Then and Now

One Year Ago Today:

photo taken by Aaron one year ago

Today:

photo taken by me. awesome right?

Quite the difference eh? Hard to believe my knee has come so far in a year...sigh. (stay tuned for a recap of my fabulous weekend. :o) )

Also - HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

two years ago
three years ago

Happy Halloween Weekend!!!

It's Halloween weekend you guys! YAY!!! Yesterday at work we celebrated by eating lots of yummy food and dressing up. My coworkers and I coordinated our costumes and did a Grease theme. All of us customer service ladies were Pink Ladies and our boss was one of the T-birds. Wig and all. It was awesome. :o)

Tonight, SwingKid and I have a Halloween party to go to and we are also coordinating costumes and going as a 1920s couple. I am SO SO SO excited. This is the first year, in a long time, that I have ever coordinated costumes with friends and/or a significant other. It makes my heart really happy.

Also. Tomorrow is going to be awesome. My mom sent my outfit back to me (after my sewing machine and I got into a fight) and it looks GORGEOUS on me. I'm so super excited about it. PLUS the ballet should be INCREDIBLE and I am very much looking forward to that as well.

With that, I'll leave you with a Friday Fill-in and hope that you have a spooky Halloween!!! :o)

1. While the cat's away the mice will play. Hard.

2. This weekend is going to be mucho fabuloso!

3. Children say the darndest things.

4. I always like to sit on the couch and veg for a few minutes when I get home from work or shopping or what have you.

5. This may seem odd, but I really love dressing up.

6. Since Halloween falls on a Sunday, I'm celebrating tonight and that seems like a fine idea to me!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to an awesome Halloween party, tomorrow my plans include Ballet West's Carmina Burana and the Four Temperments and Sunday, I want to enjoy the final day of the month!

 five years ago

Snow??

So I woke up to find 2 inches of snow on the ground this morning. I was not so happy about this. Also...my coworkers came in singing Christmas music. I am one of "those" people that doesn't like Christmas music until AFTER Thanksgiving. Not to be a scrooge or anything, but I like my holidays to each have their own moments. So I am not a fan of listening to Christmas until after Thanksgiving is over. :o)

In other news I went to they gym yesterday and started day one of MY couch to 5k program. It felt pretty good. The downside is that I was supposed to go Monday - but something got in the way (read: SwingKid) so I went last night, but I can't go tomorrow so in order to get my 3x in this week I have to go tonight and then Saturday morning (which I was already planning on). So...two days in a row! Today will be hard. BUT I WILL DO IT.

Finally, I have a really good Thur-Sunday planned and I'm very much looking forward to all of my awesome plans. I first have to get through today - the ever hated Wednesday. :P

Have a good day y'all!!


two years ago

Motivation? zero. zilch. nada.

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So. I'm trying to be healthy. I really am. I've lowered my red meat intake, I try not to eat the sweets offered at work and I try to keep desserts at home to a minimum. (minus special occasions of course)

but going to the gym? it's just not happening. I missed ALL of last week. The week before was a lame week. i haven't been to a cycle class in ages.

sigh. i'm not fat. I'm really not. However, I do have more fat then muscle. my % body fat is a little high. I would love to not have those rolls around my tummy. (i mean, who does?!)

And that should be enough motivation, but the fact is that it isn't. After working a 9-hour day, teaching an hour + ballet class (where I don't dance too much, I give corrections, but I rarely break a sweat.) and driving to and from said activities makes me TIRED! I don't WANT to got to the gym after all that. I want to curl up on my couch next to SwingKid and read a good book. Working out in the mornings isn't an option seeing how I have to be in the office at 7 am. And there is no way I'm getting to the gym at 5 am. NO WAY.

I've tried going during my favorite tv shows and watching them while running away on the treadmill.

I've tried giving myself rewards when I hit certain goals.

I've tried lots of things and I just don't know what to do anymore.

Today, today I'm going to start the couch to 5k program. Except, I'm not quite in "couch" condition. So I think I'm going to start on Week 3. We'll see how this treats me. I just wish there was some easy way to find that motivation button. It's hiding and sometimes I hate playing hide and go seek. Today is one of those days.


three years ago

the weekend is sooo close...

I can smell it. I really can. This weekend is going to be awesome. Even if SwingKid is going to gone for most of it because of a funeral and I was really upset about this at the beginning of the week. Now! Now I have wonderful plans full of awesomeness and the such. :o)

All I have to do now is get through the 1.5 hours of work plus the 1 hour ballet class I have tonight. The ballet class will be cake. I love that class. It's one of my faves. :o)

So...my weekend looks a little like this:

tonight = Blue Tango night. I love dancing and I am SO looking forward to a night of letting loose.

tomorrow = sleeping in! (a little bit. not too much mind you. I have things to do! places to be! people to see!)
I also am thinking that I will make THIS for breakfast because I can and because I need something yummy to start my day off right. Then I plan on cleaning my room, doing laundry and giving the bathroom a good cleaning as well.  After all that I'll need to get all cute and stuff and I'll be heading up to SLC to have lunch with my lovely friends. I am really stoked about that part of my day.  After that I need to make some granola bars and rehearse my ballet company. Tomorrow evening I plan on making some cute cake pops and prepping for my kick-a Halloween ballet classes for next week. I will top the evening off with going to bed at a decent hour. :o)

Saturday = teaching my ballet company. I also plan on watching the BYU vs Wyoming game, going shoe shopping with Sister B and making cupcakes. The cupcakes are to celebrate 2 things. Thing1: my roommate's birthday on Sunday and Thing 2: my knee's birthday! That's right! My knee is turning ONE YEAR OLD on Saturday. :o) How awesome is that? Hard to believe it has already been a year. Go me.

Sunday = church, a nap, maybe making good food and basically chillin' out. :o)

So yeah. Should be a pretty good weekend. Full of good food, good friends, and new shoes (hopefully!)  Hope all y'all enjoy your weekend. Loves!!

five years ago

Life Changes

It is interesting to me how life changes. 6 years ago I was struggling as a Freshman at BYU trying to figure out what I needed to do in order to get good grades. 2 years ago I was in the beginnings of my relationship with SwingKid, getting ready for graduation, and trying to decide what to do with my life.  One year ago I was prepping for knee surgery after dealing with my first major injury in my dancing career.  Today I am a working professional in a customer service job, I teach ballet and am a co-director for a ballet company that is my alma mater. Today, I have a boyfriend of 2+ years and I'm still trying to figure out what I am going to keep doing for the rest of my life.  It's odd how for so many years of my life it was all about college. The relationship drama, the single's ward drama, the dance department drama, etc. Most days had some kind of rhythm to them and yet at the same time were different in their own unique way. (especially as my schedule got more convoluted my last few semesters.) Today, each day is basically the same. Days vary a little bit with what I have to do at work (but not by much) and my classes that I teach are different each day - but yet each day seems much like the one before it. 

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How do you keep growing when life feels the same? I am a real-life adult now and I'm not sure how that happened. This is my life right now and I'm just not sure what I want from it.

Anyways. Life is really good, it really is. I do like the day-to-day things that I have on my plate and heaven knows I love teaching. Sometimes I just wonder if there is something else I should or could be doing with my life, but I guess that's how it goes huh? We always wonder about our current circumstances. We just have to trust that we are doing everything we possibly can and create goals to help us grow and learn and live a very full life. It's not always easy to do that....but I am going to do my darn best to find fullfillment in my life NOW and not wait for it to come sometime down this road I am on.

PS. Today is my little bro C's birthday. He is 18. Happy Birthday bro. :o)


one year ago

because I had one of the worst weekends ever....

seriously. me and my sewing machine got in a fight. i surrendered. basically....(I hate admitting this, but I can't lie...) I ALMOST finished my project but then my machine decided to hate on the invisible zipper foot. So instead of crying anymore about this project (many tears were shed this weekend) I am mailing it to my mommy and she is going to put the zippers in the project for me. (and probably hem it too since it will take her like a blink of an eye to do it, where as it would take me hours) I am still very proud with how much I got done and what I have produced. Sometimes, you just have to admit defeat and ask for help. Sigh. Luckily, I know it is going to look awesome and my mom is amazing. :o)

and now, just to remind my self that I am loved I bring to you:

Little Things That Make Me Grin Like A School Girl

• simple text messages from my boy. these make me warm and fuzzy for days!

• even 5 minutes with him is better than nothing! although, i would rather spend more time with him of course!

• having a tickle fight. (even if I always lose)

• when he randomly stops by work to say hi and give me a kiss (especially on the HARD days)

• when he humors me and my crazy ideas for date nights (for example - friday night, we made a fort and read children books inside said fort. It was AWESOME and he loved it.)

• songs that make think of him

Anyways. Even when days are hard, if I remember any of these little tidbits I am happy again. :o) Yay Love!

ps. aren't these mugs AWESOME! I think I need one. :o)

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hair, boredom, and filling in for Friday.

You guys, I 'm growing out my hair (on my head. not, say, on my legs). I hate growing hair. It's such a pain in the butt and really, really annoying. About 2 months ago I FINALLY got out of the awkward hair growing phase. See...When I graduated a year and half ago, I was still sporting an Alice Cullen-esque hairdo. I had been wearing this look since November of 2008 and in April of 2009 I had decided enough was enough. (This just a month after cutting this short...again) So I began the process of growing out my hair.  Because of my SHORT, LAYERED haircut, I had a long, long, long road ahead of me.  Luckily for me, SwingKid's sister has kept me entertained (I love change) by switching up the hair color. I went blonde (for a good long while) and I have been red for a good long while as well.

Now....I am getting bored again. I LOVE the length (just past my shoulders, to just about my collarbone with some slight layering...still growing those layers out) and I have LOVED the color. This last time we went a little darker red with fewer streaks of blonde, but it looks good and I love it. I really do, but being who I am, I am bored. My next appointment is weeks away (weeks guys.) but I know I am going to want something different. Problem is, I don't know what that is since I'm still trying to get my hair a lot longer. Sigh. Suggestions?

Anyways. Now that I've bored you out of your mind about my hair, it's time for some Friday Fill-In-ness. here goes!

1. Wow, it's the middle of October. How did that happen?

2. Today, I feel beautiful.

3. My favorite way to start a day is waking up as the sun fills my room and then I want to be greeted with french toast, sausage and a good morning kiss.

4. Once I had a dream about SwingKid and he walked in the door holding a pumpkin.

5. I look out my window and see a building, a parking lot, and a mountain. far far away.

6. My plans for the ballet at the end of the month is what I've been thinking about lately.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to our fort building date night, tomorrow my plans include working several hours on a sewing project and Sunday, I want to finish up my visiting teaching!

one year ago 
two years ago

the REAL Columbus Day

Did you know that the 12th of October is actually the TRADITIONAL Columbus Day? It's a true story!

Today also happens to be my daddy's birthday!! I have the best Dad in the whole wide world and I am so glad that he's mine!! :o) I won't mention his age *cough49cough* but he's still young at heart so it doesn't really matter anyways.

Happy Birthday Dad!

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Also.

Today is Tuesday. So that equals Ten on Tuesday questions! so...here we go!


1. What does your work out schedule look like?
I run on a treadmill on Mondays, take a cycle class on Wednesdays and either go to the gym on Fridays or Saturdays or both and do some running and maybe some strength training. PLUS, I teach ballet 5 days a week. that's got to count for something.

2. What is your favorite machine to use at the gym?
I love the treadmill. Especially one with a tv so I can watch whatever I want.

3. What is your favorite class to take at the gym?
hands down: Cycle. LOVE me a spin/cycle class.

4. Where do you shop for work out gear and clothing?
uh....walmart?

5. If you can’t go to the gym, do you have a favorite outdoor activity?
hmmm. I like to play volleyball. I'm not a huge outside runner...but i will go outside on occasion.

6. What about a favorite work out DVD? If so, please share!
um. I don't have a fave. I have a couple yoga ones, but they don't  come out as often as they should.

7. Are you more active now or when you were in high school?
high school. in a way.

8. How has your dieting/working out philosophy changed since high school?
I actually think about it now. I didn't have to worry in high school. I was tiny and had a VERY high metabolism. I ate whatever I wanted whenever I wanted and was still in little girl sizes when I graduated.

9. What do you do while working out– (i.e., day dream, read, listen to music, gab with a friend)?
i either listen to music or watch a show.

10. What working out resolution would you like to make for yourself this year?
I need to be better about pushing myself while at the gym. I go...but I've been a lazy bum about it.

one year ago

Monday Woes

Here is a small (not) list of my woes today. Sigh. Monday and I haven't been friends today.

• I went to bed way too late to make waking up at 6 am acceptable this morning
• I gave all of my close coworkers a caramel apple that I made w/SiwngKid's sister and sister-in-law on Friday...but didn't bring one for myself. So all morning peeps were eating caramel apples and i got none (until I went home for lunch.)
• I am sleepy and want a nap
• the program for entering orders (stupid stupid program) was running like molasses in January today. Seriously. Orders took me 2.5 hours to enter. It should have been more like 1.5
• my nail polish is chipping. i redid my nails on Saturday. i am mad that it is chipping
• I forgot something I was going to exchange at JoAnn's tonight. So it has to wait. Which means my project that i am working on has to wait. (although, honestly? i probably wouldn't have worked on it tonight anyways. it takes a TON of my concentration. I will post picks of it when I am done. because I am awesome like that)
• my brain hurts because i am tired
• I have to drive in CRAZY construction traffic to teach tonight. I hate traffic.
• I am still sore from hiking the Y this past weekend. but it was SO worth it. SwingKid's a peach for taking me.
• We don't have any plans for date night this week so I feel like I have nothing to look forward to when work ends on Friday evening. :o( My next two weekends though...those are going to be AWESOME.
• I don't want to cook dinner...but I don't want leftovers today.

 hope your Monday has been better than mine!


three years ago

Fall Friday!

I love Fridays. I especially love the Fridays when I don't have to work. Today happens to be my favorite type of Friday. :o) I do have a 45 minute rehearsal with my company, but I love that so I'm not worried.

This week has been good...but long and busy. I haven't had a ton of "me" time so I'm excited to get some things done around town and my apartment. Hurrah!

And now! FRIDAY FILL-INS!!


1. My favorite month is March because that's when my birthday is!

2. I love sunny days with a fresh breeze.

3. I love to sniff flowers and men wearing cologne. I need some good stuff for SwingKid. Any suggestions?

4. CAKE! is what I like to have as a treat for breakfast.

5. The hobby I enjoy most is dancing. Any kind really.

6. Christmas is coming, oh my!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Castle, tomato basil soup and scary movie night with SwingKid, tomorrow my plans include teaching, cleaning and hiking the Y and Sunday, I want to start me newest craft project (more details later!)!

while life is busy...

since life is currently taking control of me right now I'll just leave you with the following pictures that have me wishing I was anywhere but at my desk working right now.  loves!!

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three years ago
four years ago
five years ago

approximately one year ago...

I went to my first (of many!) Orthopedic surgeon visits.  I met my awesome doctor and found out that I had torn my ACL.  In just a few weeks my knee will celebrate it's first birthday. :o) 

Lately, my knee has been bothering me. A little popping here and there, a lot of stiffness on some days, not wanting to straighten all the way on other days. I'm not going to lie, it has had me a little concerned. However, I did a little research and it seems to be that it's most likely from scar tissue.

This morning, my alarm jolted me awake and in order to snooze it I had to get out of bed (done on purpose!). When I went to get out of bed my knee gave out and I ended up on the floor a little surprised and slightly worried....but got back into bed for my 5 more minutes of sleep.

However, this morning my knee has been the worst ever since the popping/stiffness started.  So anyone out there....is this normal? Have you had popping and lots of stiffness issues?  Also...my left eye has been twitching off and on all morning. So odd. I must just be getting old. ha ha ha.

Anyways. It's been an interesting morning, but as long as I can get through today (being Monday and all) then I figure I can get through the rest of the week. It's my 4-day work week! woo hoo!


two years ago
five years ago

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toilet paper snob

I decided the other day that I'm a toilet paper snob. There some kinds of TP that I just loathe. My roommate just bought said TP. I hate it. I can't wait for it to be all gone and hope that she buys something different. *I* buy the nice stuff. Soft. thick. None of this see-through tissue paper business that is currently in the bathroom.

anyways. I feel better now that I've said something. Moving on....to Friday Fill-ins!! It's been awhile since I've played (granted, it hasn't posted in awhile either...) so here you go!

1. My back sometimes gets out of whack and I hate that.

2. I like to pretend I'm really, really wild.

3. Leaves are falling all around, and I love them!

4. I hate when I'm plagued with forgetfulness.

5. Healing is never a quick process.

6. Working on all sorts of choreography is what I've been up to lately!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to date night with SwingKid, tomorrow my plans include loads of awesomeness aka General Conference and a GNO and Sunday, I want to continue the awesomeness of General Conference!

one year ago 
two years ago
three years ago