This is Halloween, this is Halloween!

Introducing the fourth floor crew!

(Nica - the awkward photographer, Sara - who's your mummy, Me - Yo ho, a pirates life for me, Jessica - NERD!, Kaylee - I dream of Genie, Christina - vintage witch, Heather - Elphaba, Rachel - Hawaiian princess diva, Kendra - Fairy Queen)

I pillage and plunder, I rifle and loot. I kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot. Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Avast!

What be happening here?

Our crew has gone rogue..... to blow a man down to Davy Jone's Locker.

How does the saying go?

Dead men tell no tales.

Happy Halloween me hearties!

epic

My dream has come true.

photos

I was bored and very un-tired one night and this was the result. :)

This one really should be up and huge! It's my favorite!

My little man!

yellow = happiness

I have always loved watermelon.

It's just such a delicious fruit.

It's sweet.

It's juicy.

And in Taiwan....

It's YELLOW!!!!

One can find happiness in fruit.

adventure book

Once upon a time I met this girl named Ambree. She was an inspiration to me. She has traveled all over the world and has managed to keep a very remarkable journal during her travels. I talked to her about it once, but didn't really take the time to actually do it. (I wasn't going on any real adventures or anything). But then I realized.... I'M IN TAIWAN!! I have lots of adventures to record and remember for all time!

So, I finally made my own adventure book! :) Take a look at the humble beginnings.

It's begining to look as if I'll need to record some taradiddles not only at taiwantaradiddles.blogspot.com but also in my brand new adventure book! :) But I'm glad! I'm stoked to have one and I hope one day I'll be able to show it to Ambree. :)

biebs had it right

I never thought that I would be living in Taiwan.

I never thought that I could be a teacher.

I never thought I had the capacity to travel around the world.

I never thought that I would have such amazing roommates in the world.

I never thought that I would walk into the lounge and find ALL of my roommates watching the Justin Bieber movie.

Well, Biebs had it right.

NEVER say NEVER!!!

just do it.

"The only exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions, running down their friends, side-stepping responsibility, and pushing their luck!"

- Anonymous

My conclusion: Well that's not going to get you anywhere.

Since I'm in Taiwan, I have decided to take this time to better myself in many regards. One of the main ones being, getting in shape.

I am 20 years old

I am 5'2"

I {should} weigh 125 pounds

So what am I doing about it?

I am eating healthier

I am getting help from these two women.

(It was the only exercise video in the lounge and it's actually really fun!)

I am running.

Whether it's on the roof of our apartment building or at a nearby park, I am running.

It's been quite an adventure so far, but I am definitely seeing results.

I am not only doing this to look better, but also to feel better. The greatest rewards are the ones that you work for and then earn. I know by staying determined and working hard, I will be blessed with a healthier body. I hope that Heavenly Father will be pleased with me once I've reached my goals. I know he is pleased with me for trying.

Do or do not, there is no try!

bring it Ted!!!

I woke up this morning missing Hawaii. I miss surfing! I miss the ocean! I miss the warmth!!! And most of all (well maybe not most, but alot) I miss Chocolate Haupia pie! So, i decided that i could fix the pie problem......

I made my own Chocolate Haupia pie!!! :) And it is delicious!

It's not as stiff as Ted's... but it's just as delicious! If not more!

Funny Tsunami!!!

I have now survived not one, but TWO Tsunami's!!! :) Yay me!!!!

Now, this Tsunami was TEN TIMES better because it was sooooo HILARIOUS!!! Here's the story.....


So, the warning started Thursday night around 10pm. They shut down everything. I ran back to the hale, took care of some stuff and then left for the Temple. It was me, Kaylee, Marcus and Landon. (Marcus is Kaylee's boyfriend and Landon is his roommate). Anyway, we camped out behind the Temple with two blankets, four pillows and backpacks. We were there from 12-5:30am. The Tsunami warning was officially called off at about 3am but we were too exhausted to move.


Unfortunately, at around 5:30 it began to POUR!!!! We had all been sleeping for the first time so we were a little delirious. So, this is what happened. Marcus wakes up in a panic. He begins gathering stuff and shouting "Wake up! Wake up! Go! Go! Go!" Kaylee and I jump up, grab what we can and start booking it down the hill. I grabbed my backpack and one pillow. Kaylee grabbed the first blanket, one pillow and her backpack. Marcus.... he had his backpack and one shoe. (We have no idea where Landon is at this point) While we're running down the hill, Marcus suddenly stops and starts freaking out. He was like "I dropped me phone! Shoot! I dropped my phone!" He runs back up the hill with one shoe and his backpack, looking for his phone. I got my phone out and tried calling his phone. Somebody answered: "Hello Kylie, I am on hill." (I thought it was Marcus but I found out later that it was Landon) I then was like "OK, good!" before hanging up. Then Marcus comes running back down the hill with his phone and his backpack, but no shoe. We make it down to the pavilion and put everything down before Landon comes limping down the hill to join us. Soaking wet and extremely exhausted with enough stuff in his arms to cover his face, Landon slams everything on the table and says "You all abandoned me!"


I couldn't stop laughing. He was soaked! he then started unpacking everything and saying very tiredly, "I have two pillows, a bag, a very large water bottle, and your pants." hahaha! (The water bottle was mine and the pants were Marcus's) [he had changed them earlier in the trees] Landon had been carrying a sleeping bag full of two pillows, one backpack, and pretty much the rest of our stuff. He also had the second blanket draped over him like a Caesar robe. (I thought it was very fitting).


Then, poor Landon, made me laugh even harder. He looked down at our stuff that we had grabbed, which was looking very pitiful next to his load, when he said "Thank you my friends for getting my things ALL wet." We looked down and realized that we had grabbed HIS pillows and HIS blanket, both of which were soaked!!! We were like "I'm sorry Landon." He kind of ignored us and was like "I'm going to bed." before he gathered everything up in his arms again and started for home.

Later that day, we found these following status's on Facebook.


Kaylee: Just in case all of you land-locked people were wondering... tsunami's suck! But class after a tsunami... even worse. It should be illegal. Just saying.

Me: Us vs. Tsunami (us 1, tsunami 0) Later.... Us vs. Mini rainstorm (rainstorm 1, us 0!!!!!!)

Landon: When the next Tsunami comes I don't recommend Marcus, Kaylee and Kylie to go up the hill with. They tend to steal your shoe and abandon you with everything else when it rains...

And these were our comments on Landon's:

marcus: I stole one shoe one accident while trying to save the most important and water sensitive items from the massive rain storm that was beating upon us suddenly, and I'll never live it down...

Kaylee: We were in a state of panic... what did you expect? Haha but I am sorry all of your things got wet! Kylie and I will make it up to you somehow!

Me: In my defense, I was pretty much asleep and I was just reacting to Marcus's shouts of "Go! Go! Go!" Totally understandable!

Anyway, it was super funny and I still laugh every time I think about it. Hahahhahaha Poor Landon! I'll have to make it up to him here in the near future.

Thanks for all of your prayers and concerns. Please continue to pray for those who were affected by the Tsunami and by the Earthquake in Japan. Thanks!

things that make me smile

I was reading my friends blog, where she listed things that made her happy, when I decided that I wanted to make a list of things that make me smile.

• Jesus Christ
• Pictures of my niece and nephew (they're more adorable than any other children in the world!)
• Family in General (Parents, sisters, brothers, in-laws, cousins, etc.)
  
• Kaylee and Charli (My Roomies)
• Tangled
• Ice Cream Sundae's with Rainbow Sprinkles
• People who hold doors open for other people
• Mail in my mailbox (especially letters from missionaries!)
  
• A's on papers
• Compliments on my eyes (Thanks - I got them from my mom and dad! Aren't they great parents!?)
• Funny comments on fb
• Those who appear to be following their dreams
• Surfing
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• my hair (most days - Thanks Britt)
• music
• Senior Missionaries
• You

Thanks for reading this. Just know, a lot of things make me smile, but these are the few I could think of right off the bat.
~ Love Ky

surf's Up!!!

I officially have my very own surfboard!!! And I love it!!!!!!

Here's my new baby! Thank you mom and dad for this unbeatable Christmas present! (Also, thank you Erin for picking it up for me! And thank you Max for teaching me how to surf!)


I went out with my board for it's first time and I stood up for a long time. It was the longest I have ever stood up before. Unfortunately, it was hard to get a picture of it because it happens at random!
Now I go out lots! I love it and cannot wait to go again... every time! Surfing is unreal!!!!!

tribute to a roomie

This happens with me and my roomie Kaylee ALL the TIME!!!!!

I have the most amazing roommate in the entire world! I am so thankful that Heavenly Father sent her to me. She is the chocolate in my brownie! She is the cinnamon in my rolls (weird)! And she is the Rapunzel to my Flynn Ryder!

Someone told me today that we were made for each other. And I think she was right. Kaylee is my kindred spirit. :)
We're like the best friends in Singing in the Rain!!!
We are like Rapunzel and Pascal! (I know I referred to Flynn earlier but... that's more of a romance thing... so never mind!)


Oh and one more thing, Kaylee just made "The Best Valentine's Day Ever!" Good luck to that future husband cause this one will be hard to top!!!

Happy Valentines Day!!!

It is that time of the month where everyone shows each other how much they love each other. Well, for those who have a spouse or a significant other. I supposed everyone else can show each other how much they love each other still, such as roommates, best friends and co-workers. But I'll be the first to admit that it's not super fun without a boyfriend. Now that I'm thinking about it, I don't think I have EVER had a boyfriend during Valentines day. Oh well, I can still dream about it.

Just for fun I decided to list movies that I would want to watch on Valentines Day

• Australia
• Tangled (totally counts!)
  
• While you were Sleeping
  
• You've got Mail
  
• Just Like Heaven
• A Walk to Remember
• The Princess Bride
• Sabrina
• Ladyhawk
• and I'm sure there are more... but that's all I can think of right now.

Love you all and hope you have a great Valentines Day!!!!
<3 Kylie

Good things come to those who wait?!?!

So my application to go to Taiwan is in and I had my interview today over the phone. I have officially finished all I can until the ILP decides to accept me or not.

Isn't it gorgeous?!?! I really want to live there for 6 months! Although, I've heard it's like Hawaii, so if I do move there, it's really like I'm not moving at all! I guess there's that language switch but... I hear mandarin all the time in Hawaii too! :)

In my English class, we read this little line and it made me feel better about waiting to see what I'm going to do with my life for the next year.

Teach us to care and not to care. Teach us to sit still. -T. S. Elliot

I want to go somewhere so bad! And I want to go with someone! And I would love to work with little kids! I hope going to Taiwan is part of the Lord's plan, cause then I'll go for sure. But it's up to him, so we'll have to wait to see what happens.

Toodles <3 Kylie

artistic ability?!?!

I went on a walk this morning and this was the outcome! Good or bad?!?!

I've been thinking...

I have been working all weekend and it's given me a lot of thinking time. And this is what I've been thinking about... I need a few more resolutions!
I've been feeling like something's missing in my life and I couldn't really figure it out. Then last night it struck me... I feel like I don't invite the spirit into my life enough! I thought about it a little harder, read some scriptures about the spirit and came to a few conclusions.

a) I'm not reading my scriptures or saying my prayers enough to make it effective. I do it... but not vigilantly and not with purpose. What am I gonna do about it? I'll tell you!
- I put up a lovely reminder which I will lay my eyes on every morning and every night! Plus, it makes my wall look pretty.

- I am going to think about my day and actually study things that I have questions about.
- Along with my scriptures, I am going to study the words of the Prophets
- Lastly, my patriarchal blessing will become a daily read as well

b) I'm not monitoring my entertainment as well as I should. I'm not exactly watching rated R movies all the time, but I'm guilty of watching PG-13 movies that aren't the best PG-13 movies ever. I'm pretty sure some of them drive away the spirit. Whether it's violence, language, sensuality, I don't need to be watching it. I learned from a dear friend that the spirit is very sensitive and can be gone in an instant. So what am I gonna do about it? I'll tell you!
- I'm going to watch primarily PG and G movies (Tangled anyone?) I'll watch some PG-13 movies here and there, but unless I know it's super clean, I'll refrain.
- I'm just not going to watch as many movies in general. There are so many other things I could be doing with my time instead of watching TV.
- Lastly, all of these things apply to Television shows too. Goodbye CSI!

c) I don't listen to very much church music. Given I don't listen to much music at all, but when I do I think I'll strive to listen to piano pieces or church songs as opposed to lots of rock, pop and such. I'll still listen to fun pop! Just not as much.
- Cleaned my iPod out and removed stuff I never listen to and stuff I shouldn't listen to
- Got some church music from my roommate, as well as LOTS of Disney!!!! Woot!

d) I don't serve those around me as much as I could. The very soul of the Gospel comes from loving one another! And what is a perfect way to show someone that you love them? By serving them! So.... here's what I'll do!
- When I have the thought to do something nice for someone, I'll do it! No second thought!
- I'll keep an eye on my friends to see if they need anything from me! If they do, I'll come to their rescue.
- Be nice to people at work even if I'm grumpy. They might be having a hard day too and the least I can do is help them out.

I'm actually really excited to start this! I'm thinking that it will have some good effects on my life. I know I'm busy with work and school, but nothing should be keeping my from the Lord. <3>

2011 update!

• i absolutely love Tangled, The Dark Knight and Despicable Me
• i love the Hunger Games series
• Flamin' hot cheetos are still the bomb
• I'm very excited for this Winter semester; two English classes, a history class, a peace building class and orchestra!
• i'm excited that I will be writing and supporting two missionaries this year, both very incredible guys who I really look up to, Elders McCarrey and Stout!
  
• I have an amazing family back home who I recieve support from everyday! I love them very much; particularly my niece and nephew! {soon to be niece's}
• I am attending byu-hawaii and LOVE IT
• Water is the most amazing thing ever! I drink it alot!
• I still to this day love Batman, in every way, shape and form
• i'm loving the single life ;)
• I'm rockin' bangs!!!!
• I'm almost done with another journal :)
• i love "Disney Apples to Apples" and "Things"
• Surfing is a new "I have to!"
• I've started writing again... it'll be easier when my laptop is working again!
• Only the Tangled Soundtrack and Firework by Katy Perry have been played on my iPod recently
• Snickers and Reese's cups are SOOOO amazing!
• I'm cravin' sun!
• i am a beloved daughter of God
• I am very blessed to be where I am today and I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father for helping me get this far :)