3. My Parental Relationship

3. Describe your relationship with your parents.

My relationship with my parents has gone through stages.

STAGE I

Baby//Toddler//Pre-Teen Chelsea

Dad: DAW.

Mom: NO.

STAGE II

Teenager Chelsea

Dad: YOU TELL THAT BOY I HAVE A SHOTGUN AND A GRAVE OUTBACK WITH HIS NAME ON IT.

Mom: BFF//DAUGHTER TELL ME EVERYTHING.

STAGE III

College Chelsea

Dad: I'M SO PROUD OF YOU//YOU GOT MARRIED//I LOVE YOU.

Mom: I'M SO PROUD OF YOU//YOU GOT MARRIED//CAN I JOIN IN?

I never remember my parents together, parenting me. They got a divorce when I was three. However, whenever my parents are together now, they make each other laugh so easily and I can see where the friendship formed between them. I can also see where personalities may have clashed...and I honestly don't know how my life would've played out if they hadn't divorced. Two big parent personalities raising a big personality daughter? Say what.

Regardless, my relationship with them is pretty awesome--or much more awesome than in times past. As a teenager, I definitely had my "loose cannon" moments (which you'll probably read more about as this 30 Things thing continues). Now I'm much more mellow (as I'd like to think my parents are as well) and we get along swimmingly.

---

My mother actually just came out from Arizona to visit for a weekend--my first time seeing her since I got married last June. She came out to see me perform in "The Bear" by Chekhov and "Hedda Gabler" by Ibsen. She spoiled us rotten with new lamps, picture frames, pictures, food, socks, and a curling iron (the curling iron is for me, not Zac, btw). 

Thank you, Mom!!

Dad, Zac, and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break with one another last year--my first time seeing him since July 2010 (and Dad's first time meeting Zac...ahem). Dad's relationship with me has nearly always been long distance. He hasn't lived in the same city as me since I was 10. While I was growing up, he called me and my brother every Sunday night and talked with us for a good hour.

Both of my parents have been through a lot.

And they have taught me a lot.

I have learned a lot from their experiences.

I can't wait to be a mommy because of them.

...

But that won't be for a long while.

(Don't worry Mom and Dad)

:]

30 Things

2. Fears

2. Describe three legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.

Fear #1//The Dark

I think some of the hardest times I ever had as a little girl was falling asleep at night. I slept on the top bunk, my brother on the bottom, with Julie on the other side of the room. Both of my siblings always fell asleep before me--sometimes Julie would ask me to talk with her before she fell asleep. It was after they'd fallen asleep I was left alone in the dark. Somehow all the noise in the house would amplify and turn menacing. The shadows lengthened along the walls and made weird shapes on the ceiling. The house came alive and there were many times I thought the dark was going to "get me."

Fear #2//Inadequacy

My struggles with self-esteem and confidence kind of go way back. Like way way back. I was born premature (3 1/2 months early--1 lb. 12 oz.) and my body type has always been small. Petite. It's taken me a long time to actually accept my physical appearance--middle school was rough. I remember many times getting so frustrated with my body--it never looked like the other girl's. I wanted to be taller, with a more "womanly" physique. I wanted to be popular--I wanted what other girls had. But that never quite happened. In high school, I became much more outgoing and confident. Now in college, I find myself much more reserved--I have a "quiet confidence," I guess you could say. Inadequacy is always on my mind, though.

Fear #3//Losing Zac

I don't know what it is about being married that's made me obsess over losing Zac sooner rather than later. Seriously. I lay in bed next to him, trying to fall asleep, and sometimes think "He could be gone tomorrow." Creepy, right? haha I promise I'm not some depressed, cooped-up, married housewife with nothing else to think about besides my husband dying and living with cats for the rest of my life. It's just those little random moments when I think about losing my best friend. That's utterly terrifying to me.

30 Things

1. 20 Random Facts

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.

1. I finally got into the DINOSAUR class I've wanted for three years! Best senior year ever!

2. I hate pulpy orange juice. Whenever I drink it, it feels like I'm drinking aliens.

3. If I was to ever get drunk, I think I'd either be all over the place or passed out in my own tears. haha

4. I once had a dream that I was with the Power Puff Girls and we wore sparkly swimsuits and rode unicorns into a rainbow. hahaha (Never repeat that to anyone) :]

5. When I was little, my next door neighbors were gypsies.

6. I used to have a stutter.

7. I love to make collages!!! Gah--Give me some magazines, scissors, glitter glue and you won't see me again. haha :]

8. I still have yet to fly a kite at night.

9. I have a ganglion cyst on my hand.

10. I found out my sophomore year of high school I had ovarian cysts. My running was never the same after that.

11. There are just certain bands/songs that make me thing of certain people. Train = Mom. Jimmy Buffett = Daddy. Panic! at the Disco/Ok Go/Escape the Fate = Jim. Cartel = Smantha. Paramore (All I Wanted) = Zac. :]

12. BYU wasn't my first pick for college--I wanted to go to a more "liberal" school or strictly "artistic" school. When I got in to BYU, I instantly knew I needed to go there. Neat? I think so.

13. Zac makes fun of me for still listening to Blink-182 and Yellowcard.

14. I do an awesome chicken and turkey impression. Awesome for other people, embarrassing for me.

15. I'm a huge sucker for roller coasters.

16. My future kitties names: Mishka, Kamikaze, and Ampersand.

17. When my brother and I were little, we made up Pokemon and fought each other. Full costume and everything.

18. I had my first "bf" when I was 10 years old. haha.

19. A substitute teacher in middle school misread/mispronounced my name in PE. It sounded like "Shaleese." I told that story to my trumpet section leader when I was a sophomore, hoping to seem "cool," and then he gave me the nickname "Chaleese." Merp.

20. I've been pulled over four times and never gotten a ticket. Ever. Awesome.

30 Things

My 30 Things List!

I've come to the conclusion that since school is over, I will dedicate my summer to blogging EVERYDAY. Oh my goodness--it's gonna be hard. But I think with this handy dandy list, the first month will just zoom by. :]
Starting tomorrow, I'll answer each of these prompts honestly--no holding back! I promise! Zac and I officially got full time jobs last Friday afternoon. That means working all the time and so much money. haha We've talked about it and we've agreed to get a newer, better camera as the summer continues. I can't wait to take awesome pictures for this here blog. If you guys have any suggestions for awesome cameras between $200-$300, send them our way! :]

Here's the list and here we go!

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.

2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?

27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

Found list here.

Rainbow feathers and bricks

I know my mother is dying to hear about my life through this here blog...It's been such a long time! HI YOU GUYS! How are you? You doing okay? You making it through the hard times? You smiling? You laughing? I hope so. :) haha 

The past couple of weeks have been unreal crazy. Like where did all this busy come from? And can it go away soon? haha :)  

\\GOOD NEWS//

I have all A's.

I was hired as a Theatre History TA for next year (Fall 2012-Winter 2013)!

I am in two shows currently: Hedda Gabler and The Bear!

I was invited to the Outstanding Theatre Arts Student Award Ceremony next week for Playwriting!

Zac got a full time job for the summer!

Zac's mother sent us an Easter basket box! 

(Thank you Karen :])

So you wanna know something funny that isn't really funny? Life is like a pillow fight. You think the pillows will explode into millions of rainbow feathers when they slam into your face but then they hit you and they're full of bricks. After you get hit in the face with the brick filled pillows, some teeth might fall out and you might get a concussion, but then you pick up another pillow and one tiny rainbow feather pops out. 

AND THEN EVERYTHING IS OKAY AGAIN. 

haha I don't know if that made any sense, but what I mean to say is this: Life may seem to be going awesome and then something hits you and you find out what's really going on--even if it wasn't what you expected, it may be better than before. I'll just suffice it to say that a huge door slammed in my face on Monday--one that I thought would be opening up for me. 

(Cue the bricks)

BUT THEN.

Another door opened!!!!

(Cue the rainbow feathers)

I was invited to the Theatre Arts Student Award Ceremony for BYU next Tuesday night! :D I'm not exactly sure "why" but I do know it has something to do with my Playwriting. :) Yippee skippee, look out world. Chelsea got swag.

I promise I'll write more happy thoughts later with more details and all that jazz. I just need to get back to that dumb reading prompt. Ugh. Death and the King's Horseman. I love the play...I just don't want to analyze it right now. :( Wah. A lot of writing this weekend and two Hedda and The Bear shows on Saturday. SO MUCH BUSY.

I just really love this song.

:)

A Post About Being Married and Acting :)

Here's an early good morning to you!
There's nothing like taking a hot shower the morning after a long day that went really really well. :)
I finally found my character for the show I'm in, "Hedda Gabler."
It's taken me a while-and I'm not quite sure why-but I know I did some deep soul searching and figured some stuff out. Anne Shakespeare, the head artistic director of Utah Shakespeare in the Park, was my first TA in an acting class here at BYU and she pushed me farther than I ever thought possible. She came to a rehearsal last Thursday night and I hadn't seen her since that first acting class (2+ years). Yeah.
She watched me perform.
And talked with me for 2 hours after rehearsal.
Let's just say my performance wasn't awesome. :( I was drowning in confusion and doubt.
Anne laid her wisdom on me:

The reason why I was hitting brick walls with my acting is because I'm married.
That might sound awful, but keep in mind, besides my role in "The Stronger" (where I portrayed a married woman) this is my first role since getting married.
It does something to you, to your acting. Being married, I mean.
Once you become intimate with someone in such a sacred and personal way (like with a husband) you give half of yourself to him. It's like you are one in flesh.
I was confused with my acting because I'm not who I was when I was single. I'm just not. My priorities have changed. Husband=Number One.

But guess what?
Anne had me check out a book called, "Fascinating Womanhood." And I'm finding my femininity again-what makes being a woman so amazing. I've read a couple of chapters now and I applied what I've learned so far all day yesterday and amped it up when I first went onstage last night for rehearsal.

And I found my character!
My old confidence when I'd walk onstage was on fire.
My old sassiness when I'd nail my lines surged through me.
My old "stick it to the man" when I pursued an objective kept me motivated.

Just wanted to tell you the good news.
:)

Preparing for Battle: The Pie Fight.

Good morning you guys! 

And Happy St. Patrick's Day to ya, too! 

(Imagine that said in a beautiful Irish trill)

I woke up twenty minutes ago with that awesome "It's Saturday" feeling. The husband is still in bed, snoozing. We've both had a long couple of days and it's so wonderful that the weekend is finally here. Lots of late nights/early mornings, tests, quizzes, rehearsals (more on that for a different post, methinks), frustrations that come with being newlyweds, and the joys of being newlyweds.

I have some pretty exciting news.

I AM GETTING IN A PIE FIGHT TODAY. 

There will be pictures. 

There will be laughter.

There will be joy. 

(Was anyone else thinking There Will Be Blood? haha I promise there won't be.)

I've been looking forward to today since last Sunday when I heard about our ward's Pi Day Activity. Plenty of people are making pies for us to eat and plenty of pies will be made for throwing.

You know wanna know what I'll be doing?

THROWING THEM PIES.

But srsly. I can't wait to have a pie thrown in my face. I hope it doesn't hurt. >< haha I hope it's as awesome and fun as I've always thought it would be. 

Just for a moment, take a travel with me down memory lane.

I'm seven.

At my dad's apartment complex.

We're watching Saturday morning cartoons together in our pajamas. 

My brother is eating cereal.

We're on Nickelodeon.

And then a family pie fight ensues on tv.

Whipped cream everywhere.

Glasses smeared with pie filling.

The Dad thinking, "This is what I call family bonding time."
The Son thinking, "My sister's so dumb looking with pie all over her face!"
The Sister thinking, "I hate my brother *cry cry cry*"

The Mother thinking, "It's going to take a long time to get these stains out."

hahha

So amazing.

I turned to my dad and said, "I want that to happen to us."

He laughed for a really long time.

:)

AND TODAY IS THE DAY.

The day I've been waiting for.

13 years in the making.

It's finally here.

I need to come up with a hand sign like Katniss gives to District 12 from The Hunger Games. 

Okay, you guys.

The battle commences in T-minus 2 and a half hours.

May the best thrower win.