October... Oh how I HaTe Halloween...

October is a wonderful month for fall, scenic drives and cute Fall clothes. It's also a month of midterms and the dreaded (probably only by me) tradition... Halloween.

Halloween brings about unneeded stress of picking out a costume.

I don't ever know what to be. Because I'm not creative and not innovative. especially where clothing and costumes are concerned..

Any ideas?

Luckily my mom sends me cute decorations or I would be even more out of luck! :)

This is a quick post and I have 2 pictures. I have 3 decorations... But, Jenna was sleeping when I left so I could turn on the light so you can see the third.

The third item is a cute wooden standup thing that says Boo! And it's straddles a bucket of chocolates me and Jenna bought for the room.

Here are the first 2:


Jealous? :) so cute! I love my mom.

Ps did anyone else watch the presidential debate? :)

October 6, 2010

It snowed today. Like legitimately snowed. As in I was walking across campus and it was snowing.

It didn't stick here but, the mountains are covered. Which makes me really excited to snowboard. And really unexcited (is that a real word) to be cold.

I don't have too much to say. I got a job. I love it. I love my job. How many people can say that? I really enjoy going to work that I don't really mind waking up at 6:30. And I don't mind making money either.

My schedule is as follows:
Monday:

• Work 8-11
• Living Prophets 11-12
• Biology 12-1
• Break/Lunch with Ana 1-2
• Comparative Literature 2-3
• Break 3-4
• Communications 4-5:15. 
• Home/library/review... depends on the day. 

Tuesday:

• Work 8-11
• Break 11-12
• Work 12-2
• Break 2-5
• ASL 5-6:30
• Home/library/review/study... again depends on the day.

Wednesday = Monday. Thursday= Tuesday.

Friday:

• Work 8-12
• Biology Lab 12-1
• Break/Lunch 1-2
• Comparative Literature 2-3
• 3-end of day... anything. 

I wake up early. I go to bed early. I don't hang out much. But, that is fine with me! As long as the days turn to weeks and the weeks to months. I am excited to hopefully apply/get into my major. I am excited to start taking more classes for my major. So.. this semester needs to be over. Cause I am so sick of generals.

252 days till it's a year.

617 till he's home.

But, who's counting. Gosh. I miss him.

You May Call Me,,,

Some call me Susan Boyle (because of my amazing singing), to others I'm Angelina Jolie (because of my obvious beauty) and to the rest of the world I'm Oprah (because I'm inexplicably wealthy, smart and good at everything I do).

BUT! To you, my avid readers, today you may call me Julia Child.

I'm guessing a few of you are staring at your computer in disbelief. This strange, little white girl from Charlotte, North Carolina could NEVER be compared to the Rachael Ray, Gordon Ramesey and much less Julia Child.

To those (few) skeptics I say... off with your head! Or... off with mine... as this post will probably embarrass me but, also allow me to take my place among the greats. For they too, were doubted by onlookers.


Today, I was hungry. I have little food. Mostly because I don't really know what to go to the grocery store to buy. So, I survive off sandwiches, pasta, cereal and other prepackaged delights. I was tired of all of that. My heart craved in n' out. But, my wallet put it's foot down and said "NO." So, I set off to take inventory.

I looked in my fridge. Most everything was getting close to empty. BUT! I had a dozen eggs. And what is better than eggs? Well, a lot. Anyway, I thought to myself... where's that "The Joy of Cooking" cookbook I have tucked away.

Luckily it was on my shelf of books. Tragically... cooking has never been a joy.

I found the section that said eggs. Now eggs for lunch was a foreign concept to me. Unless you cook them in top ramen. Which I have none of. It's too unhealthy. Right?

However, I stumbled across a recipe titled: Eggs in Poached Soup.

Poached soup? I read it wrong the first time. But, fortunately in a desire to discover what exactly poached soup was... I looked at the ingredients.

That's when everything changed. It called for eggs and tomato soup. Both ingredients I had. I was sold. Except for the poached part.

Eggs Poached in Soup:

"The following recipe makes a good, attractive, light meal - Prepared in a few minutes. Combine in a 8-inch skillet and heat to the boiling point over low heat:

• 1 Can of tomato soup: 10 1/2 oz.

Diluted with:

• 1/2 cup of water.

Add:

• 1/2 tsp of dried basil
• 1/4 tsp sugar

Reduce the heat and keep the liquid  below the boiling point. Add to the soup:

• 4 eggs

Simmer 4 to 5 minutes or until the eggs firm up. Serve the eggs on...

• rounds of toast

Covered with the soup. Sprinkle them with

• chopped parsley

Easy enough right? 

Well, I had the skillet already on the stove. I was heating it to start with my eggs. I was planning on scrambling them.. Well, I thought to myself... I'm pretty sure that's a skillet? I thought it was a frying pan, but I think they are about the same thing. So, I took out my trusty iphone and googled skillet. Sure enough what I had heating up on the stove was in fact a skillet.

I got my can opened. And I took out 2 eggs. I began pouring my soup onto the skillet. Well, the stove was on and the pan was hot (not medium heat) and the soup began to steam and burn and scream and all kinds of stuff. Freaking out, I abandoned the recipe. I quickly poured in my 1/2 cup of water, turned the stove off and moved my skillet to another burner.

I turned that burner to medium heat and began stirring frantically in an attempt to combine the soup and the water to one consistency. It worked! And then I remembered the sugar. I couldn't find any small measuring spoons... so I did a pinch. I figured in a recipe like this less is best. So, I didn't use a lot.

It suddenly dawned on me I had NO basil. Garlic salt is a good alternative right? I put a little dash of that... it quickly solidified.  So, then I spent the next couple of minutes trying to chop little pieces of it up and make it dissolve!

Once all the excitement was over and the soup was "one" and it was finally boiling, I cracked my egg. Well, not one for poached eggs and being an expert at adding eggs to ramen, I used the same principle. I left the soup slightly boiling and added my egg all while stirring to make sure that the yolk did not solidify and that the egg cooked (like it looks in egg drop soup). It worked. And I decided that one egg was in fact, enough. I put the other egg away. Took my soup off the stove. And poured it into a bowl.

I almost forgot the most traumatic part of the story. Haha the whole story is traumatic right? Well, burned nasty chunks that looked a little like chunks of blood... were tainting my soup. So, I spent time scooping those out. It was an experience. And I was on the verge of nausea the whole time.

Wallah. I was done.

My beautiful lunch. Water, salt, crackers and soup. My communications book is underneath my joy of cooking. 

Studious as always.  

I was unable to remove all the chunks and was forced to eat around them.

The Recipe of life.

Soon to be my new favorite book.

My artsy picture. Cheese for some more taste. And also... to make it look more appetizing.

The soup seemed to be evaporating as it cooled off. A most peculiar thing... As every time I looked over at it (I was doing the dishes while my piping hot soup cooled off) it was getting lower in the bowl. I came up with 3 explanations:

1. It was evaporating. 
2. The ancient Greek gods must've thought it looked appetizing and thought I was offering burnt sacrifice. (My comparative literature class must be getting to me). 
3. My hunger was causing me to hallucinate. 

Anyway, it wasn't so bad. It wasn't delicious. But, it was good. It was college food. It was well worth the calories... maybe not.

But, it was lunch. And for the day... I AM JULIA CHILD! So, address me as such.

Dear Mom,

You were right. I need to learn to cook. And you are far superior than I. I also need to eat more meat. So maybe, I'll call you soon and we can work out a grocery list. You're the best.

Love,
Sophie

The only thing missing was my cooking partner... Nikole. Everything goes better and tastes better with her around!

That is all.

Sincerely,

Julia Child.

A Couple Things...

Tuesday evening Ana and I were able to go to the Temple and take part in some of the sacred ordinances there. It was such a much needed escape from the world. It was one of the most inspiring times that I have ever gone. The spirit was so strong and I just felt peace and at ease. It was like I was finally able to come to grips with where I was in my life.

I feel like my testimony is something that I don't share often enough. I didn't share it this past Sunday, but, I felt like maybe I should here. It is after all something that people I care very dearly about read and comment on.

Provo Temple. I took this last year. 

I know that my Savior lives. I know that He loves me. I know that this world was created by a loving Heavenly Father. I know that his wisdom is infinite and that he knows me and each of us by name. I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. That it too, is inspired scripture and the word of God. I know that the Bible is the word of God. And that together it and the Book of Mormon serve as a testimony and witness of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I believe that God is the same today, tomorrow and forever and that he is unchanging. It is because of this belief that I know that he still cares about each of us and speaks to us today. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that he did see Christ and the Father. That this is the true Church on the Earth today and that it is designed after the church Christ set up while he was on this Earth. I know that President Monson is an inspired man of God, namely that he is a prophet, seer and a revelator and that he leads and guides this church under the direction of our Father in Heaven. I know that my Savior and my Heavenly Father know me by name. I know that I am a Child of God. And I know that that knowledge entitles me to commune with my Father in prayer. I know that my Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers. I know that families are forever. I know that they are an eternal unit. I know that there is life after death and that our growth and progression continues on in the next life. I know that the leaders of this church are called of God. I know that there is a plan for me, and for each of us if we live righteously. I know that Christ died on the cross for our us. And that he atoned for each of our sins. I know that he was resurrected and was an example in all things. I know that He is always there and wants each of us to return to live with Him. I know who I am. I know God's plan. And I follow Him in faith. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I know that often people confuse faith with blind obedience. I know that as the world changes and it's idea of right and wrong is redefined that the Gospel is constant. That the programs and policies may change but, that the doctrine never will.

I heard a quote in Sacrament meeting on Sunday that I loved.

"As long as we are living righteously, bad things will happen to us, but the wrong thing NEVER will." I am a firm believer in that. How true and inspiring that is.

I hope that I am always a proper example of what the church believes in. I hope that I can always be found as a witness of God, in all times, in all things and in all places. I am beyond thankful for my beliefs and my upbringing and the joy and meaning the gospel brings to my life.

For a beautiful talk on Grace watch the link below. (You may have to create a BYUTV account. It's free. After that, you can just type in the search bar "Brad Wilcox" it's his devotional given on 7/12/11. It is about 30 minutes. And really very interesting. For members and nonmembers alike.)

http://byutv.org/watch/49475abb-10d4-4f45-a757-7000b9945468

The Bountiful Temple. The Temple I want to be married in!!

New Friends...

As of late new friends have become old friends and random strangers have become new friends. And old friends have become older friends? But, the best thing about all of that is that they are all friends. New, old and older. :) And I am lucky to have them!

Chase is an RA this year and so we kinda hang out at his dorm the most. Partly because he has cute, fun roommates and partly because it's in the middle of where we all live.


Just a couple of our new friends are:

1. (she's old... but new to this area/group) Genevieve Gantt. Aka my cousin. And I love her to death. Goodness I could go off on how much I love that girl.
2. Taylor Matherly: New to me... old to Jenna and Chase. He did summer sales with them. 
3. Austin Christensen: One of Chase's roommates. 
4. Kirk Bassett: One of Chase's roommates.
5. Eric Anderson: Another RA. Over... Fugal hall.
6. Tanner Preece: One of Chase's "residents"
7. Greg Andrus: One of Chase's roommates. Hilarious. 
8. Any of Genevieve's wild friends she brings over with her. 

All in all.. I think this is the first time I can say that there have been more guys in our group than girls. :)

Anyway, we had a fun weekend with that group... taking walks, going to the park, getting slurpies, going to a movie, going out to eat or just sitting around and talking. It's been fun though. Here are some park pictures... Only Eric and Austin are in them though. 

For those of you with Facebook... all of them are up there.

Me and Ana. Allowing the boys to have "guy" time.

Chase... Hanging upside down?

Eric and Chase.

Again... us. ha

Chase on his Razor!

Chase and Austin... attempting to hang upside down by his feet.

Chase and Ana.

Eric, Me, Austin.

We can all see who has the most muscle here... clearly me. ;)

College Round 2

I just got news about my used to be major. I was a communications disorders major. I went to their office and found out that the job I was describing has a name... Occupational Therapy. A major only offered at the University of Utah. And it was weird. Yesterday, as I started classes... I just got weird about my choice to make Communications Disorders my major. So, I went to the advisement center. To say they were very little help... would be an understatement.

I don't really know what I want to do. What I want to be. And I don't like my Interior Design class already. The teacher just rubs me wrong. So, square one. I miss William. I have no idea what I want to do. If I should drop classes. Agh. It's frustrating. And I want to cry. But, I'm stuck in this library tearing up all while trying to act normal.

Anyway, I just don't really know. And it's frustrating. And I just don't know. And I keep saying that. But, that's really all I can think of to say.

My room looks awesome. My mom is amazing. Gosh. I really am so lucky to have her. And my dad. He really is the most wonderful man alive.

Anyway, we worked really hard. We got down there Wednesday, and with a lot of help unpacked the car and attempted to clean and decorate the room. It was a daunting task that would take 3 days. Here is what we started with:

We slept there and the next day got right to work. We spent the next couple days cleaning, running to the store, visiting Chase and more decorating. Finally, my room was complete. And it looks splendid. I can’t express in words how much time and effort went into this room. And I can express even less how much I enjoyed having my mom come and help. It was something I know I could never have accomplished without her. She is always there when I need her… except for when I called her on the phone today. ;) Just kidding. And I loved having her here in Provo with me.

Here is my room and a description of how lovely it all looks.

This is my side of the room. For the most part. Complete with all my valuables and bedding. And of course the necessary pictures of some of my loved ones!! That is the shelf we bought. It came in handy and has been a major asset! As you can see. That little Minion. Well... her name is Bianca Flowers. The third roommate. 

Wider angle of my half. I have my study area. And a better picture of the bed and what it looks like when it's all made up. 

This is my desk. Behind it ... my collection of waterbottles. And then there is my book bag. Filled.

This is my closet. It has all my favorite pictures of people on it. With room for some to be added. My jewelry is off to the side and then leaking onto the door. I forgot to take a shot of inside my closets. So, maybe later.

This is our kitchen. I mainly put it up because I was able to bring a little piece of home back with me... The Rita's poster!!

On and behind our bedroom door. It has my poster! William's mother made it for me. And then the wreath on the door that Jessie made. As you can see everything matches perfectly. Down to the posters. ;)

This is the dresser with world's teeniest drawers. And then my wall which kind of leaked onto Jenna's half but, I don't think she mind. That's Justin Bieber... looking classy as ever. 

A shelf on my desk. Used to hold all the books I will be reading this year. Yes. All of those. :(

Our serving area is small in comparison to the eating area. Or maybe this is the cooking area and where the table is, is the eating area. I don't really know. Either way, that part of the kitchen is small. 

Our living room. We have 2 couches and a massive TV. The TV came with the apartment. We have yet to buy or install cable. Which is fine with me, because if I'm watching anything... it's a movie. 

This is the bathroom. Not much more I can say on that. Oh! There is a poster of Wall-E behind the door and one of William Turner from Pirates of the Caribbean above the toilet. 

Just another view of my desk and my bed. 

My "shrine" (and I use that word lightly) picture turned out blurry. So, when I open my hallway closet and then my actual room closet... I'll take pictures and include them on a later blog. 

My original post was going to be more upbeat. But, I am in kind of a bummed mood. And just don’t know what I want to do. Or anything. So… sorry for this lame post.

Recap: I am majorless. I don’t know what I want to do. I can’t think of what I’m good at and help apply it to a career. I am missing William like crazy, Provo is doing me in slowly. And I love my mom and have the BEST room ever. On a plus side I am trying to be social and make friends in my ward. It is coming along slowly, but I am trying.

P.s. My mom is the best. 

Best Friends.

Living at home this summer as made me realize, I have all I need right here.

"If home is where the heart is, then my home is where you are." -Relient K

My heart truly lies with my parents. And a little sliver of it is in Mendoza, Argentina. OK. A big sliver.

As much fun as it is to do stuff with friends. I don't need 100 friends to be happy. It has been the summer of my dreams in a lot of ways, but in a lot of ways it has been the exact opposite. It depends on my mood. I am more often than not very happy here. But, as in most situations, my bad moods seem to overpower the good ones. Not bad moods. Bad moments. I don't know what I will do next summer. It's in the air. But, I have time. Thank goodness.

Anyway... I have 5 best friends. Their names are (in all honesty and not in that cheesy kinda way), Linda, Paul, Chase, Hayden and Blake.

I love my parents. I love my brothers. I think we really are unique in how close we are. And how well we all get along. But, I could be wrong. I have people who love me unconditionally and I know I love them like crazy. They are very much so, some of my best friends.

 I've blogged about my family before... so here are the most recent pictures.

I love him. I look up to him. My husband WILL be just like him. 

Call me a daddy's girl or whatever, but I love him. He is everything I want in a husband. He is kind, he is loving and he is easy to talk to. No one is quite like Paul Giler. NO ONE. I miss him terribly at school. don't voice it as much. But, I do. I know I am who I am today because of him. In more than one way. He is an excellent man, a wonderful father and a beautiful example.

I love my parents. Very dearly. I can tell them anything. I have no secrets or shame with them. I can fart in their bed, eat far too big of bites and tease them relentlessly. I can tell them every detail of my weekend activities and I can be far too honest with them. Something I KNOW very few of my friends can say. My parents are unique. I love them as parents. And I love them as friends.

However, my mom is my best friend. Through the thick and thin she is always there. I love you. We may not be twins. We may not be schoolyard pals. But, we are best friends. We are very much a like in our differences. She is wonderful and every bit the woman I aspire to be. I look up to her. I love everything about her. From her high heels to her "sermons" (life lesson seminars she has been known to give to her children), she is my mom. I am HER girl. Something no one else can say. :) Lucky huh?

The Giler's, together we make a family. :)