new year's post

2010 recap here

bye bye old, hello new

I'm deleting this blog.
I'm starting fresh.
Follow me here.
I've also been more active lately on Tumblr, but that's mostly just reblogging things I think are pretty or amusing. But it's a fun time killer.

love, Kinsey

the end of a season

It's nearly the end of my first semester of college. A better post will come, after finals, when I'm here hanging out waiting for Ketcher to graduate so I can go home. I've met some great people, made some good memories, and had a splendid four months. I'm thankful for the experiences I had before college that made this transitional season so successful for me; I'm thankful that I wasn't homesick.

More in a few weeks.

Love, Kinsey

wherein I demonstrate the tying of a scarf

http://timeforeverything.tumblr.com/

hobbit hobbit hobbit

This article that I read today listed off a bunch of names (most of which are, of course, unknown to me) of men who will be playing Bilbo and the dwarfs in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit movies, supposedly coming out beginning in 2012 (presumably hoping the world doesn't end that December, so we'll be able to see the second installment).

However, one name was familiar. Richard Armitage. He's set to play Thorin Oakenshield (ah, so many memories abound thinking about Tolkien's book). I know him from being the nasty Guy of Gisbourne on BBC's Robin Hood series, so picturing him as a dwarf is stretching my imagination a little, but it will be fun. (:

The Birds

Have you seen this movie?
I did, once, long ago, at a friend's apartment, because her dad rented it for us (wow, weird to think about them, it's been a while).



Anyway, school is kind of like this movie. Or, well, not yet, but I feel like it could be at any moment. There is an insane number of birds that fly around, gathering on power lines and in grassy areas of the campus. Yesterday there were probably two or three hundred across from my window on the roof of the Res Hall. It was pretty terrifying.

DSO

Last night my roommate, her boyfriend, and I attended Brahms A German Requiem at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra downtown. It was truly beautiful. The building was gorgeous, the music brilliant, and the choir magnificent. Unfortunately, no picture taking allowed. The train was very crowded on the ride home, but it was a fun adventure. (:

Whoops. Haven't posted in a while. Stuff has been happening. I've been out of town the past couple of weekends: first at a retreat with the Baptist Student Ministry that was a lovely weekend away, spending time with beautiful people worshiping God, then with my parents at my cousin's wedding.

Just a few pictures:

birthday!

So yesterday I turned 19.

I don't have any pictures to celebrate. But it was a really good day.

I so dislike it when it's someone's birthday and they don't have a good day. So I made mine good. I took pleasure in simple things and just thanked God that my mama had a baby nineteen years ago. The weather was pretty. There was fried okra in the dining hall. My bio class got out ten minutes early and didn't have a lab. We sang beautiful songs at BSM. Ashley baked me a cake for Whataburger night, and Ketcher paid for my taquito. Plus, Facebook lets everyone know it's your birthday, so I had oodles of blessings and happy notes each time I logged on. My best friend sent me a cute card and a magnet, all the way from Utah. My best friends that are roommates at UT Austin sang to me on the webcam and posted it to facebook. My dear friend Conner sent me the birthday song from The Emperor's New Groove. Holla, you don't get more awesome than that. All the messages on facebook provided an opportunity to catch up with people I haven't spoken to in a while, whether because they don't live near me or because school started or whatever.

It's sort of a new year. I'm a new age. And though, yeah, nothing especially special happens when you turn 19, it's older than 18. A new age of opportunities and things to pursue. I'm thankful for each day of my life; one that's dedicated to me is just something to be even more thankful for.

And I love sharing my birthday. Friends, Joy Joy and Rohnny. And fictional characters, Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Who better to share a birthday with for a nerd like me, eh?

So if it's your birthday, have a great day. (:

another trip to the DMA

this time, my roommate, Caroline, and public transportation were involved!

Sunday

Tonight at The Village, when Chandler started preaching, it struck me that he uses a music stand as a pulpit, and that spoke volumes to me about how it’s not about the building, the stuff, the material, worldly things, it’s about the Word of God that Chandler is preaching up there on stage/screen.

Now, I’m not saying that we don’t have nice things. Our building is lovely. Yes, we have microphones and instruments, and decorations, and a big screen (since Chandler is actually preaching from Flower Mound to the three campuses of The Village Church). We aren’t minimalists or very poor as a church, it doesn’t seem.

But he doesn’t preach from a fancy pulpit. He wears jeans and a short-sleeved button-down, untucked. There is no emphasis on what he looks like up there on that screen, or on the stage when it’s one of our campus pastors teaching. The focus is on the Bible, the lessons God is giving us through those preachers.

Just another reason I love my church.

Also, because tonight Chandler said “unsureity” because he couldn’t think of the word “doubt” quick enough. (:

taco night!

Well it isn't Thursday (which is taco night at my cousin's house back home), but it was taco night for Ketcher and me!



I put some Fiesta Sides Taco Rice in a pot to boil and cooked up some ground beef with Old El Paso taco seasoning. Microwaved a couple flour tortillas, spread on some sour cream, meat, rice, and cheese, and rolled it up. I also zapped some leftover queso from Sunday night's dinner at Fuzzy's Tacos to enjoy with chips.



Since neither Ketcher nor I put veggies on our tacos, there are only about half the number of necessary ingredients. (:



He enjoyed them and so did I!

Fireworks! I mean.... Convocation!

Freshman Convocation is a tradition, but honestly, it was boring and uncomfortable sitting on those bleachers listening to people talk, YET AGAIN, about blahblahblah we are freshmen blahblahblah yay college life.

But after, there were fireworks, and I appreciated those. (:



One of my roommates, Caroline, and our friend Cody. Love them.

"Experience Dallas"

Thursday, as a part of Welcome Week here at UTD, I went on a trip sponsered by "Experience Dallas." They bused us downtown to visit two museums: The Crow Collection of Asian Art and The Dallas Museum of Art. While I preferred the DMA (mostly due to size and variety) the garden at the Crow Collection was rather enjoyable.

The Crow Collection of Modern Art had a pretty neat fountain and two statues of (I don't know what the lion things are called) out front.

The building on the left always catches my attention when I come to Dallas because of the hole it has in the middle.

I didn't get any good picture inside this museum, but the fountain was fun.

I don't know why my captions are underlined or how to fix it. Sorry!

Post later this week about Freshman Convocation (including fireworks!).

Have a swell week!

and I've moved

This is my bedroom in our apartment at UTD. (: I live with three other girls and so far all is well. Classes started last Thursday, but I only have one class on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, so tomorrow is my true test of how school is going to go. I'm pretty confident that it will all be okay. I've had a lot of fun already with my roommates, friends I've met, and my brother and his friends, since he lives up here as well. It's been a smooth transition into life as a college student.

NC pictures

Well, okay. I should have posted this blog long ago, but I didn't. And now I'm sitting in my apartment (oh yeah, I moved, I'll post about that later) waiting for it to be time to go to church, so I figure I should put some pictures up of the beauty that is North Carolina.

Up on Grandfather Mountain they have animals. Bears, eagles, deer, panthers, and adorable otters.

This is the mile high swinging bridge at Grandfather Mountain.

The sunset at Raven Rock Overlook, elevation: 3810 feet.

Butterflies were absolutely EVERYWHERE!

And I got to see my dear friends Tyler and Conner again. (:

Such a fun trip with my mom. We had a really terrific time. I didn't want to come back home.

north carolina

so I know I've talked about how gorgeous North Carolina is, but seriously people, please go to the mountains. you'll fall in love too. even today, foggy and rainy, was beautiful in it's way.

my computer isn't cooperating enough to post a picture, but they're on facebook. and I'm sure I'll get to post more details once I arrive home where the Internet works better.

how will I decide which of these to take and which to leave?

new shoes

A 30% off coupon for Kohl's came in the mail, so Mom and I took the opportunity to do a lot of college shopping. The most expensive purchases were, of course, shoes.

I bought these.

Even though they're ugly.

Because.... well... let's face it. Dancing has jacked my feet. Plantar fasciitis sucks. And these shoes are supposed to be good for me. So... I'm wearing them. When no one can see me. Hahaha.

And to compensate I bought these.

Which, laugh if you will, I think are fabulous.

Even though they have bling, which I usually stay away from. Ha.

there has been college preparation happening

there is a pile outside my bedroom: sheets, pillowcases, towels, washcloths, storage cubes, tablecloth, bathroom accessories...

there is a pile downstairs: cups, utensils, pots, bowels, measuring cups/spoons, oven mitts...

and I've been talking to my roommates about living room furniture. (:

Sunday night I ordered this camera from bestbuy.com and UPS says it will be here by Friday. I really hope it comes on time so that I can take it to Arts Camp next week.

summer reading update

I finished up Anna Godberson's Luxe series. I really enjoyed it, even though they're not the kind of books I usually read. While somewhat predictable, I was surprised occasionally, which I like.

I reread The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathon Safran Foer. These books are favorites of some people I know, but somehow, I just don't get it. I like them alright, but not nearly as much as true fans do.

Also, can we talk about the LXD? The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers. Uhm, amazing. RUN, do not walk, RUN to hulu.com/the-lxd and watch and then RUN to thelxd.com and watch and just seriously watch everything you can of them. Fabulosity at it's finest, there. Also, their t-shirts can be purchased on invisiblechildren.com. They are made from Ugandan cotton and I believe mine is the softest t-shirt I own, not to mention proceeds go toward the wonderful organization that is Invisible Children.

happy summer

Instead of boiling in jealousy at how the majority of people I know have been to Europe this summer, I'm going to celebrate the face that my mom is buying us plane tickets to go back to North Carolina at the end of July. (:

If you remember, North Carolina looks a little like this:


While hiking, you can find me posing like a dancer:


I'll get to see this lovely girl, my cousin, who got engaged since I saw her last:


And, if our timing works out, I'll get to see these brothers who are always a joy to spend time with. Conner and I are thinking Moe's night is where it's at:




So England, you can wait. I'm going to the east coast. (:

Eclipse

I saw this at midnight.

It was even better than I expected.

Thank you movie makers for not messing up my favorite of the series. (:

summer reading

First month of summer is just about over, and I've read quite a bit. (: Reading for pleasure is something I miss during the school year; it's so difficult to find time between schoolwork and dance to read what I want to read.

1. In preparation for the new Twilight movie coming out Wednesday, I reread the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I'm going with friends Tuesday night for a trilogy showing of the first three movies. Must love being a nerd.

2. I Can't Tell You by Hilary Frank is a book with a unique format, and I always like those.

3. How They Met by David Levithan is a collection of his short stories; every time one ended I wanted the story to continue.

4. Are We There Yet is also by David Levithan and tells the story of two brothers that travel to Italy together. Pretty much made me want to go to Europe even more than I usually do.

5. Surprise Me and Be the Surprise by Terry Esau deal with the idea of God and surprises. Rather than asking God for anything specific, Terry prayed every morning "Surprise me, God" for 30 days and journaled about what happened. In Be the Surprise, he looked for ways to reach out to people and surprise them with God's love.

6. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is a heart-wrenching story from the book of Hosea about God's unfailing love for us, his sin-filled creations. I had heard that I should read this book years ago, "but not yet" my friend said to me. There definitely needs to be a level of maturity before reading this story.

7. Luxe and Rumors by Anna Godberson was suggested to me last year by a lovely friend, and it's one of those books I never had time to read because of school. There are two more books in this series set in 1899 New York City high society.

There will be more to come on the summer reading front. (:

Oh shoot.

Realized I haven't posted in, uhm, months.
Also, have not really read in months either.
Yikes.
However, twitter is my daily companion. So follow me there. http://twitter.com/kinseyelise

And one day I'll have time to get back to blogger.

Happy Mothers' Day!

New York City

Spring Break 2010 started today at 12:20 when the bell rang for lunch and I left school for the day. (: Tomorrow morning, I fly to NYC with my school choir for several days full of fun (despite all the rain that the big apple is supposed to get). Our itinerary looks something like this:

Saturday
4am meet at airport
6am depart Houston
arrive and hang out at some mall in New Jersey until our second flight of kids arrives, then head to the hotel to check in and change clothes for the evening
dinner at Planet Hollywood
"Mary Poppins"

Sunday
singing at 9am service at St. John the Divine church
lunch
"In the Heights" matinee show
and something that night that I can't remember...

Monday
1pm concert at Trinity church
evening Dinner and Dance Cruise

Tuesday
tour NBC studios and Radio City Music Hall
"Billy Elliot"

Wednesday
sing at the Statue of Liberty
fly back home

there's more, but I can't remember all the details.
I just know I am super excited! (:

and I'll share pictures after the fact, of course <3

go go go

Lately, all I have wanted to do is GO somewhere far away. I have been missing England fiercely. I cannot wait to be in NYC in fifteen days. I want to visit the Carolinas again this summer; I want to be at my friend's wedding and I want to spend time with my aunt and uncle in their house that has no air conditioning because it has no need--even in August. And I'm ready to be living in Dallas; I really think I am. I'm excited to be somewhere different, live life differently, make new friends, discover things for myself. I guess I'm saying that I'm ready for change. Big change. (: Bring it on.

An Important Thing

This is very, very important:

It is important to me that I tell the people I love that I love them, often. It is more important to me to tell them I love them than to stay angry when they do annoying things. No matter what happens in the course of a day, I like to say goodnight with an "I love you" so that they know I still love them, even when I'm frustrated.

And just because I say "I love you" a lot, that doesn't diminish the truth of it. I love hard, I love a lot, I love deeply. Maybe you're not used to it, but you'll get used to it, if you let me stick around. I will love you. <3

I love stories.

Please go read this story on one of my favorite blogs, mackin ink, by the author of t.ruffles which is my little piece of beauty every day. (: The story may break your heart a little. But it's beautiful.

dream catcher

if I believed these worked, I'd definitely buy one.
I think they're quite lovely.
And I wouldn't mind having some of my dreams captured.
some because I don't want to forget them.
some because I do.



photocred.

happy MLKjr day

*

they do.

I hope you spent today doing something you love.

<3

birthday collage frame (:

Lauren, you'd be proud of me, I did a bit of collaging this afternoon. (:

Friday is a dear friend of mine's birthday.

Last year, I put together a few photos of an Arts Camp we went to the summer before and a beautiful poem that she wrote and gave it to her for her sweet sixteen.

So Friday is this dear friend's birthday.

And I had no idea what to give her.

But, of course, Target came to my rescue! While perusing the dollar spot right in front of the door I came across a nice, simple, white, 5-opening frame, and I thought, "Awesome."

Purchased the frame and brought it home. Cut out scrapbooking paper to fit the openings. Then decorated.

1. a raindrop, cloud, and umbrella stickers with my writing "keep dancing" because we've danced together in the rain

2. buttons because buttons are cute

3. treble clef paper clips because she sings and dances beautifully and music is so very important to both of us

4. an antique-looking key that says "joy" that I bought the other day at Michaels because I like keys, and she is so joyful through everything

5. a card I found in my scrapbooking shelf that says "the world is waiting" because I just loved it

and ta-da. there you have it. happy birthday, dear.

Ballet <3

This is the only picture in this post that is authentically mine. Those are my feet. My beat up ballet shoes. A friend of mine took this picture for me a few years ago. Yes, the shoes have retired since then; no worries, I have new shoes to dance in now. (:


Can I please have a chair like this to pose with? Lovely.

I have been taking ballet more or less since I was three years old. There were a couple of years where I forwent ballet and took jazz and gymnastics, but I returned to ballet because I knew that if I really wanted to dance, I'd need it. I have a body for ballet: long limbs.

At my studio, we use the Sonshine Christian Ballet Syllabus which has levels from I-VIII (actually, there is a level IX now, but we do not use that one at the studio). After taking ballet as a pre-schooler, I took those couple of years off and then began ballet training again at level III.

In April or May, those the teacher believed ready to move up to the next level went through ballet testing. We attended a few extra classes to make sure we were totally ready, then arrived at the studio on a Saturday to be evaluated. The tests were a little nerve-wracking, but I enjoyed receiving the comments sheet from Mrs. Sonia (the woman who actually wrote the syllabus) after it was over.


This is rather a typical sight for us. To the dancer, water is essential.

So eventually I made it as high as I could go, and I've been there a few years now. Ballet is this staple in my life where everything is normal. I know who I am there; I know what I should be doing. And I know that even if I can't get every step perfect, it's the working hard and trying that makes the difference. Tuesdays and Thursdays I come out of ballet class sore, sweating, and blissful. It makes my body feel good. Like I have accomplished something. Like I'm doing something good for myself.



I love it.
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