"I'm So Excited & I just Can't Hide It"

My girlfriends from NYC are coming to visit this weekend! This makes me very happy. I'll admit, I've been a little bored lately, especially during the days. There is only so much you can do when trying to find a job. I am trying to be social and meet people here...but it can get exhausting! It will be a nice break to hang with the girls this weekend. Let me introduce you to them:

Meet Karen. Karen and I had a lot of date nights together in NYC consisting of: Broadway shows, dinner, romantic walks in the park, movie nights, etc. etc. Karen is also my sports buddy! You do NOT mess with this girl on the court. She is a beautiful girl and such a fun one to be around!



Meet Bryndee. Bryndee is one of my favorite dancing buddies. This girl knows how to shake it on the dance floor...watch out fellows! Bryndee was also my running buddy while training for the half marathon. This girl is amazingly disciplined and always up for an adventure.


Meet Kristan. Kristan is one of the most entertaining people to talk to. She is HILARIOUS and sarcastic, and I can't get enough of this girl. She keeps me up to date with the latest celeb gossip and TV show drama. Kristan and I also share a love for extremely cheesy chick flicks. I tell you, I need to watch Lucky Seven sometime soon :)


Meet Kez. Kez is one amazing girl. She is always helping out where needed, and keeps herself extremely busy. Karen is always up for doing something, and fun to chat with. Oh how I miss PHA! Look out for Kez and Kristan in the 2009 season of Amazing Race...they will definitely win it!

Girls I can't wait to see you! Safe travels...and be ready to live it up in DC!

Do I have any takers?

I've been thinking it is time to sign up for my net half marathon. Although I still do not claim to be a runner, I very much enjoyed the race in Brooklyn...and I think I am ready to start training again. I've been researching a good race for all of us east coast runners to attend. I think the Baltimore Running Festival looks like it could be a nice run. Check it out here.

Friends from Boston and New York could stay with me for the weekend and we could treat ourselves to a little fun in Georgetown?! YES??? Think about it: a great run through the Charm city, a fun weekend in DC, and an opportunity to visit your dear friend Michele! What's there to think about?!


Do I have ANY Takers????

It's Not Easy Choosing Themes

My roommates and I got a good laugh from an article written in Sunday's Washington Post. As you may know, Hillary Clinton has chosen a Celion Dion song for her official presidential campaign song. I thought I would highlight some of the theme songs Joe Heim (editor in The Post's Sunday Source section) chose for the rest of the 2008 candidates.

Rudy Giuliani: "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turing)," Alan Jackson.
Why: Because remember where I was? I was the mayor? Of New York? On 9/11? Have I mentioned that?!

John Edwards: "Benefit of the Doubt," Haircut 100.
Why: The $400 haircut issue still dogs you. This song, by this band, may finally get folks off your back.

Fred Thompson: "I'm Too Sexy," Right Said Fred
Why: Okay, you haven't announced yet. But you will, right? I mean, we're waiting...Fred?

Al Gore: "(It' Not Easy) Bein' Green," Kermit the Frog
Why: Is global warming cool enough to get you into the White House? This song could make people feel sorry enough for you to vote for you.

Mike Gravel: "Who Are You?" The Who
Why: Do we really have to spell it out?

Mitt Romney: "Hatchet, " Low
Why: This song by this critically acclaimed Mormon indie-rock band may be just the inspiration your campaign needs to reach out to blue-state America.

Barack Obama: "The Roof Is On Fire", Rock Master Scott & the Dynamic Three
Why: No, we didn't choose this because of the recent fire in your attic. Oh, all right, we did. But it's also a great rabble-rousing tune.

John McCain: "Straight Talk," Dolly Parton
Why: Your campaign needs a little mantra refresher.

Michael Bloomberg: "Moneytalks," AC/DC
Why: This will remind people why you've been able to abandon both the Democratic and Republican Parties.

I thought these were kind of funny. Although, I can't say I've heard of Low, the Mormon indie-rock band.

Trivia for the Day

Who can name this song? This is cracking me up right now. I found this online and had to share. I don't want to give too many clues, because whoever can name this song will be one of my favorite people! This is quite an old song (1990), and a family favorite back in the day.

"LaVell, what do you think? It will be a very, very emotional game. Touchdown! Let me tell you a story, bold and true about the cougars of BYU. Zoobies kind of different, they always stick out, never seem to have no national clout. Provo's kind of sleepy tell about September first, then they fill the stadium tell it's ready to burst. Return missionaries, coeds making noise, blue and white hats and the Osmond boys. The place starts to rock, the crowd starts to scream, no drugs alcohol or even caffeine, they say you're so straight do you have any fun, yeah, we beat number 1 teams on television.

LaVell and his staff travel to every nation, looking for the latest high school sensation. North, south, east, west, it seems the islands LaVell loves best. He goes to Hawaii and don't you know- a, then he slips on over to Samoa, while he's there, there is nothing wrong-a, then he grabs a few studs from over in Tonga...."

This great song continues, but if you know it, you will know it by this point. I am such a dork right now. But this is just a funny memory for me...I maybe have the tape and would play it to annoy my roommates in SLC before the BYU vs Utah game. No more clues. Guess away!

My New Home

Because I am part of the day club now, I have more time to spend blogging. Many of you have requested pictures of my new place, so here you have it. I am quite please with the location and roommate situation. It is also a fairly spacious place, compared to my last apartment...which means visitors are welcome! I am getting a little bored during the day, and try to keep myself doing productive things aside from the job search. I am not sure blogging constitutes as productive, but what can you do. This is a four story townhouse. Each of us have our own bedroom and bathroom, which is excellent. Sorry about my annoying voice in this video!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Amber and I attempted to get a group together to go to the Nat' s game last night! What better way to start off the summer than conversing with friends, eating a hot dog, and watching America's sport. The four of us that ended up going had a wonderful time! I've decided baseball games are the perfect activity to get to know people better, and chat. Let's be honest, baseball games are not too intense. If you miss an inning because you're busy chit chatting, you've got 8 innings left to catch up. Whereas at a football game, you watch the game and limit the chit chat to timeouts and halftime. Football is a much better sport. Anyway, fun summer evening at RFK Stadium!

Point Away!

I have a great friend Karen. I found myself cracking up at her blog today. She really does have an affinity to pointing to the air, check her out here . Her blog prompted me to go through my New York pictures to see if her obsession with sticking her hand up in the air holds true. The results:

This pose can can be used to pump yourself up before running a half marathon:

When living up the NYC night life, and especially enjoying the company!

When about to watch one of the best movies of all time, TBH!

There you have it. She has proven her point, and I second it!

"Saturday Is A Special Day"

It is 9:45pm on a Saturday night and I have not left the house today. Your first thoughts may be to feel sorry for me. Please don't. Today was a very productive day. Last night my roommate and I ventured to IKEA in search of a dresser. I really do love that store. Perhaps the quality isn't superb, but the prices are great and it does the job for those of us on budgets! My bedroom has been driving me crazy because it is so messy and cluttered. I need one area in my life to feel settled! My goal for today was to put this dresser together. I started at about noon and finished it up around 5pm. That's right. It took me 5 hours (minus a lunch break) to complete this task. Oh, but it was worth it. My clothes are now nicely put into drawers, and not in boxes on my floor. I also hung up pictures in my room, and it is really starting to come together. Anyway, I am pretty proud of my mad assembling skills. Better go change my laundry. Check out my new dresser!

Big Bad Steve

"Every morning at the mine I could see him arrive
6'6" weighing 245lb, broad at the shoulders, narrow at the hips
Everybody new they could take no lip from
BIG STEVE, BIG BAD STEVE!"

This is a song we would sing to Stephen when he was younger. Stephen was 10 lbs when he was born and off the charts in height. We new he was going to be a big boy! He definitely grew to be a tall young man at 6'4", but I am pretty sure he isn't close to 245lbs. Grandpa Mick even called him a giraffe this past weekend....good laughs!

Yesterday I had to say goodbye to my dear brother for over two years. He leaves to serve in the Kaohsiung Taiwan mission, July 25th. I most likely will not be able to fly out for his farewell in a month. It doesn't get ANY easier. I had a difficult time saying goodbye to Brian. We had such a fun time at BYU together and it was sad to see him go. And now, Steve is leaving. It is such a mix of emotions, because I am so proud of him and am grateful for his desire to serve a mission for our church. However, it is still very upsetting to say goodbye to your brother, and good friend for over two years.

Anyway, I am back in Alexandria, VA in my new little place and have much to look forward to. It is always difficult to say goodbye to the fam, but good to get back into a schedule. I had such a wonderful visit and have much to be thankful for.

Dustin & Stephen(They will be such good missionaries!)

Worldless Wednesday

"Ob-la-Di Ob-la-Da ,Life Goes On"

My siblings and I put our heads together and decided to do a little surprise family party for my mom's 50th birthday. That's right, the big 5-0! Although her birthday isn't until June 21st, we figured we needed to rub it in a little while we were all home! We had fun decorating the house while she was at work, making one of her favorite treats, Lemon Bars, and getting her gift all ready. We put together a gift bag of the Top 10 Must Haves When Turning 50!

#10: Must have an assortment of pills and a fan to control those hormones!

#9: Must have slippers to rest your weary, tired feet!

#8: Must have cute stickers to scrapbook with because you are going to have more time on your hands now that you don't have to drive kids around as much! (we are a scrapbooking family...love it!)

#7: Your body must have rejuvenation...an excuse to pamper yourself!

#6: You lived during the "oldies"! You must have some fun songs to rock out to from your era!

#5: Your wisdom increases with age...You must have some books to enlighten the mind!

#4: You must have some hip jewelry to keep up with the trends!

#3: You must have this plant to remind you to nourish your faith.

#2: You must have lots of pictures to show off your kids and grandkids!

drum roll please......AND the #1 thing you must have when turning 50: You must have another 30 years of date night with your poopsy (yes, poopsy is really a term of endearment my parents use with each other!)

We also put together a 15 minute video of family pictures to music, of good memories over the years. It was a fun night. I think she was surprised!

Jeff & Mom with her loot

Mom with her new fan, to cool down those hormones :)

Isn't she adorable!

Happy Birthday Mom! We love you!

Pop This

The trend that has college students from all over the United States buzzing: popped collars. I first noticed this trend my senior year of college at BYU. Naturally, I thought it looked ridiculous and pledged to never be a "popper". My first impression of someone with a popped collar is, ultra prepster that thinks he or she is better than everyone else. I tend to be more traditional and prefer the collar to lay where it belongs. HOWEVER, the popped collar trend has grown on me somewhat. I am not as opposed to it as I used to be. Although, I don't think I will be "popping" seriously anytime soon... Haley and I thought we would give it a try. We felt pretty foxy with our popped collars... Will you be "popping" anytime soon?
I think my niece has far better fashion taste than me! Check out those Vans and cankles! So precious.

Graduation

I know this is a little late in coming...but I did promise to post a few graduation pics. Unfortunately my camera was not found, so I only have the few shots from my parent's camera. I had such a good visit with my parents and am grateful that they were able to come and support me. I am still in Washington and getting anxious to get back to DC and begin real life.

Mom & Me

Dad & Me

M&M

My cute parents outside Lincoln Center

And...the new car! Still feeling pretty good about that purchase !

Sweet Reunion

It has been quite a while since I've blogged. I am now home in Washington State visiting my family. It is wonderful. My brother, Brian returned home from the Rosario, Argentina mission on Saturday, June 1. The siblings were all a little excited and decided he needed a welcome home poster for his return. Brian was a little shy when he got off the plane, but that is to be expected. We are all happy he is home! The original 6 Mickelsen children are home this week, and we are having a great time! Haley keeps us entertained...I think I may be the favorite aunt now! Check out these pictures:

The Mickelsen Children await Brian's return!

Elder Mickelsen

What a good looking crew!

Haley meets Uncle Brian