"These are a few of my favorite things..."

Well, sorry about not posting this on Saturday!! Most of you guys probably don't even read these, but I enjoy posting them so I guess you'll just have to deal with them :) Anyways, here's post number 4!

#1 -- Stake Dances

After going to my first school dance last night, I've definitely gained a new appreciation for church dances. :) It's so fun to let loose with all my friends while still upholding our standards, even if the dances may be a little lame at times. But to me, it's all up to the person to choose whether or not they're having fun so I always try to go with a positive attitude. So I end up having fun no matter what!

This is just a picture of me with a few of my friends at the latest stake dance.

#2 -- Photography

I absolutely love photography. I always thought it was cool, but when I started my class last year, I fell in love with it! It's so amazing to capture things and people and special moments in the best way that you can and it's such a challenge. It's also kind of a way I can escape from frustration and focus on the beauty of this world. I'm so glad that I got into it and I never want to give it up. It's a wonderful thing to be involved with. Now I have a photography blog for my class so if you ever get tired of this blog and just want to look at pictures that are attempting to be perfect but aren't quite, check it out at www.briball.wordpress.com

#3 -- Mike Tompkins

I just discovered this amazing guy the other day on YouTube. I posted a video of one of his songs on here a few days ago so if you haven't seen that yet, I would definitely suggest watching it. Mike Tompkins is spectacular!!! I can't even describe him with the right words. I'm so fascinated by his talent (and his looks)! :) I really hope to meet him someday!

#4 -- Nana's Peach Pie

Well, I meant to take a picture of one yesterday, but I forgot and now all of the pie is devoured. My grandma's peach pie is the most delicious peach pie I've ever had and I'm sure those who have tasted it would agree. She makes the crust then just adds fresh peaches with glaze stuff and kaboom! The most scrumptious pie ever is created!

#5 -- Campfires

This isn't the best picture, but it was the only one on our computer I could find. I really do love campfires though! I think they're such a good way to get to know other people and have fun with friends. There's so much you can do with them too! Whether it's cooking food or being used for light, a campfire is a pretty awesome thing! I'll definitely make sure to have a fire pit when I get my own place :)

Mike Tompkins

So today I was watching a video on YouTube by Sam Tsui (a great a cappella singer) when I came across this guy Mike Tompkins. He's amazing!!! I watched his "Teenaged Dream/Just the Way You Are" video and he's one of the best a cappella singers I've ever seen. Check out his YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/pbpproductions or here's one of his videos for "Misery" originally by Maroon5:

Hope you enjoyed!

Bridget

Before David was born, we all thought that he was going to be a girl because my mom had had really strong feelings that her name would be Bridget. Of course, David wasn't a girl or else his name wouldn't be what it is... but today, we created that Bridget for our mom. This is what happens when big sisters don't have much to do on Sundays:

Isn't she beautiful?

Dating Summit

This last Saturday night, there was a "Dating Summit" in Spokane. We got to ask a few married couples about dating, did speed dating, and had a fun dance. Overall, it was really fun and enjoyable! Before the whole thing, I was kind of iffy about it to be honest, but afterwards, I was definitely glad I had gone. Besides, we got tacos afterwards!!! So it was totally worth it! :) Anyways, thanks for the ride and tacos, Bishop and Sister Priebe!

Upper left: Allie, Brook, David, Autumn, I don't know (sorry!), TeAnn and Alora; Upper Right: Scott, Kendall, Emmalee, Amanda, Jen, me and David; Lower Left: Autumn, I don't know again (this is going to bother me!), Brook and me; Lower Middle: David, Alex and Scott; Lower Right: Austin, Zach, Kendall, Emmalee, Jen and Amanda

Well, I met some awesome people and had a wonderful time. I hope we have another one of these things soon!

"These are a few of my favorite things..."

Yay!! Today is Saturday and that means that I get to do my third "favorite things" post! So here we go!

#1 -- "So Close" by Jon McLaughlin

Okay, this is my most favorite song ever!! It's the song from Enchanted when Giselle is dancing with Robert at the King and Queen's Ball. I don't know what it is, but I never get tired of this song. It might be the enchanting music or the great singer, I'm not sure. Whatever it is makes me love this song more each time I hear it!

#2 -- Young Women's

Oh boy do I love these girls!!! It should say "church" up there just in general because there are so many great things about it and wonderful people in our ward and stake. We'll just say that that's all included in this though because it would take way too many pictures for all of it. :) Anyways, I love young women's. It's a wonderful group of girls to hang out with and I feel like I can go there to be at peace, forget all my worries, and have a good time. It's amazing! And the girls are spectacular along with our wonderful leaders. Let's just say, it's the place to be every Tuesday night! :)

#3 -- Dressing Up!!!

Yes, I still enjoy dressing up, but everyone does right? You don't have to be little to.... It's just fun to act like someone that you're not and look like someone you're not. I don't know... it's just super duper exciting! Dressing up for our music videos with the Fagan girls is especially fun. Anywho, dressing up is one of my favorite things to do and that's that!! Oh, and P.S. The Wannabes will be coming out with an all new music video shortly!

#4 -- Magazines

I really like magazines. I'm not subscribed to any except for a photography magazine called Rangefinder, 

but I like buying them at stores every once in a while and flipping through them now and then. It's fun to look at the older ones I've kept like that special edition of People about High School Musical 2 up there. It's also fun to look at the newer magazines like my Martha Stewart Weddings one. :) I just like to read and look at pictures, so what could be better?!

#5 -- Mexico

I've only been to Mexico a few times when I was little (which I don't remember very well) and once in 2006, but I've fallen in love with it. I went with my mom, Noelle, and our friends (Lisa, Andrew, and Meaghan Bare) to Guanajuato, Mexico City, San Miguel and Mazatlan. The culture, the language, the people, the food, the buildings -- everything is wonderful about it. My favorite parts were all the cool little trinkets (of course) and the happiness that surrounds all of the people there. They are so much less fortunate than us when it comes to material things, but when it comes to the things that really count, they have it all just because they are grateful and happy. I love that about them! Like my tourist look going on in that picture? :)

And that's the end of "These are a few of my favorite things..." Post Numero Tres... tune in for next week's!!

Wednesday -- Inspiring Quote/Poem/Story Day?

Well then, today is Wednesday... and like I'm doing that "favorite things" post every Saturday, I think I'm going to start posting something every Wednesday too now. Like it says in the post title, it might be an inspiring quote, poem, or story. Or maybe it's just a funny one or something. We'll see. And it might not be every Wednesday. It just depends how this all works out! So, here's just one simple little quote thingy... whatever you wish to call it:

"It has been said that no one knows what he is capable of doing unless he has tested his ability or capacity. The reason many people accomplish so little is not because they make attempts and fail, but because they fail to make attempts. In which group do you voluntarily place yourself?" --Story Beacons

So, this isn't the best quote that I'll be sharing whenever I do this, but I still think it's really important. I like how it says "voluntarily" in the last sentence. It really shows that our success in life is really up to us and we can either choose failure by not trying, or eventual success and experience by trying like crazy. 

I probably won't be doing this weekly, but this type of post will start showing up on here more often, so be prepared! :)

"These are a few of my favorite things..."

Well, here's post numero dos for this category. I really enjoy making these posts even if people don't pay much attention to them. I guess it's just kind of my way of saying thank you and showing my gratitude for things that I mention in each post. Alrighty then, here we go!

#1 -- Zotz

These fizzy candies are awesome!!! Sheila gave everyone one of these things at their cabin the other day and it had been the first time I had ever tried one before (at least from what I can remember). You suck on them and slowly, little holes form and a bunch of fizzy stuff comes out from the center. They're amazing!

#2 -- Queen Latifah

Lately, I discovered that I really enjoy all of the movies that I've seen with Queen Latifah in them and the people she plays. Whether it's Last Holiday or Hairspray, I love her characters. She's just an all-around good actress!!

#3 -- My Kiss & Tell Book

Noelle would roll her eyes at this one and maybe a lot of you will, but I really do enjoy this book. :) It's about all these female celebrities' most memorable kisses. Whether it's the first kiss of her newborn baby, a slobbery kiss from the 5th grade, or a romantic little first kiss from her future husband or just a crush, I like almost all of them! It's just a cute book and I would suggest reading it (you can borrow it from me!) if you like this kind of stuff. A.k.a. If you're not Noelle or in the ABC Club :)

#4 -- Pride & Prejudice

This is another one of my favorite movies. I could watch it every single day!!! In fact, I've tried that once, but my family wouldn't let me because they were tired of it. But every time, it amazes me and makes me smile. I can't even begin to describe how much I love this movie!

#5 -- My "Inspire" Necklace from World Market

I got this necklace when we went down to Boise for my cousin's wedding at World Market. It was made in India and when I saw it, I instantly loved it. I also liked a "Dream" one and a "Wish" one or something like that, but I chose this necklace instead because I hardly ever see the word "Inspire" like this. I don't know what else it is about it, but I really love it!! Or as Kendall would say, "It makes me extremely happy!"