An Ode to Liz Lemon

The final episode of one of the best shows on television is coming in just two days. Two more days before my world will be left empty without the beautiful quirks of Liz Lemon and the TGS crew. It's a sad day, yes, but I'd like to take this time and look back at some of my favorite highlights these past 7 years and remember just how good we've had it.

We'll start right from the top with one of my favorite moments from Season 1. We see here just how brilliant Lemon is with comebacks as she slams some stranger on the phone. Highlight #1: They're From Your Mom 

Season 2 was just as good as the first and--dare I say--it got even better. This next clip is one that I think really captures the passion that Liz Lemon possesses. Highlight #2: Sandwich Day. 

Lemon gets down every now and then throughout the show, but my favorite dance sequence she does is in Season 3. Highlight #3: Flu Shot.

I'm gonna go ahead and do another one from Season 3 because it's waayyyy too good to pass up. Highlight #4: Dark Secrets.

Alright, back on track with seasons. This next one is definitely one of my favorite Liz quotes in Season 4. Highlight #5: Liz Lemon Party: Mandatory.

This is one of the moments from Season 5 that always makes me laugh no matter how many times I've already watched it. Highlight #6: The World's Worst Hooker. Side note: I'd definitely take her home.

Season 6 is where Liz's hunger for a baby really shines. Highlight #7: Liz and Planty 4evr

And finally we'll end with the weirdest and most uncomfortable moments in 30 Rock's history from this season. Highlight #8: Sexy Office Supplies.

Oh Liz Lemon...I'm going to miss you. Thursday's episode will be bittersweet. Thank you for 7 of the best years of my life. Please bless the brilliant mind of Tina Fey with health and happiness. 

Resolutions and Adulthood

I know the New Year celebrations came and went and that talking about resolutions is old news, but I'd just like to announce that this year I'm actually going to finish mine. Granted I only made one actual resolution, but I found out today that it's actually going to happen. How do I know you ask? Two words: Psychic Hotline. The lady I talked to seemed pretty credible; said she'd been doing this for 30 years so I'm trusting her on this one. Haha nah I'm just kidding. Can you imagine? What really happened is I met with my advisor here on campus about how on track I am for graduating and what would happen if I took a summer semester, and guess what I found out? I'M GRADUATING IN DECEMBER!!! I thought I was going to have to wait until next May, but nope. Graduation is a measly 11 months away. By the skin of my teeth I'm actually going to reach my goal to graduate before 2013 ends.

Excitement abounds!!

Needless to say, I'm pretty stoked about finally graduating, but with my 21st birthday right around the corner and graduation more in reach than ever, real adulthood is coming way faster than I anticipated, so if any of you would like to suggest something for me to do after I'm done making school my life I'd greatly appreciate it. Who knows, maybe I'll prolong my life as a lowly student and shoot for a Master's instead of jumping into the real world with a real job and real responsibilities. Heck I'm only 21 (it's two days away. I'm counting it). Two or three more years of school wouldn't hurt me too bad right? Side note: if any of you would like to donate to my cause of becoming a real adult I prefer cash and checks, however I do take Visa.

Phresh

In case you've somehow gotten lucky and missed all the posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram about how the new semester of school has started up and such, I'll go ahead and do the honors of telling you in the most annoying yet college-esque way I can think up. Ready?

OMG!! First day of new classes!!!! Wish me luck! :) Sooooo excited for this semester!!! #college #usu #firstdayjitters #newschooloutfit <3 <3 

Oh man. I even find myself annoying. I think I nailed it though. But really, my new semester has started and can I say I'm so thankful for the chance I have to go to school and learn?! I can't imagine how my life would be if I didn't have the means or opportunity to do what I'm doing now. And although the life of a poor college student can be pretty unglamorous and at times pretty sketchy (you aren't a real student if you don't risk eating expired food every now and then or live in a shady apartment complex at least once), there is no way I'd go back to being a bratty high school student living in my parents' basement. I'm living, I'm learning, I'm having the time of my life. Who could ask for more? This life is phresh.

Brain Purge

I'm finally done. After weeks of reading boring textbooks about bacteria and cramming every last bit of Spanish I could into my poor little head, I've finally finished all of my finals. Every last thing I've learned this semester has been purged, somewhat ungracefully, onto scantrons and scribbled down on paper. I don't have a worry in the world for a solid 3 weeks!! Three weeks of pure bliss. What's the first thing I'm going to do with this new found freedom you ask? Well...I don't want to brag or anything, but guess who gets to go to a previewing of The Hobbit tonight?! That's right, I get to see one of this year's most anticipated movies 4 hours before the rest of you. I'm the luckiest girl in the world. I'd usually try not gloat as you're so obviously envious of me, but I'm in too much of a mood to feel any remorse for you right now. Don't worry though, I'll for sure keep you posted about how amazing the movie is when I'm done watching it. As for now, you can try to stave off your jealously by watching these trailers.

Woof. Sorry. I'll get off my high horse now. Excuse me for having a bout of selfishness. I hope you get to see this movie soon and then we can talk about how fantastic it is together. 

Life Lessons from the Bluths

A tragedy happened very recently. The arborist came to my house and cut down a bunch of trees and also happened to take out the cable to our internet in the process. As a result, I've been unable to blog for a while! See what I mean? Tragedy. But look who's back!! This girl. It's been actually pretty nice not having internet for a while though. I've been able to read more and I've had to actually get all my work done on campus before I go home which makes me get things done quicker rather than procrastinating everything. I've also been able to spend lots more time watching my Arrested Development DVDs. Which brings me to today's blogging topic. You know that perfect family you see walking on the streets and you think to yourself "Wow...I hope one day my family is as perfect as that one is." Yep. That's definitely not the Bluth family. BUT that doesn't mean they don't make wonderful examples. I've actually learned a lot of important life lessons from them, and I'd like to pass them along. Think of it as an early Christmas present. You're welcome!

#1: Think before you speak. Tobias so kindly teaches us this important lesson every time he opens his mouth. Please don't ever use any of the following wordings. Please.

#2: Sometimes you should listen when someone says your idea stinks. Constructive criticism is there for a purpose kids. Take it from George on this one. Sometimes ideas like installing a hot tub in the attic and cooking food in it realllly should not be acted on. Take that into mind the next time someone tries to kindly tell you that maybe you should rethink things. It could be the difference between severe dehydration and an actually good idea. (Youtube is lame and doesn't have a clip of it, so if you want to see George learning his lesson feel free to follow the link. http://www.hulu.com/watch/2008 )

#3: Perfectly timed songs can touch hearts when simple words can't. 

#4: It's ok if you find quirks about the people you love endearing, just don't expect everyone to agree with you. Although a mayon-egg does sound pretty cute. 

#5: If at first your magic trick fails, cover it up with something else that might be impressive. If that fails too, maybe a bit of practice is needed. 

And finally #6: Family comes first. Followed closely by breakfast. 

Quiero Compartir Contigo

I'm going to annoy everyone with my limited Spanish with this blog post, but I don't know what's happening...I've been on a kick of listening to Spanish songs lately! Ok, so maybe I do know what's happening and maybe it has to do with the fact that this one kid is coming home from Spain in a mere 8 days. EIGHT DAYS!! Want proof? Here.

 

So what if I have a countdown on my phone. So what if it counts down until the seconds. So what if I've been counting down for a good solid four weeks now. Judge me. But for real you guys I'm dying here with how much I'm in love with this one song by Carla Morrison called Compartir (I'll go ahead and be your Google Translater and tell you compartir means "to share." You're welcome). Now, now, now, don't you leave just because you won't understand a word in this song. I promise that it's cute, and touching, and it's even a little indie. If nothing else, it's got a pretty good little melody and could be background noise for you while you're studying or something (because we all know silence is awkward). So give it a listen. Please? For me? You're the best.

See? It's pretty alright no? Ok one more. This one is because Justin and Selena recently broke up and it's been all up in my Twitter feeds which has made me remember this pretty little boy who is practically the Spanish speaking version of Justin. Not gonna lie, I actually hate this song. BUT thanks to Justin and Selena this song popped up into my head. Stupid, devil celebrities....

Buh. Painful. 

We Are Family

I'm going to do something I don't usually do and take a moment to be serious. I know, I know boring right? I'm sorry. Hopefully next week I'll have something more lighthearted and fun to read. I won't blame you if you give up right now and just stop reading. For those of you who are being troopers and sticking it out with me for this one, I greatly appreciate it. You're great. Hey, you know who else is great? My family. I'm giving a talk in church on Sunday about families, so I've been thinking about them a lot lately, plus it's November and a season to be grateful. As a result, I've come up with some top reasons why my family is awesome.

#1: I have 8 amazing role models. That's right, EIGHT!! I used to only have 5, but then all my brothers decided that getting married would be a good idea, and three more amazing people were added to my life. I can't think of a time in my life where I have ever felt ashamed or disappointed to be a part of my family (well...except for maybe the time Dad decided to storm out on the court and take the ball from the referee during my basketball game in 5th grade. Love you Dad!). I've always had the greatest examples growing up in both my brothers and my parents. I've learned a lot from them over these last 20 years of my life and I now learn a lot from my brothers as I watch them raise families of their own. I don't think I'll ever stop learning from them. I can't wait until I start a family of my own and hope that I can be as great a mother as I my mom is, or be as loving and supportive as my dad is. Who knows, maybe I'll even be as smart as he is one day and know everything my kids will ever ask me. As for now, I'll sit back and quietly take notes so I can remember how to be just as good as all 8 of them. 

How could a girl not look up to these people?

 #2: I've never felt alone. How I got so lucky as to have such an awesome support system, I'll never know. What I do know is I'm incredibly grateful for everything they've ever done for me and continue to do. My family has been there through years of volleyball games, rash decisions, silly relationships, stressful schooling, and those lovely awkward teenage years where I knew everything there ever was to know about the world. Please, take a moment and visualize me as a stubborn, all-knowing, bratty preteen girl. Yikes! They stuck through it though and have supported me with every decision I've ever made. They were there when I decided I wanted to be a dancer and again when I decided I hated it. They were there that time I wanted to tryout to be an SBO in high school and hugged me as I bawled when I didn't make it. They were even there when I decided that I didn't want to do nursing anymore after having been so set on it for as long as I can remember. Never once did they tell me I was foolish, or get annoyed when I changed my mind twenty times. I can go to anyone in my family with anything that I might be worried about and they'll listen and help me through it. How lucky is that?

#3: They produce good looking children. Seriously though, look at these kids and tell me that doesn't make my family 10x cooler.

 I'm lucky to have one niece here in Logan with me and play with her all I can. The other two live in Wisconsin 1,429.5 miles away from me. I miss them like crazy. Thank the stars for Facebook, Instagram, and Skype. It's going to be rough when Trevin leaves for med school this summer and takes Addie with him. Who is going to read books and sing Primary songs with me? Definitely time to start a niece and nephew fund so I can visit everyone.

#4: My family is forever. Most of the people who will read this already know that I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but if you happened to come across this and have no idea who I am, I believe that my family will be together forever, even after death. I'm so incredibly thankful that I'll be able to have the wonderful relationship I have with them for eternity. I know I'll be able to see them again because of the covenants my parents have made in the temple and I can't wait to be reunited with my loved ones that have already passed away. My family brings me a joy that is unlike any other and I look forward to the day when I find a spouse whom I can spend the rest of eternity with. 

In front of the Brigham City temple with G&G Hanks 

I could go on with these reasons for ages, but I'll stop here since this post is getting long and I'm sure you're getting tired of me bragging about my family. I really am so blessed to be in such an incredible family. I am thankful each day for them and the things they do for me. If you happen to be family and are reading this, I love you. If you're just a friend and stuck through this whole thing, I love you too.