odds/ends.

via bourgeois.bohemianism.

odds/ends, coming to you from boresville, usa (work). this might have been the most boring work week of the whole year ... when does that time come in life where you can take the whole summer off for swimming er whatever? 

without further ado, a list of what i have spent my time doing this week (since WORK wasn't really an option):

- something i've recently picked up on is podcast-listening, while working. it's like i'm learning AND working. or it's like i'm laughing AND working. or it's like i'm bored of music so podcasts are a good alternative. one that i've bookmarked, baconsale. i started listening to this podcast cause i occasionally see movies with one of the hosts, kent. i continued listening to this podcast cause it's really funny. i find myself quiet-work-laughing quite frequently during listening. to start you off, listen to the disney movie ranking episodes [episode 7: ranking disney part 1 (when you wish upon a tier) and episode 13: ranking disney part 2 (tier as old as time)]. they're silly and have a musical element. win win!

- if i want to feel really productive whilst wasting time, i like looking at our freaking budget. i actually went to byu with these two. aren't they adorable? they always have been. and now they're as cool as ever teaching the internet about finances, living in new york, with two darling children. two posts that i really like and are really worthwhile, why you should invest in a 401k and how to save for a home (probably because these two posts are really applicable to me).

- it's been about a year now since my first spa experience. turns out, i'm addicted now. i'm addicted to expensive 90-minute swedish massages. it's KIND of a problem but not really. it is the most pampering, luxurious past-time, which is SO ME! anyway, i'm heading to st. george today with the family. i thought it most fitting to celebrate my year-mark at the place it all started, st. george day spa. really i just wanted to write about it so i could think about it more, daydream if you will. so yeah, i recommend it.

- i can't explain why i've just now started watching comedians in cars getting coffee (i feel like a failure of a seinfeld fan). but i love it! the jim carrey one is a little weird, jimmy fallon is always the best, fred armisen, always funny, but i think my favorites are the sarah jessica parker and jon stewart episodes. check out the latest with stephen colbert. other shows i'm really into right now are the mind of a chef and the bachelorette, obviously.

- looking at pluto.

i also had to study for my real estate license, go to the dentist (NO CAVITIES!!!), and get my oil changed this week, so it's not all fun and games.

currently loving ...

first off, i'm sorry. i know i've been absent for the last ... 2 MONTHS! i do, however, have a fairly valid excuse. i got a new job! no more bore! just FUN! because of all the fun i'm having, i have less time to blog.

the NEW JOB i speak of is still with the lds church, and still on the temporal/physical facilities side. i now work in real estate, dealing with transactions on church property. this new gig includes my obtaining a real estate license. so many terms, so little a brain.

to catch you up on yours truly, i thought it most efficient to tell you what i'm

- post-it notes
- the uni-ball signo dx, .28 point.
- mcdonald's diet coke. i've always loved this but just recently i re-recognized that it's the best of the best because the mcdonald's on my way to work just reopened after a remodel.
- SPITZ!
- top knots and not washing my hair.
- in the same vein (the hair vein), the wet brush, moroccan oil, and coconut oil.
- baked potatoes from great steak for lunch.
- brooklyn 99 (new season, just as funny).
- ankle boots.
- alt-j.

i'll be spending this weekend at the temple with my family. we are hitting the newly remodeled ogden temple, and brigham city. temples are great, but i'm most looking forward to eating at my favorite thing that has ever come out of ogden: SONORA GRILL. 

happy weekend!

8 things i found on the internet today.

boy oh boy, has this blog ever gone through such a lull?? i think not. well, you see, what happened was that my boss left me for another woman ... assistant, in a different department and left me here to hold down the fort (aka - do nothing). doing nothing for a few days turned into me asking everyone for work, which has turned into me doing everything for everyone. i love it.

^^^ that's my excuse, take it or leave it. but whatever you do, look at these 8 things i found on the internet today:

1. 8 ways to be attractive
2. habits of supremely happy people
3. jay z in new york in 1939
4. 10 qualities of fierce gentleman
5. this is water (reminiscence of the gospel principle "to act and not be acted upon")
6. this mustache!!! 
7.  lip sync battle on jimmy fallon
8. and finally, a fireman reviving a kitten

ccb.

yesterday i was in the conference center early in the morning, before it opened. it was nice to be all by myself in such a beautiful space.

oh, and the rock n roll really added to the experience of the arnold friberg originals.

perks.

do you get sick of me posting pictures of this temple?

it's the view from my window. 

and it makes me smile.

{oh and by "my window" i mean the window next to the copy machine.}

3 things.

1. today is the first day of spring. but when i walked outside this morning i had to scrape the snow off my car.

2. i got a raise today. i plan to spend it thursday upon the opening of city creek!!!

{just a little green}

3. i accomplished another goal this past weekend and went back to blonde. oh and also it is really short. 

odds/ends.

via instagram.

happy weekend {almost but not yet and if you ask me the weekend should start now since half, maybe more, of my office is gone anyway and i am just here answering phones telling people that no one is here and to call back on monday so maybe it should just be the weekend right NOW!}. 

hope it's bright and springy for you all. 

i always enjoy a good mixed tape post.
thinking of spring, and thinking of wearing this dress.
more swim wear dreams.
i found a fancy little food blog that i am becoming quite fond of.
he's so great.
using these sleepy tips this weekend ... that time change really got to me.
most go to la asap!

speak up!

we have this application at work; the microsoft outlook voice mail transcription service. it is used to create an email preview to the voice mails you receive. 

here's one i got today: 

"connor christopher pre-23rd me. thank you bye."

who is connor christopher? and what does it mean to "pre-23rd" someone? 

sounds frightening.

apologies.

i'm terribly sorry i have ignored my blog recently. i've been busy busy busy, stressed stressed stressed. so stressed in fact, that a few nights ago i woke up in the middle of the night absolutely terrified for no apparent reason. really, racing heart rate, heavy panting, wide eyed; it sounds quite serious.

so i decided to take a lil break from:
a} this blog
b} my apartment
c} christmas shopping
d} christmas crafts
e} the gym, oops
f} everyone

i'm spending my time working {unfortunately, i could not take a break from this}, eating, and watching home alone with my favorite people.

i may or may not be an evil twin.

or maybe i just have one of those faces. regardless of the explanation, i have been told by 15 people {and counting} today that someone that sings in the mormon tabernacle choir looks EXACTLY LIKE ME!

at least she's talented right?

but don't you have to be like 30 to sing in the choir? and can folks picture me wearing those moo moos they wear {i once asked my mother if that's what we'll wear in heaven}?

well, see for yourself ...

a day in the life.

what is it really like to be courtney? i know you are all wondering.

i am truly amazed at the amount of time i am capable of wasting each day {i hope none of my superiors are reading this}. i've become quite accustomed to my lack of work at my current WORKplace, and have therefore taken wasting time to a new high, an art if you will.

here's my list of things to do each morning when i come in:
-work email
-get those things done right off {or mark them as red to finish later}
-personal email {maybe do a little online shopping THANKS JCREW!}
-facebook {just a little. haha.}
-pinterest
-the blogs
-des news
-ksl
-grooveshark
-sometimes a trib sudoku game or two
-bank account
-busy work {my profession}

then i go home to my new studio apartment.

what a life huh!

because i failed to put eye make up on today.

 best make up tutorial. ever.

oneirology.

{salvador dali, persistence}

i just remembered the craziest dream i had last night:

on my lunch break, paige and i parked my scion on a big, green hill in a park {think spring in central park}. as per usual, we rolled the windows down and started dancing to cali swag district. as we danced around on the hill, two gentleman from my office rolled up. i don't really know them in real life, but in dream life they were really interested in learning our moves {think the dougie mixed with the chicken dance}. we taught them how to dougie, and it has been in my head ever since.

but what does it mean!?! 

friday happenings.

today was probably one of the more boring days of my entire life. really. 8 hours of ABSOLUTELY nothing to do, but sit in front of my computer screen and wait for the phone to ring. and while i type this i'm remembering the following phrase:

which isn't remotely true. i am exciting. my job ... not.

i did the following to save my brain from self destruction:

-counted my calories for the day

-searched for the perfect movie to watch thanksgiving day {have you seen pieces of april? if not, you should}

-looked up all the nominees for the academy award's best picture and counted how many i've seen

-in preparation for monday, looked up the best horror movies of all time

-text and called a few people to ask how i should fill my time

-played sudoku

-pondered about why "cool crowds" end up in every social situation in our lives, you think that after high school, they might be over and done with, but no

-listened to this and this and this and this and this ...

-tried to convince myself that i am creative enough to take shannen's family christmas photo tomorrow

-tried to think of a way i could convince myself and maybe one or two others to go to this exhibit before it closes

-stalked peoples interests via pinterest

and for a brief moment {30 minutes} i got MAJOR action when i signed the lease for my new apartment {cue billy joel}! 

have a good weekend.

hb mb.

upon coming into work this morning:

{ten points if you can guess what my background is behind the chat.}

guys, have you been to the google home page today?

if not, go no further, because this design deserves it's very own post.

do you see what this is?

it is homage to the wonderfully talented mary blair, who turns 100 years old today.

hb mb.

i love ya.

i am happy.

{image.}

the temperature in my office is PERFECT for this blistery {blizzard and blustery, one word}.

not too cold, not too hot, just right.

and it just makes me happy.

here's some cheer for you.

{image.}

i've been re-listening to conference via this while i sit at my wonderful, happy, desk at my blessing of a job {i'm applying the teachings i learned two weekends ago and being happy with the mundane}. it's great. give it a try if you are ever forced to sit at a desk for 8 hours a day.

i feel quite productive.
and quite spiritual.

which is why i am sharing the following song with you. i think it explains, as perfect as mere words are able, the tender mercy of forgiveness, the gift of the atonement, and the joy of the gospel.

savior redeemer of my soul

savior, redeemer of my soul,
whose mighty hand hath made me whole,
whose wondrous pow’r hath raised me up
and filled with sweet my bitter cup!
what tongue my gratitude can tell,
o gracious god of israel.

never can i repay thee, lord,
but i can love thee. thy pure word,
hath it not been my one delight,
my joy by day, my dream by night?
then let my lips proclaim it still,
and all my life reflect thy will.

o’errule mine acts to serve thine ends.
change frowning foes to smiling friends.
chasten my soul till I shall be
in perfect harmony with thee.
make me more worthy of thy love,
and fit me for the life above.

orson f. whitney, 1855–1931

favored fall facets by aundrea.

aundrea.

{comedic relief at the office/well of administrative knowledge/useless banter companion}

{she is apparently a big foreigners fan too.}

5. fall clothes!

4. driving into the mountains to look at the beautiful colors.

3. putting in the SPRING bulbs!

2. the smell of newly-sharpened pencils {can you name that movie?}

1. THANKSGIVING!  {my favorite holiday}

**aundrea makes my days at work seem like a night at a comedy club. unfortunately, we are the stuck-to-the-deskers and these moments are few and far between {walking to the mail room, mid-day chat about randomy to keep us awake}.

the picture above depicts another favorite from my list.

byu football.

my dad gets this really weird giddiness about him as fall rolls around. like a kid on christmas. the reason, football season. he has been a season ticket holder for 29 years {please see the original 1984 national championship shirt i am wearing in the photo above}. he is the most loyal fan i know {well, him and his brother lynn}. all through those tough crowton years, through heat and rain and sleet and snow. you'll never see them leave a game early {unlike half, no, MORE than half of the fans at this year's byu utah game}, and when they do see people leave they always yell to them "it's not over till it's over", then site the miracle bowl.

so naturally, i am a byu fan.

and for me fall = byu football, cougar dogs, the imperial march, "rise and shout the cougars are out", and being squished between 62,000 other fans.

i love it.

i like audrey.

for two reasons:

{because she gave me feed the head to do at work.} 

AND

{because when we took this picture she said "you have a dress on so i'll hold you", in her monotone voice.}

working girl {part two}.

guys.

have i been really rude about my job?

i'm sorry.

i've been cynical.

and to make up for it i've prepared a

things i LIKE about my job list:

-$15 hourly with no bills makes me pretty rich. rich enough for new clothes, new computers, good food, and dreams about new condos.

-aundrea hill and other funny people with whom i work.

-being downtown salt lake city every day, which makes for some good eats for lunch.

-being near mother.

-i haven't heard a single curse word since my employment began. imagine that.

-when you tell people in the church that you work for the church, it's like you're an insider on all churchly happenings, even if your only duty is answering phones for the 11th floor.

-having a plant. it makes my days brighter and i wouldn't have it without the cob's plant day every third wednesday.

-i work pretty good hours, if i do say so myself. who else do you know that gets an hour lunch to play spider on her ipod?

-because of my lack of things to do, i can do other important things like organize mission letters, finish mission journals, complete travel journals, make paper tissue flowers, etc.

-i'm pretty tech savvy now and i attribute this to my sitting in front of a computer screen with nothing to do for 40 hours a week.

see? it really isn't that bad.

really.