better than revenge.

It began with birthday cake. Riley pinched out the candle flame before the song was over and I yelled at him. He quickly re-lit and made a new wish so it would actually come true.

Next, the games began. So much water was squirted and dumped. Balloons and guns and sprinklers. Then Riley brought out a literal bow and arrow and proceeded to shoot everyone, because he 'was trying to make it realistic.'

Don't worry, Kari. It's padded. He said. It will be fun. He said.

The odds were not in my favor.

With the water sources depleted, my heart calmed down. Until he placed me in a death-grip. The more I fought back the tighter the hold. Soon, he brings me to the ground. Best friend comes to save me -- he brings her down while still holding me. Not sure if I should be fearful of or impressed by his strength. Minutes later, Anna and I both surrender.

Riley receives death threats and glares from my mascara stained face.

Dry clothes are found as the men set up our backyard movie.

He gives me an apology hug and I dump a bottle of freezing cold water on his head.

Us girls decide the best punishment is cuddling with someone else during the movie.

And then Peeta's face. Movie giggles. Frozen boys.

A perfect end to summer.

he knows i'm not good with surprises.

he opened the passenger door for me. my only instruction was to look at the piece of paper on the front seat.
i didn't know where we were going or what was waiting for us.

the paper was blank; i laughed as he walked around front and got in the driver's seat.
before i could question it, he took every color of pen from the center console and handed them to me.

you're going to draw a picture.


of what? i asked.

of everything that is stressing you out; everything that makes you mad and sad and frustrated.


then, we started driving. and driving.

twenty minutes into the desert i had drawn and written down everything i could think of.
[including a picture of the jerk-face sharks that eat baby sea turtles, which i had reluctantly watched on PBS the night before.]


we turned onto a dirt road.

is it hard to talk positively while writing negatively?


he can read minds.

we came to a stop. i folded up the paper and gave it to him.

from the back he pulled a cardboard box and placed my pain inside.

he hammered a stake into the dust and placed the box on top. a target was taped to the outside, and within seconds he placed hearing protectors on my head and a handgun in my palm.

and then i shot six rounds.

he reloaded.

i shot again.

and again.

and again.

and that was it.

he complimented my accuracy. we got back in the car and he drove me home.

my thumb is black and blue. i have a blood blister on my pinky.
battle scars i proudly show off.

but with them is a hole in my heart.
for a boy that picked me up on a saturday night, just to help me relieve stress.
when he has an even heavier load to carry.

oh, utah.

draper chuck-a-rama.
nicknamed up-chuck a-rama since i forgot that i was allergic to potatoes for thirty seconds and consumed them.

baby poop explosion. outfit change. "that's a lot of patterns for one little boy."

"it's either king burger or burger king... i think it's king burger. but we went there."

7/11 slurpees.

family reunion.
grandma didn't recognize me even though she spent a week at my house last month.
grandma saying that uncle kevin was an ugly baby and that my mom cried all the time.

my introduction speech consisting of "I'm Kari. I'm 22. And my husband is off becoming a billionaire. He hasn't met me yet, but he's excited."

humanitarian center tour. guilt trips all around. prayers of gratitude shared all day.

best sloppy joes of my life. aunt julie is a mad chef.

lots of kissing on this face:

driving past lagoon what seemed like fourteen times a day -- breaking my heart a little each time.

target in every city along the way.

late-night talks in harmon's.

wits and wagers. worst game ever made.

hangry's.

tie thieving for free donuts.

proof that even the most dreadful of places can be magical if you have the right company.

lets all go to lagoon on July 28th. Okay? Perfect.

temple trip.

Sno cones.
Balloons for the birthday boy.
Remember when I had a thirty minute crush on him? ... The Bishop?!?
Avril.
The Bachelorette. Charlie is mine.
Out-dancing the other vehicles.
Honking at the bride on the side of the road.
Photo-bombing wedding photos.
Ian offering his hand to each of the ladies as they walk down the stairs.
Being mistaken for fourteen-year-olds more than once.
Standing awkwardly in a towel waiting for a locker.
Tattoos at Pizza Hut. No unicorns -- boycotting from now on.
Successfully spilling water on four tables.
Singing happy birthday to Kyle.
Awkward silence when you realize that it is also another boy's birthday.
Second round of happy birthday, sung with shame.
Impromptu trip to WinCo for birthday cake.
Biting off the tip of an icing bottle to write Kyle's name on the cake.
Knowing that if Riley had come, he'd have had several weapons that would have done a better job.
Feeling like the worst friend ever when Kyle throws up the cake in the parking lot.
Watching a bird eat Kyle's puke.
Changing in a gas station parking lot.
Under the shirt slip drop.
Taylor Swift lip stick.
I'm marrying Chris Young.
"Woah! That is trendy!"
Random stop for the driver to reminisce.
Birthing babies.
I'm Sexy and I Know It.
Boyfriend.
Call Me, Maybe.
Changing lyrics to Taylor Swift songs so that they're about Ian.
Lightning storms.
Hiccup laughs.
Aching abs.
"Come to Jesus!"

reasons i think you should see the lucky one.

[I rarely sit through a movie and upon sight of the credits, immediately want to watch it again. With The Lucky One I did.
And if you are even remotely attracted to Zac Efron... well, lets just say that in this movie he could turn a straight guy gay.]

1. Taylor Schilling is so so so relatable. Her facial expressions held so much emotion. Numerous times I could tell exactly what she was thinking. I feel like this is so rare now in Hollywood.

2. The little boy is the perfect amount of adorable and innocent. Usually child actors just have a cute face, but he was actually talented. You could see the conflict and hurt in his eyes in some scenes and the contrast of pure happiness in other scenes.

3. Nana! Holy bananas, she made me want to be old. I already struggle with wanting to be 80, and she sealed the deal. One of those well-written characters that are equally hilarious and wise. So many funny moments occurred thanks to her.

4. Only a little bit of crying; unlike other Nicolas Sparks' book-to-movie films where you leave the theater in hysterics. There were only a couple tender moments, so if you don't cry easily then you'll be dry-faced the entire time.

5. The special hugging. I feel like I shouldn't say anymore...

6. Zac Efron with puppies.

7. Zac Efron shirtless.

8. Zac Efron playing the piano.

9. Zac Efron with puppies.

10. Zac Efron dancing.

11. Zac Efron with puppies.

12. Zac Efron playing with a child.

13. Zac Efron with puppies!


I will say though, that the military Zac wasn't so good... His acting was a bit rocky there, but it's such a small part of the movie.

animal.

i feel like i should be sad for my bff jill that John Tucker took a break from her, but the last two days with her have been so fun. i'm really about to cry at the thought of how much i love that girl. we're planning a double wedding because we both know i'll die if i don't get married at the same time as her.

people do not bash t swift in my house. no no no. she is on a throne -- you don't have to like her music but you must respect her.

hello, attractive man at the dance tonight who told me and bff jill that we looked wonderful. you are at the top of my favorite list today.

applebees, your food sucks. why do i forget this? also, the waitress you gave me tonight was not impressive. the first time in my life that i did not leave a good tip.
the entire staff of texas roadhouse was there tonight and in uniform. i found this more funny than it was.

don't leave your camera unattended. i will take pictures of myself and others. i do not apologize to the stranger whose camera i obtained this evening.

i could high-five this girl who is always wearing giant English hats every day. every day. church too. you truly inspire me to embrace my quirks.
"You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves." - Mary Oliver


line dancing will always be my activity of choice. cupid shuffle. cha cha slide. i love them all.

my lovely friend cut my hair today. she gave me texas hair. it was amazing.
now i need to watch gcb.

tomorrow i get to meet zac efron. mmm mmm mmm.

i just have a lot of feelings...

Sometimes I forget that Josh Hutcherson will not fall in love with me. You don't need to remind me; if you try, I will eat you.

Sometimes I need to eat seven desserts in one sitting because I'm hormonal.

Sometimes I don't understand how nerd/blacklight can be considered a dance theme. I will dress accordingly anyway.

Sometimes I play board games with the sole purpose of making sure that that one obnoxious person loses.

Sometimes I get embarrassed for the guy in my ward who tried to pull a "John Tucker" using almost every line straight from the movie. Originality, that one has.

Sometimes I get the urge to garden and the urge to knit in the same moment and realize how quickly I am becoming an 80-year-old woman.

Sometimes I want to pee my pants when my BFF Jill tells me she bought me a birthday sash and tiara to wear when Zac Efron falls in love with me.

Sometimes I learn that eating four more pieces of licorice is not an adequate substitute for brushing my teeth.

Sometimes I stay up till five in the morning and then want to shoot myself when I remember that my BFF Jill is going to make me go to zumba in three hours.

Sometimes I love when my weekend starts early. Okay, all the time I love that.