Much as I hate to admit it....

I am a hopeless romantic.

I am serious. I realized this just now actually, when I listened to "I'll be your hero" that is a song in some Disney movie that I have never seen and never had any intention of seeing until six minutes ago when I heard this song for the first time in just about a year. Wow that was a lot of words. Ehm. Basically hearing this song made me remember that I happen to be in love with Sterling Knight.

IS HE NOT BEAUTIFUL?!

Like, ohmigosh how wonderful would it be if there was this beautiful boy who was suchhh a jerk and you hated him and it was kinda like Elizabeth and Darcy-esque and then one day you just like, yelled at him and slapped him or smashed a still-wet painting on his head or something and thennn ran out but you were so mad that you didn't see where you were going and this car almost hits you but it doesn't because he SAVES you? But you declare (after the shock has worn off) that just because he saved your life doesn't mean he isnt a jerk. Because he is. And you go out to lunch with your girlfriends and they all say with assuredly that he is madly in love with you but you don't want to believe them because he's a jerk right? And then you slouch home and plop yourself onto your couch with your Ben&Jerry's and watch some TV and its like, some show that you randomly turned to and its actually the news and he's there and it shows him saving your life and he is interviewed later but he is obviously distracted bc he keeps looking over his shoulder to make sure the paramedics are treating your unconscious self with care but then once you are safely inside the ambulance he faces the camera and says something like, "look, I did what any fool in love would do." and then runs over and climbs into the ambulance with you and insists to the hospital people that he cover the bill because secretly HE IS A PRINCE?! But he doesn't want anyone and esp you to know and then he stayed next to your bed until you woke up from your 2-hour coma?? And once he saw your eyelashes fluttering open he hurried away?? And then you're sitting there like, ohmigosh what have I done? And you hurry into the office the next day and are like, "where's Sterling?!" And the catty receptionist that always liked him and therefore hated you informs you smugly that he has gone back to the England because that's what he's the prince of and you're like, NO! and hurry to the airport and run through security and leap over barriers and such until you finally see him ABOUT TO BOARD THE PLANE and then you're like, "Sterling!" and he turns and he is just SO BEAUTIFUL and he's like, "Yes?" and you're like, "don't leave!" and hes like, "why not? there's nothing for me here." and you're like, "no! you're wrong!" and hes like, "whaaaatt??" and you swallow bc you're really nervous about rejection but then you push those feelings aside and are like, "because! I love you too!" and then it's like, slow-mo but not really bc it's real life but it feeellllsss like slow-mo bc you don't know what he's gonna do but then!! you guys kiss and get married and you become a princess and your husband is THIS GUY??!?!?!! ---->

And yes, I did just come up with that off the top of my head. That is the power of Sterling Knight and these ah-mazing lyrics to that wonderful song. LISTEN TO IT.

I'm no superman

I can't take your hand

And fly you anywhere

You wanna go, yeah

I can't read your mind

Like a billboard sign

And tell you everything

You wanna hear but

I'll be your hero

I, I can be everything you need

If you're the one for me

Like gravity, I'll be unstoppable

I, yeah I believe in destiny

I may be an ordinary guy with heart and soul

But if you're the one for me

Then I'll be your hero

(Could you be the one [x3]for me)

Then I'll be your hero

(Could you be the one [x3]for me)

Then I'll be your hero

Searching high and low

Trying every road

If I see your face

I'll barley know, yeah

I put my trust in fate

If you will come my way

And if it's right

It's undeniable yeah

I'll be your hero

I, I can be everything you need

If you're the one for me

Like gravity, I'll be unstoppable

I, yeah I believe in destiny

I may be an ordinary guy with heart and soul

But if you're the one for me

Then I'll be your hero

(Could you be the one [x3]for me)

I'll be your hero

(Could you be the one [x3]for me)

I'll be your hero

So incredible

Some kind of miracle

And when it's meant to be

I'll become a hero-o

So I'll wait, wait

Wait, wait for you

Yeah I'll be your hero

I, I can be everything you need

If you're the one for me

Like gravity, I'll be unstoppable

(Be unstoppable)

I, yeah I believe in destiny

I may be an ordinary guy with heart and soul

But if you're the one for me

Then I'll be your hero

(Could you be the one [x3]for me)

Then I'll be your hero

(Could you be the one [x3]for me)

Then I'll be your hero

Super empowered right now

Mkay so last night I was talking to my friend Joey and I complained about a certain someone who perhaps is my least favorite person in the entire universe. I just don't like her. I had always thought that my dislike was extremely acceptable and even that it should be shared and transferred to others. I stilll feel very justified, but definitely a little ashamed about it. Because this is what Joey said....

"Love and tolerate everyone. That's my motto."

So now, that is my motto too. I was talking the other week about all the things I was going to do when I got home, so I think a list here is in order. Ehm....

~ Be as nice as possible. My mom always says, "be nicer than necessary." so maybe that too.

~ Learn one song on the piano. Preferably that pretty one that I've always wanted to learn. Yes. That one.

~ Skype Heather, Kelly, Paige, and Kathy regularly. As in monthly at least.

~ Get a good job that I enjoy and will make me a better person

~ Improve my flute playing

~ Write letters to my missionaries each week or every two weeks

~ Write letters to DK and Dubbs to inform them of their spectacularality

~ Have shot glass parties. No not with real alcohol. I just love my shot glass is all!

~ Play the Kinect with my Daddy dearest. Today we played four games of volleyball and it was so much fun!

~ Become a master chef. Make dinner at least once weekly.

~ Visit Gina six times. Very do-able. Shut up future lazy self.

~ Go camping! I should write a blogpost about this because I am so friggin obsessed with the great outdoors. For now, you should just read about Blue Knob State Park, Pennsylvania, aka hello the most wonderful place on Earth!

~ Get ten more Disney cups as gifts for BYU-I friends

~ Smile more (even though, I am practically always smiling. I should really write a blog about this condition....stay tuned.)

~ Be nice to everyone and have as nice thoughts as possible

~ Pack light for school

~ Practice and polish flute regularly. Put on concerts for Mommy! She loves my flute playing :) It is so flattering!

~ Go all out for holidays. Not just Christmas because I alwayss do that. I really want to be listening to Christmas music right now. Instead I'm listening to "Where them girls at?" by David Guetta ft Nicki Minaj and "Pretty Girls" by Iyaz and okay, my friend Paige is in this song twice. No not literally, but its like, "And I heard ain't nothing like a Cali girl but you'd better have a lot of cash....And I know ain't nothing like them Lon-don girls 'cause they know how to party oh!" So basically this song was written about Paige. Nothing about Baltimore or DC girls though. Umm rude. We're important and cool too!

~ Read The Economist cover to cover. My parents totally got it for me for my birthday. Best parents ever! And not just because of that. I totally went on a walk with them this morning (they forced me out of bed) but it was fun! I really like talking to my parents. They are more like friends now, which is very nice I think :)

~ Read an encyclopedia. I don't careee if you think i'm a nerd. I LIKE encyclopedias. In fact, here is what I said about them once to my friend Paige....

"When i was a but a young lass, and had to look things up in encyclpedias for school assignments and such, i would have but one wish in my heart, and that would be if only i could stay there forever, just reading..reading..readddin​g from that wealth of knowledge. it was a wonderful thing. i loved it. but of course i could not, and would have to go back to class. i would put down the encyclopedia, but it was never too far from my thoughts. i dreamed of a world where i could just sit and read one to my hearts content, and at last such a world is available to me! the worlddd of my off-track :)"

~ Become an animal expert. Maybe I should just tackle one animal at a time. Last night I learned about Bull sharks, River sharks, Ganges sharks, and saltwater crocodiles. They are scary! All of them. Megh.

~ Make nice with the birdies. Today is going well. They were all mean and acting like I was a stranger when I came home. Today we played like we used to so I think they're starting to remember me if they had actually forgotten, so that's good.

~ Become bffs with Philip when he gets home from his mission

~ Keep my room clean

~ Send a Christmas package to Sam-a-dingle-pop

~ Come up with even awesomer nicknames than the one above. Is it possible? Find out!

~ Read the Bible dictionary. I've always really liked it, so reading it should be fun.

~ Visit Seul at least once up at NYU. Eep!

~ Be a happy helper

~ Pay tithing on time. Blessings! Tithing is seriously one of my favorite gospel principles. I keep waiting to be asked to give a talk about it because I am so friggin delighted by it. It's just so cut and dry- If you pay your tithing you get blessings. That simple! I love it. I alwaysss see blessings from paying tithing. And quite promptly too. It's awesome. I have such a testimony of tithing. I lovee it.

I think this is a nice list. I would get started right away, but unfortunately I am plagued with really weird insomnia because I have been having nightmares! I NEVER have nightmares. I had like, one when I went to college, and even that was weird because it's been years. But I've had at least three since I've been home less than a week. So rude what's up with that. I don't like them. Heather interpreted them for me and I feel a little better, but still. So I'm tired and it's daytime so I think I might nap.

Dear Suitcases,

Close. And be under 50 pounds each or start doing some sit-ups or something because I MUST HAVE EVERY LAST THING that I stuffed so unceremoniously inside.

Dear Paige,

You're such a doll. Thanks for taking all my chicago. Enjoy the cocomotion!

Dear Hermione,

Teach me that shrinking things spell. Immediately.

Dear US Postal Service,

I am your new priority. Deliver all my letters exactly when I want them. Or die.

Dear "defying gravity," "only hope," and whatever else,

NEVER AGAIN will my ears be subjected to such talent. I will not cry.

Dear Soap,

It's nice that you want me to be clean for the next forever, but I cannot pack you. Accept this and stop reproducing so I can finish you off before I leave in less than 12 hours.

Dear AmFounda,

HA! Attendance smah-smendance. SAY HELLO TO A "B" SUCKERS.

Love,

10% attendance and no notetaking. Is this really a college class??

Dear Purseman,

No, you're just a sore loser powerfreak who can't accept other people's opinions, even if they woulddd fit into your 20 minute meetings. So stop dropping my grade by 3% every time I open my mouth and succeed in shutting yours.

Dear Dorms,

Ohhh it's been fun, but I'm so excited to be leaving you.

Dear Sabie baby,

Start working honeybear! I neeeeedd you to feel better so I can drive you around and play with my friends when I get home!

Dear family,

I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU!

Dear dumb youth conference boys who are ruining my homecoming,

Make yourselves useful and fix my car.

Dear Chloe and Elle,

Soon you can sing me songs of joy! Hope you've been practicing! :)

Dear GINA,

he-llooo miss bffaeae! I can-NOT wait to playyy with you! <3

Dear Enemnenily and Dam,

I mighttt miss you a wee bit..

Dear Alyssa,

I LOVE going to the temple with youu!! I'm glad we became better friends this semester :)

Dear Jenn,

THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking all my food :) You're an angel :)

Dear Kathyrn, Jessica, Rachel, and Rebecca,

Aww :( I miss you already :(

Dear Heather and roommates,

Y'all made my life on several occasions. I hope our Death Marks stay there forever. As a warning.

Dear Pat and Dave,

Visit mehhh.

Dear Holly, Heather and Ashley,

Alto party part 2 pleaseandthanks??

Dear Chels,

Please let's go make David Shea's life. And Keith (is that who you said forever ago???)

Dear Jenna and Zoe,

Can we PLEASE watch "10 Things I Hate about You"?? FINALLY?!?!?!

Dear Molly,

DFSHGIHERIGH FIVE YEARS! Let's do this thing!

Dear Shannon,

Playwithmeallthetimepleaseee.

Dear Sara,

I am much too popular for my good. I neeeddd my bodyguard.

Dear Primary Class,

Sooo excited to see your beautiful faces! I've missed you sooo much! <3

Dear BYU-I,

SEEYA.

Dear Semester,

I am thoroughly sick of you.

Dear Idaho,

Your weather is for CRAP. What the whattt is UP with this wind??? Excuse you. I would likee to go to devo without being worried for my modesty thankyouverymuch.

Dear Roommates,

Holy cow what the crap is wrong with this apartment?? Two of you, thanks for keep me sane. Or happily insane. One of you?? Ohhh what I would do if I had no conscience....


Dear Daddy,
You are the nicest daddy ever! I miss you <3


Dear family!
Y'all so funny! I miss you a lot all the time.

Dear Kathryn,

I LOVE YOU. You are the light of my life :)

Dear Ehm.,

Why are you sucking so much lately? Hurting. Mad.

Dear Gina,

Blahhh I want to be home with youuu :( All I want is to have sleepovers and bake cookies and watch Arthur and make panera/subway/qdoba/chipotle runs with you :( when I have money....

Dear job of the summer,

Please come immediately and be fun and interesting and well paying. I really need you.


Dear JVLC,
Never talk to me again. Ever. No, I really mean it.


Dear dishwasher,
I am so done playing nice with you. You will work, or I will throw you out the window in a fit of rage.

Dear Julie,
Graduate and get yo butt out here. A piece of my heart is missing :(

Dear Sabie Baby,

How I miss you cutest car ever :(

Dear Ricks building,

Oh hayy up there. I'm just gonna be frank, you can either move down that awful hill, or BYU-I can have a ski lift installed, bc I refuse to deal with you as often as I should.

Dear Am Founda class,

I promise I like you, but you're in the Ricks and entirely too early. Plus, sometimes I want to fall asleep in you. But I like the friends I make in there if that helps :)

Dear Humanities,

Thanks for being so interesting and Bro Stephenson, you are so super entertaining :) Your class is the bom.com. Sorry for nodding off like woah last class. And oh heyy thanks for giving me my birthday off :)

Dear all songs I'm obsessed with,

I just can't get enough of your extra terrestrial stuttering. Feel me?

Dear Obama,

Bring back the funding for state parks. I miss Blue Knob.

Dear Shannon,

Hey boo :( You sad, huh? Call me anytime love <3

Dear Shawn Spencer,

I am in love with you. Marry me immediately.

Dear Michelle, Kara, and Paige,

I miss my Winter Semester girls :(

Dear bad hair days that I keep having to deal with,

I will cut you.

Dear time,

Fast forward a year and a half.

Dear Heather, Kelly, and Julie,

I see you so soon! I miss you sisters <3

Dear billionaires out there,

I am the best charity ever. Please bestow your life savings upon me, an extremely worthy recipient.

Dear crystal ball,

I kinda want to know my future. I'll let you figure that out while I find one of you. Be ready. I want DETAILS.

Dear Sam, Matthew, and Cory,

You're almost on your missions :) Cali, Madagascar, and Brazil hollaaa at you boys. I think you'll be wonderful missionaries :)

Dear Self,

If right now is any indication, you need more beauty sleep. I'm sorry, just being honest.

Dear clothes,

You don't mind when I don't match you right? You all like each other yeah?

Dear Ben&Jerry's,

And they sell you at the MC Market whyyy??? I wish I'd never known this. I am a teenage girl!

Dear life,

Chin up, yeah? <3

Dear Gina,

You have had a bad time of it my friend :( I am sorry that you had such a terrible experience with your finals, but the beauty of finals is that after them, you are done! Youu are done until late August! Howww terrific :)

I wish I was there to bake cookies with you and go on a subway run or something :( But that just means that you will have to go to my house and make them with my siblings! I got Garden Salsa Sunchips today to honor you, so I am there in spirit!

And I actually talked about you in church on Sunday! We were talking about people who have really shone out to us as kind, serving people and I said something like....

"My best friend Gina is a really good example to me of selflessness. She is always

putting others before herself. Like, I remember one time
I was sick and she knew, and she got me soup!

And it's just stuff like that that I'm like, 'who does that?' Basically no one.

But Gina does! And it is so nice and I always try to be like her because

she is just such a good example to be of what a friend is.

She is always putting others before herself and going the extra billion and a half miles

and it is just so nice to have someone like that in your life.

So I try to be other people's 'Gina,' because she really has inspired me."

So that's actually an accumulation of lots of things I've said about you in various different conversations, because I guess I talk about you a lot :)

Because seriously! It always blows my mind how much you do for others. You're always offering to help out, or making me swear "on our friendship Nicole. Our FRIENDship." that I'm telling the truth when I say nothing's wrong. I just adore you!

And I've always admired how much stock you put into academics. You say you slacked off this semester, and I realize I'm not there to prove you wrong but then you tried to tell me that you slacked off in high school too, like you never studied. And there, my young grasshopper, thereee is where you made your fatal mistake.

Umm excuse me?! Excuse me. This is a blatant lie. Everything you said to me about you being a bad student or unintelligent or whatever (which I never believed in the firsttt place, btw) was instantly cancelled out. You want to know what slacking reallyy is? Let me take you on "A Day in the Life of Nicole: Sen10r Edition." Here is an excerpt from a letter Ketty and I wrote to Concert Band as a way of us Band Aides saying goodbye. Ehm....

"I know that you all probably think I didn’t pay attention because I was

always in the media center writing papers, or doing WHAP homework,

crimping my hair, coloring, or anything irrelevant to band...."

That wasn't just a week where I was lazy. No. That was like, from Day Two onward. Day One I was getting rid of an ant infestation on the cabinet. My whole senior year I was sneaking off to the stage to sing or do "concerts" with Ketty. I neverrr did my job right.

In WHAP (which I took Senior year), I sat in the back left corner (looking at the class' left), next to the magazine rack (whyyy was it even there in the first place??). I read National Geographic, colored in that wonnnderful coloring book Veronica gave me in our MB spirit boxes, occasionally slept (rare, bc I love Mr Edlowitz), did Anatomy homework, did Math homework, did English homework, studied band music, wrote letters, drew stick figures, texted, made flashcards, ate drank and was merry, and in short did anything and everything that was nottt World History Advanced Placement. Except maybe reading National Geographic counts for something....

Prolly not.

So unless you can reach my level of absolute slack-dom, I suggesttt you embrace your role as really nerdy Korean girl. But you're not like, a weird nerd. You're really social and nice and cute and I adore your hair :) So.

But seriously, you are one of the most driven, smartest people I know. You just go for it, and you don't allow yourself to make excuses. My dad would so flip a chicken if you were one of his kids. My parents were always really glad when I would study with you, because they thought you could turn me around study-wise or something. Well, you did help :)

I guess all I'm saying is that I admire you a lot, and no matter what your grades say IIIIIII know the truth- which is that you are super smart and amazing and capable. It's just the truth. And Gina, if I can still believe that I am smart, even after all the horrible grades I got, then you, with one or two mediocre grades, should never have a doubt in your mind about your intelligence.

So stop worrying, and smile, and go running because exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't kill their husbands. They just don't. (Sorry I had to throw in the Legally Blonde quote so you can know that I am serious about this!) Anddd you could also hop a plane out here and visit me. I guess I'd be happy if you did that.

:) I sooooo would :)

Or at least mark your calendar for July 26th (it's a Tuesday), which is the day that I think I'm coming home!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) I'm soooo excited and we are hanging out the instant I hit Kings Grant you have absolutely no choice in the matter.

So anyway. And now that you're out of school we can skype more often! Yayyy :) And you should listen to Magic by B.O.B., because it cheers me up every time :)

I justtt hope that you know that I mean every word of what's written here. You are seriously the bestest friend one could ask for. I'm soooo glad you're my bffaeae :)

Yap! I love you much chica bonita!

Loveeee,

Nicole <3

Names of My Children

I have several ideas. Here are the names I am positive one of my amazing children will have....

For Girls....

Vaila: One day, I was writing and I was rather tired of all the same old names. So I typed random letters and voila! Vaila :) It's actually the name of a small island

Adriana: Pretty as pretty can be

Elle: Elle Woods!

Gina: After my bff duhh. Also, all the “Gina”s I have known have all been superb people. They work really hard at academics. I mean, what's in a name? But seriously, I think I'll give my kids as many leg-ups as I can.

Julie: After Julie and Julia :) Not the chefs or whatever that movie is- Julie my sister and Julia my bff. It won't be the name she goes by, but I want to name her that all the same.
Petra: There's this really rich British heiress who has this name, and she's been in the news a lot lately bc she just got married. But anyway I like the name :)

For Boys

Vladimir: Congratulations, you are guaranteed to be a hottie, thanks to your ah-mazing name

Jake and Josh: Did anyone read the Boys Against Girls books? Well, there was a set of twins named Jake and Josh. Needless to say, if I have twin boys their names will be Jake and Josh.

Liam: I just recently stumbled upon my love of this name. It's wonderful. Liam! Liam Liam Liam! Just fabulous.

Robert: I just really like this name. It used to remind me of a burp but not anymore.

Alexander: I hate hate hatee Alex vs. Alec situations. Seriously. I can never figure it out in my head. One time Heather had this piano student named....Alex or Alec. I dunno but seriously, if he's named Alexander there will be no short version. Alexander it is forever and ever.

Drake: I just think this is a really awesome name

Cleco: This is one I came up with, like Vaila above. I love this name, it's so playful and unique, kind of like Pascal. It's for sure happening.

I think that this is a pretty good list so far. Also, even though I have to go through childbirth and stuff, I'm still glad that I'm a girl and not a boy :)