hyhena (TM)

One of our friends always says common sayings/words wrong. We think they are pretty hilarious.

Yesterday was Andrew's birthday.

So here is the present we decided to give him.

The hyena I had to sketch freehand from a picture on the internet.

Trying to figure out the layout.

My pre-freezer paper template.

He thought Hyena had an 'h' - and that it was silent. haha

We are glad he can laugh about it too.

Freezer paper.

You cut out your image so it creates a stencil.

Freezer paper ironed onto the shirt.

Paint over your stencil. (I didn't have textile medium (long story) so I just diluted some acrylic paint so the consistency was kind of like milk.)

You are supposed to pull the freezer paper off while it is still wet - can anyone tell me why?

 Then you let it dry. (Or just use a hairdryer to speed things up...)

Sit back and admire the shirt that you just made. 

I kind of really love "hyhena" (TM).

It might possibly be the name of my future brand of something.

(I was inspired by this post. And now I really want to make that shirt too.)


Linking up here!

Weekend plans!!

1) work this afternoon even though I have too many hours.
2) chanon! The best Thai food in salt lake city.
3) movie tonight? This one is still up in the air. Ooh or stargazing if it doesn't rain.
4) stats review tomorrow bright and early. Still not a for sure thing but I hope so. I need all the stats help I can get.
5) bridal shower!! I'm excited! :D
6) I'm going to try and make a birdcage veil. I haven't decided if I'm going to use it but it seems super easy to make.
7) REAL Salt Lake game!!! Home opener. We were the champions last year, so I'm excited to see us play this year.
8) midnight movie tradition if possible and depending on what's there. I'm really going to miss the dollar theater when we ever move away from here.
9) study study study study study. Sound fun? That's because it is going to be a blast.
10) go buy this one dress I've been eyeing for awhile. I'm thinking it can double as my graduation and wedding luncheon dress. I will post you the link here when I get back to a real computer.
11) mail out our invitations!! I have them all labeled but I don't have stamps yet. Oh and we get our inserts on Saturday.

Wow. I love how busy life gets!!
Only 29 days!

- Posted from my iPhone

I love having good friends.

I just found out 3 of our friends went and bought me and David tickets to vampire weekend as our birthday presents!!! (mine is soon, his is april 1 and the concert is in between them.) Oh, so stoked to see them.

But even more grateful for the amazing people in my life.


- Posted from iPhone

Oh happy day.

I bought Christmas presents today!! It was thrilling. And, I thought about posting a picture of the things I got just because I think they are pretty rad. BUT you will just have to wait the 37 days until Christmas to find out.

And I am excited to see this tree:

Oh, the memories of Christmas caroling in NYC. And the bitter bitter cold wind. I don't miss that part.

'Tis the season, I suppose.

It is almost Thanksgiving. And I'm starting to think I need to start taking a healthy dose of gratitude every day. Sometimes being a grump is so strangely satisfying that it is hard to get out of the slump.

I should be grateful I have at least one exam every week because it gives me more points to help my grade (theoretically speaking).

I should be grateful for the long hours at work despite the slowness because it means a bigger paycheck with less stress.

I should be grateful for my education because it is almost over and I am starting to get the feeling I might actually miss it.

I should be grateful for my busy days because it means I am actually doing something with my time (and hopefully those things are worthwhile)

I should be grateful for the time I get to spend with friends because very soon we will all be doing different things with our lives and going in different directions.

I should be grateful for planes that can fly me home for Christmas because it means I do not have to take a 176 hour train ride or 5 day bus ride.

I should be grateful for this blog because it gives me SOME PLACE TO RAMBLE on about things and not waste someone else's time by making them listen to me.

I am grateful for family and soon-to-be-family.

I am grateful for winter. Because it makes springtime even better.

I am grateful for photographers who can capture the incredible beauty of the world we live in. And make us realize how precious the little moments are.

I am grateful for twinkly lights, pumpkin rolls and hot chocolate. Because being happy inside makes you happy on the outside and then the happiness spreads like warmth.

I am grateful for professors who tell you everything they are asking about on their exams. Because it is nice to know that they aren't trying to kill you and that they want you to do well.

I am grateful for fashion. And the pops of color that have been carried over from summer. And ruffles. For some reason, I really like the femininity they create.

I am grateful for the Honor Code. For the ways it helps us be better.

I am grateful for weekdays. They make the weekends so much better.

I am grateful for bloggers who are willing to share their creativity and imagination with the world.

I am grateful for emails from across the world. Because somehow reading someone's words brings them that much closer. Even when they are really FAR AWAY.

I am grateful for my best friend.

And, I am grateful for hope. Because sometimes things get overwhelming. And that is okay. Because I can handle it. At least, that's what I keep telling myself. Maybe if I keep repeating it, one day I will believe it.

I guess that's enough gratitude for the day. I apologize if you made it to the end of this post. I think I needed to write this more than anyone else needs to read it.

Maybe next time I will just make a thankfulness tree like this one:

Who says summer is over? Not us.

Thanks to the creative genius of one certain BRYCE DAVID MORGAN, I went boating again on Saturday. We took a little jaunt up the Deer Creek and decided to take his as-of-right-now-unnamed-boat for it's second voyage. (The maiden voyage was the night before in the middle of the night on "the best date of her life".)


Would you like to see what our handsome vessel looked like?

Too bad we forgot all our cameras. It was so fun rowing around the lake and spinning in circles and circles. And building a dock. And entertaining the old people who were sitting at the top of the hill wondering what the crazy kids were doing down below. And then someone else decided to capsize us into the FREEEEEEZING cold lake. But all in all, it was a fabulous adventure. Followed up by a quick dip in the HOT HOT springs in Midway.

To all you summer-lovers: heads up! boating season is still open.

Soirée

Someone had a party at my apartment last night. I'm not quite sure who it was. It was a BLACK TIE affair. And there were fancy shmancy drinks and loads of cheese and crackers. And we just danced the night away. Literally. And it was some of the most fun I've had in a long time.

I sure would like to say thank you to the Swordfish Seven - whoever they are - for putting it on. Shame that they won't reveal themselves. But I am grateful all the same.

(and my camera is in my car which is not at my house. so more pictures to come later. and maybe if you're lucky, there might even be a video!)

"nice wigs, weirdos" - best comment of the night by a stranger

So.....it is a plain and simple FACT that when we get together, the laughing starts and it doesn't really stop. Today was another example of that.

4 girls + one crazy Halloween store + 10 minutes of decision + 20 minutes of hysterical laughter in the bathroom = 4 girls in wigs walking around the mall with NO shame for priceless memories.

I would not have it ANY other way. photo shoot tomorrow?
i think yes!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

"October is Scary."

October is here!! Fall has semi-erupted here in Cougar Town.
Football every weekend, crunchy leaves on the ground. It was supposed to SNOW yesterday. Thank the slight-above-freezing temperatures that it didn't. Please bid farewell to smores, sunshine, and sleeping in and welcome in with open arms the chilly days where sweaters/cardigans, boots and hot chocolate are regularly on display. Oooohhh, so excited for Hot Apple Cider and PUMPKIN rolls!!

I guess it's true what some old wise guy named Albert Einstein said. "Not everything that can be counted counts,and not everything that counts can be counted."

NOW, what should I be for HALLOWEEN?

'Adjectives Illuminate A Gloomy Page....'

I am not a wordsmith. I have no gift of tongue, no twisting or arranging of words to create a profound and prolific thought that in turn leads others to think. (And I'm not writing this to get anyone to say otherwise, I'm just simply stating it - not fishing for compliments.) That is not my gift - if anything, that's Lisette's. And although I can twist other people's words to make them sound pretty, it's not quite the same thing.

I've always admired authors and poets and public speakers and songwriters because they have the gift I don't. Being able to string words and sentences together that just sound so pretty. And how sometimes they have incredible meanings, but other times, they do it just because they like how it sounds. Robert Frost said, "All the fun's in how you say a thing." And it's true. Some of my favorite words come from songs I've heard or poems I read when I was younger. And now, I find new ones every day. For example, The Avett Brothers have some incredible lyrics. I'm slightly, minorly obsessed with them because of this. Sometimes I wonder how they do it. And then I simply listen in awe.

"When nothing is old deserved or respected/ And your life doesn't change by the man that's elected/ If you're loved by someone you're never rejected/ Decide what to be and go be it."

This twisting of words and connecting with someone's soul leads to the creation of thoughts. I was reading about words today. By a woman who simply puts them down for others to enjoy, because she, indeed, is a wordsmith. She wrote the seemingly unimportant line, "Adjectives illuminate a gloomy page" in the midst of a paragraph on how to create a sentence that has energy. And the very next thought that came into my head was how friends are like those adjectives - when your days are feeling gloomy, there are rays of sunshine breaking through.

I would be remiss if I did not appreciate the sunshine in my life. So, no more focusing on the clouds and gray skies. I'm going to focus on the light breaking through.

(Kinsey, I had to find a picture that had you in it from forever ago, just so you could be in this post too. And I would have a picture with the boys except I can't seem to find any. I guess girls just take more pictures than guys.)

I don't want to close my eyes..... 'Cause I don't want to miss a THING.

I love college.

For lots of reasons.

But right now, I love it for this one:

Sometimes it is a good idea to take a break from studying.... and go stalk someone. And it is still as fun as playing cops and robbers or hide and seek back when we were in the third grade.

EVIDENCE of our success?Boom. Roasted.
Good thing Sadie is a cool cat and is totally fine with the fact that we just stalked her and Bryce. Even though she doesn't know us. AT ALL.

Also, the fact that there is a guy sitting behind me in linear algebra doing his homework in the back of the class with his ipod in. TURNED UP SO LOUD EVERYONE CAN TELL WHAT SONG IT IS. First up on the shuffle-di-duffle list, "I don't want to miss a thing" -- definitely got everyone's attention. A little Hilary/Haylie Duff combination came up next. Then some Enya. Now a little Micheal Buble.

I'm just waiting for him to start singing out loud!

But this is definitely making math go by faster than normal. Hallelujah.

I ♥ college.

"Do you like hip-hop? I got an album --- and I never shot nobody."

So sometimes I miss Hawaii. I miss the lazy, dream-filled nights. I miss the random connections we made with the people at the hostels. The people with whom our paths crossed for that miniscule moment in time. I miss hiking around mountains and being inches away from the edge of the cliff - hiking for hours until suddenly the waterfall appears and makes the 2 hours in the rain worth it. Conversations on hotel rooftops. Being in flip-flops and a bathing suit, no matter where or when it is. I miss not having to be somewhere at a specific time. Stretching out on the beach with a book that I don't actually have to think about reading. Hammocks made out of parachutes. Riding on the bus and not caring how long it takes to get there. I miss the friendly alohas and the breathtaking flowers. I miss the sound of the waves.

But then, I come back to Provo and realize how much I've missed the deadlines, and the pressure, and the stress. (I know, I'm crazy. But I secretly love having a semi-fast-paced life.) And the sense of pride. And my bed. And hot showers. And not having sand in every single crevice of my skin and on every article of clothing I own. I missed Grover and being able to drive (not that I'm able to drive now anyways......) I missed face-to-face conversations - somehow texting and phone calls don't make the cut after awhile.

However. I did not and do not and will not miss from both Hawaii AND Provo: grades, offices, big casts on my leg that make me walk 103293483920 times slower than normal, singles wards, creepy old men offering me a shack to stay in, creepy old men telling me about the 14 times he saw Jesus on Larry King, creepy old men telling me how he hates Christians, creepy old men telling me that I could be wife #5, drunk spaniards, $2 value menus, and linear algebra.

On a completely different note, I love BYU football.

Where'd all the Good people go?

I found one. One good person. I don't know his name. But he made an impression on me. Not because of his awesome hair, or his smartly pressed uniform, or spiffy shoes or the accent he didn't have. But because he did a good deed. And he did it for nothing.

Imagine being passed up by a full bus after waiting and waiting and watching and hoping. It's kind of saddening. And then all of a sudden, a bus that we weren't waiting for pulls up, asks us where we are going, tells us we won't be able to make it there because the bus we need to get on will be too full and that we should get on his bus and he will take us to where we can get on the bus that we need.

We were pretty stoked about that. But, it gets even better! We got on the bus and he wouldn't let us pay the fee! AND he gave us a free transfer! He didn't do it for personal gain or to get something from us. He was just a nice guy giving six girls a way to get to where they wanted to go.

He made my day. And now I'm going to pass it on and make someone else's day. Not because I want something or anything like that - We just need more good people in this world. And I want to be one. And I'm grateful for each one that touches my life.

boating!

to me, this is the epitome of summer - carefree, relaxing, sunshine, water, friends, fun.
what else could there be to distract me and pull me back to the real world? NOTHING.

(Yes, I stole this picture.)

today I did one of these:
,
while riding one of these:

while being pulled behind a red one of these:


The first time was closer than the second. I almost had it the second time, too.


I will be very sad when I can no longer do any of the above
because my foot will have one of these:


september 4th = no more boating.
no more boating = summer is over.
ergo, september 4th means summer is over.

that will be a sad, sad day.

All the Bells and Whistles....

(I think girls will like this post more than the guys. Sorry - It's just what came out.) Apparently it is the season for weddings! Which makes me happy. And a teeeeeeny bit sad because I know that I now take second place to someone else. But I'm okay with that so I'm mostly really really happy.

Ever since I was about 16, when there would be a wedding reception at the church where I went to seminary, I was sent back with a camera to take photos of how everything was decorated. Just so that I would have an idea of what I might want when I was old enough to get married.

Well, folks, heads up. I am now 21 years, 4 months, and one day old. Somewhere in the back of my head it is screaming that there is no way that I can get married now. I mean, I'm ONLY 21. And yet.... And yet, I've watched so many fall in love, get engaged, and have incredibly beautiful weddings/marriages that I can't help but want one of my own. And I've had a lot of people suggest to me that maybe I should get married. My parents, my little brothers, people from back home who know how BYU is, everyone out here who is married. Don't get me wrong. I do want to get married. But there are some important things to think about - it being the right time, right place, right person, right authority - these ALL play a role in it.

However, Christian did tell me that he had a dream that I got engaged, AND he had to ask me if it was true or not. So either he's a fortuneteller or his dream was creepily realistic. So, since I've been preparing myself for this with photographs since high school, I decided to share some of my plans with you all (along with some tangents).

1) I found the wedding dress I want. Alas, I just found out it will cost more than a semester of tuition. Ergo it is out of the picture. So I shall have to restart the search again.
2) I love love LOVE looking at wedding pictures. You can practically feel the happiness OOZING out of their smiles. It's like Love is tangible. And since I always want what I can't have, I want that. So that's where I get tons of my ideas.
Here's the cake I want:
Not really, but kind of. I think it would be super fun. And that's the important part of the wedding, right?

Here are some flowers that I LOVE: except for the roses. I'm not such a big fan of roses.

But I am currently obsessed with dark purple.

And since I've gotten to look at so many rings lately, here's my current favorite:I don't know. I go back and forth. (And since I'm a girl, I pretty much like anything that is sparkly.)

Anyways, the rest of the plans are currently under review because I change my mind a million times a day. So, here's what I know about the guy I'm bound to end up with. I went back to my notes from when I was 16 and found these: Please read and enjoy. (And please please remember, I'm not 16 anymore, but I was when I took these. Way before facebook quizzes came around.)

Your type is the Preppy
If he's conservative, friendly, and clean-cut, he's just your type! You fall hard and fast for him. Your guy's refined, runs with a cool crowd, and has a little cockiness thrown in for good measure. He's just cool, calm, and collected. Another quality that draws you to him is his ambition. He aims for success and follows whatever path will lead him there. You respect how he always makes time for his friends and has a tendency to be a little goofy. With this cheeky,well-groomed guy, you can rest assured that you'll live the American dream!
Huzzah for the American dream! haha

You are a Hopeless romantic
Chances are you love soft music, candlelight, and long walks on the beach at sunset. Crying at sappy movies (your favorite kind) is a given — a box of tissues is a must — and you've have had your wedding planned since grade school. (HA - close. More like high school.) You're looking for a deep relationship — a soul mate. Traditional and sympathetic, guys love that they can open up to you and talk to you about their feelings, their past, and their hopes for the future. How can a suitor win your heart? By romancing you. Sending you flowers, surprising you with a picnic lunch, or going for a horse-drawn carriage ride. Before you know it, you'll be creating a life-long love story. (More like for eternity, not just life-long.)

Natalie, you find love in a Fairy Tale
Glass slippers, traveling minstrels, knights in shining armor. These are some of the classic components of fairy tales. And when it comes to your real-life love life, you'll take 'em in the form of candy and flowers, poems describing your beauty, tiny velvet boxes, and the like. (I'm liking the velvet boxes part. And the flowers.)You sometimes have to work to get your head out of the clouds, but your optimistic spirit and love-conquers-all attitude helps you deal with the good and bad that life might throw your way. As long as you can spot a poison apple when it knocks on your door, you'll always be able to find your happy ending.

Natalie, Prince Charming is the man of your dreams
A hopeful romantic, you're looking for that special guy who believes in fairy tales too. You want the best for yourself and those you love. And you're happy to go the extra mile to make sure everything works out in the end. So even if it means kissing a lot of frogs, you won't settle until you've found the prince you've been looking for. And that's sure to make a happy ending.

Well, if you have made it to the end of this post, I'm sorry. Those last 4 paragraphs were probably a huge waste of your time. And mine too, when I was 16. And I am happy now. I love my life. Even the parts that seem so unsure at times. Being where I am today is so, so much different and better than I pictured it. But maybe that's the best part.

dear Boy,
if you are the man i end up with, i want you to know that i am trying to be the best person i can be now. sometimes i feel like you will never show up. but if you promise to show up soon, i promise to let you help plan the wedding. with no zebra cake. and i promise to love you forever. literally.
love,
Me.

The things I learned from Idaho.

After an exciting weekend filled with friends, family and food, here's some tidbits of wisdom I realized.
1. It's harder for a cop to catch you speeding when he's facing the other direction...and going along with that, I'm really lucky sometimes.
2. Idaho doesn't really believe in ethnic foods. No satisfying of a Thai food craving. However they do have plenty of pizza joints which were ridiculously delicious and buffet style. quality.
3. Little children tend to ignore the amount of sleep you get. They will wake you as soon as possible regardless of your 4am arrival time.
4. The Warm River is not really warm.
5. Sometimes people can be treated as novelties. And sometimes that's not a fun thing.
6. It takes 5 adults to deflate a raft. (see picture.)
7. Football games can be played anywhere.
8. Don't leave your iPhone on the side of the road if you don't want it run over. That was one close call.
9. 20+ people at one barbecue is ridiculously fun.
10. Idaho likes star wars.
11. My phone selectively chooses not to text people. Usually when I really want to text someone.
12. Sometimes it's hard not having anyone within 5 years of you to hang out with. (brother's with girlfriends don't count when they won't hang out with you).
13. Old ladies are super super nice people when they let you stay at their house and you don't even really know them. We stayed with my older brother's girlfriend's brother-in-law's grandmother's house. (did you get lost? because i did)
14. Porch swings are AWESOME.
15. Girls will always like things that are sparkly and bright. Glitter toes, jewelry and fireworks are included in that. And Idaho Falls has surprisingly good fireworks.
16.Mini portable electric guitars make for awesome road trips at 2 in the morning.
17. Fresh rolls will always always always be delicious. Anywhere, anytime.
18. Car rides home with a 7 year old and an 8 year old are way too much fun.
19. I was happy to come back to Provo.
20. Making a music video with all your freshmen friends and watching it 3 years later makes you feel just as awesome as when you made it. And then listening to that song in the car on the way up because that's one of the only cds you own and your radio doesn't work only makes you feels even more awesome.
(I'll add more pictures as soon as I can steal the rest of them off of the camera. They're all on that one. Not on my email. Sorry..... I really should just get my own camera.)

Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured. g.b.h.

So I’ve had a lot of ups and downs lately. And more downs than ups. I was trying to fall asleep the other night when I started listing out all of the awful things that have happened to me in the past 20 or so days. And then I realized that I was being ridiculously negative about everything. And then I went to sleep. End of story. Except that’s not the end.

So now I made a list of everything I have to smile about (in no particular order):

1. These crazy people. They’re incredible and I LOVE them. AND, they will be here in approximately one week.

2. I have an awesome job. Crazy EFY kids make my day. And keys. And RAs. And copies.

3. I live (slash hang out with people who basically live at my apartment) with some awesome people. (and will, in the fall -- please don't feel left out tearbear) Random pillow fights over nothing. Girl talk – all the time. About everything.

4. Grover - He is fabulous and wonderful. And quite dependable. He gets me to where I need to be so easily which makes my feet so so happy.

5. I wrote this really awesome limerick the other Sunday. – spur of the moment, completely off the top of my head and it was awesome. I’ll have to go find it and post it on here.

6. School is cool. And over with for the summer.

7. utah is BEAUTIFUL in springtime/ summer. I love mountains. And cabins in the mountains. And hiking. And playing tennis. And walking into Christian’s backyard and feeling like I’m in the jungle.

8. I have the best friends in the whole wide world. Do I really need to elaborate on this one? I think not.

9. According to "Ricky", I will always be an Angel Princess. ;)

10. I have a crush on this one amazing guy. He doesn’t know. At all. On purpose. He’s not going to know… At least not for awhile. There’s a lot more to this story, but due to lack of time constraints, you don’t get to hear it. Sorry.

11. I have a lot on my plate for this summer: rodeo, concerts, operas, hot tubs, tube the provo river, skydiving, demolition derby, road trip(s!), doctor's appointment, freedom festival, 4th of JULY, SLC day trips, pillow fights (i blame kinsey), parades!, hot air balloons, shopping, plane rides, seeing people!, work, motorcycle rides, joy rides, books, pictures, go karts, putt-putt, winning the jackpot, a new cell phone, the aquarium, scary movies + more. needless to say, i'm excited.

12. I’m getting on a plane in less 2 months and going to this FABULOUS place called HAWAII. Maybe you've heard of it? 10 days of bliss, the beach, sleeping on the beach, being tan for once this summer, the beach, humidity!, hiking volcanoes, the beach.... I'm super excited for it.

13. I can go running! 2.5+ months of not being able to move my foot or put it in a shoe is slowly, yet surely coming to an end. Hallelujah. Thank you Dr. Tom Rogers. Plus, there’s this one pair of shoes I’ve been slowly breaking in just for this reason. They look like this, except mine are orange! :)

14. These crazy boys are home or coming home soon. I'm excited for the fun to start again.

P.S. Don't worry Kinz. Yours is in the works. :)

Never again.

I got a paper cut a little while ago. It’s not like a huge deal that I should be thinking about or even caring about, except for the fact that it intrudes into the peacefulness (HA!) of my day constantly. I’ve gotten paper cuts before, everyone has. Minor scratches we try to avoid. I handle paper products all the time - file folder, notecards, boxes, scrap pieces, heaven knows reams and reams of copies – I’ve learned how to NOT get a paper cut. I haven’t had one for so long that now it really stings. And now that I have it, I'm forced to think about it. It's almost impossible to ignore. I use my hands all the time. Work, typing, answering phones, school, driving, opening a door, texting, shopping, you name it, I use them. The worst was when I was putting mousse in my hair and instead of it being rubbed into my hair, it simply rubbed into the paper cut.

It’s just a simple nuisance that I can’t get out of my mind. As hard as I try to ignore it, it hurts. It was just surprising and unwanted after all the precautions I’ve taken to NOT get one. Mostly because I didn’t expect it and didn’t think it would happen to me. This old paper cut doesn’t even realize what it’s done to my character. Thank you for letting me learn from this experience. You may not appreciate the sacrifices that I did to avoid something like this from happen, but that’s okay because now I’m a new person. And a paper cut won’t ever hurt this badly again.