Fun.

The Rules : post the rules (obviously) : post of photo of yourself : write 11 things no one wants to know about yourself : answer the previous questions the prior asked : create new questions : tag, tag tag.

one : Once, I threw up out of my nose at these guys' apartment. It was lovely.

two : The first thing I do when I wake up, besides pray, is pee.
three : I used to pee in my shower in high school.
four : I brush my teeth in the shower, now. It's a great feeling.
five :  If I have a wedgie, I am going to pick it.
six : I don't PMS. At all. You will never know when it's that time of month for me.
seven : I am no longer a nervous pooper.
eight : I know this all sounds so gross, but I'm actually such a clean freak/germaphobe. I am always washing my hands or using hand sanitizer.
nine : I never sleep on the same side of the pillow more than twice, so I change my pillowcase every 3 or 4 days.
ten : Leggings should NEVER be used as pants; leggings are NOT pants.
eleven : If I hadn't chosen to attend BYU, I might have dyed my hair cotton candy pink, gotten dreadlocks or shaved the bang-less side of my head.

1: If you met yourself this day two years ago, whats the number one piece of advice you'd give yourself? 
"Stop trying to hang out and be best friends with your ex (Mickey), Melissa! You will forget him, don't worry. Remember the one boy (Marky Mark) who's been there all through the years since sixth grade. Focus on your Savior, Jesus Christ."

2: What is your ideal, go-to outfit?
My black or red skinny pants, black and white polka dot shirt, black knee-high boots, and MAC Russian Red matte lipstick.

3: If your life were made into a movie what actress would play you? Or more importantly, what actor would play your spouse?
I personally think Kirsten Dunst would be perfect. If you watched Elizabethtown and know me, you'd agree.


Also, I made this fun and asked people what they think-
Stepdad: Taylor Swift
Mickey: Scarlett Johansson
Chris: "Cat Woman. Fierce."

4: If you had one million dollars whats the first thing you'd buy?
A CAR. A CAR. A CAR. Not three cars, of course. Just one.
It would either be a red Mazda 3, a red Jetta, or a yellow X-Terra.

5: If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would you meet?
Hayao Miyazaki (alive) and Fyodor Dostoyevsky (dead). I would love to prod their minds about their art.

6: Audrey Hepburn or Marilyn Monroe?
I am not particularly a huge fan of either.

7: Favorite Dr. Seuss book and why?
Horton Hears a Who! 
It teaches about the worth of every soul and the worth of unborn children/it's anti-abortion.
"A person is a person, no matter how small!"

8: First kiss story, let's hear it.
After a youth temple trip to the Orlando temple and Islands of Adventure in sixth grade, Rio gave me a kiss on the cheek as we were getting out of the van in the church parking lot. I was so incredibly giddy, it was silly. He pop kissed me later that week or so, and I was also giddy.

9: Your wedding day is tomorrow. What are your colors, your dress, and the temple?
Orange/coral and teal/turquoise. I would have a J.Crew wedding dress made modest or a lovely, knee-length, 3/4 sleeved dress with a bow and lace. I would be sealed in the Orlando, Florida or Portland, Oregon temple.

10: Whats the best advice you'd give to a girl who is trying to forget a boy who she reeeeeaaaallly likes?Don't bother trying to like boys that like you just to get over the boy. Have patience in forgetting the boy; you WILL forget him (stop hanging out with him and it will help).



New questions for the next person:


1. What should you be doing right now rather than here, reblogging this?


2. "Worst date ever" story, let's hear it.


3. If you met yourself this day back in your senior year of high school, what advice would you give yourself?


4. Tell us about your absolute favorite pair of shoes.


5. Imagine you were stranded alone on an island. You see a golden lamp peeping out from under the sand. You rub it and it turns out to be a food genie! He will give you with unlimited supplies of your three absolute favorite dishes (entrees, desserts, junk food, whatever they may be)- essentials like water are not allowed. What do you ask for?


6. Stripes or polka dots?


7. If you could magically attain a single talent overnight, what would it be and why?


8. Be specific & detailed: What/where is your favorite place to be and why?


9. What is the best way for you to relieve stress and re-center yourself?


10. Favorite thing to cook & favorite thing to bake:

I'm so attractive, guys.

On Monday, I threw up at a guy's apartment... out of my nose.

Yes, I threw up out of my nose.

My nose was burning.

I was drinking water and they made me laugh so hard I threw up out of my nose, on to their pillow and carpet and my shirt and pants.

Don't feel bad or sorry for me, though; I was laughing the whole time.

It was actually really hilarious.

I know how to win the hearts of men.

♥ Melizza.

P.S.: I seriously love my life so much.

Guess who's going to be a certified Zumba instructor in April?

THIS GIRL.


I haven't been this ridiculously excited about something in a while.
I'll be showing people how to be fit in the most fun way, like teaching this dance:

I AM SO EXCITED.


♥ Melizza.

Photography update.

I'm currently taking Classical Portrait Photography and Intro to Color Photography with Val. These two classes, particularly the Portrait class, cause the most stress in my life but are also the result of crazy growth and discovery.

Portraiture: Low Key {Bronte}

Color: Contrast of Hues {Bronte}

Note: I received my first A in the class with this photo. You cannot imagine how ecstatic I was about it. Val was so pleased with it!

Portraiture: On-location Ratio lighting {Heidi}

Color: Saturation vs. Desaturation {Heidi}

Note: Val called this one "Dynamite!"- it's his thing to say when he's especially pleased with a photo. The only negative was that he wished the eyes were more in focus and that he wants me to re-do it. Don't mind if I do.

Can I just say that I love my two Washington women? So very much.

♥ Melizza.

P.S.: "Nothing worth having comes easy."

I was inspired by Tori to do this.

Five things I was doing 10 years ago:

1. Living in the apartment on the water in Miami.
2. Admiring my super-long, super-slender fingers. Not kidding. They have not been so slender and slim since then, though, as I have picked up a nasty habit of cracking my knuckles 24/7.
3. In fourth grade, in my second year the gifted program in my elementary school.
4. Hiding in the bathroom for a whole class period because I didn't know my times tables.
5. Watching The Ring. Bad idea as a kid. Totally scarred me for life. I will never have a TV in my room again.

Five things on my to-do list today:

1. Sing some electro-reggae tunes for Cory and Jordan
2. Write up my Color Photo class Theme Project Proposal
3. Fill out my two homework sheets for Contemporary Dance
4. Study for my Jazz Listening exam tomorrow
5. EAT DINNER.

Five snacks I enjoy:

1. ANYTHING peanut butter-related. Seriously.
2. Special-K blueberry bars
3. Bananas
4. Wheat Thins
5. Chocolate-covered pretzels

Five things I'd do if I were a millionaire:

1. Pay tithing if it was money I earned.
2. Buy a butt-load of food, clothes, Bibles and copies of the Book of Mormon and do homeless outreach.
3. Buy a car for myself.
4. Buy a butt-load of things on my wish list: a new camera body and camera gear, an iMac, a new guitar, maybe a Macbook Air.
5. Pay off and/or buy each of my sets of parents (my mom and Rich, my dad and Zulay) their/a home.

Five things I'd never wear again:

1. Belt bottom/flare jeans
2. Wiggly, butterfly clips in my hair.
3. Eyeliner on my bottom lid.
4. Colored pants with ridiculous, white fade effect.
5. Gel ALL throughout my head while wearing a ponytail.

♥ Melizza.

Because I can.

♥ Melizza.

P.S.: Today, I watched Giuseppi Verdi's opera, La Traviata, with Dania and her roommates. 'Twas BEAUTIFUL.

P.P.S.: Waking up at 8a tomorrow for 8.45a Zumba. Woo!

P.P.P.S.: Currently obsessed with Miyazaki's Spirited Away right now.

P.P.P.P.S.: While walking to school, this random, super-friendly animation major started talking to me. We actually have Dania as a mutual friend! Small, small world at BYU.

P.P.P.P.P.S.: Look how beautifully my favorite yellow rose has bloomed! I wish I could freeze it to be like this forever. Maybe I should try it...

P.P.P.P.P.P.S.: Life is so good.

Who needs a boyfriend on Valentine's Day when you have the sweetest stepdad ever?

Ever since my stepdad, Rich, and my mom have been married, he has always given all the girls in the house roses on Valentine's Day: red for my mom and pink for my baby sister and me.

Me being away at college has not changed a thing. I received roses in the mail last year and an especially gorgeous, colorful bouquet of roses today.

• Me: Got the flowers today; thanks so much!
• Rich: Glad you like them. I look forward to sending them to you each year.
• Me: Hahaha, even when I'm married?
• Rich: As long as I'm alive.
• Me: -cries-

Is it weird to say that I want to marry a man like my stepdad? Too late.

Rich is honestly the most dedicated, thoughtful, faithful, accepting, nonjudgmental, fun, loving, honest, kind, PATIENT man of God I've ever known. No shame.

♥ Melizza.

P.S.: Disregard the demonic look on my face. And the floating head among the roses. I'm happy, really.

EDIT*

I do love getting Valentine's from other people, too. Aaron and Stephen cut out a paper heart and wrote: "Roses are red, violets are blue. Latinas are awesome and so are you!". So great.

I'm such a bad person.

It has been exactly two weeks since my last update; shame on me!

• Three weekends ago, I asked Derrick Hall (our ward's choir pianist; I'm in ward choir) to the girl's choice dance. Friday, January 27th was the actual dance! I went with my classic red dress, diamond grey tights, straightened hair and new suede wedge heels. I was please. It was a group of us, about 8: McKenzie and Todd, Emily and Jordan, this other couple whose names I always forget, and us. We all met up and drove over to The Thai Kitchen; DELICIOUS food but ridiculously SLOW service. We literally waited OVER an hour and forty minutes before we got our food and one of the girls got her check BEFORE she got her food. Needless to say, they didn't get tipped very well. It wasn't all bad, though, because we were talking the whole time and it was great. We then went to the dance. Derrick and I aren't very big on dances, but it was still fun! There were chocolate and caramel fountains (more like slow cookers filled with chocolate and caramel) and delicious Rice Krispies squares to dip with, among other various, dip-worthy sweets. There were A LOT of people from the ward and it was just fun!
• This year has been SUCH a good year health-wise. Last month, Sarah, Liz and I (roommates) got/renewed memberships at Gold's Gym. We got THE sweetest deal: $320 for 14 months, which ends up being $21/month. Unlimited everything: machines, classes, Cardio Cinema (a movie theatre with treadmills, ellipticals, etc. instead of seats), pool, sauna, etc. So I usually go to the gym with Sarah Monday for Cardio Cinema, Tuesday for Zumba, Thursday for Zumba, and Liz joins us Saturday mornings for Cardio Cinema. IT FEELS SO GOOD TO BE ACTIVE. I definitely feel those endorphins release! Not to mention I have my Contemporary Dance class Tuesdays and Thursdays at school for an hour each. I LOVE DANCING. I LOVE ZUMBA. I LOVE THE TREAD MILL AND ELLIPTICAL. I LOVE THE GOOD KIND OF PAIN AND SORENESS THAT RESULTS FROM ALL. It really just does feel good. Not to mention my legs are getting so tough and toned and nice from it all. And I have loads more energy.
• I've signed a contract for next Fall/Winter! Sarah, Liz and I will be moving into condos across the street, so we'll still be in the same ward. I really DO love my ward. I also love the place we live in now; Liz and Sarah aren't fans of the thin walls and noise pollution, though. I really don't mind. We've gotten way close this semester, though, so we totally want to live together! 
• Our condo for next semester is WAY sweet; I have the private room, Sarah and Liz are sharing the shared room. I ADORE the private room so much; SO much closet space and it's just going to be so nice to have my own space, again. I've had my own room since seventh grade, I had the private room at Wyview freshman year at BYU. This year is the only year I've shared a room with someone for months at a time since who-knows-when. I cannot WAIT to have my own room, again. It's pricey but it WILL be worth it. Words cannot describe how psyched I am to have my own room, again.
• Our condo also has two floors, two bathrooms (a full upstairs and a guest downstairs), a washer and dryer (hurray for not having to pay to do my laundry, anymore!), underground parking (not that I have a car to park), storage space in the underground parking lot, a new dishwasher (good for Sarah and Liz who always use the dishwasher), a legit, working fireplace (I've never had one), and the most adorable landlord ever, George. It's going to be nice going back to only three roommates total (including myself, as it was at Wyview); MORE ROOM IN THE FRIDGE! I really am excited for this place and really am glad we're staying in the ward :)
• So I'm only working five hours a week, now, which I am SO happy with! Now I can actually hang out and do stuff Saturdays and Friday mornings; I used to work all day Friday from 10a-9.45p, and Saturdays 4-9.45p. Now I only work Fridays from 5-9.45p. Did I mention I'm working with my roommate Sarah? I am and I love it.
• I super duper very much adore my class schedule. It is the best thing.
• Besides Indian and Thai food, I have added Pho to my favorites. Pho is a Vietnamese noodle dish. I got the chicken pho with Heidi and Liz at the Pho Noodle House. IT IS SO RIDICULOUSLY DELICIOUS. I also had Boba tea, which actually isn't tea AT ALL. It's just a slushie-smoothie kind of drink. So I got the mango boba and it literally tastes like a slushie.
• It's been really odd this year. Like Spring. Very, very, very little snow.

♥ Melizza.

I was feeling red.
I was also wearing red skinny pants with knee-high black boots.
It was a great day.


♥ Melizza.


P.S.: It's MAC Matte Russian Red ;D

WA + OR

This summer, I spent two weeks in the wonderful states of Washington and Oregon. One week was spent in Vancouver, Washington with Heidi, getting ready for her wedding in the Portland, Oregon LDS temple. The other was spent with Bronte and her family in Manson, Washington. They have become two of my favorite states besides Florida (where I'm from), NY, NC, and GA. If I can pick anywhere in the states to live in when I'm older, I'd pick Washington. Here are a few of my favorite photos from my time there.

Downtown Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon LDS temple

Columbia River, Oregon side

Puget Sound, Washington

Such a beautiful, beautiful state.
I can't wait for the day I get to go back.

♥ Melizza.

Random news:

• Two days ago, I was approved for a student credit card! Woohoo for building up credit and growing up!
• I can't believe we've only been in school for two weeks.
• I ADORE MY SCHEDULE SO MUCH. There is not a single class I am taking that I don't love.
• LDS Marriage & Family with Brother Goodman (with whom I took Mission Prep freshman year) is my teacher and wow. Just wow.
• I love being sore. Is that weird? No. Sarah (my roommate) agrees with me. It's that good sore when you know you've been working hard. In my case, dancing hard. I LOVE my Contemporary Dance class. I am always sweating bullets afterward. And sore.
• I am working ALL day Friday. And I mean ALL day: 10a-9p and that isn't even including closing, which takes longer.
• I am working Saturday night, too. With Sarah, of course! I work Fridays with her, too.
• Liz, Sarah and I are absolutely LOVING living together. Now that we know each other, we are getting along ridiculously well. I love them so much. We're praying about finding an apartment (staying in the ward boundaries, hopefully) where we can all three live together (but we want to move out of this one).
• Speaking of praying, we've started apartment prayer. Sarah and I thought of it. Our minds are ridiculously in sync this semester, it's weird. Apartment prayer usually only consists of Sarah, Liz and I because Ashley's always with Oliver (they are dating).
• I have been eating peanut butter sandwiches every night for dinner the past few nights. And no, I'm not going to plead the lame "I'm a poor college student" excuse; I have money to buy food and I buy good food. PB sandwiches are all I want to eat for dinner! It's weird! It's because I eat two granola bars throughout the day as lunch; my body, however, craves PB sandwiches for lunch, and me not giving my body PB sandwiches results in me eating them later in the day.
• Today, I forced myself to eat broccoli-cheddar soup, though. Yay me!
• This Portrait Photo class is DEFF pushing me out of my element; it's all in the studio (for the most part) and working with lights. BUT IT IS SO, SO FUN!
• I should probably go to sleep. It's 12.30 am, I still have studying to do, and I have to wake up for a 9 am class. And no, I will not plead the lame "I never get any sleep because I'm a college student" excuse; I SLEEP WELL! Minus Tuesdays and Thursdays, my long days.
• I need to buy more milk, more orange juice, more bread, more granola bars, more grapes and tomatoes, red and green peppers. Hurray for healthy eating!
• It really is SO important to whole-heartedly do daily scripture study and pray on your knees multiple times a day; I have been finding myself relying on it more than ever these past two weeks- not because I have some major issues or problems and not because I need to check it off my "list", but because I want to. I sincerely want to and it's filling my heart with that desire more and more. God is just revealing such amazing, great things in my life and teaching me so much. It's unreal.
• I adore Indian food. It's probably my favorite.
• "Because I have been given much, I too must give."
• I just really love my life.
• It's ridiculous how much I love my life.
• I am so thankful God gave me life.

I treat this blog as a journal of sorts, if you haven't noticed. I enjoy it very much.

♥ Melizza.

New job!

Saturday night I officially worked for the first time at my new job: Tokyo Sweets.


Located in the Provo Towne Center's food court, it serves Japanese desserts that are DELICIOUS.


We have banana tempura (tempura: Japanese battered and deep fried goodness), Oreo tempura, cheesecake tempura, brownie tempura, tempura ice cream, mochi ice cream, Ramune, Hello Panda, Hi-Chew, Calpico, Pocky, Milkita pops, regular ice cream, and tons of other stuff.


It's extra awesome because:

1. My sister and brother-in-law own the place.
2. I took all the photos hanging up on the wall, serving as the menu.

In all seriousness, though, I really do enjoy working there and I really enjoy working period. It feels good: I'm being productive, I'm helping a business out (specifically my sister and brother-in-law), and I make money. I haven't worked a consistent, hourly-wage job since I worked at Cold Stone back home for a year and a half... a year and a half ago. It's been a while.


I'm also working with my roommate, Sarah, so that makes things extra awesome.


Now, what to do with this money? I can:


a) Save up for a car.
b) Save up for a mission.
c) Save up for a new camera body/lens.
d) Save up for a wedding/honeymoon (not that it's happening soon, but I should still probably save up hahah).
e) Save up for an iPhone (although this is most likely not the wisest of the five).


♥ Melizza.


P.S.: COME VISIT ME! I work Friday and Saturday nights after 4 pm.

Random news + Love plans:

• Jonathan Canlas is teaching a photography class at my school. NBD. 
• On that note, I would take it if I was a Photo BFA student. I can next semester! SO blessed to be at my school.
• My school's photo studio is SO sick. Our equipment is ridiculous. I can't wait to get my hands on it all and experiment Saturday!
• I am now officially certified to handle food at restaurants. My new Utah Food Handler's Permit says so.
• Everyone in Utah: COME EAT AT TOKYO SWEETS AT THE PROVO TOWNE CENTER. It's delicious. And new!
• I just realized that I LOVE history. Not the general history classes like "History of France" and "American History", but SPECIFIC history classes. I have taken History of Dance and History of Modern Civilizations through Literature in the past here in college and adored them both. I am currently taking History of Music and History of Jazz and I adore those even more. It's unreal. I have goosebumps the whole time. No joke. History minor, anyone?

My Love plans?

I am going to see about getting a group of people to do some outreach here in Provo. Back home with Mickey (a few years back), I would sometimes participate in what they called "Love Bags"- packing sandwiches, notes, water and such together to hand out to the homeless back home in downtown Ft. Lauderdale where there is a BIG homeless population. Well, I know there are quite a lot of homeless here in Provo, too. And they need love. REAL love.


I remember one time in downtown Ft. Lauderdale, Mickey and I spoke to a man named Cliff for two solid hours. I wish we had more time to speak with him. I wish I knew where he was right now. I know there are thousands upon thousands of people like Cliff: without food, without a home, without a family, without hope. I want to help introduce love and Christ into the lives of people like Cliff.

"Jesus said to feed the poor, not donate.” I read that here on Keegan's blog a while back and it really struck and remained with me.


We have been commanded to unite with our fellow brethren; how can we possibly do that by writing out checks to charity efforts? I mean, it's still an awesome thing to do, of course, but with God and His work, we must go the extra mile. We must LOVE His children personally, individually, as He loves us.


"Because I have been given much, I too must give."


All for His glory, all for His children.


less of me, more of Him.


♥ Melizza.

Winter 2012

I have been feeling so unsettled for the past week because I have not been 100% sure or happy about my schedule for this new semester. I have to take a minimum of 14 credits to keep my scholarship. At first, I was planning on taking 7 classes which was a ridiculous idea because I usually take 5 classes a semester. 7 would be suicide. I have now changed it up and I am for sure, finally taking:

• Color Photography
• Classical Portrait Photography
• Intro to Jazz
• Intro to Music
• Contemporary Dance
• Marriage & Family

Six classes. AND they are only M-Th. Hurray for three day weekends!
I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT MY SCHEDULE.
I love being an art major :')

♥ Melizza.


P.S.: I also changed my layout, yay!

Buckeye Balls!

As requested by Shannon :)


The original recipe is from allrecipes.com, but I've made alterations as seen fit while baking. Trust me on this! 


This recipes makes a little more than two dozen, but they definitely fly! THEY ARE DELICIOUS.


Buckeye Balls


Ingredients


1 toothpick
2 cups creamy peanut butter (the sweeter, the better!)

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 6 ounces Nestle semi-sweet chocolate chips*
• 2 tablespoons shortening**

*Nestle semi-sweet chocolate chips are a personal favorite. You can use whatever you have/like.

**I would up the amount of chocolate chips by an ounce or two. I felt as though the 2 tablespoons of shortening made the chocolate mix too liquidy with only 6 oz. of chocolate chips. I added more and it was way better!

• 
  

Directions

1. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside (In case you don't have waxed paper, no worries! I didn't use one and it all went well).
2. In a medium bowl, mix peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and confectioners' sugar with hands to form a smooth stiff dough (Seriously. Use your hands. It's fun. And don't be discouraged if it seems as though it's too dry/there's too much flour; if you use your hands to mix it all up, it will come together. Promise). Shape into balls using 2 teaspoons of dough for each ball. Place on prepared pan, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3. Melt shortening and chocolate together in a metal bowl over a pan of lightly simmering water. Stir occasionally until smooth, and remove from heat. (I think it's much easier to melt the two together in a microwave, in 30 second increments, in a plastic container like Tupperware or Glad and use the lid over it).
4. Remove balls from refrigerator. Insert a wooden toothpick into a ball, and dip into melted chocolate (DON'T cover the whole ball in chocolate; the point is that they look like buckeye nuts ;D). Return to wax paper, chocolate side down, and remove toothpick. Repeat with remaining balls. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set (I would refrigerate them for more than 30 minutes; the chocolate was still a little soft when I took them out.
5. Enjoy!

Real Buckeye nuts

Buckeye Balls!

♥ Melizza.

I just got through one of the hardest, busiest days of my life.

AND I DID WONDERFUL!


I really am grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, who is always there lifting me up, supporting me and being my strength.


Seriously.


Before intimidating obstacles, I ask myself, "How in the world will I get through this?"
After conquering those obstacles, I ask myself, "How in the world DID I get through this?"


And I know it's ALL because my Savior has already carried the burden for me.


I can do hard things. 
All things.
Because of my Savior! 
It's so beautiful to have that knowledge and assurance in my life.


"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13


♥ Melizza.

SCORE!

Shannon asked me, "What did you score at Black Friday?"


Oh man.


What DIDN'T I score!?


Take a look:


1. Super cute socks! (From J.Crew, GAP and American Eagle)

2. 60% off long sleeves at GAP.

3. Beautiful skirt at Anthropologie! Originally $118; I got it for $30!

4. Anthropologie scarf for $10!

5. Red skinnies for about $25 from American Eagle!

6. Genuine leather, coral belt from Ann Taylor! It was $30 and I got it for $15!

7.  Another two long sleeves from GAP (the one I'm wearing and the one on my shoulder)!

8. Four free "In the Dark Streets Shineth" by David McCullough (that each include a narration CD by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir) books! You got one free with every purchase you made at Deseret Book :)

9. August Rush at Wal-Mart! I thought it was $5, which was already super cheap, but I got it for $1.96! You cannot imagine my excitement.

10.  David Archuleta signed these in the flesh at Deseret Book!

11. I also got him to sign his DVD with MoTab...

12. ...And his LDSLiving issue (can you say CHRISTMAS GIFTS!?).

13. MoTab's "This is the Christ" album.

14.  My new pride and joy; A SLOW COOKER! This was actually a birthday gift from my dad and stepmom. I'm so excited to use it!

15. I'm probably more excited about my new, super awesome Cuisinart, 7-cup food processor. I got it for 20% off at Bed, Bath and Beyond!

16. And I got this super-fancy Caphalon knife for 20% off at BB&B, too.

17. But this, by far, was my favorite purchase. I waited in line in front of Anthropologie in the wee hours of the morning to wait for it to open and scored this beautiful, leather, polka dot purse for $64! It was originally $270! Um, awesome deal? I think so!

No, I am not loaded.
Yes, my wallet is hurting.
Big time.


I REGRET NOTHING.


This is my first time ever doing "real" Black Friday shopping and it was quite the experience. I luckily didn't have to deal with the notorious, crazy, Black Friday crowds because: 1) I currently live in Utah, 2) I was at the stores right when they opened. I finished all my shopping by 9 am! I was also only running on half an hour of sleep, hah.


You'll probably be glad to hear that I am currently grounding myself from spending money on ANYTHING besides groceries.


I hope you all scored really awesome stuff. Or slept in and stayed home like a normal, sane, smart person.

♥ Melizza.

Wales Study Abroad summer 2012!?

I think so!

1. It's the cheapest Study Abroad BYU offers because you stay in legit Victorian homes that are way cheap.
2. You take a week of Welsh at a university there.
3. You go over to England and Scotland, too!
4. Two of my roommates, Liz and Sarah, both went on it last summer and said it was the best six weeks of their lives.
5. CASTLES.
6. FOOD.
7. ACCENTS.
8. VISITING THE CHILDHOOD HOMES OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN, J.K. ROWLING, JANE AUSTEN, ETC.
9. VISITING THE PLACES WHERE THEY FILMED THE COURTYARD AND HALLWAY SCENES OF HARRY POTTER.
10. WATCHING A PLAY AS A GROUNDLING AT THE GLOBE.
11. TRAIN AND BUS RIDES.
12. EVERYTHING.

I still need to apply for it, but I'm very much considering it :)

Don't know where/what Wales is?

It's part of the United Kingdom- the southeastern end of the UK.

It shares an island with England and Scotland.

It's the little green chunk.

♥ Melizza.

SUPER GIANT MEGA UPDATE!

I'll mash up the last few weeks in this whole post!

• Over a month ago, McKenzie and I both went on a double date to one of the Homecoming dances, where Dylan had asked her and Tony had asked me. They even made us breakfast for dinner (including delicious banana french toast), since Tony knew breakfast was my favorite food. That's where McKenzie and I first met and we've basically been inseparable ever since.
• Over four weeks ago, McKenzie and I decided to double again but THIS time, WE asked the guys on a date! She asked Rick, a family friend that goes to UVU, and I asked Lauri, a friend from the ward. He's Finnish, teaches Swedish at the MTC and is the Elder's Quorum president in our ward. I swear he's going to be a General Authority one day, hahah. Anyway, we "picked them up" and brought them over to McKenzie's apartment, where I had made this DELICIOUS chili for dinner and McKenzie made equally delicious witch finger breadsticks (she even put almond chips at the ends of the breadsticks to look like nails. So legit). We then had a graham cracker-haunted house-making contest between the couples! Rick and McKenzie made a classically awesome, two-story haunted house and Lauri and I made a super awesome coffin with fingers sticking out of it. To wrap it all up, we visited Rick's HUGE house (that he owns!) and went to my favorite spot in the canyon to tell scary stories. It was freezing, but it was fun :)

Lauri and I

McKenzie and Rick

McKenzie and Rick's Haunted House

Lauri and I's haunted coffin

• Three weeks ago, I photographed Jess + Adam's wedding at the Mt. Timapanogos temple. It was my first time there and it was absolutely gorgeous! I also photographed their wedding in Highland/Alpine, Utah, where the fall trees, leaves and colors are DIVINE! Emma (who was second shooting for me) and I ran into a Jake, a friend from the ward, who apparently is Adam's cousin! I also ran into Stephen Fabiano, a friend from back in Florida who knows Adam from when they lived in Georgia.

Jess and Adam.

Jess and Adam.. and Jake.

• Two weeks ago, I photographed Jordan + Blake's engagement photos up the Provo temple and Provo canyon. I LOVED this photo session! Jordan is also from Florida and was my roommate at the last EFY I went to in St. Petersburg the summer before I started here at BYU, so over a year ago. They are SO adorable and I LOVE Blake! He's a convert and he's on FIRE. She did well :)
• I went to the Men's and Women's Choir concert two Fridays ago. It was amazing! Men's choir killed it. I went by myself, too. Weird of me to say, but I've always wanted to go to a show/movie by myself just once to see how it's like. It was not bad at all, nor did I feel lonely in the slightest. I've mostly always been comfortable on my own :)
• Two Saturday mornings ago, my Elder's Quorum and Relief Society went skeet shooting. It was my first time and it was super fun! I didn't hit any of the clay disks, but it was still way fun. I hope to go again sometime this year!
• That same Saturday night, McKenzie, Val and I went to a Mocktail Masquerade, where we met up with Lauri, Spencer, Emily, Tori and Lawrence. 'Twas fun, though we were barely there for more than an hour. McKenzie, Val and I had SUPER sweet masks we had bought earlier that day at Taylor Maid, the super awesome costume store in Provo.

Val, McKenzie and I (in the red, of course).

I'm silly.

Look how much my hair has grown!

These are my new favorite tights.

• I don't know if you all knew, but I'm a FHE "Mom" in my ward. Halloween happened to fall on a Monday night, so I was super psyched because I KNEW what I was going to do for my FHE "kids": I was going to make them Butterbeer (you can find the recipe at an older blog post of mine here)! Everyone loved it, of course. It was extra creamy and delicious this time, if I do say so myself. I had all the Harry Potter soundtracks playing in the background as my kids walked in my apartment for FHE that night and all throughout the lesson and Butterbeer drinking. For the lesson, I had cutely typed out and printed quotes from the Harry Potter series and had us all give "mini lessons" about how each one applied/tied into Jesus Christ and His Gospel. It was SUCH a great lesson! I was dressed as Hermione, wand and time turner and all. I'm so cool, I know.
•  This year, a goal of mine has been to send my family and close friends back from birthday packages. My brother's 18th birthday was first, on September 3rd, and he loves to read so I sent him a card and two of my favorite books: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and Crime & Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. My mom's birthday is on Halloween and she turned 46 this year, so I mailed her a birthday package complete with: tiramisu hot cocoa mix (she loves tiramisu), a cute Willow Tree journal (she loves Willow Tree stuff), a Halloween-birthday card, a bag of candy corn (her favorite candy), a bag of Kit Kat (her other favorite candy), real Fall leaves from around campus in all different shapes, sizes and colors (she LOVES fall and the leaves- the red are her favorite).. she LOVED it! :)
•  Goodbye, October. HELLO, N O V E M B E R! 
• Where did the semester go!?
• Last Friday night, I went on two dates with the same guy in the same day. We had a lunch date at the MOA (BYU's Museum of Art) where we shared a fontina cheese panini and each had our own bowl of pumpkin-squash soup- which reminded me of Indian food in that it was oddly sweet, but delicious all the same. Then he asked me to go to the Planetarium on campus that night for the November Sky Show. It was all fun!
• This past Saturday, my brother-in-law Kanta picked me up and I spent the weekend at my sister Raiza's apartment with her three kids, Kayla, Mia and Kai. They also have a new cat whose name is Kevin and he is the MOST adorable thing ever. He is so funny and fixated by running water- he will sit at the toilet and watch it flush, then climb up to the sink when you're washing your hands. It was a crazy weekend but so fun and so nice to be with family! I went shopping at the Gateway (best mall in Utah) by myself Saturday night and helped make delicious peanut butter chocolate chip cookies and it was all awesome. The reason I went was to photograph some food for Kanta (which I happened to eat while photographing). I guess I ate wayy too many sweets, because I woke up in the middle of the night only to pass out and throw up twice :/ I hate throwing up. But I DID watch Something Borrowed with Raiza! I LOVED the movie, despite it cursing lots and being very suggestive. 

Kevin the kitty!

My niece Kayla, Kevin and I!

Dat kitteh <3

• I received two Priesthood blessings in two weeks. First I was sick with a cold, then I was sick with the upset stomach I mentioned above. I am SO grateful to have the Priesthood in my life and worthy Priesthood holders to give blessings! My home teachers Aaron (also my FHE son) and Stephen (they're actually cousins) gave me the first and Tony and Matt (they both served in Tampico, MX) gave me the second about a week later. They're all from my ward and I'm SO grateful for them!
•  My voice teacher, Joseph, was saying how when we first started voice lessons, he couldn't really tell where my voice would go, but now that he's heard it he can see my voice filling up auditoriums; it has a lot of color and overtones, apparently. That's one of the best compliments EVER!
•  I'll be sending in my audition CD to the School of Music December 1st! Wish me luck!
• I'm SO psyched that there's only a week left of school until Thanksgiving Break! I'll be spending Thanksgiving at Raiza's :)
• Also, country/country swing dancing has become one of my favorite things to do every Saturday. It's super ridiculously fun.
• Also, it's Veteran's Day today.
• Also, it's 11/11/11 today. REMEMBER TO MAKE AN EPIC WISH AT 11:11 pm tonight!
• Also, I turn 20 next Friday. Nine days. Isn't that insane!?

Thank you all for bearing with me and this insanely long post! You all are great. Happy weekend :D

♥ Melizza.