*I graduated college. I definitely do not miss homework or tests- but I do miss going to class. I love class! I love learning!... I'm an official nerd.
For the past 3 or 4 years my toothpaste of choice has been crest vanilla mint flavor. It sounds a bit odd, I know. To be honest it tastes a little like brushing your teeth with frosting, but in a good way (if that's possible). It took some getting used to at first but I ended up loving the taste. A while ago I decided that I needed to make a change- the vanilla mint reminded me too much of shane -so I ventured out to new flavors. I went with "citrus splash." It smelled good and sounded refreshing. Well, I'm sorry to say that this is just NOT the case. It is gross. every time I brush my teeth I feel like I am experiencing some strange form of torture. -Death by sick taste in your mouth or something. Unfortunately I bought a HUGE tube and it will just not run out. Lately, whenever its time to brush my mollers I load up my tooth brush with obscene amounts of toothpaste in order to try to get rid of the tube as fast as I can. I would just throw it out- but I would feel like such a waster if I did that. Hopefully my torture will end soon and I can go back to a regular good ol' mint flavors. Here's to hope'n.
Conclusion: Citrus splash= gross. 0 out of 10 dentists recommend.
I never know what to say on this here blog. So here are some random thoughts.
Yesterday I was feeling nostalgic. This was probably because I turned on the TV and Meet Me in St. Louis was on. This movie always makes me feel like a little kid. I always thought Judy Garland was the coolest! When I was little I loved that she had red hair like me! Yesterday as I was watching it I couldn't help but be distracted with thoughts of her tragic and sad life. I think I miss the obliviousness I had when I was little.-Back when the only thing I could think when watching was how great it would be to fall in love with your handsome neighbor, and live in St. Louis, and wear red velvet ball gowns, and randomly burst into song on the trolley. This movie is, admittedly, a little overdone and a little cheesy, but mostly it's just a whole lotta awesome!
I feel homesick for the beach. For some reason the ocean makes me feel lonesome but whole all at once. I don't really understand what that means- but it's the truth. I guess what I mean is I feel connected to God and to other people at the beach, while at the same time I can't help but recognize my own insignificance. There is something about the water reaching across so much land and yet being connected and right in front of me all at the same time. - I don't know. It's just cool. And it smells good.
Last month I read a really amazing book. The glass castle. It was thought provoking, painful and difficult to read, and very rewarding. The truth is we have no idea what other people are going through. We are limited to our own individual experiences. Reading books like this, reminds me to be a more compassionate and sympathetic person. I think the only real point in life is to help others feel the love of God. What could be more important or more worthy?
I recently tried to make a chocolate torte. It did not work out - and I don't want to talk about it.
Most of my friends are married and having babies. I'm not. It's ok. I think eventually I will, but I can't help but think that the timing is gonna be all off. My kids will probably be much younger than all their cousins and all my friends kids. That makes me sad. I wish I could put them all on pause until I'm ready for that phase of life.
I LOVE the way my new sketchbook smells. DELICIOUS!
I can not shake thoughts of moving to New York or Boston. On Friday I spent the whole day at work looking up information about apartments in both cities. For me, big cities are stimulating and exciting. It is easy to feel productive and alive in a big city because there are always so many options for things to learn and see and do and experience. I like the diversity that's in a big city.
Damien Rice is so chill. I love the song Delicate.
Music fascinates me. I almost can’t believe that some people can bang on two sticks or pluck some strings and make that sound come out. I love listening to music and I love thinking about the creative people who make it. I wish I could be as eloquent as some of the artists I listen to. They often say what I haven't been able to articulate. I am intrigued with the creative process they go thorough to make their music. I think it's a really unique and cool thing that someone can take their own experiences and thoughts, translate them to lyrics and a tune, and in-turn, touch and influence other people with the sound they produce. I'm really grateful for music because listening to it is like therapy for me. It inspires thought and contemplation within me and… well, it just sounds good to my ears! Lately there are a few artists I can't stop listening to. They are...
Patrick Park
Steel Train
Jack Johnson
Ben Kweller
Snow Patrol
Ray LaMontagne
Here are a few videos to prove just how amazing steel train is. I love this song! (PS- I once met Jack at a concert for like 2 seconds. He touched my arm!)
I love watching the creative process in this video and I love Steel Trains layered sound. Simply amazing!
In sixth grade I felt really cool because I got a locker. It wasn't unusual- everybody in the school got one, but it felt new and different from elementary school. I felt so adult. When we were first issued our lockers my 6th grade homeroom teacher Mrs. Allen was quite clear about rule number one in terms of lockers. She took great pains in emphasizing the following advice. "Do not share your locker combination with anyone! Not even if they are your best friend." Turns out the same rule applies to your blogging account info. Last weekend I went to Rexburg to visit my dear friend Emily Johnson and her husband Shaun. It was fun to see her and her pregnant belly, and see some of my old haunts in Rexburg. While I was there Emily said she would show me how to change the background on my blog. - How exciting I thought! Everything went just peachy and I learned something new- yet, I forgot that Em still had all my log in info. Needless to say, Em decided to post a HUGE, MASSIVE and fairly ATROCIOUS photo of myself on my own blog. She also, changed my blog name to "Bex rocks my socks off" and added a nice little blog about an Easter egg we had named sloth. I have since corrected some of the above horrors. I guess it just proves Mrs. Allen was right- don't share your combinations, or in this case, password with anyone- even if they are your best friend! ;) ps I love you milly.
Please note that the above title must be sung to the tune of the dixie chicks song "ready to run"- at least for the full effect.
I am, admittedly, a nerd. And I don’t care who knows it- I embrace it. I love art and all sorts of music and books and I am teaching myself to become fonder of poetry etc… I really love books. They are the best!!!
The other day I made a list of some books that I want to read… even though I should just be reading text books. C’mon. Let’s face it- I’m not gonna do the reading for class anyways so I might as well accept it and not feel guilty when I read what I want to.
So here is my list. Let me know what you think- or if you have any other reading suggestions for me!
Persuasion*- by Jane Austin (like every girl you know I too love Jane Austin. I’ve never read this one and I’m excited about it. It was her last completed novel)
The Glass Castle*- by Jeannette Walls (I’ve already read the first chapter and I should tell you… I’m in love with this book)
The Gun Seller – by Hugh Laurie (What?! Black Adder wrote a book?!- I’m sooooo reading it)
The Color of Water- by James McBride (Mom tells me it’s a good one)
Jane Eyre -by Charlotte Bronte (I’ve heard you’re not officially a girl until you’ve read this book.)
Letters -by Marjorie Pay Hinckley (There are not words to express how much this woman has already touched my life. I can’t wait to read more of her word!)
The Turn of the Screw -by Henry James (sounds fun!)
Alice in Wonderland- by Lewis Carrol (I've always been a bit curious about this one)
There are about 100 other books that I can think of that I want to write down- but if I make this list too long it will become unrealistic and I will end up ignoring it and never reading.
*= Recently purchased and ready to read!
I’m such a slacker. I obviously haven’t updated my blog in a while- I know that probably disappoints all 3 people who read it so I thought I would repent and do better. These last few weeks have been pretty non-stop. I like that because I love to feel busy all the time- It makes me feel productive. A few weeks ago I, and two other swell folks, took a little road-trip to San Diego. I have to say that I love seeing new places. Whenever I’m somewhere new I end up trying to picture my life as if I lived there. I think I could be happy almost anywhere, although Oregon will always have a hold on my heart. I love new places. Sometimes, I picture myself becoming a wanderer who has little ties or roots, but has lived a rich life with lots of interesting travel stories to tell all my nieces and nephews. One thing I really like about road trips, besides the change of scenery, is the time in the car you have to just think. For a lot of the drive home from San Diego I was just sorta thinking about a bunch of stuff that has been rolling around in my head lately. One thing that I came to the conclusion to was how a lot of my life is determined by my loyalties. I’m usually a bit slow on the up-take, so all my friends and family probably already know this about me. (Way to clue me in- Dawn, I’m talking to you. You know you know what I’m feeling better than I do!!!) Anyways, I came to the conclusion that I am defiantly someone who finds what I like and sticks with it. Perhaps it’s my slightly stubborn nature, or perhaps I just like deep connections but it’s just how I am. This is the only way I have come to explain my more lasting relationships with people. Really, is there anything better than knowing someone so well that you become permanent fixtures in each others lives? I love feeling needed and wanted by someone. I like having affected someone’s life just by being a part of it. And vise versa. At the same time, I’m a pretty private person and I have to feel really safe before I commit myself to someone in any capacity that really counts. I think I have been like this my entire life, even when I was in third grade and my best friend was Lucy Meza- We still talk every now and then. I love that I am so loyal, but I have also learned that I need to be careful, I sometimes set myself up to fail when I become so dedicated to someone who is perhaps not as invested as I am. This is a bit frightening to me because I don’t really know how to do relationships any other way. – I guess I’m not very good at the middle ground. I’m sorta an all or nothing’ girl sometimes. I mean really, if someone can’t fully devote themselves to you in a given capacity, be it friendship or more- what’s the point? No thanks- I’ll be fine without. I suppose I watched Anne of Green Gables to much as a child because in my friendships I want Dianna Barry, and in a romantic relationship I want a Gilbert Blythe- someone who is so constant that they conquer death just to prove how loyal they are to you. Yup- I’ll take it. Anyways- I feel like I am rambling. I suppose I’m just trying to reconcile exactly how it is that I sometimes want to wander the world aimlessly and yet, I won’t settle for anything less than devotion and I crave connection. Blah blah blah…. Here are some fun pics. from San Diego:
First of all: I just wrote a pretty kick butt paper so... everyone be proud of me. If my teacher doesn't give me a good grade I may or may not kick him in the shins! 
Second of all: this last summer my friend Colby Ottley introduced me to a really rad band. They are called Steel Train. They are stuck in my head and I think everyone everywhere should listen to them. Now!
Steel Train----->
<---Colby 
I recently saw a documentary about orangutans. I decided I want one. 
So today started out pretty bad. It's a long story filled with a lot of stupidity, but that's not the point of this story. The point is- Life is GOOOOOOOOD. I feel so blessed and grateful to have such good friends in my life. I feel that I have always been blessed to have good friends, and its great when they reach out to ya just when you need it. For me, its all about the small and simple things- They are the things that mean the most to me and make the biggest impact in my life. Today I really needed to feel cared about and I do. In-spite of the rough start, It turned out to be a pretty fantastic day. And now, as my day is coming to a close I notice that my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. That's a good sign I think.
Today a few girlfriends met up and celebrated guy Fawkes day. It was fun! -Even though we didn't get to burn anything :(
So we all took the individual shots with each other until someone got the great idea for a group shot. You think after 4 1/2 months of picture taking practice at all those London monuments togwther we would have figured it out by now. 
This last weekend my parents came into town and we had a blast. We mostly just hung out and talked, but there is something about spending time with your fam. that just feels regenerating. I was also pretty excited about going to IKEA for the first time. (I love cheap, aesthetically pleasing crap!)
Me, Kelie and Kaitlyn just being awesome
Mom and Kristie copping a squat in the theater doorway
The whole gang
Oooo! Oooo! So I also got this fantastic book! I recommend it to anyone who loves to laugh! I am pretty excited to read it- especially during work where things can get a bit boring.
My sister in law is pregnant and she is pretty cute. I like her. - wait, nix that LOVE her!
My Nephew Luke is quite possibly the cutest thing that has ever been. It is so fun to watch him thinking- you can see the wheels in his head turning and I love that! He learns new things every day- he is a sponge. He recently learned how to say "boom shaka laka." I could watch this video 1,000 times!
So... I recently got glasses. This is what they look like. Also, I may have gotten a little carried away with the whole photo fashion shoot and photo shop thing. Perhaps it's the fact that my roommates constantly watch Americas Next Top Model marathons and I have been subjected to subliminal modeling messages.(Grrrl! You be look'n FIERCE!) Yeah, that or I'm simply just a narcissist. Either way it's pretty great to see things again.
I suppose I should stop living in the past but... THAT'S WHEN ALL THE GOOD STUFF HAPPENED! Well, at least this summer anyways. This past summer I went home for the first time in a long time and I loved it. I got to spend time with my fam. and friends who mean the world to me. There were a few major (and minor) events that occurred, and I believe they are worth mentioning.
Life's a Beach! (Oh man! I AM my fathers daughter!-- sorry about the bad pun). So this summer I pretty much lived at the beach. I love spending time at the ocean. There is nothing that reminds me I am home more than trips to the beach.
Beach trip #1 was with Dawn and Hayden. Hayden ate a lot of sand, we had a good time, and then we went to eat at Moe's.
I also went to the beach with the fam for a week or so. Ryan, Kristee and Luke were there and it was a blast. I loved hiking up the dune and taking some pretty sweet pics. I spent a lot of time with my siblings this summer and had a really good time. I miss them! 
Austin thinks he's taller then me. I think he is not. .... I may or may not be in denial. Anyways, in this pic he was most assuredly trying to be taller than me.
Hey Look! It's Peter Pan... or just Austin.
We...um... "went fishing"? Ok so we bought the fish, but it was still so fresh and good. " Hey there big tuna" -Andy, The Office.
Some sweet beach pics that I took. -- I love my new camera!
All in all, this summer was great. I loved being home, seeing my fam, and going on adventures with friends. What a bunch of great memories and can't wait to make some more!
