Study Mode

I'm officially in study mode (minus this blog post). This weekend will consist of mass amounts of coffee, water, books, papers and any thing else that will help me with finals! So while sitting at home or my local coffee shop (Salt Lake City Roasting Co. is best for studying) I've compiled a list of my needs for the next 48 hours of study sessions. (idea from subjectofstyle.com)

hp/laptop sleeve/ipod/preseli blanket/moleskin/canvas espadrille/earbuds/pens/pants

Easter

Easter was spent at my soon-to-be sister in-laws parent's house. It was all vegan and so delicious.

There was: Meggie's family, Josh, Mom, Brad, Ben, Meggie, Meaghan, Max, Colin and me.

We ate: Mashed potatoes & gravy, coleslaw, arugula salad, saiten roast, veggies and humus and broccoli.

Due To The Rain

I was stuck inside all day writing two papers that probably should have been finished over the weekend. I find it hard to scramble time together these days to write papers, but luckily, the day before they are due I managed to save time to finish them. But with all day papers come many small breaks in the constant task of writing. As the spring rain cleaned outdoors, I spring cleaned indoors. Mainly just my closet. I pulled out the tupperware with my summer clothes, sorted through my closet and packed away my winter clothes. There's something completely renewing about a real good closet clean. I got rid of things I obviously don't wear anymore (don't worry Meaghan and Mom, you'll have first pick), it was nice to get let go of some of the Abercrombie clothes I've had for so long.

But also said goodbye to my Coats, Scarves and Hats...

and pulled out, dusted off and said hello to my Rain Boots and Umbrella.

Colin has done some spring cleaning of his own. He found out we are able to plant in the little bit of garden below our window. He cleared out all the weeds and even used some of his Jesus carpenter skills and measured, cut, nailed and stained these amazing plant boxes to put under our window.

Whilst I'm on the cleaning note, Colin and I invested all of $40 for our first vacuum. Why we haven't bothered to buy one earlier is beyond me. But we both now get to enjoy the smell of our clean carpets all thanks to our Dirt Devil.

I can't wait for a good clean Spring! Also along with cleaning, I got to go to the gym today! Oh how I've missed a good cardio session. Hopefully more to come with these Spring months

A New Set Of Wheels

As some of you may know I have been trying to sell my car for awhile now. Sadly with no avail. Finally I set up a time for my mom to take me to Carmax to get everything settled. And after two days of complete craziness of running to banks and back to Carmax I did it!! I SOLD MY CAR!! I honestly thought I was going to be so heartbroken. I mean this was my first and only car, it was my Jeep Liberty. It was the car Meaghan and I used to roll the windows down in, open the sunroof and blast our Fort Minor or The Killers. Going to Target and Barnes & Nobel. It even made several trips to and from California. While I still love my beautiful blue baby, I'm completely relieved to let her go. I was smiling as I drove out of the Carmax parking lot, knowing I was free of this massive debt. So now that my car is no longer I've traded in for a new set of wheels. A beach cruiser bike borrowed from my brother in-law Mason. Best part about it? No gas, oil changes, or transmission issues! Also I get to wear an awesome helmet. Although I look a bit handicapped in it. Here's to the greener, and car-less me!

Life Update

All Colin and I have done for the past 2-3 weeks is study and work, then study. Sometimes study at work, and sometimes work instead of studying, either way it sucks. With finals slowly crawling near, we will be studying and working even more. And with Colin, who applied for a summer internship, got the interview and job offer at the same time, has even more to do than me. But we couldn't be more excited about his internship, this means he doesn't have to leave to China for a month and his internship sounds pretty bad ass. He's interning for Utah Open Lands. Basically he is "working with an organization that deals with land rights, and [I'm] in charge of education and outreach as well as surveying with the land to make sure conservation easements are being withheld." - Direct quote from Colin Ganong.

Yesterday, after work, we did make sure to find time for my brother Ben's birthday. We all met up at Este for vegan pizza and had a grand ol' time. It's so nice to have most of my family here in Utah for birthday celebrations. Ben, Meggie, Josh, Jared, Mason, Meaghan and Max all showed up. Colin and I bought Ben an old map of Japan from Sam Weller's Book Store, and have an Amazon.com frame on it's way. Happy Birthday Ben!! You old rascal!

Pictures from Estse

Closet Visit: Minji Kim

I really like Minji Kim's style, from closet visit the different prints, basic structure and oversized clothing. I know Korea isn't China. But it gets me excited for the style I will be engulfed in, in the East.

Black Swan Workout

I know, I know, It's been awhile. And I'm sure the last thing people want to read is a workout routine. But too bad!! It's all I can think of now that April is in full swing with May just around the corner. So, before all the 'Wonderful Life' posts, here's a "Get Your Ass In Gear For Summer, Swimsuits and Shorts" post.

BLACK SWAN WORKOUT

To help Portman build a strong, slim ballerina body, Bowers supplemented ballet classes with swimming, cross-training, and endurance exercises. "We usually started by swimming a mile a day, doing the front crawl and breast stroke," she says. "Then we'd do 2 hours of ballet exercises and resistance work."

You may not need to prepare for center stage like Natalie Portman, but you can still get a dancer's body. Here, Bowers reveals five moves from her Ballet Beautiful workout to help anyone get "strong and fit, but not bulky."

The Bridge
Ballet dancers are known for having incredibly strong, lean legs. This ballet exercise targets the inner thighs, back of the legs, core and butt to help anyone get a ballerina's lower body.

How to do it: Lie on your back with your stomach pulled in, knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Straighten your right leg, toes pointed up toward the ceiling. Keep your stomach pulled in tight as you lift your hips off the floor, trying to keep your knees together. Lower your hips until you're not quite touching the floor and then lift again. Complete 30 reps with one leg and then repeat on the other side.

Make it harder: Rise up on your toes (demi-point, as they say in the ballet world) while you perform the entire set.

Butt-Buster
A tight, toned ballerina butt not only helps you look amazing in your jeans, but it can also help prevent injury.

How to do it: Start on all fours, making sure that you have plenty of cushion beneath your knees. Bring one knee into your chest and then extend the leg straight back into arabesque, keeping the knee very straight. Pull in through your stomach and lift your leg high toward the ceiling. Repeat 30 times, and then change legs.

Abs Exercise
For a ballerina, the center of balance is everything, Bowers says. That's why ballet abs exercises serve a dual purpose: They flatten your stomach while strengthening your abdominal muscles—the foundation of your balance.

How to do it: Lay on your back with the arms open wide in second position, knees slightly bent. Pull your stomach in as you lift your upper body, bringing your arms overhead to first position (creating a circular frame around your head). Focus on keeping the stomach pulled in as you lower and lift again. Repeat 30 times.

Arm Toner
Perfect posture and graceful, toned arms are classic qualities of a ballerina's upper body, Bowers says.

How to do it: Sit on the mat with your legs extended straight out in front of you and hands just behind your hips, fingers facing out. Lift your hips up off the mat as you stretch the elbows, keeping the chest open and the neck long. Pull the stomach in tight and bend the elbows slightly. Lower and lift your hips by bending and stretching the elbows, keeping the stomach strong and hips elevated the entire time. Repeat 30 times.

Essential Stretch

Stretching keeps the muscles long and lean, so it's an important part of building a ballet dancer's thin body shape, Bowers says.

How to do it: Lay on your back and lift one leg straight up. Use your hands to pull the ankle gently toward your head. Work toward stretching your knee all the way straight over time. Repeat on the other leg.

(from Shape Magazine)