Most AWKWARD thing in my life right now!

MODERN DANCE 2! 


To graduate from the University of Arkansas in the Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences (which is Communications), you must take 6 hours of Fine Arts! For my first 3 hours, I took Music Lecture which was a joke! I think that my final grade in the class was a 98! There is not a whole lot of classes to pick from whenever you need your next 3 hours of fine arts! So--someone suggested "Modern Dance" to me.  They said that it was a really easy class & all you did was learn the basics of dancing.  So of course, the class was already full whenever I went to sign up for the class.  I emailed the teacher & she said that she would give me an over-ride to her "Modern Dance 2" class.  She then asked me if I had any dance experience because it was required.  I told her NOOOOO! I have NEVER taken a dance class EVER! And--I was a cheerleader in middle school and high school BUT I was awful! As you can see in this picture....

Yes-That is me right in the middle! 

So the instructor STILL gave me an over-ride into this class! So the very first day of class, she gave us the syllabus and told all of us that we had to dress out everyday of class! I thought that sounded GREAT...until she gave us the instructions for how we HAD to dress out.....

Oh yes! This is how we must dress every Tuesday & Thursday!!!! So crazy!!! 

Well--that is NOT even the WORST part of it! So the first day that we all dressed out, every person had on these little shoe things right under their toes.  Well I didn't! I have never danced before! So the instructor then told all of us to get in the corner and sachet leap all the way to the other corner! We did that for about 10 minutes! UMM WHAT IS A SACHET LEAP????????? Well, I found out REALLY quick! And of course, the teacher has to STOP the class to CORRECT ME! After about 5 times of COMPLETELY stopping the class to fix ME, the other "dancers" were starting to get frustrated.  People kept asking me, "Where did you take dance at growing up?" UMM--NO WHERE! 

So then--the instructor told us that at Mid-term we would have a test.  The test is over a dance.  We will learn a REALLY long ballet/modern dance and then perform it to the teacher and we get a grade! Well I might as well just not show up for that class day because I think that a 40% and a 0% is around the same! ALLLLLL just a big fat "F"! I am NEVER going to be able to pass this class!

So after going home and CRYING after about 4 classes, I decided to talk to the teacher.  She said that she could tell that I was struggling.  She just couldn't believe that she allowed me to take this class!!!  

I really would like CBS or ABC or some news station to come and do a show on me in this class.  The ratings would be SKY HIGH because of how comical it would be! So if anyone knows someone who knows someone who knows someone....let them know!!!! 

I'm off to practice my new dance that I HAVE to know! Yippee....

True Story! (Get ready to cry!)

In Phoenix , Arizona , a 26-year-old mother stared down  at her 6 year old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. 

Although her heart was filled with sadness, 
She also had a strong feeling of determination. 
Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up & fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible..the leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dream to come true. 

She took her son's hand and asked, 'Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up?  Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?' 

Mommy, 'I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.' 

Mom smiled back and said, 'Let's see if we can 
Make your wish come true.' 

Later that day she went to her local fire 
Department in Phoenix , Arizona , where she met 
Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix  

She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.  
Fireman Bob said, 'Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary Fireman for the whole day.  He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards!  

And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat - not a toy - one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, and a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots.' 

'They're all manufactured right here inPhoenix , 
So we can get them fast.'   
Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, 
Dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. 

Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. 
He was in heaven.   
There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day 
And Billy got to go out on all three calls. 

He rode in the different fire engines, the Paramedic's' van, and even the fire chief's car. 

He was also videotaped for the local news program. 

Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy, that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible. 

One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed 
In the hospice concept - that no one should die alone, began to call the family members to the hospital. 

Then she remembered the day Billy had spent 
As a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and 
Asked if it would be possible to send a fireman 
In uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition. 

The chief replied, 'We can do better than that. 
We'll be there in five minutes.... Will you please do me a favor? 

When you hear the sirens screaming and see the 
Lights flashing, will you announce over the 
PA system that there is not a fire?' 

'It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will 
You open the window to his room?' 

About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window-------- 
16 fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room with his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they LOVED him.   
With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, 

'Chief, am I really a fireman now?'

'Billy, you are, and The Head Chief,  
Jesus, is holding your hand,' the chief said with those words, Billy smiled and said, 
'I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and  
The angels have been singing..' 

He closed his eyes one last time. 

Twitter!

So the girls at work have been begging me to get a twitter! I really have never understood what twitter was/is.  So, I decided today that I would get one! My username is hortontressa.  


So I started adding or "following" people and I came across the Kardashians.  So, I decided to tweet Khloe and ask her to follow me.  I guess that was kinda dorky to do that! haha! Well she is not following me yet!!!


Anyways---Maybe someone famous one day will start following me!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RIFFRAFF!

It's Riffraff's 2nd BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!! What better way to 


celebrate than with a little PARTY!




We'll have cupcakes, champagne, auction items, and a


special discount for everyone who walks through the 


door. ALL NEW spring clothing, gifts, furnishings, and 


accessories. Hurry in so you don't miss out!




When: Saturday, February 12


Where: Riffraff (on the square!)


Time: 10-6!


YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS PARTY! 


EVERYONE WILL BE THERE!

A Good Sleep!

Something about a snow day helps with sleep! I have been running crazy the last couple of days with so many things going on! I am so very thankful for this snow day!!!! I slept like a little baby until NOON!

So have you ever fallen asleep in the weirdest position but it was the BEST sleep that you had?? Last night I fell asleep on my bed but sitting up with a book.  I slept that way until I woke up at 5:15 from the University's text about school being closed! When I woke up, I looked around and realized that I had fallen asleep while reading my book! BUT it was the BEST sleep that I could have had! I then just fell back asleep in that same position! IT WAS GREAT!!!!!!! (Then I woke up at NOON!)

I know this blog post is pointless, but I just thought it was so funny how you can fall asleep in the craziest positions and it be the BEST sleep that you could have possibly had! :)

HAVE A GREAT SNOW DAY!!

Chevron Print!

Stripes are simple, elegant and timeless. In bold size they are able to make a graphic statement while remaining clean and uncluttered in appearance. A fresh take I've noticed around lately is the chevron stripe (also called herringbone).

The interesting thing about this trend for me are the variations that have developed. The look emerged in the past couple of years with other 1980's revivals, but the trend is evolving to include more sophisticated, classic looks like the red bed cover, and the grey and white variations below.

Also, my favorites include this simple but fun chevron print rug and the black and white window panels! I am looking forward to May to add some chevron to my new place! :)

Book at the time!/Who I want to be when I grow up!

Do you ever feel like you buy books thinking that you will read them, and then next thing you know, your book collections looks like this......

and you probably have not read but maybe parts of just a few of them??

Well, that is what my book collection seems like! I have a problem of buying books CONSTANTLY and only reading the first couple of chapters and then that is it...it goes into the collection of books where I did the same thing.  It is not that I am not into each book when I read them, it is just that I get so busy and never finish them and then I just move on to the next one with the mind set that "I WILL read this book!"

Well I love to read---and it really does take a REALLY good book to get me to read the ENTIRE thing...

So I have one actress that I really love! KRISTIN CHENOWETH! You may know her from Wicked or 4 Christmases, Deck the Halls, RV, Pink Panther, or Bewitched.  She is just the cutest little thing! I love watching her in movies and I have always been very interested in her! In 2009, Kristin came out with her book "A Little Bit Wicked." It is her bibliography! I just started it and I AM ALMOST FINISHED!!!!!!!!!! She is unbelievable! I won't spoil the book for you, but she is the MOST interesting woman! She was adopted into a very strange family and made the best out of it.  AND--she is HILARIOUS! I catch myself busting out laughing constantly! 

                                                       

A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE!!!!

After reading this, I hope to grow up to be just like her! She is amazing!!! But for now, I am going to just finish the book! :)

Work Hard & Be Nice To People!

Friends, I'm so pumped up today. I've got some pretty exciting projects on the horizon that I can't wait to kick off. The biggest problem I seem to be having at the moment is a lack of hours in the day to produce things, and that is a good problem to have. I'm having an intensely optimistic week as things seem to be falling into place. It's good stuff.



I've got two poster designs on the brain. The now ubiquitous "Keep Calm & Carry On" poster for one, which I'm sure you know about by now because it's been all over the place for a few years. It's a good message because too often in life we get caught up in the craziness and forget how truly lucky we are. And further to that, it's a good message for any workplace because even small crises are usually manageable if one stays calm and stays the course of their goals.

It's fitting that the poster has reached a height of popularity during a fiscal crisis; the poster was originally designed during the beginning of World War II to raise the morale of the population who lived in fear of being invaded. Now that's something to incite panic; a fiscal crisis pales in comparison. None the less it has been a fitting popular message in the past couple of years. (Not to mention a great piece of design work.)

But there's another one that is a take-off of it that comes to mind too and it really seems to be something that is working for me lately.  That's the "Work Hard & Be Nice to People" version.  It's a mantra for me really, because I don't know what other approach to take in life. Sometimes you are rewarded for this approach and sometimes people take it for granted. I've learned that if people take it for granted, they aren't the right people to be around.

Further to that, new opportunity keeps coming my way. It seems the more effort I put in, the more hard work I do (sometimes for little or next to no pay) the better the opportunities are. So long as the bills are paid, I'm not even that concerned about the money. (Though, I wouldn't say no to more, lets be honest here...) The point is, life is bigger than a paycheck, and the liberation in realizing that fact has been so profound, I can't imagine how I ever got through my day-to-day otherwise.

What I am into!

I have noticed that a lot of people have been posting about the things that they are addicted to at the moment and I thought that I would do the same!


Here are the things that I am into right now!

This moisture cream is AMAZING!!! I use it daily before putting my make-up on. When Ben & I went to New Orleans, we stayed at the "W" hotel and they supplied everything in the bathroom as "Bliss." I became addicted from that day.  I am almost out of my bottle that I took from the hotel, and I soon found out at to buy it online through bliss.com, it is almost $50!!!!!! Crazy! Beauty cost!

I can not live without this new scent from bath & body works! "Caribbean Escape!" This is one of the new scents from b&bw and it is my new favorite! It keeps in mind that SUMMER IS CLOSE! (Well maybe not but it helps!)

Yes- I still take Flintstone Vitamins! They are like candy to me! My theory on this is.....Why not ENJOY taking a vitamin everyday! It is not just like a regular pill that you take! The chewables are AMAZING!!!! Sometimes I even take 2!

I am addicted to ANYTHING with this quote on it! I just ordered a HUGE poster that I am going to get framed soon! I also just bought a journal that looks just like this with a new bookmark that is the same to use daily! Oh it is my favorite!

When I was Miss Arkansas International, I had the honor and privilege to start using Clay Spann make-up! Being a pageant girl, I have tried many different kinds of make-up and this is the VERY BEST!! 

Well, I don't think that I need to say much...This thing is AMAZING! If there happened to be a fire at my apartment, I would grab this and this alone! 

Just some more Clay Spann makeup! If you would ever want to order from their website, it is www.clayspann.com

If you have never owned anything from Scentsy, NOW IS THE TIME!!!!!!!! They have wall plug-ins as well as as large warmers that plug in anywhere.  The scents are UNLIMITED on choices! And they are amazing! My representative that I go through is Erin Parker.  Her website for Scentsy is www.erinparker.scentsy.com 

This is my FAVORITE scent!!! I can place one little square out of about 12 in my plug-in and it will last about 2 weeks! My room always smells so good from this scent.  

Need a little scent in your car?? I have the leather scent and it is AWESOME!!!!! You can also buy these from Erin Parker's website!

I wear this EVERYDAY! I could not live without it! I forget my phone more than forgetting to wear this everyday! And, I always get lots of compliments on it.

I have VERY long hair! And FRIZZZZZZZZY! So, I don't wash my hair but 2 times a week! You maybe saying "gross!" Well, I am sorry but I have a very busy life and I do not have time to wash, dry (for 15 min.), and then straighten (30 min.) everyday! So Sunday and Wednesday nights, I wash my hair! :) BUT--For the other days, this product is my life saver!!!!!!! I use it just like hair spray and it cleans my hair! Everyone MUST try it! You will LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

PLANNER!!! This is my new planner that I have for 2011! The director of Miss Tennessee gave this to me as a gift and it is BY FAR the BEST planner that I have ever had! It stays with me AT ALL TIMES!!!!! If I ever lost it, I would be lost!

This hair spray saves my life every morning! I have such frizzy hair and this glues it to my head haha! And it SMELLS AMAZING!!!!!! Sometimes I just spray and walk through it as a perfume! haha!

NOW FOR SOME FOOD!!!!!!!!

I am addicted to Edamame with EXTRA salt for a snack! Yummmmmy!

 

I LOVE PIZZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could eat this french bread pizza daily! (And a lot of the time I do!) I add mushrooms and sometimes some peppers! BUT..to make it REALLY crunchy, COOK IN THE OVEN AND NOT THE MICROWAVE! Yummy!

MY NEW FAVORITE FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THESE ARE LIKE HEAVEN IN A BITE! EVERYONE MUST TRY THESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT SNACK!

BEST HEALTHY SNACK!!!!!!! 0 grams of FAT! It's just like eating at a Mexican Restaurant! SOOOOO YUMMY!

& you can pair it with these chips......

ENJOY!!!!