Thanksgiving.

This wonderful sign was made by the lovely Hadley. (Crooked hand-turkey courtesy of Madi :))

I was lucky enough to be able to come down to my Aunt's

in Southern California and spend this Thanksgiving day with lots of family! 

It's been great!

I'm already dreading going back to reality on Monday

(and back to my 12 page essay due on Tuesday...boo.)

Though there's lots to tell about the past few days...

I'll mainly just focus on today. 

First off. 

Meet: 

The Table.

Sarah "The Camera Loves Me" Jensen.

Mckay "I just want some Jello" Gordon.

Miriam "I'm going to hate this picture anyway" Flinders.

Campbell "Jazz Hands" Gordon.

Hadley "The Thinker" Gordon.

Madison "I'm not as innocent as I look" Gordon.
(bwahaha. she's gonna kill me for that one...)

And me: Hannah "I'm in love with that orange cup" Flinders.

There were some great times during dinner,
(is it still considered dinner if you eat at 2:30?)
including a spontaneous Justin Bieber performance:

(this one's my favorite)

 

Some delicious food:

and don't forget the centerpiece grandma made!! 

Is that a banana?!

Some particularly memorable conversations include:

--brainstorming and deciding on the nicknames you see above :)

-- "Are you going black shopping with us?"

and a crowd favorite:

"That roll-that roll-that roll!!....the dog licked it!!"

 

After the food settled, 

it was time

FOR PIE.

so many choices!!

It wasn't hard for me to decide though :) Pecan, Cream Cheese (a homemade cheesecake) and KEY LIME of course!!

 Overall, it was a great day! 

I'm thankful for family.

For good food.

For the opportunity I had to come spend this holiday with my family and extended family. 

I'm thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the joy it brings into my life. 

And, I'm thankful for my camera so I was able to share these memories with all of you :)

(as well as preserve them for the future.) 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Perfect Evening

Saturday,

I was able to attend the wedding reception

of my good friend 

(and roommate from last year)

Sara! 

The previous friday night 

(11-11-11) 

I was honored to help plan and host her bachelorette party 

(along with Brittany and Christine). 

Christine had the great idea to make it a classy/mocktail party event

and though I'll admit I was slightly skeptical,

(and it was a lot of work to pull off)

  I thought it turned out really well!

First, these are the invitations I made

(with the help of Andrea's boyfriend Jordan..thanks Jordan!!) 

(i removed my address...i don't want stalkers ;) baha.)

Here are some pictures of the set up:

(thank you sooo much Andrea and Brittany for your help!!)

Brittany was testing out how the backdrop would look on the wall.

the almost completed "picture wall". If you know Sara, you know how much she loves her pictures ;)

Andrea definitely has the artistic eye. She was able to help make the place look AMAZING.

and the food and "margarita" tables....

(everyone knows you can't have a good party without good food! ;))

A few more various pictures of the evening...

the whole group!

(It's official. My neck is comparable to that of a giraffe's.)

me and the bride to be :)

don't worry. it's just soda! :)

One of the most memorable parts?

Well,

when the party was over,

Christine wanted to return some of the stuff

we didn't end up using for decorations.

The problem?

We couldn't find the receipt.

  I thought it may have been accidentally thrown away.

The solution?

DUMPSTER DIG.

I thought of a plan.

I got our broom and lifted out one bag out at a time,

(using the broom handle and the loops on top of the bags)

then searched the contents of the bag

to see if it was indeed the trash from my apartment. 

how do you like those "longer-than-the-average-female-gorilla"-arms in action? ;)

We couldn't find a flashlight (with working batteries) so we used the camera flash to be able to see inside the trashcan.

Just like fishin'!

SUCCESS!!!..well, sorta..

After a few attempts

we were able to locate the correct trash!

...but the receipt wasn't in there...

(Christine had it back at her apartment all along. hahaha)

Overall, the evening was perfect! 

and of course I made a wish at 11:11 a.m. AND 11:11 p.m.
(for those of you who claim that 11:11 p.m. doesn't count i beg to differ :))

Good Morning, Bad Morning

Yesterday, was a good morning.

I was awakened by a phone call at about 7:00 a.m.

47 minutes before my alarm. 

'Daniel Calling.' Huh? Weird. 

(...he never calls me, haha)

I answered only to find that it was a pocket dial 

(at least I'm assuming -- I only heard silence on the other end).

Usually i don't mind getting woken up to phone calls

 because i never have much of a problem falling back to sleep. 

But yesterday morning i was actually grateful.

  I had wanted to get up early

(partially due to a particularly persuasive speech in my public speaking class the day before)

 and i was already awake enough so i figured i might as well use the time productively! 

I read the Book of Mormon for 30 minutes

 (a daily goal i sent this past February that i haven't been doing too well at lately.) 

I did some homework. 

I responded to some emails i had been avoiding (work stuff).

I caught up on a few guiltily pleasure TV shows that will remain nameless.

I even made Banana pancakes.

Pardon my tie-dye shirt. Pardon my hair. Pardon my abnormally large forehead.
 Mainly just focus on how happy i look to have those FABULOUS banana pancakes. 

They were delicious. 

To top it ALL off...i ACTUALLY got ready. 

(..let's just say...this semester I've been a liiiitle lax in the "getting ready" department..

....I think I've probably done my hair maybe 10 times..? haha. oops...) 

Today, was a bad morning.

I was awakened by a text at about 6:40 a.m.

It was Cory. (One of my council members.)

I don't usually wake up to texts but for some reason I woke up to this one.

This text told me my email account had been hacked. 

Fantastic.

I immediately went to my computer and this is what i saw:

ARABIC.

Luckily, i happened to have my gmail account still opened in another window so i was able to switch it back to English without too much hassle.

I quickly changed my password and then I went to Facebook to update my status and inform my friends (100s of which "I" emailed) that I was NOT in stuck in the UK, and NOT mugged, and NOT being yelled at by an angry hotel manager. 

While I was doing this, seriously the freakiest thing happened. 

I saw "myself" chatting with people. 

Lots of people.

Every single one of my FB friends that just so happened to be online! 

"I" would say "hey" or "hi" and then when they responded.

 "I" would say "I'm in trouble. I need help."

Yes, you understood that right. 

I was WATCHING "myself" FB chat with my friends...

 while my hands weren't even touching the keyboard.

I immediately updated my status again informing everyone that my Facebook account was also hacked and the person (thing?/computer? robot?) was NOT me!! 

The next hour and a half (give or take) was spent trying to recover my gmail and facebook.

I don't want to bore you with the details,

(though they are quite dramatic and interesting/creepy if you ask me)

 but just a word from the

 not-so-wise-who-has-recently-wised-up:

DO NOT HAVE THE SAME PASSWORD FOR YOUR EMAIL AND FACEBOOK.

Long story short, the hackers changed my FB password locking ME out of the account!!

 I was able to answer a series of security questions so eventually FB temporarily shut down my account and texted me a security code that I used to reactivate it and change my password.

Meanwhile, they (the hackers) changed the security question on my gmail!!

 "what is your library card number?" 

I don't even have a library card here!! 

(okay, I do. I've used it twice...)

I would never set that as a question!

Eventually I was able to get gmail to also send a verification code to my mobile device, too.

(I'm lucky I had that information programmed into both of those things

 or i literally don't think i would have ever been able to get control of my accounts back)

ONE MORE IMPORTANT THING:

Although I was able to get access to my accounts back, the hackers did a few other tricky (and incredibly scary/creepy things). They created an email address called hannah.flinder@gmail.com and set up my email address to FORWARD ALL emails to that account!! Luckily I caught this trick, BUT the account "hannah.flinder@gmail.com still exists and has ALL of my contacts' information!! 

SOOO: IF YOU RECEIVE A SUSPICIOUS EMAIL FROM ME, BE SURE IT IS NOT FROM HANNAH.FLINDER!!!!!!!!!!!

(I'm sorry for the yelling text. i don't mean to be rude, that part is just really important.) 

Okay, I think that rant is over. 

But sadly my "bad morning" was not.

I had intended to use my precious hours this morning to finish an assignment for my art class (VAEDU360...visual art education for El Ed majors).

But this set back was...well....a set back!

I was still able to get most of my assignment done on time, 

but then I remembered that my teacher told us we'd get extra credit if we brought food! 

If you know me, you know I love a lot of things;

extra credit and food being near the top of the list.

(i don't know if that semi-colon is being used correctly, i just wanted to use one.)

I was quite pleased to discover 

that i had all the makin's for no bake cookies! 

So I made them. 

Then I put them on foil and waited for them to "set."

I waited....

and waited.....

and waited...

You know that saying "a watched-pot never boils"?

Well I guess the same thing goes for "watched-no-bake cookies never set." 

Finally I gave up.

 I rolled up those gooey messes in the tin foil and took them to class.

25 minutes late.

Yes, I was almost 30 minutes late for class..

...because my extra credit wasn't done in time.

Ironic, no?

Well, all in all. Some mornings are good, and some are...less than desirable. 

But even then,

that shouldn't stop us from being

 "merry happy"

:)

BREAKING NEWS: GLOZELL IN PROVO

Today i saw the following video posted on facebook:

SHE WAS IN PROVO?!!?!???? OH my. That is soo cool! I totally recognize that girl working at the creamery, too. Man!! If ONLY i had just to happened to be at the creamery on saturday!! [But the alternative of being in Logan with my wonderful sister, Rebekah, brother in law and adorable niece and nephew was pretty awesome too ;)]

Anyway, i seriously cannot believe this right now! i just had to inform all of you. Stephen is going to FREAK out when i tell him, haha.

[if you don't know Glozell already. PLEASE watch some of her videos. She is absolutely hysterical.]

Not So 'Halloweeny'

I didn't dress up for Halloween this year.

not because i didn't have the chance to, 

but because i simply chose not to.

I was actually really excited about not dressing up.

I've always thought Halloween was overrated,

it's definitely one of my least favorite hollidays.

I continued with this anti-halloween excitement--

even as i attended, "Helamanoween."

(Helamanoween was an event I helped staff for work.

I was one of the people in charge--

so i could get away with not wearing a costume.)

Right?

Right.

So...what was the problem?

At one point i caught myself thinking of ideas
for a potential costume next year. . .

I had to stop myself!!! 

This can't be right. 

I DON'T LIKE HALLOWEEN.

Do i?

I suppose maybe deep down, a part of me misses dressing up. . .

(let's face it, my spirit days outfits were always the best... ;))

I don't know at what point i started feeling sad that i didn't do anything Halloween-y.

Maybe it was while i was looking through facebook pictures of other's clever costumes?

(slutty ones not included.)

Or seeing the creativity of costumes at the Helaman dance?

I don't know, 

but i suppose i will have to make up for it

next year.

IN MY DEFENSE. i wasn't a total halloween dud.

Being FHE mom i was able to incorporate some Halloween-ish activities,

which were, well:

"tons and tons and tons of fun" ;)

[Thanks Dallin!]

I also got to do something i've been wanting to do for a while now! 

I put pintrest to the test! 

I actually DID something i found on pintrest!!! 

though, i don't know if my attempt was quite as successful as theirs was....

what did we do???

PUMPKIN BOWLING. 

I decorated rolls of toilet paper like little ghosts. (like this):

[wrapping in seran wrap is optional. . .

i didn't want to waste precious toilet paper!

i am a college student after all. . . ]

Set them up like this:

and then using a pumpkin with holes cut in the side (like a bowling ball) 

we bowled at the little ghosts!! 

(it's hard to see...but it was like this):

SUCCESS!!

 

 We are a happy family :)

Haircut.

I LOVE getting my hair cut.

There's just something great about the feeling of a fresh cut look.

I never really do anything crazy when i get it cut--like i don't get it cut super short or anything, and even though most people would still consider it long, it always feels SO much shorter (even when i only have them cut off a couple of inches.)

I did a picture similar to this one a few years ago when i got my haircut...so i wanted to do it again. (last time was better though.)

Rebekah requested that i put the one i did a few years ago up too. So here's that one. (i had to take it via Facebook that's why it has the little "comment" thing on it. :)) 

The Story Behind the 'Stache.

As some of you may remember, the very first post I made on this blog was regarding a certain FLAMING MUSTACHE that I had the pleasure of seeing each day as I walked home to my lovely home in heritage halls.

(in case you don’t remember that post//you did not have the pleasure of reading that post, you can read it here)

also, here is a picture to jog your memory:

Anyway, I’m taking an art class this year and one day my teacher said something about the flaming mustache...so I had to ask if she knew the story behind it! Sadly, she didn’t. BUT HER T.A. DID! So I now (after TWO YEARS) understand the mystery behind the ‘stache :)

I don't remember who the artist was or anything like that, but apparently he had a very bushy, red mustache. Over time that became his defining characteristic i guess you could say. Like when people spoke about him they would say "he's the guy with the flaming red mustache." WOW. It all makes so much sense now. I can't believe i didn't think of that before!! It's so simple! and it actually MAKES SENSE.
So...what's your defining feature? I would probably say mine is my freckles.

Hm. It would be hard to make an artwork of a freckle..no one would be able to tell what it was. Sad.

my freckles: [notice the "band-aid"...it's especially prominent in this picture ;)]

Helaman Halls RHA--Best Council Ever

My job this semester, is pretty much the best job ever :) I am the "Student Coordinator for Helaman Halls Residence Halls Association" but pretty much that is just code for "have a ton of fun and get paid for it". haha.

There are a few different parts to my job, but pretty much I meet with a lovely bunch of individuals (BYU freshman who live in Helaman Halls) and listen to them while they plan various activities for their fellow Helaman-citizens.

Last weekend I accompanied these fine freshman to a Leadership Training/Retreat where they learned what exactly it means to be a member of Residence Halls Association.

As part of this fun-filled weekend, we performed a role-call. The idea my council had was to change the words to the song Army of Helaman/We'll Bring the World His Truth. This is how we sang the song:

We have been fed as never before
with Dining Plus and Open Door,

We will be king of Freshman 15,
avoid our studies and eat ice cream..
       
(do do do do)

We are all the council of Helaman,
we will rise up to the test,
and we will lead the Lord's Chosen Freshman
to make this year the best!

Bias aside, our role call was the best ;) I'm excited for the rest of this semester with all of these lovely people:

Elementary Education (A serious post)

I remember in 5th grade I decided I wanted to teach elementary school. It was my teacher at the time (Mrs. Ward)'s first year teaching, and her enthusiasm for teaching and her obvious love for her students was very inspiring.

Throughout the next 7 years I lost sight of that dream, slightly. Deep down I still knew I wanted to teach elementary school, but I easily found excuses as to why it should not be my major.

1.) It was what my older sister was doing
2.) It isn't an "impressive" major
3.) It is the cliche "mormon girl at BYU" major
4.) People give you that, "Oh you're one of THOSE," looks every time you tell them your major.

Sad as this may be, many of these reasons started to wear on me and I questioned if El Ed really was the right choice for me. I convinced myself that doing El ED was just talking the "easy way-out" and I was destined for "more impressive" things.

Because of this, I briefly (very briefly) considered various other majors. English (with the intent of becoming an english teacher), RMYL, Human Development, and a few others.

Then, one day during the second semester of my freshman year, I was at my friend Stephen's apartment and he was asking me about my major. I told him how I'd wanted to be an elementary school teacher since i was little, but I just felt like it was...cliche. I braced for the worst: the negative remarks, the "oh you're one of those" looks,...I'd heard it all.

But instead of any of that, Stephen looked at me and said, "Hannah. That is awesome! You would be a GREAT elementary school teacher!"

And that was all it took. Even with the countless instances of negative feedback, I knew that he was right. It is awesome. And it is my dream.

Even though I brace myself each time I have to publicly announce my major, and suffer through The Looks (i swear, they are real!), I am truly excited about being an Elementary School teacher. I am thrilled. I hope I can live up to what Stephen said almost two years ago...and be considered--at least by some--a "great" teacher, someday.

:)

What I learned..Summer 2011

This summer i learned/relearned a lot of interesting things. Here are just a few. Thanks to everyone who made this summer overall the best one of my life. (Seriously. I'm not just saying that.)

1. I love sushi. (As of four months ago I'd only had it twice in my life, but this summer I started having withdrawals after not having it for a week...)

2. I'm not a very good blogger. :)

3. "Little Kids are not interested in Waffles, they want the BAGEL TOPPERS."

4. No matter how many times you try...it is impossible to remember to apply deodorant at 4:40 in the morning. (don't worry....I quickly learned this and bought a small size and kept it in my purse.)

5. Peanut butter shakes (as made by the Leavitt family) are deeelicious!

6. I am an awkward hugger. (See previous post.)

7. Creamy Tomatilla Ranch tastes good....on practically everything.

8. Not ALLLL facial hair is unfortunate ;)

9. My right forearm is more heat-sensitive than my left.

10. I hate everything about coffee.  Look. Smell. Feel. Concept. (Even though I've never tasted it....I am quite confident I would hate that too.)

11.  I'm really good at making summer goals, but not so great at accomplishing them.

12. Some people highly under appreciate french toast sticks.

13. Camping 4 hours away is probably never a good idea :) but if adventure is what you're seeking, you will find it.

14. Getting a letter from Elder Stephen Olson is like Christmas every few weeks :)

15.  "Anything can happen if you let it." ha.