Favorite things about Christmas

1. Being home
2. Visiting Friends
3. Christmas Caroling
4. Christmas Trees
5.Family coming into town
6. Eating Yummy food
7. Playing Games
8. Christmas lights
9. Being allowed to listen to Christmas music
10. Christmas movies on TV

Finals Week

I am SO glad I get to come home tomorrow. This week was so stressful and it was really short, good thing or my head may have exploded. Not only did I have to take finals, I had to pack and clean, but boy, does it feel good to be finished!
Good things
1. It snowed so everything is white and pretty.
2. Home sweet home
3. I think I got all A's

Good Things From Fall Semester

1. I went to General Conference for the 1st time.

2. I went to 2 BYU football games.

3. My cousin Aubrey. She has been a great friend this semester and I don't know what I would have done with out her.

4. Met a boy :)

5. Enjoyed getting to know Megan, my roommate. I can always count on her to have a random dance party with me.

6. Carlie got engaged and we went wedding dress shopping and found the one!

Roommates

Ok so this is going to be a little venting sessions so if you aren't interested, stop now.

So many of you know that I may be part clean freak and part OCD and I'm getting better about both but today I had had it. This is how the story begins
Background info
My roommates are very messy people (problem number one) and they don't keep it in there rooms (problem number two). I have been cleaning up after them in the kitchen because it bothered me. I do the dishes everyday , fill and empty the dish washer, clear off and wipe off the counters, sweep and mop the floor.
The Good Part of the  Story
On Monday I overheard my roommates talking about how the kitchen was a disaster and how I hadn't done the dishes in a while (I hadn't done them since Saturday... I know that is FOREVER ago but when was the last time you did them?). So I deep cleaned the kitchen and decided to go on strike. I left the dishwasher full of clean dishes, rude I know, and everything else was sparkling clean including the microwave. By last night the sink was overflowing with dirty gross dishes. This morning it started to smell but I resisted and left it a mess. I took all of my plates, bowls and cups downstairs so I would have clean dishes to use.
When I got home from work one of my roommates tells me that she has to eat out tonight because all of the pots (all 6 of them) are dirty so she can't make mac and cheese. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! Are you really that lazy? I couldn't believe it and had to go to my room so I didn't explode.
Removing my dishes wasn't a good idea because they confronted me about it and wanted to know what was going on. They said, "you could have said something instead of acting irrational and removing your things. We aren't easily offended you could have just yelled at us." Like I'm going to yell at them. Just so everyone knows I hate confrontations especially when it is 2 on 1. I was minding my own business doing homework in my room and was rudely interrupted and put down. I thought I was very nice about it and just said that I wanted to have clean dishes and so mine will be staying in my room.
So I need some advice. What should I do? How do I overcome my clean freakness?

SUMMER

Most of you are probably really confused since it is fall but since I am the worst blogger ever, I thought I would try to fill you in at least a little bit.
Since we have last time we have met there has been 7 weeks of summer and 7 weeks of school. I'm just going to start with summer for today,
During the summer I spent 3 weeks in Idaho
     1 babysitting my aunts 4 children (I guess they are my cousins). they were 10, 8,5 and 2. They sure were a handful but I enjoyed getting to know them more and having fun jumping on the trampoline with the sprinklers, drawing on the side walks with chalk, blowing bubbles, watching movies, and going to the park.
     1 at a family reunion in Island Park. That was so much fun. We went boating, to Yellowstone, to a play, and just relaxed. It was very nice because I had been so busy with school and work and sports.
     1 week was spent just hanging out with my mom and brother. At first I wasn't happy I had to stay because I was ready for warmth and to see my friends, but I'm glad I got to stay and see Paden before he left on his mission and see Faith get baptized.
Then I went home for 3 weeks. I swam, got a tan, my mom made me some cute skirts, I worked, I read 5 books and just really did nothing. I also worked out with my mom almost everyday. I love spending time with her and especially doing this. She made me so sore because I hadn't been using my muscles this way. She also has helped me eat even healthier. I loved being home but was happy to go back to school. Having a social life is appealing for some strange reason.

Spring Semster in a Nutshell

Wow! I'm much busier when I'm on track.
I took 14 Credits
Played on the ward soccer team
Played competitive lacrosse
Played on a Flag Football team with my roommates and friends
Worked 19 Hours a week
Was in the Relief Society presidency
Played in the sun... once it finally came
and even went on a few dates.
I only have 2 weeks left, meaning time to study hard for finals.
It went by really fast but at the same time I'm ready for it to be done so I can have a little down time. It was a blast and I'm so glad I finally have all great roommates (maybe because there are only 3 instead of 5 but I'm not complaining).
And thats my semester in a few sentences!

Employed

2 weeks ago my  boss decided to give someone else my hours so my last day was Thursday :( At first I wasn't the happiest camper out there, but then I realized that maybe it was going to be a good thing. I applied for my first job ever (I've had 3 other jobs but never had to apply or be interviewed so I wasn't used to the whole proccess of looking for a job and applying and being interviewed.) I was 1 of 300 applicants,  1 of 50 interviewed and 1 of 6 to be hired. Sounds great right? It is but I also applied to work on campus as a student secretary. I also got hired there as well. So then I had a decision to make... Do I work 18 hours a week (Monday - Friday) on campus and finish the day at 5 or do I work at Kiwi Loco (a frozen yogurt chain) where the hours could be late and on the weekends? I decied to go with the secratary job, because I'm planning on playing sports this summer and would like to make the games, I would like to have my weekends free and my hours are consistent :) So I now have a job close instead of having to drive 30 minutes. I think in the end it did work out for the better!

SURPRISE!

Carlie didn't have class or work on Friday and it was my mom's birthday so we decided to go home for the weekend. We left Thursday after work and drove until an early hour of the morning but it was worth every minute. I believe it was a successful surprise. Only my dad knew we was coming and he did a good job keeping quiet.

It was a lazy relaxing weekend and it was nice to get away from the cold Rexburg. I loved how it was warm even though the wind was blowing. Making a birthday cake with my sister was an interesting experience. Playing games with the family (even though I lost) was fun. Seeing my little cousins was a blast, they are just so cute and say the darnedest things. Meeting my new aunt was also on the agenda, she seems very nice and fits into the family great. Can't forget about grandma and grandpa, they told their stories and fed us pizza. Over all it was a great weekend and it makes me want spring break to come even faster. I'm glad I was able to make a trip home and surprise my mom. I hope it made her day :)

Boys

Last night was a little meltdownish in Apt. 4. Boys, school, work and a roommate were among the issues that just had built up over time. Finding out that we have to speak next week was the last straw. Thats when the walls burst and the flood came pouring down. Someone had the BRIGHT idea to call our home teachers and come give the one a blessing. After getting over being embarrassed and realizing that it would help, she agreed.
It is great to know that these boys are ready and worthy to be called at anytime no matter how late it is. They are so willing to be there to help and want to do all they can. It was a good experience and I am grateful for the priesthood and that it is there for when we need it.

Happy

Today has been a great day and its not even 1 yet. Why? Because its just the mood I'm in. I'm just doing things I enjoy and love it.
1. I painted my toes yellow :) it was a happy color and the sun is shining so now they match!
2. I did yoga for an hour. It was so relaxing and I feel refreshed.
3. I did my homework and got it done by 9:30 this morning. Now I can have fun for the rest of the week. It feels so great to be ahead and not have to stress.
4. I'm making German Chocolate Cake... Why would that not make anyone happy?
5. I'm jammin to my tunes and no one else is home so I can dance and be crazy and no one else can laugh at me.

Betty Crocker

I'm sure you are bored about reading about the weather so I guess I could tell you a little about me. Since I'm off track, working 8 hours a week and only taking 3 credits, I often have a lot of free time. With my free time I decided I would become the next Betty Crocker. OK, maybe not but I have been cooking and baking quite a bit. I make dinner every night, and its not mac and cheese. Its the good stuff. I've made some pretty good food if I do say so myself. My favorite so far has been lemon basil chicken pasta. Here is the recipe courtesy of thepioneerwoman.com

Marinade for Chicken
Olive oil
juice of 4 lemons
Dijon mustard
honey
dash of salt

Ingredients
4 grilled chicken breasts, sliced
1 lb penne pasta
1/2 stick of butter
3 lemons, juiced
3/4 heavy cream
1/4 half and half (I used milk)
1-1/2 grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
20 basil leaves (I used a little bit more)

Preparation
Cook pasta, keep 1 cup of pasta water.
Melt butter over medium heat, add lemon juice. Wisk. add cream and half and half (milk). Wisk until hot. Dump in cheese, wisk until melted. Add some hot pasta water if needed.
Mix pasta, sauce, chicken and basil together.

Never again

Never again will I complain about -2 weather because this past week was even worse. Monday morning I woke up and with the wind chill it was -34. Now that is cold. I didn't know that when you walk outside in that temperature that your nose instantly has icicles in it. Sounds gross I know but that's what happens. Today, a week later, it is snowing so that means it is warm and I couldn't be happier :)

Corrupted

I have officially been corrupted by the Idahoan weather. I didn't realize this until the other day when I was happy because it was snowing. There is something wrong when you are happy because it is warm enough to snow. The wind is the worst part about the weather because although it may only be 10 degrees then with the wind chill it can be -2. Not fun. Sledding is still on the agenda, we just bundle up and hot chocolate is always a must afterwards.