New Updates!

If you are wanting any new updates on my life, visit Matthew and my blog at laceyandmatthew.blogspot.com!

Love you all,

Lacey

A Good (Looking) Excuse

It has been almost exactly a year since I posted last.
I am a blog slacker, but I am not ashamed! I successfully made it through my junior year of college, became a musicianship tutor (love it!), learned to cook in a crock-pot, learned to dance, saw two of my closest friends leave on missions, saw one of my best friends get married, grew closer to my family through the death of my grandpa, lost weight, gained weight, lost weight, gained weight, etc. (you know how it goes), traveled (to the ocean!), and fell in love with my very best friend!

I met Matthew Paul Brownell at the very beginning of Spring semester 2011. He was roommates with one of my best friends from my first semester of college, Justin. It just so happened that my apartment and the boys' apartment clicked and hung out all the time! We played lava monster and other night games like Ultimate Frisbee, "blob" tag, and capture the flag and played board games (bang and the picture game [aka traveling pictionary]) almost every day of the week! That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship!
 After being friends for five-ish months and visiting each other over the summer, Matthew and I started going out on dates. One in particular, sums up how fun our relationship was and continues to be:

Matthew decided that we were going to make a sand-scape for my belated birthday present and we had gone out and bought all the necessary supplies (picture frame, 25 cent plastic placemat, gorilla glue, etc) except for the sand! Because we live so close to some sand dunes, we figured we'd make a date out of it! We drove out to the dunes, filled a plastic bag full of sand, put it in the car trunk and then ran around, rolled down dunes, star-gazed, and just played in the sand. When we decided to leave, it was dark and when we got back into the car, we realized Matthew had pulled too far into the sand and we were stuck! I started laughing so hard that I couldn't breathe. When Matthew figured out we weren't going to be able to get ourselves out, he couldn't hold in his laughter either. That's when I knew I was in trouble! (and by in trouble, I mean I really liked Matthew) That is the best part of the story. I suppose I should tell the ending as well though, so we ended up calling Aubrey and Kenny to come pull us out of the sand with their truck. They couldn't get to us for forty five minutes or so, so Matthew and I sat in the car and waited. (Which really means I told Matthew to tell me a story, which he did--and if I recall correctly it was about a ninja/samari duck?) I fell asleep during the story so Matthew watched Hercules on his phone until Aubrey and Kenny showed up. It really was one of the most memorable, fun dates I have ever been on.
Shortly after that, when we had been dating about two weeks (?), Matthew pulled a practical joke on a very naive Lacey.

 I had just finished auditions for the beginning of the semester and was having a celebratory dinner with my friend Courtney. We were eating when I received a text from Matthew who told me he had broken his nose! How shocked I was! I quickly got a to-go box for my dinner and ran over to Matthew's house (on the way, I picked up a delicious Cocoa Bean cupcake for Matthew) and when I got there I was so worried about Matthew that I didn't realize for, probably five minutes, that he had taped a paper towel to his face with scotch tape. Wowwwwww. Needless to say, I ended up eating that Cocoa Bean cupcake by myself! (mostly anyways)

Another fun thing Matthew and I did at the beginning of our relationship was we took a dance class together. I was more than a little apprehensive about it when we started, but as the semester went on, I enjoyed it more and more. We learned the foxtrot, cha-cha, waltz, and some type of swing. At the end of the semester, our "final" was that we had to attend a competition and compete. Matthew and I danced the cha-cha together and had a blast. The very first round we decided  that we weren't going to be upset if we got out because then we wouldn't have to dance in front of lots of people for long. Well, we made it through the first round, and after that I think we got a little competitive and really got into it. We were both enjoying ourselves so much that we barely realized we had made it to the final twelve couples (out of 200!). Sadly, we got out shortly after that and didn't get ribbons, but it was tons of fun regardless.

Our relationship hasn't been all fun and games, but dating your best friend definitely has its perks. There is no awkward "get-to-know-you" phase at the beginning of your relationship and both people already are used to the other person's sense of humor. Funny story: About two months after we had started dating, Matthew was talking to me and said, "I didn't know how weird you were when we started dating! You are weird!" I laughed and then realized, it takes me forever to leave my comfort shell! When Matthew continued to date me, I realized he must really like me if he still wants to date me even though I take up the whole couch, I can't help my stick my finger in his mouth when he yawns, and, as he stated, I truly am a weirdo.

I am not sure exactly when I fell in love, but I did. It could have been when we were at the dunes playing capture the flag and, because it was dark, we rolled down a hill, or maybe when we beat Super Mario Brothers on the wii, or maybe when Matthew and I went on walks and almost always ended up at the snow cone shack. When Matthew proposed to me on June 24, 2012, I couldn't have been happier. I have such a handsome, intelligent, caring, humorous man in my life and I can't believe how lucky I am! I am marrying my best friend at the end of this month and I can't help but countdown! Only 23 more days until I am Lacey Brownell and I can't wait!

To Conquer or Accept?

I am a wimp.

I cried when I saw Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid at Disneyworld when I was little because I was so scared by the plays.
What a weenie.

Honestly though, this wimpiness has acted as a bit of a "sine wave" in my life. I started out wimpy, got crazy, and am back to being wimpy again!
So you already know I was scared of Disney princesses as a child, but here are some more things that freaked me out: the missionaries, history channel documentaries, and the monster under my bed.

Then I hit my teen years! Out comes crazy Lacey! I actually became quite the thrill seeker as a teenager. I realized I loved adrenaline rushes. Roller coasters, cliff jumping, white water river rafting, rock climbing, ghost riding, etc. I loved that kind of stuff.

This week I have been at the Holyoak family reunion. First off, I just need to say that I am so proud to call myself a Holyoak. I love these people with all my heart. Anyways, the Holyoaks have a tradition where we go to Spring Hollow (near Glendale, Utah) and climb up a 40 ft crevice to etch our names in the sandstone. We have done it at every Holyoak family reunion. I have been up twice. I remember going up the first time and it being a piece of cake!
This week it was different. I was nervous! Regardless of how wimpy I was feeling, I went up that crevice and I'm sure I will continue to do so until I am too old/smart to do them anymore. I continually force myself to do things I wouldn't do if other people weren't around. Must be a pride thing.

My Networks

In 2005 social networking basically consisted of Myspace and YouTube. By 2006 there were more than 100 million Myspace users and more than 100 million videos on YouTube. Everyone knew Tom's name and had seen the video of the man lip-synching the Numa Numa song.
While Mark Zuckerberg created TheFacebook in 2004, it was, at first, restricted to Harvard students and membership was only available by means of an invite. By July 2010, almost 8% of the world population was connecting with friends and family through Facebook. (source) Social Networking has influenced American culture substantially: employers now use Facebook to gauge your hire-ability, Skype helps you stay in touch with friends and family from long distances, and Facebook helps you find classmates or stay connected to family (I sure am friends with my grandma, thank you.) New networking sites continue to pop up. For instance, Google just launched a new site called Google Plus. It is similar to Facebook, but it uses circles and allows you to video chat with friends (similar to Skype.) My dad works as a news anchor in MT and his employers actually asked him to branch out into social media by starting a blog, Facebook page, and Twitter account. (You can read his take on this here at his blog: On the Mark)
Skype, Facebook, Myspace, Google Plus, Skype, Blogger. It's all pretty overwhelming.
I am a pretty big Facebook user. I will sit down at school to start homework and check my Facebook to see if someone wants to be my friend, already is my friend and has something to say to me, or look at someone I wish was my friend :) at least once before my homework is finished.

I started my Facebook page my sophomore or junior year of high school, I think. I have 537 friends and am tagged in more than 700 pictures. To me, those statistics are pretty worthless. I started college in the Fall of 2009 and Facebook seemed like an integral part of college life. I am ashamed to admit that I played Farmville, tagged my friends in and posted every picture I took, and probably updated my status twice a day. Pathetic.

Social Networking websites make me very grateful for real-life socializing. In the past year I have realized a couple things: my life is not interesting enough to post about every day, nor do I have something to say everyday, life is better spent in the company of tangible friends, not online friends, and computers hurt your eyes if you look at the screen for too long.
Friends are the best. I am so happy with the "networks" I have through my friends. Having lived in four states in my life (so far), through being homeschooled and public schooled, and by attending college now, I am very happy with the networks I have started to build. My network started on August 31, 1991 with my parents and my sister Aubrey.
Since then it has expanded to my younger siblings, extended family, next-door neighbors, homeschool/public school friends, church friends, teachers, college friends, and many other circles.

"Life is partly what we make it, and partly what is made by the friends whom we choose."
~ Tehyi Hsieh

I have a great life :)

A Day with Wendy

Since I have been home my life has consisted of hanging with the fam (including my very good friend Tiffany who is living with my family until she gets married this spring,) working out (My YMCA membership has definitely been a big joy to me since I left Rexburg and the gym at the Hart,) and working at Wendy's. I figure I'm due for a blog and since my life is occupied by the above three things, Wendy's it is!

Wendy and I will reach our four year anniversary this July. When I was fifteen and needed a job, I waltzed right into the Wendys where my older sister Aubrey worked at the time, and basically got hired on the spot. (Having older sibling is a wonderful thing. Also, in the picture is my sister and her best friend Laura.)

Many people are embarassed of working fast food. I suppose looking back I wasn't especially proud of working there at the age of 15 or 16, but I soon realized a few things: 1) a job is a job. 2) you get out of work what you put into it. and 3) if you stay positive, you can make anything a good thing.

Now, while I don't especially love coming home smelling like burgers and fries (or as Tiffany says, funnel cakes,) feeling like I am grease covered, or being constantly tempted to eat endless amounts of delicious frosty, I am grateful for the opportunities Wendy's has supplied me with.

Because of Wendy's I have met people and become friends with people I would have never met otherwise-- My managers and co-workers all have such different stories and life experiences.

I have learned to interact with strangers even when they are sassy and rude (because the customer is always right, right?) Wendy's has helped me further my education by giving me a scholarship! My boss is wonderful for working around my crazy school schedule and managing to give me forty hours a week every time I need to work! Also, I have learned to interact with coworkers as they come and go.

Sometimes I wonder why I stay with Wendy... We have had quite an abusive relationship. I can't count the number of times I have gotten cut, burnt, or slipped. Overall we have a good thing going and while I know it won't last forever, for now, Wendy is good in my book!

The Importance of Good Music

Today, as I sat parked in front of the movie theater to pick up Hallie from the new Justin Bieber movie, I had to give my dad props for teaching me how to appreciate a good classic rock song.
I remember growing up listening to The Beach Boys, the soundtrack from Stand By Me, the Top Gun soundtrack, and many of my dad's old classic rock mix tapes containing Aerosmith, The Cars, AC/DC, and Van Halen. My sister and I can probably sing along to every song from the Beach Boys' album Still Cruisin' (and sing it proudly as well.)


I rarely listen to the radio anymore. One reason for this could be because the stereo in my car is broken, (now my only source of music is from the "ghetto blaster" which consists of my ipod plugged into a little speaker. It's awesome) but another reason could be because when I turn to the "new music" stations all that greets me are robot voices, trashy rap about sketchy endeavors, and techno beats. Whatever happened to making it because of talent? What happened to good tone and timbre? I don't know who was more embarrassed about the Super Bowl halftime show this year, the viewers or the Black Eyed Peas themselves?


Some of the people at my work make fun of me for liking the Beatles. It's crazy talk! They would rather be listening to some techno/robotic beat or cringe-worthy screamo than listening to the natural voice and harmonies of classic artists?! How silly.
Long live the greats! The people who people loved because of the ways they could manipulate their voices and instruments in ways that stirred something inside of everyone listening. The ones who sang about experiences in a way that was respectful and made sense: musically and otherwise. Thank goodness for those people and the music they created and shared.

No Place Like Home

Throughout my life I have lived in many houses, but have been blessed to have just one home.

Never have I felt like my home life was crumbling or even shaky.
My parents have always been incredible examples of making my home life very stable.
I moved when I was seven years old to Washington and then to Montana when I was eleven. Funny thing is, while it was hard to leave my friends, it was always exciting to go somewhere new with my family knowing I would never have to leave the feeling of "home" behind. Even now, when I spend eight of the twelve months in a year at school, I look forward to the holidays and breaks where I get to see my family and go home.

When I was little I used to get homesick just spending the night at a friend's house or spending a week at Girl's Camp during the summer. Funny now that I am in college, I don't really feel homesick ever. Not saying, I don't miss my family because I think about them daily and keep up to date by talking on the phone or through Skype (I'm pretty blessed to have my sister and brother-in-law living nearby when I am at school, so if I need a dose of home I just go visit them.)
I think the reason I don't get "homesick" anymore is because I keep that feeling of home close to my heart at all times. I'm not saying my college apartment isn't homey because we are a family in a sense. We fight and laugh together constantly, just like ordinary families do, but I know there is a reason I am a Holyoak.

One of my favorite memories of family vacations (besides Jace's rendition of "On The Road Again") occurred when returning home from vacations when I was young. When we would get close, my dad would always say this chant/song and it always pops in my mind when I think of home. It goes: "H-O-M-E, HOME!, HOME!, HOME!" and I can remember us all saying it together. I don't know why I remember that memory exactly, but I love it.

So, in summary, I love home. Dorothy couldn't have said it better, there truly is no place like home. Amen sister!

Monopoly

Sometimes I catch myself looking back on the past:

The regrets that I have, the choices I’ve made,

And I wish I could “return to start. Collect $200.”

Then I look at myself today and see how strong I am.

I see the choices I make now, and the opportunities I have

And am ready to tackle life.

I still make wrong decisions. “Go to Jail. Do not collect $200.”

It seems like sometimes the “property” I gain is sometimes a bonus

Other times a burden.

Exchanging with others, generally beneficial, but sometimes leave me worse off.

Life is not perfect, but God is.

Sometimes I see myself through others’ eyes:

In childhood, the girl scared of everything who liked to talk and eat popcorn with her toes.

In high school, the girl who liked to be liked, the band-loving geek.

In college, the girl who laughs the loudest says things off the top of her head without a filter sometimes.

I carry all these parts of life with me, some attributes I have discarded, others I try to keep.

All-in-all it doesn’t matter because they all make up the parts of me.

I continue across the board with my chin up, shoulders forward.

Prepared for the struggle ahead.

Hoping the dice roll the way I want them to, but realizing life will go on if they don’t.

Grateful for the struggles because without them, learning is unattainable.

A Fair Life

The phrase "life is not fair" always seems to pop in our minds when things do not go our way.

• Example: You work really hard and are dedicated to your job, but people that do not work as hard as you are getting paid more than you. -Life is not fair.

• Example: You have a crush on a boy, but the boy is more interested in your friend or roommate. -Life is not fair.

• Example: You studied, but did not get a good grade on your test. -Life is not fair.

• Example: You practice really hard, but do not make it into the band of your choice. -Life is not fair.

• Reality: Other people have families to support and need more money. Ask your boss about it and discuss available options.

• Reality: You don't want to be with a guy who doesn't like you anyways. Duh.

• Reality: There are other methods of study you should try out that would probably help you learn more efficiently.

• Reality: Keep practicing and eventually you will get to go. That's how others made it, through hard practice.

It's funny how we so often have a sense of entitlement to things. We expect Google to pop up 0.5 seconds after we push enter on the keyboard. We expect that the older we get, the more respect we will receive. The reality of it is, you have to view situations from all angles. If you keep the right perspective, life really is fair ☺

Charles DeLee Pennington, my hero

I miss him already.
Today I said goodbye to my wonderful Papa, Charles DeLee Pennington.
Tomorrow he will return to Heavenly Father.
Charles DeLee Pennington has been known by many names. Yesterday, I learned my grandma first knew him as "Chuckypoo," the handsome air force stud that all the girls lined up to kiss. My mom and her siblings knew him as Dad, the always smiling, happy-go-lucky guy that loved them all so much. Some people knew him as a handy-man, always willing to put in ceiling fans or electrical outlets, Brother Pennington, a silly man from the ward, or a McDonalds manager, keeping the work environment enjoyable and spoiling his kids with happy meals.

I know him as Papa.
Everyone should be jealous of me and my cousins. We have had the best Papa any grandkids could ever have.
My Papa has a bald head. We always teased him about his bald head. I don't think I can count the number of times I kissed him on top of that head or asked him "Papa, do you use soap or shampoo?" He wore a cowboy hat and a southern drawl, and wore them well-- A Texas boy all the way through. My papa would make friends with anybody and everybody. Some of my fondest memories of Papa's visits set me at Home Depot, playing in the doors and with the faucets while Papa picked up stuff for a new project. I remember when he installed ceiling fans in almost every room of our house.
Usually when we'd go on these trips, we'd stop and McDonalds on the way home and pick up a Happy Meal.
I remember one time Papa decided to take Aubrey and I to the movies for a day. We went to three movies in a row, all at the movie theater. I can't remember what time we started, but can remember falling asleep during the midnight premiere of the movie Dodgeball.
I remember Papa and Grandma had a jar of coins in their Cedar City House and we would always have to ask Papa for a coin if we wanted candy from the gumball machine.
I also remember when Papa redid the backyard and put in a swingset for us grandkids.
My most recent memory of Papa was made this week. I had the chance to spend all of this week with Papa in the hospital. My Papa is a flirt. He loves to make people laugh. This week he told all of us how pretty the nurses at the hospital were and how he already had proposed to four of them!
Today I said goodbye to my Papa. I told him how much I loved him, hugged him and held his hand, and planted one final kiss on top of his head. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to have Charles DeLee Pennington in my life as my grandpa. I will always cherish the memories I have of him and be grateful for the wonderful example he has set for me of living the gospel and loving everyone around him. I am so grateful for the gospel and for the knowledge that I will get to see him again. I am thankful to know that Papa will be greeted by his family on the other side when he passes.
Papa, I love you.

110 Loves

This is one of those dumb Facebook notes people write that I did a while ago, but I actually kind of like this one! So I'm posting it here!!

1. I love honesty.
2. I love friendship.
3. I love eternal families.
4. I love good hair days.
5. I love good face days.
6. I love learning.
7. I love challenges.
8. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.
9. I love the Book of Mormon.
10. I love adrenaline.
11. I love sleeping.
12. I love cuddling.
13. I love hugs and kisses.
14. I love music.
15. I love watching sports.
17. I love summertime.
18. I love Christmas music in November.
19. I love Andrea Boccelli.
20. I love being barefoot.
21. I love eating.
22. I love school.
23. I love being outside.
24. I love my saxophone.
25. I love dogs.
26. I love living in the United States.
27. I love facebook.
28. I love girl talks.
29. I love rough housing.
30. I love reading.
31. I love How To Train Your Dragon.
32. I love my phone.
33. I love sarcasm.
34. I love water.
35. I love singing.
36. I love procrastinating.
37. I love chocolate.
38. I love burping.
39. I love hot showers.
40. I love star gazing.
41. I love old memories.
42. I love sneezing.
43. I love board games.
44. I love driving.
45. I love napping.
46. I love the internet.
47. I love acoustic guitar.
48. I love piano.
49. I love life.
50. I love new clothes.
51. I love makeup.
52. I love Montana.
53. I love bonfires.
54. I love hiking.
55. I love folf.
56. I love relationships.
57. I love apple pie.
58. I love new shampoo.
59. I love clean teeth.
60. I love my bed.
61. I love my future husband.
62. I love optimism.
63. I love parks.
64. I love free music.
65. I love Google.
66. I love texting.
67. I love the smell of sagebrush.
68. I love jewelry.
69. I love unique art.
70. I love my High School band director.
71. I love pizza.
72. I love sunshine.
73. I love floor hockey.
74. I love sledding.
75. I love siblings.
76. I love parents.
77. I love flowers.
78. I love technology.
79. I love gym memberships.
80. I love jigsaw puzzles.
81. I love crossword puzzles.
82. I love dry humor.
83. I love dance parties.
84. I love the United States.
85. I love freedom.
86. I love movies.
87. I love new friends.
88. I love nail polish.
89. I love blogging.
90. I love camping.
91. I love Thai food.
92. I love air conditioning.
93. I love jeans.
94. I love sweats.
95. I love trail mix.
96. I love Super Mario Brothers.
97. I love yellow.
98. I love new socks.
99. I love awkward situations.
100. I love best friends.


10 Am's
1. I am Lacey.
2. I am a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
3. I am special sometimes.
4. I am a music connoisseur.
5. I am a college student.
6. I am American.
7. I am pale.
8. I am sarcastic.
9. I am a saxophone player.
10. I am a future band director.

My Addiction

I have a problem.
A big one.
I love Christmas music.
I couldn't help but start listening to it the minute the first snowflake fell here in Rexburg. I think that was about two weeks before Thanksgiving...
Truth be told, I sneak Christmas music into my listening throughout the year. Don't tell.

There is just something about Christmas music that instantly brings me a feeling of joy. I recall reading the Christmas story with my family every Christmas Eve, shopping for presents for my friends or families, the Christmas my siblings and I all got sleds and headed out to the sledding hill as soon as all the presents were open, or Christmas mornings with my siblings where the clock seemed to be stuck on 6:59 a.m. for two hours (we weren't allowed to do presents until 7.)

Music is a big part of my life. It has been for very long time and I have this habit of associating memories with songs. Whenever I hear the hymn "Love at Home" I always think of my mom singing it when my siblings and I would either scream at or try to beat on each other . Or, when I hear anything by Bad Company I always think of the jam sessions I had during the opening shift at Wendys with my manager and my coworker at seven in the morning. My thing with Christmas music is that it can range from Frank Sinatra singing "Baby it's Cold Outside" to Whams "Last Christmas" to the hymn "With Wandering Awe" and all my Christmas memories surface and send me into Christmas euphoria. I love it. LOVE IT.

I think the main thing I love about Christmas is my family. My family is the best. THE BEST. I am thoroughly convinced that if every person had a family like mine, world peace would be obtainable (well...maybe worldwide love lol.) Anyways, enough bragging. My family has a lot of Christmas traditions. Every Christmas Eve we invite the missionaries over for dinner and to participate in the world-renowned Holyoak Christmas program to sing, read the Christmas story, watch the LDS short film Joy To The World or Mr. Krueger's Christmas, each open one present (yes of course we have awesome presents for the missionaries too), then head downstairs for some sweet pool action or a ping-pong tournament. We end the night by piling all the kids in the basement. In the olden days (before Aubrey had to go get married to Kenny, whom we all love) we would all pile into Aubrey's bed and stay up late listening for Santa then wake up super early and stare at the clock until 7 o'clock would come around so we could go open presents. Now us unmarried siblings pile into my room and generally pass out on my bed and wake up right on time (or a little after hehe) to open presents. I love it. After that we all head upstairs to search for the pickle ornament (whoever finds it gets a extra present. Bonus.) Then we spend all of Christmas day loafing and watching movies and eating delicious food...or candy. Whatever works.

Writing this is making me homesick. And I was just home last week. Wow.

I can't believe I just told you all my life story of Christmas (well actually not ALL of it, because I probably have a million more things I could say...) but that just proves my point. THIS is what Christmas music does to me. I flashback EVERY time! I think that is why I love it so much. I wish it could be Christmastime ALL THE TIME. Maybe that will be one of my New Year's Resolutions! To keep the feeling of love I get around Christmas with me throughout the year.

I'm Lacey Holyoak and I'm a Mormon.

♪I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I know who I am. I know God's plan. I'll follow Him in faith.
I believe in the Savior Jesus Christ. I'll honor His name.
I'll do what is right; I'll follow his light. His truth I will proclaim. ♪

At our Stake Conference last month, my stake president, President Kush, asked everyone to write their testimony down somewhere, whether it be on a blog or in a journal. I'm finally accepting that challenge.

I know for a fact that I am a Daughter of my Heavenly Father who lives in heaven.

I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. The greatest prophet there has ever been.

I know the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and that it is a book of truth.

I know families are eternal and I am so grateful for the family I was blessed with. I can't imagine my life without them.

I know Thomas S. Monson is a true living prophet and that he receives guidance for us directly from the Lord.

I know that through prayer we have a direct line of communication to the Lord and I know He hears our prayers.

I know that only through the Atonement of Christ and by His grace are we saved.

I know Jesus Christ is my savior. I know that He was sinless upon this earth and went through pain beyond comprehension so that I can return to my Heavenly Father.

I am so grateful for the life I have been given. For my wonderful family, my beautiful friends, and my faith. Without my church, without the gospel, I know I would be lacking in my life.

Thank you all for the kind words, the constant support, and the occasional slap on the back of my head. I love you all.

Vent.

Since I don't really believe in screaming out loud and scaring everyone, I am taking two sentences of my blog to vent.
*deep breath* AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Only 15 more days until Thanksgiving break. I can do it.

GUM!

Tonight was the "adult" session of BYU-Idaho's 3rd Stake's Conference. I decided to go this semester and I am so happy I went. This is the first time I have actually attended the Saturday night session of Stake Conference and it was wonderful.

Anyways, I am sitting listening to the speaker and decide a piece of gum sounds REAL nice.
So I whip one out.

Orbitz.

Light Green.

Sweet Mint.

Delicious.

Then I turn and offer a piece to my roommate Jess. I am just about to put said piece of sweet mint goodness in my mouth and a thought occurred to me:

Why does gum have that weird zig-zag pattern?!
You know, the one that looks kinda like the tread on a tire??

I turned and asked Jess my mind-blowing question and she said it was so it was easier to cut the gum on the expensive gum-making equipment with the tread, so the gum would not get stuck to the cutter thing....if that makes sense. (Jess has been here for over four years now. She is basically a genius). I hope that makes sense!! If not you can call me and I will explain it to you. (Or at least hand the phone to Jess for HER to explain.)
This is her and I. In matching shirts we bought at DI last semester for our white glove. Yeah, we are awesome.

Anyways, I am Google-ing this question as we speak and Google has no answers. All I have learned so far is that the gum company Wrigleys made coffee flavored gum at one point and that long before I was born, people used to chew on tree pieces to make their breath smell good. Gross.

Google is being worthless. I will just believe Jess and let you know if I learn anything different about why gum is patterned.
Don't be too disappointed, everything will be okay :)

High School Flashback

Yesterday I was asked to go with some friends and play the Baritone sax at a high school football game. My first thought was YES PEP BAND! My second thought was....crap...I have never played the Bari before! I decided it was to be an adventure!
After my master class last night I borrowed my friend Tyler's Bari, got a mouthpiece and a reed, and hopped in this freshman trombone player's car with my friends Heather and Travis (my favorite Tenor and Flute players!)

Adventure One: The Drive To Blackfoot
Upon getting on the highway, we quickly learned that TB (Trombone Boy), is a madman driver. I spent most of the hour drive holding Heather's hand or pretending I was on a roller coaster. It was great.

Adventure Two: The Gig
We drove to Snake River High School's football game in Blackfoot, Idaho. Their mascot? The PANTHERS!

I was almost terrified by the idea of the ferocious Snake River Panther, but then noticed their mascot looked like a fuzzy purple dog, was named Pandora, and danced with the cheerleaders-- clearly a girl panther. We arrived in the middle of the second quarter and the Panthers were looking pretty good. The band?

Not lookin' so good.

Snake River HS has around 600 students and obviously 585 of those students don't appreciate band as much as I do. Their band basically consisted of one trombone, three flutes, one alto sax player (appalling, I know), some drummers (about three), and two trumpets. There was also an older man playing the tuba. I did not catch his name, but from his numerous stories I concluded he is related to about half of Blackfoot Idaho.
Great.
Heather and I situated ourselves at the back of the band and whipped our instruments out. The Bari sax weighs about 20 pounds. My alto probably weighs about five. Awesome.

I felt powerful.

So, I strapped myself into my harness and hooked up! It was SO difference hearing such a deep tone come out of the Bari. I couldn't help myself, I exploded into laughter. That didn't really help my playing much because it takes SO MUCH air to play the Bari! I was dying! Heather and I also had the same part a lot of the time, which sent us into more convulsions of laughter. Who knows why it was hilarious, but I promise that somehow, it was. It was great.
In fact, it seems we were constantly laughing last night, despite the cold. There was deep Bari laughter, same part playing laughter, and then there was the BEST LAUGHTER OF ALL!! TB was getting his flirt on with a high school blond!!!! Needless to say this supplied us with endless reasons to laugh. We laughed at TB, we laughed at the college-0bsessed high school child, and we laughed at the commentary we were creating of their conversation. Here's a peek: (B=blond, just for clarification. Also, as a disclaimer, I am sure that is not how the conversation went, it was probably much more normal, but it was more fun to think of it like this)

B: Oh my gosh, you are in COLLEGE?! *while playing with hair*
TB: Yeah, I'm pretty much hot stuff..
B: I always wanted to play an instrument, but I couldn't figure out all the buttons....
TB: Yeah, only a real man can play trombone...
B: I also always wanted to put my mouth on the metal mouthpiece...I guess kissing you would be like playing the trombone right?
TB: Yup, that sounds about right.

It was basically hilarious.
Maybe you had to be there? :)

Looking around I realized how different I am since I graduated. I remember getting all dressed up in my school colors (Purple and Gold) to rep my Sentinel Spartans for all the football games!
On nights we played halftime gigs for band I always rushed one out of my marching band uniform and into purple spandex, face paint, and colorful beads!
Example: This is Cody and I my senior year in our Drum Major get-ups.

I also remember participating in the cheerleader chants and ridiculous taunts to the other team.
I saw the same cocky boys that will always exist as long as high school exists. I also saw some of THOSE girls. You know, THOSE girls. Yeah. Don't miss that!

I loved high school sports. Now, I'm content to watch the game and people-watch the students and people around the stadium.

Ahhhh, growing up. IT'S HAPPENING!

After the gig we packed up our stuff, walked back to TB's car, and headed back to the Burg! If I thought the ride back was going to be a smoother drive, I was disappointed.
Not only was TB still a madman, he turned on Irish rock/funk music, blasted it, and sang. It was enjoyable for a while, then I thought my ears were going to bleed. Heather and Travis both took mini naps (Heaven knows how they fell asleep during that racket) and we arrived safely at the Snow.
What an adventure.
We had planned on watching How To Train Your Dragon (MY ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE) after we got back at my apartment, but that didn't happen due to a miscommunication, I guess. It has been rain-checked (yes it is a verb) and will be continued at a later date.
To end: Please go watch How To Train Your Dragon. It is the best.

Brain Talk.

It's funny how our brains work.

My brain can do the following: recall a funny memory, solve logical problems, create passages of music, remember inside jokes from way back, come up with the craziest dreams, directions around familiar places, or bring up a scene from the awesome home video collection created by the Holyoak children.

My brain struggles with these things: coming up with witty comebacks, remembering what I had for breakfast, understanding science, spelling of words (like genuine and conscience-- those are the worst), remembering to floss, even to remember saying my prayers sometimes (thank goodness I have the help of the constant reminder given to me at age eight), and remembering people's birthdays.

Isn't it funny that the part of our brains that controls memory is called the hippocampus? The hippocampus takes things we have gathered with our senses (things we've seen, smelled, tasted, touched, heard) and places it into our short or long term memory.

The problem I have with my brain today is that it keeps bringing back memories of things that would be better stashed that floating in my head right now. I read that our brains, as they store knowledge, attach memories to other similar memories. My deal tonight is, I keep hearing songs that I associate with old memories. I heard a song that reminded me of my ex (heavens knows that is never a good thing), I heard a song that reminded me of my childhood, and a song that reminded me of good times with my high school friends.
Isn't it funny how something so small can take you so far back in the past?

I am very grateful for memories though. Without them I would not remember my wonderful childhood, falling in puppy love, the feeling of accomplishment after writing my first song on guitar or piano, the anticipation I get on Christmas morning every year, the first time I touched piano keys, the day of my baptism, my first time going through the temple, the first time I met my best friends from high school, or my first year at Girl's Camp!

So to my memory I say, thank you.

Add. Manage.

Add.

Manage.

These are two options offered when looking at the dashboard of your blog.

Funny thing is, I feel like those are the two items I am struggling with the most this semester.

I started off the semester with sixteen credits. Then I added two ensembles making it eighteen, but by using the amazing power I have as a music major to make my ensembles count as one credit instead of two....I still am enrolled for 16 credits (with an 18 credit workload.)

Don't get me wrong. This semester is going really great! I love having Aubrey and Kenny nearby in Idaho Falls. I also am loving my apartment and roommates.
My only complaint is.....Add. Manage.

Those are my two verbs of the semester. Constantly more is added to my schedule which constantly pushes me to stay on top of managing my time.
I will add that time management is something I waaaaaaayyyyyyy struggle with!
That makes me laugh though because that is the main adventure of being a music major. Juggling time.

Oh, the irony.

Thank goodness for the scriptures being there to remind me "I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (1 Nephi 3:7)

The church is true.

Now let the chaos begin!!! (or....CONTINUE!!!)

Now: Bedtime

Happiness

I MADE SYMPHONY BAND!!!
This is the best news I have received regarding my career in music began!!
There are four saxophones in BYU-I's Symphony Band.
Kim- A senior that dominates on the saxophone both in jazz and classical [1st chair]
Then there's me on second chair.
My very good friend Heather is the only tenor in Symphony Band and is gonna rock it
and my other good friend Kaiti is playing Bari!
I also got into the jazz lab band which I am very excited about. So I am now in two ensembles!!! HAPPY DAY!!
This means I am going to be in the practice room even more than usual, but I think it will be so incredibly worth it!!!
Oh, happiness.

Once upon a time

I was a Sophomore in college at Brigham Young University Idaho. I am loving living with my beautiful roommate/best friend Leisa Marino. I lived with four other ladies as well: Dianna, an adorable freshman with the cutest personality, Jessica, my super-senior roommate from Spring semester, another new freshman named Whitney, who, because she has family in town, I have not really gotten to know very well yet, and Lauren, one of my best friends from Fall semester last year (2009).
I absolutely am LOVING being back in Rexburg. It feels like I never left. I have been to the temple once and am committed to going more often this semester than last semester. Also, I decided to be better about attending devotional this semester as well! I am committed to growing spiritually this semester!
I got caught up with an old friend (Alex Mitchell) today and am very excited about spending the semester reconnecting with him!!! Also, I have been bonding with Jessica, Leisa, and Dianna all day today and am lovinggggg it! There is something about new roommates that I just love. It's like you know you are going to be practically family so that beginning awkward phase of the friendship is basically nonexistent. [I will try to get a roommate picture up really soon!!]
I audition tomorrow for the Symphony Band here at the University and am REALLY hoping I can get in! Wish me luck!
As much as I love college, I really wish classes weren't starting in two days...I would love to have a few more days of roommate bonding/relaxing/loving life. Ohhh well, I guess I will get over it.
Another thing I am liking about being a Sophomore is that I am comfortable with my group of friends. Last year as a freshman I felt like making friends was a top priority, so this semester while I am always open to making new friends, I am willing to just let things happen how they happen :)
Anyways, I am being rude to my friend Kristin who came to visit Leis and I by ignoring her, so I am gonna end now! More updates to come! Love you all!