15-16/30: If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

15.

Welllllllll, it depends...

a giraffe...to see what the world looks like on their level & because I think they are beautiful.

an elephant...it's one of my&R's favorite animals. & they do cute things like stick their faces in the mud when they're mad...

a bear...because R sometimes calls me mama bear...plus, he is mi oso ("my bear" in spanish)..so if he's a bear, I'm a bear ;)

16: what are your 5 greatest accomplishments?

1) being worthy for our temple marriage/my relationship with R

2) my education/graduating with no debt b/c of scholarships and working

3) Disney internship

4) knowing when to speak up and when it is better to be kind than to prove I'm right.

5) volunteering with Relay for Life for 8 years and on the University Relay for Life executive committee for 2

#13-14 of 30

13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.

1. I can be too sensitive about things.
2. I tend to be a people pleaser.
3. I can be terrible at keeping in touch with people. (I still love yall!)
4. I'm typically very happy but sometimes, during "the" week, it's easier for me to be in a "mood" than to choose not to be.I'm working hard on this.
5. Sometimes I wait to react..which can cause an unfortunate built up explosion of emotion.

14. Describe 5 strengths you have.

1. I'm good at thinking before I react. Sometimes this can be a weakness, see above #5. 
2. I'm calm. I don't like to yell or be yelled at - I firmly believe that how you say something is as important as what you are saying. (what a blessing I married somebody who is so tender)
3. I learn/catch on quickly. I love learning new things.
4. I'm thoughtful/mindful of others.
5. I am socially wise. I can get along with most anyone. "That's not to say I never stick my foot in my mouth.  However, I know how to include the outcast, forgive quickly and honestly, and help others feel good about themselves {I guess when I'm not worrying too much about what they think of me....}.  I'm also very introspective {probably to a fault} and feel like I have very stable and clear self-awareness.  Having said that, though, I very well could be walking around thinking I'm kinda neat with everyone else around me {except [R], most of the time} trying to avoid me because I'm unbearably annoying." (I didn't write that but it absolutely described my thoughts)

Once & Doce/Treinta

11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.

1. People having ulterior motives/me knowing somebody is lying to my face. 
2. Mouth smacking/loud chewing.
3. Having to repeat myself more than twice. & grammar. 
4. When the only car you have to wait for to drive by doesn't switch out of the lane you're waiting to get into..
5. Rudeness/inconsiderateness.
6. Negative nancies.
7. Extremists of anything.
8. Dirty dishes piled up IN the sink. I prefer them piled to the side....so that I have room to wash. 
9. Dirty fingernails. 
10. An empty box/carton in the fridge/pantry. Or pouring a bowl of cereal to then learn we're out of milk.

12. Describe a typical day in your current life.

Alarm at 5:15. 

Gym until 6:35.

Work 8-5. 

Lunch with the hubs if I'm lucky.

Home unless R/I/we has/have a meeting or outing. 

Thrilling, I know.

[the list]

9 and 10 out of 30

9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how. 

(....ok more like 14....not including the 8372 family members in Mexico)

1. Husband R.

The love of my life...every day he influences me for the better. He keeps my heart full of joy.

2. My parents. D & L.

Their unwavering example of unconditional love.

3. My in-laws. D & P. 

They are so faithful and loving. I'm pretty sure Pam has never done or said anything bad in her whole life.

They are just so sweet.

4. My family in Mexico.

Every time I visit they make me feel like a princess.

Hispanic culture is especially loving and giving and I'm grateful to have had that example in my life. 

5. Grandma & Grandpa H.

 They are still so in love and it is adorable.

They emulate "choose your love, love your choice".

6. M & J.

They've both endured a lot but they both keep smiling and enjoying life.

7. L & Kathia.

Their confidence. They are completely themselves all of the time.

If Lis wants to do something, it's almost a guarantee she will accomplish it.

Kathia will skip to a bus stop singing a song (loudly) without a care in the world.

8. Brother B.

It was at institute that my love of the gospel truly grew and advanced.

9. The Swll Family.

All of their examples of always being SO willing to serve others. Also,

E is the definition of knowing you are a daughter of God and what that entails. She is so cool.

Plus, she took care of me when I was Peggy Pegleg.

Hot D is so FUN and such a strong woman.She just makes you want to be like her when you grow up.

10. Kuh-rye-nuh.

She was like a mom, sister, excited scream/dance partner, therapist, etc...all wrapped up in a roommate.

Plus, she has the most contagious smile in the world.

At first I couldn't think of enough people..and then I couldn't stop thinking of people who have influenced me!

Every one of my friends has had an impact on some aspect of my life

...this would be far too long of an entry if I listed you all.

And it would be more of a "why I love __insert name here__" entry.

There are also the people who influence me by

being perfect opportunities to work on attributes such as being teachable, kind, patient, and compassionate.

I think everybody I meet has something I can learn from them.

10. Describe your most embarrassing moment. 

This ought to lighten the mood a bit...I went to my first yoga class at the university gym.

After some relaxation breathing and stretching we were in some legs up position....

....I farted....

...then I laughed...

...nobody else did...

I haven't been to a yoga class since. 

[the list]

5, 6, 7, 8/30: ????

5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?

1. My loving, supportive, loyal, hunk of a husband. I am so blessed to have him in my life.

He puts up with me...[I can be a handful or two]...and still looks at me with googly eyes.

I don't know how it's possible, because I already love him so much I could cry,

but I fall more in love with that man e.v.e.r.y. s.i.n.g.l.e. d.a.y.

I can't imagine a more perfect man, for me, to spend eternity with.

& family (forever more, "family" includes my in-law family)

...I'm really really blessed with an incredible family.

2. My testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and The Book of Mormon.

I know it, I (try hard to) live it, I love it. 

3. Food. It's true. I get really excited about good food. 

4. Working out. I'm so glad R and I joined a gym.

As hard as it is getting up so early every morning

(if it weren't for him, I would probably sleep through the alarms!),

I feel SO much better after a morning workout.

I'm glad we're making a habit of it now. 

5. Blogging.

It's my current favorite creative outlet.

Even though I'm not very good or consistent at it. Yet.

Decorating baked goods is too expensive. Blogging is free.

6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

When both of my parents had cancer. That is all. 

7. What is your dream job, and why?

Wellllllllll, my professional ambitions/interests have ranged 

from whale rider/trainer at Sea World to attorney to doctor to event planner.....

you get the picture...

I'm all over the place because I enjoy many things and think I could find happiness 

in several different career paths. 

However, the job I look most forward to is MOM. 

As scary as the thought is sometimes, I just can't wait for R and I to raise little bitties...get to teach them/ watch them learn, and make their birthday cakes, and celebrate them, and be their mom. So neat.

8. What are 5 passions you have?

1. Documenting life. 

I love to take pictures of us doing anything/everything. 

R hates pictures. 

Luckily, he has eternity to learn to love them as much as I do.

2. Honesty/kindness. I can't explain how passionately upset it makes me to know 

someone is being dishonest and it makes me even more upset to know someone is being mistreated.

3. The gospel of Jesus Christ - it's true. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true folks.

Learn about it at www.mormon.org.

4. Learning/trying new things. I really love to learn.

New words, new things, new cultures, new skills....love love love it.

5. Music. It makes me really happy. 

[the list]

3&4/30: Describe your relationship with your parents. & List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.

Describe your relationship with your parents

They are simply the best. I love them. EVERYBODY loves them.

Growing up, people wanted to hang out around my family because my parents were cool. 

Probably because dad is so adventurous 

and the first thing ma does when you walk in is ask if you're hungry. 

& even if you say no, there is about to be a burrito or plate of nachos or something on the table. 

In my eyes, my dad knows anything/everything about anything/everything. 

If I need help with something, I call dad. 

Mom knows exactly what to say in any/every situation. Just calling her if I'm in a bad mood, meltdown, frustrated, hungry, anything mood brings me back to reality because she reminds me everything is ok. 

They've shown me unconditional love and always express how proud they are of me. 

I never had a curfew or got grounded; they've trusted me and I've trusted them.

I have the best parents in the universe & I cry almost every time I have to say bye to them. 

AND now I have the best in-law parents a girl could ever ask for.

 P has such a pure heart and is so thoughtful 

(example: the day we got back from trying on my wedding dress - I hated it and was upset. 

When we pulled up, she was in the driveway 

ready to give me and hug and tell me she had fresh cookies on the counter). 

D just radiates love and gives the best hugs! 

Plus he lets me go work cows with him! 

They raised 4 boys and each one of them turned out great! 

It's an understatement to say I hit the jackpot as far as parents go. 

List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.

1. The people who seem pretty cool right now...ya, they aren't. 

2. You're not as grown as you think you are. 

3. Don't be a snot to your parents, you'll realize how cool & loving they are and wish you could take it back.

4. Start thinking now about what major you want to pick in college...unbeknownst to you they are going to make you pick a major after freshman year...not sophomore. Thanks to your I.B. credits. 

5. You are not invincible. 

6. Don't be so afraid of failure/to speak up that you don't try out for parts in drama, be more creative in photography, or get what you want.

7. Tell people how much they mean to you before it's too late. Your aunt, the one who lived with you and taught you Spanish and who's kids are like siblings to you, and who brought you Mexican school books while you spent the summers in Mexico because you wanted to read while cousins were at school..she gets cancer and you don't get to say thank you. 

8. When you graduate, don't date that boy. If you're going to date someone, stick with the other one. 

But really, just wait until the year 2011...that's when you start dating the one. 

9. Don't wait so long to go back to Mexico. You miss the family more than you realize, you'll finally go back and wish you could stay and your chances to go are rarer and rarer the older you get. 

10. The only person you need to worry about making happy is your Heavenly Father. 

[the list]

2/30: Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.

1. Clowns. 

My brother doesn't like them and when I was younger I wanted to copy everything he did 

so I think that's how it started. 

Today, it is a full fledged - I can't look at them/Do not let it talk to me/Do not let it look at me/Definitely do not let it touch me or I WILL start crying - fear. 

2. My husband or parents (or myself) getting alzheimer's. 

I can't explain how much the thought of this scares me. 

It would just hurt so bad to not be known/recognized by who you love the most. 

3. Anything creepy crawly that is FAST or can jump. 

Such as spiders and unidentifiable insects. 

I think it really became a fear after I was cleaning banana leaves off and next thing I knew I felt a BIG 

'ol banana spider [Google it! Imagine the biggest one you see being on your leg.] crawling up my leg. Or maybe after I stepped on a spider and a million [I'm not kidding, I really think there were a million] little babies went in every single direction. 

The thought of them crawling up my legs. Ew. 

Although if I am with someone who also fears these crawling creatures, 

I can woman up and be the one to catch/kill it. Grosses me out if it's crunchy though.

[the list]

1/30: 20 Random Things About You

1. I am a Mormon and think you should be one too. {wink wink}

[copied this answer because it's true about me too!]

2.  I start to feel some major anxiety if I don't make a list of all my to-dos on a busy day.

3. I would LOVE to be a detective/FBI agent. 

Obsessed with Veronica Mars.

{On this note, former roommate Karina would be a millionaire if she got paid every time 

I've started a sentence with "I would LOVE to be a...". 

My professional ambitions range from whale trainer/rider at Sea World 

to Nurse to National Geographic world traveling photographer 

to School Principal to Interior Designer 

to Attorney to Baker cake decorator...I'm out of control.}

4. I hate hair that is unattached to a head. 

Hairballs make me want to vomit. 

Same goes for my husband. 

This is a problem when the bathtub gets clogged because I shed like a bear in the summertime. 

I'm sure the maintenance men love us. 

{my bestie-seester friend/former roommate, M, would gather up hairballs in the hallway and chase me with them. 

She is mean but I love her.}

5. I love cereal. Especially for dinner. 

There is just something about a nice bowl {or two}of cereal and milk. 

When R has a meeting/isn't home for dinner - it's what I have.

6. I always said I would not marry a guy who didn't speak Spanish. Then I married the biggest gringo out there. Hypocrite. 

7. I love the smell of toast, laundry detergent, and R's body wash. 

8. I enjoy washing dishes. EXCEPT for the mashed potatoes bowl. Ew. 

9. I love to climb trees. Haven't done it since I lived in Utah (pre 6th grade) but I still acknowledge and point out good climbing trees.

10. If I'm mad I could deep clean a whole house REALLY fast. If I'm mad about something I don't want to talk to you. Even if I'm not mad at you. I just don't want to talk. Likely because I will just start crying or unleash the Latina wrath that's in me.

11. I love word games, puzzles, riddles, math, etc.

12. I've always thought it would be so cool to be a pilot but I'm afraid I'd be too scared to land and would just fly in circles until I ran out of fuel.

13.  I love documenting/taking pictures of e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.

14. Three things I can't stand: to be tapped on with the back side of a person's wrist, for my belly button to be poked, disrespectful people.

15. I can be shy. I can be weird. I can be hyper. I love to dance.

16. I cry easily. If I'm in trouble, if I'm mad/frustrated, if I'm watching or thinking something too sad or too happy, if I start thinking about how much I love my husband/family, ....I'm a cry baby.  

17. I'm pretty good at making a monkey noise.

18. Every time I've set out to make a cake for something, I've had no idea what I was doing. I just have a picture or an idea of what I want the end product to look like and hope for the best. 

19.  I name the sky depending on what it/the clouds look like..."I call this a ______" .."Van Gogh sky", "Quilter's sky", "Toy Story sky", etc....told you I was weird.

20. My husband and I are best friends, confidants, and have only said I love you {romantically, obv.} to each other. I love the fact that we each got to marry our first love :).

[the list]