Someone once asked me "Meredith you have to work out and watch what you eat, right?" in regards to how I look physically. No one had ever asked me a question like this before (but I was living in Vegas. I should've expected it) and I remember being slightly offended. I didn't know how to answer the question.

At another time someone said to me "Meredith, you are skinny. You're lucky" and I remember replying (in my head), "No, it's not luck. It's work."

So, yes, working out is definitely a part of my daily life, and yes, I eat healthily because I want to. And I've realized that I'm glad I have to "work" at my physical appearance. I wouldn't want to just have good genes so I maybe looked good, but didn't have to eat healthily or work out. People that don't work out don't have the muscles surrounding their bones to protect them throughout their lives, and if you don't eat a variety of foods and think about what you are putting into your body, you'll regret it one day.

I was at the gym the other day and someone started up a conversation with me asking me if I was a dancer and how I stayed in shape. It's nice when people give you compliments like that because it keeps you going. I was considering taking the day off today because I had worked out hard yesterday, but I decided against it and did yoga (which is actually a HARD workout - I do the Denise Austin cardio yoga) because I remembered it just doesn't make sense to not workout if you have the time to.

I was just reading a talk in the Ensign and President Eyre made this comment "It [increasing in spiritual strength through pushing ourselves to serve others to our limits] is like building muscle strength. You must break down your muscles to build them up. You push muscles to the point of exhaustion. Then they repair themselves, and they develop greater strength." October 2008 O Ye That Embark

I'm so grateful for my health and realize that everyday it takes motivation to exercise my body and to also serve others, but the rewards in the end are invaluable. I'm not sure I have the serving others thing down yet, but I know how to work out.

Mission call

My parents have received their mission call.

They are going to be government/public relations missionaries and also humanitarian missionaries and will be based in Kiev, Ukraine.

They'll be gone for a year and a half only.

They are excited. And I think given about 5 choices (and they told church headquarters they were fine with any of the locations) where this type of senior couple was needed, they were most excited about this location. FYI the five places were South Africa, New Zealand, Philippines, Germany, and Ukraine. I, of course, would've maybe been most excited about New Zealand, but I'm sure this will be great too. So, my next international traveling will be over in Eastern Europe.

They will be based in Kiev, but traveling a lot throughout Eastern Europe.

Hunter and Spencer are excited, because, of course, they'll want to make a Russia trip out of their traveling over there. I hear Prague and Bangladesh are the major cities in E. Europe to see. Russia too? I maybe will let them do that on their own. I don't know how I feel about cramming a ton into a single trip. I'd rather just see a couple places more completely.

An update

My camera broke months ago, which has perhaps contributed to my sparse blog posting. I've simply not much to say; however, I thought I'd at least keep one toe in the blogging world. And my camera is in the process of being fixed.

I finished my last semester of grad school in mid-December. It was a great semester. I really enjoyed my classes and feel I ended grad school on a satisfying note.

I packed up and drove across the country. My mom was nice enough to fly out on a Monday and start the drive across the country on the very same day she flew in. Monday (Dec. 15th) was the day it snowed a lot in Vegas and so we caught the very beginning of it. I think it continued snowing the following day too. We actually drove the most southern route because there was a lot of snow going through Albuqurqee (sp?); so we went even further down to El Paso, then through Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis, and then just up to Virginia. We got back to Virginia on Thursday night.

Christmas came and went and it was wonderful.

Some highlights...

1. Our after Christmas party at the Johnson's. Katie and Hunter threw this one together and it was great. It was fun to hang out with Andrea Greenwich and to catch up with Richardsons. And of course Katie and Liz Lindsey (Weber) were back to their crazy selves (they turn CRAZY when they are around each other).
2. Ice skating with the family. I always love going ice skating and I really kind of feel if I put time into it, I could be good. I'm talking like really good. So should I do it? Professional ice skater is my next career move?
3. Cleaning my room. Yes, it was kind of an annoying thing on my list of tasks to do, but it really feels good to have it accomplished. Since my parents are going on the mission, I've had to go through all my childhood stuff and clear out my room/box up my life. It was funny to go through notes and letters from elementary school and up, to finally throw out bloody pointe shoes I've been holding on to for forever, and to realize I won't need my "Coke - a proud sponsor of Meredith Swift for President [of Cooper Junior High]" posters anymore.
4. I made my jeans skinny jeans! I followed this tutorial and think it worked great!
5. I invested in some boots. I got some black boots for Christmas, but I'm really glad I went out and bought these too. NYC is FREEZING right now. I bought the camel ones, but I love the olive and black ones as well. They are on sale now at http://www.aerosoles.com/.

And now that the holidays have come and gone, I've moved on to the job hunting point in my life. I'm in NYC now staying with a friend. It's good to be here, but it's also hard to just not feel like I'm doing anything with my life right now. I just sit in front of my computer all day and contact people and job hunt.

If you're interested, these are the fields I'm looking in:

Publishing (children's books and/or curriculum materials)

Curriculum development

Non-profits

Literacy initiatives

Libraries/Outreach programs into the community

TV (children's broadcasting) production. I would love to write for Backyardigans or Little Einsteins. Alas, I think getting into this industry right now may prove to be difficult.

Pictures are forthcoming! I'll try and document my exciting life living in NYC. It just isn't all that exciting at the moment.

Tagged

This is kind of fun, just because you get a peak inside someone's life.
So, here goes.
Rules:
1.Post rules on your blog
2. Answer the five '8' items
3. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving them a comment

8 Favorite TV Shows: (not in order)
1. So you think you can dance
2. The Office
3. Gossip Girl
4. 30 Rock
5. Project Runway
6. What not to wear
7. Arrested Development
8. Flight of the Conchords (maybe??)

8 Things I did yesterday:
1. Worked out.
2. Went to Tyson's II (Anthropologie and J.Crew) and didn't find anything.
3. Went to Tyson's I (Sephora, Banana Republic, Gap) and found Mom's and Hunter's presents.
4. Went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and found Dad's present.
5. Went to Moby Dick's. Ate amazing chicken and rice.
6. Met Ann at Greenberry's for steamers.
7. Organized my room.
8. Watched my mom make peppermint bark.

8 Things I look forward:
1. Christmas! (specifically - opening Christmas stockings, watching nieces and nephew open their presents, Bob King's mint brownies, hanging out with the Johnsons since Justin is adorable [Jenny and Mark are okay too], and the presents I am getting!)
2. Moving to NYC
3. Not being in debt
4. Having lasik
5. Warm weather
6. Knowing where my parents are going on their mission
7. Carlyle Grand with Mary (yes?)
8. My drying rack I ordered arriving (I don't know how people live without a drying rack -- a clothes drying rack)

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. Khoury's (excellent Mediterranean food in Las Vegas. Loree and I made frequent visits and George and Ree formed a close bond)
2. Archi's (delicious Thai food. There are a couple locations in Vegas.)
3. Carlyle Grand (It's in Arlington - Shirlington, specifically. It's just really, really good food.)
4. Moby Dick's (the greatest hole in the wall in McLean. Mouthwateringly delicious Greek food.)
5. BJ's (pizza place in Vegas. I like the bbq chicken pizza and their basic greens salad.)
6. Maggiano's (it's just basic, excellent Italian food.)
7. In-N-Out (is Five Guys good? Can it really take the place?)
8. Nagoya (At Fort Apache and Trop in Vegas. I need a new sushi place.)

8 things on Wishlist:
1. Hardback of Bridge to Terabithia (I've read, and reread this book so many times in my childhood, and I read it during grad school again. I've been introduced to many new and wonderful authors in grad school, but I think this book claims the title of my favorite children's/young adult book. Katherine Patterson writes so well as she portrays the difficulties in a young boy's life and the loss of a loved one.)
2. Lululemons (I've been wanting these forever, but just haven't gotten around to it, or resolved to spend the money on them. I've heard they are the greatest workout pants ever)
3. Silver hoops from Lost Button Studio (it's one of those Etsy places. I just want silver hoops, but I want them to be a little unique looking and this place has some really darling things).
4. Yoga mat (I always have done yoga on carpet, but I'm thinking I'll start going to yoga classes, so I'll need one.)
5. Purse at Urban Outfitters (I've been wanting one I saw there for awhile. It's just so hard for me to justify this, because I have so many perfectly fine purses already. Ann got the cutest one there just yesterday).
6. A pink swimsuit (I don't know why I decided recently that this is a necessity, but of course, I don't need this 'til the summer, and I have to look good in it once I have it).
7. Clarisonic Skin Care Brush (Does anybody have one of these? I'm curious if people like it.)
8. A new camera (since it's very possible mine is beat. The shutter is broken. I'm sending it in to be fixed. Anybody have a suggestion of a camera they just absolutely love? Remember I'm pretty lazy when it comes to picture taking, so I don't want anything complicated. Or, should I just get an IPhone, because my phone is also falling apart?)

I tag Sierra, Kenzie, and Katie D. Johnson! I'll probably have to post on K.D.J's facebook wall to make sure she reads this! How annoying.

Cutest Kimball

We were all headed to the park (in St. George) and were taking two cars, because I was going to leave and head back to Vegas directly from there. Sammi was going to ride with me, and Kimball decided he was going to too. He was all positioned, sitting in the back seat when he saw his dad coming after him (Kimball had to ride in the other car with his car seat). It was so funny to see him immediately scramble to the place he thought his dad would be least likely able to reach.

I love Spencer and Trina's family so much. They don't get any cuter.

When I first got to St. George for Thanksgiving and was playing with the kids, I had this thought that Isabelle looks like ME when I was little! In pictures that I've seen of me, I feel like what Izzy looks like must be exactly how I looked! I told this to my mom, and she agrees, but says that Juliette (Stephanie's third girl) looked like me too. It's weird to be playing with a look-alike!

I haven't posted in forever, I realize. So, this post is to request the following: I'd like to ask that you send me your top 5 (or 10) things to do in the following cities: Las Vegas (since I'll be leaving in a week! I realize this list might be difficult to compile for this city), Washington, D.C., and New York City.


I'll tell you, I'm looking forward to my runs and rollarblading in this park:


My friend, Ashlee, asked me recently what made me decide to move to NYC, and I told her that it was something I had never really thought about until the last little while (like couple of months). It just seemed to make sense, and the fact that it's such a diverse, active city is exciting and appealing, AND...I told her that Gossip Girl might have had something to do with it. Oh...embarrassing.

Components of a Good Singles Ward.

I guess I wrote this awhile ago. I realize it isn't that interesting, but I figured I'd post it anyways. I'm seriously about ready to be inactive...

We all hate singles wards. We just do, but there's just no way to get out of them -- we know this (oh, okay, aside from getting married).


I've been in many a singles ward, and I just feel I'd like to impart some of my wisdom on aspects that comprise a good singles ward, because we'd all like to be in a good one as it provides a network of people to interact with. And, since I don't normally make it to bars and clubs, this social network would and could be nice to have.


1. Motivated people going somewhere in their lives.

2. People capable of carrying on light conversation.

3. Interesting people who have meaningful things to say.

4. Nice people who aren't stuck in a high school clique mentality.

5. Leadership that is active and wants to have activities in order to have interaction amongst their membership.

P.S. Loree tells me the funniest part of this post is the fact that I decided to put this down on paper.