can't live without it - dance

I tried to dig deep this week to come up with something that I need in my life...that I absolutely couldn't live without :)

And one of the answers is dance. 

I started dance as a young girl and continued taking lessons up until college. Then, I decided to minor in dance while attending university - not planning on doing anything with it career-wise, but just to do it for me, because I loved it. I've taken it all...ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, belly dance, modern, contemporary...but my favorites, still to this day, are ballet and modern.

While in college, I also started teaching at the studio where I grew up taking lessons...and I have to say, those were some of the best times of my life. I have lifelong friends (who are more like family) from my studio and the most amazing memories from those years. 

I love everything about dance - the emotion and release I feel, the endless hours of choreography, the creativity, the performing, the long hours and hard work needed...all of it. I remember going through an awful breakup when I was in college - my relationship ended with my high school boyfriend of 5 1/2 years and I was devastated, but I would go to dance class and literally forget about all of it - my mind would be crystal clear while I was dancing and in a way it was like therapy for me. That's one of the reasons I love it so much...dance can do amazing things for people. 

I haven't been able to take regular dance classes for awhile now, mainly because of grad school taking up most of my evening time during the week (and sucking the life out of me)...but I honestly miss it every single day. Once I graduate, I will absolutely be back in class regularly because it is a part of me, part of my soul. It's hard to explain and put into words, but if you have ever found something you connect with so deeply, I'm sure you understand what I am talking about ;)

What is something you can't live without?? 
Join the fun with Laura, Stephanie, and Caitlin - link up and share!!

Weekending ~ Rasta Style

Happy Monday ladies! I'm feeling refreshed and ready for this 4-day week after the past weekend :)

On Friday evening, Aaron and I had a date night and head to the LC Pavilion for the Ziggy Marley concert. If you've been a reader of mine for a while, you know my love of reggae and island music, so I was in heaven. It was an amazing show!! We packed a blanket and found a great spot on the lawn, got a couple drinks and settled in.

He can't ever just smile normally for a photo ;)

New vinyl to hang on the wall in our DJ Room

**If you didn't know, we have a dining table in the kitchen bay window and our "formal dining room" is actually set up with turn tables and records ;)

Stole this shot from Ziggy's FB page ...it was posted after the concert.

Aaron and I were somewhere in the upper-center-left area...I would have loved to be right up by the stage to get great pictures, but I wasn't about to standing on concrete all night.

We wanted to sit and relax in the grass. 

Although, once he started playing we were up dancing :)

Saturday - we took Aubrey and her friend to see How to Train Your Dragon 2...but who am I kidding, I wanted to see it just as much as they did. I loved the first one! And I won't even lie...I cried like twice haha! I think it's because the little black dragon reminds me so much of Deedee - personality wise...or I'm just totally ridiculous and cry during any sappy moment of any movie (even if it's a cartoon) ;) 

 

Sunday - I had a quick meeting for school and then Aaron had a baseball game. It was a rough one...he played really well, but the team as a whole was just so sluggish and basically playing like crap...so they lost 3-0. 

Later that night we head over to Leyla's studio (Dance du Soleil - which I've mentioned a few times before) and Aaron helped Joe, Leyla's husband, move some electronics around. 

I had fun playing photographer since they were in the middle of a photo shoot taking promotional pictures for an upcoming performance in Las Vegas. Joe is a professional photographer, but he had to work on the technical stuff with Aaron, so I took over ha!

Leyla also found this picture that Joe snapped a few months ago when they pulled me into one of their shoots - love my besties!! <3

Hope you all had great weekends - link up with Biana to share!!

I'm sooo happy it's only a 4 day week! Only 3 more days until long weekend bliss! xx

Life Lately

 

I realized the other day that I have a few photos to share from the past couple of weekends (slap on the hand for being a slacker blogger ;) ...so here is what's been going on in March!

 

St. Patrick's Day Parade with Aubrey - She's in Irish Dance classes and got to perform in the parade. It reminded me of all the parades I did as a kid for my dance studio, they were always so much fun!

 

 

We were early and waited in the car for awhile since it was so chilly outside! Good thing the green army jacket I ordered had just shown up that week, otherwise I wouldn't of had any green to wear!

 

 

My favorite little performer after the parade!

 

That same weekend Aubrey and I also went to a fun dance class at my friend's studio in Columbus. The class is called "Little Jasmines" and is belly dance for little girls - they got to wear coin skirts and learn a cute combination...they just loved it!

 

We danced, had snacks, and there was even an amazing face paint artist there!

Aub wanted to be a cat ;)

 

This weekend, Aaron and I had a lot of running around to do...but he has recently joined a baseball league, so we made time to stop at the batting cages. He played in high school and college and is so excited to get back into it...and I am super excited to go watch the games!

 

 

On Sunday, I FINALLY got to the garden center and picked out some adorable tiny succulents for my planter (if you remember - this was a Christmas gift from Aaron and has been sitting empty in our room since December).

I just love them, they are literally the cutest plants ever :)

 

 

And finally, a photo representation of how I feel about this Monday...

 

 

Cheers to a New Year: July, August, and September

Time for another "Cheers to a New Year" post - linked up through one of my favorites...Laura!

July

Started the month off with 4th of July celebrations. My parents anniversary is actually July 4th {which is super helpful to remember} and it's cute because they get fireworks every year in celebration!

We spent the 4th with our best friends at a giant cookout in the country. I love every minute I get to spend with Abby ("Big Sissy").

Abby and her husband, Zack (one of Aaron's besties) live in Akron - where I used to live. But in May of 2012, I moved in with Aaron in Columbus.  Abby and I worked at the dance studio together in Akron for like 5 years, and I went from seeing her and hanging out almost everyday of the week, to maybe seeing her once every couple of months. It's hard, because I miss her, and my other besties in Akron, SOO much...so whenever I get the chance to spend time with them, I am sure to soak it all up!!

July was also when my life changed forever...because this little sweetheart {and dofus} was adopted! I can't imagine my life without her now!! She is now 7 months old and whooping 50 lbs already - gonna be a big girl - I hope!

August

Nothing major to report for August...just started {slowly} to transition back into the life of a student.  I took one class - 3 nights a week - to "warm up" for grad school.  I have to say, it's really hard to get back into the swing of things when you have been out of the classroom for awhile. And working full-time on top of it does not help in the slightest.

September

Excited that one of my good friends here in Columbus opened a dance studio! I hadn't danced since moving and missed it so much - as it was a huge part of my life all through high school and college. It's hard to find time to take more than one class a week, but I'm so happy to even have that opportunity!

My gorgeous besties in the new purple studio!

Owner Leyla {center}, her daughter Babette {left} and my old boss/dance teacher Andrea {right}

Of course, the start of NFL Football can't be ignored...as it takes up {what feels like} my entire Sunday for 16 weeks. Aaron is a bit more die-hard than I am, but I do love that it's something we enjoy doing together. Go Brownies!

Link up to share your July - September recaps!!

xx

Weekend Snapshots

Hello ladies! Thought I'd share a few snap shots from the weekend - it was a fun one, but went way too fast! (As always)

Friday I worked from home, which meant getting to spend the whole day with this little babe ;)

Although, she spent the day sleeping, which is nothing new.

Aaron and I went out for a few hours to help friends hang a new tv. It ended up taking a bit longer than expected and this it what we came home to! Honestly, all I could do was laugh because as we came in the door, it was like she was trying to steer us away from the living room to hide what she had done... I could never get mad at my little <3 

Late Friday evening we met up with 6 of our best friends and went to the Mansfield Reformatory for a haunted tour. The Mansfield Reformatory is a famous gothic prison about an hour from where we live that is rumored to be extrememly haunted. It is also where the movie "The Shawshank Redemption" was filmed. It is privately owned now and you can tour it (haunted house-style) or spend the night ghost hunting! Eek! I am going to have to work my way up to that one - sounds terrifying.

 The weather was perfect, cool and misty - and there was the lunar eclipse that night! We had a great time, although if we were to go back, I'd like to go and just look around, as I was too busy screaming like a wimp and didn't really get to take in the whole setting. I really hate when actors in haunted houses get too close...I'm all about my personal space haha! Needless to say, I am an obvious target so they just pick on me more.

Aaron did snap one picture while we were inside. This is looking up at 4 stories of cell blocks (and ummm, two glowing orbs) :-/

Saturday was spent recovering and then hanging out at my friend's dance studio. One of my besties from the night before stayed in Columbus and it was so great getting to spend time with her!

We went to the dance studio to get some promo shots done (the studio has a photography studio in the back of it - the owner's husband is a prof. photographer). It was so fun getting glammed up in the dressing/makeup room. Reminded me of all the times spent backstage getting ready for performances when I was younger! 

Sunday was a lazy day! Aaron snapped this while the Brown's game was on. Deedee and I fell asleep under our cozy blanket together since the game was atrocious, and not worth watching ;) Note the horrible display of craft beer bottles crammed on the giant window in the kitchen. I hate it and don't know how many times I've tried to get Aaron to put them away...ugh.

Hope you all had a great weekend! xx

Saturday Happenings

Hey ladies! Just wanted to share a bit from my weekend...Saturday was the only eventful day - spent Sunday relaxing and watching football!

The first thing I did on Saturday was attend the open house for Dance du Soleil Studio.

My gorgeous friend, Leyla, is the owner/director and classes began as of this Monday, so if you live in the Columbus area, you should definitely check it out! She is an amazing dancer and teacher, and offers all types of classical dance and exercise classes for adults (ballet, jazz, belly dance, yoga, pilates, etc).

I will be teaching a bit once my work/school schedule settles down - I can't wait to start dancing again. I basically grew up in a dance studio and minored in dance during college, so I have missed it so much since I moved to Columbus and started working full time!

Check out her website here...

http://www.dancedusoleil.com/

Saturday evening, Aaron and I went to the Columbus Microbrew Festival at the North Market. I am not a beer fan, but he loves it (I call him a beer-snob ;) so I suggested we go since I knew he'd have a good time. I tried a couple things - but hated them all. Haha...at least I tried ;)

The food, on the other hand, was amazing. I got chicken, pierogies, and leek salad from a Polish vendor and basically inhaled it - so delicious!! Not so diet-friendly though, so back to the gym this week!

Snapped a quick picture of my two loves snuggling together <3

Hope you all had a lovely weekend! Did anyone pick up anything from the Phillip Lim Collection at Target on Sunday? I debated going, but didn't see anything that really struck me, so I ended up passing.

I have purchased a few new things over the past couple weeks that I want to share, but that will all be in the next post, so stay tuned! ;)

xx