Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Day 28

A place I love:

Hmm. I like a lot of places, Munich, Garmisch, Colorado Springs, Morgan Hill, San Francisco, Boston, Rexburg...but I LOVE the Temple.

It is a holy, serene, and incredible place, and every time I go there it fills me with peace. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to go there and feel the love of my Heavenly Father.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Day 27

What's in my purse:

Once I made a list...a big purse list of everything a girl should have in her purse. It's a long list. I wonder if Stacy still has that list...

Anyway, the contents of my purse at the moment:

green olives (I like them, and I happened to go to the grocery store before work. Don't judge me.)
business cards
random pieces of paper with important information on them
cell phone
cash wallet
card wallet
gum
pens
sunscreen (I have sunscreen with me everywhere I go. I need it.)
keys
a book of word searches
keys
Tarte lipstain pencil (I highly recommend this product! It's awesome!)
a bottle cap from a birch beer ( like root beer)
a cheap metal ring that Renee got me in Manitou from a penny arcade machine
fingernail clippers
stickers from Wahoo's
chapstick

That's all!


Sunday, August 28, 2011

Day 26

Who do I admire:

I don't really know if I do admire anyone in particular. I know, awful, right? But I think we are all worthy of admiration to some degree, because we have all struggled, we have all had trial and adversity. At some point we have all needed to rely on inner strength and faith to get us to where we are today. I admire the faith of my parents and Grandparents. I admire the way my friends can see past all the crazy and love me. I admire the people who can make big things happen in this world, and the people who are quietly changing lives every day. I admire the men in my life that have shown me that being a man of God is the best kind to be, and that there is no shame in shedding a tear or two. I admire the children that have a simple kind of faith, and who can be stronger than I am sometimes. I admire those who have had the strength to ask for help, and are willing to accept it. I admire all the incredible people that are helping to build Zion in these that Latter Days. I am so grateful for them. So I guess I do admire a lot of people! ;)

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Day 25

A favorite Photo-



I generally hate photos, mostly because I can find the smallest thing that s wrong and only see that every time I look at it. This one is pretty good, considering, and I will not point out the one thing that bugs me so as not to have everyone else see it...haha!


Friday, August 26, 2011

Day 24

My Childhood:

Oh dear. My childhood. Well, I cannot complain. I have an incredible family, so the fact that I moved more than ten times between the ages of 3 days and fifteen years is not as bad as it could have been. I listed earlier the places I've lived (most of them, anyway), and why I did or did not like them. I particularly liked Boston and Saudi Arabia, but Albuquerque is a close third. In childhood, some of my favorite things were picking fruit with my family, camping, and exploring things. We had a smallish wood by our house in Boston and I would spend endless hours pretending to be something or other in the trees. I loved sledding in the winter, apple picking and pumpkin carving, and I just adored the Fall. I still enjoy doing a lot of those things! Overall I had a wonderful childhood full of love and laughter.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Day 23

Something I never tire of doing-

I never tire of being with the person I wrote about yesterday. Which sounds awfully mushy and gross, but it's true. I hope he never reads this blog, because it might make him run for cover! ;)

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Day 22

My current relationship.

Well...I'm in one. I'm not sure where it's at or where it's going, but for now I am content to enjoy the ride! He treats me better than I deserve, and likes me for all the right reasons, so I am happy to let it develop and grow in the Lord's time. Hopefully I can keep that same perspective the whole duration!! ;)

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Day 21

My fears-

Well, as far as actual fears...I fear needles and spiders. I have always hated needles, and to this day it terrifies me to get blood drawn or to get an IV put in. I hate it with a burning passion. And spiders are just crawly and icky and should die. I can do big spiders, like tarantulas, but anyhing smaller than that and I freak out.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Day 20

A hobby of mine:

I LOVE to horseback ride. LOVE. When I was 10, my mother set me up with horseback riding lessons, and I never looked back. While in college in Idaho, I found out that I could take classes at the livestock center, and I sure did take all of them! I can barrel race, herd, and jump like a pro! I loved every second of it, and I take every opportunity I can get to go. I haven't gone in a while, but I hope to find a friend really soon that has horses and will take me riding!

Day 19

A fun memory:

I have a lot of fun memories. Trying to pinpoint one is hard! One of my favorite times was when I was in college. I had lots of awesome roommates, but one in particular stands out to me (Stacy). Stacy was meant to be my friend. We were in several classes together, and even worked in the same department! But for some reason we never connected until we moved into the same apartment in my Sophomore year. And then it was all over. We ended up doing things together almost every weekend, thus creating "The Weekenders". We would go on walks, do crafts, take silly pictures, make food, watch movies, and build forts. We talked about life, love, family, struggles, and school. We even took a class together so we could read to each other and do homework together! We had so much fun going glowsticking in caves, eating tacos, and getting stranded in the snow. I have so many fun memories of doing random things with Stacy, and all my college friends, and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to learn and grow with such amazing people!

Day 18

A favorite thing about each of my family members:

Dad: My Dad is awesome. He is so loving and kind, and he is endlessly interested in what is going on in my life. Considering that he is busy with work, church callings, and four other children, I always feel like he takes time to appreciate me and what I am doing.

Mom: My Mom has taught me everything I know (well, mostly). Despite me being stubborn and hard to teach, she has patiently taught me to sew, cook, plan a budget, do laundry, and clean a home. I am so grateful for her example in my life.

Adam: Adam is always happy. I am sure he has times when he is worried or unhappy, but he always has such an optimistic attitude, and he is just so fun to be around!

Natalie: Natalie is so funny. She says the greatest things all the time, and, like Adam, is always happy. Also, she puts up with Adam, and keeps him as happy as a clam! I can't wait for her to have her baby in a few weeks so they can be a happy little family. I am sure their little boy will be just as happy as they are!

Shay: Shay is very personable. I have never met anyone who didn't like her and want to be her friend.

Jordan: Jordan is always willing to help. If I need something from the attic or the shed, he will get it for me, no questions asked. I am so grateful for that, because you pretty much have to be an acrobat to get anything out of the garage attic.

Westin: Westin is just a great kid. Everyone loves him, from his YM leaders to his friends, to random people on the street. He is unabashedly optimistic and extremely outgoing. I admire him so much for his ability o love who he is and to do what he knows is right.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Day 17

A photo of your family:




There you have it! Clockwise from left: Jordan, Me, Shay, Adam, Natalie (Adam's Wife), Westin, Mom, Dad, and Suki.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Day 16


A favorite food

Some of my most favorite foods are:



Shrimp Tacos, and basically anything else involving shrimp. (Insert Bubba Gump reference here)


Doner Kebabs. They are heavenly, and really only available in Germany. Which makes me a sad panda.



Falafel and Hummus. I could eat this stuff every day and it wouldn't get old. I love it!


Ever since I was a small child, I have loved clam chowder. I would ask for it at every restaurant we went to, much to the chagrin of my ever-patient parents. To this day whenever I am on either coast, I will always find a way to get me some yummy chowder in a bread bowl!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Day 15

My Celebrity Crush:



Gotta be Ben Barnes. He is just....that hair...yes.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Day 14

Something I love and couldn't live without-

There are just a very few things on this list.

1. Sundays. I could not function without the good, helthy dose of spiritual medicine I get every Sunday. I love Sundays more than any other day of the week.

2. My friends and family. They are the world to me. I could not be who I am without them, and even whe I haven't seen or heard from them in a while, I know their love and support will always be there when I need it.

3. My KitchenAid. It's pretty much my favorite.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Day 13

Something I want to buy:

I would really, really like some new clothes. I keep going shopping, and nothing turns up that I love. Love is a requirement when I purchase clothing, because I have learned from experience that if I only kinda like it, I will never wear it.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Day 12

Something I bought recently:

I haven't really purchased a lot lately. But I do have a friend who helps me to splurge, and she happens to have impeccable taste, so I am never disappointed! This last time we went to Sephora, which sells high-end cosmetics. For those of you who know me, you know I am pretty minimalistic when it comes to makeup. I hate feeling like I have anything on my face, so I try to keep it to a minimum. However, I do like to experiment with new things, and I love doing my eye makeup in new and fun ways. So the last thing I purchased was a new liquid eyeliner, an eye color palette, and a lip stain (I will not wear lip gloss, lip stick, or even chapstick. I hate the feeling of something on my lips. A lip stain does just what it says, without adding any "goopiness" to my lips.)

Pretty boring, but still fun for me!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Day 11

Nicknames I have and why-

Well, I don't really have that many. My Dad calls me Sis, probably because I am the oldest daughter and have four siblings. I do have a sister, but she is never called that, just me. Weird.

My friend Casey calls me Sammy Sam, or Spam. I think it's because she'd my best friend and can get away with a lot.

Stacy calls me Shmoo, because the crazy kid that sat in front of us in Early American Lit in college once turned around and randomly announced that the Hebrew word for Samuel was Shmuel, and wondered if anyone ever called me Shmoo because my name is Sam. Well, now someone does, crazy kid. Stacy.

I have a few others, but those are the ones I will actually answer to and be called by on a regular basis.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Day 10

A photo taken of me over 10 years ago...



Wow. The early nineties were not kind to my hair. Or my Mother's. But hey! Dad actually has some in this picture! It's funny, but I actually cannot remember when my Dad didn't shave his head. I was still so young when he started doing it that I have no recollection of him with even a small amount of it. Weird. Anyway, enjoy!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Day 9

Pet Peeves

Now, my family would say I have a lot of these. But in actuality, there are only a couple of things that really set me off.

1. I hate it when someone leaves 3 seconds on the microwave. Just hit cancel. It's not hard, and I need to know what time it is.

2. I also hate it when people use the last of the toilet paper and don't bother to replace it. That's just plain rude.

3. When ppl tlk like this when txting. U have a full keyboard. Use it. K?

4. When people take things without asking first, and then never return or replace what they took. Chances are I will let you borrow/have what you want, I would just like to be asked. And no, it is not better to "ask forgiveness than to ask permission". That's the coward's way out.

5. Finally, when people lie about things to make their lives easier. If you don't want to do it, say you just don't want to do it. Don't make up some lame excuse to make yourself feel better about it. I'll find out eventually, and then I'll have lost all respect for you.

That's it! I think that most people will agree with me about most of these, but the microwave thing is kinda silly. It drives me nuts. ;)

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Day 8

Things I would like to do before I die

Well, let's see. I am not really that ambitious. All I have every really wanted before I die is a family of my own, a cozy little house, and enough money to be comfortable and do a bit of traveling. Other than that, I really don't have a bucket list. I am so boring! Oh well. ;)


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Day 7

Something that makes me happy.

Honestly, the only thing that truly makes me happy is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you are an LDS friend of mine, you know what I mean. If you are not LDS, you know that I am, and how I feel about it. If you would like to know why it makes me so indescribably happy, I would love to tell you.

I also very much like NHB.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Day 6

Places I would like to travel

Well, I have done quite a bit of traveling in Europe, hitting almost all of the must-sees. The places I still want to go are still quite numerous, so I will not have a problem here!

Japan
Australia
The Maldives
Egypt
Israel
China
South Korea
Alaska
Sweden
The Netherlands
Belgium
Turkey
Finland
Brazil
Argentina
Peru
Chile

Places I want to re-visit:
England
France
Germany
Austria
Scotland
Czech Republic
Switzerland
Spain
Italy

I think that's all! Although the more I see, the more I want to see. So I will most likely just want to see everything eventually!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Day 5

A habit I have that I wish I didn't:

I have a lot of these. Who doesn't? Trying to pick one is like trying to chose a favorite ice cream, every time you think you know which flavor you want, you think of a different one you want more. Then you just end up choosing five or six.

Anyway.

I guess right now my least favorite habit is the way I over-think EVERYTHING. Really. Sometimes I have to sing a hymn in my head to make it stop. I like to consider every angle of a situation. However, often said situation involves a third party over which I have no control, so speculation is not only pointless, but detrimental to my mental health. But I do it anyway. It's worse when I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone about it to work out exactly what I am nervous/excited/worried/angry about.

And it drives me nuts.

I know I should stop, but I very seldom can without outside encouragement. So that is my bad habit.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Day 4

Top 10 Favorite Books

This is going to be a hard one, mostly because I have always been a voracious reader, and some of the books I most enjoy reading I have read more than a few times. I will do my best, and hope that the lack of adult literature will not put a damper on your respect for my intelligence! ;)

1. Ella Enchanted-Gail Carson Levine
2. Ender's Game- Orson Scott Card
3. Sabriel-Garth Nix
4. Anthem- Ayn Rand
5. The Golden Compass- Philip Pullman
6. Harry Potter (All 7)-J.K. Rowling
7. The Seer and the Sword- Victoria Hanley
8. Song of the Lioness Quartet- Tamora Pierce(Pretty much anything by this author, actually).
9. Fablehaven Series- Brandon Mull
10. The Giver- Lois Lowry

There are probably hundreds of books I have enjoyed over the years, but these are the ones that I always go back to at some point to re-read. They're just so good!

Friday, August 5, 2011

Day 3

10 facts about your hometown

Well, to be honest, I really don't have a hometown. The longest I have stayed in one place is four years, and I don't feel a real attachment to anywhere. I guess being a military brat does have it's downside, but I have learned to enjoy seeing new places and learning new tings at each station. So for my top ten, I will name the places I have lived and my favorite thing about them.

1. Provo, Utah-I was born and lived here a total of 3 days before moving for the first time. Provo is well known for being the town that BYU is in, and there are many stigmas associated with living there. The BYU Creamery is my favorite thing about it.

2. Fairfield, California (Travis AFB)-we moved here so my Dad could got to Officer Training School. I don't really know anything about this town.

3. Aurora, Colorado (Buckley AFB)-My sister, Shay, was born here. I like Aurora, because it is close enough to Denver to be fun, but far enough away that you avoid the big city problems.

4. Dayton, Ohio (Wright-Patterson AFB)-We lived here for a few years, and I can vaguely remember a few things that happened. My favorite thing by far about living here was going to Amish Country. I remember that vividly, and I would love to go back and visit one day.

5. Lincoln, Massachusetts (Hanscom AFB)-This is where I begin really remembering everything. We lived here for four and a half years, and I met my first very best friend, Kirsten, here. We had a lot of history in the area, including a Minute Man trail behind our home that led to a small Minute Man museum. My favorite thing about living here was picking blackberries by the bushel with my family, visiting Boston, and learning to ride a bike.

6. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-I loved this place! The camels, the interesting people, and going to the markets are some of my favorite memories. I also would go out and catch little lizards at twilight with some friends. One night we had forty of them in our grasp!

7. Copperopolis, California-This was by far the smallest town I ever lived in. The population was around 900, and the school often combined grades into one class from lack of students. My favorite thing about living here was fishing at the lake with my Grandpa, and going to visit my Grandparents in Morgan Hill. I also started playing the flute here.

8. Albuquerque, New Mexico-The Land of Enchantment, and aptly named! I loved living here, and I have a lot of fond memories of it. I still keep in touch with some of my friends from here, and I love going back to visit. One of my favorite things is at Christmas time, when they light the entirety of Old Town with luminarias (Paper bags with candles in them). It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I also enjoyed the annual Balloon Fiesta, and the way the Sandia mountains turn deep red at sunset. It's magical!

9. Montgomery, Alabama-The only nice thing I have to say about Alabama is that their Boiled Peanuts are amazing.

10. Colorado Springs, Colorado- This is where my family ended up, and so I will leave the list here. (Although I have moved a couple of times more, I am living here now so I might as well). Colorado Springs has an elevation of 6,500 feet, and is home to Pike's Peak, which is over 14,000 feet tall. It is a beautiful place to live, and I love it here. The seasons are relatively mild, with temperatures rarely getting above 90 or below 0. We do get our fair share of snow, but it is generally melted by the next day if we get a significant amount. In fact, we often have days in the middle of winter when the temp reaches 70 degrees! It is a wonderful place to raise a family, and I love how nice the downtown area is. I always feel safe here. And now I sound like a tour guide. Oh well!

So there you have it! My 10 hometowns, and why I love them. Until tomorrow, then!

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Day 2

My top 10 favorite movies of all time (in no particular order) are:

1. The Fifth Element
2. The Three Musketeers (Chris O'Donnell version)
3. Rocketman
4. Better Off Dead
5. Pride and Prejudice (Colin Firth version)
6. RED
7. The Scarlet Pimpernel
8. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
9. She's the Man
10. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Really, I enjoy a lot of movies. To pick my favorites for this list, I just chose movies I can watch on a regular basis and not get tired of. There are a lot more, but these ten were the first to come to mind.
The end.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Day 1


This is the most recent picture I have. Yes, I do realize that wearing a Star Wars apron is nerdy, but there is a pretty good story of why I am wearing it and standing in front of a case of large knives. That story will be shared with anyone who is really interested in hearing it, but right now, I have to tell you 15 things about me.

1. I don't actually know what color my hair is. Last time it was it's natural color, I was 14. I assume it is still blonde.
2. I am extremely ticklish, and no, you do not need to test that.
3. I have a Bachelors Degree from BYU-Idaho.
4. I live in Colorado Springs, CO.
5. I have moved a total of 12 times, beginning when I was 3 days old.
6. I learned to ride a bike (sans training wheels) before my older brother did.
7. I cannot eat lettuce. Not won't. Can't.
8. If you put pineapple on your pizza, we can't be friends. Or grapes in your chicken salad. Ew.
9. My favorite band is Death Cab for Cutie.
10. I have always loved horses, and took several riding classes in college. Wanna barrel race? I'll take you down.
10. I love driving in the car with friends. Especially when I'm headed to somewhere fun, like Utah or Idaho.
11. I hate riding in the car with my family. Especially if it's more than an hour drive.
12. I can bake the best cupcakes you've ever had. Just ask anyone. They're amazing.
13. I love to cook for people. LOVE.
14. I read a lot. I can read five or six large books a week if I'm in the mood.
15. My favorite food is falafel. It's pretty much the best thing ever.

That's all for today folks!

30 Day Challenge


I decided, after seeing this on a friend's blog, that I should do it as well. I am generally a horrible blogger, mostly because my life is pretty boring. But This will give me something to blog about each day, so I hope I can be more diligent in posting!

Day 01 — A recent picture and 15 facts about you
Day 02 — Top 10 Favorite Movies of All Time
Day 03 — 10 Facts about your hometown.
Day 04 — Top 10 Favorite Books
Day 05 — A habit you have that you wish you didn't
Day 06 — Places you would like to travel
Day 07 — Something that makes you happy
Day 08 — Things you'd like to do before you die
Day 09 — Pet peeves
Day 10 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11 — Nicknames you have and why
Day 12 — Something you bought recently
Day 13 — Something you want to buy
Day 14 — Things you love and can't live without
Day 15 — Your celebrity crush
Day 16 — A favorite food
Day 17 — A photo of your family
Day 18 — What you like best about each member of your family
Day 19 — A fun memory
Day 20 — A hobby of yours
Day 21 — Your fears
Day 22 — Your current relationship.
Day 23 — Something you never tire of doing.
Day 24 — About your childhood
Day 25 — A favorite photo
Day 26 — Who do you admire?
Day 27 — What’s in your purse?
Day 28 — A place you love
Day 29 — A person you love
Day 30 — Where you'd like to be in 10 years