Speechless

Adele is flawless. Always has been. In celebration of her new album, here is a live version of my favorite song from 19. She is impeccable. I love you, Adele.

Stay tuned for my favorite song from 21.

Get her music. Now.

Whilst transcribing...

I decided that I needed a break from transcribing Eleanor Rigby. I was on "lonely people" overload. And what does Amberley do when she needs a break from music? Shops online. obvi.

So I went to www.thelimited.com and selected an adorable dress on sale that I had asked for for my birthday. (bonus: they don't have limiteds in Utah, therefore no one else will be sporting it. ha!) Anyway, I had a genius idea to google for a coupon code, and I came across the most amazing website ever! Retailmenot offered me a free shipping code, and a 20% off code. I tested both to see which would save me the most money, and ended up getting $10.21 off with the 20% off coupon. How fantastic is that? Of course these codes aren't advertised on the website, which makes it all the more exciting. The pressure to "buy now before the code expires on Monday!" (or whatever the websites catch you with) is completely gone. You can find coupons for everything from Domino's pizza to Victoria's Secret. It's genius. There are printable coupons, grocery coupons, and of course, coupon codes. And people comment on certain codes to say that they just used it, or that it didn't work - so some are more reliable coupons than others.

It's definitely a must try before any online purchase. :)

Enjoy!

Let's get real: Public Restroom Ground Rules

Here's what I'm thinking. Over the past couple of years, I have used public restrooms almost every day. As a functioning adult at a world class university, I have also noticed patterns of human behavior within these public restrooms. (as well as caught myself falling into some of the same patterns) Allow me to explain a few of these.

1. The wait-it-out: You enter the restroom, and there is already someone using the facilities. You pick a stall, and go about your business - but you can't help but notice the dead silence that has engulfed the restroom. I call this the wait-it-out. Especially in a workplace or school, the person obviously does not want to take the chance of finishing their business and running into you at the sinks...in case you are indeed acquaintances, or worse yet, colleagues. This would be obviously embarrassing (or so they assume) so the best solution is to pretend that they're not there.

2. The embarrassing-noises cover: This situation is much like the first one, however the sound ceases only until you flush. The ruckus of flushing is a perfect cover for any embarrassed restroom patron that needs to make any kind of attention-getting noise. (Think: sanitary products, flatulence, or even the ever-embarrassing second or third flush to prevent a plumbing disaster.)

3. The toilet-paper crisis: It happens to the best of us. We carefully select a stall to use, not realizing it is out of toilet paper. The gutsy ones will ask someone next to them for toilet paper. The rest of us wait it out, until the commotion has died down or until we have finished panicking, and consider (as I assume) retrieving some from the next stall over. Many times have I used a public restroom and figured that the patron in stall B is in crisis.

4. The oh-no-I-clogged-it panic: Have you ever flushed, only to realize that it's just not your day? Maybe this has happened right after your movie at the Mexaplex got out, the symphony is at intermission, or your flight just landed - either way, the restroom is packed. You can't just slink out of the restroom unnoticed. There is a solid, never-ending line of women waiting for YOUR stall. Obviously, the only thing you can do is wait until the restroom has cleared out a little. Showing your face is out of the question.

These circumstances given, I pose the question: why? Why do we do this? As the infamous childhood book instructs, "everybody poops." How, after all these years of evolution and intellectual exploration, are we still embarrassed of our bodily functions?

So. Funny.

Just something I noticed. :)

My life is dismal. Here is the result.

Wedding plans.

This is happening.

I'll have you all know that I am not one of those girls that have dreamed about their planned wedding since they were 5. I was too busy just hoping for a boyfriend. This whole wedding craze is an extremely recent thing. The moral is...this is the first dress that I've fallen in love with. And it took forEVER to find this one that I was remotely excited about.

It wouldn't let me transfer a picture: http://www.latterdaybride.com/romana-details.php

Also, did you know that J crew has wedding dresses? What a FIND!
http://www.jcrew.com/wedding/Wedding_Bride.jsp

AND the limited! I'm in love with these two:

http://www.thelimited.com/category/apparel/weddings-events/wedding-dresses

As far as bridesmaids go, here's what I'm thinking: I don't know how many I'll have, but they will have the option of pencil or A-line skirt. Probably black or grey herringbone. They'll have matching blouses and cardigans, with cute heels or flats. Functional, classy, and comfortable.

Skirts: courtsey of The Limited.

 

Blouses: each gets a different color of a generic blouse like these, from The Limited and J Crew.

Sweaters: cardigans, in the appropriate color or colors (shown, from Gap and J Crew).

I couldn't find any inspiring patterns, but the blouse would hopefully be some kind of stripe or cute pattern. Wedding colors? I'm thinking pink, yellow, and black. :) 

Shoes? Payless or Target black pumps would do the trick. But what if they had TOMS instead?! Genius, I know. 

Needless to say, it's going to be awesome, classy, low key, comfortable, and relatively inexpensive. and if the bridesmaids conveniently turn out to look like me...well, so be it. :) I think it'll be a lovely mix of timeless style (pencil skirts and pearls) with fun and silly touches (toms and...I don't know? personality?)

You are cordially invited. :)

I'm a ski bum. and you should be too.

I finally feel like I live here! and this is how! Skiing at Brighton is probably the greatest deal in Utah. There are student tickets you can purchase at the union - $55 for all day, $27 for night. On top of those sweet discounts, there are weekly night skiing deals that even top those. Check it out!

Every Tuesday cause it's Truth about Tobacco night. If you go to fighttheugly.com you can print off a coupon good for $17 night skiing.

Every Wednesday is Arctic Circle night. If you buy a value meal at Arctic Circle you will receive a 2 for 1 coupon for night skiing.

Every Friday is X96 night. If you have a X96 Workers Union card, and you present it at the ticket booth you will receive 2 for 1 night skiing.

These pictures are from last Friday, but we've already taken advantage of night skiing too! :)

On the way up the mountain.

Ski lift fun.

Do it!

Brighton Ski Resort Website

Found: Soul mate! But not for long.

Remember Chandler? The mystery boy from the past Monday evening shuttle ride? Guess who I spotted on the shuttle yesterday afternoon!?

Here's the sitch:

Alyse and I got on a shuttle to go back to our dorms at approximately 2 pm. I had a concert that evening, and she had to get ready to go to Lehi for her usual Thursday trumpet class (which she teaches). Anyway, we got on with some other people we knew, and I was chatting (and standing. ugh) with one of them. At the trax stop, a load of people got off, and I took a seat next to Alyse. It didn't take long before her eyes landed on a lovely tall young man in a camouflage uniform. (Alyse has always taken a liking to men in uniform. It's in the blood.) Well he was standing, and she commented on how cute he was (nothing outside of standard procedure with us) and I agreed. A couple stops later, it dawned on me.

This cadet in the United States Air Force was my Chandler.

Well, needless to say, I freaked out, quickly told Alyse what was going on, and the whole situation was so comical. It all happened so fast. I looked back, and Chandler was looking me, so we did the whole looking-and-looking-away thing all over again, (see past blog entry for details) except this time, Alyse was there to say "he's looking at you" multiple times.

Unfortunately, he got off a couple stops later and we saw him cross the street towards the Huntsman Center (basketball arena). But the good news is, he wasn't a figure of my imagination. I was beginning to worry. Also, he got the Alyse Mourdock stamp of approval. Which is pretty much only second best to Oprah's.

P.S. His uniform informed me of his last name. Horn. His last name is horn. I can't escape music to save my life. However, it does pass the one-syllable-last-name test that I've been harping on for years. (My name just doesn't sound good with more than one syllable of a last name!)

I'll enclose a plea to my lost-again Cadet Horn. Please distribute to anyone matching his description.

Dear Mr. Horn,
Will you be my valentine?
Fondly,
Amberley

Someone needs cheering up...

...and his name is Brandon Koch! This handy dandy envelope is equipped with a 1 1/2 page letter, hand drawn portrait of the man himself, spiderman bandaid, various photos, and an assortment of silly bands. If this doesn't make him smile, then there really is no hope for the people of Brazil. Just kidding. But really. :)

Love you, B!

Holy applications.

Spring semester is like 2 semesters in one. You have to live the current semester, while planning for the next. Applications and their deadlines can go jump off a cliff.

Not really.

I need scholarships.

But you catch my drift.