it's show time!

nutcracker has begun. wahoo! 

nothing brings in the holidays like performing the nutcracker.

this past week was consumed by hours at the theater. 

other than my body feeling like it's been hit by a train, 

it feels so good to be done performing the first week of shows.

now... unto the next week!

{sometimes i can't believe we do it all over again. it's almost like hitting a repeat button.}

however, i'm excited to get the chance to perform again.

my lovely parents are coming into town this week. i can't wait to see them.

i am extremely nervous for whats ahead of me. 

but, anxious and happy to share it with those i love most.

this weekend was snow queen and next weekend is sugar plum.

hard, challenging, nerve-wracking yet exhilarating, fun and rewarding.  

another week of rehearsals, time with the parents, performing, and finals....

here i go! wish me luck. 

xoxo

a proud sister

yesterday was quite eventful.

it started bright and early with two performances of the nutcracker.

onto work, studying for finals and cooking dinner.

then we decided to be festive, and decorate our christmas tree. 

{despite how exhausted we both were.}

on a typical day of the lovebirds, decorating the christmas tree would normally seem 

like the grand event. the big bang. 

but yesterday, something super special and exiting happened.

my little brother

[aka: crewser, my best friend, c-cup and crewber]

received his mission call to.....

mexico city!

awesome, right?

{if you have no clue what i am talking about, click here.}

he is going foriegn, which he wanted desperately.

 he is also learning spanish. which, in my opinion, is such a useful language to learn.

lovebird and i being beyond excited for him quickly did some research to find out

where exactly our brother, who is growing up way too fast, 

would be spending the next two years of his life. 

he is going to an incredible place full of culture, history and people.

fun little fact: the population of just the metropolitan area is a little over 21 million people.

that is a ton of people. holy cow.

 anyway, we couldn't be happier for him.

i'm already trying to imagine life "without" him for two years. it's going to be ruff.

good thing for handwritten letters, and two phone calls home a year.

looks like i'll have another nickname to add to the list... elder carlson.

i promise to post some photos and a video of him opening his call very soon.

we are beyond elated for you, crew. 

xoxo

wrap me up in a scarf, please.

the other night while i was being productive,

lovebird was being a little rascal.

he's new to the whole instagram scene. 

{that being said, he probably will always be "new" to it.}

but, while frantically doing my homework and crafting,

i finally decided to call it a night and go to bed.

i walk into the bedroom and lovebird has a little smirk on his face.

i know he has done something.

he breaks into a little laughter as he says,

"have you checked instagram lately?"

 i instantly said, "oh no... what did you post?"

{thinking he posted a picture of our dirty laundry, or the dust on our shelf, or an awkward picture of me from 5th grade, or something that would completely embarrass me...}

already preparing for a huge pillow fight, i grab a pillow in one hand
and my phone in the other.

i check instagram to find a picture posted of .... my scarves.

instantly feeling relieved and just slightly embarrassed at the number of scarves i own.

i look at him and just shake my head as i release my tight grip on the pillow.

i guess the world knows my obsession to scarves now.

lovebird thinks i have far too many.

i don't think i have enough.

he thinks i have enough to have a boutique.

i think i may ask for another one for christmas.

is this obsession sickening? possibly.

do i fall into that category of "americans owning more than necessary"? yes, i do.

can you borrow a scarf? yes, come on over to my boutique. 

i'd love to share my obsession and collection with you.

happy tuesday friends.

life is better wrapped up in a scarf. 

fun fact: if your neck is warm, the overall temperature of your body is warmer. 

keep this in mind as the cold weather comes our way this winter! 

p.s. it's a good thing he only posted a picture of some of my scarves.

 you'd really be in shock if you saw them all.

tech week:

{tutu's and holy berries. it's beginning to look a lot like christmas.}

well... it's begun.

theater week, that is. 

this week is also known as one of the

 busiest, most stressful, happiest, most fun, and craziest weeks of the year.

it's a joy to be in the theater all week.

the hours are hard and long.

being in a dressing room with your friends for hours on end is a blast.

the performances are nerve wracking but exciting.

nutcracker music 24-7 is overwhelming, yet makes it feel like christmas every day.

trying to be a wife, a student a 'personal shopper', and a piano teacher 

while spending 70 hours in the theater this week...
might be a little crazy to say the least. 

that being said... performing is one of the best parts about being a ballerina. 

the stage, the audience, the lights and the expectations are thrilling.

theater week is all worth it in the end.

oh but wait, then we turn around and do it all again next week.

the life of a ballerina is a busy one.

life is lovely right now.

how can it not be when visions of sugar plums dance in your head?

music warms the heart.

what's christmas time without music?

could you even begin to imagine that?

we couldn't prance around the tree in our pi's singing "deck the halls."

we wouldn't have "baby it's cold outside" stuck in our heads all day after watching elf.

christmas carolers wouldn't even exist.

i wouldn't think someone is singing my name every time i heard "Feliz Navidad".

{which actually might be a good thing.}

and an odd silence would fill the air as we shopped, celebrated, and partied. 

which is exactly why you need to spruce up 

your holiday collection of cd's with this little gem....

{the lovely cd. or rather it's cover.}

hum: is my best friend's brother and a rockstar.

hue: is his adorable, crafty and artistic wife.

both are extremely talented people. 

they were feeling the christmas spirit this holiday season and 

wanted to spread their love through music.

listen and watch one of their songs here.

and then return the favor and spread your love by visiting hue's easy shop.

you could also spread the word by letting others know. {yes, the pun was intended}

thanks for doing me this kind favor. hue will be very happy. 

xoxo

disney

i had to post this. why? 

because i am always wanting to cuddle and 

watch disney movies with lovebird.

is that childish? perhaps. 

do i care? not one bit.

dare i say, disney movies are better than half the movies out in theaters right now.

just the other day we watched "up" for the umpteenth time.

{such and incredible, inspiring, tear jerking and hilarious movie.}

no too long ago, we jumped on the bandwagon and watched "tangled."

another great one.

however, i'm talking way old school when it comes to disney movies;

bambi, lion king, jungle book, snow white, aladdin, cinderella, toy story...

and the list goes on. they never get old.

i'm secretly looking forward to spending the day with my future-little-ones 

on the couch watching the classics. 

until then, lovebird and i will continue to have disney date nights.

join in on the fun. you're missing out. 

{don't forget to sing along! that way you won't feel so "old".} 

happy weekend friends. 

greetings in december.

goodbye november. hello december. 

goodbye autumn. hello winter.

goodbye turkeys. hello santas.

goodbye leaves. hello mistle toe.

goodbye pumpkin spice. hello peppermint.

goodbye rehearsals. hello nutcracker performances.

goodbye thanksgiving. hello christmas.
goodbye "gobble, gobble." hello "ho, ho, ho!"

goodbye california. hello utah.

goodbye orange and brown. hello red and green.

goodbye junk food. hello cravings for salad. 

{with blue cheese dressing. naughty, i know.}

goodbye stuffing my face. hello arabian costume.

goodbye school feeling calm. hello finals.

goodbye studio. hello tech week in the theater.

goodbye cracked hands. hello lots of lotion and aquifer. 

goodbye milk. hello almond and coconut milk. yummy.

goodbye fall breeze. hello heavy winds.

goodbye never seeing lovebird. hello winter break.

goodbye anticipation for thanksgiving. hello all sorts of christmas advents.

goodbye pumpkin chocolate chippers. hello gingerbread cookies.

goodbye the thought of christmas away from family. hello last minute choice to fly home.

goodbye little brother. hello growing up way too fast. 

{can't believe you are going through the temple already!}

goodbye having to give up diet coke. hello a sip of you in the very near future.

goodbye busy. hello even busier.

goodbye nude nails. hello holiday cheer on the tips of my fingers.

goodbye empty bottles of perfume. hello to hopes santa has me on his nice list.

goodbye november. hello december. 

i'm happy if you want to join in on the fun and do this on your blog.

all i ask, is that you pretty please site it back to my blog! thank you!

remember: it's not nice to steal. santa is watching!