Easter and French Macarons

   

Yes, I really do have the cutest niece ever! I absolutely love her. We lost our indoor game on Thursday and the only way I could calm down was to tell myself stories about her. I really need to take intramurals a little less seriously. We have the outdoor final tomorrow though...in all fairness I won't be able to play for a year and a half and Lance and Seth will be far far away by then. Anyway, Roo Boo is adorable and it was so much fun watching her on the Easter egg hunt and playing with bubbles after.   

I made French Macarons for Easter...They were...yeah. Let's just say that they weren't quite what I was expecting and they definitely didn't turn out like the pictures. It was a good experience regardless and I'll probably try them again when it isn't two in the morning and I'm not tired from a week full of soccer games. 

I hope they call me on a mission!

I am so close to turning my papers in! I just have to talk to the bishop and stake president and then we'll be GOLDEN! Hopefully that will all go down before I leave Logan in a week and a half. Life is moving so quickly! Make sure you live, love, laugh, and read your scriptures. XOXO

My Life Since Forever Ago

Oh boy! Here is some awesome news. A couple of weeks ago I had an 8-10 page rough draft paper due in my Archaeology of North America class. I turned in 4 pages of complete awfulness, literally. Well it so happens that I got it back yesterday and...I scored 40/50. I am pretty pleased with myself. I was seriously expecting a 25 at the highest. For some reason I have pretty dang good luck in this class. I pulled off the highest score (94) in the class (average 70) on the midterm. Don't ask me how I pulled it off because I have no idea and I hardly even studied. Needless to say I really enjoy the class.

In other good news, I’ve broken my dating record. This semester I have been on six dates and I have another two this week. That might not seem like a lot, but I have gone on about five over the last three semesters. So wahoo…my mom says it’s because I’m going on a mission and I think she might just be right.

Speaking of my mission, I haven’t turned my papers in yet. I have to get my dental and physical taken care of still. I should have it all done by the end of next week. Then I have to meet with the Bishop and Stake President. Hopefully after that I can turn my papers in. I’m freaking out a little bit because school is almost over and I want to get them in before I move out. I’m sure that it will all work out though.

Another anxiety causing thing in my life is the fact that Ethan gets home in 1 month and 4 days…Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah, is basically how I feel. It’s going to be so strange and I really try not to think about it, but I can’t seem to help it sometimes. It just pops into my head and then I’m like “Oh man, what am I going to do? What is going to happen?” It’s going to be interesting to say the least. I get heart palpitations thinking about it. These heart palpitations remind me slightly of Mrs. Bennet.

Spring break was awesome by the way. Portland and Seattle were the bee’s knees. We did a lot of thrift shopping and site seeing. I bought two black dresses for Jane’s wedding. I am super stoked to wear the one. It’s vintage 80s and totally rockin’. The other one is more subtle and I probably won’t wear it for the wedding. We visited Cannon Beach, Astoria (all the Goonie sites), Pike’s market, the gum wall, Seaside, Hawthorn Street, Voodoo Doughnuts, Several coffee shops (I love steamers. I got a peppermint Lavender one, it was a party for my taste buds.)... It was an absolutely fantastic trip.

 This semester I have done A LOT of cooking/baking. I make dinner for Matt almost every night. I would have taken pictures, but my apartment isn’t very photogenic. I made a Boston Cream Pie on Sunday. I had dreamed about it all during church and making it was an incredible experience. Matt and his roommates came over for a slice and we played games after. I’ll have to share some of my favorite recipes soon. I went through a French bread phase at the beginning. I was making it almost every day. I’m going to be making the dessert for my roommate Hailey’s bridal shower this weekend. I haven’t decided what to make yet. I’m thinking one of these: Panna Cotta, Inside-Out Neapolitan Layer Cake, Dessert Tacos, White Chocolate Mousse and Brandy Snaps, Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake, Cream Cheese Pound Cake. Now that I'm thinking about it, Panna Cotta is one of the best desserts I have ever had and it's extremely easy to make. Es schmeckt mir himmlisches. I LOVE it. In fact I made it for my family when I was home one weekend. 

   

    

Today

Today I was the latest I had ever been to History. Today Institute was awesome because it always is. Today Stats was boring. Today in Archaeology of North America I thought about how mountains became valleys and valleys became mountains  and great cities were sunk and burned when Christ died and how that is probably one of the reasons why it's hard to find Archaeological evidence from early times in North America. It was a deep class for me. Today I played outdoor soccer. It was beautiful. Today I made salmon for dinner and rice crispy treats for game night. Today I was a miner, a miner, and a saboteur. Today I watched people *bang each other. I wasn't up for banging today. Today I did a lot, but the greatest thing I did was...ready for it? Today I started my mission papers!!! Today I also realized that I absolutely despise already packaged lunch meat. It is absolutely dreadful.

*Bang is an Italian card game that consists of a Sheriff, Vices, Outlaws, and Renegades.

Mustache March

Just Another Construction Paper Craft

I love Xavi...Puyol...Pique... Messi...FC Barcelona. Spanish soccer is a beautiful thing. It's a game of passing with eloquence. I have never been so fascinated with a team passing as when I watch the Spanish National team/Barcelona play. It's smooth, quick, easy...they can get in three or four passes where a normal team would only get in one. Xavi. I'm totally in love with him. He is like this calm on the field that I can't get enough of. Xavi, where is Xavi? And I panic when he's not on the field, but when he's there it's like no biggie we've got this game. He's a football romantic and it's the best thing ever. Read one of his interviews and you'll understand (this one is pretty great).  Now Barcelona just needs to get rid of Villa. He's to scrappy of a player. Yeah he's Spanish, but he doesn't play like he is. Sure he gets goals, but they aren't pretty in fact they are usually quite ugly. He plays awkward and I really don't care for him. Fernando Torres on the other hand is a really beauty. If they could get him it would be a whole different story. Also I would really like to see Sergio Ramos out there on their defense. He's another one of the Spanish power houses. The days of Real Madrid are over and the days of Barcelona have already begun.This one goes out to my team FC Barcelona. Congrats on beating Arsenal. And yes, it is hanging on my wall right now.

"It was that or die. I'm a romantic. I like the fact that talent, technical ability, is valued above physical condition now. I'm glad that's the priority; if it wasn't, there wouldn't be the same spectacle. Football is played to win but our satisfaction is double. Other teams win and they're happy, but it's not the same. The identity is lacking. The result is an impostor in football. You can do things really, really well – last year we were better than Inter Milan – but did not win. There's something greater than the result, more lasting. A legacy. Inter won the Champions League but no one talks about them. People discovered me since Euro 2008, but I've been playing the same way for years. It is true, though, that I have grown in confidence and tranquillity. And that comes with success."

-Xavi, On being asked if he was a defender of the Faith, an ideologue

Happy Valentines Day

Yes, I realize that it is a month and a day late. I hope you all had a very good one because I sure did. No, for the third consecutive year, oh wait I mean my whole life, I haven't had a significant someone to share the day of love with. Regardless of this fact, I still enjoyed it immensely. I constantly hear people saying that it's "Single Awareness Day." It's true that in the past my views were of a similar nature, but this year it was different. I had three roommates engaged or on the verge of being engaged which left me and Bailey single and, at least for me, far from anything else. The theme of my Valentines Day was not that I was single, but that I was completely surrounded by people who I loved. So I made dinner for my brother and cookies for FHE and valentines for my roommates and family.

For my Mom and Dad

For Jane and Princeton

For Laura, Aaron, and Rachel

Insert Jon and Matt's here. I forgot to take pictures of them. :(

For Cate

Roommates:

For Michelle

For Bailey

For Aubrey

For Hailey

Finally, Something Exciting

I'm going to Portland, Oregon for spring break!!! Yep, I ran into Stormie and Marci today and now Matt and I are going on a road trip with them. Matt and I didn't have any plans except maybe spending a few days back in Mapleton. It's strange how quickly plans can come up. I'm not sure on the details, but we are leaving Saturday morning. We'll be driving of course. Once we get to Portland, we will be staying at Marci's brother's house. Expenses should only be gas, food, and souvenirs. Sometime during the trip we are going to hit up Seattle. The plan is to head back Wednesday or Thursday. I've never been to Portland or Seattle and I don't even know what I am going to pack! I feel like there is so much to do before Saturday. First thing's first, I need to get my laundry done. Then I can decided what to pack and hopefully I'll have time to make some snacks. I am so excited and a little bit nervous. Getting packed for a weekend home can cause me stress and this is not a weekend home. It will be great though. In fact it's going to be a blast!!! I absolutely love and adore Marci and Stormie (and yes, of course, Matt too)! SO that's what I'm doing for spring blessed break.

The world needs the Justice League... and the Justice League needs you, Superman

Today I had a killer history test. 50 minutes to define 5 words and describe why they are important, write 5 short answers 1 paragraph each, and 1 long essay of 4-5 paragraphs in length. It was super intense and I finished with 2 minutes to spare. To say the least my adrenaline was pumping hardcore. Then I read Les Miserables for an hour until my Stats Recitation class. This class ended within 5 minutes of when it began. Having no further need to stay on campus, I start hoppin' and boppin' my way home. Minding my own business, singing my own songs, you know the whole shebang. Well I was walking past the fry sculpture and I notice this really NERDY guy looking straight at me and smiling. I'm thinking that this is kind of weird. Then this guy waves at me and I say to myself “I don't know you, but yeah, okay, nerds are cool. I'll just smile and wave back.” So I'm a little weirded out by this point, just boggled really. The world of boys (and nerdy boys at that) ignoring Betsy is being shaken and it’s quite disturbing to say the least. So I get to the TSC and I'm noticing all these super nerds smiling at me. Kind of like smile staring me down. Now I’m really starting to get super uncomfortable. What is going on?! Why is the nerd population of USU pinpointing all of its focus on me? I just want to go home and eat! At this point I’m beyond confusion. And then I look down and realize that I'm wearing my new Justice League shirt. Superman is busting out of my jacket and I'm like, “Yeah I should definitely wear this more often.”

 "You remember what we did yesterday? We saved the world - again. You don't think that has any value, well think again, pal. The Justice League goes on, with or without you. Look, nobody can question your service or commitment to making things better. If you're quitting because you think you've already done your fair share, we'll throw you a parade. But if you're quitting because it's easier then continuing the fight, then you're not the hero we all thought you were. The world needs the Justice League... and the Justice League needs you, Superman."
-Green Arrow

Ninjas Only

Check out ninjago.lego.com.

I'm in love.

And totally boggled by awesome. 

I want the whole set!!!

The End.