review>2011

january 

mormon bachelor adventure. 

first semester back at a university in 3 years.

discovered my love of spency perfumes and bold lipstick

february

watched the jazz play some more.  and mostly lose.  such a sad time.

decided i am not an illustrator.  change in the school plans.

created a profile on mormon.org

march

one of my pieces made it into the student BFA show.

won juror's top pick!

called to be in YW Presidency, serving with women who were my leaders.  scared to say the least.

april

decided to get my business license and make floral design by erin official.

turned 24!

finished another semester!  about 7 to go!!

may

started growing my hair long. for reals this time.

started selling my wedding gown fashion illustrations

fell in love with kid history

june

my first official wedding of the season

participated as a counselor at youth conference!

figured out how to schedule posts. amazing, i tell you.

july 

YW Girls camp. 100% a blast.

i love Adele. and Ingrid. nuff said.

busy every single day! that summer went by way too fast.

august

2nd semester back at the university, an actual goal and end in sight.

busy busy with weddings

started grading papers.

september

disneyland trip with the fam!

went back to the singles ward after 18 months.. scary!

ten years since 9/11. crazy how time flies.

october

pinterest addiction.

Anna gets mission call.

sculpted Jordan's face.

november

applied for Italy study abroad

got accepted to Italy study abroad for 2012.  (yayyy!)

discovered my love of oil painting!

december

started to learn how to parlo italiano

said goodbye to sis for a little bit as she left on her mission (more bitter than sweet so far)

cried a lot


it's been such a fun year full of big accomplishments.  i just remember how horrible 2010 was and how i was so afraid of 2011.  2011 was really good to me.  hopefully 2012 has lots of wonderful things in store!

here's to new years resolutions, fun, and more bright lipstick!
love, erin

i don't know you either.

about a month ago, my dear ecclesiastical leader forwarded me an email

this message:

Hello my friends and Ward Missionaries,

Between the 6 of you, can two of you plan on attending this pizza party?
Sounds like a good chance to associate with some of the home stake YSA's and maybe a few less actives.

the forwarded message was this:

We would like to invite 1 young woman and 1 young man to represent your ward to visit and associate with the youth in our ward on Thursday, Dec 15th at 6 pm - 8pm.
If you would please let me know who would be able to come, we would greatly appreciate it.

Note a few things

1. I am a ward missionary.  Read about my responsibilities here if you so desire. 

2. The forwarded message says associate with the youth

So after reading this I thought.. Okay.  I need to go.  Anna will be gone and I'll have nothing to do.  I also was in the YW Presidency for a bit so this can't be completely horrible and it will be fun to go hang out with some YM/YW again!  Right?

...

so at 6pm the day of the activity I left my house, not really knowing  A. where I was going  or B. who these people are I was supposed to be associating with!  Nobody was going to look familiar. I knew this going into it.

oh the good times never end.

I pulled up to this house and waited there for what seemed like 9 years (2 minutes) and finally a car pulled up behind mine.  We got out of our cars at the same time as I said to the young lady

hey!  are you here for the pizza party!?!

a less enthusiastic response, yeah.

cool. me too!  I'm Erin.. Nice to meet you! 

(trying to make the best of the situation.)

hi... 

we both get up to the door.  she knocked.  I waited. 

a particularly good looking guy answered the door and I thought,  He is not in YM.  There is no way. 

he hugged the lame girl, soo good to see you! blah blah blah.  Then turns to me and says (complete with confused look)

I don't know you.

..

I don't know you either...

..

uhh.. come in?

Thanks. 

So I walk in, naturally. 

And who do I find?

The parents who had sent the email.

the attractive kid.

4 or so other very attractive kids

and the lame girl. 

all standing around. 

Cue the mother

I don't think I know you!

to the group

Hi! I'm Erin, I'm from the Singles ward.... (classic)

to which the mother said something like 

Oh! Yes, this is Erin, she's over the activities in the Singles ward!  I asked her to come to tell us all about the activities happening in the area! 

Uhh.. no?  I'm actually a ward missionary.  ...and I hardly ever go to any activities... sorry!

long pause followed by a subject change! awesome.

...

meanwhile cute boy and his friends start speaking some crazy language to each other. 

say what?!

As it turns out..

this wasn't a youth party after all.

no no.

this was a homecoming party for cute boy and his old companions!  I don't know how lame girl fits in..

So what did I do?

I stayed.  And mingled.  And left finally feeling so completely awkward.

situations like this are just the story of my life, though, so not to worry. 

what would you have done?!

a few ideas to keep you occupied

untitled...

Anna is a unique individual. 

in many ways. 

before she left she kept saying 

Erin you better be married by the time I get home... 

and by kept saying. i mean every.day. 

i kept blowing it off, naturally.

Anna.  I'm not going to get married while you're gone.  

she didn't like that answer. 

so what did she do?

she decided it would be wise to tell everyone (this is a rough estimate, there could be more I'm unaware of)

that their goal while she's away is to get me married/seriously dating. 

and so far, surprisingly, people have been following through with her challenge. 

in the last two weeks, I have had five people tell me they have someone in mind they want to set me up with.

five! 

and I'm blaming Anna. 

that little weasel.

she's got great intentions.

and i've got to admit..

i do love a good blind date story!  

(awkward+hilarious is what they are.)

i'm going to get her back for this.  you can count on that.  i've got 18 months to plot this out perfectly.

maniacal laugh.....(muppets, anyone?)

color!

colors are wonderful.  but colors are always better when they are presented together, rather than one at a time, in my opinion.   mmmm. yes.  here's  a small colors blip. 

monochromatic

this is when everything gets all matchy-matchy.

complimentary 

this is when opposite colors on the color wheel are put together.  they make each other stand out.  

analogous 

this is when colors next to each other on the color wheel are put together

and of course... all the colors presented ROYGBIV style.

my favorite.

enjoy.  and remember.  it doesn't have to match it just has to go!

 

do you have a favorite color scheme? or maybe just a favorite color?  

this is my go-to color scheme

i'm doing okay

and it can only get better from here.

I'll be even better once I get a letter or an email from her!

but

Heavenly Father takes care of His missionaries.

so we're all going to be just fine. 

just wanted to tell you that. 

***

I've got some funny stories to share, so don't go away just yet!  Once I get caught up with everything I'll be back!

a picture's worth a thousand words

ch-ch-ch-changes!

with the new year coming, it is a habitual and traditional practice to reflect and review the past year and to look ahead with new goals to the new year.  as i have thought about this next year and all the many adventures and changes it will bring, i'll be honest.  i am nervous.  really nervous/anxious/excited.  the anticipation of something new always makes me nervous.  you know how i mean, i'm sure.  and i'm excited, don't get me wrong. but. i'm most nervous about not having my little sister around for the entire year of 2012.  as many of you know, she is leaving tomorrow to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  i am so excited for her! but. i cannot remember a time when i couldn't just call or text her and ask her a stupid question or have someone to hang out with.  i know i will be okay. i know she will be okay.  change this suddenly is never fun.  but i will learn and grow and be better for it!  and hey.  i have a lot to look forward this next year, so it can't be all bad!  and plus, i'll get to write her and send packages(and hopefully recieve letters and packages in return. hint, hint, anna!).  any of you have any great ideas of what to send a missionary?  you can check out a few of "my" ideas via my pinterest board dedicated to my sis as a missionary.  {view here}  okay.  that's enough for today. can't dwell or i cry.  i've been so good and haven't even cried yet today.  i'm sure that will change come tonight/tomorrow.  wish us all luck! 

ps.  get her address here and write a sister! 

she has always been the spaz of the family... 

7 days.

and no, i'm not talking about the movie the ring.

my little sis is leaving on her mission next week.
life is extremely nuts right now to say the least.

last minute shopping
mission prepping
finals studying
house cleaning
homeworking
actual working
christmas cheering
church going
and family picture taking

we asked the beautiful Jalene Taylor to take our family pictures.  If you need a photographer, go to her!  She is phenomenal.


here are a few of my absolute favorites from the shoot:

 

happy holidays!  

i probably won't be back on here for at least a week. 

another thing on my list is anna time spending

the disturbing facts.

This info shocks me. Just take a look. (i can't remember where i found this... sorry!  i saved this post as a draft ages ago..)

How Do You Feel About the Way You Look?

(The most-selected from a list of nine descriptors)

60s:

Grateful: 52.2%

Satisfied: 46.1%

Self-conscious: 32.6%

Dissatisfied: 28.7%

Happy: 27.4%

Teens:

Self-conscious: 50%

Satisfied: 42.9%

Grateful: 40.5%

Happy: 36.9%

Dissatisfied: 26.2%

"I see in magazines how my hair should look, and girls on TV who are 20 pounds lighter. If I had someone to do my hair and a trainer, I could be like that. But it's hard to both think that way and be happy with how you look."—Kateyln Labarre, 18, Southborough, Massachusetts

Have You Ever Used Photo-Altering Software to Change a Photograph of Yourself?

60s: 8.5%

Teens: 59.1%

Have You Ever Considered Plastic Surgery?

60s: 43.7%

Teens: 45.5%

"More teens have considered plastic surgery? One possible explanation: As you age, the trauma of elective surgery is less enticing."—Valerie Monroe

Have You Ever Had Plastic Surgery?

60s: 15.4%

Teens: 4.5%

Do You Think You Have a Healthy Body Image?

60s: 62.1%

Teens: 56.8%

Are You Happy With Your Body?

60s: 37.7%

Teens: 43.2%

"How can you believe you have a healthy body image...and not be happy with your body?"—Valerie Monroe

Why Do Your Exercise?

To Stay Healthy

60s: 65.5%

Teens: 28.6%

To Lose Weight

60s: 11.6%

Teens: 33.3%

To Change the Shape of My Body

60s: 6.5%

Teens: 19%

How Do You Think Others Would Describe the Way You Look?

Attractive: 60s: 63.2% / Teens: 39.8%


Approachable: 60s: 57.4% / Teens: 49.4%


Kind: 60s: 55.2% / Teens: 65.1%


Confident: 60s: 55.2% / Teens: 33.7%


Smart: 60s: 42.6% / Teens: 53%


Interesting: 60s: 32.3% / Teens: 33.7%


Pretty: 60s: 30.5% / Teens: 63.9%


Average: 60s: 25.6% / Teens: 49.4%


Sexy: 60s: 13.9% / Teens: 19.3%


Beautiful: 60s: 12.1% / Teens: 33.7%


Plain: 60s: 8.5% / Teens: 16.9%


Old: 60s: 6.3% / Teens: 2.4%


Exotic: 60s: 5.4% / Teens: 9.6%


Unattractive: 60s: 1.3% / Teens: 8.4%


Ugly: 60s: 0.9% / Teens: 2.4%

How can we change this thinking that there is only one type of beautiful?  This post will have to continue another day.  I have many thoughts on the subject.  Who's with me?!

 

take risks!

 i just need to learn how to tell my fear to shut it.

i'm accesible.

1You're comfortable expressing yourself in words and actions, with no self-censorship. You believe that if someone doesn't like what they see it's not your problem, but theirs. A high score on the "accessible" trait suggests that you have a lot of friends, socialize often, and enjoy rap/hip-hop music.

You don't see the need to keep your thoughts to yourself, or to have a zone of privacy that encompasses only yourself and a small circle of friends and relatives

i love that we're both glaring in this picture. ha

@fashion_jedi Erin

I'm going through a rap phase.. like.. all I want to do is rap. Even ask @DerekCarter

bahaha. thanks again, pinterest.

 

via

maybe YOU stuck the gum under the table!!

i laugh out loud whenever i watch these clips. enjoy. the first and last are from baby mama.. one of my favorites.

please go die now.

dear
headaches
snow
wind
diet coke
homework
tests
haters
fat
my never-ending pile of laundry
and
dana carvey regis impersonations,



please go die now. 
okay thanks, bye.

love, erin.

ps, diet coke.  i actually don't want you to die at all.  i think i am borderline addicted to you, however, so i'm going to go without you for a whole month.  i'll miss you lots. we're on day 3 and so far so good.

burning huts

i've been thinking about this a lot lately.  how life never really is how we imagine it will be.  it's never how we plan it out to be.   it especially hit me yesterday in sunday school.  we were talking about joseph and the coat of many colors. on the stink-o-meter his life just got progressively worse... let me explain.  

he starts out being the favorite child, and being adored by everyone in israel.  his brothers despised him for that, especially after the dreams joseph had about him eventually ruling over his brothers.  so his brothers hate him.  bad, right?  well then his brothers decide they want to kill him.  that's never fun... but instead of killing him, the bros decide to sell him as a slave!  okay.  his life is like a 6 on the stink-o-meter at this point(10 being the worst).  and then the whole thing with potipher's wife, and then he's put in prison for something he didn't do.  oh man.  yeah. i would say that would be really crappy. despite all the crap happening, he keeps doing what's right even though he doesn't know why he's having all these trials(ever heard the saying why do bad things happen to good people? yeah).  

but.

because he was eventually thrown into prison, he meets the baker and the butler. remember them?  he interprets their dreams, and eventually the butler tells pharoh about joseph when the pharoh starts having crazy dreams.  joseph interprets pharoh's dream and basically saves not only egypt but all of the countries surrounding egypt. naturally, joseph is made second in command of egypt and eventually saves his family from starvation.  amazing, amazing blessings.  none of which could have happened had the bad stuff not happened first, along with his faithfulness and diligence.

i'm sure you've also heard the story of the man who was shipwrecked. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with grief and anger.

"God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied. 

...

i also just finished watching the diane sawyer special on gabby giffords and her amazing recovery story thus far.  (seriously, i cried... i cry a lot lately.)

at the very end of the program, diane says this:

{you need to have} courage ... when the life you live isn't the life you planned.  and you learn there have to be many definitions of a beautiful day. 

i need to remember this the next time i'm having a bad day. i need to remember to be happy now, and that my Heavenly Father is in control and knows what's best for me. and for you.  And sometimes what i think is the burning hut is actually an answer to my prayers.

the hunger games!

i have no words. 



who else is so excited?!

i'm friendly.

You would rather hang out with others than spend time alone, and you'd far rather be doing something with your friends than just sitting around. You're happy in a crowded room, club, stadium, or auditorium.

You're not a private person who is ill at ease in a group; you don't view excessive socializing as a waste of time.

call me!  let's play!  remember game nights?  i haven't done these in a while.  who's in?

i like this picture because we're all glaring at my bro. who is now a foot+ taller than me now... i can't glare anymore, he'll eat me!

i'm optimistic.

You are a "glass half-full" kind of person, always on the lookout for the silver lining. Your happiness is contagious, which is why others like to be around you.

You do not feel that the world is an intrinsically depressing place; you are not the kind of "realist" who thinks that only fools find joy in life.


this is true. just call me pollyanna.
and i'm pretty sure i have the gospel to thank for 100% of this personality trait.

  

girls camp july 2011.  miss rileigh is the most optimistic ol' gal on the block

i'm assertive.

You behave in a confident and forceful manner, take charge of the situation, raise your hand in class, stand up for what you think is right, and lead others. Among those who have a high score on the "assertive" trait, many have jobs in which they are valued for their organizational skills as well as their talent for supervising others.

You are not interested in fading into the woodwork, leaving everything to fate, taking more time than necessary to accomplish a task, or avoiding confrontation.

supervising others, sure.  i was having this discussion yesterday with a dear friend.  assertive, of course i am. in school. work. church. family. assertive when it comes to men?  you bet i'm not.  i'm as demure as they come.  we're looking to fix this. 

smize July 2010

ten things about me right now

read nie's post here; she inspired this post!
here are things i think you should know about the current me:

1. i have been devouring this book the past week.  complete with highlighters and sticky notes..
2. i feel like i'm constantly on pinterest brainstorming gift/package ideas for my sister who leaves on her lds mission 5 weeks from today. gahhh.
3. soft serve vanilla ice cream with oreos and caramel.  need i say more?
4. i'm borderline obsessed with modern family.  why have i never watched it before this season?  it is hilar.
5. i'm noticing more and more my smile wrinkles.  which, in my opinion, are the best kind of wrinkles.
6. been questioning whether or not i'm in the right major.  this happens every year, so this is nothing new.  still trekking along, and i'll most likely continue with where i'm going. not to worry.
7. honestly i don't know what i'm going to do when sister leaves. i have breakdowns weekly (it used to be daily.  i'm getting better) how do you deal with life changes?
8. i can't wait for christmas this year.  i asked santa for this.  and this.  and a subscription renewal to this.
9. been wanting to try out paper art for weeks now.  i keep doodling thumbnails, but have yet to actually do it.  hopefully soon.
10. i am extremely excited for the muppets movie to come out on thanksgiving.


go ahead, follow this trend and tell me 10 things about the current you! make sure you comment with a link to your post so i can read them! :)

awkward family photos

i cried laughing looking at this.

enjoy.

two thoughts.

1.

thank you to sweet lexi for this

and 2.

thank you to the beautiful megan for this

oh the awkwardness!

my sister and i get mixed up all the time. 

for example:

Some kid the other day in sunday school shook my hand and said 

hey! congratulations on your mission call!

and rather than correct him i just said 

thanks!

halloweenies!

I was planning on being Miss Frizzle for Halloween. 

and then last minute I changed my mind. 

I started as Pirate 

then that switched to Belle

from there quickly turned to Hot Nerd

but then I realized I look like that every day (heh heh)

and so what else was I supposed to be with only 4 minutes to spare?

(i am a major procrastinator.)

my grandpa.

yes, you heard right. not just any grandpa.  my papacito.  

it's uncanny how alike we look:

 

i understand this isn't a wonderful picture of my Papacito(actually this is one of my favorites of him and my mamacita.), but you can see in this picture his famous black rim glasses.  and the hat I'm wearing was actually his.  :)  I'm sad I didn't get to know him while he was still here.  Someday!  Love you Papacito!

look how handsome he is!

what the creeper?

today was an interesting day.

i woke up waaay later than i was supposed to.  i changed my clothes at least 7 different times before wearing the dress i put on first. (isn't that always the case?) after being late for church but attending sacrament meeting and sunday school, a gal friend and i decided spur of the moment to drive to salt lake to visit our dear friend at her ward(and her ward has some attractive men. not gonna lie).  so we're driving up (my friend was driving, i was riding in the passenger seat) and as i'm riding i like to look around. who doesn't? i was looking at many drivers and passengers of cars that were passing us and we were passing, not thinking much about anything.  we had passed this guy in a truck a few times, and finally i look over again at this truck to see its driver holding up a piece of paper against his driver's side window.  i looked more closely to see that it said "HI ERIN"  bolded and upper-cased.  completely caught off guard, i smiled awkwardly and waved (naturally) and still have no idea who it was.  no idea.  he had on a hat and sunglasses, and was two lanes away from me and we were driving so i couldn't get a good look.  so mystery creeper driver knows who i am, apparently.  who has time to write down a note while driving? whatever. fun times, right?

  there's my weird story for the day. anything awkward happen to you recently?

and ever

Sister Anna. But seriously though.

she is one of the {weirdest} people i know.

quirky
hilarious
awkward
pretty

all describe dear Anna.





classic [mint]-in-place-of-anna's-teeth photo.



 

she just recieved her mission call. 

Watch here:  

or if you like spoilers:

she has been called to serve in the 

Dallas Texas mission

Spanish speaking.

she leaves December 14.

holy moly.  i can't stop crying. so sad, but so so so so happy and excited.  let's be honest, i don't know how i'm feeling.

i am soooo excited for her.

but my insides are crying lots. 

i'm selfish like that.

i need volunteers to distract me for the next 18 months.  i only have 7 weeks to find a replacement

:)

darn it...

a little bit ago i went to the eye doctor

i walked into the office, and was given a form to fill out, similar to this:

I got to the question

are you nursing/pregnant? yes or no

without realizing what I was doing (I was hurrying to get through the form) i circled YES


i scribbled the heck out of that question. i didn't know what else to do!

...


kinda reminds me of the time when i was trying on bras (awkward already) at v.'s secret and the dressing room attendant says to me

oooohh so when are you due?

and i said

with that glazed-over-smile should-i-punch-you-or myself-in-the-face-look..

soon.



story of my life.


for the record.  no, i am not nursing. or preggo.

i'm original.

You are constantly coming up with new ideas. For you, the world as it exists is just a jumping-off place; what's going on inside your mind is often more interesting than what's going on outside.

You don't feel that the road to success is to be a realist and stick to the program; you never stop yourself from coming up with new ideas or telling the world what you're thinking about.

you don't understand how much this describes me.

i am alllwayyys coming up with new ideas.  but you knew this. 

i'm always telling people(you) my idears.

new career paths
new business plans
vacation schemes
illustrations
new hair style ideas
updating my style in general
new boys to crush on
schooling plans
ways to earn money
i'm constantly changing my mind



and while most of the time it can be a good thing
a lot of times it hinders my progression.  
i do need to stick to my gut and just go for it rather than change my mind so often. 


what are some of your bright ideas?

amen to that!

inspirations as of late.

via pinterest.

 

 this illustration was used in a short cartoon featuring lots of paper illustrations!  oh my, i love it.  i love retro disney.  watch here! 

lately i am loooving the layered paper illustrations.  i would love to try this out soon.  perhaps with tangled?...