Rachael Diane

Life Lessons

2010-06-23T22:42:00.002-06:00

A very vital lesson that has become extremely crucial in my life as of late...

D&C 58

42. Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.

43. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins--behold, he will confess them and forsake them.

Lofty Dreams

2010-06-21T13:12:00.004-06:00

Just a few things on my high priced wish list.

iPhone 4G

Retro TV

Ray Ban

Square Wayfarer

Christian Louboutin

Anemone Stilettos

Manolo Blahnik

Mary Janes

My Girl

2010-06-21T10:44:00.003-06:00

Das Fraulein

my new baby.

Special Project

2010-06-15T10:18:00.002-06:00

So I'm working on something a little special and I need some help....I need to know which ampersand everyone likes best. Hit me with some feedback.

Wedding

2010-06-14T11:20:00.002-06:00

So of course as an event planner, I'm always on the hunt for beautiful weddings and I think I've found maybe my favorite of all time. Have a gander.

Visit http://www.davebrewerphoto.com/#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=8 for the entire album.

Dream Job

2010-06-14T08:36:00.004-06:00

Upon Graduation, I'm hoping to acquire an internship with David Stark in Brooklyn. Here's a little info about the man behind the company...

"David Stark is a renowned, New York based event producer as well as President and Creative Director of David Stark Design and Production. This full-service event design and planning firm is celebrated for the innovative,

imaginative events it creates for a wide range of high-wattage celebrity clients such as Beyoncé Knowles and Jon Stewart, major corporations such as Target, TBS and Condé Nast, as well as high-visibility fund-raising galas for the nation's most elite not-for-profit organizations including The Museum of Modern Art and The Robin Hood Foundation.'

"CBS' The Early Show, The Today Show, The View and Martha Stewart are several television shows that often call upon David to serve as a guest expert on décor, party planning, holiday decorating and home planting projects. David and his work are often featured in publications including Elle Décor, Glamour, Interior Design, InStyle,House Beautiful, and Town & Country to name a few.'

"David Stark currently resides and works in Brooklyn, NY and received a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts."

-Huffington Post

<--David Starks Studio

87 Luquer Street, Brooklyn, New York, NY

Here are some of my favorite events of his:

125th Anniversary of the Metropolitan Opera:

"Instead of over-the-top flowers and dripping crystals, fonts were our muse. Exploded, cropped, varied in type and color, the array of graphics not only provided a wonderful walk through the Opera s historic identities in print but it transformed the tent into a three dimensional collage. Elegant banners gently fluttered above vases and luminaries wrapped with glowing prints from every time period. "

Whitney Gala:

Luminaries made from slide sheets and paper swatches

Go to: http://www.designspongeonline.com/2008/11/david-stark-interview-diy-project.html to learn how to make them!

Sundance Institute Gala:

Birds made from Utah Maps and Groovy auction blocks.

National Design Awards:

Topiaries crafted from 6,000 tons of shredded office paper waste

Sundance Institute Gala:

Table decor fashioned from scripts and musical scores

Tate Modern's Inaugural Artists' Dinner:

15,000 benjamin moore paint strips compose undulating curtains

Museum of Arts & Design Gala:

Dining decor created from packing materials

NYC's Opera's Gala Celebration:

A wall of love letters and music

Robin Hood Foundation Gala:

Castle made from NYC coffee cups

check out www.davidstarkdesign.com for more photos!

I'm Back.

2010-06-11T10:01:00.003-06:00

Ok, so it's definitely been a minute since my last blog....but I'm back!

So much has happened over the last year. Soo....if you haven't been personally updated by me, I'll catch you up.

August:

I chaired the leadership conference here at USU and loved every minute of it. School began, and I started planning my favorite event of all time with my best friend.

September:

Homecoming! Brady and I were in charge of Mr. USU and we totally rocked it. Our theme was "I can go the distance" from Disney's Hercules. It was completely fabulous. I also joined the Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity for women.

October:

Brady, Colie, and I planned the HOWL and what a success that was. We brought in about 6,000 people and made over $80,000.

January:

I turned 21! I finally became a full fledged adult! I also got a job as an event assistant for the Utah State University Research Foundation and Space Dynamics Lab. AND I finally bought a macbook pro (which has become the love of my life).

February:

Declared my candidacy for student office...and began planning.

March:

Lost my election for Programming VP, but was appointed Traditions Director. Also had quite the adventure in Las Vegas and St. George with some of my favorite people.

April:

Chaired the 52nd Annual Robins Awards! It turned out amazing. It was the most gorgeous event I've ever worked on.

May:

SUMMER happened. I moved in with six of my Alpha Chi sisters and my really good Kappa Delta friend Emma.

June:

NEW Car! 1998 Black Audi A4 Quattro.

Those are definitely the highlights of my year...hopefully I'll get better about blogging again.

Love you all.

Granola in July

2009-07-03T13:02:00.003-06:00

Q: What always makes summer better?

A: A hot granola crush

So earlier this week I ventured out to Idaho Falls with Court and Jake to help get some wedding stuff in order. After a horrible meeting with a catering prospect, we went to our appointment at an upscale restaurant called The Cellar. And that was where we met HIM.

His name is Bryan. He manages The Cellar. He's got a great beard and curly brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. I dont know what it was about him but I was totally smitten. And the way he talked about food...

Unfortunately he's already seriously involved, and probably about 10 years older than me, but a girl can dream right?

Godsend

2009-07-01T16:59:00.002-06:00

Toast #2

Many of you have had the wonderful pleasure of being a passenger in my gem of a car whom I've recently renamed Stella. I have done so, because she tends to have issues a lot, and when she does, I've found it's a great opportunity for me to yell "Stella" in my best Marlon Brando voice. If you've got no clue as to what I am referring to, I am deeply ashamed of you and advise you to either read or watch (your choice) the American classic, "A Streetcar Named Desire."

Back on topic, I was out running errands last week and when I got to the sports academy, I realized I'd absentmindedly left my water bottle on my kitchen counter. I debated whether I could get through my workout without it and came to the conclusion I couldn't. Reluctantly I drove home to fetch it. When I got to that crazy awful four-way stop on 6th and 10th, I waited my turn and then began to move forward. Oddly, Stella died. I started her up again and moved through the intersection, but not 60 feet through, she died again and this time unable to be resuscitated. Diagnosis: out of gas, usually preventable unless your meter is broken like Stella's is.

Not only was my baby dead on the side of the road, she was parked right in front of a bus stop. In a panic I called my roommate which labored no avail. Luckily my soul sister Josie came to my rescue. Upon her arrival we pushed my car in front of the bus sign and ventured to the gas station.

As I walked in, I saw the man at the counter wasn't my usual gas related savior. When I got to the counter, I explained my predicament only to have the Chevron attendant tell me that they didn't have gas cans and he couldn't help me. I was internally irate. I knew his statement was false as I'd used such services not only a month ago. I stood there hopeless, confused, and distraught about what I would do. And then HE came...

He worked at the Ford dealership next door. He offered me a can they had just "kicking" around the shop. I couldn't believe his kindness. We walked over and retrieved it from the dealership, and to my surprise it was already full! He said to use what I needed to get to the gas station and return it after.

So here's to you, lovely man from the Ford dealership. I am forever grateful for the kindness you provided a stranger in need. The world could use more of you.

And of course, here's to you Josie Olsen, for being a constant rescue in my life. Whether it's Stella breaking down on the side of the road or I'm in need of emotional support, you're always there and I love you unconditionally for it.

For All You Women Out There

2009-06-20T12:04:00.002-06:00

Some Kind of Wonderful

2009-06-20T10:28:00.004-06:00

Foreword: After reading through some past entries, I noticed one phrase that seemed to reappear a few times. "Here's to you." So after some inspiration, I will begin a new type of posting...Toasts! So whenever I feel something needs recognition, I will do it in this form. Enjoy!

Toast #1

After having extensive conversations with my good friend Lori about my pathetic lack of a successful love life, she reminded me of the 1987 film that would hopefully lift my spirits. Its been years since I'd last seen it, so I gave it a shot.

If you've never seen "Some Kind of Wonderful," drop whatever you're doing right now and drive to your local video store and rent it! I don't know how I've been missing it in my life. If you are anything like me, the storyline seems to fit perfectly into your life on a number of occasions, with the exception of the ending. The good news is...you only need one really good ending!

So here's to you, Watts, for giving hope to girls across America since 1987. May your legend pull us out of the man-hating depressions and help us find our own Keith Nelsons.

Living the Dream

2009-06-19T18:42:00.002-06:00

Recently I aquired an internship with a company called A Caspian Production. It is an event firm based out of San Francisco owned by USU Alumna Heather Mason. I'm really excited to be working with the company. I am their new Public Relations Representative. My responsibilities are as follows:

Evaluate competitive analysis of the marketplace

- Similar companies in the space

o Specifically those which market to social entrepreneurs or non-profits

o Those which target ‘Event Design’ or ‘Event Strategy’

o Conduct ‘Mystery Shopping’ or write questions/scope for Mystery shoppers

Interview owner of Caspian and write main messaging documents

- Revise General Capabilities presentation

- Rewrite messaging for website

- Collect bios and photos of all Caspian staff

- Deliver to website manager to upload and QC all uploads

- Create ‘buckslip’ or ‘leave behind messages for Caspian

Create press releases, newsletters, testimonials, specific to relevant clients or success stories

- Gain permission from past and present clients for stories

- Research best press sources for releases

- Discuss strategic long-range approach with Caspian owner

Work with graphic designer to on ‘unique’ and particular presentation materials

- Interview and assess 2- 3 graphic design approaches

- Discuss client ‘touch’ program with regard to gifts, etc

Research appropriate conferences and pitch speaking opportunities

- Discuss pitch and potential topics

- Contact HSMAI, MPI, eWomenNetworking, Entrepreneur, etc.

Research and present additional business development opportunities (OPTIONAL)

- Social entrepreneur organizations new to the event space

- Non-profits with significant new capital

Assist with Siena Italy Registration

- Provide customer service emails for Siena Attendees

- Compare data and provide reports for Siena Attendees

As you can see, I'll be pretty busy this year. If you are interested in seeing any of my work feel free to visit my PR blog at rachaelhansen.wordpress.com

TGI Friday

2009-06-19T17:27:00.003-06:00

On this wonderful day, Friday, it is only appropriate that I wear my TGIF tie dye shirt. A little less than a year ago, Alyssa and I were growing sad that summer was ending and I'd be back at USU and therefore no longer able to spend my Fridays with her. Our solution? Tie Dye TGIF shirts. We decided that if we wore them every Friday, no matter where our lives had taken us, it would be as if we were together. We also made one for our precious Skyler, who we hope is secretly sporting his shirt beneath his white shirt and suit coat at the MTC. Happy Friday!

Adventure Crew

2009-06-19T13:34:00.003-06:00

Ok, due to the probability of there being infinite amounts of postings about adventure crew in the future...I have created an entire blog in its honor. So if you want to keep up to date on all of the fun outings we venture out on just keep your eye on the Adventure Crew Blog. Enjoy!

Farewells and Commencements

2009-06-02T16:50:00.000-06:00

Farewells: Goodbye Stacia and Skyler! I will miss them both terribly but am so proud of them! They will both make fantastic missionaries.

Graduates: Alyssa, Britni, Hailey, Cloey, Cassie, and Sarah, you are done! Congratulations my girls! Welcome to the life of college. Over the next 4-6 years you will experience new and crazy things that will only continue to mold the beautiful girls you are into the incredible women I know you'll be. I raise my glass to you and your future success!

寿司

2009-05-31T17:11:00.000-06:00

What is my favorite thing to eat on a warm saturday evening? That would have to be sushi. And where you might ask would be the best place in Boise to eat said sushi? Shige's Express. Probably the most anticipated family outing, usually rewarding yardwork or the return of a college student, so you can imagine my excitement to return to Boise and be treated to such fine Japanese cuisine.

I loved sitting with the fam, chatting with some Boise Braves (who incidentally kept taking all of the good sushi before it could float down to me...), and playing the "pretend" game with Michael and Hannah. It was deliciously delightful.

It was a pool party for all of the cool kids at my school

2009-05-10T16:33:00.000-06:00

Q:Whats better than kicking off summer with a pool party?

A: Nothing

The weekend after school ended and summer began, Colie and I traveled to Stacia's house for the first pool party of the summer. It was so great to see everyone who had moved home! We played H2O UNO and ate some delicious barbeque, making it the best summer start imaginable.

Moving is always better with Aggie Ice-Cream

2009-05-10T16:22:00.000-06:00

It was the last day of moving into my new apartment. I had been dreading and procrastinating it. Luckily Colie was spending the night at my house, so I had a hostage slave. After retrieving the rest of my stuff, we trekked off to aggie ice-cream to reward ourselves for all the hard work we'd done.

Of course I indulged in my all time favorite Aggie Blue Mint but also trieda lemon custard. It was in a word...dreamy. So here's to indulging in the very best Utah State way.

Birthday Bon Fire!

2009-04-27T12:48:00.000-06:00

For Stacia's 21st birthday, a group of us decided to go up to green canyon and have a bon fire! Colie, Brady, and I set out to find wood for said fire in Brady's jeep. We got up to the canyon before everyone else and decided to take advantage of our free time, and capabilities of the jeep. In the midst of off-roading, I declared the jeep to be an "adventure car" and that was the night the three of us formed the Adventure Crew.

After everyone arrived we built the fire and had fun including Brady building torches, jumping over the fire and group photoshoots.

To view all of our Bon Fire photos visit: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2010501&id=1134390082&l=191f88b86f

Centro de la Familia

2009-04-18T12:02:00.000-06:00

So Leah and I had an english project where we had to do service somewhere around town and do a presentation on it. I got so excited. I jumped at the opportunity to go to my favorite service location in Logan...Centro de la Familia! It is a head start program for small migrant children. The ages range from infancy to six years old. They are the cutest things. Most of them speak primarily spanish. Unfortunately I only know about 10 words in spanish (I know, I know, you're thinking "what kind of cuban is this girl?"), however, I just love playing with them. Language doesn't even seem to be much of a barrier and I love it.

When Lou and I got there to volunteer, the kids were no where to be seen. Sadly, school was out of session and wouldn't be back in for a month. So instead...we organized! I'll tell you what, we were dang good at it too. We packed up the D.I. stuff like champs and swept like fiends.

Although we didn't get to do what we had first intended, we had a great time just being with eachother (a rarity since shes in the Mrs. club).

And the award goes to...

2009-04-16T12:29:00.000-06:00

It was that time of year again. Women clad in flowing gowns, men looking dapper in tuxedos, and little golden trophies being handed out everywhere, but not to everyone.

Of course, there was one award ceremony that topped them all on my charts...the Associated Students of Utah State University Awards Banquet. Members across campus, with one

common quality: Large contributors to ASUSU, gathered in the ballroom to see the recipients of this years awards.

The event had a fantastic southwestern theme with tables adorned with miniature piñatas and tiny bales of hay. The smell of the fajitas wafted through the air as we all sat down. We enjoyed an evening with friends, food, and of course awards.

Suprisingly...I got one! I had no idea walking into that room that I would be walking out of it with an award in hand. I was the proud recipient of the ASUSU Dedication Award. It was the perfect twist to an already fantastic evening!

Baby Animal Dayz

2009-04-11T11:35:00.000-06:00

So what could be the worst possible thing to do after getting home from End of Year Bash at 3 am? Getting up at 8 am for Baby Animal Days! Colie and I were required to volunteer at the Cache Valley event for our programming class, and neither of us were excited. Both of us looked a little haggard from the events of the previous night.

We drove out to the Western Heritage Center and proceeded to tackle our responsibilities. Luckily we were in charge of Entertainment, which meant we got to watch puppet shows. It was so fun. The puppet lady was a little bit of a crazy pants, making her shows hysterical.

During our lunch break, Colie and I had the opportunity to walk around learn about sheep shearing, spinning wool, and take GLAMOUR shots. It was hilarious walking around and posing our faux senior pictures. It definitely helped turn a haggard day into a fun and memorable one!

To view all of our pictures from the day visit: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2009588&id=1134390082&l=ad15920b50

End of Year Bash!

2009-04-11T11:03:00.000-06:00

Our last event of the year is an all day party for the students called "End of Year Bash." We provide entertainment, food, and prizes all for free!

This year we had Raining Jane, a phenomenal band that we on the programming board love to death. They are a group of four girls that sing eclectic rock-folk music. Not only do they have musical talent, but they are the most hilarious group of girls you'll ever meet. Check them out at http://www.rainingjane.com/ or http://www.myspace.com/rainingjane .

We served walking tacos (a bag of fritos with chili, cheese, and sour cream poured in) and had a balloon scavenger hunt. The ballroom was full of blow up toys (bounce-house type obstacle courses).

After everyone left we cleaned up the blow up toys...which took forever and led to the owner wiping his sweaty head on my hand. I was traumatized to say the least. After we finished, we dropped down to Juniper Take-Out for dinner. It was delicious. When we were about to leave, Colie couldn't find her keys. She looked everywhere for them, as Katie, Brady, and I stood out by the car. We weren't very helpful. She came out and asked us if she had left them in the ignition. Laughing we looked and there they were. To our surprise, the doors were unlocked, and the engine was still running! This just proved that Logan is the safest place on earth.

On our way back to school for the "Bust-A-Groove" competition, we drove by a park and saw a small girl running her fastest across the street carrying a propane tank. Following that, we saw a man dressed as "Waldo" walking across campus. We couldn't fathom what kind of weirdness was going on.

After arriving back at school, we sat down to watch the break dance competition and lo and behold there was Waldo! He was one of the dancers and he provided us with a lot of entertainment that night.

When the competition was over, the room turned into a dance floor and we had a massive dance party. It was such a fun night. I made so many great friends and had a blast!

Flea Market

2009-04-08T10:35:00.000-06:00

Last year, when I applied to be the Activities Director on the Programming Board at Utah State, I had to come up with some new and original ideas for events. One of my very favorite ideas, was a flea market. I wanted an event where students who were graduating, getting married, or just had stuff they no longer wanted could sell to other students. I also thought it would be great for young artists to make a little profit off of their talents.

Well this year, my event became a reality. I joined up with the Entrepreneur Club at USU and we created a really great event. It was small, but turned out great for being a first year event. Many students from the art guild sold pieces, and a lot of clubs came to sell their left-over t-shirts. We had some really great bands play and even served Scotsman dogs, a Utah State delicacy.

I'm really thrilled with how it turned out and hope to see it do even better next year!

Spring Breaks: Part III - Sin City and Disney on Ice

2009-03-18T10:16:00.000-06:00

We were sad to leave California, but couldn't wait to get to Vegas. We planned to tackle only half of our drive to Utah, and stay the night with my good friend Walker in the infamous city. Upon arrival we spotted the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign and naturally stopped for a photoshoot.

We spent the rest of the night wandering through the casino's and shops. My favorite was the Bellagio. It was beautiful and had a spring display near the lobby. It was a huge room full of flowers, fountains, and even a butterfly house. We watched the Bellagio Fountain and it was one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

The next morning we headed back to Utah to attend the Disney on Ice show at the Energy Solutions Arena (the Delta Center to those of us who loved the Jazz way back when). Once Kylie's mom heard that I'd never been to Disney on Ice or any disney themed amusement park, she insisted I join them.

It was so much fun watching the show with Ky's adorable sisters, Brooklyn (6), and Halle (4). We all had such a great time that night watching Peter Pan fly, and Mickey & Minnie skate across the smooth ice.

It was a top notch spring break, and I wouldn't have spent it with anyone but my best girl Kylie.

Spring Breaks: Part II - Sun, Stars, and Jesse McCartney

2009-03-18T01:23:00.000-06:00

Ah, sunny California. First stop: Venice Beach. Kylie and I couldn't believe our eyes. It was the most exhilarating sight we'd seen in about 8 months. We played in the water and collected seashells. Everything was so picturesque. As we walked along venice's boardwalk, we saw everything from denim printed leggings and spray paint art.

The next day, we visited the ever so famous Rodeo Drive. It was a quiet Sunday afternoon spent admiring beautiful clothing in shops that we probably couldn't even afford to step into. It was fun to dream of a lifestyle that would allow us such beautiful possessions.

Monday we went to Huntington Beach and met up with my friend Kacey. We had so much fun playing at the beach and shopping. It was a perfect day in the most perfect place I've ever been.

That night we went to Santa Monica Pier to ride the ferris wheel, but unfortunately children were having a private party (privileged much?) so we couldn't ride. It was gorgeous, however, as all the rides whizzed around, lighting up the night sky.

Afterwards, we headed up to Hollywood and discovered the best treat in the world: Yogurtland. Self serve frozen yogurt with amazing toppings. As we ate our tasty treat, we strolled down the Hollywood walk of fame searching for our favorite stars and gasping with delight every time we saw one we loved.

The next day, Kylie and I spent the day shopping at the promenade in Santa Monica. That night we went to the House of Blues and watched the man of my dreams, Jesse McCartney, perform live. It was the perfect night.

On our last day in sunny California, we went back to Santa Monica pier and rode the ferris wheel. The whole thing feels like a dream now, it was so gorgeous and fun. We barely had anytime to breathe between all of our outings.

Spring Breaks: Part I - The Journey to the Golden State

2009-03-18T00:09:00.000-06:00

Ok, I realize I've definitely missed the on-time blogging boat. I apologize. So once again I am forced to re-cap.

I believe I left off right before Kylie and I left for California for spring break. It was a crazy trip starting off with us leaving at 10 am on Friday Morning. We had originally planned on leaving Thursday, but due to math quizzes and such, we left a little later than intended. We ventured out on our 12 hour drive to our Los Angeles destination.

Hour 1

Imagine this: driving down I-15 between Brigham City and Layton. You see a car with an oddly long antennae protruding from the roof. As you start to pass it, you see an elderly person driving with a headset on. Strange right? Now imagine seeing 12+ of these cars trucking down the interstate. Thats exactly what we saw. A convoy of senior citizens making their trek across the country. It was hilarious, and we couldn't laugh harder.

Hour 2

Pit stop at Fazzoli's. Gourmet Italian food to go!

Hours 3, 4, 5, & 6

Mostly just a lot of driving, road rage, 90's music (backstreet boys, celine dion, etc.), and stopping at state lines to take pictures.

Hour 7

Viva Las Vegas! My first time driving through Sin City was amazing. While passing all of the beautiful (and some not so beautiful) architechture we rolled down the windows and embraced all of the UV's descending from the sky (only 7 hours earlier, we faced rain and 4 inches of snow...so you can imagine our excitement to be wearing shorts and driving with the windows down). And then we saw it. Driving next to us was the most beautiful car we'd ever seen. The epitome of every girls dreams...well at least our dreams. A black Audi A4 with diamond encrusted accents i.e. the logo and grill. We were definitely jealous of the seemingly glamourous girl driving it.

Hour 8

CALIFORNIA! The golden state was finally beneath our tires.

Hours 9, 10, 11, and 12

The excitement of being in the state full of glamour and plastic people soon wore off as we endured hours of the most boring drive we could remember.

Hour 13

We have reached Los Angeles. It was beautiful. Lights everywhere (which was nice after the 4 hours of pure darkness). We were so excited to have finally reached our destination that we missed our exit. Then we got lost in downtown L.A. which was an adventure to say the least. We roamed the business district, fashion district, and then finally made our way back onto the interstate heading to and arriving at the house of Sibylle, our lovely hostess.

Fugitive

2009-03-04T00:36:00.005-07:00

Ok...it's been a while...so i think the air has been cleared and I can now share this wonderful story! I'd like to tell you a story of my craziest college night to date. My friend and this other girl i had barely met, and I were looking for something a little crazy fun to do that would create some memories. Well it was really really foggy last night, like you couldn't even see three feet in front of you and so naturally we decided to run across the quad in our underwear. It was great. Super super liberating. Well so anyway once we got back to the car we were getting dressed and this car started to drive by so of course we hid. Unfortunately he was an undercover security guard. So he called the police and told them we were streaking. Then as we were leaving the parking lot, the police came and lectured us and told us we could be arrested for being sex offenders because we were being lewd. Luckily, we kept saying prayers and after what seemed like three hours, he let us off without a citation or anything. So yes, you now all know an almost felon.

Viva Los Angeles!

2009-03-04T00:27:00.002-07:00

In two days, I'll be soaking up the rays in sunny California with one of my very best friends Kylie. Thats right folks, its that time again...SPRING BREAK! Thursday afternoon we are venturing out of Utah to enjoy 6 days in the beloved state next to the ocean. I can't even wait to just relax at the beach and go see the infamous star walkway. Stay tuned for pictures and stories!

Indulge!

2009-02-18T22:08:00.003-07:00

Ok, ok I know I promised to blog more but I promise I've been really really busy! The past month has been a bit insane to say the least. This semester I am taking 18 credits, managing a campaign, chairing Mardi Gras, and so much more!

Most of my time has been taken up by Mardi Gras. I am so excited to see how it turns out. We have been working on it since January and it's turning out fantastic. I am in charge of decorations. Our theme this year is INDULGE. So far I have made a chandelier and a huge masquerade mask for the entrance. I've also made a display in the bookstore window all with the help of my favorite roommate Kylie. I'm so excited to see everything in my head come into place on Saturday. I'm convinced it will be the best event of the year!

New Year, New Resolutions, New Decade.

2009-01-17T01:21:00.001-07:00

As 2009 came upon us, I thought it appropriate to make some new goals. I ended up writing a whole list of things I want to improve upon. One of my goals was to become better at blogging frequently (mostly because I'm constantly being hassled by Natalie and Lyss).

About a week ago, I turned over a new page in my life book: Age 20. I had a great time going to the movies with my two favorite girls in Logan, and eating dinner with a few of my favorite friends. Kylie and Amanda made me a delicious cake and gave me amazing presents. Here are a few pictures!

Paradise...or Something Like It

2008-11-11T00:42:00.000-07:00

Destination: Boise, Idaho. My hometown, true love, and greatest comfort. So what could be better than converting my Utah grown roommates into lovers and respecters of its glory? Answer: Nothing.

We set out around 11:30 am friday morning for a quick weekend trip to the City of Trees. Four hours, a hostess cherry pie, and two cinnamon fire-balls later, we arrived. I was so excited driving down Gekeler Lane. The trees were clutching leaves of gold, red, brown and green, and in one word stunning. After leaving a dreary and rainy Logan, Utah, we were excited to feel the sun's warmth on our faces. We settled in and then set off to start our Boise Adventure.

First Stop: Boise Towne Square. Now to many, the mall is just a place to buy clothes, but to three college girls, its a place of opportunity (especially since the new Forever 21 had opened the weekend before). In the end, we found some great deals, and had a blast.

Later that night, my extremely lovely mother treated us to dinner at the always delicious Johnny Carino's for some italian comfort food. After inhaling four loaves of bread and one salad each, we ate our pasta and were finally satisfied. We then proceeded home to watch the favorite movie all three of us share, Baby Mama (which we have watched probably aroud 34 times in the past two months).

The next morning, we arose ready for some delicious french brekkie. We ventured down to the 8th street farmers market and each got the most fantastic croissants known to man. We then continued our shopping in BoDo, and later went home to watch our Aggies get pummeled by the Broncos.

Afterwards, we decided that we would go to the zoo to see the African Plains exhibit featuring their new giraffe. Upon arrival, however, we found that the exhibit was closed due to repaving. Discouraged we walked away trying to think of something to do. And then it came to me...CERAMICA. If I couldn't see my baby giraffe, I'd paint a bowl to look like one.

We had so much fun being artists for a few hours. Who knew we were so skilled? The time came when we had to part with our creations, only to wait until they would be picked up at Thanksgiving.

To conclude the evening, I opened the girls eyes to the magic of WinCo, where we bought peppermint ice cream and then continued home where we watched the childhood classic Thumbalina.

It was a fantastic weekend!

Twitterpation

2008-11-06T21:45:00.000-07:00

Definition: An enjoyable disorder characterized by feelings of excitement, anticipation, high hopes, recent memories of interludes, giddiness, and physical overstimulation which occur simultaneously when experiencing a new love. These feelings take over without warning, usually at odd times (such as at a check-out line), with or without the partner present, and make it difficult to concentrate on anything but romance. They interfere with work and safe driving, but should be experienced at least once in every person's lifetime.

Its true...I have recently been affected by this phenomenon. So here are some questions that have been racing through my mind concerning the aforementioned topic.

1. Why is it that before you become twitterpated you see the boy everywhere, but afterwards you seem to NEVER see him?

2. What causes this freak occurance?

3. How have some people gone their whole lives without this wonderful feeling?

All I know is something better happen soon because I'm not sure how healthy it is to feel constantly giddy and smile this much...

The HOWL 2008

2008-11-03T00:50:00.000-07:00

My what a way to end October. One of my favorite events at Utah State is The HOWL, the largest Halloween party in all of Utah. After working at it last year, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I requested to be room lead of my favorite area...the fieldhouse. This is where the line to get in is located. For the past two years I have been lucky enough to oversee the line. For some reason I get a deep thrill from having the power to tell people whether or not they will be admitted, take their props, and see every great costume that enters.

It turned out to be a fantastic year for the HOWL. We ended up getting some really good entertainment this year. Our selection of bands were Code Hero, Love you long time, The Rock Bandits, and Recycled Percussion. We were also graced by the presence of Full Circle, an amazing dance group who personified our creepy doll theme.

Looking spiffy in my bright red shirt and Britney Spears headset, I was ready to go. The night went pretty smoothly with the exception of a few interruptions. My favorites were the drunk people who had "lost" their tickets, and the two boys who thought it would be acceptable to wear spandex shorts with a print of a famous italian sculpture's bid-ness plastered on. Oh the joy I got from escorting them out.

It was also a great night for costumes. It's amazing how creative people get for this party. I saw about 4 boys dressed as "where's waldo?," 50 Jokers, and some extremely attractive firemen. However, my 2008 HOWL pick goes to the boy who dressed as Edward Scissorhands, cardboard scissors and all.

The evening was a success, selling somewhere around 5,200 tickets providing our programming board substantial funding for the rest of the year, and we only had three arrests. We left around three in the morning, all of us with battle wounds in tow. Mine happened to be three extremely painful blisters caused by my choice of footwear.

All in all, a fantastic Halloween.

Team Cuidado

Me, leading the troops

Dance!

Chairs, Room Leads, and Volunteers

Photoshop Fun

2008-10-31T11:19:00.000-06:00

New

Original

New

Original

All Hallows Eve

2008-10-30T17:06:00.000-06:00

I'll tell you all about it...

Très fantastique et grand

2008-10-30T13:57:00.000-06:00

Wow. This week has turned out a little bit amazing. Good grades are flying all over the place, everything seems to be working out for tomorrow's festivities, and I have a clean room!

I can only think of one thing that can top everything that has happened this week. Stay tuned...

Mid Term of Death

2008-10-30T13:21:00.000-06:00

As I sat in class Tuesday morning taking a mid term for my news-writing class, I began to wonder, "Why are my freshman level classes the hardest ones on my schedule?" This test was rocking me. The previous night I delayed studying to edit a friends paper. Unfortunately this took much longer than expected and of course I decided to study in the morning.

Of course, morning came much sooner than I wanted and by the time I was dressed and ready to go, I had about 15 minutes to study. The hard part was I didn't know how or what to study. Our test wouldn't be multiple choice, or a writing sample. All I could do was read through my notes and hope they would save me.

The test took me all 75 minutes to complete. Most of the time I'd get half the answer and had to make up the rest. I left discouraged. That test had taken me for a ride.

This morning he handed our mid terms back...I was dreading the outcome. My heart sank as I turned the pages trying to find my score. So, you can imagine my surprise when I saw I had received a 94%!

So here's to news-writing...maybe I'm not as horrible as I thought.

A True Aggie

2008-10-27T02:03:00.000-06:00

Many have heard the rumors, and I am here to admit they are true. As of Saturday, October 25, 2008, I am a True Aggie.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Utah State tradition of becoming a True Aggie, I'll fill you in. In 1917, a group of students from Salt Lake City created their headstone on campus. It was a monument consisting of four A's arranged in a square, with a platform on top. In the 1930's it became tradition to stand atop the monument at midnight during a full moon and kiss someone. By doing so, you become a True Aggie.

A few years ago (between 5 and 15 years) Utah State obtained the world record for most people kissing at one time. It was later snatched from us by two other countries. This year, we decided to reclaim the throne. So last Friday night, after the Homecoming dance, hundreds of couples lined up around the monument waiting to kiss at the stroke of midnight.

I decided to go with my roommate Amanda, her boyfriend Todd, and some of their friends. I was hesitant as I didn't yet have a companion to actually kiss. Upon arrival, we got in line, and then progressed to the area around the monument. I, still without a man, turned to Todd for help. Todd didn't end up being very helpful, but our friend Katrina did. She marched over to the sidelines and began talking to a very attractive man. After trying to persuade him to kiss a complete stranger, he admitted he didn't really want to take part in the event. His friend however did.

From afar he seemed handsome enough, but as he drew nearer I realized he wasn't the kind of guy I would normally go after. However, it was 5 minutes til midnight so I didn't complain. We went through all of the formalities to waste the time...questions about majors, hometowns, etc. were exchanged. Then the countdown started. Now most couples waited until 2 or 1 to begin kissing...my guy started at 10. Lets just say he was eager. You can imagine what was going on in those very long ten seconds. After the time had passed, he hadn't finished, but I definitely had. So I awkwardly pulled away and thanked him.

The best part is that I don't remember his name. It was a hilariously fantastic experience that I will remember forever.

Sabbatical

2008-10-27T01:09:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I guess it has been a while since my last post. Due to some harassment from one of my beloved fellow "D.I.N." members, I present the last three months of my life.

Where to begin...well maybe August is a good place to start. During my first week after I moved back to the quaint city of Logan, Utah, I stumbled upon many new experiences .

1. Moving all of my belongings into a hotel room for one night because my apartment wasn't ready on time.

2. Becoming a "big girl" and putting the utility bill in my name.

3. Getting married and adopting 8 children.

You may be surprised by number 3, which is to be expected. As I returned to school I had the opportunity to be a facilitator for Utah State's Fall Leadership Conference also known as Aggie B.L.U.E. (Building Leaders for University Excellence). There I partnered up with my co-facilitator (or husband) Chase, and we recieved 8 participants (or children): Liz, Lauren, Hilary, Jessica, Ed, Adam, Jeremy, and Cooper. My large family grew together as we dominated difficult challenges, listened to inspiring lectures (as well as some not-so-inspiring ones), shared our most intimate backgrounds, and became better leaders.

As a participant last year, I learned a lot. As a facilitator, I learned more. I met some of the best people attending this University and formed strong and lasting bonds. So here's a little shout out to you Aggie B.L.U.E. Team '08 - Always color outside the lines!

August soon left as classes began and September rolled around. I was now living with three phenomenal girls. Amanda, Star, and Kylie soon became my close friends. We have enjoyed football games, trips to Walmart, hundreds of viewings of "Baby Mama," cooking fiascos, and so much more. I love these girls.

October has been an interesting month. Good things, bad things, happy things and very sad things have happened but I seem to be driving forward. Many friends have been made and the best of friends have been lost, but will never be forgotten.

So there you have it...August through October in a nutshell. I hope you are satisfied Lyss.

A Midnight Affair

2008-07-16T10:15:00.000-06:00

There is nothing quite like the thrill of sneaking around...especially from the law. Last night two legal and two not so legal friends ventured out into the dangerous...Merritt's Country Cafe, breaking all kinds of curfew laws. It was about 11:30 pm when we arrived at the run down hole we have grown to love so dearly. When we walked in we were pleasantly greeted by a table of bikers who, after us, were the classiest bunch in the place.

Cassie, a Merritt's virgin, was not fazed on bit, which was very impressive. After we ordered our scones, Cassie and I went to feed the jukebox a little green in exchange for the gift of music. Of course, Cum On Feel the Noise was an absolute must, as well as Love is a Battlefield. However, as we approached the machine, a man stepped in front of us, inserted $3, and then contined to choose the 9 songs that those few dollars bought him. Not realizing that he had bought so many, I continued on with the mission and bought my 3 songs. On the way back to our booth we stopped into the restroom only to find a mural of a falcon feeding her children. It was SPECTACULAR.
Skyler and Alyssa had to take pictures with it of course. As we ate our scones, we waited and waited for our songs to come on.
We finished eating and still had to wait for half an hour to hear our songs. In the mean time we were serenaded with Faith Hill, and songs from the motion picture: Lion King. We paid and went outside to take some pictures with the "Silver Streak," the 16 seat station wagon that is parked out front. As Alyssa and I climbed up the ladder on the back, one very classy lady screamed, "HEY! Ya'll ain't spose'd be climbin' on that!" We ambled down a little angry, and a little embarrassed, however, our 9-song friends walked by and told us not to listen to the rednecks. Then our waitress walked out and asked us if we wanted her to take pictures of us on the streak. Sooooo....All in all, a perfect night at Merritt's.

Happy Birthday America

2008-07-14T02:44:00.000-06:00

Potato salad, naps, and family; three ingredients for a fantastic day. Eastern Idaho welcomed me into its arms on July 4, 2008, and what a welcome it was. The brother, sister, and I set out at 6 am that morning to join our cousins, and grandparents in Idaho Falls for a great weekend. Upon arrival we were greeted with crepes, and hugs. The day was lazy, and wonderful. Towards the evening, we gathered downtown to enjoy the fireworks and some delicious dinner from the outback. The show was incredible, and I was reminded of how great it feels to be an American. So here's to you America, Happy Birthday.

Survival 101

2008-07-14T02:01:00.000-06:00

It began on Friday afternoon with two city slickers and a semi-experienced camper. Three girls set off into the wild unknown also known as Cascade, Idaho. A gorgeous, two hour drive on Highway 55, multiple repeats of Miley Cyrus' hits, and a bathroom break later, we rolled into Cascade. As we drove through town, we were tempted to throw our plans out the window and spend our time with the attractive boy outside of the movie theatre, and stay at the Bears Knight Inn. Somehow we pulled through and moved onward towards our final destination: Horsethief Resevoir. It was about 8 miles away from Cascade. As we drove through campsite after campsite, with no hope of finding a spot, we pondered our decision to leave our ticket taking dream boy behind. At one point, we thought we had found success. We pulled into a site only to soon later have a gruff elderly man come out of his recreational vehicle and tell us that our spot belonged to him as well as his other one. Discouraged, we left and drove on. After driving through a stream and leaving Idaho Fish and Game owned property, verging on tresspassing, we decided to turn around and look through one last time. Somehow, luck was a lady that afternoon, and we found a tiny little site wedged between a couple and their pop-up trailer, and a group of avid campers. We got out and began to put up the tent. Surprisingly, it was a very successful venture. Next was the campfire. Being the smart girls that we are, we came prepared with logs, and matches. As we put our girls camp prowess into play, we created an amazing teepee style campfire. We gathered tinder and got our fire going. It was weak, but effective. As the evening proceeded, we made marshmallow appetizers, followed by rather tasty tin foil dinners. As the witching hour fast approached, we retired to our cozy abode only to find our neighbors a little on the intoxicated side, and fairly loud. We eventually drifted off only to be awoken by dawn, and the sounds of our neighbors, who despite their late night, had a very early morning. We rose and made breakfast (pillsbury cinnamon rolls wrapped around a stick and held above the fire), and soon after ventured home. All in all a fantastic trip into the somewhat wilderness.