Once a California Girl always a California girl?

I spent the entire first 18 years of my life living in the same house in Castro Valley California. Some may say that I needed to get out more, moving offers experience, ect. But let's face it- I was completely fine with it. For the past four years, with the exception of my semester living in Hawaii, I have lived in Provo Utah. When the winter season comes- the snow falls, the temperature drops, and I am surrounded by individuals whose eyes light up watching the snow come down. See, they are pumped for the upcoming snowboarding/skiing season. Usually I just stand there silently with a fake smile on trying to share in their joy. You see, I never grew up with snow, and ever since my family got into a serious car accident because of black ice- my parents hate the snow. So I never grew up going snowboarding or skiing or sledding. It wasn't until I went to Utah that I understood what a "White Christmas" was. Perhaps I was deprived, but I never felt that way. So as I sit here wishing I could go for a run outside, but realizing it is below freezing- I have realized I am not a Utah girl. I love California and pretty sure I always will. So perhaps the label of a "California girl" is correct in this case.

Christmas?

So I have been lectured numerous times by various amounts of people that I do not post. Well to be honest part of it is because I feel like I need to censor anything that I put up so that it is positive- painting my life like it is all sunshine and roses. However, I've realized that if I had a blog where every post is talking about how great my life was, it wouldn't paint my life in a very accurate picture. Now, I'm not saying I'm going to be depressing or go crazy- I'm just going to be more honest. This way you might get a better understanding of what the college life of Danielle Blevins is really like. Also, I must admit I have been inspired both my roommate's and friends' posts where they write about their opinions, lame things that have happened, or basically anything they want.
So to kick this new turn of blog posting I am going to talk about the Christmas season while at college. So basically Thanksgiving is officially over and Christmas is here right? Well not exactly...you see for those of us at BYU next week is our last day of classes and the following week is finals. So I am left trying to get projects finished, grades intact, loose ends tied- while still trying desperately to feel the Christmas spirit by grabbing a cup of hot cocoa and only listening to Christmas music on my iTunes. Not to mention the list of favorite Christmas movies that I have failed to sneak in. I do realize that once I go home to California I will be surrounded by yummy food my mom will make, seeing Christmas lights, and a decorated home. Yet, unfortunately I get home only six days before the wonderful Christmas day arrives. Then before I know it, I am suddenly watching the tree be taken down while the Forgotten Carols song "I Cry the day that I take the tree down" plays in the background. It is a bad combination considering that song is my least favorite on the album and I am one of those people that thinks the tree should be left up until after New Years. I realize that Christmas may not as big deal to everyone. But for me, I truly get all warm and fuzzy inside when Christmas comes. It's a feeling I want to start and last as long as possible so the fact that my teacher is yelling at me for eating food in the classroom is not what I want to be dealing with at the moment. (Yes there are still crazy teachers that do stuff like that even when you are a senior in college...wait did I get thrown back to eighth grade?) Anyway, my philosophy right now is stick it to the man- or school-or whatever. I am going to enjoy Christmas here at college and for the first time I am going to go see that play or watch that movie instead of making the treck to the library at nine at night. I will not give in! Wish me luck.

MERRY CHRISTMAS. I will say it as much as possible.

How To Dribble a Soccer Ball

Okay so in my technology class for teaching we had to make a movie of us demonstrating a skill. Like many other things with technology it was frustrating and hard to do but I got through it.

Blondes have more fun...right?

So earlier in the summer I had Heather Jones highlight my hair- it was the blondest I had ever been but I grew to actually really like it. So my roots were growing out and I needed to get it redone. I was torn between going dark or re-highlighting it. I decided to go blonde one more time. After all they are the ones that have more fun right? But I also needed to get it cut. My hair was getting Rapunzel style and was taking over a half hour to blow dry. This just wasn't going to do. So I chopped it. Now, its not short short but for how long I've had my hair since high school it's short for me. Anyway, as awkward as it is, here is a picture of me with my new hair.

Old Friends, New Roomates

Kristen, Me, Meg, Caryn

This past spring I moved into a new complex called the "Avenues." They are these pink condos south west of campus behind Brick Oven Pizza. In the fall my three new roomates moved in: Kristen Moore, Meg Jorgensen, and Caryn Hatting. I met both Kristen and Meg freshmen year at Heritage halls and have been friends with them ever since. Caryn I just met recently. It is so nice to live with my closest friends- and we have a lot of fun going to parties, cooking, and watching our favorite shows. Oh yeah and we study sometimes too.

Kristen, Meg, Me

I love Tivo! Thanks Mom!

Thanks to my mom who brought a Tivo from California to my apartment in Utah, I can actually watch TV. Before it wasn't worth watching TV because of the commercials. Now I can sit on the couch and waste my life away like the rest of America.
So I'm going to copy my sister and list the shows I am currently watching:

The Biggest Loser (My Favorite Show)
House (Thank goodness he came back to work)
The Soup (I laugh at this every time)
The Office (I think I still like the old seasons better though)
Community (Some of my friends think its lame- I still like it.)
Private Practice (I just like Addison too much to give this one up.)
So You think you can dance (I am half-way watching this one. I am worried I might have gotten burnt out.)

Any other must-sees let me know. However, my options are limited because if they compete with one of the shows above I'm out of luck. :)

A New Start

Hello everyone! Yes I am alive. I think I've realized that I am not much of a writer. I lack creativity like Tim's posts and don't have hilarious quotes from my children like Monica and Nicole's blogs. So, I apologize if updates on my life are a bit more mundane. Yeah, I guess July is a long time ago.
Let's see, since July I was an EFY counselor. I'll make another post on that experience. Also I've started another semester here at BYU. This is my fourth year. Last year I finished my math ed minor and this summer I actually passed the Praxis exam, which is an exam you need to pass in order to teach in the public schools. So this semester I started the Physical Education program, which is VERY different than the math that I was doing. In one of my classes, "Elementary PE" we spend our time jumping rope and learning how to teach kids to juggle. I just finished a tennis and running unit and we start up on soccer next (Yes!). So I am not as stressed with school this semester as I have been in the past.

Another thing new- I put in my paperwork for substitute teaching here in Utah. So right now I'm in the system to sub anywhere in the Alpine School District. I don't have classes on Fridays so sometimes I go substitute teach. Travis and Chad have been super helpful because they spread the word that their sister is subbing- which gets me jobs. So far I've only taught a 2nd grade class a few times. The kids are adorable, but I would like to get some experience in the secondary education classes since those are the ages I'll actually be teaching. Okay I'll post more later...