Color, Ellie, and blog it out.

Today we are going to learn about color. Here is some clay. 

I don't think happier words were ever spoken to a creative, crafty person. #squeal 

In order to color someone's locks you have to understand color. It's a simple as Roy G Biv. ;) 

Yes. It brought me great joy to make a color wheel. I'm a nerd like that. 

This week we worked on making hair darker, or lighter. Although we are not using real color at this point, it feels so wonderful to be behind my doll and do hair. It's like all is right in the world, and I am where I am supposed to be. It's a very magical Dorothy/OZ type of feeling! 

#nerdalert

Candace and I also got to see Ellie Goulding last night. I can honestly say that it was a crazy night. Drunken fights, broken bloody noses, lesbian love charades. And that wasn't even the main act! I will never understand alcohol. I can be around those who have been drinking with no problem. Most people I know drink 100% responsibly and are normal. The folks last night however, cray cray Z!!!! 

Ellie is an amazing performer!! So talented!!! Her voice is hypnotic! 

My friend Kirsten sent me this today. I loved it:) I appreciate how my friends look out for me! And think of me! 

Jason and I snuck in a mini date tonight. Burgers and Walmart. #stayclassy. We came home to this. The driveway was now a canvas for chalk art and we had to park. Here. ;) 

Many posts to come! Can't wait to share my homework with you!! I got to make my own color wheel! And let's just say Pinterest was involved;) 

Xoxo~ Alli 

Week One. In. A. Nutshell.

I'm still standing! I haven't taken a nap in over a week. I'll treasure my Sunday nap that much more now!

My first week of school was simply awesome. I've learned so much in 5 days. 

I can do hard things:  Finger waves. (These have a million miles to go!)

I'm really good at certain things:  And that's ok. I refuse to dull my shine, just because others are struggling. I will however, offer help to those in need, and want my help. 

I'm not too old for this:  I'm the same age, or younger than several other future professionals. We want to start a club for gals 30+ called the Golden Girls. As long as I'm Rose. 

F.A.C.E is a motto at the school. I like it. 

It's ok to have realistic dreams:  Maybe I am dream crusher. I don't know. I have no desire to be a stylist to celebrities. (That's a common dream to the 18 year old demographic) (more power to them!!) I am so happy to stay in MY Idaho. I am so happy to do hair of my friends, and family, and little old ladies that want a shampoo set. My dreams are wrapped up in my family. 

I have had such a blast this week!!! I couldn't love school more. I know that it will get hard. I accept the challenge. 

I plan to absorb any opportunity that comes my way. 

I want to earn a trip to Caper in Las Vegas in 2015. I have to sell 45 Paul Mitchell bags that are filled with awesome product! I can do it. And I will. 

I also want to travel to New York with a small portion of the student body. I will work hard to save the money to go. We will learn from the best. I can't wait! 

Thanks for supporting me along my way. I hope you enjoy the journey with me!!

This is Laura Beth. She was one of my YW. She asked me to do her hair for her Senior Prom. Happily, I obliged. 

Xoxo-Alli

Bits and Pieces

Today was pretty fun at school. 

Here are some pics, with accompanying sarcasm. Enjoy. 

Sections. Basic. Where your need for perfection cripples you. One strand of hair at a time. 

French Braid. Two words: 

Girls Camp. 

#micdrop 

Fish Tail. 

Girl, please. 

Corn Rows:) 

Meet my friend Shawn-Tay. She ain't no Holla back girl. 

#step

French Twist.  

The wedding style of the soap opera Days of Our Lives. 

Finger Waves. 

What the H!!!!! So bloody hard! I've got a mean bag of tricks. But this bad girl nearly had me cursing. I will squash this style. One. Wave. At. A. Time. 

Pin Curls? 

Can you make a circle? Then you can do these. 

Today was a great day. On my feet, behind a head of hair. Heavenly. This won't be a career. This will be a play ground. 

Loves~ Alli ;) 

Now is the Time~

I want to document my time in Cosmetology school.  No better place than my blog.  It's been neglected far too long.

My 2014 montra is "Now is the Time".

I've wanted to do hair for years.  I thought about going when September (my cousin) went in 2000.  I was advised by a loved one, that this was not a viable profession.  I listened.

Sixteen years later, an almost 12 year marriage to Jason, and realizing my divine worth as a daughter of God, I have finally washed those "viability" thoughts out of my mind.

I contacted Paul Mitchell Boise in January and started the process.  I was horrified.  And thrilled.  I made Candace go with me to my tour at the school.  (Jason had to work).  We left, she was almost more excited than I was!  It was pretty darling.

I started school yesterday.  April 22, 2014. I survived.  The long lingering thoughts of my personal doubts slowly went away.  Somewhere, along my life journey, I convinced myself that I was dumb.  Slow.  Not able to learn new things.  Which, in itself IS DUMB.  But alas, often times that voice is the loudest.  And although I found myself overwhelmed at times, I processed things in small pieces.  And survived.

Here is a list of some of my fears.  Just so we are clear....

Will I be WAY older than my classmates?
Can I do the chemistry aspect?  (I never took chem in HS)
Will my kids be ok while I am in school?
......
The list goes on, but you catch my drift.

How does one combat fears?  


PRAYER.


Here were/are some of my prayers:

Let me find a friend.

Let me be calm.

Let me be open minded.

Let my divine potential shine through my doubts.

Let me lead.

Let me be lead.

Never leave me feeling alone.

Let me find joy in all the new things.

Don't let who I was in HS, cloud who I am now.
...................


There are more as well.  Some I will hold close to my heart.


I can tell you that prayers are being answered.  One by one.  Some through others, some through the Holy Ghost.  All through my Father in Heaven.


I am so thankful for all those who have made it possible for me to take a step out of my life, and follow my dreams.  Jason.  Candace.  Grammy.

 This is me.  Finding JOY in my new kit filled with awesomeness!

I will keep this blog going, especially about my journey through school.  I hope you enjoy, find joy, some laughter, and escape your life.  Just for a moment.

#NowIsTheTime

xoxo Alli

These Faces

These are the faces that make my day.  The kids are growing so quickly.  The girls will be TEN soon.  On Sunday I sat and did the math.  They will be in YW's in 2 years.  Then I realized our dear sweet Bailey will be a Laurel when the girls are Beehives.  My anxiety went away.  Even if it will only be for a few months!  

People always say it goes by so quickly.  I do know that it does.  It was just yesterday I was holding each of them, all bundled in tiny blankets.  Before I knew it our mini-van was full.  

We have been reading the Book of Mormon each night.  All but Burke can read, so last night he had Natalie tell him what to say.  He basically said "And it came to pass" over and over and over again.  We had a good laugh.  

These are the Blue kids.  

Love their guts.  

Christmas 2013 and my "FaceBreak"

Back in October I started having promptings that I needed to get off of Facebook.  What?  How the crud can I do that?  How will I know what's going on with my friends, family, the strangers I stalk, or the recipes I want to try?  How will I sell Scentsy, or 31??  How will I feel validated by the likes or comments I get?  Cause really, that's a major part of what I finally realized was making FB such an addiction for me.  Logging off was not easy.  I started in November by unliking all the pages that were not "people".  That helped.  Then I started hiding.......you know.....whoever I did not want to see every time I logged on! To me it's less mean than unfriending......but that's a whole other story ;)

So I set a goal in December....go 31 days FB free.  I called it a "facebreak"! I am so glad the way it all worked out!  It was hard the first few days, or the times when people were talking about things that I knew nothing about.  Or when my friends dog died and I didn't know! (RIP Coal!!!!)

Days turned to weeks, and before I knew it I was doing it!  I still did Instagram, cause that's my favorite way to share pics!  So I felt in the loop somewhat!  Within a few days of starting my facebreak I felt the Spirit stronger.  I felt clarity.  I felt validated by the Holy Ghost, and not likes or comments.  I became in tune with my awesome kids.  Which they are so awesome by the way.  I'm beyond lucky to call them mine.  

Jason asked me what my first post was going to be 1/1/14.  It was this:

December was a great time to refocus on my family, and my testimony of Jesus Christ.  

I'm feeling accomplished!  I recommend taking a facebreak.  Even if it's a day, or a week.  Whatever you think you need.  But make it hurt.  And make it worth it.  It was like a FB fast.  

fast²

fast/

verb

gerund or present participle: fasting

1. 1.

   abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink, esp. as a religious observance.

   synonyms:

eat nothing, abstain from food, refrain from eating, go without food, go hungry, starve oneself;

It was worth it.  

Here are some snip-it's of our holiday!  We were lucky enough to have Jason's parents, as well as his sister, her husband and 4 kids!  It was a full house filled with lot's of laughter!  And maybe some tears??  Darelyn, Mom & Dad, thank you for sharing your Christmas with us!  My kids will treasure those days forever!!!!!  I married into an AMAZING family!  

 We started a new tradition!  We tried to see Frozen on Christmas day, but alas, so did all of Meridian!  So we went the next day!  1.  The movie was AWESOME!!!!!!  x's a zillion!  I even bought the sound track!  Do you want to build a snowman? If I ask Jason again he is going to kill me.  Lol!  

Jason and I hit Tucano's for his birthday lunch.  I always have big plans of eating myself to death, but after one or two rounds of meat, I'm dead meat!  It was worth spending the day with my best friend!  

We (Smith side) celebrated our 8th annual Crazy Cousin Christmas Eve!  Mexican food, gift exchange, and lot's of fun.  Sadly, many cousins were missing!  It just wasn't the same!  

What's a party without wrassling G'pa?  

 Aunt Darelyn read a great Christmas Eve book to the kids! 

Emery, Natalie, Taylor and Amelia loved all these clapping games.  They have a song for each one!  

Keller is the best big cousin.  The boys were always in his shadow.  They had a blast with him!   

 Cousin pj's!!! 

Amelia wasn't too far from Ellie the entire time!  I don't think Ellie Mae minded at all!  Spoiled pup! 

Mr. Blue and I stuck to our guns this year with only ONE gift to our kids.  We spent all of December talking to them about Jesus Christ, and all that He did for us.  Our goal was to SIMPLIFY our lives.  Much along the lines of my facebreak, really plugging into my kids, etc.  I'm so thankful for the promptings I felt.  It made for a wonderful way to end 2013, and start 2014!

Not once did they feel like they got less than normal.  Maybe it was the distraction of family.  Maybe it was the lessons we taught that month.  Maybe it was their little Spirits recognizing the importance of having a relationship with their Savior.  Who knows?  I just hope we can keep it up!  Cause it's a good feeling!

Here's to my New Years 1st resolution:

Start blogging again, and not relying on FB for my family history!  

#boom 

xoxo Alli Blue

October's out.....

October went really fast!  It was really busy, and I take pictures on my phone, DAILY if not hourly, so I thought this would be perfect documentation! 

Still love doing my Scentsy thing!  

There was great fundraiser for Julie.  It was at the Lift on State St. in Boise.  Lot's turned out and thousands were raised.  It was amazing because the people that put this on, really did not know Julie.  

I contributed this pumpkin for my table about the Gaubys.  That was my job!  And photographer!  

Part of me will always be 12 and love writing with Crayola Markers :)  It's my preferred medium.   

I was talked into going to the Haunted Woods with some of my crazy friends.  We took these spooky pics before the walk!  Julie Shepherd looks like a ghastly ghost behind us! 

I didn't have time for nightmares when I got home.  Burke started throwing up at 3 am and continued to do so on the hour until 8 am.  It was lovely.  Not.  This is him watching Mickey Mouse Club House at 5 am.  It was a long night.  I traded with Daddy at 8 and then woke up before church so he could take the Biggies with him.  Little and I stayed home! 

Saw this sunset on the way home from my sisters.  Great reminder of being loved by Him.  

Next victim to fall to the flu.  Graden.  I guess warming up his man parts helps him feel better?  Ya, I'm lost too.  

All were perked up enough to paint pumpkins for FHE.  Minus Daddy.  He was at class, hence the non-carving year.  Was not about to tackle that one alone! 

This is when I puke.  Filling up the tank.  You see why!  Look at my reflection!  I am NOT happy!  I will be voting on the 6th.  :)

The boys and I scouted costumes one day!  Graden found his at K-Mart (Holy throw back), and Burke found his at Walmart.  Both $10.  I can handle that! 

My sweet lady bugs.  

I worked on the girls costumes for a couple of days straight!  

In the mean-time, Face Book was like this for me....

Burke coloring

As a family we went to the Boise LDS Temple  open house.  It was so lovely.  I had a hard time keeping my composure.  It was so touching to be there again after being closed for so long!  I missed it deeply!  The kids LOVED it too!  

We hit the NEW Chick-fil-A after!  It was super yummy!  And the customer service is amazing too!  We will go back for sure!  

I had the girls help with their own costumes on Saturday morning!  

Jason and I had not planned on dressing up.  I have NEVER not dressed up for a Halloween since we have been married.  I was just not into it this year.  So at 4 o'clock he asked if I thought we could pull off the Romney's.  WTH???? I was blonde a few weeks ago!  Wish I had known!  He pulled off Mitt SO WELL!  

Morticia and family~  

Snooki and the Situation 

Mary Poppins and her chimney sweep! 

Cookie Monster!  WHAT???? So cute Laura Beth! 

Got me some bangs~ 

These sweet faces came home in backpacks! 

I made this crazy good Oatmeal Cake from a Relief Society recipe!  

I ate it all. 

Yesterday was Halloween and Reagan Browne's birthday!  Yeah for this sweet 3 year old!  

Andrew Shepherd, and my kids.  Getting ready to Candy Harvest! 

Aunt Julie came with us too~ 

See.  I take A LOT of pictures! 

That is how I capture most of our lives.  I love it.  Our hard drive is a compilation of thousands of pictures of everyday.  

Thanks for stopping by~ 

Alli