Thursday, September 29, 2011

Cross fit.

Major props go out to you people who do cross fit.
A friend from home is going a research project for a class here at BYU-I.
They are testing if cross fit really improves what it claims to prove.
If you haven't heard of cross fit before let me tell you, I think it's worse then P90X.
Well actually I can't fairly say that cause I usually don't finish all of the P90X workout.
The point is, IT"S HARD.
Everyday there is a new routine.
Yesterday we did Cindy
(why they have sweet girl names I don't know, because the workouts are anything but sweet)
For 20 mins straight we had to do sets of 5 pull ups, 10 push ups, and 15 squats.
Some people are ANIMALS and did 15 sets, all the hard way!
As in no girly push ups and they didn't use a box to give them momentum when doing a pull up.
After I got home I could barely life my arms to do my hair and make up.
Instant pain people.
Maybe when I'm finished I'll look like this though!
I don't know why they'd ever want bodies like that.
Disgusting.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Music tunedays

Music tunedays.
It's music mondays but on TUesday. So music tunedays
(I think I'm pretty clever)

Well for all you vampire diaries fans this song is nothing new.
But it is on repeat for me.
Hope my room mates don't hate me for listening to nothing else and singing to it at the top of my lungs in the shower.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Hi Blog it's me, Chanel

WOW.
I feel like I have fallen off the blogging planet.
It's not because I have had a lack of things to blog about.
I really just haven't had time to blog.
Life has been way to full, which has it's ups and downs.
The ups being I went to Utah last weekend, went to ihop at 2 in the morning, went repelling, on a motorcycle ride, watched world of dance, visited and painting my nails with my best friend jennica, and got to see my family.
It was a great trip but it created a lot of downs for this last week.
I had an great lack of sleep, made worse by the fact I didn't do any homework, made worse by the fact I had 2 tests due at the end of the week. Oh and did I mention they were worth 80% ofmy grade? I think I had every reason to feel stressed this week.
But on the plus side. I got to celebrate a friends birthday, went to the driving range not once but twice, my mom came and visited (I have the best mom, she painted my fingers and toes AND massaged my feet while I studied), I did really well on my tests, got to go apple picking with my friend Samantha, and I watched an amazing General Relief Society Meeting.
After Sam and I had finished picking apples we were wandering around the gardens and found tons of raspberry patches. So we just started walking along reading the different types of berries and of course we had to try all the different kinds to find out which ones we liked.
As we were walking back we see a sign that says this "Please don't eat the raspberries, they are being collected as data for research"
We both are praying that we don't die from eating pesticides with unknown side effects.

Lastly I finished my latest painting. It's by the same guy as my last one. Leonid Afemov.
Every last one of his pictures are amazing.
Check them out because my reproduction doesn't do him justice.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Epic fail

Okay so I've been a failure at music monday.
But I've been doing really well with music tuesday.
I wish I had more then just a song to share today.
Like some deep thought provoking question or story.
Or something funny and random to make you smile.
But sorry. All I have is a song today.
Maybe when I don't feel like I'm running on battery power and can recharge I'll do a good blog.

Here is the song.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Family relations

This weekend I went to Utah.
This weekend I went to bed at 5 in the morning and got up before nine.
This weekend I played too much and didn't sleep or study enough.
So tonight I am tired.
And guess what?
I started a second blog.
So I don't even feel bad that I'm not really blogging on here.
My other blog is for my Family Relations class.
I'd love if you'd take a look and leave your thoughts and opinions.
That is all for tonight.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The good the bad and the Ugly

THE GOOD.
I had g's dairy for the first time this semester. Still delicious
My room mates are awesome.
I got into the classes I wanted, well for the most part.
I can still walk outside without a jacket.
I went to wal-mart and saw 5 people I hadn't seen since last semester. I love that.
G's dairy had a deal on their ice cream this week.
Woman's conference, CES fireside, and devotional all in 4 days. AMAZING.
Room mate dinner and game night with 904.
It's Wednesday, which means it's hump day!
I'm going to Utah this weekend. Mt. Timp you are mine!
There is a greater number of more attractive boys at BYUI this year.

THE BAD AND THE UGLY
( I couldn't decipher between what might just be bad and what might be ugly)
I lost $12 at G's. I hope I answered someone's prayers.
I have so much reading to do and outlines to write (so why am I blogging?)
BYUI has WAY too much construction going on at one time. Big detours to get to class.
Come winter I'm really going to hate the walk from the Clark to the Ridge. SO LONG.
The internet at the ridge might be worse then Tuscany and I didn't think that was possible.
I went to sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon on my yogurt and the whole lid popped off. I mean I love cinnamon but that was a little too extreme.
While there is more attractive boys I have found a large part of them to be freshman.
I don't have a picture to upload with this and I need to end now and do homework.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

opps monday came and went

I started school yesterday.
It was just kind of busy and stressful because yet again this year my schedule kept falling through.
Wonder what's in store this semester.
Anyway in my haste to get my schedule figured out, for to the ward opening social and complete some homework I totally forgot about music monday.
But I have a good one.
Seems appropriate since it talks about summer and the care free days it brings.
Yesterday ended my summer and with it brought cares and stress of school.
Summer come back.



Sunday, September 11, 2011

Today's Woman

Last night I went to an incredible fireside here at BYU-I.
There was 2 members from each General board of Relief Society, Young Womans, and Primary.
They talked about knowing our identity, covenants/obedience, and being a woman of influence.
It was seriously amazing.
I'm just going to paraphrase a few points from each topic.
IDENTITY
* If we see ourselves the way our loving Heavenly Father sees us then we can understand our true identity and become who we are meant to be.
*If the Lord were to speak to me in person he would urge me to understand my true identity.
* How can we find out how he sees us? By finding out about Him. Learn of him and seek to know him. Then we can gain a better understand of who we really are.
* Our true identity is that we are children of God
COVENANTS
*covenants require commitment and obedience. They remind us that as we draw closer to the Savior our weaknesses can become our strengths
*Hang on to your covenants. Satan has become more cunning and deceiving as he tries to destroy these covenants.
*Take comfort in the fact that you have been obedient. Whatever else comes your way doesn't matter. You've been faithful in what matters most.
*The purpose of the TASK is to STRENGTHEN the relationship. Whatever the Lord asks us to do our trial that comes our way is intended to strengthen the relationship with those involved and also with our Heavenly Father and Savior.
INFLUENCE
* We have been PREPARED for this TIME. Figure out what your purpose is, why were you saved for this time.
* A covenant woman has the power to influence those around her. Be involved IN the world, but don't be a woman OF the world.
* Who can we invest (influence) in today. Who needs our help to lift them up? As a daughter of God we have a divine quality to help bear the burdens of others and lift them up.

And it was all summed up when the last speaker said. "Care about your identity. Care about your covenants and relationship with your Heavenly Father. Care about who you invest in."

Here are 2 videos everyone should watch.

I know this is already significantly long but I just wanted to add a little something from
M. Russel Ballard's talk in the 2010 April conference titled "Mother and Daughters"
"Speaking to the women of the Church nearly a century ago, President Joseph F. Smith said: “It is not for you to be led by the women of the world; it is for you to lead the … women of the world, in everything that is praise-worthy, everything that is God-like, everything that is uplifting and … purifying to the children of men”" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 184).

"It is, unfortunately, all too easy to illustrate the confusion and distortion of womanhood in contemporary society. Immodest, immoral, intemperate women jam the airwaves, monopolize magazines, and slink across movie screens—all while being celebrated by the world. The Apostle Paul spoke prophetically of “perilous times” that will come in the last days and specifically referenced something that may have seemed particularly perilous to him: “silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts” (2 Timothy 3:1, 6).

He goes on to say that we should model ourselves after our mothers. Not after the woman we see in magazines and movies. They don't share the standards of the Lord. We need to learn from our mothers strength, her courage, and her faithfulness.
I think about how many less problems we might have in the world if girls chose to look up to their mothers then to look up to the woman in the media. Just like was said in the fireside we need to be woman involved in the world, but not woman of the world. We need to dress modestly, respect our bodies and ourselves. We need to nurture and love those around us. We need to be woman of God.
I don't know about anyone else but the world today scares me a little. But I do take comfort in the fact that I can be a woman of influence and that I can change the lives of those around me. I can raise my kids to know who they are and to model themselves after the Lord's example and not the example of the world. How I conduct myself will affect the lives of others. It's kind of a big responsibility that I don't think about to often. But I'm so glad I was reminded of it and can start today to be a woman of influence.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Chief Mountain Part 1 and 2

In case you haven't noticed... I love hiking.
I can't think of a better way to spend a day off.
Also as previously mentioned I love Chief Mountain.
It's the one hike I don't mind doing over and over again.
It's got so much variety to it.
Forests, hills, rock/boulder fields, shale, rock climbing, and thin ridges for a thrill.
It's seriously amazing.
Everyone should do it before you die.
And if you need a guide since there are no trails I'm your person.
You'd be doing me a favor.

Anyway both times have been interesting.
Reflect back to my post about timing being everything.
Both times we've done this hike, timing has been everything.
The first time we met up with an extraordinary man named Lou,
We met him about 2 hours into our hike and he was coming in from a different direction.
Hello timing?
I'm sure he would've been fine finding his way up the mountain, but he was certainly thankful that we were there to help guide him and also shave off a 2 hours extra on his hike back down.
He was a 60 year old man whose hiked every trail and Glacier and has done many many mountains. I just got a letter from him today with some pictures he took of us and the cutest note. He wants to do another hike with us. Sweet right?
Second time we met up with a group of 4 kids our age at the very beginning. (timing)
They had never gone and were happy to have some guidance.
At the same place we met Lou we met an asian who called himself Butters....?
Turns out him and Eric (old exchange student) went to the same school in Taiwan.
Coincidence? I doubt it.
Timing? Perfect.
If we hadn't arrived at the same time as the group of kids we would never have seen them.
If we hadn't stopped for as long of water and picture breaks we never would've met up with butters, who is now coming to church with Eric.
Timing is amazing.
Like I said before they are simple reminders that the Lord is mindful of everyone.
I hope that my group being LDS left a good impression on the others we joined up with and that they'll always have a positive feeling towards LDS members, especially if they ever come in contact with the missionaries.
Okay here are some pictures.
And sorry for the lack of group pictures. It seems everyone has their camera so I don't pull out mine for the group shots and then it almost looks like I hiked by myself with a personal photographer.
Do you see the chief in the mountain. His side profile is the top of the mountain.
At the very top! Highest point 9567...or some number like that
The gang before Lou
Second round. Planking on a mountain
A little yoga to start off the day.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Infiltrate the world with music.

Today is a country music monday since I have found a few gems that I just love.

And I think I would add more and maybe add some more value to this post but I'm tired.
I hiked Chief again today.
I can't wait to put up pictures and tell about the interesting people we met and experiences had. Such a great day.
Good Night!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Brown, mousy, Green...


I dyed my hair brown...ish
It's got some blonde and auburn highlights on the top layers.
Right now I'm indecisive on if I like it.
Heres the thing.
I really like the top of it. It looks really pretty.
But of course the top and the bottom can never look the same.
Hair doens't work that way.
So the blonde becomes more dispersed in the brown and the bottom.
Yellow+Brown= Poop green.
At least that's how it feels in certain lighting?
And if doesn't look poop green it looks mousy brown. Neither are flattering.

People say it looks nice but really you aren'y going to tell someone you don't like their hair.
Also, girls tend to like me with darker hair, but boys like it blonde.
Typical.
And I'm not trying to please girls. I value their opinion more then boys but if boys like my hair blonde then I feel like it should be blonde, cause they like it.

But then I read a little quote that went someone like this
"I hate it when girls dye their hair. Why are they trying to be something they are not?
I'm a fake.
I should just want to be me.
And that me has naturally brown hair.
My advice for any young girl. Never dye your hair. You can't ever go back.
Okay maybe I'm being a bit dramatic with this whole post.
But I can't wait for my hair to fade a little bit... then maybe the brown will look brown.
Anyway here are some before and after pictures.

Before as in over a year ago, but it's blonde hair okay.
Notice the bottom. Ugly brown.

I'm open to criticisms of both.