Stargazing

So I don't know how many of you know this but I love the stars!  They have always fascinated me and I can sit and look at them forever.  When I look at them I feel closer to my Creator and my testimony of His greatness strengthens.

Last night I got to spend and hour and a half watching the stars with a wonderful friend.  It was one of the best nights ever!  It was so clear that even in the middle of the city we were able to look up and see a piece of the universe. I feel so blessed to be able to enjoy the Lord's creations in great company and have such a wonderful experience.  I love stargazing!

Dry Spell Ended

So I'll admit I've had a very dry spell.... yes it's already the end of may and my last post was in February.  Life has been quite busy and I just haven't been a very good multi-tasker.  Blogging isn't the only thing I have been slacking at.  Journal writing, laundry, house chores, ext. have all been neglected.  But here is a list of what I've done instead:
Made a visit to Rexburg,

Discovered a fantastic recipe,

Had a Tea Part,

Went Ice Skating and watched the meteor shower,

Made Romanian Crepes in the middle of the Night,

Enjoyed being so close to my mountains,  (and yes they are mine)

Went temple hoping increasing my number to 12,

Running my first 5k with great friends and my sister,

Among these things I have done many other things that I don't have picture documentation for so I will list them now.  I started my online class, I had a princess movie marathon, I have gone to bridal showers,  I read "The Sunflower" which I highly recommend to anyone, I have attended institute, I started watching So You Think You Can Dance and I have had an amazing social life!  Let the summer fun begin!

So This One Time

Remember how a couple of weeks ago there was this cool holiday called St. Valentine's Day.

It is a day to celebrate those in your life, past, present and future that you love.  I have always really enjoyed this holiday, even though many other people don't.  This year was a little different than most though. 

I didn't have a "special valentine" to pamper me and do all those cute little things like so many people do but I did have an extraordinary day. 

So I happen to be very blessed to work two minutes away from the Mt. Timpanogos Temple, so during my lunch break I ran up to do baptisms.  It was such a great experience.  I also have fantastic family that I got to have a fantastic Valentine's pizza dinner with. 

The big finale was my very first Valentine's Date!  Exciting right? My wonderful friend Alyssa and I treated each other to the date night that every girl was secretly dreaming of this Valentines day.  We went to see the new romance "The Vow."  It was adorable and it was a lot cuter when you found out that it was based on a true story.  Definitely the best Valentine's Day ever!

Premature

So I'm kind of getting to that age/stage where people are getting married, going on missions, and some are even having babies.  And in case you were wondering all three of these BLOW my mind away  I think I kind of live in denial.  Anyhoo, so I'm pretty much and the fork in the road where I need to make a big decision. Lots of girls my age are getting married, but for me, I see myself more than likely taking the mission road.

A mission is something that I have always planned on, but it is so weird when it is just around the corner.  (If you haven't gotten there yet, just wait.  If you have been in my shoes before, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.) So I love the idea of serving a mission and most the time I am really excited for it and just want to go right now!  But again, lo and behold, the Lord is trying to teach me patience.  (Maybe one day I'll get it.  Haha)

To my mothers avail, no matter how excited I am to serve a mission.  This is still WAY  more fun to plan and fantasize about 

 than this.

Then again I have always been a little bit of a wedding fanatic.... okay so maybe I was a lot of a wedding fanatic.  But I'm sure if you had 5 older sisters and the oldest one got married when you were 7 that you would be too.  And the fact is plain and simply, weddings are more glamorous than missions.  I can spend hours upon hours sketching, site searching, and looking on pintrest (if you don't have a pintrest account don't start one unless you are prepared for the strong addiction).  It makes my mom laugh actually.  She'll usually say, "what happened to the serving a mission idea?"  and I will respond in a few different ways: "the prophets tell us to be prepared mom" or "I've been doing this since I was 10.  What makes being 20 any different?" or "Well I always have been a little premature."  

This is my problem with planning my wedding:  I have and always will want Purple to be my primary wedding color.  But I hate to have something that everyone else does, generally meaning that I like what is out of style and impossible to find.  Do you see my problem?  But here is the next problem.  Right now, I like almost everything that is in style (except wedding rings),  which is really fun because then I can find a lot of sweet pictures and great ideas that I love, but then I start this struggle of "that's what everyone else is going to have. See how this is a never ending circle?  Ya that's my current problem.  I love elegant, I love purple and I love lace.  All of which are "in" right now.  Now remember how I'm going to go on a mission?  Ya, so that means by the time I get around to saying "I do" everything will be outdated.  And will I care?  No.  Not at all.  As long as I can still find what I want.  ;)  








"In the words of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow, "Weddings, I love weddings!"

Story of my life. 

Once Upon a Time...

There was a not so average princess and she started a blog and was really good an keeping it updated.  Then she started dwindling in her up keep of the blog.  So then one night, after a long one, two, three weeks of work she decided to sit down and share a few things with her blog.  Just for fun (like stretchy pants).  And this is my story.

Moving back in with the parents is always an adjustment, one that I am not incredibly fond of.  But, I can now, almost two months later, honestly say that I feel well adjusted.  Of course I miss my girls and school and the social life that surrounds me up in my beloved Rexburg.  How have I made this incredible adjustment? you may ask.  Well I will tell you that it didn't come with out some tears, lots of consoling from amazing friends, great support, a full time job, a wonderful ward, and of course a lot of prayer.  But lo and behold Callie Jo is back where she belongs (for at least a while).

Within the long month of January I did some mighty crazy things.  Really, I knew my family was spunky, but never did I think we would do some many crazy things in one month.  In honor of me receiving my Associates Degree from my beloved BYU-I my sisters threw me a part.  But not just any party, a How To Host a Murder Party. I played the part of a mysterious "Mexican Beauty" that had been widowed three times.  I wish I had a picture of the whole group but this is all that I had.  (It was set in the 1880's, one of my favorite eras for women's fashion).  Never have I hear or seen such sketchy things be taken so lightly in my house accompanied by so much laughter.

You got to puck up your lips like this

The second great and crazy thing that happened was that my oldest sisters, yes they are twins, turn 34! To celebrate their 34 years of life, instead of saying you can't have any your too young to have fun, to us young ones, they had a party.  Oh but not just any party.  Since they have many memories of the 1980's (remember they are old so they weren't actually born in the 80's they just remember them. Haha) they had an 80's party and requested that everyone come dressed up in 80's attire (keep in mind this would be the second dress up party we have had in two weeks).  And if the 80's ever fully come back, and if I can embrace it, I will be rocking it.

Hey momma welcome to the 80's!

So when I live at home and often have nothing really exciting or pressing to do at night I think. (A dangerous pass time, I know) Recently this has been one of my favorite thoughts:  If I graduate from College and have a pretty good foundation under me with still no strings attached I have a dream, I'd really love to be a concert pianist... okay but really I would love to open up my own little cafe.  I picture it kind of like Kneader's.  Desserts, soups, sandwiches, etc.  Or I would love to do it just a dessert cafe, like The Chocolate. The theme of this amazing little cafe would be Jazz.  Jazz music, of many variations, would always be playing.  Decorations would be much like those seen in Applebee's except for they would all revolve around Jazz.  Pictures of my favorite jazz artists like Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, Old record albums and worn out instruments of the jazz band variety would all be things that could be found on the walls. Oh and ever Friday or Saturday night I want to have live music being played.  Local Jr. High and High School Jazz Bands or little combos and other local groups that would like to play would be welcome.  But only Jazz music would be allowed. :) Wouldn't that be fun?  What do you think? I would love any thoughts or feed back. Especially with what to call it.  I'm struggling with that detail for some reason.  I need something sporty like a tuna. 

Maybe during the world series I could serve  more gourmet version of these?

Come on let's play some baseball not the lazy game.

 My life still has many open doors that need to be discovered and explored and I'm sure more will show up eventually.  But for now sleep well and dream of large women... or whatever dream preference you would like.  A couple nights ago I had a dream about getting my mission call, we'll see in six months if it was right.  I was called to Costa Rica! Goodbye, chow, au revoir, sayonara, and all those good bye things.

Okay sorry for all the random movie quotes, I guess I was just in one of those moods.  But really if you can find all of them I would be impressed. (I think there are ten... give or take a couple)  Maybe I'll need to hold a contest to see who can find all of them with references to the movies.  Haha. Disclaimer, some of them are slightly modified and not complete direct quotes.

Out with the Old and On with the New

Oh my goodness one year gone and another one started!  It's weird the tricks that time plays on you.  2011 seems like it has flown by, but at the same time when I think of where I was and what I was doing last January it seeks like forever ago. On New Years Eve we all went around in a circle and said a few or our highlights of 2011.  We all know how much I love making lists so here going my first list of this year... a list of my highlights from the year 2011.

• Saw most of my friends leave on their missions
• Started working as a vision therapy
• fell in love with it
• Went to Hoggle Zoo for the first time in over 12 years
• Married off too many friends- Emily, Kim, Laura, and Tracy
• sixth time being a bridesmaid
• Started Culinary Arts classes
• Besties with Chesties
• Great Spring Semester with JACKTM
• Alane Hillam
• Temple Marathon- now I've been inside over ten temples
• Lots of Boating
• Canaraville Hike with Alyssa and the Parents
• Got into family history
• Spent 7 wonderful months in Rexburg
• Got my third set of Braces and got the clear for jaw surgery
• Fall Semester rocked!!!
• I turned 20
• Learned how to do a lot of new things as well as things that I had forgotten
• I learned how to have social life again
• Made some wonderful friends
• Received over 40 letters from only 3 missionary friends
• I wrote back to every one!
• I graduated! Twice! That's right I received my associates degree! and the second graduation... well if you weren't there then you wouldn't understand. Haha!

Wow, it really was a wonderful year!  I'm so glad for all of my experiences and for all of the people I was able to interact with.  There were many trials and times of growths but progress was made.  That is the most important part.  Now with a new year it has been a perfect opportunity to re-evaluate and look at where I want this next year to take me.  There are many roads that need to be traveled and many more choices to make. I would tend to argue that this new year is going to be one that will change and shape my life more than anyone so far. Thank goodness for a loving Heavenly Father who will help lead and guide me through this year.  I'm so excited for the new adventures that await me!  Hello 2012!

P.S. Sorry about no pictures but they were being a pain and if you really want to see them look on facebook or past blogs. :)

A New Chapter

So it's no secret that I really don't like goodbyes.  Lucky for me I haven't had to deal with too many of them in my life up to this point.  But this week has been a whole week full of goodbyes. I guess after my third semester of the track system that I should be use to this by now but I just haven't gotten use to it. I said goodbye to people and places that have changed my life.  I feel so blessed to have had such a wonderful semester at BYU-Idaho.  It was definitely a wonderful semester which is what makes it so hard to leave.  I love Rexburg... I know that might sound weird and you probably don't understand but I truly love it.  It will forever have a place in my heart.  This last week I finished my Associate's degree and with that being completed I'm taking a break from school for a little bit. Not sure exactly how long I will be gone, but the one thing that is certain is that I will be coming back to visit a lot while I'm gone.  

Just a few documented memories:

Doing the Can-Can in our highest heels ;)

Painting Hannah blue... What Julie doesn't think of!

Heart Attacking our FHE brother's cars

Dressing up for Halloween

Julie... There isn't anything that needs to be said

Great friends!

And Crazy Roommates... This picture says it all. HAHA

This is the beginning of a new chapter in my life.  I have said goodbye to the previous one and I am excited, nervous, and slightly dreading turning the page over to start this new chapter.  Many adjustments will be made leaving a lot of room for new experiences and growth. There are so many things to look forward to.  I love my job working at Child and Family EyeCare Center and I love my family.  Adjusting is the key to success here.  Ready, Set, Go!