you know you've graduated when...

so i know i've taken quite a lengthy leave of absence from the blogging world...but i'm happy to return!
you see..this two month disappearance has been as a result of my new quest of adjusting to the adult world... and i'm ashamed to say that blogging got pushed aside. but on my adventure so far..i have learned a few things. number one: i have actually graduated from high school. its taken many weeks for that piece of information to soak in..but i think i'm finally getting used to the idea. and better yet? i'm actually enjoying it!(well...most of it...)
so...in honor of my new discoveries..i've compiled a list to help the rest of you fellow class of 2011ians also accept that we actually did it :)

YOU KNOW YOU'VE GRADUATED WHEN...

you find excitement in buying sheets, hangers, and garbage cans for your dorm room

you've forgotten what the term "sports conditioning" feels like

your summer hours are no longer spent reading AP summer work novels or writing essays

you work extra hours to SAVE your money...instead of spending it immediately

spending friday nights out with friends is no longer the most important thing in your life

amazon.com is your best friend for purchasing ridiculously overpriced textbooks

byu.edu (insert your school website here) replaces facebook as your "most visited" website

people start wanting to set you up with return missionaries (aahh! run for your lives! or at least your single life...)

and last but not least...

you drive by Provo High School with an expression of sheer joy on your face, sometimes even bursts of laughter, knowing you never have to go back there again.

blessed day :)

jilly pilly

dear jillian nicole russon:
so...i know this is a bit late...but that's what happens when your birthday lands the week of AP testing!
but better late than never :)

once upon a time...there was a blond and brunette. they had two little baby girls 8 months apart.
one little girl had a head full of curls and the other had GIGANTIC deep brown eyes.
these little girlies grew up a few blocks away...and were friends before they can remember.
they did everything together.

they played princesses, fairies, sang and danced to the Dixie Chicks, practiced make-up application and nail painting on each other...and dreamed of growing up and living next door to each other,
each with a handsome Mr. Right and a front porch swing.
time passed and they spent their summers at swim lessons, roller blading, and playing street hockey.
they built huts on grassy empty lots and jumped on the tramp till the sun set.
little miss brown eyes taught curly locks to ride a bike and bought her her first pair of flip-flops.
curly locks introduced brown eyes to the world of fairies and little brothers.
middle school began and they helped each other survive.
curly locks turned to sports and brown eyes began to dance.
not wanting to leave each other behind...little miss b taught curly locks a step or two (sashe...step...leap!)
and curly locks taught brown eyes to shoot a ball.
high school brought more craziness..more sports, more dance, new friends, and BOYS.
curly locks and little miss brown eyes grew apart...but not far.
they still met together for late night talks...or sometimes a drive.
brown eyes went to games and curly locks didn't miss a dance concert.

all of a sudden..they got all grown up.
curly locks looks at her beautiful best friend.
she loves her confidence...her signature silliness...and her strong testimony.

though we're going our separate ways jill...we'll never be far apart.
best buds forever :)
love you

yep that's me!

alrighty....this is MUCH over due....but here goes :)

this weekend I discovered something about myself:

I am WAY TOO COMPETITIVE!!

this is how it all began....

Saturday morning, Fano picks me up for our Prom day date.

The doorbell rings...I open the door...Fano hands me a pair of army fatigues.

The questions begin forming.

After I changed into my lovely new wardrobe of camo...I am escorted to Fano's garage.

The door opens and I am told to "choose your weapon"

yeah buddy.

Before me lies a table with every piece of ammo Bond himself could even hope for...

Let the air soft war begin!

We met up with the rest of our group and war it was!

Cameron...going over the rules in the beginning said this...

"boys...AND JENESSA...you're going to have to tone down the competitiveness"

well that just served as gas to my engine!

Needless to say...I lived up to my reputation...

Just call me Lara Croft ;)

"what the creepy?"

Friday night...I'm sitting at home, being lazy, when Ashley and Ali decide to come rescue me. As I'm waiting for them to pick me up, I glance out my backdoor to see if they're here yet. Wait a second...there's people out there! I open the door saying, "What the creepy?" only to hear, "CRAP!" and see several boys take off into the bushes. Uh oh...I think I just caught someone asking me to Prom. AWKWARD.

But despite the embarrassment earlier...my date persevered and returned a few hours later to finish the job.

After several rings to the door bell..I found this:

 

Inside the "hart-socks" was this note:

 Hmmmm...the key?

oh wait..the BASKETBALL KEY!

Low and behold:

And right in the center of the key was THIS:

And what was inside the basketball?

THIS :)

A wee bit clever?

capital YES!

the color purple

more specifically...PURPLE KEDS!

Last week I was browsing through Nordstrom's online shoe clearance sale and came upon THESE:

My heart beat faster, my eyes opened wide, my feet got all tingly,

my heart fell in love.

PURPLE KEDS?! WITH RIBBON SHOELACES?!

I bought them without an ounce of hesitation.

After a week of much anticipation...they arrived in the mail on monday.

I saw the box and did a little dance for joy.

There they were: SPRINGTIME all wrapped up in a box.

So Tuesday...I wore a pair of purple keds that made me ridiculously happy :)

And the sun even came out to celebrate.

raindrops on roses

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens" 

those endearing lines from "The Sound of Music" are inspiring. 

So inspiring in fact, that I have decided to make a list of my own.

A list of my own favorite things: sights, sounds, smells, feelings, activities...

whatever it is that brings a smile to my face.

And in doing so, I have discovered that Julie Andrews was right.

That "when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad,

I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad."

 It works.

Try it.

My Favorite Things:

-laughing

-feeling my skin soak in the warmth of the sun

-hot chocolate

-feeling sore after a long, hard workout

-Broadway musicals

-sunglasses

-the freshness of Spring

-the smell of rain

-Jane Austen novels

-matching words with fonts

-driving with the windows down and singing at the top of my lungs

-Italy

-falling asleep on the beach

-kisses on the forehead

-being rocked to sleep, like a baby

-mountains

-taking long, hot showers

-sitting and just talking with a friend, and not being bored at all

-weddings

-the feeling of accomplishment after finishing a project

-the color yellow

-the hungry anticipation before eating a favorite meal

-vintage clothing...vintage anything really

-my family

-old movies

-lemonade

-Audrey Hepburn

-reading on a rainy day

-Disney movies

-the "swish" sound of a basketball going into the basket

-having a clean room

-smiling