Dance Log 1

(I still don't know how to make a title.)
My beautiful, talented, and dear friend Alyssa is taking a dance class, inwhich her teacher said it would behoove the students to have a dance journal.

Interestingly enough, I read that today... and then I went to a dance class.
During the class I thought, man it would behoove me to be like Alyssa and have a dance journal too!And since it is less painful and more fun to write on a computer and post it online, I thought, this blog would be a great place!
So... it might be painfully boring to begin with, but wait til the end, I promise it'll be good!
First hour, 6:30-7:30... American Fox Trot. At first I though, uuuuuuuuugh Fox Trot. But I was determined to have a good time, so I plastered on my Fox Trot Smile (it's real, I have a particular smile just for Fox trot and boy is it cheesy!)Just like this lady, a big cheesy smile, yet it is elegant and refined!

It is also similar to what my face looks like in this next picture... in which I am indeed dancing...Fox Trot!Notice the smile? Notice how it is full of joy, ease, elegance, grace...

all while my shoe is falling off and I am trying to figure out how to get my foot back into my show! (Dear Alyssa, this is a show or two after the unfortunately hilarious incident of my dress being tucked into itself and me dancing this number with my shorts showing. How I wish I had pictures taken DURING that show!)
Anyway. Back to tonight, Fox Trot. Some things I learned/relearned/want to note: Heel Leads. Stand on supporting leg, compress, bend supporting leg with pulls other leg through, extend heel, push on to heel, and release back leg making this the new supporting leg, repeat.

I may have had other thoughts, but lets get back to entertaining you.

Second hour, 7:30-8:30, Jive! AKA, East Coast Swing.
Lots of fun, I keep smiling and pulling faces as I normally do in dance, especially swing.
What I learned/need to actually work on since I kept forgetting to do: put heel down on rock step.
I thought class was over at this time. Turns out there was a third hour! I was contemplating leaving since I start work tomorrow at 6 am... but I heard it was Viennese Waltz. I had to stay! So, from 8:30-9:30 I did just that.
And boy, is it Tuesday again yet?! It was the best hour of my life.
I couldn't stop grinning, I loved the combinations! I loved the movements, the routine is amazing!hold for three, burst, wheel in shadow, canter rhythm to outside partner, natural turn, three step to outside partner, natural turn, check, pivot, hold, whatever this step is called with the ladies arabesque to same foot lunge! Hold, swivels to turn to over sway, hold.... spin to hip check and turn to reverse/basic!

I felt like I was flying, floating... something amazing! I felt so graceful, the movement felt so natural. I felt like this:

(an oversway)
I want to video tape it next week to see if I actually look more like the ugly duckling... you know how your perception can be off? well... haha

Either way, I am SO excited for next Tuesday!!

Ahh Seattle... You are beautiful.

what I wore: second date





peacock button up shirt: nordstrom sum/fall 09
jeans: old navy
shoes: rocket dog dsw spring 10
necklace: target ...today!

Do you love how I will post 5 new posts in one day and nothing for months? ...yeah... me too.

I can't get over this song, I have have to listen to it over and over and over and over and over again! The beginning is a little weird, I don't understand the noises... but the song... oh man!


LOVE.

but for some reason my computer's speakers stopped working... it is bothering me quite a bit.

On another note: I just bought this necklace but I don't know if it is really ME or not.
It is a camera, with rhinestones! And a suitcase! But I don't know if I am a long necklace with random objects girl...

Local Natives also have a song called Camera Talk. ilovethem. :)

My camera does panoramic views and here are some shots I've done recently...



Seattle Skyline from Gasworks Parks in May with Sarah and Jordan Wagner and Trevor Brown


Seattle Skyline from my bike ride on Alki with Sam Acuna in July




TriCities view from a hike with Ryan Mears in July

Flower Boy

So, as I mentioned, I got asked out and went on a date where we rode bikes and ate thai and went to a concert. When he asked me out, was after Sunday School right before Relief Society and my face when bright red. I was wearing this outfit though... so I can't blame him. ;)



Well, after that I was going back to EFY and he said, maybe I'll write you a letter and I was shocked and said that would be amazing...

turns out he one upped himself... and sent flowers. A dozen red roses.... I was overwhelmed! I actually burst into tears when I saw it. A little bit because I wanted them to be from the merecat.
I think that since I had kissed the merecat, my emotions were definitely more there than anywhere else. But I was flattered and they were beautiful and he wrote a cute letter with them, saying he had taken a fancy to me and that he hoped this gesture wasn't too much but that it showed he was thinking of me.

Well, backpack now refers to flowerboy as , the one who is super in love with you. Flowers doesn't know about the merecat.

Do I date them both and see who wins? Well Flowers is moving back to provo soon.
Merecat is moving back to rexburg.

Whist typing this flowers just asked me out for tomorrow night... but through texting... kind of lame...

I need to be more open minded and give him a chance

...but I want it to be merecat!

what is it about the chase that is so desirable?

People wearing Mear-cat backpacks... Part 2.

How did he convince me to visit? Well his birthday had been the Monday before, and we were texting non-stop, serious we would pass out because we were texting so late at night. So we decide we will go hiking and do fun things and it was better than sitting, bored, alone at our houses.

So I meet his mom, sister and bro, oh man I love them. So funny, full of energy and just sweet people.

We went hiking and talked a lot, we went and played mini-golf and we made a bet that loser had to do what the winner wanted... so I ended up kissing him.
Then we went swimming and went back to his house and we made dinner and while we were cooking we started kissing again, this time for reals. I have always been an advocate for cooking with my future spouse because I think it can be romantic, and like the book, Like Water For Chocolate, I think emotions can be put into the food... that like that one movie with Sarah Michelle Gellar -- Simply Irresistible, that you can taste that the food has been made with happiness and joy and excitement. So we cooked. and the kitchen heated up.

Then his family came home and we ate dinner and played games and watched movies together and the next day I went home. And we continued to talk nonstop.

The next week was week 5 of EFY and the flirting was still there, but there had been a date I went on Friday night with whom we call Flower boy, for reasons that will be explained later...
And it was a blast! He taught me how to ride a bike, we ate Thai, and then we went to a concert! It was fun, but by the end I was so tired!

Backpack had a small complex about how much fun I had with him vs Flowerboy and asked me if I liked Flowerboy better because in a facebook picture my smile looked bigger than when he and I had gone hiking.

--I should mention that since the merecat had broken up with his girlfriend he had decided to date a lot of girls, try to 31 flavor challenge and he suggested I do the same, that it would either bring us together or we would find someone else. But as soon as I got asked on a date he got jealous, and when I left his house to go home to go on the date he was jealous.. haha
(now that I am typing all of this I feel so silly and that this is lame... arg.)

yada yada, that week passed and was slightly uneventful... we hung out on the weekend a little bit and then he got super sick and was sent home and I got sick and everyone thought he had gotten me sick but I don't really think so....

Anyway, he has been on dates with other girls but he still talks to me a lot, and we are legit best friends. He invited me to come back to visit him in two weeks for the fair, and he just invited me to go camping with him and his family next week. So... he keeps inviting me to family functions, like you would a girlfriend, and he talks /flirts with me like we are dating... but he also says things like, our friendship is my greatest concern and makes it clear that he considers me a friend but wants benefits of dating but wants to be dating others

and I get that... I mean he needs time to chill since he just broke up with whatsherface... and he will be going back to rexburg and I will be staying here so distance... but man... we are awesome together.

So I just need to get back to watching he's just not that into you
cause otherwise I talk myself into thinking we are dating and we are not.
We are best friends, and I am the rule.
If I were the exception he wouldn't be able to wait to date all these other girls, he would just want to date me.

So, am I cursed to be the best friend?

(I didn't mean for this post to end up on a sad self-pity-ing note...)

People wearing Mear-cat backpacks...

Remember in the past how I have written some stories about my awful dating experiences and I always give the guys a code name to protect their identity? Well, time for a new one... although hopefully this one doesn't turn into an awful dating experience?

This summer I met, well re-met since I met him last year, an EFY counselor who over the course of the summer got nicknamed People, Back Pack, and "Mear"cat... clever names I know.

Last year he had a girlfriend so I ignored him. Not true, though I only worked half a week with him and hardly knew him, so basically.

This year I meet him, and again a girlfriend... a different one from last year. ...but then he broke up with her.
And we were co-counselors. And our kids tried to set us up... He would try to make me blush in a new way every day, nay, every time he saw me.

Thus started out friendship, full of laughter and fun and poking fun at the other.
We had a good time as co's, it was easy for us to talk and he was so great with the kids, he really gave them everything he had.

Well, that weekend after the week of being co's was the 4th of July. I had to go get my hair re-done cause the roots were disgusting me. I knew he wanted to go to the aquarium and I wanted to as well.

Turns out he waited for me and we were texting the whole time... we ended up going to Seattle with a group of people but the aquarium had closed. after that we all went to Bremerton or somewhere ridiculously far away for fireworks, which was fun. I noticed the Merecat kept standing next to me, but I didn't think anything about it. After the fireworks we walked back to his car, and the people who drove out with us decided to get into a different car, so we were alone.
This is when he asked what the chances were of me saying yes to him asking me out, and I said. Are you asking me out. And he said, yes will you go on a date with me next week and I said, I'd like that!

We then proceeded to play 20 questions as we got stuck in terrible 4th traffic, but we were having a great time chatting.

The next day at church he was flirting with me like crazy! He loved the dress I wore, which we now call the "Purrfect" Dress, that or Kitty.

Yada yada, the next week he tried even harder to make me blush which wasn't that hard when he knew I liked him and it was a new group of girls. haha

Every night we would text for a long time, and one time he called and we talked for a real long time which surprised me cause normally I hate talking on the phone, but it is fun with him.

So that, the 3rd week of EFY was over and it was time to drive down to Portland for week 4. ...by some devious friends, they took my car and I drove down with him. We talked, we sang, oh we sang love ballads to each other! When we got down there we went to the beach and took some silly pictures, like this... for our set of EFY kids to think they had succeeded.
(PS, I do not know what is goin on with my badunkadunk, but it looks ca-razy.)

Once we got back from the beach we realized we were feeling sick and really tired, but decided to still do part of our date anyway--we were going to get chinese and go star gazing but we ended up eating peanut butter and pretzel m&ms on a field and chatting. We talk so easy, about anything, nothing, and everything.

well then, that 4th week I had some kids who dubbed his nickname, Backpack. They actually were kids of mine from last year, and they were happy I was there but sad I wasn't married and said, we will set you up with the next guy that walks by, and it just so happened to be him! And he was wearing his backpack... so... backpack.

But later I was talking to my friend about him and the whole situation and I didn't want to use names in front of her kids, so I said, People.

Anyway, then we flirted like crazy on the weekend but he left to go on a date, and after his date and when I was home, we texted from Saturday afternoon til Thursday morning... when I got to his house cause he convinced me to come visit.

(congrats for reading this far. hope its not too boring... but I just had a friend who suggested I journal it down either for Future Jenni or for my future kids. so...)

I love photography, I've never taken a class in it... and I haven't developed it too much... but I try to find moments. I sometimes see what others do and I try to imitate... but lately I've been feeling like I need more shots of myself. So I have been dabbling in the self portrait... and here we have Angelic

and Devious

Gulp.

Well, we all know that I have a tendency to stalk people.

And occasionally ex-boyfriends.

...man does it suck to accidentally stalk an ex and find out they're engaged... yeah, the one who said he would never get married.

Looking at my history with guys, I have noticed I've done a lot of silly things for guys... gone out of my way and tried to get their attention.

...this isn't a pity entry... honest. It just is so weird. I've done all those silly things to try to "change" a guy, to be the girl from all the romantic comedies who ends up getting the guy to want to marry her (27 dresses, he's just not that into you, etc) and it hasn't happened for me yet.

I am positive that one day I might be that girl. I am not too worried about not getting married... the when part is occasionally frustrating, but no big deal. It just sucks to have invested so much in people to not be able to show anything for it.

And then to find out that the ones who were so against marriage are finally getting married (to a girl three years younger than me [and who made a reference to twilight on her blog, when you called me crazy for reading twilight and you said you'd never date a girl who did! though I don't know if she read or likes the books... but still on principle that she made a reference to it]) stings a little. Even though I am totally over him!

I will always try to be the girl who is the exception to the rule, and not the rule. It's just who I am, no matter how cynical I pretend to be.

blah. it's just weird is all.

DSW Spoils = Spoiled Jenni


Madden Girl red pumps: $20?


Rocket Dog Summer Sneakers: $12.00

Report Tan Heel : $16
I first saw these and said, cool shoe but I think I have told my mom she should never wear anything like it but man this ambient music is getting to me and I think I must try them on Oh my goodness they feel like butter and make my feet look tiny! Eeek they are 50 bucks, I will think about it and if they are here next time I will get them.
Next time I show my mom and she is indifferent.
Then I decide, what they hay... they are 50% off clearance, Turns out they were 75% off! Woo!

What I Wore today (in homage to http://whatiwore.tumblr.com/ and http://haveacuteday.blogspot.com/ )



Brown Sweater: Old Navy fall 09
Blue pin striped button-up: H&M summer 08/09?
White lace tank: Nordstrom's rack summer 05/06?
Purple belt: Old Navy fall 09 ($3.00!! just got it on clearance a week or so ago!)
Destroyed Khaki pants: Gap Outlet... only 5 dollars. AWEsome. I love the button fly, the boyfriend fit, the color, the feel! So soft! Only thing I do not like is that they are "destroyed" so there are small patches that are roughed up spots... but honestly... amazing pants. The pockets are a great size and the back pockets are good too. Love.

I wore my rocket dog flats from DSW last fall.
Also, I am wearing a sweet little necklace my mom got me for my birthday (last week) from h&m. Love!

I hope I am doing the belted sweater right... it is a tricky thing.

DSW

So I went to DSW to kill some time while my dog was getting groomed... and here is what I found. I didn't buy anything... but that I took note of some birthday present ideas!!

I've been wanting a grey shoe, and I LOVE my rocketdog flats in multicolor, so I instantly fell in love with these ones.
http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/catalog/product.jsp?index=1&sort=&category=&prodId=184979&brand=300325

Size 8 for anyone who is interested ;)

But then I was also sorta liking these...

http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/catalog/product.jsp?index=6&sort=&category=cat20010&prodId=197315&brand=

but at the same time... I don't know if I want a grey heel...

As for red heels to go with my seafoam dress and all black dresses,

http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/catalog/product.jsp?index=55&sort=&category=&prodId=201476&brand=300211

in a 7.5 please!

Also, I have been really wanted a multi-colored heel. I haven't found anything so far, and nothing to even say, ooh something like that. so... that search is on.

Dang you Target! You win again...

I went to Target the other day to pick up the new Covergirl shadow blast! I got the bronze fire smokey eye one, love it so far!Well, I didn't actually buy that when I went to Target, they were out.
But I did buy this dress that I am in love with.
I think I want red accessories for it, everyone remember I love sea foam green and red together?!


I also bought this top, but I am still unsure. What are your thoughts? PS- I know my mirror needs cleaned.

I did buy another shirt too. haha I will post that later!

Well I finally cleaned my room... though not as intensely as I had wanted... and it took me a few weeks. Hahaha

Well, I wanted to show you all one of my new favorite dresses... really just another great dress from the Canadian store Le Chateau. I LOVE their dresses.

New Finds

playlist.com
You can add a ton of songs to a playlist, and it will play them, for free! I know pandora is awesome cause it gives you artists that are similar to ones you already love and introduces you to new bands, but this site lets you listen to all the songs you love! No commercials, no waiting to hear a band you do know, and you can replay the song if you loved it!

So I am trying to spingclean my room... get rid of some clothes, get the clutter removed. I am trying to be heartless about my things, so that I can actually get rid of things...but I came across a pair of pants, and I tried them on and they did not fit. So, in this spring-cleaning spirit, I should just donate them. But I thought... why not give a date that I should be able to fit into them like say, May 5th, and if by that date they don't fit, then get rid of them? Good idea? Bad idea? Am I just being a hoarder? haha
Now, I don't think I am a hoarder (but isn't denial the first sign?) but I do want to keep certain things, just cause, or so that one day when/of I have kids they can read the books I read, they can wear the clothes I wore. I've been collecting? Stashing? haha Getting kitchen-y things for the day when I move out and don't have to spend tons of money to furnish my place. Is this smart? Or is it just going to make that move more stressful because I have so much stuff already? I've started buying picture frames because one day I would like to have a ton of awesome frames with cool pictures in them around my house, or on a mantel is some cool decorative way. But should I just be keeping the pictures and wait on the frames? I don't know.

I want to be able to just toss things, but is that being wasteful?

either way, I have been meaning to clean my room for a few days, but then I don't because my sister wants to take her kids swimming, or because my parents want to go to a movie, or because I decide to blog, or because I found a cool new music site, or because I got distracted and now want to buy some new clothes...
what do you think of these three shirts from charlotte russe?



Yeah, I know. I shouldn't be looking to buy new shirts when I still haven't gotten to cleaning my room or getting rid of clothes I actually don't, probably won't, haven't worn in months. But I want new things!

Sorry that my blogs are usually disjointed thoughts... haha

Well, I should get back to cleaning my room.



I told my nephew I couldn't play after swimming yesterday cause I need to clean my room, and he asked why so I fibbed and said Grandma Tracey said so, and he goes, oh she won't let you have any candy if you don't? I say, yes. SO then last night I see him again and he asks if I had cleaned my room, and I said, actually I got distracted by the TV and I didn't. He said, you clean your room or I'll be mad at you! I say, oh okay! and he goes, no, you say Yes Sir! haha what a riot!

But really, going back to cleaning. ...Or catching up on Grey's.

Lately I've been feeling blah about lunch, I just can't figure out what is a good lunch... something not too heavy and something nutritious... The other day my mom bought this salsa salad mix, and I loved it.
I recreated it on my own, I just cut up some lettuce or spinach, crushed up some tortilla chips, put a little bit of cheese on it, then spicy ranch dressing and salsa for the dressing! I could eat a whole head of lettuce, a whole bag of spinach this way... which would probably not be all that healthy. But sooo delicious! haha and if you don't have spicy ranch, you could use regular ranch, or sour cream. In the packet my mom bought it was spicy sour cream, which really was sour cream and salsa.
I bet with some cooked chicken it would be good too!

Belle of the Ball

Well yesterday I volunteered at the dance studio, per usual, it being a Wednesday and all. I am suppose to dress up, in slacks or a dress. Typically I wear slacks. But yesterday I was feeling especially blah and decided to wear a dress. I wore my blue Calvin Klien which I got for a steal of a deal, I think it was 20 bucks and originally it was something like 89 or 120. I am not sure, I never could find it online and it didn't actually have a tag, but I do know that Page, a sister of NieNie and CJane, wore it. Proof: http://www.cjaneanswers.com/2009/09/pages-pink-dress.html

Anywho, how can one girl be tired of her clothing? easy. And I guess yesterday was more a day of feeling blah in everything, so I felt the need to embellish and recreate my clothing.

First off, I've been wanting a chain necklace but all the ones in the stores were not quite right, too bulky, too plain, too hot, too cold, too long, too short, too hard and too soft, I needed one that was juuuuuuuuuuuuuuust right... so I went to JoAnn's and made my own. I bought three different chains and put them together in a matter of minutes, and viola!

So, I wanted to wear my necklace, that has a black chain, dark charcoal kind of a silver or maybe gun metal, and then a bright silver. I enjoy things that contradict just a little, like a Proper Punk. So, chain necklace with baby blue dress!

Then I noticed the dress was a little low, but I didn't want to ruin my hair and take it off and on again, over my head cause it has a silly side zipper... so I found some white lace I had laying around, cut a small section out and safety pinned it to my leotard. (remember, I was going to dance practice)

But I still felt something was missing/ I knew it was cold in the studio and that I didn't really want to wear a jacket so I needed a sweater of sorts. Lucky for me I had bought this half cardigan at walmart for 5 bucks on a whim, since I don't really like the half cardis. But I didn't really like it just being open, or buttoned... so I turned it into a "wrap" with what else? Safety pins!




And when I got to the studio the kids were like... you look like someone... a princess or.. Belle! so now they call me Beauty and I am okay with that!



shoes are rocketdog

this post inspired by a new blog I am loving, Have A Cute Day http://haveacuteday.blogspot.com/

Yikes. So, I am not trying to have pity party for my dating life, instead I am giving you a good laugh.
So I work at a gym as a receptionist. This means a lot of weird guys try to hit on me, because I believe myself to be an attractive woman, cute and funny, smart, creative, whatever. I've been hit on by older men, married men, and weirdos. Latest weirdo is Chris, again a fictitious name.
Chris had seemed interested in me for a few days, and finally yesterday he asks me the standard set up questions.
Do you go to school?
No, I graduated with my BS last year
What do you do in your spare time?
I work, I have three jobs. But when I don't work I sleep. Ha ha. I read and play card and board games with my family, and teach ballroom to youth.
Oh wow, so do you have a boyfriend?
No, I don't have time for one! (This is where I realized I made my mistake... but it was too late. And I am an honest person...)
He goes, oh wow really? That surprises me. So, you want to hang out sometime?
(This is where I try to use a cop out) Oh, that's kind of against the rules...
Oh... so you want to hang out sometime?
(Dude, did you not just hear me?)
He says, I am such a shy guy it takes me so long to try to talk to a girl
So I feel like I have to say, oh okay sure.
Then he says, oh great! Can I have your number?
(Dang it!) Uh... sure... so I write it down. But just so you know, I am not a phone talker.
Okay, cool well We'll talk later then!
(...I just said I hate talking on the phone...) Just so you know I do work all day today. (The truth.)

...so about an hour after he left I get a text, hey Jenny this is Chris from the gym, will you be free to talk later?

Oh sheesh, what did I get myself into?! Not to mention he shaves his head, which really isn't a problem, but I love hair. Oh, and he has this huge post in his ear, across the whole top of his ear, going from one side to the other. So while I may have been flattered to be hit on, since he isn't a Peter Priesthood I kind of dismiss it. Is that weird?

Well I wait a few hours before texting him back and saying something like, oh well I work all days so I won't have time, haha! Trying to be funny about it.

Then he texts back later saying, oh okay, will you have time to talk tomorrow?

So again, trying to be funny but also trying to let him know I hate talking on the phone and also trying to emphasize that I always work I say, No, I wasn't joking when I said I work all the time! (imagine me laughing after that, because it is true but trying to use humor.)

This morning I get this text from him "When you use an ! after your sentences, does it mean more than it is? Or are you telling me something? Like i'm texting too much? You're not sorry you gave me your number are you?"

...
Whoa. Take a breather man! It was an exclamation point!! But yes I am sorry I gave you my number you silly girl! First off, you only texted me twice, so no, you are not texting me too much, But you are being annoying too much. So I don't know what to write back to him. Because I know there isn't going to be a future for us, I am not actually interested in hanging out with him, and whoa. I just can not believe how insecure he is. It is actually kind of a sad situation.

And thus continues my romantically challenged-ness.

New favorite song of the week or so:


I want these shoes, but in white or black? http://www.cutesygirl.com/Classified_Design_Flats-PID29074-MID282266.aspx

Lastly, I finished the book Shutter Island! Psychological thriller, good read. Lots of swearing... but I did enjoy it. So now I am reading The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks, and I am wondering if I should continue to read books before the movie version comes out or after. I have usually read the book first, but I felt like that made Shutter Island a waste of my time to watch, except for not because Hello Leo! But, I already knew the ending, and the turn of events... same for My Sister's Keeper, the Lovely Bones and A Walk To Remember and etc. Usually, if I read the book far enough in advance I will actually forget details and it can be like a new story to me... and I always go into the movie with an open mind, appreciating the directors creative interpretation... but I have begun to wonder if I should wait to read the books.