C is for Change

No, nothing has changed, just to warn all of you who were hoping for an exciting revelation about my life. As I have thought about how steady my life has become, I started to think about all those people who would LOVE the consistency that I have. Steady job, wonderful family, great friends, amazing school, etc. So many friends of mine tell me how scared they are of change, and how they wish they could just keep their lives steady and consistent.

Why is it that I don't have that fear? I CRAVE change. BIG change. Yes, I don't want to lose those steady parts of my life like family, friends, the gospel, etc, but change is EXCITING for me. New job opportunities are always enticing, and doing study abroad or internships are constantly tempting me. I get a little restless here in Provo as I look at internships in London with Sothebys, think about moving to New York, wanting to travel the world and see what is out there. Change doesn't feel negative to me. Maybe MY challenge is to learn to make my life's consistencies exciting...or just figure out how to make all those changes I crave a reality!

G is for Groomswoman

You've heard the phrase, "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride". While this may be true for some women, I feel like my life has been more along the lines of "Always a groomsmen, never a bride". Now, before I start, let me just say, this post will not be about complaining, but more about a realization that I have come to.

While growing up, I was extremely influenced by my older siblings. I got into good 80s music because of Scott, embraced my feminine side because of Missi, and thanks to Dave, I loved hockey and other sports. Despite my varied interests, however, I always seemed to get along with boys so much better than girls. While I had my close girl friends all throughout Elementary and Junior High, in the end, my closest friends are almost entirely male.

Maybe it was the lack of drama and back-stabbing, but I just related to these guys so well! Herein lies the problem: I became SO comfortable being friends with guys, that I don't really know how to DATE them. I can sit around and laugh when one of them farts, but sit me alone with one of them at a restaurant over candlelight? It's not good.

As much as I used to let this get to me, I realized maybe it isn't so bad. I have faith that someday I'll be able to be more than 'just friends' with a man. I have actually been so LUCKY to be friends with so many awesome guys, and they have taught me a lot of things about their "species" that I am sure I will find useful in my marriage. And, when all these guys start getting married, I think I will actually look pretty good in a tux. ;)

D is for Difficult Decisions

It has been too long since I have posted anything, and with good reason: nothing has changed in my life. Until now, that is. It seems that my blog has become an outlet for me to share my ever-changing job situations. Well, here comes another one.

Just for a little information on my current job, I work for Bare Escentuals inside of Nordstrom. I do make-up on women, but I also have sales goals to meet. I am paid by BE, NOT Nordstrom. Therefore, I don't make commission like every other Nordstrom employee, and I also receive no discount on anything but Bare Escentuals product. The commission situation really didn't bother me when I was hired, but that slowly started to change. Nordstrom is constantly understaffed in the cosmetics department, and so everyone has to work outside of their own make-up lines to help customers. Other employees, however, have a some incentive since they will still receive a commission for anything they sell. My team? Not so lucky. We are the only counter other than MAC that is ALWAYS staffed, open to close, and thus we end up doing a lot of work for other lines...with no reward. This has really frustrated me lately, as I feel a bit like free labor for Nordstrom.

Well, I heard about a full-time opening at the MAC counter. I was intrigued because I know how respected those employees are and that they make more hourly PLUS commission. I decided that I would talk to the manager of MAC and of Nordstrom cosmetics to let them know I was interested. Both were eager to have me apply, and that was really encouraging!

On the flip-side, I was terrified to tell MY manager that I was even CONSIDERING to leave BE. I felt that she should know, however, so that it wouldn't seem like I was sneaking around behind her back interviewing other places. Telling her was extremely difficult, and she didn't take it very well.

The past couple of days, I have been so conflicted, trying to decide what to do. I even made a list of pros and cons. In the end, I know what I should be doing right now. And even though everything else I have said might make you think otherwise, I have decided to stay with Bare Escentuals. I feel like the frustrations I have now would be nothing compared to the others that would come from working for MAC. I respect them a lot, but it is just not for me right now. So, for once, one of my "Job Blogs" doesn't involve change!

S is for Sunday. Whew!

The Gospel is true....and very exhausting. Yesterday I had one of those nonstop, meeting after meeting, no time to eat Sundays. As the daughter of a bishop/Stake Presidency kind of dad, I have always known that many people in the church have VERY long days. So, Dad and everyone else that has spent hours and hours with church activities... I know how you feel.

11:30- Relief Society Presidency meeting (Thank goodness I started this late...we all know I am not a morning person...)

12:15-3:15- Sacrament, Sunday School, Relief Society (Nothing out of the ordinary here!)

3:15-3:45- socializing with some new sisters in my Relief Society (While this may sound like a break, taking mental notes on names, hometowns, majors, etc can be exhausting!)

4-5- My home teachers came and taught us/talked with us. (These two guys are so great, we could have talked for so much longer)

5-6:30- I went and did MY visiting teaching, to two girls (Last Sunday of the month! Whoo hoo!)

6:30-6:45- Super fast meal (only real one of the day!)

6:45-7- walking in the slush/rain/snow/cold in high heels to a Stake Leadership Training Meeting (While this was not an activity or anything, I just want you to pity me :).)

7-8:30-Stake Leadership Training Meeting (First everyone together, and then Relief Society Presidencies on their own)

8:30-8:45- Stinking weather

8:45-9- Interviewing two people to spotlight at ward prayer (This time I had paper and a pen to help me remember names, dates, majors, interests, etc.)

9-9:30- Ward Prayer (So fun...so cold)

9:30-10:30- Linger Longer, sweets and socializing (While this is not a REQUIRED activity...it is if one wants friends in the ward)

10:30-12- Nice long conversation with a friend. (SOMETIMES I am a good listener)


I came home at midnight, read my scriptures(That was for the parents...just so they know! haha), washed my face, brushed my teeth, and that was it. The end.

Even though I make it sound so tiring and arduous, it was a great day! I was spiritually fed,taught by many,able to teach myself, talked with awesome people, and felt like I did not waste a day!

A is for "And the Oscar goes to..."

Every year in my ward, the FHE groups get together and make 10 minute long videos about anything they choose, and then the whole ward gets together and watches them. It is a really fun tradition, and the "Oscars" have become a pretty big deal. Well, this year, my group made a funny 1950s educational video about how to survive a zombie uprising. It was really funny, thanks to some pretty tech/movie/editing savvy guys in the group. I even helped out with the zombie make-up, which was kind of refreshing after all the "natural" looks I do everyday! This past Thursday, our whole ward went to the SWKT(Kimball Tower) and watched the movies is a huge theater. It was so fun, plus, formal wear was encouraged, so it felt like prom again! My roommates and I had fun getting ready together (I even did about 5 girls' eye make-up in about an hour, PLUS myself! Whew!), and we looked great! Here are some pictures from the after-party. If you have a facebook account, my groups video is on my profile, so check it out!






Oh, and our group won! The bishopric gave an award to each group, and then the ward voted on the best overall! So, we got the People's Choice Oscar, which is really the best!

M is for Me, Yo, Je, Moi, I

After seeing the Waldron family become
dancing elves, I thought I would give it a try
too. Thing is...I don't have a husband...or three kids.
But I sure did want to fill those five spaces!
So enjoy the many faces of Jenbug!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

P is for Pictures

Since most of you don't get on facebook often, I thought you might want to see some pictures of me! (WARNING: Most of these photos contain awkward/unflattering facial expressions, odd hair and skin color, and strange clothing.)


Me making a strange face with a cool faux hawk!

My roommate Nicole, me, roommate Courtney and friend Alisa going out to prank some guys!
Claire wanted me to show her the pictures of when I was "blue" all the time, so here they are!