I'll Bring Them to the Fold

So I'm not one to usually fill out these silly deals but pretty much all of the answers made me laugh - maybe it's just midnight and all's funny before the sun comes up... In other words, the answers were pretty ironic so I couldn't resist.

Probably don't tell... but I'm deleting the rule where you tag a thousand and six of your buddies to do the same thing. If you read this and feel like filling it out, leave a comment on mine and I'll come on over to your blog and read it.

RULES:
1. Put your MP3 player, iTunes, on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. WRITE SONG NAME DOWN - NO MATTER HOW SILLY.


...so the best part is that I completely did NOT rig my answers. :)

IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?
My Rights Versus Yours - The New Pornographers

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF
Laura (City Hi-Fi Remix) - Scissor Sisters

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Motion - Ace Enders - aw geez, can I please sensor this ipod?

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
End of the Day - Lokal Grown - now=past midnight

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE
Learning to Breathe - Switchfoot - wow ipod thinks i have sooo much potential :)

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
Charlie's Angels 2000 - Apollo 440 - basically the truth; step 1 - running in heels. Done

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Unbelievable - Josh Gracin - awww thanks friends :)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
I'll be Home for Christmas - Sarah McLaughlin - ... working on it

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Give it up - The Format - ... working on NOT doing that

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Lemonade - Chris Rice

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Falling for You - probably always too true

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
I'm OK, You're OK - MXPX - =my motto

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
God of Wine - Third Eye Blind - eek. Seriously?

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
6, 8, 12 -

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Come What May - Mouin Rouge Soundtrack - niiice

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Better Days - Goo Goo Dolls - how ironic

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Christmas Card - Jimmy Eat World - uhhh, how crafty of me

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Clovers - Allred - wussy face

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Symphony No. 9 - Beethoven - who knew, right?

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
How Far We've Come - Matchbox 20

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Never a Better Hero - based on what ya'll apparently think of me... i guess we're a good match

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
I'll Bring them to the Fold - whelp, come on in :]

...what in the world I've been up to(?)

So this post has nothing to do with life or Christmas,  job, plans, future, love, or anything... It's just what's been happening. 

For starters, this is my adorable niece! I must confess, I have seen the picture about a million times but it is brand new funny every time I see it. 

The way I break it down follows: 

1 part - Duck Tales

1 part - Clark Kent

725 parts - Kylin!

Next in what's been happening - my cute cute (London) Aussie friends came to visit over the holidays. That's Esther on the left and Larissa on the right. We made sure to hit up all the best American things: Snowboarding, Temple Square, driving on the freeway, Cafe Rio and ...Twinkies & Pop Tarts(?) (who would have known, right?) I wish I could remember all their jargon such as:

   "get in!" (translation: "Awesome")

   "stick it" (= "crashing on the mountain")

   "as if I..." (= "I can't believe I...")

I am withholding names of this famed Utah Retail Wonder, in case any of you are fans... But here's my family's opinion of having too much of a "good" thing.

Props to Mike for discovering this Wonder. Please notice the general lack of arm on the statue - no wonder the poor kid's upset. Here's Mike's version of "Statue Boy."

Next on the list of recent events: I acquired a (lovely) (velvet) (pink) chair+ottoman when I moved into my apartment and have been meaning to re-upholster the pair. I FINALLY made it to the ottoman and I think it's looking pretty divine.  (See the contrasting armchair behind?)

I recently discovered public transportation in Utah. Although it's not much compared to it's european counterparts, I am pretty convinced of the Front Runner. As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed myself with a little music and relaxation. (Not to mention the fact that they have wi-fi + plenty of outlets... - I recharged my phone, laptop...)  

OK, this is probably just an inside joke I have with myself but lastly is this picture. This is one of my favorite times of day to be driving! I love when the sun hits really low on the horizon and the shadows of our cars look like a kids video game. It's like I'm always waiting for the last car shadow to jump the one in front of it and then it gets 500 points.

A Trip, a Lesson and a Confession

My friend Jen and I just returned from a trip to New York. We went mostly because she lived there last summer and because I had never been. Pretty good excuses, eh...

For all of you who are not detail-oriented people, I would love to use my trip to NY as a lesson in enjoying the details of life. (Don't tell anyone, but you can find some pretty amazing details almost anywhere)


The first night, we went to the Pier and ate...seafood. (I am a recent convert to good seafood - we had swordfish[!]) . The cool thing about this shot (besides the guy reading his home-made poetry behind the camera) is the water feature just above my head. There is a permanent installment of these 'waterfalls' all over the city.



Please take just a moment to appreciate the beautiful details that people tend to skimp on nowadays. I love the charisma of this wrought iron fence.



Imagine if this were your front yard. I would like to think that if I only had 40 square feet of yard, it would look pretty sweet too. (The driveway/garage is paved in brick)



Jen and I got to go to The Lion King. The costumes were phenomenal and we didn't even get bored with the songs we've heard a million times. Small Detail... the performer who played Young Simba was only 8 years old.



We not only saw the Brooklyn Bridge... we walked across it. Apparently, as our acquaintance from Brooklyn told us, it used to be called the Mugger's Mile. He said it's perfectly safe by now. The detail I loved here (besides the amazing bridge) were all the people in business dress and tennis shoes. (Love that High-Contrast look!)



Now for the confession...I have a crush on good architecture. (And cool fire escapes) New York was such a treat. Sadly, I didn't get a chance to sketch while we were there so I took pictures to hold me over. I had to tame the urge to touch everything. :) Sorry dad...



"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith."

Besides NY, we also took a trip to DC. Our favorite place was the FDR memorial. It's kind of tucked away into the landscape so if there is one people might miss, this could be it but it was completely worth our time and inspiring to boot.



You may not recognize this place because of the particular angle of the shot... but this is the Lincoln Memorial. The ceiling was beautiful.



...small detail about the nation's capitol - I am actually a permanent fixture now. haha



Probably the most inspiring place of DC was the National Building Museum - we stumbled upon it right after we got off the bus in China Town. It's not even on the Mall but it was all kinds of interesting. (Check out how huge that column is)



If you don't often notice the detail of body language let me explain that even when you say, "I don't care how sketchy it is, I love riding the China Town bus," you really mean...


Our return to NY sent us off with three important events...
#1 - The Village Vanguard. This is one of the most famous Jazz Clubs in New York. It has been around for ages. The music was fantastic and the company wasn't at all bad either. This is our friend Motoki whom we went to school with at USU.



#2 - The Staten Island Ferry. This may look like a nice and crisp shot of some metal part + light on a ferry, but if you look closely, you'll be excited to find that Our Lady Liberty is actually hiding in the background. (details...)


#3 - (The crowning glory) We biked Central Park. Please notice the fantastic details of our 'Cruisers.' This event occurred on Columbus Day, therefore the park streets were closed to traffic and all ours. It was a super cheap thrill and pretty much topped the charts.

MeMorY GaME!

This is how the little game goes... leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time or a long time, anything that you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.

It is pretty funny to read the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you are playing and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. On your mark... get set... blog those memories!

...been a blog time - wa ha ha

Congratulations all my blogging friends; you have inspired me to remember that it's no fun to check up on a paralyzed blog. Therefore, this is me mobilizing mine.

So as we all know, life gets pretty crazy from time to time and you often can't tell what the far end of the tightrope you're walking on is connected to. But the good news is, that's the perfect recipe for an adventure.

Speaking of adventures, I'd like to thank a buddy of mine for this recent suggestion, "Stac, just decide that your life is your own adventure. Every day might only have one little part that's exciting but it's all yours. Your own adventure."

I sometimes forget to realize that you don't have to go very far to find something worthwhile. So thanks also to my friend who invited me to a group called "what do you delight in?" It really got me thinking and I realize just how blessed I am. A couple of things I delight in:

• People. I absolutely love people. If I could get paid for just getting to know as many people as I could, as well as i could...I would quit my day job. I love the people that are always there for me. My family tops the charts for that A) Because they all have my address memorized and B) We're all into the same stuff. (fun stuff)
• I also delight in the things people are capable of. I have this thing for architecture. One of my favorite things in the world is to design places. I know plenty of recipes for design but it never ceases to amaze me when I walk into one.
• Speaking of recipes - I also delight in those. Either good ones or the lack thereof... when new ones are invented. (Like this weekend when I realized I didn't have one for bombshell cookies, so I made up a new version - bombshell cookies the sequel)
• I love water: water bottles, water balloons, water sports, car washes, washing machines
• Flip FloPs!
  
• I love potential - like the shabby DI table I bought which is bound for greatness.
• Blueberries
• Making things
  
• Little kids (http://youtube.com/watch?v=wgrrQwLdME8)
• I love rear-view mirrors. Whoever invented them --> good idea. Imagine how crazy of a driver I'd be with all the blind spots my car possesses and no mirrors to remedy

• I also (probably) love hard hats. A) they protect your head and B) If you are wearing one, that most likely means you are someone who needs one. (Referring to the site visit I got to do today for my job in SLC. I also love site visits)

• I really like the Meridien Condo's. One of our clients is purchasing a place here. It is at the very bis top of the avenues and is bound to be stinking brilliant.

• Last but not least, if I didn't mention it before, I really like creative architecture. Like the invisible portion of this building. I seriously would have never thought of that.
• Oh, and lest I forget...I also love good music. Good as in good...and good as in music with guts.
• Seriously lastly, I do love official adventures. I always have one in the works whether I actually plan on going through with them or not... But I love when they actually happen.
  

Memories

So this is the process of getting all dolled up for the SHERI DeW fireside. We went to Borders and got new notebooks to take some fierce notes while we listened. Not to worry, I donned the teal stompers for the event.


So I went to Tate's to watch a movie and Brian had been hard boiling an ENTIRE dozen of eggs. He put them on the stove and forgot about them for two hours! We started smelling something, then hearing the eggs explode and suddenly the whole apartment exploded in smoke. I smelled like Yellowstone for a few days. It was so funny!




We went and did a stellar 'shoot with Kelley. It was awesome. I love this pic she did with an urban grunge feel. It makes me feel all rockstar.



So I recently picked up this scentsy warmer. I must admit, I was a little anti- buying things to smell up my place... but I am loving the tropical paradise this thing creates. I have one called Tahitian Pear in my car and everyone always comments on my awesome perfume whenever I've been driving for very long.


It's been a long time since I've gotten to chill with my freshmen friends Kirk and Braden. We went to iggy's for the millionth time in a week (not that I'm complaining...I just hadn't ever been there until the week before and then started cramming the visits in) We had such a blast around the fire pit outside. It was super chill and just good to be in good company.

Still playing catch up

Tay and I have been friends for almost half of our lives. We used to get the 'twin card' played on us all the time. She's gone on adventures to other places but recently moved back into town. It's so sweet of her fam to invite me to sunday dinners when I can't go home to mine.



Jana and I went on a little shopping spree to the bargain-est store I've ever met. I got probably three or four shirts, a pair of big star jeans and some american eagle capris for under $20!



Sportin' the new threads to go on my blind date with Tate and Brian+Tay. Check out the monster ring. I picked it up in Venice to remind me of the colors of the river at night.


Too many late nights. This wasn't even close to the time I actually went to bed.



I went on a little photo scavenger hunt on my way home from school. This is the bridge of the seasons. You can tell what time of year it is by the state of the canal. Currently...It's frozen over.