Mi Familia

I have one good lookin' family!!

The next ones are just us kids....enjoy it.

I did not want to end up on the ground with everyone else.  Thank goodness we were falling the opposite direction!

I never was on the ground ha!

It's That Time of Year Again!

Christmas comes just once each year.

It's Christmas Eve everybody!!  I really do love this time of year.  This year is a new kind of Christmas though.  Andrew is married, so Holly is here.  Austin is gone.  I'm only with my parents for a few days.  It's different.  But it's also cool to think that my family is changing and growing up and good things are going on with everyone.

As much as I have loved being home with my family though, I've missed spending time with a certain someone...  He is going to visit his sister in Montana, but he literally just landed since his flight was delayed for like 4 hours.  Poor guy was stuck all alone at the Vegas airport on Christmas Eve.  I would have loved to have been there with him.  This past week we've spent literally all of our spare time together.  He's just so sweet and nice and I love being with him!  We're taking things slow.  But it's good.  Every time I hear the song, "All I Want for Christmas," I think of him and my heart melts a bit..  Is this what love feels like??  I'm pretty sure I'm falling or have fallen for this guy.

Merry Christmas everyone!  And Happy New Year!  I love you all :)

Officially a Senior

I finished my fifth semester of school.  It was kind of a crazy semester but it has also been a really good one. I got to live with one of my best friends, Katelin J, and it was great.  I also got to live with a crazy batch...that sucked.  I've had so many experiences that just have made it a wonderful experience.  And now I'm officially a senior in college.

I have (hopefully) one year--two semesters--left until I graduate with a Bachelor's in Human Nutrition.  I cannot wait for that day!  I know that this is supposedly the greatest time in my life and that I shouldn't want to be done with it, but I'm just ready for a new chapter.  I'm ready to be married and have a family and not be a poor college student.  I want to go travel and volunteer and do random things that I've never done before.

This semester I've realized how much I love my friends and especially my family.  They truly are some of the best people I know.  They all do so much for me, probably more than they know, and I'm grateful to them everyday.  I love you all!

21 Ways to Spend Your 20s

I came across this list on Pinterest.  I've already lived nearly one year of my twenties.. This list is fun or fun to think about.

1. Don’t feel the need to respond to every text message, phone call, and email the second it reaches you. Once upon a time, it took longer than a minute to reach someone. People used stamps and envelopes; they had answering machines they didn't check for hours, sometimes days. No one will die if you don’t immediately respond to every message you receive.

2. Ask for what’s owed to you. Half the time, you’re not getting your needs met because you’re not making them known. Your employers, romantic interests, and friends are not going to read your mind and give you what you need unless you speak up.

3. Never turn down an open bar. Seek them out and make them a priority. Indulging in open bars when you’re older isn't appropriate because a) people will think you have an alcohol problem and b) you’re supposed to have enough money to afford your own alcohol.

4. If you’re unhappy and someone offers you a way out, take it. You don’t owe your first job years of loyalty and your first-born; you don’t have to stay in your city just because you’re on a first-name basis with the bodega guy. Do what feels right; the initial fear will give way to excitement.

5. Take advantage of all the energy you have in your 20s. In your 30s and 40s, your body starts getting upset with you, when some 20-something babe is all, “Wanna race?” That’s not a concern when you’re in your 20s — don’t ever take it for granted.

6. Let your more successful friends pick up the check this time. Before you’re 30, it’s still okay to be work as a barista and not have your career path figured out. Save your cash and take up your lawyer-friend’s offer for dinner. Use the money you saved to buy more ramen.

7. Play a sport you played in elementary school. Kickball, dodge ball. There are leagues for these games now. Get on it.

8. Learn how to cook. Here’s an idea — instead of spending all your money on ridiculously marked-up restaurant food, save your money by buying non-processed WHOLE FOODS and LEARNING HOW TO MAKE A MEAL OF REAL FOOD. A meal of real food is not a box of Annie’s Organic Mac and Cheese — that’s PROCESSED FOOD. A meal is something like sauteed brussel sprouts with onions and pinto beans garnished with salt and pepper. You’ll thank yourself for learning how to cook when your metabolism catches up to you.

9. Keep making friends. Everyone complains that it’s hard to make friends after college, but we still manage to find new people to flirt with and date, right? It’s not that hard. You know yourself better than you ever have before, and your friends can finally reflect that. Don’t cling to old friends because it’s too frightening or ‘risky’ to make new ones.

10. Let your parents buy your plane ticket home. It can be trying to be stuck in a house with your family for a few days or a week, but vacations in your 20s can be hard to come by. Let them subsidize your trips home and do you as much as you can when you get there.

11. Stay up late. In your 20s, you’re all, “Let’s go to another bar!” “Who wants to eat at a diner?” “Have you guys seen the sun rise from the High Line?” “In this moment I swear we were infinite!” When you get older, this becomes, “What are you doing? Go home. Watch Parks and Rec and go to sleep. What is wrong with you, staying up all night? Who has time for that?” If you’re in your 20s, you do. You have all the time. Do it now and take advantage of how not tired you are. You think you’re crabby now when you stay up too late? You’ll never believe how terrible you feel when you do it in your 30s.

12. Savor those 20s hangovers. They are a gift from God so that you’ll always remember what your tolerance level is. Your hangover recovery time is like flippin’ Wolverine in your 20s. You wake up, feel like death, pull on some shades, gulp down coffee or maybe a bloody Mary and whine about your headache over brunch. Oh, boo hoo. When you’re older, every hangover is Apocalypse Freaking Now. You’re not making it to brunch. You’re not making it off your floor in a weeping puddle of regret.

13. Indulge in diner/ fast food at 4 a.m. This is considered depressing behavior once you become a real adult.

14. STOP PROCRASTINATING YOUR TRIP ABROAD. YOUR CHANCES OF TAKING A LONG VACATION ABROAD DIMINISH AS YOU BECOME MORE SET IN YOUR WAYS AND AS YOU GAIN MORE RESPONSIBILITY.

15. Do ‘unacceptable’ things to your hair. Dye it. Dread it. Shave only the left side of your head and give a crap if it grows back in a flattering manner (hint: it won’t). There’s no time but now.

16. Avoid Burning Man. Save it for your weird-Dad mid-life crisis.

17. Sit down, unplug, and read non-fiction. Do this daily. None of your peers are doing it. They’re playing video games and refreshing Facebook and Gmail chatting about nothing in particular. After a month you’ll be smarter than all of them.

18. Walk into Forever 21 and grab every single crappily-made floral dress available. Is every other girl on the street wearing it? Is it literally falling apart at the seams? Is it also actually five dollars? BUY IT IMMEDIATELY. When you get older, your clothing becomes all expensive blazers and tailored khakis and other pieces that won’t break while on your body. That will be a great day — the day when your closet starts to look respectable. Though those outfits are more expensive, they also last longer and look better on you. You will be a classy human ready to take on the future. But as long as you’re still in your 20s? You know — the demographic of Forever 21? Game on, stretchy black dress with pockets that lasts about a week. Game on.

19. Take road trips. Sitting in a car for days on end isn't something your body was designed to do forever.

20. Don’t invest in things like window curtains or throw rugs or… Windex. You’re a young, social person who doesn't have time for things like picture-framing and broom-sweeping. No one actually expects you to maintain a bed skirt or a duvet cover in your 20s, they’re the home decor equivalent of puppies/ children.

21. Go to/host theme parties. Once people age out of their 20s, no one’s trying to wear pajamas or Saran Wrap out of the house. The only theme parties that exist after your 20s are ‘Wedding,’ ‘Baby Shower,’ and ‘Funeral.’

Motivation

The other night I was having a conversation with my neighbor Bryan.  One of the random things we were talking about what motivation.  Specifically, what motivates YOU.  His dad had asked him the question and then he had talked about it with one of his roommates.  It got me thinking.  What motivates me?  Well right now I do my homework and go to school because I want to graduate.  But is that really a good motivation?

I still don't know if I've quite figured out what motivates me.  I like to work hard at my job because I don't want to be the one employee who no one really likes.  I like to have a good work ethic.  But I don't really know where my motivation stems from exactly.

It's something to think about...What motivates you??

Thanksgiving

For those of you who don't know or aren't aware, my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.  It always has been.  It was the one holiday that brought my entire family together, cousins and all.

When I found out Austin was going to be leaving before Thanksgiving, I was really bummed.  But then my mom said we were going to celebrate Thanksgiving early.  That would be tomorrow that they will be celebrating it.  I won't get to attend.  Because mother nature has awful timing.  It started snowing Friday.  And since I worked all day today, there was no leaving until late.  And by that point, it had started snowing again.  So no road trip up north for me.  And no Thanksgiving for me.

And on the real Thanksgiving my parents will be going to Idaho.  And I can't go because I have to work the next day.  So Thanksgiving has officially been trashed for me.

People are great though.  They offer for me to come to their house for the holiday.  But it won't be the same.

I'm going to miss my brother so much.  I really hope that I can drive up to Provo on Wednesday to drop him off.  He's my little buddy.  Me and him are so much alike, but so different at the same time.  He's probably just as sad as I am that I couldn't see him this weekend.  I never even really said goodbye to him at his farewell.  I have to see him before he leaves.  Something will work out.

Twenty Too

So really this song is called 22.  But I'm just 20.  And I feel like this song describes this past summer.

News of the Week.

My little brother got a call on Monday asking if he could leave on his mission earlier.

His original call had him reporting on January 23rd.

Now he's leaving November 14th.

It's great for him.

But I'm sad about it because now I won't get to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with him.



I love my family.

Love sucks.

That's all.

Love is a Verb

So I'm dating this guy.

I've dated him before.

Last night was a hard night for him.

I think he almost told me he loved me.

Scared to death about that....

I don't know if I love him.

I've never told a guy "I love you" before.

It's weird how life takes some crazy turns.

In other news.

I love my friends.

I have the best ones ever.

I love my family.

They're pretty much awesome.

My grandparents are the coolest.

I have a big sister now!

Andrew and Holly got married last Friday.

I love music.

Mumford & Sons new album is bomb.

Regina has a new album.

Imagine Dragons album came out too.

This is just a really good time for music.

As stressful as life is,

I kinda love it too right now.

This is one of my favorites from M&S.

It's called Hopeless Wanderer.

Merry Go 'Round

I love this song.  Don't know why.  I heard it on the radio this weekend and fell in love.

Standstill

I don't mean for you to stand still.  I simply mean that my life is at a standstill.

The phrase

is becoming more and more true every day.

Minus the "I'm just getting more awesome." part.

People keep posting things saying that this is such an exciting time to be a Simon since my younger brother got his mission call and my older brother is getting married.  I feel like it is a great thing to be a Simon.  If you live in Northern Utah.  But for this Southern Utah Simon, life is just going nowhere.  I'm in school.  I'm working.  I'm not dating anyone.  I'm not even close to going on a date with someone.

It's depressing.

I hate this feeling.  And I get it quite often.  I just never seem to have a plan or direction or goal with my life so I feel like it's just at a standstill.

That's all.

L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.

I've become a terrible blogger.

I still go read other people's blogs.  But I forget about my own.

Since I last blogged school has started, I flew home for a night, my brother opened his mission call, I've worked like crazy, gone to Sand Hollow, enjoyed a paint dance, gone to Lake Mead, got a boot on my car, went to St. George to hear Elder Holland speak, and been as busy as ever with life in general.

My brother got called to the Adriatic North Mission speaking Slovenian.

Now where is that at you might ask?  It includes four countries:  Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.  It's kind of near Italy.  Something cool about it is that Bosnia and Herzegovina have never been opened to proselyting but will be in the next couple months.  So we think that that will probably be where Austin ends up first.

I'm only taking 14 credits this semester, but they're kicking my butt.  Between working at least 30 hours a week and all my homework I feel like I'm being worn thin.

And that is why I'm currently sitting in bed with a box of tissues.  Because I'm sick.  My throat is sore, I have a cough, and my nose is continually running.  I just love it.

For one of my assignments in Community Nutrition we have to live as if we were part of SNAP (used to be known as the food stamp program).  We have to live on $4.20 a day or less for 5 days.  I started it today and I don't think it'll be too bad.  I'm already not eating a ton since I'm either at school or work.  But since my mind is so focused on food and keeping track of everything I think I've been a little more hungry.  Maybe tomorrow and the rest of the days will be different though since I'll be back at school and work.

sunday goodies...a few days late

Church on Sunday was so good.  I can honestly say I spent my summer in the best ward ever.  Bishop Excell and his wife are amazing.  I'll definitely be keeping in touch and visiting them.

Here are some thoughts for you that people said on Sunday:

1.  Our great-grandparents called it the Holy Sabbath.  Our grandparents called it the Sabbath.  Our parents call it Sunday.  We call it the weekend.

2.  Every time we go to church we take part in a once in a lifetime experience.

Those really stood out to me.  Often times we don't show the Sabbath day the respect it deserves.  We want to sleep in, hang out, and do nothing.  We should treat it differently.

I never really thought of church being a once in a lifetime experience.  But it really is.  Every talk is different.  Every lesson is different.  Every testimony shared is different.  We generally take pride in taking once in a lifetime experiences, so we should treat church like that as well.

E & M 8.03.12

I love Emi with all my heart.  McKay is an amazing guy.  Together they're adorable.

I'm glad I was able to spend this day with them.

Emi and Des helped me so much and I'm glad I can call them my best friends.

Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs. Felt!

SuMmEr.....

You guys...summer is almost over.  I'm kinda really sad about that!! I still need to make poprock cookies because those were on my summer list and I did not accomplish it.  However, I'd like to say that my summer has been so dang good.  I've loved working at Bulloch Drug and with all those cute girls who work there too.  I'm so so so happy that me and my besties have been able to keep in contact and see each other lots.  I got to visit my family and go on a great vacation with them.  And I got to meet tons of new friends here in Cedar City.  I'll miss these cuties I currently have for roommates but I know I'll keep in touch with them for sure.  I'm moving on Saturday into my apartment that I'll be sharing with Kate and I can't wait for her to move in the week after!  For now though, I need to get on my packing and cleaning.  I'll put pictures up soon from my vacation and Emi's wedding!

Time is Love

My friend Westin Stagg got home from his mission on Wednesday.  He just called me.  I'm the happiest person in the world right now!

It's been awhile since I last posted anything.  

4th of July:  I spent it in Richfield with my best friends Katelin and Tiana.  We did the Liberty 5K, watched the parade, hung around at the fair and got friendship rings, had lunch with Kate's family where we fell asleep and Kinsley took pictures of us, watched the Bachelorette,  had dinner, went on a bike ride, watched fireworks, and had a sleepover.  I loved it!  I love Richfield and I love those two girls.

After the fourth:  I drove to Bountiful.  I spent Friday night making pies and other treats for Emi's bridal shower.  Saturday morning was the shower and it was way fun.  Then later that night my family and Holly's (Andrew's fiance) family had a barbecue.  We had food, talked, and then played this game called "Do you love your neighbors?"  It was pretty fun.  We're all pretty competitive to say the least.  Sunday I went to Danner Kjar's homecoming and then came back to Cedar.

I feel for the most part the rest of my July has been marked by trips to places..

I went on a date with this guy Caleb.  He was nice but I didn't feel right about it...so I cut the cord there..  I spoke in church on pioneers a couple weeks ago.  It went well I guess.. I hate speaking though.

I spent last weekend at my roommate's cabin with a bunch of friends.  I made breakfast burritos for breakfast, sandwiches and homemade fries for lunch, and pulled pork sandwiches for dinner.  We explored Mammoth Caves and got all muddy, went on a hike at Cascade Falls in the rain, and then "swam" in a pond...but really there were tons of people fishing there so we just got weird looks from them since we were all wearing swim suits.  It was a really good weekend overall!  We did karaoke at the cabin too and it was so funny and so fun!

I left Monday night and went up to Salt Lake to look for dresses for Andrew's wedding.  I didn't find any.  But I got to spend the 24th in Bountiful and that's my favorite place to be for that holiday!  My neighbor did his annual firework show and I got to chat with my old young women's leader and see two of my guy friends from my parent's ward.  They're funny boys but I love 'em.  Wednesday I drove to Provo and had lunch with Tiana at Zupas.  It was delicious!  I love talks with Tinana Belle.

And pretty much inbetween all those things I've been working working working.  I love it but at the same time I really just can't wait to be on the beach, in the sun, relaxing and doing nothing.  I get to go up to Salt Lake again next Wednesday and have a bachelorette/birthday party with Emi and Des.  Then Emi's reception is Thursday and she gets married Friday!!  Saturday will most likely and hopefully be spent at City Creek with my besties and then Sunday I'm off to Cali with my family!!

OH! And my little sister and Bree's little sister are coming tonight and we're going to have a great few days with those girls!!  Maybe I'll actually get my camera out and take some pictures! ha

Have Confidence in Christ

This weekend has truly been an amazing one.  I decided to stay in Cedar instead of go with the boy to Vegas.  I also didn't want to drive to Manti alone, so the decision was made to stay with my roommates.

Friday night I got off work and we drove down to Sand Hollow to camp with a bunch of friends.  After being awaken at 6:00 AM the next morning we kinda got to be fully awake, gathered up our things, and then went to the St. George Temple.  It was just me and Megan for baptisms but it was so awesome.  The spirit was so strong.  It was really quick and the water in the font was pretty dang cold, but I loved it anyway.  We were out of the temple by 8:15.  We wanted to go to the visitor's center, but it didn't open til 9 so we sat on the temple grounds and just enjoyed the spirit and beauty and everything else about the temple.  There were two couples that were having their wedding photography done and the girls' dresses were gorgeous.  It makes me so so so excited to know that one day that will be me with my eternal companion.  When we got to go into the visitor's center finally, we spent a good hour or so there.  We watched God's Plan for the Family and both cried during it.  Then we were listening to the statue of Christ and His message of love for each of us.  The sister missionary of one of the couple missionaries came and talked with us and by the end of our conversation we were both crying.  We both felt kind of dumb for crying, but the spirit was so strong and it was just an amazing testimony of this gospel and Jesus Christ and the atonement.

Once we left there we went and got food at Harmon's because we were starved.  We then went to Target where we did a little shopping.  We also visited Gap, Old Navy, and Ulta.  We both decided that it was really amazing the things you could get done in the day when you wake up early.

Saturday night Megan's best friend Maddi came to hang out and spend the night.  Kendall came over and we went to Jimmy John's to have sandwiches.  Then we drove to Dairy Queen and got blizzards.  Then Kendall took us to his farm to ride his horse.  Irv was kinda rambunctious so I rode him for like a minute and then Megan did the same but Maddi was too scared.  We put him away and climbed up into a tree house.  I love Kendall's farm.  And I'm starting to like Kendall more and more as I get to know him better.  Then we came back to our house, picked up Kelli and went to the Tiki Shack to get snow cones.  But the Tiki Shack was closed so we drove down main street looking for another one.  We found one and the guy stayed open so we could eat shaved ice.  It was delicious!!  Maddi got sour spray on hers and was raving about how good it was.  So funny.  After we all had a sufficient sugar high, we came back home.  We tried to put in a movie but smartie pants me doesn't know how to work our TV haha..... We couldn't figure it out so we just played murderer in the dark (which doesn't work so well with just 5 people).  Then we were just talking.  Kelli left and Maddi and Megan decided to go to bed.  I thought Kendall was going to leave as well but we ended up talking for another 2 hours.  I really like talking with him.  His laugh is so dang cute too.  So I would tickle him just to hear it.  Then bedtime it was.

Today was fast Sunday so it was testimony meeting during the sacrament.  It went by so quickly and everything that was said was just so good.  Kelli and I ended up staying out in the hall and talking all of Relief Society, but that was okay because we never get to hang out and just talk and she's so sweet that it was a good talk.

After church Megan and I made chocolate chip cake mix cookies.  Megan asked me if I wanted to go outside and study with her so we grabbed our blankets and scriptures and went outside.  Megan has her mission call to the Puerto Rico, San Juan mission by the way.  So we decided to study in the Preach My Gospel book under "recognizing the spirit."  It was great to read through and discuss different aspects of the chapter and read scriptures that go along with it.  We were talking about bearing testimony and I told her that I had never in my life born my testimony during a fast and testimony meeting.  She was so surprised.  The next thing she read out of the book went something like this, "your confidence and faith should be in Christ, not in yourself.  Rely on the spirit rather than your won talents and abilities.  Trust the Spirit to guide you in every aspect of your work."  It's so true!!  If we just have confidence that Christ can get us through something, then we can do it.  I know that Preach My Gospel is for missionaries, but we can apply that to any aspect of our lives.

I'm so grateful that Megan is my roommate.  She is such an example to me and inspires me to want to go on a mission (which I'm pretty positive I am going to go on one now, surprise!  It's no longer just a maybe...).  I've made the goal to go to the temple once a week now instead of just once a month.  Even if it means that I'm waking up at 5:30 on a Saturday morning to drive down there and be back before I work, I'm going.  Megan is just a sweet special spirit and it just goes to show me that people really are placed in our lives for whatever reason because God knows each and every one of us and knows just what we need and when we need it.  I'm grateful every day for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the joy it brings into my life.  It makes me really sad to think that I used to take it for granted.  The atonement is such a blessing in life.  It really is the enabling power of Christ.  It isn't just for repenting of sins.  It is there to help us get through the little things, like bearing testimony of Him.  Sundays really are the best days.

Decisions Decisions

One of my least favorite things to do is make decisions.  And I have to make one.  This weekend I have a few options..  

1)  Go to Manti and the pageant with my roommate Jaelyn.

2)  Go camping/Vegas with this random boy I met in Provo one night..

3)  Stay in Cedar and find something here.

So yeah... those are the options..and I don't want to make a decision.  The spontaneous side of me says to go camping/to Vegas.. but the smart side of me says to stay in Cedar.  And the fun part of me says to go to Manti.  I'm torn all over the place!  I've gotta decide by tomorrow afternoon though for when I either head to Manti or go with the random boy.

Total side note:  I freaking love my best friends!!!  I love that we talk often and talk about everything.  Phone calls with Tinana this week have been so great.  I didn't get to talk to Kate last night, but we did text a little and her blog is always awe inspiring.  Love those girls with all my heart <3

Another side note!  Andrew (my brother) proposed to his girlfriend last night!! I'm so excited for them :) They're getting married September 28th at 10:00 am.  It'll be such a fun time for them and I can't wait for it.  

This was the picture my mom sent me.  Aren't they cute??

And this is the picture my brother sent me!  I'm proud to say that I got to help pick out the ring even though I was four hours away in Cedar.  I can't wait to have a big sister!!