50 First Dates

I have a first date shirt, a shirt that I have worn on just about every first date this year. It all started when Claire and I were both asked on the same group date. We were rushing to get ready and decided that we had absolutely nothing to wear. So we decided to swap closets and go through each other's clothes. She wore my zebra shirt and black cardigan, and I wore a black shirt of hers. A black shirt that has since been dubbed the first-date-shirt. (Wow, we definitely need to come up with a classier title)

The following picture displays the varying undershirt colors worn on three different first date occasions:

January 2011                                      September 2011                              October 2011

Why is it a good first date shirt?
-It's simple, nothing too jazzed up, but it still looks nice
-It's black, so if I spill, no biggie.
-It's very comfortable

Rules of the First Date Shirt:
-It can only be worn on first dates. not second, not thirds etc. So if I start dating someone, the shirt goes to the back of the closet.
-You can't wear the same colored undershirt twice in a row. Gotta mix it up a bit.
-Always ask Claire's permission to wear it, it is her shirt afterall!


One shirt. Three Rules. Tons of memories.

Love, Noelle
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Because I Have Been Given Much

I too must give.

So I didn't go into much detail about my upcoming Peru adventure. Here's a few more details to tide you over until I get a chance to really delve into it. p.s. have you noticed that I say "delve" a lot? I'm not even sure I'm using it correctly... hmmm

The organization I'm going through is a humanitarian organization called Eagle Condor Humanitarian. They have projects set up throughout South America. Each project is either a Step 1, Step 2, or Step 3 project. My particular one is a Step 2 project. 

"Step 2 projects focus on working directly with children and/or training heads of family to become more self-sustaining so children can stay in school enabling them to gain access to better jobs and futures. Step 2 projects are able to focus on education and community development."

So as a Step 2 volunteer, I will be involved with the following:

• Discover social identity and self-worth
• Educational Opportunities
• One-to-one mentorship programs through interns
• School Enhancement – Literacy Centers, Computer Labs, etc…
• Community Development – Greenhouses, Bathrooms, , etc….

You guys, I can't even tell you how excited I am. I'm seriously geeking out. To be honest I've all but dropped out of school at this point.  I don't have any desire to do homework or study or ANYTHING. I just want to run away to Peru. Right. this. instant. Can you blame me?

I can't wait til I'm posting pictures of me with Peruvian kids!!!

 Any advice? Words of Wisdom? Concerns? Shared Excitement??

Love, Noelle

I made a goal. When I make a goal, I stick with the goal.

Goal: Obey honor and sustain the law AKA Give up Jaywalking.

Here's the thing, I live in the most prime jaywalking spot. For you Rexburgers, I live in Royal Crest, just a hop skip and jump across the street from the BYU-I center. I haven't timed myself, but I'm pretty sure it feels like it takes at least 5 extra minutes to get to my final destination when using the crosswalks.  When it's 7:45 am, freezing outside, and I'm late for work, this is a big deal.
Alas, a goal is a goal, and I've been doing well thus far.

But the inspiration for this post came from this mornings run, where I decided that crosswalks are awkward. Super awkward. Given the fact that 1. I do 98% of my traveling on foot and 2. I'm an avid cross walk user, I've been in just about every awkward crosswalk situation you can possibly imagine.

1. I'm not the type to just cross as soon as I get to the cross walk, I stop, look both ways and then proceed. However, if there is a big line up or a car that has been waiting for awhile, I have no problem waiting and letting them go ahead. Sometimes this doesn't work. I motion to the car to go, in return they wave their hand in the air, yet I can't tell if his was a motion for me to go ahead or if it was a gratitude wave saying thanks. So we both move forward and upon realizing that the other is also progressing, we both come to an abrupt stop. Then I wave, he waves, and we do the whole awkward dance again until finally one of us takes initiative and just crosses that stinking road. I know you've all been there before. It's awkward.

2. Ok, I'm also not the type to be walking along and see someone I know and pretend like I don't see them, no matter how awkward our relationship, what harm could possibly come from a brief moment of eye contact and a smile? It's only awkward when I'm looking and smiling at them, waiting for them to make eye contact, and they take great lengths to keep from making eye contact. It's eye contact people. Eye contact. No big deal. Cross walks make this doubly awkward cause you're walking towards each other on a narrow strip of road, I know you saw me!

3. I never know how to cross the street while on  a bike. I swear it's always awkward.

4. Last but not least, rollerblading across the cross walk. SO awkward. Especially since I'm not very good and crossing the street is scary, hard and intimidating. All those people are watching you thinking, "I'm stopped here because of this crazy chick? Come on woman, get a move on!" And I'm sure to fall either right at the beginning or else right at the end of my crossing experience. In special occasions it's both. Tragic.

Love, Noelle

He-lllooo Holidays!

1. It's October.
2. It has snowed.
3. My name is Noelle.

If those aren't good enough reasons to start celebrating the holidays, I don't know what are!

At the beginning of last year, I was asked, "What's your favorite holiday?" I didn't really have a good answer. So I decided that for the whole next year, I would carefully observe every single holiday and decide which one is truly my favorite.

So far. The 4th of July is WAY, WAY, WAY up there on my list. I don't think it can be beat to be honest. We do however have Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years (not to mention the "Eve's" of each of these) coming up just around the corner. Those are all a pretty big deal. I'm pretty certain that none will top my love for the family-food-freedom-firework-filled-fiesta we celebrate on the fourth, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.MJ

What's your favorite holiday to celebrate? Why? Sway me people, this is important business.

Love, Noelle

AwesomeAndAwkward: Work Edition

Heads up: I work at the Lost and Found Desk on campus

The following occur at my place of employment

awkward: the sweetheart of a boy who scours the campus for odds and ends to bring into the lost and found. usually they're bobbypins (which we throw away..shhh)
 
awesome: working every friday night, but not even being bummed about it because i get to work with Timber and Lyndi.

awkward: arriving to work after a grueling aerobics class... ehhhh

awesome: being able to blog and blogstalk while at work

awkward: the boy who comes in asking if we've found his swimsuit... a gold speedo

awesome: working with the greatest people ever

awkward: the poor boy who doesn't believe that we don't have his "black luminous sunglasses with two stripes down each side and lenses that are so reflective that they could serve dual purpose as mirrors." we've looked sir. you've looked. we don't have them. keep checking :)

awesome: the sheer joy etched on the faces of those who have been reunited with objects of utmost value to them.
 
awkward: the girl who comes by during every passing period to check if we've refilled our candy dish yet. can't say that I blame her :)

        Brief Photo Poll Intermission 

awkward or awesome? you be the judge.

 awesome: having one job that allows me to switch between three different desks/offices
 
awkward: a lost and found employee losing more stuff than the average BYU-I student.... whoops :)

awesome: the lost and found sale. seriously next friday 12-2. be there.
 
awkward: sitting at work and having a stranger (boy) serenade me with his guitar. as soon as he left, my boss simply says, "Precious" then walks away laughing

awesome: when friends stop by and chat 
 
awkward: having to figure out what to say when the following conversation transpires, (it happens at least once a week) :
me: how can i help you? boy (of which I've never before met):  i've lost something and was hoping you could help me find it. me: sure, what did you lose? boy: you're phone number      
i've yet to figure out a clever response to this, any suggestions would be most appreciated.

In any case, I looove my job. the awkward parts, the awesome parts. I love it all.
Good Night!


Love, Noelle

P.S. Hitch on a Thursday Night... awesome

Come in With the Rain

This has never happened to me, but today...

I am craving the rain. 

I just want it to rain. and rain. and rain. all day long. 

I want to take a long walk in it, all by myself.

I want to twirl and skip and dance in it with everyone I love.

I want to drive all around town in it, going nowhere and everywhere.

And then, best of all, I want to fall asleep to the sound of it, pounding on my window and on the rooftop.

And then when I wake up.

It will all be gone.

Leaving nothing but it's scent and the rejuvenation of everything it touched.

I've never loved the rain before. 

And now, I crave it.
Maybe that's what I get for living with Seattle girls for too long :)

Are these pictures not delightful?
Bring on the rain.
Love, Noelle

Dare to Do Great Things

A few days ago, Sister Dalton came to campus and told us to get out of our comfort zones and dare to do great things. Dream big she said.

Here's what's in my comfort zone: Hot water. My favorite foods. English. My family. Rexburg. BYU-Idaho. Claire Salmon. America.

Here's what I dream big about:

Children

Humanitarian Work

Peru

Making a Difference

It's blog official. I am stepping out of my comfort zone.  Come January, I'm leaving America, my family, Claire, Rexburg, school, my food, my hot water...everything for three short months.

I'm going to Peru. How could I not?
Love,
Noelle