bloggy blog blog

so. A dear friend of mine was being rather pestful today about me updating my blog and after several hours of ignoring her pleas I decided that it was time for me to face my failure and log in. I suck at this haha. I FAILED miserably at book club. Summer flew by, I only managed to read about four of the books on the list and NEVER pulled together a club meeting. For this, I am sorry. But there are a few things that happened this summer that I am not sorry about, and here is a list:

1. Trips.
a) Redfish Lake with miss AllieB and Co. camped out and boated on a gorgeous lake over fourth of July weekend. SO much fun :)
b)NYC with my lovely family...SO much happened: South Pacific weeks before closing on Broadway forever, Metropolitan Museum of Art, WICKED, Good Morning America and TRAIN live (so good!), Yankees vs. Redsox game, shopping, 20th birthday :) also my family is amazing and I had so much fun sitting in central park people watching, eating meat sticks and french creeps and celebrating my special day with REAL New York Cheesecake and Shirly Temples :)
c) Flaming Gorge! I only knew my friend Andi and came back with 10 new friends whom I love. Re-Learned how to Wakeboard and Learned how to Wake Surf....I fell in love with this one. Can't wait to go again and see the Rattlesnake Cove Crew <3

2. Work.
This sounds dumb but I was so grateful I had jobs this summer, especially them being jobs I LOVE. Lifeguarding, I got to do a lot of early morning shifts so I learned TONS from the swim team coaches about how to run a team, set up a workout, enforce rules, and correct technique while getting paid to watch. Second Job, coaching a USA youth swim team with my old high school coach. I learned an incredible amount of information-from how to be the strict coach that everybody loves, to new drills, to how to tweak a swimmer's stroke by the turn of a hand or wrist. I love all of the kids I worked with and miss them a ton, on my last day I got silly bands and cookies which made my entire summer :) The best part is that I got recommended to be a coach for the team up in Logan so now I have a job coaching here with another incredible set of coaches and swimmers and have loved my first two days so far :)

3. Meeting New People, Reconnecting with Old Friends and Everyone Inbetween.
The list of new people I have met is not too long, but we have shared some times I wouldn't trade for anything! From my best friend's wonderful guy and all of his roommates, to the FG crew, to coaches and kids at work, to random friends of friends, I have loved every minute. As for reconnecting with old friends I had so much fun remembering old times, sleeping on roofs, watching sunsets and FB stalking everyone from our pasts. As for all of those inbetween I am so glad we have all kept in contact and am SO looking to the future, taking all of the people in each of these categories with me :)

So, I guess I'm back in the blog world. I'm excited to see what this semester holds <3

Kids these days...

So i've been pretty busy lately hanging out with a bunch of six, eight, and twelve year-olds at the pool in vain attempt to get them to swim at all, let alone do it correctly! Coaching a swimteam has always been a dream of mine, but it has been a lot more difficult than I ever thought it would be. Being a swim coach is different than coaching other types of sports because it is (I think) more of a mental sport than any other sport out there. It's physically challenging sure, but for me, I doubt I would be the driven, self-motivated, hard-working person I am without the mental strength I developed throughout all those years of circle-swimming. It has been interesting to see the opposite ends of the spectrum in the way kids handle workout at practice: First, there's the few trying so hard to follow coaches' direction that they are literally CRYING throughout the entire workout. Second category includes a few floater kids who skate along without trying too hard, but not slacking either. Third category, and largest might I add, are the kids who whine constantly, taking anything you tell them to work on that will help them improve, and returning with a pathetic "it's too hard" and immediately reverting back to their old ways.
what is with these kids??? Have there always been kids as lazy and resistant to authority, or is this a recent infection of bad behavior to younger generations? How are kids going to ever learn how to work if they dub everything they attempt as "too hard", refusing to change, grow, or- heaven forbid- TRY?!

Book club update:
I failed on our meeting this week because I worked all weekend long. Are people up for meeting Saturday at...One? Let me know...I'll send out a message :) I finished the book on Friday night and I LOVED IT. Excellent recommendation Kristin! Thanks dahling! Next Book: The Hunger Games. Get it, Read it, Love it.
Love you all!

Things that made me smile today

1. Going to the carwash. There's just something awesome about sitting in your car while this machine engulfs your car, spraying soap and water all over while giant rubber flaps massage the dirt away. Also, a story that will make you laugh: apparently once when my dad was at the carwash he realized something wasn't working properly so he rolled down his window to try and fix it. While in the process, he also drenched the inside of his car with soap and water. CLASSIC.
2. Went on a run to Liberty Park. Covered about three miles, and my legs kill today. However, it was cool to see all the people outside enjoying the first(ish...it was only 80 degrees) day of summer...lots of dogs, roller-bladers, and hippies laying in fields of fluffy white dandiloins. I made a wish, of course. My favorite though was a mom sitting on a bench doing puzzles out of an old crossword book while her baby soaked up some vitamin D.
3. Berry Smoothies at Costco. I don't even have to say anything more.
4. Being at a pool. And making money. Either is great, both together can't be beat.
5. Meeting new friends and clicking immediately, or seeing old friends and realizing you still hve a lot in common.
6. Having great conversation, hearing sweet music, and consuming delicious food.
7. ALSO already having plans for the weekend and it's only tuesday.

Anyways, those are just a few things that brought a smile to my face today...well yesterday. Have a good one!

stick it together with the tape- the tape of loooove....sticky stuff

First off, three newfound loves:


1. Flight of the Conchords. Thank you Jordan :)
2. Benton Paul. Musician. In my Ward. Amazing. Check out his song "Moon" on itunes. Love. It.
3. Roasted Starbursts. Go up the canyon, put a starburst on a stick, put it in the fire and eat it. Your tongue will thank you.



Today I would like to discuss my summer book club. I've recieved a lot of positive feedback and interest regarding this lil club and I think we're gonna go for it! I think we should do a new book every two weeks and this is my tentative list....seven sets of two weeks during the summer, so seven books total. At the end of each of the two weeks we can get together and go to lunch, meet at someone's house for treats, or something to that effect. Anyone is invited so if you know somebody that likes reading, friends, and food fill them in!

Anyways, after much adieu, the list:


Nineteen Minutes-Jodi Picoult
Hunger Games-Suzanne Collins
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland-Lewis Carroll
The Miracle of Mindfulness-Thich Nhat Hahn
Little Bee-Chris Cleave
Sense and Sensibility-Jane Austen
The Book Theif-Markus Zusak


Follow along! These first two weeks we start with Nineteen minutes, so head to Barnes and Noble, the library or a friend and pick up a copy today!


Something else that has been on my mind lately:

Dating. What the heck is the deal with this little social ritual lately? Not being in a relationship is a problem. Being in a relationship is a problem- and apparently dating multiple people at the same time is a MAJOR problem. All I know is that they type of "dating" I have yet to experience is majorly messed up. With the technology of texting, facebook (stalking...creepy, but ubiquitous) etc. interferring with any hope of a legitimate relationship, how is anyone supposed to figure out what dating actually consists of these days?? What happened to the good old days where if a boy was interested he picked up the telephone and called you to ask you out-on a date, just you two, where he picks you up, pays, and drops you off at a reasonable hour with the chance of a magical goodnight kiss? In these modern days there is need for discernment between "just friends", "dating", "going out", "seeing each other", "boyfriend/girlfriend", and the ever-creepy "friends with benefits". All of this aside from the random NCMO. SIGH.
Feedback PLEASE.


Love for now,

Ali

lazy days of summer

Dear Everyone:

I am on a quest to compile my summer reading list....since that is a large majority of what I do during the summer, being a lifeguard and all.
Here is my list so far..if you would kindly add your favorite(s) or anything interesting you've read lately to the list I would very much appreciate it!

Love,
Ali

Everyone Worth Knowing (I saw this at Costco and it looked interesting haha)
Hunger Games and its sequel
Through the Looking Glass
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Agent Bishop
The Kite Runner
Little Bee (thank you Dora)
The Mapping of Love and Death
The Last Song
Dear John
Take Three
The Chronicals of Narnia
The Book Theif
Pride and Prejudice
Angels and Demons


Also I have toyed with the idea of starting a book club....aka basically a chance to read good books and go to lunch with some friends to discuss literature, life, love, and laughs. any thoughts?

can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars? i could really use a wish right now...

Can I just tell you how much I am loving my life right now?
I am seriously satisfied with how everything around me is playing out so perfectly. Let me just make you a list of why I am so happy <3


1. The sun is shining in Logan

2. I have the greatest friends. Taco Tuesday, Glee, Dancing, Hot Tubbing, Arrested Development, Stalking, Late Night Chats, Watching Old Movies, The list goes onnnnnnn.

3. School is about to end and I have a summer filled with guarding, reading, tanning, and being with friends ahead of me.

4. A boy is coming TO logan FROM salt lake TONIGHT (a wednesday yes)to make dinner for my roomies and I in order to complete the list of "boyfriend requirements".

5. My boys start coming home from their missions this year :)

6. I am in control of my homework and grades, and am pacing myself instead of leaving everything to the last second

7. I made it into the USU Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) program!

8. My SISTER is living with me next semester at OAKRIDGE with ALLIE BURNHAM and ERICA THORNHILL. love.

9. I am swimming every day and my arm muscles are coming back

10. I have cookies on my shelf in the food cupboard.