Hey, did I ever tell you about the time I plucked outside of my designated brow line? Man, was my face red.

In Utah county, when the weather reaches mid-fifties to sixties, out come the runners, bikers, and white legs. My white legs. Last summer I had the privilege of going on a cruise. After said cruise I had a marvelous tan, which also meant that I had a wicked tan line. I remember the contrast of the dark skin and the ghostly white skin, and being appalled that my skin could ever be so white. Well, guess what... there are no tan lines on my skin anymore, which means that my skin is back to that ghastly white tint! This isn't a big deal when my skin is mostly covered up with jeans and cardigans, but this part of the year I look forward to yet dread just the same. I'm thrilled for the sun and the warmth, but I dread having to show my terribly translucent legs. I didn't really have anywhere in particular that I was going with this post, I just wanted to share my thoughts. Thanks for listening, or reading, or whatever.

Brian's been yammering on about germs and spores for 20 minutes. I'm completely freaked out to touch a microphone ever again.

So this morning I had the pleasant surprise of waking up with pink eye. Since that is frowned upon in the public schools, I had to take the day off. What does one do with a day of freedom? Make a wreath, of course! I've been wanting to make a new wreath for our door for a really long time, so today was the perfect day to get it done. I wish I could have found some thicker ribbon, but I liked the looks of the ribbon I did find. All in all, I think it turned out pretty good.

Godot was just here. He said ‘I ain’t waiting anymore,’ grabbed a roll, and left. It’s been forever.

So, after living in my house for over a year and a half, all the while having plans to paint my bedroom and decorate it, I finally got the project done! It took renovating some DI finds and old furniture I already had, assembling IKEA furniture, and searching store after store for the perfect nightstand at the perfect price. I even figured out a nifty way to store my boots in my closet! Here are some pictures of how it turned out. Feel free to be jealous. :)

I hung my boots up by using carabiners and binder clips.

This chair was a DI find for $15. After some paint and some antiquing with sandpaper I had myself a nifty chair.

With the help of my friend David I painted and antiqued my headboard and dresser. My nightstand I found at Ross for $30. I had to add a string of lights on my wall, of course, and I decided to hang black and white pictures from the cord to give it a more uniformed look with my room.

I don't know why they say Venus and Mars. Mars and Venus at least have something in common; they're planets. It's more like Mars and a bowl of cereal.

**Disclaimer: do not read if you haven't watched Source Code, and don't want the ending spoiled for you.

So... last night I watched Source Code with my parents. That movie con-fused me! It was uber good, but what the heck happened at the end?
Opening Scene:
Jake Gyllenhaal wakes up on a train super confused. Cute Girl sitting across from him: "You give really good advise. I deserve better than him... blah, blah, blah..." Instant thought of viewers: they end up together. He walks around the train super confused, then the train explodes. Jake finds himself in a self-contained tankish thing. He's still confused.
You then find out that he is a pilot that fought in Afghanistan, and he was now supposed to find out who bombed the train. He doesn't want to. All he wants to do is to talk to his dad. They won't let him. They then send him back to the train multiple times. He does everything but find out who blew up the train. He isn't very good at following directions (but is good at looking good).
He finally finds out who bombed the train. They (in real life) find the guy before he can blow up Chicago. Jake's not done yet. He wants to go back for 8 more minutes, and see if he can save everyone on the train (mainly his girlfriend whom he goes on 8 minute dates with). He finally talks Agent Goodwin into letting him do it behind the head hancho's back, but tells him that she's taking him off life support after the 8 minutes are up (oh, by the way, he's mostly dead because of something that happened in Afghanistan).
In 8 minutes Jake defuses the bomb, catches the criminal and handcuffs him to some stairs, calls his dad and tells him he loves him, sends Agent Goodwin an email telling her what's up, and kisses his new girlfriend. He saves the world!
After the 8 minutes are up Agent Goodwin takes him off life support (in real life), but guess what... he's still kissing Cute Girl (in fake life). They get off the train, and live happily ever after.
The next day (in real life), Agent Goodwin gets his email. It's the day the train got bombed again (but the train didn't get bombed), and Jake is still alive on life support. End scene. WTH?!

I asked my brother-in-law about it today. He said, "Nicole, it's a fake movie. It's all fake." I realize this, but I would still like it to make sense in my poor little head.

We should be grateful that we're not Native Americans who got their land stolen in exchange for smallpox infested blankets.

Today I had an overwhelming feeling of appreciation for life and I would entirely ungrateful if I didn't write about it. I went over to Canyon Elementary today to visit some of the girls I taught with last year. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to work with them for my first year of teaching. I am so blessed. Heavenly Father knew that was where I needed to be. I don't know where I would be if it weren't for Jamie, Angie, and Nicole. When I was driving away I noticed some of my students from last year playing football on the field, so I stopped to wave. They saw me and ran over to say hi. I am so grateful for children and the sweet spirit they carry with them. I am so blessed to spend six hours with them everyday. I can't wait to have my own children. Oddly enough, I am grateful for my single years. Don't get me wrong, I want to get married and have a family of my own more than anything, but I'm grateful for the time I have had to get things figured out. I feel as though teaching is going to be a big thing in my life, and I'm grateful that I have some extra time to get it all down. On the way home from the school I was able to witness the gorgeous sunset that took place tonight over Utah Lake. I stopped to take pictures of it. I don't document things enough. I am grateful for nature, and the beauty and peace it subtly brings into my life. I'm also grateful for digital photography, so I can take as many pictures as I want so I can get the perfect one. These are just a few of the things I am grateful for. I am so blessed, far beyond what I deserve. I have a loving family, friends, and Heavenly Father. I'm so grateful for their examples, love, and constant support.

It's repetitive, and redundant! It's repetitive, and redundant! We're certainly entertaining, Mac! Indubitably, Tosh!

So, today I washed my sheets. Having clean sheets always make me incredibly happy. I decided that I would make a list of happy things. Happiness=

• Clean sheets
• Rain on a summer night
• The feeling after a long run
• A shower after a weekend camping trip
• Funny conversations with friends
  
• Reading a good book
• Road trips
• A new outfit
• A first kiss with a guy you like
• Running into a friend you haven't seen in a long time
• Holding a baby
• Reminiscing with friends and family
• Gilmore Girls
• Payday
  
• New shoes
• Basking in the sun
• A clean house
• Freshly painted nails
• Warm brownies or cookies right out of the oven
• Good music

...well, you get the idea. Happiness=simplicity.

Hey...THIS is the pizza from Mystery Tuesday, THAT one is completely fine...

So yesterday I was up in Salt Lake dropping off resumes at elementary schools hoping that it would give me a sliver of a chance in finding a teaching job for next year. On the way to my last destination I past The Pie. I don't know if you have ever had pizza from The Pie, but if you haven't you need to. It is easily one of my favorite pizza joints. I decided that since I was famished from not having lunch, and it was fast approaching 4:3o, that I better stop and get me some food before enduring my long 40 minute drive home. I stopped at The Pie, and ordered me a nice ham pizza. During the wait I ran to 7-Eleven and got me some root beer because what is pizza without root beer?
When I went back to pick up my pizza I lifted (more like hefted) the box off the counter and vigorously thanked the cashier. You have to heft their pizza boxes because they are actually filled with real pizza, not fake pizza like Little Caesars (don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the Hot 'N Readys, but sometimes nothing beats a real pizza). When I walked back to my car I noticed that they had some convenient tables chillin' where I could easily sit and eat my pizza like a normal person. Did I? I most certainly did NOT. I decided that I would attempt to eat my pizza while I was making my way to the freeway entrance. There are plenty of stoplights, right?
Well this was all well and dandy except I came to find out that this delicious pizza was hot and fresh, which means the cheese was wonderfully messy. I was attempting to eat some pizza at a stoplight, but I was mostly struggling with the cheese. I noticed that the car next to me was lined up perfectly with mine, which meant that the driver had a perfect view of my awful attempt of enjoying the best pizza ever. I glanced over to see if the driver had noticed my efforts of divulging myself. Sure enough the driver (a really cute guy) was looking over with a look of disbelief. I wanted to roll down my window and offer some, but the light turned green, so I was forced to drive. I got a good laugh out of it, and I was able to enjoy the best pizza I've had in days, weeks, months, years. Trust me, nothing is more classy and attractive than a girl struggling with a piece of pizza at a stoplight. This may or may not be one of the reasons that I don't have a boyfriend. :)