1D 4 EVA

Ok not to brag or anything. But I pretty much discovered the perfection that is One Direction. For proof you can look at this post from February 2012.

But anyways. The other day I was reading a hilarious post on Hello Giggles about why we are still not over One Direction.

Let's face it. I'm turning 24 in two weeks. I probably shouldn't be getting all fan girly on a bunch of teen dream boats and obsessing over their new album. But this article validated my crazy feelings.

Having grown up in the 90's and early 2000's, also known as the GOLDEN AGE of pop and boy bands such as N*Sync and Backstreet Boys, it's no wonder I can't shake this feeling!

Let's face it. It's fun. Why wouldn't you obsess over them? They are stylish, attractive human beings. They have musical gifts and voices of angels. They produce toe tappin' dance inducing pop hits. You can't help but sing "What Makes You Beautiful" at the top of your lungs.

So in honor of One Direction's new album FOUR. I'm gonna produce an hierarchy of the songs. Because let's face it-everyone agrees with me and my musical taste. (Except my brothers and all those indie hipsters.)

1. Steal My Girl
2. Ready To Run
3. Illusion
4. Stockholm Syndrome
5. Act My Age
6, 18
7. Where Do Broken Hearts Go
8. Fool's Gold
9. Fire Proof
10. No Control
11. Girl Almighty
12. Change Your Ticket
13. Clouds
14. Once in a Lifetime
15. Spaces
16. Night Changes.

1989 T Swizzle

Why is it that I always blog when I'm trying to avoid other things??? (midterms, papers, etc)

...Something I should consider...and maybe fix....

I've been sitting at work for 2.7 hours bored out of my mind and have decided to talk about something that is extremely important to me.

You're probably thinking I'm gonna rant about ordain women, or some devastating statistic or story. Maybe I'd write a super religious post or even talk about my family... But you're wrong.

It's about TAYLOR SWIFT

Can we just talk about how good her new album is?


Maybe it's because I'm a pop princess at heart. Or maybe it's because it's all I've been listening to this whole week while doing homework, sitting in my office, driving my car, even using the bathroom. (ok. yeah too far.)

But for reals. IT'S SOO GOOD!

It took me three days to come up with this list but it's official. I'm going to rank my favorite songs.

(obviously shake it off is at the top, but it's been out for months and so it doesn't count right now.)
1. Style
2. Out of the Woods
3. Bad Blood
4. Blank Space
5. All You Had To Do Was Stay
6. Clean
7. Welcome to New York
8. How You Get the Girl
9. I Wish You Would
10. Wildest Dreams
11. This Love
12. I Know Places

So yeah. You can catch me in my office, silently jamming, or toe tapping. And if I'm at home or in my car you gonna bet I'm bobbing my head and singing at the top of my lungs to this album.

At least until it's socially appropriate to start listening to Christmas Music. Cause let's be real. That's my other favorite thing.

Enjoy my silent jam in my cubicle.

#ilovetoseethetemple

Phew. I made it.

Last week was absolutely insane. Being a full time student is not all fun and games. Especially when you work 20 hours a week and have church callings to fulfill. And if you're anything like me, you like to have fun too. I was really proud of myself. I managed my time well and didn't have too many sleepless nights. I was able to write 4 papers and do a presentation, go to the temple, magnify my calling, go to a concert, a football game and hang out with boys!

I'm really grateful for my new ward and calling. I've been called as the Temple and Family History Co-Chair. I was all stoked about planning temple trips, and having more incentive to go often, but family history? I'm pretty sure my grandma did it all.

FALSE.

Each of us can do family history work. And it's super interesting! I mean I've only been working on it for about a week. But I found myself being genuinely intrigued in looking through my family tree and trying to complete it's branches.

The other cool thing I learned how to do was Index! We had cinnamon rolls and chocolate milk at Sister Barnes' house and indexed away. It was super fun. You could easily do it while watching TV or netflixing. Double Tasking!

Anyways. I don't mean to get all Mormon-y and talk all about family history. But I'm just genuinely excited to get more involved and have been super grateful for the experiences I've been having.

Also. Can we just look at how pretty the temples are? Here are some of my favorite Insta's / pics from my phone. Especially the one from yesterday. Fall in UT is gorgeous!

Provo, UT

Ogden, UT

Provo, UT

Salt Lake City, UT

Las Vegas, NV

St. George, UT

My Temple!

Billings, MT

#ilovetoseethetemple

General Conference

Someone at church today asked me "What's new?"

And I kinda froze... Umm. It's the same. School. Work. Play??

So then he asked "Well what's old?"

So here's something that's old. But I guess you can consider it new news...

Last weekend was GENERAL CONFERENCE 

It happens twice a year. And it's basically like the superbowl for mormons. All of the leaders of our church speak to us. You can go get tickets and watch it personally on temple square, or listen to it on the radio, stream it on your phone, laptop, and watch it on your average cable TV. People come in from all over the world to attend. Thousands of mormons flock downtown SLC. It's like a sea of white shirts and ties. I love it. Even those who don't attend seem to have their own "traditions and celebrations". Like having conference morning breakfast! Cinnamon Rolls, Waffles, Egg Casserole, etc.

It's pretty great. I always feel uplifted after watching conference. You always come away wanting to be a better person. To try a little harder. To help more people out. And to focus more on the Savior.

This October session, my family made the trip down to UT. We only have 3 tickets for the 7 of us... 
But we made it work out. It was so great to see my family again, all united. Everyone back from their missions. We had a nice weekend of running around town and visiting family members. Shopping at H&M and just being together. 

My brothers had a goal of getting our picture taken by the ENSIGN photographers. So they all dressed up super nice and pretended to laugh at everything I said. But it worked! Lol. They took some pictures of us. So keep your eyes peeled in next months issue! haha. Chances are slim. But I'm not gonna lie. We're a pretty good looking family.

I'm so grateful for my family. And the knowledge that we are sealed together forever. I'm grateful for the gospel and for being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that "Happiness in family life is most likely achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and wholesome recreational activities" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)

I encourage you all to watch/rewatch/read the talks given in this last general conference. I know that we have a living prophet on the earth today, Thomas S. Monson, and that he knows exactly what we need to hear right now. He is God's mouth piece on the earth today and if we will heed his counsel and teachings we will be blessed beyond anything we can imagine!

Sweet Reunions

I cannot believe it's been two weeks. On one hand it feels like it was forever ago, on the other it feels like just the other day. But that's besides the point...

Two weeks ago my brother came home!

He'd been serving in the Philippines Tacloban Mission for two whole years. Preaching the gospel and stuff and saving peoples' souls.

My parents and I had this awesome plan to surprise him. I couldn't afford to spend so much time driving from UT to MT and back for a quick weekend and he just happened to have a 5 hour layover in SLC before flying into Billings. So....

They bought me a plane ticket. The same exact flight. And I arrived extremely early.

As I was checking in, the lady asked in her thick Samoan accent "Why so early?"

I told her my awesome plan and she just simply smiled and said "That's cool"

I went up the escalator and my heart was racing. What if I couldn't find him? I really wanted someone to be there recording it and the shock on his face. I was just so freaking excited.

I approached gate B6 where we would be flying out... in 4 more hours... And there he was sitting. Looking so dead tired. And he just said "hey mallory."

Apparently I'm a terrible liar and he could tell in my emails that I wasn't going to drive to Montana. He just knew I'd be there in SLC. He wasn't very shocked. He was expecting me.

So that was kind of a let down.

But I still cried. And hugged him. And two seconds later.

life was back to normal.

We bonded over burgers. We talked about life. He looked at my iphone a million times. Every time a cool song played in the restaurant- I gave him the details. After burgers we still had 2 hours to kill. So we got massages in the ExpressSPA. We lounged in the massage chairs for a while and talked and talked. We warmed up to some peppermint hot cocoa from STARBUCKS and chatted some more.

Then we got on a plane and flew into MT. And then I got to witness the cutest little reunion. This time my family wasn't late!

The rest of the weekend was perfect. Lots of family time, FOOD and laughing.

My favorite part was just seeing how my brothers interact together and laugh at each other. I also realized what an important role Ethan plays in our family. Everything felt right in the world and the little hole at our dinner table and in the sense of humor department was once again filled.

Jackson 2014

Well. I survived my first week of school. Barely....

I only had like 3 mini meltdowns. It's totally fine right?

I guess my womanly/emotional side overpowered me this week.

But the important thing is I SURVIVED!

Everything's fine. It's a new week. It's cooling down. But I'm still wishing it was summer.

I'm also thinking a lot about my family cause MY BRO IS COMING HOME ON THURSDAY!

It's been two years since we both partied in the MTC together. And it's finally here!

So with all the thoughts of my family, summer and my avoidance of school....

It's time to blog about my quick family vacation to jackson hole, wy!

And when I mean blog, I really mean post a bunch of pictures and put a caption. Because it's totally inappropriate to spam up your instagram with these pics. So instead I do this...

DAY ONE:

River rafting trip. It was 48 degrees. But we had booked it way in advance. So the company gave us wet suits and we did it anyway! It may have rained on us the whole time- but you're supposed to get wet on a rafting trip right?

Chuck Wagon Dinner Tour. Basically a bunch of cowboys, a ride in a covered wagon and a nice dutch oven dinner with a little country music/show. I was lucky enough to participate in the show and win a free shirt! 

Family Selfie in the wagon.

DAY TWO:

The twins are as tall as me now. Actually even taller.

Tram Ride up the Mountain

Crazy freezing wind at the top of the mountain.

Beautiful view on the ride down.

Family horse back riding tour in the mud and rain.

My model brother Aaron. 

selfie on a horse. with my mom.

Even though it was rainy and cold it was the most beautiful view and by far my favorite part!

Oh man. Take me back!

Obligatory Life Update

Well folks, it's August! How did that happen? Where did summer go? Like FOR REALS!

I've been in Provo for over a month now. Sometimes it feels like ages, and other days it feels like two seconds.

So what have I been up to?

You know, just the usual Provo things.

Drinking too much Dirty Diet Coke.

Going on Ward Campouts.

Enjoying Utah's Mountains.

Hanging out with Mission Buddies!

And of course, going to the temple

I ziplined. 

Got a new boyfriend named Ivan.

Ate local food

And I got a sweet new job at the BYU Alumni Association.

Other things include but are not limited to: eating lots of ice cream. going on tinder dates (?) getting yoked from my weight training class. floating down rivers. having lots of bon fires and eating s'mores. chillin' by the pool. getting sunburned. country dancing and watching lots of movies. 

I think it's safe to say I've had a pretty good summer : )