Mills

Oreo

2009-05-03T23:00:00.003-06:00

As a fan of the popular blog, Stuff White People Like, I have come to a realization that although I am only half white, I am definitely a white person by the blog's standards. I decided to go through the list at its current 125 postings and tally up how many of them I relate to.

Here it goes:
1. Film Festivals
2. Farmer's Markets
3. Organic food
4. diversity
5. making you feel bad about not going outside
6. non-profit organizations
7. having Black friends
8. gifted children
9. awareness
10. traveling
11. writers workshops
12. Manhattan --> shout out to Kandis!
13. Architecture
14. The Colbert Report
15. Breakfast places
16. Renovations
17. Arrested Development
18. Apple Products
19. Indie Music
20. Sushi
21. Plays
22. Arts degrees
23. vintage
24. Irony
25. living by the water
26. dogs
27. kitchen gadgets
28. apologies
29. natural medicine
30. Toyota Prius
31. bicycles
32. knowing what's best for poor people
33. expensive sandwiches
34. recycling
35. standing still at concerts
36. difficult breakups
37. study abroad
38. gentrification
39. Oscar parties
40. bottles of water
41. musical comedy
42. multilingual children
43. modern furniture
44. the idea of soccer
45. graduate school
46. hating corporations
47. bad memories of high school
48. t-shirts
49. shorts
50. St. Patrick's Day
51. dinner parties
52. SAN FRANCISCO
53. book deals
54. music piracy
55. scarves
56. the Ivy League
57. grammar
58. being offended
59. children's games as adults
60. sweaters
61. girls with bangs
62. unpaid internships
63. Facebook
64. self aware hip hop references
65. appearing to enjoy classical music
66. pea coats
67. hummus
68. Halloween
69. America
70. promising to learn a new language
71. ugly sweater parties
72. taking a year off
73. moleskin notebooks
74. hating people who wear Ed Hardy
75. Bob Marley

* I must admit, however, that I did not enjoy the movie Juno. Except for that cute little song at the end.

Halfway There

2009-04-17T09:31:00.003-06:00

I haven't photoshopped a picture in AGES. My latest obsession has been with Final Cut Express editing videos that serve no immediate purpose except to excite and entertain.

My roommate Liz, however, let me take a look at her graduation picture to see if I thought I could change anything for the better.

Here is the original picture and the one I photoshopped:

Here's what I did:
-Brought out all the black in the picture. Most people don't realize this, but the brightness of the blacks in a picture can determine how vibrant it looks. I think that's pretty obvious in this case.
-Whitened her teeth a little.
-Blurred the trees in the background.

P.S. Congratulations Liz!

Bus Wraps

2009-04-17T09:24:00.002-06:00

Here are some clever bus wraps I've come across. I especially love the use of the concrete bus elements: wheels, windors, doors.

United We Read

2009-04-14T09:43:00.002-06:00

When industrial designer Ron Arad couldn't decide between whether he should mount a map or bookshelves on his wall; he did both, but on the same medium.

Level 5

2009-02-09T14:20:00.001-07:00

I don't have much to say about this picture, only that if I were to own a building I would likewise paint each emergency stairwell level as such. That's all.

Immunization

2009-02-02T09:16:00.005-07:00

So our crew wanted some new shirts to represent our love for dancing and rock band. Always ready for a new project, I promptly accepted the challenge. With help from my lovely roommate Liz, here is the design of the shirt:
Also, we got white v-neck shirts & dyed them purple, so the shirts are going to be printed on those. Hot.

Take This Survey

2009-01-31T17:29:00.001-07:00

Kandis and I want you to please take this survey.

Choking on your ALIBI

2009-01-28T10:24:00.003-07:00

For any of you who have had the pleasure of visiting VP 9, you will know that we have these pictures in the corner of our living room of each of the roommates - Andy Warhol style.

Kandis is unrecognizable in her pic and I desired one with a little more personality. After a recent Rock Band session we had some quality photos to replace the ones on the wall. Here are the new wall pics:

Oh, I finally made one for Deeds too since she basically lives at our place.

Weekly Quote #19

2009-01-26T16:25:00.001-07:00

*A note to all reading: she has stayed true to her word. She always does.

Reebok 09

2009-01-23T12:34:00.004-07:00

Pop culture's fervent embrace of the 80s aesthetic - from fashion to music - is not ending anytime soon. Which is why now is the perfect time for iconic 80s brands to wipe away the cobwebs and re-invent themselves to a whole new generation that did not have the pleasure of consuming them the first time around.

Iconic 80s sports shoe giant Reebok has heard the revival call and is responding beautifully with a mix of classic retro-ism and futurism. Everything about the brand is undergoing a renaissance, from the product right through to the marketing, such as their recent pop-up store in New York which was a feast for the illustrative senses.

Weekly Quote #18

2009-01-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

The Right to Write

2009-01-18T12:49:00.001-07:00

Many of us have a fascination with graffiti art, and we sometimes even look over our shoulders to make sure no one’s watching when we scratch out our initials in a freshly laid slab of cement or carve them into a wooden desk.

The creative minds working for Sharpie, the ultimate in permanent markers, have discovered a way to satiate our desires to deface public domain. Interactive e-cast billboards have been scattered around cities, which allow people to experience the rush of creating their own graffiti. Choose some colors, write a message and Sharpie makes it possible for anyone to leave his permanent mark on the side of the bus stop or the public phone or anywhere else billboard adverting may be experienced.

Type-O

2009-01-16T11:07:00.001-07:00

I love typography. I find myself downloading new fonts daily and creating stuff with them in Photoshop and Illustrator.

Here are some pieces I've come across that I think are unique. Enjoy. Artists in order by work displayed: Adam Slowik, Oded Ezer, Craig Ward, Dan Tobin Smith.

Spectacles

2009-01-14T11:02:00.000-07:00

Euphonic songbirds Zooey Deschanel and Matt Costa pose for Oliver Peoples' line of '09 eyewear. Oliver already manufactures killer glasses, but adding these two into the mix can't hurt.

Weekly Quote #17

2009-01-12T11:21:00.002-07:00

35mm Modern

2009-01-09T13:53:00.000-07:00

In a time when gadgets are becoming increasingly complex, it's nice to take a step back in time. The Blackbird camera offers semi-modern styling, quality optics, but nostalgic sensibilities.

Whopper Virgins

2009-01-07T11:48:00.003-07:00

The world's purest taste results between the Whopper and Big Mac will be revealed one day from now through an online documentary; this is Burger King's latest marketing stunt.

The King's team of third party independent researchers have traveled to remote areas of the world to give a sample of the Whopper and Big Mac to first time burger consumers, seeking an unbiased decision. The virgins will determine who is better, the king or the clown.

Weekly Quote #16

2009-01-05T14:15:00.001-07:00

1985

2009-01-04T14:28:00.000-07:00

So I have a new addiction: creating desktop wallpaper. I made similar designs for my sister and I. Just a grunge/retro layout with some splatters on it.

Inn Sane

2008-12-30T20:36:00.002-07:00

Accommodations include a floating outhouse, igloo, tent, or prison. Unusual Hotels of the World is your guide to every offbeat dwelling place imaginable.

Finals Week

2008-12-15T17:52:00.001-07:00

aka no new posts for awhile...

Weekly Quote #15

2008-12-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

'Tis The Season

2008-12-12T22:44:00.000-07:00

The Way I Are

2008-12-10T01:02:00.003-07:00

I have always wondered why I snort. I'm not sure when it started; I think it was around 12th grade. I never really think about it until people make comments or give me strange looks. Liz was asking me deep questions, and the reason behind the snort was one of them. I have been researching them to see if I could discover any insights to my habit.

Here are some possible reasons for my snorts:

the joke "be real funny"
want to get on people's nerves
trying to breathe the same time I'm laughing
I'm part pig
parents dropped me on my head when I was little
It's hard for me to get oxygen
Laughing hard and are forcing the air through my nose
The humor feels good, ergo the laugh feels good. However, when you laugh, the humor escapes you. I want that good feeling to last so I snort it back in. Yes that's it.

Weekly Quote #14

2008-12-08T12:20:00.002-07:00

This My Friends...

2008-12-07T23:01:00.003-07:00

Is what life is all about.

Here's To The Night

2008-12-05T14:09:00.005-07:00

Apparently when your roommate is crippled your bathroom turns into a scene from the movie Signs.

Weekly Quote #13

2008-12-01T12:35:00.001-07:00

Gracias

2008-11-30T11:30:00.001-07:00

So I know these lists are overrated, but I wanted to compile a list of things I am grateful for, in honor of Thanksgiving. Here goes:

Rock Band
Sperries
Berries & cream
Roommates
bottled water
eBay
Advertising
makeup
TV shows online
computer
phonei
deadbolts
my handicap sticker
soy milk
Photoshop
funny boss
Desperate Housewives
sister
ppl that laugh at my jokes
email
Online shopping
v-necks
scriptures
iTunes
Photo booth
forever 21
being tan
Contacts
my twin
music that I can't help but sing to
Kelly Clarkson
sales

Max Payne

2008-11-27T01:00:00.001-07:00

The second worst movie, after The Fountain.

chan

2008-11-26T11:52:00.003-07:00

I made this in Illustrator. I call it 'Fortune Cookie'.

The perfect hamburger

2008-11-25T10:22:00.002-07:00

Weekly Quote #12

2008-11-24T13:25:00.001-07:00

Sore Thumb

2008-11-21T13:29:00.005-07:00

There's a new regime of pancake batter. The Batter Blaster is a revolutionary way to make pancakes. And, it's organic! That makes it legit, right? It is like unto Easy Cheese. You simply press down on the nozzle and the batter will pour onto your griddle. Can life get any better?

I searched the store locator online and actually found a store that sells it in Provo: Allen's Super Save #1. You know it's a quality store if it has a number attached to it.

I love America.

Weekly Quote #11

2008-11-17T17:55:00.002-07:00

TOMY Poses

2008-11-17T14:34:00.003-07:00

As Polaroid's legendary camera is discontinued, TOMY steps into the frame with his digital camera/built-in printer combo. The xiao features a variety of entertaining print options from templates to borders, and contains no ink!

Coming to a Hood Near You

2008-11-15T01:55:00.003-07:00

Get "a head" in life... Be Audrey, Elvis, or even Nacho.
Headhoods has you covered for any identity. Each hoodie is meticulously designed and hand-printed in a Brooklyn studio, and is sought as something truly unique.

Easy as 123

2008-11-12T09:19:00.005-07:00

Thank you to Lizzy for providing me with this template.

A. Attached or Single? Single
B. Best Friend? hmmm...this is hard to answer because I have several people in my life that I consider 'besties' (thanks to Liz for that word)
C. Cake or Pie? pie or die
D. Day? mmmm... one where I can devote it all to a fun project and watching my fav shows.
E. Essential Item? COMPUTER
F. Favorite color? I love black.
G. Gummy bears or worms? osos
H. Hometown? I feel an allegiance to Houston because I spent over 50% of my life there. But I also feel like I owe it to Boise to claim it as my hometown.
I. Indulgence? Desperate Housewives
J. January or July? January because of my birthday. And I love starting a new semester.
K. Kids? yes. I can't wait.
L. Life is incomplete without? things/people that make you smile
M. Marriage date? early summer
N. Number of siblings? It depends. My inclination, however, is to say 2.
O. Oranges or Apples? naranjas
P. Phobia or Fears? getting stolen/raped
Q. Quote? “In conclusion, the submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar . . .When you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give! Consecration thus constitutes the only unconditional surrender which is also a total victory!”
Neal A. Maxwell, Oct. 1995
I love this quote.
R. Reason to smile? Life is good, God hears my prayers, and Jesus is my Savior
S. Season? summer. People are happier, more tan, and I exercise/play guitar more.
T. Tag? I don't get it.
U. Unknown fact about me? D.C.O.M.
V. Vegetarian or Oppressor of animal? 'oppressor of animal' obviously show a bias by the original survey writer. I eat meat, but I love animals. I try to only consume meat that did not involve caging animals in tiny space or abusing them prior to killing them.
W. Worst Habit? hahaha I'm still laughing about Liz's tendency to be mean. Um I curse sometimes
X. X-ray or Ultrasound? I want an ultrasound because I want a baby!
Y. Your favorite food? cheese (all kinds) & potatoes (cooked in 101 different ways)
Z. Zodiac? capricorn! I love it.

Weekly Quote #10

2008-11-10T11:17:00.002-07:00

Horoscopes Don't Lie

2008-11-06T15:32:00.004-07:00

A few weeks ago, my twin and I visited Borders. I forget why we went there, but we sure found some good things.

One of them was a book on astrology.

I am a dedicated Capricorn and Dedes is a Libra.
Beware, the following pictures might freak you out.

Yes, as you can tell from the pictures, Dede and I were MATCHING our astrology pages in the book! Crazy! We are true to our astrological signs since we were wearing our ‘astrological colors’. Another sign of our twinness.

ba ba ba ba ba

2008-11-05T16:00:00.007-07:00

What some estimate to be hundreds of millions of dollars Pepsi forked out for their new logo, I think could've been furnished by my sister in high school. Don't get me wrong, I do like it. I just could see this logo taking no more than an hour to create.

I wonder what Pepsi was going for with this look. I like the new asymmetrical swirl and the lowercase type. Also the little swirl in the e is a nice touch.

Though Pepsi's new face was launched last year, it may take a while for its products to fully circulate the globe and establish complete change. They've changed all of their products' packaging. Check them out here. Your thoughts on the new logo?

Weekly Quote #9

2008-11-04T22:36:00.001-07:00

Mi Camera

2008-11-02T23:01:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting a new digital camera for quite some time now. My camera takes decent pictures, but the battery life on it SUCKS! And it uses AA batteries, so that racks up to be a lot of money every time I have to replace them. And rechargeable batteries just don't have enough life to sustain my greedy camera.

In my search for a new camera, I had certain criteria in mind:

Olympus or Nikon brand (after talking to several ppl, they all said these were the best brands to get)
White color
very good quality pictures

The camera I have chosen fits these criteria and more. It is elegant and beautiful, and it's touch screen, like my phone! It will fit right into my little family. I'm excited.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T09:24:00.002-06:00

May you have more treats than tricks.

Oo-De-Lally

2008-10-29T13:04:00.001-06:00

I love jingles. Some of them are just so fun you can't help but sing along. I have even collected my favorite jingles and made a CD of them in iTunes. Here are some of my favs:

Kit Kat Bar
Target's "Hello Goodbuy"
'Pepsi Cola' song
Houston's 'Mattress Giant'
Wrigley's Doublemint Gum (old school version)
Klondike Bar
Tresemme
Maybelline
Meow Mix
Old school 'Jello' theme
Rice-a-Roni
Mentos
Oscar Meyer Wiener
Toys 'R Us
"Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there..."

Just Nonsense

2008-10-28T13:24:00.000-06:00

Here are some blog headers I designed:

Weekly Quote #8

2008-10-27T13:53:00.004-06:00

Goodnight and Go

2008-10-25T12:38:00.001-06:00

Here's an album design I created in Photoshop. I tried to mimic the Imogen Heap album, "Speak for Yourself."

Here is the real album cover.

The Streets

2008-10-23T21:39:00.004-06:00

Below is an album cover I made for the jingles auditions when Holly and I tried out for the CBS show "Jingles." In case you're wondering, we didn't get on the show. The show was put on an "indefinite hiatus." Boy do I look freaky! Oh, and here is a link to one of the music videos we made.

Superfabulous

2008-10-22T14:37:00.002-06:00

Here's a design I made in Photoshop to use as a background in a powerpoint presentation.

Weekly Quote #7

2008-10-20T14:00:00.003-06:00

Call Me Pollock

2008-10-20T10:31:00.003-06:00

Click here, move your mouse around and continue clicking. So cool. Trust me. You will become a Jackson Pollock.

VW Routan

2008-10-17T11:16:00.008-06:00

Volkswagen has recently started a new campaign to advertise their new minivan, the Routan. Personally, I think it’s brilliant. The television spots
feature Brooke Shields talking about the “Routan Boom”, which is a hilarious twist on the explanation of the U.S. baby boom. In the spots Mrs. Shields says that people are having children just so they can buy the Routan. Shields’ voice inflections and the theme music in the commercials are intended to be a play on those infomercials asking for money for sick children in third-world countries. The spots refer you to routanboom.org for more information.

Once you go to the website, it has a video of all the TV spots and a RoutanBabymaker 3000. This babymaker is “designed to let you have a baby without actually having a baby”. I thought it would be fun to play around with, so I uploaded a photo of myself and of a guy friend of mine. Here is the baby we made:

This is the cutest baby in the world and I want him in real life! Haha. I was so impressed with my baby-making skills that I continued to play with this online babymaker for a couple of hours, uploading photos of my friends as well as celebrities. Here is another baby I made with another friend of mine:

This is a great advertising campaign. These days, you can’t settle for TV spots and print ads and hope consumers will notice you. You have to push yourself to the forefront of their minds; the best way to get a consumer to remember you is if they are focused on you for an extended period of time. By including a virtual babymaker on their website, they are capturing consumers’ attention without directly saying, “purchase the new VW Routan.” Once you create your baby, you have the option of emailing it, saving a picture of it, or uploading it to your website. This serves as viral marketing for the Routan and draws even more traffic to their site. Fantastic job, Volkswagen.

Have a baby for love. Have a virtual baby for German engineering.

Be Still

2008-10-16T13:35:00.012-06:00

For those of you unaware, I attended a Kelly Clarkson/Reba McIntyre concert last week in Boise, Idaho. I have made it a point to attend every Kelly Clarkson tour that I can, with the exception of the Kelly Clarkson/Clay Aiken tour in 2004. My mom and friend Katie came with me.

I'll be honest, I didn't know what to expect from this concert. I was confident that I would be pleased with Kelly, but Reba is not a singer I usually listen to. Let me rephrase that: I never listen to her music. But that all changed with this concert; Reba's got some musical style!

They started off with a classic & went uphill from there. Here is a list of songs they performed:
1. Sweet Dreams Are Made of This
2. Why Haven't I Heard From You
3. Walk Away
4. The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (Reba only)
5. Behind These Hazel Eyes (Kelly only)
6. The Fear of Being Alone
7. Beautiful Disaster
8. Why Not Tonight
9. Stuff Like That
10. Miss Independent (Kelly only)
11. The Greatest Man I Never Knew
12. Cathy's Clown
13. Up to the Mountain
14. How Blue/One Promise Too Late
15. Be Still
16. Love Revival
17. Never Again (Kelly only)
18. And Still (Reba only)
19. Breakaway
20. Does He Love You
21. Is There Life Out There (Reba only)
22. I'm a Survivor
23. A Moment Like This
24. Since U Been Gone (encore)
25. Because of You (encore)
26 Fancy (encore)

Some highlights for me for Beautiful Disaster, Up To The Mountain, and Why Haven't I Heard From You. And can I just say their voices blended together extremely well? Honestly, I don't think I have ever heard two voices be more in sync with each other and compliment each other in a way that I could only describe as venerational. Since the concert, I haven't been able to stay away from country swing music; it gets me so pumped!! Below are some pictures from the concert:

I think this who dual-concert thing is a smart idea; they both gain more fans because they get such a wide variety of people who attend their shows who probably would have never listened to either Kelly or Reba if it wasn't for this concert. Obviously Kelly benefits more because Reba has created such a legacy. But Reba gets to hang out with Kelly.... that would be worth it for me!

Weekly Quote #6

2008-10-13T13:44:00.004-06:00

Print Campaign - Roxy Wetsuits

2008-10-10T13:12:00.001-06:00

I came up with this campaign to add something extra to my portfolio. I like the theme, but I feel that I need to make the print ads more cohesive. I also need to find better pictures & decide on one font to consistently use.

Roxy Wetsuits are designed for people at the beach. As a brand that is popular with surfers, this campaign was designed with the surfer girl in mind. This girl is dedicated to surfing She lives it, breathes it and consumes it. She deeply cares about the sport, but she also cares about how she looks. This campaign has her style in mind; it incorporates the appeal of wearing something beautiful while still living the thrilling life of a surfer girl.

Print Ads:

Print Campaign - Deseret Bookstore

2008-10-08T13:22:00.002-06:00

This was a partner project for Comms 330 (Creative Design).

The younger target, the "maybe's", aren't looking for traditional Deseret Book advertising. They want to see something refreshing, yet still wholesome. By incorporating lingo that the "younger generation" is familiar with, they will be drawn into Deseret Bookstore and realize how fresh and clean it is. The ads are designed to bring them in, yet are still understandable and non-offensive to older people.

Print Ads:

Billboards:

Weekly Quote #5

2008-10-06T15:44:00.003-06:00

Print Ad - Parasites

2008-10-06T13:40:00.002-06:00

This was a joke. D-Moon was over at our apartment and we were discussing parasites. A pretty normal conversation if you ask me. Anyway, D-Moon said the most brilliant thing: "Parasites. A fiesta in your stomach." So I promptly created an ad that illustrates just that. Here it is:

Print Campaign - LDS Family Services

2008-10-04T12:35:00.004-06:00

This was a group project for Comms 230 (Intro to Advertising).

LDS Family Services is targeted towards young LDS families. After conducting primary and secondary research, it was discovered that people who were interested in LDS Family Services were those who were looking to add more to their family; they did not view adoption as a charity project or saw themselves as having a void in their life. They were interested in how adoption would make their good times better, not their bad times good. Using the Mormon tagline of 'shining moments' will help create a connection between the target and the ads.

Print Ads:

Billboard:

We also did pass-a-long cards, in theme with the pass-a-long cards that the Church distributes about the Church.

Print Campaign - Yamaha Guitars

2008-10-02T13:45:00.008-06:00

I did a print campaign for Yamaha Guitars. Yamaha is a diverse brand; sometimes it becomes difficult to distinguish between the various products they produce. This campaign is intended to separate their guitars from the rest of their products. The theme present in these ads are the white hands on bold-colored backgrounds. My inspiration derived from the fact that you use your hands to play the guitar. The hands are something that will catch the attention of a potential consumer because of their strong role in guitar-playing. The contemporary font is also important to note-it is designed to create a feeling of excitement.

P.S. I also drew all of these images by myself in Adobe Illustrator. Not to brag or anything... ;).

Print Ads:

Billboard:

Weekly Quote #4

2008-09-29T21:48:00.004-06:00

You Can't Hide Beautiful

2008-09-26T14:35:00.009-06:00

Here is a gem we found when we were at Lagoon earlier this month:

If you are wondering what his hat says, let me spell it out for you. It most definitely says, "Shit Happens!" Everything about this man was made for that had. His hair (including facial hair), his outfit, and especially the positioning of the hat on the head-it is barely sitting there, gently placed so as not to disturb his hair. Not to mention the fact that he was in line to ride the Ferris Wheel.

Well my friend Jordan and I were talking and he mentioned that there had to be a scripture out there that basically said the same thing. I (always looking for things to do besides schoolwork), decided to execute the ideas we discussed. I found a scripture that summed up "shit happens" and designed it at CustomInk.com. Below is my design compared with the original.

Which hat would you rather parade around the streets?

I Can Hear the Bells

2008-09-25T22:39:00.007-06:00

Tonight marked the return of The Office to primetime programming. Boy, what a premiere! First, we got to see how Phyllis is blackmailing Angela for accidentally running into her and Dwight "catching up".

First off - they mentioned parasites. From Mexico. I had a similar experience that you can read about here.

Ryan is back, unfortunately, and he is trying to win Kelly back. I'm not sure what his intentions are though. Does he just want her because she is not interested in him anymore? It will be interesting to watch regardless.

Holly embarrassed herself by revealing her thoughts about Kevin's "mental retardation". Hahaha, so good. I wish they would have let it drag on a little longer; I found it very entertaining.

Also, I like the crushes that Michael and Holly obviously have on each other. Their little "relationship" is so reminiscent of Jim and Pam, and I am OK with that. It will add some good drama to the show.

Lastly, can I just say how pleased I am with Jim's proposal?? Ah, I was so scared the writers were gonna add some relationship problems before the proposal. She's got that ring on her finger now! And Jim mentioned that Pam did not want a long engagement...meaning a wedding this season? Hopefully.

Save Me A Seat In Heaven

2008-09-23T16:26:00.003-06:00

One of the problems with getting into Heaven the traditional way, is that you have to spend so much time going to church, singing hymns, repenting, and then forking your money over for tithing.

But what if you could just pay some money in advance, and free up your Sundays for something else?

For $12.79, or $24.95 for the All Access Kit, you'll get your name added to the list in advance of checking in at the Pearly Gates. And just to assure any nay-sayers, the Reserve A Spot In Heaven offers everyone a money back guarantee, should Heaven reneg on your reservation.

After your reservation has been made, you'll receive the following essentials:
-Heavenly issued certificate of reservation with a unique I.D. number registered in the Book of Light
-A first class ticket to Heaven
-An official Heaven ID card so you can move around without getting hassled
-Heaven 101 mini information guide

Reserve A Spot In Heaven is a great way to free up time in a day and age when time has become so much of a commodity. And then there's always that lingering notion that Heaven is running out of room. So, it may be a wise investment.

Visit Reserve A Spot In Heaven at...
http://www.reserveaspotinheaven.com/

And now, you can send someone to hell legitimately! Reserve their spot in hell here.

Weekly Quote #3

2008-09-22T15:56:00.002-06:00

The Fizz Cup

2008-09-19T12:36:00.000-06:00

Ever heard of "The Fizz Cup"? If you haven't, don't worry. You're not missing out on anything new.

What it is essentially is a plastic cup (reusable but not dishwasher safe) that screws onto the top of your favorite 20 oz soda.

You put ice cream into this cup and then squeeze your soda bottle which dispenses soda into the plastic cup. Then you just have to sip and enjoy the delicious mixture of ice cream and soda! Oh, and refill the miniature cup every 5 minutes because you'll run out of ice cream.

No thanks, Fizz Cup. I'll stick to the simpler routine of making an ice cream float.

Family Affair

2008-09-17T17:44:00.000-06:00

I miss my siblings. We have a lot of fun together and they make me laugh. A lot.

Weekly Quote #2

2008-09-15T14:50:00.005-06:00

If It Were Up To Me

2008-09-14T00:01:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I hate Provo. Tonight was one of those times.

Dede, Michael, Rachel and I went to the Rooney concert at Spoon Me. I was a bit concerned about venue space, but it was only $3, so I figured why not give it a shot. We arrived at 6 pm, and the concert wasn't set to start until 7. We got in line, surrounded by annoying freshman on all sides. Already off to a great start.

The concert was located behind the building, a stage set up for the bands. The bands that performed were Allred and Ivy League.

These two performances went fairly well. It would have been better if I could have enjoyed the music more and had to ignore the people around me less.

Once Rooney started, it was a completely different story. That's when the shoving started.

We were standing 2 rows away from the stage, and people behind us wanted to be at the front of the performance. Apparently shoving is the way to achieve that.

I was honestly drowning in a sea of sweat and armpits.

I decided that I am a horrible height to be when attending concerts. My neck was strained and I had to stand in the perfect gap in order to see the concert. Luckily, my roommate Rachel was behind me holding me up so I wouldn't get trampled. After 4 songs I had to get out of there; listening to Rooney live was not worth my life. If it were up to me, I would have made the tickets more expensive so less people would have come.

I did get some sweet pictures though.

High Hopes

2008-09-12T15:25:00.001-06:00

Boulangerie. This is the name of VP 9's newly formed barbershop quartet. I can't even begin to describe how excited I am. Kandis is the bass, I am the tenor, Liz the alto, and Rachel is claiming the soprano role. I went to the HBLL today and checked out some barbershop sheet music. It's gonna be sweet. Sweet Adeline. Our first performance is scheduled at the Jamestown Nursing Home on October 26, 2008.

The Little Things

2008-09-11T13:30:00.000-06:00

My roommate Kandis and I decided to hit up America's Favorite Drive-In, Sonic, last night after a nice study session in the library. We were excited for this little field trip because we had seen the advertisements for Sonic's 99 cent Jr.Banana Splits. To our surprise, Sonic's definition of Jr. is completely different than our own. To them, Jr. means microscopic. I think it only took me 2 bites for each section of the banana split (cherry, chocolate and pineapple). So disappointing. We came home and continued to eat otter pops because the little splits left us unsatisfied.

Here is a picture of the actual split on my hand. It is at the tip of my fingers and yet only reaches the middle of my hand. Keep in mind that my hands are teeny.

Bicycle Race

2008-09-10T15:23:00.000-06:00

New York City's Department of Transportation, in partnership with the art gallery PaceWildenstein, recently announced the installation of nine very cool bike racks designed by musician and biking enthusiast David Byrne--former Radiohead and Talking Heads member. To read full story, click here.

Weekly Quote #1

2008-09-09T21:58:00.001-06:00

The Way We Get By

2008-08-02T00:47:00.000-06:00

Since many of my blog readers are not fluent in the Spanish language, this post features some Spanish vocabulary that might help them understand Spanish culture better. Remember, as of 2006, Hispanics constituted 15% of the U.S. population.

1. Cheese
Maria likes me, but cheese fat.

2. Mushroom
When all my family get in the car, there's not mushroom.

3. Shoulder
My Tia wanted 2 become a citizen but she didn't know how to read so I shoulder.

4. Texas
My Aunt always Texas me when I'm not home wondering where I'm at!

5. Herpes
Me and my Aunt ordered pizza. I got mine piece and she got herpes.

6. July
Ju told me ju were going to tha store and July to me! Julyer!

7. Rectum
I had 2 cars pero my wife rectum!

8. Juarez
One day my grandma slapped me and I said juarez your problem?

9. Chicken
I was going to go to the store with my wife but chicken go herself.

Memories Are Made of This

2008-08-01T21:23:00.000-06:00

Today has been long-awaited by Stephanie Meyer fans; tonight at midnight the 4th book of her Twilight series goes on sale. Obviously there are tons of events going on in celebration of the big event.

Borders will celebrate with in-store parties beginning at 10 p.m. and culminating at midnight. The parties, themed "From Twilight til Dawn: A Night With a Bite," will include costume contests, "So You're in Love With a Vampire?" trivia contests, prizes and debates on themes from the series. Customers are encouraged to attend the free parties dressed as Twilight characters to participate in the "Supernatural Soiree" costume contest. Customers will also have the opportunity to decide whom Bella will choose as her true love during the "Love Is Perfectly Paranormal" debate.

Barnes & Nobles starts festivities at 8 p.m. Activities include a best Bella, Edward and Jacob costume contest, a "Twilight" art contest, a trivia scavenger hunt and a "Bite Mark" neck-painting station.

Borders bookstores in Murray and Provo will hold blood drives in conjunction with the release of "Breaking Dawn," and donors will be entered in a drawing for a free copy of the book. Blood. Vampires. A clever combination.

But none of these local events meet the caliber of celebration as the party at the Barnes & Nobles of Salt Lake City. This store requires you to attend dressed in formal attire, in celebration of Bella & Edward's wedding.

Holly, Dede and I went to Carrabba's for dinner, where we saw about 30 girls dressed in prom gowns. I had the lovely opportunity to visit with some of these girls, and they explained to me that they even rented a Hummer Limo for the event!

I Say A Little Prayer For You

2008-07-29T15:54:00.000-06:00

This post is dedicated to my prima, Chavela. I had so much fun with her in Mexico-we bonded so fast it was though I hadn't been gone for 11 years. Leaving her in Mexico was one of the hardest things I've had to do. One of the reasons I think it was particularly painful is that I knew I was leaving her with nothing; there's no hope for progression there. People live in horrible conditions and grow up and raise families in those same conditions.

One of the most surprising aspects of their lives is that they don't have any desire to change. They're fine living the way they do. I'm not sure if this is because they don't know what they're missing or if they're just lazy. Regardless of why, it makes me realize just how important it is to have hope for the future, and to always strive to better my life-physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I should never be content when I am at a standstill in life. Well, I guess when you think about it, we're never at a standstill in life; we're either progressing or digressing.

The News

2008-07-29T01:31:00.002-06:00

As many of you know, I developed some sort of 'sickness' in Mexico. My stomach experienced immense cramping/pain, and I had liquid diarrhea. Although those symptoms have subsided, I am still experiencing other side effects from the sickness such as dark circles under my eyes and fatigue.

I visited the doctor last Wednesday, where I had to offer a stool sample. I think this was the lowest point in my life because I had to scoop the 'sample' into 3 different tubes. Yeah. Well come to find out Jenn (my sis) pooped out a worm! I was terrified to use the restroom after hearing that because I didn't want the same thing to happen to me.

I got the news back from the doctor today, expecting to hear I had picked up some sort of bacteria from the water in Mexico. But no, they said I was perfectly fine. That is a load of bull. I know I am sick! And they would agree with me if they were experiencing my symptoms. Oh well. I'll end up dying and they'll feel bad cause they're idiots.

Early signs of my sickness.

Caught By the River

2008-07-29T00:51:00.000-06:00

While I journeyed in the land of Mexico, I discovered this sweet bag. My sister purchased it, and my plan was to find the brand somewhere on the internet once I returned to the states. My search has proven to be futile though; I can't find it anywhere! The brand is Tevha Morral. The design is so intriguing; I wish I could find it because I'm really interested in seeing what other stuff this company produces. If anyone can direct me to it I would be so grateful.

Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year

2008-07-29T00:37:00.000-06:00

Ah, finally, a layout I can stand. Now I can get to writing about my amazing life. What does my life consist of at the moment? Sitting around, napping, and surfing the internet. Oh, and a newly acquired habit of being my roommates' Mexican criada. The American dream, let me tell ya.

So I decided that my return to blogging can be viewed as either a sophomore slump (because of my long hiatus) or as the comeback of the year. I thing my vote will be for the latter.

Hello Sunshine

2008-05-28T00:33:00.001-06:00

Well this is the start to my personal blog. I will be sharing random tidbits of my life as well as advertising projects I'm working on. More to come later. Peace.

Oh, p.s. I'm going to make every post title a song title. I think it'll be fun.