21, fun, and single for Valentine's Day?!

With Valentine's Day coming up this weekend, I have heard some of my single friends call it Single's Awareness Day. At this point in my life, I think it's funny that us single people still complain about being single. Here is the thing... I like being single.

As I was walking to work this morning, I was thinking about if I had made different decisions then I would in a very different place right now. I had the thought that I would be miserable if I were married right now. Don't get me wrong, marriage is a wonderful, amazing thing, but I would not want to be married right now. I mean, I'm only 21!!

I have been single for most of my life and I have accepted that and learned to love my singleness. Sure, there are days where I feel alone and wish there was “someone special” in my life, but then I fill that void with friends, family, and Netflix.

Being single has allowed me to do things I could have never done if I had been tied down to a man. I've traveled with my best friends. I've made tons of friends. I've flirted with lots of guys. I've tried new things. I've had the freedom to do what I want, when I want. I've learned to appreciate my alone time. I've become more independent.

What I am trying to say is, being single can be really awesome if you allow yourself to focus on what you do have and not what you don't have. I know I will find a husband one day in the near or distant future, but for now, I am going to enjoy life being single and 21!

For all you ladies out there, happy Galentine's Day. Be like Leslie Knope and enjoy it with your favorite gals.  

(I guess you could call Palentine's day for all the guys to enjoy it with their pals!)

-M. Philly

MY 2016 Grammy Predictions

If you really know me, you know that award season is one of my favorite times of the year, so I thought I'd look to the next big awards show, the Grammys. I love music and I pay attention to the charts to see what's new and trending, so I feel I have a pretty good knowledge of the popular music industry. With that, I thought I would share some of my knowledge regarding this years Grammys by talking about my favorites and predictions for the four main awards.

First of all, the Grammys are voted on by members of the Recording Academy. They are legit music people who are experts on music. I am a bit more biased than they are, so my predictions may not be the most accurate, but I will try to keep my personal tastes to myself.

1. Record of the Year
(This award recognizes the performance of the artist along with the producer, engineers, and mixers.)
Really Love - D'Angelo and the Vanguard
Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
Blank Space - Taylor Swift
Can't Feel My Face - The Weeknd

All of these songs, except "Really Love" have lived on the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 chart and have had a massive amount of radio play. I believe it will come down to "Uptown Funk," "Blank Space," and "Can't Feel My Face" because all three have fairly big production elements and have spent more than one week at number one. Because I am a Taylor lover, I'd love to see her win, but I think it will ultimately go to "Uptown Funk." It spent 14 weeks at number one and the music video has over a billion views on YouTube. Not to mention, it's got an old school vibe and a killer horn section and who can resist a good horn section? I know I can't.



2. Album of the Year
Sound and Color - Alabama Shakes
To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar
Traveller - Chris Stapleton
1989 - Taylor Swift
Beauty Behind the Madness - The Weeknd
I have two words for this category: Taylor Swift. I am pretty confident that Taylor is going to take this one home. First of all, 1989 was the only album in 2014 to sell a million copies. Second of all, it is a sonically cohesive piece of pop beauty that critics loved. Also, she had a lot of big names help with this album, including Max Martin, Imogen Heap, Ryan Tedder, and Jack Antonoff. Additionally, she has dominated the world in the last year and a half with her chart topping singles, her letter to Apple Music, and her "squad" taking over the internet, so I would be surprised to see anyone else take this award, even though Kendrick and the Weeknd both had hugely successful albums and years.



3. Song of the Year
(This one recognizes the songwriters.)
Alright - Kendrick Lamar
Blank Space - Taylor Swift
Girl Crush - Little Big Town
See You Again - Wiz Kahlifa feat Charlie Puth
Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran

This isn't an easy one to predict. "Blank Space" is full of smart and witty one liners, but "Thinking Out Loud" is a beautiful love anthem the all the world swooned over. Country artists usually don't take this award, so I can't really see "Girl Crush" taking this one. Kendrick has been really seen by the Grammys this year, getting the most nominations, so he could be big contender for this one, although I'm not a huge fan of this song in particular. When it comes down to it, I think "See You Again" will take this one because it has been another huge song in the last year with decent lyrics. Also, it is in memory of Paul Walker, so I feel like that will put it over the edge and no one can really be mad if it wins.



4. Best New Artist
Courtney Barnett
James Bay
Sam Hunt
Tori Kelly
Meghan Trainor

I am really happy with these nominees this year. Courtney Barnett isn't very well known, but the Grammys like the underdogs. (Remember Esperanza Spalding? Me either, but she won this award back in 2011, beating out Justin Bieber, Drake, Mumford and Sons, and Florence and the Machine) Even as the underdog, I don't think she has a great chance of winning. James Bay has put out some amazing music this year and has had a decent amount of radio play, but not enough to make a huge deal about. Sam Hunt, who I like to call the male T.Swift of Country music, is a big contender. He has done very well this past year. Because his music is more of a crossover or pop and country, he is loved by country and pop lovers alike. I hate country, but I love Sam Hunt. Meghan Trainor is probably the most successful out of all the nominees. I think she is the only one to have a single hit number one on Billboard's Hot 100, but I feel like she hit her stride back in 2014 when "All About That Bass" was released. To me, she isn't a new artist. Tori Kelly, I believe, has the most talent in this group and I'm not just saying that because she is one of my favorites. She wrote and produced her own music and still continues to do so. She has slowly become more well known and her heavenly voice has landed her on the BET awards paying tribute to THE Smokey Robinson and she won the Breakthrough Award at the 2015 Billboard's Women in Music Awards. Even with that, I think Meghan Trainor will be victorious because of her popularity at this point in the game. (My fingers are still crossed for Tori.)

Honestly, I would love to see Taylor Swift take over the Grammys, but my dreams don't always come true. If you want to check out all the other nominations, go to GRAMMY.com. Tune into the show February 15 at 8/7c on CBS to see how accurate my predictions are.

-M. Philly

Gone to Carolina in my mind

A week ago, I was walking home from the bookstore when I got a text from my best friend saying her father had passed away. I've never had my heart broken, but I'm guessing it feels a lot like I felt when I read that text. I honestly didn't know what to do. The thing is, there wasn't much I could do because I was 2000 miles away. I sat in my room for a while and just cried, after I called my dad asking what I should do. All I wanted in that moment was to be home. All I wanted was to be there with her, but I couldn't. I don't think I've ever felt that kind of heartache before. I've never had such a longing for home even though I was just there two days before. I kept thinking of her and her family and how heartbroken they must have been and how difficult the coming days would be. It made me so sad because I knew they were hurting, but her whole family is so strong and amazing. I kept thinking of how much I admire their strength and how they have handled her dad being sick for so long. I thought of all the good times we had had with her dad, whether it was at the beach or just at her house. He was such a great man, who was always smiling and happy to see everyone. I tried to put myself in her shoes, but I couldn't even imagine the pain she was going through. I just kept thinking about how much I wanted to be there and how much it saddened me that I couldn't be. Thankfully, my dad was so quick to be there for her and her family. I would not have been able to feel any peace if it wasn't for him going to see her family, going to all the services, and calling me everyday to make sure I was okay and to keep me updated. I felt my love for him grow so much, which I didn't know it could grow anymore. I appreciate him more than ever before and I am so thankful to have him. Having him be so great and this whole experience got me thinking about things. I had prayed for a long time that when this time came, I would be home so I could be there for her, but God has a way of showing us he is the ruler of time. You never know how much time you are going to have left with your friends and family. You never know what is going to happen when you leave home, so you have to make sure you are spending the time that you have in the best ways possible. During Christmas break, I wish I had spent more time with my best friend. I wish I would have snuggled my nephews a little more. I wish I would have cracked more pecans to make mom and dad's lives easier. I wish I would have taken more time to look outside myself. As I was thinking about this I just decided that it was time to stop being so lazy and to start being a better me. I want to be a better friend, sister, daughter, student, follower of Christ, and person in general. I can't waste anymore time just sitting around. I've got to work as hard as I can to be better than I am right now because you never know what God is going to throw your way.
It's been said many times that the Lord only gives you what you can handle. I know that Erin and her family are so much stronger than I am because they have been given so many trials, but they always handle them with a good, positive attitude. I admire them so extremely much because they are simply amazing. I still desperately wish I could be there just to give a hug or a smile, but I guess the Lord knew I was supposed to be here. Everything happens for a reason. For some reason, I met a super quiet girl in Kindergarten who has been my BEST friend, my partner in crime, and one of my favorite people ever since. My life wouldn't be the same without her and her wonderful family and I cannot thank God enough for putting them in my life. I love them and my heart has been with them all week, even though I couldn't there.

-Madeline

Some things never change....

I've been at BYU for over a year now and lately I have been thinking back to how I got here. I was going through old pictures and messages a few days ago, while procrastinating studying for my midterms, and I was thinking about why I really wanted to come here in the first place. I think some people think I came out here for different reasons, but I realized I applied to BYU for one reason and one reason only... for ME! I applied because I wanted to come here. Because I wanted to get a kick butt education. Because I wanted to change, grow, and learn. I didn't come here because of my parents or so I could get boyfriend/husband or just get away from home. If I had come out here for any reason other reason than because I wanted to then I would not be here anymore. As hard as it is, I would have bailed after my first semester if I had come out here for any other reason. Sure, I had many people encourage me to come and their words helped me remember why I had wanted to come here a few years back, but I knew I had to apply and come here because I wanted to or else I would not succeed. That was just something I wanted to clear up.
WITH that being said, I said that I wanted to come out here to change and grow. I have been thinking about how I have changed so much in the past year, but at the same time, I haven't changed much at all. I decided to take a little trip down memory lane, via Facebook posts, and look at my journey to BYU and how I haven't changed as much as I thought.

Fun fact: I was actually rejected from BYU when I applied in high school, much to my relief at the time.

I decided to go to Piedmont Community College instead of University of North Carolina at Greensboro or Southern Virginia University. For some reason, I was nervous for my first of classes. The beginning of the two easiest years of school I had ever experienced. True Story. I still get nervous before first days. 

I've always been pretty confident in myself. Sure, my confidence falters at times, especially when I surrounded by so many beautiful and smart people, but I still say things like this. This is one of my best statuses to date.

This is still true and I say it with much more conviction than I did before. My mom is the bomb and I would not be surviving BYU without her support, love, and advice.

I'm still holding out for this man. I am more likely to find him here than back home!

I think I have more statuses about sleeping than anything else. There were about 5 others about sleeping... My love for naps and sleeping has not changed... at all. 

My musical tastes haven't changed too much either. I still love Andy Grammer with every piece of my heart. His music still brings me the same amount of joy. (He's on Dancing With the Stars, so you should probably vote for him...)

Staying on the subject of music, my feelings for Taylor Swift have changed... I used to really like her. Now I really LOVE her. Her newest album was basically my life at the time. It reminds me so much of my first semester here. I am still waiting for the day I turn 22 just so I can sing that year and finally mean it! Also, that is still one of my favorite music videos. 

My room is still pretty messy and I still really do not enjoy how long it takes to clean it. I also still wish I could be Mary Poppins.

First year of PCC was done and I rewarded myself. I reward myself now for actually getting out of bed to make myself look decent for class. It really is a big accomplishment for me. I usually do reward myself with food, too. 

I am still utterly and completely obsessed with my nephews. I love those precious little boys so dang much. Ask my roommates, I talk about how cute they are very often and they have been my phone lock screen since I got my phone. I love them with every part of me and miss them so much! I can't wait to snuggle with them at Christmas! (I also still love Spider-Man!)

I am still extremely proud to call myself "Mark Phillips' daughter." I love being able to call him and talk about school and life in Provo and to have him relate with me. It's something really cool and special to me. I also still like to brag that he's a City Councilman and basically a big deal! 

These kinds of things still happen and they happen more often than they used to. I cry when I see small children. I cry when I hear the marching band. I cry when I watch cheesy commercials. It doesn't take much but a little bit of joy or something sentimental to make my eyes fill with tears. I blame Dad. 

This shows a little bit of my process of getting my application in. I remember the anxiety I felt applying and waiting for the decision. I have been feeling that anxiety as I have applied for things and am now waiting for the results. I also spent like 2 weeks finishing those essays. I definitely still do that with application essays

THEN, I finally got in! I found out at like 12:30 in the morning, so I had to keep the news in the whole next day until I could tell Mom and Dad at the same time! I made those little papers for my parents and put them in boxes and made them open them together. They were pretty excited. I still like to tell big news in somewhat cheesy and creative ways... that's just me. 

That was one of the happiest moments of my life. Just seeing how happy and proud my parents were warmed my heart and still does. From that moment on, I started getting ready. I was actually pretty terrified. That summer before I left, I legit lost 10 pounds. I couldn't eat much because I had so much anxiety about leaving. Even with the anxiety, I was so stinking excited and I am still excited and proud to be attending this great university. It has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. 

I wanted to save this one for last because I feel that is has been one of the things that has affected me the most being in Utah. I love and appreciate my family so much more than I ever did before. I miss them all the time, but I am happy we have technology so I can call them whenever I want. We actually all Facetimed the other week on two separate phones so we could all talk together. (Everyone, but Lauren. She was there in spirit!)  I am literally counting down the days until I come home for Christmas and we don't have to Skype AND Facetime each other because we will actually be all together! It's going to be the best and I can't wait!

I could have gone back further and found more, but that would taken more time than this already did. It's always nice to look back at your life and see how you've grown. I have done a lot of growing in the past year and I still have a lot more to do, but I am thankful that I have stayed true to who I am. I haven't abandoned my weird self to try and be someone else and I am proud of myself for that. I love who I am and who I am becoming. I encourage you to take a little trip down your own memory lane and see how you have grown. I enjoyed it and I hope you do, too. 

-M. Philly

Abide With Me

Something I didn't think I would say before I moved out here to Utah is that I would be homesick a lot. Boy, was I wrong. I am sitting here studying for my Doctrine and Covenants test and listening to some hymns, hoping that the spiritual music will make the things I am studying stick in my mind better. As I am sitting here, I began to think of my family, as I do fairly often. I have been thinking of them more than usual this weekend with General Conference and I just miss them. My heart is heavy because I so want to be with them right now. I want to be sitting around laughing with them. I want to be playing games with them. I want to be laying in my bed, knowing they are just next door. I just feel a bit lonely and empty without them. It's funny that it's taken me almost 20 years to appreciate them as much as I do. I talk with my friends about family and I see how amazing mine is and how they are the perfect family for me. No other group of people could love me the way they do. I laugh more with them than I do with anyone else. I feel more joy when I am with them than I do anywhere else. I think, as we are apart from each other, of how happy the day will be when we can live together in Heaven for all time and eternity. When I get down like this, I have to keep reminding myself of that sweet blessing the Lord has given us. It motivates me to keep going and to try to be better so I can make it to the Celestial Kingdom with the rest of my family. I want, more than anything, to be with them forever in the presence of my Heavenly Father and my brother, Jesus Christ.

I was doing alright, sitting here studying, (and by fine I mean not crying or feeling overly emotional as I do now) until the hymn "Abide with Me" came on my playlist. Like I said, I sometimes feel lonely without my family, but I often forget that I do have family with me always. I have my Heavenly Father always watching over me every moment of every day. I have a brother who is walking with me every day and wraps his arms around me and can fill my heart with love, if I just let him. He is the only person that know exactly how I feel every moment of every day. I so easily get caught up thinking about not having my physical family here to hug me or be with me that I forget that he can bring those feelings of peace and love to my heart without physically being here. He is here and he is abiding with me. 

I pray that I can keep myself worthy of having Christ's and Heavenly Father's influence in my life, so I can feel their love through the precious gift of the Holy Ghost. I'll still miss my family and want them to be with me, but if I can remember to call upon the Lord when I am feeling lonely, I know my heart will feel whole and filled with love.

"Oh, Savior stay this night with me. Behold, tis' eventide." 

-M. Philly

https://play.spotify.com/track/4EkLfATJpgXuQotYgVeR8T

Callings

I have realized something as of lately. I really enjoy teaching! How have I realized this when I am in a time of my life where I am constantly being taught, but not really teaching? Well, I having a calling in church that allows me to teach. For those of you who are not aware, in my church we have callings which are basically jobs that we get to do. It's pretty great, if you ask me. My calling is to teach Relief Society, which is the Women's organization of the church. I get to teach the lovely girls in my ward and I have really enjoyed it so far.

Today was a particularly good lesson, not because of me, but because of the comments that the other girls made and the Spirit that was there. I will be honest that I did not prepare as much as I usually do for a lesson. I remember hearing from seminary teachers and other teachers how they just let the Spirit guide them through their lesson, so I kind of tried to do that. I really encouraged the girls to participate because they always have much better things to say than I do and they did. I love listening to what they have to add because it is always really awesome. I could really feel the spirit throughout that lesson a lot more than I have during any lesson I have taught. Sometimes when I teach and people add comments I don't always listen because I am thinking of what I need to say next, but today I didn't do that and I just listened. I really need to do that every time because I felt the spirit in a way I never have during a lesson. IT WAS AWESOME, PEOPLE!!!! Also, the lesson was about repentence, which is something I have a strong testimony of, so that helped me a lot, too. It's always nice to have people say that you've done a good job, but I love it when they say that they felt the spirit during the lesson because that's all that matters. I don't give lessons to make myself look good. I give them because I want to learn and to help other learn and strengthen their testimony. I don't even feel like I teach all that much because the comments that are made and the discussions we have as a class are what really bring the spirit. It's like my Granny says, "I'm not really teaching, just leading a disccusion." 

I love this calling and having the opportunity to teach or "lead disscussions" in church. It has already blessed me so much and I am so grateful for that. I love being a member of this church. I am so blessed to be where I am with the people I am with. I know this is what I am supposed to be doing and where I'm supposed to be. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true and it's so wonderful. I know that the Atonement is real and that Heavenly Father and Christ love me and are looking out for me. I know that because my lesson would not have gone as well as it did without them. MAN, I just love being a Mormon. If you're not one, you should be because it's basically the best thing in the world... just saying. :)

-M.Philly

People walk in, people walk out.

It's always difficult to start a post. Sometimes I can come up with creative things to say, but I'm at a loss for words today. With that, let's just dive in! I have found an odd new obsession since I moved out here to Utah. Now that I have a smart phone, which is so nice, especially since I don't take my laptop with me to campus, I can easily access the internet whenever I want. It's a pretty magical thing. With that, I have found myself reading tons and tons of articles. I have read some pretty interesting articles about lots of random things, but I find myself reading ones on like how to be a good person and who are the types of people you should be spending your time with. It's a lot of those cheesy ones that people post on Facebook, but I enjoy reading those the most. I have found a bunch that relate to me very well and others that I have learned some good stuff from. I was reading one the other day that talked about how you should surround yourself with people that lift you up, not bring you down. As I read that, I just thought about how I have done that pretty well as of late. I was laying in bed thinking last night how my life is filled with people who make me really happy. Let's just take a little look!
I love my roommates! They are some of the greatest girls I know. They have dealt with me for the past few months through the good and bad times. They have made me laugh when I needed it, they have cried with me when I read children's books to them, and they have laughed at me when I get crazy. They have given me so much good advice and helped me get over and through things. I would not be as happy as I am without them! We have lots of fun when we are together and I LOVE THEM!!!

I mean, look at the happiness!

 This was at Melissa's birthday party and we all couldn't stop laughing! These aren't all my roommates, but I love all these people! 

Our dear Suzanna, who we miss so much! She makes my heart so happy! :)

I got home the other night and sweet Melissa had gotten me some wonderful Spider-Man things. Oh, she knows me so well! I love her!!

 My best friend may be 2000 miles away, but anytime I need to talk or just need a good laugh, I know I can call or text her! She has done so much for me and I am so glad to have her in my life! Best friends since Kindergarten and I would't have it any other way!

She even went all the way to DC with me over Christmas break! :)

I have other friends that have been so great for me and have helped me and been just so awesome for me! My sisters have always been so great for me, too. No one makes me laugh the way they do! I wish I could be with them all the time, but even though we are all so far from each other, I know they would do anything to be there for me. Having them has been such a comfort to me even if they do pick on me.
Speaking of family, my parents are so spectacular. As I have gotten older and moved away, I have become so much more aware at how hardcore and awesome they are! I really miss them, but I love being able to call them and talk about what's going on. It's funny that being so far away, I feel closer to them than I ever have. I just appreciate them so much more than I did before. Also, being at BYU has given us different things to talk about and I am able to relate to them so much more because we have had similar experiences here in Provo. They listen to me talk about my life and give me advice about things, which means a lot to me. I love them so much and I'm so thankful to know we are sealed together, so they will be stuck with me FOREVER!

I've said this a lot, but I have learned so much in my few months here in Utah and I am thankful for all my experiences, both good and bad. I have become so much more independent, but I still need people to support me. My mom said to me today, "If you need help, don't be afraid to ask. Don't try to be too independent." I am just really glad to have people in my life that allow me to be independent, but are still there for me to lean on when I need them. That feels really good! Hooray for wonderful people and a wonderful life! :)

-M. Philly