hiatus explained

No, I haven't sworn off blogging. Combine losing my camera (insert expletive here) with graduating from college with driving to Oregon with a real proposal and you'll get lots of not-blogging.

But no fear, I'll be back. Probably next week.

morale boost

About two or three weeks ago I reached the point where I hated my hair. You know, that moment when everything about your hair repulses you: color, length, style. My ends were so bad that my hair wouldn't curl well or even straighten well, my roots were almost three inches long, and my bangs were more of an awkward layer than bangs. This is what I was dealing with:

 
Oh, don't worry--sometimes I got it to look like this:

Much less homeless looking.

So I finally made an appointment to get my hair done, and since I don't have a favorite place to go here in Provo (the past couple of times I've just gone to the Paul Mitchell hair school, which is okay, I guess) I called up Josh's sister, Nicole (a.k.a. my future sister-in-law), who is finishing up hair school this summer. In short, I. love. my. hair. I left the nice school salon (yes, it did feel much more like a real salon than PM) with hair dyed the perfect shade of dark brown, my split ends gone, and even my eyebrows tinted. And I was only there for a little over two hours. And when I went to go pay, Nicole insisted that this one was a gift. Instead of looking like a bad mother who could be featured on "Law and Order," I look much more like a 22-year-old about to graduate from Brigham Young University:

Plus while I waited for my hair color to process, I flipped through this:

Just lovely.

summer list postscript

Please add the following to my summer activities list:

:: planning a wedding

Photo courtesy of Michelle at Grandma's funeral luncheon. I love it.

Charlotte + Josh + love love love = Charlotte Jane Wilson.

I've been bursting to blog about this, but haven't known if I should, because I don't have a ring yet, but (even before Susan's comment in the previous post) I decided to announce it anyway: I'm getting married!!!!!!! I've picked a ring and am now just waiting for Josh to slip it on my finger. So stay tuned for a bling post (I can't wait for the bling post).

post-postscript: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

summer list

After graduation next week, I'll still be around Provo for the summer for my four-month internship with the New Era. This will be the first entire summer I'll have spent away from home. And most of me doesn't like that. At all. You see, I like home. Lots. And not only will I be spending my entire summer in Provo and not in Denver, but Emily (a.k.a. Number One) will be in Denver and Josh (a.k.a. Wonderful) will be in Portland.

Regarding my internship, Monday through Friday I'll be gone for about twelve hours each day, three of those hours spent on the bus, and I'll have to get to bed pretty early each night (early meaning 10:30 at the latest) to make it possible to catch the bus at 6:30 a.m. So really, I'll have about three or four hours to fill each night.

To make my own happiness this summer, I devised the following list of activities to keep me busy and distracted from missing people I love:

:: jewelry making

:: Grandma's personal history

:: reading and reading and reading

:: Netflixing

:: perfecting my cake baking

:: cooking

:: reading Isaiah (only for when I'm feeling particularly ambitious)

:: helping an old professor with a YA lit project

:: learning to knit

:: Ruffles&Stuff–ing

:: running

:: Big Gulp–ing

:: scrapbooking

I'm sure I'll come up with other list items to make the summer go by just a little faster.

The summer will be a good one, just different. I also hope to spend some good, quality time with Michelle & Co. And I have many things to look forward to, things that make life absolutely lovely!

12on12: end of college edition

Left to right, up to down:

1. Shimmering bronzing powder from e.l.f.
2. Missing the bus and having to walk to the Wilk to catch the next one
3. Turning in my last college paper ever—a whopping 18 pages!
4. My Home Stretch calendar—almost completed!
5. Tending to my sliced finger, courtesy of potato slicer on Saturday
6. Transferring my grandma's personal history from cassette tape to CD: step one of making her history into a book
7. Spring skirt (courtesy of a care package from Jessie long ago)
8. The windy not–65 degree weather
9. Dinner with Katelyn at Zupas: the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich—yum
10. Letter from the dean of the College of Humanities—even though it was addressed to "graduate" I still felt a stir of emotion because I love this school
11. Grandma's red patent leather Danskos Mom said I could have—perfect for wearing with stretchy pants
12. Too late for bedtime

gratitude list

:: 60-degree weather
:: Donut Gems
:: motivation to finish my papers
:: Netflix
:: Band-Aids
:: unlimited texting
:: testimony meetings
:: chocolate cookie dough
:: BYU
:: macro camera feature

Operation Superhuman Reader: Josh's turn

It was Josh's turn to pick a book for us to read, one that I haven't read and one that he thinks I should read. Life of Pi was his choice!

Life of Pi by Yann Martel


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I didn't really know what to expect from this book, and I ended up really liking it. I think what I noticed and appreciated most was that it didn't remind me of anything else. Martel's writing style and story are completely unique, and I found myself wanting to read the story slowly so I could really soak it all in. I'd definitely recommend this book.

View all my reviews >>

the home stretch

I graduate two weeks from yesterday and today. I have my last day of class Tuesday. Before Tuesday, I need to finish and upload my blog book to blurb for my print publishing class, finish my 8–10 page McCarthy paper, and finish my 15–20 page senior capstone paper. I'm close. 

After the last day of class, I have to complete written finals for three of my classes and present my design work in my print publishing class.

As of April 21, 2010, I will be finished with undergraduate school forever. As of April 22–23, 2010, I will be a college graduate.

roadkill

After a nine-and-a-half hour drive, missing the exit to Highway 6, driving in blustery and snowy weather, finally coming into Provo at 2:30 in the morning, and then having to wake up and go to class and work, I feel like week-old roadkill. Not even fresh roadkill.

And yes, I am wearing the same clothes I was wearing yesterday. My hair may or may not be in the same pigtails from yesterday.

Like I said, week-old roadkill.

Easter

I know that Christ rose from the dead. He died and rose to live again, and because of His triumph, we are enabled to conquer death ourselves. Now that He's risen, He will stay forever risen, and we are destined to do the same. I know this. Christ's resurrection made eternal families possible; without a physical and permanent return to our bodies, the plan of happiness wouldn't be. I live only because He does. Because my Lord and Savior died for me and lived for me, I will again see my grandmothers, both of them now passed on. Because He redeemed me from sin and death I will overcome. Because He suffered His infinite atonement I will find peace in my grief and comfort in my tears.

I know that my Redeemer lives.

What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, He lives who once was dead.

He lives, my ever living Head.

He lives to bless me with His love.

He lives to plead for me above.

He lives my hungry soul to feed.

He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply.

He lives to guide me with His eye.

He lives to comfort me when faint.

He lives to hear my soul's complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears.

He lives to wipe away my tears.

He lives to calm my troubled heart.

He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise heav'nly Friend.

He lives and loves me to the end.

He lives, and while He lives I'll sing.

He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath.

He lives, and I shall conquer death.

He lives my mansion to prepare.

He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

I know that my Redeemer lives!

Happy Easter. We truly have reason to celebrate.