..::Hair::..

I have brown hair! It's Christmas break! I am ready to go back to school! Just some fun facts for the moment. Oh, and Christmas is in 6 days! I am definitely looking forward to that.

So you know that moment when you realize that you'd rather be at your apartment than at home for the two or three weeks of break you have between semesters? I am at this point. I never thought I would get to it, but I am. I love my family and I love being home, but two weeks is just too much! I already can't wait to head back. Plus I am in desperate need of a job, and that's an understatement. Job, school, life! I love it. Need a job, need school to start again, need a social life, need Grey's Anatomy. Psych, just kidding, I don't need that. Anyway, Merry Christmas to all! And to all.. a good afternoon. 

Oh. And I just ordered my books. 14 new books on their way to Logan, Utah. MMMMM baby yeah. Excited. 

..::finals week obsession::..

Serious problem. Actually it's the best problem I've probably ever had. My roommate, Megan, got me addicted to these guys right here..................................

"Just the sight of them, heart pounding, throat thickening, absolutely can't swallow.. all the usual symptoms." -Iris, The Holiday

I LOVE GREY'S ANATOMY.

What is a girl to do? Megan has seasons 1-8. It's really like I have no choice BUT to watch ya know? Those good looking men and the dramatic, unethical hospital scenes. It would be inhuman for me not to watch. 

But on the bright side. Two finals down; two papers down; and only ONE left to go. Due at midnight tomorrow. ShaBAM!. And that is how it's done. Also, another thing. I will no longer be a blonde in t-minus three hours. Change is good right? Very excited. 

Peace. Love. Holidays. Merry Christmas. Remember our Savior and his birth; that's what this season is all about. Gratitude. <3

..::the world is yours::..

The world is yours.

..::tell me a story::..

Live with what you have and make the best of what's to come.

..::ain't that the truth?::..

I saw this on Pinterest the other day and I just thought, "Woah..so true." How often do we look back on things that we used to have and wish we could have them again? When in reality, when we were in those situations, we really weren't as happy as we let ourselves believe. It's a shame that, too often, we remember the good things and they blind us from the reasons we had to change or move forward. On top of that we fail to find the good in our present lives. There's so much to be grateful for, and yet, here we are, unhappy because of the things we don't have, while forgetting all the things that we do. The future belongs to those who believe in it, and those who believe that it will be good.
I will definitely admit that I am guilty of this, who isn't? However, this is a good reminder to be grateful for where we are at in our lives, to appreciate the days we had that brought us to where we are, and to the days that lie ahead of us filled with unmarked trails and unknown stories waiting to be discovered and written. See how Pinterest really is good for you? It's not a waste of time... no, never. 

Write about it

(Sidenote: I had started a new blog for my creative writing class but it didn't really work out, so I am just combing them. Here's an entry from that other one.)

To begin this wonderful world of blogging, I will introduce myself. I am a junior at Utah State University and an English Teaching major. My creative non-fiction professor encouraged us to start a blog.. so here goes.

(Sidenote: This is an excerpt from another blog I started back in September. After ignoring both of them for over three months I am just combining them. So here's my one entry from that one.)

Dinty Moore said, “Countless writers have suggested over the years that the hardest, and the most crucial part of the enterprise is attaching the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair and applying oneself consistently to the task of moving words around on the page. —- Writing is a mysterious process. All you can do is open yourself to the possibilities, be willing to work and get at it.”

Even Flannery O’ Connor stated, “I’m a full-time believer in writing habits, pedestrian as it all my sound. You may be able to do without them if you have genius but most of us only have talent and this is simply something that has to be assisted all the time by physical and mental habits or it dries up and blows away.”

I believe myself to be a writer, but I lack the glue that holds my pants to the seat of my chair. In a world where there is so much pressure on school and getting good grades I find it hard to just sit down and write for me, except in my notebook in between classes, but I love to do it. So I guess this is me opening myself to the possibilities.

Today I was thinking about how time basically controls our lives. Sometimes we get so caught up in it that it’s hard to step back and just enjoy the moment. As I cross campus everyday I see us all rushing around like ants trying to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible leaving no time to linger and mingle, at least I know this is how it is for me. We wait, we run, we are constantly checking our watches, phones, Ipods and running off to the next event. We cross days off of our calendars like crossing something off a checklist.

I can just hear my own thoughts as I do, “Another day down…” Why another day down? Why not another day enjoyed? Another memory made? I’m not sure exactly how my blog will go, but this is just a thought that I had today, if we open ourselves to the possibilities of each day, no doubt they will be more than a day crossed off of our calendar. Short thought of the night.

Until next time…

A random HELLO. Life is nuts.

Guys! All you invisible people that never actually read this! Attention! It's been almost five months since I've last written. Holy smokes what an adventure those five months have been. Let's just say I am glad they are over. Lots of craziness and I never would have guessed a year ago that this would be where I'm at. I love life for that!
Anywho, it's the end of my first semester at Utah State! Can you believe that? Ha! Insane. This is just a short hello......for me I guess because I swear no one reads this :) Love any of you that do though!
Peace love joy.
Kellie-jo

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Recently I've made some new friends that have opened my eyes to what it's like to be yourself. If we are afraid to be ourselves, develop talents, share them, try new things and so on, we can't ever grow and we stay idle. We only live once right? So why do we always let what others people think or fear of anything keep us from doing what we really want? Why do we force ourselves to live up to others expectations or opinions? I haven't figured that one out yet.  

To my friends..

Today, I just like to smile. :) Do you ever have those moments in life where you're like... aha! :):):) and you can't stop smiling because you just feel soo good? Yeah, I had one of those moments last night and it's  just carrying over to today. There are so many things in this life to be grateful for. These last couple of days I have just been bumming around because my face is the size of a small balloon and I actually haven't really been able to smile that well! haha but I realized how many reasons I have to smile. (hopefully that makes sense) Anyway, Thursday after I had gotten my wisdom teeth taken out, my best friend, miss Taylor called me just to say hi  because she missed me. Made my day and I smiled and it hurt. :) Then I was able to hang out with my best friend miss Katelyn who, pathetically enough, I haven't seen since we graduated even though she lives about 8 minutes away, and I talked to my other best friend Tiffany on the phone whom I miss, and then lo and behold my best friend forever, GRACE anne NEWMAN called me up Friday night to tell me how funny I looked with chubby cheeks! And on top of that, I never wrote about this but a week ago I was able to talk to my best friendx10 who is currently in Peru for two years...catch my drift, for about 6 minutes. Can you see my pattern here and my reason to smile? I have the BEST FRIENDS ever. I think sometimes I forget about the people who have always been there for me because I know they always will be. Basically I take them for granted. But I've really learned to appreciate them this week and how much they do for me. So today is to my best friends! Today is for my friends.

My best friend, Elder McKeachnie
64 days...

best friends for life. I love these girls.

My amazing sister who I got to judge the Miss Hinckley pageant with for the second year in a row! 

and Grace :) best friends since we were little  babies.

Thanks so all of you who make such a difference in my life. :) I don't know what I'd do without you. And there's so many others, Patrick Peterson, he's the bomb. And he is actually serving in the army right now so I have so much respect and gratitude for him. He's also a wonderful friend I can't forget Elder Garrett Lund, never, never. :) I love you all. 

hahahaha I just had to add this for my own personal delight.

And the amazing people calling me game has continued...how lucky am I? I need to add Cade William Lubeck to my list of best friends as well. He's awesome and amazing and I hope he always knows that I look up to him. I don't know how I got so lucky to have the people in my life that I do, but I'll be forever grateful.

Cade taught me how to snowboard :)
 Bless his heart, I fell down so many times. He's a patient one.

Still a chunker. :)

I had my wisdom teeth taken out. Woot woot. joy to the world, my face is still huge, and it's been 2 days! Tell the madness to stop.
Funny story. I always get kind of edgy when I go into a doctors office of any kind and when I went in for my wisdom teeth, there was a cute guy there filling out the same forms I had to. I assumed he was also getting his wisdom teeth out, except he was all dressed up. But turns out that once I'm in the room waiting for the doctor I see him around the corner putting on a white coat and speaking with the nurses..... say huh? He looked about my age, and then he was introduced as the intern that was going to be observing today. Just my luck right? Cute guy...watches me pass out, rips out my teeth, and then gets to watch me make a fool of myself as a blabber on about things as a result of the meds. Just my luck, atleast I know he got a good laugh out of it, he told me. :)

"Never forget that you came to earth

as a child of the divine Father,

with something of divinity in your very makeup.

The Lord did not send you here to fail.

He did not give you life to waste it.

He bestowed upon you the gift of mortality

that you might gain experience

-positive, wonderful, purposeful experience-

that will lead you to life eternal.

He has given you this glorious Church.

His church, to guide you and direct you,

to give you opportunity for growth and experience,

to teach you and lead you and encourage you,

to bless you with eternal marriage,

to seal upon you a covenant between you and Him

that will make of you His chosen child."

~President Gordon B. Hinckley

Today I'm grateful for the Gospel in my life and for the truth that I know. I am grateful for the plan that I can trust in when things don't go the way I expect them to because I know that my life is being divinely guided by someone who knows what I need, to get where I can reach my fullest potential. 

Sometimes I get distracted by things, dumb things, and it takes me a minute to remember what really is important in this life. I want to live my life with honor and faith. I'm here for a purpose and it's to follow the plan that He has set for me, I can't ever forget that because it's what keeps me going during the hard times. 

Like the primary song says, "my life has a purpose, my life has a plan."

just something to start the day.

Today...

I affirm life.

I challenge problems.

I accept responsibility.

I believe God.

I live today.

-Elizabeth Searle Lamb

Whoever is

happy will

make others

happy too.

-Anne Frank

it's day three yo!

don't mind that my fingers look bent and short. they are completely normal, promise. 

day three. holy smokes, where do i even begin? it started this morning when my mom sent me a text saying that there was a hiring sign at the pizza place next to her work in Salem. And then i got a call for a job interview in Spanish Fork, so it was up north we go. i got up and went to my interview first and you wouldn't believe the sign i saw in their office! 

And in case you can't read it it says "The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live." I thought, how fitting! It's amazing the difference one decision made each day can make. So that was a good sign and I actually ended up getting a job, so that is good! After the interview I went back to my mom's work and talked to the guy at the pizza place and that was great! I actually would love to work there. He said his daughters were going to work there and they were going to CEU so lots of college kids. perfect right? So yeah I chatted with him and he said things looked good and he'd call me when they opened the first of June, therefore the job hunt was success! As JAM would say, boom. 

thank you Big Don's! :) next, my mom wanted me to wait about an hour because she was going to be done working, so to kill time she told me to go check out the grocery store in Salem because it was so great and friendly haha, so that i did!

and indeed, it was the cutest fresh food market i have ever been to. The people were so nice at the deli that I made a purchase of popcorn chicken and fruit salad. it was fresh just like they advertised! So i am walking out of the store with my bag of deliciousness looking for my keys.. and looking... and looking.. until i realize, i don't have them. I get to my car and look inside and sure enough, there they are. So... begins my walk back to my mom's work, luckily it wasn't too far. But i must say, Stokes was definitely worth locking my keys in my car.

 So here are some pictures from my walk home. First of all, I want a boat ------> hence the photo. Secondly, I was walking and I didn't want to jay walk soooooo.......
<----------I pushed the button:) Have I mentioned that I love Salem, Utah? Because I do. Whoever I marry will have to be okay with my dream to live in Salem and teach at SHHS. It's the perfect place.

Just walking down the street :)

Okay so after my escapade of locking my keys in my car, i found my mom, got her keys ate lunch in her car and then...the EXCELLERATOR. Okay, super crazy guys. My mom was like, we're going to be a little longer, sit in this chair while I'm doing this. (PS my mom works and goes to school at a foot zoning place, totally awesome) my first thought was, 'the excellerator'? it sounds like a blasted roller coaster! my mom replied with, "it kind of is! i think it's the closest thing you'll ever get to being on drugs, like acid!" o my, i laughed. For the record, my mom has never done drugs, just what she's heard. so basically it's all natural health, and I tried out this machine that I sat in and picture this, there's a pyramid type set up over the chair with four oxygen tubes hanging from the top. You sit in the chair with goggles on that have flashing lights and close your eyes and listen to crazy music. It was nuts. Apparently UVU is doing a study about it and it's some kind of neurological exercise using all the lobes in our brain and because I fell asleep... I passed! But hey, really? 45 minutes with music, eyes closed, and crazy lights, who's not going to fall asleep? ;) haha
 NEXT. My mom said she had a surprise for me....guess what it was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A MASSAGE. Full body baby. I was nervous at first, but it was the best surprise anyone could ever ask for. holy smokes. it was fantastic and i highly encourage EVERYONE to get one. it'll change your life. :) After that my mom and i hit up Coney's because love that place and headed back home. It was a fun trip I do say. Fun day, fun day. 

So back to my quote of the day, every door we open leads to the lives we live. everyday we open new doors either with our choices, attitudes, and actions. be sure that you take responsibility for the doors you open and make the most of whatever it offers. life is too short to be unhappy so choose to be happy, Anne Frank did. 

Another thing, life is also too short not to be yourself. don't be afraid of doing what you want and expressing who you are, that's what life is for right? choose to live the way you want right now. this very day. don't wait. don't ever put what you want on hold. go after what you want when you want it. like a good friend of mine always said, "if you don't do what you want in life, what's the point?" 

peace yo!

day one & two of summer.

 Family? gone. house? a mess. me? unemployed. what am i going to do? CLEAN. of course. 

It took me nearly two days to finish unpacking my room and the cleaning spurt continued. So I cleaned the whole house. Quite the first day of summer right? But then the family came home and we had a great dandy time and then treated ourselves to a nice...

And that's when I got the best news I could get....... I am getting a call from PERU on Sunday! :) can't wait. 

Day two of summer I have spent making this blog thus far.. so picture for today

day two..

and that shall be it for today. 

Remember, the future is yours, run with it.

just the beginning.

Don't regret anything you do, because in the end, it makes you who you are.
-30 Seconds to Mars

Life won't ever hand us what we expect, but it's up to us to always make the most of it. Live for today. And most importantly, happiness is a choice, so choose it. It's that simple. :)

So a little about me and my blog. I have recently just graduated with my associates degree from Snow College (aka most wonderful place on earth) and I will be headed to Utah State. There have been a lot of 'endings' in my life lately with school and relationships and I've decided to not look at them as 'endings' but rather, 'beginnings'. It's always hard when change happens, but if you approach it with the right attitude it can open up a lot of options. As one door closes, another opens. A lot of the time we don't have control over which door closes and when, but we do have control over whether or not we're going to try opening the closed door, or walk through the open one. As I am now walking through the new door, I smile and welcome whatever it brings my way. Because like a wise man once said, "The problem is not the issue, the issue is how you deal with the problem." So here's to new beginnings, this end is where I begin.