watercolors

I have been itching for months now to break out my watercolors.  I've really wanted to try doing portraits and fashion illustrations in watercolor.  This is my first attempt at painting people.  Obviously I need more practice, but I'm really happy with how it turned out!  I'm really excited to keep practicing.

Can you guess who this is?.. If not, I won't be offended.  Like I said; I need practice!  :)

my NYR 2012

it's autumn time

i caught my first glimpse of autumn the other day.

it was extremely hot outside, but the way the light was on that afternoon
told me that autumn would soon be here.
i know you know what i'm talking about!

i love autumn time.


autumn brings

new school year (more on that soon)
fall colors
crisp, cool air
new fall line in my wardrobe (more on that soon)
halloween
thanksgiving
corn mazes
pumpkin carving
orange decor.


autumn is by far my favorite time of year!


and this year in particular it brings

lea salonga (more later)
disneyland (more later. eep!)
mary poppins (more later)



and just for kicks and giggles

do you remember

this song?

oh my gosh, i love it! do they sell it on itunes?...



..yes, yes they do.

back to young women

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him.


We will stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things,

and in all places as we strive to live

the Young Women values, which are:

Faith

Divine Nature

Individual Worth

Knowledge

Choice and Accountability

Good Works

Integrity and

Virtue.

We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values,

we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants,

receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.
 
 
did you know that the young women motto is Stand for Truth and Righteousness?  I thought that's just what we said to get the young women to stand and say the theme!  I love that. 
 
i love that as we come to accept, put our faith to work and try out the values as stated that we WILL be prepared to do all the things our Heavenly Father has for us.  How awesome is that?

update

**so.  I've decided to not finish the 30 posts in 30 days (go figure)  And just pull ideas from that when I don't know what to blog yet want to say something.  Sorry if you were looking forward to hearing a certain post.  I think you'll live though.   I know I will. 




I need to find my own voice in my style/what I wear and how I carry myself.

I'm in a transition of sorts to find my style. 


and let me tell you.  this has been so hard. 

the things I'm wanting to change/update are:

hairstyle. 
I'm looking for something that says Erin.  something that's completely me and completely flattering.  I've had the same hairstyle/color for as long as I can remember.  I'm ready to mix things up a bit I think.


clothing.
like I said.  I have things that I wore 10+ years ago (I'm more surprised things still fit...) which I keep for sentimental value/they used to look great on me but maybe not so much now?  Stacy and Clinton always get after people who do that exact thing... then the other day I swore I had nothing to wear to church and found myself wearing an outfit I wore at EFY many years ago.  I nearly had a break down.  It was then I realized I needed this update and really need to grow up in that area as well. I'm going to be 24 soon and need to look the part!

I've already been getting rid of so many things that:

a. no longer fit
b. are outdated (I have things I used to wear in jr. high.)
c. don't match the look I'm going for
d. aren't flattering



makeup.
because currently I wear little to none.


It's kind of exciting thinking that I can be anyone I want to be in this sense...AND the nice thing about this is I'm open to suggestions so feel free to make suggestions. 
I'm excited to start from scratch almost and have a much simpler take on my style.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf did say that the ultimate sophistication is simplicity! 

So here I go.  Getting rid of the clutter, and creating a new and improved simplified me.

My NYR

"It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.

Now, I am not going to stand here and tell you that failure is fun. That period of my life was a dark one, and I had no idea that there was going to be what the press has since represented as a kind of fairy tale resolution. I had no idea then how far the tunnel extended, and for a long time, any light at the end of it was a hope rather than a reality.


So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged. I was set free, because my greatest fear had been realised, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life." -JK Rowling (from her speech The Fringe Benefits of Failure)

{isn't she brilliant?  read her full speech here}

Seriously.  Why are so people afraid to fail if our greatest blessings come after the trial?

I love how she talks about when she reached rock bottom and it became the foundation on which she built her life.  She had nothing to lose and everything to gain.  She then wrote the Harry Potter series and is a billionaire author. 

If we lived every day as if we had nothing to lose and everything to gain, imagine the possibilities!

My New Years resolution is to do just that.  A little bit at a time, because it is scary to put yourself out on a limb and try your very best. 

But without pushing yourself there is no progression. 

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.

happy january 1!

Happy New Year!

Okay.

First of all, What the 2009?!?

Where did 2008 go so quickly!

I'm excited, however, for the new year to begin. I love making goals (though I don't always follow through with them).

but THIS year it's going to be different...

Here is one of my new 2009 goals:

1. I want to learn Spanish.

Sure, I've taken spanish classes all throughout highschool, and stood in line at Disneyland to hear the spanish translation of "remain seated please" a gazillion times, but I want to REALLY learn. My dad speaks it, so maybe he'll help me out in this goal?


I hope this year is full of adventures, and I hope it's even better than the last (it was a great year, ps! Thanks 2008!!)

New at this..

I've never had a blog before! This is a new experience for me.. Haha, it's kinda fun though I must admit! Can I just say how excited I am that I'm going on the church history tour in exactly 19 days! (I don't count today or the day we leave, of course!) But I'm SO excited, I've never been back east!! Wahoo! :)