Dear Dixie State College,

First of all I must say that I am very frustrated with you! Raised tuition, student fees that seem to cover nothing, outrageous textbook prices, and now 25 dollars for every single computer class!! Well what if I want to get a bachelor's degree in CIT?! Oh yep... I just have to pay 25 buck for every single class I take towards my degree!! That means I'm paying around $500 more then an english major, or a business major, or a math major!! Practically all other majors! How is that fair?! I especially love paying $25 for a computer programming class that doesn't even have computers in it! Oh yep... I love doing that! I believe that you should really rethink your ways Dixie State or I won't feel one ounce of remorse leaving you!

Sincerely, Aliza Randall

I want to move out so badly! Don't get me wrong... (I love my parents a ton!!!) ...but i'm just ready for the experience of living on my own! I'm pretty sure I know what I want to do for the next few years, and unfortunately they do no involve me moving out. It just happens every August when I hear and see so many people moving out and starting a life on their own that I very much long for this same experience! I want to have roomates, to have a cute little dorm/apartment room, to have to rely on myself! I'm going into my second year of college, but I am yet to feel like an actual college student. Maybe oneday....

Last week of summer and I work at least once every day!

That means:

1) No lake excursions

2) No trip to Provo; visiting Lindsay and Greg

3) N0 trip to Vegas; shopping with Erin and Emily

Talk about a major bummer!

Thai food = YUM!

I am very much in love with eating at Benja's these days!

"I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles."

— Audrey Hepburn

What a wonderfully sweet summer day!

Lindsay and Greg are in town... which already made the day super great! But we actually started the day off by sleeping in and being lazy. Which was then followed by a delicious Pizza Factory lunch. Off to Target (a favorite store) where I purchased some lovely lamps to go on my nightstands! {I actually found many other things I wanted to buy besides just the lamps, but sometimes I am just a poor college woman and must resist all these horrible shopping temptations!} Then we went to Swig (which is a new favorite store) where we feasted on some fabulous shaved ice! I'm thinking that Blue Coconut and Strawberry is my new favorite flavor combo! Then we ended the day with a family movie night of seeing Inception. Even though my head hurt a little bit afterwards.... It was a really good movie!! ....Or was it?..... ;)

Sometimes I've been trying to figure out what I'll do next year.

Sometimes I don't know.

Sometimes I'm scared.

Sometimes I have breakdowns.

Sometimes I feel embarrassed by these said breakdowns.

Sometimes I just can't help it.

Sometimes I blame these emotionally experiences on being a girl.

Good excuse, eh?

Sometimes I wish I felt talented/good at something.

Sometimes I think this would help me with my decision.

Sometimes It probably wouldn't make a difference.

All the times I hate decisions.

So...

I've always loved and wanted a hedgehog! Ever since I was little! Is that just a weirdy thing?! But I just think they are so adorable! This little guy is definitely on top of my Christmas list this year! Who needs practical gifts like underwear, socks, clothes, money, school supplies, etc, etc?! When you could have a cute little friend and a snuggle-sack to carry him in?! As a matter of fact... I think hedgehogs are very practical gift!

"Sorry your pump took a dump!"

                     Yeah.... me too Dad!

So I'm back to the joys of using syringes. At least for a day. My new pump should be here before noon tomorrow. Now only if I knew my settings or had written them down somewhere... But nope! That would be much to convenient!

Back To School Shopping:

-$1,500 for Fall semester

-$275 mandatory student fees

-$25 computer lab fee

-$20 parking permit

- $100+ for each used textbook

And everything else better be priceless because you are now poor!

A BAJILLION and 2 Cupcakes

Well actually only 57 to be exact. And yes... I did count them. However I shall not bring home anymore cupcakes because I am unable to resist their deliciousness and therefore am forced to devour them! I'm getting fat. Oh wait... I already was. But the cupcakes are not helping the situation!

{But I must say that the Toasted Coconut is still my fav! Like heaven in my mouth! Yum!!}

Nutella Icecream! Do do da do!

Oh delicious goodness-ness!! I am one blessed child to have such a wonderful creative and talented cook of a mother! There are boat loads of food she makes that are truly and wonderfully a-mazing!! We are talking giant, massive, airplane-carrying, war-boat loads of most decadent foods! Last night was just an example of her incredible skills!

Try a homemade steak salad with:
grilled corn
fresh tomatoes
caramelized sweet onions
fresh green beans
baby red potatoes
steak (of course)
and "yummy" dressing
all on top of some beautiful red leaf lettuce




And if just that masterpiece of a salad wasn't good enough add to the meal:
delicious wheat rolls
a tangy grapefruit spritzer
and the most rich and wonderful tasting homemade Nutella icecream for dessert

Like I previously stated... I am one blessed child!!

National Dance Day

Gosh dang it! I missed it! By they time I remembered it was the day of national dance it was much too late and I was much to tired to even muster the slightest of dance moves.

Does this mean I'll have to wait a whole year before I can dance?!?!?!?

Curses.....

Here's a little song that I quite enjoy as of lately. See what you think...

Putting on the Ritz

Thanks to the tax payers of Ocala, Florida, I was able to spend 4 luxurious days at this beauty in Naples, Florida.

The Ritz Carlton

But more so because of the extremely generous and kind Brower family invitation to join them on their family vacation/Matt's business conference.

Our room was a sweet little suite with it's very own doorbell! We had a most magnificent view of the ocean from our balcony and were even able to spot dolphins at times! I loved playing in the ocean and taking walks along the white sandy beach. We also were able to have some very intense but mostly fun-hearted game nights in our room! And when it was too rainy to play outside we were able to entertain ourselves in the "Vue" gaming room! Mckenna and I had fun playing Rockband and Mario Kart Racing while Kyler and Devin played silly Halo the whole time! I also learned how to play backgammon from Sandi! Which I quite enjoy! There were many laughs shared (Most were thanks to Kyler! I love that crazy kid!)

I was able to meet Devin's dear Grandparents and Aunt Mary who live in St. Petersburg, Florida! Their home is a condo right on the beach! The views they see from their windows must make them some of the luckiest people in the world! They were such sweethearts and treated us to a fun day of swimming, games, and bbq's at the clubhouse! They taught me to play Skipbo which I found to be quite a fun game! An intense fuse ball tournament also went down at the clubhouse. Devin and Matt verses Kyler and me! Devin and Matt ended up coming from behind and winning but it was a very close matched competition!

During this trip I was also able to see the town of Ocala and the Brower home too. Ocala didn't seem so bad...but I guess I can't really say seeing as I was only there for a few short days. We got a lot of The Deadliest Warrior watching in, and I now know that a Spartan is the ultimate deadliest warrior of all times. We also watched some wonderful Brower family home videos! They were definitely entertaining and provided great laughs! I must say that the Brower children are all still their adorable and funny own selves!

It was such a great trip! I had a wonderful time getting to know the the whole Brower family better! And I must say that I love that family! They are quite an amazing, kind, and fun-loving family! I may be glad to be back home, sleeping in my own bed, and not living out of a suitcase, but I am already greatly missing that wonderful family and I hate that they have to be so far away! I'll never forget what a wonderful and fun experience I had!

I think I fell in love....

I often find myself day-dreaming of this beautiful country. If I ever have the chance to make it there someday I may just think I've died and gone to heaven.