11 Post for Jennie

My bestie Jennie tagged me in her last post to answer some questions. Here we go!

Here are the rules:

1. Post these rules.

2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.

3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.

4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.

5. Go to their blog/twitter/facebook and tell them you've tagged them.

11 Random Things About Me

1. I hate pickles. I hate them so much that if they're on a plate with my food, I automatically pick them up and demand that someone take them.

2. I have bad shoulders and sometimes they ache when a storm is coming.

3. I hate game nights. But I don't hate playing all games.

4. When I'm in a big enough bed alone, I like to sleep diagonally.

5. I like funny combinations of food. Like ketchup and spaghetti and Reeses with strawberry ice cream.

6. I just started taking voice lessons. Because I've always wanted to, so I just did it.

7. I hate shopping. I wish I could pay someone else to shop for my clothes.

8. I'm not as tough as I try to make myself seem. and I think most people can tell.

9. I want to run another half marathon. many of them.

10. If all goes right, I'll be going to New Zealand in the fall (Jen!)

11. I love Ryan Reynolds, Channing Tatum, Ryan Gosling, and Hugh Jackman.

Questions Jennie would like me to answer:

1. What is your all time favorite flavor of ice cream? hmm.. This is a tough one. I usually default to mint or peppermint. Something like that. Hence my love for Aggie Blue Mint.

2. If you could go anywhere in the world for one week where would you go and what would you do? I would definitely go to Europe and try to hit up as many of the famous sites in as many countries as possible in that amount of time.

3. Who is one person you absolutely could not live without? My mom, hands down.

4. What is your favorite accessory and why? I love, love, love rings. I have two that I typically wear but sometimes I change it up with different ones. But I always have to be wearing rings.

 5. What is your favorite memory from your childhood? hmmm..This is a tough one. You know, one of my friends and I used to make up dances to Backstreet Boys and NSync songs. I loved that. 

6. What is your favorite form of exercise? Definitely running. Nothing feels better. 

7. If you could have lunch with someone who has passed away who would it be and what would you talk about?

Probably my father. I'd just ask him what it is that he's up to and just see how he's doing.

8. If you could be a professional athlete of any sport what would it be? Oh easy. I would be a professional gymnast. They're awesome!

9. Where do you want to be in 10 years? Excellent question. I want to be living somewhere else, possibly outside of UT, with my husband and kids. I want to be happy.

10. What is your favorite TV show right now? probably Modern Family. Fantastic show!

11. How many kids do you want? 4. I always felt like there was someone missing with only 3 in my family. But I have a feeling I might end up with 5. Guess we'll see. That's a lot.

Questions I want my tagged people to answer!

1. What is the first thing you would purchase if money was no object?

2. What is your favorite part of your body and why?

3. What is one good thing you did for someone else this week, without being asked?

4. If you could choose your church calling, what would you choose?

5. What is your least favorite food?

6. What makes you happy?

7. What is your biggest pet peeve?

8. What is the bravest thing you've ever done?

9. Who was your favorite band/music artist in high school?

10. If you could do one thing differently in your past, what would it be?

11. If you had a super power, what would it be?

People I am Tagging

Mom

Mariana

Katie

Kjerstin

Monica

Deborah

Tag, you're it! :)

A + K + T = Awesome

Tonight I would like to showcase my awesome roommates. I really believe we are meant to be living together right now. It just all worked out too well for us not to be MFEO! (Sleepless in Seattle fans should know that reference)

Kaili and I had decided to stick together since we were both staying in Logan after graduation for full time jobs...and we just have a good time being roommates! We had found where we wanted to live but needed one more person in order to fill the apartment. However, we were not having luck finding anyone to fill the spot. Then one day our good friend Megan mentioned that a friend of hers needed a place to live. We decided to take a leap of faith (ugh...such cheesy terminology. I've been watching too much Bachelor) and invited this random girl to be our roommate. That girl was Torie!

Let me tell ya, folks, the three of us have bonded better than I could have ever hoped! We have so much fun together! It's rare that the three of us are ever together for very long, but when we are, it's a good time. We usually end up somewhere in the apartment just talking, whether it's on the kitchen counters, the hallway floor or Kaili's bed, we have some good conversations! We usually always end up laughing super hard.

Torie is 21 years old and from Hyde Park. She works at a marketing firm and loves Cafe Rio (a lot!). She's an avid shopper (both my roommates are...much to my anti shopping dismay). She's got a contagious laugh and is always willing to help anyone, anytime. One of the first things I noticed about living with Torie is that she is super clean when it comes to the space we all share in the apartment. She never leaves anything out, she takes the trash out ALL the time, I have to plan ahead to clean the bathroom before she does because she's always doing it first, even though she cleaned it last. T loves her family a ton and they have been sweet enough to welcome me into their home nearly every Sunday since we moved in together for Sunday dinner. Torie has been the leader in the Whitney Houston memorial music the week after her passing. She owns a Celine Dion music video dvd. Sometimes we drive around a couple extra blocks on the way home just so we can sing to songs in the car. It's just better that way. Torie is wonderful and I'm lucky to have her as a roomie!

drink does not contain alcohol...although sometimes we wonder ;) jk

Kaili and I have been friends since our freshman year of college. We met on the A-Team and have been nearly inseparable ever since. Our nickname for each other is "Girl". Last year our other two roommates called both of us that but we could always tell who was the one actually being called. Kaili is 22 years old, from good ol' Providence (yes, I live with two Cache Valley girls) and LOOOOVVVVVEEESSSS math!!! I can't even describe to you how much she loves it. Her favorite mathematician is Archimedes and for Valentines Day, she sent us all a Geometry love note. For real. She's a high school math teacher (which she totally loves) and just started grad school this semester. She's a very busy girl. [However, I think she's taking a study break right now because I can hear her giggling in her room. Alone. haha] Kaili loves dance parties, frozen chocolate chips, and go out to dinner in her sweats. Kaili loves old movies and has tried very hard to convert me. It's worked a little bit, but I could never catch up with her. haha Best Girl a girl could ask for!

So that's a little bit on them. I love them lots. They're my Logan family. I am blessed to have them in my life. I really have it pretty good. Now I should go work on my lesson for sunday school that I've been putting off. Peace and blessin's.

Trials

You know those sayings that talk about not judging people because you don't know what their journey is all about or treating everyone as if they're going through something tough, because they probably are? I've been reflecting on that the last few days because I've seen evidence of this in people around me. Here are some of the trials I see others going through:

• Infertility
• Suicide of a loved one
• Weight loss struggles
• Unemployment
• Infidelity
• Loneliness
• Indecision
• Long distance love

I could go on and on. Now, I know you're not supposed to compare yourself to others, but compared to some of the trials I see people going through, I have it pretty good! That sounds awful, but what I mean is that it puts everything into perspective for me. I really respect people for the trials I see them experience. We all have things we go through. Some people seem to get more than their fair share of problems, while others seem to have it pretty good (which of course, we don't know that for sure...). 

It makes me so grateful for the Gospel. I know that the Lord knows what everyone is going through and if we let him, he will succor us and help us get through whatever it is. Everything works out for the best, if we trust in Him and his timing. We will also come out on the other end better, stronger, wiser and closer to the person He wants us to be if we let Him mold us. 

If you're going through something, turn to the Lord. If you know of someone going through something tough, pray for them. In all circumstances, trust in Him.

Pants Confusion

I've noticed a style epidemic where women are unsure as to what constitutes as pants. It's not something I ever though would be difficult to figure out, but I guess people need more help with it because here is a fantastically funny chart I found online. Really, if you have issues with this, use the chart.

Whether this is helpful for you or you just got a good laugh, you're welcome :)

Also, I was trying to change the layout on my blog and somehow it deleted all of my blog links. So if you are a reader, please comment and leave a link to your blog so I can have them again. Thanks! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

"I want you back! duh na na!"

I just have to share this funny conversation I had yesterday with this cute girl who's new on the A-Team.

So the two of us were talking about music and it turns out we have similar tastes in music, so she starts asking me what I like to listen to. I listed a bunch of country bands, some mainstream people, and then I mention that I like 90s music and a good boy band song now and then. Here's where it gets good:

Girl: Boy band? I've never really listened to them.

Me: You know, boy bands. Backstreet Boys....N'Sync....

Girl: Oh yeah, I've heard of the Backstreet Boys. I've never heard of N'Sync.

Me: What?! You've never heard of them?! Where were you in 1996???!!! (semi-jokingly, semi-not)

Girl: (thinks for a second) I was 3.

hahahaha! Oh my gosh, I laughed so hard and then just put my hands on my face and leaned down into my lap. I know that 1996 is a slight exaggeration for when these groups were really big deals, but only by a year or two. I mean, I remember making up dances to those songs with one of my best friends and she moved away when I was probably 8 or 9. So really, this girl was more like 4 or 5...just learning how to read and say the alphabet...not knowing that there's music outside of Barney, Sesame Street, and the Primary Children's Song Book. I know I'm not THAT much older than her, but just the way it sounded...oh it was so funny! I just felt so old! Good times :)

Birthday and Current Results

I must say, this was the best birthday I've ever had. It was so much fun and the celebrations have been going on and on! I even got to celebrate it a little bit today with a cake that my boss brought in today. The Saturday before my birthday I had a combined birthday party with my bestie, Deborah. We've had combined parties for three years now (with a break last year for her mission) and it was so much fun! A hit even! I got to go home the Sunday before my birthday and celebrate with my mom. I love sharing my birthday with her! (and my grandpa...and my great-uncle...it's a popular day to be born). She made the candles into an "A" for my name.

I worked all day and then had A-Team training class to help teach from 4:30-6:30. I did a presentation and when it was over Emily got up and said "I need to talk about the letter Q"...so I sat down. Then she said "that's your cue!" and then everyone in the class got out those party unrolling blower things and then sang happy birthday to me. As they sang, they brought out this cute cake:

Aren't they nice?? I have the best job. After I got home, my roommates and some other friends and I went to the Olive Garden for dinner. It was a good time! I have such good friends! This was really such a better birthday than last year, when I spent the week in bed sick and totally missed my birthday. So I'm looking forward to 23 and all the joy it has in store for me!

As for an update on my 123 by 23 program I started for myself. Well, as of this last Sunday, I was at 128 pounds. So I've lost 3 pounds, but I'm not super discouraged because I know I've actually gained a bit of muscle and we all know that muscle weighs more than fat. As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been taking embarrassing pictures of myself in my bathroom mirror so that I can see if there's a difference over time. Well, I struggled with whether or not to put these pictures up on my blog, but you know what, I have decided to. I'm proud of the progress I have already made in the last two months and I'm going to share it with my family and friends who are kind enough to read this. If you don't want to see pictures of me in shorts and a sports bra, then skip the last part of this post. So here goes...pride aside....

End of Nov 2011 and Jan 28, 2012

Do you see that?! Ok the first picture is super gross. I'm sorry you have to see that. But do you see the improvement I've been able to make in just two little months? This is me bragging for just a little bit, I am quite proud of myself right now. When my sister saw these she said I looked super angry. ahaha I wasn't! I just didn't know what I was supposed to look like when taking these kinds of pictures. But yes, so this is my progress so far and I plan on keeping going and being healthy. Hopefully I will reach my original goal of 123 (and then my ultimate goal of 120) within the next few months. By the summer for sure! Above all, I love feeling strong, I love feeling healthy and I love craving good food and exercise. This really is the life!

Well, that's all for me right now. Maybe I'll blog again later this week :) I have a new life goal that I've been thinking about starting to work on. I'll let you know what it is later!

Healthier

I spent the last four years of my life studying the human body, health, nutrition, fitness...and not being very good at living what I preached.

Well this last month or so I have discovered the joys of it all. I've been trying to work out more often (averaging about 3 days a week...this could definitely use improvement but it's a start), eating  better, and due to my "oldness"...aka out of school and working!...I go to bed earlier and get up earlier. And let me tell you..it feels great! I am loving it! In an earlier post I described my 123 by 23 plan for losing weight by my 23rd birthday (coming up in about...27 days. Just sayin), which is where all this healthiness started. Well, kids I hate to break it to you, but at my half way point, I've only lost a couple pounds. But I have become more fit, more toned and gained muscle, which weighs more than fat. So while I have lost some fat weight, I've also gained muscle weight which makes it hard for the scale to say that I'm getting closer to my goal. But you know, that's ok! I know that if I keep going the way I am, I'll eventually reach my ultimate goal (losing 10 pounds!) and I can already see a difference in my body. I may or may not be taking before and after shots like they do for those infomercials so I can see the difference. I also feel so much stronger and healthier than I have in a long time. I love it! Also, this week has been wonderful because I have this whole week off work! However, since I've been back in Logan with my friends, I've been staying up way too late and consequently sleeping in way too late and I hate it! I can't wait for next week when I'll be going to bed when I need to and waking up bright and early. It just feels so much better. I get accused of being old but I don't care. I like being "old".

The best part about this last month of trying to be healthier is that I feel it slowly becoming habit. It's becoming my lifestyle. Anyone who knows anything about health and fitness knows that if it's going to work and if you're really, truly going to be healthy, it has to be habit. My body is getting used to healthier eating and really doesn't like it when I don't eat well. Greasy foods especially do not feel good. I also crave working out. It's wonderful. I just hope I can keep this up!

Well, that's all for now folks. I'm enjoying the week I have off work but also looking forward to being busy again. Happy end of 2011!