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!