IN THE FREAKING HEIGHTS!!!

BENNY
When you're on your own
And suddenly without me
Will you forget about me?

NINA
I couldn't if I tried
-In The Heights "When The Sun Goes Down"

So this weekend I went to see IN THE HEIGHTS! Now you might have noticed that a lot of my music recs have been these songs so it shouldn't surprise you that I have a bit of an obsession. Well seriously it was kind of a big obsession.

I know the music backwards and forwards - which was a good and a bad thing. While for the songs that had rapping in them I was able to fully enjoy the song without having to attempt to catch every single word because I already knew them but also I got annoyed during some of the songs when people were singing too slowly... haha... I promise I got over it after the first couple of numbers.

When I went to Chicago to see Wicked for the first time I got chills when the prelude began... and that is what I was expecting when the prelude to "In The Heights" began to play - and I did get MAJOR chills but I seriously almost started crying!!! I don't know if it was from excitement or what but WOW! I Have never had such an intense reaction to the beginning of a show!

I am in love with this show and am SO glad I got a chance to see it live. It is great to listen to the music - which I am doing now. But it is a totally different experience to watch the story unfold onstage and see all the humor that the songs don't always capture.

It was sad to not be able to see Lin-Manuel Miranda as Usnavi... I had see him at the Tony's and in a couple of TV specials so it was weird getting used to a different Usnavi but he was really great.

I have always been in love with the Nina/Benny story line and still totally love it!!! They are sooo ridiculously adorable! My fav songs are When The Sun Goes Down and Sunrise :) (and Champagne but that is Usnavi and Vanessa)

Basically what I am trying get across in this blog post is that In The Heights is amazing and if you haven't heard of it - go check it out, if you love the music - pop for tickets to the show cause it is worth every penny. I went wiht my mom and sister who had only heard a few of the songs once and they LOVED it! I was worried cause my mom hates rap but she loved it!

In other news - this week is the last week of classes before finals - usually called hell week but I had hell week last week with 4 papers due so hopefully I can coast through this week!!! I am home at the moment but headed back tomorrow... then only 9 days till i get to be home for a MONTH! I am really excited for the break but will be sad to leave these classes cause I absolutely LOVE them!!! But more of that later - sleep now!

Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

Days Until London: 156
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 3 Episode 4 "Daleeks in Manhatten"

*So I decided to move the music recs to the top and return to using quotes - I love how Kristina (ohheykristina) lays out her blogs so I am stealing that idea from her!

50 Things

I got this idea from Hank Green's video on Thanksgiving - I know it's late but really - we should be thankful all year round not just on one day in November.

50 Things I am Thankful for:
1. My amazing friends
2. My family
3. My college - basically it's awesomeness as well as the education program
4. Coffee Drinks - specifically iced white turtles :D
5. Coldstone Ice Cream
6. Road Trips
7. ALL CAPS on Road Trips
8. Swing Dancing
9. Coffee Cottage and it's awesomeness
10. Stillwater - Downtown
11. Musicals - all shapes and sizes
12. Pianos
13. My voice
14. Imagination
15. Ipods
16. Polka dots
17. Cute Skirts/Dresses
18. Dangly Earrings
19. Love - Friendship, Romantic, Family - ALL TYPES
20. Hope
21. Books - their existence as well as their inspiration to me
22. Small Children's adorableness
23. Smiling
24. Being able to decorate my dorm room
25. An awesome roommate
26. Friends who understand my dorkiness and love me anyways
27. Trampoline Parties
28. Creative outlets - singing, movies, blogs everything
29. Facebook - cause it keeps me in touch with my friends
30. Letters from Friends (Snail Mail)
31. Summer Break
32. Being able to Go to London in 163 days
33. Getting to go home early for Christmas Break cause I only have 2 finals
34. Great Italian food
35. Being able to go on Trips wiht my family
36. Dance Parties
37. My Mac
38. My faith
39. Knowing what I want to do with my life
40. Simply Rasberry Lemonade
41. Glittery Things
42. Sleep
43. Christmas Break being soon
44. Being close to my cousins
45. Laughter
46. Not having to worry too much about money
47. Candles
48. Poptarts
49. Warm Clothing
50. Having so many things to be thankful for

THINGS I"M NOT THANKFUL FOR: LITERARY ANALYSIS PAPERS

I really need to do a full recap of the break but for now I have to get back to work!

Be Thankful Always!

Much Love,
Chrissy

Days Until London: 163
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 3 Episode 4 "Daleeks in Manhatten"

Music Rec: Do I - Luke Bryan

Remembering Jenna

Today marks the one year anniversary of my friend Jenna's death. One year ago today Jenna died of cancer. In so many ways it seems like yesterday that we were hanging out at theatre joking around backstage about random things. This time of year we would be getting ready for Christmas carol.

My junior year of high school we had a big benefit around Christmas time and before one of the shows she talked about some of her memories of theatre that kept her going and fighting. I remember feeling so proud to be in a few of those but today all I can think of are the lost opportunities and times I chose something else over her.

In high school we always think there is more time and that we can get everything we want done. But in truth the time flies by. I feel like I appreciate the passage of time so much more now because you never know how much time you have with your friends.

Kids aren't supposed to die so early!!!!! My group of friends have in a way been adopted by Jenna's parents we call her mom "mom" and keep in contact as much as we can but it's never enough.

I know I've written about relay for life before so go back and read that post but it is something I will continue to do for a long time to come.

I know Jenna is in heaven smiling down at us but sometimes I miss her so much. Especially when listening to rascal flatts. I have regrets but I can't change anything and we can only celebrate the life she did live. God bless you Jenna!

Much love and hugs,
Chrissy

Days Until London: 168
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 3 Episode 4 "Daleeks in Manhatten"

Music Rec: Stand - Rascal Flatts


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

BEST FREAKING DAY EVER!!!

So I had plans for this post to be all angsty and such - BUT YOU ARE IN LUCK!!! I HAVE SUPER EXCITING NEWS!!! okay I will stop with the caps lock.. .JUST KIDDING!!!

I AM GOING TO LONDON!!!

I know that I have written about this before but today I was offically accepted into the program so I leave for London on May 11th!!! (Literally 3 days after my last final - this is going to be INSANE!) I can't even express the amount of excitement!!! I am going with one of my best friends too - so that makes it EVEN BETTER!!!

AHHH!!! I don't even know what else to write!

Also - my friend Jenna and I will be spending 5 days in Paris after the program ends!!! Seriously cannot wait for this trip - only 181 days left!!!

Well I did have depressing crap to put in here so I will list it super fast so we can move on with our lives:
1. In my human development class we discussed Teen Suicide and Depression. Worst day of class ever but I am super proud of myself for getting through the class with only a mild anxiety attack (i'm sure Jenna was also glad that I didn't completely break down).
2. I am super confused with a boy situation.. but that is for a different post.
3. I am advice girl this week with my friends. The other night when I actually was studying for a huge Psychology test I had three of my friends seriously needing advice... sometimes I think i need to lock my door when I'm studying but hey.. it's college.

Okay end of depressing list and here are the credits!!! hehe

Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

Days Until London: 181
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 3 Episode 2 "The Shakespeare Code"

Music Rec: More Time - Needtobreathe

Doubt

So I have had my new post page for blogger open on my Firefox for about three days now and I keep changing how I start this blog but nothing seems to be right so I'm just going to write what is on my mind right now and my thoughts on this week:

I have been having some self-esteem problems the last couple of weeks in regards to teaching. I mean - it's not like I thinking of changing my major because I seriously love it and want to do it for the rest of my life but I am more worried that I won't be good at it. In Educational Psychology we have been talking all the time about discipline and how keeping your class under control is the most important thing and if you can't do that you basically will fail so the old doubt that seems to always be with me has resurfaced. UGH!!!

This isn't to say that some things have been good with education. Just today I created a KICK ASS art lesson plan teaching watercolors to kindergartners through the book The Rainbow Fish. That was really cool and those are the types of things that keep me going.

There are other things going on in life as well... lost a person who I thought would be close to but clearly that didn't work out so well. But it's looking a little bit up since then. Also I have become SO much closer with the people in my classes. I absolutely LOVE my block and I have no idea what I would do without them. We keep each other going and trying to blow off stress and all that stuff. 2 weeks ago we went and saw Where The Wild Things Are and it was AWESOME! (sorry if there are lots of caps lock in this entry)

I really do need to go to bed now though cause my roommate has a huge physics test in the morning and my tapping is probably going to keep her up. More soon I promise.


Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

Episode of Doctor Who: Season 3 Episode 2 "The Shakespeare Code"

Music Rec: anything from the Glee Soundtrack is awesome!

Boys Suck... no really... they do...

Now this isn't just the normal... AHHH I hate boys!!! post because in reality I like boys.. a lot... they definitely have given me a reason to smile on countless occasions, they are usually super easy to talk to and they normally would have lots less drama than girls. My question in this blog is: How did the world suddenly turn upside down on this topic?

I know I talk about friends a lot on this blog and today I can honestly say a have a lot of really amazing friends - at college I have my girls who support me in everything and at home I have some awesome friends - even if normally they are really far away. I also have an amazing best friend who lives in the cities now and she is seriously the one who I talk through everything with and we make awesome life plans together. The thing is... boys are difficult. While the normal problem would be boys coming in between friendships - that's really not at all what's happening and that hasn't happened to me in a very long time (Thank God). I am starting to realize that staying in touch with guy friends - or just guys in general, are infinitely harder to keep in touch with. You have to balance on that fine line of being in touch enough so you don't go crazy and not so much that you annoy the crap out of them.. And not only that - the median of the two had better be good with both parties.

I'm just really confused about the whole thing and just found out that my best friend who I really haven't talked to much in the two months we've been in school is coming home today and I didn't even know it. (I am home also btw) I just have no clue how I am supposed to react to that! It's not that I have personally changed all that much since the summer but I made a promise to myself this year - I wouldn't be the one to always call and always start the conversation but CLEARLY that plan didn't work out the way I wanted it to...

I just don't want to be the one who always caves. In reality I didn't even plan on calling him today - it just... circumstances that I was in earlier made me seriosuly miss him for some obvious reasons that only he would understand and I had just planned to leave him a message. I don't think I was prepared to hear his voice and the reaction it would have on me. Seriously I felt like I got punched in the stomach...

Okay so this post isn't helping me any and I'm sure you don't want to read anymore so more later

Oh and I haven't talked to the other boy in my life since monday so that probs isn't helping the whole boys suck thing either...


Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

Episode of Doctor Who: Season 3 Episode 2 "The Shakespeare Code"

Music Rec: "Champagne" - In The Heights

Doctor Who Sadness

This is gonna be a really short blog cause I have lots to do and another class to go to in like 45 min but I NEED to write this!!! I have been watching Doctor who for a while now - which you all should know cause it's at the bottom of my blog post every time but today I finished Season 2 and I'm not kidding you - i CRIED! I loved the character of Rose and am soooo sad that she is gone!! (AND HE DIDN"T GET TO TELL HER HE LOVED HER!!!!!!) I was also sad that there was suddenly a new character... they could have waited for the next episode...

I will continue watching but I was just sad...

tonight will be weird cause most of my friends have stuff going on so I will probs watch Enchanted and chill on the internet - possibly new video?? not much to talk about though so probably not...

Okay need to go to class now!

Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

Episode of Doctor Who: Season 3 Episode 1 "Smith and Jones"

Music Rec: "Saltwater Room" - Owl City

Crazy Driving To Come

So basically I am starting to really freak out about going to Immersion next week. I know I haven't talked about this and if you are confused well - here is a little reasoning behind it. As a part of the education program at my college every elem. educ. student has to complete some diversity experiences. Because i'm in the block at this moment - it allows the department to pull us all (about 30 students) out of our classes and send us to the cities to complete an immersion in some inner city elementary schools.

Now it's not the physical omg I'm go to an inner city school that is freaking me out - because really that's not it at all. What I am freaking out about is that I have no idea what they are going to expect of me and no clue exactly what I will be doing. now I know I should probably be blogging about this tomorrow becuase I have the meeting on my Clinical class that hopefully sheds some light on this subject but I seriously don't even know what I am supposed to be wearing let alone what I should be prepared to do. This all takes place starting a next Tuesday - not even a week from now.

The other thing stressing me out is all the travel comign up. Sadly not exciting travel but back and forth from St. Cloud to the cities. This weekend I'm going down to the cites with three of my friends to see the Rascal Flatts concert - it will be AWESOME but still kinda stressful to organize everyone and get them all to my house after the concert. It'll be really fun but I'm a little stressed as to how to meet up with all the relay peoples at some point and then making my way back to Sarah and then party it up at the concert.

So I will come back to St. Cloud on Sunday in order for me to go to class on Monday and then quick drive home right after my 2:40 class in hopes of missing the rush hour - which i am sure I will actually hit... yey for way too much driving - though it will be nice to have a car for a few days... I actually like long car trips but not back to back...

Okay well i am on paragraph 4 of tonight's art assignment - which is actually the 11th paragraph of our crazy art criticism paper - but I will explain that drama in my next blog when the paper is finished - probably this weekend.

Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

Episode of Doctor Who: Season 2 Episode 13 "Doomsday"

Music Rec: "All We Are" - Matt Nathanson

Guys who can sing = my favorite!

SO there are many reasons that I love college - but free amazing concerts - they definitely rank pretty high up there!

Tonight I got the opportunity to go to the Inpulse Concert here at CSB. They are an all male a capella group and are absolutely amazing! Just four guys and their voices singing a bunch of amazing songs - a great night! They sang everything from "Boondocks" - Little Big Town (probs my favorite) to "I'm in Love with a Girl" - Gavin DeGraw. Great music and great people - I couldn't have asked for a better night. I didn't stop smiling the entire concert and Jenna and I raced back to my room to buy both of their CDs on iTunes!

Which brings me to the point of me loving musical guys. I mean a guy can be totally great and everything but seriously that ability to sing just puts him over the edge! Being able to share that love of music is something that is really important to me. ;)

Also I created this really interesting artwork today for my Art Principles class. We had to create a paper collage about some event that is prominent in our lives. I ended up doing mine about the confusion of the last few weeks - a picture is coming but it's dark right now in the room and we are watching the Wedding Date. I'm am seriously proud of this piece of art! and I don't usually like any part that I make - hehe.

SO I am going to go watch the rest of the movie but I will edit this post tomorrow or write another and include the picture. First Johnnie football game tomorrow!!!

Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

Episode of Doctor Who: Season 2 Episode 12 "Army of Ghosts"

Music Rec: anything by Inpulse

The Power of Music and Sadness

So I thought about erasing that last post but in reality that is what I was feeling at the time so I am going to leave it - just wanted to add something:

I just spent two hours in a music studio in the basement of the BAC. There is no phone signal, no internet, blank walls and just a piano and a piano bench. Let me say that there is nothing more therapeutic than that. I just sat down thinking i would just sing to my ipod but I did bring a couple of piece of sheet music to attempt to play. Well two hours later I have learned a new song on the pian0 - the WHOLE thing! That is huge for me cause learning new songs usually takes one to two weeks. I learned White Houses by Vanessa Carlton - an amazing musician! Just sitting down there and listening to her through my ipod and then hearing her music come through my fingers on the keyboard was amazing!

I went there feeling stressed and almost on the verge of tears and left literally smiling. That doesn't mean I'm magically cured of all my problems but I seriously feel like I can breath again! I'm still sad but the music running through my head is full of beauty and inspiration. I really need to use the music rooms more often in hopes of avoiding future break downs and just learning some fantastic music.

That is all for now, all the love (and music),

Chrissy

Episode of Doctor Who: Season 2 Episode 12 "Army of Ghosts"

Music Rec: "White Houses" - Vanessa Carlton

LARGE UPDATE - slightly emo

So I have been wanting to write a really long update post but seriously I keep waiting cause so many big things have been happening lately. SO I will attempt and apologize if it seems really disconnected:

I moved back to CSB and LOVE our new room. It is done in all lime green and aqua and looks amazing. It's the same general set up from last year but we have new shelves and random other new decorations!

I missed my friends a LOT and absolutely love hanging out with them everyday. I forgot how amazing it is to just run down to Jenna's room with exciting stories or have random people come over at any time of day.

Classes are really amazing but there is a ridiculous amount of homework. That is half the reason this weekend rocks - having a whole extra day to do homework makes me super happy - yeah I"m a nerd...

Okay so as I'm writing this - i find that i really don't want to just go through the whole last 2 weeks of my life. As awesome as some of the days have been, some of them really sucked so I really don't' want to go into that all right now.

I don't think I really meantion the boy I like in a while but yeah... I got to see him yesterday :). It was a really fun time but it makes me sad that tomorrow his is returning to moorhead and I have no idea when I will see him again... and the end of the night didn't go exactly how I thought it would. SO yeah... basically have no clue where we stand and am discovering it's a LOT harder to know that he is just ten minutes away from me and I can't see him then when he is 2 and 1/2 hours away... ugh... I don't know. I also got so iffy information today that I shouldn't have pushed to figure out so it's my fault that I am doubting everything today. hopefully I get so see him one more time before he leaves but who knows what is going on. I am just really happy that we got to hang out last night with some of our best friends so yeah.

Also I haven't talked to one of my best friends for over two weeks and it's really starting to get to me. Sometimes boys just piss me off but at this moment I really need his advice but I can't just call him up and ask him cause then I'd have to ask him why he is being such a poop and that is just not the conversation I need right now.

I should just call laura but yeah... College is hard - but I can totally deal with that, some of the other things in life are harder. I really don't need all the distractions but I can't help it. I like this boy - so obviously he will be a distraction ;) friends though - sometimes i can't be fighting with them - especially when my friend doesn't even know how hard it is for me - and I wonder if he even cares...

SO this post is going really emo and I am gonna start crying so I am going to leave it at that - love to all,

Chrissy

Episode of Doctor Who: Season 2 Episode 12 "Army of Ghosts"

Music Rec: "Fireflies" - Owl City

Final Post from Home

Well it's the morning of the big move... we finally got everything into the trailer this morning and now we get to play the hurry up and wait game. Upperclassmen cannot move into the dorms and apartments until 2pm... so basically I have an hour and a half to kill here before we can even LEAVE!

So clearly I decided to write a blog - all summer I have looked forward to moving back to CSB - cause reallly I love it there but yesterday I had coffee with my bestie and it just made me think.. wow I really did have a great summer. Now I know that i haven't recorded a lot of it but seriously it has been a fantastic 3 1/2 months. ALl my friends have gotten along - we have all hung out lots, there's no drama that has hurt anyone, lots of flirting with cute boys - i mean really what more could I ask for ;).

So today I move back in and I'm really afraid that we will all just step back into old patterns and old drama. I've grown a lot this summer and I can only hope that other people have done so as well. I have gotten a lot closer to some of my friends this summer so I can't wait to hang out with them... and of course there is my SYTYCD addiction to look forward to this fall so that should be awesome :).

Basically what I am trying to say is that I have high hopes for my sophomore year of college and really hope that everything works out for the better.

I should probably go spend some time with my parents now - so next post will be from CSB!

Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

Number of Books Read this Summer: 12
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 2 Episode 6 "The Age of Steel"

Music Rec: "Pictures of You" - The Last Goodnight

Apologies and Preparations

First of I would like to apologize for my lack of posts in August. I wish I had some amazing excuse but in reality I took some time away from blogging as well as vlogging to make the most of the rest of my summer. And might I say that that was a great idea??? I can't remember the last time I had so much fun in one month! I spent a TON of time with my MHS crew and they are amazing. Just yesterday we were marveling over the fact that Laura, Kaitlin and I have been friends since 5th grade... that is sooo insane!!! and awesome!!

Just the other day the three of us went on an adventure to a bakery called the Cupcake - on University Ave. in Minneapolis and it was seriously amazing!!! They sell dozens of different types of cupcakes as well as every coffee drink imaginable and it was so much fun! We went at like 8PM and were the only people in the whole place and were joking with all the guys working there and it was just a super fun way to end the summer! Also after that we managed to get lost a couple of times in search of a Holiday gas station so i could steal my sister's gas money and fill up my car. hehe! This is when we bonded over my seriously geeky taste in music. Even having known these girls for going on 10 years - there are always new things to find out!! (and i am now making them a ridiculously geeky cd complete with TROCK - dr. who music and of course WROCK - HP music and a little All Caps - cause it's awesome!)

I have continued to read and have actually been waiting ot post this until I finished Rebel Angels by Libba Bray (finished it last week..opps). Which definitely lived up to the first in the series - A Great and Terrible Beauty. I just heard that a movie was being made of the first book and it's scheduled ot come out in 2010 so I look forward to seeing it on screen though i really do think it will loose a lot of the suspense and the imagination of the reader that is required while reading the actual text.

As for reading in the coming school year - I will seriously try to continue on with my list but I feel it will probably fail.. While packing I threw in about 4 books but who knows if I will have time.. but more on packing later in the post.

On Tuesday I saw Julie/Julia with my mom. And I absolutely loved it! I dont' talk about cooking much in this blog becuase really it is devoted to my reading but I really should have done that more but in short I really love to cook and am slightly - well not so slightly obsessed with the Food Network. I am sooo sad that we do not have that channel as school - though in some ways that will probably be a good thing :). Anyways the movie was great - i love Meryl Streep and Amy Adams so really the movie just added to my admiration toward them. I really want to read the book about it and for sure I will review on here. In the spirit of the cooking movie and trying new things - I made peanut butter cupcakes with a cocoa frosting and they were fabulous - well they are - i have like 10 left. I found an awesome recipe that only made a dozen which is perfect for my family. Though I put it as a status on facebook and now a bunch of my friends want me to bring some up to school - might have to make another batch this weekend ;).

And yes, I am moving back to school in 3 DAYS!! I cannot believe it is already here! That's not to say that I won't be sad to see summer go by but really I would love to get this semester over with cause I know it's going to be insane! I have done most of my packing already and just have to get a few grocery type things before I leave as well as a longer cable wire for my tv... oh and a new purse! (there is a super cute plaid one at Maurices). But if my mom and dad and I can make it through this weekend and move without killing each other then I will call it a success. I just keep reminding my mom that I will be home in 3 weeks again for the Rascal Flatts concert so she shouldn't get all emotional - though i'm pretty sure that request is a lost cause as well...

It's 1AM now so I should probably go to bed so I can get up and do target runs tomorrow...

Much Love,
Chrissy

Number of Books Read this Summer: 12
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 2 Episode 6 "The Age of Steel"

Music Rec: Jason Mraz - "If It Kills Me" (Casa Nova Sessions) - I first heard it on So You Think You Can Dance and fell in love with it! - oh and JEANINE WON!!! - so loved her from day 1!!!

Stressed Out & Remembering

Seriously I have too many freaking emotions in my right now. I am super stressed out because I don't know what is going on with Relay tonight. I mean yes I am excited but most of me is kinda pissed off... I am aware that most everyone has done relay with Jenna before and in a way i really regret not having been able to but still - i am frustrated because no one has told me what exactly is going on... i mean I don't even know what time to show UP! I don't want to be pissed - really i don't i'm just super frustrated...

On top of that I'm sad cuase Jenna won't be there and having regrets about stuff - cuase well... life does that sometimes... ugh... I seriously think i am just going to sleep till relay...

Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

P.S. The ending to A Great and Terrible Beauty is good as well. Go read it!

Number of Books Read this Summer: 10
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 2 Episode 4 "The Girl in the Fireplace"

Music Rec: Rascal Flatts (for jenna)

The Realm of Reading and Change

So my plans changed the other night but I did end up seeing the Ugly Truth on Monday night with the Mahtomedi girls and it was hilarious. Laura and I discussed it afterward and came to the conclusion that it was nothing like we thought but still really good. I LOVED Katherine Heigel - she was great as well as Gerard Butler. For a person with a dirty mind the whole plot one laugh after another and I totally recommend it - but don't take your mother ;).

So Tomorrow is Relay for Life. While I'm really excited for the event itself - I am not so excited for everything else about it. I know that Jenna's mom Jan has it all organized but the actual team members aren't really communicating... most of them have participated in a relay for life with Jenna before and know how it all works but I have only done it through college and am not really sure what to expect or how to prepare. Ah well I will let you all know how it goes later this weekend.

I am almost done re-reading A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. I remembered the general plot line of the story but it still manages to creep me out in parts. It is set in England around the turn of the century which is a time period i LOVE so that is a complete plus. And in a way it is a more mature version of the Tamora Pierce series that I loved when I was in middle school. The story is incredibly compelling and I cannot wait to read the sequel (which i haven't read). I just heard that it is going to be made into a movie that should be out in 2010. I am a little apprehensive about that because i fear it could either be completely turned into a thriller where as in the story it is a more coming of age story than anything. The main character is so well developed - it's a joy to read after the last monstrosity that i read. hehe. I only have 35 pages left so if my opinion changes I will let you know but as of know I greatly recommend A Great and Terrible Beauty!!!

Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

Number of Books Read this Summer: 9
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 2 Episode 4 "The Girl in the Fireplace"

Music Rec: "Gravity" - Sara Barielles

Escaping the Insanity

So today and yesterday for that matter - I have been helping my mom set up for my parents annual wine dinner.... and OMG it is complete insanity around here. They FINALLY decided today to do the whole dinner here and not on the boat which makes my life a lot easier and also means I don't have to go down and set up down there... but still - this party is basically just my parents excuse to get super drunk with their friends - really not cool to come home and have to deal with that afterward.

But on the positive side of things I get to leave here at 4:30 and go to church before meeting my best friend Laura and we go see The Ugly Truth with Katherine Heigel and Gerard Butler and I am SOOOO excited!

So I have noticed that all my reviews so far this summer have been really positive and I wanted to explain why - I am pretty picky when it comes to books and I like to check them out before gettting them so that's why I usually do so well with books but this review will be different:

I read The Little Prince - by Antoine de Saint Exupery. And let it be stated - it was an extremely bizarre book. There were some parts that spoke to all ages and we very well written but most of it really frustrated me... It is written in first person but reflecting on someone else's life experiences and just in general confused me. I think it was an okay book but really can't recommend it unless this is a type you would enjoy. I don't even know what genera it would be in - like sci fi / children's lit??? I have no clue.

Well I have to go finish cooking but more later,
Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy


Number of Books Read this Summer: 9
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 2 Episode 4 "The Girl in the Fireplace"

Music Rec: "Wild at Heart" - Gloriana

Valleyfair of Awesomeness!

YouTube HATES me - for the last 4 days I haven't been able to upload my video I made on Monday... grrr....

Anywho - on to my life of amazingness...

Have I meantioned recently that I love life? Yep - it can kick you in the ass sometimes but at the moment it has decided to smile upon me! This week I went down to New Prague to visit my good friend Jenna and meet up with her soon to be roommate Kristen and jenna's boyfriend brad and two of his friends. Basically we all went and spent 12 hours together on Tuesday - and I haven't had that much fun... in well... forever? It was a situation (being that we had never met the guys) that could have ended up in two ways. 1- been pretty quite and awkward for the whole day 2- we could make some awesome new friends and have a blast. Well let's just say that part 2 won out!

I would really love to go into detail of my thoughts that entire day but in reality - I don't have time AND they are pretty incoherent (I tried to explain them to my friend Laura earlier today and failed miserably).

The only bad part of the day was that there was severe storms in the area around 5 o'clock and we were ushered into the imax where we had to sit for about 45 min. but it really didn't suck at all.. It was fun getting to know the guys better!

So the whole experience was sooo great but it made me really not want to go home but to go straight up to college cause i seriously miss everyone!!!

ALso I ready another book: Wild Rose by Ruth Axtell Morris.
Usually I try not to just randomly pick up books in the library and read them cuase they are so hit and miss but this one said historical romance in the binding so I was pretty sure it was safe. I literally read this 300+ page book in two days - and not ever two full days. It was really well written and incredibly compelling. It reminded me a lot of the books written by Gilbert Morris - he is a genius of the historical romance/christian genera! This book wove the two generas together wonderfully! I had my doubts starting out but the plot line held it's own and threw some twists in that I didn't expect. I would recommend this book - but it's not for everyone - if you like these generas then it's a winner - otherwise look at some of my other recommendations.

I will update again soon I promise!!!

Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy


Number of Books Read this Summer: 8
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 2 Episode 4 "The Girl in the Fireplace"

Music Rec: "Knock 'em Out" Lily Allen - SUCH a fun song!

Longest Hike of My Life

So today I went on a 4 mile hike - which would normally be fine, except it was almost ALL up hill and with really uneven terrain. I got attacked by mosquitos as well cause no one remembered to bring bugspray... Also this was all done after having ridden in a car for 5 hours to get up here. I will post the pictures on facebook when I get home on Monday cause the view was AMAZING and the pics of my Dad are hilarious. He kept us all laughing the ENTIRE time.

I don't know if I wrote about this earlier but I am up at my cousin's condos at Lutsen this weekend. yes that is a ski resort and yes it is in the middle of summer but there is sooo much fun to be had. Other than the hike we went to happy hour up at the lodge, went hot tubing (they have one in the basement of each condo!), played Wii, and played this CRAZY murder mystery game!!! My fam is not usually into that kind of thing but the mystery was like asking people questions and being a character and stuff - and we all know that my whole family is full of characters! ;)

I wish I could describe all of these events better but I am freakishly tired right now... Also I am listening to music with my cousin Carla in our room.

Tomorrow is paint balling - and I am sure there will be many more hilarious stories to tell!

Much love and hugs,
Chrissy

Number of Books Read this Summer: 6
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 2 Episode 4 "The Girl in the Fireplace"

Music to Check Out: "Womanizer - Parody" - Venetian Princess

Preping for a Crazy Week

This week is going to be CRAZY busy. Tomorrow is my dad's birthday which should be really fun! We are going to his fave German Restaurant - The Gausthaus and then doing presents which include another new Wii game which I am sure we are going to get addicted to as well!

In addition to that - I need to finish doing the initial sewing on the quidditch robes - only have a few left so that on Tuesday morning I can go and drop them off at my friend Jennifer's house to get the hoods attached to them. We have a fabulous assembly line going now. Last night we all went to my friend James' house to start making them and got through a ton - all the cutting and I did a lot of the sewing at his house. I had an awesome time the other night - even though I got really burned out on all the sewing - the actual conversation was so great - laughing about past theatre stories, talking about all the shows we want to see - I just can't do that with my friends up at school. Not that that would look down on me or not listen, I just, they haven't been through all the things that we did those 6 years at Hill. Oh high school. Listening to some of Jen's stories of her friends lately made me remember how ecstatic i am to be completely DONE with that annoyingness!!!

Also this week one night Laura is coming over and we are going to watch some gossip girl - cause we're cool like that, and I need to get together with Jenna so yey! Lots of fun stuff going on this week.

I really want to finish this episode of True Blood - my newest show obsession - so ttyl.

Much Love, and Hugs,
Chrissy

Number of Books Read this Summer: 6 (yes I am still reading the Little Prince - but I've also started like 3 other books soooo yeah...)
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 2 Episode 4 "The Girl in the Fireplace"
Episode of True Blood: Season 1 Episode 7 "Burning House of Love"

Music - go check out Lily Allen's "F*** You" it is stuck in my head

Unexpected Friends

This is just an addition to the earlier post but I really wanted to write this down.

So I went to the picnic tonight expecting to have fun but also for it to be a bit awkward. Maybe it was a little bit but not really. I forgot what it was like to be with my Mahtomedi friends - where everyone knows everyone's business and gosh did I miss it. Laura has been my best friend since 5th grade... and really the only friend from MHS I have consistently kept in touch with over the last 7 years that we haven't gone to the same schools - and that right there says a lot about the strength of our friendship. But I do feel bad for the friends and times I missed out on when I transfered schools. Not that I regret a minute of those people I met at my high school but part of me was always still in my hometown at my public school.

Tonight was more about reconnecting. For the first time, in a long time, I felt like all of those friends and I had some common ground. We discussed everything from dorm life to college fashions and it all came really naturally. It actually ended with me chatting with Laura at her house and discovering that one of the girls that I didn't really know - really respected me and wanted to be better friends. I went into this summer expecting to not see my high school and college friends as much as summers past, and in a way that has happened - but I was not prepared for the fact that I could make some new friends too!

That's kind of all I had to say - so have a good night,
Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

Crazy Schedules and Book Lists

So I noticed today after reading a friends blog that I never actually posted my official book list - this probably has something to do with the fact that it changes constantly but as of now:

• Looking For Alaska – John Green
• Paper Towns – John Green
• An Abundance of Katherines – John Green
• This Song is You – Arthur Phillips
• 13 Little Blue Envelopes – Maureen Johnson
• Suite Scarlett – Maureen Johnson
• Devilish – Maureen Johnson
• P.S. I Love You – Cecelia Ahern
• The Morning Gift – Eva Ibbotson
• The Reluctant Heiress – Eva Ibbotson
• Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine de Medici – Carolyn Meyer
• A Certain Slant of Light – Laura Whitcomb
• My Sister’s Keeper – Jodi Picoult
• Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea – Chelsea Handler
• A Great and Terrible Beauty – Libba Bray
• Rebel Angels – Libba Bray
• Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
• Cotillion – Georgette Heyer
• The Curious Case of the Dog in Night-Time – Mark Haddon
• Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister – Gregory Maguire
• Persuasion – Jane Austen
• The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen – Syrie James
• The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kidd
• The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
• Queen of Babble – Meg Cabot
• Love is a Mixed Tape – Rob Sheffield
• Girl with the Pearl Earring – Tracy Chevalier
• The Tenth Circle – Jodie Picoult
• The Prophet – Kahlil Gibran
• The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint Exupery
• Let It Snow – John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
• Wild Rose – Ruth Axtell Morris
• Envy – Anna Godbersen
• Diary of a Teenage Girl – Melody Carlson
• Night – Elie Weisel
• Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy (Translators: Pevear, Volokhonsky)
• Confessions of a Shopaholic – Sophie Consella
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – J.K. Rowling

Yep sooo... yey there are SOOO many books on that list but I like having lots of choices and such. Also I left the six that I already read on there. If you read through my older blogs there are reviews of those books.

So on to what is going on in my life. Already this morning my plans have changed at least 5 times. i was going to meet my friend Jenna from college this at MOA but our schedules didn't work out so we are going to do something next week. Then I was going to go to the boat with the parents but I've seen them way too much lately. So all I am actually doing is making food for the potluck picnic at my friend Laura's house tonight. I am excited to see that group of friends all together again, but first I have to make some kick ass desserts!

Well off to the Kitchen,
Much Love and Hugs
Chrissy

Number of Books Read this Summer: 6
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 2 Episode 4 "The Girl in the Fireplace"

"You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this"
~Trace Adkins "You're Gonna Miss This"

Fun Night

I had SUCH a fun night tonight!

First of all it was the second Tuesday that I was in charge of dinner so I chose a less labor intensive meal this time. I ended up making chicken fajitas which were really awesome - I'd made them before but made a double batch because... Michael came to dinner! Yep, I totally give him props cause he put up with my whole family this evening which is quite a feat.

So after dinner I had Michael do a ton of stuff for me on the computer which is awsome and we swapped some music which is always super fun so I have new stuff to listen to! Lots of Brit. Pop so I can get ready to go to LONDON! woot!

Basically just hung out with Michael all night, played some more Mario kart and such on the Wii. Seriously that is the ONLY time I miss high school. Just getting to hang out with him more often. It had been like 2 weeks since we saw each other cuase of conflicts and such and that is just too long in the summer - i felt like we were back in college again. We've got to take advantage of summer!

Step 2 - is going to be convincing him to go the midnight premiere with the group! I cannot believe i forgot to talk with him about that... grr... oh well.. lots of other time. Not much else going on though - there is a new video up that I filmed in my backyard so that is fun.

Probs going to bed now - goodnight all!

Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

Number of Books Read this Summer: 6
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 2 Episode 4 "The Girl in the Fireplace"

"You could've bowed out gracefully
But you didn't
You knew enough to know
To leave well enough alone
But you wouldn't
I drive myself crazy
Tryin' to stay out of my own way
The messes that I make
But my secrets are so safe
The only one who gets me
Yeah, you get me
It's amazing to me"

~Rascal Flatts - "Every Day"

*This song I've attributed to our friendship a lot so if you read this Michael - sorry I used my wonderfully sappy country song again!

I'm a Quidditch player??

This is gonna be really quick cause I have to get to bed but super exciting new but a little background first. I have wanted to go to a harry potter midnight showing since they started coming out but the rule at my house has always been no going out that late on a school night - or when they opened in the summer that it just violated curfew so let it be known that even asking this year i really doubted a good answer. I think my best move of the whole thing was discussing it with my dad first - he seemed really open to the idea and was like - fine whatever you are in college and I can't tell you when to be home - you haven't missed curfew at all this summer so you should be fine. My mom didn't really listen to me so when she said yes i was like.. WHAT??? but hopefully when she figures out or talks with my dad the plans will already be fully in place!

I'm sooo excited though! My friend Caitlyn is organizing the whole group into making quidditch robes but for each of our houses so that will be super fun and I'm always up for a new sewing project so YEY! and it will be a blast and amazing and I"m sure I will talk about it more when it all gets closer but that's my news.

I've got to go to bed though cause I'm going to MOA - for you non-twin cities people that is the Mall of America tomorrow and shopping all day so yey! I'm sure cute things will come of that shopping trip!

Love to all,
Chrissy

Number of Books Read This Summer: 5
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 1 Episode 13 - "The Parting of Ways"

"Cause I need ... Harry Potter
Like a grindylow needs water
And as Saturday approaches my need grows

Accio Deathly Hallows
Incendio Book Sales Embargoes
It'll be like phoenix tears on a broken nose
Accio deathly hallows
Accio deathly hallows

I'm getting kinda petrified
What would Ron do if Hermione died
Or if Voldemort killed Hedwig just for yucks"

~Hank Green "Accio Deathly Hallows"

*Yes I am aware that this is not the movie I'm going to see but it's been stuck in my head all week and Hank Green is hilarious - SO THERE! hehe

Ex + Texts = Not Cool

My ex-boyfriend decided to text me today... that was awkward - this is just a testament to the fact that when you break up with someone... you should be broken up.... yeah this is not just coming from the texts but from a conversation I had with my bff Laura today as well but I'm not going to dwell on that cause that would make for a very boring post.

In exciting news - I"M GOING CLUBBING! Finally! This is something I've wanted to do for a while and next Saturday I will actually get to do it! (the 27th) No clue what club yet but I'm leaving that up to Laura and the crew!

I felt like I had more to write about in this blog but i guess not... didn't sleep much last night so maybe I'm just off today.

A review of Paper Towns - John Green to come in the next blog!

Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

Number of Books Read This Summer: 5
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 1 Episode 11 "Boom Town"

"You know it ain't easy
For these thoughts here to leave me
There's no words to describe it
In French or in English
Well, diamonds they fade
And flowers they bloom
And I'm telling you
These feelings won't go away
They've been knockin' me sideways
They've been knockin' me out lately"
~Sideways - Citizen Cope

Only 100 Pages Left???

SO as I wrote in my last blog - I did start Paper Towns by John Green. It is pretty freaking amazing so far. I am actually pretty far in it. So here is my reaction so far: Um... John Green is a GENIUS???!!!! yeah so I was sitting in my car waiting to pick up my Dad and started to reading some more and was getting really frustrated with the storyline... and then suddenly I was like *that's the point* - I was frustrated and going through the same emotions as the main character of the book was. This is just proof of the power John Green has over the worlds and the way his story is told. All I can say is that I cannot WAIT to read some more later tonight!

Other than that - not much is going on, though I do have a sort of new business endevour going on. I am making and sewing dock wheel and bumper covers for people around our marina. I really need a little extra income with my lack of job so hopefully this will help?!

The fam started a new "trial program" this week. Instead of my mom making the meals everyday during the week - each day Mon-Thurs. one of us is in charge of making a new meal. So today was my first day and I made Basil Chicken Pasta. It was pretty good - not my greatest creation but I am happy with it for the most part. I'm really excited to see what my dad and sis come up with when they begin to run out of ideas - which for my dad is like NOW - he has no clue what he's going to make on Thursday. :/

Also I have no idea what day it is apparently because I was super excited to watch So You Think You Can Dance... but lo and behold... it's only tuesday...

OH!!! And my parents finally appreciate the amazingness that is twitter!

Gots to go though~
MUCH LOVE & HUGS!
~Chrissy

New Section of the Blog ... COUNTING THINGS!!!

Number of Books Read This Summer: 5
Episode of Doctor Who: Season 1 Episode 9 "The Empty Child"


"You don't have to believe me I'm just speaking my mind
you look lovely as always you get that all the time
you don't have to believe me when I tell you that i'm impressed
but you sure better believe me when I say you deserve the best"
~You Don't Have to Believe Me - Eric Hutchinson

LONDON???

I seriously cannot believe that I haven't talked about study abroad in this blog?!?! Anywho. It has always been my dream to study abroad for a semester in Europe but because of my major, I understand that this won't be able to happen. (This is going to be a bit repetitive because a lot of this was covered in vlogs on my youtube channel.) But anyway this amazing program which would take me to London, England for a little over 2 weeks next May - just kind of fell into my lap! It is all based around Fine Arts which is AMAZING and PERFECT and AWESOME!

But the great news of today is that I got an email back (going back a few days - I went to finish my application and it was GONE - like the site and everything). His email was really nice and just let me know that he knew everything was down and that he did know i was interested!! So YEY! it was awesome an just made my day.

Also - i think in the last few posts it's easy to see my love of reading but this story proves the addiction. Last night I started reading Maureen Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes at about 11 PM. At 1AM today i was about a fourth of the way through... but about by noon today - it was COMPLETELY finished!!! umm... yeah. I LOVED it. Pretty sure I have read pieces of it before but it is by far the best book I have read this summer! hehe I just twittered that info to her! how I love twitter!


Anywho I should probably get this show on the road - not much else new - have a couple books in mind for my next read but unsure of what yet. Paper Towns by john Green is taunting me on my desk and begging to be read so we will have to see if I choose him!

Off to watch the rest of the Josh Groban concert that is on TPT right now!

Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

"Don't Give Up
It's Just the weight of the world
When your hearts heavy I,
I will lift it for you

Don't give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you I
I will lift it for you

Everybody wants, to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
BECAUSE YOU ARE LOVED!!!"
~You Are Loved (Don't Give Up) - Josh Groban

Tears on her Birthday

In November of 2008 my good friend Jenna Lynn died. But today - Saturday June 6, 2009 me and a group of my friends celebrated her birthday (a day late but we know she wouldn't have minded). Ten of us met at her house - friends of old from high school and middle school. I grew up with these girls and it was wonderful and heartbreaking to be there. Just sitting in her living room I felt as if Jenna would come bounding down the stairs or start dancing to the Rascal Flatts that we had playing in the background. We didn't focus at all on the bad times today but on the amazing memories we had made of the last few years. All the crazy slumber parties we had there and funny inside jokes and random times at theatre - that would never had happened if Jenna hadn't been in our lives.

She is such an amazing girl and I can't imagine my life without her. Her mom is SO strong and for that I am so happy. I love her family, they have always been amazingly supportive and so when they asked us to join her Relay for Life team - there was no way I was going to say no. I have lost 2 important people in my life to cancer and any organization working to find a cure definitely deserves my time and money.

I know this post isn't like my normal ones but today is really about Jenna and I feel that this blog is here to put my feelings down and this is definitely what i am feeling today.

I held it all together until getting in my car to drive home. And I really don't know where I thought I was going to drive - but I just did and after all the wonderful nerdy talk of the group of us that grew up together - I just needed to get all that emotion out. So blasting some Linkin Park - yeah i know that that is a really bizarre choice, I just drove - for about 45 min until I finally returned home to write this.

Now I am off to church but becuase I am doing Relay for Life - I am sure that more of her story will come out in these blogs.

Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy



"When my time comes
Forget the wrong that I've done
Help me leave behind some
Reasons to be missed
Don't resent me
And when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory
Leave out all the rest"
~Leave Out All the Rest - Linkin Park

Bellydancing & Steampunk

Last night was a truly ADVENTUROUS night. Last week I work a status on facebook that basically stated how boring I was being this summer. So one of my besties - Laura sent me a text on Wednesday asking if I was up for something truly adventurous and of course I had to say yes. So this all led to the events of last night and my introduction to the world of Steampunk.

Dictionary.com defines Steampunk as "a genre of science fiction set in Victorian times when steam was the main source of machine power". it was the craziest thing I have ever seen!!! Something cool was that we saw was the short film "The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello" - the first public screening of this foreign film since it was nominated for an Oscar in 2005. While the film was SUPER creepy (the second half), the bellydancing troupe did a great job though, tying everything into that film and theme. Let it be stated that I had no idea what steampunk was before going to this event and now i can say it was a true adventure. I love hanging out with Laura and we always a great time. Even if I did get us lost in Minneapolis - I blame ALL the construction around Marquette. ugh...

In other exciting news Laura wants to come to the Basilica Blockparty with me and that will definitely be an awesome weekend! My parents will be out of town in San Francisco so I can not have a curfew! WOOT!

Book Review:

Duchessina - Carolyn Meyer
The book was fairly good. I think it was written for a younger age group but still the information was good. The book basically is a biography on Cathrine de Medici. I had learned a little about her in the french classes I took in high school and at some of the castles I've visited in france. But really - not the best book I have read by any means.

Well I'm watching House and getting sidetracked so I'll write again soon,

Much Love and Hugs,
Chrissy

"I fell for a wizard from over,
and now I can't see him whenever I please
the long distance won't always be our routine
I'll apparate to you when I turn seventeen"
~Durmstrang Boy - The Parselmouths

The Newest Obsession

Well it starts with some Wizards and ends with ROCK!

oh yes i am talking about Wrock!

So I did finally get my ALL CAPS cd (as seen on my Dailybooth) and it is amazing!!! I have basically been listening to it non stop since I got it!

Okay to I sat down to write this and now discovered that most of what I was going to write is actually covered in my vlog today... so that's not good.

Decision: this will be a companion piece to the vlog -

Subject 1: Wizard Rock or Wrock!!!

It's amazing... need I say more = yep AWESOME! I already loved the Parselmouths (their new album is great - just came out on Itunes). But Luke Conrad of ALL CAPS caused me to start listening to Ministry of Magic - who are also awesome. Which then let me to a full day of experimentation with different Wrock groups and let me point out that I am amazed. I tend to get stuck in my own little niche of music a lot which is a lot of alternative and some country. But I am SOOO glad I gave this genre a chance! I was never super obsessed with Harry Potter - actually when first printed I hated the books just because they were soo popular and everyone else was reading them - i was a bit of a rebel or at least wanted to be in late elementary school. But then I read them one summer when I was bored and thought .. hey, these don't suck. And then Goblet of Fire came out - and I fell in love, that is until Sirius dies and I was super upset cuase he was one of my favorite characters. So i refused to read book 6 right away and ended up having one of my good friends/directors spoil it for me. But I did read book 7 and I am now over my anger with H.P. books hehe. I was always a Ron/Hermione shipper (can you tell i read fanfiction) so life ended well for me. hehe! But this whole wrock thing kind of came out of left field and basically made my day. ALL CAPS is amazing and great and I love it but it opened me up to a whole new idea of what music can be and for that I am eternally greatful to Kristina and Luke. SO BRAVO! you made a believer out of me and so many others.

Subject 2: Basilica Block Party

Minneapolis July 10-11.
I really want to go July 11 to see Matt Nathanson and Counting Crows!!
Tickets are $35 so that might limit who would want to go.. :(

Subject 3: Books

1. An Abundance of Katherines - John Green.
This one I went into thinking I would love it and I was totally right. John Green is a genius. Like seriously the whole premise is great and it kept me guessing and best of all - literally anyone could read it and get something totally different out of it and that is what is exciting for me.

2. The Reluctant Heiress - Eva Ibbosten.
I was really worried when reading this book that it would be like so many of her other stories. And in a way it was but also it was fun to read. I love books that can totally immerse you into a time period and history, make you understand a conflict but still be incredibly enjoyable and give me a love story on top of that - HECK YES! It did have Eva's classic plot twist but I believe it came earlier in this novel that in some of her other novels. That was fine with me but for some reason the last 75 pages I was waiting for that twist that made me throw down the book, get angry and then have it all resolved. But it ended up that I like the ending, nothing too crazy and happily ever after I can never complain about. Overall a good read! (but don't read too many Eva Ibbosten books around the same time period or you will start to predict which can ruin the book for some)


Well that was a LOT longer than I thought - but expect more of the book reviews, at the moment I am reading Duchessina - Carolyn Meyer but am only on Chapter 3. Also might start Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson cause I'm dying to read it and it fits in my purse a heck of a lot better than the hardcover Carolyn Meyer book.

Well Much Love and Hugs,

Chrissy


I will leave you with some All Caps lyrics (there's a couple of different ones this time - sorry for breaking the rules = hey wait I made the rules!!!)

"Just like Sawyer jumped out of a plane to save his crew, I'd throw my fat ass off that plane, if it meant seeing you again in Level 2 where we take down vengerman Linus cause that guy's a douche..." - Saved ~ALL CAPS

"I want to be Mrs. Nerimon!!!" - Mrs. Nerimon ~ ALL CAPS

"I wish I could freeze time and space like Hiro from Heroes. Cause I wannabe able to teleport back to this spot, whenever I want you. A super awesome hero that can teleport back to this spot whenever you need me but I need you..." - Saved ~ ALL CAPS

Annoying Weekend BUT Good Music to Come!!!

So this week has been LONG but the weekend was even LONGER!

My sister and I have been at each others throats all weekend which is never a good thing... Not even going to go there in this post but yeah... it's obnoxious. Also apparently my dad thinks i am incredibly lazy and want to do nothing but sleep and lounge around all summer - has he NOT seen the 19 apps i filled out in search of a job??? Apparently that has fallen on deaf ears but yeah - we are okay cause he hurt his back and I am helping out and such.

Also from my last post - that boy? didn't show up to hang out on friday - apparently he was too tired from work and wanted to hang out on Saturday but i already had plans all day and there was no way I was changing those for him so I'll possibly see him this friday? Who the hell knows.

On to happier things - today I ordered the ALL CAPS cd called "Songs in the Key of Email". and am SOOO excited to get it later this week! It is awesome and can't wait to have an actual copy! Also have a new appreciation for Wrock so that's good. And on saturday I got to watch John and Hank Green's presentenation at Leakycon via BlogTV so that was pretty awesome as well. THat seemed like it was aweseom (Leakycon) and I wish i could have been there.

Well it's late so I will write more later,

Much Love and Hugs!

"Who will love me, when I'm a Zombie?"
~ALL CAPS

I'm BACK! and other exciting news

So there were a lot a reasons i stopped doing BEDA but the main one was that blogging was becoming some that i was forced to do everyday and that I no longer enjoyed. I like writing down my thoughts but not when it is just reciting what happened that day...

So now that i have actual news i will write: first off i am really attempting to not sound like a 10 year old girl in this blog but i appologize if it comes off like that...

OMG I GET TO SEE HIM ON FRIDAY!... explanation please polkadotgrl? well so there's this boy... and he's kinda amazing... and I've liked him for over a year but he had a girlfriend but the broke up while in the first month of college.. and to make a long story short - i think we finally have a chance. You see we have been doing this flirting thing for lord knows how long and it feels good to just finally have the opportunity to try it out - but this all hinges on if he has the same feelings for me and such. My bff, who is also friends with his claims he does and such so hopefully this weekend will be awesome and we can just hang out and such. UGH! i haven't had any boy drama in so long so it's kinda foreign. Last boyfriend -> beginning of Senior year so this is new? not new but i feel a bit rusty.

While typing this i have been talking to my bff and she is being amazing and smacking me over the head via the internet so life is good. that is the other exciting thing -> she is coming HOME in 3 DAYS! and she is going to school here next year so rather than being a 5 hour plane ride away she will be an hour and 15 min away!!! Such a good change!

So now that this is crazy long and i haven't even talked about job search - quick update:

it's failing -> Caribou never called back so i am doing a lot of odd jobs... this weekend i house/dog sat. Also i have made boat covers for my dad as well as doing some secretarial work for him so yey?

Okay seriously need some sleep but there's the update! more to come soon!

~MUCH LOVE!

Big Bang Theory = Hilarious!

So Sarah, Jake and I are watching the big bang theory and it's seriously hilarious!!! Laughing so hard!

Nothing much happened today!

I'm doing my super happy no homework dance! I seriously haven't done anything today! woot!

Only other news is that my YouTube account seems to be still intact??? not much new so that's good...

Going to the Twins game on Saturday!!! Super excited because it's free and well.. nothing else can get much better than that.

Going for Ice Cream tomorrow with Jenna so that should be good and only 1 class tomorrow.

Much Love!!!

Random Song Lyric:
"If you just realize, what I just realized,
That'd we be perfect for each other
And we'll never find another."
~Colbie Calat - "Realize"

Roomie Crisis - will write tomorrow

NEWS?!?!

I have sooo much freaking news to share with out all so I am going to break this one into two different parts and post the first now and then next tomorrow morning after my first class.

So tomorrow is NotSoBlanda - aka my bff michael's birthday and I had grand plans... let me tell you. But as usual most of them fell through and I totally got my dates screwed up and thought I had an extra week. No such luck. So today I went out and mailed his present which should hopefully be there by thursday??? maybe. *Keep your fingers crossed*

Also last night I had this crazy dream about this certain boy that I like. It basically made my day, and totally distracted me ALL freaking day. But the positive of this whole dream is that I got to call by best friend Laura who goes to school in Conneticut and tell her all about it so I got the scoop on a ton of the drama from our friends at home. OMG two of my friends are getting MARRIED this summer! I seriously cannot believe it! We are 19! I don't even have a boyfriend... let alone know who I want to spend the rest of my life with. :/

Okay so maybe I will try to type out all of it tonight:

This morning at 8:30AM as I was climbing out of bed I got a lovely call from one of the places I had applied to, telling me they weren't hiring college students... yey....

Today in french class my prof went crazy. Not a new thing by any means but still. I have learned more dirty french words in that class then I learned in all 4 years of high school french and another college semester of it, combined. Today, our prof suddenly went on a tangent about the word condom in french and how it is actually a city in france called condom but the word for condom kinda looks like the word preservative. Yeah... I love french .... not....

Well I know there was so much more to write but I need to sleep cause I've got my 8AM tomorrow and hopefully more good dreams to have!!!

Much love!!!

Random Song Lyric:
"In this album there's a picture of my high school graduation
with a program mint condition
with a star beside my name
Here's a picture of my parents
As I left for California
She saved everything we gave her
Every little scrap of paper
And our lives are in these boxes
While the women who loved us is gone."
~In the Heights - "Everything I Know"

(I've been doing a lot of scrapbook and LOVE this musical!)

Anything Goes

So I've written a couple long blogs lately so this one is gonna be super short cause my roomie is already in bed. Tonight i watched Anything Goes - the first show I was ever in, on DVD and laughed so hard I cried. hehe. Oh to be in 8th grade again.. NOT. But oh well.

Bed time.

MUCH more tomorrow.

Much Love and Hugs!

Random Song Lyric:
"IT's delightful, It's delicious, It's delovely"
~Anything Goes - "Delovely"


(Put different words in for it's and the lyric get's even funnier ;)

Cooking Mania

First I think I need to apologize for the fact that my post made ZERO sense last night. Reading it today made me go... really an english concentration Christine - you'd never know by this entry hehe. I will chalk that up to being super tired.

Today's obsession is definitly cooking though!!! I got home from my aunt's house/appartment/condo thing where she made GREAT homecooked food and I was like, wow, I should make food to take back with me!! So that's exactly what I did! It also solves the problem of what I will be eating tomorrow night cause I will probably miss dinner with my friends. My dad has a meeting downtown tomorrow so I have to wait with him and then he can drive me back to college.

Also I have been furiously working on Michael's birthday present becuase for some reason I totally got my weeks messed up thinking that I would have and extra week when in fact his b-day is on Wednesday, so going shopping tomorrow but i'm gonna finish the card and stuff today. Also have to figure out if I'm going to make a video or something... should probably do that on tuesday just in case... AHHH craziness. At least this week can be nothing compared to how busy the week before break was! 3 more weeks of class! YEY!

Well I am going to go finish packing and card making and such so have a fabulous night! Much love!

P.S. I noticed that the song from yesterday has no intro about it - it is from The Little Mermaid Musical which sounds bizzare but is actually really amazing so you should totally go check it out. And I think I will start a new thing at the end of my blogs that will appear below this:

Random Song Lyric of the Day:
Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are
~Casting Crowns - "Who Am I"

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Boyfriend? I think not.....

My sister told me tonight that I needed a boyfriend... Well there is a boy that I really like but either he doesn't know it or we will forever been in a state of flirty-ness that never quite goes anywhere and then right when we like it is one of us goes and dates someone else... what a wonderful pattern of thought... haha no...... I'm kinda sick of it but I really like him so hopefully summer will bring good things!?!

So I am sleepy so I am going to post this now and put the lyrics to a very fitting song below: yes I know it's the little mermaid but this is my fav song from that musical (stage version not animated one)


If Only - The Little Mermaid Musical

ARIEL: If only you could glimpse
The feeling that I feel
If only you would notice
What I'm dying to reveal

The dreams I can't declare,
The needs I can't deny

You'd understand them all
If only you would try

All my secrets,
You would learn them
All my longings,
You'd return them
Then the silence,
They'd be broken

Not a word would need be spoken. . . .

ERIC: What is it about her that's so wonderfully
And possibly familiar?
Why do I feel dizzy in a way
I've only felt but once before?

How come when she looks at me
It seems like time stops moving?
Almost like the way it did
That day upon the shore

But, that voice. . . .

ARIEL: If only it were true,
If only for a while

ERIC: (But, that voice)

ARIEL: If only you would notice
How I ache behind my smile

ERIC: (Where's that voice?)

ARIEL: I guess you never will,
I guess it doesn't show

But if I never find a way to tell you so,
Oh, what I would give
If only you could know

ERIC: Memories fade,
Strange how they blur
But when she calls to me,
I'll know it's her

ARIEL: If only. . . .

MOA shopping trip

Literally spent my entire day shopping today at Mall of America! Insanity I tell you! It was fun but stressful at times. Jen did get her prom dress so all is well on that front. It is extremely bright yellow but will look amazing on her because of her awesome tan - we call her the mexican cause she's sooo dark compared to the rest of us... hehe.

I bought a bunch of super cute stuff and I will post a picture tomorrow of it looking all nice but it is actually still in bags right now so yeah... about that...

This week is literally flying by, I can't believe tomorrow is Saturday! Really glad we get Monday off as well because I keep forgetting about it ;). I'm meeting Michael for coffee tomorrow afternoon and will bring my computer so at the least there will be a new daily booth pic with him in it but possibly some footage? who knows!?!

Well I am exhausted so I'm going to go read my book and then off to bed!

Much love!

Book List

Had dinner at the Best restaurant - the Palamino in Downtown St. Paul. If you ever get a chance you should totally go! It was super fun to get all cuted up with my sis. Oh and we went prom dress shopping for her which was of course a blast and she actually found a great one so we are going to go pick it up from the Mall of America tomorrow! I am super excited to do some more serious shopping tomorrow! hehe.

Going to call Michael later to see if he wants to hang out tomorrow night - hopefully that'll work!

Dropped off even MORE job apps today so hopefully I get some calls back soon?!?

So here's the only other news I actually have. At school I don't really have that much of a chance to read... and this summer I really want to do some serious reading so below I'm gonna post the list so far cause I really think that's a good way to keep me on track:

• Looking For Alaska – John Green
• Paper Towns – John Green
• An Abundance of Katherines – John Green
• This Song is You – Arthur Phillips
• 13 Little Blue Envelopes – Maureen Johnson
• Suite Scarlett – Maureen Johnson
• Devilish – Maureen Johnson
• P.S. I Love You – Cecelia Ahern
• The Morning Gift – Eva Ibbotson
• The Reluctant Heiress – Eva Ibbotson
• To Catch a Pirate – Jade Parker
• I Am Rembrandt’s Daughter – Lynn Cullen
• Marie, Dancing – Carolyn Meyer
• Loving Will Shakespeare – Carolyn Meyer
• Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine de Medici – Carolyn Meyer
• Goose Girl – Shannon Hale
• Hush: An Irish Princess’ Tale – Donna Jo Napoli
• A Certain Slant of Light – Laura Whitcomb
• My Sister’s Keeper – Jodi Picoult
• A Quiet Storm – Rachel Howzell Hall
• Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea – Chelsea Handler

I'm sure more will be added to the list soon!

HOME!

So I apparently have already failed at blogging everyday but I will continue...

I do have a valid excuse though because my HUGE research paper was due today and therefore I was putting the finishing touches on that. 16 pages of death is what I like to call it but really it wasn't that bad. I loved my topic and it really in a great paper. I wrote about how schools are cutting music and art programs becuase of budget cuts cuased by the state governments, and how that will effect a child's development.

Well I'm home now and watching Bravo which is always a good thing. I am soo excited for this week even though there isn't even that much going on. Tomorrow is sister day for the most part. We are tag teaming looking for jobs so that should be good - hopefully I will be able to say I have a job after tomorrow?!? Later tomorrow night we are going downtown to this AMAZING Italian restaurant for dinner which is like my fav. fancy restaurant and I get to get all dressed up and cute so yey!

The rest of the night will be spent with the fam - I think we are going to watch the Big Bang Theory? My mom bought Season 1 last week so I'm excited to see some of it. I think I saw one episode.. once?

Much Love!!!

Tests, Tests, and more Tests

And another day passes full of tests and studying... Took my science test and that actually went super great... well, as well as a natural science test can go with my prof. Only 2 days until easter break so that's exciting!!!! Did i happen to meantion that i really wanna go home? I love it here don't misinterpret this at all but there are so many exciting things to do at home this time that it really makes me not want to stay here and study... SHOCKING! hehe.

When I wasn't studying up a storm I actually got my part of Michael and my collab done which is exciting! The cuts are a little awkward but there was SO much footage ( I know the opposite of the last one) that it was incredibly difficult to choose clips.

All I am doing tomorrow is taking tests in class and then coming back here to put the finishing touches on my research paper and finishing packing. I can't believe how much stuff I pulled from my closet and there is still so many freaking clothes in it. I am attempting to get as much winter stuff out of here as possible so I don't have to drag it all home when I move home in a MONTH! - I am seriously going to miss college though - going home will be such an adjustment. Trust me after reading my blogs over break you will understand that my loftly ideals I hold my home at really don't compare at all to what actually goes on when I am home. ha.. ha.. ha...

Well back to the joys of studying... yey... actually I am watching Who Want to be a Millionaire re-runs with my roomie. We are pretty darn awesome!

Much love!

STUDYING!

SO i feel like all I've done today is study...

I am 3 Tests, 2 Journal Entries and 1 Paper away from Easter Break!!! WOOT!

Today was pretty normal though. Got up really late - 11:30. And worked on HW until Sarah got back from church with her mom who is a total sweety! All i really did the rest of the day was sing at church (first rehearsal which lasted WAY TOO freaking long) then for actual Palm Sunday. It was okay, minor screw up though when one of the girls forgot i was supposed to be cantoring but ah well such goes life.

My dailybooth is broken and it is seriously making me angry.... i am on a help site but no new info... ugh... stupid freaking website... I think i will try to just open a new account but I really want to keep my user name... ugh..

I promise tomorrows blog will be happier!

Much love!

Blog Every Day April (BEDA)

Hey!

So I know this is actually the 4th of April but I've decided to try the whole Blog everyday in April movement. I think if I am forced to do this everyday then it could become a great habit. SO sorry for not writing in SOOOO long! There's really not that much new in my life.

Michael came up for the weekend and it was sooo much fun. It felt like old times again. Though I'm pretty sure it has to do with the fact we know we'll see each other again in a few days! We didn't have to fit a whole month of hanging out into a few hours. It was just so normal and great.

Well at the moment I am supposed to be watching Hairspray with my roomies and some of the boys so I should probably be actually doing that. hehe. I will definitely be writing more tomorrow and talk about my schedule and stuff like that. So have a great night!

~Chrissy

Dance Partners

SO I really didn't want to start this blog out complaining but there are just some things i really wanted to say. First of all, I am surrounded by couples... which is fine cause i usually don't notice it. But this weekend is freshman formal and everyone's boyfriend are coming up this weekend and now it's becoming really apparent that I don't have a date. yeah, don't get me wrong I am fine being alone. This is a good part of my life and I am really enjoying it. This stupid formal thing is insane though. So this saturday the plan is to go out to dinner but tonight I discoverd that I am going out to dinner with 4 couples and myself. Whoopi. I know that they are not going to try to make the situation awkward but really be serious... how could it not be awkward.

So of course I but my best friend in a bad position... cause sometimes I'm not the smartest person in the world and asked him if he wanted to come up to the dance. Actually he was a lot more perceptive to the idea than I originally expected but I mean really he goes to college 4 hours away. Not next door - as wonderful as that would be. Some times I miss him so freaking much, mostly because he gives me a perspective on my life that I don't normally see. Hopefully tomorrow I can skype with him and come up with some answers to all of this but right now what can I do. Stupid freaking formal dances...

I really did used to love formal dances - they were so much fun. And i ususally went with my best friend. Senior Prom was literally the best time! But I'm not in high school anymore - that I know. And am thankful for - sometimes some things would be easier though back then.

Much love and Hugs to all,
<3

P.S. My good friend from high school and I just figured out we are both going to Disney World over spring break!!! AHHHH!!!! So excited!

P.P.S. I promise the next post will be more cheerful... hopefully

Return

So it's been a LONG time since I've had a blog - like xanga long time but I think now that I'm in college it's about time to keep track of my life. The goal of this blog will to create short entries that have to do with what is going on either in my life in general or things I have been thinking about lately or just lists... who know ;).

I will write later but I want to make sure this is all set up. Also I have a YouTube account which is www.youtube.com/polkadotgrl so you should go check that out as well!

~Hugs, Chrissy