New Me.

I've kind of been reinvented recently. September 24,2010 up until November 26,2010 marked a really important time in my life. It may sound cheesy and immature,but I met a pretty special guy. We're definitely super close and he's my best friend but that'small we are...now. At first I was kind of upset about the whole "Just friends" thing, but now I'm totally okay with it. He's still my best friend.
This isn't the topic of my post. The topic is about the "New Me".
Liek I said: I've kind of been reinvented,if you will. After I quickly got over the boy situation, I got my braces off, I finally figured out how to wave my hair and keep it wavy(although I'm sure it's only thanks to the dry winter air)and I've found some cute new clothes. It sounds pretty shallow I know, but I feel a lot beter about myself because I feel more comfortable and happy with the way I look. It's fun to kinda of have a self make-over once in a while,with the help of my Orthodontist, of course(Thanks Doctor Taylor!).Here is just a sneak peak of the "New Me."

Design Therapy

So recently I've been pretty stressed about school and...life. I tried to find a way to relieve that stress, and of course music helped but I needed something to do with my hands, so I pulled out my pencils and paper, and just started to draw. Design actually. I haven't done it for a while, since I was thirteen actually.
So I started designing dresses and when my friends saw them, they all started asking for me to design their "Wedding Dresses". It's really fun and surprisingly calming.

This is my first dress:


This is my friend, Cammie's dress:


This is Maddie's First dress
:

Maddie's Second dress:


This is my "Red Carpet" Dress:


There's also my prom dress,that will actually be my Junior Prom dress, and an "Easter" dres,but I'll have to upload those later.

So there you are:)
<3Elyse

New Start

I came to realize that I haven't updated in a long time. I guess I'm just so hooked to Facebook status, or Twitter updates that I seem to forget about this little web page that I have. I got really excited about figuring out how to add pictures.In the process I chose a picture that sadly turned out to be GIGANTIC and I cant seem to figure out how to fix it's size, so don't be alarmed when you see my head almost as big as the Chrysler Building (which my mom would laugh at). My blog also seems to be very...lop-sided, so that's also something to be fixed.But in any case, I'm enjoying finding different nifty little things to do with this handy blog.

My life update:
School is interesting,boring,fun,annoying,and at times exciting, but mostly difficult. I'm trying my best to keep my grades up but failing in my Advanced Chemistry and Algebra w/Trig classes. I guess two out of seven isn't that bad right? Wrong. I may not be in loads of trouble with my parents but I think that the stress that those classes bring to me are punishment enough. But I really do enjoy blowing things up in Chemistry...just kidding. We haven't blown anything up, just watched our teacher do it.On the upside, I'm really enjoying Madrigal choir and my Theatre Production class. We're working on our Christmas concert music in choir and our second class play called "Don't be Afraid of the Dark" in Theatre Production. I play the character of Gloria Parr, a lawyer. My friends say ta ht I'm destined for greatness...and a lot of money because in our first play, "Bamboozled!", I was Doctor Grazziano. Doctor and now Lawyer...hmmm? Is this a sign? I hope so! In my AP English class, my teacher really likes me. I really enjoy that class, except for the boring essays we have to write. We're also starting a school fundraiser for Heifer International. It's fun because I've gotten to help kick off this project and I'm enjoying seeing the school get excited about it.
Is there a guy in my life? Maybe... ;)
DRIVING! When I first got my permit in April, I would never drive, or if I did, I drove 15 miles under the speed limit :/ Yeah, I was pretty scared. But I seriously woke up one day in August and wanted to go drive and I was really good. I don't know what happened, but I woke up and had gotten over my fear of driving. Since I started driving so late after I got my permit, I haven't gotten my restricted licence yet. I was supposed to get it in September, but I still have about 20 driving hours that I have to get and it seems like it's taking FOREVER and a half.

Thanksgiing is tomorrow and my dad has been home since friday night and will be here all week. I don't remember the last time we had such a long time with him. We went and saw Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows last night and really enjoyed it. We're hoping to keep up with our Thanksgiving Family tradition and go see "Tangled" tomorrow.

I got a flu shot yesterday. I was pretty surprised that I didn't punch a hole in something first, although I did cry. It really didn't hurt at all, but I basically had a panic attack. I can't stand the sight of needles. It's pretty bad.
In another medical case: I get my braces off in three weeks! THREE WEEKS! I'm stoked. I can't wait to have my teeth back again, looking better than ever! December 15th is the day! It's going to be a great early Christmas present!

So, there's my latest blog I guess. I could write more, but I don't want anyone reaing this to fall asleep due to my boring stories. So there you are.

<3Elyse

*Next Blog will hopefully be about my designs and there will be pictures(if I can figure out how to post those).

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday!

"A Journey of a Thousand miles,begins with One Step"

Yesterday in third hour, we talked about achieving our goals,and it really was a personal hit for me.

"The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it,but that it is too low and we hit it." -Michelangelo

"The reason most people never reach their goals is that they dont define them,or ever seriously consider them as believble or achievable.Winners can tell you where they are going,what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them."-Dennis Watley

"When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning,by dreams that need completion,by pure love that needs expressing,then we truly live life." -Greg Anderson

Your Dimensions of Greatness
No one can know the potential,
Of a life that is committed to win;
With courage- the challenge it faces,
To achieve hreat success in the end!

So,explore the Dimension of Greatness,
And believe that the world CAN be won;
By a mind that is fully committed,
KNOWING the task can be done!

Your world has no place for the skeptic,
No room for the DOUBTER to stand;
To weaken your firm resolution
That you CAN EXCEL in this land!

We must have VISION TO SEE our potential,
And FAITH TO BELIEVE that we can;
Then COURAGE TO ACT with conviction,
To become what GOD MEANT us to be!

So,possess the strength and the courage,
To conquer WHATEVER you choose;
It's the person WHO NEVER GETS STARTED,
That is destined FORVER to lose!

~Author Unknown~




"Begin with the end in mind." Stephen Covey

BCPE

About mid-November,there were auditions for the school Christmas play, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". I thought "Eh it wont be that fun,but I'll audition". So come audition day I headed to auditions,got a script,and went into the hall with two other girls to read through the alternate opening scene. When we went in,we read through the scene and they let us go. That was the whole audition,so i was walking down the hall and someone came running up behind me and said that the student directors wanted me back so i could read through a few more scenes! If you know me, then you would know that I was EXCITED! So I went back and they had me read through a different scene as a different character(the mother), then another scene as the Mother. So they told me that they thought I could be a more mature character,and they said that I did really well. They said that the cast list was going to be up by the end of the week! I knew from previous auditions not to get too excited or set your heart on getting cast,so I didn't. But when I saw the cast list I scored the part of Maxine. I was so extremely excited!Maxine is one of the three main church girls. Her Best Friends are Beth and Alice.

When practices started I knew a lot of the cast members but I wasn't really close to them at all. But we all automatically clicked after a few days. It felt like we had known each other for so much longer than just a week. After the first week or two of rehearsals,we started dress rehearsals for the next two weeks.We only did two shows,but they were both really good. The opening night,we went to Hometown Pizza after for dinner, and the last night we had a CRAZY cast party.

During the month that we had been rehearsing,there were some really strong friendships that were made. One of my best friends, Jonathan, was someone that was part of the cast. It was one of the best months of my life. I feel so comfortable on stage and I loved being part of something that I love. I felt so comfortable around everyone in the cast. I Miss it so much! It was one of the most amazing things I've ever done. I miss it,but I'm gonna keep auditioning and hopefully get a part in the spring musical!

Prayer of a Walking Child..My Real Trek Experience

Sorry that this has taken so long to get up.



A Few Months ago,maybe 4, the youth of LaGrange found out that for Youth Conference this year,we would be going on a trek. Sarah (my Best friend and I) were super excited. We decided that we would be in each other's group so that we actually knew someone. I was a little hesitant because of my ability to hurt myself so easily,not purposely of course. But I knew I would end up having fun with my best friend. Then about two weeks before the trek her family had to move,because her dad had been laid off. I didn't realize how hard it would be without her. A few days before the trek, I was talking to Sarah and I told her that I wasn't sure how that I could go on the trek,because she and I were one of the only reasons why the other was going. I wasn't going to know anybody in my group. She told me that even if i didn't want to go anymore, that I needed to go for two reasons: The first was because it was going to be a very spiritual experience and that she knew I could do it, The second was for her, since she couldn't go I would have to go to have the experience for both of us. After prepping for a while to get ready and make clothes, Thursday July 9th finally rolled along and I woke up at 5am, so that the LaGrange Ward Youth could meet at the local Wal-Mart and car pool for a 2 and a half hours drive into Lexington,KY.





When we got to the beginning site, we all registered and found the people who would fill the spot of our "Family" for the next three days. I found that i knew four of the people in my family , two from which were in my Ward: Sam and Christine.I had 5 brothers(Kevin,Devon,Sam,Ken, and Johnathon) and 4 sisters (Maria,Christine,Torin,and Whitney). Our Ma and Pa were from a different ward, Crestwood 2. We got along fine the first few hours of the trek,then we came to the harder part: we went into the woods on a gravel path. We trekked for a few hours.Once we got through the "easy" part we encountered a few big rocks and hills,but the first hill that we got into,was made of deep,SOFT sand. We of course didn't give up, but instead kept going and tried not to complain,but it was hard.



After a few more hours and about 5 miles, we stopped for dinner. There was a big creek that we were allowed to play in,but most of us only got our feet wet. After dinner we were all so settled and tired,we didnt want to get back up and walk another 5 miles. About 2 miles into the second part of our trek,we were stopped andgathereed to the side of the path. We were told that the men were going to leave for the Mormon Batallion. Which meant that the Women were to pull the carts by ourselves. after the men had left, we were talked to about the hardships and trials that all the women pioneers went through. We were asked not to talk, and just ponder about what the pioneer women must have gone through.

When we came to a down hill which curved at the bottom,then it went back up,there were a few carts in front of my cart,so we all stopped ran down the hill and helped the other families up the hill. What we didnt know was that the men were standing on either side of the hill that we had to go back up. I couldnt stand to look at their faces because there were some crying,there were some that had their hands clasped together and their eyes at the ground,and other tried not to look away who were smiling. I could see the pain in all of their faces. I went back down the hill about 4 times to help other girls get their carts up the hill. When all of the carts were up the young men were allowed to come back to the carts and help us. Not one young man was walking or talking to other young men.They all ran back to their families. It felt luike we were back then in pioneer times,because it made me realize that those men that left their families to fight in the war, didnt walk to their families,they ran. I recived so many hugs from my "brothers" and from other guys that i didnt even know.





The trek wasnt too bad until "Heartbreak Hill". It was very steep and a few miles long. By this time we were all tired and ready to stop but, just when we thought we couldn't do it anymore, we made it to the top. We were all grateful for a break. Although halfway through the hill my knee gave out me. The nurse told me that it was because there was too much fluid in it. i just bit my tongue and kept walking. One of my brothers saw that i was having a reayl hard time and that I was crying because I was hurting. so he wrapped his arm under my arm and helped me walk the rest of the hill,while pushing the cart with the other hand. But no matter what, I was determined to keep pushing the cart up. When we got to the top,we propped that cart up,and we all laid down next to each other. We were even to tired to get water. Even though we were all tired, most of the young men that had already reached the top of the hill,went back down and helped the next cart get up,until all the carts ere on the top.It was about 25 minutes that we were there on the top of that hill waiting for very cart to get up the hill. By this time it was very dark and we were suppsoed to camp where we were,but the land owner said a few days earlier that he didnt want us to. So we kept going another 4 miles. I couldnt not cry because i was so tired. It was the worst pain and weakness that I had ever felt. I remember saying to myself I cant go anymore, it's just too hard. Then after I said that to myself, I realized that we hadnt walked even an eighth of what the pioneers walked.I dont know how they did it.



When we got back into the woods on a very rocky and muddy the cart in front of us, was having trouble because a wheel broke. We all had to stop and wait for someone to come see if it could be fixed. We sat down every chance we got. I sat down with a couple of my brothers and sisters in front of the cart. I was about to fall asleep when one of my brothers let me put my head on my shoulder. A while later we started moving again. The family whose cart broke,had to carry their stuff the rest of the way.

When we reached camp (finally) we all pulled the wagns into a circle, set up camp for bed,and we all went to sleep.But this being a church trek, of course the men were on the outside of the wagon,and the women were on the inside. The men were taking shifts doing "guard watch". Though we werent very sure why, but they said "to keep any animals away".



It was really hard to get up in the morning,especially since my back was sore from sleeping on a tree root the whole night.

Father's Day

Today we celebrated father's Day because my dad wont be here with us tomorrow...well physically he wont be, but mentally, and spiritually he will be. dad has always been a word that is special.Since we could talk we've called our Father's "dada", then "daddy",then as we are teenagers we say "father","padre", "pops","old man" and more. They all mean the same thing in the dictionary: 'a male who exercises paternal car over other persons'.
But to me there is more meaning than that.

A Dad is someone who stays up late on the computer trying to find a way to ease the symptoms of an asthma attack.

A Dad is someone who teaches you how to cook when you were little.

A Dad is someone who is the only one who eats the brownies that you know are too buttery,but he says they taste good just to make you feel better.

A Dad is someone who knows everything that's going wrong, even if you didn't tell him.

A Dad is someone who stays up with you to finish a science project.

A Dad is someone who helps you through geometry homework even though you're crying and yelling at him because you don't understand it.

A Dad is someone who embarrasses you in front of the cute Brazilian waiters in NYC.

A Dad is someone who makes you go weed the garden "just so you know how to do it and to get more practice".

A Dad is someone who watches TV with you, even if it is Hannah Montana, Jonas, or The Hills.

A Dad is someone who sings to music in the car with you.

A Dad is someone who drives you everywhere because you cant drive yet.

A Dad is more than just a Man who you call 'dad', A Dad is a Superhero.




I Love You daddy <3