Merry Christmas

Finals are over.....!

and I now own Footie Pajama's....Thanks Mom :D

Muppet's Bring Christmas Joy

If you don't like the Muppet's you have a serious problem on your hands that can only be dealt with through extensive therapy. I went to see the Muppet Movie over Thanksgiving and let me tell you I was crying...Because I was laughing so hard. It was everything that a good Muppet movie should be: cheesy in a good way, music, dancing, heartwarming, hilarious and clever. I loved it a lot....Let's just say I bought the soundtrack.

Part of the joys of the season for me is watching awesome Christmas movie...and I am grateful for the Muppet's for making one of my favs!

Enjoy....and I dare you not to sing along!

P.S. One more week of school and then finals! Christmas is going to get here so quick!

Fun Fact about me...I like FUN FACTS.

A conversation that sparked an interesting thought:

Sarah: "Em I am eating some of your dried apples...they are so delicious."

Emilee: "No problem...they are kinda of chewy though."

Sarah: "Well fun fact about me...I like chewy apples!"

Ever since this conversation my roommates and I have taken to sharing "Fun Facts" about ourselves at random times...or sharing fun facts about each other. It made me think that what the world needs is more FUN FACTS. I mean people act like they are so boring and ordinary...why don't we celebrate what makes us...WEIRD or QUIRKY...or something other than "Hi my name is Sarah and I like to sing." BORING. I want to know things about people that make them fun and interesting...not just the basics that you could gather from a first meeting. Why is it that we feel the need to not share random things? Why is it that if we step outside of the bounds of "My major is..." "I am this old..." "I have this many siblings...." "Blah....blah...blah...blah...BLAH!" people think it is strange. I mean don't get me wrong the basics are important too! I wish that everyone had a little screen floating above their heads that just had random facts about them on it. How entertaining would that be? Fun fact about Bobby he hates even numbers. Or fun fact about Susie: she knows all the words to 99 Red Balloons in German. Now I've just got to invent a floating screen type device...Possible? Maybe.

Fun Fact about me...this is the kind of thing I think about in my spare time....

And T-Swift makes 3!

On Wednesday, my roommate Kenzy and I drove down to Salt Lake to see our HERO Taylor Swift perform at the Energy Solutions Arena (I still call it the Delta Center but whatever!). It was AMAZING! I was screaming so loud and dancing. She was so good live. There was a whole set where she played some of her songs all by herself with just her guitar. I really enjoyed that. Needless to say, I got my T-Shirt...a VITAL part of the concert experience. I'll admit I even got a little teary when she came out....I just LOVE her!

So it made me think about my past concert experiences...The first was going to see Nsync during the Olympics. I was probably 9 and a HUGE fan (I loved Justin Timberlake). I remember sitting with my sisters and my Aunt who didn't even know any of there songs but came anyways because we had extra tickets. I can't even remember what the stage looked like or what they sang but I do remember that it was a really big deal to me. I remember the huge buildup and excitement leading to that day.

My next concert was Sir Paul McCartney...My all time inspiration. I loved every second of that concert. It was cool to look around see how the ages varied of his fans...Old men...Small children...and me in the middle! I had a blast being there with my Dad who was singing along...even if he wasn't screaming as loud as me. He also did an acoustic set like Taylor and I had the biggest goosebumps when he played Blackbird.

Pretty much I have been really lucky! I mean, it is only 3 concerts but all three were awesome and super meaningful to me. Watching Taylor gave me new insight to my own performing. She goes out and gives so much of herself as she sings, She tells a story, she has humility but is also confident...I hope to be able to do the same even if it is singing opera in front of my peers :D

My New Romance

I love my new cup! 98 cent refills all the time and I never forget it to bring it with me cause it is LEGIT. It keeps my drinks cold forever because the ice doesn't melt. I have been frequenting the 7/11 near my apartment so I can get a quality bevy in this bad boy. I pretty much go everyday....I am in love.

Don't worry we all have one...Addiction runs in the family.

Sarah "Awkward" Boucher

I realized that I stink...I mean really stink at interacting with people. Not in situations where I run into them in places that I normally would and not in normal everyday conversations but when I see people randomly in RANDOM places. I am just awkward. I never know what to say and suddenly I get shy. It's like my whole world gets shifted off its axis if somebody happens to be somewhere when I am not expecting it. And it's not just like when I see people I don't want to, For example: The other day I went into Rumbi to grab some dinner and I ran into a kid from my ward. My first thought was to hide, wouldn't you say that is weird considering he is a friend and someone I have known my whole life. I said a quick "hi, how are you?" and went to order. I realized how incredibly awkward I was and how I probably either came across as "cold" or in a hurry (neither of which applied to the situation). I thought afterwards of all the things I could of said instead of walking away quickly. Or today when one of my sisters friends from high school ended up being at a wedding dinner that I was serving at the Lion House. I just said hi awkwardly and tried to think of what to say. I could have asked her a million things but for some reason at the time my mind was so incredibly blank. Hahaha, What can I say....I am just an awkward human! I guess I will just need practice with this...in the mean time I will just have to embrace that awkwardness is just a part of who I am!

Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes

HP was AMAZING! Such a fun night. I got to see it twice in one day and it was stellar! My mind was BLOWN.

This week was great! I watched HP, prepped for HP (Making T-Shirts, watching the movies, getting my costume etc) and played pranks on my dad all week!

I Guess You Could Say Harry and I Grew Up Together

It's funny when you've become attached to something, something that has a been a fad during most of your childhood, something that has been an escape, something that has made you believe in magic, something that inspired you to read. Harry Potter. It is funny, I know, and almost ridiculous that it means that much to me BUT hey when have I ever been sensible?!

I remember reading the books with my Mom and Megan when we were young. I particularly remember reading the last few chapters of the 3rd book (Prisoner of Azkaban) in my room by candlelight with the two of them, and feeling like it was the most intense book I have ever read! I remember reading the fourth one on my own and feeling like it was the longest book I would ever read but learning to love reading at the same time. I remember it falling apart into two pieces because of all the places it went. I remember going to pick up the 5th book and being so so SO worried that they would run out. I remember reading it in t

he car to my dad on the drive home. I remember reading and READING and not moving from the couch for days. I remember crying when Sirius died and nearly throwing the book in anger. I remember hating how mad Harry was all the time. I remember the 6th book, how intense the plot became and how creepy the cave at the end was (I have a fear of caves and water...weird I know). Once again, I didn't move for days till I read it. I remember PREPARING for the release of the 7th book. I reread the 5th and 6th looking for clues and "Highlighting my copies" (according to a color code). I remember checking Mugglenet weekly for peoples thoughts on what was going to happen. I remember going to get the final book and again being nervous of them running out. I remember reading the dedication and getting chills. I remember reading ALL night only stopping at about 6 in the morning to take a 30 minute power nap. I remember being so confused at the snake coming out of Bathilda and having to read it over and over again to make sure that I wasn't imagining things. I remember crying when Ron left and crying when he came back. I remember not wanting it to end and I remember that the ending was better then I EVER could have predicted.

Now, we are on the FINAL part of the FINAL movie next week. I will be there at 6:30 the night before for a special showing my work arranged and ALSO the midnight. I get to share the 6:30 premiere with my Dad who has been by my side at 3 of the midnight showings. I am so excited but I kind of feel a little sad because it will be over. At least when the books ended, I knew I would have the excitement of the movies. I know there will always be more fads but I don't think there will ever be anything THIS special. The story means a lot to me and I really think that people could get really meaningful stuff out of it if they wanted. I love that it got me excited to read and helped encourage me to read bigger books...books that may look "too" long. I loved that when I had nothing to do I could just curl up and read with my Harry Potter book and soda. I guess you could say Harry and I grew up together. I will keep reading the books over and over and watching the movies...I can guarantee that!

The good news is that someday I can share the magic with my kids through the movies and books, and remember what it was like when I read them myself as a kid.

"I'm going to ask Mr. Knightley to teach me Chinese!"

As you all know, I love the movies... Old, New, Musical, Romantic Comedy, ANYTHING. One of my favorite things about the movies is it gives us a chance to look at other peoples qualities and actions and apply them to ourselves and our own lives. Whether the characters be fiction or not, I find myself always relating to them. I know it is probably silly and maybe I need to find a hobby but I can't help seeing myself as those characters, acting as they do, reacting as they do, having the same flaws they do etc.

Recently I have been watching Emma (the BBC version, although I do love the Gwenyth Paltrow version just as much!) I find that I am very like her! Hahaha, FAULTS and all! Her stubborn way of arguing, her ranting, her way of fantasying things, her silliness, how she meddles in other peoples business and SASS!

That means, I need a man in my life like this...

Someone sensible. Someone not afraid to tell me when I am being ridiculous. Someone who loves me despite my childishness but will still make me better. (Not to mention good looking and British)

Well a girl can dream!!!

Sister Time

My Sisters...You know I just love them! They are my best friends in the world and I look up to them in so many ways. Take Lindsay: She is so adventurous. She goes around the world, goes to Chile to learn spanish, goes to Europe for fun and now is in Chicago for her masters. She is there all alone and so brave! Plus she teaches Jr. High...that is true bravery! She is fun and a really good listener. Megan is the sweetie of the family, she feels things in a very tender way and she has always been the best at showing love. Although I tease her for being "Old, boring and married" she is such a good wife and I love to see how she and Steve interact, it is a good example to me!

I have so much fun with both! There are things me and Meg love to do together (Baha like watching Buffy :D and painting our nails at Sephora ) and things me and Lindsay love to do together like hiking or....Being weird! And of course the things we love to do together which include many things but usually involve a trip to the Holiday Oil. All I can say is I am very lucky! Yesterday we got to spend the day doing things we love (before Lindsay headed off for Chicago) it was fun to be together!

Here are some pics...

(Just know that I forgot my camera for some of the things SUCH AS Top It, watching Bride and Prejudice-The Bollywood version of Pride and Prejudice, Playing B-ball or just H-O-R-S-E and going for a walk are not documented)

Home-made pizza...our specialty


Hiking...We tried to find the Living Room...again...Failed.



Sephora...Megs likes her pretty names!Corner Bakery with adopted sister Brandi


Haha I liked the cop care...I guess this could be put under the category of taking pictures!

Played Tennis...even though the guys next to us were shirtless (skinny and pasty) and really good.

I love my sisters!

A Blonde Speaking UP

OK...So I am all for "BLONDE Moments" and or "Dumb Jokes", I just want to put that out there to start of. As you all know I frequently post the stupid things that I do because I think it is better to share them and be able to laugh at yourself/give others a laugh then pretend like you never do anything stupid. Let's face it we all have our stupid/embarrassing/spacey moments DESPITE the hair color.

However...I strongly dislike the patronizing or when people treat me like I don't know what's going on...or just plain old treating me like a dumb blonde! Just because I can laugh at the silly things I do or that I am comfortable sharing them doesn't mean I am dumb/silly ALL the time! Maybe I am just a sensitive person but lately I have been feeling like everyone thinks I have a low IQ...It makes me worry that I really do and I just don't know it!

Let's take a look at a few blondes that are good examples...

First and foremost...Taylor Swift! She is hands down my favorite celebrity! She writes her own music and is not afraid to write about her own experiences. She doesn't do sketchy things, she is a mature women who takes her music seriously! She is independent, talented and INTELLIGENT.

Secondly...Barbie from Toy Story 3. I know you think it is odd but remember when she pulls out the part about "Consent of the governed" and she uses all these big words. That's right! She conquers the world and is very smart even when people don't expect her to be!

Now I know people will question this one but I stand firmly by it...3rd comes Elle Woods. Yes she has her moments...and it very hilarious to watch! BUT she gets into law school and works really really hard to get on top. And she graduates top of the class...Just saying.

Last but not least...Rapunzel! She is smart, spunky and she is definitely the blondest of blondes! Think about it! I love that little girls can look up to her even if she is a cartoon! She ends up getting out of her tower, becoming a princess and scoring a handsome man...She is definitely smart!

Haha anyways...The main point is that we all need to be careful about how we talk to people. It is one thing to tease but it is certainly another to patronize or treat people as if they are stupid. I know I do that a lot but I am trying to be better at it especially because I know how frustrated it makes me!

I am 5 years old...

45 minute wait in line...

....SOOOOO WORTH IT!

Goodbye to life as a Freshman!

Well I did it...I finished my first year of college! I had so much fun at Utah State, I had awesome roommates, great classes and always something to keep me occupied! I am actually looking forward to next year!

Looking back on this year away from home, I am so grateful for all that I have learned! I am not claiming to have learned everything or that I still don't struggle with the things I have learned but I know that Heavenly Father really knew what to throw at me and what I needed to learn. Here are a few of the things I have learned:

--I have learned that caring about others makes me happier. If I was paying attention to my roommates needs and cheering them on I was so much happier than if I was only focusing on my own needs.

--I learned to take initiative. Before I went to school I would just wait for things to happen to me, or better yet wait around for someone else to do it for me! I have gotten more "guts" and gone for things that would have scared me! Even stupid things like calling the Dr. on my own or asking someone to accompany me, were terrifying before! Now I have been better at just putting myself out there and being a little braver.

--I learned to be better at making time for prayer and scripture study...I still definitely have my nights when I fall asleep or I forget but I have seen that when I did make a serious effort to do both, everything would go better.

--I learned that when people say it is cold in Logan...they are NOT just being dramatic!

--I learned that your roommates can be your family! You can trust them and it is good to share things with them!

--I learned how much I appreciate my family! Their support was alway constant and I always loved the phone calls, rides up, and visits that they gave! I especially learned that my mom does so much and is so good to me. I can't tell you how many times I would call her in tears and she would cheer me up!

--I learned that I love to sing and I want to go for it!!!!

--I learned that writing letters is fun but getting letters can make a bad day the best day ever!

--Deciding to be positive...makes a big difference!

--I learned to be a little bit braver socially. I mean I still can be really shy but I feel like I tried really hard in my classes to to talk and get to know people. Haha, I probably should have tried harder with the interesting people living in San Juan hall but oh well!

I am just really grateful for the experiences that I have had this year! It has been a blast!

Big Difference

My friends, I ask you....What is the difference between this

And this.....?

There is A BIG difference my friend. I have been commanded "to avoid caffeine" (It apparently effects my acid reflux which effects my throat which effects my voice) so from now on I guess I will have to reconcile myself to the gold logo and pretend that I am really drinking the good stuff.

We will see how long this lasts.

Ernie the Tipsy Dragon PART 1

Here he is ladies and gentlemen...the most low budget monster any production of Mozart's The Magic Flute has ever scene. We have many names for this monster...some include Chi-a Pet mixed with Yoda...or Bed Sheet monster who eats chips. The director calls him Ernie...who knows why. All cast members are extremely embarrassed of Ernie...especially next to our sets rented from the Utah Festival opera. However we also put in a lot of hours sewing on those beautiful tortilla chip like scales, so we love him anyway. Who, you maybe asking, would be gutsy enough to be underneath that diseased ridden bed sheet? Well look for sparkly pink Converse and you will know who it is...

P.S. I put part one because I feel like Ernie's journey to becoming a dragon may continue.

Party Like it's 1992

So this week on Idol they are singing songs from the year that they were born...I thought it would be interesting to check out the songs from my birth year, 1992:

IF YOU ASK ME TO~Celine Dion

Walking on Broken Glass~Annie Lennox

Achy Breaky Heart~Billy Ray Cyrus

Black or White~ Michael Jackson

I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU~Whitney Houston

Life is a Highway~Tom Cochrane

Smells Like Teen Spirit~ Nirvana

Smells like Nirvana~ Weird Al

If I had a Million Dollars~ Barenaked Ladies

In my research these were by far the best, all are favorites...Except for Smells Like Teen Spirit, I just thought that was funny title and that Weird Al did a spoof on it.

Peace. Love. Snowshoe

I collect hobbies like I collect Beatles collectables. I think I have found a new one that I thoroughly enjoy...Snowshoeing. My sister Lindsayand I went yesterday and I loved it. I want my own pair so that I can go hiking all year long. I feel weird liking something so soon after trying it. It was just a mile or two on a fairly well groomed trail but it was a blast and so beautiful. I decided I could actually enjoy the outdoors and I really like the people you run into while your out and about. You know what I mean...the "outdoorsey"people. They are so friendly and happy, it must be the endorphins or something. They all said hi and will chit-chat with you and they didn't judge us even though most of them didn't even need snowshoes. There were some funny people...or just crazy people...like the man in his shorts and t-shirt who was running the snowy trail with his dog. Or the lady who was throwing a stick to her dog practically off the side of the mountain.

I hope to be able to go again soon!

Tears of JOY

I have never cried because I was happy before...never. I always thought it was so weird...Why would you cry if you were happy about something? Well today it happened... repeatedly! I guess I must just be feeling particularly blessed or emotional or something!

Things that made me cry today...Don't laugh :D! Beware: I am a major CHEESE ball today!

--The sunrise this morning was PINK. I was just so overwhelmed that sky was blue, I wasn't tired (even though it was 7am) and I looked up to see a pink sunrise over the beautiful mountains. I stopped dead in my tracks and just looked!

--Then I went to musical theater and we were talking about Finian's Rainbow (see last post) and I even knew more about it then the amazing "Dr. Michael Ballam" (he didn't remember that it was the MAN Tommy Steele that plays the leprechaun!!!) But that's not why I cried, that is just an interesting side note...He played "How are Things in Glocca Mora" and I found myself thinking about my mother and how much she loves it, the song just touched me so much that I had to hold back tears.

--THEN I went to my singing lesson and the ultimate surprise awaited me. I GOT a SCHOLARSHIP that I didn't even know about! They sent the email to the wrong address and so I didn't know. Luckily I still get it! It made me feel so good to know that the teachers suggested me and that I did well enough on my semester jury to receive that! I was feeling so negative about my voice and I was feeling so sick fighting a battle in which I felt like my voice was losing! This was such a confidence boost and now I feel so energized and determined to become a better singer! I am so grateful for this! As I walked home I was so happy that the tears almost escaped again and I was quite amazed!

AHHHH SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN LOGAN UTAH! I LOVE LIFE!

Look to the Rainbow

Recently, I have been watching lots of movies for my Intro to Musical Theater class. As I was perusing the shelves of videos we can check out, my eyes landed on a treasure straight from my childhood. I had to check it out even though the whole point is to check out movies you haven't seen before. It was Finian's Rainbow, a movie that my mother adores and that I would always rent from good old Video Verns (worst day of my life when they torn it down!) I love this show...Ok it is definitely a little odd. After all it was filmed in the 60's and it is about Leprechauns and pots of gold and other things...but it is still just so magical to me! The music makes me so happy and I can't help but laugh as I watch!

What makes this movie is TOMMY STEELE.

One of the most awkward, nasally Leprechauns you will ever watch. I adore him! He makes me laugh so hard and I just love his strangeness! I mean Fred Astaire as an old man is great too, but Tommy just has a sort of awkwardness that no one could ever copy.

He's also in the Happiest Millionaire...Another gem!