BINGO!

The latest and greatest? Playing Bingo in Mesquite with friends.

I know what your thinking...and I didn't just turn 60 or something. Trust me, you don't have to a senior citizen to get addicted to this game...

I love going with Carie, Kyle and Trent! We drank Scooby Snacks (my fav drink ever...I even tweeted about it and then Scooby Doo wrote me back on Twitter hahahaha.) It gets really intense when you are playing. You have be extra quiet and concentrate really hard: I felt like I was taking the ACT all over again at first. But after you play a round or two its not hard to get hooked. And while we were playing, Trent even won a good neighbor award. To be honest, I was pretty mad when he won. I mean, I was very quiet and well behaved during the game...why couldn't it have been me that won that $5 bonus?

After Kyle laughing at me for about 10 minutes after I mentioned this, I learned that you win the good neighbor award for sitting next to someone who gets Bingo..hahhaha.

I actually love hanging out with Kyle, Carie and Trent in general. I know everytime they are throwing a get together that I am going to have a blast :) All the pics from this post are from the one they had this week. Me, Chris, Jake and Nick had fun taking pics with them and all of this pictures make me laugh everytime I see them (especially Carie krumping hahaha)

Love Always,
Manda

The Final Semester...

 This month marks the beginning of my final semester at Dixie State College. I have mixed feelings because I really do love school, the whole learning process and getting an education. It's an exciting but weird feeling knowing that this will be the last time I'll have classes at DSC.

My class schedule isn't particulary hard this semester--I have my journalism class for writing for "The Dixie Sun," and also a class for editing a local publication called "The Southern Quill." I'm also taking "World Literature" which I am actually looking forward to because I love learning about other cultures...what better way to do it then to read from actual authors from the places? The class i'm nervous for is the final one I need for my degree...probably the most dreaded on campus. "Senior Capstone" entails a 20 page research paper and a half-hour presentation.

I am excited about my topic though--since I write "Ask Amanda" for the Dixie Sun, my friend Elaine had a brilliant idea to write about the history of advice columns. I'm going to write about "Ask Ann Landers," "Dear Abby," and authors like Candace Bushnell and Dan Savage. I'm very interested in Dan Savage because he is also the creator of the "It Gets Better" foundation, in order to help prevent LGBT youth suicides. He is a great example of an advocate and a role model through his work. And plus...Candace Bushnell is the entire reason for "Sex and The City" hahaha what could be better?!Love Always,
Manda

Harajuku Hotel

Some people might think that I go to Vegas a lot, but I'll give you a reason why. There isn't very much entertainment in Utah, especially in a smaller town like St. George. Anyone who lives here is also aware of this. So one short week after we went LV for New Years, we had to take a make up trip for Chris who wasn't able to make it on NYE.

While I was booking the hotels, I found a great deal on a place called The Imperial Palace. It said it was across the street from Caesar's Palace, so I thought: There isn't any shitty places in that area of the strip! I'm so excited to finally stay somewhere nice, all for the mere price of $30. I would promise to you i'm not gullible, but obviously you figured out the opposite is true, unless you are suffer from a current affliction like I do.

I told Chris these pictures captured it all...these should be advertisements for the hotel hahaha. I knew right when I saw the front of the place it wasn't going to be any type of palace as the name described, but I was dead set on having fun, despite the terrifyingly realistic (looking) Debbie Deb impersanator screeching in the lobby.

Since the Imperial Palace has the charm of an Asian theme, we decided that the Harajuku Hotel seemed to suit us better, hence the title of this post. The view was actually beautiful, and for $30, who can complain? It was clean, comfy and we ended up having a grand old time shopping and hitting up the strip.

 

*2012*

I can't believe 2012 is already here!! I'm was so happy to be ringing in the new year LAS VEGAS style. I am always thankful that one of my favorite cities is a mere hour and half drive from us...perfect party location :)

Tyson is a pretty good travel companion because we always just laugh during the entire trip and blast our favorite songs. We never get tired of Nicki Minaj :) RIP to those gorgeous glasses he is wearing...they were mine and in a drunken moment Tyson smashed them. RIP Gaga glasses :( lol.

 I also got to meet a lot of Tyson's friends from Salt Lake, who were really fun to hang around with. Obviously my favorite part of the night was shakin my thang at the club...since it was New Year's Eve, they had a special concert performance of one of favorite up-and-coming artists, Nadia Ali. She is amazing...her songs are so fun and dancable. I'll never forget that night! The drag show was pretty fun too. They always have the most beautiful ahem, ladies lipsynching the best songs.

Another fun surprise was being able to have Scott there! Scott Stubbs was a very dear college friend who I hung out with all the time during my junior year until he abandoned me to move up near Park City. hahahaha just kidding about abandoning me...but I do always miss him! Having him there was such a treat. Poor Scott even went to the gay club with us even though he is straight...now he knows how I feel! hahaha he was such a trooper.

Watching the water show at the Bellagio was another thing I got to do that I had never got the chance to before. It really is pretty amazing--I caught this really cool pic by chance that captures it perfectly.

Me and Tyson stayed out all night...about 6 AM to be exact. I started to get tired on the drive home so I made Tyson stop in Mesquite with me to play the slots and get some food to wake up. I'm so glad I did because I ended up winning $350!! The Wizard of Oz machines aka Glinda the Good Witch was good to me again. I  was so tired and excited that I promptly bawled like a little 5 year old, and old people with their oxygen tanks gathered round to partake in the whooping, hollering and dancing that occurred over $350 dollars hahaha.

Here's to 2012 everyone: may this year be the best one yet!

Love Always,

Manda

Christmas Comes this Time Each Year

One of my favorite holidays is Christmas. When I was younger, I thought it was because of the presents: in fact, that has always been something important to me for some reason. But as I grew older I found out that the gifts weren't the thing that should be most important on this holiday.

Something that was really nice about this year: Now that I don't work at the movie theater anymore, I got the chance to spend the whole day with my family. The theater was open 365 days a year, so while that meant that there were always lots of hours to be worked (job security, anyone?) It also meant missing on out things that were important to me sometimes. I loved my time at the movies, don't get me wrong. But I just found yesterday that much more special since I got the opportunity to have the whole day with my family.

One of the traditions my family does that makes me happy is my mom's famous Pina Coladas. She makes them for us all the time when we are relaxing, and it's fun being able to have a treat together.  She also has these "slushies" she freezes overnight that are really good too. She is a wizz with frozen treats!

 I didn't get to see my cousins Jennifer, Damon, Sophie and Willie until a few days after the holiday because they live in Cedar City, but I had a lot of fun traveling up to see them and having a day in the snow. Since Jen's birthday is December too, I took her out for sushi and it was fun to have time with just me and her. Ever since I was a little girl I have always looked up to Jen. I wanted her clothes, her style and I thought (and think!) she is so pretty. I love being able to have a cousin who is so wise. She gives me the best advice about stuff and I wanted to be able to treat her for a holiday surprise.

I always love seeing the kids too, including Damon. Damon is grown up now--almost 19 years old, but to me he will always be the kid who had a koolaid smile from ear to ear and laughed for hours when we prank called people or watched funny videos online. I made him throw on this Katy Perry wig and snapped a few pics i'm sure that will haunt him for awhile to come! hahaha.

Me and my friends have traditions too. Each year me and Chris watch our favorite Christmas movie, "A Mom for Christmas" with Olivia Newton-John. It's kind of a cheesy made-for-TV movie but we love it so much. We make lots of treats and exchange presents too. Chris gave me my very own Hello Kitty backpack and Smurfette perfume! I couldn't  think of a better present that fits me hahaha.

Tyson got me something I really needed too: an Ipod hookup for my car! He said it was because he was sick of listening to the same Lady Gaga CD for six months straight hahahaha I agree and couldn't be happier. And Jake and Nick invited us over for a Christmas party and they made each of us our own treat plate with different things on it--all homemade with love. We were in heaven!! Merry Christmas everyone, and a happy new year.
Love Always,
Manda

Gimme a Head with HAIR

All of my friends are guys, and all of them are better at doing hair then I am.  Go figure.

This week Casey and Dillinger came for a surprise visit from SLC and they totally hooked me up with these sexy hair extensions. I haven't had long hair since my grade school years...it is such a change, but to be honest I'm loving it!

We stayed up until nearly 4 AM and Casey's fingers were probably bleeding from sewing clips on to make them easier to put in (if you don't use clips you have to use glue, which itches REALLY bad...i know from experience) But  it made me realize I have best friends that are willing to do anything to make me happy.

I wish these guys still lived 10 minutes away, but sometimes when you are apart from people you realize how valuable they really are. I never laugh as hard or have as crazy of adventures as I do when I'm with these two. This time the night ended up with us sneaking onto a golf course into the middle of the night and sitting there, watching the stars, singing our favorite Nicki Minaj raps and laughing...yeah, we really are crazy.

Love Always,

Manda

A Very Merry Registration Office Christmas

Today at work we decided to put up our Christmas tree...can I just say I love my job? Dixie State College is an amazing place to work. I have the opportunity to work with one of my friends from my childhood, Jerhett (far left) We grew up together and went to middle school in Cedar City. He has always been a very close friend of mine and actually helped get me the job! I'm always thankful to him. Erin is in the middle, and she helped me decorate, along with Candace (not pictured.)


 Erin and Candace always make me laugh a lot at work, even when we are stuck working on awful projects like looking up transcripts. Me and Candace even have this running gag of code names (she's Candy Sugar and I'm Tasty Honey) and we always joke that we are going to run away to Vegas and open our own, um, erotic dance establishment. Don't ask me how we came up with this! hahahaha.


My other favorite people, my supervisors, Julie, Jane and Mace aren't photographed either but they are a joy to work for and worth. But my best friend ( even though she is 50 years my senior) would have be JANET! We always get in trouble for talking...they even call us Janda because we are like twins. I love her so much. Christmas is coming you guys...time to be excited!
Love Always,
Manda

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it gives you the opportunity to remember what you are grateful about in life. Without sounding like a cornball, I honestly think my whole life is something to be grateful about. I have a wonderful, loving family, amazing friends and have the opportunity to go to an amazing school and get an education. There is a lot to smile about :)

 This year I went over to my Aunt Becky's house and we gorged ourselves on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean salad, all of our traditional favorites...even my #1 must have: pumpkin pie! My favorite thing is always visiting with my family and catching up with them. I loved taking silly pictures of Sophie and Willy on my Ipad :) That's their new favorite toy! Willy is completely obsessed :) Pretty much everytime I come visit he asks me to bring "my ipod" hahaha to him they are the same thing. Sophie drew me the cutest pictures too that I hung up all over my room. She loves to do creative projects and make pictures for me. She ruined Aunt Becky's table with permanent marker but sometimes artists just have to do their thing I guess...furniture be damned! hahahaha just kidding.

One of my favorite Thanksgiving memories is from about 4 years ago. Sophia was only 2 and just learning how to get potty trained but wasn't comfortable using the bathroom yet. She was trying to grasp it but especially not at her own house she didn't like going in the bathroom. So Jen strapped a diaper on her so she could use it and sorry to be graphic but that diaper was GIGANTIC hahahaha I still have pictures and Sophia dancing around in her huge diaper that crack me up everytime I see them. My family, we like to gossip, drink cocktails, eat yummy food and watch our favorite traditional movies like "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving." What do you have to be thankful for this year?
Love Always,
Manda

Owlie

After one late night at Jake and Nick's, me and Tyson were saying our goodbyes and walking out to the car. I saw a bright reflection, a flash of golden yellow, and Tyson quickened his pace. All of a sudden I heard a car screech to a stop in the middle of the road. A woman got out too in a panic and I couldn't help but wonder what was going on. Then I saw it: an injured owl.

I've never even seen an owl up close, so it was kind of interesting to finally see one right in front of me. Tyson was even brave enough to hold him, but for some reason I get nervous around animals (it might be because my cousin Sarah used to have weird assortments of animals as a child, like a boa constricter that scared the shit of me and evil hampsters that used to bite us all the time) but I tried to be brave, and walked closer to the owl. As I approached him, his supposedly broken wings started flapping like crazy and I screamed like a mad woman. So much for crossing holding a baby owl off my bucket list.

Owlie...I hope you are somewhere safe and sound. I'm sorry I wouldn't let you ride in my Vue and let Tyson keep you as a pet as per his request, but thats just too crazy for me to handle. Honestly, you were probably safer in the street...no offense Tyson hahaha (just a side note: I heard the girl the stopped in the car say she was going to call Animal Control? I hope that's a real thing hahaha) I wish there was more of an ending to this story, but that's about all the closure you're going to get.
Love Always,
Manda

Party Like A Millionaire

Last Night Me, Chris, Zach and N'Dya went to Las Vegas to see one of our favorite bands in concert, THE MILLIONAIRES!

Me and Chris dying with excitement! 

The best thing about the show was that we got to meet them after! Melissa and Alison were so nice and stayed to sign autographs for all of their fans and take pictures too. They said they loved my Barbie shirt and asked me where I got it...right when they said that I knew they had to sign it for me!

They played all of their best songs, including:
"Alcohol"
"My Chick Bad"
"Party Like a Millionaire"
"I Like Money"
"Just Got Paid (Lets Get Laid)"
"The Weekend"

Everyone always says The Millionaires suck but it's just music for fun. It has good beats, funny lyrics and its so danceable. You can't take everything too seriously...and this is the case with them too! That's anything in life for you. SO MUCH FUN!
You can listen to some of their songs and see the videos BELOW:

My Chick Bad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9UEm3Wanxg&feature=related

The Weekend (Live Fast, Party Hard, Make Money, Be a Star) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW0x6dqukbo

Halloween...well, almost!

Halloween still isn't here yet but we are still celebrating in spades. Me and Chris always seem to be matching even when we don't plan it.

I swear, Chris's UNICORN costume was the highlight of Halloween. I wish there would have been some kind of costume contest to this party we went to because I think he would have won.

My inspiration for my costume came from Katy Perry's "California Gurls" Music Video. She has the cutest "Candy Girl" kind of outfit so I decided thats what I would be, purple hair and all. The only bad thing was dancing all night made the candy fall off of my outfit! Well worth it. Here is a pic of the inspiration:

The party that we went to was AMAZING! I know I say that about everything I do but seriously just listen up for a minute hahaha.

Equality Utah is a charity that supports LGBT rights and they held an event called "Intensive Scare Unit." It cost $20 to get in but it was for a great cause so we were happy to pay for it. But it was money well spent! They invented awesome drinks for the occassion as well:

O Negative: Cranberry and Mint Vodka
Formaldehyde: Whiskey and Apple Pucker
Bone Marrow: Kahlua and Vodka (the best one...tasted like chocolate milk!)

 Me and Chris were so excited to run into our old friend Christa from high school! She is such a fun and sweet girl.

And here is this picture of Chris...which is already gaining Facebook fame. Him and his rainbow tail are reaching historical status.

Of couse the photographer got a shot of us all dancing, We were so excited when DEV (Bass Down Low) came on, that is what we are shaking it to during the moment of the photo. 

One of the most exciting things of the night was that they had an actual FORTUNE TELLER there. It has been a life long dream of mine to get a tarot card reading and I finally got to.

She told me that I have so much light and happiness around me, and my work ethic is to be admired. I have put in so much work to be successful, and that soon I will just have to sit back and wait for everything to come together. But in order to be happy, I have to quit putting up with so much from others and draw the line at what I will say yes or no to. She also pulled the 3 of cups card and said that is representitive of my future. Me, my husband, and the joy we will share together all the time (especially when we have our first baby--the third cup!) As long as I'm patient, I will have great things come to me.

Which is good...cuz I don't want to get married anytime soon!

A lot of people came out to support this event and it was so much fun!