Monday Links!

Today, I am just feeling like there is so much good in the world I just have to share it!


*You should totally read this talk. It is full of great quotes and beautiful doctrines. It made my morning!
*This song got me through last week.
*This song will probably get me through this week. 
*Or maybe this one. (When you work 4 nights a week and only really have weekends to see your fiancé and do wedding stuff, you need some help getting through the week.)
*We are sending out wedding announcements this week! :D
*I bought $5 hot pink tennis shoes from here, and they just might be my favorite shoes. Ever.
*Only this long until I finally get to marry my best friend. (It seems so close, and yet so far)
*We bought one of these yesterday and now our apartment is finally starting to feel like a home!
*I really, really want some of these.
*This website has the reasons why I get each morning and why my life is filled with such joy. 


Have a wonderful week everyone!

Christmastime is here! Happiness and Cheer!

Image found here.

Well, in case you didn't know, being engaged is CRAZY! Especially in the midst of finals and the death of another semester. It's been just a little difficult to focus. I'm just glad I'm getting married in February so I won't have to be this distracted during next semester's finals as well!


I've been a little anxious about getting everything figured out in such a short amount of time, but God has been so merciful and helped so much fall into place. Last Tuesday we found a place to live in a great ward that one of my good friends happens to live in. Thursday we found out that Brandon's contract was sold by the housing office, so he won't have to pay rent for an apartment he's not living in. Saturday we were able to get a nice mattress and bed frame for under $600, and Brandon's mom informed us that she has connections with florists, decorators, caterers, and wedding cake makers, so basically she will take care of a lot of those reception details that have been driving me batty. How very blessed we are! This past week I have truly learned that things will work out however God wants them to. 


And now some links:
*This is the cake we are ordering. With funfetti inside. Ohhh yeah :)
*Just discovered this website today and am loving it!
*My hubby-to-be has me on a Jack Johnson kick, and I'm really loving these three songs. 
*I just love this post. And pretty much every post on their website.
*This describes how I feel about Brandon. And the acoustic version of the song is just lovely!


And now the countdowns:
*1 1/2 days until I am done with the semester and get to see David Archuleta at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert!
*4 days until we get to take the bed out of Brandon's van and move it into our little apartment!
*5 days until the fabulous Moon family Christmas party, complete with small costumed children acting out the nativity!
*6 days until I'll be home with my fam-bam for Christmas!
*11 days until Christmas!
*65 days until I become a wife! 


And...

Image found here.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Monday Links

Here are some fun links to look over while you try to survive the week before that much-anticipated break. Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!


*This post is AMAZING and so full of hope. We can do hard things. 
*Great mustache template on a bridal website. Not sure why you'd need mustaches for a wedding, but I'm all over it!
*Went to see this over the weekend. Absolutely incredible. Brought me to tears. If you're in town anytime over the next 6 months, you better go. 
*This song is beautiful in both its musicality and lyrics,
*Elder Scott is so rad.
*I love this video about Christmas. Plus, my choir is singing the song they play in the background - and it's gorgeous. 
*These two articles from Segullah brought some tenderness to my morning. 
*This cheesecake recipe is so good!
*One more reason why I love BYU.
*Need a laugh? Start reading this blog.
*My little sister turns 18 today. Happy birthday, sweet girl! You are amazing and I am blessed to be your sister. I love you. 

Some things just never change.

Just a couple thoughts.

You know you have incredible roommates when you come home to a sink literally overflowing with dishes that have been your responsibility to wash for the past two days, and while you've been caught in the midst of the midterm whirlwind those roommates have not breathed a word of complaint. Oh, how I love them!


Discovered this song today. So good.  

Today I saw a girl wearing a fake beard in the library. She said she was going to wear it to the testing center and see if they let her in. Brilliant!

I went to the Faculty Choreography Showcase tonight and was blown away. One of my favorites was a piece called "Portraits" featuring quotes and paintings from Van Gogh, Picasso, and Andy Warhol. It was amazing to see how the choreography blended so perfectly with the artwork and the message the artists were trying to send.


Another gorgeous piece was "Thought of You," a collaboration between an animator and a choreographer. This video only shows a few seconds of it, but it was just beautiful. And it made me cry.

Thought of you - 13 second clip from Ryan Woodward on Vimeo.

I love walking home from school. Since my usual staircase of doom is closed for repairs, I get to take a detour through a little grove of trees down by the duck pond that is just magical this time of year. It's not too hot, not too cold, and a perfect time to wear sweaters. And I sure love sweaters. 


I saw the most adorable little boy today on campus with his mom. I can't wait to be a mom and chase around a cute little toddler like him. Sometimes my heart longs for it so badly that I have to remind myself that I'm only 20 years old, and that I'm right where God wants me to be; but I look forward to that time when I'll have more opportunities to nurture and serve.


Do you ever have those days when you look in the mirror and you think, "Oh man, somehow I look cute today!" I got lucky enough to have one of those today. I'm glad to be me.

Over the weekend...

I made this video! We're having a Relief Society Activity in a couple weeks where we're going to discuss images of Christ and talk about our favorite ones. This slideshow is going to be the basis of that. (So if you're in my Relief Society, don't watch it yet! just kidding :] )

I love my Savior. 

PS- Reading this made my Monday a lot less lame. If you're feeling discouraged with the stormy weather and your pile of homework, turn to Elder Holland's words for some encouragement. You won't regret it :]

This weekend, I discovered...

*The Lower Lights are wonderful! (listen to their music here)

*Sammy's key lime cupcakes shakes are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay good!

*God loves us beyond our comprehension (Thanks Elder Holland, or as my mom calls him, "yo BFF Jeffrey)

*Elder Uchtdorf will ALWAYS use an aviation metaphor 

*President Packer is not afraid to tell it like it is. I LOVE that!

*I have incredible friends

*If you make a sign that says "Are you going to conference?" and hold it up as you drive past people on the I-15, you can have a ton of fun. And sometimes they will make signs to show to you, too. 

*My parents have given me what matters most. I love you, Mom and Dad.
*Sometimes when you think you are failing, you are actually answering somebody's prayer.
*BYU Women's Services has posted more info on the Body Image Challenge here.

*My next post will be my 200th! What an accomplishment!

*Fall in Utah never fails to be absolutely, undeniably lovely. 

And life is beautiful. 

It's All About Your Heart.

Image found here. 

Have you listened to Mindy Gledhill's awesome new album? I love it. I can't get enough of it. The best song  is "All About Your Heart," written for the amazing Stephanie Neilsen. If you haven't heard her story, click here. If you haven't read her splendidly candid blog, click here. 

Whenever I feel like overwhelmed and inadequate, I close my eyes, turn on that song, and let the Spirit seep into my heart. It's like a love letter from my Heavenly Father to me. Every time I listen to it, the Spirit confirms that this is just how God feels about me, and all of His children.  


Oh, I've loved you from the start
In every single way
And more each passing day
You are brighter than the stars
Believe me when I say
It's not about your scars
It's all about your heart


I know that I am imperfect. I know that I mess up. But the Lord doesn't mind that so much. "It's not about your past and your scars," He says. "It's all about your heart." He knows that my intentions are good and that my heart longs to do what is right, even if my hands can't seem to make that happen. I am special to Him. I am His daughter. He has created me with unique gifts and a special mission in this life. He loves me perfectly, and no matter what happens, I know He always will. 


I wish I had the words to express how very grateful I am for that beautiful knowledge!


(PS- Mindy Gledhill is performing at a free concert this Friday, if you're in Utah Valley and want to go. Click here!)

Favorites from the Weekend

*Elementary school style Truth or Dare with my roommates at 1 am ("Have you ever fallen out of bed? gasp!" and "What's the lamest outfit you've ever worn?" "Well, this Justin Bieber T-shirt might be it!")

*Sammy's pie shakes

*Haiku on the roof of Sammy's

(Pie shakes on the roof. Good friends and conversation. Ahhh, this is the life.)

*Running through sprinklers

*Working with my favorite people and making them laugh

*Battle of the Pseudo-bands (we played "Livin' on a Prayer")

*Continuation of Haiku week (including this double haiku, inspired by Brandon's 7 year old niece Adri)

*Catwoman photoshoot sighting in downtown Provo (yeah, I know.)

*Dr. Horrible's sing along blog (when the sketchy parts are muted)

*Potter Puppet Pals

*This song (especially this cover by an adorable English duo!)  

*This amazing kid

*Testimony meeting that was 20 minutes too long

*Cafe Rio style break the fast

*Singing at a rest home with friends from the ward

*Getting NINE sunshine notes!

*An awesome sunset

*Playing pass the pigs with my haiku crew

*Barely doing any homework :]

What did you enjoy about your weekend?

Monday Links

Hello all,


I hope these make your Monday a little less grey and a little more colorful!

*This made me laugh so hard! Especially the operatic rapping...

*I just read this book and loved it! There is so much wisdom in there. And you can get yourself a copy for 1 cent on Amazon. 

*This is my new favorite blog.

*I just bought this and love it.

*This poem is breathtaking.

*And so is this one. 

*I want this really badly.

*Wise words.

*We saw them in the park on July 3rd, and they were fabulous!

*Thanks to this, my voicemail message has taken a Swan Dive for the better. 

*If I didn't already love the BYU Men's Chorus, this would win me over in no time.

*This essay is beautifully thought-provoking.

*This is my favorite song at the moment.

*And this one too.

*And this as well.

*Check this out. I think it's pretty great :]

*I love the summer.

Have a wonderful, beautiful, fabulous week!

I love...

*Springtime in San Diego

*Laughs with my siblings

*Watching my brother's group practice their dance to this song in the school play

*Sunshine and warm breezes

*Practicing this song and this song for the sign language performance (I promise to post videos of our performances, it will be epic!)

*Walking with this cute little boy in the mornings

*This video

*This talk

*Reading the scriptures

*Skyping my far away friends

*Being home

What are you loving about spring?

What a beautiful Monday!

Taken on my trip to the Provo temple Friday the 9th

Since finals are coming up, I haven't had much time to write a real post. I hope you enjoy these Monday links and a little tidbit of what is going on in my mind. I promise there is more meaty stuff coming soon :]

*10 days from now, I will be flying home. I'm not sure how I am going to get everything done in that short amount of time, but it will work out somehow!
*I watched this movie a couple weeks ago. It is intense, but so good. And in German :]

*This is my new favorite music video. So ridiculous!
*I absolutely love this building.
*I think I need to make this. I love barrettes and my collections needs an update.
*This made me cry. In the computer lab. It's beautiful.
*This is my favorite song at the moment.
*Love this post.
*Tomorrow evening is my choir concert in the beautiful Provo Tabernacle! I love singing praises to God in that beautiful building!

*Love this post from Brother Bott!
*This made me think.
*This weekend my friend went hiking and found a mini hot air balloon. We had a lot of fun playing with it, and fortunately did not burn down any buildings. Hooray!
*This dance is incredibly beautiful, and their comments afterwords made me teary-eyed.
*As mentioned before I went to the temple with my best friend. As always, it was a beautiful experience. I get to be roommates with that beautiful girl come fall, and it is going to be so great. She brings out the best in me and "because I knew her, I have been changed for good." I love you Courts!

Have a wonderful Monday everyone, and enjoy the wonders of spring!

Good Reading for a Spring Day

Taken March 2007

Happy Monday everyone! It is a beautiful sunny day and it is fun to see spring popping up all around! I've encountered a lot of powerful blog posts this past week, and thought I would focus my Monday Links on that. I hope you find this reading as uplifting as I have!

*This is one of my favorite posts about trials EVER. Read it. It will change your viewpoint on comforting forever.

*This made me laugh so hard!

*These two poems are so beautiful. Please read them.

*Watched this over the weekend and loved it!

*Did you know that BYU Independent Study offers free courses? They have gardening, religion, bowling, and even dating. I think I'll take one over the summer. How great is that?!

*My dear friend posted this yesterday. It is fabulous!

*This post is so cute!

*If I was a penguin, I would want to live here.

*My best friend is serving his mission in Ukraine, and in his weekly email he wrote, "Ukrainian church activities are a lot like Power Ranger Episodes...They always follow the same format and out line but with slightly different characters to mix things up. Americans have their pot lucks with Primary Kids singing and Ukrainians have something that more resembles an extended roadshow. There is some sort of loose plot that ties together a variety of performances and games and them cookies and juice for dessert." Of all the metaphors in the world, he used Power Rangers. But it made my day!

*This is a great talk too.

*Going to this on Friday! One of my work friends is in the choir and got us discount tickets. It's gonna be awesome!

*I kinda want to live here. But only for like 2 days.

*Yesterday my little brother was learning about Moses parting the Red Sea in Primary. When they showed a picture of the event, he quipped, "Looks like the blue sea to me." What would we do without him?

*Tomorrow my choir is singing a GORGEOUS arrangement of "O Say, What is Truth" at the BYU Devotional! You can watch it at 11 am MST here.

And if you need a laugh...watch this!

Monday Links Return!

I loved doing Monday links so much that I brought it back this week. Who knows, this may end up becoming a tradition!

*I love this idea
*This observation from a fellow art history friend made me laugh.
*This movie is so precious.

*This is apparently a real German Children's show. My mom sent me the video and now my family and German class are all hooked. We can't stop saying, "Toll, toll, super toll!" (Translation: cool, cool, super cool!

*I want to do this someday
*Finding this was one of the best parts of the week!
*Here you can also sign up to get an LDS quote sent to your inbox every day.
*9 years ago today a most incredible person was born. I look up to my brother in many ways (but obviously not physically). He is talented, insightful, smart, funny and quite the dancer (just watch this!) but I mostly admire him for his faith and kindness. When he is treated unkindly, he brushes it off and continues to love and forgive. That is something I struggle with, and I hope to become as loving as he is. James has brought so much laughter and sunshine into our lives; I don't know how we ever got along without him. He has made our family complete.

Happy birthday Sasquatch! I am proud to be your big sister.

Monday Links!

Taken March 2006

A blog that I follow has a tradition of posting links to lovely things each Monday. I don't know if I would have enough links to post every week, but I have some wonderful ones I wanted to post today.

*This post is amazing and was just what I needed to get through yesterday.
*I love this photographer and want to buy his prints when I have a real house to hang them in.
*She is my favorite singer right now. Her CD "Grace" is incredible!
*This talk is amazing and helped me have more courage to reach out and help others.
*This recipe looks like the perfect way to cure my chocolate addiction. I sure hope so!
*This website is my favorite EVER. I read it every day without fail.
*This book looks like its gonna be awesome.
*This woman is absolutely amazing. What a beautiful story!
*This makes me laugh.
*These guys in my ward make me laugh even harder.
*I am going to this on Thursday.
*I am going to this on Friday.

Life is good.