Day 10 - 15

10 - my daily routine :
5.40 wake up for seminary, get dressed, fall back asleep again until my dad drags me out of the house and into the car
6.15 - 7.05 seminary (can't believe it's my last year already!)
7.20 - 8.30 finish getting ready for school, have breakfast, make lunch, do leftover homework and go to school
8.40 - 16.00 school, consists of 40% socialising / extra curricular a (mostly volunterring) and 60% trying to do well in lessons (note the trying part)
16.00 - 17.30 diddle dallying with my brothers or napping or if I have a ton of homework I'll be doing that already
17.31 - 19.00 family time : dinner, scripture study, watching a movie / playing a game (great time of the day
19.01 - 20.00 procrastinate by either watching random videos and dancing or playing with my kid brothers
20.01 - 23.00 study time :,( filled with stress, incompetence and confusion. If there's any time left over I fill that with napping, working out (please don't laugh... I do actually work out sometimes) or talking to friends and dreaming about my future.

What does your daily routine look like?

11 -  the last book you read :

I'm ever so slowly reading the book thief. I have a tendency to read 3/4 of a book and then get distracted by school work or other things in life. So I remember the beginnings and middles of books pretty well...not so much the endings ;)

12 - something that you miss :

I miss the way I felt about life as a kid. I had no worries, nothing that stopped me from doing what I wanted, no doubts, simple fears. I felt safe, protected from the world because somebody always had my back. I miss the days when I didn't have to worry about financial support for college or what I'm meant to do about my future career life. I miss always being happy or when I was grumpy my mood could be changed by food or a toy. Yes, as a kid I yearned to grow up and be treated like an adult. But hey, I had no idea what I was getting my self into. Didn't we all? I urge kids to embrace kid hood, enjoy it while it lasts. The day will come where you can't act like a child and be super happy. People will stare and think you're mentally unstable and sadly, that day comes quicker than you'd wish.

13 - do you have any regrets?

Yes, but luckily they are all pretty simple ones, nothing life changing. Sometimes I wish I has listened to advice or done what my mother said. They really knew what was best for me.
I also regret stupid fears I used to have. Ones that really controlled my actions. I wonder how different I would be if I hadn't have had them.

Do you have any regrets? Small or big?

14 - What's on your iPod?

Truth be told, I have never owned an apple product (and I call myself and American...how disgraceful). No, I'm not poor or underprivileged because I never followed the mac crew. But i will never get sick of listening to Michael Bublé. Who would?

15 - list ten things that make you awesome

1. The fact that I'm a dual linguist. Oh yeah (makes up for my lack of musical talent)
2. My teeth aren't perfectly straight. That mostly just gives me character but I will forever have kiddy teeth
3. I adore Disney! Multiple friends have told me I should start a Disney blog but I love this one so I'll just start a Disney section ;)
4. I got 3 inches of my hair chopped off and it looks exactly the same. Magical
5. I can't whistle
6. I spend way too much time thinking about the future. My friend and I have already decided how our kids are going to dress and what we'll do with our cats if all else fails.
7. I love to cuddle
8. I'm the only girl in a five kid family
9. I've lived outside of my home country for longer than I have in it.
10. I make up crazy raps and rhyming bedtime stories.

Maybe that turned out to be more of a random facts about me list but hey ho!


So I think this system is working out quite well.

Til we meet again,

Reilly Michele

I suck at challenges

Life got busy :,(

I really wanted to do this whole challenge but well... Things happened.
Easter has been super busy with work, school work, spending (little) time with friends and trying to squeeze as much time as possible into the relationships I have with my brothers and parents. It's starting to dawn on me that I'll be living half way across the globe in just four short months. That's crazy!!

I really wonder how much will change whilst I'm gone. I hope Ashton doesn't grow up because if he does, I think that will just be the end of me. My baby brother will always have to be my baby brother, even when he's graduating High School, preparing to severe a mission and getting married.

Did you notice how easily I get off track?

Way too easily.

Any who I think I'll try to squeeze as many if these challenges as possible into one blog post just so I finish this challenge before my birthday :)

Happy blogging!

Reilly Michele

Day 9 - what's on my bucket list

Oh dear... I know i'm way behind on this blogging challenge but I will make up for it :) I promise!

Luckily day 9 was pretty easy!

I actually have a seperate page (as you can see) with my bucket lidt on it! So don't be afraid to have a look at it! (all the things crossed out are things I've managed to do / places I've visited)

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend!

Lots of love,

Reilly Michele
(by the way the circus was brilliant! More info to follow)

Day 8 - my biggest pet peeve

Hmmmm... Today's another tricky one!

So I think I'll start out by saying what the highlights of this week have been so far / will be!

-Studio C season 4 started on monday night! I seriously adore that show! It's BYUtv's wonderful squeeky clean comedy sketch show and I supercalifragilistically hope that I can see them perform / go to a meet & greet next school year! Whenever I need some cheering up, I watch one of their sketches!
Can I just say Hi-BISQUE-ous ;) (If you didn't laugh then you should obviously go watch studio C on byutv or youtube!)

-salad! I adore salad and eating healthy and yum yum yum yum yum! Recently my parents have been on a super healthy craze and I'm loving it! It means I get to work out with my momma and eat all of their healthyness with them! The salad I instagramed was the bomb! (Yes, I know I sound sad instagraming salad but you have no idea how freakishly good it tasted...I might have to start a recipe page!)

-my new job! I had a training thingy for it tonight and my first full day is this friday! It's literally the cutedt job ever! I get to work with kids and animals and jungle gyms and cuteness. Plus everyone is super nice and the kids are super ethusiastic!

-Easter break starts thursday!

-I'm going to the CIRCUS with my super cool bestest grandparents ever!!! Eeekk! :) They very muchly take my family on awesome random trips (We went to see BYU Ballroom last june!). Plus they are adorably sweet and very suportive. They've alreay told me they want to buy me something useful for college but I already have luggage so if you have any ideas, don't be afraid to comment them!

- I get to volunteer at my momma's school for the day! Her students are super sweet and they quickly love anyone and everyone! I haven't worked with them in a while so I'm excited to see them this week!

-It's my best fwiend's birthday on Friday and I get to give her my present! :) It is rediculously cute (and childish)!

This is a pretty productive week for.me! There's not usually this many highlights (I'm surprised that I didn't include napping in that list).

So what is my biggest pet peeve?
I really cannot even think of one!

But I really don't like :

-when people send me game requests on facebook or people that complain all the time (I actually unfriend those people)

- kids that want to grow up. I made that mistake and that's probably my biggest regret. Just enjoy a responsibility and stress free life! Remember when choosing what to get at the candy store was the most stressful thing ever? I miss that.

-people that don't like Disney (they are not in my good books)

- not feeling good enough. There is too much negativity and comparing in schools and in the world. We need to encourage and support people, even when they don't seem to need help.

And that's all I can think of for now! So what's your pet peeve?

Hope you have a great wednesday and always think positively (and also don't send me game requests!)

Love,

Reilly Michele

Day 7 - my dream job & why my parents are the best!

Dream job for me?

Is Disney movie watching a job?

[I'm being serious!]

I'd absolutely love to work in Disneyland! Or in any other Disney related workplace! But I know that won't be happening any time soon :'(

But I need to be realistic. Right now I'm focused on school, starting college {at the best university ever!} and preparing to serve a mission for me church.
I'm pretty jealous of all my mormon guy friends that don't have an awkward year in between finishing high school and going on a mission for my church but I'm sure I'll still have a great 19th year of life (which starts in 27 days people!!), even if it isn't dedicated to serving a full-time mission.

Oh boy do I get easily distracted!

So what is my real dream job?

Besides dreaming of working for the best company ever, and hoping to use my love for languages to inspire and help others [either whilst serving a mission or working as an elementary teacher in a foreign country (teaching English in Africa or working in an international school in Dubai would be amazing!)], one of my greatest aspirations is to be a mother.

Moms are the best teachers in the world! They nurture and teach their children in a way the word cannot. Parents truly are the best. My dad has taught me patience, finding happiness in random things,  80's trivia and given me a sense of humor (it still isn't as great as my dad's). My mom on the other hand has taught me all things I need to be a great mom. She has so much patience and optimism for me and my brothers. She's my best friend (other than Cumorah of course! Shout to you!).

In my church, we are taught the importance of families and love. I know that I am continually being prepared to be a great parent. The endless hours of babysitting, cooking, entertaining my brothers and working with others have helped me to develop the attributes needed to be a wonderful mother.

I am so excited to one day marry the man of my dreams (wherever he may be right now... hopefully the guy isn't stuck in a tree or something) and start a family!

I cannot wait to tell my kiddies all about their amazing grandparents and great-grandparents. I know I won't be doing this for many years to come but I cannot wait for the day where I get to start my fairy tale and follow my parent's example.

What's your dream job?

Never be afraid to follow your dreams because I you dream and work hard enough, they might just come true!

Best wishes,

Reilly Michele

Day 6 - my last random act of kindness

This one is pretty tricky!
I love serving others and being kind, especially if it'll put a smile on someone's face or make their day better!
I'm not sure if tickle fights with my little brothers and giving them food of mine that I don't really want to share count as acts of kindness but I'd say they do!
I also bought ice cream for my friends on Friday (as I spoke about in a previous post.. my friends > your friends) which I would say is a pretty great act of random kindness! Who doesn't like free ice cream! (It was oreo ice cream as well!)
Now for the other side of the coin:
The last acts of random kindness that was done for me that I can think of are all of the little things my parents do for me.
My mom is constantly doing my chores for me (she is a dish washing fairy!) and my dad found a documentary about David Archuleta on ksl.com for me to watch with them as a family tonight (He's definitely the best dad ever!).
[By the way there were some awesome things on tv this weekend besides conference : a short making of Studio C documentary on byutv and a short super sweet documentary about David Archuleta and his call to serve on ksl.com so check them out!]
What's your last act of random kindness?
What's something someone has done for you that put a smile on your face?
I hope you've had a wonderful weekend and have found answers to your questions if you've been watching general conference (yet again check out my weekend so far blogpost).
Best wishes,
Reilly Michele

Day 5 - my favourite movies that I never get sick of watching

I bet you can guess what i'm going to say....
Disney?
You got it right!!

I think my Disney obsession is turning into more of a Disney addiction!

All those movies have so many good messages, plus after watching them I always feel like a little kid again!

My top ten all-time-favourite-never-going-to-get-sick-of-Disney-movies are as follows:

-Toy Story

-Finding Nemo

-The emporer's new groove

-Up

-The little mermaid

-Monsters Inc.

-Lilo and Stitch

-Tangled

-The princess diaries

And......

-Frozen (obviously!)

I know so many quotes from every single one of those movies!

My future kiddies better learnt to love their momma's love for disney because they are going to grow up watching these movies (and all the others) and going to every Disneyland as well as Disney cruises with their mommy and daddy so mommy can cross it off her bucketlist!

There are so many other movies that I love so much! But i'm sure you'll find out about them soon enough!

Best wishes and love for Disney,

Reilly Michele

My weekend so far...

I can't believe i'm on day 5 of my challenge already (one sixth of the way through) !

But first of all... I'm having a great weekend!
It's been wonderful!

Yesterday I got to see my stake friends that I see about once a month. We met at a mutual friend's party but decided to go exploring to get some snacks and fresh air (the smoke machine was crazy!).

So we went on a little adventure to the grocery store to buy ice cream and shloer (us mormons know how to partay!) and of course we took some selfies on the way. We also saw the sun go down and had an amazing view from the park we walked through on the way back.

I adore my mormon buddies! They are the sweetest and always put a smile on my face! Plus I can give them endless hugs and pull hilarious faces in selfies. Plus they love disney nearly as much as I do (Just kidding Cumorah!)
I'm going to miss them so much when I leave for BYU!

Today was great as well! I got my first properjob! (At this super cute nearby family attractuion that i'll blog about eventually) I've been a babysitter for half a decade but i'm glad i'll now be able to earn some real dough and super save for college. I also had a great day out with my family! We went to an air force museum, filled with amazing historical planes. Plus I learned a few more facts about the cold war that i'll be able to use in my last ever german speaking exam.
I also got some super cute presents for my friends (That i'll post one they've recieved them) aaannd Frozen!! Eeek!! (Watching it right now...and singing along of course!)

But the super duper best thing about this weekend is General Conference. For all of you who are cluelessly thinking "Was ist das?" (german for "what is that?") I shall explain: In my church, the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints,  twice a year we have the unique opportunity to listen to the leaders of our church speak during 'General Conference' in which they share with us through inspiration messages of wisdom and advice. I always think of questions I want answering, pray about them and find my answer in a message shared in General Conference. You can watch it anytime on lds.org or byutv.org. I make an endless amount of notes so I can remember more clearly what I have heard and learnt and it really helps. Plus I'll be a super note taker by next Fall!

So far there has been one general session and one women's session and there are 3 general sessions and one priesthood (men's) session to go!

(Here are some of the quotes I have enjoyed the most so far:)

Hope you are having a great weekend! I'd love to hear what you're up to so please leave a comment!

Love,

Reilly Michele

Day 4 - favourite childhood memory

I love my childhood!

It's the sweetest!
I can map it out into three (or four) sections:

I spent my toddler years living in BYU's hometown : Provo, Utah. My parents were still in school and we lived in a tiny appartment. The only memories I really have of this place are ones my mom had told me about. The one I have proof of is all due to my 19 month older brother who I don't often mention.
My brother was playing and threw a shoe at my head (by accident) which of course caused some damage by  splitting my not even two year old forehead open. And no, my loving  parents did not think to take their tot to the emergency room. I still have that scar today!

These were followed by spending my young childhood (age 3-7) living in sunny, warm Arizona close to my grandparents and aunt's family. I loved it. My grandparents only lived around the block and I was a flower girl for my aunt's wedding and got to be a part in welcoming my cousin (who is now 12 years old!!!) into the world. My momma would sew me all kinds of beautiful dresses and clothes and even my ballet outfits!

I still remember my first day of kindergarten and the ginger bread man hunt we did. I remember learning how to count and starting first grade. I remember the math tests we would have and te fact that our teacher read a book to us after lunchtime every day. We'd lay our heads on our desks and quietly listen to the stories of one crazy girl (I'm afraid I've forgotten the namea of those books but I'll try to remember). I was a happy tan little girl! Oh those days were the sweetest!

Shortly after my seventh birthday, my family moved to Germany.

I had no idea what to expect. I was thrown into a new country and a German school (and nope, I didn't speak a lick of that language).

There were times when I hated it and longed for my life in the states but now looking back, I had an awesome time growing up there. I fluently spoke German at school and with friends but I spoke English at home and at church (we attended and English speaking ward full of families in the same boat).

I basically lived two lives which occasionally intertwined.

I remember spending hours outdoors, riding bikes, roller skates and playing with the neighboring kids. We'd collect snails and keep them in jars and race them or draw our dream town on the streets with colourful chalk and pretend that we lived there.

And this year now marks the fourth year that I have lived here in the UK for. I don't have as many memories here as I have in Germany or the states but I have learned a lot and made great friends. It's been such a great experience to be in an english speaking surrounding and make friends that can fully understand you!

There are so many sweet memories that I can think of that I'd love to write about but I'm sure they'd have to have an entire blog or book of their own!

The great thing about childhood memories is the fact that you can only ever remember the good ones. You never remember the reason why you were upset or how you felt when you cracked your head open. Sometimes it feels as though a laugh or a smile is what causes memories to be imprinted in your mind.

So do I have one favourite childhood memory? I'm afraid not. I love them all!

What's your favourite childhood memory?

Best wishes of nostalgia,

Reilly Michele

Day 3 - what makes me happy

[I'm actually really enjoying this!]

So today's post is all about what makes me happy. 

I'm happy to say that that is the easiest question for me to answer!

Of course my family and friends and succeeding in life make me happy but that is not all. 

Basically anything and everything makes me happy. 

Whether it's a pretty tree or a baby's laugh. Most things crack a smile on my face! 

As you all know anything Disney really makes me happy so here's a Disney quiz to see if you're an obsessive fan as I am. 

And now for 5 random Disney facts:

#1. Snow White is the youngest of all Disney Princesses and is thought to only be 14 years of age (shocking!) whilst either Tiana (aged 19) or Belle (aged 17-21) are thought to be the eldest. 

#2. Pumbaa was the first ever Disney character to fart in a movie (TEEHEE!).

#3. Mickey Mouse was voiced by Walt himself.Mickey was originally created as a replacement for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Mickey's original name was Mortimer Mouse.

#4. Walter Elias Disney had a phobia of mice!

#5. Boo's (from Monsters Inc.) real name is Mary. She was named after Mary Gibbs, the actress who voiced her.

There ya go! What makes you happy? 

Lots of love,

Reilly Michele

Blogging challenge Day 2

Day 2 already? That was quick! ;)

Today's challenge (found it on this blog) is all about my favourite quotes.

To be honest with you, I'm not a poet. I love current books such as the Hunger Games (and dr.Suess!!!) and haven't read any Jane Austens (sorry if I'm a dissapointment to the female race).

So just to war  you : I do not know any super inspiring quotes that will change the way you think. [Well besides the Shakespeare ones I only know because of High School english and chick flicks].

Most of my favourite quotes actually come out of the mouth of my grandpa. He is amazing! He never fails to make me smile and is always taking pictures of everything (he even takes pictures when we skype!).

I've always felt so close to my american grandparents (maybe it has something to do with the fact that they were there when I was born...and Grandpa never ceases to remind me [he's the sweetest!]).

When I was a little girl and we only lived a block away from him, I remember going on walks with him and that his laugh would light up the room.

Whenever I have the chance to talk to him and my grandma (they live far far away from England and I haven't seen them in person in nearly 8 years), it feels like we've just soent the day with him.
He is so cheerful and positive and absolutely the sweetest.
He constantly sends me wonderful emails and he is the most excited about my acceptance to BYU (which also means I get to see him and my grandma in a few short months).

One of the latest quotes he has said is: "It's not about the number of breaths you take, it's about the moments that take your breath away". Isn't that just beautiful?

My grandparents mean the world to me and I can not wait to see them super soon. (I may secretly be more excited about seeing them than BYU but ssshh don't tell!).

I hope you make sure that your grandparents and other loved ones know that they're loved. And if they're close by, please give them a hug for me!

Hope you're still having a good day,

Reilly Michele

31 day blogging challenge Day 1

So I was meant to start this challenge yesterday but I failed.

I'm sorry but it was a pretty busy day.

I had a full day of lessons, went to a student leader appreciation meal thing (It was at a gorgeous marina in my high school's village) and we did a mother's appreciation night for young women's for which I had to dress up as a waitress (In my opinion looked more like an extra from Oliver Twist).
I think I had about ten minutes of free time in which I was half asleep.

It was only when I got to school this morning and saw my friend with whom I'm doing this challenge (I challenged her and thought I'd do it ,too!) that I realised how much of a dissapointment I was failing the first day so hence why today will also have two new blog posts.

So this challenge as it says in the title is a 31 day challenge (It was not made for April but hey ho I'll do what I want).

There is a different theme to blog about every day. They're all get to know you posts so it'll be pretty fun to read this in a few years time and see how much I've changed.

But I challenge whoever actually reads this (I don't actually know since nobody ever leaves any comments [well except for the awesome Erica Decker]) to also do this challenge!

The first challenge is to post a selfie and 5 random facts about myself. The facts part will be tough since I love telling people random things about myself. But anywhoo..

RANDOM FACT #1- I love dancing in grocery stores. But only if people aren't watching. My favourite time is at 7 o'clock in the morning after seminary when my dad and I have to pick up some random things for my brother's home ec. class. Nobody is around and there's always some really catchy tune playing through the speakers. You should try it! It'll wake you up and make the people that may or may not see you smile (+and think you're a weirdo but let's forget that part)

RANDOM FACT #2 - I'm double jointed. For some odd reason I can twist my arms in a 360 degree fashion. It grosses people out but I find it pretty cool that I can pop my elbow bavk in a way many people can't (I apologise if I'm making you queesy).

RABDOM FACT #3 - I'm spooneristic. No idea what that is? Don't blame ya! Spoonerisms are words that people easily mix up (and I do this more often then I wish) so for example instead of saying "I'm going to a great party". I'd say: "I'm gping to a peat grarty". Maybe that's a strange example but it's now a known fact that I'm a weirdo ;)

RANDOM FACT #4 - I'm afraid of cats. Those animals are creepy! They hiss and have claws that can come out at any time. I just don't trsut those creatures. They also have more mood swings than any teenage girl! I'm being serious guys those fluffy adorable looking things scare the jeebers out of me! I'm a dog lover all the way! (Please don't be offended if you own a cat...my  cat friends somehow manage to deal with me!)

RANDOM FACT #5 - I love fruit and veg! That stuff is da bomb! :) I get pretty upset when I've hoovered up all the healthy lunch stuff and have to take processed junk to school for lunch (those are sad days). It's just so yummy and so good for you! It really does make you feel happier and healthier :) Try those things! There are so many of them for a reason.

And there you are. Hope you didn't get too bored. I'd love to hear your random facts so feel free to post them in the comments section (Oh yes blogger points to me for interacting with my readers!).

Hope you have a super duper supercalifragilistic expialidocious day!!

Love,

Reilly Michele