Confession

Things I Don't Care About

- Making the bed

- Folding the clothes in the dryer

- Blogging (my therapist and I are working on this)

- My cereal addiction

- Cleaning out my car

- Repeating outfits weekly

- Cooking dinner (sorry Adam)

- Getting ready in the mornings

- Mopping the floor (is there a pattern here?. . . . .  Yeah lost that cleaning feeling a long time ago

- Socializing-it's not you, it's us

- Sleeping

Let's hear your dark confessions,

what is on your don't care list?

grat·i·tude

Noun:

-the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful

-kindness awakened by a favor received

I have been meaning to write something I am grateful for

each day during November

I am a little behind, so am catching up tonight with 8 things:

1- The ability to run

2- My husband-I could write a months worth of reasons why

Currently I am grateful for his patience with the sink full of dishes, laundry room of clothes, and an un-made bed.

3- Freedom

4- My job-they have been so gracious in putting up with my insane schedule

5- Crockpots-new favorite kitchen gadget. I put some goodies inside in the morning, and come home after a long day to a home filled with a sweet, savory aroma.

6- School

7- Friends

8- Sleep- I love hitting my feather-down pillow at night, I just need to figure out how to get more!

Fall Resolutions

I am an official blog slacker!!

Today at work I finally got the blog bug again, something that I have not had for a long time.

I apologize for the LONG absence,
(emphasize when reading the word long)

It is my favorite season!

I love fall........


The bright colors


the stormy weather


Carving pumpkins


This lovely drink


and.......


the fall fashion


In honor of my favorite season,
this weekend I have made a few new "fall resolutions"

1-Training begins: I have taken a month and a half off. I went from running 23-26 miles a week to 10-15 a week (if I am lucky). The new running season is around the corner, and the lotteries for races are about to begin. So I made myself a new schedule and it starts on Monday.

2-Long hair: I have made a commitment to grow my hair out again. Sorry not a very flattering picture, I am at work so my picture selection is limited. I have also made a resolution that when my hair is long, I will do it more often, rather than rely on the oh-so-convenient ponytail.



3.Catch up on all my reading: This is a tough one, but something that must be done. Midterms were last week, and although I passed all of them, none of the scores will be bragged about. So to get the grades that I am hoping, I must re-commit myself to school this semester.

4.Spend more time on the important things: Why is it that the most important things fall so easily to the bottom of the list? I am reorganizing myself to spend time each day reading my scriptures, or anything spiritual. I hate how easily I tend to let these things slide.

I love how each week feels like a new beginning.

I hope everyone is enjoying fall!

L'oreal

Alright, 

this post is going to be a plea for help!

A little background:

L'oreal comes to BYU campus each year and hosts a competition.

It is called "Brandstorm" and each year they present us with a new brand

that we have to re-market, or create.

This year we have been asked to create a fragrance for Maybelline.

The competition starts at BYU, then goes to New York, and then the finals are in Paris.

Last year a team from BYU won the international finals in PARIS!!

So the competition is in phases:

1st Phase is: Research-we have to know the market, and also our target market

then if we pass that we move on to

Phase 2: which is where we actually create the brand.

So I need your help with the research.

I have attached a link to survey, 

it should take no longer than 5 minutes.

Just click on the link and answer the questions!!!

Thank you so much!!!!!

Survey here

Half Marathon

On Saturday August 30,

I woke up at 5:30,

Strapped on my new running shoes,

and headed to Emigration Canyon.

The sun was slowly rising over the mountains,

There was a strong chill in the air

My stomach was filled with butterflies as I approached the 

Starting Line at the bottom of the Canyon.

Thirteen miles, 

I stretched out my chilled legs and patiently waited for the

 race to start.

Here are some pictures of the days event.

We started at the bottom of the canyon,  

the first two miles were all up hill.

The race was incredible, and the view was breathtaking!

I finished third in my age group 

and my overall time was 1 hour 51 min.

I was very proud of my accomplishment

Next race: Marathon

Over The Rainbow

I am currently sitting on a round lunch table,

a table that has spots filled with crumbs,

lap top open,

papers spread out everywhere.

School started a week ago, and I feel like I haven't been able to catch my breath,

trying to balance 17 credits and 35 hour work weeks.

Those last few moments at night between climbing into bed

and falling into an exhausting sleep,

is the time Adam and I spend together.

Catching up with each other, right before our talking becomes incoherent mumbling.

Being busy is when I function best.

Having a plan or task for every hour of the day keeps me organized.

I manage my time better and get more accomplished.

I have cooked more in this last week, than I have in a long time.

I live by my planer and check list.

The days begin to blur into each other, but hey, I am getting things done.

I feel productive because I am busy, always going somewhere

or studying something.

It is only now, in this moment,

in a room filled with hundreds of people,

where there is a constant buzz of noise due to talking and laughing,

have I felt more, than I have in two weeks.

There is a piano 10 feet away from where I am sitting.

A guy just sat down and began playing,

and suddenly everything seemed to disappear.

The song "Over the Rainbow" began to echo through the walls,

and I was overcome.

Overcome with gratefulness

grateful for his musical talent, for this building,

for music, for the opportunity to go to school,

grateful for family, for a body that functions well, for people,

the list continues.

He has been playing for ten minutes now,

one beautiful song after another,

I have put all my school work aside and just sat for a moment,

doing nothing.

In one of his talks Elder Ballard talked about

"enjoying the fleeting moments, the quiet moments,"

and although he was talking about motherhood,

his words resonated with me today.

Only in those quiet moments, where we pause

can we see and feel the tender mercies of the Lord.

Sorry for the long absence, I am back now, and will be more consistent.

At least that is the goal!

A long post coming this weekend with pictures of a race I ran in two weeks ago.

Nie Day

For the last two weeks, I cannot seem to get Steph and her family out of my head.
Our families are connected by the same set of cousins,
So when I was younger I spent a lot of time over there.
I thought Stephanie was the "coolest" girl.
I loved her personality, her hair style, and you can just tell she knows who she is.

This tragedy has left me thinking,
Especially during the quiet moments right before I fall asleep,
and in the early morning hours, before I get out of bed.
I don't know why it has affected me so much-
We have talked over email a few times, and seen each other at family things,
but for some reason this crash has affected me a great deal.
I keep getting the reoccurring thought of how grateful I am for the gospel.
Events like this are so hard to understand or explain,
and although the Gospel doesn't take the pain or suffering away,
it provides some comfort, some hope.
The hope that Heavenly Father knows what is going on, and has a purpose for everything.

Tomorrow has been declared as Stephanie's Day!

There are so many different blogs putting on Silent Auctions, and Giveaways.

Here is just a small list of what is going on:

Design Mom- Silent Auction

Notes from Kate- Another auction

Caitlyn and Ashley are teaming up for a fantastic silent auction

Courtney is auctioning some BYU items off.

I will try to keep the list going as I find out more. Please take a look!