Trash n' Fashion Show

The Provo Library had a Trash n Fashion Show tonight. My friend Josh (who lives a couple doors down from me) signed up to show off his talent. The show was to create fashion using recycled materials. He had a few looks in mind so he asked the ward if anyone wanted to help him out and be models. I told him I would help him out if he didn't have enough people volunteer. He asked me right away for my measurements. He must not have gotten enough people. Ha ha. I figured it would be fun and I would be helping out a friend. So I sent in my measurements on Tuesday. By Tuesday night... my dress was made! Talk about talent. I had no idea what I would be wearing. Thursday morning before I went to work, I went to go try it on. It fit perfectly.

Today after work I ran home, curled my hair and put on foundation and grabbed some heels and went over to the Provo Library. Beautiful building isn't it? On the 4th floor is where the fashion show would take place. I put on my dress and then Becky came to help with hair. Josh did my makeup the way he wanted it.

Then it was time for the fashion show. Turns out, it was just Josh and one other lady that entered pieces in the fashion show. So it was low key and it was quick and it was fun. Josh let me keep my dress (although I can't see myself ever wearing it again) but he kept the head piece.... which I would also never wear again, but it was fun to wear it for the fashion show. Everyone loved my headpiece. My dress was sewn out of bedsheets.

It was fun and I was happy to help out Josh.

Confessions of a Brunette on the Internet 318

Now that it is starting to warm up outside, it's freezing in the office. Can't win. Good thing I keep a blanket at work. Another reason why I miss my office, I could shut my door and let the sun heat up my office. I miss those days.

My right ear has been ringing all night. I don't even know why. It's annoying.

On Sunday the power went out in all of Provo and Orem for about 4 hours. Stacey had text me asking about it while I was at my parents house, so I knew what was going on before I got home, but driving home was so creepy. The power was on everywhere up until the street that I turn on to get to my house, everything beyond that was dark and black. It's a big city to have no power... so imagine at night with an entire cities lights out. It was pretty crazy. I got to my house and my roommate had put tea candles on little plates all over the kitchen and living room so we could see. In the basement... thankfully I have candles in every room anyway... because I like candles, so I just lite all of them. I don't do that very often. I was surprised how much that lit up the basement. It was kind of fun. It was quite, no distractions, low lighting. To pass the time I practiced my guitar. Perfect time to do it. My ward had an entire conversation about it on facebook  and everyone was making jokes. Everyone had nothing else to do. Amazing how the power going out leaves you with not much to do... at night anyway, During the day, who cares, I would rather be outside anyway, but at night... Most of my projects are on the computer. My laptop has battery so I could have still been on my computer except with no power, there is no internet. Oh well. I thought it was pretty fun.

I got my Ukulele in the mail this week. I just need to tune it and look up some songs online and learn the chords and I am in business. I'm excited. It's a very summertime instrument.

I took my huge pile of crap to DI this week. That felt good. I'm sure there is still more I can get rid of. I just haven't gone though everything yet. For the basement I have bought a new coffee table and side table/shelf.... now I have bought a new bookshelf with my other Amazon gift card... so when that comes, maybe I will go through my books next.

My visiting teachers don't really come, but they dropped by cookies. I shouldn't have eaten them, but I did... oh well. I also got sucked into buying Girls Scout cookies this year.... there are a few boxes just sitting in my pantry, unopened. They have been there for a couple of weeks. Good will power on my part right? Also, I'm not sure why everyone spells my name with an e... but they do.

I drove up to Salt Lake yesterday to get my lashes filled. I hate driving up to Salt Lake after work. Work traffic is so stupid. I can understand the traffic from construction going on... but I almost got in an accident because someone just slammed on their breaks when we were all going pretty fast on the freeway. They probably just weren't paying attention... so I was SO close to running into them and the person behind me was SO close to running into me. It was close enough to scare me and then piss me off. There was no reason for it. Ugh.

Still working out, still dieting. I am getting to comfortable with eating treats... so I need to work on that, but I did lose another 3 lbs. So I guess that is 3 lbs closer to my goal weight. I guess I should be happy as long as I am not gaining, but I know I have so far to go that I want it to come off FAST! Ha ha. I am joining the 10,000 step challenge at work next week, so I will do the gym on my lunch break and then walk/jog after work every day. Hopefully this will help me lose some more weight. Hopefully it will  help me get in a good habit after the challenge is over too. More walking would be really good for me since I have a desk job. And just prepare me to be in better shape for summer hiking.

General Conference was so great. It was especially great because I had no problem streaming AT ALL this time. I soaked it all in. The closing talk by Elder Holland was amazing. Best closing talk. In between sessions on Sunday I hammocked at the park in the sunshine. It felt SO great and I plan to do a lot more of that with nice weather. So relaxing. Love it. Great uplifting and relaxing weekend.

Been having BAD allergies this week. It's that time of year. I have never bought medication because it only lasts a week and then goes away and I have never really known what allergy medicine to buy. But why be miserable for a week if you don't have to? My co-worker Cassie gave me a pill called Allertec and it was a miracle pill. My allergies stopped right away and didn't come back... until the next day when it was just a tiny bit and that was all. I'm sold. I need to go to Costco and buy some to have on hand when I do get allergies twice a year.

Had to take my car in for a recall. I'm still not exactly sure what they did... but better safe than sorry. My windshield wipers were crap too, so while they were working on the car, I just had them fix that as well. No biggie. It didn't take long and it was a nice experience. It's amazing how going to a car dealership is such a better experience when you aren't trying to buy a car. :)

Went to dinner and a movie with Amber on Saturday. I had a little bit of a depressing week from spending so much time by myself and having a heavy work load. So went and saw "Hello, my name is Doris". Sally Field was the lead and played an awkward older single lady who was a hoarder and falls in love with a younger man (who just looks at her as a friend). It is awkward and hilarious and I laughed probably more than anyone else in the theater. Which is what I needed. We had both never heard of this movie though and I would probably never watch it again, but I was entertained. As far as shows go that I have been watching. I finished watching "The People vs. OJ Simpson" which just made me mad that he got away with murder and the Jury was so blinded by his fame. I am all caught up on "When Calls the Heart" which yes, I have to stay current by watching on Couch Tuner. Then I started watching Ally McBeal... it's ok so far. It's kind of a quirky show. She is a weird character. We will see how much of it I watch.

Management has been switched around again and I now have a new boss. We were each individually called in her office so that my previous manager could introduce me and tell my new manager about me and my strengths and weaknesses. I was very impressed how well she knows me in the short amount of time she has been my manager. They are both awesome and fun and my attitude has changed over the last 9 months about being part of this team now. Of course I don't like everyone... but I don't have to either. I have made a few friends and that is never a bad thing. It makes coming to work that much more enjoyable when you enjoy people that you work with. I'm happy that I am comfortable being me at work... and that people like me the way I am.... even though I can be quite sassy sometimes.

I love my cousins. Dave and Heather thought of me while in Hawaii. They took this picture and sent it to me while they were there. How sweet. I felt honored that people think of me when they hammock.

Photo of the Week 316

Still at Utah Lake... just another day, another sunset....

Mr. Mystery

I go through phases with being active on Tinder. I'm in a semi-active phase.

It started with a right swipe. We matched. Typically I don't write to guys first... not because I'm a snob, but usually guys don't talk unless they talk to you first... or at least not for very long. So most of my matches, I have never talked to. Sad I know, but a lot of people use it as a self esteem boost. Anyway, this guy was cute and I happened to be a little bored so I decided to say hi.

That hi turned into a short conversation getting to know each other a little bit. He asked me what I was doing that night. I told him I was about to go to the lake to watch the sunset. My friend was going to meet me there. I didn't tell him that though. Soon, he is telling me that he is going to the lake to watch the sunset too and that we should meet. But then he kept telling me how nervous he was to meet me. That is kind of cute right? I told him I was with my friend, but when my friend left, I would be happy to meet up with him.

He agreed but then chickened out. He left the lake by the time my friend left. He said he would meet me somewhere else. I mentioned a few places. We finally decided to meet at Slate Canyon Park. I gave him directions there and waited for him. He told me he drove up but didn't see me, but I never saw him. Then he told me he had to go help his dad and wanted to meet up with me later that night. I agreed.... but I didn't hear from him again until I had given up and gone to bed.

I was a little disappointed... just because he was cute and I enjoy meeting new people... but I never put too much stalk into meeting people from Tinder. They rarely lead to anything. I thought it would be fun to meet up and have a fun conversation though.

From that day on, we continued chatting back and forth on Tinder. Started asking each other get to know each other questions and learning more about each other. In fact... I know more about this guy (or I think I do) than I have about any guy since my last boyfriend... which took months to get to know this much. We are so much alike. We think similarly, we act similarly in situations, we want the same things.... I keep waiting for him to say something that I really disagree with every time I bring up a new topic, but so far, he hasn't. Too good to be true? It just might be.

This has been going on for a few weeks now. We still haven't met and he has never even asked me for my phone number... which is not normal. After talking for a certain amount of time, most guys want to move it off of Tinder and just start texting. I have suggested it, but he tells me that his ex girlfriend of 6 years still has his passwords and access to see his text messages and wants to protect me from her. And now he doesn't want to meet until he is really ready because he already feels attached to me and doesn't want to ruin it by me getting involved in his "mess". What is his mess? He tells me he is living with his Grandma and taking care of her full time until she passes, whenever that happens. He told me he also has medical issues himself.

So... do I find it a little fishy that we haven't met and he won't text me and he has an excuse for everything? Absolutely.

So far I have only told my friend Amber about this guy because she was the one with me at the lake when I was going to meet up with him that first night we started chatting. As far as I'm concerned... there is nothing to tell until you actually meet the person and go out more than once. Which hasn't happened. Therefore, nothing to tell. She is convinced that he is married and that is why he won't meet me and that is why he has all the excuses.

That is a possibility. Or, maybe he is just messing with me, making up stories and chatting for his own amusement with no intention of ever meeting.

Or he is not who he says he is and he is afraid to meet because I will find out the truth.

Maybe that ex girlfriend isn't an ex... maybe they are still dating and he is bored so he is having a little fun on the side.

Or he is telling the truth, which would make him even more great because he is taking care of his grandma and we really do have everything in common and could potentially be a great match but he is new to online dating because he was in a relationship for 6 years and so the whole online thing is still new and scary for him.

What do you think? Too fishy? Too good to be true? Is he telling the truth? Or could there be another excuse of why he won't meet me or text me?

It's been almost a month of chatting... and it's still a mystery to me.

Insta Fame

Last Summer I changed the way I Instagram. Not a lot... because I always like taking pictures of natures beauty... but I decided to make that the theme of my Instagram, and target a certain audience. I also learned to true purpose of hashtags and how to help others find my photography.

People make fun of people like me who do this... using all the hashtags (which I don't love and I like that I can now hide them) and caring about the content about which I Instagram. However... I entered a pretty awesome community when I decided to do this. There are a lot of really cool people in Utah. A lot of people who love to explore Utah's great outdoors and share it with others. I now have Instagram friends that I have never met, but I feel like they are my friends because of the way we have supported each other on Instagram. Maybe that sounds weird to you... but since my following has grown and I have made more Instagram friends, I have discovered lots of cool places in Utah I didn't know about, I have gotten a free me (for me and Stacey), gotten free hammocks, was invited to Havasupai this summer when I couldn't get through to reserve myself and all the spots were reserved for the entire season, and discovered some great new products... like my hammock and my new rumpl.  It has been awesome and continued to surprise me in a great way. I can't wait to see what other opportunities come my way as I continue to get more followers.

Another cool thing is being recognized for your great photography. I always feel so honored when my picture is picked out of the many to be featured on different accounts.

Here are some of the accounts that I have been featured on. The more likes I have on the picture... that shows how big their following is on their account.

I didn't even think this one was that great, but I was still happy to be featured.

Then you can tell which of your pictures are REALLY good when multiple accounts feature the same picture.

The winner of most popular photo (for others to feature) is my hammock at Burney Falls.

Even though Stacey is my friend and my photo's are not being "featured" on his account. Whenever he tags me in pictures... which has been a handful of times, I always get a bunch of new followers. Why? Because he is a mini celebrity. So people stalk me by association. I mean... I must be cool if I'm friends with him right? I think that is what his followers think.

April Fools

I guess I should have posted this yesterday.... oh well.

I have never been one that cares about April Fools. I have had prank wars in the past, but nothing that I have ever done specifically on April Fools.  Facebook is the place the I see the most "April Fools" jokes. Mostly people pretending they are engaged or something stupid like that. Actually one time I had a friend post they were engaged on April Fools and I thought it was a joke and it wasn't... but every other time it is a joke.

My friend Mike, he is hilarious. He is the one that wrote the funny comment about our poke war. I posted this yesterday and I thought it was so funny. Best thing I saw on Facebook all day.

Spring Cleaning

It's that time of year where I start feeling the need to go through my stuff and get rid of my crap. A big pile for D.I. and a big pile that goes to the trash. I feel so much better after I do this. It feels clean and less cluttered and there is something that feels good about freeing up space and letting go of things that you have been holding on to for whatever reason.

Speaking of that. It amazes me that I go through this phase once a year or more and I still have stuff to get rid of. I know I buy more stuff... but... there are also things that for some reason I wasn't ready to get rid of before, but now for some reason, I'm fine with it. I wish I could understand my mental process of letting things go. The older I get, the easier it is for me to let things go. For some reason, when I was younger... I held on to everything and I couldn't get rid of it because it had sentimental value. I still am sentimental about a lot of things... but my love for clean and non-cluttered spaces overrules my sentimental value over silly things. Now I just take a picture and get rid of it. It doesn't even need to have sentimental value per say... I always think... well, what if I want to use that again? Even though I haven't touched it in years. This is why I worry that sometimes I have hoarder tendencies... but I think I'm ok. ha ha.

While going through my stuff this time.... I found this. A Ninja Turtle kite that I bought in 2005 for 97 cents. No doubt a 97 cents well spent. I flew that kite a lot while I first bought it and it is actually a great kite. Always flies awesome. However, I don't fly kites often. The last time I flew this kite was in 2013 when John and I first started dating, we flew it for one of our early dates. Since then it hasn't been touched. It's awkward to store and it is cheap! I bought it for 97 cents! ha ha. Why did I feel the need to keep it for 11 years? Well... it's gone now. I don't think I will miss it either.  Getting rid of stuff feels so good. SO good. I struggle with it for a min, but never miss the stuff once it's gone.