I want a puppy

Ok, don't think we really can do that right now. But someday if we do get a dog, I know exactly what I want.
A Vizsla.

Vizsla puppy!

Here are five reasons they make my heart melt:
1) They are beautiful, strong, noble dogs. I love hunting dogs. Also, because they are quite active it'd force me to get more exercise. Yes, I realize that's putting the ox before the plow. (or whatever the expression is)

2) "Vizslas' desire for human companionship is demonstrated by how frequently they will follow you around the house, touch you, or try to climb into your lap."

3) "They are quiet dogs, only barking if necessary or provoked. Sometimes when these dogs feel neglected or want something, they will cry."

4) They will eat your pet hamster. Ok, I sort of made that up. But they say to keep it away from potential
"prey" since it's a hunting dog...

5) "Vizslas like to carry things around in their mouths, and are famous for gently taking their owners' hands or arms in their mouth to show affection or get their attention."

Happy halloween :)

As for me, I went about town dressed as the tooth fairy...

I feel kind of bad for all the kids though... it's pouring out there!

Apron

I really want to make this apron...

 
Check it out over here!

It's snowing!

:)

The attack of the jack o' latern

We carved pumpkins with Mark and Danielle, but for some reason our pumpkin had really stringy, yucky innards.

So Andrew's imagination ran a little bit... amok

Here are our finished results: ours on the left and Mark and Danielle's decidedly Asian one on the right :)

Or maybe it's just high.

A little bit of lace can go a long way.

I saw these in Banana Republic the other day and loved the little touch of lace...

So why not add some to a nice comfy shirt?

Just a hint around the neckline...

Two strips down the front...

And there it is.

Oh well

I didn't make the top 15... oh well, next year maybe. There are a few that I really like, and then a few... that I think are atrocious, but that's just me. I would say that though.

Men are from earth, women are from earth, and we're all children of God

I had a lecture on "differences between men and women" in my marriage and family religion class today, and it took all the energy I had and a lot of teeth (tooth?) gritting not to fight the teacher on every point. It did help that the guy sitting in front of me was just as annoyed as I was, and we spent the hour making snide remarks to each other.

I get it that men and women have differences, that there are general tendencies, etc.. but the (male) professor spent half the class making "cute" jokes about women's emotions and irrationality vs. men's inability to get it.
REALLY?! is this what we're being taught at BYU? I'm quite a rational intelligent being, thank you very much, and my husband happens to be very sensitive.

Enough with the stereotypes already!

One of his slides had a table of "what women say vs. what they really mean", and of course there was the classic yes means no and no means yes. That sort of belief is how a lot of date rape happens...

I know that women are biologically cyclical, and that we have stronger hormonal swings, etc. HOWEVER COMMA that does not excuse women for being ranting maniacs come cycle time! I disagree with laughing it off to PMS; that is no excuse for bratty behavior, and there are plenty of women throughout the world who (pardon the pun) man up and go walk 15 miles to get water for their family anyway. Or who roll up their sleeves and kill the goat themselves so their kids can eat dinner. Why should we get the princess treatment? (and I am aware that hormonal swings are more severe for some than for others, please don't think I am condemning the whole wide world... just most of it :)

But honestly, what I'm talking about is sort of the idea of "nature vs. nurture,"and I am very firmly on the nurture side: we are what we make ourselves, and just because society has constructed norms for men and women does not mean those are "natural" or what they really should be.

In fact, it is very clear where the Church stands on this. "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose... By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)

That's pretty vague outside of basic responsibilities. It doesn't say "girls should like pink and gossiping and boys don't get to hold the priesthood if they didn't play with building blocks as a 5 year old." 

Ahem. I realize I'm playing devil's advocate here but.... why don't we give boys baby dolls too? (we can even make them boy baby dolls and have onesies with dinosaurs and hammers on them so nobody gets confused) Shouldn't they be preparing just as much for their divine roles as fathers?

In my pop culture class we talked about gender as a construct of society. Sex is biological, gender is societal. In the Church, we learn that gender is eternal, but have you ever stopped to wonder how much of what we assign to gender is actually divinely defined? 

Think about it. Christ was the ultimate nurturer and giver of comfort, and He was also a leader and priest. Many characteristics we consider "female" are ones that could also be used to describe our Savior, and my understanding is that we're trying to be like Jesus.











Incidentally, I was just trying to find a quote from Elder Wirthlin on creating the person you want to be, and Google's fifth hit was entitled "Psychic Vampires and the Use of Etheric Energy" ...

Gymnast shirt

I call this my gymnast shirt because it reminds me of the leotards that gymnasts wear. It always seems like they have some sort of diagonal stripes. Since my mom and sisters used to be gymnasts, why not follow the trend? :)

This shirt used to have a crew neck (meh) so I did this neckline and then added some strips taken from the extra length (Downeast makes some looong shirts) to the front. My friend Jourdan gets the credit for that idea. I just sewed two lines about 1/8 inch from the edges, and the fabric naturally curls up.

Done.

Do forgive me...

...while I brag about my husband. This may or may not have something to do with the fact that he is not at home right now :(

There are many reasons I married Andrew. Of course, being ruggedly handsome didn't hurt.

Then there was the fact that this man takes care of business like nobody's business. He plans something and makes it happen, he ties up any loose ends- he actually organizes things instead of hoping for the best. He makes the best happen, and that is one thing I have always admired about him.

He's smart, but not pretentious or conspicuous about it. He can get along with all sorts of people, but he's not intimidated by brains either.

He's not afraid to try new things--a few months ago he decided he wanted to write a religion paper to enter a contest, just like that.

He's fun to be around. Having him around at home is just pure happiness.

He gives me my space but is always there for me.

He is a haven of peace in my turbulent brain. Talking things out with him make things appear so much simpler and so much less dramatic than I make them up to be in my mind. He is my Mr. Problem-solver extraordinaire.

He notices things. I remember when we were dating my vacuum cleaner wasn't doing too well and he just up and fixed it. Or when I had mentioned that I would love to get a tripod someday... guess what my Christmas present was that year?

He is kind enough to show enthusiasm for the things I enjoy that may not be his top priority; he's been very supportive of my crafting/sewing projects and learned very fast how many times I need to be told that that plastic-bag holder is just SO awesome :)

He wakes up to shower first almost every morning so I can get those extra minutes of sleep...

Every once in a while he'll bring home a box of fruit roll-ups, my absolute favorite candy.

He's a very handsome dancer... and I'm very lucky to get to be his partner for the summer.

He is capable of saying "I'm sorry"

He's a good writer, something that comes in very handy when I need a paper looked over.

He's cultured. No offense America, but I didn't think an American guy could know classical music, and appreciate dance, and love the Grapes of wrath and Dumas all in one. Well, I've been proven wrong.

Growing up with classical musicians as parents (and pretty much my whole dad's side of the family) I didn't think I'd meet someone who was more of a music snob than the Defranchis... wrong again! And I love it. I'm glad he knows when to give a standing ovation and, more importantly, when NOT to.

He is kind to waiters, cashiers, and airline hostesses. I was once told that the best way to measure the character of a man is to look at how he treats those who serve him.

Did I mention he's an incredible dancer? I love to watch him dance, and I love dancing with him.

He encourages me to follow my dreams. Even though at some point I'll be a stay at home mom, he's always pushed me to do my best and search for the best internships/opportunities in my studies.

He is duty-driven.

He's my best friend.

Ok, I'm done, you can stop gagging. P.D.A. over :)

More dancing

Hello there!

Just wanted to let you know that I will be dancing in the faculty dance concert at the end of the month and you should come!

We'll be performing a very cool tango, and no, we're not actually setting our dresses on fire, that's just special effects to make you realize how awesome this concert will be. :)

The world is a confusing place

Learn something new?

I love journalism, but sometimes I wonder if I want to just give the news, or speak out on issues. I'm supposed to be unbiased, non-partisan, neutral... but I'm not. And sometimes these days, my facts are not yours. Depending on who's funding the study, science doesn't even tell you much.

That's what prophets, seers and revelators are for, and I've been reminded quite a bit lately.

This talk from General Conference was directed straight at me, and as I listened, I was ashamed.

The "philosophies of men" are more clever than ever, so much so that it's easy, in one small paradigm shift, to forget truth.

"Yes, faith is a choice, and it must be sought after and developed. Thus, we are responsible for our own faith. We are also responsible for our lack of faith. The choice is yours."

Dress contest

Hello there :)

I just entered the Shabby Apple Dare to Design contest-- I'd love it if you'd go check it out!

Shabby Apple Contest!

Here it is,

my dress design for Shabby Apple dresses :

I wanted something light, simple and elegant, and I think lace certainly embodies that. The lace has more of a crochet-ish feel, which makes it less frilly, and the design is simple but classic.

The edge details give it just the right amount of femininity. Wearing it with a light cardigan also makes it a good business look. It would also be great with a contrasting sash in coral or brown.

I like it in this creamy white color, but black or a nice peach would work nicely.

So wish me luck friends :)

http://www.shabbyapple.com/t-daretodesign.aspx

So. Tired.

Burnout

Wow it's been a while. Who has time to blog anymore?! Certainly not I...
School is going well, even though I feel like I'm going crazy. I think I've finally gotten the hang of this college thing. I turned 22 last month :) For which birthday my dad sent me a potentially very offensive and certainly not politically correct letter--complete with photos--in celebration of the wackiness that runs in the family. He just ordered a special cable that allows you to convert VHS cassettes (remember those?) to DVD, so he's going to be converting all our old family videos, and let me tell you... there are some pearls in there!
We had a show on Friday, and it was nice to be reminded of why I enjoy dancing every once in a while. The team is great and I truly enjoy being around such sweet girls.

And yes, I totally stole this off of Facebook. Sorry Caitlin :)

My investigative reporting class is blowing my mind. The INFORMATION you can find!

I'm so data-hungry right now it's crazy. I love it. There is so much out there just for the taking, and with a little creative thinking there's a whole lot more you can gain access to. I'm astounded at just how much I love my major, it really is the best thing I could have done right now. In my journalism courses, I feel like the giddy girl I used to be in my English literature and history classes back home. People probably hate me in my classes because I'm such a teacher's pet in some senses, but GOSH, I just can't help it, I love it too much. I'm having the time of my life! It is so unbelievably thrilling to think of everything I've learned in just this last month and a half.

On another note, I just remembered something that will make you laugh. When I was about ten, I decided one day that I would have a perfect day. It would be a day where I did absolutely everything I was supposed to do (read my scriptures, say all my prayers, be nice to my sisters, mind my mother, not complain...) I called it "the Great Change." (I kid you not... I certainly had a sense for the dramatic). So I went to bed that night, and woke up the next morning in perfect mode. I tried so hard that day, and I did it: I was PERFECT for the day, I really was. I was so proud of myself that night went I said my last little prayer. And the next day, I woke up and perfect Lydia had disappeared. I thought it was going to last, but one day definitely didn't do the trick. The sad thing is, I still sometimes think in Great Change mode. I tell myself all these things I need to fix and then they never happen because it's just too much. I still don't even accomplish basic things. It's funny, because I spend so much time being busy, and yet I feel like the laziest bum in the world most of the time.
Sigh.

I really should redeem myself now

After that baby post...

This video seems to be all over the place lately and you've probably already seen it, but if not here goes.

When I first clicked on it I thought she was a bit odd. Her speech seems a bit contrived, maybe unnatural, and she certainly sounds preachy... but then I kept watching and you know what? Well I'm not quite sure what, but I kept watching. In the second half she goes into some odd definitions of gender roles, and honestly she makes me squirm at times. But wouldn't it be amazing to have that sort of personal strength and conviction? And what a beautiful smile.


Had you ever heard of abortion survivors?

I think her most important point is that we do need weak people in our society, so that we learn compassion and so that we can witness everyday miracles.

You know what, I'll just shut up now, and you can just see for yourself.





Comments?

I am in shock after witnessing photos of a very ugly baby.

I mean UG-LY.
 
There, I said it, there's such a thing as an ugly baby.

But quite seriously, babies are cute, it's a well-known fact. They are cute because they're chubby and they need you and you want one. (yikes how much am I revealing about myself here..) But a pretty baby? That is not a given.

And no, I will not post photos, because it happens to be the baby of someone I knew years ago and they just might accidentally stumble on this blog, and we're Facebook friends. Oh dear, I'm just digging a hole for myself.

Amelie

If you haven't seen Le Fabuleux destin de l'Amélie Poulain yet, you should. (Known as "Amelie" in the U.S.)
And then, you should listen to the music non-stop. I love the soundtrack!

It's just a great, happy, lovely movie.

I have nothing interesting to say

"Why waste cyberspace then?" you say.
Well, for one it's free, and there's plenty of it, so why not. A rule my husband lives by, incidentally :)
School is going pretty well. I love general conference weekend, but I wish we had Monday after off to recuperate and have time to do all the other stuff you needed to do... I really enjoy watching conference at home, it's so much cozier. I got to see friends this weekend, and I spent all weekend with my husband. No competitions, no lab, no performances, nothing to do really but stay at home together :)
And it's a good thing because this week's schedule is ridiculous. Team at 7 EVERY MORNING this week. (Yes I know, tour team does it anyway, but it's rarely every day for everyone). We have a show this weekend, and the parade on Saturday, so quite realistically dance is taking over my life this week.
Oh, and remember Elder Uchtdorf's talk on simplifying our lives? Yeah, that was meant for me. Really, what he meant to say was "when I was flying my plane the other day, I felt that Lydia needed to quit ballroom dance to maintain her sanity" (and my dignity too, I should add).

I know it's not Christmas yet...

But I got this awesome kit for my birthday, courtesy of my mother-in-law, and I couldn't stop myself from.... well, almost finishing it. Not quite though.

LOVE those mini pompoms

I really should've saved it for later, but it's so much fun! and cutting squares for a quilt is a great General Conference activity :)

"The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer."

Best way to tick off an atheist or an ultra-liberal feminist. :)