The Life and Times of A Jersey Girl

New Blogness!

2011-01-05T15:43:00.002-07:00

So with the new year and my soon-to-be new last name, I started a new blog for Taylor and I. So if you want to follow my shenanigans (which currently include: wedding planning, moving, and preparing for wife-hood) you can do so at http://thesmiths3511.blogspot.com

This will probably be my last post on this blog, so please switch to the new one. :) Love you all!

- Alex, AKA Pizza, AKA Mrs. Smith

What a Difference Four Months Makes...

2010-11-23T03:21:00.005-07:00

So, it's obviously no secret that I'm an awful blogger. But, in my defense, a lot has happened.

Yes, for those of you who live under a rock, I'M ENGAGED! To the most wonderful man, I might add.

Yup, that's him! Taylor James Smith. *sigh* He's a graphic design major from Florida (though he's a Texan at heart) who loves music, movies, and... ick... Dallas Cowboys football. lol He is, by far, the most loving, patient, and adorable man I have ever met and I am the woman who gets to spend eternity building a family with him. tee-hee :) No date or location has been officially decided yet, but I'm sure I'll update when it's all settled.

As for me, I'm working, wedding planning, and loving everyday I get to spend with the love of my life. It doesn't get much better than this! I am truly, extraordinarily blessed.

Sittin, Waitin, Wishin...

2010-06-02T05:12:00.002-06:00

Let me preface this by saying that I am so blessed and I love my life, but we all have moments when we wish we were someone else, or at some other point in our lives. For me, this is one of those moments. Allow me to share with you my wishes.

- I wish I was completely finished with school.

- I wish I was financially independent.

- I wish I was fulfilling my role as a most amazing wife.

- I wish I was pregnant. (Weird, I know. But true.)

- I wish I wasn't so far from my family, especially my mom.

- I wish my hair was longer.

- I wish I didn't have acne.

- I wish I was more healthy.

- I wish I could sleep like a normal person.

OK, I realize this might sound depressing. I guess I just wanted to vent. I really am happy. I have wonderful friends, an amazing family, and the gospel in my life. I guess this is just one of those days when I look at the lives of the people around me and start to wish...

Lack of Sleep...

2010-05-15T02:28:00.002-06:00

Not too tired tonight. I'm watching "RENT" and enjoying an omelette. Thought I'd take some time to inform you all of things you never really wanted to know about me, also known as a survey. haha

50 SECRETS : be honest

0. Your recent ex texted you and wanted you back, would you take them back?
nope. if it wasn't right then, it's still not right.

1. Has anyone told you "Forever and Always" then left?
too many

2. What is your current relationship status?
single and contemplating life. lol

3. Where did you meet your first crush?
kindergarden. he had a blonde mushroom haircut and a cable-knit sweater. swoon.

4. Have you ever lost a close friend?
yes

5. Ever had a 3 some?
no thank you. i'm all the woman anyone could every hope for ;) no assistance necessary.

6. Does your crush like you?
which one?

7. Would your parents be mad if you were in a relationship?
they'd be ecstatic. haha

8. When was the last time you really laughed?
the preview for "Despicable ME" last night! haha

9. Something's wrong first girl you turn too?
shellie or brittany

10. First guy you'd go too?
nate

11. Is there anyone who doesn't like you because of something you did?
probably a lot of people. i'm working on that...

12. Angry at anyone?
not particularly

13. What's stopping you from getting the person you like?
time?

14. When was the last time you cried really hard?
a couple weeks ago.

15. Is there anyone you would do anything for?
absolutely.

16. Who?
family and the friends i call my family.

17. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
shellie

18. What is your favorite song?
right now... probably something sappy and romantic... let's go with "Fairytale" by Firefly

19. Do you like Red Bull?
occasionally

20. How many people can you trust with just about everything?
about 5

21. Have you ever wished on a shooting star?
yes

22. Does the last person you held hands with mean something to you?
not anymore..

23. Describe yourself in one word?
heart

24. Do you have anything that belongs to your ex?
a boxful of stuff. over 4 years you accumulate a lot of crap. lol

26. Can you honestly say you've had a sleepover with the opposite gender?
honestly, yes.

27. Do you rebound?
no. but i do fall fast

28. Whats your pick up line?
don't need one with these moves. ow ow! (totally j/k) haha

29. What would you do if you found out the person you like was in a relationship?
i'd be sad, but so happy for him. he deserves to be happy. he's absolutely earned it.

30. Do you act differently around the person you like?
sometimes.

31. Honestly, who's numbers do you have memorized?
very few. darn cell phones. definitely my parents' and grandmom's... maybe steve's.. and that's about it

32. Is it hard to make you laugh?
not at all

33. Who was the last person to make you mad?
james

34. Do you think your last ex will eventually want to be with you again?
hopefully not. but probably

35. Have you ever fallen asleep in someone's arms?
yes.. best feeling ever.

36. Has anyone ever called you "scrumptious" before?
probably

37. Would you like to put a night on repeat, and live it forever?
not one that's happened yet

38. Do you have a best friend that knows you inside and out?
i have a couple of them. thank goodness.

39. Is your best friend a slut?
she's married. so no. lol

40. Are hard drugs a turn off?
100%

41. Are you happy with life right now?
for the most part

42. Are you still in love with your ex?
i will always love him, but i am finally not in love with him.

43. Have you ever been the "other person" in a relationship?
absolutely not

44. Have you ever had your heart broken?
more times than i can count. hazard of falling fast and hard.

45. Have you ever broken someone's heart?
unfortunately, yes.

46. Is there anybody you're really disappointed in?
yes and he knows it.

47. Where is your best friend?
home sleeping like a normal person, i'm sure.

48. Something you're happy about?
almost being 100% finished with college.

50. How is your heart lately?
longing

Oh the guilt...

2010-03-31T02:13:00.002-06:00

I have not written here in FAR too long! My apologies to the person(s) who read. Haha

Well life has been pretty good overall. I have only one more term in my college career until I am officially a college graduate with a B.S. in Family Life. I am so excited! These past five years at BYU have really shaped the woman I'm becoming and I could not have asked for more amazing people to share it with over the years.

Speaking of amazing people, MY FAMILY IS COMING TO PROVO!! Since I'm graduating in the middle of the summer, they don't have a ceremony then. So I'll be walking in the ceremony in April and my parents and grandparents are coming all the way from New Jersey to see their little graduate!!! :) I am so blessed!

As for this summer... I'll be finishing up school, working for BYU Sports Camps, and hopefully completing my Dental Assisting course. I'm very excited for what the future holds, mostly because I have NO idea what it is!

On a side note, I am sooo excited for General Conference this weekend!!!! :) And hopefully I'll be better about writing from now on.

Ciao!

Mmmm... CaKe!!!

2009-11-03T17:14:00.001-07:00

I've created a new blog to showcase my cakes.

http://itsapizzacake.blogspot.com/

Check it out! :D

Ace of Cakes...

2009-09-20T13:56:00.007-06:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I have found a new love! No, it's not a boy... it's cake decorating!

So this week has been a week of birthdays and what's a birthday without CaKe?! Noting my apparent craftiness, my friends commissioned me to sort of head up the cake department for our friends' special days and I immediately went BoNkErS! Well, let's allow the cakes to speak for themselves...

This is 'Clarence', our dinosaur cake, that was made for Alex Hale's birthday.

This is Po from 'Kung Fu Panda'! I made this cake for Brad Beaufort's birthday.

And, my personal favorite, a Minnie Mouse inspired cake for my dear friend Kristin.

I seriously cannot explain to you how much fun I've had making these cakes! I can't wait for the next birthday!!

Summer... in a nutshell

2009-06-22T13:30:00.003-06:00

I wish I could put this summer in a nutshell; that I could throw all the hours worked and dollars earned into a nutshell so that 4 months would feel like 4 days. Let me explain...

This summer has been great. I've been able to spend a lot of time with my family and friends and I've made more money in the last 2 months than I've made in any whole summer. I've enjoyed being by the ocean; the peace it brings is undeniable. But for the benefits, I've paid a hefty price.

I miss having support and having good friends surrounding me 24/7. Don't get me wrong, the people I have here are wonderful, but my friends in Provo have spoiled me with constant love and uplifting attitudes and I've never realized how much I rely on that. I'm counting down the days to be reunited with Shantelle, Brittany, Brennon, Chalece, Becca and everyone else who makes my life so complete.

My health has gone to the dogs. I honestly have no idea why, other than that I might be somewhat exhausted. I've been sick to my stomach at least once a week, foods that I used to love have made me ill, and to top it all off-I now have a kidney stone! (NOT COOL) I've been having migraines far too frequently, and I can't even tell you the last time I've had a restful night's sleep. I guess part of me hopes that my return to the West will put my body and mind back in line.

Basically, I feel like I've put myself on hold while I'm here, which definitely sucks. I'm working three jobs and trying to finish two Independent Study classes so I can graduate in April. The only people I hang out with are my Mom and Steve and the weather has been miserable the entire time I've been here, so even my days off are spent indoors.

I need to make this money. I need to spend time with my family. But where is the line? Where is the point where I crack and jump in my car and drive the 36 hours back to where life makes sense?

Goodbye...

2009-05-03T21:56:00.003-06:00

Yesterday I lost one of the most amazing men in my life... my grandfather.

And while I can't even begin to regale you with all of his achievements in sports (from baseball to pool to bocce ball) or the life lessons he taught me... I feel I need to in some way honor him, or mourn him.. right now I'm not quite sure what to do.

I can't say that I'm not glad that he's passed on. I know he was in pain and so frustrated that he could no longer communicate his thoughts and feelings to us. But no matter how many people tell me he's 'gone to a better place' it doesn't ease the burning hole in my heart.

My Pop-Pop was one of the strongest people I have ever known--both in the body and in spirit. He played softball and bocce ball well into his eighties and has more confidence and conviction than most men will lever know. If there is one thing I know I have of my grandfather's (besides my height) it's the confidence to be myself. He always seemed like a man who could just walk up to anybody and say "I'm Bob Cinelli. If you don't like it, I don't need ya." And for those of you who know me, know I've inherited a very similar attitude about life.

This has also made me think about goodbyes. I hate goodbyes. Yes, I just used the word 'hate'. Saying goodbye to my friends in Provo a week ago was brutal. Saying goodbye to my friends who were graduating broke my heart. And saying goodbye to my Pop-Pop will be a heart-wrenching experience. The last time I saw him was at Christmas--before he got sick. He was joking around and griping about me not playing baseball anymore. But I could see in his eyes that he knew we would be saying goodbye soon. He looked at me with so much love and I could tell that he was proud to have me as a granddaughter. I'm glad I could make him proud. That I could get good grades, do good things, and make his favorite Christmas cookies to maybe make his time on this earth just the tiniest bit brighter.

You didn't know my Pop-Pop, but he was an extraordinary man. And I hope that a glimpse of his extraordinary qualities live on through me.

I love you Pop-Pop Noisy.

Please watch over me until we meet again.

In Loving Memory of Robert Anthony Cinelli

5/2/2009

D-Day

2009-03-23T12:26:00.002-06:00

Today D stands for DYNOMITE!

Because that is what I am going to look like in 6 weeks. I am starting the Slim in 6 program today and am so stoked. After researching tons of different home fitness programs and getting realistic about my goals and expectations, I honestly feel that I will have amazing success with Slim in 6.

I woke up at 8 am this morning for cardio and it kicked my butt. But I am determined to be the real me... to melt away this chubby exterior and let the true Pizza shine through. It's only 6 weeks... I can push myself for 6 weeks.

And beautifully coinciding with my goal is my going home. I'll be finishing out my last week in NJ, but I'm hoping most of the difference will have occurred by then and week 6's results will just be icing on the cake.

"Some people are destined to succeed and some people are determined to succeed." Well, I believe that to truly succeed one has to believe in both, and boy do I!!

Here we go...

2009-03-10T01:38:00.002-06:00

About 3 months late, but probably more sincere than had I done it on January 1st. My resolutions... not necessarily for the year, but for the next 6 weeks or so at least.

I can and I will do the following:

- Lose weight (no joke this time)

- Get A's

- Be more social with people outside my elite circle

- Do more selfless service

- Clean up after myself more

These have all come after a lot of thought and preparation. I have purchased the "Slim in 6" fitness plan, mapped out all my assignments until finals, and posted reminders of my goals all around my room and in my planner. I am determined to return home a better person than I was the last time they saw me. (PS I'm going home for the summer. Crazy, I know)

I see no reason why I can't do these things. I am the only person standing in my way. With a little encouragement and a lot of motivation I am ready to be the new me. I am determined, and a determined Pizza is a force to be reckoned with.

Something To Look Forward To...

2009-01-17T11:44:00.003-07:00

Haha. I fooled you. You were bracing yourself for another depressing blog about my slim odds of ever getting married, and how anxious I am to get to the temple. WRONG!

I've been thinking lately about the amazing women who inspire my life and I decided to write about them a little bit.

Emma Hale Smith

Wife to the Prophet Joseph and probably one of the most amazing women to ever walk the earth. Don't believe me, please read "My Great-Great-Grandmother, Emma Hale Smith" by Gracia Jones (Ensign, Aug 1992) After reading this article for a religion class I was catapulted into studying Emma's life. This woman dealt with more adversity than most anyone in this mortal probation and she stood by her husband through everything. There's a song called Emma that my roommate (to be discussed momentarily) introduced me to, that I think captures her beautifully.

With the world on your shoulders,

When the nights had grown colder--

You seemed to weather every storm

With a queen's grace.

When you lost your husband;

When you buried your children.

I'm sure the angels stood in reverence as you prayed.

How much can one heart take?

Shantelle Smith

No relation to Emma, but another great Smith lady, nonetheless. Shantelle is my roommate. I've known her only since September, but she (along with my other two roommates) has impacted me more than she knows. She is a faithful woman. She has been loyal to the missionary she's waiting for (two years is a LONG time). And even when her life seems to be crumbling and crashing, there is a surety in her eyes that is undeniable--her testimony. I have never met a girl who lives her faith the way she does and to live with her and see her struggle and triumph everyday has been inspiring. A Rascal Flatts song reminds of Shantelle.

On your knees, you look up

Decide you've had enough.

You get mad, you get strong;

Wipe your hands, shake it off.

Then you stand.

Every time you get up

And get back in the race,

One more small piece of you

Starts to fall into place.

Vicki Stecher

Quite possibly the greatest influence on my life was someone else's mother. When I became friends with Dawnelle and Hannah (and their entire family), little did I know that in this family I would find my strength. This woman is my idol. She is the epitome of a woman of Christ. Balancing her children, her career, her marriage, and her own life--and all with grace and her own personal flair. She has more love in her heart than I have yet to know in my 21 years of living. She has more creativity than could be imagined by a thousand Picassos. And she has more strength than even the strongest man on earth. I have seen her struggle through hardship and come out trimphant with nothing but her faith and her family. She is everything I hope to be as a wife and mother. Even when she had her own life and her own family to tend to, she was always there to lift me up. A ballad by Faith Hill makes me think of my Mama Stecher.

You showed me how it feels

To feel the sky within my reach.

And I always will remember all the strength you gave to me.

Your love made me make it through.

Oh, I owe so much to you.

You were right there for me.

In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky.

In my heart there'll always be a place for you,

For all my life.

I'll keep a part of you with me.

And everywhere I am, there you'll be.

My Mother

I could never end a post about amazing women without writing about my mom. This woman is my other half. Literally. There are times when I don't know where I end and she begins. But, as far as inspirational, my mom is as great as they come. She is an optimist at heart and always encouraged me to follow my heart. She's helped me cultivate my talents with patience and instruction that I'm sure no one else on earth could match. She is a woman of poise, grace, and classic beauty. When I think of my mom, I think of Audrey Hepburn or Lucille Ball. Classic women who, when they walked into a room, caused everyone in it to rise up to their level. My mother inspires me to be a better woman. It is because of her that I can withstand so many things because she taught me that to make it in this world you have to have two things: resilience and class. It's kind of goofy, but this song from Annie will forever remind me of my mother and I think it somewhat captures her 'total package' attitude.

Who cares what they're wearing

On Main Street or Seville Row.

It's what you wear from ear to ear,

And not from head to toe that matters.

So senator, so janitor,

So long for a while.

Remember you're never fully dressed,

Though you may wear the best,

You're never fully dressed without a smile.

I have been so blessed to be inspired by some AMAZING women in this life and I can only hope and pray that as I continue to grow and mature that I will become someone who will make them proud.

Things I Hate About Breakups...

2009-01-06T23:18:00.002-07:00

Not that I've been through very many, but this most recent one has brought to light a few trends that I officially despise:

1. All the crying

2. The weight gain from the excessive ice cream indulgence

3. When everyone and their dog has to ask you "What happened?!"

4. The rest of the crying

5. The inevitable giving back of his stuff (SO awkward)

6. The awesome songs you can no longer listen to

7. The bitterness at seeing other peoples' happiness (esp. when those people are your roommates)

8. The first time you go out with someone else and do WAY too much comparing

9. A little bit more crying

10. The random occurrence of heartache when something reminds you of when things were good...

I really don't like breaking up. I especially don't like being broken up with. But I do enjoy the part where I get my life back together and look twice as good as I did before and he feels like an idiot. Yeah, I like that part.

Another one bites the dust...

How the Grinch Stole Christmas...

2008-12-26T18:23:00.005-07:00

... He took away my boyfriend.

This Christmas has had many moments far superior than Christmases past. There was no freak out on Christmas day, Mom prepared the entire meal with less than 3 expletives uttered. My family spent TIME together! Not just a few minutes, but a few hours! I've also had time to relax since I've been here, which might be the greatest shocker of them all.

But all of my yuletide bliss is bittersweet and somewhat diluted because of one very important missing piece--Tom. Being away from him has been one of the hardest things I've ever done. As soon as I distract myself enough to forget how much I miss him, I get on Facebook or even open my computer to see the background and I fall back into a Scrooge-worthy bummed out state.

Am I being ridiculous? I know we've only been dating for a month, but he makes me so incredibly happy! He's like the missing puzzle piece in my life. Seemingly every shortcoming I have, he balances. It blows my mind. He motivates me to be better and makes me feel like I can actually do it. I could go on forever, but needless to say he makes my life so wonderful. Being without him has felt like walking around like a zombie. It's like there's a hole in my heart...

So Christmas is supposed to be the happiest time of year, but this year it's been the loneliest. Christmas is when you celebrate all the wonderful things in your life and bask in the happiness of those things... so what about when those things are out of your reach?

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'til his puzzler was sore. The the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

Stereotypical Thanksgiving Post...

2008-11-24T16:54:00.003-07:00

Things that I'm grateful for...

- People who are not ashamed of me when I snort

- Redbox

- My amazing roommates

- Good conversation

- The acoustics in my car

- The ability I have to serve others

- Old friends

- New friends

- People who sing along

- Good hugs

- 3 hour conversations with my mom

- Random text messages of love

- Home-cooked meals

- The satisfaction I get from organizing things

- Dance

- Music that speaks to my soul

- People who make life worth living

- The one who knows it all--my Savior, Brother, Redeemer, and Best Friend

There's probably a million other things I could mention, but during this season of Thanksgiving I have decided to really do my best to be optimistic and see the good in everything. I am someone who is so incredibly blessed and I would surely be amiss if I didn't take a moment here and there to realize that.

Stop and smell the roses, for tomorrow they may be nothing more than potpourri.

Ciao!

A Little Perspective...

2008-11-12T00:08:00.002-07:00

I just realized how much the semester has flown by and had to take a moment to ponder.

It's almost the middle of November. Almost Thanksgiving. And so much has happened!

I realized that my roommates and I are like sister already and I don't remember when or how that happened. I remember praying for it, and I remember at the beginning when I was trying so hard to be likeable. But now it's comfortable and perfect and I don't know how it happened. How times flies!

I realized that I've already had my heart broken slightly this semester. But that I've also had my eye on the same guy for a LONG time (that doesn't happen often). I've also grown a lot in my choices of men and the way I see them. I'm impressed by my maturity in the way I handled things with "Boy Who Shall Not Be Named Who Broke My Heart" and how I can see how I grew from that experience already!

I realized that some of my ideals have changed... along with some goals, and dreams, and fantasies. I feel so much more like the woman I want to be--the one I'm supposed to be. It's amazing what a few months, a good kick in the pants, and a lot of time on your knees will do. My priorities are so different now!

And then I realized that the only reason I stopped to realize all this was because my family is on vacation in Costa Rica. Hold on, hold on--let me explain! When my parents go on vacation to some far off land where cell phone service is a thing of the past and my mom checks to see that her tanning oil hasn't dried up way more than she checks her email, I am at the height of anxiety. Those two are my life, not just in the financial sense. My parents are my everything--my motivation, my love, my assurance. So having no word of their well-being for an entire week is worse than Chinese water torture. It was this realization--the shift in my life because my parents were away--that made me stop and think about the time.

They go on these trips pretty often, and they usually take one every year about this time. It's this time when life always gets a little topsy turvy for me in every way possible and that is of course the time that they are unreachable. I can't help but wonder if it's a test of strength--not by God, but by me. If I subconsciously say to myself "OK, they're gone, let's see if you can do better than last time" every time they jet away.

One of my greatest fears in life is that I won't be capable of being independent from my parents. Apparently my fears have finally manifest themselves visibly enough that I might have to actually start facing them. Isn't that a trifling thought! Oy!

Things Look Better In the Light...

2008-11-03T22:28:00.005-07:00

Whoa! I haven't written in here since summer! I'm so sorry!

Life is, in a word, nutty. I'm sure most of you know that I'm in school and that's no easy task. Add to that the fact that my health has been fickle and the weather nice and it makes sense that my blog has seen better days. But I have had a few wonderful experiences lately that I should share, and perhaps a bit of wisdom as well.

Halloween this year was EPIC! The first time around, I looked like this:

I know, I know... there are no words. On Halloween night, I was dressed as a wealthy widow from the 1920's for a murder mystery I went to. It was definitely one of the most fun things I have ever done... even if I got the pee scared out of me when I found the 'body' in the garage!! After my experience as a sexy sleuth, I met up with some friends to see an outdoor concert performance of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." WOW. I don't know the last time I enjoyed myself so much at the theatre. I think what made it even better was being there with my friend, David, who is some what of a Sondheim worshipper. So when I got really into the show or really excited about something, I felt justified. It's nice to have people who understand.

And I think that's what I wanted to impart some wisdom about: people. I've had a rough couple of weeks (I won't get into details) and I found that the only thing that got me through was people. People who always make me smile--people like David. People who make me feel needed--people like Becca. People who make me feel like my best IS enough--people like Shantelle. People who know exactly what I'm feeling when I can't articulate it--people like my mom. I am so incredibly blessed. I think when my Father in Heaven sent me to this earth, he sent me with a variable 'posse' of loved ones, knowing that they would be the driving force in my life. And there have been different people at different stages and always at the right place at the right time. It's amazing how well I am taken care of by a loving God.

I have to express my gratitude for this gospel in my life. I don't know where I'd be, or more importantly WHO I'd be without it. I am a beautiful and cherished daughter of God and He has an amazing plan for me. I am so excited to find out what that plan entails... and who.

Teenagers, Bobcats, and Wyoming... OH MY!

2008-08-24T16:53:00.005-06:00

So, I don't know if I'm going to do this ANY justice, but EFY was the most wonderful experience I have had in quite some time. For those of you who don't know, EFY stands for Especially For Youth. It's a week-long retreat for Mormon teenagers. They come from all over the world to go on these retreats to be spiritually strengthened and make friends with youth their age that hold their same standards. It truly is an inspired program. Well, my job as a counselor basically meant that I was with my 10 girls 24/7. I had girls ages 14-15 and they were just wonderful. Here's a picture of my girls from my first week:

These girls were so inspiring; as well as my girls from the second week. They definitely taught me more than I taught them. So did my co-counselors. My first week, I had Vince and Sadie

Vince was a pro. He helped me so much with all the little things I didn't know. Sadie was also doing her first week ever, so it was really cool for us to learn together. They were a huge support to me, always encouraging me. They're wonderful. My second week, I had Spencer and Dani.

These 2 were hysterical. I'm pretty sure the 3 of us together scared the crap out of our youth. It was awesome. One of my favorite parts was this one inside joke that wound up going crazy. One of the girls thought she saw a bobcat (yes, a bobcat--in Idaho) and so we spent the rest of the week kind of making fun of her and throwing in random bobcat alerts here and there to our morning or evening announcements. But, overall, EFY really taught me about myself and the woman I want to be. I set a lot of goals that I hope to work on over the next semester.

As for the cabin trip... it has been the most relaxing weekend of my life. I have no cell phone service, but we do have wireless, so I could communicate with the outside world only when I wanted to. The view is also completely and utterly breathtaking. I have never been so in awe of God's creation as I have been here. I feel so blessed to have been able to spend a few days of peace with good friends, in a great atmosphere, making some of the most amazing memories.

As of this moment, we're slowly preparing to go back to Provo after a great weekend. I don't know that I want to go home because I know that home means going back to school. But, I'm sure this is going to be an amazing semester--I'm just sure of it.

Ciao!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Charli-Rae!

2008-07-12T18:39:00.002-06:00

Here she is! Obviously I stole the photo from some random auto website, but I've been too busy to take photos. But this is exactly what she looks like, color and all. Gorgeous, huh?! I am so excited!! Her name is Charli-Rae (I figured she needed a hyphenated name since it's a C-RV). Charli is short for Charlotte which means 'feminine' and Rae comes from a Japanese root meaning 'law' (my sad attempt at maybe not getting so many tickets LOL). But she drives like a dream and I look darn cute in it! Let me know what you think!

Ciao!

Watch Out Wildwood!

2008-06-25T01:59:00.003-06:00

I know I haven't updated this in a million bazillion years, but I've been working my patootie off at the call center and enjoying my summer here in glorious Provo before the temperatures reach triple digits. But that will not be my concern in less than one week because

I'M GOING HOME!!!

Every time someone asks me how I'm doing, I get to scream that blessed phrase into their faces. I cannot explain how excited I am to go home. I'm a little nervous (in all honesty), but let me explain. I've had this terrible habit of kind of losing my mind when I visit home. I spend all year progressing spiritually and in maturity, but when my senses get a whif of the Atlantic it all goes haywire. But not this summer. I am bound and determined to be the woman I know I can be. I have no reason to slip up and fall into old habits, but I have a million reasons to do better.

First and foremost, whether it be for marriage or a mission, I will be going through the temple within the year and I will let nothing stand in my way of receiving the fulness of temple blessings that I know I deserve. It's what I've worked for since I entered those waters of baptism almost 7 years ago. (Wow, it's been that long?) But I will be worthy to stand in that holy place. I can't wait.

But, on a less serious note, I am so stinkin excited for Jersey! I can't wait to see my parents, just thinking about makes my heart ache in anticipation! I'm also excited for some real food! Don't get me wrong, Utah is great when it comes to Mexican food, but for anything else it kinda sucks. I can't wait for fresh produce, fresh fish, and pasta dishes I can drown in! :)

One of the best parts about this whole trip is that my roommate, Sarah, is coming to visit for the last week I'm home! She's never been to the east coast before so I am super excited to show her around! (and have an excuse to go to NYC) She's such an amazing girl and she has lived in Utah her whole life, so I'm jazzed to get to show her a whole different world.

Well, I better hit the sack.

Ciao!

Opportunity of a Lifetime...

2008-05-18T19:02:00.004-06:00

I spent 15 hours yesterday on the set of Disney's "High School Musical 3: Senior Year". I was jumping up and down in the bleachers of East High School in Salt Lake City, playing a diehard Wildcat fan. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. We started shooting at 11 am, went until our 4 pm dinner break, then shot until 12:45 am with one drink break. I thought I was going to die from jumping up and down and screaming for so long. I was unaware that my body was capable of emitting that much energy at one time, but I am truly impressed by myself.

Now, for the part I know you're all waiting for: the details on when and where you can spot me.

The very opening of the movie is the championship between East High and West High. This is the only scene I'm in (so far) but it's a very important part of the movie. LOL I can be found in the main crowd, in front of the East High flag girls and the huge East High sign... also next to some random Asian guy. I can also be found right next to the white tuba in the East High band. I'm thinking the shots of the pep band will be the best opportunity to find me.

So, needless to say i am super excited about this and I hope I will be able to actually be able to spot myself in the movie. For those of you who know that Disney is seriously my own personal form of heroin, this is the coolest thing ever.

I hope you all plan on going to see the movie in theaters, if nothing else than for the opening scene. :)

Ciao!

Hi this is Alex with the Westgate in Park City! How are you doin?

2008-05-06T19:53:00.002-06:00

Yeah, please let out a chuckle... your darling girl is a telemarketer. But I'm not one of those super annoying ones who are selling you a credit card or a magazine subscription, I actually call people to bribe them with a free night stay up in one of our 5-star suites so that they'll take a tour and then tell their friends about it! It's actually a really honest business and the managers and employees here are super awesome. The work environment is laid-back and cool. Don't get me wrong, it's not all butterflies and candy corn. I get hung up on a lot and plenty of people get mad when I call during dinner or American Idol. But I actually like my job! I get to talk to some very interesting people and when I do book a tour, it's extremely satisfying! They pay isn't amazing, but it's one step closer to being financially independent and working for a marketing company will look good on my resume.

Other than that, life in Provo is uneventful. Sunnier and more fun! But uneventful. LOL

I hope you're all enjoying the spring! :)

Ciao!

Relaxation...

2008-04-28T00:24:00.003-06:00

Feet in the sand, sipping frozen drinks from coconuts, watching the skin on my legs get browner by the minute...

Yup... that's what my parents are doing right now while I'm here--in Provo.

On the topic of relaxation though, I cannot even explain how excited I am that the summer is finally here! I'll be working evenings at the call center and spending my days by the pool. I am so darn excited! Plus I have 2 trips planned and I'll be an EFY counselor in August. This is going to be a truly epic summer, I can feel it in my bones! Plus I just bid on a Sega Genesis on Ebay and I am PUMPED for that sucker to arrive!

Well, I'm honestly exhausted right now, but I had to complain about the 'rents being in Puerto Vallarta or I just wouldn't be me. LOL

Ciao!

Feedback...

2008-04-23T16:53:00.002-06:00

I just realized that my blog-impaired family and friends may not realize that they are more than welcome to leave comments on my posts. You don't have to have a blog account to leave comments and I would LOVE to hear from you.

And, don't even worry, to celebrate Earth Day yesterday I ran naked through a field with 4 of my girlfriends and about 18 deer. It was amazing. And don't worry, I won't post photos of that.

Ciao!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...

2008-04-22T01:00:00.002-06:00

I know this has very little to do with my life, but I couldn't be more excited if I were pregnant!

MARY IS HAVING A BABY!!!

My bestest since the tenderest of years is starting a brood of her own. She just found out a few days ago that she is officially preggo and I am SO excited! I'm going to be an aunt!!! I'm especially excited because she and Chris are moving back to Provo at the end of the summer so I'll be able to be there with her through the pregnancy! Picking up midnight frosties, holdin her hair back while she pukes... doin all the good stuff while Chris goes to school and what-not.

I am just so incredibly excited about babies right now. One of my very good friends from freshman year, Erica, is having her first son THIS WEEK! So I'm super anxious about that and now the best news ever, that Mary's having her first.

Of course, as we all know, the baby should be names Alex (so convenient that my name suits both a boy OR a girl) but I guess because the child is, in fact, residing in her uterus, I'll leave those big decisions up to her. My mom has requested, though, that the baby be born on the 28th. LOL

All the news for now... and yes I am done finals tomorrow! WOO!!

Ciao!

How final are they, really...

2008-04-17T23:22:00.002-06:00

Finals start tomorrow.

That could be a post all by itself. I've been going crazy finishing projects and papers and articles. The tests are the easy part, honestly. It's all the crap they try to cram in before them that stinks. But, I'll be taking my time with my finals. None of mine are scheduled (with the exception of one of my dance finals and an advertising presentation) so I can take one each day at my leisure. That's so nice. So I'll be 100% done with this semester on Tuesday night. It cannot come soon enough.

I'm beginning to realize as the time draws near that my apartment will once again change that I'm really going to miss my roommates. Mary and Kiley and I have gotten so close in the last few weeks and they are just so great. Kiley is lucky enough to be going to a study abroad in London during summer term (yes, mom, the London study abroad I once coveted). And Mary is going home to Texas to work and be with her family. They are the sweetest girls in the world and the craziest. The exact mix of personality that I need in my life. LOL

Well, in lieu of the beginning of this post, I should get back to studying. I love you all.

Ciao!

D-Day Approaches...

2008-04-13T02:03:00.004-06:00

Finals are coming. I know that means nothing to you all out in Jersey, or my loves at BYU-I, but for me that means a lot. LOL I have been so stressed trying to finish all my papers and articles and projects before the last day of classes on Tuesday, not to mention brushing up the Samba, Rumba, Swing, Waltz, and Foxtrot for my dance finals on Monday. OY! But, no worries, life is good.

Today was epic. First, because the SUN WAS OUT!!! For those of you who don't know, the weather in Utah has been CRAZY these past few weeks and we've had rain, snow, and sun (sometimes in the same day). It's truly annoying. But today was gorgeous. But, more epic than that, today I officially mourn the loss of my adolesance (and yes, I'm to tired to figure out how to spell that). Today, I threw a baby shower for one of my best friends who is my age. Erica is married and having her first son, Landon, in about two weeks. She's fabulously pregnant and just adorable. Being the youngest in my family, and having been relatively young and distant when my aunts had their children, I am not accustomed to pregnancy the way most Mormons are. So being near her was truly fascinating to me. And baby shopping was truly a treat. Baby overalls and little onesies. It was quite the experience. But, in realizing that my friends are now becoming mommies and daddies has caused me to come to the realization that playtime is over (so to speak). People are getting married, going on missions, having babies, and entering the career world. Wow. I must have missed that memo about being a full-blown adult at age 20.

On a much lighter note, the ICE CREAM MAN came down our street today!!! Needless to say, I ran down into my apartment and stole some of my laundry money out of its jar for a creamsicle (yes mom, an orange creamsicle =D). Upon purchasing said treat, I proceeded to stick my tongue out in absolute excitement and anticipation of the first taste of my tongue touching that sweet, orangey taste of springtime officially being here... and you'll never guess what happened. Remember poor little Flick from "A Christmas Story"? Yup, you guessed, I got my tongue stuck to my popsicle!

Yeah, I don't know how I managed it, either. But, fortunately, Meghan was nearby with a camera, and Jenna was nearby with a cup of warm water. I will forever feel empathy for Flick when they rip his tongue off that pole, IT HURTS! Hahaha

I'm going to go to bed now, but please continue to laugh at my expense, and say a prayer or 700 for me through the next two weeks as I finish out this year with a BANG!

I love you all.

Ciao!

So honorable...

2008-04-02T13:38:00.002-06:00

So, the last few days have been insane! I have been lacking in both sleep and common sense, but not in blessings, apparently. I had 2 tests this week so far (one more still to come) and I found out that I got a 48/50 on the essay test I took!! SO awesome! I also took my medals exam today for Bronze Latin dance (for those of you who are ballroom-impaired, medals is when they bring in a professional adjudicator to judge our dancing on a national level) so anyway, I got HONORS!!!! My teacher said the highest score she's given so far is a 93 and I got a 91.3. So I feel really good about how I did. Especially considering that I haven't danced in about a week, and the fact that one of my toes is broken and missing its toenail. LOL

Other than that, I feel the need to share the fact that life is GRANDE! I have been working really hard to say my prayers, read my scriptures, and stay as close to the Spirit and serve others as possible and I have been so immensely blessed because of it. I have never seen the Lord's hand so blatantly acting in my life. I know that by doing my best in everything I do and praying constantly for the Lord's assistance, that I cannot be denied the blessings that the Lord so eagerly wants to bestow upon me. I'm so grateful that the decisions I have made in my life, albeit not always the best, have lead me to be at such a great point in my life.

All in all, I am in love with life right now. I'm going to be auditioning for the BYU Spring Ballroom Dance team in a few weeks so I'm pretty excited about that. They say the Spring team is easier to get on to and this way when I audition for the harder teams in September, they'll already know my name and it'll be a step in the right direction towards knowing the right people to get me on the team. Boy do I love dance. =D

Well, that's all for now, I guess. I should do something a little more productive.

Ciao!

Springtime is so colorful!

2008-03-31T16:28:00.010-06:00

So, I FINALLY have some photos for you guys! I'll start with DanceSport:

Doing the "voltas", probably one of my favorite steps. :D

Doing our "samba walks".

My partner, Travis and I doing a sweet "whisk".

I also have some fabulous photos from the Festival of Colors! This is a ceremony called Holi that they held at the local Hare Krishna temple. It was a lot of fun... really crazy, but a lot of fun. Basically, at one point during the ceremony, everyone throws this colored powder (we think it was flour or corn starch). This is the result:

This is us walking up to the Hare Krishna temple.

Jason tried to save me from the colors... obviously to no avail.

It took about 4 washes to get that stuff out of my hair!

So, overall, it's been a good weekend. I've got a few tests this week, which makes me a little stressed, but what-ev. I shall prevail as always.

Ciao!

I am so hardcore...

2008-03-27T09:05:00.003-06:00

It's already been a great day today and it's only 9:00 am! For anyone who knows me, knows this statement is shocking. LOL Let's be honest. But, for whatever reason, when I rolled over this morning, only semi-conscious, I looked at my phone and saw it was 7:30 and some new, foreign entity in my brain said, "Hey Alex! Good Morning! Let's go to the gym!" So we did! I mean... I did. So, needless to say, I'm kind of super excited about the rest of my day just because the beginning of it started off so unexpectedly well.

Anyway, the last few days have been really good. The all-nighter that Lauren and I pulled proved to be super productive and I did almost my entire ad file! (Which is about 70 different types of ads that I had to find in various magazines and newspapers etc.) The weather has been pretty nice all week which has of course had a very positive effect on my mood. And some really wonderful things have been happening to my friends lately, so that has made me SUPER happy.

Oh, so totally random, but I thought you guys might appreciate this. My friend Jenna is seeing this new guy and last night they were on the phone and he asked her if she knew how to cut hair. She said no, but she'd ask who all was in the room if they could. Of the three girls in the room, I volunteered, having buzzed a guy's hair once before and having cut many girl's hair. So, he came over and having NEVER met me before handed me a buzzer and gave me free reign over his head. (I think after we started talking and he got to know me a little bit he realized what a mistake he had made, just kidding) Overall, it turned out pretty well... it was no up-town fade, and I'm definitely not running to apply at my local Paul Mitchell school anytime soon, but I felt very accomplished... especially considering what it looked like BEFORE! LOL

I guess that's about all the news from Provo right now. This weekend is looking to be super exciting if I can live through today. Thursdays are my worst class days with my 2-hour Newswriting lab. Ugh. But, today will be a fabulous day... I can feel it in my toes.

Ciao!

Caffeine, please...

2008-03-25T01:52:00.001-06:00

I would just like you all to know that it is just about 2 am here in Provo and Lauren and I are sprawled out on her living room floor doing homework, surviving on soda, candy, and sappy Mandy Moore music. Don't ever say I'm not dedicated.

Ciao!

Thursdays can be fun?

2008-03-21T14:00:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was actually a good day! After a bit of a drag through the beginning of the day, I got in the shower and got ready for the rest of the day. I came out to find an Easter package from my parents! My mom really knows how to make me smile. There was an edible cross-eyed chicken and a duck on a tricycle among other things. LOL When I went outside it turns out the sun had come out in all her glory!!! So I got to play outside for a while with some of my most favoritest people! :D After that, I made one of my favorite recipes for dinner and invited Lauren over to share with me and we had a great dinner and a wonderful chat. I love that girl. I am so thankful for her friendship especially because her and I connect on a level that a lot of other people here don't understand. She's so fun too. After dinner I putzed around for a little while and then went to go chat with some of my girls. We sat around talking for awhile until we took it outside and wound up marching up and down the street in a single file line laughing our heads off! We are so strange!!! I then got locked out of my apartment for like 10 minutes, but Kiley woke up and let me in. LOL Today is looking good so far. I have therapy in an hour and then I'm going to work on Erica's baby shower invites, and then it's Friday night, so I'm sure I'll find something amusing to do. :D OH! And my friend Thomas is coming into town! I met him in 2004 when I was here at BYU for Summer Scholars, and he just got back from his mission in Guam in January. So he and his brother are making a trip to Utah this weekend and hopefully I'll get to see him! Hooray!! Well, I guess that's it for now. I'm gonna go look human before I leave the house again. hehehe

Ciao!

Ridiculous...

2008-03-19T12:23:00.003-06:00

Last night was a series of unfortunate events for me. I was feeling sluggish all day and was less-than-productive. But I finally convinced myself to go to the gym. As soon as I started working out, I felt sick to my stomach, but ignored it and finished my workout. I came home and took a shower only to get the most horrendous headache! One of those nasties that comes behind your eyes and the whole front of your head and makes it impossible to function. So I tried to get rid of it and rested for awhile, but finally decided that I should just go to bed. But in between getting up from the couch and going to bed, my headache had disappeared! So I started working on the baby shower invitations for my friend Erica. After I had finished the demo invitation, Lauren called and I haven't seen her since Sunday morning, so I ran upstairs to go see her. But, here's the kicker: on my way up the concrete stairs that lead to her door, I tripped and jammed my 'ring' toe on my left foot. I shook it off and proceeded inside to chat with her, about halfway through said conversation, I realized that my toe was bleed profusely and that my toenail was no longer attached to my toe! I about passed out from the sight of it and pain that shot straight through my body. After cleaning it up and getting a band-aid on it, I decided that I really should go to bed because I have 3 dance tests and their going to be hard enough with this toe issue. Well, after about a half hour and being almost completely asleep, I hear my roommate Mary come home and things do not sound good. So I went to find out what was going on and I find her sobbing in the kitchen--Ben dumped her. Let's preface that by saying that Ben was a total douche bag and didn't treat Mary nearly the way she should have been treated, but she was so hurt. So I stayed up with her and the roommates for awhile, trying to convince her that he's going to die a terrible, horrible death and that her prince charming would come soon enough.

So overall, I went from going to bed at 10 to actually going to bed at about 2... and my toe feels like it had a machete taken to it. But that's all for now.

Ciao!

Start me up...

2008-03-18T15:10:00.005-06:00

So I decided to start a blog today. Not that my life is incredibly interesting, or worth reading about. But I've realized how slack I am about keeping in touch with people, and while this does not excuse my behavior, at least they can feel like they know what's going on in my life. Things in Provo have been pretty good lately. I'm still catching up in my school work, but who isn't? I just competed in DanceSport this past weekend and placed in the TOP 10 SEMIFINALS for the Bronze Latin Samba!! (pictures to be coming soon) DanceSport is something I look forward to all year, so to have my hard work really pay off like that feels amazing. I'm excited to only have a month left of this semester so that I can start up on the Spring... the best time of year. I'm so excited to get a job, go to General Conference, take a dip in the pool, and lay out until I get melanoma. (Not really, but you get the point.) Easter is this week, which makes me super happy, but at the same time makes me really sad. Easter is the one time of the year when I miss my family more than ever. But, fortunately I'll get to go home during the summer, so I know I'll see them soon enough. I think that's all I have for right now, but if my homework becomes too daunting I might update later.

Ciao!