The List Goes on and on and on...

Just when you think you have your life down to  a "T" (or a Q as Jessica calls it), the big man upstairs sends you a curve ball or two. Before you realize what happened, you've struck out, and you're sitting in the dug out, wondering what just happened. You think over what went wrong, think you have it figured out, and you go back up. Strike one. Strike two. Strike three. You're out. You try again- but no luck. You've struck out, game over. Try again next season.

Speech therapy seemed like the perfect job for me, but lately I've really been questioning what to do with my life. My ideal job is to be a writer, a crafty person, and a mom. Unfortunately there's this thing called 'the real world'. All I can say is… Thank goodness for a sense of humor to get through times like this. Richard G. Scott said, "A good sense of humor is an escape valve for the pressures of life".

I think I've come up with a good theory though. In heaven, there was flyers passed out and posted, announcing the big talent sign up day. But me? I’m not one for lines, and tend to do my own thing. I was probably on the side, making fun of all those people for waiting in line all day. Little did I know….

I have been working on my Southern-Belle degree though. In honor of Mardi Gras, I made gumbo for some friends. The thing about gumbo is that if it doesn't take at least 3 hours, it probably isn't a real gumbo. So, eight hours later, all of us had died and gone to heaven; it was THAT good. I had posted a picture on Facebook, but it didn't do it any justice. The smell, the taste… I felt like I was back in the good 'ole South again.

Other than making gumbo all day, my roommates and I have had a list going. "Things we'd rather do instead of study". We stole the idea from the girls across the hall from us, but we've probably come up with some real weird ones. I don't think my roommates are what people would define as 'normal', but we have so much fun. Some of our ideas:

1. Making this list
2. Working out
3. Eating
4. Cleaning my room
5. Take a shower
6. Vacuum
7. Netflix
8. Facebook stalk
9. Solitaire
10. Search for a major
11. Contemplate skipping class
12. Make out
13. Shop
14. Grocery shop
15. Play card games
16. Play board games
17. Just Dance 3
18. Just Dance 4
19. Mama Mia Just Dance
20. Gambling
21. Disney movies
22. Curl my hair
23. Straighten my hair
24. Pee
25. Paint my nails
26. Shave
27. Read the scripture (working on my salvation)
28. Have a snowball fight
29. Bowl
30. Laser tag
31. Camping
32. Karaoke
33. Sing in the shower
34. Road trip
35. Watch people crash into cars when it snows
36. Write ALLL the missionaries
37. Go on a cruise
38. Old maid
39. Go to class just to pass the time
40. Check the mail
41. 1000 Ways to Die
42. Skype
43. Talk to dad about my (lack of) love life
44. Build a snowman
45. Drink hot chocolate
46. Scare people out of the back of Sydney's truck (RIP)
47. Do absolutely nothing
48. Pandora shuffle
49. Pace
50. Kick the ball against the door
51. Instagram dat joint
52. Road trip!
53. Laundry
54. Brush my teeth
55. Words with friends
56. Pinterest
57. Pose Ted
58. Play MASH
59. Peel potatoes
60. Just jelllin
61. Watch Michael's Hercules video
62. Lay on the floor and sing
63. Go to work
64. Wish on shooting stars
65. Jump on a trampoline
66. Babysit
67. Stalk the mailman
68. Interpretative dancing
69. "Cook" in my apron
70. Count how many licks to the center of a lollipop
71. Blow up balloons
72. Read letters from Mr. Cashen
73. VEGAS BABY
74. Eat Brighton's chocolate (rest in peace)
75. Zumba
76. Follow my heart
77. Ding-Dong Ditch people
78. True-Blue Cookies
79. Watcher Thunder Games
80. All-nighters
81. Play Nunca-Nunca
82. Eat chocolate fondu
83. Take a 2 hours nap and feel great
84. Search for apartments
85. Shop online
86. Rearrange and organize
87. Job hunt
88. Make a big life decision
89. And then change your mind 13 times
90. JL
91. Progress spiritually
92. Practice our party trick
93. Text Angie
94. Get my act together
95. Do sit ups with my eyes closed
96. 2 minute plank
97. Make fun of Shelby (don't worry, she wrote this one)
98. Pound the chicken
99. ROFFL
100. Eat subway cookies
101. Eat expired lunch meat
102. Eat an entire bag of chips and salsa
103. Stare into space
104. Cry
105. Admire the sun
106. Download music
107. Make one eyebrow back into two
108. Straighten my mane
109. Check the weather
110. Go to Y mountain
111. Jump off Y mountain
112. Make cookies
113. Then be sad once I'm fat
114. Drink milk
115. Change the scentsy
116. Count Brighton's boyfriends (it's like counting sheep)
117. Hide Mckinlee's squash
118. Watch proposals and proposal fails on youtube
119. And then want a boyfriend
120. See how big the rolls can rise
121. Watch 4 movies in a row

We've decided that one day we want to try and do all of them. With the exception of one or two, it is pretty much a typical day in our apartment. Lately it's been hitting all of us that we're going separate ways in the next few months, and we're "breaking up". Growing up is hard to do. I’m going to miss these girls. We've had too much fun together. But maybe we'll be able to get some studying in? :) Until then, we'll keep listening to Jessica blast her music in the freezing cold showers (thank you, to our awesome apartment complex that doesn't have hot water in the middle of winter) and smelling McKinlee's weird fruits that none of us had ever heard of until this year. 

Brain (And Body) Freeze

For all of you who thought negative degrees were something only in movies, nightmares, or Antarctica, think again. The last time I checked my weather app, Provo on Saturday had a high of 12, with a low of -8. No matter how many layers you put on, you will still get a nice set of permanent chill bumps and red rosy cheeks that are a great accessory for any outfit!

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I tried to think of some New Year’s Resolutions this year, but the farthest I could get was to drink more water. However, after a few days of this, I would NOT recommend it. Drinking water has side effects. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

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Our apartment sat down to watch the Bachelor, and it was here that I realized how much I love my apartment. I don’t know what we were more intrigued with- making fun of the stupid girls on the show, or the football game we kept switching back and forth between (Go Alabama!). Yes, we may be known as “the most exclusive group on campus” or even “The Housewives of Provo”, but hey, we love a good football game. (Side note: as quoted by Brighton, “The only thing harder than getting in, is staying in”).

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Brighton and I decided to go to Costco since the weather was nice (a whopping 31 degrees), and all it did was confirm how I should not be allowed to push a cart. Distracted by the tortilla soup sample and a grumbling stomach, I nearly took out a little old lady. Luckily I only hit her cart, but it definitely caused quite a scene. “Oh my gosh! This is so embarrassing, I’m so sorry!”

 “No, no sweetheart, it was my fault!”

 “No, seriously. I’m just a terrible driver! I’m so sorry!” By this point I’m covering my face and dying laughing, accompanied by the 10-15 people around me. The kind worker tried to offer some comforting words, “Well, at least you can laugh about it?!”

Ladies and gentlemen, don’t drink and drive. Also, don’t day-dream and drive a cart on an empty stomach. Accidents happen.

Homemaker in the... Avoiding

Well, it's official. I am the only girl at BYU that doesn't want to get married in the next two years. It's been a good time walking around on campus and playing I-Spy. I-Spy a girl in 6 inch heels.... Check. I-Spy a girl pretending to laugh really loud and cute to get attention. Check. I-Spy a girl in the pre-med program so she can meet a doctor and marry him. Check.

Ain't nobody got time for that!

While girls are blogging beautiful pictures of the cookie recipes they mastered, I'm just over here burning down my kitchen. Literally. Who would have thought homemade refried beans would be such a hassle? First of all, they took me two and a half hours to make. And secondly, a small fire may or may not have started, taking out the counter top. It's fine, no one was seriously injured, just my ego and home-making skills.

I'm still learning new things about myself- I don't have time to find things out about new boys! Dating? No thanks, I'll just snuggle up in sweat pants and watch Mary Poppins. I went to bed at 8:15 a week ago- turns out you can't go to bed on an empty stomach.... I woke up sitting in front of the pantry with Brighton shaking me to wake up. Yes, it's true. I'm officially a crazy person. I blog to pass the time from studying, I eat frozen pizza rolls, and I wear colored skinny jeans. Who woulda ever thought? Utah may have changed a few things, but it won't be putting a ring on my finger anytime soon! I've got tests to fail, apartment complexes to burn down, and Hell to raise. Bring it on, Utah. I'm ready, and I've brought my A-game.

It must be genetics

Isn't it crazy how much can change in a few years? I never think I'm changing, but when you look back six months previous, I'm a completely different person than I was. Funny how life works...

Side note: I just turned up the brightness on my laptop and I feel like I discovered a whole new world. This magic moment...

So Facebook has groups that only certain people can join, and my ward up here has one. No one in the ward even knows I exist. It's the weirdest thing. Especially since I go to church every Sunday. But anyway, so for General Conference, we had this weird guy that posted for like 2 weeks with a countdown and a video. Every single day. So every day for 2 weeks, I had a notification from James Call. "11 days until General Conference!" So today, April 5, I posted to the wall thing, for the first time ever, "183 days until General Conference" and I posted a video. Do you ever have those moments when you KNOW you're the funniest persona alive on the planet? That happens to me a lot. Anyway. My friend/future roommate Mckinlee was in her room and someone came in and was like "oh my gosh you guys I saw the funniest thing on Facebook! Some girl posted in our ward a countdown to general conference like James Call hahah"
Another girl, "Is she even in our ward?"
"I Don't know".
I died laughing when Mckinlee told me. Brighton commented on it, quoting from Mean Girls, "She doesn't even go here!"

Then, right after this, I've been needing boxes/black trash bags to pack up all my stuff for the apartment/ to go home... I go out in the hall to go to the bathroom, and theres a huge cardboard box! So I looked left and right like they taught me in school, then i grabbed it and ran back in the room. Then went back to the bathroom like I originally needed, and what do you know. There was a trash bag filled with balloons. So, I emptied the balloons and took the trash bag. I'm a klepto. But on a plus note, our hall now looks like a party with all the balloons! They'll thank me...

Brighton was gone for 10 days in Scotland on her own Spring Break with her family, so naturally, some of our future-roommates and I covered everything she owned in yellow post-it notes. It was like a post-it bomb had gone off. Brilliance at its best.


You have to get pretty creative here when it comes to things to do. Maybe that explains the multiple condoms/pregnancy tests that we've left in the bathrooms and hallways... Or when we hide in the back of Sydney's truck and wait for people to pass by and then we jump out at them. Don't judge, it's one of the funniest things we've done. We had Mckinlee in the truck, but you couldn't see her. And then she would watch for people. "Ready.......set.....NOW!" Then we would get em. Every time. I don't know if they peed from being scared, but I think I peed from laughing so hard.

We had a birthday sign that we would put in our friend's rooms, but we lost it. It was originally for me, and Brighton and Michelle got in from the dollar store. Obviously, because it was spelled "Hapy Birthday". SO funny. But Michelle got it last, and we don't really know where it is now. But the good news is, coming back from dinner tonight, Brighton and I found our new sign. It's on some girls car. And we want it. So we're waiting about 2 hours for it to get dark. Then I move in. Sorry, Hayley.

Oh good news, I passed my first kidney stone. And lived to tell the tale. I deserve a sticker, or a llama, or something.


Also, Brighton, Jessica and I set off the fire alarm. I don't remember if I told you that. I feel like I did. But I don't even remember what I ate for dinner three hours ago. But yes, we were playing soccer in the hallway at like midnight. And Brighton (obviously she doesn't play soccer), hit the fire alarm (or maybe she does, cause of her good aim, and just is playing it off?) and we had to evacuate the entire building. 250 girls. At midnight. Some were NOT happy. Also, it was freezing. Hey, it happens. Right?

Well, that's all I got for ya. I've been needing to study for anatomy for the past... four months. So here goes. Finals are in two weeks, then it's Texas Time. Also, I promise I'm not just up to no good. Good things just aren't as fun to write... But don't worry! I've changed a lot, but even still, Grady Taylor is my dad. That doesn't give you a whole lot to work with:) It must be genetics.

It's the little things in life...

The big things that happen in life are great, but I have decided it is the really things that really make it great... Some things that come to mind?

-Grilled chicken sandwiches from the Creamery. I had never had a grilled chicken sandwich, since everything down South is fried..... But seriously! This is delicious, especially with some bacon on it.

-When my laptop turns on successfully. Brighton (my roommate) and I have the worst luck with technology, so every time it turns on without any problems seriously is great.

-Colored leaves!! I love love love trees when they have changed colors... Bright, vivid red is my favorite

-Good friends... This one is truly great... I don't know what I would do if I hadn't made good friends that are supportive and hilarious

-My family... My family, extended and close, is seriously the best. The best grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, parents, brothers, and sister. I am so grateful for all that my parents have taught me and inspired me to become, they are the best role models to have.

-Straws... Yes, straws. They have to be thick though!

-Caffeine, of course. I've found that the Burger King right by campus has DELICIOUS cokes... That's the only good thing they have at Burger King though!

-A normal roommate. I look around, and am so grateful for who I got... It was meant to be. She's funny, smart, normal, pretty, and all-around awesome...

-Colored pens... These just make me happy!

-Chase Plowman. Yes, shoutout :) He's awesome and supportive and helps me with everything I need. Also, he is super talented at just about everything, especially the piano (click on the link to watch his recent video, and my favorite that he does!). He's been there for me everytime I have needed him, and has helped me more than I can ever thank him for. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nnfaR8y-I

-Gum... I don't know if it's a nervous habit, but I am chewing gum nearly 24/7...

Of course there are millions of other things, but these are some that have been on my mind today and recently... With that said, look for the little things around you that make you happy. Pearls, post-it notes, and puppies.... Simple and small, but its the little things in life that make a big difference

How to Spot a Texan on Campus

I'm in a flexibility class, and tend to sit in the back and keep real quiet. However, yesterday we had to stretch with a buddy, so as fate would have it, I was with a girl from Texas. We were completely different, but that one thing in common kept us talking the entire class period. I don't care if she is the weirdest or coolest person ever, she is a Texan. Therefore, there will always be something to talk about, and we will automatically be friends.

Walking around campus, I've been able to spot the Texans, as we tend to stand out a mile away. Why?

1. If it's 70 degrees outside, we are the only ones bundled up in layers
2. We are proud of our Texas teams! Rangers, Cowboys, Mavericks, Longhorns, Aggies, you name it, we wear it, and we wear it proud!
3. Chances are, every Texan has a flag in their window or their dorm.
4. We say words like "yall", or "fixin to"
5. We use lots of similes and metaphors that only other Texans understand
6. School work always has been less important than the football games
7. Country music is the best sound yall will ever hear!
8. We know only Ford or Dodge makes trucks... Nice try Toyota!
9. We know basic Spanish words
10. We have belt buckles bigger than our fists
11. Tornado sirens and thunderstorms don't even phase us anymore
12. We think school should be cancelled because it's snowing a little outside
13. We know what a buggy is
14. We feel sorry for those who have a Mercedes....Cause we have a Ford
15. A few bugs and spiders don't bother us
16. We save our bacon grease to use for later
17. We know that everything tastes better with Ranch
18. We know our state has a pledge, and we can proudly say it
19. Where we're from, there are more Texas flags than American


As Davy Crockett put it, "You can all go to hell, I'm going to Texas".

Our boys wear boots, not short shorts

Fall has begun, not a whole lot has changed, just more Utah girls and California boys. Clarification? Blonder hair and shorter shorts. People might think Texas has some weird fashions, but at least our boys don't wear shorts above their knee. No one wants to see that, sorry.

I switched rooms, but I hate my new room. The reason? My Texas flag that hangs in the window is covered up by a massive tree. So no one can see it now... It truly is tragic. On a plus note, class was paused today because someone said they were from Texas, and the class started clapping and cheering. The professor had to wait until we were all done cheering him on. It was a nice little 20 seconds, being a part of that pride. I have yet to see another flag hanging in someone's window... Then again, there is no other state to be that proud of. New York? No. North Dakota? No. California? Absolutely not.

The good thing about paying a certain amount of money each month for the dorm is that now we don't have to worry about saving energy. I have yet to turn the light off during the day, the air conditioning is right above frost-bite, and sometimes we leave the sink on, just because we can.

The other day, after someone found out I was from Texas, they asked me if I rode my horse to school. Sadly,  no. But for fun, I barrel race, get muddy, and kill skunks. God bless Texas, and may God have mercy on all those not from here