"If we're on the Island of Unwanted Toys

We'll miss all the fun with the girls and boys

When Christmas Day is here

The most wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful day of the year!"

I'm Dreaming...

I still have two finals to take and a million things to do before I leave in 24 hours but all I can think about are these two places.

Greenwood, Arkansas

Chaing Rai, Thailand

Yes, one is significantly more exciting than the other but both are "truly magical places." 

Day 2

"It's funny how, in this journey of life, even though we may begin at different times and places, our paths cross with others so that we may share our love, compassion, observations, and hope. This is a design of God that I appreciate and cherish." -Steve Maraboli

Today I am grateful for people. They are all around me. There are people in classes, church, work, and all other interactions that are awesome. 

I'm also grateful for people who love and support me. Tonight three amazing friends came to my capstone presentation. Got to love them. 

The Weather Outside

Challenge

"We need to be more grateful. It's one of the marks of strong character, to have a feeling of thanksgiving and gratitude for blessings that are ours. We need more of that spirit in our homes, in our daily associations, in church, everywhere. It's so easy to cultivate the spirit of appreciation."

-Ezra Taft Benson

In preparation for Thanksgiving I'm going to spend the next seven days explaining what I am truly thankful for.

Today I am grateful for running hot water. Our shower at the HH might go on emo fits of scolding then freezing but overall we can take showers in hot water.

I'm also grateful for that I have slightly curly hair. This makes pulling it up and going to school with it wet look like it could potentially be for style, instead of lack of time.

I'm also grateful for chap stick. Utah winters would be unbearable without it. 

Grown Up Christmas List

"List are a form of power."

-A.S. Byatt

The Hollywood House has the Christmas spirit. Yes, it's only November 14th but we justify it by noting t we only have a few weeks in our home over the next few months.

• Spend time with family. (I leave Saturday for ATL, then FSM just a few weeks later.)
• A cute decorated house. 
• A's in all my classes. Come on Santa. ;) 
• Dinner with Miranda Hurst
• Baking with Derick Ray
• Movies with Rockel Grigg
• Singing with Kirsti Teale
• A beautiful watch. (Thanks Nat for making salivate looking at yours daily.) 
• Christmas Breakfast.
• A very cute family photo.

So while I wait for all these things to come to pass I'll go back to paying attention in class, listening to my Pandora radio station, pinning, and eating lettuce. 

What Up Bloggers?

"I have no special talents. I am just passionately curious." 

-Albert Einstein. 

Welcome to the quote that I have officially decided describes me. I'm curious. Very very curious. That's why I people watch, ask people random questions, Google everything, look up definitions of words, and craft. (Crafting takes curiousness. Back down.) 

I had a stellar weekend. I watched Click Click ball it up and take getting a black eye like a champ, went wedding dress shopping with Madison (she is going to be so hot), and watched Footloose the new movie. We also had a three person dance party in our parking lot, attempted to get cars to honk at us, and Click Click made out with Brigham. Life in Utah can't get any better right?

The other PRO to this week has been the fact that I am house sitting for one of my favorite Aunts. It requires little of me. I let the dog out a few times a day at let the cat snuggle with me. So what is so PRO about it? The fact that she has given me permission to drive her car, which just happens to have an A parking tag. Baller status=me. (I know Devaun that you probably don't approve of a label such as "baller status.") 

I also have been missing all my Arkansas people. I love you all. Miss you. And will see you before you know it. 

Glamorous Hollywood Living

"Hollywood's has its own particular environment." 

-Hairrson Ford

              

I moved into a Sorority house, which is ironic since BYU does not have any form of Greek life. There are five rooms and nine girls and lots of various backgrounds. It's been an interesting adjustment but so far things are going extremely well. 

Click Click, Devs, and I went on a ride up the Canyon and enjoyed the amazing colors that are here in Wasatch mountains. It was a quick get-away.

Later that night I was laying in bed, reading my scriptures when I got this brilliant prompting. I ran into the living room jumped up in the air and exclaimed to Devaun that we were going to sleep on the balcony. I know. The best idea I've ever had (which is saying something.) I rounded up all the roommates available and began prepping our camping ground. Once our full sized mattress was hauled up two flights of stairs we bundled up, listening to the construction right beside our house, and felt the breeze. 

Then it started to rain. I should never be allowed to pick a time to camp again. We rushed our mattresses inside only to discover something else wonderful- twin sized mattresses on stairs are PERFECT for slides. Yes. Three twin mattresses are the perfect length to fit our stair case. 

It was a great bonding experience full of laughs, pictures, and memories. Cameron- I can't wait to hear your comments.

Shoes

"One shoe can change your life."

-Cinderella

I have decided that part of my life will continually be feeling sick and visiting doctors then feeling sick again. Regardless the latest thought process was that there is something wrong with my heart. So I went to a fancy (which translates to expensive) cardiologist up in Salt Lake. I got to watch my heart pump, get stabbed four times, and hang out with Bruce for a few hours.  After all was said and done I got the offical "your heart is perfectly fine" talk and went on my happy way. 

To celebrate this good news I bought a new pair of shoes. Yes I know I didn't need them but I'm LDS so what else do I do to celebrate? ;) 

I called my mom to tell her about my new shoes (oh and my results) she informed me that my dad had already had the same idea. Great minds think alike. And now we know where I my love of the shoe comes from- Rich Rieske

Rise and Shout

Here are 10 fun things that have happened over the last few weeks.

1. We painted our blue basement. Despite some mold run-ins, torn walls, and complete mess we managed to make a major improvement to the look of our home.

2. Devaun and I went on a cooking strike. We cooked each night for an entire week. We haven't since then. Whoops.

3. I have all sorts of new roomie love going on. Who would have thought living with eight other girls would be so easy?

4. I have a new favorite netflix series to watch. (Update- I finished it. Semi disappointing,)

5. I went/didn't go to a 90's dance with my new BFF Click Click Alex.

6. I received a new calling to be on the ward "home council committee" which basically means I'm an FHE mom.

7. My study spot of the semester is the Tanner Building.

8. I finally got to meet Renee. Not only did I get to spend a great evening with her, Cam Cam and Rachel Clark but I was able to see Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat at Hale Theater in West Valley. It was worth missing a football game. (Blasphemous I know.)

9. I've started looking for big girl jobs and planning what life might be like after college.

10. And I GOT ENGAGED! No, I really didn't but my facebook status was changed to give people that allusion. Twenty-three comments, four voice-mails, and fourteen text messages later I had to go back and inform family, friends, and completely random people that it was a hoax.

First Impressions

"I shook your hand, looked deep into your soul. So far into it that my image went straight to your heart. I then rolled out a piece of parchment paper, pulled out a scroll, dipped it into fine black ink, and wrote Alex." 

-Alex, last name unknown

(He didn't write his last name down on the parchment.) 

I have this tendency to get a little over stressed in new situations. First impressions are big with me and I am one of those that makes an opinion of a situation right off the bat. For example, last year when I moved to Utah I was set that my new roommate was a prude. She has now turned into my best friend. Moving into the HH scared the heck out of me because all I could see at first was the blue, dust, old, and the blue. It however is shaping up to be a great experience and turning into a perfect little home for my prudent best friend and I. 

So with the different transitions that are coming up I'm looking to make the best of them. I'm doing my best not to swiftly cast judgement and keep my parchment paper judgement free.

Pictures of the improved version to come.

Hog Wild

Being home has been great. I have had a chance to relax, get some important things done, but most importantly go hog wild with my family.

A rose between two thorns or something like that.

This is how we play just dance in the Rieske family. (The wrong way.)

My brother is applying to med school. We went to town working on his application. 

This is the end result. Richard was pooped after pulling two straight all nighters so I had to drive him to turn in his application. 

While waiting for Richard-Ross, we went on an adventure. I hope that when I am 84 years old I can look as good as this woman.

Remember the great drought of 2011? Debo will point out every brown tree in the near area. It was an appropriate picture to take. 

I love old Arkansas and I'm sure going to miss it and my family.

Dollar Dollar Bills Yall

"For I don't care too much for money, money can't buy my love."

-The Beatles

Everyone my age is suppose to be broke right? I keep saying that to suffice for the fact that I spent pretty much my only pay check of the summer on a Wii. At the moment it seemed like the most logically sound finacial decision I could make and since then I have justified it in many ways.

1. It is way fun. (Mature right?)
2. I can use it as a DVD player (which I don't have.)
3. No cable at HH + Netflix /Wii= Entertainment.

So what did I do last night? I went to possibly one of the most redneck weddings of all times. Complete with beer right when you walked in and three stuffed rams that at one point where humped by a drunken, very tan, old woman. From one of the guest wearing crocks with socks paired with short cheer shorts to the golden tooth that blinded me while taking pictures, the night was magical.

The best part is that I came home from that magical evening to spend the rest of my night playing Just Dance and Mario Cart with my mother. What do you spend your Saturday nights doing? I bet they don't even compare.

It's Getting Hot in Here

"He who sits by the fire, thankless for the fire, is just as if he had no fire.  Nothing is possessed save in appreciation, of which thankfulness is the indispensable ingredient."

-W.J. Cameron

I froze last winter living in Provo. I thought that I would get to spend some time at home laying by the pool and enjoying the Arkansas heat. Little did I know how much Arkansas heat I'd get. It hasn't hit below the 100's for weeks and my entire town is brown. Did the mother nature get us mixed up with Az again? Az and Ar are very different states. 

Last week some kids were playing with fireworks and set the military grounds that butt up to city limits on fire. The damage has been substantial and it seems like it "sparked" a new trend. Literally. Since then fires have been popping up all over town. There are smoke stacks everywhere you look. 

So it's hot. Summer is almost over. And I hope we don't burn down. 

Hmmmmh

"My philosophy in life is that we make up our mind what we are going to make of our lives, then work at hard to that goal, we never lose -somehow we win out." 

-Ronald Reagan

This past week I spent at Special Olympics Sports Camp. It was an amazing experience where I saw amazing strength come from individuals that have so much going against them. Out in the world they are seen as having special needs, however I saw through their example this week that my needs are much greater. I saw how much they trusted others by guiding a blind man in water. I heard their encouraging words as they watched their friends accomplish hard task. And I felt how much they loved by the sweaty hugs they gave me. Such a great experience. To sum it up here are some of my favorite quotes from this week. 

David (A blind black man while sliding down a water slide): I'm about to be baptized in the name of Jesus.

Heather (The most amazing woman who is one of the area directors): The sinker? Oh yeah- he is mine.

Joey (After being at camp 4 days): I forgot. All four days. (to brush his teeth)

Joseph (The sweetest.): Mhhhmmmmm. Caramel.

Davis (One of my athletes): Brittainy- I love you. You dance me?

Kirsti (Found the tallest guy in the room to dance with.): laughs.

Such a fun week. Now back to reality. 

Start Spreading the News

“They say life's what happens when you're busy making other plans. But sometimes in New York, life is what happens when you're waiting for a table.”

-Sarah Jessica Parker

That's right ladies and gents. I am now in the process of making plans to go to NYC in the fall! So exciting! I haven't been in a few years so another trip mid-way through the semester will be exactly what the doctor ordered.

In other news, I think Ashley is a emotional nut case and say that both Mickey and Blake are better off without her. If she says Bentley's name one more time I'll flip.

For reals. Who would you pick?

Now stepping off my bachelorette soap box.

Chapter 1

"If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and everyday you have the opportunity to write a new page" -Mark Houlahan

One year older and wiser too. I have had a blast with my new experiences and life at BYU. I knew that I would enjoy my time in Utah but I never could have guessed it would lead to the wonderful friendships I've formed. I have made new life time friends (the complete opposite of "superficial"), learning life lessons, and can tell you all sorts of statistics about cohabitation. Just ask. I'll tell you. ;)

I'm home for the summer and will enjoy being home. I've already eaten steak, washed my car, and had a load of laundry done for me. This is the life.

Amen

And for a cute fun version of the song (thanks Katelyn.) check this one out.

There is a storm a blowin'

"Be assured that there is a safe harbor. You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you. Your Heavenly Father—who knows when even a sparrow falls—knows of your heartache and suffering. He loves you and wants the best for you. Never doubt this. While He allows all of us to make choices that may not always be for our own or even others’ well-being, and while He does not always intervene in the course of events, He has promised the faithful peace even in their trials and tribulations."

You are stronger than you think. Your Heavenly Father, the Lord and Master of the universe, is your Creator. When I think of it, it makes my heart leap for joy. Our spirits are eternal, and eternal spirits have immeasurable capacity!

Our Father in Heaven does not wish us to cower. He does not want us to wallow in our misery. He expects us to square our shoulders, roll up our sleeves, and overcome our challenges.

As you overcome adversity in your life, you will become stronger. Then you will be better able to help others—those who are working, in their turn, to find a safe harbor from the storms that rage about them.

When you feel tossed by the storms of life and when the waves rise and the winds howl, on those occasions it would be natural for you to cry in your heart, “Master, carest thou not that I perish?” When these times come, think back upon that day when the Savior awakened in the stern of the ship, rose up and rebuked the storm. “Peace, be still,” ¹³ He said

Joseph B Worthlin, LDS Apostle

What is love?

"A happy home is but an early heaven."

President Thomas S. Monson

Love is having a weekend layover in Salt Lake City anytime you go east of the Mississippi. 

Love is buying new placemats and flowers just so it feels more like home.

Love is swinging by my apartment even though it's already midnight and you've been traveling all day.

Love is being willing to fly me home at a moments notice if you thought it would make me feel better.

Love is buying me two bags of Chettos just because you think that I will like them.

Love is leaving me your brand new favorite chunky necklace because you know that I like it.

Love is going through plane delays, cancellations, and rerouting just to see me. 

Love is telling me how proud you are even when there is nothing to be proud of.

I have great parents. They are a little wacky, random, and loud but they are mine. I couldn't be more grateful for them. No matter what day of the week, what situation, or what I've done wrong they love me regardless. Messed up head and all. ;) They go above and beyond to make sure that I have the best opportunities and support the decisions that I make. 

Gosh it's good to be a Rieske. 

A Job Well Done

"A perfect sister-in-law I am not, but thankful for the one I've got."

-Unknown

So I often criticize my brothers for their lack of ability when it comes to women. Somehow through lack of skills, my oldest brother Russ snagged one amazing catch. My sister-in-law Katy. I'm not sure if it's because we both have silly spelled names, enjoy crafting, or because we both are experts at getting the "Debo glare." For whatever reason we are kindred spirits. This is why I love her.

Our FB chat conversation started out talking about how we wanted to be coupon queens. Then moved to...

Katy: WAIT. I will give you 5 dollars if you can tell me your unique nickname.

Me:   From who?

Katy: ME

Me:   Brit Brat? Bratney? 

Katy: Nope

Me:   Molly? If so you are dead to me. (My sister-in-law isn't LDS.)

Katy: Molly? What the heck?? lol

Me:   Molly Mormon.

Katy: You do need your brain checked. <---rude by the way. ;)

         OH. No, hadn't thought of that. That BETTER not be a hint of what is to come. 

         Keep it rad, baby.

         BUTTERBEAN. I'm disappointed!

Me:   Butterbean? That is a horrible nickname. It makes me sound like a fat 8 year old. Can't I be a 

         chickpee?

Katy: Nope. You're butterbean. All day long and twice on Sundays. Butterbean. Butterbean. Butterbean. 

This is a very typical Katy- Britt conversation. I love her so much and can't wait to see her soon. (Soon like August, but better than never right?) 

So to my favorite French Fry. Stay cool. And to my brothers, keep up the good work. We only accept amazing women to carry the "Rieske" last name. 

The Plan

"Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans."

-John Lennon

We make plans all the times. All the time. You plan what to eat, do, be, and want. From what groceries you buy to the career you chose you make a plan to make it happen. 

So what happens when your plans change. That's always been the hardest part for me. Once I get stuck on an idea I always want to see it through. Sometimes, not by choice, that plan has to be changed. So that leaves me where?

Screaming about chocolate ice cream. That's where.

So I'm asking my life to GET WITH THE PLAN and stop making me change it. I like what I had going on. Don't screw with me now. 

I.Q.

Did you know that....

I.Q. stands for intelligence quotient. Studies have found it is a predictor of academic achievement (no explanation needed), occupational attainment (children with higher IQs tend to go into more pretiegous occupations), and psychological adjustment (tend to be better liked by agemates). They start testing babies as early as 1 month to make sure they are developing cognitively. If you want to know how they do that you can ask. I've got the details for my final I need to take tonight.

I'm just full of fun statistics about intelligence. So here is the one questions I have, does that make me intelligent?

In other news it is finals week. They are going very well but I should probably wait until I'm closer to being done to brag about them. Wouldn't want karma to show up right here at the end.

I'm breaking my blog pattern but here is a quote from the LDS Prophet Thomas S. Monson for finals.

“Study and prepare for your life’s work in a field that you enjoy, because you are going to spend a good share of your life in that field. . . .

Have discipline in your preparations. Have checkpoints where you can determine if you’re on course.

I hope that you are not afraid of tough classes. I never did have a ‘cinch’ class. I hope that you are not afraid of lengthy periods of preparation. Burn the midnight oil. Don’t procrastinate like my older sister, who after a late date rationalized, ‘I have a test tomorrow, but I am weary. What is more important, my health or my test? Aha, my health! I need my sleep.’ So she slept. I won’t say what happened to the test.

You simply have to apply yourself. I hope that you want to be so well equipped that you can compete in this competitive world. I hope that you will learn to take responsibility for your decisions, whether they be in your courses of study which you elect to take, or whether they be in the direction of the academic attainments which you strive to achieve.

Should you become discouraged or feel burdened down, remember that others have passed this same way; they have endured and then have achieved. When we have done all that we are able to do, we can then rely on God’s promised help.”

Revamp!

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. 

 -Mary Engelbreit"

I have started to spring clean my life by...

Going on more adventures. Afton Wymoning was a blast.

Trying new recipes.

Spending more time with friends.

Spending more time on me.

I'm not really sure how I've done all this while working and going to school but I can honestly say that I'm learning and growing. This semester has been eye opening in the fact that I've had personal experiences that have reminded me of who I am and what I need to be doing. The next week and half will be wild with finals, but then Kirsti Ali Teale is coming and my life will once again be whole when she is with me! Ah! I can't wait!

Thunder Clap Yall

"Thunder clouds do not always give way to rain."

-Armenian Proverb

Whenever I think of "Thunder clap" I think of this....

To get to the part I'm referring to watch the very end of the video. It starts at 4:00 minutes. 

This past week I have found a new meaning of thunder clap though.

After sleeping for almost three out of my seven days this week at least we MIGHT be able to put a name to all the odd health issues I have. Progress right? Dr. Meyer I can't wait until our next visit. Who would of known that my potentially strange disorder is featured in an Usher video. 

Tender

"You're in the mood for love

You're in the mood to dance

You're in the mood for love"

-Ingrid Michaelson, Little Romance

It's a somewhat beautiful afternoon here in Happy Valley. As I typically do, I'm spending my Saturday afternoon with my books and computer, oh and my favorite pens. My study spot of the semester juts happens to be in the large glass window encased room in the JFSB. Today out by the water fountain I saw a guy with a camera creeping around. Oh course that grabbed my attention immediately. Come to notice there is a very nicely dressed young man sitting with a very beautiful young lady serenading her with a guitar. The camera man is filming a soon to be proposal.

This mixed with Ingrid Michael's "Little Romance" makes for almost a Hollywood made moment.

Get er boy.

P.S.- She said yes!

You're in the mood for a little romance

For Rockel...

"The reason I am so confident about your ability to find a bright future in the midst of a challenging world isn’t because I know each of you individually, but because I know that the Lord lives and loves us. He is the real reason each of us has a bright future. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (see Philippians 4:13). Because we are children of our Heavenly Father and because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I know our futures are bright."

-Elder Paul V. Johnson

So this post is intended solely for my friend Rockel after I read her blog today....

I may or may not be wrong but I believe at one point in our lives we both decided we were going to go to college at Georgetown because we fell in love with Washington D.C. We always had crushes on people like Randal and Bret. ; ) We became fascinated with Asian art after making mask and climbed hotel walls in NYC. We played quiz bowl and made movie sets to look like bedrooms.

Looking back on those moments we have molded into all sorts of people over the years. Those moments from burning rice krispies to doing the cha cha slide incorrectly left us with experiences that can never be taken away. Each of those experiences occurred that way we could grow in different aspects of life

I specifically remember that at one point I made a plan that I'd go to Africa and find the cure for cancer because of a video we watched while doing the save the rain forest project. It said that in the midst of all those trees there could be cures for all the things that were so mysterious to us in our lives.

This is what I have to say to you Rachel Grigg.

1. Don't sale yourself short. You are more amazing than you think. You want that old house. Make it happen. You are one of the smartest people I know. Don't let potential "unkowns" keep you from what you know.
2. Don't look back. Keep moving forward. The past is a great but the future is even better.
3. Don't get discouraged. Make being a single, UAFS, history major the BEST it could be with fully taking advantage of each moment you have.
4. And of course I would be the only person in the world to make a list of four but be flexible. Take deep breathes and be prayerful. Your "plan" will come in bits of pieces and may not be the plan you made at all.

Here is a little advice from one of our church leaders...

"Some of you may wonder: Is there any future for me? What does a new year or a new semester, a new major or a new romance, a new job or a new home hold for me? Will I be safe? Will life be sound? Can I trust in the Lord and in the future? Or would it be better to look back, to go back, to stay in the past?

To all such of every generation, I call out, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the “high priest of good things to come” (Hebrews 9:11).

Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow, and forever. That is a New Year’s resolution I ask you to keep."

So my comment to you is to remember that there are great things that could be hiding in our rain forest. Make sure you keep searching for ways to find them.

Epic

"It is important to tell good stories. You can tell stories even if they are not huge, epic, and wonderful. You can still take the responsibility for being a scribe of your tribe." 

-Ajay Naidu

My roommate Devaun doesn't care for the word epic. But I like it. I feel so much trendier when I use it. Maybe one day I'll fit in with all the kids from cali. If only...


Here are some definitions for epic...

• very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale); "an epic voyage"; "of heroic proportions"; "heroic sculpture"
• epic poem: a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds

And of course urbandictionary.com says...

• the most overused word ever, next to fail. for even more (word omitted) points, use them together to form "epic fail." 
• everything is epic now. epic car. epic haircut. epic movie. epic album. 
• saying "epic win" doesn't make you sound any better, either. and don't ever say it in person.

This is what came up when I typed in "epic" in google images. Appropriate use of the word "epic?" I think yes.

(Excuse the curse word written on the picture.)

P.S. We've been sitting in the library longer than I would like to fathom and this kid has yet to leave his seat. He must be a nerdy engineer or something.