100 Days

Kindergarten.
Part way into the school year, my teacher announced that we had made it through 100 days of school. We had a party. They gave us 100 treats (10 pretzels, 10 M&Ms, 10 marshmallows, etc. and then you add them all up to 100). There were balloons. There was CapriSun. It was quite the accomplishment for a little kindergartner.

That was so long ago.

Yesterday marked 100 days until I am done with college. That includes weekends, so it's a little different than the 100 days of school that I celebrated as a kindergartner... but still. The point is that it's so strange to think of that day years ago when I celebrated having 100 days of school under my belt and compare it to where I am today, with only 99 days left until I'm a graduated woman. And tomorrow will be 98. AH!

Strange. It reminds me that I'm grown up. And I keep growing up.

Scary.

I think I'll go scarf down post-Christmas chocolate now.

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.

Brace Yourselves

Autumn is coming

The first leaves have fallen.
Capri pants will soon be a thing of the past.
My flip-flops are going to retire soon and be replaced by boots and other warmer shoes.
And I am so thoroughly excited about it.

The small changes in the weather and the environment are almost making me giddy. My fall decorations are going up soon! You guys, I'm dying here! It's the best time of the year, in my opinion! So very very excited :)

And I had my very last First Day of School today. In case anyone was wondering. Aww, how precious. And it was a little anti-climactic because I only had one class, and it didn't meet until the afternoon. Oh, the perks of being a college senior. I'll be up bright and early tomorrow for my ballroom class auditions though! Fingers crossed!