My "Freebie" List

Remember that episode of Friends.  YES, I AM TALKING ABOUT THE TV SHOW FRIENDS THAT I SWORE OFF AFTER MY MISSION.

Okay, get over it - I am going to talk about that TV show, Friends.  It's the episode where they all make a list of five freebies (celebrities) they can sleep with and not get in trouble.  It's a classic episode, if I do say so myself.

Here is my list - in no particular order.

1.  Jason Bateman - kind of nerdy, very funny, and yet, he has a handsome distinguished charm!

2.  Zac Efron - OMGosh!  I do like those young ones, but mostly his dreamy blue eyes.  Blue as the beautiful ocean...(And to think, if I had been into those "High School Musical" movies I could've have met this blue eyed hunk in St. George years ago.)
**SIGH**

3.  Jake Gyllenhall - first off, he is my age, currently single, and again with those beautiful blue eyes!!!

4.  Leo DiCaprio - my first love, kind of deep and dark, but sadly however, he's not really a funny guy???  (I need funny in my REAL man...)

The last one is a toss up...I have two!
5.  Ryan Gosling - He of course won me over in "The Notebook," but then I truly fell in love with him when he played Lars, in "Lars and the Real Girl."  More of a serious one, but we are the same age so that is a plus.

5. Kevin James - hilariously funny, not your typical "hot" guy, and older - at least older for me.

Okay, so I want to know who your "Top 5 Freebies" would be!!!

{Just an FYI on the Friends watching...I DID START TO WATCH WHERE I LEFT OFF, BUT I HAVE NOT FINISHED!!!  I kind of lost interest, or I just got sucked into current lame TV.}

12 Things in 12 Months

1.  Flew Standby for the first time ever, and loved every moment of it!  (Hope to do it again, and very soon!) 

2.  Took a Master Gardening Course, and had to teach people how to garden???

3.  Spent Spring Break "Vegas Style" Baby!

4.  Sister ran her first race, and I ran my only race this year!

5.  Dropped my iPod in the toilet!

6.  Met a guy, got engaged, and almost eloped!

7.  Graduated from Institute!

8.  Traveled on a really, really, really long road trip!

9.  Floated down a peaceful, yet ragging, river!

10.  Passed all my super hard Chemistry classes - FINALLY!

11.  Cut the cord from my younger bro and MOVED!  (Got my own little crib.)

12.  Attended my first and last SUU Football Game!

All and all I had a great 2011!  Can't wait to see what adventures, accomplishments, and changes 2012 will bring!!! 

Happy New Year!

It Ain't Easy Turning 29 Again

It's official, today July 18, 2011 marks the day of my birth 31 years ago.  (Am I doing the math right...maybe it's only been 29 years down...)  My Mother lay up in the hospital in downtown St. George, Utah.  Within minutes, okay maybe a few hours I popped out of her like a jack pops out of a box! Big eyed and bushy tailed I came a screaming into this world, and believe me, I plan on screaming on the way out!

It has been a roller coaster of a life I have lead, 30 years has allowed me to see and do much.  I sure as heck haven't seen and done it all yet, and believe me, I am not ready to go a screaming yet!!!

Tim McGraw sings, 

"I think I'll take a moment, celebrate my age

The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it's time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years"

My Past 30 Years
1.  Grew up (and still growing) in a wonderful family with a loving Mommy and Daddy - with pretty good siblings too, I have my parents to thank for producing a wild bunch.

2.  Met, have, acquired, and grateful for many, many, many dear sweet friends who SERIOUSLY complete my life!!!

3.  Developed, and STILL developing many talents...like, I have learned how to decorate a cake, play the piano and guitar, cook, sew, crochet, picked up knitting (hate it), public speaking, gardening, blogging, etc.

4.  Traveled a lot, for me, but I still have a lot more traveling to do!

5.  Left the United States a couple of times, and still need to leave it a couple more times.

6.  Seen 27 out of the 50 States, and by golly I hope to see them all!!! (I'm a little more than half way there...)

7.  Worked and lived in Alaska - one of the main goals on my list "to do" in this lifetime.

8.  Served a mission for the LDS Church - loved every hard moment of it!

9.  Read a lot of AWESOME books, and watched a lot of AWESOME movies.  (Yes I still love Netflix, it was bound to happen - we made peace and life can roll on!)

10.  Have had a broken heart a couple of times, I guess, but I'm glad I have!  Only one regret, and he's married now, oh well he wasn't for me!

11.  Worked many, many, many jobs - feel very well rounded.  Tour guiding was my favorite!

12.  Graduated from a junior college with my associates degree.  At the time it was just "Dixie College."

13.  PLANNING ON, AND WILL GRADUATE a University with my bachelors degree in FCS Education in May 2012!!!  Bout FREAKING TIME!!!

14.  Am completely self sufficient (as self sufficient as a college student can be) and learned how to budget.  

15.  I know how to bake brownies from scratch!

16.  Went skinny dipping - see here!

17.  Tried, cooked, and have ate many wonderful and yummy things!

18.  Ran a half marathon - maybe one day I'll do a full marathon.  MAYBE!

19.  Sufficiently been humbled - numerous times, and yet, I still get humbled today! 

20.  Had a "booty call," mormon/christian style...won't go into to detail - email me if you would like the details.  It was clean - don't be thinking things - sheesh!
booty call
noun informal
a *Christian "Make-out" invitation or rendezvous.
   • a person regarded for this : to him, I was just a booty call.
    ORIGIN 1990s: from booty (slang for ‘buttocks’ ) and call.

*words have been changed.

21.  Visited almost all the National Parks - still have a few more to go.

22.  Made a fool out of myself more times then I can remember.  A couple of examples, see here, and here!

23.  I Have experience many struggles and trials that have only made me stronger.

24.  Developed a "Plan B" - that leads me to where I am now, I guess?

25.  Lived through many funny and disastrous blind dates - you know I'm always up for free meals!  (I actually don't say that anymore...I'm trying to mature - comes with age I suppose!)

26.  Cultivated my own personal style - comfortable, casual, and kind of classy - I own lot's of argyle.

27.  Had my fortune told at age 18 in Balboa Park (San Diego).  She said I would marry later in life and have three kids.  She just might be right, except I want more than three kiddos?

28.  Grew a garden from scratch - it has taught me a lot.

29.  Dyed my hair an outrageous color - well it was outrageous for me - dark reddish brown.  I am definitely a blond, and should always be.

That's me in the middle...it was a late night with roomies?
You have no words right?
(This is my real hair - not a wig!)

 AND...............Lastly, but not leastly...

30.  I officially drink soy milk.  Vanilla is quite tasty!

"Hey my next thirty years I'm gonna have some fun
Try to forget about all the crazy things I've done
Maybe now I've conquered all my adolescent fears
And I'll do it better in my next thirty years."

Here's to some great years ahead.  I'm going to shoot for that thing where you find a man and make them your husband.  We'll probably be eloping...so stay tuned!  

HaPpY BiRtHdAy LiB-dAwG!!!

I May Never Graduate College, But I've Had Experience!

Each day, like clock work, I log on to MSN to read the latest news and pop culture.  (And can I just say, I am so DAMN (pardon my french) SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT CHARLIE SHEEN - WHO CARES!)  Yikes, so the other day I came across an article, "4 Jobs Everyone Should Have."  MSN always has great articles that are set up as lists, and I love reading lists.  So, I thought I should read this article/list and see if I actually have worked the 4 jobs.  Sure enough - I have.  I may never graduate college, but at least I can say I have had a lot of job experiences.

A couple years back I met a man who lived in the retirement community where I worked, as a receptionist.  He was a retired school teacher and principal.  I told him my story and goals in life.  At the time I was at the beginning of my journey with school, and going into teaching.  I told him my past, and the many "life experiences" I have had.  You know what he said to me.  "GOOD!"  "I am loving that you have had all these different jobs and experiences because they will make you a better teacher in the long run."  As he was a retired principal of a high school, he did much of the hiring.  He continued on to tell me that when he would look through resumes of college graduates, soon to be teachers, he was always drawn towards the graduates who had the many experiences.  I'm not saying that having a lot of jobs/experiences makes everything all better, but it helps to give the future teacher more of a well rounded appeal, in MY OPINON.  Yes, my resume, when I write it all up has job, after job, after job.  That can't be good?  However, it's not like I'm 21 years old with ten jobs under my belt - I'm 30 with ten jobs under my belt.  And each job I have had is a job that I can still list, and still give out contact information when applying.  Yes even my Princess Tours job! I also feel that there are people out there who have worked for the same company/business for year, after year, after year.  That also is very appealing, and I believe looks really good on a resume.  

What are the 4 jobs that everyone should have?  Server, Retail Clerk, Customer Service, and Manual Labor.  Yes, I have had all four of those jobs.  Have I liked all four of those jobs - yes and no.  In all my jobs, except for the manual labor job, I have had back to back customer service.  I think that is why my current job, working as a flower girl - doing manual labor is because I just got tired of customer service.  I somehow love the interaction with customers of all sorts, but once I get back into it I always end up saying, "Why did I take this job?"  With having these 4 jobs I have learned a great deal from each one.

Let's start with being a Server.  When I was a server it was a mishmash of a few jobs.  Mainly I was a Tour Guide, but I also did Bar-tending, and Serving.  I'm so grateful for that job in so many ways.  When I go to restaurant I have great respect for my servers, cooks, hosts, etc.  Even if the service is terrible I cannot walk away without leaving something behind.  Having the opportunity to work as a "server" gives me compassion today whenever I go out to eat.  Yes, I would take the job of a server, bar-tender, tour guide in a heartbeat.  Some of my fondest memories are serving food and drinks to people.  I say bring it on - I would love to work as a server again!

Being a Retail Clerk is always a fun job to have.  I say, do retail in something you enjoy.  My favorite retail job was working at R&K Bookstore after my mission.  I loved books, loved talking to people about books, and loved the girls I worked with.  (That's always a plus!)  Yes, I had to deal with customer service, but 90% of the time the customer service at that store wasn't bad.  The bosses wife was more of a pain then any of the customers that came in!  

Customer service, I stepped into customer service right at the ripe old age of 16.  My very first job (besides babysitting the neighborhood kiddos) was at the local grocery store working the video counter.  How cool I thought I was at 16 - best job ever!  I felt like I had to be up on every movie possible...maybe that is why I have such a love for Netflix today???  However, what an eye opening experience to the customer service world I received.  Gosh people can be the biggest BEEPS!  But, people can also be as sweet as pie!  I met some wonderful people.  Like mentioned earlier, every time I work in customer service I say that I will never ever go back, but I just love people and it keeps drawing me back.

Lastly, manual labor.  I'm really digging this manual labor stuff.  No pun intended.  The last two summers I have worked for SUU Grounds Department.  What a breath of fresh air - again, no pun intended!  I love being outside, wrapped in my bib overalls, dirt all over me, screaming when a worm pops it head up to say hello, and seeing the beauty of all my hard work when the flower beds come alive!  Another added bonus - no customer service, and I get to listen to books on my iPod.  Life is grand - two more months and another summer awaits me.

Libby's 10 Jobs - but remember I'm 30!
1.  Video Clerk - Lin's Marketplace
2.  Cashier - Lin's Marketplace
3.  Bank Teller - Alaska USA Credit Union
4.  Missionary - Ohio Cincinnati Mission (Not sure if this counts as a job...Felt like a job as I was working like a social worker - never want to be a social worker - props to those who want to be though.)
5.  Book Saleswoman - R&K Bookstore
6.  Receptionist - SunRiver Development
7.  Clerk - Bath and Body Works
8.  Tour Guide, Server, Bartender - Princess Tours
9.  Testing Assistant - SUU Testing Center
(9.5 - Gift Wrapper - Christensen's Department Store)
10.  Flower Girl - SUU Grounds

I'm feeling pretty well rounded.  I've done it all.  Okay, so I haven't done it all.  Look out world, I've got more jobs to add to my list.  I'll try teaching, but I'm already thinking of other jobs, careers, and experiences I would like to have.  I guess when you fail chemistry semester after semester after semester you start thinking of lot's of other career/job paths you want to take.  Like being a flight attendant...that's where I should go!  We all know I can handle standby flying...

Well world I'm excited to see what's in store for me next, graduating, or not!

Favorite Things/Stuff of 2010

Libby's list of Favorite Things. So long 2010, and here is to the exciting year of 2011 to come. I can't wait!!!

Favorite Things of 2010:

iMovie for Mac's - love this program! So easy to use, and makes fun movies. (I just learned about & how to use it this year.) Move over scrapbooking I'm going to be doing video scrapping. Is that even a word or thing, video scrapping?

Escada Taja Sunset - perfume. Oh my gosh this stuff smells so good.

Activia - works wonders!!!

Mormon Messages. Weekly ritual to get on YouTube and see the latest video the church has put out.

Canning - canned my first jelly this year, and can't wait to do more this year!

The wedding dance - it inspired the wedding dance for Jim and Pam on The Office. (I want to do this at my wedding!)

Movies: (In no particular order...)

(500) Days of Summer

Adam

Everybody's Fine

Taking Chance

Brothers

Up In The Air

Leap Year

Remember Me

Paper Heart

Date Night

Babies

Just Wright

Flipped

These are all new releases of 2010 that I rated 4-5 stars on Netflix and I would totally recommend to anyone.

Music:

Bruno Mars

Kings of Convenience (not new, but was introduced to them this year, and love this band.)

Some Katy Perry songs

Lady Antebellum

Justin Bieber - just one song...and yes I'm admitting that I like one of his songs!

Almost all the songs of Glee (particularly their rendition of Teenage Dream by Katy Perry.)

TV:

GLEE - heck yeah! I am such a Gleek, and proud of it!!!

How I Met Your Mother

Sarah Palin's Alaska

Kendra

Keeping Up With The Kardashians

Big Bang Theory

(Yes I realize some of these shows have been around for sometime, but this year I was introduced to all of them, and LOVE them!)

Books:

The Help

The Life and Death of Charlie St. Cloud

Eat Pray Love

(Did not like the movies of Charlie St. Cloud/Eat Pray Love, but I loved the books! Also, I did read more books than just three, but those are the only three that really made an impression on me.)

Food:

Sweet Basil restaurant in little o'l Cedar City Utah. If you like Thai food then this is the place. Their pork pad Thai is AMAZING!

Trisha Yearwoods stuffed peppers. Did you know she cooks, well her recipes are amazing, and her stuffed peppers are now a new favorite.

Rachel Rays lettuce wraps...making my mouth water just typing about it. HEAVENLY!

New Years Eve party - the dip was so tasty and I could've ate the whole crock pot!

Cream Cheese Rotel Dip Recipe

Ingredients:

1 pack cream cheese (8 oz)

1 can Rotel tomatoes

½ pound meat – sausage or hamburger (optional)

Directions: Fry the meat, drain. Combine meat, cream cheese, and Rotel tomatoes. Let cook in crock pot until warm and melted. This makes a very rich and yummy dip. It’s not as pretty as the Velveeta dip which is orange colored. With cream cheese, the dip has kind of a gray color. Just close your eyes and dip away. Rotel Cream Cheese Dip is fabulous.

So those are just a few of my favorite things of the past year. I can't wait to see what becomes my favorite things of 2011. It's so exciting!!!!

Happy New Year!

25 Day's (or things) of Christmas

Fa la la la la, la la la laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Tis the season to to be merry....

1. Put up my tree - this year I went for the the silver and gold theme - pretty, but to elegant for my surrounding???

2. Started working as a holiday gift wrapper. I am officially a pro at wrapping gifts. I have the paper cuts of a seasoned holiday gift wrapper.

3. Watched my fair share of overly cheesy, romantic Christmas movies.

4. Used my "cocomotion" one to many times to have the creamiest hot chocolate EVER!

5. Read the book, Christmas Jar's for book club, and as I read it I was put into the real reason for the season...then I attended book club and became a Grinch???? Figure that one out???

6. Drove around one day (cause I was lost) and ended up taking in the beautiful Christmas lights. Wow, people really get into that. Good for them!

7. Had a family C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S dinner...you should've read about that. (Scroll down if you missed that post.)

8. Sat on Santa Claus's lap...so that was rather interesting...

9. When Santa asked me what I wanted for Christmas I jokingly, YES JOKINGLY said, "Can you get me a man?" He then asked, "Where do you live?" I then said, "I'm from St. George area, but now live in Cedar City area." He then tells me, "Well, that's your problem, you live in Cedar City." Guess I won't be seeing a man under my tree this year. Wink, Wink.

10. After a painstaking long time, or so it felt, I FINALLY got my Christmas cards sent out! Only to find that I had spelt Santa Claus wrong, then to fix that mistake I spelt "oops" wrong. Good NIGHT, what a mess. For those getting my Christmas cards I hope you had a good laugh!

11. Continued to put off my Christmas shopping because I feel that I work better under pressure?

12. Christmas kept getting closer, and closer. Yet, I continued to put off the shopping.

13. Thought about doing my Christmas shopping online, but missed that deadline.

14. Finally, with three days to spare I got up early and in the worst possible weather traveled to St. George to start and finish my shopping in approximately 3hrs because I had to be to work by noon. Mission accomplished! I never in my life have shopped that fast.

15. Attended a packed Christmas concert in Cedar City to get me more into that Christmas spirit.

16. Continued to work like a crazy person wrapping peoples gifts and trying not to get ticked off when they don't say thank you for doing a FREE SERVICE and wrapping their Christmas presents! (I'm not bitter - in fact, I have been offered the opportunity to go back for every holiday and next Christmas!)

17. Wanted to make some holiday goodies to take around to my neighbors, ran out of time and ended up taking them chocolates from my Mommy's chocolate factory. It's sad that it's only at Christmas I actually get to sit and visit with my next door neighbors.

18. Family arrived to ring in the holiday filled with lot's of food.

19. Watched the Seinfeld episode that featured the holiday celebrated on December 23, Festivus.

20. Christmas eve was spent eating dinner together with the family, and watching a sweet movie/documentary about forgiveness. The Heart of Texas. Rent it, watch it, and strive to be like them.

21. Finally got to sleep in some on Christmas day. Had a wonderful breakfast and enjoyable time opening and giving gifts to each other.

22. Santa heard my plea for not only a "man for Christmas," but I got me a new salad spinner. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! (Do I have a story about getting a man...wouldn't you like to hear it...guess that will be kept a secret for now.)

23. Ate more food and visited with family.

24. Played games for hours on Christmas day, and enjoyed every minute of it.

25. Received a white Christmas...the day after, but it came.

With all those 25 things, my Christmas was really swell!

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Music & Christmas Movies

NOW, Christmas can be in the air! As the holiday has begun I am drawn to lot's of classic/fun/sweet Christmas movies. Along with renting/watching all my Christmas movies this month I'm pulling out all my Christmas music as well. What's your favorite Christmas movie, and music?

Top 15 BEST Christmas Movies Ever! (According to me, and in no particular order.)

1. Christmas Story - grew up watching this movie every year..."Ohhhhhh Fuuuuuuuuuuudggggggggggeeee!" "HO!" Long Pause. "HO!" Long Pause. "HO!"
2. Christmas Vacation - HILARIOUS! You should all know my favorite quote, "Why is the carpet all wet TODD? I DON'T KNOW MARGO!"
3. A Very Brady Christmas - a TV made movie that my parents recorded years ago, and is still to this day, a favorite. The Brady kids are all grown up and want to do a family Christmas. (Sadly, I can't find it anywhere on Netflix.)
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Real people version). "It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes, or bags! Maybe Christmas, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas …. perhaps … means a little bit more!" (Currently working on a cross stitch pillow with this quote.)
5. The Christmas Card - a new family favorite of about two years ago. Acting is silly, (my Bro loves this movie, and during dramatic moments him and I like to say, "Now that was an academy award winning performance!") but the story is just so CUTE! It's about a girl, Faith, who writes the troops in Iraq. One letter in particular reaches a certain soldier...and then love begins, in the heart of Christmas time, of course.
6. Jack Frost - part cartoon, part real people. Grab a box of tissues cause this movie is a tearjerker!
7. A Smoky Mountain Christmas - Dolly Parton stars in this fun family movie. Dolly Parton plays a Tennessee music star who is trying to get out of the camera lights when she comes upon a cabin with runaway children, and we can't forget there is a witch is in the story also. I know what you are thinking, but this was another great TV made movie, that as child, I fell in love with. Luckily my Bro was able to get a copy on VHS.
8. One Magic Christmas - seriously, grab TWO boxes of tissues for this wonderful Disney movie. Set in the mid 80's Mary Steenburgen stars as the Mom of a middle class family just trying to survive. During this time of "making ends meet" her family is struck with a tragedy. Soon a Christmas Angel comes and helps her remember the true meaning of Christmas. Oh shoot I'm crying just typing about this movie. (You can't get it on Netflix - kind of mad about that, but I own a copy on DVD that Santa got for me last year...he found it on Amazon.)
9. Prancer - I remember when my Daddio took my Bro and I to see this movie along with All Dogs Go To Heaven (double feature). The story is so touching and sweet, and it's gotta be if Sam Elliot stars in it!
10. A Charlie Brown Christmas - who didn't wait each year for CBS to play this cute little 30 minute movie. Well, I couldn't wait. My most favorite Christmas cartoon! “If it seems too complicated, make it easy on yourself—just send money. How about tens and twenties?”
11. The Preachers Wife - with Whitney Houston. Actually, it's been a long time since I have seen this one. I will be watching it this year. Netflix, just added it - top of my QE.
12. It's a Wonderful Life - if you don't love this movie then something is wrong with you. One of the best Christmas classics around! "Every time a bell rings, an Angel gets its wings."
13. Mr. Krugers Christmas - another wonderful Jimmy Stewart movie. I think the LDS church put this movie out long ago. It's a short sweet movie. On this LDS note I LOVE their five minute movie called The Nativity.
14. Home Alone (only the first one). "Keep the change you filthy animal!"
15. The Santa Clause (only the first one). Disney did it again with a sweet story about Christmas and family togetherness. SO many great one liners in this movie!

Top 15 Christmas Songs (Once again, no particular order, and this list is according to me!)

1. Jar's of Clay, God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen (Their whole album "Christmas Songs" is amazing too!)
2. Sarah McLachlan, Silent Night
3. Jimmy Eat World, Last Christmas (This has got to be my most played/favorite/cell phone ringer song of Christmas.)
4. Faith Hill, A Baby Changes Everything
5. Faith Hill, (again) Where Are You Christmas (From the real people Grinch movie.)
6. Carrie Underwood, What Child Is This
7. Paul McCartney, Wonderful Christmastime
8. Mannheim Steamroller, Carol of the Bells
9. Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Christmas/Sarajevo
10. Josh Groban, Little Drummer Boy (Not really a fan of him, but I do own his Christmas CD, and it's good!)

11. Starlite Singers, Christmas Shoes

12. Kenny Rogers, Mary Did You Know?

13. Glee Cast, O Holy Night (I'm a Gleek, gotta support yo's!)

14. Britney Spears, My Only Wish (I know, I know, I know...)

15. Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson, Wintersong (I also like Sara McLachlan's version - her whole Christmas CD is great though.)

NOW, get watching and listening -

Christmas will be here before we know it!!!

An Attitude of Gratitude

Thanksgiving is upon us, and because I'm practically a BIPOLAR person according to my blog rants I am here to state what I am grateful for! I know, shocking isn't it.

Grateful For...

1. Family - yeah I really am.

2. Job. I'm so glad I get paid to do my homework! AND, I'm grateful for my new, fun, holiday job wrapping gifts at Christensen's Department Store. (That is a whole other blog post...stay tuned for that.)

3. Honda Civic - that car is the BEST, and still has many more miles to go!

4. Having a snow day - school/work got canceled because of the pending blizzard. And, I still got paid! BooYEAH!

5. Food! Need I say more!

6. School. I'm truly grateful I have the opportunity to go to school and work towards a goal...even though it may be taking longer than I want I know in the end I will be grateful for this whole experience.

7. Netflix. I have such a strong testimony of such a wonderful program. LOVE IT!

8. My bed. First, it's so cute. Second it's so COMFORTABLE!

9. A sister who does whatever I tell her to do...most of the time. ;)

10. My Mac computer. If you don't own one you need to convert - they're the best!

11. Traveling.

12. Camera - captures some of the best moments of my life.

13. Blogging - my little piece of genealogy. And, "Blogger" for giving my Blog back!

14. FRIENDS! I have some of the best friends in the whole wide world. To name all of them would take up so much. You know who you are! Thank you for being my friend.

15. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It really is a good church!

16. My calling at church. It's really making me grow and learn.

17. My plants. I'm not a single old maid with cats, BUT I have PLANTS! They are so pretty and add to the interior decorating of my place. They're so pretty.

18. Bathtubs - nothing treats a long day like a soak in hot bubbles.

19. KitchenAid Mixer...and salad spinner. Rest in Peace Salad Spinner!

20. Makeup - thank you for making me look presentable.

21. Chuck-a-Rama salad bar. SOOOOOOOOO HEAVENLY!

22. AccccccTiviaaaaaaa - keep'n it regular yo's, or in my case, slow'n it down!

23. College professors who make time to work with you. Cough, cough...Chemistry Professor really wants me to pass my class, and thinks that I can.

24. Good books that let you escape reality and go to places far away. And Edward Cullen. ;)

25. Music! Music! Music!

26. Stealing the Internet so I don't have to pay $40.00 a month. Outrageous!

27. Glee! Yes, I am a total Gleek, and PROUD OF IT! Don't go dissing on my Glee.

28. Cell Phone - keeping me connected to the ones I love. Not grateful for texting though. Okay, so I am a little...

29. Dishwasher. I don't have one, but I would be so grateful for one!

30. Airplanes that let me travel to far off lands like Alaska...even in January for my friends wedding!

31. Being Single. Yup, I love being single. From what I heard Eternity is a LONG time. Here's to Living up the single life while I still can.

32. Dating - It gives me free meals!

33. Tampons. I won't go into detail.

34. Since I'm on the subject of Tampons I'm also grateful for toilets and toilet paper.

35. Babies. Love to have them then give them back to their awesome mom's when they get fussy.

36. People who leave free magazines like Better Homes and Gardens at the post office for anyone's taking.

37. Facebook - only when people you haven't seen in years find you on the website and want to reconnect. Now that is why I like Facebook!

38. Institute. I finally get to graduate!

39. My hairstylist (and friend), Alicia. She does an awesome job on my hair and color...what am I going to do when I move far away?

40. TV shows that now come on DVD - how did we ever watch regular TV?

41. TUTORS who are very patient and want me to succeed at school.

42. Sewing machines that fix pants with holes in the croch.

43. The opportunity to serve a Mission in the Ohio Cincinnati Mission. Long live the OCM!

44. Bountiful Baskets.

45. All my experiences in life. Good and Bad!

46. Church stuff - testimony, plan of salvation, eternal marriage, temples, and stuff like that.

47. iPods. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

48. Insurance. Wow, how that stuff has helped me out of deep deer SHHH...

49. Laughing so hard I pee my pants!

50. General Conference talks.

Which leads me to the heart of this Attitude of Gratitude. President Monson gave a wonderful talk this last conference on The Divine Gift of Gratitude. Awesome - read it! After reading/watching this talk at Institute Thursday I decided to change my negative ways.

Favorite "One Liners" from his Awesome Talk

~ Do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love.

~ When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives.

~ We have all experienced times when our focus is on what we lack rather than on our blessings. Said the Greek philosopher Epictetus, "He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has."

~ Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings.

~ This is a wonderful time to be on earth. While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good. There are marriages that make it, parents who love their children and sacrifice for them, friends who care about us and help us, teachers who teach. Our lives are blessed in countless ways.

~ We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative through and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that "gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others."

~ "The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life. Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!" (Joseph F. Smith)

~ Do material possessions make us happy and grateful? Perhaps momentarily. However, those things which provide deep and lasting happiness and gratitude are the things which money cannot buy: our families, the gospel, good friends, our health, our abilities, the love we receive from those around us. Unfortunately, these are some of the things we allow ourselves to take for granted. Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.

~ We often take for granted the very people who most deserve our gratitude. Let us not wait until is too late for us to express that gratitude.

~ A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort--at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude. Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don't get around to it. Someone has said that "feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."

~ When we encounter challenges and problems in our lives, it is often difficult for us to focus on our blessings. however, if we reach deep enough and look hard enough, we will be able to feel and recognize just how much we have been given.

Let us be grateful for all that we have this Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Gobble, Gobble.