New Favorite Book Series

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Move over Twilight there is a much better series in town.  I had wanted to read this first book in the series for over a year when I first saw it at Barnes and Nobel in the young adult section.  I read the back of the book and was immediately wishing I had money to buy the book right then.  However, I waited until Christmas, bought the book for a friend of mine, and then waited for her to read it first.  She loved it, and said I would love it too.  I borrowed the book over the weekend and finished it within two days.

The story is about two high school teens who are completely different.  The girl, Brittany, is a popular rich girl, who's life is perfect, or so people think.  Alex, the boy, is Mexican, poor, HOT LOOKING, gang banger, who also doesn't have it all together.  The two are teamed up together in their chemistry class to be partners the whole year.  Brittany and Alex, two completely different people who happen to fall in love with each other over the course of the year as they work on their chemistry.  

I loved this story line, but it doesn't take much for me to love a mushy young adult romance.  I am also in love with Alex the "gang banger," so move over Edward - there is a new guy in town!!!  I will give a warning to any of those who are pure in heart - there is some language, a great deal of the "F" word, and there is some teen sex.

If you are looking for a book to escape reality this is your book.  I had to limit myself all weekend as I read it.  I would say to myself, when I get my dishes done then I can read two chapters, when I prepare my lesson for church then I can read two more chapters, and so on.  I just love when I find a book like this and it's hard to put it down.  I'm way excited to read the next two, and I just might have to break down and buy them.

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Technology - Good, But Also Bad?

What did we ever do before technology?  Don't you hate when people say that?  We got by just fine.  Don't' get me wrong, I love technology, I think it's great, but I also think with all good comes some bad.  My latest technology behavior has allowed the bad to seep in quite a bit in the past few weeks.  

I have been feeling for some time that my habits of using/dealing with technology are getting out of hand.  About a month ago two of the girls I work with decided to do a "media fast" which was to cut out movies, TV, Facebook, and music.  As they told me their plans I thought to myself what a great idea - good luck to the both of you.  But, I also thought to myself, I should try to cut at least Facebook out for a month, or something.  Not that I got on Facebook that much in the past, but as of recently I have spent FAR TOO MUCH time on that social network.  And what am I accomplishing on there to begin with - NOTHING!  

Just yesterday I was on the phone with my cousins wife Shellie, and the topic came up - "technology, and how it's taking over our lives."  She told me of a friend of hers who decided to do this "no technology day" once a week.  As I continued to think about this during the day I decided that I need to take one day of the week where I don't have any use of technology.  I have decided that I will do Sunday, only because it's a day where I know I won't have any need of the computer, texting, TV, and movies. It would probably be hard to do this during the week when I am in school, and at work.  On top of all that I am teaching my Gospel Principles class on Sunday which is about "Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy," and figured that one way of keeping the Sabbath holy would be cutting out technology.  

Listen, I'm not PERFECT by any means, but a person can try!  So, I am going to try! 

Let me begin with texting.  I have done my fair share of hanging out with people and in the middle of "hang out" I'm texting another person - I try not to do this, but if they start texting someone I just go ahead and text someone also.  I'll show them, right?  That is a huge irritation of mine, texting when you are with people - totally rude.  So is texting at church, but we won't get into that today.  Next media downfall of mine, is TV.  I don't have TV anymore, thanks to the cable company who finally caught on that we shouldn't be hooked up.  It's been 4 months without it and I really haven't missed it that much.  However, I have turned to other things - like the internet, and more frequent Netflix watching.  Speaking of internet, I am grateful for my neighbors who were nice enough to give me their password to use the internet.  The other thing I am grateful about is that by using their internet I don't have full bars so it doesn't allow me to watch videos online unless I'm willing to wait hours for the movie to download and that would be a negative...I'm not that patient.  So, how do I watch my show Glee and other instant movies - oh yeah, I wait until I'm at school, or my parents house.  Which both of those places don't allow much time for movie or TV watching.  I'm not watching much TV these days, and my movies at this time are about two at a time per week due to work/school/life.  Lastly, it all then comes back to this wonderful world wide web.  I'm an addict to Gmail, Netflix, Blogger, allrecipes, Goodreads, and that social network Facebook.  It needs to stop, it all needs to stop.  I need to get this technology lifestyle under control before I lose all control.   

This is what I'm going to try to do on my one day off of technology a week.  

1. No Texting!  I will do phone calls only on this day.  Besides, what happened to the old fashioned "calling someone" to shoot the breeze.
2. No TV (already do that) - so, in my case NO MOVIES!  I will read a book, or study my next lesson for Sunday school.
3. No COMPUTER.  PERIOD!  No computer for me means, no solitaire, no playing with photo's, no iTunes organizing, and anything else that has me using my computer.  Oh hello, the internet - none of that will be going on.  Duh!
4. No Internet.  As stated above.
5. I want to say no music, but I feel that some music is okay to listen to.  Maybe eventually I'll just cut it all out.  

*  As for my latest social media addiction I am going to limit myself to once a week on Facebook.  I can do this, I did it before, and I need to start doing it again.  Besides, my brother hates Facebook and already gives me a hard time when he catches me on there.  He usually say's something like, "Are you on Facebook?  I want you to get the hell off of there in my house!"  Rude, huh.  It's all out of love.  He's right though, he is most definitely right in my opinion; I need to stay the hell off Facebook for a while. (Side note:  Facebook isn't all that bad - there are people from my mission that make me grateful for Facebook because it has helped me stay in contact.  Facebook does have some positive things...)

I can't say this is going to be easy, but it is going to be worth it to try.  (I bet this reminds some of you of my mission homecoming when I said no more "Friends" TV show...the worst part about that whole thing is my families wonderful dedication to recording all the episodes that I missed as I was out serving - then me asking them a month before I got home to get rid of all the VHS recordings they had made...only to find out several years later they released all the episodes on DVD - who knew???) 

What are your thoughts on no media, is there anything else I can do to limit myself? 

The Color Code - I'm Obsessed With it Right Now!

One day I was paroozing the isles of DI - Deseret Industries. (The St. George store is one of my favorites because rich people live in that town and like to contribute!) I mainly go right to the books when I arrive. This particular day I had a certain book in mind. The Color Code. I have a young gal in my Gospel Principles class who wants to go on a mission, and recently asked me some advice. I just told her that she needs to learn to love her companions.  I also told her that this book, The Color Code saved one of my hardest companionships. I knew that DI would most likely have The Color Code, since that is where I got my copy (since my sister stole my copy). It took some patience and searching, but sure enough there it was with a bright light around it waiting for me to take it off the shelf and buy it.

I loved my mission, and am incredibly GRATEFUL I got to serve a mission.  Basically I only went so I could get the HECK out of St. George.  Even though I went for selfish reasons I ended up learning so much and loving so many people.  My time on my mission made me a humble missionary. Oh wait, I wasn't really humble???  Well, I did get a little humble because that is when I started to shop at thrift stores - for clothes. I only did it because I had companions that would, and well, as a missionary I wasn't loaded with money. My first outting to a thrift store on my mission lead me to two polyester skirts, and a vest. One of the skirts was a sky blue polyester. The vest, brace yourself, was a cream color, with flowers, and CHAIRS! The flowers and CHAIRS were the color of blue that matched my polyester skirt. Now remember that book The Color Code that I bought at DI, well that was also brought to my attention on my mission at this particular time when I was with a companion that I absolutley did not like. I have since changed my ways and have seen how immature I was with her. I did apologize to her after my mission for not liking her, and just recently saw her again at my recent mission reunion.  (We actaully talked about how this book saved our companionship.) OKAY! Are you still with me? What I'm trying to tie all together here is that my ugly polyester skirt, and vest with CHAIRS was such a great memory with my companion that I didn't like. One day as we were out tracting and we were standing on a door step my companion looked me up and down and started to laugh, out loud. Now that was a little shocking to me because I had never seen her laugh (she was clearly not a yellow personality). I soon started to laugh myself...still not knowing what she was laughing at. When she finally got her composer she said to me, "Sister, do you see what you are wearing." I said, "Well yeah, a skirt and vest that I purchased at a thrift store???" She then said, "Sister, your vest has CHAIRS ON IT!!!!" And then there was more laughter. Luckily there was nobody home on the doorstep we were laughing on, so we stood there continuing our laughing at my hideous attire. I later burned the skirt and vest as a goodbye to the mission, and a goodbye to my humility...cause we all know I came home prideful! ;)

During that same time of me "becoming humble by my hideous attire" we were at a member's home visiting when the man of the house suggested we borrow his book, The Color Code.  I'm pretty sure he could tell there was tension between us, and began telling us how this book was used on his mission as part of their companionship study.  Before my mission I had taken this test a couple times and was always pretty "yellow" with another color.  However, when you take this test for yourself you definitely choose the answers that you would like.  That is how it was for me at least.  When we borrowed his copy of The Color Code we started our companionship study the next day with a half hour of studying The Color Code.  We took the test for each other and it turns out we were both complete opposite.  I was a strong yellow/white and she was a strong red/blue.  After the test was taken we began reading about how each of us act and the "what's" and "how's" to help us in our colored companionship.  What ended up being a really hard 3 month period ended with a marvelous and enjoyable 3 weeks.  Finally, we had figured out how to work together and had an absolute blast.

I have since taken The Color Code numerous times and for numerous reasons.  Recently a group of my bud's here in C-Town decided one night that we should all take the test for each other.  Guess what my results were...yep, I'm a strong yellow/white.  I have taken this test with my family (they took it for me) and my results were yellow/red. I have decided that I am definitely a little different with family then I am with friends.  For the most part I'm going to stick with my yellow/white personality.  I love being yellow/white, and by golly I'm proud of it!  If you haven't taken The Color Code you are missing out on some great relationship information.  This test and book is so fun, and SO true.  I have such a strong testimony of The Color Code and know that it is a true book, and it has very true principles in it to help any type of relationship.  

So the question is, what color are you?

It's Officially Official!

We decided that eloping so quick just wasn't right.  I was reading a Mormon fiction novel last night when it struck me.  We need to get to know each other better.  The Mormon fiction novel was a Jack Weyland, As Always Dave.  The couple in the book were rushing off to elope because they were tired of being single.  On their way to elope they realized it wasn't right.  I too realized what Trent and I eloping was not right.  Even though we were eloping to the temple, still I want everyone to be with me on this special day.  However, we are officially ENGAGED!!!!  I HAVE MY RING!  IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!  When he proposed last night I just cried tears of joy.  I haven't been happier!

I cry, and I cry.  Tears of laughter, I cry.  Because I want to wish you all a Happy April Fools.  Thanks for playing, and here is to being single.  Life is grand in the single land!

(I want to say thank you to all those who caught on in the very beginning, held strong and didn't ruin my fun.  I hope that everyone knows the joke is on me.  Because at the end of the day, I'm still single.  And Mom, it was a joke, please laugh at it - it was supposed to be funny...just think of the "kissing over the alter" - that made you laugh some.)
So, it's officially official that I am band from doing April Fools jokes.  NO MORE FROM ME!!!   


ApRiL FoOLs EvErYoNe!!!