11 resolutions for college this year

I found this on my aunt's facebook page and thought it to be perfect for some goals of my college years, some have been accomplished, others not quite. Let's hope I achieve all of these things before I graduate in May.

1. Do not obsess over weight. As someone who battled an eating disorder at university, I get the pressure -- and I'd love to tell you that it goes away as you get older, but it doesn't. So learn to deal in a healthy way now because becoming demonically-possessed by weight does nothing to put it on or take it off. It only makes you feel worse. So if you need help, reach out. If not, stop beating yourself up and go live your life.
2. Have an adventure. As I've said before, college offers a unique window to go big. You're young. You're relatively free. You're still forming impressions about the world and your place in it. Use this opportunity to do something extraordinary you'll remember forever. Take a road trip. Serve as a missionary. Work at a summer camp. Be smart and be safe, but be bold. This is your time.
3. Study abroad. Speaking of being bold and adventures, here's a way to knock out both at once. Even if you don't think you can afford it -- at the very least visit your campus study abroad office and research options. I had to take a semester off and save up the funds to study in England, but every double-shift I worked was totally, completely, 100% worth it.
4. Do not go in to debt. Trust me when I tell you that living beyond your means will limit the opportunities available when you graduate. Don't blow your shot at post-college freedom -- e.g. freedom to move to a cool new town, freedom to take a lower-paying job in the short-term for better opportunity long-term, etc. -- because you ran up a crippling debt in school. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices (See #3 above), but if you can't pay cash for it, don't buy it. Period.
5. Give back. You could line up all the bars in town, and you still wouldn't get a better buzz than helping others in need. It's an amazing feeling and one I wish I would have discovered earlier in life.
6. Do not lose yourself for anyone. In my journals from college, I should have written more about the courses I was taking and less about the boy I was chasing. I definitely lost a ton of time (See #10 below) -- not to mention looked ridiculous -- trying to alter things that were simply outside my control. If your mental magnet wants to be with you, is single (!), and is willing to make a commitment, great. If not, respect yourself enough to m-o-v-e o-n. Life - and college in particular - is too short.
7. Find a mentor. Great mentors should be on the "Endangered Species" list. These days, you really have to seek them out and the earlier you can find them, the better. The trick is that mentoring is like dating - you either vibe with a person or you don't. But, like dating, if you keep looking you will eventually find someone who fits.
8. Start building your network now. Whether you already have a great mentor -- or you're looking for ideas on how to find one -- take a tip from workplace expert Tory Johnsonand reach out to five new people each week. It doesn't matter if you connect in person or via social networks, the only rule is they have to be in a position to help you achieve your goals. I just started doing this a few weeks ago, but if I'd begun in college I'd be up to almost 3,000 new contacts by now. Damn.
9. Find valuable work experience while in school. My biggest regret about college by far is that I didn't complete an internship. Not a single one. So, when I graduated I didn't have any contacts to leverage, any work experience to speak of, and -- oh yeah -- no job prospects to consider. Really. Stupid. Move.
10. Be present. While it's foolish to worry about what's now to the point you forget to focus on what's next (See #9 above), I do think it's wise to hop off the carousel once in a while and just live in the moment. Believe me, the ride will be over before you know it.
11. Create your own list of "Things to Accomplish in 2011" -- and go after them like a heat-seeking missile. From 14-year-old fashion bloggers to billionaire CEOs, this is an age of unprecedented opportunity for young talent. Even still, success won't just come to you. You have to attack it with two parts work ethic and one part lunacy. Of course, you'll learn a few hard lessons along the way, but just think of the stories you'll have for the kids in 2021.

food network

This is part of my senior project I have been working on. It's designed to be a corporate headquarters here in Salt Lake for Food Network. Enjoy!

the time where i had no time

Let me do some explaining...

yes, I realize it has been MONTHS since I have blogged. I want to apologize to all my faithful readers ( I always knew I could count on you mom), for the lack of great stories, magical moments, and treasured memories. Let's go deeper into why this 'lack' has occured:

1. School. Who knew senior year would be the most busy of all 4 years here at Utah State. not this girl.

2. I am lucky enough to have 2, count them 2, jobs. Both have to do with teaching, my new found love in life. I teach 2 modern dance classes and am the UTF for an interior design class.

3. Also, lucky for me I happen to be the Interior Design ASID President here on campus. This means I get to plan meetings, events, and do paperwork. Holler.

4. Another lucky moment, I happen to be the Student Rep. to the Board for ASID. This means I am in charge of all design program students in 4 states, along with meetings, phone calls, and planning events.

5. I am on USU's dance company, Full Circle. This means I have practice 4 times a week and performances periodically. If you haven't checked us out do it.

6. Not only am I on the team, I happen to be the public relations officer, meaning I get to do posters, and fliers, and announcing.

7. Also, it seems as though I have broken into the freelance market of graphic design and interior design, creating much needed real experience.

8. Church, no it's not a bad time waster, but it still has to be thrown in there for dramatic effect.

9. Dating. It didn't exist before, it definitely doesn't exist now.

And there you have it, that's been my life the past 4 months. I honestly am so blessed to be put into all these positions and have all of these amazing opportunities. I cherish the people I work with in all capacities so much. My life may be extremely busy but it's also filled with the most joy I have ever had.

So it's been called to my attention that I graduate in less than 6 months. Yes this causes an instant heart attack. I have always been in school, and probably always will be. I love it far to much. If it wasn't expensive I think i would stay forever. I think I inherited this from my father. This brings a lot of anxiety, but also a lot of hope. I have the world before me, and I can't seem to take that step forward into starting out the rest of my life. That step is going to leave a huge mark on my life path. Here are my options:

1. I have thought so much lately about going on a mission. I had an incredible answer to a prayer, only 2 years too late. I've always found answers through hymns. It even mentions that in my patriarchal blessing. It actually mentions many things related to missionary work.

Anyway, the story goes, one morning at relief society in my parents ward we had a lesson on the priesthood. My mom was in the nursery so I was sitting by myself. As we begin to sing the closing song, my throat closes up, my eyes begin to tear uncontrollably, and I can't even sign. The song- Called to serve. How many millions of times have I sung that song... but for some reason it hit me really hard and heavenly father told me that i need to go. As I am uncontrollably crying... I run into mom who asks me, naturally, what was wrong. I reply nothing bad, let's talk later. We get home and mom needs to know. I start crying and say it's not a bad thing. Her response was immediately, " you want to go on a mission." I have had several more experiences where people just randomly say when are you going on a mission, or are you going on a mission. It's such a hard decision to make due the fact that I'm a baby.

2. I can get a job in SLC and live and work and be happy.

3. I can get a job anywhere in the world, make money, gain experience, and miss my family like crazy.

4. I can go back to school and get a masters so I can teach at the university.

5. I can take a test to be a teacher at the new high school in Draper and also coach dance.

TOO MANY CHOICES! Isn't life supposed to be easy? Oh, oh yeah, that's right. I almost feel lost, but it's not lost. Its so hard for me to believe that I am at this stage in my life. As a little girl, I imagined myself going to college and being a teacher. I think that's where my true passions really meet. As for now, here I am writing a blog, while I should be sleeping or doing homework so I can graduate. Story of my OCD life.

finalized

Many of you know that I had the opportunity to design and plan a salon this summer. Amber Reid has cut my hair for years now, and when she asked me to help her make her dreams come true and design her salon, I had to say yes. There are many things that I learned while in the process of this project. Floorplans and space planning take the majority of the time. The most important thing I learned was that your clients make all the difference. Amber, John, and the entire Reid family were so willing to listen to my ideas and ask me for my advice. They worked day and night for months and months, and now I am pleased to present you with

Amber Rene Salon...

kwid goodbye

last day of the internship. so many great memories and things learned. i will miss it much.

...the rest of my days

My last week in California started out with a 4th of July weekend... Whitney and I headed for Long Beach. We went to the Aquarium of the Pacific, which turned out to be a really cool place to be on the holiday. They had a lovely barbecue on the front lawn full of all the usual holiday favorites. I touched all sorts of crazy sea creatures and saw all kinds of new things. When it became dark, we watched the fireworks off the Queen Mary in the harbor. Truly patriotic. It was a joyous time.

On our holiday off of work, we took a day easy and wandered around down town LA. We came upon this little treat, Olvera Street, an old Mexican market. We wandered around in the blazing heat and naturally, ate a churo.

We continued our travels to Angels Flight which is an old rail car system that pulleys two cars opposite each other up a hill. Pretty magical, especially after discovering that in 2001 there was a fatal crash and it just recently opened again.

On my last night, the girls and I went out to eat in true Hollywood fashion. Whitney discovered this little place called ketchup... hence the red lights. It was fancy! They had all sorts of ketchup... chocolate ketchup... mango ketchup... banana ketchup.... interesting, yet delicious. It was good to spend time with them before we all parted our California dreaming.

Nice look after a long day at work. Oh boy.

i live the high life

Occasionally one gets to attend a party...

After work one day Kelly took us to a dinner party with the whole company.

We had great food and soaked in the ambiance of the hotel poolside while dancing to our personal DJ.

Did I mention, she re-designed it?

Best part was everyone repeatedly asking me why I don't drink and then replying... "good for you!" in an extremely sincere way.

It was a good night.

um... I love being awkwardly close in photos.