the world these days...

I realize that this weeks assignment was on videos too, but I saw this one on Facebook and bawled like a baby!! It is so inspirational and cool how people can be so selfless and caring.  That is something we don't see a lot of these days I think.  Here is the link to the video that I am referring too, Awesome story! 

I think that we have become such a "me" society, and we really forget about those around us.  I am guilty of this too, it just occurred to me as I watched that video and I was reading an article online about random kindness too.  I think we all should pay it forward at least once a day.  (And if you haven't seen the movie pay it forward, please go rent it! Its a good story!)  I think yes, in Minnesota and in smaller towns people are a lot friendlier but, there are always those few that ruin it for everyone.  I love when I walk down the street to go wait for the bus when I am at home and there is the same little old lady there and she says good morning to me every day! How come we all don't do that? It just brightens up that persons day so much more that it is worth that small bit of energy.

Anyways, that's the end of my rant.  It was just something that came to mind suddenly and I thought I would share!

Broadway Baby

I love musicals.  If my life were a musical, I would be the happiest girl alive. That would only happen if I could carry a decent tune too.  I have been looking at what will be playing while we are in New York in the spring and I am getting so excited!! Every year its one of our gifts from our Grandma to go see a show downtown Minneapolis and go out to dinner and it is one of my most favorite traditions ever.  Getting dressed up going to a fun restaurant downtown and then to a show is the best, I cannot wait to go in New York is unreal.  My favorite musical I have ever seen is probably Billy Elliot the Musical.  It is based on the movie (if you haven't seen it, rent it because it is so good), and the choreography in it is amazing.  I am so amazed at how the little boy that plays Billy can dance so well and perform on a nightly basis.  I would love that life.  Here is a song from the show, probably my favorite song from the show! 

Other than this show I loved Hairspray the Musical (not the movie, that show- its a million times better), or the Lion King was also soooooo good.  Every kid should see the Lion King musical once in their life because it follows the movie so well, and the animals/puppets are amazing!! 

I was in musicals in High School, but I was only in the Chorus because I could dance... Singing is not my specialty  But I loved it and like I said earlier, if I could start earlier I would totally be a Broadway star!! The   TV show SMASH is amazing because it shows (dramatically) the behind the scenes of the business, and I love it.  

So if you have any suggestions, you should totally let me know because I am game it see anything!! 

NEW YORK!!

I AM GOING TO NEW YORK CITY IN MAY!! I am sooo excited if you cannot tell. My parents, grandma and family friend, Donna, came down this weekend and surprised me with it.  I thought I was going to Las Vegas in May, because it was a tradition to take the kid that has turned 21 in the spring.  But, they decided to switch it up and go to NYC instead  and I could not be more excited! My parents planned on coming down last weekend for my birthday, but the weather was so bad they postponed it.  Today isn't much better, but they still came down and it was a much needed trip.  I haven't seen them since winter break, and I loved having them here for just the short while that they were here.

This is how my Grandma suprised me! 

If anyone is needing a cupcake, let me know! I have plenty!! And they are quite good.  Target has some good frosting.  

Anyone have ideas of what to do in NYC? I have never been, and want some ideas! We are going to go to the resturant Serendipity's because i have heard their frozen hot chocolate is to die for.  Also, my mom is looking into getting tickets to see a taping of Jimmy Fallon.  I really want to see a Broadway show too, so I hope some good ones are playing!!  

I hope you are all doing well!

Basketball weekend!

This long weekend was much needed.  I feel like I have been swimming in homework with the end no where in sight.  I loved not doing too much this weekend and just being able to catch up in all of my classes here before things get crazy again!
This week the SMSU Dance Team hosted a kids camp on Friday afternoon for kids in kindergarten through fourth grade.  It is one of our biggest fundraisers for the year, and we have a lot of fun doing it!  This time around we had a small group, part I think because it was a long weekend and people like to vacation on Presidents weekend.  But none the less, we had a blast!! The girls come on Friday afternoon for two and a half hours to learn a dance and have a good time with the team.  Then they come back on Saturday to perform the dance they learned at half time of the women's game.  It is so much fun to see them out there having a blast and seeing the crowd cheer them on.  They feel like they are apart of the team and it is awesome! They go through the whole game day experience with us, from warm-up in the studio to our sideline pep talk, and then performing.  I totally wish that I had the opportunity to do this as a kid, I would have loved it.

The whole team and our mini dancers! 

Then at the men's game that evening, it was the last performance of 3 of our teammates as they will be graduating here in the spring.  Such a sad moment as we walked off the court knowing that I will not get the chance to dance with them again as they are some awesome ladies and I will miss them so very much.  I hate loosing such awesome dancers and people, but I know that they are all off to bigger and better things, but they all still better visit once and awhile! I can't help thinking how much of a wreck I am going to be next year around this time, as it will be my last performances too.  I have been on a dance team since 7th grade, so to not be on one will be really weird and I don't like thinking about it much.  

Senior Night! <3 

I hope you all are doing wonderful!! 

Happy Birthday!!

I am 21.  Sounds kinda weird to say! I am going to embrace this age like I have never before, and it will be the best year yet!! I was so happy that I got to celebrate it with my close friends and teammates  and they did make it the best birthday yet!! My family was supposed to come down for the day as well, but you know with this awesome snow storm, they weren't able to make it down.  I wake up to my door being decorated, and the apartment as well (thanks roommates!!), then later I was surprised by my team because they decorated my door to the apartment! I received some awesome cupcakes AND a cake, so if anyone is hungry stop on by and you can have a piece because I have a lot of cake!!
We then tried going to Applebees for dinner last night, half-off apps are the best, but they were closing early due to the storm. Lame. So we went to the pub instead, and had a grand ole time!! It was really fun and I hope my friends had a good time as well.
Hoping that you all are having a fabulous snowy day!! :]

Dance filled week!

This weekend we performed our annual Boy/Girl Dance at halftime of the mens game.  It is one of the most fun things that we do all year, and I think the guys enjoy it as well.  My partner this year was my friend Craig,  and we had a blast!! It starts off on Wednesday, when the boys come to practice and get to experience what dance team practice is all about.  People think dance is easy, but you better think twice!! It is a lot of work! Anyways, we go though or stretching routine and then we starting learning the routine.  Performance night was jersey themed, so the songs were all themed around basketball.  I think they really enjoyed that instead of some slower more jazzy type music.  It was very impressive that they learned the whole dance in about an hour in a half, and we still had time to laugh and have fun! Then on Thursday, we had a quick practice just to refresh everyones memories so they wouldnt forget.  Then Friday was gameday!! We had a quick practice in the RA gym early in the afternoon so that the boys could get used to dancing in a bigger space than in the small studio.  I was again very impress how they adapted and remember the dance so well!! We met back in the studio later in the evening, all dressed and ready to go! The boys all wore different basketball jerseys so that they could act like real players.  After warm up we headed down to the gym to watch the first half and perform at halftime.  The guys did so good and the crowd absolutely loved it.  It was probably the best one yet! Here is the video so you all can see for yourself :] haha

Well, its my 21st birthday tomorrow, so I am off to bed because it will be an interesting day! Have a good night! :]

Pinterest night!

Ahh what a weekend!! It was pretty a pretty busy weekend in my apartment   First off, I would like to note that the groundhog didn't see his shadow, EARLY SPRING for us!! WOOO!!! I cannot wait to get out of this arctic weather.  Anyways, Saturday we woke up pretty early and went to a bowling fundraiser for the Social Work club.  It was a fun time with my roommates  and I clearly cannot bowl because I don't think I broke 100 in either game.  But it was for a good cause and it was fun, so it doesn't matter! Then we drove out to Lynd for the evening to have a "Pictures and Pinterest Party!!"  My roommate Casie, her cousin is a photographer (Amy Rose Photography) and she is really good, go check her website out! We went out to her studio, and did some fun roommate photos for valentines day. Here is one of our proofs!

Then we went to her house and had this awesome Taco Bake.  You take 2 rolls of crescent rolls and place them on a bottom of a 9x13 pan.  You bake them for 5 minutes so they don't get soggy.  Then you prepare taco meat on the stove top like you would normally.  When the crust is done, you put the taco meat down, then a layer of sour cream.  After that you crush up some Doritos to cover the pan, that totally cover the chips with cheese.  You bake it for 20 more minutes, and tada! A delish dinner that is quick and easy.  We put lettuce and salsa on ours to make more taco like.  I know it inst the most healthful of foods, but it was super good!! 

Then we went on to make our own painted glasses.  It was really easy as well.  We just bought a set of glasses from Walmart, and some acrylic craft paint and just painted away on the glasses! After that you bake them for 30 minutes at 350 degrees and then leave them in there until the oven cools off.  

After that we all painted our nails, pinterest style!! I have an extensive nail polish collection that I love dearly, and I went to the store an got some cool stickers and tools to make awesome designs.  I absolutely love painting my nails, so this was probably my favorite activity of the night.  Here is my nail polish design for this weekend! 

Then, we exfoliated out lips.  I know, it sounds weird, but it really works! We just used a small amount of honey and regular white sugar, mixed it together and rubbed it on our lips for a few minutes and then just rinsed it off.  Great for the winter to get off all of the dry skin! 

The last thing we made on Saturday was these cool braided headbands.  We cut up old t shirts and did this cool 5 strand braid.  Mine was just plain gold colored, the other did gray and black or like a pink and white combo.  Here is a link to the tutorial  we did this except for the flower... we didn't bring any fabric.  They are still super cute! 5-Strand Braided Headband

Busy Saturday, and now a homework filled Sunday before the SUPERBOWL! excited to see Beyonce at halftime, and even more excited for the awesome food! Talk to you guys later!!