good flic

I really liked this flic I saw the other day. It's called Midnight in Paris, an independent film made by Woody Allen. It was really cute, and entertaining. I would definitely recommend it! Check out the Trailer!

BBQin' "Bessie"

My parents took it upon themselves to buy a COW while I was on my mission. I didn't quite know how to react to that at first. My mom is very health conscious and didn't like the thought of eating beef that had been injected with steroids etc. The cow's name was Bessie. Creative right? We also had a parakeet growing up named Birdy. We never ate that parakeet, but it just shows our style in naming animals I guess. Anyways, they tried to keep their distance from Bessie, and not treat it as if it was going to eventually be slaughtered, and end up on their plates. A few weeks ago, Bessie was slaughtered, and now they have months supply of their own fresh meat. The cow was treated with tender loving care, and fed only the best grains. Trust me, my parents spoiled that thing more than their youngest child! (oh wait...that's me...) Since there was a special occasion of Pioneer day on Monday, I felt it was appropriate to "indulge" with some nice steaks. Eric and I headed up Provo canyon and had ourselves a nice little BBQ. Let me just say that the steak was phenomenal! Mamma mia. I don't even remember the last time I ate steak, but I never remember it tasting that good. I would eat it every day if it tasted like that.

The man who knows all the tricks of the trade. A real man. 

 Although it appears I ate some sort of "mad cow"beef by my googly eyes, I assure you it was free of disease! 

 chilling our Ginger Beer in the river

 Way to go Bessie!

Protecting Bessie from the rain (don't you love how I still refer to the steaks as Bessie? yea, me too. You can just hardly ever do that!!!)  

As far as my knowledge of meat, here are my ratings.
Tenderness: 10
Flavor: 10

There are probably other categories that I should included here...sorry I'm not more carniverous than I actually am...

I love BBQ's in the summertime. There is nothing better.Eventhough it rained on us, it was still fantastic!

Of course we had to do mallows upon my request :)

I'm no meat expert, but it made me want to "have a cow" of my own (ps I said that the other night as I was eating my steak, and I got made fun of haha). Just to have that gaurunteed freshness would be worth having to go through the detatchment of a beloved pet! Nothing else tasted good that night. The couscous was average after a bite fo Bessie. All of my thoughts I had a few months ago about taking steps towards vegetarianism went out the window. It was the perfect BBQ! Happy Pioneer day!

"I love boobies" bracelet

Have you ever seen one of these? 

Yea that's right, it's a bracelet, that says "I love boobies." Kinda like those ones we wore when we were little, that said "W.W.J.D" "What would Jesus do?"

"WWJD": appropriate for hospital employees.

"LIVESTRONG": appropriate for hospital employees. 

"I love boobies" NOT appropriate for hospital employees. 

Well when I did this to my leg on Saturday playing soccer, I had to go to the Insta-care at the Provo Hospital to make sure it wasn't infected. I was comfortably getting my vitals taken by a male nurse, when all of a sudden I glanced down and saw a bracelet saying "I [heart] boobies" on it. All of a sudden I felt totally weird that a man who publicly expressed his love for the female anatomy, so boldly as to wear a bracelet, was taking my blood pressure, and my temperature. I'm sure those stats that he took were way off! I think any woman in my position would have felt similar, if she weren't aware of the real purpose of the bracelets.

That same afternoon, I was telling someone about what had happened (how awkward I felt etc..). My room-mates 17 year old brother from Austin Texas told me that at his school, several kids had been suspended for wearing the bracelets, but that that the bracelets are actually a campaign to raise awareness for Breast Cancer. Well that made more sense! Kinda...The "I love boobies" bracelet is the breast cancer awareness campaign from the Keep-A-Breast Foundation, a non-profit group based out of Carlsbad, Calif. that wanted to increase breast cancer awareness among teens. These rubber bracelets retail for $3.99 and come in different colors with the words "I love boobies (Keep a Breast)" imprinted on them. OK, so here's my deal. I'm all for raising awareness for breast cancer, but I also believe it can be done tastefully. 

After doing a little talking and researching, I came to see that I wasn't the only one who found this a strange/inappropriate way to "raise awareness." In TONS of schools they have been coming up with specific regulations AGAINST the bracelets, saying they are derogatory and inappropriate to be worn at school. I think if I were a mom involved in P.T.O. at my kids High school/Middle school (which I totally WILL be..) I would step forward too! Not too be abnormally conservative would I do this, but simply to keep a certain level of class, in the way we get kids talking about serious issues, like Breast Cancer.

I thought this was interesting. I found a statement from the Keep-A-Breast foundation. Check it out: 

Keep-A-Breast, says that their campaign "develops a new approach and positive style of communication about breast cancer.

"The campaign is meant to encourage young people to target their breast health.

"The T-shirts and bracelets act as an awareness-raising tool, allowing young people to engage and start talking about a subject that is scary and taboo and making it positive and upbeat."

However, the group does also realize that the "I (heart) boobies" slogan might not be everyone's cup of tea.

"We fully understand that the "I (heart) boobies" campaign is not for everyone," the statement continues, "which is why we provide several other graphics for people to proudly wear, including ones that read Check Your Self, Art Education Awareness Action, Non Toxic Revolution and LOVE.

"Although some people might find the "I (heart) boobies" campaign offensive, many others find it refreshing in a sea of pink ribbons to see people taking a positive approach.

"Boobies is not a four-letter word."


I think I probably missed this whole controversy when I was in Italy last year, so if this is old news to everyone, sorry. But what are your guys feelings on the these bracelets? I'm interested to hear what others have to think about it. Am I weird to think that a male medical "professional" examining my body should be prohibited to wear an "I love boobies" bracelet?? Call me crazy, but to me that seems a bit UN-professional. 

what the NY times said here.

For some STRANGE reason,  I find the pink ribbon slightly more respectful and refined...

I love/miss ROMA!!!!

 Right now I am currently procrastinating. I should be studying for a test that I have to take for my English Language class. Instead, I am reminiscing on how much I loved serving in ROME. I am remembering how incredible that place is. I love everything about it. In the mean time, here are a few pics I came across while procrastinating :)  Ohhhh I miss it so much. 

 buying ties

 We got to see Beauty and the Beast! 

Oh it is so beautiful and amazing everywhere you turn!

 The Pantheon

My absolute FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD...Blue Ice. (with my favorite elders in the world .rapplye and garcia. )

 Trevi fountain of course. 

 I want to go back and live in Rome at some point in my life.

Michelangelo's work...

 It doesn't look real does it? This is life a ROMA. 

Colloseo

Just a few stops away from our apt.

 Roman Forum

 makin' paperrr

 Piazza Spagna. one of my favorite metro stops to prostelyte...

 St. Peter's Basilica

 Vatican City. IN-CREDIBLE. seriously though.

what's up Elders? 

Oh what I would give to be there right now...

 By night. 

The day my life changed forever.

Saturday I was driving up to Ogden with a friend, to go to my cousin's wedding reception. I-15 being the route of choice, we were cruising at about 72 mph when suddenly my friend glances ahead and to the right of us. This is the moment when my life changed forever. I feel that fewer words are better, and I will just allow these series of photos to speak for themselves. Thank you motorcycle man, for ensuring your dog was securely strapped to the fast-moving bike, AND was properly equipped with tinted goggles! PS. is this even legal?

 I included these separately because you can see them better. I feel like I could sell these to Jay Leno or something and make some paperrrr...? What do you guys think? 

my "work"

I have a great job!!! At the beginning of the summer I took a job as a nanny, and it has been the most awesome job I've ever had! I absolutely adore these kids!! They are so good! I would be so happy if I had kids as great as them! Someone I met once told me how we have a lot to learn from kids...
 1.) THEY LOVE EVERYONE
 2.) THEY FORGIVE EVERYONE
It's so true! We can learn so much from these little guys... I can't wait to be a mom. What a cool thing that will be!

Ahhh they are all just the cutest little things ever!! 

Me and Saavy 

I think if Saavy were like 20 years older we would hang out and be good friends ;) For real though haha

best line: 

"Eyyyyy! No FAUHHHH (fair)!  You got in head (ahead) of me!" 

Hahahaha Isn't that just the cutest little voice? She's such a doll!  

Haha she kept saying that and I thought it was so cute ;) 

Playing Candyland...I might ask for it for my birthday, I forgot how awesome it is!!

2 movies. 2 peliculas. 2 film.

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY SEEING : Super 8
I hardly ever go pay full-price to see a movie, but I happened to be with a group who went to see this movie, and I was disappointed!  It was terrible! I don't understand how movies like this make it to the big screen!!

 PLEASE DO ALL YOU CAN DO TO SEE LA VITA E' BELLA (aka Life is Beautiful)
This is an Italian film I have been dying to see ever since I got back from my mission in Italy. It is AMAZING. (There are English sub-titles don't worry). I just fell in love with the little boy in this film. He is a doll! This movie is great!

Sparkler Extravaganza

I really splurged this year and bought 3$ worth of fireworks. I provided for the most memorable event for the friends and neighbors. We went up to Thanksgiving point and watched the fireworks in all of the Valley. We were distracted by the Toilet paper drag app. and decided the fireworks weren't that great, if we were getting distracted by such a game. We came to the conclusion that "good fireworks" have to be short, and without delays...The finale has to be huge, and can't ever leave you wondering "was that the finale?" In conclusion, we had a good time watching the fireworks in Utah Valley, but MORE fun, competing in pulling TP off the roll. Speaking of T.P. I was the party crasher who mistakenly ate watermelon all day and had to go to the bathroom sooooo bad after we had been at the fireworks for about an hour. Looking out at the freeway entrance and the solid like 10 miles of stagnant traffic, it called for drastic measures...For the first time in my life, I asked a random persona who was outside on their driveway doing fireworks, if I could use their bathroom. HA! No shame, they didn't mind at all in fact. Mission complete! The highlight of the night had to be one of my friends telling me that some new kid who moved in and was in charge at the BBQ, accidentally marinated the chicken in lighter fluid!  SMARRRT! He was also the sucker who was too nice to say anything until he'd already eaten half of it. Happy fourth of July my friends! Here is a nice little taste of my contribution to the evening...COLORED sparklers!  I came away without a trip to the hospital, just a minor burn on my baby toe...

HAPPY 4th OF JULY 2011!!!!!!!