skittish

Well, I cannot tell a lie - the new Blogger layout kind of scared me off. That and finishing the semester (yeaaah that's right). Anyway, I am back! And so is the old layout... We'll see how I handle the eventual transition.

Anyway, back to finishing my first year of college.

Wow. It feels weird to say that. Only three years left. Maybe.

In those four years I will do many things. 

Some might be:

-Learn more about myself

-Gain much more knowledge about my chosen field

-Fall in love

-Prepare for a mission

-Marriage (weird, and I'd rather not yet, but it could happen)

-Do super awesome research

-Meet about a zillion [more] great people

-Cry a lot

-Laugh until I cry, often

-Work several jobs

-Cross off a few Bucket List items (True Aggie and Aggie Ice Cream for sure!)

It's so odd to think that my life could take some drastic turns in these next few years. In two and a half, I could be out, serving the Lord wherever He wants me to serve. I could also be happily married. Or thinking about going to grad school.

Guess we'll see what the Lord has in store for me. :)

New Year

Happy New Year, everyone! :) 

I will do an official New Year post tomorrow, to be all sentimental and nostalgic and stereotypical blogger for you, but for tonight I just wanted to share how I brought in 2012.

Some of you may not be Coldplay fans, but anyone who has kept up on my posts will know that I absolutely love them.
In fact, even though there are so many numerous bands that I love, I would even go so far as to say that Coldplay is my favorite band - If I could only listen to one band for the rest of my life, it would be them.
As I scrolled through my Facebook feed, I saw something beautiful -

I just about died. SO, naturally, and needless to say, when 11 o'clock rolled around, I tuned to PBS, even though I was watching the 1961 version of Music Man (that's saying a lot, by the way).

It did not disappoint. And it was seriously an amazing way to bring in the New Year.

Though we did miss a bit to pop in on NYC to watch the ball drop - tradition, you know. :)

Anyway, then I found out that you could watch it online.

AHHHHHHHHHHH.

And so, without further ado, here is my New Year's gift to you. ;)

Watch Coldplay New Year's Eve: An Austin City Limits Special on PBS. See more from Austin City Limit

Enjoy, lovely people. :)
Also -
77. See Coldplay live in concert.

even more respect

I am seriously geeking out over here.

This is going to make it very clear how much of a nerd I am, but here:

 Violin AND The Legend of Zelda? Plus the video was pretty much awesome.

I cannot express the amount of respect I have for Lindsey Stirling at this moment.

Mind blown.

So awesome.

Also, while I'm talking about having my mind blown -

Haven't seen them with each other since 500 Days of Summer. 

From the caption on Youtube, I gather that they're pretty good friends!

After Zooey and Ben Gibbard get divorced (it still pains me to talk about that!), maybe she can marry Joe. Except that I want to marry him. 

I guess she can have him, but only because I know that they'd have beautiful children with voices like larks. :)

relax.

So I had a rather stressful Saturday. 

We won't go into why, but we will go into how I came to feel better. :)

My friend Tyler recommended The National and Massive Attack to me.

Weeeell... Holy relaxing music, Batman.

Take a listen.

Ahhhh....

Feel relaxed yet?

yesss another

I have more music for you. :) Yay!

Sooo I just rediscovered Fleet Foxes today. As in... I accidentally stumbled on them on Spotify and was like, When did I stop listening to Fleet Foxes?!

And whyyyy?

Anyway. All is okay now because I am listening to them as I type here.

Enjoy! :)

today is awesome.

Piano proficiency finished.

Still in dumb mood, but less so.

Listen to this song and love it. :)

some bucket list

41. Become a therapist (on my way! :) )
42. Shop on Black Friday
43. Kiss someone at midnight on New Year's Day
44. Change someone's life
45. Witness a wedding proposal
46. Ride an elephant
47. Get my picture taken in front of the Hollywood sign
48. Jump in a pool in regular clothes
49. Live near a beach
50. Ice skate at the Rockefeller Center or in Central Park
51. Visit the Mall of America
52. Learn how to play the cello
53. Learn how to play the banjo
54. Visit all 50 states
55. Learn to surf
56. Get kissed underneath a waterfall
57. Go scuba diving
58. Go to London
59. Not be single on Valentine's Day
60. Drive Route 66
61. Have a walk-in closet
62. Swim with dolphins/a whale
63. Propose to a stranger with a ring pop
64. Go on a spontaneous vacation
65. Write a song
66. Kiss under mistletoe
67. Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
68. Visit Alnwick Castle (Hogwarts)
69. Jump off a waterfall
70. Attach a lock to a love bridge in Europe
71. Spend a Christmas in New York City
72. See the Northern Lights
73. Send a message in a bottle
74. Start posting outfits
75. Get a 4.0 GPA (cumulative or not)

where am i?

I am in the dumbest mood today.

I care a significant amount less about everything than I should. 

Like my piano proficiency in the morning? 

Eh. I'll practice for it. I just don't care.

I especially don't care about all the people around me in relationships.

...But, for some dumb reason unbeknownst to me, the thing I do care about today is that I am not one of those people.

Honestly? Doesn't usually bother me. I'm not in any hurry to get married (at all), I am perfectly content being single, and I dislike that relationships bring drama. These are all true things.

For some reason... I just want one. I don't need one, but I want one.

It would just be nice, I guess.

On Saturday I went to Temple Square with some of my friends. One of them commented on how she wanted someone to be in love with because everyone at Temple Square is in love. We decided we could just all be in love.

I started to think about what she had said. I've been to Temple Square almost every year of my life, but I'd never noticed the couples before. I decided that I would pay closer attention this time.

...It's true. The couples are everywhere. They all look so happy.

My friend, the one who wanted to be in love, asked if I'd heard this song by the Weepies. I hadn't, but I looked it up, and I love it.

I don't think I necessarily think it completely describes my situation, because I don't even have anyone I'm super interested in, and I really don't mind being alone...

I tried to find a song that explains how I feel, but there really isn't one. I am so happy with life right now. I love being single, but I'd like to share my happiness with someone, I guess.

Pff. Anyway.

In the end this is all that matters to me:

Gotta love Priscilla. She speaks my thoughts.

Marvelous Monday X Thanksgiving = yay!

It's a Monday!

It was a pretty good day - Maybe this Marvelous Monday deal is actually working? ;)

Anyhow, as it's Thanksgiving, I'm going to make this a little broader than just today!

Things that I love about life:

-My family

Disclaimer: This picture was taken in 2008. It is the most recent picture of all of us, but none of us look like that anymore. :)

-My beliefs

-This book

-Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior

-Temples

-My roommates and friends

This was actually a bucket list item... Done! :)

This was Turban Thursday! No racism intended. 

-It's so materialistic of me, but my cell phone.

-...And my netbook.

-Snow! And rain and sun and kinda most everything. Except wind.

 

-School! As much as I complain... I love it.

-Music. Really, couldn't survive without it...

-Food! 'Specially grateful for momma's cooking now that I don't get it very often...

-Utah State University. :)

-Breaks from school, as much as I love it.

-Technology! Seriously. Electric blanket... Digital music... The internet... Yeah. So much.

-Clothing. Number one, it keeps me warm and covered. Number two, it's so fun. :)

-Aggie Basketball! Actually just Aggie sports in general, but here are some pictures of basketball. :) 

-My major. Music therapy is so incredible, and I'm so excited to help people through it!

-Running water and electricity. 'Nuff said.

-Forgiveness, mercy, and understanding.

-Wintertime! Icicles... Snowy trees... Visible breath...Warm clothes... Love it. :) 

There are plenty of other things, but there are some for ya!

I'm going home tomorrow, which will be fun. :) Hoping to see this over the weekend:

For anyone who doesn't live in Utah, this is Temple Square, and they put up gorgeous Christmas lights every year. :)

I'll post some pictures if I do, and if not I'll just post pictures of other things. :)

Reflecting...

Just Thinking

RF Hoak

Just sitting here and thinking, friend

And wondering how it would be

If I had not known you at all

And you had not met me.

All things we've shared would then be lost, 

The smiles and heartaches, too - 

The world would be a dreary place

If I had not known you.

But these fond memories through the years

All the fun times, too.

Just make me thankful you know me

And glad that I know you.

I received the above poem today from my neighbor, church leader, and friend, Kathryn Wardle, who is moving with her cute family to Boise, Idaho at the end of this week.
I love it, because it voices exactly what I've been feeling of late. So many people in my life are moving away, or going on missions, or taking different paths, and it's so strange.

People I've known almost my entire life.
People I've met along the journey thus far.
People I've only just met.
People I never got to know very well.
People I wish I'd introduced myself to.
People I admired from afar...
There are people from each category that I will never see again.
It's so weird.
And so sad.
And so scary.
Because so many of you are taking a different path than mine, I want to thank all of the people I've known these past seventeen and a half years.

All of you have changed me.
Impacted my life in some way.
Some lifted me up.
Some put me down.
But whether you befriended me,
hurt me,
complimented me,
spurned me,
loved me,
or hated me...
Every one of you helped me to grow into the person that I am today.
And for that, I thank you.

Bob Marley had the right idea, for sure!

I have heard a lot of my friends comment on how sad or unmotivated they are of late. This saddens me! So I decided to make a happy post. :)


Go check this out! I thought it was really interesting to see that many of these are things that I am encouraged to do as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Which just makes me more grateful for my religion and faith! I also especially loved that they mentioned music. I don't know what my life would be without my music!

Anyhow, this is an article on Time.com that has 20 suggestions that, if you live them, will help you to be healthier and happier. Here it is: Health and Happiness

Now enjoy this joyful montage! :)

In the words of Bob Marley:
Don't worry about a thing... 
Because every little thing is gonna be all right! :)