a night {or many nights} at the ball.

 My life has slightly turned into Cinderella!

Ive havent necessarily been scrubbing lots of floors or gotten carriage rides but I have attending more fancy Balls then I ever thought I would. 

Our culminating events for our Amabassador program at school is the school ball. 

Now this is no ordinary school dance. The students dance the waltz, foxtrot and the cha cha.  

And its always go big or go home with the decorations, set-up and fun for the dances. 

Within the three APA Schools, we have successfully had EIGHT dinners and balls in the last three weeks for five different grades. 

That means lots of late work nights doing prep work and then doing the actual event! 

 One thing that I have a love/ hate relationship with about our events is that we are on a very tight budget and so we are responsible to make all of our decorations! So in the past few weeks, I have gotten more DIY savvy than I ever thought. 

Hot glueing boxes with glitter, making decorative pillars, spray painting till my fingers were sore and black and flowers! Geeze! In the past month we have assembled boutonnieres and corsages for about 600 students. Hence I have become an expert on floral arranging. 

We had two formal four course dinners for the 8th graders at my campus. Making me in charge of all the decor and set up and assuring the night went as smooth as possible! The only bump in the night was when my heels broke. 

The last two nights have been our grand finale ball at the La Caille Restaurant for our 9th grade class. I felt like I had been transported to the Swiss Alps or was on a date on the Bachelor...

 

We had a a five course meal with escargot! It was my favorite ball yet because we have a stellar group of 9th graders. With only 28 students in the 9th grade class it has been so easy to get to know them and just love each one of them. Especially when the boys showed up in their tuxes and the girls in pretty dresses. 

Our school does an amazing job in the dance department. They attend dance classes each week and at the ball are able to do the waltz, foxtrot, cha cha, cowboy cha cha and the best one--Gangnum Style line dance which is so fun! Having these dances makes it so that each student is included (they have to dance!) they all know how,  so avoiding awkward dancing situations and builds their confidence.

 I loved watching them dance and see their talent, excitement and enjoying being there. 

Now with the dances over I am so exhausted and a little sad. I have loved working with my Ambassador Team so much the last few weeks and of course I don't mind ever mind dancing and having a party to attend!

 It has also been such a great accomplishment to work hard on something and see it come to fruition and better yet--the students love it! 

Now, only three weeks till summer! 

it all ends.

After being reprimanded by Allie Barker for not going to the midnight showing of HP last Thursday night, I knew I had to get myself to see the newest movie this weekend to prove that I am truly a  Harry Potter fanatic!

As expected, the movie did not disappoint! 

coolest thing i have ever seen. just a snippet of the wall displaying every HP movie poster.


And, as expected, I was crying probably after the first twenty minutes. 

I could not hold it together during this movie. I cried during all the sad parts and the happy parts and the ending.
Basically the entire time.
And it wasnt even just the plot line, I got all nostalgic during the movie.

The Harry Potter series was my childhood, my teenage years. 

I believe my love for reading can be traced back to that day when my 12 year old self was in a bookstore with my mom. She told me she would pay me $20 if I read the book "Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone", the new hit book. My response: "No way, that looks so lame"
Two hours later I was to be found laying by my pool, HP in hand thinking "What the heck am I reading!? Wizards? Hogwarts? Muggles?"
And yet, after the first chapter I was hooked.
Which then led to buying and reading the other books. And then re-reading them.Watching the movies. Buying books 6 & 7 on amazon for the guarantee that the book would be delivered on the day it came out in stores. Hyperventilating as book 7 was in hand. And then re-reading those and midnight premieres of  the movies.

And so it was a big part of my growing up years, and watching that movie and realizing the fun and excitement of Harry Potter was over just made me lose it.
Might sound lame, but its true.
I love 'Arry Potter.
As everyone should.

I loved coming to church on Sunday and talking to all of my girlfriends about Harry Potter. We talked about all of the details of the movie, what parts we cried in and explaining parts of the book.
Ill see it with anyone who wants to go again!

my AAT weekend.

As evidenced here, I have been dubbed being an All-American.

I was at first the All-American Teen, but then got demoted to being a Tween.

Something I can not refute as it is clearly evidenced many, many times. 

This weekend solidified (as if we need it) that I am still the All-American Tween. 

Friday night started off with the NKOTBSB concert with my sister Laura.

I would like to tell you that I didnt drop a lot of money for this concert, that I didnt scream in excitement throughout the whole show or that I absolutely did not jump up and down at the surprise reunion of Kevin Richardson with BSB.

But you all know that would be false.
it was the

best.concert.ever. 

I loved every second of that 2.5 hour concert! 

There is something about attractive boys singing and synchronized dance moves that just make me swoon. 

It didnt matter that they are all in their 30s and 40s or that they are all has-beens. 

After the first 10 minutes I turned to Laura and screamed "This is the best thing I have ever seen!!"

I danced the entire time.

I screamed when NKOTB lifted their shirts to reveal some very chiseled abs.

I wondered how I had forgotten that Nick Carter was so hot 

and why I was never more in love with Jordan Knight.

I ran to catch a closer glimpse of Nick as he walked down the aisle next to our section and pushed my way through just so I could touch Brian Littrell's arm.

I screamed like I was fourteen. 

And dont think I was the only one, my 30 and prego sister Laura was dancing and screaming right alongside me.

We had so much fun dancing and singing throughout our nostalgic filled night.

And yes, boy bands will always be my #1 music and I cant stop listening to all NKOTBSB songs this week and am planning on buying a shirt online. 

long live NKOTBSB

After celebrating the tween in me, I got to celebrate America's birthday with family and friends. 

I lounged by the pool all morning with the kiddies.

And then went to the Hollywood Bowl with one of my besties Lillie and her family. 

remember how i said we ALWAYS match. yup. we have the same sunglasses and didnt even know it.
We enjoyed some great food

danced to some Hall n Oats 

and enjoyed some fireworks. 

loved the weekend.

love living up to my title as All-American Tween.

BTW
my newest obsession. dont turn out the lights.

im not the only one.

My older sister Kelly texted me this morning. 

About Justin Bieber.

Informing me that I needed to watch his movie because it's"right up your alley."

I told her that I have yet to catch Bieber Fever.

And I will not watch the movie.

Cause I know it will suck me in and I will be diagnosed with the fever.
We then continued to have this conversation:

I sat there and laughed so hard.
My sister and I were literally debating who was better.
JB vs. JB
Dont get me wrong, I like the Biebs
I just dont like that he is stealing all of the limelight from my Jonas Brothers.
I will always be the Joe Bros #1 fan.
At least Kelly and I agree on our love for Zac Efron.
All im saying is that im not the only tween in the family.

the best day of my life.

because this happened today. 

A dream come true!

I am a teeny bopper at heart and have loved N Sync from day one. 

And still claim to be their number one fan, and not afraid to admit they are my favorite band. 

One of the perks of my job is I work on the Penthouse, full of offices of entertainment lawyers, music managers and the top guy doing merchandise for some pretty big names. Including my beloved N Sync. 

Ive been dying to run into some celebrities on the floor. 

I freaked when I found out Lance Bass was going to be coming in any day now. 

And today was the big day!

I swear the whole office was out in front when it finally came time for me to meet Lance and witness my attempt to keep cool in front of one of my all time favorite pop singers.

My heart was racing, Im pretty sure I was shaking, and I tried not to hyperventilate as I saw him walk up to me. 

I gushed and told him he was my favorite, that I learned all of the moves to Bye Bye Bye and that Im still obsessed. 

He was super nice and is so cute in person. 

Couldn't be more excited.

And I will be listening N Sync jams for the next few weeks now.