Spring Fever!

Finally, it’s here! SPRING! It may not be completely warming up already, but these past two days have made me feel like a brand new person. I have been happier, more motivated, and just overall excited! Every year around this time, I can’t help but anticipate what is going to come next. Spring makes me think of the wonderful things to come, such as: summer break, friends, vacations, and endless memories. I have always been one that enjoys warm weather. My mom thinks I have some type of seasonal affective disorder, and I really believe her! Every year as soon as the weather starts to get cold, I get lazy. I have this feeling like I don’t want to ever leave the house! I sleep all the time, and I even sometimes get crabby! This may sound absolutely ridiculous, but I swear to it! I am so glad the sun has been out these past few days.

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,

Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees,

The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird

That suddenly above the bees is heard,

The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,

The which it is reserved for God above

To sanctify to what far ends He will,

But which it only needs that we fulfill.

-Robert Frost

 Spring is a time for enjoying the weather and starting fresh! Even though January is the technical start of the new year, I feel as if nothing is new until it starts to get warm! So hopefully this warmer weather is a sign of a new beginning; a brand new year, to make all new memories with my closest friends and loved ones.       

It's That Time Of The Year....

YES. It's here. I'm sooooo excited..... NOT. Prom dress shopping, one of my most hated activities in the world. This year will be the third year I am going to prom, and no I am not complaining that I got asked the previous years, but I do feel a little bit overwhelmed. I have literally spent hundreds on all of my dresses. It makes me sick to think about what I could do with the money I have spent on three dresses. Although many people say, "you can just borrow", or, "you can buy used", or even "why don't you just wear last years?" I have to disagree. First of all NO ONE is going to wear a dress they have already worn, but I wonder why not? The dress I bought last year was still my most favorite dress I have ever tried on. I would gladly wear it year after year, but I can't because I wonder what people will think. I believe prom is one great cliche. Everyone has already built up their idea of what it's supposed to be like. The boy asks you in the cutest way possible almost like you are getting married, the girl buys the dress that makes her feel like a princess, the moms take endless pictures, and basically it is one of the best nights of any high school student. Well that is supposed be what it's like, right? I wish there was some way my friends and I could revamp prom and make is something new. Like what if we all wore thrift shop dresses? One of my friends had the idea to wear our mother's prom dresses. I think that would be awesome. It would take a lot of stress out of searching for the "perfect dress", the "perfect date", and achieving the "perfect night." Secondly, I think that a lot more people would be willing to go enjoy themselves at the prom if it was changed somehow. Now don't get me wrong, I love doing my hair, nails, spray tan, and feeling awesome. Prom is like one of the only times I have to work from 11am to 5pm on my appearance, and I do love it. This year has just made me realize how much money people spend on prom. I tried on a dress that was $738.00! That is literally a plane ticket to somewhere, or a payment on a new car! I am astounded by the money that is spent on one single night a year, and it has got me thinking. Besides revamping prom I think that next year I'm going to try and set up a prom dress exchange or sale. Between Hazen, Beulah, Center, Killdeer, and Glen Ullin I think that we could get a bunch of wonderful dresses together and have just one day where girls from all over could come try on each other's dresses. That alone would save hundreds of dollars and a lot of stress. Next year, I am going to try something completely different to help girls all over relieve themselves of the stress of prom.

Happy Mardi Gras:)

HAPPY FAT TUESDAY!! "What is Fat Tuesday?" some of you may ask. Fat Tuesday is the translation of the French word "Mardi Gras", and it originated from Christain beliefs as the last celebration before Lent. Most of you probably that tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, and is the first day of the Lenton season. Now through the times many people have taken this holiday and transformed it into one of the biggest celebrations of the year. This is especially prevalent in the French city of New Orleans, Louisiana. The festivities for this holiday last all week in New Orleans, and are often even celebrated all year long. This brings me back to a very fond memory of mine.

Last year in March my family went on a vaction to New Orleans. My dad had a conference for work down there, so we had the hotel, his plane ticket, and his food all paid for. We took advantage of this financial help and tagged along with him. I have never had such a fun vaction my whole entire life.

It all started the night we arrived there. The flight my mom and I were booked on left before my fathers. This left us in charge of getting the rental car, finding the hotel, and navigating this huge clustered city all alone. This was one of the most stressful parts of our trip. My mother and I picked out a Jeep and cruised out of the airport as soon as we were handed the keys. Immediately, I felt amazed by the culture. It felt as if I were in another country, and I was actually only on the other side of my own!

There were people everywhere! The streets were crowded with just purely happy people! This amazed me considering how much of the city was still destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Everywhere you turned there were people singing. The music in this community was so spectacular. I was awestruck by the natural talent of these people and found myself putting money in their tip jars very often. I saw a lady that was playing the tuba and the trap set all at the same time! Another lady named Doreen, was so good at the clarinet! I have never been a fan of the way a clarinet sounds (maybe because I had to play it and hated it), but Doreen made me want to listen for days!

If you are an avid food critic, or just enjoy stuffing your face and rubbing your food baby, then New Orleans is the place to go. I'm pretty sure I gained at least five pounds on this trip. The food was magnificent, and I could eat that style of food everyday without getting sick of it. Po-Boys, clams, gumbo, and sauce piquant, are just some of these tasty dishes. Ever since we have gotten home my dad has cooked much more variety of food, including things from the south. I love it, and so does he because he grew up in the south.

Another thing I enjoyed on this trip was walking Bourbon Street at night. There were so many cool stores and so many happy people all around. The streets were lit up and people were enjoying themselves to the extreme (some probably too much). While some people find this lifestyle a little inappropriate, I can't say I am one of them. I think in moderation this would be a great place to go to enjoy yourself. There is so much to do that doesn't involve the party habits of this town. My mom and I went to the Audubon Aquarium, and it was so cool! They seriously had everything there! I got to pet a sting ray! It was so different than anything I've ever felt. The only way I can think to describe it is as a mushroom, slimy and smooth, but also bumpy fish type thing! Now all those qualities contradict each other, I know, but I swear that is what it feels like! The shopping down there is amazing, and I took great advantage of it! They had this cute jewelry store that was on almost every street! It was called "So Good", and there had to be about 10 of the total! I definitely think they named this store appropriately, because I spent a lot of my time in every single one. They were all the same, but each one had different jewelry and accessories! I bought jewelry for prom and my friends. It was the perfect store, and I wish we had one up here. We also got to go to the broadway production of "The Lion King." It was the greatest production I have ever seen. The costumes literally took my breath away, and at one point it was so overwhelming both my mom and my sister were crying! Even my dad enjoyed it, which is high praise because my dad only likes racing and football!

So today I reminisced on one of my greatest memories, and I dreamed about going back. I wish everyone could go here and experience the joy New Orleans can really bring a person. The southern hospitality and delicious cuisine made me go crazy. I guess I just had to celebrate Fat Tuesday up here in North Dakota. At least it was a balmy 35º out today! :)