Just Some Joys in My Life

I have a lot of joys in my life. A lot! I have great friends, a wonderful family, a great sense of humor, and a killer head of hair...

However, there is SOMETHING about a new toothbrush that brings a smile to my face and comfort to my heart. I know it's such a small insignificant thing but seriously, when I buy a new toothbrush, I cannot WAIT to get home to take it for a spin around the bicuspids =) The first brush is the most important. You need to get a sense of the toothbrush. Go slowly, introduce the toothbrush to every tooth. Take your time. There's no rush. It will be your best friend that gets to visit you at least 120 times. I’m just saying. That new friend can save you from hundreds of dollars in the long run. Not a whole lot of friends can do that for you… That's the reality ;)

Another joy in my life is my pillow. I LOVE my pillow. It has this new pillow case that I just got that seems to say, “Come relax… I’ll take care of everything…” I have three pillows on my bed… I only use two. If that. So why do I have the third you ask, well the thing is – I have no idea. It just stays at my side. Just like another good friend. Wow… this blog is like an onion... or Cindy Lauper's hair… so… so many layers.

Another joy in my life is when I have a fresh, clean, warm towel right after a shower… Oh, that is just a wonderful feeling! So great!

So those are some things that bring absolute joy in my life! What about you???

Awkward Moments...

I think I'm pretty good at saving a situation in where I would appear like a dork, I just twist it at the last second.

Like I went to call my friend and said, "Hello is Jake there?"
The lady said, "No, you have the wrong number."
I said, "No... I'm trying to avoid him..."

We ALL have those moments where you say something that is just a fleeting thought you express totally innocently, when in fact, once you hear the words, you know that it's too late. Someone is going to get offended. It's out there... you can almost SEE the sound vibrations bouncing off the wall and enter into the others' ear. There's no going back. You wait for the impact - The moment it will register in the minds of others around you what you just said. There's nothing else to do but wait for what they have to say.

There's nothing worse right?

Wrong!

I'd have to say what's worse than that, is when you don't realize what you say UNTIL a person brings it to your attention. There's no way out of that situation. You realize what you said but at first you don't know how it could've been taken wrong or how they misunderstood... There's just no digging yourself out of those situations because at that point, you're so flustered and taken aback that you can't think of anything to say to get yourself out of this situation you put yourself in. (It's a problem for us who suffer from No-Metal-Filter-itis... it's an epidemic) The best things to do in these situations that I've found are:

A.) Pretend your phone is going off

B.) Pretend to faint

C.) Change the subject as quickly as possible!

*Travel

*Politics

But the thing I found the absolute BEST is to just Laugh!!! Turn an awkward situation into a moment between friends that you can later blog about :)

So on facebook, There was a picture of a couple on their wedding day. (I don't remember which couple it was) but the picture was of that moment when the couple comes out of the temple. Everyone cheers and It's their first appearance as husband and wife! Well, I was with my friend Natalie and I said, "Oh sad! This groom is on crutches! Oh that SUCKS! I wonder if he's miserable! (in pain) I would NOT like to be on crutches on my wedding day and I wouldn't want my husband to be in crutches either! That sucks!" Natalie looked at me and said, "WELL MY HUSBAND WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR! WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT?!" Oh man, it was SO funny but so awkward. How do you dig yourself out of that one??? I started to reach for my phone to "save me" it wasn't in my pocket. I started to bring my hand up to my forehead to faint but you know - I was on tile... I haven't traveled anywhere, or watched the news lately so I had no ammo to change the subject. Before I knew it, I was laughing so hard! Oh man, what an awkward moment that turned into the perfect awkward moment between two best friends. So when you find yourself in these moments, just laugh and create a moment that you can laugh about and blog about later :)

- Yours Truly,
The Queen of Awkward Moments!

My Girl, Natalie!

So, I don't expect this to be the only post you'll read about my best girl, Natalie, or "Heavy Nan" as she's recently come to be known. (I wish I had a picture of her eating right now because that's why she got that name... Heavy Nan like to eat. :)

She'll probably kill me for posting all this... Hahaha.

Natalie and I have been friends for as long as I can remember, (we were in 5th Ward nursery together). Some friendships last as few as 6 months. Natalie and I have had phone conversations that have lasted that long (as well as games of "UNO") We've been best friends for 9 years now. Since the day I invited her over to do homework for a class we had the same. We turned on the TV and started to watch Joe Millionaire and got hooked. She came over every Monday night for a while. Turned into every Tuesday night for Supernatural. And eventually, every Tuesday night turned into pretty much every night. We started the greatest tradition ever consisting of pizza rolls, gatorade, chili cheese fritos and the movie , What Lies Beneath. We did this at least 3 times a week for many months and I can easily say I've never seen any movie more times than that one. It STILL freaks me out!

Natalie and I have everything and nothing in common. Most people that meet the two of us together can't believe that we're even friends. We're SO different! But after hanging around us a bit, you see it just fits! We're completely connected by the mind and soul and are truly kindred spirits! You will never find another set of bosom friends like us.

As I just said, Natalie and I are so different. Practically night-and-day. We've never had the same taste in boys, movies or music. Our personalities are so different as well. She's really shy to those she doesn't know very well and I'll go up to a hot guy I've never met and ask him what time he's picking me up on Friday. Jk! Natalie is without a doubt the FUNNIEST girl I know and she can make me laugh like no one else on this planet. SO FUNNY! She doesn't think she's funny which makes her even more funny. Now hey guys, I know what you're thinking. Of course she's funny, she's blonde... NO! She's just hilarious! And if you think one more bad thing about my heavy, blonde friend, I will go carnival freak crazy on your face! I am serious! I will scratch your eyes out... *one eye squint*

She knows all my faults (which is easy since there's really not many), my weaknesses (which isn't much) and insecurities. She is also very good at picking out when I say something that I hope no one hears... Hahaha So funny.

Natalie is the greatest example in the world to me. She is the most humble girl and has taught me so much about true love, charity, and the pure love of Christ. She has overcome so many obstacles that have made her an even more wonderful daughter of God. There have been times in our friendship that one of us had to remind the other of our Heavenly Father's love for us and rely on the others' testimony before we were able to find our own again.

I am so lucky to have her as an example of what love REALLY is. After going through high school with Natalie having no interest in love or romance, Natalie ended up marrying the love of her life! A real life love story (it's possible, people!) She never hesitated at the fact that she knew she would be taking care of a quadriplegic the rest of her life. I can't even describe the respect I have for that girl for the extra effort she puts into being a wife everyday and caring for the man that she's sealed to for time and all eternity.


I really don't know what else to say more about Natalie, there's so much more I wish I could say but there are just too many to even think of! All I can say is I am a better person for knowing her. I wouldn't be who I was today without this crazy girl in my life. We have the BEST memories together and I know there will be many more to come. I seriously cannot wait to get to heaven to see the movie of our friendship. Try and get an admission ticket and watch it with us. You'll laugh, you'll cry (because you're laughing so hard)!

Oh my gosh, look how tan I am! :(

My Best

"Batina"

To start my blog off, I think I’m going to explain the reason I chose to name this blog “Thoughts by Batina?”

Webster’s Dictionary defines “thought” as mental forms and processes. Thinking allows beings to model the world and to represent it according to their objectives, plans, ends and desires. ... I’ve wanted to start a blog for some time now. I have a lot of thoughts that I would like to share with my friends and family. A lot happens to me on a day to day basis that I wish I could share it with those I love but I’m just too busy. So hopefully by this blog, you can always get a little taste of Ash =)

“Who in the world is Batina” you may ask. “Is she pretty” could be another question that crosses your mind. Well, I am Batina (and you can choose the answer to the other question for yourself). As you know, there are a million and a half Ashley’s out there and I am one that HAS to be original. There’s nothing I hate more than when someone calls Ashley, I turn around and they say “Oh no, not you.” UGH! Batina was THE MOST original name I could think of. And now, everyone knows me as such. If you went to the Cosmetology department at Salt Lake Community College and asked for Ashley Romrell, No one would know who you were talking about. But you come in there asking for Batina? You’ll get a smile, a chuckle and most likely get your butt kissed cuz I’m – Kind of a big deal =) So that’s where Batina comes from. So now, you can read “Thoughts by Batina” and not wonder who Batina is or if she’s pretty. The evidence is right here.