you're never fully dressed without a smile

Random things that have made me smile over the past couple of weeks:

{one morning I walked into the bathroom to find this over the toilet}

{my goofy little brother}
[us, being goofy, together]

{this is the sign my cousin Marc met me with at the airport when I came back from Thanksgiving}

{my (slightly blurry) puppy}

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Finals week is over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I am home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(not that I'm really excited about either of those things...)
The rest of finals week was a nightmare a breeze. On Wednesday I really buckled down and studied for New Testament then went and took it. New Testament exam = success. Test #5 = terminated. Thursday was a great day on account of the fact that I no longer had any tests hanging over my head. I finally made it over to the gym (I told myself I was going to go everyday during finals week...yeah, totally didn't happen) so it felt really awesome to go. Even though all my tests were done, I still had a paper left, so I figured that I had better write it. 2 hours later = paper done. With everything finals related out of the way (and my GPA safely intact), I finally had time to head over to the bookstore and get some presents for the familia. On my way home, I stopped at the creamery to get my celebratory, finals-are-over scoop of BYU creamery ice cream.

{caramel cashew and coconut joy}
[I demolished it. just like my finals]

For dinner that night I walked down to Bahaar's apartment and Jacob made us some yummy Italian food.

{Bahaar, Jacob, me}

Friday morning I got up and went to the MTC TRC where I got to see my favorite sister missionaries before Christmas! Then was our Christmas staff brunch/party! I absolutely love the fabulous people that I work with. The other RAs in my building are amazing and my boss is awesome. For breakfast I made a batch of cream cheese filled pumpkin muffins and then Becca, my boss, made the most delicious fluffy pancakes with buttermilk syrup. They were so yummy I just couldn't get enough of them. Luckily, she gave me a recipe so I can make them for my family during the break :) Break was finally coming! I got my textbooks for next semester (most of them used! score!), cleaned my room, and said good-byes. My cousin Richard was kind enough to pick me up and take me to the airport. Unfortunately we decided to leave at the same time that the BYU men's basketball game got out...so much traffic. It took us 45 minutes...just to get out of Provo. We were running quite late and I wasn't sure if I was going to make my flight, but, magically, security was practically deserted so I sailed through there and got to my gate with a few minutes to spare. whew.

{cloud-filled Salt Lake valley}

My plane ride was mercifully short and soon enough I was with my family, on my way home for two glorious weeks :) Sunday was a great day at church. I got to hold a baby, which isn't something that you really do in a young single adult ward :P I forgot how much I like babies and small children. Then Sunday night we decorated our Christmas tree and watched "It's a Wonderful Life."

{our Christmas tree!}

{the mantle with our stockings :)}

Monday was a good but, to be perfectly honest, I do not remember what I did. I know, sad. Tuesday was a  busy day with my mom :) I liked getting to spend so much time with her. We went to a brunch and then to target and such to do some shopping. Then that night was the little bro's choir concert. Today was a good day. I meant to get up at some reasonable hour and exercise, but suddenly it was 9:30 instead of 7 and I just couldn't reasonably take the time to exercise anymore (at least, that's what I told myself... :P) I just had too much else to do... Anyway, so by the time I did actually get up, I didn't do a whole lot of anything until I treated my parents to a special homemade lunch by none other than...myself. I made some delicious grilled cheese sandwiches with italian bread (fresh from the bakery), fresh mozzarella cheese, roma tomatoes, and some traditional basil pesto.  Just assemble, put a little olive oil in the pan, and cook those suckers until  they're a toasty brown. So yummy. Definitely a repeat recipe.

{mmm}

Today was a momentous occasion in my life as a baker. I finally made up and baked my very own recipe. We had some very ripe bananas and I wanted to make some banana chocolate-chip muffins but I couldn't find a recipe that I liked. I thought "what the heck, I'll just make my own". so I did. And they turned out pretty darn well (good enough that I ate like three of them :P). The best part is that there's no oil or butter in them, not a drop. So they could almost be considered breakfast and not dessert :P

I was rather proud of myself at how well these turned out. 

Since Christmas is approaching, I found another quote to provide some food for thought:

"What will you and I give for Christmas this year? Let us in our lives give to our Lord and Savior the gift of gratitude by living His teachings and following in His footsteps."

                                 -President Thomas S. Monson

Christ was the first gift of Christmas. The ultimate Christmas gift. Shouldn't we give what ever we can in return for the gift of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. So little is asked of us. What will you give for Christmas this year?

I realized that the new year is just around the corner, so I've started to formulate my goals for the new year and review the ones that I had for this year. Stay posted for that post. It's gonna be a good one :P

{my cuddle buddy :)}
[oh how I miss my dear puppy when I'm away :(]

It's the most wonderful time of the year...finals week

So, it's december (I know, old news). The last post was from Thanksgiving (like, three weeks ago). This means: a) time flies when you're having fun, b) school is just more important or c) I'm a huge blog slacker (or how about d) all of the above). I vote d. Anyway. so, back to Thanksgiving. The rest of my time home was fantastic. That  Saturday was Matthew's open house so I spent most of the day in the kitchen making some yummy stuff for it. I got to go grocery shopping with my mom, which, for some reason, I really love doing.  I'm not really sure why, but I always have and I always look forward to it when I'm home. We made pizza for lunch, which is also something I miss about home. It's hard to beat fresh, homemade pizza. At the open house I got to see some fantastic people from high school that I hadn't seen in forever and that I really enjoyed seeing. Sunday was a great day together with the family and then ridiculously early Monday morning I flew back out here for the remaining weeks of school and finals.

{Matthew and I at the airport}

So I got home (Provo) safe and sound and ready for the last two weeks of class. Monday was a flurry of playing catch-up and getting things done. Then was FHE, where I realized that two of my FHE brothers won't be here next semester because they're going on their missions! But it was a really good night, I think we got some good bonding time as a family :P Tuesday night for staff meeting I made a new recipe of cookies:

{chocolate mint-chip cookies}
[boy were they good :)]

Friday night I had a fantastic dance party with Kelli, Mandy, and Magin. Super fun time with really awesome people :) Then Saturday morning I got up to bake these muffins for the bridal shower of Shelly, the first of my freshman year friends to get married.

{cinnamon donut muffins with cinnamon vanilla glaze}
[moist and delicious and deceptively not-so-bad for you]

It's weird to think that we're the same age and yet she's getting married next week and I'm no closer to getting married than I was when I was like 15. I find it interesting to look at where life takes people, to see the different stages that each of us are in at any given moment in life.
I also got a letter from Kade on Saturday! He finally got his visa to go to Brazil! He left on the 5th so now letters are going to take an eon to get there and back :( But I'm glad that he's finally there :)

{Kade and his comp. in Brazil}

Last Monday was our ward trip to temple square. I always love going to temple square at Christmas to see all the lights and the nativities and to watch the Joseph Smith movie in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It definitely brought back a lot of memories, so I definitely appreciated the company of one of my FHE brothers who hung out with me all night so I wouldn't be lonely.

{what a beautiful sight :)}
[Salt Lake City, UT temple]

On Tuesday, University Chorale sang at Devotional which was way fun and then that night I went on a double date. The guys were really fun and they surprised us by making dinner!

{Melody and I; lookin fine for our date}

{the doubles}

Wednesday and Thursday were the last days of classes. It's so weird that another semester has come and gone. Thursday was also a ridiculously busy day. That night I had four things on the schedule and by some miracle I made it to three of them. First was my University Chorale concert! The concert was great and sure was glad to get it over with.

{Shawni (one of the girls on my floor) and I; gettin ready for the concert}

Next on the list was our 3200 third/second Thursday so I ran home, changed, and then ran over there for like 10 minutes. Then it was time for Invitational! Which is the formal dance that Helaman Halls has at the end of every fall semester. The theme this year was "Winter in London" and the decorations were ridiculously awesome! I regret to say that I do not have any pictures of myself or my dress, which really is a pity because I really felt beautiful and thought I looked pretty darn good (if I do say so myself :P). Anyway, it was a really fun night dressing up, dancing, eating, and hanging out with friends :)
Friday and Saturday were reading days (which are supposed to be used for massive amounts of studying, but I'm pretty sure they usually end up being more of  thank-goodness-I-don't-have-class-anymore-do-nothing-days). Sunday was the Christmas program in church. It went well but I sure am glad that it's over. I made some yummy cookies for floor meeting, during which we at the cookies and read the Polar Express because that's what cool college kids do: eat cookies while reading an awesome children's book.

{peanut butter blossoms}
[I definitely ate like 10 of these, they were just that good]

And then commenced...finals week...duh...Duh...DUH... which actually isn't turning out to be so bad. I took my Spanish oral final last week and then the Spanish written exam on Saturday which only left me with 3 exams and a final paper. Yesterday morning I got up at some horrendous hour to study for my history of interior design and architecture class and then had to go take it at seven...am....yep. One down, two to go. The rest of Monday was supposed to be spent in diligent study for my test today but that didn't quite happen (it's the thought that counts...right?). So I spent all a few hours of this morning studying and then I went and took my human development test. Two down, one to go. Only one test and one paper standing between me and my Christmas break...prepare to be annihilated. There's a little saying that I think is important to remember in stressful times such as these: "Study like it all depends on you, then pray like it all depends on the Lord". Believe me, it works. Like nothing else. Sometimes our best just isn't quite enough, but if it truly is our best the Lord will help us and we will succeed, He did not send us here to fail.

So, in honor of Christmas the girls on my floor decided that we needed a floor Christmas picture:

{I know, it's like the cutest thing ever}

And a quote to start off the Christmas season:

"As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him, we shall have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day a year, but as a companion always."
              -President Thomas S. Monson


Remember this. Because who doesn't want to have the Christmas spirit with them always? For the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit.

An Attitude of Gratitude

"This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.

We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."

-Thomas S. Monson

Best Thanksgiving ever. I have so much to be grateful for I'm not really even sure where to start. But I think this might be a place to start:

I have been blessed with two of the best brothers ever and I was even lucky enough to have both of them home with me :) I am grateful for that opportunity that I had to come home and that Matthew was able to return home to us safely. I don't think I've ever been happier to see someone in my entire life. I'm pretty sure that I even cried more than my mom did...

I also happen to have a great family that I love so very much. Thanksgiving together as a family again = priceless. I am so grateful that I know that my family can be together forever.

 I am grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. That through Him all things are possible. He will not forget, nor forsake me. I was important enough for Him to give His life for me and for that I am eternally grateful.

There are a million and one more things that I am grateful for, but I think it would take forever to list them and I'd rather be spending time with my family :) So, I figured I'd be good with just listing the most important ones :)

Home Sweet Home

The weeks really have flown by this month, it's kind of ridiculous that today is November 23rd which happens to be the day that my brother gets home from his mission!!! TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! aaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! not that I'm freaking out or anything...okay...maybe just a little...


Good news: I survived the ridiculous week, just barely
That week was missionary week in the dorms. As an RA I got the opportunity to be a "zone-leader" of one of the missions (Idaho, Pocatello) and Kirk, my partner in crime, actually served his real mission there. It was a  neat experience and I particularly enjoyed having Kirk as my companion, he being a very intelligent and insightful individual. We had an activity almost every night for missionary week and then on top of that I had two tests to take and a paper to write as well as classes to attend and a job to do among all sorts of other random things. 


The paper that I had to write was for human development and was about developing social competence and for it we had to observe kids in the preschool or kindergarten. It was rather enjoyable. It was so neat to see the kids interact in their "natural setting". There was a child in the class with Down syndrome and it amazed me how the other children treated him. They were so kind and understanding of him. They worked very hard to include him in activities and did not react badly when he did things that were out of the social norm. It was truly a beautiful thing.


Team Taylor had it's last soccer game. We lost but fought a good fight (we played the whole game down one while the other team had four subs) and, most importantly, had lots of fun.

{us = definition of awesome}

That Friday while I was at the TRC I got to see one of my friends from Spanish class last year!!! I was sitting in the room waiting for the next set of missionaries to come when my friend Keenan popped his head in. Talking to him was a weird mix of Spanish, Portuguese, and English but it was so good to see  him :)
That night the girls on my floor and I went to Slab pizza. It was so yummy and they literally give you a entire slab of pizza. 

{veggie pizza...yum}

Then was the culminating event of missionary week: the annual showing of "The Best Two Years". So many memories...I just love missionaries. 
AND it was 11/11/11 so I'm pretty sure I made the biggest wish ever at:

{yes, it's sideways}
[I'm not sure why, but it is]

It was a busy week but Heavenly Father certainly blessed me that I was able to get everything done, even some sleep :P


Here's a scripture that I found one day that really helped me to push through:
'Peace I leave with you. my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.'
-John 14:27


Last week we also had a ward temple trip, which was a really great opportunity to get to know some of the kids in my ward.

{what a fine looking crew ;)}

That day I also randomly decided to make cookies (it happens a lot...don't judge :P) really yummy chocolate chip cookies, probably my favorite yet.

{oh yeah}

While I was working that night a boy came and gave me a candy bar and a note from one of the coolest people alive: my friend Jill. The note was so sweet and while I was reading it I found myself being bombarded with m&ms. Jill was indeed the culprit. She stayed to chat for a while and it totally made my night. Everyone should have a friend as awesome as Jill.


On Sunday I had to give a talk in sacrament meeting which, of course, always terrifies me until I'm actually up there giving it. The topic they gave me was an interesting and rather obscure topic: Taking personal responsibility: Being a strong link between our ancestors and posterity. It was really neat to write about and I'm pretty sure I went way overtime while giving it. But talking about temples and temples work is so important that I just couldn't help myself :)

No work is more of a protection to this church than temple work and the genealogical research that powers it. No work requires a higher standard of righteousness.
Our labors in the temple cover us with a shield and a protection, both individually and as a people.
So come to the temple--come and claim your blessings. It is a sacred work.

-Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple

Last week I got 3 whole missionary letters!!! talk about exciting. One each from Kade, Brandon, and Kade's companion. Explanation: I wrote to Kade's companion because Kade said that he doesn't often get letters so I decided to write him one and he happened to have written back. I just love getting missionary letters;   they're always so uplifting and encouraging. And something that Kade asked in his last letter really got me thinking. Life has been fantastic and he asked me why it was that every day was so fantastic. When I first read his question I really wasn't sure. But I thought about it for a while and have an answer. The past 8 or 9 months have been the most difficult of my life and I've learned to depend on Heavenly Father as I never have before. At school my family isn't around and Kade is gone so He is all I have and I have discovered that He is more than enough. I have truly learned to wait on the Lord and He has truly blessed my life. And THAT is what makes life so fantastic. 

This Thursday was our 3200 Third Thursday Thanksgiving dinner!!! I made some yummy baked mac and cheese for the occasion and spent a lovely evening with my sistahs :)

{I love us <3}

On Sunday I had dinner with my lovely cousin Cathy then the two of us went to go see our cousin Richard sing in a choir. Monday night I made some cream cheese filled pumpkin muffins to use up stuff before the break and they were delicious :) 

Then on Tuesday it was finally time for Thanksgiving break (after two papers and two tests of course :P)! 

And the most epic thing of all, for the past couple of months I've been plotting to surprise my family by coming home for Thanksgiving and it worked!!! I flew out Tuesday evening and when I showed up on my doorstep this morning, boy, were they surprised!!! I just stood on my front porch at about 7:30am and rang the doorbell holding my little sign. My dad answered the door and at first he didn't recognize me, but then he started laughing. My mom was still asleep so I went upstairs and woke her up. She looked at me, looked at the clock, looked at me, and said 'what are you doing here?' and then she finally came to her senses and gave me a hug :)

{love my family <3}

So, I'm home and I get to see my brother at the airport and be at his open house and hear him speak in sacrament meeting.

 Life is good :)

what could have been

1 year...single

hard to believe...time sure flies

It's November!!!

Ahhhhh...It's November!!! You know what that means? It means my brother will be home in 15 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In case you can't tell...I am unbelievably excited : D

Last week ended the perfect way with the success of a new recipe! For my floor meeting last Sunday I made mint chocolate-chip cookies and let me tell you...they were so yummy!!! I will definitely be repeating that one.

{you know you want one}

Last Saturday night was Helamanoween (the Halloween dance here in the dorms). It was definitely a lot of fun dancing and hanging out with everyone. Then Monday night was Halloween and trick-or-treating! I was on duty, but I still dressed up...as a ballerina. Yes, a ballerina. A really awesome ballerina. Evidence:

{heeheehee}

This past Tuesday I had the very special opportunity to hear from the beloved prophet Thomas S. Monson at devotional. It was a truly wonderful experience and was totally worth the hour and a half that we waited outside in the rain and cold to get good seats. His message was to be an example of the believers. Our opportunities to shine are limitless.

{us, waiting in line outside the marriot center}
[it was just a bit cold and perhaps a tad wet as well :P]

That night for staff meeting we made caramel apples! I had never had one before and they were so good! A lovely braeburn apple dripping in caramel covered in pretzel pieces, shaved chocolate and nuts = deliciousness.

On Thursday I tried another new recipe: applesauce oatmeal muffins. They turned out quite well (well enough that I ate a whole bunch of them :P).

{hellooo breakfast}

Friday night I went on a double date with Graham and it was fantastic! We went up to Salt Lake for piano concert given by Ludovico Einaudi. His work is simply amazing, so beautiful (if you haven't ever heard any of his music you NEED to go look him up RIGHT NOW, just sayin). The concert was in an old church and the lights were down, creating the perfect atmosphere for his music. After the concert we drove around Salt Lake and found a wendy's and got some frosties. Then we played bananagrams until I was about ready to fall asleep. It was a great evening, spending time with some awesome people.

{Ludovico, Clark, Trista, Graham, and me :)}

This video is a recording of his piece Nuvole Bianche, one of his better known songs. Enjoy :)

Saturday was fun as well. Saturday night I went on a group date with Mark, for which, we played sardines in the wilk. After I got home I got to hang our with some of the amazing girls on my floor :)

Sunday was kind of rocky, not gonna lie. Actually this whole past week has been kind of off and on rough. This week is just going to be a scheduling nightmare and I just have so much going on, it's ridiculous. But my day kind of turned around when I went and sat with my wonderful friend Lisa as she played the piano after church and just sang with her. It was a beautiful thing and definitely brought the spirit. Sunday night Elder Packer came and spoke for the CES fireside.

This week is going to be ridiculous. I'll let you know if I survive :P

Note to self: 'Look inside yourself. You are more than you have become. Remember who you are.' ~ Lion King