You don't even want to know what time it is

So, it is late. like 4:41 am late. The kind of late where it's so late it's early. I hate being up this late. Unfortunately I am the most productive at this hour. For instance, tonight I did the dishes, I watched Man vs. Wild (a shirtless man surviving in the wilderness with nothing but his backpack and his own two hands is so hot for some reason), and I moved some of my stuff into THE BIG BEDROOM. This is in all caps because it's been a long time coming, this event. I have been envious of THE BIG BEDROOM since I moved into Centennial Apartments, and now it is mine! I feel so triumphant. However, just like every time I move, I find myself wondering why I have so much CRAP. Seriously what is my problem, I can't throw away anything. Everything is sentimental. I guess I'm just a sentimental person, and that's okay. What is not okay are the boxes and boxes of junk that I have accumulated. I have dubbed tomorrow "throw everything away" day. I am going to go through my junk and keep the good stuff and throw away everything else. I need to stop holding onto those pants from three years ago that I keep around on the off chance that I will lose weight and fit into them again. Seriously Linda. It's okay to let go. Honestly the more I think of it, I have a hard time letting go of anything. If I do say so myself, I'm pretty good at forgiving and forgetting. But when it comes to letting go of people in my life, or letting go of sentimental items, I fail horribly. And you know, maybe that isn't such a bad thing (the people part). Sometimes though, it's exhausting. It's hard when you never stop caring about this person that you met once that time you were at that party and you hit it off. It's even harder when it's someone you were close to once and you grew apart. What's hardest is when the other person has let go of you completely, so it's just you and your heart full of care thinking about that person who couldn't care less about you. But sometimes it pays off to care so much. Because there are people who appreciate this gift (and curse) that you have. There are people who love you because you put your whole heart into everything you do, into all of your friendships. These people are the ones who make caring worth it.

la vie en rose

i like singing in french.

Kathy's Fabulous Bachelorette Party

So, last Sunday, my roommate Tippe and I were talking to Kathy, a girl in our ward who is very sweet but a little shy, very eloquent, intelligent, and sometimes a little awkward. We knew Kathy was getting married, so we asked her the obligatory questions -- how excited are you? are you nervous? did you have a bridal shower? did you have a bachelorette party?
What?! NO BACHELORETTE PARTY?! WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO. So then we crafted a brilliant plan.

The first part of our plan was to call Kathy and say we are taking her out to a celebratory dinner on Thursday night -- this was so she wouldn't make plans for that night. Then, we went shopping and found some fabulous accessories - a sash that said BACHELORETTE and had pink sparklies on it and a kid's dress up bridal veil. We found decorations -- caution tape that said "caution: bachelorette party. danger: wild women.", and a big banner that said BACHELORETTE PARTY. We called the bishop's wife and asked if we could have it at their house. We called around and found people who were willing to come and bring snacks. We made a super secret facebook invitation. We photoshopped Nathan (Kathy's fiance) and Kathy's faces onto Disney Princess coloring pages for a fun activity to do while at the party. We bought margarita mix and pina colada mix and daiquiri mix, with sprite and ginger ale to mix into it. We were ready.

So on Thursday, we showed up at Kathy's apartment. We drove around a little bit, stopped to get gas, and I received a very interesting phone call from the "bishop" (actually Sydni) saying I had left something at his house. "Oh, Kathy, do you mind if we stop at the Bishop's house? I accidentally left some of my work stuff there and I need it before tomorrow." "No problem!" So we headed to the bishop's house and I said, "Oh Kathy, do you want to come inside with me? You can say goodbye to the bishop for the very last time." "Oh, that's a good idea," she said.

SURPRISE! Happy bachelorette-ness, Kathy! The whole plan went off without a hitch. Kathy had scheduled her cleaning check for that night, so a bunch of us went to her apartment to help her pass the check, then came back and partied. We colored pictures, we talked, we chatted, we heard about Cinder-Edna and we drank our "mocktails". In short, a good time was had by all .

AND I TOOK PICTURES, OF COURSE:

the banner and caution tape


some of the coloring pages (Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Mickie and Minnie)


the blushing bachelorette in veil and sash


the awesome party planners! (tippe and I)

second post in one day, just because...

today i feel pretty. and that is a rare feeling (my fellow girls can sympathize)! but i wanted to make a post so i can say "i was pretty that day" or "today might not be my day, but there are days when i'm pretty." i apologize for being a little vain.

Back in Provo!

I am back in Provo! I saw not one, not two, but three rainbows on the drive from Morgan, UT to Provo... a sign that I am definitely supposed to be here! So far I've been pretty lazy while I have been here...I finished up my very first embroidery project.


it was an apron! that i embroidered for mckenna's wedding gift. it was the first time i ever embroidered anything so I am quite proud of it.


the big monogrammed M was made out of french knots, which look like little roses close up:


while i was still in greensboro, i tie dyed t-shirts with my sister and cousin:



and I played checkers with my brother:



and he beat me. badly.

Anyways, I am getting excited for school to start! I was able to qualify this year again for independent status, so hopefully I will get a good amount of financial aid. Here's to the 2010-2011 school year!

Sorry guys, no time to update in my BUSY life. :)

I've been spending a lot of time catching up with old friends, playing with recipes, and also making more crafts. I finally finished my letter L to hang up in my room!


I used an antique book that was falling apart -- had no cover, etc. and ripped up the pages.

In other news, my cousin Tiffany has moved into my mom's house. It's been interesting... but we've been looking for the ideal paint color for the walls. Haven't found it yet! Oh but I took some pictures of her as well as of Luke and Eli, Jan's grandkids.

Luke

Tiffany

Eli

Babysitting Takes A Toll...

So this week, I babysat. and babysat. and babysat. and when I was tired of babysitting, I babysat some more. And it's funny because really, I only babysat for about 20 hours. But man, kids are hard! I love taking care of kids, and there are those moments where you just realize how wonderful and perfect and innocent and sweet they are - for instance, one of the little boys said, "Linda, I love your beautiful face. It's just BEAUTIFUL." He's four! And not to mention, I live for those cuddles and hugs and kisses and compliments and cute words. But then there are those other moments, like when a kid has diarrhea and he's screaming and you just changed his diaper for the 10th time and you have no idea how to make him feel better and you want to cry because there is nothing you can do. Or those moments where the kids make you feel bad - I put one of the boys in time-out and he said, "You're evil! You're breaking my heart! I don't deserve this!" - Same four year old, by the way. Babysitting makes me nervous because I feel like it is pretend parenting -- and sometimes, you just don't feel adequate. I get scared, like -- would I ever be a good mom? I don't know. I hope so.