Year of change.

I'm always amazed at how fast a year goes. When I was a kid once christmas was over I'd start thinking about next christmas and that it was going to take FOR-EV-ER to get here, and as a kid it did. But now that I'm older I still have that mind set but it comes so much faster! Also in the time it takes for next christmas to come my life will have have changed so much, AGAIN!

Change has always been a little hard for me, this year has probably been one of the hardest years for change. During the changes life seemed horrible, but now looking back in retrospect I wouldn't have it any other way. Things worked out perfectly. For the last 2 years I don't think I was really the Chanel I wanted to be. I had this idea of how my life would be out of high school and when it didn't turn out that way, I tuned people out and lived in my own little world. Getting out of that mindset has been the greatest change of this year. With leaving that mindset I've set myself to get hurt, but that's okay. That's life and it's all about learning and growing.

I'm excited and nervous for this coming year. It holds the possibility for a lot of change. Perhaps more then this last year. Maybe that's what happens as you get older. You don't ever see less change, you just see more. Whatever the case I can't wait to find out what this year and the years to come will bring.

This chart sums up my resolutions for the year, probably even my life. I'm going to start changing me so I can make a change in the world. HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!

christmas hysterics

Every christmas eve we go to my aunts house and have some finger food and play games. We always do white elephants gifts and there are always a few gifts that are really...interesting.

Then we played charades, balderdash, telephone pictionary and golf. My grandma beazer is quite the actress. She had to act out "grandma got ran over by a reindeer" (how fitting) and all she did was lay on the floor and move her hand in a waving motion over her body. I'm so surprised no one could guess what she was doing. It was very obvious.

I just love my family. it doesn't matter what we are doing but we always find something to laugh about. I love the holidays and spending them with family.

not a christmas post... it'll come

The other day I was making a collage and I had cut out a letter from a page. And when I turned the page it lined up perfectly with this model's mouth and the models teeth in the page before. So it ended up looking like this. (the picture doesn't quite do it justice but...)

I laugh every time I see it.

What else makes me laugh is this girl. She didn't want to pack as you can tell.

Sweet smell of success.

Finals are over! I survived. I feel amazing. I got all A's except for one lousy B (apparently I'm not very good at making decisions) I worked hard, I believe I have a scholarship looming in my near future. I'm driving home tomorrow and get to be with my family for christmas. Today I get to go to a building dedication and hear from the Lord's prophets. I get to spend one last fun filled night with my room mates. Watch christmas movies, eat everything bad, stay up all night, and have fun. I can't wait. Yup this semester has ended pretty ideally. 3 cheers. Hip Hip Horay.

Also this picture makes me pretty happy

These sweaters saw a lot of love this year.

Christmas spirit hits Apt 333

The other night my room mates and I really got into the christmas spirit. We watched 3 claymation movies. the year without a santa, the miser brothers, and st. nicholas or something like that. It was rather enjoyable. While watching them we made paper chains and snowflakes to hang in our apt. We ended the night with a sleepover watching The christmas movie, Meet me in St. Louis.

On a serious note.

I've started a collage journal. One of my room mates does it and it intrigued me so I've started and I think it's really cool. While browsing through a magazine I found this quote that has caused me to think a long a few different lines.

"When a woman becomes her own best friend life is easier"

How true is that? When you don't like yourself nothing seems to go right. You don't treatyourself as you should and in turn you don't have other people treat you as they should. You think you deserve less then you really do.

Too many women today try to fit into what society wants. We strive to be some perfect person and go to extreme lengths to achieve it. We try to be as skinny, as beautiful, and as desired as the hollywood stars. But the fact is we won't ever get there and why would we want to? They aren't even HAPPY!

We should strive to become the women God wants us to be. And that starts with loving ourselves and viewing ourselves the way God does, as his precious daughters. He doesn't care about our dress size, the zits we have on our face, or the size of our nose. He cares about how we treat ourselves and others. He cares about the service and love we give to ourselves and to those around us.

To sum up, Life won't ever be easy, but it doesn't have to be as hard as we sometimes make it. So do yourself a favor and take a good look in the mirror and tell yourself how awesome you are and how much you love that you are you. Write a list of why you are fabulous.Treat yourself to a spa because you deserve it. Count your blessings. Smile more and never take a day for granted. Become your own best friend and wait and see how life becomes a little easier.

Reason to fist pump

This morning I heard the glorious words I'd been waiting to hear since october. My track appeal finally went through and I am pleased to announce that I am now on the Fall/Winter track. It took a lot of patience, determination, faith, and a lot of deep breathing exercises but I finally got what I wanted. I will now be home for the springs and the summers. The best time ever to be in canada

happiest season of all is an understatement

There is no doubt in my mind that Christmas is the best season of all. Sure it has it's downfalls. Like wet snow that seeps thru my sweater boots and makes my socks wet and the sidewalks slippery so I almost fall 23 times a day and freezes my toes, fingers, and face. But there is nothing prettier then a fresh blanket of snow and the quiet atmosphere that accompanies it. I love when it's dark out and big snow flakes are falling from the sky and all is quite. It's kind of magical. And lest we forget the CHRISTMAS LIGHTS! I love every person that goes all out and decks there house with lights, nativity scenes, and reindeers. During Christmas I have the excuse of listening to christmas music all day for 2 months. I get to pull out my christmas sweaters and not be judged for wearing them. Yes Christmas=bliss

Ice Skating with Scott
We had some difficulties our first time
But then we mastered it.

A.H. you never cease to amaze me.

I never knew audrey Hepburn had inspirational things to say. I just saw her as a pretty face whose movies people loved and whose picture girls, and even guys hang in their APTs.

These are a few I love.

“Your heart just breaks, that's all. But you can't judge, or point fingers. You just have to be lucky enough to find someone who appreciates you.”

{What girl hasn't had their heart broken? and how many have moved past it and were lucky enough to find someone that appreciates them? I'm still waiting for that.}

“People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.”

{This just sums up life. People make mistakes. No one is exempt from that rule. But just because they make a mistake doesn't mean we should throw them away.}

“Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.”

{How many times have i chosen to have a bad day, maybe because of things that have happened in the past that i just want to wallow in self pity. But I need to enjoy everyday- to the hilt. And make the most of what life has given me. AND STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE FUTURE. It'll come one day at a time. I can't make it come faster and I should embrace everyday and not think about tomorrow.}

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.”

{I love to laugh. Any person that can make me genuinely laugh I instantly like. I can't stand people who don't laugh at all. It doesn't have to be over things I say or do but I just like someone who I can be with and laugh. My day always feels better when I talk to someone who laughs and makes me laugh. All my cares melt away.}