sometimes loser = winner

I'm currently sitting at my kitchen table listening to Sweet Disposition and trying to decide what to post about. I have a couple of ideas, but there is really only one thing on my mind today ...

BIGGEST LOSER Season Finale. live. tonight.

I would try to express my excitement, but there are no words. I have watched this season from episode 1 and loved every bit of it. I got my good friend David addicted around episode 6 and we've watched it together ever since. Because of our random schedules, we would watch it on hulu so it wasn't necessarily every week, but we would watch an episode when we could. I'm not going to lie, I'm kind of sad its about to end because I've loved this season (but don't worry, SYTYCD starts on Thursday!!)

Just so you know, David and I are both rooting for Olivia (but David said he'd be happy with Hannah too).

Call me super cheesy, and maybe even weird, but I love love love this show. A lot of it is because it's a reality TV show that actually does some good. But mostly because the whole weight loss thing means a lot to me. My mother lost over 150 pounds when I was in high school and I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of her (she didn't even need a show! Yeah Mom!!). Her weight loss journey has really had an impact on who I am--I mean I'm going into Dietetics because of it. I haven't had to lose that much weight, but I've seen what that weight can do to a person and their family. And I have seen what losing that weight can do for a person and their family.

My friends may tease when I tear up almost every episode, but the hardships that the contestants talk about and go through are pretty real for me. That's why I love watching this show--watching people get their lives back, just like my mom did. So Yay for Biggest Loser!!

So I'm probably going to make a big deal about tonight and force my roommates to either watch or leave. And there will most likely be food...probably unhealthy with a run to the gym later. I'll let you know my reaction to the results. Go Olivia!!

Savy?

I decided to be semi spontaneous last night. I say "semi" because the event had been planned, but then I had in my mind that I was not going to go, but then only a couple of hours before I decided to go for it. I really enjoy being spontaneous. Now, I'm not the type who will decide to drive cross country for a month without planning anything (no, that would be my roommate). However, when it comes to random activities that are always happening around college I'd say I am good at participating. So are you curious yet what it is I did??

Well...




That's right. Pirates of the Caribbean midnight premier. Please don't laugh--I know it's not a crazy spontaneous thing, but come on. Who went to that? I know our theater definitely wasn't full, but we had a blast. Despite the skepticism, I really enjoyed this one. I also got super excited for a bunch of movies coming out this summer. Here are the ones that I really want to see:

X-Men: First Class
3 Musketeers
Real Steel
Captain America: The First Avenger

Yes I realize that these are all more "action" type movies, but I am allowed to be a girl and still claim my favorite movie genre as action ... savy?

Cure for long days

I just want to brag for a sec -- this morning I woke up at 7:46 am. I first class starts at 8am and I was totally on time. Impressed? Me too. Except for the fact that I looked like death. But let's not reflect on that too much.

So this term my Mondays and Wednesdays are nonstop from 8am-8pm. I have classes for 7 hours, then work, plus any reviews or homework afterward that need to get done. Needless to say, I'm exhausted at the end of the day. But I have found the best way to relax and rejuvenate:

Adele.

I am seriously addicted. She has such a gorgeous, full voice that I could listen to for hours (and I have). This is the first song I heard of hers. If I remember correctly I bought it right after I heard it and have listened to it multiple times a day ever since.



You've probably heard this one on the radio, but I thought I'd share it here because it's also a favorite in my apartment:

Hello world, it's been a while!

It was almost one year ago that I started this blog. I don't really remember what happened since August that has kept me from posting. Oh wait I remember: life. Luckily for me I now have an incredible roommate that has got me following all these really cool blogs. And I have to tell you, it's kind of embarrassing to admit I follow these blogs and then have to admit that I don't even keep mine up. So today I'm changing that. I am becoming a blog follower, as well as a blogger. (Let's just hope I don't bring dishonor to the title.)

This last year has been pretty incredible. Not too much has happened, except if there is one thing that I would categorize as incredible, and that would be getting into the Dietetics major at BYU. I feel proud, excited, and terrified all at the same time. I am going to be a Dietitian (though you could technically spell it "dietician" we professionals like the 't' better) and that is really nice to be able to tell people.

So other than deciding on my future, not a ton has happened. I actually chose to give my blog a little makeover to reflect my life right now: simple. Not simple in the sense that I'm not incredibly busy with homework and my job, but simple in the fact that homework and my job is about all I really do. Here's the typical reunion conversation I have:

Friend: Jette! What have you been up to? What's new?
Me: Um.... nothing really. Just going to school, working a bunch, doing more school, working a little more, and then finishing it all off with school.
Friend: cool.
Me: yeah.

Sometimes I get frustrated that I don't have the time or means to do more, but then I remember that this is the time for me to be a student and succeed in that. I know eventually I will travel the world and spend all my time learning new things. Someday I will, but not today and for right now I think I'm okay with that. So bring on the school work for the next two years!!

The last year has been great--hopefully I'll remember the highlights and give updates as I go. For now, I'm going to bed.

zzzz.....

I hate it when your body wakes up 2 hours before you need to be up and then won't go back to sleep.

Not much, but still

Lately I've been kind of antsy to write, but haven't had much to say about any one subject. So what have I fallen back on? A list of course. You really shouldn't be surprised. Here's the title of my list: What I've learned this summer. I know it's cliche and elementary, but I've never been good at titles. My summer has been fairly low key so there's nothing on this list that is mind-bloggling, nor have I had any epiphanies to share. But it's been the little things that have effected me the most. As usual.

What I've learned this summer

1. My parents are the most amazing people in the universe.

Moving in with my parents has been amazing. About a gazillion times better than I could have imagined it. Being an adult child, and also working full time as a care-taker, I've really seen how much sacrifice my parents have given on my behalf. All the time, energy, and patience just astounds me when I think of how annoying and weird I was growing up. They have raised each child in a way that's perfect for them and they've adjusted as we have. I only hope I can be half the parent they are some day.

2. I'm slowly becoming addicted to health.

This summer I've really wanted to focus on my physical health, since I probably wont have the time I do now to make it a priority. I've really had to adjust my motivations and goals to make my change permanent. For example, instead of making the goal to lose 10 lbs in a month, I'll make a goal to not eat sugar for a week and make sure I go to the gym at least 5 days a week. Let me tell you--I am feeling great!

However, I'm not perfect in my eating or my workouts (just like everyone else I hope). Here's an instance that has happened multiple times this summer: I'll talk to someone about my new major (Dietetics) while I'm eating something super unhealthy and then that person looks at me like I'm the stupid. Yes I know the cinnamon roll is full of white, artery clogging sugar, but guess what? I happen to love the taste of artery clogging sugar. So get off my back and let me enjoy the cinnamon roll before I go back to broccoli and apples. I didn't say I'm a health addict. I just like the feeling of being healthy (with a few cholesterol building treats in between).

3. I like being busy.

I bragged about my job already, but now I'm going to give the one downer. I'm really hesitant to bring it up since every other working person in the world will probably shoot me. But there are a lot of days that I get bored. I have taken up reading, I do things around the house, but nothing is really productive. It's just stuff to do while I work. Even though a busy schedule usually brings stress, I like staying busy with classes, a calling, and a social life. It's much more interesting.

4. Sunscreen is actually a useful tool.

Did you know that you can still get tan when you use sunblock? I wouldn't have believed you 5 years ago. I feel mature when I take care of my skin haha

5. Team Jacob.

I saw Eclipse. Bella's an idiot for choosing Edward.

Enough said. What kind of stuff have you learned these last few months?

Imagine...

I have the best job in the whole world this summer. I am a nanny for two darling little girls who in fact prefer if I do not play with them, leaving me to my own work and laziness. But even when I'm not playing with them, I've observed them these last couple months and decided that children have precious gifts that we seem to lose when we get older.

It's true that as you grow you get more privileges: driving license, right to vote, ability to get a credit card, employment, etc. I've loved growing up and utilizing what I can do now that I couldn't do 5 years ago. However, watching these girls this summer has opened my eyes to all the things that I don't have anymore. The biggest being a true imagination.

We were at the pool the other day and I could not figure out what game the girls were playing. So finally I asked the youngest and she replied, "we're playing jungle vets!" There was almost a "duh" tone in her voice and I laughed inside. Kids rock. Now I'm owning up to my adulthood and saying straight out that I have absolutely no interest in pretending to be a jungle vet. However, I can honestly say that I would have NEVER even thought up a jungle vet in a million years! Where do they such an amazing imagination? Where does it go?

I've loved working with these girls this summer--I hope to be like them when I grow up.