Ohhh March...

Bad Things About March:
-Unpredictable weather
-No days off school
-11 quizzes
-2 Relief Society Lessons to teach
-3 Exams
-4 Research Papers
-1 Debate
-1 Birth Plan
-2 Article Summaries
-2 Simulations

Good Things About March:
-Mom here
-7 more weeks of school, meaning 7 more Tuesdays (the day I have class from 8 am to 8 pm with one two hour break)
-Brian's 24th Birthday
-Scott's 18th Birthday
-Jared's 18th Birthday
-Craig's 15th Birthday
-Brett's 21st Birthday
-Mission papers in
-Mission Call?
-11 quizzes, 2 RS lessons, 3 exams, 4 research papers, 2 simulations, 2 article summaries, 1 debate and 1 birth plan all done.


I'm ready for one crazy month.

I am a complete chick-flick-lovin' girl.

I am your classic girl. I love all the things that typically girls are expected to like. I love wearing dresses, putting on eye makeup, having girl chat, talking on the phone, eating ice cream from the container, crying when PMSing, taking long walks on the beach, dancing in the moonlight, kissing in the rain... these are the things girls are stereotypically supposed to do/love, right? Eh, more or less. ANYWAY, what's another classic sign of a stereotypical girl? A chick flick lover. I must say, I DEFINITELY fit into that category. Especially since last night I watched the perfect chick-flick.

Meet Nick and Beth

They're from the movie When In Rome, no NOT the one with the Olsen twins (excuse me for a minute while I throw up in my mouth...okay, back). I had seen the previews on TV and wanted to go see it, so last night my old roommate Lu and I went. It was perfect. Cute, clean, cheesy, hilarious, unrealistic, mushy-gushy, predictable, perfect guy who doesn't exist-- I love it all. Truly. I laughed, I (almost) cried, I drooled over Josh Duhamel, I envied Kristen Bell's outfits, and I smiled practically the whole time. So let's begin:

Kristen Bell: How could you NOT love this girl?! I first saw her as Elle Bishop in Heroes, then as Sarah Marshall in Forgetting Sarah Marshall (the edited version). (Also, for all you GG fans who are not reading my blog, she's the voice of Gossip Girl). She's stunning, and funny, and she's dresses like a goddess. Of course, when you are as naturally beautiful as she is, it's not hard to look like a goddess. Also, I think she is a terrific actress, definitely amazing in this movie, even though every time she stepped into the fountain and got a beautiful dress soaking wet, i cringed.

Josh Duhamel: ::drool, drool, drool:: HELLO HOTTIE! Win a Date With Tad Hamilton, Las Vegas (the series), oh MAN you are beautiful. And even though your role as Nick was completely unrealistic because you said things no guy ever says, and I've never met a man more flawless as your character, it doesn't mean I don't love you anyway. You're funny, and beautiful, and quite a good actor, so if you are ever looking for someone who is, ya know, 17 years younger than you, I'm your girl :) You shouldn't have married Fergie. You're too good for her.
p.s. There was this part in the movie that we laughed and laughed and laughed at and wished that we could rewind and watch again (no, it wasn't JUST the kissing parts) so if you watch it, let me know and let me laugh with you ;)

There were other cast members who were pretty big too: Danny DeVito (is he really that short?), Jon Heder and Anjelica Huston (Ever After). Overall I would have to say this was an awesome movie. It may be too gushy of a movie to watch with my boyfriend, but it's definitely going on my "must purchase" list ;)

To watch the trailer, which you should do, click here!

Valentine's Weekend

This Valentine's Day I got to be in Idaho with Brian and the rest of the McKellars. It was a fantastic weekend, although it was cut shorter than I had hoped. I have this entire week off from school and was planning on coming back on Wednesday but the girl I was going to ride back changed her plans to Thursday, a little too late for me. So I came back Monday. sigh.... But it was still fabulous!

On Saturday, Brian and I exchanged gag valentine's day gifts. I gave him a Raggedy Ann doll (an inside joke) and he gave me a box of stuffed "microbes" haha. Only funny to a nurse apparently. Then we were going to go to a dance, but changed our minds, and instead went to dinner at Olive Garden. So good! We then got back to his house right when Shelby and Robert were about to head out to the High School Sweethearts Dance. I crashed their photo shoot :)

I'd like to believe that they enjoyed my tongue in their picture...

"awww....."

I LOVED her dress!

And I apparently really wanted to go to the dance with them.

On Sunday, Brian and I went with his Mom to the Singles Ward (his mom is in the Stake RS presidency and it was ward conference). This was kind of unusual because Brian now attends his family ward. When we were in Sunday school, he passed me a note saying that his valentines gift to me was that he had arranged to sing in sacrament meeting :) It may sound silly, but he sang a few weeks ago in his home ward and I was so bummed that I didn't get to hear him, so he planned to sing in the Singles ward while I was there :) It was a really sweet gesture and he did an AMAZING job! :)

After church, we had a fabulous dinner made by the men for their ladies. There were 13 people all together at the dinner, 6 couples and Claire. Landon made the main dish (chicken alfredo with sauteed veggies etc) Brian made the salad, Matt made the potatoes, and Robert made the fruit pizza for dessert and the (virgin) martinis. Good meal, good company, good valentine's day :)

a heart shaped chicken breast for valentine's day :)

Since Claire was the only single, she found comfort with her good friend "martini"

yummy!!!!

After dinner, Mike (Brian's dad) Carmen, Salvador (Carmen's man) and Claire did magic. They are SO good, It was pretty amazing.

Thanks Brian, for being my perfect valentine and giving me an awesome weekend. :)

Why not put croutons in there and put the whole thing on a spoon?

I had always thought that Mac and Cheese was like the lowest a college student could go. Okay, maybe it's second only to Top Ramen, but I've never had that before (nor do I intend on ever having it, so this is the lowest I fall). I mean how much more simple can it get? Boil water, add noodles, drain, add butter, milk, and cheese powder. And if you are like me, you don't even measure the milk and butter! And it only takes like 15 minutes top! Easy peezy. But apparently not easy enough.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you: Velveeta shells and cheese!!

I'm sure that I'm just behind the times and you've all had it before, but it was on sale the other day so I bought it and decided to make it tonight since I didn't feel like making a real dinner (don't worry Mom, I usually eat really well and healthy! Promise!!) So when I started to make it, I thought for sure that it would be a mac and cheese knock off. That would be a no!! Apparently mac and cheese CAN get easier. Just put all the cheese, milk and butter into once sauce mix! Heaven forbid we need to open the milk AND measure some butter AND rip a packet of cheese powder! Do you know how much time that takes and how much work is required?! I'm pretty sure I pulled a muscle last time I opened the milk. Now with a simple packet filled with a substance that can't decide if it's liquid or solid, I save myself from all that work! Thank you Velveeta! What would the world do without you. Now if only it could all be found in a convenient squeeze bottle. Can life get better? I submit that it cannot!

Jack Bauer and I are both glad the times have changed.

So this is a really funny clip i saw this weekend. It's probably a little funnier if you've seen 24, but you will definitely laugh hard no matter what.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMLH_QyPTYM

Thank goodness we are done with the 90s.

Pictures give me something to blog about...

First of all, can I just say that I LOVE being at the stage in my life when I get the dates that some of my best friends are coming home from their missions!? In the last two weeks I have found out when two of my very best friends are coming home and I am SO EXCITED! First of all, Brian Lowe, a friend from freshman year gets back from Honduras on June 15. Hallelujah! I miss that kid! and getting a letter every 6 weeks is so. stinking. slow. gah. Hurry home boy.

And of course, can we forget Brett Brooksby!? Nay! My best friend/pseudo brother/pseudo cousin gets home from Birmingham England on MAY 5TH!!! That's less than 100 days! YAYY!! Of course, it's 4 days after I leave for Ghana for a month, so I won't get to see him until I get home on the 30th, but still, I am SO excited. It'll be good to have him home.

NEXT: My friend Camille and I stay at her grandparent's house in Draper on Wednesday and Thursday night since we have to be at Primary Children's Hospital VERY early in the morning on Thursday and Friday. This week I went out with a friend and came back pretty late to the house after she had gone to bed and I found a card and my camera on my pillow. This is what I found:

I have a cute friend :) and yes, that is a toilet paper "U".

These pictures below don't need an explanation. Better yet, they don't DESERVE an explanation. All I need to say is that these are not on a green screen. They are real. aksdjhfskhfdk.

stinkin' family.

Funny story time! I got a card from my aunt Miriam this week. It was a card that she bought TWENTY FIVE years ago at the BYU bookstore. Apparently I was the only one worthy enough to receive it in a quarter of a century. It says "If they can make penicillin out of moldy cheese, maybe we can make men out of the low-lifes in this town." hahahaha. Oh how appropriate that is :) Anyway, inside the card was a letter and a collection of stamps. Remember this? well, I decided I need to blog about things I need more often, then maybe I'll get that in the mail too. :) Thanks Miriam! I'm excited to make a puzzle out of getting the right amount of postage!

This should last me for a while ;)

Sometimes I hate them.

I know my last post was all about how much fun I had with my family and how I love them and such, but I'm beginning to change my mind. There are five reasons:

1. It's regents week in NY, so that means no school for an entire week, but they all count as school days. bah. lucky.

2. Because it's a full week off, my family decided to go on a CRUISE TO THE CARIBBEAN as Scott's graduation present. He wanted to go while he was still under 18 (his birthday is early March) so he could do all the fun stuff that kids can do on the cruise that we experienced in November 2003.

3. They left me and Eric here. (al*kdnfaslk@u#thfs*@d,jrsadrn$salkj#sd$alkrna%sdr.!!!!)

4. For the most part they attempted to not talk about the cruise in front of us and I had all but forgotten that they were going. Until I get this email a few days ago...

"Dear children, Not to rub it in, but we are leaving for warmer climes tomorrow....Our Royal Caribbean cruise leaves Miami on Sunday for 7 days. We'll be on the Liberty of the Seas, going to Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Cozumel, Mexico........."

'not to rub it in'!?!? you failed, mother. haha.

This is what I see when I look outside...

This is what they see....

I bet they'll come back all tan too. bleh. there's reason number 5.

Bon voyage famille. Bon voyage.

p.s. I don't really hate my family. This post may or may not be related to jealousy.

The Best of....

School start's tomorrow, so break is clearly over. It was so much fun to be with my family, but it was especially sad to say goodbye since we all won't be together mostly likely for another 3 1/2 years. So in honor of that, I wanted to post some "best of..." from this break.

*Eric: (on the phone) So we're going to meet at 4:30 tomorrow morning at Exit 12 to go snowshoeing.
::Mom and Melissa shudder involuntarily.::

*While singing "Whatcha say" by Jason Derulo:
Me: When the roof caved in and the truth came out...
Eric: When the rains came down and the floods came up...

*When driving back from the airport, Eric sat in the way back. Unfortunately, apparently no one had sat in that seat for a long time and we realized that the seat was not attached. We noticed that when we went around a sharp corner and the other side of the seat flew up in the air. That led to my dad take every corner much sharper than necessary :)

*Eric: Dad, have you ever seen my chest hair recently?
Dad: Um, no...I can't say that I have....

*Scott: OWWWWWWWW!!!!!! BUTT CRAMP!

*Me: (after giving advice on driving in snow) see Craig, it's never too early to start learning to drive.
Craig: you sure? It's never too early? I kinda feel like when they are born they're more concerned with things like, cutting the umbilical cord.

I love my family.

Melissa+Exhaustion+Single=.......

Last night I was exhausted. And when I'm exhausted, I get a little delirious. When I'm delirious and around the right people, I get giggly. Late last night, when on the phone with a good friend, I got to that exhausted delirious giggly stage. And when we started talking about a New Years Eve kiss, this just popped out of my mouth. So in honor of New Years Eve and to all those who are going to have a new years kiss, this one is for you.

Happy New Year!

I'm so lacking in the macking, it's a matter of facting.
But other people are RACKING in the macking.
Man, I'm slacking....
But then I was exacting, maybe I'm lacking in the macking
because I do too much smacking during the macking?
So maybe if I do some subtracting of the smacking during the macking
I won't be lacking in the macking anymore!!!

for the record, I don't smack. I'm just single. but that doesn't rhyme.

Best Christmas Present Ever.

My family and I got tickets for Christmas to see Wicked. It was quite a surprise and I can't lie, when I pulled the ticket out of my stocking I screamed for excitement. So yesterday we went to go see it and I'd like to tell you what I thought of it. But I should warn you, I can be a harsh critic from time to time:

5 Stars
A++
110%
Fantastic
Breath-taking
Heart warming
Amazing
Filled me with warm and fuzzies
"Two enthusiastic thumbs up!"

okay, but seriously. The show was amazing! The acting, the singing, the plot, the humor, the romance, the music, the atmosphere, the set....I loved every second of it. Even though I knew every song, knew the plot, and had cloud club seats, it was great. Now that definitely makes it a good play, and probably one of the best Christmas presents ever.