in forever

Guys, for real, I feel bad. I don't ever post. Nothing really has been happening in my life right now. Well, except for the fact that I went to the Frozen Sing-a-Long and it was the most amazing thing ever.

I'd never been to one before and there was no way that I was going to pass it up. Especially since Frozen is like, my all time favorite movie at this moment. Yes, that changes as well. And it doesn't bother me that there were probably only ten adults there and me and Kristee were two of them.

I don't have a thousand words, but here's some pictures.

just chillin'

My (attempted) sketches of Kristoff from Frozen. Still can't get him quite right, but that's what practice is for, right?

Alright guys, I'm still here. Just, I haven't really had a life for three weeks because I've been sick with Bronchitis. Or whatever it is that I have.

Anyways, after about a week of being stuck at home I figured I should do something with my time.

And since I saw Frozen in November I've been incredibly stuck in this I-love-Disney mood. 

Seriously, I've been listening, drawing, pinning, watching and just obsessing over everything that is related to Disney. 

So with all the time on my hands I've been at my piano, arranging. That's right, you heard it correctly, I've been arranging a medley of Disney songs because I absolutely love, love, love the music Disney creates. 

And it's very fortunate that I have half of the music I'm putting in the medley, already. This is me hoping that I actually finish it. I might need some singers in the future, folks. Keep an eye out if you're interested. ;)

Other than that, I've just been here trying to fill time with stuff that doesn't exhaust me. Writing, sketching, making music and watching my shows. 

I hope ya'll don't get ever get sick with Bronchitis. It's not fun. 

Stay classy, folks. 

+---A 

a party

^ and the first fun one in a long time. 

But really, it's just cause I don't go to many parties. So, of course it was fun. :P 

It was a surprise for two people, who thought they were "distracting" each other from getting to the party too early. It was great.

A friend, Clarissa is going to Texas... (or.. wait.. no Chile. ;) on her mission and a close friend, Trevor became a marine and it was just fun all over. All hosted by a dear friend, Meghan who was the mastermind behind it all. 

Also got to see my bff who lives two hours and the length of a really really tall giraffe's neck away from me and it was a fantastic reunion. 

It was a much needed night where I got to catch up with a lot of old friends that I haven't seen in months and it was refreshing. We told stories, had discussions and laughed really loud. Overall, it was a great night. 

Oh, besides the fact I have Bronchitis. No worries, I'm not contagious ;) 

Stay Classy

+--- A

green

If you're like me (you know the creative kind but you hardly ever do anything with it) you get in these moods where you just want to make and make and make everything you see in your mind. Or on pinterest if you really are like me. Well, I'm not in one of those moods currently... but I was a few months ago when I made this package for one of favorite missionaries. Thought I would share it with all of you for inspiration for your brave men and woman out there in the field.

(If you're wondering all the green it's because us Mormons actually use slang sometimes. All of our newest missionaries out in the field are called "Greenies" and so everything in the package is green.) 

Heres what you'll need: 

Also a box. Yes, you'll need a box. 

Life Savers 

Oatmeal 

Granola Bars

Breakfast on the Go

Sticky Notes 

Mike and Ike's 

Hand Sanitizer  

Note Pads

Jello

Gum

M&M's

Twizzlers 

This is just what I put in, but you can pick anything you want as long as it's green. 

Here's to cheesy poems. And my horrible handwriting.

I wish all of your missionaries the best. 

Cheers!

+--- A

good vibes only

For the first monday of the year, it wasn't so bad. I'm off on a kick with my resolutions. But uh.. who knows how many more days I have to get what I want.

Today though, I'm here to tell you that, "happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." -Albus Dumbledore. 

Actually, I'm not going to elaborate on that quote. Even though it is a wonderful quote. I'm going to focus on the person who quoted it. Albus Dumbledore! 

Why? 

Why because I had a Harry Potter marathon and I thought it was appropriate! 

Started at 5 a.m. Crazy right? I actually struggled to stay awake and I didn't finish, but I got to the sixth movie before I had to check reality again. 

And if ya'll want to find out what my new years was like click this lovely link: holding onto a hero And you'll get an idea of what I did. 

Cheers! 

+--- A

2014

I know tonight is new years eve and I'm supposed to be hanging out with friends, going to parties and getting a fabulously timed kiss, but this year it's not gonna be all that. Hopefully next year though. This year instead I found out some pretty bad news.
Not something you want to start your new year with, right?

But.

I'm staying hopeful. I'm wishing that with a bad start, the rest of the year will be pretty decent. I mean, come on. It's the year after the unlucky  number 13. It's got to be amazing.

Only, to have a good year we've all got to make some resolutions. Y'know the ones we say we're gonna do and then stop once February hits. But this time I'm gonna pinch myself once I start stopping. I am literally going to force myself to do this. Most of my resolutions this year are things that I really reaalllyyy want and if I last I will be so happy with myself. So proud.
It's going to be hard work and I'm gonna hate myself on most days, but if at the end of 2014 I'm finished, I'll be so happy. I'll just give myself a pat on the back and be like "Alex. You did it." and it'll be enough to push me through the next year.

Anyways, without further ado here are my new year resolutions.

Be healthy and lose wight
Every girls dream, right? I've been trying to do this for years and it's always been an on and off thing. But as of this moment I am the heaviest I've ever been and I know that I'll feel so much better if I achieve this. And I know I should learn to love me how I am and image isn't everything but it's not just to look good... it's to feel good.

Go off sugar
Oh I know I'm not gonna be perfect at this. I mean, chocolate. But definitely a lot less.

Eat Breakfast
This is definitely something I really struggle with and I know others do too. But I know that I will thank myself if I do this every morning. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

Get a Job
Yeah, remember me? The jobless non-college girl? I need to learn how to support my own weight and it's actually kind of lame that I don't have a job.

Take better care of myself
Another thing I struggle with. The whole wash my face at night and put lotion on every morning and night thing. Stuff like that, that I get really lazy with I'll be also doing.

Read the Book of Mormon
I've done it before, but it's always, always, always a good goal to do continually. Besides I've been slacking lately and it's one of the most important things I need in my life right now.
For all you Mormon's out there, I want you to try and do this as well! You will literally see things in a different light and life will be better even on bad days.
And for all you non Mormon's this is my faith. And the Book of Mormon is basically the core of it.

Take a photography class
I want to get better at my hobby and I think that this is the best way to achieve that. Besides I promised a friend I would take a college class and I think this counts.

Be and inspiration
Another one of my dreams that I've always wanted to do and I don't know how I'm gonna do this, but I'm going to figure it out.

Record and write songs and duets
Music is one of my favorite things and I've always wanted to be a famous singer. I know it's unlikely to happen, but it's no reason to not continue and have fun with it. Look for my arrangements and songs. ;)

Give
I know I need to give more, as does everyone. And it's something I really want to focus on because there's always something you can do.

Be happy
Fake it till you make it, I always say. Seriously, if you're happy people will notice and they will be happy and then everyone will be! People will like to be around you and you'll feel good about yourself. And smile. Like, as much as you can. If you're in a mood smile for 20 seconds and it literally improves your mood. It's my new tactic.

Love 
Love your friends, love your enemies, love your family and most importantly: love yourself.


So there they are, folks.
I don't know if anyone is gonna read this but I hope you enjoy it. And I hope you have a great, great new year full of happiness and good things.

Cheers to 2014!

+--- A

plus one

The last of the (good) Christmas time photos. The lights went out at my grandpa's house so everyone crashed at my place. Those are all the above photos. We baked and decorated cookies for the night.

 

Everything below are just kind of from random times. But I thought all of these deserved to be shown. 

happy, jolly and merry

So, basically I'm terrible at blogging during the holidays. I've just been having so much fun with the fam and all. Even though my family has a nasty habit of disagreeing and being unable to communicate well, we still somehow end up having the best time.

After nights of Patsy and Mario Kart both a tradition around the holidays we would laugh all night over things we found on pinterest.
Also, as usual we watched the Polar Express on Christmas Eve and made reindeer food and set out cookies and milk for santa. And then did our Karaoke session after the littles went to bed.

Traditions are so reassuring that some things will never change. That's a good feeling.

And of course Christmas. It was well... Christmas. Y'know, happy, jolly and merry.
I have 19 Christmas's to compare it to, but I'd have to say this was the best one yet. And not just because I got a laptop from santa! Am I writing this blog post on my new laptop? Yes, yes I am. 

But really, I was so fooled. I seriously thought all I was getting for Christmas was some books and maybe a cd. When I first unwrapped the laptop I was so confused. I though maybe santa had put something else in a laptop box. But then I looked up and saw my mother filming me for my reaction and I knew right then that it was indeed a laptop.

Over all a great weekend, but it's not over yet! I'll be posting more pictures soon, because I took so many I thought I would spread them out. But these are the really Christmasy ones.

Cheers!

+--- A

so sorry

It's been nine days since my last blogpost and for that I can explain. Few things... First, my internet was down for a few days. Nothing would load and it was sooo slow if it even did. Next, I got sick with the stomach flu (ha, tmi) and overall I've just been busy. It is the Christmas season after all!
Annddd, I turned 19! This is my golden year, because I tuned 19 on the 19th! So all I'm gonna say is, this better be a great year.

So, I won't be on as often, but they'll be a crowd full of pictures after Christmas. :)

Happy Holidays!

+--- A

baby, it's cold outside

The weather outside was indeed frightful as I took all these gorgeous photos of my absolutely beautiful cousin. Literally, I was wearing black but it looked like I was wearing white. But it was worth it, because if anyone deserves pictures to be taken of them, it's her. :)

+--- A

stay tuned

So, over here in utah it snowed six inches in one day! So naturally, I took advantage of the situation and grabbed my nifty camera, my pretty red-headed cousin, a warm jacket and pictured it up. I'll put more of the shoot, but here's a sneak peak!

+--- A

vegas in about 7 inches

Mario Kart tournaments, Catching Fire round two, Frozen, Literally my favorite movie at the moment patsy, thanksgiving dinner, thanksgiving leftovers, traditions, Christmas music, black friday and family. 

+--- A

december's eve

So this year, after being kind of a loner and boring, I decided I would support my Christmas and my birthday by doing something every day of December, all leading up to Christmas Eve. Because, as we all know, it's the most wonderful time of the year!
I spent long, sleepless night coming up with things so that I could have the best Christmas ever. And boy, it's gonna be.
I've officially called it "25 Days of Christmas" (Not like the abc family's 25 Days of Christmas, but better)

25 Days of Christmas
in no particular  order

1. Attend a choir christmas concert
Local highschools everywhere will be doing this!
2. Photo shoot in the snow
Because pictures are memories.
3. Make a birthday cake to Jesus
Put a little more Christ in Christmas, but in a fun way. 
4. Put on a production of the Nativity
Best if done with your family, you could make a movie or do it live.
5. See the "Forgotten Christmas Carols"
I think this is one of my favorite Christmas stories. And the music is absolutely fantastic.
6. Make neighbor gifts
Give, give, give!
7. Make christmas cookies
Sugar cookies, sprits, and gingersnaps! I'll be putting up the recipes.  
8. Christmas light scavenger hunt
Drive around with friends or family. I'll be doing this Christmas Eve!
9. Decorate for Christmas around our house
Every family's tradition, I think. I'll be putting up nativities and Christmas trees and lights and making it smell good!
10. Attend or host a White Elephant party with friends
I'm co-hosting the white elephant party this year. I'll be putting up ideas for gifts!
11. String popcorn for Christmas tree
I've always wanted to do this I'll put up my "trying" to do this craft.
12. Go ice skating
My favorite christmas activity!
13. Dollar Store Christmas gift exchange with friends or family
Basically, get a group of people and put names in a hat. Pick a name and then spend one dollar on them. Exchange on Christmas morning!
14. Attend a Christmas dance concert
Again, high schools or colleges everywhere will be performing these. 
15. Make a pinecone bird feeder
I've always wanted to do this too. I'll blog my experience so maybe you can try.
16. Donate old toys
It's such a good thing to give during Christmas time!
17, Make a fort by the Christmas tree and spend a night there
I'll be doing this with one of my best friends. We'll cuddle up under blankets and watch Christmas movies!
18. Snow day!
Build a snowman, go sledding, make an igloo and have a snowball fight!
19. Visit Temple Square and look at the lights
I live in Utah, so it's an attraction of my state. So maybe just a Christmas attraction around where you live.
20. Make paper snowflakes and decorate with them
I'm a lean, mean, snowflake making machine.
21. Family game night
Spend a whole night with your family playing games you've never played before and singing Christmas song!
22. Make a gingerbread house
One of my favorite traditions!
23. Dip pretzels in chocolate or make fudge
Everyone gains weight over Christmas Break. ;) But that's why New Years is close by, right?
24. Any Christmas Eve traditions you do every year
Whatever you and your family do on Christmas Eve! Traditions are what keep Christmas going! 
25. Open Presents
Open them like nobody's business! Take lots of pictures.


So, hopefully you can take all or some of these ideas and do them yourself so you can enhance your Christmas experience! You can do this with others, by yourself, or both!
Please make your December experience the best you can! Because that's what I'm hoping for!

Cheers!

+--- A