Christmas Break.

The days are shorter.

The day of the week doesn't matter.

There are no classes.

I sleep in.... REALLY late.

The date doesn't matter, unless it is Christmas.

Every second of the day I am freezing.

I wear footy-pajamas to bed.

I work out every morning to burn off the calories of all the goodies I'm eating.

I spend half my time watching some kind of media on my television or computer.

Every night I wonder who I'm going to hang out with... but most of the time I'd rather be sleeping.

I drink LOTS of hot chocolate.

I try and warm up.. again.

I text my friends from college funny things.

I spend time with the fam.

...and guess what? It never gets old.

Hard things.

Have you ever wanted something SO badly, but you just can't do the things you need to in order to get it? You can't say that one thing because it will be too hard? Too awkward? Too heartbreaking? Sometimes you just have to make the decision and do what is best for yourself in the end. There are times when selfishness is needed. When a decision needs to be made in order to achieve the best outcome. Everyone always wants their desired outcome, and they can get it... Right after they tell themselves one thing:

I can do hard things.

Indie.

Kami: "Are we indie?"

Urban Dictionary says:

"There's no way to be an indie girl.
You just are.
If you happen to be a girl and you listen to independently produced music, watch independent movies, and if you stray away from anything mainstream then, yeah, you're an indie girl.
Indie girls don't indentify themselves as indie and they most definitely do not shun other people because of their tastes in music/movies/clothes/etc.

Indie girls usually dress in clothes from vintage stores or Urban Outfitters.
Indie girls don't just listen to music because it's indie.
Indie girls don't shun music because it's not rock. That's stupid. Indie music could be anything. Rock, rap, folk, anything."

All in all, you're not an indie girl if you have to say it. Indie girls do what they want. Most of these things describe me... but who really cares?

I don't need a label.

December 3

I can't believe it is already December!!! Happy Birthday to my awesome brother John! He is now 25. Woot woot! :) What do they call that... quarter of a century man?... Well when you put it that way, it makes him seem a whole lot older!

I love John for many reasons...

Top 10 things I love about John:

1. He helps me whenever I need to! It is usually immediate, but if not, it is speedy quick! He never hesitates to help me out.

2. He is REALLY smart. He doen't have to study for tests, and he has a strategy slash equation of figuring the situation behind everything!

3. He loves fashion and sending me frequent texts to approve his new clothing item prospects.

4. He includes me... Am I a college freshman? No. To John I am a loving sister and fun friend... I love that!

5. I love his laugh.

6. His love for movies and good music!

7. He is obsessed with Robot Unicorn Attack. "Always I want to be with you, and make believe with you, and live in harmony harmony, oh love."

8. He's really funny!

9. He went on a mission to Hong Kong and is very spiritual and loves the church.

10. He would give an arm and a leg for Texas Roadhouse rolls. (so... he's loving :) He would give an arm and a leg for someone he loved)

What a great brother! You wish he was your brother, right?

Applicable Songs.

You know how they say there is a Taylor Swift song for every situation? I believe the same goes for The Weepies. You just have to try harder and search for the messages, it's not so in your face and bluntly stated. You have to decipher the words and apply them to yourself.

I love winter

because it brings The Weepies.

Love.

Can love be a weakness?

Sometimes I wonder if I am weak, or if I just love too much. Is it a problem to let people in whenever it's convenient for them? I don't think so... but that's my skewed thinking talking.

Love is such a powerful emotion.

It makes me want to do good at all times.

It makes me want to be a better person.

It makes me want to bring joy into the world.

Sometimes there doesn't need to be an explanation for things...

just be a good person,

love who you want to love,

and have fun!

:)

Food.

Eating is such a social event. I ate 3 times today when I didn't want to... just to socialize and be with people. Somedays I say to myself, "Aw, screw it. I have already broken the 2000 calorie limit," and go crazy. I hate those days.

Why?

Why?

Why?

I know we need this stuff to survive, but not that much! Why does food have to be the source of which makes us gain or lose weight, or feel healthy or sick?

Sometimes you just got to say no. No I do not want that dessert that I desire because I am not hungry. Because guess what? In 20 seconds, I won't taste it anymore.

But sometimes, you just can't resist.

November 28th.

The day is here! It is the day of birth of Kami Rosen. Kami is the greatest! :) We always tease that her birthday is the pits. Before I knew her very well, I wrote in my journal "Today was Kami's birthday! I felt bad that it wasn't super fun.." But over the years, I have realized that the timing of your birthday doesn't matter because the same amount of people are still thinking about you. Where ever all her friends may be, they are thinking of her! This year I will not let the words go down in my journal that her birthday was not fun. Sometimes on your birthday all you need is the love of your family and the support and happiness brought from your friends.

This is my support for Kami...

I love Kami because she:

1. Truly loves and cares about people SO much. I can feel her love for me and I know she is there for me at all times.

2. Is trustworthy! Borrowed money? I know I'll get it back ;) Lies? Kami doesn't need lies. She likes the bluntly honest truth.

Regarding 90210: "WHY DO THEY LIE ALL THE TIME??? When are they going to realize that lying never works?!!?!? TELL THE TRUTH."

P.S. I love when we sit for a half an hour straight at times talking about TV shows as if they were our own lives :)

3. Tells me where to go in the car when I'm stressing out and am lost! Kami: "Ash, you just follow the purple line!!!"

4. Makes me laugh... SO HARD. Sometimes Kami gets in a very loud, some might say obnoxious, laugh, but that very same laugh can turn my frown upside down!

5. "Did you just say habitual? That's the thing you put in the newspaper for dead people."

" No Kami, that's an obituary."

Need I say more? :)

6. Shares a love for fashion with me. We can go up to Urban Outfitters and spend ALL DAY there. It is so much fun!

"Kami, I think I have a problem."
"I'll just say it... I KNOW I have a problem."

7. Tolerates my speedy, loud, sometimes not understandable talking. I talk a lot. And Kami is a great listener! When I go to her with a problem, she usually has something in her life that she can relate it to, and it helps a lot.

8. Is always up for something spontaneous! Bus rides on the UTA at 10 p.m... WHY NOT?

Hike the Y with flip-flops on and scale the mountain... WHY NOT?

Drive to Salt Lake for the day, neglect all forms of homework, and go shopping... WHY NOT? Go to the local Zurcher's, buy mustaches and bald caps, and have a photo-shoot... and later make them into magnets... WHY NOT?

Drive to Draper without a plan whatsoever and find things to do with our new friends... WHY NOT?

Have a mohawk for a night strictly because she just wanted to... WHY NOT?

Bored one night, so paint ourselves black and make a music video... WHY NOT?

And there are SO many more.

9. Shares my love of food and dessert. I love that Kami and I can go to just about any restaurant in Provo and know what meal we are getting to share. I think I made her fall in love with dessert TOO much... my bad... I didn't mean to put my problems upon her. Loving dessert TOO much to the extent of that is all you eat is DEFINITELY a problem.

10. Has a strong testimony! I love being around people that make me want to be better. Kami is one of those people! She is wholesome, loving, and on the straight and narrow path! I will never forget our week at EFY, summer before senior year. That testimony meeting is ingrained in my mind forever and always.

I LOVE YOU K!

Happy Day of Birth :)

Coin Laundry.

Do you have a dollar?

Do you have a dollar for me?

Maybe just an hour or two and a pot of tea...

Can I be the girl that you met?

Can I be the girl that you met?

Can I be the girl that you met in the coin laundry?

PLEASE.

Who has time for me?

I want to be the girl that you met in the coin laundry.

Happiness.

With all the blog posts I have read today, I had to post one up of my own. Today brought me more simple joy than any other day of this school year, I think. I cried laughing THREE times today. THREE! That's a lot, being the fact that all three times were spread out by hours and not in the same conversation or setting. I love when I cannot breathe because of my laughter. I love when I am not just crying, but bawling because of my laughter. I love when I am SURPRISED that I did not pee my pants because of my laughter. This day could not have been possible without my trusty cellular device and my best friend :) I love the little moments of happiness when there seems to be not a care in the world... My mommy pleasantly surprised me today. Something makes me happy, I laugh. Seeing me laugh, makes my mommy happy. I truly believe that happiness is a chain reaction. Happiness makes the world go 'round.

Blood ;)

Family.

Thanksgiving is a family day, and in this year's case, thanks to Tyler and Nicole, a memorable day! This afternoon I, along with my whole family and Nicole's whole family, got to witness my brother, Tyler, propose to Nicole Gibson! She was bawling before she even walked in the door! So cute. I am excited for the two of them, and the new addition to the Richards clan. Thanks to Erica's comedic acts, the pre-recorded wedding music cued at the perfect time to get a good laugh out of the crowd. Welcome to the family Nicole! I love my brother and new sister :)

Fun Times.

Fun times. I had the best weekend!

I have a group of girlfriends that knows me better than I know myself. We spent a weekend in a Marriott Hotel in Park City all alone. I love them so much. Every time we get together, we spill our lives to each other and get closer and closer. I loved being updated on all their lives and spending time together. We are closer than any group of girls. I would be there for any of them at any time of need. S4L.

Yesterday, Monday, I neglected school and ditched because we didn't get back from Park City until 2. I watched 2 movies and loved every second of sitting there without a care in the world.

Sometimes I smile.

People make me smile.

College Tests.

College tests are not the easiest tests I have ever encountered, that's for sure. Today I defied the norm and got a 96% on my second Book of Mormon test! My joy is shown by the constant grin on my face. I am a happy student today :)

Facebook.

Just when I thought Facebook was bound to have a downfall, it has become more prevalent in my life. Facebook can't be on top forever... Don't we need a new social network, one that's better, faster, cooler? I mean that's how America does it, right? Why is it that right when I open up my GoogleChrome my finger slides across my laptop mouse and taps on the Facebook tab? I am on Facebook even more than I was last year. There is one major change in my life, I am now in college. Is it that I am tired of studying and Facebook is my outlet, or that I feel the need to keep people close because I don't see them everyday as I used to? Sometimes Facebook keeps me up for an hour later than I should be... Someone is chatting with me, someone put up new pictures, I tell myself I have to invite someone to a certain event RIGHT THEN. But then I tell myself, "I am not tired, so I would be up for the same amount of time regardless what I was doing." And there ya have it, another justification. Facebook users are full of justifications. Maybe we need to sit back and admit it. Just say it.

I AM ADDICTED TO FACEBOOK.

Secrets.

"Who do you think you are

Running 'round leaving scars

Collecting your jar of hearts

And tearing love apart

You're gonna catch a cold

From the ice inside your soul"

Sometimes secrets aren't something you are keeping to yourself because NO ONE can find out because it will hurt someone or make yourself look bad... Sometimes they are things you simply refrain from telling anyone because you think it's personal or not needed to say. But in reality, they DO need to be said. It makes all the difference. Secrets aren't healthy. Sometimes revealing secrets is the answer to a problem.
I wish everyone had integrity and wanted to be the best they can be. Why is it that some people say one thing and do another? Maybe it's because it is a habit, or maybe it is because they just don't want to change. I hate when people cause me to feel disappointment... and today I was disappointed.

Lazy.

Some days are just lazy days. Those days when homework seems impossible and the desire to do absolutely nothing dominates your body and mind. That is what happened to Paco and I. As a result came my new favorite picture...

Alike.

Today I figured out that so many people are like me. In college, I have this idea that I am alone and everything I do is not up to par. Until today, I felt that many people were on top of everything and I was simply lacking behind. But guess what? When you didn't have time to read the entire book assigned to you, someone else didn't either. We are not alone. Humans are alike in their nature. And that's just the way it is.

Quitting.

I hate the word quitting. Today I "quit" my job. It sounds like I completely gave up, but that wasn't the case at all. I simply resigned from my current job in search of something better. I will still be working there until the end of this month though, until they find someone to replace me. I was just getting sick of it, and I am ready to focus on school for the rest of this semester, and then find something less boring for the winter. All I have to say is goodbye Katelyn & Co... It was a good year.

Obsession.

Why do I get obsessed with things?!!? I just went and saw the new movie "The Social Network" and fell in love. I was so fascinated with the story itself, Mark's ability to create websites like THAT, the ruthless business tactics used, people completely shutting someone out who was in the initial plan... just all of it. I love when my mind is fascinated. All I want to do right now is research the real Mark Zuckerberg, find out everything there is to know, and have the satisfaction of being edified. Before this movie, I could have cared less about who the Mark Zuckerberg is, how old he is, or how much Facebook is worth. Now I want to know all about it! It's called a temporary obsession.

MUSIC!!!!

I have had a music feast the past couple weeks. I swear every week, or even every few days to be more realistic, I have a new band that I am obsessing over. This new obsession is credited to the band themselves for playing an UNREAL show at Velour saturday night. The energy was bursting through the roof. Every instrument, lyric, and vocal pattern combine to make exquisite music. I think Dan Reynolds changed my life.

Change.

Sometimes you just need a change. What easier way to get a dramatic change than to get dramatic bangs? I love them.

Andrea.

I freaking love Andrea Leah Brinton. Whenever I have something I am going through, she has already been through the EXACT same thing. She is just bursting with great advice to share with me how she dealt with the situation. Whether she tells me how to fix it or just laughs at me because she knows what it's like, it's always comforting. I love her.

Facebook Isn't Completely Worthless.

I'm here to tell ya the shocking news that Facebook isn't completely worthless. About a month ago, I saw a post on Kinsley Deaver's wall that said, "Free Eyelash Extensions! Comment if you would like to be entered!" Of course I jumped right on that, and little did I know that a week or two later I would be receiving a new wall post saying I won!!! I never win anything. My excitement was so great! Well, my appointment was today... and they are AWESOME!!!!!! Who needs mascara? Not me. There is only one problem with these miniature beauties... I'm gonna need some more every month and now that I've tasted it, I can't go back.

COOKIES

So there is this place on BYU campus called Legend's Grille. It is great for 2 reasons...

1. I can use it with my Dining Plus Meal Plan at BYU

2. It is the home of these glorious gigantic delicious cookies

I bet you are wondering how to best savor this cookie... let me tell you.

Do you eat it all in one sitting at once? No way.

You buy it at noon (with your lunch) and eat a little on your walk back to your dorm, eat a little in your dorm while you're studying, eat some in your car on your way to work, eat some at work, and finish it off as a dessert to your dinner.

Who says you can't eat one cookie for every meal?

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

Best Friends.

I call up my best friend because I need some time to vent, and my friend is always there. While I am with this friend, another friend calls me and needs me for some venting, so I rush over.
What are best friends? People who are always there when called upon. I love the talks going into the beginning hours of the morning, sharing advice and empathetic stories.

There's no room for surface when it comes to your best friends. They know you. They know how to get to the core. Pretty soon they will know you as much or better than you know yourself. It's a scary thought.

I love the different angles and ways people look at situations.

I have the greatest best friends I could ever ask for!

Thank you...

and you know who you are.

Annoying Customers.

Do not go into a store or up to a kiosk at the mall at 8:59 when the closing time is 9:00. Even if you want that item more than anything, you should have planned ahead to go earlier, or you can wait until the next day. There is nothing more irritating than this classic maneuver by customers. We just want to go home. Save us the hassle and don't pull this idiotic move. Thanks.

PHOENIX.

Look at this GREAT band. Where have they been hiding my whole life? I am soaking them in. I just want to keep listening. You only come across guys like these every once in a while. Kudos to my new buds Mitch and Sean for introducing me to these gems.

"I think I'd better run, run, run, run.

I think I'd better run, run, run, run."

I LOVE MUSIC.

fdsakfo√jdkfhΩsjdkh∞asdjl!!!!!

John Mayer is a genius.

His lyrics.

His guitar skills.

The combination just works.

John Mayer rules my world.

...The Truth About Dorm Bathrooms...

Dorm bathrooms are overflowing with girls trying to shower and go to the bathroom all at once: Myth. Every time I go into the bathroom, there is not a soul in sight. It looks as though it is a ghost town. I take my time while showering in silence. Every time I get out it becomes the new "best shower of my life." Don't always believe what you hear...

Okay, I do shower at odd times though.

How Could The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Not Be True?

Today was my first day in the BYU 153rd Ward. Our first time meeting together, we had a fast and testimony meeting. I thought for sure it would be awkward and no one would want to share because nobody knows each other... but it was the complete opposite! The spirit was so strong. I sat in my green padded seat, listening to the testimony of our stake president, our bishop, and then peers. I am short, so I had a hard time finding a good view of the people at the front of the classroom. There was a constant flow of people going up to the pulpit, sharing their very own testimonies. My heart was pounding a million miles an hour. I didn't have anything in mind I wanted to say, but I knew I had to get up there. In what other church do you have such physical actions that don't calm until you share a message? The instant I finished my testimony and sat down, my heart relaxed and I was at peace once again.

Late Night Partyin.

First college party hosted at my casa? Check. All you gotta say is pool party and people come. It's not that everyone really wants to swim, it's the fact that it is a place to hang out that is not outside of a dorm room on campus. I loved tonight!

You know it's a Provo college party when...

1. There is no alcohol.

2. People think the party house is huge because the owner is a bishop that stole tithing.

3. There are more people there that you don't know than you do know.

4. People are counting the number of girls wearing bikinis and feeling bad for them.

5. Everyone introducing themselves to one another and forgetting a second later.

6. You hear the question, "What's your major?" a zillion times.

7. The only thing that gets everyone to leave at 1 a.m. is a typical August storm.

...Dorm Rooms...

There is such a hype when it comes to college. You get to choose out a cute bedspread with matching pillows, decorations, lamps, print off all the pictures you can think of to hang up... to make it feel like home. Once your dorm room is set up and all that excitement passes, reality kicks in. Classes. I have lived in Provo since I was 10 years old, but where is the JSB, the SWKT, the HBLL? Everyone tells you to buy your textbooks used... but where? Who has the answers to all these questions? No one. You started your own independent life and you are expected to figure it out on your own. How long is it going to take me to walk to my first class? Who knows... trial and error. How and where does this dumb meal card work anyways? Just go up to a restaurant and ask. Classes start in approximately 4 days. That is when I will answer my questions for myself.

Moving out. ....of your home.

Moving in. ....to a dorm.

Moving on. ....to an independent life.