target.

holy cow. my job is self entertainment at its best. no joke.

•  two girls who look to be about my age walk up to my register holding hands, one of them is shaking the other is quiet. the shaking girl buys mountain dew, gum, and a pregnancy test. then the quiet girl leans over and whispers to her "you better hope it's so and so, he would be the best dad out of all of them" um...awkward much?

• i totally accidentally made an old lady cry when i told her that she couldn't use her coupon. it was buy one get one free and she thought that it was buy one get it free. read the labels lady.

• this super cute looking blonde lady comes up to my register and buys stationary. i, being the kind person that i am, ask her how she is. she proceeds to tell me that she hates her husband and is in the middle of a divorce but that she's not divorcing him until he agrees to keep the cat.

• the druggie who tried to pay for thirty dollars worth of stuff with a ten dollar bill. he was totally high.

• the lady who spent five minutes trying to get me to join her church. no, i'm not Buddhist, yes, i know i can be despite my ethnicity.

• the man who read me the calorie contents of a microwave meal "it's the BEST FOOD EVER. and it only has five grams of fat"

• the woman with a screaming child. honestly, if my children act like that, i'm disowning them.

okay, this totally isn't everything but i just worked an eight hour shift and yours truly gets to wake up and go back to work in seven short hours. hooray. don't get me wrong, i love my job! but school starts in six days and i feel like it's going by way too fast!! it's the freaking last day of august for crying out loud. i'm so not ready for school to start, i can't emotionally handle the stress of going to another new school. i have to though, so i'm going to try and make the best of it. we'll see how this goes. goodnight and goodbye.
forever and always,
sarah leslie

music monday.

one song every week? seems like a good idea to me. plus, i know how interested you all are in my totes teenager music. we'll see how this goes.

week one: you and i ~ ingrid michaelson

though this song comes off an older album of her's, i've recently become re-obsessed with the entire thing. it's such a happy go lucky album. plus, for some reason when i listen to this song, all i can think about is dancing around while being serenaded on the ukelele by an attractive man who is wearing a ridiculously awesome sweater. it's a pretty easy image on the mind, am i right?

death by chocolate cake.

seven and a half sticks of butter.
eight cups of sugar
one cup corn syrup
three and a half cups heavy cream
sixty two ounces of chocolate
eighteen eggs

obviously that's not all of the ingredients, but that's kind of the part that makes you feel um...guilty. that's why they call them guilty pleasures, right? right. anyways, i was asked to make the cake for the seminary kickoff and it had to feed fifty people. this is what i came up with.

 double chocolate cake with cookies and cream filling. i'm starting to feel pretty good about my decorating skills but am thoroughly convinced there is room for improvement. seriously. although i can tell you one thing, my recent love for the baking world is making me question whether or not i should focus on basic culinary or only on pastry. so many options, so little time to make decisions that concern those options. we'll see what the next year holds i guess.

forever and always,
sarah leslie

wedding.

this song + these pictures = hopless

a girl can dream, right?

this girl.

kelly briggs to be exact.

decided to be awesome and grow up before me. LAME. she went off to breed 'em young university two weeks ago and owes me a dollar if she pulls one of those "get married half way through freshman year things" so once upon a time, kelly and i didn't exactly get along very well until the beginning of may. same ward? yes. Same group of friends? yes. same personality? heck no. or that's what we thought anyways. we were civil with eachother, sure, but we didn't talk when it wasn't necessary. in fact, we sat next to eachother every morning in seminary for six months and i think we talked to eachother once and that was when we were fighting over those ridiculously awesome cups and bowls with the straws attached to them. you know, the kind that the average six year old uses? yeah. well long story short we never talked and didn't really like eachother that much--you know that thing people do where they make assumptions about people they don't really know? yeah. we were good at doing that. it all changed at nick hostetters suprise sweet sixteen, or a few hours before that i guess. something just happened and all of a sudden we were friends.
"do you need a blow dryer for your armpits kelly?"
"no...do you have one?"
ha.
we became fast friends after that and after a few ridiculously awesome conversations we realized that we actually had a lot more in common than we had previously assumed. the next three months were spent partying it up hard.

i just wish that we would have put the nonexistent behind us sooner, because now she's 1,300 miles away and i won't see her until thanksgiving and that's if i'm lucky. at least i have her in my life now though, and all of you down at BYU better go creep on her right about now...you think i'm kidding...i'm not.

i love you kelly.


forever and always,
sarah leslie

yawn.

i'm exhausted, seriously. when i got back i was so worried that i wouldn't have anything to do for the rest of the summer, that i'd sit around and do nothing which after the five weeks i had in Utah was a terrible thing to think about. i mean, from endless adventures to nothing? lame. luckily, i was wrong.
                                                                       I got a job.

i started working at target about two and a half weeks ago and i LOVE it. it's the most exhausting thing ever but i love that i get to people watch and get paid to do it. my excessive work hours just might explain my less frequent blog posts...maybe
                                                               i've baked some cakes

okay. long story short that previous sentence sounded a lot lamer than it should have. but i have been back in the kitchen tons. i made this birthday cake for two of the cutest six year olds on the face of this planet. it's a little sloppy, i know. i had an hours notice. but back to the whole baking thing. i'm making the cake for the back to seminary fireside on sunday and it's supposed to feed fifty people. i'm super excited. also, i'm teaching a cake making class sometime later this month.

basically, that is all. the end.
forever and always,
sarah leslie

obsessed.

somebody needs to keep me from listening to this song. seriously. it has me convinced that i'm on my way to my own happily ever after. someday, just not now...right?

happy 100th blog post.

once upon a time this week has been fantastic...well tuesday afternoon and on anyways. after two weeks back from happy valley i'm finally getting settled and things are starting to work out. especially after today. i had my very first job interview this morning at Target, and i was so nervous. but i went in, was my confident, people loving self ANNNDDD... they offered me the job on the spot. of course, then i pulled a total sarah and drove to get my drug test without my license so i show up and they ask for my ID and i was like "oh, sorry, i know i said i wanted a drug test but i can't have one because i left my drivers license in my mazda which is at home fifteen miles away" luckily i have the coolest mom ever who agreed to meet me half way and save the day again. i'm so excited to have the opportunity to work for such a great company, i start tuesday night and am quickly trying to figure out how to make khaki pants look cute...and red shirts for crying out loud. i own one red shirt, but that's about to change. that's okay. one: it's a chance to go shopping, and Two: i am going to be the cutest dressed target worker out there. thank you internet for your inspiration...or lack thereof anyways. hoping the mall provides a few solutions to my tiny problem hehe.
basically i'm super excited to get to work, and for a paycheck.
success? i'd say so! for a sixteen year old, anyways.
forever and always,
sarah leslie

to the unknown boy.

i've been dreaming about you alot lately. not just thinking, but you somehow manage to show up in my dreams. in every dream for the past week, actually. thank you...maybe? i mean, i can't really compalain, you're tall, dark, and handsome. you're taller than i am, but not by more than a couple of inches. i'll probably have to give up wearing heels when we get married--or be taller than you, but that's okay. in my dream you could cook almost as well as i can, but we liked to cook together. i would challenge you and you would say you let me win. you were well dressed and played the piano. i would joke with you about how if you taught me how to play i would teach you how to cook, even though we both knew that you were good at just about anything. you put up with my craziness, let me do stupid things--even did them with me, but when getting arrested was a chance you put a stop to it. you listened to me when i talked, and related to my whole world. you loved me for who i was, and i loved you. you moved with me back to new mexico, and let me open a bakery with every penny we had. it was a risk, and in my dream we didn't have much, but we were happy because we had eachother. i can't wait to meet you, or if we've already met, i can't wait for that moment four years down the road when we realize that we're supposed to be more than friends. when i decide that the taylor swift moments don't belong to us anymore, that it's our turn to write a song. i can't wait to be with you forever. i know that right now, somewhere in the world you're preparing for your mission, going to church, and being a worthy priesthood holder. i won't settle for anything less by the way. i'm doing everything i can too, because i don't want anything less than a man who loves the lord and gives one hundred percent. right now i need to finish up highschool, and go to a few years of college. there are so many experiences that i need to have before i'm ready, i need to grow more, serve more, and become a better person. so right now i'll just think about you, and hope for the day when all i'm working towards finally arrives. in the meantime,

forever and always,
sarah leslie

cause it makes me happy.

so i've been back home for about two weeks now and last night i finally realized something...

it's time to be happy.

so i decided that i'd make a list of things that make me happy, because honestly, there are so many. and it's summertime so it's time to be happy.

1. lightning the sky is so beautiful right now, and i love staring it as it gets closer. even if it means that we're slightly in danger.
2. rain. the rain here is crazy hard, and i love sitting inside and just staring out the windows. it's fantastic.
3. bowling. i have been bowling twice in the past week and i'm not very good (by not very good i mean it's a miracle if i get 50 points) but i forgot how much fun it is.
4. parachute. my cousin Christina got me into this music when i stayed with her three weeks ago. i just bought their CD and i can't believe i've been missing out for so long. i'm hopelessley addicted.
5. hot showers. one of the benefits of moving is getting a new bathroom. i LOVE my new showerhead. seriously, the greatest thing of my life.
6. my mormon friends. i got back here and immediately was swarmed with love from all my mormon friends. i had started to forget how freaking awesome they were and will NEVER forget that again.
7. staying up till four in the morning reading. nothing better, it screams pure summer to me.
8. nicholas sparks. what else would i be reading till four in the morning?
9. facecreeping. you probably shouldn't be too worried.
10. driving. i love having this responsibility, it means so much more freedom.
11. dating. is there really much to say about this? i love men, dating = spending time with men. awesome.
12. H&M. i recently bought three new skirts and a top from this lovely store that in the past year has become my very favorite. (by very favorite i mean half my closet is filled with cute clothing from this fabulous store)
13. hugs. nothing better than a good hug.
14. cooking. boy have i missed being in the kitchen, so many upcoming projects!
15. church. i love my ward.
16. my new bed. after sixteen years of being too small for my twin bed my parents finally decided to help me make the switch. i'm in love. there is nothing better than sleeping with your whole body on the bed. my feet haven't been cold since i've gotten back from utah. well, they have, but not because they're sticking off the edge of the bed.
17. phone calls from friends in happy valley. it's good to know that i haven't been forgotten. i've had a call from someone almost everyday since i left. i have the greatest friends ever there.
18. potbelly sandwiches. turkey and swiss on multigrain with pickles, tomatoes, and italian seasoning. i've sure missed you while i was away. delicious. seriously.
19. colbie caillat. her new album is so happy go lucky it's ridiculous.
20. going to the lake. it's so freaking pretty here, and i love laying out on the beach.

i've started to realize that i can't hang on to my utah memories and try and make them real life. i have to get used to living here and learn to love it. i have a really hard year ahead of me, but i'm going to try so hard to get through it with a smile on my face. right now though i need to enjoy my summer...here.

forever and always,
sarah leslie

does he know?

how unbelievably happy those four sweet weeks made me? that even now as i'm back in my new home i sit and tell my friends of my summer adventure, of the pouring rain, the butterflies, the docks at the lake behind lone peak, the night at the movies, the tea party, the parks, the laughs, the blushing, the perfect moments, the doorstep scenes, his smile, holding hands, making chocolate waffles after a magical afternoon in the rain, the way our friends would laugh at us. things like that never happen, but once upon a summer time it did and it changed the way i view a lot of things. but it's been a week and a half since i left happy valley, and things are slowly slipping away and becoming nothing but memories. is that all they are now? just a bunch of fantastic stories to tell people? did it just happen to prove the people who say "that never happens" wrong? i get that it's time to move on, and time to make new friends, meet new people. we each have to grow up and live our lives. but i just keep wondering if he knows...that those moments are more than just a few memories to me.

summer lovin' playlist

falling for you ~ colbie caillat
Smile ~ uncle kraker
hummingbird ~ never shout never
must have done something right ~ reliant K
Summer rain ~ jonas brothers
today was a fairytale ~ taylor swift
last friday night ~ katy parry
Helplesness Blues ~ fleet foxes
best song ever ~ katie armiger
taking chances ~ celine dion
rainbow ~ colbie Caillat
tonight tonight ~ hot chelle rae
Sparks fly ~ taylor swift
summer love~ we the kings
what i wanted to say ~ colbie caillat
one sweet love ~ sara barielles
butterflies ~ saving jane
goodbye ~ miley cyrus
Catch me ~ demi lovato
kiss me slowly ~ parachute
don't forget ~ demi lovato
mary you~ glee cast version
deer in the headlights ~ owl city
we are golden ~ mika
the time of our lives ~ miley cyrus
happily ever after ~ he is we

this was totes every little bit of my summer. love.

a week in reality

first week back in reality = complete and well, it wasn't half bad. it has basically came down to a few things. One: my awesome friends are still calling me and texting me on a daily basis and even though this doesn't even compare to driving around aimlessley trying to find something to do as we listen to crazy music and laugh our hearts out, it's nice to know i have friends who don't just give up on me the moment i leave the Utah Border. Two: my summer lovin' playlist. compiled with all the songs we listened to in said cars, and of course the ones that describe my summer romance. i can plug my ipod in and immediately it takes me back to happy calley. maybe i'll post said playlist in a little bit. Three: the best family ever. i don't think i realized how lucky i am to be a part of such an amazing family, i am so blessed and don't ever want to take it forgranted again. i love that my parents are my friends and my parents. Four: awesome friends here. church friends, i mean. seeing as we all know i haven't really succeeded in making friends at school. oh well. my church friends here are awesome and have welcomed me back from happy valley with loving arms, listened to all my stories, and have made me really feel like i belong. i only hope that i have been as good of a friend to all of them. as far as getting settled goes, i'm still living out of suitcases, and my bed is in the living room but i figure it will all be um, fixed soon. right? right. basically, i can't help but be a little excited because one of my best friends Maiya is flying in from said happy valley tonight. she's here for a whole week and i can't wait to take her around to all of the places that i have grown to love in the past year. it makes me wish that more of my friends wanted to come out here and experience it with me! there are so many amazing things about this place, it's such a beautiful little hidden secret and even though it has been hard and is going to get even harder, i wouldn't change it for the world. here is to another week back in reality.
forever and always,
sarah leslie