Life Lesson: You Get What You Pay For

Remember how I was so excited for my $2 manicure?  {See post title.....}

On the bright side, I had a really good time with Sandee and Oliver.

{Insert Witty Title Here}

Abraham Lincoln said "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."  I've always believed that.  Lately I haven't been doing a very good job of making up my mind to be happy.  I've been letting things outside my control affect the way I feel.  That, in turn, has been frustrating me.  I like to feel like I'm in the driver's seat of my life, and I hate the idea that someone or something other than myself has the power to dictate my mood.

So today at lunch I made up my mind to be happy.  I have every reason in the world to be cheerful, and it's selfish to wallow.  I really think that's the bottom line.

When I'm sad or angry or discouraged, my dad always tells me to count my blessings.  Without further ado:

*I have a wonderful family.  I really can't express how much they mean to me.

*I have a bachelor's degree from a respected university, and I'm getting paid to start my master's degree in the fall.

*I love my field of study.  LOVE it.

*I have a good job where the people are friendly and understanding.  They are so good to me here.

*I have amazingly wonderful friends.  The girls I live with now... The girls I lived with before... {And the friends that aren't girls too...}  All great people.

*I have an apartment that keeps me dry when it rains, warm when it's cold, and cool when it's hot.  Yes, the carpet is ugly.  Yes, the dishwasher falls out of the cabinet when you open the door.  Yes, it's not the most deluxe of residences.  But a roof is a roof, and lots of people don't have one.

*I have a car to go wherever I want, whenever I want (Case in point: I ran away to Idaho last week.  That decision was made about 30 minutes in advance.)

*I live in America.

*I know that I have a Heavenly Father that loves me.

*I am getting a manicure tomorrow.  For only $2.  Woot!

*I have a healthy, functional body that puts up with a lot of abuse from me (*ahem*waytoomuchjunkfood*ahem*), but is a remarkably good sport about it.

*Once I lived here.  It was an incredibly opportunity.

Overall my life is really great.  No questions asked.  Which is why my pity party is officially over.

Book Review(s)

Yesterday I read "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli per the recommendation of my delightful friend Rachel.  I think I liked it?  The moral of the story was really good; it's all about being yourself and putting other people first.  It left me feeling a little sad and unsettled though.  For that reason I give it 3.5 stars.  I always prefer books with happy endings.

Today I read "The Horse and His Boy" by C. S. Lewis per the recommendation of my friend Kevin.  It's one of the Chronicles of Narnia.  I read most of them when I was in sixth grade, but I'd never read that one before.  He actually recommended that I re-read the entire series, and I probably will over the course of the summer, but for my 20 books list he specifically told me to read this one.  It was a good, fast, easy read.  C. S. Lewis's writing is fun to read and I enjoyed this book.  4 stars.

Incidentally, I am currently faced with a dilemma: I have an Amazon.com gift card and I have no idea what to get with it.  I am wide open to suggestions; feel free to comment.

Dear Mom, this Post is for You :)

I went home last week for Jared's graduation.  That was weird.  Cool.  But weird.  He's moving to Provo in a couple of weeks, and I think it will be fun to have him down here.

I made kiwi ice cream on Sunday.  I wasn't really sure that kiwi ice cream even sounded good, but my Ben & Jerry's cookbook said it was for 'the connoisseur with discerning tastes' or something?  The moral of the story: kiwi ice cream is delicious.  But really.  It's so good.  Plus, I convinced myself that it's healthy, since there are 1.5 kiwis per cup of ice cream.  Translation: I got like 3 fruit servings in my dessert after dinner last night (please don't do the math to figure out how big of a bowl that was...it's embarrassing.)  Best.  Idea.  Ever.

My family was here for Memorial Day, and while the boys went to ride dirt bikes I went shopping with my mom and Haley.  We went to DSW.  I don't know if I ever mentioned this but I *love* high heels.  So much.  And I had birthday money.....you do the math (I don't mind as much here.)  It was a good day.

I only got about 2/3 of the way done with "East of Eden" before it was due back to the library.  I tried to renew it, but there are like 10 people on the hold list!  Why?  It's not even that fun to read.  I decided to check it out from BYU's library instead of the Provo Library only to find out that my library privileges on campus have been revoked until fall when I start school again.  Lame.  So now I'm #11 on the hold list, and it will be August before I figure out how it ends.

I just finished reading "How to Win Friends and Influence People."  I was disappointed at how earth-shattering it wasn't.  I don't really think Dale Carnegie needed 250 pages to say 'Smile more, listen when people talk to you, and try to remember names and birthdays.'  It only took me 15 words..... But it was like the father of self-help books or something, and now when I attend fancy dinner parties I'll have something to contribute to the conversation when it comes up.  (Fancy dinner parties basically dominate my social calendar.   It really is a nightmare sometimes, being so influential with so many friends...)

Suzy gets home on June 15th.  That's two weeks from today.  I am very much looking forward to having her back.  It's lonely and quiet around the apartment without her.  But she's having a fabulous time.  Check out her pictures of the Swiss Alps.  So jealous.

Working Hard...or Hardly Working?

Free breakfast and lunch at work for the past two days.....
My job is the best!

Claire and me. We are the epitome of beauty and work ethic, as demonstrated by awkward pictures taken while at work...