Beautifuly Ridiculous Moments

Last week I got a few days off of work and since I hadn't seen Kelsie in AGES and since she was FINALLY done with her externship hours, we decided to spend some quality time with Bear Lake. It couldn't have come at a better time since life has seemed a little overwhelming as of late and even though some parts of the trip were less than desirable and hilariously ridiculous, it all added up to a lot of beautiful moments:

1. Leaving a hard/stressful/busy day at work as Footloose came on
2. Letting my navigation on my phone get me lost (against my better judgement) and ending up at the new Brigham City temple
3. Random truck driver in the canyon flashing his lights and saving my lead foot from getting a ticket from the hidden cop
4. Having my favorite radio song come on the radio (I Love You Always Forever by Donna Lewis, reminds me of my childhood)
5. Talking until 4 AM with Kelsie where we cried until we laughed and laughing so hard, we cried
6. Getting hilariously stalked by evil seagulls
7. Bear Lake Raspberry Shakes. Nuff said!
8. Finally losing it from lack of sleep and laughing so hard I nearly peed my pants over something kind of funny
9. Getting 2 more Friends seasons (only 5 more!!)
10. Brandt making us breakfast at noon because we were so tired and sunburned, we could hardly move

Most of the time it is hard for me to see the beauty and humor in the ridiculous little moments I have each day. I'm actually really quick to get frustrated, embarrassed, or just down right mad. For some reason, thanks to the Lord's help, this trip I was able to enjoy those moments and laugh (a lot) at things and myself. The ridiculous moments made my life beautiful for a moment and I hope that I can have more of those days in the future.

Life Soundtrack

All of these dreams in my head keep spinning round I'm grabbing my paper and pencil to pin 'em down I'll sketch my world as a prettier place draw myself with a smiley face And make this picture perfect But all of these lines on my page won't mean anything Until I learn to erase the ones that I don't need I'm covering up the stupid mistakes and starting over and over again To make this picture perfect (yeah, yeah) I'll start with where I'm standing now And begin shaping where I wanna be No one can tear my picture down Because it's me and as long as I'm still proud of this self portrait I'm creating I'm doing fine Yeah, I'm doing fine, yeah Every now and again someone comes along They try to box me into a corner I've drawn Pushing the walls down, I'm struggling free Makes me strong so I can keep making this picture perfect (yeah, yeah) I'll start with where I'm standing now And begin shaping where I wanna be No one can tear my picture down Because it's me and as long as I'm still proud of this self portrait I'm creating I'm doing fine Yeah, I'm doing fine, yeah What I'm sketching doesn't have to be anything fancy, no I'm just shaping stronger sides of me, of me, of me, yeah yeah yeah I'll start with where I'm standing now and begin shaping where I wanna be No one can tear my picture down because it's me and as long as I'm still proud of this self portrait I'm creating I'm doing fine yeah, I'm doing fine, yeah I'm doing fine, yeah I am doing fine I'm doing fine Stephanie Smith- Self Portrait

Something About Nothing

Mom made the comment the other day that I hadn't been keeping up my blog. I guess that's because once you graduate, life becomes pretty boring. Seriously. My phone conversations with my mother are significantly shorter and more ridiculous than before because I simply have nothing to tell her. So what am I supposed to write about? However, since I should be cleaning my apartment and/or doing other unpleasant things such as arrange an appointment with mediation for my ridiculous old landlord, I thought I'd write a few something somethings. In this past year, I have learned a lot about myself and a lot about life. For example, I found out that I absolutely hate conflict. Like, I will do anything and everything I possibly can do avoid it. I've also learned that Heavenly Father has a big sense of humor. If life is going fairly well and normally, he's going to throw a curve ball in there to shake things up a bit. When I started my scholastic journey, I did not expect this is where I would end up. In major, relationship, job, and overall life. I had a plan. And goshdarnit, I was going to stick to that plan. Buuuut, as I started going with this plan, Heavenly Father said, "Well, I'm not sure about this. Maybe you should change this part of your plan." So, I said ok! That'll put me a little behind, but I'll do it if I'm supposed to do it. So, I corrected my course a little bit and changed my major, but for the most part, I kept my plan in tact. As I continued going, Heavenly Father said, "Wait, wait wait. Something is terribly wrong here. This cannot happen. You were not meant for this plan. You need to let it go. I have something better in mind, but you will have to be patient." When I wasn't as willing to let this part of the plan go, Heavenly Father gave a gentle shove back onto the path that he had planned for me. It has been an extremely rough journey. I am grateful that I have a Heavenly Father who watches out for me and attempts to guide me in the best direction. He has to be a little bit more persistent with me because I tend to be really stubborn. I'm still in the middle of being patient. I have no idea where to live or what job to get, if I should go on a mission, or if I should maybe go to a trade tech. I'm a little bit frightened for what this next chapter will bring, but I do know that my Heavenly Father has my back and where He's guiding me will lead me to the greatest happiness I will ever know, as long as I am faithful and trusting. "The past should be left in the past, otherwise it can destroy your future. Live life for what tomorrow has to offer, not for what yesterday has taken away."

Moments That Matter Most

Guess what? I'm all done with school. I know, right? It's weird. I don't hardly know what to do with myself. I'm already bored. But it is FABULOUS!!!! Anyway. I had posted this video on FB a while back, but I just found it again, and seriously, it is one of the most beautiful videos ever. I get emotional each time I watch it. I think it's just such a great message and EVERYONE needs to hear it because we all struggle with going too fast and getting too caught up in the world. So, if you need a little beauty to your day today, watch it. And PLEASE share it with everyone because it is just fabulous! Here's a link if you can't get it to play:

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!

Today was pretty awesome. I had my very LAST day of class EVER a couple of days ago and I CANNOT be more ECSTATIC! Can you tell? :) So, to celebrate, besides buying myself my first pair of Silvers of which I'm super happy about, (they were on sale) Mom came down to party with me. First, we hit up Walmart, (we all know what a party that can be!) and got some necessary stuff like food. We then discovered there was a Sweet Tooth Fairy bakery in Orem and got really excited about it, (Mom and I both LOVE cupcakes, and we just watched this bakery win Cupcake Wars a couple of days ago) so we went in and got one of the cupcakes that was featured on the show and it was pretty good. After that, we wandered over to Deseret Book where I got a Marshall McDonald CD, (I LOOOOOVE him and his beautiful piano music). Then, we met up with Troy and Amanda and the kids and ate dinner at 5 Guys, which was actually pretty good. I'd go there again. Finally, Mom and I made it over to the mall to get manicures. I think we're sort of becoming spoiled with the manicures and pedicures thing, cause we've done it a lot. But that's just fine by me! So, sine the last time I got acrylic nails, (which I also love) was when I graduated high school, I decided to get some again for college graduation! YAAY! OH, and did I mention it thundered earlier today? It's just been the best day . . . :D

Loving Life

Things I'm loving right now: 1. Riding all the way home with the windows down 2. The fact that TOMORROW is my LAST day of school. Ever. 3. That I get hot walking to and from school 4. That I can kind of sew now 5. That I'm getting a new Kindle in 2 days 6. That a good friend of mine gets home off his mission in 3 months 7. That pretty soon I'm going to be spending all my free time in a bathing suit 8. That I get to choreograph a solo 9. The few friends that I do have are freaking amazing 10. That I'm going forward with my life

(not me. but it will be.)

Suckit

I. graduate. in. 14. DAYS!!!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

In honor of this event, I am writing out my summer to do list:

1. Reread Harry Potter
2. Get taaaaaannn
3. Wake up early and exercise
4. Swim. All. The. Time.
5. Reread the Chronicles of Narnia
6. Craft like crazy
7. Reread the Bloody Jack series
8. Have a Friends marathon
9. Have a Castle marathon
10. Get better at the guitar
11. Visit Haylie
12. Get flexible again
13. Reread Eragon
14. Go to the drive in movie theater
15. Be happy
16. Visit the temple more
17. Laugh a lot
18. Have bonfires
19. See the fireworks on the 4th with someone special
20. Enjoy my life