practice makes perfect

 To say that I love musical theatre would be an understatement. I really, really, really adore it.  I try to soak it all in - the butterflies in my stomach, adrenalin rushing through my veins, warm lights beaming on the stage, singing & dancing, everything.

 And last night? Last night was the first show for Annie Get Your Gun. Considering several people commented that it was the best show LYT has ever done, I would say it's safe to say it went very well.

This show has been a great one - I am so grateful for my role as Minnie Oakley and getting to perform with all of these wonderful actors.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve. I always thoroughly enjoy it when it comes around. Just the thought that Christmas is only one day away makes me feel all warm and fluttery inside! What's not to like about it, anyway?  My family and I always have my MeeMaw over for supper and later in the evening exchange gifts.

To say that I get excited before opening a gift would be a vast understatement. Let me tell you, I am still the epitome of a little kid when it comes to opening gifts. Just hearing the sharp tearing of the paper and knowing I am only seconds away from seeing what the gift is creates butterflies in my stomach.

Forgive me for writing a run-on sentence. Ahem.

My family, my MeeMaw and I had a wonderful time this evening. We had {a huge and positively heavenly} supper, exchanged gifts and chit-chatted for quite a while. Good times.

MeeMaw prepared a simply wonderful, home-made red velvet cake complete with home-made cream cheese icing. Words cannot describe how wonderful it was!

And just because I felt the need, I photographed  what the day looked like:

Gloomy yet beautiful.

Who doesn't try on toe socks with their new pair of Toms? I'm so macho.

Merry Christmas, dear friends!

a few of my favorite things.

 
I always have to let out a blissful sigh of relief when Friday comes. Why? Well because it is the weekend, of course!

Throughout the week I have documented through photography things of simplicity, beauty, and simply life.

these are some of my favorite things from the week:

sweet young, children



getting school work done in a reasonable amount of time

cookouts with friends

half eaten apples...

enjoying Wednesday & Thursday with your cousins

making silly videos

talking for well over an hour to your 9 year old cousin about hamsters

buns that happen to stay up perfectly without bobby pins, clips, or any other necessities in them...just your own hair...

feeling accomplished by knowing how to set the aperture on your camera {thanks, carlotta!}

getting nice straight-out-of-camera (aka sooc) photos

bokeh

God's creation...

clever quotes by your best friend, "I inspire me."

chillier weather

being able to finally wear jeans

skinny jeans, to be exact

rain

cooking lasagna soup for the first time {thanks, emily!}

chickens...

last but not least...

being asked to do engagement photos.

Saying I am "excited" would definitely be an understatement. I am beyond thrilled, ecstatic, happy!

Do you have any favorites? Be sure to link up at Rachel's blog!

My Lovely Camera

  I am so ecstatic because yesterday my dad took me to Wal-Mart so I could purchase my Nikon D3000! Guys, I have been saving up for it since December and now I *finally* have it! Eeep! I have been very, very, very pleased with the photos too. They are clear, the colors are a-m-a-z-i-n-g, it is extremely easy to work with, the list goes on. I would highly recommend this camera if you are contemplating purchasing your first SLR.

Whatcha think? I named her (yes, her) Sasha. It feels so weird not using a point-and-shoot; but I love using this camera!

These are a couple photos I took today of my friends/icees from Sheetz..oh and a dandelion too :))...

^She had no idea I was taking her picture!

 ^Beth took this one of me!

 

The next few things I would like to buy are a telephoto lens, super macro lens, camera bag, camera strap, and Lightroom (which will come first). Be prepared to see LOTS of photos! I hope you all having a wonderful day!

P.S. Tomorrow is the last day to enter my giveaway if you still would like to enter! ^_^

Hello Summer 2011!

I seriously cannot express to you all how extremely ecstatic I was today when I finished my last math test {of the year baby!}. I feel this sense of freedom and this large weight lifted off my shoulders. Break is officially here and there is so, so, so much in store for this Summer! I cannot even begin  to explain all what I will be doing.

 

Summer consists of swimsuits...

the lake, swimming pools, pontoon/jet ski/tubing, sleepovers, and cookouts...

pink lemonade, relaxing, the beach, juicy hunks of fruit, flip-flops, shorts, Emerald Point {water park}, chit-chatting with friends and family...

late nights, catching fireflies, shopping, sundresses, evening strolls, and seeing life in technicolor once again.


Not only am I {very} happy that it is officially Summer break; but I was able to fix my itouch! <----Long story. To tell the story in a short way, apparently the passcode on my itouch decided to be strong willed and would not work. I tried multiple times to figure out my passocode, but nothing worked. I called Apple yesterday (and talked to a lady who slurred all. of. her. words) and finally solved the problem (with a bit of their help/my insanely awesome itouch skills ;)).

All of that to say, my itouch is now fixed, everything is deleted off of it, and I currently have one song ("Hair"...don't laugh...).

What do you plan to do this Summer?

Miscellaneous Ramblings

I am pretty much craving Summer. What could possibly be any better than going to the beach, the water park (season passes rule the world!), swimming pools with sparkly aqua water, relaxing, hanging out with friends, and the list goes on (and on and on and on)...

H2O by Anna Gray Smith

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My amazing blogger friend, Emily, is having an incredibly, super-de-duperty, fantabulous blog giveaway! Be sure to check it out and enter (you don't want to miss it...trust me...she's giving away 14 prizes. Eeep!).

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Apparently on my post about the lovely Judy Garland, somebody didn't like it and commented this:

You have no idea what you are talking about. oh, I see why, now! You are still a very young, very, very immature little girl. You should come back to blogging when you grow up a little and have a taste of real life and real people.

Well anonymous, considering that I just read a huge biography on her, I do know what I am talking about. Please do not comment on my posts if you're going to be rude and assume things that aren't true, thank you very much. I am seriously considering taking the anonymous option off. I know that we all have freedom of speech; but you can still have freedom of speech but remain respectful even if you disagree with something. Goodness.

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I have some rather exciting news for you all too! However, I am going to be secretive and not tell you until, oh I don't know, later today or tomorrow?

credit



What are you doing today?

Spring Is In the Air...

Today is such a nice day! It is around 80 degrees outside even though it is near  the end February. We already are having flowers bloom in our front yard and a patch of grass is a vivid green in the backyard. I am in love with this weater!

A perfect day for a bike ride...



Hannah seems to be enjoying the warm weather as well!

(Sorry, couldn't help but put the flowery frame!)



Are you already enjoying the early Spring weather?

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Have you entered my giveaway yet? *taps foot*

Have a 'Love'ly Day & Farewell!

First off, I would like to wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day!

            (Wondering about the Ariel card? It was a Valentine's Day card/Mom's way of saying 'Hope this gets you in the mood for Disney World')



And Farewell? Where in the world would I be going in the middle of February? My family and I are leaving for Disney World this week! Eeeek! Don't worry though, there will be some lovely guest bloggers to keep you all company.

So, my lovely readers...

                            Farewell!

P.S. I owe a HUGE thank you to Amanda over at Chicken Scratch Designs for installing my Accordion/Expanding sidebar menu! Look how well it matches the colors of my blog design? :)

Indiscriminate

I have had quite an exciting week (and week ahead!). I am currently working on a makeup bag in my sewing class and I feel giddy as I pin pins to the pattern/material and cut away. It is so refreshing to see a nice finish and see all of the icky frayed edges of the material off. Next step...actually sewing it! Whoo hoo!

Today I got an email from the lovely, Olivia at HorseFeathers saying that I had won a blog makeover! Umm....HORRAY! I am going to have my little boutique redesigned and I totally know that Olivia will do a wonderful job.

This weekend my two amazing friend and I are going to participate in a program at The Shakespeare Festival. I did a two week acting camp there this past summer, and had a great experience!


I made an epic, four layer, rainbow cake for my mom's 43rd birthday!

I successfully drew Angelina Jolie (ok so don't look too close at it.) ;D



What exciting things have happened this week for you?

Christmas Recap!

This Christmas was absolutely wonderful! It will probably be one of the most memorable ones too. I mean, not that the others weren't memorable, but this one will be extra memorable because of some of the things I got.

Yes, I DID put food out! (But wait, what if Santa's allergic to dairy or gluten?!)

Christmas morning...

(Drake's presents)

(My presents)

Permission for a facebook! Aaaah! YES! =D

A new makeup kit...

 Ghirardelli Chocolates (compliments of Drake!)

My first cell phone! I am pretty sure I had heart failure when I opened this, I was so excited!

(Sorry for the photo quality)

Adorable rubber boots...

Print Shop! (This was from my grandparents along with some adorable clothing!)

We traveled to SC....and low and behold we had a white Christmas!



I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!