Workin' hard...or hardly workin'?

Oh the joys of Quilted Bear.  The mint truffles.  The go backs.  The endless opening and pricing of merchandise.  It is a love/hate job.  Without my coworkers I would hate it.  

In this photo I am eating a mint truffle while inside a box.  I'm talented, I know. 

Jodi and I being Persian Prostitutes with scarves that smell like sweaty balls.

Oh hey.  I'm wearing a cow hat & Alisha thinks I'm weird.

Why am I so weird? 

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I have two jobs.  I also wipe butts for a living and I love it... weren't expecting that?  Well I do.  I was planning on going into graphic design but, I started working as a CNA and I now want to be a RN, and specialize in labor and delivery (we'll see, I still haven't really done any job shadowing yet).  I start as a volunteer at the Provo Utah Valley Regional Hospital next Wednesday and I'm super stoked!  I hope eventually I can get a job in the hospital so that I can get better hours and more experience.  But for now, I enjoy my jobs... just don't get paid enough (story of everyone's life). 

Enjoy this photo montage of me bonding with my name tag lanyard (can I say montage if it isn't a movie? Whatever.)

Finally

I finally got my temple recommend renewed after a year and a half, and boy does it feel good.  I don't know how many people actually read my blog but... I've been trying to go back to the temple for a long time so it's pretty awesome that I finally get to!  Now I just need Sundays off of work so I can mingle with my singles.  Haha :)

So I've gone to the temple twice in the past two weeks to the Provo temple and it honestly has helped me calm down from my super high stress past two weeks.  The temple is such a great place to clear your head and just let your thoughts slow down, I keep pretty busy so my mind is always running a thousand miles an hour and I'm always multi-tasking it feels like so to make some time to serve the Lord really helps me to just forget about all of my to-do-lists, calendar events, etc. 

I know that I'm always posting cheesy uplifting thoughts but I feel that they are a necessary reminder... especially for me.  The temple is a source of sunlight in my life and it too always helps me to "Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight."  Taking a moment out of your busy life to spend at the temple is worth your time!! So I challenge you to do it more often... you people who read my blog... if anyone reads it :P

Life is hard sometimes

I've come to understand that life really isn't that easy. It likes to remind you that it's the boss and that you're really not in control. You are only in control of the attitude you have towards the shitty hand life deals you every once in awhile (pardon my French).
I feel like I work so hard just to be told... "Chana, it doesn't matter how hard you work or how spiritual you try to be... Life is still going to be a big mean jerk to you so deal with it." and I do. Just not so happily sometimes.
I know without a doubt I wouldn't be who I am without the trials I have encountered in the past 2 years of my life since getting out in the world on my own.
I am so grateful for my religion and the comfort it gives me on a daily basis
Just barely my car broke down and apparantly the oil gasket valves were leaking on my spark plugs and shorting out the wires and making it stall, I'm so glad my Dad fixed my car! I used to really want a tattoo of an anchor because I really like them and so I decided to get a tat for my car... My car has been a little beotch to me but he sure does "refuse to sink", praise the Lord.

Today I went to the temple and it surprises me every time how much comfort it brings to me.

 After every stressful thing I've dealt with lately I have come to realize that my phone, although sadly defaced, is now best friends with this cracked tile (until I repair it of course ASAP).
















Always remember to look for the positive in every situation and try not to be so negative. Life goes on and the storm passes, we never really always get calm weather, but we get stronger so that with each storm we're able to conquer those trials. Trust me. I know.

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!! 

What a great holiday to spend with your friends and family :)

I am so grateful to live in America and I thank those who gave their life and made the sacrifices they did so that I can appreciate all the things that I do.

Freedom.  Never take it for granted.

For the first time in 2 years I finally got to enjoy the traditional Moroni 4th of July! 
 
I brought home Alexa and Raymond and we slept on my trampoline under the stars.

In the morning we went to fireman's breakfast and then went to the parade at 10.  Marissa got lost!! She was supposed to be in the parade and miscommunication made it so she didn't get to be in it... she was really sad.

We ate lunch at Wheelers & I showed Alexa and Ray my high school.

The day was spent playing plink-plink, hanging out, playing on the swing and the slide & preparing dutch oven.

This year fireworks were banned in parts of Sanpete county so Mr. Cox's band played on the hill while there was a miniature color festival.

We ate dutch oven and talked and played some more and then we drove home!  It was an awesome day :)

GOD BLESS AMERICA!! :D

I like t.v. shows :)

 How I met your mother is a feel good show about a group of friends and their friend Ted trying to find his soul-mate.  Their friendship makes you feel like you are a part of it... I can't get enough of it!!

 LOST!!! This tv show is about an island mystery.  These people crash landed on an island in the middle of nowhere and have no way of getting back to civilization.  This show has a way of leaving you on the edge of your seat at the end of each episode... if you have netflix you find yourself watching 3 episodes at a time (did I mention each episode is about an hour?).  The cliff hangers are what make this show so great.

 You just have to watch this.  The episodes are only 20 minutes but they are SO FUNNY!! I love the way they portray modern families... its great!

 I just recently started watching New Girl, it just finished it's first season and it was really good.  It's about this spunky odd ball Jess who lives with 3 men.  I really enjoy this comedy, I feel like I can relate to Jess's awkward weirdness.

 PLL, this is my teenager show.  I love to watch this with my girls.  I started it with my roommate Billi (she got me addicted), we'd HDMI-it up to the t.v. every Monday as soon as it was on ABC Family a week after it airs.  Now... I watch it with Alexa.  Let's be honest, you need a girlfriend to watch this with, we scrapbook and make food and enjoy some good ol' suspense and drama.  It's like the teenager version of desperate housewives.  P.S. these girls do NOT look like they are supposed to be in high school.

 Caleb got me started on this show.... I. love. it. so. freakin. much!  Holy shiz this show blows your mind!! I love the action, I love the zombies, I love the drama.  Andrea & Daryl are probably my most favorite characters on this show, they are BA.  I can't wait until October to watch it again, I really want to know whats the deal with the prison and the crazy hooded figure with zombies for pets! I'm also anticipating the death of Lori (who I hate), and the return of Daryl's brother.  I really want to know exactly how this zombie apocalypse came about.

Season 3 finale... I just finished it last night.  I am getting way to sucked in to this tv show.  My current roommates met Damon!! How crazy is that?  His name is Ian Somerhaulder and he is GORGEOUS!! I really want Elena to choose him... she actually met him first, just sayin'.

Classic.  I've been watching this since I was 17.  I can never have enough of That '70s Show.  That '70s show is to me like Friends is to the rest of the world.  It's probably not the best influence because I just want to go smoke pot with them in their circle haha :)  I love love love this show.

#1 Daddy

My dad is the greatest daddy in the whole entire world.  For anyone who knows my dad you know that he LOVES music, he loves going to concerts and I think that is super cool.  I have had the opportunity to go to a few with him in the past couple of years, we've gone to: Trapt, 3 Doors Down, Pop Evil, Theory of a Deadman, and last Saturday... we went to Vans Warped Tour 2012!!  It was so fun :)

I got to see We The Kings, Senses Fail, Yellowcard (I bought their CD, t-shirt, & bracelet), I saw Breathe Carolina, Falling in Reverse & All Time Low as well as a band called Funeral Party. 

Here is Sade crowd surfing at Warped Tour! 

Dad, Sade & I slurping our delicious smoothies that we were really sad when they were gone :'(

I came home this week and my car overheated, guess who came to save me? My daddy.  He is my hero.  Little did I know that this week was his vacation and he installed a new thermostat in my car which would normally cost $75 or more. He also renovated and re-built my brothers closet and took my sisters to 7-peaks (I joined until I had to go to work).  He is the greatest dad :) He is always fixing things around the house, and believe me, stuff around our house breaks pretty often... I mean our house is only like a hundred years old, no big deal.  He always cooks us delicious meals but I think his menu is pretty limited to hot dogs, enchiladas, scones, pancakes, & hamburger helper... he is basically pro at all of those meals now!  

7 peaks bay-bay!! :D 

A little more info about pretty much thee coolest dad in the universe is that he loves the Pittsburg Steelers (we were pretty bummed when the Green Bay cheese heads defeated them 2 superbowls ago).   He loves to go snowboarding with Sade, Aubri & I up Fairview canyon.  I have a pretty legit dad, he introduced me to some great music, like Angels and Airwaves... I love them.  Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac, The Cars... some of the classic 80s music I love so much is because of my dad.  

I always tease my dad that he is gothic, he wears a lot of black and he loves t-shirts that are pretty emo with skulls and stuff on them.  He used to have my Grandpa Don Ray's motorcycle and would look pretty legit in his leather jacket and bald head... many a boy in my day has been afraid of my dad, as well as ward members... just people in general, but really, he is just a big teddy bear.  My dad is the greatest and I love him very much.

 Don't let your past determine your present!! 

Sometimes I feel self-conscious and not good enough but then I remember that I am a daughter of God and I feel beautiful and of great worth.  I am so thankful to be a part of his plan.