I still play dress up

I love Halloween.  Sadly, I have the misfortune of being in class this Halloween. That is an outright crime against partying! How am I supposed to dress up and have fun if I'm stuck in class? OUTRAGE!

Because I am pouting right now, I am also reminiscing on all the fantastic Halloweens that I've had over the years. Admittedly, I haven't always been such an awesome costume designer. I went through a "too cool for school phase" that resulted in a tragic loss of awesomeness. Cowboys, who needs them? Vampires, cliche. Such lame costumes have no place on a blog like this. Now it's all about channeling the awesomeness. That's right, awesomeness.

The following is just a sampling of my Halloweens over the past few years.

80's night. Though not for Halloween, it was during that time of the year. 2008

Cleopatra. Yep. That's my mom's prom dress.  2009

Poison Ivy.  Again, not on Halloween, but like I said, I still play dress up. 2010

Oompa Loompas. To date, this is still the best costume I've ever done. 2010

Smurfs. We made those hats. Hand stitched them in fact. 2011

Zombie run. Coolest running experience ever. 2011

People step it up. No more lame costumes! Channel your inner awesomeness. The impossible can become possible if you are AWESOME!

Reasons to love and hate the changing temperatures

Temperature is dropping here in Utah. This both excites me, causing fits of giggles to erupt inside me, and ushers dysphoria that is utterly unimaginable. Now the only question is, should I focus on the excitement or the dysphoria? First I'll settle for dysphoria.

What could bring such dismay to a typically adventurous and life-loving soul?  Well to begin...

The inevitable winter weight gain. Every year I say it won't happen and guess what happens? Weight is, in fact, gained. This happens to the best of us and there is only one person I know who can escape it, and I happen to be dating him. Never have I been more jealous of a man.  I have an action plan this year though - don't gain weight.

I wish this wasn't the story of my life.

Trying to look cool after falling on ice.  As you scrape the dirt, snow and salt off your backside and look around as if nothing happened, all you can think inside is "Did anyone see that?"

How cute!

Taking an hour to get ready to go outside... for five minutes. Don't get me wrong, I love coats and jackets. They are quite possibly my favorite piece of clothing. However, it's annoying that you have to put on half your wardrobe to stay warm when you go outside to get the mail. Lame.

"I can't put my arm's down!"

Getting sick. What's worse than being cooped up all day in a house and not even being able to eat your favorite foods. That is unless you'd like to see it again. Runny noses, coughing, cough syrups that taste like a well used car tire, vomiting, who needs that?

Saving the best for last, I give you the reasons that the dropping temperatures makes me so excited:

Fabulous food weather.  Pumpkin is in season and that means fabulous food. Pumpkin bread, pie, cookies, shakes, soup, and every other delectable treat that comes from this amazing gourd. Aside from pumpkin, it's soup, homemade bread, gravy, pie, hot cocoa, apple cider, cinnamon, and turkey season. Ooh it makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

OOOHH PUMPKIN!

Warms the heart and soul.

Holiday season! Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Can life get any better than dressing up in wild costumes, feasting on homemade meals that are so big you can't move afterward because you've eaten so much, getting presents from a mysterious man wearing a lot of red and most importantly realizing and giving thanks for the wonderful things in life. Holiday season also means family time, and that is the best part.

That is my hair. No wigs for this girl

I love Christmas time!

Fall and winter clothing. Let's be frank. People dress better in the winter. Styles are classier and better kept and not to mention more modest. It's easier to be a slob during the warmer months. Turtlenecks, tights, jackets/coats, scarves, boots are so sleek and attractive if worn correctly.

Fun season based activities. Carving pumpkins, going on a hayride, weaving through a corn maze, making gingerbread houses, sledding, ice skating. Oh the list could go on forever of fun things that are available only during this time of the year. You only have a limited time to experience these things each year, so get to it!

I carved this. OK not really, but I want to.

This just goes to show that you should come sledding with me.

Sesame Street: G

This is absolutely hilarious. Sesame Street is the coolest thing since sliced bread.

#1 Place To See

This is my next destination. Don't worry, I will definitely be trying to jump from boat to boat. That looks like kid's stuff. I could do it.
 

Can't guess where it is? Here are some more pictures:

I'll be visiting this place, don't you worry.

You can bet that I'll be hangin' with these guys.

You can bet I'll eat something out of these:

And I might even hang out with this guy:

I'll definitely be buying one of these head dresses and wear it proudly.

If you haven't figured it out yet, my #1 place to visit on my bucket list is...

THAILAND

From North to South and South to North

I hold certain places dear to my heart, all of which have the fondest of memories attached to them. For example, there was a tree just outside the fence in my family home where I spent my tween to teenage years. That tree was my sanctuary. When my young and highly hormone driven emotions would get the best of me, I'd climb that tree and think. I'd always sit on a certain branch that was big enough to hold me but small enough that those bigger and older than me couldn't sit on it too. Sometimes my imagination would take over
my thoughts and I would travel the entire world all the while never leave my favorite tree. I loved that tree.

The picture to the right is of me by my tree. At this point I was getting to be the the bigger and older person that the tree branch probably couldn't support.

Anyway, my point of this blog post was not to reminisce on trees. I noticed the other day as I was driving back to my apartment in Northern Utah from my home in southern Utah how much my perception has changed. When I was a young girl, going to southern Utah meant adventure. It was so exciting to go south because it always meant we were going to do something exciting as a family. Going home (north) meant the end of an adventure and was therefore not as exciting but still welcome.

After my parents announced that we'd be moving to southern Utah, the south didn't hold quite the same grandeur. It then became a pleasure to go up north. Going north meant old friends, familiar faces and places. Going back south was almost a punishment. Like I was being exiled to Elba.

Elba (aka the south) soon turned to my very own America. (I know, I'm using two different historical stories and places but still, you'll understand) Instead of feeling exiled, I suddenly had all the freedom in the world. The south meant growing and learning and FUN! Going up north was still a pleasure but not as much of a yearning as it had been before.

Interestingly enough, northern Utah is now like going back to elementary school after a long break. I have wonderful people welcoming me and taking me under their wing, but the north represents responsibility and lack of time. Going from south to north is now a lot harder than it has ever been while going from the north to the south is an occasion to look forward to.

In the end, I'm just rambling about how it's odd how places and even directions can be associated with emotions. Now don't get me wrong, I like the north, especially the people who are here. I couldn't ask for more wonderful people to be with me in northern Utah. I love them all very much and that is what makes going north nothing like Elba. However, the south will forever and always hold a special place in my heart.

I like this.

I think this is a great pick-me-up during the hard times.

http://lds.org/pages/god-is-our-father?lang=eng

Master of Public Administration

I figured this was probably a big deal in my life so I'd post on it. I am heading off to the University of Utah for my Master's in Public Administration. I am really excited to start this fall. Now the only big question is what my emphasis should be. I'm debating right now between higher education and health administration. I worked with the Leavitt Center and fell in love with higher education administration, however, I also did a year long internship with a public health department and also fell in love with that. Luckily I don't have to officially decide for at least one semester, but due to scheduling conflicts in my courses, I may have to declare one a little earlier than I anticipated. Shoot.

All I have left to do is move to Salt Lake, find a job and start another two years of school. Which by the way may end up turning into a lot more since I am now contemplating getting a joint doctoral degree with my master's degree. I just love making decisions.

My brother just finished the program and really enjoyed it so I am looking forward to it a little more. I am super excited to be able to see him more often when I move up to Salt Lake!