Weekend Wonders: Three.

SOAR is over. No more small groups, sub sandwiches, or shuttle duty...at least until next summer. Up next? Connections. But first: bridal showers, hair appointments, weddings, job interviews, and vacations. Summer is winding down...but I'm so ready for school to start I can barely handle it. 

A few other things I'm excited about? This weekend's wonders. 

 I want every single one of these pillows.  My bedroom this fall is going to be grey and white...and blasts of color like this. 

I'm making this salad soon. Avocados are easily my favorite food on the planet, and this just looks divine. 

 You'd think having a mom that owns a cake business would make me hate cake...but you'd be surprised how much I absolutely love frosting. Combine cookie dough and frosting, and you have the ultimate girl comfort food. 

 This wall art craft looks like a blast and a half.  I love quotes, and I could easily make a thousand of these for my new room. 

Anyone who knows me even remotely well, knows that I love hairdye. That said, I haven't dyed my hair for almost three months. I have a hair appointment on Tuesday, and I'm STOKED. My cousins have raved about this girl for forever, and I finally caved and scheduled an appointment. I'm loving this hair color; perfectly faded, blonde enough for summer, but keeps the dark I love. Does anybody have any other suggestions for this girl's crazy mane? 

With SOAR over, I only have one job to worry about this week..and maybe even a Bear Lake trip this weekend to plan. Also, a job interview on Tuesday! We'll see how that goes...and then I get to recover from that with hours of pampering my hair. Life is looking real good this week. 

We're in the class A-Team.

When I saw my name on the list of members of the 2013 A-Team, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Of the 42 people, I knew a grand total of one person. I was one of three freshmen, and was so intimidated by some of the people I didn't even know what to do with myself. 

As a freshman, I was sure I was in over my head and was going to suck at advising and helping all the incoming students. I had no idea 

what I was doing....or how awesome this job would be. A-Team isn't a normal summer job. It takes a special kind of passion--or insanity--to work with stressed and frustrated parents for 10 hours a day, eat the same sub sandwiches for a portion of your summer, and let a bunch of incoming students know your most embarrassing moments of college so far. Very few jobs require you to prepare a two hour presentation on dating for 200 students, wear a Walmart-esque uniform day in and day out, or scoop gallons of ice cream every afternoon. Nowhere else could you get some of these people to dance to Sara Bareilles on stage, find so many professional Candy Crush players, or hear the variety of ice breakers we've come up with. No one else understands the true meaning of stub rub, how good it feels to come back to a residence hall where all the students are asleep hours before you thought they would be, or realize how serious we are when we say we never want to eat a chicken caesar salad wrap again. While the early mornings, long days, and angry parents made me question my sanity at points...the  ridiculously late nights, burrito runs, and dance parties made up for the craziness. We're all very different people; we have different likes and dislikes, different passions and fears. We're from different backgrounds, cities, and states. We all want to do different things with our lives, and go in different directions. Despite our differences, we work. We love Logan, we love that we can call ourselves Aggies, and we love Utah State. I don't know how many of you can honestly say you love your job, but I can. It's as rewarding as it is exhausting, and as tiring as it is exciting. We've finished our semester of training, and SOAR wrapped up today. In the last seven months, these 42 coworkers of mine have changed how I feel about school, broken me out of my comfort zone more times than I can count, made me love USU more than I already did, and become some of my very best friends--and I'm so glad I get to work with this bunch of crazies every day. 

Can I say something?

Hi friends. This post is a little bit angry, a little bit frustrated, but mostly a little bit for your information. Consider it tips and tricks to being a fantastic customer, wonderful guest, and just an all around good person. 

I work as a waitress in Logan, and while I get my fair share of bad days and bad customers, I also have some rather incredible people come in and genuinely kind customers that give me reason to stay with this job. I love being able to work and interact with tons of new people on a daily basis, and the fast paced environment is perfect for my attention span. 

Today, though, was incredibly frustrating. 

Let's say, hypothetically speaking of course, that you and your family go out for a nice holiday brunch on Memorial Day. 

You all order specialty drinks, place large meal orders, and add dessert, appetizers, and some minor requests throughout the course of the meal. 

When you are finished eating, as your waitress clears your plates [which have very little, if any, food left on them] and asks how everything was, you respond with a not-so-courteous "Would you be offended if we complained?" 

When she asks what's wrong, you say, "The portions were way off, the food was bland and awful, and it took nearly 15 minutes to get to us. The service was alright, though." 

She responds, "I'm sorry! Would you like another order of pancakes? The times have been a little off all morning, we've been a lot busier than we expected! Is there anything I can do better?" 

You say, "No, we're fine thanks. Can we see a manager?"

So she gets the manager. Who you proceed to argue with about the "changed portion sizes" and "cold food." 

Then you go to pay your bill, and complain to the host while doing so, all while mocking your server's comments and their manager's attempt to fix the problem. [and you're not wearing shoes, in a public place, the whole time this is happening. HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING, of course.]

And then maybe, just maybe, you don't tip your waitress on your $100+ bill. 

And that, my friends, is the problem. 

We servers are trained to answer questions, solve customer's problems, and involve our managers whenever needed. We are in charge of getting drinks, serving the food, and keeping customers full and satisfied. 

However, we are not responsible for the portion sizes or the time it takes to get the food from the kitchen to the table. We do everything in our power to have food out in under 15 minutes, 20 at the very most. We have cooks remake the food if it's been sitting too long, is too cold, or doesn't look right. 

Our job is to keep the customers happy, because they control what we're paid. 

As a server in Utah, the hourly wage is $2.13. After taxes, our checks are minimal, even after working 20-35 hours a week. [Over the last pay period, I clocked nearly 64 hours. My paycheck was less than $80.] Our income is based solely on tips, and if those don't come through...we don't make money at all. 

My point is: 

Always tip your server. 

Unless the service itself is what was bad, of course. It's not their fault if the cooks took twenty minutes to make your food correctly, and they have no control over the amount of food you are given. 

AND please, please, please tip on the pre-coupon/discount amount if you use a coupon. Just because you got free/cheaper food doesn't mean your server did any less work--the food is discounted, not the service. [For example, Free Pie Wednesday at the VI. Drinks are two dollars and something cents. Pie is taken off. Tip on the total amount INCLUDING the pie. Gift cards too. If you're not actually paying for your food, leaving a tip should be easy!]

If you have a problem, complaint, or concern about something, please tell your waitress. It's our job to take care of you. If it's a big enough deal, we will always get our managers involved, and the problem will be solved to the best of our ability. 

Ask to talk to a manager, or leave a note for the owner if there is a problem. 

But please, for the sake of all of us servers out there, don't take it out on your server's tip. 

That's all. I'm done ranting now. 

Happy Monday, folks!

Not perfect, but wonderful.

Curveballs are being thrown, ladies and gents. My major is being changed. I got a job. My roommates are the best friends I could ever ask for. And my best friends are leaving on missions. 

In preparation for Hailee's departure, Emi made me sign a "legally binding document" that says I won't get married until Hailee is home. Best part about it? Ron said that since the words "Binding legal documents" are written, and my signature is on there, she could sue if I get married. Shucks, looks like I'm out of the game for a few years. ;)

Kenzie turned 19! You won't meet a girl who is more sincere, more kind, and more willing to serve in your whole life. I can't even begin to count the times she's helped me with whatever I need, cooked for us, and cleaned up my messes. She's the most genuine person I've ever met, and I'm so glad I get to live with her this year. Happy birthday again Kenz, because you're great and you deserve it. 

Last Saturday was the LLS's Light the Night walk. Hailee, Emi and I put in a 14 hour volunteer shift--and I've never been more satisfied with what I was doing. Not only was I with my best friends, but I was helping Hailee out with something that she is truly passionate about, and something that hits close to home for me. It was cold, rainy, and muddy. But seeing the hundreds of people there to support the cause was incredible. We definitely lit up the night, and I'll be back to do it again. 

And last but not least, Kelsey gets a shout out of her own. This morning, she decided to go to the temple with a bunch of people. And being Kelsey, forgot her keys. I didn't even read these texts until 9:30, but it cracked me up. I seriously doubt that any one else's roommates would be this sweet while they were locked out at 6 am. 

Life certainly isn't perfect. In fact, it's downright hard most days. But sometimes there are things that happen and people that you're with that make it seem like the control you have over your life isn't as fleeting as you believe. They might be the five girls you live with who you can't wait to see again after the weekend, and stay up until the crack of dawn to fill each other in our your lives. They might be your parents who fill up your car and send you back to school with dessert even after you're only home to sleep and eat on the weekends. They might be the boys who fix you and your roommate's cars, and help you all study for your economics and biology and creative arts tests. They might be the best friends left at home that call you every day and make sure everything is good. 

Whoever they are, they make you keep control, and make everything seem tolerable. And I'm so grateful that I have those people in my life. 

I can do it too.

This whole moving out thing has done wonders for my creativity. [Just kidding, it's really just motivated me to get a start on the projects on my "Someday When I'm Creative" board.] I have a rather large collection of earrings, and there was no way I was going to have room for a jewelry box in my dorm room. So using a post I found, (you can read it here) I made my own earring-display-holder-thing-a-ma-jig. It was super easy, and only cost me around $10--which could have been way less, I was just OCD about having colored wire, and that ended up being more expensive.

I bought a frame, mine's 9 by 13, and removed the glass, backing stuff, and everything that was around the wood. Then I took these little eye screws and spaced them down the sides of the frame. 

(The other tutorials had staples or nails, this is just what I had on hand.) 

Then came m multicolored wire. I cut a length of wire that was double the width of the frame, plus a little bit so that I could twist and knot the wire. I twisted the wire in between hooks to allow "slots" for the earring posts to go in, but you can always do a single wire and just hook them over it.

Finally, I just had to narrow down my collection to the "bare essentials" of my earrings. Ummm, yes, I may have a problem. It's alright. Really. Super easy to make, and it coordinates with my jewelry tree that will be holding my bracelets and necklaces. (No, that collection isn't any smaller. Yes, I'm aware it's a lot of stuff.) 

So basically, contrary to popular belief, I can be crafty! Also, the fact that I'm moving in a week is weirding me out. My "college corner" is rapidly growing, and the amount of stuff in my room is shrinking, drastically. I still have to write my essay for my intro class, and finding a job would be nice. Any suggestions for awesome places that are hiring, let me know. Because I need a job. 

My parents are leaving on Trek on Monday, along with Britt and Ry. Which leaves me home with the babies, and we've got adventures aplenty to go on. Stay tuned. 

They don't take me seriously.

I move in less than two weeks, people. 

[breathe. phew. okay.] I guess the moral of the story is that things are changing, and it's weirding me out. Because for someone who loves to be in charge, this whole not being in control thing is rough. But. I'll survive. Because in 13 days, I'll be up in Logan, living with some of the best people I know--in a dorm that may test all of our kindness, but still--and meeting so many new people my mind will probably explode. Yay, college. 

Emi and I are headed up tomorrow to job hunt....and any ideas would be fantastic. Do any of you know of anywhere awesome that would be hiring? Or know of a place where you could put in a good word for two girls who just want a job? That'd be cool. Let me know. 

In other news, I melted. My hair, I mean. (Although if I really had, like Elphaba in Wicked...man. I'd be cool.) And chopped a solid four inches off. Mature college hairstyles, FTW. I've also lived in a tent for the last four nights. The first three, because my little sisters wanted me to. Last night? Because I put my sheets in the wash and forgot to dry them, dangit. Welp. 

AND! Hailee, Emi and I discovered a beautiful app. It's probably old news, but Bump brought us far too much pleasure last night. And in a week that has been filled with far too little pleasure, this was a much needed reprieve--if sending each other the best pictures we had of Emi is pleasure, I guess. To each his her own? But really. This app is cool. You have to all have it in order for it to work, but then once you do...beauty. Each phone opens it, and selects the pictures or contacts you want to "bump" to the other person. Then you fist bump the other persons phone (or come up with more creative ways...which we've spent far too much time doing already.) and the pictures are simultaneously transferred to each phone, and automatically saved to your photo album. Simple pleasures, for some not so simple minds. 

And. Fantastic Mr. Fox? Excellent. We're mature. What of it. 

It's really a laughing matter.

aHem. Hmmm. aHEEmm. 

I apologize. I just have an important--and rather terrifying--announcement. Not that a whole lot of people read this and/or care, but as of Thursday afternoon, I will no longer be a full on brunette. [cue gasps and blonde jokes now.]

We're going for a little bit of this, mixed with a bit more blonde. Natural is a scary place to be, my friends, but here we go again. Also, so much for long lush locks. A couple inches past my shoulders and loads of layers is what I'm thinking. After all, I'm making about as many big changes in the next few weeks as I can handle...why not throw a vain change in there along with it?

I only have seven shifts left at work, and I didn't realize how weird that was until I realized that that means I only have three more nights of silverware rolling, two more batches of salsa to make, and seven more days to see all my favorite regulars. The very first couple I ever served came in today, and I laughed at how much things have changed in 10 months. I was terrified of this lady the first time, because she was all upset I didn't know she never drank the water and always ordered the same thing. Tonight though, I saw their car pull up in the far side of the parking lot and had their order sent before they even walked in. Old habits die hard, and that makes my job so much easier. I have a job interview up in Logan on Monday, and I'm super excited. Also terrified. Because that means a whole new set of reputations to build, new people to meet, and new jobs to learn. Oh well. C'est la vie. 

The Olympics are on right now too, and if cheering for hundreds of world class athletes from the USA doesn't make you proud to be an American, you have no heart. The women's gymnastics team took gold today, and Michael Phelps won his 19th Olympic Gold. Crazy, how these athletes are known world-wide...and most of them are barely past their 20's. Makes you wonder what you're doing with your life, doesn't it? 

One last thing...if anyone has any extra tickets to Wicked that they'd like to get off their hands, I'd do it willingly. Just saying.