11-11-11 at 11:11

The Nearly Naked Mile! It occurred on 11-11-11 at 11:11pm. A charity event in which you must donate items of clothing to register for the race. We took the clothes right off our backs and then hit the ground runnin'! Naturally this left us nearly naked in 30 something degree weather (we were actually quite a bit more dressed than most people - I'll spare your eyes from pictures of them though). We completed with a time of 7:36, a little slow but I blame the cold.

We did free t-shirts though - censored of course ;-) Thanks to my lovely friend Kelsey and all her work into organizing the event, I was able to convince Jake to run around barely clothed with me in the freezing cold. Super fun!

Facebook is...

...a public display of how little attention American's pay in English class. Let's think about the average American for just a second. We have spoken American-English since our first words at a few months of age. Then, at the age of approximately 5, we begin school, where we study the English language each year for the next 12 years. Not only do we speak it, we write it, we understand it, and we communicate with it, correct? How come, after at least TWELVE YEARS of study, and 20+ years of speaking, do people still struggle with correct grammar?? And why do we display this lack of intelligence across the internet?? It's no wonder we get the "dumb American" stereotype! Can we be just a little bit better? Try just a little bit harder?

It is embarrassing to read people's Facebook statuses, knowing that they were allowed to graduate high school although unable to correctly diagram a sentence before vocalizing it. I'm not saying that I am an English expert by any means, I'm just asking why people don't know how to maintain the correct tense, use the correct conjunctions, and form grammatically correct sentences for something as simple as a Facebook status. Am I being orgulous? Absolutely. I just think we need to step it up act more educated.

September Already?

Things I experienced for the first time this summer:
- Going out of the country :)
- real rock climbing

- an Aussie repel. INCREDIBLE.
- actually loving a new job
- working two jobs
- riding a true road bike with clip in shoes - and falling quite a few times
- became the VP of the Student Interior Design Organization
- volunteering for the Utah Diabetes Association
- declared a double major: Interior Design and Marketing
- running 6.5 miles one lovely morning :) it's a wonderful feeling. I'm running my first official 5K this Saturday.
- Attending the National Kitchen and Bath Industry show in Las Vegas - road trip!

- learning how to swim like a swimmer - and drinking way too much pool water
- losing my respect for government funding in relation to medicare, medicaid, disability pay, etc.
- being surprisingly nervous on a date with very admirable/cute/fun boy. I don't generally get nervous...
- stripping wire
- buying real running shoes

- sanding and re-staining a deck
- multiple dates with 7 different boys. haha. It's not as great as it sounds.
- backing up a trailer - oh baby! This one I'm quite proud of.
- sewing a skirt
- sanding and re-staining/painting some new shelves for my bedroom

I'd say it has been a pretty successful summer :) Now that school has started and I'm taking 17 credit hours on top of my two jobs I've got a whole lot more to keep me busy... But I sure love being busy!

Beauty

"I find the whole concept of being ‘sexy’ embarrassing and confusing. If I do an interview with photographs people desperately want to change me - dye my hair blonder, pluck my eyebrows, give me a fringe. Then there’s the choice of clothes. I know everyone wants a picture of me in a mini-skirt. But that’s not me. I feel uncomfortable. I’d never go out in a mini-skirt. It’s nothing to do with protecting the Hermione image. I wouldn’t do that. Personally, I don’t actually think it’s even that sexy. What’s sexy about saying, ‘I’m here with my boobs out and a short skirt, have a look at everything I’ve got?’ My idea of sexy is that less is more. The less you reveal the more people can wonder." - Emma Watson

This is absolutely beautiful. Why can't there be more girls in this world that are as comfortable with themselves as Emma? And why can't more men in this world support that? I admire Miss Emma Watson. She's the kind of example both girls and boys need nowadays...

From Nanny to Stripper

I've decided to switch jobs for the summer. Instead of being a nanny and cleaning up after and taking care of kids, I've chosen a more womanly field - Stripping. My dad got me into it. Jeremy says I'm a real woman now. Mom even taught me the song "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy which I often sing as I leave for work.

I am woman, hear me roar

In numbers too big to ignore...

If I have to, I can do anything

I am strong

I am invincible

I am woman. 

(look it up - it's a very woman empowering song)

See pictures below...

Oh... did I mention that I'm stripping electrical wire?

MANthority

This is what Jeremy tells me I need to successfully run a home - some Manthority. It cracks me up. Every time he says it, "manthority" sure has some man attitude behind it. Jeremy and my mom have been my saving graces this weekend. Stopping by to check on me. Giving me hugs. Bringing me a candy bar just because. Offering to come over and be the manthority that I need. Making me laugh. I sure love them.

I've been babysitting the Wood children all weekend while their parents are in San Francisco. I've been told by some mom's in the ward that these kids are probably the hardest. My own mom says to not be so hard on myself... but I just want to be a good mom figure. Yet being a mom, even after just a few days, is HARD WORK - mostly emotionally. It's not easy transitioning into the one in charge, the one responsible, and the one that's suppose to know and fix everything. I watched the same kids last year for a week and by Wednesday I was sitting on the floor crying and calling my own mother. I didn't even make it two days this time. I sat on the bench in sacrament and just cried. I couldn't stop. My mom even sat by me and the kids to help but I was overwhelmed. My mom's advice, "laugh about it". I've always thought I was a pretty positive person but I didn't even know how to find anything worth laughing about. I wasn't getting anything right.

Today has been better. A few things have definitely brought a little giggle. I've had a smile all day. Although I didn't have a man to add the manthority, I maned up and implemented some myself. TV privileges? Gone. No negotiating. Ignoring Kyra? Not any more. Did they hear about how I felt about them disrespecting their swimming teacher? Oh they sure did. Gently but very stern. I even let Britton know that his behavior was unacceptable for a boy about to receive the Priesthood. I'm still trying to decide if that was too harsh or not... but at the same time, if he's old enough to have the Priesthood he's old enough to understand the responsibility, right?

I absolutely don't believe it yelling at children unless absolutely necessary but I've learned that they need a little authoritative parenting to know who's in charge and who to respect. I've got that 'stern mom look' down pat. I've had a quote by Machiavelli running through my head all day - "Is it better to be feared or loved?" Now my question is, how do you teach kids that respect equals love?

Maybe I'm getting there. I guess I shouldn't expect to know how to parent after a few days, or ever for that matter. Maybe the fact that Marissa was comfortable enough to snuggle up in my arms and cry, or that Britton accidentally said "okay I love you" before running out to see friends means they do like me and respect me. I've asked my mom so many question this weekend and she just smiled and told me that even now she doesn't have all the answers.

**But one of the best part about today so far? Figuring out how to install a printer onto my computer and successfully printing something (all by myself I might add). I don't care if this is suppose to be an easy task, it was a very proud moment for me :)

Abide with Me

Abide with me! fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens.

Lord, with me abide!

When other helpers fail and comfort flee, help of the helpless,

oh, abide with me!

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day,

Earth's joys grow dim; it's glories pass away.

Change and decay in all around I see;

O thou who changest not, abide with me!

I need thy presence ev'ry passing hour.

What but thy grace can foil the tempter's pow'r?

Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Thru cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me!

We sang this hymn in church today and for some reason it really touched me. It seemed to have the same words and emotions as my prayers lately. After having finished Believing Christ I've had an overwhelming desire to have Christ in my life as much as possible. Every time I see the picture of Him in my room I pause and stare at it for a moment, as if waiting for him to tell me something. Often times I stand there and ask Him what he wants me to do; with just about everything. I want nothing more than His guidance in every decision I have to make. I get so scared thinking about the future but I know that my future is as bright as my faith. I know that as long as I ask the Lord to abide with me, he'll be there every step of the way .