So Long, 2014!

I cannot believe 2014 flew by so fast. I distinctly remember returning to the Tetons for my spring semester thinking I had all the time in the world going through this Forever West journey. Now...2015 is here, I have 1/4 of this 2-year graduate school journey left, and I am more than confused on what I want to do with my future endeavors! It's crazy how fast this time has come and left us!

This blog I have kept for 2-years now (and with 161-entries for 2014 alone) is really convenient when I want to look back and reflect on my year's journey. So many things have happened: from new activities and sports (and actually liking them!), to prioritizing my goals and needs (like art), to immersing myself in expanding the community I want to be in, and to gain deeper love for my curiosity of life and love myself. There were a lot of challenges, a whole darn lot, but despite those times where I thought I could not over come them and most of the time...did, I do not think I would change any of it if I could go back. Things happen for a reason, and from those experiences, you learn from them, you grow from them, and you put them into other new experiences, and you define who you are. And with 2014 under my belt, I can admit I did not really know most of myself to the extent that I do now. It's a good thing, and I am excited to use 2015 as an opportunity to keep defining TheChristyBel.

A New Year, Some New Goals?!? Of course, part of the New Year experience, is not just ringing in a new year with wonderful friends and family, but setting yourself up for success in the upcoming year. Yesterday morning, while I was updating my blog with my adventures back on the East, my friend Brenna shared a link on Facebook. I came across this website link about 15-New Years Resolutions that we should consider being proactive on. These resolutions are not the usual 'Lose 15-pounds before summer,' 'Go to the Gym at Least 3-times a week,' and 'Dedicate at least 20-minutes of my day to me.' These resolutions are a remix of mindful awareness pieces about what we should STOP doing in 2015. I know I am totally guilty of many of these and it made me stop and rethink my goals for next year. I know that this past year and well, fall semester, was very challenging, low energy, and low positivity (at times) for me. I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and the choices I have made and to make something of it. So maybe I'll take these on with a few other goals I want to set for myself!

 I've placed them in here, but if you wanted to check out the actual page, here it is!

1. Stop showing and telling everything to everyone.
2. Stop comparing yourself to others.
3. Stop worrying about what others think of you.
4. Stop waiting.
5. Stop doubting.
6. Stop being a stranger.
7. Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
8. Stop standing in your own way.
9. Stop feeling guilty.
10. Stop thinking money creates value.
11. Stop feeling obligated.
12. Stop saying 'yes' all the time.
13. Stop thinking everything is a competition.
14. Stop trying to be like everyone else.
15. Stop thinking you ave to get it right on the first try.

Have a Wonderful New Year Everyone! Be safe, be happy, and enjoy the new year!

Here's to 2015!

TheChristyBel

Back in the AP!

Asbury Park Reunion!

Before making my way back to the Forever West to spend my January break in the Tetons, I had to make a visit to my second home, Asbury Park! Plus, my flight back to Jackson was starting off in Newark, NJ, so being in Asbury was a lot closer than Delaware. This was a convenient and perfect way to spend my last few days on the East Coast. On Sunday morning, my dad dropped me off at the Wilmington train station and I made my way into Philadelphia! There, I was greeted by two of my absolute favorite people: JJ and Kelsey! Ahhhhhhh! It was soooooo great being reunited with these two! After being picked up, we headed back to Asbury Park to let the shenanigans begin. Of course, there is no proper way to welcome yourself back to this wonderful beach town than to get Bloody Mary's, Mimosas, and Omelets at Johnny Mac's (on a Sunday morning)! So yea, we started off the day drinking at J-Mac's! So fun and so delicious! After J-Mac's, I headed over to Kelsey's family home where I got to see her mom, Diana, her sister, Lo, and the cairn, Zoe for a little visit.

Pickle Roll Sushi at Langosta

After watching the Giants vs. Eagles game at JJ's, Kelsey and I headed to Langosta Lounge for dinner! I love that place! And can you guess what I had for dinner?!?! Just guess...SUSHI! I have gone way too long without my most favorite food of all time. It was absolutely delicious! I had a Pickle Roll: I think it was shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, avocado, cucumber, aioli, and all that is delicious. I've missed Asbury food! Ahhhhh! We ended up meeting Ian, Christopher, his girlfriend - Kat, and Kelsey's roommate, Krista. We had an absolute blast! Just catching up, being obnoxious, and laughing non-stop during dinner. I am pretty sure the people in the next booth behind us hated us being there, but too bad! We definitely own that place! haha.

I want to be reunited with my ocean!

Another great thing about being in Asbury is being sooo darn close to the beach. Surprisingly, we did not get to the beach as soon as I got there, but I could slightly see the waves in the distance and in the dark, no less! I had to press myself against the window like a little kid looking into a toy store to see it! Don't judge me, I was excited! It's been two years!

The next day, Kelsey and JJ had to work (the joys of being a student and not being employed at the moment), so I was able to explore Asbury Park on my own. That meant, a walk to the beach, sitting on the beach, touching the water (did not swim because it was pretty cold), and just absorbing the awesomeness of the Atlantic. I literally spent majority of my day just walking up and down the beach!

Morning Walk Next to the Atlantic

Reminiscing About Tweedy! I Miss Him!

Mogo Tacos!!!!! (Pork on Left, Chicken on Right)

Asbury Park Convention Hall

Exploring the Beach & Finding The Ocean's Gifts: Skate Egg Cases

Besides reuniting myself with the Atlantic, I was able to get some coffee at America's Cup (my favorite NJ coffee shop), visit the Convention Center, ate Mogo Tacos with Kelsey for lunch, and the boardwalk! That evening, we went out to Stella Marina for dinner (JJ, Kelsey, and I). Surprisingly, I had never gone to that restaurant before (Nate and I would stick to Brickwall and a bunch of other restaurants in the area), but Stella was pretty good. I got a mushroom fire-oven small pizza with Fontina cheese, arugula, mushrooms, and truffle oil! So good! The past two days were absolutely wonderful! Being back in Asbury was just awesome! There is something that is so relaxing, calming, and refreshing about being by that ocean and that place. It definitely can cure any home-sick-ness and make ya happy!

Thanks For the Wonderful Asbury Reunion, JJ and Kelsey! It was the best!
Now come to the Tetons!
Yes, Kelsey, in Nature!

Next Stop: the Tetons to be reunited with the Nelson crew and Marc for New Years! Get ready!
TheChristyBel

Naughty or Nice?

Sunfish

Have you been naughty or nice this year?!? TheChristyBel could tell! Just kidding. This year, for holiday gifts, I made a bunch of ceramic mugs for family and friends! Here are a few that I have given away already. There are a few more that still need to be given to some recipients. I'll post more when all them have been distributed! I am so grateful to have taken the ceramics class. Not only to expand my artistic capabilities, but I was able to make all of my gifts for the holidays. Saved me time and money since I was already in the studio for most of my fall semester life! I was able to also incorporate my 2-D drawings onto the mugs too through the Xerox image transfer method. So everyone got 3-D and 2-D art from me. They came out pretty well! Don't you think?!

Western Northern Flicker

Pronghorn

Western Meadowlark

Snow Shoe Hare

Dragonfly

Downy Woodpecker

Chickadee

Black Bear

Great Horned Owl

Rock Climber

It's Great to Be Home

TheChristyBel and Her Secret Spot

Being back in Delaware for a portion of my holiday break was absolutely fantastic! Having 10-days of being back in the First State was EXACTLY what I needed after my semester at UWyoming. Everyday was jam-packed with visiting with friends, former co-workers, dinners at my favorite restaurants, hikes, and just plain relaxing in the comforts of my family's home. There was so much being done and fun being had, that I barely had time to pick up the camera to document it for the blog and memories. But let me tell you, being home with my family, best of friends, and a community that makes me feel like the 'true ChristyBel' was absolutely a wonderful rejuvenation to find myself again and make me feel full of nothing my positivity and happiness again. Here are some highlights to my Delaware Homecoming:

• As soon as I got off my plane in Philly, my mom picked me up and we drove straight to one of my former volunteer's holiday party at his and his wife's home. I had previously e-mailed Gordon letting him know of my return home and wanted to visit with him and the rest of the DNS Dream Team. Coincidently, he and his wife was hosting their annual holiday party for the DNS team that night (the night of my arrival)! How convenient?!? So Gordon thought it would be such a treat if we kept my 'homecoming' a secret and I would surprise the team at the party. The surprise was so fun! There was a Santa's hat and belt of sleigh bells waiting outside for me to wear and ring as I walked into the house. Seeing everyone's facing light up to a surprise guest from 'Santa' was absolutely fun to be a part of! It was so great seeing everyone and hearing about all the new projects they are in the process of doing and what they had accomplished over the year and a half I have been gone. I'm so proud of them. And I will admit, now that I am not working for DNS anymore, they are by far one of my favorite groups of volunteers to work with - they are practically a family to me. So coming home to that family was beyond one of the best gifts I received this holiday season.
• Of course I had to make visits to actually visit Delaware Nature Society! It was so nice seeing the transitions that this organization is going through. There was a lot of turnover in staff, so I felt a little lost meeting new staff. Practically, 1/3 of the entire core staff are new within the year, but it's good to see the organization evolving. And as usual, seeing familiar faces is even more great! Catching up with my former departments and supervisors is just awesome and seeing pictures of their children who I would babysit and teach, now little ladies and gentlemen makes me feel old, but still really awesome to hear updates.
• Had a great visit from the Toman's! I love that family so much! Gil and Garrett are getting so tall and chatting with David about possible job opportunities in New Paltz is getting me excited for what is going to come for me after graduating UWyoming! Cannot wait!
• Lunch with my Nature Center Father, Mike Riska, was absolutely wonderful! Hearing about St. John living, his involvement with outdoor and environmental education with Tatnall (even though he is retired), and all his adventures and advice on my next endeavors! I got to visit the Spring House and see the Longtail Salamander eggs, his Clivia Flower collection, and I also saw he still had my mural I painted him before he retired!
• After visiting the inside facilities of DNS, I was able to take a hike around the property - I missed hiking up past Hawk Watch, down into the conifers, and onto the Succession Trails. Oh, and visiting the secret spot, 'Ghost Tree' on the floodplains! Ahhhhhh! Those trails will never get old!
• Had a full day of some besties time with Brenna, Lana, and Amy. I love the friendships where you can be away from each other for so long and then as soon as you are reunited, it seems like there was no time spent apart! Catching up, hearing about events and gossip I have missed, visiting with Padfoot, Dougal, Reese, and Sadie, and so much more! Those moments are what I look forward to when I come home.
• Visited my boys at Eastern Mountain Sports too! The store has changed since they acquired a new store manager. It looked great in there! And there were more women working in the store! How awesome is that! I felt as if I was the only one working there when I was still at EMS. But yea, always full of laughter and bullshitting in that store - some things do not change! But I would not want to change that for the world! And of course, I got some new gear to bring back to Wyoming too!
• Had a wonderful visit with Whitney! I'm sure you read about our trip to Longwood Gardens in a previous blog post, so I won't go into detail again about it.
• And of course, my family! Sleeping in my own bed was AWESOME! Catching up with the brother, eating home-cooked food from mom, and spending the holidays with Phyllis, Ray, and my family was great! This blog has come in handy so many times when people ask me what I have been up to or how I am doing. It was really easy and convenient to talk about my stories and have access to those pictures on the blog. When I was practically giving a presentation to my family on Christmas Eve, Mom would say 'Tell Phyllis about the time when....' or 'Did you show her the pictures of....' Obviously Mom has been reading it religiously, but Phyllis would get so excited and I'd have to take her to the next highlight of my Forever West adventure.
• On Christmas Day, we opened gifts in the morning and that evening my brother and I went to the Patterson's annual Christmas Party. So fun. We also went to the Penn IMAX Cinema in Wilmington to watch The Interview. That movie was ehhhh. I'm not going to go into that opinion, but it was definitely not what I expected: funny at times, but not what I expected.
• Got some holiday crafting in as well and cleaned/organized/threw out what is left of my belongings in that house...the day I officially move out of that house...wow.

Being home was just the thing that I needed after this crazy and stressful semester! I do feel rejuvenated and refreshed and mostly ready for my next tasks that I need to accomplish this holiday break. So...yea, bring on the next set of adventures: including Asbury Park, returning back to Jackson, and of course...finishing my Plan B paper! Let's do this! There's no place like my East Coast home!

TheChristyBel

Belardo Christmas Tree 2014

Learned to Make a Dream Catcher!

Home Grown Cafe - A Must Whenever You Visit Newark, Delaware

What is Better Than A Glass of Bacon?!

Longwood Gardens Christmas

Christmas Trees in the Main Observatory Room

A Peacock Masquerade Themed Tree!

Since I have been home, it has been non-stop making rounds to visiting some of my favorite people and places. But, I was able to get a visit that I did not expect: a visit from Whitney! She was willing to travel all the way down from Connecticut just so we could hang out. I have not seen this girl since we both stopped marching and dancing with Alter Ego in April of 2012.

After almost two and a half years of being separated, we were finally able to be reunited! Whitney arrived in Delaware around 11:00pm EST and we literally talked and caught up until 3am! It was awesome! We can literally pick up right where we left off, even after 2-years - from reminiscing about dance and guard to art to eduction and teaching to everything in between.

It was such a treat getting back together with Whit! The next day, I took her to Longwood Gardens. She has a degree and love for plants/botany, so I thought that it would be a great idea for her to visit Longwood, especially in the winter time with all the Christmas decor up! She absolutely loved it!

It was great to walk around the Longwood Grounds, catch up, see the beautiful decorations, and also nerd out over plants! It was so awesome! I definitely learned a lot from Whitney about the plants that Longwood used in many of their gardens, decorations, and in their exotic botany research. She will definitely make a wonderful teacher!

Even though less than 24-hours with Whitney was such a wonderful treat to come back to the East Coast to, it was definitely not enough. But, I'll be seeing her again soon when we head to New Mexico for Aud's wedding next fall. So we will soon be reunited again! Thanks for a wonderful visit, Whit! Xo

Enjoy the rest of the photos from our adventures at Longwood!

TheChristyBel

Cardinals Cover the Pierre House Tree!

Cardinals in Flight

Thomas the Tank Engine!

Being a Penguin in the Desert Room?! What?

Oh My Gosh....How Freaking Precious?!?!
Totally Making These Ornaments One Day!

Birds of Paradise in the Rainforest!

Two of Our Three Panty Party AE Girls!
Audrey, We Wish You Were Here!

Updated Ceramics: 3/4 Forms & Composite

Like I promised, I have some additional photos of my last Ceramics II problems. Enjoy!

TheChristyBel

3/4 Form - Mammal Skulls
3-lbs 50/50 Stoneware
Xerox Stain Transfers & Reduction Glaze Firing

3/4 - Birds of Prey
3-lbs 50/50 Stoneware
Xerox Stain Transfers & Oxidation Glaze Firing

3/4 Form - Flowers
3-lbs 50/50 Stoneware
Sgraffito with Red Colored Slip & Oxidation Glaze Firing

3/4 Form - Leaves
3-lbs 50/50 Stoneware
Sgraffito with Blue-Green Colored Slip & Oxidation Glaze Firing

Composite - Tree of Life
Turned into a Jewelry Holder

Flying to the First State

With the help of my friend, Vikki, I was able to be driven to the Laramie Airport (by far the smallest one I have ever been to...I take that back, not the smallest, but one of the smallest airports I have been to) to make my journey back to the East Coast. Delaware, I can almost see you. I'll see you in a few hours!

Laramie's plane to Denver was a 30+ person plane. Super tiny...I was the last seat in the back of the plane. Haha. You could feel practically every gust. Also, I was afraid to even move. I totally thought that if I did, I'd rock the plane. Haha.

So far, it looks like my flights are on time and the weather is clear for traveling! Soon, I will be amongst family, friends, and the DNS Dream Team!

As soon as I get off the plane, I have been invited to go to a surprise holiday party hosted at Gordon and Fran Fisher's! Keep it quiet! No one knows I'm attending! What a surprise! :)

TheChristyBel

The Prop Plane I Flew to Denver In!

Fall Semester: Done!

A 3-D Snow Globe Card From Phyllis!

Well, as of right now, I just turned in my LAST assignment of the semester! A rough-draft of my first draft of my Plan B! I was able to use my Intro to Research class End of the Semester assignment and use it for my first draft of my Plan B. Pretty great to 'kill two birds with one stone.' But yes, I'll be definitely fixing it up for my first official turn in to my chair at the end of the month. Any who... Officially Done with the Semester! Now, I can pack for the East, prep my apartment, and get going home! Cannot wait!!!!!!

See You on the Atlantic!

TheChristyBel

One Last Gus Moment Before the New Year

Stopped by Ana's today to grab her vacuum to use on the apartment before I head home. Want to have a clean apartment to come back to Laramie to! But when I stopped by the house, guess who was sitting on the chair! My favorite Laramie feline...Mr. Gus Murdock! Got a great snapshot of him before the year comes to a close! Enjoy!

TheChristyBel

He Just Screams 'I'm the Best Cat Ever!'

A Bonfire With a Wonderful Cohort

This evening, the Science Methods crew and I had one last hurrah together before the semester ended. Off to Happy Jack we went to have a bonfire up in the Medicine Bow National Forest. Super fun.

It was great to be up there; majority of the night we were able to enjoy some drinks, a campfire, relax, and view over a few dozen shooting stars during the meteor shower. The shindig at Happy Jack lasted only a few hours before the sky became very dark and cloudy. As the sky grew darker, the wind began to pick up and we knew that snowstorm that many people were talking about was approaching us.

So we packed up our stuff, put out the fire, and headed back to town. We ended up taking the party over to the Library. This semester has been really hectic, frustrating, fun, different, and everything in between, but I know I would not have been able to survive it without these people! Thanks for a wonderful semester!

TheChristyBel

Laramie & The Nutcracker

This evening, my neighbor, Holli, and I went to see The Nutcracker here in town. This was such a treat. We went with a bunch of her colleagues in the Law School to the College of Arts & Sciences' auditorium. I have not seen The Nutcracker in ages, so I was super pumped! Brings back memories of dance. The performance was great - there's a lot of dancing talent in Laramie. However, I am not sure if the cast was just small, but the choreography seemed more basic than usual. I did not notice anything more difficult than a double pirouette and not that many lifts. It was interesting. But nevertheless, the whole show was beautiful. Also, they made the show 'Laramie-themed.' The mice were dressed up as cowboys and Mother Ginger definitely appeared to be from the west as well with her guns, cowboy hat, and a flask of whiskey! It was interesting, but very clever to make it feel like the story took place here in Laramie!

TheChristyBel

Survived to the Last Day of Fall Classes!

I am pleased to announce I have survived up to my Last Day of Fall Semester Classes. This does not include all my finals. As of today, I have one final left (next Tuesday) and a paper to turn in by next Friday. So, I am soooooo close to being done with this semester! I cannot wait! Below is a photo of the NSTA (National Science Teacher Association) - UW Chapter! This group consists of my Methods I cohort and a few additional individuals. We had a meeting and a luncheon right after our Methods I course, so we got a group photo together to celebrate the end of the semester! I absolutely love my Science Secondary Ed Methods Cohort. What a great group of people to work alongside with - so thankful Kate Welsh introduced me to Dr. Burrows and this wonderful bunch of people!

Now onto studying for my last final!

TheChristyBel

NSTA - UW Chapter 2014/2015

Ceramics II: The Final Critique

Bowls & 

After four-months of grinding my hands on a spinning-metal wheel, multiple 20-lb bags of clay, lots of flopping, wedging, and recycling clay, I can confidently say I have successfully completed a semester of one of my first formal art classes, and in a medium I am not too comfortable in! Below are photos of my last problems of the Ceramics II class: a variety of bowls, a few 3/4 forms, and a composite. 

The bowls represent simple dipping and pouring techniques in which each set (a different color) is provided with a small, medium, and larger bowl. The 3/4 forms are more decorative pieces where I wanted to use them as blank canvases for a variety of the application techniques we learned throughout the course. Some applications that I tried and really liked were the Xerox transfers (where I can take photo copies of my own drawings and apply them to vessels; very cool and different than the underglaze pencils I tried earlier in the semester) and Graffito (where you apply colored-slip to leather hard glaze, let is dry a smidge, and then carve out designs exposing the white clay underneath). My fourth set of bowls had to be decorated by a 2-D artist inspiration. So I chose, David Sibley, a well-known birder, naturalist, and artist. I copied one of his drawings, made a silk screen of an EASTERN Northern Flicker and applied it to my bowls. I also used a variety of underglazes to recapture his water-color and accurate color distinctions in his bird drawings. I was very impressed with that. My composite has been bisque-fired, glazed, and fired in a reduction atmosphere. I am pretty pleased with the outcome result. A little bit too dark than what I anticipated, but I keep envisioning a morning hike and seeing a tree emerge from the fog of a cloudy, fall morning. I like that gloomy-at-dawn impression it represents. But my work is up for interpretation...

Stay tuned: I'll post photos of my 3/4 forms closer up for more viewing.

Ceramics has definitely challenged me as an artist, and I really enjoyed my progression and journey. I know I have a lot to learn about this medium and know I still have not made my 'best' pieces with clay yet. But I'm interested to see if I continue with this medium and excited to see what my hands will create next! Overall, very impressed with successfully surviving my first formal art class and what I have been able to create. It's nice being back in a studio (even though I was not dancing in this one). Hopefully I can get into another art class to clear my insanity for the spring. 

TheChristyBel

'Mother Earth'