Just Like That

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T11:42:00.004-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! I know that this is not a huge holiday and not everyone likes this holiday, but I just want everyone out there to have a wonderful day and celebrate all the love they have in their life. Whether it is the love of a significant other, your family, or a best friend, take the time today to tell all your loved ones how much you care. :)

Alright, I will be done being cheesy now. Ha ha. My life has been so crazy busy lately I almost can't handle it! Thank goodness for my sweet husband who calms me down when I get stressed. I have no clue what I would do without him! School is pretty much kicking my butt, but I am sure fighting back!

I have a couple of classes that just plain make me want to tear my hair out! Since I am majoring in Digital Media (with my emphasis in Internet Technologies), I have to take a bunch of basic digital media classes including 3D Animation & Modeling and Digital Film Essentials. Not even a month into these classes and I am already so grateful I am not majoring in either of those things! Sure, sounds fun in theory. In actuality, not so much!

I also cannot believe how big our little puppy Molly is getting. She was so small when we brought her home. Even though she is still small, she has grown so much! Molly is such a doll and follows me everywhere. I can't believe how sweet she is!This is a picture of Molly sitting on Brad's lap just after he bought her. And now look how big she is!! I cannot believe it!

Well, that's pretty much what has been going on the last couple of weeks. Not really anything exciting. I am making Brad homemade Alfredo sauce tonight with his favorite cheese tortellini for our Valentine's dinner. I hope it turns out!

Yours,
Cait

Oh. My. Heck.

2012-02-03T08:54:00.002-07:00

Oh mah gosh... can March be here yet, please?!

Yours,
Cait

Books: January Edition

2012-01-31T11:19:00.003-07:00

I am actually on time with something! Cause for celebration. This month I read 2 1/2 books. Yep, two and a half. I haven't quite finished the third one I started, but I am going to review it anyways because I am still counting it.The first book I read was City of Glass by Cassandra Clare. To be honest, I started this book months ago, got about thirty pages in, and lost interest completely. I read the first two books in The Mortal Instruments series because everyone kept recommending them with high praise. I read them and thought, "Well, they are OK I guess". So that explains my limited interest in City of Glass.

But at the beginning of January, I decided I wanted to finish the series mainly because I wanted to read The Infernal Devices series. I would feel like a slacker if I didn't finish The Mortal Instruments first. So I picked City of Glass back up and started over.

It turns out, City of Glass was my favorite in the series so far! I read it pretty quickly, enjoyed it much more than I had thought I would, and was glad I read it. I wont give the plot away, seeing as how it's the third in a series, so I will just say that I really enjoyed it. I didn't find Clary as annoying as I did in the first two books, which was nice. I actually grew to like Jace, who I had decided was arrogant and obnoxious. The plot kept me reading to find out what happened next and wasn't very predictable. I would give this one three and a half out of five stars. Definitely my favorite of the entire series.That said, the next book I read was City of Fallen Angels. And sadly, I think the series should have ended with City of Glass. I'm not saying that City of Fallen Angels was bad, because it wasn't. I didn't have to suffer through it and I even liked it. But I would have been happier if City of Glass was the end. I feel like City of Glass wrapped everything up quite nicely, then City of Fallen Angels just undoes everything.

I sort of had the feeling that the author is just writing more of the series simply because she can. And I find that annoying. Even so, I will probably read the next two books in this series when they come out and who knows, maybe I will change my mind. I give this one two and a half stars out of five. I did like it, but it wasn't amazing like other books I have read.The third book that I started is Sunshine by Robin McKinley. Let me *fangirl* for just a minute. I love (multply that by a million) Robin McKinley. Anything she writes turns out amazing. And I mean amazing. I have read quite a few of her books and never been disappointed. So when I found out she had written a book about vampires, I had to read it. It was calling my name.

I read a lot of paranormal/romance-esque things. And I read a lot of vampire/werewolf/witch based books. I just find it all very interesting. But I am super picky about it, too. If it isn't done well, it's cheesy. Sunshine is the exact opposite of cheesy. I am almost exactly halfway through it right now and I am loving it.

Sunshine is about a girl nicknamed Sunshine (her real name is Rae) who works as the baker at her family's coffeehouse. She is not sweet or cute, she is in fact rather harsh and unique. She has a fascination with the Others (vampires, were-things, etc.) and yet treasures her normal life. One night, she drives out to her family's abandoned cabin by the lake. No one has really gone there since the Voodoo Wars fought between humans and the Others. She is kidnapped by a gang of vampires and taken to an old mansion on the shore of the lake.

I really want to say more, but if I do I will ruin all the mystery of the book. I do have to say, I like that Robin McKinley doesn't make her vampires unrealistic. The vampires in this book are gross and described as "wrong". They are not gorgeous creatures and they are not appealing (and they don't sparkle, he he). Because of this, the book seems more real. It's a dark, intricate story that I have not been able to put down. I give it four and a half out of five stars. I would really recommend it if you enjoy the paranormal genre.

Yours,
Cait
P.S. Sorry for giving everything half stars. I don't know why I was in that mood today...

Brad Paisley Concert!!

2012-01-28T10:08:00.004-07:00

For Christmas, Brad and I bought tickets to the Brad Paisley concert. I have been impatiently waiting for the day to come. Not only do I love Brad Paisley, but I also love Scotty McCreery and The Band Perry who came with him! And it was well worth the wait! The concert was simply amazing and so much fun. All of these artists are wonderful performers and a blast to watch. We had an incredible night! Mr. Brad Paisley with his blue paisley guitar. He is awesome.
We love Brad Paisley! Mine and Brad's song, "Then", is by Brad Paisley. It was so great to hear it live last night at his show. Scotty McCreery was so good! I love The Band Perry. They were insane. And I heart her hair. It is fabulous.
Yours,
Cait

Book Launch: Everneath

2012-01-26T13:58:00.005-07:00

So the other night, I went with my Nana, Mommy, Aunt Kris, Aunt Amy, and cousin Sara up to Salt Lake for the book launch for Everneath by Brodi Ashton.This is the book cover. Cool huh? My Nana is good friends with Brodi Ashton's mom, so we have been hearing about this book for ages. Here is the summary for the novel (found at brodiashton.blogspot.com):

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Doesn't that sound interesting? Obviously this book falls into the popular young adult-paranormal-romance category, but I like the fact that the plot sounds really unique and different from the run-of-the-mill plot line that I find in a lot of teen/young adult books. It also sounds like it is based on the myth of Hades and Persephone, which would be awesome. I have a bit of a thing for mythology of any sort. Basically, I am really excited to read this book. Hopefully it will be one of my books for February.

Here are some pics of the book launch (sorry for the quality, but they were taken on my phone):That's me. Obviously. This is Brodi Ashton. She was kind of a hoot and I loved her sense of humor.

Yours,
Cait

MyFitnessPal

2012-01-09T10:34:00.002-07:00

Since one of my goals for this year is to be healthy, I downloaded MyFitnessPal on my iPod. MyFitnessPal is an awesome, free app that tracks my daily calories and activities to keep me on track. This app is seriously wonderful. I know exactly how much I should be eating and I can find out how many calories I burn on my exercises! If I am questioning whether to eat something, I can search it and find out if it has too many calories. I have honestly been surprised at some of the things I was eating before that are so bad for me!!
I love that this isn't a super strict diet. I can change my profile any time if I want to eat more or less calories, and I don't have to eat any specific foods. I can eat whatever I want. Cool, right? If you are trying to lose weight or simply keep your weight steady, I definitely recommend using an app like this. I know there are a ton out there! Hooray for a healthy new year!
Yours,
Cait

Books: December Edition

2012-01-04T11:54:00.004-07:00

Well, I'm a few days late, but I guess better late than never right? For December, I had planned on reading certain books but somehow along the line, I read a few books I hadn't planned on at all. And funnily enough, December was a re-read month for me. I had read all of these books at least once before, but I am a girl who loves to re-read books, so it was still just as fun for me. First, I re-read Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I realized after reading an awesome post on Busy Bee Lauren (check out her blog!) that I had only read this book once and had started forgetting the details! So I immediately pulled out my Nook and got reading. Seeing as how Mockingjay is the end to a Trilogy, I will try not to spoil it for anyone. Reading this book made me so excited for The Hunger Games movie to come out! (March, can we please skip ahead to you!?)
I was reminded of all the reasons that I love this book series. I love Katniss because she's not really loveable. Does that make sense? She is not even close to perfect, she's sassy and stubborn and hard to get along with. I think that's what makes her such a realistic and likeable main character. I remembered all the things I loved about Peeta, such as his patience, kindness, and steadfast love for Katniss, and remembering that made me even more angry at what President Snow did to him in this book. Another thing I love about this book is watching Prim grow up. She's not such a big character in the first two books, but in this book she really caught my attention and admiration. I adore the love that Finnick and Annie share. I love that he grew to love her and that their love is so strong. I'm a sucker for romance.
I know many people who hated the ending to this book. And when they tell me that, all I can think is WHY?! How could you hate such a great ending to such a tragic book (so many of my favorite people die, but so I don't ruin it I wont say who)? To me, the ending was real. I could picture it in my mind and I can't imagine how it could have ended any other way. Katniss and Peeta were never going to be the same, but they somehow made a life for themselves from the ashes of the past. Real or not real? Real.
The next two books I read were also in a trilogy. Have you read The Giver? Well, it's short and an easy read and I love it. I'm not sure why, but I'm totally into this Dystopian genre and I have been for a really long time. I first read The Giver when I was eleven and have read it many times since. Some people don't know that The Giver is actually the first book in a trilogy. Well, it is and the last two books were the ones I read this month. First I read Gathering Blue. This one is sort of a companion novel to The Giver. It is about a girl named Kira who lives in a village that sort of went the opposite way of Jonas's in The Giver. Jonas's village had progressed technologically, but Kira's regressed into a more simple, brutal way of life. At the beginning of the book, Kira's mother has just died. Kira, who has a twisted leg and cannot walk normally, is threatened to be sent to the Field, where people are sent to die because she is not useful to the village anymore. However, the council brings her to live in the council edifice to work on the Singer's Robe because she has an almost magical gift of weaving. Every year, the Singer sings the history of the people and his robe depicts the history as well. Kira meets Thomas, the gifted child carver who carves the Singer's staff, and the young girl who is meant to be the next Singer. Each has a gift that the council wants to use for their own purpose. Kira also begins learning how to dye thread, but the one color she cannot make is blue. As the story goes on, secrets begin to unfold and Kira's little friend Matt, who is a ragtag little boy from a rough part of the village, disappears. So I don't give away the ending, I will stop there. I just have to say, this book is really good and makes you think the entire time. I give it four out of five stars. Messenger is the last book in this series. This book connects The Giver and Gathering Blue and is the sequel to both. Little Matt from Gathering Blue has grown into a young man and lives in Village, a place where all people are accepted no matter if they have something wrong with them. He lives with a blind man who's true name is Seer because he can see things that other people can't even though he is blind. Matty delivers messages all over Village and to other villages as well. Leader, who is Jonas from The Giver, sees that Village is changing and people are becoming less accepting of others. People are becoming greedy and trading too much of themselves away at Trade Mart. As this is happening, Forest, which surrounds Village, is becoming unwelcoming and inhospitable. Matty is the only one who is able to continually travel through Forest, but even to him it is seeming to get more dangerous. Matty also discovers that he may have a special gift that frightens him and so he keeps it a secret. Leader knows of Matty's gift because of his ability to see the future.
As the villagers become more selfish and less altruistic, they begin to petition to close Village to outsiders. Matty is given the task to take messages to the other villages that Village is closing and is especially given the task to bring Kira to Village. That's where I will stop, but I would definitely recommend this book and the entire series to anyone, young or old. This book definitely deserves four out of five stars.
Yours,
Cait

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T20:47:00.002-07:00

I am amazed that 2011 is officially over. Wow. What a year it was. So many wonderful things happened this year. I got married. I got to go to New York on my honeymoon. I got my first 4.0 since, like, elementary school. I chose my major. We got a puppy. There are so many awesome things I cannot even write them all. But I just have to point out, 2011 was a good year for me. And now I am thrilled that 2012 has arrived.
I like new beginnings. It's nice knowing that I have a clean slate and still get to keep all my great memories from last year. I get to start over without forgetting. What a blessing that is.
Before I start writing about all my hopes for this year, I have to finish up last year. Christmas was so fantastic. I love that I got to wake up with Brad and Christmas morning before anything else happened and have some time to ourselves to open our gifts to one another. He spoils me. I love him more than anything and am so blessed he is my husband. We got to spend time with all of our loved ones. Sometimes I feel like we are spread so thin, trying to make the rounds to see everyone. But I am grateful that we were able to see everyone and enjoy the Christmas spirit with our family. It was a great way to end the year.
I have a lot of plans for this year, although I admit that some of them are half-formed or still just ideas. I want to keep going with some of my goals from last year, such as being healthy, peaceful, writing in my journal (I am still working on this one... it's hard). I discovered Zumba a couple of months ago and am loving that form of exercise. I actually got a Zumba program for the Wii with some Christmas money and am really excited to begin using that, too. I am also working on being peaceful and calm. I think I more fully realize how rash and impatient I can be (especially with other people) and I know that I still need to work on it. It's difficult, but I am trying. I think I have done pretty well with blogging more, but still not as often as I would like. Another goal to keep working on.
One thing I would like to do with this year is spend more time on myself. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed and stressed out that I forgot I need to spend some time developing myself. I need to remember to take time to breath, read a good book, listen to some music, watch one of my fave shows, or do the things I really neglect like draw or play the piano. I would really love to rekindle my love for my sketchbook and playing the piano.
Another thing I would like to do this year is take more photos! It is really hard for me because not only do I have a husband who hates cameras, but I often lose track of both of mine. But even if there aren't many pictures of me or any of Brad, I want to document as much as I can through photos because I am tired of regretting that I don't have any. I love photography and even though I am not talented or profess to be a photographer of any sort, I am going to try my hardest to at least capture as many things that make me smile as I can.
I am going to make myself the goal again to read at least two books a month, hopefully more. I have always loved reading, my problem is making time to read. I have a million books (possibly an exaggeration) on my to-read list, so the next part of this goal is that I need to read the books I already own before I buy any more. That is certainly a challenge for me, since I seem to be addicted to buying books!
This isn't a complete list of my goals for this year, but the good thing about life is I get to create mine as I go, so when I think of more I will write them down also. I am really excited for this year and I just I hope I can hold myself to my own standards!
Yours,
Cait

The Twelve Days of Christmas...etc.

2011-12-17T10:01:00.004-07:00

Wow people, Christmas is in 8, holy cow, 8 days! I can't believe it. I really can't. Here I was, thinking I have the whole wonderful month of December left and then wham! I am looking at the calendar and it is the 17th! I am just blown away.
So my sweet momma and her hubby Glenn are treating all the kids to the Twelve Days of Christmas. Basically, we get presents everyday and it rocks. I feel extremely spoiled, to say the least. Yesterday, which was the fourth day of Christmas, we got Milano Cookies. Mmm. I can't wait to see what we get today!Also, here are some pictures of the decorations I have up around the house and our cute Christmas tree with borrowed ornaments from Brad's mom.And last, but best, here are some pictures of our sweet puppy Molly! She is our adorable new baby and I love her so much already. She is the sweetest puppy. We have had her for two weeks now!With only 8 days left til Christmas, we have a lot of shopping to do! Luckily, I am done with my finals and should have plenty of time to get everything done for the holidays! I love Christmas!
Merrily yours,
Cait
P.S. Sorry for the crappy quality of the pictures. They were taken on my phone since my camera is MIA.

Happy December First!!

2011-12-01T11:14:00.003-07:00

Yay! December is here! I love December so much! To celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season, here are some neat things I have found on Pinterest to celebrate the holidays. Enjoy!Yummy swirly Christmas cookies.

Beautiful snow.

Put cookies in a Pringles can for a gift! Genius!

Love this wrapping idea.

Adorable felt flowers! I need to learn how to do this.

I love the movie Elf. :)

Chocolate Candy Cane cookies. Delish!

Spray paint through lace onto ornaments! Gorgeous!

Let's Talk Twilight

2011-11-30T09:35:00.004-07:00

Who has seen Breaking Dawn (Part 1) in the last couple of weeks? I have to admit, I have. I didn't go at midnight. I actually waited about a week I think before I went. And don't get me wrong, it's not because I wasn't excited. Because I was. But I think I have a right to be excited. I read Twilight when I was fifteen and it was the only book in the series. At that age, I thought Edward was wonderful. Now I'm a little older, I have the ability to acknowledge that maybe the Twilight books aren't as amazing as I thought and I am able to make fun of them while still liking them. I also don't usually admit I like them, just because I fear of being put into that "Oh, she likes Twilight" (in a snide voice) category. But I do like Twilight; I'm still a little attached to that teenage part of me that loved those books. And I still sort of fan-girl about Twilight stuff. Forgive me.
On to Breaking Dawn the Movie.
Um, am I the only one who thought Bella was the nastiest pregnant mom ever?! I thought pregnancy was supposed to give you that special glow. I know that she was pregnant with a monster baby instead of a normal one, but still. She looked gosh-freaking-awful. I was embarrassed for her.
Can I just say I am so glad that during the wolf scene (yes, that one) at least their mouths didn't move? Cause that would have taken the lameness up like a million levels. I wanted to *facepalm* at this part in the movie, but I admit they did a pretty OK job with a scene that was probably difficult to make.
I do want to point out how gorgeous the wedding was. It was lovely and Bella's dress was insane. The beginning of the movie was well done, I think, and really did the book justice. But Kristen Stewart, did you really have to look like they were torturing you the entire time??
I also remember how much I love Alice every time I watch these movies. She's my fave, hands down. I love her stubbornness, her lively spirit, and the fact that she's just freaking adorable and at the same time could rip someone to shreds.
Also, Jessica's comments at the wedding were freaking hilarious. In the book, she's horrid and I just want to tear her face off, but in the movies, she's pretty darn funny.
Overall, I think they did a great job keeping true to the book. Almost everything I didn't like about the movie is the same as what I didn't like about the book, so I blame Stephenie Meyer and not the movies. I enjoyed most of the movie, minus the part where Bella drinks blood from a random styrofoam cup. Ew.
I am looking forward to Part 2. I liked the last half of the book better, where Bella isn't a pregnant zombie, and where most of the action (what little action there is) happens. I am excited to see all the new characters that get introduced when the vampires from around the world gather at the Cullens. The new characters are my favorite part of the book. I hope Part 2 is what I imagine it will be!
Twi-fanningly Yours,
Cait
P.S. The trailer for The Hunger Games was my favorite part of this whole experience. So excited for that movie!!!

November's End

2011-11-30T09:07:00.002-07:00

I am so excited that December is almost here. Aside from the crappy weather, I love the Thanksgiving-to-Christmas holiday season. Definitely awesome.
First of all, (I can't help but slip this in) this is my first post from my new MacBook Air!!! Please note the extra exclamation points that show how excited I am about this fact. My lovely, lovely MacBook is now two days old. On Monday night Brad completely surprised me by telling me he was buying me a new computer, after watching me struggle with my old HP the other night trying to do a programming assignment. Needless to say, I freaked out and could not stop smiling at the Apple Store (at which point Brad would just look at me and laugh like, "Oh wow... She's nuts."). Alright, I will shut up about my new computer now. It's just so awesome. Shutting up now.
Thanksgiving was really a wonderful holiday. We went up to Wyoming with Brad's parents to spend the weekend with his grandparents. It was the smallest Thanksgiving of my life (we all fit around one table!), but the peace and calm was amazing for my more-than-slightly stressed out self. We ate tons of yummy food, played I think five games of Monopoly (no, of course I didn't win), and I got some good reading done for school. I want to keep it simple, but just want to say that I am so thankful for all my family and friends and loved ones, for my wonderful husband, for everything that we are so blessed to have, and for a great holiday that I spend completely disconnected from the internet and stress of everyday life. It was extremely cathartic.
Also, sadly, there will be no Books: November Edition Part Two. This month I had to read two novels for my mythology class along with all the normal reading, so I didn't really have time this last part of November to really get into a new novel. I have started a book for December, and will probably have more than two for that month seeing as how I get a nice two-or-three (not quite sure..) week break after the semester ends.
I am so thrilled that it's almost Christmas! Hopefully I will have lots of holiday posts coming along. :)
Thankfully Yours,
Cait

Hey Y'all

2011-11-15T10:03:00.004-07:00

It's Tuesday... which means there are still four more days til the weekend. Does anyone else feel like they are living for the weekend? I feel like that a lot.. Ha ha. So to brighten my mood and hopefully yours if you are reading this, here is some funny/awesome/random stuff I found on Pinterest. :) Enjoy!Love Alan Rickman... Love that he said this.

I totally hate those commercials. So true!

Ha ha! I got a pocket got a pocket full of sunshine! I got a love and I know that it's all mine WHOA! Whaohhh!

Star Wars Nesting Dolls... Lol I'm a geek.

I can't stand stupid people... Sorry.

So sweet. :)

Yeah, I need this warning sign pinned to my head..

This is just cool.

Cheerfully Yours,
Cait
P.S. I still can't stop thinking about Crossed by Ally Condie. If you haven't read it yet, repent now and read it asap.

Books: November Edition (Part One)

2011-11-11T08:11:00.003-07:00

Even though we are not even halfway through November, I just can't wait to write about the last couple of books I read! Somehow in the past week I managed to fly through two books. I am not quite sure how that happened with homework and everything, but I am not going to try too hard to figure that one out. Ha ha.The first book I read was Destined, #9 in the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. Before I continue, I just have to say that these books are just for fun. If you are looking for deep, literary "genius" writing, these are not the books for you. But if you just want a good story, funny sarcasm, and unique characters, then this is a good one. These books are about Vampyres and have a lot of Cherokee myth woven through them as well, which is one thing I love about them. Zoe is our main girl, and she's kinda funny yet kinda annoying. She has had a billion (OK, like 4 or 5) boyfriends, but finally in this book she has whittled that number down to one (however, I'm not sure how long that will last either). Basically, Zoe and her circle of friends each have an affinity with a certain element (earth, air, water, fire, spirit). They must stop the evil priestess Neferet from bringing darkness into their House of Night. I can't say too much, since this is #9 after all (which, by the way, this series is way drawn out, but I keep reading them anyways!). Overall, I would probably give this book three out of five stars. It's a good, easy read and very entertaining.And finally, finally after waiting a freaking year for this book to come out, Crossed by Ally Condie went on sale. I cannot explain my excitement and I certainly couldn't contain it. Matched, the first book, is one of my all time favorites and I previously raved about it in a much earlier post. I reread Matched (loved it, again) and was again just in awe over how wonderful the author lets this story take shape. I adore her writing, the way her characters interact, and everything about how her words flow and stick in your brain. Crossed just gets even-freaking-better. This book is told in Cassia's point of view as well as Ky's. Can I just say how much I love reading Ky's point of view? He is one of the best male main characters I have ever read, ever. I really liked seeing his world through his point of view and being able to understand so many more things because of how he sees them.
In this book, Cassia is bound and determined to get to the Outer Provinces (Oh yeah, *spoiler* alert. Skip this paragraph if you haven't read the first book!) to find Ky, who was taken from his home in Oria Province. Cassia finds a way to escape, as does Ky, and they begin the journey to find one another. Cassia is also trying to find The Rising, an organized rebellion against The Society. In this book, we meet a lot of new characters and learn a lot more about The Society. Ally Condie works her magic again and brings poems and lyrics to life, weaving them through her story effortlessly. Her books are just plain music to read. I love this book, even though there were times that I got so angry I had to put it down, take a deep breath, and remember that it was a story. It feels that real. Last night, when I finished reading it, I wanted to cry because it ended and I have to wait again for the third one.
I would give this book five out of five stars. I seriously, absolutely, fully love this book. The love story is beautiful and the adventure kept my heart racing the entire time. People, please go read this book? Awesome. You can thank me later. :)
Your-Welcoming-ly Yours,
Cait

Books: October Edition

2011-11-01T10:22:00.004-06:00

Whew, October has been a busy month! I feel like it passed much faster than normal, just flying by! And I will admit, I didn't get a whole lot done. I seriously need to look into a time management class... or if I could just borrow Hermione's time turner? Yeah, that would be great.
So I only managed to make it through the first book of The Secret Circle, which technically is two books in one! I didn't get to the next book, or have time for The Vampire Diaries. I am pretty sad, let me tell you. But I will read them! Anyhow, here is my review for The Secret Circle: The Initiation and The Captive (Part 1).
First of all, I really like this book. It's awesome. It was written in the 90's, so I totally got all of the aged references and they made me smile. This book is about a girl named Cassie, who is forced to move to New Salem with her mother to take care of her aging grandmother. She starts school, noticing that a certain group called 'The Club' seems to rule the school. It turns out they are witches, and she tries to find her place in their circle. There is definitely some romance and drama with the hot guy Adam, which makes for a really interesting story.
Sadly, the main character, Cassie, is kind of a pushover and I found it difficult to relate to her. One minute, I thought she was finally going to stand up for herself, but she just failed all of my expectations! Most of the time I was extremely annoyed and wanted to slap some sense into her. I am hoping in the next book that she becomes a stronger character.
Overall, I would give this book four out of five stars. I think the plot is interesting (again, I'm hoping it goes more in depth in the next one) and the variety of characters keeps it from being blah. If you watch the show on the CW, just know that the book is certainly its own story and very unique. I would for sure recommend it!
Witchingly yours,
Cait

Bunch of Random-As-Can-Be Thoughts

2011-10-14T08:31:00.003-06:00

Yeah, you need to know how random I am. Ha ha. So here are some pretty random things I am thinking about right now.
1-- Zumba rocks. It also kicks my butt. Hard. Wow am I sore today!
2-- I love love LOVE Jamba Juice oatmeal. I can't describe to you the deliciousness. Also, it's good for you.
3-- Listening to Pandora makes my morning even more awesome than normal. Kate Voegele, Taylor Swift, and Christina Perri for example.
4-- The series ending to Life Unexpected still boggles my mind. WTH! (what-the-heck, in case you were wondering)
5-- Fridays just pretty much rock, even though I have to wake up early for school, I still appreciate that the weekend has almost arrived.
6-- Almost finished with the first book of The Secret Circle and loving it! Lots of references from the 90's that make me smile.
7-- I am dismally behind on all of my TV shows, but next week is Fall Break, so I know what I will be doing!
8-- I feel like there should definitely be a number eight on this list, I'm just not so sure what it should be. Hmm.
9-- Today is perfect fall weather and I just love the blue color of the sky with the sun shining in my eyes.
Yep, those are my thoughts this morning.
Scatteredly yours,
Cait
P.S. I just invented that word. :)

Books: September Edition

2011-09-29T10:17:00.003-06:00

Alright friends, September is almost over (wow, can you believe it!?) and I previously made a goal to read at least two books a month while I am in school. I want to read more (I am constantly thinking stuff like, "Wow, wish I could be reading instead of doing this Health homework!" or something similar), but alas, school is challenging and my time is already spread out too thin.
I actually managed to meet my goal! :) And that makes me happy. So here is a summery and my opinion of both books I read.
First, I read The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Now, don't immediately think, "Oh, it's about a historian? BORING!" because this book is the opposite of boring. Let me tell you. In this book, a young girl discovers a dark secret about her father and ends up journeying all over Europe to find the truth about her family:that their past is linked to that of Vlad the Impaler's, otherwise known as Dracula. Pretty much that is all I can say about this book for fear of ruining any part of it. I would definitely give this book 4 stars (out of 5). The author is an amazing writer and the storyline is insanely intricate and astonishing. It was a tad long, and in some parts long-winded, but on the whole, this book was awesome.Second, I read Passion by Lauren Kate. This is the third book in a series (the first book is Fallen and the second is Torment) about fallen angels and the battle between heaven and hell. I wont say much, so I don't spoil the first two books for you. The main character, Luce, has been dying over and over again and being reborn because her love for Daniel, a fallen angel, kills her in every life. She doesn't know why this happens. In this book, she starts to figure out the reasons behind everything happening in her life, as well as the truth about her and Daniel. Luce wants to stop the curse that keeps them from being together. Honestly, I would probably give this book about 2.8 stars (I know my sister will yell at me for this), not because it's a bad book, but because I think it's slightly juvenile. This book is written for teens, but in my opinion, it's written for very young teens. The storyline is interesting (which is why I keep reading the series), but the writing is simplistic, sometimes boring, and the author seems to skim over numerous events where she could have really gone into some detail and depth. If you are looking for a fun, "chick-flick-y" kind of book to read, this is a good one, but that's pretty much all it is. (After reading some of the reviews on BN.com, I'm a little frightened of being attacked by a bunch of fans of these books now... ha ha.)
Honestly yours,
Cait
P.S. For October I am reading the Secret Circle and The Vampire Diaries again, ya know, to fit in with the Halloween theme. I'm excited! :)

I Wanted to Name Her Persephone...

2011-09-22T08:58:00.002-06:00

But Brad says Kitty is a better name... Wondering what I'm talking about? Alright, you win. I will tell you. :)
So the last few nights we have heard a little cat meowing (quite forcefully) outside of our window. She doesn't have a collar and is probably a run away or a stray, but she is super friendly and so sweet! So the other morning I gave her some milk. I know, I know. Don't feed a cat, cause they always come back, yadda yadda yadda.
Yesterday she was waiting right outside the door for me when I left for school. She let out a freakin' loud, "Meow!" and scared the holy crap out of me! I could hear Brad laughing at me as I tried to calm my heart beat and poured her a little more milk.
Last night I came home to find that Brad (cat-hater that he 'claims' to be) had bought a little bag of Meow Mix for Kitty. This made me smile. He's such a softie (I mean, he's so tough! You would not believe how tough...). And sure as can be, pretty soon we hear Kitty calling for us at the door.
Now she's pretty comfortable just waltzing into our little apartment, eating some food, and drooling (Yes, drooling!) on us while we pet her. She's pretty much a sweetheart.
So technically, she's not our cat. But I kind of like to think she sort of is.
Meowingly yours,
Cait

God Gave Me You

2011-09-16T09:26:00.002-06:00

I’ve been a walking heartache
I’ve made a mess of me
The person that I’ve been lately
Ain’t who I wanna be

But you stay here right beside me
And watch as the storm blows through
And I need you

Cause God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you
Gave me you

There’s more here than what we’re seeing
A divine conspiracy
That you, an angel lovely
Could somehow fall for me
You’ll always be love’s great martyr
And I’ll be the flattered fool
And I need you

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you

On my own I’m only
Half of what I could be
I can’t do without you
We are stitched together
And what love has tethered
I pray we never undo

Cause God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you, gave me you.
He gave me you.

Brad posted this for me on Facebook a few days ago. It basically made my day and brought a huge smile to my face. I love when he does sweet, random things. It's almost insane how happy he makes me. So I thought I would put the lyrics up to share with you all. It's such a sweet song by Blake Shelton.
So-in-lovingly yours,
Cait

Some Sweet Snapshots

2011-09-16T08:44:00.003-06:00

I wont say much (they say pictures are worth a thousand words), so here are some of my favorite wedding pictures of me and Brad.

New Addiction

2011-09-16T08:22:00.003-06:00

So, the word 'addiction' usually applies a negative need for something right? But when I say it here, I mean it in a good way! To me, it's something I like (possibly in an obsessive love kinda way). And sure, maybe I get a little sidetracked or distracted by it... but is that really a bad thing? I think not...
Anyhow, my new addiction is a little thing called Pinterest. My sister-in-law Amber sent me an invite and suddenly I was pinning like crazy! I can't really describe how much fun it is, because in words it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. If you ever have some extra time on your hands, check it out. You can follow me and see everything I pin.
Addictively yours,
Cait

Faves: Seasons Edition

2011-09-13T10:52:00.004-06:00

I am sure I have mentioned this before. Positive, actually. But I am going to write about it again. I can't help but love Fall. It, seriously, is the best season ever. Don't get me wrong, I love the other seasons, too. But to me, Fall is just perfectly lovely. There is nothing about it that I dislike. I love the colors of the leaves and mountains, the way the breeze just floats around pleasantly, the deep azure color of the sky. It is the perfect time of year. I love summer, and spring, and occasionally winter, but Fall is my fave. What's yours?

Here Are Some Random Thoughts

2011-08-25T20:22:00.005-06:00

You know how you read something, and you totally agree with what the author is saying? Or it's the other way around and you think they're crazy? I think that is the beauty of blogging. I love being able to write whatever I want, whether people actually read it or not (the signs point to not), and knowing that some of my readers are nodding their heads in agreement and the others want to check me into the loony bin. That is OK with me.
I read blogs more than I write on mine, a true but sad fact. But here is another true fact: I love writing on my blog. Obviously, hardly anyone reads it. I have heard people saying that they have a life, why would they need a blog? But to me, blogging is different. I like having a place (outside my journal) to record my completely random thoughts, things I like, etc. I know that no one reads it, but that is kind of the point. I am not writing this to be read and get a million comments (although that would be nice and I would love that, too); I am writing it for me. I like it. And that is all.
That being said (as I step down from my little soap box), I cannot believe summer is pretty much over! Time is always passing more quickly than I think it should. I mean, I have been married for two months now and that is just plain shocking to me! Summer is over and it is back to school... *sigh*.
I cannot honestly tell you whether I am excited for or seriously dreading school. Probably somewhere right in between. I am having a very big problem deciding on a major. A big, big problem. I am not very good with decisions. At all. And the fact that there are so many things I like and could see myself doing... How am I supposed to decide what I want with all those choices? But alas, I have approximately four (or less) months to decide. That is a daunting thought. Wish me luck.
I am trying out some computer classes this semester. If I like that general area (and am good at it), I might try something like that. I am particularly excited for my digital media class. I think that could be fun. We'll see how it goes.
One thing I like about school is that I see it as another chance at a new beginning. I know we have New Year's Eve for that, but starting a new school year has always seemed like a better place for goals and resolutions. So I am going to make a few.
* I want to keep up my good grades, but not be a hermit. Is this possible? I do not know, but I want to try. I want time to spend with Brad, and my family, and my friends.
* I don't want to give up my books! I love reading. I can't stand not being able to pick up a good book, curl up, and read it. School takes up a lot of my time, but I definitely need my reading time. So I am going to make a goal to read at least two books a month during school. Hopefully I can read more than that!
* I want to be able to blog more. I am not going to plan it, I'm just going to blog when I feel like something needs to be said.
Alright, I think I have been random enough for one night. If anyone is reading this, leave me a comment!
Randomly yours,
Cait

All Is Well...

2011-08-06T19:26:00.004-06:00

Alright, so I know it's been almost a month, but can we talk about Harry Potter for just a minute? K, thanks. I acknowledge my geekiness almost daily, but when it comes to Harry Potter, I kind of morph into a mega-geek. I just happen to LOVE everything about the world of Harry Potter.
I have practically grown up with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the entire cast of characters. I was about nine when I read The Sorcerer's Stone, and let me just say how terrified I was of the unicorn killing creature (AKA Professor Quirrell/ Voldemort) in the Forbidden Forest! But I fell completely in love with JK's wizarding world, with Hogwarts, and everything to do with her books. I literally grew up with these books!
Not only are these books about good conquering evil, love winning out above all, and the power of your imagination, they are also about friendship. Harry, Ron, and Hermione taught us all about friendship, even when we are completely frustrated at our best friends or insanely jealous of them. They stayed together through it all, and that is what true friendship is all about.
The final movie was, in a word, amazing. Being able to see everything in the books happen on the big screen is awesome. I could go on and on about every specific part I loved, but that could take ages! And OK... I might have cried a little. Or a lot. I am so attached to those characters that I just couldn't help it. I am sad that it is all over, but happy that we now have it all forever and that so many people love Harry Potter just like I do. It is not an ending, but a beginning.
Thanks, JK Rowling, for writing such an amazing, incredible story and for sharing it, and your beloved characters, with us all.
Truly Yours,
Cait

Honeymoon in NYC

2011-07-19T10:23:00.005-06:00

I admit, I am not the best photographer... In fact, I'm not very good at all and I often forget to photograph things I think are cool. But I did manage to get these pictures while in New York, so here are the best ones I took. I have to say, New York was a blast. We had so much fun. We saw Wicked, Lion King, and Spider-man. We walked around Central Park. We went to Ripley's Believe It Or Not, walked all over Times Square, and went to the Discovery Channel Exhibits at Times Square, one of which was the Harry Potter Exhibition and was so awesome (Yes, I am crazy about Harry Potter). We ate pizza every day, because it was delicious. And most of all, we spent every minute together and had the time of our lives. :)

View out our window... Awesome? Yes.
Coolest billboard there... I embrace my geek-ness.
Times Square was awesome! And crowded. Hee hee... Brad and the Hulk at the Disney Store. Disney Store!!! I love this quote.

Alright Gossip Girl fans, who recognizes this hotel?? I do!
We walked down Madison Avenue and it was so fun! So many expensive stores on this street, like Coach and Dolce & Gabbana.
Times Square at night. I love all the bright lights.
Lion King! We saw this show while we were there and it was so amazing. The music and characters and puppets seriously put me in awe.
Caught Brad in the princess section at the Disney Store. :)

Disney Store!
I have no idea what this musical is about, but I thought this was such a cool picture.
Wicked!!! We saw this show and I was once again reminded how much I love everything about it. Best show ever, hands down. Brad even agreed.
Isn't this neat? This was right above Toys R Us.

Cops on horses in Times Square, which I thought was pretty funny.
More musical billboards. I wish I could see them all!
I love New York!
Fanatically Yours,
Cait

When All is Said and Done...

2011-06-30T10:37:00.002-06:00

Holy wow, I am back home after the most awesome week of my entire life! And whoa, does it feel good. I can't believe how much I missed Utah and my little one-bedroom apartment!
And guess what! I'm married!! I am still a little in shock that it is all over. Let me just say, the wedding was gorgeous. More than I ever could have hoped for. I just hope that everyone who made it happen knows howblown away I was by all the hard work and I am officially eternally grateful. And big thanks to Mother Nature for holding back on the rain and giving us a beautiful, sunny day! The whole day is slightly blurry (since it just went so fast and I was SO happy!), but I distinctly remember walking down to the ceremony with my mommy and we kept saying to each other, "Don't you dare cry"! But the instant I walked down the aisle on my dad's arm and saw Brad fighting tears... Wow. What a moment. Of course, then my eyes flooded over and we are both crying tears of joy. It was amazing.
The reception was so fun! I got to see all our family and friends and that rocked. We cut cake and I got icing on Brad's cheek. :) hee hee And we got to dance to our song. I loved every minute of it. I hope everyone else had as much fun as I did!! I can't wait to post all of the pictures. There are a ton: engagements, bridals (groomals), and the actual wedding day. That will be a blast.
I'll do a honeymoon post later, cause NYC was the bomb. But for now, I'll just say that it was amazing and so much fun! But I am now exhausted from it all (in a good way).
Tiredly and happily yours,
Cait

Cheesy or Not

2011-06-13T23:06:00.003-06:00

I've been told many times (too many to count, believe me!) that I am cheesy, or mushy, or dumb. I'm not shy about telling people that I believe in true love! I get the eye rolls and the contorted faces, but over the years, I've pretty much given up caring. I do believe in happy endings (or beginnings, since every ending begins a new chapter).
Two years ago today, Brad and I "officially" became a couple. And yes, if you think I am cheesy, that's OK. But these last two years have been amazing, crazy, challenging, and the best years of my life so far. It's hard to imagine another person who can so compliment yourself, but when you find that person, it's wonderful! Brad is everything and more I ever dreamed for in a man. Our first two years together have been absolutely fabulous, the stuff love songs are made of.
I cannot believe that a mere nine days from now, I will be saying, "I do." I get to walk down the aisle in my white (or ivory, technically) dress and see my one true love waiting there at the end for me. I have never been more excited for anything in my entire life! Not even Christmas when I was five, or my first musical in eighth grade, or making Encore in high school, or going to college can even compare to the excitement I have for next Wednesday. It will be my fairy tale ending, but also the opening to the next chapter in my life. I am so ready for it!!
Cheesily-yours,
Cait
P.S. You know he's amazing when he gets you a present like this. :) Ah, he knows me so well!

Decisions- Wedding Edition

2011-06-06T10:11:00.002-06:00

I think the hardest part about growing up is making decisions. Remember when we were kids and the hardest decision we had to make was PB&J or grilled cheese? Sneakers or sandals? Barney or Power Rangers? Honestly, I miss those days.
Getting married comes with a TON of decisions! And here is a little not-so secret... I am very bad at making decisions. Ask me a serious question and it will literally take me ages to come up with an answer. Ask me what I want for dinner and watch me struggle to come up with an answer! Needless to say, making all of these wedding decisions is super difficult for me! There's the easy stuff, like the wedding cake flavors and flowers (Note: I love love love sunflowers!!). But then there were some harder decisions. I wont go into detail, but suffice it to say, I really don't like choosing and being the one to say yes or no. Occasionally, I can buckle down and be a good decision-making leader, but honestly, most of the time I am just a good follower. I am so very excited to get married, but I can't lie, I am just as excited for the decision making to be over!!!
Undecided-ly Yours,
Cait

Snapshots

2011-05-26T20:26:00.005-06:00

I feel like May has already flown by! I cannot believe June is creeping so near. It's been such a good month, being out of school and not stressing about homework. Here are some snapshots of what I've been up to...
Brad and I made dinner with our brand new pots and pans we got at my bridal shower, courtesy of his parents. The pictures don't show it, but the Alfredo sauce I was making ended up being a clumpy, white mess that we just dumped. It was bad. But I didn't feel quite so terrible, since Brad burned the bread a bit. Ha ha. What a pair we make. And of course, Brad evaded the camera as per his usual style. (*sigh*)
I also had a GNO with my mom and Aunt Nat. We had some yummy sushi! I refused to eat the kind with fish eggs... I couldn't stop thinking of Nemo! Aunt Nat entertained us with her abysmal chopsticks skills. I was laughing so hard and trying to show her how to use them at the same time. She ended up using her fingers most of the time.
My mom got me a Mini Kurig for my bridal shower gift. I love it! I make delicious coffee or chai tea lattes every morning. It gives me a great reason to get out of bed!
So, as I mentioned, my bridal shower was on Saturday, but I'll post about that later!

Been a While...

2011-04-29T20:55:00.002-06:00

It's been a while, I admit. But there's this saying... "Better late than never," that I think applies to this situation. Ha Ha. I haven't had time for anything the past little while, thanks to school and homework. But there are a few new things.
School is out! Yay! I am so excited to have the summer off to relax and play and get married! It's only been a few days since my last final, but already it feels great; like a huge load has been lifted from my shoulders.
Brad and I found a cute little apartment and I moved into it! It's a basement apartment in Lehi and it's teeny and adorable. I love it so much already. I can't wait to post some pics! I'm really excited to start decorating it and finding cute things to do with it.
Also, Brad got a new job working for Highland City. I am so proud of him. He'll be starting that on the ninth and I'm pretty sure he's excited. I think it will be weird for him to leave the Point, but I know he's ready.
Now that school is out, I'm going to have more time to do so many things! I have already read a few great books and am now getting the chance to blog it up! I am loving it. I am going to try to get out a 3 R's for April, but if not I will do a big one for May.
You'll hear from me soon!

3 R's

2011-02-28T21:03:00.005-07:00

So, I am going to start a little trend on my blog, where every month or so (possibly more or less) I recommend three things to my readers. These things can be anything and everything, but I will always explain why I recommend them so you are not left in the dark. Ready for February's 3 R's?

First, I beg of you, please read this book.
It is amazing. I flew through it, despite all the other tasks and things calling my name, and loved every page of it. I will try not to say too much, but in short, it is a wonderful love story. It's about a girl, Cassia (which, by the way, it's pronounced cash-uh), who lives in a futuristic society where the Society determines everything about your life, including your job and who you are married, or matched, to. At her Matched Ceremony, she is matched with her best friend Xander, but later, another boy's face appears on her computer screen in place of Xander's, and that boy is Ky, another boy from her neighborhood. And it is after that event that Cassia begins to understand the joy of making your own choices and the oppressive ways of the Society. The writing is spectacular; it's almost like reading a song. I am so glad I picked it up one day and decided to start reading it. Now all I have to do is wait til November for the sequel... Sigh.

Second, I recommend the movie I Am Number Four.
I saw it last week with Brad and his parents and I was totally pulled into it. It is everything I love about fantasy and sci-fi and romance all mashed into one thing. This one is about nine Lorien children from a different planet who are sent to Earth after their planet is destroyed by a violent alien race (the Mogadorians). These children were meant to someday protect their people and all are gifted with 'legacies' or powers that they must learn to control. The Mogadorians have tracked them to Earth and have begun killing them in order. They have already killed three and the main character, John, is number four. I can't say any more other than I really enjoyed it. And OK, it was described (by Brad and his parents) as 'lame' (that was Brad) and 'teenager' (his more polite father). But if that is so, then I am a 'lame teenager', cause I loved it. Now I just can't wait to read the book!

Third, I suggest one of my favorite comfort foods if you are feeling a little bit down or just in need of something that tastes happy. And that thing is peanut butter toast.
I don't think that needs much more of an explanation. Yum.

Actually, I just realized I have a fourth thing for this month. And that is a song. "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?" by Thompson Square. Brad and I both love this song, which I realized when I heard him singing it today. Basically, it's a great song. I am putting it on my playlist.

So there ya go, my first 3 R's (or 4, whatever). I hope you like them!

XoXo

2011-02-15T11:39:00.005-07:00

I love Valentine's Day. I know, it's cliche and it's overdone and it's a consumer-driven-holiday. Whatever! I still love it, because how can you not love a day about love? And yes, you should be showing your love to you family and friends everyday, not just Valentine's Day, but still, it's nice to know that you are loved and to have a day to openly show that.
Not to mention the flowers and chocolates. I don't get those everyday, so when I do, it's meaningful. This Valentine's Day, Brad himself came to my work and gave me a gorgeous bouquet and some divine chocolates. He is wonderfully thoughtful, so much I cannot explain. Let these pictures do the talking.
So, how was your Valentine's Day?

A New Year

2011-01-16T15:35:00.007-07:00

I cannot believe we are halfway through January already! As always, time has surprised me by passing much more quickly than I thought. I wonder how I am perpetually shocked by this? You'd think I would learn... Oh, well.
As it is the new year, I guess I am supposed to have some New Years resolutions. However, I don't think I have anything concrete, nothing like 'I am going to get straight A's this year' or 'I am quitting eating sugar'. I think my resolutions are more like... guidelines. (Hee hee, name that movie!)
Anyhow, here are a few things that I would like to see myself improving in my life this year:
1) I would really, honestly, no-joke like to blog more. I love blogging and writing and playing around with themes and photos. I want to promise myself to take a little bit of 'me time' to simply blog. Even if nobody out there even reads this.2) I want to improve my health. I want to drink more water, eat healthier, and exercise more. And by 'exercise more' I mean my form of exercise, which excludes running and push-ups, but includes yoga, walking, and possibly some pilates.3) I want my life to be more peaceful. And no, I don't mean more boring. I still want excitement and crazy activities and surprises, but I want my inner self to be more at peace with my life. I am really starting to believe that the more optimistic you keep your thoughts and mind, the happier you can let yourself be.4) I want to stop neglecting my journal. The poor thing has been sitting in my backpack for quite a while now with no new entries, and I am starting to feel bad. I definitely need to write in it more.5) I want to stop wasting my time. And yes, this sounds weird, but I have realized that I have a habit of filling my time with stuff I don't need to be doing! For example, flipping through channels on TV when nothing is on when I could be reading a good book, or drawing, or blogging. I need to seriously improve my time management skills.So there are some of my 'guidelines' for this year. I am sincerely hoping that by following them, I can see a difference in my life. And so far, it's been going good. We'll see if I can keep it up!

The Story

2010-12-23T11:44:00.003-07:00

Ok... So it has been more than a few days. My bad... But now that I am done with school for a couple weeks, I have the time to post the story of how Brad proposed to me. It's not a very long story, but I still want to tell it.
So, on Thanksgiving day, we spent the morning at my mom's, the afternoon at his family's, and for the evening we went to my dad's side of the family's Thanksgiving dinner at my grandparents. It was just a normal Thanksgiving day... Lots of yummy food and playing games with the family and just relaxing and having fun.
We had brought Brad's favorite pie to take to my grandparents, but when we got there, he insisted we leave it in the truck. I thought, well, whatever, so we did and went inside and pretty soon I forgot about it. Then, a while later, everyone started clamoring for pie, so Brad suggested we go get the pie in the truck. Still, I did not think anything of it.
We put our coats on and walked outside, only instead of heading in the direction of the truck, Brad pulled me towards the backyard, saying he wanted me to show him. Even though he's seen it before. STILL, I did not think anything weird was going on. I took him out to the backyard and he stood behind me with his arms wrapped around me and we looked out at the snow covered trees lit up by some pretty bright stars. It was really a gorgeous night, so we just stood there for a minute.
Then, he asks me how much I love him. Still not out of the usual. So I tell him, more than anything, of course. That's when he turns me around, kneels down with something extremely glittery in his hand, and says," Then will you marry me?"
I think I was in shock for a minute, cause I'm pretty sure that all that came out of my mouth was oh my goodness, oh my goodness. Then I said yes of course and he put that beautiful ring on my finger.
And one of the best parts? On the drive back to his house, he tells me that it was not planned at all, he simply woke up that morning and figured that would be a good day to do it. :) I love the simplicity of his plan, because it honestly made everything perfect.

Catching Up

2010-11-30T11:11:00.004-07:00

I know it's been a while... what can I say, I have been busy. Ha ha, what else is new. So here is my Thanksgiving post, as well as a bit of news. I am going to give a little list of everything that I am thankful for this Thanksgiving/Christmas Season.
I am thankful for my family. And friends. And loved ones. I am so grateful for the love and support, friendship and good times we all have together.
I am thankful to live in a wonderful country where we have the freedom to choose our own futures and live in safety and comfort.
I am thankful for yummy holiday food!
I am thankful for all the opportunities that I have been blessed with and for a great new job that I love.
I am thankful for wintery weather that make the holidays feel like the holidays.
I am thankful for fun games with the family, girls' night outs, and cuddling at home with my honey.
And last but definitely not least, I am thankful for Brad, who is now officially my fiance!I am so excited, and in the next few days, I'll have up a post of exactly how Brad asked me to marry him! :) Until then, see ya!

Good News and A Bit of Randomness

2010-10-11T09:53:00.003-06:00

I will start out with the good news, which is, I finally found a new job! I cannot even describe how happy I am to be starting something new, especially when it just seems so perfect. I got a job working as a teller at Central Bank in Pleasant Grove. A few of the best things about this job? I have a nice, set schedule (so I will no longer go crazy not knowing when I am supposed to be working!), with people that seem super awesome, and be getting paid a dollar more than I was getting, just to start out! It works with my school schedule and is in a great location for me, which, I'll be honest, works because it is between school and Brad's house (I am never at my own house >.< ha ha). So that is my good news!
And a bit of randomness. Ok, so I have been dating Brad for almost exactly a year and four months now, and I am still not over how stinkin' difficult it is to get him to take pictures with me and/or let me take pictures of him. I know, I post plenty on my blog, but have you noticed how they are always the same ones? I finally got a new one up, but that is the exception to the rule. So, I decided to post some pictures of me trying to get him on film. Oh, he would probably kill me for this. ;)See how he's not looking at the camera?? I love the way he smiles. :) This one is actually pretty darn good. This is what I usually get!!

Gotta love that I-am-avoiding-that-dang-camera-using-my-sunglasses expression on his face... *sigh*

Ok, this one is just cute. :) But still!

Oh, By the Way...

2010-09-23T16:35:00.001-06:00

I also am trying out an extra, on-the-side blog on tumblr.com just for fun. I've been putting some neat pictures, quotes, and videos on there if you want to check it out. It's caitlinskye.tumblr.com. Take a look and tell me what you think!

Back To School

2010-09-23T16:17:00.004-06:00

Fall is here and it is back to school for me! It has been about a month since I started my classes at Utah Valley University, where I have transferred to this year. So far, I am really liking it. I am finding that I don't have as much time to study down here though!! Luckily, I am enjoying all my classes, even math. This semester I am taking Spanish 1010, History 1700, Biology 1010, and Math 1050. Needless to say, it is a full schedule and it is keeping me busy. Combined with work, spending time with Brad and my family and friends, and going to school and studying, I feel like I never have a spare minute! But I am going to be more committed about blogging, for real.
I just cannot wait for more of the fall weather to get here! I love when the leaves start changing, and seeing all the sunflowers everywhere is the best. Crisp, cool fall is my favorite season, and it's looking like it's going to be a gorgeous one!

Summer... Flying By!

2010-07-28T11:33:00.004-06:00

I cannot believe it is already the end of July. My summer has gone much too fast! But I guess that is what they say, time flies when you are having fun. It has been such a great summer.
So, in less than two weeks now, my mom is getting married. I cannot believe it! I will have a new step-dad and two step-sisters. Here are some stinkin' cute pictures my mom took of us a little while ago...

The pictures turned out really great, and you can't tell how cold we were! My mom pretty much rocks at photography. But I'll take credit for that top picture of her and Glenn, although she did the editing. I just love how the pictures turned out!

Worst Blogger In History Award?

2010-06-14T10:55:00.002-06:00

... Goes to me. Ha ha. Yes, I know. I have been practically MIA since school let out and that is lame on my part. I forgot how busy I can get. But I also forgot how much I love blogging and how much I would miss it if I kept putting it off, like I have been doing! So here goes, I'm going to try to be better and keep up my blog. I can totally do it.

So, since I have not written in ages, here is an overview of the things that have happened to me the last month and a half.

1. We went to Las Vegas for Brad's birthday, right after finals. This trip was awesome. Brad turned 21 and he was so excited to gamble... but at the end of the trip he had only lost twenty dollars and told me," It is more fun when you have to possibility of getting caught". Oh, he makes me laugh. Anyways, we stayed at the Luxor, in the pyramid, and that was fun. We were there for about a day and a half, but we had a blast and the weather was perfect and HOT!

2. I moved into my grandparents house in Sandy. And while I'm not allowed to use my grandpa's huge TV (I think he thinks I'll break it), I have a pretty sweet deal. I have a huge room, a bathroom of my own, a kitchen, a washer and dryer! I'm still working on getting it all cute and decorated, so when that finally happens I'll for sure post pics. I'm so grateful they are letting me live there. It's really nice to have a room of my own again and a place that is just mine.

3. I went to Montana with Brad for Memorial Day weekend. So, I had never been to Montana before and can I just say, it was gorgeous! If you have not been, go. If you've been there, then you know what I'm talking about. It rained the entire weekend, but the mountains and forests and lakes and rivers just took my breath away. It was beautiful. We stayed with his aunt and uncle and hung out with his cousins and sister. We had a great time and I did not want to come home!

4. We went to Moab this last weekend for my family's Swenson Family Reunion. I just have to say, my family is amazing. I would not miss the Swenson Family Reunion for anything. I love when we have the reunion in Moab because I LOVE Moab. I think it is the greatest place on Earth. As Brad and I were driving down, I was so excited, bouncing out of my seat, exclaiming at everything that holds a memory for me. I love all the red rock down there and the warm weather and being with my awesome fun family. The reunion was tons of fun and I'm also so glad that Brad got to be there with me because of #5 on this list....

5. Yesterday, Sunday June 13th, was mine and Brad's one year anniversary, from the day he asked me to be his girlfriend. I am so glad I got to spend the day with him down in Moab. We walked up and down Main Street and ventured into all of the cute little shops. He got me a gorgeous blue turquoise bracelet and a pretty dream catcher to go above my bed. I got him a print of a gorgeous photo that I am going to frame. I just have to say how much I love Brad and I am so grateful for all the time we have gotten to spend together and for all the time we still have. It's been the best year of my life and it is all because of him. He is amazing.

I have no pictures for this post, but hopefully soon I can post some of the pictures I have of all the fun stuff I have been doing. I am loving my summer so far and I know it will just keep getting better!!

Until next time....

I Know It's Been a While...

2010-05-21T11:24:00.005-06:00

Finally, summer is right around the corner. I am home for good now and wow, it feels good. I just moved into my grandparents house and I have the whole basement to myself. I'll write more about that in a later blog. This entry is devoted to USU.

First of all, the Things I Miss About Logan and USU:

1. The campus. It was beautiful, with the mountains and trees and how green it always was. I for sure miss that.

2. My classes... I know, weird. But I have a love/hate relationship with studying, and my last semester classes were actually pretty awesome.

3. Logan, because it was such a quaint, adorable little city.

4. The Merrill-Cazier Library was the best, most awesome place to go and have quiet time and study or read.

5. The Quadside Cafe: My favorite place to get a bagel and cream cheese. I went there every Thursday morning for breakfast.

6. Seeing Jill three or more times a week! I miss her!

7. My roomy Kristi. We had some pretty fun times together.

8. The Borders. They had some awesome coupons and deals and the store was a great place to go hang out with Jill.

And now, the Things I DO NOT miss:

1. Waking up at seven for my math class.

2. Having to crowd on the shuttle when it was cold and snowy outside.

3. Being so so stinkin' far away from Brad and my family.

4. Driving home every weekend. I am so glad I don't have to do that anymore!

5. How noisy and loud and rude and disrespectful the children at the dorms could be.

6. Being so so stinkin' far away from Brad and my family.

7. How there is not a Barnes & Noble in Logan (Luckily, there was a Borders).

8. Being so so stinkin' far away from Brad and my family.

So there you have it, all the things I miss and don't miss. I really had a great experience up in Logan at USU, and my final grades pretty much rocked, but I am so very glad to be home.

Breakfast With the Fam

2010-04-19T20:26:00.004-06:00

Yesterday I went out to breakfast with my mother and sister, as well as my mother's boyfriend, Glenn, his two daughters, and his parents. These are his parents, who treated us all to some pretty great food.
This is us, waiting for our table. It was a busy, crowded, but super cute and charming little place.
The lovebirds.... awe
My mommy, sister, and me!

Me and my lil' sis!
Why she pulled this cheesy face, I do not know. Ha ha
Sisters! Elowyn and Adrienne.
Adrienne is pulling an attitude.
I was going to take pictures of the adorable restaurant and the awesome food, but I was so hungry I forgot!

Spring is Pretty Much Here!

2010-04-15T19:32:00.009-06:00

Today was a pretty great day, basically. The sun was out and it was actually warm! I got an awesome care package from my Nana and her church. They send packages to students and soldiers, I guess. So this was an amazing surprise.

Look at all these wonderful snack and treats! I am spoiled.
Yum...
One of my favorites...
And Redvines is the best licorice ever!
I went outside and did my math homework in the sun. It was great.
And my Nana got me these adorable flip flips!
Then, this afternoon Kristi and I had our rock climbing class. We got to go up the canyon since it was such a gorgeous day. This is our teacher setting up the line.

Kristi's 'I'm-so-excited-to-climb' face!
She had a battle with that rock wall!
But she won. This is her 'muscle shot'.
This is me, all ready to start climbing!
And here is my 'muscle shot'. Ha ha
And this is Elise, a girl in our class. She's pretty much hilarious. Today, she was singing 'Party in the U.S.A' by Miley Cyrus non-stop.
So, that was my pretty great day! I hope spring is here to stay, because I sure do love it!

Are You For REAL Right Now???

2010-04-08T23:24:00.003-06:00

Alright, people. Tonight was the 100th episode of Bones. That's right. It was huge, monumental, even. This was a very big deal. My friends Jill and Megan and I get together on Thursday nights, @ 7:00 in the PM, to watch this show, which is definitely one of our favorites. It usually trumps Vampire Diaries, which is also a big deal. So tonight, we got our 0.89 cent fountain drinks and gathered in the lounge for this very important event.

For those of you who don't watch Bones, these lovely people right here are Special Agent Seeley Booth of the FBI and Forensic Anthropologist Temperance Brennan (aka Bones). To summarize five amazing seasons, they work together to solve murders. They are the best team out there.
Aren't they cute together? Yes, yes, they are.
So, basically, this show rocks. But there is one thing missing... Can you guess what it is by this picture?
Can you see that sexual tension!? They want each other. But more than that, they love each other. They really do! And we all know it. And so, after five seasons, we have been waiting for something like this... (especially after the season 4 finale (which was cruel, btw))...
And tonight was supposed to be the night. Not just the night, but THE night, that it was supposed to happen. Tonight was the background story of how Booth and Bones met, how they solved their first murder, how they became Booth & Bones!

Now, if you haven't seen the episode yet and you are planning on it... Don't read further. *Spoiler Alert*

Our anticipation was high... Oh, so high. We were ready for the moment. Towards the end of the episode, after relaying to Sweets their first real crime-solving experience (and poor Sweets, his world was turned upside down), Booth and Bones walk out of the building and suddenly, Booth can't take it anymore! In short, he tells Bones that he IS a gambler and he wants to try and see if they can work together (and not in a career-co-worker sort of way). And finally, he pulls her in for that kiss we have all been holding our breath for...

We all squealed appropriately...

But of course, Bones being Bones, she pulls away, shortening the perfect moment! And in near tears, tell Booth that she is a scientist and can't change.... Basically, she doesn't think she can love him and be that person!

We are all furious by this point...

And Booth tries to fight it, tries to change her mind. But another thing about Bones: she is stubborn. Very, very stubborn. So finally, Booth says then he will have to move on... and find someone else who he can love and who will love him, as he wipes a tear away.

And now we (or at least I was), are, to say the least, ticked! How could they do this to us!? After five seasons of building up to their confessions of love?? After this last season of anticipation for the supposed-inevitable moment? This is betrayal.

That is where the episode ended. Yes, it actually ended. Right there.

I think we were all shocked, and yet, in a way, we are resilient. We are trying to be confident that if Booth does indeed start dating someone new, Bones will realize that she just can't live without him and come to her senses. We hope... But as for now, our expectations still have not been met.

How much longer are we going to have to wait!?

I Am an April Fool's Day Hater

2010-04-01T20:03:00.005-06:00

Mother Nature is not a fair player...

I woke up to a disgusting, horribly cold, snowy day. An awful amount of snow had taken over what was beginning to be spring.
And I was so ready for spring, too! In fact, I am ready for summer. I would be happy if we could skip spring all together.
However, Mother Nature decided to play this nasty joke before she hopefully concedes and gives me the warm weather I am hoping for.
I hate April Fool's Day!

The Return of Gossip Girl

2010-03-08T19:05:00.005-07:00

Gossip Girl is back! After a cliff-hanger of an episode last month, the scandal returns.

First, did C find his mysterious, supposed-to-be-dead mother?

What drama will B raise now?

Will D and V ever be together?

Are N and S really going there again?

Also, is S any smarter? Is she done chasing married congressmen??

Is Little J really in cohorts with a drug dealer!?

What, exactly, is L hiding from R?
We will find out soon... XOXO

Letter to My Midterms

2010-03-03T17:17:00.002-07:00

Dear Midterms,

I am really getting sick of studying. And not just studying, cramming. And I am not cramming because I am an awful student. On the contrary, I have actually never been a better student in my entire life. So, I'm not cramming because I don't know the material. Because I do. I get my butt to class every stinking day and pay attention and even take rather detailed notes. So why am I even cramming? I don't KNOW! I guess that you, Midterms, simply have me a little bit stressed. Everyone else seems to be feeling the same way. I can't wait for you to be over and done with.

Sincerely yours,

Cait

P.S. If you could pass a little message along to Spring Break, just tell it to hurry up and get here already!

Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T17:12:00.004-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Brad sent me flowers yesterday, for Valentine's day and also our 8 month anniversary, which was yesterday the 13th. We've been spending all day together and it's been great. I hope everyone has a great day and gets to spend it with their loved ones!

Day #13

2010-02-14T16:54:00.003-07:00

Landon: I'm sorry she never got her miracle.

Reverend Sullivan: She did. It was you.

- A Walk to Remember

Day # 12

2010-02-14T16:45:00.003-07:00

So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, for ever, you and me, every day. -The Notebook

Day #11

2010-02-11T20:53:00.003-07:00

Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth. -1 John 3:18

By the Way

2010-02-11T17:25:00.003-07:00

I happen to be taking Math this semester, my dreaded nemesis. However, it looks like so far, I am winning the battle. See that? That says 89%!!! Which, might I add, is well above what the class average was. I am preeeetty proud of myself!

P.S. Sorry for bragging... I can't help it...

Avatar: The Last Airbender

2010-02-11T17:03:00.002-07:00

I will never be able to really describe how much I love Avatar: The Last Airbender. I've been watching the TV show on Nick since it started airing and I've been in love with it ever since. I own every episode. I am thrilled that it is being made into a movie and I cannot wait to go and see it! Until then... Enjoy! :)

Day #10

2010-02-10T22:05:00.002-07:00

Love is the beauty of the soul. -Saint Augustine

Day #9

2010-02-09T23:33:00.002-07:00

Life is the flower for which love is the honey. -Victor Hugo

Day #8

2010-02-08T09:06:00.002-07:00

Love conquers all. -Virgil

Day #7

2010-02-08T09:01:00.003-07:00

To see her is to love her, and love but her forever; for nature made her what she is, and never made another! -Robert Burns

Day #6

2010-02-08T08:56:00.001-07:00

There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved. -George Sand

Day #5

2010-02-08T08:52:00.002-07:00

Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it. -Swedish Proverb

Day #4

2010-02-04T21:02:00.002-07:00

If you would be loved, love and be lovable. -Benjamin Franklin

Day #3

2010-02-03T19:13:00.002-07:00

There is no remedy for love but to love more. -Henry David Thoreau

Day #2

2010-02-02T22:24:00.003-07:00

It is difficult to know at what moment love begins; it is less difficult to know that it has begun.

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Love, Love, Love

2010-02-01T19:09:00.003-07:00

Alright, so February is the month of love, especially with Valentine's Day right around the corner. Honestly, I've never really been a fan of Valentine's day. But this year, I suddenly decided I love it! I started using pink and purple and red and drawing hearts everywhere. I am such a cheeseball.

Anyways, for the next fourteen days until Valentine's Day, I am going to be posting a saying or quote about friendship or love! Today is day #1 and here is the quote:

They do not love that do not show their love.- William Shakespeare

Once Upon a Time in Denver

2010-01-27T21:32:00.009-07:00

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago (OK, not really, considering this was only last week/weekend, but we can pretend) a boy and a girl went to Denver. The journey was long, their carriage (a GMC pick-up) broke down, and the poor boy had nowhere to stretch his long legs, but finally, in the early hours of the morning, they reached their destination.
Actually, Brad did find somewhere to stretch his legs: right over mine and his mother's lap. Ha ha. We all shared the back seat on the drive. And despite my amazing ability to fall asleep no matter the circumstance, my back and legs sure did ache after that drive.
We went to Denver, in fact, to go to the National Western Stockshow, where Brad was going to show his heifer. Now, I have no knowledge about these sort of things, but Brad loves them and I'm getting more into them as we go along. And this show in Denver? It is huge. And I mean HUGE. Not only is there the show....
But there are exhibits and vendors everywhere! There was so much to see, I just had to take some pictures. I mean, look at all this stuff! Purses, Cowboy hats, and colorful dangly things!
Giant tractors!And a cowgirl has got to have her glitter!Who knew cowgirls were so glam?!
Not to mention these awesome boots!
These green ones? Yeah, I would so wear those.
And here are some cute pictures of Bradley giving his heifers some quality bonding time... Sweet, huh?
He even let me walk his heifer. I think she liked me; she licked all over my coat.
At one point, Amber and I got a little silly...
And at this awesome restaurant called Ol' Chicago, our waiter gave Brad a whole jug of Mountain Dew, because he couldn't keep refilling his cup fast enough!
We got pretty bored on the way home... Brad got into my bag and put all my hair clips and headbands on!
And he flipped off his sister... And yes, it's funny. :) ha ha
And so, the happy group made the trip home safely and everyone got a lovely shower and a good nights rest.
The End

10 Things I Truly Believe

2010-01-11T19:40:00.002-07:00

1. The magic and wonders of chocolate... mmmm!

2. Sometimes you just need to curl up with a good book.

3. Being happy is about making the good things in your life more important than the not-so-good things.

4. Never give up on your family; they will always be there for you.

5. There is such a thing as good TV.

6. Living should not mean always worrying; relax!

7. You will always, always need your best friend.

8. There are some things you just have to let go.

9. Sometimes, you just need to lay back, watch the stars and not think about anything.

10. True love does exist.

December and Christmas

2010-01-04T16:22:00.006-07:00

As you can tell by these pictures (just a few of the many I took), Christmas was wonderful! Being with my loved ones on the best of holiday of the year was all I wanted and I got it. I also got a load of other things... including a warm new coat from my grandparents, tons of clothes, a new camera from "Santa", and a beautiful jewelry box from my amazing boyfriend, which held some gorgeous jewelry from Hawaii. I am so spoiled. Also, you can see a picture of Brad holding his present from me... :) I loved every minute of the holiday this year and I am just so thankful for my family and friends, for all the blessings I have in this life, for my loving boyfriend, and for the joy and happiness of the best holiday of them all!

Busiest Weeks of My LIFE!

2009-12-10T16:00:00.003-07:00

The last two weeks have been insane, crazy busy. I have not been able to just sit still and relax without my mind jumping to something that I need to get done, something that I need to study, or an assignment I need to finish. At times, I sort of felt like I was going crazy. Finals had me stressing out over the smallest things.
Thank goodness for weekends at home! Last weekend, after a long, busy week I got to go home and spend time chilling. On Saturday morning, Brad and I made an enormous breakfast. It was tons of fun, even though by the time I'd gone to the store to get the food and we'd finished cooking, it was about noon. And yes, I am a pro at frosting cinnamon rolls. (And yes, that was sarcasm.)Also, Brad does not like to have his picture taken. At all. Such a stubborn boyfriend I have.
On Sunday we got to go to the Christmas devotional by the First Presidency, which was really great. The talks and the music really brought the Christmas spirit.
But then I had to come back to school for Final's Week. Oh, how I hate finals week. I've been studying nonstop and still cannot feel sure of myself. I have so far completed three finals and my final project for my theater class. The studying and preparing paid off; I didn't fail anything. Actually, I did pretty well and I'm so happy this semester is almost over, even though I cannot believe it went so fast. I only have one more final, and that's tomorrow, for my Archeology class. It's my toughest subject... So I'm gonna get back to work now. Ha ha

Time For Christmas

2009-11-30T21:39:00.007-07:00

I don't know if you know this, but Christmas is absolutely my favorite holiday, above all others. It's the spirit of the season, being with loved ones, great Christmas music, giving of gifts and love, awesome treats and food, and the wonderful reason for the holiday that make Christmas my favorite. The feelings and spirit that surround this holiday and make it so special and different from the others. But for the moment, I have to take a step backwards.
This last week was Thanksgiving Break and it was wonderful. Thanksgiving ranks pretty close to Christmas in my holiday list, coming in at second. For me, Thanksgiving is the real beginning of the "Holiday Season", and leads up to Christmas perfectly. I love all the food, being with my family and loved ones, and just relaxing and enjoying the break. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving was the day of David Archuleta's Christmas From the Heart concert that I was so excited about. I had good reason to be excited. It was a wonderful concert and tons of fun. I got one picture on my phone... But as you can see, it wasn't all that great of a shot. Suffice it to say, I had a blast and the music was amazing.
Thanksgiving Day was also great. Brad and I got to eat two awesome Thanksgiving Dinners, first at his house and then at my grandma's. I just want to say how grateful I am for my family, my friends, for Brad, and for the wonderful life that I have been blessed with.
So I have been really getting into the Christmas spirit! I've been listening to Christmas music since November first, and yesterday, Brad's sister Amber, and his mom, and I made gingerbread houses! Voila, our beautiful creations!
Today, back up at school, I decided to decorate my room a little... Let it snow! Also, a Countdown 'Til Christmas chain...
I am so excited for Christmas and I'm sure to have tons of adventures this month, so you'll hear from me soon!
Merry Christmas!

The Costume Shop

2009-11-18T16:15:00.005-07:00

For my Understanding Theatre class (aka Most Useless Class Ever besides Humanities), we have to complete a certain number of shop hours, either in the set shop, costume shop, etc., in the theater department. I figured I'd have more luck in the costume shop than anywhere and turned out I was right, even though I have pricked my fingers about a kazillion times with a needle so far.
Yesterday while I was there, we were given a bunch of crafts, chopsticks, and a hot glue gun and told to make Japanese head-dresses. Sort of like this.

And so, these are what I came up with.

It was actually really fun, and I managed to keep the hot glue off of my fingers. Maybe I have a career in costume design? Ha ha ha.

Trick or Treat!

2009-11-02T12:55:00.002-07:00

Ah, Halloween. Who doesn't love the candy, scary movies, cute little dressed-up children, and yummy treats that go with this holiday? I know I do. So, Halloween night Brad and I are heading back to his house to watch scary movies and chill out. We walk up to the front door, but instead of opening the door, Brad gives me a sneaky little smile and says, "Ring the doorbell". Well, I smile too, because I think we're going to trick his sister, Amber, or something. So I go along with it and ring the doorbell. Sure enough, she comes to the door holding the big bowl of candy and just smiles at us and looks at me expectantly. I'm a little confused at this point, because Brad didn't scare her like I thought he was going to. Still puzzled, I look down at the bowl of candy and become even more confused. Sitting on top of the pile of candy was a rectangular piece of white-ish paper with writing on it: a ticket. I picked it up, knowing that Brad and Amber were watching me very closely. I vaguely remember reading the name David Archuleta, followed by some other not-quite-as-important stuff like 'November 24th', 'Abravanel Hall', and 'Christmas From the Heart Concert'. I remember letting out a girlish scream and jumping around a bit and smiling like an idiot. I got a treat this Halloween. What did you get?

Don't Let It Snow!!!

2009-10-28T10:21:00.006-06:00

So a few days ago (seriously, like on Monday) it looked something like this outside.
Beautiful bright blue sky, crisp air, and gold-orange leaves falling everywhere. Basically, the perfect fall weather. I loved it.

Then yesterday, this happened.
Yep. That fluffy lookin' white stuff? It's snow. And it is everywhere. People warned me about moving up to Logan. They really did. But did I listen? No, I did not, apparently. Because this morning walking to class, all bundled up and feeling like my nose and/or ears were about to fall off simply from the cold, I found myself thinking, why, oh why, did I move here? Fall, please come back! I'm not ready for winter yet!!!

There's a First for Everything

2009-10-27T22:25:00.019-06:00

So, last Saturday I went with my awesome boyfriend and some of his family to get the you-know-what scared outta me. Yeah. That's right; we went to a couple haunted houses. First stop: Nightmare Mansion.This creepy guy walks around outside, basically just giving me the chills and making me want to run. He's just... Well, you get the picture. He's gross and scary. Ew.

This is me, Brad's sis Amber, and his Aunt Holly and Uncle Phil, wearing our 3-D glasses for the first part of the haunted house.
This girl (above) looks like me screaming because I do not like these (below). Clowns are NOT o.k.
I think the only reason I even survived this place (and did not end up curled in a ball on the floor sobbing) was that Brad held me the entire time and did not let go. Once we reached the end, we hung around for a few minutes, waiting for the rest of our group. Some nasty guy with a chainsaw was hanging out there, too. The last few people emerged and one of Brad's cousins saw chainsaw-nasty-guy and immediately dove between her boyfriend's legs, doing figure eights around them in order to keep the chainsaw-nasty-guy away. We all started to leave but unfortunately, chainsaw-nasty-guy followed us. Well, Brad's cousin had had it. She took off running into the parking lot, with chainsaw-nasty-guy following with his chainsaw roaring. I was freaked out, but could not help but laugh at the sight.

Our next destination was The Haunted Forest, in American Fork.

To put it simply, I feel like Nightmare Mansion was just the preview and the Haunted Forest was the full-blown-scare-me-to-tears horror movie. At one point, I seriously did almost cry. The tears were in my eyes. But then we encountered a possessed pig hanging upside down from the ceiling and all I could think about was screaming and getting OUT of there.

There was one part, however, where I did manage to laugh. Have you seen The Ring?
Well, there is a little girl who looks like this.
And she crawls out of a well that looks like this. Basically, once you watch her movie, your phone rings and someone says you will die in seven days. The Haunted Forest had their very own version of this little terror. Scary, no? No. This is the part I laughed because once I saw this, and the horrid girl walked right up to my face and whispered (probably in her scariest voice), "Seven days", all I could think of was a Vampire Diaries post on a blog my friend introduced me to: busybeelauren.blogspot.com. She does a review of every episode of The Vampire Diaries (one of my fave TV shows) and one of them went something like this:

Stefan prank calls Damon... Stefan says, "Seven daaaays"!

And Damon goes, "Oh shiiiiz"!
See the humor? Yeah. So I survived my very first experience with haunted houses. But no way would I ever go again unless I have Brad there with me, to protect me from all those creepy, gross, scary people!

Once Upon a Picture

2009-10-25T23:40:00.005-06:00

Me & Brad + Kira + a Camera + the Gardens=

I think this is where I accidentally licked a leaf and Brad was all, "Wah! You licked a leaf"!

Gosh, these Japanese Maple Trees are just the prettiest, no?
Brad took this. He says he's a 'random picture' kinda guy.

Playing on the Merry-Go-Round!

Quite possibly the cutest picture...

It was cold and it was windy, but it was oh-so-worth-it.

Walking to Class

2009-10-20T21:01:00.001-06:00

This is what I get to see as I'm walking to my classes. I love FALL! It is by far my favorite season of them all.

Sister Bonding

2009-10-20T20:22:00.002-06:00

Last week I had to go home during the middle of the week and so I decided it would be fun to bring my sister back up to school with me for the one day I needed to be back for classes. She agreed, even turning down a date for me! So early Thursday morning, we set off towards Logan.

Here is Kira, texting and being our pro-iPod-music DJ at the same time.
We stopped at Maverick on the way, to pick up hot chocolate and donuts. We got to my dorm with just enough time for Kira to get settled in a bit and for us to catch the shuttle to my World Archeology class. I gave Kira a notebook during class so she could take notes, just like a real college student. She got bored and wanted to fall asleep though! Sadly, almost everyone was gone already for Fall Break, but we spent the night having fun together. We went to Lee's and I showed her how very talented at bargain hunting I have become, then we made cinnamon rolls and scrambled eggs for dinner (yum!), and ended the night with Bones and The Office. All in all, I think Kira and I had a pretty good time sister-bonding.