un ano

it's been exactly one year since this post was written.

one year ago, i was scared out of my mind in a foreign country meeting the children i now--to this day--love as my own.

one year ago, i had no idea how the lessons i would learn during my time there would affect my life or how much of a changed being i would become upon my return back home to the states.

one year ago, i cautiously stepped inside my first orphanage and was terrified of the workers i later grew to love and admire.

i miss cuenca more than i can adequately express and hope to visit again someday.

but until that time, i'll just be poring over my photos and journal/blog entries wishing i could be back.

cuenca, je t'aime.

list wednesday

*wardrobe wednesday will now officially be list wednesday because i can't think of anything to write about wardrobe-wise"

top five dream vacations:

-one long cross-country road-trip

-new zealand

-morocco

-greece

-nyc

five celebrity couples [dead or alive] i would love to have at a dinner party:

-beyonce and jay-z

-dolly parton and carl thomas dean

-johnny and june carter cash

-jennifer garner and ben affleck

-gwen stefani and gavin rossdale

top five summer jams of 2010 [or 2009... or 2003]:

-bulletproof // la roux

-california gurls // katy perry

-long way home // mates of state

-fire burning // sean kingston

-lucifer // jay-z

recipe tuesday posted on a wednesday

recipe tuesday: soy-ginger salmon with cabbage salad

my mom has been making salads lately out of shredded cabbage and carrots.

it keeps for a longer amount of time and tastes amazing with everything.

literally.

this particular meal was a great, light summer lunch and was simple to make. i didn't really measure everything out, i just kind of whipped everything up as i went until it tasted good.

all you need is:

frozen salmon patties

cabbage/carrot salad

tomatoes

green onion

soy sauce

ginger

garlic

mustard powder

brown sugar

sesame seeds

sesame oil

1. mix together soy sauce and spices in a small bowl and pour over salmon patty while it cooks

2. slice up tomato

3. put salad and tomatoes and green onions in a bowl [or on a plate]

4. top with cooked salmon, and sprinkle sesame seeds on top

bon apetit!

can i get an amen up in here?

i just registered for classes for fall semester.

let's just say it's the best schedule i've ever had.

three day weekends every weekend?

yes, please!

thank goodness for not having class on fridays.

HALLELUJAH.

monday: what i'm working on

what i'm working on this week:

-using the recently assembled treadmill in the basement

-taking more photos

-finishing the last few articles of clothing in my "to-fix" pile

-catching up on podcasts

-developing ecuador fotos and finding an album of sorts to put them all in

-writing one song

--------------------

in other news:

i had the most wonderful weekend! hannah came down and we had so much fun! it made me super excited to hang out with her for a whole month before i go back to rexburg in the fall!

we:

-crashed a wedding reception and danced like crazy to katy perry, miley cyrus, and the like

-saw how to train your dragon along with the whole town of provo

-went shopping

-ate hamburgers in the hottest [literally] joint in town

-checked out provo's freedom festival and sawed off part of a log and had it branded

-watched the weirdest, most unfunny movie ever that we found in the comedy section

-"broke" the ice maker and were showered with ice cubes multiple times

-celebrated kirk's birthday with delicious food and great company at eva's parents' place

-drove around town blasting "this is how we do it"

-went to temple square and befriended some sister missionaries and toured the roof of the conference center [so beautiful!]

-watched crumpler play at a show in salt lake

-went to the Grand Parade in provo and saw some crazy things [like a dude dressed up like moses singing "when you believe" from the prince of egypt on the orem institute float]

-listened to a hilarious testimony in church ["i just... love america so much! sometimes i really think i bleed red white and blue!"]

-planned some trips to europe and the west coast [anyone else want to join us?]

-and watched this video over and over again.

it was delightful.

thanks for an awesome weekend, bananafart!

sounds of summer: sixth installment

i might be a tiny bit biased because i just saw mates of state live, but this is one of my favorite summer soundtracks because it was introduced to me by my sister-in-law, eva, while i was hanging out with her in columbus a couple summers ago.

every song grabbed me and it was pretty much the only album i listened to for the rest of the summer. it's fun, upbeat, and super pleasant to listen to.

now when i listen to it, it reminds me of all the fun things eva and i got to do in c-bus and it makes me love the album even more.

give it a listen.

or ten listens.

favorite tracks:

"get better"

"now"

"my only offer"

"the re-arranger"

"blue and gold print"

mates of state [the Deluxe Edition (complete with Special Features!)]

monday night i had the privilege/opportunity/delight to see one of my all-time favorite bands in the whole wide world in the hottest [temperature-wise], lamest venue in all of utah.

my sister, kirsten, and i were supposed to go together and we were both so excited we could hardly stand it. she even made a cool shirt for the occasion.

but then she got sick.

with pneumonia.

and decided that she shouldn't go.

i was heartbroken.

and even though i had fun, i felt guilty all night because i knew she was supposed to be standing next to me, jumping up and down and screaming along to all the songs they played.

did i mention that she bought our tickets?

it was a [for lack of a better word] sucky situation.

luckily my friend and old roommate, brenda, was able to come with me!

we had a great time watching a crazy/ill-tempered magician do tricks

and a band called free energy [with a seriously adorable bassist (what is it with me and bassists??)] perform

and then

kori gardner and jason hammel took the stage

and it was

Pure

Magic.

they started out the show with "the re-arranger" [one of my all-time faves] and it took everything i had in me not to scream along because i had my camera in one hand filming the song and my phone in the other hand with kirsten on the other end [there's nothing worse than my off-key sing-screaming--believe me].

the rest of the show is kind of a blur to me now, but my favorite song of the night [hands down] was "for the actor". i don't know if it's because a married couple who got engaged onstage during last summer's mates of state tour announced their presence right before the song was performed or if it's just a magical song in general. but i have never smiled so much because of music.

unfortunately, due to lack of food/water/cool air, my friend brenda fainted and we had to leave early, but i didn't care because i saw them in person playing my favorite songs and for the first time in a very long time, i was deliriously happy.

if they come to a city near you, GO. it is well worth it!

is it seriously wednesday/the last day of june already?

the finished product

before

after

i bought this sweater a couple years ago at an old navy outlet store. it's a really, really weird color. when i bought it, it looked mustard yellow. but i guess it's lime green-ish? chartreuse? every-female-owned-vw-bug-green? anyway, even though it's a weird color, i still love it. however, the washer in my old house apparently did not and decided to bleach-stain it on the sleeves and part of the neckline.

so, after a little clothing surgery, it's a whole new article of clothing!

even though its covered in imperfections, i have worn it in public! twice!

on to the next ill-fitting/messed up piece of clothing!

second of third: food tuesday!

recipe tuesday!

i adore sandwiches.

aside from empanadas from morochos and in-n-out, it's probably my favorite meal.

this particular sandwich was heavenly and was consumed at a family dinner shortly before my departure to south america last summer.

all you need is:

good artisan bread

avocado

roasted red peppers

tomatos

cheese

onions [grilled or uncooked (raw?)]

olive oil

pesto

toothpicks

and a grill [foreman or otherwise]

this "recipe" is pretty self-explanatory. i mean, who doesn't know how to make a sandwich?

but, here are some instructions:

1. lightly brush one side of each slice of bread with olive oil, and arrange toppings evenly [or unevenly--whatever you want!] and carefully place on grill.

2. once cheese is melted and bread is toasted, take sandwich halves off the grill and swiftly put them together and stick a couple of toothpicks in it to hold everything in.

3. cut in half diagonally. because, as i learned from my bestie alyx, it's just not a sandwich unless it's cut diagonally.

it's a great summer meal and perfectly lovely when paired with a salad of some sort and a blackberry izze.

the first of three: making up for monday

due to a crazy monday [MATES OF STATE (more on that later)], here is monday's post a day late.

what i'm working on:

this is The Pile.

right now, a skirt kari got at a thrift store for me is in that pile waiting to be lengthened along with a sweater i wore to kirk and eva's wedding that is being transformed into a cardigan.

i would show some Before pictures, but i always forget to do that.

this week i'm also working on:

-drinking more water

-taking more Before photos

-listening to more vinyl

-reading a conference talk a day

and

-using my time more wisely.

hopefully by thursday i'll have some After photos to share!

an announcement, an exclamation, and enlightenment

dearest twelve (12!!) readers:

remember a little while ago when i posted a bunch of goals i wanted to accomplish? and one of them was blogging more?

that went well.

i think i have posted three times since that entry and two of those entries have been sounds of summer installments.

this realization gave me an epiphany [or, as michael scott says, an "epiphery"].

if i want to post more, i should have some sort of blogging schedule.

so, i compiled a list of possible themes for each day, and after much deliberation and thought, i have decided that:

1. monday is now officially "what i'm working on day!"

2. tuesday is "what i'm eating/recipe day!"

3. wednesday is "wardrobe day!"

4. thursday is "the finished product day!"

5. friday is, and will remain for the rest of the summer, "sounds of summer day!"

6. and saturday is "gratis [free] day!"

i think this will be a good motivator for me to have something to work on every day and hopefully will be enjoyable for all twelve of you to read.

-------------------------

in other news...

tomorrow i get to see not only three of my very best friends in the whole wide world, but i also get to see these guys LIVE [courtesy of sister kirsten--thanks, sis]!

i'm so excited i can hardly stand it.

-------------------------

"There is help. There is happiness. There really is light at the end of the tunnel. It is the Light of the World, the Bright and Morning Star, the 'light that is endless, that can never be darkened.' It is the very Son of God Himself. In loving praise far beyond Romeo's reach, we say, 'What light through yonder window breaks?' It is the return of hope, and Jesus is the Sun. To any who may be struggling to see that light and find that hope, I say: Hold on. Keep trying. God loves you. Things will improve. Christ comes to you in His 'more excellent ministry' with a future of 'better promises.' He is your 'high priest of good things to come.'"

--Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "An High Priest of Good Things to Come", October 1999 General Conference--

sasha fierce

i recently checked out beyonce's live album i am... yours at the library and i have come to a conclusion: beyonce is the ella fitzgerald of my generation.

don't believe me? watch this.

and here's my favorite beyonce song just for fun:

sounds of summer: fifth installment

i have found that there isn't a single song in my music library that doesn't remind me of something or someone or some time.

for instance, whenever i hear tom petty's song "it'll all work out", i immediately think of winter semester of 2008 [or as i like to refer to it, the semester from hell]. sometimes listening to that song was the only thing that held me together.

but whenever i listen to this album from jens lekman, i think of last summer. it was the best summer of my life. memories of bike rides, snow cones, long car rides all over madison county, playing at the spray park, burritos at ramires play through my mind like a filmstrip and it makes me smile.

but enough about me.

this album is a story about first kisses, lost loves, heartbreak, and friendship.

that alone screams summer to me.

but it's the instrumentation and arrangement that really make it stand out to me as the perfect summer soundtrack. ukuleles, harps, pianos, guitars, and a wide variety of percussion along with a latin, caribbean, and 1960s influence make it an interesting and unique sound that is a joy to listen to.

listen to it during a picnic in the park with good friends.

i guarantee it'll make you want to dress like you're stuck in the 1960s and eat ice cream and go on a long bike ride.

isn't that what summer's all about?

favorite tracks:

"sipping on the sweet nectar"

"the opposite of hallelujah"

"a postcard to nina"

"i'm leaving you because i don't love you"

"your arms around me"

"shirin"

"kanske ar jag kar i dig"

sounds of summer: fourth installment

i was introduced to yelle by my niece. she was doing a jazz routine to "je veux te voir" for her dance recital and i fell in love with the song.

but it wasn't until about two days ago that i knew who sang it.

i found a copy of her album "pop-ups" at the library and loved every single track.

it's french electro-pop at its finest and has kind of an 80s feel to it.

it's the perfect getting-ready-to-go-out/driving-around-town-in-a-convertible-with-the-top-down-with-your-girlfriends album.

every track is pleasantly upbeat and danceable.

and that, my friends, is what summer music is all about.

favorite tracks:

"ce jeu"

"tu es beau"

"je veux te voir"

there are no men out there!

i guess i've been doing the whole flirting thing wrong.

note to self: start carrying around a small stuffed animal.

i'm feeling the pull.

i've been home from ecuador for over seven months now.

every once a while, someone will ask me if i would ever go back.

i used to say no.

i think if someone had asked me today, i would have emphatically said, "YES!" because i missed my ninos a lot tonight [granted, i did look at all of my pictures from ecuador, so that may be a factor].

i think i need to start planning a new adventure.

one that will begin after i graduate from college.

and i think it needs to take place in europe.

we shall see...

creATE.

last week was my niece's tenth birthday. my gift to her was the annual mix cd and some headbands i added rosettes to.

i realized as i sat in my hot pink plastic ikea desk chair that it had been a long, long time since i had used my hands in that way.

i missed getting glue on my fingers and cutting up little scraps of magazines and working with a needle and thread.

i missed the feeling of accomplishment and pride [the good kind] of looking at a finished product and realizing you made something visually appealing.

so tonight, i made some goals for myself.

and i'm going to share them right here, right now.

1. utilize the bag of zippers lisa got me from DI by recreating this

2. tackle the stack [!!!] of clothing waiting to be repurposed/fixed

3. go thrifting more often to find items with potential

4. blog once a week about these creative endeavors [no matter how ugly they may be]

5. start playing music again every day for thirty minutes

6. tackle the list of songs i would like to cover

7. send more cards/letters/mixcds to friends and family

8. take more photos

there.

it's in writing.

there's no turning back now.

i would like to conclude my remarks with a song:

wake me up before you go-go.

last night i went to my eldest niece's tenth birthday party. it had an Awesome 80s theme and it truly was Awesome.

girls dressed up in 80s garb danced around like maniacs, screamed sang along to billy joel and wham!, and had multiple photo shoots [complete with props].

and it was all created, organized, and executed by my sister, kirsten [hey, kirsten, do you want to plan my 24th birthday party? i want it to be karaoke/sushi/hollywood/jupiter/30 rock themed. that shouldn't be too hard, right?].

she's pretty much a genius.

here's what the whole two hours sounded/looked like:

and here's what i looked like last night:

what a great night.

sounds of summer: third installment

anyone who knows me know that i adore the beach boys.

they played a significant role in my childhood. i used to turn on the stereo in the living room and wait and wait and wait for "kokomo" to come on. i remember hearing "surfer girl" in the car when we were living in oklahoma and thinking it was the most beautiful and romantic song i had ever heard.

it just simply isn't summer without the beach boys.

although all of their albums are fantastic and the perfect soundtracks of summertime, i had to pick pet sounds for this week's installment.

it is, without a doubt, my very favorite beach boys album.

all i have to hear is the intro to "wouldn't it be nice" and a big smile will appear on my face. this album is full of perfect harmonies, captivating and surprising melodies, and the usual summer feel the beach boys are known for.

it's the perfect summer night driving with the windows down album.

if you've never heard the album all the way through, then you are really missing out.

don't even bother checking it out from the library or borrowing it from a friend.

go to your local record store and buy it.

my favorite tracks:

"you still believe in me"

"sloop john b"

"god only knows"

"i just wasn't made for these times"

"caroline, no"

if you're having a bad day, please watch this.

sounds of summer: second installment

if i were to take a spontaneous road trip to california, i think my playlist would consist mostly of the beach boys and vampire weekend's most recent album contra.

it's the perfect beach soundtrack.

with its infectious melodies and toe-tapping beats, it epitomizes all the fun and madness that summer brings.

here's my favorite track.

give it a listen.

if it doesn't make you want to hop in your car and head to the nearest beach, i don't know what will.

first installment here.

a letter

dear byu-idaho:

i hate you with a fiery, burning passion right now.

at the moment, i'm hoping you decline my major change proposal so i don't have to deal with you anymore.

if i have to redo that stupid petition just because you "lost" it... so help me.

i've already had to jump through fifty hoops to complete the stupid thing.

and now i might have to redo it.

curse you.

with much ire,

kellie

ps: please get rid of all student "advisors". they have no idea what they're doing.

in memoriam of memorial weekend

i had the most beautiful weekend!

here's the rundown:

i...

decorated a corner of my room,

got to see hannah and justin and megarilla,

bought the most delicious-smelling lotion in park city,

played a funny joke on hannah in the bathroom at target,

put lots of lip balm on my crusty-crusts,

listened to some beautiful music,

finished the harry potter and the deathly hallows and cried,

ate good food at a petaluma reunion barbecue,

made ice cream,

had a picnic in salt lake,

tried on the tallest heels ever and didn't fall,

got a tattoo during the third hour of church,

played mash,

fell asleep during sherlock holmes,

ate at in-n-out with a couple first-timers,

made fish tacos,

played ddr and singstar with kari, paul, and frances,

wished lyndee was in utah,

and downloaded the new mates of state covers album, "crushes"!

i wish i had taken photographs, but i apparently forgot i had a camera the whole weekend.

sounds of summer: first installment

i first heard of the band little joy from my first viewing of whip it.

you know the part where bliss is at that party and she goes upstairs and puts on a record and this song plays?

i knew, from that very moment, that i had been introduced to something very special.

fabrizio moretti [of the strokes fame], rodrigo amarante, and binki shapiro's old-timey style, warm sound, lush vocals, and latin influence make this album a dreamy, lay-in-a-hammock-for-hours soundtrack for summer.

check it out.

i dare you to not like it.

big apple red creme

last night i painted my fingernails for the first time in years.

i feel really fancy.

speaking of live music...

who's excited to see these folks for FREE [GRATIS] this summer?

i sure am!

you're the re-arranger.

june 28th.

slc.

who's in?

REALLY?! with seth and amy

this morning my alarm clock woke me up at exactly 8:36 by blasting daddy yankee.

that's usually a pretty nice and un-irritating way to wake up.

but this morning i woke up with a splitting headache.

i [accidentally] hit the snooze button in my exhausted stupor and woke up five minutes later.

furious, i pressed the right button, the music ceased, and i closed my eyes.

i slept for five glorious minutes before i was awakened by something that sounded like someone/thing scurrying around and falling off the roof.

my eyes flew open and my heart raced.

i slowly got out of bed and cautiously walked into the living room, my heart beating a thousand beats per second.

and when i saw the state of the front yard,

i fell to my knees,

threw my hands in the air,

and screamed,

"WHYYYYYYYYYYY?!"

i guess that's what i get for posting this as my facebook status last night:

"my goal for next winter is to construct a life-size replica of R2D2 out of snow."

double feature: Cooking For One Sucks and A List

tonight i made the most delicious cake of my life.

i used this recipe and some strawberries kari left at my house [sorry, sis].

as i sat down at the counter and watched the special features of nacho libre, i took a bite and melted a little bit.

there is nothing in the world quite like a really rich, dense chocolate cake.

as i savored every morsel, i couldn't help but feel a little sorry for myself.

i've been living in my parents' house all by myself for the last two weeks and it has been weird.

and i realized something about myself.

i hate being alone.

don't get me wrong, i LOVE alone time.

i crave it.

but living alone is not all it's cracked up to be.

trust me.

i will say, though, that i will miss dancing around the house in my underwear and blasting taylor swift almost 24/7 (tmi?).

--------------

1. if i had to choose one outfit to wear everyday for the rest of my life, it would be the outfit i'm wearing right this very second: black leggings, oversized men's white v-neck undershirt, mustard yellow cardigan, paisley apron my aunt karen made for my mom years ago, and pearl earrings.

ahhh.....

2. why do i feel the need to bake every sunday?

3. pumping gas is not scary. anymore.

4. it's annoying when you're sitting by yourself at church and five giggling eighteen year-olds crowd your pew, invade your personal space, laugh through sacrament meeting, and put on a handful of lotion thus invading your nose and rendering you completely senseless (smell-less?).

5. everyone and their dog is getting married this summer.

6. i would like to learn how to tapdance just so i can dance to this song.

7. where did this bruise on my forearm come from??

8. tomorrow is my work day. i have a long list of things i need to accomplish before the 'rents return from hawaii.

please pray that i get everything done!

9. i think i'm going to start cooking dinner for my family more often.

10. when is it going to get hot here?? i'm going crazy with this drizzly, gloomy weather!

HOLD UP!

i just realized that i STILL haven't posted these photos from my incredible weekend.

so, without further ado, i bring you...

the holi festival of colors as documented by my lovely hot pink fujifilm.

llamas! one of them tried to bite lisa.

el templo

post-festival. i looked pretty scary.

awkward group photo!

the crowd.

not documented: the chocolate gelato that melted all over me, the expressions on the faces of all the children who saw my scary face, matt belting out "the circle of life" [multiple times] thus fulfilling one of his lost dreams from his childhood, the cow game, sitting at the kitchen table singing the family matters and full house theme songs, mad libs, and all of the white linens that are now pink because of our involvement in this awesome experience.

this time, baby, i'll be bulletproof.

tonight i will be repurposing some old/rarely worn clothing.

i MIGHT post photos, but that really depends on how well they turn out...

because i really have no idea how any of it will turn out.

but it's worth a shot, right?

anyway, the whole point of this post was to show y'all this song.

i've been listening to it constantly.

great sewing muzak.

highlight of the day:

blasting beyonce's "single ladies (put a ring on it)" in the soccermommobile on the way to see the 12:45pm matinee of percy jackson and watching my ten year old niece bust a move in the rearview mirror.

what a beautiful day.

take somebody to applebees and give them hot wings.

i just got done watching this movie.

i laughed,

i cried,

i smiled,

i sighed.

it was beautiful.

and everyone should watch it.

a confession

hello.

my name is kellie and i was raised in a home where country music was practically banned.

and i just wanted to say

that i've been listening to this album over and over again every day for the past week.

and i love it.

and i don't care what anyone thinks.

whew! that felt good!

i can't get enough of this.

stop fastforward rewind

everyone should be like me and listen to this song on repeat.

it's doing a great job of subsiding my current unexplained nausea.

tgirl + koko = bffs!

i had a date last night.

it was my first date in a long, long time.

so, of course, i was so nervous i couldn't eat anything all day.

i tried everything i could think of to calm down, but nothing helped.

those bald eagles in my stomach just wouldn't stop flying around like crazy.

fortunately, i was hanging out with my sister and her kids that day, so they were able to keep my mind off of the whole situation for a little while.

but as the time to leave got closer and closer i started getting more and more nervous.

finally, i asked my precocious ten year-old niece for some advice.

she does ballet and jazz and performs a lot, so she's an expert at handling nerves.

she gave me the best advice.

i wish i had recorded her whole pep talk because it was incredible and funny and just what i needed.

she did tell me, though, that playing with or talking to a friend, playing a fun game, and thinking positively are key for putting nerves at bay.

she even wrote some words advice on a little piece of paper and slipped it in my jeans pocket to remind me to think positively and to relax and just have fun.

she's the best.

sometimes i feel like she's the aunt and i'm the niece.

tomorrow when she and her mom and brothers come down for their weekly grandparent visit, we're going to bake something delicious.

no boys allowed!

i couldn't be more excited.

ps: the date went VERY well, just in case you were wondering!

the sounds of the city, baby, seem to disappear.

i've been listening to this song nonstop.

isn't carl wilson cute??

ps: check out she&him's cover.

astronaut mike dexter

"i want someone who will be monogamous and nice to his mother. and i want someone who likes musicals but knows to just shut his mouth when i'm watching lost. and i want someone who thinks being really into cars is lame and strip clubs are gross. i want someone who will actually empty the dishwasher instead of just taking out forks as needed... like i do. i want someone with clean hands and feet! and beefy forearms like a disney prince! and i want him to genuinely like me even when i'm old. and that's what i want."

--liz lemon as portrayed by the great tina fey on 30rock

is that really too much to ask for, world?

sabes que estoy colgando en tus manos?

i'm missing this place a lot.

i think it's because i've been listening to these songs on repeat.

i have spent this month feeling sorry for myself.

i am still unemployed.
i was given false hope when one of the places i applied to called me today only to tell me that since i'm only in utah for the summer, they don't want me.
all of my dearest friends [except for a select few in provo i haven't seen yet (my fault)] are in idaho.
i'm bored all the time.
and my room is a disaster.

today, though, was by far the hardest.

i am currently dejunking my room.
so far, i've thrown/given away a bunch of junk [including a very incriminating journal from my junior year of high school (which probably should have been burned)].
i found myself at 3pm sitting in the midst of it all, feeling completely overwhelmed and depressed.
i looked over at my bedside table and saw a huge stack of papers hiding in the bottom shelf.
as i took them out, stacks at a time, i found treasures:
a drawing of harry potter and ginny weasley holding hands given to me by my oldest niece,
countless birthday cards ranging from 1990-2006,
pictures and pictures and pictures,
old school papers,
journals,
and a stack of postcards from exotic places sent to me by my dad when i was a baby.

as i read every word on every page/card/postcard, i was overcome with emotion.
i began to ask myself why i was feeling this way when i had so much to be grateful for.
all of those papers and cards reminded me that i was loved and appreciated.
i have a great family and awesome friends and the glorious message of the gospel.



as i pondered this today and gave thanks for everything [and everyone] i have in my life, this little gem popped up in my google reader. i love mormon messages and i used to watch them on sundays last semester as i got ready for church. they are inspiring and strengthening and tearjerking. but this one spoke to me. as i watched this particular video earlier tonight, i couldn't hold back my tears. it was exactly what i needed to hear and see. i can't imagine having to endure such a heartbreaking, painful trial. i don't think i could do it. but, stephanie and christian nielson endured and are still enduring. and their faith is strong. hearing their testimonies about trials in life strengthened mine and i hope they strengthen yours.

happy april fools day!

taken 22 years ago on my very first [fake?] birthday post cake-smashing

i'm sure my mom will deny this,

but last night as i was drifting off into dreamland i had a

Staggering

Thought.

what if my birthday was really april 2nd, but i've been april fooled my whole life into believing that my birthday is actually today?

did i blow your mind?

thought so.

in other news, my [supposed] birthday has been wonderful and it's only 10:31am!

i was woken up by many birthday texts,

i received two amazing gift cards courtesy of mama and papa j,

and i even had a FULL CONVERSATION with plaid shirt.

what a day!

and it's only going to get better!

destino

did you know that salvador dali and walt disney teamed up to create an animated short film in 1948?

[watch it in full screen.

it is awesome.]

la la la la la

i had a completely incredible weekend.

i would love to write about it, but my skirt needs a zipper, my head needs some excedrin, and my eyes need some sleep.

two thoughts to tide you over until the blessed weekend update:

1. tonight we have fhe at our bishop's home. i guess the activity is hot-tubbing. weird?

2. it has been a particularly blustery, cloudy day in my neck of the woods. so, obviously, i chose "warmth of the sun" by the beach boys to accompany me home after class. summer, please.

today,

my bishop came up to me after sacrament meeting had ended, took my hand, and said, "the Lord told me during this meeting that i needed to tell you how much He cares about you. He loves you. don't forget that."

i hope i never forget.

i understand that this was for a good cause...

but seriously?

i'm pretty sure i used this picture for your last birthday...

today is my oldest sister's birthday!

kirsten is someone i really admire.

she's brave, courageous, a phenomenal and loving mother to three beautiful kids, super talented in the craft/sewing/freezerpaperstenciling realm, supportive, and has the cutest house.

i remember how much i looked up to her when i was little. i wanted to look like her, act like her, and even have a room knee-deep in clothes like her [one out of three isn't bad].

it's funny how some things don't change.

kirsten, i hope you had a superb birthday! i can't wait to go home and go thrifting [and maybe yardsale-ing] and lunching and singstar-ing and ddr-ing with you! i love you, big sis!

right now...

i'm listening to this song on repeat because...

i'm applying for a nannying/live-in educator job for an lds family that lives just outside of the big apple!

i'm in an empire state of mind.

wish me luck!

oh, the irony.

we have had a surprisingly mild winter this year.

last week was so nice, it felt like spring.

i didn't wear a winter coat at all.

yesterday was especially beautiful.

at night, all i needed was my osso sweatshirt.

i was so happy about this that i almost posted yesterday about how winter is finally over and spring has sprung.

and then today...

today it snowed.

WHEN WILL IT END?!?

our mountain

on saturday, we hiked r mountain

[it's rexburg's version of the y, only tinier].

it was awesome and scary and absolutely beautiful.

for dad

dear dad:

i think you will LOVE this!

love,

kellie

happy friday!

when i found out my [only]class was cancelled today, i felt like dancing like this dude:

seven (7) letters

dear plaid-shirt:

you completely made my day today.

let's talk again.

and soon.

you're funny.

sincerely,

me

------------

dear mother nature:

i have never seen such gorgeous weather during this time of year in rexburg.

thank you, thank you, thank you for the rain yesterday and the warmth of the sun today.

lovelovelove,

me

------------

dear anthony from project runway:

can we be best friends?

WBS!

kellie

------------

dear sewing class:

i'm sorry for having beef with you last week.

please be nice to me as i'm getting ready to attach the collar to the neck of my shirt.

because, honestly, i'm scared.

see you soon!

me

------------

dear friday:

i'm so excited to see you tomorrow and once again reinstate my usual friday morning tradition of waking up at 8 and watching all my favorite shows on hulu before my 11:30 class.

thank you for coming so quickly!

i love you.

kellie

------------

dear utah:

i'll see you in five weeks! and i couldn't be happier!

kindest regards,

me

------------

dear daily yahoo crosswords:

i can't get through the day without you.

thanks for the challenge.

yours,

kellie

a revelation.

image found here

was andrew bird...

influenced by this song?

vladimir horowitz, you're my hero.

mrs. hall, the sixth grade teacher at two rock elementary school, was scary.

everyone dreaded sixth grade because of her infamous Research Project.

said project was biographical and included the following:

-a twelve page paper about the person

-a timeline marking important events in the life of the person [with pictures, if possible]

-a fifteen minute speech AS the person [complete with costume]

-an activity or quiz for the class to participate in that has something to do with your person and why he or she was important

-and a handmade doll mounted on a cardboard background.

we moved to two rock, california when i was eleven.

right before the sixth grade.

when i heard of mrs. hall's reputation and INSANE research project, i was terrified, overwhelmed, and completely unprepared for such a task.

but i realized that with this project, as with most things in life, it was completed little by little and despite my trepidation, i did it! i'm still proud of the work i did in that class and had completely forgotten about that project until today at 12:20pm in my humanities 202 class.

right now, we're learning about the romantic period in music. we've been listening to a lot of puccini and wagner.

today, we listened to rachmaninoff.

my professor told us that rachmaninoff's piano concertos are the most difficult piano pieces to date and that you are a true professional pianist when you can play them.

to demonstrate this, he showed us a video of the subject of my 6th grade project, vladimir horowitz.

i realized while i was watching that i had never seen him play because back in 1998, youtube didn't even exist.

and after watching, i can say that my respect for this man has grown exponentially.

not only did he successfully and beautifully place this piece, HE DID IT FROM MEMORY.

see for yourself:

commercial break!

i have three tests and one presentation this week.

ugh.

i've been killing two birds with one stone by listening to the music i have to know for my humanities class while studying the art works i have to know for tomorrow's exam.

and i cannot stop listening to this song:

so beautiful.