30 by 30: The 1/3 Update

Hard to believe it, but yesterday was the four-month mark since my birthday - which means there are only eight months left to make my 30 by 30 list a reality. How's the progress coming along? Well, I thought it was time for an update, so here's where we stand:

• #2: Visit five new states - I went to Georgia in October, so one down, four to go. Boston's up in the air, but I'm feeling strongly like Route 66 will be a go this year, so I'll start making actual plans for it soon. 
• #3: Go on 30 dates - Well, I've made it to 22, so just eight more to go. I think it's doable. Counting them seems silly, so I'll be glad to check this one off, honestly. It feels wrong to make each date a hash-mark on my way to making a goal, especially when some of these guys are just plain wonderful.
• #5: Attend the temple 30 times - Shoot! This one's tough, because I don't always jot down in my planner if I go, and I didn't think to start a hash-mark tally until now. So, from what I could count from my dayplanner, I've been eight times. I think it's more - I was going pretty much weekly from September through November, with some interruption from all the traveling I did in that time - but it's not like it'd be bad to go more than 30, so I'll start counting the next 22. Starting in January, I'm planning to do a session at each of the temples in Utah in 2012, of which there are 12 in operation - I'll try to get through as many of those as I can by my birthday. And for the record, I have come to love the Draper temple deeply, so check on that one!
• #6: Learn to ski - Four lessons booked at Alta, starting Jan. 21. I'm excited!

• #7: Drive Route 66 - See #2. When else will I have friends scattered literally all the way along the route? Chicago, St. Louis, Tulsa, Amarillo, Albuquerque, Sedona, and L.A., not to mention friends in Denver and Omaha for the drive from Utah to Chicago (I think I'd rather drive Lola than get a rental) - I'll only have to pay for a place to stay a handful of nights if I do it this year! So now the debate is timing. I'd wanted to go in the fall, so it'd be cooler, but I don't want to miss out on stuff that closes Labor Day, so... we'll see. Again, whether Boston happens and when will impact this trip's timing.

• #15: Read 30 books / #16: Read the Book of Mormon twice / #28: Make the most of my commute - At least five read so far, according to my Goodreads. Thank heavens audiobooks count! They're making my commute so enjoyable. I finished the Book of Mormon that way and got so much more out of it listening than I usually do reading. I'm a couple chapters into The Late Bloomer's Revolution and am LOVING it. I've got another five audiobooks from Audible to dive into after that one, too, including E.L. Doctorow's Ragtime, which I've wanted to read forever, David McCullough's 1776, and Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers.
• #21: Sing, sing, sing - I'm starting voice lessons in just a few days with my cousin Rob's friend Amanda, through Hale Center Theatre Orem. Pretty excited!
• #25: Give up the Diet Pepsi - This'll be a tough one, but I'm biting the bullet and giving it up with the advent of the new year tomorrow. I've got a detox drink a friend recommended (which is delish!) in lieu of the soda, and I've got PLENTY of ibuprofen on hand for the impending headaches. And, how perfect is this, but I've got one refill left on my soda punch card. Time to redeem that and be done.
• #27: Learn to poach an egg - DONE!!! Today I was feeling particularly culinary, so I not only poached an egg - I made Eggs Benedict, complete with from-scratch Hollandaise sauce and steamed asparagus. It was amazing! The egg wasn't nearly as hard as I'd expected, especially thanks to a handy-dandy video tutorial made just for me by my dear friend Emily.

The rest of them need some work, but I'll get there... eventually. At least I've made a good start, right?

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

Ah, New Year's Eve. I can't believe it's tomorrow already! How on earth did 2011 wrap up so quickly? I've got a thing or two I'd like to do, but as of now, no official plans yet. How about you, friends? What are YOU doing New Year's Eve?

2011: A Year in Review

Ringing in 2011 with the Davis clan in Provo - can't believe that was a year ago!

Hey, friends! Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all of you! 2011 has been quite an incredible year. In many ways it's been "the best of times and the worst of times," filled with amazing adventures and the realization of long-held dreams as well as some heartbreaking disappointments. I've also been a sidelines observer to some amazing triumphs and hard times friends have experienced, and the resilience of the human spirit never ceases to amaze. I'm no doubt a better, stronger, and more authentic woman than I was when the year kicked off in January, and I can't wait to see what further growth 2012 will bring.

Anyways. On to the fun stuff. Here are some highlights from the past year:

• 16,250 miles traveled on 10 trips to/through 9 states and 1 Canadian province - and that doesn't include many trips along the Wasatch Front to Layton, Logan, and the like (which, on days like today, tack on 200 miles!). This year I journeyed to San Francisco, Capitol Reef, Glacier/Waterton/Banff/Calgary, Yellowstone/Island Park, Denver, Savannah/Atlanta, and Southern California times four (but at least to varying parts - L.A., Orange County, and San Diego). For the record, I miss Savannah and/or Banff on a near-daily basis. And I LOVE that I can say that I miss places like Savannah and Banff. Jet-setting has been a blast!



• 18 plays, 20 concerts, and 4 Sundance Film Festival flicks thoroughly enjoyed. There's such a vibrant scene of local performing arts talent around here, it's awesome!!! Those concerts range from local bands in block parties, clubs, and even their parents' homes to choirs like OCMCO or the Mormon Tabernacle in concert halls to the Pacific Symphony playing the 1812 Overture in the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater while visiting Orange County; the plays range from Broadway tours and professional companies to very, very amateur local productions. Professional or amateur, I've loved them all!



Rosie and I got to meet Kevin Clash, the man behind Elmo!


Photo snagged from Justin Hackworth


Photo snagged from Hue & Hum - see my shoulder in the tan jacket on the left?
• Oh, and let's not forget taking the stage for 1 amazing, technicolor production and 2 performances at Temple Square during the Christmas season with the Lehi Chorale. Wish I had bandwidth to do more! Can't wait to start voice lessons next week and dive into next summer's show in the spring.


• 21 dates with 12 amazing men, ranging in age from 25 to 43, with 1 more date (with possibly 1 more guy) slated for the weekend... but still 0 relationships to show for it (despite getting the label of "wifeypoo" from this summer's stage hubster). All this dating's exhausting! But I'd rather be dating than not, so... it's worth it. I've really enjoyed getting to know these guys, but I'm still definitely not used to interacting with guys I know strictly in the dating sense (as opposed to my former normal of going on dates with guys who were friends first). It's a learning process, that's for sure. Better late than never!
• 3 roommates and 2 wards, despite not moving an inch (which was LOVELY, considering I moved three times from Nov. 2009 to Sept. 2010!)
• 1 royal wedding viewed with 2 lovely friends at 3:30 a.m. via streaming internet - and yes, many happy tears were shed. Love Wills and Kate!


• 3 speeding tickets - I know, I know, slooooooow doooooooown...
• 5 temples visited, including many a trip to the temples in Newport Beach and Draper, lest this list seem all vapid and ridiculous. I wish I could've actually gone in and spent time at the Cardston Temple, but it didn't work with the travel schedule. Ah, well - maybe next time. I can't wait to add the Brigham City temple to the list next year, and the Fort Collins, Colorado, temple soon as well!

• 30 lbs. lost... but let's not talk about how many came back from 7 boxes of Candy Cane Joe-Joe's, mmmmmkay? ;) Hitting the gym again tomorrow... *sigh*

• 1 promotion at work and a 2-year work-iversary celebrated - hooray for finally finding a job into which I can settle and stay put! 
  
• 3 sections of the GRE passed with flying colors, and 1 Utah State University class toward my masters completed with an A! Just 10 more classes to go...

WHEW!!! What a year! 

Just flipping through my planner to recap makes me exhausted. It's been an intense year, but wow, it's been such a blast. Being too busy has been great in some ways because it's made me evaluate how I'm spending my energy, and there are certain things that just plain aren't worth it. If it means dropping some relationships, sadly, so be it - much like Elphaba sings in"Defying Gravity,"

I'm through accepting limits 'cause someone says they're so

Some things I cannot change, but 'til I try, I'll never know.

Too long I've been afraid of losing love I guess I've lost - 

Well, if that's love, it comes at much too high a cost! 

I'd sooner buy defying gravity.

Amen and amen! My theme and goal for 2012 is to truly defy gravity - to stop imposing silly limits on myself, being hemmed in and held back by insecurities lacking in any real basis other than falsehoods that got drilled into me over the years by people who should've complimented instead of criticized, myself included. Why I let such negativity seep in over the years, I'll never know - but now that I see it, I can make the future better, and that's what really matters, right?

Anyways... that's my adventure from this year. I can't wait to see the exciting things 2012 will bring!!! 

How about you, friends? Any fun journeys taken or lessons learned in 2011?

Christmas for One

Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year. There's something magical and special in the air, celebrating the Savior's birth but also cherishing the common ties that bind us together as a human family.

In a word, lovely.

This Christmas will be the fourth I've spent alone and the first of the past three where I will have the house completely to myself for the bulk of the long holiday weekend, Christmas Eve and Day included. As much as that might sound sad and mopey, it's not. I promise. So much of my life is spent engaging with friends, colleagues, family, etc. that the best Christmas gift I can give myself is the gift of me time. It's something I hardly ever get, and I'm really looking forward to it. Do I want to spend Christmas alone forever? Of course not, but it's the best option of all the possibilities for me out there right now. Christmas is such a family time, there are precious few families where I wouldn't feel out of place for crashing their celebrations, and none of those families are in the Beehive State. As much as I appreciate the sympathy or the invitations from other people, I really am not worried or out of sorts at the thought of being alone.

So, that said, here is the rundown of how I'm making this Christmas count, even in a dose for one:

• Breakfasting with friends at Little America - Two of Salt Lake's finest hotels, the Little America and the Grand America, go all out for the holidays. Last year I went to Little America for Christmas brunch, and it was lovely! With Christmas falling on the sabbath this year, I'm opting for a Christmas Eve breakfast with friends, and I'm really, really looking forward to it. The food is divine, the atmosphere festive, and the company will be fabulous. It's my big Christmas to-do this year.
• Starting my own traditions - Just because I'm not yet married or celebrating with family doesn't mean I can't have my own traditions. Breakfast at Little America is one of them, but I'm looking to develop more. I'd thought about going to Temple Square on Christmas, which I've done before, but I've already seen the lights up there three times so far this season, so I've had my fill of that. I'd love to go caroling ON Christmas to a nursing home or hospital, but it's been tough to round up a group. The new-PJs-for-Christmas tradition has always sounded wonderful (I have a major love of pajamas!!!), so I just may end up buying some new ones, wrapping them up, putting them under the tree, and unwrapping them Christmas Eve. Why not, right?
• Working on Christmas cards - What better time to write notes of love and appreciation to the wonderful people in your life, right? My Christmas season has been too packed, and I haven't had a break to get my cards sent, so I'm looking forward to popping in some favorite Christmas flicks (Christmas in Connecticut, Holiday Inn, The Holiday, I'll Be Seeing You, and, of course, It's a Wonderful Life) and getting those done. They're awesome, believe you me. Totally worth the wait. (If you haven't yet sent me your address and want one, email it my way!)
• Enjoying some lovely Christmas tunes - Ah, I love music. LOVE it!!! So far this Christmas season I enjoyed a performance of Lex de Azevedo's Gloria in the Tabernacle, saw Nathan Gunn and Jane Seymour perform with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the Conference Center last weekend, and celebrated Christmas Tuesday evening at a house concert of Hue & Hum, the husband-and-wife team whose Christmas album is just wonderful! (He's in my fav band, and she's a gifted painter whose lovely print is now gracing my room.) Oh, and let's not forget last Sunday, when I performed on Temple Square with the Lehi Chorale (including a solo, which was pretty awesome to sing on the Assembly Hall stage!!!) It's all about music at this time of year, right? So I'll keep enjoying the Christmasey goodness. Next awesome Christmas music purchase: The Lower Lights' Christmas album. I'm sampling it on Bandcamp and can't wait to snatch it up as soon as I get home tonight!

• Making delicious eats - The season ran away from me! While I did cook up a storm for Christina's and my annual Christmas party, I haven't made goodies yet for my coworkers and some friends, so I'll get a little baking in. More importantly, I'm planning to make myself an excellent Christmas dinner. Pear and shallot stuffed pork tenderloin in a port wine and fig reduction sauce, anyone? Yep. It's amazing. I'm also hoping to swing up to Sugarhouse tomorrow and pick up a loaf of challah, which is my new Christmas tradition as of last year (great for French toast!). By the way, the mini-French silk pies turned out AMAZINGLY! They're on the far left - such keepers. A little labor-intensive, perhaps, but worth it for sure.
• Relaaaaaxing - I can't remember the last time I didn't have some stress/duty hanging over my head. Sure, I have a little freelance work to do, but I can do it while curled up in my PJs, enjoying a good movie this weekend. Tonight I'm kicking off the holiday weekend with a massage, and my goal is to maintain that sense of loose relaxation throughout the weekend. Also on the agenda: at least one trip to the temple, returning to my favorite dance class tomorrow morning, reading some books, and just staring into space without feeling guilty about letting something go undone, if I feel so inclined. I've got tentative plans with a few friends ("yeah, we should do something!" "Mmmmkay, let me know when works for you..."), but I'm enjoying the idea of no set plans for four whole days except breakfast Saturday and church Sunday (which I'll be enjoying from the stand as a speaker - more on that in a later post...). 

Merry, merry Christmas, dear friends!!! I hope your holiday weekend is chock-full of wonderful plans. Love and all the best to you each!

Astonishing

When the Pantages had a fairly family-friendly season about 5-6 years ago, my dad and stepmom got season ticket for my sister +1. Lucky for me, the Broadway-obsessed one, I got to be Tessa's +1 more often than not. Annie, White Christmas, and more - it was good times.

Well, one of the more forgettable shows that season, Little Women, yielded a song that's resonated with me ever since: "Astonishing." It's a truly powerful song, one that singer friends of mine have incorporated into their audition and recital repertoires for a reason. Not only is it musically wonderful, but the lyrics are great.

I've connected with the song for years, but never more so than this past year, the year in which I finally decided that I was done with certain relationships and self-imposed limits. I respect and love myself too much to settle for lackluster - and, more so, for people who tell me I'm less than I am or treat me like I'm less than I am, particularly when they have absolutely no claim on my life or my affections other than the mere chance of birth. DNA does not a relationship make.

I can - and will - do what I need to so that I truly can be astonishing. And I'll be darned if anyone stands in my way of getting there.

(Sorry, not the best version of this clip, but Sutton Foster is astonishing!)

ASTONISHING

I thought home was all I'd ever want

My attic all I'd ever need.

Now nothing feels the way it was before

And I don't know how to proceed.

I only know I'm meant for something more

I've got to know if I can be

Astonishing

There's a life

That I am meant to lead

A life like nothing I have known

I can feel it

And it's far from here

I've got to find it on my own

Even now I feel its heat upon my skin.

A life of passion that pulls me from within,

A life that I am making to begin.

There must be somewhere I can be

Astonishing

Astonishing

I'll find my way

I'll find it far away

I'll find it in unexpected and unknown

I'll find my life in my own way

Today

Here I go

And there's no turning back

My great adventure has begun

I may be small

But I've got giant plans

To shine as greatly as the sun

I will blaze until I find my time and place

I will be fearless,

Surrendering modesty and grace

I will not disappear without a trace

I'll shout and start a riot

Be anything but quiet

Christopher Columbus

I'll be Astonishing

Astonishing

Astonishing

At Last

In Which I Realize I'm Hopeless

My career has created a monster.

An editing monster.

And it can't be stopped!!!

Tonight I got an email from Utah State with the subject line "TEXTBOOK BUYBACK- GET A ‘STACHE’ OF CASH." My thought process went as follows:

• Ewwwww, all-caps in a subject line. Don't yell at me!
• Ummm, "stache" is short for "mustache" (i.e. my friend Anika's "Respect the 'Stache" blog). Surely they meant STASH.
• And if we're talking about a "stash," a more clever word choice would have been "cache." After all:
• "cache" sounds like "cash"
• it refers to something that's hidden (and usually has the connotation of hidden treasure)
• Utah State is in Logan - which is in Cache Valley
• which means "cache" would have been a BRILLIANT play on words!
• Oh dear. I need to stop.

And thus we see that I need a ginormous red pen with which to edit THE ENTIRE WORLD. 

But, alas, I ought to be content with the things allotted unto me - namely, a career that considers this obsession an asset, not a freakish, OCD liability.

Thankful No. 10: Opposition

It never ceases to amaze me how the worst things in the world highlight all the best things, thanks to the contrast provided. Every cloud has a silver lining, right?

Without waxing too personal on the interwebs here, let's just say I'm locked in this weekend for a very difficult time, and it's dredging up a lot of reminders of why I've drawn certain boundaries in my life. And while it's really pretty heartbreaking and frustrating to have to mire through, at the same time, I am sooooo filled with gratitude for the many blessings that I do have. The contrast between my life now and my life before adulthood couldn't be more different. Things majorly lacked when I was a minor and didn't have control over my situation - but you know what? I have control now, and I've created something beautiful (with LOTS of help from a loving Heavenly Father and amazing friends and church leaders). There have been so many wonderful threads woven into the tapestry of my life, and it's really bizarre to now have the source of so much pain present in my beautiful life. The contrast between then and now is simply stunning.

Anyways. I don't think I take my amazing support system for granted, but this is just reminding me all over again just how blessed I am, and I am so grateful for it. There's nothing like a throwback to a horrible past to remind you of just how far you've come in the present. Life is good.

Meanwhile, please keep me in your prayers, friends. It's going to be a challenging weekend, and I need all the support and help I can get.

The Harmony of Hugs

{As a sidenote, yes, I know I am ridiculously behind on my "30 Days of Thankful," just as I'm woefully behind on everything else in my life. I've got a list of 30, and I'll post them all eventually, even if in one big catchup post.}

In the vast vocabulary of body language, I'm pretty sure hugs are the most glorious form of communication. There is something so infinitely comforting and validating about an embrace, that mutual invitation inside of each other's space bubble, that squeeze that says "you are so wonderful" in ways that mere words fall flat.

When it comes to love languages, I am all about touch - the physical manifestation of emotion. It's tangible. It's personal. It's affectionate. It's genuine and real. There's nothing I love better in the world than to be snuggled up to someone I love (especially when that someone is the world's most handsome Sheltie named Shep!).

Blame it on life experience, but I don't put a whole lot of stock into words. I do, however, appreciate a really, really good hug. I'm sure kissing is even better when it's with the right person, but so far, kissing has failed to impress me. However, thankfully I've had some winning huggers in my day. The best ever was the guy who I eventually wrote on his mission. When he hugged me, he'd just hold me there, and I would melt, being held as long as he wanted to hold me. Nearly a decade has passed, and I can still feel the comfort of those embraces. I miss them.

It's been interesting on my dating journey this year to contemplate each of the hugs that inherently come at the end of a date (well, except for that awkward, awful date - he didn't even get a high-five!). The one-armed hug is like nailing the coffin of a would-be relationship. It's a sure sign to me that whatever potential was there is gone. Then there's the one-arm-over, one-arm-under hug. To me, that's a familial, platonic embrace. There's definitely the draw in and the warmth, but it's more friendly than flirty.

What I miss are the REAL hugs - the ones I got from potential beaux and guy friends alike back in my undergrad days. Those involved arms being wrapped around my waist and mine around either their necks or their torsos. Those are the kind of hugs that linger. It has been far too long since I've had one of those, and tell you what, I miss 'em! Here's hoping that I find at least a guy friend who knows how to give a real hug sooner than later. Why I had those kinds of huggers in spades 10 years ago but can't find one now is a mystery, and a sad one at that.

My Love-Hate for the Holidays

I have such an intense love-hate relationship with the holiday season. On the one hand, I absolutely ADORE the holidays. They really are magical!!! It's so fun to get into the season and enjoy the camaraderie and celebration and giving that happens during this time of year. Shopping and wrapping presents, baking up a storm, decorating - LOVE it all. My favorite thing all year is throwing an annual party for my friends. In California, I did a "cookie party" each year. Since being roommates with Christina, we've broadened the scope to an amazing, full-blown Christmas party, complete with lots of food, games, and even a service project. Planning that thing is my favorite part of the year!!! Chris and I started discussing it back in October, I think, and it's going to be all kinds of awesome. That party really is what makes Christmas special for me! It's so fun to throw my whole heart into creating something special for my friends.

But at the same time, the holidays just magnify the aloneness I feel where family is concerned. While I have relatives aplenty who I love, including two sets of parents and two wonderful siblings, I don't feel like a part of a "family." I haven't been included in a family unit since childhood, really. Even as a teen, I was a free agent, arranging who I spent holidays with on my own. It is what it is, and I can't do anything to change it, but that doesn't take away the sting that comes each year around this time. So many people are so sweet and kind and welcoming, inviting me into their celebrations so I'm not alone, but honestly, that makes it harder! It stings to see the joy and sense of belonging that come in those familial bonds - joy and security I lack. Holidays with my family are too painful, and so staying on my own has become the lesser of two evils.

It's the better choice for me at this point in my life, and it is a conscious choice - but that doesn't mean it is ideal, either. Frankly, it kinda ticks me off, because there really isn't a good choice. All I want is my own family - a loving husband, fun in-laws, my own children, my own home. I want people to spoil rotten and to receive all this love I want to lavish, but for which I lack an outlet. It isn't even like I have nieces and nephews to spoil, y'know? Families can be so beautiful and wonderful, and I can't wait to create that someday. For now, I'll just keep on keeping on - and sincerely hoping that this is the last year I have to do it alone.

(Thanks for letting me vent, friends. Sometimes I just need a hug, and there's no one to ask for one, so the digital listening ear is much appreciated.)

Thankful No. 9: Starry Skies

"For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream."

- Vincent van Gogh

Ohhhh, how I love starry skies. Next to the temple, there is nothing that makes me feel connected to my Heavenly Father and provides much-needed perspective more than gazing at the stars, if only for a few moments. Somehow I feel so complete when contemplating the immensity of the heavens. It's so close to my heart, it's hard to express, really.

Few things inspire more awe than considering that God, our Heavenly Father, created everything on our planet and on so many others - and yet, He knows how many hairs are on my head. He understands - and, furthermore, actually cares - about every little detail of my life, from the major issues of marriage and career to getting a good parking spot in Orange County on those nights when I was sooooo exhausted, getting home at 1 a.m. from a city council meeting. How is that even possible?! And yet, it's the case. That idea totally blows my mind!

While camping at Capitol Reef this summer, I ended up outside at 3 a.m. and was absolutely amazed by the beauty of the starry sky. It was more full than any sky I've ever seen before, even more so than in Island Park. It's one thing to know there are lots more stars than we usually see - it's something else altogether to actually see them, spanning the sky from horizon to horizon. How many stars do we miss every night because of city lights? Similarly, how many blessings from God do we not recognize on a daily basis, taking them for granted? How many impressions do we miss because of distractions from other sources?

Also, the stars are so constant, coming in their appointed times and seasons, so sure that travelers of old looked to them for direction. I may not need them to indicate north, south, east, or west, but I do look to them for reassurance that despite whatever might seem so huge in my life at the moment, it'll pass. How many lives have they seen, after all? It's like my good friend Orion in the sky. Seriously, I feel such comfort and peace when I see that constellation, remembering how stressful that senior year of college was - and yet, the best times were ahead of me. Furthermore, how much has my life changed for the good since I blogged that three years ago? How much will that continue to be the case throughout all eternity?

So, unlike van Gogh, I do know some things with certainty - namely, that God our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ, watch over us and are intricately involved with the details and complexities of our lives, even with all the immensity of their creations. And it is that knowledge, more than anything, that leaves me dreaming at the sight of starry skies.

Thankful No. 8: The Sabbath

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." - Exodus 20:8

Oh, how I love Sundays!!! With traveling, General Conference, and being sick, I've only had perhaps one normal Sunday in the last 5-6 weeks, and I have missed enjoying the Sabbath day. As the Lord taught in Mark 2:27, the Sabbath was made for man - not the other way around. It's so true! There is something so renewing and refreshing about setting aside one day a week to rest from our labors, to worship, and to focus on Jesus Christ and His glorious gospel.

Today I really enjoyed sleeping in (which is 9 a.m. to me, but hey, it's something!), taking time to look my Sunday best, meeting with fellow ward leaders to discuss the needs of those in our stewardships, and attending church, where I learned from a wonderful Relief Society lesson by my dear friend Stacey, taught about the power and blessings of fasting in Gospel Principles, partook of the sacrament, and was richly edified by some wonderful talks in Sacrament Meeting. Then I took a leisurely drive around Draper and past the temple instead of rushing home, and I've enjoyed taking it easy all evening, cooking dinner for my roommate and just enjoying home. Now I'm curled up on the couch, enjoying lovely piano music a la Christina while blogging - and, in a moment, I'll dig into the scriptures for yet more Sunday edification. It's lovely!

Keeping the Sabbath day holy is so often overlooked in the world today, but it's so important. In the rush of day-to-day living, there's nothing we need more than to stop, rest, and reconnect with God, ourselves, and our fellow man. How grateful I am for the blessings of the Sabbath day!

Thankful No. 7: Soup

Ahhhh, winter. As much as the shift toward cold weather leaves me... well... cold initially, I'm starting to embrace the chill for some of its perks. Namely, soup.

Soup is delicious! It's such a versatile, nourishing food category. This winter, a few coworkers and I are doing a weekly "soup swap" - one of us makes a pot of soup each week and divvies it up four ways, meaning that all winter long I'm getting a couple servings of homemade soup but only having to make soup once a month.

In other words, genius.

And, with that, I need to go whip up a batch of Baked Potato Soup a la Our Best Bites. TRUST me, you need to make this soup. Deliciousness!!!

Thankful No. 6: Draper

Moving to Utah was, hands down, one of the greatest decisions of my life, and settling down in Draper was one of the best choices since.

I absolutely adore where we live!!! Located in the southeast end of the Salt Lake valley, Draper is so ideal for our household. Christina and I both commute southward - with mine being the longest, a full half-hour at least each way - but it's totally worth it to live in this darling town, and to live in the Salt Lake valley as opposed to Utah County. Been there, done that, loved it as a BYU student, happy to work there - but I love living up in the Salt Lake area. It's awesome. We're up on the hill, and I adore the panoramic view of the valley I get every time I come home or leave the neighborhood, seeing all the way to downtown, seeing four temples in the valley, considering the sacrifices the pioneers made to settle here.

Draper is a pretty unique town, too. There's a ton of gorgeous new homes - but there are a lot of large lots with horses and gardens and the like. I love going on drives around Draper, exploring the neighborhoods nearby. I'm in love with the old, gingerbread-looking pioneer houses, intermingled with more recent homes. There's a rural edge that remains here, but not quite as rough and rural as Lehi is. It's polished yet rural and somehow really down to earth, I guess? It's funny, because Draper isn't far from Lehi, and they have a lot of similarities, but somehow they seem different. I could see myself staying in Draper, which isn't something I felt while living in Lehi.

More than anything, though, it's the people in Draper who I adore. Our ward is amazing, and I've been so impressed with the Draper natives I've met both in college and since living here now. They're just good people!!! I really enjoy our ward and the friends I've made here. It's funny, because I've lived in Draper for well over a year now, but it's only been since May that I started attending the ward, and it's only been in the last few months (since my play ended) that I've made the effort to explore my surroundings. I'm so glad I have, because the more I do, the more I fall in love with it here. It's such a wonderful place to live!

Thankful No. 5: Fabulous Friends

Seriously, I have the greatest friends in the world!!! I'm always in awe as to how I've been blessed with such a phenomenal support system of men and women who choose to be a part of my life. Most of my closest friends are people I've known for at least 5-10 years, and it's such a joy to spend time with them - and, in many cases, to develop friendships now with these little people who call my friends "Mom" and "Dad." I adore each of my friend's kids because they're awesome extensions of my friends.

I'm such an extrovert, but it takes me time to warm up and feel comfortable enough to completely be myself, no holds barred. These great friends not only know the real me - they love me for it! And I love them, too. They're such awesome individuals with so much wisdom and compassion to offer, and I'll be forever grateful for the influence they've had in my life. Hands down, each has helped me to become a better person, and I will forever be indebted to them for it.

Thankful No. 4: The Beach

You can take the girl out of California, but you can never take the California out of this girl. East Coast, West Coast, from Georgia to Seattle, I never feel more at home with the world than when I've got the sand between my toes and the surf dancing about my ankles. When thinking of nature's beauty, one usually thinks of forests and mountain grandeur, but for me, it's all about the beach.

Living in Orange County - and especially working in Laguna Beach - only served to solidify my lifelong adoration of the beach, one that dates back to childhood summer days spent at Newport Beach. To this day, there's nothing that makes me more giddy than combing the beach for seashells and feeling the water all around me, frolicking in the surf. I feel a little bad that my future children will miss out on growing up by the beach (since I refuse to move back to California ever), but I hope I can instill in them as much of a love of the beach as I have.

Thankful No. 3: Lifelong Learning

Oh man. I looooooove to learn. LOVE it. Like, pretty much my favorite thing on the planet is acquiring knowledge. It's so cool! There are a million things to learn in this world, and it seems like my curiosity is never satiated. Thankfully this "intellectual curiosity" is an asset, from what I've been told, because I can't help it. I look at a boomerang, and I want to know how the aborigines figured that out. What in its shape makes it return? Oh, and I am SUCH a sucker for historical plaques!!! I want to know what significant thing occurred in that location, and I love thinking about how different those people's lives were way back when (like while in Savannah, contemplating yellow fever epidemics and the Civil War).

I'm so grateful for the opportunities I've had as far as education is concerned. As early as first grade, school was my thing. It was where I felt I could achieve and shine, where I could be stretched beyond my comfort zone and excel. That feeling lasted throughout my undergrad and continues today, not only as I pursue my master's degree but also as I learn in my career. It's fun to improve and expand beyond the familiar.

I love, too, how learning is not limited to an educational institution or the quest for a degree. A tour of Utah State campus last month totally renewed my quest to dig and learn more about things beyond my comfort zone, like astronomy and physics, why things are the way they are. My area of expertise is soooo right-brained and centered on humanities, history, arts, language, etc. Math still doesn't hold a draw, but science sure does. Would I ever get a degree in it? Nope. But will I study on my own to learn about the heavens? You betcha!

Thankful No. 2: My Sister

When I was little, all I wanted was a sister. All I had in the way of siblings was my older brother, and we fought like cats and dogs - but I was always so, so sure that if I had a sister, things would be different.

When I was 14, I got my wish. Her name is Tessa.

My darling little sister is so awesome. We've been really close ever since she was teeny. I'll never forget the first time I held her in my arms. She was a few months old by the time I got to meet her, and I remember being so filled with love for this little person. In high school I stayed at my dad's on the weekends pretty often, and I always got sooooo excited to see Tessa - to play with her, to see what new things she'd learned. And the feeling was mutual! Her whole little body would get so tense with excitement, it was so cute! I loved every minute of being an older sister, getting to dote on her and teach her new things.

Well, now Miss Tessa is 14, and she doesn't need me to take care of her like I would during those babysitting weekends. Still, some things never change. Whenever I go home to California, I still get so thrilled to see Tessa, to see how she's changed as she grows up, to hear about her latest archery accomplishments (oh yes - she's a competitive archer with a whole slew of medals and wins in her proverbial quiver!). She's becoming such an awesome young woman, and I thoroughly enjoy spending time with her, having fun on our "sister dates." Doting on Tessa still comes so easily - she's my favorite family member to shop for, and I always see fun things that make me think of her. 

Most of all, I still love teaching her things, sharing with her what I've learned from experience, from hair-styling tips (since she inherited the same crazy curls from our dad) to dating advice to being confident and happy. Not sure how much of it sticks, but knowing I need to be an example to her has helped me become a better woman. How grateful I am for my darling little sister, and I look forward to many more adventures as she moves into adulthood in just a few short years!

Thankful No. 1: Words

I know this comes a day late for the one-a-day dealio, but I knew if I busted out my laptop last night when I composed this in my mind, it'd be game over for my bedtime! So, here we go...

One of the biggest blessings in my life are words. That might sound funny, right? But as a writer, words are so central to everything I do. Language is like air or water - it's so ubiquitous that it can be easy to take for granted.

But think of all the blessings we get from the ability to communicate!!! I am so profoundly grateful for this medium with which I can translate feelings and thoughts and other intangible concepts into something that others can understand. Anyone who's ever attempted to communicate with someone who doesn't speak the same language can appreciate how frustrating it is, as I discovered while coming across international travelers galore in Banff - you know what you want to say, but they can't understand you, nor can you understand them, and it all devolves into rough hand gestures.

And smiles, since smiles are universal. You don't need words for that, at least.

The English language only has 26 letters, but the possibilities that come from combinations thereof seem nearly endless. It's amazing how each person has his or her own unique voice that comes across in the written word. It's one of the ways scholars have proven that the Book of Mormon has multiple authors - the different writers have their own patterns that come across through words, millennia after those words were written.

Just last night I showed my roommate an email I'd written a friend, and she busted out laughing. "Only you could get away with some of these sentences, Christa," she said. Puzzled (and slightly embarrassed), I asked what she meant - and then she read aloud what I'd written (in describing Fictionist, my fav band, to a friend):

Their sound has been described as "space age rock" - I love it. It's really fresh but not so unique that it's unmarketable on a broader scale. And the guys in the band are all really, really gifted musicians (and all-around cool people). That innate musicality also helps set their sound apart from so much of what's out there.

 Yup. That's me. But don't you just love how words can put down in a tangible form that intangible essence that is a person? It's sooooo cool!!!

Seriously. Words are awesome. Love, love, love them.

30 Days of Thankfulness

Well, friends, Halloween is behind us, and somehow we find ourselves in November.

Nov. Em. Ber. Like, next-to-last month of the year. How on earth did that happen?!

The downside is that November is the official start of winter. The upside, however, is that winter means holidays!!! And who doesn't love holidays, right? Sure, they sometimes equal stress, but mostly they mean magic and celebrating the great things in life. I've spent the last few mostly alone since moving to Utah by choice, which is a different experience. It's not bad - it's just different. So much of what comes to mind when thinking of holidays involves big family gatherings, but that's not something that's in my life right now. There are so many traditions I can't wait to start with a family of my own someday - but I can't put off making holidays special until that day comes, either. The last two holiday seasons have felt a little lackluster. So, for now, I'm starting some traditions to make the holidays meaningful and special while flying solo.

One important tradition is to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Really, this should be a daily occurrence, but since November is all about Thanksgiving, I'm going to post something for which I'm grateful each day. After all, life is so full of beauty and bounty to celebrate! And as Oprah said,

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."

I quite agree. Let the celebrating and praising begin!

30 By 30: Making the End of My 20s Count

So... this post is about two months overdue, but better late than never, right?

Thirty. 

Holy crepe. How on earth am I staring that milestone in the face?! Feels like just yesterday that I was too young to sit in the bar area of restaurants. My 20s have flow by in such a blur, and I can hardly believe they're nearly over!

Then again, when people in my ward barely graduated from high school... and when my friends are all pretty much done birthing their babies... well... the reality of my age catches up to me. And it isn't a bad thing, either. Besides those occasional moments when I want to run screaming down the hall, I'm pretty much okay with owning my almost-30 status.

Still, ending my 20s is no small feat, and I want to do it well. And so, in no particular order, here are 30 things I hope to accomplish in the next 308 days (some of which are already in progress):

1. Become a "True Aggie." Preferably at the hands... er, lips... of someone who isn't some random stranger.
   
   
2. Visit five new states. And since this goes retroactively to my birthday, Georgia counts - so I've got four to go. If Route 66 happens, then I'll knock out Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. I'm also considering a Spring Break trip to Boston, and I could tack on a road trip around New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. So stinkin' excited.
   
   
3. Go on 30 dates. Again, if we date this back to my birthday, I've gone on six so far. But I'm really going back to the beginning of 2011, which puts me at 16 so far. I think I can swing 14 dates in 10 months. I hope.
   
   
4. Become my authentic self. Years ago, my friend Kaylynn wrote a blogpost about becoming her authentic self. That post has haunted me ever since! I wondered what that even meant - and what it would feel like to peel off the layers of self-protecting barriers and be completely comfortable in my skin. I'm getting danged close, and it is the most empowering thing ever! I'm not sure that this process ever really ends, but I'd like to make it a high priority. Dr. Brene Brown has some great stuff on this topic, if you're interested.
   
   
5. Attend the temple at least 30 times.
   
   
   And as a part of that, I'm trying to make the Draper temple my temple of choice (Provo's where I usually go - part sentimentality, part habit). I'd love to feel as connected to the Draper temple as I still do to Newport Beach.
   
   
6. Learn to ski. This will be my ninth winter in Utah, and I've never tried skiing. Ridiculous. Time to start!
   
   
7. Drive Route 66. Finally. This is the time!!!
   
   
   
   
8. Go on a cruise with my best friends. Perhaps we can make it a joint "We're all turning 30!" celebration!
   
   
9. Be debt-free. I'm sooooo clooooooose...
   
   
10. Sew what? I have a sewing machine, but that doesn't mean I know how to sew. Unless there's a proficient seamstress nearby to help me with the bobbin and all that nonsense, I'm hopeless. At the very least, I would love to turn the quilt blocks we made for a friendship quilt in my San Clemente singles ward into a bonafide quilt. And finish those baby quilts I started for Primary Children's Hospital in the spring. (Sorry, Caron!!! I know I'm a slacker!!!)
    
    
11. Get at least one really, really good kiss. Like, of the foot-popping variety.
    
    
12. Hike Mt. Washburn.
    
    
    My poor father pushed us to do this when I was 10, and I whined the entire way up... until I realized how awesome it was that I climbed a freakin' mountain, and I skipped the rest of the way down. For years I've been wanting to go back and do this hike in Yellowstone again, sans the whining. And speaking of hiking...
    
    
13. Hike the Y. Since I'm ashamed that I never got around to this as a BYU student.
    
    
14. Hike Timp. I work at the base of this stunningly gorgeous mountain yet have never attempted to climb it. Again, ridiculousness. This must happen.
    
    
15. Read 30 books. Since we're doing the 30 theme. And textbooks totally count, because 30 is a lot! That's three a month from here on out.
    
    
16. Finish the Book of Mormon twice. And one of those times will be by Christmas, thanks to my stake challenge (that I'm woefully and pathetically hundreds of pages behind on... yikes!).
    
    
17. Get starstruck.
    
    
    And no, I'm not talking about celebrities. I've always been fascinated by stars, but I've never taken the time or made the effort to really learn astronomy or even name many constellations. Definitely a goal worth pursuing.
    
    
18. Lose 30 pounds. Again, with the 30 thing. I'd actually like to go beyond that, but I'd be happy with this. Honestly, it's more pragmatic than cosmetic. Everyone says that your metabolism hits a wall at 30. It's going to be a heck of a lot easier to reach my goal and fight to maintain it than to fight to get there after 30.
    
    
19. Make time to WRITE.
    
    
    And I'm not talking blogging or creating content for pay. I'm talking writing from my heart, putting the proverbial pen to paper and telling stories that keep knocking around in my brain. I'm in a writer's group, so that accountability should help. (Thanks, Rachel!)
    
    
20. Just dance. Dancing feeds my soul, and I can tell the difference in my overall life when I'm dancing and not. Same thing for exercise in general, but dance is definitely my workout of choice. There's a killer ballet-fitness class in Lehi I went to a few times and LOVE - again, just gotta make it a priority. I need to be dancing at least once a week, whether it's a class or just a rock-out session in my bedroom.
    
    
21. Sing, sing, sing. Along the same lines, singing and music bring more joy to my heart than just about anything else. So I'm planning to start voice lessons in January - already have an amazing teacher lined up, soooo excited!!! - and I'd like to get my voice beyond the awesome shape it was in while in OCMCO (which was the peak of my personal vocal performance as far as technique and timbre go).
    
    
22. Put my clothes away in the closet, not on the floor. Harder than it sounds, people. Harder than it sounds.
    
    
23. Reinstate "Christa Dates." I know it sounds so New Age-y, but there's sooooo much value in getting time alone to ponder and just breathe sans pressure or company. In college, I was good about setting aside Friday nights for me time, but these days it's rare. In fact, I blame my snoozing addiction on this. That quiet time before I'm out of bed seems to be the only time I get to myself all day, but indulging in snoozing just makes me start the day rushed. Quality alone time should supplant the snooze. In fact...
    
    
24. Stop snoozing. See above. Addictive! And speaking of addictions...
    
    
25. Give up the Diet Pepsi once and for all. And that goes for all soda, caffeinated or not. Why must flavored, carbonated chemicals be so tasty (but so unhealthy)?! WHY?! Curse you, soda!
    
    
26. Write in my journal weekly. Or at least a few times a month. I tend to blog more than journal, but I also filter what goes on the blog (shocking, right?). So there's a lot of real stuff that doesn't get recorded that should. Although my journals do make for an entertaining read of my dating history, since I somehow manage to get that written down every time. *sigh* Ridiculous girl.
    
    
27. Learn to poach an egg.
    
    
    Eggs Benedict is sooooo my favorite breakfast EVER, largely because of the buttery goodness of the poached egg. However, that's one cooking technique that intimidates me like no other. I've conquered my abject fear of pie crusts (thanks, Mishy!!!) - it's time to take on the poached egg.
    
    
28. Make the most of my commute. I loooooove music, so I'd much rather tune out to some tunes on the drive home than listen to spoken word. However, I'm spending at least 5-10 hours in my car each week. Just think of all the spiritual nourishment I could digest if I spent at least a few of those drives listening to BYU devotionals, General Conference talks, etc.?!
    
    
29. Run a 5K. And I mean actually run it this time. None of that sissy walking because I woke up on race day with legs made of cement. I still hate running, but I can appreciate its health benefits. And maybe if I persist at it, I'll actually grow to love it.
    
    
30. Channel my inner Annie Oakley.
    
    
    I'd love to be the kind of woman who is as proficient on the shooting range as she is in the kitchen. Gotta know how to protect myself, after all. The zombies might really come!!!
    

Whew! Do I ever have my work cut out for me or what?! Should be a fun year, though. And if anyone wants to join me on some of these goals (i.e. traveling, hiking, shooting, running, dancing, etc.), let me know!

A Zombie Love Story

This song is making my day.

If I were a zombie, I'd never eat your brain - I'd just want your heart.

Seriously, what says love more than that?! If I had a sweetheart this Halloween, I would be posting this on his Facebook right about now. But alas, I'm still sweetheart-free. So instead, I'm sharing the goodness with you, dear friends.

You're welcome.

Vacation Time!

I'll give you three chances to guess where I'm headed tomorrow:

Yep! That's right. Tomorrow I hop on a plane to visit...

...with these two lovely, dear friends.

To say I'm excited is an understatement! Two of my best friends in the world, fulfilling my lifelong dream of exploring the Deep South, noshing some serious Southern cuisine, and taking a WORK-FREE break (that's right - no laptop this trip!!!) - it's going to be glorious! Y'all have fun!!!