Lessons Learned

School has begun again and it is just as crazy, chaotic, and AWESOME as ever. It's been awhile so allow me to outline some lessons I've learned over the past month. Some are somber. Others are cheerful. All are pertinent:

1. Nursing is hard. I knew this coming into the semester OBVIOUSLY but it's been a lot of reading, time, concentration, and patience this time around. It's been an adventure. One that i am very lucky to be on and continue to enjoy everyday

2. The church is true. A lot of changes have come over the past month in school, relationships, family etc and the only thing getting me through everything is my testimony in the gospel.

3. Sometimes we have to do things that we don't want to do. Prayer, even if it tells us answers contrary to what we want, is key. Follow it and the Lord will help you through.

4. Family is everything. Again, I already knew this but recently it's been reaffirmed to me over and over again.

5. College is FUN! This is the time of our lives people! Activities, Sports, School, Dating, Friendship, Craziness.

This is it.

MAKE EVERY SECOND COUNT!

Melt Down

A few days ago I had an emotional breakdown. Not about school, boys, or my future. I know, shocker. Actually the whole premise of this blog brought about this meltdown. Braces. It's getting to my 6 year anniversary with these babies and although we have grown very close and shared some special time, mostly I just want to rip them off my teeth. I came home this summer with the intent of doing just that. FINALLY no more metal mouth brace face. Alas, as my summer draws to a close I go back to BYU, a senior in college, with my braces very much still intact. So, a few tears were shed, my orthodontist was dissed and my world felt like it was ending (dramatization!)
So, life goes on. with braces. Hopefully the people in the retirement home this fall won't mind being treated by a girl that looks like a 15 year old.

Let's take a look back at my braces and me through the years

Pre-braces (2005)

High school. All metal braces.

Now! Bring on the clear braces

All because two people fell in love

In the year 1974...

Gas was 55 cents a gallon
Richard Nixon was forced to resign as president
The Exorcist came into theaters
and
My parents got married!

37 years, 9 kids, 15 grand kids, and many happy moments later they are celebrating their LOVE! Happy anniversary to the best, most extraordinary, parents ever. 37 years and still going strong. Talk about a great example.

P.S. I had my mom put on her wedding dress last week. she is so cool. Happy day to "the most beautiful woman in the world"(dad's catch phrase)

Crafty!

I have been blessed with six sister and two sister in laws who are all SUPER creative, crafty, and stylish. A blessing...and a curse!

The problem: I can never keep up with their adorable home decor!
I'm a poor college student! Sometimes i have to choose food before decor. i know. A crime. It's difficult to copy my sisters' stinkin cute styles but I must try...somehow. I have pottery barn taste on a garage sale budget.

UNTIL:
Craft warehouse - the mecca of all things crafty in Beaverton, OR closed their store. I almost cried until I saw the bright yellow 70% off signs and then got quote a bit more cheery! I got a few supplies and started a new, awesome project for way CHEAP!

Before..and AFTER!

Hooks (4): $8
Ribbon: $3
Vinyl: $6
Adorable home decor that will look awesome in our apartment: priceless

Whack a mole and hogwarts trolls

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Definite highs and lows this week.

I'll start with the low point: I am a murderer.

My grandpa has a mole infestation so he has been trying to get me to "shoot the little buggers" but considering I don't know how to shoot a gun, nothing has been done. Until now. One day at work I was taking a break from painting and adjusting my radio when I heard a little rustle behind me. The grass was moving! A mole was creating another mound, just barely poking it's head out of the ground. I reacted to my first instinct and went to grab a hammer. I know. Seriously? I disgust myself. You don't need to know the rest of the details. Basically, the game of whack-a-mole has been forever tainted for me.

High point: 'ARRY POTTA!!!

I will start my review by saying I love Harry Potter. This book series has changed my life. You say dramatic? I say you're barking. HP FOREVER!

I LOVED THIS MOVIE! It was obviously different than the book but that's to be expected.

Best parts:
-Famous line from Molly Weasley when she DEMOLISHED Bellatrix
-19 years later. check! I was so happy!
-Neville's got the hots for Luna. Not in the book but LOVE IT
- Ron and Hermione Kissed. Fabulous

Lastly, Neville. I love him. He rocked this movie. and did anyone else notice what a babe he's become?! I mean seriously. Longbottom's got it going on.

Painting, painting, and more painting

My summer job this year is working for my grandpa. It's absolutely wonderful! All the same emotions and feel of a paycheck job but with no taxes taken out. ;) The job description mostly consists of outdoor work and frankly more physical labor than I expected but it's all good! For the past few weeks I've been painting the outside of my grandpa's house. All by myself. With a 4 inch wide paint brush...ya it has been quite the project.

Here are some things I've learned while painting:

1. Getting paint out of human hair is really really difficult.
2. Whoever thought of putting violins in pop/hip hop songs is a GENIUS
3. Jason Aldean's song Dirt road anthem...really?! a country rap. So horrible.
4. Taylor swift has a gift. Her lyrics make me cry!
5. Diet coke + winterfresh gum = tastes like dirt
6. Dr. Pepper + winterfresh gum = tastes like cough syrup
7. Moving around 400 pound scaffolding without wheels by yourself is EXHAUSTING!

Don't even worry. I'm alive

Why is it that the moment I have something AWESOME to blog about...I drop the ball? Seriously the moment my life got interesting I stopped blogging. lame. BUT never fear my few followers. My life has now resumed it's monotony so the world has been set right, I can continue to blog :)

The last month has been...WONDERFUL! I have learned a lot about myself and how great life is! I finished up school for the semester, miraculously doing well in my class even with something (or someone) distracting me every time I should have been studying! oh well, all's well that ends well.

I am now home around my most favorite people in the world: my family. Even though my fam is huge, everyone has LEFT so it's just my parents and me. I get to come home from work and hang out with the coolest people ever (aka my PARENTS!) every night. I'd say that makes for an awesome summer! This week we've been watching a new harry potter movie every night. Midnight premiere here we come! :)

Anyway this is just an update on life and and an apology for my lack of blogging enthusiasm as of late. my bad. Be prepared for a storm of blogging awesomeness soon to come.