Rise and Shout!

Well, summer is over and school is back in session. Summer always goes by too fast...but winter seems to drag on forever...funny. Fall semester is actually my favorite, though. I love football season (I've never been a huge football fan in and of itself, but going to the games is just all around great for so many reasons). The first game of the season was last night. It was so great--we destroyed Washington State 30-6 and I had such a great time with friends and those free pom-poms they set on all the seats. Those things are obnoxiously great. I also love walking on campus during fall semester. Even if it is 99 degrees at least it's not bitter cold, and campus is just so pretty. I am starting my major classes this semester and I LOVE them so far (let's see if I still say that at the end of the semester...). Public Relations is so interesting to me. And I'm minoring in music, which I also love. So, it's going to be good when (or IF...) graduation ever comes and I can actually do things with these classes...you know, like in real life. Yeah. Here's to a great semester! 

P.S. I'm sure you've all seen this. But it's hilarious. So, if you need a good laugh, just watch it again. Totally worth it. Enjoy!

Elder Hampton is on his way!

Today we dropped Jake off at the MTC. It was definitely a bitter-sweet day. We have been so close...it's going to be hard not having him around for two years. But he is going to be the BEST missionary--I'm so excited for him. Read the blog we are doing for him for all the details of today, pictures and all. :) 

elderhampton.blogspot.com

Happy Wednesday (which I will now and forever think of as missionary-drop-off day.)!!

the farewell.

Yesterday was Jake's farewell and, let me tell you, it was so good. He is such a good speaker and a very talented writer so the two put together equals an amazing farewell talk. It's such a weird feeling to be at this point in our lives where Jake is leaving on his mission. Like in two days. Crazy. For the past 19 years it has seemed so far away...but now it's here. I thought by then I'd feel all old or something but, no, I still feel like a baby and he does not seem old enough for a mission. Where does time go?! When I was little I imagined myself fully married and with like three kids by the time Jake was leaving hahaha. But, clearly, that would be freaky if that were the current situation. I could not be happier for him--he is going to be AMAZING! He has such a strong testimony and is such a wonderful kid. The Costa Ricans are so lucky to have him for two years and I know they are going to adore him. I am going to miss him tons and tons while he is gone, but I wouldn't have it any other way. He has been such an example to me growing up. Being the oldest I always felt like I should be the good example, but he has ended up being the good example to me and to everyone he comes in contact with. He is going to be the best missionary--Costa Rica will not know what hit them! ;) How did I get so lucky to have such a wonderful brother? Who knows...but I would not trade him for the world.

P.S. we are going to keep a blog for Jake where we'll post letters, pictures, etc. Be sure to follow it! elderhampton.blogspot.com

Isn't he a stud?!

Display table at the farewell

The Hampton extended family

Official Mission Pic! (How missionary-ish. I love it.)

I LOVE YOU, JAKE! HAPPY MISSION!

RED.

Taylor Swift announced today that her new album, Red, will be coming out....(drum roll, please) on OCTOBER 22! The first single from her album was released tonight and it's so different, but, it's T-Swift, so it's obviously amazing. To say I love Tay Swift would be an understatement. Her Speak Now tour was extraordinary and I'm already planning on going to her 2013 tour...because it will be happening, I'm sure. And I'm sure it will be her best tour yet. Goal of my life: meet her. I will do whatever it takes. My sisters and I are determined that some day we will be her groupies or something. We can dream, right? ;) Here's a link to listen to her new song, it's called "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtFFQJiwSxU 

I like the feel of it...if this is any foreshadowing of the rest of the album, it is going to be a hit (but, after all, what album of hers hasn't been?). Enjoy! T-Swift forever! Wahoo!

Uplifting Words for a Lovely Sunday

I love Sundays. And I love quotes. So what's better than an inspirational quote on Sunday?! You got it; nothing. So here you go. Be inspired. You're welcome. 

We Bought a Zoo--if you haven't seen this movie yet, you're missing out. It's made my top 10 movie list for sure.

HAPPY SUNDAY! 

Flashback Friday

I stumbled upon some old pictures and had a good laugh. Haha. Definitely grew up in the 90's...big hair (specifically the bangs)...side ponytails...the good ole days, right? Even Stevens, Lizzy McGuire, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movies, Full House, innocent Disney movies, All That, Rugrats, Recess, The Amanda Show, when Vegas was a family destination....oh the days of good, innocent entertainment. Proud to be a 90's child.

Hangin' with the cousins at Grandma and Grandpa's

One of the many family vacations to Vegas (before it became "sin city." and before Jake was taller than me.)

Typical 90's in every way.

Family BBQ...trying to cram on the child-sized tramp (which seemed big back then)

The Death of Pretty

This is an article that my mom read to us a while ago, and it was so intriguing to me. What is the difference between "pretty" and "hot?" Too many times they are used interchangeably, but you will feel differently after reading this article. I will be volunteering this fall semester for Women's Resource Center at BYU, constantly drilling this kind of stuff into women of all ages heads. It is so important that we know how wonderful we are and that we deserve to feel pretty. Their blog and website are both super interesting--check them out at https://wsr.byu.edu. Ok, now indulge in this article--you will be changed forever...(hopefully). 

Here is some of the photography done for the "I Am Beautiful" campaign done by the BYU Women's Resource and Services center. I'm in love with it.

The Death of Pretty--by Pat Archibald

Pretty, pretty is dying.

People will define pretty differently.  For the purposes of this piece, I define pretty as a mutually enriching balanced combination of beauty and projected innocence.

Once upon a time, women wanted to project an innocence.  I am not idealizing another age and I have no illusions about the virtues of our grandparents, concupiscence being what it is.  But some things were different in the back then.  First and foremost, many beautiful women, whatever the state of their souls, still wished to project a public innocence and virtue.  And that combination of beauty and innocence is what I define as pretty.

By nature, generally when men see this combination in women it brings out their better qualities, their best in fact.  That special combination of beauty and innocence, the pretty inspires men to protect and defend it.

Young women today do not seem to aspire to pretty, they prefer to be regarded as hot. Hotness is something altogether different.  When women want to be hot instead of pretty, they must view themselves in a certain way and consequently men view them differently as well.

As I said, pretty inspires men’s nobler instincts to protect and defend.  Pretty is cherished. Hotness, on the other hand, is a commodity.  Its value is temporary and must be used.  It is a consumable.

Nowhere is this pretty deficit more obvious than in our “stars,” the people we elevate as the “ideal.”  The stars of the fifties surely suffered from the same sin as do stars of today.  Stars of the fifties weren’t ideal but they pursued a public ideal different from today.

The merits of hotness over pretty is easy enough to understand, they made an entire musical about it.  Who can forget how pretty Olivia Newton John was at the beginning of Grease.  Beautiful and innocent.  But her desire to be desired leads her to throw away all that is valuable in herself in the vain hopes of getting the attention of a boy.  In the process, she destroys her innocence and thus destroys the pretty.  What we are left with is hotness.

Hotness is a consumable.  A consumable that consumes as it is consumed but brings no warmth.

Most girls don’t want to be pretty anymore even if they understand what it is.  It is ironic that 40 years of women’s liberation has succeeded only in turning women into a commodity.  Something to be used up and thrown out.

Of course men play a role in this as well, but women should know better and they once did.  Once upon a time you would hear girls talk about kind of women men date and the kind they marry.  You don’t hear things like that anymore.

But here is the real truth.  Most men prefer pretty over hot.  Even back in 6th grade I hated the “hot” Olivia Newton John and felt sorry for her that she had to debase herself in such a way.  Still do.

Our problem is that society doesn’t value innocence anymore, real or imagined.  Nobody aspires to innocence anymore.  Nobody wants to be thought of as innocent, the good girl.  They want to be hot, not pretty.

I still hope that pretty comes back, although I think it not likely any time soon.  For every Taylor Swift, there are a hundred Megan Foxs, or Lindsay Lohans, or Miley Cyruses etc.

Girls, please, bring back the pretty.

Recent Obsessions

Okay, so lately I am obsessed with Regina Spektor's new album, "What We Saw From The Cheap Seats." It is so good. It's REAL music--not that "stuff" you hear on the radio every day. If you don't believe me, take a listen for yourself. I promise you'll be converted. (Clicking on the picture will take you to a preview of the album.)

Another recent obsession of mine is smoothies. Kind of weird, right? I've been on an inventive smoothie kick lately. I made this little beauty this morning for breakfast: a strawberry peach smoothie! So delicious. Thank you, pinterest. For this super delicious recipe, go here.

  

J. Crew will forever and always be one of my greatest obsessions. Seriously, how much classier can you get?! Not to mention their adorable crewcuts line for kids. It is to die for. But, FYI, never pay full price for anything at J. Crew ($228 for a sweater?! Ridiculous). Instead, go to their factory store in Park City--same classiness, reasonable prices.

We recently got a fire pit and I have never loved having campfires more than I do now. It is so much fun to sit around the fire, spending quality time with the fam, listening to music and roasting marshmallows. Oh, the joys of summertime. 

The Happiness Project is one of my new favorite books. I recently finished reading it and it left me wanting to be a better person. It is such an uplifting book--I highly suggest it to anyone and everyone. To give a very brief summary, it is written by a lady named Gretchen Rubin, who spent one year in a quest for happiness. Each month she sets goals for herself that she believes will increase her day-to-day happiness. She explains different theories of happiness, fills the book with lots of mind-boggling quotes from geniuses, and tells readers of her successes and failures throughout her journey. It is a funny, easy-going kind of read. Go pick it up--you can't read it and not be happy!

Last, but not least, I have been obsessed with this song by Alex Boye and the Institute choir, called "I Will Rise." One of my BC's showed it to us at EFY and I have loved it ever since. It's just one of those songs that makes your day--but don't just take my word for it! Listen for yourself! 

Some Spiritual Food For Thought

I love Sundays. I feel like life is so busy--some days I feel like I don't even have time to think--but Sundays are the perfect day to think about what matters most and focus our lives on the Savior. Doing this will help us in re-evaluating what holds true importance in our lives and what is just "stuff." I LOVE this Mormon Messages clip going along with a talk by President Uchtdorf. Watch it--you won't regret it! :) Happy Sunday!

"

Dog Days

So, my brother Jake and I are mildly obsessed with the Diary of a Wimpy kid movie series. No idea why; we just find them so hilarious. Last night we went to the midnight premiere of movie #3 in the series, Dog Days. We were laughing so hard. The other ten people (yes, TEN) in the theater were probably super annoyed...but we were having fun! ;) For those of you who have not yet seen any of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies..SEE THEM! They are so great when you're in the mood for a good laugh. Here's a clip of the third movie. Please...soak in its hilariousness (if that's even a word).

Arise and Shine--The best job in the world.

This summer I had the opportunity to work as an EFY counselor. Let me tell you, it is THE greatest job in the entire world. I felt like I was on a mini-mission or something and I LOVED it. The theme this year was D&C 115:5--"Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations." So, incidentally, everything we did every week was focused on missionary work. Living in happy valley, Orem, Utah my whole life has given me the idea that I don't need to do missionary work because, well, everyone I know is already LDS. I thought I had it easy, but man, I was wrong. EFY gave me a new perspective on missionary work and its importance. It should be something we do every day through the things we think, say, and do. The youth of this church are simply AMAZING. They taught me so much more than I taught them. I love the youth of this church. 

Along with having great spiritual experiences, EFY is filled with some of the greatest people you will ever meet. I met so many wonderful people--youth, counselors, session directors, and even the people serving us food at the Cannon Center were so happy and exuberant. It made me even more grateful for this gospel and the joy it brings into our lives. EFY changes lives. We had a joke (I don't know if it's appropriate to call it that...but oh well) that EFY should be called EFC (Especially for the Counselors) because it's just as great of an experience for each of us as it is for the youth. I LOVE EFY!

The church (and EFY) is true, the sky is blue, and life. is. good. :)

Here are some pictures from my weeks at EFY. Hopefully they somewhat convey how great it was--but, they are just pictures after all. Enjoy!

A few of my girls from Provo 3D.

Co-Counselors! Session Provo 4B.

Some company love..aww

Commitment banner--"We commit to kneeling in prayer and reading our scriptures every day for the rest of our lives."

Elise and Julia! Two of my roommates. 

Ohhh games night. Always a good time.

The greatest snow cones ever! And counselors get them for free! Score!

My girls in session Provo 5B.

Co's! Session 5B.

Morgan and Morgan! (Man, I feel bad for him. He has a girl name.)

Co's! Provo 9B.

Right Hand of Glory!

Water duty--super entertaining.

Counselors! Provo 3D session.

Co's! Provo 3D.