Let it Snow

This is a really random short post. Today was the last day of finals for me, and even though it's over, it was a dismal week, and definately today was the worst of them all. However tonight, I happened to have one of the best nights of probably the whole semester. I had a HOPE performance down in St. George, and we sang Christmas carols and drank hot chocolate on the way down. It was a good performance, and then we went out for 5 Guys Burgers. Oh my heck! I don't think I have ever had a burger that good! Amazing! But that really isn't what made it an amazing night. A few of us drove to the Temple (St. George) and looked at the lights, and it started snowing,the most beautiful fat fluffy flakes, all lit up by the temple. It was like being in a snow globe. I don't like to be cold, but it was so gorgeous and magical that I didn't notice the cold at all. We ran around for probably 20 minutes catching snowflakes in our mouths, and walked around after that just watching the snow fall and chatting. It was absolutely enchanting, and turned my miserable day into one of the best nights in a long time.

(This isn't a picture I took. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera, so this is the closest to what it looked like.)

Where Does One Even Begin?

I know...I must be the most dismal blogger in the world. But if you think that's bad, you guys should check the date of my last journal entry...I'm pretty sure the last entry was in July. So here's the general update:

1. Still dancing, still in HOPE, still working the costume shop, still wondering how I got myself into the fix I'm in.

2. I think someone taped a sign on my back that reads:
"If you're not my type, please pursue anyways!"

3. I adopted a cat...who disappeared, and then showed up in Krysta's office, on the 4th floor of the GE building on campus. And then it disappeared again. Still perplexed with that one. (I originally found it in the housing office when I was visiting my old boss)

4. Writing my book still. (The project that never ends.) It's going well, I just wish I had more time to write.

5. I am an AUNT. I was actually up North when Morgan was born, and so I got to see her the next morning. She is so beauteous!!! It's rather surreal. I've wanted to be an aunt since I was five, and I still can't believe that I am sometimes.

Panting on the Sidelines

My summer wasn't very long, and even though last year was pretty easy, I wasn't ready for this one to start. This year was the exception. I started out with 14 respectable credits...and by the end of the week I was taking 17 credits, plus 6-7 hours of dance rehearsal, snagged back into HOPE choir, and I'm working in the costume shop. It's been pretty crazy, and everday it's like...'why am I such an idiot?'

So on some days I have ballet and modern dance back to back. It's like a 4 hour cardio workout. It's been good, but super tiring. I truly have incredible professors, even if sometimes I try to find reasons to not show up to class. All I can say is if I don't lose a pant size, then there's no hope.

Overall, this year is crazy busy, and I'll be at the bar in ballet and thinking, 'This would be a lot easier if I would actually sleep.' And then I remember I don't have time for such a luxury. Although I gotta say, I have traded in the sleep for something pretty cool. I started working in the costume shop, and even though I am not designing right now, I sew, warp and manipulate fabric, and make accessories whenever they need me. It's been such a cool experience so far, and is something that I love. I will be looking into buying myself a sewing machine whenever I get the chance.

So I went to one of my best friends wedding, as her bridesmaid and it was amazing in so many ways, but I will post that later, when I get more pictures of everyone there and the actual wedding pictures and what not...but here is the lovely bride Tori: (I feel so lucky to be able to associate with someone this lovely. Inside and out.)

A Little Bit of Everything

The last post wasn't an update really, so I'll do a real one today.

So work for me has been a myriad of randomness...but then again that is my job. The big project for the last couple of weeks has been decorating. I've been helping Lee(boss), and Cameron decorate the new dorms. It's been really fun, and I've got to say it...I never thought dorms were allowed to look so rad. And I'm not saying that about my decorating expertise *cough cough* (Lee and Cam are the masterminds), I just mean, these kids have got it good. I haven't been around much in the college dorm setting, so maybe I don't know what I am talking about, but I might consider being an RA in this building bc it is so nice...part of me questions that though. The whole me not liking cafeteria food, and my love of privacy may prevent me from doing so. But free housing is still really appealing. So who knows.



Today was a Saturday, and I had appointments down on the quaint Main Street, and the appoinments were like 2 hours apart, so I explored some of the shops and boutiques that I've never been in even though I've lived here for like a year.



Discovery #1- In a bookstore I discovered that Jewel (Yes the songwriter-'Intuition'), has written book of poetry called 'A Night Without Armor'. She writes lyrics, so of course this isn't too surprising, but I was actually very surprised. Most of the poems were quite good, if not phenominal (some were a wee bit wierd). I may have to purchase it at some point.


Discovery #2- Ice cream soda. WOW!!!! Krys and I always meant to get some, but never got around to it....(Krys-you have to try it!!!) Ice cream and soda? I'm not talking about root bear floats....I'm taking about chocolate ice (or some other variety) cream with (non-flavored) soda water. The girl at the counter suggested the chocolate, and I was dubious about it...but actually it was amazing. (I think I'll try this delectable treat at home sometime) - Yeah I know that you probably are snoring bc I am blogging about ice cream soda, but I've noticed that living in a small town I've start getting razzed by the littlest things.

Discovery #3- I have expensive taste. I found this furntiture and dress boutique that sells all this one-of-a -kind novelty stuff. I was quite enraptured. And also aware that I am quite broke.



I am thinking about starting to do nails. I've done pedis and manis for a long time, but I've never charged, and I've never done sets (acrylics, gels...aka fake nails). But I am going to learn and start doing it on the side. I am hoping to get certified next summer in like 2 months for uber cheap, and then I can work in a salon (legally). It all depends on work and money etc... but I really am hyped about it. For future work I am also thinking about being an EFY counselor, a Mary Kay consultant and hoping to work at some animal shelter/hospital/store.


Lastly I have found a new song. Well several actually, but this song is amazing. I am obsessed with music. I seriously always have a soundtrack running through my head all the time. (It can be quite a headache sometimes). As a dancer, there is certain music that feels like it was written for you. For me I get hooked on a song if it MOVES. I know that is really wierd, but that's the best way I can put it. The music moves; spiritually, emotionally, physically, everything. I don't mean that it 'moves you', the song all by it's lonesome moves itself, and in turn the world around it. It's almost like it's a rolling, unstoppable force, that wills you to adore it and feel like your body has no bounds becuase it is that unique and beautiful. The song that I have been absolutely amazed with is by Vienna Teng and it is called 'Harbor'. (amazing artist-highly recommend her other work as well)
I've put a link in so you can experience it yourself, and hopefully you'll get what I mean by moving. (I don't think, that was a very coherent explaination)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKDXe0FP2wc

I hope you enjoy it!

P.S. Tor, I haven't been able to get a picture of the new hair, so I'll try and post it next time! Luv you girl!

It's The Bear Necessities

So a friend from work sent me this forward and I thought it was pretty funny. I was cranky, and he thought I could use one of those 'girls got it so tough' jabs.

FEMALE BEAR

If you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months.

I could deal with that.

Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid.

I could deal with that, too.

If you're a bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you're sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute cuddly cubs.

I could definitely deal with that.

If you're a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too.

I could deal with that.

If you're a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling.
He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.
He KNOWS not to get between you and the food.

Yup..... Gonna be a bear

DRASTIC

Yep...I did it-I cut my hair. I never thought I'd ever go short again. But I did. The main reason was because I lost like half my hair, and I was literally starting to go bald in some places. That's definetely not something I can pull off. So I knew the best thing would be to chop it all off. I thought I'd cry or freak or something, but I actually love it! I want it a little shorter, but this was a good start. I like it so much I might keep it for a few years. (I originally had the intention of cutting it and growing it back immediately). The braid in my hands I will be donating to Locks of Love. That's actually the reason I cut it that short. I figured that if I was going to try and salvage my hair, I might as well chop it all off and donate it.

I don't have a lot of other news except that I have been asked to be the secretary of HOPE choir. Um. I don't think I can say no, and it would be fun...but wow that's going to be a lot of work, bc I will probably still be doing most the choreography too.

My friend also wants me to try out for Miss SUU with her. Wierd. I remember wanting to do pageants when I was little, but it all seems really wierd to think about right now. If I do it- 'it's just for fun'. I'll keep you posted. It's very unlikely.

Work is going well, and Ben comes home soon! At the end of the summer, Krys(my roommate during the school year), and I might(might being key word) go on a basically free trek in Zions National park for a week or two, or going to Cali and literally walking down the coast for a week. We probably wont do Cali, because we're not spending money on this trip which means no hotel rooms. California is a scary enough place, sleeping on the beach probably wouldn't be a very good idea. We'll see.

Love you all!

A Lot and A Lot of Catch up

So sorry for the amazing lame picture post from last time...I was essentually pressed for time, and feeling bad that I hadn't posted in forever. I didn't realize how long it had been since I had posted last either, and now I am going to pay for it. SOOOOoooo much has happened.

So first things first: School. Oh my heck! It was unbelievably busy, and stressful-Like I wanted to cry. But as stressed as I was, I finished well. The things I thought I bombed I actually didn't. I ended up with a 3.95 YAY!!!! Exciting right? Well I hardly had any academic classes, and it's pretty hard to fail your dance classes so it is really more of a joke than anything else. The unfortunate part is that due to budget cuts my scholarship got cut to a 1/4 of the original. The ironic part-my GPA is higher than the gpa that got me the original scholarship. So somehow I am going to have to come up with the extra money. We'll see how that goes.

Next: Moving out. Have I mentioned I hate this? Hate, hate, hate, double hate, LOATHE ENTIRELY!!!!! (The Grinch reference was totally for you Steph, although the sentiments are still mine). I almost cried at that part too. So besides a couple of my roommates, namely Krys who is my room roommate, they have been huge jerks, who backstab, exclude, never never clean, and have the attitude of 'holier than thou'. Essentually, me, Krys, and another one of my roommates who they literally would never talk to, had to clean the majority of the house. It was disgusting. Since the garbage cans outside were full, they just started leaving all their junk/garbage on the floor and the table,moldy food in the fridge. If the house had been inspected by officials, it probably would have been condemned. (so maybe that's a little melodramatic, but not by much). Me and krys and one other roommate were the only ones who cleaned out of 8 girls. I have been holding back on complaining about this because I was trying to be patient and what not...but that last weekend cut that resolve. I was livid.

Third: HOPE tour. (above pictures) In a word: Hysterical! My stomach was literally aching by the end of tour from laughing so hard. But maybe I was laughing so hard beacuse I was slap happy. There was like no sleep for the whole tour. We went to a bunch of seminaries mainly and performed our show for like 7 hours, literally, and then had a few more that night. It was a lot of fun. My favorite memory was when one guy changed the narration in one of our songs from 'we will now perform for you 27 of the most popular songs of the century in the next 7 1/2 thrilling minutes! Hold on tight ladies and gentlemen....' to 'we will now perform for you 247,000 songs in the next 14 hours...gentlemen bolt the doors and prepare for the megamix of the millenium!' Of course it probably isn't funny to you...but the entire song was shot after that because everyone was laughing so hard. My most favorite part was singing at the retirement homes. The spirit was always so much stronger there than anywhere else. It was truly incredible.

For the last show my dad (pappi) came up. There is this part of the show that I have to go sing to the boys in the audience, and as I am making my way back to the stage, my jazz heel gets caught on the stair and I biff it. I mean it when I say that-I took a total faceplant-right in front of Pappi. It was classic. That half of the crowd was gasping and saying 'are you okay?' Never live that one down.

As for the present my plans have changed: I am currently living on campus as a summer activities assistant, and RA. I LOVE my job!!!! It is seriously such an awesome job! I basically host and plan family reunions, youth conferences/EFYs, girls state, and camps. I absolutely love it, and might take it again next summer.
Kay, so sorry that was unbelievably long, but I just had to get it out there.