Last Concert!

Saddest thing of my life! I danced in my last concert as a member of the LHS BDC this last thursday and friday. I had a fantastic time performing alongside my best best best friends. I love them so much! Thanks to all who came to support! I'll hopefully be posting a video soon of my solo!

Senior Prom

So.... I went to prom. And it was really great. For the day date we hit up the Provo Beach Resort for some indoor surfing, ropes course, etc. We went to dinner, pictures, the actual DANCE, and then to an after party. I had a blast and I was so lucky to have been in such a fun, good group. Thanks to Neal for the great time!

Conference

I can’t even begin to describe how much I was looking forward to General Conference this weekend. I’ve had a lot of things on my mind lately and the opportunity to listen to the council of our living prophet and apostles is just what I needed. I knew I would likely miss most of the first session because I was scheduled to work on Saturday morning. But I have a great boss who let us turn on the radio so we were able to listen to most of the talks. Even though I didn’t have the opportunity to devote all of my attention to the talks I still got a lot out of them. I’m so thankful for the opportunity that I and my family have to listen to the council of our church leaders and for the blessings we receive from following that council. I love my religion and I love the person I am because of it. I know without a doubt of the surety of the gospel of Jesus Christ and I hope that my knowledge can only be further strengthened as I continue to listen to General Conference.

It Is What It Is

Well, competition season is over. At least for me. After 8 months of practice we've got a few trophies, a few medals, and a few bruises. We got definitely got lucky sometimes and we definitely got jipped. But we had a good time, we became the best of friends, and we'll remember it for the rest of our lives. I love my ballroom family!

Stain Removal

Today was...... inevitably all wrong.
It began at 1:30 am when I fell asleep (finally)
6:20 awake and hurting everywhere from a grueling 4.5 hour practice last night
7:20 off to school
10:30 grumpy after another 3 hours of dance
12:00 asleep in ceramics. Woke up to a boy poking my face with his clay covered fingers.
1:00 late to fourth period. Good thing I had time to finish my exhilarating brochure on stain removal and post on the blog.
Hopefully the remainder of the day will be better. And maybe Abbie (I know you're reading) will learn to appreciate how lost she would be without me. WHAT THE CUSS!

If I Were The Bachelorette

These 10 Men Would Be On My Show.....

In no particular order

1. Jude Law

2. Bradley Cooper

3. Hugh Jackman

4. Zachary Levi

5. Rupert Friend

6. Matthew McConaughey

7. Justin Beiber

8. Tom Selleck (in 20-30 year old f0rm)

9. Jake Gyllenhaal

10. Cory Monteith+

I'm Disgusted!

Joe Jonas is a disgrace to single people everywhere! SICK!

Happy Valentines Day!

Five Reasons Why I Hate Valentines Day

1. This is probably the only thing that will be cuddling with me on Feb 14th. (For Jaisha)

2. The color red makes me look pale. Like really.... STOP wearing red

3. No B.F. bleh.

4. Last time I ate conversation hearts I got sick.

5. Stalkers..... this really happened (For Mati)

Music To My Ears

With my newly set up iTunes account I've been turning into quite the little music lover. I thought I'd share a few of my favorite artists right now (the list is always changing).

1. A Fine Frenzy

I bought her newest album right before Christmas and have had it on repeat ever since. If your looking for chill but meaningful, go no further. *Favorites? Stood up, Happier, If I had you.

2. Taylor Swift

Get your laughs out now, but in my defense, I am still a teenage girl. I'm perfectly entitled to thoroughly enjoy her "I hate boys" songs.... and I do. *Favorites? Better than revenge, Dear john

3. Elvis Presley

I saw a clip of the cirque du soleil performing a part of their Elvis Tribute on a show I watch and I was instantly on iTunes. A few downloads later I had enough to make myself a wee playlist

including a little bit of Beach Boys, and a favorite Patsy Cline. *Favorites? Jailhouse rock, are you lonesome tonight?

4. P!NK

Again with the laughing. I'M ENTITLED!!! I'm pretty sure I'll hit 21 or 22 before I feel guilty about listening to the ranting, raving, praying for change songs that are found on her greatest hits album (just out). Listening to P!nk can sometimes make me feel a little bit more..... enthusiastic about my life. *Favorites? Glitter in the air, Freaking perfect

Happy Listening.

Fashion Fetish 1

Bright Nails. Love them.

I personally love the black, dark blue, and burgundy red I bought recently. Where do I get my polish? ForeverXXI has some bright trendy colors that I really enjoy. Sally's has a brand called "Finger Paints" that I really like. They have a lot of variety and it's good quality.

Les Miserables

To say that I liked the book would be an understatement. If a book makes you cry, it's usually because you relate to whatever is going on. You've experienced a similar loss, similar love, similar hurt, similar hate. And I don't think that you can truly learn to appreciate or love something until you understand it or relate to it.

I cried!

It was a fantastic story about the life of the convict Jean Valjean. How he turned his life to God and how he raised a child. He learned to love his daughter and eventually gave everything for her. His whole life went unappreciated, unnoticed, and unrecognised.

I think that everyone can learn a lesson from the selfless humility of the man who gave all to preserve what he loved.

If you haven't read it yet do.

Being Sick? BOOOO!!! New Year's Resolutions? YAY!!!

Let's just say that going back to "the old routine" after Christmas didn't really work out for me this year. I had a terrible day at school on Monday and started feeling sick that evening. I woke up this morning much worse and stayed home from school (missing my two important classes). We decided it was probably a combination of very little sleep, low blood sugar, and a flu bug. And as the day went on I began to feel a little bit better. So I decided to put myself to some good use and work on Les Miserables (see my booklist for champions) so I spent the day on our big comfy couch reading. Not bad.

I also took a minute to jot down a few New Years Resolutions. And I'd like to share a few.

• I'm a terrible journal writer. So #1 was to write in my journal at least once a week.
• I love to sew, and I want to become a fashion designer (someday) but I need more practice. #2 is to make at least one outfit every month. This means pants and a shirt, or dress and a cardigan, etc.
• I'm a senior in high school and it's very likely that after I graduate, I won't have time to dance. I know I will miss it dearly, so I'm going to live it up now. #3 is to compete Open Youth pre-champ Standard AND Latin this year. I've been slacking but my partners and I are going to get to work!

One last thing! Check out the new show Live to Dance! You'll see some of my good friends with THE VIBE on TV!!! They made it onto the short list! God job guys!

My Year (in part) In Photos

In no particular order.

On our way to Catalina

Phaya. He's a famous Rapper. From Haiti.
Me and Jess at Gem State.
Me and my comp dance partner with our coaches and our winnings from Gem State.
Me and Jaisha on our way to the comp.
Me and Natalie. My best best friend.
One of my personal favorites from the senior pictures by Paige Jacobs.
Prom with Tanner.
Me and Gabe. We had a good time in ballroom.
Morp.

The river rats.
Me and my (super hero) buddy Gunner.
Three girls that I love love love and miss to death!

Me and Todd and Kati on Christmas Eve

The Best Christmas Present EVER

So Santa brought be a new Bernina sewing machine for Christmas. I cried. A little. I was really happy. So today I thought I'd put it, and my spare time, to good use. I'd bought a pattern and cut it out months ago anticipating some free time in the near future. And so it sat.... and sat.... and sat.... Until today! I pulled it out and started my first project on my new machine. Despite the pattern's professed "easiness", I found myself stumped more than once. Nothing some extra help and persistence can't fix. So I asked Mom for a little help now and again. And I finished!

Here are a few pics. (Sorry. Not the best quality but I was using my camera phone)

This is the print I used.

The finished product!

How I'll be wearing it.

These are two simple fabric flowers made out of the same fabric as the dress. They can be pinned on the dress, cardigan, or even to a headband.

2010

January: I celebrated my (young and sweet only) 17^th birthday on the 1^st. I spent the month prepping with the LHS BDC for our annual trip to Idaho Falls for Gem State and got to spend some quality time with my girlfriends. And went to “The Spontaneous Dance” with my friend David.

February: More practice. More practice. More practice. I also started working at Olson’s again to get ready for the growing season and started saving for the trips to Catalina and St. George. I went to Gem State where I competed with Sam, placing 5^th, 5^th, 3^rd, and 2^nd. As a team we placed 2^nd in both medleys, 3^rd in Cabaret, and 1^st in showdance.

March: NATIONALS!!!!!!!! 7^th in Latin Medley, 3^rd in Standard. Sam and I made it to quarters in Open. I took my friend Matt to MORP and we had a good time.

April: I spent spring break on the warm Catalina Island with my AP Bio class while Lehi experienced a mild blizzard. Got to go snorkeling, kayaking, tide-pooling, and experienced my first bought with seasickness. It was so much fun! I also spent 4 days on a dance tour to St. George with LHS BDC. We had a fantastic time and I made some of my best friends on that trip.

May: I went to Prom with my friend Tanner. Team had their fantastic End-of-Year-Concert, and I said goodbye to my very best friends as they graduated. I started working job #2 at a floral shop in highland. I love it.

June: The summer was not only an end of the school year. For me the end of the year was a final turning of the page and a goodbye to many things I needed rid of. I said goodbye to some bad habits, bad influences, and heavy weights on my heart. It was good for me. I went to Girl’s Camp and Youth Conference which were both great. I got called as the new assistant ward organist.

July: As a family we went and rafted down the green river for a week. It was probably one of the most fun trips I’ve ever been on and I hope to go again!

August: I got to spend the first week in August at BYU for their Youth Ballroom Camp. It was such a great learning experience for me. I got to meet some great kids and got to have lessons with some pros. It was a blast! I also got my wisdom teeth out (can you say chubby cheeks), went to Ballroom Boot Camp, and started my Senior Year!!!

September: I went to homecoming with my good friend Jake. Went to a competition with Cameron. And helped the team get ready for Dancing With The Athletes.

October: I choreographed the winning couple’s waltz for DWTA as well as 3 other numbers for that event. As a team we went to a few competitions. I started working job #3 in the design room for a business that does little girl’s clothes and costumes. Love it!

November: College applications!!!! Bleh! LHS BDC started getting ready for our Christmas shows and working seriously on our Latin Medley. I took my friend Matt to Sadie’s, and spent a great Thanksgiving Holiday at Grandma and Grandpa’s and went to the early showing of Harry Potter 7.

December: LHS BDC had 4 shows in December. I (finally) finished up my Christmas shopping, enjoyed a night at temple square with my family, and spent some time with my friends over the break. I got to participate in a few charities over the holidays and had a fantastic Christmas with my family.

I grew up a lot this year through the blessings and trials that came to my lot. I wouldn't have had it any other way. Happy New Years and may we all learn and grow a little more.

Alright alright!!!

Considering my last post was a little bit.... dismal. I decided to blog about some of the "favorite things" that make it not seem "so bad". Here goes....
1. Christmas Grams from "an exotic stranger...." ooooooh
2. Chatting with Kyle at lunch today
3. Natalie and the story she's about to tell me about her super cute ultra hot home teacher... (don't worry she's in a singles ward)
4. My phone background..... Derek?
5. Lion House Rolls. Yum!
6. Zicam
7. Toblerone Chocolates
8. Blogging of course
9. The fact that I don't have ANY HOMEWORK TODAY!!!
10. And...... only 4 more days of school
There you go. Positivity! It can be done.

A Time To Get Away...

Ecclesiastes 3:1 reads "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." It goes on to list (as you probably well know) a time to weep, laugh, mourn, and dance. I wonder if King Solomon had lived in our day he would have included "A time for Sarah to go on a vacation and get away from her life (life implying in majority the people that she sees much too often)." Probably not. Instead I get a two week break from school (school implying in majority the people that she sees much too often). I'll make it work.

The Real Reason

The real reason I went to school for 11 hours today....

It must be because I love ballroom.

Ballroom Update

My team's Christmas Concert is next Thursday, December 16 from 6-8 p.m. Admission is 1 can of food to donate to the Utah Food Bank. It is a combined concert so the first hour will be Ballroom Team and the Social Dance Class. The second hour will be Dance Company. Come and support!!

A Book List For Champions....

I'm feeling a little ambitious. So here it goes.

I oftentimes feel silly as I sit in my English class listening to the animated and intellectual conversations that surround me (no sarcasm here). They really are all very intelligent kids. Today's discussion was about the different books we had been reading for our book report. I am in the middle of Arsenic And Old Lace, a 93-page play about 2 homicidal old ladies. And I'm quite enjoying it. However, while I sat amidst the ambitious Crime and Punishment and Heart of Darkness readers I felt a little out of place. SO.... I'm amping up my reading list for the rest of the year and I'm going to hold myself to it!!

Starting today I plan on reading the following 11 books and finishing all of them by the end of 2011. After reading each one I'll give a response on the blog.

*Les Miserables

*Gone With The Wind

*At least 1 Jane Austin book (probably the shortest, but can you blame me?)

*The Picture of Dorian Gray

*Heart of Darkness

*Anthem

*East of Eden

*Wuthering Heights

*The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

*For whom the Bell Tolls

*Crime and Punishment

Thank you istock for the fantastic photo