A Wedding, a Movie, and....Another Movie

This past week has been a really wonderful one.

On Saturday, one of my very best friends from high school got married! It was so much fun to see her come out of the temple with her husband (Although it's really weird to think of her having a husband now).

  

Weddings generally make me a little sad. Emily's always been my favorite dancing rival, my lunch buddy, my AP Stats-skipping sidekick, and a friend for me to turn to. We've laughed together, cried together and now it's time for her to move on in life. 

So yes, it's sad. But it's exciting at the same time as she starts this new adventure. I'm so glad she made the choice to be married in the temple. My very favorite part of my church is our belief in eternal marriage and eternal families. I'm incredibly grateful that we can be with the ones we love forever. Enjoy the journey Em!

In other news, I also got to see not one, but two fabulous movies this week. My roomies and I went to the midnight premiere of Catching Fire which was, naturally, incredible.

My favorite moment: 

President Snow: "They're holding hands." 

Retrieved from http://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/Coriolanus-Snow-President-of-Panem

"I want them dead."

Retrieved from http://thehungergames.wikia.com/wiki/President_Coriolanus_Snow

That awkward moment when I am President Snow...

Least favorite moment:

Retrieved from http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/11/25-best-scenes-catching-fire-caused-fangirl-freakouts-spoilers/

Almost crapped my pants.

The other movie I watched (and judge me all you want) was Austenland. And I spent the entire length of the movie in tears because I was laughing so hard. If you're a fan of Jane Austen and you're easily amused, this is a must-see. 

Of Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice

I grew up with a whole lot of brothers...and not a single sister. So, as a kid I rocked the Tom Boy attitude and after that, I became something like a second mother to my little brothers.

On that note, I can totally handle boys, but I have no real experience with little girls. They've always been a special sort of terrifying to me...

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So, no one was more surprised than myself when I signed up to for an internship this weekend assisting with a launch party for a new children's book aimed specifically at young girls. Even more surprising, I ended up having loads of fun!

Just a little bit of background:

The book is Fairy Birds: Fairy Godmothers in Training. The story basically answers the question of where Fairy Godmothers come from and teaches children about kindness. The book was written by twin sisters Heather Fujikawa and Heidi Andrews. I worked with both of them this weekend and they are honestly the sweetest people I've ever met.

The event that I helped put together was a book launch party where hundreds of little girls would come in fairy costumes to eat, make crafts, play, take pictures, shop, read, and get their Fairy Birds books signed. I was very concerned that the whole thing would dissolve into chaos:

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Instead, the whole thing turned out wonderfully. And I came to a pleasant realization: 

Little girls are adorable. 

The entire day, they were all so cute, so polite and so excited to be there. Maybe they're not so scary after all! 

Here are some pictures from the event:

It was the best part of my week because, for just a few short hours, I felt like a little girl again. 

And really, what could be more wonderful than that?

 For more information on Heather & Heidi's books, visit their blog here!

A True Knight

I've put a lot of thought into what exactly I should write about. It's been a long week. I won't lie, it's been a pretty difficult one too. But, as I've said, every week has a little bit of wonderful. And that's why I just want to share a few thoughts about my sweet grandpa. 

Papa Rex (as all of us grandkids call him) passed away last week. He had been battling dementia for a long, long time and as sad as it was to see him to leave this life, I'm so grateful he's returned home. He has his memories again and he's safe with the Lord now. 

When I think of him, I remember a man who used to tickle me until I screamed and always had a never-ending supply of sweets. He would pull jellybeans out of my ears whenever I visited him. I remember he would send me some of the best gifts each Christmas and he'd always make time to read me stories on the couch. I remember a good man who loved his seven daughters, loved his wife more, and loved God the most.

His was a wonderful life and I just feel blessed to have been a part of it.

He & my Grammy K were high school sweethearts...

And they were quite possibly the cutest couple to ever grace BYU.

My grandpa's favorite song was "The Impossible Dream" from the play Man of La Mancha. 

“It is the mission of each true knight... 

His duty... nay, his privilege! 

To dream the impossible dream, 

To fight the unbeatable foe, 

To bear with unbearable sorrow 

To run where the brave dare not go; 

To right the unrightable wrong. 

To love, pure and chaste, from afar, 

To try, when your arms are too weary,
To reach the unreachable star!

This is my Quest, 
To follow that star, 

No matter how hopeless, 
No matter how far,

To fight for the right 

Without question or pause, 

To be willing to march into hell

 For a heavenly cause!

 And I know, if I'll only be true 

To this glorious Quest, 

That my heart will lie peaceful and calm 

When I'm laid to my rest. 

And the world will be better for this, 

That one man, scorned and covered with scars, 

Still strove, with his last ounce of courage, 

To reach the unreachable star!” 

-Joe Darion, Man of La Mancha

While his battles on earth are over, I know the Quest doesn't end yet. 

I love you Papa.

Why is the Rum Gone?

Obviously, the best thing that happened to me this week was Halloween. And honestly, what is not to love about this holiday? There are tricks, treats, haunted houses, and pumpkin-flavored-everything.

One of my favorite things about Halloween is getting to dress up. It's the one magical night of the year where you can go to a party and see Darth Vader grinding on Snow White, while Gandalf and Lord Voldemort do the Cotton Eye Joe together. This year, in an effort to find anything BYU appropriate, I resorted to the classic drunken pirate.

Check it out.

So yes, I got mormon drunk on Sangria and then I partied till I was purple. When the Sangria was gone though, I got a little upset. This video accurately describes how I felt:

Retrieved from user Andrew Van Vlear at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JImcvtJzIK8

And I may be the worst pirate you've ever heard of, but at least you've heard of me.