8.31.2011

Mrs. Borup

3 days a week I volunteer to help my mom out in her 1st grade classroom.
(3 days is a very loose term here.. but I'm trying to get it down to a solid routine.)

Anyway,

I really enjoy getting to work with all the 1st graders.
I know them all by name, and I can even identify personality characteristics for each of them.

Sometimes they call me Mrs. Borup, and it makes me swoon.
I want to kiss their little cheeks, but that would be inappropriate.
I don't want them going home and telling their mothers their teacher's helper smooched 'em.

Sometimes the boys smile at me and say "You have big lips."
And I say thank you, even though I'm not really sure if they mean it as a compliment.
Actually, I'm pretty sure their way of complimenting is simply stating facts.

Like today when Camila said to me, "You look like my mom."
And hesitantly, and a little drawn out I say "thank yooou?... but please sound out these words for me"

I am in no way baby hungry,
you know what they say, first comes love, then comes marriage, THEN comes the baby.. and I'm not about to skip the excitement for the 2nd step.
But, it does make me look forward to having a little 6 year old of my own one day;
 a littlelun who adores me and says silly things that make my day.


one day. one very very far away day.

8.30.2011

Another Semester

Coming to you live from the classroom!

That's right school has officially started back up, and since I was terrified of starting at UVU today, I left my house an hour before class because I knew for sure I would be walking around campus completely lost, but pretending I knew where I was, which really makes it harder to get unlost. 
I am a freshman all over again... 
in my heart, not in my credits of course. I did manage to pass a few classes at Utah State. 

Anyway, I survived and managed to make it to my class 2o minutes early. 
Just the way the nerdy girl inside me likes it. 

In other news, and something to help with the fall semester blues,

Those who know me know I used to be a big ring girl. 
And I had 2 rings that I wore almost constantly.
The tiffany's ring my mom gave me, and the ring my dad bought me on our cruise. 
Well at some point at USU, they disappeared, and I was positive they had been stolen.
By whom, I have no idea. My argument wasn't very logical. 
But as I was going through my old backpack this morning to get some school stuff together, I may or may not have found them in the small pocket on the face of my backpack....

woops. 

What really matters is that we have been reunited. 





Three cheers for another semester! 
Hip-Hip-


8.29.2011

Date a Girl Who Reads

Sometimes I get a little distracted and at times a bit discouraged at all of my worldy desires. 
I want. I want. 

And then I read something like this and I remember,

There is more to life and more to me than clothes, style, "hot bodies", and money. 

I should spend less time on Pinterest, and picking out outfits, and more time snuggled in bed with a lovely book, or this little blog. 
learning about the world, and maybe helping other people do the same. 


I'm grateful everyday that I'm a girl who reads. 
and occasionally writes...


Date a Girl Who Reads by Rosemarie Urquico 

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee.

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas, and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by God, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.

She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes.


8.28.2011

Search Keywords

Have you ever looked at your "Stats", and stumbled upon your "Search Keywords"?
If not, I highly suggest that you go do that.

Because I have, and I'm gonna be honest, some of the things people type into google that apparently bring up this little blog are very concerning. For Example...

"Chemical Rash"

and,

"Wet Girls"

I also got a kick out of,

"Girl Hands"

But my favorite, and maybe the most concerning has got to be,

"Sweaty Girl"

Apparently my blog has found itself an identifier.

Welcome to, The Sweaty Girl's Blog.
Anyone else feelin a blog title change coming on?!?


8.27.2011

sleepy and sassy

The boyfriend is still pretty cute and such... he still tells me I'm pretty..

But it turns out being heavily medicated and being in lots of pain makes him mostly sleepy, and a little bit sassy.
Not to mention, I am pretty sure his medication means he is completely forgetting some important, tender relationship moments!

And even though I am just having a grand old blast in the doom and gloom basement of his, creating memories with my alzheimer's patient; I am ready for this to be over.
like today.

In the meantime, he really is suffering more than I, and I will try to be patient..


8.25.2011

Drugged up and Perfect!

Zane had serious knee surgery today.
The surgery took 3 hours instead of 1 1/2 hours, and instead of being in the hospital for 5 hours like expected, we were there for 10 hours.
Needless to say, it was a rough day for Z.

A whole day of watching him be in so much pain hurt my heart. So much so that I might have shed a few tears...
(how I will ever have children and get through all of thier trials will be a miracle)


But through the drugs, pain, and all, he remained the perfect man he's always been.

*Quick Zane fact for you: Every single day Zane and I have spent together over the last two months, he has told me I look pretty.
It's very sweet, even on the days I don't believe him.

So, I spent this morning rushing around trying to get flowers and balloons to some special people and trying to get to the hospital as soon as possible so his mom could go back to work. Thus, I haven't showered, my hair is in a dirty bun on top of my head, and I'm in ripped, saggy-bum jeans.
I walk into the hospital. Zane is looking so pale and exhausted, he can barely keep his eyes open for 5 seconds. I walk over to the side of the bed, his mom says
"Zane, Brooke is here"
He halfway opens his eyes, gives me a rather pathetic attempt at a smile, and says, "You look pretty."
I say, "no, you're just heavily drugged babe."
And he opens his eyes again and replies, not frustrated or angrily, but seriously, "No, you're beautiful."
And closes his eyes again.

Drugged up and in lots of pain my boy remains perfect.
How did I get so lucky?!


My second favorite druggie Zane quote of the day?

"Will someone please turn off the lamp? That lamp is the suck.."

or..

Z: in the hospital, suddenly awake, "Is consolvent a drink?"
Me: (after I googled it) "No baby, it's not even a word."

or maybe the reoccurring...

"This is so STUPID!!"

8.23.2011

Quick Lindsey Time

Yesterday Lindsey was in town for like a whole day.
So I took the evening off the boy to spend some QT with her.

But life isn't too exciting, so basically we went here...

Still an addiction. You're disgusted, I know. 

And then she came to my home to open a late birthday gift from me..

What a cute little outfit she has on! and what cute friends we are! :)

And then basically we sat around and did nothing but doodle and chat.
Exciting or not, it was nice to catch up. 
I know I am going to be lonely when school officially starts and all my friends are busy and far away. So I'm glad I got to see her, even for just a bit. 


She's my bestie people. 

8.22.2011

better run, better run

Hi it's me.
Blogging again.
You're thrilled, I know.

I got a few pictures of my shooting experience, so I had to blog it before I forgot and then it was too old to be relevant.

Shooting on Friday was a lot of fun.
I wouldn't be upset if I never ever shot a living thing, like an animal or a human being,
but I do enjoy shooting pop cans and watermelons.

And to no one's surprise, I am not very good.

Let me give you a play by play...

Zane's dad Sean, teaches me how to use the gun and where to aim..

I waste about 7 bullets and hit a soda can by my 8th attempt...


I am pretty excited for myself, and making everyone else nervous with the way I let the gun point anywhere it wants, like maybe in some peoples faces. 
Hence, Sean's hand on my shoulder.

Too much fun!

The gun I was using was the best. It had ZERO kick-back, which is the safest for a spaz like me, 
you can shoot it like a machine gun, which makes you feel pretty cool, 
and you look like a Bad A holding it. 

But of course, I have no idea what the "name" of the gun I am holding is. or any other probably important details. 


the blog world!

I discovered a few new blogs to follow today and it just made me think,

I love the blog world!

Blog people are like Hikers.
When you are out on a hike, everyone is always smiling at you, and saying hi to everyone and their dogs. literally.

Or maybe we are more like motorcyclists.
Ya know, like when you're on a motorcycle, and you pass someone else on a motorcycle, and you get the head nod.
And we don't hand out those head nods freely, just to those people in the gang.

It's like some how we are specially connected.
We appreciate each other for taking the time to write about our lives, even if they aren't even remotely exciting.
And we accept the fact that stalking or "creepin" on each other is the biggest form of blog flattery.
And honestly, no one ever leaves mean comments or says rude things. We just read, and respect, and have this little instant internet friendship.

And I'm lovin it!

And since I have posted too many times without a picture, here is me, fresh out of a good nights sleep, given you two thumbs up! cause thats how much I love it!


8.21.2011

Saturday with the O'Gwin's

The O'Gwin's have a work friend from India here in Orem for awhile, and Missy has taken it upon herself to basically entertain him every night by showing him what little old Utah Valley has to offer. He is obviously having so much fun, he is amazed by the all the littlest things, it's so neat to watch.
And it's especially been a lot of fun for me because they let me tag along to everything they do.

This weekend we took Sean, our Indian friend, shooting and to Apollo Burger on Friday and up to Park City on Saturday.
I accidentally forgot my camera at home Friday, so when I get the pictures from the O'Gwins we will come back to that.

But I made sure I didn't forget my camera on Saturday.
We got to park city and decided to ride the Alpine Coaster.
Waaaaay better than the Alpine Slide because it goes just as fast, and there is no risk of falling out onto the rocks and shrubbery.
It was so much fun!

Then we drove a little further up to where the Olympic Games were for skiing and bobsledding, and did the Extreme Zip-line.
Apparently this one is much faster than the one they have by the Alpine Slide.
And it was a lot of fun, until Zane kicked his dad in the face...

I'm going to tell the story by putting as much blame on as many people as I can, here we go...

First, Indian Sean told Missy and Sean Sr. to hold the camera this time.
Then I told Sean and Missy they could go in front of me and Zane so they could take some pictures of us coming down.
Once they were down at the bottom, Missy hands the camera to Sean, even though Sean insists he is not a camera person.
Zane and I are flyin' down the Zip-line going like 50 mph, as Sean steps into the line of Zane's Ziprider. The man who is supposed to be watching for that sort of thing, is probably off flirting, or sleeping, we don't really know. Complete negligence on his part.
So Sean isn't fairly warned that Zane is probably going to hit him in the face, also due to the fact that looking through the camera lens is severely messing up his depth perception.
The next thing I know, Crash, gasps, and a few curse words from Nate, and Sean is looking very disoriented with blood running down his nose and the 1200 dollar camera is in two pieces on the concrete.
The nose is only bleeding, no broken bones and the camera lens is broken but the camera itself still works perfectly. So other than shock, and Zane feeling terrible, everything is FINE. What truly happened, and who is to blame is debatable.
Although I've decided to blame the incompetent worker with the hideous sunglasses.
And personally, I think this is going to be a very funny story one day... but for now it's a little tender.

After all that we made a silent, and a little depressing, car ride to Grandma and Grandpa's house in the woods, had some yummy dinner, and called it a day.


Pictures of our adventure...

Alpine Coaster!

Waitin for everyone else to finish!

2nd cutest, and cutest couple just about to go on the Zip-line

On the Ski Lift, I'm dating a 25 year old, so I can take these and post em cause we are sooooo mature. That's how it works. 

two little honeys 

Nate and Sagan about to go down!

And the epic finish to our day!


Shooting on Friday was a lot of fun, and much less dramatic. Pictures and such coming soon!

8.19.2011

Growing Up Sucks

Growing up and I have a love-hate relationship these days, and it's getting pretty frustrating.

Some parts of growing up are just not that much fun, and the child in me would like to just take the hard things, and hide them in a corner for my mom to find a couple weeks later.

Unfortunately, I am surrounded by grown ups, like my parents, and Zane.
And they make me deal with the tough stuff.

And you know what...
It sucks!


And I know what all the grown ups that are reading this blog are thinking...

"Welcome to the rest of your life Brooke, you have no idea... bless your heart you naive, spoiled, little girl."

But you don't have to say it, okay? cause I know it.
And I'm dealing with it.

At least I'm trying to...

8.18.2011

Three Best Friends

Today I got to pig out at CPK with two of my favorite women ever.
(and we are Women now, okay?)
Alysha and Catherine.

I haven't been able to spend some good quality time with Lysh for a while, and since CC is moving saturday we were running out of time to get the ABC together.
So we made a date for Thursday night.

It was fabulous because..

A. I was starving and got to eat myself sick with macaroni and cheese.
Yes, my pallet hasn't changed since I was four.

B. I got to talk for hours with my best friends.
We met there at six, and sat in that booth and chatted till 7:15. And we only left to relocate to Lysha's apartment. Lysh knows nothing about Zane, so I got to talk about him for basically an hour straight. And if I'm not able to actually be with him, talking about him is the next best thing. We talked about married life too.
It's like we only get together to talk about boys. The time we spend talking about other things is minimal, and we are okay with that.

C. Our waiter gave us all 20% off for no apparent reason. He was great. So I tipped him real nice.


I am so lucky to have made the amazing friends I did in high school.
They have been blessings in my life in more ways than one, and they continue to help me everyday.
I love those girls so much. Even when they are in Logan, in Ecuador, or married, and I don't get to see them as often as I'd like, they will always mean the world to me.

Skype Date

Yesterday I got to do this for an hour or so...



And it was so great. 

8.17.2011

Best Friends Eat Yogurt Together





CC moves Saturday... 

She says she is past being sad, she is only excited. 
So I guess it's time for me to get past the sad part too. 

8.16.2011

Sleep

Once upon a time I could never fall asleep unless I was all by myself.
Other people really just make it extra hot, and make me feel like I can't truly relax.
And if your feet sneak over and touch my feet... It's over.

Now I sit down for a movie with the boy and I'm OUT 10 min after my head hits his shoulder. When I'm dropped off at home and get all snuggled in bed, my pure exhaustion has apparently disappeared.
All by myself, I lay awake for hours.

It's sweet, in a very frustrating and sleep depriving way.

8.15.2011

Florida Overload

I'm home from sunny old Florida and I couldn't be happier!

It is pathetic how not cut out I am for the theme park life.
Luckily for me, my mom is even worse than I am.
So instead of pushing myself to my grumpiest everyday, I always called it a day a little early and headed back to the hotel with my mom to take a nice break in the air conditioned villa.
Then I was back up and in theme park condition for the evening park session.
I am telling you, this is the way to do a DisneyWorld Vacation.

Basically, DisneyWorld for me, is old news. been there done that. Too many time if you ask me.
So I am going to skip talking about it... it's just not necessary. I'll just throw out a few of my favorite pictures and you'll get the main idea.

and by a few pictures, I mean a lot of pictures...

Dad and Me in line for Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom

Princess crowns in EPCOT, we later bought these...

Family in Hollywood Studios!

Mom and Me at EPCOT

EPCOT again. 

Me and Dad at EPCOT

Me and my Tis at Animal Kingdom

Roller coaster! Wahoo!


Now, what we do need to talk about is Islands of Adventure. More specifically, The Wizzarding World of Harry Potter.
so AWESOME. 
I am not even a huge Harry Potter fan. 
I never read the books, but I enjoyed all the movies. Im one of those fans the REAL fans hate. 
And even I thought Harry Potter land was magical!!!
I have never wanted to be a Wizard more in my whole life. 

You really feel like your in the middle of Hogsmeade, except instead of it being full of Wizards, it's full of obese people who apparently cannot find a supportive bra.
But that doesn't phase you, you're still feelin the magic. 
So you go get some lunch at Three Broomsticks, and you get some Pumpkin Juice or better yet, some Butterbeer. 
SO good. 
You make a trip to the wand shop, and on your way, a wizard choir on the street sings "Something Wicked This Way Comes". 
Then maybe you take the Dragon Challenge, or you head over to Hogwarts.
Where you come face to face with screaming plants, talking pictures, a sorting hat, and Dumbledore himself.
Then Ron makes it snow!!! and you've basically passed out due to pure Harry Potter happiness, and you're not even on the ride yet.

You need to go people. 
But until you do, look at my cool pictures!

The Express

Butterbeer and Three Broomsticks 


Our favorite Ride
We loved him


Hogwarts!


Pumpkin Juice on the streets of Hogsmeade


WIZARDS!


Aaaaand just incase you didn't get to see enough, some left over pictures from Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. 


The Hulk Rollercoaster

The Simpsons

Spiderman Ride!

We think we are pretty funny.


Sweaty body, frizzy hair, achey feet and all. 
I had some fun and am glad I went.







8.11.2011

From an iPad in Florida

Posting from an iPad is a pretty difficult thing to do, thus I will keep it short.

I am safe and sound in Orlando Florida.

It is hotter than hades here, plus 98% humidity.

My feet are achey and my hair is a frizzy mess.

Buuuut, The wizzarding world of Harry potter is truly magical!!!
Be jealous.

You can stalk my dad on Facebook to see pictures of my shiny forehead adventures as they happen, or I will officially be back blogging on Monday!
See ya then!

8.08.2011

St. George Weekend

Now back to that weekend trip I mentioned below.

Friday night when we arrived at my second home, The Ramada, we checked in and went out poolside to play cards with the family and friends.
After, Zane and I went to dinner around midnight at Village Inn. His favorite.

Saturday we woke up at 5 AM! We as in my dad, Zane and I. 
Yep, apparently in order to get to zion before the crowd, and the stinkin' sun, you must wake up at 5.
We definitely beat the sun, I was FREEZING until we were well on our way up Angels Landing.
But the cool was obviously a hidden little blessing once the hike started getting harder.

It's crazy to think that in just October I was hiking this same trail with Braden.
So much has changed since then. It's amazing what a little passing time can do.
But it was fun hiking it then, and it was still fun now.

Actually, I think I had an easier time this time around.
The 22 consistent switch backs didn't practically kill me this time.

After we made it all the way up to the top, hung out for a bit, and hiked down, we drove through the tunnel and did another short little hike.
I think it was called Canyon Overlook... or somethin.
I was grumpy at that point, due to the complete lack of sleep the night before, and my aching tailbone. So it was good the hike was an easy one, or I would of made my two favorite men miserable.

After that we called it a day, and went to get some lunch at Oscars.
Then headed back to the hotel.

Get ready for picture overload...

Freezing cold waiting for the bus to come

closest I have ever been to a deer in my life!

Just starting the hike with my cute dad

Just two hardcore hikers

We made it to the saddle

Finally at the top!

He really is as sleepy as he looks, cutie. 

Me just being a weirdo, naturally...

we thought this tree was pretty cool, or I did..

Those dang switch backs

Candid shots thanks to my photographer of a dad



My stinkin' CUTE dad at Osacars. 

Even though I was super tired, and then got a little bit grumpy, I was so glad we woke up to go to Zion. 
It felt good to get some exercise in with all the gross food you eat on vacation.
And more importantly, it was such a good way to spend quality time with my two favorite people. Especially since Zane and my dad are still getting to know each other, it was a fun and productive way for everyone to grow closer. 

After Zion, I didn't take one single picture....
I know! I am the worst. I dont know what is wrong with me.

But Zane and I went back to the hotel and took a nap. 
Then woke up, got ready (matched without planning it! but no pictures to prove it...), ate dinner, and went to the Tuachan Theatre to see their showing of Grease. 
I love those little musicals. It's a tradition to see a show every time I am down there, so I was excited to share it with Zane. 
We both really enjoyed it!

Sunday was Zane's birthday. 
So we slept in, got some breakfast at 1 in the afternoon, and spent the entire rest of the day being LAZY.
Seriously, we sat in bed for the rest of the day. 
He read his book, and I took multiple naps, sometimes he napped too.
I read a story out loud to him, we snacked on our treats, exchanged foot massages, and I slept some more. 
It might sound boring or lazy to some of you, but for us it was perfect!
Especially for Zane since he never, ever, gets a day to relax at home. 
We had so much fun.
We finally got ourselves up out of bed, and made the drive home. 

All in all it was a PERFECT weekend. 
And now I have one day home before I am off to Florida to see my TIS!