BYU-I? Are you still there? Why?

BECAUSE I'M FINALLY COMING BACK!

Yes, folks... it's true. I have finally made a decision. Lets hope this one sticks, because it feels like the right one. I think I am on the right path this time. Back to Rexburg, the place I love... the place that feels more like home than Alberta. I miss it every single day, I wish that I were there at school...

I wish I could have been who I am now back when I first started at BYU-I. I know I would have had plenty more success... but I guess that's just the way life is; right?

So raise your non-alcoholic beverages to a toast. A toast to BYU-I, and this hopeful heart of mine searching for the right place to be.

Cheers!

Probably the best Sunday EVER!

So, today I taught my usual Gospel Essentials class at church. As I was setting up in the Relief Society room, I was told that I was being moved to "Room 18" because Gospel Doctrine was getting too big for the other room and so it was being split into 2... and people were coming to Gospel Essentials even though they are strong members of the church and already know the essentials. Not a big deal right? Wrong.... Room 18 holds 15 people. At first I was pretty disappointed. I was hoping to have a nice big class. For some reason, the more people, the less intimidating it is to teach. Turns out, I was just being prideful... thinking that I was such an amazing teacher that I deserved a bigger room for all the people that usually come to my class.Turns out, I loved the smaller class. It was way more intimate, everyone learned new things and the spirit was totally strong.

Another reason why today was so good was because..... drum roll please..... I think I have a plan for the next 8 months of my life. I have decided that I want to go to Russia to teach english to small children for 6 months... starting in January. I have already applied just to see if I can get in! How amazing would that be!?!?!? Traveling, teaching.... what more could I ask for. I am slowing finding my calling in life. Maybe one day it will just appear... but until then, I plan on flying around the world and teaching kids to speak english.

NICE!

Just another ordinary day...

Turns out, I have no idea what I want to do with my life. 

And I mean NO IDEA.

I look at some girls who take a 2 year diploma to be a nurse. Yeah, I could do that... but I don't think i'll enjoy it. I could be an interior designer, in fact, I already know I can get into the program because i've been accepted once. But then I backed out. I could go to school for early childhood education or the culinary arts because then i'd be a really good mom... but I want to do more. I just don't want to follow the rules. Bummer, eh?

I'd love to write for a living, unfortunately for me the Lethbridge Herald is all full of casual columnists and has no more vacancies. The college here has a creative writing course but its an evening non-credit class. Chances are i'd be in a room with a bunch of creepy middle aged men who like poetry and young mothers looking for a night away from snot and diapers. Not exactly ideal.

I like to paint, but I'm not that good.

I like to take pictures, but I am not patient enough to learn about lighting and all that stuff.

I like fashion, but I would hate to have to sew it all.

I like talking, but there is no paid profession for that.... unfortunately.

I am a dweeb. And there is nothing I can do about it. Guys don't really want to be my boyfriend, and girls don't seem to want to hang out with me on friday nights. I work when I'm scheduled, have an institute class every wednesday, am in two YSA choirs and I teach Gospel Principles every 3rd Sunday in addition to going to my morning Ward Missionary Correlation meetings. Hello Karma? Are you out there anywhere?

Gah. I think it may be hopeless.

On the bright side, I don't have to worry about turning people down on friday nights if they are going bowling, because lets face it... bowling is a very awkward sport. After throwing your 3 balls down the lane, there is that 8 foot walk of shame off the platform back to your uncomfortable plastic swivel chair covered in glow in the dark stars. I don't see the appeal. Besides, those shoes they make you wear are hideous. I also get to sing in my car at the top of my lungs to any song i'd like, as many times in a row as i'd like. I don't have to worry about anyone complaining about the song OR the volume. That is Heaven.

Anyways, it's hard. Life is hard. I am ready for a break through, or a change of scenery. I just wish things didn't cost money.. no wait, I just wish I had a disposable income.

Whoo! I just had to vent. But, alas, the vent is shut and i'll keep all my hot air to myself... then maybe my bedroom wont be so cold.

Halloween!

So, this halloween was a little different! I have a boyfriend, so we decided to go as a couple for halloween too. Well, acutally, I had already decided that I was going to be Belle from Beauty and the Beast.. so when Chris and I started dating, he didn't have much of a choice. It was either Beast, of the transformed Prince. Of course, he chose the Beast. So after a little shopping and a little sewing, our costumes were complete. 

                                

So, pictures 2 and 3 are my, scarfing down some Ichiban before I got ready. My mom thinks I look asian, and I do! That bowl that I am eating out of is the exact bowl that my mom ate out of when she was my age. Weird!! Oh and take a look at that thick pony tail of mine... it's fake. I know, you can barely tell!

There are not a whole lot of pictures from halloween, because as you can tell, there are no pockets in my dress, and I was no about to carry my huge camera around allllll night. Besides, Belle didn't have a camera.

This next picture was taken on Monday, Nov. 2 at Chopstix! It was Seth's birthday and this is where he wanted to eat! So Seth, my mom and I went out to eat. Caleb had to work, Sean is in Tofino and Dad was on a business trip! My mom went on quite the photography tirade and decided that Seth and I were her models. This is the best one, and as you can see, Seth and I really took the theme of the night to heart. 

Cheese!

                                      

Why yes, I am a Bridal Consultant!

The life of a Bridal Consultant. Think: TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress". That is my life, full time, 5 days a week!

Yes, it is quite the job. Possibly the dreamiest job I have ever had...in fact, it is. 

For the romantic dreamer that I am, I must say... this job is fun! At first I thought that I might feel that sad, alone feeling by working with brides who were anticipating the happiest day of their lives, followed by an eternity with their "special someone's". But, I am so busy that I don't even have time to stop and think about it! I have officially worked a total of ten shifts at the bridal shop. I have sold three bridal gowns to first time brides... which basically means, they walked in the store for the first time and after about an hour or so, they were walking away with a newly purchased bridal gown (0ver $1000), in which case I received a nice little bonus with each dress! I must say, this place really knows incentives! 

So, a lot of people think that as a Bridal Consultant... I consult the bride on everything about the wedding. False. I only help her with dresses, shoes, bridesmaids, their mothers, veils, tiaras, alterations and jewelry. That's it.

I think my most loved part of the job is when you pull a dress for the bride after about 30 minutes of trying on gowns that she has picked for herself and put your choice on her. An even better feeling is when she loves it... and so does her family. Today, I had just that. I had a gown pulled for this gal... she put it on, stepped on the podium and started to cry. Shortly thereafter, so did her mother, two sisters and best friend. I put a jeweled headband, necklace and veil on, and this poor girl had no chance. We stood in front of the mirrors, all 5 of us chatting about the dress, passing tissues around and doting over how gorgeous she looked. It was the first shop she had been to since her proposal, she was from out of town, and she was getting married in a whole year. But this dress was divine, the right price and she looked drop dead gorgeous! So, 20 minutes later, we had her gown ordered, bridesmaids dresses picked out and a happy (and soggy) bride.

Now that's what I call a good day at work!

And so it begins....

Well, it's that time of year again. School's back in, Institute starts, the weather starts getting colder and the pressures start to loom.

As a year has officially passed since I first moved here to Lethbridge, I figure it is time for a little recap/goal session. When I first moved here, I was living in the top floor of a small (and I mean teeny, tiny) house. It was one of those cookie cutter houses... you know. Beige walls... beige carpet, beige laminate in the kitchen and bathroom and pine cupboards. Interior design at its best. Ahh...the creative minds. Along with myself, there were 4 other permanent residents and one girl that stayed thursdays-saturdays (her boyfriend(then)/husband(now), lived in town.. and she did not). So three bedrooms. Two singles, and the master was shared. In the master bedroom. There was, and can I get a drumroll please; Nikole-Double bed (against the wall), Janae-Twin bed (Against Nikoles bed) and Myself-Sleeping bag (on the floor, in the 4 foot space that was vacant from the edge of Janae's bed and the other wall). Not only was I against the wall, I was also behind the door...you see, the door was built on an angle. So the one corner of the bedroom was chopped off. It was cozy. Oh, and the girl that lived there on the weekends? Well, she slept in the bed with Nikole. So there were 4 of us. It was magnificent.

Alright, so those were my living conditions. Other than that, I started working at La Senza in the mall...once November hit I was transferring to the North Side Location of La Senza on the basis that I was promised a promotion and a raise. December came, parents moved here and I upgraded from the floor, to my very own bed... and room! Although the first night, I couldn't sleep in my new house. So, reverting to what I knew best from the previous 4 months, I slid off my bed, onto the floor, buried myself in my blankets and promptly fell asleep. Huh.

Unfortunately, it has been one year since moving here, and other than the two paragraphs above, I cant recall anything majorly exciting! Remember that promotion/raise I mentioned above? Never happened. With many prompts to head office, supervisors and managers...empty promises were all I recieved! So, after waiting around and mindlessly selling, ahem...un-mentionables, I decided to take matters into my own hands! I got myself a second job!

Yes, a second one. Hopefully I can stay on board with La Senza part time, but that seems to be all up in the air. My theory is that the company is unsure of what to do with an employee who is not a floater. Im honest, dependable and do way more that I should for the money I get, yet unfortunately for me, integrity doesn't mean a thing to these corporate robots. Used to a high turnover of half-baked and Barbie brained teenage girls, when confronted with a mature lady (if I do say so myself...) they freeze like a turtle who's lost its shell (deer in headlights is so over-used). So I wont be seeing a wage increase (due to the "economic crisis"), although they can afford to keep buying hideous clothing that nobody buys (ie: velour leopard print bras...and panties with feathers and fringes...yes both). It is quite the mystery to me.

With that said, I have officially been hired as a Junior Bridal Consultant (soon to be senior, I just know it!). I basically help brides find "the perfect dress", accessorize them with shoes, veils and bling... cant forget the bling. After that, I outfit the bridesmaids. Figuring out styles, sizes, fabrics and colors. 3rd priority is Mother of the Bride/Groom....all their dresses are mossy green with shoulder pads... BLEH! So anyways... it should be a fun job.

As for my second year in Lethbridge, I forsee many things. I am counting on "making bank" so that I can finally pay off that pesky school loan, save up for a reasonably dependable car, take some classes at the local college but still remain in full time sales and then probably around this time next year, write another blog.

I know that blogging is a one way communication until the comments start flowing, I am going to just jump on this subject, because after being in YSA for a solid 2 years, I feel like I could teach a flippin' class on everything you think you need to know about "it" until you actually get to "it" and then discover everything you think you know is crap. This "it" I am talking about is Marriage. Yes...things are still the same. Monthly lessons on eternal marriage. I am not 'dissing' the significance, but I definitely don't feel as inspired about the topic as I did when I first heard it in YW's when  I was 14 and just starting to recognize the other gender as more than just hair pulling, snotting, stinky monsters. Unfortunately boys haven't changed, and neither have the lessons. Im just saying.

Well, that is it. I'm signing off. Tomorrow is another day at work... just about tipping the scales at 45 hours this week. You'd think I'd be living in the Swiss Alps in my own house by now. I feel like I should retire! And that I will do. I am retiring to bed, hoping to wake up to a bed full of money and the laundry on the floor turning into love letters from 15 (or more, my room is a little messy) eligible bachelors from around the world, waiting to take me out for mini golf and an ice cream cone.

A little bit of passion...

So, I just finished a wonderful book.

"A Kiss from Maddalena" by Christopher Castellani

It was such a good book. Based in Italy during World War 2, it follows the longing of a young couple, Maddalena and Vito. Their forbidden love is hindered by war, broken promises, and family matters. It was a beautiful story of determination....but in the end, all the characters settle. They don't settle for their original intents, rather, they settle for things that do not make them happy.

I just have to say, my life may not be perfect...but I will not marry someone who I do not absolutely adore. This book reaffirmed that for me. I know this book is set in a time when family reputations were put in high esteem, but I cannot say that I would deny myself utter bliss for the feverish pride of my family. No offense. 

I reccommend this book, though. A wonderful read! But, if you are single and looking for your eternal partner, this book may cause a little tugging at the heart strings, thats for sure! It is full of romance, but there is a heavy dose of reality as well.

Still, I am so happy where I am and who I am with......so, as the hopeless romantic I am... I will continue to hope, dream, and pray for my happily ever after, for eternity.