Summer Adventures

I've got less than a week left in northern Utah.  On Saturday, my summer adventures begin. I am ready for summer, but it is certainly going to be one of the busiest ones I've had.  Here's about how it will go:

On Saturday, my family is driving to Arizona where my sister served her mission.  We'll spend half a day there and then drive down to Mexico with a family she knows.  We'll spend a couple lovely days on the beach before we head north again.  The rest of my family will stay in Arizona for a few more days, but I'm flying home(ish) early.

 Don't worry, I'm just going here in Mexico.  It's just going to be a tiny bit beautiful : )

I say home(ish) because I won't go home between there and Cedar City.  Yes, for those who haven't heard, I'm going back to work at the Utah Shakespeare Festival and am delighted to have this opportunity again.  I'm excited to use what I've learned and learn more sewing techniques, meet more people, renew friendships and enjoy beautiful southern Utah while I'm there.

But don't worry, my adventures don't end there.  I'm leaving before everyone else so I can go do a term at BYU.  Am I transferring back to BYU?  No, not permanently, but I missed it so much (and it's cheaper) that I decided why not go back for a term?  Plus it will help me graduate in a year and a half.  Hurray!
I'm a little nervous to go back because the courses are more rigorous than the U's and as I've learned you really do rise (or lower) to people's expectations.  And while I still work very hard in my classes at the U, there is less work required to succeed (although that depends on your definition of succeed).  In some of my classes I have learned a lot, but I do feel I need to supplement what we do in class to really learn as in depth as I'd like.  I'm also starting a week late (which is like 2 weeks since it's Summer term) so that makes me a little nervous, but I'll make it work!  


Then a wedding in August (that I'm making a veil for) and two weeks of real free time, before it's back to the U for Fall semester.


But before all the fun, I need to take four finals, pack, and clean.  I'm really wishing I was Mary Poppins right now - I'd just snap my fingers and everything would be put away.  Oh and I'd be "practically perfect in every way." : )

So, my dear friends from Northern Utah, I will miss you lots and lots (though a few of you are coming to visit me). I feel like I'm finally getting established, and then I leave.  But the good thing is that I will be back come August.  But this blog will soon return to its original purpose, to record my adventures when I'm away from my friends and family.

Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, or Do Without

I am back from my blogging hiatus. Another semester over, a sister returned from her mission, and a wonderful Christmas. Hopefully I'll get around to writing about those soon. For now here are some other thoughts.

I've decided to adopt the WWII motto of "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."  Since I live at home and don't pay for rent or much food, it will it mainly apply to clothing - one of my weaknesses.  It is a rather unfortunate side affect of studying costume design that my affinity for good clothing just keeps growing.  I'm much more particular than I used to be about cut, fabric and fit and that leads to pricy clothing.  Although I always shop for very good sales, I still have a closet full of lovely clothes and I hardly need any more (though I always seem to convince myself I do need more).

 

I've been thinking about how I need to apply this motto for a while now and now with a new year and a new semester, it seems like a wonderful time for new beginnings.  I suppose it also helps that I just got some awesome gifts for my birthday and Christmas.  So I've got some nice things to start out the year and here goes a new year of frugality and simpleness.

In my Historic Costume class this last semester we learned about how the rations on clothing affected people.  Many more ladies learned how to sew so they could make cheaper clothing and refashion old pieces of clothing until they wore completely out.  There were even patterns that came out  that showed how to lay the pattern pieces on a men's suit to make other clothing (those poor soldiers returned to their suits all cut up).  Those ladies sure learned how to be frugal.  Luckily I know how to sew!  That, I think, will help me in my journey to frugality.

If you've ever seen the movie Penelope, the title character has gorgeous costumes.  They look like they've been decorated at home with ribbons and buttons and things.

I love the look of her costumes, especially the one above, AND I have lots of ribbon, fabric scraps and buttons so I can use these to refashion my wardrobe.  I can alter things and decorate them to my hearts content.  I have worried about the time it will take, but I'm thinking a few additions or alterations can't take much longer than shopping.  It is definitely worth a try!

So her you are, dear readers, I am putting one of my New Year Resolutions out there so I will be accountable.  I will use up what I have till the very end and wear things out or turn them into something new until it wears out, or else I will go without.  Of course, I'm not completely banning shopping, but I am going to be A LOT more careful.

Hope you had a great Christmas!

The birth of Another Blog

I finally decided to give into the blog craze.

So here you are dear friends and family who wish to hear about my life. I apologize if my blog is already too painfully girly. I'm sure you may have noticed that I am incredibly girly (although I prefer to call it ladylike) and my blog most definitely reflects that.

I don't promise to write well, profound or everyday. But I do promise to give you a truthful glimpse of the life of Miss V. So let the tale begin...