So SOCAL

Living here in SoCal it's funny to see some of the little differences between what I grew up with in Utah and the norm in SoCal. So i'm starting a new

segment called "So SOCAL":

CLOTHES:

Ali and I have decided something. Girls in Utah focus way more on applying their makeup and having the perfect hair while girls in California focus way more on their clothes.

EXHIBIT A:

One thing I think is funny is that when girls claim they are going to wear sweats to school and show up in their tight black yoga pants. When my friends in Utah claim their wearing sweats to school they show up in their X-large baggy sweats and sweatshirts. Not claiming one is better it's just funny.

EXHIBIT B:

Like I said they focus more on their clothes and the

y are definitely more trendy. I can't put my finger on anyone in Utah who would wear tights under their shorts, but it's very common here.

SLANG:

Granted most of the time everyone talks the same. These are few things Ali and I laugh at:

*Ding Dong ditching instead of Doorbell ditching

*It's PE not gym...

*Bungalow instead of Portables

*We definitely get laughed at when we use "mormon slang" like "Oh my heck."

OTHER:

I come to English class on the first day of school and we were supposed to write an essay. All the girls pull out their pencil cases and their whiteout. What??? Since when have people actually used white out. Teachers rarely had white out in

Utah and tons of kids use it here.

This one may just be more focused on the cheerleaders at the school but they all write like that. With the dots connecting every line and joint of each letter. Tons of the school sweatshirts are done with this letter and with the old school stick figures.

If the weather is below 50 it's COLD here. It's funny that girls come in their UGG boots, pea coats, scarves with their coffee in hand to battle this freezing temperature. To give them a little bit of credit our school is outdoor....but still.

Birthdays are a big deal at school. If your birthday is on a school day it's celebrated. Friends give you huge balloons that you carry with you all day, sometimes there are posters, tiaras, but there is almost always desserts involved. You'll see birthday girls walking through the hall carrying cakes and tons of cupcakes.

There ya go. I love it both places. I'll continue to add some of these gems when I come across them.

Homework Helper

I'm aware it's not a good picture of either of us but I had to document the moment. I've been very stressed because I have a HUGE paper due in my english class and I just can't figure out what to write. I'll sit in front of the computer for an hour and not write anything. LAME. Anyway baby came and snuggled up next to me in my parent's bed for 30 minutes and just ate Wheat Thins while I wrote my paper. It made me happy. Love her even though she's being a stinker lately. Well I've really got to get back to writing 7 pages about why man needs society. boooorrrinnngg.

imagine that.

Urban Outfitters has a wonderful collection of vintage cameras. I want one of these cameras REALLY bad. I'm aware that the quality is probably not that great, but look at them! They are beautiful.

The Holy War

Tomorrow's the big game. BYU Cougars vs. Utah Utes. I love the rivalry, always have. You can't quite understand it unless you've lived in Utah.

Growing up in the Blake family there is one lesson that is engraved into every child's mind: We love BYU, and "hate the stinkin Utes". We bleed blue. Spencer and I could sing the BYU fight song when were were about 2 and usually one of the first things any of my cousins can say is "GOOOO Cougars!" Sydney used to fake cry whenever we'd drive past the U, and until recently my Dad refused to wear red. Most of my childhood we've had Football season tickets so naturally I've grown to love Byu football. I really do love it.

Like I was saying, the rivalry is a BIG deal, especially in Bountiful. The Junior High always had the Byu-Utah day and everyone would deck themselves out in either ute or cougar apparel. Then of course there were the few Utah State fans who are just to pansy to pick a side. All season long there is smack talk going on and I love it. Fosters, Mayfields, Fowers, Lakes, Troy, Brit and Alec were the ones I remember getting it from the most. It's always so funny to me that no matter how good or bad the teams are that year it doesn't matter, it's always a close game. The last handful of years I've gone to the game with my Dad, Ali, Spence and usually my Blake uncles. I can't explain the excitement of cheering on the cougars whether at Lavell Edwards or Rice Eccles Stadiums. Here's one of the best moments. Or this one. Yep that's the best.

It's also great to walk into church the next day to see all the humble Utah fans, some of them wearing BYU ties because of lost bets. It's always fun to see Stephen, Jacob, and Troy who always have an excuse for why the game was unfair, or how even though we won Utah is still better. On the flipside we are sometimes the ones humbled, whether by getting our lawn spray painted red in the shape of U, or have our BYU flag stolen and getting a U sewn over it.

It's been interesting living in California so far because all but one family in the ward are BYU fans. Although I like that for the most part I'm missing the Ute fans just for this week. I'm excited for the game and I'm excited for the facebook statuses and text messages that always follow. All I've got left to say is GO COUGARS!!

king of africa

Can I get a HALLELUJAH for a week long Thanksgiving break?? SO happy. It's going to be a great weak. Vegas till Sunday for the above pictured Lion King, Birthday and Spencer on Tuesday, homework, and just good times I can feel it. Ohh and Thanksgiving on Thursday! :)

I'm in the lion king mood so check this.

model behavior

I just found this website. I like everything abo

ut it. Check it.

So far this week has been really good. School's been fun. I'm feeling more myself than I usually do here. I like it. One thing I do not like is that I'm always cold. It's the weirdest thing. It's not even cold here in California but I'm constantly shiver

ing. weird.

In art we get to do a painting on WOOD. YAY. I've wanted

to do that for a long time! I'm very excited. I bet you can never guess what I want to paint. I'll help you out: a chief with a bomb headdress. I hope it turns

out really cool, I'll keep you updated.

This was a random piece of art I did recently. It's kinda different but here ya go..

I really like this song. You've got to listen to the whole thing though. Lately I'm seeing some of my mother's influence on me. When I come home from running errands I pull in the driveway, put the car in park, turn on the warm air, and turn up the music really loud. And I just sit there. For a long time. It's SUCH an erin thing to do.

Finally, a few countdowns for your entertainment.

29 hours

5 days

7 days

38 days

thank you sam blasucci