It's Better to Look Up

Things haven't been the greatest lately. I got in a car accident on Saturday (which also happened to be my fault), I had to give my car to my dad (because I totaled his car in the accident), and then I haven't had a huge amount of motivation this week (even though I have to study for my mid-term coming up). It just hasn't been peachy, and Brady leaves in six days. I just haven't felt like myself this week.

But then on Tuesday, my best friend came down to Provo and convinced me to go donate blood with her. We laughed and talked about everything. It was just like old times. (No, literally it was. We used to donate blood together all the time) Her boy is also on a mission, and so it was really nice to have someone who knows how I feel right now. But anyways, after she left, I just felt so much better. I felt like things were so much better, and I knew I could keep going. She reminded me of the important things and helped me forget things that don't matter.

Then on Wednesday while I was waiting for one of my classes to start, I texted Brady and he asked me how my day was. After I told him, he texted back with just a whole bunch of sweet things. It's like he just knew that I needed it and he just helped me see the positive things about my day instead of the negative ones. Which also included Brady coming down and taking me to dinner. Hooray for Wednesday date night!

So after having a hard time seeing the good in things this week, I was reminded of one of my favorite talks from the October 2011 conference. Elder Carl B. Cook tells the story of how he felt so overwhelmed after his first week of being a general authority. He talks about how he was standing in an elevator leaving the church office building and someone asked him what he was looking at? He recognized the voice as President Monson, when he replied that he was looking at nothing, President Monson said while pointing upwardly "It is better to look up!"

It just reminded me to look up and keep my eyes on the most important things. I can't change what happened last Saturday. I can't change the fact that I don't have a car this week. I can't change that i'm overwhelmed and can't handle it all. But I can look up. And I know that when we do look up, and we keep the eternal perspective in mind, things are so much better. I know that it's these times when I feel like this, that I just need to look up and ask my Father in Heaven for a little help. And it's when I do that, I know things get better. I know that when we let Christ into our lives he can heal our broken, hurting hearts. And I'm grateful for that knowledge.

So here's my goal for the next little while....look up! Stop focusing on the bad things that have been happening lately, focus on the good. I'm so blessed and I'm so grateful for all of the amazing things in my life. I have an amazing best friend, I have an amazing boyfriend, I have an amazing family (who are the most supportive family in the world!), and I have an amazing Father in Heaven who is looking out for me and is always there for me. I'm just going to focus on the good for now....well i'm going to try at least. That is more than just peachy.

The Lucky One

I probably could watch this movie a million times over and over again. I love this movie so much. So much that I read the book before it came out in theaters (good story, but I like the movie better), so much that I went and saw the midnight premiere showing of it and managed to drink a very large soda and eat ridiculous amounts of crazy good popcorn (i'm a little crazy about movie theater popcorn), so much that I dragged my boyfriend to go see it with me after I had already seen it (he's a good boyfriend, he didn't even put up a fight), so much that I bought this movie the week it came out (and then proceeded to also download the ultraviolet version onto my computer so I can watch it at all times). I also have the majority of the soundtrack on my computer downloaded. I think i'm a little obsessed. But all in all, I just love The Lucky One. That is more than just peachy for now.

Music I Can't Stop Playing Lately

Music has been so bittersweet for me lately. Some songs make me so happy and remind me of Brady, while other songs make me so sad, I start to break down. It's so hard to listen to such a happy love song, but it doesn't make you feel that way. We've had a few evenings where we both end up sad while listening to our favorite songs in the car together........what am I going to do after he's gone when I can barely stand to listen to stuff and he hasn't even left ye? But either way, I love music no matter what. Sometimes, you need some sad music. Sometimes, you need so crazy music. Most of the time I just need to listen to music. So here's what's been playing over and over again for me lately:

I love this girl. She opened at a Peter Breinholt concert I went to two weeks ago, and she's a amazing. Her name is Ellee Duke and she's really talented.

A Little More Like Thee by Mindy Gledhill. I have this one on a church mix that I gave to Brady and it has become one of our favorite songs to listen to.

Hunter Hayes just says it perfectly in this one. Another favorite of mine and Brady's. It's nice to have a boy sing this to you and for him to mean it.

Feels Like Today by Rascal Flatts. Of course I put a Rascal song on here. haha! I probably could put a million of their songs on here. I know it's an older song, but I love it so much. It always puts me in a good mood. Also, I've been listening to Secret Smile of theirs. But not listening to Here Comes Goodbye. I've told myself I'm not allowed to listen to that one.

I Will Wait by Mumford & Sons.
Trouble by Coldplay.
She's So Mean by Matchbox Twenty. I'm so loving their new album.
Home by Phillip Phillips.
It's Time by Imagine Dragons.
Blood by The Middle East.
Anna Sun by Walk The Moon
Stolen by Dashboard Confessional.

Here's a new one that I literally just discovered and I love already! I love Tyrone Wells, I can't believe that I missed this song of his!

And finally, here's one song that I couldn't handle listening to the other day, but I so love this song. Ron Pope writes the perfect love songs. He's amazing. I love this one of his.

Music always has the power to make my terrible day amazing. It really has helped me have More Than Just Peachy moments multiple times and it's helped me created many memories. I love it!

Why I Love Fall

1) Boots. I love boots. Fall means it's officially time to pull them out of the closet and start wearing them again. Even better, it means it's time to buy new ones. haha! I won't be buying any right now since college is expensive  but I do have my eye set of some fabulous brown boots at Steve Madden.
2) Sweaters. The majority of outfits I wear consist of a sweater. But with the temperature cooling down, it now means that I can wear more long sleeved sweaters which I love. I love curling up in soft fabric. It's so comfortable. I can't wait til I get to pull out my coats too! Alright, pretty much I love everything about fall fashion. It's my season for sure.
3) Pumpkin Bread. Anyone ever had Kneader's? I love it.
4) Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in the shape of pumpkins. Chocolate marshmallows in the shape of pumpkins. Any candy in the shape of a pumpkin is just instantly amazing.
5) Apple cider and hot chocolate. I love warm drinks. Literally, I curl up in blankets, sweaters, and watch my favorite movies while sipping on hot chocolate.
6) Soup. Okay, i didn't intend for all of these to be about food. That was an accident. haha! But I love soup so much! When I was growing up, my mom made homemade soup all the time. We would come home and she would have soup on the stove. It was so amazing. I love eating soup and the warmth it spreads throughout my soul. Lately, I've been making soup and freezing it so I can have it whenever I want.
7) Leaves falling on the ground. I love the sound of a crunchy leaf being stepped on. So I step on a lot of leaves. I also love throwing them and getting in fights with leaves. I also love the colors of the trees and how they change. Living in Utah means that we look at a lot of mountains. It's so beautiful to see how the landscapes change during the fall.
8) BYU football season. You know it's fall when the games start. I love going to the games. My family has had season tickets for awhile now and it's always a blast to go!
9) Halloween. It's just a fun holiday.
10) It leads to winter. Which I also love. And the holidays. Which I love even more.

One reason why I don't like fall this year:
1) Brady leaves for his mission. Time is flying by. He leaves in three weeks exactly. I feel like he just barely got his call. But I know that he is doing the right thing by going on a mission. And after this year, when fall comes again in 2013, I will love it again, because he will have been gone a year, and it'll mean he'll be home in just one more year. I know he's just going to be an amazing missionary. That is what is more than just peachy lately. And we get to do lots of fun stuff one last time before he leaves. I have lots of things to post about, just waiting on pictures. We're going to have some adventures this weekend too! I can't wait.

Fall is kinda my season. I pretty much love everything about it. Every sudden gust of wind, every leaf that falls off a tree, and every cup of hot chocolate i'm going to drink, makes me happy. That is more than just peachy.

Sometimes I'm Dumb

Bob Harper scares me. But as he says "You love me! Say I love you Bob! Then it will be easier!" 

Sometimes, you do stupid things and buy a Biggest Loser workout dvd. All because you need to get  back in shape, and thought it was a good place to start. Sometimes, after you do one workout, you realize it was not such a good place to start. One workout down. A few more to go. But seriously, this better get easier. Otherwise someone might not ever make it out of bed again. haha! And so sometimes I think to my self, i wouldn't have to start all over again, if I didn't ever stop. So this time, really is my last first time starting back up again. That's right. I'm getting back in rugby shape. So I can do one thing....play some rugby again. That is more than just peachy right there. And sometimes, it will not be peachy during the painful workout, but it will be peachy in the end! Summer was not good to me. Time to change that nonsense. And I think i've said sometimes, enough times for one post. Goodnight world. Let's hope I can make it out of bed in the morning. #soremusclesrule

Happy Birthday to Brady!

Since I am the best girlfriend in the world, here I am, a week late writing a happy birthday post to my man. For some reason, this week just hasn't been a good one for me blog-wise. I don't have the motivation to write stuff down after taking notes all day at school. But I really have some great stuff to share and will be posting some fun things within the next few days.

Happy Birthday Brady! Yes, your birthday was a week ago, exactly. But that's okay.

I can't believe it was our second year of doing birthday things together. Last year, we went to dinner with your family. But I was stuck in Provo, in a cast, and you had to come get me so that you could spend your birthday with me. This year, I was stuck in class. UNTIL 5. So you, once again waited on me, so that we could go up to Salt Lake with your family to go to Tucanos. I rushed to Cedar Hills from Provo, right after my class got out, and then we all went up to Salt Lake for dinner. Tucanos is the best place for birthday dinner. It's amazing. I love it. I'm going to miss going there with you. Especially because you took me there for the first time. It's not the same without you. We attempted to take a good picture, but ended up with many goofy ones. But that's okay. Because I'm starting to like the goofy ones more and more now.

Then we made our way into Hollister by accident. haha. :) Okay, not really by accident. Mainly because I wanted to go in there while we waited for your family. I love shopping a little too much. I probably shop a little too much. But I love shopping even more when you are with me. Not because I want you to buy me things, but because I value your opinion. I like it when you tell me things look good. Because, I dress for you, so i definitely like knowing what you like. But most of all, I love the sweater that you bought me Thursday night. Once again, you catered to me on your birthday! You are so sweet. It's absolutely perfect. And i'm going to wear it a lot. 

I know it isn't always easy. Sometimes things just don't work out. We both work. We both have insane schedules. We live 14.8 miles away from each other (soon to be 601 miles). But you have made it easy to be in a relationship. You let me be myself. You make it real for me. You love me, make me laugh, and inspire me to strive for greatness. You help me dream big, you help me see the good in everything, and you helped me write a future for myself. I'm grateful for this. Not only are the person who loves me for who I am, but you are also my best friend. The person I could tell anything to. The person I could come crying to. The person I could wait forever for. You are my person. It's just that simple. Thank you. Happy Birthday Brady! I love you! 

I don't remember how life was more than just peachy without you. You've made it more than just peachy. You've made my life a fairytale.