oi

I just looked back over the last year+ of my blog.

Remember that I used to be funny? and fun? and 20lbs lighter?

Day 24 of Gratitude

Today I'm grateful for a black & white dress and electric blue tights. Those tights made me (and some other people) happy.

Day 20 of Gratitude

Today, I'm grateful for skinny jeans.
I just love them.

Dear Me

My awesome blogfriend Katie (girl crush, anyone?) started a project called Dear Me wherein "women write letters of advice to younger versions of themselves at crucial points in their personal histories". Genius.

Check out the first wave of letters posted here, then keep coming back for more. It'll make you laugh. It'll make you cry. It'll make you seriously ponder what advice you would give to yourself.

You can see my letter to me over at Dear Me but in case some of you are super lazy I'll post my letter here because you all know how I love talking about me. And what's better than me writing a letter to me?

---

Dear Creek,

Feels weird trying to give you advice as I'm pretty sure I'm the one who should be taking advice from you.

You're leaving for college in the morning. I know tonight feels like the end of life as you know it but I promise you (I PROMISE!) it only gets better from here. It sounds crazy now but pretty soon you will forget almost everyone from high school and the thing about it is... you won't even feel sad about it. Why? Because you are going to meet some amazing people and experience some amazing things.

It is sad to think about all the friends and acquaintances you will never see again and this will be a reoccurring theme as life goes on and you move from chapter to chapter. And even though life won't always turn out the way you'd hoped it would, you will always be blessed with great friends wherever you go and they will make every experience richer by their presence. Some will cross your path for only a short time and others will stay with you for life but rest assured, one constant in your life is fabulous friendships.

You are such a good person. It amazes me. As disappointing as it may sound, I wish I were half as good as you are. So, trust that you are good. Trust that you are great. One of the greatest days of your life is when you realize that you are great just the way you are. Forcing yourself to like Dave Matthews Band (at least more than you would on your own) just for the approval of a boy will one day seem just as absurd as confessing to the boy you like that you are a mega fan of Backstreet Boys (and seeing them in concert will, indeed, be one of the best nights of your life).

Which leads me to the next thing I must tell you. You aren't always going to make great decisions. There will be a lot of things you will be able to look back on and regret but you know what? Don't. Don't regret anything. Like the fact that your mantra in college will be "C's for degrees!" and you will heartily adhere to it? You won't have to regret that because college will be damn fun and the social and emotional education you get there will be worth more than a 4.0gpa any day. Be La Belle Dame Sans Regrets!

Now, having said that, pay attention to the most important piece of advice I will give you: Never underestimate yourself. Don't put limits on yourself. It'll take a lot of fear and a lot of difficult situations (ie training for a marathon) before you realize it but you are capable of WAY more than you give yourself credit for. You can do anything! It's amazing what dedication and consistent hard work will accomplish.

So there you have it. Go forward. Be brave. Be amazing. You already are. It's just time for you to believe it for yourself. Cheers!

xoxo, the 31yr old version of you

i got my hair did... it didn't do like that before

I've been threatening to do it for years. I couldn't come up with 5 good reasons not to do it. So...

I took some before pictures.

And then The Other One chopped off my locks. Doesn't it look like she's enjoying it a little too much?

And then I cried. Lit'rally.

15 inches. Gone.

This is why I should never let my hair air dry without product in it. Hello, 80's!

I usually love when people play with my hair but not like this.

The Other One did her magic and made me down right sassy.
Sometimes when your friend does your hair after hours at the salon she makes you clean up your own hair. And then you realize that you have had a sh'load of hair and that your friend cut most of it off. I'm still freaking out.

something's rotten in denmark

I've always suspected I am a victim of multiple personalities - I mean, how could someone like demolition derbys AND broadway, roller derby AND art museums, country music AND punk pop, camping AND 4 star hotels, country towns AND big cities, Walmart AND Nordstrom? I love everything. Everything is my favorite.

While my multiple personality disorder was suspected it was never confirmed until the other day as I was working with a darling British girl who was in town from New York. She asked me where I was from. This question always throws me into a bit of a panic because I'm never quite sure what question they're really asking. Do they mean 'Where were you raised?' or do they mean 'What is your ethnic background?' I never know. See, if I know people are asking the latter question I kind of like to mess with them and answer "Utah" just to watch them squirm a bit until they figure out how to ask the question correctly. This time around I went with the standard answer.

"I'm from Utah."

Her follow up to my answer was NOT expected.

"Oh really? I would have guessed you were from, like, Denmark or something."

Denmark? Really? I'd never gotten that one before. But then it hit me. A realization that was both embarassing and wildly entertaining.

I have a Utah accent.

It's true. While my friend and family would most likely disagree with me (because my everyday accent is not Utahn) it is nevertheless true. See, I have this thing that I do when I am trying to sound professional or am around people upon whom I'm trying to make a good impression. I subconsiously adopt a fake accent. I try to speak clearly and confidently but what it comes out sounding like is a Utah accent. Did you catch the irony in that statement? When trying to sound smart and educated I come out sounding exactly the opposite. My professional personality is apparently a small town Utahn.

It hit me then and there that I've been doing this for years without realizing it. Kind of like how half way through the mission I realized that when I spoke french I spoke with a higher voice to sound... I dunno... more french (though everyone thought I was either from Canada or the Netherlands).

I suppose a NY based Brit wouldn't really know what a Utah accent sounds like so the closest thing she could guess was Danish. Why can't I adopt something more sophisticated like her darlin british accent? No... I choose to go back to my roots... or 'rhuts' as we'd say up 'Narth'.

Now that I know I do this am I going to stop? Nope. Why? Because, I love Utah. Also, because the fake accent totally aligns with my plans of one day becoming legit crazy.

DRUMROLL....

And the winners of the 300th Post Giveaway are....

Anne! who said... I love your blog because I love you.

Reagan! who said... Cropper you have to know how much I love you! And I love everything you post.

Amander! who said... I like you cause you are funny and smart and cute (your blog is also all of these things).

An honorable mention goes to ~*Holla at a PLAYA*~ who was actually one of the winners but since I'll be spending the next 10 days with her I figure that is prize enough. Don't worry playa- you'll get the goods too.

OK Ladies- email me your address and shirt size (I typically use the Gap Essential T) at cropstar5 at hotmail dot com and in 2 weeks you will receive your package chock-full of awesome!

Thanks everyone who participated for telling me how much you love me and my blog (I feel so good about myself)! You're the best! I love you all!

Last day to enter the GIVEAWAY!

Time's a tickin' peoples! Just a few hours from now and I'll be announcing the winners of the 300th POST GIVEAWAY!

Not too late to enter. All you lurkers (just deluding myself that there actually are some) can come out of the wood works and enter.

Just as a side note:

The prize package will include my infamous red velvet cupcakes (even if you live far away, I'll overnight them to you!) and also a fantastic little souvenir from Hawaii (cuz I'm going there tomorrow. booyah!) oh and also maybe one of my ridiculously awesome bleach pen shirts.

300! GIVEAWAY!

My little baby blog is now officially 300 posts old.

Does it feel older than that to anyone else beside me?

So what are we going to do to celebrate???

GIVEAWAY!

I know, I know... giveaways are a totally shameless tactic to get readers and comments. But, I am shameless so this kind of works out. And if y'all knew just how much validation I get from your comments you'd totally go along with me on this one. So, ya know, go along with me on this one.

The prize: Well... I'm still working on this one. But it's going to be chock-full of awesome.

Here's how you enter: Leave me a comment and tell me how much you like me and my blog, why you come here or what you'd like to see more of. I'll gladly oblige any of your suggestions.

Since this seems to be the year of 3s and 0s, we'll keep the contest open until October 30th at 3pm PST at which time I'll pick 3 winners.

So, spread the word.

I like myself more than I should

Saw this on a few other blogs and loved it. Thought I'd see what I look like. Behold, 'tis I:

My eval- I seriously love that this random chick totally captures my personality. I'm drooling a bit at the yumminess shown- creme brulee, brownies, the Rock. Also, are we noticing the overabundance of ocean? I think it's a sign that I need to head to an island quick like! Also the baby theme? Might my bio clock be subconsciously ticking without my permission?

Wanna play? Here's how:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name. (kid version: favorite animal?)

Have fun!

Credits:
1. christy, 2. Crème Brulée, 3. The View from Round Mountain, 4. wham:a different corner, 5. Dwayne Johnson, 6. Chesil Cove - Night time long exp, 7. Floating in paradise, 8. special brownies, 9. Yes! It's My Birthday! And It's My Footprint :D, 10. Hold me close, under the sunset, 11. do the happy happy dance, 12. Step by step… steadily ♫♫

damn you LDSLinkup!

I have a guilty pleasure. It's LDSLinkup. Believe me, I'm trying to stop. I loved it for so many reasons... up until the other day when I found out they've added a new feature- "Who is checking out your profile?" I hate them for this. Hate. This is the exact reason I haven't joined* any of the other** LDS dating sites. I just don't need that kind of pressure!

Seriously! How am I supposed to stalk people without looking crazy and desperate if they can now see who's checking out their profile?! I mean, c'mon! Sometimes a gal's gotta gawk at photos of hot mormon guys (and laugh at the crazy ones). I had my favorites whose photos I'd check out every few days just for fun. I used to be able to do that at will without the worry of them thinking that I was a crazy stalker (even though maybe I am).
Furthermore! I'm totally obsessed- OBSESSED!- with seeing who is checking ME out. I mean... I don't want people to think that I'm checking them out BUT I WANT THEM TO CHECK ME OUT!

OK... I know I'm crazy. Just please tell me I'm normal crazy.
Please. Lie if you have to.

*or maybe I HAVE joined the other sites using a "fake" profile... a lovely gal named tami who is divorced with one child and works as a secretary. ha!
**that linkup is a dating site is debatable even though that is 99% of what happens there

i think...

i want to wear scarves in my hair more often. what say you?

not so secret facebook shame

i've seen some really horrible photographs of myself but this one by far takes the cake. my dear friend (who is now shunned) decided he'd post this photo from his bday bash on facebook... for the. whole. world. to. see. it's so shameful that i couldn't keep it to myself. i had to share it with all of you, my sexy readers. so, i present the most awful photo ever taken of me and the comments that followed. i can't believe i'm about to do this...Me: why in the name of all that is good and holy would you ever post this photo of me??? i seriously look 8 bottles of vodka past drunk! curse you!!
MV: hahahahahahahahaha........hahahahaaaaaaaa
MB: hahahahaha! no, no....you look...really...um...sexy, Christy. Yeah.
Me: i hate you all.
MT: Wow Christy....Are those your bed room eyes?
JT: Josh should be taken out and shot. Christy I am with you!
Me: Thank you Jessie. I totally agree.
JM (the evil poster of this photo): you guys are so special-ed.
JT: Yeah, well you ride the short bus to school!
JM: That comment was special-ed.
Me: Your mom is special-ed.
JM: Both my moms are special-ed.

How would you comment?

tag-ed

secretly, i always wanted to get tagged... tag yourself if you like.

1- when i find a song that i love i have absolutely no problem listening to it on repeat for 12+ straight hours until i'm sick of it. i get a kick out of looking at my most played list on itunes and seeing which song i've endured the longest. oddly enough, i never know all the lyrics even though i always sing along. my brain only memorizes the notes, the instruments, the music, but never the words.

2- i am very aware of my physical imperfections, shortcomings, etc and like most people feel self conscious in most social situations, yet i have a (healthy?) streak of vanity wherein I have no problem admitting when i think i look great. i also love looking at photos of myself (probably because i know i'm photogenic and look better in photos than in real life).

3- i have whatever the opposite of a foot fetish is. i think feet are so disgusting and get a little freaked out if people get their feet too close to me or (heaven forbid!) touch me with their feet. ironically, i give a great foot massage. my feet are fine though. i don't hate my feet. what's weird though is that i cross my toes. more often than not i have my big toe crossed over my second toe or vica versa and do it with both feet. i have the long finger-like toes that can pick stuff up which is why i can cross them.

4- i served an LDS mission in the Madagascar Antananarivo Mission. i guessed that's where i'd go so it wasn't a surprise to me when i opened my call (which i received on my 24th birthday). i never served in Mada though i was lucky enough to go there the last 2 days of my mission. after a 2 month visa wait in the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission (i was in Fayetteville, Arkansas and loved it) i served, french speaking, on the 2 "outer" islands- La Reunion & Mauritius- that were part of the mission. i absolutely loved it! the islands were gorgeous, the missionaries were the cream of the crop and the cultures and people were amazing. i came home with a love for the indian (dot, not feather) culture, especially the food, thanks to my time in Mauritius. i love that i got to serve french speaking because i'd studied french all through jr high and high school and have always been a bit of a francophile. i'm still homesick for the Mascareign Islands!

5- i studied piano from the age of 5 until the time i left for college. i was required to practice 2 hours a day, went to various competitions every spring (i even won a concerto competition) and had several personal recitals. i wasn't always so dedicated to my practicing and my mom was always on my case about it (and still is to this day... seriously, this evening on the phone she asked if i had been practicing the piano). my greatest strength has always been sight reading. even though i've lost a lot of my technique i can still pick up almost any piece of music and play it. i even taught piano all through high school. my biggest regret (said La Belle Dame Sans Regrets...) is that i didn't continue on with my piano studies through college (i didn't realized i could get my engineering degree and still study the piano... one track mind). but one day i will go back and study piano pedagogy and combine my love for music and teaching (which was learned later in life) and have my own piano studio.

6- i am a serious night owl (2am 'lights out' is not uncommon for me). i hate going to sleep at night. but i love sleeping. waking up in the morning is the worst part of the day.

this is me with bubanky (my baby blanket), jimmy (the bear) and lammy (the lamb). i still have all three. cute, eh?

Proof that we are the most awesome RS in the whole church

RED SHOE SUNDAY!

54 hours

I'm not lying. I did not touch it.

Ews and Ahs

What I have to tell you makes me a) very proud, b) only slightly disguted and c) amazed that I don't feel more disgusted.

Let's talk about my hair. Yes, I have amazing hair but not for the obvious reasons (although it is also amazing for the obvious reasons. And yes, I realize saying that makes me sound very vain. But, I am vain. So it kinda works out.)

It's not uncommon for me to not wash my hair for 3-4 days after I've straightened it. Anyone with curly hair knows EXACTLY why this is an absolute necessity. First of all, straightening my hair is a pain and takes forever but I LOVE my hair when it's straight, so it's totally worth it. Secondly, 3rd or 4th day hair is always the best. Kind of like how brownies are always better the 2nd day... but I digress.

OK, here's the part where I'm amazed and slightly disgusted. I washed my hair on wednesday but went curly instead of straight. Curly hair usually only has 2 day limit MAX. But, I threw my hair up in a messy bun on wednesday evening AND HAVE NOT TOUCHED IT SINCE. I'm not kidding. I haven't done a thing to it. And the amazing part? It looks amazing. STILL. Last night I told Walker Texas Ranger Jr that I didn't do my hair that morning and she said I should try for one more day. And I did. Just kind of so I could say I did.

So, let's review. I ran 3 miles (and HEY! It wasn't hard and I didn't stop! 11 minute miles baby!), slept on it, showered (I really wish I could say more than once but I woke up really late this morning. Don't judge me), lived a day with it, slept on it again and my hair still looks like I meant for it to look like this! I'm amazing. And disgusting.

And yes I do plan on washing my hair tonight... or tomorrow... or sunday. Whenev.

And one more treat for your weekend- the best phrase I ever saw on my Facebook Wall: I'm kidding and also VERY serious.

Red Shoe Sunday and Retail Therapy

OK I totally admit that my RS Presidency and I are TOTALLY INSANE. But, hey, we're totally fun! Sunday, October 21st is RED SHOE SUNDAY! We've encouraged all the sisters to wear RED SHOES just for fun. Yes, we're uniting the sisters one pair of RED SHOES at a time. It's gonna work. I'm convinced.

So I went to DSW to find a sexy pair of RED SHOES (because RED SHOES should always be sexy) but accidentally came away with these beauties:

Seriously, are those not the prettiest boots you've ever seen! I had to come home and try them on with all my skirts and dresses (and I'm still wearing them as I type this). Fashion Show! Fashion Show! Fashion Show at lunch!

Well, I didn't find a pair of RED SHOES at DSW so I had to order these babies online when I got home. I couldn't not buy them because they are sexy AND it was free overnight shipping. And 4-3/4" is SO not too high! I can't wait for sunday!
I'm thinking that I need a new dress to go with the new shoes.
I think this one is SO pretty!
But SERIOUSLY! Wouldn't this dress look so awesome with those RED SHOES?!?! If anyone knows where to get a dress like this that DOES NOT COST $355 let me know. It is so hot!