Liberation

I chopped my hair off about a week ago, well my hair-and my adopted Taiwanese hair. It's been weird, especially when I'm blow drying it, and turn around to look in the mirror and realize Professor Snape somehow got into my bathroom, but I really love it. It's weird how we can let physical things define who we are. Also I just feel like short-ish (long-bobbin) hair is more reflective of me at the moment.
The reactions have been interesting, obviously no one is going to tell me they hate it, so everyone has been complimentary. Especially a girl at my work who informed me that I looked much more mature, then finished with "you looked like you were in high school before."
Oh, that's cool.
Aand you're welcome for spending 5 minutes talking about my hair. I'm racking my brains for something exciting to share but I've spent the last 14 hours sitting at this table doing my homework so all I'm thinking about is Ralph Waldo Emerson and calculating age-adjusted mortality rates. Goodnight!

My senior year self

I get so frustrated and irritated when I have to listen to some of the comments freshman make on campus. Because of this, and my inclination to introspective analysis, I've been thinking a lot about the changes the past four years have wrought in me. Don't misinterpret this as me thinking I am now knowledgeable and wise, but there has been so much change it's just really interesting for me to think about.
Freshman and sophomore years for me are already a blur of emotional evenings, terrifying situations, exciting opportunities, fights and break ups- and most unfortunately, silly decisions based of an overwhelmed perspective that college would last forever. My GPA wasn't important because I'd already been in school 14+ years, why on earth would I want to do any more than the bare minimum. Plus if I did I would just figure it out when it came.
Then came the day when I started to care. I love this learning thing, I love school, and I seriously love this Public Health stuff. Not only that, I know I would be exceptionally good at whatever I did with my degree. I know this because I've learned I have a highly addictive behavior and sincerely enjoy devoting myself to a purpose I believe in. Not only that, but I thrive in being a borderline recluse when I want-which has lately been the case. So now I'm left with 16 credits/semester, 20+ hours work/week, GRE prep, abstract resume building (research with professor, volunteer work), applying for internships, and my newest and most personal favorite: contacting CEO's until I find 8 who are willing to let me interview them. Aaaaand I have to pretty much kill it in every arena so I can "spin" this GPA I so purposefully neglected.

The most outstanding thing in my mind lately in terms of development, has been my self-inducement into the world of artsy individuals. I don't know how it took me so long to take my blinders off; but somewhere between my growing love affair with painting, Philosophy 110, Sun Dance Film Festival, the Brandi Carlile Pandora station and just removing myself from the mindset of personal barriers and limitations something clicked. I so appreciated a weekend spent in Midway with some of Emily's art history friends, so so much. We stayed up for hours analyzing ever ridiculous part of a film we saw up at Sun Dance, which led to politics, which led to people and at some point, amid all our talking I figured it out. I so enjoyed these people because I am one of these people; wringing every ounce of meaning and reason out of things is pretty much ALL I do.

Anyway, like always, I have to apologize for the melodramatics. My brain has a flare for excitement, and tends to talk in absolutes and extremes. I guuuuess my point is that I'm happy for the things I've learned, overwhelmed at the moment, and seriously eager for the future.

Isn't she the greatest? Emily Larsen comin attcha Berlin, Germany 2012

WITC

Since I have been back at my parent's house, I've had a generous amount of extra time to catch up on my blog-stalking, pinterest pinning, youtubing and all around internet surfing. I've lost a lot of weight from all the verbing. Not really, but I have had a lot of time to work out.. Ogden Gold's gym. They have a track where you run above the weight machines and basketball courts. I was glad it is pants at the gym season because I'm convinced a lot of the time spent lifting weights doubles for guys as time spent watching ladies run. Not the best angle, but I guess they figure that in.

But here are some internet favorites I've found this break-

New Girl Christmas episode here. I laughed, I cried, solid episode. Zooey is so great. And SNL's holiday episode is good as always.

Re-watching most of Jenna Marbles youtube videos- how to trick people into thinking you're good looking is still a personal fav. Call me a prude, but I wish I could edit her, little crass. Also shi* girls say.. It's funny, and my mom loves it.

Found some great prints-

 

Also added fuel to the fire of my tile obsession-

And started in on a little project involving this pattern, and a mahogany cabinet door-

Little escape from the seasonal affective disorder-

   whereisthecool.com 

Which you will have to check out for yourself, as I can't figure out how to copy images from the website

Thanks to some direction from my sister, I've been enjoying the stylings of Elizabeth Kimberly Design 

Aaand I would post some pictures of recipes I've found, tried and love but.. Last night my friend, Andrew and I ate at the Copper Onion (great food) in SLC and I have been sick from it ever since halfway through Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol (great movie). 

Excited for another Christmas dinner tonight with friends I love!

Is this real life?

I vaguely remember when all nighters were super rad, but there is nothing nigh on resembling rad about the past five hours. Nothing rad about sitting on the floor halfway in the closet of our hotel room, listening to music at 5 am trying not to wake anyone up. Me and some girlfriends are in Moab for a race that starts in about... 4 hours and I have given up on sleep finding me at all. I can't even stay mad though, life is too good when you're in Moab, I can feel it even now ;)

Why

Why is it that aaaall my favorite shows get cancelled? Lipstick Jungle, Perfect Couples, The Lying Game, The Playboy Club, Cougar Town

Next thing you know, Once Upon A Time is going to get cancelled. I just can't believe it hasn't happened yet ha ha.. Maybe I watch too much Hulu. Sue me.

IT Happened!

I ate the most delicious sweet thing I've ever had. :)
Forgive the meager photo quality, my apple crisp + sea salt caramel truffle icecream

I know, I'm as surprised as any of you that it wasn't a peanut butter/chocolate combo.








Oh my goodness was this good guys. I'm sure I don't have to explain, but you put the crumble over the icecream.. bon appetit











Guess who finally got their wisdom teeth out?? This girl!

A good look for me, I daresay. I wish I could upload videos, there is an awful one of me on the drive home from the surgery (I think I was recording one as a loyalty to my friends Jessica & McKenna who had requested it) where I am mumbling incoherently and crying hahaha. My lips are moving and sounds are coming out but they aren't really words, and I give up after a couple seconds and let the phone fall to the ground.

I'm healed up enough to cook Thanksgiving dishes thank goodness! We were in the grocery store today and this little girl kept looking at me so I asked Mom if she thought it was because I looked so fat, and she said she thought it was probably because I am so pretty. Good Mama.

The Hollywood House

Today, I am particularly grateful for my house. My ex-frat, big enough to comfortably fit nine girls under one roof-house. It really is so fun, and one of those things you just do once when you're young, so you better enjoy it. Every one of my roommates is ridiculously unique and it makes for a welcomingly different atmosphere here in Provo. We all sat next to each other in Sacrament mtg today and we filled up a whole row in the middle aisle, I don't know if anyone else noticed but I thought it was hilarious. Even though they leave gross food sitting on the stove, dishes in the sink, trash overflowing, I love them and feel blessed to be here.

And yes, when you drive by on University Ave, we do have a decorated tree up in the window already. Enjoy.