venting

So, I just need to vent a little.

Or a lot.

So there's this girl I work with who we shall call Gross.

We call her Gross because she has a narcissistic and condescending personality.

An EXTREME narcissistic and condescending personality.

(And her last name happens to be Gross). Perfect, no?

This is what I mean....

The reason she is leaving the company this week (after working here for only 3 weeks)--

(And to put it more bluntly than she did)--

The employees of this company are "under-qualified and stupid."

Yes, the administration, who have created such a unique company that it is one-of-a-kind. Other businessman have started to use the same idea, but none have come close to being as successful as my company. (PS I am being vague about what company I work for on purpose).

That administration who created a plan that saved the vast majority of the employees from economic ruin during the recession.

Yes, they are "under-qualified and stupid."

Yes, the gurus who PAY to use our company--like Donald Trump, Robert G. Allen, David Bach, John Cummuta--all millionaires/billionaires in their specific business expertise.

Yes, they are "under-qualified and stupid."

Yes, the salesmen who can persuade a person over the phone in a 2 hour time period to pay up to $20,000 on our programs.

Yes, they are "under-qualified and stupid."

Yes, the coaches, who are millionaires in their field of business expertise and are spending what free time they have coaching their abilities to students (with the stamp of approval from our gurus).

Yes, they are "under-qualified and stupid."

And she hasn't learned in three weeks how to navigate our customer management system (seriously, took me a week, maybe two to become an expert). She is a political science major and has no idea what it takes for a business to be successful. She is under-qualified and stupid. 

Ugh.

Sorry. I'm done now.

Couldn't help it.

just a long thought

So I know that trilogies, and multiple movie/novel sequels are not new to the world. I mean, back when, people followed plot lines through the newspaper or the radio. And later through TV episodes.

But I feel like in my lifetime sequels have become more popular. I mean, think about it.

The few movie trilogies that I can think of before 1990 are:

And after 1990?

Just to name a few:

A movie can't be just a great movie anymore. No, they have to leave the end open for the possibility of a sequel or more. I mean, it became so popular for movies to have sequels, that Disney couldn't resist making Cinderall II: Dreams Come True. (Horrible movie, by the way. Not worth your time or your money).

And books?

I mean, I know books have always had multiple sequels. But they have become so popularized--so marketed by the media that it is absolutely ridiculous.  I can't remember what it is like not to look forward to something Harry Potter coming out.

  The first book came out when I was 10. And every year since then, there has been a sequel to the book. Or the movie. Or the sequels to the movie. And how ridiculous is it that they can't even stop at the original amount of books?? SEVEN books. But EIGHT movies. I'm telling you. Ri.dic.u.lous.

And of course, I'm obsessed with other multiple novel sequels. I am too easily entertained and I just can't help enjoying the wait for the new installment in whatever series I'm following.

I know, I know. I said all of this is ridiculous. I secretly enjoy it all, of course. 

But my point is, the only reason we have this secret enjoyment is because of...

Yes, money. Or greed. Or whatever you want to call it. Can anyone stop after one movie or book anymore? Nope. Granted, part of it is the clamoring of obsessed fans, but more often, it is just the basic American addiction to "one more."

How sad are we?

Oh, the curse of the "Me" Generation and Capitalism.

Did I say curse?

Whoops.

I love my sequels. ;D

new bangs

 Do you like them? Opinions, please.

sarah's bridals

Considering my lack of education in photography (as well as my disadvantage in not owning a spectacularly expensive professional camera and lens), these may not be anywhere near as amazing as the wedding photographer's. But my raw talent may have given everyone a sneak preview of some gorgeous bridal film.

THE DRESS.

THE GLOW.

THE HAIR AND VEIL.

THE HEELS.

THE BOY.

THE LOVE.

THE LAUGHS.

THE HUGS.

THE FLOWERS.

THE KISS.

THE END.

i will never get enough of this...

dev

I've done a post dedicated to my gorgeous married roommates from my past, but I have yet to mention my bff. She got married 4 years ago. Holy cow, that was a long time ago.

(See, I haven't forgotten you!!).

So for those of you who don't know:

Deveny Mortensen (my best friend growing up--yes, we survived through high school) never got to be my roommate at BYU, because she ended up going to BYUI.
(Hence, she was not included in the previous post about roommates getting married).

Yes, we gorgeous girlies, who were literally attached at the hip, were split up. This, you should realize, is heartbreaking, considering we were extensions of one another. (Finishing each other's sentences and such).

Sad day, right?

Except that

Deveny Mortensen 

met Luke at BYU Idaho.
So, is it really a sad day? Maybe not...

He was perfect for her (see picture above).

Hence, they got married June 30, 2006. Whew. That was a while ago.

We had this running joke in high school about who would get married first. It ended up turning into a bet. (Don't worry Dev, you don't really have to give me Tristan.)

 ;D Just kidding. It was only $20, not our first born children.

Point of this post: I miss Deveny too. She is enjoying marriage and baby bliss.  
And doing it far from me.
Stupid Spokane, WA.
I never get to see her.
Thank goodness for Skype.

for you, sarah

This is what I was talking about.

Finger waves, old school:

Modernized finger waves:

Cute and simple, no?

Oh, and I found the perfect parasol.

(P.S. The last photo is photographed by your very own Leigh Stoddard. For reals).

help!

So I've been trying to create a good music playlist for Sarah's wedding reception(s).

Both for easy listening and for dancing.

And I need help.

To be safe, I'm planning on 3 hours of music (about 80 songs)

As of right now, I only have about 50 songs.

Here are the artists I have:

Frank Sinatra

Michael Buble

Jack Johnson

Jason Mraz

Colbie Caillat

Harry Connick Jr

IZ

Norah Jones

Eric Hutchinson

Train

Nat King Cole

The Beatles

James Brown

Etta James

I'm planning to add Stacy Kent and Ella Fitzgerald.

Any other artists that are similar in genre/style that I haven't thought of?

blast to the past

Considering how much weddings have been on my mind (ie Erin's wedding in Boise, and Sarah's wedding next month), I am not surprised that I've been thinking about how many roommates I've married off. ;D Well, technically, I'm not responsible for the match-making, but still....

You ready for this?

Count them.

12

 past roommates are now married.

Holy moly.

(As opposed to the 30 some-odd friends who have gotten married in my 5 years in Provo, Utah). Yes, it's about 30. Insane, right?

Not in any particular order, these are

6 

of my roommates whom I lost to marriage bliss.

I miss them.

Can I just say now that I've had some of the most gorgeous roommates ever?

It's just not fair. ;D

Jessica Schroath (& Jonathan Tyler)

I was roommates with JSchro for 2 years at BYU. She met Jon the summer before our sophomore year, and
inevitably, they were married the following summer. I was one of the roommates who suffered through the constancy of Jon napping on our couch (hehe), although we occasionally benefited from their waffle-making and milkshakes . ;D

Melissa Chapman (& Daniel Johnson)

Daniel introduced us to Melissa our freshman year at BYU. She was a new convert and was visiting Dan for spring break. We clicked like she had always been with us, and consequently, we spent the next few months convincing her to transfer from KU to BYU. We succeeded and I was roommates with Melissa for 2 years while Dan was on his mission in LA. When he got home, he reclaimed her and they were married 3 months later. ;D

Marci LeBaron (& Will Watson)

Funnily enough, I was technically only roommates with Mac-attack for 8 months. But she was in my ward for about 2 years. She is a riot. That is all. ;D

Sandi Skinner (& Bryan Park)

I went to high school with Sandi. The summer before my junior year at BYU, I found out that Sandi was transferring from Moorpark College (CA) to BYU. I called her up and asked her to be my roommate. She said "Oh, yes please! yes!!" I take credit for this marriage, because if she hadn't moved into my apartment and my ward, she would never have met my home teacher, Bryan Park. ;D

Ashley Darm (& David Peterson)

I was roommates with Ashley for a year (my senior year at the Y). We conveniently (and coincidentally) were both ComD majors, so we enjoyed having classes together and studying hard. David was from her hometown back in CA, but he came to visit a lot--eventually proposing to Ash on one of those visits.

Erin Muir (& Christopher Russell)

Erin was my roommate for only one summer. I know, right? Sad day that was so short-lived. But we had a blast. She was going to Bon Losee and was almost ready to graduate. I had known Erin for a lot longer, because she went to high school with JSchro. She eventually moved back to Boise, where she met Chris. (Funny story here. Erin and Chris figured out that their lives have been constantly intertwined until they finally met last year. He was born in Colorado a year before Erin was born. She was born in California at which point Chris's family moved to CA only 25 miles from where Erin's family was living. Fifteen some-odd years later, Erin's family moved to Boise, ID. So did Chris's family. Chris went on his mission to Samoa. During those 2 years, Erin spent a semester abroad in New Zealand and Australia. He came home, she came home. They met, fell in love and got married). Sweet, huh?

erin and chris

This weekend I got to visit JBaum and go to Erin Muir's wedding! She married Christopher Russell. The whole day was happy and fantastically gorgeous.

First we got ready.

JSchro's hair. And yes, I am talented, aren't I?

I pretty much wore this headband the whole weeked (compliments to Liz Ogles who let me borrow it).

And then Baum and I met our fellow friends outside of the Boise Temple when Erin and Chris were finally enjoying wedded bliss.

As we waited, we kind of went crazy with the camera. Nicole, JBaum and JSchro looking dropdead gorgeous in yellow:

And then, Erin and Chris finally decided to grace us with their presence:

Her dress glows. Haha. Awesome camera skills of mine. ;D

And then, after spending a few hours in the 100 degree Boise weather taking pictures outside the temple, we enjoyed a quick stopover at Costco for baby formula for Nicole and Rhen, as well as a few ice cold smoothies and sodas.

Then we headed to help setup for the luncheon, afterwhich we ran home to freshen up before the reception.

By this point, my feet were hurting, I was slightly sunburned, and my curls were flattening, but we put our heels back on and headed out the door.

The venue was actually a wine bar & bistro/greenhouse, so the gardens were gorgeous.

 We ate, we danced, we held Erin's flowers, and we danced some more.

 Isn't her dress breathtakingly gorgeous?

I thought it was so unique of Erin to have her colors be red, orange and yellow. I thought it was beautiful.

We came prepared to decorate her car just in case the groomsmen fell through on their one job of the night. They didn't disappoint:

Of course after all the dancing, cake cutting, bouquet throwing and garter flinging, the newlywed couple decided it was time to leave.

We were obliged to throw heart-shaped sprinkles at them:

And we kept the attack up until they were safely in the car:

After they left, we stayed to help clean up. But first we made a quick stop to make our feet feel better:

Congrats Erin & Chris!

 The End.