New this Week

My BYU ID expired three weeks ago. I had been meaning to go into the ID Center and get a new picture taken, but I couldn't just take it on any random day in between classes because I'm a girl and feel like I should look pretty in my picture. So, a couple weeks ago, I woke up, showered, dried my hair, straightened it, did my makeup and put on some cute clothes for my picture. 

When I walked into the ID Center, they asked me for my ID. I didn't bring it because I thought I was getting a new one...that makes sense to me, but maybe that's just me? Anyway, they told me something ridiculous that in order to get my new ID without paying $10 dollars, I had to have my old ID, so it's taken me a couple extra weeks to find time to get it done. Anyway, I got a new ID picture yesterday and I really like it. Not that anyone looks at it besides me, and now all of you!

 

It's good right? Minus the little elf ear that's poking out? And now I'm noticing that my sweater covers my shirt on one side but not the other...but like I said, no one will look at it, but me. 

This past weekend I had a Friday night to myself. I decided to listen to The Bachelor in the background while I worked on a little craft. I keep wanting to be a part of the cute headband crowd but sometimes I feel like I look like it's my first day of kindergarten, but occasionally I feel confident wearing them. Anyway, that was a tangent. What I meant to say is that I made a new flower attachment for my headbands. It looks like this:

I feel like it looks better in person than on my cell phone camera, but I could be wrong. Anyway, I think it looks cute and if you're wondering how to make it, you can find instructions here. A guy in my ward borrowed my needle and thread so I resorted to a hot glue gun which may be easier, but maybe not as neat. It works though.

Provo is warming up. For some reason I keep thinking it's just a little break from the winter cold, but I'm realizing that in just 10 days it'll be spring! I love Provo in the spring and summer. I really think there isn't a happier place. But I'll post more about my spring feelings when it's actually here. Other than that I'm just here at my desk in the Open Access Computer Labs. And while we're talking about the labs, I had a funny conversation this morning with one of the computer technicians.

Matthew: Ie Ling! How's everything going in the SWKT labs this morning?

Ie Ling: ...it's...

Matthew: But first, on a scale of 1-10, how much do you love the sun shining today?

Ie Ling: I'm sure I'd love it, except I haven't seen it yet...

Sadly, my walk to work begins around 6:45 in the  morning and I work in the basement of the SWKT. But as soon as I'm off at 11:00, I'm off to enjoy the sunshine. Matthew says I'll really like it. I'm excited =).

Virginia is for Lovers: Day Twenty-One

What? I've been here for 21 days?! Crazy, I know. I feel like I can't even remember what I've been doing every day. Good thing I've been blogging everyday. I am quite proud of that. As I've mentioned so many times before, I've become friends with lots of kids from Virginia. One of them is Preston Redd. He has a wonderful mother named Cindy who I have become well acquainted with. We first met in California when I saw the BYU vs. Chapman lacrosse game. We met again in the spring when she came out to Provo to see her son, Taylor, play one of his final lacrosse games.

 

Well, long story short, Cindy and I are good friends now. She lives just a little ways away from Ie Li and was kind enough to invite us over to her lovely home today. Barrett picked Jonathan and me up and we headed over to the Redd's home. Barrett is such good friends with them that we just walked in through the back door. It reminds me of being back at BYU when people would just open our door and say hello. I miss those days. Anyway, back to Virginia.

 

When I walked into the kitchen I saw Cindy, Dillon, Becca, and Becca's friend, Frank. After meeting Becca I can say that I have officially met the entire Redd clan. They are indeed a wonderful family. We spent the afternoon lounging in the pool and playing pool volleyball. Jonathan and I joined up with Cindy and made a wonderful team. In terms of points, Barrett, Dillon, and JD won, but our team had a winning attitude, and that's all that really matters, right? Later on, Frank joined our team and Becca joined the other team and once again, we had winning attitudes =).

We talked and laughed as we dried off and then it was time to go. It was a beautiful afternoon. The weather was perfect, the pool was perfect, and the company was perfect. Thank you, Cindy, for a delightful afternoon.

Barrett dropped us off around dinner time and we decided that Five Guys was a good idea. So, Jonathan and I headed out to Five Guys and returned home with burgers for Ie Li and ourselves. I don't like to argue, so I'm not going to play the, "oh, In-N-Out is so overrated game." All I'm going to say is that I respect your right to enjoy Five Guys more than In-N-Out, and in return you can respect my views on In-N-Out as the greatest burger ever. 

After dinner, Ie Li and continued working on a project that we recently started: painting the kids' table. I love bonding with my sisters over crafts. There is something just so relaxing and enjoyable about it. This is close to what the final product looks like.

Next item on the to-do-list: chairs.

P.S. Thank you, Martha Stewart, for this lovely color.