it wasn't JUST a burger...

 Saturday me and two of my childhood friends, Chelsea and Aaron went to our tenth-grade English teacher, Mr. Bostock's  Devon's, house.

sorry, it is bizarre to call your former teacher by their first name, but i'll get used to it.

We sat outside and talked for hours, reminiscing about our high school experiences (the good, the bad and the ones we'd wish we could erase from our minds.)

**They all made fun of me for being the square in high school and I took their jokes with grace, but c'mon now, it's me we are talking about! OF COURSE I would react with noting attributes of a princess!

KIDDING!

kind of...

It was an event three years in the making, one that was well worth the wait :)

VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED FOR THE FOLLOWING PICTURES:

-Remember the minor face surgery I went through here? Yeeeeaaaaah, the wound has yet to heal so don't run away scared from the scab on my face!

and if you do get scared don't tell me because then i will get insecure and come hunt you down. mmkay? thanks!

And that my friends, was the most delectable, glorious and saliva-inducing burger that has ever passed through my lips.

So darn good that it deserved to be the title of this post.

that good.

**Yes, I was that girl in high school who flipped a switch when Chelsea changed her grade from an A- to an A+ just to see my jealous/competitive/over-achiever side come out to play. I may or may not have said the following words: "You DID NOT get a high grade than me! THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY ON PLANET EARTH THAT YOU COULD HAVE BEAT ME! NO WAY! NO WAY!"

sorry, Chelly....

reason #17 why i could never get botox:

I'm no plastic surgeon, and correct me if I am wrong, but Botox involves needles deeply jutting into one's face.

Am I right? I mean, c'mon, AM I RIGHT?!?!

(hits microphone, "is anyone out there? helllllooo?!?!")

I bet you're wondering where I am going with this (don't worry, I kind-of  know what I am trying to say)

and here is the thing:

Today I said goodbye to the mole beauty mark on my face. Twas a sad parting, but I don't want no cancer on my face! NUH-UH BROTHA MAN, THAT WON'T FLY WIT ME!

sorry, i get carried away sometimes....

Here is where the botox-related statement comes into play:

 In order to remove that sucker my amazing dermatologist had to jut a seven, yes you read correctly, seven inch needle into my poor face five times. FIVE TIMES! FIVE TIMES I SAY!

 I like to pride myself on the fact that I am extremely tolerant to pain... Well this procedure sure made a little girl out of me. While I was laying there, face covered with the faint scratch of metal-to-skin going on in the background I thought to myself:

**"I am fairly certain that childbirth feels like this! YES! I know for a fact what childbirth feels like now!!"

Needless to say I have much respect for those of you who get Botox. Teach me your ways, please? Not that I will be having needles jut into my face anytime soon, I just think it would be a good idea to handle the pain that accompanies seven-inch needles stabbing my skin.

 You know........ Just in case terrorists begin to use that in the future as torture method.

A girl must be prepared!

The smile proves that I had absolutley no clue what was about to ensue.... 

Oh no biggy! I just had something carved out of my face AND (here is the best part!) I get to wear this sexy gauze for two days!

**I have now come to my senses and stopped being dramatic and realized that this doesn't even compare with what childbirth will be like.

happy thursday! {ed. 4}

I've been such a horrible blogger, you all must be so disappointed!

I promised to post a fantastical entry every Thursday and have fallen short of my promise.

Before we have that break-up where you call me to ask to bring all of your stuff back to your house,

(talk about uncomfortable and awkwarrrrdddd)

Let me fall back into your good graces, please?

you don't have a choice in this matter, forgive me or I will drive past your house at various hours of the night and be a psycho  ex-girlfriend.

KIDDING!

kind of....

Current female crush:

Taylor Schillings.

To be honest I had no clue she even inhabited planet earth until I saw that new Zac Efron film, "The Lucky One"

She was so darn adorable and natural (which is AWESOME!) in the movie and maybe I like her so much because I am so jealous of her for being Zac's love interest. (it's a girl thing, you wouldn't understand if you don't have two X chromosomes.)

Current male crush:

Ray Lamontagne.

His voice is like velvet. Enough said. 

Plus he is just intriguing, and every girl likes a little mystery, right?

Current song on repeat:

The Girl by City and Colour.

If you don't find this song romantic and if it doesn't make you happy, there is a problem with you.... You are souless.

KIDDING!

kind of....

Happy Thursday!

if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

The following conversation happened on July 18th, 2011:

Dad: "Emma, what computer did you need for school again? I need a quick refresher before I go and buy it."

Me: "A Macbook, Dad. A MACBOOK. (drawn and said in a volume that I am sure my 100 year old great-grandma could hear clearly.)

Dad: "Okay...A something book.(as he walks out of the door) I've got this. Yeah, it ends in book, that's easy!"

Me: Just remember it has a fruit on it, can't be hard to miss.

Did I ever mention that my father forgets easily?

Once he got to Best Buy he had forgotten (you know what a fifteen minute drive can do to the 50 year-old mind...) and told the worker to "package up the silver one."

Needless to say, he didn't come home with the macbook.

My dream for the past two years came true today.

I was sooooo happy that I almost cried. Almost.

I was as happy as a morbidly obese person who was just reunited with deep fried twinkies, a 7 year-old who just got there first box of assorted colored chalk, an granola woman from Oregon living in New York City who finds an all-organic grocery store, a girl who finally gets to see the boy she likes come home from his mission.......

You get the point.

Happy as a crawfish, oyster, sea lion, clam.... Whatever that phrase it.

Words to the wise: A memory that is nearly half a century needs some reminding.

utah to california.

I didn't even need to see this sign to know I was home. 

The sun was brighter.

It was warm hot. It felt good.

After a long car ride home where my mother didn't shut her eyes once due to the fact that I am a "reckless driver" (what is she talking about?! I've only hit 6 people, no biggy.) we made it!

Not much has changed around here since my leaving for BYU last fall.

California is still it's awesome self, as expected!

and me on the other hand? I am even more awesome, cooler, taller, wiser, more mature (my California friends are shaking their heads, shut up guys!) smarter and maybe, juuuuuust maybe more attractive than before college.**

thanks, BYU!

So let's go to the beach. I need stuff to keep me distracted before I start crying and begging to go back to Utah- my new home.

Watch this video, sing along and bask in the glory that is California. (Just a warning, if you are not a native you just might get a little jealous.)

**i am not serious about the improvements that are stated above. they are up to your interpretation, not mine. i mean i am not that narcissistic. c'mon now guys.

Coming Clean:

I have some things to admit.

 You know how things work here. We're all friends, we don't judge, we have open minds.

Ke$ha has been my biggest fan during finals week. This song has been my pump-up jam before I take a final.

I don't know how you do it, Ke$ha, but somehow your words radiate to my soul...

(My favorite part is when she commands us to "go insane, go insane. throw some glitter, make it rain on 'em!!!")

I have been far too distracted by my nails the past two days. Every time I get bored of studying, I just stare at the glitter for fifteen minutes and BAM! I am ready to study again!

Preeeeetttttyyy collllloooooorssss.

I have a new-found crush on Dr. Dre.

Don't ask questions. Just admire.

I almost wept sweet, sweet tears last night when Lara and I watched Mean Girls.

I hadn't seen it in so long, yet I knew every.single.line. I even knew the pauses and song entrances. Kind of embarrassing you say? NO. KIND OF AWESOME!

Go on, give into temptation, stop studying for finals for a bit and watch this and say the lines along with me.

youknowyouwantto.

And my last confession of the day (which is the one I am the most ashamed of...)

is that for thirty miuntes this afternoon **I was distraught due to the fact the lady at Subway got my order wrong.

Seriously Subway? You lied to me. You told me I could have it MY WAY. And you lied, YOU LIED TO ME.

** I promise that I normally do not let that phase me, but I become an animal come final time. Word to the wise: stay clear.

Hey, I Think You're Pretty Awesome...

To you, Lara Schaumann for finding humor in my just-woken sense of delusion and me knocking into inanimate objects in our kitchen.

To you, 2 hour, late night boy talks with my beautiful neighbors.

To you, the people who wait for the little things because it will be "better when it actually happens." You know why I am thanking you, :)

To you, homemade buttermilk syrup that I made at 2 this morning. Nothing quite says "I love you, roommates" like having them wake up to that sugary substance. (Good luck on finals girls!)

To you, answers in the back of the book. You make my roommates' life thaaaat mush more easy; and by default mine as well.

To you, Ingrid Michaelson for always providing the opportunity to make up a love story where I am the female lead and a certain someone is Prince Charming in my head whenever one of your songs comes on.

To you, 47th ward who never failed to make my Sundays grand.

To you, whomever it was that sent off floating, lit lanterns taken from Tangled last night. It was sure romantic... Me and Sheri sure loooooved watching them; then we realized that we had no boys to watch it with and then it got awkward.

And to you, roommates who sing Wicked at the top of their lungs with me after Sunday dinner. With you guys, defying gravity is completely attainable (especially because our voices break all the barrier this world has. SORRY NEIGHBORS!)

You make my world brighter. You make me want to dance. And I think you're pretty awesome.

Insane in the Membrane.

Maybe because it is finals.

Maybe because I really haven't had a real night of sleep in ages.

Maybe it is because I am a crazy college freshman.

Maybe it is because I was born that way

but I have been feeling a little delusional lately.

(Probably because I was born that way...)

Instead of studying (yeah, still haven't done much since my last attempt.)

I have been wasting my precious time adding pictures to my "Funny & Dat Cool stuff" album on my computer. (YES. That is the actual name of a picture album in my computer. Don't judge, we are all friends here!)

Here are just a few, more than you'd like to see  some of my favorites.

 I imagine that his name is Fonzie. It makes this picture thaaaaat much better.

 A gem from here. Maybe if I focused like him these finals wouldn't be so tough.

 My face on every single rollercoaster.

 If my son brought his school picture back and he looked like this, I would be so unbelievably happy. You.don't.even.know. 

 

 Reason #47 as to why the brim goes in the front.

 Cannibalism is always funny;especially when a cutie like this does it.

 Looking into my soul.

Apparently they aren't too big of fans, either...

Learn some manners Aragon, gosh!

Seriously, R-Patz. You ain't foolin' nobody!

My wish, for all of you.

My life would be complete if they ceased to make music. Seriously.

 Amen, amen sister.

 My relflexes are at all time highs when this comes on. I don't think I ever move as fast as i do when i see this.

 Poor thing....

Obviously this teacher has NO SENSE OF HUMOR! C'mon now. Lighten up sista!

 So much more enjoyable when said in a high pitched voice.

 I've yet to see an attractive pre-sneeze face.

 I only wish to be as fierce as him. One day... One day.

 It's crazy to see how much a girl can change...

 Seriously Rachel McAdams? You are SO UNGRATEFUL!

Gets me every time!

This is Harry's world and we are all just living in it!

They aren't so scary after all!

OKAY. I'M FINISHED.

If you didn't laugh at those there is no way we could ever get along!

I'm serious.

If you are in need of a good laugh, just go here. I get a little slap-happy and post more than I should....

 No need to thank me. You're laughs are more than sufficient!

I Really Should be Studying...

Because this pesky littttttle thing called finals is happening in almost a week...

But we all know how good I am with prioritizing my time 

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahhahaha!

and I was getting awfully tired of looking like this:

this is what American Heritage does to every BYU freshman.

and decided there was much more important and beneficial things that I could be doing.........

Like learning the words to this song:

Guys, this is seriously tough. Take the judgmental tone out of your voice now.  Don't pretend like you didn't just try to keep up with the song.

So go on and join me in the blissful joys of procrastination! (Because you soooooo know you want to!) Maybe once I master Mr. Joel's fast-paced song I will resume my studying.

maaaaayyybbbeee.

Happy Thursday {ed. 3}

There is just so much to feel good about today:

One of my finals is now complete! (Cue the swoooooosh sound effect!) And I feel kind of like this.

 one down, 247 left (or so it feels....)

The weather permitted me to wear short. Yes, you read that correctly... SHORTS! My lower legs have not felt the Utah air in I don't know how long...

I have about 57  396 new art ideas that I must do this summer. I want to make a collage-esque color block such as this:

I absolutely love the over all shabby-chic feel of it.

And I want to recreate this gorgeous piece from James Jean:

Cool, huh?!?! CANNOT WAIT.

Any moment of free time today I have scheduled my entire day around finding time to watch this movie.

It's a classic. Don't hate.

And my mask is finally out of the fiery pits of the kiln and is complete!

 I was inspired by who-knows-what with the shape and Monet's Garden for the glaze coloring.

It's creepy. It.'s eclectic. It's captivating.

I love art, I love all of you.

Happy Thursday :)

Spring Brings General Conference :)

I generally am very fond of weekends. But out of the 52 weekends we get a year, there are only two that make time slow down, make you feel so peaceful, so spiritually full and when Heaven seems to open up to us.

That's right ya'll. I speak of General Conference.

Since my simple, mere words do not have the right to even try to explain what happened this weekend I decided you all can live through it with me through the pictures taken this weekend. Get your scrolling fingers ready lady and gents, there is a lot to catch up on in the life of Em-Dawg (psst, me! That's my hoodrat name, yo.)

 Julie, Shanlee, Sydney and myself started off the weekend right with temple baptisms at the Quirrh (yes, that is it's actual name!) Mountain temple. Which is the gorgeous temple below for those of you who are, how do I put this....... Slow to catch on? KIDDING! kind of....

It's a beaut, huh?

 While we were taking this photo there was a couple who had just gotten married taking pictures! I am so sorry to that happy couple that we stole their thunder with this hot picture! very funny, emily... very funny!

 Friends walking off into eternity? Sure felt like it.

 Looking at the angel Moroni always seems to put it all in perspective.

 Julie and Shanlee sure look good at 6 in the morning. I need pointers... AND FAST!

 It is kind of hard to have a "natural smile" at 6 in the morning when you are so hungry that your stomach begins eating itself... But I think we pulled it off quite nicely. Dontcha think? (you are obligated to say yes because we are friends and if you say no i will roundhouse kick you in the ear. mmkay? thanks!)

 "GUYS! YOU CAN SEE OUR REFLECTIONS IN THE WINDOW! GET THE CAMERA, GET THE CAMERA! HURRY!" Not that we were going anywhere or anything...

 I was reeeeeeaaaaaallllly excited for conference, if you couldn't tell. Do not confuse that face with my scared face... They are oh so similar, yet oh so different.

 I love seeing the temple, even if it is in a reflection... That is just how happy it makes me :)

 Gorgeous Julie just effortlessly strolling whilst I try to photobomb her picture....

 Look at that sacred house. My oh my.... My oh my.

 There is my bud, Moroni again. He always seems to lead me the right way, truly.

 Holiness to the Lord. The House of the Lord.

                           

 Oh you know, just sitting by the reflection pool pondering all of life's many wonders. Wait, is that a camera? Oh hello there dear friend, go on a snap a natural picture of me!

 If you know anything about this spot you would completely understand what I was trying to do.  If you don't then I am sorry for making you uncomfortable by looking at me kiss my invisible, future eternal companion.

 "Oh honey-cakes-sugar-plum-snuckhums-boo-bear , I am so glad that we are together for time and all eternity!" (Me to my future husband)

 GUYS! I am going there, yes there, through there, SOMEDAY!!!!

 "Sydney, would you mind kneeling on the cold floor while you are in a dress and taking a picture of us peacefully looking at the temple? No, take another I don't like this one. ANOTHER ONE! DO IT, NOW!" 

 After the Saturday afternoon session! Tears shed away my makeup... Enjoy the au-natural look inspired by the spirit, dear friends.

 A dream come true, truly.

 Such good friends bring such good weather.

 We bumped into our dear friends from our ward! Aren't they soooooo handsome?!? Devon (left) is going to Mexico on his mission and Paul (right) is going to Argentina! They are going to be superb  missionaries, I just know it :)

 Who the heck is that freak in the middle!?!? Oh wait....

Great friends, great weekend!

The next conference is in 6 months. LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN! 

My oh my, how I love to hear divinely-inspired words.