Music. Music. Music.

Let me introduce you to a few new songs that are really good. The albums just came out on the 14th and I am very excited about the discovery of these artists!

Bromance. p'shaw.

Today my question is this: What is up with the new and coming "Bromance" that has blossomed over the past decade or so? What makes guys so "tight" that they would rather cancel a date, or spend time with each other rahter than the opposite sex at all times? I have seen way too many relationships abolished from this syndrome. No joke. And I am not about to get involved with any man in this display of twitterpation for 'bro time'. Don't get me wrong, men need to stick together and have some GUY time. But that should be broken up with LOTS and LOTS of intermixed girl/guy time. Not 24/7 Bro time and maybe 1 hour a week for a 'chick'.

This might prove my point:
(A conversation I heard at a Bromance house after spending a night with each other)
"duuuude, today was sick!"
"Ya man, it was gnarly out there"
"bro, seriously, it was f'ing tight" (they really said the letter F-ing tight. NOT the real word. hah)
"dude, tonight was seriously rad brah."

Lets just compare this with another conversation about a date: A conversation I hear after any guy gets home from a date.
"dude, how was it?"
"aight, she's a cool girl"
"ahh yaa"

hmm... the difference is that they have more fun with the bros. Its bromance. This particular syndrome happens to at least... ALL boys at BYU. But luckily some come out well and married, some can't stand it for long, but SOME stay trapped forever. And that's just wrong.
So guys, chill out. Man up and pull away from the urge to chill with the guys. Ask a girl on a date weekly. Spend more time than just an hour a week talking to the female race. Have the courage to break up your bromance. please. please. please.

Art Post

I was in London three weeks ago and Saw these two paintings which I loved. One is by John Everett Millais: the Order of release 1746
It is a depiction of the release of a Jacobite soldier and his wife and child there to get him. The wife is handing the slip of release to the Guard.
The second is a sweet painting I had never seen nor heard about. Philip Hermogenes Calderon: Broken Vows 1856. The woman in the painting has recently discovered that her lover, whose initials are carved in the fence, has been unfaithful. You can see her lover and a new girl behind the gate.

Random Post.

Running... lately I have been running, and running, and running. Sometimes I run twice a day just because. Even though I have a bad knee, sometimes shin splints, and dehydration because of the hot summer weather, I run. I actually love it. I think I am in love with it. Sound crazy? Yes, I know. But I just can't help myself. I think I get some of it from my Dad, Grandfather, and who knows where else. My Grandpa ran track and was the best all around. My dad ran for BYU and ran a marathon. He was the one who taught me how to run. Back when I was sixteen I was talking with my friend Randi Evans. She was on the cross country team in Highschool and we spoke often of her training. I started to love the idea of running. So I asked my Dad if we could go running and we started running mornings together. Down the back road by my house: Itchy Acres. What a name! ha. He would run behind me and then critique my running form. He trained my leg placement, breathing technique, even where to place my fingers--Index finger lightly on the thumbs-- and head up looking above the horizon. Then my friend Miriam and I began to run together. We would wake up early and run 6 miles or so around Folsom Lake. The days were HOT and we worked hard. 6 miles was the farthest I had ever run. I knew I wanted to keep running up. I got to college and met a boy named Brody Fish. We decided to go running before orientation one morning. He was like a gazelle. Seriously. I was discouraged after the run. He was fast, never tired, and had the energy of that pink battery bunny. So I made it a goal to run harder, faster, and eat better. My roommate Karli Low would run with me sometimes. Miriam would too. During the winter I would run in the indoor track or brave it outside where the cold air would freeze my lungs. I even slipped a bunch on the ice almost breaking my foot. But I wanted to prove that I could run. Tryouts for the Track team and cross country team for BYU were coming up. I wanted to try out. But fear got in the way and alas, I did not attempt to go. Which is better because I would have not had the experiences I got to have. Sophmore year I took a little time off from running and would run once a week. I missed it but other things were taking over my life. Then I moved into an apartment Spring 2009. I did not know my roommates, nor anyone there for that matter and so I ran. I ran everyday. I would run after class or run in the mornings. Sometimes both. I fell in love with it all over again. I started thinking of running a half marathon. This thought kept brewing in my mind and finally for my New year resolution I wrote it down. Now I have run two half marathons-- I have my 3rd in three weeks and even though my knee is bad, I run because I love it. I have great friends who I run with and we have had great conversations, giggle moments, random experiences, and good workouts. I think I love running most because of the memories I have while doing it. Perhaps I will get myself to run the Beijing Marathon summer 2012.

Friday the 13th

My darlings, it's Friday the 13th. What are you doing this lovely weekend? Thought I would share two songs that brighten my day each and every day. Hope they can brighten yours too! Lots of love! Happy Weekend!

Unexpected trip

So, I am in Europe... and... it is a long story of how I got here but I am ever so grateful to my Mom and Dad for surprising me with a ticket and letting me accompany them. We have literally been all over the place in the 2 weeks we have been here so far. First off: Germany, Italy, France, Monaco, Italy again, Austria, London and now back to Austria where we will be for one more week. It was been quite fantastic really. The weather has been freezing but I am savoring every second here. I have had some amazing experiences and cannot wait to post some pictures. I will update when I get home next week! Good night!

California
Ladies and Gentleman, for the FIRST time since I was 5, Cailey Gallacher is going to
Southern California. This is EPIC.
I will leave Friday and spend the week on the beach, enjoying a wonderful 4th of July and
lounging about. I get back Tuesday, so until then my friends--
Goodbye!!

She remembered and said "pray"

My grandmother Olea is a woman of diligence, happiness, silly-fun, kind, wise, and very beautiful. She touches my heart in ways no other human being can. I have a place for her settled right around the middle of what is most important to me--to my soul and my very core beliefs. I pray for her and my grandfather nightly. Unfortunately Alzheimer's has taken its hold on most parts of her brilliant mind, but sometimes, just sometimes it loosens its grasp and releases sweet old memories and clear thoughts of ten, fifteen, and thirty minutes past that she would not have otherwise remembered. Today I saw her after six months of being away at school. We spoke, sitting on the piano bench which held us both for you see she is tiny now. She has become smaller in height and weight. But her heart is still big because she has lost, loved, and gained much from her life. It amazes me that a heart as large as hers fits in a body so small and delicate. As we spoke she asked me about my life. She did not remember who I was--her grand daughter-- but she graciously inquired after my well being. I told her, "grandma, I am a senior now. I am not sure what I want to do after I graduate. It scares me to think about me being on my own soon," and she replied, " oh well that's easy, don't graduate. Keep going to school so you don't have to work." We laughed. I smiled and she smiled. I love her lines around her face when she smiles. Each line represents a worry, a moment of trial, and lots of happy times. She listened a little more about what plans I had and then we were told it was time for Sunday dinner. My father asked her to say the blessing on the food. She bowed her head. I bowed mine. She spoke and I listened. The grasp that restricts her mind and blocks events that happened just minutes prior was released for a brief but beautiful moment. She remembered my fear I had expressed to her earlier and began to address it in her prayer. "Our dear heavenly father" she began, "Help the young ones as they begin to make difficult choices that they must make in the near future. And as they do, they should go to thee in prayer. And they will find the answers that will help them". My heart stopped. My grandmother prayed for me and for all of us at the table. She remembered and with the kindness in her heart she gave us advice. Advice that will forever have a place in my heart. I felt waves of tears flood my eyes as I sat there, head down surrounded by loved ones. The moment was brief, but left a sweet and tender impression.
Her words ended and we began to eat. I sat there and felt gratitude in my heart. This is probably some of the last bit of advice I will receive from her. And I am grateful for the chance to hear this tender mercy, to be her grand daughter, and to know this woman of faith: Olea Mae Babbel Woolf

One of the best APPLE advertisements

Apple has succeeded making me cry. I teared up watching this sweeeet commercial/ad on the new iphone. It is SWEET.
Click on APPLE to watch it.

The man who Planted Trees

This video is a thirty minute short film that is so beautiful. My English teacher showed it to us at class and I wanted to share it with you!!! It comes in a couple parts. When you have time watch it all.








Hope you liked it as much as I did!

Aruba, Jamaica oooh I wanna take ya

Ireally, really, really want to go here:

Greg Miller

Greg Miller is an Artist I adore.
Greg Miller is a modern-day pop artist determined to document the disappearing cultural landscape of America. Through his vision, the elusive eye of a pinup and the reassuring wink of an alienated hero are preserved. He prevents the weathered words of old roadside billboards from continued fading. Nostalgic portraits of true romance and simple beauty are given eternal emotion. Image meets language in Miller’s art as though John Steinbeck and Ansel Adams were conjoined twins. Or, as Miller says more succinctly, “They left me behind to tell the story. Whoever THEY are. My paintings are edgy with sexy smeared all over them.”
“I’ve got a lot of stories left to tell and a lot of stuff to paint. I don’t even know if I’ll get it done in my time here,” he admits. “It’s never been about being famous or rich for me. When it’s all said and done, I want to have made a body of paintings that will have turned people on, so they can see what I’ve done and say, ‘He came to play.’”

Enjoy!

more.

annnnd I need a VERY large house so I can have rooms like these. I think it's Love...

More design

Time to introduce you to some more of my favorite designs: Enjoy.

yet another sappy post.

"there are no shades of gray here" said my friend who is currently serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Jakarta, Indonesia. That phrase really stuck out to me. Why? Oh because although she is in the city of COLOR and exciting adventures, that statement can apply to any place in the world. I often pinpoint Provo as being the epitome of drab, a bubble, sheltered, small, same ol' same ol' etc.
It is not Provo that is drab, it is I that is a drab, a bubble, sheltered, small, same ol' same ol' etc. I choose to make Provo this way. To make my life this way. Sister Rhondeau-- you have inspired me to live with the mindset of "there are no shades of gray here".
I choose to make my life exciting. I choose to make it colorful, and I can make it good. Good as in Great. Great as in Fantastic. Fantastic as in Life changing. I am approaching my senior year at Univerisity. What have I become in the 3 (coming on 4) years I have been here? Am I leaving BYU with the mind of a scholar? A better writer, thinker, and person?

BYU's motto: Enter to Learn; Go forth to serve.

What do I have to offer after I leave my haven of scholarly teachings?

Notewriter: 30x you made my day.

Relapse. Replay. Regress. Reverse. Remember.

I just found about 30 notes written on small squares of paper. They were written by someone I really cared about--someone I was falling for-- not too long ago. I was cleaning my room and opened up a small drawer where they all resided. I had completely forgotten about these notes which had once made my day. Each week I got one of these notes delivered to me and I would laugh, smile and secretly cherish the words written. Some were inside jokes. Some had words of affirmation. Some were simply a joke. And some were words of admiration. I just sat in my room reading the notes smiling but found myself sadly reminiscent of the memories each note entailed.

To the note writer (and you know who you are): I miss you.

Summer Sounds

Alright, my long awaited Summer play list is ready. I had 200 songs which I narrowed down to 57. I do have about 10 songs that I am anxiously awaiting to buy, but haven't been able to because the album is not out yet. But when they do I will let you know! This playlist is a little different sound than I usually go for. However, I love all these songs and I think they are a good combination for the perfect summer pool party sound. I will be putting together a couple other playlists that will be for a summer afternoon picnic, and other relaxing summer sounds. If you click on the song name it will take you to youtube so you can hear what each song sounds like!! Enjoy!
Ready... here we go...
1. "Almost Everything" - Wakey!Wakey!
2. "On Time" (feat. TuPhace) - The Disco Buiscuits
3. "California Gurls" (feat. Snoop Dogg) - Katy Perry
4. "Sans Soleil" - Miike Snow
5. "When the night feels my song" - Bedouin Soundclash
6. "Under Control" - Parachute
7. "Slow Down" - Dry Spells
8. "Scattered Diamonds" - Hungry Kids of Hungary
9. "There is a way" - NewWorldSon
10. "Summer Sun" - Matt Wertz
11. "Something Good can Work" - Two Door Cinema Club
12. "You and your Heart" - Jack Johnson
13. "Que Reste t'il de nos amours" - Claire Chevalier & Rosinha de Valenca
14. "Animal" - Neon Trees
15. "Without a Clue" - Matthew Perryman Jones
16. "Duerme" - Josh Rouse
17. "Everybody knows" - John Legend
18. "Animal" - Miike Snow
19. "You take my troubles away" - Rachael Yamagata and Dan Wilson
20. "Feels like the first time" - Corinne Bailey Rae
21. "Take a chance" - The magic Numbers
22. "The guy that says Goodbye to you is out of his mind" - griffin house
23. "Perfectly Lonely" - John Mayer
24. "Chasing Pirates" - Norah Jones
25. "Good life" - OneRepublic
26. "Summertime" - Josh Rouse
27. "Junebug" - Robert Francis
28. "Everyday" - Vetiver
29. "Wish I" - Jem
30. "Mas Que Nada (feat. The Black eyed peas) - Sergio Mendes
31. "Deja Vu" - Beyonce
32. "Lost without you" - Robin Thicke
33. "Butterflies" - Michael Jackson
34. "Sweet Disposition" - The temper trap
35. "(There is) no greater love" - Amy Winehouse
36. "They bring me to you" - Joshua Radin
37. "Watcha Say" - Jason Derulo
38. "Sospesa" - Malika Ayane
39. "Jai Ho- Pussycat Dolls remix" - A.R. Rahman
40. Beggin" - Madcon
41. "The next time around" - Little Joy
42. "Pretty Please (love me) (feat. Cee-lo)" - Estelle
43. "Hell No" - Sondre Lerche & Regina Spektor
44. " Paradise" - Ana Laan
45. "Replay" - IYAZ
46. "Let it Rock" - Kevin Rudolf
47. "Right as Rain" - Adele
48. "Save Room" - John Legend
49. "Magic Girl" - Sleepy Rebels
50. "Lamento (no morro)" - Sergio Mendes feat. Maogani Quartet
51. "It's Amazing" - Jem
52. "Lady" - Lenny Kravitz
53. "Love" - Matt White
54. "Don't Lie" - Black eyed peas
55. "Only This moment (Radio Edit)" - Royksopp
56. "Rock & Roll" - Eric hutchinson
57. " Golden Love" - Midnight Youth

As requested, I am finally going to post my half marathon experience that happened last Saturday. The half marathon took place May 1st, 2010 on a COLD and WET early morning. It was not the best day to run 13.1 miles. Miriam and I got up around 6 am and got ready. We ate a nice breakfast of Oatmeal and peanut butter toast with a small glass of orange juice. We stretched and drove over to the area designated for the race. We were both excited but I also felt a bit of fear. I was unsure whether it was going to be a good experience or just really hard. We got in line with the 8 minute miler runners and at 8 am the race began. It was an exciting start but still pretty cold. The first 7 miles Miriam and I went pretty fast. We were up with the first 30 runners (out of 300 or so) until mile 8-9. We were getting tired so we slowed down. Each water station was a great sight so that I could get some energy and have a small excuse to walk for a couple seconds. Then the hail started. And boy did it pour down on us. After the hail the rain started and then the snow. For the last 40 minutes I ran through snow and rain. It was cold and unpleasant. But I was determined to finish! I think I prayed the WHOLE time and mentally talked myself into finishing. It was a hard battle but as I sprinted across the finish line I felt immense gratitude to be done and a large amount of accomplishment. Finally after four months of training, I accomplished my goal! WHOO!!!! I finished with 1:57:30 time which is slower than I wanted but who cares! It was my first race. July 10th is the next one I have planned, so hopefully my time will improve. I included some Photos of the race! Enjoy!

Liebe Mutti

Listen.Strength.Love.
Listen is the word that comes to mind when I think of my Mother. Strength is the emotion I feel after she listens to me. Love is the outcome of our relationship. I love my mother. She is the epitome of the word "Mother". Not only does she take care of six children and a husband but she also takes time to enhance her wisdom and knowledge of the Gospel for herself, her family, and church. I love calling home and talking to her about anything and everything. She listens and gives me good advice. Sometimes I just call to tell her a funny story or a random thing I heard or saw that day. Whatever it is I know she genuinely wants to hear from me and we get good laughs out of my busy life. Oh mom, I love you. I love you with all my heart. Thank you for raising me and being a best friend, example and woman I can look up to. You are wonderful!

update

Okay people,

spring semester has started.

And let me tell you-- my life is basically over till June 18th. Working at a floral design industry "Mountain Bloom", along with my finance class and the advanced writing will be the death of me. I already have a presentation due Friday (class started today) and did 2 hours of math for homework.

ug. MATH + Me = Disaster.

If it was not for my dear friend Eric, I would have gone insane from stress. He had the brilliant idea to go to Starbucks for steamers (hot milk with any added flavor mmm!). I got vanilla and raspberry flavored milk. Because Eric and I both like to talk we ended up talking for almost three hours. Even though I don't drink Coffee, I do love the atmosphere of the shops and how it always promotes great conversations! Eric thanks for being such a great friend! You are awesome and I loved our indoor tennis game at my apartment last night. ha!

Also, Tomorrow I get to go see OCEANS -disney's new movie. WHOO!

and duh duh duh duh......

THE 1/2 MaRaThOn is THIS saturday.
CRAZZZZZY.

I will let you know how it goes. I am not expecting any great time but hopefully the half in June I will improve my time! And so the obsession with running and half marathon really begins!!