Because You Can When You're Single

I've been sending out mass texts to my whole ward the past few days... Therefore I've been looking at a lot of rare and fascinating surnames. It's got me thinking, what would be THE cutest combo with my first name?

Here's what I've come up with:

LEE

Lindsay Lee.

Doesn't that sound like a clothing designer or something?

How bout a world famous graphic designer? Eh? Eh?

Hey, I can dream!

Then again, it reminds me of Kathy Lee Gifford. Meh.

BLOOM

Lindsay Bloom.

I'm just sayin'.

Orlando may come to his senses one day.

VANDERBILT

Lindsay Vanderbilt

Let's be honest,

Anyone sounds good with that surname.

Ok, last one:

McFUSTEN

Lindsay McFusten

I might've just made that up,

But you have to admit, that's a fun combo.

So, if you know any upstanding gentlemen with these last names, send 'em my way ;)

But really, Can I just say I think if there were a prize for dating guys with unusual names (first & last) it would be on my trophy shelf (not that I have one of those)! Check out this list of names I've been on dates with:

(last name) Freckleton

(first name) Bleu

(first name) Creighton

(first name) Cree

(last name) Pitt

(last name) Kawabata

(last name) Twitchell

(last name) Sengthavechith

The funny thing is, the top three were set-up by the same cousins... Hmm...

Now, I hope you don't think I'm making fun of these names (or the great men behind them) in any way. I'm not. People with unusual names are awesome!

I now deem it fitting to quote "Romeo & Juliet":

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet..."

Then again, my sister once dated someone whose mom's name was, ah-hem, Patricia Burger... They called her Patty for short. Now THAT is cruel. Luckily, it was her maiden name.

Ah! Now that's a good lookin' name! ;)

Let's Talk Potter

I just found this picture in my Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows "googlings" and I couldn't resist sharing:

Look! It's all the Harrys (Harries?) Hahaha! I hate to admit it, but Daniel Radcliffe can be surprisingly funny when he wants to be.

Ok, November, I give you permission to come...

NOW! Please?

This picture is interesting to me, because it looks like a paparazzi shot...but it's actually from the movie! Just Harry, Hermoine and Ron - out on their own, searching for Horcruxes and Hallows! Mwahahaha! I'm so giddy:

She is plain awesome at being plain evil:

I think...no, I KNOW that I am going to cry in this movie. Oh Dobby, what a hero:

Yep. Definitely gonna cry:

Oooh lala! Ok, but really? Is it just me or do the film Harry and Ginny have the most awkward relationship ever? I like their relationship in the book a lot more:

This picture just made me laugh. It's very nicely staged,

but it could totally be on the cover of a fashion magazine or something :)

As could this one.

Do you think Emma, Dan and Rupert are this trendy in real life?

Long Live Harry Pottah!

Heartstrings of the Week: The Dynamite Duo

I decided that sharing just one beautiful classical piece of music with you wasn't enough. SO, I was gallivanting on YouTube and came across this beauty:

Humoresque No. 7 in G-flat Major, Op. 101 by Dvořák

...yeah, don't ask me how to pronounce that. I always get it wrong.

My favorite part about this video are the two people playing the piece:

Itzhak Perlman on the violin and Yo-Yo Ma on the cello.

CE-LLO! A combination of talent doesn't get more dynamite than that!

Ever since I was introduced to the brilliance of Mr. Perlman in 7th grade orchestra class I've been dying to see him in concert. Unfortunately, I don't think he does concerts anymore due to his age and decrepitness. He had polio as a child and still deals with the effects of it. So, I'm hoping that he's allowed to bring his violin into heaven with him someday, cause I'm determined to see him play in person ...and I'm also determined to go to heaven. So... :)

And of course, as you will see as you watch his facial expressions and effortlessness in this video, Mr. Yo-Yo Ma was born to play the cello! Or, the cello was born to be played by Yo-Yo Ma, rather. He is truly amazing. How could you not be with a name like that? Am I right? BAH, I love the cello!

Alright, you may now enjoy!

*sluurrrrp*

Sorry, I just drooled all over myself.

GAH! They're bueno, no?

What's your favorite classical piece?

Wanted: Patience

I have many life mottos, some of which I've discovered over a long time and some that have been with me since day one. One of these I'd like to share with you today:

Lindsay's Life Motto #6ish:

"You can walk along the path as far as you'd like, but if you're not looking forward to something in the distance, you are just, simply, walking on a path."

That is to say, I tend to go through life rather aimlessly without something in the distance to look forward to, be it reaching a goal or some other sort of happiness and accomplishment. That's how I live my life and without it, what am I really here for? My purpose is to continually look forward and move forward.

Thus, I am getting SO excited for the upcoming destinations along the path. Some are goal achievements, some are motivated by an abundance of family time, some provide me with great strength on my journey and some are just plain, let your hair down F-U-N!

For instance, I can HARDLY wait...

...till I can hold my newest nephew, #25!

...to be in Orlando next month with Dad & Madre,

Experience The Wonderful World of Harry Potter

And go trick-or-treating at Disney World!!!

...till my hair grows REALLY long and luscious.

(Then, knowing me, I'll probably chop it again)

...for the epic Murder Mystery family date night I'm hosting in October.

...till it snows. Yeah, I know! *GASP*

But I was watching Gilmore Girls the other day

And Lorelai was walking in the snow with Max (should've been Luke)

And it was just so beautiful and romantic...

I just couldn't help but crave it. Sorry.

...to graduate from college as a graphic designer!

Whoop! Whoop!

...for Thanksgiving this year.

It's our "on year" with my siblings and their cute little families!

...to wear eye shadow again. I've been without for 2 months.

My lids are currently healing from an allergic reaction to my hair conditioner.

Yes, it's true. So, I've stopped using it. Now I wait.

...to go with my family to the Ringling Bros. Circus on Thursday!

...to watch the season premier of Biggest Loser that I recorded last night.

...for the lovely Christmas Holiday and all of the joy to the world that comes with it!

...to hit the field house tomorrow.

Thursdays are my best day for workouts.

...to turn 23 in November! Weird!

...to meet my future family.

I have a feeling I'm going to love them a lot.

...for Halloween! Dressing up, carving pumpkins, candy! BAH!

...to go to bed tonight

...hopefully earlier than I have been lately.

...for the leaves to change colors! Oh my heart!

...for October 2nd-3rd! GENERAL CONFERENCE!

It always seems to come at the the perfect time.

...for 12p. It's when I get off work. Nuff said.

When It Comes to Moms

I created a new playlist. It's for my spinning class.

I call it "Sweet Sweat" ...which speaks for itself.

On Saturday afternoon I was listening to my "Heart Strings" mix while I mopped the kitchen floor. When I finished, Madre asked,
"So, did you create a new playlist for your spinning class?"
"Why yes I did," I replied, "Would you like to hear it?"
She did, of course, so I turned it on and turned it up. Within seconds she started jogging in place, jumping around and eventually dancing... I joined in, of course.
We do-si-do'd, scissor stepped, head banged, moved our hips like yeah, and did plenty of jumping around. We went through the entire playlist and laughed till we cried.
{Madre and I at a Relief Society & Young Womens Luau.She taught us how to hula and I won the limbo competition}

Wow. It's times like these that I realize how truly blessed I am. Not only is my mom pretty darn spunky when she wants to be, but she's a great listener, hug giver, dating advisor, friend, cook, nutritionist, grandma, storyteller, and, needless to say, dancer!
The list goes on and on.
Dad has his own unique sense of humor, but the funniest thing about his jokes is the thrill he gets out of telling them. Seriously, just ask him to tell the one about "The Gorilla & The Doberman." :)
Madre, on the other hand, is usually more "conservative" when it comes to humor, so when she does occasionally break it out, it always takes me by surprise and I laugh forever. For instance, we were talking about the "fibbing" stage of childhood, the other day and she told me a story about herself when she was little:
She was supposed to be vacuuming, but was watching TV instead. When she heard someone coming down the stairs she hopped up, turned off the TV, and bolted for the vacuum...which, in her rush, she tripped over and broke her arm.
It took me a while to stop laughing after that one. Like I said, she's a great storyteller and I couldn't get the picture of her doing that out of my head. Oh wow, I still can't. Hahahaha! I guess the fact that my MOM used to be the same way I was...and am, still takes me by surprise sometimes. It's always been a blessing to learn from her example now and throughout her life.
Anyway, I just love her a lot and I think you can see why.When it comes to moms, she takes the cake!

Lindsay Kay's Sweet Sweat Playlist:

"Boom Boom Pow (edited)" by The Black-Eyed Peas

"Clumsy" by Fergie

"Count On Me" by Bruno Mars

"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Michael Buble

"Down [feat. Lil Wayne]" by Jay Sean

"Dreams" by The Cranberries

"Fallin' for You" by Colbie Caillat

"Fly With Me" by The Jonas Brothers

"Grace Kelly" by Mika

"Hot N Cold (edited)" by Katy Perry

"I Gotta Feeling" by The Black-Eyed Peas

"Jai Ho! [feat. Nicole Scherzinger]" by A.R. Rahman & The Pussycat Dolls

"La la Land" by Demi Lovato

"Leavin'" by Jesse McCartney

"Love Story (Pop Mix)" by Taylor Swift

"Must Have Done Something Right" by Relient K

"My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson

"One Year, Six Months" by Yellowcard

"Party In the U.S.A." by Miley Cyrus

"Replay" by Iyaz

"Single Ladies" by Beyonce

"So Much Love" by The Rocket Summer

"That Thing You Do" from The Wonders

"The Things You Were" by Deas Vail

"Wordplay" by Jason Mraz

"You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift

"7 Things" by Miley Cyrus

PHEW! It's no wonder our calves are still throbbing! :)

Death by Backpack

If the weight of school doesn't kill me...

...the weight of my backpack might.

Heartstrings of the Week: The Bow to My Heartstrings

When I was in 6th grade I started playing the violin. It's a tricky instrument. You have to have a good ear, long fingers, good posture, and plenty of discipline. The violin when played wrong it can sound like a dying cat, but when played right could melt a glacier.

Anyway, that's when my appreciation for classical music was born and it's driven me absolutely ga-ga with chills ever since.

So I've been adding some classical classics to my iTunes little by little and yesterday, I reacquainted myself with this piece from Jules Massanet's opera Thais. It's called "Meditation." Just listen to it and I think you'll see why they named it that.

Tip: Don't be afraid to crank up the volume! :)

Are you a puddle in your chair right now?

GAH! Me too.

If you're stuck at work all morning and are allowed to listen to music,

Well then, you're welcome! Cause that's how I'm getting through my shift.

As my institute teacher says to us each day after class,

"Have the BEST day of your entire life!"

PPP: Healthy Diet & Exercise

*PPP = Pinky Promise Project for more PPP posts go HERE

Ok, so I think it's safe to say that we all know that you can't eat junk and sit on your heiny and expect to lose weight, right? It's pretty much a fundamental principle of health.

No weight loss. IN FACT, usually weight gain.

Ok, so what about eating junk (this is equal to excessive eating), but still exercising? Well, I can tell you from personal experience that this does not ensure weight loss either.

Weight fluctuation.

Alright, so let's say you eat healthily (equal to small portions) and don't exercise. Well, now we're getting closer. You can usually lose a fair amount of weight by eating healthy alone, depending on your metabolism.

Potential weight loss.

OH! Ok, I think we see where I'm going with this. It stands to reason that the sure fire way to lose weight is to eat healthy (and/or small portions) and to exercise on a regular basis.

Weight loss!

It's a relatively simple concept, but I just had to share, because lately I've been trying to drill this into my head. In fact, my daily conversation with the bathroom scale is usually something like this:

Me: What?! No change?! I sweat buckets yesterday!

Scale: Yeah, but you ate lots of junk, too.

Me: Rip off! (storm out of the bathroom)

Let's try this again, shall we?

Time for some calorie and portion size awareness training.

Stay tuned, y'all. We're in this together, right?

P.S. The fact that the photo examples portray men as unhealthy and women as healthy was completely unintentional. Sorry, fellas!

OhSoCraving!

French toast!

Oh yes! Just give me a stack of sweet and lightly crispy, moist and buttery, maple drenched heaven and I won’t utter another word of complaint about today...

Made ya drool!

Deal or No Deal

Dear New Week,

Ok so, here’s the deal! I will agree to come quietly if you grant me one of the following:

a) Make my hair grow to my elbows.

b) Introduce me to my husband.

c) Assist me in my fitness goals.

d) Graciously give me 10,000 dollars.

e) Send me to Europe. (If you feel so inclined, I’ll let you combine this one with option b)

f) Fast forward to May (aka graduation).

g) Do my homework.

h) All of the above.

If you consider all the things that you ask of me, I think you’ll find that I'm really not asking that much. Yes, I know that this deal is too good to pass up, so I’ll let you decide on your options. No need to tell me which one you pick, I like surprises. Many thanks.

Yours Truly,

P.S. Aw, did you just tell that janitor to give me a tootsie roll? I like your style. You can just keep those coming in a steady flow...and maybe some peanut butter m&ms...especially if you pick option c! Alright, thanks.