Three Cheers for Cheerfulness!

I bought these coloring books at the grocery store the other day...

Sure, it was kinda on a whim and most 22 year old girls probably don't buy too many coloring books, unless maybe if they already have children, but hey! I like to color. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Well I got up to the counter and was checking out when the cashier decided to start up a conversion.

Cashier: "Aren't you a little old for Batman...?"

Me: "Step off, man! These are my stress relievers! Life isn't easy, you know. And sometimes I over-react and over-think and over-analyse and get over-whelmed and sometimes you just need to do something to get rid of all that! Don't you know there's an article going around Facebook about how coloring isn't just for kids? It's for adults too? Geeze, man! I'm just a 22 year old girl, trying to get by in this crazy, mixed-up world! Can't a woman just buy some coloring books and crayons without an interrogation?!?"

Okay...

maybe I didn't say all that...

maybe I didn't actually think all those exact words that dramatically at the time...

and maybe I was a little embarrassed and guiltily a wee bit offended, 

and maybe I knew the boy was just trying to be nice.

(even though it still wasn't the kindest comment for him to make...) 

So here's how the conversation actually went...

Cashier: "Aren't you a little old for Batman...?"

Me: "Yeah, but my nephews aren't."

Yup.

What do you mean?? I didn't lie... that is 100% true, my nephews aren't too old for Batman.

Sure maybe by saying that I may have led the boy to believe that the coloring books weren't for me,

which is not true, (Sorry nephews. You can maybe use them when you come over sometime...)

but I was still truthful.

So after that, I got in my car, Redbox in hand, went home and laid on the family room floor while I watched some people compete in song, then watched two terminally ill teens fall in love and inspire their audience to love and live life. 

Anyway, here's some pics of the pages I've colored so far...

...and I'm here to tell you boys and girls...

You're Never Too Old for ANYTHING. 

ESPECIALLY coloring.

I have a problem.

I mentioned Netflix in my last post, and that got me thinking about the saying "Write about what you know," because although I'm sure I'm not the greatest expert of the Netflix world, I would go as far as to say that I know it pretty well. I am a pretty heavy Netflix consumer.

So...

I thought I'd make some lists shows I've watched on there.

These are not ranked, just listed.

**Disclaimer: Just because I like these shows doesn't mean you're going to. Nor are you necessarily going to be okay with their level of cleanliness to crud ratio. These are not necessarily reccommendations, just things I've enjoyed watching.**
***Clarification: I didn't watch all of these on Netflix, but a lot, if not most of them***

1 - Gossip Girl. Now I don't really feel like I can necessarily recommend this, nor am I very proud that I watch it, but I can't deny that I'm currently a recovering addict of this TV Drama. Story of the upper east side in Manhattan. Elitist society experiences scandal after scandal and has no privacy due to a gossip blogger who knows and reveals pretty much everything to the public. I won't say it's a wholesome show, cuz it's not. But it's definitely one of my guilty pleasures.

2 - Arrested Development. (Not the newer Netflix produced ones, the older, original ones.) When I finished watching this series, I texted my friend who introduced me to it saying something like "Just finished Arrested Development. I feel so lost and alone. And confused." This too is not the most wholesome TV Comedy, but it is a hoot.

3 - Vampire Diaries. I know, I know... shame on me. But hey, listen! I used to think that too! I refused to watch this show thinking that it was just going to be a longer, more drawn out version of Twilight, and in some ways it is, but after many people I wouldn't expect to like something like that suggested it to me, I finally gave in. And I'm so glad I did! (For the most part. You'll see what I mean once you get a ways into it. But it's in a "You love it so much you hate it" kind of way.) You'll get addicted, I swear.

4 - How I Met Your Mother. This is good stuff. Funny and engaging. You'll fall in love with Marshall and Lilly's love, and be hanging on the edge of your seat just wondering, "Could this possibly be their mother??!?" WARNING: It too has it's crud, and I feel it gets worse in the later seasons, so just use your own discretion.

5 - New Girl. LAWLS. Really. Some people think this TV Comedy is stupid, and it is, and again it's not the most wholesome, but heavens does it make me laugh! I love the awkwardness and comrodery of the characters and honestly how ridiculous they are. It's wonderful though and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

6 - Lie to me. It is a SHAME that this show only lasted for 2 seasons. (I think it was 2 seasons, mayb only one...) Because I lOOOOOved it! Honestly, SO interesting and unique! This TV Drama is about Cal Lightman, the 'discoverer' of micro expressions. He could communicate with a completely paralyzed man, and tell what his answers were to questions merely by his eyes and their level of dilation. WHAAAT!?!?! Incredible. Not to mention the never ending question, "When are Cal and Foster gonna get together already?!?!"

7 - One Tree Hill. LOVE. Just love. I may or may not have watched this entire series through twice... It's another one of those TV teenage dramas with boyfriend stealing and best friend wars and evil parents, but I LOVED it. I would even watch it through a third time. Of all the TV teenage dramas I've watched, this one might just be my favorite...

8 - Rules of Engagement. Granted, it's been a while since I watched this one, but I remember liking it and thinking it was really funny. It's another one of those ones where I laughed out loud when watching it, and I don't often do that. Again, it's another one that's not so wholesome, the character played by David Spade is disgusting, but it is a comical way to waste time.

9 - In Plain Sight. I don't think that this is actually on Netflix, I believe I watched it on Hulu.com, but nonetheless, I highly recommend finding it because this one is a gem. And to my recollection, I think this show had a lot less crud than TV shows normally do these days. This TV drama follows US Marshall Mary Shannon, and her partner Marshall Marshall (that's actually his title, and last name... Marshall Marshall). They work in the witness protection program which was super interesting to me because there are a lot of who-done-it and crime shows, but I don't know of any others about the witness protection program. This, like the above mentioned Lie to Me keep you wondering when are the two main characters finally going to admit that they love each other??!?? I'm a sucker for best friends falling in love.

10 - Red Band Society. I just started this one recently and only watched the 5 episodes on the FOX NOW app of our Roku box, which are both awesome BTW, and I can't wait for the next one! I love the small community part of this show, how very different types of people with different situation are all put together via uncontrollable circumstances (for most of them). I'm excited to watch it all unfold. In the show they talk about how things that happen, would probably never happen in the real world. It reminded me of my experiences in Jerusalem and Alaska and how because it's a smaller and different kind of community, you get to know people you otherwise never would have gotten to know had you met them in what I like to refer to as "real life".

11 - House Hunters. This show leads me to believe that I'm meant to be a real estate agent. Why in the world do I like watching other people shop for houses so much? I'm as puzzled by it as you are. I actually love all of HGTV. I haven't watched every show they offer
11.5 - Living Alaska. Okay, fine. I admit it... I have a partial obsession for Alaska now. Alright, and maybe I only discovered this show the other day and I've not even watched a complete episode of it. Okay, you caught me. But it's a combination of two of my favorite things! House Hunters, and Alaska! How could I not like it? Now I just need to find a way to watch it online and I'm golden.

12 - Hart of Dixie. Love.
I'd be happy leaving it at that but I feel like ya'll won't believe me how great this show is, unless I give a bit more of an explanation. WHY DON'T WADE AND ZOE JUST GET MARRIED ALREADY??? Seriously. I LOVE them together. But they have the WORST timing. Almost as bad as every single dysfunctional relationship is gossip girl. But seriously, Zoe and Wade love each other so much. I just know it. I want to marry a Wade. Maybe not the exact Wade in the movie, because he does some jerk move things, but I love the love that he has for Zoe. You have to watch the whole series to get what I'm talking about. So do it. Netflix it right now. You won't be sorry.

13 - Parenthood. I admit, I haven't watched Parenthood since it started back up again, but I was in love with it for a while. I watched it with my sister and brother-in-law when they lived at my house which was super duper fun to do with them. I like this show because of the family aspect of it. And I love Amber. She's so funny to me for some reason. She's my favorite character.

14 - Modern Family. If you haven't watched this show before, you need to. Hi-lar-i-ous. Kills me. I think either Manny or Luke are my favorite character in this. Seriously, this is probably among my top fav. shows. Watch it.

15 - The Office. {Insert emoji with thumb and pointer fingers in a circle and the other three fingers up in the air here} Who doesn't love the office? Okay, I'm sure there are lots of people who don't, but those people are crazy. Either that or they haven't given it a real chance. I'm in love with Jim. Kay, that was an exaggeration, but he's pretty cool. And Dwight. There are no words. He's outrageous.

Honorable Mentions: Baby Daddy, What Not to Wear, Arthur, Melissa and Joey. All guilty pleasures.

Lemme GIVE you some advice

GooOOOOooOOoOOOOOOdnessssss.

I'm srsly lacking in da blogging department.

Why?
1) Laziness
2) Work has actually been work
3) Sometimes I get self conscious about people reading my thoughts

There are more reasons, but those three should suffice for now.


Now back to blogging.

The Giver.

Have you read it?

If you're a young adult who grew up in the state of Utah, your answer to the above question is most likely "Yes." (This could go for other states too though, but I don't really know, I never grew up in another state...) It's one of those books all kids read during their glorious Jr. High days.

If you were like me when you were a child (and now actually,) you don't always like doing things when other people tell you to do them.

Example?
Reading.

I actually love reading, even though I don't make much time for it.
But if people tell me I have to read something and that something like my grade depends on it, I'm immediately turned off to the idea, and often times don't really end up liking the book.

The same kind of thing happens when the parentals tell me I should clean my room. (I know, I'm still a child...)

Anywho, my point is...

If you haven't read The Giver, READ IT.
If you have read The Giver and didn't like it, READ IT AGAIN.
If you've read it and like it, CHEERS, ME TOO!

I know the movie is out and I'm DYING to see it, but haven't made it happen yet. Soon, though. (hopefully)


Thanks for reading my ramblings. Heaven knows we all need something to do to kill time.
I'm flattered you chose me over Netflix.


Cheers.

You Know You're a Guest Service Host in Alaska When...

1. Your main/only method of transportation is a bus.

2. You accidentally tell your parents on the phone to "Have a great evening."

3. It's warm if it's over 50 degrees outside.

4. Free shipping isn't actually free.

5. 5 dollar footlongs don't exist where you are.

6. You use vague words like "potenially" and "shortly".

7. You hardly ever have any idea what day it is.\

8. You call (insert day of the week here) "my friday".

9. You sometimes have two 'Fridays' in one week.

10. You can go over a week without having a 'Friday'.

11. You sometimes tell the time of day by the train horn.

12. It's a special day if it's not chicken for dinner.

13.Employee appreciation day means hot dogs for dinner.

14. You don't ask if you'll have potatoes for breakfast/lunch/dinner, you ask "In what form?".

15. You feel like you're best friends with people you've never met.

16. You talk with your hands a lot.

17. You consider age 50 to be 'young'.

19. A $10 burger is a pretty good deal.

20. You know someone everywhere you go.

21. You hear the same questions at least 10 times each day.

22. You wear a coat/jacket about 80% of the time.

23. You consider your co-workers family and might even refer to one of them as your "baby bother".

24. Things like Phone Rez, EDR, TWT and DNHT mean something to you.

25. A day consisting of a helicopter ride or rafting trip is normal.

Things I Miss Most:

1. My family. Especially my nieces and nephews. Each time I talk to them I get teary eyed just thinking about how much I wish I were there with them. Being here with them has helped me realized just how grateful I am for my incredible family.

2. My House and My Room. I mean, dorm style housing with hundreds of other people from all over every spectrum that has ever existed is fun, it honestly truly is, but I miss the comfort of my own home and being able to sleep in my own bed.

3. Sour Patch Kids. My fav candy. I didn't bring candy here thinking that if I just didn't have the option, I wouldn't meet it and I wouldn't miss it. Wrong. I crave them every day and I've had dreams about Sour Patch Kids. I dreamt that someone sent me Sour Patch Kids here in Alaska and that they'd made a chocolate flavor since I'd been gone.

4. Hi-Chews. I crave those too.

5. Netflix. I used to watch an episode of something every night before I went to sleep. The internet is terrible here, so now my routine no longer exists. (The plus side is that this gives me more time to read. I have not monopolized on this opportunity yet, but I plan to soon.)

Here are 5, but they're not the only things, I miss smooth roads and sidewalks to blade on too.

ALASKA!!!

That's right folks, I'm here.

Funny how now that I actually have interesting experiences to write about, I don't write at all.
I don't know why, but I'll try to work on that.

I know that all people often really care about are seeing pictures, so Imma give the people what they want.

Flying into Seattle, where I had a layover. I loved flying over the city, so pretty!

Flying into the Last Frontier

A cute house I saw on my morning stroll around Anchorage.

My cousin in law, Jaelyn, and I getting ready for our Argo ride through the tundra.

I love puppies!!!

This one just wanted to cuddle with me.

This one was my favorite!

SO CUTE!!!

We went on an ATV ride to dinner in a cabin out yonder and this was our driver.

I flew in that...

...to here.

I love FaceTiming with this girl!

A coo pic I took of my cousin, Paul.

Another coo pic I took of Paul. He should pay me.

Employee housing up here... just kidding.

Family Picture! I'm their little Sar-Bear.

A cool guy we saw at the train Depot with a braided beard.

The river in Talkeetna.

Coo shadow pic.

This isn't even a fraction of the pics I've taken but I was tired of adding them and I figured, I can't give ya'll all the good stuff all at once, can I?

I've Finished School for the Semester!!!

Now what adventure is up next?

ALASKA

That's for real. I'm outta here! I got a job in Alaska this summer working for Holland America Princess Cruises as a Guest Service Host in Denali. Although I'm not exactly sure what a guest service host does, I am sure that it is going to be a GREAT summer and that I'm going to have a LOT of fun.

These kids:

And both of these kids: 

And both of these kids:

He no longer has the beard, but I hope he grows it back in Alaska.

And also this kid:

And last, but not least, this boy:

(the one on the very left of the pic, the only boy...)

The last few are my cousins and their wives. I guess the Bradshaws are taking over Denali.

The first two are some pals from high school that are really good friends with the cousin pictured right above.(The other girl in the photo is not his wife, I just realized that I made it sound that way and I wanted to clarify.)

Here are some pics I stole from Google, of where I'm going to be.

Peace.

Blogstalking

Everybody does it.

Okay, maybe not everybody, but I do.

People I know, people I don't know, people who I know but who don't know me...

The good part about it is that from my endeavors blogstalking,

I get ideas of different posts to write.

I realized today, that I've never said much about me.

Maybe inadvertently (I had to google that word to make sure I was using it right...) through my posts,

but I've never written a post about me.

(At least, I don't think so...)

So here goes my peeps, here are a few facts about muah you may, or may not, know...

1. I'm superstitious. 

I'm not lying about that. No, I don't believe in fortune tellers or anything like that, but I was once told that if you drive over railroad tracks without lifting up your feet while touching metal, it was bad luck. I've done my very best to adhere to that advice ever since.

2. My favorite article of clothing is a pair of sweat pants.

Anyone who knew me in high school, or who has known me long enough, knows that I looooove love love love sweatpants. In high school I used to wear jeans to school, only when all of my sweatpants were dirty. If I thought I could wear sweatpants to college every day and still have friends and have a chance at catching me a husband, I would.

3. I have the cutest and best nieces and nephews in the entire world.

That's real. Just meet them, and you'll believe me. Honestly though, one of them told me that I'm his girlfriend and that he's going to love me even when he's a big kid and even when he's an adult. Who couldn't adore a group of people who make you feel that special? They all never cease to amaze me in SO many different ways. I'm incredible attached to and proud of each and every one of them.

(Oh, b.t.dubs, there are currently 16 of them with one on the way, and I wouldn't be too surprised if there were a few more announcements in the near future...)

4. I love movies, and television shows, but mostly I love Netflix.

Granted, they don't always have the highest quality films on there, but there are a plethora of television series in the Netflix universe. And Netflix actually has stepped up their game in the film department adding quality titles like Pocahontas, On the Line, and Hunger Games. I'm currently watching a T.V. show called "Lie to Me". If you haven't watched it, DO! It's fantastic.

5. I dread getting ready for bed.

It is the worst part of my day (except for the waking up and getting out of bed part). I am usually just so exhausted by the end of the day and greatly looking forward to laying under my fluffy white down comforter, closing my eyes, and letting dreams take me away. The getting ready for bed routine (especially the brushing teeth part) just takes up so much time and when it comes time for it, is the only thing standing between me and my slumber.


That's enough for today, can't reveal all my secrets at once!

<3 : Sar

What they don't tell you about college...

is that it's hard.


Okay, they tell you that all the time,

BUT...

 

they don't tell you why.

 

 

Maybe they do give you a reason or two but no one seems to understand it unless they're in it.

 

Even once they've gone through it, people don't remember the intensity of the frustration, the stress, the sleep depravity, the lack of motivation, the traumatization of paying tuition, the constant fatigue, the lack of motivation.

 

That last one's giving me a real run for my money right about now, big time.

 

In fact, I have an assignment due today, plus a draft of a final project I need to work on tonight that I should be working on right now...

 

We'll see how far I get, after this blog post of course.

 

What this post is meant to accomplish is to address a few of those things that make college hard and let you readers know about my experience, thoughts and opinions on the matters. In no ways am I an advice guru, but let's be real, I just don't want to do my homework.

 

 

First...

 

there's that trivial little matter of deciding what you want to study and which major to choose because that choice will determine which job you have for the rest of your life which will determine how happy you are which will determine how long you live...

 

You get the picture.

 

Well, I'm here to tell you something folks, all that blab in the paragraph up above? IT'S NONSENSE. Hear me out here...

 

When you're young, they tell you lots of things. That your major will determine your job, that you need to choose something that will look good on applications, that you need to know what you want to do when you start college and start studying whatever that something is as soon as you walk through the doors of your college or university on that first day.

 

I guess in some cases, those things are true, but all I can tell you is my experience and what my opinions are.

 

I've talked to people in the professional field before about what they look for in someone they hire and you wanna know what most of them have said about what degree they look for?

 

ANY.

 

Yup, you read that right. Any. Of course if you're going to be a doctor you've got to have a med. degree and lawyers obviously can't practice law without going to law school, but for the rest of us who don't really know what we want to do with the rest of our lives, I say...

 

DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO!!!

 

...and more specifically...

 

STUDY WHAT YOU WANT TO STUDY!!!

 

You don't have to do what anyone tells you to. If you're interested in art, then by all means, STUDY ART! If you think you'd be good at learning languages THEN TAKE CLASSES IN THAT! Find a major that has classes you WANT to take, because I promise you, college is hard enough when you're taking classes you're interested in, now add a [fill in the blank with a type of class you dread] class on top of that? SHEESH!

 

I guess what I'm saying is, you don't have to study what someone else tells you to or thinks you should. You can figure out how to use your major to help you get a job. Rather than spending countless hours finishing your chemistry homework or writing those blasted research papers, spend the time looking for internships/jobs/volunteer opportunities etc. in areas you're interested in to help you GET EXPERIECE and figure out what it is you want to do.

 

 

Second...

It's O.K. to fail.

 

What's that? I'm crazy?

 

Well let me say it again, and slower this time...

 

It is A.O.K. to fail.

Fail:

1. be unsuccessful in achieving one's goal.
2. neglect to do something.
3. a grade that is not high enough to pass an examination or test.

Type 'define fail' in your handy-dandy google search engine and that's what you'll find.

 

Anywhere in those definitions does it say "when you loose all worth" ? NO!

 

Just because you don't do well on a test, or an assignment, OR EVEN IF YOU FAIL A CLASS, that doesn't mean that you're worthless or that you've let yourself and everyone around you down, or that you should just quit trying.

 

Life exists so that we can make mistakes and so we can experience FAILURE along with SUCCESS.

 

Don't beat yourself if you don't do as well as you wanted or expected. Heck, don't even feel bad if you didn't try your best! You can't do "your best" at everything, that's physically, mentally, spiritually, and in every other way impossible. You've got to divide your time and effort between so many things in life and NOT JUST SCHOOL THINGS. You've got to make time for the other important things too, like exercise, family, friends, sleep, vegging... yes, even vegging.

 

I am a firm believer in the idea that vegging is important.

 

Vegging:

1. the act of sitting around and doing literally nothing, or maybe watching some Netflix.

You can't look that definition up anywhere, I made it up.

 

But seriously guys, TAKE TIME TO DO NOTHING.

 

Now when I say that do I mean that you should watch the whole first season of Vampire Diaries and write a huge long blog post instead of making that brochure that was due hours ago and starting on that encyclopedia proposal that's due on Thursday? Heavens no.

 

All I'm saying is that you've got to have balance.

 

And sometimes, homework doesn't necessarily need to be your first priority.

 

Figure out how to balance and prioritize your "to do" list, I promise it will make you happy.

 

 

Third...

 

One word,

 

CHOOSE.

 

 

CHOOSE your major.

 

CHOOSE your job.

 

CHOOSE your school.

 

CHOOSE your friends.

 

CHOOSE who you date.

 

CHOOSE what you spend your time doing.

 

CHOOSE what happens to you.

 

CHOOSE YOUR LIFE.

 

 

Don't just let life happen to you.

 

 

THIS JUST IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

You can make your life whatever you want it to be.

 

 

It's just a matter of CHOOSING.



 

 

 

 

Well...

that was fun.

 

I don't know if this blog post is what you expected it to be... or if it's what I expected it to be...

 

Heck, I don't even know what I expected it to be.

 

I just kinda blab my thoughts out on the keyboard.

 

And sorry, but I hate editing... yuck!

 

So there are probs a billion or so typos.

 

 

Until next time!







Sometimes I come through.

Here you are my peeps.

My girl Marti emailed me all the pics yesterday of our trip, so here are a few of the many, for your enjoyment...

*Disclaimer: There are lots of pics, but I loved them all too much to leave any of them out.
**2nd Disclaimer: A big thank you and shout out to Marti for taking all these pics on her phone, for sharing with them me, and for the artsy genius behind many, if not all, of these gems.

Marti and I. No, we didn't plan to do the exact same pose. It honestly just happened. #meanttobe



Then McKay hopped on! This is at the big rocking chair at the Chevron in Beaver, UT.
If you haven't visited there before, check it out!
A pic on this chair is something every human should have in their lifetime.



How many people can you fit on an oversized rocking chair?



We couldn't pass up a photo op with this studly Dino



We like chairs



We like friends



We like lots of friends on chairs



Is Kevin not a stud?



Of course we had to send a snap from the top.

Da Crew.
L to R: Chris Brown, Jenny, Mckay, Brent, Michael, Myself, Marti, Garrett, Kevin

"Angels" on "Angels" Landing.
Get it?

Everyone needs a hiking buddy.

Mah Gurl Marti

Look, Mom...

I made it!



Kevin and I in our Angel's gear enjoying our sandwiches. You can't tell, but Kev is also wearing an Angel's shirt.
He didn't plan it... (just kidding, he did)

Random girl we found on the trail... Not really sure what else to say about this...

Feeling Triumphant

Charlie's Angels... & McKay.

 

Alright, now this next sequence of pics, I couldn't resist adding them. This was at the end of our Angel's Landing hike, we decided to pay a visit to the river. Garrett asked Marti if she would go under the water if he did. She agreed but Garrett was a little too impatient for her to do it on her own, so, this is what happened...

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11



The Wet Ones

 

These puppies are gems.

 

 

Garrett had an accident...
This is a serious contender for "the best pic of the trip" award.

See that tiny person up high there? That's Garrett.

This guy is stellar. McKay earned his place as Marti & I's fav boy on the trip.
Mostly because he complained the least about our singing.
And because he cleaned up my sleeping bag for me.

Look how strong Marti & I are. We can even hold up huge rocks. If you ever need to be rescued, now you know who to call...

 

 

We saw this truck the first day of our trip and made sure we went back to get a pic with it.

The "Marti-Bomb"
A double patty cheese burger topped with bacon, chili, hot dog, and a fried egg.

Garrett eating the "Marti-Bomb". Notice him licking his lips with satisfaction.

Okay, I actually REALLY like this pic.

Garrett and Kev-Bot in a hole inside the cave.

 

 

The Way Home...

 

Brent

McKay

Myself

Aww... Cute sleepy kids.
This photo was not posed at all......