Favorite = Handsome Policeman

Having a career can be fast-paced and exciting but it is also draining and exhausting. Today was a little stressful. How do I cope with stress in the workplace? Well, my newly painted nails are now almost completely chipped off. I ate almost an entire bag of cheddar mini Quaker rice cakes, as well as a mini bag of Great Value raisinets and two mini snickers bars (note: this does not include lunch). At least they were all mini right? After 7ish hours of PR, I ran up to the northern Chicago suburb - Crystal Lake - to teach piano. I love teaching piano, I really do, but today was really rough. Patience was desperately needed, and hence more nail polish was chipped away.

Now for my favorite part of my day.

I had made a last minute decision to go the temple tonight. I had evaluated my week and realized there would be no other time really except making it to the 8 p.m. session. Unfortunately Crystal Lake is about an hourish away from the temple, but my lessons finished at 7 p.m. I figured I could make it no problemo. Of course, I was running late. I said a quick prayer when I got into the car and then after a few frustrating Grandpa-style suburb drivers I decided to take things into my own hands. I sped. I didn't think I was going that fast until my sing along Phantom of the Opera car performance was interrupted by the sound of blaring police headlights.

The cop was very, very handsome and equally nice (BLESSINGS, Heavenly Father always takes care of us perfectly, huh). He gave me a warning and had me on the road again after he did a quick background check. Of course, I came off almost squeaky clean (minus that stupid Wyoming cop from 2006...oooooo.....he was awful).

I made it to the temple with zero minutes to spare. Amanda, being the best BF, got there just minutes before me and held the session single-handedly.

I heart the temple. As soon as I sat down seriously the stress and frustration just melted away. Doesn't the gospel rock?

Cats with Leashes? Really?

Have I ever mentioned the old man who stands outside of my apartment building with his cat on a leash? I think he lives next door. This: a little bit freaks me out. is a little bit kind of cute. is a little bit kind of weird. Not sure which. He just stands there. And he's old. And it's at random times. The worst part is at night. I feel like I live in a fairly safe part of the city, but when you see a random man with a leash at midnight, it can send even the least safest person to take guard. I live in a Polish neighborhood, so possibly it's a Polish thing...putting your cat on a leash? I don't know.

Let's Change the World for Good

Tis the season for commencement speeches.

Do you remember how boring your commencement speech during high school was? I don't. I was too bored. Have no idea who gave it. I remember Sister Bonnie D. Parkin from the General Reflief Society President gave my college one in 2006. I remember that because she is fantastic. And my mom took notes that she gave to immediately afterwards. I have them somewhere.

Paul Hawken a renowned entrepreneur, visionary environmental activist, and author of many books gave the University of Portland Commencement Speech on May 3, 2009. A blogger that I receive RSS Feeds from for work recently blogged about it. I read the speech this morning. I was very enthralled and inspired. I'd like to share parts of it.

"Literally you are breathing molecules this very second that were inhaled by Moses, Mother Teresa, and Bono (must interject here: bono? really? in the same sentence as as moses and mother teresa? Love it.). We are vastly interconnected. Our fates are inseparable. We are here because the dream of every cell is to become two cells. And dreams come true.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once asked what we would do if the stars only came out once every thousand years. No one would sleep that night, of course. The world would create new religions overnight. We would be ecstatic, delirious, made rapturous by the glory of God. Instead, the stars come out every night and we watch television.This extraordinary time when we are globally aware of each other and the multiple dangers that threaten civilization has never happened, not in a thousand years, not in ten thousand years. Each of us is as complex and beautiful as all the stars in the universe. We have done great things and we have gone way off course in terms of honoring creation.

You are graduating to the most amazing, stupefying challenge ever bequested to any generation. The generations before you failed. They didn’t stay up all night. They got distracted and lost sight of the fact that life is a miracle every moment of your existence. Nature beckons you to be on her side. You couldn’t ask for a better boss. The most unrealistic person in the world is the cynic, not the dreamer. Hope only makes sense when it doesn’t make sense to be hopeful. This is your century. Take it and run as if your life depends on it."

I loved how he inspires this call to action. I'm by no means a hardcore enviornmental activist, but I think it is our duty to take care of our earth and all that is in it. I do think the world, not just the enviornment, does need help. I think it's the best of times and it is the worst of times. And I think we have the power to change this.

Last night I participated in a focus group sponsored by the the General Reflief Society Board. Ten single females from Chicago between the ages of 18-25 were asked to participate. It was such a good experience. The focus was Setting Goals. We discussed what motivates us to make goals, how we should be focusing our goals at this time in our lives. The thing I took away most from it was something my friend, Gretchen, said, (this may or may not be verbatim) "We have the power to change the world and I don't think that is stressed enough in our culture. Instead of being told that a woman's role is to grow up, get married and have babies, let's teach them that they have the power to change the world for good."

I thought about this statement. No doubt the most important role that a woman can have in all of time and eternity is raising a good, solid, happy family. Because it's through this role, she influences generations. But, this is just one of the ways. We have other roles too. As visiting teachers, in our jobs, as friends, as a sibling, as a daughter, in our community, as neighbors, as citizens. I think we need to remember these roles. And as we are teaching children and others, remember to place emphasis on all roles, to make goals and plan our lives around them. To reach out to people outside of our circle of family and church. If we really want to make a difference, we need to step out of comfort zones and teach children and others to do the same. I think it's this way that we will individualy and collectively change and influence the world for better.

Those are my many thoughts. Thanks for reading.

A new favorite quote

Did you watch the Cavilers vs. the Magic, Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals? I think it was Friday night (my days are so messed up). I did. In a little cabin in the middle of the mountains in Estes Park, CO (details and pictures of my trip and adventures soon to follow). We had three male hardcore basketball fanatics and four (in comparison) so, so female basketball lovers in our group. Despite my semi paying attention, I witnessed the most amazing moment in basketball and possibly sports history. Specifics slip my mind, but here's the jist - the Cavs were down by like two (?) and in the last (two?) seconds of the game Lebron swishes a three-pointer, leading the Cavs to victory. No joke. It was insane to witness. If it wasn't for Lebron, the Cavs would have been hasta la vista and the eastern conference finals would be over. We'd be reduced (not saying that this is bad thing, just saying it's not the east side) to watching the Lakers vs. the DENVER (shout out since I was just there) Nuggets. Unfortunately last night they lost Game 3. But, don't worry. Tonight is Game 4. Anything can happen.

Okay, okay. Enough with the sports talk, because really half the time I don't know what I'm saying when I try to converse in this foreign language.  

Here's my new favorite quote by Lebron - "If I could clone myself right now, we'd be all right." I love it! Classic. As classic as his play Friday night. I mean every Cavs fan is thinking it, but I love that he just straight up says it. I think everyone should be more like Lebron - straight up with their abilities, not worrying about offending anyone else around them. 

If you've got it, flaunt it.  

love it.

apologies to all for closing my blog to the public.

it had to be done.

the world is crazy.

thanks for your readership :)

i just read a comment from brittany.

i can't remember verbatim what she said.

but something to the effect my blog is so boring that she only comes to it to listen to david cook these days.

it's one in the morning.

i have work tomorrow.

a flight to catch.

and a weekend full of fishing.

yep.

fishing.

do i fish you ask?

i have.

and i will again on saturday.

in colorado with my incredible mission companion. emily eland.

she's already sent me an itinerary of our weekend.

fishing. bead making. shopping. in estes park, co.

so before i leave for the colorado wilderness.

and because i appreciate brittany even coming to my blog and posting a comment.

and because i have a thing for blogging.

here's the update.

a picture of my roommates.

love my roommates.

we finally got a picture of all of us. together.

amanda, ruth and me.

taken at ruth's boyfriend's 26th golden robot birthday party.

i visited my friend mel in utah last weekend.

please don't be at mad me anyone i didn't see.

please.

it was a quick trip.

to see mel's two babes.

and mel. of course.

love them.

unfortunately i am lame and did not get pics of her baby.

mel is supposed to send them to me.

where are they, mel?

london, below, is my newest bf.

we hit it off well last year when i visited them in vegas for two weeks.

but this time we really just clicked.

we both have a thing for strawberry shortcakes.

please see london demonstrate this below during our grocery store trip.

i always had a thing for cafe rio when i was living in utah.

mel was so kind and obliging to go.

it was so delicious and we were so sick from it for a week.

in addition to amazing salads. we also got pedicures in park city and did some outlet shopping.

played with babies. went grocery shopping (see above).

watched movies. and TALKED.

i miss utah mountains. a lot.

i miss mel more.

last saturday, amanda, lori, gretchen and i saw legally blonde the musical.

so good. just like the movie, but with music.

lori is blonde and in law school. it was so fitting.

gretchen is blonde and thought about law school. instead works for the state legislature.

amanda is brunette, but once had blonde highlights in college. she does PR.

i was a blonde not once, not twice, but three times. i have no intention of law school. ever.

my sisters had an end of the year play/art show on monday.

look how amazing my little sister natalie is at art.

it is my very favorite picture of hers.

i told her i would buy it from her.

she said for $200.

i said possibly.

good art is expensive apparently.

happy memorial day weekend to all!

be safe and have fun!!!

Do you remember.....

Saved by the Bell's Hot Sundae music group? This is the episode when Jessie takes the energy pills and Zack and Slater are super concerned that she is taking drugs? Yes. One of my all time favorite epidsodes. Imagine my pleasant surprise tonight when I discovered while eating a quick dinner between a late night of work and tennis lessons (side note: you will notice that tennis lessons is on my list of side bar goals posted on here, please be proud of me that i'm actually accomplishing one of my new year's resolutions) I had actually DVR'd this exact favorite episode of mine.

Of course, I now need to share my walk down memory lane with all my friends. Please fast forward to 1:46 to view my favorite part, the music video.

Closing question: What would society be like if we still dated like they did in Saved by the Bell? Think about this. (if you need a refresher on saved the bell dating, please watch tbs weekday mornings 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.) I will and get back to you with my thoughts in a few days.

Coming soon: Pictures and a post - My Mother's Day Weekend with Mel and the Babes

Growing up

Manda now has her truck, complete with John Deere license plates from Kansas. Compliments of her mother and a 12-hour drive. 

My little baby hit 120,000 miles Friday night.  

Please look closely into the mirror. Hot pink heels. Yep. Those would be mine. Dance party/b-day party late Saturday night. Funny story. We were (four Mormons) the only ones not drinking. Had the most fun. Danced the night away. I believe we were the life of the party.