Welcome to my blog

I don't update this thing. I wish I did cause I think about a lot of things. Hence the title "this is what I think."

If you are reading this now because you clicked on the link from Erin's blog, you win. Thank you Erin for the free advertisement.

Let's talk about the unexpected life. I am reading this book right now:

It is the best thing a single woman can read. The white lettering you see just under the lawn chair says, "The unexpected life is no less a life." For reals Kristen. Fo reals. In this book she writes about her experiences living as a single and successful woman until just before the age of 53 when she married Apostle Dallin H. Oaks of the LDS church.


I never planned to be living in the situation that I am right now. If someone had told me when I was 18 that I would be almost 26, graduated from college, single, and working in retail barely over minimum wage, I probably would have been devastated. But guess what? It's not devastating. It's just different than what I was expecting. My job is only temporary while I find a full-time position. My singleness is only temporary. My almost 26-ness is also only temporary.

In an article found in RELEVANT Magazine, Shauna Niequist writes about things everyone should know at 25(ish). Since I am currently undergoing an intensive job hunt the section where she talks about finding an occupation soothed my anxiety. She wrote, "Now is the time to figure out what kind of work you love to do. What are you good at? What makes you feel alive? What do you dream about? You can go back to school now, switch directions entirely. You can work for almost nothing, or live in another country or volunteer long hours for something that moves you. There will be a time when finances and schedules make this a little trickier, so do it now. Try it, apply for it, get up and do it." Booya. It has been so frustrating not knowing for sure what job I want and it's nice to know that I don't need to know right this second. She mentions later in the dating portion of her article that time is on our side. It really is! At 25 no one should feel like they need to rush into anything. The beauty of being 25 is that you have so many years ahead of you. There is no hurry to find that one occupation that you will be doing for the rest of your life. Try a few. Figure out what you really like and/or don't like. In the previously mentioned book by Kristen Oaks, she writes, "Nothing is more perplexing than not knowing what to do with your future, and nothing is more personally rewarding than discovering your own abilities. Read your patriarchal blessing, consider your natural aptitudes and talents and go forward. Take the first step, and doors will open."

So, as I mentioned earlier. I am most definitely living an unexpected life. As I think most people live as well. There are those who live the exact, or close to it, life they anticipate(d). I used to wish I was one of those, but I don't anymore. As I was reading Sister Oaks' book last night I realized that I can choose to sit around waiting for my personal expectations to be met (including a lot of expectations over which I have little to no control over). Or, I can do a little rearranging and adapt to what life has given me and turn the unexpected into something amazing and wonderful. I choose the latter my friends.

Yo Yo Yo!

People. Teach me about applique. I went to some yard sales on Saturday and I got some amazing deals. One of which is a white, queen-sized duvet cover that I purchased for $2. Yes. It was such a steal! It has like two small stains on it so I decided to make a project out of it and do an applique design on it. Cute right? But I need help because I consider myself to be craftally-challenged. What are some ideas that you have? Do you know some good blogs or websites that can point me in the right direction? Teach me.

Pho Sho!

There is a new Pho place in town. When you look it up online it is called the Pho King. Don't say it out loud. I know you just did. Sinner.

It's actually called something like Rice Noodle King Pho Take-Out or something normal like that. Anway, it's delicious. I saw it as I drove down Center Street yesterday and did I go there for dinner? Yes. I. Did.

I ordered the Pho #4 which is regular pho with beef strips. Every time I have gotten pho they serve it with the noodles, broth, and meat in a bowl and all the other ingredients are added by the consumer. This place was different though because they served EVERYTHING separate. Broth, meat, noodles, jalapeños, bean sprouts, lime, sauces, basil leaves, and onions. The thing about pho is that the meat is not cooked until you put it in the steaming broth. So yes, the meat came raw! For any of you who know me, you know that I hate raw meat. Touching it, looking at it, smelling it. EW! However, this meat was thinly sliced and bright pink and it looked really appetizing actually. That is good sign #1. I put the meat in first a little skeptical about it actually getting cooked. I dropped them in there and a few minutes later I poked one with a fork and it was brown and cooked and tasted awesome!

The pho itself was very good. The restaurant was really clean and the servers were nice. When I walked it this is how I was greeted:

little vietnamese lady (LVL), "you want take-out?" - insert thick accent
me, "um . . ."
LVL, "you want take-out? To go?"
me, "uh, yeah . . ."
LVL, "ok sit here and I will bring you a menu and you tell me when you are ready."

So, I guess I wanted take-out. I had actually planned to eat it there because it is more fun to eat it at the place you know? I think they were going to close soon so, whatevs.

If anyone wants to join me for a bowl of spicy and delectable pho noodle soup I am game.

225 W Center St.
Provo

Schmetterling

I have a new goal. I actually really like playing the piano. And let me tell you my friends that it is high time for a new repertoire because I am getting pretty sick of playing the SAME stuff I have been playing for 7 years. For real. So, my new goal is to learn a beautiful song. This is the one I have chosen. It is called Schmetterling which means Butterfly in German. I looked it up on youtube and found out that many a composer has written their own piece called Schmetterling, but the one I chose is by Gustav Merkel. Have a little listen to this song. The one played here is the only one I could find on youtube that didn't have mistakes, but this one is a little too fast for my taste.. Most people I've heard play it slow because there are so many accidentals that it's hard to play fast, but I want to play it "allegretto" as it says on the music. So, without further ado, here it is: