A Little Trip Around the World

This weekend was Holi Krishna (The Festival of Colors to welcome in spring). I've always wanted to go to this festival, but I've always been in Rexburg during the festival so it was never an option. But this year (woo hoo!) I was finally able to make it! I went with two of my friends (Elisa and Jacob), my friend's younger sister (Kristen), and Kristen's friend Orlando. We set off from Salt Lake at 2 to pick up Orlando in Provo. That only took about an hour. But the drive from Provo to Spanish Fork (typically a ten minute drive) took over an hour because of all the other people on their way to the festival.

But, thank goodness, we did make it in time. And this is what we saw a we walked up to the Krishna Temple:




It was a beautiful Hindu Temple and thousands of people surrounding it.

It's hard to imagine that this is actually a place of worship because 1) it felt more like a rock concert and 2) they have a gift shop on the first floor of the temple. It was definitely not a place of contemplation and reverance like the LDS Temples. I'm so grateful for our temples and the peace felt therein. This was definitely not a "spiritual" experience for me (even though it was held at a temple); however, that did not keep me from having an absolute BLAST at this festival!


from left to right: Elisa, Kristen, Orlando, Me, Jacob

This was at the end of the festival and we had dusted most of the color off by this point (so you can imagine how bad it was before then)!

We were probably in the middle of everyone right now. So this picture probably shows about a 6th of the people that were there (and this was the second round of the festival)

There was colored dust EVERYWHERE!!!


I love any opportunity to get good and dirty!


After our Hindi adventure in "India", we jetted over to Korean, China, Vietnam and Thailand for dinner (aka Asian Fusion Resturant) -- lots of yummy dumplings and curry.

From Asia, we made our way to Italy to get some Gelatto. I got Almond and Hazelnut. Yummy!
We got lots of interesting looks from the people at the restaurants because, as I said before, it was almost impossible to get all the color off without water. So I still had very pink hair and eyebrows.



From Italy, we returned to the States but stopped in New Orleans first and watched the Princess and the Frog. It was the cutest Disney movie I'd seen in a long time. It had such adorable music and I loved that it was hand-drawn cartoons and not cgi characters. I think I may have to buy it!

I finally got home at about 12:30. There was no way I was going to go to bed with all this color all over me though, so I got in the shower and turned the entire shower pink in the process. But I finally got all the colored dust off and went to bed -- exhausted but very happy.

Halo of Highlights

This morning, while working at the reception desk, I was told by one of our clients that I had such lovely hair; I should be a Breck's Shampoo model.

I'd never heard of Breck's, so I looked up their ads online and this is what I found:


She was SO right! I totally belong in one of these ads!



I mean, seriously! This is how I do my hair every day!







Straight up 1970's! Love it!

In 1936, Edward J. Breck hired commercial artist Charles Gates Sheldon to draw women for their advertisements. Sheldon's early portraits for Breck were done in pastels, with a soft focus and a halo of light and color surrounding the model. He created romantic images of feminie beauty and purity. He preferred to draw "real women" as opposed to professional models. (wikipedia)

*Sigh* If only I'd be born in the 1950's, I could totally be a rich and famous hair model by now.

In a Nutshell Sushi

On Wednesday, my Relief Society had an activity called "In a Nutshell" where anyone who wanted had 5 minutes to teach the rest of us something. We learned about everything from make-up and skin care to fish tanks to dancing. But my favorite, which I immediately decided to try, was the fine art of making sushi.

I bought the sushi roller at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. For the seaweed paper, sticky rice, rice vinegar, cucumber, and green onion, I just went to Smiths.

For the meat, I used salmon with a glaze found on my friends cooking blog: mymuffingthursdays.blogspot.com

It was a beautiful honey, brown sugar glaze. After cooking the salmon in the glaze, it honestly tasted like candy.

The flavors mingled beautifully

So now the only question is... Who's up for a sushi party?!?

I'm in Love! I'm in Love! And I don't care who knows it!

I was just given a free sample of coconut M&M's at my work today and there are FAB.U.LOUS!

I think I've found my new addiction.

Golde

Post graduate life is FABULOUS!!! I now have a job that I love and everyday gives me a rush! And I have this little beauty:


She's a 2001 Nissan Sentra.

This is the first time I've ever had my own car. I love the freedom and autonomy that comes from having your own car. And I love Nissans. I've wanted a Nissan since I was 16 or maybe even younger. She handles beautifly and everyone in my family loves her too!

Oh, and her name is Goldhe. And yes, she's Jewish. (And yes, I was watching Fiddler on the Roof recently)

And if you look closely at the back windsheild, you'll notice my little BYU-Idaho window cling. Boo-ya! Go BYU-Idaho!!!

Gainfully Employeed!

While I know a month doesn't sound very long, and some people I've talked to went for 6 months or more without a job after graduation, I am pleased to announce that I now have a job!

I'll be the Administrative Assistant/Receptionist for the YWCA of Salt Lake! It's not the most ideal job ever, but I feel like it's where I'm supposed to be right now and; of course, it's a step in the right direction and will help me land my dream job someday. But for now, I'm really happy to have this job. I think I'll love the people I'll be working with, and I feel like it's a job where I'll really be able to serve and enrich the lives of the people that will come in.

The YWCA offers temporary to extended stay housing for women who are either escaping abusive situations or need some assistance getting back on their feet. They're mission is to eliminate racism and empower women. I think that is definitely a mission I can get behind and promote with pride!

I start at 9 on Monday morning! Wish me luck!

Pomp and Circumstance

I did it! I graduated! I am officially an alumni of Brigham Young University -- Idaho! With
3.65 GPA, 131 credits, 1 change of major, 9 semesters, 4 different apartment complexes, 34 different roommates, over 200 dates, 4 different boyfriends, 5 amazing bishops, 20 lbs lighter, one blown knee, and countless incredible experiences I graduated and left Rexburg, Idaho.


Shaking hands with Brother Kusch, my Capstone teacher

Shaking hands with Brother Lundin, one of my marketing teachers

Holding my diploma cover (the actual diploma will come soon)

I'm just a little bit excited or something

Me with my parents

Now on to new adventures, that hopefully include a good job!