H is for Hilary

Super Bowl/Fun./OK GO

2012-02-07T09:48:00.000-08:00

The 2012 Super Bowl was pretty fun this year. Maybe after 28 years of immersion, football is finally growing on me (Stockholm Syndrome?) or maybe it is just that good company, great food, and interesting commercials made for a fun evening.

I don't' think the game could have ended better. I was torn because I wanted to root for the Giants but also went to high school with Danny Woodhead who plays for the Patriots. Luckily both teams wear basically the same colors so I felt like I was supporting both. Danny is smaller than me in every way except muscle mass so he definitely has a Rudy Ruuettiger quality about him. The Giants ended up winning with an intense last couple of minutes and Danny scored a touchdown. WIN, WIN! The only better outcome would have been a tie.
While I enjoyed the game, and Cassie was mostly patient with my many questions, I probably paid more attention to the commercials. My favorite this year was the Chevy Sonic commercial, although the H&M commercial wasn't so bad either ;) Fun concept, great song, and I googled it the next day. I would say that that is a successful commercial.

A few weeks ago I heard "We are Young" by Fun. and have listened to it a lot since so I was happy that it made its appearance

The commercial highlights the band OK GO's new music video but here is the official one.

I think this is such a creative idea, true of all OK GO music videos. They must have an engineer on their staff that plans all of these video concepts because I can't imagine trying to time everything just right.

2012's Resolute Resolutions

2012-01-19T09:25:00.000-08:00

“In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia.”

During my studies we often discussed the many elements of “wellness” and so when it comes time to evaluate my life and set goals for the upcoming year I like to look at the different elements and set goals in each area. Here are my 2012 goals, some of these may be a bit lofty but why not challenge myself?

Emotional
- Not allow the things I want to diminish the many wonderful things I have!

Social
- I will push myself to do one social activity a month and to do something new (skill, activity, adventure, trip, place, food, etc.) every month (some of you may laugh at this but this is one of the lofty ones I was referring to)

Physical
- Lose 25lbs by April (reevaluate and set a new physical goal for July, October, and end of the year)

Environmental
- Strive to keep my living space at a constant higher level of cleanliness (could I be more ambiguous?)

Occupational
- Be to work 4 days a week before 9am (this is a big one for me!)

Intellectual
- Read at least one book that is nonfiction and enlightening

Financial
- Become 100% debt free and stay that way for 3 months before making any large purchases

Spiritual
- I will pick one item from the following list to work on for a month that will help me grow spiritually
1. Put more thought into my personal prayers
2. Improve my attitude towards many of my ward members
3. Find someone outside of my home to serve
4. Focus on visiting teaching
5. Fast with a purpose and for inspiration
6. Go to the temple
7. Pick a topic and research it thoroughly using different church resources
8. Complete 30 indexing things
9. Be to church at least 5 minutes before the meeting starts
10. Talk to 1 person each Sunday that I don’t know
11. Read my Patriarchal Blessing once a week
12. Read “Jesus the Christ” by James E Talmage

Pretend Post

2011-03-03T13:54:00.000-08:00

I am not actually posting something, I just can't handle the fact that the leaves post has been on here for over 6 months. I fail at blogging!!!

Leaves

2010-06-23T12:53:00.001-07:00

I love trees and we have a lot at the house (the back yard is pretty enclosed) which means LEAVES. Last fall dad and Koda did a lot of raking and gathering as you can see

House (one of many posts I should have done a long time ago)

2010-06-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

This is the house last October, we haven't changed much outside other than plants and yard work.

Here is the back yard (you can see the back of the garage on the right) before some much needed care. We are working on reviving the grass this summer and taming the bushes. This is one of my favorite parts of the house. Cassie, Jen, and I spend as much time out here as we can.

*Stay tuned for the before interior pictures!

Hilary + Sports = Scooter?!?!?

2010-03-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

You may know that I do not follow any sports. The only team I really care about is Nebraska and I will sometimes attend a football party but a book is usually in hand within 15 minutes of kickoff. But when March rolls around each year I get oddly attached to the NCAA tournament. Don't get me wrong I don't actually watch all of the games (that is crazy talk) but I will usually check the scores and sometimes even watch the last quarter. Here is my 2010 bracket (sorry it is hard to read)

I think the reason I actually care about March Madness is the opportunity to win this little lady

The winner of the Nu Skin bracket gets to take her home and I think I could rock the scooter look. Wish me luck!

Spring is Coming!!!

2010-03-09T09:37:00.000-08:00

It is that time of year (almost) when everything turns green again and I am excited!!! Don't get me wrong, I love winter and have enjoyed it but I also love the changing of seasons. This is what my flower beds are looking like right now (not my actual flower beds) and I can't wait until more flowers are blooming.

I keep reminding myself that it is going to take a few years to make my yard look like it does in my head but I am excited to work on it.

Bones Christmas Episode December 10 (SISTERS!!!)

2009-11-16T10:33:00.001-08:00

Fist of all, I am a really big fan of Zooey Deschanel (Elf, Failure to Launch, (500) Days of Summer). I think she is a wonderful actress and singer.

Second, I love the television series Bones. I love the characters and the actors and pretty much it is wonderful. But I especially love the relationship between Booth and Bones (main characters) and think the actors do a wonderful job.

Well...I was trying to see who sings the Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas from the Christmas episode from season one of Bones (tears come to my eyes as soon as the song starts). And as I typed in my search engine "bones season 1 have yourself a merry little christmas" a wonderful surprise link came up titled Have yourself a merry little Christmas with the Deschanel sisters. My curiosity was peeked so I clicked on the link to see this

SISTERS!!! I love both of these actresses and was wonderfully surprised to find out they are sisters. I don't know why I didn't see it before, they both have a very unique and similar look. That discovery was enough to make my day but the article informed me that Zooey will be appearing on the Christmas episode of Bones on Dec 10th, now that makes my week WOOHOO!! I can't wait until then and I am keeping my fingers crossed that as an early Christmas present the writers of Bones will let Booth and Bones confess their love for each other and make my month (a girl can hope).

PS Sheri, the artist of that version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas is Tori Amos. Now added to my Christmas playlist above!!

Well I am nothing if not consistent...

2009-11-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

THOUGHTS LATELY

1. I have no problem addmitting the truth, I am a terrible blogger. I just can't possibly see what people would find interesting about my very routine life (although I find all of your blogs very interesting/entertaining).

2. I will have a blog soon about the house. I need to get the before pictures posted so that the effect of the after pictures are greater.

3. I have been thinking about my friends lately, I have wonderful friends (yes you) and sometimes I can't get past how lucky I am. Thank you for your impact on my life each and every one of you.

4. IT IS CHRISTMAS SEASON. Best time of the year (there is even a song confirming it) ;)

5. My mom sent this to me and my sisters and at first I just laughed and rolled my eyes becuase it is so my mother. But then lets be honest I totally teared up. I thought you might appriciate it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8FdW0diox4 I don't know how to put a video on here.

Making up for lost time (or blogs)

2009-04-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

I stole this from Marie who stole it from some one else.

The BBC believes most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here. How do your reading habits stack up? Look at the list and put an 'x' after those you have read.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen ( )
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien ( )
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte ( )
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling (x)
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (x) one of my favorites
6 The Bible - (x)
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte ( )
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell ( )
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman ( )
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens ( )
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott ( )
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy ( )
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller ( )
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare ( ) not all of them
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier ( )
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien ( )
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk ( )
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger (x)
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger (x)
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot ()
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell ( )
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald (x)
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens ( )
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy ( )
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams ( )
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh ( )
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky ( )
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck ( )
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll ( )
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame ( )
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy ( )
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens ( )
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis ( ) I need to, I know
34 Emma - Jane Austen ( ) I have tried about 6 times and I just can't get into it.
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen ( )
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis ( )
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini - (x)
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres ( )
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden ( )
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne ( )
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell ( )
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (x)
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez ( )
44 A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving (x)
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins ( )
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery ( )
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy ()
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood (x)
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding (x)
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan ( )
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel ( ) I have this one at my house right now
52 Dune - Frank Herbert ( )
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons ( )
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen ( )
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth ( )
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon ( )
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens ( )
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley ( )
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime-Mark Haddon (x)
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez ( )
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck ( )
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov ( )
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt ( )
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold ( )
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas ( )
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac ( )
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy ( )
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding ( )
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie ( )
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville (x)
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens (x)
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker ( )
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett (x)
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson ( )
75 Ulysses - James Joyce ( )
76 The Inferno - Dante ( )
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome ( )
78 Germinal - Emile Zola ( )
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray ( )
80 Possession - AS Byatt ( )
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens ( ) Does that children's book Mickey Mouse version count?
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell ( )
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker (x)
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro ( )
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert ( )
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry ( )
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White ( )
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom (x)
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (x) I have read some of them but I don't remember which
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton ( )
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad ( )
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery ( )
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks ( )
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams ( )
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole ( )
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute ( )
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas ( )
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare (x)
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl ( )
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo ( )

I love to read but apparently not what I should be reading with only 19 out of the 100. I will have to add these to books I need to read.

BEEHIVE BAZAAR!!!

2009-04-02T07:56:00.001-07:00

I have been going to the Beehive Bazaar for the last couple of years and I always find many many things that I love. It is a smorgasbord of wonderful unique items all by local artists/crafters. I think every time I have gone I come home with jelly, a hair accessory, a pair of earrings, some other random item, and lots of business cards. I would recommend everyone goes!

Music and Beatles LOVE Show!!

2009-03-30T12:59:00.000-07:00

I have added some new music to the player! I hope you enjoy.

So I have been trying to decide what to blog about for a while now. Since I hadn't posted anything for a long time I felt like when I did come back it needed to be something awesome. Then I realized I hadn't said anything on here about the Cirque du Soleil Beatles Love show I went to in February, which is really sad because I LOVED it!!!

I went to Vegas to watch Cassie's tennis tournament and decided that while I was in Vegas I needed to see a show. I love the Beatles and I had watched a few documentaries on this show and have been wanting to see it. Luckily Cassie also wanted to see it so I didn't have to go alone ;)

The performance is in the Love Theatre in the Mirage and they have made everything look amazing. Everyone is dressed up in British/Beatles outfits and the lobby and gift shop look awesome. Here are a few pictures of Cassie and I before we went into the show.

We then went and settled into our wonderful seats. With this Theatre the stage is in the center and the audience is then all the way around the stage. This made it so that you see everything and every seat in the house is a good seat just a different perspective. I look forward to watching it from a different perspective.

When we were waiting for the show to start I was a little disappointed because the stage looked so small and I had some pretty large expectations for the show and didn't think that it was going to live up to them. Boy was I wrong!! I think the stage itself was one of the best aspects of the performance. With each number the stage completely changed and some would rise up and make it larger and multilevel or some would go down (I can only assume that it has to go really far down because people are jumping down into it and you can't see where they go) I really wish I could have taken some pictures but I know they wouldn't have done it justice and I my camera would have been confiscated.

All of the performers were amazing and they had small children up to what appeared to be pretty old performers. There were screens all along the wall above the audience and this would have some video playing. There were also some fabric separators between the sections of the stage and these would be lowered or dropped so that video could also be played on them. The acrobatics were awesome. All of the costumes were all really amazing and they went all out with some of them. They did a really good job of making each peace of music come alive. Each seat also has individual speakers so the music itself was wonderful but also it was nice that each person was hearing the same thing.

I don't want to give it all away so I would recommend that if you are looking for a good show in Vegas this is good or all ages. I look forward to going as many times as I can! Here are a few more pictures from the evening.

Cassie really wanted this shirt until she saw the price and then I think she wanted it even more!

Ghost Town

2009-01-15T10:51:00.000-08:00

I had received the movie Ghost Town from Netflix and I wasn't really in the mood to watch it but there wasn't anything on last night and I had busy work to do and needed something to watch while I was productive so I finally decided I would just watch it. I LOVED IT!! I laughed out loud multiple times, I cried multiple times, and a few times I was doing both at the same time. There were a few times I would have probably been uncomfortable if my mother would have been sitting next to me but since I was by myself I laughed all the louder. And I now have a crush on a 47 year old British man (Ricky Gervais), haha. Also, the music was wonderful (you really cant go wrong with an awesome John Mayer song during a really important scene, lets be honest) and I plan to purchase the soundtrack.

Time For Change

2008-12-31T11:29:00.000-08:00

I hate change, it just never seems to be for the better but as 2009 approaches I feel I need to reevaluate my life and make some serious changes! I don't love the idea but nevertheless it needs to be done. I am going to try and put a lot of thought into my resolutions this year but I have already decided a couple of things and think I had better share. First, I need to move. I have really liked my apartment and my ward but it is time, I have had mostly really good roommates in this apartment but it only takes one for me to take drastic measures (moving my large amount of belongings to a new home). I have made some wonderful friends in my ward but this semester just hasn't quite felt right and I don't know why really. I am looking for something a little more homey, so not an apartment, hopefully a home ;) Second, I have been lazy long enough I am need to be working on going back to school. Yesterday I signed up for an independent study course through Weber for a ridiculously large amount of money. RIDICULOUSLY LARGE! but if it gets me where I need to be I guess it will be worth it, right? Third, ... Fourth, ... Fifth, ... Sixth, ... Seventh, ... Eighth, ... Ninth, ... Tenth, ... and so and so forth TBD!!! One of those resolutions will include being a better blogger!!!!!

Seasonal Music

2008-11-06T15:23:00.000-08:00

I LOVE Christmas music, or as I prefer seasonal music, as I mentioned yesterday and I just wanted to share some with you. I have put up a new music player that has a variety of different songs of the season, I wouldn't say these are my favorites but I feel like they are a good portrayal of my music tastes this season. I love everything from traditional, alternative, commercial, instrumental, etc. I hope you will take a minute to listen and enjoy.

Most Wonderful Time of the YEAR!!!

2008-11-04T10:52:00.001-08:00

Twelve of the reasons I love the months of November and December!!!

First, there is snow and I have been assured by the weather man that today I will see the first flakes of the season!

Second, there is Thanksgiving and who doesn't love to eat and hang out with loved ones!
Third, everyone is more thoughtful this time of year!
Fourth, everything is more beautiful, little white lights make the world look better!
Fifth, you are given the opportunity to really think about what could make people happy, this is why I love presents and do not think of them as commercial at all! You don't have to spend tons of money, you just have to put some thought into what would make that person smile. I have had my list of gifts to give made for over a month now I love when I am able to pull it out and add a gift that has come to mind for someone. Keeps family and friends in my thoughts!Sixth, most everyone takes the time to think about what is important to them. This reflection puts life back into perspective.

Seventh, decorating for Christmas. This is one of my favorite things in the world to do!

Eighth, seeing family twice in almost the space of one month where usually it takes around 4-5 months to see those that aren't close!

Ninth, CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!! I love it, in all varieties, and this year I plan to spread the joy ;)

Tenth, celebrating Christ's, Payton's and my birthdays and soon Rolene's little boy's birthday. All of these fall into these two months!!

Eleventh, going home to NEBRASKA!!! No place in the world can feel like being home!
Twelfth, CHRISTMAS and everything else that encompasses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you share the joy of the season with me and have a wonderful November and December!!

Voting!

2008-11-04T10:44:00.000-08:00

I just voted and I am really glad I did but I wish I could have studied things out a little more before I made things official. I was also randomly selected to fill out an exit poll that I thought was really interesting. It had less to do with how I voted and more to do with my feelings about things, it made me think things over and I was grateful for the opportunity, thank you random selection!

PS I hope whoever is chosen to lead this country will put aside personal opinions and agendas and make decisions based on the overall well being/future of our country, fingers crossed!

Quote

2008-09-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of reading "Eragon" by Christopher Paolini and I came across a quote that I like. They are the words of guidence from a father to his sons. "I have words for both of you. It's time I said them, as you are entering the world. Heed them and they will serve you well. First, let no one rule your mind or body. Take special care that your thoughts remain unfettered. One may be a free man and yet be bound tighter than a slave. Give men your ear, but not your heart. Show respect for those in power, but don't follow them blindly. Judge with logic and reason, but comment not. Consider none your superior, whatever their rank or station in life. Treat all fairly or they will seek revenge. Be careful with your money. Hold fast to your beliefs and others will listen. Of the affairs of love...my only advice is to be honest. That's your most powerful tool to unlock a heart or gain forgiveness." I just thought that I would share!

You are what you listen to...

2008-08-26T10:23:00.000-07:00

I also don't really like doing these things but it was fun to read others so I figured it would be interesting to do that same for others. ENJOY!!!

1. Put Your iTunes/music player/cd player/radio on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER WHAT!!! After you've answered all of the questions, tag three other people to do the tag themselves!

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Be Here Now, by Ray LaMontagne, I guess if you listen to the words it could apply (good song)

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?

Empty, by Ray LaMontagne, SAD!!! I don't' think I like this game

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?

No One, by Alicia Keys, I guess this works lyrically for how I would like to feel about someone and have someone feel about me

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

One Fine Wire, by Colbie Caillat, I didn't know that is how I felt! I guess I am "juggling all the thoughts in my head"...

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?

Lesson Learned, by Ray LaMontagne, this kind of works I do hope that I have many experiences and learn from them, hopefully not the lessons in the song ;)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?

Love on the Rocks, by Sara Bareilles, I need to listen to happier songs

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

Paradise, by Ana Sarrano van der Laan, ummm...?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?

On a Slow Boat to China, by Renee Olstead, not so much

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT FREQUENTLY?

The New Love Song, by Joshua James, I wouldn't say frequently

WHAT IS 2+2?

Mercy, by Duffy, I don't even know what to say about that (I really liked the routine done to this song on So you think you can dance with Katy and Twitch)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?

Dangerous, by Kardinal Offishall (feat. Akon), watch out boys my best friends are dangerous!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Comfortable, John Mayer, AAWWW, TRUE!!

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

Do What I Can, by Greg Laswell, haha this is true

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Amazed, by Greg Laswell, sorry I only have a shuffle so there isn't a ton of artists on it, but I would like to be amazed when I grow up.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Back to You, by John Mayer, WOW this game is kind of freaking me out, "back to you, it always comes around back to you, I try to forget you, I try to stay away, but it is too late, Over you, im never over you, there is something about you, it is just the way you move, the way you move me" 8-l

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

Can't Find the Words, by Karina I think this was a free download but I am glad I got it just so that it could come up for this question.

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?

A Love that will Last, by Renee Olstead, noted I will now play this at my wedding, I am glad this one came up instead of many others that could have.

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

Many the Miles, by Sara Bareilles, I guess this could fit

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

Something Pretty, by Patrick Park, I do like pretty things

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

Can't get it Right Today, by Joe Purdy, apparently my bigest secret is inadaquacy issues and giving up, interesting

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Where does the Good Go, by Tegan and Sara, I promise I like my friends and I think they are good people maybe I am sad that many of them are far away?

This was really interesting and kind of scary! I am going to listen to happier songs so that if this survey comes again I will have better results ;)

I now tag...Lauren, Rolene, and Jen Hsu to do this freaky little questionaire!

Busy, but fun times!

2008-08-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

So I haven't been able to blog for a while because life has been busy but it has been a very good busy. Last week I spent most of the week with my entire family and I was constantly reminded of how much I love them and love hanging out with them. We went camping/boating last weekend and then spent some time getting Cassie ready to start at UVU (yay!). We also took family pictures since there have been 3 additions to the family since the last ones were taken. There was a lot of fun and laughter and here are some pictures from the week.

Dark Knight

2008-07-29T15:57:00.000-07:00

I would HIGHLY recommend "The Dark Knight" to everyone over the age of 18 ;)
I LOVED this movie as does everyone I have talked to that has seen it who didn't get so freaked out by it they had to leave the theatre. I seriously think this is the best movie I have seen in a long time. Heath did an amazing job of making the Joker probably the creepies he could be! If you haven't seen it you should but prepare yourself for some creepiness.

The John Mayer Concert was AMAZING!!

2008-07-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

I seriously LOVED this concert!. I went with some friends and some strangers.Our seats were awesome!

I was in like the 8th row and I am pretty sure John Mayer looked at me directly a few times. I don't think I can sit any farther away for a John Concert ever again, but it was completely worth it!

John had two opening performers Brett Dennen

Who I didn't know I knew until I was there. I like his music, he is an interesting character and has a very unique sound.

The other opener was Colbie Caillat

I thought she was good live and it was fun to have an opening performer that I could sing along with but most of the time I was looking at one of her band members that is very attractive, I took many pictures of him (more than Colbie)
And then there was the main attraction, John Clayton Mayer, I! I took a lot of pictures but here are some of my favorites, ENJOY!

I would recomend that if you are a John Mayer fan you go to AT LEAST one concert. I plan to go whenever he is close, and maybe when he isn't close ;)

Today is the Day!

2008-07-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

In a few short hours I will be taking my seat at the John Mayer Concert! I am really excited! This is the first concert that I have been to that is someone I have followed for a long time and I am excited. In the next month or so I will also be going to Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews Band, both of which I have also followed for years. These three musicians have been my favorites for years and I am glad I will finally get to see them all live! Pictures will be posted shortly!

John Mayer Concert

2008-07-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce that one week from now I should be entering the John Mayer Concert!!!

If only....

2008-07-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

I was reading John Mayers blog (concert in 13 days and 3 hours) which I try to make a point of doing every once in a while. I end up reading for like an hour to get caught up and am always reminded of why I not only love his music but him as a person! Anyway John Mayer thinks about things! I don't know if that is what makes him a great artist or if being an artist gives him the opportunity to think about life but I love it. It made me wonder is everyone is like this and we just don't know how to express ourselves the way John can or is it a characteristic just like social awkwardism (probably not a word but should be).

My mother called me yesterday, she must have caught the "are my daughters ever going to get married" bug that I think all mothers (well at least most LDS mothers) who have unmarried children over age 23 get periodically (especially one with two daughters who are in the mid to upper twenties and aren't even close), anyway she called and asked if I pray to get married like she prays for, to which I laughed out loud and promised her that I hope I get married one day as much, if not more, than she does. Well after reading John Mayer's blog I have decided I need to find an accessible John Mayer (I have known this for a long time but was strongly reminded today). Once I have found that I am sold. By this I mean someone who is considerate, has great taste, good looking, talented, thinks about things, good humor, and many other great qualities, but doesn't have millions of girls who would love to fall in love with him. It would also help not to have Jennifer Aniston standing in my way, just a little.

Books

2008-04-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple of months I have been on a reading kick. I LOVE to read and since everyone has school I figure this is my education, I know I need to read slighly more educating books for that to really work in my benefit but I don't love non-fiction. You should also know that as much as I cry in movies, which you know is a good amount, I cry 10 times as much when reading books and usually not just a tear here and there but really messy, kleenex all over, can hardly breath crying. My poor roommate came to ask me a question a few weeks ago and I was in the middle of a particularly messy crying moment and she was a little worried, all she said was "sad book?" Here are my most recent reads...

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close--My friend and fellow reader, Jodi, lent me this book. I really liked it, it was a little different but most wonderful books are. I plan to read Everything is Illuminated also by this author.

Water for Elephants--I enjoyed reading this book but I don't think I liked it as much as everyone else seemes to. It was a good read though. Also lent to me by Jodi (I think)

Amsterdam--I didn't really like this book, it was good enough to finish but only barely for me. I prefer more character interaction and for me it was a vary blah ending. I read this becuase I wanted to read Atonement by him and it wasn't available. I now have Atonetment and I don't know that I want to read it because I have heard it is similiar.

Flowers for Algernon--I liked this book. It was a little difficult for me becuase I was constantly moving between love, admiration, heartfelt concern and annoyance, anger, frustration for the main character. I think I was supposed to feel that way but it was a little much at times.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter--I liked this book. It was frustrating becuase it seemed so much easier to just be honest than to continue keeping a HUGE secret. It was interesting to see how one decision can literally change the rest of your life.

The Secret Life of Bees--I really liked this book. I loved the characters in this book, especially May. I think I have a little May in me and I need a whaling wall. I also loved Rosaleen and May's relationship. I would recomend this book.

The Handmaid and the Carpenter--I thought this was a really interesting book. I didn't realize what it was about until I started reading. It is the Mary/Joseph story from their perspective and a different look at their emotions. I liked it but I don't know if others will becuase I just took it as fiction, just an interesting perspective but others might take it a little too seriously.

Deception Point--I liked this book and I think all of Dan Brown's books are good reads but it isn't Da Vinci Code and definitely not Angels and Demons for sure, but I did like it better than Digital Fortress. Similar to his other books as far as characters and plot goes.

A Thousand Splendid Suns--I liked this book but I didn't think it was as good as Kite Runner. This author doesn't tip toe around the difficult topics though and after words I always feel like I need to read something light.

We are all Welcome Here--I enjoyed this book but it wasn't overly deep and it was a really quick read.

The Secret Life of a Wallflower--I finished this book last night and I lreally liked it. It is written as letters from a teenager to someone but we don't know who. I cried hard at points. The main character is lovable but a little different in that I wondered a couple of times if he had very slight mental disability and for sure some social ones. I was thinking autism but could just be that odd kid you went to school with.

I enjoyed the majority of these books but I didn't feel overly impacted by them. I am really craving that book that I just love!! I think I might venture to read one of the Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe books or possibly one of Jane Austen's books neither of which I have ever ventured to read. If any of you have suggestions let me know.

Gardening

2008-04-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

So, as many of you know deep in my heart I am actually more like 50 years old than 24. One of the many reasons is I love to grow things. Sadly I am stuck in the part of my life where I don't have my own home or a yard of any sorts, stupid apartment complex. Luckily I have nice friends, thanks Amy and Phil, who allow me to pretend that their yard is mine. I doubt they realized what they were getting themselves into. SO I will be showing you the progress of the garden via blog. Here is the garden before anything has been done

Last year I put the garden in pretty late and although I did enjoy it I just didn't get to enjoy it enough, NOT THIS YEAR! On Saturday I tilled the garden with my brothers pretend tiller. It is actually an attachment that he changes to on his edger. So instead of pushing something you have to hold it and move back and forth, which it much more difficult. I woke up yesterday and my back feels it is 50 years old, ouch.

To aid in my gardening planning I made a fun purchase last week and hopefully it arrives soon.

I hope you look forward to many garden post to come.

Connections

2008-04-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

So you know how they say that everyone is connected somehow well today I had an experience like that.

A while back I was at the wonderful Joshua Radin and Ingrid Michaelson concert and Joshua brought a local singer/songwriter up on the stage by the name of Joshua James to perform a song with him. During the performance I mentioned to Jodi that the local guy looked a lot like the guy who lives across the street from me.
The guy who lives across the street is the same guy I studied for Anatomy with once and his wife. He was pretty quiet but his wife was really nice and friendly.
Today I was looking at a friend’s facebook from back home and there is the same guy who lives across the street, performed with Joshua Radin, and I studied with him and his wife. My friend is dating his sister
And last of all I go to his website to find pictures confirm all of these things and come to find out he is from Nebraska!

This is a crazy world I live in!! To top it all off he happens to be good which is an added bonus. I bought his shirt because I like him and It has Nebraska on it, double positive!

Architecture, kind of wish I would have studied that, tear...

2008-03-31T15:16:00.000-07:00

I LOVE a lot of the architecture in Provo, especially the older homes. SO I drove around on Saturday so that I could share a few of the MANY that are easy to find if you just look around. Here are some that mostly are around University Avenue and Center Street in Provo.

Sadly this is where I live, not much personality

Isn't this house just cute

Is it weird to really like a mortuary?
This house is in my ward and I think it is darling. If I find out someone is moving out I am going to try to move in.
They recently painted this house, the colors aren't my favorite but I like the house and it did need a coat of paint
This is just a BEAUTIFUL building outside and in
I like this building (minus the neon sign in the window)

I call this the Greek house, I think it is fun. There are a few if them in Provo like this, it must have been a fad Cute Cottage
This is the house I want to live in with my family
unless I can live in this one
My favorite place in Provo
I think downtown Provo is pretty, they are going to be putting up some tall buildings though so I hope that doesn't take away from it
I don't really recommend taking pictures while driving down University avenue but again downtown
I call this the English house another style that you see every once in a while in Provo, cozy is the word that comes to mind
I think this house is pretty and almost makes me think of the Father of the Bride house (the home of my childhood fantasies) a friend said it was better before they remodeled it
just a cool house

This is Jodi's house. This picture doesn't do it justice, AT ALL, it is HUGE, has a ton of personality, and surrounded by big old trees
I feel like this house needs me, it is kind of plain at first glance but oh the possibilities
Hard to see because of the driver next to me but a very pretty building
I have actually been in this house and it is crazy inside! I don't even know how to describe it but it may have too much personality. It has this awesome attic/apartment that some guys from a previous ward occupied but it was really fun to try and figure out the reasons for some things. Again CRAZY HOUSE, LOVE IT!
Simple and classy, I really like brick

I love to drive around and look at homes and buildings. I used to take Shawna for car rides, she is like a puppy that way, and the newer areas made us car sick with all the crazy roads. Newer never is as nice as the old

Awkwardness

2008-03-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

You know how everyone has that really awkward stage in their life, I realized I am almost in the middle of year 24 of that stage. I actually think this started at around age 6 (the year Cassie was born, interesting) so technically I am in year 18, but anyway. For some reason lately I have been remembering really embarrassing/awkward things from my past. I figured I should share for some reason.

For a good portion of freshman year in high school I wore a stopwatch around my neck at all times. When I say at all times I mean literally at all times, I wore it all during school, at home, to other peoples houses, I even slept with it on. Why a stop watch you may say, as do I, but the reason is that I was the coolest volleyball student manager there ever was. I promise that is cooler than is sounds.

While other people go to sports camps, I took a slightly different path. I went to sewing camp, yeah you read that right. I wasn't young either, I have been trying to remember when this was and my best estimate is around age 15 +/- a year. I went to Lincoln, Nebraska and attended the camp for like 4 days and stayed in the dorms at UNL.

When other people have home videos of cute childhood times I have home videos of being absolutely positively majorly annoying. I get really uncomfortable whenever someone decided it would be fun to watch home videos. Last time we watched them we viewed one of my finer moments where I am at Cassie's first or second birthday party and I spend my time telling Cassie what to do, even then she wanted me to leave her alone, opening her presents, and my favorite is when I get so annoying a family friend gets annoyed enough to tell me to stop and his mother has to tel him to be quiet, fun times. After a couple of uncomfortable minutes it is over and my sister-in-law just said "Wow Hilary..." I think we were given siblings-in-law so that there are people in our lives that didn't know us as children.

So, why is it that my really awkward moments have been coming to mind lately? I don't know!!! I think I had blocked these instances out of my mind until the last week or so. PS I didn't even include my being peed on story I will save that for a more comical day.

Nieces and Nephew

2008-03-17T13:07:00.001-07:00

I need to forewarn everyone, I will often be discussing how wonderful all of my nieces and nephew are in my blog. This weekend I watched my 10 month old niece Bailey while her sister and mom went to Disney on Ice. I love this age because their personalities are really starting to show. SO...we had a photo shoot and here are some of the MANY pictures.

Bailey is trying to figure out what I am doing

Reaching for the camera.

Having some fun!

Getting a bit tired. Bailey likes to suck her thumb and cover her face when she is tired, it is really cute.

Now to be fair here are the other nieces and the lone nephew.

Payton, Bailey, and I at Bailey's blessing

Payton loves to dance

Sisters!

The Twins (Tanna & Koda)

They all keep things exciting! I find myself wondering what my family did for entertainment before there were any kids. I am lucky I am able to spend time with them, I usually watch one of the sets a week. I plan to be the favorite and I think I can pull it off because I am the only one in our family that is close and I plan to continue spoiling them (another part of my life I will be putting money into once I am out of debt).

It's Official...

2008-03-14T15:17:00.000-07:00

I have been convinced to start a blog and see how it goes. So there are a few things I think people should know before this whole thing begins.

1) I am from NEBRASKA and I love it there. I am not from the ultra cool places in NE like Lincoln/Omaha so no I probably don't know the one other person you once met from Nebraska. I am from central NE, North Platte to be exact, and by Nebraska standards it is a pretty large city but by all other states standards it is apparently small (NPs population is less than the number of students enrolled at BYU)

2) Which brings me to my next point, although not all of the students at BYU are LDS (this is short for being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which I shall never type out again) I fall into the majority of students who are.

3) I really can't spell! Which is odd since I love to read and you would think I would have absorbed some spelling abilities but it isn't so

4) I have never wanted to have an exotic career, even as a young child, I never wanted to be anything especially cool (like an astronaut or president of the United States) I would say the careers that stuck in my mind the longest are a mother (that one is still on the list), a librarian (secretly on the list), an assistant (living that dream), a wife (still have my fingers crossed), a criminologist (I love crime television), a math teacher(statistics ruined this dream), a veterinarian (for some reason I thought I would be able to handle giving a shot to an animal better than I can a human, I think it is the fur), and a radiographer(still working on this one).

5) I fear that I am not exciting enough to have a blog

6) Although I love doing fun things I am perfectly content staying home and reading a book (this makes my mother worry)

7) I love to have discussions. If I am going to be with people I prefer a group of 3-5 where we just sit and talk about life.

8) Once I have paid off my debts from school I am going to buy really cool stuff that will probably serve no other purpose but to entertain me.

9) I like to pretend to be organized. My love to use sticky notes and I only use the super sticky kind, if you are still using the regular ones let me tell you super sticky will change your life. Here is a picture of the hidden wall of sticky notes by my desk. The other picture is of the note a friend wrote to mock the notes I always leave at my desk if I am away.

10) My name is Hilary because it is cool, Jan after my grandma's Janice (mom's mom), and Marshall because that is the name of my people.

Although there are so many other things you should know about me I am leaving it at this so that I can retain some mystery and keep you coming back for more.