a new tradition

On the phone today, Mom and I talked about what we were doing for Grandma's birthday tomorrow. It turns out that we have the exact same plans in mind, and we also decided to invite you all to join in!

For all those who knew CJP and benefited from wisdom, love, and culinary talents, feel free join us in the new tradition of baking a cake on her birthday, October 5.

I'm going to make chocolate cake with White Mountain frosting, which is what she made for my birthday many times.

Makes Me Happy 001

I'm taking up Miranda's "Makes Me Happy" series because I love October and I have a great deal to be happy about.
Today, I'm happy that I don't have classes and that I get to study in my apartment while a thunderstorm rumbles outside. Sheets of rain are pounding down, the sidewalks are flooding, but I am inside wearing fuzzy socks and enjoying a mug of chicken noodle soup.

happy autumn!

I spent last Saturday morning here:

If I could, I would move here for as long as it remains a paradise of autumn air and colors.

For now, I'll settle with eating fall colored M&M's. Delicious, though not nearly as magnificent and wonderful.

new digs

Almost exactly a month ago, I moved into my new apartment, and, much like my new major, I love it! Financially, I'm better off, saving significantly on rent. Esthetically, I'm much better off, with a big kitchen, big bathroom, and big windows in both the living room and kitchen. Seriously, I love my current home. My roommates know how to clean and value such a state. I get to come home each night to a clean, bright, cheerful apartment, and it is wonderful!

Do you see this counter space? Notice all the cupboards??? Yeah, this is my kitchen. And it's in apartment right across from campus.

Depending on the angle at which I'm sitting on the couch, I can look out at the greenery on the side of campus and pretend that I'm in the mountains. Nice, eh? Further, how do you feel about our apartment guard dog? One of my roommates brought this home a couple weeks ago, and he now sits in our window, alert and creepily life-like.

Stylistically, the couches leave much to be desired, but they're comfy. That's all I can say for them. And what doesn't say style like a camp chair with built-in foot rest? I'm learning quickly that college is the time for style compromise when it comes to furniture. But in no way else, to be sure.

The kitchen window is one of my favorites. Further, my roommates don't mind that I keep Grandma's last cake picture in the corner above my flour/sugar canisters. I love having her with me in the kitchen.
This presents the perfect time for a great story! Two weeks ago, I found myself working across from Grandma's picture making Poppycock, a family recipe for kettle corn. I called home from the recipe, and since Mom was away, John read it off the card for me. The recipe seemed simple; all I had to do was mix sugar, Karo, and other stuff together until "hard ball." It was this particular instruction that caused me some trouble. I was puzzled over how, if I stirred sugar and Karo syrup together over heat until it formed a hard ball in the pot, I would be able to then pour the mixture onto popcorn. But who am I to deny recipe instructions?

As I stirred over the stove, waiting for the mixture to form a hard ball and not entirely trusting my interpretation of these instructions, a memory popped into my mind. When Mom and Grandma would make caramel corn, they would always test some near the end of cooking by putting a sample in a cup of ice water to test for its consistency. They would test for hard ball stage!!! (epiphany!)

At this very moment of clarity, I tested my own candy mixture, and though it had not formed a hard ball in the pot, it was definitely at hard ball stage. Grandma saved my Poppycock. :)

major love

I'm 3.5 weeks into my life as an official accounting student and I have found so many things to love about it.

1. I get to spend hours every day reading (frequently accompanied by intermittent dozing) about real people things in my massive textbooks. I love being finished with GE's and being able to focus solely on a subject that I care about. It's exciting to learn more about auditing, principles of financial accounting, and information systems all the time.

2. I love that studying accounting almost ensures me a job right when I graduate and whenever I need one after that. Recruiters for accounting firms have a fondness for BYU graduates, and this being the case, they regularly hook us up with free stuff. To date, I have a computer mouse, three t-shirts, a miniature supply kit, a hoodie, a water bottle, and assorted pens and flyers.

{Note the "clever" slogan on this particular t-shirt, "Accountants are always in balance."}

3. I love that I have so many opportunities to go outside of my comfort zone and have new experiences. Thanks to another recruiting tactic, my classmates and I had the chance to learn how to change the tires of a race car (and how to improve our teamwork skills).



On my team, I took on the improvised role of "nut assistant," though Jordin happily picked up one of the power tools and went to town. It was a very cool day. It was also the day we got the free hoodies.

Another set of recruiters really know my soft spot. They put on a 5K for accounting students and their families last Saturday. I opted for the service hours, standing on the side of the race path in an orange vest, pointing the way (and reading my leisure book). The breakfast afterward was pretty tasty, though!

There are a few downsides to being an accounting student. Though BYU boasts a student population of approximately 30,000, I can't seem to get away from fellow accounting students. No matter where I am on campus, I always see someone else with the same textbooks and recruiting paraphernalia. I feel like we should have a secret greeting to recognize each other, like the Free Masons.

Yesterday was an especially suffocating day. Jordin and I reserved a series of study rooms in the library, and every single one we occupied waas either previously or subsequently inhabited by other accounting study groups. The guys we traded rooms with were always nice, but a little creepy. Social skills are not the norm for this particular group of academics. When Jordin and I took over a study room from one pair, one guy had his shoes off and socked feet up on the table, and made no motion to move from this position for a full minute after Jordin and I claimed the room for our time slot. As soon as we left the room 1.5 hours later, the same guy appeared from among the bookshelves closest to the room and went right back in, telling us that it smelled much better after we had been in it.

4. What I love the most is that just two years ago I was a freshman, learning how to study and be a college student. I have gone from wanting to be a piano major to a choral conducting major to a business student. I love seeing how I've been guided to this point. Now, I'm a junior in a fantastic program, with just 2-3 years left!

{Moving-in weekend, freshman year}

I love that I learning how to be a professional and that the work I'm doing right now means stability in the future and endless opportunities. And more free t-shirts.

{My business face. It needs a little work.}