Do You Kung Fu?

I have to say that I love my job...today was had a huge celebration in honor of the movie "Kung Fu Panda 2" coming out. There were people dressed up like Po, the main character from the movie that went around and gave hugs and met the kids all day. And a local group from St. George of kids came and performed Karate! I don't think a lot of people have work days like this :) But it makes it really fun...there is always something new coming out at the theater, and always something fun going on!.

I love it when my boss Brandi brings her daughter Akayleia with her to work...I love playing with her! We go to McDonalds on break together and eat Happy Meals lol sometimes it is nice to be around kids because they make you forget about the worries of being an adult. Kaylei is just like that! All we do is giggle and have fun. Here she is laughing at Po for crying after she pretended to punch him! HAHAHA! Until next time, Manda

New Friends, New Hair...Changes, Changes

I am so excited about the way everything has been going lately :) While I am sad that two of my besties moved away, I did meet some fun new friends that I really clicked with. I've been having a lot of fun playing with Cole and Jake lately :) They are really easy to talk to and total sweethearts, and I love the random adventures we have and how much we laugh when we play together!




You gotta love summertime...this is the only time of year where I can be "wild and crazy" (but not too much!) and stay out waayyy late since I don't have to get up early early for school. I love having that freedom...even though I get pretty freakin tired when I finally do have to wake up. Last week I was running on 10 hours of sleep stretched out over 3 days...it really sucked. It was worth all the memories we made tho...and like I said in my last post, it was a good send off for Casey and Dillinger (who I miss like crazy, even though they have been gone only 4 days :( )



Me and Cole





Me and Jake



In other recent news, my undercover lover (and the best damn student that has only been in hair school for one month I know) blessed my life today by cutting my hair for free.

Honestly, I hadn't been able to afford a haircut since January! Money has been so tight lately. No fashionista likes admitting that, but its the truth here...I was one broke girl. Still kind of am :)

But Kohlby James...you kick ass. Enough said! I can't believe my hair looks as amazing as it does and you have been in school since April 19th...it like defies the laws of physics...I don't understand. He seriously is a genius! (See above pics for photos of the new 'do!)

I'm trying a sassy new asymmetrical cut for fun, and he added blonde in it so that it would be a fun fresh start for Summer :) I was nervous about how short it was at first, but I am getting used to it and am getting a lot of compliments.

Love you Kohlbs! We had a fun night out of it too...dying hair, eating pizza and watching "Funny Girl" with Tyler too :) I love laughing with my friends...we have too much fun!

Love Always,
Manda

The Last Days...

Two of my very best friends are leaving me!! I am so so sad.

Casey and Dillinger, I wouldn't trade all of the fun we have had for anything in the world. I love hanging out with you guys and all of our fun inside jokes...I know you guys will have fun in Salt Lake City and that we will still visit each other all the time and have our adventures, just not as often. 

Before my boys left, we deemed the time we spent together "The Last Days" hahaha only appropriate since the world is supposed to actually end on May 21st...I guess we will find out if that actually happens LOL!

Last night (on the actual, real "last night" we got to spend together) Dillinger wrote this:

"Open your eyes and take the time to realize what life really is. Appreciate the things that mean most to you and don't take them for granted. Real loving people are hard to come across. Let down your walls, cross boundaries that you normally wouldn't. Give it your all and love just as much as you'd like to be loved. When you discover someone that's real, loving, and caring they'll grow with you. You might not know at first, but you'll come to realize that they're in you're life for a reason. I believe that when souls become intertwined fates begin to seal, and because of the unconditional love that real people have for one another, their souls will continue to grow, experience, and live life together. You get what you give, that much is true."

I cried when I read this. I think it is so profound and beautiful. A lot of people who don't really know Dillinger often times label him. They think of him as shallow or a bitch, but he really is such a loving and caring person. I haven't met many people like him in my life. He stands up for himself and what he believes in and is never afraid to say what he thinks, but he really is a good person.

Casey is really unique and special too, very funny and fun to be around. He is very giving, he would do anything for his friends. For my birthday he gave me a cellphone! Brand new, never used EnV touch...just because he knew how much it would mean to me. And their were times that Casey knew I couldn't afford something and he would help me pay for it, like when we went to see Ke$ha for my birthday, or times we went out to eat or chipped in for "party supplies" hahaha. I really do love them both and will think about them all the time.

Right before they left, we met some new friends too, Jake and Cole. I've actually "known" Jake for years (we went to high school together and ran in the same circle of friends) but never met his boyfriend Cole until now. They are both so sweet and genuine. We met them on Sunday...we literally went over to their house every night for 5 days straight! Lol. We stayed up until 5 in the morning just talking and laughing, enjoying all of our time together while we still could. I think now having Cole and Jake in my life will make it a little bit easier since they remind me a lot of Casey and Dillinger, and we are already getting to be such close friends in a short period of time. Both of them are amazing, I am excited for the next chapters in all of our lives.

Love Always,

Manda

Being Your Best You

Weirdly enough, sometimes my own life seems to revolve around other people.

Not that there is anything wrong with being a caring, loving person: sometimes I just take it too far. I worry about my friends and family all the time, and actually put their needs before my own sometimes. But I am starting to learn a lot of important lessons about how to live a happy, healthy existence.

I think that balance and boundaries are important for everything. If you don't do enough of something, you will likely miss out and regret it. Yet if you do too much of something, you will overdo it and take away the special importance of it.

I also think that in order to be truly happy, you have to put yourself and what you want above other people. Being who you really are, no holds barred is an amazing and freeing experience. It wasn't until I let go of what other people thought of me, and quit caring about what other people think until I truly became comfortable in my own skin.

I used to worry SO much in high school about what other people thought about me, but now I know that I am who I am and that is never going to change. People can either accept it or walk away. I'm the best version of myself I can be, and thats all anyone can ask. I have so many goals and dreams I want to make happen, and I really want to make a difference in the world. I want to have many friends and a large family, and surroud myself with people who love me no matter what. I can't wait for whatever the future is going to bring me, I really think it is going to be amazing. As long as you work hard and have fun (good attitudes are key) you can make anything you want to happen.

I challenge all of you to do something you never thought you could. And times will be tough along the way, but never listen to the negativity: I think half the time it stems from jealousy. I can't control others, so why would I let them stop me from gaining what I want?

I know I kinda jumped on the bandwagon late (since her show is ending in like 2 weeks!) But I just started watching Oprah and her behind the scenes show, and I admire her so much. Even though people think she can be mean at times (her supposed feud with Whoopi Goldberg, or Iyala Vansandt...or even when she called out James Frey for fictionalizing parts of his memoir!) she always stands up for herself yet truly wants to help people. And she is really, truly FUNNY. (see photo on right...lol) But seriously, she owns who she is! She is AMAZING.

I'm imperfect, but splendidly so...and I really love all of you out there!

Love Always,
Manda

The Dixie Awards

One of the most exciting nights of my life just got over...i'm still living in the moment, and there is the biggest smile on my face as I write this post. I still can't believe it actually happened! And I can't wait to tell you all about it.

The Dixie Awards is an annual tradition at Dixie State College, and I never knew how much of a big deal it was until I was nominated. I was so excited! I invited all of my family to come support me,  but to be honest I never expected to win in a million years. I thought it would be fun to dress up and root for the other candidates, so I was in (We all know...I live for that stuff hahaha!)

Me and Greg after we won! Greg won "Most School Spirit" :) We were so excited!

They had a really beautiful reception beforehand, with catered desserts and it was nice to have time to visit with the other nominees. I had a lot of friends who were nominated as well, so I wanted to be sure to wish everyone luck before our big moment!  Me, my friend Greg and my friend Jonny (all from Ambassadors) joked about how Ambassadors never win anything, so we were just really excited to be there...Greg always makes me laugh so hard! He definitely made me less nervous beforehand, and my family adored him!
When it finally was time for my category, I was so nervous. I really had not prepared for winning whatsoever, so if they did actually call my name what the hell was I gonna say?! Oh well...thats not gonna happen anyway! I thought. I remember rolling my eyes and joking to my mom about it as they were reading the nominees' names. I whispered the name of the boy who I thought was gonna win...but they actually said AMANDA JACOBS! And so many people clapped, I was stunned. I could hear Greg screaming from somewhere in the auditorium LOL I will never forget that. And some lady in front of me turned around and was like "Thats you!" and I was actually shaking! I said I thought Dixie is the best place to go to school and I love everyone I know from there. And, the good news is Jonny AND Greg won their awards as well! Ambassadors are cursed no more...we lifted it! Iwas so honored to win the "Heart of Dixie" Award, and that everyone I love was there to support me.

Love Always,
Manda



Me and The Dixie Sun Staff...I was so proud we were all nominated, and I wish that the newspaper won. Rhiannon was also nominated for Best Teacher and I was very disappointed that she didn't win. She is my favorite teacher because of how dedicated and wonderful she truly is to all of her students.



Best Friends Birthday Bash



Me trying to look like a bad ass...with Maria and Chris



When you are best friends with someone for 7 years, their birthday is quite an event in your life. I consider my own birthday a holiday, so why not my closest confidants as well?


One of my favorite pictures, ever. We all look so happy.



All kidding aside, we decided to have a bash in honor of Chris turning 22 tonight. It was a "Sexy Costume Party" and I was, for once, at a loss for fashion. I didn't have anything to wear. I had to recycle the outfit I wore to Ke$ha's concert...i added a little twist to it of course to make it new, but the whole night everyone was asking me what I was dressed as and I just kind of would laugh and say "Gaga-esque." She is my top bitch, after all!



Me. Jen. Chris and Sara...friends for years!



The night was quite fun...I have to admit that dancing with my friends is one of my top favorite things to do. I also love the fact that we stay up way, way too late. Strolling in at 4 a.m. is a summer time trend for me...I need to catch up on my beauty rest soon though, or i'm going to have to attend rehab for "exhaustion" like all the hot celebs....hahahaha.



Me and Brady...love the face.



Mother Nature and The Mother Monster! hahaha



I have to say, I was disappointed more people didn't dress up! But the ones that did were quite cute. Maria dressed like Mother Nature, it was probably my favorite of the night! And Casey was dressed like Ken (as in, Barbie and Ken) and Dillinger was a Chippendale (glam rock style, of course.)

I love my friends...we are crazy.

Love Always,

Manda