Everything has changed

While the title of this post is also the title of a Taylor Swift/Ed Sheeran collaboration that is quite easy on the ears but not immediately lovable, it also reflects the sentiment that, well, everything has changed.


One of the changes that I wish to speak of is that I finally bought myself a desk. I have lived in my little basement-hole bedroom for a year and a half, and I have disliked the space the whole time. I have consistently said, "I need but a small work space. A desk, if you will." And last Saturday I finally broke down and realized that while I have no problem buying a pair of pants for $50, I can't even get myself over to IKEA to buy the thing that I really, truly, need and want. So I went. And I bought. And I built.

And there you have it. I am typing this on a desk. And I feel as though my life has taken an upswing. Like, I'm on this roller coaster, and instead of careening downward in terror and confusion, I'm kind of floating up and I actually feel like I can grab onto something to keep myself going up.

The overarching theme of my intense list of categorized new year's resolutions is to organize myself. It's based on Doctrine and Covenants 88:119. And with this little desk (that is honestly much smaller than I would have liked...but it was hard to tell from the picture on the box...), I feel as though I have already accomplished a lot.

And so I write a list of randoms, as always:

1. I haven't been sleeping well. and when I'm stressed and not sleeping well I break out, which leads to more stress and less sleeping, and it's really all so terrible, because your face hurts and you are so, so sleepy, and then you still have to deal with the stress. And so I remembered that one summer it felt really amazing to sleep upside down in my bed. And so I tried it again. And sleeping upside down is the best. Like, I just put my pillow where my feet usually go. And it is fresh and heavenly, and now I sleep.

2. I finally joined spotify. It's free on phones now, so, BINGO.

3. I created a budget tonight. This was inspired by my shopping spree of last weekend (the one that included the desk), and my new ability to type/write/read/record at a desk of my very own. Apparently if I want to save the money that I want to save, I need to stop shopping. Honestly, I have avoided making a budget up until this point (to my detriment), because I'm afraid of realizing that I should actually be spending much less than I do. But I need to get serious about it. I really do. If in some distant future I want to go away to school or buy a car or buy a new computer for crying out loud (this here macbook will be celebrating her 7th birthday soon), I need to spend less and save more. And be an adult.

4. I have started to make a new recipe once a week. Another resolution. And it has turned out to really be blast! I actually really like to make things! And it is such a perk when you get to eat it after.

5. Due to the stresses and various things going on in my life, I have become quite the introvert. I just spent the weekend at a cabin at Bear Lake with really very lovely people who I would love to be best friends with, and I was actually quite overwhelmed with the whole thing and found myself wishing I could retreat to one of the rooms by myself just to take a break. This is very un-audrey-ish. Lately I've just been wanting to stay home, and like I mentioned earlier, just find a way to grab on an pull myself up. It's like I just haven't been able to get a grip lately. I mentioned something about how I only want to stay at home all the time to a friend, and he was like, "sounds like you are growing up." and I just thought, is that what it means to be an adult? To feel like you can't get a grip? To want to be alone because you feel like you are trying and trying to get organized and piece things together, but you really just can't? If all that is true, then I think I'll just keep being a Toys R Us kid.

6. Ed Sheeran is up for best new artist. And so is Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. And so is this one dude that I just discovered this evening named James Blake, and he is REALLY awesome. He sings and has this incredible voice, but he's also a DJ. And he's British. I just don't even know what the grammy academy people are supposed to do! I mean, Ed Sheeran, duh. But really? Macklemore should win. This struggle is on par with the Britney-Christina battle of 2000. Needless to say, I am STOKED for the grammys this year.


7. My house is getting television! That means we can watch award shows, the super bowl, American Idol, and the Olympics. All the important things. I haven't had real television in a house of mine since, like, 2008. So, this is big deal.

8. Another one of my resolutions this year is to create more and consume less. The specific goal for the month of January is to write a poem. I will not be sharing that. The goal for February is to crochet something. My Grandma Colleen is going to teach me. (as a side note, she will also be teaching me to make homemade noodles...my fave).

Stay tuned.

Man on the Moon

(This post was started and meant to be posted at the end of March. That's how bad I've been about blogging. So it's much more lame than anticipated. Sorry about that.)

This week was a bit of a crazy one. And I have a feeling that all ya'll would love it if I chronicled it for you.

just a note: One Dani Everton told me that I needed more pictures on my blog.

good news: I took some pictures this week.

And so the week began with a quick lunch trip to Cafe Rio in which I have finally filled another card. Yes, I get a free meal next time I show up at Cafe Rio for the most delicious burrito in the world. Nathan and I were rush rush rushing because we really don't have enough time to drive somewhere, eat, and come back in 45 minutes. But we totally made it---like 7 minutes early. I was going to miss a meeting.

Monday evening was BYU time. Second round NIT game at the Marriott Center. And we creamed that team. by like 20. I got an extra ticket from Nathan and got to sit by the lovely Seth and Amelia---and at half time hung out with Dani and Amy and THE BABY!!!!!!!! That baby is probably the sweetest thing I have experienced in 2013. Not probably. Certainly.

We stopped at the Sev on 5th and University Ave on the way home and I got a slurpie. It felt like I was actually back in the Provo life. Sigh.

Tuesday was a rush of getting ready for the Relief Society birthday dinner (which was on Wednseday--see below for why I could not attend) in time for the boy's basketball stake tournament. Our boys played in the final four and then the championship game. But I'm getting ahead of myself. The Relief Society dinner decorations and preparations. We combined with the family ward in our building. And they were in charge of most everything, we were just supposed to help set up and serve food and take down and everything. I was on set up duty, and I made my roommates come too (again, for the issue of time. I didn't want to miss too much of those sweaty boys playing basketball). And let's put it this way: there is a massive difference between a family ward RS activity and a YSA ward RS activity. We YSA's are all about preparing quickly and then socializing. We don't get into the fancy stuff. We don't have time for that. There is too much socializing to be done. A bare minimum of decorations and a potluck with a program will work for us. BUT those family ward ladies REALLY get into it. I experienced the stereotypical relief society activity. It was all about decorations and fancy dinner and center pieces and literally 10 different kinds of cake. I mean, it was lovely. And everything looked delicious (again, I didn't partake), but really???? Who has time for that? Wives whose children are all in school or have left the house, that's who. Omg can't wait for those days in my life. :)

But so basketball. The ward provided pizza and delicious treats for the spectators and we basically just yelled for a long time. I had made a habit of bringing orange slices and capri sun for our boys, but the bishopric covered that this time. :) We KILLED in the semi-finals (won by like 30, which is incredible for a low-scoring church basketball deal), but then lost in the championship, mostly because two of our best players had to leave between games for a city league game they had. But we still made it to regionals! That means the season isn't over yet, thank goodness.

I have decided that one of my special skills is being a fan. A supporter. I will come and support you in a play or concert or athletic event or whatever. I may not be able to play basketball myself, but I sure love to cheer for the people who can.

Wednesday was PHILLIP PHILLIPS. Not quite an Ed Sheeran status event. Really. But I do love Phillip and it was a great concert. Part of the greatness was that I got to hang out with my Audrey Baer! And Phillip was so adorable and charming...except he said that he was kind of sick and so think he was  little high on cold medicine because he kept saying weird things. And there was this one girl by us who kept getting SO EXCITED and she was like bouncing all over the place and running into people and her boy just stood there and watched. It was quite hilarious.

hey there Phil.

we, we, we. we so excited.

And did I say that a band called Churchill opened for Phil? They were awesome. And Audrey couldn't stop talking about how perfect the girl was. We wanted to be her. The lead singer guy was like all into coming out into the crowd but I'm so glad he didn't come right by us because he was muy sweaty. He looked kind of like a dirtier and hairier Mika.

A little Mika-ish, right? Maybe I'm crazy.

Churchill. the perfect girl is on the right.

But Phillip played all of our favorite songs plus a bunch that were covers and not even on his album (that was mildly irritating), but we sang every word and my throat hurt a bit because I was so thirsty.

I love concerts.

Thursday was a waffle party and visiting teaching and I have NO IDEA what happened on Friday. Probably I just slept because I was so tired from all the other events of the week.

But Saturday was the color festival at the Hare Krishna temple in Spanish Fork!!!! But I had to help clean the church in the morning, and then I went to the gym, and THEN I drove to Provo to meet Audrey and Stacia and Brandon and whatshisname. And we played with the colors and had a grand time jumping and chanting and dancing until this one girl who was crowd surfing landed on me and Brandon and it hurt. Why are the colors so fun? Because how hilarious is it when you have purple snot for like a week? And I was still finding pink in my ear after showering and cleaning out my ears on the 5th consecutive day. So hilarious. It really is just a blast.

So we went to Sonic after the festival because we were all dying of thirst and if you just drink water it tastes like all the chalk in your mouth. nasty. So we needed delicious sonic limeraspberryricki flavor.

I rushed back to Salt Lake and showered and then Steph came and picked me up for a party and sleepover over at Grandma Colleen's. We ate Easter dinner and then watched "Glass Bottom Boat" (my fave Doris Day flick) while I did Gma's nails. I squared the tips of her nails for the first time in her life. And I filed and buffed and polished and they looked lovely. :) We left after breakfast on Easter morning so Steph and I could get back to Provo and Salt Lake (respectively) for church.

And that is the story the last week in March. Way more information than anyone ever needed to know. but you better have enjoyed the pictures, because that is literally the only reason that I finished this post.

And here's a little note from Ed, you know, to make your day better.

Sick day

Attention: post written yesterday, on Valentine's Day.

What does Audrey do when she takes the day off because she doesn't feel good?

1. She talks to herself A LOT. I've lost my voice. So it's really funny to hear myself talk. And do you want to know what instinctively comes out when I want to test my voice?? Either the phrase, "can I talk??" or that slightly creepy "Hello, Hello" song you sing in Primary when there's a new kid. Why do I start singing that song???

2. I watch old Cary Grant movies. "I Was A Male War Bride" was briliant and hilarious. I laughed my funny no-voice-laugh a million times. It starts out as your classic "we hate each other" movie and then they decide to get married. She was a Lieutenant in the US Army and he a Captain in the French. So he has to get a visa. It's all legal and everything, but then they won't let him on the ship because his papers say he is a Mrs. You can understand the problem. So they DRESS CARY GRANT UP LIKE A WOMAN. I was rolling. Watch it. Available instantly on Netflix. Made in 1949 and based on a true story.

and..... here's a taste.

3. I watch music videos. Today it was exploration of UK artists. Because I can't deny them attention. so behold. the new British invasion:

Rizzle Kicks. These are the dudes that opened for Ed. And you can totally see Ed in the background of this vid.



The Saturdays. the new Spice Girls.


One Direction. obviously.


Ed Sheeran. obviously.


Olly Murs. this dude opened for 1D and he was rad. Also check out "Troublemaker." Probably my favorite song of his.


Cher Lloyd. infectious.


Adele. doesn't really fit in this category. she is above and beyond. but still.


And the list goes on.

4. I talk to my brother on the phone. That brother of mine was like, "HOLLER IF YOU CAN HEAR ME!!" In the middle of our conversation. And I was like, "HOLLEEEERRRRRRRRR" in my almost-no-voice-that-disappears-when-it-gets-too-high-pitched. And then conversation continued like normal.

5. And then I try to get up the motivation to get out of bed and maybe do the dishes or something. But what is a sick day good for if you still have to do the dishes??

and that's about it. I keep thinking I should read a book or something... but somehow it never happens. All I want to do is go shopping, but I have told myself not to buy any more clothes until Spring is legitimately in the air.

Tonight I'm going to eat dinner with my girl Lauren and then we're going to "Safe Haven" (not my pick) with our fave home teacher, Chris. Seriously one of my favorite people in my ward. Maybe he'll be my Valentine. Attention Rachelle: he looks like a mix between (speaking in code now) that one boy you dated who got engaged on campus while his fiance was wearing her backpack and that other boy you only KIND OF dated who has the same first name as that other boy that you actually did date but then everything blew up bad. Get the picture?

And now I present to you a small sample of textual interactions of the sick day (any other social happening was limited, don't judge):

1. This text from my favorite boy, who I kind of wish was my Valentine: "...being in DC reminds me of you and then a Queen song came on in my head which made me think again. Happy Valentine's day to you!"

2. And then this convo with the one and only Mike Poulson.

Mike: Audrey....
Me: Yeah?
Mike: nothing. I just wanted to text your name with an angry inflection.
Me: Too bad I didn't read it that way. But why angry?
Mike: It was a sudden impulse. No explanations. But now that we're talking, how are you today?
Me: home sick. in bed.
Mike: homesick or at home, sick?
Me: At home, sick. I am going to St. George tonight, though.
Mike: both things sound unfortunate.

I don't know why I still talk to him.

3. Nathan: did you stay at home?
Me: yep. unfortunately.
Nathan: That sounds like it's no fun...except you have a 30 day weekend.  (it's really 5 days)
Me: yeah, but I'd rather have the days spread out.
Nathan: but sick days aren't worth anything if you don't use them.
Me: exactly why I'm still in bed.
Nathan: lol, dork

hey, now. That was uncalled for. not really sure why I still talk to him, either.

4. Elise: I got asked out today by a 32 year old neuro-surgeon from LA for dinner tonight. On Valentine's day. Omg...
Me: So did you say yes? How was dinner?

no response. so rude.

And I guess that's about it. The lame day of a lame Audrey.

hahahahahahah get it? get the pun??

The concert.

The dude seriously records the sound of his Rice Krispies in the morning and then freestyles to it.

At the beginning of his tour for "+" he did a concert in Birmingham and at the beginning asked the crowd to part and then set up a table in the middle of the floor and just stood on it with his guitar and performed the whole thing acoustically without a microphone. in the middle of the crowd. would that not be the coolest thing of your whole life???

Some videos. If you watch one of them, please let it be the second one. Or the third.

A great interview:



A great studio session:


And another great studio session:


I watched these sorts of things. live.

It was the best concert I've ever been to. Let's recap the other concerts I have seen: NSYNC, BSB, One Direction, Neil Diamond, Beach Boys, Goo Goo Dolls....and I don't remember what else. I loved the Backstreet Boys concert. It rocked. It was a dream come true.

But Ed was just a different story. He wrote these amazing songs and then he performed them, on his own, with no band, and I was just standing there, smashed in the crowd, with my fists clenched and my mouth open. The whole time.

Lauren and I got there a little over an hour early and found my friend Candace in line. We were so lucky to have her. She was towards the beginning of the massive line and we got excellent placement in the crowd once they opened the doors.

We did not stay in that excellent place. I have never experienced such pushing. People started pushing towards the front the moment the place started to fill up. It was a little insane. And I started to lose it a little bit. I don't think I've ever been so mean in my life. But when you are in this sort of situation, you have to hold your ground, dang it! If you let everyone in front you that tries to push forward, you will end up at the very back of the crowd, which would be no bueno!! One girl was like, "can I get between you guys?" Because she and her girls were trying to find their friends up at the front. I said no. She was like, "but I need to find our friends." And I flat out said, "they have literally saved a bubble of space up their for you? Because there is no room." She was like, "WHAAA?" And I said, "you can go up there if you want, but you'll have to find a different way."

I took a picture to commemorate the small air bubble in front of me for a couple minutes. And that girl's hair, btw, was OUT OF CONTROL and in my face LOTS.

After a while Lauren and I started to feel like we are getting too old for this.

Lauren, Candace, me.

But we had our matching shirts on and we were just SO EXCITED to see Ed.


There were two opening acts. The first one was boring-ish and the only thing I could think was that opening acts are the worst idea in the history of mankind. But then the second one was good. Both openers were British, which was cool, but then they spoke so fast that we couldn't understand them when they said their names. It was difficult. But we figured out that the second was called Rizzle Kicks. They were UK rapper dudes. Zac Taylor would have loved them. And they grooved. I was excited.

And then Ed appeared. He opened with "Give Me Love" and I about died.

Ed in blue.

And then the set list included "Drunk," "U.N.I.," "Grade 8," "Small Bump," "Kiss Me" (again, I die.), "Lego House," "Wayfaring Stranger" (not an Ed original, btw), "Gold Rush," "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" (which went on for like 10 minutes), a traditional Irish piece (I wish he would have closed with this), and finally, "The a Team."

oh hello there Ed.

He kept telling everyone to sing instead of scream and he would give us harmonies. And then for the slower, sweeter songs, he just told everyone to be silent--almost like it was reverent. It was really cool. And he would sing and play and loop his stuff like in those videos.

They should pay me for taking a picture this good.

Ed waving good bye

When it ended Lauren and I were speechless. We wandered back to the car, and while we were waiting in the parking lot for literally 1 hour before we could pull out, we listened to the whole album again. And it was like magic.

Oh, and Saltair was pretty cool. I'll have to go out there again because it was SO FOGGY that I swear I couldn't even see the whole building, nor the surrounding areas (namely, the lake).

So if you ever get the chance. Buy tickets to see Ed.

at the end... :(

the shiny gold thing??? That's about the only part of the building we could see.

waiting in the car, very sleepy.

And also. "The a Team" is nominated for Song of the Year at this year's Grammys. And Ed's performing. So watch it.

And a last note: Someone asked in an interview what he has spent his money on since becoming rich and famous. He was like, "well, someone gave me a Ralph Lauren sweat shirt that I really liked... so I bought 7 more in different colors." Who does that???

Over Again

1. So much for having as many posts in January 2013 as I did in the whole year of 2012. I was close, though.

2. January 31-- the birth day of Justin Timberlake. A day that I will always remember. I see the date and the only thing I can think of is Justin Timberlake and how I was so jealous in 6th grade of my friend Mackenzie because she had the same birthday as the One and Only. The Google home page is paying homage to Jackie Robinson. It's appropriate, I guess. But someday I bet there will be a little cartoon JT smiling at me on this day at google.com.

3. The more I listen to Ed the more I love him. And guess what?? The most exciting thing of 2013 happened today (actually, maybe not as exciting as a new JT single). BUT GUESS WHAT?????? I found and bought tickets for ED SHEERAN AT SALTAIR. NEXT WEDNESDAY!!!! I called Lauren the moment I saw them online and practically started screaming when she answered the phone. And then she was screaming too and then I bought the tickets. So now, next Wednesday will become the best day of 2013. The end.

4. To add to the exciting-ness that is Ed next Wednesday, the venue is the Great Saltair near Magna, Utah. This is one of those places that I have been dreaming of visiting since I started working at Special Collections at BYU and saw a bunch of pictures of this old water park resort thing at the Great Salt Lake and everyone was wearing those swim suits from the 1920s that look like regular clothes, complete with hats and everything. And Saltair itself looked like a palace on the water. I read up on the whole thing on Wikipedia like a year ago, and found out that the original building was burned down, like, a couple of times and it was rebuilt for the millionth time in the '80s and now they use it for concerts and such. And I get to go there and see Ed!!!! All of my wildest dreams are coming true. Next week. Now all I have to do is meet my husband there and fall madly in love, and the day will be unsurpassed for all of history.

Saltair now. rebuilt in 1987.

The old Saltair. Isn't it amazing??? The first Saltair burned down in 1925.

See all the people??? See the swim suits that say, "Saltair"???? I wish I could have seen it back then.

oh my heck, I should have my wedding reception there. And it will be a ball/black tie affair.

5. Great news: I DIDN'T HAVE TO SCRAPE OFF MY WINDOWS THIS MORNING!

6. Other great news: I have the day off tomorrow!! And that means I can stay up late and then sleep in!! HEAVEN!!!!

7. Do you ever feel like people only add you on Facebook because they want to Facebook stalk you for some reason, and you think you know what that reason is, but you are probably just being paranoid??? Do you?

8. Did anyone notice that the titles of my last three posts (minus the one titled "?") were all One Direction songs---the 3 songs that Ed Sheeran wrote for them??? Did anyone notice?? 5 points if you noticed!!

Ciao.