My B-day 4Rizzle

"Welcome to New York. Walk with me as I show you how we celebrated my birthday."

"I think the majority of our money was spent at Zabar's (my favorite specialty grocery store.)
After some artichoke dumplings and chocolate crossiants, we headed back out onto the streets."

"We meet some interesting people along the way. No words we spoken between this woman and us, but we knew she wanted to be part of our world. Who wouldn't? For heaven sakes, I am married to mr. GQ here."

"Well, sometimes he's GQ. Other times he is . . . different."

"On our way to see wicked!! Trying to make up for last picture. Hm."

"Da, da, da, dah! Love, laughter, evilness . . .and WICKED!!"

"Mr. GQ enjoying Halloween Night in NYC. Not a safe scene."

"My birthday month has finally approached. I welcome it with open arms."

" And then try to seduce the month into my full power."

"But then mr. GQ jumps in the shot and total 'out seduces me'." JERK

"Another brilliant move by Mr. GQ."

MR. GQ

A New Thanksgiving

NYC

BOSTON

FRED

Bean

What this weekend has to offer me.

Yahoo!!

The markets and events in DC are very fun, but what is funner (yes that is a word, check my personal dictionary) is that I am going to Wicked Halloween night. We will be dressing up (pictures to come). I am only going because:
1) My husband loves me.
2) We are celebrating a year older.

Personal Dictionary

Funner (fun {r}) A greater amount of fun than the normal amount.

Icckykappo (Iccky [c] a pooo) Gross poo

These are both real words.

I deserve It

Before I explain what I deserve and why, I just want to update you all that I found out my boss was married to a prince from Saudi Arabia or some place like that. She is strange and not into Americans. I respect that.


I just decided that I deserve 1,000,000 dollars. And I have good reasoning, also.

1. I would give at least 40,000 to various charities.

2. I would buy all those I love an I-phone or something sweet like that.

3. I would still clean my own room and not hire a maid (but I would probably buy the softer toilet paper, that stuff is nice.)

4. I would give nicer gifts at Christmas time.

5. I would travel the world and give out free tooth brushes to the homeless people I see-that is not something you see everyday.

6. I would fly my family (including myself of course) to hang out with the cast of glee and probably be on the show because two amazing things in the same room can only make the world more amazing, Thanks to me!

7. I would get personalized singing lessons. Then when I was amazing I would put on 1/2 priced concerts. Once again saving others money.

8. Probably start a clothing line and NOT hire Irina from Project Runway because frankly I don't like her. I would probably hire someone else like . . . well someone who is nice and makes me cute dresses. This would help others be more fashionable for a fantastic price!

9. I would not spoil my future children and they would still have to do their chores. Especially the dishes I can't stand doing the dishes! Ug.

10. I would occasionally and probably very rarely drop ten dollar bills on the cement. Everyone loves finding money on the streets.

See, It makes perfect sense why I should be awarded a million dollars. Something I see people wasting everyday buying useless things like soap and I would use the money so much better than them!

My Life

One of my three jobs out here in DC is an acupuncturist's assistant. No I don't help her poke people (lets just clear that up right now.) This is my boss Tracy Hackett. She looks like a normal ordinary person, right?

WRONG!! This lady had the craziest stories ever. Every time I work for her I am filled with romantic tales about her lover in Egypt, or the man whom she broke his heart or else he would have been disowned from his family ( this all happened when she was living back in his home country in some where like Saudi Arabia.) Or how about the story of how her boyfriend Skip from Florida was jealous of her previous love with this Arabian man and so he joined her on her next travel to the Arabian land only to stop her from seeing her old lover. I know it is all very complicated and quite hard to explain. Actually it is quite hard to understand, as well.

I know what you are thinking, she is making this all up. This woman couldn't really live such a life. But the thing is it just fits her. She wouldn't be the crazy amazing Tracy Hackett I know, if she didn't have this craziness leaping from her.

Sincerely,

The little married mormon girl who is really sticking out in this city.

Really?

Friday night I finished work just before midnight in downtown DC. This is how the next 12 hours went down.

midnight- Friend needs a ride home from work cause her A word boyfriend was drunk. Drive her to Maryland.

12:30am- Arrive home to Virginia.

1am- Drive back to Maryland to save friend. Friend calls it quits with lame dude, packs up bags, moves out.

2am- Back in Virginia.

SLEEP

10am-Friend buys flight home for Texas. Flight leaves in 4 hours.

12pm-A word wants to try and make it work again (for like the 18th time) drive to Maryland.

1pm- Back in Virginia.

4pm- Back in DC for work. All is well.

I credit this adventure all to A word and gasoline. I only appreciate one.

A Cute Little Story

My husband works at the United States Treasury. He wears an Italian suit.


I work at a cupcake shop. I wear a green t-shirt.


He makes no money. I am his sugar momma.


We are in love.

Coin Laundry Girl

My sister just showed me this song, I love it. Life is just too perfect here.

A few things I wish I could wear . . . but I just can't.

Red Lipstick. So beautiful. So Fierce.

Cute Hats. Can hide bad hair. Can enhance beautiful hair.

Scandalous Dresses. Only Sometimes.

And my greatest desire, stunning high heels.

My Newest Past Time

Minus the pinch of crudeness there is a bucketful of cleaver, and offers twenty minutes of giggles per episode.
Plus I wonder if any of my associates, amici, or relatives are closet never-nudes that need to know I will accept them . . . Nay, I will appreciate them. Come clean.

Help?!

Does anyone know how I can center my title picture? This looks a little bit ridiculous.

Shrimp Orzo Salad

"I'm hungry. O I know! I will made something to eat. How about I make a whole gallon amount of pasta for just me and be stuck eating it for the next month-breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, midnight snack. Thanks a lot Reagan."

This salad is one of the favorite recipes. To bad I forgot it feeds twenty. I am still learning how to cook for two. Every time I attempt to cook for two it ends up being for eight (with leftovers) like I have been trained to do.

The salad includes-shrimp, orzo, cucumbers, dill, parsley, red onion, feta, lemon juice, olive oil, and lots of salt and pepper.

For dessert-Blueberry crumb cake (sorry no picture, I ate it too fast.)

I'm Brilliant

I have recently come to the conclusion that I married a closet Male Model. It took me a while to discover the news but after extensive research and many moments of "checking him out" I have decided he is keeping a great secret from me.
1. He leaves at noon and doesn't return til 11, sometimes 12 at night. He tells me he is out selling door to door, but excuse me those hours seems like the perfect time for modeling and a quick drink afterward with hotties. He even has an outfit to fake people out on the whole "sales man" routine.
2. I always catch him posing, and he seems to flex for me alot-normal, I think NOT!
3. Some of my friends tell me he looks like a celebrity. They can never exactly pin point which one it is, and now I am realizing they are mistaking him for himself (that famous unnamed male model!) betrayal!
4. He is always checking out his body in the mirror, I catching myself checking out his body as well- male models always draw the womens' eyes.
5. Whenever we are outside it seems that his shirt is always quickly removed, especially when we are at the pool and playing volleyball. Perfect time for all the other men to be intimidated, on the volleyball court. Pathetic.
6. He wears purple-dead give away.

If you have any ideas how I am to confront him about this please let me know.

Has anyone seen this movie?

Two days after seeing it I am still trying to decide if I liked it or not? It was one of those movies that definitely would have stolen some of my tears if I was in the right situation. I was with some people that I just couldn't let the sobbing flow, so I wasn't able to experience the full emotion the movie had to offer. I am left wondering did I like the show or not? ah, unfulfilled.

New Shoes

I have found two new groups that are helping me understand the meaning of life. First is Paolo Nutini (half Scottish half Italain-blush). When I push my finger against that play button I instantly find myself swaying into the middle of the room. All I need to do is sway and find some way to make tears flow down my face-those are some of the best moments.

Next is The Script (a new hip Irish band). When their songs start I find myself packing my nap sack, puting on my sun glasses and heading out the front door hoping the world will lead me to an adventure that will help me discover why . . . why?

Music has, does, and will continue to save my soul.

Why I love Tampa

I never thought I would walk into a thrift store and then when I get to the cash register have the cashier tell me it is all 50% off. It can actually go cheaper than the listed thrift store price? miracles.

Cooking with basically nothing . . . u huh

This week I have been wanting to experiment a lot of recipes but I quickly realized I brought out very little of the necessary equipment to truly consider myself cooking. "Add water and stir" doesn't really make you want to shout "WOW I can't believe it turned out right!" I would rather say "No, I didn't bring those treats-that was Jerry who brought those shriveling muffins."

But I have discovered two items I brought that has saved me from total shame. First my heaven sent Cobalt Blue Kitchen Aid. I feel like any true culinary artist would up their respect for me if they saw me dressed in my homemade apron and dashing a pinch of marjoram into my Cobalt Blue Kitchen Aid. (I will continual be adding, and uppercasing the words Cobalt Blue because they are as important details as the kitchen aid itself is to me.)

Second I brought the Magic Bullet. You know the thing you see all the time on the infomercials. At first I stuck it in the cupboard of my kitchen waiting for a lonely day when I would need to make a milkshake; assuming that was it's only purpose. Obviously I haven't actually seen the infomercial or I would have been ashamed of my low expectations. I discovered this electronics priceless power when I was in need of a food processor to make my almond butter. I gave it a little test and the results were beyond my shallow expectations. So in a way I guess I am here to advertise the Magic bullet and solidify the fact that it is magic.

Back in Business

I went to the grocery store the other day. An older man with a long white beard approached me and asked, "Excuse me, can I ask you a riddle?"

At first I was a little taken back. I was all alone in a big city with no one to rescue me but the bag boy screaming at the front of the store (another story for another time). But since he seemed to have some availing qualities I quickly responded, "sure" . . . my first mistake.
He then asked, "What is the answer behind the apparent truth?"
"Huh?"

After him trying to coax an answer out of my obviously confused brain he asked if i wanted him to suggest an answer. This is where I made my second mistake. Thinking his suggestion would get me out of this conversation the quickest and let me get home to make dinner, I asked him for his suggestion.

For the next 10 minutes I listened to this man tell me why the answer NOW was a good choice. He sequences of thoughts and facts eventually lead to him telling me about the difference between men and women, how me use to be married but he discovered marriage wasn't really his thing but that this gave him credentials for understanding women. He also went on to tell me that love was also a good answer because is the answer to everything. He told me that he has asked people this question all the way from Georgia to Florida. (Those are neighboring states.)

So in retrospect if I had truly wanted to make dinner in time I should have made up some strange answer similar to NOW, such as forgiveness, told the man I had no explanation for my choice and quickly jetted down the cooking isle and hide behind the unsuspecting young mother and her three children.

So far I am loving Florida, right now I am on my way to sweet bay for round two of grocery shopping.

What the?

The Reality of Changing Fashion

My cousin Kelsey has just informed me that this is the new fad, I hope i look good strolling on campus with these do's. Do you think honor code will write me up for being to fashionable?

I Miss Babies

The beauty of Christmas break is the arrival of babies. Squeezing my nephews is just a pleasure. Sadly i had to say goodbye to those little munch kins and now to help stabilize my withdrawals i have found some fat baby pictures. I hope these pictures help you, as well, deal with the pain of no babies.

Drive Baby Drive!

I have often let my mind wander back to the days when I could fill my car up with gas and still be able to pay for food-in the same week. I know I know we all though that was simply a dream but i am hear to prove it ain't true! This picture is actual evidence of modern day gas prices. We are living in a time when gas is not an extravagance but rather a possibility! What are the odds? I don't even know if i trust it myself and than I look at this picture again and believe. All we need people is a little belief and also a continual drop in our economy.

Masquerade Conclusion

The Masquerade was a success. Friends came, food eaten, dancing done.

The Stress of Planning "The" Party

Back when I was chilling in Italy Rachael Dannielle and I planned on having a Masquerade ball the following fall semester (this semester). Well the date has finally come. Today. I should already be in the car driving to prepare the cabin, Rachael won't answer-we have alot to do. I know i shouldn't let these type of things take over my mind and make me want to go run a marathon rather than plan one more part but i just cant stand it when things aren't planned just right. We are having a chocolate fountain and yesterday we spent three hours shopping for the right dippers for a chocolate fountain without knowing what amount and what kind of chocolate to buy. There is also the chore of inviting people and than hearing a few say "sorry i can't come, you should have told me earlier" when I had being telling people since august (do they want a year's notice?). The other stressful aspect of creating the perfect masquerade is the outfit. If you are going to be the host you cant show up in your sunday casual and your dollar store mask, you have to be the hot one on the floor (if you know what i mean.) If any of you have seen The Phantom of the Opera you easily notice the important characters because of their intense outfits. I have to be that character. Wow it sure feels good to vent like this. Thanks!! Pictures of the event to come-unless it is a total flop of course!

NBD (no big deal)

. . . I just went to a private concert with Jason Mraz last night. HELLO!!! it was amazing! I could totally tell he had a crush on me and that he would be calling me after the concert. I haven't gotten a call yet, but I have faith it will come. My friend's boss had a private concert to celebrate his own birthday and everyone in the company was give tickets, free dinner, and free drinks to the Salt Palace with Jason Mraz. I was probably 10 feet from this hottie. What more does a girl want. He was quite charming and you couldn't help but do a little knee bending as his rhythm and the beat ran through the entire building. There was quite a range or individuals at the concert. You had everything from your over 50 still wanna be hip, sugar mommas to your young college grads hoping to make it in life and sloshing down a few drinks. I fit in perfectly. I got as close to the front as a could, leaned back and just let Jason take me away.

Russian Love

So I have heard that Russians are ugly. WRONG! Since some of my friends are basically dating Youtube they showed me this Russian pop singer. Any man (even if Russian) that can hit a note like this deserves every American girls' love. So here you go buddy, here is the dedication of my young heart.

Quote Moment

First of all can I say that President Monson announced that he enjoys musicals just like me. That makes us more alike than people think. Second I would like to share a quote he stated from Music Man, one of his favorite musicals.

"If you pile up to many tomorrows you will have a lot of empty yesterdays."

That is one packed punch.

Alright i also heard another one by C. S. Lewis in Music and the Spoken Word:

"The rule for all of us is perfectly simple. Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love them."

That leaves no room for any one to say they hate someone and you just can't like them, it is always your choice.

Alright and now from one of my favorite musicals Aida(even though i have never seen it):

"You talk as though you've been enslaved, if you don't like your fate change it. You are your own master, there are no shackles on you. So, don't expect any pity or understanding from this humble palace slave!"

Okay so this one is a little out of place but it makes me happy. When you have a black woman shouting this words from her soul, you have no choice but to believe and agree with everything she is saying.

The Power of Missionary Work

Every week when i check my email i normally receive any where from 1 -6 emails from different mothers updating me on their missionary. This week i read an email from a friend serving in the South Africa Misison, he is very musically gifted and quite brilliant. He just recently wrote a poem that I think it pretty beautiful and I wanted to share it:


From under His continual gaze,
I pause and lift my weary head.
Confused, but yet not truly phazed,
I contemplate the blood he shed.

A sacrifice so full of grace
springs from a life lived perfectly.
Our Savior came to set the pace
and beckons now, "Come Follow Me."

I know, yet I obscure the path.
Why do I place my faith in men?
Resolved, refreshed, and realigned,
I raise my head and start again.

Elder Roper

True Love

I am super excited because 80's style is now IN style. I just love putting on those bright colors, walking onto campus and seeing fellow students flaunting the same brilliant colors. I have even gotten some looks from other students and their face is basically telling me, "i choose to respect your clothing options although i have no desire to wear salmon colored pants." I have learned alot from my retro cousin Taylor and with her help have just recently acid washed a pair of normal cute jeans. They are now a blotchy bleached pair of sassy pants. Yesterday I was even told i looked like this girl in the band Love You Long Time, honestly i think there is no similarity except for the fact that we both were purple jeans. But if that is how my peers chose to see me so be it.

The Hard Life

So as a new semester starts so does the call for money. I have begun again working for Megan, my cousin, helping her decorate cakes and bake tasty treats. Let me explain to you how hard my life is. I go to BYU and study italian, linguistics, and religion. I have to sit in classes with extremely interesting professors learning about stuff i am crazy about. Between classes I am constantly seeing old friends/people on campus that are nice to me and ask about my life. As i walk to classes i get to see a plethora of attractive sites. I then have to go to Megan's and spend hours hanging out with my little sister, friends, Megan and her adorable children, making really sweet cakes. I am required to taste cookies, cupcakes, frostings and use my creative juices to design beautiful cakes. Then i get to return home to my apartment and be around 5 amazingly awesome girls. We sit up and talk for hours about how hard our lives are. O yea THEN i have to wake up and do it all again.

BYU Sports

BYU football is back!! Isn't it the best. I love walking into a game and seeing the thousands of fans all here to cheer for the true blue. It is easy to pick out those students who are true fans and those that are there just for the social scene Or to see the fathers that wish there were still students and do their best to fit in with the huge student crowd. Or the wifes that show their true blue by dressing up all their children from head to toe in BYU blue and than making them all sit through 3 hours of game time. This season better be good!!

Weekend of Bliss

I had the most beautiful weekend, ever. I spent it on a boat in the middle of this beautiful lake, Lake Powell. I am almost positive that place has a magical power of adding peace to any troubled soul. Actually it also has the reverse power when you are being pulled at 30 miles an hour behind the boat on a tube that has no ability to stop your almost naked body from completely catapulting into the 200ft deep lake. So i had very fighting feelings if the weekend was relaxing or near death defying. I will let you know the results soon.

The Power of a Ladle

Upon returning home to Utah i have decided to dedicate each free moment to the kitchen. I have actually baked so much that we dont really have any more room in our fridge for my concoctions. I get excited anytime someone comes over to the house so i can stuff food down there throat and here their opinions on what i should fix with my recipes. Today i did an italian dinner for my family. I cook stuff tomatoes, a presto chicken pasta, carbanara and for desert we had strawberry tiramisu. This week my favorite recipe was the Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Cake-it took two days.

She Lives

So after much consideration i decided that i need to write JK Rowling and ask her to do a book series about me. I know, I know it might be a little out of my league-meaning letting a strange woman into my many secrets but i feel that she has really proven herself with exposing this Harry Kid. So i guess the world is ready to here my story . . . I will survive.

Ultimo Sabato

So for our last Saturday in Siena together we decided to have our own Palio. For those of you who dont know what the palio is i will explain. It is a famous horse race run every July 2 in the heart of Siena. Siena is divided into areas called contradas that each have their own symbol. My contrada is the Tartuga (turtle). Well for our last saturday together Danielle and I planned a sweet ultimate day. First of all i planned we would have our own Palio. We first drew the jockies than the jockies drew their horses. I happened to be a horse. We than all headed the the Piazza (the place where everyone just chills in Siena). We saddles up and than began our piggy backing around the must public place in Siena. All eyes were on us (no seriously i think we were entertaining nations). Dont worry I came in as a strong third. Which is good since Second is considered the losing position in the Palio. Many of 2nd places are beaten up after the Palio-no joke. But i have to admit in our Palio there was alot of cheating and falling and a little blood. In these pictures i have my warrior face and we also had a picture with an old man who was telling us that we were doing our race all wrong and proceeded to demonstrate how it should be done.

We have now taken our last day trip to Florence. This time we got to see the Uffizi but sorry to say I think the most of us are historically arted out. So a lot of market shopping commenced that day. Plus some eating, being caught in a freak rain storm, buying sweet ray-bands, and other important Italian life aspects. O yes and many of the girls invested in leather jackets. I on the other hand bought beer bottle cap earing-see where the difference in priorities lye?

Last Cooking Class

Our final cooking class was a hoot! We made my favorite recipe of the whole trip, this focaccia bread. It may look simple but don’t be fooled it WILL change your life (that was said more like a command.)

Cookin'

We get these cook aprons to decorate each cooking class. Mine normally has some cool drawing that astounds the Italian chefs we work with.

My Morning Adventures

O don’t worry this just happens to be the place I work every day. And I probably shouldn’t call it work since I just learn cool recipes and get free food. Today I got to make a celery pesto, on my own. These gardens are actually a place for mentally ill to stay and work. It is really enjoyable to be with them. I have lots of new Italian friends now (even if they don't ever remember my name).

The 3rd Birthday Party

But this birthday party was my favorite, more of a all day long party. After church the boys invited Ray, Dani and I over to watch a movie. They fed us some snacks (ritz, bread, juice) while Tommy made his own birthday cake. Than we pushed the guys beds together and watched the Ultimate Gift. I slept. Than we went over to the red-heads apartment (the two red head girls in our group live together so basically they are seen as one person.) and they made us dinner. We made homemade pesto!! I know it was amazing. I learned it at work. Don’t worry I am not done. Than we all went back to the guys apartment and had the cake. Sadly people didn’t show up until ½ late so the five of us there sang to Tommy and ate his cake (he cut his own cake). So he decided he only has 5 true friends. Count on me to always be on time when there is food involved.

O and that picture Erin is holding up is one that I colored for her cause I love her.

Mari Scary Ann

this birthday party was a serious festa. Marianne, the girl in blue, is kind of everyone’s favorite. She is the type of girl who hates certain types of people and would actually make a hate list. I don’t think I am on her hate list, yet-I do tease her excessively. She actually is already making a wedding invite list and I am at the top (she hasn’t found the guy yet.)

Bparty

This week we celebrated three birthdays, one of the birthdays happen to be celebrated in a dungeon. The basement of one of the apartments even had this jail cell that me and Cameron are locked in. Hmm interesting. Also this specific night we ended up playing an 1 ½ hour game of Mafia, it was intense! My professor was getting real into it, and it think we might have even had some hurt feeling afterward. I don’t think that game will be played again this Study abroad.

My Welcome Home

After my arrival home from sicilia I was given a warm welcome home from the pigeons and yes, they gave me one of their unique little presents-poop. Try and find it? When I told my posy they informed me that it is considered good luck and we actually have a pigeon poop group in our SA. I am the newest member.

Titanic in Sicilia

Sadly on the way home we had a titanic experience. We were on the fairy from Sicilia to the main land and I was accompanying Caitlin to the bathroom. After about three minutes of waiting for her to come out a heard a serious door jiggling and than a “Reagan?.” At first she accused me of holding the door (like I would ever do that) and than we both realized she seriously could not undo the lock. Would stood in panic and had many failed attempts for about ten minutes and than is when I ran for help. Boy who cried wolf. I ran to all my friends on the top deck and told them the dramatic news. Only 2 believed me and followed but on our way to the bathroom she was walking our way. Great now I look like an idiot. But she backed me up and told them we were sure the ship was going to sink and she would have died a toilet death, always go to the extreme in possibilities. We are all grateful Caitlin is still with us today.

End of Siracusa

After the day we spent caves skaplunking or however you call it, the girls took a little skinny dip in the Mediterranean Sea. It was actually quite enjoyable and pleasant. We felt like a bunch of old woman that go and tread for an hour each day to keep their heart rates up.

More

Now to Siracusa!

So this coming monday is a national holiday in italia and therefore we all were given the option to travel. One of the boys in our group served his mission in the Catania Mission and so seven girls joined him to visit Sirucusa, Sicilia. We are staying with his buddy Toni the one i am dancing with. But first let me inform you that we took a total of about 13 hour bus rideto get the this party joint. Finally upon arrival we preped up and headed to the beach. The time there was spent cliff jumping, cave searching, avoiding speedos, and some serious sunage. We than purchased our goods and headed to have a baraque out in Eddy's familys cottage home (he is a professional biker, the guy with the blue shirt). That night we headed up to the discoteca, dropped a few beats, and bought ourselves some seriously non-acoholic beverages. Lesson learned from this day: italian men like the kisses, and expect it. Cameron (the boy in out SA) made me practice a few time because he said i did the double cheek kiss awkward. I have definitely improved though. O yea and Siracusa could definitly be a one hit wonder, i am in love with this divine place and its crazy people.

Firenze, woot woot!

Basically it rained the whole day in Florence and there were many people that, i quote, "should learn umbrella ediquette" as said by mary-ann the girl most quoted on this trip because of her slightly toasty attitude and opiniated ways, we love her. But no complients because wow. How else do i explain such magnitude. Wow once again is how i will appoarch an accruate explination. The David was the thing that most blew my mind, he was very . . . big. Also i must add the gelato there was m m good.

Ciao Clase

This is my italian class. This was our last day of class, and boy was it hard to say goodbye. No really it was hard, none of us really speak the same language and i think in those two weeks i learned more chinese than i did italian. My friend Paolo the one kneeling next to Rachael would always talk to us about the Jazz, Streetboy (some rapper) Panda Bears, and pistols. O yea and he asked me and Ray to go the the beach with him and Jason (the hard core looking one). But my favorite was Cezare he is the one that looks like the chinese version of Ron Weasley. I never understood one italian word that came out of his mouth, Paolo would have to translate for me in a little clearer but still butchered italian. But dont worry, we are all now friends on facebook.

Leaning Tower of . . .

Today was Pisa Day. We did have to go to school, but immediately after we headed to the adventurous town of Pisa. The train ride was full of many laughs, so much so that at one point i was to tears (as seeable above). These kids here are crazy. We got to the top of the tower and had to stand sideways to keep from falling, i know crazy stuff. No worries dude we made it and now we will be the one telling michaelangelo what's up. I dont really know what that means but sometimes i just wanna still to michelangelo cause that man has got serious skills when given a knife and stone. O and just for clarification he was not at all involved with the leaning tower.

The way we be chillin'

At night, after we have finished many hours of school or have just spent the day hard core shopping we normally all hang out together. Some times it is at the Piazza just sharing out first kiss stories for the fifteen time, or watching a movie at someone's apartment.

1st cooking adventure

Our first cooking class we learned how to make out own pasta, we made a delicous veal, a buonissima bruschetta with mushrooms and others with tomatoes and our meal finished with a strawberry desert. The whole cooking process lasted a beautiful 2 hours. And just like italians do it the eating process was also 2 hours. By the time dinner was over i heard a few people state they were hungry again because we had so much time between courses that it became all digested. Italians really know how to do it.

Cena

Our first sunday in Siena we invited the guys and Cinzia over for sunday dinner. We all brought part of it and than just cooked it together at me and Dani's apartment. Aint it cute. We like it. We each have our own room with queen size beds and the best part . . . a dish washer! dont be jealous

cut!

I needed a little change and the only person that i felt could really help was Mr. Siccors. We have been hanging out for a while now and i just asked him to go for it and Dani did a little.

Trevi Baby

We would occasionally go hang out at the Trevi, you know when we just want to chill n'stuff. Actually the guys challenged dani that night to dunk her head in the Trevi, she got 10 euro for it. Ero Celosa ma va bene perche ho scatato un bouno foto. O yea and if i havent told you i was given a rose by an italian man at the trevi, what more do you want from me!

Contro la Cellulite

Everyday while in italy we would pass the sign advertising, controlling your cellulite, as if italians had a problems with that. They dont need this stupid guam pill they have a better solution that works faster, it is called smoking. And it is a 95% guarentee and the only cost is 10 years of your life. I was hoping to be their need model. They said they would get back to me in three weeks.

My best buds

This is a picture of the two girls i spend too many freaking hours with, yes I sleep with them and eat with me and now as you can see in this picture we will grow old together. If you couldnt tell they are posing as a grandma and grandpa. If you didnt get that dont worry, most people dont get them either.

Rain Rain, you ruined our day

We got into Siena Saturday afternoon. The night was perfect. First we went grocery shopping and than of course ate gelato. We all planned to meet at the Piazza at 8:30 the following morning for church. As suspected, my two roommates and I awoke at 8:35. I booked it down to the Piazza to tell the group we were coming. When I got there they gave me directions to the church and Tommy gave me his cell phone just in case then they headed on their way. When I finally met up with the girls we attempted to follow the simple directions. we were having trouble. Once it hit 9:15 and we had declared ourselves lost the weather made us pay the consequence. Within seconds we were under a full sheet of rain.
And it kept raining, and raining, and well I think you get it. We spent an hour in that pouring rain until we heard a little buzzing in my purse and we realized I had been given a phone. Oops. Well if you want to know we did make it . . . about an 1 ½ hours passed 9. O and I think I forgot to mention as soon as we took our seats in Sunday school the skies were clear.

Goodbye

I now leave to Siena and hopefully with this new step of adventure i will be able to post pictures. and boy do i have pictures!! Ciao!!

Giorno Final

Today was scheduled to be beach day #2, but sadly the weather did not agree with our plans. On a brighter note Rome always has a back-up plan. Ours was the Basilica of San Pietro along with the dome, la migliore pizzeria, and a scavenger hunt. The Basilica was astounding. Almost completely Bernini and Baroque, the church was quite a massive sight to see. The reason it was built so grand and spacious was to, in a way, fear the people into believing. Because the church wanted to show you how small you are in comparative to the church so you need to come into the church for protection. But my favorite part of the morning was after hiking the 321 steps to the top of the dome in the Vatican and seeing over the city of Rome. It was astounding!! So beautiful, so old, and full of history that I had yet to discover. I suggest that all try and one day look over the city of Rome, it is quite a powerful feeling. . .


My friend Danielle was told by her mother, who had read it in the NY times, that the best pizzeria was in Rome, Forno Bakery. We only had general directions but with the help of a few patience autobus drivers and experiences Italian RMs. We discovered it. It was hiding in the corner of Piazza del Fiori, penso que si. That is the thing about Rome, the best clothing store, food, and pastry shop could be located in the most random places. Meaning, basically you have to eat at every place you pass, or you could be passing the greatest thing of your life. But it is okay for the Romans to do that because they walk so much and smoke every second that they can afford to eat like that. So I guess we discovered the answer to all our problems, smoking and walking. WOOT.
The day did not end there my friend. Since it was only 2pm and we didn’t want to go back and sit at the hotel the seven of us decided to jump on the nearest bus and get off on the fifth stop. While riding Melissa decided that we needed to do a scavenger hunt and find five things. First a Gelateria, second a Pizzeria, third a lingerie store, next a Smart Car and finally a Fountain. Probably the five most common things in Italy. We are pretty sure that each street contains those five essential ingredients, or it isn’t Rome. So if you are walking down a street and see those things good news you just entered the eternal city.

Bliss . . .

Hmm, can it be so astounding. How is it that all this art was done thousands of years ago and it still standing perfectly today. My professor seems to know a lot about each piece so I have a tendency to follow her around the museums and chapels. I feel like a leech but I think she accepts me for who I am. We have been seeing a lot of Baroque art and buildings. It is beautiful and really captures the eye. It expresses intense emotion and could really entertain you for hours. It is so different then our churchs, which helps to show the focus of the differing beliefs. It was such a contrast for me to spend one day in a simple building with a variety of people sharing testimony and than the next to be surrounded by breath taking art and to hear loud voices everywhere. Each appeal to a different audience. For some reason it just more displays for me the truthfulness of our church.

Nightly Adventures

It seems this study abroad group is getting more and more comfortable with one another. Cinzia has become all of our second moms (giving me hugs occasionally when I am feeling in need of a mother) and I think I have gained a few more sisters. We all stay up late each night sharing interesting romance stories and awkward moments. But my favorite night so far has been the night when I was chilling with my roommates and two of the guys dropped in to my room to chat. As I was getting into bed I asked them to tuck me, since my mom wasn’t here to. Weirdly they took it as a challenge and tucked me in harder than necessary. After becoming a cocoon I said, “wow if you had a rope around my top and legs there is no way I would be able to get out.” Instantly they both reached down and ripped off their belts and tightened me in. They said, “get out of that one.” Challenge accepted. As quickly as I could I shimmied off the bed and bounced to the door. After opening the door I tripped and rammed my head into the neighbors door, but didn’t stop there. I slid as far as a could to my friends hotel room but right before I reached her door the two boys had throw me back into my bed. I have made some eternal friends.

Eternally Roman

So I guess while in Rome I can’t upload pictures, so I will just have to wait until Siena. One week. But please let me inform you there is much to see and tell. Every person our professor selected for this group is amazingly unique. It seems that everyone gets along really well and each had their own unique story. So I totally fit in. Today we got to see the beautiful grounds at the Villa in Tivoli. There was many fontane (fountains) each one had significant meaning or representation. We all secretly wanted to swim in them but I think we might have scared the people of Italy, and believe me being individual is not something my group has a problem doing. After that we returned for dinner at the hotel and by dessert one of the boys in our group had the waiters sitting down at our tables and was serving them. We don’t really know how it all came about. The night was than spent with us all crammed in my bedroom and sharing out first kiss stories. It is interesting how from a simple first kiss story you can really get to know a person. But the best part of the night was after everyone had gone to bed and I ran down stairs to try and see if I could get on the internet. Down there I saw a few kids in the program talking to one of the waiters at the restaurant about the gospel. He was thoroughly interested and was asking intriguing questions. He told us he doesn’t smoke or drink and was interested in a Book of Mormon. How perfect.
In my honest opinion I think Italy could be ranked as #1 in all competitions. Just challenge it, and you will see.

Roman Life

Yes i am alive. I think everyone should know that Italy is amazing and accepts all types of people. Everyone here would feel accepted. This is about what you have missed out on. I have been talking a pretty poor Italian with my patient Italians in such places like the Colosseo, in Assissi, Pompeii, and in many cute pizzerias. For example yesterday I wanted to order foccacca for lunch and the woman working there spoke NO english. And I really don’t speak ANY Italian but we compromised, using hand sign language and me putting down some pretty intensive Italian one-sylabel-words. And the outcome: a great lunch with molti cheese!! The best part of my Italian attempts is at dinner. When the waiters come around to our table at the hotel dinner area, we try and tell them jokes in Italian. They laugh, not because of the joke, but more out of our attempt to speak Italian. Luckily they are patient. I even challenged my waiter by cheering on the opposing soccer team for the area. He wouldn’t serve me dinner after that. I think you all would be astounded at the beauty I get to see everyday. I don’t think it is fair that Italy has sucked all the beauty into their country and left us with driedness. rude. The landscape and homes are so enchanting, which brings up another point. All the girls here, in the study abroad, mainly talk about the movie enchanted and sing the songs all, day, long! Anyways back to the beauty. Another beautiful aspect is the language. I just can’t get over it. Please everyone come over here and see this amazing place.

Ciao!!

Well i am off to Rome. And I happen to end my London adventure with a little STOMP!!! They were incredible. It made me think of my crazy roommates Carly (cause she happens to be a stomper). We even got to take a picture with them after the show while they took their smokes. When we told them where we were from they said, "Utah Saints" with a very hic accent. Promising futures. LOVE YOU ALL!!

Delightful Walk

For my Friday's adventure i joined Whitlie and her group for their London Walks. They are given a map of a certain area in London and they have to visit specific building on the designated walk. Here Willy and I are suppose to be in meditation at St. Mary's Chapel. I don't think meditation is necessarily our best talent. Don't worry we had about 100 more chapels to practice in.

Hey Sexy Lady

On our walk we found Venus posing quite scandalously. You might think, "Reagan how could you pose next to her rear!" but i think if you saw my other angle options, you would offer many thanks. Plus you have to admit she has a nice caboose. I think Nemo's friends said it best when they said, "(s)he touched the butt"!

Such Pressure . .

During our walk we caught a glimpse of an intense game of Wizard's Chess. It was in the middle of a few businesses, so i guess men met up with each other during their lunch break and really pull out their top game, you know get some exercise out during the day. I wasn't sure who was going to win, it was a super close game. I am thinking they will need to call a rematch on their coffee break.

A worthy temptation

The walk seemed to be going alot slower than necessary. They kept getting distracted by the silliest things. I mean come on would this tempt any of you?

Lunch Break

These are my new friends that i joined on the London walk with. They were all pretty sweet, i think i will keep them. We needed to take a lunch break before we started a new walk and this is the place we chose. It seemed to be the place to be since EVERYONE was there (but the queen, gone on important business).

Dance Party

I joined the London Study Abroad for a Singles Ward Dance. It was off the eezy!! I danced so hard that today i was sore, yea believe it. These are just a couple of the friends i made. So probably half the people there were BYU students but everyone there was partying like we were in London, which we totally were. I learned a couple new sweet dance moves, was able to practice my accents with some authentic brits and best of all made a complete fool of myself, and here is how.
So there was about 5 black guys doing this dance they all knew together in the front while everyone was watching them. I totally wanted to learn their dance and they seemed like everlasting friends so i went up and joined them. So picture 5 pretty big dudes breaking it down and a white chick (accompanied by her white friend Whit) trying to keep up. Not a pretty picture. Eventually i told myself everyone in the audience was annoyed by my exceptional moves and i raced to the back of the chapel, only to continue dancing next to my new British posy.
The night was a absolute bliss!

A sweaty finish

Since me and whitlie are accustomed to doing things in a threesome, especially with a girl named Jane, we searched and found a new Jane in Wiskey's London group. So here is a picture of Jane, Whit, and Reagan after dancing our hearts out. No seriously i think i was having heart failure after that dance, maybe something to do with London air.

Finishing Day

On my final day in London i thought it would best be served with a Broadway and some shopping at the street market, Portobello. Since me and Whitlie's mornings were sadly delayed we missed any chance of finding tickets to Les Mis and thus sadly trotted to Portobello with no plans for the night. But Portobello offered some interesting tales. I head more italian than i have heard all week and i constantly found myself leaning into people's conversation to see if i could catch a note of what they were saying. but before i had an time for translation i was butted out with rude glances. I can't understand why Italians vacating to London don't want a pushy American shoved in their face? Well, ending your trip is always a sad thing to do. So i won't i will just fly to Rome tonight! woot!

A Truly London Day

This morning was a rusher. I had an appointment with destiny! I was to be initiated into real London society. First i was to meet up with my aunt at the British Museum where she was to indulge me in the tales of ancient history and enlighten me with stories of royalty. I was all ears to her.

After an education feast at the museum i set off my lonesome to visit the everlasting Kensington Gardens! What adventures lied there for me. I felt like each new road I turned on was whispering songs of delight. One could feel right at ease in a place like that. As you can see my feet were just bashful as the sight of such beauty!

After daintily walking through the Orangery alone, I was than accompanied by William III ( he told me this was his best angle) through the Kensington Palace. He was just a doll!! Telling me stories of his childhood there and the cruel tricks he would play on his poor mother. But i never mind it, for i found him to be as sweet as a plum tree. We plan to meet up again soon. As soon as he can take a break from his duty, you know royalty is a true burden on a soul.

O Rubbish!

I finished up my adventures in Kensington gardens by pulling out my inviting murder mystery book and indulging in a few chapters at the Italian gardens, next to some very polite swans. (Sherie and Ted I believe their names are.)

What light through yonder window breaks

After a quick rest Alex and I headed off to the theatre to see a fascinating performance of Romeo and Juliet. Bravo!! it was splendidly delivered and I truly believe i exited a true Brit. I was captured with the brawls and enthralled with the beautiful delivery of Juliet's unexpected death. Yet after the truly heart wrenching performance I was still missing my Office which i should have been watching back home. Cheerio!

An Interesting Night

So last night as i was sitting in the living room of our flat i pulled out a cook book and started scanning if for interesting recipes. In my search for a delicious snack i discovered Brits are pretty funny. They constantly use words like rubbish and poppycock (well not really poppycock) in their recipes. So my new ambition is to be a British chef. I feel cut out for the job as soon as a get a little practice with my lingo yo.

Secondly in the middle of the night around, say 2 am, i was watching a BYU ward member named secretcrushjason (thanks to Carly) doing back flips on skates. We were all skating together but he seemed to be the one with all the talent. So nonchalantly i attempted this fascinating trick and surprised my whole ward with ultimate success and a perfect landing. When i woke up i decided i can now thank my grandparents for the fourth grade ice skating lessons and add ice skating that to my future career as well as a chef. I just can't wait to tell the boys back home.

This is a dress, in the Victoria Albert Museum, made completely out of bras. The designer did it for contrast against the seriousness put on fashion at the time.

Yesterday Whit, Alex, Connor, and I set out to see London. We first spotted Big Ben followed by Parliament, and than took a break at Westminster Chapel. We visited George V and Oliver Cromwell, neither greeted us very friendly but we paid our dues and did not take offense. We than moved on to more welcoming areas of London. We took Whitlie to see her future Palace (she believes her calling is to be the next queen of England.) We finished up our days travel by visiting Notting Hill and attempting to find Herod's (an amazing shopping mall only for the highest class.) Yet I think the best part of the day was the night when Whitlie, Janae and I talked for about four hours and i got to here my aunt's opinions on religion and her personal religious views. It was one of the most interesting experiences and I can attempt to say I understand her reasoning.

The following day was mainly shopping and realizing that being London is being wealthy. I totally blend in! nope. Let me add that the Victoria Albert Museum is totally Posh. I spent about two hours there today and boy, is there a lot more to see! It is amazing what history lies in such a small area, and how awful/intriguing fashion was back in the day!! Now after all that education i sit at my computer indulging myself in chocolate and reflecting upon my day, trying to decide what Broadway i plan to see this week.

I can honestly say in my list of top 10 scariest things in london is Double-decker drivers. I counted up almost 3 people dying and 10 crashes. I think Will agrees.

Whitlie thinks one day she will be queen of England. I think she would be fine leader.

The parks here are so well taken care of. They are all so beautiful! Whiskey decided that we should take this for our "mums." Here you go MUMMY!!

Holy! The telephone booths in London are so cool. I though about moving in but their was no room for visitors, or those needing to use the telephone.

Me and Connor are planning on trying out for Parliament, what do you think our chances are?
(yes that is parliament behind us.)

This is everyone's basic means of transportation. I mean seriously even when i go to meet the queen for tea this is what i arrive in. She thinks it is fabulous, darling.

April 28th
I was woken this morning with screams of bloody murder. So on the flat above us is another professor for UVSC with her 12yr old daughter Maranda. Well all of us in flat 4 found out this morning she is a bit dramatic. Both my aunt and her mother left early to go pick up their students. Maranda just put in toast which caused the fire alarm to go off. I don't understand why but she left the flat for a second and the door shut on her. The key was inside. Lucky for her, not so much for us, we were a floor below. This girl has one mighty hand. I have never heard someone bang so hard on a door at the same time screaming. I mean seriously we were sure the whole city of London was on fire.

But don't worry it was just burnt toast.

April 26th
So me and whitlie's flight left at 12:45 to a connecting flight through Houston. We knew Jane ann and Gabe were flying international as well (on their way to Mexico). So we wanted to call them and say our goodbyes at the airport, since Jane Ann was originally suppose to join us on this adventure (she was suppose to go to France). The thing is they had a connecting flight as well, through Houston, leaving at 12:45, we had the same connecting flight. So i guess i can say i have already been on a honeymoon, with whitlie and Jane Ann. Jane Ann and Gabe happened to be sitting the row behind us! what are the odds!! So as we were getting on the plane Gabe whispered in my ear, "Reagan you know why were behind you right? Just don't turn around. I think i threw up. So i guess Jane Ann did kinda come on our adventure with us and we on hers. scandel . . .

April 27th
So our next flight was 9 1/2 hours. WOOT!! lots of diversity on this plane. And i have a weird confession, i like plane food. Anyways so me and whit were sitting next to a man from Nigeria. We wantedbadly to be his friend, he didn't care much for us. We couldn't really sleep on that flight but i got to watch a few movies, i love movies!!! Okay so when we were getting on of the plane i swear with all my heart that the Weasley brothers were behind us. Let my paint the picture for you. They were both red heads, with thick english accents, and both were lanky with whiny voices (well mostly the older one was whiny and a bit of a grump all morning). I think they were in a band together cause they both had their guitars with them. So in their thick accents this is the majority of their conversation: (please read aloud with accent)
Fred-"did you call mom and dad?"
George(he is the one with the whiny voice) "no my battery is dead i will call them when i can get a new phone."
Fred-"are you going to be a grump all morning?"
George "No just until i can get away from you."
-" I dont care if i see you til thursday."
Fred "You could go to 'ell for all i care. I dont care if i see you until thursday either but i will have to see you before that because we have to practice on tuesday."

I miss them!
Whitlie than leaned to me and said, "I think they are having a bit of a tiff.