Best 2 weeks of the semester: Part One

Ok, so I might be a little presumptuous in assuming that next week will be the second part of the best 2 weeks of the semester, but, come on, this is what I get to look forward to: 
-going back to Oregon in two days. That place is the best and I really really miss it. Especially since today it started snowing in Utah. Joy.
-seeing my BFF Seth for the first time in about 2.5 years.
-hanging out with Annie, Seth, Lindsay and Hayley just like old times (and eating Annie's cookies)
-my wonderful family.  My sister told me that she's really excited for me to come home because we're going to eat a lot and fall into a food coma. And repeat. Love her.
-my puppy.
-seeing HPATDH again.

Speaking of HPATDH, this is what part one was like.
SUNDAY
I made my first casserole with my roommate Kelly.  We're so...Mormon mommy now.

{Brett and Kelly enjoying our Casserole}

Also that night was my Crepe-a-Palooza/Freshmen girls' reunion partay.  I ran into Audrey on campus last week and we talked about how much we miss the girls. So I planned a party full of sugar and talking.  It was really fun being able to catch up on the latest and greatest. 

Remember this?

{hikes + Morgan's Hummer}

{tie-dying}

{Halloweenie}

{model Sundays}

..and we kept with the oven picture tradition:

{two years later...}



WEDNESDAY

I went to the Sara Barielles concert with my good friend, Amber Whiteley and then Linds and her roommate came later.  Another thing checked off my bucket list.  I've been wanting to see Sara in concert since "Love Song" came out forever ago.  It was really fun, even with the mean ladies behind us. When you're in a crowded concert hall and you're sitting down in an area that has a pretty good view and more space than any other section in that area, YEAH you're not going to be able to see and YEAH people are going to crowd your space. You should've seen it coming and stood up and claimed your territory.  And stop whining about it.

Anyways...she played all my favorites from both of her albums and the band was so laid back and talented.

{Lindsay, me, Amber}

{I want to grow up to be Sara Barielles someday}



THURSDAY

It's the night I've been waiting for for a looonnng time. 

HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 1

midnight showing.

{camping out}

{notice the Hogwarts sign on our sweaters}

{Leslie/Hermione, Cam/Harry, Me-just heading to Hogwarts. NDB.}

I'm not going to write anything else about it because I'm afraid I won't do it justice.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

I met up with my Grandma Ericksen in SLC for dinner at Olive Garden and then Time Out For Women.  The only way I know how to describe it is it has the same layout as EFY, only it's for Relief Society.  There are speakers and musical performances both Friday night and most of Saturday.  My favorite speaker, though they were all good, was Mariama Kallon. She talked about her life while growing up in war-torn Sierra Leon and how she found the church and then served a mission for the church.  It was a heart-wrenching story that just wanted me to go down to Sierra Leon and bring everyone the Gospel and then bring them to America, away from the horrible things that they had to see.  She's a delightful woman who just loved life and wanted everyone to know that God truly knows every single one of us, no matter where/who/when we are. 

{Salt Palace in SLC}

Whenever I see a picture or learn about the lives of those who lived in, say, the 17th or 18th centuries, I wonder why I wasn't born then.  It would have been so cool to wear big dresses and hair and ride in carriages and go to balls.  But then I realize that I love indoor plumbing and heating and not wearing a corset. Also, I have weeks like this and realize that I'm so lucky to be alive. Now. In 2010.  And I'm surrounded by amazing people who understand me and still want to be my friend.  And I can go to school and not get in trouble for it.  And fly home to my family during the holidays.  And have the fullness of the Gospel in my life and the immense amount of blessings that come with it. 

I'm ready for Part Two.

October

{HOT COCOA PARTY}

{FOOTBALL GAMES}

{PARENTS' WEEKEND}
My momma came to visit me for Parents' Weekend at BYU.  She came in to visit me at work and came to my classes. Except Spanish.  There's this ongoing dispute, you could say, in my family about Spanish and French.  My dad is fluent in Spanish and my mom is fluent in French. So when the time came for each child to choose one of them to study at school, my parents would ask us questions like: "Which parent is your favorite?"  Well, I chose Spanish, but I am no respector of persons, er, parents. So we were sitting in Spanish class, and my mom makes it for about 5 minutes until she stands and leaves, muttering, "I don't understand Spanish".  hahaha.  We went shopping, saw "The Hereafter", and ate out at Bajio. 

Saturday, we walked the 5K, sat in the rain at the football game like true blue Oregonians, and did some more shopping.  That night, we saw "The Magic Flute" opera.  It was my first opera, and it was quite the experience!  That night, I introduced my mom to Sammy's milkshakes.

Sunday, she went to church with me and then she let me win at Scrabble.  It was such a fun weekend and I was so happy to see her.

I love my momma.

{INGRID MICHAELSON}

Can I just say, she's so amazingly incredibly awesome.  After waiting in the rain/snow/wind/sleet for 1.5 hours, we got to stand on a platform in the back of the room.  But it was worth it. She's a great performer and tells funny stories.

{Ali-Kelly-Cortney-Abby-Me}

{HALLOWEENIE}
Friday, I dressed up for work as a peacock.  That night, I had a girls' date night with Anna.  I tried Guru's for the first time (YUM!). Also, Anna had her ballet audition that day and found out that SHE GOT IN!! So we went to Cupcake Chic to celebrate. Then, scary movie night with "The Haunting of Molly Hartley"!! (critique=pretty good/freaky until the end. Baaaad ending)

Saturday, Anna, Michelle (her roommate), and I went to a party, where I dressed up as Miss Scarlet from the game Clue. We were going to go to another party, but then we realized how hungry we were, so Taco Bell Fourth Meal it was.
While we were at T-Bell, there were other kids there dressed up as soccer players and lifeguards.  The soccer player totally gave me the up-down and said, "niiiice".  Ok...so I continued to check out the menu, couldn't decide what I wanted.  Then the lifeguard said: "I like your pearls."  I looked at him and replied: "Oh, thanks. I like...your...shorts."  Those guys were interesting.  Oh Halloween.

Absolution

Mi amiga y roomie Annie Spackman is in the Accounting program here at beewhyewe. Since she's smart and stuff, she gets the Wall Street Journal every day.  What's nice about her receiving this newpaper is that it is a re-usable resource and so I can read it, too.  Yesterday, she directed me to an article that was eye-opening for me and thus slightly embarrassing/shocking/true.  It's about an issue that has risen with our technologically-based generation.  Maybe.  It's short, so you should read it, but for the impatient, it's about how our society's interactions have been affected by the word "maybe". "Maybe I'll go on that date with you", "I dunno, maybe I could go", "I'm not sure, I might be able to go".  I am so annoyed by those people. I had a party at my place about a month ago that I sent an invite for through Facebook.  out of the 40 people that I invited, only 21 answered definitively (18 yes, 3 no).  The rest were maybes or awaiting replies.  This really really bugged me.  You couldn't take the time to make a decision?  If you can't come, you can't come. If you genuinely don't know, then it's fine to hit maybe. But 18 who didn't even hit maybe? Thanks.
I was thinking about this and realized that I do the SAME THING.  Oh, dear...
For example, last week a friend invited me to play broomball with a group that night.  I already had some plans and I don't like broomball to begin with, BUT I didn't know about my plans for sure and I didn't want to be rude, so I answered: "I'm not sure, it depends on how things work out tonight".  Not a definitive answer. Non-committed answer.  Wussy answer.  So a couple of hours later, while I was doing the plans that I was working on when she texted me, she texted me again: "Michelle, what are you doing tonight?"  Now, texts are ambiguous a lot of the time, but that was pretty straight-foward.  Translation: "Michelle, stop being wishy-washy and tell me if you are going with us tonight or not. Come on."  Ooops.  And you wonder why she hasn't talked to me since?  Because I'm a wuss who doesn't want to step on any toes! 
So, my resolution is to stop being a maybe person.  I'm going to make a decision and communicate that decision effectively. 

Maybe.

Take a moment...

I was listening up on General Conference this morning and was listening to Elder Patrick Kearon's talk from Priesthood Session.  This section really stuck out to me:

"When they laid down their weapons of rebellion, they qualified themselves for the Lord’s healing and peace, and so can we. The Savior assures, “If they harden not their hearts, and stiffen not their necks against me, they shall be converted, and I will heal them.” You and I can accept His invitation to “return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal [you].”

Click here for the full talk.

Secondly, I was listening to him instead of reading.  His accent made me think of London. Oh, how I miss London...
...and Hyde Park (especially since Utah has decided to be super cold super early this year)

Can't wait to go back.

YouTube break. In Spanish.

I'm currently in a Spanish class this semester and I have watched some pretty good YouTube videos in the Spanish lanuage that I want to share with you.  The blog is in light of the endless amount of Spanish homework that I'm currently putting off. If you don't understand, well, sorry about that.

1. No te metas a mi Facebook (Don't bug me on my Facebook).
Dig the dance moves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASU0oadRcxs

2. Me rompio el corazon (She broke my heart)
About this little boy who had his heart broken by a chica who told him she had another boyfriend. So cute!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM2v9QTPj5g

3. First Semester of Spanish Spanish Love Song
I just realized just how bad his accent is. This makes me feel a little bit better about my Spanish abilities.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngRq82c8Baw

4. Los Bigotes.
A personal favorite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2EdEDVej2A

5. The Saddest Picture in the World
For some good entertainment, check out everything by the Buenas Aires Independent Film Festival.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3BWYR6X7Hc

6. Bon Jovi
If you don't like clowns, don't watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht_LNxySlJo

Adios!

Grateful

After President Monson's talk during General Conference, I've been grateful. 
I'm Grateful For...
...warmth. From a blanket or from the sun or from modern day electricity.
...education. Sure, I complained just a little bit about my midterms this week, but I really am grateful for the great education I've been receiving from London, BYU, and my parents.
...books.  Read The Book Thief and you too will realize how precious books are. Plus, I'm an English major, so naturally I am enamored with books.
...parents. They just rock. I've been sitting here for a bit and I just don't know where to start. They just rock.

I got to go to the Peterson's house for Sunday Conference. We ate lots and lots of great food, had jam sessions on the piano, played games, hot tubbed, talked.  It was nice to get away from Provo for a day.
I've also been inspired by multiple things this past week.
1. General Conference.  Since this semester has been really busy, it kind of snuck up on me. When I realized the week of that Conference was going to happen soon, I got really excited.  I love Conference.
2. http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/  =Proof on how love can help you survive.
3. My Grandma Ericksen=I've learned so many new things about her recently that I just admire about her. She's travelled to so many places and has seen so many things, yet you would never know.  I know because I snooped in her photo albums :)

"Find out what the Lord wants you to do and then do it." -President Henry B. Eyring (leader in LDS church)

Back in Cougartown

As you all have heard from a previous blog post, I am back in blue as an English major.  It was quite the adjustment after about 9+ months of being outside of Provo, Utah, but I'm getting back to the swing of things, folks.
WEEK ONE
Roomies with Annie.
SCHOOL STARTS. DUN DUN DUNNNN.
Anna's b-day dance.
Saturday morning, I got to kick it with some of my London peeps for the first time since, well, London.  We ate Amish Oatmeal (a favorite London Centre breakfast) and got to catch up.  I love those kids.

That afternoon was the first home game.  We had really good seats. And we won.  Nice start to the season, I'd say!

{me n annie}

WEEK TWO
Labor Day Monday. What else can you do, but go hiking? The weather was so nice and it was so fun to spend some more time with London peeps and Anna.  We THOUGHT we were hiking Squaw Peak until we got to the top and saw Squaw Peak across the valley. Oops. It was fun, anyways.

Two words: Club Style. Hip-Hop. I almost forgot how much fun it is!  Dance has always been one of those things.  The things that you've always wanted to do, but you just got caught up doing other things and now you have the chance to do it.  And you wonder how different your life would be if you had decided to do it, instead of those other things.  I'm happy with my life choices, especially now that I have a chance to do one of those things.
Anyways, I love hip-hop.

Wednesday was Mexico's Bicentennial for their Independence Day, so what a better way to spend it than with the BYU Latino club?

{brittany, me, and our amigos}

I just realized that another one of those things that I've wanted to do since I reached the age of concert-going is going to a concert on a roof top.  A la Beatles.  And that was accomplished on my second weekend back in Utah.  It was so much fun!  Nik Day opened for Benton Paul. The music was great. The people were fun. And it was on the top of a parking garage in downtown Provo. Oh, and I whole-heartedly endorse Sammy's milkshakes (um, hello banana cream pie + oreos). 

{brittany, annie, me @ the concert}

I got a job. Whew.

Classes are good. As aforementioned, I LOVE MY MAJOR!! My roommates are so cool.  I keep running into friends that I haven't seen in awhile.  And life is good.