When in doubt. . . .

...paint your nails.

This was my first time trying something with rhinestones. I think I like using them... expect something more creative as time goes by! I'm slowly getting better at this "nail art" stuff... and I don't even have any fancy-shmancy nail polish pens or anything! Gah, so much nail polish! I think I have a problem.

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After a week consisting of a 24 hour flu bug, last minute ballroom audition decisions, lots of book selling/buying, and plenty of chocolate, I have reached the middle of the first week of my last semester of college. The week started off as great as I could have asked, but the past 24+ hours have felt like a fiasco and a half. It did not help that I walked out the door for school this morning - already pushing for time - to find that it was snowing. I literally stopped in my tracks and stared at it, not believing that it could possibly be snowing on today of all days. Basically, I was wearing boots with no traction, nearly slipped several times, and was late to school - you'd think by now that I would learn to check the weather when getting ready in the mornings so I can dress accordingly... but no... Thank goodness for a dear, sweet, kind, loving husband who walks all the way back to school in the snow when I'm done with class to bring me my snow boots so I wouldn't have a miserable journey home.

Love that guy.

And I'm already impatient for spring.

In other news... this semester will consist of my last round of Gold Standard and Latin Ballroom classes, as well as my last semester doing Ballroom Team. Last semester doing ballroom ever, really, because I know I won't continue with competing or anything after college. It's a little sad to think about, but all good things come to an end. I wish wish wish that I had started Ballroom technique classes during my freshman year instead of halfway through my junior year; I could have gotten so much further with my dancing. Also, I love my teacher Brent, bless his little heart. So many people either dislike him or think he's too harsh, but he's just the sort of teacher I've needed during my ballroom experience. He's only hard because he expects so much of us; he has pushed me to be better, shown a level of subtle, indirect confidence in my potential as a dancer even when I sat there thinking I could never be good, and I know he has a heart of gold under all the work-you-till-you-drop exterior. To all those who give him anything less than "good quality" on Rate My Professors: you are brainless wusses. That is all.

Fudge in my Mailbox

All has been quiet on the blogging front because goodness knows that finals week is beastly. I am excited for vacation!

The last two weeks of the semester wrapped up nicely, though.
We had our last ballroom team performance of the semester. Viennese waltz... I love you. So fun. I also think I wore my ultra fuzzy and awesome Ballroom Dance Company jacket for a week straight.

I painted an 8 foot tall board for my scenic art class and it looked great in the end.
My final paper for my Dramatic Literature class is A-worthy, in my opinion.
I can now say that I got an A on Brent Keck's Gold 1 Latin Dance final. I never dreamed... gah. Speechless.
Christmas candles are the love of my life.
I fail at scheduling visiting teaching appointments.
There's nothing quite like a clean apartment.
Aspen Grove is beautiful when it's covered in snow. That's the second time I've had a Christmas party up there...
I made the discovery that The Santa Clause makes my hubby laugh. A lot. Which makes me laugh. A lot. It's a never ending cycle.

And... my finals week was topped off by opening a Christmas package from home and discovering that mom had put homemade fudge in the box. I almost died of happiness, I really did. How did she know I was craving it?!

This year will be the very first year in my life that I'm not home in California with my family for Christmas. I'm sure I will be sad about it on Christmas Day... but right now I'm super excited because I'm heading towards the opposite side of the country, and you'll never guess where I'm going!!!!

Maybe my freshly painted nails can give you a hint? Don't judge them too harshly, I took the picture right after I was done painting them, and I still haven't cleaned the edges with acetone... I was in a hurry and am currently in a plane flying far away from my nail care supplies.

SNOW! Oh wait...

Yes, we finally had snow here in Provo. However, that was a couple days ago and I'm just late on saying anything about it. So it's old news. All I know is that when I got home from trudging through the fresh snow back on Tuesday, I immediately threw on some comfy clothes, made some hot chocolate, and turned on a movie. So what if finals are in less than two weeks?! I'm a simple girl. Give me comfort on a snowy day and I will be happy.

In other news, my nail polish obsession is in full swing. I'm slowly getting better at doing things on my nails other than simply painting them all one color. It reminds me of my elementary school days where I would go to church every Sunday with a new design on my nails because I was obsessed with nail art. Well, I've found that obsession again. I'm just a bit (a lot) rusty.

And, for the record, I'm also obsessed with Julep nail polish. It just goes on so smoothly :)

I have been doing pretty good at keeping our apartment tidy... up until yesterday when I let the sink accumulate dishes and I decided to leave school supplies and my coat/gloves all over the couch. *Sigh... I was doing so well. At least my refrigerator has a friendly face on it that keeps smiling no matter what state my apartment is in!

These pictures are courtesy of Instagram, now that I actually (finally) have an account. I'm still new to the whole "Instagramming" thing so there aren't many pictures on my account yet, but you can still follow along!

There are only two weeks left until this semester is completely over with. Not that I'm counting or anything. The next couple weeks shouldn't be too bad though. I've been keeping all of my projects under thumb.

I have some fun things to look forward to, though! We have the BYU Ballroom Dance Company closing social to attend tonight, and it will be full of fancy clothes, yummy food, a live band, and lots of dancing. I'm getting a haircut (and I still don't know exactly what I want! GAH!). Next week I'll be performing a Viennese Waltz routine with my ballroom team at a Social Dance Lab. I'm singing in a trio this Sunday for church and then in another trio next Sunday. We have our ward Christmas party next Saturday at Aspen Grove. Also, I'm going to have the most awesome Christmas vacation ever. I won't say too much yet... spoilers! :)

I love the holiday season. So. Much.
Have I mentioned that?
So. Much.
I also eat way too much chocolate for my own good. But that's another story.