everyone you meet.

I work with some pretty amazing people.  They come from all over the world and have had experiences I will probably never have.  They each bring a new perspective and way of thinking to the table (literally--gotta love lab meetings.), and it amazes me that a group of people can all think so differently.

Today at work, our department had a poster event for post- and pre-docs here at the university, so I had the opportunity to talk to one of my co-workers for a couple of hours as we kept an eye on the food and made sure the coolers were stocked with enough pop.  It was really interesting to hear about her life, schooling, years raising kids, and going back to school.  But through all of that, she said one thing that really stood out to me.

"I try to learn something from everyone I meet.  Even people I talk to for a minute and will never see again can teach me something."

Like, woah.

But in all seriousness, what an awesome perspective to have on meeting new people.  And what a great example.

hocus pocus.


Ben and I make a good pumpkin carving team.  I scoop out the guts, and he does the actual carving.  The best of both worlds.

And score on the free pumpkin from the ward Halloween party.

P.S.  Anyone remember the movie from the title of this blog post?  :)

i have the hardest time coming up with facts about myself.


Guys, this is the best thing to happen to me today (Or at least ties with the ugly cat calendar hanging in my office from the previous tenant.  Seeing that thing makes me do my awkward laugh... and it's even more awkward when your co-worker from India doesn't understand and asks you why you're laughing at "baby little kitty."), thanks to Caitlin!  She was nice enough to send a blog award my way.

Here's how it works:
The Liebster award is given by bloggers to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

What is a Liebster?
The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.

1. Each person much post 11 things about themselves
2. Answer the question the nominator made for you and also create 11 more questions for the blogs you nominate
3. Choose 11 people and link them to your post
4. Go to their page and tell them.
5. No tag backs!

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11 facts about me:
1)  I (as you could probably tell from above) really dislike animals.  Sorry, all you animal lovers out there.
2)  I've passed out at church, in driver's ed, in the lunchroom, at the optometrist's, the dentist's, at work, at the ob/gyn's, etc.  Blood/needles/gross stories/doctors/etc. make me want to cut out my eyes, except I'd probably pass out before I could do that.  The last time I passed out was on Friday while getting my flu shot.
3)  I hate the colors pink and purple together.
4)  I've watched all 4 of the debates, and go crazy each time I do.  Arguing/debating is not my thing, and watching it is even worse.
5)  Ice cream isn't a treat I ever chose, but I'll take brownies any day.
6)  What I miss most about Utah are the mountains and Cafe Rio (besides family and friends.  Don't worry, mom.)
7)  I absolutely love alone time--whether it's grocery shopping, browsing stores, the gym, reading scriptures, or cleaning.  I need a few minutes of "me" time each day to stay sane.
8)  I have 6 living grandparents and 2 living great-grandparents.
9)  I hate breaking rules.  The most illegal thing I've ever done is climb on top of an elementary school with friends to look at the stars.  And speeding?  I'm lame, but I'm sure my parents would thank me for that.
10)  One time when I was really mad and annoyed with someone during my senior year of high school, my best friend and I bought 2 cartons of eggs, wrote what made us mad on them, drove up to a lookout in Draper, and threw eggs at rocks.  Is that illegal?  Maybe that's the worst thing I've done?  They can't be too bad for the environment... think of it as making scrambled eggs for the squirrels and deer.
11)  This is the first time I've lived outside of Utah.

Caitlin's 11 questions for me:
1. How did you meet your hubby or significant other?  We were in the same ward at BYU.  Typical, typical.
2. If you knew you were dying tomorrow, how would you spend your day?  Go do a bunch of small acts of kindness for random people with Ben, call my family, go to the temple with Ben, eat at the best restaurant around with Ben, go get a pedicure with Ben, and spend the rest of the day going and doing things around the city with Ben.
3. What is something on this earth you could not live without?  Air, ha.  But my serious answer is my religion.
4. What is your favorite restaurant of all time?  I really, really love Cafe Rio...and it about kills me that the closest one is 1,332 miles away.
5. What is your biggest fear? Think hard now.  Being attacked/kidnapped.
6. What is a habit others have that makes you feel super uncomfortable?  When people pick their nose and think no one can see them.  
7. If you won 1 million dollars, what would you buy first?  Some new black flats.  Mine fell apart in the rain today.
8. What is one of you biggest dreams?  To graduate from college.
9. If you could go on a date with one celebrity, who would it be?  I'm married.  :)
10. If your house was burning down and you could only take one thing with you what would it be (people excluded)?  My scriptures/box of important papers.
11. What is your favorite recipe?  Haha... this recipe.  Ben made it for me a couple of times while we were dating, and I still make him make it every once in a while.

My 11 questions for other bloggers:
1)  What fashion trend do you just not get (dislike)?
2)  What's the funniest name you've ever heard?
3)  If you had to listen to one song on repeat for the next month, which one would you chose?
4)  What's the best way to embarrass you?  (No skipping!)
5)  What is the most valuable lesson you learned from your parents/caregiver?
6)  If you had to learn a new language, which one would you chose?
7)  What do you think is the most unique tv show out there?
8)  Do you tend to wear clothes that are colorful or more neutral?
9)  Are you more of a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, e-mail, texting, or phone call person?
10)  What's one skill you are working on mastering?
11)  If you could meet one blogger for lunch, which one would you chose?

I'm passing all of this off to:
Ashlee from 3 words 8 letters
Andy from a happiness affair
Bekah from a mile in her shoes
Rachael from exactly as we are
Sara from happiness is...
Laura from happy happenings
Lindsay from pursuit of pink
Kailie from the breit side
Brittany from the diary of lewis & clark
Megan from tiptoe through the tulips with me
Brittany from the domestic geek

Can't wait to read your responses!  :)

tips for creating happiness & peace.


I saw this on a blog yesterday, and thought it had some great points!  Definitely going to work on some of these.

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40 Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life
{unknown source}

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day and while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. 
3. Buy a TiVo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, "My purpose is to _____ today."
5. Live with the 3 Es - Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy, and the 3 Fs - Faith, Family, Friends.
6. Play more games with friends and read more books than you did last year.
7. Make time to practice meditation and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives. 
8. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of six. 
9. Dream more while you are awake. 
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants. 
11. Drink some green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, seafood, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day. 
13. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, and your desk and let new energy into your life. 
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment. 
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn and pass all your tests. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away. 
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 
22. Make peace with your past, so it won't mess up the present. 
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 
24. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. 
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Forgive everyone for everything. 
28. What other people think of you is none of your business. 
29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
32. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
33. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
34. The best is yet to come.
35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 
36. Do the right thing.
37. Call your family often.
38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: "I am thankful for _____." "Today I accomplished _____." 
39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
40. Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. Make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

the family that plays together, stays together.

(The last picture isn't edited at all.  Cool gray leaves, huh?)


I can not tell you all how excited I was for this past weekend to finally arrive!  My mom and sister flew in to St. Louis on Friday afternoon and played with us for the weekend, before heading home Monday night.  Our playing consisted of:  a yummy Americanized-Mexican restaurant, famous Ted Drewes frozen custard, doing family baptisms at the St. Louis Missouri temple, the Arch museum, going up in the Arch, the Missouri Botanical Gardens, the huge mall, the absolute best Italian restaurant in the little Italian area, church, a short tour of both Washington University campuses, driving through old neighborhoods, playing games, eating pie, and painting nails.  Monday was my first day of work (as a research assistant for a professor at Wash U, for those of you who asked!), so Ben, my sister, and mom met up with me for lunch, and I said goodbye to them there.  

We had so much fun with them and can't wait to see them again at Christmas! 

holiday cheer.


'Tis the season!  We broke out the hot chocolate and are loving life.  Next up, christmas stations on Pandora and a tiny Christmas tree for these newlyweds!  Or maybe some pumpkin carving, candy corn, pilgrims and indians, and a turkey first.  :)

the first weekend of october.

We filled our weekend with Chinese food, BYU football, General Conference, a girls night/Priesthood session, more General Conference, apple pie, and a game night with friends.  It was a great break!


Favorite one liners from conference:

"Through repentance, you can qualify for all the blessings of heaven."
Elder Quentin L. Cook

"They can be a heaven sent blessing to you."
Elder Russell M. Nelson, in regards to missionaries

"There's something in each day to cherish and rejoice in."
"Have we not reason to rejoice?"
"We cannot take for granted one single day."
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Lessons taught at home are becoming increasingly necessary."
Elder L. Tom Perry

"No trial is so large that we can't solve it together."
Elder Neil L. Anderson

"Thy will be done, and in thine own time."
President Henry B. Eyring

"We are surrounded by those who need our kindness, service, support, example, and love."
Sister Linda K. Burton, quoting President Thomas S. Monson

"Did you love me?"
"The crowning characteristic of love is loyalty."
"We have truths to share and good to give.  We can't quit and we can't go back."
"The call is to come, stay true, lend a hand, and love God."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"The opportunity to be a blessing to another often comes unexpectedly."
"The Lord is in the details of our lives."
President Thomas S. Monson

(Insert cliche mormon picture of notes and apple pie :))

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On an unrelated note, guys, I need more books to read.  I'm begging you to leave one book suggestion for me in the comments.  Anyone and everyone!

(via)

hobo clothes & pencil skirts.

Guys... this news is like the best things I've heard in months.

I found the perfect job!!!  And got it!

Definitely learned a lot of lessons through it all, but the biggest one was to trust in Heavenly Father's timing.  The craziest thing about it all was that before we moved out here I started applying to jobs and was hearing back from multiple companies, except they wanted someone to start up immediately.  I couldn't do that since we were still in Utah and in school.  Once we got out here, nothing.  I wasn't having very much luck.

Long story short... lots of job searching.  Job interviews.  Discouraged girl.  Jobs came along, but not what was wanted.  Girl figures will have to plan on being a hobo.  More job searching.  More job interviews not going anywhere.  Girl buys hobo clothes and finds perfect hobo corner.  Amazing job comes along.  Lots of praying.  Gets to the final interview stage.  Asked if job is wanted.  Fist pump in front of professor offering job.  (Just kidding.)  Fist pump later in privacy of apartment.  Girl gets rid of hobo clothes and buys a nice pencil skirt instead.

The End.


Happy Friday to you all, and have a fabulous weekend!

we're party animals over here.


Pink nails for breast cancer awareness month.
Also, we're really crazy at night with our excessive partying and all that.  Ha.

(Just figuring out how to work my camera.  Bear with me.)

we live for weekends.


Explored downtown.
Taste of St. Louis -- twice.  :)
Watched the BYU football game with friends.
Found the famous Missouri Baking Co.
Ate more desserts.
All-American Rejects concert.
Church.
Dinner and games with two couples from the ward.
FHE dinner with missionaries.

Even though it was a fabulous weekend, we're even more excited for this upcoming weekend!  Yay for watching General Conference!

p.s.  Happy October 1st!