a few items of business

So I TOTZ realize that my last few posts have been lists, like such as. Also, zero pictures. 

However, no me importa, so Ima keep making my lists! (that was probably the worst sentence I have ever written. Or at least since I was in first grade. Good thing I's so good at English!)

-Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" makes me feel like I can take on the world. Basically the whole James Horner Pandora station does actually.

-I GO HOME TOMORROW! I don't even care that I have to wake up at 4:15 to make my 7 a.m. flight. 

I WILL BE HOME! 

HOOOMMMEEE!

-Every time someone talks about Harry Potter lately, I kind of have a not-so-mini-stroke. Like last night, I was at my sweet friend Paige's for dinner and someone mentioned the midnight showing. I almost started yelling out of excitement. (CORRECTION: I DID start yelling. But only a little bit, I swear. I am not thaaat crazy...) I am glad the people in my ward kind of semi like me, otherwise they would probably think I was a nut job.

fun fact: this is the picture that was on the computer games, circa early 2000's. I LOVED THOSE GAMES. Also other fun fact, we still get the Harry Potter xbox games every Christmas HAHA.Way to be rad all the time, family!

-Did you know there is a MIDGET CHOCOLATE FACTORY in SLC?! 

I am 100% not lying. 

My roommate has even been there. 

And just to prove my point, last night (also while I was at Paige's) a group of us were discussing this, and I decided to check ChaCha just to validate myself. I got the following response from them and almost died laughing:
Brooke: "Midget Chocolate Factory in Salt Lake City?"
ChaCha: "No, I can't find anything that says that. I don't think that "little people" would lower their standards to take on such a job. Just watch Willy Wonka if you wanna see midgets at work."
HAHAHAHA.

The best part is that is seriously word for word. 

Touche, sassy ChaCha, TOUCHE.

-In the past 4 days, I have found the movies Halloweentown, Homeward Bound, and Dinosaur on YouTube.

HOW EFFIN AWESOME IS THAT?? 

If that doesn't make you slightly happy, get yer head checked.

-It's SO cold outside right now. It's this time of year that I start wondering why I don't just stay home and go to ASU all year long...

LIE. I would never do that. But the thought is slightly tantalizing, especially as I stand in my freezing shower with cold air pouring in from the OUTSIDE because we have a hole in our ceiling for a vent, every morning. 

Just sayin.

Welp gang, over and out until next week. Because OH WHAT? 

I am going home. 

In case you done forget already.

Tryin to feel like a superstar all the time?

Awesome. Me too.
And I have figured out the best way to do so.
In case I haven't made it clear enough, I am a bit of a music freak.
And most of the time, I listen to my ipod whilst I wander from class to class to work to home during the day.
And I have a great list of songs that make you feel like you own the world if you listen to them while walking around.

Like Im so serious. 

I know this because I do it every day.

So without further adieu, here they are. 

Bum bum bum.

- Crawl, Kings of Leon. NATURALLY.
- Radioactive, KOL
- The Immortals, KOL
- Arizona, KOL (note the trend?)
- Black Thumbnail, KOL
- Red Morning Light, KOL
- Paid the Piper, Young the Giant
- Closer to Love, Mat Kearny (this sort of makes me feel like I am actually in a chick flick... but I still love it)
- Kings and Queens, 30 Seconds to Mars
- Crooked Teeth, Death Cab for Cutie
- Last Nite, The Strokes (pretty much anything Julian Casablancas sings makes me feel soooo rad. Like sometimes I just want to take off my headphones and make everyone else listen to him sing, because I feel so cool strolling around campus with him in my ears.)
- Shove, Angels and Airwaves
- Hysteria, Muse (this actually makes me feel like I should be in a car chase scene from a Bourne movie, but whatev)
- Invincible, Muse
- Falling Away With You, Muse

Of course I could keep going, but these are my favs. 

Also on a happy note, 

Young the Giant is putting out their first full-length album TOMORROW. And you can stream the whole thing on facebook for fuh-ree!
Of course I have done it already, and I can attest to their pure unadulterated talent. They blow my mind. And the lead singer has the hottest voice EVER. I am so pumped about that cd!!!!

p.s. I really hate when I have dreams that I am married. First, they are usually really vivid and happy and fun. Which makes them seem incredibly realistic. Second, since they are so realistic, I wake up thinking it's true, only to realize that I do not have a husband, and I am still sleeping alone in my stupid bunk bed. 

HAHA

kind of a depressing and pathetic start to my week. But hey, at least I have a creative imagination right?!

Come Around Sundown

Gold star if you can figure out what that means.

Just another lovely day in Utah. 

And some great stories to share.

Actually mostly just one, but it's a goodie.

So this morning, my dedicated friend Nicole and I were going to go to the gym. Correction. We DID go to the gym. But silly me, I set my alarm for an hour later than I meant to. So when she called me at 5 a.m. to see where the heck I was, I had just been woken from a crazy dream. Which goes as follows:

I was on some tropical vacation with my family, playing in insane waves at the beach. For some reason though, I had my cell phone attached to my ankle (new fad. watch for it). When I picked it up after coming out of the water, the background had been changed to Finding Nemo! RADICAL! So here I am dreaming about my phone when my phone actually started ringing. So I jolted awake, picked it up and said outloud "This isn't my phone! Where is the Finding Nemo background?" before answering and talking to Nicole hahahaha. My pobrecito roommate! Here I am talking super loud at 5 a.m. about how my phone really ISN'T my phone, all while my Kings of Leon ringtone is blaring at top volume. It was really funny.

Also, I have wonderfully exciting news. I GET TO GO HOME NEXT THURSDAY! I am surprising my brothers, and I get to see Mckay play in his last football game of the season! And my birthday is the following Monday, so I get to have a little celebration with the fam while I am there! Tired of all my exclamation points?!!!! You should be! Because I am! But I can't help it, I am so excited to go home and see my sweet family woooooooooooo!!!! (and the overly obnoxious blogger of the day award goes tooo...)

Finally in other great news, my lovers the Followill boys from KOL (for all you noobs out there, that means Kings of Leon. Welcome to the 21st century sheesh) put out a RAD new album today. How do I know it's rad? Well I listened to all the 30 second clips on iTunes of course! Don't even think I won't use my itunes gift card that I WILL get for my birthday (yes I already asked my parents for one...) to buy the whole album, because I totz will. AND it comes with the full Radioactive music video, also a making-of the music video. I can hardly contain myself, I am so excited. Caleb has the hottest voice EVER. And the whole gang isn't so hard on the eyes either. Obsessed much? 

 

 

Probs. 

Whatev :)

Well that's about all I got. 

Happy day of Tues!

Hey Monday

That's a band from arizona. 

And here are my sentiments about today. 

Monday didn't used to bother me very much. Maybe I am turning into a grouchy old lady. Regardless, I HATE Mondays lately, and today is especially drab. It doesn't help that it's overcast either. Even the weather is bummed out! 

BUHH. 

Anyways, I'm thinkin that maybe a little happy list will help. I guess we will find out eh?

Happy list of the day

1. I am listening to a really great Mae song, the latest in their 1-song-a-month installment called "Bloom". Have I mentioned that I am so excited to see them in a few weeks? No? Well, 

I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE THEM IN A FEW WEEKS.

2. The leaves are INCREDIBLE right now. It's like fall came full-blown over night. Campus smells and looks exceptionally beautiful, and thankfully it makes trekking to class much more enjoyable.

3. I made sweet potato apple curry soup (try saying THAT ten times fast) and a pumpkin roll yesterday. And both were surprisingly delicious. I must say, I am pretty impressed with my cooking skills. Toot toot.

 

 mine was almost this pretty. and maaaan... those shriveled things you are looking at are actually baked sweet potatoes, and they are so good!

4. My dad sent me the sweetest text message yesterday. Something along the lines of I am so cute and he loves me. I am probably the luckiest girl alive.

5. I also got to watch Lion King yesterday. That is, bar none, my very favorite Disney movie. EEEEVVVVEEEERRRR. And I enjoyed squishing on the couch with great company at the same time. Pretty fun Sunday activity to say the least.

6. I bought shrimp from Smiths this weekend, in hopes that I could cook something delicious for lunch this week. However, I was a little wary though for several reasons. First, it's seafood. And unless you are on the coast, you run the risk of it being nast. Second, it was packaged. And from Smiths. That seems like a really bad combination. But much to my surprise, it's actually really good! I think I found a new favorite meal!

7. We had guests at our apartment for approximately 8 straight hours yesterday. And the very enjoyable sort. It was a nice afternoon, and I hope this is a trend that continues.

8. I started reading HP 7 for the 4th time yesterday. Just getting myself all geared up for the movie, hollah! I forget how much I love that book sometimes. And fun fact: whenever I think of peacocks, I think of HP 7. Gold star if you know why, because that means you are almost as much of a Harry fan as I am.

Only almost though.

Well, I was right. 

I do feel much better. 

It's still a drab Monday, but my heart is happier!

I hope you're happy... I hope you're happy now....

Nice WICKED reference eh? Eh?

Well since it's Thursday, it's necessary to make a happy list like this. because Thursday is theee best day of the week.

let's be real.

1. I love my job. It's so chill AND we have great food here, all the time. Last Friday, pizza. Tuesday, fruit and brownies. Yesterday root beer floats. Today, cinnamon roles. I hope the trend stops soon because hello. I can't eat like this all the time. But it's been pretty great the last few days.

2. I love my darling Spanish friends Chelsie, Ashley and Rachel. It makes the class much more bearable. Yesterday for instance, we were talking about roadtripping together before Chelsie get's married. Today, we were discussing her bridal shower and what great things to incorporate in the planning. I just really love them. If there is one awesome thing about having to attend that class every day, it is the fact that I get to see those fabulous ladies. 

Because they really are so much fun.

3. Yesterday was my roommate's birthday. Fun fact, we have known each other since we were 7. And we were baptized on the same day. Lauren likes to tell this story because she was so mad that I got to be baptized first even though she is 3 weeks older than me. But I'm like chello! It was my birthday that very day! It's so funny to hear her tell it because she still gets so worked up haha. She is also pretty much one of the most amazing people I know. She is only 21 and she is already in the Masters program for accounting. Brilliant? Yes. She is a sunday school teacher, and an amazing one at that. She is absolutely gorgeous, and she has the best laugh ever. I am so excited that she is getting married in December, but a little sad at the same time because I love living with her. 

She is a stud-ette

lauren and fiance. so adorable.

4. I made pot roast for dinner again tonight. I am not that excited to eat it, just to come home to the smell of it cooking. GAH. Favorite. Thing. Ever.

5. My birthday is in 18 days. Which means Halloween is in 17. And the Mae concert is in 22. I am just a LITTLE excited for that week. But only a little. Here is a preview of what I have to look forward to...

Dave Elkins is my HERO

6. I have the greatest playlist of MY LIFE right now. I am a huge fan of playlist titles being one word, hence the name "leaves" for the aforementioned best playlist ever. Because it's fall? And it's all I listen to? Get it? Oh em gee I am sooooo creative and deep and smart sometimes, it kills me. 

JOKE. 

Anyways, it's a masterpiece in it's own right, and that is what got me going on this slow morning. And it's what kept me going today at work. What's that? You want a taste of it you say? Weeellllll.... 

Ok. I guess I can oblige :)

- Sweet Afton, Nickle Creek
- Sore, Annuals
- Modern Nature, Sondre Lerche
- The Boxer, Simon and Garfunkel
- Saved, The Spill Canvas
- Ragged Wood, Fleet Foxes
- Consider the Ravins, Dustin Kensrue
- White Lights, Deas Vail
- Life in Technicolor II, Coldplay
- Rebellion, Arcade Fire
- 23, Jimmy Eat World
- a crapload of John Mayer songs. scuse my french.

There's one hundred and four more songs where that came from folks. Pure bliss? Don't even try to tell me it's not.
In case I haven't gabbed enough about music, I AM SO THANKFUL FOR IT.

7. Josh Groban put out a new single on Tuesday. IN PORTUGUESE. If that's not enough to make my whole week, amazing than I don't know what is.

It's easy to see why my 12 year old self fell in love. 9 years later and we are still goin strong!

8. Last night, I had a dream that I was in my New Testament class, and someone put on some cool Hawaiian slash tribal music. Naturally, we all knew the song. So instead of having class, we all stood around the radio and sang and danced. A tribal dance. For the whole hour. And then, the mystery guy I was dating in my dream told me, "Brooke, you light everything on fire"

That's either really romantic, or kinda weird. I still haven't decided.

So basically I have the greatest New Testament class ever, and I am the real life Katniss, girl on fire.

AWESOME.

Anyways, I think this happy Thursday list will suffice. And I hope it is.

A happy Thursday, I mean :)

and now for the true/false section of the exam

KIDDING. 

But I really am in exam mode right now... Hence the formatting.

"Brooke, how are you so cool?"

True: wearing glasses when I read or study makes me feel MUCH smarter. I would know... I did it for six straight hours on Saturday. My theory? The smarter I feel whilst trying to MAKE myself smarter (aka studying) will ultimately result in a smarter Brooke. Sick of that word yet? (meaning the word "smarter", not "Brooke". Don't be silly.)

False: I still hate my Spanish class. Thankfully yes, this is false. It is actually rather enjoyable now. So enjoyable that I am actually doing something for it OUTSIDE of class on Thursday. 

Night of Argentina? Cheyeah.

True: the other day while I was stopped at a stop light (pardon my redundancy), the blinker of the car in front of me was PERFECTLY synced to the song I was listening to for about a minute.
It was so awesome, it probably made my whole day.

False: I am thrilled with the fact that I have to get a new tire put on my car today. And fork over 95 bucks. Seriously, soooo excited!

True: Sundays are, BAR NONE, my favorite day of the week. Yesterday was an especially good one. Picture this: after attending 3 lovely hours of church in the morning, I came home and ate a delicious pot roast dinner with my roommates Lauren, Tashya, Claira and other friends. Then worked on my New Testament reading for a little bit after which talked with my roommates for a while. Then, a slew of wonderfully fun people came over and played games for a few hours, immediately followed by two other friends Miles and Isaac, whom Claira Beara and I sat and talked with for about another hour. Needless to say, I was exhausted from all the socializing, eating, and churching, but it was such a pleasant day. I am already counting down to the next one.

False: I love socializing allll thhheeeee tiiiimmmeee. Like I was not even phased yesterday when I had to talk to the aforementioned 5 billion people after church. NOT. EVEN. PHASED.

True: I really miss my family. All I want right now is a nice brother-hug.

This is probably the truest of all the above true-statements.

The End.

this may or may not be a good thing. most likely good.

I have a new obsession.
All I want to do is cook. ALL THE TIME.

Today's meal? Chicken Divan.
More like Chicken DIVINE! It smelled so freaking good when I put it in the crock pot this morning.

This weekend? Pumpkin Bread Saturday and Pot Roast Sunday.

Next week? Curried Sweet Potato and Apple Soup.  

OH EM GEE I am so excited about that one.

I can't even stop looking at recipes. Like, I spent almost an entire class period today looking up crockpot recipes on my ipod instead of listening to my professor talk about public relations and news releases. An hour well spent? CHYEAH. It's like some unknown force has caught ahold of me and is saying 

"muuust.... maaakkkee...foooddd...allll.... theeee... tiiimeee!!!!"

I don't even want to eat it, I just want to feed people.

Now would be a really great time to show up, potential boyfriend. 

You would have a full tummy, 100% of the time.

Until then, it's me and my roommates who get the benefits of this great new hobby. And don't even ask me how much money I am saving because I am NOT eating out anymore. I'm sure it's a slightly mind-blowing amount. 

ALSO. 

I am dead set on having a Halloween themed dessert party, ON Halloween aka because that is the only fun thing we can do this year because it will be Sunday.

And FUN it will be. Mostly because I am planning on making these bad boys.

Go see Martha Stewarts website for more deets. And try not to die of cuteness overload.

this is so radical

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/miracles-musical-mash-up/20gxob94

It's here

Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.
-William Cullen Bryant

 

I may be exhausted out of my mind...

But I am also so happy right now.

No, more like, I am so contented right now.

Slightly bursting at the seams with contented-ness

Today is wonderful for several reasons.

First, it's October. YAY.

Second, it really feels like fall now that it's the aforementioned October. MORE YAY.

Third, I spent about 30 minutes in the bookstore this morning just oggling over the adorable Halloween decor. EEEP IT'S ONLY 30 DAYS AWAY. 

MOOORE YAY.

Fourth, my birthday is exactly one month from today. MOST YAY (ok not really the most yay. But it's still pretty exciting)

So not to be like the-most-cliche-blogger-you-ever-did-see, but I am really feelin this whole 

"hooray for fall"

thing today. And as such, I am going to compile a list of the reasons why I love fall so much. 

So sue me if you've heard it all before. Because odds are high.

*hem hem*

1. Halloween, obviously. I think my parents did a good job making this holiday feel adorable rather than scary while I was growing up. To me, it's not about skeletons and freaky costumes, but more about cute pumpkin decorations and watching Halloweentown. Remember that Disney movie? LOVE.

2. Candy Corn. And the candy pumpkins. And Halloween colored m&ms. Enough said.

3. Decorating. My mom has the most adorable collection of cute pumpkins, adorable little skeletons and witches, plates, leaves, the works. I love it all so much, and I wish I had the means of decorating my apartment! Boo. (not like a ghost boo. but a sad boo. just clarifying)

4. Fallish food. Carmel apples, anything pumpkin, pies, hot chocolate, oatmeal, peaches, soups, etc. It's all so comforting and wonderful!

5. The leaves. I am so thankful to be living in Utah this time of year. The mountains and canyon are absolutely enchanting, I could eat them up. Swear.

6. The clothes. Everyone always looks so fabulous in their boots, sweaters, scarves, jackets, cords, tights, etc. I am so ready to put away my sandals and shorts because I love fall clothing SO MUCH! (See fall JCREW catalog for deets. Try not to get drool on the pages like I did.)

7. When it starts to smell "cold". Everything gets crisp, the leaves start to fall, and there is just a certain scent to the air that is truly intoxicating.

8. Bonfires in the canyon. AH such a magical weekend activity. And with banana boats? PERFECT.

9. Fall candles. Pumpkin Spice, Warm Vanilla, Apple Cider, WHATEVER. I love 'em all.

10. Driving. It feels so much more epic during this season. Don't even tell me it doesn't.

11. Mellow music. I don't know if it's just me, but when the seasons change, so do my playlists. I tend to lean towards more mellow music in the fall because everything seems so much more peaceful. For example, my current playlist consists of Jonsi, Mat Kearny, John Mayer, Coldplay, Stars of Track and Field, Eric Clapton and Rookie of the Year. SOOO great.

12. Hay rides, corn mazes, and other fun seasonal activities. OH! Like bobbing for apples. (side note, who ever came up with the idea of sticking your face in a fruit-filled cest pool should be shot. GROSS. But a cute fall activity in theory)

13. Pumpkin carving. Smells gross, but fun in every other way.

14. FOOTBALL. even though my cougs are not being so fierce right now, it's still such a fun part of fall. Don't even talk to me about how sad I am to be missing my brothers games. Silly Arizona, being so far away!

15. General Conference. How lucky I am to partake in this tomorrow and sunday! Such a wonderful fall treat!

16. My Birthday. Being the day after Halloween makes for like 5 straight days of partying. Let's hope I don't have a bunch of tests during that week this year...

17. And finally... Thanksgiving. I am pretty sure I don't need to say anything more about that.

So basically, if I haven't made it painfully obvious, my very favorite time of year is now upon us.
And I couldn't be more thrilled today
:)