tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90647987732832144162024-02-22T07:28:44.450-08:00Life is Wonderful And Full of Delicious Possibilities.Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-70488426785752597372014-04-03T23:21:00.000-07:002014-04-03T23:31:55.930-07:00Surprise! Benefit Concert for...Me!!?? What!?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I haven't talked about this on my blog, but here goes:<br />
As you know from past posts about 3 years ago, I did a study abroad in London, England in Shakespearean studies. This was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my entire life. You can read past posts, but Shakespeare is one of my favorite things in the entire world and it means the world to me. This study abroad meant the world to me. I wanted to go back this summer, almost as a graduation trip. (Did I mention I'm graduating April 25? Hooray!) It was getting me through my final year of college. Well as life happens, things came up, and by winter break, I was broke. No more savings. And I decided then that I would not be able to go to London. I told myself I was fine and I could go back some day. But as Spring semester started, I found myself unmotivated, not looking forward to my last semester ending, and just...down.<br />
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I woke up one morning a few weeks into the semester and my first thought was, "I'm going to London." It wasn't like something said it to me, it was more of a resolve. I was going to London, because I know it was the thing that was making me feel blue.<br />
A few hours later I got an email from the professor I went with before, and he asked me to be his Assistant. Seriously? This would be amazing. I would have a chance to learn from one of my favorite professors, Once again live in South Kensington for 6 weeks, and hopefully network with grad schools and internships. Going to Grad School in London and eventually working there are my "hopes and my dreams" as my best friend, Kristi puts it. It is the final goal. Working for a Shakespeare company (especially one in the UK) is the ultimate goal.<br />
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The semester went on and there was one thing that was weighing on me: Where the HECK do I get money. Seriously. Trust me, I have gone down every avenue. Financial Aid, Scholarships, Grants, etc. Everything was a dead end. Because of my hours at school with classes, work, and scholarship/practicum hours, plus being in Picnic At Hanging Rock, I could not take on another job.<br />
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There have been a few avenues I've been able to take in order to make money. But not enough to pay my way to London. I expressed this to a few friends. I asked everyone I could to let me know if there was a grant I missed or a scholarship that I hadn't found or some untapped money that I might be able to apply for etc. I am making and selling workout leggings/capris, because it's something I know how to do and can do in my limited spare time. (Here is one of the kinds that I'm making. My sister is modeling and they turned out super cute) But it didn't change the fact that I was having a really hard time getting money together. My parents helped me out with a graduation gift (my flight).<br />
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As I worked the whole semester on trying to get my funds together, stressing, and having emotional breakdowns about money, something I didn't know about was happening. </div>
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Fast forward to this last Monday. Well kinda.</div>
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About three weeks ago, my dear friend, Nic asked me to keep March 31 open, because it would be the first night he had open and he wanted to go on a Mandee-Nic date. I of course agreed, because I didn't have anything that night either. As the day approached, I was so excited! Also, there were things going on that were completely going over my head. Seriously, I was oblivious.</div>
When that day came, Nic came to my voice lessons, made me sing "The World goes Round" for fun, and then told me we should dress up for our date and I should go home and dress up. Nic kept telling me to do things, and I just...blindly followed. Which is funny when I look back at how he was acting. I suspected nothing. (Even though someone totally gave it away, I still didn't catch it.)<br />
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That night I got back to the school, and after some really weird diverting and sleight of hands, Nic got me into the wildcat theatre and in I walked in to see A huge crowd of my friends and family clapping at me. I was so confused. My thoughts went like this in a split second, "HEY! That's all my friends! Hey! That's my family! Hey! Those are my costumes on display! Hey! Wait....Wait...this is for me...isn't it. What the heck? Oh my gosh. Whhhaaaa!?" Then I got embarrassed and emotional. And then more embarrassed for being emotional. </div>
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My friends threw me the most amazing benefit concert. To raise money for my trip to London. I was blown away. I LOVED the concert. My friends are amazingly talented, they all chose beautiful songs that they felt personally applied to me or songs that I loved. </div>
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It was very overwhelming.</div>
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In a good way.</div>
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I just couldn't understand why they picked me. I felt so loved and blessed, but so amazed as to...why me? But they all said the same thing, Because they loved me. It was a beautiful evening. They raised quite a bit of money for me, but that wasn't even the important thing in the evening for me. Don't get me wrong, I was so incredibly grateful. But the love my friends showed me was astonishing. </div>
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Nic and Maddie opening the show with</div>
"A Foggy Day in London Town<br />
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Alice singing "Once Upon A Time" from Brooklyn</div>
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Dear Jenessa singing "I have Confidence."</div>
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My gorgeous Amelia, Maddie, and Becca singing the stunning trio "Neverland."</div>
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I wish I had the video. This was truly amazing.</div>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ympixr9uSPU">(Here's the link to the youtube video of them singing this amazing song)</a><br />
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Compilation of videos for the night</div>
Me entering with my Nicholas, Nic singing London Town, and then they had me get up on stage and sing the song Nic made me practice at voice lessons (Thank goodness he made me practice)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy_1R2ibk_DWJRhyMU0u9qkUkeL2U1a2F01uViAxWwZEZPYEXhLCf9F8C_Y-kQf_I5pR5A2CPGAHa5pqwdotw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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A lot of people weren't able to attend, and really wanted to. And a lot of people have been asking me how they can help donate since they couldn't be at the concert. Every penny helps. Seriously. There's a <a href="https://fundly.com/help-send-mandee-to-study-in-london">Fundly-Fundraiser Set up for my trip to London.</a> That is a link, so click there. Or on the link below to go donate.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fundly.com/help-send-mandee-to-study-in-london" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipV7lcibV9Dwo-CYDDdBVxCgN0g0rH717iYYTpVVIARKQKZbhCbuCDnfOGy-LHHXA47pW07URomeBvSZFIOCjkpdB9iiVSBlchIRowOfE2QsKrG1AKFompqJLHkonA8zI0UoZJOr8bHTLY/s1600/Fundly.png" height="93" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://fundly.com/help-send-mandee-to-study-in-london</td></tr>
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And seriously. Thank you.<br />
And thank you to my amazing friends and family who gave me the most amazing gift. I don't know what I would have done without them.<br />
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Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-92206837632520644872014-04-01T12:57:00.001-07:002014-04-01T12:57:46.990-07:00My Sunshine's 40th Birthday Party<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am so behind on my blogging. My priorities have been elsewhere, and my time scarce, but I am trying to give you an idea of what has been happening in the last year. One thing that was AWESOME, was my sister's 40th Birthday Party. (<a href="http://lifewithminions.blogspot.com/">Check out her amazing blog here</a>) She is my sunshine, my only sunshine, My gypsy at heart twin. And in July (YES! CLEAR BACK IN JULY!) My sister turned 40. I love spending time with her. We love going to the Renn Faire together: </div>
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SO last July we threw her a birthday party worthy of who she is: A Gypsy. It was a BLAST! And in true nature of who my sisters and I are, lacking a filter of when too much is too much, we threw the best party ever, despite the fact that it POURED RAIN ALL MORNING</div>
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Setting up the bunting and garland</div>
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Took over the entire dining room!</div>
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The tables by daylight</div>
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The crazy thing is that I owned most of that fabric, India stuff, etc.</div>
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The chocolate fountain station:</div>
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The cake: It's supposed to match the colors while mimicking the designs of Henna Tattoos</div>
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The Gypsy Lounging Area</div>
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Let the Festivities begin!!!</div>
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Candlelight </div>
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Buffet Table</div>
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Chocolate Fountain</div>
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Lanterns</div>
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Parties are so much better when sisters are doing it together. </div>
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Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-44279798650391695992014-03-16T15:49:00.001-07:002014-03-16T15:56:38.796-07:00My Costume Design How To: Part 1 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Recently I had a comment on one of my posts asking me "How do you costume design? I'd love to know how to do this." That is QUITE the question. And something that is hard to answer in one blog post. (Which is while I'll do a series of posts.) In just over a month I will be graduating from <a href="https://www.weber.edu/">Weber State University</a> with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre Arts with my emphasis on Costume Design. I have known I wanted to be a costume designer since I was a teenager. I've loved making costumes and designing them since I was a child and would do so for my American Girl Dolls and my Barbies. I would rarely actually color my coloring books, but draw dresses in the margins. But it wasn't until I went to college that I really understood what went into doing the costumes for a show. I am going to have a bachelor's degree and I know I still have worlds to learn.<br />
I will also, through these posts, be sharing with you one of the greatest experiences I have ever had: Costume Designing for <i><a href="http://www.theplainprincessmusical.com/">The Plain Princess</a> </i>at Weber State.<br />
ANYWAY.<br />
SO...How do you Costume Design? Part 1.<br />
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STEP 1: READ THE SCRIPT!<br />
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So when you costume design for a play or musical you always start in the same place.<br />
READ THE SCRIPT! Seriously. You'd think this is common knowledge, but I can't tell you how many times I've seen designers think they know a show, because they've heard of it and read the wikipedia synopsis (I am serious) and then try to start designing. And personally, I am a HUGE fan of NOT WATCHING THE DANG MOVIE! It WILL affect your designs.<br />
The first time you read the script, just read it. Read it for the story and plot. That's all. Don't try to start designing, just let the story and characters sink in.<br />
Then read it again. This time, read it and try to visualize it, analyze it, do all the script analysis you want. Take notes in the margins, highlight things, think of colors or lines.<br />
Also, this will not be the last time you read the script. You want to know this script incredibly well, know the characters as well as you know yourself (just for the record, I love talking to the actors about their realizations and discoveries of their characters.) You're dressing them, you better know who they are.<br />
When I designed <i><a href="http://www.theplainprincessmusical.com/">The Plain Princess</a></i>, I didn't get a script until 2 days before auditions. Why? Because it wasn't finished. haha. One of the fun things of doing an original works, you don't know when you're going to get your script or when you'll get re-writes.<br />
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The director/writer gave me the book the story comes from to read over the summer. Since I didn't have a script, I read and reread the script.<br />
This synopsis comes from the website for the musical:<br />
"Princess Esmerelada seems to have everything that a young princess should...except that she is "plain." In order to overcome her dilemma, the King and Queen seek the help of anyone who can remedy their daughter's situation. After the wizards and physicians refuse the challenge, a clever widow accepts the task and takes Esmerelda to live with her and her five charming daughters.<br />
The result is a special kind of magic that works a miracle."<br />
Luckily for me, the playwrights stayed incredibly close to the story, so reading the book allowed me to think a lot of my design and wasn't radically altering when the story came out.<br />
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STEP 2: Talk to your Director<br />
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With Plain Princess, when my director, Jim Christian first talked to me about designing his show, he gave me a color palette to think about. This happened before the script was ever even close to being done, before I had read the script or book or anything. He showed me a bouquet of flowers. This was the direction my director sent me on. (The first direction)<br />
The first time I read the script was actually a read-through at the playwright/director's house the Sunday before our Fall semester started. (I actually read/sang for the part of Dulcibelle at the read-through). Our first production meeting was a few days later. I did not have much time to do renderings. My shop manager and I went and started purchasing fabrics so when I got to the first production meeting, I had research to show (I will talk about research in my next post) some basic sketches, and some fabrics with color choices. Because I showed up prepared (as did my fellow designers) we all had a mutual direction to go. A lot of my color choices in fabric influenced set colors, prop colors, and definitely light colors.<br />
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I do want to also add: If you are not actually doing a show and you are just designing for fun, practice, or a class assignment, come up with a Design statement.<br />
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This week's book/s to check out (aka books I love and use a lot):<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUK8m04eRcIpUik268wqonuoNWf8Cksk54BwLhbqG5dgwsXWUScVq4q3PD5qWh7Dko4EV6EKd0Y1uZy52eCbFrjOzWyY8mAOO9LnpuKfVXIds_S2GWwt1Yqg6u4BgfyEDuv4B5b1xyKl5/s1600/Costume-Design-101-2nd-Edition-9781932907698.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Costume-Design-101-2nd-Television-ebook/dp/B006H3C4UI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395009975&sr=8-1&keywords=costume+design+101">Costume Design 101</a> Which has tons of great info on the process and basics of costume design. It's always fantastic to have a guide or reminder.<br />
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Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-12250026532196288062013-08-04T19:55:00.001-07:002013-08-04T20:07:25.188-07:00Salt City Steampunk Convention<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My good friend, Allen, texted me about a month ago and asked me if I could help him make a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk">steampunk </a>costume. If you want to know what steampunk is, go google it. Wikipedia actually has a great description, or just look at the google image search.<br />
Anyway, I love making costumes for Allen, because he is always excited about projects that I do for him! <a href="http://deliciouspossibilities.blogspot.com/2011/11/dr-frankenstein-costume-design.html">I made a great Dr. Frankenstein costume for him once </a>when he was in a play where they made the actors get their own costumes (Ugh. Never okay.) And he was so enthusiastic and excited. It makes me want to sew for him all the time! Anyways, I didn't really have time, but I wanted to do it so bad, I moved some dates around so I could do it. But as I finished the costume, I wanted to go with him SO BAD! So I made myself a corset the night before so I could go with him and we had a blast! We've already started planning next year! And we have some AMAZING ideas that are going to kick butt! Allen is even hoping to do a panel, in which I'll be his assistant. But I was SO proud of how his costume turned out!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-742KAvJ9_5uXswtJNkFwBDNPU2ARLOBWYikhnetNkpWe2XFI8ZdK_eKMacNnUl4VhP6JZ8uSxzLnudICSf0xKZnNXxHraszrsZfWVRqT9qGCsk_OvT6Rvn-I07NqFaOxprU9_FrBBVnj/s1600/980010_10200759706168964_2006885698_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-742KAvJ9_5uXswtJNkFwBDNPU2ARLOBWYikhnetNkpWe2XFI8ZdK_eKMacNnUl4VhP6JZ8uSxzLnudICSf0xKZnNXxHraszrsZfWVRqT9qGCsk_OvT6Rvn-I07NqFaOxprU9_FrBBVnj/s640/980010_10200759706168964_2006885698_o.jpg" width="446" /></a></div>
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Photos taken by Vladimir Chopine</div>
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That is not a wig. That is my hair.</div>
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Please ignore my messy Sewing room. It's kind of a disaster right now. </div>
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Full shot without the jacket</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJfJjak0Tvu1CFLPv2NH3N8lUssBB8UH9WfXeW6T-OulB1d6y_-SxoB9PfvQof1b294nIvnibmrUhZr92WiA52B3EzkgqVzVNEvb_77dukNQVLDwm8ZYZQ-t0sDi-QvQGLAOvvMYCgqnd/s1600/IMG_0946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJfJjak0Tvu1CFLPv2NH3N8lUssBB8UH9WfXeW6T-OulB1d6y_-SxoB9PfvQof1b294nIvnibmrUhZr92WiA52B3EzkgqVzVNEvb_77dukNQVLDwm8ZYZQ-t0sDi-QvQGLAOvvMYCgqnd/s320/IMG_0946.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ihEkTPIFigiD7_AANxUzP5GmupqALsN-IAAW4syKyJGt_bgwAR4RtjZsv5Qx_18OjiYz9jTF2mDLFev0o5D-CFxbPYW6LAt4Ld6JI11w4xTgWG37hQL_h7B7pPhW2nE1wMcjBiEGCc3o/s1600/IMG_0945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ihEkTPIFigiD7_AANxUzP5GmupqALsN-IAAW4syKyJGt_bgwAR4RtjZsv5Qx_18OjiYz9jTF2mDLFev0o5D-CFxbPYW6LAt4Ld6JI11w4xTgWG37hQL_h7B7pPhW2nE1wMcjBiEGCc3o/s320/IMG_0945.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Vest up-close and Vest back. I wish you could see the detail. And it was all in black, keeping it sleek and keeping all the details very very subtle. I loved it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLL7lUyiXHjFkyMhl60xn8Pzav-2n-XVGRWEuEKZKhKRWOtPZewmDhpJ_Ebsb7emq9XYQoww5-1A8SlC2bBlhn1uimp76pPaqTlbYpD4ho4KQj3wIaA5ZGVHhn8ETRkyLkmpBK6DrPs_7/s1600/IMG_0947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLL7lUyiXHjFkyMhl60xn8Pzav-2n-XVGRWEuEKZKhKRWOtPZewmDhpJ_Ebsb7emq9XYQoww5-1A8SlC2bBlhn1uimp76pPaqTlbYpD4ho4KQj3wIaA5ZGVHhn8ETRkyLkmpBK6DrPs_7/s320/IMG_0947.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcK4ercxwkWWbOd14HAFNS8aV4VrFoXSB9tmOZOZtcybb957KD6rkRbKS1EyBObYMxB8p83Tiezt1waMF4MMudYuiUHcN0RdgYxzzroovJfZs_e2LdHXCaaLssOFIKnn8sipIBMsLC_r1/s1600/IMG_0950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcK4ercxwkWWbOd14HAFNS8aV4VrFoXSB9tmOZOZtcybb957KD6rkRbKS1EyBObYMxB8p83Tiezt1waMF4MMudYuiUHcN0RdgYxzzroovJfZs_e2LdHXCaaLssOFIKnn8sipIBMsLC_r1/s320/IMG_0950.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Full shot with a messy sewing room. :( Up close of the jacket</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRlKsgh5gxF520SB0z8-w3hf3_8YrHRf_LyuOeHp-BrCRUMdeAMDlNKKukiExk74ltCp2XUco3YmogwtXOtQK9FCLVVGHZVRf6Ot3hqwNA0OmKbr8F5FmelkaiSR7s3Bmsnh5k1k-5i-z/s1600/IMG_0951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRlKsgh5gxF520SB0z8-w3hf3_8YrHRf_LyuOeHp-BrCRUMdeAMDlNKKukiExk74ltCp2XUco3YmogwtXOtQK9FCLVVGHZVRf6Ot3hqwNA0OmKbr8F5FmelkaiSR7s3Bmsnh5k1k-5i-z/s320/IMG_0951.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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With his jewelers loop.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvZ3npruceAxxYUB79EsTAN3rhyphenhyphenYDGfFmJGWaJA2EJscyD9844X76gafYoMsZLrZYTTkjYju7JODWKujzzhPvXxLfHPeTIwho6MBXqHh_0LYjqfK-h4lEdKSb_oB2IVHYAOn6PcI0n1C9/s1600/IMG_0961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvZ3npruceAxxYUB79EsTAN3rhyphenhyphenYDGfFmJGWaJA2EJscyD9844X76gafYoMsZLrZYTTkjYju7JODWKujzzhPvXxLfHPeTIwho6MBXqHh_0LYjqfK-h4lEdKSb_oB2IVHYAOn6PcI0n1C9/s320/IMG_0961.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7G-ZY-r2rQWPzG4v8Wx1uUDWq0tTXEdc3s5KqVp9emIMZwHrgE1qqGNwX2DMTXbPTOQuXbYUFEZ2LodBzVtLK4O4rtu-WBqVmqbPpxtoYiGzkYYeuJcJltMwX5VUkDfZyBJ_nbMQUkV1/s1600/IMG_0962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7G-ZY-r2rQWPzG4v8Wx1uUDWq0tTXEdc3s5KqVp9emIMZwHrgE1qqGNwX2DMTXbPTOQuXbYUFEZ2LodBzVtLK4O4rtu-WBqVmqbPpxtoYiGzkYYeuJcJltMwX5VUkDfZyBJ_nbMQUkV1/s320/IMG_0962.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Allen and I at the convention I did my hair all saloon-girl</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9Y8XCB46JmN4NXMOZ-PcyLCPxyRUW7ffUhBVMwGHAcjU0cTzoV6kq9NuuVWufFR1Z92AsFD730QPMirVS7-0uW9mDfQRzcIO0OoyO5t3lhyphenhyphenFtPN1uumd4cPlXtxw49cjGmy2CYfzPknW/s1600/IMG_0963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9Y8XCB46JmN4NXMOZ-PcyLCPxyRUW7ffUhBVMwGHAcjU0cTzoV6kq9NuuVWufFR1Z92AsFD730QPMirVS7-0uW9mDfQRzcIO0OoyO5t3lhyphenhyphenFtPN1uumd4cPlXtxw49cjGmy2CYfzPknW/s320/IMG_0963.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Ran into my good friend, Angie!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLih5DXTwpj_NMvlaHs8Jh045Rhgv5xBYt6sCxWtk-bnYYK5S6MhodQrAzypxa3e4uIPeyhrlLRa6be5qq1bKJ7BRHity_uIqLDJF3cFxM5SPxZKpaqiTLZU5v4-c57VFTT-fdH9lmGQ1x/s1600/IMG_0964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLih5DXTwpj_NMvlaHs8Jh045Rhgv5xBYt6sCxWtk-bnYYK5S6MhodQrAzypxa3e4uIPeyhrlLRa6be5qq1bKJ7BRHity_uIqLDJF3cFxM5SPxZKpaqiTLZU5v4-c57VFTT-fdH9lmGQ1x/s320/IMG_0964.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvTmzAzEr3fY-FNJLl8JXs3N0Y9OORbvboVi9FC-T_Uhb5XJTkIl0A_eFt_QKtDQdbIA2i8mLW1pzaQn0Y4MEmKVkvhTXL6TMWsWPTf7Io8zIU4g5D2rwB93reFj__ZvZCmwcK1LEoxNH/s1600/IMG_0965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvTmzAzEr3fY-FNJLl8JXs3N0Y9OORbvboVi9FC-T_Uhb5XJTkIl0A_eFt_QKtDQdbIA2i8mLW1pzaQn0Y4MEmKVkvhTXL6TMWsWPTf7Io8zIU4g5D2rwB93reFj__ZvZCmwcK1LEoxNH/s320/IMG_0965.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Other players at the Convention</div>
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His costumes were fantastic every single day.</div>
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Day 2 We went a little more traditional, also, they were walking by with that background as we took a pic. coincidence.</div>
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I made this costume in high school with a historical pattern. I got SO many compliments and so many pictures taken! I was in historically accurate underwear and everything. A woah. That corset was fine as long as I didn't sit for too long, then it kind of dug into my kidneys. But I wouldn't have fit back into that dress without the corset. </div>
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It was a blast. I am way excited for next year and I want to be more involved. I love theater, I love doing costumes, but I absolutely love conventions and Renn Faires. Seriously. They are SO much fun. </div>
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Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-55065853221586851242013-07-05T11:19:00.000-07:002013-08-04T19:57:18.129-07:00"Clean Eating"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday was the fourth of July! Happy Birthday 'Murica! Which is my favorite holiday in the whole entire world. I'll have to write a post on that another time. But today is about the realization I had yesterday that has nothing to do with the birthday of America, but my own body.<br />
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Almost three weeks ago<a href="http://deliciouspossibilities.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-this-week-has-changed-my-life.html"> I joined Crossfit. </a> When I joined, I started eating clean according to our box's "Eat to Compete" challenge. It wasn't really hard. As long as I kept working out, it was easy to keep eating healthy, and vice versa. For example. Anytime I wanted to "cheat" and eat something not on the plan I just thought of how many burpees that was worth and it usually kept me from straying. Haha. (Burpees are not my favorite.)</div>
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I told myself on the fourth of July I could have a rootbeer float and a hamburger with the fixins. And I did. I also had a handful of M&Ms that my dad offered while I was watching Independence Day. The M&Ms about threw me into sugar shock. I couldn't believe that after two and a half weeks of clean eating, and only having fructose as a form of sugar, a handful of M&Ms made me feel so...blech. I did have the hamburger and the rootbeer float. And again, the root beer float was SO SUGARY, (But that Hamburger was incredible and I savored every bite. :)</div>
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This morning, getting back to the eating challenge hasn't even been a problem. I KNOW! I HAD A CHEAT DAY AND IT DIDN'T TURN INTO A CHEAT WEEK!<br />
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I'm just amazed at what we're willing to put into our bodies. I can't believe I used to drink Mountain Dew and Diet Coke by the gallon. I can't believe I used to eat as much sugar and unhealthy carbs as I used to. No wonder I felt the way I did. </div>
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So in three weeks of Crossfit (almost every day) and adhering to the eating challenge, here are the changes I have seen:</div>
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1- No Migraines. (I usually got one to two a week, and more during my period. I haven't had one.)<br />
2- A better ability to control my blood sugar levels (This helped with the Migraines.)</div>
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3- I have lost 10 pounds, two inches around my waist, an inch around my hips, and an inch from each thigh.<br />
4- More energy.<br />
5- Better recognition of when my body is "satisfied" so that I don't over eat and make myself sick.<br />
6- Every day tasks have started getting easier, my body moves easier, bends over easier, lifts easier, etc.<br />
7- I CAN TOUCH MY TOES WITH MY LEGS STRAIGHT! (You don't even understand how happy this makes me.)<br />
8- My muscles are repairing and building faster, resulting in me not staying as sore as long after workouts.<br />
9- My emotional/mental state is absolutely more positive, happier, and goal oriented. <--big div="" one=""><!----big--><!----big--></--big><br />
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10- More creative ways to prepare food that fits into the parameters of eating challenge.<br />
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I've made friends with some of the people at the Box and I love them. I usually attend the women's class, because the women are incredible and absolutely inspiring. One of the women I adore is Shelly. She did the eating challenge and did the WODs for two months and won the challenge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYACPVdjMs6hRcBHRlQENDCLXTnFhB59aYJE5k68VqfSqRptnvjUhCrKt1Tz-3a45B1zhhEL00CLm1x-bD7MRCCwpw2M2XIOVK98j0-pBXrjQ0TVRpDkjjMu9zBNejmKZDjEMFSOPu92L/s1600/1048033_10201070232791816_1906822276_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYACPVdjMs6hRcBHRlQENDCLXTnFhB59aYJE5k68VqfSqRptnvjUhCrKt1Tz-3a45B1zhhEL00CLm1x-bD7MRCCwpw2M2XIOVK98j0-pBXrjQ0TVRpDkjjMu9zBNejmKZDjEMFSOPu92L/s320/1048033_10201070232791816_1906822276_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Before and After</div>
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I love that woman! I try to stand near her during WODs, because she pushes and inspires me!<br />
Seeing her success has pushed me to keep working at what I'm doing, keep eating clean, and keep WODing it up, because I can feel myself getting stronger. And it just feels SO GOOD.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHrkVe9JOL0IYDbNzJvKp2BHfr823XBIpudQ36RMmNJ-g0TyM2s_9u_TFQwEgFO3pYFACOvcwme13C6wrOQMChqnAemzmGM0Am5A0h6ZpURs3-ryJXIgXl9Wk63mmlzbyValMkE8DDqeG/s1600/Snatch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHrkVe9JOL0IYDbNzJvKp2BHfr823XBIpudQ36RMmNJ-g0TyM2s_9u_TFQwEgFO3pYFACOvcwme13C6wrOQMChqnAemzmGM0Am5A0h6ZpURs3-ryJXIgXl9Wk63mmlzbyValMkE8DDqeG/s320/Snatch1.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFN4_IdyC2jDw20YEYEzHHNXkYLDAFcfalGbB4C7j-I9uR6eFgzujszSLa6npdBCCAmth794MTeC-fQ_oYBEdHhh83sLblYHgh-p6sw2JvQDX4TwHjqfPYIQcvJAQI2pWTEmD9GCpayhgU/s1600/Snatch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFN4_IdyC2jDw20YEYEzHHNXkYLDAFcfalGbB4C7j-I9uR6eFgzujszSLa6npdBCCAmth794MTeC-fQ_oYBEdHhh83sLblYHgh-p6sw2JvQDX4TwHjqfPYIQcvJAQI2pWTEmD9GCpayhgU/s320/Snatch2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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"Randy" for time: 75 Power Snatches at 55 lbs</div>
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My time was 6:53</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINkM2mUaPl8OQ9TKP_lZq-jcdz4115H1sXlFH0R-SQYB1jkQwI-JP8iogy_jgLsU70S0olEVc6fQXtT94LrFt7jeHb0E3hbdj_newLdmJsT5YvLsvJiHA2ngdcDq8phYhUrbH4V1UJ55k/s1600/Snatch3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINkM2mUaPl8OQ9TKP_lZq-jcdz4115H1sXlFH0R-SQYB1jkQwI-JP8iogy_jgLsU70S0olEVc6fQXtT94LrFt7jeHb0E3hbdj_newLdmJsT5YvLsvJiHA2ngdcDq8phYhUrbH4V1UJ55k/s320/Snatch3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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That's a nervous smile as in: I'm not sure how I'm going to finish this WOD, because 75 is a lot more than I thought it would be.</div>
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Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-70826710416537532132013-07-01T14:48:00.004-07:002013-07-01T14:50:53.097-07:00I am so Lucky!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijE8yR6PYRGTnB4TVxxmGyX5WpxlUvygANlhG0BC3gipYuh29jSBg5qpq8fhSU7W2l75FOE98mQ-CVSubtCE_XZ3yoW4VL8WPsfjJNyfcpqixyxT9xvdhopXBWOUq9_bO5wJCnzhpNyi8R/s1600/IMG_3016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijE8yR6PYRGTnB4TVxxmGyX5WpxlUvygANlhG0BC3gipYuh29jSBg5qpq8fhSU7W2l75FOE98mQ-CVSubtCE_XZ3yoW4VL8WPsfjJNyfcpqixyxT9xvdhopXBWOUq9_bO5wJCnzhpNyi8R/s400/IMG_3016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I don't think people understand how amazing my sisters are.</div>
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I'm not kidding. They are my favorite people in the entire world. They love me unconditionally and I feel the same way towards them. I love being with one of them or two of them or three of them or all of them. Doesn't matter how many of us there are together or in what combination, we have the best time. We never fight. We never have drama. Even when one of us accidentally dumps the cake the other one had been working on for hours on the ground. We just feel sad, then we laugh, then we move on. </div>
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My mom was one of five sisters as well. And we grew up watching them have the same kind of relationship. There's no other people in the world that I love more and would rather be with and never get sick of being with. We love each other's kids as if they were our own. Our love for each other is almost more than we can contain in our bodies. And together we are absolutely and utterly unstoppable. </div>
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I wish I had the words to tell you how amazing my sisters are, but I don't, because there are no words. </div>
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Just trust me when I say, I am the luckiest person in the world. </div>
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Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-21689791393821185232013-06-26T13:44:00.000-07:002013-06-26T13:44:28.114-07:00Cheat Days and Rest Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I don't do cheat days.<br />
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I'm not saying there's anything wrong with cheat days. I'm just saying I don't do them.</div>
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My cheat day becomes cheat days. My cheat days turn into Cheat weeks. Next thing I know I'm spending a whole day in bed watching Hugh Grant movies eating my weight in European Chocolate and Hot Pockets (Which I don't even like anyway.)</div>
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So I don't do cheat days.</div>
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When it comes to exercising, I don't like rest days. </div>
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Now this isn't necessarily a good thing. After a few days of really hard workouts, it's really good to take a day to recover. But I hate it. I get agitated and bored and anxious. Last week with CrossFit I went every single day and then took a break on Sunday. I don't know what happened, but when Monday rolled around, I could NOT get myself to go to the box. And I started to get anxiety. All day I had a conversation with myself that went something like this:</div>
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"Just get up and go to the box. You'll feel better after you do a WOD."</div>
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"I know."</div>
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"Well then what's the problem."</div>
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"I don't know. I just..."</div>
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"You just what?"</div>
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"Don't want to go today."</div>
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"You're losing interest already!?"</div>
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"Oh my gosh! What if I am? WHAT IF I HAD THIS AMAZING WEEK LAST WEEK AND THE FIRE HAS ALREADY WORN OFF!?"<br />
"Typical you would give up so easily. Especially after telling everyone that it changed your life. You might as well go eat some HobNobs."<br />
"Don't be silly. WAIT. We still have HobNobs?"</div>
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"Yeah, I think so. Back of the pantry. Do you want some?"<br />
"Sigh. No. It's not worth the burpees I'll have to do to work them off."<br />
"So are you going to go to the Box?"</div>
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I didn't go. And it really upset me. I mean, I was really disappointed in myself. Only because I was worried that I had already given up. So I promised myself I'd go Tuesday.<br />
So I woke up and as I've developed the habit, looked up the WOD on the website. </div>
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Gulp.</div>
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It was the Filthy Fifties. NOOOOOO! </div>
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"I should have gone yesterday so I could skip today!"</div>
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"You can always skip again. Nobody will know."</div>
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"Shut up, Brain."</div>
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Now for you who don't know what the Filthy Fifties are, they are one of the crossfit WODs that is known by all Crossfit Boxes. And it kicks your butt.<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">50 Box jump, 24 inch box</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">50 Jumping pull-ups</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">50 Kettlebell swings, 1 pood</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Walking Lunge, 50 steps</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">50 Knees to elbows</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">50 Push press, 45 pounds</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">50 Back extensions</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">50 Wall ball shots, 20 pound ball</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">50 Burpees</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">50 Double unders</span>Look it up on Youtube. It's intense.</div>
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I seriously had to psyche myself up all day to go. I knew it was going to be hard. I saw something about Cross Fit once that "If you're not scared of your workout, it's not hard enough for you."</div>
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Touche.</div>
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So I went to Crossfit and did the filthy fifty.<br />
And it was quite possibly the hardest thing I have ever done. No joke. I didn't think I could do it. I got to the point where I just stood there and thought: I physically can't do anything more. I had done my stupid 50 burpees (and wanted to die) and I just couldn't do my push press or my Jumping Pull ups. (I did mine a little out of order.) And then I remembered something my brother-in-law said about difficult WODs that kicked something into gear for me. </div>
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"One rep at a time."<br />
Somehow, something kicked in and I finished those last two sets. And you know what else? I cried the entire time. (I'm laughing right now realizing how ridiculous I must have looked.) But it was like after last week's fire and excitement had worn off, all this emotion I had been welling up for months just came out at that moment and I just cried! And I cried all the way home. </div>
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And this morning, Tuesday, I was back to killing my WOD and pushing myself to limits I didn't know I was capable of reaching.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZLeikbOLI9i8UYXK004t26Jj3GGN9CNBLxiHpKTjH3X3N01jhFzSR6p2uwp7nsk6zvcmgZY2d-PnrJxL6It3jeQ20nCD9HX222d92uw14xK1iPRm-Ionr642TkqhC-sBadqqcLJbBLiP/s640/blogger-image-783324504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZLeikbOLI9i8UYXK004t26Jj3GGN9CNBLxiHpKTjH3X3N01jhFzSR6p2uwp7nsk6zvcmgZY2d-PnrJxL6It3jeQ20nCD9HX222d92uw14xK1iPRm-Ionr642TkqhC-sBadqqcLJbBLiP/s640/blogger-image-783324504.jpg" /></a></div>
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Post my filthy fifties</div>
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So next time you're having a bad day, or a negative day, have it. Then the next day, take that negativity and use it to fuel whatever you're trying to accomplish. I need to remember that. And I need to learn how to let my rest days not be a stumble in my momentum. But I'm fine without cheat days.</div>
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Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-36501307135785928512013-06-22T11:53:00.001-07:002013-08-04T20:58:37.879-07:00How this week, and Crossfit, have changed my life.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's been a long time since I consistently blogged. I like blogging, but this last school year was more intense than you could possibly believe. My mom is amazed at how much time I spend on campus and keeps saying with the time I'm putting in, I should have been a med student, not a theater student. I reply that I like to cut fabric, not people. :)<br />
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I have had one of the most remarkable weeks of my life. </div>
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Let me explain. (And I can never do so quickly.)</div>
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Now I don' talk about this much with those not close to me, but before Germany I was in a really bad relationship. I'm not going to go into much detail about why, but I will simply say, I was stupid and not in love, but I was obsessed and devoted and because of that and they way he responded and used that, I came out broken. Ran away...er...moved to Germany to get away. (Life lesson learned: you can't run away from your problems even if you run away to another continent.) </div>
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I broke even more. </div>
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The situation I was in when I Au Paired in Germany was just a bad situation. Again, there is too much to go into. </div>
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But I didn't just come out even more broken (which I didn't know was possible) I came out with a severe depression. (Life lesson learned: depression is a real thing and not as easy to escape as people think) </div>
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I once heard someone say that by the time I had been through the ringer of the relationship followed immediately by the time in Germany (almost two year span of time) I came home a hollow shell of someone who had been Mandee. No more light, no more life, just someone who had spent the last part of her life trying to emotionally survive day to day. </div>
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Before Germany I had (I think) healthily (is that a word?) gotten my weight down to 135. I had never weighed that little since Junior High. I'm just a stocky girl. I am. I am very bottom heavy, and fighting weight gain has always been a fight...no a battle....you know what? No. It has been a full out spartan war for my adult life. People are usually shocked at how much I weigh and tell my i carry my weight well. But emotionally I don't. My sisters are all beautiful small girls, and I'm the tall, big, clumsy elephantine sister in the china shop. Ha. Or at least that's how I've felt. So when I got down to 135, I felt and looked good. </div>
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In the six months I was in Germany, I gained 30 pounds. (Bratwurst, Pommes Frites, Gelato, European cheeses, etc plus depression plus no exercise equals weight gain which equals more depression.)</div>
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I came home from Germany, like I said, a hollow shell. </div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My sister's husband got interested in Cross Fit about the time I moved home from Germany, and I thought the people in the videos he showed me were insane. But it was cool they could do that. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Over the next four years I struggled with my weight. I tried so many things. I tried weight watchers (which only kind of helped me. And just for a little while) and I tried different workouts and running and what felt like starving myself and I just couldn't do it. My weight went up and down and up and down and so did my confidence. My depression didn't last much past coming home from Germany. Being home with my family and getting back into theater really helped. But I resolved that I was never going to be the person I was when I got home from India, before I started dating "him," and Germany. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Fast forward to summer 2010. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I studied in London. It was the happiest I'd been in 2 years. I felt my potential. I had a target, to get my bachelor's and get into Grad School in London. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">It has been my "dream" since I got home. This last school year was harder than you could possibly imagine. I don't think people in the world understand how demanding it is to a-) be a college theater student. And b-) be a theater design student. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Let's out it this way: I usually left for school around 8. I got home around 1. In the morning. Sometimes not till 4. And sometimes I didn't come home. (Dressing rooms have showers). And when I say I usually did this, I mean 98% of my semester was this way. I spent the hours I was home catching a little sleep and mostly trying to get homework done. Saturdays were spent at the costume shop. Sundays were for homework, which I am against, because religiously for me, I believe in keeping the sabbath day holy which for me means no homework, work, working out, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Recently I weighed myself and I was 2 pounds away from a weight I swore I would never reach. I was up to 198. I never in my entire life had reached that weight. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I can't express the emotional turmoil of being overweight. Some of you understand how I feel, others of you don't. That's just how it is. I watched a friend of mine (Jackson Carter) battle his weight on this last season of Biggest Loser and felt inspired, and I tried and failed again. I'd tried everything. Or it felt that way. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The problem was more than the way I looked, which WAS one of the reasons I was so unhappy. But it was more than that. I felt bad. I felt weak and unfit and unhealthy. I didn't fit in most of my clothes. This summer was supposed to be about getting my life in order. And I was doing a piss poor job at it. (My mom won't like that I used piss poor, sorry mom.) The last school year had knocked me so out of whack, I just...couldn't get back into gear. I just felt like every time I tried to get back on top, life was a big bully and pushed me back to the ground.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">My cousin, Erica, and her husband, Aaron, recently opened with a friend, a new cross fit box. (Http://www.benlomondcrossfit.com) </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">They kept asking me to join but all I knew was cross fit was for crazies who liked pull ups and heavy things. Like my brother in law and my sister. Don't get me wrong, my sister and her husband looked AMAHZING, but they were crazy. :) but I was still intrigued and I still wanted to try it. Erica and Aaron asked me to join their box and I just didn't have the money. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">So I continued to try to get my life in order. And I continued to gain weight and to fail. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I sang at a benefit for my cousin's little boy who is battling leukemia last week. (Reiss Timothy, if you google him you can find his blog) I had nothing to wear. Rather trivial when your cousin's family is facing cancer, but also doesn't change the fact that I had nothing to wear, because all my "nice clothes" just did not fit. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I discussed this with my mother in tears. Embarrassed about who I'd become and the only way I could cope with it was to become apathetic towards myself and have no goals and motivation. I was numb.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">On the 3 hour drive home from the benefit, my sister and her husband talked to my parents about Crossfit and what it had done for them and what it was. (I drove separate with my pianist). Something clicked in my mom. She saw how inspired Celena and Kevin had become, what changes they had made to their lives and how healthy and fit they were living. And she remembered my tears and words and self loathing from the day before. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">My mom sat me down the next day (a week ago) and told me about what Celena and Kevin had said. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">It came down to this: she wanted me to try crossfit. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">So I did. Monday morning I woke up and went to the block. Aaron and Erica were so excited to see me. I had showed up for the women's class and it kicked my butt. But it pushed me. And there was or major thing. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I didn't quit. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">And it felt amazing. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">This week has been the most amazing week I can ever remember. I have done our box's WODs every day. I have been sore, I have been tired, and I've been pushed to my max at times. But there are a few things that have also happened. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I haven't wanted to quit. And I haven't. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I have accomplished things I didn't know I was capable of. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I haven't focused on my weight at all. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">And I feel amazing. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I have followed an healthy eating regimen all week, and it hasn't been hard at all. Because it helps me improve on my crossfit. Seriously. I haven't had sugar, dairy, or wheat in a week and I feel so good. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I wish I could express to you how much crossfit has done for me in a week, but I can't. But I will tell you this:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">My sister Celena was visiting and she went with me this morning. (I wasn't going to go this morning, I wanted to rest) but I thought it would be fun to WOD with my sister so I went. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">We had a blast. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">It was a partner WOD and we tore it up!!! We couldn't let the teenage boys beat us, so we pushed ourselves and even went farther and did more, and still had the best time. (I couldn't have finished the run if she hadn't been there to push me.) </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Afterwards at home we were talking an she just looked at me and hugged me and said, "It feels so good to have my sister back." She commented that I haven't been me since Germany and the stuff before that. And I didn't realize it, and I can't explain it, people. But this week has changed my life.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I've heard so many knock cross fit and call it stupid and herd mentality and a joke and it doesn't work and it's a bunch of meatheads etc. etc. etc. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Okay. First of all, it does work. Trust me.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Second of all: I don't know what your experience is, but I do know what mine is. It has given me my light and my life back. It has brought something back in me that has been missing for a long time. I finally feel like me again. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">And I'm determined to keep it and I'm determined to share it with people. Because even if this inspires one person out there to find what I found, then mission accomplished. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BbYEZHo7lF8HsjmVaOAx7G4IZtl8ig2VmEM6uqFPHxUemENlOE9pK-MaAUW1aCMp9smWxBvM0SoLQWn63DjVYY-j2sHngIja1hT63VnAloU45tQ5FrkbwyM1RYSF35fcSb2M42t8ZXAe/s640/blogger-image--150975307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BbYEZHo7lF8HsjmVaOAx7G4IZtl8ig2VmEM6uqFPHxUemENlOE9pK-MaAUW1aCMp9smWxBvM0SoLQWn63DjVYY-j2sHngIja1hT63VnAloU45tQ5FrkbwyM1RYSF35fcSb2M42t8ZXAe/s640/blogger-image--150975307.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">If a week ago you told me I could squat 150 lbs, I would have laughed in your face. Heck if you had told me 10 minutes before this pic was taken I'd be doing that much I would have laughed at you. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hHZ1naGEaODmlr9H7JHkJ81L9bjDSagH9iLCCxw9Zbrsc0rXMyzrPUVXwHDgpOgwxSs0x8yqo714iWQVv1AXbjO6KALInCKw_pFOc02FaKMAm7dZpziqRauyhEHs7d1CV_Ilv0MrQClH/s640/blogger-image-1133219375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hHZ1naGEaODmlr9H7JHkJ81L9bjDSagH9iLCCxw9Zbrsc0rXMyzrPUVXwHDgpOgwxSs0x8yqo714iWQVv1AXbjO6KALInCKw_pFOc02FaKMAm7dZpziqRauyhEHs7d1CV_Ilv0MrQClH/s640/blogger-image-1133219375.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Sisters getting it done</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5ARrZ7mPsE47XiA5hyphenhyphen1PY6oCFU8JlDWQveYxdxGqF9T-VIQh8aqIDKmM8UDekVEUEmA1ZTbXVc933DN-kA_1ev-zTL0k831XV4gHuW1eq6X7l4kUoN4XyZJXA9jVYxt0ctGOYMPDbjqW/s640/blogger-image--454349098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5ARrZ7mPsE47XiA5hyphenhyphen1PY6oCFU8JlDWQveYxdxGqF9T-VIQh8aqIDKmM8UDekVEUEmA1ZTbXVc933DN-kA_1ev-zTL0k831XV4gHuW1eq6X7l4kUoN4XyZJXA9jVYxt0ctGOYMPDbjqW/s640/blogger-image--454349098.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Can't stop sister power</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-v9ZEc9v-PkpZjCRdZlzUmceGMmuA-XkPs7W-5IrlcZLgORVzcrYbEjYIyXeJIyFW3gue5HwAEBm5vdSHUFGH02hyO-O_uakd7bBwxULk3_AfszLkyxwX4RgcNVy8d82yeAyh9JPQnGF/s640/blogger-image-84722861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-v9ZEc9v-PkpZjCRdZlzUmceGMmuA-XkPs7W-5IrlcZLgORVzcrYbEjYIyXeJIyFW3gue5HwAEBm5vdSHUFGH02hyO-O_uakd7bBwxULk3_AfszLkyxwX4RgcNVy8d82yeAyh9JPQnGF/s640/blogger-image-84722861.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Finished strong thanks to Celena</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNSWkBC2WG_mX1b0CZIuzxebQhpyzjh6i6uUyi8vzgfi_Tcy9jBDI5uunLfpwqRdvoWzxVp7WvU6RE-au47Qt-iWf8eVyVkFHTp7ZUxRhwXoflyQNc45zoAAVhFGXzxHCOtwsJQV0WUcI/s640/blogger-image--1096559098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNSWkBC2WG_mX1b0CZIuzxebQhpyzjh6i6uUyi8vzgfi_Tcy9jBDI5uunLfpwqRdvoWzxVp7WvU6RE-au47Qt-iWf8eVyVkFHTp7ZUxRhwXoflyQNc45zoAAVhFGXzxHCOtwsJQV0WUcI/s640/blogger-image--1096559098.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">We may look happy, but at that moment I wanted to puke, pee my pants, and then die, but feeling incredibly accomplished. </span></div>
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Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-17251650848909071552013-02-18T08:23:00.000-08:002013-02-18T08:23:04.631-08:00Just an update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've been super duper busy for months and months. Here's just an update of what I've done:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2q_BU78xjxna-2l8-ymfYARAfzlBInjE_uc2l1gY4SRI2vrpiZR4NK7jfc6wLC5zo1lepelH9TjPK9nwfJo1Dq7xx45SRxGxymMRilRbUrzpbCiITIcJ-kX8HEbzGJLD4PvWtdNkkNLVv/s1600/524830_4292147139020_1317310251_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2q_BU78xjxna-2l8-ymfYARAfzlBInjE_uc2l1gY4SRI2vrpiZR4NK7jfc6wLC5zo1lepelH9TjPK9nwfJo1Dq7xx45SRxGxymMRilRbUrzpbCiITIcJ-kX8HEbzGJLD4PvWtdNkkNLVv/s320/524830_4292147139020_1317310251_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Worked on Costumes for "Charm" at Weber State University. I didn't design, but I was a stitcher. I made that fantastic Dress.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3m95s7UGZ-3F_JwLkXA06MmjbB9iHdRwjQUISZqzmSyD6g3lzRYleelG8FZ8b96bjbIlufSjxKLetWhMe5YT1NPugZlydhAN-NErbvgaKTbi83x2kS2S5h28YfrJ7meeCY5bH3ZwRUKw/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3m95s7UGZ-3F_JwLkXA06MmjbB9iHdRwjQUISZqzmSyD6g3lzRYleelG8FZ8b96bjbIlufSjxKLetWhMe5YT1NPugZlydhAN-NErbvgaKTbi83x2kS2S5h28YfrJ7meeCY5bH3ZwRUKw/s320/IMG_1965.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Designing Hair and Makeup for Weber State University's Production of Lucky Stiff</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGn_hpY-8yuJW5xPYIEmTt_Mz-qPDkNkmQpwLRkVNMrAGWONTG_z35wqp3U0PRwddxa3Wz7WhEgkPQXwsQYCtEkp65RD5pIAijbalur48j1TU0K6j39uIb-FMxwntZ7RawPf77GRtl8aD/s1600/IMG_2432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGn_hpY-8yuJW5xPYIEmTt_Mz-qPDkNkmQpwLRkVNMrAGWONTG_z35wqp3U0PRwddxa3Wz7WhEgkPQXwsQYCtEkp65RD5pIAijbalur48j1TU0K6j39uIb-FMxwntZ7RawPf77GRtl8aD/s320/IMG_2432.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
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Bonding with Coworkers</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyLNPwJF7xeZjACzeknA8XdDaBjtJfEtg8Vj007OzpnAhthS3J3KbX96RvKr7XCu4QR8laTcV6-vvMT29PShMYVprusTANWRqg3DA-bh2sz-MAkQafApoEkKWtxdyyMz2yjBV8CeWglSm/s1600/IMG_2429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyLNPwJF7xeZjACzeknA8XdDaBjtJfEtg8Vj007OzpnAhthS3J3KbX96RvKr7XCu4QR8laTcV6-vvMT29PShMYVprusTANWRqg3DA-bh2sz-MAkQafApoEkKWtxdyyMz2yjBV8CeWglSm/s320/IMG_2429.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Making AWESOME tardis bags for Work Christmas Party</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsc-5QA3gmfO9MjpG1rYEeiNFyWeKtu-mzOfZwmYmru2eC1MJ0dNPHF9HdNJqNcSN2-HI3MmNJKEQIBsrDkFdZ9z-yNvq9JvqxmWkOsOLlYPjXR46AZYI4bc5g30f2lp2ddFjCvKo07u6k/s1600/IMG_2461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsc-5QA3gmfO9MjpG1rYEeiNFyWeKtu-mzOfZwmYmru2eC1MJ0dNPHF9HdNJqNcSN2-HI3MmNJKEQIBsrDkFdZ9z-yNvq9JvqxmWkOsOLlYPjXR46AZYI4bc5g30f2lp2ddFjCvKo07u6k/s320/IMG_2461.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Flew to Cali to hang with sister and nieces</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NYrWAZ09atwGGRFEIDunyIms5QFqepgII9KA2lMAffCwRDPKgT6DpuGHvxf5msSbJpsr3lWxWzMzc07ZTwstft4G1UkdwBph14gcSNgLKomL0gM7fDHiftnpi9OvIVOD8jhhwYF99egA/s1600/IMG_2476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NYrWAZ09atwGGRFEIDunyIms5QFqepgII9KA2lMAffCwRDPKgT6DpuGHvxf5msSbJpsr3lWxWzMzc07ZTwstft4G1UkdwBph14gcSNgLKomL0gM7fDHiftnpi9OvIVOD8jhhwYF99egA/s320/IMG_2476.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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San Francisco</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HSU76-A5u6PseU3qIMxTpZacumtmAeTUEJJT1ElZNTrI0nTeqISU9K1LTD9Tl_HN8P2y4aNqJ1VzCkebf7y-pJ2YV-0ax9t84597BAS4x7-Q6GkILIBuJqXQM-MwiTc1HDIljGmRAZqB/s1600/IMG_2629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HSU76-A5u6PseU3qIMxTpZacumtmAeTUEJJT1ElZNTrI0nTeqISU9K1LTD9Tl_HN8P2y4aNqJ1VzCkebf7y-pJ2YV-0ax9t84597BAS4x7-Q6GkILIBuJqXQM-MwiTc1HDIljGmRAZqB/s320/IMG_2629.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Big family christmas in Cambria, California</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7sSY3xKzBMK0xCAhyphenhyphenEzjbKmZ0BQSecah9N7Tpkyi3OimltUep36-pPmlxRgunZzDBWr2xQZZ7k-ZDtr1hXK60_gq2silHC5Y72dExJhBwTQ3Hf_4uOXpcyxGLo8BaZyIxIsT5dvuhxki/s1600/IMG_2635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7sSY3xKzBMK0xCAhyphenhyphenEzjbKmZ0BQSecah9N7Tpkyi3OimltUep36-pPmlxRgunZzDBWr2xQZZ7k-ZDtr1hXK60_gq2silHC5Y72dExJhBwTQ3Hf_4uOXpcyxGLo8BaZyIxIsT5dvuhxki/s320/IMG_2635.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Walking on the beach, Christmas Eve</div>
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Picnic at Hearst Beach</div>
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Christmas with the whole fam damily</div>
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Morrow Bay</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gDclmmd01aEjwzmDSnyiU4QZon2zEQDDwzSyoMvGKSiv1SziJhQNs8kQ979GUrc_4SSNHD6fwPxvI2CBbAbuzY-o-bDKLpVZLLnJnMYzjSzMeqm_MOgL7GCp9n8CWAtpzFW9KSnzRnq3/s1600/IMG_2810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gDclmmd01aEjwzmDSnyiU4QZon2zEQDDwzSyoMvGKSiv1SziJhQNs8kQ979GUrc_4SSNHD6fwPxvI2CBbAbuzY-o-bDKLpVZLLnJnMYzjSzMeqm_MOgL7GCp9n8CWAtpzFW9KSnzRnq3/s320/IMG_2810.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Got snowed in, had my first snow day ever</div>
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Made dresses for my niece's American Girl Dolls</div>
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Worked on Costumes for Will Roger's Follies, including making 8 pairs of chaps from scratch. I never want to make chaps again. They were the bane of my existence.</div>
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Travelled to Cali for KCACTF (This is us at Getty Vila)</div>
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Entered my makeup and hair designs into KCACTF competition</div>
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I did not win anything, unfortunately. But next year? I'm going to kick trash.</div>
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Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-35208200356916469922012-12-09T19:47:00.003-08:002012-12-09T19:47:54.320-08:00Some things never change....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-77111117546399851642012-12-06T23:50:00.001-08:002012-12-06T23:53:30.322-08:00How far I've come!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've taken vocal coaching/voice lessons since I was 14. I took voice from a friend's mom, an amazing woman named Ginger Bess, and from a teacher at Snow College. The year I got home from Snow College I did Oklahoma and had a blast doing it! Fun cast, fun part, etc. But even as I look back, I can just see so many things wrong with my performance. </div>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GJSjjqjVErg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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I haven't taken a lesson since Snow college.<br />
Until Now.<br />
At the beginning of the summer, I started taking lessons from a woman named Maurie. And it was like the glass slipper just fit. One of the first things she did was make me audition for one of my dreamroles, Jo March in the musical, Little Women. I went to Centerpointe Legacy Theater and sang my audition along with hundreds of other women and girls. And I was one of the five called back for Jo. Five. Out of hundreds. I didn't get the part, (not uncommon for a first time auditioning at a theater). But I was so honored to be in the same call back as the 4 other women that were there with me. They were amazing.<br />
Later a friend, told me he had a conversation with the music director. They were amazed by my talent, but when it came down to it, I didn't fit in with the other girls they wanted as Amy, Beth, and Meg. Not to mention, Maddie (actually my voice teacher's daughter) gave one of the most remarkable auditions I have ever seen anyone do.<br />
My point is not to blow my own horn. It's to praise my voice teacher. What an amazing and remarkable woman. And she knows just what to do with my voice. She has been training me in classical, Jazz, theater, mix etc. She is making me do things I had no idea my voice was capable of. And most importantly, she is giving me the confidence I have never had. The problem is: I AM DYING TO GET BACK ON STAGE!<br />
We had a recital for her students on Monday, and I performed with some of the most talented people in our theater department, which was really intimidating and a real honor. But I was absolutely amazed that I was able to do what I did. A really vocally demanding song. And last all the way through. I forgot how good it felt to do a good performance. And I'm dying for the opportunity again.</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jKBZAh-6Wcs" width="560"></iframe></div>Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-4226723734462061742012-11-14T12:49:00.002-08:002012-11-19T12:17:25.853-08:00Another one down (30x30)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has been FOREVER since I posted! I know, I know! I'm sorry. But I have been so crazy. School has been insane! But I wanted to let you know that during the SUMMER, I knocked off one of my <a href="http://deliciouspossibilities.blogspot.com/2012/04/thirty-by-thirty.html">30 by 30s! </a>(Twenty freaking nine to go) But here goes: ahem, hem, hem (in style of Dolores Umbridge)<br />
I directed a Musical.<br />
Yes, All by myself.<br />
This summer I directed Hello Dolly at <a href="http://www.heritagetheatreutah.com/">Heritage Community Theatre</a> in Perry, Utah. I've been involved at Heritage for over ten years now, it's where I met two of my best friends, I'm on the staff, I've starred, been in chorus, choreographed, costumed, set design, graphic designed, painted, stage managed, etc. etc. etc. at this theater. I directed <a href="http://deliciouspossibilities.blogspot.com/2010/04/curious-savage.html">Curious Savag</a>e a few years ago, but this was my first musical that I directed by myself. It turned out I not only directed, but choreographed, costume designed, cutter/draped, set designed, bla bla bla. The board was in a turn over, a communication wasn't strong, so I didn't get much support. Luckily I had a few people in my cast who were wonderful and came through.<br />
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The amazing Dolly dress. It was a purple velvet with sparkles on it. She was so sparkly! SOOO SPARKLY! It was definitely a wow moment. The audience audibly gasped, then cheered when she walked out in that dress.</div>
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Cornelius and Irene were 2 of my favorite characters and their kiss was incredible. </div>
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We kind of became obsessed with Wall-e and Eve with these two characters</div>
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I loved Irene and Minnie Fay's dresses. I designed and draped them</div>
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Motherhood March was one of the greatest songs in the show. </div>
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Dolly teaching the boys to dance. I loved Barnaby's bowtie and striped vest and plaid wool pants.</div>
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A "moment"</div>
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I loved this choreography so much. Collaborated with Phil Tuckett (my Cornelius) and he taught it. And it was an amazing dance.</div>
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Kajsa was not only an amazing stage manager, but stopped the show with laughter as Mrs. Rose</div>
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I am completely convinced that Shanna is the best Dolly there ever ever ever was. Better than Carol Channing, Pearl Bailey, Mary Martin, ANYONE. And I loved the dress I designed and cut and drape for her, and the hat I made for her. </div>
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All in all, it was an amazing experience. </div>
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1 down 29 to go.</div>
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I have a few on my list to get going and knock off. All in good time!</div>
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Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-83569004786811239442012-04-25T07:15:00.001-07:002012-04-25T07:15:33.803-07:00Another Semester Down<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One more semester down. I can't believe how far I've come and how much closer I am to graduating. I should be done in about 3-5 semesters (depending on how well i do my scheduling and how I fit in classes) But I'm proud of this semester.<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9lvcFIHldQTeMzRAtlyIfmY_RkmVvjr2APZepJoeCYXbgxopI_WPtY67GPMgjvqv5cQcv-nOrgtHDp0n3gHtO5UKtHUFybtpHIRoF2GSnk290p4BNz6swWhR1LCz2WlLstp9D8LgeM9d/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-04-25+at+8.05.21+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9lvcFIHldQTeMzRAtlyIfmY_RkmVvjr2APZepJoeCYXbgxopI_WPtY67GPMgjvqv5cQcv-nOrgtHDp0n3gHtO5UKtHUFybtpHIRoF2GSnk290p4BNz6swWhR1LCz2WlLstp9D8LgeM9d/s640/Screen+shot+2012-04-25+at+8.05.21+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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I got a 3.89 this semester! That pulled my overall GPA up to a 3.27</div>
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It's always nice to see what your hard work and stress and anger and tears paid off. Costume Design was one of the most time demanding classes I have ever taken. I was so proud of getting an A in that class. There were times where I was sure I blew it. </div>
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If I keep getting good grades, hopefully that will pull my GPA up to a 3.6 by the time I graduate and I can graduate Cum Laude. That would just be incredible. Here's to crossing my fingers and hoping and working hard the next few years.</div>
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This is why I never really have time to hang out with my friends. This is why I don't take time to do stuff on the weekends or go out and Party. Because when you get to this point, then everything the whole semester was worth it. And when I finally walk across that stage, hopefully with a purple and white cord around my neck, It is going to be one of the best feeling ever. </div>
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(Yes I only got a B in yoga. I slept in a few days...........)</div>
</div>Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-15734818872311621142012-04-18T08:38:00.000-07:002012-04-18T08:38:35.315-07:00Thirty by Thirty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I'm 27 years old. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, I like being older. When I was younger I couldn't wait till I wasn't a stupid teenager anymore. That was the reason I didn't want to be a teen. Even as a teen I knew teens were stupid and obnoxious. ANYWHO.<br />
I have loved my twenties so far. I've lived in 3 countries (besides the U.S.) I've done a lot of schooling (apparently not enough though, sheesh.) I've had bad relationships and a few good relationships, and I have amazing friends. I've been on amazing trips, I've made amazing costumes, and BLA BLA BLA!<br />
hahah<br />
Three years ago I wrote a post about <a href="http://deliciouspossibilities.blogspot.com/2009/05/24-years-my-life-so-far.html">my life so far</a> and the things I've accomplished on my "list of things to do before I die."<br />
By the age of 24 I had crossed off the following:<br />
- I rode a horse in a dress<br />
- I went Skydiving<br />
- Played Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime<br />
- Rode a tandem bike on the beach.<br />
- Saw a Broadway show in NYC<br />
- Saw the Taj Mahal<br />
- Ate dinner on a beach at sunset (in Sri Lanka actually)<br />
- Saw Sutton Foster Live<br />
- Learned to do Yoga (very basics, but enough to calm down my freak outs)<br />
- Played the Tambourine in a band.<br />
- Went snorkeling on a coral reef<br />
- Received my endowments from an LDS temple<br />
- Saw Rachmaninoff's second concerto performed live. (with my mom)<br />
- Lived in Europe (germany)<br />
- Lived in India and did humanitarian work.<br />
- Get a puppy. (sigh)<br />
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16 things done. that means i had 84 to go. So what have I done in the last 3 years that I have crossed off my list? Let's see.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWQlu4Ug0yOVmcqba6zemJnQ9bflpPmNMN1FYU_lZ6DJwoptneM-PsyLm69S6a_ce31h5fHL3P_3xaQZVrMEvg8G_42ictyHZZU3J7beuD8xgl658TuPSkueyqQgat-nrygOr2Xkgs4vT/s1600/CostumeContest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWQlu4Ug0yOVmcqba6zemJnQ9bflpPmNMN1FYU_lZ6DJwoptneM-PsyLm69S6a_ce31h5fHL3P_3xaQZVrMEvg8G_42ictyHZZU3J7beuD8xgl658TuPSkueyqQgat-nrygOr2Xkgs4vT/s320/CostumeContest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Won a Costume Contest</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(If you'd like to see more pics click <a href="http://deliciouspossibilities.blogspot.com/2010/11/masquerade.html">HERE</a>)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EL80-FocJUTXT4-C3BEM3d-0l3Djcb9SI20AzvA3O896ejTNAuM2pbB6JKk-wEiT68RuG6Plar8jTPUY22HSRIitCQ6744RKgiTla36X6-z1DcZ73XQsXDoCsQrdAW2tZ5MuqKFDhVPu/s1600/RennFaire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EL80-FocJUTXT4-C3BEM3d-0l3Djcb9SI20AzvA3O896ejTNAuM2pbB6JKk-wEiT68RuG6Plar8jTPUY22HSRIitCQ6744RKgiTla36X6-z1DcZ73XQsXDoCsQrdAW2tZ5MuqKFDhVPu/s320/RennFaire.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Worked at a Renaissance Faire</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(It was a very cold day here. I'm trying to stay warm)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-wkQIvsSDFtz00tR4SzTTWLp-wbf5af-POKGzIPkP-XNebkhfQIRkDCPLg02TbxUtIYLdH898xmr9yawYqP2yB_0TLyRC6bbxF4QGa43xEES47NF8VcdKRS8IctCm_hg-OHriZOQtx6B/s1600/RomeItaly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-wkQIvsSDFtz00tR4SzTTWLp-wbf5af-POKGzIPkP-XNebkhfQIRkDCPLg02TbxUtIYLdH898xmr9yawYqP2yB_0TLyRC6bbxF4QGa43xEES47NF8VcdKRS8IctCm_hg-OHriZOQtx6B/s320/RomeItaly.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Went to Rome</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(With my best friend, Kristi, none the less)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBPHi-l-R77p0DpX9tJjYiaf1OA5pVfNC98jheSWJYIVoPl7_LeQTZNswc3gK5ct7yFVcrXomQ0Ip-vC4lfgI2pGtqRvaVb06LUIGx7Mt05yuciC3M-P4UZMQvEgsLCOusu7jOA_viYKD/s1600/SacredGrove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBPHi-l-R77p0DpX9tJjYiaf1OA5pVfNC98jheSWJYIVoPl7_LeQTZNswc3gK5ct7yFVcrXomQ0Ip-vC4lfgI2pGtqRvaVb06LUIGx7Mt05yuciC3M-P4UZMQvEgsLCOusu7jOA_viYKD/s320/SacredGrove.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Visited the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, New York</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQFZVnQQ2TLW1sBZ0kmHaiOM0vZMrmg3hoWUDbYNpyAdj5hbkOl7TSI7_wSKLHZtmSSOd47EtPobpySp3gQtbZpAEuj-KJfmwLw8aotdUv7eeQ5aO0B5D0P1HetyYmOwZAenT8zfAN5ZD/s1600/ShakespeareShakespeare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQFZVnQQ2TLW1sBZ0kmHaiOM0vZMrmg3hoWUDbYNpyAdj5hbkOl7TSI7_wSKLHZtmSSOd47EtPobpySp3gQtbZpAEuj-KJfmwLw8aotdUv7eeQ5aO0B5D0P1HetyYmOwZAenT8zfAN5ZD/s320/ShakespeareShakespeare.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Read Shakespeare in Stratford Upon Avon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(This is in Anne Hathaway's garden. Anne was Shakespeare's wife)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjic7Ai7DyNyFhnVcSX_91N2dEkfWR_xCVyQLOCB8ZhQBT3MKe8NfHFOZC8nmQ1cf-PL0RYMqSe0nW6jcsvkkeIG_Q5p2DJ5tj1Cot3D1zLDnCARrIavz34tUNKyxdOIOIFFCQurYig0fU2/s1600/StatueofLiberty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjic7Ai7DyNyFhnVcSX_91N2dEkfWR_xCVyQLOCB8ZhQBT3MKe8NfHFOZC8nmQ1cf-PL0RYMqSe0nW6jcsvkkeIG_Q5p2DJ5tj1Cot3D1zLDnCARrIavz34tUNKyxdOIOIFFCQurYig0fU2/s320/StatueofLiberty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Climbed to the top of the Statue of Liberty</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Thayne, Me, Mom, and Russell)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr55NIXCNubRVlhswadnUyzLWcXFiinziCXgLzQwRxBoUwElZDgs6JSBz85Wu41SiT4egv-lRLtfUQwQkfEVHp6C2ur9cnk4Snr_5F1a50JVdd71K5UxcFZrGQKoC-Y9PLcBptkHr7LE_p/s1600/Stonehenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr55NIXCNubRVlhswadnUyzLWcXFiinziCXgLzQwRxBoUwElZDgs6JSBz85Wu41SiT4egv-lRLtfUQwQkfEVHp6C2ur9cnk4Snr_5F1a50JVdd71K5UxcFZrGQKoC-Y9PLcBptkHr7LE_p/s320/Stonehenge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Visited Stonehenge</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkR9NFzc7Khe9j50R-AIEGKlNgGfKXckVqc88nLREPtr8FDEzCB1l4BtwRGN0d65-Gqz8rgoRCBeNm0JBIQ3HxLEI6_7Zjw3YGDbxjjBkiO7LTBe09h1T_nb9U_WnEfM5BT0oE-ccPx7ut/s1600/drastichair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkR9NFzc7Khe9j50R-AIEGKlNgGfKXckVqc88nLREPtr8FDEzCB1l4BtwRGN0d65-Gqz8rgoRCBeNm0JBIQ3HxLEI6_7Zjw3YGDbxjjBkiO7LTBe09h1T_nb9U_WnEfM5BT0oE-ccPx7ut/s320/drastichair.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did something drastic to my hair. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(I pixie cut it, then I bleached it blonde. WOAH!)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ukQyx_HuTiLdEYyVRPM4ifSgbX6KJ9dWi93k_s_L8c-5WGn7N3hBEztIKYSu3Hyn6e0B1K55j0Vhvtr4wFDmkvxxsj7-upmK8nJKU8qJQEsiLieVsnXwXeiTJ-OZxkGXZjZ_e0GVMvl-/s1600/studyabroad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ukQyx_HuTiLdEYyVRPM4ifSgbX6KJ9dWi93k_s_L8c-5WGn7N3hBEztIKYSu3Hyn6e0B1K55j0Vhvtr4wFDmkvxxsj7-upmK8nJKU8qJQEsiLieVsnXwXeiTJ-OZxkGXZjZ_e0GVMvl-/s320/studyabroad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Study Abroad</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhexTQU7BngzEH83HQsekvwndJGwojECojo_HgsNbJBLMz-QhjivvuFbcrgKMARweoCYD6j3VL7ftylC5gXlYbunSsBtO79prRsox92I76NAySBHbbyV9ZMrbOw3Pq__sDccl4bskEwyQi/s1600/theGlobe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhexTQU7BngzEH83HQsekvwndJGwojECojo_HgsNbJBLMz-QhjivvuFbcrgKMARweoCYD6j3VL7ftylC5gXlYbunSsBtO79prRsox92I76NAySBHbbyV9ZMrbOw3Pq__sDccl4bskEwyQi/s320/theGlobe.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Saw a show in Shakespeare's Globe in London</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNB-ThwSyOdFNzMi_VW6v7a8jcw5Wv5g3es2m_68li5F_UUHgsZQYnUxazKdGAYo2Ctfz6wh9dZJBd62ViJMu-beXbZn_rdacJZL8DN-_9BaLo1pG6xKcUgyQBhpbgTQ9eRdQhz797_FIl/s1600/5k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNB-ThwSyOdFNzMi_VW6v7a8jcw5Wv5g3es2m_68li5F_UUHgsZQYnUxazKdGAYo2Ctfz6wh9dZJBd62ViJMu-beXbZn_rdacJZL8DN-_9BaLo1pG6xKcUgyQBhpbgTQ9eRdQhz797_FIl/s320/5k.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ran a 5k</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuOBby4KV49a2kFu34wYcv-IDxNkxmK8H6IfY-efU_oj0tjnlNqJbs1dL_XVbsHj8CCsLC84stzoVKpmuE3eZVM1NPtGLppbzO0iqwBZHe92nEraaJSXlly41_YkeokhLObLOt-533c5Y/s1600/london2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuOBby4KV49a2kFu34wYcv-IDxNkxmK8H6IfY-efU_oj0tjnlNqJbs1dL_XVbsHj8CCsLC84stzoVKpmuE3eZVM1NPtGLppbzO0iqwBZHe92nEraaJSXlly41_YkeokhLObLOt-533c5Y/s320/london2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Studied Shakespeare in London</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So now I am going to do more. I have a 30 by 30 list. I have three years until I turn 30 and I'm going to accomplish 30 things on my "bucket list" my "101 things I want to do before I die" list etc etc etc. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I got this idea from my friend, Jen. (She's also my brother's very special friend that's a girl and they go on dates and kiss. yes, his girlfriend, and I love her to death.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of the things I'm determined to get done on my 30 by 30 include:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1-Graduate with my Bachelors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2-Go to a Redwings game. (My bro-in-law, Ron says I can't without him)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">3-Breath Fire.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">4-Learn to do amazing Night photography. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">5-Go back to Europe. (Especially England)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I'll keep you updated. Everytime I accomplish something on my 30 by 30, I'll post it. If i do 10 things for each next 3 years, I can do it!!! </div> </div>Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-76791096013547386752012-04-17T12:06:00.000-07:002012-04-17T12:06:19.888-07:0027 years old!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I had my birthday last week. I love birthdays for one big reason: I get to hang out with my friends. I've always been one of those people who loves throwing parties, I love to hostess, but I can't seem to ever get a lot of people to come to my parties. I blame facebook. Before facebook, we all wanted to go to parties and see people and catch up so bad. Now? Nobody wants to see each other anymore, no one needs to catch up. And everyone RSVPs to parties, and never shows up. I haven't thrown a party in about a year....since my last birthday, because I try to hide it, but I really do get sad and disappointed at all the people who don't show up when they say they are going to. But oh well. I understand people are busy. I'm busier than busy. I make busy look like a yoga retreat.<br />
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So we had a nerd party at my family's restaurant, <a href="http://ilovebellas.com/">Bella's Fresh Mexican Grill</a>, where we watched Doctor Horrible and played Nerd Jeopardy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmMwzIEhw-4_-pGQClnstZ4MMSzMaCSLbhOfAdxGeCHw3FabbhlyUGDrSpdsvqbVH6yH0GcO2GJGeXKvJYOCex-iEZPstccp0wXp2ksLe5RX9MrTg4MGs9vTUe8HXchQhmg6q9eW-WiU-/s1600/_MG_9067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmMwzIEhw-4_-pGQClnstZ4MMSzMaCSLbhOfAdxGeCHw3FabbhlyUGDrSpdsvqbVH6yH0GcO2GJGeXKvJYOCex-iEZPstccp0wXp2ksLe5RX9MrTg4MGs9vTUe8HXchQhmg6q9eW-WiU-/s320/_MG_9067.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made a very sad looking tardis cake. I know. It's ridiculously pathetic and droopy. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhG4iObPtijaCZWvytZoaGOFHWT3GiUqFYg-aoGQVtqeOfXmHQMFD54ec5D8DSu-zx8ujvTyQJwfaKSRp794Ulo6rNRb7mKPcnxJtqSD2IjI001XqKZqnqKj0qiXI8nIFZ1953m8Scj-n/s1600/IMG_9070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhG4iObPtijaCZWvytZoaGOFHWT3GiUqFYg-aoGQVtqeOfXmHQMFD54ec5D8DSu-zx8ujvTyQJwfaKSRp794Ulo6rNRb7mKPcnxJtqSD2IjI001XqKZqnqKj0qiXI8nIFZ1953m8Scj-n/s400/IMG_9070.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I got to see some of my besties. Chad and his boyfriend, Adam, came dressed up in Battlestar Galactica gear.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEvhDHUiyHyoZY48bPHeKBxaDOKGOVYRMcCEqM82n3GxJtqKTf31g-SfMBJhDJd5FYs5zehz-Gbi22GBJz6Yqum1TJHCnF6QbtCwBfZLC_TrRVKZN_r_vYRaPDxPmFJexOLw8bA4YxRrH/s1600/IMG_9072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEvhDHUiyHyoZY48bPHeKBxaDOKGOVYRMcCEqM82n3GxJtqKTf31g-SfMBJhDJd5FYs5zehz-Gbi22GBJz6Yqum1TJHCnF6QbtCwBfZLC_TrRVKZN_r_vYRaPDxPmFJexOLw8bA4YxRrH/s320/IMG_9072.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shawn drove like a madman all the way up from Spanish Fork to see me on my birthday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23ftGMY9xDoggncdcVvlR8JNQlc34Nd-Zxv5lnQxx3Xn397kM35kzTnA9gNDb1xRqaLs3rGCDoeSdgjPrH0lL1KiFbA0in5ilgnHAwcjiyfmh9tcojf3J7FX15D7ksJ0mIB6bvSlyO97w/s1600/IMG_9078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23ftGMY9xDoggncdcVvlR8JNQlc34Nd-Zxv5lnQxx3Xn397kM35kzTnA9gNDb1xRqaLs3rGCDoeSdgjPrH0lL1KiFbA0in5ilgnHAwcjiyfmh9tcojf3J7FX15D7ksJ0mIB6bvSlyO97w/s320/IMG_9078.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And Brady made a break from doing lights in Wyoming and interviews in Idaho to come to my party. He even came with me to my family party the next day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Congrats to him by the way, he's going to be the resident lighting designer for BYU-I. Their facility is just like the LDS Conference Center. Quite the challenge. Not only is he going to learn so much, but he's going to wow them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>But this year was great. I didn't care it was my birthday, it was just fun to visit with family and friends. </div>Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-73231299732095452382012-04-02T20:48:00.000-07:002012-04-02T20:48:59.082-07:00"Father Forgive me"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So a while back, like...years ago, I worked for Foursite Film Institute. It was...interesting. But one of the fun parts was helping out with films, and I got to be in a few, always small parts. One of them was a period piece called "Father, Forgive Me." And honestly...it was so cheesy. But I found it on youtube last night, and you know what? I remembered how much fun I had doing my little part. So if you want, I'm in the first five minutes or so (I'm Miss Kitty) and after that, no more. So if you don't want to keep watching, you don't have to, but my friend, Jim is super sexy on his horse (he's the deputy) and I thought Charlie Halford did a great job (the sister's husband) as does Paul Mize (the sheriff).<br />
It's also one of my favorite costumes I've ever made and worn (the one I am wearing). I spent a long itme on it, and it has a million buttons up the back. It turned out phenomenal and it fit me like a glove, especially then at my smallest at 135. <br />
Also, how about that cheeky butt slap?<br />
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Enjoy. It was fun to recall that.<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9IuBNiD104Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</div>P.S. I always kinda wished I'd let Tye kiss me in that scene, just for the blooper reel. :( Maybe next time.<br />
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Lastly, this was a dance for the camera we did while I was there. I did the costumes. Nothing too fancy, but it was so much fun to be a part of.<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N1NuYZByZc4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-76071459369137475442011-12-18T15:21:00.000-08:002011-12-18T15:22:08.766-08:00I don't know, if there'll be snow, but have a cup of Cheer.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love Christmas. I really do. It brings out the mushy side of me that I scoff the other times of the year. I have a very spiritual belief of Christmas. I come from a very strong religious background, so to me, Christmas really is about the birth of the lord and savior, Jesus Christ, who I have a strong testimony of. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have quoted this before in my blog, but I truly believe the greatest thing Charles Dickens ever wrote was "A Christmas Carol." This story enthralls me every year when I read through it, pulled by Dicken's words through the streets of London and through the life of Ebenezer Scrooge as this man has a true change of heart. But Dickens says something in his story through the character of Scrooge's nephew that touches me every time I hear it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which<br />
I have not profited, I dare say," returned the nephew: "Christmas among the<br />
rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has<br />
come round--apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if<br />
anything belonging to it can be apart from that--as a good time: a kind,<br />
forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long<br />
calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to<br />
open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if<br />
they were really fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of<br />
creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never<br />
put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe it <i>has</i> done me good,<br />
and <i>will</i> do me good; and I say, God bless it!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It makes me sad when I go out at Christmas time and hear people being so rude and coarse and unkind. I try to be especially kind to people during this time, especially those in retail and food services. :\ They seem to get all the brunt of people's rudeness at this time. I try to wish everyone I come in contact with a Merry Christmas or a Happy Holidays. And I'm always sad when they seem surprised that someone would wish them that.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am grateful for my knowledge of the gospel and the knowledge I have not only of the miracle of Christ's birth, but of his life and the things he taught and the miracles he performed. I am grateful for the writings of Isaiah who have inspired some of the most beautiful music ever written.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I also love the fun parts of Christmas. My traditions of course include reading A Christmas Carol (I've never found a play or movie that did the book justice.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> going to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lds.org/bc/content/church/news/mormon-tabernacle-choir-christmas-concert/images/christmas-concert-large-2010-10-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://lds.org/bc/content/church/news/mormon-tabernacle-choir-christmas-concert/images/christmas-concert-large-2010-10-03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I also have some movies and tv episodes that always get watched every Christmas as a tradition for myself. I must say, I do watch shows like Grinch and It's a Wonderful Life and Charlie Brown Christmas and such, but my favorites are as follows:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Invader Zim's the most Horrible X-mas Ever</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.acartoonchristmas.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/zim-arena4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://www.acartoonchristmas.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/zim-arena4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is for my darker side, and is really weird dark humor. But if you love Zim, you know how twistedly funny of a Christmas episode this is!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Roswell's Christmas Carol</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://staticmass.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/roswell_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="http://staticmass.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/roswell_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was one of my favorite TV shows through High School and College. But the Christmas episode is still a really sweet, episode. And for those who have seen it, you know the best line is when the harsh, doubtful, skeptic, Michael says, "If there is a God, please help us." I love this show.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Elf</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn2.hark.com/images/000/002/500/2500/original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://cdn2.hark.com/images/000/002/500/2500/original.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What is not to love about this show? Best movie Will Ferrel ever made. (Shortly followed by Anchorman) but This show is just SO FUNNY. It really cracks me up so much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One Magic Christmas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dvdizzy.com/images/l-o/onemagic6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://www.dvdizzy.com/images/l-o/onemagic6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you haven't seen this, you should. See if Netflix has it. Makes me cry every time. My mother and I love this movie so much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">White Christmas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.wikia.com/christmasspecials/images/9/90/WhiteChristmas6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://images.wikia.com/christmasspecials/images/9/90/WhiteChristmas6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What else do I need to say? This is one of my favorite Christmas movies. I've already watched it about ten times this year. The last 15 minutes just makes me emotional and teary and it's just such a wonderful movie. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Little Women</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thosegraces.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/little-women1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://thosegraces.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/little-women1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know a lot of you wouldn't consider this a Christmas movie, but I do. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love my mom and sisters more than anything in this world, and this movie just makes me cry for 2 hours because I can relate to Jo March more than any literary character ever written. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love her devotion to her sisters and how helpless she feels when change comes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I love the Christmas scenes in this movie. I love them reading their father's letter, to Beth getting the piano, to the party where Jo meets Laurie and Meg twists her ankle ("He put snow on your ankle? With his bare hands?") and the Christmas where the father comes home (cue me crying again.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this movie and it will always be a Christmas movie to me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope you all have a wonderful and Merry Christmas! I hope you find the spirit of this season, because I promise you, it exists. It exists through Christ-like love and the miracles of Santa (Yes, Virginia, there IS a santa clause) and he does exist. I have seen too many Christmas Miracles for the spirit of Santa not to exist. As QE2 puts it</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"I want to wish you all, a blessed Christmas!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-5670132959878499212011-12-16T22:06:00.001-08:002011-12-16T22:06:24.662-08:00What did you do tonight?Oh. I faked a proposal on temple square, with my best friend, and kept a straight face the whole time, which was hard considering we were adorable and melodramatic the whole time. Sometimes, it's nice to be reminded why someone is your best friend. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzuY3AtaBr1FwVfO8RVPjmktHFAQz4qdDs6ybbfxcN4ZFzs8zeSMsQqATbCkE-OPHJY0WnfdxZ9lQac3m0B4w9Psc8wqarZodrkyPcQAnlJPXVpQ8qmy0Hkwv_iQtQS8C_IzWzhGE2FaM/s640/blogger-image--1625609311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzuY3AtaBr1FwVfO8RVPjmktHFAQz4qdDs6ybbfxcN4ZFzs8zeSMsQqATbCkE-OPHJY0WnfdxZ9lQac3m0B4w9Psc8wqarZodrkyPcQAnlJPXVpQ8qmy0Hkwv_iQtQS8C_IzWzhGE2FaM/s640/blogger-image--1625609311.jpg" /></a></div>Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-28723363379215740122011-12-13T08:03:00.001-08:002011-12-13T08:24:28.250-08:00The Book Thief<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">My brother, Russell, recently read a book, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusack. <a href="http://russellshaffer.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-reviews.html">He gave it an amazing review</a> and I thought, "oh, that's nice!" and got on with finals. I bought myself a kindle during all the black Friday stuff and Russell told me I should read the Book Thief. I'm always looking for a good book to read, and I completely 100% trust my brother's recommendations. He has taste and is educated to recognize good literature. <br />
So I actually downloaded the book on tape and started listening to the book thief. I would only let myself listen to it while I sewed or cut stuff out (motivation to sew) and finished it last night just as I finished part of <a href="http://bradenhoward.net/">Brady's</a> Christmas Present.<br />
The book was wonderful.<br />
I've always loved books. When I was a little girl I was always reading. My mom would have to bribe me NOT To read just so I would get something done. Usually as a child I could be found up some tree, with a book in my hand. My mom had an afternoon paper route and would very often leave me at the A.K. Smiley Library for the afternoon where I read every Nancy Drew, discovered Old Yeller, the Mixed up Files of Miss Basil E Frankweiler, and hundreds more. <br />
What did I love about The Book Thief? What set it apart from so many other books I had read? <br />
The author's voice.<br />
Markus Zusack had such a phenomenal way to say things, write things, explain things. The story is told from Death's perspective. It is about a girl living on Himmel Street in "Molching", Germany. Molching is a fictional town, that sits right by Dachau. I have been to the city of Dachau and their infamous concentration camp. I speak German, have lived in Germany, and so it was a lot of fun to be familiar with all those things. <br />
This story was beautiful. I loved the relationships with all the characters. This wasn't your typical "holocaust story." It was told from an angle I, personally, have never experienced before, and it didn't leave you feeling like the world is a terrible place and all humans don't deserve to live (which is how I leave after most holocaust storied and movies) Don't get me wrong, it was heart-wrenching. I cried, but I also laughed and smiled. <br />
There were parts that were so amazingly written I was left breathless. Pick it up, read it. Do it. </div>Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-3472587056009463202011-11-06T15:39:00.000-08:002011-11-06T15:39:23.018-08:00Dr. Frankenstein: Costume Design<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">One of my closest friends, Allen, is a phenomenal actor, and an even greater friend. He teaches drama at a Junior High, and will occasionally hire me to help with his shows. I feel like he's the first one who took me seriously as a costume designer and paid me for my time and work. He continues to do so, continues to introduce me to directors and producers and theater companies who will hire me for my work.<br />
<div>He just played Doctor Frankenstein in an adaption of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein for <a href="http://www.saltydinnertheater.com/">Salty Dinner Theater Company</a> and hired me to make his costume. I have always hated making men's costumes, but recently have become a huge fan! It kinda makes me want to be a Haberdasher (U.S. definition, not British)<br />
This was a huge challenge for me. I used an old out of print pattern for jacket and pants, but made quite a few changes to better fit my design. He wanted the costume to fit the "Jane Austen" Time period also known as the "Regency period." This is also where the term "Empire waist" started, since this was the era of Bonaparte's Empire and women were wearing their waistlines just below the breasts.<br />
ANYWAY. Enough of the history lesson!<br />
Allen came over, picked the fabric out of my extensive fabric storage which somehow just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Someone told him he looked like <a href="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0czKaGn4hQdLz/340x.jpg">Joseph Smith</a>. Good. Roughly the same time period.<br />
But I though he looked simply fantastic.<br />
Design and construction by Mandee.<br />
Swagger and Facial hair by Allen. :)<br />
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</div></div>Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-49210328630207725352011-10-30T14:24:00.000-07:002011-10-30T21:43:59.263-07:00Time and Relative Dimension In Space: My Halloween Costume<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I am a total <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who_fandom">whovian</a>. I am a total nerd. Last year for Halloween I still had my short Blonde hair and dressed up like Starbuck from the new series of Battlestar Galactica. This year I still wanted to be nerdy.<br />
I was actually going to be Rapunzel from Tangled since I had made two Flynn Rider vests (Pics soon to come in another post) but I just got this idea in my head and didn't want to give up on it.<br />
I love Doctor who, and then became OBSESSED when I got to see David Tennant (The tenth doctor) and Catherine Tate (Donna Noble) in Much Ado About Nothing at the Wyndham Theater in London.<br />
I really wanted to dress up as something from Doctor who. I didn't want to be a companion, because nothing they wear is very...distinct. I guess except for <a href="http://www.abbyshot.com/products/photos/new/mjj/mjj-splashL.jpg?PHPSESSID=aaf01417c4c26539353df271316bd8b0">Martha Jones' Red Leather Jacket</a>. But I don't care for Martha.<br />
So my dilemma was...Who the heck do I dress up as from Doctor Who? I didn't want to be the doctor...Then I saw some photos of a different versions of a costume and had a Shakespeare moment. "That's really good. I can do it better." Then I remembered this moment from Doctor Who:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fJwWyZ8QRdE" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Which inspired my Halloween costume. I love the relationship between the doctor and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TARDIS">Tardis</a>. Companions come and go, but he always has the Tardis. I love when Sarah Jane says to Rose Tyler, "Does he still stroke bits of the Tardis?" And I love the episode, "The Doctor's Wife" when the Tardis' consciousness gets put into human form so they can actually talk.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.justjon.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/tardis-tennant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.justjon.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/tardis-tennant.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> So I present to you: The Tardis in costume form:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0w15YSos3tDf2NY9MSpc9NYmqm0cqP8MTyH_IWBRraB0fD8lESFeoLcqDnqT_lnfL2jy9JT7cIO_qupo4mMmP_w9GWFpoQXkkO9RGJMlw7fnBVcZc0ECHmRtLVR7DJLMhJI86P1gACUku/s1600/tardiscompilation1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0w15YSos3tDf2NY9MSpc9NYmqm0cqP8MTyH_IWBRraB0fD8lESFeoLcqDnqT_lnfL2jy9JT7cIO_qupo4mMmP_w9GWFpoQXkkO9RGJMlw7fnBVcZc0ECHmRtLVR7DJLMhJI86P1gACUku/s640/tardiscompilation1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HPXQ2oDCea0z540nLBDZvKewy0elEabbUIeQQB1avFkoxzAhyvqYqNGsMkruhn94bmbLQfwPYrQGVOjMt8GbQck5N8_qO2PYY_HXex-xkA535Zia5geFveC6ZdxBNvhLwkkOBE55uPNu/s1600/tardiscompilation2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HPXQ2oDCea0z540nLBDZvKewy0elEabbUIeQQB1avFkoxzAhyvqYqNGsMkruhn94bmbLQfwPYrQGVOjMt8GbQck5N8_qO2PYY_HXex-xkA535Zia5geFveC6ZdxBNvhLwkkOBE55uPNu/s640/tardiscompilation2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yADd19E1Oo6kSCyRgkXBiysgPDBPvwB8AgbIwGNg4grlgBa2L2BZwUYjahVwTvfhE9Syx3os83_BsMn_cbxHlQn_Vp58twgvtNwLOOckTGndziqBI0YWeVw4frS_TzPqzFI2q1hCZ-vo/s1600/police_box_sign_by_steelgohst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yADd19E1Oo6kSCyRgkXBiysgPDBPvwB8AgbIwGNg4grlgBa2L2BZwUYjahVwTvfhE9Syx3os83_BsMn_cbxHlQn_Vp58twgvtNwLOOckTGndziqBI0YWeVw4frS_TzPqzFI2q1hCZ-vo/s320/police_box_sign_by_steelgohst.jpg" width="226" /></a>It was SO much fun to make. I paid attention to the details. The Choker is the Public Call Police Box sign. I was going to put it on the dress, but opted for the choker.</div>The hat? It lights up. Yeah, seriously. One of my closest friends, <a href="http://http//bradenhoward.net/">Brady Howard</a> rigged the hat so it actually lit up with LEDs inside.<br />
The sign on my leg was based on the sign that is on the box obviously. I printed it off on printable fabric and then appliqued it onto the dress. I made pieces that mimicked the panels that are on the door. And one of my favorite details was the key around my neck. Some of my favorite Doctor Who moments is the moment where he trusts his new companion enough to give her a Tardis Key. The Key is always on a long white cord.<br />
And what girl doesn't want the Doctor to come take her away and give her a key to the Tardis and take her to far away places?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This years costume was so much fun! And I had a blast designing it and making it! And I had fun wearing it to a huge party at the University and seeing who recognized it. I know it wasn't perfect, and there's a few things I wish would have done different, but all in all, I love how it turned out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Halloween! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(And I leave with you a few of my favorite Doctor Who Moments)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-WkRC_IQu0A" width="853"></iframe></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jRSFwMqKIu8" width="640"></iframe><br />
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</div>Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-81956365559825561702011-10-29T16:56:00.000-07:002011-10-29T16:56:11.710-07:00The colors of fall<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last week on our <a href="http://http//onewordthreepictures.blogspot.com/" style="text-align: left;">"Sister photography blog"</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left;"> our word was "Leaves." So for this challenge I went up to the mountains to find bright colored leaves. I live near a pass that goes over a mountain to the other side which is another, beautiful valley. But on the top of the pass is a trailhead, so Coco and I went to get pictures, and I just thought to myself as I was taking these pics and watching my dog run around and explore: I am so lucky to have such beautiful mountains almost literally in my back yard. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left;">It's so weird to think in a few weeks these will probably be covered in white and looking completely different.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgriJB5oHaPKZ1db1takyj1MnPxPN86w66o8GkPV2nu6HrvBHOEQ5d0Cs-Ws-fc7wpZTmvG0xqU4Dl-uYPyGMmiz4vzZv5v0AdoxtQpZGMyihEskk_avFq6pHfFNb-VuL71tn9GFXKHUsT/s1600/Leaves2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgriJB5oHaPKZ1db1takyj1MnPxPN86w66o8GkPV2nu6HrvBHOEQ5d0Cs-Ws-fc7wpZTmvG0xqU4Dl-uYPyGMmiz4vzZv5v0AdoxtQpZGMyihEskk_avFq6pHfFNb-VuL71tn9GFXKHUsT/s640/Leaves2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div>Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-39940912377508695432011-10-23T21:24:00.000-07:002011-10-23T21:24:24.625-07:00Showcasing my Holga Photography<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAMV4ik1iyVROSkiVJBwS50apJ3ozHdpdpjX0HvIrqcxik0RER7ATzgL0GW1uA1FUyc1MFJ5ldsHfw8IaMU_AYJPmMII6r0tmo83VYu3fQshaHrpi6yZDlBD1-d4qkyehFr3wYEtIie8J/s1600/holgacover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAMV4ik1iyVROSkiVJBwS50apJ3ozHdpdpjX0HvIrqcxik0RER7ATzgL0GW1uA1FUyc1MFJ5ldsHfw8IaMU_AYJPmMII6r0tmo83VYu3fQshaHrpi6yZDlBD1-d4qkyehFr3wYEtIie8J/s640/holgacover.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>My friend, Stephanie, is an amazing artist. She's phenomenal at what she does. She has a watercolor painting she once did of a still from "Memoirs of a Geisha" that I'm determined to buy off of her when I'm rich enough to pay her worthily of her talent. Anyway, Last year for a class she asked me if she could use my <a href="http://mandeemeephotography.blogspot.com/2010/08/holga-photography.html">Holga Photography</a> for a project. I love Stephanie, and had no problem with it, so I sent her all my favorites and then focused on my own finals and forgot about it.<br />
Until today.<br />
When I asked her about it she sent me to a <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Mandee-Shaffer-Photography-Promo-Book/1503721">showcase website</a> where she showed off the project. I was so excited to see my photos look like that and look so good. She has promised to get me a copy, which I'm way excited about.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkYPF2Z7hjmFXOf6qZSY7pCHmjOeL_tbQWqlUdyCW3c1T8rfaZGZMzUpTdC9NnIIO5PoXf2XU-NxubLmlnr-DWe6WiMDwA62902FRE-cuv74xNhCHH1DTdlMxg7rpM3zfRHElePThuIrE/s1600/Holga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkYPF2Z7hjmFXOf6qZSY7pCHmjOeL_tbQWqlUdyCW3c1T8rfaZGZMzUpTdC9NnIIO5PoXf2XU-NxubLmlnr-DWe6WiMDwA62902FRE-cuv74xNhCHH1DTdlMxg7rpM3zfRHElePThuIrE/s640/Holga.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2r3_yBUzmrxRH9xgJJt331Dw3NzK4S-5w1dT85xMuE_nMgTWDdULW6ae-wmXX_rycJuZaxgLdKZ-uJo1_S0Gz91iExnqHgxpHuZoDlPy7V7eC4SPahRvouUfTCZ7cMNN6Gzwtb0UE-k1n/s1600/Holga1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2r3_yBUzmrxRH9xgJJt331Dw3NzK4S-5w1dT85xMuE_nMgTWDdULW6ae-wmXX_rycJuZaxgLdKZ-uJo1_S0Gz91iExnqHgxpHuZoDlPy7V7eC4SPahRvouUfTCZ7cMNN6Gzwtb0UE-k1n/s640/Holga1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQilFOvzPPwst9SdzbME-XAtr_2NP4XfXwvJm9lsLOBZrBgc3NYH3pzUGyLh12HLPjuVxZiSzTdqM_q4JjRLds9nhQs-4iZSwCvuvv6Iayp4VV-a0VdO_77SXUjroBf9mvzHkgm_7McGXu/s1600/Holga3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQilFOvzPPwst9SdzbME-XAtr_2NP4XfXwvJm9lsLOBZrBgc3NYH3pzUGyLh12HLPjuVxZiSzTdqM_q4JjRLds9nhQs-4iZSwCvuvv6Iayp4VV-a0VdO_77SXUjroBf9mvzHkgm_7McGXu/s640/Holga3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGCWEHYEeOQFvbNhGHp0nBEcqYOzwv9dt6t-_Nh9SKNyZbdlvVyWl90czjRi7WRwE0njmVKrCYinMil5sKsqEkYZEg1ZB-d5wxYpIgHkjbZyVPjRV5NAK-sS1Bsq-AMzobUqxYPYyrDzZ/s1600/holga4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGCWEHYEeOQFvbNhGHp0nBEcqYOzwv9dt6t-_Nh9SKNyZbdlvVyWl90czjRi7WRwE0njmVKrCYinMil5sKsqEkYZEg1ZB-d5wxYpIgHkjbZyVPjRV5NAK-sS1Bsq-AMzobUqxYPYyrDzZ/s640/holga4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9OIG46xZJKn1r0F6AQJo7BhS_v278oWXCI2yZCesFITy1rbxBcSLTC9tJyDflIqbbHlHWT_A9v0N0Z4oFah9Nvby7eBGt707aY5oNPWcAmN1GjKjyAoEwPlh9LlQbJw7okbbHNgbCMTn/s1600/Holgashowcases.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9OIG46xZJKn1r0F6AQJo7BhS_v278oWXCI2yZCesFITy1rbxBcSLTC9tJyDflIqbbHlHWT_A9v0N0Z4oFah9Nvby7eBGt707aY5oNPWcAmN1GjKjyAoEwPlh9LlQbJw7okbbHNgbCMTn/s640/Holgashowcases.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div>Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-56550970453826450892011-10-23T18:42:00.000-07:002011-10-23T20:31:51.845-07:00Masquerade Ball<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last night my friend threw a big masquerade ball and invited tons of people. She created the facebook event page for it quite a while ago and I RSVP'd that I was going. And then promptly forgot about it. A few days ago I saw some mutual friends who mentioned how excited everyone was to see my Masquerade costume. Being confused I asked what masquerade they were talking about and they explained that Jennalyn was throwing a masquerade and I had RSVP'd yes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I said I was going to a party</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Everyone was expecting the costume designer to be dressed amazing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shoot....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well I sat down all day Friday and whipped out a costume. The only part of the costume I didn't build was the mask, which was made by <a href="http://www.artsmyths.com/http___www.artsmyths.com/Artsmyths.html">Tiffany Smyth</a> for my fairies when I costume designed a Midsummer Night's Dream for Box Elde High and my Corset I bought at <a href="http://www.coloradorenaissance.com/">The Denver faire</a> a year or two ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The ball was a lot of fun. My friend, Matt and I had a lot of fun dancing and watching people and just being us. But here's the costume and how it turned out, which I was very proud of.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUZXe_vfcEYcuqVfiZGSjomsQts8i9UBFPViys-XkvyfKqImEiHDUL_J08J9P6K4PundA6fpd4MGPP1psmwqQ53D5nCeE1NxJnCWEeb2o0d_sBR8CF-Xzny0_e-OgR-j22AxFiSJm2OYA/s1600/Masquerade+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUZXe_vfcEYcuqVfiZGSjomsQts8i9UBFPViys-XkvyfKqImEiHDUL_J08J9P6K4PundA6fpd4MGPP1psmwqQ53D5nCeE1NxJnCWEeb2o0d_sBR8CF-Xzny0_e-OgR-j22AxFiSJm2OYA/s640/Masquerade+dress.jpg" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mask is amazing. She works in Leather, adding feathers and beads. But the masks are incredible.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> The blue bustle was a velvet retro dress I had which was falling apart and had holes in it. So I took it apart, cut away all the torn holes and bleach spots and then put them back together and made the bustle. I then just placed a small bustle pad made from stiff tulle underneath.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhyy1kKXNpaIAZ7diIjlBCcHbFT412rJzabMrRW3_zXWTLYFK2TzomCFS-qHjEDvvqmtUA1ofwXa65V0PqoRe508ZXYylQ7Yidjd1QNYDCqFpsAEuuPXn5hXpgxCucRymzqS9lCKSIJnG/s1600/Masquerade+Dress1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhyy1kKXNpaIAZ7diIjlBCcHbFT412rJzabMrRW3_zXWTLYFK2TzomCFS-qHjEDvvqmtUA1ofwXa65V0PqoRe508ZXYylQ7Yidjd1QNYDCqFpsAEuuPXn5hXpgxCucRymzqS9lCKSIJnG/s640/Masquerade+Dress1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front and Back views of the costume</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> I had a bunch of Gold Lace Appliques that I bought on Ebay forever ago. I attached four together and then strategically added swarovsky crystals to add sparkle. It ended up being remarkable! I hope I can use it in other shows as well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApPWNwZzK7M-WtGCSRsZIiIj2G4N7bhZFuIvrzXz3BPBUdJxd2yI91YlkiFUpjtDGxzWVXJz6b_CJHlDpMYu2vfq_Il2ddeWBF3dL5XSC1pixq0RRKj5MIgSCLeFITvl099KYBjy-vK8L/s1600/Masquerade+Dress2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApPWNwZzK7M-WtGCSRsZIiIj2G4N7bhZFuIvrzXz3BPBUdJxd2yI91YlkiFUpjtDGxzWVXJz6b_CJHlDpMYu2vfq_Il2ddeWBF3dL5XSC1pixq0RRKj5MIgSCLeFITvl099KYBjy-vK8L/s640/Masquerade+Dress2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I also love how my hair turned out. I did really tight curls then pushed it all to the center of my head...well sort of like a faux-hawk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNahhcDa4SV-MMPYyco_DLOpyEnJqKe7gPIjlaohvuZN15vWiVbjbqxdroiERl9DXlFee53bhyLMVtMRDnfU-c3qMEY-aZ4eSB9UTfwFT2kdWUP_aLQNUMpRocL2jy0r2wr1LX_3EfxclQ/s1600/Masquerade+Dress3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNahhcDa4SV-MMPYyco_DLOpyEnJqKe7gPIjlaohvuZN15vWiVbjbqxdroiERl9DXlFee53bhyLMVtMRDnfU-c3qMEY-aZ4eSB9UTfwFT2kdWUP_aLQNUMpRocL2jy0r2wr1LX_3EfxclQ/s640/Masquerade+Dress3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I also love how my eye make up turned out. I did it really shimmery and golden then added the touch of blue near my lash line. I used all Ben Nye shimmer colors. I love how it turned out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The only thing I didn't get done on the dress which I really wanted were big Baroque cuffs on the dress with gold venise lace that matched the necklace. I just ran out of time. Halloween in my busiest time of year. And on that note, there will definitely be more pics of some of the best costumes I made this fall season. (it's my busiest with Halloween and fall musicals.)</div></div>Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9064798773283214416.post-72885350109931444942011-10-19T12:16:00.000-07:002011-10-19T12:16:17.913-07:00Stage Costume Final<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
I am back in school and majoring in theater with my emphasis in costume design. It's a tough road, very time consuming, but very much worth the time (Or so I'm told.) My stage costume class which is an intro level class required for all theater majors was only a half semester class. We all read and designed for the same show, <i>James and the Giant Peach.</i> It was a lot of fun to see how different designers interpret different things. Some of them I loved, some I secretly thought were awful, but I loved what my teacher said at the beginning of the semester, "There is more than one right answer."<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>When I read the play I refused to go watch the movie (I haven't seen it since I saw it at the Rainbow Theater in Redlands, California when I was 11 years old.) But my vision was the British invasion, focusing on the late fifties into the sixties. I also didn't want to do a literal translation of the insects, adding legs and pinchers and antennas, etc. So I stuck to the colors, the textures, and the shapes of the insects. Researching spiders and centipedes gave me the biggest willies. I hated it.</div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DZYauyKdjzcUxB1w3SGfpg2kkRahJv35eTzt3qyFsJoo28SDgq_vtX4ry8X7-VVU5fBGZ5dF2SZlQvWkMovo2yEtt2RjPev251-8YohugBWzsogFB-S4ITSFN654ub0014tFBKfmjSMc/s1600/Grasshopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DZYauyKdjzcUxB1w3SGfpg2kkRahJv35eTzt3qyFsJoo28SDgq_vtX4ry8X7-VVU5fBGZ5dF2SZlQvWkMovo2yEtt2RjPev251-8YohugBWzsogFB-S4ITSFN654ub0014tFBKfmjSMc/s320/Grasshopper.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grasshopper</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_H6xIGPijX2nVUzN7u33TLmxEuK93aPPS65Tcgv9Bo5ZK5NY8RO14b35DZbZKINhmUcW4N2GS8QRCpoOtAc9FOZ8g2YYgo5dnsnMPGCV9g4w8VW_ENYdQwv0woJQQXbV-bQKUetOB-I1/s1600/Aunts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_H6xIGPijX2nVUzN7u33TLmxEuK93aPPS65Tcgv9Bo5ZK5NY8RO14b35DZbZKINhmUcW4N2GS8QRCpoOtAc9FOZ8g2YYgo5dnsnMPGCV9g4w8VW_ENYdQwv0woJQQXbV-bQKUetOB-I1/s320/Aunts.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Sponge & Aunt Spiker</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyc34Mja_XCREmV77F1lnRH7HG5Q2GHNmluoXHatDdIIlZUKxn-167W4ACvplNoOUmhyphenhyphenSi9WNJncvqa4B_2edqjfyHJHGyX8V_4zNsRfGULb65T0MmyxnzAekuDQwUApUYaNkADedAHys/s1600/Ladybird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyc34Mja_XCREmV77F1lnRH7HG5Q2GHNmluoXHatDdIIlZUKxn-167W4ACvplNoOUmhyphenhyphenSi9WNJncvqa4B_2edqjfyHJHGyX8V_4zNsRfGULb65T0MmyxnzAekuDQwUApUYaNkADedAHys/s320/Ladybird.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladybug</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdN46TogTelWtJo1YO-6KYY1mDIX9HsNmIG9ywH-dBPT7yqDU7MiOLPC6v1qBYiW4WGGKuelTMmLSsFXDFwjRl2dpX3ptY_DDkFh4ZI8FsMsvqu1-hl6rB_BgoVPubmiahXL86kS1QYG8/s1600/James.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdN46TogTelWtJo1YO-6KYY1mDIX9HsNmIG9ywH-dBPT7yqDU7MiOLPC6v1qBYiW4WGGKuelTMmLSsFXDFwjRl2dpX3ptY_DDkFh4ZI8FsMsvqu1-hl6rB_BgoVPubmiahXL86kS1QYG8/s320/James.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibgmPts8ISLPb2qJrZyyw5u2NFRmvn09wSv2ipWb_ILGnC_vf_78cZUCBaYvvtWLotEzOQ_ZwAleGMj8L06NFIs050zYwXa_cTk2UVNuIY4oRa07dRQ3Dk3jjU76pcjXMrV7XzIt32roZ/s1600/Earthworm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibgmPts8ISLPb2qJrZyyw5u2NFRmvn09wSv2ipWb_ILGnC_vf_78cZUCBaYvvtWLotEzOQ_ZwAleGMj8L06NFIs050zYwXa_cTk2UVNuIY4oRa07dRQ3Dk3jjU76pcjXMrV7XzIt32roZ/s320/Earthworm.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Earthworm</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7nuZDPZVK_WjC24GNckcP-ZhjD4gq89QuBWFgcTSbv_-YopCPRBtwj3YkDfrG9hFbM54yYZYl0tG3bu4e2EryvlfELWH8JyFkpIqBTyAB3dLB9CyKbk744hhGgXTobmnxi-_OH_8knE-/s1600/Centipede.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7nuZDPZVK_WjC24GNckcP-ZhjD4gq89QuBWFgcTSbv_-YopCPRBtwj3YkDfrG9hFbM54yYZYl0tG3bu4e2EryvlfELWH8JyFkpIqBTyAB3dLB9CyKbk744hhGgXTobmnxi-_OH_8knE-/s320/Centipede.jpg" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Centipede</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaf9KZK_XZMkXu31OzJjL8xBwJjaq9_5FqX6KkQuBHfO7fvsGr34ONduVGt0AGPoppc4IqKbAHlx34bG9EzgABEF46ZqsNUGN9BdKkcXD_fuTLJC3stbTUXD6IMjrmxevm9D2fXbMHJ82E/s1600/MissSpider2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaf9KZK_XZMkXu31OzJjL8xBwJjaq9_5FqX6KkQuBHfO7fvsGr34ONduVGt0AGPoppc4IqKbAHlx34bG9EzgABEF46ZqsNUGN9BdKkcXD_fuTLJC3stbTUXD6IMjrmxevm9D2fXbMHJ82E/s320/MissSpider2.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss Spider</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">The last thing I want to talk about is what I learned from this assignment. </div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">1-I learned to draw bodies, THEN draw the clothes on them. My favorite place for poses, if I don't have a model, is <a href="http://www.posemaniacs.com/">Pose Maniacs</a>. Which is a lot like that human body display that's been going around the world?</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">2-I'm really bad at faces, I draw eyes too big, and I am terrible terrible terrible at hands. Must work on that.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">3-I did this assignment with <a href="http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/colored-pencils/prismacolor-colored-pencils-and-sets/prismacolor-colored-pencil-sets.htm">prisma color pencils</a> and <a href="http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/watercolor-pencils-and-sticks/derwent-watercolor-pencils-and-sets/derwent-inktense-colored-pencil-sets.htm">inktense pencils</a> which was good for some things (in fact, inktense pencils are pretty incredible), but I usually do watercolors, which I like better. So I need to practice with more mediums such as Markers, intense pencils, prisma colors, chalks and pastels, etc. (If you want a good website with amazing deals on art products, I'm addicted to <a href="http://www.jerrysartarama.com/">Jerry's Artarama</a>.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">4- Detail is worth the time it takes. From the lace on the spider to the cable knit sweater on the earthworm to the plaids, detail is worth the trouble. </div></div></div></div>Mandee Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14529713984917474296noreply@blogger.com0