Good. Better. Best.

I had a friend who taught me a great quote..."Good, better, best. Never let it rest, until the good is better, and the better is the best." (Neil A. Maxwell)

I've had a lot on my mind the past few days.
I've cried a lot.
I've thought a lot about my life.
I've pondered what I am doing in my life. Am I doing good? Am I being the best woman I can be?
I've lost a sweet great-grandmother this weekend. One of my friends also lost his brother this weekend. And with so much death and passing occuring around me, I've thought a lot about who I am. And I've also realized how much I take my life for granted.

Life is fragile. Life is so short. Life is so unpredictable. Life is hard. Life is not fair. Life is blissful. Life is depressing. Life is wonderful. Life is a gift. Life is a blessing. Life is sweet. Life is bitter. Life is life.

I am so grateful for my life, especially more-so as I've had a wake-up call to how fragile life really is. This past weekend was spent in reflection on what I can be doing to be a better woman. I have a huge list to work on, but I just know that no matter what happens in this life, that I am blessed. I have been given so much. I have been surrounded by nothing but wonderful things. I have an INCREDIBLE family. My parents are the GREATEST people in the entire world. I love my father. I love my mother. I am so blessed to be their child. Without them, my world would be empty. I have the best siblings. I have the best friends. I have the best grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I am so blessed.

SO BLESSED.

I am also so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I just wanted to express how much peace I feel as I strive to surround myself with light. With things that bring me peace. I am so blessed to have my faith, my religion, my scriptures, my beliefs and standards.

I know I am rambling on, but it makes me feel better to get my feelings down. And typing it all just allows my thoughts and feelings to flow so much better.

Life is good. Like the John Mayer song says,

"Pain throws your heart to the ground. Love turns the whole thing around. No it won't all go the way, it should, but I know the HEART OF LIFE IS GOOD"

Life is good. Make each day count. "Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery. Today a gift, that is why it's called the present"

dear John

I went to this movie on Friday evening...LOVED it. HATED it. But most of all, I LOVE the soundtrack!

This CD is clearly an awesome buy! Seriously, I recommend it to all!
1 - "Paperweight" by Joshua Radin & Schuyler
2 - "The Moon" by The Swell Season
3 - "Amber" by 311
4 - "Excelsior Lady" by The Donkeys
5 - "Things & Time" by Wailing Souls
6 - "Little House" by Amanda Seyfried
7 - "This is the Thing" by Fink
8 - "Think of Me" by Rosi Golan
9 - "You Take My Troubles Away" by Rachael Yamagata
10 - "Dear John Theme" by Deborah Lurie

Seriously, such a great album. I'm officially obsessed and have been listening ALL WEEKEND LONG!!!! la la la go see Dear John, in theaters now! (:

domestic

Yup!
I sure am! I'm a domestic lady! I'm a catch! I love to bake treats (but thats about it...unless I make tacos or something)
but whatever...grandma Brown gave me a fun Valentine's day cupcake kit and I put it to good use on Saturday afternoon. I was sick of studying teeth, so I took a break and this is what happened...an awesome concoction of pastry goodness!
HAPPY Pre-VALENTINES DAY!

Realist

–noun 1. a person who tends to view or represent things as they really are.
2. an artist or a writer whose work is characterized by realism.
3. Philosophy. an adherent of realism.

–adjective 4. of or pertaining to realism or to a person who embodies its principles or practices: the realist approach to social ills; realist paintings.

I've had my eyes opened to this idea of being a realist. I've always considered myself pretty accepting of others of ideals or others opinions, other cultures, etc. But recently my eyes have been opened to how truly beautiful the world we live in is. Yes, not everyone agrees with my ideas. Not everyone shares in my retail addiction. Not everyone likes Def Leppard. Not everyone likes to eat raw cookie dough until they're sick (well, maybe?), not everyone likes to workout, not everyone shares my religious belief. Everyone on this planet is unique. Truly. And are we all not doing the best we can everyday?

I've gone through some faith trying times, some heartbreak, I've experienced letdown and pain like I've never felt in my life before. I've been face down in the mud. Down and out. I've also been given a second chance at life (in my mind). I've been lifted up by wonderful family and friends in my life. Through all this pain and suffering I've never felt so much joy.

I literally have had my eyes opened up to how wonderful life is. How beautiful the blue sky is, how sweet it is to be loved by family, how clean laundry makes me feel so happy, how blessed I am to be where I'm at in life today.
I've also been blessed with a sense of acceptance. I've never felt like I was good at being non-judgemental, but as of late I feel like I'm mastering this quality. How dare I judge someone based on their looks, based on their social status, based on their spirituality, based on their intelligence, their weight, their confidence, what car they drive, etc. Everyone on this planet has something to offer; no matter how large, important, insignificant, small. We are all here for the same purpose. To grow, develop, succeed, and ultimately find joy.

That is all. Hope I can become a better person each and every day.

"No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good. A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. After all, you find out the strength of the German army by fighting against it, not by giving in. You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness — they have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means — the only complete realist."
— C.S. Lewis

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun...and Chocolate!

Ash and I LOVE this cute cupcake/dessert shoppe called The Chocolate! The sugar cookies are TO DIE FOR! You've gotta go, it's on state street in Orem (right in front of Classic Skating). It's so yummy and the shoppe has a modern country french decor feel. You'll love it!

Girl Power

"If you judge people you have no time to love them" -Mother Teresa


"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous" -Coco Chanel

"Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world." -Marilyn Monroe



"I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles." - Audrey Hepburn

SMILE

What do all of these things have in common?? Well, I am happy to announce that my dental assisting program starts this coming Tuesday! I am registered, paid for, and geared up to fill my brain with tons of dental knowledge! I am really excited to get going in my program and am looking forward to learning!
Wish me luck!

In sickness and in health...

I HATE being sick. I was looking forward to a productive weekend, but now I am in bed. Coughing. Blowing my nose. Shivering. I can't do much of anything. I can't even get myself to the gym.
I guess I'd better start a good book, or have a Criminal Minds marathon. Or write my missionary brother a letter. Or get my school things organized. I hope I feel better by next Tuesday. That's when my classes start! I cannot wait!!

I will gladly accept visitors - as long as your bring me a jamba juice or some "get-well" gift. But seriously, I wouldn't want to get anyone sick. It's nasty.

happiness

"You cannot remotely imagine what that decision to be unwaveringly obedient to the Lord will allow you to accomplish in life. Your quiet, uncompromising determination to live a righteous life will couple you to inspiration and power beyond your capacity how to understand."
-Richard G. Scott, member of the quorum of the 12 apostles of the LDS church (www.lds.org)

Today is a special day for me, Sunday, and I heard this quote today while I was attending church. I love the chance to start a new year and to better myself. Here's to an AWESOME week!

Happy 2010

Here's to a NEW YEAR!
Hope everyone had a great New Years! Once again, I've been so slow at posting, but thats actually one of my goals is to be better at posting!
I am so excited for this new year and for the chance I have to improve myself! Goals have been set, and I am ready to shine!

Here's to a FABULOUS 2010!!!