Just an update.

Just for a quick update, here are some things I've been up to lately:

1. School. It's a shame that I'm saying this, but I really don't like any of my classes a whole lot this semester. Except for my mission prep class, which is fabulous. The Professor was ranked #1 professor in the nation on ratemyprofessor.com. He's great. But other than that class, I don't know whether it's that Mayan theology is too confusing to understand or that the professor of my asian humanities class uses the phrase "I submit to you that..." at least 11 times in every lecture, but I just don't enjoy my classes as much as I have every other semester. Yeah, me, not enjoying school. That's weird, right? It could also be that this has been the heaviest work load I've ever had. But really, it's probably just that I had class in museums and churches for two months and got used to seeing the real thing and being in new and exciting places every day. Everything after that is just kind of a downer. But still, I know I am incredibly blessed to attending this amazing university. Cougars all the way.

2. Club Style. We had 140 people at our practice last week. I'm so happy that so many people want to be involved, but it is dang hard to teach that many people. And they're all at varying levels of hip hop experience too. Tough. But so fun. And hip hop is my passion. I love to pop, lock, jam and break... oh, wait... name that movie?

3. Teaching. I LOVE teaching. It's tough to have to deal with little teenagers that just want to talk non stop sometimes, but so rewarding too to get to see them grow and learn new things. I'm like a proud mama. Already. And it's only been a month. Now if only I had more time to come up with some kick butt choreography. We're gettin' there though.

4. Family. I was able to spend the whole weekend with my delightful family. Sister Tam was in town with the two kiddies and it was quite a fabulous weekend. Just what I needed. I love my fam-dam-ily.

5. Friends. Despite my busy schedule, I was able to squeeze in a night of dancing with lots of my friends a night last week. Man, I love going dancing with Club Style kids. We know how to party. I don't think we stopped dancing for 3 hours. My friend Ryan is a DJ and his parties are always the best. Yes, there are fun places to go dancing in Provo, despite popular belief.

6. Exciting news. Yes, it is without a doubt true when I say I picked the perfect major. A field trip is being planned for February by BYU's AHA. To where? You ask? Oh, just NEW YORK FREAKING CITY! Four of the art history professors are speaking at a conference there and they've invited the majors along to attend. I would also visit all the great museums in the city, including (but not limited to) the Met, MoMA, Guggenheim, and possibly the Sotheby's collection. Praise the Lord. AND it will probably take place over my birthday weekend. So if all the planning goes well, I'll be partying in New York City for my birthday this year. What could be more perfect? I love BYU and my professors who take me to the greatest places in the world. Love them.

7. Glee. Pure joy is what I felt as I watched the season premiere of Glee. That show is fabulous. My favorite part was when they sang "New York," of course. No, wait, I loved the Lady Gaga song in the bathroom scene. Ooo but I loved "I want to be a Billionaire" by the new kid. Gosh, I just love that show and all the music on it. It brings joy to my life.

8. Harry Potter. I am once again obsessed. I haven't been like this since I was like 13. But in preparation for the first part of the last movie, I have been re-reading the Harry Potter books. So far I've finished #3 and have now begun #4. I forgot how great they really are. J.K. Rowling is brilliant. I also saw THIS today. If you weren't excited for the movie before, you should be after watching this.

Life is great. Life is grand. Life is wonderful.

(Bob was wise)

What shall my future hold?

We all do it.

Every now and then we all catch ourselves staring off at nothing, dreaming of what life could be like.

I've been doing that a lot lately. Inspired by my study abroad and my visit to Sotheby's London, along with a friend's acceptance to said school.

She now lives in London. And goes to Sotheby's Institute of Art, London. Working on her Master's in Fine & Decorative Arts.

Lucky.

I have many possibilities in mind for my life and ideas of where I would like it to go. But today, I share one possibility with you.

I want to graduate from here:

(Obviously...)

I want to move here:

(New York City, New York)

I want to go to school here:

(Sotheby's Institute of Art, New York)

To study to do something like this:

(Art Business)

I want to live in this apartment:

(It's only $13,500 a month! ha...but of course after I graduate from Sotheby's, I could afford it. And some. Image via sothebyshomes.com)

And I want to marry this Italian man:

(Image via The Sartorialist, which, by the way, if you haven't checked out yet, do it)

(Sigh)

If only, if only...

Inspiring

I love So You Think You Can Dance, as you all know. A few days ago my friend reminded me of this routine they did during the summer. I watched it again with her and we both cried. I love it when dancing can do that to you. In case you didn't see it, or even if you did, I thought I would just share it with you for a daily dose of inspiration. I can't embed it here, so follow the link to watch it. Amazing!

Click HERE

A crazy week

It has been probably the craziest, busiest week of my life. And now it is Saturday. The weekend. And what am I doing? Homework and preparing for the Club Style opening social that's tonight. I just ordered 20 large pizzas. Why, you ask? Because on Tuesday we had 120 people at our first practice of the year. And that was before we promoted and passed out flyers at "Involvapalooza" on Wednesday and Thursday where all the clubs have booths to promote their club and recruit more members. We passed out over 400 flyers. I'm scared to see how many people show up this week. The good news is, they gave us the main ballroom in the Wilkinson Student Center, the biggest room in the whole building. That will be helpful. But it's a little overwhelming to have to teach that many people. On top of all this Club Style madness, I have to write 2 papers this week, read a butt load of stuff about Mayan theology and Hinduism, complete 2 drawings for my art class, teach a discussion to someone for my mission prep class, and choreograph more of 3 different routines. Holy cow! I honestly have never felt so busy in my entire life. Oh, AND my professor Martha Peacock, head of the Art History department, asked me to join the student advisory council as the junior representative. And I said yes. Without thinking about the bajillion other things I have going on. What was I thinking?! I guess that it's great though because that is a huge compliment coming from Martha and it's great to have on grad school apps. The good side to all of this is I have a network of people that are there to help me with everything. Friends in my classes offer to study with me to make it easier and we trade ideas and fill each other in on the readings we didn't finish, I have an AWESOME presidency for Club Style that help me with whatever I call on them to do and an amazing support system from everyone in the BYUSA office. I love walking in there and everybody knows who I am and they ask how I am and how the club is and what great things we have going, etc. etc. Yesterday they asked me to be a judge for "BYU's Got Talent," but as I have a class on Wednesday nights until 8, I had to regretfully inform them I would be unable to participate. But that was a big compliment that they thought of me. Most importantly, I have great parents who remind me to "suck it up" and that I'm "not going to die" and remind me that "everything will be alright" [Which are ALL good things to be reminded of and actually really do help, :)] These first two weeks have given me a nasty cold (which could also be attributed to the change in weather) which makes things even more crazy and my lack of sleep is helping no one. But hopefully tomorrow will be a true day of rest and I can recover and get ready for this next week. Now that the first two weeks are over, things should be settling down more. I won't have to be in the clubs office as much, I'm getting used to my schedule and have had to work on my scheduling and organizing skills more than ever to stay on top of things. Important life lessons are being learned. My iPhone has never been more helpful with the notepad and calendar right there and I just have to click and baam, they're there ready to assist me. What a handy tool. I know things will get easier with time, but it feels good to whine about just for a little bit. :)

Back to school.

I am back at school. I love it, but it's going to be a tough semester. I've already dropped one class, and I wish I could drop more. To say I'm overwhelmed is an understatement. 14 credits, 3 jobs, and Club Style. Wah. I am confident it will be a great semester though, despite the feeling of being overwhelmed. I have some great classes and I have some not so great classes. All of them are very interesting. My favorite by far is my mission prep. class. The professor is ranked #1 in the nation on ratemyprofessors.com. Which is huge. And after his class you can just hear people saying "Wow." I feel the same way. I'm really excited for that class most of all. We'll see where it takes me. Other classes I am taking include greek art and architecture, southern mesoamerican art, studio art for art history majors, and humanities of Asia. It's a packed semester but hopefully I'll still be able to enjoy it.

On another note, Club Style is picking back up next week and we are way excited! Over the summer we made a sort of music video to help promote our club. We had a lot of fun with it. Well, I wasn't there for the whole thing, but everyone else had way fun with it. Club Style is da bomb. Here's the vid:

A great childhood memory

Today I was driving back to my apartment after getting my books and this song came on the radio:

Suddenly, I was back in our house in Sandy. I was no older than the wonderful age of three. I remember waking up to the smell of pancakes. I heard giggling outside my bedroom, along with this song blasting on the stereo. I went outside my room and mom was in our family room dancing in a robe and with a towel wrapped around her hair while dad was making breakfast for us. We all started dancing together, the whole family. After that time I remember several times we would put this CD in and blast it throughout the whole house. Even after we moved to our house in Draper. The whole family singing and dancing together. Aw, the good times. :)

Summer is nearing its end

Welp, I start school in 13 days. Which means, summer is just about officially over. It's been an amazing one. I still have stories I want to record on this here blog from my incredible study abroad, so those will be coming. But here are a few things I've been up to since returning to the U S of A:

Stadium of Fire with Carrie. I love her.

Draper Days Rodeo with Club Style Kids. Love them.

Entertainment from the boys of Club Style. (Here we were at the Gateway)
Weddings of lifetime friends. Candace was a beautiful bride and it was a great day.
A visit to Ohio and Indiana to see family. Complete with a trip to the beach in Michigan.
Playing with my much missed nieces and nephews.
Sisters reunited.
Friends reunited.
Playin' with penguins and other aquatic animals at the aquarium. I love my job.

It has been a great summer. I'm kind of sad it's ending, but I'm really excited for this next school year to begin.

P.S. here's the video I put together with clips from a Club Style trip to the Gateway. You're always entertained with these guys. :)

Austria and Germany

The final week of my adventures in Europe: Austria and Germany. Mom, Dad, and Kaitie met me in Paris and we took a night train to Munich. We then went to Salzburg, Ettal/Oberammergau, and ended in Munich. These are some of the most beautiful places I've seen yet. I miss EuroWorld. A lot.