Attempts At Being A Domestic Goddess: Faux-jitas

As some of you know I love Mexian food

As some of you know I also dislike vegetables
This creates a couple of problems in my life {early death and the like}

Anyway, about a week ago I decided I wanted to make fajitas but didn't really have any of the necessary ingredients- so I improvised! I found a recipe for fajitas and just substituted peppers and other vegetables with spices and it was delicious! I don't think they are an exact replica of fajitas but they are pretty delicious.

Here's what I did:
1 chicken breast
vegetable oil
Garlic Salt, Chili Powder, Onion Powder, Pepper, and Oregano to taste
tortillas, cheese

heat vegetable oil in frying pan {I don't have an exact measurement but just enough to thinly coat half the pan}
thaw chicken and cut into strips
put chicken into pan and season
cook chicken
warm tortillas
Tortillas+Cheese+Chicken
Consume!

the process

the spices

End product

easy, fast, delicious meal- yum

Attempts At Being A Domestic Goddess: Ssaaallllssssaaa

After 3.5 months of Jerusalem without even a hint of salsa {one of my favorite things in the world} I was about to die. Seriously the only down side of Jerusalem. I mean in Turkey they had this really good stuff you'd dip bread into and it was a spicy tomato-y/spicy/pepper flakey paste {actually it was super good- does anyone know what I'm talking about?} and you could always put spice on the shawarma which I highly recommend to anyone that likes spicy food- SO GOOD! {my mouth is all sorts of watering right now- ah I miss Jerusalem}

Back to the point

So after having to live without my beloved chips and salsa for 3.5 months {and actually pretty much all of EFY too- sad story} I was so happy to be reunited with that glorious dipping sauce. Well being the poor college student that I am it gets kind of expensive to buy my own salsa- especially at the rate I go. {Lyse can vouch for me on this one} Well I decided it would be a good idea to make my own salsa- and guess what? I was right! I made my aunt Christy's salsa {thanks to the recipe book my mom sent me a couple weeks ago}

and it was so delicious!

And so easy!
AND so cheap!
Red onion, green pepper, canned tomatoes with green chilies, garlic, lime, cilantro, and salt. What more could you ask for?

{okay I actually ask for it to be a bit spicier so I'm going to add some red pepper flakes and let that kick it up a notch or two}


What made it even better? My roommate Caitlin made homemade tortilla chips. Just fry up some corn tortillas and add salt and you've got some of the best tortilla chips you have ever tasted I swear. Mmmmmm- so good. So that was my dinner tonight- homemade salsa with homemade tortillas. #reunitedanditfeelssogood

Other thoughts of the weekend:
Hannah had her first stake dance! {my mom even sent me pictures}
This weekend was all sorts of crazy and fun and also crazy {#whoamI?}
Cafe Paesan in Orem- spicy chicken pizza gets my approval
I should never assume anything/try to read people ever again

who is responsible?

In light of recent BYU events- which I'm not entirely proud of- I have been thinking a lot about responsibility. Even the recent article in the Daily Universe about a girl raped in Provo ended up talking about what women should do in order to prevent rape from happening to them.

My question is- who's fault is it really? If I have to walk home from campus in the dark because of a test review or for any reason at all and I end up getting attacked is it my fault for walking alone in the dark? Is it a girl who might have underestimated (or overestimated) the length of her skirt's fault for a guy suddenly getting inappropriate thoughts? While I'm not saying girls shouldn't be modest or shouldn't be cautious I also think it's time to give responsibility to those who are actually having the problem. Men and women have to control their impulses and thoughts and that is our personal responsibility. Can we help each other? yes. Men can stop raping women and women can try to wear clothing that is not revealing {easier said than done my friends}.

My friend recently posted this on her facebook wall/timeline thing {why is it called a wall or a timeline? It doesn't make sense...} and I think it finally puts responsibility in its proper place:

Sexual Assault Prevention Tips Guaranteed to Work

1. Don’t put drugs in women’s drinks.
2. When you see a woman walking by herself, leave her alone.
... 3. If you pull over to help a woman whose car has broken down, remember not to assault her.
4. If you are in a lift and a woman gets in, don’t assault her. You know what? Don’t even ogle her.
5. When you encounter a woman who is asleep, the safest course of action is to not assault her.
6. Never creep into a woman’s home through an unlocked door or window, or spring out at her from between parked cars, or assault her.
7. When you lurk in bushes and doorways with criminal intentions, always wear bright clothing, wave a flashlight, or play “Boys Who Rape (Should All Be Destroyed)” by the Raveonettes on a boombox really loud, so women in the vicinity will know where to aim their flamethrowers.
8. USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM! If it is inconvenient for you to stop yourself from assaulting women, ask a trusted friend to accompany you when in public.
9. Carry a rape whistle. If you find that you are about to assault a woman, you can hand the whistle to your buddy, so s/he can blow it to call for help.
10. Give your buddy a revolver, so that when indifferent passers-by either ignore the rape whistle, or gather round to enjoy the spectacle, s/he can pistol-whip you.

Don’t forget: Honesty is the best policy. When asking a woman out on a date, don’t pretend that you are interested in her as a person; tell her straight up that you expect to be assaulting her later. If you don’t communicate your intentions, the woman may take it as a sign that you do not plan to rape her.

The only way to prevent rape 100% of the time is for men not to rape, the only way to prevent attacks is to not attack.

So riddle me this: why should rape and attack on women be a issue for women when it is obviously a problem for men?

A Personal History- Valentines Day 4

And now the end of the saga. My most recent Valentines Day.

My current situation: living in a house with 4 amazing roommates. I have wonderful friends all around from various circles of my life (freshman/sophomore roommates, EFY, Jerusalem, high school, etc.) and of course I am still single {and enjoying it}

Highlights from February 14, 2012:

This was probably my busiest Valentines Day by far. It started with school and homework which was definitely not a high light but I digress. My real Valentines Day started with a Respite Night at Clear Horizons Academy. CHA is a special school for kids with autism- most of these kids are not high functioning and many have difficulties communicating. Respite Night was a chance for the parents of the students at the school to drop off all of their children (whether they're on the Autism spectrum or not) and just have a night off- a rare treat for parents of children with Autism. There were probably 50 volunteers and about as many kids that showed up. My special valentine was a boy named Fawkes {yes, like Guy Fawkes}. I help my friend Ryan watch him on Mondays while his mom is teacher her class. {Ryan says he looks like an Ewok... not sure if I entirely agree but I actually just looked up what an Ewok looked like because I didn't know what they looked like...**} So Fawkes and I were kind of buds before respite night but like any relationship we had our rough patches. For the most part though Fawkes and I had a great time playing with puzzles and flash cards- well Fawkes played and I watched and assisted when called upon by my little darlin. At the end of the night we were both just as happy as could be which is what I call a successful evening.

After respite night I dashed over to my grandparent's house to eat a delicious late dinner {my second dinner of the night} of enchiladas and other delicious Mexican foods. The special thing about that- and the reason why it was so late- was because my uncle John came into town.

Needless to say it was a fabulous Valentines Day. I got to play with kids all night and do a bit of service while doing it and I got to eat dinner with people who love me {even if it's just because they're biologically obligated to}. So not your typical Valentines Day but most definitely one to remember. New Valentines tradition? I think so.

**yes that was probably something I should have kept to myself- hide face in somewhat shame

A Personal History- Valentines Day 3

Sorry I'm a bit behind on this little series but here is the story of my 3rd real valentines day.

Sophomore year of college, living in King Henry {it was just a phase}. The weekend before Valentines day my roommate Taalin and I just spent the morning/early afternoon together. We went to Target and found this wonderful little place called Pizza Pie Cafe Express. It's basically Pizza Pie Cafe but to go and super cheap. We got 5 dollar pizza and a cheese bread and cinnamon bread and had a little picnic on our living room floor. It was so delicious and cheap, yum. I ended up getting a valentines day package from my mom that day which included lots and lots of candy and a letter from Dan. Best mail day ever.

The Elders Quorum even decided to buy all the girls in the ward flowers

{still the best idea I think I have ever heard- everyone should get flowers on Valentines Day}

The Monday of Valentines Day our ward had been invited to a dance. I ended up going with my roommate and some guy friends from my ward. The dance was actually really fun until they started playing this dating game activity. It was like mystery date where you'd have one boy and three girls and questions and all that jazz. It was painfully long and awkward and the speakers weren't working and we were all ready to dance again. {No need to have another reminder of how single we were and how desperate our bishops were to marry us off} They ended up doing 4 rounds (2 boys and 2 girls) and on the last one they were calling up thelast three girls and I hear "Katie Robison" faintly over the speaker. I about died. Out of the hundreds of girls names in that bowl of course my name was chosen. I walked up to the stage {none too thrilled might I add} and took my proper place as "contestant #3" {or #1, no one really knew} Because the speakers hadn't been working properly the entire time it was impossible for anyone to hear including the people on the stage. So after answering questions like "what is your best Halloween costume?" and "what's your best pick up line?" and no one being able to understand it was basically put up to a vote from the audience. AKA dudes, tell me which girl is hottest. So awkward {the feminist inside me was slightly raging at this point} In the end the lucky man on the other side of the curtain declared he had rightfully picked for what I'm sure his bishop had hoped to be his eternal companion: "contestant #3". Yes ladies and gentlemen, I was the prize date {I should put that on my resume... 'prize date for 28 year old single Belmont dude'} Our joint prize? a 25 dollar gift card to Red Robin. After awkwardly meeting for the first time on stage in front of our peers we went off to the side to exchange numbers so that he could call me and we could potentially fall in love and graduate from our respective singles wards.

Epilogue:

How did the date go you ask? Well turns out homeboy belmont {no I don't remember his name- should give you a clue as to how it went} didn't end up calling me until the first week of March {a month later if you were wondering}. We went out on a fabulous Thursday night date to an almost empty Red Robin. We ate burgers and talked {though he actually was never facing me during the date... awkward}. We successfully spent the $25 on burgers and a sundae for two {well it was more like for 10 but you know}. He dropped me back off at my apartment and we went our separate ways never to hear from each other again.

A Personal History- Valentines Day 2

Freshman year of college and I had a boyfriend- my first and only boyfriend {to date} and also the first boy I ever loved. We had been officially dating for 2 months and on our 2 month marker {anniversary just sounds weird} he brought me homemade chocolate chip cookies, a mix CD, and he told me he loved me. This was just a few days before Valentines Day that year and it is a memory that today I still cherish because at that time I was in love with my best friend {and the cookies were delicious}.
We didn't do much for Valentines Day. V-day was on a Sunday so we went out to dinner Saturday night {the malt shop in Provo} and came back to my apartment and just hung out with our friends. We actually ended up making this really embarrassing short video about apples to apples or something {it wasn't my idea}. On Sunday Dan and I sat next to each other at church and went to my grandparents for dinner. I think we might have even gone to a fireside {I know there was one going on but I don't remember if we went} and later that night we watched Monsters Inc. I know romantic, right?

The other thing I remember about that Valentines Day is that I had decided to make it more of a "thanking of the people I loved/appreciated" holiday. I went to the store and bought cards for my physical therapist from that year and took the office some chocolate and I bought my grandparents some flowers just to say thanks for being such amazing people and helping me while I was in Provo. I also made a cake and cupcakes just to have around the house and give people because my mom sent me a mix and cool heart shaped cake pan.

This part of that valentines day is my favorite part now because it reminds me of the amazing people I have in my life and that I am consistently around people that I love. I do love valentines day- not just because of the cheesy movies or chocolates and flowers but because it is a time to appreciate the people you love in your life. This specific valentines day also helps me remember that I don't need a boyfriend to have a good valentines day- not that I didn't enjoy every minute of Monsters Inc. and I did love Dan- but valentines day is more than that. It really is about all of the people you love.

My cake and one cupcake

I can't believe I'm putting this picture up- embarrassing

Oh did I mention I also gave blood that weekend for the first time and they totally screwed up-
yup, still haven't quite mentally recovered from have a needle moved around inside my arm
Happy Valentines Day

A Personal History- Valentines Day 1

So I thought I'd go down memory lane and revisit some of my more fabulous memories. And by fabulous I mean somewhat painfully funny memories. Valentines Day. This is kind of a 4 part series I guess. I have had 4 valentines days since I turned 16 so I guess that would mean that I have had 4 real valentines days. So this is my first real valentines day.

How great is this: GNO! That's right- Girls Night Out. Me and my besties: Laura {who is now engaged!!}, Kelsey, and Ariel {who is now married!!}. We got all dressed up, and went out to dinner at Pogacha. After an absolutely delightful dinner we decided to go to QFC and bought flowers for ourselves and family members {mom's and sisters and the like}. It was so much fun! After we went to Laura's for a delicious night of chocolate fondue and just had girl talk.

It was seriously one of the most fun nights of my life. Just spending the night with some of my best friends of all time.

Thanks girlies for making my first "real" valentines day so fantastic!!

Olivia and I pre-outing

Kelsey, Laura, Me, and Ariel at dinner

Me, Ariel, and Laura

Me and Laura buying flowers

Mystery Letter

So today we as a house received a mystery letter. When this happens we usually let it sit on our counter with the rest of the mail and just wait for it to get up and walk to it's intended owner instead of us actually doing something about it. But we noticed today that this letter was a little different. It was in this super cool envelope {do you say Eh-nvelope or Ah-nvelope?} and was from the Domincan Republic so we assumed it was from a missionary. Two of us having a current or former missionary felt for the intended recipient of this letter- what a tragedy to not receive a letter from a dear friend from abroad. Well upon further investigation {seriously it took us until 9:00 to realize this- the mail gets here at noon} we realized that it was from 1993 ummm... that was almost 20 years ago! I don't even have memories from that year! So in my immediate curiosity {well actually my friends immediate curiosity} I/we facebook stalked the recipient of the letter and it turned out that a good family friend of mine was a mutual friend {gotta love modern technology}. So of course I messaged this mutual friend and told her the story and asked if she could contact this woman and find out if this letter was actually intended for her.

I'm not really sure what I expected. I thought that at best in a week I'd find out that this woman was in fact the recipient and then I'd mail it to her and then nothing else... Or something along those lines. Well I actually heard back from the mutual friend tonight! Turns out she was a roommate of the recipient and just called her and she did live in the same house that I'm living in now! The woman that sent her the letter was a woman she taught on her mission and got baptized. She lives close to Provo now and I got her number and will be able to get her the letter soon.

Seriously, what are the chances that a letter gets lost for 20 years and once it is finally sent there is someone in the house {that has probably had over a hundred residents since 1993} there is someone that has a connection to the intended recipient. I'm telling you I have a good feeling about this letter-it's important and has it's own purposes of this delay. I can't wait to figure out what it is/if it does.

To be continued...

I'm off!

To the testing center! Oh my first test of the new year. And my first interaction with the testing center since American Heritage final spring semester (don't worry I passed the class). Basically this post is just because I'm horrifically bored and don't actually want to trudge up to campus just to fail a test (low expectations lead to happy average grades- that's what I always say). I also want to share this experience with you. How? you might ask. Well luckily for you the testing center has a web-cam. Take a peek and you might see me in line in the next... oh *check watch here and then realize the time is actually on my computer* 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

The problem with being 20 and single...

I am fortunate enough to have a very close knit extended family. Tonight at family dinner (at grandpa/uncle Bob's) we had my aunt and uncle and their two kids; two of my second-cousins-once-removed and their wives (second-cousin-once-removed-in-law?); my first-cousin-once-removed and wife (first-cousin-once-removed-in-law?); and my second cousin (no wife). My second cousin is only a few years older than me and we look nothing alike- why would we?

So I'm eating at a table with my s-c-o-r and my s-c-o-r-i-l and my grandma and we start talking. Some how my adventures in Jerusalem come up but then the conversation dies down and during a pause one of my s-c-o-r's asks "so is he {referring to my second cousin} from the Jerusalem program?"...

**insert awkward pause here**

So the only way to respond of course is "Oh, Chad- no. He's my cousin. You're related to him too". Honest mistake- the only two single people over the age of 20 at a family dinner where we haven't seen everyone (or met everyone) in over 6 months- it was bound to happen. No harm, no foul- just a funny story.

tee hee hee, ho ho ho, ha ha ha, snort

Of course then the conversation led to "so are you still writing that missionary?"

Happy February!

ps: in case you missed it, the problem with being 20 and single (and really one of few problems) is that your second-cousins-once-removed think you're dating your single second cousin... which I guess technically is legal...

Oh my food

Saturday is a special day It's the day we get ready for fast Sunday

Yup, tomorrow is fast Sunday and I am most definitely in need of it.
Here was my day in regards to food:
Breakfast: Cracker Barrel- French Toast
love me some french toast
though I would have happily substituted 2 of the 4 slices for hash browns.
Luckily my dear friend Ryan and I ended the breakfast on a good note
by finishing the triangle peg puzzle(It's harder than it looks- we did get a little itty-bitty hint though)
Lunch: Station 22 with some of the original roommates
It was so fun seeing my old besties Macey and Kylee
but seriously this place is delicious!
I got myself the Basil Chicken Sandwich (sans tomato and red onion)
But seriously chicken breast, fresh basil leaves, lettuce, and I think a pesto sauce.
All on a toasted roll of some delicious sort- heaven.
Definitely a cool atmosphere with sort of rag-time music, cool art, and basil water (actually way better than lemon/mint/cucumber water- in my humble opinion)
Lucky for me it's my roommates birthday on Tuesday and we're going again- can't wait!
(it is seriously that good)

Dinner: In-n-out
I know- super classic. So good though.
Basic burger with ketchup, mustard, and lettuce (you guys-I'm {kind of} growing up)
Fries (my first love) and a chocolate shake (my other first love)
It was the perfect dinner to the end of a practically perfect sledding adventure
and a great way to end my wonderful day of eating!

Needless to say I'm ready for a day of fasting!
Shabbat Shalom Y'all!

ps. important to note that several delicious snacks were involved:

NEW DISCOVERY(IES)!!!!!- Triple-double Oreos. Yum.
(Thank you so much Kyle B. for bringing them into my life)(vanilla cream and chocolate creme and 3 cookies- how can you not be in love)

Frosted pink/white animal cookies- I just learned that they actually have animals underneath the frosting. You ever wonder if you're eating a bear or a lion or really any other circus animal- just suck off the frosting and it's there! Magic I tell you**

Red vines are still delicious. Just thought I'd let you know.

(**This is probably just me that didn't know this until today... embarrassing...)

my screams about ice cream

Alright you guys I admit it. I love me some Ice Cream! (I said it. I'm freeeeeeeeeeeeee!)
Recently (Thursday night at about 11:30 pm) I decided that I was craving something creamy, chocolaty, and cold. I decided that I wanted some delicious ice cream (though on the way to Smiths I realized that what I was actually craving was an Oreo Pie Shake from Sammy's but I digress). I went and bought myself some of my personal favorite Ben & Jerry's half baked ice cream. Here's the description for this deliciousness: "Chocolate & Vanilla Ice Creams mixed with Gobs of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough & Fudge Brownies". I actually had to have someone translate it for me because all I read was heaven in pint sized form.

But me and the good stuff don't always get along I'm sad to say. Here are my screams about my ice creams.***

1. When I'm eating ice cream from a cone I always get it on my face. I cannot eat from a cone without ice getting on my nose, chin, mouth (as opposed to in- shwoops). Needless to say it makes getting ice cream on dates embarrassing
2. I always somehow get ice cream on my hands. I don't know what it is- just getting close to my pint of B&J my fingers attract that gooey chocolate and I never know where it will show up. In fact I just was on my computer and ended up getting ice cream on my mouse pad because it was on the tip of my pointer finger- who does that? me...
3. I eat ice cream slowly... it's just a cross I have to bear. If it's cold I can't just scarf it down like I could pizza or french fries.
4. Dreyers and Breyers... can we please get a little more original?
5. 4-5 dollars for a gallon (not even a gallon now!) of ice cream (that one's for my dad)
and finally
6. It's just so good- I always want it but I also want to savor it. It creates such an internal conflict- I know another cross to bear.

All in all ice cream and I have a decent relationship. Sometimes it's a rocky road (couldn't ignore the use of the pun- admitted pun intended) but I still love it.

*** family tradition of getting dipped cones from McD's on the way home from Rattle Snake Lake-
Even in the winter

Oh February

'Tis the season dear Provo. Love is in the air. My roommate got engaged a couple weeks ago, shortly followed by one of my dearest friends Laura, which was just the beginning of the flood. All of these people I am truly happy for- really I am. You should have seen me when I heard Laura got engaged! Silently screaming since it was 12 at night and my roommates were asleep, running outside jumping around. I'm sure I looked like a lunatic- but only because I was so happy. But seriously you'd think it was a commandment to multiply and replenish the earth or strongly encouraged to get married or something... oh wait.
But with all this love in the air my dear reader I can't help but feel... lonely? Sure, we'll go with lonely. I am so blessed to have amazing friends and roommates- always have been. But it is at this time of the year that I wouldn't mind having a little bit of love in my own life. Especially in Provo where if you're not looking to get married in the next semester you're considered a sinner by some church authorities. But back to my love life- I'm not giving you a full disclosure by any means. Please, I'm not that pathetic/ridiculous. But my love life right now is just kind of ridiculous and I couldn't quite find a way to describe it until today on Pinterest (oh, what would I do without you). And without further ado I give you

My love life

Typical right? Another apt "Pin" that my mom sent me (oh- she knows me so well)

so when I get discouraged
(thinking all is lost**)
this is what will carry me through

**if you now have "when upon life's billows you are tempest tossed" running through your head I apologize

confession time

I have to come clean. I, Katherine Emma Robison, am a cheesy romantic. I have day dreams where one day I will have an adoring boyfriend/husband that will randomly slow dance with me and use ridiculous pick up lines on me just as a joke. I would love for him to buy me flowers randomly- not chocolate though, that's just over the top ;) . One more confession. I want to see The Vow. It looks like a ridiculously cheesy and yet sweet movie. Do I feel a bit ridiculous admitting this- yes. Do I care... well no... haha.
In reality I am very down to earth and don't expect anything too crazy or embarrassing- but a girl can dream right?

Blog transfer

I've made a decision- decision made (name that movie). Instead of going back to my old blog (which we can all admit was only 2 rungs above entire shambles) I'm just continuing this blog to my red lipped adventures of wherever I happen to be at the time.

Update on my life since being back in the good 'ol USA. I'm currently taking classes at BYU and looking for a job. Moved into a new house and I am enjoying everything about it. It's a five minute walk away from campus and the ward is fantastic! I live within walking distance of pretty much all of my friends (well let's be honest within a mile is walking distance for me now). I recently took up cross stitching and re-took up attempting to cook (work in progress). I am slowly adjusting to being freezing all of the time but thankfully Provo hasn't quite realized that it's winter yet. Still trying to get back into the swing of Provo life- who would think that I'd feel more comfortable walking the streets of the Old City than walking the halls of JFSB. I guess we'll see how it all goes!

xx from Provo

"Luh-hi-tra-oot" Jerusalem

So this is my final post from Jerusalem! Just a quick little note. I realize my mom said I was regularly updating my blog which I was until we got SUPER busy with just trying to get everything done. I will do the last week when I get home. This has been an amazing experience and I couldn't ask for better friends here, or teachers, or really much of anything else. "Luh-hi-tra-oot" is how you say something in Hebrew and I don't know exactly hot to spell it but it basically means goodbye but not in a final way. I'm not saying shalom (goodbye) to Jerusalem for good just a little see you later. I'll be back here- I'll find a way.

Oh Jerusalem if I forget thee...

Count down 6-Shabbat Shalom Y'all!

ExpiresActive On ExpiresByType image/jpg "access 1 year" ExpiresByType image/jpeg "access 1 year" ExpiresByType image/gif "access 1 year" ExpiresByType image/png "access 1 year" ExpiresByType text/css "access 1 month" ExpiresByType text/html "access 1 month" ExpiresByType application/pdf "access 1 month" ExpiresByType text/x-javascript "access 1 month" ExpiresByType application/x-shockwave-flash "access 1 month" ExpiresByType image/x-icon "access 1 year" ExpiresDefault "access 1 month" Can you believe that I have less than a week left? I can't/I refuse to believe it. "Finished" finals today and only one paper, one shabbat, two field trips, and three free days left.

After finals today we went to the Western Wall to welcome in the Shabbat. I am so glad that we got to go again. We went like... the first week we were here I think. Anyway it was one of my favorite things that we have done this semester and I didn't think we were going to be able to make it back because we aren't allowed in East Jerusalem after dark. Luckily some people talked to some other people and got it worked out so that we had permission to go. Basically what it is is the welcoming in of the Sabbath for those of the Jewish faith. They go to the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) and pray and celebrate the shabbat. There's praying (as I said previously), dancing, singing- it's really a celebration. What a wonderful way to welcome in what should be the happiest day of the week. The men and women split up into different sides and while the men's side is usually a bit more fun we had our own party on the women's side. Singing, dancing in circles, and just talking- it's wonderful.

After the Western Wall we had choir practice, dinner, and then the activity days girls put on a play of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. After the play we ran up to our Christmas concert. I honestly wasn't positive when the concert was until this morning... shwoops. It went well though considering how prepared I personally felt. (I personally felt more ready for the EFY musical program that we worked on for 2.5 days than I did for tonight... just to put it in perspective) So now that we're done with the concert we're just chillin and watching Cool Runnings.

So onto what I'm going to miss about Jeru. I'm going to miss all of the variety! Sammamish and Provo are like 110% homogeneous (yes dad I know it's impossible to be over 100%) Here there are two different nations, 3 major religions, and a whole smattering of people that just want to come here. Tonight I heard the call to prayer, welcomed in the shabbat, and sang Christmas songs. I'm constantly seeing different tour groups from all over the world and meeting people who come to live here in the Holy Land from different countries just because of the religious significance. It's so cool. I'm going to miss it tons.

**I should start to say things that I'm excited for- I'm excited to be able to read all of the signs/understand everyone that's talking around me.

Count down 7

One week left? What de heck!?!?

Such a great day of doing absolutely nothing. (okay it was great aside from the studying I did/didn't do)

Woke up with 10 minutes left of breakfast (definitely excited about not having to be awake at a certain time to receive my daily rations) so I literally rolled out of bed got dressed/put my hair up in record time and ran up the stairs to get breakfast. Then we had choir practice for our Christmas concert. I then went out to the city and just explored more of East Jerusalem and got some delicious pastries. 3 pastries for 2 shekels? I'm going to miss how cheap things are here (that's like... 60 cents by the way)
That was followed by lunch, studying, a short nap, more studying, and then....
MAKING COOKIES!!! (literally)
Lauren's mom sent us stuff to make cookies with and we just used the Bentley's (service couple) kitchen. It was quite the adventure trying to figure out the Hebrew on the butter/conversion rates/how to work the oven. It was so fun baking (for the first time in like 6 months might I add) and getting to know Brother Bentley. The service couples/teachers here are absolutely amazing. There are 4 service couples: The Ohmans (organist/music), the Bentley's (Humanitarian mission), the Skinners (field trip teacher), and the Chapmans (doctor). President Ohman is like one of the top 3 organists in the world/nation(USA)- what's the difference right?- cue Bashir Bashir saying something about being reductionist/redactionist/redundant/etc. by the way that was a joke... But seriously he's one of the top organists. Brother Bentley was/is a lawyer and specializes in law with Joseph Smith- he's actually working on the Joseph Smith Papers. Brother Skinner might be one of the most intelligent and funniest men I have ever met and Sister Skinner is just the sweetest (as are all the women here). The Chapmans are one of the cutest couples I have ever seen- I honestly believe that they are just eternal young adults whose bodies just keep getting older while their spirits/personalities just stay 25.

These amazing people are my "count down 7" thing I will miss. The Skinners are leaving tomorrow as they were only here for 6 months though they will be back at some point to complete a mission here. All of the couples here are essential to this experience and this study abroad would not have been nearly as amazing with out them. I'll talk about the teacher another time... maybe after I get my final grades back. Though just for future reference they are all amazing whether my grades reflect it or not.

The last few days in pictures

Me and Lindsay with our delicious doughnuts from the Shook

In front of the Russian Orthodox Church

real boy band in front of the Church of the Ascension

Cool stained glass at the Church of the Ascension

Me and Christine at the Light show

Me and Floren at the Light show- roomie love

Maybe the most inclusively attractive picture ever taken. Doesn't everyone look great!?
This was taken at the Orsen Hyde Garden after we did Oil Consecrations-
definitely one of the most unique experiences of the study abroad

Lindsay, me, and Whitney at Masada

Classic Kaitlyn+me pic with ice cream :)

Me in front of Damascus Gate

Pictures of Galilee

Beth She'an
Beth She'an

train ride thing in Beth She'an


On the Sea of Galilee


yay pizza... can't wait for real pizza at home


This might be the best picture I have ever taken:
Lindsay being super cute, my failed attempt at crossing my eyes (notice lazy eye),
Brielle's Giraffe tongue, and Lauren in the background


Finally making it to the "waterfall"



jumping picture at Talmudic Community ruins


Syria is in the background after you get past the "no mans land"


Seat of Moses- replica

Beautiful view in Acre

Beautiful goodbye sunset in Galilee