A brush with fame from backstage

This blog has become more of a report on what I did each weekend. I feel like I have to make it more and more interesting each week. So to keep with the theme we'll summarize that I brushed shoulders with movie stars.

My dad's best friend from high school married a movie producer, Paula Dupre Pesmen. She has produced a ton of different films, from some of the Harry Potter films to Mrs. Doubtfire. Her latest film is a documentary called Chasing Ice which follows a man that documents the changing of icebergs around the world. This documentary was accepted into the Sundance Film Festival 2012. It was a pretty big deal, and I had no idea just how big this festival is.

I got the glamours job of watching the kids while the parents went out on the town and went to screening parties. It was so fun to have them come home and tell me all about who they were with and who they saw. What was interesting to me though was that it was all normal for them. They came home one night and just said: "There were a few people there, Dennis and Zooey." I had to ask who they were and Paula clarified: "Dennis Quaid and Zooey Deschanel." It was so chill for them.

It was neat though because be the end of the week the film was bought by National Geographic and won the Cinematography Award for Documentaries. It was really neat to be a part of the whole process even though I was watching it from backstage.

Parents are Funny.

My parents called me last Tuesday and invited me out to Denver for the weekend. I asked them if there was a specific reason and there wasn't - just for fun. They just got back from their mission and now don't really have anything to do with themselves. I think they just wanted to spice it up a little. So Thursday night I headed up to Salt Lake and flew out. My mom met me in downtown Denver and we went to the National Western Stock Show. It was so fun! I think it was healthy to get out of the Happy Valley Bubble and see different types of people again.

My mom and dad are entering a new stage in life where they don't have kids at home, don't need to work, and aren't quite sure what they want to do with their life. They do have one plan: fix up the house, sell it quick, and then live up in a cabin in the mountains. So I had the opportunity to paint my room and redecorate. My father took the chance to teach me all he knows about painting; which brand is better; techniques to paint a ceiling without lines or shadows; how to cut into the wall; and how to paint the trim. I am honestly really grateful for the lesson because now I won't have to pay someone for something that I already know how to do. Then we just hung out. I have always had a great relationship with my parents but the idea of us being friends that just hang out never really entered my mind. They're great!

I'm grateful for all my parents have done for me and the examples they are in all that they do. If anything came of this weekend get away in Denver is was a greater love for my parents.

A Black and White 21st

This last weekend we held a birthday party for our roommate Ashley who was turning 21. Since we can’t drink, we were going to do a mocktail party but then the whole idea of avoiding even the appearance of evil racked my brain so we switched it to a black and white party. It was so fun! We decorated all the walls with black and white butcher paper and strung Christmas lights all over the ceiling. My favorite touch was the melted records that we baked and formed into cool shapes to hang on the wall. They looked like 3-D paint blobs. Of course no party is complete without food and drinks so we had a chocolate fountain with fruit and every black and white food possible. My favorite part was the photo booth, which included a sweet background with props to make it a little more interesting. Everyone came wearing black and white, except Ashley who was wearing red – it was a fun touch.

Our house was a mess up until about an hour before everyone showed up. But it was fun!

The roommates and the birthday girl!

Inspiration

So I figured I would give credit where credit is due. I heard this song and it inspired me for the name of this blog. How great would it be to wake up each morning and say to yourself: "Good morning life. I'm ready for a new day. Bring it on!"

Good Morning Life!

So this blog has been created for multiple purposes. I am taking a business writing class this semester and posting on a blog is a requirement but also I have been thinking a lot about how much fun I have at school and all the neat things I am able to do but for some reason I have never recorded or documented those into a journal or scrapbook. So I'm going to double dip! We are also starting a new year and, along with every other Mormon girl, I have made the goal to keep a journal of sorts. So this will be perfect.

I guess to start off I might as well recap what all went down over Christmas break…

Before we all headed out we had a roommate Christmas Sweater Party. It was a blast!

I got to go back to Lakewood and visit old friends. It was so exciting to be with all of them and think that not only are we all still active in the church but we have all served missions throughout the world. Within this group there are six different languages spoken. How neat is that?!

I also got to visit Grandpa and Grandma which was a really eye-opening experience. Grandma is doing as well health-wise and Grandpa, who has been taking care of her for the last 4 years, just can’t do it anymore. So we were there to help them make the big shift of moving Grandma into a nursing facility. All I can say is that I hope the 2^nd Coming happens before I get too old.

Then I got to spend a few days with just Hannah and Abby in Provo. We did all sorts of fun things (running, walking the canyon, visiting the temple, etc). The best part of all was New Year’s Eve where we drove up to Salt Lake with some of Abby’s mission friends and watched fireworks from Ensign Peak. It was so beautiful!

Now the real work begins. I’m taking 14 credits this semester, which is a really light load for me so I’m excited. They are all classes that I’m interested in so we’ll see if that helps in the long run.