the one with some fun things

let's chronicle my life since part of my family has been here 

thursday

get out of class, meet mom and my brothers on the triad

have them meet some of my favorite people

head to the temple-session for mom, baptisms for me and the boys

quick stop at the the church museum

taco stand for dinner!

class again, take a quiz and then hang out with my brothers waiting for mom

mom and the boys went to grama and grampa great's and i went to see a movie with shanon

friday

mom and the boys pick me up from my apartment and we head down to spanish fork

hickory kist for lunch, oh how i love their sandwiches

spanish fork pool! with sherylnn, cheree, tiffany, melanie and their kids

got a pretty bad sunburn on my back and shoulders

check in at the hotel, shower and change

dinner at brick oven-HEAVEN!

back to the hotel to change-for me at least

then the drive to the nephi pageant, which was a-mazing!

people who came with us:

tiffany, her husband and her youngest

melody, her mom and her brother

sherylnn and her whole family 

saturday 

visit BYU, mostly the wilk and the book store in the wilk

will was reppin' the church schools with a BYU sinch backpack, and LDSBC shirt and a BYU-I hat

drove by the MTC, ahhh, and the provo temple

ate at In-n-out and no one appreciated it

 shoe shopping

lunch at the caldwells, which was sooo yummy

dinner with grama and granpa great

zac slept over at my apartment, will stayed with mom

sunday

woke up, had pancakes

ward council and then ward choir

zac got to hang out with my phone and my laptop

sacrament with the brother and mom

then we headed up to kristi's 

hung out with her and her family, ate an amazing dinner

ditched the boys and mom and i stopped by my friend krystal's on the way to rexburg

made a stop in rigby to look for jamia's house, mom forgot she had moved to arizona

then stayed the night at the hadry's

monday

woke up to some stupid guy working on the neighbor's house at 7

hung out watched an episode of criminal minds

left for the tour of BYU-I, which was conducted on a golf cart

campus wasn't bad

then back to hadry's to clean up and watch another episode of criminal minds

took a nap and back to kristi's we went

hung out, had another amazing dinner!

packed the boys in the car and to grama's we went

spent the night with the fam

tuesday

went to the bountiful temple with mom, the boys and ethan

took some pictures

then headed to class, which was cancelled

so i met up with them at hires for lunch

back to the school, nap and then class

wednesday

work :(

time with the fam and sam

south visitors center at temple square

joseph smith movie

tour the conference center

dinner at nauvoo cafe-so yummy

then back to my apartment 

read and went to bed

       

 

   

 

bachelorette review [week 4]

so i'm a little late, like a week

but we're off!

• so her suit jacket is too big, it looks retarted
• the camera shoot wasn't horrible
• first, i took so many notes on kasey i don't even know where to start
• kasey got the fist one on one date
• kasey is way too cocky
• singing the song, really? no bueno!
• "pretty intense stuff" kasey get a grip
•  way excited kasey didn't get a rose, bumbed he's staying
• the date was SUPER awkward
• craig r, frank, jesse, jonathan, kirkm roberto, ty went on the group date
• really justin, complaining about not going on the group date? whiner!
• i noticed kirk and roberto have livestrong bands, i knew i liked them
• ali was horse as she called to them, bet she's sick
• spandex on guys, seriously?
• although kirk makes it look the best
• with jonathan's scruff and voice i want to gag!
• jesse has the best voice
• roberto has pretty good voice
• i felt bad that the guys had to sit and watch it all
• Ali was made for the stage, she is such a DRAMA QUEEN
• jonathan looking at ali would not have changed things, you sound horrible
• beehive of knives? bwahaha
• ali please say roberto's name right, do not pull a jake with tenley's name
• is she seriously chewing gum on stage?
• jonathan, please do not go up there!
• i'm glad craig r got some time with ali
• jonathan always interupts!
• i'm so glad that kirk was super sweet to ali
• i totally called it ali was sick
• jonathan, please do not go up there!
• fyi jonathan, amber alert is for kids not bachelorettes!
• kasey you wish you had another one on one, you're not gonna get cause you already had your chance so quit going on about it
• how is getting a tattoo showing that you are genuine and sincire
• his outfit is crappy! a flannel shirt and flip flops?
• bachelorette crew rearranged the room, no way is it always set up like that
• why did it take the guys so long to realize kasey was gone
•  happy birthday to chris l, i agreed with him-it was a good trade off
• he's a good catch, maybe the one for ali
• the lighting in his interview was WAY funky
• i would have gone to ninja new york for dinner, not some club
• i play with my hair the same way ali does
• her outfit sucks, big time. sorry instyle
• i liked that they called his dad, super sweet
• i didn't know joshua reden sang the song, the first one
• what is with the aggressive kissing?
• i'm glad chris l got the rose
• okay who in the heck uses fibber anymore? no one, everyone says liar
• kirk looks SUPER cute at the rose ceremony
• kasey is not a good liar
• plus his shirt and tie clash like no other
• face off over the tattoo!!!
• side note: i thought chris n was gone until rose ceremony are we gonna meet him anytime soon?
• all the symbolism=crazy
• thank you for speaking my  mind kirk, kasey is psycho
• where does kasey get that everyone supports him, he's delusional
• and he's getting crazier by the mili-second
• her cocktail dress is super ugly
• giving kasey a rose? are you crazy ali? he's got stalker potential
• it was time for jonathan to go home, but jesse?
• so jesse said 'i can't wait to see my dogs' lame!

next week

[or in this case, a couple days ago]

• ali-kasey can not be normal, sorry
• watch, all the guys are gonna be sick next week

the one when today...

...I am greatful to be alive

the one with questions people ask

Where do you live?
SL, UT

what is your favorite color?
 brown and pink, i used to really dislike pink so it's odd for me

What is your favorite city?
i don't have one, yet!

What is your favorite thing to cook?
 i love grilled cheese, so it's probably that

What beauty product can you not live without?

this eye cream i have, it takes away the dark circles

What is your favorite nyc restaurant?
ninja new york, i want to go one day

What is one thing you can’t help but splurge on?  

groceries, i get to the store and i remember all these other things i wanted

What is your favorite word?
antidisestablishmentarianism and supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, just because they are so long and because I can spell the first one without looking it up

What movie can you recite by heart?
The Blindside, Remember the Titans

What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?  
sleep in and go to church

Which tv show do you makes you happiest?
grey's anatomy, army wives

What is your favorite beverage? water

What is one trend that totally victimized you?glitter makeup

If you could trade lives with anyone for a day who would you chose?
hmmm, an actress or singer

What is your favorite comfort food?
mashed potatoes and chocolate chip cookie dough

What famous person do you think you most resemble?
ugh, i don't think there is one sadly

bachelorette review [week 3]

so i'm taking a page from mormon in manhattan's book

i might as well make watching  the bachelorette worth while

besides the entertainment value

so each week i'll post what i thought of the episode. 

feel free to comment with your own if you watch

• tightrope walking, really? heckka scary, no way i would do it
• lots a cheesey lines were being thrown around, planned much?
• so roberto speaks a ton of languages, definite plus
• he looks kinda cute, too cute for ali-she said it first
• good job giving him the rose
• kasey said 'sing her a little song from my heart' not cool, we are over everyone singing her songs
• plus his voice kinda  bothers me, is that mean?
• i give ali tons of props for getting the barenaked ladies
• but her dancing at the beginning was WAY awkward
• i was kinda jealous they got to be in the music video, i want to be in a music video
• felt bad for the one guy who didn't even get any action
• kirk and ali kissing after they said cut, awkward for everyone
• although they do look cute together, my money's on him to win right now
• kirk was a little obnoxious at the shoot, he's way to jealous-they barely know each other
• oh, and he looks better with glasses
• i felt bad for jonathan, not! it was just plain funny
• what with the awkward whispering before the scene and the crying? really jonathan? you are on national television.
• john c reminds me of sheldon
• ali was definitely enjoying kissing all the guys a little too much
• so justin hobbling over to ali's seemed desperate-not cool buddy, not cool
• while justin was hanging out in the hot tub, i almost believed him when he said he'd give up everything for ali AND then he said 'well okay, not really' who do you think you are? you're so not cool
• post script it wasn't cool that he took time away from hunter
• hunter is kinda cute, but not my type, i don't know if he's right fro ali
• i love her apron, it's super cute
• really? why did she bring out a huge plate of meat for them to cook when it's just the two of them? seriously though, 6 burgers and a bunch of hot dogs-it's sick!
• what are with ali's skimpy binki's?
• kinda awkward in the pool. kinda? who am i kidding, SUPER awkward!
• i love that she wanted to make s'mores! i'm kind of addicted to them right now
• i'm sad hunter is going home, we don't even really know him
• her dress seems like she's going to prom, not a cocktail party
• i liked the cheers to hunter, that was nice
• is bad that i didn't even recognize steve? i was all like 'who is this guy'
• i don't think i saw chris n until the rose ceremony, and his tan was weird
• ty's necklace bothers me, but i L-O-V-E his accent
• way to rat out justin ali, no seriously way to go!
• i'm glad all the guys flipped out over it, him going over there was NOT cool
• kasey is right, justin is creepy
• justin are you really crying? seriously?
• craig r and i think a LOT alike, kinda scarry
• are the diamonds on the sash supposed to be off to the side? why didn't someone catch that?
• ali gave 'rated r' aka justin the rose, she's stupid!
• jesse, are you really wore a jean jacket? this is not a how down, it's a cocktail party!
• we said goodbye to hunter, john c and steve this week

from the extra scenes, and previews

• the mouse bit was HIL-AR-IOUS! i was laughing so hard, and now i really wish john c had stayed. i really hope they catch it
• so who thought the whole 'here's my heart. jump in, stay awhile' was way awkward!

the one where i can't take much more of this

so i'm still trying to hold on to that thought i had when i was a kid, the one you thought of when you were a kid to.

the people you love, the people you look up to-they are indestructible!

they are like superman nothing phases them

first my favorite young woman's leader had problems last fall and then my favorite 2 and a half year old's dad had to get a whipple procedure done and then had complications in december. the worst part is that i was almost 2,000 miles away and i couldn't do anything.

my gramie went to the hospital sunday night, she had surgery monday and i saw her in the icu on tuesday.

she went in with some tightness with her chest, and ended up having her gallbladder taken out and finding an infection all through out her guts.

when i went to see her tuesday morning she was a ventilator, scariest thing i have ever seen. they put her on it because after the surgery she didn't even try to breath. while i was there they were able to take her off it and put her on a mask so help her vocal chords.

when i went back that night she was doing so much better. they are pumping her full of super antibiotics. she even thought they moving her from icu to surgery today.

hopefully i'll get there today to see her after work

update [7/20/12]
i was talking with my gramie while i was back in utah and she asked me how often i came to visit her. i thought she knew i was there almost everyday, she told me she wasn't sure how many times i had come because it seemed to her that every time she was awake i was there. she remembers very little from those two weeks, mostly pain and me being there.

the one where i seriously fail

so i know i said i would blog everyday

and i'm working on it

life has been busy and stressful

but i'm gonna get back to blogging

i have some news too

i found a video editing program on my computer

that actually, isn't that bad

and my old nikon can still shoot video

the one that my favorite toddler in the whole world

stepped on and ruined while my mom didn't pay attention

point in fact

i'm vlogging now too

check out my channel on YouTube

you know you want to!

http://www.youtube.com/vloggingellie

the one with part two of the contest

i told you i would deliver the second blog

I had an epiphany while I was in class the other day, and ‘just happened’ to have a great view of this guy I liked, yes liked. He’s cute, smart, and a poster boy for chivalry, need I go on? I started day dreaming about us and what we could be. Come on, we all do it. Then it hit me. I like the idea of him more than I actually like him.

We interrupt your blog reading to bring you definitions...

The idea of someone: holding hands, dates, late night phone calls and lots of texts, saying we’re together, etc., etc.

Actually liking someone: really liking them for who they are and not some idealized version. You get the picture.

You can like your said person and like the idea of them. Ideally you would like these two images balanced.

We now return to your regular blog reading…As soon as I got a chance I was with Rebecca talking about this epiphany. You should have seen us talking a mile a minute about this. Then Rebecca shared our friend Sam’s analogy with me. Imagine all males or females are like stores in a shopping center. You can window shop: see how cute they are, what kind of personality they might have, etc. And you can try them on, see how they act when you’re alone, how they fit into your life and you in theirs.

Sometimes you like the window shopping image of them, you just don’t want to wear them or own them. They may not flatter you or be your style. Even though you really like said ‘product’ it just doesn’t look good on you maybe. Sometimes you have to take a break from shopping, and that’s okay.

Because when you take a break you realize what things really matter to you. Maybe you really like them, but something small-the way he doesn’t call you back within five seconds-could break everything the two of you have together. Or maybe you really like them and no matter what bothers you about them you like them anyway. You would do anything to be with them for eternity-that’s they way you want to feel.

When my parents were in the early years of their marriage my dad’s parents didn’t like my mother. He sat them down one day made it clear, if he had to choose between them he was going to choose my mother. He knew they were meant for forever. I want to feel the way my dad felt, and hopefully you want that too.

I was watching a show; the father was making a speech at his daughter’s reception. He said they wished the new couple would be each other’s ‘anyway’ friends. Because no matter what is said or done you love them anyway.

Moral of the Blog:

            Make sure you like the person you are with, not just the idea of them

            When they are the right person make sure you’re an ‘anyway’ friend

the one with the contest

awhile ago i entered a blogging contest for mormon times

the requirements were to be around 20-something, single and mormon

so i entered, i didn't make the cut

but i didn't think my blogs should be put to waste

I woke up Saturday morning to a phone call from this really cute guy, who we will call C. He had called to  asked me out for that night. I said yes, he was cute, sweet and had a job. He told me he’d pick me up after he got off work, and being myself I didn’t ask him what time he got off work. All I said was “sounds good!” What was I thinking? Oh yes, it was something along the lines of a cute guy wants to ask me out, and I like him-HECK YES.

I spent the next half hour freaking out to Rebecca, who is the Christina to my Meredith-the mac to my cheese. We talked until I was calm enough to get ready. I was ready for about 5 hours when he called again, telling me he was off and was on his way to my grama’s house where I was staying the weekend. He met my grama and we were on our way. We ended up at a playground; we swung on the swings and just got to know each other.

Great date so far right? Yeah things went downhill fast, all of the sudden my stomach went crazy. I ran toward the bushes not far away and threw up, what caused this you ask? A water chugging contest the two of us participated in and the fact that I get motion sickness all the time.

Now I’m feeling bad for the guy, anything he does it’s going to make the situation more awkward. He can just stand there making me feel like I’m on display. Or he can do what he did and come over and rub my back, and watch me. I was so FREAKING embarrassed. He took me back to my grama’s house. He then realized she lived on a golf course, jokingly I said we should hop the fence sometime.

Fast forward about half hour. My teeth were brushed and I had golf clubs in my hand and golf balls in my jean’s pockets. We found the perfect spot to jump the fence but being 5’6” a seven foot fence is a little hard to jump. We grabbed a chair and he was over in a heartbeat. He gave me the okay to jump, and landed in a hole. Spraining my ankle, spraining it REALLY well.

But at this point I was determined to still have fun. We walked three houses down to the hole and putted for an hour or so. Then we laid down on the green and looked at stars and talked about life. We made it back to ‘scene of the accident’ and made it over. He walked me to the door said good night.

Moral of the Blog

Sometimes things go A LOT better in your head than they do in real life. The trick is to make the best of the situation. Be the fun girl, not the drama queen.

the second blog to come tomorrow

the one with today

today, i hate the snow

today, i hate filing my taxes for the first time

today, i wish i was on vacation with my family in the sun

today, i feel like i need new friends

today, i feel like blowing off life and sleeping til wednesday

today, i feel like going to bed early