Because Gene Kelly is that awesome

You guys. I'm done with the month of March. You don't even know how happy I am about that.

I've had a nice, long, hard month full of ballroom competitions and performances, plenty of homework, and a one-month rehearsal process for the production Jimmy Stewart Goes to Hollywood. We just had our performances this weekend, so the amount of things I have to do in April is half of what I was doing in March. Are there still projects and papers? Yes. Is there still a big, fancy ballroom concert to prepare for that I'm having three 6:30 AM rehearsals for this week? Yes. But there are only two weeks of classes left in my college career - then finals - then graduation!

Meanwhile, let me show off these bright, happy yellow dresses that we used for one of our most recent performances. We did a quickstep to the song "Good Morning" and so I had Gene Kelly constantly echoing in my head, while simultaneously doing a play where the all the characters are from the golden age of Hollywood. Lots of classics in my life. Because people like Jimmy Stewart, Gene Kelly, and Ginger Rogers are all so great.

Happy yellow dresses. I think they're my favorite costume we've had (although I have not seen what costumes we'll be wearing for the concert yet).

Needless to say, every time I'm around my team members in the morning this song is bound to come up. Who can't spend a month working on a quickstep to "Good Morning" and not start singing it every morning?!

Happy end of March, everyone. The green buds that are appearing on the trees are telling me it's going to be a good month.

I May or May Not

Sometimes, life gets rough. For me... for you... for all of us. I have rough days/weeks, just like everybody else. And this may or may not have been one of those weeks. And it's not over yet.

I may or may not have gone for 42 hours straight with no sleep on Tuesday/Wednesday.

I may or may not be sick right now.

I may or may not have sat on my bum and helped with nothing at rehearsal tonight because I'm sick and tired.

I may or may not be changing my major.

I may or may not be tired of taking 11 classes at once.

I may or may not have lost my voice. And I'm in charge of music at Seussical callbacks tomorrow.

I may or may not have gotten angry at Provo for snowing earlier this week.

I may or may not have a super busy weekend ahead of me.

But ya know what? I'm still SO blessed. So very, very blessed. There could be far worse things that I have to deal with in my life, and I am fortunate to be where I'm at and who I am. Besides... I have so much to look forward to! Only two days of classes left. Just one oral report and one written final left to take. I can sleep in on Wednesday for the first time in forever. Doug and I are going to Tucanos that same day. My father-in-law is coming to visit us in just a couple weeks. Seussical is going to be so fun to work on.

I saw this list on facebook. And I basically agree with every single thing on it:

I should always strive to think positively, count my blessings, and find things to look forward to. Doing that can brighten the days where I want to collapse and do nothing. I know I will be okay! And that is such a great thing to know.

Plus... I have such a great husband. Picking me up from campus even though it only takes 15 minutes to walk, giving up his time just so he can be at home with me while I'm sitting and stressing over homework or projects, smiling the biggest smiles I've ever seen when he finally sees me again after a long school day, making me food and doing dishes, telling me I'm beautiful when I do not feel pretty at all... yep. He's a keeper. I'm so glad I'm with him forever.

Because research papers are a pain in the rump

I don't feel guilty about pigging out on ice cream and gummy bears today.

Not in the slightest.

When you finish a humongous, monstrous research paper...

you just have to reward yourself somehow.

Especially when that paper makes your heart palpitate randomly because of all the stress.

Not fun.

Mint chocolate chip. SO good.

No guilt whatsoever.

Especially because I did 3 consecutive hours of dance today.

Goodness, I wish I could just dance forever...

My body really enjoys the stretching and movement and exercise.

I'm going to be really sad when I graduate and can't take as many dance classes as I want anymore.

"Tis The Season" Tag

Classes are done with! Hallelujah! Finals are going to be a piece of cake compared to this past week.
I think I've gotten about 5 hours of sleep in the past 65 hours. BUT there are no classes to go to tomorrow, so I get to sleep in! Whoooo!

In the meantime, let's get in a Christmas mood!

First of all, I would love to win a photo shoot in this giveaway. The hubs and I need some Christmas pictures! Go check it out if you live in the Utah Valley area, this gal takes some great photos!

Second of all, I was tagged by Madison from Tall Tales at Tea Time to do this cute little "Tis the Season" tag, so here are my answers to the questions!

1.) As of right now, how many sleeps until Christmas?

Nineteen!

2.) What is number one on your wish list?

Uuuuuuum... boots? A fancy-shmancy camera would be nice, but that's not gonna happen.

3.) How do you get in the holiday spirit?

Decorating, listening to Christmas tunes, and burning my Peppermint Mocha Candle! Yum!

4.) What goes on on Christmas Eve at your house?

We go to my Grandparent's house for dinner and do some fun traditions

5.) How does Santa operate at your house?
Santa always comes! He never wraps our gifts though, they're just all laid out for us.

6.) What's a tradition you love?

Making and decorating sugar cookies!

7.) Do you give gifts?

Yep!

8.) What's your favorite holiday drink?

Hot chocolate and apple cider are great, but I've definitely been favoring eggnog this year!

9.) What about your favorite holiday food?

My mom's sugar cookies. Hands down. Or her fudge.

10.) What is your favorite Christmas movie?

Oh goodness, this is hard... I like the Jim Carrey version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas

11.) If you worked in Santa's workshop, what would you be doing?

I'd be taste-testing all of the sweets and goodies.

12.) Can YOU do this tag?

I tag all my readers! Spread the Christmas cheer, my lovelies!

Now that my stress-level has been cut in half, I'll be posting more frequently again.

I'm sorry that I neglected you, my poor blog!

Until then... goodnight! This chick is tired! 5 hours is not as lot to be living off of...

Must... survive... finals!

You know... I'm really tired of school. No joke. At least, tired of this semester.
This is basically the theme of my life right now:

Five big projects due this week. 4 finals and a classroom management handbook to do the week after. I've been beyond stressed. Just ask my husband... he'll tell you, he's seen me flipping out. If I don't post much this week, you'll know why.

But... I will survive!!!

The hubs and I went to Riverwoods last night, and I knew it would be all lit up and pretty. And I knew that I would regret not taking my camera. But I left it at home anyways. That way, I could just walk around and look at the lights and go in stores without having to worry about taking pictures. Take that, blog!

I also need to go buy some cookie cutters. And a dough roller. My mom's amazing sugar cookie recipe is calling my name, and I don't have the cutters or rollers! I suppose circle-shaped cookies taste just as good as Christmas Tree-shaped cookies.........

Meanwhile... don't forget about this GIVEAWAY on The Framed Lady! I'm giving away 2 months of medium ad space to whoever wins!

Ready for a break

Mainly, I'm just posting so that my "bearded woman" post is not at the top of the page anymore.
I think it scared people.
Bearded women are just not natural.

Anyways... I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving Break. It won't be completely stress-free because I have so many school assignments to finish for the end of the semester, but it will still be nice to have a 5-day break from classes.

One more week. That's what I keep telling myself.

I'll just be staying here in Provo and spending Thanksgiving with my husband's family. It will be a nice travel-free and class-free break. Plus, a good catch-up time for all these projects!

Is anybody going somewhere fun for Thanksgiving?
What are your plans?

Sometimes, I wonder...

This week, I am spending all of my evenings (except Sunday) at Springville High School. I am helping out with some of the technical aspects of their production of "Hello, Dolly!" and I've been learning some new things... including just how stressful it is to be a theatre teacher at a high school.

Sometimes, I stop and wonder, "What am I getting myself in to?!"

In addition to teaching 5-7 classes, theatre teachers also have to put together productions. And that is NOT a light, easy task.

I'm experiencing that right now. Or rather... I'm seeing the Springville teacher(s) flip out because of how much work there is to do, and opening night is on Friday.

And yet... I keep at it.
Why?
Because I love theatre so stinkin' much, and I want to make a difference in the lives of my students. And that is worth every hour of sleep-deprivation I get.