201st Post! More importantly-HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HELLO MY BEAUTIFUL READERS!!!

for my first order of business, I'd like to proudly declare that I've FINALLY  jumped over the 200th post mark! Isn't that exciting?! It really is a shame I don't write more and it is kind of pathetic that I've been writing on this blog since 2008 and I've just barely broached the 200 mark, but hey, I'M CELEBRATING!  GO HEATHER! CONGRATULATIONS TO ME!!!!


ehem....NOW MORE IMPORTANTLY....

I sincerely apologize if any seizures occured as a result of the fantastic image above.
Please don't sue me. 

I can't tell you how incredibly excited I am for 2014! Great things are happening. I'm at a job I love, I get to serve in my Relief Society presidency and serve incredible women,  I'm starting school again TOMORROW and I hope to finish my associates by the fall. I also have been given the amazing opportunity to travel and I am working on finding a place of my very own. I feel in my bones that this year will be my year. And with that hope, I share a quote that has had me thinking about my destiny and the course that my life will take as long as I do my part. Hopefully it'll help you do the same.

This quotation by Elder Russel M. Nelson given in the October 2013 session of conference got me thinking about living the best life that I can. The following list is a result of my new-found resolution to making more effective decisions to sculpt my destiny and how I will use my talents and abilities to make my world a better place. Also, placing my resolutions here I feel will help keep me accountable so I can be more effective in this year and many more to come. 

2014 Resolutions

·         Arise early! Put the Lord first, gratitude journal and exercise. All these things will help you balance everything.

·         Make your relationship with Heavenly Father your first priority. Set aside an hour at the start of the day to study the scriptures and commune with Him.

·         Make exercise a priority- You only have one body. Treat it right. (Do some sort of physical activity 5 days a week and make consistent healthy food choices.)

·         Attend the temple bimonthly. Schedule it and don’t deviate.

·         Re-read the Book of Mormon

·         Go visiting teaching every month and make a point to attend more Family Home Evening activities.

·         Be kind and assertive always, no matter the circumstance.

·         Take time to listen and make more friends.

·         Make more long term and short term goals-don’t be afraid of dreaming! Write them down and make them happen!

·         TRAVEL MORE! Leave your mark on the world wherever you walk. Journal the experiences and get lost in the culture.

·         Finish Associates Degree

·         Read at least 10 classics this year.

·         Work on being PRESENT. Enjoy the moments now and try not to get caught up in what could be.

·         Write, write, and write some more. Don’t be afraid to document your life. (Blog, 6 gratitudes a day, study journal)

·         Study materials effectively and get good grades

·         Work on asking effective questions that illicit change in others and in yourself.

·         Seek out more effective ways to help more people by attending trainings, reading therapeutic materials, and serving others. 

     Please keep me accountable! Also, if you think I really should work on something else, let me know! I want to grow and improve! Thank you all for your help, love and support always.Wishing you success on your resolutions to improve and change for the better. Happy New Year! 

Autumn: A List.

Hey there, friends! IT'S OCTOBER!!!! FALLELUJAH!*squeals and leaps for joy* Which means that autumn comes on swift wings! (I know the first day of fall was in September, but it doesn't feel official until October for me.)
To quote one of my favorite literary heroines, I woke up this morning with this thought bursting from my lips.

Autumn is my favorite season of all time. I love the way it feels, smells, sounds and looks. It opens a doorway to the most exciting and special time of the year, ushering in change and improvement, togetherness, gratitude, love, and giving. I get to play all through autumn and then I get to celebrate Christmas too!? It's a dream come true every October.  But friends, I have come prepared. In case you aren't quite in the autumnal spirit, I've decided to compile a list of all the things I happen to adore about fall to try to get you there. You ready? *ahem*. 

AUTUMN: A LIST.

• sweaters
• scarves
• boots
• pumpkins of every shape, size and color
• pumpkin patches
• apple picking
• caramel and candied apples
• brisk nights under the stars in corn fields and apple orchards. 
• warm apple cider, hot cocoa, and fresh doughnuts
• vibrant reds, yellows, oranges of the changing leaves
• walking among tombstones as the leaves crunch beneath my feet
• hay rides and corn mazes
• smells of apple pies, pumpkin pies, and all manner of sweet treats baking. 
• homemade soup and warm bread
• crisp air that fills your lungs and makes you feel alive
• the tangible 'magic' looming in the air
• the promise and graceful embrace of change
• gathering of loved ones
• the smell of chimneys smoking 
• pumpkin carving and the  golden glow of jack o' lanterns on porch steps
• school! A return to learning 
• school supplies. I love, Love, LOVE school supplies. A bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils would be a lovely gift. 
• leaf fights!
• being engulfed into large piles of crackling foliage again and again and again. It makes raking worthwhile, you know.
• a hand in your pocket and one entwined with someone special to keep your fingers warm
• if you don't have a special someone, gloves are great too!
• pie is an art form all season long. It's a pie parade!
• sunflowers and mums
• it's a time where watching classic thrillers is encouraged. YAY for Hitchcock films, Arsenic and Old Lace and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! 
• speaking of pumpkin...every pumpkin dessert imaginable
• Thanksgiving. 
• curling up with a blanket, a good book, and with a warm cup of tea. 
• hikes among the trees and canyon drives to see a canvas of color
• fall carnivals and harvest festivals
• football games 
• rosy cheeks and pink noses
• General Conference!!!
• It's a whole SEASON of change, gratitude, togetherness, and love. 

Well friends, if that doesn't get you excited for fall, I don't know what will! If you think of more reasons why you love fall, comment below!  Autumn is out there, my beloved friends. Magic is in the air.  Go and play.

Por Miguel

This post is entirely dedicated to my dear friend and associate, Michael Nielsen. So Mike, if you end up being the only one reading this, I decided I don't wish to trouble you with the headache that has been my  life this week. So, here are some lists. Lists of things I enjoy, find comical, strange or are just plain random. Here we go.

Things That are Strange

·         Mukluks

·         Crawdads

·         Blobfish

·         The fact that Pluto isn’t considered a planet anymore

·         Feet

·         Politicians

·          Glue

·         Snooki

·         Facial piercings

·         Cannibalism

·         BOYS

·         Love

·         The fact that our ears never stop growing

·         Praying mantis’

VIDEOS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY! :D

Some of my Favorite Things
Paintings by Van Gough
Stars
California
Giggling
Hugs
Sunsets
Beaches
Campfires
Children's Books
Miracles
Orange Juice
Heights
Skipping
Chapstick
Frogs
Wind
The smell of a baby
Strawberries
Clue
Moonlit walks
Chopsticks
Cooking
Flowers! Lots and lots of flowers!
Hiking
Farmer's Markets
The twinkle found in the eyes of a stranger
Traveling
Forehead kisses
Antiques
Music Boxes

There you go, friends (or just Mikey) I hope you enjoyed that extremely random, short post! Have a wonderful night/ morning/day! Remember to count the blessings you have, embrace those you love, and seize the moments given to you. Until next time.

Again. I'm faced with the sad truth that I am, in fact, a pasty white girl

I know, I know, I know You're probably thinking "Why in HEAVEN'S NAME is Bella on your blog?! ABOMINATION!!! *BOOS and hisses ensue* *pitchforks raise, torches light, teenage girls are locked away* Okay stop thinking. I will explain later. Read on. Ignore this visage for the time being. *ahem* My dear readers, it has been a long time since I've strung a bunch of snarky phrases together into a post, so be prepared for a oh so random and slightly pointless one at that. ha-ha. I have never wanted to be an adorable Asian so bad in my life before today. For the past week, I've seen this sign on the Boulevard seeking to hire people for this new Japanese steakhouse that they are building. I memorized the number on the board outside the restaurant as I drove by and then proceeded to call. An adorable lady answered the phone, told me just to come in and pick up an application then. So today, I got gussied up ( I have a concert tonight you see and I figured it may help my case if I showed up not looking like a total slob from slobtown) and walked along the boulevard to the location of said 'steakhouse in construction'.

After a couple cat calls (I know its hard to believe) I was guided into the restaurant by a somewhat toothless, adorable construction worker. The construction crew started to swarm like flies, trying to sneak a peek at the innocent pretty thing that waltzed into a construction zone in heels. After a few minutes of waiting for the manager to come out, I was able to meet 'kenny', a small Asian man, who handed me an application and told me to fill it out, bring it back and we'd talk. So, I again walked outside back into the fray of onlookers and filled it out. I sat in my car thinking that I didn't have a chance in the world because I've never had any restaurant experience ( I mean, I learn fast, I've had my own bakery, can connect with people really fast and love serving them, but that doesn't mean anything), I wasn't adorable, petite, little and Asian, and I was afraid I didn't say enough. So i went back to Kenny, gave him my application, and he said that he would call and schedule an interview. The restaurant was so beautiful inside, with authentic Japanese decor, a beautiful mirrored mosaic wall, dark wood, and thin sliding walls. It'd be awesome if he calls me back, but until then, I'm going to keep looking. I want to do all that I can to get on this mission and work my hardest to get there. We'll see what happens.

Okay friends. Regard the weird, misplaced picture....NOW. On a random other note, I saw this today and freaked.
(either click on the word "this" or click to see the full image appearing at the beginning of this post) Can you say HOLY GUACAMOLE BATMAN?! Best picture of my week. Hermione will always win. She's naturally awesome. Bella has to get bitten and mutated to even pretend to be awesome. Yeah. Go jump off cliffs, Bella. That'll solve ALL your problems. *rolls eyes* I just proved my utter dorkiness, but hey. Embrace it people .

On another random side note, I'm meeting with my bishop this week to see if I can get started on my mission papers! Its taken a lot to get to this point, but I'm so happy. So happy to be a member of the glorious church and for the opportunity to share it with all I come in contact with on a mission. I can't wait.

Also, my family came into town and loaded up the rest of our things and trekked back up north. We were able to swim, hang out and just have a good time. We were going through a bunch of papers and I found something that I lost a long time ago. "The" List. Its a compilation of dreams, wishes, desires, and random events I want to do before I die. I sat down and created it the summer of '09 with Kristal Kay. It was so great to find and read again. Some of the events included Eating a pickle the size of my shoe, staying the night in a lighthouse, Going to Boston and throwing a tea bag into the harbor, Riding a yak, seeing a mummy, shaking the Prophet's hand, Going to Africa, saving little children, seeing a lion or two, petting a giraffe, and sleeping under the stars on the savanna. I'm excited for the life ahead of me, all that I get to do and the opportunity I have to be the best person I can be. Until then readers, I suggest you pull out your list or make one. There's no excuse to not have an adventure everyday! Go ride a yak! Much love readers!

List, In honor of the beautiful Jenni Larsen

My fantastical friend, Jenni, introduced me to the whimsical world of list making. Her blog is composed entirely of lists, so I thought I might try this interesting phenomenon myself.
A Few Things I Like
Peter Pan
spaghetti noodles
small twinkling lights
chinese lanterns
bouncy balls
clay
landscapes
bright flowers
temples
cloud shapes
sand
motorcycles
extreme sports
proving boys wrong
the beach
red vines
orange juice
good literature
making new friends
authentic mexican food
cool breezes
calvin and hobbes
smell of attractive men.
Ok, there's just a quick list of things i like. I hope you enjoyed it.

(For Jenni, because she likes cereal :)