{Simple} Pleasures

don’t you just love it when the little things in life make your day worth it?

i do …
*the smell of new shoes
*listening to someone’s loud & irregular laugh
*hearing from an old friend
*really good chocolate melting in your mouth (shameless plug for Hatch Family Chocolates)
*moms warm soup on a cold day
*waltz turns and triple pirouettes in ballet class
*getting all dressed up
*little kids prayers

*Finding a note on your car

*sappy love songs (especially when it was your little brother who downloaded it and put it on your iPod because he knew you’d like it)
*laughing so hard you cry
*good hair days
*sharing a good book
*pictures from a fun trip
*Sunday afternoons on the porch swing
*extra fresh licorice
*inside jokes
*high heel shoes
*beautiful piano music
*almost getting hit by cars/bikes/anything with wheels on campus (ok, the almost getting hit part isn’t the best, but I always laugh because it reminds me of walking/dodging to class freshman year with Whitney)

*hot pink sunsets
*the smell after rain
*watching a little kid open a present

hope you have a {simply} pleasant day!

Dreaming

This past weekend, despite being ill all week long, I drug myself out of bed to do one of my favorite things in the entire world – go to the BALLET! There is something about being there - it’s the frosted lights, the smiling ushers, the plush red seats, the overwhelming feeling of a wealth of culture, that extra EnErGy in the air, and that wonderful stage.
A stage can be a portal to new worlds. It can teach you about other times, places, people, but what is truly special is when it teaches you something about yourself! I have a connection to the Capital Theater stage because I have been blessed to have quite a few experiences on it. To close your eyes and see the performers’ perspective is priceless. The overture starts – a thick silence falls over the audience, one that the performer can almost reach out and touch. As the curtain goes up I can feel the butterflies that the dancers must be experiencing and I am jealous that their extra energy is about to make something so beautiful!
Agnes de Mille said, ‘To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking.’ Each dancer moves on to that stage as a single being, but once there, each becomes a piece of the masterpiece - like a stroke in a painting or a note in a song. No one able to do it by themselves, yet every person is an essential aspect.
One of the pieces performed was called “Three Preludes”. It was a beautifully simple pas de deux. When I say simple I mean that there was no set, no costume, nothing to hide the immensely beautiful and complex steps that the two performed. I was astounded by the beauty of the body, the miracle of each little muscle doing its part, the use of negative space, and how striking a simple line can be. I was reminded what can happen when someone is dedicated and disciplined enough to take over their weaknesses and make them strengths. The outcome is true beauty!
I’m so grateful I had the chance to watch such talented people share their passion on Friday night, and remind us all how important it is to follow a dream.

If only life were a Musical!

All my friends know that I am always waiting for the day when I wake up and find myself living in a musical - birds will be singing, the minus track will come on, and everyone will know all the words to the songs and be in perfect rhythm in our group dances... but until that day, i'll have to settle for my home being a movie set. ;)
For my plattform as Miss Pioneer Valley, I'm working with MADD on a new project called the Strengthening Families Program. Right now we are involved in the filming of a video that will be available to families through the MADD website. It is an amazing program, and my family has learned a lot by working on it. Thanks to my family for supporting me and being such great little actors all weekend, and the countless hours you've put in! Love you!

Lets just say this was the best crew ever - I liked the cast too ;)

Sayonara Summer

In one last big Goodbye to Summer, half my family took a quick trip with my cute grandparents to good ol' Lake Powell (the other half went to the cabin - go figure). This was a couple weeks ago when Salt Lake got a little snow, and I was happy to be in sunny (though rather chilly) southern Utah. Me and Mommy dearest wrapped up in our towels and blankets to keep warm.

Cute Autumn - we bonded over our dislike of hot-dogs!

Our own miniature Goblin Valley. This little hike to our mushroom land was supposed to be a 30 minute hike... the water must have gone down since the last time my grandpa was there, because 3 hours later we were back to our boat. It was so much fun, and the first time I actually got hot on the trip!

Landen loves to wake-board...

Brock turned out to be a great knee-boarder...

And lets face it, i'm the best flag-waver ever...

But my real specialty is recreational reading. I got through the entire September issue of Vogue - you know I was enjoying my time. So though summer is gone, at least I got one last sunburn in. Goodbye sweet summer, I will miss you while you're gone!

First Day of School

For the first time in 17 years, I didn't have a first day of school this year. Talk about strangest feeling in the world! Everyone is busy buying books, backpacks and cute clothes, and I'm not. Even though I graduated, I don't have that 'i'm done' feeling because I plan to go back and get my MPA next year. So i'm in this strange inbetween stage where I don't feel the relief of being done, but I don't feel the fun 'start of school excitement'.
So here are some of the pros and cons of not having school.

Pros:
NO Homework (a pretty great one I must say)
No studying (although i'm taking a GRE prep class, so I do have some studying)
More sleep
More hours at work = more money
Not paying tuition (also equals more money :) )

Cons:
No back to school shopping
Not getting to see all my friends in my major
Not getting my exercize in from running all over campus
When you answer the question of 'What are you up to lately?' All you can say is work, and then you sound really lame

I'm sure there's lots more for both of these lists, but thats all I have time for now. I'll add to them later- feel free to respond with your favorite pros and cons. :)

HaPpY PiOnEeR DaY!!!

One year ago today, I was experiencing the Days of '47 parade in a very different way. I am so grateful for the wonderful experience I had, and all of the amazing people who made it possible - especially those outstanding pioneers who made it possible for us to live in this beautiful state. I am so grateful for my pioneer ancestry and the sacrifices they made!

Happy Pioneer Day!

Our Beautiful float with the float designer from Modern Display.

The 12 foot latter we had to clime to get to the top of our float!

Miss Pioneer Valley

A few weeks ago, I got thinking about how lame this summer is compared to last summer. This time last year, I had an event (or 3) every day for Days's of '47, and this year all I have to look forward to each day is work.

So I decided to change this, and give myself a little challenge. I found two pageants coming up, one in 2 weeks and one in 1 month. Anyone who has done a pageant and understands how much work goes into them would think I was crazy to wake up one morning and decide to do a pageant in a month, let alone 2 weeks, but this is exactly what I did! I decided I would do Miss Pioneer Valley as a dress rehearsal of sorts - and then do Miss Salt Lake County and hope for the best. Instead, I am now Miss Pioneer Valley '09-'10 and will be competing at Miss Utah next June! I'm very excited and grateful for this fantastic opportunity.

And now, here is some pictorial documentation of the event. I only have pictures from the end right now, but I will post more later of the whole event.

I found a beautiful dress, and then enlisted my family to help me bead it - ThAnK YoU for all your help! Even my dad showed some talented sewing skills! :)
Me with Ariel Larsen - Miss Pioneer Valley '08-'09
Miss Pioneer Valley 2009 - 2010
Me with my 2 best cheerleaders ever!
Me and my Interview coach aka Grandma – nothing gets by this woman! It is a relief when I finally get into the 10 minute interview and know that there is nothing these 6 people can throw at me that is any harder than my interview sessions with Gigi!
I knew where my family was sitting because I could hear Landen yelling for me - thanks

Landy-pants!
My inspiration in all that I do- my Aunt/twin Holly.


My adorable cousin Courtney was so excited because we had the same hair-do, so we decided we better see how hers looked with a crown. It looked dang good – watch out Miss Utah 2021, Courtney will be ready! :) Thanks again to all those who were so supportive! I couldn't have done it without you!!!!!