The Signature

Why is is that the signature defines the person? With the world knowing that signatures define people, numerous ways to leave a mark have been created. A social fingerprint. I have finally created my own in the 17 years that I have been alive. Not too shabby if I do say so myself... I would of had one earlier if the first letter in my name wasn't a N. N's are one of those letters that put a halt to creativity in my world. Along with M's, G's, B's, D's, and E's. Namely, the letter's that I find hard to write in cursive. All those bubbly curves... They're enough to drive a sane person mad!

I have found a loophole in my dilemma though! Instead of having the N stand out, I have made it a side character to which the S in my last name plays the main! This is going to be my game plan for any name I take on in the future. All I have to do is make sure I don't marry or associate with any men with a last name that starts with a B, D, E, G, M or N! Simple right?! Or I can roll up my sleeves, take a calligraphy class and be over my "BDEGMN" woes! But who even holds calligraphy classes now and where do I find them?!?  

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Ever since I was little I have been an ardent admirer of the written language. Even before I could understand the words written on pages. I would hole up in my shared bedroom and for hours go through the books that we had on a plastic coated wire bookcase that sat underneath the window. My mother likes to comment about how strange it was for her to have my older sister, a rambunctious child who always had to be around everyone or anyone, and then to suddenly have an introverted child who would rather keep to her self. Baffling. But then my sisters personality takes after my fathers whereas mine takes strictly after my mothers.

Knowing this little tid-bit about myself, it should come as no surprise that reading is a simple pleasure in my life. I recently had the opportunity to finish reading the novel, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by the Swedish author Stieg Larsson. Minus the violence and the sexual references, I found the novel to be one of the most well written works that I have read. It's hard to describe, but, Larsson has a way of describing scenarios and characters in a simple and clear-cut manner. He's able to give you a massive amount of information without overwhelming you. When you read his novel it feels like you are actually there because of how straight forward he is with giving information. You never know anything the characters don't know and discover things as they discover them. 

The novel is about the disappearance case of Harriet Vanger, a member of one of the wealthiest families in Sweden. Her disappearance happens in the 1960's in the little town of Hedstad, Sweden. The Vanger family is led to believe that Harriet was the victim of a heinous crime when no trace of her could be found. Forty years after the crime, Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative reporter and co-owner of Millennium magazine, is suffering an accusation of libel against Hans-Erik Wennerstrom. While taking a break from his work as co-owner of Millennium, Mikael is hired by Henrik Vanger to solve the case of his niece Harriet. 

I am only going to give away the beginning of the story but if you are interested you won't be disappointed! It has some extremely morbid undertones, granted, but put it past you and check it out!   

  ~Nicole

P.S.: There is also a movie if you aren't interested in reading.

Bath Fix!

"Lavender oil can be used in your bath to relax you, to prevent blistering and scarring from a burn, and you can even massage it into your joints to relieve arthritis pain!" - www.eyeslipsface.com

I wish that I had known this for the past 3 burns I have received within the last year! All from frying food, figures, fried food is both bad to eat and make! But that will not stop this food connoisseur! That and my lucky genetic makeup...

~Nicole

-P.S.: For great and dirt cheap makeup/accessories go to the site link e.l.f. Cosmetics in my Favorite Websites gadget! Their products were the first I have used and I keep going back! 

YSA and Spicy Curry

YESTERDAY was my first time ever going to the Young Single Adult (YSA) Ward. I went with my Best Friend Kilynne and consequently we matched. Red half-sleeved cardigans over black tanks and form fitting black pencil skirts. Paired with that were our dangerous heels. When I stepped out of the door and walked over to her car, I noticed her laughing at me. I was doing a "sexy" walk, so I thought that was what she was laughing at until I got to the passenger car door and saw her outfit. It was a complete coincidence that we matched, it is not like we planned it or anything.
We walked into sacrament meeting maybe 6 minutes late and it would not be lying to say that a third of the congregation turned around to scope us out. Because you know, huh, that is not embarassing at all! Without the noise from children in the family wards, you could now hear sounds that you could never have heard before in sacrament! Like the humming of the fluorescent lights that hung above us and the tapping of a heel against the back of a pew. I realized that I need the crazy family ward backdrop noise to actually concentrate on the talks that are being given. The talks given were on testimonies. 
In relief society they made us stand up so that the women there could identify us as the graduating laurels that may or may not start attending YSA.
After we were supposed to head over to one of the two Sunday school classes. In the hall way I thought I saw a guy that I went on a date with once and my heart lept with terror. I made a B-line for one of the rooms we were supposed to go into just in case. Turns out it was HIM and I was like a dog cowering in fear at the sight of HIM. HE freaks me out if you haven't noticed yet. "Why?" you may ask? Compulsive lies; drinking habits; strip club hang-outs; smoking habits; shopaholic; inconsiderate. These are some of the things that describe HIM. So it's understandable that he freaks me out right? 
At the linger-longer I got to meet some really nice guys. You see, the great thing about YSA is that all of the guys are really nice and flirty to you because you are the new girl there. And it always helps if you aren't intimidated by the "scary" men and can talk to them like they are actual human beings. Just saying. So this is my over all review of the highs and lows of my first time at YSA!

AFTERWARD at mi casa I got to try out some very lovely and very very spicy curry! That was very sarcastic. I am a very white girl who can NOT handle the heat. I am proud to say that I toughed it out though! Poor Kilynne is just like me and suffered through it also. Thank goodness for milk. That should sum up the rest of what I have to say on that regard.
Guess who gave me a lovely visit?! My great boyfriend Jonathan did! He came bearing a gift, a single sunflower in a vase, just because. At the end of the day I can never understand why any girl could ever like a "bad boy" when the nice guys are so great!     
  
~Nicole

-My sister Megan, me, my Mother and my sister Kristen.