Hello, My Name Is:

Hello, my name is "House." And Lizzy recently moved into me. I was built around 1900, so I am very old. A lawyer (or doctor? Lizzy can't remember) built me then, after he moved here from New York. Polygamy may or may not have been a factor in his moving to Utah.

Incidentally, Lizzy's window is in the bottom right corner. The apartment is a perfect, one-bedroom apartment with very high ceilings (I'm talkin' 12-14 feet!) and a lack of electrical outlets in the front room. That small jut-out part of me (House) on the right is an addition in which is a laundry room, and Lizzy's bedroom.

Speaking of Lizzy's bedroom - it's rather fabulous. You enter through a door off the kitchen, and you must step down to enter! Neat!

Lizzy's bedroom fits a queen sized bed, a desk from IKEA, and will soon have a dresser as well. But for now, her favorite part are these fantastic curtains she got for $8 at DI. They hang over the closet (there are no doors.) But, they're wonderful, really.

The kitchen, in so many words, is GINORMOUS, with plenty of cupboard and storage space. Pleasantly, the cupboards are a bluish-green color (that I'm sure was chosen somewhere around 1948 and has simply been matched and maintained since then...)

The bathroom is under the stairs. Parts of it are very updated. Parts of it are not (thank goodness! They're so charming.) One of these parts is the claw-foot bathtub, once blue (to match the light blue floor and once-blue walls) but now painted white.

It's gorgeous!

Lastly, allow me to introduce you to the cozy front room, complete with original fireplace. I love this original piece! Think how many people have looked at, touched, scraped against and warmed up by this fireplace (complete with stove outlet - as shown above!) Unfortunately, the chimney, now, is a means of travel for the gas pipes and such, and the actual fireplace itself is somewhat of an eyesore - but the original bricks are, indeed, a treasure.

Another treasure is the steal of a deal Lizzy and Spencer got on furniture! A couch, matching chair, 4 pillows, coffee table and side table - unused, unworn and BEAUTIFUL for only $550! Seeing as a new IKEA couch on it's own is $299 to begin with - i'd say they lucked out. It's so cheerful, sturdy and comfortable! Hooray!!

That's about it, folks! It was nice to meet you!

Do come visit!

Love,

House.

Thoughts about being 20.

A tradition I have every year is to write in my journal the day before my birthday. 1. I don't write in my journal very often so i figured the least i could do is a yearly recap. 2. I find it oddly nostalgic to record my last thoughts as a whatever-year-old.

Unfortunately, last night got busy, I didn't go to bed till 1:30 am and here i am at 12:10 am the next day trying to relive the last 24 or so hours of "birthday." What a rude awakening into "adulthood."

Or is it adulthood? I'm no longer a teenager, but i can't buy booze, nor does my driver's license expire, till next year. What good am I?

I am getting ready to get married, yes. I think if someone were to tell me that this time LAST year I may have laughed but secretly known deep down that it would have been reasonable to assume that Spencer and I were headed down that path. Had someone told me my sister would get married this year I would have raised an eyebrow. Had someone told me I'd STILL be a music major I may have threatened physical abuse.

This year? I don't know how to describe it. I guess I'd call it a "good" year over all because - why not? But really, it's been pretty nuts. SO many ups and SO many downs. I hate my major/i'm okay with my major, major roadblocks to marriage/freedom to do whatever, sitting in insufferable rehearsals/touring to Japan and Korea - Yeah, world - I was in flippin' TOKYO this last summer. Who does that?! I mean, really, I lucked out.

I just wish that my emotions could be consistent. I think that's been the strangest factor of my 19th year. I can't seem to stop my life from spinning to REALLY think things out before freaking out about it. I've never been too emotional and this year I've been ALL over the charts.

I guess it's all for a greater good, though. I've grown a lot. I've matured a lot - I can feel it. I spend my time doing more "practical" things. I spend my time thinking about HSA's, furniture, and the ever-looming idea of a career. The semester is halfway over and I haven't even thought about making a music video. Sad.

What else? Hey! I'm officially checking out of school (mentally)! I suppose that may not be healthy, or good to admit out loud...but it's true. I plan on finishing as soon as humanly possible, and I will beg, plead and brown-nose as much as I need to. I have no shame about this.

But my sense of "self" has changed a lot. I don't take crap as much. I'm more assertive. I think people, in general, take me more seriously than they used to. I admit that I am affected by comments regarding my age. People say "You're too young to get married!" or "Wait..you're HOW OLD!?" Well you know what, world, thanks very much - you CAN'T pull the 'teenager' card any more, HA! :) And in approximately 18 months (or less PLEASE less), I will very well start "providing" for my family as Spencer finishes up school, or launch into a master's program. YES. I can make big decisions.

One regret about my 19th year? I've hardened. I've become a lot more bitter and cynical in general. I don't like it, and I'm really trying to overcome it. But situations being as they have been, I have found reason to feel hard....It's disappointing, really. I should know better.

Another thought about being thrust into the realm of adulthood. I think it would be easier if people, in general, were more supportive of each other. It's not that people are UNsupportive but to be supportive is to encourage and provide emotional help. I feel more of a general acceptance and tolerance rather than support. It's really sort of lonely, but does provide great opportunity for learning and growth when charting one's own path.

Well anyway. Who'd have thought this year would be so tough. But good. Tough. Good. I'm beginning to feel they're basically one in the same.

New Blog

Soooo a few months ago I decided to try to get a different blog off the ground. Inspired by the fact that I did pictures for 3 weddings this last summer, I've been digging into photography, photoshop and all that. I'm pretty sure I want to hit up UVU for a year after I graduate from BYU to get some sort of formal training in photography and graphic design.

Anywho - the blog I created a while ago is elizabethhelendesign.blogspot.com. I took some fall pictures up the Alpine Loop about a week go! Check 'em out and let me know if you like them!!

The Idea

Sooooo lately (and by lately I mean the last few months) I've really been thinking about getting involved with Women's Issues. I think girls ROCK and I wish that more girls felt that way about themselves. Heck, i wish i felt more that way about myself. It is a lot easier to think other people are more awesome than you. But usually i just feel like we're all pretty neat.

Anyway - I've checked out various organizations and what not and it seems that anything currently established as a "Power to the Women" type of organization is, well, just that. Sickly feminist and pro-abortion all ov

er the place!! Now, i'm all for having opinions but I'm also all for being a part of something that you believe in ONE-HUNDRED percent, which is why i can't associate myself with certain ideals, promoting unmitigated feminine dominance.

I have found solace in the Women's Services office at BYU where i can sign up to mentor an adolescent girl here in Provo. I also would like to volunteer to run a week-long "Love your Body" event on campus where girls can get together, wear free t-shirts and feel good about themselves, who they are and where they're going.

However, I'm still appalled at the social media, what it promotes and what it says about women. I'm disgusted by the pornography industry. I'm nauseated at the thought of domestic violence toward women (and men for that matter, but that's a different story.) And I wish women all over the world knew just how incredible we all are, individually and together.

This is where my idea comes into play:

Instead of fight this fire with protests, petitions and all that sort of unreliable and ho-hum hoo-ha, I wish to begin to start my own small chapter in this world to do my own bit of good. I want to start a blog. Maybe this blog will become a magazine and maybe that magazine will become a TV show and maybe these things will some day influence the world for good. Who knows. But for now, I'll start with a blog. And this blog will be dedicated to strong, amazing, normal women who are normal-sized, who promote good, normal things and are beautiful in every way because they do what makes them happy.

Once a week this blog will highlight one woman, who she is, and what she does that rocks. As this blog would hopefully gain a following, there would be a place to submit names, pictures, and descriptions of ladies who should be interviewed and spotlighted. And perhaps we could find comfort and inspiration in reading, even just once or twice a week, about women who seem to be like us and are powerful and unique in their own way.

What do you guys think? Should i go for it? Do you think people would respond and be willing to be interviewed and participate?

Zumba

I signed up for an aerobics class. No, this isn't a class i'll get credit for - heaven only knows I wouldn't be able to wake up on Saturday mornings if it were required. But I signed up for a StepKardio/Zumba class held Tuesday and Thursdays from 5:30-6:30 and Saturday mornings 8:30-9:30. I went for the first time yesterday.

I loved it.

Here's why:

1. I am taking it with a dear friend and old roommate (always roommate at heart.) I'm so glad to be able to do something fun with her on a regular basis so we can keep in close touch with each other despite not living together this year.

2. I've been wanting to exercise more regularly. I get SO BORED with the notion of "Eh...I'm just gonna 'go out for a run' today." Boring Snoring, right? Well, a StepKardio/Zumba fusion aerobics class is ever so exciting. After spending a half hour doing intense step aerobics, we spend the last half hour doing what is called Zumba - it's a very African-ey and Latin-ey style workout. I wouldn't call it "dancing" but i wouldn't call it just an aerobics routine, either. It rocks.

the #3 reason why i love Zumba is touch-ey-feel-ey. I have adequately prepped you, now.

3. I think it's an INCREDIBLE feeling to be a part of 100 or so girls doing something difficult. I love the feeling of pushing thru my weaknesses and overcoming physical obstacles. And each and every girl in there is doing just the same as me! How fantastically motivating it is to be a part of something so huge and so grand. It is so empowering to think "Yeah. We're all doing this together." We're all overcoming the same obstacles, and we're all trying to stay fit and we're all trying to do something good for ourselves. How. Cool.

- - - On that note, I have an idea. Read my next post and tell me what you think! - - -

Monday Morning

School starts in a week. How does this make me feel? Well, quite frankly, i would rather do many other things than go to school in a week. Of course, pleasant things would be nice. I think just about anyone would rather eat a a peanut butter and jelly sandwich than have to start school in a week and commit to it's intensive 16-week abuse. Unless someone were allergic to peanuts...or bread...then eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich may not be the more preferable choice.

You know, when i really think about it, i guess I don't so much mind the idea of starting school in a week. No, i really don't. I'll get to live with my roommates again and live near campus. It really is the idea of the 16-week long rigmarole that's making my insides feel all jumbly. I'm just feeling suddenly resistant to responsibility and change. I've had too much of that lately and it's wigging me out just a little, honestly.

Not to mention the fact that i'm SICK SICK SICK of "due dates." Bleh!

i

love this.