Utah and Cali are basically the same...except it's hotter and more expensive in Cali.

   I wrote an entire post about California. I wrote about how it's different, how it's not, how so many think it's what it's not, but I'm probably not going to post it. I couldn't help but think about why I was writing all that. Why are the differences, or lack of differences, between the two western states so important to note?  I decided it's because a large percentage of people I know from California (or any state other than Utah) dis Utah. Most of these people live in Provo, and most of them attend BYU. I decided to share my opinion of this "Utah culture." I'm not necessarily defending Utah, but I do want people to clarify who they are actually stereotyping.

   BYU, located in Provo, is where most out-of-state students get their first taste of the Utah culture. Around 35,000 students attend the institution. This is where the stereotypes are most shared. Yes, the Utah stereotypes. The gossip and talk hums around the campus with people chiming in like they are part of a unique group.

"People here so weird!"
"I'm not from Utah either, and it is a culture shock!"
"I bet half these people have never seen a bikini before!"
"Everyone in Utah just wants to get married!!"

But voicing these opinions is not unique at all. Only 31% of students that attend BYU are from Utah. Yes. 31%. That means the majority of the student body are in the non-Utahan "unique" group. And the majority of students claim that proudly! They wanna be different after all! Or maybe they wanna be the same?

Utah is a beautiful state and pretty family friendly. It's a little frustrating that the view of Utah gets tainted with stereotypes obtained from a student body that is mostly composed of non-Utahans.. It's possible that these stereotypes more fittingly apply to those of the LDS culture. It seems to fit those from any state. The student body of BYU is 99% LDS, after all. And yes, the majority of Utah residents are also LDS (60%), but only about 40% are active.

Every state has quirks and differences. It's inevitable. But I think it is wrong to assume that an entire state, or even a majority of a state, is a certain way by what we see in a small part of that state. It's even more wrong to make these assumptions when that part has a condensed population of one religion or culture.

In conclusion, the lack of differences, the bad differences, and the good differences between Utah and California don't matter. I don't have to tell you all how the differences are completely blown out of proportion. I just want you, dear reader, to know that Utah is Utah. It's just another state. So when everyone goes off about this insane culture, ask them where they got their facts? Provo? BYU? Because a big chunk of those people aren't even from Utah.

Post Script: Utah does have oddities though. Fry sauce, bad driving, and bipolar weather isn't something I'm going to defend. Not that fry sauce needs defending.

Sources:
link, link, link.

A Short Library Tale

So, I was innocently putting picture books away when-

Well, actually, let me paint a picture for you.
 Also, why does "putting" look so weird..?

This is the Children's section of the library:

These are the shelves:

And this is the little scootery thing that I sit on to put the picture books away. I scoot down the aisles and am therefore not uncomfortable putting books away on the short shelves.

 

Where was I? Oh yes.  I was innocently putting picture books away when a lady decided to take up an entire aisle by the way she positioned her stroller. 

"Excuse me?" I said. But of course, I am very shy and rather awkward, so she didn't hear me. The logical thing to do would be to ask it a bit louder, but I had already mustered up all the "outgoingness" I could for the day and decided to get angry instead. So, I angrily tried to scoot away down the adjacent aisle and come up behind her. Don't drink and drive! And don't fume and scoot...

I was pushing my little scooter around with the force of a very mad woman, because I was, in fact, a very mad woman, when a wheel snagged on a bit of carpet and WHAM. It flipped over and I was on my back with a lapfull of books scattered around me. Oh boy! Now I was really mad. I got up, gathered the books and slammed them on the bookshelf by the lady. 

She didn't look over. 

I then, grabbed my little scooter, stomped down the aisle and proceeded to put books away.

I got so mad at a woman who didn't even know I was there AND who did nothing wrong!

Moral of the story: Learn to not let little things get to ya! Especially things that don't exist!

YOUR conversion: an LDS post

I have to admit, I love the attention and encouragement I get when people realize my family isn't active in the church and I started going on my own. I like seeing the excitement of people when I tell them that my husband and I are getting sealed this summer. I laugh at myself along with everyone else when I believe things like "temples have gift shops." And I like playing the "primary song" game with my husband (he says the title of a primary song and I make up a song to go with it). BUT I think it's about time that people stop comparing conversions. 

Even the members that are raised in the church have to be converted to it! We can't live off our family's testimonies and so in order to have our own testimonies, we must be converted to the church. For some, it's not very recognizable. One day they believe, the next they really believe. Some fall away and come back. Some live the standards but lack a real testimony for a long time. Some experience something that makes it all clear. Whatever it may be, we all must be converted. 

I admire those that must leave everything behind (family, another religion, their home, etc.) to come to the church. I also admire those that live in a home surrounded by the Gospel for their entire lives, and then grow to have faith and a testimony in that same Gospel.

Let's love and admire the members that had trying, difficult, and amazing conversions.

But don't forget your own conversion. 

Love that too :)

walk. NO foolin'

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.

Henry David Thoreau

Okay, Thoreau, I don't really know about the "early-morning" part, but boy howdy, you are right! And this is no April Fool's joke!

Taylor and I love going on walks! At first, I did it as a health thing. Walking is at least something, so I'm kind of exercising... But now, it's much more valuable than that!

Every time we start our day off with a walk, the entire day is so much better! Today, for example, we woke up and went on a little walk. Normally my days off are full of lazy..er..laziness, but already today I made a delicious breakfast, started making parfaits for a dinner tonight, went grocery shopping, worked out, took a shower, and cleaned the house! And because of the fresh, happy start to the day, I feel optimistic, blessed, and HAPPY!

Not only that, but it's a great way to take a break from electronics and talk to each other. We have a lot of things coming up! Moving to Logan, summer sales, school, and most importantly, going through the temple! I love talking to my partner in life allllllll about it.

And even though Taylor looks silly, I sure do love him! I really appreciate all he does and the wonderful conversations we're able to have :)

I love all my blessings and I'm so grateful for them!

If you guys want to have a great day, try starting it out with a little walk!

It does wonders for us, oh, and don't forget Henry! It did wonders for him too!

My Fair Wedding: Part 12

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3,

Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, 

Part 7, Part 8, A Hard Decision, Part 9

Part 10

I love food! Who doesn't??(I kind of wish someone had warned me about the marriage 15)

Food has a tendency to eat up a lot of your wedding budget. Pun intended...however awful.
The most convenient aspect of my wedding, however, was the theme.
An old timey carnival means old timey foods!

So instead of paying someone a ton of money to cater our event, we just got lots of hot dogs, cotton candy, and lemonade (the lemonade stand was crafted by my uncle and manned by my adorable cousin)

The cotton candy machine was easy enough to obtain through my sister's work (Funfinity), and my Aunt's neighbor supplied us with the hotdog stand!

Our cake was entirely for show, so we bought it from a grocery store and had it decorated by a friend.

(The gorgeous cake topper was hand painted by my very own talented mother)

Our real dessert was pan dulce. :) Mexican sweet bread that was ridiculously inexpensive!

We provided our guests with a little candy bag/ At this point in time, the idea is hardly original, but it is cute. We ordered lots of candy through a grocery store (no additional charge), and my aunt and grandma ordered more candy online :)  

 We also had a little luncheon before the ceremony! My family joined together and made all of it while I was at work. I love my family. :)

I was so busy and nervous that I didn't really get to enjoy all the fun and delicious food...but our guests sure did!!! :D

being offensive or being offended?

       I don't know if y'all have noticed, but I find myself blogging less and less. I also find myself reverting posts to drafts, writing things out and then never posting them, deleting old ideas. Not because I don't want to share those ideas, and not because I don't like those posts, but because I'm suddenly afraid of offending people. Nothing I write is EVER intended to offend anyone or make anyone feel bad. But I do like to express my ideas and opinions and I hate thinking that I might offend a reader because they have a different opinion or do things that I do not like to do. You know what I mean?

     For example, that post I wrote on swearing? The only thing I was thinking about when posting it was "what if someone who swears doesn't like this? What if they get offended?" But in reality, I don't mind one bit if you swear! Swear all you like! Swear up and down! Swear at me! Swear the dirtiest swears in the world. I just don't want to curse anymore. That's all. And I wanted to share that with you, so that I could get my idea out there and also to keep myself motivated. :) What I'm getting at is that I wish I wasn't so concerned about accidentally offending someone. After all, if it's an accident then I'm not really doing anything wrong, right? And if I focus every post on making everyone happy and not offending anyone, then my blog would be really surface level and ultimately boring.

Like Franklin said,

If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed. 

 Or this quote from my favorite playwright...a little more direct and altogether debatable.
The secret to success is to offend the greatest number of people.

But in the end, I just need to remind myself that we all choose whether to be offended or let things roll of our back. We choose to be upset at someone or something. We pretend that we don't have a choice and waste so much time being prideful and hurt. I don't want to offend anyone either on purpose or on accident, and if I do, I apologize. But I don't want to stop blogging about things I think or realize. I don't want to stop posting about my opinions and beliefs.

Just because someone is getting offended doesn't mean someone else is being offensive.

 

the no good very bad day

After we got home from our exciting trip to Vegas, life hit hard. It always seems to. :) Past mistakes and bad decisions are catching up with me, we left our house in a hurried mess, work was not-so-patiently waiting for us,  and Taylor and I are trying really hard to be ready for the temple as soon as possible!

It's not easy.

And today wasn't either.

I suddenly felt overwhelmed and wanted to give up. Ya know how it is. One thing will get you down and suddenly EVERYTHING seems impossible. I woke up today ready to clean and work out and run errands, and then suddenly I didn't think I could do any of it!

Luckily, I have a secret weapon that combats a no good very bad day. Well, it's not so secret...it's my best friend. Taylor has done everything he can to turn this frown upside down. And now I don't think I want to give up. This is just a minuscule moment of my entire life and even a smaller moment of eternity! I'm still scared and a little down, if you come to my door, I'll probably say "Um...I'll call you later," but I'm not gonna lay in bed all day and mope!

At the very least, I'll read a book!
...okay at the very least, I'll listen to a book.

And I'll try to get over this one day at a time! Days full of prayers and that helpful secret weapon.

What's your secret/notsosecret weapon to an awful day? Or any advice?