30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 23

I love this book so much! I will never be able to stop reading this book! Since being assigned to read it my senior year of high school, I have read it about a thousand times on my own!

For those of you who haven't read it, or said you read it but didn't really, I'll explain the plot. Elizabeth Bennet is the main character of this romance. She is the second daughter in a family of all girls, and her mother is determined to get all her daughters married off to handsome, rich young gentlemen. When the story opens, there is a new man who has moved into town, Mr. Bingley. With him he has brought a mysterious Mr. Darcy, a man who's gruff manners and prideful demeanor soon make him very disliked in the town, especially by Elizabeth. 

The story is one of love and how we can be blinded by first impressions. It is a satirical comedy, pointing out the flaws of the dating rituals and expectations of early 19th century England. It also highlights how a young independent type of girl might be looked upon by those around her at the time.

This book makes me laugh out loud and cry. I want so much to find the kind of love both Elizabeth and Jane experience. (Not to ruin the book for you, but I would also love to be able to find my own Mr. Darcy.)

I highly recommend this book! If you want to know the story without reading (crazy...) I would suggest the BBC version starring Colin Firth, which is almost exactly the book word for word. The newer movie starring Keira Knightly is good, but I don't feel like it reflect the book as well.

Happy reading!

--Lexi Lou

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 20, 21, and 22

Looking at the next three categories, two of them are kind of depressing. I'm hoping not to be a downer on this post, so I'll do my best to put a positive spin on them. (Besides, ITS FRIDAY! Everything should be good, right?)

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel...

I want to go to Europe so bad!!! I want to entrench myself in the romantic, historic, rich culture of it all! I want to be able to go to quaint little bookshops or cafes and try all kinds of delicious food. I want to be able to look around me and hear the people speaking in a different tongue, and maybe be able to understand them. I want to go to all the landmarks I've heard and read about and seen in the movies. I want to see the lights and hear the music. I want to be able to look at pictures and say, "I've been there. And it was AMAZING!"

When (if) I get wealthy (don't ask me how, because I'm not even sure yet), I want to be able to pick up and jump on a plane and go whenever I want. Feeling like a romantic anniversary with my one true love? BAM! Dinner underneath the Eiffel Tower. Hungry for the best pasta in the world? ZOOM! Off I'll go to Italy. I just want to be able to experience the world and let it help me grow. 

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget...

Everyone makes mistakes. Some of them that I've made I wish I could forget. And no, I'm not thinking relationships. I'm meaning things that hurt me or someone else.

Then again, some of those mistakes I've made I feel were necessary for the person I am today. Each mistake shapes me, and possibly those around me. I want to be able to use my experiences to help others. Let them learn from my mistakes instead of making the same ones themselves. I really hope this will be the case for my children in particular. Any unnecessary pain I can spare them will be a blessing, and I can't wait to help them. 

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at...

I know what those of you who know be are going to say. I'm a decent dancer. However, there is always room for improvement. I always have fun dancing (though I haven't done it in a while). I want to step onto that dance floor and have people's jaws drop when they see me move. I want to be graceful, something that I probably won't be able to pull off until I've lost some more weight (no worries, I know I don't have far to go. I'm really trying to not bash myself). 

I also want to improve my ballroom dancing. I took a semester of ballroom my sophomore year, and I LOVED IT! For that, I'm going to need to get out and find a partner about the same level as me. Then, we're going to learn more together...that's the plan anyways. 

--Lexi Lou

Feeling Write-y

I know, I haven't written my Photo Challenge post for today... but honestly, are any of you really upset by that? I'll be sure to post it tomorrow, along with tomorrow's picture as well.

I just wanted to let you guys know how everything is going. 

So its been a month since the big break up. And I know, I should still be healing and dealing. But in all honesty, I'm not. That is just a bigger indication to me that I did the right thing. 

And I feel somewhat liberated. Lately, my motto has been, "REINVENTION!" (I haven't said it out loud, but I say it in my head a lot...) I'm really trying to look at myself and decide what I want to change. 

I know that most of what I want to do has to do with my bucket list (See that post here). But I'm even more determined to do it! There are some things on it that I haven't really gotten to, and that bums me out. But I've been really focused on my weight loss (but you all knew that) and the social aspect of my goals.

In fact, I loved the lesson I had at institute tonight! It was called "Becoming Socially Perfect." My first thought was, "Perfect?! I can't be perfect!" But being socially perfect has more to do with becoming Christ-like and reaching out to those who maybe need a friend. Also, by receiving Christ's image in your countenance, you attract other Christ-like and amazing people into your life. 

Something my mom has told me for years was reiterated to me in a scripture tonight. "For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things." (D&C 88:40) Simply put, you will attract people who are like you. So if you are sitting there wondering why you can't find that perfect person, wondering why you are surrounded by jerks (I'm writing this from a women's perspective guys) and there's "no more nice guys in the world"...STOP IT (said in the words of one of my favorite apostles). Its time to listen to Michael Jackson (wow, mentioning Uchtdorf and MJ in the same paragraph? This is a weird post!) and start with that person you look at every morning when you're brushing your teeth!

Sorry, I'll stop being preachy. But that is my personal goal. Like I posted on FB the other day, I am going to change something about the world, and I'm starting with myself!

--Lexi Lou