Everyone is waiting for the timing to be right. And we hope it's coming soon.

post title lyrics from this lovely song. 

10 little Hannah things, v. I

(idea stolen from this cute blogger with the weirdest love story. go read it here)

1. The Bachelor Club
I started watching The Bachelor with Katie and her adorable married friends on Monday nights and it's been the best time of my life. I actually really think the show is stupid and pointless, but there's just something about watching a show about catty girls with other girls that's just super fun. We have our favorites and not so favorites and it's a blast talking through the whole show and eating delicious treats.
2. Best friends. Do I really need to expound on this? I seriously have the best friends in the entire universe and I love love love that I see them on a daily/weekly basis.  I think I'll just write a whole post dedicated just to them later this week. (Katie, this is me publicly thanking you for cleaning my room as a pre-birthday treat. SOML)
3. Infatuation. I don't typically write about my love life on this here blog because I believe if you desire to know such things,  then you ought to be at the level of face to face contact with me. Don't want any stalkers knowing more than they need to. But guys! I currently have the biggest crush I've ever had on a male person. And I also never exaggerate. He's the cutest. End of story.
4. BYU gift wrapping. Sometimes I want to spend at least $5 at the BYU bookstore just for the free gift wrapping. They always do such an amazing job and maybe I'm obsessed with beautifully wrapped presents. OBSESSED.

Me and Amanda with Cutest Birthday Present Ever, wrapped so lovingly by a BYU employee.  Please note that we are just basking in the sun like it's a perfect summer's day in the middle of January. 

5. Snow. Speaking of summer weather, I know that most everyone hates you and was so happy you took so long to appear, but I've been dying to see you all winter. I really appreciate all 4 distinct seasons, so I was getting kinda sad without you. You're definitely the worst to drive in, but so pretty to look at. Just please don't let me get in a slippery wreck like these guys.
6. Eva baby. She's Katie's offspring.  She's basically my goddaughter/niece. I love her. And we make twinsie faces when I babysit her. So duh, she's part of the list.

Scrunched eyebrow twinsies

7. Crafternoons. I suddenly have the urge to be more crafty this year. Stay tuned for more pictures and updates on this monthly goal.

Facebook repeat. How could I not? Look at that face. 

8. Crush. Did I already mention that boy I like? K. Cool.
9. Gold's Gym Body Challenge. Signed up for it. Got a new personal trainer. Eating more salad and carrots like it's my job. Be a little jealous. Or don't. But definitely try kickboxing because it might change your world.  (but just for the record, Treat Yo Self is my motto for the year, and so I'm def not passing up on white chocolate popcorn or Slab dinners every once and awhile)
10. And oh yeah, my Birthday. I'm 23 today, peeps. Get used to it.  Gonna make it my best year yet.

You know you're gold. You don't gotta worry none.

*post title lyrics stolen from this song. obsessed. 

Do you know Amanda Jane Johnson? She's only one of my very best friends in the entire world. She turned 25 over the holiday break and we wanted to throw her a surprise party to celebrate her surviving a quarter of a century. So her roommates and I (I'm practically their 4th roommate but I sleep upstairs) decided to make it happen at Nickel City with all of our super awesome friends. In doing so, I already met a few of my 2012 goals! See for yourselves, people that think I am incapable of baking anything. 

Yes, I just linked to my grandmother's blog. Yes, she has a blog...welcome to the 21st century! Yes, she has no faith in my cooking skills. I'll prove her wrong this year, don't you even worry. 

The before shot. 

Amanda's brother, Trevor, being a huge help in every way possible while Bex and I baked our hearts out. 

Amanda saw Bekah's car parked out front, but found no Bex anywhere in the house! We had to send a few fib texts to cover up where she really was (upstairs baking with me!) Then we had to confess all of the little lies we told that week after the party... so worth it!

I realize I should have probably taken a picture of me actually mixing ingredients more than me pulling them out of the oven to prove I really did make them myself. Live and learn. But I sure am adorable, no? 

Found this recipe on Pinterest, duh. Self-frosting Nutella cupcakes. Yummy yum yums! Try at least one new recipe a month... check!

Us and our final products left to right: German Chocolate cupcakes, Carrot and Cream Cheese frosting cupcakes, and my cutie Nutella creations. 

How did you even get her to the party without her knowing what was going on?! Guys! We had it so under control! I drove us to Institute (go to Institute once a week... check!) at 7 and when it was over we got in the car at 8:15 and I told her to put on a blindfold. She obeyed.  (We've been doing 25 little daily birthday treats, so I just explained it was part of Day 3. She totally fell for it. Sucker!)

She's so cute! We totally surprised her! This is an action shot after everyone yelled "Surprise!"

Taking a group picture was an afterthought, so this was only part of the fantastic group of people that showed up. Probs like 20-25 people came overall. Great turn out! Mingle my heart out with people from the ward.... check!

Everyone gave Amanda their tickets (I kept like 500 for myself... oopsies. I  love prizes, too!) and she ended up with over 3000 tix! How often do you walk away from an arcade like that with a board game for a prize?! What a treat!

What can we all learn from this post? 

1) I know I'm gold in so many ways (especially at surprises and parties) even if I not the best baker yet. I will learn to bake slowly but surely, no matter what ye non-believers say! 2) I have the best bestest friends in the entire world and I love them so much. 3) Sarah (very left in the pic above) is so cute and even though she couldn't help with cupcake baking due to her life as a student, we love her anyway 4) Nutella in cupcake form is heaven. OMGHEAVEN. 

I ain't cuttin my hair till the good Lord comes

*Post title refers to this song by Joshua James. Thanks to Em Norling for always making me such great mix CD with new songs to enjoy!

4 days before the chop at the cutest baby shower for Caroline Calkins and Baby Boy Asher. Notice the length just resting a little below  that chest of mine. 

Apparently the Good Lord has come to my life in the form of me wanting to be a better, more Christlike person in 2012, and cutting my hair to a healthy length is just a bonus to that endeavor.

After the chop just resting right above that chest of mine. 

New year, new me!

Here are my resolutions and goals for 2012. Enjoy!

Spiritual 

Read the Book of Mormon in 100 days

Go to the Temple once a week 

Be on time to Sacrament meeting at 9 AM on Sundays

Index once a week (basically actually do my calling this semester. Yep, it's a real calling here in Provo.)

Go to institute once a week

Read a conference talk a day (most likely once a week because sometimes life is just so busy!)

Pay a full tithe every month

Physical Health

Only eat out on the weekends (Thanks for the motivation, Em Nor!)

No more soda (but if I have to give in, only one on the weekends!)

Get 8 hours of sleep 

Be in bed before midnight

Do cardio workouts at least 5 days a week and strength training 2 days a week

Drink more water, eat more veggies and fruits, cut down on snacks, etc. etc. etc. 

Incorporate more feta cheese into my everyday diet

Financial

Actually stick to my budget tightly this year and stop overspending on things I need want like clothing

Save for grad school, a Wii, an iPad, new car, etc. The list goes on and on. (Is it bad that I actually made a task list on gmail with "things I want when I get rich"? Probs not.)

Pay off my credit card and school loans ASAP by selling my body  giving plasma and getting paid for it

Educational

Get into at least one grad school! Please, oh please! (6 applications: 5 in Texas and 1 in Utah. I have a huge fear of rejection so I'd rather not list the schools until I know for sure where I've been accepted)

Start a Master's program

Don't drop out of a Master's program

Develop better study habits other than the ones I had in my undergrad

Prepare for my speech therapy sessions better so my students can benefit more

Personal/Self-Improvement 

Blog at least once a week (you get more than one post this week since I failed last week)

Write what I'm thankful for each day in a personal journal

Read 10 new books this year/ Go to the public library more often

Run a 5K (hopefully the Rex Lee Run in March)

Keep my room clean.. for realz!

Be nicer in general to everyone. We're all in this together. 

Learn to braid my hair and other necessary skills that come with having future daughters...Tough one!

Make more crafts... once a month mabes? 

Try a new recipe once a month 

Get a boyfriend. Kiss more boys than I did in 2011 wouldntyouliketoknowthenumber. Get a husband.  Be more involved in social activities with my ward including mingling with more people of the male variety

There you have it, in set in stone for all the world to see. Now I have to stick to these goals cuz all you people will hold me to them, right?!