Rewind.

Does anyone know where the REWIND button is for today?

I seem to have misplaced The Remote Control of Time & Space.

Wait, wait, don't push it yet.

Checklist:

Homework - check

Ipod - check

More than 5 hours of sleep - check

Wallet - check

Student ID - check

Smile on my face - check

Motivation to be here - check

Ok.

I think I'm ready now.

Go ahead and push it.

. . .

. . .

P.S. Moabular photos coming soonish.

Oh what do you do on Spring Break...

...when all your time is FREE!

Freeee-du-hu-hummmm!

. . .

sorry,

got a little carried away

. . .

ah-hem.

Anyway, as I was saying,

If you're having trouble finding ways to spend your free time, try these:

sleep in till 8:30am (at least),

read the Percy Jackson series,

and the church magazines,

and The Book of Mormon,

make homemade granola bars (recipe),

go to the mall with Nicole and shop till you drop,

watch Biggest Loser,

attend your nearest LDS Temple,

take lovely naps in the sunlight,

find different ways to style your new haircut (that you're not too fond of),

clean your bedroom thoroughly (no massive spider moms in thar),

take a bubble bath while watching "No Reservations" (or other chick flick),

run a 5k a day out in the gorgeous (unpredictable) weather,

make meals with the Madre while dancing around the kitchen and lip-sinking oldies,

oh

and

GO TO MOAB!

Yep!

That one's on the "To Do" for the morrow.

Can't wait to shake the dust of this crummy little town (name that movie)

and hike all over

and photograph everything

and swim/hot tub

and get a little tan

and bond con mi familia!

I'll be back on Friday for more fun and relaxation

With lots of fun pictures and stories to share!

Tah tah for now, ol' chaps!

(you can tell I'm in a giddy mood when I whip out the random accents)

Live it up!!!

*sigh*

Broccoli's Purpose

I don't like broccoli.

I never have.

I mean, it's ok if you're allowed to put cheese on it,

Or ranch,

Or something equally delicious and fattening that dilutes the nastyness of

what I like to call: bro-coli

But, until now I never really understood

Broccoli's purpose.

When I was little I'd ask Madre,

"Why broccoli?"

She'd answer,

"Because it's good for you."

And so it is with broccoli on The Plate of Life.

It may not taste like it,

But "broccoli" is good for you

And no matter how hard you try to get rid of it,

To sneak it into your napkin or feed it to the dog,

The only way to make it go away, is to dig your heals in

And eat it.

Hey, it could be worse.

Some people get liver,

steamed spinach,

lima beans,

brussel sprouts...

So chow down, folks

Cause there's plenty more where that came from.

Don't worry,

I hear the dessert is to die for.

As my friend Travis says,

"Hold onto your fork,

The best is yet to come."

Girls Night Out and a Dash of PPP

Last night my two sisters, Madre and I began our monthly tradition of getting together for some much needed bonding time. We started the evening with dinner at Madre's favorite Chinese restaurant: The Mandarin. YUM-A-LICIOUS!

My Greek neighbors started this place before I was born and it's been a family favorite for years. Don't ask me why they didn't start a Greek restaurant, cause I'm not really sure, but I do not mind because, cello, how could I live without Honey Walnut Shrimp and Almond Chicken?

(Answer: I couldn't) Are you drooling?

See how quaint and Chinese-y it is? It's just a fun atmosphere with friendly service and a fantastic menu...what more could you want? I haven't tried their desserts for a while, but they look amazing and they're made my Angel (my neighbors daughter) who is basically a gourmet. She makes us a plate of Greek desserts every Christmas and they are divine, to say the least.

{These photos ^ from The Mandarin website. Check it out.}

Notice: This is not a Pinky Promise Project recommendation.

Nope, I'll be spending most of my day at the gym, thanks :) (totally worth it)

. . .

This week I learned (from a certain cheesecake indulgence) that you don't have to live without your favorite foods. Just eat them sparingly. It's true! I still lost another pound after eating a slice of 1,200 calorie cheesecake. Granted, I kicked my own trash at the gym, but that's because I've made a deal with my body - it's a give and take. I exercise it on a regular basis and it allows me a treat now and then.

You don't have to completely deprive yourself of everything you've ever loved about food. I promise, life will be miserable if you do. At the same time, don't indulge your every craving if you're not willing to accept the consequences. It's a balance.

Small portions. Mostly nutritious. Irregular caloric indulgences. And daily exercise.

Don't be afraid to kick your own trash at the gym and sweat buckets.

It feels good and your body will love you.

Ok, sorry... I went PPP-crazy on you, all the sudden.

. . .

After dinner we went over the Feathy's new(ish) house, had a tour and spent the rest of the night chatting and bonding. I love my sisters and my mom so much! I'm a lucky, no blessed, girl to follow in their footsteps as I prepare to be a mother, homemaker, and wife. Thank you for your examples and your love, Kimmy & Feathy & Madre. I love you forever!

Happy Friday

(ah, I love this day)

And if you're fortunate enough to have Spring Break

This whole entire week like me, enjoy that, too!

BOOYAH!

(yes, I just said that)

Warm, Wrong, Wishing & Washing

I hope never again (not that I ever have hoped this) to have a dream where

giant arachnids invade my bedroom

and lay massive egg sacks

in the nooks and crannies of my closet that,

when poked, gush fountains

of creepy, crawly, tiny, little, pinching, biting, scuttling

spider babies that overtake me

and crawl up my pants,

and make me run around screaming bloody murder

and writhing in a riotous frenzy.

phew

We're talking basketball-sized spider moms, guys.

Not cool.

BAH (shudder)!

If you're a dream interpreter,

I don't want to know what this one means,

Thanks.

Have you noticed how everyone is happier when it's warm outside.

Now, I've never met someone from Antarctica,

but I can only imagine that,

for the most part,

they're cranky on a regular basis.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Hawaiians on the other hand...

Most hospitable people on the planet.

Do you see my point?

Every time I make a wish,

Be it on a shooting star,

11:11,

tossing a coin in a fountain,

blowing out candles,

etc.

I always absent-mindedly start it by saying,

"Please bless..."

I guess it just goes to show where wishes truly come from.

Some of the most hilarious occurrences in the world

Happen when people sing the wrong lyrics to songs.

Please tell me you agree.

i.e. (my favorites):

"When upon life's pillows you are tempest tossed..."

LDS Hymn - "Count Your Blessings"

"I blow bubbles when you are not near..."

Macy Gray - "I Try"

"Swing, swing from the tables o-of my heart..."

All-American Rejects - "Swing, Swing"

Is it just me or is it impossible to get everything done in a day

And get 8 hours of sleep as a college student...

This morning Madre was making a lot of calls and leaving a lot of messages,

I guess she was just getting into the flow of it, because at the end of one message she said,

"...Thanks! Hope you guys are having a great day. In the name of... I mean? Bye."

I laughed pretty hard about that one.

I love Madre! I just had to share.

From kindergarten to my senior year of high school

I was morally opposed to sloughing/playing hooky/ditching class,

Whatever you wanna call it.

The one time I did in high school,

My friends and I went to a park,

And it rained.

A sign I think.

It was fun, but I still feel guilty about it to this day.

However, now that I'm in college,

I've found that it's almost impossible not to skip a class every once in a while.

It's amazing the amount of things you can get done when you're not sitting on your behind in front of a computer for 3 hours, listening to your professor yack his merry way through his life history. Right? Right.

I'm a people-watcher.

I know I've confessed this to you before.

So, want to know the most entertaining place for people-watching?

The gym.

If you don't believe me, next time you go observe the following:

-The 'check me out' expressions on the faces of the guys lifting weights

-The many different ways to use an elliptical

-The competitive face people give when they pass each other on the track

-The limber girls that sit doing splits on the mat for 15 minutes, just to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to see how bendy they are

-Peoples faces when they're pushing themselves really hard

Now that's not to say I'm not guilty of a few (very few) of these gym-mannerisms,

But wow, we the people of the world are pretty darn entertaining when we try to "act natural." Yes sir, we're all guilty of being oxymorons every once in a while.

Indoor plumbing was developed in the late 19th century,

Right?

So you'd think, because it's been around so long,

that people would have a grasp on how to use it,

Right?

False.

I swear, if there was a poll on this subject, the majority of people

(especially on college campuses) would answer,

"I don't flush. I don't wash my hands. Ever."

ew.

I'm sure they're great people and all, but...

ew.

15 seconds people. 15!

There's just something about seeing everyone wearing green on the same day that warms my heart. I think it's the thought of "unity" in a world of people always trying to prove that they're "different" from one another, when in reality, we're all very much the same.

Smile at strangers,

Cause since when is

Smiling strange?

The End.

PPP Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Catherine Newman!

Please send your mailing address to

lindsaykayphotography@gmail.com

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway

For sharing your awesome tips, recipes and motivations.

I'll be posting those throughout the next couple of weeks,

So keep 'em coming and enjoy this beautiful weather!

YAY for sun!

P.S. Happy St. Patrick's Day... I totally forgot... hence I'm not wearing green.Short story: a kid I work with just told me that he'd pinch me, but he thinks that I'll beat him up if he does... I don't know what that says about me... but then he added, "It's not you, it's me." Ok? Well. At least I haven't been pinched yet.

Blessings

Want to see something

amazing,

tragic,

hopeful,

beautiful

and inspiring?

Go here

(and read the post)

(or at least look at the photos)

And have a beautiful day...

Better yet, have a beautiful Life,

And count your many blessings often.

Or So She Says...

I was featured on "Or So She Says" today

Check out some of my graphic design tips here!

Thanks, Jessica & Mariel!

P.S. Anyone notice the crispness of my header? shaBAM! Tip: Upload to your header to your favorite stock photo website and upload the "Direct Link" to your blog "From The Web."

Clouds

I don't think I'm alone in saying that sometimes I just feel gloomy.

Like, "blah" + snowy grey skies on an otherwise productive Saturday = gloomy.

I blame the clouds.

Not even the clouds in the sky, so much as the clouds in my head.

The clouds that awaken like a snow storm whenever I selfishly give myself even a split second to stew about my "misfortunes" and things beyond my control.

The clouds are not light and fluffy.

They're gloomy.

But that got me thinking,

The clouds may be covering the sun right now

. . . but The Sun is still there, will always be there,

Shining just as brightly as it ever has before,

And if you look hard enough,

You'll see it.

Hope will break through and prove to you once more

Just how flimsy and translucent those "daunting" clouds really are.

The Sun is constant.

image source

Story of My Life

I hope you all have a fantabulous weekend and that the sun sticks around for a long long time! Go away till next Christmas, snow. K? Thanks. HAPPY FRIDAY!

Brian Regan tonight! WAHOO!

P.S. Anyone know how to make my header look as crisp as these images?

P.P.S. I'll announce the giveaway winner next wednesday, so make sure you enter! :)

*All images copyright of Lindsay Kay. Thank you.

PPP Giveaway!

Voile, folks!

Life Is Beautiful presents our (my) first ever GIVEAWAY:

"Master Your Metabolism"

by Jillian Michaels

What's the occasion you ask?

Well friends, this morning I weighed myself,

Which is not my favorite pastime,

But this time, I was pleasantly surprised to see

That all my hard work

(i.e. eating healthy and exercising at least 45 minutes every day)

Has paid off!!

5 pounds, GONE!

That feels so good!

In fact, today on the way to school Dad said,

"No amount of donuts in the world can bring you the feeling

That you get from eating right and exercising."

I give my hearty "Amen!" to that statement.

So, in the spirit of health and generosity,

I am bestowing upon one lucky reader,

One of the many sources of my health,

This book!

Full of recipes, exercise tips and a whole new way of taking care of your health!

Madre, Dad and I have been following this book's diet and exercise plan for two weeks

And it's been fabulously rewarding to see the results and share in one another's successes!

To enter

Please comment on this post

or

Email: lindsaykayphotography@gmail.com - Subject: "PPP Giveaway"

with the following information:

a) Your favorite nutritious recipe (snack or meal)

b) Your favorite way to exercise and why

c) Your motivation to get fit and stay healthy

d) Your fitness goal(s) (i.e. "lose 20 pounds" or "size 4 pants" and so forth)

AND

e) If you haven't already, add the PPP button to your blog and inspire others to be healthy with you!

Good luck, one and all!

Get motivated! Get fit!

Be happy!

BIZ-A

This week is going to be crazy.

You know those weeks when your teachers plot against you

And make all of your projects due at the same time?

Yeah,

It's one of those weeks.

And, ya know,

I was almost about to label this week with a big ugly stamp:

So close.

But we all know why that would be ridiculous, right?

Because...

it. doesn't. matter. that. much.

Oh-ho-ho, those little secondary superficialities think they're so clever,

Always trying to weasel their way onto my list of "Life-Altering Importance."

Step away from the list, little inconsequential predicaments.

I'm not going to spend my whole week wallowing in worry.

I will simply do my best

And if I fail,

Guess what!

Flowers will still grow,

Winter will still snow,

Roosters will still crow,

Rivers will still flow,

Farmers will still sew,

Breezes will still blow,

The Earth won't spin off its axis,

Go careening into space,

Slam into the Sun

And cause the end of human civilization.

Everything will be ok.

*sigh*

Life is for living,

For loving unconditionally,

For serving those around you

Regardless of whether you "have time" or not,

For learning from mistakes over and over

And realizing that you're imperfect just like everyone else,

For trying harder each day,

And making sure that when you do fail

(because we all fail sometime or another)

You have someone who will give you a hug.

So

Breathe in.

Then,

Breathe out

And have a good day,

Today.

Then tomorrow

And so on.