Wednesday, February 27, 2013

I Don't Believe in Lent but I do Believe in Swimsuit Season

And that is why I entered a challenge with two of my dear friends to give up treats for awhile. Awhile meaning that space of time between St. George and our birthdays.

As if coming home from a trip and the February cold weren't hard enough.

And that got me thinking about being more healthy and how I'm simply not very healthy in some respects. So I also decided to give up a delicacy that is very dear to my heart during the same time period.

Yep. I'm off the Diet Coke.

Here is the thing though. I have not been very excellent at these little goals we took upon ourselves.

For one thing I made dates an automatic exception to the no treats rule because I refuse to be one of those Provo girls. You know the one that turns her nose up at dessert and weighs herself three times a day and is usually blonde.

For another thing, nearly anything can be classified as a date these days. So when I met mom for lunch to cry and lament over some awkward and devastating things she called it a lunch date and we split the chocolate lava cake. And when Natalie and I had a catch up date where I did much of the same (I may have been a bit of a downer lately) I called it a roommate date and ate the cookie.

So now, just over a week into our "no treats" and my "no diet coke" policy I've already cracked.

However, for the first time in a long, long time I'm not beating myself up over this minuscule detail.  Instead I've been noticing the things I'm doing right instead. The turned down free diet coke the bagel man was offering (He did give me a free bagel though... PS I love him), the 60 plus ounces of water I'm drinking every day, the various homemade baked goods I've passed by.

Usually when I don't do exactly what I say I will I feel like a quitter. But this time, it's not the same. Instead of being disappointed I'm proud of the improvements I've made in both areas. I'm eating less treats, and drinking less Diet Coke. I'm eating more broccoli and drinking more water.

And it's amazing how focusing on the small improvements has made a difference. I'm deeply flawed, but slowly improving, and this last week has taught me to be ok with that reality.

- - - - - - - 

"You're only human. You live one and life is wonderful so eat the damn red velvet cupcake."
-Emma Stone




Tuesday, February 26, 2013

What Women Want.

Today I was talking with my roommate about guys, and about what our various "types" are. As I listened to my roommate I realized that what we want and what "society" tells us we want are actually different. Society tells men we want the macho, tough guys who exist solely provide and protect us. In actuality though, the men we spend our time with, the men we enjoy spending time with, and the kind of man we each want to end up with are not what society tells men we want. We want a calm one. A patient one. One who gets nervous at the thought of spending time with us. One who says what he needs to, and thinks of others. One who is simply brave enough to be himself.

As we talked about how our version differed from society's version I had this revelatory thought.

Maybe, just maybe, guys don't really want what society has told me they do. Maybe what they really  want a girl who's laugh is not only genetic and contagious but can be heard down the hall. A girl who is slightly awkward, and who is as scared as they are when having the serious conversations. A girl brave enough to put a chauvinist in his place. And maybe they really want a girl who isn't afraid to be herself.

Here's hoping.


Friday, February 22, 2013

Escaping Provo

It's been a rough couple months around here. I'm not sure if it's due to my impending graduation, and all that growing up stuff or if it is due to the extra cold weather that seems to have come around this year.

Although I'm uncertain of the cause, I'm very certain of the cure-a weekend away! My family had plans to head to St. George for President's day weekend for months now, and after Christmas my friends got the idea to go camping down there for the extended weekend. Honestly, it was a dream come true for me to have so many of my very favorite people in one place.

My sisters and I drove down Friday night, met up with the parents, hit up the local Target (I had to get that InStyle) and of course grabbed dinner. The rest of the weekend was full of hours spent at the Parade of Homes, hot tubbing, delicious food, church, a visit to the temple, and enjoying that 60 degree weather.

The highlight of the trip was on Saturday night, when my friends and my family all met up and went to the Pizza Factory together. It was fun for me to have my parents meet this crazy "family" I have in Provo, and for my friends to meet my family and see just exactly where I get my crazy laugh from.


On Sunday, after church and a visit to the temple, I headed out for a lovely little nature walk with my friends in Snow Canyon. We climbed in some caves, and then tromped all over the giant stones. It was heaven to be outside in such a beautiful place in such wonderful weather.








Overall it was a wonderful weekend away from the cold, school, and Provo.

Thanks George, Abraham, Ronald and Barack for doing what you did/do! (and giving me a holiday!) God Bless the USA.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Love


I'm actually really great at loving people and at saying I love you. We have just always been that way in our family (blame it good parenting and a healthy dose of Disney movies) Over time though  I've come to realize that some people are a lot more conservative with their "I love you", as if saying it too much diminishes it's meaning. For some people that may be the case.

Here is the thing about that though-I love a lot of people. 

I love my parents, my sisters, my roommates, my neighbors, the best friend I've had since preschool who now lives in Hawaii, the friends I've had for a year who live down the street, the friends that got me through freshman year, the ones who live next door, and the one who is currently moving across the country.  I love my Aunts and Uncles, my cousins and their kids, my "other mom"s I had all growing up, the girls I backpacked Italy with, and the ones who lived in Palace Court with me.

And as I've thought about that-about how many people I love, I've realized that when it comes to saying "I love you" it's not about how many people you say it to-but about the honesty with which it's said. And I am nothing, if not extremely, sometimes even un-tactfully, honest. So know this-when I tell someone I love them, I really do mean it, no matter how many other people I may have said it to.

I feel blessed to have so many wonderful people to love in my life, and to be loved in return from a few of the best.

Happy Valentines Day!



Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Valentines Loves

Ok blog world. I had big plans for Valentines week around here. I was going to do what my beautiful cousin does each year and dedicate a whole week to telling you all about the things I love most. A Love Week, if you will.

However, I had a doozy of a weekend. And a Monday. And by Tuesday morning I was praying fervently for the weekend to come quickly, so I could recover from the one I'd just finished or at least that my alarm clock wouldn't go off so I could just hide in bed.

My alarm clock did go off and it's still only Wednesday (sigh)

However, sadness isn't really my thing. I'm kind of an eternal optimist here, and although sometimes it may drive those closest to me absolutely crazy, I kind of like to think it's one of my better qualities. So-here is a little, optimistic post about what I love. In the form of a list, of course.

Things that I will be Loving this Valentines Day: 

-JT. I fell hard for him back in '97 and to this day he is still my main man. Oh and his new album The 20/20 Experience drops on my birthday. Thanks for the gift Justin! I'll be spending Valentines Day dancing to Suit & Tie.
image via People
-March's InStyle magazine. I had big plans for this issue-it was going to be my people watching/long flight partner- however those plans are not to be. So-a simple evening with a cold Diet Coke, my favorite music playing and this issue will have to do instead.

-Conversation Hearts. No explanation really needed regarding these little pieces of joy.


-The Ouelessebougou Alliance. We're deep into planning and preparation for our annual auction, and although the work can be exhausting-the people, and the good we are doing is more than worth it. I'm so happy to be involved in such a good cause.

-My amazing friends and family. I'm blessed to have the very best kind of people in my life and I'm so grateful to have so many people to love!


So-this may not be a well thought out post with stunning pictures and witty dialogue but it's all I've got right now. And sometimes that's enough. Happy love day tomorrow!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Making My Own Luck

Two months ago, while out at a brilliant dinner with my mom and sister, I received this fortune in my cookie:


Making yesterday-February 5th-my lucky day.

Now, I'd been looking forward to this day for months but somehow it still snuck up on me. I was sitting in class, hair in a ponytail, tired from my Jillian workout when all of a sudden I realized: It's my lucky day.

So naturally, I took the rest of the morning to watch tv, relax, and actually do something to my hair before heading to work. At work I was able to get a lot of homework done, and read a little bit. After work I went to Meeg's house and had dinner, and then came home and hung out with my roommates a bit. It was a very normal day. Nothing out of the ordinary, no reason for it to be especially lucky. However, since I was looking for it, I realized just how lucky I am:

-Meegs made me a delicious dinner=I'm lucky to have good friends.
-I got to read my InStyle magazine=I'm lucky I convinced Mom to buy it for me
-I accomplished a lot of homework=I'm lucky I'm able to get ahead before leaving town
-I worked out=I'm lucky to have a healthy body
-I got to relax and watch my favorite shows=I'm lucky to have technology
-I chatted with my mom on the phone=I'm lucky to have such a wonderful family

But mostly, maybe I was lucky to receive that fortune cookie-since it reminded me how truly lucky I am.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Overheard at Our Super Bown Party

From my cute 4 year old cousin:

Her: Colie, we can't play football.
Me: Why?
Her: Because we are too little. You have to be fat to play football. My dad could play football.

(Later-While watching the game)

Her: Colie is that a girl? (pointing to the TV)
Me: Nope, that is a boy.
Her: Then why does he have long hair? Why does he have long hair AND earings?

(Later-after coming and sitting next to me, way too close to the TV to hear/see Beyonce)

Her (in awe): Wow. She is cooooool.

From my 22 year old cousin after eating hot wings:

 "I feel like I just made out with a dragon."


And now you see why there is nowhere else in the world I would have rather watched the game. 


A Big Sigh of Relief

Every year I dread January. It is cold, and long and hard.

And this year it seemed that it was especially all of those thing-especially cold, especially long and mostly especially hard.

However, it did bring some good things. When I look back on January 2013 I want to remember the Sunday night some of my favorite people crowded into our living room to watch the Golden Globe awards (and even the guys got into it). And the weekend I spent in Idaho. And the nights we all gathered to play Ticket to Ride. I want to remember going to Phantom of the Opera. And cuddling up on the couch watching Revenge. And the Relief Society sleepover up in Park City. I especially want to remember the night we all experienced Duck Beach. Although it may have been the coldest winter I can remember, it worked some indoor magic, as we all piled into our homes to share food, movies, stories, and a lot of laughter. In January I fell in love with my friends all over again.

That being said I must admit that there was a huge sigh of relief on Friday-when February came to town. January exhausts me, but February always lifts me back up again. Although this February is going to be very busy, I'm excited for what it is bringing. A weekend trip to St. George. Valentine's Day. A President's Day holiday. The Academy Awards. A week in Washington D.C. complete with some catch up time with a dear friend. And hopefully I'll be able to check a few things off my Provo bucket list.

Already February has brought me a relaxing weekend at home, free food, cuddle time with my favorite baby, the Super Bowl and Beyonce's half time show.

Honestly, I think this February is my reward for making it through January. A reward I am more than ready to claim.

So, heres to February.