are you the new SAC lady??

Yes. Yes I am. I am a SAC lady. I get asked this frequently at my new school, much to my dismay but to the pleasure of my roommates once I told them this. Its not the most lovely term, but it is kinda endearing. Its nice that the students already recognize me and hopefully like me. As I pull into Oak Canyon Jr High in the morning and sit in the classes that I sub in, I cant help reflect back on my time at Wilson High and miss it oh so much. As i got a tour of the school the other ladies commented that "these faculty bathrooms arent as nice as the others" Oh you dont even know about the saloon doors that I endured at Wilson. I dont have students named Princess, Kamal, Tavon or Trayonna anymore, instead I have to put up with the freakin Utah names like Ryker, Kilee, Keanna and Tallen. Instead of hearing the F bomb drop like 10 times a day, I over hear conversations about ward activities, comparing house sizes, and spoting CTR rings. Before, during lunch my roommates and i would chat about the ridiculous things that happened in class or how we couldnt understand our students or the outlandish acts of ms oats-the old black PE coach. Now during my day I look at photos of my co-workers grandchildren and overhear them discuss the difficulties of reading restaurant menus without their glasses. Like wait, what? are you for reals? it is definitely a different environment, one in which i am totally not use to. not saying i dont like, so far I love my job and I am so grateful to be employed. But really, its weird. And i dont like all of these white people.

Back in P-Town

Well it officially had to end. I am no longer livin the DC life. As of two weeks "livin the life" has changed again for now the 4th time. I contemplated many different variates including "livin the adult life" and as my family suggested, "livin the unemployed life"--oh wait, that life changed as of yesterday! I interviewed and accepted a job as a Teacher's Assistant at Oak Canyon Jr High in Lindon and couldn't be more excited about it! Even though I wont be teaching I am just excited to be back in a school and working with students. I miss Wilson so much because I miss going to school everyday and working with my kids. So I cant wait to start working and purchasing an Oak Canyon sweatshirt is first on the agenda! Go eagles! So since I will be entering the workforce as of Monday and as of today my degree was FINALLY posted on BYUs website I think its fitting that my blog is "livin the college grad life" So far being a college grad is great! Being back in Provo has been a little bitter sweet. Its been great to have my friends to hang out with, have a car to drive around and be back in my comfort zone, but it sucks when I tell people that Im graduated and their response is: "why are you back in Provo?" I just dont know. But now that I have a job it will makes things a bit more legit. Ive been here now for two weeks, been able to hang out with pretty much all of my friends, eaten at J Dawgs, gone to Ogden and then peaced out of p town for a few days and went to Vegas.

Vegas highlights include:

walking the strip.

dancing out in front of the Bellagio water show.

conquering red rock.

eating the best steak ever at Bon Ami at the Paris hotel.

having my first energy drink and getting really wild.

making inappropriate comments whilst drinking said energy drink.

dancing like WOAH at Zowie Bowie.

watching an 80 year old drunk women attempt to dance at Zowie Bowie.

dancing on stage with Zowie Bowie and falling in love with him.

walking the strip again.

laughing and snapping photos all weekend long.

oh and its my birthday. happy birthday to me! my sister wrote a little tribute post to me, including many great photos of us....

2009 in review.

At church today pretty much everyone bearing their testimonies said that 2009 was a rough year for them. Which made me think, what did I do in 2009? and realized it was GREAT! here is a little recap.

January.

Started out my last semester of college classes at BYU! Had some kinda hard classes at BYU but had a terrible schedule! Went through some major and interesting issues with boys that I was not expecting to happen. In the beginning of the month I made the decision to apply to DC! I got my dream job of working as a TA for History 201, World Civ and loved it! And most importantly, celebrated my GOLDEN birthday!

February.

Went to Vegas with the Lanai Crew over Valentine's Weekend. Im sorry, no valentines date.

March.

The Lanailhilators dominated in BYU intramural soccer! I started my teaching practicum at a middle school. Went to Spring Training with the fam and LOVED escaping the cold, being in the presence of legit fans, watching the dodgers. and oh ya, getting my photo taken with Clayton Kershaw.

April.

Started the month out with snow. Yuck. Endured the last month of school. Went to at 1920's party with Trent Hope during Finals Week. Had my last day of college classes and barely studied for finals. I finished finals in like two days and partied the rest of the week. Went home for a week to attend my best friend Jennalyn's wedding. And ended college with getting the best grades I have ever gotten in school. yayy!

May.

Stayed in Provo and worked as a substitute in the Provo School District and loved it. Got paid to hang out with little kids and watch movies. Lost my two best friends to missions but gained a new best friend by having Allie Barker move in with me at Lanai! Allie and I apprehended a bike at Lanai, lots of bike rides to the park and library ensued. I loved my bike! Became an aunt again, and then nine days later became an aunt again. And loved meeting Kate right at the hospital and being a mom to the other kiddies for a few days. Went to like three concerts.

June.

Sometime this month I discovered that Desperate Housewives was played on Lifetime at 10 and 11 in the morning, and yes, I did jump out of bed every morning at 10 to watch and sadly some days missed the episode at 10. Started to count my pennies to attend the Stadium of Fire with the Jonas Brothers! Literally, counted all of my coins. Once I got free tickets from Taylor, I cashed in my coins for a season pass to 7 Peaks to work on my tan!

July.

Brought out my inner tween and saw the Jonas Brothers! and LOVED it. Had THE best time in Provo celebrating the 4th of July. We strolled Center St, partied at 7-11 and then had a dance party in the rain at like 3 in the morning at Lanai. Spent a week and half in CA for my best friends Whitney's wedding in Newport, then a few days at home. Then joined by the Lanai gang for the best weekend ever!! Dodger game, swimming at the pool and Coldplay!! Oh and continued to go the Peaks like everyday.

August.

Started out be leaving Lanai and Provo and crying the whole drive home to California. But it got better by going to the YSA conference my first weekend back. Spent my first week eating hot dogs at Dodger Stadium. Thats right, 4 games in 5 days. Three of which were dates with different boys. yayyy. Spent a weekend in SD with the fam. And then...off to DC!!

September.

Officially living in DC. Enjoyed the sites and touring before we had to worry about school. Got away without teaching for the whole first month of student teaching. haha. Went on lots of dates! Saw the Dodgers play the Nationals.

October.

Started teaching World History everyday at the beginning of the month. Loved my class but kinda hit a wall towards the end of the month. Went on even more dates, pretty much on a daily basis. Began to teach US History everyday at the end of the month. Mom and Dad came to visit me over Halloween weekend and loved showing them around the amazing city that I got to live in. Did not party for Halloween and was super bummed about it. Got over my teaching difficulties and began to love it again.

November.

Kurt came to visit and we had the BEST time! Such a great weekend. Had a great Thanksgiving break hanging out with Jessica and the Barkers even though my family didnt love me enough to fly me to Utah.

December.

Chanel began to teach with me in my classes. We had so much fun! Had lots of drama with my situation at school. Left DC and was terribly sad to leave everything about it--my roommates, apartment, ward, friends, the sites and especially my students. Came back home and hung out with Laura, Mia and Chase everyday. Christmas!! and of course, partied for New Years with an awesome party that Alyssa and I planned in a day.

Evidence that this was a great year!! I had so much fun and did A TON of amazing things!! This year seriously went by too fast. Last year I had a plan--i knew what was going to happen for me. This year, i have NO idea what is going to happen in my life. This is the first year in my entire life (not counting the first like 3 years of life) that I have not been in school. Weird. I dont know what kind of a job I am going to get or where I will be living. But nonetheless, I guess Im excited.

Sidenote--sorry this is kinda long, but it was kinda fun for me. and Taylor, Im sorry there are no bullet points.

im a hiker. wait, what?

This past week my Dad had a great idea for a family activity--going on a hike to the local Three Trees. I have lived in Granada Hills my whole life and had never done this hike until this summer when I went with the GH kids. Although I am not an outdoorsy person by any means, for some reason I have developed a "like" to hiking on well maintained paths and relatively easy terrains (think back to my biweekly hike of the Y over the summer). So with this, I was all down for hiking Three Trees with Mom and Pops. We went this past Tuesday, December 29. Freaking last week of December and I hiked in shorts and a t-shirt. Why am I leaving California to go to the snow? It was such a beautiful day in Southern California. There was even some beautiful Valley smog out in the air, which allowed for only the outline of downtown LA to be seen in the distance. Nevertheless I LOVE the view from the top of Three Trees. It was a great family hike, although Dad immediately left us in the dust and Mom complained the entire time.

This is my attempt at my picture of the day--although I have already failed as I am posting this days after the fact.