So, I love Christmas! My family loved their presents...and that guy from the airport got his! yay! He emailed me and asked me again if I'd like to give his daughter lessons...I would, of course, and that's what I told him. I really hope I get to...only problem is that I don't know HOW to teach drawing lessons. hahahahaha...guess I'll learn as I do it...after all that's how I learned to draw in the first place..hahahaha
So, I got lots of books this year! It was kind of awesome. I got this one that's just like a black and white movie! It's called "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" or something like that. It's about 500ish pages, most of them covered in illustration. There are a few pages of words, but the whole feel is an old movie...it's AMAZING!!! It's on black paper and everything!!! I read it today...oh my goodness!!! ANYONE who likes drawing or movies or history...it's AWESOME!!! Oh, also...this was pretty cool....hidden troughout the book in various increments was $100...that's pretty awesome huh?!
I also got the entire Work and the Glory series in hardcover...I've never read them..but pretty exciting stuff, huh?!
Mom gave me gloves and a hat that I've worn all day...I LOVE stuff like that!
I got coasters from Grandma..that was awesome!
I got "Sorry" from Danny...I love that game!!!
I got "the Office" 2009 quote calendar from Davis...it's hilarious!!!
I also got called a Twinkie today...hahahaha...by my mom....cuz I'm so happy and sweet all the time...apparently...Davis also called me a twinkie...but for a different reason! hahahahaha
I think that's everything...I think! I love Christmas!!!!!! We've had a pretty awesome day here at the McClellan house!!!
~Manda

I'm Back!!!!! hahahahaha

So, yeah...school has been crazy busy!!! and my computer broke! yuck huh?! I have had awful luck with technology...and my own well being lately....I keep finding my technological stuff (and myself) totally broken! not so fun! hahahahaha So, yeah...hahahaha
I'm home now...it's pretty much freaking AWESOME!!!! I love it anyway! Davis and my dad have FINALLY seen Dr. Horrible...I know...it's about time, huh?! hahahaha well, they loved it just like I knew they would...and now Danny and Evan are always singing the songs...at least from part one...that's all they've really seen (but they're so excited that I brought the soundtrack home with me! hahahaha)
Christmas is the best isn't it! I love it! For Christmas I drew pictures of Superheroes for my family. (Dad: Iron Man and Captain America, Mom: Wonder Woman and Catwoman, Davis: Green Arrow, Evan: Green Lantern, Danny: Superman) They all know what they're getting, but that's ok. It's actually kind of amazing that I haven't shown them...I'm so bad with surprises...but they're really cool drawings!!! Like crazy cool!!!! They're at the bottom.
So, cool story kind of: I was working on these pictures in the airport on my way to Maine. I was trying to figure out how to do my Mom's and I had these pictures of Wonder Woman out for reference. So there was this guy sitting a few seats away and he saw the Wonder Woman pics. Weel, apparently his 8 year old daughter is totally obsessed with Wonder Woman. We got talking and, to make a long story short, he asked me to draw one for her. I totally agreed...it's not everyday I get asked to draw something (well, something that I will actually really enjoy drawing) So he lives in Salt Lake and I just sent him the drawing. I hope she likes it...I LOVE it....I would have loved to keep it!!! He also said he wants me to give his daughter drawing lessons...I don't know if that's gonna happen, but I would seriously love to do that!!!! He liked that I love comic books...and not manga-y stuff..but traditional, oldfashioned-y American comics...cool huh?!
So, I had a lot of concerts the last couple weeks of school...the Messiah, Temple Square...singing singing singing all the time...it was fun!!! Way fun!!! I also had recitals and juries and stuff...fun fun fun!! So yeah...that's what I've been up to! Fun stuff!!!
~Miss Amanda !!!



Dad's


Mom's


Davis's


Evan's


Danny's


And this is the one for the guy I met at the airport

Finals and Juries

So, pretty much I have a test in Spanish in about 3 hours, but instead of studying I'm doing the other thing...yes yes...I'm totally procrastinating! Bad Manda...oh gosh!
Finals and juries are coming up. I have a bunch of performances both solo and choir. I'm pretty much just excited to go home for the holidays! I honestly can't wait to see my family!!! And I really can't wait for the semester to end! Well, I guess I'd better start studying again!
~Manda

I really don't like cleaning checks!!!

So, my apartment just had cleaning checks and I didn't do so well....I wasn't able to finish my room in time and I forgot to wipe out the ashes from the oven! They're coming back on Monday to do a re-check....So now I've got a lot of work to do! hahahahahaha...it's all good...I'm just a little frustrated with myself! hahahaha...That's all! haha
~Manda

Date numero dos!!!

So, just got back from date number 2 w/ Chandler. We went to see Max Payne with Mike and their friend Cassy. (that spelling, knowing me, is probably wrong! oops!) That movie was weird!!! A little too gory for my tastes. Too much blood and too many guns!!! (I really hate guns!!!) But it was fun! After that we went and got Slurpees... what is it with those things...they don't even taste that great and they're soooo cold!!! The date was way fun! I like hanging out with Chandler and Mike! They're good guys who like Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog almost as much as I do! hahahaha...They always have the songs stuck in their heads, but they pretty much only like it cuz of Neil Patrick Harris. They don't even really know the people like Nathan Fillion, Marti Noxon, David Fury, etc., etc. or even Joss! I need to show them the light! Joss Whedon...well, he's pretty much one of my heroes!!! hahahaha..I'm a nerd and don't I know it!!! hahahahaha
Today's been good even though I have a pretty awful cold! It hasn't effected my voice, so all is well! I had a great voice lesson today and Spanish was way fun! We watched this movie, la dama del albas, I think. It's all about Death wanting to experience life. Pretty dramatic, intense movie. It was funny cuz it seemed so familiar. I didn't know how I knew what would happen next. Then I fell asleep (with the being sick and all) but I wasn't the only one....great movie and all, but it was originally a play, and it was kind of boring...a little. The story is awesome though! After the movie (I did wake up, thank goodness) we talked about it. During the conversation it hit me where I knew the story from. I had helped my mom with something having to do with that play for her Spanish 3050 class. It was cool, because after that realization I was able to have some pretty cool conversation about the movie with my teacher. Also I was the only one in the class who didn't have questions and knew the answers to the questions people did have! I love that class! Next Wednesday we are going to watch The Emperor's New Groove in Spanish. We were talking about Cuzco last time in class and were able to convince our teacher to let us watch it. He thought it'd be fun, so voila, Disney-ness! hahaha...I love that movie!
Well, since I'm still sick and all, I think I'll take some NyQuil and hit the hay. Big Institute breakfast party tomorrow morning. And guess what, Chandler's actually going to be in class! fun fun!!! Well, nightie night!
~Manda

OH OH OH!!!! Oh my goodness!!!! I almost forgot!!!! I cut my own hair today!!! And (get ready for it...) I...totally...love it!!!!!!! yay!!! So now I don't think I'll ever go and pay way too much for haircuts I never really like! I can do it myself!!! Woohoo!!!!!!!!! yeah, just had to let you know!!!!

President Uchtdorf speaks to UVU students...and I was there!!!

So, I just posted this on the Mickelsen Moments blog, but I really want to be able to find it again...I remembered a lot of stuff I wasn't able to put in my notes...so here we go!


"So, President Uchtdorf came and spoke to UVU today. I was pretty fortunate to be able to hear him. I was in the choir. They had the Chamber, Master Works, and Latter-Day Celebration choirs combine for this. It was really neat to hear what he had to say about and to the UVU students. I just want to share some o what I learned.
First of all he told us that President Monson and President Eyring, during their presidency meeting, asked President Uchtdorf to send his love from them when he spoke to the UVU students. I thought that was pretty amazing!!!
UVU has a pretty great aviation program. President Uchtdorf talked about that a couple times. First he said that (and all the singers loved this) if the aviation program must be pretty amazing if it's anywhere near as good as the choir! hahahahaha...we loved that!!! He also said that UVU has two great programs, aviation and Institute. He said that both programs are good because they can bring people closer to heaven! hahahaha...it was way funny!
He talked about how UVU is one of the most international schools out in the West. He told us that we are all at home somewhere, but by the same token, we are all foreigners somewhere else. He read trough the UVU mission statement a lot which says, "Utah Valley University is a teaching institution which provides opportunity, promotes student success, and
meets regional educational needs. UVU builds on a foundation of substantive scholarly and creative work to
foster engaged learning. The university prepares professionally competent people of integrity who, as lifelong
learners and leaders, serve as stewards of a globally interdependent community."
He told us that the things found in this school mission statement can help and are noticed by the church.
He mentioned the globalization of the world through business, online networks, speed of transportation, etc. He told us to take our personal morals and religion out with us wherever we are, whether it be at school, in our professional lives, everywhere.
He told us that we live in a world of integration and that this integration comes in the form of "www." or the world wide web. Globalization and understanding bring the world together. He told us that the further we go with globalization and understanding the closer we will be able to get to things like world peace and stuff. We are currently far from that right now though.
One of the reasons we are far from our international goals is the shift the world has had from respecting traditional morals to the idea of "situational ethics". He said that globalization makes everyone feel connected but no one really takes any responsibility.
There were a few things that he said that I just loved and was able to write down fully. As he was telling us about all the problems we have let globalization cause, he reassured us saying, "Today is the day for the best of our hopes, not the worst of our fears." I really like this quote because he was telling us about all these scary things that can happen if we're not careful, but when you go out into the world with your morals high and the Spirit to guide you, you can reach your goals. Just imagine what it would be like if all big corporations and politicians and stuff did that! Wow, huh?
It was really cool, he talked about how because of globalization, corporations etc. have character. That made me think about how the big, really successful things like that are the ones who are honest and moral. If the people in a business are trustworthy and good, the business will prosper. I also noticed how this sort of thing is seen throughout history and the scriptures! (Pride cycle ring a bell...I found it interesting.)
He talked about how our relations in this life will continue into the next. This kind of hit me hard. I'd always heard and known that, but in this context of business, globalization, online networking etc. it was so different! I was reminded of a conversation I had with grandpa about how the world has become extremely tech based. With all the instant messaging, facebook, texting, etc. it made me think how even our technologically based relationships will go with us into the next life. If you think about it like that, it makes what you say and do online mean a little more and makes you think before you do whatever it is you do online...I think it's pretty amazing.
He quoted the 11th and 13th articles of faith. With all the globalization we, especially as members of the church, need to remember to not only be kind and loving toward everyone, but also to be tolerant and respectful of their practices, especially religious practices (11th article of faith). We also need to remember to be guided by the all encompassing principles found in the 13th article of Faith.
He reminded us that our right to help decide the fate of our country is not only a right, but a responsibility as well. It is our responsibility to find out as much as we can about what we can vote for and then decide on what would be the best choice to vote on using the Spirit to guide us.
Culture, government, and religion are all very different and separate things. Our church is not an American church. No state, no country, no political party stands as a representative of God. We need to be guided by the Spirit of God, it is the only thing that has eternal truths.
He ended by reminding us that Christ is the perfect example of everything. Christ didn't just show us the way, he provided us the way.
One last quote that I loved: "Fear not to do good." As I wrote this I realized that we are being commanded to not fear to do good. That's pretty intense.
I'm so grateful I was able to be there! I am so glad that I decided to attend UVU. It reaches out to the community more than any school in the world (that's what they told us today). UVU's push to get people registered to vote and out voting is the second largest push in the nation...that's pretty cool! I love my school and I am so grateful that the First Presidency of the church loves my school too! I think it's so cool that we were able to hear what the Lord wants UVU students (specifically) to hear!
Well, after the whole thing was over and people were getting up and leaving President Uchtdorf stood up and turned to where the choir was sitting and gave us all a big two thumbs up...we were all happy about that! It was awesome!
So, that's my day today! I'm now going to take some daytime cold medicine and head off to work! I really love you guys so much!
~Manda "

I went on a date!!!!! yay!

I went on a date last night!!! It was amazing! I really don't think the word "wow" could hold a candle to how wow (and kind of strange) last night was.
First off, it was with Chandler. He is funny, charming, a gentleman, overall, he's pretty freaking amazing! hahahaha
Well, we got Slurpees. (k, what is it with those things...they're way too cold, and it's cold outside, but people really seem to like them...go figure!!) Then we went to Chandler's house and watched the Italian Job. At first, his friend Mike was there. Mike's way cool...hahaha. He started coming to mission prep because we were all given a challenge to invite at least two people to institute weekly and Chandler invited him. Mike was kind of a hoot, but then he had to go home. We also watched the movie with Chandler's little sister, Rachel. She's way cute! Her mom got a little peeved that she got to bed so late cuz she was watching the movie with us...I felt way bad about that. But Rachel is way adorable!
Well, then we went to IHOP. Wow, where do I even begin? We both ordered pancakes, naturally. We kind of got talking...about EVERYTHING! It was the most interesting conversation I have ever had!
Yeah, I know this description of my date might sound a little lame, but it was an absolutely bizzare first date. Yikes...but in a good way. hahahaha I love first dates! hahaha....holy cow, this is really vague...sorry!
Well, after IHOP we kind of drove around Orem, still talking. Since we couldn't really think of much else to do we decided to call it a night. So he took me home, he hugged me goodnight, I went into my apartment, and that was the end of the date.
So, yeah...I went on a date...a fun, kind of strange, first date with Chandler...It was kind of awesome! hahahaha
~Manda

Choir is the best!!! (dancing comes in an overlappingly close second!)

I love Choir!!!! It is seriously the BEST thing in the entire world...just to let you know!
We had a choir Halloween party tonight. I was there early for set up and late of clean up. There were some kuh-ray-zee costumes! But the part was a blast. We had way too much food, costume contests, kazoo and slide-whistle composition contests (only among music majors would that happen...it was hilarious), and then (the best part) a few girls and I started dancing...then EVERYONE was dancing...dancing is also the best. It's almost as good as choir. Well, I don't have pics from the party yet, cuz I don't gots a camera...sad. But that's why we have facebook, right? I won't have all the pics I wish I had, but some are better than none, right?
So, I got total swag from this shindig. I got a plastic camera, two packets of hot cocoa powder, a slide-whistle, a kazoo, and a rose from the Phantom of the Opera. hahahaha...fun night! But I kind of have to say that the dancing was my total favorite!
Costumes! K, there were some stellar costumes at this party. One guy dressed as Nacho Libre, another as a black woman (he's black, so it totally worked). We had the Phantom, Cher, Madonna, someone from the 20s, 50s and 80s, an "it" (or a Who from Whosville), a girl in a polka dot dress, an actual gay guy and his best friend as Will and Grace, a Korean in Korean clothes, a pimp (aka Hugh Hefner, aka Ruben from Ocean's 11), Little Red (me), a few people in totally random costumes, yeah...fun night! Oh, it was so cute, this girl and her hubby both made tie-die orange shirts with jack-o-lanterns drawn on them...I swear, they are the cutest newlywed couple ever!
Well, when I have pics I'll post more info...but tonight was a blast...I'm exhausted...Oh, but before I forget...I need to remind myself about writing, at least in my personal journal, about the Same-Sex Marriage debate I went to, the guy I met because I sang in institute, Chandler saying he was sorry for the whole standing me up and us potentially going out on Saturday, singing in Master Class today, getting complimented on my dancing at the party tonight, shopping with Ruthie today, my Spanish test last night, the two papers I have to write, Ruthie and Spencer, and I think that might be it....I need to remind myself cuz I'm really way tired (from dancing...woohoo) and I NEED to go to sleep soon or I'll fall asleep on my comp. Well, "the sun has gone to bed and so much I...Goodbye, Goodbye....Goodbye!!!!!"
~Little Red!

Wacky dreams....gotta love 'em!

So, my friend, Ethan, and I pretend we're spy/secret agents. He's Agent Timothy Pierce and I'm, Agent Evangeline Larkin. We mostly give each other missions having to do with learning some new piece of trivia or exploring and venturing into a new tv series the other person just loves. We even have a secret organization on facebook called Midpoint. It might sound a little lame, and granted, it probably is, but it's really a lot of fun!!! He's one of my best friends, I actually went to prom with him twice...hahaha. He's gonna leave on his mission soon, so this, I guess, is kind of a last hurrah for us!
Well, lately I've been having some pretty funky dreams, and there is one that I just thought was hilarious that I didn't want to forget. So, Ethan an I were spies in my dream. We had our names, clearance, files, guns, wires, etc...everything a spy has in the movies and on tv, we had it! So our mission was to get some computer files from this mafia type group in Japan...I think (dreams can be a little vague). Well, we were at a party. At first I was all American in a killer red cocktail dress and we were dancing, posing as a married couple (just like Bryce and Sarah in Chuck versus the Break-up), getting information and trying to find our enemies and stuff. Well, then all of the sudden we're in this hallway trying to break into the head mob guy's office and I'm all Japanese. I was still me, but I was in a kimono and had dark hair, brown eyes, no freckles, and was shorter, but I still looked like me. This kimono was pretty cool though...it was all gold and super fancy. So we broke into the office and hacked onto his computer. We got the files but then the door started to open. Ethan, or actually Agent Pierce, got next to the door with his gun ready. He was still all American in a 007-y tux...very Bond actually. I was more Sydney Bristow from Alias I guess, with the kimono...the cocktail dress was totally Sarah Walker from Chuck. Well, the dream gets vague again there, but we ended up killing most of the Japanese mafia group, all spy like and what not, and getting the files we needed. The dream was a total mix of James Bond, Alias, and Chuck the whole way through...it was so funny!
So there's my wacky dream adventure! Hahahaha...I think it's kinda sad that I dream in tv shows too.
Oh, this dream isn't as funny, but I told my mom today and it made her laugh. So I'm drawing each of the young women of the Damariscotta Branch for my mom. Well, it's been kind of hard cuz I'm not all that good using colors, I really like my pencil and charcoal, color is too messy. Well I had this weird dream where I was on the phone with my mom and she told me to just draw me for all of them. It seemed so real! I told her that I couldn't just draw me cuz I needed to draw the girls, but she insisted. When I told her again that I couldn't do that, she told me to just do the practice ones of myself. I told her that doing that would be a waste of time. I think I hurt my dream mom's feelings. Well, when I woke up I was really confused. I kept thinking the conversation over and over. It didn't take me too long to realize that it didn't make sense, but it actually wasn't until I was on the phone with my mom today (and I had the dream a couple of nights ago) that I was positive that we had never actually had that conversation. My dreams are so weird! hahahaha
Well, I sadly just finished watching BtVS season 1 again...I have no idea how many times I've seen that, but it's kind of the only show that I don't get distracted by cuz I already know it all and have most of it memorized. How sad! hahahaha
Well, I'm finally tired! Getting to sleep has been kind of hard for me during this break! I'm so glad I have school tomorrow!!! Good night!
~the nerdy (it might have been I while, but I'm still a nerd) Manda

Happy hour sushi in SLC!! (pics included) hahaha

So, Chandler never showed...oh well! But last night was so much fun!!!! Jaysun, Ruthie and I walked around temple square, a cathedral, and the capitol building. We took so many pics!!!! It was so much fun..and the sushi was sooooo good! Here are some of the pics!
So, they're in kind of reverse order....oh well!!
We also saw all these kids dressed up for a masquerade ball while we were at the capitol building...it was soo cool!!! We also got Slurpees from 7eleven when we got back to Orem...Last night was way fun!
~Manda

This is for my wonderful Aunt Leanne

K, so I know it's pretty late, but I kind of have a migraine ad can't exactly get to sleep...So I thought I'd post. Ever since Leanne started following, I've started blogging more. I guess it's the little girl in me (y'know, the one who LOVED attention and was able to keep the spotlight forever...I like that girl!) Well, Leanne, this post is for you!!!!
First of all I love your blog! Whenever I read it it makes me super happy! I love how optimistic you are...I need to be more like that! I love how you love your family. I just really like you and love you and love reading the things you have to say!
Thank you so much for following my blog and actually reading it. I enjoyed having something no one really know about...something that was kind of a secret. But secrets like that tend to have a way of getting stale. I still don't really know why I started this...but hey..that's perfectly fine! It was funny because I was REALLY embarrassed when you started following this...It's the people pleaser in me. For some reason I feel the need for everyone to really like me...I got way scared when I thought someone would have read my quirky entries on television, Comic Con, vampires, etc. But it's me, and it's a part of me that I actually like... a lot! So thanks Leanne...thanks for reading this silly little blog and still liking me in spite of it! hahahahaha... I love you!
I really miss you guys! I read your post about Marci and it made me get all nostalgic and stuff. I remember when you guys lived around here and you had your little apartment and your little family. I loved watching and helping watch your kids! I loved how willing and eager Marci was to help with everything and how she didn't think it was weird to play dolls and watch cartoons with someone who seemed so much older than her. I loved being around Garrett. I don't think I will ever meet a person who doesn't just adore that kid from the get go! He is so much fun to be around and he loves including everyone and having everyone as a friend. I really loved being with Chole too! I still remember getting to be an angel with her in the Nativity one Christmas. There's this Greg Olsen painting that I just love that will forever remind me of being with Chloe...she's just so darling and sweet. I guess I never really got to know Liam...but every hand me down phone I get comes with at least one adorable picture of him! He is so cute and I love it when I get to see him! He seems to be a favorite of everyone's! It was way cool to hang out with Grant up in Idaho. Holy Cow that kid has energy! He just became my little friend...I loved it! I loved the way he and Emily got along...or kinda didn't. They were so cute together...it was so funny because Emily would be doing something that Grant thought looked fun, so he'd do it too. Emily didn't always like that, so then she'd stop. Well, Grant would then find something else fun to do that Emily thought looked fun. So she'd start, but then, because she thought it was fun, she wanted Grant to stop. Oh my goodness, it was so cute to watch!!!!! I could have spent all day with those two...they both pretty much became my total favorites!!! I think Charly is just amazing! She just loves people, doesn't she? And I love all the pics I get to see of her!
Oh Leanne, I just adore you so much! I'm so glad my mom was able to have such amazing sisters like you! I love they way all of you do things! You are so amazing! I seriously want to be a lot like you when I get to be a mom!
Well, my head's throbbing has lessened, and I should really get to sleep...Ruthie, her friend Jaysun, Chandler (woohoo) and I are all going up to Salt Lake for sushi tomorrow night...it's gonna be so much fun! I love college! It's pretty much the best!
Well, Leanne, hope to see you soon.
~Manda

hahahahahahahahahahahaha...YAY!!!!

K, so Ruthie and Spencer's date was a hit!!! I'm so freaking happy for both of them!!! Ruthie is awesome and has needed a nice, good Mormon boy to sweep her off her feet for a while!!! Also I have had the best day ever! I was kinda mopey earlier...for a while in fact...it was wearing on Ruthie...so sorry girl, I love you!!! But then, the BEST thing happened: Chandler (aka institute boy) emailed me!!!! So, I emailed him first...big deal...but he emailed me back!!!!!!!!!! and with his number!!!!!!! Well, he told me to text him (and as we have preveously established, I don't have texting, grrr!) So, I told him that I have a ton of rollover minutes on my phone (which I do) so he should call me! Oh gosh...this is the closest thing I've had to a guy asking me on a date in FOREVER!!!!! I'm so freaking happy, excited, giddy, twitterpated, etc. etc!!! Plus, Ruthie likes being around me again!!! yay!!!! Well....see ya!
~Manda!

Fall break and canceled classes...aka Life is Good!!!

So, today is actually pretty much the beginning of my fall break. I woke up feeling pretty not so great and missing my first class because of it. Then I went to choir and after choir I found out that my voice lesson was canceled. Normally I'd get kind of upset because of that, but today the cancellation was happily welcomed! Well, because we did some extra work, and because my teacher didn't want to have class, my Spanish night class was also canceled due to fall break! I love school...but there's something that's even better than school...and that's no school! YAY!!!! So tonight is going to be full of hanging out and catching up on homework! I love fall break!!!! It's pretty much the best break ever!!!! Well, here's to finding something productive to do till Ruthie gets done with school!!! yay! School's the best!!! I love life and all the people in it! (it's amazing what having a couple classes canceled can do to your attitude, huh?!) Well, fall break is awesome! I love it!
~Manda

Happy Birthday Miss Ruthie Merrell!!!!!

So, today Ruthie Merrell is no longer a teenager. She's turned the big two-oh! Wow! I totally love that girl!!! She and I planned on waking up at 6:00 today and going over to a cemetery near my old house. (Fun times in that cemetery...let me tell you!) Well, knowing us (and the fact that Ruthie generally doesn't wake up till about 11:00) we weren't able to wake up on time. Drat, huh? Well, I was still able to give Ruthie her present...It was wrapped way pretty. I have a picture of it on my phone, but still no texting (life would be so much easier with unlimited texting!!! so much easier!). Well, I gave her a red and brown purse full of little inside jokes, like a plastic lei, a shoe pin, seashells, a dictionary, a lighter, a mini skateboard, a plastic tiara, nail polish and an emery board, a yogurt lid and a dollar store frisbee, a yellow crayon, body spray, and a Vera Bradley zip ID case (Frankly Scarlett). So, yeah, I gave that to her this morning. Then I had school until her school day started, then she had school till I went to work. We did plan on hanging out after I got off of work, but I was trumped by something way cute...well, Spencer. He's going to California (I think) from tomorrow till the end of fall break, and because he likes Ruthie so much, he wanted to do something with her on her birthday. So, oh well, right? It's the right thing to do, y'know, let your best friend go on a date with a guy you just so happen to like on her birthday, partially because he likes her not you, and partially because you're pretty sure she might like him back a little. Well, it's what I did...been kind of freaking out about it all day...but it's ok now, because Ruthie and Spencer are my friends and they deserve to be happy....*sigh*
And on that happy note (hahahahaha) fall break is this week!!!!! YAY!!!!! I didn't realise how badly I wanted a break till now! Things have just been going so fast that I didn't even think about needing a break...but it is very much welcomed! I have so much homework to do over the break!!! It's not even funny! Plus I finally got two of the books I ordered about a month ago...I'm not very happy with the companies I ordered them from. I ordered from Amazon, and I'm generally quite pleased with Amazon, but this time I really wasn't. First off, I ordered all my books pretty quick into the first part of school, but every single one of my orders was canceled and refunded...The biggest problem with that was I had planned on actually using my books, silly me, huh? So I re-ordered my books, even paying extra to be able to get my Art History book before the first test. The only book I got within the time frame they gave me was my Spanish book that I had ordered directly from the publisher, instead of through Amazon. So, three and a half weeks after my Art History test, I finally have two of my books, only one to go...but I'm okay with that company...they found out I didn't have my book yet and fully refunded me saying that they put my book in the mail, there's just no record of it through UPS. So if I end up getting that book, I get it for free...happy me!!!
Oh wow...I'm just full of good feelings today, aren't I? Let's try one more time. I had work today...I was a little late due to me locking my keys in my bedroom right before I was supposed to leave. Well, after totally freaking because I couldn't find anything small and strong enough to put in the little hole in my doorknob, I said a prayer. It wasn't two seconds later that I figured it out! It was amazing! I truly love my Heavenly Father so much! Well, while I was at work it got really, really, really slow. We all decided to start deep cleaning things. I got to wash all the mirrors and doors in the lobby, clean the tile on the walls, stuff like that. Well, then I found myself a real project. There's this wall behind the waffle iron we use to make waffle cones and it had a pretty thick layer of goo from custard, PAM, steam from waffles, waffle batter, etc. I decided to clean the wall. Wow, I did NOT know it was so dirty and gross to do that wall. But I'm so glad I did. It looks so much better now, and even though I wasn't exactly able to totally 100% finish it like I wanted to, it took up the rest of my shift to do! So, work was good!
OH!!! I have another happy thing from today! I'm taking Missionary Prep through the Institute at UVU and, well, first of all I love it! But also there's this really cute guy in my class, Chandler. He and I have sort of become Institute buddies. Well, today we had a quiz on the Plan of Salvation...it was so much fun! I can't think of a thing that isn't fun in that class! Well, lately I've been kinda down because I haven't been on a single date since April...it feels like forever!!! But it was so cool today in institute because I got to sit next to Paul, a kid I went to Orem High with that our teacher, for some reason, thinks is named Gary. I sat behind Chandler and his friend Mike, and next to this other really cool guy that I was apparently in choir with last year! hahahaha...who'd have thought? Well, when we were allowed to work on the quiz open book/neighbor all four of these guys turned to me! It was so much fun!!! I was able to talk about the gospel with four really cute guys all preparing to go on missions! I loved it! Institute is probably my favorite class this semester!!!
Well, now that I'm on a good news role, I should probably go to sleep. It's pretty late, and I'm happy now! Life is great! I hope I haven't said too much, but knowing me, I probably have! hahahaha...well, g'night!
~Manda the nerd! (hahaha)

Pics from a freaking fun night!!!!

So...here are some of the pics from the first snow of the year!!!! It was such a fun night!

~Manda

Sundays!

So, I love Sundays. Today I got to go to Ruthie's ward. It was way fun! Last night we hung out with some guys from Murray and one of them told us about this game he would play before his mission. It was testimony BINGO. He said to put the names of people from your ward on your BINGO board and play like that. We decided to choose topics instead. We made two boards and nearly got a blackout on one of them. It was so much fun!
As I stated above, Ruthie and I hung out with two guys from Murray last night. We stayed up till a time that was probably a little too late, but when you're about to go home and you go outside and see that everything is covered with snow from the first snow of the year (and you're with your best friend and a couple really cute guys) what are you supposed to do? It was a blast! We watched the Office at Ruthie's house and then we went over to my apartment and played in the snow till we were too cold, then we went inside. Spencer (one of the guys) had his camera and took a lot of pictures! Wow, last night was the funnest night I've had in a really long time!!!!
I realized today that I haven't written in my personal journal in quite a few months. I really need to do that! There are so many things that I need to either start doing, or start doing again! hahahahaha...Aren't there always those sorts of things to be doing?
Well, Ruthie and I are going to go make cookies to send to her missionary! It's fun having a blog follower...love you Leanne...you're the best!
As always, I'm a total nerd (*smile*) and it's so much fun to be that!
~Manda

I am a complete and total nerd...it is official!

So I'm lame...and a nerd! And I'm not just saying I'm one of those know a lot about television shows kind of nerds, I'm the kind who fantasizes about meeting the cast and crew, dresses up like the characters, has calendars, script books, soundtracks, etc., has not only the episodes, lines, seasons, episode numbers, etc. memorized, but also commentaries that go along with them. I dream about being one of the nerd who goes to Comic Con in replica costume with replica (or real) props and meeting members of the cast and crew...I never thought it would happen...but I'm officially "one of them". And sadly it has re-manifest itself today.
Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog recently created the "Evil League of Evil". You can actually submit an application...only thing is that it has to be a movie. I'm guessing that it also has to follow the guidelines given in the letter from Bad Horse that is heard in Dr. Horrible. Well, if you get accepted, your video, I believe, will be put on the DVD. I really, really want to do it! It would just be so cool to be on a DVD. Plus, you think about the iTunes downloads now and Dr. Horrible is #2....WOW! I want to do this, but I don't think I'll be courageous enough to actually try. (But that doesn't mean this want isn't incredibly distracting and I won't ever stop thinking about it!) Oh well.
So, yeah...reading through my blogs....I am a nerd. Plain and simple. I don't think people (besides maybe my dad) realize how bad it is. I tell people and they either try to console me or try to show me how they're one too. For example, there's this group on facebook, Female nerds unite--or something like that. Well, they have seven requirements to be able to join the group. You only need to be able to fill four to be accepted. One of them is...well, it's too cool to be considered nerdy. (you need to have liked Classic Rock before it became popular again...I'm sorry....NOT nerdy!) Well, needless to say....I filled all seven requirements a little too well. I think I am probably going to have a room in my future house for mint comics, action figures, first edition DVDs and their corresponding box sets, life size cut-outs of characters, etc. hahaha....Ahhh, to be rich!
So, that's what I am....and I'm pretty much embarrassed-ly proud!
~Manda

I am NOT obsessed with vampires

So, I am NOT obsessed with vampires! Total fact that I need to share before I continue.
When I was a Sophomore in high school I began watching the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It quickly became my favorite show of all time...here's why: Joss Whedon is pretty much a total genius! There are allegories and symbolism that you see in that show that just don't exist on normal television show levels. It's funny, well written, it introduced the world to the consistent, workable over arching story in a tv series idea. And it was Joss...so come on...it's gotta be good.
So after seeing every episode more times than any human should ever admit to watching any episode of television I was pretty knowledgeable on the subject. I would never say I was into the vampire aspect (although it's what kept consistency and the symbolism alive) I was more into the character development and relationships. Plus, I was totally into the "pretty (feminine) feminist", girl-power idea! The show was awesome...and it wasn't because of vampires.
Then the Twilight saga came out. I was a senior at this point and nearly every kid in my school knew of my Buffy obsession. Well, there was this little sophomore that I was friends with and she kept telling me how I needed to read and would love Twilight. I kept telling her that I didn't read vampire fiction...I still say that now. She eventually gave up on Twilight, but she recommended a bunch of other books to me that I really enjoyed. A few months later she recommended Twilight again. Trusting her taste in books to be extremely compatible with mine I finally read it...what can I say, I was hooked.
Now, I still say that I don't read typical vampire fiction, but these were good. They've never been my favorite books, but they got me reading...and that's kind of hard to do. They move so fast and they're s easy to just pick up and read in a couple days. I really love these books. I did find it ironic that I was reading these (and re-read these) because the relationships paralleled so well with many Buffy relationships. But knowing that Stephenie Meyer didn't ever really watch the show gave me peace of mind. The vampires weren't typical, which was nice.
There are actually quite a few things I dislike about the books. I don't really like how weak Bella is, I understand it, but I don't like it. I also don't like how everyone is still alive at the end...but Meyer said that she wanted the book to be happy...not a downer. Most of all I don't like how Bella gets everything she wants and pretty much lives happily ever after. But after thinking about it for a while I realized that this was exactly the kind of series Meyer wanted to write. She wrote a fairy tale...it just so happens that in this one, Prince Charming's got some attitude.
So yes, I am a pretty stereotypical girl, liking Twilight and all, but hey, it's good. And I believe that books that get people reading and wanting to write (like me...I want to write SOOO BAD!) are good. (side note:my mom doesn't really think the books are completely appropriate...she thinks that they give teens permission almost to push the limits of physical passions...but...haha...she couldn't put them down! hahaha) Well, I hope (like, really, really, really, really hope) that Stephenie Meyer will be able to finish Midnight Sun. It sort of disproves my mom's theory of physical passion being the only attraction between Bella and Edward, but also...Edward's point of view is sooooo much more fun to read!
So, once again...I am not obsessed with vampires. (I am, however, obsessed with the drama that can so easily come from fictional relations to and with them...it's awesome!) So...I'm a total nerd, but that's never been news to anyone...and once again, I'm glad no one really reads this! haha
~Manda

In a word? k..."Life"

This week has been unbearably long. Fun, but long! I had so much going on that more days than not a day felt like a week instead. (if that made any sense whatsoever! hahaha) So, my current large issue besides money, school, work, or church (not necessarily in that order) is, surprise, surprise...boy!
There's this absolutely adorable guy in my missionary prep institute class. He talks to me every time I see him, walks me part way to class...he's so cute! But I don't know if he likes me or if he's just being nice. GAH! I don't know!
So my amazing cousin, Rachel, is out of this world phenomenal! She was chosen out of, like 3000 kids for this honors thing for the seniors in her area. She is really something. She's artistic, musical, athletic, academic, nice, cute, happy, well dressed, has good taste...and on top of all that, she's freaking drop dead gorgeous! I think she is quite an amazing person. We used to be sort of best friends, but lately not so much. I guess I'm just too much of a slacker or something. I must have done something wrong. I'm really not like her. I'm not athletic, or a very good student. I'm extremely apathetic toward too many things. I've always, since I was probably nine, wanted to be more like her! I love my Rachel!
Well, I really am exhausted from tests, concerts, practices, re-scheduled voice lessons, a little bit of cleaning, work, friends, etc. But it's Sunday tomorrow...ahhh, the day of rest never looked so good! Till next time!
~Manda

It's a good thing no one really reads this! hahaha

The greatest thing about having a blog that no one really knows or cares about is just that...no one knows or cares! hahaha To most people, this unknown blog would seem like a waste of time, but I really enjoy it! It gives me a place to not care about popularity (of which I care way too much). I also like it because I don't always have to be the way I am around people. I always try really hard to be happy, but it's hard sometimes. With the stresses of work, school, being alive and caring...life can get difficult. I really to try to stay positive though...but it doesn't always work out that way.
Take yesterday for example, I was not very nice in my thoughts or actions. When I tried to talk with the cute guy in my institute class and an old friend of mine walked in I should have been nicer to the old friend...instead I tried to blow him off. What would my mother think of this? I know exactly what she would tell me. She'd pretty much ask me whether it was more attractive to be nice to everyone or be exclusive. And to tell you the truth...it is always more attractive to be nice to everyone.
When thinking about whether or not I was acting Christlike I realized that there were multiple times through my day yesterday that I didn't do as well as I knew I was capable of doing! I know that I'm not perfect yet, but I was thinking too much about being a flirt rather than thinking about being a friend. It makes me sad when I do things like this.
Well, yesterday is over and my problem today is school. But that's the sort of thing I can handle! hahaha...well, I'm glad there's not exactly anyone around to read this, because this is rather embarrassing, but completely true. So, yeah...till next time!
~Manda

OUCH!!!!!

K, so yesterday I was having the best day EVER!!! I had my first day of work, which was amazing! The people at Coneys are sooo much fun to work with!!! Then I had this big night planned with my best friend in the whole world. We watched movies and read girly magazines while eating oreos and drinking diet soda! FUN! And then I got to see Rylan!!!!! YAY!!! He is my favorite! I've missed him sooooooo much!!!! Like...sooooooooooooo much! And he's going on a mission! Big yay!!!!
Overall, yesterday was the best day ever! Class was good, work was good, friends were AWESOME!!! But...ouch! Something happened to me that has never happened...ever! While Ruthie and I were walking to WalMart I tripped in a hole...that happens a lot to me...but I sprained my ankle...that doesn't. So, I'm in pain! I can hardly walk and its all swollen and blue. I just put some ice to freeze in the freezer so I can ice it. (did that sentence not make any sense...sorry) But even with the pain and everything...Yesterday was amazingly fun!!!
~Manda

My first post

So, basically I decided to crash my best friend's Elementary Education computer class. They all made blogs...so I decided I would too! hahahaha Well, I don't exactly have much to report today. I'm just bored in her class. So...see ya!
~Manda