AnD I ThiNk To MySeLF, WhAt A WoNdErFuL WorLd: ToP FiveS!!!!

I recently saw someone write their top fives on their blog and I thought it would be fun to do too. Oh how I love getting distracted (deliberately distracting myself is the better terminology) from my homework. :-)

My ToP 5 CutesT/FavoritE MalE CelebritieS:

1. James Darren- He was GORGEOUS in "Gidget." He was just so clean-cut, handsome, and he had perfect teeth. <3
2. Jesse Metcalfe
3. James Franco/Matt Dillon in "The Outsiders" (They've both played similar, yet awesome characters)
4. Shia LeBeouf- His humor makes him all the more attractive to me!
5. Ashton Kutcher- He is hilarious, yet can pull off being serious too. He was very talented in "The Guardian."

My ToP 5 PrettiesT/FavoritE FemalE CelebritieS:

1. Sandra Dee- I think she was gorgeous and had a natural beauty in "Gidget" and other movies.

2. Sophia Bush- One word: gorgeous!

3. Carrie Underwood- She has perfect teeth and is so beautiful!

4. Amanda Bynes- She is so funny!

5. Lauren Graham- she is so witty and hilarious!

My ToP 5 MusicianS:

1. Michael Jackson

2. Stevie Wonder

3. James Morrison

4. Gavin DeGraw

5. Jason Mraz/Carrie Underwood/Christina Aguilera (It was just TOO hard to narrow the list down to only five people)!

My ToP 5 ComedianS:

1. David Spade
2. Adam Sandler

3. Jack Black

4. Chris Farley

5. Jimmy Falon

6. I know I'm writing six, but I just couldn't forget to mention Dax Shepard from the show, "Parenthood." He just has this way about him that cracks me up!

My ToP 5 BesT FeelingS iN ThE WorlD:

1. The way I feel after I help someone or say something kind to another person.
2. The way my stomach feels after I laughed REALLY hard!
3. The way I feel when I am driving in my car on a beautiful sunny day with the windows down and the music playing!

4. The way I feel when I like someone.
5. The way I feel when I sing or act in front of people. I feel nervous, excited, and thrilled to be on stage performing!

My ToP 5 BesT InventionS EveR CreateD:

1. Computers- without them, I would be unable to have a blog.
2. 50s dresses- they were absolutely GORGEOUS! I loved seeing the movie, "Hairspray" because some of the characters in it wore the most adorable dresses, which define the 50s era very well!
3. NARS blush- it looks great on everyone! ;-)
4. Pink coats- I have a Candies pink coat that is so pretty! To have a coat that is not dull in color during the winter is just wonderful! And to have it in my ABSOLUTE FaVoRiTe color is an added bonus!

5. Orabrush- this tongue scraper helps to eliminate the source of bad breath, which is... drum roll please... your tongue! Though it can be a little disgusting to use at first, and by a little, I mean very, it is a wonderful invention.

My ToP 5 FavoritE ThingS AbouT FaLL:

1. The blaze of colors quilting the ground and trees (in PA, the leaves are BEAUTIFUL when they fall on the ground).
2. Not-too-hot-and-not-too-cold weather (i.e. light jacket weather)
3. Crisp, fresh air
4. Pumpkin spice candles (Jenni & I have made it a tradition to light them during the fall).
5. Haunted houses! I LOVE THEM! And there's nothing better than watching scary movies during the Halloween season!

My ToP 5 FavoritE ThingS AbouT ChristmaS TimE (oR ThE ChristmaS SeasoN):

1. My birthday (Dec. 1st)
2. The Merris tradition of playing: Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers, Luther Vandross, The Carpenters, Donny Osmond, 'N Sync, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey (All I Want for Christmas is You), Michael Buble, etc.!
3. Snowball fights, making snowmen, and playing in the snow! It's even more fun to wear the attractive snow clothes, haha! Emi knows that I am right! ;-)

4. Putting up icicle Christmas lights and then drinking hot chocolate afterwards at a point when your fingers feel like they are about to fall off! I have many great memories of hanging up lights at my house in PA and I really miss doing that!
5. Colorful coats, hats, scarves, and gloves; baking cookies; playing games- there's no better time spent than the time spent with family!

My ToP 5 CurrenT SongS oN ThE RadiO:

1. Dynamite by Taio Cruz

2. Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars

3. I've Got the Magic in Me by B.o.b.

4. Secrets by One Republic

5. We'll Be a Dream by We Three Kings featuring Demi Lovato

My ToP 5 BesT ThingS AbouT TeachinG:

1. Being in the presence of children- they are the closest thing to our Heavenly Father on this earth.

2. Boosting/building up students' self-esteem or confidence in any area, whether it be in academics or outside of it.
3. Feeling like I am making a difference in someone's life.
4. Seeing students succeed after I teach them a difficult concept. I saw this after teaching a Social Studies unit to my 5th graders in a very short time frame. They impressed me so much.

5. Learning that teaching is something I love! Though it overwhelms me at times and though I, at times, feel inadequate, it is nice to know that I can do what I have wanted to do for so long. My dream of becoming a teacher is not far from becoming a reality.

My ToP 5 Make-uP ProductS:

1. Foundation: Bare Minerals Foundation; Revlon Photo Ready

2. NARS blush

3. E.L.F. mineral eye shadow! (<3 it)!

4. Loreal Voluminous mascara/Fiberwig mascara

5. I really love MAC Fix + Spray and Bourjois Night lip balm! I had to include them both as well! :-)

My ToP 5 HaiR ProductS/ApplianceS:

1. Chi straightener
2. Hot tools curling iron
3. S-waver (I really don't know what to call it, but it waves my hair, lol)
4. Vavoom mousse/hairspray: THE BEST!
5. Chi heat protectant spray

My ToP 5 FavoritE MovieS: (Obviously, this is a TOUGH one! I have A LOT of fav.'s, but I'll only choose 5, not because they are my absolute favorites, but because they are some of my fav.'s).

1. Gidget
2. The Outsiders
3. Leap Year
4. Tie between Simon Birch, The Cure, and Radio Flyer- Joseph Mazzello is a very talented actor and appears in all of these movies.
5. The Blind Side

My ToP 5 FavoritE ScentS:

1. Charlotte Russe perfume (it used to be called Refuge)

2. Pumpkin spice candles (for fall)

3. Cinnamon candles (for Christmas)

4. My Mom's perfume called Night Magic. I think I love this because it makes me think of my Mom.

5. Currently, I absolutely LOVE Suddenly Smooth's Blackberry 'n Plum Body Butter. You can buy it at Sally's. It smells so nice!

My ToP 5 FamilY MemberS: Just kidding! ;-)

My ToP 5 LiP GlosseS:

1. B.E. Buxom
2. MAC Dazzleglass
3. NYX Mega Shine
4. C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine (from Bath & Body)
5. Starry Honey Plus

My ToP 5 ThingS ThaT MakE Me LaugH/SmilE:

1. My family- whenever they tell stories or jokes, they have me CRACKING UP to say the least! Humor has always been a huge part of my family! I am so grateful to have had parents and extended family who have passed this down to me.
2. When someone passes gas unexpectedly in a quiet place. I try my hardest to not react poorly when this happens, but every time it does, the 5-year-old in me comes out and I lose it! ;-)
3. This may sound ridiculous, but there have been many times in my life where I have laughed because I am stressed. Jenni and I have laughed countless times during Finals time at BYU. And I laughed with my awesome mentor teacher at Sunset View when things just seemed overwhelming. Doing this has helped me immensely to feel better (at least to some degree). I truly believe that laughter is good for the soul!

4. The beauty of spring/summer makes me feel so happy! I love the sun and amazing colors that sprout out of the ground in the form of flowers, bushes, and trees. In essence, I love the many beautiful creations God has blessed humanity with being able to have.

5. When it rains- I'm from Pa and it rains a lot there. I love thunderstorms and the calming, soothing sound that rain makes outside of my window when I am going to sleep at night. Sometimes, just sitting on the porch and watching the rain is fun to do- such a feeling of peace and contentment overcomes me when I do that. And of course, PLAYING in the rain spices things up a bit whenever you're feeling daring! ;-)

My Top 5 FavoritE QuoteS:

1. "The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone." -H.B. Stowe

2. "I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone." -Bill Cosby

3. "Stop wishing for the man of your dreams and become the woman in his." -Anonymous

4. "The two most important days in a young woman's life are the day she is born and the day she realizes why." -Elaine Cannon

5. "It's not about the years of your life... it's all about that little dash in between. We don't pay enough attention to that little dash." -Mr. Way

6. (I'm sorry, but I had to include this one too). "People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be good enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway." -Mother Theresa