Failure is not just acceptable, it's often essential.

I feel like I have failed!  But, as Randy Pausch would say, "Failure is not just acceptable, it's often essential."

• Almost umpteen years old and I don't even have a bachelors degree - in anything!!!
• Had a plan to graduate this May with a bachelors degree...not happening anymore.
• I rent a very tiny basement apartment - so I don't own!
• As of this very moment I am the poorest I have ever been in my umpteen years!!!
• Somehow I have two jobs (yes I got me a second job), possibly a third job coming up, yet all three put together don't even equal a full time work schedule???
• Lastly, I feel completely embarrassed to face just about anyone because I have nothing but sad/bad news to bare.  BASICALLY I SHOULD NOT BE IN THE PLACE THAT I AM!!!

So it is where I am today.  I sat around and boo hooed for two days straight when I got pulled from student teaching.  What good does that do me or anyone else?  First I even wondered why on earth they would have me START student teaching when we didn't even know my results of the Praxis test.  So, I started teaching.  Next thing I know - I'm done student teaching.  If I want to student teach again, and even graduate, then I wait until August, which puts off graduation until next May.  Before any of that takes place I need to retake this lovely Praxis exam.  Eighty dollars later I signed up to retake this lovely test on March 10, 2012.  I'm not going to stress, or dwell on this test.  I have several times I can retake it before August, so I'm just going to kick back and live my life.  If I am supposed to student teach it will happen.  If I am not then I will go to plan B.  Whatever plan B is?  

I ask myself, what is another failed attempt at school?  How long did I keep taking chemistry before I finally passed?  Don't answer that...it was way to many times!!!  But, I passed.  I eventually passed, and I will eventually pass the Praxis exam.  Until that time I am making use of my time here in Cedar City.  Time has been spent looking for a job, and I was blessed with a little cleaning job that will help supplement me until my summer job starts up on Grounds, yet again - thank goodness.  Life isn't going exactly how I had planned, but does it ever go as planned for anyone? 

I will take this failure and embrace it.  (I have no other choice.)  As I have just finished reading an encouraging book, "The Last Lecture," by the late Randy Pausch.  Reading this book gave me much assurance that things will work out.  Randy was an influential man during his time of teaching at a prestigious university, and reading his words makes me feel less selfish, and much less "woe is me."  For those who don't know who Randy Pausch was, he was a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University who gave a famous "Last Lecture" before he died of cancer.  This book could not have been a better book for me to pick up and read at this time in my life.  I soaked up every word of his book and kept a red pencil nearby so I could highlight many of his inspiring words.

• We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.
• Never make a decision until you have to.
• Tenacity is a virtue, but it's not always crucial for everyone to observe how hard you work at something.
• The brick walls are there for a reason.  They're not there to keep us out.  The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show us how badly we want something.
• No matter how bad things are, you can always make things worse.  At the same time, it is often within your power to make them better.
• Too many people go through life complaining about their problems.  I've always believed that if you took one-tenth the energy you put into complaining and applied it to solving the problem, you'd be surprised by how well things can work out.
• I've found that a substantial fraction of many people's days is spent worrying about what others think of them.  If nobody ever worried about what was in other people's heads, we'd all be 33 percent more effective in our lives and on our jobs.

And lastly, 

• Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.

I continue forward.  Life doesn't always go the way I had planned, but it's how I deal with those "out of plan" obstacles that will shape and mold me.  Yes I can sit around and cry about how I didn't pass my test, but crying over that test will not do any good for me.  I will get off my butt, and just move forward.  That's all I can do for now, and as I'm going forward I'll enjoy the experience, even though it's not what I wanted.

{Just incase I have to turn to plan B - I'm moving to Michigan.  I'm in love, and he is a weatherman with cute glasses!!!  And I'M NOT SEEING A WEDDING RING...........}

Three Cheers for, "The Help"

Last year at this time my book club was reading the book, The Help.  I hadn't really heard very much about it.  I started reading this book and immediatley fell in love with it.  After one chapter into the book I grabbed a pad of paper and a pen and kept it with me through out the rest of the book just so I could write down quotes from the story.

Here are some of my favorite:

• "You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important."
• "Every morning, until you dead in the ground, you gone have to make this decision.  You gone have to ask yourself, "Am I gone believe what them fools say about me today?"
• "All I'm saying is, kindness don't have no boundaries."
• "Ugly live up on this inside.  Ugly be a hurtful, mean person."
• "No one tells us, girls who don't go on dates, that remembering can be almost as good as what actually happens."
• "The day your child says she hates you, and every child will go through the phase, it kicks like a foot in the stomach."
• "It seems like at some point you'd run out of awful."
• "Frying chicken always makes me feel a little better about life."
• "I'm sorry, but were you dropped on your head as an infant."
• "Got to be the worst place in the world, inside a oven.  You in here, you either cleaning or you getting cooked."
• "I give in and light another cigarette even though last night the surgeon general came on the televeision set and shook his finger at everybody, trying to convince us that smoking will kill us.  But Mother once told me tongue kissing would turn me blind and I'm starting to think it's all just a big plot between the surgeon general and Mother to make sure no one ever has any fun."

The story is set in the 1960's, in Jackson, Mississippi.  It's about white women and their hired "help."  One of the white ladies, Skeeter is in her early 20's, and a college graduate.  As the rest of her friends are in their early 20's, and popping out babies, using their hired help to take care of them and their babies.  The story mainly focuses on Skeeter, a white girl, and two black maides, Abileen, and Minny.  The three of these women come together and write a book called "The Help" sharing stories about how the white ladies treat the black ladies in the town of Jackson, Mississippi.

I won't say much more to this story except that if you have not read this book THEN YOU NEED TO READ IT!  As soon as we finished reading and meeting at our book club I called up my Mom, and said, "We just read the best book ever!  It's called The Help and you need to check it out immediately!"  My Mommy did what I said, and she immediatley fell in love with it and then told all her friends to go read it.  After telling my Mom I then told my Boss at work.  Within a few days she had checked out the book and was loving each page.  Then between my Mom and I, we got my Sis to read The Help, and she soon fell in love with the story as well.

Well, as some of you may already know this book has recently been made into a movie.  I was not there opening night as I hoped I could be, but I recently found some time in my busy schedule to go see the movie.  Some of you may think that books should not be made into movies, but this book made the perfect movie.  It was brought to life on the big screen in such a way that it did not ruin the book, or make an awful movie adaptation.  I was so pleased with the outcome, and how closely Hollywood followed the book.  I found myself yelling at the characters, crying along with them, and laughing at their antics, that came to life even more in the movie.  There is one incident in the book that was very big, yet the detail was saved for the very end, and was only just a small part (trying not to ruin the book/movie).  However, the movie took this very big incident and glamorized it, if I can use that word, bringing it full force throughout the movie.  I was clapping at times because the movie had "glamorized" this major incident, yet small part of the book.  So, I want to say, well done Hollywood, well done.
Can I just give three cheers to this book, and three more grand cheers to a movie that follows this book so well.  Also, three cheers to first time author, Kathryn Stockett, who didn't give up on writing this book.  This was her first book, and she was actually turned down 60 times before anyone would pick up her book and read it.  What a great example of preserving.  Three cheers for sure!

Next book or movie on your list - The Help, I promise you will not be disappointed!  Now quit reading my blog, and go read the book or go see the movie!!!

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.

View all my reviews

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?

I Met The Most Amazing Man, And Was Only 15 Minutes Late to Work!

I met Greg Mortenson co-author to the book Three Cups of Tea. For months I knew he was coming to speak, and I had been planning to attend the Convocation of his speaking engagement. Within the last month my book club (which I LOVE being apart of) read his book. I actually listened to the book because I have a lot of "wasted time" (driving to and from school, getting ready in the morning, doing dishes, etc.) that needs to get put to good use. I was completely immersed into the book and the life of this man, Greg Mortenson. If you have not read this book YOU NEED TO READ IT!!! He is one AMAZING MAN, and tells an AMAZING STORY!!!

After he spoke I immediately took off to SUU Bookstore so I could get in line to meet this man and to get my copy of the book signed. As I waited in line for only about 15 minutes I wondered to myself and the lady behind me (who started to chat with me, or I chatted with her - who knows) what I would say to this man, Greg Mortenson. My turn finally came and I shook his hand and my mouth opened to jumbled words - I made no sense! I started to make a little scene about how great a man I thought he was. Why making a scene the people behind me made a comment saying, he's not the president of the United States. I wanted to say, "You know he's not, but he is a much better man, and bigger celebrity (sort of speak) than the president." I was just in awe of meeting him and being in his presence, and I'm pretty sure he could tell. With him chuckling at my awkward outrageous scene that I was making he stuck his hand out to me a second time and shook my hand again. I honestly think I was the only one there who got TWO hand shakes. Of course, after I left his presence everything I wanted to say to him popped in my head. Oh well - that's how the cookie crumbles.

Please, if you haven't read this book go read it! Such an amazing story and an amazing program that he has set up. Truly makes me want to be a better person and help out his cause.

http://www.threecupsoftea.com/

http://www.penniesforpeace.org/

A Mid-Singles Mormon Dance, and Other Nonsense Dilemmas

Please don't laugh at me, but LAUGH WITH ME!

Before reading consider your life, and situation.

1. If you are married, have kids, etc. I know there are days you want to throw in the towel...if you feel like doing that think of me, and being 30 and single. Soon your sorrows will soon disappear.

2. I put myself into this situation ONLY because I was called to be a Singles Representative for my ward. Lord help me, and those in my situation!!!!!!!!!! (I would never wish this calling upon anyone...not even my worst enemy - okay, so maybe my worst enemy...)

A Mid-Singles Mormon Dance

"How do I get myself into these situations," I thought as I walked into the darkened cultural hall of the LDS chapel Friday night. I mean, I came and helped set up the place to make it look like a "Winter Wonderland," so do I really need to be back here, and try to attempt to dance - like a freak!

Bless the Church of Jesus Christ's Heart, but seriously, they have nothing for people like me in their mid (for my sake, "early") 30's to 40's. It's like, hum ho, you're 30 and not married? Well that stinks for you. However, we offer stake wide single activities and they are a knee slapper of a good time, so go - have fun and enjoy.

For the past two weeks I have been putting myself out there to people my age to invite them to this "Winter Wonderland" Mid-Singles Mormon dance. Every one's response has been, "Heck no, are you kidding me!" Or, "I'm busy that night, sorry can't make it." Busy my BUTT! I usually tell them back, "Like I want to go or do this either, but it's my calling and I need to stick it out, and try to fulfill it to the best I am capable of doing." To no avail none of my early 30 year old friends in Cedar City want to support me with coming to the dance. I'm not mad, because if the tables were turned I would probably not go. I will give them some credit, at least they have been supporting me at the Family Home Evenings and Firesides. So, thank you!

Friday afternoon in one of my classes I leaned over to my friend Jaime (who is 34, single mom of a nine year old, and has been married and divorced twice) and whispered to her asking what she is doing this Friday night. She tells me she is taking her daughter half way to Salt Lake so her ex husband can come pick up their daughter. I asked "how long will that take you?" She tells me she would be back to Cedar City around 8:00 pm. I said to her, "that would be perfect!" She is a little confused and I continue to ask her if she would like to attend this Mid-Single (and SAD) Mormon dance. She laughed and said she would be willing to go with me. Oh Jaime, BLESS YOU'RE HEART! (Jaime is a recent convert of a few years, not very active, and never HAD THE CHANCE to do the single scene in the church...call me what you want, but I thought this would be a great opportunity for her.)

9:00 pm rolls around and I look at the clock. Soon 9:00 pm turns into 9:30 pm. The dance has started, and has been going. Do I attend, or do I wait until midnight and show up just to help clean up? My phone rings, Jaime is texting to know if we are still going to this dance. I text her back and apologize for my lateness, and wishy washy attitude. Not really being a good example, I think. I finally decide to leave and the clock is now about a quarter after ten. I arrive at Jaime's house and once again, ask her if she is really up to going to this. We get in the car and I explain to her one more time what she is getting herself into. She tells me she is really okay with attending the dance, and she is coming mainly to support me.

We show up to the church, and enter to the sound of Justin Bieber's "Somebody to Love." We turn the corner towards the darkened culture hall. We enter, and see that almost everyone in attendance is on the dance floor trying to get their groove on. I turn to Jaime and mouth the word, "SORRY!" Still Jaime keeps a good attitude and we make our rounds to the 3 people I know. Because I can't dance and would rather not put everyone in attendance into convulsions, we make our way to the food table. The food definitely made up for everything else. The table was covered with vegetable trays loaded to the brim, chips and salsa, several seven layer bean dips, cookies and candies, and even those fancy little beenie weenies.

Jaime and I made our way to a table with a few people sitting down and asked if we could sit with them. I may not have been comfortable shaking my booty, but it's not hard for me to sit down and start a conversation. So, that is what we did. The table had two women and two men. We asked their names, and they asked ours. We each did the introductions, and small talk. That lasted about five minutes and then it turned awkward. Finally Jaime asked one of the guys at the table what he did for a living. He responds to her, with one of the worst pick up lines I think I have ever heard! "I've been in a few magazines, GQ is one you have probably heard of, and I've been in jail." Was I hearing all of this right? Jaime is one who can joke, and started to throw stuff back at him. Next thing I know he gets up and comes and sits down next to her and throws his arm up on the back of her chair and sits like he is a Bad A**! Then I notice he is drenched in cologne, but at least it was good smelling cologne, and his shirt is half way unbuttoned showing off a part of his chest. I have enough of his "cool dude, I'm the hottest guy here" attitude and see a guy that I know and I begin to chat it up with him.

As I am carried away into a conversation with my acquittance I see Jaime and Mister Cool Dude get up and head towards the dance floor. Jaime makes a gun out of her hand and points it to her head and gives me this look, of "what the hello did you bring me to - I hope you're happy?" The song is over and I am still talking away with my acquittance when I get asked to dance on the next song. I did not want to dance, and definitely not to a slow song. I tried many times to refuse his asking because we had just recently talked about his girlfriend - this can't look good! I finally agree and we go dance. The whole time as we are awkwardly turning in a circle (and I keep eyeing the girlfriend) I tried to act as if we were just in a deep conversation and made sure my hands were moving with me as we talked. Finally the dance was over and I thank him. We finish our conversation and I run back to Jaime to hear all about this guy get'n his groove on with her. I had missed their dancing and she goes on to tell me that he is a real winner - yes, we are all God's children, but still there are some odd ones out there. She clearly was not interested. However, I tell her that come Monday when she is back to work at least she will have an entertaining story to tell. Likewise. My story may be entertaining, or sad, take it however you would like. But, attending a Mid-Singles dance is not something I would want for anyone to have to go through. And yet, I still attended. The dance was coming to a close and I had never been so excited to help clean up after a church function like I had this Friday night. Within 20 minutes the culture hall was put back into it's proper order and Jaime and I were on our way out with not so much of a good bye, or see you later.

Jaime, along with myself had survived our first Mid-Singles Mormon Dance. I asked Jaime if she would ever do this again, and she told me that she would come to the next one just to support me. What could have brought me to tears made me laugh, out loud. Who in their right mind would want to attend another Mid-Singles Mormon Dance. Oh, that would be Jaime and I? Call us crazy, desperate, or sad, but if anything I hope you, the reader, are happy you are married, or if not married, still in that single age where the church has more to offer you.

I will continue to fulfill my calling, but I will be ever so grateful for the day they release me. It's either going to take marriage or moving to get me released. At this point I don't see marriage, and as for moving, I still have another year and half here! I know the Lord has a sense of humor - so I hope he's getting a kick out of watching me!!!

Dilemma 1 - YoU wAnT tO sEt Me uP WiTh a MaRriEd mAn?!?!?!

I have been attending SUU for far to long. However, in my many years at this University I have made some truly great friends. One in particular is an older gentleman named Steve. Steve is a returning/non traditional, Agriculture Student, married, and pushing 50! We met last year in the tutoring center where I spend WAY to much time for chemistry. Right off the bat Steve and I formed a friendship. He loved to tease me, and I gave him the reaction he wanted. We had not seen each other since the end of last semester due to the Christmas holiday. The second week back to school he came into the testing center to take a test. After he was done he sat in my office and chatted with me for over an hour. During our little catch up/chat he asked how my dating life was going. Well, there isn't one. He then goes on to say that one of the guys from last semester (that would frequent the tutoring center) was now a tutor this semester. Okay, where is this going, I think. He then proceeds to tell me that he wants to play match maker and try to set us up. I was really hesitant because part of me thought that he was married. I was torn between my thoughts because I had never seen a ring on his finger. Still, I know that a lot of married men don't wear rings (and it kills me - if you are married then put/keep the blasted ring on your finger for crying out loud!!!!). Steve is adamant about trying to play match maker, so as I like to say, I told Steve that he could try to set us up because "I'M ALWAYS UP FOR A FREE MEAL!!!" A week went by, I had frequented the tutoring center and one night ended up being there with Steve, and the "new tutor," we'll call him "Tutor Guy," who may or may not be married. As the tutoring center was closing up Steve and I walked to our cars together. I decided I better ask Steve the status on his little match making. He then tells me, "So...sorry, but Tutor Guy...yeah, he's married." "WHAT!" I exclaim. Now, I said this dramatically because I know how Steve is, and I know that he probably said more than he needed to when trying to set us up. I wasn't upset or bummed to the fact that he was married (with two kids) because I had already felt that he probably was married to begin with. (Most people going to school that are guys and my age are married - it's a given, why bother!) The "WHAT" that I exclaimed was because I wanted every detail of how Steve approached and asked Tutor Guy out. Steve could see my worry and hear my dramatics and said, "Now just calm yourself down, I didn't say anything." I said, "You better not have said anything to embarrass me because I have to use this tutoring center and I don't want it to be awkward every time I come here and he is working!!!!!!!!!" Steve say's, "All I said was, are you dating anyone cause I think you and Libby should go out." Tutor Guy then say's, "Well, actually I'm married and have two kids, but thanks!" "Good Hell A MIGHTY - that's embarrassing." I say. Steve then says, "It's not embarrassing, if anything it's flattering to Tutor Guy." Really, whatever! Don't worry I'm still using the tutoring center...I just found out when Tutor Guy works, and will avoid those hours at all cost!!!

Dilemma 2 - WhY cAn'T i Be a MoRmOn oN tHe InTeRneT?

I'm trying to be a good Mormon girl. Partially because I really don't have much else going for me... The church has become more and more digital in all it's doings. I have noticed a few people (family and friends) making these "Mormon Profiles." (I totally encourage you to make one if you haven't already - great missionary tool!) One day when I should have been doing chemistry I decided to make one of these "profiles." Wow - did I ever get distracted. It was so much fun looking up people and reading their testimonies. I'm going to admit this too, I also saw it as a way to find a love interest. Gag - who does stuff like that? ME! Seriously, play around with it awhile and you'll know what I'm talking about. SO, anyway, to get back on track with my long winded, sometimes no point story, I decided to make a profile. (You can see mine by clicking here, or if you look to the left on your computer screen you will see a circle with the words "I'm a Mormon." Click on that.) I make my profile and finish it up. However, the church, or whoever does this website needs to read over what you wrote and make sure it's legit and church approved. Mine was pending for over a week! Believe me I was starting to question! After a few days they told me I needed to change some things. SERIOUSLY! What you can do on this profile is add your Blog, Facebook, and Twitter accounts. I don't Tweet, so I figured I would add my Facebook and Blog accounts. Apparently they had read my blog and liked it, thought it was cute, fun, etc. However, they did not like my use of slang and "appearance of evil type" pictures. One in particular, my "drinking cream soda in Alaska" picture. They even had taken a quote from my blog to show me that either I change it or I don't add my blog. So, because I'm trying to be a good little Mormon girl immediately went to my blog and changed the wording under the picture of me drinking cream soda. Finally a week later the church published my profile and I am proud to say, once again, "I'm a Mormon!" And Proud of it YO's! So eat that! ;)

Dilemma 3 - (Not really a dilemma) RaNdOm StUfF aBoUt a BoOk AnD mOvIe....

I just finished reading "He's Just Not That Into You." I also just watched the movie, "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World." Although the movie, "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" took me two times to watch because I feel asleep during the first viewing. I rated it 4 stars on Netflix. Now how come I can't find a dude like Scott Pilgrim - total nerd who opposite the book, "He's Just Not That Into You" is really into you! Scott Pilgrim - fought for his woman, was "into" his woman, and really wanted his woman! Putting in a plug for this movie - I didn't think I was going to like this film, but I had so many people tell me that I would. Just so all you people out there know. I did like it. There was enough romance, hilarious one liners, good music, and pretty nifty special effects. I tried watching it with my Bro and the whole time he tried watching it he keep using the phrase, "what the hell are we watching?" That made me laugh quite a bit, like said, along with the hilarious one liners.

* "You once were a ve-gone, but now you will begone."

* "He punched the highlights out of her hair!"

And lastly,

* "If I peed my pants would you pretend that I just got wet from the rain?"

As for the book "He's Just Not That Into You" who would've ever thought that such a small, simple, kind of nutty book could teach me, a single gal, so much! Every chapter had a guy that I have dated. It's true, if he is married he's just not that into you! If he disappears on you, he's just not that into you! If he is a selfish jerk, a bully, or really big freak...well, he's just not that into you. And of course the basic, if he isn't asking you out, calling you, or dating you well DUH - HE'S REALLY NOT INTO YOU!!! To all my single peeps out there this book is a must read.

And so, my life is full and abundant, I still truly love being single. I really don't have it that bad off. With one last thought, I hope you, the reader, enjoyed my antics about dancing, dating, Mormon's, movies, and books.

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!

Christmas Jars

Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Such a fast read - a little over 100 pages. The story is a tearjerker, keep a box of tissues close by. Not even 15 pages into the book and I was crying, thinking to myself, what kind of story is this? However, as the story quickly unfolds it is a story about the true meaning of Christmas - giving to those who are less fortunate, or giving to those who need a lesson in humility and giving.

The story begins about a single woman who is left a baby girl. She takes on the responsibility and love to raise this girl. As the girl grows up she becomes a writer for the local newspaper. Her adopted mom then gets cancer and dies, leaving her all alone. When you think the story can't get any worse the young girl who is all alone gets robbed one night of all she has. During that same traumatic evening she soon finds a large jar of money on her doorstep. Because she is a writer/reporter for the newspaper she decides to investigate where this jar of money labeled, "Christmas Jar," came from. What she finds is an amazing family who created this sweet tradition....

This book really made me want to start this tradition, Christmas Jar. I may not be able to do this tradition now because of my living situation and finances. But, hopefully someday I can keep a large jar in my kitchen all year long, place all my spare change into it, and give it to someone who truly needs it! I know that I can't afford to do that now, but this Christmas season is not only about giving to others in need, but it's about how you treat others. It can be some of the simplest things, like holding a door open for a Mother with her arms full, and children by her side. It's wishing people a Merry Christmas, just saying thank you for doing a small thing, or just being kind to others.

Christmas Jars is great read, and a quick read, that should be added to your holiday list of books/stories. It now has become a favorite of mine.

View all my reviews

13 Reasons Why

As you can see from my previous post I just read a book. Isn't that just neat. What I'm trying to say is the book was called 13 Reasons Why. Why did I read this book? BECAUSE I just joined a book club and I am SOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED ABOUT IT! We had one month to read the book and then we met up last night and discussed the book. Okay, I'm pretty sure all people know what a book club is and how they work, but again, I'M SO EXCITED TO BE APART OF ONE!!! Our next book is The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I gotta get reading...

13 reAsOns WhY I Am sO ExCitEd to Be iN a BoOK ClUb!
1. Making new friends!
2. Reading books.
3. Broadening my horizon of different books and genres.
4. Getting the opportunity to discuss what we read. (I always want to talk about the latest book I've just read.)
5. Discussing books (for me) helps to reinforce things in my mind and helps me to retain information better.
6. I'm actually part of a real life book club - AGAIN, totally excited about that fact alone.
7. Food is involved (providing food from the book for our snack during the meeting.)
8. Being part of a book club makes me feel smart.
9. Helps me read my books faster - I like having a deadline.
10. Being apart of this book club gives me something to look forward to each month.
11. I think that being apart of this book club will help me to appreciate different types of books, example, Pride and Prejudice (my New Years resolution is to read this book...haven't started yet...but now it's out there for the world to see.)
12. (Ran out of reasons...) I get to be apart of a real deal book club!
13. I get to be apart of a real deal book club!

Book Review

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Ugh. This book kind of drove me nuts. Now let me say this, the story did have a good message, in the way that it really makes you think of how you treat others and the choices you make that will effect others. I understand that people who commit suicide are usually set in their mind on doing it, but in this book the girl that the story is about was rather annoying. She just wanted so badly for someone to help her, and there were people who wanted to help her but she shut them out. So, I guess I don't feel so sorry for her. Does that make me a mean person??? I don't think anyone really knows the mindset of a person who is going to commit suicide, but this girl just doesn't want her "poor me" to rest. She was so miserable that everyone that hurt her needs to live miserably the rest of their lives. Will she be happy when one of the people on her list commits suicide because they felt bad about driving her to suicide??? I think people should read this book, especially high school kids because it might help them to not be so mean. However, I know high school can be hard for some, I'm not saying I didn't have some hard times in school, but there is life after high school. And, life does get better.

View all my reviews >>

Book Review & Movie Review

I want to say that this may offend some, if you choose to be offended. This is my opinion, so take all that is written with a grain of salt. It's going to be Salty BABY!!!

*SPOILER ALERT*

Book Review: To begin, I finally finished that gosh awful book in the Twilight Series known as Breaking Dawn (one of my only New Years Resolutions - lame, I know, but I finished). Yes, it took me a year and a half to read. Only because I stopped soon after Jacob imprinted on Bella and Edwards daughter. What the heck - that is the most far fetched thing I have ever heard of in these books - "imprinting," and on a baby? Oh yes, Jacob finally found his soul mate...blah, blah, blah! (I know what you are thinking...these books are fictional and total fantasy. I know this, but really, imprinting on a baby...that's just weird, I don't care who you are - weird!) After taking FOREVER to finish/read I realized that the book contained about 300 pages of NOTHING! I could have finished that book a long time ago if she, Stephenie Bless Her Heart Meyers didn't go into all of that nothing to build up some fight that NEVER EVEN HAPPENED!!! Good gravy was I disappointed. I had loved the first three books (the third being my most favorite) and then to read the fourth book...well, such a sad disappointment. I guess I can say I finally read it. However, I will go see it, and I will probably own the DVD - I have to own it since I own the other DVDs.

Movie Review: Avatar = DUMB AS DUMB CAN BE!!! Oh I know it's the movie of "right now" and it's "so awesome," but it's a waste of time and money - take my word! I had made up my mind not to see, or even contribute to this movie. About two weeks ago at work, Monday morning as my boss and I were talking about our weekends she had told me she had seen the "best movie ever" known as Avatar. I immediately told her that I was not at all interested, but as she acted like a kid in a candy store, she proceeded to share her thoughts on the movie with me. After about 30 minutes - or what seemed like 30 minutes because she probably only talked to me about it for 5 minutes I had told her I probably will go see it, at least before it leaves the theater because I would have no desire to rent it. So, with my trusty friend Audra, who had already seen it and already thought it was weird, but wanted to know my reaction of this LAME movie, she had agreed to go see it with me. BLESS HER HEART - she has earned a spot in heaven just for sitting through that 3 hour movie a SECOND TIME!!!

All right - with all that said, that movie, Avatar, was nothing special, it was 3 hours of my life I WILL NEVER EVER GET BACK! (You liking my dramatic affects here...) Speaking of affects, the affects weren't worth 10 years of work, and so help me if this movie takes home a ton of awards at the Academy Awards I will never think the same of Hollywood - not that I think much of them now, but I think you get my drift. I don't really remember much from the movie, but after the first hour when I was ready to leave Audra wouldn't let me because we had paid money (good thing it was a matinee). So, to keep me occupied during the last 2 hours I started to people watch rather than movie watch, and started thinking of things that I could've been doing - only to stress me out. I should've just left and went and caught the last bit of When in Rome. Then at the very end of the stupid movie when the cartoon like character takes the human and holds him in her arms and weeps I started to laugh out loud...only to offend people who were seriously enthralled in this lame movie! I have never been so happy to leave a movie theater in my life, in fact, I even started clapping at the end just because it was FINALLY over! What I'm getting at here is that the movie Avatar was SUPER DUMB, and I was dumb for going to it, and adding to its billions of dollars. My Mother Dearest even told me it was my own fault for going and being disappointed since I don't like science fiction movies anyways. One nice little thing (very little thing) about the movie was, I quite enjoyed the music and could see myself falling asleep at night to the music. And, since I'm kind of a tree hugg'n soul, it's very tree hugg'n friendly. Save the trees! Save the trees! Save the trees! Better yet, let me save you from wasting your money on seeing this stupid, dumb, lame movie!

Goodreads Website

I have been a member of Goodreads now for a year, my cousin Sally introduced me last year. Well, a year later, I finally went online and really delved into it. I think I'm going to LOVE this website, and will probably spend a lot of time on there. Those of you out there in cyber land, who like to read, this is the website for you. I have already spent an hour on the website looking up books I have read, and books that I want to read. I don't have that many, as of now, but I see the numbers going up. Check it out if you like to read, and add me as a friend so I can see what you are reading. Let the fun begin: www.goodreads.com

Breaking Dawn - Done With It!!!

I'm really struggling to finish the final book in the Twilight Saga, but I have come to hate werewolves. I can not get through the Jacob and werewolves chapters. I will finish, but it's going to take some time! I had plenty of time on the train the other day to read since after noon I went "dead" with passengers and had until almost 10:00pm to read, however I couldn't take any more of Bella. I will finish this book, and when I do you will all hear about it for sure!!! Also, for Jessie, I don't want Edwards Sperm if I get a child like that...so that will be a negative on the T-shirt that say's, "I want Edwards Sperm" now I want a T-shirt that say's "I hate Werewolves". I got board, or frustrated with the book and fell asleep to the rocking of the train...apparently one of my coworkers came by and snagged a picture of me asleep...good thing I wasn't drooling - for some reason the train makes me drool when I sleep on there??? Not something I should probably admit.