10

My sweet cousin Ashley tagged me in her Honest Scrap. My first blog-tag. Oh wow. So the deal is this, I just have to write 10 honest things about myself. Honest and somewhat surprising or entertaining, I'm sure. We'll see. After my 10, I get to blog-tag 4 people. So here goes...

Thing 1. I am THE WORST at brushing my hair. It's so annoying. For most of my life, I've had short{er} hair. Which really doesn't require brushing. I'm sure many women with short hair would disagree, so this is obviously a not-so-recent problem, it's just becoming such a hassle as my hair gets longer. I will wake up and throw it in a pony tail and go about my day and when I want to go out at night I'll take it down to comb and maybe curl or something... when to my dismay I can't even get my fingers through it. And then I'll think about when the last time I brushed it was... sometimes DAYS. So then I have to put tons of conditioner in it, break it to pieces, and cry to get it smooth again. It's so sad. On these days I'm ready to shave my head. {I am really good at brushing my teeth though.}

Thing 2. I wish I had old-fashioned talents, {that's not an insult, it's just what I call them in my head}. But I don't have the time or patience to actually master them. I would love to sew or crochet or knit. Or bake bread or quilt or make homemade strawberry jam or can up summertime {peaches and pears} in mason jars or make pie crusts from scratch. I guess {and hope} one day I'll want to do an old-fashioned talent bad enough that I'll just discipline myself and learn. But for now I just think about it.

Thing 3. I'm obsessed with antique/vintage things. My eye is always open for a vintage necklace or plate or nic-nac. Whenever I'm in DI or Salvation Army, I spend most of my time in the dishes isle looking for an old piece of china and since moving out here, my best hobby is flea markets. I have dresses, jewelery, mirrors, clutches, plates, tea cups, lace, a type-writer and old tin cans. When I have my own home I'd love to do up a room with a vintage flare. And I will own a claw-foot tub.

Thing 4. I love books. Libraries are great, but I have real issues with not owning books I've read. When people give me books as gifts I'm always touched. It feels really personal to me, like they put thought into what I would enjoy reading. I love used-bookstores, especially ones with wood floors {idk}. I even love textbooks {truth!}. I want to have my own library one day. Oh, and I love talking to people about their favorite books, it gives a lot of insight into a person.

Thing 5. I think red is an awful color. It's sad, I know. I don't exactly know why I have this aversion to it. I don't own one red item of clothing. I don't like red flowers. I don't like red cars, paint, or furniture . I do like red lipstick, but it looks weird on me. Most of my clothes are blue, grey, or black. I do like red things I can eat, {apples, strawberries, peppers} and of course red is appropriate at Christmastime. There is just very little love of red in my personal life, especially if it's paired with black, yuck.

Thing 6. I secretly love getting shots. Not because it doesn't hurt, I just love watching the needle go into my skin. The nurses never let me give myself shots, annoying, and I can't wait to give them to people {not in a weird or mean way}. I just think it's so cool! Like a hot knife through butter.

Thing 7. In 3rd grade my teacher, Mrs. Moore, complimented my handwriting in front of the entire class. She said that she wished she had handwriting like me, and that made my heart almost burst with pride. {Even though she was lying, but at the time that never occurred to me}. So growing up I was always meticulous about my handwriting. I love cursive, trying new styles, and I always notice when other people have pretty or unique writing.

Thing 8. I write in my journal almost everyday. I've filled over 12 of them. It's become an obsession. I finish about one a year. Sometimes more and sometimes a little less. I always get excited when I'm nearing the end of one so that I can pick out a new one. I always look for one that's different or unique, and sometimes I just buy a plain one and decorate it myself. I especially like when the paper is uneven and looks old and worn.

Thing 9. I hate/am scared of animals. They gross me out and make me nervous. Especially dogs. I have nightmares about dogs. And kittens. {no joke}. Cows are especially terrifying. My heart is pounding just typing that & remembering this one time my Mom and I were 4-wheeling down in Southern Utah and we were on this mountain trail with cows on either side. I swear I almost peed my pants out of fear. I also hate raccoons and dragon flies.

Thing 10. I love to travel and can't wait until I have funds, time, and someone to do it with! My promise/reward to myself is that after I graduate nursing I'm going to London to see Les Miserables in the Queen's theatre. Every decade birthday I have, I want to celebrate abroad. I missed the boat on 10, left the country during my 20th year, but on 30, 40, 50 {etc.} I want to be off US soil on March 2nd.

Thanks Ash! And the 4 I choose. 1. Shey [my dear friend from high school, she has such a sweet, bubbly perspective]. 2. Ashley Keller [because she promised to blog and i just don't hear from her enough]. 3. Mama [she loves to blog, i love to read her blog]. 4. Mara Dear [she's so cute&creative and i miss her].

pictures+thoughts.

This is Peyton Manning, we like him. Last week was the 2010 Superbowl. It might have been the first time in my life I've watched it. [not entirely, but 3 quarters worth]. Alli and I cooked a bunch of yummy food and we had a Superbowl Party at Mckay's house. I am learning lots about this sport. Like, pass interference and first downs. With some patience and a lot of tenacity, I will soon be transformed into a foam-finger-waving football fanatic.

I miss these girls a lot. Sometimes when I'm bored, or procrastinating, I open random files on my computer and look at the zillion pictures we have together. That is a happy past time. My Mom sent me the sweetest Vday package. Red shoes (perfect, I know), cute heart-shaped baking tins (I've coveted Rachael's ever since Jan08), and heart-adorned plates and napkins. She's the best. I love this picture. It was taken over Christmas, it's silly slash cute. I miss my family. I love living out here but I don't like missing out on the day to day family stuff. He's so handsome. I like to stare at this picture. We have a hot Valentine's date tonight and I'm pretty excited. I even bought new earrings for it, oh wow. Alli Fife [far left] is my sweetest, sassiest, shopping best amiga out here. Last night we celebrated her 21st birthday at this place called Butterfield 8 Restaurant and Bar. We had dinner at 9, and by the time we left (11:30 or so) it had turned into a club-breasty drunk un-ladylike ladies and all. Fun. When we left there were bouncers outside. Little did they know I'm such the under-ager. It was a great night with good friends. I spend every single day with this little pumpkin. Sometimes I really like her. I've been here 6 months now {WOW} and I'm antsy. I'm dying to be back in school. Lest you think I'm unhappy, she's really adorable and I call her "love bug" & she calls me "Nick" [in the cutest 2 year old voice] and asks me 100 times a day to cross my eyes for her, she thinks I'm funny and I think she's precious, it works.

. And no picture, just a plea. Dear Summertime, Please, please, please just get here. I am so sick of snow and cold. I am sick of uglifying my outfits when I have to put on a coat and boots to go out. The white backdrop is boring nowadays and I'm sick of being indoors. I need to go swimming and wear shorts and eat watermelon. My skin needs some color. I need to lay in the grass and have picnics and read books. As we dig ourselves out of this nasty snow, I dream of sand and sunshine. I would appreciate your immediate compliance. XO, Nic.

a few things

valentine's day is my favorite holiday. {ok, besides christmas}. i love that it's a celebration of love! usually my blog is pretty plain jane, but with vday coming my excitement has spilled over onto my background. this month is adorned with love birds and sweet sentiments, best. why vday rocks my socks: it's a holiday everyone can celebrate. seriously, everyone has the capacity to love. growing up my mom always made a big deal out of it. not just for my dad, but for her kids. we always got sweet cards and little gifts. it made me feel so special and loved. when i was 13 my dad gave me a red carnation {bleck}, it was the sweetest. heart decor. flowers and chocolate. even if you have to buy them for yourself. my mom makes heart shaped chocolate biscuits with strawberries and whipped cream, i've missed them the last few years but last vday i made them with my roommates. even if you don't have a "significant other" the list is a mile long of people and relationships and love that can be celebrated. those people who say it's just a hallmark holiday and commercialized etc. etc. etc., pish-posh. every holiday is commercialized. embrace it.

also, had a great weekend. saturday i had brunch with my dear friend allison at alice's tea cup. It's an alice in wonderland-themed restaurant/tea room. The food is great and it's just so dreamy and whimsical. We saw a little girl there with her daddy {sweetest}, she got sprinkled with fairy dust and was so thrilled. it warmed my heart. after brunch we flea market shopped in the 15 degree weather, ouch cold. but i scored a lovely vintage clutch.

that night i made dinner for my honey. let me just share this super easy and impressive recipe. spaghetti squash with sage and walnuts: cut squash in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds & season with 1/4 t. each S&P. place 1T. butter and two sage leaves in hallowed-out core of each half. bake the squash at 400 degrees for about 1 hour, or until soft. remove and let cool. scrape the meat from the skin using a fork and set aside. in a large sauce pan over med-heat melt 3T. butter. once melted, add 1/2 c. chopped walnuts. toast the nuts and allow the butter to to bubble {about 1 min.}. add 15 fresh sage leaves. when they release their aroma and begin to crackle {about 1 min.} add the squash and stir to coat with butter and warm. season with more S&P serve with fresh parm. lastly, i've gotten a little hooked on the bachelor. i blame a few people. my cousin ashley because she posted about the girls on her blog and made me curious, my friend ashley because she started watching it on hulu and inspired me to do the same, and living 40 minutes away from my church because now that i'm caught up it's just so much more convenient to sit home on monday night and watch it rather than driving to connecticut for fhe. i'm pulling for tenley. she's so sweet.

xo, nic.

Holiday Highlights.

• dad on christmas morning passing out presents. i love the way he does it. so excited for everyone and trying to evenly distribute the loot. we take turns and see what everyone gets.
• seeing good friends. the picture of stac, ali, bryce and i is priceless. great summation of our relationship/personalities. i don't have a picture of the girls i met up with for brunch, four of my best friends who are always there for me no matter what. xo
• spending the night down in slc with ashley & scott, shane, josh & rachael. porcupine grill, temple square and a nickel arcade. so fun. i miss those byui people!
• sister time: we had a slumber party at regan's new place and then kenna took us all for a delicious sushi lunch. they are so hillarious and darling. i adore them. we have such splendid times!
• sledding! best. minus some not so minor injuries.
• spending time with my mama. always one of my favorite things about home. we shopped and talked and cooked and laughed lots together. i love her.
• bringing the boyfriend home to meet the family. wowza! [he passed.... right?]
• family dinners. thanks to my mom, the most magnificent cook EVER, we always have ridiculous feasts. i'm not convinced i have the cooking gene she got from her mother.
• trying to take a decent family picture, no one is ever satisfied!
• laughing. my family is so funny! kenna especially seems to have this thing where she doesn't really think before she speaks. the result is a constant stream of funnies coming out of her mouth. example? "mckay: what do you call a boy ballerina? kenna: a balla-weiner." you can't not laugh at that one. she's a funny girl.
• watching lots of good movies together. [my sister's keeper!!!!!]
• being around my dad. he's such a good man. and when i'm with him i just extract this happy aura and easy-going air. plus he always has the best advice for me, a given when it's coming from the "smartest man alive" [that's what he told me when i was a little girl.]
• telling ali that we were eating at one restaurant and then forgetting to tell her that plans had changed... leaving her stranded in logan. [really not a highlight al, just so funny it needs a bullet point! i love you.]
• playing games! phase 10, taboo, cranium, pictionary.... we love them.

2009: great year. i: finished school at byui, spent a wonderful summer with my best friends, decided what i want to do with my life, completed 2 of my 3 goals from 2008, moved all my stuff out of my parents house and into storage [tear], landed a sweet [allbeit semi-fake] job, moved to new york and adjusted to a new life, fell in love with the east coast, discovered new things about myself [i like teaching, i hate the game "mafia", i LOVE the city, i have no sense of direction...], met a boy.

2010: it's going to be a good year. i can feel it! i know everyone is saying that... let's just all be optimists for a bit. i'm going to focus on being happy and content with what i have! i think i've spent a lot of my life wanting more and breaking my back to be better and stronger and more ________ [fitb]. i don't necessarily think that's bad, but this year i just want to be content with who i am, what i have, where i'm going etc. less stress and more time enjoying my year. new goals include: apply and get into a nursing school, save more & spend less, be a more Christlike person on a day-to-day basis. turn 21 [ok, so that's not really a goal, but it's happening this year, and i'm excited for it. and surely i will not fail at having my birthday] I usually only pick three... that whole over-achieving and raising the bar business gets me all messed up.

anywho. 2009 was fine. twentyten... [what rhymes?] whatever, welcome new year!

Family Time!

There is no other organization that can so completely satisfy our need for belonging and happiness like the family. Why do we yearn for home and loved ones? I believe this yearning is a universal, God-given instinct that all people in all cultures are blessed with. I also believe that a loving Heavenly Father gives it to us because within the family we expierence most of life's greatest joys. The sights, sounds, and associations of family and home are among our most treasured memories and provide our fondest anticipations. {Marlin K. Jensen} It was a great two weeks at home. More to come on the Christmas-shabang & all the fun I had. But for now, I'm just feeling so blessed to have spent the holidays with my favorite people in the whole world.

Il Divo

In high school I had the most incredible teacher, Mrs. Obray [my AP US History&AP Gov/Law teach]. In her classroom one of two things were listened to daily. NPR or Il Divo. And so, my Senior year, I fell in love with Il Divo, [and NPR too].

Last night I was able to go to their concert in the beautiful Beacon Theatre in New York City. It was AMAZING. There are no words. They sang Halleluja, one of my favorite songs. I might have teared.

We went with some friends and had such a nice night. Kristin Chenoweth [Glinda in Wicked] sang a few songs with them as well as an incredible girl on the violin. The theatre was breathtaking and the music was unbelieveable. Afterwards we ate at a cute Greek restaurant, Nicko's. SO DELICIOUS. The night couldn't have been better. Great music, great food, great people. We're happy.

And guess what? Christmas is one week from tomorrow. I am going home in FIVE days. I can hardly contain my excitement.I miss home so much, I didn't even realize how much until I started thinking about going home for Christmas and suddenly the days started dragging. Let me go home!!! It will be a perfect two weeks.

One last note, I wasn't feeling very Christmasy this month, mostly because I wasn't home and missing all my normal festivities has been kind of hard. I was feeling sad but then stopped and remembered what Christmas is really about. Not the lights or gifts or pretty decorations... even though I adore that part of it. I had to remind my self that Christmas is a celebration of our Savior and the night he was born into this mortal probation. The significance of that holy night and his infinite atonement that was to come. When I focus on that aspect I feel the Spirit so strongly. I'm excited to celebrate this season of hope and promise with my family! Merry Christmas to all!

Soap

Recently my Mom started her own soaping company. After an incredible amount of research, work, stress, and excitement, she is ready to launch her beautiful creations and share them with the world! She has developed a line of pure, natural, vegan soaps that are gentle on your skin and uplifting to your spirits! They're darling, hand-crafted, and she uses a special blend of essiential oils in each bar. Take a look at her new blog; http://www.ittybittysoapcompany.blogspot.com/. [The peppermint one was inspired by yours truly, so I must recommend it]. These make great Christmas gifts. If you like them [and you will], tell a friend.

With Thanksgiving so close to being here and me being so in the spirit of things, I just wanted to write a little post with a gratitude theme. These past few months I've thought a lot lately, "Is this really my life?!" I'm unbelievably happy and content and so grateful for the people and expierences that have been placed in my life. I know the Lord has been instrumental in the direction my life has taken. So a few things I'm thankful for this year: [and not in any particular order] First and foremost, the Gospel in my life. The relationship I'm strengthening with the Lord and my testimony that is constantly solidified and made stronger by His influence in my life. I have grown to love the saints in this area, my fantastic Bishopric, and the people in my ward. I am humbled by my new calling [Gospel Doctrine teacher] and feel that it is stretching me to new places, spiritually I am growing so much. I'm so grateful to the Lord for recognizing my needs and desires and blessing me with opportunities and expierences that are helping me to become a better version of myself. I'm thankful for my sweet, supportive family in Utah. They are my rock and the sunshine in my life. My parents truly are "goodly parents". Our home is a haven from the world and the peace I feel there is a direct result of their diligence, love and dedication to their family and Heavenly Father. I'm thankful for my sisters- my best friends. Each one so unique and sassy and wonderful. I'm thankful for my brother- quite possibly the sweetest, most adorable, kind-hearted 11 year old on earth. I'm thankful for my AMAZING friends... such great girls, that "friends" doesn't even seem like a strong enough word to use for them. I'm so proud of each one. They've all had tremendous influence in my life. Little apartments in Rexburg will always bring sweet, sweet memories to my mind. I'm thankful that Mara is coming to spend Thanksgiving with me! We'll both be missing our families [first Thanksgiving away] but I'm so excited to spend it with her! I'm thankful for nice people. I do believe that people are genuinely good and on a daily basis I see this. The other day I was in Nordstroms at the Bobbi Brown counter [the foundation is to die for] and this darling older woman was getting her makeup done for some event she was going to that night. Her and I and the lady doing the makeup just chatted. No joke, I sat in the chair next to her for 45 minutes. Doing nothing. Just talking. I love people who smile, who are friendly, and who are kind. They make me immensely happy. I'm thankful for my extended family. My aunts and uncles and cousins and incredible grandparents. I'm thankful for the lady who carried the stroller down the stairs in Grand Central for me while I juggled everything else. We might have missed our train had she not stopped. I could go on and on... There are so many things we have to be thankful for. We are richly blessed, and I feel that very strongly this holiday season.