I Must be Close to Starting my Period!

I stumbled upon this video on the internet and I laughed out loud at a couple of parts....and then somehow there were tears streaming down my face. Wha?!

I'm Addicted

By the way...I am so addicted to these and I'm pretty sure that if you haven't tried them yet, you should! They're from Trader Joe's and they're totally my new candy. Love them! Get them.

Fun Stuff

I had a really fun weekend. It was pretty chill and I mostly worked, but it was still a lot of fun. I didn't work on Friday so I just did a few things I needed to, my friend Missy went through the temple in Las Vegas (which I'm so happy for her!), and then I went with my cute roomie to get her wedding dress fitted. Her dress is gorgeous and it was a lot of fun. The girl she bought it from runs the shop out of her house and is so nice and so cute. She and the tailoring lady thought Audrey and I had been friends for years and were surprised that we've only lived together and know each other for a couple short months. It's probably because Audrey is so sweet and welcoming, and we're both so friendly. I'm soooo glad I got to come to Portland and live with her. We get along great and I think it's been really great for both of us to be in each other's company. So, after the fitting we ordered pizza and watched Zoolander, and then made yummy, yummy pizookies when her fiance, Tolman, got off work and came over. Delicious!



I had to work all day Saturday, but I really enjoy my job so it made for a good day. I only felt bad that I had to work all day because Audrey was home all day painting and trying to get the house ready for Tolman to move in. Don't worry, I have a list of stuff to do on Tuesday! I'm getting more and more bummed out to leave my job because I love it so much! I love the people I work with and I love the particular store I am in. It's a pretty big store and we have a lot of traffic, so it's usually pretty steady. I love it! I'm seriously dreading the day I have to tell them that I'm leaving. Sadness. :(

Well, on a better note...Megan is coming to visit me in just a few days and I can't wait! It's actually supposed to rain the entire time she will be here, which is a total bust because it's been so nice for the past 4 weeks. Oh well, we'll figure out some fun stuff to do anyway. AND THEN...in 20 short days I will be home sweet home! I only have 2 more Sundays here, which is totally crazy. I can't believe how fast the time has gone by here and I'll be honest, I'm starting to get sad to leave. I like it here....just not enough to want to stay yet. Anyway...that's all for now. I'm going to a game night with some friends in the ward. That's right!

Counting my Blessings...

I cheated and went on walk by myself yesterday afternoon to take these pics. It was slightly raining and dark on our morning walk this morning. Also...it's quite early for me right now, so forgive me if this post makes less sense and has more spelling errors. My hands and brain aren't quite coordinated yet!

So, here's my question...how can anyone see things this beautiful surrounding them and then deny that there is a God? Baffling. Also, brace yourselves because there are going to be a lot of pictures. Oh, and don't judge me if I don't know all the names of the flowers, or I call them the wrong thing. :)

Hyacinth that is just growing by the side of our house.

The kangaroo paws that are at the edge of our yard.
I have a perfect view of them from my room.

Cherry Blossoms

I just really like the stark complimentary contrast of the lavender house and yellow trees.

These little guys grow by the sidewalks like weeds.

We love walking past this corner. It's a mama and daddy daffodil and all their babies!

I don't know what these are and there are a few varieties of them, but they are so cool looking.

Different varieties of daffodils.

Hypericum

No idea what these are, but they are dangly and slightly hard like a wax flower. They're like little bells.

Also no idea what these are, but they remind me of little trumpets.

I'm pretty sure these are rhododendron bushes and there are many varieties.
They could also be camellia. I don't know.
Anyway, every time we see them Audrey sings "We're painting the roses red."

I forget what these are called too, but they look like little stars. Christy just told me they're paper whites.

Magnolia tree...as in Steel Magnolias ;)

Another crazy green flower that I don't know the name of but I think is really interesting. I love the different textures of it.

Anyway, that's just a little sneaky peak at what's blossomed in my neighborhood so far. After the walk this morning it looks like some really pretty rose bushes are budding, so I will have to get some pics of those when they pop too. Also, the hydrangea bushes in our backyard are starting to bud.

What to Do, What to Do?

I'm a total slacker and haven't gone walking with Audrey at all this week. We just cannot get used to the fact that it's dark outside now, which also stinks because I haven't taken my cute neighborhood pictures yet. Tomorrow morning...I promise!! There are some really beautiful trees that must be captured! Also, I am enjoying my job so much right now. I seriously love it, and it has crossed my mind a time or two that I think I could stay in Portland now and be happy. It took me a while to come to this conclusion, but my Manager asked me the other day if I've ever been interested in management - yes, I have! Also, I realized that I needed to change my attitude about being here for a short time and making friends. So, I've been getting more involved in the ward and am making more friends and it's been a lot of fun. It all comes down to attitude and I definitely needed a change in mine. Soooo....tomorrow there will be fun pictures of Spring. I plomise!

Not Much New...

I haven't posted for quite a few days, so I figured I'd better fill everyone in on the latest, which isn't much, unfortunately. First of all, I have to say that I have a fantastic roommate and we have been having a lot of fun lately. We have been doing a lot of wedding stuff for her, but we still find time to be silly and hang out and laugh. She's tons of fun and is nice enough to include me in a lot of things, and even lets me tag along with her and Tolman, her fiance. Seriously though, it's been great! We went out to a fondue party thing with some friends from the ward the other night and it was a blast. I ate so much I wanted to yak - not uncommon for me. I love food!

My job has been going really well, and believe it or not, it's a lot of fun to work at Victoria's Secret. It's great to see all shapes and ages of women come in, get properly fitted for a bra, and leave happy. I mean, honestly, who doesn't feel better about themselves when they have a great, comfortable bra on?! It's so sad though, I've even been dreaming about bras and customers and I noticed at church today I kept looking at everyone and "sizing" them up. Tell me that's not slightly creepy! I caught myself doing it a couple of times without even realizing it. I have issues. Don't judge me - we all go through stuff like that when we start new jobs, right?!

Also, the countdown has begun and I will be home in less than 4 weeks! It seems like a long time, but it's not really because I'll have more going on in this next month...work, school, moving, wedding, moving again...you know, the usual. I'm actually starting to make some friends and I'm enjoying Portland a lot more now. I think I've found where I "fit" finally, and the girls at work are so much fun and crazy just like me, so I like it. Glad I figured out where I fit before I left!

Anyway, I'm getting really excited for Megan and then my Mom to come and visit. Spring is popping up all around Portland and it's getting really beautiful already. Audrey and I go on morning walks every day, so I'm toting my camera along tomorrow and will take pictures of our cute little blossoming neighborhood.

I took this a while ago. Our view of Mt. Hood from the loft area.

Audrey's super fun Bridal Shower. Love the apron/panties gift!

I know this picture is rotton, but I straightened my hair the other day
and was trying to show you all how long it's getting. Woo hoo!!

Tests and Trials

I have to admit that I've had personal inner turmoil this week and have had to cry myself to sleep on a couple of occasions. What am I doing with my life right now?! Here's the run down...I got my answer to come to Portland and do Floral School, I moved in with great roommates and have enjoyed my home immensely, I made few (but good) friends, I got a calling that I love in my quirky ward...and then I finished school. I escaped my realities for a week and soothed the ache in my heart to be with family and went to Canada. Reality struck when I returned home, and so I got my act together and applied for jobs. Here's where the inner turmoil kicked in - I am not a flaky person, nor do I ever strive to be, so the thought of getting a job for only slightly over a month makes me feel squishy and irresponsible. On the other hand, not having a job at all is pretty irresponsible (and not an option, financially, at this point). So, I was stuck in the moral dilemma of what to do, and I've discovered that this is essentially going to be my life for the next year while I get my floral business going: Part or full-time retail, because it's flexible, and weddings on the side. This is something I need to accept. I made my choice. So, I had an interview for a job, and left it feeling a little intimidated and not overly ecstatic about it. I thought about it for an evening, went to the temple the next morning, and talked to my very wise and caring mom. We came to the conclusion that I need to make a decision by next week. If I don't get the job, I need to come home. If I do get the job, then things should work out for me financially.
Here's where the spiritual stuff comes in. I KNOW that things will work out if I'm doing my part, but sometimes I have a hard time BELIEVING and TRUSTING. My calm and spiritually in-tune mother kept reminding me that everything will be fine and will work itself out. I wanted to believe her so badly, so I continued to do my part (applying for other jobs, etc.). I had a nice long chat with my roommate, read my scriptures and patriarchal blessing, cried myself to sleep Thursday, and woke up this morning with a refreshed outlook. I am doing what I need to be doing, I am living the gospel as I should, Heavenly Father has a plan for me, I have had my interview and there is nothing more I can do about it. If I get the job, then my time in Portland isn't over and I haven't accomplished all that I need to. If I don't get the job, then whatever reasons I am here for are over now and I need to go home and get back to life and stability. So, with this renewed perspective I went about my day preparing myself for my possibilities.
Lo and behold, a few phone calls into the early evening I was offered a position here:
and they offered to pay me more than what I anticipated. Lesson learned. Trust in the Lord. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what we need, and he knows our abilities. If I can finally learn to truly trust in Him with honest faith, and stop trying to control my world down to every last detail, He will lead me and it will be so much easier that way. His plans are way better than mine! So, after being taught this lesson for the millionth time I'm sure, I'm hoping that it will stick in my heart and that my personal proof of the Lord's love for me will be an anchor to my trust and faith.