MY THOUGHTS...

"Free Hugs"

People at BYU are weird. I see examples of this everyday. Why do they do these odd things that make me look at them like this...

The latest odd person I saw was when I was walking in front of the JFSB and I noticed some girl standing in the middle of the area with a sign. She looked like one of those people at the airport waiting to pick someone up. Then some other girl ran up and gave her a BIG hug and I thought "huh, that must be the name on the sign." Then i read the sign and it just said "Free Hugs" Who has time during finals week to think, "I'm gonna go stand outside in the 15 degree weather and see how many people are as weird as i am to hug a complete stranger"? I simply walked past trying to not make eye contact, hoping she would not attack me with hugs.

"Dino Museum"

For my physical science class we had the assignment to go to BYU's earth science museum. I think museum as to wrong word to describe it, however. It's more like some trailer-looking building in the parking lot across the street from the stadium. But, call me a loser if you want, I thought it was pretty awesome! They had a bunch of big fossils and little ones. They had triceritops, long-necks, some sloth thing, and others! Unfortunately I didn't get to stay long because they were closing and I needed to turn in my homework for it. Maybe I'll have to go again some day!

"Zoe"

My roommate, Elora, drive this... (it's a stick, that's the important part here) and now so can I.

"Ewan McGregor"

I don't know what it is about this man, but for some reason every movie I make my roommate watch with me has him in it! Moulin Rouge, Angels & Demons, Down With Love, and it goes on... Maybe it's his charming good looks, or his angelic voice, or his irresistible accent. Who knows...but whatever it is, I seem to be drawn to his movies!

21!!!

One week ago I reached a milestone in my life. I turned 21 years old! I am now an official, full-fledged adult! (Not sure how I feel about the adult part though...)

It was a FABULOUS week. On Sunday I had dinner with my family and opened my presents from my parents. On Tuesday (my official birthday) I went to Tucano's with my family and was forced to play the tambourine while they sang me "Happy Birthday"...that was embarrassing. Then I went to Spark (this sweet non-alcoholic bar in provo) with my Friends Elora and Chris. I got an appletini! It was de-li-cious! On Wednesday I went for dessert with my friend Nick to Chili's. On Friday I went to get my hair cut and dyed by my rockin' hair stylish, Cody. (I highly recommend him!) THEN, on Saturday me and my girly-friends went to The Grand America for afternoon tea. It was so yummy...and classy!

It was QUITE a week! Thanks to everyone who made my birthday one of my best ever!

Me & Elora at The Grand America for Afternoon Tea!

At Spark in Provo drinking my 21st Bday Appletini! (Non-alcoholic, of course!)

Me, Elora, & Kiera at The Grand America

Mmmm...dessert at the Grand America

IT IS NOW OFFICIAL!

Ok so I have been blogging  A LOT lately, but I figure this is my way of keeping a journal cuz heaven knows how bad I am at that!  I think my last journal entry was over a year ago!  

So if this blog were my journal, to day I would be writing this entry:

I got in to my elementary education program at BYU!!!

That's right! I am now officially on the road to being a teacher!  So, yeah, I'm a semester behind schedule, and yeah I am hopefully going to take another extra semester to do an internship, so I won't reeeally be a teacher for a while, but it still makes me feel so much more legit!  

Yay for me!

SO I'M SICK...AND I'M BORED...

So yesterday I came down with a bug of some sort that has given me a soar throat, stuffy nose, and never-ending cough.  Atleast it's not the swine flu right?  Anyways...I've been sitting in bed bored, and started looking though  pictures and videos of mine.  Here are a couple of my favorites that were on my computer.

This is when my brother Marcus and his 2 kids came to visit so he could go to the World Cup qualifier game.  We went up to Park City and rode on the coaster thing.  It was way fun, and I was the lucky one Will chose to ride with.  He was HILARIOUS and couldn't stop laughing the whole say saying "faster, faster!"  I MISS THEM SO MUCH!

This was when I went up to my Friend, Elora's, cabin in Island Park last fall.  I attempted to drive a dirt bike...this was my first and last attempt.

And, while I'm here, I figure I could put up a couple of recent pics!  This first is from last weekend when me and Brooke went to see Ingrid Michaelson at the Venue in Salt Lake.  I was so good, and one of my favorite concerts ever!  Yes, even better than the 17 million NSYNC or Backstreet Boys concerts of my childhood.

And this is me with my cute dad who took me to eat at La Caille for my 21st birthday.  It was so good, and I felt so special!

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY...

1.  the sound of autumn leaves crunching when i walk on them

2.  turning the clocks back one hour when day light savings time ends

3.  the way the air smells so crisp when i walk to school each morning

4.  when my roommate leaves me notes in the bathroom to find when i get ready

5.  good hair days

6.  perfectly polished toenails

7.  when i wear my roommates clothes

8.  getting hugs from my nieces and nephews

9.  coming home to a clean house

10. beautiful paintings

11.  going on quiet walks

12.  being with people who love me

HAPPY AUTUMN!

COMPUTERS, CARS AND CRIME!!!

With a title like that how can you resist reading this post eh!?!

Update on the life of Ali Sorensen:

This fall has marked the end of one big era in the life of a close friend.  My old jeep, who we named Bruiser.  He was a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee that lived under the care of my family for it's entire life (13 years/190,000 miles).  I spent so many good times in that car, and it was indeed good to me all throughout high school and the first two years of college.  You'll be missed 'ol pal!  

Bruiser going to that last oil change in the sky...

As for crime...

I just got done reading this book, and it was so good!  I am working at Seagull Book right now, and everyone I work with said I should read this book, and I had already listened to the first 3 chapters play over and over and over again on the stereo in our store, so I figured I would.  I finished it in about 2 and a half days (which for me is sayin something).  It's about a girl who's sister is killed in a car accident the same day her fiance disappears.  It starts 3 years after that when she is engaged again and weird things start happening.  You'll have to go to you're local Seagull Book to pick it up!

So I've covered cars and crime....now for computers!

I should get one of these because do you know what I did???  I have been living in my apartment with no internet except for when I steal my roommates "internet stick", as we call it.  But, today I went down into our basement and all by myself hooked up our router to my computer and I now have wireless internet!  Go me!

So those are the most exciting things that have happened to me thus far...and exciting they are indeed!  Try not to be jealous everyone!

LOVED THIS!!!

In case any of you are in need of some good movies to check out...here are a couple that I absolutely LoVeD!!!!

JULIE & JULIA

500 DAYS OF SUMMER

So if you get a chance, check 'em out!  

AND SO I COME TO THE END OF ANOTHER SUMMER...

* * * SIGH * * *

As yet another summer of my life comes to a close, and I prepare to head back down south to the lovely city of Provo, I can't help but think back on how great my summer has been!  

It was kicked off by a trip to Vegas with the girls, followed by a fabulous cruise to the Caribbean.  I built up quite a nice tan...and then headed to EFY where it faded right back to white!  7 weeks of EFYing with some of the most amazing people I could ever meet, I came home and slept.  Followed by more sleep.  And then added a little more sleep on top of that.  

After sleeping a little bit more, I begin to look forward to the next chapter of my life.  I will be starting my 3rd year of college at BYU, and it suddenly dawned on me when I saw the word "Junior" next to my name that I am no longer one of the young unexperienced ones!  I'm a JUNIOR!!!  After a slight freak out moment, I calmed down and decided that I'm really not a junior, but I am a "junior."  While it may be my 3rd year, I won't be graduating for another 6 semesters (or another 3 years).  So I felt better about life, knowing that real adulthood is 3 years, not 2 years away!

Here is some more pictures from my summer...

Oh yeah!  I'm going to Disneyland next week for the first time since I was about 5 years old or so!  YIPEE!

Me and Brooke baking some of her FaMoUs CuPcAkEs!!!!

Painting the deck...and myself...

Aren't we so American?  My, my Mommy, and Brooke sometime between the 4th and 24th!

More of Brooke's FaMoUs CuPcAkEs!!!

 Me with my niece, Ivy, on her 1st Birthday!  My sister-in-law, Jamie, and her mom, Pam, did a great job making such a cute party!

IT'S THAT TIME FOR ME...WISDOM TEETH TIME!!!

Today I found out some FABULOUS news as I went in for my routine once-every-5-years dentist check up...I HAVE TO GET MY WISDOM TEETH OUT!  Not only that, all 4 of mine are impacted! :(

Ok, so these aren't really my teeth, and mine aren't that bad, but still!  I would like a little sympathy for the painful experience that lies ahead of me!

MY SUMMER THUS FAR...

Ok....WOW!  This summer has been so busy and I have neglected my blog for much too long!  For a little update, I went on vacation on a Caribbean Cruise and it was soo fun!  Then I started work for EFY as a counselor and it has been so great so far.  I have a week off this week (which will be very nice) then I will have two more weeks in Rexburg.  

Here are some fun pictures of what I have been doing with my time lately!

This is me and my friend Elora in Maegan's Bay in St. Thomas

Me in beautiful Bermuda

My EFY group from Rexburg.  We were called "In the Dark" but the kids liked to call themselves simply "Darkness" instead

Like my new frames???

My EFY group called "Might Be"  Sometimes also called "The Mighty Bee's"

"Until the End"  They never changed the name :)

Meeting up with old friends for a camp fire in Mueller Park!  So fun!

So far, my summer has been awesome!  I can't believe it's already almost July!  Before I know it I'll be back at school wondering where all the time went!  

PS - I just found out I am going to be an aunt again!  Congrats Nichole and Travis!!!

  

ADIOS MUCHACHOS!!! (I have no idea what muchachos actually means!)

WOW! It has been quite a while since I have updated my blog!!!  Surprisingly, I actually have things to update on!  

First of all - I finished the semester on April 22, and I am no officially on summer break!  It wasn't easy, however.  During my last week of classes and into the first part of finals I was sick as a dog with the flu!  (not the swine flu though...but ya never can be too sure!)  I was unable to get out of bed or even study, but luckily I was well enough when finals week started that I was able to do everything I needed to!

Second of all - After finals, I went on a little girls trip with my mom, sister Brooke, and friend Elora to Vegas to see Phantom and shop.  The play was AWESOME, and the shopping was equally as fun!  

Third of all - I also just got back from a LONG road trip to Denver and then to Oklahoma to go to my Nephew, Ross, first birthday party!  I just can't express how fun it was to be able to spend time with my brothers, sisters-in-law, and my CUTE CUTE CUTE niece and nephews!  They always are SO much bigger every time I see them!  And on Ross's first birthday I got to be there as he took his first steps!  It was a moment to be remembered!  

Finally, Lastly - I AM LEAVING FOR MY CARIBBEAN CRUISE TOMORROW!!!!  If you can't tell I have been looking forward to this for a LONG TIME!!!!  We fly into San Juan tomorrow and then board our Ship (The Caribbean Princess) on Sunday.  Then we stop in Antigua, St. Thomas, and Bermuda.  We are going to go on a fun zip line through the jungle, and go kayaking in Bermuda and spend a lot of time laying on the beach and on the boat deck being served all the Diet Coke I can drink!  Ahhhhh...it's going to be positively marvelous!

PICTURES COMING SOON!!!! 

I HOPE I DONT GET ALL OF MY SILVER WARE MIXED UP ON THE CRUISE!!!

 

DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER

So my mom has this obsession with American Idol that I don't share quite to the extent she does. So when she wanted me to watch this video from Britain's Got Talent I was expecting it to be pretty much like everything else she shows me all the time. However, all I can say is...WOW! This is truly AMAZING!

This is a woman who is from a villiage in Scotland. She has never been kissed, she lives with her cat and spent her life taking care of her late mother. Her mom always wanted her to go on this show, but she never did. When she first shows up, I thought what I'm pretty sure everyone else thought...that she was just going to embarrass herself. But she sure shut me up!

Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Why do any of us have to be so mean and unkind to others? Why can’t all of us reach out in friendship to everyone about us? Why is there so much bitterness and animosity? It is not a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ." After seeing the amazing talent this women has, everyone treated her with respect and stopped the laughter. But what if she couldn't sing? She still would be the same person who deserved the same respect! It is so sad that we treat people like that and don't think a second thought about it.

Stepping down from my soapbox now...but I hope this video teaches you the same lesson it taught me, because I think we probably all could be a little kinder to all the people around us!

EVERY TIME I THINK I MIGHT BE A GOOD DRIVER, I REMIND MYSELF, "NO ALI, YOU ARE NOT"

It is safe to say I have had my share of adventures on the road with my good 'ol 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee.  Accidents, tickets, running out of gas, breaking down, simply refusing to start, boots (thanks to Provo parking), and many other things.  However, my latest incident was the strangest one yet.  First of all, I do not have a parking pass because I mostly just take the bus to school.  Yesterday, I was going to go back to school to do some studying, and I just drove my car.  I was trying to find somewhere that I could just park on the street, even though those spots are rare.  I found the perfect spot.  It was even wide enough that I could just pull in instead of having to attempt to parallel park.  I did notice that there were some random orange cones on the sidewalk next to it, but they didn't seem to be accomplishing anything by sitting there, so I figured it didn't matter.  About 6 1/2 hours later, I came back to my car to find all of the orange cones surrounding my car, with a hand written note that said "Please don't move the cones.  -BYU Grounds."  I was thoroughly confused, and simply moved the cones out of the way and drove away!

Can you make sense of what happened here?

PAY IT FORWARD

I saw this on my sister's blog.  Basically, the first 3 people to post a comment on this post will at some point in the near future get a scrumptious homemade treat from yours truly!  The only catch is that you have to pay it forward as well by posting your own pay it forward as well!  May the fastest posters win!!!

IT'S SO CLOSE...BUT NOT CLOSE ENOUGH!

In exactly 55 days I will be embarking on my Caribbean Cruise which will take myself, my parents, sister Brooke and her husband Tomas, their two friends Colby and Desiree, and my good friend Elora to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Antigua & Barbuda, Bermuda, and lastly end up in New York City!  I am so excited, I can already taste the Pina Colada's and hear the crashing ocean waves!  

However, I still have 31 days of school and tests and finals to go!  So I will try my best to focus in class instead of daydreaming about how we will be ziplining through the jungle and kayaking in Bermuda.  

SUMMER PLEASE COME QUICK!!!

WHEN LIFE SEEMS TO BE GETTING YOU DOWN, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

Since I am going to the school that likes to stand out from all the others (BYU), I shouldn't be surprised that Spring Break is nonexistent here right along with alcohol, drugs, and tank tops.  So, while all my friends at other schools are enjoying a week of laying out in the sun in Vegas or St. George or wherever else, I have been sitting in the library studying for my tests in Geography, D&C, Physical Science, AND Book of Mormon.

But one thing does brighten my spirits - I FINALLY found somewhere to live next year!  It is a cute little townhouse called Campus Lane, and is located right across the street from Liberty Square apartments (for those of you familiar with Provo).  

Ok, so this isn't the EXACT townhouse I will be living in, but it looks pretty much exactly the same!

So thank goodness I don't have to worry about being homeless!

SO HERE I AM....

I always said I wouldn't make a blog for a number of reasons

1.  I think they are for married people

2.  It will only be another alternative to occupy my time as opposed to homework

3.  All of my friends are on facebook, not blogs so no one will look at it except my mom

4.  My life is most uneventful, it consists of school, homework, sleep, and more school,homework, and sleep.  Occasionally I'll go on vacation.

Yet in spite of all those reasons, I gave into the temptation.  And now as opposed to doing my physical science homework I am sitting on the couch in my apartment in Provo, Utah, watching my favorite show - Heroes, and creating my first blog posting!  I will try and make my life more exciting and take more awesome pictures so that I can post fun things you will all enjoy!