Coming Soon!

Dear Readers (however many I have),

A blog post (maybe a couple) is/are coming soon, I promise. Due to finishing finals, going home for a week, getting used to my new work schedule, and leaving my camera at Snowbird I'm slacking quite a bit. I know you guys miss me (ha ha) but I will fix that soon!

For now here is a quote and a picture :)

Choose your friends with caution; plan your future with purpose; and frame your life with faith.

-Thomas S. Monson

Finals Week Ramblings

Can I just express how much I hate finals? I mean, whose idea was it to cram all the biggest, hardest, comprehensive exams into one week at the end of the semester?

I decided today that the majority of BYU students begin to study on the third day of finals. This discovery was made as I wandered aimlessly through the library trying to find a table to sit at. The place was packed! It makes me claustrophobic.

Finals week fries my brain. I seem to have a lot more blonde moments. Does anyone know how to turn this drinking fountain on? Because Brittany and I sure couldn't figure it out. Until a nice young man showed us how. So embarrassing.

(FYI, it's the little black button. I don't know about you, but most drinking fountains I have used have a much more prominent button than that.)

Just to add to all the stress, my apartment complex requires “white glove” cleaning checks at the end of the semester. I have five finals to take and you want me to do some spring cleaning during all my free time? Come on people!

In spite of all the stress I have a few things to get me through. Last night I baked cookies to keep myself awake (my roommate thought I was crazy when she woke up to get a drink). 

The best thing I have is good friends and family to help me through it. 

Here are a  few shout-outs for them:

• Anna – Thank you for the Kit Kat. Chocolate always helps during studying.
• Mom – Thank you for helping me with my taxes. I (literally) couldn’t have finished them without you.
• Brittany – Thank you for keeping me sane in the library. It tends to take the form of a prison unless I have someone to eat cheese-its and E.L. Fudge with.
• Alli – Thank you for the hug. Sometimes that’s all a girl really needs.
• Meighan – Thank you for the homemade chocolate truffles. It’s the little things that make me smile.
• Any friends or family that I’ve missed – Thank you and I love you!

(Yes, everyone I’m aware that many of these shout-outs include food. Even though it’s a little embarrassing, my friends know what makes me happy!)

So here’s to two more finals and then a week-long escape from Provo! May these finals pass quickly and painlessly (even though they probably won’t).

If you too suffer from these finals week symptoms…best of luck… I’d help you if I could!

Peace Out,

Sydney

Where I'd Rather Be

What's a great way to take a break from studying for finals?

Updating my blog.

In honor of the fact that it's still FREEZING (at least to me) in Provo I decided a post about my new favorite hobby would be nice....

Snowboarding

What can I say? I'm addicted. I learned to ski when I was little, but my Dad just taught me how to snowboard in December. I LOVE it! I've been a ton this semester (probably more that I should ha ha). I've improved so much I can't even believe it. My adopted sister Malorie even let me borrow her snowboard for part of the season (she's the best). 

Here's some pictures from my latest trip to Sundance.

Well I guess my point to all this is that I'd much rather be snowboarding right now than sitting in the library studying. The good news, however, is that classes are over! In one week I'll be heading home for Easter! Yipee! All I have to do before then is survive finals...wish me luck!

Dear Sickness...

Whatever you are, please go away.

I do not enjoy the headaches, or the cough, or the stuffy nose.

I especially do not enjoy coughing up blood.

Thanks for getting my friends sick (not).

And you make me look silly with my bright red nose.

Everyone keeps looking at me because I'm wearing sweats on campus (I don't know why BYU students feel the need to be dressed up all the time).

And I can't believe I paid money for the doctor to tell me you were just a cold (I still think your a sinus infection).

I have way too much to do and I don't have time for you right now.

So, if you could just leave me alone so I can get back to my life, it would be awesome.

Thanks muchly,

Syd

The Happiest Place on Earth

Let’s just say that I am spoiled. I got to ditch three classes, spend four days in California and go to Disneyland for two days. It was about 85 degrees Thursday and Friday. It was a balmy 70 the other two days. I even got an awesome farmers tan (dorky I know, but anything is better than my blinding winter skin). The only bad part about the weekend was coming back to about a foot of snow. Curse that Provo weather.

Here are some of the family's (or maybe just my) favorite memories from the trip:

• Operation keep Brady awake (which resulted in naming opposites the whole way back to the hotel).
• A claustrophobic Mother (she was not a fan of the Finding Nemo ride in the deep, dark submarine).
• Having both Space Mountain and the Matterhorn break down while we were in line! We were even sitting in the actual bobsled on the Matterhorn, so we decided to wait that one out.

• Mom: "Syd, if I were to buy you one thing at Disneyland, what would it be?" Syd: "A churro." (I promise I'm not weird people I just LOVE churros!)
• The way Tom wore his backpack (he's going to kill me for posting this picture).

• Red Robin.... [cue Riley, Brady, and Sydney]... "Yumm!"
• Meeting Pluto (but no other Disney characters because my Mom is not a character Mom. Do you blame her though? An hour wait is pretty ridiculous to see the Disney Princesses.)

• Syd's blonde moment for the weekend = packing church clothes (oops, I forgot that it was General Conference)
• Seeing California cousins (Brady picked oranges off their tree and scooped dog poop for them, while I devised ways to steal Cory's basketball shoes that are signed by The Jimmer.)
• Newport Beach Temple (everyone loves to go to a new temple!)

• Mom buying Tom a salad, when all he really wanted was a big burger.
• Riley singing the Indiana Jones theme song on the Indiana Jones ride (I think it helped her not be scared).
• Singing teach me how to Jimmer in the mornings (It's a great song to get ready to and it drives the parent crazy).
• I think this picture pretty much sums up the ride experience for the weekend. Brady putting his hands up on all the roller coasters. Mom protecting her "babies" from falling out (even though the rides are made so you don't fall out) and Riley scared out of her mind. 

And here are some extra pictures just for fun!

It was most definitely a successful trip. I love my family and I am so thankful that they included me in their spring break!

And now, it’s back to the normal grind. Speaking of which, I have a paper to write.Thank goodness I only have two and half weeks left in the semester!

Festival of Colors

What do you get when you give a bunch of college students bags of chalk and then let them throw it at each other in celebration of spring?

This of course.

I must say that my first trip to festival of colors was a success.

Hope that everyone had as good of a weekend as I did!

One of Those Recipe Posts

Yes folks, I am going to be one of those people that posts recipes on her blog. My theory is, if I make something and I love it, I want to share it! So here you go, recipe post numero uno....

Iced Soft Gingerbread Cookies

Cookie:

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup sugar

a pinch of salt

1 egg

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon of allspice

1 tablespoon candied lemon peel, finely chopped or lemon zest (I actually used orange because I didn't have a lemon)

1/2 cup grated almonds (I omitted these because I'm not a huge fan of nuts in cookies)

3 tablespoons milk

4 tablespoons butter

Icing:

2 large egg whites

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

3 cups powdered sugar

Mix flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, egg, honey, cinnamon, and all spice. Add peel or zest with almonds and milk. Cut the butter into small pieces and scatter over the  mixture. Mix well using the dough hook of an electric mixer. Turn the mixture onto a floured work surface and knead by hand to smooth dough. Form into tow rolls, wrap in aluminum foil and chill for 1 hour. Once the cookie dough has been chilled, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with baking parchment paper. Cut the rolls of dough into slices approximately 3/4 inch thick. Roll into balls, place on parchment paper. Flatten slightly and bake for about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

For the icing, using an a electric mixer, beat the egg whites with the lemon juice until combined. Add the powdered sugar and beat on low spread until smooth and well-combined. Frost cookies immediately as the icing hardens quickly when exposed to air. Cover tightly with plastic wrap if not using icing immediately. (I drizzled my icing, but you can dip it, coat it completely, or whatever else you'd like to do.)

So there you have it. Credit goes to the cookie book my friend Meighan has. I'm pretty sure that book contains magical recipes. Every time I go to her house she has tried another one and the cookies are always delicious. This particular recipe has been my favorite. My roommates and people in my ward devoured them. Hope that you enjoy them as well!