Newly Updated

So today I made some updates to my blog. I'm not sure that I love them just yet. Let me know what you think about it. I would like to try and switch out that picture to the right of this post maybe every week, or every other week. What are your thoughts?

Also, blog post from yesterday which was put up this morning...that was due to a blogspot fail. I had it ready to go and then it kept telling me error error error for too long (then I gave up and went to sleep)!

Cars 2 and A Song

We went to see Cars 2 tonight with the youth group; I wasn't super into the idea of seeing this movie. However, I laughed a great deal during the movie. There was a lot of subtle adult humor, mainly stereotyping and pop culture references. I liked it. I can't recall Cars that much, but I know that this storyline was more centered around Mator than Lightning McQueen. Overall I'd say Cars 2 is the Fast and the Furious of Pixar movies.

Also, I've been in a Brett Dennen mode all day, playing the Loverboy album nonstop. First when I listened to this album I thought that it was terrible. The more I've been listening to it though, I realize how much I like it! Check out the song Dancing At A Funeral by Brett Dennen, I'm real into it right now: 

Seattle Public Libraries

Today I got a library card for the Seattle Public Libraries. No, I didn't have one before. Yes, I'm being serious. However, I did have a King County library card growing up, which was rarely used. I just was never interested in the library. I barely ever went to the library at school, only when my class would go, but never for fun.

I nanny two girls who love to read. They really inspire me to want to read (I'm inspiring them to like math since their mom is making them do 2-4 pages a day all summer) because they do it so often...by choice! I was never ever ever like that as a child (or as an adult!). It's so cool and a little odd to see them enjoy it so much because it's something I don't like at all. Like I mentioned in a previous post, it's probably because I'm not good at it. Being with the girls and having them reading all the time, really leaves me only one choice, join the club. So I've been reading a ton (relative term) lately and I want to keep reading.

When the girls and I first went to the SPL near us, I was astonished by the size, variety, easiness, and so much more. We found some books to take with us and we put some books on hold for them. I went back today with my roomie Olivia, got a card, placed a book on hold, and we checked out 4 movies! The librarian said they have new releases come too and that I should check the catalog online for a full list of DVDs. The library is a completely different place than it used to be. Heck, I even checked out a non-fiction wedding book that I'm actually EXCITED to read.

Who am I and what had happened to the old me...?

Postcards

Today I received a postcard from a good friend of mine who is spending a month of her summer studying abroad. She sent my postcard from Cape Town, South Africa. Within the past year or so, I've developed a great love for postcards. When I went traveling a few years ago, I thought postcards were lame. I don't recall sending them to anyone, but my friends with me were always sending them out. Now, I love getting them!

I think postcards are such an interesting way to share an experience with people. Last year, I got a postcards from Athens, Uganda, and Kenya. (not to mention the postcards Grace and I got on our road trip from every state we went to between WA and MI)  I like reading the little blurbs written on them; I feel like I'm there living it as well. I have given my address to many friends who have plans of studying, missioning, or just traveling abroad. I can't wait to see where my postcards will come from!

Wedding Blogs

I love wedding blogs. I've spent the vast majority of my day today doing nothing but looking at wedding blogs. I'm really into DIY wedding things right now. I think they're such a fun twist. Looking through pictures of other people's weddings in weird, but at the same time I can't get enough of it! I love seeing the different things people have or do for their special day; the pictures from the event give insight to the type of people they are, it's so interesting.

I think what got me started doing this today was just looking at the pictures of my friends who got married this weekend. So many weddings. Congratulations to all of you!! Wedding season 2011 is in full force this year. I'm loving every minute of it!

Ready, Set, Read.

Reading. I don't like it. Why? Because I'm not good at it. The only way to improve is to read more, but because I'm not good at it and therefore don't like it, it's hard to get me to read. I'm not illiterate, I'm not incapable, I'm just not interested. However, I did finish a book today. This is a shocking revelation to my friends and family I am sure.

I really would like to be "a reader" if you will. I'm trying to be one over summer. Fact of the matter, during the school year, I don't really have time to read; I'm too busy studying, working, extracurriculars, etc to read. Though, what I have been doing now is reading right before I go to bed (yeah yeah yeah I know a lot of people do this, but here me out). I recently saw a study the examined the amount and quality of sleep people got when they went to bed right after having used electronics such as a laptop or television. The light given off from these things does something with your brain that makes you sleep poorly. Since this study, I've experienced it first hand. On nights where I shut my laptop and go straight to bed, I wake up feel not well rested and having had moved about a lot. However, on nice where I shut my laptop and open a book for 25-45 minutes, I wake up in the morning feeling great and my times my blankets unmoved.

So now, no matter how sleepy I'm feeling I read before going to bed not only to make me smarter and a better reader, but to improve the quality of sleep I'm getting. Try it. Let me know how it works for you. I'm off to bed and on to book two of the summer!

It's Like Camping

Today after work I had a variety of different plans I could choose to attend. I could have gone out with my housemates to the Mariners game, went to Grace's house to visit, stayed home in solitude, but instead I chose to go to my mother's house. A few reasons were behind this decision. I needed to do laundry...for free. I wanted to take crap I didn't want and give it to her to deal with. And of course, I hadn't seen her in over a month so I figured it would be a nice gesture.

While driving, as I was sitting in Friday night- rush hour- Seattle sports traffic, I remembered something substantial. I no longer have a bed at my mother's house. Where will I sleep? I thought. I figured maybe by now she'd move in the spare futon and it would be set up in there, but that was wishful thinking. Upon parking, I prayed she was home. It was kind of a surprise I was coming, so she wasn't expecting me. But I needed her to be there because I also remembered that I don't have a house key on my set of keys anymore because like a fool I removed it months ago and have forgotten numerous times to put it back on.

Thankfully, my mother was not only home, but she also answered the door. Now, I'm sleeping on top of three comforters on the floor. My mom said, "It's like camping, but inside and no bugs!" I guess...

Prevented: Hyperventilation

Fun fact of the day, I am afraid of spiders. I don't mean it in the I'm a girl and all girls are afraid of spiders way. I'm talking deathly afraid, severe arachnophobia status. As in hyperventilation, take me to a hospital and give me some oxygen. Not only that, but I can have terrible panic/anxiety attacks afterwards. It's not fun.

So tonight, I was talking about how comfortable my couch is with a friend (who is sleeping on the couch) and I told her that I'd slept on it willingly before. I then told her about a time when I saw a spider in my room. I was so scared that I immediately began to hyperventilate and ran into my mother's room. I couldn't tell her what was wrong, let alone where the spider was because I couldn't breathe! After calming down, I told her where I had seen the horrible beast, but upon checking out the situation, no spider was to be found. (Go figure.) Since my mother couldn't find it, I was not going to take any risks sleeping with it; instead I chose to sleep on the couch.

After telling my friend this story I go into my bedroom to grab her a blanket, when low and behold a HUGE SPIDER is just chillin' on the floor like he owns the joint. Let's just say I was not calm, but thankfully my friend was there to get it for me. Thankfully, she got it before I had the chance to really see it. It got me thinking though, what would I have done had she not been here? Normally I would have had one of my roommates get it, but since they both weren't here tonight and my friend came kind of sporadically, I was almost left to fend for myself against the one main thing I fear...

I'd like to think God wouldn't put my in such a situation. (right God, am I right?!)  

Kajabe Can Can

Youth Group was tonight and I will have a sweet bruise mid shin in the upcoming days. At YG tonight we kicked off the summer by separating into two teams that we will be with all summer. Out first task was to pick a team name, pick two team colors, and then create a team song with the leaders names in it to the beat of a kids song. My team is called Bieber Fever (don't judge me, leaders didn't pick), our colors are red and black, and our song is to the beat of twinkle twinkle. After this, each team took turns telling what they'd decided one. This summer Bieber Fever will be competing with Team Voldemort...

Following said activity, we played a classic (banned) Young Life game: Kajabe Can Can. Now, this game is very very very freakin dangerous. I've known people who have dislocated things and broke things (body parts and physical items) because of this game. The goal of this game is to pretty much whip opponents to the garbage can so they touch it. You make a circle around a garbage can, hold hands, or grab wrists, and pull, whip, body slam, etc others to the can thus making them out. My team won two out of three rounds. The second round we played all the girls played, even the leaders. We were dominating. It came down to one Voldemort against me and three of my Bieber Fever sisters. We got the girl out, but her and I were holding hands so once she let go and feel to the grass, the same happened to me. I've got a nice little grass stain on my skin and soon a bruise.

Also, I'm going to be leading a small group of middle school girls who are going to camp this summer. They needed a girl leader and I said I would do it, but I didn't think I would get it considering how new I am! I'll also be giving a talk on night in August for the summer series. It was just a very awesome day at YG tonight. I really like it there.

Baking Away

Today was my first day with a new family. They have two girls, ages 9 and 7. These girls should be super fun to be with this summer. I'll be with them only on Mondays and Tuesdays, but I will be with them 8 hours a day! I know it's not Monday, nor is it Tuesday, but I'm with them the end of this week because they just got out of school.

We had a great time today! We colored, using the most amazing crayons ever! They're called silky crayons and they are the most amazing texture; I loved them! We also made a cake...from scratch...without a recipe...without a mixer. Not only that, but we substituted Silk Pure Almond Vanilla for milk. We added too much sugar. We had the smallest sifter. It was a hassle to say the least. But, in the end, the cake didn't taste that bad. It was a yellow cake and we put a butterscotch caramel swirl on top. When it was done cooking, it was a little (a lot) dense, but eatable. The girls also wanted frosting, of course! So we made a chocolate buttercream frosting...from scratch...without a recipe...without a mixer. Not sure if you've ever made buttercream, but you want a mixer, you really want it. Also, we didn't have enough powdered suger, nor was the sifter any larger. It was difficult. Let's just say, my right arm is much stronger than it was when I got there. Nonetheless, the buttercream turned out delicious. The cake, frosted with the buttercream, was so sweet that I'm certain I have cavities from it.

The girls had funny doing it though. They enjoyed the cake a lot. In fact, they wanted to make cupcakes tomorrow. I said no :) . Tomorrow should be fun though. We plan on going to the library to read (they love reading), making dreamcatchers, making Kool-Aid popsicles, and maybe watching a Pokemon movie and having popcorn, since rain is expected...boo.

What sort of fun activities did you do when you were younger?  

The Saddest of All Sacks

I've missed out on blogging... fail again. I've been with my friend who has been on bedrest, entertaining her, hanging out, shooting the breeze; all that fun stuff. I am in desperate need of sleep as I have work bright and early in the morning as well as a Youth Group BBQ tomorrow (wednesday) night. More from me tomorrow, pinky promise!

Nighty night blogging friends :)

Father's Day

Today was Father's Day. Like most people I celebrated my father, however this is not something I love doing or look forward to at all. I have never had much of a relationship with my father; we only started bonding when we had a mutual enemy: my mother and her husband. They say the enemy of my enemy is my friend...

Any who, for Father's Day my father and I went out to dinner to a little restaurant called The Counter. I love this place. If you've never been, go. I must warn you, prices are a little high, but it's worth it for the quality of food you are getting. This is a burger place that serves the best meats and freshest ingredients, as well as my new favorite item, sweet potato fries! yummy :)

Here's what I order: I like to get the make your own option. I check the chicken box, the 1/3 lb box (which is the smallest serving of meat they offer), and the bun box. Next I choose sharp provolone cheese. Then I pick dried cranberries, grilled onions, and the lettuce blend. I go with the basil pesto sauce. And finally check the multigrain bun option. Now, each different category contains many different options to decide on and let me tell you, it's not easy! I loved this sandwich. I left Counter feeling very full. I recommend going here if you haven't because it is so good!!

A Father's Day well spent I'd say.

Update On My Friend

Well, yesterday in the afternoon my friend finally was able to go home. She had a crazy experience at the hospital. What happened was she had an ovarian cyst that ruptured. This was causing the pain in her lower abdomen. Because of this, her shoulder was affected as well. The blood, not being inclosed by veins, flowed freely throughout her body, pocketing itself in her right shoulder. That is what was causing the muscle spasms in her arm.

She's all doped up and on bed rest now, so keep her in your prayers please.

Waiting

It was just a great friend over for an ordinary visit, or so I thought. She had been feeling a bit sick, mostly stomach pains, but we decided to go out and get coffee in light of the situation. What transpired after we were done, is still a mystery to me.

As we were walking to my car, we stopped a few times because she felt a bit nauseous; then she started to feel dizzy. She was stumbling around acting like she was going to collapse, so I grabbed her by the arm to hold her up and guide her...jokingly I assumed. We were going to get into my car when I said, "You look ghostly right now. hahaha!" I didn't think she was actually sick and dizzy, but she was. She collapsed onto the car and straight to the concret.

I'm laughing, thinking this was some over the top joke. She's sitting on the ground, unable to stand or get into the car. A very nice man asks if we need help, he thinks she's drunk, but I assure him she's not. We don't take the help. After getting into the car, I offer to take her to the hospital, but she doesn't want to go right away; we don't even make it back to my place before she needs me to pull over because she thinks she's going to vomit.

We get back. She lays down, eats a few Tums, has some water, and puts a heating pad on her lower abdomen. All the while we are trying to figure out what could be wrong with her. She lays in pain for hours, not wanting to go to the hospital, though it seems like the smartest thing to do. Her right shoulder begins to hurt as well. I want to take her to the hospital; she wants to stay.

I can't stand hearing her moan and whimper about pain, knowing I can't do anything. I literally am incapable of helping my friend. She can't move without feeling more pain, she can't lay without being in pain. My friend is hurting and I am helpless in the situation.

Her boyfriend arrives to pick her up. He wants to take her to the hospital. She's getting worked up. She's crying. I can do absolutely nothing. As they leave I tell him to keep me posted on what's happening. She apologizes for the night. "It's not your fault," I say. My friend leaves, I wait to hear about what's wrong. I wait... I wait...

...still waiting.

Super Saver

One goal my friend Grace and I have for the summer is to become "Extreme Couponers". Let me tell you how freakin important this is as college students! I never used coupons growing up, but now I'm obsessed with them. Tonight my roommate Olivia and I clipped coupons, compared prices and sales at different stores, and then shopped. As a general rule saving more than you spend is always great. I did it! I saved saved saved at the three stores we went to. It was great.

I'll be using coupons and expanding my couponing skills throughout the summer, so I'll keep you posted on how I do. If you have any strategies, please let me know!

Livin' On A Prayer

Daily blog fail. Sorry, I missed Wednesday! Because I missed it, I'm going to blog now and then again later today (hopefully!). 

So Wednesday nights are going to look a little different for me from now on. I'm going to be volunteering at Bethany Community Church with the high school ministries. I've decided that, rather I feel called to work at BCC as opposed to lead Young Life again. I'm not sure why, but I'm interested to find out. The kids I've met so far are nothing like I was expecting them to be. I think I had this preconceived notion of what the youth group kids of my church were like...I was nowhere near accurate.

I'm excited to see what I can do for these kids; respectively, I'm excited to see what they in turn can do for me. I'm nervous because I want them to like me. I'm nervous because I want the other leaders to like me. Although I shouldn't really care what they think about me, I secretly do.

I pray (and ask you to join me) in the following: For the hearts of my students to be open. For them to feel comfortable enough with me to let me into their lives. For God, to be the sole reason why I do what I do and for nothing to come in the way of Him. I pray for the church as whole, and all those who lead. I ask for patience, guidance, love, and mercy for not only myself but for everyone in this ministry and everyone affected by it. 

Amen.   

The Tards

After moving into my apartment, I quickly found out my housemates had a secret obsession. Shay Carl, a YouTube partner has a reality show, if you will. It's a Vlog series that has been ongoing for about three years now. Shay does not disclose the names of his family members though, rather they are referred to as "[Blank] tard". Shaytard, babytard, rocktard, princesstard are a few examples.

This has become a daily bonding experience for us as we check YouTube for the new most daily. Find out about the Shaytards here. I also follow Shay and his wife on twitter...they are a very funny family. See why we love the tards and subscribe to them!

Elderly Driving

Okay it's day two! I'm doing good so far.

Today my housemate Krista and I did some running around. While we were out and about, we discussed a problem that seemed to keep arising, it happened at least a handful of times. The problem that we kept experiencing was with old people and their driving skills. It's cliché, I know, to say old people can't drive, but it was so true to me today!

Here's what we were discussing: We think that after a certain age in life, people should be required to take a driving test again. It's not a matter of being mean and thinking that ALL elderly people are poor drivers, but a good some of them should not be on the road. At the same time, I understand that there would be many reasons /circumstances as to why the elderly would need to drive, but I think those reasons have easier solutions than we think.

I suggested to my speech and debate coach to use this topic for debates in his class. I'd be interested to hear the arguments of both sides.

What do you think? Should the elderly be required to take another drive test to determine whether or not they should carry a valid license?

What Would You Do?

It's day one of my daily blogging challenge. Here's the situation:

I just finished preparing a delicious batch of No-Bake Cookies with my friend Grace. They're so good. So rich. So easy. (here is the recipe I use) My roommate was on her way home from work and she was feeling hungry. She decided to stop at Dick's where she had to wait about 10 minutes and paid just under $5. Considering this all went down at about a quarter to midnight, what would you have done?

Would you have paid, waited, and consumed two cheeseburgers? OR would you have come straight home, and ate a rich/filling No-Bake Cookie for free?

We want to know! What would you have done if you were in the same situation?

So Much Has Happened...

A lot of things have happened since my last entry. Many laughs, a few screams and scares, and of course many memories have been made. As I gear up for summer, I want to challenge myself to become a daily blogger. That being said, I probably won't start until my finals are over. Give me a week, one week. Then I will start my challenge. Until then, here are some pics of whats been going down.

My cousin and me at my Grandmother's event in Arizona.

 The formal event with my Grandmother and mother.

 The formal event with my cousin.

A week later, the ball for my dorm at the Space Needle (yes, same dress).

Leadership celebration with the hall council team, minus one (the guy in the previous picture who is on the far right).

Camp Shapadooah 

 NW Folk Life Festival with the beautiful Jessica!

 June 3, 2011. Jessica's birthday! A little sunshine photo shoot, the Mariners game, and Red Robin at the waterfront.