What A Great Day!

In one word, today was amazing!

Like seriously you guys, it was awesome. Church was just what I needed. In sacrament there was this quote:

"Be of good cheer. Your future is as bright as your faith." ~Pres. Monson

I have heard that quote before somewhere, but today it really hit me. Because last night I had a mini freak-out about my life. I was applying for internships and realized that I don't have to much applicable experience that would make someone want me as intern. Sure, I have had a job since I was 16, but being a gymnastics coach doesn't mean anything to a PR firm. Needless to say I was a little worried. But at this point there isn't a whole lot I can do. That's what I thought until I went to church this morning. If I start reading my scriptures and praying again that my faith will increase and I know I will be blessed for it.

And if that wasn't enough, Sunday School was just as good. It was about the BOM which made me want to start reading it even more. Then Relief Society was combined with the men and take a guess about what the lesson was about. You guessed it! The BOM! I was so ready to start my new goal by the end of church.

My afternoon was spent with my amazing roommates. Singing, pudding and YouTube. We had a lot of good laughs. Oh, and nail painting may or may not have occurred.

Some boys invited us over to their place for dinner. They cooked us a wonderful meal complete with a pot roast and potatoes. And followed it up with Better Than You-Know-What Cake. 

The Spectrum was almost filled to capacity today. There was a fireside that Elder Ballard spoke at. And guess what the main theme was? Joseph Smith. I think someone up above was trying to send me a message today. Message received!

After walking home in the cold tonight, I couldn't wait to put on some comfy sweats and make some hot chocolate.

Good night everyone! And don't forget to smile just because today was a great day!

xoxo,

Sam

Procrastination... In Progress

Procrastination.

One of my worst habits and biggest flaws.

Even as as I write this I am procrastinating. But not as bad as usual. I finished studying for my exam in my next class and didn't bring anything else to the computer lab. So I have a half hour to kill and what better way than to write this.

Last night I had this assignment. A beast of an assignment. For a class that I loathe. Communication research. The teacher is extremely vague and only explains things one way. With boxes and arrows. How much sense can you make from boxes and arrows? It is a confusing class that really has no purpose. I will be doing the writing in my job and if need research done, I will go to the research person because that is their job. Almost everyone I have talked to are just as confused as I am.

So for this assignment I had to look at two different articles and identify specific parts of research. And then diagram it using the teachers box and arrow method that makes absolutely no sense. So I finished that part and then I had to write an op-ed piece. I have little experience writing one of the those. So mine is crap. Last semester in my newswriting class, we were constantly told to avoid number because it confuses readers. So I have always avoided numbers in my writing but for this assignment we had to "use numbers in a convincing way". How do you do that? We haven't been taught anything about how to write with numbers. Classes consist of boxes and arrows. Boxes and arrows.

Well, that got totally off topic. From procrastination to a rant about a class. Let's get back to my original point.

Last semester I had a planner that I wrote all my assignments down in. But this semester I have very few assignments and A TON of reading. So it's kind of useless to just writing "reading" down for everyday. I know I have reading to do. So the planner is ineffective this semester, for the most part. And the reading is boring and textbooks are never fun to read. So it's very easy to put off.

But it's piling up.

Okay, maybe not that much. More like this.

But that's still a lot...

This weekend is going to be one of those 'catch-up-on-life-or-die' weekends.

Wish me luck.

xoxo

Samantha

Wednesday's Words 2

Today's topic: Family

I was able to spend this past weekend with my family. It was a crazy, full weekend filled with packing, moving and unpacking. Needless to say, we all got really tired and there were times when we tried each other's patience. But we are family and we all love each other. I am so grateful for my family and how much they do for me. Even though I don't get to see them as much now, I know that I will we will always love each other and be there for one another.

“Love is the very essence of life. It is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Yet it is not found only at the end of the rainbow. Love is at the beginning also, and from it springs the beauty that arched across the sky on a stormy day. Love is the security for which children weep, the yearning of youth, the adhesive that binds marriage, and the lubricant that prevents devastating friction in the home; it is the peace of old age, the sunlight of hope shining through death. How rich are those who enjoy it in their associations with family, friends, and neighbors! Love, like faith, is a gift of God. It is also the most enduring and most powerful virtue.” 
― Gordon B. Hinckley, Standing Something Cd: Ten Neglected Virtues That Will Heal Our Hearts And Homes

My family.

xoxo

Samantha

Wednesday's Words 1

Welcome to the very first edition of Wednesday's Words!

Every week I will pick a topic or idea and post relevant quotes. My main goal with this is to provoke thought and provide motivation for myself and my readers.

Why Wednesdays? Sometimes we all just need a little pick-me-up to finish out the week. Something to spur our minds forward and wake us up from the monotony of life. And maybe, perhaps bring a smile to your face because you can relate.

(If you ever have any suggestions of something you would like to see on Wednesday's Words just leave it in a comment.)

Today's topic: Friendship

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Never shall I forget the days I spent with you. Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours."
- Ludwig van Beethoven

xoxo

sam

Zuppa Tuscana

Simply amazing! This recipe is for Olive Garden's famous Zuppa Tuscana soup. Me and my roommates first made this a couple months ago and then I made it for my mom's birthday. It was a big hit both times. I'm sure you will enjoy this one as much as I did. Especially if you love Olive Garden.

Ingredients

1 lb ground Italian sausage (Jimmy Dean Sausage)

1 1/2 tsp crushed red peppers

1 large diced white onion

4 tbsp bacon pieces

2 tsp garlic puree

10 cups water

5 cubes of chicken bouillon

1 cup heavy cream

1 lb sliced russet potatoes (about 3 large potatoes)

1/4 of a bunch of kale

Directions

Saute Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Drain excess fat and refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients.

In the same pan, saute bacon, onions and garlic over lot to med heat for approximately 15 minutes, or until the onions are soft.

Add chicken bouillon and water to the pot and heat until it starts to boil.

Add the sliced potatoes and cook until soft, about half and hour.

Add the heavy cream and just cook until thoroughly heated.

Stir in the sausage and the chopped kale. Let it all heat through and serve.

Delicious!

xoxo

sam

Halfway!

It hit me yesterday. I am halfway through college! I have successfully completed three semesters and that means I only have three more to go! It's like I can almost see a light at the end of the tunnel. A future that doesn't consist of fighting over the shower with roommates. Or regular dinners of pasta just because it is quick. Or freezing my butt off in Logan. The end is coming. And then I will be a college graduate!

But looking back, I can't believe how fast time has gone. I mean, living in the dorms seems like it was forever ago. But it really was only a year. Looking back on the classes I have taken I am impressed with what I was able to do and accomplish.

I can do hard things.

Like that geography class I took my very first semester. That was the worst grade I have ever gotten. In fact, that was my very first B. And honestly, I was devastated. But I survived the class and I can proudly say that my grades have improved every semester.

This semester is going to be intense. All of my classes have heavy reading assignments. Like tons of and tons of pages. But I'm still have that happy and excited attitude that I seem to start every semester with.

Intro to Public Relations - T/TR 10:30
Ethics in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology - T/TR 1:30
Communication Research - T/TR 3:00
Sociology of Work - T/TR 4:30
Art Symposium - Online
Total Credits = 14

I am pretty excited about most of my classes this semester. I am taking a lighter load than I usually do but that's okay. And I'm sure I will still be very, very busy. I am still working 20 hours a week. So rarely do I have spare time. That is becoming a foreign concept to me. My education is a big and complete mess. I can't take this class because I don't have this prerequisite. And I can't take this class because I don't have enough credits. And blah blah blah. So I was kind of stuck for classes so I filled it with some electives because I need a few more upper division credits. So why not take them now and get them out of the way? Exactly.

College.

xoxo

samantha

I'm Tall and My Life is Awkward

My life.

The end.