Happy Birthday, GW

Last Tuesday I was walking through George Washington University's campus and came across this lovely surprise. It was GW's birthday and some fun students took advantage of this fun fact.

I love this city

Two Month Turn Around

Last weekend, while driving back from Philadelphia, my friends and I decided to come up with an 8 week personal challenge. It is serious business - there is a monetary punishment if you mess up.

We each choose three areas of life where we would be seeking improvement. Mine are: financial - I can't spend over $50 each week on frivolous stuff like eating out, clothes, iTunes, etc, physical - work out at least 4 times a week for at least 45 minutes, spiritual - read scriptures at least 6 days a week and at least 4 talks a week. So if I missed 2 days of working out, 1 talk and 2 days of scripture study, I would owe the pot $25. This is serious business.

When/if we miss an occurrence we have to put $5 in the "pot" and at the end of the 8 weeks, the lady who did the best will get the pot. This already works because last night I went to bed without reading scriptures and I debated, "is this nice warm, snuggly bed worth $5? Nope, get up and get your scriptures". So far, in this first week we are all on track (they were wonderful to excuse me from my physical obligations this week). I'm curious what Week 3 will look like :) 

I like personal challenges, especially if I have to be accountable to someone else. 

It seems like lots of my peeps are all about the personal challenge lately - check out Aubry's Project.  Good luck, girl!

Feeling "Better"!

I no longer feel like Death has settled in my chest and I have not taken my temperature once today - I believe I am on the mend! Woo hoo! Sheesh, I have not been sick like that for a long time, hopefully it's out of my system for a while.

Alrighty friends, I've been thinking that it's time to snaz up this bloggity blog o' mine. Can anyone recommend someone good/cheap/funny to help me out with this? The funny part isn't required, it just makes everything more fun :)

Have a great weekend!

Sick. Poor excuse.

Blerg. I am sick right now, hence the lack of posting. Great things are happening, but I'm too yucky to want to lift my fingers and exercise some creative juices. Hopefully tomorrow brings the energy and inspiration.

xoxo,
Sicko

A woman and a man are involved in a car accident on a snowy, cold Monday morning; it's a bad one... Both of their cars are totally demolished, but amazingly neither of them is hurt. God works in mysterious ways.

After they crawl out of their cars, the man is yelling about women drivers.

The woman says, 'So, you're a man. That's interesting. I'm a woman. Wow, just look at our cars! There's nothing left, but we're unhurt. This must be a sign from God that we should be friends and live in peace for the rest of our days.'

Flattered, the man replies, 'Oh yes, I agree completely, this must be a sign from God! But you're still at fault...women shouldn't be allowed to drive.'

The woman continues, 'And look at this, here's another miracle. My car is completely demolished but this bottle of wine didn't break. Surely God wants us to drink this wine and celebrate our good fortune. She hands the bottle to the man.

The man nods his head in agreement, opens it and drinks half the bottle and then hands it back to the woman. The woman takes the bottle, puts the cap back on and hands it back to the man.

The man asks, 'Aren't you having any?' The woman replies, 'No. I think I'll just wait for the police....'

Philly, PA

Last night around 10pm my roommate Devon asked if I wanted to go to Valley Forge and Philadelphia. I am not spontaneous so I didn't necessarily want to but I thought it would be fun and some girl time is never a bad thing!

It was just three hours away so it made for the perfect day trip -

Good morning, Valley Forge

The wind today was INSANE

Valley Forge, I wonder how it looked 230 years ago

I love graffiti. A lot. Especially if it's a misshapen bat.

Did I mention I love graffiti?

It was so windy it made Lindsey cry. True story!

The famous Liberty Bell

This famous statue is teeny!

The park next to LOVE Park has a bunch of giant Monopoly, Bingo, chess and domino pieces.

Isn't Sabrina cute???

This little guy was collecting money to feed hungry kids. You put the money in his mouth and watch it exit his bum. Maybe he has a head cold, hence the scarf

Yessssss! 

This was at a market that is supposed to be pretty famous

Devon and I shared a nutella + strawberry crepe

Macy's - of course we stopped in the shoe section. Rachel's always have good taste!

A pig ring, why not?

Geno is VERY patriotic

Lindsey and Sabrina wanted an authentic Philly cheesesteak

Geno's is pretty legit - Vanna White has eaten there!

"I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done."

- Lucille Ball

Friendlies

I was out to lunch with a friend yesterday and we sat and marveled for a good 10 minutes about how lucky we are to have the friends we have. I often think on those gifts that I call my friends and wonder what I did to have them. I know genuinely good people. They constantly overwhelm me with their capacity to love, teach, laugh and forgive.

Thank you for being a friend (ha! Golden Girls reference), I depend on friends almost as much as I depend on family. So, really what I'm saying is thank you for being my chosen family.

I am a lucky, lucky lady. True story. 

Have a wonderful weekend and remember that you are in my prayers always.

being an interpreter has made me lose control of my face.

one of these days i will get seriously beat down by someone who catches me.

until then, i will continue to let my face do the talking.

I Can't - I'm Busy

On Saturday you will find me at the Pentagon City Mall -

Let me make this clear - I will NOT be trying out. I would probably die if I heard Miss J call me plus sized, but then it would be okay because I would forgive Miss J for anything. 

But can you imagine the thrill of seeing this today?!? As I was ascending the escalator from the metro, this beautiful sight came into view. I watch every season. This show has brought a new level of kinship to my relationship with my mom. It's big, got it?

I'll go just to do a little Nigel Barker stalking so that I can ASK him to marry me and then TELL him to cut his hair. He's a beautiful baldy. Let's keep it that way.

What A Utahn Looks Like

Last night I was picking someone up from the airport and I realized I needed a little bit 'o gas or I would leave a certain someone stranded at Dulles International. And I didn't want that certain someone stranded.

I pulled over and began the process of getting gas when I heard, "hey!". It was definitely directed at me so I looked up and there was a guy in front of my car. He said,

"I just wanted to see what someone from Utah looks like"

(I still have not yet registered my car here)

I laughed and asked if I was what he expected (I was in a hoodie, work out pants, Uggs and my glasses) (not my finest but definitely not my worst) and he said, "Yep, pretty much what I was expecting".

Huh. But I'm from San Diego.

Happy Valentines Day, ya'll. 

May your day be full of love and laughter.

And a little bit of chaos.

I had a break between jobs this week so I sat in the Red Cross pavilion and read my book (Shanghai Girls). We have been having lovely weather lately so I took full advantage of it and the fact that I live in one of the greatest cities on Earth and I SOAKED IT ALL IN.

This is on a pillar in the pavilion and I just love it.  What think ye?

Jaleo

Oh hey there friends! I have been a lazy blogger lately and only after hearing that my roommate's mom is threatening to cut me off of the delicious fudge she makes am I now motivated to post. I am un.in.spired lately - blerg.

A few weeks ago I went to a tapas restaurant called Jaleo with my buddy, Ben. They brought out bread and oil for us, check it out:

Yum! A clove of garlic and a sprig of rosemary (I think). You should have seen the mess on my side of the table! I forgot a camera so Ben let me take a few snaps with his phone. 

As an apology for being away and negligent, I leave you with a weekend present. Have a lovely one and I will work on finding some inspiration!

I have named this baby Meghan, after my sister who had a smiling problem for the first 6 years of her life

Twinners

text from my friend josh:

"has anyone ever told you that you look like lea michelle from glee?"

"Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine."

-- Lord Byron

Anderson, Be Safe!

This is a video of Anderson Cooper of CNN and his crew being attacked while in Egypt as they were covering the crisis there. The accompanying article said that the main attackers seemed to be supporters of Mubarak and while they were being assaulted, Egyptian soldiers did nothing. 

Can you imagine the terror of the scene? I can't. Reporters are being attacked and hurt by those not wanting this information to get out, but it is. They can't stop it. The whole world knows.

Knowledge is power. Oppression is real.

For a long time my favorite scripture has been D&C 6:36 (a book of scripture specific to my religion). It reads:

"Look unto me in every thought; 
Doubt not, fear not"

I am so happy to know that there is a Father in Heaven who knows me better than I know me and who has a plan for me. What comfort and peace this brings. Doubt or fear creeps in - look to Him.