what makes me, me

I have sometimes red hair and blue eyes.

I like having my hair in a bun with bangs on my forehead.

When I find an outfit that I love, I wear it until I can’t stand it anymore.

I don’t make good first impressions. Or second…or third….

Dark chocolates are my favorite.

I watch a lot of tv.

I’m not a last minute person. I make plans.

I love birthdays.

Playing the piano is my escape.

I don’t like feet or driving with the windows down.

I’m in love with the snow.

I'm about as clumsy as it gets. You have no idea.

I wear a lot of gray and black. No, I’m not depressed.

I get really grumpy when I’m hungry.

I’m pretty sure I have diet coke running through my veins.

I’m Mormon. And I love it.

Popcorn and cereal are staples in my diet.

I can relate almost anything to a Friends episode.

My goal is to fill my passport. I’m going to see this world.

last sunday was wonderful and lovely and just perfect.

last sunday president monson was in frankfurt. and for those of you that don't know, that's only about an hour and a half from where i live. he was holding a special conference for german members and my ward got their hands on some tickets, and i was one of the few lucky ones who got to attend. and it was perfect.

we woke up at o'dark thirty and made our way to the netto, the meeting point for all things church. we got our tickets and were on our way. (my best friend emily and her mom also got tickets to go, so that was pretty darn awesome, and i rode up with them.) we got to the place a little early and waited in line. once they let everyone in, we found an amazing seat and played a little hangman. very mature, i know.

when president monson walked in that room, everyone stood but i felt like the spirit was going to knock me over. i could hardly sing the words to 'we thank thee, o God, for a prophet'. partly because it was in german, but mostly because, if you ask me, being in the same room as a living prophet is a little overwhelming. having lived in salt lake for the past two years and attending conference and christmas devotionals, it wasn't the first time i'd seen president monson. but watching the faces of the german members, knowing that this would probably be one of the only times they would see him, was just so beautiful. the lady next to me couldn't hold in her tears. president monson spoke of many beautiful things, my favorite being the idea that 'love is the catalyst for change.' i took notes the whole time and they are already notes that i will cherish for always.

after the conference, we drove to the frankfurt temple. i'm very partial to this temple--it's my favorite. it's the temple i grew up with, and it holds a very special place in my heart. (plus, the most delicious chinese restaurant you will ever go to is right down the street. but that's besides the point.) we walked around the grounds and took pictures and enjoyed the gorgeous grounds. we start walking back down the stairs when the doors of the temple open. temple? open? on a sunday? something was up. and out walks president monson and we just stop. we make our way back up the stairs as some german ladies make their way to him to shake his hand. we weren't quite sure what to do, so we didn't have the courage to go shake his hand. but just seeing him there was the perfect ending to the day. my heart was full.

President Monson!

Frankfrut Temple.

we also wore the same outfit. not planned. people noticed.

hi, my name's amanda and i'm a swiftie.

the first thing i did monday morning--even before i got out of bed--was buy taylor swift's new album. and let me just say it was the best 14.99 i've spent in, like, forever. and it's been on repeat all week long.  it's catchy and classy and just all around amazing. there isn't a song of hers, on any of her cds, that i don't like. they're all so good. the songs are so easy to relate to that i'm pretty sure she's watched a movie of my life and put it into songs. 

someone once said to me that when people look back on our generation there won't be any really memorable musicians like there are from, say, the eighties. well, i think they were wrong. because i'm pretty sure tswizzle is pretty memorable. her and michael buble, of course. so go listen to red. it's wonderful.

"what a shame, for i dearly love to laugh."

someone please explain to me how tonight was the first time i ever watched pride and prejudice? the words, the setting, the story, the everything was so lovely i can hardly stand it. i always wondered why everyone always said they wanted a mr. darcy, but now i completely understand. it's probably because he's an eighteen hundred's equivalent of a prince charming. and elizabeth bennet is kind of amazing too. her values and intelligence are refreshing. her wit is classy. and i kind of want to be just like her.

i foresee many nights of falling asleep to this gem of a show in the future. because it was just that good.

things i'm lovin

lately...

it was always on at nine, and seeing as how i could never stay awake

 to actually finish an episode,

i just stopped watching. it's more fun to watch them 

in a matter of three days, anyways. right?

seriously, such a good song. all of their songs are wonderful.

it's new discovery that i like dark chocolate.

i'm just upset it took this long to figure it out,

because i've been missing out.

still haven't quite made it all the way through--but what i have seen is

absolutely wonderful and lovely in every possible way, as always.

so classy. you just can't go wrong with harrison ford. 

just a little thought for your sunday

"There is power in our love for God and for His children, and when that love is tangibly manifest in millions of acts of Christian kindness, it will sweeten and nourish the world with the life-sustaining nectar of faith, hope, and charity." -M. Russel Ballard

general conference is kind of the best. so many inspiring talks that just make you want to be and do better in your life. find out for yourself, here! i promise you won't regret it. 

prague prague prague

i'll just say that prague was absolutely lovely. i think the pictures and quotes speak for themselves. czech them out! (there was some serious overuse of this joke on this trip. and it was wonderful.)

just a church made of bones. human bones. no big deal.

windy.

rainy view of the city from the castle.

john lennon wall.

my cute sister.

leaving my mark.

the gurls at the jewish quarter.

the whole family. plus one. but she might as well be family.

best friends.

hard rock cafe has the best food. and free wi-fi.

mirror pictures. too fun.

we almost lost the room key. not too surprised.

rub for good luck! i'm sure everyone and their brother's dog has touched this.
there was some serious hand sanitizing going down after this.

he'll always be baby brother to me.

oh, and we're pretty quotable too.

"Alison, am I invited to your wedding?" -Emily

"If you're still alive." *insert dirty look here* -Alison

"You realize you just dissed yourself, don't you?" -Dallin

"You know how animals crossbreed? Well if cars did that..." -Dallin

"So, did Bella become a vampire?" -Alison

"But if they all get married, then my life is over!" -Emily

"Hold on. What? Are you okay?" -Me
"I will never be okay!" -Emily
"You're such a girl. I'll never understand them." -Dallin

"Awww, Emilyyy, come talk to Papa Cherringtooon." -Papason

"I put on my paper that you were the smart one in the family..." -Alison

"Ahh! What is this dance? What the footwork?" -Hard Rock Cafe Guy

"Oh, this is just me." -Me

"Hey! Look! It's Amanda's favorite animal. An ass!" -Papason

"Did you stop and pick blueberries? What took so long?" -Papason

"I fell down the hill." -Dallin

"That's where they put the little girls that talk too much." -Me

"Nooooooooo!" -Alison

"I feel funny." –Me (the water was a little sketchy, okay?)

"Stupid girls." -Dallin

"People aren't supposed to bend that way." -Dallin

"I'm flexible. Or so they say." -Emily

"Hey! I'm known for being flexible too!" -Alison

"Uh. By who?" -Dallin
"My gymnastics teacher. You can ask her! If she's still alive. She was old." -Alison

"You know, everyone thinks you're quiet, shy and sweet. Little do they knoww..." -Emily
"Yeah, they're sadly mistaken." -Me

"The world doesn't revolve around you." -Emily
"Yeah, well you don't revolve around the world!" -Alison

"They put a boot on his car?" -Alison

"I feel like I'm back in Rexburg." -Emily

"I was thinking the same thing." -Me

"Does the camel back there have to pee yet?" -Papason
"Noo, and I'm not a camel." -Emily
"You never pee." -Me
"Sally, the camel, has five humps. So, ride, Sally, riiide!" -Mom

this weekend

i'm going to czech out prague. i've been there once before and it wasn't my fave--but i'm excited to czech it out a second time. i've czeched out the weather and i've czeched off everything on my packing list. i'm ready to go! and who knows, maybe there will be cute boys to czech out in the czech. fingers crossed.

i crack myself up.