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.

Kelly Reminded me of this.

Another snapshot, just like last year:

Where I am: Sitting on my bed, in my apartment.

What I am wearing: Jeans, brown socks, yellow tank under a red long-sleeved shirt, under a black pinstriped vest. I was wearing a vest last time i did this too! which is funny because I don't actually wear vests that much. Also wearing a colorful native american patterned scarf from Icing, a white headband, gray pearl earrings, and my ring.

Where I am going after this: NOWHERE! I am home for the night, where it's nice and warm.

Stuff I want right now:
-Dinner. It's almost done. I can't wait to try this famous "sticky chicken."
-To not feel the guilt of not getting things done that so desperately need to get done.
-My packages to get here.

Currently reading: Nothing. I haven't been interested in books lately, unless they are craft-related

Currently watching: Nothing, actually, unless you count my youtube subscriptions. I watch makeup tutorials almost every day. :)

What I did yesterday:
-Packed to leave Salt Lake :(
-Went to see Tangled. Very awesome.
-Went thrift shopping with Kim. Also very awesome.
- Hung out at the Sharple's and played monkeyball. So fun!
-Ate dinner
-Drove back home to the cold north.
-Unpacked and crashed.

What I am doing tonight: Watching Van Helsing and maybe making crafts. :)

What I am doing tomorrow: Working..........................................

The background on my phone is: A hear in the snow made of footprints that I found on my parent's stairs.
The background on my laptop is: A scene from the movie "My Neighbor Totoro." But my computer is sick, so I am using Craig's. His background is a funny picture from his mission.

Who I miss: Miche. :(

How I feel right now: Like I have a lot of relaxing and fun things I want to do and not enough time for all of it. Dreading working for 9 hours tomorrow, because I just feel like being lazy. So, I guess I feel Lazy.

What I am thinking about: The various small tasks I should do tonight and wondering how late I can get away with staying up. And...dinner is almost done!!!

Feeling Nostalgic

Maybe it's because Christmas is coming, maybe it's because I have too much time to think and too little time to talk to people, I don't know, but I have been very nostalgic lately.

Sunday night my sisters and I watched two of my favorite childhood movies: Fievel Goes West and The Rogue Stallion. If you don't know, Fievel Goes West is a sequel to the 80's Steven Speilberg cartoon, An American Tale-which is a classic. This sequel is really cheesy, and I don't care so much for it now.

But Rogue Stallion....beautiful! I wonder if I can find it on DVD? I love that movie.

Anyway, I've actually been feeling even more nostalgic about the things I was involved in during Jr. High and High School. Yes, I definitely had the drama, immaturity, and general ridiculousness in my teen years that I am so glad is behind me. But I also had some great experiences. And I just want to shout out to my friends that were there with me.

Leadership For Greatness: Remember this awesome club? Our crazy speeches and debates we had to do, the service we were involved in, the event planning, dancing, competing in the Shakespeare Competition, discussing books and articles, thinking about how we could better ourselves and the world...this group made a huge impact on me. There are so many friends I made there that I don't talk to much anymore, but I will always hold them in high esteem.

Choir: This is where I first learned to hug my friends. Sounds wierd, but I was 13, shy and though I knew how to be myself, I didn't know how to do that while actually interacting with others. Choir used to be the highlight of my week. we all did so many crazy things, before, during and after practice. In conjunction with that, when I was 14, I was cast as the lead in the Pirates of Penzance. That was a big deal for me. It kind of still is, actually. A lot of people don't want to admit how being involved in musical theatre as a teen impacted them and that is was really exciting for them, but hey, it was awesome. I had a pretty great group of friends.

Clogging: I had a great team. A lot of other dance teams had drama going on between them, but my team was so chill. Competitions were so fun.

Art class: This was my secret refuge. While there was all sorts of craziness going on in chior, LFG, and dance, this was such a completely different environment. We all just sat there, quietly drawing, talking, and joking in my art teacher's awesome studio, while interesting music or books on CD played in the background. Zach, remember all the wierd jokes we made up? And remember those hyper girls that always sang the words "paint your hair"? I remember that kid that drew a picture of the band Nirvana, and I remember all the random discussions about metaphysics, and "crystal children", and the beauty of nature. I miss that. Sometimes I think I should just get a group of friends to draw or color with me every week to see if we can get amazing conversations like that going again.

Babysitting: This was my other secret refuge. I babysat this great family in my ward, Connor, Emmy, and eventually Simon. I had funnier inside jokes with these kids than I did with my friends! This family introduced me to some of my favorite things. We did all sorts of fun things; playing sonic and monkeyball until our brains were completely over-stimuated, playing music and having mini dance parties, Emmy and I giving each other glitter-tastic makeovers, watching Studio Ghibli movies, Otter-Pops and Oreos, and overly-buttered popcorn to the max, those giant blocks that we built a castle with, playing piano for each other, and making sure nothing got destroyed when oreo and otterpop induced frenzies came on. I loved it. This was THE place to be silly make all those hilarious jokes that wouldn't appeal all my "cool" teenage friends. Connor and Emmy, thanks. I don't know if you will ever know how great those times were for me.

And then there was going to all the dances, the group games, "ghost in the graveyard", playing on the rope swing, walking to the park and looking at everything on the way, sleepovers, walking more places-it was just fun to walk around and see everything.
Thanks friends, for making me not completely hate being a teenager. And a special thanks to those that are still with me, looking forward to more exploration, more joking around, and more mind-blowing conversations.

Stuff to anticipate.

I'm going to try to make this short, because I should be doing homework. I am SWAMPED with homework.

Right now, there are a few things in my life that I am anticipating.

1. Animals. Lately, I am just dying for a little pet. I miss my little doggies at my parent's house so much! I can't wait to see them in a couple days. Also, I found a little dog on facebook named Boo. Boo is probably one of the cutest things I have ever seen pictures and videos of, ever. He makes sunshine explode out of my heart and vocal chords whenever I look at his page. I think he is a Pomeranian with a haircut. So now I love Pomeranian.

And on top of that, Craig and I went to Petsmart just for fun on Saturday because we both love animals so much that even looking at them at a pet store makes us giddy. Heck, we even like looking at the toys and treats. Well, Saturdays at petsmart are adoption days, meaning they bring in animals for the local shelter for people to interact with and adopt. Guess what was there? A Pomeranian. She was so adorable, that I almost cried. The whole rest of the afternoon I imagined me and this little cute dog being best friends and all the fun times we would have together.

So after that experience I decided that I want to volunteer at the animal shelter, and that is what I am anticipating. I hope it works out.

2. Harry Potter. We are such crazy fanatics that we are dressing up, partying, and going to the midnight showing. I don't really even care too much about how the movie measures up to the book, I just love the experience of it all!!

3. Holidays. I am so excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I told my mom that we are Black Friday shopping thanksgiving night at the mall this year. So excited. Mostly, I am just excited to spend time with my family. Mine and Craig's niece is walking now, and she is sooo cute. And my sister, Laura, is coming home for a while and I have hardly seen her since I got married. I just miss everyone so much and can't wait to see them!!