Wonderful Southern California, Emphasis on the WONDERFUL

This is my first blog since I've been home and it has been so incredibly nice! I left town as soon as possible and drove straight through until I hit the Orangewood exit off the 57 Fwy and boy was I excited to finally see the Halo at Angel's Stadium (and it was lit up because the Angels won, which made me even happier). 

Anyway! In the time I have been home, I have honestly just been relaxing and enjoying the Southern California sun, boy did I miss it. I have spent numerous days at the beach, in the pool and the jacuzzi. I have also enjoyed going to the movies, the OC Fair (for the first time in 12 years), playing Wii Just Dance and joking around with my family. I have been having such a good time in Southern California, it really makes me not want to leave, let me tell you. 

I have been working, basically on my own schedule, but working and I love it! I work for Smashbox Cosmetics, BRIDAL BEAUTY by Lori and LJS Brand. I am always asked what I do, so I will put this question to rest when I say everything. I do tons and tons of stuff and it continues to expand/grow and I wouldn't have it any other way. I enjoy working in entertainment, fashion and cosmetics. I love my bosses as well, no one could as for better bosses than the ones I have. I love my jobs and having wonderful bosses makes work even more enjoyable. 

I had my first makeup gig just this past Saturday. It was a 30 year high school reunion and I was a little nervous. It was the first time I put make up on a face of anyone over the age of 22, besides my mom, and it went so well. I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out, but these women were gorgeous, without sounding conceited, I was truly proud of the work I did and look forward to further my knowledge and practice to continue in the makeup world.

OOOH!

I went to the Lady Antebellum concert in Temecula at Pechanga Resort and Casino. I flippin' loved it, A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!

I also have had my first experience with energy drinks. My first was through Las Vegas on my way home. I was tired at the point, 4 more hours to go and I had no more steam, soo, what did I do? 5 Hour Energy and a Coca-Cola. I almost never drink soda and if I do, I don't drink caffeine because I don't want to rely on it and it's basically all negative, etc etc. Soo.. having Coke for the first time in 5 YEARS and my first 5 Hour Energy was.. quite the experience. Poor Lauren was in the car with me and Amanda called me at the WRONG time (right after the energy part, kicked in). Thenn.. at the Lady A concert, Amanda decided to have a Rockstar, or 2, and a Red Bull, plus some M&M'S. Kaitlin and I decided to join the fun, her enjoying a Monster, Red Bull, and a Kit Kat bar, not to mention the regular excessive amount of energy Kaitlin has. I resigned with a 5 Hour Energy and a Coke, and half a Red Bull, then gave Katilin the other half, soo.. I guess she has one and a half Red Bulls. Anyway, I recommend, just DON'T drink energy drinks. I can be an awful idea, especially when you're with 2 of our best friends, things can get crazy, and you can end up sitting in a gas station liquor store for over an hour, like we did.

Let's seee... what else? I really don't know. There are a lot of changes coming my way and a lot of exciting news that I'm not quite ready to spill, soo.. I guess you'll just have to stay tuned! I have to find a way to keep this blog interesting because I realize as I read others blogs', I realized that other people actually have a lot of changes going on and interesting occurrences to write about, while I write about college. Really? How interesting can the life of a 19 year old be? I'm only a sophomore in college! Well, to answer your question, like I said, stick around, changes are coming my way!

A Change of Pace

I often feel as though I am stuck in rut, especially when things do not go as planned or expected, which  simply leads to frustration. Lately, I have been feeling as though I am stuck in this vicious cycle I couldn't seem to break. I talked to a few friends, whom I always spill my beans to (thank the Lord for amazing friends!), and one of them finally told me the words I have been searching for-for such a long while now.

I have concluded that:

- It never ever matters what others think or say, or what you even think others might be thinking or saying about you because if they don't accept you for who you are, they're not worth it. If someone wants to judge, then they're going to judge regardless of who you are or what you're doing, so forget about others! 

- Don't live life in fear of what others think, just have fun and be yourself. Otherwise, you aren't going to be living your life to the fullest because you're letting others hold you back.

- I am who I am. I can't change that nor do I want to, unless it's in areas where I need improvement. 

- It is impossible to please everyone. Somewhere along the road, you're going to hurt other people and not do what they want, but in some scenarios, you have to make the decision that is best for you to continue to be yourself and live your life the way you want. 

So world, what I am trying to say is, from now on, I am going to just be me because for too long I have been letting others opinions and ideals affect me and who I am, what I want to be and I am done. There is no need to please other people. As long as I am living my life righteously and just being myself, then I am content with who I am. From now on, I am making decisions for myself, not for others; all motivation from this point forward is internal, forget those external variables, they're just holding me back and making me unhappy. It is essential to be the best me I can be. 

As I prepare to turn 19 at the end of the week, it is my goal to keep these ideas in my mind to from this day forward, actually LIVE MY OWN LIFE. 

I Am Obsessed with Cooking

I am absolutely obsessed with cooking and according to my friends and roommates, I'm pretty good at it. My days of burning Rice-A-Roni are long gone and I couldn't be happier. Now days my meals are well balanced and normally somewhat healthy, at least a better choice from food you can purchase in the Crossroads.

My favorites being steak, ribs, mashed potatoes, salmon with rice and asparagus, but really, my favorite was Easter dinner; I was completely exhausted afterwards, but it was well worth the several hours I spent cooking, at least in my opinion!

Here are just a few of the things I have made:

 Here's todays meal! BBQ Ribs with Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, and Corn Bread, YUM!

 My Homemade Easter Basket Cupcakes for Easter Dessert

 A lunch on a regular day, Salmon with Rice, Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes, Mangos and Bananas

An Ice Cream Cake I made for Keegan's 20th! 

Complete with: White Cake, Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, and French Vanilla Ice Cream on top. 

I LOVE cooking! 

I find it enjoyable and like knowing that others really enjoy it too. 

Really Bored at the Moment..

So I am extremely bored right now and decided I would write in my blog, but have nothing to write about, so.. I figure I will write until this turns into something.

...I still got nothing.
So today I traveled from Las Vegas back to Rexburg, it was a good drive and a super fun weekend with pictures to hopefully come soon! We hung out, did some shopping, tanning, spent some time on the strip, and overall had a blast! It was a good four/five-ish day weekend.

Now back to reality of classes and studying, dance and work, and the regular, non-relaxing life of a college student. Yay me.

It's just about June, which means my birthday is almost here, woohoo! I am excited. It is my first birthday that I will be spending away from home, so it'll definitely be a change of pace, so we'll see what happens. Though, with my birthday just around the corner, that means the semester is almost done, which not only means I will be going home sooner than I realize, but that I will soon be at the Lady Antebellum concert I have so anxiously been awaiting for the last month, with two more months to go, but it's going to be so worth it!

I really wish I had something meaningful to write about. Any ideas? Please let me know :)

Until next time...

Back in the Burg

So, I've been back at college for over a month now. I already have midterms coming up, yikes! This semester is going great, I'm getting future plans figured out and I'm getting excited and stressed out about it already, go figure. I miss my friends and family back at home, but I'm having a great time in Idaho! My roommates, neighbors, and other friends are awesome. I am definitely currently struggling with time management. If you have any tips, let me know because I'm still trying to figure out how in the world I am supposed to balance out: school- classes, homework, studying, tests- dance team, church activities, temple, dance team, working out, working from home, eating healthy, managing a budget, and maintaining a social life in Idaho and with friends back at home, not to mention the minor things like cooking, cleaning, organizing, and ya know, maybe getting a little shut eye.

Facts of Christin's College Life:
1) I do not have enough time to do everything I want and really don't know where all the time goes.
2) Wii is a way of life in Colonial 210.
3) I'm trying to spend more time on campus, including hanging with friends in the Crossroads and studying in the library.
4) I have the best FHE group again this semester, and an awesome ward.
5) I can make my gas tank last 3 weeks, don't ask me how, it just happens.
6) I really love cooking and have found ways to cook healthy, well-balanced meals on a college budget, don't ask me how, it's just kinda working itself out.
7) I am having an awesome time on dance team again this semester!

These are kinda lame things, but definitely just little blurbs of what's going on really.

I have spent Memorial Day Weekend in Las Vegas with my neighbors, it has been a blast! We leave in the morning and I'm definitely not wanting to head back, I've had so much fun with them and the Randall Family!

With that being said, I want to thank all of those who have served and are currently serving, the veterans and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice! I am proud to be an American and these men and women have all made it possible. Take a minute to thank a service man or woman, and think of how different your life would be without their courage.
FREEDOM ISN'T FREE

I come home in end of July and I'm very excited because less than a week later, I get to see one of my favorite bands, Lady Antebellum, with two of my BEST BEST friends, Amanda and Kaitlin, CAN'T WAIT!

Well, I think this is all for now. Until next time..

Faith

Faith. It's really a simple concept that many people struggle with. Who knew a five letter word could mean so much? Faith.

I have faith, without it, I don't know where I'd be. I truly understand the importance of having faith in all I do. I know that no matter what I do or no matter what's thrown my way, no matter how cliche it may sound, there's a reason for it.

In recent days, I've come to realize more and more, and even though I have my fears, I know that what's happening right this second is the way things are supposed to be and I'm content with that.

I definitely have someone to thank for the way things have played out, especially this past week. Someone's watchin' over me :)

Christin Grace

I Think I Should Write A Book

I do believe blogs are one of the best procrastination/distraction/time fillers to ever exist. Why do you ask? I have two more hours until my time slot is open for me to register for classes and I'm trying to come up with ideas of what I should do to help the time pass and another blog sounded like a great idea. So.. here goes nothing!

I think I should write a book. I have always enjoyed books, at least the non-assigned ones for class, but in reality, I wouldn't know if I'd enjoy them because I never read them. Assigned book reading stopped after my freshman year in high school. My biggest reading accomplishment since then: reading the Twilight Saga this past summer. Even though yes, everyone is doing it, it is a big accomplishment on my part, just ask my best friend Jessica, she'll tell ya! It was good to know she was proud of me. LOL

When I was young, I was a writing and reading fanatic, but my desire and love for reading, not so much writing, died once I got into junior high and was forced to read full books that I wouldn't have picked for myself and wouldn't appreciate or enjoy. My desire I did not have for reading came to a dead stop in high school. I think it was because of the International Baccalaureate Program that burnt me out in every way imaginable, but that's a whole other subject we will not touch right now. ANYWAY!

So book writing. I feel that even though I'm only 18, I've experienced a lot that your typical 18 year-old has yet to experience and may never experience. Yes, in this day and age life is tough and has always been tough and is often unfair. Am I complaining? Not quite, just simply stating a fact. Even though life hasn't always been the greatest, I feel that I am able to relate to a lot of people in different ways because of the different situations I have been in and lived through and in a way, it is almost a blessing.

At this point, I'm sure you're thinking, "this chick is crazy!" Though, without offense being taken, if you really knew me, you'd know at least some of what I'm talking about. Trust me, plenty of life experience in this 18 year-old. And, for those of you who do not think I'm crazy over the fact that I say I have a lot of life experience, you may be thinking I'm crazy for thinking that bad things or in other words, the not so great times, are a blessing, may be activating that crazy card in your mind, but really! When anyone goes through something tough, you have a better understanding of yourself and those around you, you grow and mature, you become stronger, you overcome challenges, which can only better yourself, if and only if you have a positive attitude and believe that you have the strengthen to get past it and won't let your past hold you back from your future. Life is a lesson, you learn. Without it, where would we be? About as smart as a 5th grade, but according to the TV show, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing for many adults out there.

If I wrote a book, honestly, I'm not sure I'd know what to write it on. There's so many topics that I feel I could write about and be capable of applying real emotion, but would it be of any fascination to any of you? Yes, I might feel accomplished and be praying that it somehow effects someone else whether it be the encouragement they need or to learn something new, but would it really be worth it? Besides, if I were to write a book, by now, you would all be thinking that I'd be writing about something that personally happened to me and if that were true, something personal would become public, and if it wasn't about me, you would all be thinking it actually happened to me and judging would begin, if it has not already started.

All-in-all, would it really be worth it for me to write a book?

Christin