Aaaaand, we're back! Five After 5!

Some Five After 5 goodness comin' at ya... Today's Five After 5 is all about the random.

I chopped my hair off.

Why: just because. I wanted to see if I could really pull off short hair... and because Boyfriend looooves short hair. I also wanted retro flare to my hair. This is the result:

Kinda 1930s, no? I don't have a better one at the moment, but you get the idea. You like?? Boyfriend gives it an A+. Yay!

It's crunch time.

While I didn't enroll in classes this semester, I am doing a ballet pedagogy (teaching) certification with the ballet professor at CSU. I've completed all my teaching rotations and now I'm working on the written and oral exams. I'm stressed. I'm trying not to panic but I have two weeks to write and prepare and there is a lot to this. It took a friend of mine over 2 hours to present her oral exam. Holy whoa...

Nike pointe shoes?!

Have you seen these?? (See this link.)

I haven't read much about them yet, but from what I can tell from my quick glance is that they're just a concept at this point. Aesthetically, I love them. And they're Nike, which you know is my fave label. But I have very little pointe experience myself, so I hesitate to form an opinion from a dance perspective quite yet. I'm very curious to know my ballet prof's thoughts, of course, as well as other dancers out there...?

Name change: yay or nay??

As I make changes around here, I'm tossing around the idea of changing my blog's name, too... Is this a really bad idea?? The reason I'm considering this is because the focus of my blog is evolving a bit. When I started writing, I had a focus and the name of my blog reflected that. As my life evolved, so did le blog and it's focused widened - it kind of became a jane-of-all-trades lifestyle blog where I talked about whatever tickled my fancy in the moment (case in point: this post). But my life is evolving yet again and as it does, I want my blog to return to a specific focus. As I process and work through changes to le blog, a name change is beginning to seem necessary. But you tell me: will that throw you off? Annoy you? Do share and please be honest. I don't want to charge ahead without thinking of you, my dear readers!

Focus Jessi!

Like I said, time to focus back in. I have yet to figure out a neat 'n catchy little description, but... dance, fitness, health, nutrition, all from a dancer's perspective and experience. Ya dig?

Happy Tuesday, y'all! 

 xoxo
J

Five After 5

Hold on to your iPads because tonight's Five After 5 is a bit on the epic side. There have been some significant shifts in the Jessi Universe recently...

#1
I quit a job today.

"A" job, because of course I have (had) more than one. This decision was inspired by an epiphany about a week and a half ago that I am unhappy and unsatisfied because I have allowed myself to be distracted {yet again} from doing what I should be doing. Today I took a leap of faith so I can get back on track.

#2
Le blog is getting a makeover

Related to #1, things are going to start be a little different around here, from looks, to feel, to focus. Stay tuned and please pardon the mess.

#3
No, thank you

I suffer from a bad disease called Guilt-Induced Yesitis. After some solid reflection, I realized that many of my commitments were for others and not myself, so some serious housekeeping has ensued. This is still in-process and some conversations have yet to take place, but so far so good. "No, thank you" is quite healing.

#4
I will not be graduating this May

I did not return to school this semester. I only have a few classes to go, but for now it's on hold. I'm not stressed about this. If it's supposed to happen, it will. And my path to a dance career is not dead-ended, it's just detoured down a different route.

#5
I'm moving across the country!!!

In t-minus 5 months, I will be packing up and heading east to Pittsburgh, PA! Boyfriend received acceptance with full-funding (a very big deal!) to Carnegie Mellon University for a PhD program, and I will be accompanying him to Pitt. This is huge. I've lived in Colorado my entire life. Despite the big change, though, I am very excited for this adventure and new zip code!

Happy Monday!

xoxo
J

Five After 5

Nowruz mubarak!
Happy {Persian} New Year!

The Persian calendar is different than ours and so their new year celebration is now! Last night I joined Boyfriend and other Iranians for a night of delicious food, dancing and great company to ring in their New Year. I'm absolutely exhausted today, but it was worth staying up for. What a fun night! Here are five shots I snapped during the festivities...

Items with specific significance to the holiday

Persian "Santa"

Because they swim over and around each other in cyclical patterns, the fish symbolize how life comes full circle. Consequently fish is the traditional food served on Nowruz, such as salmon... Sorry we ate your cousins, little buddies!

Someone was gettin' down so fierce I couldn't catch 'em on camera

Boyfriend's bromance dance

Nowruz mubarak everyone!
("no-rooz moo-bar-ack")

xoxo
J

Five After 5

I enlisted the Boyfriend's help this week for my Five After 5. His scientist mind decided it would be fun to do a Jessi-style Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, since there are 5 levels. I agreed, but then suggested why doesn't he pick what he thinks my needs are at each level. He loved that idea, so here we are!

The original Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs triangle:

Boyfriend's rendition of Jessi's Hierarchy of Needs:

Oh, how he knows me so well ;)

Happy Monday!

xoxo
J

Five After 5

A random selection of five things that I love...

Blueberry pancakes

Bunnies

Sleeping

Classy gals like Audrey and Grace

The human body. It never ceases to amaze me what the human body is capable of, it's beauty, it's strength, and nothing showcases that better than dance, imo.
(Dancers Drew Jacoby and Rubinald Pronk)

Images via We Heart It and Google Images

Happy Monday!

xoxo
J

Five After 5

This week's Five After 5 is a shameless plug. I'm in the midst of creating an entirely new blog just for my Avon business, but in the meantime I'm going to use my Five After 5 list this week to feature some of my favorite Avon products... Maybe you'll be interested enough to try them yourself ;)

Moisture Therapy Intensive Healing & Repair Hand Cream

Colorado is crazy dry and my skin doesn't stand a chance without the help of a heavy-duty hand moisturizer. My manicures last longer, my cuticles are healthy and my hands stay looking young and fresh. I slather it on my rough dancer feet, too. Good stuff and it gives Neutrogena and Aquafor a good run for their money at a fraction of the cost!

Anew Rejuvenate 24 Hour Eye Moisturizer SPF 25

Never ever ever EVER step outside without some kind of 1.) eye cream and 2.) SPF... unless you want to look years older and tired. Our eyes can really make or break how fresh (or not-so-fresh) we look. Also, the sun is the #1 culprit in accelerated aging in skin, so invest in products with SPF. I love this one because it includes both a night eye cream AND a day cream with a legit SPF. Double whammy - take that, fine lines and spots!

mark Lipclick SPF 15 Color Shine Lipstick

I tend to be more of a lip gloss than a lipstick gal as it's less fuss and easier to apply on the go, but this little gem is great combo of both. It give me a bit more wash of color on those days I want a little more coverage, but it's still got the shine and moisture I look for in a gloss. The "click" part? The tube is magnetic, clicking together when you close it up. Add a dash of vitamins A, C and E, and my lips are nourished and smooch-ready for the boyfriend!

Haiku Sunset Eau de Parfum Spray

I love perfume and I love smelling fresh and pretty. I receive a compliment every single time I wear this fragrance, more than the designer perfumes I've worn. For economical, non-designer fragrances, I've been pleasantly surprised with Avon's selection... my perfume snob days are over!

Nailwear Pro Nail Enamel

Hello my name is Jessi and I'm a nail polish-aholic. Tried and true. Again, at the fraction of the cost of some other brands, you can feed your nail color addiction and still have cash leftover for a tube or two of hand cream to make sure that mani lasts. With 21 available colors, and 5 more new spring hues on the way, it's a mani-extravaganza!


I sure do love Avon and I don't say that simply because I sell the stuff. The products, prices and the company are all legit. I mean, it's been in establishment for over 100 years now and counting!

Want to do a little perusing to see for yourself? Check out my store!

Happy Monday!

xoxo

J