Journaling Like a Boss

Oh yes, I thought it might be time for another 

journal entry from my past...

(Did you just read that in a dreamy like voice?  

It's ok if you did, 

it's not ok if you didn't because you're ruining the effect I want to create on my blog.

 Jk jk...

but really go reread it if you didn't, 

you know the voice I mean)

This one was written in cursive.  

I confused my UPPERCASE cursive D's 

with UPPERCASE cursive G's for awhile

                      11/7/97                                                      

"Gear J,

Today I was almost

late fore school but

I made it Today 

was a half day and 

thiers no lunch wich

ment no sience, art 

solshole studies, and 

lots more. Of course

we did have math,

I hate math not

adding but I hate

subtrackting espeishelly

regoupine. I'm 

going to fill a

lot of pages

tonight because I

skipped a lot of

impported times

like my birthday,

It is because I

have not written 

a lot in this 

book.  Here we go.

Alicia"

How could I have skipped all those 

impported times!?  

And why was I learning about the complicated 

french math regoupine

at such a young age?

50 cool points if you can figure out what all the words are supposed to be.

Also I went on to write two more pages of impported times: 

my birthday and the first day of school.

Hot Fuss

I have three  (3) favorite bands.  They all suit me for different moods.

What are my 3 favorite bands?  

the KILLERS

Flogging Molly

Mumford and Sons

Right now I am listening to The Killers.  Whenever I listen to Hot Fuss it brings me back to high school.  Jr Year I think.  I get this feeling like I'm just a little kid pretending to be an adult.  

You're probably like, "Then why do you listen to it?  That sounds depressing."

And yeah maybe it is.  High school isn't a time I'd like to relive.  I think I've changed a lot since then.  Well actually I know I have.  I've worked really hard to be a better happy person since then.  

Sometimes I just like to listen to Hot Fuss because 

it reminds me of how far I've come.  

From everything being the end of the world to 

finding reasons to

be happy in every situation.

It's good, when things don't happen the way I think they should 

I try to think of things to be grateful for.  

Hot Fuss reminds me that it's possible to change.  

Because I have changed since I bought that cd.  

Brandon Flowers has changed.  

Millions of people change everyday.

Not because of The Killers, but because 

the Atonement makes it possible.  

Because Jesus made the Ultimate Sacrifice for us.  

Because God wants us to live with Him forever, 

Because Jesus wants us to too, 

Because we make that choice to be better and change.

We make the choice to use the Atonement to 

change our lives.

I'm super grateful for this gift.  The Atonement is great! 

 I would be seriously lost in a dark abyss without it.  

Woah you guys.  This is not why I started this post.  But I am very happy with the way it ended.

I love you.  I believe in you.  

If you think you're hopeless, believe me, you're not.  You have so much potential!  You can be your best self.  Yes it will take work, but all the best things in life come after hard work.  Just rely on the Lord because his arms are always stretched out (Psalm 136:12, 2Nephi 20:4, D&C 136:22) to lift you up and help you and guide you along.  And to give you a hug, 

because sometimes that's just what you need.

And that's saying a lot from me because I am not a hugger.

Love you!  

Thanksgiving was SICK!

In pretty much both ways we use the word sick; meaning cool and sickly.

Everyone got sick that week, one by one.  Some threw up and had other stomach problems.  Others just felt a general queasiness that wouldn't leave them for the day.  

I, myself, got sick on Sunday, the day we drove 12 hours to come back to Provo.  I threw up 2 times before we left, and maybe 4 more times on the road.  It was a delight for all the passengers in the car.  

If you think I am serious about it being a delight, then you belong to the 

Adam's Family. (*snap* *snap*)

Even more sad my favorite person in the world got sick on Friday so he couldn't come with us shopping for wedding stuff...He was really sick ok.  I know your thinking "How convenient that he got sick on the day you were shopping for wedding stuff..."  But when we went on Sat he wanted to come too.  And he did and he liked it. 

(Name that movie for 60,000 cool points).

Now onto the cool sick part.  Adrian fits in so well with my family.  I knew he would, that's why I wasn't nervous.  And I think we had a lot of fun and nothing really embarrassing happened atall (as my Grandmother would say).

Except my family informed me that we are loud kissers.  

Which I think we kinda already knew.  

Well your really here for the pictures aren't you, but actually I didn't take that many, but I took some so here they be in a Thanksgiving collage!

Thanksgiving & Christmas

Cool, I'm so excited for Thanksgiving.

Think about it.  It's going to be the best vacation.  Just me and my Fiance and my family...in Phoenix!

Imma show him what I like about Phoenix, the people.  The good people not the scary ones in gangs.

And Imma make him watch "A Christmas Story."

He's excited to meet my family and sit and talk with them.

I'm excited for the weather and seeing everyone and the weather.

I haven't been home or with my family for Thanksgiving since my freshman year of college.

Anyways thinking about making him watch "A Christmas Story" made me think of my favorite holiday (Well I also love the 4th of July I would say Christmas is like a standard favorite and then 4th of July) Christmas is my favorite holiday.

Tyler at Christmas one year.  This picture is hilarious.

Yeah and it made me want to make a list of media I love about Christmas

1. A Christmas Story ~  So my family loves this movie.  It's on for 24 hours on Christmas Eve and Day.  We pretty much have it on all day.  Probably the funniest Christmas movie ever and it's funny every time, even if you watch it over and over for 24 hours.  Though I won't say it's a deal breaker if he doesn't like A Christmas Story, I really hope he likes it.  It's not a huge deal my sisters-in law don't like it actually.
2. Amy Grant's "A Christmas Album" ~ Best Christmas Album Ever.  This is also from my childhood.  Man how can you not love the way everything blends together on that album?  Unfortunately no one ever knows what I'm talking about when I mention this.  Ok Amy Grant's Little Town, wow you'll never want to sing Oh Little Town of Bethlehem the original way again.
3. Muppet Christmas Carol ~ Yeah pretty much a classic what more can I say.  You gotta love Gonzo and Rizo.
4. Charlie Brown Christmas ~ Duh Don't you always try to copy the Charlie Brown kids when they sing Hark the Herald Angels Sing and tilt your head way back  so your mouth takes up your whole face?...oh you don't?  Well you should, I do.
5. Elf ~  Besides the fact that Zoey Deschenel (No I'm not sure of the spelling) is amazing, this movie is hilarious.  So so funny.  Man so funny.
6. White Christmas~ Holiday Classic!  I always imagined my sisters and I singing the Sisters song.  We have a tradition of watching this every year too.
7. The Merry Christmas Polka cassette~  Come on and dance the Merry Christmas Polka...find this song and love it.  Or else...
8. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever- really funny book
9. The Lump of Coal- so this is a little book by Lemony Snicket it's really funny.  Read it.
10. Baby it's Cold Outside- I love this duet Adrian is going to learn more than just "Baby it's cold outside" for his part and then we'll sing it with each other, because I love it.

What are your fave Christmas things?

A Very Exciting Post!

*Disclaimer: not all conversations are word for word, in fact probably none of them all, but you'll get the idea.*


I don't know if you have guessed what I'll be posting about...

Some of you already know.

Because we're family and that's how it works.

But some of you don't

Some times we are like is this real and then we pinch each
other and we're like Oh Yeah Baby this is real.

Here it goes are you ready?

Heck yes WE'RE ENGAGED!

And here is the story of how it went.  

Well one Monday he was dropping me off at my house.  You know the whole door step scene.  And I said to him                                                                                    

"You know we just need some place we can be alone."

To which he responded jokingly, "I guess we'll just have to get married."

To which I responded,"Ok but I don't want to get married until March 2012."

Which caught him off-guard.  And then started an actual conversation about marriage which ended with me asking "Did we just get engaged?"

and him replying "No, now I know that if I ask you to marry me it is a high possibility that you will say yes."

Fast forward to that weekend Saturday morning.  We're at Denny's, where we went on our first date.  We are just finishing our chocolate shakes and cheesy red potatoes.  (Also what we ate on our first date).  We're just being funny and cute together because we always are.

Then this guy is washing windows so we decide to leave so he can stand over our table and clean the window.  We walk to McDonald's.  On the way there he brings up the marriage thing again.  This starts a conversation that sounds like 

"Would you marry me?"

"Yes!"

"Well when would we get married?"

"December?!"

"Uh not likely..."

"April..."

"January..."

"May..."

"April it is." 

"Are we going to tell people we 

got engaged in McDonald's?"

"No we're unofficially engaged."

Look at him making my heart melt

Now it's the next Wednesday.  I go to American Heritage with him.  After class we are just sitting there in the JSB Auditorium talking.

I ask "So should I get my facebook back?" (note this is a link to what I'm referencing if you don't know)

He replies "I mean yeah I guess so, my family would like to see more of than just what I put up.  Why do you ask?"

While he's talking I'm thinking "He doesn't remember."

But then "Ohhh hahaha!"

Which starts another conversation.  Like

"But I had all these plans and this isn't how I imagined it."

"Really because this is how I always saw us becoming officially engaged." (note: sarcasm)

"Well it doesn't make sense to not be officially engaged if we know we're going to get married."

He takes my hand and looks at me and says "Alicia Mae Reynolds (side note I love it when he says my name) will you marry me?"

"Yes!"

"Will you?"

"Yes!"

I melt.

So right after that I have to run to work at the library where I actually check out a bunch of books about wedding stuff.  Yeah I'm super stoked to be marrying the man I love.  He's the best.

That night after work I tell him I'm going to call my Mom and tell her.  He tells me that he thinks he needs to talk to my dad first. My mom says "He didn't ask your Dad!"

I say "Well that's because I kind of made him propose."

So then I tell my Momma what he says and she is happy.  Well she was happy to begin with I'm just saying now she is completely happy.

So Sunday now.  He calls my Daddy.  Daddy gives him permission to marry me.  Adrian asks me to marry him again.  I of course say yes!!

Now it's Thursday.  We get together and we talk about things.  And even though we had both done this before we ask God in prayer if it's a good thing to do.  It is!!  He tells us each so!  (Didn't know that God still talks to each of us individually?  Go here to learn more!  It's the best!)

So Friday night, I tell Adrian that I know that it's a good thing.  And he is really excited and I am really excited and we're like "Yes we're going to get married!"

Now it's yesterday I guess now, November 6th, 2011.  We had a dinner with my friend Julie and her boyfriend Scott.  (It was a vegan dinner, but still very tasty.  Lentil soup and rolls).  We had to go to his house so we could talk to his family in Ecuador on the phone.  

I talked with his Papa.  That was good.  He's very nice and I'm looking forward to meeting him!  And the rest of Adrian's family.  Because soonish (April seems sooooo far away) we'll all be family!

And then after we hung up we were just sitting there talking and laughing and being cute and awesome because we don't know how to be not awesome.  And everything just feels so perfect.  And Adrian looks at me and goes 

"*Gasp* Hold on I need to do something.  Stay here."

And I'm like ok...

And then he comes back and he's like "Baby come here."

so I do.

And he says, "I know we have done things in a not so traditional way.  I love that.  I love that you don't need any of that.  I love you.  And we've been unofficially engaged and officially engaged and I want you to have everything that you deserve.  Even though we haven't done everything traditionally there's still something I want you to have.  And even though I think I know what you're going to say I want to do this right and ask you."

 He gets down on one knee and 

pulls out a little black box and opens it 

and says "Will you marry me?"

"Yes!!"  and kissing ensues.

And the ring is just gorgeous and I love it and I love him and I am going to make him the happiest husband in the world!  I love him so much.

So so so Freaking much!

 It was the most perfect proposal ever.  Everything was just so perfect!

We're getting married

April 28th, 2012.  We're so happy!  

Not an Exciting Post

But there will be one soon.  

This post is about writing in my journals.

Gosh, I love writing in a journal, because then you can get everything out and it's completely honest and you can spill your guts and it's like "ok there now I don't have to tell any one else any of this stuff."  Though you may if you desire.

But I honestly hate going back and reading a lot of my journal entries because I sound like such an idiot.  When I go back and read them I just think "Man I hope no one ever reads this I sound like such a freak."  It's enough to make me want to burn my journals some times.  But I think I have figured out why I sound so stupid so often in my journal entries.

It's because when I'm writing in my journal, most often I am just staring things in the face, I'm not trying to see around problems or potential problems I am writing down just exactly what's there now and how I feel about it.   And I can see how some things had started to overshadow what I should have been seeing from the start.  How I should maybe more carefully consider everything and not obsess over one dumb thing.  And I should stop being so selfish.  

Whatever.

Gratefully my friend/roommate Adrienne pointed out that she feels the same way about her journal entries and the way she sees it is that when our daughters are going through similar things we can pull out our journals and show them we understand and then give them our knowledge on the subject.

He's singing in this picture.  I'm Melting as I take it.

Oh and I just want you all to know that I am completely in love with Adrian.  Seriously, he's the bestestestest.  And I'm excited to go watch him sing with Mens Chorus tomorrow.  Yeah because he also has the best singing voice ever.  I love him!

The Moral of this story is: Try not to sound so stupid when you write in your journal everyday for a year, you'll regret it later.  ;)

All That Free Time

I don't know why it bothers me when people ask me what I'm going to do with all my free time now that I only have one credit for the remainder of the semester.

I mean it doesn't bother me to the point of anger and I have to yell and scream at everyone.  Or I even act annoyed by it.

No it's just that... think about it people, I kind of was spread thin there for my first half of the semester.  11 credits and 2 jobs and other obligations plus trying to fit in things I love and want to do (because that's healthy).

Getting rid of those 11 credits is not really going to leave me with lots of free time but just allow me to allot more time to things that I really like to do.

Anyways that sounded whiny so here's a list of things I am going to do to occupy my "free time"

• READ
• WORK
• Scrapbook
• Craft projects
• Volunteer more
• GYM 2 hrs everyday.
• Work on my Resume
• Observe at the schools
• Work on lesson plans and tests
• Write on my blog more
• Cook more
• Clean more
• Shop more

and my personal favorite

• Play with Adrian more

He's never carved a pumpkin before...We're going to next Sat.  I'm so excited for him! I love carving pumpkins.  Almost as much as I love him.

I've Got Another Confession to Make

So last week on Tuesday was the Foo Fighters Concert.  So Adrian and I went to Salt Lake for the day.

It was really fun.  Here's our day in pictures.  Also we went to Olive Garden and ate a lot of cheese.  A lot of cheese.  It was so good.  But I didn't take any pictures of that.  

I have the best boyfriend ever.  Adrian is the bestest!

The Salt Lake Temple...when you go to Salt Lake you have to go to Temple Square.  Otherwise you miss great opportunities to take pictures like this.  And you know other stuff.... :)

Oh we're so happy enjoying the concert together.  Though that lady in the back looks angry.  Haha C'est la vie!

"I'm Dave Grohl, I'm the lead singer of Foo Fighters and I'm sideways."

"I like to rock hard and party on dudes."

"This is me with some of the members of my band.  We're awesome!"

Still enjoying the concert together.  Also I was enjoying his scruffy beard.  Too bad we go to BYU and he has to shave it off all the time.  But good thing he still looks good without it  Haha no We love BYU and I love his face beard or no beard.

Possibly the best picture of a concert ever taken ever.  Don't steal it because it's mine.  I took it.

Nobody Likes You When You're 23...

Today has been a great day.

Boyfriend bought me lunch.  And he came and saw me after Men's Chorus even though he thought I needed to sleep but I just wanted him to come over anyways.  He's the bestest.

Jenna gave me a chocolate nut covered caramel apple.  Quite good quite good.

Lotso people texted me Happy Birthday!  And my family called me!

And then tonight my roommates took me out to eat at Wing Nuts and then ColdStone afterwards.

Am I spoiled or what!?  

I feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.

So I would like to take this time to reflect on my 22 List.  What I learned and all that jazz (complete with Jazz Hands).

I didn't finish everything on my list.  I think this has to do with knowing my limitations.  Maybe working to overcome them or find ways to work around them.  Or using them to my advantage.  I really only didn't get to catch a fish or read the whole Bible cover to cover.

It kind of makes me sad, but then I look at my list.  I did at least 20 new things this year.  And they probably all would not have happened if I hadn't put them on a list!  

Making goals works if you write them down!  I know we're always told this our whole lives but this is proof.  And I think there sometimes needs to be some kind of accountability.  I had told y'all I was going to do these things and I didn't want to feel like I couldn't do it and let y'all down.  So I had to do my list and try hard to get it all done.

Another thing you may have noticed that my original list is quite different than what has ended up on the side.  I think this says something about recognizing what is important and being able to change and be flexible.  Some times we have a plan but things just don't work out the way we plan.  We need to be able to keep our chins up and keep looking forward to see how we can do better in the future or adopt a new idea that better suites our needs.  

I think another thing to be learned from not completing my list is that sometimes it is ok to fail.  How do we learn if we always succeed at everything?  I don't know about you but I feel like trial and error is a big part of how I learn.  I need to know what not to do just as much as what I should do.

Now I have been asked if I'm going to make a 23 List.  Maybe I will.  I hadn't really thought about it much, but it was fun to do.  And it's always good for a conversation.  But if I do I'll post it next week.

If you had a list of things to do in one year, what would you put on it? 

I love you all thanks for making my birthday great.  Thanks for reading my blog!

PS While I was writing this I got a text from Adrian to check my door.  And so I did and I found this:

there was a bag of Reese's taped to the door also

What can I say except I have the best boyfriend ever?!  

Birthday Surprise

So I made it in the top 40!

Of what?

Of blogs this Russian girl suggested that people check out because she thinks they're interesting.  I'm guessing anyways...I think that the page was translated or something because the grammar is a bit off but look I'm number 37.  That's exciting right!?

Anyways a better birthday post about my goals is coming I just need to do some stuff and I haven't eaten all day yet so yeah...

Haha!

These are the cupcakes from Kyle's birthday.  So cute and happy.

I love you all!

The Old Man is Snoring

It's raining today.  I like the rain.  Even though my toes get cold.

I don't like the rain when I have to walk to and from work in it and I have so many other things I need to do and my hair looks crazy because that's what my hair does.

Oh well C'est la Vie.

In other news I have updated my List.

See my birthday is on Sunday and I'm not going to have time to finish all the things I've wanted to.  

I'll probably post a more thoughtful and insightful post about this year and my list on my birthday.  But just know that I am working on it still and things are coming nicely, and hopefully I can find some  more new goals that I can complete before Sunday.

my huge hideous feet

Like this Friday I'm going Latin Dancing.

I'm super nervous because Adrian can dance and I cannot and I have big feet so I will probably step on him a lot and he'll be like "You have huge feet."  

No he won't say that, and he won't think it either but I probably would if I were him.

Anyways.  I also rolled my R so that was good.

Quick Like

This is just a quick update because I have so much to do, but I want to share with ya my happiness.

General Conference was so great.  Did you miss it?  Watch/Listen to it Here

You won't regret it, it's so awesome.  

I was grateful to get to watch Conference with Adrienne (my roommate) (at least while she could be there) and Adrian (boyfriend).

Does it ever get confusing having a roommate and a boyfriend with the same name?  Sometimes.  But is it ever comical?  Always.

Just imagine.

I'm listening to Elder Holland's talk that he gave to the Priesthood.  It's so good and I'm only 2 minutes in.  

I also really liked Sister Dalton's talk.  It made me want to talk to my Daddy, who I haven't been able to talk to in almost a month.  Because every time I call we miss each other.

These are pictures of my room.  Did I tell you I had my own huge room?  It's amazing.  Anyways, Help me think of ideas for decorating.  I did find this one thing I want to try with crayons and a hair dryer.  When I do it I'll show you.  I think Adrienne and I are going to do it soon.  

2 Fer and a Journal Entry

So I know I already posted today, but I'm feeling a bit nostalgic (thank heavens for spell checker) and I know how much you love to read my journal entries from my childhood.  

I drew this picture of Saturn...it could be better I guess but this is the kind of thing I do in my journals.

Well actually I'm only assuming you do because you like hilarious things.

Anyways...

Here it goes

"2/10/97


Hi J,
Today I woke up and ate 
pankaks they were good
Then I went to schooll 
and did some      work after 
lunch Me and Steph     went to 
prock projekt.  I We 
finishit our colums, dut 
I steell had to finsih 
finishit patieying  .   We mist
libery   becaus    we   your
jujing  some Greek and 
Roman things.  Then I went
home and did the usudol 
things I do.    I can't 
think of enthing elss
to write.  Buy  PS Sorry


Alicia"

So there you have it.  If you can understand over half of this you are amazing.  I understand for a few reasons, I wrote it, and I remember that day.  I remember because I did a really ornate column and I didn't ever get to finish it and it was sad.  

Also you can see I had a problem pronouncing Library.   Perhaps we should stop telling kids to sound things out if they can't pronounce things clearly.

And I defs have always had a problem with spelling.  Oh Grade school you were so good to me.  I miss the easiness of my young years.  

Les Choses

That's french for things.  IDK if I spelled it right because it's been awhile.

I want a car so badly that it hurts to think about how I don't think I'll ever be able to afford one.  

I'm not going to complete my list because there's just no time and I don't have a car.

Stupid cars.

Stupid.

Cars.

I wish I could fly.

But I don't need a car.  I haven't needed a car the last 5 years of my life, why should I need a car now?

OO wow this post is a lot more whiny than I would have liked.

On a more happier note.  Adrian and I (Adrian=Boyfriend) are going to have a picnic tonight after I get out of work.  I'm quite excited.  Really excited actually.  Because we have really busy opposite schedules we don't get to see each other that much during the week.

Also, this weekend is General Conference.  Watch it and be uplifted.  It will uplift you and make you happy. I promise.

And I promise I'm super happy really I am.

Last time I was in an artsy craftsy mood I made tons of pinatas for a HP8 party!

I'm feeling in an artsy craftsy mood.  I want to make something.  I want to make some decorations for my room.  Those tissue paper balls that hang from the ceiling.  I think they would look cool over my bed.  And I need some kind of wall art.  IDK I'll figure something out.  Do you have any ideas of what I should do?

Also I want to make cheesecake, but I already have the best recipe for cheesecake.