Merry Christmas Dolls

Merry Christmas lovers.

Love,
The Richardson and Barila family

Reflection

Looking over the past year, I have begun to realize just what can happen in one year. When you think about it, time is a crazy thing. It flies by, yet creeps steadily on. In honor of the new year, I wanted to reflect and look back on all of the crazy, fun, heartbreaking, hilarious, triumphs and trials I have encountered in 2011. What a year dolls, what a year.

1. I ended my first year and begun my second year of college up at Utah State. Wow. Some of the greatest memories were made.

2. Kissed a boy. actually two. Bout time? HECK YEEEEESSSSSSS.

3. Mom lost her job = Absolutely devastating. BUT Gained a better one? check.

4. Witnessed a miracle

5. Experienced tragic heartbreak

6. Made new friends

7. Became a crafty woman. Who woulda thunk?

8. bahaha I just called myself a woman. yikes.

9. LOTS of friends got married. I'm so not ready. I still can't even say the anatomically correct name for a man's junk. Gross. eww. I'm like five years old. Ok?

10. Learned to love myself.

11. Realized the truthfulness of the gospel. Been a long time comin peeps.

12. Started this here blog. I'm a blogger. Hi my name is Janie, and I'm a blogger. I will admit that.

13. Experienced health scares with a smorgasborg of family and friends. They include: cancer, leg surgery, bladder lift, colonoscopy, more cancer....and we have made it out alive. We can thank the man upstairs for watching over us this year.

14. Got my wisdom teeth out for the dose time. chipmunk cheeks are so in.

15. MADE IT THROUGH 2011 ALIVE.

Here's to new memories in 2012. It's the end of the world folks. I'm goin to partay like it's nobodies BUSINASS.


***Sorry for no pictures. My computer is being dumb. They won't upload.

poopy.

Girls are like Apples

Girls are like
apples on trees. The best
ones are at the top of the tree.
The boys don't want to reach for
the good ones because they are afraid
of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they
just get the rotten apples from the ground
that aren't as good, but easy. So the apples
at the top think something is wrong with
them, when in reality, they're amazing.
They just have to wait for the right
boy to come along, the one
who's brave enough
to climb
all the way
to the top
of the tree.






Isn't this the truth.

Poor+ christmas=DIY madness

Well, as you might have guessed, I am pooooor. Well it's is christmas time, and poor me doesn't have the greens to buy gifts. BUT, thanks to pinterest, and a few crafty ideas I AM GOING TO MAKE ALL OF MY GIFTS! Scary thought, I know. But I am very excited! All of these fun gifts have only costed me around $5.00 each!

Here is the list of my projects this year:

Pinwheel painting:

-I bought my canvas at Michaels on sale for $4.00

-Paints (I used my sister's)

DIY painting

-I bought the painting (you use underneath) at the DI for $1.00

-Used sister's paints

-Letter stickers (bought them at Michaels)-$4.00

-I bought three jars at the DI for 25 cents each!

-Fabric from Joanns Crafts- $5.00

-Modge podge(Michaels) $3.00

*I will post pictures of my finished products. I hope they all turn out! I also have a few other ideas up my sleeve! Yay for a DIY christmas!

Today I am thankful for: Hot water. My apartment building has been struggling with that whole concept. Not a huge fan of ice showers. Freezin' my hinie off=No bueno. 

Rock On

Rock On world. 

It's finals week, and I'm about to kick some finals bootay. 

Wish me luck.

Today I am thankful for: Toilet paper. Self explanatory.

Happy List

Things that make me ever so happy:

1. Roommates. I have the best roommates. They make me laugh so hard. I am so glad they put up with my men-hating madness. 

2. Hot chocolate. Preferably the mint kind.

3. The gospel. Today in sacrament meeting, I felt like I was going to die. I seriously was shaking, my heart was pounding, my hands became clammy, and I seriously knew that if I didn't get up to bear my testimony, I would be smite down to hell. It was oh so scary, but I'm glad that I was able to share with my ward my love for what I believe. Despite the fact that I was pretty sure I had peed a little due to fright.

4. Warm clothes. Holy mother of moses, it is frigid up here in Logan town. I am so grateful for boots, hats, scarves, and coats that keep me warm during this hell-ish weather.

5. Love. Although my love life is non-existent, yes, I am already coming up with cat names for future plans, I still love to see other's so happily in love. Bow chicka wow wow.

6. Christmas music. Since I have been listening for over a month now, I can assure you I now know basically every christmas song and version of that christmas song. Favorite? White christmas. yesh....

7. fuzzy blankets

8. chocolate oranges. I'm pretty sure these are jesus's favorite treat. They are heaven sent.

9. My grandparents. They are absolutely perfect in every sense of the word.

10. Laughing really hard I tinkle in my big girl panties. TMI?


Today I am thankful for: Best friends. I can't wait to see them over winter break!

Mike Sumsion

My uncle, Mike Sumsion, is an incredible photographer. Over thanksgiving break, he was nice enough to snap a few shots of me, my sister and few other family members. Here are a few shots he has taken of my fam fam. Lovin on him tonight. (not in a creepy way, ya know, just a "I'm proud to call you my uncle and show off your work" way.) Check out his photography on facebook at Mike Sumsion photography.

Today I am thankful for: Beautiful photo's that create memories

Thanks

In honor of thanksgiving, I thought I would jump on the band wagon and post about my thanksgiving weekend.
Boy do I have a lot to be thankful for..

I spent most of the weekend up at my family cabin in Bear Lake. My pictures wouldn't upload (sad) but my  weekend was spent eating, laughing, being with amazing family, and spending time together in a beautiful town.

Thanksgiving is a time to remember what we have been given and celebrate family, friends, and the blessings we have received. Well, I have been thinking, and each day I am going to post one thing that I am grateful for. I think that remembering each day what we have been given is so important and should be celebrated on a daily basis.

So today, I am thankful my super hawt momma.

Not only is she the greatest friend, but she is the perfect mother. I couldn't have asked for a greater influence, friend, mentor, and momma. She truly is the greatest, most beautiful person alive. 

Thank you heavenly father for giving her to me.

Missionary Lovin

Go HERE

Cutest reunion ever.

I cannot wait to see my friends again.

Home Wrecker

So..I sorta might like a boy...and this stupid home wrecker is trying to steal him away..and it's working.

Ugh...

I hate boys...and homewrecking stupids.


It's settled...I'm going to become a nun.

Picture purge

 A shot from our ward halloween party. I firmly believe that you can come up with a costume within ten minutes. Let me give you a run down of easy-go-to costumes that you can do by using simple clothes from your wardrobe.
1. Pirate
2. Cowgirl
3. witch.
..hahah

I got to go down to provo and support my girls in the provo half marathon! Way to go ladies! Thanks for the fun weekend!

This was my costume for the my family's halloween party. I was a polygamist. My badge said: "Warren Jeff's is my home boy"

Frozen Yogurt from Costco! So yummy! Not only did I get a cozy, soft new blanket for school, but I got some delicious yogurt! Yay for Costco.

If I am not in class, or doing homework, I am at work at Creative Communications. I judge kid's poetry to be printed in books! 

This is a picture of my side of the room in my dorm....

.......and THIS IS MY ROOMATES! ARG! (any suggestions of how to nicely tell your roommate to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pick up their side of the room? It's so gross.)

Home Teacher Lovin'

My home teacher's are to say the least, incredible. I had heard some not-so-great gossip about the men who were going to be my home teachers, and I had a bad attitude about them. But, a loving heavenly father gently let me know that I should not listen backbiting and mean gossip about others. These boys are absolutely amazing. Let me tell you why.

I have this roommate. You see, this roommate of mine has been really hard to get along with. She and I just have differing personalities. She and I share the same room, and throughout this year I have found multiple things that erk me to the core about her. (I'm sure she feels the same about me) Anyways, despite my bad attitude, I have again been shown by the lord that we need to love everyone.Through the lord's help, and a change of heart, I have grown to like her. Although our personalities are worlds apart, I feel like she is my sister, and it is my duty..and privilege to look out and care for her. 

Anyways, she hasn't come to church this year. Not once. I, due to my bad attitude and careless actions, didn't even think to invite her. I knew she believed in the gospel, but I also knew she was attending other churches with her friends on sunday. I didn't want to intrude on her differing opinions, and was scared by the idea of rejection. So our amazing home teachers, one in particular, found out that she wasn't coming and instantly took to her. He made her feel wanted and loved. Due to this incredible effort, she has started coming to listen to their lessons, and even shared a thought! He also has set up biweekly book of mormon study sessions with her where they will study together and ask the lord for help in answering questions. He has gone above and beyond the call of duty as a home teacher, but has left not only my roommate, but me touched by his kindness and love for the Lord. 

Through this experience I have learned how much the lord loves us, and through us, we can bring our brothers and sisters to the gospel. I hope and pray that I can be like my home teacher and set aside my prejudices and learn to love and share the gospel with everyone, even if I struggle to love them. I learned that through the lord, I can love anyone and he can help me do all things. 

Today, I am thankful. Very, very, thankful.

On days like today

All I want to do is this..

This weekend I will be spending it will the greatest of ladies.





I. Can't. Wait.

Notes and things

Dear John Mayer,
Keep singing brotha. You make my not so great days, great.


Dear new sports bra,
Thanks for supporting the goods


Dear grams,
Thank you for texting me last night telling me you bought me a new, cozy, blankie. I love you so much...and thanks for sharing my obsession with all things soft.

Dear economy,
please be kind to my mom and help her find a good job


Dear santa,
 please come soon :)

Dear facebook,
Thank you for teaching me mad stalking skills. always a treasure.

Dear hair of mine,
Grow! Grow! Grow!

Dear Heavenly Father,
I love you. Thank you for always listening to this girl.


Dear huge paper of mine,
please go easy on me. I'm about all paper'd out.


Dear Ryan Gosling,
uh....marry me?

Little Ladies

I got to spend all weekend with these beautiful little ladies.

I got to play mom all weekend while their parents are traveling Europe (can you say jealous?)

Let me give you a run down of how our conversations went:

Me: "we are going to wingers for dinner"

Greta: "You said a bad word."

Me: "What?"

Greta: "Wieners. You said Wiener and janie, that is a boy's private part, NOT a restaurant."

Me: "I said winGers Greta"

Greta: "I know what you said, and it was not wingers"

Gotta love 4 year olds. 

Miss them already..

Kiss and Tell

I think I just kissed two boys...


....in one night.


I love Utah State.

I'm in Love

Well folks, I'm in love. I wish I could say it was with a boy, er, actually no I don't. Boys have cooties. Anyways, I have begun a lifelong (hopefully) love affair with.....ZUMBA. Holy shnickies. I have never loved a type of exercise more in my life! Originally when I heard about it, I thought it looked stupid and that only middle aged women did it. Well, I was soooo wrong. Seriously, you get to dance like a skank (and not feel dirty) and loose weight from it! Every girl's dream right? Right!

And in case you were wondering, yes, that is me in that picture. I'm the hot one in the green sports bra. You can applaud my abs.

Football Anyone?

You gotta love some football eh?

Side note: 

A: I might as well start wearing underwear to football games because that's how short most girl's shorts are. Please sistas, let's cover up the goods shall we?

B: I also might as well bring a taser to football games. Some people are out of control and quite annoying. Let's see how stupid they are when I taze their hinies! 

Today

Today I am thankful for these lovelies:

(and I'm talking about the people, not the pictures)

Needless to say, I love my family and love the people I am surrounded by.

Oh, and I'm thankful for these too.

YUM.

The Woe's of Womanhood

As of late, and when I say "as of late" I really mean most of the time, I find myself stuck in my thoughts. Through my college experiences, and high school days, I have found myself beating myself up for this or for that. Although I am surrounded by amazing friends and family who continuously support and boost me up in times of need, I can't help but bog myself down with evil thoughts of not being "enough". Thanks to an oh so loving heavenly father, the spirt whispered tenderly to me that I needed to read the words of a prophet. I came across this beautiful talk by Jeffery R. Holland. Read his message here


One of my favorite quotes from this talk is this: 
I plead with you young women to please be more accepting of yourselves, including your body shape and style, with a little less longing to look like someone else. We are all different. Some are tall, and some are short. Some are round, and some are thin. And almost everyone at some time or other wants to be something they are not! But as one adviser to teenage girls said: “You can’t live your life worrying that the world is staring at you. When you let people’s opinions make you self-conscious you give away your power. … The key to feeling [confident] is to always listen to your inner self—[the real you.]” ⁸ And in the kingdom of God, the real you is “more precious than rubies.”


I am so thankful for a loving heavenly father who knows and loves me, just the way I am. 


So here is to a life full of beauty, self worth, and laughs along the way...cause heck, I am more precious than rubies! And those babies ain't cheap :)


...OH! On a lighter note, I found this hilariously awesome site. Found HERE

80 year old me

This will be me in 60 years. I'm going to be a pretty bad A grandma.

The Best Day of the Year

Yesterday was my birthday! Hoorah! Call me crazy, but I loooove me some birthday. My day, or rather "birthday weekend" was spent with friends and family and I couldn't have asked for a better fun-filled few days.

Here are a few highlights from my favorite day of the year:

- I got "The Ultimate Boyfriend" for my birthday. You may be thinking, that is impossible, he just doesn't exsist! Well, I got him. He knows exactly what to say, he's super sexy, and will never break my heart. What a dream boat.

-I went to a stake dance (more to come on that later) and was asked to dance by an oober babe. Ya baby!

-Muddy Buddies, "Cowboy Wanted", walmart giftcards, Diet Coke, and more. All my favorite things. My friends win.

-Driving up imigration canyon to eat at the most holy of holies resteraunt, "Ruth's Diner". If you haven't been, it is a must. Gorgeous scenery, delicious food, and great company. What more could you ask for?

-Shopping in Park City. Not only do I love clothes, but I love good deals! Everything was on sale, the weather was perfect, and the trip was successful. (Thank you gram and gramps :))

-Staying the night in the most beautiful condo in Park City. Our night was filled with great food, laughs, toasts, and being with those I love.

A few photos to share:

What a GREAT birthday.