My Grand Adventures: March 2010

Hello everyone! Its been a long while since I've posted. The last time I did I was just coming up on my 1st term exams. Well, for an update on that... I did okay. I scored a 87% on both the written and the practical. That is the equivalent to a 'B' grade. I was a little disappointed. I know I can do better. Especially when in class I am getting an 'A' average on quizzes and I am getting the stamp of approval on my practical work. If I start slipping below a 'C' average, I have to pay back my scholarship and I really REALLY don't want to have to do that!

I guess I am feeling a little frustrated with the way things are graded here. They take a picture of the makeup you do in class and then grade your work according to the photo. A few of us in the class feel that our work is being graded harshly because the poor photo quality. The camera that the teachers aides use is kind of a crappy camera. When I look at the photos I've taken, with my nicer camera, the makeup and photo look great. But I've seen the pictures that were taken with the school camera and the photos come out looking very yellow. Several times I have had the comments made on my makeup that say, "its too yellow" or "its too orange". I feel like saying, "well duh! You take the photos with the yellow lights blaring on the models and your camera sucks, OF COURSE its gonna look yellow!!!!"

ANYways... On a happier note, we have been learning more fun things. Instead of just beauty makeups we've been learning Out of Kit Effects. A lot of people mistake Out of Kit Effects as "special effects". Special Effects are effects that include prosthetics, masks, etc. and out of kit effects are effects achieved by using things found in your kit and made right on the spot. We've been learning how to make bullet holes, broken noses, and gashes using just wax and alcohol based paints. We have also started working with gelatin which can be a quick way of making gashes and doesn't require glue. I love doing these kinds of effects. They are more interesting than making someone look pretty. hehe that sounds awful, but its true.

Enough about school...

My friend Sarah Elizabeth and I have started doing a bi-weekly dinner and movie night. Its still a pretty new tradition, but I am very excited about it. Last time, she came over to my place and we made homemade salsa per Sarah's recipe, which is absolutely fabulous!!! We also had quesadillas with chicken and we had spanish rice. The whole dinner was wonderful! We watched The Proposal. Its one of my favorites, but Sarah had never seen it before. It was such a great night.

I have also been able to get to know some of my friends from church a lot better. I went shopping with my friend Erin and Heather about a week ago. It was so great to be with them all afternoon and to get to know them better. After shopping we went back to Erin's place and ordered pizza and watched The Devil Wears Prada. It was so fun to have a girls night.

I have been trying really hard and making a greater effort to read my scriptures and be diligent in going to church. I have read my scriptures everyday for a week solid! Before, I would read them, but it was hit or miss. The entire week, I have been so happy. I have already felt so much better about everything in my life. I am going to try and finish reading the Book of Mormon by the time I move back to California in December. I know it will only benefit my life when I do.

That's pretty much it for now, I will try and post more often.

I love you all! Have a spectacular Easter holiday. And, just like Christmas, remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. :)