"How to Talk to Girls" by Alec Greven

I just saw the cutest clip from the Today Show...check it out here:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/28050331#28050331

You can also read the accompanying article here:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/28038281/?GT1=43001

He's got some pretty solid advice!

Homework

WEEK #11 THOUGHT BUBBLE: You are on a mission…
Go to the mall and visit a teen-centric retail store (and can someone please tell me why at Hot Topic are all the t-shirts from all the bands I listened to way back when...?). Look at the place with your librarian eyes.... What, if anything, is going on there that isn't typically found in a library's teen area but would work in the library setting?

This is verbatim my homework assignment for today. I literally spent 1.5 hours doing "homework" at the mall this morning.

Best. assignment. ever!

Selectively Sleepy

Lately whenever I try to study, I keep drifting off. This morning I was reading through some PDF articles on my computer and I just couldn't stay focused and alert.

However, when I decided to give myself a break and look at blogs, suddenly I was awake and ready to read blog after blog.

However how can you not stay awake when you get to see cute Cruz army crawling? You can check it out for yourself here!

Learn Something New!

Although I'm currently in school and swamped...that doesn't mean the rest of you can get off so easy! I've recently found some cool websites that I wanted to share.

This is a list of 100 Useful, Free Web Tools for Lifelong Learners. If I wasn't in school right now, I would love the explore some of the awesome FREE courses that you can take through schools like MIT, Harvard Medical School, and Notre Dame just to name a few!

In reading one of my textbooks for my Programming and Services for Young Adults class, the Louvre Museum website was mentioned a few times as being spectacular. Check it out.

Tag Galaxy is a site that combines tags on Flickr pictures with a sort of visual dictionary. It's pretty cool!

So while I'm doing loads of homework this week, I expect you guys to learn something new and tell me about it, because I won't get a chance to really look at these sites until, oh, about 2010.

Mini 2nd Ward Reunion

So last night a bunch of us got together at TGIFridays and just had a blast catching up with each other. It's amazing how many of us are still around in Provo/SLC. I had such a great time just seeing everyone. It made me miss old friends and cherish the times we spent together!

This is maybe 1/3 of the group! I think we had over 30 people come.

Apt. 63 (minus Ashley) and 41 together again!

Jake and I. So fun to hang out with Jake again!

Seriously? Do you have to do that here?

I like to study on campus because it gives me a break from studying at home and I tend to be less distracted.

However, sometimes I wonder if I really want to submit myself to being on campus. Like today, I'm at the library reading and minding my own business. When a couple (they were either engaged or married) sat at the table with me. That's fine. I can share the table. But then they proceeded to whisper sweet nothings, and kiss, and cuddle and just basically annoy me for over an hour!

Seriously? Did they have to do that here? Couldn't they go find some spot of grass to cuddle on?
Blech!

Things that make you go hummm....

I was looking at a library blog today and ran across a posting on anniversaries and gifts to give for anniversaries (like the first year is paper and the blog was saying that books would be the perfect gift) anyway, apparently the couple pictured below does this every 5 years.



They call them "tunnel" pictures. They actually get a portrait taken of themselves holding the portrait from the previous 5 years. I'm not sure how I feel about it...but I thought I would share!

Busy, Busy

I'm reading YA books like they are going out of print! I feel like all I do is eat, sleep, work and read. So here are some cute pictures of my nephew for you to look at while I continue to read.

Wanna spend less $$ on Gas?

My family is testing a gasoline additive that increases mileage, reduces pollution, cuts maintenance costs, and saves money. The gasoline additive is Syntek Engine Boost 2.0 and information about this product can be viewed at YouCanSaveFuel.com

My family is driving across the country next week and I'm anxious to see how this additive effects how much money is spent on gas. My dad's going to bring some of the additive for me to try as well, so I'll let you know how it goes.

Check out the site for more info!

Dr. Mario

So....


My neighbors have Dr. Mario on their Wii.


Let the addiction resume!

Sometimes my life feels like this...

I definitely wanted to squish some patrons in shelves this week!

Teen Brain

Today for class I had several articles and book chapters to read about teen brain development. I really enjoyed this comment from the author of "Primal Teen":

Can we look in a teenage brain and find, hidden in its folds, some answers to even the most fundamental questions, such as why an otherwise tame and timid teenager goes out one morning and puts a big silver ring in her nose?

As it turns out, yes. As it turns out, teenagers may, indeed, be a bit crazy. But they are crazy according to a primal blueprint; they are crazy by design.

The chapter I read was really interesting and funny! It took me back to the days at BYU when I took my adolescent development class.

I'm really enjoying this young adult literature class!

For the Love of Reading!

This is the love canopy!

These are my co-workers in the love canopy.
Sorry it's such a dark picture, the lighting wasn't very good when i took this.

The Summer Reading Program has begun! Our theme this year is "For the Love of Reading"
Come sign up for the program (the adult grand prize is a Wii) and visit me at the desk!

Memorial Day Weekend

What did I do this Memorial Day Weekend? See for yourself!

My boys! Lincoln and Jared loved playing with me this weekend!

Goblin Valley was really cool!

I've never used a ladder before when hiking!

Natural Bridges National Monument was awesome! We saw 3 natural bridges.

I loved this sign! Especially the "Parents Control Your Children" part...we need this sign at the library!

A cute video of Lincoln. He's just recently begun saying my name! I've been coaching him on it for a while!

Adorable

This is my nephew at 4 months, isn't he cute! He's getting so fat! I love it!!

I can't wait to go visit him again in July!

Finished!

I just turned in my final and am now free from school for 17 days!

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!

Obsession

Hello, my name is Ann-Marie and I am a compulsive e-mail checker.

I knew I had a problem before I began grad school, but now it is a certifiable disorder. Especially working on group projects, I am checking my e-mail all the time!

It has got to stop! Fortunately for me, school will be over this week and I can take a little break from my best friend named gmail.

Double Take

I was leaving my house yesterday evening to go to institute and saw this as I walked out the backdoor...



My roommate got soaked in the rainstorm yesterday and apparently needed to dry out her backpack and shoes. It just surprised me that they were hanging on the back door. This image made me smile as I left the house!

New Roommate

I got a new roommate this weekend. She's really cool and I think we will have a fun summer together.

I was thinking how many roommates I have had over the years and realized that she is number 39!

I've lived with a lot of people, and even the same people for multiple years, yet I've still had almost 40 roommates! Wow!!

Busy

I am in the midst of writing a 20 page research paper and finishing a group project.

Life is busy, but I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel for this semester. Only 2 1/2 more weeks until I get a 2 week break. Then I start summer classes.

At least I had a nice relaxing weekend!

Thought Provoking

Last night in institute my teacher shared this quote by Neal A. Maxwell from his book "All these things shall give thee experience" I really like what it is about and the way Elder Maxwell phrased this concept.

Life is a school in which we enrolled not only voluntarily but rejoicingly; and if the school's Headmaster employs a curriculum-proven, again and again on other planets, to bring happiness to participants-and if we agreed that once we were enrolled there would be no withdrawals, and also to undergo examinations that would truly test our ability and perceptivity, what would an experienced Headmaster do if, later on, there were complaints? Especially if, in His seeming absence, many of the school children tore up their guiding notebooks, and demanded that He stop the examinations since these produced some pain? There is, to use jargon from American higher education, no way to "CLEP" the examination of the second estate; one learns by taking the full course!

What's wrong with this picture?

Oh yeah, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SPRING!!!!!

Seattle!

I went to Seattle last weekend to meet my new nephew Cruz! He is really cute! It was fun to spend the weekend with my brother, sister-in-law and parents. My brother and sister who live here in Provo and I drove up on Friday afternoon. It was a long drive, but we made it!
On Saturday we went to the Seattle Flight Museum and to Ivers to get fish and chips (except I got chicken and chips because I hate fish!).
Sunday was Cruz's baby blessing and dinner with my brothers in-laws.
Then we drove back on Monday. It was a quick trip, but was a lot of fun!

Here are some pictures from my weekend travels...

This is my cute nephew Cruz


Here is my mom and sister and I posing at the airplane museum


Here I am with a big statue head


Here are my brothers feeding the seagulls at Ivers


And finally, here is my mom playing the Wii. She was bowling!

Remember the Alamo

I went to San Antonio last week for 4 days. Two of my co-workers and I just went to escape the cold and our everyday responsibilities! We had so much fun and it was so warm the entire time we were there. I would recommend anyone to go visit the Alamo in February!

Now it's back to doing school and work. Blah!

Villa Memories

I was going through some of my love notes from the Villa tonight and ran across some hilarious ones! I was also thinking about the time that Caroline and I stole the garden gnome from Chris and David and they thought that it was Em and Kat! We held the gnome ransom and made them take us to dinner. Hilarious I tell you!

Here is a sampling of the love notes for your viewing pleasure:

Ann-Marie,
I will never forget you threatening to take out that over weight girl. It was so hilarious. I love you, Angela
I don't recall this incident, but apparently it was funny!

Ann-Marie...Why are we such HOT salsa dancers? Are you part Latino? Cause you are SPICE! Love ya! Chris (Bailey)

Ann-Marie
Love you
I do
It's true
Yahoo!
Love, Kat

Ann-Marie, Thanks for the cookies. They were almost as sweet as you. A cheesy line, yes. But true nonetheless! MOYDIE!

Oh how I like Ann-Marie
I think about her down by the sea
I think about her when I drink herbal tea
And that's because she's as cool as can be!
Justus

Ann-Marie
MMM...MMM... You are lookin' good enough to deserve a cardboard love note :) Sorry you got booted, don't hate booters, they have a soul too. I hope you have a fun week! Play in the sun (while it lasts!)
Love! Jake

Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
I'm really Hot
and so are YOU!
this one isn't signed, but I love it!

Ann-Marie
My library buddy-ette! Wassup? Well, you know, say 'hi' to me sometime when you're in periodicals. You could 'check me out' but I got tattle tape and security would stop you. Umm...
Love, Lewis

Ann-Marie...This is just a little reminder that you're cute as a bug's ear! -Jon

AneMary-I like you better NOT at the Villa! -Matt (Harrison)

Ann-Marie, You have really pretty toes. -your secret admirer (This was from Steve)

and one of my most favorite drawing-type love notes:


Click to make it bigger!

Yummy New Restaurant

So tonight some of my co-workers and I tried out a new Restaurant in Orem. Pizzeria 712 was awesome! I had the Margarita pizza (mozzarella, basil and tomato) and then my favorite part of the night....homemade S'mores!! I would recommend this place for sure! It had a great atmosphere and was a fun place to eat!

Of Wigwams and Sunshine: Have You Slept in a Wigwam Lately?

So this past weekend Kat and I went on our annual "we must get out of town and feel some sunshine or else we will freeze to death in the tundra that is Utah". This year we went to Mesa, AZ to see Ritz and Leah and stopped in Holbrook, AZ on the way down to stay in a Wigwam Motel!

Let me tell you I loved the wigwams! It was so fun to sleep in a motel that looks like a wigwam and I would recommend it to anyone! Here is the wikipedia site that will tell you some more about the wigwams. The other great part about staying in Holbrook was that it is right on Route 66 and the people in that town are very proud of that fact!

We had a blast visiting with Ritz and Leah and enjoying the sunshine and lack of snow that was in Arizona!!!

Here are some pictures from our trip! You can see more pictures on my facebook page...

You may now call me Aunt!

My nephew Cruz Evan Marchant was born yesterday afternoon! I'm excited to be an aunt!

This video made me laugh!