Ick!

I know I already posted today but I have to get this out while it is fresh on my mind...or in my mouth rather... let me back up

I have really great teeth- but not so great gums. I used to like the dentist- and then I stopped going because Every time I go I have to have this discussion:

Hygienist: Are you sure you are flossing everyday??
Me: yes I am sure.
Hygienist: Are you flossing the right way?
Me: yes (I think to myself- how many ways are there to floss really??!)
Hygienist: It really doesn't look like you are flossing daily.
Me: I do. If I didn't there would be plaque on my teeth, which there isn't.
Hygienist: That's true. I guess there must be another reason (she says half in disbelief)

basically I get really sick of it. for heaven's sake I am not 12 yrs old. Anyway, because of this gum issue the dentist prescribed me a medicated mouth wash and told me to use it morning and night for a week to two weeks. No big deal right? WRONG. This stuff tastes worse than anything I have ever tasted. The night time rinse ruins my breakfast in the morning and the morning one ruins my food all day- that's how strong this stuff is!! Imagine if you will what it would taste like if you licked a hospital floor....that is what I'm tasting right now!!! it is horrible!!!

Here I go again...

A few weeks ago I heard about an audition for a show called "night of Broadway". Really its just a bunch of people singing Broadway songs for an audience. I pretty much audition for everything around here but this time I wasn't sure I was going to. I just finished up plaid tidings not too long ago and I didn't want to push my limits at work. The audition was on Saturday from 10-12pm and so I just decided I wouldn't take the day off but if it so happened that it didn't conflict with work I would go. well...low and behold I miraculously got the day off...and it was a miracle because I work retail and hardly ever have a whole Saturday off. So I figured I would just go and see how it went. Well, turns out it went really well and I will be singing in this show- by myself, on stage. AHH I'm freaking out a little bit right now but I'm also way excited!! This will be good for me- talk about stretching your comfort zone.

I can't play the game...

I am a people watcher. I especially like to watch people on dates. Maybe because I'm not good at dating- who knows. well actually I am OK at dating- I'm a fun date. I am just not good at playing the game of catching a man. Let me explain with a little example. Last weekend I went to a movie with some of my girlfriends and afterward we went to get hot chocolate at this cute little shop called "the chocolate". Its a cute old house that's been turned into a dessert cafe. Anyway, we were sitting at a table just discussing things when a couple across the room caught my eye. Let me describe the scene....



Boy faces girl. He is chowing down on his cookie ice cream brownie combination (which is delicious). Girl takes a tiny bite of her huge chocolate cake (that costs way more than its worth) then sits and sucks on her spoon for several minutes while she smiles and gives him the eye. boy continues to talk and stuff his face- and why shouldn't he- he spent good money on this stuff. This pattern continues for about 15 min. The boy has almost finished his dessert and she still has only nibbled on her cake. Boy gets up to get a drink- girl eats a few quick bites, chews fast and then when he sits down- sucks on her spoon again. Perhaps to draw attention to her mouth. who knows- like I said I'm not good at this game so this is all just speculation. Boy finishes his dessert and excuses himself to use the restroom. Girl digs into her cake- shoves almost half her cake into her mouth in a bite or two. Boy comes out- she smiles sweetly and they get up and leave.



WHAT THE?!?!?! what is that??? why can't she eat her cake in front of him. If she didn't want it why have him spend money on it? I assume he's smart enough to realize that her spoon can not taste better than the cake. I'm too practical to play the dating game successfully. I probably should have been taking notes- this girl is obviously a pro but I just have too much self respect to sit and twirl my spoon around in my mouth while someone talks to me. What was she thinking?! what was HE thinking?! I would have loved to climb into his head and hear his thoughts on this girl. I just don't understand why guys find that kind of behavior attractive. I think its deceitful. She acted dainty and ladylike in front of him and as soon as he left the room- she shoveled her cake in like she hadn't eaten in months! I'm more a fan of "what you see is what you get" -I can't play coy so I guess I'll never be good at dating. But I am OK with that.

LAME

OK I looked at the rest of the list for the blog topics and I've decided to jump ship...they are kind of lame and I think I need to blog about what I want to blog about- I don't like following a cheesy predetermined list. So I'm going back to my random rantings. Goodbye 30 posts in 30 days.

Day 7- My Best Friend

Let me tell you about me and my friends. Most of my friends are my best friends. I don't do things half way. Who my best friend is depends on which part of my life we are talking about and in what situation...because one friend may be just the one I need at a particular moment while another may save me from sadness a few weeks later. Generally I am the girl who has one very small tight circle of friends at a time- and as life changes so does that circle...but each one of those people I would still consider my best friends because they have helped to shape me into the person I am...So I will tell you about just a few!


My very first best friend I do not have a digital picture of but she was amazing. Her name was Carly Seavers and we met at church when we were six years old. I love and miss her so much!!


Above and to the left is my very best friend from high school. Rachel. We had So much fun and I don't know what I would have done without her. So many great memories of seminary, boating, shopping, youth conference--and lots of long talks and countless notes and code names for boys...we were pretty silly but I love this Lady!!

My friend Emily I haven't known quite as long as some of the others..just about 3 years but if feels like a lot longer. She moved into my ward and we hit it off- for actually very strange reasons- we were kind of dating the same guy- go figure. We also spent many many hours serving in the relief society presidency together. She is such a great person and puts up with me and all my flaws! She understands the way I think-which is NO small task.

This lovely lady is Kara. First let me say I love a person who is not afraid to wear color. But she is one of the most fun people I know!! She makes me smile and I always enjoy her company- she is like a sister. So fun to talk to And so beautiful!

This is her brother Brendon. I think when we first met I scared him a little but after hours of early morning dance practice together we became very good friends. I love this kid!! I seriously could talk to him for days on end- Crazy fun and what a stud right?? I love the Kopps. I wish they lived closer!

these two lovely ladies lived with me for over 2 years and I miss them all the time. Cortney and Maggie were two of my most fun roommates- I mean come on...look at that belt buckle- and the broken wrist is from one of our adventures together! These girls are always there for me and understand and love me even when I'm being difficult-They have both moved away now so I don't see them often but when I do we can talk like we've never been apart.

This is JeniLynn. My longest running roommate ever. We lived together from the time we started college until she replaced me with a husband. (love you Greg- I wouldn't have parted with her to anyone else) Our friendship started out rocky- as the best relationships often do- she thought I was obsessed with my seminary class and I thought she was super self righteous-we got over that after a few weeks. Jeni and I could talk for hours...and we did. Usually at night when we were supposed to be sleeping-we talked about anything and everything. we also spent hours squealing over books and movies- she has moved across the country now but I still love her.


I love all my friends, and if you didn't get a shout out and picture on here I am so sorry!! my blog can only be so long- it doesn't mean I love you any less or that you are any less important to me. Every person I call a friend has changed my life for the better!! My friends are always there for me and help me to smile- especially when I don't feel like it ;) You are all amazing!!

Day 6- what a day!

Today I am supposed to tell you about my day- but I will of course only do part of that because that would probably under normal circumstances be pretty dull. What I will tell you is that today I realized how much I have to be grateful for. I don't want to sound mushy and stuff but I think I take life for granted most days and today it was brought to my attention.

DO you ever have those experiences where you realize after the fact that you barely escaped death ...I had three of those experiences today. Now that's driving the point home. Nothing like 3 wake up calls to make you grateful to be alive.

1. The first I can't really tell you about because it isn't only my experience and the others involved have sworn me to silence (for the time being) I will say that it could have ended very very badly for quite a few people if someone hadn't been in the right place at the right time.

2. As I was coming down a hill at about 45 mph a car decided it wanted to turn into the suicide lane but at the last second decided they were going to slow down and not actually enter the left turn lane and instead came to almost a complete stop in my lane. Lets just say its a good thing I have really good tires and brakes- I really was not in the mood to t-bone a car tonight.

3. also involves a car. I decided I was going to leave work early tonight because I was just tired. So I clocked out about 15 min early and grabbed my stuff. But for some reason I didn't leave. I just stood there and talked to a co-worker about nothing for about 10 min and finally at 5 to six I though "what am I still doing here, I have things to do tonight". So I left the mall and headed home...after missing the suicide driver I realized that traffic was pretty much stopped at the intersection ahead. Then an ambulance sped past me in the opposite direction. As I drove past the accident I saw two very totaled cars- probably someone ran a red light- The accident was bad- and judging from the scene I'd say it had happened about 10 min before...give or take a min or two. Had I left work when I originally planned that might have been my car...it might not have been...but I would have been real close and at least would probably have had to watch it happen.

So today I am grateful to be alive. I am now going to go play with some friends, see tangled, and then come home and work on my lesson for Sunday school tomorrow and hope that tomorrow I don't have to do any speed watching of my life tomorrow.

Day 5- Love

"To love another person is to see the face of God"

Les Miserables

What is Love. The generic definition is "a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person" but I don't think that really sums it up. Love has so many definitions in so many different situations. But I think that to love is to be God like, because true love requires selfless giving of yourself to another. In any situation, to love another requires you to give your time, your talents, your heart, etc....you cannot experience love if you think first of yourself.

I believe this is true in any relationship. Marriage, friendship, family. I'm sure you've heard the phrase "you hold the key to my heart" I don't believe that...no one else can hold that key. It is something you alone can hold. We all hold the keys to our own heart- we choose when it is open or locked.

I'm not sure I can tell you in my own words what love is so I am going to share my favorite quotes about love from some really smart people:

"In real love you want the other person's good. In romantic love you want the other person"

Margaret Anderson

"I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I'm with you"

Roy Croft

"the only true gift is a portion of yourself"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own"

Robert Heinlein

"The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite"

William Shakespeare

"Love is friendship set on fire"

Jeremy Taylor

"Love means to commit oneself without guarantee, to give oneself completely in the hope that our love will produce love in the loved person. Love is an act of faith, and whoever is of little faith is also of little love"

Erich Fromm

"you come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly"

Sam Keen

"True love begins when nothing is looked for in return"

Antonie de saint-Exupery

"true love is eternal, infinite, and always like itself. It is equal and pure, without violent demonstrations: it is seen with white hairs and is always young in the heart"

Honore de Blazac

"if you know what love is, its because of you"

Herman Hesse

"one word frees us of all weight and pain in life. That word is love"

Sophocles

"there is no remedy for love but to love more"

Henry David Thoreau

To love is to see others through God's eyes. To accept someone for who they are as they are. Love is to serve with all our heart and to forgive when we are wronged. To love- one must give.

Day 4

I'm sorry I think this blog topic is totally stupid. Day 4 is supposed to be "what I ate today"...who the heck came up with that and thought that was interesting. Anyway for the sake of the blog I will tell you that I've only been up for 30 min and therefore haven't eaten all that much today. This morning I ate, as I do most mornings of the year, a fried egg and whole wheat toast. Yes I eat that for breakfast probably 350 days a year. (except for fast Sundays and probably holidays and the occasional day when I crave blueberry muffins instead)
Sounds kind of boring I guess but I don't ever get sick of it. Plus its healthier than a bowl of cap n' crunch and it keeps me full longer. And I also don't have to waste time figuring out what I want to eat for breakfast- it saves me time in the morning. So there you have it- that is my breakfast of champions.

Day 3- My parents

These are my parents. Some of you know them, some of you don't. They are pretty great. They have worked their whole lives to raise six children and that is no easy task- but as far as I'm concerned they have been pretty successful teachers. My parents have shaped and molded us into the people we are today. How did they do it- they taught us correct principles and let us govern ourselves. Smart parents. My parents also are really great at encouraging us to achieve our goals and to work hard for what we want....

This is my mom. She doesn't like her picture taken but I don't know why because I think she is gorgeous! My mom is hilarious- she has a crazy language that comes out when she's stressed and she would probably be so mad if she knew I put that on here but we all love it! My mom has an amazing testimony of the gospel and taught me to love and serve the Lord. My mom is the social one of my parents and she loves to talk- especially to her family. My mom can't ever sit down, she always has to be doing something for someone- she gets that from her mom. My mom is always supportive and gives the best back tickles. She is pretty cool.

This is my dad. He is a handsome guy. My dad is the hardest worker EVER. He has owned his own businesses and even worked for the secret service when my parents first married. He is a jack of all trades and excels at everything he tries. From my dad I learned how to work hard and do my very best. My dad is super intelligent and an inventor and makes the most amazing things. He teaches himself new skills and does an amazing job at anything he puts his mind to. Education is very important to my dad and so he encouraged us all to try hard and finish our education. Also he gives the BEST head rubs ever. My dad is pretty amazing.

Day 2- First Love

Ok so I know the idea of the post was to tell everyone about the first time I was ever in love- but truth is i'm still waiting for that to happen. I have never been in love...I have had boyfriends and crushes but if i'd really been in love with any of them we might still be together. So instead I will tell you about my first love in another area of my life....Les Miserables.
When I was 7 years old Les Miserables came to Sacramento and my parents got tickets for everyone but my little brother and I. I thought I didn't care so much but a few weeks before I decided I felt left out and I really did want to go. So my parents- being the amazing people they are got me and my brother a ticket to see the show. So off we went to our first musical theater experience...

Hello amazing!! The songs the stage the props it was all amazing. The characters had depth and emotion and I absolutely fell in love. I didn't want it to end. So I came home and from that day on I listened to the soundtrack. I memorized the words and it became a central part of my life.

Inside one of our closets was an old dress coat and I would put it on and sing "on my own" at the top of my lungs and dream of being on stage as Eponine some day. That's still the goal but for now I am content to just watch it from the main floor every chance I get. I LOVE this play and I don't think I will ever get tired of listening to it.

Day One- Me in pictures and words

I was reading my friends blog and she started this 30 posts in 30 days challenge and I thought it was pretty cool...plus sometimes I just don't know what to blog about so here you go...In 30 days you will learn probably more than you ever wanted to know about me. The first day is "Me: in picture and words"

Hi. This is me. Lori. My name is pretty short..you wouldn't think I had too many nicknames, but I do. I have a lot. Some of which are longer than my actual name. Kindobabs, luca, lori lou, etc...I love my nicknames even though some of them make no sense. I will pretty much answer to anything as long as I know you are talking to me.

I have the coolest family and I always wanted to be part of the action. If my sisters were doing something I wanted to do it too. They were so cool then and they are all pretty awesome now! I also have two amazing brothers who are just as awesome as my sisters. I love my family.

I used to have REALLY long hair. And also I loved my dress. I still have it and sometimes I dress up in it and pretend to be a fairy queen with my nieces.

The day I graduated from BYU- wow, that was an amazing feeling. I set the goal to go to BYU when I was 13 so this day was pretty great for me. I am a big goal setter. If i'm not working toward something i'm wasting my life.

Rain or shine the summer is my favorite time of the year because it brings the RODEO! and with a rodeo comes cowboys. I secretly want to marry a cowboy- but not a real one, just a half cowboy. Love them!

I love to dance. I was part of the BYU ballroom dance co. for about 1 1/2 and I loved it! I love performing, the costumes, being part of a team and all the friends I made. So fun!

I love to dress up and I love to perform. My mom says I have a flare for the dramatic. I sing and am obsessed with musical theater- these girls are amazing and I love spending time with amazing people backstage. I have done only two plays so far but I had so much fun.

Besides being in front of a camera I also like to be behind the scenes and make other people beautiful!!! I get ideas of how I can use my cosmetology license and my sister comes over with her camera and makes it happen. (this is one of my 3 sisters- she's beautiful even without my help)

Also, when i'm not doing a "shoot" I rarely take a normal faced picture...and as you can see i'm passing my legacy onto my nieces and nephews.

Not only do I love disney but yes I am still single- (hard to believe after that last picture but its true) I am still waiting for my real life mr. incredible. so I suppose this will have to do until then.

I miss my short hair. I have had to keep my hair long for my shows but someday it will look like this again. Also, I love to laugh. Its one of my favorite things to do. Life is too short not to enjoy!

Besides being a disney freak, and loving to take pictures I LOVE this dress. My mom helped me sew it and it cost me quite a bit but snow white is the only princess I can pull off with my super pale skin.


well, that's me. Actually there is a lot more to me but I am getting tired and I don't want to look for more pictures.

In the eye? or the Mind?

I just had an eye opening experience. You've all heard the phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" well- its true. But perhaps I should say, "beauty is in the mind of the beholder". Let me explain.

This morning was kind of a blah morning for me. I'm getting over a cold, I've not been exercising, and I've been eating not great things. So basically I feel gross. I didn't want to get dressed because I felt fat in everything I put on. I did my hair but it just looked faded, flat and lifeless. I put my make up on and surprisingly it didn't help. I just looked ugly. Usually when I feel like this I can at least find something about myself that looks OK- usually my eyes but today I thought even my eyes looked yuck. As I was sitting on my bed feeling sorry for myself I decided I should just be grateful that I am feeling better than yesterday and that my cold hasn't completely over taken my voice enough to prevent me from singing in my voice lesson today. that thought brightened my spirits! I love my voice lessons and I haven't had one in two weeks.

Interestingly enough when I looked in the mirror again I didn't look quite as bad as I originally thought. I actually thought I looked pretty today. And it occurred to me that my appearance hadn't actually changed at all. My attitude and therefore my perception of myself had. My negative feelings caused me to see everything negatively- and once I had changed my thoughts in the direction of gratitude- things looked better. I know that sounds cheesy but there is no other explanation for it. My eyes were seeing the same person, but they way my mind processed it had changed- therefore beauty must be in the mind of the beholder.

Break time

I am taking a break. A "buying" break. Which is going to be a real test of my self control. You see I work in a clothing store...a clothing store that I happen to love. I never go 'shopping' I simply go to work and see things day in and day out that I think I need. But the fact is I don't need them. I have had a standing rule that if I buy something and haven't worn it, or in some cases even taken it out of the bag or even out of my car in a week then it must go back. No matter how much I "love" it or "need" it. Don't get me wrong, my spending is never out of control- I can always pay off my credit card. But just because I can afford it doesn't mean I should be spending all my money on it. I have better things to use my money on- and lets face it, I'm running out of room to keep all this stuff.

I'm already doing better and in fact- I have a credit on my card. I don't think I've ever had a negative balance on that card before...but its not just a store card- its a visa, which means I will just use that credit to buy my friend a bridal shower gift. problem solved, credit gone, spending done :)

A reason to celebrate

I am not a fan of New Years- actually I think its a pretty lame holiday. I also dislike the idea of New year's resolutions. Let me explain- I think the idea of a resolution is great. I'm all about setting and achieving goals. However, I hate the idea of setting a goal or a "resolution" simply because it is the beginning of a new year and you feel like you should. If you know you need to change something then just do it- don't wait until January. If you set the goal simply because the holiday dictates that you do, you probably will not achieve the goal anyway. The motivation for change is not really there. You will most likely work on it for a month and then forget all about it. Therefore you have not resolved anything. And therefore I make a point of never setting new years resolutions. I simply continue working toward the goals that I already have set for myself. I always have goals- in multiple areas of my life. Education, spiritual, physical, etc...so the new year brings nothing different. I think everyone should always have at least 2 or 3 goals they are working toward- otherwise they probably aren't improving or progressing. But those goals should not be set simply to ring in a new year.

I know I sound like a scrooge- but to me it seems so hypocritical. The idea of a new year bringing new opportunities and a clean slate is fantastic- but rarely do we ever really take advantage of it. We hang on to our past so tightly because its comfortable, its what we know- and the new opportunities are scary- so we fall right back into our rut and never truly experience what the new year really could be. therefore- I am not a fan. It is a waste.

also, I never stay up until midnight. The new year will come whether I'm awake or not- why should I lose sleep over it. If other people want to celebrate new years- more power to them. Someone has to love it-its just not me.

And THAT'S how we start the new year!

This is my room...well part of it. (YES its purple)

I'm not going to lie- I think new years is a waste of a holiday- except for the fact that I worked a full day today and got time and a half, also holiday pay. Have I mentioned I LOVE my job. Anyway- that's not what this post is about. So I had new years eve off and what does a person who doesn't really celebrate new years do? She cleans her room. And by 'cleans' I do not mean I pulled out the vacuum and ten minutes later it was done. NO. I stripped my bed, dusted everything like normal but then I decided that wasn't good enough. I pulled all the furniture out (except my bed, that's too big to move by myself, I simply crawled underneath) and cleaned all my baseboards, I dusted my shoes, my books, I cleaned under my bed- I vacuumed every square inch of carpet and every surface and item in my closet. I even vacuumed the speakers on my stereo. that may not sound like a big deal but my closet alone took me over an hour- probably closer to two hours. As you can see, I have quite a lot of stuff in my closet- books packed on the top shelf and shoes stacked in boxes below.

My whole room took just over four hours but can I just say it looked amazing and smelled fresh and clean and there was not a particle of dust left in the place- maybe because it was all over me. Also, I don't think I've sneezed so much in one morning ever. But it was totally worth it and I can't think of anything more productive to do on the eve of a new year.