reverting back...

Hi my name is Amy and I have a problem...

I'm turning back into a photoshop junkie.

In high school I had to use photoshop for 4 years for yearbook so I became fairly proficient but the 2 years between then and now has caused me to become a tad bit rusty. Well, a lady that I did some photos for requested that I make her some Christmas cards and I agreed so I went to Adobe.com and got the free 30 day trial of photoshop. I'm hooked again. I've been playing around on it ALL NIGHT. I made my new backgrounds for both this blog and my photography blog (check it out here) and a Christmas card for my roommates and me with the hankerin' to do even MORE.

I think I need help.

Happy Holidays! :)

yesh, i'm a 12 year old girl.

You wanna know where I was at 3:15 am on November 20? Well duh, watching NEW MOON! We did it as kind of a birthday celebration for Heather and Nancy (their birthday is really on Sunday) and it was a hoot. I learned a couple things though, like that I am not in any way a pleasant person at 3 in the morning or that even the "older crowd" that went to the later showing feels the need to squeal everytime Taylor Lautner's abs filled the screen. It was a good time ;)

Amanda, Nancy, Me, Brittnee

Team Emmett alllll the way! (I like 'em tough and sparkly!)

Brittnee's masterpiece, she copied the flower from the New Moon cover

The supid Cinemark people made us wait outside even though there was NOBODY in the lobby. I was so stinkin' cold!

Heather, Brailee, and Brittnee in the lobby (FINALLY) waiting for them to let us in our theater! So much excitement!

The whole 3 am thing just isn't for us. As Amanda says, "We look like DEATH"

Overall New Moon was a pretty good movie... there are a couple cheesy parts but that's just a given, it was WAY better than Twilight though!

breaking the sterotype.

I really don't know if there is a legitimate reason for me to be writing this particular post, maybe I'm just fed up with a couple things... I feel the need to break up one of these silly stereotypes that goes along with being a single 19 year old girl at BYU.

Guess what?

The boys around this place?

They really don't date.

They're in fact, really stupid when it comes to this particular matter.

I have been here now for three semesters and when I go home and that inevitable "Hey are you engaged yet?" question pops out of someone's mouth I just want to laugh. No, no I am not. By no means am I the girl that is hunting for her eternal companion, I am, however, the girl that gets sick of sitting around and waiting for that magical day when all the BYU boys will live up to all the hype and just starting asking girls on dates. I don't know what it is but it seems like boys assume that if they ask a girl on just one date then it means commitment, or even worse, a clingy whiney girl that they'll have to deal with. So untrue. A date is just supposed to be a fun way to get to know new people; it doesn't need to be pricey, elaborate, or last for hours. I guess this is just something that's been bugging me... I mean, I even caved and did the asking last weekend. Is it too much for a girl to want to be taken out every once in a while? Really?

my favorite day of the year*

*except for my birthday and christmas

Today (Friday the 13th) is national To Write Love On Her Arms day! I cannot even tell you how much I love this organization... TWLOHA is dedicated to helping teens through really tough issues like depression, self-injury, and suicide. I love supporting this cause since its such a hush-hush thing but most teens will experience some form of depression in their lives and this is an organization completely dedicated to making sure that those that struggle know that they have support. So I just wanted to get the word out there, remember to be supportive, open up and discuss these tough issues.

"WAKE UP, YOU'RE ALIVE, WE'RE ON YOUR SIDE"
-Lovedrug-

look up.

hahaha. ok, so i haven't written on my blog in forever and tonight i decided to sit down and actually write an update just to let everyone know i'm doing ok... well, instead i decided to go make a stick family thing. except i decided to do apartment 109. so there we are :) in all our stick figure glory. i think we look fabulous.

disappointment happens

apartments leak. and sometimes gush.

boys will never grow up.

jobs are given to other people. even though the guy told me i'm perfect for it.

professors still give homework even if i don't feel like doing it.

plasma centers give me track marks on my arms all for the sake of grocery money.

BUT...

the biggest disappointment in my life is...

i couldn't find the right kind of tortillas at walmart.

ugh.

its a hard-knock life, eh? :)

this is the place.

Alot of people ask me why I chose to come to BYU. When I get direct questions like that I never know how to answer... Do I joke about how it's all about football? Do I tell them the truth and tell them it was a completely random decision? I usually just say "Oh, cause they have really good programs."

Right now I can tell you I KNOW why I am here.
This is a special place.

Guess who spoke to us at Devotional today?

Yeah, I got to sit there, with the rest of the student body, and listen to our Prophet speak directly to us. And I can tell you without a doubt that he loves us.

I only got one picture of the Mariott on my phone because I didn't have a real camera, but look at how many people were there. It was packed.

Now tell me THAT isn't a legit reason for me to be here.

alive.

for all of you who may not have heard, i am indeed alive. i know it looks like i have been lazy with blogging but that's only because i'm trying not to be lazy on everything else... i.e. school or something like that. hm. oh well. i will get around to posting russia pictures eventually! in the meantime, go check out my photography blog to hear some happy stuff! =) www.amyrobinsonphotography.blogspot.com

on your mark, get set....

This week is going to be a pretty crazy one with all the packing, cleaning, moving, and traveling but I am SO READY for it! I can't believe I'm trying to squeeze so much into 5 short days and I just hope that I make it through ;) Today through Wednesday is packing and cleaning and just general preparation for the big move so when Thursday morning rolls around I can just hop in my car and get down to Provo! I am so excited to see my new apartment and get everything settled in so that on Friday I can head to SLC and board my plane! So much in so little time... But like I said, SO READY.

in case you haven't heard...

in exactly 8 days i will be traveling 16ish hours, starting from salt lake and landing here...

oh, i'm sorry, do you need a bigger hint? how about this...

just to make sure i'm being perfectly clear, does this help? ;)

yes, that's right folks... little amy from small town idaho is going to RUSSIA! i cannot even put into words how excited i am for this trip. i haven't even been out of the country before! i'm so lucky i got this job as a nanny this summer, not only has it been VERY educational, but there are perks like, oh i don't know, A FREE TRIP TO RUSSIA! i will leave early next friday (the 21st) and i will be coming back the 30th. do not worry, i will take MANY pictures. and as crazy as it is, i am almost (note, ALMOST) as excited that before i leave the country i get to move my stuff back to this place...

simple as that

All I have to say is...

I want to get back to Provo ASAP. I miss these girls like crazy.

also...

CONGRATS to Aunt Tani and Uncle Chad... I'm so excited for that little BOY!

dirt. mosquitoes. stinky clothes. must be time for the family reunion!

Last week was the annual Draper Family Reunion, and instead of our regular spot in the Star Hope campground we were in the Wild Horse campground this year I got there Thursday with Uncle Randy, Aunt Shannon, and Trace and Shawn's family. It was tons of fun (like always!) and even though I only took a few pictures we all had a blast. Oh, and I'm still kicking myself for not taking my big camera. Stupid...

Me and Alicia in the trailer.

'Lis and Aunt Shannon

Aunt Tani and her wonderful glowsticks.

Ben LOVES to take pictures.

Grandpa Jack

Grandma Bonnie

Ashllyn is NOT camera shy... at all.

Alicia kept talking about "the narrow rough road" and I thought that's just what she was calling it so I kept teasing her about it until we were walking up to go geocaching there was this sign that actually designated it as a narrow rough road.

My first time geocaching (if you don't know what it is just google it!) This is what the boxes look like, I thought they were so cool, I'm considering getting one just for the heck of it.

The group (minus me of course) on our first geocaching excursion.

Uncle Randy and our first little treasure, a Puss in Boots figurine. Score!

Cody, Dad, me, and Alicia.

This was round 2 of geocaching and Ben came along this time, too!

Round 2 group

On the way back down there were some waterfalls along the trail and so we stopped at this one to play around in the water. Well, they played, I sat on the rock and took pictures.

Woot! We traded the Puss in Boots for a duck on a scooter. This geocaching business is lucrative I tell ya =)

Like I said, I didn't take many pictures but i'm sure you can navigate your way to Tracy, Michelle, or Aunt Tani's blogs for more detail. Also, apologies to the family, I swear I wasn't trying to be anti-social the whole trip, but those naps are just too good! haha. Thanks for the fun!

always playing catch-up

I'm horrible at staying up to date with my blog. Blame it on the job I guess. Anyways, this is all from this past week which includes FOURTH OF JULY! Oh how I love the 4th. Honestly, it could very well be my very favorite holiday. It started on the 3rd when we had our annual BBQ at Uncle Randy's house. I snapped some pictures but mostly just of the volleyball game...

I love this picture of Hannah with her nose pressed up against the netting around the trampoline. She's adorable.

(Notice how cute and photogenic Craig and Cori's kiddos are)

Then fireworks at our house! I had fun with the shutter speed on my camera and these sparkler pictures turned out pretty awesome.

On the 4th I went up to the Idaho Falls parade with my mom and Ky like always. Just a few shots that I thought looked neat...

Then last night at dad's house we used up the last of the sparklers. I'm pretty proud of this one because I wrote my name out backwards instead of flipping the photo. =) Talent.

I believe I originally named this a "Tube of Sparklerness" but my dad also called it a Sparkler Slinky. Either way, pretty cool lookin'.

Last night there was also an AMAZING thunder and lightning storm. SO PRETTY. I remember when I was little I would go downstairs when I was scared of the lightning and my dad would always be sitting in a chair in front of the big kitchen window just watching the storm. I never understood it back then but now I see why he did, lightning is such a beautiful act of nature. But, I learned how stinkin' difficult it can be to snap a picture of it. My arms starting hurting from standing on my mom's back porch with my camera ready to catch a picture. I need quicker reflexes! I did nab this one though...

weekend getaway

This weekend Alicia and I went on a little "adventure" down in Utah and it was tons of fun! Friday night we stayed with Aunt Tani and her family and it was great fun. Aunt Tani, Alicia, and I stayed up late watching SYTYCD on youtube and eating Frosty's! Then Saturday Alicia and I drove to Coalville to go see Britt (my roommate). I'm so glad Alicia came with me, it was great! Hope she's not TOO weirded out by how Brittnee and I act together! haha.


These pictures are out of order, and I'm not going to fix it. That takes way too much time...

Our time in Coalville! Such a cute little town...

You may recognize this uber famous salon from one of their most prestigious customers...
"I already get my hair cut at the Cuttin' Curral" - Napoleon Dynamite

Stinkin' amazing rainbow in front of Aunt Tani's house on Friday night

Ashllyn! I love her!

We decided to have fun with the shutter speed on my new camera and a glowstick. In this picture you can see that Alexys spelled "MOM" in the air

On the way home Alicia and I stopped in Logan