different.

"You're just a little...different. But there's something kind of fantastic about that." -Fantastic Mr Fox

I like being different. Many people do. And recently, I have realized that I have changed a lot since I got married 7 months ago. Most people do. Which is pretty fantastic.

How I have changed in:

My Style-I guess you could say my style has become more "grown-up", but that doesn't mean it has calmed down at all. I still like to have tons of fun with color and accessories. In fact, my sense of style has probably broadened since I got married. I think it's because I care even less about what people think, now that I don't have to keep my options open for a suitor. Let's just say you probably won't see me running around in khaki pants and a polo or button-down-solid/striped preppy shirt anytime soon unless required by an employer.

This gypsy costume is closer to my everyday style than...Khakis and Polos.

I hate doing my hair even more now than before. Every year I seem to care less and less about using a curling iron or straightener. Here's the thing: a couple years ago I discovered that in all Marc Jacobs ads, the girls had a very product-free looking bed-head wave hairstyle, which I can pretty much replicate if I just sleep on my hair wet and then not do anything with it in the morning. That's what I did all last summer, when my hair was long. But sadly, right now it's shoulder length, and I don't know what to do with it.

Also, I have mastered the perfect cat-eye eyeliner look.

Entertainment:
I love Saturday Night Live now. Also, I actually take an effort to search out new and interesting music for myself. I used to kinda just stick to my staples unless a friend was "kind" enough to force me to get into some other bands. Still don't like when people try to get me to try their music and talk it up a ton. Because...then we don't talk and just end up listening to segments of songs and my attention span goes out the window.

Personality:

I like dogs more now. I liked dogs before, but now I just love dogs. Even the little snooty ones. (Except mini poodles and chiuauas.) I think Craig passed this trait on to me.

I miss these little cuties so much!!! Every time I go to "The Burrow" (code for my parent's house) these little faces excitedly greet me and my heart explodes with furry, vanilla-frosting joy. Miss Stacy (the one in the top photo) is my soul sister. If she was human, I know she would be hanging out with me and my best girls Kim and Miche all the time and we'd buy vintage clothes together. P.S. I was going to include a photo of the new dog, corduroy, but accidentally deleted it from the post :( and I am sick of uploading photos.

I am quieter. I am often at a loss of what to say, and I like listening more now too. I also like to be home more now. Don't be fooled, I still have to get out and socialize in order to keep my sanity, but it's great to sit around at home with Craig and watch movies and make accessories. By the way, I make waayyy cuter accessories now than before I got married.

I liked spending time with family before, but I really really like it now. Craig's family included. My family is just so darn funny, and no one even knows it! I have these awesome grandparents (that really do feel like more than in-laws) and all my sisters are even more fun than ever. I mean look at us all dressed up for Harry Potter:
This is us in age order.

This is us in height order. Awesome.

Lastly, I like babies more. I used to be scared of interacting with babies; I was super scared I would make them cry really loud somehow and their mothers would disown me as a friend. But Craig and I have this niece who is pretty much adorable. She has won me over to the "I think babies are pretty darn cute club."

This is me with Carlie. She's so cute!

And here's a bonus picture of Craig and I in a cuddle puddle with the dogs.

classes and other things

Well, I just had my first week of the new semester. I am taking Infancy, Adolescence, Abuse and Neglect, and Ceramics. I acturall like all my classes and teachers so far this semester. I've already had classes from 2 of them, so I kind of know what to expect. I also have at least one friend in each class, so that makes it much more enjoyable. It's definitely nice when you get further in a major because you start to have classes with all the same people. Lucky for me, FCHD majors are usually very down to earth. Well, ok. You would have to be pretty down to earth to be succesful in the home and family field. In a couple weeks I will be starting infant lab, which is basically where I get to teach and play with cute little 2-yr.-olds for a couple hours every tuesday. I think it's going to be a great experience.

I love ceramics. I have always wanted to take a ceramics class, ever since I started college, so this is great. It feels good to sit there and create. I create a lot at home too; making all sorts of accessories, but ceramics is nice because it involves a lot of repetitive motion and a totally different kind of mindset.

As usual, work keeps me busy. I feel like I am getting pretty good at this whole janitorial thing. I walk much much faster now and I have actually become much stronger. I have plenty of gross toilet stories I could share, but I won't.

The Escapist (My alter ego if you don't know) hasn't been let out to play much lately, and I was starting to go crazy. Although we did throw a cultural dance party in December, and that was great, I worried a llittle too much about being a good hostess to really loosen up. You may ask what a cultural dance party is. Well, it basically where you dance to music from other countries and cultures than your own. Pretty straightforward.

Anyway, last night I finally let the escapist have some time. I basically set aside somedaydreaming time where I just listend to movie soundtracks and let my mind wander. It was great. The best daydream by far was where I was learning how to use my magical powers from a gryffon, and we found out Craig had the ability to talk to and understand animals. It was awesome.

So yeah. I feel pretty good about life right now.

A few goals.

It's kind of fun to make new years resolutions:

1. Clean the bathroom once a week. This includes scrubbing the toilet, cleaning the mirror, counter, and sink, mopping and sweeping, and spraying down the shower with shower cleaner.
2. Try a new makeup look once a week. I got this idea from Michelle Phan..it's actually one of her resolutions. It can get so easy to be stuck in a rut and un-creative.
3. Actually pay attention when Craig and I read scriptures together. This means taking turns and each of us saying an insight afterwards.
4. Do dishes every time I eat. Seriously!

Well, that's a pretty good list. Wanna know a secret to actually accomplishing goals? Keep them simple and specific and use numbers.

A bad example of a goal: Pick more stuff off my floor.

A good example of a goal: Put away 20 things off of my floor each night before going to bed.

Hope that helps.

a year of intense dynamics

Winter was forte.

The Good: I walked to school almost every day, instead of taking the bus. I also excercised regularly. I felt so strong. I also had an exciting group of friends in my apartment complex, and made tones of memories. I had the coolest dance party ever at my apartment. I took a nutrition class that made a huge impact on me. I relied a lot on my IWA sisters for support.

The Bad: Pressures of engagment-not my favorite thing. Being far away from Craig-REALLY not my favorite thing. Also, I was the "mom" of an FHE group that dragged thier feet.

Spring was fortissimo.

The Good: I got married! Along with that came many exciting things such as getting engagments taken, shopping for wedding accessories, and bridal showers (which were the best). One thing I especially enjoyed was getting our stuff moved into our apartment in the weeks before the wedding. The wedding day on June 1st was the peak of the crescendo.
Other non-wedding related good stuff: Hosted an interpretive dance party, did a really fun promotion with Wii Fit Plus, (Wii promotions are always the best!) and a really fun craft fair.

The Bad: I got strep throat for the first time. Basically there was just too much stress with the wedding. So stressful.

Summer was piano.

The good: Obviously, the best part of this summer was getting to see Craig every day. He taught me how to play frisbee, we got to go grocery shopping together ( I still love grocery shopping with him. Every time.) We went to the park at night to talk and play frisbee almost every day. Of course, we went to Salt Lake almost every weekend to see family and friends and we had some pretty good times playing around in Salt Lake. We also went hiking a few times too.

The Bad: I was very sick and tired the whole summer. I think all the stress from the wedding finally manisfested itself in it's true form of fatigue and sickness. My birth control also took a toll on me as I didn't know that a possible side effect was chronic depression. I had never been depressed before, so I barely even knew how to recognize it. On top of that, I spent most of the summer desperately job hunting while craig was gone all day at work. Job hunting+depression+being alone most of the day=BAD BAD BAD

Fall was mezzo piano.

The Good: I made new friends in my ward and classes, I got a great job, and after a lot of struggling, made some decisions with my schooling that I feel good about. I went and halped out at the Sleepy Millcreek Hollow faire-a halloween faire with a haunted trail and arts and craft booths. Craig and I also hosted halloween parties for our families, as well as a cultural dance party in december. I worked a promotion at the mall Thanksgiving night, after which a shopped and found some great deals. Also, I was called as a chior member and a relief society meeting coordinator in my ward. I planned a really fun skincare workshop that confirmed how much I would love to be an esthetician.

The Bad: Half my classes seemed pointless to me and one particular class was full of horrible readings, assigments, and quizzes that really were pointless. I also feel like most of my friends from last year don't want to talk to me anymore because I am married. I know that's a pretty natural thing that happens to many people, but it was dissapointing for me, especially since I really haven't changed much since getting married.

What I learned this year: Sometimes the answers to problems are incredibly simple. Life doesn't have to be a huge fancy effort to be wonderful. Most of the time natural and simple is better.