30 day blog challenge: day 30

today is the last day of this blog challenge...you'd think i would have seen this coming since i numbered them every day but it took my by surprise! so i leave you with #30...

a picture of something I made recently

 

 

i have wanted a book like this since i was little! i found an old book at a flea market a while back and finally just got around to carving it out today. i feel like i should have something really cool to hide in it like secret spy equipment or stacks of 100 dollar bills.

30 day blog challenge: day 29

a picture of the place you work

what i do involves going to a lot of events. so yesterday [when i was supposed to post this] i was working at the barnes & noble at the grove. the buried life guys had a book signing for their new book which just came out, "what do you want to do before you die?'. if you haven't heard of them, they are pretty amazing. they set out about six years ago to cross off their bucket list of 100 dreams, and along the way have helped a stranger accomplish something on their bucket list for every one of their own they accomplish.

30 day blog challenge: day 28

a piece of artwork i made

i think this is from when i was a freshman in high school. i went through a beach phase where that was all i painted for a while. there are others that were much better that i loved but they have sadly gone missing. i was lucky enough to have the most amazing art teacher and even if i don't love them, my paintings always remind me of her. and i love that.

30 day blog challenge: day 27

what's in my closet

not this...

30 day blog challenge: day 26

favorite song

yeah. right. 

i am bad at choosing a favorite of almost anything, especially favorite song. i love music too much to play favorites, but i was thinking just today about how much i was loving this song about this time last year. so here you go. 'home' by edward sharpe and the magnetic zeroes.

honorable mentions include 'it's all been done' by the barenaked ladies and 'kiss me' by sixpence none the richer. now those are some good ones from fifth/sixth grade.

30 day blog challenge: day 25

my favorite thing about today

i take a class every monday morning, which requires me to buy a $2 parking permit. since the permit is good until 11pm and i use it for less than two hours, i always wait around after class and try to give it to someone before they buy theirs. the reactions I get are priceless. people are either scared that i am being nice to them or think it’s crazy I won’t let them pay me for it. one man even insisted that if i wouldn’t let him pay me for the pass, i let him give me a dollar for being so nice. i think it is so sad that people think they need to pay someone for being nice!

so my favorite thing about today was that it was monday and i got to surprise another unsuspecting stranger. it is almost sad that it is shocking that someone would go out of their way to help a stranger...and i seriously think it makes me happier than the people getting the pass!

30 day blog challenge: day 24

picture of a good friend

i have the best friends...which means i had a lot to choose from for today's post. unfortunately i don't have very many pictures on my computer so here are just a few [like i could choose just one]. jenni, chad, adi and lauren are just a few of the fabulous, wonderful, amazing friends i am lucky to have!

30 day blog challenge: day 23

a picture of my day

 

today was a crazy one. i didn't get one good picture, but here are a few combined into one. we had a bunch of events to cover for work and were gone all day. out of all the celebrities i saw, the only one i took a picture of was cute little uggie. he was the star of that carpet for sure. 

30 day blog challenge: day 22

something i'm saving up for

okay so i’m not actually saving up for this but the last thing i joked about saving my pennies for was to visit downton abbey, or at least where it is filmed. 

for those of you who have not yet watched downton abbey, watch it! you won’t regret it. everyone i know that has had doubts about watching it has ended up loving it…even men! so do yourself a favor… season 1 is on netflix and you can watch all of season 2 on pbs.org. and no commercials...hooray!

30 day blog challenge: day 21

a picture of myself today

i missed a day....technically two! so to play catch up i had to take a picture of myself tonight with bad lighting on my computer.

but here i am: 

and in hopes that two poor quality pictures equals one good one, here is another one i stole from carly's facebook. we went to a screening of titanic in 3d at paramount studios tonight and had to document our hot 3d glasses. 

30 day blog challenge: day 20

what's in my make up bag

i use a mix of a little bit of everything when it comes to make up....because i am very picky and so is my face. 

-cover girl clear mascara

-tarte 4 day eyelash tint

-maybelline one by one volume express

-mac studio fix powder

-mac blush [currently a crumbled mix of dolly mix and well dressed]

-mac eyeshadow [my go-to colors are phloof! and woodwinked]

-clinique eyeliner [i've had for so long the color name has rubbed off but it stays on so well!]
-laura mercier tinted moisturizer [spf 20]

-clinique quick corrector [have loved it since like 7th grade and it was just discontinued so i had to special order it]

-mac studio fix powder

-bobbie brown lip balm [my favorite thing ever!]

-mac red lipstick [i am rarely brave enough to use it]

and not pictured is burt's bees. it's the only chapstick i will wear!

30 day blog challenge: day 19

dream vacation

i have always loved the idea of going to ireland and scotland. they are so beautiful and i have family from both sides that came from there so i think it would be fun to explore and see where they lived. and of course, i love the accents!

30 day blog challenge: day 18

a picture of my shoes

[the things a girl has to do to be taller than 5'4"]

do you know how hard it is to take a picture of yourself wearing shoes? nearly impossible without it looking weird..and i was not about to ask someone to take a picture of my shoes for me because that is also weird.

30 day blog challenge: day 17

3 things i am grateful for

1. my incredible family, who are always there for me...whether i want them to be or not! i am extremely blessed to not only be so close to my immediate family, but my extended family as well. i didn't realize how rare and lucky it was that we are this way until i was older and realized most of my friends didn't have what we do.

2. my sunbeams. i teach sunbeams, and i'll be honest...it's not my favorite. but i can't deny the fact that they are super cute and i love to watch them learn and grow. just today one was crying because he was so disappointed he didn't have the third article of faith down well enough to pass off. but by the end of primary he had practiced it enough and knew it perfectly. so cute!

3. technology. you may roll your eyes, but it's true! do you realize how amazing it is?? all of my very best friends are scattered around the country and thanks to technology i get to talk to them, hear them and even see them instantly whenever i want. i don't know what i would do without it.

30 day blog challenge: day 16

favorite game

i really don't like playing games. i will usually avoid them at all cost but my friend, adi and her mom forced me to play phase 10 once and i won. so naturally i liked it. and i kind of still love it actually. it probably helped that it was when we were in the netherlands and they bribed me with the yummiest treats that you can only get there while we played. i absolutely refuse to play anything where i have to look really stupid, like charades.

[if you asked me this like 15 years ago, i would have said life. because i would cheat and get twins every time so i filled up two cars.] 

 

30 day blog challeng: day 15

favorite recipe

these barefoot contessa coconut cupcakes are to die for! 

and i am not really a dessert person so that means they must be pretty good...right?

3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
2 cups sugar
5 extra-large eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons pure almond extract
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk
14 ounces sweetened, shredded coconut

For the frosting:
1 pound cream cheese at room temperature
3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 1/2 pounds confectioners' sugar, sifted 

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix well.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In three parts, alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold in 7 ounces of coconut.

Line a muffin pan with paper liners. Fill each liner to the top with batter. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove to a baking rack and cool completely.

Meanwhile, make the frosting. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on low speed, cream together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla and almond extracts. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth.

Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with the remaining coconut. 

[i am not usually very careful with following recipe directions, except with this recipe. follow them exactly and they will turn out perfectly every time!]

30 day blog challenge: day 14

favorite city

if you know me at all, you know my favorite city is new york. But since so many of my blog posts have been dedicated to that great city already, I decided to choose another favorite place.

carpinteria is an charming little beach town just north of where we live. even though we have beaches much closer to us, it is the one i will always choose to go to. it usually surprises people when they hear i love to camp…but only in carpinteria. I love the way it smells like campfire, taking naps while listening to the water & train, the spot, main street [which is full of cute antique shops], and of course, robitaille's, the little old candy store.

  [super old picture of me & hannah in carpinteria. don't mind my sunglasses. i forgot mine.]

30 day blog challenge: day 13

five facts about me most people don't know

1. i secretly love hip-hop/rap music. i don’t ever buy it or listen to it around anyone but you bet that if i am in a car by myself that is what i am listening to and i know all the words.

2. if you even come close to tickling me or touching my face, i will punch you…i don’t have any control over it. 

3. i wish i liked bananas. but no matter how hard i try, i just cant do it. they’re disgusting and the texture freaks me out.

4. i am a flea market junkie and collect depression glass.

5. before i was a pr major i was set on doing sports medicine/athletic training. i even started taking the classes. 

i don't know why this one was so hard for me! i couldn't think of anything but i am sure as soon as i post this i will come up with a million. 

30 day blog challenge: day 12

a  photo of myself 10 years ago

i changed this to a photo of myself 10+ years ago because i am pretty sure 10 years ago i was going through a phase where i wouldn't let anyone take pictures of me. and then i was looking through pictures and couldn't pass up the opportunity to use these. apparently i got a little too excited when it came to sister pictures. the last one isn't too bad but clearly hannah had been scarred from the other experiences because she doesn't look too excited to be taking a picture next to me.

 

30 day blog challenge: day 11

favorite quote

i don't have one. but instead of being super boring and ending there, i will at least leave you with some i have pinned.

yes, i just gave you quotes from gossip girl and conan o'brien.

30 day blog challenge: day 10

favorite teacher

i have had so many great teachers over the years that that it was hard to choose just one. but my fourth grade teacher, ms. gauger, was amazing. fourth grade was easily the most fun year in all of elementary school. 

we celebrated may day, the gold rush, learned all about the earth, the rainforest, california and missions…and we had an iguana as a class pet! we went panning for gold, made our own beef jerky, candles, ecosystems, may pole, and a giant tree in the corner of our classroom. that year i also got way into recycling and saving endangered animals…all because of ms. gauger. she got me so excited about learning and exploring, and was always thinking of new ways to make learning fun. 

30 day blog challenge: day 9

a fear

when i am at the doctor, they can poke me with a needle as many times as they want. but what they can't to is take my blood pressure. i hate it so much...it makes me want to throw up just thinking about it right now. 

and another one is nuns. i know they are just sweet little old ladies but i am so afraid of them! except for Fraulein Maria.

30 day blog challenge: day 8

most embarrassing moment

when i was in fourth grade, my mom made me this amazing new dress. denim shirt on top, floral print on the bottom…i was so cool! i paired it with a cute pair of matching tights and walked proudly to school one day. you see though, the problem was that maybe i walked a little too proudly and confidently to school because apparently with each step i took, my backpack did a little bounce, grabbing just a tiny bit of my dress each time. and those darn tights kept my dress from falling back down where it belonged.

so i get to school and notice people are staring. my dress must have been better than i thought! and then i looked to my right and saw my crush walking towards me. i was so excited it seemed to happen in slow motion! he got closer and closer and i got nervous…and then it happened. he leans over and he tells me that my fabulous dress is bunched up around my waist, making my stocking-covered bum visible to everyone on the playground! oh, it was tragic. pretty much the end of the world to fourth-grade me.

let me just add the fact that a lot of you probably know exactly who this crush is that managed to save my life and humiliate me all at the same time. if you don’t know him from byu football, you may have seen him recently sporting a baltimore raven’s jersey. fortunately for me i am pretty sure he doesn’t remember this tragic event, or at least that’s what i keep telling myself.

i don't get embarrassed easily, but to this day i still get embarrassed thinking about this. 

30 day blog challenge: day 7

my dream home

my dream house is not very big and full of lots of love and bright colors. i’d like to think it will be very organized and spotless, like the pictures of the hgtv dream homes but i doubt that will be the case. Since i don’t have a specific dream home picked out, i give you...part of my pinterest pin board for all things "home": 

30 day blog challenge: day 6

a proud moment

in third grade i was in the school choir. one day our choir teacher told us we were going to have auditions for the solo parts in our upcoming performance. so we sat and watched as whoever wanted to raised their hands and went up to try out. i kind of wanted to but kept brushing the thought aside because i knew i would never be brave enough to audition. finally our choir teacher said we had time for one more person to audition. without thinking i shot my hand up in the air, and before i could take it back, he called on me. i am 100 percent sure i was picked because he knew how big of a deal it was for me. so i walked up to the front of the room and my whole body was literally shaking…but i did it! a few weeks later i was singing a tiny solo part in “the lonely goatherd” in front of an audience. we have it on tape and it is horribly embarrassing to watch but i am still so proud of my third grade self for being so brave!

30 day blog challenge: day 5

favorite movie

"meet me in st. louis" is probably my very favorite movie of all time. I love love love judy garland in it and have the biggest crush on john truett. 

the trolley song is my favorite scene I think I could watch it over and over. 

 

30 day blog challenge: day 4

a picture of my family

 

it was such a crazy few days we didn't have a chance to get a picture of the whole family together but i love these pictures from my graduation, which was also the same day we picked my sister up from her mission [which explains the BOM and Y cookies].

30 day blog challenge: day 3

five favorite things 

1. i absolutely love cheesy made-for-tv movies. lifetime, hallmark, abc family, you name it. don’t even get me started on the christmas ones. i LIVE  for made-for-tv christmas movies!

2. gnomes. love them! not to go all hipster on you guys but I loved them before they became popular, honest! growing up, every time i went to my grandma’s house she would read to me from a book all about gnomes. except for the pages where they were naked, which there were surprisingly many of.

3. i could eat a bagel every day and never get tired of them. i think i scared my dad once by how fast i ate one he bought me on a road trip.

4. target is my version of heaven.

5. peonies. not only are they amazingly beautiful but they remind me of my grandpa. i love them for both of those reasons.  

30 day blog challenge: day 2

favorite youtube video

i have a really hard time with choosing a “favorite” of pretty much anything. so i don’t know if i have a favorite youtube video but i do love looking up clips from what is kind of like the british version of modern family. the show is called outnumbered and i could honestly watch clips of the little girl, karen all day long. first of all, she has an accent, which makes just about anything better. but she also makes up most of her lines on the spot which makes it extra hilarious because you can just see her little mind spinning. 

so here are a few of my favorite clips from the show:

 

30 day blog challenge: day 1

favorite animal 

in third grade i did the second official report of my elementary school career on the african elephant. to this day it is still my very favorite animal. i could go on and on but i will spare you all the details and just say i think they are the most amazing creatures and it is incredible to me how they have emotions and instincts so similar to humans. 

 random fact about elephants: they can't jump! 

30 day blog challenge

my lovely friend, lauren has inspired me to do a 30 day blog challenge!

she did it last month and i loved learning little bits about her every day. i also think it's kind of a fun way to document random things about myself and my life. so tomorrow will be day one!

because the ocd in me really needed the challenge to end the last day of march...