T-Gives 2012

HAPPY LATE THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE

(Disclaimer: this is a long post, but totally worth your time, I think. Not to toot my own horn or anything.)

Oh how I just love the holidays! Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year are some of my most favorite days of the year. Besides the exquisite food, generally genial company, and overall spirit of happiness, these days provide a time to really stop and think about what it is in life that really means the most to you. And I love that. So, in this time of thanks, there were a few things that really stuck out in my mind that I am especially grateful for.

1.

The gospel of Jesus Christ

I am so thankful for my knowledge of the gospel, and for the blessings that it has brought into my life. The Lord watches out for me constantly, and feeling His spirit in my life is such a priceless gift that I am grateful for every day. I love having my own testimony of the gospel, and being able to share it with those around me. 

I feel so blessed to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!

(If anyone is curious about my religion, you can find out more here)

2.

My INCREDIBLE fam bam.

I thoroughly don't believe that I deserve them in my life, and am so thankful everyday that I got so lucky.

Every single one of my family members is an inspiration to me in one way or another.

Papa has taught me that people take priority in life. We should always do what Jesus would do. No questions asked.

Mama has taught me that service is the most powerful way to show people you care. And it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg to do so.

Cami has taught me to be passionate about life, and to love what I do and be committed to it.

Gabby has taught me to not take myself so seriously that I lose sight of what is important. She's taught me to be myself and use my strengths to help others to feel special, and to let my light shine.

Christy has taught me to always believe in myself and to work my butt off for the things I want. She's also taught me to have compassion for those I come in contact with, always.

Gideon has taught me to be endlessly curious. He's taught me that I can do whatever I want, and to never let anyone stop me. 

Grandpa has taught me that a little hard work and a positive attitude can get you anywhere. There's no use crying over spilled milk!

Grandma has taught me that strength isn't always a loud gesture, sometimes it's quiet faith and dedication. She's taught me to be a good example to others and to always laugh...and a good chick flick can make any day better. 

3.

The people that make my life better: my FRIENDZ.

There are so many of these people that I don't have room to mention...people from back home, freshman year, my various wards, etc etc that touch my life every day and make me happy, but there are a few in particular that watch over me...

Cameron 

Troy

Delaney

Hayley

Beth

Tiffany

Hannah

Kelsey

Adam

and a bunch of others.

These people support me, make me laugh, mock me, listen to me talk about evverryytthiinngg, and just make me a generally happy person. And I will love them forever for making me happy. Hopefully I can give back even a little bit of what they give to me.

4.

My awesome JOB

I seriously adore working at the Museum of Art. I love being that close up to something I am so passionate about, and having the opportunity to have an impact on what is going on around me. 

Not to mention I get paid for touching priceless works of art....wooooooooooooo!

5.

Art and clothes and music and dancing and all the other things that make life so beautiful!

I know these things are non-essential in life, but you have to agree, the world is a more beautiful place to be because of them. I am so grateful to live in a place where I have the opportunity to be passionate about these things. We are so blessed to live in a country that, although it has it's flaws (doesn't every country, though?) allows us the opportunity to do what we want, and what we love. That's a gift that I think I take for granted much to often.

So, folks, that's what I'm grateful for this t-giving season. 

AND NOW FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE:

PHOTO SHOOT PICTURES

Bloggity bloggity blog

I would like you all to know that I have this overwhelming desire to make this into a fashion blog. Which I might just have to do...because guess what there aren't enough of in this world: fashion blogs.

oh wait.......

ANYWAY,

I just really love my clothes. Quite a bit actually. I like wearing them. A lot.

Pour example:

Today I wore a long, cream-colored fur vest. And guess what: 

I LOVED EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF IT.

Are there style-challenged people who harassed me because of said-vest? Absolutely.

But did I feel like a rockstar anyway? You bet your booty I did.

This is why I love fur vests: because you simultaneously can look totally bad-A and classy. I love both of those words. Therefore, I love fur vests. enough said.

This is almost identical to the one I have:

And I rocked it with some high-waisted blue skinny jeans, a nude/tan blouse with a peter pan collar and my deep red patent leather combat boots. I LOOKED GREAT.

And I sometimes just want to share with the world what I look like. Because sometimes people out here just don't understand exactly what I'm accomplishing by wearing such gutsy clothing.

They just don't get it.

ALSO, today I downloaded a free trial of Adobe Suite CS6...and let me tell you, as a prospective Graphic Design major....I am completely in love. It's tricky to get the hang of...but I'm practicing and I have already created some dang awesome magic with that ish. I am just so in love with what I do. I can't stand it!

So, hopefully I will post some of my work later so you can see just the kind of spectacular things I am capable of. It's gonna be really great.

Well, universe, I think it's about time that I hit the sack. I just had a huge burger, fries and Dr. Pepper...which was a dumb idea. Because now my tummy is full and I am sleepy...but tons of sugar (not to mention caffeine) doesn't exactly work wonders for sleeping habits.

Also, let it be known that tomorrow, November 13th, is

WORLD KINDNESS DAY!

So, please, ladies and gentlemen, please go out of your way to spread a little kindness and cheer tomorrow. Pay it forward, y'all! 

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear"

I know it's not Christmas just yet, but here in our little BYU family, the Christmas season is in full swing. We've got constant Christmas tunes going, an excessive amount of Christmas decor, and we even have had the Yule log channel thing going. 

So, by my logic: World kindness day + Christmas cheer = the best day ever.

Make it happen everyone. Make it happen.

I promise you will not be sorry.

NOW, for your viewing pleasure:

Chicks wearing skirts made of cupcake liners!

(I thought this was appropriate with all the fashion talk and all...I mean these little chickies got it GOIN' ON!)

Have an impeccable world kindness day! :)

Remember, spread that cheer!

Of School, School Clothes, Fall, and Fall Clothes...

Ladies and gentlemen, as many of you know, I love clothes. I love fashion. I love shoes. I love hair. I love bags. I love good-smelling things. Etc etc etc.

Well, there are two times a year that I really love to go a little crazy and get some new clothing to put on this old body of mine. And those times are as follows:

SCHOOL TIME

&

FALL TIME

There are very few things in this world that make me happier than buying pretty new things. Here are some of my new obsessions/finds:

Burgundy coated jeans.

Super chic black cut-out button-down.

NEW DRESS THAT I AM OBSESSED WITH

And of course, leather pants. Who could live without leather pants?! (vegan leather, of course)

Anyway, these are a few of the things that have graced my wardrobe as of late, and I absolutely adore them.

Looking cute just makes boring school more bearable by leaps and bounds.

Also, I've been working on a lot of typography lately. I should really put up some pictures so you know what I am talking about, but I simply love doing it. My mind gets a break from the mundane and I adore it.

I hope y'all are having a great school year so far and that you've found some delicious new clothes to wear that make you feel like a goddess as well. 

xoxo

Allie

Oh Sweet Vacation...

There are a lot of things in this world that I love:

BYU

Sleep

My job (believe it or not)

Popsicles

Adventures

My Family

(these are not in order of importance....just FYI...I DO love my family more than popsicles...most of the time)

Church

Music

J-Lo (SERIOUSLY)

ALL of the Rocky movies

People to love

Clothes...and money to buy said clothes

Cute people...cute person in particular...

NOODLES AND CO.

Best friends!!

and mostly right now I love:

VACATIONS!

(here's the thing that I don't really like so much right now: when my brother makes me smell his hand after he feeds the dog...do NOT fall for this trick)

Anyway, I am visiting home right now...and I love it. I love the green trees and the people who know who I am, and the smiling and waving at strangers (it just doesn't happen in Utah the same way it does in Minnesota) and the best friends who know you so well that you don't even have to tell each other what you're thinking...THEY JUST KNOW! Wowza, I forgot how great that is.

Do I miss BYU, you ask? Yeah...I do. I miss my apartment, I miss doing what I want when I want and I miss the people (some more than others) in Utah...

BUT being home is a much needed break from adulthood. Sleeping in, eating food that was cooked by SOMEONE ELSE, not having to go to work (YES!), playing, swimming, JUST DANCE, sleepovers. Basically just being a kid again for a couple of weeks...it's the best. Really really it is. I love it. 

And the best part of all of this is that my family is HILARIOUS.

Seriously. I just soil myself every time we are all together because they are so hilarious. 

Lets just say that there were MULTIPLE instances this last week (enough to make a substantial montage) where people spit various liquids out of their mouths and/or were squirted out their noses because the hilariousness was just so overwhelming.

In essence: my family is hilarious.

My family spent this last week up north in Marcell, Minnesota in a LOG CABIN. A real log cabin, people!

It was, simply put, RIDICULOUSLY WONDERFUL.

We were right on a gorgeous lake, we went canoeing, I learned how to cross stitch. (yes, ME)

and in the process of taking that picture, I accidentally made a video (which is flipped horizontally...please excuse) and I thought that some of you may want to watch it, so for your viewing pleasure, here is 

THE ACCIDENTAL VIDEO

Disclaimer: there is music from Toy Story in the background...yes, yes I WAS listening to this music...no need to judge.

So, yeah. My life eez GOOD.

I hope you all had a fabulous summer! Mine was just crazy...and fun...and CRAZY.

adios mi amigos.

Be Perfected in Him...

Today, as you all know, is SUNDAY!

Here's what I like about Sundays: sleeping in (WAY in), going to church, feeling the spirit, taking naps, eating cereal, seeing my sister, naps....

Anyway, today was a pretty good Sunday. I had some time during church to think about the things that really are (and aren't) important in my life right now. 

Things like my profession, what I should be doing right now, where I want to be in 5 years, what's happened in the past year, what things I want to improve upon personally, and how I treat the people in my life. 

These are all things that have been on my mind a lot lately...and today I got to ponder these questions. 

Which was wonderful. 

In my opinion, that is a very important part of worship on Sundays--thinking about what the Lord has planned for you and how you can follow his will and become who he knows you can be.

Especially at this point in my life, where my options are so open and I am so free to choose where I go. 

I know that the Lord loves me and he wants what is best for me. I know that he wants to help me as much as I will let him (which sometimes isn't very much....my stinking pride gets in the way a lot) and pick me up when I fail or when I feel lost. 

This is the plan of the Lord, that we learn and grow and try to become as much like Christ as we can. He wants us to serve others and to be kind to those around us. And He will always be there to bless us and help us along the way.

"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God." 

-Moroni 10:32, The Book of Mormon

I know this to be true, that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are separate beings who love us more than we can ever know. They want what is best for us! They want us to be happy and to work to be better, because lets be honest, what in this world feels better than improvement?! 

This is why Sundays are good, ladies and gents! We get a chance to reflect on what really matters, our shortcomings, our challenges, our blessings, and our goals. 

I am so blessed to have found this gospel. 

(For those of you who are interested in what I believe, you can find more information here)

(And if you would like to look at The Book of Mormon, you can find an online copy here)

Also, Sundays mean naps. Which are my personal favorite thing in the world. 

:) I hope all of you had a spectacular Sunday and that your upcoming week looks bright and full of promise for improvement and some good ol' summer fun!

Take it easy everyone! Progress, not perfection. Remember that!

Also, try to implement these things this week, they truly help! 

Read more »

Red Saltwater Sandals...

Well, world: I AM IN LOVE!

With my Saltwater Sandals!

Thank you, Naomi at Rockstar Diaries for inspiring me. 

Naomi is this lovely lovely woman who has impeccable taste and an adorable family. I am addicted to her blog. And you should all check it out! Anyway, I bought some Saltwater sandals for this summer and I am head over heels in LOVE with them. I wear them everywhere.

Here are some pictures of my lovely beauties:

Yes, I love these shoes so much that I had a photo shoot with them.

(My summer has been kinda slow thus far...don't judge.)

(enlarge this one! You can read the bottom of my shoe...that was the point....)

So, yeah my life eez GOOD.

I've been working my BUNS off lately. I have two jobs at the BYU Museum of Art.
1. Security guard
2. Student assistant in the Registration department.
Basically what that means is I get to touch all the art and do condition reports...and filing. Lots of filing.

I LOVE MY JOBS.
I am a very lucky gal!

On Memorial Day, my lovely roommate Elise and I went to J-Dawgs (the most delicious hot dog joint in all the land) and Spoon-it-up (FRO-YO!) and then we came home and made melted crayon art and watched NEW YEARS EVE!! Which, I adore. I love that movie more than words can say.

Here are some pictoral representations of our fun:

 Here's what you need to make brilliant crayon art:
 a hot glue gun, crayons (crayola is always best), canvases or canvas board (I guess cardboard would work too), and a BLOWDRYER.

Step one: Unwrap your crayons! Unless of course, you like the look of the wrapper...then by all means, leave that wrapper on! Follow your ambition.

Step TWO: line up your crayons in whatever order you like! 

(we broke ours into smaller pieces and put them side-by-side to make thicker strips of color)

HOT GLUE those babies down!

Step the LAST: Blow dry the heck outta those crayons! Mess around with heat and power settings so you find one that you like and think works the best. 

Tilt that canvas all around to aim your melted-crayons wherever you want them! 

ET VOILA! :) Crayon art!

Aren't we just the cutest crayon-artists you ever did see??

(sorry some of those are blurry...I was just so excited!)

We made a giant bed nest to watch our movie in. IT WAS AWESOME. Very cozy :)

Also, I pretty much ate that whole box of grasshopper cookies by myself...oh well. It was so delicious, it was bound to happen.

So yeah, life is good! :)

This is my NEW FAVORITE SONG. It is on constant repeat. LISTEN TO IT.

I am in love with Carrie Underwood.
This is "Blown Away" by Carrie Underwood.
Enjoy :)

I hope everyone has been having a fun summer.

Also, just for your information, this blog has over 10,800 views!! Which is bizarre...and awesome. So keep up the good work, viewers!! :)

All Things NEW

Well, readers, it's been about ten billion years since I last wrote...it seems like all my posts start with that nowadays. Oh well.

Well, my life has been a roaring, ever-changing adventure. 

Freshman year has ended. Spring term has started.

I've stayed here in Provo...I mean, going home to Minnesota, as amazing as it would be, would not be a super smart thing to do at this moment. I have two great jobs here, and I bet my bottom that I wouldn't be able to get a job anywhere back home. 

So, Provo it is. The bright shining place that I call home. 

(that was sarcasm)

So, in case you all haven't heard, I am no longer an art major.

I was not accepted into the program, and it felt like a sign that I am supposed to do something else with my life. 

Art will always be a part of me (I have not one, but TWO jobs in the art museum for crying out loud), but it will not be my profession. 

I think that was just always the way it was supposed to be. I think I would feel useless if I just dedicated my life to art. I love art. But I think doing something else will be a better option for me.

I have definitely written about this before...deja vu. Oh man.

SO! My new major/life plan is.....

**drumroll please**

NURSING!

I feel good about it. I think it's where I am supposed to be. I mean, I know I said that about art too, but nursing provides many opportunities to help those in need, obviously, and that has always been something that is important to me.

The program is super duper hard to get in to, but I know I can do it...eventually :)

Enough of catching you guys up with all that boring yada yada.

Time for a BLURB about my best friend: CARLOS!

This man is extraordinary! And I just love him so so so much. 

Here are some pictures of my adventures with Carlito:

He is the best, sweetest, most wonderful best friend a girl could ask for.

I LOVE YOU CARLOS! :)