let it SNOW!!!

it has snowed in Portland. Real snow. it's amazing, and beautiful, and cold, and i LOVE it!!
church was canceled yesterday - for a 1/2 inch of snow!

i went on a great walk in - i don't have snow boots, so i wore 2 pairs of socks and my rain boots, and it worked great!all the snow! [view from my back deck]


it snowed all day yesterday - we probably got 3 or 4 inches by the end of the day - pretty impressive for Portland! a few friends came over, and we played games and watched movies. the boys brought dinner, and i made cookies. what a great snow day!

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
[as long as it stops long enough next week for me to fly home!!]

another great weekend.

This past weekend, Matthew came up to visit again. I forgot to get most of the pictures off his camera, so I only have a few. Saturday night, he cooked dinner for me! Not only is he an excellent cook, he also did all the dishes! And I think he might look better in my apron than I do :)

the Holidays!

OK - I'm combining 2 holidays into one post!

First things first - Thanksgiving! This year, I was in Portland, and wanted to keep things as simple as possible. So Megan and I opted to hang out at my house, and make Turkey Sandwiches. They were amazing!The feast!! Yes, all this food was finished by two girls!

This is the fullest my fridge has ever been! Look at all that food!Megan and our awesome Chocolate Pudding Pie!
[There are no pictures of me. I had a traumatic experience with some hair color earlier that morning. No worries - it's all been fixed now!!]

And now, for a few pictures of Christmas decoration.My Corner 'o Christmas! Since I'm not going to be in Portland this year, I didn't go all out. Besides, the tree is so little that it's hard to decorate it too much!

Hands down - best Christmas book. Ever.
How cute! This little reindeer is probably older than I am! I got it from my Grandma's house, and I love it!

Random thoughts for a Monday morning

Friday night, I was hanging out with a few friends, and we started asking some 'Would You Rather' questions. Last night, as I laid in bed, not able to sleep, I couldn't help but ponder one of the questions:

Would you rather link little fingers with someone for a whole year, 24 hours a day for a million dollars or continue life as it is?

I choose that I would link little fingers with someone [assuming that you get to pick who it is] for a million bucks. I know a million bucks doesn't get you as much as it use to, but a million bucks would sure be nice to have!

And then the potential problems that I though about as I was trying to fall asleep last night:
-it might be easier if I were linked to someone who was a lefty. Like Jessica. Or my Dad. OR.... it would force me practice writing with my left hand, and I could become ambidextrous, which is one of my life goals.
-sleeping might be a problem. We would both have to sleep on our backs. Or on our stomachs. But curling up, or other sleeping positions may create an obstacle.
-linking fingers would create one of the worse pinky-finger cramps imaginable! And what about when you are sleeping - as your fingers relaxed, they would un-link. Solution to this problem: tape your fingers together instead.
-typing would take some getting use to if you didn't have use of one of your little fingers.
-you would really, really get to know someone if you were with them 24-7. For an entire year. And there would be no 'Emily' time. I'm not sure that I could handle that!
-driving. The same person would always have to drive, which is fine. But how would you get into the car? Both climb in the same door?
There were other things that I pondered late last night, but this is all I can remember for now. But the more I think about it, the more I think that the million dollars might not be worth it!

To everyone who is reading this, I ask the question: which would you pick? And why?

this years list

My friends mom challenged everyone to make a list of 100 things we are grateful for. So, in no particular order, here is MY list!

1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ
2. My madre for all her amazing-ness
3. My padre for teaching me the value of doing hard things, and how to save money
4. My little [but much bigger] brother for his constant humor and silent strength
5. Peanut butter, peanut m&m’s, and pretty much any peanut related food
6. The alphabet – so that I can more easily organize things
7. Starbucks mint hot cocoa
8. A gentle confirmation that Someone is watching over me
9. Emma Lucy and her constant friendship
10. my Matthew
11. Traveling and the cultures of the world!
12. Weekends
13. afternoon naps
14. really warm, soft blankets
15. Christmas
16. new shoes
17. AMAZING friends – Diana, Bri, Nic, Sheri, Jon and Megan – who all teach me by their amazing examples
18. the smell of rain
19. Portland
20. The internet and it’s ability to keep in touch with people
21. the excitement of what the future holds
22. Dr. Pepper
23. Music and those talented enough to perform it and share it with those of us who are not musical!
24. Pictures
25. Digital cameras
26. Microsoft Word and Excel
27. Temples – and having always lived so close to one
28. kissing a cute boy on New Year’s
29. Summer 2005 good times with Jess – concerts, staying up way too late, and eating lots of ice cream!
30. scrapbooking
31. The Book of Mormon and the Bible
32. New socks
33. Fireworks
34. my own apartment
35. A car that’s paid off
36. Soy chocolate milk
37. ex-boyfriends and lessons learned
38. Snow
39. Skiing
40. Holiday memories with my family
41. my YSA ward
42. Having a job [some days more than others!]
43. My Grandparents
44. freedoms that I take for granted daily
45. the extra pounds that I’ve gained – which means I have plenty of food to eat
46. Clean, warm sheets [especially since mine are red!]
47. Blogs
48. Chapstick
49. My extended family
50. Contacts and glasses
51. Concerts
52. toothbrushes
53. hoodies
54. The Ensign
55. a warm shower
56. Disney movies
57. Institute
58. mittens
59. tulips
60. people who are still reading this list
61. a college education, and Utah State University
62. good health
63. text messages
64. airplanes
65. the Word of Wisdom
66. pedicures
67. mountains
68. my home ward in Alpine, and all the people who helped me find my own Testimony
69. Brother Rose, my 9^th Grade Seminary teacher
70. a cute purse
71. hair color
72. family memories
73. laying in the sun getting a tan
74. Patriarchal Blessings
75. Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked ice cream
76. my cricut
77. Snapfish.com
78. YouTube
79. flip flops
80. a good book
81. a good fortune inside your fortune cookie
    
82. pay day
83. curling up by the fire
84. Macaroni and Cheese
85. new haircuts
86. Facebook
87. doing service for those who need it
88. a good sale
89. Diamonds ;)
90. clean clothes and doing laundry
91. French fries
92. Lone Peak High School
93. freshly shaved legs
94. a gym membership that I need to actually use
95. getting letters in the mail [old school, I know!]
96. co-workers
97. Sunday walks
98. NetFlix
99. the perfect Little Black Dress [which I have yet to find, but I know it’s out there!]
100. mascara
101. good hair days
102. Turkey sandwiches on Thanksgiving!!

quote of the week

Maybe the most any of us can do is not quit,
play the hand we've been given,
and accessorize the outfit we've got

[I think this quote pretty much sums up the past week or so of my life! Love it!]

Visitors are always the best – especially when it’s a cute boy! Matthew came up to Portland to visit me last weekend, and it was great! He flew in Thursday night, we hung out downtown and when to dinner at a nice seafood restaurant! Matt ordered crab, and I had some amazing salmon!

Friday, we spent the day at OMSI [Oregon Museum of Science and Industry]. We went on a tour of a submarine, learned all about the human ear, saw a show at the planetarium, and had a blast in the area that was actually for younger kids – but we still had fun!

[in a rocket ship - all ready for take off. isn't he cute?!]

[right outside the submarine tour - it's the background]

[the beds that the soldiers slept on. i would never have survived!]

[in one of the control rooms]

After fighting traffic to get home, we and hurried and changed, then to dinner and the Opera with my friends Megan and Diana. The Opera was pretty good, and it was nice to have something fun to get all dress up for!

Saturday, we went to the 'Living Room Theaters' – which was awesome! It's just like a normal theater, but instead of normal chairs, they have these big lazy-boy type chairs, with foot rests, and if you order food, they bring it right to you! We saw a documentary that was about this guy who tightrope walked between the roof’s of the Twin Towers. It was crazy!! After the movie, we ran a few errands, then some of my Portland friends came over to play games and such!

Sunday was my birthday, and it was a great one!! Matt and I went to Sacrament a my ward, then I took him to the airport so he could fly home. We had such a fun visit, and I was sad to see him leave.

After dropping him off at the airport, I went over to Diana's for a birthday dinner - manacotti! - with all my friends. It was really yummy, and lots of fun, and an amazing cake!

[me, Diana, Andrew, Nic, and Megan]

Overall, it was a great weekend! I love having visitors, so next time you’re looking for a vacation, come see me in Portland!!

I AM 1/5 DARKNESS.......

Or atleast I was. That's right, I actually dressed up for Halloween this year!!! My friends and I were a league of Super Villans - 'Darkness'. We spent quite a bit of time on the costumes, which means that I have a Halloween costume for the next few years!! We made multiple trips the to the fabric store, did some paper mache [yeah - haven't done that since elementary school!!], and took full advantage of my friends vinyl cutter and heat press. We had lots of fun making the costumes, and even more fun at the Dance Party that we went to! We even won the prize for Best Group Costume!

The Distractor

The Devistator

The Deliberator

The Danger

The Deluxe



(Disclaimer: We took these pictures at about 2am - after dancing all night!! Please pardon the dark circles under my eyes!)

Hilarious!

Oh man - I can't stop laughing!!!

normal?

A month ago today [almost exactly at this same time] I was boarding the plane for Hawaii.

I can't believe it's only been a month since we left.

And really weird - I'm STILL peeling! Is that even normal?? To be peeling a month later?!! O-well, it was worth it :)

impulse buying at its finest

Check this out!! I am now the proud owned of this old school beauty! In the back of my mind, I've wanted one of these forever - and for whatever reason, today just seemed like the day to buy one! I'm so excited for it to come!


Thank you OutKast for these ever-inspiring words: "Shake it like a Polaroid picture"


Long live the Polaroid!!


[I'm fully aware that they are discontinuing the film, so I'll just have to stock up now! And the camera itself is just awesome! Totally worth it!]

Phase Two....

Phase two of my living by myself is complete. I have a living room, with furniture and everything! I'm still working on getting a new TV, so if anyone is wondering what to get me for my birthday, a normal sized TV would be nice!

Here's the view when you walk into the living room from the entry way - the big window is my patio - with my patio furniture [and big plans for plants next summer]!!

See - I wasn't lying about needing a bigger TV!! Once I get something decent sized, then I'll probably do some re-arraigning and hanging more pictures.

The 'art work' above the couch was suppose to turn out much much cooler than it did, but until I find something better to hang in it's place.
Nothing too exciting in my bedroom or bathroom yet. That's going to be an October project!!

Paradise!

The whole gang - Waikiki Beach

Casey, Me, Diana, Matt, Beth and Andrew

Hawaii was AMAZING!! We all had such a blast! There was plenty to do to keep us busy, and plenty of time to lay around and do nothing! Time seemed to stand still while we were there, and it was wonderful! We took over 1,000 pictures!! Yikes! I tried to narrow it down to just a few, but I had a hard time! So here's a few.....

On the first day at the beach, the boys 'invented' this game called Beached Whales. It was SO much fun to both play, and to watch!

A view from the hike we went on - so beautiful!

Me, Beth and Diana getting ready to hike with our bug repellent!

The less than impressive waterfall that we hiked to - good thing it was a pretty hike! Casey was the only one who was brave enough to get in the water - and jumped off the little cliff as well!

We stopped in this little town to get shaved ice - since they were suppose to have the best shaved ice around. It tasted like all other shaved ice to me, but it was still really good!! (Andrew, Diana, Me, Casey and Beth)

The girls with our shaved ice

On Thursday, we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center.
The group at the Temple - Andrew, Diana, Casey, Me, and Matt (Beth had to go home early - she left earlier that morning)

At a lookout point in L'aie (by BYU-Hawaii) It was so pretty that it makes it tempting to go back to school :)

It doesn't get much than this!!

Me and Diana at Waikiki Beach - enjoying a day in the sun!

Saturday morning we went to Diamond Head to watch the sun rise over Honolulu

The boys - Casey, Matt and Andrew

Me and Diana getting ready to go parasailing. Last time I went, we didn't get wet, so I told Diana that we could wear normal clothes. I was wrong! We got drenched!

Casey and I went up first - here's the first time we went under water!

It doesn't look like we were up that high, but we were!!! Such a beautiful view from up there - you could see to the bottom of the ocean in parts!

Matt and Diana after their ride

Post-surfing! My arms were SO tired! We had to paddle out forever to get to the good waves!

Waikiki Beach... aka Heaven

The weather at night was perfect for night walks!! (Diana, Andrew, Me and Christian - my friend from BYU-Hawaii)

All dressed up and ready for church!

Matt and Casey flew home Sunday, so they dropped us off at church. And we walked home - 45 minutes in the heat! Andrew and I switched sunglasses so that my glasses and bag would match! What a nice guy!!

We rented a limo to get to the airport. It was old-school, and super tight!!

Check out the awesome interior - especially the carpet!

[oh, and my new kate spade bag :) ]

Me, Dr. Pepper, Andrew and Diana in the limo


Me and Diana on the plane ride home :(

I love vacations! Tropical Vacation 2009 is in the works!