Oooops...

Well hello there you cheeky monkeys! I'm pretty sure the last time I took the time to blog was last year when I made the New Year's resolution to blog more... oops. I'm back on the band wagon, however, and I will be updating you as often as possible! Right now the only thing I can think of to share is the amazing little dance that my dearest friend Dani and I have just learned. Some of you may recognize it from the movie "Something Borrowed". I'll be posting the video of the two of us as soon as we perfect our sweet moves. Enjoy!

"Another Saturnalia Miracle!"

I'm deeply sorry about my lack of posts over the last few months. I would blame my incredibly busy schedule, but as it turns out, despite being a full time student and having a part time job, I have had entirely too much time on my hands. None of which have been spent blogging, however. So here I am, fully committing to at least one blog post a week during the new year. Yay resolutions!

I'd been feeling a little blue, because I had been having a hard time finding my Christmas spirit this year.  When I was little, the week before Christmas was the slowest and most exciting week of my life, because I was constantly counting the moments until the arrival of Jolly Old St. Nicholas.  It seems that every year since I stopped believing in Santa it has been harder and harder to find that same excitement.  So this year I decided to look deep down and discover what Christmas really means to me.

While on my search I heard people give the typical meanings of Christmas (The spirit of giving, charity, love...). And of course there is always that one person every year who seems to have a personal vendetta against the celebration of Christmas, who goes on and on about it originally being a pagan holiday, and how Christians stole it, and how we shouldn't celebrate Christmas because Christ is only a myth...blah blah blah... Scrooge, Scrooge, Scrooge.... Then it hit me one day, as I was listening to a classmate give a well rehearsed argument against Christianity, that Christ's birth was really what I needed to be celebrating this season. I have been through so much this year, and have gained such a strong testimony, it seemed almost selfish to not completely devote myself to the Lord this Christmas.

So this year, as I'm opening up my presents on Christmas morning, I will be thinking of the greatest gift I have ever been given. The gift of eternal salvation, given to me by my savior.  It's because of him that I'm where I am today, and I have so much to be grateful for this season.

XOXO

Taylor

New Hair!

Finally! It has been nearly six months since the last time I had my hair cut and colored, and it was needing a touch up something fierce. Never again will I let it get that bad. I had at least three inches of roots showing, and the ends were as dead as a doorknob. I'm much happier with my new cut. What do you think?

It's a lot lighter and very styled. I'm really digging all the layers!

I couldn't resist posting this. I'm such a dork...

XOXO

Taylor

Embrace Life: Always Wear Your Seatbelt

I posted this video earlier on Facebook, but I feel the need to spread this message as far and wide as possible. We were learning about auto collisions in my First Aid class, and my instructor started a discussion on whether or not we believed it should be illegal not to wear a seat belt. The majority of the class (including myself) were in favor of the law, but there were just a handful of students who were against the law. Not surprising, all of the students who voiced their disapproval of the law had been ticketed for not wearing their seat belts. One boy made the argument that he would only be harming himself, but what he failed to realize was that if he died from not wearing a seat belt during a car accident, it could effect so many other lives. We watched another video about a boy who chose not to wear his seat belt, and when his car collided with another car and rolled, he was thrown out of his seat and slammed into the other passengers sitting in the car. The impact of the crash didn't kill the other three passengers; the impact of his flying body did. Even if there was only one person in the car during a crash, think about the emotional trauma their death would cause. Especially if it could have been prevented by wearing a seat belt.

My instructor recommended that we go home and watch this commercial. It's called Embrace Life and it is one of the most beautiful commercials I have ever seen. I'm not sure who created it, I'm sure the credits are on the YouTube page, but whoever they are did a phenomenal job. I don't think any two and a half minute video clip has ever moved me so much. Just watch it and you'll know what I mean. I promise it will be worth your while. And if you feel as strongly about this issue as I do, post this on your blog or Facebook. I challenge all of you to spread this message, and make people aware of the physical and emotional damages not wearing a seat belt can cause. Not only to yourself, but to the people you love.

XOXO
Taylor                                                                           

Weekend with my sista' friends!

Don't you just love a good weekend with the girl's? I know I do; especially when you spend it in a place as fun as St. George! This trip was exactly what I needed. A nice long break from school and all the stresses that go along with it. We spent the weekend doing whatever we felt like doing. A movie, card games, swimming, hiking, and a little retail therapy.

We went hiking in Snow Canyon on our second day. Not our prettiest picture, but we figured why shower if we're just going to be sweaty and gross in a few hours?

We went to dinner at Iggy's Sports Grill for Diana's birthday dinner, and to watch the Utah vs. Wisconsin game. We won of course!

We had a waiters at Iggy's sing to Diana for her birthday, and they even gave her a free ice cream. Do you like her hair? Chelsi dyed it the night before, and we think it was a great success! How very spontaneous of you, Diana.

All-in-all we had one of the best vacations ever. I was really sad to go home after such a great time, but life must go on, and I'm ready to get back to reality.

XOXO
Taylor

Home Improvement.

I'm basically broke, so I've decided to re-decorate my room entirely with decorations I made myself. You might have read my earlier post about my recreation of the wall art in Anthropologie, and I'm proud to say that I'm nearly done with it! The bulk of the decoration is mounted on my wall, and I just have a few more pieces to finish before it's completely done.

The up close view

The far away view

As you can see, I've only completed one chunk of the entire project. I plan for it to travel further down the wall next to that painting, as well as further to the right of my bed. It will be sick!

My next project is going to be a mobile made out of branches from my old lilac tree, and paper cranes painted with sheer gold nail polish. Crafty, non?

Back to the house at Pooh Corner.

My emotions are in a frenzy right now, and I'm attributing a lot to the fact that it's two o'clock in the morning. I have way too much on my mind to sleep right now anyway. I've been giving way too much thought to what I want to be when I grow up. I know I don't have to decide anything right now, and my mom keeps counseling me to just take my time, do some more generals, and test the waters, but I'm just so anxious! I wish things like this came easily to me. Each time I get excited about a major or a career path, I start thinking too hard about it, and all of a sudden it doesn't sound like fun to me any more. So far the candidates are:

• Vocal Performance
• Interior Design (shot down because the U doesn't have an interior design program)
• Art Major
• Film Studies
• Philanthropy
• Social Work

All valid ideas, all equally suited for me, but I just can't figure things out. All I know is that I love to sing, I love children, I love volunteer work, and I want to do some thing BIG! Something really important, save the world kind of big. I was really effected when I saw The Social Network the other day. Mark Zuckerberg was my age when he invented Facebook. There are people my age doing amazing things, and feel so mediocre. I feel like I have the ambition to do something great, but I don't know how to go about doing it. I seriously need some guidance. I'm going to make an appointment with a career counselor once classes start up again.

I fully understand that every college student struggles with these same worries, and it's comforting to know that I'm not the only one with these fears. I guess it's all part of some greater plan, and we're not supposed to know what we were all meant to be, but it's hard to be patient and let destiny reveal herself.  I'm just going to have to trust that the Lord intends for me to do something meaningful, and pray.

XOXO
Taylor