pumpkins through the years.

In honor of Halloween, I thought I'd post some pictures of this October holiday with my pumpkins in past years. I describe my pumpkin-carving ability as that of a second grader. You'll see why. 

 2006: Check out that outfit. The rockin' glitter-studded pants, pink fuzzy slippers, AND the crimped hair. 

 2007: I remember this year. My friend and I dressed up as zombies and effectively scared little children (I might have even chased one down the street after he trick-or-treated at her house). My pumpkin was...a little off that year. The nose and eyes are about all the same size. 

2008: Apparently I didn't carve anything fantastic this year. All I could find was this picture of my feet with the pumpkin I had just picked from the patch. That was a fun time. I recommend it.    

   2009: My skills were really lacking this year. I don't really know what that was all about. Sometimes, I just lack the desire to carve something awesome. Apparently, that happens more often than not :)

 2010: Pumpkin carving date. Look how cute that little pumpkin is! 

2010: Pumpkin carved at FHE with the same guy pictured above. I think is my pride-and-joy pumpkin. Yeah, it's a little ... creepy, what with the hanging man and all (and please notice the owl perched on the tree branch!) but we came up with that idea ourselves. I was just happy it wasn't just a crazy face like I do every other year. And, we won the Best Pumpkin award that night. 

2011: Oh, that's right. I haven't carved a pumpkin yet this year! Maybe I'll do that tonight. I've carved a pumpkin for as long as I can remember (or at least the last 5 documented years). 

So, do you carve pumpkins? What are your favorite holiday traditions? 

Oh, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

It's the great pumpkin!

Look what you can watch for free on Hulu! I love Charlie Brown movies. They remind me of my mother :) I've spent 4 hours in the library today and have another 3 before it closes. But, this provided nice background noise. And check back Monday for my post featuring exciting past-pumpkin carvings!

Happy Halloween Weekend! 

karaoke fanatic.

It's a truth generally acknowledged ... that Peacocks like to sing/perform. I see it quite frequently in my niece's character too, which is pretty fun. My friend posted a photo of me singing last night at a ward FHE Barn Dance & my mind started reeling on the many, many occasions I've done this type of thing. So, I thought I'd share some photos documenting some of these moments for your (and my) amusement. 

 Singing "Man! I Feel Like A Woman" at FHE. 

The above three photos document some of my EFY years: singing "No Arizona" (top left), "When I Think About Angels" (top right), and "Red High Heels" (I'll let you figure that one out...)

Awesome karaoke at a Piano Bar in Washington, D.C. We sang showtunes for hours. It was lovely! 

This photo cracks me up. I'm singing Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". This photo was taken in Granada, Spain this summer. A few friends and I sang at a little bar well into the morning hours. We finally left after butchering "A Whole New World." It was late. 

Anyway, there's a peek into something you might not have known about me ... but probably did. It's likely that if karaoke is around, I'll be able to find something to sing. 

So, tell me...do you or don't you karaoke? 

a break from midterms.

I think most students had their midterms last week or the week before. However, I still have one this week. But, after spending 5 hours in the library today working on a research paper due on Friday, I decided I couldn't stand the silence. So, home I came. While filling out my midterm study guide, I stumbled upon ABC's new show, Once Upon A Time. 

I had no background knowledge of the show, but I actually quite enjoyed it. It's different from the other shows on TV that I catch on Hulu, like Modern Family (this episode reminds me SO much of my mom!) and The Sing-Off (loved this performance last week). Anyway, have you seen Once Upon A Time? What fall TV shows are catching your attention? 

Alright, back to research/law cases/libel & privacy law. 

tuesday tunes (friday edition)

Clever title, right? I can't think of alliteration for Friday + term involving music. If you think of one, let me know :)


On my morning run today, this song came echoing through my mind. I haven't heard it in quite some time, but it's a beautiful song, great video, and has some powerful lyrics too. Perfect.

I'll admit. It's my guilty pleasure :)

Halloween spirit, yes? This song reminds me of walking through the halls in elementary school in our costumes, trick-or-treating between classrooms. This song would play over the loud speaker.

I love Kelly Clarkson. She's so beautiful in a not-so-Hollywood-stereotypical way. Plus, this song has a good beat.

I blame this last one on my friend, Aaron who posted a picture of himself dressed as a Newsie for Halloween. Of course when I saw it, I thought of the music from the movie!

There ya go. Hope you enjoy my very random music pics for this week!

the funny thing is...

well, do you ever have times when you just feel like nothing is going right? then, one day, things start falling into place?
that is what has been happening to me lately (with housing, graduation, summer plans). yet, I still feel like there are so many holes and spaces that I want/need to figure out. (that's when I am reminded of patience)

sometimes, though, we just aren't ready. and no matter how much we think we want something, or how much we want to believe something is right, that's not always the case. maybe it's the wrong time or we haven't learned our lessons yet.

i'm not sure of the answer (even though I wish everything was printed like a roadmap in front of me). but, I do know that I am blessed with so many wonderful things.

so, when I get discouraged, I really ought to remember all the teeny tiny things God blesses me with that make me happy -- running into someone that reminds you of a test that you weren't in class to hear about, sharing Dairy Queen frozen hot chocolate with a roommate, finding out I'm going to be an aunt again, playing silly childhood games, seeing random reminders of past summer adventures...

and, above all, things are going to get better, right?

digging through the hope chest.

Once upon a time, my sister Jen came to visit. I have a lot of photos from a family party we had, and I shall display those in another post. But, first. Sunday night, Jen came up to mom's house & we took a splendid walk down memory lane. And then we even convinced mom to let us go through her hope chest, where Jen and I once again discovered our similar tastes ... for all things vintage! 

 We played the 1980s Go For It! I was quite pleased with the Tudor Estate, jeep wrangler, hot tub & pool, horse stable, and African Safari :)

 Check out that beautiful apron. Sigh.

 Um. Awesome 1970s quilt handmade by my mama? Yes.

 Yep, I was rockin my mom's 1980s tshirt. I tried to steal it, but she caught on to my scheming ways.

 Then we found her wedding dress. It somehow fit.

 My mom stitched these pillowcases. Mushrooms! So 70s.

And a vintage apron my mom used as a little girl in the late 50s/early 60s. Awesome.

There you have it ... a few vintage finds from my own mother's hope chest. It was a fun night indeed :)

tuesday tunes.

current songs on repeat:


anyone who knows me, knows that I love a good cover.


sometimes, James Taylor says it best.


country. i love how it hits the spot at times.


such a unique version of my favorite hymn (that's technically not a hymn)


ok, i don't listen to the radio, so i'm little out-of-date on "current music" but one of my roommates has had this song on repeat the past week. And, I'll admit. It's catchy.

What are your favorite songs these days? It seems that mine change about every other day. I love rediscovering an old song that hasn't been played in ages. I'd be lost without music.

the top two.

these are my top two favorite movies.

And I've watched both of them in the past 48 hours. There is something about Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Meg Ryan, and Tom Hanks that I just love! And the quality mid-to-late 90s chick flick aspect. Maybe the best part about these movies is that I have so many memories of quoting them with my sisters growing up.

Best lines from While You Were Sleeping?

"These mashed potatoes are so creamy... Mary mashed 'em."
"Hey Luce, is that guy bothering you? Cause it looks like he's...leaning."
"When I told my mother we were engaged, her intestines exploded. You tell them now; you might as well shoot grandma."

Best from You've Got Mail?

"Where are my tic-tacs?! What?"
"I wanted it to be you, I wanted it to be you so badly."
"152 people who think he looks like Clark Gable." "152 people who thinks he looks like a Clark Bar."

Obviously there are more, but those are a few I thought of tonight. And brownie points to any guy who can quote those movies with me, or who knows the references when I randomly spout off phrases from them. :)

Runners-up? Return to Me, Father of the Bride 2
Any favorite 90s movies?

apple crisp.

This week, I made a wonderful fall treat -- apple crisp! My mom would make this growing up, but I never realized that it is a bit time consuming to peel and cut 12 apples (unless you have the nifty machinemy mom owns). BUT, it was well worth it! I decided to take a few photos so I'll let the pictures do the talking...

 Step 1: Cut up all the apples into slices and remove skin. I used a variety of apples and it tasted great! Add 3/4 C. sugar and 3/4 tsp cinnamon (or to your liking).

 Step 2: Spread mixture in buttered pan.

 Step 3: Smile for photo, showing off your domestic cooking skills (and the granny necklace you received for free in a clothing swap...)

 Step 4: Make delicious topping (3/4 C. brown sugar, 3/4 C. flour, 1/2 C. margine, 1/2 C. oats) and spread over the apple mixture. I love the topping, so next time I would make a little more than this just so it covered the dish entirely.

Step 5: Bake for 45-50 minutes at 375 (until apples are tender). 

 Step 6: Top with vanilla icecream (or cool whip...or eat it plain) and ENJOY. Don't eat the whole pan!

it's been on my mind.

Something has been bothering me lately and I can think of no better way to get my point across besides blogging about it (or talking to the same person over & over about how irritated I am. Sorry Kelly!).

Why do people hold grudges? Why can't we all just get along? Even if someone does something to upset us, what good does it to do to hold that in for months and months and even years?

Today in Institute, we were reading this talk. And this paragraph caught my eye:

"...That attitude (taking offense) is somewhat like a man being hit by a club. Offended, he takes up a club and beats himself over the head with it all the days of his life. How foolish! How sad! That kind of revenge is self-inflicting. If you have been offended, forgive, forget it, and leave it alone."

So, challenge time. Let's all try to get along. You don't have to be someone's best friend. But we should all be able to tolerate one another and get over ourselves enough to forgive them.

That's all.

it's better to look up.

This weekend was General Conference. How I love these two days in October (and the two in April) where we can hear words and inspiration from church leaders. I feel like the talks were tailored for me. It's been as though the speakers knew my struggles, my fears of inadequacy, and my doubts. I took many notes and wrote down countless words of inspiration and hope.

this talk was one of my favorites. The text isn't available yet, but that link will take you to the audio. Or you can watch it. I encourage you to listen to it or other talks. Even if you aren't a member of the church, great words of encouragement can be heard through these men and women.

Elder Carl B. Cook mentions that on a day of discouragement, he was told, "It's better to look up." Later, he speaks of letting go of balloons that represent burdens and hardship and looking up.

Well, my mom (an inspired woman, no doubt) took me on a drive when I got home yesterday, bought two balloons, and then we released them at a nearby park, remembering that it is better to look up.