Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Finals

Whale whale whale... no post for a few months? WHAT?! Who did that???? Okay, it was me... I guess college life has gotten the best of me the past little while!! But have no fear!! I am writing a ridiculously long and full of fun update on the last while! Who's ready? Amber? GOOD!!

So Halloween!! We did as most Logan-ites do around Halloween time and ventured to the HOWL, known as the BIGGEST Halloween party in Utah. Oh snap. We be cray. It was alright... college students dressing as "sexy" versions of people and even objects. (Did you know they make a sexy watermelon costume? Yikes.) Anyways! We stayed for a little while, mostly listening to the band they had there: Shiny Toy Guns! Then we left and partied. And by partied I mean went to Taco Bell. :) Sounds like us, right?!

And here's some pictures!!!

Okay, so a few more weeks went by, I finished two of my classes, started another, and all of a sudden it was time for Thanksgiving!! Craziness, right?! YES. So, I headed back to the land of potatoes and got to hang out with all my friends who were home for the break!! I dominated at Monopoly (Which is the only reassurance I have yet to have that I picked the right major. ;)), played some pinball, ate some mac and cheese, along with about half my weight in Thanksgiving goodness, dabbled in the chaos that is Black Friday, played some more games, put up Christmas lights, saw Catching Fire, cried as I watched the USU/BYU game, taught some sunbeams, and came home!! It was marvelous!!

And now, on this, the tenth day of December in the year 2013, I'm right in the middle of FINALS WEEK!! Who's pumped?! Not me. Actually, I only have two finals this week, and I got one done yesterday! So, I will hopefully be able to remember all that I have studied and ace my managerial accounting final... yeah... Well, that's the goal anyway!! And on Thursday I am headed home for the break!! Although I'm always a little sad to leave Logan, I am mostly just excited for the whole no school, no homework, relaxation, Christmas, party time that most call Winter Break!! WOOHOO!!!

Anyways! This post is obnoxiously long. If you've made it to the end, text me for a limited time prize!! And I am making it an early New Year's resolution to post much more regularly on the ol' blog... even if I am the only one who ever reads it!! And if anyone else is reading this, I have only two words for you: STAY CLASSY.

Fall Break '13

WOOHOO!! Finally, this weekend I got a break from school, stress, and tests. My Fall Break officially started on Wednesday afternoon. That night, we journeyed down to Salt Lake for the wonderful Passion Pit concert!! Although (as Dan put it), we weren't very good "at determining the age range" for concerts, and there were lots of screaming high schoolers, it was a great time!! Passion Pit sounded great and we didn't even get mugged. In other news, Emily decided to be an attention hog and PURPOSEFULLY cut her leg open...JK! But it was tragic and we missed her at the concert. Luckily, the amputation was unnecessary and she is doing well, five stiches later. 

On Thursday, I had a day of no classes and I took it as a "do nothing" kind of day. After some cheesy movies and basically a day full of nothing, I ventured to Erica's apartment to watch my first Halloween movie of the season-- Hocus Pocus. I'll admit, I was a little apprehensive about this movie. After all, I had only watched it as a small child and it had given me horrific nightmares and scarred my Sanderson sister-watching days forever. But the movie was pretty funny! Not as fantastic as some people make it out to be, but it was a good Halloweenie (Is that a word?) movie. After the movie, and Amber got back from work, we had a wonderful girls night: chick flicks, ice cream, and even an obnoxious amount of mozzarella sticks, which we ate ALL of. It was good!! 

With plans of an adventurous Friday, the late night Thursday left us sleeping in late. So what do we do? Watch The Office and eat more ice cream!! Don't worry, at least we got something done and cleaned the kitchen. That afternoon, I ventured back home to Pocatello for the rest of the break. 

My weekends at home are usually somewhat consistent and almost always include most of the following:

Friends 

Midnight (Or later) Denny's Run

Family

Church-- It was Elder Kener's homecoming! So good to see old friends. 

Car rides around Pocatello looking for something to do.

And on Sunday, I ventured back to the wonderful Logan!! My break was full of relaxation and stress-relief, which was exactly what I needed after midterms and even a couple of finals. But now it's time to get back into the swing of things...and I'm ready! Well, at least for this week... :)

Football Games, Going to China, and Mexi Hot Chocolate

It's seems absurd to say, but the semester is almost half way over! Never have I felt like the time is just being torn away from me as I just stand pathetically still like it has this semester. It's OCTOBER already?! Geez! Anyways, since the first quarter of the year is almost over, that means that I will soon be able to kiss four credits goodbye and be done with two of my classes for the semester. Which will be exciting when it happens, but right now it's just a neverending list of final projects and assignments, along with midterm projects and assignments for the rest of my classes. But have no fear, it's Aggie Football season!!

I was really never a huge football fan, especially on T.V., but my beloved Chuckie Keeton has showed me the light. Aggie football makes me feel like a kid in a candy store. A roaring section of peers chanting "I Believe That We Will Win" is something that's hard to replicate. And of all weeks, this week is the game against BYU. Yes. I am SO excited. There is something about a rivalry game that just makes it so much better. But off my football soapbox, and into China!

If you hadn't heard, I recently bought a plane ticket to China!! How exciting, right?? Wrong. In actuality, it was another person who used my debit card information to buy a ticket to China. Not cool, bro. So without any money for a few days, I finally got a new debit card and am so thankful for good bank security systems. 

In other news, I tried Mexican hot chocolate for the first time today!! It was marvelous!! And was even better to enjoy while sitting in a warm cafe while the first snow of the year fell outside. Yep. It's Cache Valley, so it's not too surprising, but it was freezing today! I guess the two days of Fall we had is over and it's onto the season of ICE. 

Well, my break is over, and after 8 hours on campus, I'm headed to yet another meeting. But will all the stress and craziness going on in my life this week, it's still good to remember that there's infinity beyond this. 

P.S. Here's some pictures of my room finally decorated!!

College Round Two

I'M BACK!!! Oh Logan, how I've missed you. But really... I'm super excited to be back at USU for my sophomore year!! (Aggie Nation FTW) Amber and I are ready to party... like always. Haha. We moved in on Tuesday, and have been trying to get our room organized and figured out, but it's a work in progress (pictures will be up eventually...). However, I am so glad to be back and surprisingly ready to start school and meet new people! I can't wait to see what exciting experiences I journey through this semester.


So, let the adventures begin!!

All You Need Is LOVE

Why is it that some people just assume the worst?

But really... sometimes you can tell a person something, anything, really, and they automatically jump to a conclusion based on the most minute detail and believe it as fact. (If that sentence made sense to you, bravo. My thoughts are going crazy all at once).

Mormon. Gay. Wealthy. Overweight. Emotional. Young. Happy.

These labels along with so many more are constantly floating through our minds like the spirits in that vat in the Spooky Island Scooby Doo movie. Anyone?? No? Aight. Anyways, people are looked at, judged, labeled, and people assume things about them based on a SINGLE aspect in their lives.

Here's a good one for ya: Mormons. I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. YES. I have a testimony of the Church, and believe it to be true with all of my being. YES. I am judgmental and look down upon others who do not share my beliefs. NO. I am against equal rights, especially in the aspect of gay marriage. NO. I was brainwashed. NO. I am a polygamist. Noooooooooo. Ha. But I think you get the idea.

I love to meet new people, I love learning about the beliefs of others and the reasons behind those beliefs. I will not judge you based on those beliefs. I am an advocate of equal rights for EVERYONE. I will not shove my religion down your throat.

However, I will believe what I believe. I have the knowledge that I have gained for myself, and I will continue to develop that knowledge. I will find interest in things that appeal to me. I will share willingly with others if they will do the same for me.

I'm not stupid. I'm not going to say that I or anyone else is perfect and never judges anyone. It happens. There's no way of completely obliterating it. But what we CAN do, what we SHOULD do, is judge based on ALL OF THE FACTS. Get to know a person, understand why they believe the things that they do, the stories, the reasons, the ideas, and then learn from it. Talk about it. Don't close off because you're different, open up because you can learn from one another. No two people should have exactly the same outlook on everything, anyway. That would be awful.


With how our world works today, and how society perceives things, there is so much pressure to take stances, to assume things, to know everything, and to have an opinion on it...and if it's not the opinion of the people around you, well, you're done. Out. Or made to seem ignorant or unintelligent.

 BE OKAY WITH BEING DIFFERENT. Screw trying to be exactly like your peers. That doesn't help anyone. If our world was filled with people who just stuck with the norm, we would be in a completely different place right now, and wouldn't have everything we do. It would suck. Don't stress having different ideas than your friend, your boyfriend, your teacher. Embrace diversity. I hear it's the spice of life.

So, here's the deal: You can't learn about other's beliefs if you're not confident with your own. So get confident. Learn about yourself. Develop your own ideas and thoughts. Experiment. Test your ideas. Learn all you can, grow exponentially, and become someone you would want to be best friends with. And at the same time, realize that others are doing the same thing. Encourage them, don't knock them down by judging them. Keep everyone on the same playing field. LOVE yourself, and love ALL of those around you.

And The Countdown Begins...

ONE MONTH. Exactly one month from today, I will be moving into my apartment in Logan for YEAR TWO of this whole "college" thing. I am sooo ridiculously ready to be back in Logan already. I think mostly just the atmosphere of college. I missed it a lot more than I thought I would. And there are just some great things about Logan that you just can't get here in good ol' Poky. For example:

1. Aggie Ice Cream. Yep. Aggie blue mint. Bull tracks...mmmmmmmm.
2. True Aggie Night! DUH. And with V.L. as far as my True Aggie status, I'm ready to make it happen this year!
3. Logan temple... Although we didn't go tons, having a temple in town is wonderful. I forget that a quick trip to do baptisms takes an hour and a half round trip when I live in Poky. It's such a blessing to have a temple so close and to be able to go so often!
4. MY ROOMMATES. Sooo, even though I am only left with one of my fantastic roommates from last year, I am so pumped to be able to reunite (again) with Amber and become a roommate duo unlike any other!! And of course, Emily will visit ALL THE TIME before she leaves. That's a command, Emily. Since I know you at least will read this...hahaha.
5. Utah State. All of it. Everything. Basketball, football, playing frisbee on the quad, sneakily playing fooseball after hours in the TSC, concerts, and even class! I miss it all!!

So there is my rant. And me basically just reminiscing about everything I miss about Logan. But it's okay! Because, HELLO! Only a month till I'm back!! It will be such a fun experience, and I am ready for College, Round 2.

 Cleaning the sink...Amber... you gotta learn to eat more ice cream!! ;)

 Ugly tie dance. Good time, and we even got some random men to be in our group picture!

 Oh, ya know, just Emily and I hugging a tree. Nbd.

 Chalk dance!! One of the best and chaotic times ever.

 Oh the Howl. We. Are. Hot.

 This is what happens when your RA roommate is gone for the break....

Great times roadtripping to SLC!!

Let's Get Physical...Physical!

Well, I've decided I need to get in shape...bad. Haha. Without playing basketball or sports for a while, I lost all motivation to work out. Plus, without a gym membership, it's kind of hard to self-motivate. So, my friend Nate and I decided we would do it! We are putting in some money and seeing who can lose the most weight in an allotted time period. So far it's going alright. Regan and I went running yesterday, and I am definitely feeling today. But mostly I just need to eat better, cut down on snacking, and be more active! Skinny Maddie here I come! (Hopefully!)

Summer!!!

Well, it's been forever and a day (did I really just use that phrase?) since my last post. Although I'm glad to be done with finals, I freaking miss Logan, and my roommates, and just college life in general. I love my family, but living away from rules and then coming back to them is kind of terrible.

In other news, my days are filled with 9-6 work as a receptionist at my dad's office. It's been pretty good, and I feel like I have a "big person job" for the first time! Which is exciting and awful at the same time. I miss summers of sleeping in, running through sprinklers, and eating insane amounts of otter pops. But who says you can't have adventures when you're older?! So, we'll see if I can find anything exciting to do. Plus, having a job means having money! Which is ALWAYS a plus.

In other super exciting news, I am officially a Utah driver! EW! :( But on the plus side, I got to take a trip to visit the wonderful Emily Chandler!! YAY!!! We had a great time, and it made me miss all my roomies so much!! AGH! Only a few more weeks till I'm back with the wonderful Amber and we can adventure all the time!!! GO AGGIES!!

Life

Life is stressful. I am usually pretty okay at handling stress. I've had to deal with it all my life, so it's just kind of part of what I do...but this week is awful! And it's barely Tuesday!! With finals, and last minute grades, packing, moving, FAFSA, doing everything I need to get done here in Logan in the next three days... And sometimes all you can do is take the best twenty minute shower of your life and pretend it's a bubble bath.

But the good thing about being stressed is how humbled I become. It's easy to be prideful in your life when things are going well, but when things aren't going well, sometimes you just have to take a step back and realize all of the blessings you have in your life. I know this past weekend has let me reflect on how lucky I am to have the roommates I do. The opportunity I have had to gain an education at USU is wonderful. I have amazing friends, and the best family I could ever ask for. Plus, I have the one person who is always there for me, my Savior. I am so grateful for the impact He has had on my life, and how much I have been able to be spiritually strengthened here at college. I know I am never alone in my life, and am so grateful for that.

So, when stressed: eat chocolate, relax (if only for twenty minutes), and pray. And I have to keep in mind the little saying I got from my favorite channel, Game Show Network... "I'm too blessed to be stressed!!"

Finals

Well, it's that time of year again...finals. It's basically a week in which I disown my normal eating and sleeping habits and replace them with Accounting, Economics, Business Law, and MIS. So, here's to finals! Because in only four days, I will be headed home!! Although I'm sad to leave, I am so excited to see my family and just be home for a while. And with that, I should probably get to the studying. For the next 18 hours, Accounting is my LIFO. Ha. Haha. Get it? Pfft. I don't even need to study.

I LOVE MY LIFE!!

So...my last post was quite negative. Haha. And it's depressing. But I guess I will shed some light on everything that has been going on in my life lately!!

I am now single... Obviously Spencer and I broke up. It was really hard for both of us initially, but things are in a really great place now. We have talked and it is the best situation for both of us, and we are still really close and great friends!! So things are great! And if anyone has any attractive men they would like to set me up with, let me know! ;)

I am a week and a half away from finals...UGH! Finals are going to be pretty terrible, but it's crazy to believe I am almost done from my freshman year of college! I'm so old! Not really...but I feel like I should feel old. Ha.

In other news, I am dying a little inside every Thursday as The Office winds down to the last episodes. As long as they end it well and resolve all of the stupid conflicts they have added in to keep people watching, I will be content. I will probably still cry, but they will be happy tears! YAY!

So, all in all, life is fantastic right now! I am loving everything and everyone in my life, and I am so grateful for the awesome people I'm surrounded with!! :D

Alone

 I was torn apart...

I'm lost.

I have no where to turn...

EMILY CHANDLER

Oh, Emily. Where for art thou, Emily?! But srsly. Emily lives in my house. Our house. In the middle of the street. Aaaanyways, she is beautiful! And nice! And funny! And my favorite! And sexah. Plus, we always have marvelous times together gabbing about our blogs and how her head gets stuck in the fridge. Bahahaha. I'mma sheep. But basically Emily is wonderful. She is such a snazzy dresser also. Fashionable beyond belief. Well, not as fashionable as me, but I digress. So, to you, my wonderful readers (Emily and Spencer) I give you...EMILY. (Sorry the only pictures I have of you are creeper ones.........Hahahahahahaha. I'm not sorry.)

Inspired

So... I have somewhat of a serious post today. I have been thinking a lot about some of the people around me, and what they have had to go through. I am amazed at those people who have had a tragedy in their life, but are some of the happiest and most positive people you know. For me, I see these people, and I want to be just like them. Those times when I'm complaining about having to do a long homework assignment is minuscule in comparison with the struggles others are faced with. And I forget about that a lot. Just taking the time to realize how truly blessed I am. I have a wonderful family who supports me. I am able to get a college education at a school that I love. I have great friends who always help me and bring me up. And I have Spencer, who loves me, and supports me, and strengthens me. I am able to freely worship my Heavenly Father without restriction. I am truly blessed.

And I am inspired. I am inspired by those who have lost the most special person in their lives and yet continue to bring others up, and to help all that they can. I am inspired by those struggling with illness, who still manage to brighten someone's day. I am inspired by all of them. And I want to be just like them. To realize my blessings and remember how lucky I am. And to use what I have to help others who need me. Because I have been so blessed, I have so much to give. It reminds me of my all time favorite hymn, Because I Have Been Given Much.  And I love to read the lyrics, because it reminds me that I need to serve always.

(Here are the lyrics!)

Because I have been given much, I too must give.

Because of thy great bounty, Lord each day I live.

I shall divide my gifts from thee with every brother that I see,

who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care…

I cannot see another’s lack and I not share-

my glowing fire, my loaf of bread-my roof’s safe shelter over head,

that he too may be comforted.

Because I have been blessed by thy great love dear Lord,

I’ll share thy love again according to thy word.

I shall give love to those in need. I’ll show that love by word and deed,

thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

My Roommates

So...My roommates are wonderful. Not only do we all get along, and hang out, but they just make my day all the time. Tbd. Hahaha. Anytime I'm feeling sad, or jealous, or upset, they just make me laugh and everything is great again! And I need that so much. Being away from people...*cough* Spencer *cough* just tears me apart sometimes...but I can always count on my roommates to bring me up. I don't know that they realize how much I appreciate all that they do. Hopefully (since they are basically the only ones that read  my blog) they will see this! Because it's true, guys. You are all amazing. And I am so glad I got lucky enough to live with you. ALSO PROTECT YOUR COOKIES. SOMEONE MIGHT SIT ON THEM.

The Office

So basically, I am OBSESSED with The Office. It's a little ridiculous, actually. Try calling me. You'll hear the  theme song. Ask me what Shrute boys sing to remember their rules. (Learn your rules, you'd better learn your rules, if you don't, you'll be eaten in your sleep...CRUNCH!) Ask me what Erin's house was when she was an orphan. Yep. Her hair. So yes. I love the Office. And what makes it even better is that I am around people that love it just as much as I do! Random post of the day, but it's aight. Cause I can do that. Cause I'm awesome. Also...Bears. Beets. Battlestar Gallactica.

Saturdays

So, basically, Saturdays are wonderful. As of today, I have accomplished very little. But why not? Saturdays are meant to be full of Boy Meets World marathons, wii playing, and food eating, right? Yes. The answer is yes. This weekend day always starts out with such good intentions... goals of reading ahead for class, writing missionary letters, donating plasma, finishing an application...but yet, the friendly, yet menacing monster of laziness grabs your life and takes it for the day.

But we all need days like that! We need a "Saturday" every once in a while. Especially with the stresses going on in our lives. So next time you're overwhelmed, and feel hopeless in a sea of "to-do's," just do what I did... nothing. Because it's awesome. And at the end of the 'wasted" day, you'll have a desire to get stuff done...tomorrow. There is a lot more to life than getting stuff done. Or at least I hope so.

Starting Fresh

Hello, world!! And whoever is brave enough to read the wonderful words of moi... Well, as in the tradition of my roommates, the blog world is finally blessed enough to receive Maddie. HA.

Actually, I really want to have a place to rant. And ask random questions no one knows the answer to. And to show my true colors. Because everyone needs that. Especially me. I tend to hold things in. A lot. Because I'm afraid. Afraid of judgment...of imperfection...of dissapointment. So that's why I'm here. To think and to feel and to write. And so that's what I'm going to do. And if you're reading this...thank you. Thank you for giving me a chance. Because I'll do the same for you.

Oh, and one more thing! The title. I don't want to get into any plagiarism here, but I found this perfect title from lyrics written by Mr. Spencer Ruchti. Look him up, he's awesome. He is the person who inspires me to be different. To be my unique self. And to do what I love. Because he does. His writing has and will continue to inspire me every day. So what better words to use as a manifestation of my life than those that make me myself. I love you, Spencer.