For Sandy, Especially.

I too, have decided to quit the 30 day challenge, but I promise I'll blog about fun things! Here is a list of my top 5 favorite books and why. I am sorry, there's not a very wide range of genre here. But what do you expect from a hopeful romantic? These are in no particular order, I love them all equally! And they aren't just one book, all my favorite books come in a series! 

The Passage of Promise series, by Tom Roulstone. I was never much of a reader until around 7th- 8th grade, when my sweet mom bought me a book entitled 'Elisabeth'. I had always been a romantic, but just never realized it until I read this book. Since then I have become hopelessly devoted to dreaming about one day having such an adventure of love! If you ever get the chance, READ IT! There are two other books in the series, 'Inheritance' and 'The Last Wish'.

The Buchanan Saga, by Anita Stansfield. Oh the Captain of my heart! I know he is out there, he's just with all the wrong women! ;) There are 3 other books in the series, 'Captive Hearts' 'The Captains Angel' and 'Hearts Crossed'. I Love these books SO Much! They took me on an adventure I will never forget! Sadly they are out of print. :'( I only own the second book. BUT..... they are on Amazon.com. I need to get them all!

EVERY Marcia Lynn McClure novel.... I could no sooner choose a favorite star in the heavens! I love them ALL! Every time I read a new book I fall in love all over again. If you haven't read her books.... go read one right now, you haven't lived! 

The Barrington Family Saga, by Anita Stansfield. Elenore Barrington, is the woman I want to be someday. There are 3 other books in the series 'A Quiet Promise' 'Promise of Zion' and 'At Heavens Door'. You wont be sorry you read them! They are such a testimony builder, as well as, a Fantastic love story!

The Jayson Wolf series, by Anita Stansfield. WOW! I Loved this series so much! There is too much to say about it, I just love them! There are 4 other books in the series 'A Distant Thunder' 'Winds of Hope' 'Shelter from the Storm' and 'The Silence of Snow'. AND Elton John is totally incorporated throughout the whole thing! If you know me at all, you know how much I adore Elton John! 

I hope this wasn't too boring, I do read other genres of books, but this IS my top five after all! :)

Day #9 - Some place you would like to travel!

The first place I would LOVE to travel is....... AUSTRIA!

I have always DREAMED of going to Austria! How amazing, awesome, and utterly fantastic would that be? I almost got to go once.... I was going to go summer of 2009! I was going to go to Austria, Switzerland, France, Germany, and a few other places, I can't remember? But when we moved to Arizona, that adventure was squished. I was Sooooo sad! Its okay though, I WILL go someday! :)

The other place I have always dreamed of going is....... IRELAND!

Look at that, Look at that! They don't have mountains like that in the States! Its soooo green and gorgeous! Every time I watch 'P.S I love you' my eyes go misty and I want to cry! Haha I want to go that bad! 


But deep in my heart, I know I am going to travel the world someday.... I just know it! :) 

Day #8 - A picture of something that makes you laugh!

Okay! So instead, I chose a video that makes me laugh! :) My dad got this in an email years ago, and our family has watched it numerous times since, whenever we've needed a good laugh! I hope you enjoy it!

Day # 7

A picture of the person you do the silliest things with.......

There are three people I do the silliest things with, the first one is my Best Friend since middle school, Krista! We have been together through Crazy Dance class, intense school bus rides, scouring the huge city of Portage, Our Purple bat costumes, and so much more! This picture was taken in the car after I picked her up at the airport, when she came to visit me. We are totally Silly and Fantastic when we are together! I Love this lady to death! We are going to be next door neighbors in heaven, I've always told her she should have been my second sister! I can call her up on a bad day and she makes everything better! She makes me laugh hysterically without restraint EVERY time I talk or am with her, no matter what! You're the Best, Kris! :) Krista "I am moving to, Bohista!" Me "What? :(" Krista "Nah, I'm just kidding, its a cologne! You're such a Froop, Mal!" 

Then there is my Best Friend, Miss Em! We have had EPIC adventures together! Miles and miles of happy laughs, Road trips to "BBQ" (really ABQ, inside joke ;) Ft. Bowie, and painted toe nails! We threw paint on those shirts and danced it up at the institute that night. There is never a dull moment when I am with her! She is getting married to "The Chip" on St. Patricks Day. Me and Marquette are concocting a fabulous shower! ;) I Love you a Million and 19 Swedish Fish, Em! I can't wait to be your Maid of Honor! :) Me "I CAN'T! They will kick me out of the T-C-C!" Em "Hmmm... if you could be Buddy or Wooz..."

Then there is my sister Paige! This girl has suffered through my Silliness since birth, I am lucky she hasn't disowned me! ;) She is a Jewel and among the handful of truest friends I've ever had! Its amazing, no matter how much we fight, argue, or pick at each other.... we are best friends 2 seconds after its over! I love you clear up to the mountains, Paige! You are Beautiful and talented and marvelous and everything in-between! Never forget it, you deserve every happiness and every wonderful thing on this earth and in heaven!

Thank you for being my Best friends, Ladies! You all make this world a little more easy to live in! 

Day # 6

A picture of something you're afraid of.......

I know it sounds weird and crazy, but one of my WORST fears in life, is tripping over my own feet and smacking my teeth into the cement! I mean really, how awful would that be?! Every time I think about it, I cringe. Its like fingernails on a chalk board except worse! I think this fear may have derived from an experience my little sisters friend had years ago. They were at basketball practice and she went for the ball and smacked her teeth into the edge of the stage! They FELL OUT! How traumatizing, huh? I don't know if I would be able to play basketball for a while after that.
         

Day # 5

Seven things that cross my mind a lot......


1. Who am I going to meet today?
2. What are my ladies going to be like tonight?
3. Heaven help me make it through Anatomy and Pharmacology!
4. Crap! Hows my hair? Hows my outfit? Does my butt look good in these jeans?!
5. Gum, Gum, where is my Gum?!
6. I wonder what my life will be like tomorrow, next week, next month, next year?! 
7. Hmmm.... should I have cereal tonight or PB&J? 

Day #4

Eight ways to win my heart.....
1. I love friendly strangers, is that weird? If I don't know you, and you talk, laugh, and smile like we've known each other forever..... you're in. If you are over the age of 20, and act like we've known each other forever.... even better!  
2. Be real and love life! 
3. Have personality and have a sense of humor. 
4. Be in love with love, earths seasons, pumpkin pie, and Christmas!
5. Have a love for history and for things of the past. 
6. Love Elton John! ( I would die to go to one of his concerts!)
7. Be spontaneous. " I feel like breakfast at midnight.... Lets do it!"
8. Be a true friend. 

Day #3 -The reason behind the name of your blog....

      So, right around the time that I decided to start a blog, I watched the movie 'Charly'. And of course I bawl my eyes out every time I see it, how could anyone not! Well, for me, the last scene is the most romantic, and also the Saddest part of the entire movie! And when Charly and Sam were riding for the last time on the farris wheel, and she looked up at him and said "Its been a marvelous ride, hasn't it?" My heart started to cry, I don't know how to say it any other way. I started to think about how uptight, forgetful, and lazy I could be sometimes, and how short life is and how it wasn't meant to be lived that way! I was going through the motions of every day life, and not enjoying or doing the things that made it all worth living! I wanted to make sure that I lived my life in such a way, that when my journey came to a close, I could look up and say "Its been a marvelous ride, hasn't it?" 
      I forgot this recently, for a while when I was going through a difficult time in my life. But My Heavenly Father was there with me, my Savior cried with me. And then by some small miracle, I remembered what my ride was all about, I knew who I was, I knew where I came from, and I know where I want to go. I started to live again! Now, I make it a point to relish the small and simple things in my life.... pink sugar cookies, vanilla coconut body splash, autumn leaves, my favorite romance novels, my family, the humming of the refrigerator at night, the sunshine... oh I love the sunshine! I love the rain too, and the sound of the mountains! 
   "Do not squander time, that is the stuff life is made of."- Gone with the Wind. "Don't waste a minute being unhappy! If one window closes, run to the next window, or break down a door!" If you have faith, love, hope, and wonder..... If you Laugh, wish, giggle, believe, and sing... I promise you will be able to look up when your journey comes to a close, and say "Its been a marvelous ride, hasn't it?" :)

Day # 2

 - A picture of yourself and the person you've been closest with the longest....

This is Carleen! (My mom's best friend since college and for life!)

This is how it always is! Me and Mom are dorks, and paige just stands there thinking "How on earth am I related to these people?!"

Okay, So the people I have been close to the longest are my Sweet Mom and Sister Paige. We are so blonde and goofy when we are together, I Love it! These girls have been with me through thick and thin, and will always be my best friends! I love you both! 


And here are another 15 facts about me, just for fun!


1. I secretly love the 'Dirty Dancing' soundtrack... And the ending scene when Patrick and Jennifer dance to 'The Time of your Life'  is my favorite! (Though I didn't like her on 'Dancing with the Stars'. She was over the top emotional and she changed her nose.)
2. If I were a tree, I would either be a Lilac or an Aspen.
3. I love the sound of noodles squishing together in a pan.
4. My favorite Doris Day movie is 'Move over Darling', and I LOVE James Garner in 'Murphey's Romance.' Its not one of his old, old ones, but its so completely romantic! My favorite line in the whole movie is at the very end, its the last line spoken in the film and it makes my eyes go misty and makes me go "AWE!" Every time. (You'll have to see the movie, to know the line ;)
5. My favorite lip gloss is the Cinnamint and Peppermint from Bath and Body.
6. I brush my teeth upwards of about 5 times a day. I know, I'm ridiculous! :P
7. I used to wear eye liner, but now I don't. Because for some reason my eyes got oily I guess, and it started to smear throughout the day! :P
8. I love hearing and learning gospel doctrine. 
9. Today I cried at work, when my boss Paul was talking about the planets and galaxies and the universe, and how incredible it was. (I'm so weird!)
10. I danced at The Stadium of Fire, the summer of 2007! I saw Brooks n' Dunn and Corbin Bleu! Haha
11. I went on Trek to Martins Cove for 3 days, summer of 2007 as well. It was, in no small words... AMAZING!
12. I have had 'I love how you love me' by Bobby Vinton, singing in my head all day. And I haven't tried to get it out, because I love his voice and it makes me smile.
13. I hate being in the midst of chaos.
14. I love Enya! 
15. The line I want to quote to the man I fall in love with someday... "Why'd you wanna marry me for anyhow?.... So I can kiss you anytime I want!"
16. Summer of Jr. Year in High school, I got on an epic exercise kick! One sunday I was running on the treadmill and  I slipped. I was pinned against the back wall and couldn't get up. Goes to show.. don't work out on sundays! I have a really nasty scar on my left leg. 
17. I got in a car wreck in August and was in the hospital for 2 days. I was on my way to a job interview and got t-boned on my drivers side. I was unconscious for 30 minutes before the ambulance showed up! I am still receiving phone calls and bills from that one! My car was totaled! Angels were watching over me that day.

30 Day Challenge!

So I am going to do the 30 day challenge thing! I am way excited! 


Day # 1. A picture of myself and 15 facts....

1. I only wear Maybelline 'Great Lash' Mascara (in the Hot pink bottle) It is the cheapest, and also the best mascara ever to grace the shelves of Walmart.
2. According to my sister, She swears that I bust out dancing while sitting on the couch, listening to itunes on the lap top. I however, do not remember EVER doing this.
3. I sing in the shower. The acoustics make me sound better than those outside of the bathroom walls.
4. I have eaten a deep fried pickle, from a restaurant called 'Pickles' up in Arco, Idaho.
5. I never owned a 'Ken' as a little girl. I had the one and only 'John Smith' (who came with Pocahontas). I cut his beautiful blond mane, and gave him short hair. Now that I look back on it.... What was I thinking?! I ruined him!
6. I had pigs named Mr. Wilson, Ms. Piggy, Mr. Bojangles, and another one... (I think his name might have been Frank or Fred?) that I sold at the Box Elder County Fair.
7. My favorite cartoon is 'The Fairly Odd Parents'
8. I like Cheetos, Doritos, Chedder Ruffles, and Sun Chips better than any other chip.
9. I am notorious for drinking all the juice at my house.
10. We have a video of me when I was 8, doing the 'Mashed Potato' at my dance recital. I was wearing Lavender Velvet with Rhine stones! 
11. I used to wake up every morning at 5 o'clock, my 8th and 9th grade years, and curl my hair in big curls!  
12. Me and my little girl friends used to 'Model Walk' around the black top in elementary school, hoping that Tyler Milner would catch a glimpse! 
13. I used to play house with my dollies underneath the kitchen desk. It was the perfect spot! 
14. My daddy calls me "Ree Ree" and I Love it! 
15. I saved this one for last, because it is the best.... When I was a little girl, I fell in love with a pretty Mermaid green and black, lacy, dress that I found in the bottom of my Mom's closet! I was tickled pink when she let me wear it to play dress up! I was tickled pink again when I was old enough to realize what it was that I used to play dress up in. ;)

In My Own Little Corner....

When I was a little girl, I day dreamed..... quite a bit.... okay, I day dreamed so much, it almost became my reality. Haha when my mom would go to parent teacher conferences, the teachers would tell her how sweet I was and how good I was doing.... then they would proceed to tell her that I did have "One tiny, little, problem...." I remember one thing about 2nd grade, Mrs. Wallace and her constant, insisting that I pay more attention in class! I day dreamed so much, My parents would always say "Whats the color of the sky in your world, Ree?" One day, we watched the Black Cinderella with Brandy. From then on they would always sing to me "In my own little corner, in my own little world...." It became my theme song, and to this day.... I still have a problem with day dreaming. Anyone who knows me well, will testify to that. My day dreams consist mainly of Love, Romance, Happily Ever After, and such things.... They say if you dream it enough, it will eventually come true..... Maybe thats the reason behind my Ridiculous, Romantic, Obsessions? Haha

"Oh Lord My Redeemer" - Jeff Goodrich (LDS)

Just pause the music I have on my play list and listen to this.

Today in church, the lessons made all the things I need to improve on in my life, flood my thoughts. All the testimonies, I couldn't help but feel inadequate. So I have decided to make a few goals :

* READ MY SCRIPTURES MORE OFTEN! (Being a college student, sometimes I stay out late, and when I come home, I say my prayers and climb into bed without reading my scriptures. Dually noted : Saying my prayers is one of the things that I do very often, throughout everyday in fact. It seems I am always talking with my Father in Heaven about something or other. Which is a bright spot, and one thing that does make me feel a little better.)

*I am not going to miss or be late to institute, even once! I will be there every Monday and Wednesday at 8 o'clock AM, on the dot!

*I will not be late for church! (if you haven't caught on all ready, tardiness is one of my big downfalls in life, and something I intend to change. My friend, Jackie, read me a quote that she said changed her life. I can't remember the exact phrase, but something to the affect that we need to cease making obedience an irritant, and make it our quest!)

*I will go to the temple every Thursday! ( I was so good last semester! This semester I have had every good intention of going, but something always crowds in my way... no more will I let things crowd my way to the temple.)

* I will study more! Be on top of my assignments and set aside time to study for each course I am taking.

Okay, Now I have written them down. Mom told me that my goals would never be accomplished unless I wrote them down. I didn't bare my testimony in sacrament meeting today, and I feel like I need to, for me. I know that this gospel is true, I love my Savior and I know He lives and loves me. I know he died for me, took upon him my sins.... it hurts me so much to know that I have caused him pain. I know that My Heavenly Father guides and directs my life. I am so thankful to have been born into the gospel, and into a family where my father holds the priesthood. I am so thankful for the temple! I know that my Heavenly Father knows the depth of my heart and he knows the yearnings of my soul, he believes in me, and I can do anything with him by my side. His power is real, it moves me, and my testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is strong, steadfast, and continually growing. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Gathering Life's Flowers, so to speak.

If you know me, you know how I fall asleep during movies no matter what, right? It is very rare for me to make it through a movie late at night, or any time after breakfast, if I have a blanket and a pillow. This story doesn't involve a movie, but I did fall asleep, like always. So me and my room mates came home one night and I kicked it on the couch with my green blankie and fell asleep mid conversation. I woke up to a room full of random people! I don't know what I look like when I sleep, but I know it can't be pretty! I think I may have been drooling which is disgusting in and of itself. Needless to say I was completely embarrassed. My sweet room mate Hannah is an artist, and draws pictures of the fun things we do on our wipe board. Everyone always has conversation bubbles over their heads, saying funny, witty, and clever things while Mallory is curled up in a blanket on the couch with "Zzz's" over her head.... its a curse. So, about a week or so ago, a rice bag blew up in our microwave and started on FIRE! The whole place smelled like death warmed over, so we all put on our Cinderella clothes and scrubbed! Walls, blinds, baseboards, carpet, EVERYTHING! We blasted Kelly Clarkson and jammed out, it was actually a way fun night! I love my room mates! We all had to wash every single article of clothing we own, including linens! Anyhow, the apartment is officially the cleanest at Howards, no doubt a Blessing in disguise for sure! But.... we no longer have a microwave. I know what you're thinking... how on earth have they survived a whole week without such a precious commodity/appliance?! WELL....I had like 3 frying pans, and a fantastic waffle maker, but no pots! So I went to the Mart that has Walls and bought myself a Pot! BEST investment EVER! Now, if you know me, you know that I have buyers remorse with everything I buy... quite literally. I absolutely love my new pot! No buyers remorse, what so ever with this one! Dually noted : I love college!