don't blink.

FACT. Life comes at you fast.

Me and Taylor were talking the other day in church (don't worry it was a reverent kinda talk, mom) and she asked me "remember when we were 12 and thought the Deacons were the cutest boys alive" and i said "ya, i'd sit on the aisle seats so i could get a better look when they passed the Sacrament". Haha we were defineatly dorks, but it struck me how long ago that was.. i'm 19, and every birthday my Grandma reminds me to stop comparing myself to an old lady. She's right. I have so much life left to live! I decided to put together a Bucket List.. literally. (Pics will be up shortly)

Always remember to slow down in life; live, breathe, and learn; take a look around you whenever you have time and never forget everything and every person that has the least place within your heart.

Don't get me wrong, i'm already filling up my time and journal with fun fuNNN things.

Here's a sample spoon full (can you tell i got Ocean Blue on my mind? :] )

Kenzie, Rachel, and me rented out 12 West Venue for our combined birthday parties.

BORN TO BE WILD theme, barbaric inflateable boxing ring, killa beats all night long, party of the year. :]

Late night trips to QT with my pals.

Soaking up the Cali sun during Spring Break with Ang and some cute, new friends.

Team Sexy (Rexburg friends) came down to AZ to visit Mae, me, and Tiff!

Nathan Askins left to Brazil, he will be an incredible missionary!

oh, and i learned how to turn a shirt into a skirt.. NBD.

Kels= Vannah White

Our rad friends threw a Hot Rod Party.

Cam's farewell. Give 'em Heaven, Elder! :]

Susanna is visiting from Finland! (she was our stuco exchange student my Junior Year.) SO happy to have her back. "Moi mit a kuuluu" :]

Gotta give props to my country inspiration, thanks Mr. Chesney. "100 years goes faster than you think, so don't blink."

Splashing color on my canvas.

Sorry guys, it's been way too long since my last blog.. alittle over a month? Horrible i know, because so many amazing things have happened that i'm craving to share! Let's start with the normal catch-up stuff.. school, work, and oh boys.

1. School

This semester i'm taking classes at MCC on Southern and Dobson. It's way nice because i picked them so that i only have classes in the morning and just 2 each day, perfect for my short attention span. :] I'm trying a whole mess of random: Chemistry, Intro to Art, Child Development, and Health. I'm following in my brother John's advice to "dabble in different areas till it hits you for sure what you want." I'm almost 100% sure that im gonna stick with Social Work as my major, but figured i'd invest in some other fun classes this semester. Change is good, and you can't have TOO much of a good thing right? right.

2. Work

I started the job hunt kinda hesitant about working anywhere other than at the pool teaching the kids. (My summer job which i absolutely love.) But when a spot opened for a waitress at Gecko Grill, my sweet friends helped me nail it! (Thanks Mae and Angie!) Everyone is like family there, so it's always a fun time going into work. The cooks are hilarious, and the sweetest men alive. And I feel like everybody took me under wing the second I put on that pink shirt and apron. :]

3. Boys

Okay so I kinda just put this one on the list for dramatic affect.. Haha really there isn't a "special someone" in my life right now. But I've met lots of awesome R.M.'s since i've been home, and gone on some rockin dates. Last weekend was one of the best ones! Nick O'Sick took me out, and his buddy Sirel took Elle Harris out. They took us to the Jack N the Box parking lot where they blindfolded us and drove us to some REALLY nice house (which i later found out was my friend Leah's). We had a yummy Italian dinner, then had to feed dessert to eachother blindfolded. Haha we were a mess! Then the boys took us to Sirel's sister's house in Queen Creek where we did swing dancing, and got a full spa treatment from them (all while blindfolded). After that, we shaved their faces and munched on popcorn while watching a video of the whole night. His brother had been follwing us all night with a video camera, funniest thing ever to watch! Shout out to all the single guys out there: think outside the box for your dates, everyone will have the best time when it's creative! :] ___________________________________________________

Now that "normal talk" is covered, let's hit up the rest of my time spent! God has been showering me with blessings since i've been home, and i can't thank Him enough for His love and tender mercy He has put into my world. Since I'm not taking English this semester, i don't feel the need to write out everything in complete sentences. Please forgive me. :]

Summin' up my favorite 2010 memories so far:

- Dancing all night at Game Works on New Years Eve

- Hot tubbing at Roman's

- Ice blocking, and human obstacle courses

- Bonfires and meeting old men with Tay :]

- Cabin trip with Mae and Tay

- Getting a tour of MCC from my homeboy Cory, star of the football team
- Feeding sweet homeless people

- Tyler Sandberg's goodbye party

- Bowling, and running into Ryan on his last night. Goodluck Elder!

- Fitting 20 people into Kenzie's hot tub
- Ron's farewell with Taran, catching up with old Mesa friends

- Backflips and dodgeball at Jumpstreet
- M&M throwing competitions with the boys at Britt's house

- Blindfold date with Nick, Sirel, and Elle

- Dance parties and starting the cool "shoulder dancing" with Mae

- Skyping with Jared
- Wet suit boys in the rain. Love my little bro. :]

- Milkshakes and grilled cheese cookin with my nieces and nephews.

- Tuesday baptisms w/ Mae, Brittany, Erika, and Corn Dogg

- Learning sports from Matt and Kyle

- Ice skating trains
- Movie nights in Leah's theatre room

- Apple Store story time from Greg and his co-workers

- Amazing front row seats at Reflections of Christ fireside

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My philosophy on keeping life exciting: Everday is a new blank canvas, throw all the paint you can on it! Try out new things, and meet some new friends. There are so many oppurtunities and great people out there just waiting to meet you, so always have an open heart and big smile. It's amazing all the happiness simply doing that will bring for you. :]

Just a "See ya later"

Some people have a hard time putting themselves out there to meet new people, then others struggle with pulling themselves away from the people when it's time to leave. I'm defineatly dealing with the 2nd part, "Sexy Rex" Separation Anxiety. (It's real, look it up.) This first semester has taught me so many things. It showed me how fast things change, and that "adapting" isn't just a phrase used for the zoo animals.. Even though I have met some pretty wild creatures.. ehemm I mean kids here. I feel like my heart has grown 10 times bigger because there is so many people to love on this campus. Today, for example, I did a little experiment.. I smiled at everyone I saw walking across campus. Every single one who I caught eye contact with, smiled back! Where else in the world would that happen?! I love being able to feel the Spirit wherever I go here. My testimony has grown so much. I'm forever grateful to every person I met, every teacher who taught me, and every peaceful feeling that the Spirit blessed me with. This has been an unforgettable semester! :]

Lunchtrays+dorm hills= our new hobby.
Don't worry, we found way better hills and real sleds.. but hey the lunchtrays served us well.

My ward is amazing! We have the coolest guys, and the funnest girls. I've loved serving as Visiting Teaching Coordinator for all my sweet girls. 61st ward is the best!

p.s. Knitted sweaters from D.I. are totally in this season. :]

Old Year's Resolutions.

So I know there's only 1 more month until I will be making New Year's Resolutions, but I learned over Thanksgiving Break that it's never a wrong time to start fresh with some good goals! (Thanks to my incredible best friends Mae and Jon.) It's high time I make a few changes for the better. I'm ready for a challenge, bring it!

Here goes my Old Year's Resolutions:
1. Finish strong-Take time to study, REALLY study. No distractions!
2. Go to the gym or run every SINGLE day. Bring on the 6 pack! :]
3. "Mix n Mingle"-Meet at least 5 new people everyday, and hang with a new crew each weekend!
4. Switch my scripture study to A.M., starting out my day with the Lord's words.. perfect.
5. Temple twice a week with Mae. Even when we have to walk through feet of snow..
6. Learn something from EVERYONE that I meet.



"In life, like football, you won't go far unless you know where the goalposts are."

Man, starting fresh feels so good! So Thanksgiving Break was amazing; I had the best time! I had a minor set back when my flight got delayed, and it made me miss my 2nd one.. but a sweet flight attendant got me on the next flight home, and Mae and Amanda surprised me by decorating my room with tons of cute signs. They stayed up late to take me out when I got home, I have the best friends! The whole week was a party, filled with christmas light drives, my first ASU game, golfing, hot tubbing, climbing to the top of the world in the orange groves, temple lights, Black Friday shopping, eating my weight in pumpkin pie, and hanging out with some of my favorite arizona people. Mom threw an amazing Thanksgiving dinner with my family and some aunts, uncles, and cousins. Everyone is growing up so fast! My friend Elyse and her mom came too. She is a super cute, sassy girl. Oh how i've missed chatting with her. The food was amazing, the company was even better. There is so much to be thankful for!

Instant Replay.

"Losers quit when they're tired. Winners quit when they've won."

Last night our boys Jake, Jared, and Jordan won their championship volleyball game. Their team, the Knights slayed the Hawks! We owned the front row and screamed until we were all lightheaded. No embarrassment, we were loud and proud.

Best of our fan highlights:

"Next time he gets close, grab him and give him a wedgie!"-Brock
"Go back to Footlocker, ref!" -Me

"How high's the net??"-Mae "Too high!"-everyone

"Kimbo!" "Slice!" -our special call for Jake :]

"Hi Lynn!"

Our studly friend Jake. We love you Kimbo!


K for Kari, Knights, Kindness, King, Kaleidoscope, Kangaroo.. basically K is legit.

Taylor's got mad hops! May be the reason why I don't play volleyball??

Plaid buddies. Love ya brock!

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Today has been really chill. Lots of packing, practicing piano, and studying for my math test that's tomorrow. I can't believe I will be in AZ tomorrow, i'm so excited! A whole week with my family and friends back home. I'm loving Sexy Rex, but let's face it.. i'm a Valley girl. Shorts, flip flops, and In N Out, here I come!

DONE being sick.

Dear body,
Please stop being sick.
I know you like to lay in bed,
pop pills, and drink Vitamin C all day.
But i miss our adventures together.
Please oh please feel better soon.
Love,
Kari
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Being sick isn't very fun. But it has given me a chance to catch up on chickflicks, work on homework, and shown me how blessed i am to have caring friends.






The last 2 weeks, i've been fighting a nasty cold. Just ask anyone who listened to me talk.. i promise i really do have a girl's voice! This morning was rough, so Mae took me to the Health Center to get checked out.

3 things i learned about the BYUI Health Center today:
-If you dare cough, you get the "privilege" of wearing a face mask. Most attractive accessory ever!
-Some people's backpacks weigh almost as much as them says the scale.. Hm could be the reason your in here with "back pains", lady.
-Needles and me still aren't very close friends.. but i tested negative for mono! :]


Basically, i just have a case of "extra long flu virus". The doctor's Rx for me is rest and some cold pills i have to take twice a day to push my mucus (whoever invented that word? yuck..) and sinus infection out of my system faster. I should be healthy in a few days! But until then, the Dean of Students has excused me from my classes. Hmm what to do with this extra time? Become an artist of course! Jake and Jared surprised me tonight with a paint kit, Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and a sweet original poem. They're amazing! Before they came over, Shannon, Janee, and Becca stopped by to visit. We ended up getting in a 2 hour discussion about life and how much the Gospel has helped us all out. Seriously, we are SO blessed to be at the greatest school and a part of the wonderful, true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I love deep talks like that!


It's 2 AM, i'm pretty sure that qualifies for bed time. In the words of my fellow sick-mate Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it." Nighty night!

Thankful Thursday.

A couple years ago in seminary, a girl gave the idea of "Thankful Thursday". Every Thursday, she would only say "thanks" for things in her prayers. It stuck with me, and with it being Thanksgiving time too i feel like i should get out a couple of thankful....nesses. (Sometimes my thoughts sound better than my words. :] )


I'm thankful for siblings. Whether it's shooting hoops with my brothers, sharing clothes with my sister, or quoting "Saturday Night Live" with all of them around the dinner table; there isn't ever a dull moment! My little brother Chris (picture above) is my hero! He is the most loving, ready to laugh boy out there.. and ladies he's single. :]







I'm thankful for nieces and nephews. We love to color, get wet, jump on the trampolin, and play Tickle Monster. Playing with them reminds me that i'm still a kid! They are my little stress-relievers. :]



I'm thankful for silly time. Letting go of cares and worries and just being crazy! It's the best. :]




I'm thankful for gorgeous temples. I love everything about it: the beautiful flowers and reflection pools, the peace of the baptismal font, the sweet old temple workers. I can't wait until it's my time to go inside!



I'm thankful for life. The hard times that build and shape me, the exciting times when I reach a goal, the fun times when I hangout with friends, and the peaceful times when i realize life can't get much better than this.


"There is ALWAYS something to be thankful for."
What are some things that you are grateful for?