what're you doin' new years?

new years eve?

Every New Years Eve Donny Osmond's voice plays in my head over. and over. and over.

Not that I'm complaining. I love me some Donny.


Anyway, that's not why I'm posting.
What ARE you doing this year to ring in the New Year?

Currently have zero plans. But good thing I have lots of friends and a spontaneous personality when it comes to parties, so I'm sure it will be a blast whatever I(we) end up doing?.. And I would take pictures and document it, but unfortunately I still don't have my camera back from a wedding I decorated a few months ago. curses.  Oh well... Anyway. Back to New Years Eve.

It always brings reflection and new goal-making.  So here we go:

Dear 2010,
We have most definitely had our ups.  Mostly ups, but towards the end we've had way too many downs.  Hopefully your good friend 2011 has some tricks up her sleeve and will bring good fortune and many blessings like every year always has. Thanks for the life lessons learned.
In January, new adventures were afoot.  New boyfriend, more work hours, and a new semester to boot.  Life was exciting and fun.  Many basketball games watched, and I learned all about the game.  New friends were made and lots of fun was around every corner.  I also signed up for voice lessons for the first time and found something I love to do; sing.  I also discovered that performing really isn't so scary.  It's the acting that's scary.
February made history.  Went with friends to see Elton John and Billy joel..  It was my very first Valentines day with a valentine of my own.  I flew(by myself!) to Baltimore, then took the train north and explored the streets of NYC like a pro with a best friend.  We even tried on Tiffany's engagement rings.  An experience I will never forget.  Not to mention box seats at a broadway show and attending the orchestra at Carnegie Hall.  Epic to say the very least. 
March came in like a lion, what else.  Highlights included Disney On Ice, Jazz Games, game nights and parties.  It also brought a new job opportunity in which I applied and interviewed.  Things were looking up and up.
In April I finally got said job and started doing laundry and learned to love ironing.  I became a linen snob noticing even the tiniest of details and wrinkles on table linens.  I started to learn all about flowers and discovered a talent I never knew existed. I also turned 23 and was treated to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants.
May was a happy month that brought in lots of work hours and even more fun with the boyfriend.  Tennis games were watched and I continued to develop the talent of flower design and vocal performance. I started summer semester taking a class combining my two loves, Fashion Illustration.  I also made new friends in that class and had missionary opportunities. 
June was not what I expected it to be.  Hearts were broken and many. Many. tears were shed.  Summer seemed to not exist as I kept myself insanely busy with work and 2 new callings.  I hit 2 birds with one stone by keeping my mind off of boys and crossing off a bucket list item by going to the Backstreet Boys concert.  I screamed like a 13 year old and had the time of my life.  I still frequent them weekly. 
In July my best friend got hitched to another great friend. She looked gorgeous and he looked handsome.  Old traditions were met as we watched the 4th of July fireworks from the roof.  The sister and I had a photoshoot with a gal I'd been following on her blog and I felt like a starstruck teen meeting her.  She is just as sweet and stunning in person as she seemed to be on her blog. Summer still didn't exist. I was still healing and thinking and keeping busy.
In August I passed FashionIllustration with flying colors and celebrated by retreating to Disneyland with the family (minus dad. boo. stupid work).  I finally swam my ONE and only time this year in sunny California and even got a tan!  I also shopped til I dropped in Los Angeles and felt like a million bucks with all the shopping bags we carried around. (Okay, one of them was from Mrs. Fields cookies... don't judge me.)
September was another start to what seemed like a hopeful semester with new beginnings.  Work started to slow down and hours were cut.  I declared I was going to Europe and planned for a vacation for the next April.  I was forced to quit voice lessons to save for the trip. (Devastating.) I kept pressing forward with excitement for the adventures that would await in Switzerland, Germany and Austria; trying to work as much as I could to pay for all life's expenses. (boo! I hate bills.) I also had new dating prospects which kept things fun and interesting.
October had its fun, but it was extremely hard.  Even more hours were cut and eventually lost one of my jobs.  I stopped shopping for fun and started to cook more.  I discovered I am quite the little chef! I lost interest in the dating prospects and focused more on my family and friends. 
In November I was in complete awe when I saw the movie Tangled and was completely inspired by the film to follow my dream of becoming a Disney Animator.  I marched straight down to school and met with an academic advisor to see where I was with my degree and how much further I needed to go.  I was thrilled to find out I was already more than halfway done with my degree that would allow me to fight for my dream job and registered for spring's semester. 
December brought new goals, new friends, and even more saving as my hours were cut again.  Had to cancel my trip to Europe and eat the money I had put down already. (also Devastating)  Blessings were abundant, though, in other areas;  I learned a lot about the value of saving, hard work, and paying a full tithe.  There's no way I can afford NOT to do it, there are so many opportunities awaiting.  Started setting money aside for tuition and to start up voice lessons again.  I miss it WAY too much.  I also went out on a limb and put myself out there on TMB.  I never. put myself out there when it comes to dating.  So this can only be a good thing.  Maybe when my heart stops pounding when I think about it?



Dear 2011,

Bring it on.

I can't wait to see what you have in store.  I'm trying to be patient and look for opportunities in places I wouldn't normally think to look. 

Wishing you a

Happy

Optimistic

Hopeful

and

Adventurous

New Year.

Peace. And. Blessin's.

the wait is over

Yes. I'm really doing it.

I'm applying for The Mormon Bachelor.

this is my audition tape.

Ha. It's nerdy and awkward
and completely me.
let me know what you think!

A big THANK YOU and a shout out to my good friend Jordan over at MakinUVbetter for filming/editing this.  I couldn't have done it without you!! :)

I has four journals



1 attitude of gratitude journal

my grandma wrote me a letter along with a journal that reads

Dear Erin,
Keeping a "gratitude journal" is a great way to stay focused on all the many things that happen each day that we should be thankful for.  Just writing down a few things every night will help you stay focused on all of the good things that happen on the good days as well as on the not-so-good ones.  And if you date your entries, just reading it years from now will make you smile!
Enjoy!
Much love,
Grandma

it's true. she's right. I love it.  it's really nice to recognize everything i'm grateful for on a daily basis.  it keeps everything in perspective and keeps me humble.  it's fantastic. I highly recommend it.

then of course
2 the blog is a journal of sorts.  i plan to print it off once 5 years are completed to have for posterity.




3 the 10 year journal is my favorite thing ever. as you can see in the picture there is about 5 lines for each day for each year.  I am proud to say I have written every day for the year 2010.  It's easy because you only have to write a few sentences.  But how neat will it be to write for 10 years and see what I did on that same day 10 years ago? I was looking back and remembered each day as if it were yesterday!   To buy your own go { here }

 

4 and then i have a normal diary of sorts.
this is for long stories that won't fit in my 10-year journal.
and for more sacred/silly/secretive stories that I don't want to share on my public diary

I highly recommend PaperBlanks journals. They are brilliant. they lay flat when you write in them, so no annoying spaces where the binding is. Trust me, you will love them too. I've completed 2 full journals and am a fourth through my third.

the miracle that is makeup

i'm mostly ashamed to say this...
but i haven't worn makeup or done my hair in about a month.

please don't tell stacey, clinton or carmidy.

usually i care about how i present myself.
i truly do.

but this last month for some reason all the care went away.


this is a scary picture, but it's what i look like with air-dryed hair, and no make up (aka the past month.)

scary. i know.

then there's a little something called 10 minutes + makeup

which i should befriend more often.

and there you have it. the miracle of makeup
and a flat iron.
the end.

I know I'm a day late... But my little sis turned 21 yesterday and I wanted to give her a shout out! And also name 21 things I love about Anna. She made us play this game at every meal and it's high time I said something genuine..

1. She is my best friend
2. She will always sing the boy's part in duets with me
3. She is stunning
4. She is a friend to everyone... Almost.
5. Anna and I can never stay mad at each other for longer than an hour. Usual her anger spurts only last a few minutes. It's great.
6. She knows how to have fun
7. Little sis is dang funny
8. She is clever
9. She is smart and is going places
10. We have always joked that we have twin brains. It's true. She gets me and I get her!
11. Anna has great taste in clothes. and music.
12. She is a great example to everyone
13. She is going to make an awesome mom someday.
14. She is extremely strange which makes being her bff/wombmate/sister exciting
15. Anime comes up with cool nicknames with her creativity
16. She is a clean freak. But we love it
17. Just about every boy who knows what's what has a crush on her. The man who ends up with her is lucky lucky.
18. She has a firm testimony and shows it through her actions
19. She's got a fun sense of humor and shares a little snippit on her blog http://annamaespencer.blogspot.com
20. She is adventurous
21. I have the best sister in the world! Seriously. She is the greatest and I love her to bits and pieces. And everyone who knows her loves her. It's the truth. We are a lucky family to have her.

Love you babygirl!
Hope 21 is everything you hoped it would be and more!!

this also made my day

we are big Star Wars fans at our house.

Not only is this a catchy tune

(songs composed by John Williams for favorites like Indiana Jones, Jaws and Jurassic Park...you'll recognize them)

It has funny lyrics for you Star Wars fans. I seriously want to get a quartet together and learn this.


You think I'm kidding.

this made my day

there is this kid in my neighborhood who has special needs

i've grown up with him and he is one of my fondest friends


a few months ago a bunch of us went to a tumbling gym, including my friend.


i just hung around him the whole night.
he was cracking me up with his crazy stunts and getting stuck in the foam pit.

after talking with him most of the night he finally came up to me and put his arm around me.

"Hey buddy, how we doin?"

"Erin, I'm doing great.. You know I have something to tell you.."

"Oh?  What is it?"

"Erin... If you weren't married....I would totally ask you out."


then he proceeded to laugh and pat me on the back and he ran off to the foam pit.


Later on he asked about it again, but I thought it was so funny.



I didn't know I was married?!  It made my day.

awkward length

Once upon a time I chopped off all my hair.

Just to say I'd done it. 

And since then I've been growing it out.  But mostly keeping it short ish.

And it's finally reached that stage where it's almost past my shoulders.

It's driving me crazy.

I can't wear it straight down because it ends up just flipping out.

I just need it to finally pass my shoulders

but for now it's ponytail-stage.


goo.


Any suggestions for hairstyles at this awkward stage? 
I'm getting bored with ponies and I'm wanting to cut it. 
But I can't.
Because I want to grow it out.

that's all.

i don't wanna grow up

this pic is pretty recent of me (halloween to be exact)

but i look like i'm 13. 

seriously. 

i'm all for looking young.

but i'd really like to look my age!

a little bit of fashion history

Okay kids.

I know some might think fashion is just about clothes and runways.  And it is, most of the time..

But listen to how neat this is.

(well, I think it's neat, anyway)

Let's go back to the Seventeenth Century (1600-1700)

Ladies were wearig petticoats, pantaloons, large gowns with stomacher and skirts with modestes and secrets (the over skirt and under skirt... how funny they're called modeste and secret. pronounced mow-dest' and sek-ray')  Sleeves were puffed out, and long.

Then in the 18th Century (1700-1790) style evolved [like it always does].  Women were still wearing large intricate gowns.. These are the types of dresses you would see in Pride and Prejudice, with chemises, stays, jumps and hoops.

Gentlemen were always dressed to impress and so were the ladies.

And the women were always modest.

In the 1800's a few peculiar things happened.

One being Joseph Smith's first vision and the restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

(which is what my focus is on in this post..)

This is when a few major things in fashion also happened.

Dress became much more casual. (more casual than it had been...Not the sweat pant sort of casual Stacey and Clinton talk about)

Dresses became more form fitting

Hemlines became shorter.

Now I'm about to get churchy on you.

How interesting that as soon as the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth is when satan decided to start influencing the world in so many different ways.  One of them being in fashion.

By the late 1800's necklines had plunged, hemlines were shorter, dresses were form-fitting and women even started wearing pants.  {gasp!}

styles kept evolving and by the Twentieth Century

modesty became a thing of history for most of the world.

Immodesty was acceptable, and even portrayed as innocent in magazines.

Call me old fashioned but I love being modest in what I wear. 

it feels good to be modest. 

Tell your friends.

Modest is Hottest.

Right?

More fashion history lessons coming soon.  I think it's fascinating and fun.

you all know my love of disney.  the animation, the theme parks, but especially the disney princesses.

my dear friend Bradley over at Why Blog? made a post about the Disney Princesses but really just focused on who your type is?

I don't really have a type, but I am most like one of the Disney Princesses!  Head on over to his blog and check it out.  Who are you most like, or who is your type?  Then check out his comments to see what I said about it.  Leave a comment yourself!  He is a funny kid; you'd like the rest of his blog, too! 

Love you Brad!

Also, Artist of this image is Brianna Garcia.  I am a huge fan of hers.  Check her out on deviantART {here}

Hey.. Follow me on twitter!


@fashiontrainee


I've just discovered the tweeting world. So far it's fun!! I'm following past bachelorette Jillian and also Ellen... Makes them seem more like normal peeps and not just fab celebrities. It's great

The Mormon Bachelor

Please go to THIS LINK right this second.



I know what you're thinking. Erin, you JUST said in your previous post you're not looking to date anyone! 
But I'm all for dating adventures. 

And "I'm not looking" doesn't mean I'm not open to it!  I'm totally open to dating if the right guy came along! 

What a creative way to meet someone new. 

And if it doesn't work out (heck, I still would have to apply, be accepted, and there's still a gazillion other girls he could choose from!)  it would still be a great story to tell.


So my blogging compadres,


Do I do it?

Or Not

Leave a comment and tell me what you think! 

.i'll admit.

You've heard the term

senioritis
or
baby hungry

right?

Well.  I'm not either of those. 

I've already graduated from high school, and I'm not even close to having kids, so why even bother thinking about that right now. Right? Well,

I'm engagement ring hungry.

Just the ring. I don't want to date anyone or even be married right now for that matter. 
{too many big plans and too busy.  and too poor.}



How did I come to the conclusion of wanting needing an engagement ring?

I downloaded the Tiffany & Co Ring Finder app on my ipod the other day (bad idea)



and now other than Angry Birds



it's the only thing I look at!

This is my dream ring from Tiffany & Co.

Don't worry, it only costs $12,100

And when I was in New York last year I tried on this beauty.  Priced around $10,000

Not going to lie, my heart raced a little bit putting on a Tiffany's engagement ring.  Not to mention one that is so pricey! 

I loved it.



interesting

these are so great.

I honestly think they could be really helpful.  especially as of late.


man!

as I was leaving church

my sunday school teacher stopped me

"Erin, you're awesome"

"Heyyy... you're awesome too!  Thanks so much for the lesson today!"

"Erin but seriously though, remember what we learned today?  What did we learn?"

"...ummm...Don't be a cynic?"

"..Well.. yeah. 

but if you want to marry an All Star, then BE an All Star. 

And I know there's someone incredible out there for you.

I truly believe that. Do you?"


"... Yeah, I do"

"Okay good.  Erin, you're awesome.  So keep being awesome"

wedding belles!

(finally.. sorry about the long wait, girls!)

I had a huge response from this post.  I was blown away. . Thanks so much everyone who sent me your bridal pictures. Unfortunately I said I would only do 3.  And then I'm a sucker so I decided to do 4. 

Here's the final product.  I apologize, I don't know how to use my scanner, so I had to settle for phone pictures... I will be sending these pictures soon girls, don't worry. And also, they look better in person!

"I loved my wedding dress, when I was in high school I had a dream about getting married and I was wearing this dress. So when I got engaged and I found it in the store, I had to have it. My favorite part of my dress would have to be the train. It was long with these white ribbons… oh I loved that dress so much!" -Mrs. Willes

"We looked for 4 hours [for my dress] and the very last dress I put on I couldn't help but light up. I absolutely loved it. I love the neck line, the beading, and the buttons!" -Mrs. Robison

Mrs. Elder's dress was very unique.  I loved its antique look and all the lace.  Very lovely. And it suited her perfectly.  She looked gorgeous in it!  I fell in love with the back, which is why I chose to draw it! Naturally!

"I loved how simple my dress was but with a little rouching of the fabric, a black belt, with a diamond brooch on it I felt elegant." - Mrs. Chadwick

Ladies, thanks so much for letting me draw you in your dream dresses!  I loved it.   Hopefully I will be getting an etsy shop started soon so I can do this legit.  Thanks for letting me build my portfolio! :)  

you are special, okay?

everybody is a genius.  but, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it's stupid. -einstein

heavenly father gave all of his children gifts. {D&C 46: 9-11}

we aren't all supposed to be good at the same things.

so embrace what you are good at.  and love who you are.  and believe that you are wonderful. because you are.