A Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy Day.

Today is a good day for Kristen. 

Why? you might ask.

Well you see. It all started when my 3 hour class got out early. An hour and a half early. 

Okay, you might think. That's nice...but not grounds for a happy X4 celebration. Let me go on.

After my 3 hour class, I have a 1 hour class. ...which was cancelled for today. [Okay, fine. Not exactly cancelled. We had an online module to complete. But that was super easy.] My friends, I was home at 9:45. Nine forty-five!! in the morning!! It was a great start to a great day. So after completing all possible homework for today, which wasn't even due until Friday mind you, I decided to relax. Watch some Once Upon a Time and have a day to myself. This show is SO GREAT! Watch it. And watch it quick. The second season premieres at the end of the month. Quick like bunnies! Load your Netflix and watch it!! You won't regret it! 

So I'm sitting there. Watching my show, when I remember...IOS 6 came out today!! Granted, this did not significantly affect the superbness of today. It was merely an added bonus. So I downloaded the update, along with everyone and their mom who has an iPhone, which took approximately ten years, then I synced my phone! Happy day for new technology!! I must say, I am most impressed with the new turn by turn directions and 3D maps for the GPS. Fancy pants, I tell you.

But now back to the juice. The creme de la creme. The meat of the story. The other random food-idioms of American English. The climax.

I got an email from one of my stores saying that you can get 25% off your entire purchase!! Don't mind if I do. So I peruse through their virtual clothing store, aka their website, and see if there is anything worth my time money. Jeans on sale? I love jeans. I probably have 20 pairs of jeans. Did that stop me from wanting more? Of course not.

Please excuse my dear aunt Sally bag/mess in the background.

So I head to the mall. Mission in mind. Dark wash jeans. Dark wash jeans. Dark wash jeans. I make a bee-line for my targeted store and head straight for the fashion tops... I mean jeans. My bee-line was a little crooked because there was an employee parked right in front of my pants! Well not my pants. Their pants that I want to try on, then buy. So I wandered around, hoping he would stop playing with the pants (he was pretending to fold them...but we all know what he was really doing... abso-freaking-lutely nothing... he was getting paid to stand around). Anyways. I grazed over some neon shirts, which are surprisingly still "in", so I grabbed me one. It was a cute bright orange/almost pink color and more importantly--striped. Homeboy had still not moved out of the way, so I subtly start looking at the other jeans and inching my way toward the jackpot. He takes a hint and moves out my way! I snatch my size and dash to the dressing room. I pull up said beautiful jeans and, what's that? Room to spare? Saggy butt? Already? That's supposed to be saved for a week after wearing, when I need a hint to wash my jeans. So I try on the shirt. And love it. Then I convince myself to grab a smaller size of the jeans, just to be sure before I buy the saggy butt ones. So I grab a size lower. I run back to the dressing room, hoping no employee is going to bombard me again with questions (YES, I'm 20 years old, a girl, and shopping by myself, get OVER IT!). I slip on the jeans and...what? They fit! A size lower than normal! I went down a size! A JEAN size. Back to my pre-freshman-fifteen size. It's a happy happy day for Kristen. Also-the-shirt-worked-and-I-found-a-scarf-I-couldn't-live-without. 

Model face. Slash Duck Face. Call it what you wish.
I call it sexy. Wait, whaaat? 

And the day is not yet over. At 4, I have a session with a personal trainer at Gold's Gym. Yeah baby. Yeah. 

Meaning I might just die tonight. But I will die happy because I went down a size!! This calls for some ice cream... I mean carrots. Mmmm. Carrots.

DISCLAIMER: I didn't actually wear this outfit today. So if you see me in the near future, do not be weirded out if I'm wearing this exact ensemble. Please and thank you. And no, the scarf was not bought to match. Just a fortunate coincidence.

That Was Wicked!!

Sometimes, I forget to blog. Then I get overwhelmed and feel like I have to update y'all on everything. So here goes an attempt to summarize my life in the past month, in a [few] blog post[s].

On August 25, Emily and I went to see WICKED!!!

Guys. It was amazing. Absolutely positively the best thing ever.

First things first though, we did some shopping at City Creek. 

I love this mall. I want to live at this mall. I dream of this mall. This mall is home.

Mostly I think I love it because it's so close to the temple, and as you cross the skywalk from one side of the mall to the other, there is a beautiful view of the House of the Lord. 

Shopping was wonderful. But dinner was better. 

Em and I went to Kneaders for dinner. We loved their store hours sign: "Closed Sunday: Man Does Not Live by Bread Alone." Love it.

But even better than the humor on the sign was dinner. I had a Turkey Feta Salad. It was divine. I have a new found love for feta cheese. It's cheesy and tart at the same time. Mmmm. Now I want me some salad.

After Kneaders we may or may not have indulged on a piece of cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. Okay, so I've only had one other slice of cheesecake from this indulgent heaven, but the Hershey's piece was kind of...subpar. Though it didn't exceed, or meet, my expectations, it was still delicious. And almost nearly worth the calories. Almost.

The we walked the whole block and a half to the Capitol Theatre. Guys. This place is gorg. I want to have my reception in this place. Though I'm not sure how feasible that is... But wouldn't that be cute?!? The marquee would read "Kristen and [Husband's First and Last Name]: Forever After." So cute, right? This is happening.

I mean really, look at the detail on the ceiling and the chandelier. It's so beautiful. Husband and I would walk down an aisle of the audience and join our guests on stage. I love this idea. I just don't want to think about the cost... Someone surprise me with this as a engagement party gift? No worries, you can start budgeting now. There are no immediate time constraints. I'm looking out for you, of course.

Aside from the gorgeous architecture that is the Capitol Theatre, Wicked was awe-inspiring. I may or may not have cried. Multiple times. If you had the money to spend on one frivolous thing in your lifetime, you better spend every penny on Wicked. You will not regret it. The acting, singing, dancing, costumes, everything was perfect. Except for that one part when it ended. I didn't like that part so much. I wish it could go on forever. And ever. And ever.

Next summer, Les Miserables. This is happening people. Come with me?

Blind Dates

Do I look desperate for a man or something? (<--if the answer is affirmative, we are no longer friends)
In the past WEEK I've had two adults try to set me up with their kin. Now don't get me wrong, I am NOT complaining; I would love to go on a date with one of these guys (or both...whatev;)). I just feel like I have "single" written on my forehead. So yes:


Parents, aunts, grandparents, neighbors, random people of the street:

If you have a single, handsome RM in your family, send him my way. My number is XXX-XXX-XXXX. I like long walks on the beach. As long as they end in a proposal.


Much appreciated.

Kristen

Love it or Hate it

Well, summer is drawing to a close, but that doesn't mean these next two weeks aren't going to be a party!! I can't wait to be reunited with my dear old friends!! In keeping with my once old tradition... it's tiiiime for a little LOVE IT OR HATE IT!!!!! (<<to be read in your best Price is Right announcer voice).

Love it:
Being back in UTAH, baby!!
My wonderful aunt and uncle who are letting me stay with them for a week or so!!
So long, Texas heat!!
Dry, dry Utah replacing humid, humid Texas.

Flying over the Grand Canyon!
Flying withOUT delays!! (this is a first in like seven trips, people)
Getting messages from my friendlies
Trips to the cabin that bring back childhood memories
Wicked!!! (the book and the PLAY!!) 9 days!
Depositing a check that I didn't have to work for:)
Finding a sewing book full of wonderful projects!!
Having an excuse to buy fabric!! (seriously, this stuff is like heroin...SO ADDICTING! Not that I know what heroin is like.)
Cafe Rio, I've missed you.
Planning a trip to the Commissary!! (I love me some cheap groceries!!)
Beautiful sunsets (because of the smoke mentioned below)

Hate it:
I can't see my mountains because of nasty smoke.
Nasty smoke because of wildfires
Wildfires
Bugs
Bugs
Bugs (seriously, I had too many encounters with creepy crawlies for one day...)
How I can't figure out the new Mountain Lion OS...
Missing my familia back home
Having to buy groceries for myself...
Weeding through my packed-up-stuff, deciding what I don't really use.
Just thinking about buying textbooks.

Sometimes I Think It's Still 2010

In high school, we were inseparable. We shared books, clothes, secrets, and stories. We were the best of friends.

Katie, Melissa, Amanda, me, B. Fholer, Britt back in the day.

Then college came.

It's really hard keeping up relationships with your high school friends when you are meeting new, great people in college. Throw in being 1200 miles away? It becomes incredibly difficult.

No matter how little we talk or see each other, it is a party when we get together.



Last night, Britt, Katie, Amanda, and I met at Applebee's for dinner/dessert. It was so great to have time just to talk with each other. I love how at ease I am when I am with these girls. It's like we were never apart. We reminisce about high school and it seems like yesterday.

After we finished terrorizing the people of Applebee's, to include leaving a random phone number for our waiter (let it be on record that I adamantly opposed this idea;)), we left for Katie's house, the nearly-official "clubhouse". We sat around for a while, waiting for Britt to catch up with us. And by sat around, I mean sat on each other. A hangout is not complete without someone starting a dogpile. Once we were all there, we played Quelf. This is a great party game, folks. SO FUN. You have to be willing to do some crazy stuff (which most of the time, I am not...;)) and it produces some great laughs. It's like Cranium and Curses had a love child. Quelf: buy it for your party self.

Amanda, Katie and I waiting for Britt to join us:)

I don't know how I've gone 20 years without a pedicure, but I surely won't go that long before I get another! Today, Amanda, Katie, and I decided to spoil ourselves with manis and pedis!! My life is forever changed, y'all. I loved every minute of it. From the massage chair to the actual pedicure, it was heavenly.

Picture courtesy of Katie's instagram: Amanda, Katie's luscious legs, me

This next year will be a real test of our friendship, seeing as all of us are leaving Cove, not just Katie and I. Amanda is going to UT and Britt is going to St. Edwards. It's going to be so much harder to get the lot of us all together again, but when we do reconvene our WGC affairs, you better believe fun will be had!! I am so excited for these girls to get a taste of real college life (and the world for Katie--Uruguay!!), outside of CTC. I can't wait to hear all their exciting stories!!

Lifting Burdens: The Atonement of Jesus Christ

In church today, we watched this great message on the Atonement. I am so grateful for the cleansing and enabling power of the Atonement. Take a moment and watch this message of hope. Hope found in and through Christ.

Phelps with the Fin!

I mean Phelps with the WIN!!!!

As attractive as this was after Jason Lezak made a magnificent comeback to help Michael (yes-we're-on-a-first-name-basis) win his 8 gold medals in Beijing:

here

It was much sweeter to see this reaction after winning his record breaking 19th medal and every race after that:

here

Okay, maybe he looks a little too much like a puppy dog in that one... How 'bout this one??

here

You've grown up to be a great man, Michael Phelps. Sad to see you go. But you have been beautiful amazing to watch.




P.S. Am I the only one who hadn't heard the word "threepeat" until this week??