the CHRISTmas season & fake santas

So, me being me I indeed have found something wrong with the Christmas season. Not the holiday specifically, but certainly people's interpretation of it. For example.. There has been controversy in the past years about saying "Merry Christmas". I wonder why people are offended at such a saying. Christ is the sole reason for this holiday, is He not? If you refuse to believe in that, then simply dont celebrate the holiday! Why are parents taking kids out of Christmas programs at school because they say the word "Christ"? Do they think they are shielding them from an horrible lie or that they will never in the duration of their life come in contact with Christmas again? Don't people understand that despite others views that you must find a way to live harmoniously with other humans, and not be ignorant? I am sorry but the world has lost sight of the importance that one day in December brings, and that is Jesus Christ. His birth brought about the greatest event in history, the Atonement, and the sole reason we are able to exist in this world and the next. Its fine that you might not have those beliefs, but why try and diminish others in your quest to attack what you dont understand?

OK now that is off my chest, I can also proclaim that I do not like fake Santas. I dont think I had this feeling when I was young... but I can't promise you that because well, I just cant remember... but ever since I found out that Santa wasnt real, I just dont like seeing his fake-ness parade around. Doesnt anyone else think its a little odd that an old man with a hobo beard and a wig sits around all day talking to little kids about what he is "going to bring them" into their house in the middle of the night, all the while eating their cookies and drinking their precious milk? I mean c'mon what are we teaching these kids? After we tell them to not talk to strangers, and that breaking into houses is a crime, we willfully bring them to a busy mall (or Bass Pro Shop) surrounded with elfs and happy camera people and plop them down on this hobo santa-man, all for a cute little photo op.

OK so I may had gone a little overboard, but still... I think that fake santas are creepers.. and when I have kids, I better have a husband that is excited about that kind of thing, or my kids will hate me!

Anyways, I am having a great break so far with babysitting my nephews and sleep and such. I should probably do something productive here soon, though. I hope that everyone else is having a great holiday season, and in all seriousness, a very Merry Christmas.

Dia de Gracias!!

It has been a wonderful thanksgiving for me, once again. This time of year never fails to brighten up my life and give me that boost of love and motivation that I need..

Here are just a few things I am grateful for in my life:

* my family. No matter how crazy they are, how in your face they can be, or how LOUD they get I love them and I wouldn't have it any other way.
* warmth. it's really cold in my grandparents house.. so I'm really grateful for blankets too.
* food. As much as I love food, I don't think I appreciate it enough. There are so many people who don't get a Thanksgiving dinner, I'm grateful for the life I have been blessed to live
* my friends. I wouldn't be where I am now without the support and love of my closest friends, and that is no exaggeration. Every one of them has touched me in a way and changed my life for the good.
* HOT WATER!
* Marco. I want to be a better person because of him. and his letters and e-mails pretty much make each day a little brighter.
* my car. So many happy memories in good ol Shakira.
* good health. I hate being sick.
* two words: Diet Coke.
* no snow in Rexburg right now. Halle-freakin-lujah.
* pie.
* music. I think I would be a way more stressed individual if it weren't for music. I also think that I would be able to hear better, but hey it's worth it.
* watching movies. It relaxes me, it makes me cry, i (usually) get to be with the people i love most! :)
* my nephews. they love me and pretty much I am the best aunt Everrrr (see video below)
* football. i always look forward to watching it, and i get to yell too! GO CHIEFS!
* earrings. I am an accessory girl, what can I say.
* my sister. my brothers. my mom. jessica. ashley. eden. rachael.

My nephew Joshua, starting out right!

The fam with the groom!

yes, we are amazing.

The football players on Thanksgiving day... my Grandpa won the Gobbler.

This is a video of me teaching Joshua the names of vegetables, can you tell that my personal tastes have rubbed off?? :)

Tag? I made myself it.

So I wasn't actually "tagged" per se... but to be honest, I don't really know what that means in the blogging world... but my good friend Nicole did this as her blog today and I was inspired!

Eight TV shows I like to watch:
1. The Office
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. John & Kate Plus 8
4. Sports Center
5. any football game on
6. Full House
7. Seinfeld
8. What I Like About You

Eight things that happened yesterday:
1. Got up and went to church
2. Came home and made mac & cheese
3. Went to tithing settlement
4. Came home and watched football
5. Took the most amazing Sunday nap I have ever had. For 2 hours.
6. Woke up and watched football
7. Dustin and Eric came over and gave us home-made cookies. Watched Sunday Night Football
8. Watched Stomp the Yard with Ashley & painted my nails

Eight favorite places to eat:
1. Cafe Rio -- Steak Taco Salad thingy.
2. Olive Garden -- Fettuccine Alfredo
3. Bajio's -- Stuffed Quesadilla
4. Bojangles -- Chicken Supremes & biscuit. mmm.
5. Rose's Deli -- Club sandwich.
6. Mellow Mushroom -- Pepperoni wheat pizza!
7. Carriage House -- the BEST burgers in Winston.
8. New Fong's -- Mandarin Chicken.

Eight things I am looking forward to:
1. This week! Tomorrow I get to go watch a play. Wednesday is Enrichment and facials! Thursday is Craigos night with the girls.
2. Next week! Thanksgiving break! My brother is getting married, I get to see all my family, I get to eat a lot, and play football!
3. Chief's game on Dec 14th against the Chargers!!
4. Megan's wedding reception when I am home for Christmas Break!
5. Rachael is moving in with me next semester!
6. GRADUATING IN APRIL. ah!
7. Moving out on my own!
8. I get an e-mail from Marco tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Eight things on my wishlist:
1. I realllly need a new laptop
2. an iHome for my new apartment!
3. new scriptures
4. a new pair of jeans would be nice
5. to be brave. i won't lie. graduating and moving on is a little scary to me.
6. LONG HAIR.
7. to be patient. true happiness comes with patience.
8. be close to my family in whatever stage of my life i am in

Eight things I love:
1. waking up happy
2. sunny days in Rexburg
3. putting on makeup
4. my brothers
5. e-mails and letters from Marco and Jessica
6. when Eden and Ashley come in my room when I'm studying and we just sit and talk
7. listening to music really loud in my car
8. stars.

Eight things I can't stand:
1. snowy days in Rexburg. windy days in Rexburg. so-cold-you-seriously-think-youre-going-to-die days in Rexburg
2. my professor Bro. Taylor's class
3. when people don't take me seriously because I'm a girl. (I'm a business major...)
4. talking to Mormons about politics
5. when people don't call me back
6. my hair drying naturally. it is nasty looking.
7. when people don't pay attention. to what is being said. to cars on the road. all of it.
8. when I forget my yogurt or apple on my way out the door. I'm really hungry the rest of the day.

Eight places I want to travel to:
1. Italy. I want to lay on the floor of the Sistine Chapel.
2. Hawaii. I have an obsession with all things beach-y. Hawaii seems like the epitome of beach.
3. Wisconsin. I want to go to a Greenbay game at Lambeau stadium.
4. Canada. farther in than Niagra Falls too. I want to hear someone say "bag".
5. Jerusalem.
6. Peru. I want Jessica to take me and show me everywhere she has been.
7. Texas. I heard they have really good mexican food there. hmm.
8. Japan. My dad was stationed there before I was born.

Halle-freakin-lujah.

I would love to announce that I am so very happy that Halloween is finally OVER. yes, that is right... I, Julie Bennett, do not like Halloween. Too many scary masks, too much nasty gooey pumpkin crud everywhere, too many horror movies on TV, too many strangers at my door demanding my precious candy, and just way too much scaring going on. It is so not necessary. Also, most girls just like halloween for the mere fact that can dress up like skanks and get away with it. I guess that could be why guys like it too. Yet I think that I grew out of the whole dressing up thing when I ran out of good ideas. Like when I was 10. After that you can't just fall back on the witch costume... or Disney princess... or ghost... you have to get creative. I like to be me. Even on Halloween. So why dress up and look ridiculous if I don't even like the holiday? Yeah, there isnt a real, legit reason now is there?

And so, I am very happy it is November. I am so very sorry I am not too snappy on this updating-my-blog thing... I wont promise that I will get better because in fact I know I wont. So there are some fun things that have happened, so I will recap!....

My Grandma Bennett and Lisa came out to the wild wild west to visit for Steph's parents weekend... I came down to crash the party and we got to go to the BYU game! :)

Jackie and Jordy came and saw me! (Also we got to eat @ Cafe Rio! yum!)

The 4 of us in our matching BYU shirts! :)

Then they came up to Rexburg and we got to drive up to Yellowstone!

This was at our ward service project... you guessed it... boxing Potatoes!! :)

Diet Heaven

So. As the semester progresses and tests begin to pile up, projects become due, homework is an infinite object, and a social life seems like a distant ungraspable thought... I find myself at my favorite gas station in Rexburg, filling up my 44 oz refillable cup at about 11:52 PM every other night with the fuel I would like to refer to as Liquid Heaven. Some may call it Diet Coke, DC, Diet lite... it goes by many names. But all connotate wonderful and happy thoughts. You may be wondering why such a reaction to a simple drink. Why do I go out of my way to pay 60 cents so often when there is tap water, skim milk, and my roommate's orange juice I can steal just in the other room??

I will tell you why...

1) Liquid Heaven (will be referred to as LH hereafter) is very tasty. Not too sweet, and not too thick as regular Coke or Pepsi or (ew) Dr. Pepper.

2) The carbonation awakens one's taste buds and shocks them back to life.

3) If you get LH with caffeine you can naturally understand my desperate need for it for my all-nighters tapping away at Excel and balancing income statements

4) Guys hate it, so I can keep it all to myself. No girl has to worry about guy friends (or boy friends if you like that sort of commitment) stealing a sip every 5 seconds or gulping down your 12 ounce when you go in the next room.

5) It is a nice treat. In the world of cheap college students, one has to find some type of reward for good behavior or solace for a crappy day... and what better choice than a tasty, refreshing drink that will quench your thirst, satisfy your tastebuds, AND is affordable?!

I rest my case.

Enjoy the Journey!

So this weekend was General Conference (This means that every 6 months there are 4 different meetings over 2 days where those with authority, or callings, in the church speak on various spiritual subjects... all for the benefit of members and non members alike) and is one of my favorite weekends in each semester. The girls and I make breakfast Saturday and Sunday together... on Saturday we had pancakes in the shape of high heels!!! :) ... but this year we added another adventure to the list.. We went to the Idaho Falls Temple Visitors Center.. and while some of you might not see this as an adventure, or any kind of fun, this is something I have been looking forward to for awhile. It was renovated this summer while I was back home and so I knew there were changes, but I didn't know what they were. And also, I always feel a sense of peace and comfort as I am near the temple, and this visit was heightened as I was able to go inside the Visitor's Center and there was a Christos statue as one of the new additions. There were also separate rooms with various videos and scriptures "activities" and I enjoyed them also, but the grandeur of the presence of a statue of Christ always brings me to my knees... well figuratively of course. It was made of fiberglass also so we were able to touch it! (other statues are made of marble and highly elevated) All in all it was a great weekend with great food, great insights, and definitely great feelings.... I have been so blessed to be in the place I am and with the people I have met in this part of my life.

Why its really OK to be 21 and unmarried....

So one of my best friends Ashley is (about to be) engaged... and recently I had the amazing opportunity to join her in wedding dress shopping! Now, seeing as how I myself am unmarried, along with the majority of my close friends, I have not actually gone wedding dress shopping before... and boy, was it an adventure.

Please, let me just preclude my story by giving those of you who do not know the background of Mormom Utah/Idaho culture... We are commanded to multiply and replenish the earth, correct?... well there are many young people that reside here in Utah and Idaho.. particularly ages 18-21 for girls and 21-24 for guys... that take that commandment quite literally and straight to the heart. Usually within a few months, give or take a few weeks, of meeting each other. (I will note that my friend Ashley is not in this boat and I am very happy for her and her fiance) And thus are thrust into planning a wedding in between classes, scheduling honeymoons on school holidays, and having babies during finals.

So, now that we are all up to speed, this is where my story takes place. Right smack dab in the middle of Utah Mormonville (specifically Sandy, UT) and in one of those wedding dress shops that brings all the youngsters together in anticipation for that happy day...

So the place we went to was actually a very quaint boutique with amazingly beautiful (along with hideous) dresses. While we were there 2 other brides-to-be also showed up to try on and/or alter dresses. And all I can say is... BRIDE-ZILLAS. to the max. I have never heard the craziest, most absurd comments or conversations protrude from anyone's mouths before... I will give you a sampling:

"Yeah, but if I don't eat the few days before the wedding, I am sure it will zip up"

"I want to wear the slip, I like looking like Cinderella, I just don't think I will be able to sit down all day"

"I can't breathe very well after a couple of minutes, but I dont worry, I'll deal"

"I don't think I will be eating that day anyways..."

After hearing this over and over and over (I dont even want to know what planning the rest of their wedding was like... like the food decisions) ... and witnessing their mothers just fuel the fire.... that is when I decided.. it is so OK not to be married at 21, contrary to the mormon pop culture belief... and don't get me wrong, I know many a happy couple that were married quite young and knew each other for quite a long time and yadda yadda yadda... I'm not talking about those folks, there are always exceptions to an opinion...

But, personally, I like to eat.. every day. and I like to sit too... and I definitely like to breathe. So yes while I do plan on getting married one day... I hope its at a time when I can remember whats really important about that day, the real meaning of it... and not so much worry about "tradition" or having a size 2 dress...

So as a disclaimer, I dont mean to offend anybody or anyone that has ever been married before 21, or was ever a bridezilla... :)