Boredom Gives Way to Blogging

I'm sure no one cares who my celebrity crushes are, but because I'm trying to kill some extra time at home and escape from family, I've decided to post them. Here they are in all their glory:

David Denman, or Roy from "The Office"--I'm in love with his scruff, and the fact that he's a bigger guy. I can't stop looking at him, but I probably should because otherwise my heart won't be able to take all the fluttering and skipping.

John Tenney, or FBI Agent Fritz Howard from "The Closer"--if you watched the show, you'd understand. Again, I love the 5 'o clock shadow.

John Slattery, who plays Roger Sterling from "Mad Men"--there is no other silver fox like Slattery. I'll just go swoon now.

And the one, the only, Leonardo DiCaprio, because he's pretty, and has possibly been my celeb crush since I was 10.

Skeet Ulrich. He played the bad boy character from one of my favorite preteen movies from the 90's, The Craft. And how can you not be sexy with a name like Skeet? Mmmm. Just--mmmm.

Richard Armitage. He played Guy of Gisborne in a BBC drama series of "Robin Hood", and my personal favorite, Mr. Thornton from North and South, who is 10 times better than Mr. Darcy, because Thornton actually works for his money.

Another Year Gone

We all can't believe that another year has passed once it gets to the holiday season, but this year has flown by for me. Although, like any other year in the lineup, 2010 seemed to be chalk full of achievements and milestones for me, among other things. Although it's Christmas right now, I feel like I'm emotionally stuck in May, waiting for my summer to begin. Because I love lists and putting things in order, even though my life may be in disarray, here are some of this past year's highlights:

• moved into a new house with 1 bathroom and 5 girls I didn't know, as well as a ward in which I knew no one
  
• met and lived with 2 of my best friends (from that same pack of 5 girls) for about 11 months
• took 20 credits fall semester, 19 credits winter semester, and then maxed out my credit hours during spring and summer semesters
  
• swam in a crater
• went on adventurous bike rides on my bike Gigi-Greta
  
• graduated from BYU
• added texting to my cell phone plan (trust me--it was a big achievement for me)
• got accepted to a BYU study abroad to live in Madrid
• wrote and received my first missionary letter
  
• got my first kiss
• attended the temple for the first time in a long time

As I look back at all that's happened in the last year, I can't believe that things have drastically changed from the beginning of this year to now. What I may have thought to be true at the beginning of the year, don't necessarily apply to the end. Weird how things have changed so much in a year. Bring on 2011!

Have Laptop, Will Travel

That's right. After 2 1/2 years of not having a functioning laptop, I now own a mint-condition, onyx Asus laptop. And I may just be in love. I've only had it for a few short hours, but I've already planned our futures together, or at least what we'll be doing for the next 4 months. Life is going to be so sweet now that I've made the emotional cut from my dinosaur of a desktop into the sleeker present day. Looking at my lack of technological connections, I realized I've been without a laptop and itunes for a little over 2 years, and an ipod for about 4 years. And don't let me forget about texting; I just got it in September, which means that as much as I'd like to be associated with people my age, I'm seriously not a product of my generation. Although bittersweet, I'm glad that I could finally reconnect myself with the rest of society, at least superficially. We'll just have to see what Europe brings.

Side Trips

One of the perks of going on this study abroad (though EVERYTHING is a perk when you're abroad) is that I get to go on side trips. My group is going on specific trips every other weekend, but the other weekends I get to spend however I choose, which is awesome. I'm planning on going to as many places as I can, and the list below shows the distance from Alcalá de Henáres (where I'll be staying right outside of Madrid) to each city.

Places and distances from Alcalá de Henáres:
WITHIN SPAIN---
Toledo-- 122 km, roughly 1 1/2 hours
Zaragoza--284 km, roughly 3 hours
Pamplona-- 407 km, roughly 4 1/2 hours
Barcelona--585 km, roughly 6 hours
Cordoba--428 km, roughly 4 1/2 hours
Salamanca--251 km, roughly 2 hours
Sevilla--565 km, roughly 6 hours
Valencia--358 km, roughly 4 hours
Bilbao--398 km, roughly 4 hours
Cadiz--687 km, roughly 7 hours
Granada--455 km, roughly 5 hours
Segovia--129 km, roughly 1 1/2 hours
Malaga--575 km, roughly 6 hours
Alicante--422 km, roughly 4 1/2 hours

The below cities are places I plan on visiting once the program is over--I have 11 days after the program to make it to London, where I fly out of to return home to San Francisco. Obviously I won't be returning to Alcala de Henares once I get to each city, but this just gives you an understanding of how much I'll be traveling.

OUTSIDE OF SPAIN---
Gibraltar (which is a tip of Spain at the Strait of Gibraltar, right across from Morocco)--719 km, roughly 7 1/2- 8 hours
Toulouse, France--799 km, roughly 8 hours
Lisbon, Portugal--661 km, roughly 6 1/2- 7 hours
Paris, France--1,271 km, roughly 12 hours
Versailles, France--1,264 km, roughly 12 hours
London, England--1,716 km, roughly 17 hours

These are all of the places I can think of, but I'd love feedback. Are there any other places I should visit? What do you think?

A Broad Abroad!

So these past couple months have been nuts. I won't go into the gritty details, but moral of the story is that I'm going on a study abroad to Madrid, Spain, through BYU! I literally cannot wait to go! I feel like I'm itching to get overseas. Oddly though, it doesn't feel like I'm going, even though I have the plane ticket, I've paid the deposit that guarantees my spot, I know where I'm living in Madrid, and have my passport. This whole thing is so surreal that I know it won't feel real until my bags are packed and I step through customs into a foreign culture.
Fortunately, even though I recently graduated from BYU this past August, I was accepted to the program. The only glitch in the system is that the student loan I thought I was going to be able to get (I'll be a full-time student once I start the program in January) I'm not eligible for, because according to the federal government I'm not a full-time student in a degree seeking program. Awesome. That means that I have to rely on my pitiful savings and the grace of my mother's loan of her own money to pay for my trip. And this is where I start tightening my belt.
As of right now I'm attending my prep class through BYU to prepare me for the my months abroad, as well as tying up loose ends. By that I mean that I'm trying to sell my contract, find the funds to finish paying for my tuition, etc. Here's a list of everything I've had to get done, as well as what I've accomplished. I swear though--I feel like I'm leaving on a mission, because I've seriously had to consider EVERYTHING.

To Do:

• buy contacts
• change oil in car and get crack in front car window shield fixed (for when I return my car back to Cali while I'm in Madrid)
• post contract on KSL and Craigslist
• sell contract
• pick up backpack from study abroad office
• ask BYU computers if I can rent a laptop to take overseas--if no, then find a laptop to borrow/purchase
• look into getting cheaper train ticket booklet for overseas from BYU
• find out about where I'm going to store my things while I'm gone
• finish paying for study abroad
• plan trips for "off" weekends and email schedule to the program director
• get haircut prior to leaving

What I've Accomplished:

• bought plane ticket
• posted contract on BYU housing
• paid deposit
• paid for and picked up my ISIC card (International Student Identification Card--it'll let me get huge discounts to tourist attractions, museums, etc.)
• updated blog about travel stuff and am actually blogging! :)
• sent letter out to family members letting them know of my financial situation in accordance with my trip

Still a lot to do, but I feel like I've accomplished a lot, right? I'll definitely keep everyone updated though on what I get done. I hope it's soon 'cause I have a full plate!

Dita Von Teese

Dita Von Teese. The ultimate burlesque dancer, and lady of classic 1940's retro style. Definitely an icon I would love to dress like. After reading a little bit about her, I learned that she does all of her own makeup and styling. Wow. That's pretty amazing, considering she looks flawless every time she leaves the house. Below are a few pictures that represent only a fraction of her amazing wardrobe:

Oh to be Dita for a day. A girl can dream.

The Sartorialist

After browsing the internet looking for outfit inspiration (and passing time at work) I came across The Sartorialist, a fashion blog that shows off day to day fashion of those of us on the streets. Here are a couple looks I enjoy:

Alright, so this look is actually from Dolce and Gabbana's runway, but this is something I would totally love to wear. The pencil skirt, the amazing heels, and the idea of the fitted, v-neck top all scream me.

I'm not exactly sold on the look on the right, but the look on the left is totally mine. I have the shoes, all I need is the dress.

I'm not in love with the colors of this dress (actually, there's no way in heck I'd be caught in orange--honestly, a redhead in orange? there's no way), but the peephole cutout in the bodice, the collar, and the a-line full skirt are to-die for.

The skirt is classic, but paired with the more conservative top and the funky heels only add pizazz to an already great outfit.

Definitely a spring look I'd love to emulate.

Same with this look. Love.

I love the playfulness of colors, her thick ponytail, and 1950's flair.

Again, love the pop of color, the trench, and her shoes--fabulous!

And just because I can, here's some eye candy for us all:
Obviously not something I would wear, but if I could find a man that wears this...

Bright Star

Bright Star has got to be one of my favorite movies of the decade- the story is heartbreakingly lovely, the imagery is stunning, and the costumes are to die for. The main character Fanny Brawne is a fashonista, revolutionizing the fashion world of her time during the Romantic Period. One of her dresses has a triple pleated mushroom collar, and I am determined to make/own one. Here are some pictures:

Here are other pictures of her costume as well:

Can you see why I love Fanny and obviously would love to dress like her? I don't think I've seen such a collection of Romantic Period costumes that I would love to own and wear. If only we could dress like this everyday. Sigh.

Christina Hendricks

This is the post where I blog about how amazing Christina Hendricks is. And I have pictures to prove it. I love how she's a bottle redhead (like me) and originally blonde (again like me), has a curvaceous hourglass figure, has a bigger top than bottom, and just exudes sex. Though I don't necessarily bleed sex wherever I go, I do want to have her sex appeal.

What's not to love?