i passed the plaza hotel, fao schwartz, and walked down 5th avenue. i did a lot of wishful window shopping at tiffany and co., louis vuitton, and anthropologie, among others. i ended up with greater resolve to finish school, pay of my student loans, and shop j.crew and banana republic for the rest of my life...

i kept walking and ran into radio city music hall and rockefeller center.

i even ran into one of my favorite london eats: pret a manger. this warmed my heart.

i grabbed an ice cream cone at mcdonald's an walked all the way back to columbus circle where i grocery shopped at columbus circle and hopped on a subway to go home. i got back at about 8 or so. i walked 100+ blocks over 8+ hours. needless to say, i was haggard and ready for bed!

can you say pedicure?

2009-06-07T17:53:00.003-04:00

this is what your feet look like after walking around manhattan for 8+ hours. if your name is suzanne or you happen to be my mother, do NOT look. she always hates my dirty feet.

note to self: do not wear flip flops or sandals on aforementioned walking excursions. this will also lead to blisters between the toes, hence the mangled band-aid.

the first week.

2009-06-07T17:42:00.003-04:00

i've officially been in new york for a week and a half and in school for a week. the transition hasn't been easy, but i have learned a few things, aside from class:

i am not an "insta-friend" kind of person. ok, maybe i already knew that, but i was a amazed how quickly groups of formed. that's just not me. it takes me time, and i'm learning to wait it out.
to add on to that, i've learned i need people. as much as i want to declare myself as an independent soul, in reality i've never needed people more. as i get older i seem to be moving more towards this, which feels backwards, but i think it's good for me.
not only do i like exercise, but i need it. i was a little sick when i first arrived and didn't work out for a couple of days, and let's just say i am much happier with some endorphins pumping through my system.
i love sunshine and i need it. unfortunately, it is entirely out of my control. similar to exercise, i am not a happy camper without it. i've also learned that a little rain can be miserable, but helps you appreciate the sunshine so much more, so to speak...
i LOVE whole foods. i've been in once or twice before, but i could spend all day in there. that is definitely where i will be doing the bulk of my grocery shopping.
it is indeed possible to have more money in my bank account than ever, but to never be so poor. it's an investment, right?!
city living makes for some interesting methods of carrying things. my recent target trip on the subway had me strapping bags to myself, carrying a long mirror in one arm, and carrying a bag in the other.
i hate looking like a tourist. even though i am a tourist at this point and want to see the sights, i find myself reluctant to take my camera out or gawk at some building or statue. i like to pretend that i fit right in, although i probably don't.
i know i want to be a nurse. before arriving i was 90% sure this was what i wanted, but now i know.
i love cities. ok, i already knew that too. but as much of an adjustment as it's been, i know that sooner rather than later i am going to absolutely LOVE new york city. i'm just taking my time getting to know the city. this also will take time, but it's time i'm willing to invest.

this experience so far has been one of the most challenging of my life-- i know that the next year is going to be the hardest, most challenging, exhausting experiences, but i also know that it will be the most rewarding, growing experiences. ready or not...

booze cruise.

2009-05-28T20:44:00.003-04:00

well, i'm not in utah anymore. today i went on my first ever booze cruise. yeah, you read that right. booze cruise.

as part of our orientation, we were informed of the option of a boat trip around the tip of manhattan, under all the bridges and out toward the statue of liberty. the boat was packed and the weather was way overcast, so you could hardly see a thing.

it started out fairly innocently. we ate some food and then the open bar started...and soon reality hit: first, that i am no longer in the bubble of utah and second, that i am much more naive than i thought. before i knew it, everyone--i kid you not--everyone had a glass of wine or beer in their hand. soon people were on their third...or fourth...or fifth....

now, i know it could have been a lot worse and people were not "drunk" per se, but it was more than i've seen in my sheltered lifetime. let's just say people were getting "loose," including the faculty and administrators who we had spent the last two days listening to at orientation and had come to respect. there was limbo, dancing, and a lot of loud music. i wish you could've seen the look on the bartender's face when i asked for water.

the boat ride was not without its merits, though. i got to see the statue of liberty, had free food (and water), and realized that while i don't ever plan on drinking, it can make for some pretty funny stories the next day.

i know it won't be the last time. i think i'll just consider it my initiation into the "real world."

i think i'm in love.

2009-05-23T20:31:00.005-04:00

meet penny: the newest addition to preston and rachel's cute little family.

i suffer from car separation anxiety.

2009-05-23T16:27:00.004-04:00

my mom was reading the paper recently and handed this article to me.

here's an excerpt:

Dear Tom and Ray:

I am having a serious case of separation anxiety from my old car. In truth, I believe I am still in love with it. I thought maybe you two could help me out.

My old car was a 1989 Jeep Cherokee - a perfect first car for a 16-year-old boy, if you ask me, as long as you ignored the fact that it had no air bags, working seatbelts or safety features of any kind. The car had tons of personality. For instance, there were two things I had to keep with me at all times: a stick and a baseball bat. The stick was used to hold the trunk open, and the baseball bat was to reach underneath and pummel the gas tank in an attempt to unstick the fuel pump every time the car wouldn't start.

I even gave this car a name: Marvin. Marvin and I went through a lot in the three years we were together. But then it came time for me to go away to college.

Eventually, my father got tired of pressure-washing an oil stain the size of Rhode Island off the driveway every month and exclaimed to me one day, "Son, it's time for you to get a newer car." We drove off and came back with a beautiful, jet-black, Wolfsburg Edition Volkswagen Jetta. I never saw Marvin again.

I find myself mentioning my old Jeep in conversations at least three times a week. In fact, I even have reoccurring dreams about the car. It has been more than a year now, and I fear I will never be able to move on. Tom and Ray, I need your help. What can I do to get over my
old car? - James

if you know me, this sounds familiar.

i recently sold my car, kenny, before i left utah. he looked like this:

so many things were broken: air conditioner, power locks, left rear power window, broken handles, gas gauge, stereo/radio/cd player, and yes, i used a stick to hold the rear door open. and he leaked oil, often leaving the quoted "rhode island-sized" oil stain.

kenny and i shared six blissful years together since my junior year of high school. he became a true friend to me-- he became one of the most dependable and open listeners. he never let me down or broke down, even with 245,000+ miles. i almost cried when i handed over the keys to the new owner. it was difficult to say good-bye, and i find myself mentioning him in conversation.

after reading the article, i diagnosed myself with car separation anxiety. hopefully i'll get over it someday. good-bye, kenny.

oh yeah, i graduated.

2009-05-23T15:53:00.005-04:00

i got to graduate with my BFF, amy.

and so did my brother!

why i love being home. and my dad.

2009-04-29T01:39:00.003-04:00

we sat down to dinner, said prayer, and began serving ourselves. i was chatting with my mom as my dad had his turn with the food. i heard him say in his whiny dad voice, "oh, dang it-ta!" (paige knows the voice), and i turn to see that my dad missed his ravioli with the marinara and his salad was now covered. i almost fell off my chair. a couple of minutes later he proceeded to let me know that it "wasn't that bad." classic.

another story: christmas--sitting at the table, just me and my parents, playing scrabble. my dad let one go-- after a short pause i asked, "did you just fart?" (sorry if that's offensive), to which he replied, "it depends what you mean by fart." what?! i love my dad.

featured.

2009-04-23T15:59:00.003-04:00

i was recently featured here on my friend lindsay's blog for my "special talent" in life. i just wanted to give a shout-out to lindsay for her unceasing wit and humor toward provo and dating-- here's her blog from today:

"WHY MORMON BOYS STAY SINGLE

In honor of Why Mormon Girls Stay Single shutting down (tragedy, I know, but at least he ended on a good note), I've compiled my own list of Why Mormon Boys Stay Single. I know I'm not the first to attempt it. This one was off to a good start before they went MIA last month.

* The first date job interview. You know, when they ask you all the questions they need to know to see if you're future wife material. You can practically see them reading off the checklist in their brain.

* Assuming every college aged Mormon girl is desperate to get married. If I wanted to be that badly, I would be. It's not that hard, trust me.

* Being cheap. Once in a relationship, knowing a guy is good with money is a great sign.. but on the first date (or second or third) a starving student card or some other kind of 2 for one deal is a bit offensive. L'Oreal thinks I'm worth it, so why don't you?

* Shaving every possible inch of body hair/over tweezing eyebrows. While some guys are disturbingly hairy and I'm sincerely glad for all of our sakes that they are doing something about it, there are some guys that take it way too far. You know the one's I'm talking about. And they usually live in Belmont.

* Mission leadership position/Calling dropping.. worse than name dropping. Pretentious. Annoying. We see through you.

* 'Forgetting' English. When a guy constantly says "Oh, I just don't know how to say it in English," (unless he just got home last week) I don't think he's a genius for knowing another language. I think he's either a) an idiot because he forgot the language he spoke for 19 years+ in favor of one he learned for 2 or b)he's a pretentious twit. Probably the latter.

* RMs that ask out 18 year-olds fresh out of high school. I'm only 21, not old or bitter. I just can't take a guy like that seriously.

* Guys who don't respect their temple covenants. You may think dressing up as the Naked Cowboy or the YMCA Indian is hilarious, but when you go shirtless it's pretty apparent to the rest of the world that you viewed your garments as optional that day.

* Going for the kiss on the first date. No.

* Calling at 7pm on Saturday night to see if we're busy. Even worse: a text at 10pm. H no. Am I right Zaida, or am I right?

* Boys that always want to hang out at night and watch a movie. We're not retarded. Please don't insult our intelligence. Don't think I haven't read He's Just Not That Into You. I have.

* Too baggy jeans from high school or too tight indie jeans. Moderation in all things.

* Wearing sandals/moccasins/anything that isn't dress shoes to church.

* Sitting in the back at church. Or leaving early.

* Hitting on girl's in the library. I'm there to study, not meet my future eternal companion. Your first hint: I'm sitting at a table leaning over my book/homework/laptop studying intently. I'm here to focus- not engage in awkward small talk with complete strangers. That's why I'm in the library instead of a BYUSA mixer (gag me). I'm not sure why creepy awkward boys are so plentiful in the library, but they are. Any girl at BYU can vouch for this."

i've witnessed ALL of these. maybe better luck in ny?? love you, linds!

bittersweet.

2009-04-23T15:54:00.002-04:00

since i'm leaving, a few jeers and cheers:

jeers to mmbio 220 & 221 and chem 105.
cheers to mfhd 210 and american heritage.

jeers to snow in march...and april....and may.
cheers to four seasons and beautiful 70-degree spring days like today.

jeers to byu study abroad for leaving me completely broke. for the last 2 years.
cheers to the byu london centre for giving me the best two months of my life.

jeers to a few specific boys who made life slightly difficult for a period of time.
cheers to the aforementioned boy(s) for making me realize what i really want in life.

jeers to utah drivers.
yeah, there's no cheers for that.

jeers to the absence of california favorites like in-n-out. too little, too late.
cheers to such culinary treasures as guru's, zupa's, cafe rio, etc.

and finally, jeers to byu nursing for rejecting me.
cheers to byu nursing for forcing me to explore my options and therefore leading me to the chance of a lifetime.

goodbye, byu. goodbye, talbots. goodbye, provo. goodbye, utah.

liberated.

2009-04-14T16:37:00.002-04:00

i just finished my last two finals at BYU EVER, which means i'm DONE! it feels amazing! i walked home in the rain with a little pep in my step and my iPod shuffled to "i want to break free" by queen. VERY fitting! i am SO happy to move on with my life!

happy belated easter!

2009-04-13T12:13:00.002-04:00

dear customer

2009-04-05T14:28:00.006-04:00

dear customer,

i'm just wondering about a few things.

i'm wondering why you insist on touching EVERYTHING and messing up EVERY stack of sweaters, even when you just saw me straighten them and watch me follow you around fixing them.

i'm wondering why you continue to saunter around the store well after we're closed. i'm wondering why you ask, "oh are you closed?" when you have no intention of hurrying.

i'm wondering why you must cross-dress (man to woman), and expect me to cater to you and defend you when women and other men stare.

i'm wondering why you don't care when your little kid runs up to a perfectly clean mirror and licks it and rubs their saliva all over it. and why you let your kids run up into the window display that took me three hours to carefully place.

i'm wondering why you treat me like i'm a stupid 12 year old girl. yes, i'm quite a few years younger than you, but an up-to-date fashion sense does not mean i'm wrong. and no, your pants should NOT go up to your rib cage.

i'm wondering why when you say i look like your daughter's size, you insist that i'm bigger than the size i tell you i am. trust me, i KNOW what size my pants say.

i'm wondering why you think i can solve your problems. no, i'm not a therapist nor a magician. i'm not equipped to change your body, magically fabricate the perfect garment, give you marriage counseling, grief counseling, or advice about your kids.

oh, customer. i'm looking forward to saying goodbye.

two ducks made my day.

2009-03-26T14:25:00.002-04:00

so i was driving to the gym today, lamenting the fact that it was SNOWING in march-almost-april and not particularly feeling like working out, when i stopped at an intersection on 7th north because the cars across were stopped. at first i didn't see them, but then i noticed two mallard ducks--one male and one female--waddling across the street perfectly in the crosswalk. it made it feel like spring even in 30 degree weather and it made my day.

thank you, rachel.

2009-03-23T00:51:00.002-04:00

so recently i was cleaning out an old file folder full of stuff from years ago. i came across a piece of paper with a few thoughts from my sister-in-law rachel that i wrote down maybe 4 years ago. i'm betting she never thought she'd hear these again...

"i think it's mean to tell the single adults to get married...i mean, they've already tried, haven't they?"

"i hope my kids are smart. but more, i hope they're pretty, which is sad."

good thing so far as we can tell her kids are both smart AND pretty (handsome).
and my personal favorite: when i was trying to make life plans at 18, she said this:

"lauren, maybe you're just one of those girls that wasn't meant to be married in this life."

and i'm still single. thank you, rachel.

not that i'm counting...

2009-03-20T15:03:00.001-04:00

...but graduation is 5 weeks from today....

love them.

2009-03-11T23:43:00.004-04:00

my sisters, that is. i was supposed to be working on a painfully boring essay, but every time we're all on google, katie insists that we chat-- there's something about talking to sisters that you just don't get anywhere else. among other things, we discussed paint colors and decorating ideas, asked katie to slow down her typing speed (she's 90+ wpm) and to never use the phrase "LOL" ever again, established that i can spell "silhouettes," imagined my perfectionist brother-in-law meticulously tracing a silhouette, reminisced about the giant yarn braids we had hanging on the back of our doors as kids to hold all our hair bows, and imagined having said braids hanging from said silhouettes just like rapunzel. and i know no one else gets it, but i was ROLLING. an hour later, katie realized she still had 40 pages left to read, paige realized her poor husband was sitting alone when he's hardly home these days, and i realized i hadn't made any progress on my paper.

priceless.

california lovin'.

2009-03-02T14:55:00.012-05:00

last weekend i made a quick 2-day trip to california for my old roommate's wedding. it was WONDERFUL to spend some time in one of my favorite places with some of my favorite people. i got sunburned, laughed until it hurt, enjoyed 70 degree weather with an ocean breeze, went to the orange county swap meet, spent three whole hours at huntington beach, and wondered the entire time why i ever left california in the first place.

love my girls.

the only thing that was missing was amy!

always a bridesmaid...

lauren looked BEAUTIFUL.

old roommates.

i LOVE the beach!

on our way to the airport and saying goodbye to california...

and just for contrast: today's weather in new york-

Cloudy and Windy

24°F
Feels Like
8°F

and it snowed 7 inches. awesome. what am i getting myself into?!

birthday!

2009-02-24T02:37:00.004-05:00

last year's birthday:

had the flu: woke up in the morning, went to the bathroom, blacked out while on the toilet, woke up on the bathroom floor throwing up, cleaned up my own puke.
spent alone: curled up on the couch, literally thought i was going to DIE.
sick for the whole next week, breaching the "late" celebration bubble. there was no celebration that i can recall.

this year:

my roommate burst in at midnight last night to be the first to tell me happy birthday.
woke up to about 4 texts and a few calls from my best friends and family telling me happy birthday (which they also did last year, but it was much more enjoyable since i knew i was going to live through the day)
went to the gym, watched oprah's oscar special, and went to work
went to pretty much the most awesome fhe ever. we did this. yep, this girl in my group has a flowrider at her house--one of the most awesome things ever.
came home and enjoyed pizzookies with lots of friends and felt popular for at least one night of my life.

goals for next year:

take pictures of the festivities
do something awesome in ny.

21 sure had a lot of ups and downs, but 22 looks pretty promising just based on yesterday! thanks for all the birthday wishes everyone!

true love.

2009-02-15T02:34:00.000-05:00

got this off my friend lindsay's blog. it made my day.

celebrating love...or the lack thereof.

2009-02-14T23:59:00.004-05:00

seriously. i celebrated NOT having a valentine-- and it made the day better. i went on a roommate date to see this:

i must say it was the perfect thing to see-it's a hard thing to swallow (and i have swallowed it a few times in my day), but let's face it: he's just not that into you. always the rule, never the exception. i LOVED it. be warned though...i do know some people who didn't like it and who actually walked out...

and if you want to know a movie not to see:

awful. if you're not feeling optimistic about love and are thinking about jumping off a cliff, it might just be the thing to push you over the edge. i watched the other night with my roommates and we all hated it.

ACCEPTED!

2009-02-03T20:01:00.002-05:00

i can't believe it! i feel like i'm going to throw up, cry, and laugh all at the same time. i found out today that i got ACCEPTED to Columbia University for grad school! i will be getting a Masters in Nursing! the program starts may 27, 2009. so i am moving to new york! i couldn't be more ecstatic and more terrified all at the same time!

happy birthday, dad!

2009-01-27T15:40:00.006-05:00

yesterday this handsome missionary turned 54. he's a dad, husband, brother, son, bishop, teacher, friend, referee, and the biggest byu fan i know. he works harder than anyone and knows everything about cars and carpentry and economics and sports and pretty much everything else. he'll do anything to make us laugh (and succeeds, even when i feel like crying) and is always willing to give a head-press when needed. he's not afraid to belt it out in the car, and he joins with us to be obnoxious and drive my mom crazy. he's one of my favorite people in the whole world and i can only hope i end up with someone who's half the man he is.

happy birthday, dad!

all i wanted for christmas was my two front teeth.

2009-01-22T20:18:00.004-05:00

and i got 'em. it's a long story, but thanks to the birth of this little girl, i had some teeth trauma about 6 months ago. good thing she's so dang cute!

to hear my sister's side of how i damaged/lost/killed said teeth, click here. after a traumatizing ER experience (my first ER trip EVER), an even more traumatizing emergency dental trip, a lot of ice cream, a nice flower from a boy, many hugs and consoling words from my mom (even thought she abandoned me in BOTH the ER and the dentist), and phone calls from katie that consisted mostly of laughter on her end, my teeth were back in place, albeit with a lovely brace across the front.

it didn't end there. i wore the brace all summer until august (without biting into anything), when i had it removed and then had a root canal. my teeth went a bit crooked until my dentist appointment when i got home in december. my teeth were whittled down to nothing (how i LOVE laughing gas!) and i sported an attractive pair of semi-yellow plastic teeth for 2 weeks. my sister thought it was hilarious to sing "all i want for christmas is my two front teeth." also, when we played games and i was winning, she thought it was pretty funny to say, "let's kick her in the plastic teeth!" thank you, paige. haha but how could you not laugh? it IS funny.

anyway, i finally got my new teeth, and i couldn't be happier. after adjusting to an initial lisp, i can finally smile and not be embarrassed!

as of late.

2009-01-22T19:40:00.005-05:00

i know, i know. i am the queen of telling people to update their blogs. and here i am.

i never said anything about christmas, but it was GREAT to be home with the family. i had a lot of fun shopping with my mom and sister, cooking dinner for everyone, playing games almost every night, going to movies, and just plain relaxing. it was a good break.

some of my good friends and i went to magic mountain for the second year in a row on new year's eve. i felt a little old after the first couple of roller coasters because it rattled me around so much, but after a couple of hours i recovered and ended up having blast! not the best picture, but you get the idea.

in other news, i have a new nephew-- meet

Eli M Schwendiman
born january 15th, 8 lbs 3 oz.

i'm bummed i probably won't see him until he's 4 months old.

also i neglected to mention my brother, preston's 29th birthday-- preston is probably one of the smartest people i know-- he knows all kinds of crap about anything and everything. he's a talented rock-climber and he's the best piano player i know. and did i mention he makes dang cute kids??! he's an awesome dad to his TWO sons and a great brother. happy birthday, presto!

lots has been going on lately. i started a new semester (the last one!) with only 10 credits and classes only on tuesday and thursday. let's just say it's going to leave me with VERY fond memories of BYU. i also got 3 new roommates (since all my other roommates are either married, engaged, or on missions), who i am very excited to live with.

finally, i thought i would document my new year's resolutions since my journal is on my computer, which is currently out of commission. they are:

read more books (as mentioned previously, i am NOT a reader)
pay more attention to current events (which i am happy to do now that the election is over. it has included lots of CNN watching)
be more social (which has included lunching with friends and NOT staying home on weekend nights!)

all-in-all, life is good!

my latest read.

2009-01-08T12:27:00.003-05:00

i'm not much of a reader and i'll be the first to admit it. it's not something i particularly enjoy. but one of my new year's resolutions is to read more--i feel so uncultured when people talk about literature, because my literary experiences can be summed up in harry potter. i haven't even read the twilight series (gasp!), nor do i intend to. my goal is to read at least one "real" book a month. my first pick was The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, which i stole from my parents. Randy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and when his prognosis was a matter of months, he wrote the book as a legacy for his family and colleagues.i'm not a crier, but if i were, i would have. if you haven't read it, do it. you'll laugh, you'll cry, and as cliche as it may sound, you'll come away inspired and a better person.

read it--i'll lend it to you.

bad day.

2009-01-07T20:31:00.002-05:00

yesterday was a bad day. and i don't really believe in bad days.

i woke up at 4:45 am in my sister's apartment in las vegas to catch my 6:20 flight to salt lake where my friend gabe was going to pick me up at 8:45 am, getting me back to provo in time for class and getting gabe back to work by 10 am.

when i arrived at the airport at about 5:20 am, i found myself at the end of a VERY long line at the delta desk where i needed to check in. the employees and passengers alike were cranky and tired. i waited and waited and it became apparent that i was going to miss my flight. i got to the front of the line at 6:20, where i was told i would need to pay another $60 to catch the next flight to salt lake. then they told me my bag was 5 lbs overweight, so i had to dig through it in the middle of everything and stuff things into my purse. then i had to pay $15 to check my bag. up to this point i was near tears. i finally got through security and remembered that i needed to call gabe to cancel him picking me up, but wait, no cell phone signal anywhere in the airport. i used a pay phone with my bankcard (which i later found out cost me $10, which was not posted anywhere on the phone) and told gabe not to pick me up. i finally got some good breakfast (which was the best part of my morning) and got on the plane. when i landed in salt lake, all i could see was white and i kept asking myself why i left california. i claimed my bag and after texting nearly everyone i knew in provo for a ride, i resorted to getting on the shuttle, which cost me another $35. i finally got home about noon, but it felt like 10 pm. i confirmed that my computer has a virus of some sort, went to a class that i was too exhausted to pay attention to, and went to work feeling like crap. oh and did i mention i'm fighting off a cold, so i was sick this whole time? luckily the 2 nyquil i took did me some good last night.

for some reason, i can't travel to provo unscathed lately. last trip: drove a car to salt lake for someone, broke down in cedar city, towed to gas station, stayed in GHETTO travelodge, went the rest of the was on a greyhound the next day.

maybe next time i leave provo, i just shouldn't come back.

i've got to go 'way... baby it's COLD outside!

2008-12-16T01:39:00.007-05:00

with 0 down and 5 to go on finals, i wish i was here:

or here: (notice the SUN)

or here would do:

and since my family INSISTED on being together without me, i wish i was with these people (plus one sister-in-law and one and three-quarters nephews):

or IDEALLY, i wish i was in the aforementioned place with the aforementioned people:

really, i wish i was anywhere absent of snow and finals. 4 days.

highlight of my week.

2008-12-02T22:01:00.005-05:00

i feel a little pathetic for admitting it, but i'm currently indulging in the highlight of my week:

some might say i'm obsessed. i don't know what it is, but i LOVE it! maybe it's because my major is exercise science and i learn about this stuff everyday. maybe it's because there's a fat kid in me and in all of us. either way, who wouldn't love watching people do this:

and completely turn around their health and their lives? i think the real reason i love it so much is because i can imagine what they're going through--there's something about someone screaming at me like the trainers do in the show. i would respond well to it. it almost makes me want to gain 200 pounds just so i could dominate the competition and walk away $250,000 richer. almost.

the best way to spread christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear...

2008-12-01T20:14:00.004-05:00

i'm happy to say that the rest of the world it acknowledging christmas now, even though i've been listening to christmas music since october. to ring in the season officially, i went to salt lake friday with bryce, becca, dani, lauren, taylor, and some other friends. i was grateful dani's husband had to work because everyone else was either married or engaged--nothing like being the 9th wheel! we drank starbucks caramel apple cider and had a little too much fun walking around and people-watching...

the only things missing were our other counterparts--amy and bryan and christa. guess we'll have to wait for new year's...

saying goodbye to grandpa.

2008-12-01T19:28:00.003-05:00

two weeks ago, on november 18, my grandfather, mark schwendiman passed away at 87. it was expected and actually hoped for with how much pain he was in. needless to say it was very bittersweet. i headed to idaho that next friday where my whole family gathered for the viewing friday night and the funeral saturday. the entire family was there--all 22 cousins, which is a first in probably ten years. i think we figured out that only about 7 out of 84 in the whole family didn't make it.

the viewing and funeral were hard, considering i have pretty much no experience in the funeral department. the graveside service was amazing to watch. they did military rites since grandpa was a wwII veteran. he fought in the battle of the bulge and earned both silver and bronze stars. shots were fired and taps played on a trumpet. they folded the flag and gave it to my grandma. i felt very proud and patriotic. it was a great way for everyone to say their last goodbye. they gave the pallbearers the shells from the shots and my brother got two, so he gave me one. i was grateful.

the rest of the weekend was filled with food, cousins, football, singing, card games, and lots of laughter. i don't think i've ever cried so hard and laughed so hard all in one day. it was an emotional roller coaster and i was amazed out how close the family became.

the house was full of people, but there was a noticeable absence there, and i think there always would be. grandpa's chair was filled with other people, but i found myself looking over to it to see if he was there.

all of the extended family was gone by sunday, and i got the chance to hang out with just my immediate family for a few days. that was a first in about 5 or 6 years because no spouses were there. just me and my parents and siblings (except for 2 nieces). i love my brothers- and sister-in-law, but i loved it just being us for a while. i'm not sure if that will ever happen again.

thanksgiving was spent back in salt lake. we ended up going to chuck-a-rama (i know....) with my cousins. we were all a little sick, so we didn't eat much. it was thanksgiving to remember. friday i went shopping with my mom, aunt, and cousin--nothing to crazy, just casually shopping late morning.

i bid farewell to my parents and siblings and was happy and relieved to return to provo. the week was weird and hard and fun and i was ready to return back to my home and routine. i think everyone felt the same way. either way, it's over.

i'll add pictures later.