august 24

Matt and I just had a great weekend. Friday night we went to our new favorite place...Trader Joe's together and went a little overboard on groceries, but this is good now because we have been have some really yummy dinners! Afterwards we went to Issaquah and drove through the highlands...where we hope to someday own a home together. I absolutely love it up there and was pleasantly surprised to discover that the homes are actually not too expensive. Our current goal is to own a home in 7 years! I sure hope so! Saturday night was a marinated pork tenderloin and tonight we're having mahi mahi!! Saturday was somewhat of a relaxed day. I had my dance class at 1:00 and couldn't really move afterwards (I still really can't). Then we headed to Ikea to get some sheets and things for when my mom, cy and kaylin are in town. Sunday was a nice day. We cleaned out our car which was long over-due. Took it to get a wash as well which was refreshing. Felt good to drive to work this morning. After we finished cleaning out the car (and going to Target to buy a swiffer!, ) we headed over to Matt's parent's house to have dinner. I got to finally meet some close family members, Aunt Colleen & Uncle Gary. It was great to meet them! We are going to plan a trip soon to go down and visit them and see Portland. We're going to stay with them for a weekend soon. She's great at beading jewelry and I'm excited to do that with her. We also got to meet Mel's "boyfriend", Clint. He was really nice and we're just really happy and excited for her. We also went bowling with them afterwards and it was nice to go on a double date together. Matt and I got competitive and had a great time being silly together.
My mom and Cylie will be here soooon! I can't wait to see them, I feel like the days are going way too slow while I'm waiting for them to get here. They'll be here on Wednesday at midnight *so Thursday* and then Kaylin will get in late Friday night. It will be great to finally show them where we live and what my life is like here, because really...it's so much different. I was talking with Haley today about how my refrigerater is going to be foriegn to them because we have a lot of organic and "healthy" food. I'm just so excited!! 2 more days!
We found our wedding florists and they're absolutely amazing. We will be sending them a check this week....let the wedding cost begin......yikes.

dancing again.

I took a hip hop class today at Westlake Dance Center. I was nervous going into it because I haven't danced hip hop in a long time and have only ever been taught hip hop "Energizers" style. Todays class was hip hop II and I'm so glad that I didn't go to a higher level. It was the perfect amount of comfort and challenge for me. The instructor was Mindy Lu and her style was really smooth. We danced to a P Diddy song that I don't know the title of. My legs are still in pain. I haven't had to "get low" in a while lol and I can totally feel it. Now that I have danced though, I'm going to be going there all the time! It felt so good. Monday night at 5:30 I'm taking a lyrical class. I watched one today that was going on before my class and I wanted to be in there so bad. At the end of class the instructor turned off the lights and they ran through it in groups a couple of times and were all so into it. It was amazing. I won't be going to classes this coming weekend because my Mom, Cy and Kaylin will be here. I'm really looking forward to my Monday class. Matt watched me dance today and I liked being able to show off a little lol. It was lots of fun and I learned a lot. I'm glad I got out there and went.

the dreams still alive...and strong!

Last night I went to Westlake Dance Center to take a ballet class. The class was a level I/II and I found quickly that I am only ready for ballet I and will be attending that class from now on Tuesday nights. I thought I had a much larger knowledge of ballet than I actually do. I am really excited to learn and to hopefully become more graceful (and toned before our wedding!). I am also going to try a hip hop class tomorrow (a level II) I think I can handle a more difficult level, but since I haven't taken a class in a long time, I'm not sure how quickly I will be able to learn. I found out the 2 weeks ago when I took the jazz/funk class in Redmond that my speed learning is definitely not where it used to be. Matt is going to come and watch me and I'm really excited about that. Besides when we clear space in our apartment and I dance in front of the patio doors at night, Matt's never really seen me dance (Disney parades do not count lol).
I am also looking to find a place to start teaching classes. My nanny mom Haley's sister has offered to let me teach classes in their garage and I can't wait to get that started. I'm hoping that from that I will make enough money to open the studio in a place I found on craigslist today. It's only $995/mo. and is the perfect amount of space for what I need right now. I'll be the only teacher at this "studio" for now and can only teach at night after work and on the weekends. To be able to afford this place I need at least 25 girls. Any more than that and I'll make a profit! 25 girls is nothing. That's only 5 classes with 5 in each class. Easy. Well in my perfect little bubble of my dance studio dream...that has been going strong since my junior year of high school, it seems easy...

For a while here I had given up on this dream of mine after a conversation with Matt's brother and sister-in-law when we were discussing our future. I want to be able to spend a lot of time with my kids when we have them. But, if I can get this going the way I want to now, I should be able to by then! Let's hope.

I'm also going to try to start to get going on making my purses to sell. I get SO many compliments on it and I would love sell them on Etsy and at the Issaquah farmers market in April. I have a lot of work ahead of me!.........and wedding planning! Why do I always overwhelm myself with more than I can handle lol? I believe I get that from my dad...

my mind was moving faster than i could type.

So thought I could convert my blog to strictly dance related topics...

Oh how wrong I was. It is impossible for me to not let everything just spill out of my mind when I start typing...so there will be lots of dance news (I have some now) but also just life in general.

I nanny for two families, one of them being from Wisconsin...love it. Matt and I have been becoming very close with them these past few months and have spend lots of time with Haley, Liam, Charlotte and Maclin outside of me working. This past weekend Haley's sister's daughter Cora turned 5 and Matt and I went to her birthday party to help Haley out with the kids. While we were there Haley's sister, Paisley, asked if I would like to start teaching dance classes to her children and a large number of their friends. I of course accepted. So starting in September (cross your fingers) I will be teaching hip hop classes for these children in their garage which will be fully equiped with mirrors for me! I'm so excited to teach again. This will be a great way for me to network and get my name out there in Kirkland, WA. Hopefully this will lead a path to my dance studio that I am determined to own one day. The dream is still alive.
I also got a job with the Kirkland Recreation Department. I actually created the program and will be the teacher for 3-5 year old art classes. I will read them a new story each week followed by an art project, songs or dances that correlate with the story. By teaching these classes there I will get to know the staff there and hopefully get to start teaching dance...or ultimate goal...start a dance team through them. (again, cross your fingers that this doesn't fall through)
It's so important to me that one day when Matt and I do have children that I can be a stay at home mom and teach dance classes to keep my love for dance and...just get a break! I'm hoping that these are two open windows for me right now that will eventually lead to my being able to stay home, get a degree and have a path for my studio.

Wedding update.

We have decided on our entire wedding theme which will be a classic backyard style wedding with a bit of a vintage twist here and there (my ring really is vintage and my dress might as well be...it's beautiful...no details here though, Matt may read this. Sorry) Along with that style, the colors are yellow and white with a bit of green. The ceremony will be outside with classic white chairs and our reception is going to be in a beautiful white tent, large enough for the 300 guests that will be invited. (yikes) One of our flower girls will be pulled down the aisle by my baby brother (who will be sporting some amazingly cool sunglasses) in an old radio flyer wagon. Our flowers will be white hydrangeas and peonies with some daisies and sunflowers possibly. And because of Matt's wonderfully cute idea, our reception will have a lemonade stand which I am hoping the kids will take turns playing with and serving the lemonade to everyone...lots of children at this wedding.
We are so excited about it and are hoping for the entire night to just be fun. We want everyone to leave our wedding saying, "wow, that was SO much fun!" Matt and I aren't fancy people...we like to try lol, but really...our style is simple and just very happy together. I feel so blessed that I've found Matt. And just to think that we met while working for Walt Disney World living in FL (something I never dreamed I'd have the guts to do) and now have an amazing studio in Washington with a beautiful view...it's crazy.
We are very happy, and in the end...that's all that really matters. I forget that often while I wish we had more "things" ...and I need to remember more often that it doesn't matter. When we're 80 years old and are looking back, I'm not going to remember the amazing dress I want from Gap or the amazing home decor from Crate and Barrel, I'm going to remember laughing at Matt while he freaks at our kitty for attacking us while we try to sleep. Or how we love to go grocery shopping together. Or just how nice and safe it feels to be in out apartment and watch a movie together.

Being a 21 year old engaged nanny for four children who lives 2,000 miles away from my incredible family is not easy, and I just wish that before I have panic attacks about all of this and feel like something is wrong with me because I make too many lists and worry about things way too much, I should take a step back (like Matt is always telling me) and love how much fun it is to be 21 and how I am loving this wedding planning business. I need to love every second I spend with my four nanny kids because they are all so wonderfully unique and creative and funny! And as for being 2,000 miles away, I do have an incredible family....and they love me so so much and I love them just as much back. And we chose to live in Sammamish because we have opportunity here for our future children.

This blog was all over the place and I know I'm going to read it back and be slightly confused myself...so sorry about that whoever is reading this. If anyone reads this?

We have a lot going on right now...Ooo and I almost forgot....honeymoon----Sandals in the Bahamas!!! Amazing!

Ok, I'm done now. That's all for right now.

found a studio!

I am now converting my blog into my dance experience...taking classes. craving dance. wanting to teach. hopefully teaching.

Last night I dreamt that my old dance coach and my parents were sitting in my living room with me at my parents house. I was 21 years old just like I am now and they were telling me that I was going to be able to be apart of the Energizers again, but I had to prove that I could still dance. So, my coach asked me to show her a leap. I began to prep and realized that I didn't know how to anymore and that I had 0 flexibility. It was a terrible leap that any 5 year old could have pulled off. I began to cry knowing that it was terrible. I began to throw things around the room and I was very angry. Then to make matters worse, my coach called in two of my former teammates Amanda and Christy. They were trying to calm me down and motivate me to remember how to do this. Throughout the entire dream I couldn't get it...
I woke up at 7:00 in the morning (on a Sunday) now wide awake, feeling like I had to go in the hallway and leap, and...I still have it.
I went to a dance class on Thursday night feeling this same strong urge to dance. I went to an adult jazz/funk class in Redmond at Premiere Dance Center. It was a great class and my instructor, Megan Adams, told me of about three dance studios around where I live that are great places to teach and to dance. So, now this week, I am going to be taking classes at a studio in Seattle that is only for adult dancers (amazing). Westlake Dance Center. I want to take ballet, hip hop, lyrical and jazz. Who knows, maybe I'll throw belly dancing in there as well. At my Thursday class we learned a Bollywood routine and it was so much fun! Not only did I learn something new, but I got to release a lot of stress that I have on my right now.
Living in a new place, with all new people (-Matt), being engaged and planning a wedding, working in a stressful job, missing my family and friends, having 1 car between the 2 of us, and not having dance...not a good combo for me.
I'm going to start dancing more...a lot more. Here is the schedule of classes I'll be taking this week!
Monday Hip Hop III/IV 6:30-7:30 Westlake Dance Center with Rex Kinney
Tuesday Jazz II 6:30-8:00 Westlake Dance Center with Kirsten Cooper
Thursday Ballet I/II 5:30-6:30 Westlake Dance Center with Sandy Brown
I am going to be taking classes like crazy this year so that I can up my level of dance training and experience yet again and boost my resume for teaching jobs. I am going to really focus on dance and on getting teaching jobs. This week I am going to contact the Village Theater in Issaquah to see if I can get a teaching assistant job (no pay) so that I can get my name out there and be apart of musical theater as well.
Ultimate goal...be a stay at home mom who gets to spend an enormous amount of time with her kids, love and take good care of her husband & dance...a lot!

http://www.westlakedance.com/

Perfect Timing...

Matt made it through three rounds of interviews and got a new job at Microsoft. On September 1st he will be recruiting coordinator instead of a receptionist. This is great news for him...for us! He is closer to his dream job at Microsoft, he's on the right path. He will have higher pay and instead of working from 10-7, he will work either 8-5 or 9-6...he hasn't found that out yet. Either will be better. We will be able to spend more quality time together at night instead of basically getting home, eating dinner and then going to bed. I am so incredibly proud of him! This is going to make things so much better. I love him so much and he really needed this. It is an eight month contract until April. After which he has 100 days before he can work for Microsoft again. Hopefully he will then get signed for another contract...and then another after that. If he can keep getting signed on while he is in school (which he is going back to in September), he was told theres about a 99% chance that he will get a job as a Microsoft Recruiter. Amazing. The timing for this could not have been better with our wedding around the corner. It is going to help us a lot.

I am also excited because my Dad is also on the track for 2 jobs....hoping for and needing that as well.

My mom decided tonight that she will be buying her airline tickets tomorrow to come to Washington to see where I live and meet everyone here! She is actually coming for our engagement party. Kaylin may be coming as well (maid of honor) and her mom, and possibly Drea and David! I really wish my dad could be there, but they can't find anyone to watch the kids...anyone want to babysit?

My job is going well. I absolutely love my kids but am looking forward for school to start so my life will be 2 children easier!

All good news today!

false hope.

no car tomorrow. have to wait until monday. sucks. i'm pretty upset....
i'm going to try to relax and read now. our apartment is like a sauna because we don't have air conditioning. no one really does here. it's wierd to me. it gets to be in the 90's. not fun.
i'm starting another Jodi Picoult book. i was listening to The Tenth Circle before the car situation happened and now don't have that so i just finished the book. loved it. i'm going to read Mercy now. maybe that's what i'll do this weekend. we could take the bus to greenlake together. we were hoping to go to see a movie this weekend. looks like that's not happening.
this would be the best time for us to just all of a sudden win like $500.00 and be able to go away for the weekend. we need it. we're both so frustrated, upset and stressed out. it's not good for us to be this way together. okay, i'm really going to go and read now. i miss dancing so much. that used to be my outlet...now that i don't have that, i'm not good at dealing with stress...at all. reading helps though, its another world and then i dont' have to think about mine.