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