Apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Everyone always tells me I look, act, and sound exactly like my mom... I never paid much attention to it, but all of a sudden I'm really starting to wonder... I guess I'm crossing my fingers that I get all of her best qualities (which is all of them)!

I could go on and on about her constant support and the brilliant light that she is in 

my life, but I think our silly pictures in New York are pretty self-explanatory.

I LOVE you Mommy!

Endless LOVE

I love ice cream
I love lipgloss

I love wearing sunglasses

I love listening to my music really loud in the car

I love black nail polish

I love the word ENCHANTED

I love to laugh

I love black and white photography

I love the beach

I love nautical stripes

I love gold jewelry

I love my sisters

I love going to the library

I love old movies

I love butterflies

I love to talk ALOT

I love the gospel

I love being with my friends

I love the sun

I love to day dream

I love that my mom and I sound exactly a like
I love to learn

I love writing in my planner

I love sneakers

I love my family

I love to read
I love looking for seashells

I love to people watch

I love to swim

I love to go for walks

I love the way my dad dances in the car

I love yoga

I love ruffles on pretty much everything

I love to travel

I love that my dog knows when I'm having a bad day
I love giving advice
I love being organized
I love peonies
I love to sing
I love to be creative

I love to LOVE

NYC XOXO

Why is it that when I go on a trip I always wait till the last minute to pack?

You would think that because of my neurotic personality I would have started on Sunday...

But no, I for some reason enjoy the thrill of running around with my head cut off!

Ok so I have started about 5 lists, each with different categories and that's about it.

The outfit possibilities swirling around in my head will make it difficult to get much else done today.

My mantra when I travel: if I forget something I can always buy a better alternative.

This is seriously going to be the longest day of my life!

Flying out tonight...

See you soon!!

Raining Thoughts



 I have a hard time when things don't go my way.

I don't know if it's the oldest child-perfectionist complex that drives me or if I have major control-freak issues?! Either way at least I'm admitting it!

Maybe it's my idealistic tendencies?

I'm kind of a big thinker.

I would say it's an amiable quality if my head wasn't constantly in the clouds. 

I play things out in my head & for some reason I expect them to go that way in my life. 

High expectations could be a factor.

I expect a lot of myself and consider it a compliment for me to expect a lot from the people in my life.
I strive to do my best & respect everyone around me too much to think they don't do the same.

I'm seeing a pattern: Disappointment has a name...
I get my hopes up because I am an unbelievably positive person.
My  glass is always half-full until I take my eye off of it for a second and all the water is GONE!  

Which leads me to my Go-Getter personality.
I have come to believe that if I want something bad enough, I will eventually get it. If I fall short I obviously didn't want it that badly.
I have to pick myself up, fill my glass back up, & set new goals!
No one is responsible for my happiness more than I am.

This is where faith and hope come in.
As hard as I am on myself I have unfailing faith that there is a plan for me.
I know that everything will workout as it should.
I have great expectations in which my faith is sometimes tried.
Faith keeps me grounded!

Hope is recognizing a blessing in disguise

 It's the little things that help me know I am heading in the right direction

It's the random text from daddy saying "I am glad to be your dad"

So I guess I'm grateful for the occasional slice of humble pie...
Some how my thoughts come full circle and I realize how truly blessed I am!

We're off to see the wizard

I can't tell you why The Wizard of Oz just popped into my head?

I have the most whimsical memories of watching this magical movie over and over again...

I would stand on the fire place with my ruby slippers on and say

 "Ladies and gentleman, and ALL the munchkins"  

Center of attention must have been innate.

I don't have much more to say on the subject other than "a horse of a different color" is quite possibly my favorite quote of all time. I give everyone permission to use it...

Life changer!

Manic Monday...

Monday's tend to rub me the wrong way...

 I try & set goals at the beginning of the week for a little extra insentive to get me to the next weekend. Driving to work this morning we (Blaire & Amanda) decided that our two goals this week are to be positive & not to complain as much; mostly about how cold I am. 

I had to set a few rules...

1.) If I don't say anything it doesn't count for being positive or negative

2.) Stating that I am cold is a lot different then complaining about it     

It has been a very long day, but I choose not to talk about it... It's the little things that get you through the Monday that will never end!!

***Golden Spoon tonight with the girls (carmel cups BOMB!)***

The last line of my daily horoscope:  You could also make a bond with someone who turns out to be a soul mate in the months to come.

It's going to be a GREAT week!!!

Benton show on Friday!! Can't wait...

You can never say I love you too much...

I tend to say I Love You to my friends a lot. When I say goodbye on the phone. When I am leaving the house. Before we go to bed. When they randomly say something that makes complete sense. Hand hearts, sign language, etc...

As young adults our roommates and friends become our family when we aren't living with our parents. We fold each others laundry, give advice, stay up WAY too late, and sometimes read each others minds. I can think of a million things I am grateful for in my life; one being my amazing friends!

It's hard to believe that the girls and I probably have too much fun doing absolutely nothing. We could be sitting in my room staring at the wall and still find something ridiculous to giggle about. They are the best ally for any boy I'm dating. Know exactly what I'm thinking before I'm thinking it, and don't let me get away with anything! 

 I always tell them I think we were friends in the pre-existence. How could we not be? We are MFEO and always will be. I look forward to see where life takes each of us and for the knowledge that we will be friends for eternity!

I LOVE YOU GIRLS!!

Who wouldn't have fun playing with us?!

Just Sayin...

Rose Colored Glasses

When the New Year comes around I do a lot of reflecting. What I like, what I don't like from years past and how to improve myself. It's very inspiring. You should try it!

I would never use the word "DRAMA" to describe myself. I'm extremely logical and level headed... ok so I may over exaggerate once in a blue moon and I have a tendency to throw tantrums, but that would never constitute grounds to call me a drama queen!

There has to be a difference in drama that surrounds you and drama that you create right?!

I am the Queen of boy drama (ok maybe the Princess, but remember I over exaggerate). Well, I may be a little fickle and I have a hard time making decisions, but that can't be why I have boy issues. I am the type that attracts everyone, but the one I want. I don't know if it's a personality flaw or if I really am that unlucky?  Anyways, I have the biggest problems with guy friends. For some odd reason I am completely oblivious to the signs that one of these boys likes me, because why would they? We're only friends... So I end up being my overly flirtatious self, give them the wrong idea, and then get in trouble. The getting in trouble part is the worst because I'm always like "what the heck did I do"?

DISCLAIMER: My sister tells me I like attention and that's why I tend to get myself into these kinds of situations, but that's just one opinion.

The "stage 5 clingers" are a bit difficult, but hands down the hardest thing for me to understand is when you date a boy and become friends with his roommates. You stop dating the boy and the roommates try and swoop in. So awkward!

How do you improve this part of your life when you feel like you have no control over it?

#1 Improvement: Stop seeing myself through rose colored glasses 

#2 Improvement: No more boy drama, or at least less than I have right now. 

The Magic of Christmas

It's hard to believe I can only count on one hand how many times I have been at my OWN house on Christmas... There isn't one memory of Christmas Day that hasn't been filled with joy & happiness as I think of the Ranch & being with my Parents, Grandparents, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, & 20 cousins. The Ranch was a place where time literally stopped. We (including Gramma) would wear our pajamas all day & ate chocolate out of our stockings for breakfast. Gramma Bun & Pa are a constant reminder of how privileged I am to have been born into such a loving family. 

This will be the third Christmas without Grandpa & the second Christmas away from the Ranch. I hold tight to the memories of him & our holidays shared at our beloved Grandparent's home. I will miss him always!! As I think of the traditions we had, I thank him for making 20 of my Christmases so special.

Here are a few of my favorites...

Grandpa would never forget to put hay up on the roof for Santa's reindeer

He would make us line up from youngest to oldest, walk in a straight line into the family room, & unveiled a floor covered in presents.

Pa was always in charge of picking up all the wrapping paper off the floor.

He would welcome everyone to Christmas dinner & give the most heart-felt prayers.

He loved to give presents & would always give Grandma Bun a handbag every year.  

As I cherish the many Christmas memories, I look forward to our future traditions & for the knowledge that Grandpa will always be with us. 

I LOVE you PA!!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS to all!! I hope you are enjoying your families!!

One of my favorite gifts this year.... My Grandma Bun's two poetry books she had published!!

How truly blessed I am. . . 

Who needs snow for Christmas?

 

Del Mar is only hours away and I still haven't started packing!!!

The best idea I can come up with is throwing all my juicy outfits in my suit case and calling it a day. I've got home stoke right now, I can hardly concentrate... What am I looking forward to most?

Hiking Torrey Pines Christmas morning

Visiting the big tree at Hotel Del 
 

Cuddling with the Rugby dog 

Slumber parties with Andi and Bai

17 hours and counting and we will be home to you Mommy, Daddy, and Bailee!!

Parker's Adventures in Uganda

Time for a Parker update!!

There are hardly words to describe how proud I am of Park and how well he is doing!!

It has been 3 weeks since he left the States bound for the MTC in Africa. Every email we get shows the progress and growth he has experienced in the short time he spent learning the lessons. Friday was his last day in the MTC and he has arrived in his first area, Mutungo, Uganda. Here are a few of my favorite excerpts from his latest email...

"My companion or "dad" said that Mutungo is the best part of this mission right now. It is the freshest and I get to be here. He said that only special kids get sent here. I'm only the second missionary ever to be trained here, the first was him. He said that all the missionaries respect me because I got sent here right off the bat. SO I was pretty happy when I heard that. I want to do the best now!"

"There are little kids around everywhere just running & playing. They call me muzunga (which means white person) & wave as I go by."

"There are little shops everywhere that sell stuff. i bought 2 ties today, they were like 2 bucks a piece! But they don't use dollars over here its shillings. So i bought those 2 ties for 1000 shillings but that's only like 4 dollars. I'm a millionaire over here lol."

"I realized that I can just count on being hot and sweaty the whole time I am here. It is warm to say the least, whoever told me it was like San Diego weather they lied, I am sweating like a banshee! It hasn't rained yet, but they said it will rain a whole lot."

I am so lucky to have such a great example of obedience & sacrifice this Christmas season. 

 

We LOVE you Park!!

Holly Jolly Lolly

For some odd reason I have a moral issue with Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties... I have never been one to intentionally make myself look ugly... So in true Lindy fashion I tried to style my cardi up with a belt and boots. I don't know if I achieved the exact look I was going for, but I don't think I was completeley unfortunate looking!

The girls and I always have too much fun and we are lucky to have great friends to celebrate the holidays with!! Here are a few highlights. . .



Zac Efron made an appearance... he's single by the way!! 



Bells of the Ball!!



Don't Christmas lights make you so happy??!!

I don't know what it is about Christmas lights, but they just put a smile on my face... Last night (Sunday drive of course) we piled in the car, had pandora tuned to Christmas music, and headed to Orem where they take Christmas lights VERY seriously! Brookie and Brandon navigated as we witnessed house after house transformed into Christmas magic.

There was one in particular that exceeded my expectations. Actually there were a few, but this one was just unbelievable!! I am fairly certain every whimsical childhood memory I have Barbie was my esteemed confidant. I would probably still be tempted to get her out to play dress-up, but everything disappeared a few years back... I know Daddy did something with them!! Anyways, she had a boat, a car, a plane, a motor home, and of course a DREAM HOUSE!

Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the magnitude of the "Christmas" Dream House!

I still can't get over it!

Blog Warming Party

Since this is my first blog EVER I thought it only fitting to throw myself a blog warming party! I find blogging quite interesting. I have a million things swirling around in my head at all times and yet I keep telling myself I have nothing to write about. Other than how fabulous the party would be if it wasn't imaginary. Let's see I would have at least two outfit changes, bomb swagg bags, and Maroon 5 would perform! I can seriously picture it in my head right now!! Just in case you didn't know this about me... I have a large imagination and I'm fairly certain my head is permanently in the clouds. If I had my way ( which I like to think is the majority of the time) it would rain sparkles and maybe Christian Louboutins... Anyways, I'm really excited for this new little adventure. It should be fun and kind of entertaining!! Or maybe I should have Justin Timberlake perform instead.... oh and I need a tiara too!!!

Kind of like this one, but way more fabulous!