She Works Hard for Her Money

Sundays are so much better when you don't have to go to work on Mondays. And when Tuesdays are the first day of the week, they aren't as blah as Mondays.

If I were President, the first thing I would do is create automatic 3 day weekends FOR EVERYONE!

Side note: this sounds like I'm running for Student Body President, promising things that are nowhere near my jurisdiction and upon my winning I could never fufill.

But, I digress.

I think that America is overworked. I think it's ridiculous the amount of work people have to put into their jobs to be considered successful. I think it's silly that to get ahead in a career, people have to sacrifice the majority of their time.

I believe in the principle of hard work. Laziness breeds all sorts of evil things and working develops character, creates a sense of self worth and keeps the mind active. Elder Maxwell, in a talk entitled "Put Your Shoulder the the Wheel" said, "Work is always a spiritual necessity even if, for some, work is not an economic necessity."

That being said, there are other areas in life, that require work besides a job. Amazingly enough, these areas can also develop all the good things aforementioned, and then some. Family relationships, talents and hobbies, service, spiritual growth, physical strengthening - all of these things require work to maintain.

Herein lies a very real problem - lack of balance. If so much time is being devoted to certain areas of our lives (and I recognize that such is required of us at many times in our various school and work responsibilites), it leaves little time for work within many other important areas. Quoting from Elder Maxwell again, "A balance of work needs to be orchestrated, because some forms of work tend to dominate other forms."

This is a theme I'd like to carry with me throughout the year. There are areas in my life I feel need to be developed greater and there are also things I have put to the back burner, convincing myself I'll get to it when I have less work and more time. In reality, that may never happen (unless of course you elect me as your President - FLORY '08), so the time to get to work is now.

You Are Beautiful, No Matter What They Say

Some said I looked like Barney. Others said I looked like Grimace (the purple McDonald's character). A few said it was Dr. Suess - ish? Whatever it was, the result was UGLY.

Which was just what I was going for considering it was an UGLY sweater party. It seems ugly sweater themed parties are the new craze, but this was my first one and I was going to take full advantage of the fact that I was allowed to wear the most heinous thing I could find.

My roommates took to making their sweaters (think sock sweater vest, newspaper made tuxedo top, upholstered bows), and they were quite fabulous; however, my creativity only took me as far as the thrift store where I picked up a very large knitted bright green and purple sweater (see pictures below to get the full effect). The party was a huge success. I spent the day with Victoria cooking, cooking, decorating and cooking, although I can't take any credit for the amazing food. Her menu was well planned - peppered alfredo and broccoli pasta, sweet potato souffle, sweet meatballs and crabballs, chocolate zuchinni cupcakes - and it all tasted amazing.

The guests were dressed in all sorts of UGLY, well most of them anyway. It was incredibly funny to see the many things that designers once thought were a good idea to make and sell. To each his own in the world of fashion I suppose. There were a few sweaters that stood out among the rest, and I'm proud to say mine won the ugliest sweater in the female category.

Some say I should burn it now that the party is over, but I think I'll keep it. A prize winning sweater like this could come in handy.

                       

Victoria - more sexy than ugly in her Santa Baby get up

 

Ginna in ugly Christmas vest

 

The winners circle

 

 Joseph, Micah and full body of the UGLY that is my sweater       

I Wanna Talk About Me, Wanna Talk About I

Perhaps this blog was a bad idea. It's another thing to add to my list and another thing to feel bad about when I don't get around to doing it, even though I have every intention. I have been "inactive" for over a month, and certainly not for a lack of things to write about. I will hopefully catch up on all of the fun things that I did, but for now, just to get me back in the spirit of blogging...

I've been tagged. So here's 7 things you never knew, and if you did you'd never believe, about the one and only MOI.

1. I have no feeling in my lower lip, actually just half of my lower lip (the right half to be specific, or left if you are looking at me). I had my wisdom teeth pulled last February (yay for days off work, mashed potatoes and apple juice) and despite the ever so convincing oral surgeon, the feeling has never completely returned. I'm used to it by now so it doesn't bother me...much. Unless it's cold outside and then it's really sensitive. Or sometimes I don't notice if a piece of food gets stuck there, but hey that happens to people who have full feeling and besides - at least I find out who my true friends are (You know, the ones that will tell me about that food).

2. I really love the smell of coffee. Sometimes, and I know this is wasteful, I will make a cup in the morning at work just so I can have it on my desk to smell. It smells even better with 2 hazelnut creamers. I've never tasted the stuff, and perhaps would hate it, but I now have an answer when someone asks me how I like my coffee. 2 hazelnut creamers please, oh and no sugar.

3. If you have ever lived in P-town aka Happy Valley aka the Bubble or as I like to call it Provo, UT, you may be familiar with a very large water tower in between the Provo Temple and the MTC. Once, when I was a freshman (keep in mind I was 19) I climbed this tower with my boyfriend at the time. We brought up some blankets and spent the whole night up there...simply enjoying the city lights of course!

4. Did you know that carrots are harmful to your health? Proof is that all sick people have eaten carrots. 99 % of all people who die from cancer have eaten carrots. 99 % of people that die in car accidents ate carrots within 60 days of their death. All carrot eaters born between 1900 and 1920 suffer from wrinkled skin, brittle bones and failing eyesight.*** And that is why I don't eat carrots. Besides, they taste disgusting!

5. If given the opportunity, I would totally try out for American Idol. Not because I think I'm America's next greatest pop star/hearthrob, although I think I could croon my way past the first few rounds. I simply just love to sing and I have a mini-crush on Simon Cowell. There I said it!

6. I cried when I got my first C. I was a senior in HS and it was the 3rd nine weeks of my AP English class. I was so upset and went home and bawled to my parents! Since then, I have had a complex about my reading and writing and grammar skills. I had known that math was my stronger subject, but until then I had never had the report card talk with my dad about howI could do better than a C. And since I was bawling, my dad forwent the talk anyway. Thanks dad!

7. And the final thing you didn't know about me is I am in love with....


SIKE! Like I'd ever post such classified information for the whole world wide web.


***Carrot statistics provided by The Sentinel, Guelph Wellington Seniors Association Newsletter. Volume 20, Number 9, Page 11.